Abstract: The present application relates to a method for manufacturing an improved package of compressed mineral wool insulation blowing wool fibers.

Abstract: An advancement member of a fibre material for a carbonization line for the production of carbon fibres includes a support structure extending between two end sections along a direction of advance of the fibre material, a plurality of feed rollers for the fibre material, each rotatably associated to the support structure by a pair of support elements, wherein the support elements of an inlet roller and/or an outlet roller includes a base integral with said support structure, a support ring coupled with the base and having at least a through opening for receiving one end of the respective feed roller and adjusting means operatively interposed between the base and the ring and configured to move the position of the ring relative to the base along a preferably substantially vertical adjustment direction.

Abstract: A method of forming a needled rotary fiberglass glass insulation product is provided. The formation of the needled insulation product may be conducted in a continuous in-line process in which the fibers are rotary formed, a binder is sprayed onto the hot fibers, the fibers are collected onto a conveyor and formed into a fiberglass pack, the fiberglass pack is passed through the oven, and the cured insulation blanket is passed through a needling apparatus. The reduction in thickness and increased density caused by the needling process permits the production of lower thickness and higher density insulation products. In particular, the needled insulation product may have a thickness of less than about 0.75 inches and a density from about 1 pcf to about 10 pcf. The needled insulation product may be utilized in household appliances, water heaters, and HVAC equipment.

Abstract: A method for producing a single-mode fiber for submarine cables including washing and flame polishing of a preform, fiber drawing, coating with a first coating layer and curing therein using an UV-curing device, coating with a second coating layer and curing therein using the UV-curing device, fiber selection with a 2% screening strain, and testing the properties of the fiber. The fiber has a high strength and long coiling length exceeding 100 km and the method is easy to practice with low production cost and parameters involved therein are highly controllable.

Abstract: A sensing cable includes a pair of sensing fibers that are connected to one another by a U-shaped turnaround section. The turnaround section is a section of sensing fiber coated with a jacket that includes metallic components. The turnaround section is bent and, then, annealed according to a method of the present invention. The turnaround section is robust and reduced in size (i.e., radius). The sensing cable also includes an inner sleeve that surrounds the sensing fibers and an elongated outer armor casing (i.e., including an armor tube and a sealing cap) that encases a terminating end thereof. The armor tube and the sealing cap protect the sensing fiber from mechanical and chemical harm, are reduced in size and facilitate insertion of the sensing cable into downhole environments. The sensing cable has improved operating range up to 300° C.

Abstract: A method of forming a needled rotary fiberglass glass insulation product is provided. The formation of the needled insulation product may be conducted in a continuous in-line process in which the fibers are rotary formed, a binder is sprayed onto the hot fibers, the fibers are collected onto a conveyor and formed into a fiberglass pack, the fiberglass pack is passed through the oven, and the cured insulation blanket is passed through a needling apparatus. The reduction in thickness and increased density caused by the needling process permits the production of lower thickness and higher density insulation products. In particular, the needled insulation product may have a thickness of less than about 0.75 inches and a density from about 1 pcf to about 10 pcf. The needled insulation product may be utilized in household appliances, water heaters, and HVAC equipment.

Abstract: A method and system for manufacturing an inorganic yarn require a mixture of volcanic rock and an additive including potassium permanganate. This mixture is heated to form a melt. From the melt, a plurality of filaments are formed during a spinning process. After cooling and sizing the plurality of filaments to form fibers, the fibers are twisted to create the inorganic yarn.

Abstract: A method for drawing an optical fiber having reduced polarization mode dispersion (PMD) draws an optical fiber from an optical fiber preform whose core ovality is at max about 3%, coats the optical fiber with acrylic polymer and twists the coated optical fiber with a pair of spinning wheels. The twisting of the fiber is achieved by four discrete spin rates that repeat in a periodic fashion after the drawing of certain lengths of the optical fiber. At least one of the spin rates varies in a trapezoidal manner along the respective one of drawn lengths of the optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical fiber drawing installation is equipped with an oscillating pulley that applies torsion to the fiber alternately in one rotation direction and then in the opposite direction. To control the torsion applied to the fiber, images are formed of the fiber and the pulley. The images are analyzed to determine the position of the fiber relative to the pulley. The torsion is calculated from the calculated position, on the assumption that the fiber rolls on the pulley.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses negate a measured mechanical twist of an optical fiber by introducing a counteracting twist to bring the net mechanical twist closer to zero, which reduces the fiber's polarization mode dispersion (PMD). A spool of optical fiber having undesirable mechanical twist is mounted and fiber is drawn from the end of the spool to impart a specified counteracting mechanical twist. Additionally, the spool may be controllably rotated by a control system while optical fiber is drawn there from, allowing the system to generate a precise amount of counteracting mechanical twist in the fiber.

