JP2024063470A - Glass fiber manufacturing apparatus and glass fiber manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a glass fiber manufacturing device and a glass fiber manufacturing method capable of suppressing nozzle clogging due to foreign matter. [Solution] A bushing (13) includes a bushing body (20) including a plurality of nozzles (24), and a screen (30) having openings (33). The openings (33) of the screen (30) are provided at positions that do not overlap with the holes (24a) of the nozzles (24) when viewed from the height direction of the bushing (13). [Selected Figure] Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a glass fiber manufacturing apparatus and a glass fiber manufacturing method.

As described in Patent Document 1, a manufacturing apparatus including a feeder for circulating molten glass and a bushing is used to manufacture glass fibers. The bushing has a plurality of nozzles from which the molten glass supplied from the feeder flows out. In such a glass fiber manufacturing apparatus, a plurality of glass filaments can be formed by causing the molten glass to flow out from each nozzle of the bushing. The bushing also includes a screen for preventing foreign matter in the molten glass from accumulating on the nozzle inside the bushing. The screen has an opening through which the molten glass flows. The screen captures the foreign matter in the molten glass before it reaches the nozzle.

JP 2012-91954 A

In the above-mentioned glass fiber manufacturing device, if foreign matter in the molten glass passes through the openings in the screen, the foreign matter may fall onto the nozzle inside the bushing body. As a result, the foreign matter may clog the nozzle.

The object of the present invention is to provide a glass fiber manufacturing device and a glass fiber manufacturing method that can prevent nozzle clogging due to foreign matter.

[1] A glass fiber manufacturing apparatus that solves the above problem is a glass fiber manufacturing apparatus that includes a feeder that circulates molten glass and a bushing that is arranged below the feeder and has multiple nozzles through which the molten glass flows, the bushing includes a bushing body that includes the multiple nozzles, and a screen that is arranged in a flow path of the molten glass and has openings, and the openings are provided at positions that do not overlap with the holes of the nozzles when viewed from the height direction of the bushing.

This configuration makes it possible to prevent foreign matter in the molten glass that has passed through the openings in the screen from falling onto the nozzle and blocking the nozzle hole.
[2] In the above [1], the bushing body may have a plurality of nozzle rows each consisting of the plurality of nozzles, and the opening may be located between the plurality of nozzle rows when viewed in the height direction.

According to this configuration, by utilizing the spaces between the multiple nozzle rows, it is possible to ensure the opening area of the openings while arranging the openings in the screen at positions that do not overlap with the nozzle holes.
[3] In the above [1] or [2], the opening may be provided closer to the nozzle than a center portion in a height direction of the bushing.

This configuration allows the screen opening to be positioned close to the nozzle. This further prevents foreign matter that passes through the screen opening from blocking the nozzle.

[4] A method for manufacturing glass fibers that solves the above problems is a method for manufacturing glass fibers that includes a molding step of molding a plurality of glass filaments using a glass fiber manufacturing device, the glass fiber manufacturing device includes a feeder for circulating molten glass, and a bushing that is disposed below the feeder and has a plurality of nozzles through which the molten glass flows, the bushing includes a bushing body that includes the plurality of nozzles, and a screen that is disposed within the flow path of the molten glass and has openings, and the openings are provided at positions that do not overlap with the holes of the nozzles when viewed from the height direction of the bushing.

This method prevents foreign objects in the molten glass that pass through the openings in the screen from falling onto the nozzle and blocking the nozzle hole.

The glass fiber manufacturing apparatus and glass fiber manufacturing method of the present invention can prevent nozzle clogging due to foreign matter.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a glass fiber manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG.

Below, an embodiment of a glass fiber manufacturing apparatus and a glass fiber manufacturing method will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that in the drawings, for the sake of convenience, some of the components may be shown exaggerated or simplified. Furthermore, the dimensional ratios of each part may differ from the actual ones.

As shown in FIG. 1, the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 11 includes a feeder 12 that circulates molten glass MG, and a bushing 13 that is disposed below the feeder 12. The glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 11 also includes a cooling mechanism 14 that cools a portion of the bushing 13. The cooling mechanism 14 includes, for example, a cooling pipe 14a through which a refrigerant such as water flows. The cooling mechanism 14 serves to prevent the molten glass MG from leaking out of the bushing 13 to the outside.

The drawings show three mutually orthogonal axes (X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis). The X-axis extends along the width direction of the bushing 13. The Y-axis extends along the depth direction of the bushing 13. The Z-axis extends along the height direction of the bushing 13.

(Feeder 12)
Molten glass MG obtained in a glass melting furnace (not shown) is supplied to a feeder 12 of a glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 11. The feeder 12 is composed of a fireproof wall. Examples of refractories constituting the fireproof wall include electrocast bricks and dense fired bricks. Examples of electrocast bricks include zirconia-based electrocast bricks, alumina-based electrocast bricks, alumina-zirconia-based electrocast bricks, and alumina-zirconia-silica-based electrocast bricks. Examples of dense fired bricks include dense zircon bricks and dense chrome bricks.

The feeder 12 is equipped with a flow block 12a that forms a flow path for the molten glass MG to flow down. The flow block 12a is also made of a refractory material. The feeder 12 also has a bushing block 12b below the flow block 12a. The bushing block 12b forms a flow path for the molten glass MG between the feeder 12 and the bushing 13. The molten glass MG that flows down the flow path formed by the bushing block 12b is supplied to the bushing 13. The bushing block 12b is made of, for example, the non-conductive refractory material described above.

Examples of the glass of the molten glass MG include E glass (glass with an alkali content of 2% or less), D glass (glass with a low dielectric constant), AR glass (alkali-resistant glass), C glass (acid-resistant glass), M glass (glass with a high elastic modulus), S glass (glass with high strength and high elastic modulus), T glass (glass with high strength and high elastic modulus), H glass (glass with a high dielectric constant), and NE glass (glass with a low dielectric constant). The density of the glass is, for example, 2.0 to 3.0 g/cm ³ .

(Bushing 13)
The bushing 13 includes a bushing body 20 to which the molten glass MG is supplied, and a screen 30 disposed inside the bushing body 20 .

The bushing body 20 includes a base plate 21 , a peripheral wall 22 , and a flange portion 23 .
The base plate 21 of the bushing body 20 forms the bottom of the bushing body 20. The base plate 21 has, for example, a flat plate shape perpendicular to the height direction of the bushing 13. The base plate 21 has a plurality of nozzles 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, the base plate 21 of this embodiment has a plurality of nozzle rows R each consisting of a plurality of nozzles 24. Each nozzle row R has a plurality of nozzles 24 aligned along the X-axis direction, for example. Each nozzle row R is arranged so as to be aligned in the Y-axis direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, each nozzle 24 extends downward from the bottom surface of the base plate 21. The molten glass MG flowing inside the bushing 13 flows out below the base plate 21 through the holes 24a of each nozzle 24 (see FIG. 2). That is, glass filaments GF are formed by each nozzle 24 of the bushing 13. The number of nozzles 24 in the bushing 13 is preferably in the range of 100 or more and 10,000 or less. The shape of the holes 24a in each nozzle 24 may be, for example, a circle or a flat shape having a major axis and a minor axis.

The peripheral wall 22 of the bushing body 20 extends upward from the periphery of the base plate 21. The peripheral wall 22 is annular when viewed from the Z-axis direction. Molten glass MG is supplied from the feeder 12 to the upper end of the peripheral wall 22. Molten glass MG flows inside the peripheral wall 22. Note that the base plate 21 or the peripheral wall 22 is provided with a terminal (not shown) for resistance heating.

The flange portion 23 of the bushing body 20 extends outward from the upper end of the peripheral wall 22. The flange portion 23 is, for example, in the shape of a flat plate extending along the XY plane. The flange portion 23 is provided around the entire circumference of the peripheral wall 22. In other words, the flange portion 23 forms a continuous ring shape when viewed from the Z-axis direction.

