Abstract: The present invention furnishes a device for fiberizing molten mineral materials in order to produce mineral fiber products by means of a spinner (2) having a multiplicity of orifices (6; 8) provided in the peripheral wall (4) thereof, for centrifuging molten mineral materials (10; 12) supplied to the spinner (2), with the spinner (2) comprising on the inside (14) of the peripheral wall (4) compartments (18; 20) arranged in sections and delimited by baffles (16) for separately feeding and separately receiving a respective molten material (10; 12) to at least one associated orifice (6; 8), with the orifices (6; 8) extending at least approximately in a radial direction through the peripheral wall (4). In the present invention a method for producing this device is moreover proposed.

Abstract: A substrate of limited dimensions consisting of mineral fibers for out-of-ground cultivation is used for the cultivation phase corresponding to the development of seedlings. This substrate, of general parallelepipedic shape, exhibits small surface protuberances on its lower face which separate it from the ground on which it rests. The protuberances can be feet disposed on the lower face of the substrate, or edges formed by providing the substrate with a concave lower face. The substrate according to the invention makes it possible to improve out-of-ground cultivation conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to the distribution on a receiving device of fibers carried by a gas current.To improve the distribution, the gas current carrying the fibers is subjected to the action of a gas layer which envelopes the current and of which the direction of flow in a plane tangent to the gas current differs from that of the gas current. The action of the gas layer results in an expansion of the current carrying the fibers.The invention is particularly useful where the fibers are received on a collecting device such as a foraminous conveyor belt, of large width.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for forming fibers from attenuable materials, especially mineral materials such as glass, the disclosed technique including components providing for attenuation by toration, i.e., attenuation by delivering a stream of attenuable material in attenuable condition into the zone of interaction of a gaseous jet penetrating into a larger gaseous blast.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for forming fibers from attenuable materials, especially mineral materials such as glass, the disclosed technique including components providing for attenuation by toration, i.e., attenuation by delivering a stream of attenuable material in attenuable condition into the zone of interaction of a gaseous jet penetrating into a larger gaseous blast. The blast, jet and means for delivery of the stream of attenuable material are disclosed in an interrelationship according to which the device for generating the blast is arranged to deliver the blast in a downwardly directed path, in which the means for generating the jet is arranged to deliver the jet laterally into the blast, in which the stream of attenuable material in attenuable condition is delivered downwardly from a delivery orifice in a position between the blast generating device and the jet generating means, and in which the orifices for both the jet and the attenuable material are spaced from the blast.

Abstract: Equipment is disclosed for gas blast attenuation of attenuable materials by the toration type of technique according to which a gaseous jet is directed transversely into a gaseous blast of larger cross section, thereby developing a zone of interaction of the jet and the blast into which a stream of the attenuable material is delivered. Each fiberizing center incorporates a plurality of components including means for generating the jet, means for generating the blast, and means for supplying the stream of attenuable material. In addition, the fiberizing center frequently also incorporates an additional structural element or means positioned along the path of the jet and influencing the jet flow.

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: 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.

Abstract: Equipment is disclosed for gas blast attenuation of attenuable materials by the toration type of technique according to which a gaseous jet is directed transversely into a gaseous blast of larger cross section, thereby developing a zone of interaction of the jet and the blast into which a stream of the attenuable material is delivered. Each fiberizing center incorporates a plurality of components including means for generating the jet, means for generating the blast, and means for supplying the stream of attenuable material. In addition, the fiberizing center frequently also incorporates an additional structural element or means positioned along the path of the jet and influencing the jet flow.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the production of fibrous materials from attenuable substances, particularly molten glass, are disclosed, along with the fiber products which result. In the disclosed system the material to be fiberized flows into a region established as a result of the interaction of a jet transversely oriented with respect to a larger blast, the material being acted upon in the interaction zone to produce a highly attenuated fiber. Method and apparatus are disclosed utilizing a glass admission orifice and jet blast generating devices which are spaced from each other. Moreover, method and equipment are disclosed for forming fibers from attenuable material by the use of high velocity whirling gas currents or tornadoes. Attenuation is preferably effected in two sequential stages, each of which utilizes a pair of high velocity whirling currents or tornadoes, with the gases in the two tornadoes of each pair turning in opposite directions.

Abstract: Gas blast attenuation is disclosed including the use of a pair of gaseous jets having axes lying in a common plane and directed to impinge upon each other preferably at an acute angle, the attenuable material being introduced into the influence of air induced by one of the jets in the region of impingement of the jets, and the combined jet flow of the two jets carrying the attenuable material into a zone of interaction between the combined jet flow and a larger gaseous blast.

