US3787195A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for the production of sheets or mats from fibers of thermoplastic material
Assignee: Compagnie de Saint Gobain SA
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Filing: 1971-04-21
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Granted: 1974-01-22
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Expires: 1991-04-21
Abstract
Abstract The invention concerns the production of homogeneous and structurally resistant sheets or mats of thermoplastic fibers, such as glass fibers, issuing from one or more spinnerettes above a travelling conveyor. The fibers are deposited on the conveyor after being blown through a stationary skirt or conduit formed essentially of a pair of large plane surfaces having critically controlled spacings therebetween to attain predetermined crosssectional areas between the inlet and outlet end of the conduit, as well as adjustable outlines of the outlet. These variable and/or adjustable sectional areas serve to control the pattern and area of deposition of the fibers on the conveyor. A plurality of spinnerettes and guide conduits may be arranged in different patterns and alignments relative to the direction of travel of the conveyor to control the laying-up of the fibers and consequently the physical characteristics of the deposited mat. Additional trapezoidally shaped shaping members, also each formed essentially of a pair of large plane surfaces with an inlet and outlet, as well as intermediate sections of predetermined or adjustable areas, may be used in lieu of or in conjunction with the above-mentioned skirts or conduits. These shaping members are fitted with openings and/or blowers for air or gaseous currents to afford a convenient control of the entrainment of the dropping fibers passing therethrough, which discharge from the outlet ends of said members, which are spaced a slight distance above the travelling conveyor.
Inventors
- 👤 J Kirchheim
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 06:16
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04H; D04H1/00; D04H1/40; D04H1/42; D04H1/4209; D04H1/4218; C; C03; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/01; C03B37/06; D04H1/4226; D04H1/70; D04H1/72; D04H1/732
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
257 words
An apparatus for producing mats of thermoplastic material, comprising a. a spinnerette for said material in a molten state comprising a chamber for the material with at least one row of nozzles in the bottom thereof wherefrom flow downwardly filaments of the molten material toward a travelling conveyor therebelow and spaced a substantial distance therefrom so that the fibers experience a free drop before deposition on said conveyor, b. a blowing chamber below said nozzles for inducing gaseous currents to act on the opposite sides of the filaments gravitating from said nozzles to effect the attenuation thereof, c. a stationary conduit below said blowing chamber comprising a pair of large plane surfaces of symmetrical outline with respect to the vertical axis of said conduit, d. a shaping member below said stationary conduit having the inlet thereof spaced from the latter to permit the induction of air into said member, e. means defining openings along the length of said shaping member for controlling the induction of air into said shaping member, f. said shaping member comprising a pair of large plane surfaces of symmetrical outline with respect to the vertical axis of said member, having a slight convergence at least adjacent to the outlet end thereof, while the cross-section of the outlet end is at least as great as that of the inlet end, and g. said outlet end being disposed in proximity to said travelling conveyor but in spaced relation thereto to disperse the fibers from said outlet end for uniform distribution thereof onto said travelling conveyor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
257 words
An apparatus for producing mats of thermoplastic material, comprising a. a spinnerette for said material in a molten state comprising a chamber for the material with at least one row of nozzles in the bottom thereof wherefrom flow downwardly filaments of the molten material toward a travelling conveyor therebelow and spaced a substantial distance therefrom so that the fibers experience a free drop before deposition on said conveyor, b. a blowing chamber below said nozzles for inducing gaseous currents to act on the opposite sides of the filaments gravitating from said nozzles to effect the attenuation thereof, c. a stationary conduit below said blowing chamber comprising a pair of large plane surfaces of symmetrical outline with respect to the vertical axis of said conduit, d. a shaping member below said stationary conduit having the inlet thereof spaced from the latter to permit the induction of air into said member, e. means defining openings along the length of said shaping member for controlling the induction of air into said shaping member, f. said shaping member comprising a pair of large plane surfaces of symmetrical outline with respect to the vertical axis of said member, having a slight convergence at least adjacent to the outlet end thereof, while the cross-section of the outlet end is at least as great as that of the inlet end, and g. said outlet end being disposed in proximity to said travelling conveyor but in spaced relation thereto to disperse the fibers from said outlet end for uniform distribution thereof onto said travelling conveyor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including means for introducing additional gaseous fluids into said shaping member on at least one level thereof for controlling the entrainment of the fibers therethrough.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said last-mentioned means is provided at both the inlet and outlet levels of said shaping member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, including means for modifying the cross-section of said shaping member between the inlet and outlet ends thereof, thereby to control the regularity, the quantity and the decrease in speed of the gaseous fluid entraining the fibers through said shaping member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, including adjusting means for said shaping member to reduce the speed of the gaseous fluid at the outlet end from one to five times that at the inlet end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, including adjusting means for said shaping member to reduce the speed of the gaseous fluid at the outlet end of the shaping member to one-third that at the inlet end thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, including adjusting means for said shaping member to adjust the cross-sectional area of the outlet end to render it approximately one to two times that of the inlet end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, including means for adjusting said gaseous fluid introducing means into said shaping member to render substantially constant the quantity of gaseous fluid per unit of area passing the different cross-sectional areas along the length thereof in the course of flowing therethrough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said last-mentionEd means controls at least partly the introduction of air into the shaping member.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
