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 series of bosses containing alveoles, each having a multiplicity of orifices in the lower wall portions. 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. Controlled cooling permits the selective drawing of one or a plurality of filaments from each alveole.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus continuously feeding particulate solids to a TRC reaction chamber or zone at a controlled rate of flow, and for admixing the solids with fluid simultaneously introduced to the reaction zone. This invention utilized one or more conduits, preferably tubular, to transfer the solids from a solids reservoir chamber to the reaction chamber at a controlled rate of flow, the conduits being in open communication with both the reservoir chamber and with the reaction chamber. The conduits are in the nature of orifices, and are symmetrically located across the reactor cross section, said orifices or conduits also being specially oriented with respect to the fluid reactant inlet to promote rapid and intimate mixing of the two phases.

Abstract: A particular aspect of the invention concepts disclosed and described is directed to the use of a vented cup ballistic separation device and method of use for achieving rapid separation of a suspension of fluidized solid particulate and gasiform material. The vented cup ballistic separation apparatus is particularly discussed in conjunction with separating a suspension of catalyst particles from vaporous hydrocarbon reaction products of catalytic cracking discharged from a riser cracking operation. The vented cup ballistic separation apparatus particularly comprises an annular chamber about the upper periphery of an open ended riser conduit. The annular chamber is open in the upper end and one or more open end conduits extend outwardly from the annular chamber comprising means for attachment to cyclone separation means. The riser with vented cup or annular chamber terminates within a larger diameter chamber.

Abstract: Fiberization of thermoplastic materials is effected by a technique employing an attenuating blast having a Coanda surface on the blast nozzle lip, the arrangement providing for delivery of a stream of molten material into the region of gaseous currents flowing over the Coanda surface into the blast. Provision is also made for employment of a secondary jet directed to flow over at least a part of the Coanda surface into the blast.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the production of an optical glass article, which comprises neutralizing an aqueous solution containing silicic acid to form a porous gelled body, removing soluble materials from the porous gelled body to form a porous glass body, stuffing the porous glass body with a solution containing at least one compound capable of being converted into an oxide dopant for changing the refractive index of the glass body, selected from the group consisting of CsNO.sub.3, RbNO.sub.3 and TlNO.sub.

Abstract: An optical fibre cable comprises a support structure having helical grooves around its periphery. Optical fibres are laid in the grooves. Said fibre-containing grooves (2) are then partially untwisted in the direction of the arrow (4), thereby lengthening the pitch of the grooves and hence lengthening the fibres relative to the grooves.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for forming a continuous length of glass article. A coating of glass particles is deposited on a mandrel having a thermal coefficient of expansion much greater than that of the glass particles. The mandrel is allowed to cool, thereby causing it to shrink and separate from the coating. The coating is indexed a discrete longitudinal distance along the mandrel, thereby uncovering a region of the mandrel. Another coating of glass particles is deposited on the uncovered region of the mandrel and over a portion of the previously applied coating. The steps of separating or freeing the coating from the mandrel, longitudinally indexing the coating with respect to the mandrel and depositing another coating are repeated. Thus, each step of indexing longitudinally translates an incremental length of a porous body from the end of the mandrel.

Abstract: A distributing arrangement for a pressurized cooling fluid, especially air, for cooling a forming tool of a machine for forming thermoplastic material, especially molten glass, wherein the forming tool includes at least one split mold including mold segments which are respectively mounted on mold segment holders for movement therewith relative to one another and each of which is provided with a plurality of fluid channels for the flow of the pressurized of fluid channels for the flow of the pressurized cooling fluid therethrough, comprises a fluid distributing box including for each of the mold segments at least two branch channels individually communicating with at least one of the fluid channels when the distributing box is mounted on the mold segment holder.

Abstract: A sample feeding arrangement which receives sealed sample tubes, moves them one at at time to a seal piercing and sample aspiration station, and then discharges the used tubes. This sample feeding arrangement is mounted inside a sample analyzer of the type which previously had operated semiautomatically. Receipt of a sample tube at the infeed station of this feeding arrangement initiates the repositioning of the tube to an aspiration station, which thereat enables all other handling steps of the tube, sample aspiration, and the full system cycle of the analyzer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding pulverant raw material to an arc furnace having a plurality of arcing locations defined by vertical electrodes. A vertical feed tube gravitationally conveys the raw material to a central location inside the furnace which is above the arcing locations. A rotatable deflector is located at the bottom of the feed tube and is rotated in step-wise fashion to direct raw material from the feed tube to each of the arcing locations. A fixed deflector is located at each arcing location to confine the raw material fed into the furnace predominantly to the arcing locations. By locating most of the raw material at the arcing locations, the feeding mechanism of the present invention improves the stability of the arc and the melting efficiency of the furnace.