The bushing body 20 has a reinforcing rib 25 erected on the upper surface of the base plate 21. The reinforcing rib 25 extends, for example, along the X-axis direction. The reinforcing rib 25 is, for example, flat and perpendicular to the Y-axis direction. The lower end of the reinforcing rib 25 is connected to the upper surface of the base plate 21. Both ends of the reinforcing rib 25 in the X-axis direction are connected to the inner surface of the peripheral wall 22. A plurality of reinforcing ribs 25 are provided, for example, lined up in the Y-axis direction.

The base plate 21 of the bushing body 20 has, for example, a plurality of cooling fins 26. Each cooling fin 26 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the base plate 21 along the Z-axis direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the cooling fins 26 are provided between the nozzle rows R in the Y-axis direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the glass fiber manufacturing device 11 has a support member S that supports the bushing 13. The support member S extends from, for example, the feeder 12. The support member S supports the bushing 13 from below so that, for example, the flange portion 23 of the bushing body 20 contacts the lower surface of the bushing block 12b.

(Regarding the arrangement of the cooling pipes 14a)
The cooling pipe 14a of the cooling mechanism 14 is in contact with the lower surface of the flange portion 23, for example, near the outer periphery of the flange portion 23. The cooling pipe 14a is substantially annular along the outer periphery of the flange portion 23. When the flange portion 23 is cooled by the cooling pipe 14a, the molten glass MG is cooled and solidified in the gap between the flange portion 23 and the bushing block 12b. This prevents the molten glass MG from leaking out of the bushing 13 from the gap between the flange portion 23 and the bushing block 12b.

(Screen 30)
The screen 30 is disposed inside the peripheral wall 22 of the bushing body 20. The screen 30 is formed, for example, from a plate material. The screen 30 is provided so as to separate the flow path of the molten glass MG inside the bushing body 20. The screen 30 captures foreign matter contained in the molten glass MG, thereby preventing the foreign matter from accumulating on the base plate 21.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the screen 30 has, for example, a bottom 31 and an inclined portion 32 extending from the bottom 31. The bottom 31 is flat and substantially perpendicular to the height direction of the bushing 13. The bottom 31 is, for example, the lowest portion of the screen 30. The bottom 31 is provided in the center of the screen 30 when viewed from the Z-axis direction.

The inclined portion 32 of the screen 30 extends from the periphery of the bottom portion 31 toward the peripheral wall 22 of the bushing body 20 while sloping upward. When viewed from the height direction of the bushing 13, the inclined portion 32 is provided so as to surround the periphery of the bottom portion 31. The outer peripheral edge of the inclined portion 32 is connected to the peripheral wall 22 of the bushing body 20, for example, by welding. In addition, the outer peripheral edge of the inclined portion 32 is connected to the upper end of the peripheral wall 22, for example.

(Opening 33 of screen 30)
As shown in FIG. 2, the screen 30 has a plurality of openings 33 through which the molten glass MG can flow. The shape of each opening 33 may be, for example, a slit shape, a circle shape, an ellipse shape, a polygon shape, or the like. The openings 33 are provided, for example, in the bottom portion 31 and the inclined portion 32 of the screen 30. Each opening 33 is located, for example, between the nozzle rows R when viewed from the height direction of the bushing 13. That is, each opening 33 is provided at a position that does not overlap with the hole 24a of each nozzle 24 when viewed from the height direction of the bushing 13. Moreover, the openings 33 of this embodiment are provided at a position that overlaps with the cooling fin 26 when viewed from the height direction of the bushing 13. Moreover, each opening 33 of this embodiment has a slit shape extending along the direction in which the nozzles 24 in the nozzle row R are arranged, that is, along the X-axis direction. This allows the openings 33 to have a suitable shape that fits the space between the nozzle rows R.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper end of each reinforcing rib 25 of the bushing body 20 contacts the lower surface of the bottom 31 of the screen 30. As a result, each reinforcing rib 25 supports the screen 30 at its upper end. The bottom 31 of the screen 30 is located below the center of the bushing 13 in the height direction, i.e., on the nozzle 24 side. Note that FIG. 1 illustrates the center line CL of the bushing 13 in the height direction. The bottom 31 of the screen 30 is located below the center line CL, i.e., on the nozzle 24 side. In other words, the opening 33 provided in the bottom 31 is located on the nozzle 24 side of the center line CL of the bushing 13 in the height direction.

