Abstract: Fiberizing bushing assemblies, usually of rectangular shape, for fiberizing molten inorganic material like glass require cooling members located in the proximity of the orifices or tips forming the fibers. Cooling tubes carrying a cooling fluid like water are used by some fiber manufacturers and the cooling tubes have always been oriented with the length dimension of the bushing. It has now been discovered that orienting the cooling tubes to be substantially parallel to the width dimension, though more costly to fabricate because of the greater number required per bushing assembly, significantly reduce fiber break out rate and significantly increase productivity because they are easier to keep properly adjusted and result in a more uniform temperature of the fiberizing tips.

Abstract: According to the invention, a system for forming glass fiber from molten glass is disclosed. The system may include a tip plate, a plurality of tips, and a plurality of support members. The plurality of tips may include a plurality of rows of tips. Each of the plurality of support members may support the tip plate. Each of the plurality of support members may be located between two of the plurality of rows of tips.

Abstract: A cooling bushing flange having a reduced amount of precious metal is provided for a glass fiber production apparatus. The flange includes a first portion formed of a precious metal or a precious metal alloy extending outwardly from a bushing and a second portion formed of a non-precious metal. The non-precious metal portion of the flange may be affixed to the precious metal portion by known metal bonding methods. A cooling tube is positioned on the non-precious metal portion to create a thermal seal and prevent molten glass from leaking from the interface of the bushing block and bushing. The precious metal portion of the inventive flange is a fraction of the size of precious metal present in conventional bushing flanges. By reducing the amount of precious metal incorporated in the flange, a significant reduction in the overall cost of the bushing and in the manufacture of glass fibers can be obtained.

Abstract: This invention involves apparatus and methods for making fibers by passing a molten material like glass, polymer, etc. through orifices or tips in a fiberizing bushing and then cooling the molten material coming from the tips and newly formed fibers using cooling tubes. The cooling tubes are made from precious metals and various alloys comprising precious metals, nickel and one or more of titanium, chromium, molybdenum, etc. The one or more fins attached to the top surface of a hollow tube to make the cooling tubes contain spaced apart gaps, notches and/or slots extending from the top edge of the fin to prevent warping of the fins and to make the cooling tube more bendable, adjustable during the operation of making fibers from molten material.

Abstract: According to the invention, a system for forming glass fiber from molten glass is disclosed. The system may include a tip plate, a plurality of tips, and a plurality of support members. The plurality of tips may include a plurality of rows of tips. Each of the plurality of support members may support the tip plate. Each of the plurality of support members may be located between two of the plurality of rows of tips.

Abstract: Fiberizing bushings for fiberizing molten materials including molten glass are heated by applying a voltage drop across the bushings wherein molten material flows through an array of hollow tips attached to, or integral with, a tip plate having orifices therein that generally align with channels through the hollow tips to form fibers. The uniformity of the diameter of the fibers produced is much improved by using tips of different lengths and/or tips having channels of differing ID's to compensate for unequal electrical heating and/or cooling effects of drawn-in ambient air that cools the tips on the extreme outer periphery and/or cooling or heating effects of external supports or cooling members running through the array of tips that cools or heats adjacent tips more than the interior tips.

Abstract: A terminal clamp assembly for a fiberizing bushing includes a clamp body having a firsts end face and a lower jaw, an auxiliary heat sink body selectively displaceable with respect to the clamp body, a contact assembly carried on the auxiliary heat sink body and an actuator to displace the heat sink body toward or away from the face of the clamp body. The invention also includes a bushing assembly incorporating the terminal clamp assembly and an expansion compensating mounting bracket for the clamp assembly.

Abstract: Cooling fin assemblies constructed of materials suitable for use in manufacturing glass filaments are provided. The cooling fin assemblies include a manifold having a first end, a second end and an internal passage therebetween. The internal passage is configured for a flow of cooling fluid. A plurality of baffles is positioned within the internal passage. A plurality of blades is connected to the manifold. The blades are configured to conduct heat to the manifold. The baffles are configured to create a serpentine flow path for the cooling fluid within the manifold.

