Abstract: In the technique for fiberizing glass by the use of a centrifugal spinner delivering glass streams into an attenuating blast, a novel spinner construction is provided, and provision is also made for increasing the production, while also providing for the use of glass of lower cost, and at the same time, reducing environmental pollution. Glass compositions and spinner alloy compositions particularly suited for use in accordance with the invention, are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with manufacturing board from a fluid evolutive product, such as a plaster and water mixture. The process comprises pouring upon a conveyor a fluid evolutive product, such as a plaster and water mixture, contained in storage above the conveyor, through a transverse, parallel slit into which the product is introduced in continuous process through a number of nozzles which discharge into the storage product mass. A reinforcement may be introduced into the poured product. The invention offers as well mechanism for the implementation of the process and products manufactured by the process. Typically the invention is applied to plaster board manufacturing.

Abstract: In the technique for fiberizing glass by the use of a centrifugal spinner delivering glass streams into an attenuating blast, a novel spinner construction is provided, and provision is also made for increasing the production, while also providing for the use of glass of lower cost, and at the same time, reducing environmental pollution. Glass compositions and spinner alloy compositions particularly suited for use in accordance with the invention, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for making sheets of plastic material of high optical quality by casting the plastic material or a mixture of its components on a flat, moving substrate is disclosed. According to the invention, a stable pocket of material is formed on the moving substrate upstream of the zone at which the plastic material flows from the casting apparatus onto the substrate. The material in the pocket moves in predetermined paths and leaves the pocket to form the lower portion and the edges of the sheet. A direct stream of material is simultaneously formed downstream of the zone of delivery of the plastic material onto the substrate in a tangential relation to the meniscus, to form the upper portion of the sheet.

Abstract: A device for transporting a sheet of glass through sheet processing stations of a furnace. The device comprises a carriage having a carrying frame including a longitudinal horizontal member supporting a plurality of sheet hangers. The longitudinal horizontal member is rigidly connected at its center portion to the carriage and movably connected to the carriage at other portions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for removing particles from sheet materials, particularly plastic materials that are to be laminated to other materials, are disclosed. The sheet is destaticized, wiped and lightly scraped to dislodge particles from the sheet. The dislodged particles are removed from the sheet by suction. Scrapers with single fixed blades and scrapers with multiple movable blades are used to dislodge particles that are embedded in or adhered to the sheet. The process and apparatus are particularly useful for cleaning sheets of plastic material that are used in laminated glazings having stringent optical requirements.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for distributing solid particles of the type having a stationary sub-assembly for feeding particles, and positioned at its lower portion, a rotary sub-assembly for distributing the particles, wherein the rotary distribution sub-assembly includes an axial gas feed conduit (10) configured and dimensioned to exit a fluidization gas under a fluidization grate (20) positioned in the lower portion of a centrally located vat (16). The upper peripheral portions of the vat have connected thereto a plurality of radially extending particle distribution conduits (34). All but one of the distribution conduits (34) are generally straight and are of different lengths. These conduits (34) are connected to the vat at approximately the same vertical level and are slanted approximately equally downwardly about 30.degree.. One of the distribution conduits (34.sup.a) is configured to contain a bend so as to direct solid particles toward the rotational axis of the rotary distribution sub-assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically unfastening sheets of glass which are suspended vertically from pincer-like gripping means including a lifting element for lifting a sheet of glass towards the gripping means. A release means for moving the gripping means out of engagement with the sheet is included when a sheet is raised by the lifting means. The lifting means includes at least one gripper element which is movable in a horizontal direction to grip a surface of a sheet of glass.

Abstract: A cutter and cutting method for cutting synthetic resin sheets or ribbons in a manner that avoids the formation of particulates from the cutting operation are disclosed. The cutter includes a blade and associated sheet holding structure for creating a sharp bend in the sheet. The sharp bend creates a zone of high stress in the sheet. An element for rapidly heating the sheet is brought near the edge of the blade where the fold in the sheet exists. The localized stress in the fold cause the sheet to rupture along the fold after the sheet has been heated to a sufficient extent.

Abstract: A system including a source of energy (for example, the solar pickup 14) and a closed circuit for a heat-carrying fluid including a storage (1, 10). The circuit provides a primary circuit (7, 13), the storage having a chamber sealed by a plurality of walls (4, 12) and a filling agent (6, 11) exhibiting a calorific capacity and thermal conductivity for heat transfer from the primary circuit to a second circuit (8) in heat exchange relation with the filling agent. The filling agent comprises a gel comprising an acrylic acid derivative.

