Patents by Inventor James Melvin Higginbotham

James Melvin Higginbotham has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7434421
    Abstract: A fiberizing apparatus for converting molten material into continuous fibers has an internal support structure to minimize high temperature creep and sagging of a tip plate, the reinforcing structure forming at least about 16 internal cells and the hole pattern in a bushing screen is engineered such that the hole area in each screen area above each of the at least 16 cells controls the amount of molten material flowing into each cell to produce a substantially improved tip plate temperature profile and fiberizing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Johns Manville
    Inventors: Terry Joe Hanna, Russell Donovan Arterburn, James Melvin Higginbotham, Michael D. Folk
  • Patent number: 6453702
    Abstract: A fiberizing apparatus for converting molten material into continuous fibers having an improved internal support structure to minimize high temperature creep and sagging of the tip plate or orifice plate is disclosed. The preferred internal support structure is welded to the sidewalls and the top surface of the tip plate and is comprised of a plurality of internal intersecting supports that form a diamond shaped structure. A method of fiberizing a molten material using the fiberizing apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Johns Manville International, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Joe Hanna, Russell Donovan Arterburn, James Melvin Higginbotham
  • Patent number: 6065310
    Abstract: This invention relates to a high throughput glass fiber production system and process to provide optimum glass delivery to the glass fiberizing bushing and enhanced glass production of textile fibers or filaments of glass. The fiberizing system includes dual melters which feed the molten glass through various screens within a high throughput feed bushing positioned below the melters to reduce seeds and condition the glass. The feed bushing directs the molten glass into a dual flow diverter for supplying the molten glass into the optimum location of the glass fiberizing bushings placed below the dual flow diverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Melvin Higginbotham, Richard Francis Finck, James Donald Keck, Michael Walden Morrison, Michael Blaise Fazio, David Tilton Mercer