Abstract: Methods for substantially improving the stability of a melting furnace system including bushings and cooling apparatus for converting molten mineral material to continuous fibers is disclosed. Apparatus and methods for maintaining the molten material throughput and the electrical power load on fiberizing bushings substantially constant are disclosed. The orifice plate, with or without tips or nozzles, is subjected to a more rapid rate of heat removal after the bushing breaks out than it did while the bushing was in a desired fiberizing mode. Apparatus for blowing cooling air upward onto the orifice plate during the time the bushing is breaking out and/or hanging to provide additional cooling is disclosed along with optional additional or alternative apparatus to use for optional additional or alternative cooling is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention involves apparatus and methods for making fibers by passing a molten material like glass, polymer, etc. through orifices or tips in a fiberizing bushing and then cooling the molten material coming from the tips and newly formed fibers using cooling tubes. The cooling tubes are made from precious metals and various alloys comprising precious metals, nickel and one or more of titanium, chromium, molybdenum, etc. The one or more fins attached to the top surface of a hollow tube to make the cooling tubes contain spaced apart gaps, notches and/or slots extending from the top edge of the fin to prevent warping of the fins and to make the cooling tube more bendable, adjustable during the operation of making fibers from molten material.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a manifold defining a fluid channel, and also includes a plurality of cooling fins connected to the manifold, wherein at least a portion of a surface of the fins includes porous material.

Abstract: A cooling bushing flange having a reduced amount of precious metal is provided for a glass fiber production apparatus. The flange includes a first portion formed of a precious metal or a precious metal alloy extending outwardly from a bushing and a second portion formed of a non-precious metal. The non-precious metal portion of the flange may be affixed to the precious metal portion by known metal bonding methods. A cooling tube is positioned on the non-precious metal portion to create a thermal seal and prevent molten glass from leaking from the interface of the bushing block and bushing. The precious metal portion of the inventive flange is a fraction of the size of precious metal present in conventional bushing flanges. By reducing the amount of precious metal incorporated in the flange, a significant reduction in the overall cost of the bushing and in the manufacture of glass fibers can be obtained.

Abstract: Fiberizing bushings for fiberizing molten materials including molten glass are heated by applying a voltage drop across the bushings wherein molten material flows through an array of hollow tips attached to, or integral with, a tip plate having orifices therein that generally align with channels through the hollow tips to form fibers. The uniformity of the diameter of the fibers produced is much improved by using tips of different lengths and/or tips having channels of differing ID's to compensate for unequal electrical heating and/or cooling effects of drawn-in ambient air that cools the tips on the extreme outer periphery and/or cooling or heating effects of external supports or cooling members running through the array of tips that cools or heats adjacent tips more than the interior tips.

Abstract: Fiberizing bushing assemblies, usually of rectangular shape, for fiberizing molten inorganic material like glass require cooling members located in the proximity of the orifices or tips forming the fibers. Cooling tubes carrying a cooling fluid like water are used by some fiber manufacturers and the cooling tubes have always been oriented with the length dimension of the bushing. It has now been discovered that orienting the cooling tubes to be substantially parallel to the width dimension, though more costly to fabricate because of the greater number required per bushing assembly, significantly reduce fiber break out rate and significantly increase productivity because they are easier to keep properly adjusted and result in a more uniform temperature of the fiberizing tips.

Abstract: A fiber forming bushing assembly includes a frame and a bushing within the frame. One or more sections formed of a pre-cast refractory material are positioned between at least a lower sidewall of the bushing and the frame.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a manifold defining a fluid channel, and also includes a plurality of cooling fins connected to the manifold, wherein at least a portion of a surface of the fins includes porous material.

Abstract: This invention involves apparatus and methods for making fibers by passing a molten material like glass, polymer, etc. through orifices or tips in a fiberizing bushing and then cooling the molten material coming from the tips and newly formed fibers using cooling tubes. The cooling tubes are made from precious metals and various alloys comprising precious metals, nickel and one or more of titanium, chromium, molybdenum, etc. The one or more fins attached to the top surface of a hollow tube to make the cooling tubes contain spaced apart gaps, notches and/or slots extending from the top edge of the fin to prevent warping of the fins and to make the cooling tube more bendable, adjustable during the operation of making fibers from molten material.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a manifold defining a fluid channel, and also includes a plurality of cooling fins connected to the manifold, wherein at least a portion of a surface of the fins includes porous material.

Abstract: A bushing temperature controller includes a transformer 3 which supplies a main current I1 to the bushing 2 for accommodating molten glass, and regulation current supply units 7 and 8 which are adapted to supply regulation currents I2 and I3 either in phase with the main current I1 or in phase inverted to the main current I1 to a portion of a region to which the transformer 3 applies the current. Thus, the temperature control of partial regions 2a and 2c in the region to which the current is applied can be performed in a wide temperature range.

