US3762896A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for producing fibers and environmental control therefore
Assignee: Owens Corning
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Filing: 1971-08-23
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Granted: 1973-10-02
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Expires: 1991-08-23
Abstract
Abstract An improved method and apparatus for effecting environmental control in apparatus for producing fibers coated with a binder. Heat softened material such as glass is centrifuged into primary filaments which are subsequently attenuated into fibers by means of a high velocity gaseous blast. A vaporizable medium is applied to fibers by spraying for cooling the fibers, binder is subsequently applied to the cooled fibers and the mass of binder coated fibers are collected on a conveyor. An air stream is passed downwardly through the collected mass and the conveyor to cool the mass and to remove excessive binder. The temperature of the air stream is sensed by a thermocouple to determine the temperature of the mass and the sensed temperature is used to control application of the vaporizable medium to maintain the mass at a substantially constant predetermined low temperature.
Inventors
- 👤 J Borst
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:32
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/01; C03B37/04; C03B37/048; C03B37/10; C03C; C03C25/00; C03C25/10; C03C25/12; C03C25/14; C03C25/146; D; D04; D04H; D04H1/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
Apparatus for forming binder coated glass fibers comprising, in combination, means for forming fibers from molten glass, means for cooling such fibers, means for coating the cooled fibers with a binder, foraminous conveyor means for collecting the coated fibers, means for sensing the temperature of the coated fibers collected on said conveyor means, and means responsive to the sensed temperature for controlling said cooling means to maintain the fibers at a substantially constant predetermined temperature in the region in which the fibers are coated with binder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus for forming binder coated glass fibers, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means for sensing the temperature of the coated fibers collected on said conveyor means includes means for flowing air through the collected coated fibers whereby the air is heated to substantially the same temperature of the heated air.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus for forming binder coated glass fibers, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said cooling means comprises means for directing a spray of water at the fibers whereby the fibers are cooled by vaporization of the water, and wherein said means for controlling said cooling means includes valve means for controlling the quantity of water sprayed by said cooling means and means for controlling said valve means in response to the sensed air temperature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus for forming binder coated glass fibers, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said means for sensing the temperature of the heated air comprises at least one thermocouple.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus for forming binder coated glass fibers, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said means for sensing the teMperature of the heated air comprises at least one thermocouple.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
126 words
In apparatus including means for forming fibers from a heat-softened fiber-forming material, means for supplying a binder to the fibers and conveyor means for collecting the fibers and the binder, apparatus for controlling the temperature of the fibers in the region in which the binder is supplied comprising, in combination, means for directing a spray of vaporizable medium at the newly formed fibers prior to the supplying the binder to cool the fibers by vaporization of the medium, means for sensing the temperature of the collected fibers and binder, and means responsive to the sensed temperature for controlling the amount of vaporizable medium sprayed at the newly formed fibers to establish a predetermined desired fiber temperature level in the region in which the binder is supplied.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus for controlling the temperature of fibers in the region in which binder is supplied, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said vaporizable medium is water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus for controlling the temperature of fibers in the region in which binder is supplied, as set forth in claim 7, including means for passing air through the collected fibers and binder to cool the collected fibers and binder, such air becoming heated to substantially the same temperature as the collected fibers and binder, and wherein said means for sensing the temperature of the collected fibers and binder comprises a sensor for sensing the temperature of such air passed through the collected fibers and binder to indicate the temperature of the fibers and binder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus for controlling the temperature of fibers in the region in which binder is supplied, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said means for sensing the temperature of the collected fibers and binder includes at least one thermocouple.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus for controlling the temperature of fibers in the region in which binder is supplied, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said means for controlling the amount of vaporizable medium directed at the attenuated fibers includes valve means for controlling the amount of vaporizable medium supplied and control means responsive to the temperature sensed by said thermocouple for controlling said valve means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus for controlling the temperature of fibers in the region in which binder is supplied, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said means for controlling the amount of vaporizable medium directed at the attenuated fibers includes valve means for controlling the amount of vaporizable medium supplied to the attenuated fibers and control means responsive to the sensed temperature for controlling said valve means.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for controlling the temperature of fibers newly formed from a heat-softened fiber-forming material in a region where a binder is applied to the fibers prior to collecting the fibers on a moving conveyor comprising the steps of: directing a vaporizable medium at the attenuated fibers prior to applying the binder whereby the fibers in the binder applying region are cooled by vaporization of the medium, sensing the temperature of the collected fibers and binder, and controlling the quantity of vaporizable medium directed at the fibers in response to the sensed temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method for controlling the temperature of fibers in a region to which binder is applied, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the temperature of the collected fibers and binder is sensed by passing air through the collected fibers and binder on the conveyor, and sensing the temperature of the air passed through the collected fibers and binder as a measure of the temperature of the collected fibers and binder.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for controlling the temperature of hot glass fibers which are continuously being formed, coated with a binder and collected as a mass on a moving foraminous surface comprising cooling the fibers prior to coating with the binder and collection on the surface, sensing the temperature of the collected coated mass, anD regulating the rate of cooling of the fibers in response to the sensed temperature to establish a desired temperature of the coated mass being collected on the surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-01 | 1977-04-02 | 1977-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-01 | 1981-04-02 | 1981-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-01 | 1985-04-02 | 1985-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |