contact switch yoke

[Patrick Kolten]

in my last visit to France last spring, i visited a large glass studio called " Verrerie de Biot"
http://www.verreriebiot.com/
and i was fascinated with the contact switch yoke.
As soon as the pipe hits the yoke, it creates a contact that opens the gas and air flow mix.
when the pipe is off, it keeps the gloryhole at a certain temperature hot enough to not cool it down too much.
It seems like a great gas saving in the long run.
It was very effective for them, and those guys produce some glass.......
Any ideas on where to find this or build?

[Jordan Kube]

Easy one. You set up high fire and low fire piping. Seperate them with a soleniod valve connected to a momentary contact switch on the yoke. The valve would be the biggest cost I'm sure but if you're saving a bunch of gas it will pay for itself right?

[Dan Ellis]

I saw this system in 6 or 7 shops in Biot but I don't speak french and couldn't ask about it. It seemed like there were two burners, a smaller one to keep everything toasty and then the big one would flare up as they set their pipe or punty on the yoke

As high as energy costs are here it's higher there so it must work for them.

[Patrick Kolten]

how did you like biot Dan?
i was raised in that erea, so it is like home to me.
nice big studio :beret:

[Dan Ellis]

Hey Patrick, I enjoyed it a lot. My Girlfriend is from Nice and her parents live there so we go visit once a year. They're nice enough to drive me up there each time we go. Two years ago we went for 3-1/2 weeks and I really would've liked to blow glass but didn't know if anywhere would've rented me time. They all looked like private studios.

[Patrick Kolten]

we try to go every year also.. we have a condo available to us anytime in Antibes.
So we were in Nice for last mardi gras for 3 weeks. was great:thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

[Kraig Richard]

This is such a smart idea.

I had a foot switch for gas increase only (for reduction) but never figured out a good way to provide air boost.

Love to see drawings

[Ken Peterson]

I've done a bit of this kind of stuff. I set up second burner where a foot switch activated a gas solenoid and fired up a separate squirl cage blower. It takes a couple seconds for the blower to reach speed, but I found a time delay switch from grainger and attached that to the solenoid so it clicks on two seconds after hitting the foot switch. You've gotta wait a second, but without it you get a big fireball. It's pretty dramatic.

I think the best savings would come from having the doors closed all the way to a proper sized flue whenever you're not using it.

[Patrick Kolten]

this actually sounds like the best way

[Kraig Richard]

second foot switch for reduction

third footswitch for fireball effect.

This is so smart and could collectivly save so many calories

I nominate Ken fo an energy saver award


Originally posted by Ken Peterson
I've done a bit of this kind of stuff. I set up second burner where a foot switch activated a gas solenoid and fired up a separate squirl cage blower. It takes a couple seconds for the blower to reach speed, but I found a time delay switch from grainger and attached that to the solenoid so it clicks on two seconds after hitting the foot switch. You've gotta wait a second, but without it you get a big fireball. It's pretty dramatic.

I think the best savings would come from having the doors closed all the way to a proper sized flue whenever you're not using it.

[David Patchen]

I can't read this thread---french girlfriends, condos in Antibes....I hate you guys! ;)

Let me guess, a meaty Chateau neuf du pape is in your pipe cooler?

[Mark Wilson]

ya but the brie is a bit runny!!!!

[Patrick Kolten]

the brie must be runny...it is a must.(stick it next to the glory hole for 30 minutes)
and the chateau neuf du pape must be at room temp...please.:beret:

[Randy Kaltenbach]

Originally posted by Patrick Kolten
...
and the chateau neuf du pape must be at room temp...please.:beret: I must stongly disagree with this! A true connosewer knows that optimum temperature is European cellar temperature (~60F) at opening then breathe at room temp for about 1/2 hour. :drink: :beret: :beret: :beret:

[Steve Stadelman]

Dude, spelling is certainly not my strongest attribute, grammar doubly so......................CONNOSEWER?

[Patrick Kolten]

let me fix that for you....
CONNAISSEUR...from the verb CONNAITRE
(to know)

[Patrick Kolten]

Originally posted by Patrick Kolten
let me fix that for you....
CONNAISSEUR...from the verb CONNAITRE
(to know)

it souded more like someone with sewage knoledge :drink:

[Patrick Kolten]

Originally posted by Patrick Kolten
it sounded more like someone with sewage knoledge :drink:

[Patrick Kolten]

Originally posted by Patrick Kolten


man...talk about typos?


SOUNDED....KNOWLEDGE

[Randy Kaltenbach]

Sheesh, guys. Don't you know when your chain is being yanked? :rolleyes: Et oui, je parle aussi un peu du français. :D :p

[Steve Stadelman]

To bring this back to Patricks' origional question. I am negotiating with a company that makes really cool blowers and fans and the controls for them. I believe we are only a few weeks from some really neat air-handling solutions for glories and some furnace applications.

[Kraig Richard]

How does one keep the heat from pumping into the 2nd blower , the one that isn't on, during idleing?