Glass melting furnaces and vessels with improved thermal performance

Abstract

The glass melting furnace includes a melting tank with a floor, a feeding mechanism configured to feed raw materials to the melting tank, a heating mechanism configured to convert the raw materials fed to the melting tank into molten glass, and a cooling mechanism extending into the bed and configured to flow a cooling fluid therethrough.

Description

Description of Related Applications

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 313,399, filed February 24, 2022, the contents of which are relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. [Technical field]

[0002] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates generally to glass melting furnaces and vessels, and more particularly to glass melting furnaces and vessels with improved thermal performance. [Background technology]

[0003] In the manufacture of glass articles such as glass sheets for display applications including televisions and portable devices such as phones and tablets, glass compositions are typically melted in a melting tank. During operation of the melting tank over the course of a production run, hot spots can develop in certain areas of the melting tank, which over time can cause degradation of the melting tank material, eventually resulting in a phenomenon known as "fire through" that can ultimately result in mechanical failure of the melting tank material. When such an event occurs, it can result in significant disruptions to production, as well as substantial repair costs. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It would therefore be desirable to minimize the occurrence of such events. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005]

[0005] Embodiments disclosed herein include a glass melting furnace. The glass melting furnace includes a melting tank having a floor. The glass melting furnace also includes a feed mechanism configured to feed raw materials to the melting tank. Additionally, the glass melting furnace includes a heating mechanism configured to convert the raw materials fed to the melting tank into molten glass. The glass melting furnace also includes a cooling mechanism extending into the bed and configured to flow a cooling fluid therethrough.

[0006]

[0005] Embodiments disclosed herein also include a method of operating a glass melting furnace, the method including the steps of: supplying raw materials to a melting tank; converting the raw materials supplied to the melting tank into molten glass; and flowing a cooling fluid through a cooling mechanism extending into the bed of the melting tank.

[0007] Additional features and advantages of the embodiments disclosed herein are set forth in the following detailed description, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description, or may be learned by practicing the embodiments of the disclosure as described herein, including the following detailed description, claims, and accompanying drawings.

[0008] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments that are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and characteristics of the claimed embodiments. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles and operation thereof. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] Illustrative diagram of an exemplary fusion downdraw glass manufacturing apparatus and process [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a side cutaway view of an exemplary glass melting tank according to embodiments disclosed herein. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a top cutaway view of the exemplary glass melting tank of FIG. [Figure 4] 2-3 are cutaway end views of the exemplary glass melting tanks. [Diagram 5] 5 is a bottom cutaway view of the exemplary glass melting tank of FIGS. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a side cutaway view of an exemplary glass melting tank floor according to embodiments disclosed herein; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0011] Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" one particular value, and / or to "about" another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and / or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values ​​are expressed as approximations, for example by use of the antecedent "about," it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.

[0012] Any directional terms used herein - e.g., up, down, right, left, front, back, upper and bottom - are used only with reference to the drawings depicted and are not intended to imply absolute orientation.

[0013] Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is never intended that any method described herein be construed as requiring that its steps be performed in a particular order, or that any particular orientation of any apparatus be required. Thus, where a method claim does not actually recite an order in which its steps must be followed, or an apparatus claim does not actually recite an order or orientation for individual components, or where it is otherwise specifically stated in the claim or description that the steps are to be limited to a particular order, or where a particular order or orientation for the apparatus components is not recited, no order or orientation is ever intended to be implied. This applies to any possible non-expressive criteria of interpretation, including sequence of steps, flow of operations, order of components, or orientation of components; obvious meanings derived from grammatical construction or punctuation; and logical matters regarding the number or type of embodiments described in the specification.

[0014] As used herein, nouns include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to a component includes aspects having two or more of such components unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0015] As used herein, the term "heating mechanism" refers to a mechanism that provides heat to the glass melting furnace and / or melting tank, such as by the action of electrodes, combustion burners, or both.

[0016] As used herein, the term "cooling mechanism" refers to a mechanism that removes heat from a glass melting furnace and / or melting tank, such as by at least one of convection, conduction, or radiation.

