US2700253A - Glass fiber drawing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

1955 J. F. COURTNEY ETAL 2,700,253

GLASS FIBER DRAWING APPARATUS Filed July 12, 1951 "INVENTVORS JOSEPH F. COURTNEY ADELBERT c. RADTKE ATT'Y United States Patent GLASS "FIBER FDRAWING APPARATUS Joseph F. T Courtney, Evanston, and Adelbert Radtke, Oak Park, 111., assignors to -"International Harvester Company, a corporationofiNew Jersey Application July 1 2, 1951,"-Serial No. 236,415 1-6 Claims. (6.49 17 adversely affectthe 'quality'o'f the product; A general obj ct of the inventionis to devise adrawing as'sembly'which obtains the rec'luired drawing rate while grasping the' material lightly along-lengthy'sinuous surfaces.

A more specific object isto'design a drawing apparatus incorporating a-pair of opposed rolls withresilient or flexible 'surfac eareas whichareadapted'to assume'an undulant contour when subjected to centrifugal forces 'mrsuant torotat ion of the rolls to grasp the material therebetween.

The invention further contemplates a novel distribution of the rnassof the peripheral portions of'the. rolls'to effect varying radial-"displacement by centrifugal force. of the specificmasses whereby to obtain an'undulant' contouring ofthe grasping s'urfacesof the rolls.

' More particularly the invention. contemplates alternating segments of lighter and "heavier masses about the: periphery in a=medium of' fleXible*-materia1-whereby the heavier masses will bebu'lgedradi'allyoutwardly farther than the'lighter masses'to provide asubstantially'sinusoid'al' surface'prdfile. g

Theseand other objects of the invention will" become more apparent from the specification and thedrawings, wherein: I

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation'al"view"of"one; form of the invention with enviro'n'm'ental components shown diagrammatically.

Figure -2is 'a"' radial cross sectional view taken substantially on.theline2'-'2 of Figure 1,"an'd K I Figure 3 is a fragmentaryside elevationahview of anotherfo'rm of the invention. H

Describing the' invention indetail and "referring first to theembodiment shown in Figure 1, the furnace 2 which contains 'molten"glass "has 1 a'plate' 4 at thebotto'm thereof provided- With a plurality of 'ape'rtured dependingffrustoconical bosses'*6,"6' through which-the molten glass is adapted: to flow *to form inverted" conesof molten glass which upon initiation of the drawing process flowjgravie tationally to form a plurality of coarse aments'8 ,;8, said filaments being initially gathered by an operator and trained "over an applicator' assembly which is adapted-v to apply to each= filament a suitable coating-preferably of, thermol-plastic or 'thermosetting" types. The coatedfilamerits are-converged into ag'r'oove' 12' of'algathering element 'or'--sheave---14 "wherel'ay the filaments are "compacted and associat'ed into a strand "preferably 'while' the coatings. thereon are in an adherent state "whereby the Coatings may oalesce and form a unitary strand. i

The strand716iis entered betweena pairof'substantially identical drawing elements generally designated 1-8,-1'8 which areadapted to grasp the strand and imposea pulling force' thereon thereby attenuating-the filaments 8, 8 to attain desired characteristics. -Each element 18 comprises. an. annular 'disc or structure 20 which is keyed to a dr'iying," shaft 22. The outer periphery of the structure zll coniprises arim' towhich is. bonded a circumset ingfannulus'f 26 which is formed-of a-flcwable flexible; mitterialfpreferably sottmubber orother substance barging 2,700,253 -Patented Jan. 25, 1.955

.ferentially spaced apertures 28, 28 whicharelocatedfprefe'rably ce'ntrallyintermediate the inner andfouter margins thereof and within each aperture is-disposed atrod 30 which is formed of material having greater density :than. that. of surrounding portions of thc'annulus 26. The: rods 30, which may be cylindrical steel shapes, have complementary'fit within the openings'28 "and 'arepreferably fitted into a mold while the annulus is: castitherearound to bind therewith. I I

