Apparatus for advancing strand

Claim 2

Apparatus for advancing one or more strands to a collection region comprising: a rotatable wheel for pulling strand having a circular periphery for strand engagement; means for rotating the wheel; primary means for strand removal from the periphery during rotation of the wheel; and secondary means for strand removal spaced from the primary means in a position to effect strand removal upon failure of the primary means to effect complete strand removal.

Claim 3

Apparatus of claim 1 in which the primary means is the same type as the secondary means.

Claim 4

Apparatus of claim 1 further including a deflector immediately adjacent the periphery to prevent return of strand or any portion thereof to the periphery upon removal from the periphery by the secondary means.

Claim 5

Apparatus of claim 1 in which at least one of the strand removal means is a rotary means rotating simultaneously with the rotary pulling wheel.

Claim 6

Apparatus of claim 1 in which at least one of the strand removal means is movable for strand removal in any of a numeer of locations of the periphery spaced from the other means.

Claim 7

Apparatus of claim 5 in which one of the strand removal means is oscillatable about the periphery of the wheel.

Claim 8

Apparatus of claim 6 further including means for oscillating both of the strand removal means in unison about the periphery of the wheel.

Claim 9

Apparatus of claim 7 in which the strand removal means are in fixed spaced apart relationship.

Claim 10

Apparatus of claim 8 in which the strand removal means are spaced about substantially 90*.

Claim 11

Apparatus of claim 9 further including means for driving the rotary strand removal means independently of the rotary pulling wheel.

Claim 12

Apparatus for longitudinally advancing one or more strands to a collection region comprising: a rotatable wheel for pulling strand having a circular periphery for strand engagement; means for rotating the wheel; primary means for strand removal from the periphery of the wheel at a first location on the periphery during rotation of the wheel, the first location being spaced from the initial strand engagement location on the periphery in the direction of wheel rotation; and secondary means for strand removal on the periphery between the first location and the initial strand engagement location to effect strand removal upon failure of the primary means to effect complete strand removal.

Claim 13

Apparatus for longitudinally advancing one or more strands to a collection region comprising: a rotatable wheel for pulling strand having a circular periphery for strand engagement; means for rotating the wheel; primary means for strand removal from the periphery of the wheel at a first location on the periphery during rotation of the wheel, the first location being spaced from the initial strand engagement location on the periphery in the direction of wheel rotation; and secondary means for strand removal on the periphery between the first location and the initial strand engagement location to effect strand removal upon failure of the primary means to effect complete strand removal.

Claim 14

Apparatus for producing glass strand comprising: means for supplying molten glass streams for attenuation into continuous glass filaments; means for gathering the filaments into a strand; a rotatable wheel for pulling the strand having a circular periphery for strand engagement; means for rotating the wheel; primary means for strand removal from the wheel at a first location on the periphery during rotation of the wheel; and secondary means for strand removal spaced from the primary means in a position to effect strand removal upon failure of the primary means to effect complete strand removal.

Claim 15

Apparatus for producing glass strand comprising: means for supplying molten glass streams for attenuation into continuous glass filaments; means for gathering the filaments into a strand; a rotatable wheel for pulling the strand having a circular periphery for strand engagement; means for rotating the wheel; primary means for strand removal from the wheel at a first location on the periphery during rotation of the wheel; and secondary means for strand removal spaced from the primary means in a position to effect strand removal upon failure of the primary means to effect complete strand removal.

Claim 16

Apparatus for longitudinally advancing strand comprising: a hollow rotatable wheel for pulling strand having circumferentially spaced periphery forming elements forming an interrupted cylindRical peripheral surface for strand contact and adhesion; means for rotating the wheel; a rotary means mounted within the wheel for simultaneous movement with the wheel, the rotary means including circumferentially spaced members movable through spaces between the periphery forming elements of the wheel in a region for progressively contacting the strand to discharge it from the wheel during rotation; and a deflector immediately adjacent the discharge region to prevent return of strand or any portion thereof to the peripheral upon removal from the peripheral surface by the rotary means.

Claim 17

Apparatus for longitudinally advancing strand comprising: a hollow rotatable wheel for pulling strand having circumferentially spaced periphery forming elements forming an interrupted cylindRical peripheral surface for strand contact and adhesion; means for rotating the wheel; a rotary means mounted within the wheel for simultaneous movement with the wheel, the rotary means including circumferentially spaced members movable through spaces between the periphery forming elements of the wheel in a region for progressively contacting the strand to discharge it from the wheel during rotation; and a deflector immediately adjacent the discharge region to prevent return of strand or any portion thereof to the peripheral upon removal from the peripheral surface by the rotary means.

Claim 18

Apparatus for longitudinally feeding one or more strands comprising: a rotatable hollow wheel for pulling strand having circumferentially spaced periphery forming elements forming an interrupted cylindrical peripheral surface for strand contact and adhesion; means for rotating the wheel; a primary rotary strand removal means mounted within the wheel for simultaneous movement therewith, such primary strand removal means including circumferentially spaced members movable through spaces between the periphery forming elements for progressively contacting strand in a first location to discharge strand from the peripheral surface during rotation of the wheel; and a secondary rotary strand removal means mounted within the pulling wheel for simultaneous movement with the wheel, the secondary strand removal means being positioned to effect strand removal in a second location upon failure of the primary rotary means to effect complete strand removal, the secondary strand removal means including circumferentially spaced members movable through spaces between the periphery forming elements for progressively contacting strand in the second location to discharge strand from the peripheral surface during rotation of the wheel.

