Abstract: A method of forming a glass sheet comprises: (a) forming a ribbon of glass from molten glass with a pair of forming rollers; (b) reducing horizontal temperature variability of the ribbon of glass to be 10° C. or less across 80 percent of an entire width of the ribbon of glass before the ribbon of glass cools to a glass transition temperature; (c) controlling a cooling rate of the ribbon of glass while the ribbon of glass moves vertically downward within a setting zone such that the ribbon of glass has a first average cooling rate before the ribbon of glass cools to the glass transition temperature and a second average cooling rate after the ribbon of glass cools to the glass transition temperature, the first average cooling rate being less than the second average cooling rate; and (d) separating a glass sheet from the ribbon of glass.

Abstract: A pull roll apparatus and method are described herein that can control a cross-draw tension and a down-draw tension of a glass sheet while manufacturing the glass sheet. In one embodiment, the pull roll apparatus includes a first driven stub roll pair, a second driven stub roll pair and a control device (e.g., PLC) that controls the first and second driven stub roll pairs while a first edge portion of the glass sheet is drawn between two vertically downtilted rolls associated with the first driven stub roll pair and while an opposing second edge portion of the glass sheet is drawn between two vertically downtilted rolls associated with the second driven stub roll pair. If desired, the pull roll apparatus may include a pulling roll assembly (located below the first and second driven stub rolls) or another set of driven stub roll pairs (located below the first and second driven stub roll pairs).

Abstract: Vacuum-insulated glass (VIG) windows (10) that employ glass-bump spacers (50) and two or more glass panes (20) are disclosed. The glass-bump spacers are formed in the surface (24) of one of the glass panes (20) and consist of the glass material from the body portion (23) of the glass pane. Thus, the glass-bump spacers are integrally formed in the glass pane, as opposed to being discrete spacer elements that need to be added and fixed to the glass pane. Methods of forming VIG windows are also disclosed. The methods include forming the glass-bump spacers by irradiating a glass pane with a focused beam (112F) from a laser (110). Heating effects in the glass cause the glass to locally expand, thereby forming a glass-bump spacer. The process is repeated at different locations in the glass pane to form an array of glass-bump spacers. A second glass pane is brought into contact with the glass-bump spacers, and the edges (28F, 28B) sealed.

Abstract: Glass substrates and methods for forming glass substrates are disclosed. The glass substrates include a planar A-side surface having a surface roughness Ra1 of less than 0.5 nm and a planar B-side having a surface roughness Ra2 wherein the ratio Ra2:Ra1 is greater than or equal to about 1.5. A plurality of texturing features are formed in the B-side surface. The plurality of texturing features have a peak-to-valley height H such that 0.05 ?m?H?3.75 ?m. The texturing features are distributed in the B-side surface such that a center-to-center pitch P between adjacent texturing features is at least 1.5 mm in at least one direction. The plurality of texturing features are formed in the B-side surface while the glass substrate is at a temperature T1, wherein 600° C.?T1?1200 ° C. and a viscosity of the glass substrate is from greater than 150,000 Poise and less than 1013 Poise.

Abstract: The installation for manufacturing a glass bottle (1) comprises a blank mould (10) formed of two semi-shells (10a and 10b) each comprising a cavity (11) of shape substantially corresponding to the outer shape of a semi-body of the body of the bottle, means for depositing a gob of glass (8) in the cavity (11) of each semi-shell (10a, 10b), two punches each able to be moved between a passive position and an active applied position in the cavity (11) of the corresponding semi-shell (10a, 10b) to distribute the glass within the cavity (11) and define the walls of each semi-body, and means for applying the edges of the two semi-bodies against one another by applying a determined pressure to hot-weld together these edges of the two semi-bodies and to obtain the bottle.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical hybrid lens. According to the invention, the lens consists of a substrate (1) that consists of a ceramic having a predetermined shape and at least another material (2), which covers a surface of the substrate (1) at least in certain sections in order to form a lens surface. Use of an optical ceramic as a material enables an additional degree of freedom for adjusting the imaging properties of the hybrid lens. The optical ceramic may have a high refractive index and a low dispersion. The other material can be a material that can be deformed or recast at temperatures that are low in comparison to those of the optical ceramic. In particular the other material can be a low-TG glass or a polymer. The other material is directly applied onto the substrate without a further surface finishing being necessarily required. Other aspects of the invention relate to an optical lens group, an optical image acquisition device, and a process for manufacturing a hybrid lens.

