Abstract: A centrifuge to rotate about a rotation axis, the centrifuge including: an annular wall pierced with a plurality of holes, the annular wall having the rotation axis as its axis of symmetry; and a row of one continuous relief or of discontinuous reliefs, situated on an outer surface of the centrifuge, on the annular wall and/or above and close to the annular wall when the centrifuge is in a centrifuging position, the row being horizontal or inclined at an angle of more than 0° and less than 90° relative to the horizontal when the centrifuge is in the centrifuging position. The centrifuge makes it possible to improve energy consumption of a device for forming mineral fibers furnished with the centrifuge.

Abstract: A method of forming a needled rotary fiberglass glass insulation product is provided. The formation of the needled insulation product may be conducted in a continuous in-line process in which the fibers are rotary formed, a binder is sprayed onto the hot fibers, the fibers are collected onto a conveyor and formed into a fiberglass pack, the fiberglass pack is passed through the oven, and the cured insulation blanket is passed through a needling apparatus. The reduction in thickness and increased density caused by the needling process permits the production of lower thickness and higher density insulation products. In particular, the needled insulation product may have a thickness of less than about 0.75 inches and a density from about 1 pcf to about 10 pcf. The needled insulation product may be utilized in household appliances, water heaters, and HVAC equipment.

Abstract: A novel spinner, for fiberizing hollow, irregularly-shaped insulating fibers is the subject matter of the present invention. The spinner is unique in a sense that its hole/slot pattern can be done by some standard drilling/milling techniques, which lower the cost of manufacturing. The invention uses two molten glasses (A and B) of different coefficients of thermal expansion, which are moved outwardly around the corresponding gas orifices by centrifugal force in a spinner pot. A stream of pressurized combustion gases is thrust through these central gas orifices to produce a hollow, non collapsible fiber of irregular shape. Molten glass A is introduced from the bottom of the spinner, and molten glass B is introduced above an uppermost flange and by means of centrifugal force, the two glasses A and B are forced upwardly and downwardly, respectively, into fiberizing centers.

Abstract: A method of forming fibers from molten mineral material is provided. The method comprising the steps of: rotating a spinner having an orificed peripheral wall, the orificed peripheral wall having a top row of orifices, introducing molten mineral material to the spinner to create a fan of primary glass fibers, creating an annular combustion flow of heated gas and directing the annular combustion flow of heated gas substantially through the primary fibers, creating an annular flow of attenuating air with an annular blower, the annular flow of attenuating air being sufficient to attenuate the primary fibers into secondary fibers, directing the annular combustion flow of heated gas and the annular flow of attenuating air so that they are radially spaced apart at the level of the top row of orifices, and directing the annular combustion flow of heated gas and the annular flow of attenuating air so that they are brought together at a position below the top row of orifices.

Abstract: Particulate mineral material suitable for forming a fiberisable melt is melted in a flame formed by combustion of powdered carbonaceous fuel with preheated air and the particulate mineral material is then preheated, and the exhaust gases are subjected to NOx reduction, in a cyclone preheater (22).

Abstract: Tubular pipe insulation is made from a glass fiber mat produced utilizing a rotary glass fiberization process. A spinner disc is rotated to centrifuge molten glass through fiberization holes in an annular sidewall of the spinner disc and form primary glass fibers. The primary glass fibers are attenuated and formed into a veil where the fibers are dispersed to reduce in length the fiber networks formed from the fibers. Binder is applied to the fibers and the fibers are collected into a mat that, when pulled apart by longitudinally directed, opposing forces, separates across the width of the mat into two mat sections having feathered edges with substantially no fibrous stringers extending beyond the feathered edges for a distance greater than about four inches. The leading mat section is then wound about a mandrel and the binder in the mat is cured to form the pipe insulation.

Abstract: A method of reducing carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions in a rotary glass fiberization process utilizes a fiberizing spinner with fiberizing holes through which molten glass is passed by centrifugal force to form primary fibers which pass through an annular heat bath region and attenuation fluid emitting apparatus that forcefully emits an attenuating fluid to attenuate the primary fibers into finer diameter fibers. Oxygen is introduced into the annular heat bath region to oxygen enrich the annular heat bath region and is combusted in the annular heat bath region to materially reduce carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon emissions produced by the process.

