Abstract: A process for producing fine fibers, which comprises(1) allowing a viscous material to flow out from a flowout orifice,(2) blowing a rectilinear first high-speed gas stream from each of at least three circumferentially spaced gas jet nozzles disposed around the flowout orifice to reduce abruptly the cross-sectional area of a first fine stream of the viscous substance that has flowed out, and to form a second fine stream of the viscous material, and(3) blowing a second high-speed gas stream against said second fine stream from across the axis of the first fine stream of the viscous material at a position downstream of that position at which the first high-speed gas stream most approaches the axis of the first fine stream of the viscous material, thereby to thin the second fine stream further.

Abstract: A method for forming a high-velocity gas stream stably, which comprises jetting out a gas having an oxygen content of 0 to 2% by volume under pressure from a jet opening having an inside wall made of a platinum-group metal and maintained at a high temperature. This method effectively prevents the consumption of a jet opening made of a platinum-group metal.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing fibers from a heat-softening material in which the heat-softening material is heated to a viscous melt, and directly and continuously flowed out while its sectional shape being rendered substantially circular. High speed gas streams having a component in the tangential direction of the circular sectional surface of the melt and a component which approaches the central axial line of the melt towards the flowing direction of the melt and then departs from the central axial line are jetted out onto the melt that has been flowed out. The high speed gas streams cause the melt to rotate around its central axial line and transform it into a substantially conical shape whose cross section gradually decreases towards its flowing direction in a first zone. In a second zone subsequent to the first zone, the melt is caused to advance in the form of fiber from the tip of the cone in the flowing direction and outwardly in the radial direction.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing fibers from a heat-softening material in which the heat-softening material is heated to a viscous melt, and directly and continuously flowed out while its sectional shape being rendered substantially circular. High speed gas streams having a component in the tangential direction of the circular sectional surface of the melt and a component which approaches the central axial line of the melt towards the flowing direction of the melt and then departs from the central axial line are jetted out onto the melt that has been flowed out. The high speed gas streams cause the melt to rotate around its central axial line and transform it into a substantially conical shape whose cross section gradually decreases towards its flowing direction in a first zone. In a second zone subsequent to the first zone, the melt is caused to advance in the form of fiber from the tip of the cone in the flowing direction and outwardly in the radial direction.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing fibers from a heat-softening material in which the heat-softening material is heated to a viscous melt, and directly and continuously flowed out while its sectional shape being rendered substantially circular. High speed gas streams having a component in the tangential direction of the circular sectional surface of the melt and a component which approaches the central axial line of the melt towards the flowing direction of the melt and then departs from the central axial line are jetted out onto the melt that has been flowed out. The high speed gas streams cause the melt to rotate around its central axial line and transform it into a substantially conical shape whose cross section gradually decreases towards its flowing direction in a first zone. In a second zone subsequent to the first zone, the melt is caused to advance in the form of fiber from the tip of the cone in the flowing direction and outwardly in the radial direction.

Abstract: A humidity-sensitive sensor, especially useful on the window of an automobile with the sensor on the inside surface of the glass. The sensor has a pair of spaced electrodes and a humidity-sensitive coating composed of a hydroscopic resin extending over the pair of electrodes. The resin can be an acrylate resin or a methacrylate resin, and preferably is a resin which has a volume change of at least 10% in response to a 50% change in humidity. Dispersed in the resin are electrically conductive particles, preferably in an amount of from 20 to 60% by volume of the amount of resin. The sensor, prior to its use in an operating device, is preferably exposed to a high humidity condition and a low humidity condition at least thirty times in order to stabilize it.