WO2020129399A1

WO2020129399A1 - Glass fiber production method, bushing replacement method, and glass fiber production apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2020129399A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/041707
Authority: WO
Inventors: 大介百々; 和幸天山
Original assignee: 日本電気硝子株式会社
Priority date: 2018-12-19
Filing date: 2019-10-24
Publication date: 2020-06-25
Also published as: JP2020100512A; JP7107209B2

Abstract

Provided are a glass fiber production method, a bushing replacement method, and a glass fiber production apparatus, which enable simultaneous production of multiple types of glass fibers that are produced under different production conditions. A feeder 20 has a mainstream feeder 21 connected to a glass melting furnace 10 and a plurality of branch feeders 22 that branch out from the mainstream feeder 21. A bushing 30 is disposed in each of the branch feeders 22. A damper 40 capable of opening/closing an opening 21B2 is provided to a connection part 50 between the mainstream feeder 21 and each of the branch feeders 22. The opening area of the opening 21B2 is adjusted by the damper 40 so as to regulate the flow rate of molten glass G flowing through the corresponding branch feeder 22.

Description

Glass fiber manufacturing method, bushing replacement method, and glass fiber manufacturing apparatus

The present invention relates to a glass fiber manufacturing method, a bushing replacement method provided in a manufacturing apparatus for carrying out the manufacturing method, and a technology of a glass fiber manufacturing apparatus as the manufacturing apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, there is known a glass fiber manufacturing apparatus that includes a bushing having a plurality of nozzles and draws molten glass from the nozzles to simultaneously manufacture a plurality of glass fibers.
The glass fiber manufacturing apparatus is mainly connected to a melting furnace that generates molten glass by heating and melting a glass raw material, and a feeder connected to a downstream side of the melting furnace and through which the molten glass generated in the melting furnace flows. In addition to the above, a plurality of flow holes are provided at predetermined intervals along the flow direction of the molten glass at the bottom of the feeder, and bushings are attached to the lower parts of these flow holes.
Then, a plurality of glass fibers are manufactured at the same time by pulling out the molten glass supplied to each bushing through the feeder through the nozzle of the bushing (for example, see "Patent Document 1").
The manufactured plurality of glass fibers are spun into a single strand for each bushing and wound on a bobbin as a fiber bundle.

International Publication No. 2014/185132

By the way, one of the conditions (hereinafter, referred to as “production conditions”) for determining the thickness and the number of the plurality of glass fibers manufactured by each bushing is the flow rate of the molten glass flowing in the feeder.
If there are changes in the state (temperature, viscosity) on the upstream side of the feeder, the production conditions will change, and the thickness of the glass fiber produced will change.

Further, when the bushing is replaced, it is necessary to discharge water to the bushing to be replaced and its surroundings to cool and solidify the molten glass flowing into the bushing and stop the flow, and the bushing and its surroundings are rapidly cooled. Therefore, it has been a factor that causes deterioration of the equipment.
Further, after the bushing is replaced, the glass solidified by the cooling described above is heated again, but since the solidified glass contains devitrification boots and the like, the quality of the glass fiber is deteriorated, As a result, the productivity of glass fiber may be reduced.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a glass fiber manufacturing method, a bushing replacement method, and a glass fiber manufacturing apparatus capable of suppressing deterioration of equipment and deterioration of glass fiber quality.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above. Next, the means for solving this problem will be described.

That is, the method for producing glass fiber according to the present invention has a glass melting furnace for generating molten glass, a feeder through which the molten glass generated by the glass melting furnace flows, and a plurality of nozzles arranged at the bottom of the feeder. A method for producing glass fiber, comprising a bushing and drawing molten glass from the nozzle, wherein the feeder is a mainstream feeder located downstream of the glass melting furnace, and a branch from the mainstream feeder. And a plurality of branch feeders communicating with the mainstream feeder, the bushing being disposed at the bottom of each branch feeder, and a communicating portion between the mainstream feeder and each of the branch feeders. Is provided with a damper for opening and closing the opening provided in the communication portion, and the opening area of the opening is adjusted by the damper.

With such a structure, even if there is a change in the state (temperature, viscosity) on the upstream side of the feeder, the pressure loss is adjusted by opening and closing the opening with the damper, so that the glass fiber can be stably supplied. Can be manufactured.

Further, in the method for producing glass fiber according to the present invention, by adjusting the opening area of the opening by the damper, the liquid level of the molten glass flowing in the branch feeder is adjusted to be constant. It is preferable.

That is, the height of the damper is set so that the opening area of the opening in the communication portion between the mainstream feeder and the branch feeder is approximately equal to the cross-sectional area seen in the flow direction of the molten glass flowing in the branch feeder. By adjusting, the lower end portion of the damper comes into contact with the liquid surface of the molten glass, and the liquid surface height of the molten glass is adjusted to be substantially constant.
Therefore, for example, the liquid surface of the molten glass suddenly undulates, and the pressure at the bottom of the molten glass fluctuates, whereby the thickness or density of the glass fiber to be produced can be suppressed from changing, and the glass fiber The quality of can be improved.

Further, in the glass fiber manufacturing method according to the present invention, a heating means for heating the molten glass flowing in the branch feeder is provided, and the heating means adjusts the temperature of the molten glass to be constant. Is preferred.

By having such a structure, it becomes possible to suppress the occurrence of unevenness in the viscosity of the molten glass flowing in the branch feeder due to a partial temperature decrease, and improve the quality of the glass fiber produced. Can be planned.

Further, in the method for producing glass fiber according to the present invention, any one of a plurality of branch feeders, and the opening of the communication portion between the mainstream feeder is closed by the damper. The glass fiber may be manufactured.

By having such a configuration, for example, when performing periodic maintenance of equipment such as replacement of bushing, operation of the entire equipment is performed like a conventional manufacturing apparatus in which the bushing is arranged at the bottom of a single feeder. Since it is possible to perform necessary maintenance while continuing the production of glass fiber without stopping the production, it is possible to improve the production capacity.

The bushing replacement method according to the present invention comprises a glass melting furnace for producing molten glass, a feeder through which the molten glass produced by the glass melting furnace flows, and a bushing having a plurality of nozzles arranged at the bottom of the feeder. In the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing glass fibers by pulling out molten glass from the nozzle, which is a method of replacing the bushing, the feeder is a mainstream feeder communicating with the glass melting furnace, and the mainstream feeder. A plurality of branch feeders that are branched and extended and are located downstream of the main feeder, and the bushing is disposed at the bottom of each of the branch feeders, and the bushing is provided between the main feeder and each of the branch feeders. The communication part is provided with a damper for opening and closing an opening provided in the communication part, and the damper closes the opening part of the communication part between the mainstream feeder and the branch feeder, After the molten glass in the branch feeder is discharged to the outside, the bushing replacement work is performed.

With such a configuration, immediately after the operation of the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus is restarted, the quality of the glass fiber is not deteriorated due to devitrification, and the productivity is not deteriorated.
Further, in the present invention, since it is not necessary to discharge the water to the bushing and stop the flow of the molten glass in the branch feeder, in the branch feeder, damage or damage caused by local rapid cooling is generated. Can be prevented as much as possible.

Further, in the bushing replacement method according to the present invention, the branch feeder includes a heating means for heating the molten glass flowing in the branch feeder, and after the bushing replacement work is completed, the branch feeder is heated by the heating means. It is preferable to heat the internal space.

With such a configuration, after the bushing replacement work is completed, the temperature of the molten glass that has begun to flow in the branch feeder again can be immediately raised to a predetermined temperature and held, When the operation of the branch feeder is restarted, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of defective quality of the manufactured glass fiber as much as possible and smoothly restart the operation of the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus.

