US1790434A - mulholland - Google Patents

Description

Jan 27, 1931 v. MULHOLLAND 1,790,434

LEER FOR ANNEALING GLASSWARE Filed Nov. 18, 1927 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 27, 1931. v. MULHOLLAND 1,790,434

LEER FOR ANNEALING GLASSWARE Filed Nov. 18, 1927 2 Sheets-5h68?. 2

i 44 40 F94 4l Patented Jan. 27, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VERGIL MULHOLLAND, OF WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO HARTFORD- EMPIRE COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE LEER FOR ANNEALING vGLASSIARE Application tiled November 18, 1827. Serial No. 234,146.

This invention relates to leers for annealing glassware, and more specifically to leers of the type embodying a tunnel having means for accurately controlling the temperature gradient at all parts thereof.

Among the objects of this invention are to maintain the walls of a tunnel leer at a uniform temperature across any transverse section. As heat radiation is proportional to the difference of the fourth powers of the absolute temperatures of the ware and the walls, and only the first power of the distance therebetween. all parts of the Ware will be maintained at a substantially uniform temperaturc and even annealing is thereby assured, with the consequent freedom of the Ware from internal stresses and strains.

4I have found that an excellent way of achieving the results desired is to construct a tunnel leer with one or more helical flues coiled thereabout, referably two, and preferably also these ues entirely envelope the tunnel and are substantially integral therewith, or at least have a common wall with the tunnel. In order properly to heat a plurality of fines, it may be desirable to use a corresponding number: of furnaces, one connected with each of the flues, thus giving great ilexibility to the device. An advantage of my helical flue construction is that the lues are continuous, with no abrupt turns in the direction of flow of the gaseous media, and, therefore, the pressure drop. of the gases along the flue is minimized.

A further object of the invention is to use various portions of the same lues for heating and cooling respectively, and in order to control the temperature gradient in the tunnel more accurately, to vary at will the relative lengths of the heating and cooling portions. I also contemplate the use of any one of the fines for heating or cooling, as desired, or an combination of the above described metho s of operations.

Further objects of the invention are to permit of accurate control of the temperatures at all parts of the leer and to provide i for the relative expansion of the various parts.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be ap arent from a reading of the following specihlation and subjoined claims when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a leer constructed according to my invenr tion;

Fig. 2 is a section on theline 2 2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is asection on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4--4 in Fi 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5*5 in Fig. 1, showing the end of the leer tunnel draft producing means in elevation;

Fig. 6 is a perspective of the entrance end of the leer with some parts broken away and in ection to show the interior construction; an

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the delivery end portion of the leer tunnel showing the draft producing mechanism.

In general this invention is. directed to the application to a helical flue leer of the various principles and, advantages which I have also embodied in other types of leers, such as that shown and described in my Patent No. 1,560,481, granted Nov. 3, 1925.

As diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1, the leer comprises a sectional tunnel A; a pair of fire boxes B located respectively above and below the forward or ware-receivin end of the tunnel; a pluralit of flues communicating one with each ofthe fire boxes and extending in a double helix about the tunnel from end to end thereof; a. draft producing device D, specifically a suction fan communicating with both flues; a ware sorting table E located at the exit end of the tunnel; an endless conveyor F, the ware-bearing strand of which traverses the tunnel and the sorting table E and the idle strand of which returns to the entrance end of the tunnel beneath the leer; and `a oo nveyor drivin mechanism G.

The severaI sections of the tunnel are secured together in end-to-end relation and are supported by suitable framework which includes a pair of lon itudinally extendin channel members 1 ang transversely exten ing channel members 2 which are in turn supported by vertically adjustable pedesand tals 3. The tunnel may be slightly inclined downwardly from its lot or receiving en to the cool or delivery end to cause a tendency for air to flow throughihe tunnel, in a direction opposite to that of the movement of the ware. rlhis flow of air through the tunnel is preferably barely suflicient to prevent an inflow of cold air at the hot end of the tunnel Without necessarily exerting a material cooling influence upon the ware.

Each of the sections of the tunnel is preferably constructed of rast iron and comprises a substantially cylindrical member 4 having a conveyor supporting member 5 formed in substantiall chordal relation thereto preferably by integral supporting portions 6, and two or more semi-annular members, such as 7 and 8, which may be suitably secured together by forming thereon anges 9 and 10 which may be connected by bolts 11, as illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Members T and 8 are rovided with inwardl directed helical anges 12 which, together with the outer Casin of these members and the cylinder mem rs 4, form a pair of helical passage-ways or flues C com letelyjacketing the tunnel member 4.

