Abstract: A feeder is provided for supplying molten mineral material in the form of streams. The feeder comprises a bottom wall member, two side wall members and two end region members, each comprising an end wall portion and portions extending from the end wall portion on three sides thereof to form a bottom wall portion and two side wall portions, the bottom wall member and the side wall members being affixed to the bottom wall portion and the side wall portions, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention comprises fluid flow nozzle apparatus comprising a chamber having an inlet, a first outlet means opening from said chamber for discharging fluid from said chamber, a first duct means abutting said chamber in open communication with said chamber and surrounding said first outlet means, a second outlet means opening from said chamber for discharging fluid from said chamber, a second duct means abutting said chamber in open communication with said chamber and surrounding said second outlet means, and a third outlet means opening from said chamber and adapted for discharging fluid from said chamber between said first duct means and said second duct means.

Abstract: The present invention embraces fluid flow apparatus comprising a first nozzle for discharge of a first fluid therefrom, duct means for receiving the first fluid discharged from the first nozzle and for discharging the first fluid therefrom, and a second nozzle for discharge of a second fluid therefrom for modifying the first fluid upon discharge from the duct means.

Abstract: Organo silane coupling agents having at least two hydrolyzable silane groups are disclosed. Glass fibers coated with these organo silanes are suitable for reinforcing cementitious materials.

Abstract: The disclosure embraces a method of and apparatus for processing heat-softened fiber-forming mineral material, such as glass, to form fibers or filaments and particularly embraces a bushing block arrangement having one or more glass flow passages configurated to provide a minimum of contact of the bushing block with the glass in the flow passage or passages to stabilize the operating characteristics of a bushing or stream feeder, effect conservation of heat and improve bushing performance.

Abstract: Method of welding wherein at least two tubular members, are welded to a plate comprising directing a high energy beam welding means along a continuous path extending peripherally of the tubular members and between the tubular members.

Abstract: The disclosure embraces a method of and apparatus for transferring heat from streams of glass flowing from a feeder through the use of a closed hollow heat exchanger unit or instrumentality containing a working fluid for rapidly absorbing heat from intensely hot glass streams to raise the viscosity of the glass of the streams to enable attenuation of the streams to fibers and thereby attain increased throughput of glass and higher production of fibers.

Abstract: Improved construction for bushings used to produce glass fibers is provided. Such bushings commonly have thin side and end walls of precious metal defining a glass-melting chamber, with a bottom in which fiber-forming tips are located. Refractory material is located around the side and end walls. When the bushings are heated to operating temperatures, the metal walls tend to expand more than the refractory material and, particularly with larger bushings, the walls can buckle and crack since full expansion of the walls is prevented by the refractory material. To overcome this, it has been found that the bushings can be constructed with space between the metal walls and the refractory, with the space equalling the difference in expansion of the two materials. The space is formed by layers of heat-removable material, such as wax which melts out as the bushings are heated.

Abstract: An improvement in the production of chopped fibers is provided. Long fibers, commonly in the form of roving, are fed through a chopper assembly comprising a cutter wheel having a plurality of outwardly-extending blades and a back-up roll having a soft cylindrical surface which the blade edges contact with the fibers therebetween. The chopped fibers then are directed downwardly through a discharge chute to a distribution chute below the chopper where they are directed by air to a point of application, e.g. being mixed with resin and applied to a surface of a mold or mandrel. The chopped fibers have had a tendency to agglomerate into hunks or balls below the chopper assembly and such tendency has heretofore been substantially reduced by the use of static bars located below the chopper assembly. An air system is now provided for directing air downwardly past the chopper assembly to convey the chopper fibers therefrom through the discharge duct and the distribution chute.

Abstract: The disclosure embraces a method of and apparatus for producing a roving package of strands of attenuated glass fibers or filaments, the method and apparatus involving segregating the fibers or filaments into bundles or strands in spaced relation and the bundles or strands wound into a package with the bundles or strands advanced toward the package in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the package whereby the individual bundles or strands engage the package at peripherally spaced surface regions and are collected in side-by-side or waywound relation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming glass filament in which a fluid is applied to the filament which is passed in contact with a suction means to contact the filament with air to remove the fluid from the filament and subsequently applying a sizing composition to the filament.

