Abstract: A glass melting furnace is divided into a number of heating zones. Each of the heating zones is connected to a common transformer output but is symmetrically tapped to the secondary of the transformer with respect to each of the other zones. In this way, the heating effect in the different zones can be balanced with each other. With a single transformer output, it is possible to introduce heating variances along the length of a flow channel or to produce voltage variations across different zones wherein the electrodes of each respective zone are of different spacing. Heat can be evenly developed along the length of the flow channel or in irregular spaces, such as corners or turns in the flow channel.

Abstract: An improvement in the treatment of exhaust gases from glass melting furnaces is provided. Exhaust gases from such furnaces contain pollutants or contaminants in the form of condensibles which have been difficult to remove. To render these condensibles more easily removed and so that a higher percentage of them are separated from the exhaust gases, the exhaust gases are combined with other gases containing particles and specifically with gases containing inert batch dust from a source of glass batch. These gases contain relatively large particles which act as nuclei on which condensibles in the furnace exhaust gases can condense. The relatively large particles also serve as reaction sites on which reactable components in the furnace exhaust gases can chemically react to produce reaction products which condense more readily and are easier to collect.

Abstract: A storage bin with multiple discharge openings is provided for particulate material. A bottom wall of the bin has a plurality of discharge openings, preferably an even number, with half of them spaced closer to the center line of the bin than the other half. More specifically, the outer half are positioned adjacent the side wall of the bin and the inner half are spaced from the center line by three-fourths of the distance from the center line to the side wall. Each half is also equally peripherally spaced around the bin. The bottom wall preferably is of inverted conical shape and can have a cone centrally positioned thereon, with the periphery of the cone located inwardly from the inner discharge openings. Portions of the cone periphery can be spaced from the bottom wall to enable particulate material to flow down below the cone to a central discharge duct having a valve which is opened from time-to-time.

Abstract: A glass-melting furnace is provided with means for sensing the batch in the furnace. More specifically, the sensor determines the level or height of the batch in the furnace without physical contact therewith and with the aid of this value, the thickness of the batch can be determined. With the batch thickness known, the power input for the electrodes of the furnace can be changed or the supply of batch to the furnace can be altered to maintain the batch thickness at a constant value in the furnace or to maintain the glass level constant.

Abstract: There is provided a process, and the product resulting therefrom, for coating a refractory block or substrate with a small particle size form of at least one platinum group metal whereby a fused layer of such metal is formed on the refractory and is directly and strongly adhered on a surface thereof. This technique can likewise be employed in such a manner that the layer is a bonding agent for purposes of bonding a separate sheet of a platinum group metal to the refractory which structure can then be employed as a glass contacting member in apparatus for handling molten glass.

Abstract: An improvement is provided in apparatus of the type which comprises a glass feeder adapted to discharge a stream of glass, the feeder including a terminal or tab on each of opposed side wall portions and means are provided, including electrical connectors respectively connected to one or the other of the terminals for passing an electrical current through the bushing so as to resistively heat it and maintain it at an elevated temperature; the improvement resides in employing a bushing essentially comprising silicon carbide and locating a graphitic material intermediate the respective terminal and connector and in this way inhibiting the formation of silica to thereby provide a bushing with a longer operating life.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing glass, and apparatus for effecting same, which comprises passing flue gases from a glass melting furnace through a bed of agglomerates of glass forming batch materials so as to heat the agglomerates to a temperature less than that at which they form an aggregated mass, cooling the flue gases as they pass through the bed with a heat exchanger positioned in the bed, and then melting the heated batch materials in a fossil fuel fired melter to form molten glass. The heat transfer medium of the heat exchanger may then be transported to a different location and the increased energy therein employed for a beneficial purpose.

Abstract: A thermal insulation material of approximately 50 percent or more xonotlite binder is caused to thicken without asbestos, diatomaceous earth, or clay by the use of wood pulp dispersed around a three dimensional monofilament network of glass fibers in a slurry having a water to solids ratio of no more than approximately four. The wood pulp and other constituents of the slurry must be essentially devoid of soluble aluminum ions.

Abstract: The use of flake glass in road pavement and repair is disclosed. In particular, we disclose improvements in the formulations of asphalt aggregate wear surfaces, substrate layers and interface layers between the substrate and wear surfaces. In one embodiment we also employ an unsaturated monomer or an unsaturated elastomer.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method and means for packaging earthworms or other light sensitive worms wherein superimposed layers of water absorbent sheet materials are spaced from each other substantially a worm thickness or more apart to provide compartment space for containment of worms and to which worms can crawl to hide and thereby, in effect, package themselves in aligned layered relation. More specifically, the package of the present invention can be a roll or a stack comprising superposed spaced layers of moisture absorbent sheet material with spacers therebetween such as corrugated cardboard which forms longitudinal channels or compartment spaces into which worms can and desire to crawl thereby to effect a self-packaging in aligned relation each to its own channel. The package can then be inserted in an air admitting container such as a perforated plastic bag or cup for handling and storage.