The glass fiber manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a glass melting furnace for generating molten glass, a feeder through which the molten glass generated by the glass melting furnace flows, and a bushing having a plurality of nozzles arranged at the bottom of the feeder. A glass fiber manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing glass fibers by pulling out molten glass from the nozzle, wherein the feeder is a mainstream feeder located downstream of the glass melting furnace, and is branched and extended from the mainstream feeder. , A plurality of branch feeders communicating with the mainstream feeder, the bushing is arranged at the bottom of each of the branch feeders, the communication section between the mainstream feeder and each of the branch feeders, A damper is provided for opening and closing an opening provided in the communication portion.

With such a configuration, it is possible to adjust the pressure loss of the molten glass for each branch feeder and arbitrarily set the production conditions (conditions for determining the thickness and number of glass fibers to be manufactured). Since it becomes possible, a plurality of types of glass fibers can be simultaneously produced. Further, even if the state (temperature, viscosity) on the upstream side of the feeder changes, the glass fiber can be stably produced by adjusting the pressure loss.

Moreover, in the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, the number of bushings arranged at the bottom of each branch feeder is two or less, and at the extended end of the branch feeder, along the flow direction of the molten glass. Preferably juxtaposed.

By having such a configuration, the bushing located on the most upstream side (that is, the communication side with the mainstream feeder) in the flow direction of the molten glass and the bushing located on the most downstream side (that is, the extension end side of the branch feeder) It is possible to suppress the pressure difference of the molten glass from becoming too large between the bushing and the bushing to be manufactured, and the quality of the glass fiber to be produced is less likely to vary, and the quality of the glass fiber is improved You can

Further, in the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the branch feeder includes a heating unit that heats the molten glass flowing in the branch feeder.

The present invention has the following effects.
That is, according to the glass fiber production method and the glass fiber production apparatus of the present invention, the bushing replacement method of the present invention can prevent equipment deterioration and glass fiber quality deterioration.

1 is a cross-sectional plan view showing the overall configuration of a glass fiber manufacturing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing composition of a branch feeder and its neighborhood, and is a sectional side view seen in the direction of arrow B in Drawing 1. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view showing the state inside the branch feeder with time in the bushing replacement method, showing the state immediately after the closing step. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view showing the state inside the branch feeder with time in the bushing replacement method, showing the state immediately after the end of the discharging step. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view showing the state inside the branch feeder with time in the bushing replacement method, showing the state immediately after the end of the replacement step.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
In the following description, for convenience, the vertical direction in FIGS. 2 and 3 is defined as the vertical direction of the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 1. Further, the directions of arrows A1, A2, and A3 in FIGS. 1 to 3 are defined as the flow direction of the molten glass G.

[Overall Configuration of Glass Fiber Manufacturing Apparatus 1]
First, the configuration of a glass fiber manufacturing apparatus 1 (hereinafter, simply referred to as “manufacturing apparatus 1”) embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
The manufacturing apparatus 1 in this embodiment draws the molten glass G melted by heating the glass raw material (not shown) through the plurality of

nozzles

31, 31... This is an apparatus for simultaneously producing the glass fibers F·F... (See FIG. 2).
As shown in FIG. 1, the manufacturing apparatus 1 mainly includes a glass melting furnace 10, a feeder 20, a bushing 30, a damper 40, and the like.

The glass melting furnace 10 continuously generates a molten glass G by heating and melting a glass raw material charged into the furnace.
The glass melting furnace 10 is configured as a tank-shaped structure made of refractory material (for example, bricks), and inside thereof is provided with a heating means (not shown) such as an electric heater and an LPG burner. ..

In the glass melting furnace 10, a glass raw material mixed with silica sand, limestone, soda ash, cullet, etc. is placed in the furnace at the upstream end in the flow direction of molten glass G (direction of arrow A1 in FIG. 1). A charging port (not shown) for charging is provided.

Then, the glass raw material charged through the charging port is heated to a predetermined temperature by the heating means and melted, whereby the molten glass G is continuously generated by the glass melting furnace 10 and flows in the flow direction (arrow A1). Direction) toward the downstream side.

Next, the feeder 20 will be described.
The feeder 20 flows the molten glass G generated by the glass melting furnace 10 and supplies the molten glass G to the bushing 30 described later.
The feeder 20 is mainly composed of a mainstream feeder 21 communicating with the glass melting furnace 10 and a plurality of branch feeders 22.

