Molten glass viscosity and/or level meter

Details Molten glass viscosity and/or level meter Molten glass viscosity and/or level meter

1999-02-26

2001-06-26

Williams, Hezron (Department: 2856)

Measuring and testing

Liquid analysis or analysis of the suspension of solids in a...

Viscosity

C073S054280, C073S054330

Reexamination Certificate

active

06250136

ABSTRACT:

This invention relates to a new device for the on-line measurement of viscosity and/or level of molten glass. More particularly the invention relates to a new device for the simultaneous measurement of viscosity and level of molten glass, supplying correspondent electrical outputs proportional to the measured values. The invention is particularly advantageous as applied to the measurement of the viscosity and level of the melting in the feeders of forming machines, as referred below, but is also applicable to other branches of industry where the measurement of those variables is necessary.
As a matter of fact, one of the most critical processes in the glass manufacture is the preparation of the molten glass for delivery to the forming machines. The ultimate measure of the forehearth performance is constancy of weight per unit of delivered molten glass. This weight depends on glass level and glass viscosity. Temperature is currently employed as an indirect way of measuring viscosity. However glass viscosity is not only temperature—but also composition, type and quantity of cullet, water content in the raw materials, etc.—dependent. Therefore the direct viscosity measurement of the molten glass is of crucial importance.
It is a principal object of the invention, therefore, to provide a new on-line device for the direct measurement of viscosity of molten glass with an electrical output proportional to the measured value.
It is another object of the invention to provide associated means to the device which turns the measured value of viscosity independent of eventual variations of the level of the molten glass.
A further object of the invention is to provide associated means to the device in order that the level of the molten glass can be simultaneously measured and the correspondent values converted into electrical output signals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The viscosity and/or level on-line meter for molten glass in accordance with the invention comprises one sensor head connected electrically to an electronic control unit and to a data processing unit. The sensor head comprises a fixed metallic core with external fins for air cooling, laid across by two vertical parallel shafts designed for maintaining a torsional vibration, to which are fixed, at the lower ends, refractory rods, and at upper ends, the rotors of two electrical motors designed to produce torsional vibration to the vertical shafts. The crossing of the core by each of the shafts is done by a torque tube in order that a mechanical sealing is formed between its lower end to which is fixed the refractory rod, and the upper end to which is fixed the rotor of each of the two motors. In order that each shaft could stand up against lateral efforts not tolerable by the simple associated torque tube, as those transmitted by the partially immersed rods in the molten glass, two metallic discs are fixed, just at the upper and lower ends of each shaft, each disc being mechanically connected to the fixed core through three fine rods disposed at 120° angles around the central shaft. On the upper end of each shaft it is fixed one conventional sensor of angular position in relation to the core. These sensors and the motors are closed into an air-tight case, fixed to the core, the whole being covered by a metallic sleeve prepared to receive pressurized cooling air. Through a multi-contact plug the inside elements are electrically connected to the exterior electronic units and data processing systems. The refractory rods, of different lengths, are partially coated with platinum at the lower ends designed for immersion into the melting. They are fixed to the shafts by a fast collars system which allows an easy substitution of the rods whenever necessary.
Other details of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and the accompanying drawing which, by way of illustration, shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what is now considered to be the best mode contemplated for applying these principles.


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patent: 5987970 (1999-11-01), Ball

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