Abstract: The disclosure embraces a method of and apparatus for simultaneously winding linear bundles of filaments, such as strands of glass filaments, in a filament-forming operation into two or more packages on a driven rotatable collet and the linear bundles or strands traversed by guide members axially of the packages, the progressively increasing sizes of the packages normally intermittently moving the traverse guide members away from the packages, and wherein an undersized package activates an instrumentality, indication or signal warning the operator of such condition and interrupting movement of the traverse means away from the packages.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an elecrode purge sleeve assembly for high temperature oxidizable electrodes used in electrical heating of molten material and more particularly a purge sleeve for glass melting furnaces wherein a standard size tube of high temperature material slightly larger in its interior dimension than the exterior of the electrode extends over the portion of the length of the electrode subject to degradation and is sealed thereto as well as being supported thereby, the sleeve being arranged to receive an inert gas under low pressure to prevent seepage of atmospheric gases to the portion of the electrode being protected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrically melting solidified glass in difficult to reach regions of a glass melting furnace not readily accessible with fossil fuel heating means and, more particularly, to an electrode arrangement for electrically heating solidified glass in difficult to melt regions such as a submerged outlet throat between a furnace melter section and the riser through which the glass is supplied in production.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for controlling the breakage of glass fibers comprising: feeding a supply of molten glass through an orificed wall to form glass streams; attenuating the glass streams to form a plurality of glass fibers; gathering the glass fibers into glass strands; forming the glass strands into a wound package; determining when a break has occurred in the fibers; determining the location of such break; and positioning a stream of fluid at the orificed wall at the location of the break to inhibit further breakage of fibers that are adjacent to the location of the break.

Abstract: A system for winding linear material, such as strands of molten glass, into a package includes a mechanism for collecting the strands, a motor for rotating the collecting mechanism, a drive mechanism for controlling the speed of the motor in proportion to the frequency of a signal applied thereto, and a digital frequency generator for producing such a signal. The generator permits an initial frequency and a rate of change of frequency to be manually selected so that the speed of the motor is periodically decreased to maintain a substantially constant circumferential speed of the package thereby keeping the strand under constant tension. The generator includes a mechanism for digitally storing a manually selected number and a mechanism for generating a signal having a frequency that is proportional to the stored number. A mechanism for periodically incrementing the stored number at a selected rate produces a changing frequency and hence changing motor speed to maintain constant strand tension.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting breakage of glass fibers comprising illuminating the fibers with electromagnetic radiation and sensing a variation in the amount of radiation scattered by the fibers as an indication of a break of said fibers.

Abstract: An electrode block for use in the bottom wall of an electric glass-melting furnace comprising a body of refractory material having an aperture therein which is suitably sized to mate with an electrode, the body having a top and bottom and at least one side that is slanted such that the area of the bottom is greater than the area of the top.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring the average diameter of a plurality of glass fibers, comprising illuminating the fibers with electromagnetic radiation, sensing radiation scattered by the fibers and generating a signal responsive to the amount of radiation sensed as an indication of the average diameter of the fibers; such signal can be used for measurement and/or control of the fiber producing process.