Abstract: Provided is a process and apparatus for applying a liquid binder to fibers. The process involves introducing heat curable liquid binder onto moving fibers by atomizing the liquid binder and applying the atomized binder from a point within the moving column of fibers. Better binder efficiency and a more efficient overall process is realized.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a unit for manufacturing felts (6) which are formed from crosslinked mineral fibers, comprising at least one pair of conveyors formed by a lower conveyor (11) and an upper conveyor (12) which are placed opposite each other and intended to compress said felt (6) in at least one direction, a means (13) for heat treating the felt (6) after it has passed through the conveyors (11, 12) comprising at least one means (14) placed between the conveyors (11, 12) and the heat treatment means (13), intended to prevent decompression of the felt (6) in this region, said means comprising at least one cam (14) having a profile suitable for keeping a constant and minimum distance between the conveyors (11, 12) and the heat treatment means (13), and in that at least one of the conveyors is rigidly connected to one element of the heat treatment means (13).

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for producing glass fibers by centrifugal force are provided. Molten glass is fed into a hollow cylinder of rotating member which rotates at high speed by means of a driving device and is heated. The molten glass is ejected to an outside of a peripheral wall by centrifugal force generated by high speed rotation of the rotating member through orifices, each of which has different diameter, and which are provided alternately in a circumferential direction of the peripheral wall. A primary steam of molten glass is ejected. The primary streams is introduced into flame flow ejecting from drawing burners located at outside of the peripheral wall to form secondary fibers. A compressed gas flow is ejected to a direction at an acute angle through an ejecting outlet of an ejecting nozzle to collide the compressed fluid with the secondary fibers to thereby produce glass fibers by continuously.

Abstract: A method of controlling process variables, for a fiberizing assembly including a rotary fiberizing disk in the manufacture of fibers from a high temperature, molten, clear or translucent, thermoplastic, fiberizable material, utilizes an optical sensor assembly. The optical sensor assembly includes a water-cooled optical fiber sensor probe which, in effect, only gathers light emitted from the external sidewall surface of the rotary fiberizing disk. The light is conducted from the probe to an electronic unit that converts the light energy into a temperature value. This temperature value is used to monitor the process and to make any changes in process variables, such as but not limited to heat input to the fiberizing disk, rate of rotation of the fiberizing disk, burner air/fuel ratio, required to produce fibers having desired fiber properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for the internal centrifugation of fine mineral fibres, a method for forming fine mineral fibres, and paper containing fine mineral fibres.

Abstract: A spinner disc for a rotary fiberization process, includes a base plate and an annular peripheral sidewall extending upward from the base plate which has a plurality of rows of fiberizing holes therein for fiberizing molten thermoplastic fiberizable materials by centrifugal force. The base plate has: a central bore therein on a rotational axis of the spinner disc for mounting the spinner disc on a drive shaft; an outer annular portion for receiving molten thermoplastic fiberizable materials to be fiberized; and an inner annular portion intermediate the central bore and, the outer annular base plate portion.

Abstract: Relatively viscous glass is fiberized in a rotary fiberization process at relatively high disk speeds and through relatively large diameter holes to form long, fine diameter glass fibers which preferably are rapidly solubilized in biological fluids. The method of forming the long, fine diameter glass fibers includes maintaining a ratio of the velocity of the external surface of the peripheral wall of the fiberizing disk to the velocity of the glass passing through the fiberizing orifices within a specific range (the disc/glass velocity ratio); maintaining a ratio of the velocity of the air exiting the air ring to the velocity of the glass passing through the fiberizing orifices within a specific range (the air-ring/glass velocity ratio); and maintaining a ratio of the BTU content of the fuel expended forming the hot attenuating combustion gases to the BTU content of a pound of molten glass being fiberized within a specific range (the attenuating combustion gases/glass heat content ratio).

Abstract: The present invention relates to reinforcing glass yarns, the composition of which comprises the following constituents within the limits defined hereinbelow, expressed in percentages by weight:______________________________________ SiO.sub.2 58 to 62% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 10 to 16% CaO more than 18% MgO more than 1.5% CaO + MgO less than 28% Na.sub.2 O + K.sub.2 O + Li.sub.2 O less than 2% TiO.sub.2 less than 1.5% Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 less than 0.5% B.sub.2 O.sub.3 less than 2% F.sub.2 less than 2% ______________________________________this composition furthermore comprising less than 1% of other constituent(s) and comprising more than 0.5% of at least one of the three components F.sub.2, B.sub.2 O.sub.3 and Li.sub.2 O.These yarns have a composition providing an excellent compromise between its cost and its fiberizability.

Abstract: The present invention furnishes a method for producing mineral wool wherein a molten mineral material is fed into a spinner (1) the peripheral wall (2) of which comprises a multiplicity of orifices with small diameters wherethrough the mineral molten material is centrifuged to form filaments which are subjected to a supplementary attenuating effect of a gas flow flowing along and heating the peripheral wall (2) of the spinner (1) and generated by a concentric annular burner (8) arranged concentrically to the spinner (1), and wherein the exit area of the burner (8) is subdivided into an annular radially inner hot zone and an annular radially outer cooling zone of substantially lower temperature; the invention moreover concerns an apparatus for implementing the method.

