Abstract: A method and an apparatus in a plant for fibrating molten mineral material which in the form of a stream of molten material (4) is discharged to the peripheral surface of a primary spinner wheel (1) and which is formed to mineral fibres by being thrown out from the spinner wheel or from several cooperating spinner wheels. The distribution of the stream of molten material (4) over the width or length of the primary spinner wheel is improved in that a force is applied to the incoming stream of molten material (4), especially from rear side thereof as seen in the rotation direction of the spinner wheel, which force is acting in a plane substantially perpendicular to a generatrix to the peripheral surface of the spinner wheel (1) and in a blunt angle to the stream of molten material (4).

Abstract: Apparatus for continuous preparation of rapidly cooled metal particles from a molten source metal by quenching into a quench liquid, wherein a cylindrical quench chamber rotates about its axis to hold the quench liquid against the inner wall thereof under centrifugal force, and a spinner disk within the quench chamber rotates about the same axis to spin off molten metal droplets into the quench liquid. Quench liquid is supplied at one end of the quench chamber and removed at the other end continuously, at the same time drawing off the solidified metal particles to an external recirculation loop where the particles are separated from the quench liquid. The spinner disk has an upper surface including a generally conical protruding tip. Metal from a source metal supply tube is directed downwardly onto the apex of the tip to form a laminar flow along the upper surface of the spinner disk.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly is described for use in a system that forms small gas-filled shells, which avoids the need for holding a miniature inner nozzle precisely concentric with a miniature outer nozzle. The outer nozzle has a diameter which is less than about 0.7 millimeter, which results in fluid passing through the nozzle having a progressively greater velocity at locations progressively further from the walls of the outer nozzle across most of the nozzle. This highly variable velocity profile automatically forces gas to the center of the outer nozzle. The end of the inner nozzle, which emits gas, is spaced upstream from the tip of the outer nozzle, to provide a distance along which to center the gas. This self-centering characteristic permits the inner nozzle to be positioned so its axis is not concentric with the axis of the outer nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a polyacetylene film by introducing acetylene gas into a vessel for storing Ziegler-Natta catalyst to polymerize the acetylene gas with the catalyst which comprises a film forming projecting flat section having a film forming flat surface projected from the surface of the Ziegler-Natta catalyst stored in the bottom of the vessel, thereby coating the Ziegler-Natta catalyst on the inner surface of the side wall of the vessel and the film forming flat surface. Thus, the acetylene gas introduced into the vessel is polymerized with the catalyst to produce the polyacetylene film. In this manner, the polyacetylene film having a constant thickness of high quality can be produced with the Ziegler-Natta catalyst of the suitable amount by providing the film forming flat surface even in the bottom of the vessel, thereby improving the production efficiency.

Abstract: A flowable substance is extruded from two coaxial telescoping cylindrical containers of which the outer is provided with openings on its periphery and is rotatable about the inner container. The substance is fed to the inner container and exits via a row of openings therein. As the outer container rotates, the inner and outer openings radially coincide cyclically whereby the substance falls in the form of drops onto a belt and solidifies. The row of openings of the inner container is provided in a nozzle bar which is removably attached to the periphery of a body part of the inner container.

Abstract: An apparatus for the production of granules from flowable media comprises a cylindrical vessel rotatable about a horizontal axle and being provided with circumferentially spaced orifices through which the medium emerges in the form of droplets. The drops fall onto a cooling conveyor in order to solidify thereon. A collector wall is situated within the vessel and oriented obliquely relative to the horizontal. The medium is dropped onto the collector plate and flows downwardly onto the internal surface of the vessel. The medium falls onto the internal surface ahead of a baffle which presses against the internal surface.

