Feeder pipe assembly connected to a feeder bowl head of a glass-making furnace, method of replacing such feeder bowl head, latching mechanism for releasably mounting a retaining ring for attachment flange of such feeder pipe in a glass-making furnace feed

Description of the invention

The present invention relates to a feeder pipe assembly for a glass furnace power supply head pan, a method of replacing the head pan in a glass furnace power supply system, a latch mechanism for detachably holding the mounting ring on the feeder pipe flange in a glass furnace power supply installation, and a connection of the snap mechanism with the mounting ring. The invention relates to a system for detachable fixing of the feeder pipe in the working position. From the patent description US 5,718,741 (incl. Hull) (the rights to this patent have been transferred to the Applicant of this application) is known to have a device for cooling the stream of glass mass flowing from the glass furnace to the mass forming machine into finished products, for example containers commonly used in the packaging of various food products, beverages and other products. In the arrangement of this patent and in many other types of feeders, the glass mass flows through an opening or plurality of holes in the bottom of the head pan at the end portion of the feeder remote from the end to which the glass mass from the glass furnace enters.

A vertically oriented refractory feeder tube is used to control the flow of the glass mass from the head pan of the feeder, the lower end of which is immersed in the head pan to a level just above the inner surface of the head pan bottom and the surrounding hole (s) in the bottom of the head pan, and the ceramic tube is slowly rotated during operation of the power supply to ensure proper mixing and homogeneous temperature of the glass mass flowing from the head bowl. A refractory head pan tube with a drive system of this general type is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,660,610 (DiFrank) (rights to this patent have also been assigned to the Applicant for this application). Other feed tube arrangements to the glass feeder head pan are described in US Patents 5,693,314 (Scot), 4,514,209 (Mumford), and 4,478,631 (Mumford).

When operating a glass manufacturing system using a power supply head pan feeder tube of the type described above, there is a periodic need to remove the feed tube and head pan for repair or replacement. When replacing the head bowl, the feeder pipe must also be horizontally tilted beyond the bowl and vertically raised so that its lower edge moves away from the bowl. It is also necessary to adjust the height of the feed tube from time to time. Since this type of pipe is quite bulky, very high forces are required to lift it from the working position. For this purpose, lifting mechanisms with a counterweight have been used so far, which typically have gear reducers with significant play, which made it difficult to accurately position and move the feed tube. In such systems, it was also difficult to obtain an accurate horizontal alignment of the feed tube in the X and Y directions because horizontal X and Y axis movements in the counterweight lifting mechanisms could not be avoided. Such lifting mechanisms are also onerous due to their own weight and the vertical supports of the feeder tube, which wear when moved up and down, which can cause the supports to oscillate, leading to undesirable variations in the weight of the glass gobs when cooperating with an automatic glass container forming machine. It is also necessary to replace the head pan itself from time to time. Until now, this required the removal of the entire feed tube mechanism. The feeder tube in devices of the type described is detachably fastened in position by means of a plurality of clamps distributed around the circumference. Until now, loosening such clamps with threaded joints has been difficult due to the high temperature corrosion of the feed tube environment and the need to wear thick, heat-resistant gloves.

A feed tube assembly for a glass furnace feed head pan according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a horizontally oriented longitudinal support arm having a pair of opposing ends, a vertically oriented feed tube, means mounted on the support arm for releasably securing the feed tube to the support arm adjacent the end. support arm, a vertically oriented rectilinear servo motor actuator supporting the support arm in a position between opposite ends, the servomotor driven rectilinear actuator for adjusting the height of the support arm.

Preferably, the assembly further comprises means mounted on the support arm for rotating the feed tube with respect to the support arm about the longitudinal axis of the feeder tube.

Preferably, the support arm has an opening between its opposite ends, the opening vertically aligned with the longitudinal axis of the rectilinear actuator, and the support arm rotates with respect to the rectilinear actuator about the longitudinal axis of the actuator.

PL 193 307 B1

Preferably, the assembly further comprises means for adjusting the position of the support arm with respect to the rectilinear actuator along the longitudinal axis of the support arm.