It will be appreciated 'that centrifugal forces "developed {pursuant to rotation of the members 1-8"a.n'd the flexible characteristics of the annulus .26of each thereof causes the annulus to expand radially "outwardly'whereby due to the differences in the densities of the rods and the adjacent sections of"the'annulus,'the outer surface 32 of thea'nnulus is caused'toassume'anundulant or scalloped contour as shown in phantomlines which-provides a substantiallysinusoidal gripping surface for-engaging the-strand. In otherwords, theportionsof the-annulus in radial alignment withtheheavier' masses will be bulged out farther elongated more than thoseinter: mediate the masses thereby forming alternating crests and valleys. Thearrangementof the opposed drawing rollers is' such that at the grasping area of the rolls, the crest'of each roll is-meshed with a valley of the opposingroll" whereby the" strand which is gripped between the adjacent sections of the rolls is caused to sinuate 'therebe'tween whereby an effective lightgrip is obtained onthe strand alon'g a relativelyextensive lengththere'of while'a pulling force is 'imposed'on the strand pursuant. to the-'rotatiomo'f the'rolls. It wilFbeappreciated' that thefrictionalgrip due to'this'interlockingof the'stran'd with therolls is accentuate'd and thatthe concentration of forcesat a p'oiht or line contact on the strand, which isextremely destructive, is entirel'y eliminated. It willbe noted that'the members '18, 18' are, in static position, spaced apart :so that' aninitial length of'the' strand may be safely'positio'nedby the operator'between the rollsprior to-'ener-' gizingthe" same.

"Referring now to the embodiment 'shownin Figure 3, the drawing means generally designated100, comprises apair'of substantially identical 'opposed'ro1ls'102,'102- driven through 'shafts '104, 'I04"keyed thereto, eachroll orwheol including a metallic preferably, steel,.disc"with' a cylindrical rirn '106 'circumscribed by a composite 'flexi'ble' annulus generally designated" 1'08. The annulus 108 is composed 'ofa'resilie'nt fiow'able materialcomprising an'outer'ring'1 10such as softrubber with anihnersec'tion or 'ring '112 fo'rrned of harder dur'ometer ruhber'or the like a'nd of higher density than theri'ng '1'1'0. 'Ihe'ring 1'121 s -f'ormedwith' a cylindrical inner surfaceiillwwhi'ch isibonded'to the complementary outer side of the rim 1.66. The outer periphery of the ring 112 is of scallop-like, wavysinusoidalcontour wherebythe ring 112*is formed withmaplurality of lobes 116, 116' w'ith' intervening depressions' llS. The inner'face of the outer segment or the annulus 108 has 'a' complementary profile to the-outer face 'at'theflsegment 1'12 and is vulcanized thereto. 'In actual practicethe inner and outer rings are'cast to'eaeh other. The outer surface of each segment or ring"-110 is cylindrical" under static conditions. It will be readily appreciatedthat' thecharacteristics of themass or'radial elongationof alternating segments'of the annulus' '108 are-varied and that due to this condition and the centrifugalforce the "radial displacement of thealternating section's vary. This modifies the normally cylindrical outer'surface of each section 110 and defiects'theannulus" so that said outer surface is caused to assume a scalloplike'onsinusoidal contour as shown in phantomli'nesin. thedrawings whereby at'the-grasping sectiomof the rolls,

the" strand which passes therebetween is caused to {be centrifugal forcex expands theX-annuli'108 'su'fiici'entlywo" cause engagement therebetween at the grasping' zone"of 3 the mechanism 100. It will be noted wheels 102, 102 are also arranged that the expanded and undulant outer surfaces of the annulus of each will mate with each other.

The expanded condition of each annulus is substantially as shown in Figures 1 and 3 in phantom lines.

