Abstract: A fin cooler clamp useable to quickly release and attach a fin cooler to a bushing frame is disclosed. A fin support bracket having a downwardly acing U-shaped channel is attachable to the bushing frame. A fin adjusting housing snap fits into the channel and can be quickly removed therefrom. A fin attaching block is adjustably carried at the forward end of the fin adjusting housing, and a fin block, to which the header block of the fin cooler is secured, is attached to the fin attaching block. Adjusting screws are provided to vary the inclination of the cooling fins, to tilt the fins from a vertical plane and to move the fin cooler along the length of the bushing assembly in either direction.

Abstract: A collet for winding strand material, such as glass strands, is disclosed. The collet is capable of expanding under fluid pressure to firmly grasp a tube on which the strand material is wound. The collet comprises a sealed chamber into which the fluid enters under pressure, a piston which is movable by the fluid pressure, expandable rings and inexpandable spacers between the rings and at the end of the set of rings opposite the piston; the piston, rings, and spacers being located along a common shaft and arranged such that fluid entering the chamber forces the piston towards the rings and spacers creating pressure on the expandable rings and expanding them to firmly grasp the covering tube.

Abstract: An improved collet for winding strand material, such as glass strands, is disclosed. The collet is capable of expanding under fluid pressure to firmly grasp a thin-walled covering tube onto which the strand material is wound. The collet comprises a sealed chamber into which the fluid enters under pressure, a piston which is movable by the fluid pressure, expandable rings, inexpandable spacers between the rings and at one end of the set of rings opposite the piston, a plurality of fingers or wings surrounding the rings and spacers and means for connecting the rings and fingers to one another, with the piston, rings and spacers being located along a common shaft and arranged such that fluid entering the chamber forces the piston towards the rings and spacers, creating pressure on the expandable rings and expanding them and the fingers connected thereto to form a relatively even collection surface and firmly grasp the covering tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing glass fibers is disclosed. The apparatus includes means associated with an applicator for moving the glass filaments from the surface of the applicator when waste filaments are being produced such that the glass filaments are brought into contact with the application surface for coating the filaments with a binder and/or size only when production quality strand is being produced. This substantially reduces binder and/or size consumption and prevents the operator of the forming position from coming into physical contact with the binder and/or size coated strand.

Abstract: A marble feed system is disclosed for feeding glass marbles into a marble melt glass fiber forming bushing. The system comprises a storage container or hopper, a marble pre-melter, a glass fiber forming bushing, and a chute connecting the container or hopper to the pre-melter. The chute is specifically designed to prevent blockages of glass marbles due to bridging, oversized marbles and broken marbles during feeding. The novel design enables pure gravity flow of glass marbles without the need for external vibration of the feed system or other means of force feeding the marbles through the system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming containerized packages of glass strand is disclosed. The apparatus includes a novel attenuator for forming glass strand comprising a pair of double gear belts between which the strand is pulled, a pair of deflectors for absorbing inertial forces of the glass strand as the strand leaves the gear belts, and a container for receiving the glass strand. The apparatus provides the attenuative forces necessary to form the glass strand and the forces necessary to package the glass strand in a container.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing cutting blades from the periphery of an annular cutting head is disclosed which is comprised of a working table on which the cutting head is mounted and a pair of free wheeling cam members positioned to contact the blades at their portions which extend beyond the width of the cutting head. The curved portion of the cam members contact the edges of the blades while the cutting head is rotated and the blades are simultaneously moved away from the cam members. The curved surface of the cam members force the blades from their mounting in the cutter head as the head is rotated.