GB614254A - Improvements in or relating to fine glass fibres - Google Patents

Abstract

614,254. Making glass fibres. THURSTON, A. P. (Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation). June 6, 1946, No. 17192. [Class 56] Glass fibres (e.g. of 0.00004 in. diameter or less) are produced by a high velocity high temperature attenuating blast into which one or more glass filaments are fed under the control of fluid blasts directed against and in the general direction of the length of the filament or filaments. As shown, molten glass, heated by passing an electric current therethrough between the metal walls of a container 10, issues from orifices 11 in streams which are attenuated by gravity and steam or other jets 13, 14, into filaments 12, e.g. of 0.0002 in. to 0.01 in. diameter, the' filaments being fed directly into a secondary attenuating blast 21. The jet 13 is stronger than the jet 14 and balances the transverse pull of the blast 21, so that the filaments enter the latter at right angles. The fibres are collected into a mat 26 by a foraminous conveyer 23, backed by a suction chamber 24. To produce the blast 21, a gaseous mixture supplied at 2-6 lb./sq. in. through a pipe 33 may be burnt within an ignition chamber 27 lined with refractory material and having a perforated wall at the inlet end and a restricted outlet passage (e.g. “ to # of the cross-sectional area of the ignition chamber).