[0017] An example glass manufacturing apparatus 10 is shown in FIG. 1. In some cases, the glass manufacturing apparatus 10 may include a glass melting furnace 12, which may include a melting tank 14. The glass melting furnace 12, including the melting tank 14, may include one or more additional components, such as heating elements or mechanisms (e.g., combustion burners and electrodes) that heat the raw materials and convert the raw materials into molten glass. In further examples, the glass melting furnace 12 may include thermal management devices (e.g., insulating components) that reduce heat lost from the vicinity of the melting tank. In yet further examples, the glass melting furnace 12 may include electronic and / or electromechanical devices that facilitate melting of the raw materials into a glass melt. Still further, the glass melting furnace 12 may include a support structure (e.g., a support chassis, support members, etc.) or other components.

[0018] The glass melting tank 14 is typically made from a refractory material, such as a refractory ceramic material including alumina or zirconia. In some cases, the glass melting tank 14 may be constructed from refractory ceramic bricks. Specific embodiments of the glass melting tank 14 are described in more detail below.

[0019] In some cases, the glass melting furnace may be incorporated as a component of a glass manufacturing apparatus for producing glass substrates, e.g., continuous lengths of glass ribbons. In some cases, the glass melting furnace of the present disclosure may be incorporated as a component of a glass manufacturing apparatus including a slot draw apparatus, a float bath apparatus, a downdraw apparatus such as a fusion process, an updraw apparatus, a rolling apparatus, a tube drawing apparatus, or any other glass manufacturing apparatus that would benefit from the embodiments disclosed herein. As an example, FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic of a glass melting furnace 12 as a component of a fusion downdraw glass manufacturing apparatus 10 for fusion drawing a glass ribbon for subsequent processing into individual glass sheets.

[0020] The glass manufacturing system 10 (e.g., the fusion downdraw system 10) may optionally include upstream glass manufacturing equipment 16 positioned upstream relative to the glass melting tank 14. In some cases, some or all of the upstream glass manufacturing equipment 16 may be incorporated as part of the glass melting furnace 12.

[0021] As shown in the illustrated example, the upstream glass manufacturing apparatus 16 may include a storage vessel 18, a raw material supply 20, and a motor 22 connected to the raw material supply. The storage vessel 18 may be configured to store a quantity of raw material 24 that may be supplied to the melting tank 14 of the glass melting furnace 12, as indicated by arrow 26. The raw material 24 typically includes one or more glass-forming metal oxides and one or more modifiers. In some cases, the raw material supply 20 may be driven by the motor 22 such that the raw material supply 20 delivers a predetermined amount of the raw material 24 from the storage vessel 18 to the melting tank 14. In a further example, the motor 22 may drive the raw material supply 20 to introduce the raw material 24 at a controlled rate based on a level of molten glass sensed downstream of the melting tank 14. The raw material 24 in the melting tank 14 may then be heated to form molten glass 28.

[0022] The glass manufacturing apparatus 10 may optionally include downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 30 located downstream relative to the glass melting furnace 12. In some cases, a portion of the downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 30 may be incorporated as part of the glass melting furnace 12. In some cases, the first connecting conduit 32, described below, or other portions of the downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 30 may be incorporated as part of the glass melting furnace 12. The elements of the downstream glass manufacturing apparatus, including the first connecting conduit 32, may be formed from a precious metal. Suitable precious metals include platinum group metals selected from the group of metals consisting of platinum, iridium, rhodium, osmium, ruthenium, and palladium, or alloys thereof. For example, the downstream components of the glass manufacturing apparatus may be formed from a platinum-rhodium alloy including about 70% to about 90% platinum and about 10% to about 30% rhodium, by weight. However, other suitable metals may include molybdenum, palladium, ruthenium, tantalum, titanium, tungsten, and alloys thereof.

[0023] The downstream glass making apparatus 30 may include a first conditioning (i.e., processing) vessel, such as a fining vessel 34, located downstream of the melting vessel 14 and connected to the melting vessel 14 by the first connecting conduit 32 described above. In some cases, the molten glass 28 may be gravity fed from the melting vessel 14 to the fining vessel 34 by the first connecting conduit 32. For example, gravity may cause the molten glass 28 to pass from the melting vessel 14 to the fining vessel 34 through the internal passage of the first connecting conduit 32. However, other conditioning vessels may be located downstream of the melting vessel 14, for example, between the melting vessel 14 and the fining vessel 34. In some embodiments, a conditioning vessel may be utilized between the melting vessel and the fining vessel, where the molten glass from the primary melting vessel is cooled to a temperature below that of the molten glass in the melting vessel before being further heated to continue the melting process or entering the fining vessel.

