Method and apparatus for oxygen refinement of a glass melt

Abstract

An apparatus for making glass in which a glass melt is refined in a vessel with oxygen is described. It includes a melt-containing vessel ( 10 ) having a refining region ( 3 ) for refinement of the glass melt and a noble metal member for producing oxygen in the melt. The noble metal member ( 40 ) has an outer side facing the glass melt and an inner side facing away from the glass melt washed with and acted on with oxygen. Oxygen-containing bubbles are vigorously generated on the outer side of the noble metal member facing the glass melt when the inner side is washed with the oxygen.

What is claimed is new and is set forth in the following appended claims:  
     
         1 - 10 . (canceled)  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for refining a glass melt, said apparatus comprising a glass melt-containing vessel ( 10 ) including a refining region ( 30 ) in which said glass melt is refined and a noble metal member ( 40 ) arranged in the refining region ( 30 ) and wherein said noble metal member has one side facing said glass melt and another side acted on with oxygen facing away from the glass melt.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of said one side of said noble metal member facing said glass melt contacts said glass melt and said another side facing away from the glass melt does not contact said glass melt.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said vessel ( 10 ) has a vessel bottom part and said noble metal member consists of said vessel bottom part.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said noble metal member is a mechanical stirring device.  
     
     
         15 . A glass for at least one of liquid crystal display devices, thin film transistors, monitors, television picture tubes, optical lenses, cooking units, microwave units, electrical devices, cooking ranges, window glass, lamp glass and display glass, wherein said glass is made by a method including refining a glass melt, said refining comprising the steps of: 
 a) arranging at least one noble metal member in the glass melt, said at least one noble metal member having an inner surface facing away from the glass melt and an outer surface facing toward the glass melt; and    b) bringing oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas mixture into contact with the inner surface of the at least one noble metal member facing away from the glass melt so as to act on the inner surface with said oxygen or said oxygen-containing gas.