Abstract: Technique for making exhaust muffler lining comprising mineral fibers with metal fibers distributed therein toward the inner surface of the lining, the metal fibers being bound by the fiber binder carried by the mineral fibers.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed providing both for separation of the components of a toration fiberizing center, including separation of both the glass stream supply means and of the secondary or carrier jet from the blast, and at the same time further providing for stabilization of the feed of the glass into the system, notwithstanding the separation of the components. This is accomplished by shielding the jet flow from induced air at one side of the jet and introducing the glass stream into the influence of the induced air at the opposite side of the jet.

Abstract: A mirror mounting is described in which a plane rectangular reflecting strip is deformed along the two longer edges thereof so that it is approximately tangent to the ideal mirror while the strip remains substantially flat in the direction of its shorter edges. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of such reflecting strips are so formed by attachment to a supporting frame using a pair of elastomeric cushion frames to embrace the longer sides of each strip while leaving the shorter sides free. Advantageously, each reflecting strip on the frame is bent in a continuous manner the full distance of its longer side. The frame is preferably a rigid array of parallel channel members each of which is adapted to receive a curved T-section angle bar having the desired curvature of the reflecting strip. The angle bars are deformed into this curvature in a separate operation while they are being attached to the channel members.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing a preform for producing by drawing an optical waveguide comprising a core region and a sheath region whose refractive index varies in the radial direction, so that the index of the former is greater than those of the second. The method consists in starting from a bar of a first composition for forming the core region and in forming, by means of a plasma torch, on its surface, a deposit of a plurality of layers whose composition varies in the radial direction, is characterized in that glass powder is fed to said torch transversely to the jet of said torch; in that said bar is drawn after each layer is deposited to bring its diameter to a value close or equal to the initial diameter; and in that the chemical composition of the glass powder is changed after each layer is deposited. The preform obtained by the present method makes it possible to produce by drawing optical waveguides for applications in the field of information transmission.

Abstract: An improved process for making a multiple pane fire resistant window whose spacings are filled with an aqueous gel possessing multiple carbon bonds, wherein the improvement comprises placing a thin layer of an adherence agent on the contact surface of the panes, prior to placing the aqueous gel in the spacing. The adherence gel is selected from the group consisting essentially of organic titanates, organic zirconates, and silanes able to react with the aqueous gel's multiple carbon bonds.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for heat treatment of fibrous mats, especially mats formed of mineral fibers such as glass and carrying a heat hardenable binder material, such as a thermosetting resin. The method and the equipment disclosed provide for continuous feed of the mat through a curing or treating oven having a plurality of heat treatment zones or areas. In one form of the method and equipment, the heat treatment in at least one zone is effected by circulation of a heated gas, such as air, through the mat in said zone, and the mat is also subjected to heat treatment in a localized area lying within said zone by passage of a second heated gas through the mat, the second heated gas having a pressure higher than that in the surrounding portions of said zone.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for controlling the operating conditions, particularly the temperature and pressure, of attenuating gas employed in the fiberization of thermoplastic materials. The arrangement disclosed provides for temperature and pressure controls of the hot attenuating gas blast used in connection with a centrifugal or spinner type of technique for making fibers from thermoplastic mineral materials such as glass.

Abstract: The invention deals with continuous process mixing of pulverized solids and liquids. It offers a mixing process comprising:continuously introducing a liquid into a mixing container;continuously introducing a solid powder into said container at such a rate that specified proportions of solid and liquid in the mixture are maintained;rotating the products in the container in such a way as to establish a vortex;regulating the solid and liquid supply rate in such a way that a given level of filling of container is constantly maintained;continuously emptying the products mixture so that level of filling is maintained.It offers as well a mechanism to implement the process including a mixing container having an intermediate bottom and a runoff opening, a turbine mounted above the intermediate bottom, and mechanism for supplying a liquid and a solid.

Abstract: A method for the continuous fabrication of blankets or sheets of expanded phenolic resin displaying a hard skin on each of their sides, according to which a mixture, comprising in particular a resole resin, a blowing agent and a hardening catalyst is placed on an essentially flat surface of a moving conveyor, is completely expanded, and is conformed eventually between two parallel surfaces entrained in the same direction, the second surface being located above and substantially parallel to and able to move at the same speed as the moving surface, characterized in that, in a first stage, after having been distributed at the surrounding temperature and in the liquid state along the whole width of the surface of the transport component, in such a way so as to comprise a blanket of expandable liquid mixture essentially uniform in thickness, the expandable mixture is conveyed in the open air towards the conformation surfaces while being submitted to a heating so that it expands, the degree of heating and the lengt

Abstract: Multiple jet fiber attenuation, the jets converging to provoke mutual impact and create a combined jet flow, the jets comprising fuel and comburent components in proportions providing a combustible mixture in the combined jet flow, a stream of attenuable material being delivered into the combined jet flow and providing for ignition of the combustible mixture in a localized zone and thus for attenuation at elevated temperature in said zone.