Abstract: A bushing assembly is provided including terminal ears coupled to opposed end walls of the bushing assembly. Each of the terminal ears includes an electrically conductive plate with a first terminal edge (1D) coupled to a bushing first end wall, and extending away from the first end wall to a second, free terminal edge (1A) and having a curved geometry. The curvature, 1/(2R), at any point of the curved second end of the slot is less than the reciprocal, 1/ Wo, of the smallest gap width, Wo, of both slot first open end, WA, and elongated portion, WB, where R is defined as the radius at any point of the curved second end.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a bushing assembly comprising: (a) a liquid glass feeding unit arranged upstream of and in fluid communication with, (b) a first and second tip plate assemblies (1A, 1B) extending along a longitudinal direction, arranged side by side, and each surrounded by side walls and end walls and, the first and second tip plate assemblies being separated from one another by a stiffening rib structure (21) extending along said longitudinal direction, characterized in that, the feeding unit comprises a glass distribution manifold (2), which defines two separate fluid communication paths to the first and second tip plate assemblies (1A, 1B), and in that, the stiffening rib structure (21) forms an integral part of the floor of the manifold (2).

Abstract: The present invention concerns a bushing assembly comprising terminal ears (1) coupled to opposed end walls (2) of the bushing assembly, for heating the bushing tip plate and walls, each of said terminal ears comprising: (a) an electrically conductive plate, said conductive plate comprising at least a first portion (1A) extending along a longitudinal 1D axis (X1) from a first terminal edge (1D) substantially normal to said longitudinal axis (X1) 1B and coupled to a bushing end wall (2), and further comprising a second, free terminal edge (1C) connectable to a source of power, and (b) at least one elongated reinforcing member (1B) coupled to said at least first portion (1A) of said plate to increase the bending moment of the latter, characterized in that, said at least one elongated reinforcing member (1B) extends from, or adjacent to the plate first terminal edge (1D) along a direction non parallel to said longitudinal axis (X1).

Abstract: The present invention concerns a tip plate module for use in a bushing assembly for the production of glass fibers, said tip plate module comprising side walls surrounding at least a portion of the perimeter of a tip plate (11) forming the floor of the module, said tip plate forming a convex polygon, characterized in that, said polygonal tip plate comprises at least five edges (N?5), preferably at least six edges (N?6), more preferably it comprises six edges (N=6). The present invention also concerns a bushing assembly comprising at least one such tip plate module.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a tip plate module for use in a bushing assembly for the production of glass fibres, said tip plate module comprising side walls surrounding at least a portion of the perimeter of a tip plate (11) forming the floor of the module, said tip plate forming a convex polygon, characterized in that, said polygonal tip plate comprises at least five edges (N?5), preferably at least six edges (N?6), more preferably it comprises six edges (N=6). The present invention also concerns a bushing assembly comprising at least one such tip plate module.

Abstract: A glass fiber of quaternary composition including SiO2, Al2O3, CaO, and MgO, each present in an amount of at least 5 wt. %, and having less than 3.3 wt. % B2O3, and less than 2.0 wt. % fluorine, wherein: 22.0<MgO+CaO=<35.0 wt %, and 27.0<MgO+Al2O3=<44.0 wt %. all amounts being expressed in weight % with respect to the total weight of the composition. Also disclosed is a method of making composite materials reinforced with such fibers, and their use in applications such as windmill blades, pressure vessels, components in the automotive, machinery, aerospace applications, and such products produced therewith.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a bushing assembly comprising terminal ears (1) coupled to opposed end walls (2) of the bushing assembly, for heating the bushing tip plate and walls, each of said terminal ears comprising: (a) an electrically conductive plate, said conductive plate comprising at least a first portion (1A) extending along a longitudinal 1D axis (X1) from a first terminal edge (1D) substantially normal to said longitudinal axis (X1) 1B and coupled to a bushing end wall (2), and further comprising a second, free terminal edge (1C) connectable to a source of power, and (b) at least one elongated reinforcing member (1B) coupled to said at least first portion (1A) of said plate to increase the bending moment of the latter, characterized in that, said at least one elongated reinforcing member (1B) extends from, or adjacent to the plate first terminal edge (1D) along a direction non parallel to said longitudinal axis (X1).

Abstract: The present invention concerns a bushing assembly comprising: (a) a liquid glass feeding unit arranged upstream of and in fluid communication with, (b) a first and second tip plate assemblies (1A, 1B) extending along a longitudinal direction, arranged side by side, and each surrounded by side walls and end walls and, the first and second tip plate assemblies being separated from one another by a stiffening rib structure (21) extending along said longitudinal direction, characterized in that, the feeding unit comprises a glass distribution manifold (2), which defines two separate fluid communication paths to the first and second tip plate assemblies (1A, 1B), and in that, the stiffening rib structure (21) forms an integral part of the floor of the manifold (2).

Abstract: A bushing assembly (2) is provided including terminal ears coupled to opposed end walls (2A) of the bushing assembly, each of said terminal ears comprising an electrically conductive plate (1) comprising a first terminal edge (1D) coupled to a bushing first end wall (2A), and extending away from said first end wall to a second, free terminal edge (1A) and having a curved geometry; the curvature, 1/(2R), at any point of the curved second end (3C) of the slot is less than the reciprocal, 1/Wo, of the smallest gap width, Wo, of both slot first open end (3A), WA, and elongated portion (3B), We, wherein R is the radius at any point of the curved second end (3C).

Abstract: The present invention concerns a bushing assembly including a tip plate supported by reinforcing ribs. The reinforcement ribs have a planar portion having a shape inscribed in a triangle of vertices ?1, ?2, ?3, wherein ?1 is the smallest angle of the three vertices, and the side of the triangle opposed to the smallest vertex, ?1, matches exactly one side of the planar portion. It also concerns a bushing assembly including a tip plate reinforced with the reinforcing ribs discussed supra, wherein the reinforcing ribs are coupled to the bushing assembly by three sides, adjacent two by two.

Abstract: A glass fibre of quaternary composition including SiO2, AI2O3, CaO, and MgO, each present in an amount of at least 5 wt. %, and having less than 3.3 wt. % B2O3, and less than 2.0 wt. % fluorine, characterized by: 22.0<MgO+CaO?35.0 wt %, and 27.0<MgO+AI2O3?44.0 wt %. all amounts being expressed in weight % with respect to the total weight of the composition. Also disclosed is a method of making composite materials reinforced with such fibres, and their use in applications such as windmill blades, pressure vessels, components in the automotive, machinery, aerospace applications and such products produced therewith.