[0024] Air bubbles may be removed from the molten glass 28 in the fining vessel 34 by various techniques. For example, the raw material 24 may contain polyvalent compounds (i.e., fining agents) such as tin oxide that undergo a chemical reduction reaction to release oxygen when heated. Other suitable fining agents include, without limitation, arsenic, antimony, iron, and cerium. The fining vessel 34 is heated to a temperature higher than the temperature of the melting bath, thereby heating the molten glass and fining agent. The oxygen produced by the temperature-induced chemical reduction of the fining agent may diffuse into or fuse with air bubbles that were generated in the molten glass during the melting process. The enlarged air bubbles may then rise to the free surface of the molten glass in the fining vessel and then be released from the fining vessel. The air bubbles may further induce mechanical mixing of the molten glass in the fining vessel.

[0025] The downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 30 may further include another conditioning vessel, such as a mixing vessel 36 for mixing the molten glass. The mixing vessel 36 may be located downstream of the fining vessel 34. The mixing vessel 36 may be used to provide a homogenous glass melt composition, thereby reducing streaks of chemical or thermal inhomogeneities that would otherwise be present in the fined molten glass exiting the fining vessel. As can be seen, the fining vessel 34 may be connected to the mixing vessel 36 by a second connecting conduit 38. In some cases, the molten glass 28 may be gravity fed from the fining vessel 34 to the mixing vessel 36 by the second connecting conduit 38. For example, gravity may cause the molten glass 28 to pass from the fining vessel 34 to the mixing vessel 36 through an internal passageway of the second connecting conduit 38. Although the mixing vessel 36 is shown downstream of the fining vessel 34, the mixing vessel 36 may also be located upstream of the fining vessel 34. In some embodiments, downstream glass manufacturing equipment 30 may include multiple mixing vessels, such as a mixing vessel upstream of fining vessel 34 and a mixing vessel downstream of fining vessel 34. These multiple mixing vessels may be of the same design or of different designs.

[0026] The downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 30 may further include another conditioning vessel, such as a feed vessel 40, which may be located downstream of the mixing vessel 36. The feed vessel 40 may condition the molten glass 28 to be fed to the downstream forming apparatus. For example, the feed vessel 40 may act as an accumulator and / or flow regulator to regulate and / or provide a consistent flow of the molten glass 28 to the forming body 42 via an outlet conduit 44. As can be seen, the mixing vessel 36 may be coupled to the feed vessel 40 by a third connecting conduit 46. In some cases, the molten glass 28 may be gravity fed from the mixing vessel 36 to the feed vessel 40 by the third connecting conduit 46. For example, gravity may cause the molten glass 28 to pass from the mixing vessel 36 to the feed vessel 40 through an internal passage of the third connecting conduit 46.

[0027] The downstream glass manufacturing apparatus 30 may further include a forming apparatus 48 including the forming body 42 and inlet conduit 50 described above. The outlet conduit 44 may be positioned to deliver the molten glass 28 from the feed vessel 40 to the inlet conduit 50 of the forming apparatus 48. For example, the outlet conduit 44 may be nested within the inlet conduit 50 and spaced from its inner surface, thereby providing a free surface of molten glass positioned between the outer surface of the outlet conduit 44 and the inner surface of the inlet conduit 50. The forming body 42 in a fusion downdraw glass manufacturing apparatus may include a trough 52 positioned on the top surface of the forming body 42 and a converging forming surface 54 that converges in the draw direction along a bottom edge 56 of the forming body 42. The molten glass delivered to the trough of the forming body through the feed vessel 40, the outlet conduit 44, and the inlet conduit 50 overflows the sidewall of the trough and descends along the converging forming surface 54 as a separate stream of molten glass. The separate streams of molten glass join below and along the bottom edge 56 to produce a single glass ribbon 58, which is drawn in a flow direction 60 from the bottom edge 56 by applying tension to the glass ribbon, such as by gravity, edge rolls 72 and pulling rolls 82, to control the dimensions of the glass ribbon as the glass cools and the viscosity of the glass increases. Thus, the glass ribbon 58 undergoes a viscoelastic transition and acquires mechanical properties that give the glass ribbon 58 stable dimensional characteristics. The glass ribbon 58 may be divided into individual glass sheets 62 at a glass dividing device 100 in the elastic region of the glass ribbon, in some embodiments. A robot 64 may then transfer the individual glass sheets 62 using grippers 65 to a transport system where the individual glass sheets may be further processed.

[0028] 2 shows a side cutaway view of an exemplary glass melting tank 14 according to embodiments disclosed herein. The glass melting tank 14 includes a tank 114 positioned above a floor 126, where a raw material feeder 20 delivers a predetermined amount of raw materials 24 to the tank 114 through a feed port 116, the combination of the raw material feeder 20 and the feed port 116 comprising a feeder. The glass melting tank 14 may also include a plurality of electrodes 102 and a plurality of combustion burners 104.

[0029] During operation, the multiple electrodes 102 and the multiple combustion burners 104 heat the vessel 114 such that the raw material 24 is melted into molten glass 28 to a predetermined level (L) within the vessel 114. As can be seen in FIG 2, the multiple combustion burners 104 are positioned above the predetermined level (L) and the multiple electrodes 102 are positioned below the predetermined level (L).

[0030] 3 and 4 respectively show cutaway top and end views of the exemplary glass melting tank 14 of FIG. 2. As can be seen from FIG. 3 and 4, each combustion burner 104 emits a flame 108 into the tank 114. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the feed port 116 is disposed in a first wall 120 of the tank 114, and the plurality of combustion burners 104 are disposed in second and third walls 122, 124 of the tank 114, each of which is generally parallel to one another and extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the first wall 120. The first, second and third walls 120, 122 and 124 are also generally perpendicular to the floor 126.

[0031] As shown in Figure 4, the glass melting tank 14 includes an electrode 106 extending from a floor 126, the electrode 106 being positioned below a predetermined level (L). As further shown in Figure 4, the combustion burner 104 emits a flame 108 in a direction generally parallel to the predetermined level (L).

[0032] 2-4 depict the glass melting tank 14 including an electrode 102 extending from the wall of the tank 114, an electrode 106 extending from the floor 126, and a combustion burner 104, embodiments disclosed herein can include glass melting tanks 14 that do not include one or more of these components. Collectively, one or more of these components comprise a heating mechanism.

[0033] In certain exemplary embodiments, electrode 102 and / or electrode 106 are made from at least one of tin oxide and molybdenum, hi certain exemplary embodiments, electrode 102 is made from tin oxide and electrode 106 is made from molybdenum.

[0034] FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom cutaway view of the exemplary glass melting tank 14 of FIGS. 2-4. As shown in FIG. 5, the electrodes 106 extending from the floor 126 form a plurality of electrodes 106 that extend along the linear length of the glass melting tank 14 and are secured in place by electrode holders 164. The glass melting tank 14 also includes a cooling mechanism including first, second, and third passages 150, 152, 154 extending into the floor 126, each passage configured to receive a cooling fluid therethrough. Two orifices 160 are configured to receive a cooling fluid into the first passage 150, two orifices 156 are configured to receive a cooling fluid into the second passage 162, and two orifices 158 are configured to receive a cooling fluid into the third passage 154.

[0035] 5, the two orifices 160 adapted to admit cooling fluid into the first passage 150 are offset diagonally relative to the longitudinal length of the first passage 150, whereas the two orifices 156 and 158 adapted to admit cooling fluid into the second and third passages 152 and 154, respectively, are offset linearly along the longitudinal lengths of the second and third passages 152 and 154, respectively. Such a configuration allows for improved heat removal from the glass melting tank 14.

[0036] 5, the glass melting tank 14 includes a drain tube 162 and a sealing mechanism 176. The drain tube 162 facilitates removal of the molten glass 28 from the glass melting tank 14, and the sealing mechanism 176 prevents or reduces undesirable fluid flow to and from the drain tube 162. In certain exemplary embodiments, the sealing mechanism 176 may include a glass plate made from fused silica.

[0037] Figure 6 illustrates a side cutaway view of the floor 126 of an exemplary glass melting tank 14 according to an embodiment disclosed herein. As shown in Figure 6, the drain pipe 162 extends through the floor 126, and a sealing mechanism 176 surrounds at least a portion of the drain pipe 162, particularly proximate an exit portion of the drain pipe 162 near the bottom of the floor 126. The drain pipe 162 includes a central flow passage 174 for the molten glass 28 to flow therethrough.

