US3634055A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for production of fibers from thermoplastic materials, particularly glass fibers
Assignee: Compagnie de Saint Gobain SA
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Filing: 1969-07-10
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Granted: 1972-01-11
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Expires: 1989-07-10
Abstract
Abstract The production of fine fibers from a hardenable thermoplastic material in a viscous state particularly glass fibers from molten vitreous material, by dropping one or more streamlets or threads of the material onto a horizontally disposed disc-shaped body rotating rapidly around a vertical axis, at an inner radial portion thereof, whereat is provided an annular trough for the supply of material which flows outwardly from the top of the trough onto the upper surface of the body and is projected thereover in sheet form by centrifugal force over the peripheral portion of the body which is perforated with a plurality of substantially vertical orifices. An annular burner below the disc-shaped body serves as a source of hot gas under pressure which is blown upwardly through the orifices to product the material into filaments, which are thereafter drawn out into fine fibers by an annular gaseous blast directed radically and substantially horizontally above the peripheral portion of the body to turn down the substantially vertical filaments while attenuating them, which is followed by the withdrawal thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean Paymal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:12
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/01; C03B37/04; C03B37/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
The method of producing fibers from a hardenable thermoplastic material in a viscous state which comprises a. dropping at least one stream of said material onto the inner radial portion of the upper surface of a discoidal-shaped body, rotating rapidly about a vertical axis, wherefrom the material is thrown outwardly in sheet form by centrifugal force towards the outer perforated peripheral portion of said upper surface, b. blowing upwardly directed gaseous jets through the orifices of the peripheral portion of said surface to form filaments of viscous material from the sheet projected across said portion, and c. attenuating the formed filaments into fibers by blowing a transverse radial hot gaseous blast outwardly across the filaments projected upwardly from said shEet of centrifugally flowing viscous material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
The method of producing fibers from a hardenable thermoplastic material in a viscous state which comprises a. dropping at least one stream of said material onto the inner radial portion of the upper surface of a discoidal-shaped body, rotating rapidly about a vertical axis, wherefrom the material is thrown outwardly in sheet form by centrifugal force towards the outer perforated peripheral portion of said upper surface, b. blowing upwardly directed gaseous jets through the orifices of the peripheral portion of said surface to form filaments of viscous material from the sheet projected across said portion, and c. attenuating the formed filaments into fibers by blowing a transverse radial hot gaseous blast outwardly across the filaments projected upwardly from said shEet of centrifugally flowing viscous material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the viscous thermoplastic material is a molten vitreous composition for producing glass fibers therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the sheet of material thrown outwardly on the upper surface of the body emanates from an annular pool of material which is formed at said inner radial portion by said dropping stream of viscous material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the blowing transverse radial blast turns the filaments in substantially horizontal planes while effecting the attenuation thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method set forth in claim 4, including the step of blowing the attenuated fibers, travelling in horizontal planes beyond the rotating body, in a downward direction to effect the evacuation thereof.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
160 words
An apparatus for producing fine fibers from a hardenable thermoplastic material in a viscous state comprising, a. a disc-shaped body with means to rotate it rapidly around a vertical axis, and having an inner portion and an outer peripheral portion, b. means for supplying the viscous material to the upper surface of the body at said inner portion, wherefrom it spreads into a central source of supply, and wherefrom it is projected in sheet form by centrifugal force over said outer portion, c. said outer portion being perforated with a plurality of orifices therein, d. means below said perforated peripheral portion for directing upwardly gaseous fluid under pressure through said orifices to project the viscous material passing thereover into a plurality of filaments, and e. means for attenuating said filaments into fine fibers comprising blowing means for directing transversely a hot gaseous blast outwardly in radial directions across the filaments projected upwardly from said sheet of centrifugally flowing viscous material.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
160 words
An apparatus for producing fine fibers from a hardenable thermoplastic material in a viscous state comprising, a. a disc-shaped body with means to rotate it rapidly around a vertical axis, and having an inner portion and an outer peripheral portion, b. means for supplying the viscous material to the upper surface of the body at said inner portion, wherefrom it spreads into a central source of supply, and wherefrom it is projected in sheet form by centrifugal force over said outer portion, c. said outer portion being perforated with a plurality of orifices therein, d. means below said perforated peripheral portion for directing upwardly gaseous fluid under pressure through said orifices to project the viscous material passing thereover into a plurality of filaments, and e. means for attenuating said filaments into fine fibers comprising blowing means for directing transversely a hot gaseous blast outwardly in radial directions across the filaments projected upwardly from said sheet of centrifugally flowing viscous material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said means below said perforated peripheral portion of said disc-shaped body comprises an annular burner, which together with said body, constitutes an annular chamber maintained under pressure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said last-mentioned blowing means is of annular outline arranged coaxially with said rotating body at a sufficiently high level to direct the filaments above the peripheral portion of said body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said disc-shaped body comprises an annular trough at said inner portion of the upper face of said body for receiving at least one stream of the viscous material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said inner portion of the upper surface of the rotating body is provided with an annular channel for receiving at least one stream of the viscous material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said upper surface of the rotating body is of concave configuration in an upward direction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein the outer perforated peripheral portion is a surface of revolution of truncated conical configuration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein an underlying portion of said chamber is fixed and is of cylindrical outline, including sealing joints of zigzag contours between the juxtaposed fixed and moving parts.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein said sealing joints of zigzag cross section are disposed at radially displaced areas on the bottom surface of said rotating body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said annular burner is integral with said rotary disc-shaped body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 8, including a blower ring surrounding said rotating body beyond the peripheral portion thereof and provided with circumferential downwardly directed spaced openings above said annular blowing means for evacuating the attenuated fibers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the orifices in the peripheral portion Of said rotating body are directed substantially vertically and the gaseous blast openings of the annular blowing means are directed in a substantially horizontal plane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-10 | 1975-07-12 | 1976-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-10 | 1979-07-12 | 1980-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-10 | 1983-07-12 | 1984-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |