Melting Furnace and Charging of Melting Furnace

Abstract

The raw material loading device (14) includes a loading device conduit (60) and a raw material conveyor rotatably and translationally supported within the loading device conduit. According to the method of using the raw material loading device, the raw material is supplied to the raw material conveyor of the raw material loading device, and the raw material can fall from the outlet (64) of the loading device conduit through the loading device conduit. The raw material conveyor rotates and linearly advances within the loading device conduit. Further, the disclosed system includes a raw material loading device coupled to the immersion combustion melting device (14), and the loading device conduit extends into the melting device through the raw material inlet (54) of the melting device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This patent application discloses innovations to material melting systems, and more specifically, the charging of raw materials into a melting vessel.

Background Art

[0002] A material melting system includes a raw material charging device, a container that receives raw materials from the raw material charging device and holds the molten material, and a melting furnace having a burner, electrodes, or other heating device for melting the raw materials into the molten material. Such melting furnaces are used to melt metals, waste, glass, and various other materials. In glass manufacturing, raw glass materials are used to form a uniform composition of molten glass that can later be processed into glass objects. The raw glass materials can include various different chemical compositions (e.g., various oxides for forming soda-lime-silica glass) and can be mixed with recycled glass (“cullet”). The raw glass materials and / or cullet constitute a raw material or glass batch, which is typically delivered into a glass melting furnace by a glass batch charging device that receives the loose glass batch from upstream equipment and then transfers the loose glass batch into the furnace. For example, in a large glass melting furnace, a batch charging device positioned on the side of the furnace supplies a pile of loose glass batch onto the exposed surface of the molten glass within the furnace melting device section, and the pile slowly separates from the charging device and sinks into the molten glass. In another example, including a submerged combustion melting (“SCM”) furnace, a batch charging device positioned below the furnace continuously screw-feeds loose glass batch under the free surface of the molten glass, and then the batch can melt and rise within the melting section of the furnace. Such batch charging devices are acceptable, but challenges remain with respect to batch charging.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] This disclosure embodies several aspects that can be implemented separately from each other or in combination.

[0004] According to an embodiment of the raw material charging device, the raw material charging device includes a charging device conduit that extends along the longitudinal charging device axis and includes an inlet for receiving raw material within the charging device conduit and an outlet for discharging the raw material from the charging device conduit. The raw material charging device also includes a raw material moving device that cooperates with the charging device conduit to move the raw material in a direction from the inlet to the outlet, the raw material moving device including a raw material conveyor carried within the charging device conduit, and at least one actuator coupled to the raw material conveyor and configured to rotate the raw material conveyor about the longitudinal charging device axis and linearly translate the raw material conveyor along the longitudinal charging device axis.

[0005] According to an embodiment of a system for manufacturing a molten material, the system includes a submerged combustion melting device including a melting tank, and a charging alcove added to the melting tank of the melting device. The melting tank defines a reaction chamber and includes a floor, a roof, at least one peripheral wall extending between the floor and the roof, a raw material inlet for introducing a vitrifiable raw material into the reaction chamber, a molten material outlet for discharging unrefined molten material from the reaction chamber, and one or more submerged combustion burners. The charging alcove has an alcove floor, is at a height lower than the melting tank roof, and includes an alcove cover including the raw material inlet, at least one alcove peripheral wall extending between the alcove floor and the alcove cover, and an alcove interior that is in open communication with the reaction chamber. The system also includes a raw material charging device that extends along the longitudinal axis of the raw material charging device and is configured to charge raw material into the alcove interior of the submerged combustion melting device through the raw material inlet of the alcove cover, the raw material charging device including a charging device conduit that extends into the alcove through the raw material inlet and has a downstream end configured to be immersed below the free surface of the molten material within the alcove, and a raw material conveyor that extends within the charging device conduit and has a downstream end configured to be retracted relative to the downstream end of the charging device conduit.

[0006] According to one embodiment of a method of using a raw material loading device, the method includes supplying raw materials to a raw material loading device including a loading device conduit and a raw material conveyor carried in the loading device conduit, conveying the raw materials to the raw material conveyor of the raw material loading device, enabling the raw materials to fall through the loading device conduit and exit from the outlet of the loading device conduit, rotating the raw material conveyor within the loading device conduit, and linearly advancing the raw material conveyor within the loading device conduit.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Some exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to use in a glass manufacturing environment. However, as the description progresses, it will be understood that the subject matter of the present disclosure is useful in many different applications and can be implemented in many other embodiments.

[0009] For melting glass raw materials into molten glass, submerged combustion melting (SCM) can be used. In contrast to common glass melting techniques where molten glass is heated mainly by radiant heat from an overhead burner, SCM involves directly injecting a combustible air - fuel or oxygen - fuel mixture from a submerged combustion burner into a pool of molten glass. The combustible gas mixture auto - ignites, and the resulting combustion products are discharged through the molten glass, causing a high heat transfer rate and turbulent mixing of the molten glass. A typical submerged combustion melting apparatus has a fluid - cooled bottom wall with a metallic outer surface, a refractory inner surface establishing the furnace floor, and a burner extending through the bottom wall and immersed in the molten glass. The glass raw materials can include glass - making raw materials such as soda ash, limestone, and silica, and / or cullets obtained from recycled glass products, discarded glass products, etc. In any case, the glass raw materials are typically charged into the melting apparatus through the roof or side walls of the melting apparatus.

[0010] For example, in a common batch charging technique for SCM, rather than being charged directly into the molten glass, the glass batch material is charged into the gas phase or gas atmosphere above the free surface of the molten glass within the melting apparatus. Due to potentially charging a partially dried material into the melting apparatus in a turbulent gas phase, it remains an issue in SCM to entrain the raw glass materials and / or cullets into the molten glass without causing carry - over of dust and batch fines. These fines are typically filtered using a bagging process and particulate control equipment, which are often large - sized and expensive to procure and operate. Adding water to wet the batch helps to limit carry - over but increases the costs of operation, maintenance, and energy use. Also, adding a baffle between the charging device inlet and the exhaust outlet can help to limit carry - over, but such a baffle can potentially have an adverse effect on the performance of the melting apparatus, require excessive maintenance, and / or have other problems.

[0011] In another example, using an immersion batch charging technique for the SCM, the glass batch material is charged under the free surface of the molten glass in the melting device. Of course, this approach has its own challenges, including protecting the charging device from premature wear due to contact with the molten glass, preventing batch clogging, and / or minimizing cold spots in the melting device structure.

[0012] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a molten material generation system and a raw material charging device for an immersion combustion melting device, which can address one or more challenges, including reducing the risk of dust and batch particulate carryover in the furnace exhaust, eliminating the batch water addition system / operation, reducing the need for a filter bag process and particulate control equipment to address dust and batch particulate carryover in the furnace exhaust, reducing or eliminating the need for a carryover baffle, and / or avoiding premature wear of the charging device, batch clogging, and / or cold spots in the melting device.