Abstract: A machine is provided for forming a supply of jellifiable fluid into jelled spherical droplets by pouring that fluid out of a housing through nozzles while intersecting the path of the fluid with knives rotating in a horizontal plane on a rotated axle. Valves for the nozzles and the rotational speed of the axle are subject to adjustment. A mechanical arrangement is provided for holding all of the valves open to a desired degree against a closing force provided by springs. A jellifying agent is fed through the axle and out onto the knives so that jellification begins to occur immediately as the jellifiable fluid is cut into segments by the rotating knives.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for granulation in which particulate feed material is charged into a rotary cylindrical vessel (12) having its axis disposed horizontally, and respective cover plate (16,18) at each end for retaining the feed material, and a treatment gas and a process liquid is passed into the vessel during rotation of the latter.

Abstract: A device for manufacturing powder from a melt by a mechanism for dividing it up. The device has a vertical shaft and a powder outtake that communicates with the shaft. To achieve the objectives of reducing the overall height of such a device and preventing the powder from sintering, the powder outtake consists of the lower section of the shaft and has essentially the same cross-section as the upper section. Both sections, together, essentially determine the overall height of the device. Both sections are connected with a releasable connecting element and can be separated from each other in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the shaft.

Abstract: A rotary electrode apparatus for producing metal powders including a chamber for maintaining a controlled atmosphere. A first electrode is mounted in the chamber and a second consumable disc electrode is mounted in the chamber confronting the first electrode. An electric arc is struck between the first electrode and a circumferential portion of the disc electrode in order to melt the circumferential portion. The disc electrode is rotated at sufficient speed to enable melting of the circumferential portion of the disc and spinning off of melted portions of the disk.

Abstract: The invention relates to the distribution on a receiving device of fibers carried by a gas current.To improve the distribution, the gas current carrying the fibers is subjected to the action of a gas layer which envelopes the current and of which the direction of flow in a plane tangent to the gas current differs from that of the gas current. The action of the gas layer results in an expansion of the current carrying the fibers.The invention is particularly useful where the fibers are received on a collecting device such as a foraminous conveyor belt, of large width.

Abstract: The high velocity gradients associated with the shear layer or boundary layer of a supersonic gas stream, especially the potential core thereof, are applied to form fibers of a melted material projected across such gradients. Optimization of the effects of such gradients is sought by sustaining the magnitude of the gradients as long as possible by minimizing shear layer growth rate and/or stabilizing the rate of vortex formation, and by synchronizing the rate of projection of melt with the rate of vortex production. Provisions such as vortex triggering or density loading are made for reducing the shear layer growth rate. Provisions are also made for intermittently feeding melt at a rate synchronized with the rate of vortex formation. Provisions for regulating the temperature in the shear layer are made such as appropriately controlling stagnation gas temperature, causing an exothermal reaction within the gas stream, or causing combustion of the gas stream within an oxygen containing fiberization chamber.

Abstract: To produce metal powders by rotary atomization molten metal is poured onto the surface of a spinning disk. The central portion of the disk is ceramic. Onto the upper surface of the ceramic portion is bonded a protective layer of metal compatible with the molten metal to be poured. The molten metal is poured directly onto this metal layer which prevents contact with the ceramic. The metal of the protective layer is selected such that proper atomization and no significant contamination of the atomized metal occurs during a run.

Abstract: Apparatus for the pelletization of heat liquifiable materials, such as metallurgical slags consists of a downwardly-extending feed plate onto which the molten material is fed together with water, if required to promote the expansion of the molten material and for control of the cooling. The material discharges from the feed plate onto a rotating radially vaned drum by rotor by which it is projected into the air for simultaneous cooling and pelletization after it has first passed through a flow control gap formed between the feed plate surface and the periphery of a second rotor mounted above the feed plate. The second rotor is rotated in the direction such that it promotes the flow of the molten material down the plate, forcing the material between the vanes of the projecting rotor, while at the same time spreading the material across the width of the plate against its natural tendency to form a compact stream.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus for freezing molten metals and metalloids in particulate or flake form at very rapid cooling rates. A volatile coolant liquid is fed to the center of a rapidly rotating disc-like member to create an outwardly flowing film of coolant across the surface of the member. The material to be processed is fed in molten form to the coolant film coaxially with the coolant, and is thrown outwardly by centrifugal forces while being cooled by vaporization of the liquid. The rotating member may include upwardly projecting vanes for collision with the outwardly flowing material to produce a higher surface area product and a cover over a portion of its top surface to confine the materials passing through the vanes.

