glass factory tank drain video

[deadend]

i work at a glass factory in Newark,Oh, we are rebuilding our glass furance here are some videos of it being drained.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUSAF6_z_Os[/ame]
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO3O2N5uNRc[/ame]

 

[Tin Falcon]

OK I am curios . your first post is off topic you have been here a day . You have not really broken any rules. but this is a hobby board dedicated to model engine building.
Could you please post an introduction in the welcome section. Tell us about yourself. Your shop tools and about your interest in model engine building.

I am not a mind reader please tell us why you are here.
Tin

 

[Tin Falcon]

Deadend: thanks for promptly posting the introduction.
Hope you did not mind the slight prodding.
I expect folk here will enjoy the videos.

tin

 

[cfellows]

Interesting. Is the glass being forced out of the tank with steam or air? Looks like it is under pressure.

Chuck

 

[deadend]

Don't for sure because we weren't aloud to get that close. All I know they knock a hole down low in the tank and insert a large pipe. I would say they mix water as it is coming out. The last time they rebuilt the furance was 8 yrs. ago.

 

[cwelkie]

Ahhh the memories ... thirty years in the game of making something useful (glass) from "dirt". Too bad so many of these plants have been closed down over the years. Must be getting old - beverages belong in glass and airlines should serve real food ... on china with silver ware.

The furnaces, in my experience, simply rely on gravity to drain. The water "lubricates" the troughs and helps cool/control the flow. You gotta remember this is a very old industry ... not too much "rocket science" going on here. One can't go to university to learn how to truly make and mold glass.

Seeing a tank drain under control is impressive - you don't want to see one that has sprung a leak!!!

Cheers
Charlie

 

[mcostello]

I have 17 years experience in a glass factory. Family has over 140 years experience total. Have seen many tank drains. Rumor was told about a tank break that emptied itself in the basement unexpectedly , there was a man sweeping up when it happened, He was never found, nor any trace of Him. Also have 9 months experience in a steel mill, furnace dropped the bottom on 300 tons of liquid steel. A group of old timers were along side the floor about 100 yards away when it let go. They started running over very rough ground with difficulty. We were laughing about it until the steel almost caught up to them. If they had not started running when they did the outcome would have been different.