Preferably, the assembly further comprises means for positioning the support arm with respect to the rectilinear actuator along an axis extending transversely to the support arm.

Preferably, the generally vertically disposed rectilinear servomotor driven actuator includes a ball screw mechanism for converting rotational movement of the servo motor's output shaft to rectilinear motion.

Preferably, the generally vertically disposed rectilinear actuator driven by the servomotor further comprises means for releasably rotating the servomotor.

Preferably, the support arm has a second opening vertically aligned with the feeder tube, and further comprises means for cooling the support arm in the annular system at a location adjacent to the second opening.

Preferably, the rectilinear actuator has a housing and a member at least partially contained within the housing and movable with respect to the housing between the first and second positions by rotation of the shaft of the output servo motor, and further comprises a steel support structure to which said housing is attached.

Preferably, the rectilinear actuator further comprises a block, spaced apart a plurality of bars extending from the rectilinear member of the actuator into the block, and means for securing a support arm with respect to the block to prevent rotation of the support arm with respect to the rectilinear actuator.

Preferably, the rectilinear actuator has an input shaft integral with the output shaft of the servomotor, and further includes means for rotating the input shaft of the rectilinear actuator and the output shaft of the servomotor independently of the actuator.

Preferably, the means for rotating the feed tube comprises a ring gear assembly coaxially disposed with the feed tube, the gear being non-rotating with respect to the feed tube, a pinion co-operating with the ring gear; and means for rotating the pinion.

Preferably, the assembly further comprises a closed lubrication system for continuous lubrication of the servo motor driven rectilinear actuator.

The method of replacing the head pan in the glass furnace power supply system, where the head pan occupies a fixed position in the system, and the system also includes a feed tube assembly with a generally horizontally arranged longitudinal support arm and a feeder tube rotatably mounted at the end of the support arm, the lower end of which is submerged in the head bowl, according to the invention, it is characterized in that the support arm rises into position, where the lower end of the feeder tube is above the head pan, the support arm pivots about an axis offset from the feeder pipe to a position where the pipe is out of vertical alignment with the head pan, and the head pan is raised from the installation site without removing the support arm.

The latch mechanism for releasably holding the mounting ring on the flange of the feeder pipe in the installation of a glass furnace feeder, according to the invention, is characterized in that it comprises a lever having a handle and a cam with a rounded surface, the handle protruding outwardly relative to the cam from the rounded cam surface, a support member, to which the lever is pivotally coupled near an end of the support member; and a fixed member to which the support member is pivotably connected near the opposite end of the support member, the bias of the support member relative to the fixed member causing the lever to deflect past the position of contact with the securing ring to allow the securing ring to be lifted away from engagement with the feeder pipe flange.

Preferably, the handle portion extends outward from the cam portion at the end of the cam portion.

Preferably, the handle portion extends outwardly from the cam portion between the ends of the cam portion.

Connection of a latch mechanism to a fixing ring of the type used to connect the feeder pipe flange in a glass furnace feeder installation, said fixing ring having an upper surface, and the latching mechanism serving to releasably connecting the upper surface of the fixing ring, according to the invention, the latching mechanism comprises a lever having a handle part and a cam part with a rounded cam surface, the handle portion extends outwardly from the cam portion from the rounded cam surface; a support member, the lever pivotally connected to the support member proximate an end of the support member; and a fixed member, the support member being pivotally connected to the fixed member proximate the opposite end of the support member, and the swinging member

The position of the support member relative to the fixed member causes the lever to swing beyond contact with the clamping ring to allow the clamping ring to be lifted beyond its connection to the feeder pipe flange.

Preferably, the fixation ring has a cutout which is connected to the rounded cam surface of the cam portion of the lever when the lever is connected to the fixation ring.

Preferably, the handle portion extends outwardly from the cam portion between the ends of the cam portion.

Preferably, the handle portion extends outward from the cam portion at the end of the cam portion.

The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the feed tube lifting systems for the glass furnace feeder head pan by introducing a system where there is a single servo motor driven ball screw mechanism having sufficient load capacity to keep the cantilever feed tube mechanism with a minimum deflection. There is little or no play in such mechanisms, which enables the lifting of the tube in the bowl of the head to be accurately controlled, which is essential for accurately controlling the weight of the glass billet in the glassware forming machine.