287 words
An apparatus for producing mats of thermoplastic material, comprising a. a spinnerette for said material in a molten state comprising a chamber for the material with at least one row of nozzles in the bottom thereof wherefrom flow downwardly filaments of the molten material toward a travelling conveyor therebelow and spaced a substantial distance therefrom so that the fibers experience a free drop before deposition on said conveyor, b. a blowing chamber below said nozzles for inducing gaseous currents to act on the opposite sides of the filaments gravitating from said nozzles to effect the attenuation thereof, c. a stationary conduit below said blowing chamber comprising a pair of large plane surfaces of symmetrical outline with respect to the vertical axis of said conduit, d. a shaping member below said stationary conduit having the inlet thereof spaced from the latter to permit the induction of air into said member, e. means below said inlet for introducing additional gaseous fluids into said shaping member for controlling at least partially the introduction of air into said shaping member and the entrainment of the fibers therethrough, comprising openings with shutter closures therefor, through which air is admitted into the interior of said member, f. said shaping member comprising a pair of large plane surfaces of symmetrical outline with respect to the vertical axis of said member, having a slight convergence at least adjacent to the outlet end thereof, while the cross-section of the outlet end is at least as great as that of the inlet end, and g. said outlet end being disposed in proximity to said travelling conveyor but in spaced relation thereto to disperse the fibers from said outlet end for uniform distribution thereof onto said travelling conveyor.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
287 words
An apparatus for producing mats of thermoplastic material, comprising a. a spinnerette for said material in a molten state comprising a chamber for the material with at least one row of nozzles in the bottom thereof wherefrom flow downwardly filaments of the molten material toward a travelling conveyor therebelow and spaced a substantial distance therefrom so that the fibers experience a free drop before deposition on said conveyor, b. a blowing chamber below said nozzles for inducing gaseous currents to act on the opposite sides of the filaments gravitating from said nozzles to effect the attenuation thereof, c. a stationary conduit below said blowing chamber comprising a pair of large plane surfaces of symmetrical outline with respect to the vertical axis of said conduit, d. a shaping member below said stationary conduit having the inlet thereof spaced from the latter to permit the induction of air into said member, e. means below said inlet for introducing additional gaseous fluids into said shaping member for controlling at least partially the introduction of air into said shaping member and the entrainment of the fibers therethrough, comprising openings with shutter closures therefor, through which air is admitted into the interior of said member, f. said shaping member comprising a pair of large plane surfaces of symmetrical outline with respect to the vertical axis of said member, having a slight convergence at least adjacent to the outlet end thereof, while the cross-section of the outlet end is at least as great as that of the inlet end, and g. said outlet end being disposed in proximity to said travelling conveyor but in spaced relation thereto to disperse the fibers from said outlet end for uniform distribution thereof onto said travelling conveyor.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
269 words
An apparatus for producing mats of thermoplastic material, comprising a. a spinnerette for said material in a molten state comprising a chamber for the material with at least one row of nozzles in the bottom thereof wherefrom flow downwardly filaments of the molten material toward a travelling conveyor therebelow and spaced a substantial distance therefrom so that the fibers experience a free drop before deposition on said conveyor, b. a blowing chamber below said nozzles for inducing gaseous currents to act on the opposite sides of the filaments gravitating from said nozzles to effect the attenuation thereof, c. a stationary conduit below said blowing chamber comprising a pair of large plane surfaces of symmetrical outline with respect to the vertical axis of said conduit, d. a shaping member below said stationary conduit having the inlet thereof spaced from the latter to permit the induction of air into said member, e. said shaping member comprising a pair of large plane surfaces of symmetrical outline with respect to the vertical axis of said member, having a slight convergence at least adjacent to the outlet end thereof, while the cross-section of the outlet end is at least as great as that of the inlet end, f. said outlet end being disposed in proximity to said travelling conveyor but in spaced relation thereto to disperse the fibers from said outlet end for uniform distribution thereof onto said travelling conveyor, and g. said shaping member being constituted by a plurality of superposed elements spaced from each other by spacing gaps, said last-mentioned gaps providing passages for the entry of air into said shaping member.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
269 words
