Melting Furnace Having Infinite Furnace Campaign

Abstract

The invention relates to methods and to devices for a melting furnace, or for the conveying lines of the product to be melted, having an infinite life (furnace campaign). The same is achieved by means of the continuous/periodic, e.g. cyclic, exchange, in the optimum case, of all of the components surrounding the furnace interior/melting space, or surrounding the conveying lines, in that the components can be arranged/placed next to each other in a modular manner and that said components move in a certain direction while new individual parts are added at one of the free ends of the respective assembly and while worn/used individual parts are removed at the other free end of the respective assembly. For this purpose the individual components are held and/or moved by suitable receptacles, wherein the furnace interior/melting chamber remains stationary.

1 . Method for melting furnaces, in particular for melting glass, and/or for haulage tracks for the melt ( 13 ), in which component subassemblies ( 1 ,  4 ,  7 ,  10 ,  14 ,  17 ,  20 ,  23 ) surrounding the furnace interior/melting space and/or haulage tracks surrounding the melt ( 13 ) are provided, characterised in that the component subassemblies ( 1 ,  4 ,  7 ,  10 ,  14 ,  17 ,  20 ,  23 ) surrounding the furnace interior/melting space and/or the haulage tracks surrounding the melt ( 13 ) are cyclically exchangeable without interruption of the melt or transport process. 
     
     
         2 . Method of  claim 1  characterised in that the base ( 1 ) is exchangeable. 
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1  characterised in that at least an individual element of the base ( 1   a ) is exchangeable. 
     
     
         4 . Method of  claims 1  and  2 , characterised in that the base ( 1 ) moves translationally. 
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claims 1  and  3 , characterised in that at least one individual element of the base ( 1   a ) moves translationally. 
     
     
         6 . Method of  claims 1  and  2 , characterised in that the base ( 1 ) moves rotationally. 
     
     
         7 . Method of  claims 1  and  3 , characterised in that at least one individual element of the base ( 1   a ) moves rotationally. 
     
     
         8 . Method of  claim 1  and at least one of  claims 2  and  7 , characterised in that at least one individual element of the base ( 1   a ) is movable with respect to the direction of movement of the ground plate ( 1 ) in more than one plane. 
     
     
         9 . Method of  claim 1 , characterised in that the end wall ( 4 ,  7 ) is exchangeable. 
     
     
         10 . Method of  claim 1 , characterised in that at least an individual element of the end wall ( 4   a,    7   a ) is exchangeable. 
     
     
         11 . Method of  claims 1  and  9 , characterised in that the end wall ( 4 ,  7 ) moves translationally. 
     
     
         12 . Method of  claims 1  and  10 , characterised in that at least one individual element of the end wall ( 4   a,    7   a ) moves translationally. 
     
     
         13 . Method of  claims 1  and  9  characterised in that the end wall of ( 4 ,  7 ) moves rotationally. 
     
     
         14 . Method of  claims 1  and  10 , characterised in that at least one individual element of the end wall ( 4   a,    7   a ) moves rotationally. 
     
     
         15 . Method of  claim 1  and at least one of  claims 9  to  14 , characterised in that at least one individual element of the end wall ( 4   a,    7   a ) is movable with respect to the direction of movement of the end wall ( 4 ,  7 ) in more than one plane. 
     
     
         16 . Method of  claim 1  characterised in that the sidewall ( 10 . 1   a  to  10 . 1   n,    10 . 1   b  to  10 . nb ,  14 ,  17 ,  20 ) is exchangeable. 
     
     
         17 . Method of  claim 1 , characterised in that at least one individual element of the sidewall ( 10 . 1   a  to  10 . na ,  10 . 1   b  to  10 . nb ,  14   a,    17   a,    20   a ) is exchangeable. 
     
     
         18 . Method of  claims 1  and  16  characterised in that the sidewall ( 10 . 1   a  to  10 . 1   n,    10 . 1   b  to  10 . nb ,  14 ,  17 ,  20 ) moves translationally. 
     
     
         19 . Method of  claims 1  and  17 , characterised in that at least one individual element of the sidewall ( 10 . 1   a  to  10 . 1   n,    10 . 1   b  to  10 . nb ,  14 ,  17 ,  20 ) moves translationally. 
     
     
         20 . Method of  claims 1  and  16  characterised in that the sidewall ( 10 . 1   a  to  10 . 1   n,    10 . 1   b  to  10 . nb ,  14 ,  17 ,  20 ) moves rotationally. 
     