The feed tube lifting mechanism according to the present invention also allows separable adjustments in the horizontal plane along the X and Y axes and can be moved without sliding wear, which eliminates oscillating movements of the support system. The servo-driven ball screw lifting mechanism according to the invention is lubricated in a closed circuit, which ensures a long service life of the mechanism bearings and ball nut, and eliminates leakage and the need to refill oil.

According to the invention, an improved clamp is proposed for releasably securing the feeder pipe, connecting the clamping ring on the feeder pipe flange when the pipe is in an operative position with respect to the pivoting support. Each such clamp has a variable radius cam, rotated around a radial horizontal axis and making sure contact with the mounting ring regardless of the height of the feed tube lift, which can be deflected beyond the joint position, allowing the feed tube to be removed for repair or replacement after removing the mounting ring used to connect the feeder pipe flange.

The feeder pipe fastening system according to the invention is quick release and does not require the use of threaded fasteners in construction or installation.

The subject matter of the invention is shown in an embodiment in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows a feed tube assembly including a fastening system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, partially front view; Fig. 2 is a top view of the feeder tube assembly according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a partial enlarged view of a part of the feeder tube assembly according to Fig. 1; fig. 5 - a partial section along line 5-5 in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a partial perspective view of a portion of the feeder tube assembly of Figs. 1-6; Fig. 8 is a partial front view of a portion of the feed tube assembly of Figs. 1-6; Fig. 9 similar to Fig. 8, but at right angles to it; Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a portion of the feeder tube assembly of Figs. 1-6; fig. 11 - a section along line 11-11 in Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the device of Figs. 8 and 9; Fig. 13 is a modified form of the device illustrated here, in a view similar to Fig. 7; Fig. 14 is a partial perspective view of a feeder tube assembly containing the plurality of devices of Fig. 13.

A feeder tube assembly in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is employed is generally shown at 20 in the drawing. The feeder tube assembly 20 includes a refractory feed tube 22 which, as shown in Fig. 3, is adapted to receive a goblet head for insertion into the bowl B of the glass. the downstream side of a generally horizontally arranged glass mass cooling trough, not otherwise shown, that may be of a conventional structure. The feeder tube 22 is vertically positioned in the feeder tube assembly 20 and its lower end is positioned slightly above the inner surface of the head cup B, which allows the glass mass below the feeder tube 22 to flow to the outlet through openings O in the bottom of the head cup B.

The feeder tube 22 has at its upper end an outwardly projecting flange 24 which is attached to the mounting ring subassembly 86 shown in Fig. 3 having lifting lugs 18 as indicated in Fig. 4 and for supporting the feeder tube 22 on the inwardly extending flange. 26 of subassembly 28 of the rotatable ring. The subassembly 28, supported on the end of the support arm 30 and including the upwardly projecting ring gear 32 shown in Fig. 2, slowly

The bearing is rotated relative to the support arm 30 due to the meshing of the ring gear 32 with the driven pinion 34 at the end of the shaft 36 driven by the motor 38 via a speed reducer 40, and the whole is supported on the arm 32 at the end opposite the end of the feeder tube 22 suspension. . The rotation of the feed tube 22 helps to properly mix the glass mass in the bowl B of the head and thus maintain a homogeneous composition and temperature of the glass mass exiting through the openings 0 shown in Fig. 3.

The support arm 30 is supported along a vertical axis A through the handle 42 which serves to fix the arm in a non-staggered and non-tilting position as will be described in more detail. The support arm 30 is also displaceably supported for carefully controlled movement along axis A on a vertically oriented rectilinear actuator 44 driven by a servo motor as shown in Fig. 1, the cylinder portion 44a of which is shown in Fig. 5 is secured to the framework 46 of the feeder tube subassembly 20. A rectilinear actuator 44 supplied by E-Drive Design, Inc, Glastonbury, CT, Model EA2S-7.312-L / D-1836 is used, as will be described in more detail. In arm 30 there is an opening 48, shown in FIG. 5, extending concentrically with axis A and generally concentric with the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the straightforward forces of the sheep 44. From the rectilinear actuator 44 protrude upwardly spaced apart multiple bars 50 which are reciprocated along vertical axes by the rectilinear actuator 44. The bars 50 are non-rotatably housed in the block 52 of the adjustment mechanism 54 which is mounted on the structure 56 in the shape of an inverted vessel that is mounted on the upper surface of the support arm 30, as can be seen in Fig. 5.

