Abstract: A process and apparatus are described for forming glass fibers which utilizes a rotating melter for the fiber glass batch materials and stators which house the fiber forming bushings. The stators are encompassed by the rotating melter, but not physically touching it. The glass melt flows directly from the melter to the bushings in the stators and temperatures at the bushings are controlled by raising or lowering the stator with respect to the melter, the bushings being devoid of any electrical energy input as is conventionally practiced.

Abstract: A method of preparing glass fiber strands is shown wherein the glass fibers as they are drawn from the glass fiber forming bushing are wound in a unique way. The fibers are drawn from the bushings using high speed, low energy drawing devices such as capstans and godets. They are then passed to high speed, low energy flyers for distribution onto the surface of light weight, low energy, slowing rotating mandrels. All the winding equipment and the attenuation devices are light in weight requiring very low horsepower motors compared to the high horsepower, high energy devices of the current state of the art. The flyers are shown driven by conventional motors or by a compressed air system. Collection of the strand takes place on the ends of the elongated mandrels shown and create a novel doughnut shaped forming package of fiber glass with properly distributed strands thereon suitable for unwinding.

Abstract: A rotary forehearth for use particularly in formation of glass fiber filaments through bushings is disclosed. A stator portion of the forehearth carries the bushings and a rotor portion of the forehearth receives molten glass from a suitable supply source, mixing the glass to homogenize it and distribute it at a uniform temperature, and disperses the uniform temperature molten glass to the bushings. The rotary forehearth is heated by suitable assemblies which maintain all portions of the forehearth at a uniform teperature. A uniform heating of the rotary forehearth and a uniform mixing and temperature of the molten glass is provided with a single controller. The bushings are uniformly heated and are supplied with molten glass at a nearly constant viscosity to facilitate the formation of glass fiber filaments having substantially less variation in diameter than heretofore possible.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the treatment of textile yarns of filamentary material, such as glass fiber yarns. The yarn passes through a fluid jet which includes a central chamber which is formed from a pair of interconnected and overlapping passageways. Each passageway includes one or more fluid inlets along its length to allow treating fluid to pass circumferentially around each passageway in a counterdirectional pattern. The textile yarn passes between the passageways in the chamber and the filaments in the yarn are entangled with each other to consolidate and round the yarn without a true or false twist being placed on the yarn. Depending upon the amount of tension in the yarn, the fluid pressure in the jet and the speed of the yarn through the jet, the degree of entanglement can be varied. Under low to zero tensions, texturized yarns and yarns having slubs thereon can be produced.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for the attenuation or advancing of strand material, such as glass strands. The apparatus includes a single belt and a plurality of wheels around which the belt is driven and guided. The strand is attenuated as it passes between the belt and one of the wheels. The wheel which, along with the belt, attenuates or advances the strand may have a plurality of pins or bars to form its exterior surface, which surface is then discontinuous. Alternatively, this wheel surface may be continuous. The driving force for the belt comes from another of the wheels, with the driving force being applied to the belt on the opposing surface of the belt from that which contacts the strand.

Abstract: A creel for unwinding forming packages of strand is described in which a plurality of vertically spaced flat shelves are mounted on a frame with rows of orifices provided on each of the shelves. The orifices are spaced apart on said shelves a sufficient distance from each other to permit a forming package to be placed over each orifice without touching an adjacent forming package. A sleeve is positioned in each orifice and constructed to permit strand to run through it without damaging the strand and a guide eye is positioned below each sleeve and free of the side of the shelf holding the sleeve to guide strand drawn through it to a point beyond the creel without touching the creel shelves.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a fiber mat is disclosed. The attenuation rate of the attenuator or strand advancing apparatus is varied as the attenuator traverses across the mat formation surface such that a constant rate of attenuation of glass filaments from a bushing is realized. This results in more consistent diameter filaments being formed and thus results in the formation of a more uniform mat. The attenuator may also be employed to lay down mat from previously produced forming packages of strand material from any natural or synthetic fiber.

