Abstract: A fibrous insulation blanket is disclosed. The blanket includes a binderless collection of long, single component inorganic fibers. Preferably, the blanket is made of glass fibers.

Abstract: A method of making a fibrous pack includes centrifuging at least two sets of mineral fibers from molten mineral material using at least two rotary mineral fiber spinners that are arranged in a machine direction along a collection surface, directing each set of the mineral fibers into a downwardly moving veil beneath one of the mineral fiber spinners, generating a downwardly moving array of aligned organic fibers from at least one orificed die that is spaced apart from each of the mineral fiber spinners and directing the array into contact with the mineral fibers, and collecting the mineral fibers and organic fibers as a fibrous pack.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated pack of organic and mineral fibers includes centrifuging mineral fibers from molten mineral material using a mineral fiber spinner, directing the mineral fibers into a downwardly moving veil, generating an array of aligned organic fibers from a die and directing the organic fibers into contact with the mineral fibers to integrate the organic fibers with the mineral fibers, and collecting the integrated mineral fibers and organic fibers as a fibrous pack.

Abstract: A method for producing asphalt fibers includes supplying molten asphalt to a rotating asphalt spinner, centrifuging asphalt fibers from the asphalt spinner, and collecting the asphalt fibers. The molten asphalt is supplied to the asphalt spinner at a temperature within the range of from about 270.degree. to about 500.degree. F. Also disclosed is a method for integrating asphalt with reinforcement fibers including the steps of establishing a downwardly moving veil of reinforcement fibers, such as glass fibers, and centrifuging asphalt fibers from a rotating asphalt spinner positioned within the veil of reinforcement fibers to integrate the asphalt with the reinforcement fibers. A method for making an asphalt roofing shingle includes the steps of assembling together a mat of asphalt fibers with a mat of reinforcement fibers, coating the assembled mats to form an asphalt coated sheet, applying granules to the asphalt coated sheet, and cutting the asphalt coated sheet into roofing shingles.

Abstract: A method for producing asphalt fibers includes supplying molten asphalt to a rotating asphalt spinner, centrifuging asphalt fibers from the asphalt spinner, and collecting the asphalt fibers. The molten asphalt is supplied to the asphalt spinner at a temperature within the range of from about 270.degree. to about 500.degree. F. Also disclosed is a method for integrating asphalt with reinforcement fibers including the steps of establishing a downwardly moving veil of reinforcement fibers, such as glass fibers, and centrifuging asphalt fibers from a rotating asphalt spinner positioned within the veil of reinforcement fibers to integrate the asphalt with the reinforcement fibers. A method for making an asphalt roofing shingle includes the steps of assembling together a mat of asphalt fibers with a mat of reinforcement fibers, coating the assembled mats to form an asphalt coated sheet, applying granules to the asphalt coated sheet, and cutting the asphalt coated sheet into roofing shingles.

Abstract: In a method for making bicomponent polymer fibers, first and second molten polymers are supplied to a rotating spinner having an orificed peripheral wall. The molten polymers are centrifuged through the orifices as molten bicomponent polymer streams. The streams are cooled to make bicomponent polymer fibers.

Abstract: A method for fiberizing organic material includes rotating a spinner having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall that extends upwardly from the bottom wall and terminates in an upper end, wherein the spinner has a cavity defined by the bottom wall, the peripheral wall and a plane extending through the upper end of the peripheral wall generally parallel to the bottom wall. The method further includes creating turbulence within the spinner cavity, supplying molten organic material to a delivery tube wherein the delivery tube terminates at a point located outside of the spinner cavity, discharging molten organic material from the delivery tube with enough momentum to overcome the turbulence and reach a predetermined location in the spinner cavity, and centrifuging fibers from the molten organic material.

Abstract: A method of producing a fibrous product is disclosed. Molten material is introduced into a rotating spinner which includes a peripheral wall having a plurality of orifices. The molten material is centrifuged through the orifices to create fibers. The fibers are directed generally downwardly and away from the spinner. The fibers are intercepted on a folded conveyor so that the fibers are draped over the folded conveyor. The fibers form first and second suspended portions which are oriented generally vertically. The folded conveyor and intercepted fibers are moved away from the spinner. The first and second portions of the suspended fibers are raised to a generally horizontal orientation by unfolding the conveyor, thereby producing a generally planar fibrous product.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and devices are disclosed for collecting a veil including long fibers with high speed conveyor surfaces to produce a web of loosely related fibers, and further forming a wool pack by distributing the web of fibers with low frequency sound. The methods, apparatuses, and devices are particularly useful in collecting long fibers, and producing wool packs including long glass fibers.

Abstract: In a method for producing hollow polymer fibers, molten polymer is supplied to a rotating polymer spinner having a peripheral wall. The spinner rotates so that molten polymer is centrifuged through a first tube extending through the peripheral wall of the spinner to form fibers. Gas is introduced into the interior of the molten polymer to form hollow polymer fibers. The hollow polymer fibers are then collected as a product such as a mat. The hollow polymer fibers produced by the method are microfibers having an average outside diameter of from about 2.5 microns to about 62.5 microns.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and devices are disclosed for collecting a veil including long fibers with high speed conveyor surfaces to produce a web of loosely related fibers, and further forming a wool pack by distributing the web of fibers with low frequency sound. The methods, apparatuses, and devices are particularly useful in collecting long fibers, and producing wool packs including long glass fibers.