The adjustment mechanism 54 includes an upper plate 58, and the support arm 30 moves relative to the plate 58 along the opposite, offset groove 30, and hence from the feeder tube 22 in the X direction. To achieve this adjustment, an adjustment screw 62 is provided which is threaded into structure 56a. and its inner end joins the top plate 58. Rotation of the adjusting screw 62 causes the support arm 30 to move on both sides in the X direction with respect to the adjusting mechanism 54, the horizontal position of which is fixed by securing the actuator 44 to the frame of the structure 46 as described.

The adjustment mechanism 54 also includes a bottom plate 64 with respect to which the support arm 30 moves along an opposite, offset groove distant from the grooves 66 in the vessel-shaped structure 56 that extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the support arm 30 to allow by carefully checking the orientation of the arm 30 and thus the feed tube 22 in the Y direction. To achieve this alignment, an adjusting bolt threaded into the extension of the top plate 58 engages at its inner end with a portion of the bead 70 of the vessel-shaped structure 56, and rotation of the bolt 68 causes the support arm to move in the Y direction on both sides with respect to the adjusting mechanism 54. Of course, when the handle 42 is pulled against the bead 70, the support arm 30 will be frictionally restrained from moving with respect to the adjustment mechanism 54 in the X direction and the Y direction.

Due to the high temperature at which the feeder tube 22 operates, it is important to cool the end of the support arm 30 where the tube 22 is suspended. For this purpose, an annular passage 72 is provided in the arm 30, generally concentric with the feeder tube 22, through which the cooling air flows or other means from lead wire 74 to lead wire 76. In addition, a generally semi-cylindrical heat shield 78 is suspended from the support arm 30 at a location partially surrounding the upper end of the actuator 44 and between the actuator 44 and the feeder tube to prevent heating of the actuator 44 by the radiant heat of the head cup B.

The flange 24, shown in FIG. 3, of the feeder pipe 22 is securely but releasably held in connection with the flange 26 by a plurality of circumferentially spaced latch mechanisms, designated generally at 80, in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows three such mechanisms. latch. Each latch mechanism 80 includes a lever 82 shown in FIG. 3 with a handle portion 82a at an end and an enlarged cam portion 82b at the opposite end. The lever 82 is pivotally connected to the support member 84 about the axis C, and when the lever is vertical, the cam portion 82b firmly engages the top surface of the clamping ring 86 which cooperates with the flange 24 of the feeder tube 22 to force the flange 24 into a desired position. working. When the lever 82 is biased to the horizontal position, the cam portion 82b will not cooperate with the ring 86 shown in Fig. 7. In this position, the feeder tube 22 can be removed from the head cup B by a simple lifting movement using the lifting lugs 18 shown in Figures 2 and 14. Latching mechanisms 80

The support member 84 may be moved out of alignment with the feeder tube by pivotally connecting the support member 84 to the fixed structure 88 about the axis D. To this end, the support member 84 moves towards the enlarged surface 88 of the fixed structure 88 where it can then be pivoted about D axis beyond the colliding position with respect to terminal 86. Before installing the new feeder tube 20, the support arm 30 must be raised so that the new feeder tube 20 does not come into contact with the head bowl B.

The bias of the support arm 30 about the axis A occurs when it is required to remove the bowl B of the head. After the feeder tube 22 is released from its connected position by releasing the latch mechanisms 80 as described above and actuating the actuator 44 to raise the support arm 30 so that the bottom of the feeder tube 22 does not touch the head bowl B, the tube 22 is removed from the subassembly 28. To this end, the top plate 58 of the adjustment mechanism 54 can be biased relative to the lower plate 64 after removal of the retaining pin 114 that circumferentially locates the upper plate 58, the lower plate 64, and the block 52 relative to each other during operation of the feed tube assembly 20.