[0013] With particular reference to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show an exemplary embodiment of a system 10 for manufacturing a molten material, the system 10 including an immersion combustion melting device 12 and a raw material charging device 14 coupled to the melting device 12 to charge the melting device 12 with raw materials. The system 10 may also include a raw material hopper 16 for receiving raw materials from a raw material source, such as a davit above a funnel 16 (not shown), and a raw material meter 18 operably coupled between the funnel 16 and the raw material charging device 14 to supply raw materials from the funnel 16 to the raw material charging device 14 in a measured amount. The meter 18 may include a rotatable auger, a reciprocating plunger, a pneumatic conveyor, or any suitable device (not shown separately) for metering and supplying raw materials to the raw material charging device 14. The meter 18 may include an outlet conduit 20. The outlet conduit 20 may be inserted into a side inlet 22 of a hopper 24 of the raw material charging device 14 and pneumatically sealed thereto via a bellows 26 of the hopper 24.

[0014] Referring now to FIGS. 3-6, the melting apparatus 12 includes a melting tank 28 that at least partially defines a reaction chamber for melting the batch material into molten glass, and a charging alcove 30 that can be added to the melting tank and at least partially defines a charging chamber for introducing the batch material into the melting tank 28. The melting apparatus 12 may also include a submerged combustion burner 32 (FIG. 6) coupled to the melting tank 28 for supplying energy to melt the raw material into molten glass, and an exhaust system 34 coupled to the melting tank 28 to carry combustion gas from the burner 32 outside of the melting tank 28 for downstream processing.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 3, the melting tank 28 includes a floor 36, a roof 38, and at least one surrounding wall 40 extending between the floor 36 and the roof 38 and connecting the floor 36 to the roof 38. The at least one surrounding wall 40 may include a front end wall 40a, a rear end wall 40b facing and spaced from the front end wall 40a, and two opposing lateral side walls 40c connecting the front end wall 40a and the rear end wall 40b. Further referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the front end wall 40a may include inclined portions 40d extending from the side walls 40c and converging towards each other, and an orthogonal portion 40e (FIG. 3) connecting the inclined portions 40d and having an upper sub-portion 40f and a lower sub-portion 40g (FIG. 3). The floor 36, the roof 38, and the at least one surrounding wall 40 together at least partially define a reaction chamber of the melting apparatus 12 for holding the glass melt when the melting apparatus 12 is operating. The illustrated shape of the melting apparatus 12 is an oval octagon in plan view, but those skilled in the art will recognize that the geometric shape of the melting apparatus 12 can take other shapes / configurations including, but not limited to, cylindrical, oval, rectangular, or any other shape(s) suitable for melting glass, metal, or other materials. The rear end wall 40b may include a melt material outlet 42 (FIG. 6) for discharging unrefined melt material from the reaction chamber of the melting tank 28. Also, in the illustrated embodiment, the rear end wall 40b may include an exhaust outlet 44 between the upper end of the rear end wall 40b and the roof 38. In other embodiments, the exhaust outlet 44 may be defined as an interruption in the rear end wall 40b itself, or as an interruption in both the rear end wall 40b and the roof 38, or may be defined through the roof 38 only.

[0016] The floor 36, roof 38, and / or at least one surrounding wall 40 of the melting tank 28 may be constructed from one or more fluid cooling panels. Although not necessarily shown separately, the fluid cooling panel may include an inner wall and an outer wall that together define an internal cooling space through which a coolant such as water, refrigerant, or other fluid can circulate. One or more baffles (not shown) may extend completely or partially between the opposing inner surfaces of the inner wall and the outer wall to direct the flow of the coolant along a desired flow path. As a result of fluid cooling, a glass-side refractory material layer (not shown) may cover the inner wall of each fluid cooling panel support. And it is covered by a layer of frozen glass (not shown) formed in situ between the outer skin of the glass melt and the surface of the glass-side refractory material layer. Once formed, this layer of frozen glass shields and effectively protects the underlying inner wall from the glass melt. The glass-side refractory material layer may be composed of AZS (i.e., alumina-zirconia-silica), or any other material used for protecting the metal wall of the melting apparatus 12.

[0017] Continuing to refer generally to FIGS. 3-5, the charging alcove 30 at least partially defines a charging chamber that is in fluid communication with the reaction chamber of the melting tank 28. The charging alcove 30 can be added offset from the upstream end of the melting tank 28, for example, can be firmly attached to the front end wall 40a of the melting tank 28. The charging alcove 30 can function to reduce or prevent carryover of particulate matter into the melting apparatus exhaust system 34 while enabling a vitrifiable raw material to be supplied to the melting apparatus 12 as close as possible to the glass melt. The charging alcove 30 may be separate from the panels of the melting tank 28 and may be formed from at least one individual panel that may be fluid cooled, and may be removable, repositionable, and / or reconfigurable by removing, adding, or repositioning at least one individual panel.

[0018] For example, the illustrated charging alcove 30 may include an alcove side wall 46 that can extend orthogonally in the upstream direction from the front end wall 40a of the melting tank 28, and an alcove end wall 48 that can extend orthogonally between the side walls 46 at the upstream end of the alcove 30. Also, as illustrated, the charging alcove 30 may extend obliquely upward at an angle of 5 to 85 degrees from the vertical (including all ranges, sub-ranges, values, and endpoints thereof), and may have an alcove bottom wall 50 (FIG. 3) at a height higher than the melting tank floor 36 and an alcove cover 52 at a height lower than the melting tank roof 38. The alcove side wall 46, end wall 48, bottom wall 50, and cover 52 may include one or more panels composed of at least one fluid cooling panel and / or refractory material, and together may define the interior of the alcove in the form of a charging chamber that is in open communication with the reaction chamber of the melting tank 28. The cover 52 of the charging alcove 30 may include at least one alcove raw material inlet 54, such as an opening, configured to receive a vitrifiable raw material into the charging alcove through it.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 6, the interior of the charging alcove 30 has an alcove headspace H m (e.g., the distance from the roof 38 to the free surface of the glass melt M) that is shorter than the alcove headspace H of the alcove 30 a (e.g., the distance from the cover 52 to the free surface of the glass melt M), and the interior of the charging alcove may have a smaller volume than the interior of the melting tank 28. As will become apparent from the following disclosure, the system 10 of the present disclosure enables the raw material to be supplied not in the splash zone above the free surface of the molten glass but at a position below the free surface of the molten glass. Thus, during operation of the system 10, there may be little or no carryover of raw material particles to the exhaust outlet 44, so that there is little vitrifiable raw material in the charging alcove headspace H a . In particular, the melting device 12 need not include a downwardly hanging baffle between the raw material charging device 14 and the exhaust outlet 44. In other words, such a baffle is not required downstream of the charging device 14.

