Abstract: A blower for discharging a gaseous flow to attenuate molten mineral material into mineral fibers comprises a body member and a lid member defining a gas supply manifold and a gas discharge slot, and a screw having lower and upper threaded portions to engage the body member and lid member, respectively, the screw being adapted to raise and lower the lid member to control the size of the gas discharge slot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing compressible insulation material of mineral fibers in which a folding shoe guides the insulation material from a strip condition into a cylindrical condition and further including initially compressing the portion of the strip material along the centerline thereof, subsequently compressing the portions of the strip material intermediate the center line and the side edges of the strip material, and, finally, compressing the side edge portions of the strip material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming fibers from molten mineral material comprising a rotatably mounted spinner (10) having an orificed peripheral wall (16) through which the material flows to form primary fibers (20), and a turbulent flow generator (26) adapted to discharge a flow of gases to further attenuate the primary fibers (20) into a veil of secondary fibers (24). The turbulent flow generator (26) generates gaseous flows exerting attenuation forces in different directions at different loci (38, 40, 42, 44) along the path of the fiber being further attenuated.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming fibers of mineral material comprises a spinner for centrifuging the material into primary fibers and a plurality of blowers positioned circumferentially of the spinner to further attenuate the primary fibers into secondary fibers, where the blowers are substantially cylindrical gas discharge conduits adapted to impart swirling motion to the gas discharged therefrom.

Abstract: A blower for discharging a gaseous flow to attenuate molten mineral material into mineral fibers comprises a body member and a cantilevered lid member mounted on the body member to define a gas supply manifold and a gas discharge slot. The free end of the lid member is biased toward the body member and a jackscrew is adapted to raise the free end of the lid member from the body member to adjust the slot width.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting fibrous material in which a stream of fibrous material is directed towards a collection surface and a flow of gases is discharged substantially parallel to the stream and sufficiently close to the stream to expand the stream as it moves toward the collection surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting fibrous material (14) comprises distributing the fibrous material (14) onto a collection surface (18) to form a pack (20), and intercepting a portion of the fibrous material (14) during formation of the pack (20) with a plurality of spikes (24) extending from the collection surface (18). The spikes (24) partially penetrate the pack (20) and retain the intercepted fibrous material (14) in the upper portion (27) of the insulation pack (20).

Abstract: A dispensing cone for dispensing foamable material onto a moving surface comprises a chamber having a plurality of discharge ports which are generally cylindrical and have nonparallel longitudinal axes. The discharge ports are generally coplanar in a plane generally parallel to the direction of movement of the moving surface. The discharge cone can be oscillated across the width of the moving surface.

Abstract: A spinner for the production of molten glass fibers is disclosed. The spinner is adapted with a plurality of projections affixed to the spinner bottom and extending inwardly of the spinner. The projections are intended to inhibit inward flow towards the spinner support and aid wetting of the inner bottom surface of the spinner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the manufacture of fibrous wool by the rotary process. In the rotary process heat softenable material, such as molten glass, is supplied to a centrifuge wherefrom streams of said heat softenable material emanate and are acted upon by a fiber attenuating high velocity gaseous medium located about the periphery of the centrifuging means. As a result thereof, a cylindrically shaped veil of high velocity gases having attenuated fibers contained therein flows axially away from the centrifuging means to a suitable collecting means. By the present invention improved method and apparatus are provided for distributing the entrained fibers upon the collecting means. The cylindrically shaped veil is intermittently acted upon by finite planes of high velocity gas thereby interrupting the otherwise columnar flow of the cylincrical veil and establishing diverging flows of fibers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting mineral fibers comprises a moving surface for receiving a flow of fibers, sensing means for sensing the speed of said moving surface, control means for generating a signal in response to the sensed speed of the moving surface, and means for intermittently directing gases into the flow of mineral fibers in response to the signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming fibers from molten mineral material comprising a rotatably mounted spinner having an orificed peripheral wall through which the material flows to form primary fibers, and a blower adapted to discharge a flow of gases to further attenuate the primary fibers into a veil of secondary fibers, a curved surface being positioned so that the flow of gases follows the contour of the curved surface according to the Coanda effect.

Abstract: Apparatus for deflecting a veil (16) of mineral fibers includes an elongated nozzle (24) having a manifold chamber (30) and a discharge conduit (32), the discharge conduit (32) being adapted to discharge a substantially non-turbulent flow of gases, an airfoil-shaped cross section to enable a substantially non-turbulent flow of induced air, and means (26) outside the path of the induced air for introducing gases into the manifold chamber (30).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging flexible duct material comprises positioning the duct material in a guide means, slidably moving a contact means into contact with the duct material to compress it into a carton, partially closing the end of the carton, and removing the contact means from the carton.

Abstract: A mineral fiber-forming bushing is disclosed in which sidewalls containing at least one opening extend continuously downwardly from the bushing bottom wall to define a forming chamber beneath the bushing. A fluid is directed toward the bushing bottom wall and the exit of the fluid through the opening is controlled. The control of fluid flow can control the local environmental conditions both within the forming chamber and on the bushing bottom wall.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for treating a fibrous board, a portion of an edge of the board is cut away, a liquid adhesive is applied to the remaining edge portion, and the liquid is dried to bind the fibers of the remaining edge portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of depositing material into a moving receptacle is disclosed. A traveling discharge device moves across a receptacle while discharging material into the receptacle. The discharge device uses the receptacle itself as its frame of reference and thus can compensate for imperfections in both the speed and the path of the receptacle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a wound strand package (20) comprise advancing a strand (14) to a rotating collet (22), reciprocating strand (14) in the direction of the axis of rotation (23) of the collet (22) by the action of strand oscillator (26) rotating at a first speed to lay the strand (14) onto the collet (22) in a helical pattern. reciprocating the strand oscillator (26) to lay the strand (14) onto the collet (22) in courses and rotating the strand oscillator (26) at a second speed less than the first speed during the winding of the first course of the strand (14).

Abstract: In ovens which are divided by baffles to form zones, and through which conveyor belts pass, seals are positioned to prevent the flow of gases between zones. The seals are positioned between the baffle and the belt, and comprise a plurality of brushes extending from the baffle across the width of the belt and positioned so that at all times at least one of the brushes is in contact relationship with a non-foraminous portion of the belt.

Abstract: An array of fibers is passed in contact with a contact surface, creating a frictional drag force on the fibers. The drag force is modified to bring the fibers in the array to a uniform alignment in order to more easily divide the array into bundles of fibers.