Abstract: A feeder for supplying molten streams of glass to be attenuated into fibers is provided comprising a refractory metal core; an oxygen impervious, precious metal sheath and an intermediate diffusion barrier layer intimately bonded together by hot isostatic pressing to form a unitary laminate, said laminate having inserts having orifices extending therethrough adapted to establish streams of molten material for attenuation into filaments.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved process for cleaning an anodized surface of aluminum or an alloy thereof where a cleaning agent is applied to the anodized surface and then the cleaning agent is removed after a sufficient period of contact,wherein the improvement comprises applying to the anodized surface at ambient temperature a thin film of a cleaning composition comprising an acid solution consisting essentially of:(a) from about 3 to 30 percent by weight, based upon the total weight of the acid solution, of nitric acid, calculated as a 65% aqueous solution;(b) from about 0.1 to 20 percent by weight, based upon the total weight of the acid solution, of partial esters of phosphoric acid;(c) from about 0.3 to 30 percent by weight, based upon the total weight of the acid solution, of a phosphonocarboxylic acid with complexing action;(d) from about 0.

Abstract: A laminated wall for a feeder for supplying streams of molten glass to be attenuated into filaments is provided comprising: a refractory metal core having an oxygen impervious, precious metal sheath intimately bonded thereto by hot isostatic pressing to form a laminate, said laminate having at least one aperture therethrough, an element located in said aperture to prevent the oxidation of said core at elevated temperatures, said element having a flange at each end thereof sealed to said sheath, each flange being located intermediate said sheath and said core, said element being adapted to permit said molten glass to flow therethrough as a stream.

Abstract: A laminated wall for a feeder for supplying molten streams of glass to be attenuated into filaments comprising a refractory metal core having an oxygen impervious, precious metal sheath intimately bonded thereto by hot isostatically pressing to form a laminate, said laminate having at least one aperture extending therethrough; and a tubular member having a sleeve having a projection extending beyond a first flange located intermediate said first flange and a second flange, said tubular member being sealed to said laminate to prevent the oxidization of said core at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A method for cleaning porous diffusion tiles used in systems for distributing oxygen or oxygen containing gas in water bodies is disclosed. The build-up of scale, which blocks the pores in such diffusion tiles, is removed by (1) purging the oxygen distribution system with a nonoxidizing gas such as nitrogen, (2) injecting substantially pure HCl gas through the system which removes the scale, and (3) purging the system again with the nonoxidizing gas before resuming flow of oxygen or oxygen containing gas. The use of a nonoxidizing purge gas before and after acid treatment prevents severe corrosion in the oxygen distribution system caused by the simultaneous presence of HCl gas and oxygen.

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: The application discloses an apparatus and a process for the manufacture of discontinuous fibers obtained by fluid attenuation. The fibers are attenuated from a bushing whose base is equipped with a substantially continuous plate having a hollowed upper surface of alveoles, said alveoles being perforated with orifices, and whose lower side is cut with grooves defining bosses, each boss being provided with one or several alveoles. The fibers produced are particularly adapted for use in the form of mat, sheet or roving.

Abstract: A furnace for drawing optical fiber includes a graphite element of generally cylindrical shape with a reduced central cross-sectional configuration having a flange at opposite ends thereof and having an axial hole therethrough including a central internal element chamber for receiving a glass preform, means for heating the reduced central cross-sectional configuration, and, hence, the central internal element chamber, so that an optical fiber can be drawn from the preform. The invention relates to providing a relationship between the internal diameter of the central internal element chamber and the inner diameter of the exhaust tubes so as to minimize gas turbulence within the central internal element chamber and thereby control the diameter of an optical fiber being drawn. The relationships can be such that the internal diameter of the central internal element chamber and the inner diameters of an input exhaust tube and an exit exhaust tube are substantially equal.

Abstract: Carbonaceous solid material such as coal is gasified in a fast fluidized bed gasification system utilizing dual fluidized beds of hot char. The coal in particulate form is introduced along with oxygen-containing gas and steam into the fast fluidized bed gasification zone of a gasifier assembly wherein the upward superficial gas velocity exceeds about 5.0 ft/sec and temperature is 1500.degree.-1850.degree. F. The resulting effluent gas and substantial char are passed through a primary cyclone separator, from which char solids are returned to the fluidized bed. Gas from the primary cyclone separator is passed to a secondary cyclone separator, from which remaining fine char solids are returned through an injection nozzle together with additional steam and oxygen-containing gas to an oxidation zone located at the bottom of the gasifier, wherein the upward gas velocity ranges from about 3-15 ft/sec and is maintained at 1600.degree.-200.degree. F. temperature.

Abstract: A system is provided for forming small accurately-spherical objects. Preformed largely-spherical objects (18) are supported at the opening of a conduit (16) on the update of hot gas emitted from the opening, so the object is in a molten state. The conduit is suddenly jerked away at a downward incline, to allow the molten object to drop in free fall, so that surface tension forms a precise sphere. The conduit portion that has the opening, lies in a moderate-vacuum chamber 40, and the falling sphere passes through the chamber and through a briefly-opened valve (30) into a tall drop tower (32) that contains a lower pressure, to allow the sphere to cool without deformation caused by falling through air.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of staple glass fibers by drawing a plurality of glass filaments, from a bushing and chopping them directly into staple fibers without intervening winding and storage is characterized by initiating the drawing by forming the filaments into a coil on the circumference of an auxiliary roller, forming an initial winding by rotating the roller with progressively increasing surface speed until the filaments advancing towards the roller attain the normal production drawing speed for the bushing, then diverting the filaments while still travelling at that speed, and without breaking them, into driving contact with a cutter back-up roll driven with substantially the same surface speed as the production speed, advancing the diverted filaments by means of the roll into a cutting zone whereat they are both severed from the initial winding and continuously chopped into staple fibers.