[0020] Continuing to refer to FIG. 6, the submerged combustion burner 32 of the melting apparatus may be attached to a corresponding burner port defined in the floor 36 and / or the wall 40 standing on the periphery at a part of the wall 40 immersed by the glass melt. Each submerged combustion burner(s) 32 forcibly injects a combustible gas mixture of fuel and oxidant into the glass melt through the output nozzle of the burner 32. The fuel supplied to the submerged combustion burner(s) 32 is preferably methane or propane, and the oxidant may be pure oxygen or may contain oxygen at a high ratio (>80% by volume). In this case, the burner(s) 32 is an oxy-fuel burner, or the oxidant may be air or any oxygen-enriched gas. When injected into the glass melt, the combustible gas mixture auto-ignites and produces combustion products, i.e., CO2, CO, H2O, and other gas compounds such as any unburned fuel, oxygen, and / or nitrogen, which are released into and through the glass melt. 5 to 30 submerged combustion burners 32 may be installed in the melting apparatus 12, but more or fewer burners 32 may be used depending on the size and melting capacity of the melting apparatus 12. While one or more submerged combustion burners 32 are burning in the glass melt, the vitrifiable raw material can be controllably introduced into the melting apparatus through the inlet 54 and dispersed. The dispersed vitrifiable raw material can undergo strong heat transfer and rapid particle dissolution throughout the glass melt due to the intense melting agitation and shear forces caused by the submerged combustion burner(s) 32. Thereby, the vitrifiable raw material is rapidly mixed, reacted, and chemically integrated into the glass melt.

[0021] The exhaust system 34 communicates with the exhaust outlet 44 and is configured to remove gaseous compounds from the reaction chamber of the melting tank 28. The gaseous compounds removed through the exhaust system 34 can be treated, recycled, or otherwise managed away from the melting apparatus 12 as needed. The exhaust system 34 may include an exhaust flue 56 that is in fluid communication with the interior of the melting tank 28 and can be fluid-cooled, and an exhaust hood (not shown separately) that is in fluid communication with the flue 56 and can be lined with refractory.

[0022] The raw material charging device 14 is configured to charge raw materials into the inside of the alcove 30 of the melting device 12 through the raw material inlet 54 of the alcove cover 52. The raw material charging device 14 extends along the longitudinal axis A of the raw material charging device, and may have flexibility to charge the raw materials into the melting device 12 either above or below the free surface of the molten glass in the melting device 12, as will be described in more detail below in this specification.

[0023] Referring generally to FIGS. 7-9, the raw material charging device 14 generally includes a charging device conduit 60 that extends along the longitudinal charging device axis A and includes a charging device raw material inlet 62 for receiving raw materials within the charging device conduit 60 and a charging device raw material outlet 64 for discharging the raw materials from the charging device conduit 60. Also, the raw material charging device 14 generally includes a raw material moving device 66 that cooperates with the charging device conduit 60 to move the raw materials in a direction from the inlet 62 toward the outlet 64. Further, the raw material charging device may include a gate 68 that intersects the charging device conduit 60 downstream of the inlet 62 and upstream of the outlet 64 to restrict backflow, particularly of molten glass, raw material fine particles, etc., passing through the charging device conduit 60. As will be described in more detail below in this specification, one or more portions of the charging device conduit 60 and / or the raw material moving device 66 may be fluid cooled, but the gate 68 is not necessarily fluid cooled.

[0024] The charging device conduit 60 may generally include a spout 70 that establishes the raw material outlet 64 of the raw material charging device 14 and a charging device junction conduit 72 that establishes the raw material inlet 62 of the raw material charging device 14. The charging device conduit 60 may also include an actuator attachment conduit 74 that is upstream of the charging device junction conduit 72 and coaxial therewith, and a conveyor guide conduit 76 that is upstream of the actuator attachment conduit 74 and coaxial therewith. The charging device junction conduit 72, the actuator attachment conduit 74, and the conveyor guide conduit 76 are not necessarily fluid cooled, but the spout 70 may be fluid cooled as described below.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 10 to 13, the spout 70 is downstream of the gate 68 (FIGS. 7 to 9) and includes an upstream end of the spout having a spout upper mounting flange 78, a downstream end of the spout constituting the outlet 64 of the raw material charging device 14, and a melting device mounting flange 80 between the outlet 64 and the upper mounting flange 78. When fluid-cooled, the spout 70 may include an outer wall 82, an inner wall 84, an annular space 86 between the outer wall 82 and the inner wall 84, a downstream closing portion 88 and an upstream closing portion 90 that close the annular space, and a coolant inlet port 92 and a coolant outlet port 94 that are proximate to the upstream end of the outer wall 82 and extend through the outer wall 82 to be in fluid communication with the annular space 86. As used herein, the term "proximate" means relatively close to one end rather than the opposite end. Also, the spout 70 includes a plurality of baffles 96 that extend radially between the outer wall 82 and the inner wall 84 while contacting both, and are staggered in the longitudinal direction between the downstream closing portion 88 and the upstream closing portion 90, and are circumferentially spaced apart and staggered in the longitudinal direction, and may establish a serpentine path therearound along the fluid-cooled spout 70 between the inlet port 92 and the outlet port 94 of the spout 70.

[0026] Referring again to FIG. 6, the spout 70 projects into the alcove 30 and can be fluid cooled, so the spout 70 can be immersed below the free surface of the molten glass in the alcove 30 and into the molten glass pool in the alcove 30. During operation of the melting apparatus 12, the free surface of the molten glass M can be, for example, a minimum level F1, a maximum level F3, an average level F2, etc. For example, the downstream end of the raw material outlet 64 or the spout 70 can be immersed below the free surface of the molten glass when the free surface is at or above the average level F2. More specifically, the downstream end of the raw material outlet 64 or the spout 70 can be continuously immersed in the molten glass pool during operation of the melting apparatus 12 at such a level. In contrast, when the level of the molten glass in the melting apparatus 12 is between the average level F2 and the minimum level F1, the downstream end of the raw material outlet 64 or the spout 70 may be spaced above the free surface of the molten glass. However, such a spacing may be undesirable, especially when there is no baffle between the raw material outlet 64 and the exhaust outlet 44. Therefore, when operating the melting apparatus with a relatively low level of molten glass such as the minimum level F1, it may be desirable to replace the spout 70 with a longer spout (not shown) of such a length that its downstream end is continuously immersed in the molten glass pool during system operation. Conversely, when the melting apparatus 12 is operated with a relatively high level of molten glass such as the maximum level F3, it may be desirable to replace the spout 70 with a shorter spout (not shown), the length of which is such that its downstream end is continuously immersed in the molten glass pool during system operation, but not so long that the molten glass tends to clog or has a tendency to clog the spout 70. In any case, when the downstream end of the spout 70 is immersed in the molten glass, as will be further described below herein, the charging device 14 controls the flow rate of the raw material to the melting apparatus by adjusting the operation (e.g., speed and / or position) of the raw material transfer device 66.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 15, the loading device junction conduit 72 includes a raw material moving device portion 98 extending along the longitudinal axis A and a raw material inlet or branch portion 100 oriented transversely to the raw material moving device portion 98. The raw material moving device portion 98 has a downstream end located upstream of the gate 68 and may be coupled to the gate 68 by welding, fastening, or any other suitable connection. The raw material moving device portion 98 may include a cylinder 102, a lower mounting flange 104 at the lower end of the cylinder 102 for coupling to the gate 68, an upper mounting flange 106 at the upper end of the cylinder 102 for coupling to another portion of the loading device conduit 60, and an inlet 108 on the side of the cylinder 102 that is in open communication with the raw material branch portion 100. The raw material branch portion 100 may include a branch conduit 110 coupled to the cylinder 102 by fastening, welding, or any other suitable joining technique. The branch conduit 110 includes an inclined portion 112 and a vertical portion 114 that communicate downstream with the hopper 24, receive raw material from the hopper 24, and convey it to the raw material moving device portion 98 of the junction conduit 72.

