A heater for melting glass includes: a heating member containing carbon (C) configured to emit heat rays upon power feeding; and a tubular member made of metal configured to have one end closed, and to house the heating member. The heating member includes a first heat generating part and a second heat generating part along an extending axis direction of the heater, and the first heat generating part is arranged at a position closer to the one end of the tubular member than is the second heat generating part. Denoting a unit-length resistance of the first heat generating part along the extending axis direction by X (Ω/m), and denoting a unit-length resistance of the second heat generating part by Y (Ω/m),

( 1/30)X<Y<(½)X  Formula (1)

is satisfied.

A heater includes a heat generating member being conductive and configured to radiate heat rays by being fed with electric power, and a tubular member constituting of a metal and accommodating the heat generating member, wherein the heat generating member is composed of a material containing carbon at 80% or more by mass, the tubular member is composed of a material including one or more selected from platinum, rhodium, tungsten, iridium, and molybdenum, and an insulating material is not provided between the heat generating member and the tubular member.

A method for manufacturing a glass article includes a heating step that heats a heating object made of glass. The heating step includes heating the heating object by converting, by a converter arranged between the heating object and a radiant heat source that radiates infrared light, a spectrum of the infrared light radiated from the radiant heat source and causing the heating object to absorb the infrared light radiated from the converter. The converter includes: an infrared light absorber that generates heat by absorbing the infrared light radiated from the radiant heat source; and an infrared light radiator made of a silicon-containing material. The infrared light radiator is heated through thermal conduction from the infrared light absorber. At least part of a surface of the converter facing the heating object includes at least part of a surface of the infrared light radiator.

A heating element for use in a system for melting materials during the production of a glass or ceramic material is disclosed. A method for melting materials during the production of a glass or ceramic material is also disclosed. The heating element comprises a first coupling member configured to couple to a first side of the interior of a melt tank; a second coupling member configured to couple to a second side of the interior of the melt tank; and at least one elongate strip extending between the first coupling member and the second coupling member. The at least one elongate strip is integral with the first coupling member and the second coupling member. The heating element is configured such that during a heating operation, current flows between the first coupling member and the second coupling member of the heating element, along the at least one elongate strip to thereby radiate heat to materials located within the interior of the melt tank.

A method for manufacturing a glass article includes a heating step that heats a heating object made of glass. The heating step includes heating the heating object by converting, by a converter arranged between the heating object and a radiant heat source that radiates infrared light, a spectrum of the infrared light radiated from the radiant heat source and causing the heating object to absorb the infrared light radiated from the converter. The converter includes: an infrared light absorber that generates heat by absorbing the infrared light radiated from the radiant heat source; and an infrared light radiator made of a silicon-containing material. The infrared light radiator is heated through thermal conduction from the infrared light absorber. At least part of a surface of the converter facing the heating object includes at least part of a surface of the infrared light radiator.

An apparatus for transferring molten glass includes a wall including a refractory material and a metal layer provided on an inside of the refractory material, the metal layer coming into contact with the molten glass, and the metal layer being configured to guide the molten glass, the apparatus including a heater including a metal cover protruding to an inside of the wall, the metal cover coming into contact with the molten glass, the heater including a heat generating element electrically insulated from the metal cover, and the heat generating element receiving electric power to radiate heat rays to heat the metal cover from an inside.

A system for melting materials during the production of a glass or ceramic material is disclosed. A method for melting materials during the production of a glass or ceramic material is also disclosed. The system comprises a melt tank having an interior with a width and a length; and an electrode array comprising a plurality of elongate electrodes each extending at least partially across the width of the interior of the melt tank in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of the interior of the melt tank. Each electrode within the electrode array is spaced apart from an adjacent electrode within the electrode array by from about 5 mm to 100 mm. The electrode array is configured such that during a heating operation, current flows between adjacent electrodes within the electrode array, such that heat is radiated from the electrodes to materials located within the interior of the melt tank.

An assembly provides electrical current to molten glass in a glass melting tank. The assembly includes a structure having an electrode that is in contact with the molten glass, and a fluid-cooled connection apparatus. The fluid-cooled connection apparatus includes a first connection element electrically connected to a current source and a second connection element electrically connected to the current source, where the first and second connection elements are spaced apart from each other; and an electrical cross-connect strut having a first end secured to the first connection element and a second end secured to the second connection element. The assembly also includes a bus bar electrically connected to the fluid-cooled connection apparatus and to an electrode. The current source provides a current to the molten glass via the structure and the electrode for heating the molten glass through resistive heating.

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.

According to the present invention, provided is a heater including a heat generating member being conductive and configured to radiate heat rays by being fed with electric power, a tubular member constituted by a metal and accommodating the heat generating member, and an intermediate member arranged between the heat generating member and the tubular member and constituted by an electrically insulating material, wherein the intermediate member is arranged and/or configured to allow, among the heat rays radiated from the heat generating member, at least light having a wavelength of from 1 m to 2 m to pass through the intermediate member to reach the tubular member.