The material of the bushing body 20 including the base plate 21 and the screen 30 may be, for example, a precious metal or a precious metal alloy. Precious metals include gold, silver, platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium, or osmium. From the viewpoint of increasing durability, the material of the bushing body 20 and the screen 30 is preferably platinum or a platinum alloy. An example of a platinum alloy is a platinum-rhodium alloy.

(Configuration other than the above)
The glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 11 includes an applicator and a gathering shoe, both of which are not shown. The applicator applies a liquid sizing agent to the numerous glass filaments GF drawn out from the bushing 13. The gathering shoe gathers the numerous glass filaments GF to which the sizing agent has been applied. A glass strand is obtained by bundling the numerous glass filaments GF by the gathering shoe. The glass strand is wound by a winding device, and a cake around which the glass strand is wound is obtained.

(Method of manufacturing glass fibers)
Next, a method for producing glass fibers will be described.
The glass fiber manufacturing method includes a forming step of forming a glass filament GF using a glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 11. In the forming step, molten glass MG is supplied from a feeder 12 to a bushing 13. A flow path of the molten glass MG from the feeder 12 to the bushing 13 and the inside of a bushing body 20 of the bushing 13 are filled with the molten glass MG. Foreign matter contained in the molten glass MG is captured by a screen 30 disposed inside the bushing body 20. In the forming step, the molten glass MG supplied to the bushing 13 is made to flow out of each nozzle 24 of the bushing 13, thereby forming a plurality of glass filaments GF.

In addition, in the molding process, when the temperature of the molten glass MG flowing down from the feeder 12 is low, the bushing body 20 is heated mainly at the base plate 21 by applying a voltage through the terminal for resistance heating. By heating the bushing body 20 in this manner, it is possible to heat the molten glass MG inside the bushing body 20 and raise the temperature to a predetermined temperature. This makes it possible to stabilize the outflow of the molten glass MG from each nozzle 24.

In addition, in the forming process, most of the foreign matter in the molten glass MG is captured by the screen 30. The foreign matter in the molten glass MG is, for example, fragments of the flow block 12a or the bushing block 12b. Some of the foreign matter in the molten glass MG passes through the openings 33 of the screen 30 and reaches a position below the screen 30, i.e., the base plate 21. In this embodiment, the openings 33 of the screen 30 are provided at a position that does not overlap with the holes 24a of each nozzle 24 when viewed from the height direction of the bushing 13, so that foreign matter that passes through the openings 33 is less likely to fall onto the holes 24a of the nozzles 24.

In addition, in the screen 30 of this embodiment, the opening 33 provided in the bottom 31 is provided closer to the nozzle 24 than the center line CL in the height direction of the bushing 13. This makes it possible to bring the opening 33 of the screen 30 closer to the nozzle 24 in the height direction of the bushing 13. As a result, even in a situation where a foreign object that passes through the opening 33 does not fall linearly vertically downward, it is possible to prevent the foreign object from falling onto the hole 24a of the nozzle 24.

The glass filaments GF obtained in the above molding process are bundled to obtain glass strands. The glass strands can be used, for example, as chopped strands cut to a predetermined length. The glass strands can also be used as milled fibers, rovings, yarns, mats, cloths, tapes, or woven fabrics. Applications of glass strands include, for example, vehicle applications, electronic material applications, building material applications, civil engineering applications, aircraft-related applications, shipbuilding applications, logistics applications, industrial machinery applications, and daily necessities applications.

The effects of this embodiment will be described.
(1) The openings 33 of the screen 30 are provided at positions that do not overlap with the holes 24a of the nozzles 24 when viewed from the height direction of the bushing 13. This configuration makes it possible to prevent foreign matter in the molten glass MG that has passed through the openings 33 of the screen 30 from falling onto the nozzles 24 and blocking the holes 24a of the nozzles 24.