Abstract: A vortex combustion furnace (1) for the production of glass beads is generally cylindrical and has an outlet flue (24) at its upper end. A burner (13) at the lower end burns a gas/air mixture. Secondary air is introduced to the chamber through tangential air inlets (16) and creates a vortex within the chamber. The vortex has a top-hat temperature profile with a central heating region with a temperature in excess of 1000.degree. C. and a surrounding cooling region with a temperature not much above ambient. Glass cullet injected into the chamber follows a spiral path in the vortex, is heated, melts to form glass beads, is then cooled and finally is collected after striking the wall of the chamber.

Abstract: A spin immunoassay apparatus includes means for sampling one of a plurality of sample solutions, a system for measuring certain amounts of the sample solution, a reaction system for mixing the sample solution with reagent which consists of antibody coupled with spin labelled antigen by antigen-antibody reaction and incubating the mixture for a certain period of time, and an electron spin resonance device for measuring the concentration of a spin labelled material extricated. The electron spin resonance device has a cavity resonator including a fixed cell. A flow system transfers the mixed sample solution and reagent into the cell. The intensity of a magnetic field applied to the cell is adjusted so that the maximum differential value or the minimum differential value of the ESR signal of the spin labelled material will be detected.

Abstract: Self-cleaning separator apparatus is used in combination with a vertical settling chamber for extracting fiber product from a moving air stream. The separator apparatus includes a housing forming an air stream inlet, a product discharge outlet and a clean air outlet. A rotatable screen is interposed between the air stream inlet and the clean air outlet for collecting the fiber product on the screen as the air stream flows through the screen for discharge into the atmosphere. An air flow gradient is induced in the settling chamber whereby the air flow rate through the rotating screen is substantially smaller near the bottom of the settling chamber than it is near the top of the settling chamber. The gradient is produced in part by a transversely extending baffle plate mounted in the annular flow region near the product discharge outlet, and in part by the off-center placement of the rotary screen closely adjacent the sidewalls of the settling chamber which converge toward the product discharge outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for the production of mineral fiber or wool felts, blankets or batts having uniform thickness and density, comprising means for fiberizing the mineral composition, a housing defining a chamber into which the fibers are introduced, a foraminous belt upon which the fibers are deposited, a rotating brush for sweeping or throwing back excess fibers, thereby leaving a uniform layer of uncompressed fibers on the felt, and a roller for compressing the layer of fibers into a felt. The rotary brush removes the excess fibers and cooperates to provide a felt which is of uniform density and thickness.

Abstract: The initial step of melting glass, converting particulate batch materials to a partially melted, liquefied state, is carried out on a support surface of batch. As liquefied batch is drained from the surface, additional batch is fed onto the surface to maintain the surface substantially constant.

Abstract: In a fluidized bed apparatus intended to fluidize solid particles by means of ascending stream gas, the improvement for reducing solid particles entrained from the apparatus, which comprises placing an internal in a free board of the apparatus so that the projected area ratio is not less than 0.8, and the opening proportion to the free board cross-sectional area is within 0.3 to 0.9.

Abstract: A coherent thin sheet of glass batch materials is advanced onto a pool of molten metal contained in a glass melting furnace to melt thereon, preferably in non-contacting relation to refractory sidewalls of the furnace.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing glass fibers are provided. The apparatus comprises means for containing a head of glass; an orifice plate having a large number of orifices arranged in flooding relationship, each of said orifices being provided on a projection or tip extending downwardly from said orifice plate; and means disposed below said orifice plate and being in communication with a gas supply for directing air upwardly to the undersurface of said orifice plate to cool the cones of glass formed at each projection or tip, said air impinging upon said orifice plate.

Abstract: A method for regulating the granulometric characteristics of the components in metallurgical slags comprising the step of imparting a vibration to the slag, after the separation of the slag from the metallurgical furnace while the slag is being cooled. The imparted vibration frequency and amplitude is adjustable and ranges respectively from 12 to 100 Hz and 0.2 to 5 mm and when circular vibration is imparted from 0.4 to 12 mm.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to method and apparatus for forming glass fibers wherein a fiber forming feeder has a bottom wall comprised of a substrate and a control layer arranged to form reticulated indentations around the orifices therein to promote the movement of molten glass from a disrupted orifice to an adjoining orifice wherein attenuation is continuing.