Abstract: A method of winding glass is provided in which strands of fiber glass prior to collection on a high speed winder are subjected to a high turbulent fluid passed tangential to the strand in a chamber. The strand prior to treatment with the turbulent fluid is tension reduced. The strand treated in this manner has a false twist imparted thereto as well as a curvilinear wave form. The strand is wound after it leaves the turbulent zone and exhibits a mini-traverse in winding in addition to the normal traverse of strand which occurs as the strand traverses the length of the winder by reciprocation of the winder and/or the zone of turbulence.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for forming a containerized package of glass fiber strand is disclosed. The method comprises impinging attenuated glass fiber strand onto a rotating surface, swirling the glass strand due to its inertial forces upon impingement with the surface, and collecting the swirled glass strand to form a containerized package of glass strand. Apparatus for accomplishing the attenuation and swirling operations is also disclosed.

Abstract: A bulky yarn is disclosed having a low bulk density which comprises a spun ribbon of filaments or groups of filaments which may additionally be combined with a core strand. The spun continuous filaments form a plurality of loops which tangle with each other and with the core, if employed, to produce a continuous yarn having the appearance of a spun staple yarn.

Abstract: A process for providing a dried textile yarn, glass fiber yarn in particular, is described in which a wet textile strand is passed through a zone of high fluid turbulence, a heating zone and wound rapidly on a spool. In the process as applied to glass fiber yarns, finished textile strands are provided on spools which are considerably larger than the finished bobbins normally used by textile weavers. The yarns are dried directly from the wet forming packages to a completely dried state thus eliminating the binder migration problems frequently encountered in the drying of fiber glass on forming packages.

Abstract: A process is described for producing texturized textile yarns having improved characteristics and in which forming supply packages may be used as the feed yarn. The process has particular utility in the production of fiber glass yarns and produces yarns having a rounded appearance with good texture on the outer surfaces.

Abstract: Crimped fibers in novel form are described in which mats of fiber are provided which are characterized by having the fibers interlocked in both horizontal and vertical directions. A method of preparing such fiber glass mats is described and involves attenuating a plurality of fibers in spaced parallel relationship at extremely high speeds and projecting them onto a collecting surface while they are traveling at high rates of speed to interrupt the flow of fibers and produce by this interruption a plurality of bends in the fibers as they are being collected. The high inertial force inherent in the fibers traveling at high speeds as they strike the collection surface imparts to the fibers a novel crimping action. By collecting a multiplicity of layers of fibers produced in this manner fiber glass mats are produced which have a needled appearance with the glass fibers constituting the mat being interlocked in a multiplicity of directions as well as in the horizontal and vertical plane.

Abstract: An apparatus for gathering individual glass fibers into spaced apart strands is disclosed. The individual fibers, during formation are passed over an applicator which applies a lubricant to the fibers. A circular cylindrical bar member, at an oblique angle to the application surface, contacts the spaced apart strands, and in conjunction with a cylindrical free wheeling roller, causes the fibers to be consolidated into a plurality of spaced apart strands according to the natural filament split.

Abstract: A glass fiber attenuator is disclosed which is used in the fiber forming process. The attenuator is comprised of two rapidly moving endless belts which travel along a predetermined path. The belts have surface portions which engage glass fiber strand and apply attenuating forces to the fibers which are being drawn. The attenuator has a smooth surface bearing means to abruptly change the direction of movement of the belt with respect to the strand traveling along the predetermined path. At least a portion of one of the belts rides over a stationary member having sufficient porosity to pass a fluid therethrough. Adequate pressure of the fluid causes the belt to ride on the fluid along the predetermined path.

Abstract: A method of forming a slubby glass fiber strand is disclosed which involves passing a plurality of glass fibers as they are drawn from a bushing in parallel over a working surface at a first velocity and directing a second plurality of glass fibers drawn from the same bushing or an adjacent bushing at a second velocity higher than the first into the first plurality of glass fibers while they are passing over the working surface. Both of the groups of glass fibers are wet at the point of contact with each other and the subsequent entanglement of the fibers causes a substantial bulking of the yarn. Further, binder may be added as the bulked yarn is gathered into a single strand. The resulting strand is passed through a gathering shoe to allow strip back at the surface of the bulked yarn so that a plurality of slubs are produced on the surface of the yarn.