Abstract: A method for collecting long glass fibers produces substantial lattice uniformity, eliminates the need for binder, and results in a generally rectangular wool pack which displays significant compressibility and recovery desired for commercial products. Generally spiral flow of fibers in the veil is captured on collecting conveyors and conveyed through direct forming apparatus with generally minimal disturbance of the spiral relationship between glass fibers. Further, a system is disclosed for producing wool insulation products of long glass fibers in accordance with the method. The principles and practices of the method and system may further be employed with short fibers to produce a wool pack of generally oriented short fibers.

Abstract: A method of making an insulation product of hollow fibers whereby molten insulation material is centrifuged through a plurality of orifices and gas is directed into the molten insulation material through a plurality of gas conduits, wherein each gas conduit directs gas into one of the portions of the molten insulation material being centrifuged through one of the orifices to form a hollow fiber having a hollow bore formed therethrough. The hollow fibers are combined to form the insulation product.

Abstract: An irregularly shaped glass fiber is provided which enjoys improved resiliency, and openness in pack structures. Wool packs and other wool portions having such irregularly shaped fibers may be processed directly through needling to form a non-woven material without intervening steps such as carding or blending of fibers which accompany conventional glass fiber processing operations. In a further aspect of the invention, a non-woven material including irregularly shaped fibers in a generally continuous wool tow is produced by "unwinding" a fiberglass wool pack collected by a direct forming method. Product applications include simplified, lower cost processing, and new uses of the irregularly shaped fibers produced by rotary fiberization in filtration elements, sorbants, gaskets, packings, shingles, composite structural elements, furnishings, textiles, yarns, and blown-in insulation systems.

Abstract: A method of producing a fibrous product is disclosed. Molten material is introduced into a rotating spinner which includes a peripheral wall having a plurality of orifices. The molten material is centrifuged through the orifices to create fibers. The fibers are directed generally downwardly and away from the spinner. The fibers are intercepted on a folded conveyor so that the fibers are draped over the folded conveyor. The fibers form first and second suspended portions which are oriented generally vertically. The folded conveyor and intercepted fibers are moved away from the spinner. The first and second portions of the suspended fibers are raised to a generally horizontal orientation by unfolding the conveyor, thereby producing a generally planar fibrous product.

Abstract: In a method for producing hollow mineral fibers such as glass fibers, molten glass is supplied to a rotating glass spinner having a peripheral wall. The spinner rotates so that molten glass is centrifuged through a first tube positioned at least mostly inside the peripheral wall of the spinner in an orifice to form fibers. Gas is introduced into the interior of the molten glass to form hollow glass fibers. A second tube positioned inside the first tube includes an inlet in the wall of the first tube, wherein the orifice and first tube are adapted to allow gas to be introduced through the inlet from outside the peripheral wall. The hollow glass fibers are then collected to form a product such as a mat.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing fibrous includes establishing a flow of fibrous material, positioning at least one flow distributor in a position to direct at least one gaseous flow into contact with the flow of fibrous material to distribute the fibrous material, and directing an intermittent flow of gas from the distributor, where the flow of gas increases and decreases linearly during the flow cycles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing fibrous material includes establishing a flow of fibrous material, positioning at least two flow distributors in a position to direct a gaseous flow into contact with the flow of fibrous material, such as a flow of glass fibers, each flow distributor having an outer surface having one or more openings for the emission of gas, an inner surface having one or more orifices for the emission of gas, and a pressurized source of gas in contact with the inner surface, the inner surface being moveable with respect to the outer surface to intermittently align some of the openings with some of the orifices, thereby enabling gas from the pressurized source of gas to be emitted through the inner and outer surfaces and into contact with the flow of fibrous material to distribute the fibrous material, and moving one of the surfaces relative to the other of the surfaces to control the emission of gas from the flow distributor.

Abstract: A method for producing mineral fibers includes centrifuging mineral fibers from one or more rotary mineral fiber spinners to establish one or more downwardly moving veils of mineral fibers positioned above a collecting surface, centrifuging organic fibers from molten organic material using one or more rotary organic fiber spinners to establish one or more downwardly moving veils of organic fibers positioned above the collecting surface, the veils of mineral fibers being generally colinear with the veils of organic fibers, the veils of organic fibers alternating with the veils of mineral fibers to integrate the organic material and the mineral fibers, and collecting the integrated organic material and mineral fibers on the collecting surface.