Abstract: A crystalline glass with a characteristic of precipitating crystals from the surface of the crystalline glass to the interior thereof when it is being heated at a temperature higher than the softening point is used in the invention. A plurality of small crystalline glass masses 12 are accumulated and leveled in a fireproof mold coated with a mold release agent, and two crystalline glass plates 14A and 14B cut in an S shape are placed on the accumulated surface of the small crystalline glass masses 12 with the cut faces tightly bonded. A heat treatment is then performed to obtain a crystallized glass article having patterns. The crystalline glass plate can be cut into any shape to tightly bond the cut faces, and therefore the obtained crystallized glass articles have different patterns like natural-marble-like patterns, human figure patterns, animal patterns, etc. The invention also discloses a method of producing crystallized articles having patterns.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell manufacturing method includes preparing a pair of glass substrates each including an area configured to form a plurality of finished liquid crystal display apparatuses thereon, while a plurality of seal members and a plurality of pillars each including ends that respectively abut against the pair of glass substrates are interposed between the pair of glass substrates, adhering the pair of glass substrates to form a liquid crystal display apparatus forming assembly, and while the liquid crystal display apparatus forming assembly is formed, forming a plurality of scribe lines that intersect each other on surfaces of the pair of glass substrates that are opposite to surfaces of the pair of glass substrates that oppose each other. At least a part of each of the pillars is arranged to overlap at least one of regions, between the pair of glass substrates, corresponding to the plurality of scribe lines.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a faceplate for a flat-panel display such as a field emission cathode type display is disclosed, the faceplate having integral spacer support structures. Also disclosed is a product made by the aforesaid process.

Abstract: An optical substrate is provided with a surface of a desired shape by coating the surface with a thin layer of an optical glass and subsequently modifying the shape of the external surface of the layer. In preferred embodiments, the temperature of the substrate is maintained at substantially less than 400° C., the substrate is an optical component other than a simple window, and the refractive index o the optical glass is within 20% of the refractive index of the material providing the surface to be coated. One particular use is when both the substrate (e.g. a non-linear optical layer) and the optical glass are optically transmissive in the near infra-red and/or mid infra-red ranges. The glass layer can compensate for physical imperfections in the surface. It can be polished to optical quality, or provide with detail across the coated surface, e.g. as a “moth-eye” anti-reflection layer, or a diffractive or interference structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing sheets of glass having two faces (F1, F2), at least one of the faces (F1) presents high surface quality. Preferably both of the faces (F1, F2) present high surface quality. The invention also describes an apparatus suitable for implementing the method for producing the sheets of glass.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a face plate for a flat-panel display such as a field emission cathode type display is disclosed, the face plate having integral spacer support structures. Also disclosed is a product made by the aforesaid process.

Abstract: Apparatus to amalgamate a paste of vitreous material in the molten state with an additive material in the form of granules, scales, slivers or filaments, made of metal, of other types of glass or other material in order to obtain a vitreous compound. The apparatus comprises containing means (11) to contain the paste of vitreous material, mixing means (15) to convey the vitreous compound downwards, in its molten state, towards rolling means (12) to produce manufactured articles. The mixing means (15) comprise at least a first pair of mixing cylinders (19a, 19b) having the respective axes of rotation (20a, 20b) arranged substantially horizontal, parallel to each other and substantially parallel, or slightly inclined, with respect to the direction in which a rolling force is applied by said rolling means (12).

Abstract: A process for fabricating a face plate for a flat panel display such as a field emission cathode type display is disclosed, the face plate having integral spacer support structures. Also disclosed is a product made by the aforesaid process.

Abstract: Disclosed are a shaping mold for producing an optical fiber guide block which permits highly accurate positioning and fixing of optical fibers, an optical fiber guide block having such excellent properties, processes for the production of these, and an optical fiber array.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing on a plasma panel faceplate, a dielectric coating comprising embossed patterns. The invention is characterized in that a vitreous coat is produced on the plasma panel faceplate; a mould bearing embossed patterns is applied on the vitreous coat, then the faceplate and the mould are heated until a creep effect of the vitreous coat is obtained which causes the latter to match the form of the mould, thereby enabling to produce simultaneously and with improved quality with respect to prior art, a dielectric coating bearing embossed patterns such as for instance barriers. The invention is particularly applicable to alternating plasma panel.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a face plate for a flat panel display such as a field emission cathode type display, the face plate having integral spacer support structures is disclosed. Also disclosed is a product made by the aforesaid process. The support structures are designed to be load bearing so as to prevent implosion of a planar, transparent face plate toward a parallel spaced-apart base plate when the space between the face plate and the base plate is sealed at the edges of the display to form a chamber, and the chamber is evacuated in the presence of atmospheric pressure outside the chamber. Unlike most spacer support structures proposed for such flat panel displays, the support structures are made from the same material as the substrate from which the face plate is fabricated. For a preferred embodiment of the process, a perforated laminar template is sealably sandwiched between a laminar silicate glass substrate and a manifold block to form a temporary sandwich assembly.