Abstract: An optical cable for telecommunications having an optical core and a plurality of protecting and reinforcing elements or avers placed around the optical core. The optical core has a central reinforcing element, a polymer layer, a plurality of optical fibers incorporated in the polymer layer and a thin sheath which covers the polymer layer. The optical fibers have an alternating spin about their own axes with a maximum value of at least 4 twists per meter, and a core having a mean ellipticity in the range of 0.25 to 0.55, in such a way that the effects of birefringence of the fibers caused by the cabling process are significantly reduced.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for manufacturing single mode optical fiber which incorporates a spin in the molten fiber during manufacturing. The introduction of spin minimizes a form of distortion called polarization mode dispersion (PMD) and varying the spin, i.e. changing its characteristics, is known to further reduce PMD. However, introducing spin on a molten fiber may result in also introducing twist on the fiber. Twist is a non-permanent rotational force on the cooled fiber which causes stress and is to be avoided. A spin function is disclosed that not only contains a high degree of variability for reducing PMD, but also ensures that mechanical twist on the fiber is minimized, thus reducing stress on the fiber. The spin function modulates either the amplitude, frequency, or both, at the beginning of a cycle to minimize twist on the fiber.

Abstract: A mat of mineral fibers has a random or quasi-random fiber orientation. The fibers have diameters which, for the great majority of them, are 2.5 to 4.5 micrometers, and a length of 2 to 15 cm. Its density is less than 40 kg/m3. Its resistance to compression, for a crushing of 10%, is equal to at least 0.5 kN/m2. The fineness of the fibers and their random distribution imparts to the mat an exceptional lightness and an excellent flexibility, making possible the perfect application of the mat on cylindrical surfaces.

Abstract: A method of measuring the twist imparted to an optical fibre includes the steps of advancing the optical fibre in a predetermined direction and at a predetermined velocity, imparting to the optical fibre, during the step of advancing, a twist about its axis, measuring the diameter of the optical fibre during the step of advancing, to generate a time-based signal indicating the diameter, and processing this signal to find a value indicating the imparted twist. The step of processing includes the principal steps of transforming in the frequency domain the signal relating to the measurement of the diameter, calculating the power spectrum of the signal thus obtained, distinguishing in this power spectrum the signal peaks correlated with the imparted twist, determining the maximum frequency associated with these signal peaks, and dividing the value of this maximum frequency by the value of the velocity of advance of the fibre to find the value indicating the imparted twist.

Abstract: A method for producing zero-twist glass yarn employing a special sizing agent for sizing procedure during spinning process that enables a loss on ignition of the special sizing agent which makes up 0.8˜1.6 Wt % of the glass yarn and a moisture content less than 0.2% of the glass yarn after drying the forming package formed through spinning, sizing and winding procedure with which the zero-twist glass yarn is obtained without need of twist fixing process; moreover, the zero-twist glass yarn produced therefrom possesses the tensile strength better than that of the conventional twisted glass yarn, and, when used as weft yarn, may substantially increase the tensile strength of the glass fabric.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying traction to an elongate cylindrical element (5) produced by fusion of an end portion (2a) of a preform (2) of glass material, in which a traction device (3) is capable of being connected to a portion (5i) of the elongate cylindrical element (5) to provide traction of the elongate cylindrical element along an axis (6). A device (4) for the rotation of the elongate cylindrical element applies a twist to the elongate cylindrical element (5) about the axis (6) simultaneously with the traction.

Abstract: Optical fiber is provided with a periodically reversing spin while the fiber is pulled through a melt zone. A cooled region of the fiber downstream from the melt zone passes between a pair of opposed elements. The opposed elements are moved so that surface regions engaging the fiber move in opposite lateral directions relative to one another, thus spinning the fiber about its axis. The lateral movement of the engaged surface portions is periodically reversed to reverse the spin direction. The opposed elements may include belts or rollers, which can be tilted to orientations oblique to the longitudinal direction of the fiber.

Abstract: A twist imparting roller 220 with two rotational axes C1, C2 is used as a roller for guiding a coated optical fiber 200. The twist imparting roller 220 rotates about the first rotational axis C1 to guide the coated optical fiber 200 and rotates along a circular locus indicated by a dashed line L2, about the second rotational axis C2 to impart twists to the optical fiber. The coated optical fiber 200 is wound through a turn along a V-groove 221 around the twist imparting roller 220. This suppresses rolling of the coated optical fiber 200 relative to the roller surface of the twist imparting roller 220, so as to efficiently impart the twists to the optical fiber and adequately reduce polarization mode dispersion in the optical fiber.

