GB705621A - Improvements in or relating to method and apparatus for producing fibers - Google Patents

Abstract

705,621. Forming glass &c. fibres. OWENS-CORNING FIBERGLAS CORPORATION. Nov. 27, 1951 [Nov. 28, 1950], No. 27808/51. Class 56 Fibres are formed by flowing a stream of fibre-forming material toward a high velocity blast and establishing a zone of reduced pressure adjacent and at one side of the blast for directing the stream in a path having a component of movement opposing the movement of the blast so that the blast draws out the molten material into fibres. The burner 14 has a hollow body 15 of refractory material encased in metal 18, and gas is fed to the combustion chamber 16 through a pipe 20 and openings 23. Lateral trunnions 33 on the burner are journalled in a bracket 34 which is vertically adjustable on a member 37, and the burner is adjusted about the trunnions by means of screws 44 engaged in threaded openings in lugs 42 on the burner and engaging opposed surfaces of the member 34. The leg 38 of member 37 engages in groove 46 in a support 47, and the burner is adjusted longitudinally of the support by means of a screw 43 passing through a slot 45 in the leg 38. Secured to the forward end of the burner is a generally circular fitting 30, having walls 50, 51, 52 joined to form a chamber 53, the front wall 50 being projected upwardly in a rectangular shape 54 and serving to obstruct, interrupt, and modify the flow of air induced by the blast. The orifice 57 is of U-shape and the front wall 50 has a tongue-like portion 58 which slants towards the chamber 16. The surface of the fitting is cooled below the temperature at which molten material will adhere thereto by means of a cooling fluid, e.g. water, passed through a pipe 60 to its outlet adjacent the portion 63 of wall 58, circulated in the chamber which has a baffle 65, and removed through an outlet pipe. The upwardly extending walls 75, 76 of the orifice 57 converge, see Fig. 4, so that the gaseous blast is directed as at 78, this tending to negate the cooling effects of the induced air. The stream S of fibre forming material from a heated container flows vertically as far as the baffle 54 when the obstructed induced air creates a zone of reduced pressure causing the stream to continue downwardly adjacent but slightly spaced from the baffle, and then parallel to the sloping surface 58 into the orifice 57. The stream is tnen bent through an obtuse angle, Fig. 2, by the blast and attenuated into fibres, several streams may be attenuated concomitantly. Fig. 7 shows a steam or air blower comprising a chamber 83 fed with steam or air under pressure by a pipe 120, and fitted with a solid end plate 130 having an orifice 157 similar to orifice 57 and a projection 154.