Abstract: An assembly of rib structures sandwiched between a dielectric glass layer and a glass substrate for use in a flat panel display, such as plasma addressed liquid crystal (PALC) displays, is formed by a number of methods. One method includes molding thermoplastic glass frit containing paste into rib structures, transferring the rib structures to a thin transparent layer of a thermoplastic dielectric glass frit containing composition on a drum, and transferring the rib structures with the thin transparent dielectric glass layer to a glass substrate having metallic electrodes already formed thereon.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for forming glass articles containing enclosed channels. The method comprises the following steps: a) delivering and depositing a first length of a molten glass ribbon (18) to a surface of a mold (20) having a mold cavity (22) possessing at least one channel-forming groove (22) and a peripheral surface, wherein the first length (18) overlies the mold cavity (22) and the peripheral surface; b) allowing the first length of the molten glass ribbon (18) to substantially conform to the contour of the mold cavity (22) resulting in the formation of at least one channel in the first length of the molten glass ribbon (18); c) delivering and depositing a second length of the molten glass ribbon (26) to the exposed surface of the first length of the molten glass ribbon (18).

Abstract: A process for fabricating a face plate for a flat panel display such as a field emission cathode type display, the face plate having integral spacer support structures is disclosed. Also disclosed is a product made by the aforesaid process. The support structures are designed to be load bearing so as to prevent implosion of a planar, transparent face plate toward a parallel spaced-apart base plate when the space between the face plate and the base plate is sealed at the edges of the display to form a chamber, and the chamber is evacuated in the presence of atmospheric pressure outside the chamber. Unlike most spacer support structures proposed for such flat panel displays, the support structures are made from the same material as the substrate from which the face plate is fabricated. For a preferred embodiment of the process, a perforated laminar template is sealably sandwiched between a laminar silicate glass substrate and a manifold block to form a temporary sandwich assembly.

Abstract: A method of making a glass multiwell plate for use in biological or chemical laboratory applications whereby the plate is formed by a single ribbon of molten glass passing twice over a mold such that the first section of glass takes the form of the mold and thereby forms the wells of the plate while the second section of glass covers the wells and forms a top surface of the plate. Holes are cut through the top surface, above each well to enable access.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a face plate for a flat panel display such as a field emission cathode type display, the face plate having integral spacer support structures is disclosed. Also disclosed is a product made by the aforesaid process. The support structures are designed to be load bearing so as to prevent implosion of a planar, transparent face plate toward a parallel spaced-apart base plate when the space between the face plate and the base plate is sealed at the edges of the display to form a chamber, and the chamber is evacuated in the presence of atmospheric pressure outside the chamber. Unlike most spacer support structures proposed for such flat panel displays, the support structures are made from the same material as the substrate from which the face plate is fabricated. For a preferred embodiment of the process, a perforated laminar template is sealably sandwiched between a laminar silicate glass substrate and a manifold block to form a temporary sandwich assembly.

Abstract: A process for effectively bonding arbitrary size or shape substrates. The process incorporates vacuum pull down techniques to ensure uniform surface contact during the bonding process. The essence of the process for bonding substrates, such as glass, plastic, or alloys, etc., which have a moderate melting point with a gradual softening point curve, involves the application of an active vacuum source to evacuate interstices between the substrates while at the same time providing a positive force to hold the parts to be bonded in contact. This enables increasing the temperature of the bonding process to ensure that the softening point has been reached and small void areas are filled and come in contact with the opposing substrate. The process is most effective where at least one of the two plates or substrates contain channels or grooves that can be used to apply vacuum between the plates or substrates during the thermal bonding cycle.