Abstract: The present invention embraces apparatus for packaging linear material. The invention comprises a driven rotatable collet having a package collection region and a temporary collection region, a linear material engaging member having a recess and a guide surface terminating at one end at the recess; and means for moving the member so that the linear material is moved along the collet between the package collection region and the temporary collection region, the guide surface being disposed to laterally guide the linear material into the recess and gather the linear material into a bundle therein when the member is moved along a path to move the linear material from the package collection region to the temporary collection region, the recess being disposed tending to hold the linear material therein and thus urge movement of the linear material with it when the member is moved back along the path such that the material releases from the recess at its package collection region.

Abstract: An adjustment mechanism is provided, the mechanism providing minute movement by use of a single screw engaging a fixed member and a movable member. The mechanism is particularly suitable for finshield adjustments adjacent bushings.

Abstract: A stream feeder for supply of streams of molten glass for attenuation into fibers. The feeder is formed of metal and is electric-resistance heated. The bottom wall and sidewalls of the feeder are of varied thickness and are formed from a single sheet of metal. The disclosure also includes method and apparatus for forming the bottom wall and varied thickness sidewalls from a single sheet of metal.

Abstract: An improvement in the production of chopped fibers is provided. Long fibers, commmonly in the form of roving, are fed through a chopper assembly comprising a cutter wheel having a plurality of outwardly-extending blades and a back-up roll having a soft cylindrical surface which the blade edges contact with the fibers therebetween. The chopped fibers then are directed downwardly through a discharge chute to a distribution chute below the chopper where they are directed by air to a point of application, e.g. being mixed with resin and applied to a surface of a mold or mandrel. The chopper fibers have had a tendency to agglomerate into hunks or balls below the chopper assembly and such tendency has heretofore been substantially reduced by the use of static bars located below the chopper assembly. An air system is now provided for directing air downwardly past the chopper assembly to convey the chopper fibers therefrom through the discharge duct and the distribution chute.

Abstract: A method of making a cylindrical electrical conductor or roving comprised of a bundle of conductive glass filaments, wherein the filaments are cured under tension in a flat ribbon-like form. The method includes binding the filaments into a preferred cylindrical bundle or roving by the steps of passing the filament bundle through the axial bore of an annular bobbin having a binder yarn or element thereon and rotating the bobbin to centrifugally throw the yarn in an unconfined balloon. The free end of the yarn is secured to the filament bundle, thereby wrapping the bundle with a helical overwrap. The balloon of yarn is controlled and stabilized by air currents generated adjacent the bobbin.

Abstract: The present invention embraces a winder for collection of linear material into a wound package. The winder comprises a driven rotatable collet upon which linear material is collected as a package in a package collection region. The collet includes a temporary collection region adjacent the collection region.

Abstract: The present invention embraces a method and apparatus for simultaneously winding two linear elements into strand packages.

Abstract: The present invention embraces apparatus for packaging strand. The invention comprises means for supplying a first strand and a second strand and a driven rotatable collet having a first package collection region for the first strand, a second package collection region for collecting the second strand and a temporary collection region. A strand engaging member having a recess, a first guide surface and a second guide surface, is moved along a path to move the first strand and the second strand from the package collection regions to the temporary collection region. The first guide surface is adapted to contact and guide the first strand toward the recess and the second guide surface is adapted to contact the second strand as the member is moved to move the strands to the temporary collection region. The apparatus can also include means for moving the member to move the first strand and the second strand from the temporary collection region to the package collection region.

Abstract: The disclosure embraces a support arrangement for a stream flow section or area of a feeder or bushing adapted to flow a large number of streams of glass or other fiber-forming mineral material for attenuation to fibers or filaments wherein the support arrangement includes a tubular support means for the stream flow section connected with transversely arranged tubular members adapted to be attached to a mounting frame, the tubular means and members accommodating circulating cooling fluid for conveying away heat from an area of the feeder floor to eliminate sagging of the feeder floor section and to promote thermal stability of the heat-softened glass throughout the area of the feeder floor.