Abstract: An atomizer disk for use in the process of making metal powder by pouring molten metal onto the spinning disk is made from a plurality of contiguous, concentric, radially aligned elements having thermal conductivity properties which are selected to achieve appropriate temperature zones on the surface of the disk during operation. The central disk-like element is preferably a ceramic with low thermal conductivity. The outermost element is a high strength reinforcing ring which preferably also has high thermal conductivity. The annular elements between the outer ring and central disk should also have high thermal conductivity. By properly selecting the disk materials the heat extraction from the molten metal can be better controlled and larger disks may be constructed.

Abstract: Uniform pellets of thermoplastic material are formed by centrifugally expressing strands of heated material from orifices on the rim of a hollow rotor and severing the strands with a linearly moving endless blade at a selected radial distance from the rim. The severed pellets pass in a tangential path through a cooling spray at the entrance to a pellet outlet duct. The severing blade is mounted on a bracket for movement to and from the severing position and for adjustment radially and circumferentially of the rotor axis. Two blade assemblies are employed alternately so that blade replacement may be accomplished without interrupting operation. Downstream from the outlet duct an auxiliary knife-gate is employed adjacent a scrap duct and is movable from a severing position to a scrap duct closing position.

Abstract: A rod billet is melted by using a low-temperature plasma jet generator built into a lid of a melting chamber. The plasma jet generator can be oriented at different angles .theta. from 0.degree. to 70.degree.. The plasma jet's axis can be displaced, parallel to its original position at the center of the end face of the billet being melted, towards the periphery of that end face along its radius. These features account for an increased output and a better uniformity of granules.

Abstract: Uniform pellets of thermoplastic material are formed by centrifugally expressing strands of heated material from orifices on the rim of a hollow rotor and severing the strands with a linearly moving endless blade at a selected radial distance from the rim. The severed pellets pass in a tangential path through a cooling spray at the entrance to a pellet outlet duct. The severing blade is mounted on a bracket for movement to and from the severing position and for adjustment radially and circumferentially of the rotor axis. Two blade assemblies are employed alternately so that blade replacement may be accomplished without interrupting operation. Downstream from the outlet duct an auxiliary knife-gate is employed adjacent a scrap duct and is movable from a severing position to a scrap duct closing position.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing mineral fibers comprising a container having means for heating the mineral material to form a molten pool therein, a plurality of discs having a portion thereof immersed in the molten pool, and means for rotating the discs in the same angular direction at high speed. In a preferred embodiment means are provided for moving a gas such as air or steam across the edges of the rotating discs to assist in the attenuation of the fibers.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for producing capsules of the type which are formed by immersing liquid droplets in a gelling agent. The apparatus comprises a rotor disposed about a central axis of rotation which houses a reservoir for holding the liquid to be formed into capsules, and conduits which lead to ports spaced uniformly on the circumference of a circle. When the rotor is actuated, spheroidal droplets of the capsule-forming material take shape at the ports and are propelled radially outwardly into a gelling agent contained in a reservoir which comprises an annular surface spaced radially apart from the ports.

Abstract: Apparatus for making metallic glass powder is disclosed, which involves atomizing a jet of molten glass forming metal alloy by impinging with a moving body to form a stream of discrete molten droplets of the metal alloy, followed by impinging that stream on a travelling chill surface to effect rapid solidification of the molten droplets. The powder can be fabricated into solid articles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing particulate directly from a supply of molten material by the use of a rotating member having discrete serrations in the periphery thereof. The leading surfaces of the serrations contact the molten material and propel a portion into a cavity formed by the surfaces of the serration while under the effect of a surface of a dam means, in proximity to which the serrations pass. The dam means is immersed in the supply of molten material adjacent to the periphery of the rotating member.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for manufacturing rapidly cooled powder particles is disclosed. Concepts discussed include both convection cooling and conduction cooling of molten material from which the particles are fabricated.By one effective technique of the present invention, seed particles are dropped across the path of a molten droplet stream causing impact and solidification of the molten droplets on the seed particles. Particles of increased size which are formed of conductively quenched material result.