Abstract: Flat glass provided with precision structures is required for precision applications, especially for glasses with optical properties, for example for modern flat display screen glass. A method for forming precision structures in or on flat glass includes filling a structuring surface of a forming tool with a paste-like material and pressing the forming tool on one side of the flat glass. The forming tool is heated locally shortly prior and/or during or after contact with the glass surface with the structuring surface from the outside until the structuring surface down to a depth predetermined by the height of the structures being formed reaches a temperature at which a melting and hardening of the paste-like material forming the structures occurs during contact with the flat glass. The local heating of the structuring surface is performed by laser radiation which is passed through the flat glass to the structuring surface. Alternatively an inductive or resistance heating can be performed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical waveguide comprises a first step of laminating, on one major surface of a first glass material, a second glass material to a desired thickness, the second glass material having optical characteristics different from those of the first glass material, a second step of forming the second glass material to have a desired circuit pattern, and a third step of laminating a third glass material having optical characteristics similar to those of the first glass material on an entire surface of the first glass material on which the circuit pattern is formed by the second glass material. In at least one of the first and third steps, the glass material to be laminated is laminated by coupling.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for forming glass articles containing internal enclosed channels.

Abstract: A decorative glass sheet simulating a multi-pane, camed window or door, and a method for forming the same. The decorative glass sheet includes a glass panel having an outer surface. At least one groove is formed through the outer surface and into the glass panel. Each groove includes a first wall extending from a first peripheral edge to a groove bottom apex and a second wall extending from the apex to a second peripheral edge. The second wall has a width greater than a width of the first wall. At least one decorative caming strip is adhered to the outer surface of the glass panel and is disposed adjacent and along the first peripheral edge of the at least one groove.

Abstract: A process for producing a preform (44) includes pretreating roving by submerging it in a tank (18) and cooling the binder (20) on the glass fibers before the glass fibers are chopped. The fibers and solidified binder are then chopped and deposited onto a preform screen (32). Heat is applied to soften the binder that is on the chopped glass fibers and cooled to set the binder and form the preform on the screen.

Abstract: Method for regulating a weight related parameter in a mineral fibre felt, in mineral fibre production. The speed of the fibre felt is regulated by a feed-forward connected regulator (R.sub.1) based on the power consumption of the fiberizing unit (2). The regulator (R.sub.1) is corrected with a feed-back connected regulator (R.sub.2) wherein the measured signal is a weight related parameter measured at a location in the beginning of the felt forming line. The regulator (R.sub.2) in turn is corrected by a third feed-back connected regulator (R.sub.3) wherein the measured signal is a weight related parameter measured at a point at the end of the felt forming line.

Abstract: A fiberglass product usable as an end product or an intermediate product is formed as a pack in a forming station but only 1/7th of the conventional quantity of binder is applied. After curing to a self-sustaining form, additional binder is added at a location remote from the forming station in an amount in excess of the amount required in the final product and then the excess binder and moisture is removed by one or more vacuum stripping steps.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the continuous production of mineral wool nonwovens in which the objective is to provide a process and an apparatus for the continuous production of mineral wool nonwovens, by means of which a stable flow pattern is created in the chute, thus facilitating a clearly defined, homogeneous layer of deposited mineral wool in which at least one backflow region (24, 25) is generated in the chute (9) outside the fibre flow (23), which backflow region (24, 25) is sufficient for such a large-volume backflow with such a low mean velocity that appreciable upward fibre transport is avoided. In this connection, a portion (32) of the process air entrained with the fibre flow is deflected upward in the backflow, and another portion (34) of the process air is extracted.

Abstract: For joining corrugated glass plates of borosilicate glass in heavy-duty packings for columns, the corrugated glass plates are placed one on top of another in the desired way and heated for 6-15 minutes at a temperature of 200-230K above their transition temperature Tg. The corrugated glass plates are fused together at their contact points and form an extraordinarily firm bond without the corrugated glass plates being deformed thereby. The composite is so stable that it can be utilized as a column supporting grate.

Abstract: The invention relates to the reception of fibers under fibering machines to obtain a mat of mineral wool. It proposes assigning to each fibering machine its own collecting zone, the surfaces of the collecting zones increasing in the direction of the increase of base weight. The invention also proposes a device characterized by the presence of two reception drums for three fibering machines.

Abstract: An apparatus and a process for the continuous production of mineral wool nonwovens in the nonwoven formation process on the drums of the accumulating conveyors arranged at the lower end of a chute. Several fiberization units (1, 2, 3, 4) communicate with a chute (9) for the formation of a nonwoven (14). The fibres are deposited under the influence of suction pressure onto the curved surface of the accumulating conveyor (10, 11). At least one of the drum-shaped accumulating conveyors (10) is designed to swivel around a pivot (23) essentially arranged perpendicular to the flow direction (22) of the mineral wool such and to the extent that a discharge gap (21) can be adjusted to a width corresponding to the thickness of the nonwoven (14) to be formed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fiber glass blanket encapsulated within an air-permeable sheet on one major face and a non-porous film extending over the other major face and the two side edges. The film is applied by being wrapped around the edges of the backed blanket and preferably being heat sealed to the backing sheet. The air-permeable sheet is preferably applied to the blanket before curing of the binder in the blanket, and in a preferred method the glass fibers are deposited directly on the sheet while the sheet is supported on a collection chain.

