GB1250642A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,250,642. Producing glass filaments. W. H. W. SCHULLER. 20 Nov., 1968 [1 Dec., 1967], No. 55120/68. Heading C1M. In continuous production of fine glass filaments, solid lumps or granules of glass 4, in a quantity equivalent to that used in filament production, is fed to a melting chamber 1 which is in reciprocating motion parallel to and above the longitudinal axis of a separate trough 18 such that glass leaving chamber 1 via nozzle 9 is continuously spread over the length of said trough, fine glass filaments 23 being drawn from the trough 18 through nozzles 21. The glass is melted and homogenized in chamber 1 by heating with gas burner 3 (preferably the chamber is in two portions, 7 for melting and 8 for homogenization) and then passed to trough 18, the lower temperature of which allows improved filament production. The melting chamber, which may be of refractory ceramic material, is mounted on chassis 11 on rails 12, and the reciprocating motion is produced by chain drive 14. The motion may be accelerated at the end positions to avoid building up glass at the ends of trough 18. The period of reciprocation is less than that in which deistrification of the molten glass in trough 18 can occur. Trough 18 may be provided with a false bottom 20. Either the false bottom or trough itself may be electrically heated via terminals 19, the temperature of the glass melt thereby being controlled. The trough is preferably made of noble metal, e.g. platinum.