[0038] 6, bed 126 includes multiple layers. Specifically, bed 126 includes multiple refractory layers, such as refractory ceramic layers, that extend between molten glass 28 and a cooling mechanism that includes, for example, first passageway 150. The bed also includes a metal layer 172 through which orifice 160 passes.

[0039] The multiple refractory layers include molten glass contact layer 164, sublayer 166, leveling layer 168, and lower insulation layer 170. Although Figure 6 shows four refractory layers extending between molten glass 28 and the cooling mechanism, embodiments disclosed herein include those that include more or fewer refractory layers extending between molten glass 28 and the cooling mechanism.

[0040] In certain exemplary embodiments, the glass contact layer 164 is made of zirconia, such as CZ type fused zirconia, magnesia-calcium-zirconia (MCZ), or fused zirconia, including Xilec 9 available from Sefpro. In certain exemplary embodiments, the sublayer 166 is made of alumina. In certain exemplary embodiments, the leveling layer 168 is made of a high alumina sand mixture. In certain exemplary embodiments, the lower insulation layer 170 is made of an alumina and silica containing material, such as a high alumina mullite brick material, including TAMAX® high alumina (70%) / high purity mullite brick material available from Harbison Walker International (HWI). In certain exemplary embodiments, the metal layer 172 is made of steel.

[0041] The embodiments disclosed herein include the ability to make temperature measurements at various locations or depths within bed 126 during operation of glass melting furnace 12. Exemplary temperature measurement locations are shown as A-F in Figure 6. Such temperature measurements may be made with thermocouples or other temperature measurement devices known to those skilled in the art.

[0042] In certain exemplary embodiments, during operation of the glass melting furnace 12, the temperature at the interface of the molten glass 28 and the glass contact layer 164 (shown as "A" in FIG. 6) may range from about 1600° C. to about 1650° C., the temperature at the interface of the glass contact layer 164 and the sublayer 166 (shown as "B" in FIG. 6) may range from about 1380° C. to about 1430° C., and the temperature at the interface of the sublayer 166 and the leveling layer 168 (shown as "C" in FIG. 6) may range from about 1100° C. to about 1500° C. 6A to about 1150°C, the temperature at the interface of the leveling layer 168 and the lower insulation layer 170 (shown as "D" in FIG. 6) may range from about 970°C to about 1020°C, the temperature at the interface of the lower insulation layer 170 and the first passage 150 (shown as "E" in FIG. 6) may range from about 150°C to about 200°C, and the temperature at the outer (or bottom) edge of the metal layer 172 (shown as "F" in FIG. 6) may range from about 75°C to about 125°C.

[0043] In certain exemplary embodiments, the temperature difference between the interface of the molten glass 28 and the glass contact layer 164 and the interface of the glass contact layer 164 and the sublayer 166 (i.e., AB) may range from about 200° C. to about 250° C., such as from about 215° C. to about 235° C. In certain exemplary embodiments, the temperature difference between the interface of the molten glass 28 and the glass contact layer 164 and the interface of the lower insulation layer 170 and the first passageway 150 (i.e., AE) may range from about 1400° C. to about 1500° C., such as from about 1425° C. to about 1475° C. In certain exemplary embodiments, the temperature difference between the temperature at the interface of the molten glass 28 and the glass contact layer 164 and the temperature at the outer (or bottom) edge of the metal layer 172 may range from about 1500° C. to about 1600° C., such as from about 1525° C. to about 1575° C.

[0044] During operation of the glass melting furnace 12, a cooling fluid, such as a gaseous cooling fluid, may be channeled through a cooling mechanism, such as one or more of the first, second, and third passages 150, 152, 154. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the cooling fluid may be channeled into the first passage 150 from a fluid source, such as a fluid pump or fan (not shown), through an orifice 160, as indicated by arrow "G". Once the cooling fluid is channeled into the first passage 150, portions of the cooling fluid may be channeled toward opposite longitudinal ends of the first passage 150 and exit the first passage through an exhaust or exit orifice (not shown). Similarly, the cooling fluid may also be channeled into the second and third passages 152 and 154 through orifices 156 and 158, respectively.

[0045] In certain exemplary embodiments, the cooling fluid includes air. In certain exemplary embodiments, the temperature of the cooling fluid channeled through one or more of the first, second, and third passages 150, 152, 154 through the orifices 160, 156, and 158 may range from about 25° C. to about 50° C. In certain exemplary embodiments, the diameter of the first, second, and / or third passages 150, 152, 154 may range from about 1 inch (about 2.5 cm) to about 5 inches (about 12.5 cm), such as from about 2 inches (about 5 cm) to about 4 inches (about 10 cm).

