A glass product manufacturing apparatus and a method of manufacturing glass products are disclosed. The glass product manufacturing apparatus includes a melting vessel, a support grating configured to support an outer wall of the melting vessel, a cooling module configured to cool the outer wall of the melting vessel, on the support grating, and a support frame detachably fastened to the support grating to limit a movement of the support grating. By using the glass product manufacturing apparatus and the method of manufacturing glass products, high energy efficiency is maintained even when operating, and a defect rate is reduced.

An apparatus and method of refining molten glass are disclosed. An upstream vessel contains molten glass, a downstream vessel is arranged downstream of the upstream vessel, and vacuum refining vessels are located between the upstream vessel and the downstream vessel and are in separate, alternating fluid communication with the upstream vessel and in separate, alternating fluid communication with the downstream vessel.

An apparatus and method of refining molten glass are disclosed. An upstream vessel contains molten glass, a downstream vessel is arranged downstream of the upstream vessel, and vacuum refining vessels are located between the upstream vessel and the downstream vessel and are in separate, alternating fluid communication with the upstream vessel and in separate, alternating fluid communication with the downstream vessel.

Disclosed is an apparatus for conditioning molten glass. The apparatus includes a connecting tube assembly having a conduit for conveying the molten glass, the conduit including at least two flanges and a sealing member disposed between the at least two flanges around an outer peripheral region of the flanges, thereby forming an enclosed volume between an outer wall of the conduit, the at least two flanges and the sealing member. An atmosphere within the volume may be controlled such that a predetermined partial pressure of hydrogen or a predetermined partial pressure of oxygen may be maintained within the volume. A current may be established between the at least two flanges to heat the conduit.

Disclosed is an apparatus for conditioning molten glass. The apparatus includes a connecting tube assembly having a conduit for conveying the molten glass, the conduit including at least two flanges and a sealing member disposed between the at least two flanges around an outer peripheral region of the flanges, thereby forming an enclosed volume between an outer wall of the conduit, the at least two flanges and the sealing member. An atmosphere within the volume may be controlled such that a predetermined partial pressure of hydrogen or a predetermined partial pressure of oxygen may be maintained within the volume. A current may be established between the at least two flanges to heat the conduit.

Heating devices can comprise an electrode, a bracket clamped to a rear end portion of the electrode, and a conductive panel comprising an inner face forced toward a rear face of the electrode by the bracket. In further embodiments, methods of assembling the heating device can comprise clamping the bracket to the rear end portion of the electrode and forcing the inner face of the conductive panel toward the rear face of the electrode with the bracket. In further embodiments, apparatus comprising the heating device can comprise a vessel with at least a portion of the electrode received within an opening of at least one wall. In further embodiments, methods can comprise heating molten material within a containment area of the vessel with the electrode and adjusting the position of the electrode relative to the opening of the wall.

A glass fiber tank kiln passage crown structure includes a chest wall brick, a supporting column built on a top of the chest wall brick, and a crown having an arch structure. Two ends of the crown are built on the supporting column, and a span of the crown is in a range from 0.5 meters to 4 meters.

A gradient fining tank and a method of operating the tank to refine foamy molten glass is disclosed. The gradient fining tank includes a floor, a roof, and two laterally-spaced sidewalls that at least partially define an interior chamber of the tank. The floor of the tank is profiled to provide the tank with an extended shallow portion that defines an inlet to the interior chamber and a deep holding portion that defines an outlet from the interior chamber. An entry section of the floor provides the extended shallow portion of the tank and a transition section and exit section of the floor provide the deep holding portion. A depth of the interior chamber at an outlet end of the deep holding portion is greater than a depth of the interior chamber at the outlet end of the extended shallow portion.

In manufacturing a glass article (GR) by causing a molten glass (GM) to flow through a transfer pipe (12) and to be transferred, the transfer pipe (12) includes: a pipe end portion (14) being an end portion in a pipe axis direction; a pipe-shaped portion (15); and a joining portion (16) configured to join the pipe end portion (14) and the pipe-shaped portion (15) to each other. The pipe end portion (14) includes a flange portion (17) and a curved portion (18) extending from an inner peripheral end (17a) of the flange portion (17) toward the pipe-shaped portion (15) side and being reduced in diameter toward the pipe-shaped portion (15) side. The pipe end portion (14) is made of a material having a smaller creep rupture strength and/or a larger creep strain rate than the pipe-shaped portion (15) at 1,500 C. and 1,000 hours.

In manufacturing a glass article (GR) by causing a molten glass (GM) to flow through a transfer pipe (12) and to be transferred, the transfer pipe (12) includes: a pipe end portion (14) being an end portion in a pipe axis direction; a pipe-shaped portion (15); and a joining portion (16) configured to join the pipe end portion (14) and the pipe-shaped portion (15) to each other. The pipe end portion (14) includes a flange portion (17) and a curved portion (18) extending from an inner peripheral end (17a) of the flange portion (17) toward the pipe-shaped portion (15) side and being reduced in diameter toward the pipe-shaped portion (15) side. The pipe end portion (14) is made of a material having a smaller creep rupture strength and/or a larger creep strain rate than the pipe-shaped portion (15) at 1,500 C. and 1,000 hours.