The mainstream feeder 21 is, for example, in the present embodiment, one first mainstream feeder 21A made of a rectangular box-shaped refractory (for example, bricks) that extends to one side, and a plurality (for example, two in FIG. 1). (Only described) The second

mainstream feeder

21B, 21B.

The first mainstream feeder 21A is arranged on the downstream side of the flow direction (direction of arrow A1) in the glass melting furnace 10 so as to extend along the flow direction and communicates with the glass melting furnace 10. ..

On the other hand, the plurality of second

mainstream feeders

21B and 21B are arranged to extend from the side wall portions 21A1 and 21A1 on both sides of the first mainstream feeder 21A along the flow direction of the molten glass G (the direction of arrow A2 in FIG. 1). And is communicated with the first mainstream feeder 21A.

The molten glass G supplied from the glass melting furnace 10 to the mainstream feeder 21 flows toward the downstream side in the flow direction (direction of arrow A1) by the first mainstream feeder 21A, and at the same time, the flow direction (direction of arrow A1). ) In the middle part, it is branched into a plurality of second mainstream feeders 21B and flows toward the downstream side in the new flow direction (direction of arrow A2).

The configuration of the mainstream feeder 21 is not limited to this embodiment.
For example, without providing the second mainstream feeder 21B, the mainstream feeder 21 is configured only by the first mainstream feeder 21A, and the plurality of branch feeders 22..22 are formed in the side wall portion 21A1 of the first mainstream feeder 21A. It may be provided as described later.

A plurality of (for example, only eight in FIG. 1) branch feeders 22 are provided by rectangular box-shaped refractories (for example, bricks) extending in one direction, as in the main feeder 21 described above. Composed.
Further, these

branch feeders

22, 22,... Are provided at predetermined intervals in the flow direction (direction of arrow A2) of the molten glass G in each side wall portion 21B1, 21B1 of the plurality of second

mainstream feeders

21B, 21B. The plurality of second

mainstream feeders

21B and 21B communicate with each other and extend in parallel with each other and along a new flowing direction of the molten glass G (direction of arrow A3 in FIG. 1). To be done.
That is, the branch feeder 22 branches from the mainstream feeder 21 (more specifically, the second mainstream feeder 21B) and extends in one direction (flow direction of the molten glass G (direction of arrow A3)), and 21 is communicated with.

Also, the bottom surface of each branch feeder 22 is set to gently incline downward from the upstream side in the flow direction (direction of arrow A3) toward the downstream side.

Then, the molten glass G branched from the first mainstream feeder 21A and flowing in the second mainstream feeder 21B further branches into a plurality of branch feeders 22 in the middle of the flow direction (direction of arrow A2), and a new It flows toward the downstream side in the flow direction (direction of arrow A3).

Each branch feeder 22 is provided with a heating means 23 composed of, for example, an LPG burner, and when the glass fiber F is manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus 1, the heating means 23 causes the inside of the branch feeder 22 to flow. By heating the molten glass G, the temperature of the molten glass G is adjusted to be always constant.
The configuration of the heating means 23 is not limited to this embodiment, and may be an electric heater or the like, for example.

By having such a configuration, in the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of unevenness in the viscosity of the molten glass G flowing in the branch feeder 22 due to a partial temperature decrease. The quality of the glass fiber F to be processed can be improved.

Next, the bushing 30 will be described.
The bushing 30 is for molding the molten glass G supplied from the glass melting furnace 10 by the feeder 20 into a plurality of glass fibers F.
As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the bushing 30 is made of platinum, a platinum alloy, or the like, and is a rectangular box-shaped member having an open top surface. The bottom surface 30a thereof has a plurality of

nozzles

31, 31... It is provided.

The bushing 30 is arranged on the bottom portion 22a of the branch feeder 22 described above.
More specifically, in the bottom portion 22a of the branch feeder 22, a flow hole 22a1 is provided at an end portion on the downstream side in the flow direction (direction of arrow A3), and the flow hole 22a1 is closed, The bushing 30 is attached to the lower surface of the bottom portion 22a.

