GB755626A - Process and apparatus for the production of endless threads and of short staple fibres from masses which plasticize on being heated - Google Patents

Abstract

755,626. Glass fibres. SCHULLER, W. (Schuller, W.). July 14, 1954 [Dec. 7, 1953], No. 34038/53. Class 56 A process and apparatus for producing endless threads and short staple fibres from materials such as glass comprises drawing off material in the liquid or molten state by mechanical means in a continuous operation into the form of rods, the rods then being heat-treated and drawn off continuously into fine threads for further treatment as desired. A muffle 1, heated in any known manner, has a tuyere plate 2 provided with three rows of drawing-off openings each of diameter greater than 5 mm. Glass rods 6a, 6b, 6c are drawn off through these openings by a pair of rollers 4, 5, the three sets of rods being brought into one plane in the zone of the rollers, where the rods 6 are kept separate by comb-shaped plates 9, 10. Cooling means 7, 8 such as pipe lines, may be provided. Adjacent the second plate 10, the ends 11 of the rods 6 are melted by melting means 13 to form threads 12 which are drawn off by a cylinder 14. The drawing rollers 4, 5 are at a distance of about 30 cms. from the tuyere plate 2 and their speed is such as to produce rods 6 of between 1.5 and 2.5 mms., the speed of the drawing-off cylinder 14 being regulated to produce threads 12 of the required thickness. The rollers 4, 5 may have a coating of asbestos or silicon-rubber to protect them and form a gripping surface. The melting means 13 may comprise two rows of electric coils installed in a burner device at about 9 mm. apart either side of the rod ends 11. The rollers 4, 5 and melting means 13 are preferably movable apart to allow the rods 6 to project freely when the apparatus is started. The glass threads 12 are, as shown, removed from the cylinder 14 by a scraper 16 and converted into short staple fibres 17 which are passed by a guide 18 on to an air-pervious conveyer belt 19. A cylinder 21 below the cylinder 14 rotates at a slower speed than the cylinder 14 and may be used when the apparatus is just started, to seize and draw off the rods 6 until they reach the required diameter, when the rollers 4, 5 and melting means 13 are brought into operation. To assist in maintaining the liquid mass in the muffle 1 at an even temperature, the rods 25, which may be of 10 mm. diameter, are fed horizontally from an inclined slide 26 by a roller 24 into grooves 24a rotating slowly to pass the rods 25 one at a time to a slide 27 and then through a shaft 28 into the liquid mass.