[0028] The branch conduit 110 may also carry one or more sensors 118 for determining one or more levels of the raw material within the branch conduit 110 and have one or more ports 116 used to adjust the operation of the raw material meter 18 (Figs. 1 - 2). In the illustrated embodiment, there are at least three such sensors 118, namely, a low level sensor, a high level sensor, and a cutoff level sensor. The sensor 118 may be a capacitance sensor or any other sensor suitable for use in sensing the level of the raw material, particularly a raw material for glass manufacture. In either case, the level of the raw material is maintained within the inclined portion 112 such that the meter 18 is activated to provide raw material thereto until the raw material activates the high level sensor, at which point the meter 18 may be stopped until the raw material falls below one or both of the other level sensors. By maintaining the desired range level of the raw material within the branch portion 100, the raw material transfer device 66 can adjust the amount of raw material supplied to the melting device by varying the operation of the raw material transfer device 66, e.g., its rotational speed and / or linear movement. In contrast, the hopper 16 and the meter 18 are simply intended to follow and keep up with the operation of the raw material transfer device 66.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 9, 15, and 17 - 19, the actuator mounting conduit 74 includes a cylinder 120 extending along the longitudinal axis A, a lower mounting flange 122 at the lower end of the cylinder 120 for attachment to the upper flange 106 of the loading device joining conduit 72, and an upper mounting flange 124 for attachment to the conveyor guide conduit 76. The actuator mounting conduit 74 also includes one or more drive or actuator mounts 126 extending outwardly from the cylinder 120 at a position proximate to the lower mounting flange 122, and one or more melting device mounts 128 extending outwardly from the cylinder 120 at a position between the actuator mount 126 and the upper mounting flange 124. Briefly referring to FIG. 1, the melting device mounts 128 may be coupled to the melting device 28, for example, via brackets 129 that can be fixed between and to them. The brackets 129 can stabilize the loading device 14 in the vertical direction and against torsional forces when the loading device 14 is associated with the rotational movement of the raw material transfer device 66. The actuator mounting conduit 74 may also include a controller mounting plate 130 that can be welded, fastened, or otherwise coupled to the mounting flanges 122, 124, and therebetween, for example, to the mounting protrusions 122a, 124a of the flanges 122, 124.

[0030] Referring generally to FIGS. 9, 15, and 20 - 22, the conveyor guide conduit 76 includes a housing 132, an upper seal - bushing assembly 134, and a lower seal - bushing assembly 136. Each assembly includes mounting rings 134a, 136a, seal rings 134b, 136b carried by the mounting rings 134a, 136a, and bushings 134c, 136c carried by the mounting rings 134a, 136a. Referring particularly to FIGS. 20 - 22, the housing 132 includes a cylinder 138 extending along a longitudinal axis A, a lower mounting flange 140 for coupling to an upper mounting flange 124 of the actuator attachment conduit 74 with the lower seal - bushing assembly 136 therebetween, and an upper mounting flange 142 for carrying the upper seal - bushing assembly 134. The flanges 124, 140, 142 and the assemblies 134, 136 may be welded, may be fastened via a fastener (not shown) extending through a fastener passageway, or may be joined in any suitable manner by other means. Referring to FIG. 20, the housing 132 may have mounting flanges 140, 142 provided with alignment rod projections 140a, 142a extending outward therefrom along with semi - circular reliefs 140b, 142b, an alignment rod attachment plate 144 extending between and coupled to the alignment rod projections 140a, 142a, and one or more gaskets 146 between the mounting flanges 140, 142.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 14, 16, and 23, the raw material transfer device 66 includes a raw material conveyor 148 that is carried within the charging device conduit 60 and can be rotatable, translatable, or both rotatable and translatable as shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the raw material conveyor 148 is an auger, but in other embodiments, it may include a reciprocating plunger, a pneumatic conveyor, or any suitable device for conveying the raw material from the raw material inlet 62 to the raw material outlet 64. In the auger embodiment, the raw material conveyor 148 has a hollow shaft 150 with a closed downstream end and a downstream portion 150a made of a first material, and an open upstream end and an upstream portion 150b made of a second material different from the first material, and may include one or more spiral flights 150c around the downstream portion 150a and the upstream portion 150b.

[0032] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 14, the raw material conveyor 148 may be fluid cooled. In such a fluid-cooled embodiment, the raw material transfer device 66 also includes a fluid conduit 152 that extends longitudinally within the raw material conveyor 148 and has an upstream inlet end 152a for receiving fluid into the fluid conduit 152, and a downstream outlet end 152b that terminates in front of the closed end of the conveyor 148 and discharges the fluid from the fluid conduit 152 into the radial annular space 154 (FIG. 23) between the fluid conduit 152 and the raw material conveyor 148. The raw material transfer device 66 may also include a rotary fluid joint 156 having an inlet 156a in fluid communication with the upstream inlet end 152a of the fluid conduit 152 and an outlet 156b in fluid communication with the annular space 154 (FIG. 23).

[0033] Referring to FIG. 14, the raw material transfer device 66 also includes an outer guide 160 that is coaxial with the conveyor guide duct 76 and has an outer guide cylinder 162 extending into the conveyor guide duct 76, an upper alignment flange 163 that is welded, fastened, or otherwise coupled to the outer guide cylinder 162 proximate its upper end, and a driven or actuator mount 164 that extends outwardly proximate the alignment flange 163, and may include a raw material conveyor guide 158. Referring to FIG. 22, the outer guide cylinder 162 contacts the seal rings 134b, 136b of the conveyor guide duct 76 to prevent or limit airborne raw material particles from exiting through the loading device. Referring back to FIG. 14, the upper alignment flange 163 may carry a shaft or alignment rod bearing 165, as will be described in more detail below. The raw material conveyor guide 158 may further include an inner guide 166 having an inner guide cylinder 168 extending into the outer guide cylinder 162 and including an upper fixed end 170 operatively coupled to the upper portion of the outer guide cylinder 162. Referring to FIG. 23, the inner guide cylinder 168 may also include a lower free end 172 carrying a bushing 174 that contacts the cylindrical outer surface of the raw material conveyor 148.