     
         21 . Method of  claims 1  and  17 , characterised in that at least one individual element of the sidewall ( 10 . 1   a  to  10 . 1   n,    10 . 1   b  to  10 . nb ,  14 ,  17 ,  20 ) moves rotationally. 
     
     
         22 . Method of  claim 1  and at least one of  claims 16  to  21 , characterised in that at least one individual element of the sidewall ( 10 . 1   a  to  10 . 1   n,    10 . 1   b  to  10 . nb ,  14 ,  17 ,  20 ) is moveable with respect to the direction of movement of the sidewall in more than one plane. 
     
     
         23 . Method of  claim 1 , characterised in that the vault ( 10 . 1   c  to  10 . nc ) is exchangeable. 
     
     
         24 . Method of  claim 1 , characterised in that at least one individual element of the vault ( 10 . 1   c  to  10 . nc ) is exchangeable. 
     
     
         25 . Method of  claims 1  and  23 , characterised in that the vault ( 10 . 1   c  to  10 . nc ) moves translationally. 
     
     
         26 . Method of  claims 1  and  24 , characterised in that at least one individual element of the vault ( 10 . 1   c  to  10 . nc ) moves translationally. 
     
     
         27 . Method of  claims 1  and  23 , characterised in that the vault ( 10 . 1   c  to  10 . nc ) moves rotationally. 
     
     
         28 . Method of  claims 1  and  24 , characterised in that at least one individual element of the vault ( 10 . 1   c  to  10 . nc ) moves rotationally. 
     
     
         29 . Method of  claim 1  and at least one of  claims 23  to  28 , characterised in that at least one individual element of the vault ( 10 . 1   c  to  10 . nc ) is displaceable with respect to the direction of movement of the vault ( 10 . 1   c  to  10 . nc ) in more than one plane. 
     
     
         30 . Method of  claim 1 , characterised in that at least one bridge wall is exchangeable. 
     
     
         31 . Method of  claim 1 , characterised in that at least one individual element of at least one bride wall is exchangeable. 
     
     
         32 . Method of  claims 1  and  30 , characterised in that at least one bridge wall moves translationally. 
     
     
         33 . Method of  claims 1  and  31 , characterised in that at least one individual element with at least one bridge wall moves translationally. 
     
     
         34 . Method of  claims 1  and  30 , characterised in that at least one bridge wall displaces rotationally. 
     
     
         35 . Method of  claims 1  and  31 , characterised in that at least one individual element of at least one bride wall displaces rotationally. 
     
     
         36 . Method of  claim 1  and at least one of  claims 30  to  35 , characterised in that at least one individual element of at least one bridge wall is moveable with respect of the direction of the movement of the bridge wall in more than one plane. 
     
     
         37 . Method of  claim 1 , characterised in that all component subassemblies ( 1 ,  4 ,  7 ,  10 ,  14 ,  17 ,  20 ,  23 ) surrounding the interior are exchangeable. 
     
     
         38 . Method of  claims 1  and  37 , characterised in that all component subassemblies ( 1 ,  4 ,  7 ,  10 ,  14 ,  17 ,  20 ,  23 ) surrounding the interior moves translationally. 
     
     
         39 . Method of  claims 1  and  37 , characterised in that all component subassemblies ( 1 ,  4 ,  7 ,  10 ,  14 ,  17 ,  20 ,  23 ) surrounding the interior move rotationally. 
     
     
         40 . Apparatus for melting furnaces in particular for melting glass, and/or for haulage tracks for melt ( 13 ) in which component subassemblies ( 1 ,  4 ,  7 ,  10 ,  14 ,  17 ,  20 ,  23 ) surrounding the furnace interior/melting space and/or haulage tracks surrounding the melt are provided, characterised in that the component subassemblies ( 1 ,  4 ,  7 ,  10 ,  14 ,  17 ,  20 ,  23 ) surrounding the furnace interior/melting space and/or the haulage tracks surrounding the melt ( 13 ) can be exchanged selectively and cyclically without substantially interrupting the melt or transport process. 
     
     
         41 . Apparatus of  claim 40 , characterised in that the base ( 1 ) is planar. 
     
     
         42 . Apparatus of  claim 40 , characterised in that the base ( 1 ) is cylindrical. 
     
     
         43 . Apparatus of  claim 40 , characterised in that the base ( 1 ) is a cylinder segment. 
     
     
         44 . Apparatus of  claim 40  and at least one of  claims 41  to  43 , characterised in that the base ( 1 ) comprises at least one piece. 
     
     
         45 . Apparatus of  claim 40  and at least one of  claims 41  to  43 , characterised in that the base ( 1 ) comprises a plurality of individual elements ( 1   a ). 
     
     
         46 . Apparatus of  claim 40 , characterised in that the end wall ( 4 ,  7 ) is planar. 
     
     
         47 . Apparatus of  claim 40 , characterised in that the end wall ( 4 ,  7 ) is cylindrical. 
     
     
         48 . Apparatus of  claim 40 , characterised in that the end wall ( 4 ,  7 ) is a cylinder segment. 
     
     
         49 . Apparatus of  claim 40  and at least one of  claims 46  to  48 , characterised in that the end wall ( 4 ,  7 ) consists of at least one piece. 
     
     
         50 . Apparatus of  claim 40  and at least one of  claims 46  to  48 , characterised in that the end wall ( 4 ,  7 ) comprises a plurality of individual elements ( 4   a,    7   a ). 
     
     
         51 . Apparatus of  claim 40 , characterised in that the sidewall ( 10 . 1   a  to  10 . na ,  10 . 1   b  to  10 . nb ,  14 ,  17 ,  20 ) is planar. 
     
     
         52 . Apparatus of  claim 40 , characterised in that the sidewall ( 10 . 1   a  to  10 . na ,  10 . 1   b  to  10 . nb ,  14 ,  17 ,  20 ) is cylindrical. 
     
     
         53 . Apparatus of  claim 40 , characterised in that the sidewall ( 10 . 1   a  to  10 . na ,  10 . 1   b  to  10 . nb ,  14 ,  17 ,  20 ) is a cylinder segment. 
     
     
         54 . Apparatus of  claim 40  and at least one of  claims 51  to  53 , characterised in that the sidewall ( 10 . 1   a  to  10 . na ,  10 . 1   b  to  10 . nb ,  14 ,  17 ,  20 ) comprises at least one element. 
     
     
         55 . Apparatus of  claim 40  and at least one of  claims 51  to  53 , characterised in that the sidewall ( 10 . 1   a  to  10 . na ,  10 . 1   b  to  10 . nb ,  14 ,  17 ,  20 ) comprises a plurality of individual elements. 
     
     
         56 . Apparatus of  claim 40 , characterised in that the vault ( 10 . 1   c  to  10 . nc ) is planar. 
     
     
         57 . Apparatus of  claim 40 , characterised in that the vault ( 10 . 1   c  to  10 . nc ) is cylindrical. 
     
     
         58 . Apparatus of  claim 40 , characterised in that the vault ( 10 . 1   c  to  10 . nc ) is a cylinder segment. 
     
     
         59 . Apparatus of  claim 40  and at least one of  claims 56  to  58 , characterised in that the vault ( 10 . 1   c  to  10 . nc ) comprises at least one element. 
     
     
         60 . Apparatus of  claim 40  and at least one of  claims 56  to  58 , characterised in that the vault ( 10 . 1   c  to  10 . nc ) comprises a plurality of individual elements. 
     
     
         61 . Apparatus of  claim 40 , characterised in that at least one bridge wall is planar. 
     
     
         62 . Apparatus of  claim 40 , characterised in that at least one bride wall is cylindrical. 
     
     
         63 . Apparatus of  claim 40 , characterised in that at least one bride wall is a cylinder segment. 
     
     
         64 . Apparatus of  claim 40  and at least one of  claims 61  to  63 , characterised in that at least one bride wall comprises at least one element. 
     
     
         65 . Apparatus of  claim 40  and at least one of  claims 61  to  63 , characterised in that at least one bride wall comprises a plurality of individual elements. 
     
     
         66 . Apparatus of  claim 40 , characterised in that all component subassemblies surrounding the interior ( 1 ,  4 ,  7 ,  10 ,  14 ,  17 ,  20 ,  23 ) comprise a plurality of individual elements ( 1   a ,  4   a,    7   a,    10 . 1   a  to  10 . na ,  10 . 1   b  to  10 . nb ,  10 . 1   c  to  10 . nc ,  14   a ,  17   a,    20   a,    23   a ).