[0046] The embodiments disclosed herein may enable greater heat flux through the floor 126 of the glass melting tank 14, which in turn may improve the electrical resistivity of the floor 126, and more particularly, the electrical resistivity of the glass contact layer 164. For example, the embodiments disclosed herein may enable at least about 10% more heat flux, including about 10% to about 20% more heat flux, e.g., at least about 15% more heat flux, through the floor 126 of the glass melting tank 14, compared to a melting tank 14 that does not include a cooling mechanism as described herein, the cooling mechanism extending into the floor 126 and configured to flow a cooling fluid therethrough, the cooling mechanism including a first passageway 150 configured to receive a cooling fluid therethrough and at least two orifices 160 configured to receive a cooling fluid into the first passageway 150.

[0047] The embodiments disclosed herein can also enable a greater electrical resistivity of the bed 126 (or portions of the bed 126, such as the glass contact layer 164, the sublayer 166, the leveling layer 168, and / or the lower insulation layer 170) at a given temperature and production run, for example, a melter tank 14 that does not include a cooling mechanism as described herein, the cooling mechanism including a first passageway 150 extending into the bed 126 and configured to flow a cooling fluid therethrough, the first passageway 150 configured to receive a cooling fluid therethrough and at least two orifices 160 configured to receive a cooling fluid into the first passageway 150.

[0048] Such increased heat flux and electrical resistivity, in turn, can enable a glass melting furnace 12 and / or glass melting tank 14 in which the occurrence of fire-through is mitigated or delayed, such as delayed by a period of at least about one year during production operations (thereby extending the useful life of the melting furnace 12 and / or melting tank 14), as compared to a melting tank 14 that does not include a cooling mechanism as described herein, the cooling mechanism extending into the bed 126 and configured to flow a cooling fluid therethrough, the cooling mechanism including a first passageway 150 configured to receive a cooling fluid therethrough and at least two orifices 160 configured to receive a cooling fluid into the first passageway 150.

[0049] Although the above-described embodiments have been described with reference to a fusion downdraw process, it should be understood that such embodiments are also applicable to other glass forming processes, such as slot-draw, float, updraw, and rolling processes.

[0050] Such processes can be used to manufacture glass articles, which can be used, for example, in electronic devices, as well as in other applications.

[0051] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, and therefore, the present disclosure is intended to cover such modifications and variations, provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0052] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail.

[0053] EMBODIMENT 1 A glass melting furnace, comprising: A melting tank with a floor, a feeding mechanism configured to feed raw material to said melting tank; a heating mechanism configured to convert raw material provided to the melting tank into molten glass; and a cooling mechanism extending into said bed and adapted to channel a cooling fluid therethrough; A glass melting furnace including:

[0054] EMBODIMENT 2 2. The glassmelting furnace of embodiment 1, wherein the cooling mechanism includes a first passageway adapted to receive a cooling fluid therethrough and at least two orifices adapted to receive the cooling fluid into the first passageway.

[0055] EMBODIMENT 3 3. A glassmelting furnace as described in embodiment 2, wherein the cooling mechanism includes second and third passages, each adapted to flow a cooling fluid therethrough, each generally parallel to the first passage.

[0056] EMBODIMENT 4 3. A glassmelting furnace as described in embodiment 2, wherein the bed comprises a metal layer through which the orifices extend.

[0057] EMBODIMENT 5 2. The glassmelting furnace of embodiment 1, wherein the heating mechanism includes at least one electrode extending from the bed.

[0058] EMBODIMENT 6 2. The glass melting furnace of embodiment 1, wherein the melting tank includes a drain pipe extending through the bed and a sealing mechanism surrounding at least a portion of the drain pipe.

[0059] EMBODIMENT 7 2. The glassmelting furnace of embodiment 1, wherein the bed comprises at least one refractory ceramic layer extending between the molten glass and the cooling mechanism.

[0060] EMBODIMENT 8 2. The glassmelting furnace of embodiment 1, wherein the cooling fluid comprises a gas.