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 7-9 and 14, the raw material transfer device 66 may further include a rotary actuator 176 coupled to the raw material conveyor 148 to rotate the raw material conveyor 148 around the axis A within the charging device conduit 60, and / or a linear actuator 178 coupled to the raw material conveyor 148 to linearly translate the raw material conveyor 148 along the axis A within the charging device conduit 60. The rotary actuator 176 may include an electric motor 180. And the linear actuator may include one or more pneumatic actuators 182. The pneumatic actuator 182 may have a cylinder 184 that can be welded, fastened, or otherwise coupled to the actuator mount 126 of the actuator attachment conduit 74, and a piston rod 186 that can be welded, fastened, or otherwise coupled to the actuator mount 164 of the raw material conveyor guide 158. The cylinder and piston rod 184, 186 may, of course, be reversed, and it is also preferable to attach them to their respective mounts 126, 164 by a single pivot pin or fastener via, for example, an adjustable clevis connection. The pneumatic actuator 182 is carried along the charging device conduit 60, more specifically, along the actuator attachment conduit 74 and the conveyor guide conduit 74. The raw material transfer device 66 may also include a pneumatic controller 188 having a suitable pneumatic valve, a control device, and piping (not shown separately) that communicates between the valve and the actuator 182. The controller 188 may be attached to the mounting plate 130 of the actuator attachment conduit 74. In other embodiments, the actuators 176, 178 may include a hydraulic motor and / or actuator, or any other device suitable for imparting rotational and / or linear motion to the raw material conveyor 148. In this regard, the actuators 176, 178 can include any components that generate motion, including cylinders, pistons, springs, diaphragms, valves, motors, gears, pulleys, chains, screws, etc. They can include electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and / or mechanical energy sources and devices for causing rotational and / or linear motion.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 16, the raw material transfer device 66 may also include a rotary actuator pedestal 190 coupled to the raw material conveyor guide 158. More specifically, the pedestal 190 may include a downstream or lower plate 192 coupled to an upper fixed end 170 of an inner guide cylinder 168 of an inner guide 166 of the raw material conveyor guide 158. The pedestal 190 may also include an upstream or upper plate 194 for carrying the rotary actuator 176, and a support gusset 196 extending between the plates 192, 194 to space the plates 192, 194 apart and support the pedestal 190. The pedestal 190 may also include a roller bearing 198 attached to the lower plate 192, through which the raw material conveyor 148 extends rotatably to rotatably support the upper end of the raw material conveyor 148. The raw material transfer device 66 may further include a rotary encoder disk 200 carried by and coupled to the upper end of the raw material conveyor 148, a rotary encoder sensor 202 carried by the rotary actuator pedestal 190 for sensing the rotation of the raw material conveyor 148 via the rotary encoder disk 200, and a shaft collar 204 coupled to the raw material conveyor 148 at a position between the rotary encoder disk 200 and the roller bearing 198. As shown in FIG. 9, the rotary actuator 176 is carried on the charging device conduit 60.

[0036] Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, the raw material transfer device 66 may further include an alignment rod 206 extending along a longitudinal alignment axis B that is laterally offset from the longitudinal charging device axis A. The rod 206 may include a lower end 206a fixed to the charging device conduit 60, for example, to the conveyor guide conduit 76, and an upper end 206b coupled to be relatively translatable with respect to the raw material conveyor guide 158, for example, coupled to the rotary actuator pedestal 190 and / or the upper alignment flange 163 of the guide 158. The alignment rod 206 extends translatably through an alignment rod bearing 165. Also, the alignment rod 206 is carried within semi-circular reliefs 140b, 142b (FIG. 20) and is coupled to an alignment rod mounting plate 144 of the conveyor guide conduit 76, for example, via a U-bolt 208 and corresponding nut (not shown).

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 7 - 14 and FIG. 23, the gate 68 can be any device suitable for opening and closing the charging device conduit 60, particularly for restricting backflow of molten glass, raw material particles, etc. through the charging device conduit 60. The illustrated gate 68 is coupled to a corresponding portion of the charging device conduit 60 and is therebetween, and includes upper and lower annular mounts 210, 212 that establish a passage through the gate 68. The illustrated gate 68 also includes an actuator frame 214 coupled to the upper and lower annular mounts 210, 212 by welding, fastening, or any other suitable method, a linear actuator 216 coupled to the actuator frame 214 by welding, fastening, or any other suitable method, and a gate blade 218 coupled to the linear actuator 216 in any suitable manner and linearly movable between the upper annular mount 210 and the lower annular mount 212 to open and close the passage of the gate 68. The illustrated gate 68 can be a knife gate device, but any other suitable type of gate for use with a melting furnace can be used, such as a radially moving iris valve gate, a rotatably moving ball valve gate, etc. In any case, the gate 68 is operated to include a closed state where the downstream end 149 of the raw material conveyor 148 is positioned upstream of the gate 68, as shown, for example, in FIG. 9, and an open state where the downstream end 149 of the raw material conveyor 148 is movable through the gate 68 to a position downstream of the gate 68, as shown, for example, in FIG. 23. Of course, the raw material conveyor 148 can be retracted through the gate 68, and the gate 68 can be advanced to close the charging device conduit 60 to enable repair or replacement of the raw material conveyor 148 and / or various other components of the charging device 14 while the system 10 is active or in a hot hold state.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 23, the downstream end 149 of the raw material conveyor 148 can be configured to retract relative to the outlet 64 established by the downstream end of the fluid-cooled spout 70 during normal operation of the system 10 (FIG. 1). In particular, if the raw material conveyor 148 is not advanced sufficiently linearly to a position as shown in FIG. 23, the raw material conveyor 148 may experience an over-torque condition because it has to push an excessive amount of raw material from the downstream end 149 of the conveyor 148. Therefore, in order to prevent damage to the conveyor 148 due to excessive torque of the conveyor 148 and / or prolonged contact with the molten glass, it is preferable to maintain the conveyor 148 in its normal extended position as shown in FIG. 23, but only when the raw material is being supplied to the melting device by the conveyor 148. Otherwise, when the raw material is not being supplied to the melting device, in order to avoid direct contact between the conveyor 148 and the molten glass, it is preferable to retract the conveyor 148 from its normal extended position as shown in FIG. 23, preferably to a position upstream of the gate 68. At such a retracted position during normal operation, the downstream end 149 of the raw material conveyor 148 may be axially spaced from the downstream end of the spout 70 by a ratio of approximately 1:1 of the axial distance to the inner diameter of the spout 70. However, this ratio can vary between 0.5:1 and 2:1, including all ranges, sub-ranges, values, and boundary values within that range. By maintaining the ratio according to this range, the raw material conveyor 148 can be protected from excessive exposure to the molten glass and over-torque conditions.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 24, as an exception, for example, during the debris removal function, when it is desired to remove debris generated by the accumulation of raw material and / or frozen glass inside the downstream end of the spout 70, the downstream end 149 of the raw material conveyor 148 can be configured to project axially beyond the outlet 64 established by the fluid-cooled spout 70. However, once the debris is removed, it is desirable to retract the raw material conveyor 148 to a position retracted relative to the downstream end of the spout 70.