In the bushing 30 having such a configuration, the molten glass G flowing in the branch feeder 22 flows down like filaments through the plurality of

hollow nozzles

31, 31...
Then, the plurality of glass fibers (glass filaments) F, F,...
The formed plurality of glass fibers F, F,... Are then coated with a sizing agent to be bundled into glass strands S, which are wound up by a winding device (not shown) to form a wound body 100. To be done.

As shown in FIG. 1, the number of bushings 30 arranged in each branch feeder 22 is not limited to one, and may be plural, but it is preferable that the number is two or less.
That is, for example, when a plurality of

bushings

30, 30... Are arranged on the bottom portion 22a of each branch feeder 22, the plurality of

bushings

30, 30,... They are arranged side by side along the direction of arrow A3).
Therefore, if three or more bushings 30 are arranged on the bottom 22a of one branch feeder 22, the most upstream side of the flow direction of molten glass G (direction of arrow A3), that is, the second mainstream feeder 21B. The pressure difference of the molten glass G between the bushing 30 located on the communication side with the bushing 30 and the bushing 30 located on the most downstream side in the flow direction, that is, the bushing 30 located on the extended end side of the branch feeder 22 increases. The quality of the glass fiber F to be processed tends to vary.

For this reason, in the present embodiment, as shown in the branch feeder 22A in FIG. 1, the number of the

bushings

30 and 30 arranged on the bottom portion 22a is two or less, and the extended end portion of the branch feeder 22A. That is, at the downstream end of the molten glass G in the flow direction (direction of arrow A3), the molten glass G is juxtaposed along the flow direction.
Therefore, the quality of the glass fiber F to be manufactured rarely varies, and the quality of the glass fiber F can be improved.

Next, the damper 40 will be described.
The damper 40 is arranged in the communication part 50 between the second mainstream feeder 21B and each branch feeder 22, and is formed in the opening provided in the communication part 50, that is, the side wall part 21B1 of the second mainstream feeder 21B. The opening 21B2 is opened and closed.
Here, the communicating part 50 means a region including the vicinity of the upstream side and the downstream side in the flow direction (direction of arrow A3) in the opening 21B2 with the opening 21B2 as the center.
Therefore, the damper 40 may be arranged at any position as long as the opening 21B2 can be opened and closed, and may be arranged on the branch feeder 22 side as in the present embodiment. Alternatively, it may be arranged on the second mainstream feeder 21B side. Further, the damper 40 may be arranged downstream of the arrangement position in the present embodiment in the arrow A3 direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the damper 40 is composed of a plate-shaped member made of a refractory material (for example, brick), and in a state where the flat surface portion is oriented in the flow direction of the molten glass G (direction of arrow A3). Will be placed.
Further, the damper 40 includes, for example, an elevating means 41 including a pulling device using a wire, and is provided so as to be vertically movable (elevable) by the elevating means 41.

Then, when the damper 40 is lowered (moved downward) by the elevating means 41 and the damper 40 reaches the position of the lowest point, the opening 21B2 provided in the communication portion 50 is completely removed by the damper 40. It will be in a blocked state.
Further, when the damper 40 is lifted (moved upward) by the elevating means 41 and the damper 40 reaches the uppermost position, the opening 21B2 provided in the communication portion 50 is completely opened by the damper 40. It will be in the state of being.

Further, the damper 40 is set so that it can be stopped at an arbitrary position between the lowest point and the highest point described above by the elevating means 41, and the damper 40 is provided in the communication section 50 depending on the stopped position. The opening area of the opening 21B2 is adjusted, and the pressure loss of the molten glass G flowing in the branch feeder 22 is adjusted.