Abstract: Method and equipment are disclosed for forming fibers from attenuable material, such as molten glass, by the use of a jet penetrating transversely into a blast and by the of a structural element positioned adjacent to the path of the jet for establishing a stable low pressure zone in the jet flow into which the material to be attenuated is introduced. The jet has a temperature lower than that of the blast and preferably close to ambient temperature to thereby avoid erosion of the structural element positioned adjacent to the jet path.

Abstract: Equipment is disclosed for developing high velocity gas blasts or jets arranged to effect fiber formation from attenuable material, such as molten glass. Preferably the apparatus is arranged to effect the attenuation in two stages, each of which utilizes a pair of high velocity whirling currents or tornadoes, with the gas in the two tornadoes of each pair turning in opposite directions and merging in the downstream direction, means for supplying the attenuable material being arranged to deliver a stream of the material into the influence of the tornadoes upstream of the point of confluence.

Abstract: Method and equipment are disclosed for forming fibers from attenuable material such as molten glass, by the use of high velocity whirling gas currents or tornadoes. Attenuation is preferably effected in two stages, the first of which utilizes a pair of high velocity whirling currents or tornadoes formed by delivering a gaseous jet through a jet guiding device of trough-like form which is concavely curved, thereby developing a pair of counter-rotating tornadoes, with a zone of laminar flow therebetween, a stream of the attenuable material being delivered to the jet in the zone of laminar flow. A larger gaseous blast is also utilized being directed in a path intercepting the path of the jet to provide a zone of interaction also characterized by a pair of counter-rotating tornadoes, the stream of attenuable material being carried by the jet into the blast thereby subjecting the material to a second stage of attenuation in said zone of interaction.

Abstract: The attenuation technique disclosed utilizes high velocity whirling currents or tornadoes formed in a toration zone i.e., a zone of interaction of a principle blast or current of gases and a gaseous carrier jet directed transversely into the blast. The arrangement disclosed employs a novel system for developing a carrier jet having a carrier jet delivery orifice of greater dimension in one plane than in a plane at right angles to said one plane. Preferably a multiplicity of such jet delivery orifices are developed in spaced relation adjacent to an edge of the curved surface of a jet guiding or deflecting element. Streams of attenuable material are introduced into gaseous currents induced by the jets adjacent to the curved surface between the jets, and the streams are carried by the jets into the toration zone.

Abstract: Equipment for effecting fiberization of attenuable materials by toration including components establishing a plurality of side-by-side fiberizing zones in a gaseous blast. The disclosed arrangement includes means for delivering gaseous jets into the fiberizing zones including jet manifolds for groups of jets.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for converting a stream of attenuable material into a fiber by a two-stage attenuation technique, the two stages being effected sequentially by employment of a gaseous jet and a gaseous blast, thereby producing a single long fiber from each stream of attenuable material.

Abstract: Gas blast attenuation of thermoplastic attenuable material is disclosed including the use of a principle current or blast with one or more jets of smaller cross section directed transversely into the blast and creating zones of interaction having whirling currents, especially of the kind developed in toration techniques, the whirling currents including fuel and comburent components in proportions providing a combustible mixture, and a stream of thermoplastic attenuable material at a temperature at least as high as the ignition temperature of said mixture being delivered into each zone of interaction.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the production of fibrous materials from attenuable substances, particularly molten glass, are disclosed, along with the fiber products which result. In the disclosed system the material to be fiberized flows into a region established as a result of the interaction of a jet transversely oriented with respect to a larger blast, the material being acted upon in the interaction zone to produce a highly attenuated fiber. Method and apparatus are disclosed utilizing a glass admission orifice and jet blast generating devices which are spaced from each other. Moreover, method and equipment are disclosed for forming fibers from attenuable material by the use of high velocity whirling gas currents or tornadoes. Attenuation is preferably effected in two sequential stages, each of which utilizes a pair of high velocity whirling currents or tornadoes, with the gases in the two tornadoes of each pair turning in opposite directions.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for converting a stream of attenuable material into a fiber by employment of a gaseous jet penetrating a gaseous blast, thereby producing a zone of interaction in which the stream is attenuated to form a single long fiber. The gaseous jet may have lower velocity than the blast but may have lower temperature than the blast, thereby providing a jet of higher kinetic energy than the blast so that the jet will penetrate the blast. It is also contemplated that the glass stream may be initially delivered to the jet to be carried thereby into the zone of interaction with the blast, thereby providing for preliminary attenuation in the jet before the stream reaches the blast.