[0040] A method of using a raw material loading device is provided. For example, the method may include the use of one or more of the above-described modified forms of the melting device 12 and / or the raw material loading device 14. According to one embodiment of the method, the raw material is supplied to the raw material loading device using, for example, a raw material meter for advancing the raw material into the hopper of the raw material loading device. Also, the raw material is conveyed, for example, from the hopper through the Y-branch of the loading device conduit to the raw material conveyor of the loading device. Further, the raw material can fall from the loading device conduit through the loading device conduit by, for example, opening a gate that intersects the loading device conduit, or in other embodiments where no gate is used, simply by providing an open path through the loading device conduit. In addition, the raw material conveyor is rotated within the loading device conduit, for example, by operating a rotary actuator coupled to the raw material conveyor, and is linearly advanced within the loading device conduit, for example, when a gate is used, by operating a linear actuator coupled to the raw material conveyor. The raw material conveyor can be advanced to a position where the downstream end of the raw material conveyor is close to the downstream end of the conduit and the raw material outlet, but is axially retracted therefrom. In that position, during normal operation of the system, the raw material conveyor may remain stationary axially, may be continuously rotated, and may convey the raw material out of the conduit. Of course, the rotational speed of the raw material conveyor may be increased or decreased to correspondingly increase or decrease the flow rate of the raw material to the melting device.

[0041] In addition, the feed conveyor may, for example, be linearly retracted through the gate during use by reversing the linear actuator, and during use, the gate may then be closed to prevent backflow of the feed or molten material into the loading device conduit upstream of the gate. In some embodiments, the feed conveyor may be advanced beyond its typical operating position and break through any obstructions of particulate feed, frozen glass, or some combination thereof near the feed outlet. The typical operating position may be a position where the downstream end of the feed conveyor is proximate to but axially retracted from the downstream end of the spout. This method may or may not include all of the disclosed steps, or may or may not be processed sequentially in the specific order discussed, and the manufacturing processes and marking methods of the present disclosure encompass any ordering, duplication, or parallel processing of such steps.

[0042] As used herein, terms such as "for example," "e.g.," "as an example," "such as," "etc.," "comprising," "having," "including," etc., when used in conjunction with a listing of one or more elements, should be construed as open-ended, meaning that the listing does not exclude additional elements. Also, as used herein, the term "may" is merely a convenience for indicating the optionality of, for example, the disclosed embodiments, elements, features, etc., and should not be construed as obscuring any disclosure herein. Further, terms indicating directions such as forward, rearward, upper, lower, upward, downward, radial, circumferential, axial, transverse, longitudinal, vertical, horizontal, crosswise, and / or the like are used by way of example and are not necessarily limiting.

[0043] Finally, the subject matter of this application is disclosed herein in terms of various terms, along with several explicit exemplary embodiments and modifications to those embodiments. All terms used herein are not necessarily limiting, but are merely intended to be illustrative, and should be construed and understood according to their ordinary customary meanings in the art, unless used in a context that requires a different interpretation. Also, for convenience, each explicit exemplary embodiment and modification is incorporated by reference into one or more of the other explicit exemplary embodiments and modifications. Accordingly, many other embodiments, modifications, and their equivalents exist or have not yet been discovered and thus are not intended to be described herein, nor is it possible to describe all such subject matter that would be readily suggested to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of this disclosure. Rather, this disclosure is intended to cover all such embodiments and modifications of the subject matter of this application, and their equivalents, as fall within the broad scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A charging device conduit (60) extending along a longitudinal charging device axis (A), including an inlet (62) for receiving a raw material within the charging device conduit and an outlet (64) for discharging the raw material from the charging device conduit, and a charging device conduit (60); A raw material moving device (66) cooperating with the charging device conduit to move the raw material in a direction from the inlet to the outlet, the raw material moving device (66) including; A raw material conveyor (148) carried within the charging device conduit; At least one actuator (176, 178) coupled to the raw material conveyor and configured to rotate the raw material conveyor about the longitudinal charging device axis and linearly translate the raw material conveyor along the longitudinal charging device axis, a raw material charging device (14).

2. The charging device conduit also includes a spout (70) including a spout downstream end establishing the outlet, and the at least one actuator is configured to linearly translate the raw material conveyor relative to the spout such that a downstream end (149) of the raw material conveyor extends axially beyond the outlet. The raw material charging device according to claim 1.

3. A gate (68) intersecting the charging device conduit downstream of the inlet, the gate (68) including a closed state in which a downstream end (149) of the raw material conveyor is positioned upstream of the gate and an open state in which the downstream end of the raw material conveyor is movable through the gate to a position downstream of the gate. The raw material charging device according to claim 1, further comprising a gate (68).

4. At least a portion of the charging device conduit and the raw material moving device is fluid cooled, and the gate is not fluid cooled. The raw material charging device according to claim 3.

5. The gate includes; Upper and lower annular mounts (210, 212) coupled to corresponding portions of the charging device conduit and positioned therebetween to establish a passage through the gate; An actuator frame (214) coupled to the upper and lower annular mounts; A linear actuator (216) coupled to the actuator frame; and A gate blade (218) coupled to the linear actuator and slidable between the upper annular mount and the lower annular mount to open and close the passage. The raw material charging device according to claim 3.

6. The charging device conduit a spout (70) including an upstream portion of the spout having an upstream end of the spout downstream of the gate, a charging device joining conduit (72) including a raw material moving device portion (98) coaxial with the raw material moving device, a raw material inlet portion (100) oriented in a transverse direction with respect to the raw material moving device portion, and a joining downstream end upstream of the gate; the raw material charging device according to claim 3.

7. the charging device joining conduit is not fluid-cooled, and the spout is fluid-cooled, an outer wall (82), an inner wall (84), an annular space (86) between the outer wall and the inner wall, downstream and upstream closing portions (88, 90) closing the annular space, an inlet port and an outlet port (92, 94) proximate to an upstream end of the outer wall and extending through the outer wall to be in fluid communication with the annular space, a plurality of baffles (96) extending radially between the outer wall and the inner wall and contacting both, extending longitudinally between the downstream and upstream closing portions and staggered, circumferentially spaced apart, and longitudinally staggered; the raw material charging device according to claim 6, establishing a serpentine path therearound along the fluid-cooled spout between the inlet port and the outlet port.