Abstract: A method of and a device are provided for the high-precision manufacture of glass lenses where a roughly metered volume of softened glass is transferred in a product holder from a furnace to a position between two moulds, the moulds being subsequently moved towards one another and the excess glass being pressed from between the moulds. The moulds and the product holder are moved at such a mutual speed that both moulds simultaneously contact the article, and the movement of the moulds is terminated when they reach a given position with respect to one another.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming fibers from attenuable materials, such as molten glass, by attenuating streams of glass from the bottom of a bushing wherein the bottom has downwardly presented wall portions at upper and lower levels. According to the disclosure the upper or lower wall portions are formed into a series of elongated bosses each containing at least one row of cells termed alveoles, each alveole having a multiplicity of orifices extending through the lower wall portion of its boss. Filamentary material is manufactured by drawing at least one filament from each alveole independently of each other alveole regardless of whether or not the material has flooded the bottom surface of any boss. In one embodiment shallow transverse grooves in the lower wall portions of the bosses separate the orifices of one alveole from the orifices of adjacent alveoles so that flooding is confined to a single alveole.

Abstract: A combined gasification/devolatilization process for coal in coal residues is disclosed wherein hydrogen rich volatiles are recovered prior to gasification of the coal. The recovery of hydrogen volatiles is dependent upon the rapid heating of coal obtained by admixture with hot char previously gasified in a riser with steam and a catalyst if necessary. The hot char is provided by combustion of devolatilized coal in a fluid bed regenerator. Alternative systems are provided for purifying the devolatilized coal prior to its charring.

Abstract: This invention relates to glass filament production. Conventionally the hollow cooling tubes and/or metal bars utilized in the making of continuous glass fibers have been constructed of high temperature corrosion resistant materials whose costs are exorbitant for extensive present day factory operations. The present invention dramatically reduces the price of cooling tubes 24 suitable for use in the making of glass filaments by coating or cladding a relatively inexpensive base or substrate metal 48 such as copper or refractory metal such as nickel, Inconel or molybdenum, and alloys thereof with a high temperature corrosion resistant material 50 such as the noble metals, e.g., platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, gold, silver or alloys thereof. Fins 52 which may be attached to the cooling tubes 24 may be made either of a solid noble metal or may also be coated or clad in the same manner as the cooling tubes 24.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the reclamation of inorganic fibers from waste continuous strips of inorganic fibers. A binding agent, such as an organic binder, must be removed before the fibers can be reused or further processed. One or more layers of continuous strips are conveyed to a heating zone where the strips 42 are supported along a predetermined path as a heating fluid is drawn rapidly through the strips. The heating fluid is controlled as to temperature, pressure and mass flow rate to insure that the binder is properly decomposed and that the products of decomposition are rapidly carried away from the strips to prevent heat buildup which could cause a temperature increase to the fusion point of the fibers. Process temperatures are thus suitably controlled to below the fusion temperature of the fiber material.

Abstract: A shear frame mounting and positioning mechanism for linearly reciprocal shear blades in which the shear frame can be adjusted in a horizontal plane in a direction parallel to and perpendicular to the direction of travel of the shear blades. Additionally, the shear frame is tiltable in a vertical plane which is parallel to the direction of movement of the shear blades. A mechanism is provided for locking the shear frame under the feeder spout, the mechanism including means for adjusting the shear frame in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the shear blades. The shear frame can be swung between a position under the feeder spout to a position out from underneath the feeder spout and also raised and lowered in a vertical direction.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for monitoring a process condition in a spinner mounted for rotation, the spinner having an orificed sidewall for the centrifuging of molten mineral material therethrough, comprises a sensing means mounted for rotation with the spinner for sensing a process condition, and a wireless transmitter mounted for rotation with the spinner for transmitting a signal responsive to the sensed process condition.

Abstract: In a glass fiber forming unit including a hollow-cylinder-shaped rotating spinner having (a) a bottom, (b) a surrounding wall with a number of molten glass projecting orifices, and (c) an upper annular flange extending inwardly from the upper edge of the surrounding wall; and an attenuating blast burner with jet flame orifices for attenuating primary filaments formed at the tips of transition cones of molten glass projecting from the rotating spinner into secondary filaments, the improvement comprising the jet flame orifices in the attenuating blast burner being so positioned that, for each jet flame from each jet flame orifice, only an outer cone of flame is in contact with the lower portion of the outer surface of the surrounding wall of the hollow-cylinder-shaped rotating spinner where the speed of the outer cone of flame is such as to not break the transition cone of molten glass, and a heating burner disposed inside the upper annular flange of the hollow-cylinder-shaped rotating spinner for jetting a fla

Abstract: An air nozzle apparatus for directing air flow against the undersurface of an orifice plate of a glass fiber drawing forehearth, having an air introducing section having a manifold formed with at least one air supply port, and an air nozzle section formed with a plurality of nozzle channels communicating with the manifold. The air nozzle section has a plurality of nozzle ribs of substantially the same shape each having opposed side surfaces and opposed end edge portions. The plurality of nozzle ribs are arranged to have their side surfaces located in adjacent relationship to provide a nozzle block. Each nozzle rib is formed on at least one of the opposed side surfaces with a longitudinally extending recess which defines one of the plurality of nozzle channels between the adjacent nozzle ribs.