Abstract: A method for processing a glass fiber material, wherein the glass fiber material has been heat treated at a temperature less than or equal to the annealing temperature of the glass for a length of time effective to prevent separation and fraying of the edges of the material upon cutting.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting texturized strand are disclosed. The apparatus for collecting texturized strand includes a texturizer for expanding a continuous strand of glass fibers into a wool-like product, a container for collecting the texturized strand, and a device establishing a pressure differential between an interior region of the container and a region external of the container. The texturizer includes a nozzle to which a supply of compressed air and a continuous strand are fed. The compressed air advances the strand of glass fibers through the nozzle and expands the strand so that the filaments are spread apart, thereby giving the strand a wool-type appearance. The pressure differential creating device includes a vacuum apparatus for drawing air and a screen through which the air flows. A container is placed on the screen. In the preferred embodiment, the container is a corrugated box that has upper and lower closures or flaps.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical fiber and the like comprising a structure making it possible to realize optical communications with a higher speed and a larger capacity as compared with conventional optical transmission systems. The optical fiber according to the present invention is an optical fiber in which at least one first portion having a positive chromatic dispersion at a predetermined wavelength within a wavelength band in use and at least one second portion having a negative chromatic dispersion at the predetermined wavelength are arranged adjacent each other along the longitudinal direction thereof. In particular, the optical fiber comprises a polarization coupling structure for inducing coupling between polarization modes of propagating light. This polarization coupling structure randomly causes coupling between polarization modes of the propagating light, whereby polarization mode dispersion decreases at the predetermined wavelength.

Abstract: The invention comprises devices composed of at least one microscopic hollow tube having a wall of single or multiple layers with a thickness of at st one nanometer and a diameter of at least 5 nanometers. The walls of the tubes can be formed from a wide variety of materials, some of the preferred materials include metals, polymers, carbon, ceramics, glasses. If the space between the tubes is filled, the tubes become channels in a monolithic or composite body. The channels can have a random or ordered orientation. The interior of the tube walls can be coated with a desired material such as a catalyst and also may have depressions or elevations therein that were imparted to the fibers upon which the tubes are formed. The wall layers may be porous for the purpose of removing the fiber therethrough. Microtubes and microtube devices may be interfaced with the macroscopic world in a number of ways.

Abstract: The invention provides improved methods for reducing polarization mode dispersion (PMD) in single mode fiber by spinning the fiber during the drawing process in accordance with a spin function having sufficient harmonic content to achieve low levels of PMD for commercial fibers for which the beat lengths of the fibers, including the beat lengths of different portions of the fibers, are variable and thus not readily known in advance. The spin functions of the invention take advantage of certain resonances in energy transfer between polarization modes to achieve substantial reductions in PMD for a wide range of beat lengths. Examples of suitable spin functions include frequency-modulated and amplitude-modulated sine waves.

Abstract: A loose-fill insulation product having irregularly shaped glass fibers is provided. The loose-fill insulation product shows improved recovery, lower thermal conductivity and requires lower product densities than prior art loose-fill insulation at equivalent fiber diameters.

Abstract: A spinner is adapted to be fixed at one end of a rotatable shaft in a fiberizer, the spinner including a radial wall extending radially out from the shaft and having an upper surface, a dam separating the upper surface into an inner portion and an outer portion, a lower surface, at least one first flow hole connecting the upper surface to the lower surface, and at least one second flow hole connecting the inner portion and the outer portion of said upper surface, and an outer peripheral wall connected to the radial wall and having a plurality of orifices therethrough.

Abstract: In a method of making a shaped fiber, a stream of fiberizable material is provided with an original shape and a void fraction from 20% to 80%. The void fraction can be provided by forming a hollow stream, a porous stream or a significantly shaped stream. The stream of fiberizable material has a soft portion at which the shape of the stream can be changed. Preferably the stream is provided by discharging molten fiberizable material through a first tube located in an orifice in a wall of a container, and introducing gas through a second tube into the interior of the molten material. The fiber stream is contacted to change the shape of the stream at the soft portion, preferably by applying torsion downstream from the soft portion. Torsion can be applied by contacting the fiber stream with a first surface moving in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the stream.