Tlie forward or entrance end of the tunnel is ri 'dly secured as by bolts 13 (Fig. 6) to the c annels 1 of the supportin frame of the leer. The first section, genera y indicated at 14, is provided with a closure member 15, forming dead ends at 16 for the flues C, and a plate 17 fixed to member 15 and having an opening 18 the size of the tunnel opening which is desired. The rear end of the first section 14 and each end of the succeeding sections are provided with -pairs of bosses 19 in which stub shafts 2() (Fig. 4) are secured, on which are jonrnaled wheels 21 which rest upon rails 22, in turn rigidly fixed to supporting channel members 1. This construction provides for the expansion of the various sections of the tunnel individually and collectively with respect to the support as only the entrance end of the first section 14 is rigidly secured thereto. The tunnel sections 4 ma be provided with inturned flanges 23 at either end, leaving an opening 24 tapermit the passage of the conveyor and the ware therethrough, these flanges being secured together in any suitable manner, as by bolts 25.

The leer is heated by a air of similar furnaces B, each comprisin a combustion chamber 26 having an opening 27 at one end thereof, into which an oil or gas burner, diaammatically illustrated at Q8, is directed.

he combustion chambers are suitably lined with refractory blocks 29 and are provided near their outlet ends with curved baille members 30 which direct the flames away from the outlets 31 and 34. the opposite walls being semicircular to direct the products of combustion smoothly into the outlets.

Passages 3Q Iare provided communicating between the outlets lll and 54 and the atmosphere and are provided at their outer ends with suitable dampers 33 by which the inflow of air may be controlled. Air may be admitted through passages` 32 to support secondary combustion and to dilute the products of combustion if it is desired to cool them. The furnace outlets 31 and 34 respectively communicate in a tangential direction with one of the fines C, adjacent to their closed ends 16. The outlets 31 and 34 may be provided with suitable dampers as shown for the purpose of controlling the amount of combustion products admitted to the respective flues.' While l have shown and described one particular type of furnace, the invention is not limited to this, but an suitable source of hot media. may be use and if desired, both flues may communicate with a single source of hot media.

Both flues C are open at the exit end of the leer, as shown at 35 (Fig. 5) and are .there provided with arcuate danipcrs 36 mounted upon shafts 37 and provided with suitable adiusting means, as for example, worms 38 coo rating with pinions fixed to the shafts the worms being operable by suitable hand wheels 39.

Cooling air enters the end of the flues C through openings 35, the volume of such air bein controlled primaril by dempers 36, the an' assin alon the ues encircling the tunnel rom t e coo toward the hot end of the leer and being gradually heated by absorbing heat from the tunnel walls. The

lill) distance traveled by this cooling air and the location of the point of change in the direction of flow of the media through the flues C are controlled as hereinafter described.

The fines C are maintained at subatmospheric pressure by means of the suction fan D, which communicates with a conduit l0 extending parallel to the leer from the cooler or exit end for substantially half of its length, although this proportion may be varied if desired. The conduit 40 communicates at intervals along thev length of the leer with each of the flues C through independent passages 41, each provided with suitable dampers 42, as illustrated in Fig. 4, controlled by levers 43. These levers may cooperate'with a quadrant 44 having a series of notches therein which may be engaged by a suitable spring pressed pivotally mounted detent 45. By suitable regulation of the dampers 42, it is possible to "ary the distance which the heated ases travel along the flue and the remaining istance which the cooling air travels from the exit openings 35 in the opposite direction, and al o vary the volume of the cooling air, thus controlling the temperature gradient in this portion of the leer.

The hotter portion of the leer at the left of the end of the conduit 40, as shown in Fig.

l, is provided with a plurality of spaced temperature controls 46. Each ot these controls comprises au inlet opening 47 into each of the flues C, as shown in Fig. 6, theopenings 47 befng provided with dampers 48 and conA trolling mechanisms 49 corresponding to dampers 42 and the controlling mechanisms 43, 44 and 45. By suitable adjustment of the controlling mechanisms 49, the amount of air may be admitted at suitable points alongl the leer to dilute the hot gases from the furnaces B and thus practically control the temperatures and the temperature gradient Within the leer tunnel.