The actuator 44 is driven by an AC servo motor 90 that is mounted on the axis of the force of the arm 44, although it may be connected on a parallel axis through a V-belt or other transmission. The actuator 44 and actuator 90 assembly is provided by E-Drive Design, Glastonbury, CT as noted above. 8, motor 90 includes a hollow output shaft 92. The hollow output shaft 92 of the motor slides onto the input shaft 94 of actuator 44 (FIG. 8 and 11), which has an internal ball screw gear 96. The ball screw gear 96 converts the rotational movement of the shaft 92 into a sliding movement of the ring member 98, the direction of this movement depending on the direction of rotation of the shaft 92.

The annular member 98 can be manually repositioned by turning the lever 102 which is attached to the shaft 92. The shaft 92 reaches a lever below the motor 90, actually below the level of the arcuate heat shield 100 which protects the motor 90 from heat radiation from the head cup B, and the lever 102 projects outwardly from shaft 92. Lever 102 has a handle 104 extending downwardly outside shaft 92, and shaft 92 can be manually rotated by applying handle 104 and turning lever 102.

The motor 90 has an annular brake 106 rotating with the shaft 92 and is selectively engaged by the double ended stop strap 108. The strap 108 in the released position will not engage the brake 106 and will not brake in this condition. After being pulled by the pneumatic cylinder 110 with the linkage 112 in the retracted position of the cylinder 110 as shown in Fig. 12, the band 108 wraps the brake 106 preventing rotation of the shaft 92, 94 and locking the platform 30 at the desired height.

Actuator 44 requires constant lubrication during operation, so multiple lines 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, and 128 (Fig. 4) are provided to supply lubricating oil from a common source (not shown) to individual points in actuator 44. Points these include the insertions 130, 132 (Fig. 11) of the cylinder 44a of the actuator 44 and the four rods 50 (Fig. 6) extending therein. The lubricating oil is collected in the bottom of the cylinder 44a and is returned to the source for recycling via return line 134 (Fig. 4) preferably filtered and cooled as needed with fresh oil to make up for any system losses. It is a closed lubrication system that provides lubrication of all moving surfaces, while maintaining low oil losses in a hot and relatively inaccessible environment, while saving products from costly and irreplaceable natural sources.

Figures 13 and 14 show elements different but functionally corresponding to those of the example in Figures 1-12, represented by the series 200, with the last two digits corresponding to Figures 1-12.

Figure 13 shows the latch mechanism 280, and Figure 14 shows three such mechanisms arranged circumferentially. Each has a lever 282 with a handle 282a at its end and an enlarged cam portion 282b at the opposite end. The handle 282a projects at its position between the ends of the cam portion 282b, while the portion 82 of the lever 80 in the example of Fig. 7 is aligned with the end of the cam portion 82b. Accordingly, the cam portion 282b of the lever 282 has a profile that is more versatile for a variety of installations than the profile 82b of the lever 82, due to variations in the thickness of the flange portion 24 of the feeder tube 22 for successively installed instances. Lever 282 is pivotally connected to support member 84 about an axis, and when vertically positioned, cam portion 282b rests securely in the bottom of cutout 286a of retaining ring 286 that engages with flange 24 of feeder tube 22 against flange 24

PL 193 307 B1 in the desired operating position. The provision of a cutout 286a in the mounting ring 286 facilitates a better engagement of the ring with the cam portion 282b of the lever 282, and also facilitates the release of the clamping action of the lever 280 when it is necessary to change the feed tube 22 after pivoting the lever 282 to a horizontal position where the cam 282b does not engage the ring. mounting ring 286. In this position, mounting ring 286 may be raised, as shown by the broken lines in FIG. 14, allowing the feeder tube 22 to be lifted, where it was previously necessary to move each latch mechanism 280 past the attachment position of the ring 286 and tube 22. This is done by moving the support member 84 to the enlarged surface 88a of the fixed structure 88 and then pivoting the support member 84 about axis D past mounting position with ring 286.

While the best mode for carrying out the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art to make changes and equivalent solutions without departing from the scope of the invention, and the scope is limited only by the appended claims.