Abstract: A fiber insulation product comprising hollow fibers. Each hollow fiber may be composed of at least two different thermoplastic insulating materials, such as glasses, having differing coefficients of thermal expansion, with each of the hollow fibers being an irregular-shape exhibiting a substantially uniform volume filling nature, and providing improved recovery and thermal conductivity abilities even in the absence of a binder material. An apparatus for making hollow fibers for such a product is also provided.

Abstract: A method of making an insulation product of hollow fibers whereby molten insulation material is centrifuged through a plurality of orifices and gas is directed into the molten insulation material through a plurality of gas conduits, wherein each gas conduit directs gas into one of the portions of the molten insulation material being centrifuged through one of the orifices to form a hollow fiber having a hollow bore formed therethrough. The hollow fibers are combined to form the insulation product.

Abstract: A single mode optical fiber suitable for use in an amplified fiber optic system which includes an inner glass core doped with a rare earth element and an outer transparent glass cladding. The fiber exhibits a plurality of mode coupling sites formed at regular intervals along the length of the fiber which provides for a reduced DOP. The sites are formed by a twist at regular intervals along the fiber length by applying a torque to the fiber. The method of forming the fiber is also disclosed.

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 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: In a method of and an apparatus for forming composite and other fibers, individual filaments from two or more sets of continuous primary filaments of two or more heat-softenable fiberizable materials are brought together lengthwise to form pairs of continuous primary filaments. The groupings of continuous primary filaments are fed into a high energy attenuation blast where the filaments are heated, attenuated and formed into composite or other staple fibers of the heat-softenable fiberizable materials. Preferably, the individual continuous primary filaments of the groupings of continuous primary filaments are fused, adhesively bonded or otherwise joined together, prior to being introduced into the high energy attenuation blast, to prevent the individual primary filaments of the groupings of continuous primary filaments from separating in the high energy attenuation blast.

Abstract: A loose-fill insulation product is provided which is formed from a blend of first and second insulating materials having three-dimensional groups of fibers of different sizes and densities. At least one of the insulating materials is comprised of irregularly-shaped glass fibers comprised of two distinct glass compositions. When blended with the fibers of a standard insulation or with other irregularly-shaped fibers of different sizes, the resulting loose-fill insulation product shows improved coverage and thermal efficiency.

Abstract: A glass fiber insulation product comprises irregularly-shaped glass fibers of two different glasses having differing coefficients of thermal expansion, with the irregularly-shaped dual-glass fibers exhibiting a substantially uniform volume filling nature, and providing improved recovery and thermal conductivity abilities even in the absence of a binder material.

Abstract: A glass fiber insulation product comprises irregularly-shaped glass fibers of two different glasses having differing coefficients of thermal expansion, with the irregularly-shaped dual-glass fibers exhibiting a substantially uniform volume filling nature, and providing improved recovery and thermal conductivity abilities even in the absence of a binder material.

Abstract: A method for making dual-glass fibers includes supplying first and second molten glass to a rotating spinner having an orificed peripheral wall, where the first glass has a higher viscosity than that of the second glass, centrifuging the first and second glasses through the orifices as molten dual-glass streams, maintaining the dual-glass streams at a temperature sufficient to enable the second glass to flow around the first glass, and cooling the dual-glass streams to make dual-glass fibers.

Abstract: A glass fiber insulation product comprises irregularly-shaped glass fibers of two different glasses having differing coefficients of thermal expansion, with the irregularly-shaped dual-glass fibers exhibiting a substantially uniform volume filling nature, and providing improved recovery and thermal conductivity abilities even in the absence of a binder material.

Abstract: The presence of (typically unintended) birefringence in single mode optical fiber can severely limit the usefulness of the fiber for, e.g., high bit rate or analog optical fiber communication systems, due to the resulting polarization mode dispersion (PMD). It has now been discovered that PMD can be substantially reduced if, during drawing of the fiber, a torque is applied to the fiber such that a "spin" is impressed on the fiber. Desirably the torque is applied such that the spin impressed on the fiber does not have constant spatial frequency, e.g., has alternately clockwise and counterclockwise helicity. At least a portion of optical fiber according to the invention has spin alternately clockwise and counterclockwise.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a wavelength multiplexing 2.times.2 tapered fused fiber coupler by progressive stretching, the birefringence of the coupler resulting from the progressive stretching is subsequently nulled-out by elastic twisting of the coupler. The progressive stretching is performed, under temperature conditions providing a profile in the coupling region of the coupler having the property that the coupling strength for one of the principal polarization planes of the coupler remains substantially constant during said elastic twisting.