8. the at least one actuator includes a rotary actuator (176) coupled to the raw material conveyor to rotate the raw material conveyor; the raw material charging device according to claim 1.

9. the raw material conveyor has a closed downstream end and includes a downstream portion (150a) made of a first material, and an upstream portion (150b) having an open upstream end and made of a second material different from the first material; a hollow shaft (150), and helical flights (150c) around the downstream and upstream ends; the raw material charging device according to claim 8, which is an auger.

10. a fluid conduit (152) extending longitudinally within the raw material conveyor, having an upstream inlet end (152a) for receiving fluid into the fluid conduit, and a downstream outlet end (152b) for sending fluid from the fluid conduit into a radial annular space (154) between the fluid conduit and the raw material conveyor; the fluid conduit (152) A rotary fluid joint (156) having an inlet (156a) in fluid communication with the upstream inlet end of the fluid conduit and an outlet (156b) in fluid communication with the annular space, and further comprising the raw material charging device according to claim 8.

11. The raw material charging device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator includes a linear actuator (178) coupled to the raw material conveyor and configured to linearly translate the raw material conveyor along the charging device conduit.

12. The charging device conduit also An actuator mounting conduit (74) upstream of the charging device joining conduit, coaxial with the charging device joining conduit, and including an outwardly extending drive mount (126) coupled to the linear actuator. A conveyor guide conduit (76) upstream of the actuator mounting conduit and coaxial with the actuator mounting conduit, the conveyor guide conduit (76) including a seal and bushing assembly (134, 136) including mounting rings (134a, 136a), seal rings (134b, 136b) carried by the mounting rings, and bushings (134c, 136c) carried by the mounting rings, the raw material charging device according to claim 11.

13. The raw material moving device also An outer guide (160) having an outer guide cylinder (162) coaxial with the conveyor guide conduit and extending into the conveyor guide conduit in contact with the seal ring, and an outwardly extending driven mount (164) coupled to the linear actuator, the raw material charging device according to claim 12 including a raw material conveyor guide (158).

14. The raw material conveyor guide has an inner guide cylinder (168) extending into the outer guide cylinder, and further includes an inner guide (166) including an upper fixed end (170) coupled to the upper part of the outer guide cylinder and a lower free end (172) carrying a bushing (174) in contact with the raw material conveyor, the raw material charging device according to claim 13.

15. The raw material moving device An alignment rod (206) is additionally included, which extends along a longitudinal alignment axis (B) offset laterally from the longitudinal loading device axis, and includes a lower end (206a) fixed to the loading device conduit and an upper end (206b) coupled to be translatable relative to the raw material conveyor guide. The raw material loading device according to claim 13.

16. The raw material conveyor guide also includes an upper alignment flange (163) carrying an alignment rod bearing (165) along which the alignment rod extends translatably. The conveyor guide conduit includes alignment rod mounting protrusions (140a, 142a) protruding radially outward having semi-circular reliefs (140b, 143b). The alignment rod is carried by the semi-circular reliefs and coupled to the conveyor guide conduit. The raw material loading device according to claim 15.

17. The raw material moving device also includes a rotary actuator (176) coupled to the raw material conveyor to rotate the raw material conveyor, a rotary actuator pedestal (190) coupled to the raw material conveyor guide, including a downstream plate (192) coupled to the raw material conveyor guide, an upstream plate (194) for carrying the rotary actuator, and a support gusset (196) extending between the downstream plate and the upstream plate. A rotary actuator pedestal (190), a roller bearing (198) attached to the downstream plate, and the raw material moving device includes a roller bearing (198) rotatably extending through the roller bearing. The raw material loading device according to claim 13.

18. The raw material moving device includes a rotary encoder disk (200) carried by the raw material moving device, and a rotary encoder sensor (202) carried by the rotary actuator pedestal for sensing the rotation of the raw material moving device via the rotary encoder disk. The raw material loading device according to claim 17.

19. The raw material moving device includes a shaft collar (204) fixed to the raw material conveyor at a position between the rotary encoder disk and the roller bearing. The raw material loading device according to claim 18.

20. A system (10) for manufacturing a molten material, the system comprising a submerged combustion melting device (12), and the submerged combustion melting device A melting tank (28) defining a reaction chamber and including a floor (36), a roof (38), and at least one surrounding wall (40) extending between the floor and the roof. A raw material inlet (54) for introducing glassifiable raw materials into the dip combustion melting apparatus. A molten material outlet (42) for discharging unpurified molten material from the reaction chamber. One or more dip combustion burners (32). A system (10) including a raw material charging device (14) according to claim 1 coupled to the dip combustion melting apparatus, wherein the charging device conduit extends into the melting apparatus through the raw material inlet.

21. The melting apparatus according to claim 20, further including a charging alcove (30) added to the melting tank of the melting apparatus, the melting apparatus including an alcove bottom wall (50), an alcove cover (52) at a height lower than the melting tank roof and including the raw material inlet, at least one alcove side wall (46) extending between the alcove floor and the alcove cover, and an alcove interior in open communication with the reaction chamber.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the charging device conduit includes a fluid-cooled spout (70) having a downstream end configured to extend into the alcove through the raw material inlet and to be immersed below the free surface of the molten material, and the downstream end (149) of the raw material conveyor (148) of the raw material moving device is configured to be recessed with respect to the outlet.

23. A system (10) for producing molten material, the system comprising: A dip combustion melting apparatus (12) comprising: A melting tank (28) defining a reaction chamber and including a floor (36), a roof (38), at least one surrounding wall (40) extending between the floor and the roof, a raw material inlet (54) for introducing glassifiable raw materials into the reaction chamber, a molten material outlet (42) for discharging unpurified molten material from the reaction chamber, and one or more dip combustion burners (32). An alcove bottom wall (50), an alcove cover (52) at a height lower than the melting tank roof and including the raw material inlet, at least one alcove side wall (46) extending between the alcove floor and the alcove cover, and an alcove interior in open communication with the reaction chamber, and including a charging alcove (30) added to the melting tank of the melting device, an immersion combustion melting device (12). A raw material charging device (14) extending along the longitudinal axis (A) of the raw material charging device and configured to charge raw materials into the alcove interior of the immersion combustion melting device through the raw material inlet of the alcove cover. The raw material charging device includes a charging device conduit (60) extending into the alcove through the raw material inlet and having a downstream end configured to be immersed below the free surface of the molten material in the alcove, and a raw material conveyor (148) extending into the charging device conduit and having a downstream end (149) configured to be retracted relative to the downstream end of the charging device conduit. A system (10).

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the raw material charging device includes a rotatable auger that rotates within the charging device conduit to convey raw materials into the alcove.

25. The system according to claim 23, wherein the melting device does not include a baffle that hangs downward downstream of the charging device conduit.