Abstract: A fiber forming bushing assembly comprises a bushing and a support. The bushing includes a bushing body and a flange. The bushing body is defined at least in part by a throat and a side wall beneath the throat. The side wall has an upper portion. The flange extends from the throat. The support is positioned between the flange and an upper portion of the side wall. The support is formed of a ceramic material.

Abstract: The invention discloses a multifunctional apparatus and method to manufacture mineral (basalt) fibers to be drawn/attenuated into a continuous strand made from natural rock basalts with and without supplemental minerals. More specifically this invention discloses apparatus designed to manufacture a high quality continuous amorphous mineral (basalt) fibers with flexible/ductile properties from 7 &mgr;m to 100 &mgr;m in diameter without traces of crystalline phases which are suitable for a variety of industrial applications.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for producing continuous glass filaments by spinning molten glass through nozzles of a bushing and cooling the thus-spun filaments with fins joined to one or more cooled manifolds and arranged in a proximity of the nozzles. Each manifold is provided at at least three locations thereof with at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port for coolant, respectively, with a proviso that the total number of the inlet and outlet ports is the same as the number of the locations of the manifold. Without using a complex construction, this invention makes it possible to provide the fins with improved durability and to produce the glass filaments with improved quality. In particular, the present invention can be applied to large bushings each of which is equipped with a number of nozzles.

Abstract: A filament forming apparatus and cooling apparatus for and method of inducing a uniform air flow between a filament forming area beneath a bushing and the cooling apparatus are disclosed. The cooling apparatus includes an air housing extending beneath the bushing. The air housing has a top wall and side walls defining an air chamber therebetween.

Abstract: A filament forming apparatus and cooling apparatus for and method of cooling a filament forming area beneath a bushing is disclosed. The cooling apparatus includes a manifold with a cooling fluid channel formed therein, and a plurality of hollow cooling fins operatively coupled to the manifold. A cooling fluid flows into the manifold, through first and second fluid flow channels in the cooling fins, and back into the manifold from which it is subsequently discharged. Each cooling fin includes a plurality of divider members between the first and second fluid flow channels. Adjacent divider members define a small channel between each other. The cooling fluid flows from the first fluid flow channel through the small channels to the second fluid flow channel. The overall heat transfer coefficient is increased due to the forced convection of the surfaces of the cooling fin using a single-phase fluid passing through the cross-sectional area of a small channel.

Abstract: A glass fiber forming apparatus including a fin blade assembly having a manifold and a plurality of fins extending from the manifold. The fins are located beneath a bushing tip plate in proximity to and between the rows of tips to maintain a desired temperature among the glass filaments attenuated from the tips. The manifold is offset from the fin blades so as to allow clear visibility of the tip plate and unimpeded air flow passage through the fin blades during the glass fiber forming operation.

Abstract: A heat-absorbing finshield assembly, which is located adjacent the discharge area of a furnace for producing glass fibers, includes fins spaced along a fluid-cooled manifold such that the fins extend between, but not in contact with, the molten glass fibers emerging from the furnace. The fins may have microfins in their bases which are in contact with the cooling fluid. The fins also may be of variable thicknesses relative to each other along the manifold to absorb different quantities of heat from the emerging fibers.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for producing continuous glass filaments. The apparatus comprises a feeder (20) for supplying streams of molten glass to be drawn into continuous filaments, a drawing device (40) adapted to draw the streams into the filaments, and heat removal apparatus (50) located adjacent to the feeder for transferring energy in the form of heat away from a filament forming area adjacent to the feeder. The heat removal apparatus includes first and second manifolds (52a, 54) through which a cooling fluid circulates, a plurality of fins (56) having first and second ends (56a and 56b) and interface material (58). The first ends of the fins are associated with the first manifold and the second ends are positioned adjacent to the second manifold. The first ends may be fixedly connected to the first manifold. The interface material is interposed between the second manifold and the second ends to provide a path for energy in the form of heat to flow from the fins to the second manifold.

Abstract: A bushing assembly is provided which is adapted to be positioned beneath a forehearth (30) to receive a stream of molten glass flowing from the forehearth (30). The assembly comprises a glass receiving block (76), a bushing (50) and at least one cooling element (82). The receiving block (76) is positioned adjacent to the forehearth (30) to receive the stream of molten glass flowing from the forehearth (30). The receiving block (76) has an orifice (72) through which the molten glass passes. The bushing (50) receives the stream of molten glass from the glass receiving block and supplies a plurality streams of molten glass to be drawn into continuous glass fibers. The at least one cooling element (82) extends into the stream of molten glass and transfers energy in the form of heat away from the molten glass.