Note that the stop position of the damper 40 is not only set for the purpose of adjusting the pressure loss of the molten glass G flowing in the branch feeder 22 as described above, but also for example, the liquid level height of the molten glass G. It may be set for the purpose of suppressing the fluctuation of the height.
That is, the opening area of the opening 21</b>B<b>2 provided in the communication part 50 between the main feeder 21 (more specifically, the second main feeder 21</b>B) and the branch feeder 22 is the molten glass flowing in the branch feeder 22. The liquid of the molten glass G flowing in the branch feeder 22 is adjusted by adjusting the opening area of the opening 21B2 by the damper 40 so as to be substantially equal to the cross-sectional area seen in the G flow direction (direction of arrow A3). The height may be adjusted to be constant.

By adjusting the height of the damper 40 in this manner, the lower end of the damper 40 comes into substantially contact with the liquid surface of the molten glass G, and the molten glass G adjusts the pressure loss by the damper 40 while The surface height is adjusted so as to be in a substantially constant state.
Therefore, for example, it is possible to prevent the thickness and density of the glass fiber F to be manufactured from changing due to the liquid surface of the molten glass G suddenly waving and the pressure at the bottom of the molten glass G fluctuating, The quality of the glass fiber F can be improved.

As described above, in the manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the communication part between the mainstream feeder 21 (more specifically, each second mainstream feeder 21B) and each branch feeder 22. 50, 50... Are respectively provided with

dampers

40, 40... Which can open and close the openings 21B2, 21B2... Provided in the

communication parts

50, 50.

When the glass fiber F is manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus 1 having such a configuration, each damper 40 is used to adjust the opening area of each opening 21B2, and the molten glass flowing in each branch feeder 22 is adjusted. After adjusting the pressure loss of G, the molten glass G is drawn out through the nozzle 31 of the bushing 30 for each branch feeder 22, and the glass fiber F is manufactured.

With such a configuration, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the pressure loss of the molten glass G is adjusted for each branch feeder 22, and the production conditions (the manufactured glass fiber F It is possible to set conditions for determining the thickness and the number of pieces.
Therefore, for example, by placing the bushing 30 at the bottom of a single feeder (for example, a feeder including only the first mainstream feeder 21A) as in the conventional case, and pulling out the molten glass G from the nozzle 31 of the bushing 30, the glass Unlike the case of manufacturing the fiber F, a plurality of types of glass fiber F can be manufactured at the same time.

Further, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, any one of the plurality of

branch feeders

22, 22,..., The main feeder (more specifically, the second main feeder 21B), It is possible to manufacture the glass fiber F in a state where the opening portion 21B2 of the communication portion 50 between the two is closed by the damper 40.

By having such a configuration, for example, when performing periodic maintenance of equipment such as replacement of the bushing 30, the bushing 30 is provided at the bottom of a single feeder (for example, a feeder including only the first mainstream feeder 21A). There is no need to stop the operation of the entire equipment as in the conventional manufacturing apparatus arranged, and it is possible to perform the necessary maintenance while continuing the production of the glass fiber F, thus improving the production capacity. be able to.

[Replacement procedure of bushing 30]
Next, in the manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, a replacement method in the case where the bushing 30 provided in the manufacturing apparatus 1 is replaced by periodical maintenance, the production conditions of the glass fiber F are changed, and the like. This will be described with reference to FIG.

As described above, in the manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the bushing 30 is provided for the plurality of

branch feeders

22, 22... That branch from the mainstream feeder 21 (more specifically, the second mainstream feeder 21B). .. are provided respectively, the replacement work of the bushing 30 can be performed for each branch feeder 22 without stopping the entire operation of the manufacturing apparatus 1.
The replacement method of the bushing 30 mainly includes a closing step S01, a discharging step S02, a replacement step S03, etc., which are sequentially executed over time.

The closing step S01 is a step of closing the opening 21B2 provided in the communication part 50 between the mainstream feeder 21 (second mainstream feeder 21B) and the branch feeder 22 with the damper 40.
In the closing step S01, as shown in FIG. 3A, the damper 40 is moved (lowered) downward by the elevating means 41 and stopped at the above-mentioned lowest point position.
As a result, the opening 21B2 is closed by the damper 40, and the molten glass G supplied from the second mainstream feeder 21B to the branch feeder 22 is temporarily blocked.