What is claimed is:

1. In a material attenuating apparatus, a pair of annular, rotatable, opposed grasping members each having an imperforate, flexible, peripheral continuous annulus characterized by a predetermined varying mass distribution and under static conditions having a substantially cylindrical outer face, the variations in the mass effecting unequal expansion of the annulus during rotation thereof whereby distorting the cylindrical contour of the outer face thereof to provide an undulant contact area with the material adapted to be engaged by the face.

i 2. In a material attenuating apparatus, a pair of opposed annular members rotatable on generally parallel axes, each member having a solid radially and circumferentially continuous peripheral flexible annulus with an outer statically generally annular face, certain segments of the annulus being alternated with and formed and arranged to displace radially outwardly farther than others thereof under the influence of centrifugal force whereby distorting said face to scallop-like contour to provide curved grasping areas for interlocking contact with the material passing between the members.

a 3. In a fiber attenuating apparatus, a pair of opposed annular members rotatable on generally parallel axes and adapted to receive the fiber therebetween for grasping and drawing the same, each member having at least a peripheral annulus formed of soft rubbery substance, said substance having material of higher density bonded thereto and disposed inwardly of the outer fiber grasping surface thereof and formed and arranged to control outward bulging of the rubber whereby distorting said surface to undulant contour when said members are rotated and thereby causing fiber entered between said members to be engaged along curving areas.

In fiber attenuating apparatus, a pair of opposed, rotatable annular members spaced apart under static conditions and disposed to definea gap for receiving fiber adapted to be entered therebetween, each member being formed at least about its periphery of flexible, resilient material to provide an unbroken outer grasping surface, certain segments of the material having greater mass than and alternated circumferentially of the member with the remaining segments of the material whereby during rotation of each member, said material is caused to expand centrifugally with the segments of greater mass displaced farther radially outwardly than said remaining segments thereby changing the contour of said surface to assume a substantially sinusoidal profile adapted to engage the fiber, and means for rotating said members in profile interfitting relationship with each other at contiguous regions to close said gap and establish a grasping zone on the fiber fo hfflecting sinuation and interlocking engagement therew1 5. In fiber attenuating apparatus, opposed, rotatable, resilient drawing elements adapted for grasping contact with fiber entered therebetween, each element having a plurality of circumferentially spaced sections inter calated with and of different mass characteristics than the sections therebetween and formed and arranged to displace under centrifugal force radially outwardly farther than said sections therebetween to form a corrugated outer surface adapted for interlocking engagement with the fiber, and a band of flexible material of substantial thickness about the periphery of each element constituting said second-mentioned sections and of substantially constant characteristics throughout its length said firstmentioned sections being embedded in said band of material.

6. In a fiber attenuating apparatus, a rotatable element having at least a peripheral band formed of continuous, flexible, resilient material with regularly circumferentially spaced segments of predetermined substantially identical mass characteristics intercalated with and of different mass characteristics than the sections therebetween and formed and arranged to displace under centrifugal force radially outwardly farther than said sections therebetween to form a corrugated fiber-engaging outer surface, said segmentsbeing formed of material having a higher density than said sections.

that the drawing I 7. In afiber attenuating apparatus, a rotatable element 7 having at. least a peripheral band formed of continuous,

flexible, resilient material with regularly circumferentially spaced segments of predetermined substantially identical mass characteristics intercalated with and of different mass characteristics than the sections therebetween and formed and arranged todisplace under centrifugal force radially outwardly farther than said sections therebetween to form a corrugated fiber-engaging outer surface, said segments being formed of material having higher density than said sections and being confined wholly between the inner and outer peripheries of the element.

8. In a fiber attenuating apparatus, a rotatable element having at least a peripheral band formed of continuous, flexible, resilient material with regularly circumferentially spaced segments of predetermined substantially identical mass characteristics intercalated with and of different mass characteristics than the sections therebetween and formed and arranged to displace under centrifugal force radially outwardly farther than said sections therebetween to form a corrugated fiber-engaging outer surface, said segments being entirely isolated from one another and being floatingly supported by said band of material.

9. In a fiber attenuating apparatus, a rotatable element having at least a peripheral band formed of continuous,- flexible, resilient material with regularly circumferentially spaced segments of predetermined substantially identical. mass characteristics intercalated with and of different mass characteristics than the sections therebetween and formed and arranged to displace under centrifugal force radially outwardly farther than said sections therebetween to form a corrugated fiber-engaging outer surface, said segments being substantially cylindrical inserts within said material.