Claim 19

Apparatus for longitudinally feeding one or more strands comprising: a rotatable hollow wheel for pulling strand having circumferentially spaced periphery forming elements forming an interrupted cylindrical peripheral surface for strand contact and adhesion; means for rotating the wheel; a primary rotary strand removal means mounted within the wheel for simultaneous movement therewith, such primary strand removal means including circumferentially spaced members movable through spaces between the periphery forming elements for progressively contacting strand in a first location to discharge strand from the peripheral surface during rotation of the wheel; and a secondary rotary strand removal means mounted within the pulling wheel for simultaneous movement with the wheel, the secondary strand removal means being positioned to effect strand removal in a second location upon failure of the primary rotary means to effect complete strand removal, the secondary strand removal means including circumferentially spaced members movable through spaces between the periphery forming elements for progressively contacting strand in the second location to discharge strand from the peripheral surface during rotation of the wheel.

Claim 20

Apparatus of claim 14 in which the circumferentially spaced members of the secondary rotary strand removal means are movable through the spaces between the periphery forming elements along a greater length of the peripheral surface than the circumferentially spaced members of the primary rotary strand removal means.

Claim 21

Apparatus for advancing strand comprising: a rotatable hollow wheel for pulling strand having circumferentially spaced periphery forming elements forming an interrupted cylindrical peripheral surface for strand contact and adhesion; a motor for rotating the wheel; a rotatable primary spoke wheel for strand removal within the pulling wheel, the primary spoke wheel including circumferentially spaced members movable through spaces between the periphery forming elements for progressively contacting strand in a first location to discharge strand from the peripheral surface during rotation of the wheel; a rotatable secondary spoke wheel for strand removal within the pulling wheel in fixed spaced relation with the primary spoke wheel for strand removal at a second location spaced beyond the first location in the direction of wheel rotation upon failure of the primary spoke wheel to effect complete strand removal, the secondary spoke wheel including circumferentially spaced members, such members being movable through spaces between the periphery forming elements a greater distance than the circumferentially spaced members of the primary spoke wheel, such members of the secondary spoke wheel progressively contacting strand in the second location to discharge strand during rotation of the wheel; and driving means within the pulling wheel operatively connected to both the spoke wheels for rotating the wheels in synchronization with the pulling wheel.

Claim 22

Apparatus for advancing strand comprising: a rotatable hollow wheel for pulling strand having circumferentially spaced periphery forming elements forming an interrupted cylindrical peripheral surface for strand contact and adhesion; a motor for rotating the wheel; a rotatable primary spoke wheel for strand removal within the pulling wheel, the primary spoke wheel including circumferentially spaced members movable through spaces between the periphery forming elements for progressively contacting strand in a first location to discharge strand from the peripheral surface during rotation of the wheel; a rotatable secondary spoke wheel for strand removal within the pulling wheel in fixed spaced relation with the primary spoke wheel for strand removal at a second location spaced beyond the first location in the direction of wheel rotation upon failure of the primary spoke wheel to effect complete strand removal, the secondary spoke wheel including circumferentially spaced members, such members being movable through spaces between the periphery forming elements a greater distance than the circumferentially spaced members of the primary spoke wheel, such members of the secondary spoke wheel progressively contacting strand in the second location to discharge strand during rotation of the wheel; and driving means within the pulling wheel operatively connected to both the spoke wheels for rotating the wheels in synchronization with the pulling wheel.

Claim 23

Apparatus of claim 16 in which the axis of rotation of the secondary spoke wheel is closer to the circumferential surface of the hollow wheel than the axis of rotation of the primary spoke wheel.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 17 in which the secondary spoke wheel has fewer circumferentially spaced members than the primary spoke wheel.

Claim 25

ApParatus for advancing one or more strands to a collection region comprising: a hollow wheel for pulling strand rotatable on a horizontal axis, the wheel having circumferentially spaced periphery forming elements forming an interrupted cylindrical rim for strand contact and adhesion; means for rotating the wheel; a primary rotary means for strand removal mounted within the pulling wheel for simultaneous movement therewith, the primary rotary means including circumferentially spaced members movable through spaces between the periphery forming elements for progressively contacting the strand in a first location to discharge strand from the rim during rotation of the wheel; a secondary rotary means for strand removal mounted within the pulling wheel in fixed spaced relation for simultaneous movement with the wheel the secondary rotary means being positioned to effect strand removal in a second location upon failure of the primary rotary means to effect complete strand removal, the secondary rotary means including circumferentially spaced members movable through spaces between the periphery forming elements for progressively contacting strand in the second location to discharge strand from the rim during rotation of the wheel; and a longitudinal deflector adjacent the rim at the second location to prevent strand or any portion thereof from returning to the rim upon removal by the secondary rotary means.

Claim 26

ApParatus for advancing one or more strands to a collection region comprising: a hollow wheel for pulling strand rotatable on a horizontal axis, the wheel having circumferentially spaced periphery forming elements forming an interrupted cylindrical rim for strand contact and adhesion; means for rotating the wheel; a primary rotary means for strand removal mounted within the pulling wheel for simultaneous movement therewith, the primary rotary means including circumferentially spaced members movable through spaces between the periphery forming elements for progressively contacting the strand in a first location to discharge strand from the rim during rotation of the wheel; a secondary rotary means for strand removal mounted within the pulling wheel in fixed spaced relation for simultaneous movement with the wheel the secondary rotary means being positioned to effect strand removal in a second location upon failure of the primary rotary means to effect complete strand removal, the secondary rotary means including circumferentially spaced members movable through spaces between the periphery forming elements for progressively contacting strand in the second location to discharge strand from the rim during rotation of the wheel; and a longitudinal deflector adjacent the rim at the second location to prevent strand or any portion thereof from returning to the rim upon removal by the secondary rotary means.

Claim 27

Apparatus of claim 19 in which the longitudinal deflector is oriented vertically.

Claim 28

Apparatus of claim 19 further including means for oscillating the primary and secondary rotary means and the deflector member together.