Next, the discharging step S02 will be described.
The discharging step S02 is a step of discharging the molten glass G remaining in the branch feeder 22 to the outside of the branch feeder 22.
In the discharging step S02, as shown in FIG. 3B, the molten glass G still remaining in the branch feeder 22 after being blocked by the closing step S01 is a plurality of

nozzles

31, 31... .. from the branch feeder 22.
As a result, almost all the molten glass G remaining in the branch feeder 22 is discharged to the outside of the branch feeder 22.

Next, the replacement step S03 will be described.
The replacement step S03 is a step of replacing the bushing 30.
In the exchange step S03, as shown in FIG. 3C, the existing bushing 30 (hereinafter referred to as “old bushing 30A” as appropriate) is removed from the branch feeder 22 and a new bushing 30 (hereinafter referred to as “new bushing” as appropriate). 30B”) is attached to the branch feeder 22.
As a result, the bushing 30 provided in the branch feeder 22 is replaced with the new bushing 30, and the replacement method of the bushing 30 is completed.

As described above, the method of replacing the bushing 30 in the manufacturing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is performed for each branch feeder 22 branched from the main feeder 21 (second main feeder 21B), and the damper 40 causes the main feeder ( After the opening 21B2 provided in the communication part 50 between the second mainstream feeder 21B) and the branch feeder 22 is closed (blocking step S01), the molten glass G in the branch feeder 22 is discharged to the outside (discharge step). S02), the bushing 30 is replaced (replacement step S03).

Here, the bushing 30 is replaced with a conventional glass fiber manufacturing apparatus in which the bushing 30 is arranged at the bottom of a single feeder (for example, a feeder including only the first mainstream feeder 21A). In this case, in order to stop the flow of the molten glass G flowing in the main feeder 21, the heating of the bushing 30 is stopped and water is discharged, and the molten glass G in the main feeder 21 located near the bushing 30 is partially removed. It is necessary to solidify by cooling with water.
Therefore, immediately after the replacement work of the bushing 30 is finished and the operation of the glass fiber manufacturing apparatus is started again, the portion that has been solidified by water cooling becomes devitrified and precipitates in the molten glass G to be manufactured. The quality of the fiber F is liable to be deteriorated, which causes a decrease in productivity.

Further, as described above, by discharging water to the bushing 30 in order to stop the flow of the molten glass G flowing in the mainstream feeder 21, the mainstream feeder 21 is locally rapidly cooled. It is easy to cause damage or damage.

In the manufacturing apparatus 1 in the present embodiment, a plurality of

branch feeders

22, 22,... Branching from the mainstream feeder 21 (second mainstream feeder 21B) are provided, and the bushings 30 are arranged at the bottom portions 22a of the respective branch feeders 22. At the same time, a damper 40 capable of opening and closing the opening 21B2 provided in the communication portion 50 between the mainstream feeder 21 (second mainstream feeder 21B) and each branch feeder 22 is provided, and the opening 40B is provided by the damper 40. After the molten glass G in the branch feeder 22 is blocked and discharged to the outside, the bushing 30 is replaced, so that the glass fiber due to devitrification immediately after the operation is restarted, as in the conventional glass fiber manufacturing apparatus. The quality of F is not deteriorated, and the productivity is not deteriorated.

Further, in the manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to discharge the water to the bushing 30 and stop the flow of the molten glass G flowing in the branch feeder 22, so that the branch feeder 22 locally rapidly abruptly. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of breakage or damage due to cooling as much as possible.

In the replacement method of the bushing 30 in the manufacturing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, after the replacement work of the bushing 30 (replacement step S03), the heating step S04 of heating the internal space of the branch feeder 22 by the heating means 23 is performed. , May be further provided.

With such a configuration, after the replacement work of the bushing 30 is completed, the temperature of the molten glass G, which has begun to flow in the branch feeder 22 again, can be immediately raised to a predetermined temperature and maintained. Therefore, when the operation of the branch feeder 22 is restarted, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of defective quality of the glass fiber F to be manufactured as much as possible, and to smoothly restart the manufacturing apparatus 1.