Abstract: A method and device is disclosed for distributing a veil by applying low frequency sound to at least one portion of the veil, and causing the veil to deviate in its generally downward direction of travel. In its simplest embodiment, the lapping device of the present invention includes one low frequency sound generator having one resonator tube shaped for emission of low frequency sound and having an open end from which sound may be emitted to a portion of a veil. Preferably, the lapping device has two resonator tubes whose open ends are in spaced, opposing relationship, and in the preferred method low frequency sound is alternately applied at generally opposing locations near the veil, causing portions of the veil to deviate in generally alternate directions in its direction of travel.

Abstract: A method for producing mineral fibers includes centrifuging mineral fibers from one or more rotary mineral fiber spinners to establish one or more downwardly moving veils of mineral fibers positioned above a collecting surface, centrifuging organic fibers from molten organic material using one or more rotary organic fiber spinners to establish one or more downwardly moving veils of organic fibers positioned above the collecting surface, the veils of mineral fibers being generally colinear with the veils of organic fibers, the veils of organic fibers alternating with the veils of mineral fibers to integrate the organic material and the mineral fibers, and collecting the integrated organic material and mineral fibers on the collecting surface.

Abstract: A composite sheet is made of a moldable resin and reinforcement fibers, where the resin is a thermoplastic resin, thermosetting resin or mixture thereof, and the reinforcement fibers are fibers centrifuged from a rotary process fiberizer, where the composite sheet has at least 5 distinct layers of reinforcement fibers per mm of thickness. The composite sheet has at least 10 distinct layers of reinforcement fibers, and preferably at least 30 distinct layers. At least 85 percent of the reinforcement fibers are monofilaments, and the reinforcement fibers are wool glass fibers.

Abstract: A method for fiberizing mineral material with organic material includes centrifuging mineral fibers from molten mineral material with a first spinner rotating about an axis, changing the direction of the mineral fibers to form a downwardly moving veil of mineral fibers, establishing a flow of molten organic material moving downwardly in a first conduit positioned within the veil, and directing the flow of molten organic material to a position beneath the spinner, dividing the flow of molten organic material into a plurality of streams, directing, by means of individual conduits, individual ones of the plurality of streams radially outwardly away from the first conduit, rotating the individual conduits about the axis, centrifuging organic fibers from the molten organic material by means of nozzles at the radially outward ends of the individual conduits, and directing the organic fibers into contact with the veil of mineral fibers.

Abstract: A method for fiberizing mineral material with organic material includes centrifuging mineral fibers from molten mineral material with a first rotating spinner, changing the direction of the mineral fibers to form a downwardly moving veil of mineral fibers, establishing a flow of molten organic material moving toward a second rotating spinner positioned within the veil, dividing the flow of molten organic material into a plurality of streams, directing, by means of conduits, individual ones of the plurality of streams toward the peripheral wall of the second rotating spinner, the conduits shielding the molten organic material from heat from the first rotating spinner, and centrifuging organic fibers from the molten organic material.

Abstract: The present invention embraces apparatus for the production of mineral fibers. A bushing for the manufacture of mineral fibers, such as glass fibers, comprises an orificed bottom wall for the passage of streams of molten mineral material therethrough for attenuation into fibers, upwardly extending sidewalls and an orificed member, positioned above the bottom wall and extending between the sidewells, for passage of the molten mineral material therethrough to the bottom wall. The ratio of the poiseuille resistance to flow of the orificed member to the poiseuille resistance to flow of the bottom wall is in the range of from about 0.5 to about 1.0.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for monitoring the method comprising the steps of: generating electromagnetic radiation; using a first lens to form the electromagnetic radiation into a beam; directing the beam through a sampling volume for impingement upon the fibers; positioning a second lens in the same horizontal plane as the first lens such that the angle, whose tangent is D/d, is greater than or equal to five degrees, where D is the diameter of the second lens and d is the distance from a plane through the center of the second lens to the center of the sampling volume; collecting electromagnetic radiation backscattered from the fibers by means of the second lens; and generating a signal responsive to the amount of radiation collected as an indication of the average diameter of the fibers.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for producing fibers from heat softened mineral material, such as glass. More specifically, this invention relates to an orifice plate for a glass fiber drawing bushing of the type having a flat undersurface and a plurality of orifices formed therethrough with the improvement comprising grooves formed in the undersurface surrounding each orifice. The grooves are spaced from one another such that they not in intersecting relationship.

Abstract: A method of producing glass fibers is disclosed in which two streams of air are introduced into contact with the newly formed strands, one stream being introduced between the bushing and the size applicator and a second stream being introduced between the applicator and the gathering shoe.