[0061] EMBODIMENT 9 1. A method of operating a glass melting furnace, comprising the steps of: feeding raw materials into a melting tank; converting the raw materials fed into the melting tank into molten glass; and flowing a cooling fluid through a cooling mechanism extending into the bed of the melter tank; The method includes:

[0062] EMBODIMENT 10 10. The method of embodiment 9, wherein the cooling fluid enters the first passage of the cooling mechanism through at least two orifices.

[0063] EMBODIMENT 11 11. The method of embodiment 10, wherein the bed comprises a metal layer through which the orifice extends.

[0064] EMBODIMENT 12 11. The method of embodiment 10, wherein the cooling fluid flows through second and third passages, each substantially parallel to the first passage.

[0065] EMBODIMENT 13 10. The method of embodiment 9, comprising activating a heating mechanism comprising at least one electrode extending from the bed.

[0066] EMBODIMENT 14 10. The method of embodiment 9, wherein the molten tank includes a drain pipe extending through the bed and a sealing mechanism surrounding at least a portion of the drain pipe.

[0067] EMBODIMENT 15 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the bed comprises at least one refractory ceramic layer extending between the molten glass and the cooling mechanism.

[0068] EMBODIMENT 16 10. The method of embodiment 9, wherein the cooling fluid comprises a gas. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 10. Glass manufacturing equipment 12 Glass melting furnace 14 Melting tank 16 Upstream glass manufacturing equipment 18 Storage Containers 20 Raw material supply equipment 22 Motor 24 Raw Materials 28 Molten Glass 30 Downstream glass manufacturing equipment 32 First connecting conduit 34 Clarifying tank 36 Mixing tank 38 Second connecting conduit 40 Supply tank 42 Molded body 44 Outlet conduit 46 Third connecting conduit 48 Molding equipment 50 Inlet conduit 52 Gutter 54 Convergent forming surface 56 Lower edge 58 Glass Ribbon 62 Glass Sheet 64 Robot 65 Grasping instruments 72 Edge Roll 82 Traction Roll 102, 106 electrode 104 Combustion burner 108 Flame 114 tanks 116 Supply Port 120 The First Wall 122 The Second Wall 124 The Third Wall 126 Beds 150 First Passage 152 Second Passage 154 Third Passage 156, 158, 160 Orifice 162 Drain pipe 164 Glass contact layer 166 sublayer 168 Leveling Layer 170 Lower insulation layer 172 Metal layer 174 Central Channel 176 Sealing mechanism

Claims

1. A glass melting furnace, comprising: A melting tank with a floor, a feeding mechanism configured to feed raw material to said melting tank; a heating mechanism configured to convert raw material provided to the melting tank into molten glass; and a cooling mechanism extending into said bed and adapted to channel a cooling fluid therethrough; A glass melting furnace including:

2. 2. The glass melting furnace of claim 1, wherein the cooling mechanism includes a first passageway adapted to receive a cooling fluid therethrough and at least two orifices adapted to receive the cooling fluid into the first passageway.

3. 3. The glass melting furnace of claim 2, wherein the cooling mechanism includes second and third passages, each adapted to flow a cooling fluid therethrough, each generally parallel to the first passage.

4. The glassmelting furnace of claim 2 wherein the bed comprises a metal layer through which the orifices extend.

5. The glass melting furnace of claim 1 , wherein the heating mechanism includes at least one electrode extending from the bed.

6. The glass melting furnace of claim 1 , wherein the melting vessel includes a drain pipe extending through the bed and a sealing mechanism surrounding at least a portion of the drain pipe.

7. The glass melting furnace of claim 1 , wherein the bed includes at least one refractory ceramic layer extending between the molten glass and the cooling mechanism.

8. The glassmelting furnace of claim 1 , wherein the cooling fluid comprises a gas.

9. 1. A method of operating a glass melting furnace, comprising the steps of: feeding raw materials into a melting tank; converting the raw materials fed into the melting tank into molten glass; and flowing a cooling fluid through a cooling mechanism extending into the bed of the melter tank; The method includes:

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the cooling fluid enters the first passage of the cooling mechanism through at least two orifices.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the bed comprises a metal layer through which the orifice extends.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the cooling fluid flows through second and third passages, each passage being generally parallel to the first passage.

13. The method of claim 9 including the step of activating a heating mechanism including at least one electrode extending from the bed.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the molten tank includes a drain tube extending through the bed and a sealing mechanism surrounding at least a portion of the drain tube.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the bed comprises at least one refractory ceramic layer extending between the molten glass and the cooling mechanism.

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