(2) The bushing body 20 has a plurality of nozzle rows R each consisting of a plurality of nozzles 24. The opening 33 is located between the plurality of nozzle rows R when viewed from the height direction of the bushing 13. With this configuration, by utilizing the space between the plurality of nozzle rows R, the opening 33 of the screen 30 can be positioned so as not to overlap with the hole 24a of the nozzle 24, while still ensuring the opening area of the opening 33.

(3) The opening 33 is provided closer to the nozzle 24 than the center of the bushing 13 in the height direction. This configuration makes it possible to position the opening 33 of the screen 30 closer to the nozzle 24. This further prevents foreign matter that passes through the opening 33 of the screen 30 from blocking the nozzle 24.

(Example of change)
This embodiment can be modified as follows: This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that there is no technical contradiction.

The screen 30 may be flat and perpendicular to the height direction of the bushing 13. That is, the inclined portion 32 may be omitted from the screen 30 of the above embodiment. In addition, when the screen 30 is flat and perpendicular to the height direction of the bushing 13, the screen 30 may be provided at the same position as the flange portion 23 in the height direction of the bushing 13. In other words, the flat screen 30 and the flange portion 23 may be located on the same XY plane.

- The reinforcing ribs 25 of the bushing body 20 may not be in contact with the screen 30, i.e., the screen 30 may not be supported by the reinforcing ribs 25. Also, the reinforcing ribs 25 may be omitted from the bushing body 20 of the above embodiment.

The entire screen 30 may be located above the center line CL in the height direction of the bushing 13. In other words, all of the openings 33 of the screen 30 may be located above the center line CL.

The openings 33 may be provided only in the bottom portion 31 of the screen 30 , and no openings 33 may be provided in the inclined portion 32 .
In the bushing body 20 of the above embodiment, the cooling fins 26 may be changed to, for example, a cooling pipe having a flow passage therein through which a cooling medium flows.

The cooling fins 26 may be omitted from the bushing body 20 of the above embodiment.
The configuration of the feeder 12 is not limited to the above embodiment and can be changed as appropriate. For example, the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 11 may have a structure in which a plurality of bushing blocks 12b are stacked. Also, for example, the bushing block 12b may be omitted from the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 11. In this case, the flange portion 23 of the bushing body 20 may be configured to contact the lower surface of the flow block 12a.

The embodiments and modified examples disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects, and the present invention is not limited to these examples. In other words, the scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications that are equivalent in meaning and scope to the claims.

Reference Signs List 11: Glass fiber manufacturing device 12: Feeder 13: Bushing 20: Bushing body 24: Nozzle 24a: Hole 30: Screen 33: Opening GF: Glass filament MG: Molten glass R: Nozzle row

Claims (4)

a feeder for distributing molten glass;
A bushing disposed below the feeder and having a plurality of nozzles through which the molten glass flows,
The bushing includes a bushing body including the plurality of nozzles, and a screen disposed in a flow path of the molten glass and having an opening,
The opening is provided at a position not overlapping with any of the holes of the nozzles when viewed from a height direction of the bushing.
Glass fiber manufacturing equipment. the bushing body has a plurality of nozzle rows each including the plurality of nozzles,
the opening is located between the plurality of nozzle rows when viewed in the height direction;
The glass fiber manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 . The opening is provided closer to the nozzle than a center portion in a height direction of the bushing.
The glass fiber manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 . A glass fiber manufacturing method including a molding step of molding a plurality of glass filaments using a glass fiber manufacturing device,
The glass fiber manufacturing apparatus includes a feeder for circulating molten glass, and a bushing disposed below the feeder and having a plurality of nozzles for causing the molten glass to flow out,
The bushing includes a bushing body including the plurality of nozzles, and a screen disposed in a flow path of the molten glass and having an opening,
The opening is provided at a position not overlapping with any of the holes of the nozzles when viewed from a height direction of the bushing.
A method for manufacturing glass fibers.

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