Abstract: An electrical cable connector of the multi-contact type wherein pin contact members of a male plug component engage and make electrical connection with corresponding spring finger contact members of a female receptacle, the pin and spring finger members each being threadably secured in a wire lead connecting base portion mounted in an insulating matrix in the plug and sockets components, respectively. The base portion for both the pin and spring finger members can be identical, thus providing a common base in a three piece contact system wherein a common base will receive either the male pin or the female spring finger members and allow ready removal of the contact members for replacement without disconnection of lead wires in instances of damage such as might be caused by dropping or rough handling of the connector.

Abstract: A flat compressible material is roll-formed into a cylindrical package by a belt drive. The diameter of the rolled package is controlled so that a fixed predetermined length of material forms a rolled package of a predetermined diameter. The length of belt drive in contact with the material is proportionate to the length of the material fed into the belt drive, and holds the finished package size to a predetermined diameter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging compressible fibrous batts and a package of same are provided. The batts are formed by severing a longitudinally-extending strip of compressible fibrous material into batts of discrete lengths with the batts then being collected in end-to-end relationship. The batts are then moved into a loop of a packaging machine, which loop is formed by a belt maintained under controlled tension. The batts are fed longitudinally in abutting, end-to-end relationship into the belt loop which places them under compression as they are wound into a package, with the loop gradually expanding in diameter as the package size increases. Tapes are placed directly around the outermost batt to hold the package in the compressed state and the completed package is then discharged from the machine.

Abstract: A guide is placed between a strand of fibers and a winder, which twists the strand as it is wound. The guide is circular so the strand may be maintained in an unconstrained twisting path between the receiver and the supply as it is being wound and twisted and includes an optical sensor mounted about the area of movement of the filament to detect the presence of the filament and stop the winding process if the strand breaks.

Abstract: An improved microcomputer controlled winder for attenuating a plurality of streams of molten glass issuing from a bushing into fibers and for collecting a strand of such attenuated fibers into a package. A constant speed motor drives a winder collet through an electromagnetically actuated clutch. The microcomputer controls the phase angle firing of an SCR circuit which drives the clutch to in turn control the winder collet speed.

Abstract: An improved microcomputer controlled winder for attenuating a plurality of streams of molten glass issuing from a bushing into fibers and for collecting a strand of such attenuated fibers into a package. The microcomputer controls the winder speed in accordance with error between programmed data and a winder collet speed signal from a tachometer. The tachometer signal is modified to compensate for temperature variations in the bushing when a package is started after the bushing has been shut down for a period of time.

Abstract: This is an improvement to current processes and apparatus for producing monofilament glass fibers from a single or a multitude of streams of molten or plastic glass, being drawn through an orifice feeder into fibers and collected on a winder. A speed control is provided to the winder motor, to alter the speed of the motor in response to a change in temperature of the orifice, or to an interruption in the drawing process. The result is that at start-up after an interruption or with a drop in temperature at the orifice, the monofilament strands are of constant diameter. A predetermined time after start-up or when the temperature of the orifice changes, the speed control changes the rate of drawing the monofilaments and the diameter of the monofilaments are maintained consistent subsequent to an interruption to the process or when the temperature of the orifice changes.

Abstract: Heat exchange apparatus of the recuperator type is provided with means by which the inner tubular member can be withdrawn from a state of collapse and restrained in a position against further collapse.

Abstract: A bushing for use in the drawing of glass filaments to form glass fibers formed of a silicon-based ceramic having a plurality of openings extending therethrough and hollow tip elements formed of a precious metal extending through the openings in the bushing. In the preferred practice of the invention, the hollow tip element overlays a ceramic spacer element which serves to prevent reaction of the precious metal with the silicon-based ceramic.

Abstract: A rotary kiln and cooling apparatus for pyroprocessing and cooling of pieces of matter and particularly calcined lime pebbles, the kiln being provided with sized discharge openings near its end for discharge of the product into a cooling unit. The discharge openings are sized to discharge particles in an acceptable range while oversized pieces are passed on and discharged out the end of the kiln into a disposal region, thus segregating the particles without the usually required grates and manual labor and permitting handling of hotter materials.