Abstract: A process for the production of heterogeneous articles such as heterofilaments and fibres containing a plurality of solid phases, comprises supplying a thermoplastic first material in particulate solid form to a surface of rotation of a rotating body so that it travels across said surface towards a discharge zone due to forces generated by the rotation of the body, melting the thermoplastic first material as it travels across the surface, supplying a second solid material to the surface, discharging both materials together from the discharge zone by centrifugal forces, and solidifying the thermoplastic material to form the heterogeneous article. The second material is preferably also thermoplastic and further solids, especially reinforcing fibres, can also be incorporated likewise.

Abstract: An apparatus is set forth for the continuous production of highly cooled metal splats. Melted metal is poured onto a spinning atomization disc means whereby liquid metal droplets leave the disc means in a horizontal plane. An annular cooling gas jet flowing normal to the particle plane around the disc deflects the heavier liquid droplets to a conical splat plate which is fixed to rotate with said disc, where the droplets splat and cool, and are ejected by centrifugal force. An annular space is located between said conical splat plate and said rotary atomization means for permitting the gas and other solidified particles to pass downwardly to a shield which directs the particles to a collection area.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing granules from slags produced in metallurgical furnaces such as blast furnaces, converter furnaces, electric furnaces, reverberatory furnaces comprising means for accelerating a stream of molten slag from a container to a velocity of at least two meters per second, and directing the stream onto a target surface from which it rebounds in the form of an inverted cone of droplets which are projected through the air to cool and to solidify them into granules.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming filaments are provided by centrifugally forming a veil of primary fibers or streams of material and moving a fluid along a path within the veil at a velocity sufficient to attenuate said primary fibers into filaments.

Abstract: A reactant medium is transported across the surface of a body rotating at high speed and discharged therefrom by centrifugal force. A chemical reaction is caused to occur in the medium after the said discharge while the reactant medium is still connected to the surface of the body.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for manufacturng rapidly cooled powder particles is disclosed. Concepts discussed include both convection cooling and conduction cooling of molten material from which the particles are fabricated.By one effective technique of the present invention, seed particles are dropped across the path of a molten droplet stream causing impact and solidification of the molten droplets on the seed particles. Particles of increased size which are formed of conductively quenched material result.

Abstract: Described are a method and apparatus for freezing molten metals and metalloids in particulate or flake form at very rapid cooling rates. A volatile coolant liquid is fed to the center of a rapidly rotating disc-like member to create an outwardly flowing film of coolant across the surface of the member. The material to be processed is fed to the coolant film at a location spaced from the center and is thrown outwardly by centrifugal forces while being cooled by vaporization of the liquid. The rotating member may include upwardly projecting vanes for collision with the outwardly flowing material to produce a higher surface area product.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing mineral fibers by low pressure air fiberization having a housing defining a substantially toroidal air chamber and having a substantially circular central opening, an annular slot provided around the central opening having an annular shroud affixed to the housing at the outer edge of the annular slot for confining and directing the primary jet leaving the annular slot and enabling it to be more efficiently utilized in fiberizing the mineral fibers. A cup-form spinner is mounted on a substantially horizontally oriented shaft arranged to be rotated. The spinner is mounted in front of the forward wall of the plenum and with the open end facing the forward wall. A duct is provided to direct molten slag into the spinning cup which ejects the molten slag into an air stream directed from the annular slot of the chamber and the shroud, thereby producing mineral fiber of excellent quality and in greater yield than results when the shroud is not utilized.

Abstract: An apparatus for making metallic glass powder is disclosed. A jet of a molten glass forming metal alloy is impinged under an acute angle against the inner surface of a rotating cylindrical chill body, whereon it is atomized into a stream of droplets of molten alloy, which again impinge on the chill surface to be rapidly quenched into metallic glass powder.

