Abstract: An irregularly shaped glass fiber is provided which enjoys improved resiliency, and openness in pack structures. Wool packs and other wool portions having such irregularly shaped fibers may be processed directly through needling to form a non-woven material without intervening steps such as carding or blending of fibers which accompany conventional glass fiber processing operations. In a further aspect of the invention, a non-woven material including irregularly shaped fibers in a generally continuous wool tow is produced by "unwinding" a fiberglass wool pack collected by a direct forming method. Product applications include simplified, lower cost processing, and new uses of the irregularly shaped fibers produced by rotary fiberization in filtration elements, sorbants, gaskets, packings, shingles, composite structural elements, furnishings, textiles, yarns, and blown-in insulation systems.

Abstract: A system and method for uniformly coating one or more fibers (10) with particles of a material is described. The method uses a vibrator preferably an acoustic speaker (17b) in a housing (17c) to fluidize the particles (P.sub.1) in a chamber (17 or 30) to deposit them on spread fibers (10b). The fibers can be in the form of a tow of fibers. After the articles are coated on the fibers, the particles can be bonded to the fiber such as by using a heater (19). The resulting product has a uniform deposit of the particles and in the case of the tow of fibers can serve as a prepreg for laminate structures to be produced from the coated tow of fibers.

Abstract: Continuous filament tow is partially deregistered, preferably by passing over threaded rolls; and, after being partially deregistered, fully bloomed in an air-blooming mechanism. The air-blooming mechanism draws the partially deregistered tow into a turbulent air flow, maximizing bloom; and then carries the tow after blooming directly into a casing for formation of pillows, cushions, or the like articles. The process is simple and economical.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously steaming filament tows or fiber slivers following a stretch-break converting machine. A steam channel receives saturated steam for releasing and eliminating shrinkage from filament tows or fiber slivers in the channel. To improve the elimination of shrinkage, the counterpressure against the filament tows or fiber slivers in the steam channel is adjustable. To effect this adjustment, a pivotable flap can be disposed at the outflow end of the steam channel to vary the cross-sectional area of the latter.

Abstract: A filter tow blooming jet device for applying an additive to a continuous, multifilament filter tow is disclosed wherein the jet device is provided with orifice means transversely positioned in an elongated passageway through which the advancing filter tow passes and the additive is applied by nozzle means concentrically positioned with respect to the advancing filter tow at a point downstream of the orifice means. The additive may also be applied to the filter tow by nozzle means positioned adjacent to the wall surface of the elongated passageway or by injecting the additive into a stream of gaseous fluid introduced into the jet device for blooming the filter tow.

Abstract: Static tow inverting apparatus for inverting the overlap of overlapping layers of a continuous length filamentary tow band of textile material deposited onto the surface of a moving conveyor in relaxed condition for treatment, such as in the thermal heat setting treatment of a band of tow which has been subjected to a mechanical crimping operation. The tow inverter comprises a pair of stationary plates which are disposed above the surface of a moving conveyor to receive a continuous length of tow in a plurality of overlapping layers thereon. The opposed surfaces of the spaced plates define a downwardly curving passageway for gravitational conveyance of the overlapping layers of tow through a reversing direction of movement to deposit the same on the surface of the moving conveyor with preceding layers of tow overlying succeeding layers of tow in the direction of movement on the conveyor.

Abstract: Filamentary tow is puddled into a container from an air jet through an air dissipator apparatus, which slows the air-propelled tow by the tow impinging upon the dog-legged surfaces along the flow path within the apparatus and ricocheting therefrom while the propelling air is dissipated from the tow as the tow moves along the flow path and out of the apparatus for subsequent disposition into a container or the like that may be positioned below the air jet and the air dissipator apparatus connected to the end of the air jet.

Abstract: A process for cutting a multi-filament tow into fibers of ultra-short length and narrow size distribution is provided. Initially, a multi-filament tow is passed through a bath of liquid impregnating material at elevated temperature. The impregnated tow is then passed through a die which is sized to control the quantity of material impregnating the tow and to compact the filaments of the tow into a closely packed bundle. The resulting tow is then cooled to solidify the impregnating material and to convert the tow to a rigid form. The rigid tow is then cut, yielding wafer-thin disks. The impregnating material is then stripped from the wafer-thin disks with a solvent followed by removal of the solvent, thereby yielding fibers of ultra-short length and narrow size distribution.

Abstract: Package for the storage and shipment of acrylic tow comprising a substantially filled container wherein the acrylic tow is in the form of a self-supporting block having a density of at least 22 lbs./ft..sup.3.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a method of and appratus for making a mat of continuous strands of glass fibers or the like wherein each strand comprises a large number of individual filaments. The strands are deposited in mat form on a collection surface and are flooded with liquid to disperse individual filaments in the overall strand orientation. The flooded filaments are then conveyed to a drainage zone. As they are conveyed, the filaments pass through successive turbulent liquid regions wherein the filaments are locally deflected both counter-current to and con-current with the direction of conveyance, yet the general or overall strand orientation is retained. As a result, the transverse strength of the final mat is materially increased, and the mat has a multitude of fine, controllable interstices as required for some uses, e.g., asphalt-impregnated roofing mat.