A HEATING ELEMENT, A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MELTING MATERIALS USING SAID HEATING ELEMENT

• Main Author: WATKINSON, Charles
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 16.02.2022
• Subjects: ARTIFICIAL STONE; BLASTING; CEMENTS; CERAMICS; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDINGMATERIALS; CONCRETE; DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS,IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KINDOF FURNACE; ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; FURNACES; GLASS; HEATING; KILNS; LIGHTING; LIME, MAGNESIA; MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; METALLURGY; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL; OVENS; REFRACTORIES; RETORTS; SLAG; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE; WEAPONS

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.