If desired, only one of the furnaces B may be operated, the other being plugged up in any suitable manner and the dampers 4Q and 48 communicating With its flue closed; or if desired, the flue may be used for cooling the leer by opening some of the dampers to admit cooling air either through the end opening 35 or the air controls 46 and the openings 4T. In any case, inasmuch as the` Vlines are arranged in helical form entirely enveloping the tunnel, the entire Wall of the tunnel at any transverse section may be maintained at substantially an even temperature, so that the radiation of the heat from all parts of the ware to the tunnel, or vice versa, will serve to maintain all parts of the ware at any transverse section at an even temperature and internal stresses may be positively precluded in the finished ware.

Dissipation of heat from the tunnel and the heating lues may be minimized by surrounding the tunnel with suitable heat insulating material 50. such as powdered kieselguhr or the like. This material may he contained within an outer casing 5l of su'table material,

such as sheet metal completely surrounding the tunnel and secured thereto by suitable spacer bolts 52, expansion joints being pl'ovided in this outer casing if desired. The insulating material may be of different thicknesses along the tunnel, as is shown in Fig. 1, where the part to the left of the joint 53 is of the greater thickness and the part between that joint and joint 54 is of less thickness, the portions of the tunnel to the right ofthe joint 54 being nninsulated so as to accelerate the cooling of the ware.

The sorting table E comprises a plurality of spaced parallel longitudinal bars 55 supported at their forward ends by the frame 55 ofthe leer and at their rear ends the frame 56 of the belt driving mechanism G. Rollers 57 are carried at spaced intervals by the bars 55 and provide a support for the conveyor as it emerges from the tunnel bearing c3 the annealed ware. The table E is of sufiicient length to permit several persons to stand side by side on each side to inspect and remove the ware from the conveyor F for packing. The conveyor F and table E are 55 suliiciently narrow to permit easy access from desired y either side of the table to ware located in the central portion of the conveyor.

The conveyor F may comprise an endless belt of flexible open structure. the ware-bearing strand of Which lies llat upon the cast iron supporting members 5, which constitute the bottom of the leer tunnel, and upon rollers 57 of the receiving table E.

The conveyor driving mechanism may be of any desired type but preferably is the same as is shown in my Patent No. 1,560,481, granted November 3, 1925, and comprises a pairof geared driving rolls 58 and 59 engaging the belt between them and suitable reducing gears 60 for driving the rolls. Means are provided, as indicated diagrammatically at 6l for taking up the slack in the conveyor belt, such means being fully disclosed in my said patent. From the take-up mechanism 6l.. the idle strand ofthe conveyor passes over roller 62 and thence beneath the conveyor to its entrance end, it being supported at intel'- vals by rollers 63 suitably mounted upon the pedestals 3. At the entrance end, the belt passes up around roller 64 and thence over roller 65 into the tunnel.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a leer of very rugged and durable construction and one that may be assembled very quickly and easily from a plurality of similar and interchangeable sections. Also it will be apparent that by my construction and method of drawing the heated gases and cooling air through the flucs at subatmospheric pressure, the injurious effects of leakage of these media into the tunnel is reduced to a minimum. Furthermore, supporting the tunnel throughout its entire length by anti-friction devices renders it possible to eliminate expansion or other joints between the sections of the tunnel, through which leaks may exist or may develop, and permits the tunnel to expand lengthwise as a unit on its support. By arranging the lilies 1n a helical manner completely enveloping the tunnel, I am enabled to maintain the Walls of any transverse section of the tunnel at a substantially even temperature, and thus more accurately to control the transfer of heat to and from the ware.

Inasmuch as many modifications might be made in my device without departing from the spirit of the invention, I do not wish to be limited except by the scope of the appended claims, which are to be construed as broadly as the prior art permits.

I claim:

1. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel and a helical flue of good heat conducting material surrounding said tunnel through which media may be passed for controlling and varying the temperatures within the tunnel.

2. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, means for moving the ware therethrou h, and a helical liuc surrounding said tunne and extending from end to end thereof throu h which media may .he passed for contro ling and varying the temperatures Within the tunnei.

3. A continuous leer 'for annealing glass ware coln'rising a tunnel. a source of hot gases, a fiile communicating therewith and` arranged in helical form about said tunnel, and a draft producing means to maintain said flue at sub-atmospheric pressure.

4. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, a plurality of fun naces adjacent to the entrance end of said tunnel, and a plurality ot helical flues completely surrounding said tunnel from end to end thereof. one of said fines being connected with each of said `furnaces.

5. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, a furnace adjacent. to the receivin end of said tunnel, a helical flue surroun ing said tunnel and extendinfr from end to end thereofa duct cone n v u x o necting sa1d furnace with said flue enterlng the lattcrin a tangential direction, and means for conveying the ware through said tunnel.

6. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, a furnace adjacent to the receiving end of said tunnel, a helical flue communicating with said furnace and surrounding said tunnel, and an air inlet passage communicating with said flue adjacent to said furnace to supply air for secondary combustion and to dilute the combus tion products.

7. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, a helical heating flue surrounding said tunnel, a plurality of air inlet passages at intervals along said tunnel communicating with said flue, dampers in said passages, and means of creating a draft through said flue and maintaining it at subatmospheric pressure.

8. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, a helical heating flue surrounding said turinel, means for causing a heating medium to flow along said flue at subatmospheric pressure, and means located at intervals along said flue for controlling the temperature thereof.

9. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, a helical flue surrounding said tunnel and extending substantially from end to end thereof, said Hue being effective to conduct a., heating medium entering at one'end and a cooling medium entering at the other end, andra single means lo cause a flow of both media from their respective ends toward a point intermediate the ends.

l0. A continuous leer for annealin glassware comprising a tunnel, a helical ue surrounding said tunnel substantially from end to end thereof, said flue being effective to conduct a heating medium entering at one end. and a cooling medium entering at the other end, a single means to cause a flow of both media from their respective ends to- 'ward a point intermediate the ends, and means to vary the position ot' said point longitudinally of the tunnel.

ll. ,A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel. a helical tine surrounding said tunnel substantially from end to end thereof, said tlue being effective to conduct a heating medium entering at one end and a cooling medium entering at the other end, a single means effective to cause a flow of both media. from their respective ends toward a pointintermediate the ends, and means located at intervals along said flue for controlling the temperature gradient thereof.

12. A continuous leer for annea lng glassware comprising a tunnel, a helica flue surrounding said tunnel substantially from end to end thereof, said flue being etective to conduct a heating medium entering at one end and a cooling medium entering at the other end, a single means effective to cause a iow of both media from their respective ends to ward a point intermediate the ends, means located at intervals along said flue for controlling tlie temperature gradient thereof, and means for determinin the position of said point longitudinally o the flue.

13. A continuous leer for annealin glass ware comprising a tunnel, a helical heating flue surrounding said tunnel, air inlet means located at intervals along said flue, whereby the temperature gradient in the tunnel may be regulated, a draft producing device, a conduit leading thereto along a portion of said tunnel, and a plurality of damper-ed passages located at intervals along said flue and communicating with said conduit, said fine and conduit hein at subatmospheric pressure.

14. A continuous leer for annealing glass- Ware comprising a tunnel, a continuous helical heating flue surrounding said tunnel and communicating at its cooler end with the atmosphere through a dampered opening, means located at intervals along the hotter portions of said flue, to admit variable amounts of air thereto, a conduit extending along the tunnel and communicating with the cooler portion of the {iue through a plurality of dampered openings, and means communicating with said conduit for creating a draft through said line and conduit and maintaining both at subatmospheric pressure.

15. A continuous leer for annealing glass- Ware comprising a tunnel and a pair of lues surrounding said tunnel in a double helix.

16. A continuous leer for annealing glass- Ware comprising artunnel and a plurality of helical ilues completely enveloping said tunnel, each Bue extending substantially from end to end thereof.

17 A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, having a pair of continuous lues surrounding said tunnel in a double helix, each of said iues being adapted to conduct temperature controlling media entering each end and passing inwardl of each Hue, and means at each end of eac of said flues for controlling the passage of media therethrough.

18. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, a pair of continuous flues surrounding'said tunnel in a dou ble helix, each of said flues adapted to be connected at one end to a source of heating media and open at their other ends to the atmosphere, and means to cause a flow of the heating media and air inwardly from their respective ends.

19. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, a pair of 'heating flues surrounding said tunnel in a double helix, and means disposed at intervals along said iues for controlling the temperatures therein.

20. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, a pair of temperature controlling fines surrounding said tunnel in a double helix, dampered air inlet openings disposed at intervals along said flues for controlling the temperature therein, and means to cause the media to ilow in said flues at subatmospheric pressure. f

21. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, a pair of uninterrupted temperature controlling liues surrounding said tunnel in a double helix, the cooler ends of said lues communicating with a, source of cooling medium, and means for' causing a flow of heating media through portions of said lilies in one direction and the cooling medium through the remaining portions of said flues in the opposite direction.

22. A continuous leer for annealin glassware comprising a tunnel, a pair of eating flues surrounding said tunnel in a double helix, the cooler ends of said lues communicating with a source of cooling medium, means for causing 'a low of heating media through portions of said lues in one direction and the cooling medium through the remaining portions of said lues in the opposite direction, and independent means in each iue for varying the lengths of said portions.

23. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, a pair of heating lues surrounding said tunnel in a double helix, a suction device, a conduit leading along said tunnel, and a plurality of dampered passages communicating between each of said flues and said conduit, whereby to control the effective length of said heating flues and the temperature gradient in said tunnel.

24. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, a pair of uninterrupted temperature controlling flues surrounding said tunnel in a double helix a plurality of dampered air inlet openings 'sposed at intervals along each Hue, a suction device, a conduit leadin therefrom along said tunnel, and a plurality of independent dampered passages communicating between each of said flues and said conduit, whereby] independently to control the effective lengt of said flues and the temperature gradient in said tunnel, said suction device maintaining both ilues at subatmospheric pressure.

25. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel, a pair of temperature controlling flues surrounding said tunnel in a double helix, means adjacent to the hotter ends of said lines for supplying independently regulable amounts of heating media thereto, a plurality of independent dampered air inlet openings disposed at intervals along each flue, a suction device, a conduit leading therefrom along said tunnel, and a plurality of independent dam ered passages communicating between each o said lues and said conduit, whereby to control the effective length of said heating iues and the.

temperature gradient in said tunnel, said suction device maintaining both flues at subatmospheric pressure.

26. A continuous leer for annealin glassware comprising a tunnel, a helical eating flue surrounding said tunnel, a furnace adjacent to the entrance end of the leer, a assage for directing the products of com ustion from said furnace tangentially into said flue, said tunnel bein constructed of a plurality of interchangeab e cast iron sections arranged end to end, a support for said leer, means for mounting sai sections on said suplport and permitting their free expansion wit respect thereto, and an endless conveyor for moving ware through said tunnel.

27. A continuous leer for annealing. glassware comprising a tunnel, a flue associated therewith and extending substantially from end to end thereof for controlling the temperatures within said tunnel, said flue being effective to conduct a heating medium entering at one end and a cooling medium enterin at the other end, a single means to cause a glow of both media from their respective ends toward a point intermediate their ends, and means to vary the position of said point longitudinally of the tunnel.

28. A continuous leer for annealing glasse, ware comprising a tunnel, a temperature con:

trolling flue associated therewith, air inlet` means located at intervals along said flue, whereby the temperature gradient in the tunnel may be regulated, a draft producing device, a conduit leading thereto along a portion of said tunnel, and a plurality of dampered passages located at intervals along said Hue and communicating with said conduit, said flue and conduit being at subatmospheric pressure.

29. A continuous leer for annealing glassware comprisin a tunnel, a heated flue assocated therewit means to supply hot gases to said ue'adjacent to the entrance e'nd of .5 said tunnel, air inlet located at intex'velsA along said flue, wl'gellehyv the temperature gradient in the tunnel may be r lated, a draft reducing devi a. conduit eading thereto a on a portion o snixltlmnel, and a tervals along sind flue and communicating with sd conduit; said Hue and condutbei atsubatmospheric pressure. o

igled at Hartford, Connecticut, this 15th u day of November, 1927. y

' VERGIL MULHOLLAND.

lo plurality of ampered passages located at intervals along said flue and communicating with said conduit, said Hue and conduit beat subatmospheric pressure. igned at Hartford, Connecticut, this 15th 15 day of November, 1927.

VERGIL MULHOLLAND.

VCERTiFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,790,434. Granted January 27, 1931, to

VERGIL MULHOLLAND.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, line 2, strike out the word "continuous"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of February, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patente..

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,790,434. Granted January 27, 1931, to

VERGIL MULHOLLAND.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, line 2, strike out the word "continuous"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of February, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore, (Sell) Acting Commissioner of Patente.,

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