An apparatus for producing mats of thermoplastic material, comprising a. a spinnerette for said material in a molten state comprising a chamber for the material with at least one row of nozzles in the bottom thereof wherefrom flow downwardly filaments of the molten material toward a travelling conveyor therebelow and spaced a substantial distance therefrom so that the fibers experience a free drop before deposition on said conveyor, b. a blowing chamber below said nozzles for inducing gaseous currents to act on the opposite sides of the filaments gravitating from said nozzles to effect the attenuation thereof, c. a stationary conduit below said blowing chamber comprising a pair of large plane surfaces of symmetrical outline with respect to the vertical axis of said conduit, d. a shaping member below said stationary conduit having the inlet thereof spaced from the latter to permit the induction of air into said member, e. said shaping member comprising a pair of large plane surfaces of symmetrical outline with respect to the vertical axis of said member, having a slight convergence at least adjacent to the outlet end thereof, while the cross-section of the outlet end is at least as great as that of the inlet end, f. said outlet end being disposed in proximity to said travelling conveyor but in spaced relation thereto to disperse the fibers from said outlet end for uniform distribution thereof onto said travelling conveyor, and g. said shaping member being constituted by a plurality of superposed elements spaced from each other by spacing gaps, said last-mentioned gaps providing passages for the entry of air into said shaping member.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
323 words
An apparatus for producing mats of thermoplastic material, comprising a. a spinnerette for said material in a molten state comprising a chamber for the material with at least one row of nozzles in the bottom thereof wherefrom flow downwardly filaments of the molten material toward a travelling conveyor therebelow and spaced a substantial distance therefrom so that tHe fibers experience a free drop before deposition on said conveyor, b. a blowing chamber below said nozzles for inducing gaseous currents to act on the opposite sides of the filaments gravitating from said nozzles to effect the attenuation thereof, c. a stationary conduit below said blowing chamber comprising a pair of large plane surfaces of symmetrical outline with respect to the vertical axis of said conduit, d. a shaping member below said stationary conduit having the inlet thereof spaced from the latter to permit the induction of air into said member, e. means below said inlet for introducing additional gaseous fluids into said shaping member for controlling at least partly the introduction of air into said shaping member and the entrainment of the fibers therethrough, said means in conjunction with the controlled spacing between the inlet of said shaping member and the outlet of said stationary conduit adapted to feed into said shaping member, approximately eight to 10 times the quantity of gaseous fluid applied initially on the filaments issuing from the spinnerette to effect the attenuation thereof, f. said shaping member comprising a pair of large plane surfaces of symmetrical outline with respect to the vertical axis of said member, having a slight convergence at least adjacent to the outlet end thereof, while the cross-section of the outlet end is at least as great as that of the inlet end, and g. said outlet end being disposed in proximity to said travelling conveyor but in spaced relation thereto to disperse the fibers from said outlet end for uniform distribution thereof onto said travelling conveyor.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
323 words
An apparatus for producing mats of thermoplastic material, comprising a. a spinnerette for said material in a molten state comprising a chamber for the material with at least one row of nozzles in the bottom thereof wherefrom flow downwardly filaments of the molten material toward a travelling conveyor therebelow and spaced a substantial distance therefrom so that tHe fibers experience a free drop before deposition on said conveyor, b. a blowing chamber below said nozzles for inducing gaseous currents to act on the opposite sides of the filaments gravitating from said nozzles to effect the attenuation thereof, c. a stationary conduit below said blowing chamber comprising a pair of large plane surfaces of symmetrical outline with respect to the vertical axis of said conduit, d. a shaping member below said stationary conduit having the inlet thereof spaced from the latter to permit the induction of air into said member, e. means below said inlet for introducing additional gaseous fluids into said shaping member for controlling at least partly the introduction of air into said shaping member and the entrainment of the fibers therethrough, said means in conjunction with the controlled spacing between the inlet of said shaping member and the outlet of said stationary conduit adapted to feed into said shaping member, approximately eight to 10 times the quantity of gaseous fluid applied initially on the filaments issuing from the spinnerette to effect the attenuation thereof, f. said shaping member comprising a pair of large plane surfaces of symmetrical outline with respect to the vertical axis of said member, having a slight convergence at least adjacent to the outlet end thereof, while the cross-section of the outlet end is at least as great as that of the inlet end, and g. said outlet end being disposed in proximity to said travelling conveyor but in spaced relation thereto to disperse the fibers from said outlet end for uniform distribution thereof onto said travelling conveyor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said superposed elements are each provided with outlets terminating below the level of the inlet of the next lower element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein the outlet of each superposed element is of a cross-section at least no greater than that of the inlet of the next lower element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 11, including at least one blower unit between two of the superposed elements to induce additional gaseous fluids into said shaping member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 11, including means for adjusting the outline of at least one of said superposed elements with respect to the adjacent one to control the deposition of the fibers on the travelling conveyor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 11, including means for adjusting the orientation of at least one of said superposed elements with respect to the adjacent one to control the pattern of the deposition of the fibers relative to the travelling conveyor.
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) | 1977-01-21 | 1977-07-23 | 1978-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-21 | 1981-07-23 | 1982-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-21 | 1985-07-23 | 1986-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |