FEEDER ALCOVE AND BATCH FEEDING APPARATUS FOR A MELTER

1 . A batch feeding apparatus, comprising:

a feeder alcove for providing batch material to a melter, the feeder alcove including at least one side wall and a cover; and

a batch feeder sealingly coupled to the cover, that feeds the batch material to the feeder alcove.

2 . The batch feeding apparatus set forth in claim 1 , wherein the feeder alcove comprises at least one fluid-cooled panel.

3 . The batch feeding apparatus set forth in claim 1 , wherein the feeder alcove comprises a plurality of panels.

4 . The batch feeding apparatus set forth in claim 1 , wherein the feeder alcove comprises at least one bubbler configured to provide compressed gas into the feeder alcove.

5 . The batch feeding apparatus set forth in claim 1 , wherein the feeder alcove is sealed from an outside atmosphere.

6 . The batch feeding apparatus set forth in claim 5 , wherein the feeder alcove is at a reduced pressure.

7 . The batch feeding apparatus set forth in claim 1 , wherein the batch material comprises a raw material-to-cullet ratio between 1:0 and 0:1.

8 . The batch feeding apparatus set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:

an extendable panel that extends downwardly below a batch inlet of the feeder alcove to molten glass, and is configured to maintain contact with the molten glass to seal off a feeder alcove interior and to restrict and reduce batch material passing from the feeder alcove directly to an exhaust.

9 . The batch feeding apparatus set forth in claim 1 , wherein the batch feeder includes a feed tube vertically oriented with respect to the feeder alcove.

10 . The batch feeding apparatus set forth in claim 1 , wherein the batch feeder is oriented at an oblique angle to the feeder alcove.

11 . The batch feeding apparatus set forth in claim 1 , wherein the batch feeder includes at least one of a screw conveyor or an extruder.

12 . The batch feeding apparatus set forth in claim 1 , wherein the batch feeder includes a feed tube sealingly coupled to the cover of the feeder alcove.

13 . The batch feeding apparatus set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:

a heating device configured to provide heat to the feeder alcove.

14 . The batch feeding apparatus set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:

a cleaning device configured to clear a batch inlet of the feeder alcove.

15 . The batch feeding apparatus set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:

a storage device that provides batch material to the batch feeder.

16 . A batch feeding system, comprising:

a melter; and

the batch feeding apparatus of claim 1 in upstream communication with the melter.

17 . A method of providing vitrifiable feed material to a melter, comprising:

providing vitrifiable feed material to a batch feeder;

carrying the vitrifiable feed material with the batch feeder to a feeder alcove with at least one side wall and a cover, wherein the batch feeder is sealingly coupled to the cover, and wherein the feeder alcove is at a reduced pressure;

melting the vitrifiable feed material in the melter, where the melter is in downstream communication with the feeder alcove.

18 . The method set forth in claim 17 , further comprising:

providing compressed gas to at least one of the feeder alcove or the melter.

19 . The method set forth in claim 17 , further comprising:

adjusting an extendable panel carried by at least one of the melter or the feeder alcove based on a melt level in the melter, the extendable panel configured to maintain contact with glass melt in the melter to seal off a feeder alcove interior and a melting tank interior.