10. A rotatable material attenuating wheel having a center section with a scalloped outer contour including a series of circumferentially spaced lobes and depressions therebetween, and a band of distortable, flexible substance presenting under static conditions a cylindrical outer face, said band having an inner periphery complementary to said outer contour of the center section and intimately connected therewith along its entire circumferential extent, the portions of the band in the depressions be ing of greater mass than the portions on the lobes so that the former portions bulge radially outwardly farther than the latter portions pursuant to predetermined rotation of the wheel, whereupon said portions collectively develop an undulant peripheral material grasping profile.

11. In a material attenuating apparatus a substantially rigid core, an annulus surrounding the core and compris-- ing an outer ring formed of soft flexible substance and an inner section of relatively hard rubber bonded directly to the core and having a scalloped outer contour bonded 1 to a complementary inner face of said outer ring, said outer ring presenting under static conditions an outer substantially cylindrical surface.

12. In fiber attenuating apparatus, a rotatable, annu-: lar drawing element comprising a substantially rigid core, a flowable annulus circumscribing said core and bonded thereto and under static conditions presenting a substantially cylindrical outer surface, and regularly circum-- ferentially spaced cylindrical metallic bonded inserts within said annulus intermediate the inner and outer peripheries thereof and oriented with their axes substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the element.

13. In material attenuating apparatus, a pair of op posed, rotatable, flexible, resilient rolls, each roll statically presenting a substantially cylindrical outer surface, the outer layer of each roll being formed of relatively thick readily distortable rubber with heavier material embedded therein at regularly circumferentially spaced intervals, means for driving each roll whereby to expand said rubber to effect a grasping action on material entered therebetween, the spacing of said heavier material of, each roll being arranged to enter between portions of the heavier material of the other roll at the areas of contact between the rolls.

14. In a glass fiber drawing element, a rotatable structure having an inner portion and an outer portion, said outer and inner portions united along complementary interfitting contours, said outer portion comprising a circumferentlally continuous ring presenting an endless;

continuous, material grasping face, said ring being formed of readily expansible and contractible substancej varying umfor'mly in radial thickness inwardly of said" face about the entire circumferential extent thereof and providing relatively thick sections and intervening thin sections, said thick sections characterized by difierent radial elongation than said thin sections attendant to operational rotation of said structure whereby distorting the static contour of said substance and undulating said ace.

15. For a glass fiber attenuating apparatus, a rotatable drawing structure comprising an inner section and a peripheral circumscribing ring thereabout presenting a generally cylindrical outer periphery under static conditions, said ring being of flexible, expansible and contractible substantially homogeneous material throughout, said ring and inner section having complementary interconnected mating surfaces, said ring having a first annular series of circumferentially spaced portions of predetermined radial depth arranged in alternating relationship with a second series of portions of substantially lesser radial depth, said first and second series of portions affording relatively different centrifugal displacement characteristics and collectively adapted pursuant to rotation of the wheel, to distort the cylindrical outer periphery of the ring to an undulant fiber engaging contour.

16. In a glass fiber attenuating apparatus, peripherally opposed co-operative rotatable drawing elements each having an integral outer annulus of readily deformable, expansible and contractible material, said elements being peripherally spaced from each other at adjacent regions under static conditions and defining a fiber-receiving gap therebetween, said elements upon rotation at predetermined speeds efi'ecting expansion of the annuli thereof and thereby closing the gap and grasping the fiber entered therein upon said elements being statically disposed, each annulus having inner and outer continuous peripheries and each annulus having the material thereof continuous radially between said inner and outer peripheries about its entire circumferential extent, and said annulus of each element constituted of regularly spaced segments having certain elongation characteristics and intervening sections of relatively difierent centrifugal elongation characteristics radially of said elements under the influence of centrifugal forces attendant to rotation thereof and collectively adapted to develop a continuous undulant peripheral contour, and means rotating said elements in phase relationship with each other to effect complementary mating of said undulant contours of respective elements at said regions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 437,208 Kinney Sept. 30, 1890 1,007,296 Larrabee Oct. 31, 1911 1,478,156 Whitcomb Dec. 18, 1923 2,104,630 Zahn Ian. 4, 1938 2,389,655 Wende Nov. 27, 1945

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