The present disclosure provides an apparatus for eliminating a heterogeneous glass present in the top surface of a molten glass effectively, and a melting furnace and a glass manufacturing apparatus comprising the same. The apparatus for eliminating a heterogeneous glass according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a storage bath having an inlet and an outlet to receive a molten glass fed into the inlet and to discharge the received molten glass through the outlet, and an evacuating opening formed on the top of the storage bath, the evacuating opening allowing the received molten glass to overflow; a first gate being mounted close to the outlet of the storage bath to adjust an open area, thereby controlling the flow rate of the molten glass to be discharged through the outlet; and a second gate being mounted close to the inlet of the storage bath to control the height of the molten glass received in the storage bath at the section in which the evacuating opening is formed.

A delivery conduit system for a glass manufacturing apparatus, the conduit system including a drain assembly configured to allow draining molten glass from the delivery conduit system. The drain assembly includes heating means and cooling means that can open a drain flow of molten glass from components of the conduit system and shut off flow to the forming body by selectively modifying the fluid impedance presented to the molten glass by the drain assembly.

Method for removing bubbles from a molten substrate. The molten substrate from a furnace passes through a downtube to reach additional manufacturing tools, such as an extrusion bushing. One or more ultrasonic sensors are arranged along the downtube. The ultrasonic sensor(s) transmit ultrasonic energy into the molten substrate and measure a characteristic of the ultrasonic energy, such as a propagation time for the ultrasonic energy to be reflected back to the ultrasonic sensor(s). A bubble is detected when a change in the Characteristic of the ultrasonic energy is detected. When a bubble is detected, flow through the downtube is diverted to a duct to remove a slug of molten substrate that includes the bubble.

A glass melt production apparatus, which comprises a melting vessel, a vacuum degassing apparatus, a first conducting pipe structure connecting the melting vessel and the vacuum degassing apparatus, and a second conducting pipe structure to introduce a glass melt to a forming means, provided downstream the vacuum degassing apparatus; the vacuum degassing apparatus having an uprising pipe through which the glass melt from the melting vessel ascends, a vacuum degassing vessel, and a downfalling pipe through which the glass melt from the vacuum degassing vessel descends; the flow path of the glass melt in the uprising pipe, the vacuum degassing vessel and the downfalling pipe being made of a refractory material; the first conducting pipe structure having an upstream pit to supply the glass melt to the uprising pipe; and the second conducting pipe structure having a downstream pit containing the glass melt from the downfalling pipe; the glass melt production apparatus further comprising a third conducting pipe structure connecting the upstream pit and the downstream pit; and the third conducting pipe structure having a closing means to shut off a flow of the glass melt in the third conducting pipe structure; the third conducting pipe structure or the closing means having a glass melt flow path for emergencies, which allows the glass melt to pass therethrough, depending on the height of a liquid level of the glass melt in the third conducting pipe structure in the vicinity of the closing means.

Method and apparatus for removing bubbles from a molten substrate. The molten substrate from a furnace passes through a downtube to reach additional manufacturing tools, such as an extrusion bushing. One or more ultrasonic sensors are arranged along the downtube. The ultrasonic sensor(s) transmit ultrasonic energy into the molten substrate and measure a characteristic of the ultrasonic energy, such as a propagation time for the ultrasonic energy to be reflected back to the ultrasonic sensor(s). A bubble is detected when a change in the characteristic of the ultrasonic energy is detected. When a bubble is detected, flow through the downtube is diverted to a duct to remove a slug of molten substrate that includes the bubble.

Method for removing bubbles from a molten substrate. The molten substrate from a furnace passes through a downtube to reach additional manufacturing tools, such as an extrusion bushing. One or more ultrasonic sensors are arranged along the downtube. The ultrasonic sensor(s) transmit ultrasonic energy into the molten substrate and measure a characteristic of the ultrasonic energy, such as a propagation time for the ultrasonic energy to be reflected back to the ultrasonic sensor(s). A bubble is detected when a change in the Characteristic of the ultrasonic energy is detected. When a bubble is detected, flow through the downtube is diverted to a duct to remove a slug of molten substrate that includes the bubble.

A method of producing glass includes discharging an outflow (22, 1022) of fined molten glass from a fining tank (18, 1018) of a vacuum induction fining apparatus (10, 1010) and delivering the fined molten glass into a thermal conditioning tank (16, 1016) that is separated from the fining tank by an open space (26, 1026) occupied by an ambient environment (24, 1024). The fining tank includes a vertically-elongated housing (80, 1080) that defines an interior fining chamber (82, 1082) where a bath (76, 1076) of molten glass is collected and maintained. The interior fining chamber is maintained at subatmospheric pressure and the housing is surrounded by at least one induction coil (74, 1074) to introduce heat into the molten glass bath. The vacuum maintained in the interior fining chamber and the heating supplied by the induction coil(s) promote the ascension of gas bubbles upwards through the molten glass bath. A glass-producing system that includes the vacuum induction fining apparatus is also disclosed.

A method of producing glass includes discharging an outflow of fined molten glass from a fining tank of a vacuum induction fining apparatus and delivering the fined molten glass into a thermal conditioning tank that is separated from the fining tank by an open space occupied by an ambient environment. The fining tank includes a vertically-elongated housing that defines an interior fining chamber where a bath of molten glass is collected and maintained. The interior fining chamber is maintained at subatmospheric pressure and the housing is surrounded by at least one induction coil to introduce heat into the molten glass bath. The vacuum maintained in the interior fining chamber and the heating supplied by the induction coil(s) promote the ascension of gas bubbles upwards through the molten glass bath. A glass-producing system that includes the vacuum induction fining apparatus is also disclosed.