Purging system and method for a process producing glass fiber blankets

Claim 1

In an apparatus wherein a binder impregnated uncured fiber glass blanket is passed through at least two spaced-apart separate curing assemblies which cure the blanket and each have opposing surfaces that contact major surfaces of the blanket, the improvement comprising: a purging system for removing gaseous pollutants produced by the curing process comprising purging means located intermediate said heated curing assemblies for preventing the escape of gases from the blanket to the surroundings and for drawing off said gases for disposal as the blanket passes between the spaced-apart curing assemblies, said purging means including a suction chamber, said suction chamber having an inlet opening extending the width of the blanket and an outlet opening, said inlet opening being located intermediate said curing assemblies and adjacent both said blanket and said surfaces of said curing assemblies which contact one of the major surfaces of the blanket whereby gases drawn into the suction chamber pass through the blanket, and said outlet opening being connected to an exhaust means for drawing gases from said suction chamber, and said purging means including a plenum chamber, said plenum chamber having an inlet opening connected to means for supplying air to said plenum chamber, and said plenum chamber having an outlet opening extending the width of the blanket which is located intermediate said curing assemblies and adjacent both said blanket and said surfaces of said curing assemblies which contact the other of said major surfaces of the blanket.