1 Glass fiber manufacturing equipment (manufacturing equipment)
10 glass melting furnace 20 feeder 21 main stream feeder 21A first main stream feeder (main stream feeder)
21A1 Side wall 21B Second mainstream feeder (mainstream feeder)
21B1 Side wall part 21B2 Opening part 22 Branch feeder 22a Bottom part 23 Heating means 30 Bushing 30A Old bushing (bushing)
30B New bushing (bushing)
30a Bottom face 31 Nozzle 40 Damper 41 Elevating means 50 Communication part 100 Winding body S Glass strand F Glass fiber (glass filament)
G molten glass

Claims

A glass melting furnace for producing molten glass, a feeder through which the molten glass produced by the glass melting furnace flows, and a bushing arranged at the bottom of the feeder and having a plurality of nozzles, and withdrawing the molten glass from the nozzle A method for producing glass fibers by producing a glass fiber according to
The feeder is
A mainstream feeder located downstream of the glass melting furnace,
A plurality of branch feeders branched from the mainstream feeder and extended, and communicating with the mainstream feeder;
The bushing is located at the bottom of each branch feeder,
The communication portion between the mainstream feeder and each of the branch feeders is provided with a damper for opening and closing an opening provided in the communication portion,
The opening area of the opening is adjusted by the damper,
A method for producing glass fiber, comprising:
By adjusting the opening area of the opening by the damper,
Adjusting so that the liquid level of the molten glass flowing in the branch feeder is constant,
The method for producing glass fiber according to claim 1, wherein
Heating means for heating the molten glass flowing in the branch feeder is provided,
By the heating means, the temperature of the molten glass is adjusted to be constant,
The method for producing glass fiber according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.
In a state where any one of the plurality of branch feeders and the opening of the communication section between the mainstream feeder are closed by the damper,
Producing the glass fiber,
The method for producing glass fiber according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that
A glass melting furnace for producing molten glass, a feeder through which the molten glass produced by the glass melting furnace flows, and a bushing arranged at the bottom of the feeder and having a plurality of nozzles, and withdrawing the molten glass from the nozzle A method for replacing the bushing in a glass fiber manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing glass fibers by the method,
The feeder is
A mainstream feeder located downstream of the glass melting furnace,
A plurality of branch feeders branched from the mainstream feeder and extended, and communicating with the mainstream feeder;
The bushing is located at the bottom of each branch feeder,
The communication portion between the mainstream feeder and each of the branch feeders is provided with a damper for opening and closing an opening provided in the communication portion,
The damper closes the opening of the communication section between the mainstream feeder and the branch feeder,
After discharging the molten glass in the branch feeder to the outside,
Perform the bushing replacement work,
A method of replacing a bushing, which is characterized in that
The branch feeder is
A heating means for heating the molten glass flowing in the branch feeder,
After the bushing replacement work,
Heating the inner space of the branch feeder by the heating means,
The bushing replacement method according to claim 5, wherein:
A glass melting furnace for producing molten glass, a feeder through which the molten glass produced by the glass melting furnace flows, and a bushing arranged at the bottom of the feeder and having a plurality of nozzles, and withdrawing the molten glass from the nozzle A glass fiber manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing glass fiber by:
The feeder is
A mainstream feeder located downstream of the glass melting furnace,
A plurality of branch feeders branched from the mainstream feeder and extended, and communicating with the mainstream feeder;
The bushing is located at the bottom of each branch feeder,
The communication part between the mainstream feeder and each of the branch feeders is provided with a damper for opening and closing an opening provided in the communication part.
A glass fiber manufacturing apparatus characterized in that
The number of bushings arranged at the bottom of each branch feeder is two or less,
At the extended end of the branch feeder,
Juxtaposed along the flow direction of the molten glass,
The glass fiber manufacturing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:
The branch feeder is
A heating means for heating the molten glass flowing in the branch feeder,
The glass fiber manufacturing apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that.