Abstract: A method of sizing insulating glass fibers, comprising: preparing glass fibers by a high temperature aerodynamic procedure in which glass fibers are drawn out by a gas current and collected in a hood; spraying a size diluted in water onto said glass fibers in said collection hood, said size consisting essentially of an epoxy resin, an amino hardening agent and, as additives, 0.1 to 2.0% of a silane and 0 to 15% of a mineral oil, each calculated on 100 parts of dry resin, wherein said epoxy resin is a condensation product of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol A having a polymerization index n of less than 1 and the equivalent molar mass of the hardening agent is less than 100 g and said size is free of formaldehyde and components which release formaldehyde when baked; and recovering a sized insulating glass fiber product.

Abstract: For producing mineral fiber mats, the flock emanating from the waste to be recycled is stored and classified according to density. Furthermore, the reintroduced quantities are precisely measured and the flock is caused to burst open. Thus it is possible to reintroduce substantially larger quantities without altering either the appearance or the characteristics of the product obtained.

Abstract: A fiber placement control apparatus for selectively directing a stream of fiber onto a stationary preform screen, including a rigid, straight fiber delivery tube communicating from a conventional chopper/blower assembly. A first set of four circumferentially equally spaced nozzles adjacent the exit end of the tube directs a binder into the stream of fibers, and a second set of four circumferentially equally spaced nozzles positioned downstream of the first set directs air onto the stream. By selectively operating any three of the air nozzles, the direction of the stream toward the preform screen is controlled. A conventional multidirectional gantry head may serve to move the rigid delivery tube vertically, left and right, and relative to the screen.

Abstract: We have developed a new pattern for continuous strand fiberglass mat which gives improved torsional rigidity to the molded structure. The pattern is basically an elongated elliptical loop where the strands lay on the conveyor and look like lazy whirl formations or concentric circles with diameters dependent upon properties such as bending rigidity and torsional rigidity. The lay-down pattern looks cycloidal in nature. Elongated elliptical strand loops become further elongated until at some point they also contain "pigtails" or somewhat straight strands with small elliptical loops oriented in the cross-machine direction.

Abstract: In a method of and an apparatus for manufacturing a glass fiber mat, bundles of glass fibers shake down onto a conveyor unit arranged horizontally, to form a non-oriented fiber layer. The non-oriented fiber layer is dried by a drier. Bundles of uni-directional fibers are supplied onto the dried non-oriented fiber layer, by a bundle supply device, to laminate the uni-directional fiber layer onto the dried non-oriented fiber layer. At the laminating, the bundles of uni-directional fibers are guided in parallel relation to each other at regular intervals in a widthwise direction of the conveyor unit. The uni-directional and non-oriented fiber layers, which are laminated one upon the other, are supplied to a needler and are needled thereby, to form the glass fiber mat. The glass fiber mat is carried out by a delivery roller unit.

Abstract: A process for introducing additive particles to extruded fibers during production of the fibers. Particles are directed into a moving stream of fibers during or after the fiber attenuation process. The movement of the fibers intermingles the particles with the fibers prior to the intermingled material being collected on a moving support. If liquid binder is sprayed onto the fibers it is subsequently set in an oven to bind the fibers and the particles to each other. The fibers preferably are mineral fibers and the particles may be fibers or particles introduced for a variety of reasons, such as to increase the strength of the product or to serve as extenders or fillers.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a composite article is disclosed. A surface of a preconsolidated fiber reinforced glass matrix composite structure is pretreated to promote adhesion to the surface, a mass of fiber-containing uncured resin is molded in contact with the pretreated surface and the resin is cured to consolidate a fiber reinforced resin matrix composite structure and simultaneously bond the resin matrix composite structure to the glass matrix composite structure. A composite article fabricated by the above process is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for producing a mineral wool web from a thin primary web formed on a movable collecting surface (6). According to prior known methods, the primary web is folded on a receiving conveyor (18) in an overlapping configuration so that the desired thickness of web is achieved. It is also known to combine two or several primary webs and to form the final mineral wool web by folding. The problem when producing mineral wool webs is the high rate of production of the primary webs and consequently, the high requirements on the devices in the further process and a great loss of material because of uneven edges which have to be cut down.According to the invention, the primary web is split into separate sheets before the deposit on the receiving conveyor (18), and the sheets are deposited by an oscillating distributing conveyor (16) in an overlapping configuration on the receiving conveyor, or, in case sheets are being produced, stacked on top of each other.