Abstract: A blower for discharging a gaseous flow to attenuate molten mineral material into mineral fibers comprises a body member and a lid member defining a gas supply manifold and a gas discharge slot, and a screw having lower and upper threaded portions to engage the body member and lid member, respectively, the screw being adapted to raise and lower the lid member to control the size of the gas discharge slot.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for producing spherical particles or fibers with a specially fixed size from a melt of metal, slag, or flux, by introducing the melt onto the center of a rotating disk through a conduit so as to form a thin film stream of boundary layer on the disk; projecting the thin film stream at a high speed from the disk periphery into surrounding space to split up the film stream into linear streams; and cooling the linear streams for producing fibers or cooling droplets after further splitting of the each linear stream into droplets for producing spherical particles, with or without parallel or countercurrent gas flow to the linear streams.

Abstract: A rotary atomization apparatus for making metal powders from liquid metals comprises an atomizer disk having a concave top surface for receiving a flow of molten metal thereon. The disk is preferably made from a high strength zirconium-containing copper base alloy. The disk is driven by a surrounding drive portion thru a radial spline-type connection. Higher rotational speeds than the prior art are the major advantage of this invention.

Abstract: The hollow glass vacuum microspheres are made by forming a liquid film of molten glass across the coaxial blowing nozzles, applying the metal vapor blowing gas at a positive pressure on the inner surface of the glass film to blow the film which combines with the centrifugal force to form an elongated cylinder shaped liquid film of molten glass. A transverse jet is used to direct the inert entraining fluid over and around the blowing nozzle at an angle to the axis of the blowing nozzle. The entraining fluid as it passes over and around the blowing nozzle fluid dynmically induces a pulsating or fluctuating pressure field at the opposite or lee side of the blowing nozzle in the wake or shadow of the coaxial blowing nozzle.

Abstract: High-purity metal powder is made by the electron beam melting of a starting material in rod form in a vacuum wherein the molten metal is momentarily caught on a spinning plate rotating at high speed and flung therefrom and thereafter solidified by cooling. The metal on the spinning plate is bombarded with an electron beam that is so focused and periodically deflected that its focal spot is many times smaller than the diameter of the spinning plate. The beam deflection between the rotational center of the spinning plate and its marginal area is performed such that the spinning plate is scanned in a zone that extends radially of the axis of rotation of the spinning plate and is small in relation to its diameter. Cooling of the metal particles to the point of solidification is accomplished by radiation loss.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for centrifugally spinning a fibre-forming material, e.g. a urea-formaldehyde resin, in which the fibre-forming material is supplied in liquid form to the interior of a spinning cup wherein it is divided into separate streams which are led to the outlets of passages through the wall of the spinning cup.

Abstract: A method for producing "dogbone" filament fibers having nodules at each end comprising rotating a heat extracting disk having an edge tapering to a narrow peripheral surface and having the peripheral surface notched at intervals with each notch comprising a leading edge, connected to a trailing flat surface, the trailing flat surface supporting an expanded land on the peripheral edge; introducing the rotating disk into the surface of a pool of molten material to form a film of the material on the edge; and removing heat from the film and at least partially solidifying the film on the edge. By the method, the segmented filament fiber products which are produced have a nodule formed on the leading end, a nodule formed on the trailing end, and continuous fiber inbetween, with the general appearance of a dogbone.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a vitreous blast furnace slag, comprises a rotary drum having a circular barrel formed by endlessly connecting a plurality of rectangular cooling metal members, each of said cooling metal members having a plurality of narrow and deep cooling grooves on the outer surface thereof for rapidly cooling and solidifying a molten blast furnace slag into a vitreous blast furnace slag; a driving mechanism for rotating said rotary drum; a molten blast furnace slag feeder arranged above said rotary drum for pouring a molten blast furnace slag into said cooling grooves; a stripper stationarily arranged at a prescribed position adjacent to the inner surface of the barrel of said rotary drum, for taking out a cooled and solidified vitreous blast furnace slag in said cooling grooves; and, a cooling tank containing cooling water, arranged below said rotary drum so that the lower portion of the barrel of said rotary drum is immersed in the cooling water for cooling said cooling metal members heat

Abstract: Process and apparatus for centrifugally spinning a fibre-forming material, e.g. a urea-formaldehyde resin, in which the fibre-forming material is supplied in liquid form to the interior of a spinning cup wherein it is divided into separate streams which are led to the outlets of passages through the wall of the spinning cup.