26. The raw material charging device A gate (68) that intersects the longitudinal axis of the raw material charging device and establishes an openable and closable gate passage. The charging device conduit extending into the alcove interior along the longitudinal axis of the raw material charging device, A downstream end of the charging device conduit configured to contact the molten material in the alcove interior and having an outlet (64) for sending raw materials from the pouring port into the alcove interior, and The charging device conduit including an upstream end configured to be coupled to the gate. A charging device joint conduit (72) extending along the longitudinal axis of the raw material charging device, A raw material moving device portion (98) extending along the longitudinal axis of the raw material charging device and having an upper flange (106) and a lower flange (104) configured to be coupled to the gate, and A charging device joint conduit (72) including a raw material branching portion (100) extending in a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the raw material charging device and configured to send raw materials to the raw material moving device portion. An actuator attachment conduit (74) that is upstream of the loading device connection conduit and coaxial with the loading device connection conduit; A conveyor guide conduit (76) that is upstream of the actuator attachment conduit and coaxial with the actuator attachment conduit, A conveyor guide conduit (76) including a seal-bushing assembly (134, 136) including mounting rings (134a, 136a), seal rings (134b, 136b) carried by the mounting rings, and bushings (134c, 136c) carried by the mounting rings; A conveyor guide (158), An outer guide (160) having an outer guide cylinder (162) that contacts the seal ring of the conveyor guide conduit and extends into the conveyor guide conduit, and An inner guide (166) including an inner guide cylinder (168) having a lower free end (172) that extends into the outer guide cylinder and carries a bushing (174) that contacts the raw material conveyor, the conveyor guide (158); An actuator (176, 178) coupled to the raw material conveyor to move the raw material conveyor in a direction from the inlet to the outlet to convey the raw material, the system according to claim 23.

27. An alignment rod (206) further comprising a lower end (206a) fixed to the loading device conduit and an upper end (206b) coupled to be translatable with respect to the raw material conveyor guide, extending along a longitudinal alignment axis (B) offset laterally from the longitudinal loading device axis, the raw material loading device according to claim 26.

28. The raw material loading device according to claim 26, further comprising a rotary actuator (176) carried by the inner guide and coupled to the raw material moving device to rotate the raw material moving device.

29. A fluid conduit (152) extending longitudinally within the raw material moving device, having an upstream inlet end (152a) for receiving fluid into the fluid conduit and a downstream outlet end (152b) for delivering fluid from the fluid conduit into a radial annular space (154) between the fluid conduit and the raw material moving device, the raw material loading device according to claim 26 further comprising a fluid conduit (152).

30. The raw material moving device also, An actuator mounting conduit (74) extending along the longitudinal axis of the raw material loading device, a mounting cylinder (120), a lower mounting flange (122) at the lower end of the cylinder for attachment to the upper flange of the loading device joining conduit, an upper mounting flange (124), one or more actuator mounts (126) extending outward from the cylinder at a position proximate to the lower mounting flange, one or more melting device mounts (126) extending outward from the cylinder at a position between the actuator mount and the upper mounting flange, the raw material loading device according to claim 26, comprising an actuator mounting conduit (74).

31. A method of using a raw material loading device (14), feeding raw materials to a raw material loading device (14) including a loading device conduit (60) and a raw material conveyor (148) carried within the loading device conduit, conveying the raw materials to the raw material conveyor of the raw material loading device, enabling the raw materials to fall through the loading device conduit and exit from an outlet (64) of the loading device conduit, rotating the raw material conveyor within the loading device conduit, and linearly advancing the raw material conveyor within the loading device conduit, the method comprising:

32. The linearly advancing includes linearly advancing the raw material conveyor relative to the loading device conduit such that a downstream end (149) of the raw material conveyor extends axially beyond the outlet, the method according to claim 31.

33. The enabling includes opening a gate (68) intersecting the loading device conduit, and the linearly advancing includes linearly advancing the raw material conveyor through the gate to remove obstructions within the loading device conduit, the method according to claim 31.

34. linearly retracting the raw material conveyor through the gate, and further closing the gate to prevent backflow of raw materials or molten material into the loading device conduit upstream of the gate, the method according to claim 33.

35. A raw material loading device (14), A loading device conduit (60) extending along a longitudinal loading device axis (A), having an inlet (62) for receiving a raw material within the loading device conduit and an outlet (64) for delivering the raw material from the loading device conduit, the loading device conduit (60); A raw material moving device (66) cooperating with the loading device conduit to move the raw material in a direction from the inlet towards the outlet, the raw material moving device having a downstream end; A gate (68) intersecting the loading device conduit downstream of the inlet, the gate including a closed state in which the downstream end of the raw material moving device is positioned upstream of the gate and an open state in which the downstream end of the raw material moving device is movable through the gate to a position downstream of the gate, the raw material loading device (14) comprising the gate (68).

36. The gate is not fluid-cooled; Upper and lower annular mounts (210, 212) coupled to corresponding portions of the loading device conduit and positioned therebetween to establish a passage through the gate; An actuator frame (214) coupled to the upper and lower annular mounts; An actuator (216) coupled to the actuator frame; A gate blade (218) coupled to the actuator and slidable between the upper annular mount and the lower annular mount to open and close the passage; At least a portion of the loading device conduit is fluid-cooled; A spout (70) including an upstream portion of the spout having an upstream end of the spout downstream of the gate; A non-fluid-cooled loading device junction conduit (72) including a raw material moving device portion (98) coaxial with the raw material moving device, a raw material inlet portion (100) oriented transversely to the raw material moving device portion, and a junction downstream end upstream of the gate, the raw material loading device according to claim 35.

37. A raw material loading device (14), A loading device conduit (60) extending along a longitudinal loading device axis (A), the loading device conduit including an inlet (62) for receiving a raw material within the loading device conduit, an outlet (64) for delivering the raw material from the loading device conduit, and a spout (70) including a downstream end of the spout establishing the outlet; A raw material moving device (66) cooperating with the loading device conduit to move the raw material in a direction from the inlet towards the outlet, the raw material moving device A raw material conveyor (148) having a downstream end (149); At least one actuator (176, 178) configured to linearly translate the raw material conveyor relative to the spout such that the downstream end of the raw material conveyor extends axially beyond the outlet, and a raw material transfer device (66). A raw material loading device (14) comprising:

38. A fluid conduit (152) extending longitudinally within the raw material conveyor, the fluid conduit having an upstream inlet end (152a) for receiving fluid into the fluid conduit and a downstream outlet end (152b) for discharging fluid from the fluid conduit into a radial annular space (154) between the fluid conduit and the raw material conveyor. A fluid conduit (152). A rotary fluid joint (156) further comprising an inlet (156a) in fluid communication with the upstream inlet end of the fluid conduit and an outlet (156b) in fluid communication with the annular space. The at least one actuator is A rotary actuator (176) coupled to the raw material conveyor and configured to rotate the raw material conveyor, and A linear actuator (178) coupled to the raw material conveyor and configured to linearly translate the raw material conveyor along the loading device conduit. The raw material loading device according to claim 37.

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