Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting and forming loose fill fiber material from an ail stream includes introducing a combined fiber and air stream onto a surface of a rotatable drum. The rotatable drum allows the air to flow through the surface of the drum while collecting the fiber material on the surface of the drum. The collected fiber material is then removed from the drum surface by a blow off header that is internal to the drum.

Abstract: A fiberizing device for producing fibers from waste includes a housing having an inlet for receiving molten fluid. Two rollers are rotatably mounted in the housing and include a space therebetween through which the molten fluid passes. Each roller is in contact with at least one centrifugal wheel. The molten fluid is driven through the space and rolled in the space by the rollers. The rolled molten fluid is drawn by the centrifugal wheel when the rolled molten fluid comes in contact with the centrifugal wheel, with the rolled molten fluid drawn by the centrifugal wheel being cooled to form solid fibers.

Abstract: An induction-heated furnace, suitable for heat treatment of synthetic silica bodies, under conditions of high purity, includes a tubular susceptor (1) disposed with its axis vertical and an induction coil (3) for raising the temperature of the susceptor. The susceptor is made from graphite and/or silicon carbide, and is enclosed within a vacuum envelope (2) made from vitreous silica or fused quartz, the envelope being surrounded by the induction coil which is liquid-cooled. The design is such that the vacuum envelope (2) operates at temperatures below those at which either devitrification or sagging of the envelope might occur even when the tubular susceptor (1) is heated to a temperature of 1700.degree. C. Thus sintering of a porous synthetic silica body (9) can be carried out under atmospheric or reduced pressure, the furnace including a shaft (7) adapted to support the body to be heated and capable of rotation about and movement along said vertical axis of the tubular susceptor (1).