Abstract: In apparatus for producing metal powder by rapid solidification of molten metal particles flung into a quenching chamber from a rotating disk through vertical zones of cooling fluid, improved cooling fluid flow, improved operating efficiency and low pressure losses are provided by having the cooling fluid introduced into the quenching chamber via a plurality of cylindrical tubes each having an inlet within a coolant fluid manifold and an outlet opening into the quenching chamber. Each tube including means for creating a cooling fluid vortex flow therein which exits from the tube outlet into the quenching chamber as an expanding cone of swirling fluid. A plurality of these tubes are appropriately located around the rotating disk to create a desired pattern of cooling fluid flow around the disk and through which the molten metal particles will pass as they solidify into the powder.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming filaments are provided by centrifugally forming a veil of primary fibers or streams of material and moving a fluid along a path within the veil at a velocity sufficient to attenuate said primary fibers into filaments.

Abstract: A spinner for the production of molten glass fibers is disclosed. The spinner is adapted with a plurality of projections affixed to the spinner bottom and extending inwardly of the spinner. The projections are intended to inhibit inward flow towards the spinner support and aid wetting of the inner bottom surface of the spinner.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus for obtaining granules from melts comprises a housing with perforated walls, mounted on a vertical shaft and accommodating therein annular baffles, a feeding device including a pipe for supplying the melt, and gates.The feeding device of the apparatus is in the form of a chamber of which the section varies in the axial direction, the chamber accommodating therein a distributing tube extending coaxially with the chamber and having ports in the upper portion thereof. The gate of the apparatus is arranged intermediate the chamber and the feeding device for vertical adjustment. The feeding device includes one or more inclined deflectors extending at an angle relative to the axis of the distributing tube, the deflectors flaring in the direction toward the perforated walls of the housing, the latter defining jointly with the annular baffles surfaces which are concave relative to the axis of the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for manufacturing splat foils by disintegration and rapid solidification of metallic melts. The apparatus has a self-consuming electrode disposed above a rotatable counter electrode. Attached to the counter-electrode is a conical plate which is cooled by a fluid circulating through its interior. The application of electrical energy to the electrodes causes the self-consuming electrode to melt and drop melt droplets onto the rotating counter-electrode. Centrifugal force causes the melt droplets to fly off the counter-electrode and contact the conical plate at which point they are rapidly cooled to form thin foils. A housing surrounds the electrodes and conical plate to collect the cooled foils and to permit the apparatus to operate in an inert atmosphere, if desired.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for making small spherical particles comprising rotating a toothed disc at a constant speed. Heating means are provided to heat the spinning toothed disc so that when material from which the particles are to be made touches the toothed disc the material will melt and migrate to the teeth and form beads on the teeth. As the tooth disc rotates, centrifugal force causes the beads to be thrown off and form spheres as the falling beads cool off and re-solidify.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming fibers from molten mineral material comprising a rotatably mounted spinner having an orificed peripheral wall through which the material flows to form primary fibers, and a blower adapted to discharge a flow of gases to further attenuate the primary fibers into a veil of secondary fibers, a curved surface being positioned so that the flow of gases follows the contour of the curved surface according to the Coanda effect.

Abstract: A method for producing metal flake of small length-to-width ratio or small length-to-thickness ratio directly from a pool or like source of molten metal or molten inorganic compound, or from an unconfined drop of molten metal or an unconfined drop of molten inorganic compound having a surface tension and viscosity similar to that of molten metal, consisting of forming such products by the application of a rotating, generally circular serrated edge, heat-extracting disk-like member to the surface of the pool of molten material so as to form the material into discrete flake particles by extracting the flake particles from the supply of molten material; and controlling the final shape of the product by the physical shape of the member, the temperature and material composition of the melt, as well as the velocity of the member in contact with the melt.