Abstract: In the continuous production of mineral wool nonwoven fabrics, fiber/gas/air mixtures (3, 4) produced by several shredding units (14 to 17) are directed onto collecting conveyor units (19, 21) with suction surfaces (c, d) running in a curve and being under suction pressure for the formation of a wool nonwoven fabric (25). In this case the arrangement is such that an imaginary suction surface, increasing in its size in the conveying direction, is assigned to each fiber/gas/air mixture formed by the individual shredding units (14 to 17), actually d is larger than c. As a result it is possible, in a space-saving method of construction and per collecting conveyor unit to produce mineral wool nonwoven fabrics from rock wool with constant suction pressure with bulk densities even under 25 kg/m.sup.3 in good product quality. By series connection of several units or an oscillating deposit of an individual nonwoven fabric multilayer felt webs can further be formed.

Abstract: An insulation panel comprises a mineral fiber board having a density between 8 and 28 pounds per square foot, the fibers having no organic binder thereon, and between 5 and 40 percent by weight of particulate material packed in the interstices of the board, and a gas-tight envelope encapsulating the board, the envelope being evacuated to a vacuum between 10.sup.-4 Torr and 10 Torr.

Abstract: The subject matter of this invention relates to a method and apparpatus for making mats of continuous glass fiber strands in which a heated calendering roll and continuous belt are used to compact the mat, expel excess noisture, melt, and/or cure resin previously distributed throughout the glass strand. The resin may be deposited in the mat in the form of a powdered resin or as continuous thread of material that is combined with the remaining strands that form the mat as the glass strands are projected onto the surface of a moving conveyor to form the mat.

Abstract: An arrangement for cleaning a wool chamber in the manufacture of mineral wool. In the manufacture of mineral wood, a binder is added to the stream of fibres. The stream is deflected towards the wool chamber and the binder deposits itself in fine droplets on the fibres. The binder-loaded fibres which touch against the walls and roof of the wool chamber adhere to them, because the binder hardens upon contact with the hot surfaces. Gradually a hard deposit of binder and fibres is formed upon the walls. Cleaning of the walls is substantially simplified by making the walls and/or the roof of hollow, double-walled construction, perforating the inner walls, applying a reduced pressure in the cavity between the walls, and holding a detachable lining against the inner walls by suction.

Abstract: A fiber glass board useful as a form board for lightweight cement and the like is strengthened by providing for the fibers to be predominantly oriented generally parallel to the major faces of the board in directions both parallel to and transversely of the dimension of the board corresponding to the process direction. A downstream conveyor which moves the blanket of fibers through the curing oven moves faster than the collection conveyor, thereby producing a drawing effect on the blanket and causing the desired fiber alignment. A glass fiber mat is applied to one or both major faces of the blanket prior to movement through the oven to provide additional stiffness to the board.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing fiber preforms includes a relatively small motor which is able to power a large fan because the fan is kept in a partial vacuum condition. A duct connects a fan housing to a vacuum box which has an air flow opening therein of relatively narrow width. A shuttle member is horizontally translatable above the vacuum box on a support bed and the shuttle member is divided into air flow channels by baffle plates. Only a small number of air flow channels can pass above the air flow opening at a single time and this serves to keep low pressure in the vacuum box. In addition, a vortex gate is provided in the duct between the fan housing and the vacuum box and serves to restrict air flow through the duct when the pressure within the duct drops below a certain level.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for supplying binder to newly formed mineral wool fibres by means of several distribution means like nozzles or spreaders (30-33, 36-36, 41-43) while said mineral wool fibres are suspended in an air or gas stream on their way to a collection means (29), which in one or more steps form a final mineral wool path (F-J), whereby the binder or binder mixtures from the different distribution means (30-33, 35-36, 41-43) are supplied to different parts of the fibre suspension and in such amounts--in relation to the fibre flow in that part of the fibre suspension, which is actuated by the respective distribution means--that different layers (e.g. F+J, G+I, H) of the final mineral wool path get different content of binder.