Abstract:
An electrically heated stream feeder for producing glass filaments comprising a chamber having an opening for supplying glass marbles for conversion to a molten body, a bottom wall for the chamber having orifices for discharging molten glass as streams, upstanding sidewalls for the chamber where the interior surface of at least one of the upstanding walls has raised portions to provide increased surface area for heat transfer, and a perforated heating strip extending across the chamber in spaced relation above the bottom wall, such heating strip including at least a portion inclined downwardly to one of the upstanding walls to urge unmelted marbles towards such wall.
Abstract:
Apparatus for producing curly and straight fibers from a molten fiber forming material such as glass. A high velocity gaseous jet attenuates streams of the molten material into fibers. Before the fibers have completely hardened, a random curl may be imparted to the fibers as they pass through an elongated expansion nozzle, imparting turbulence to the gas stream. The degree of curl may be varied by parameter adjustments to the expansion nozzle. A pneumatic flip-flop may be incorporated into the gas expansion means for distributing the curled fibers on a collection surface.
Abstract:
An apparatus for producing curly fibers from a molten stream which is pulled from a melt by high velocity attenuating fluid. The device includes a fiber forming feeder having orifices extending between a pair of elongate blowers which direct intersecting streams of high pressure fluid below the orifices to attenuate and cool the molten streams into fibers. Positioned below the orifices is a single skirt extending generally parallel to the direction of movement of the fibers and having a plurality of sinuous convolutions. High velocity air streams pulling the plastic fibers across the convolutions cause them to impinge against one or more skirt convolutions and to assume a curvilinear configuration prior to losing plasticity and leaving the skirt area. The skirt may be surrounded by a peripheral housing having air vents which permit the lateral entry of outside air pressure to further assure contact between the skirt and descending fibers.