US4303430A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for forming mineral fibers
Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology Inc
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Filing: 1980-03-06
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Granted: 1981-12-01
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Expires: 2000-03-06
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for forming fibers from molten mineral material comprising a rotatably mounted spinner (10) having an orificed peripheral wall (16) through which the material flows to form primary fibers (20), and a turbulent flow generator (26) adapted to discharge a flow of gases to further attenuate the primary fibers (20) into a veil of secondary fibers (24). The turbulent flow generator (26) generates gaseous flows exerting attenuation forces in different directions at different loci (38, 40, 42, 44) along the path of the fiber being further attenuated.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Houston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:06
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/01; C03B37/04; C03B37/048
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
Apparatus for attenuating molten mineral material into mineral fibers of the type in which an orificed spinner (10) is adapted to receive the molten mineral material and to centrifuge it into primary mineral fibers (20), and means positioned circumferentially of said spinner (10) is adapted to discharge a flow of gases to further attenuate said primary fibers (20) into secondary fibers (24), wherein the improvement comprises said means for discharging comprising a plurality of turbulent flow generators (26) for downwardly discharging rotating flows of gas to further attenuate said primary fibers (20) into secondary fibers (24).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus for attenuating molten mineral material into mineral fibers of the type in which an orificed spinner (10) is adapted to receive the molten mineral material and to centrifuge it into primary mineral fibers (20), and means positioned circumferentially of said spinner (10) is adapted to discharge a flow of gases to further attenuate said primary fibers (20) into secondary fibers (24), wherein the improvement comprises said means for discharging comprising a plurality of turbulent flow generators (26) for downwardly discharging rotating flows of gas to further attenuate said primary fibers (20) into secondary fibers (24).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which said turbulent flow generators (26) are vortex generators.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which each of said vortex generators comprises two or more gas discharge conduits (28) adapted to discharge gaseous flows (34) which interact to form a vortex.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 3 in which adjacent vortex generators are adapted to generate counter-rotating vortices.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which each of said turbulent flow generators (26) comprises a gas discharge conduit (28a) adapted to discharge a gaseous flow (46), and a baffle (48) positioned in the path of said gaseous flow (46), said baffle (48) being adapted to increase the turbulence of said gaseous flow (46).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 5 in which said baffle (48) is adapted to deflect said gaseous flow (46).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
125 words
Apparatus for attenuating molten mineral material into mineral fibers of the type in which an orificed spinner (10) is adapted to receive the molten mineral material and to centrifuge it into primary mineral fibers (20), and means positioned circumferentially of said spinner (10) is adapted to discharge a flow of gases to further attenuate said primary fibers (20) into secondary fibers (24), wherein the improvement comprises said means for discharging comprising a plurality of turbulent flow generators (26) for downwardly discharging rotating flows of gas to further attenuate said primary fibers (20) into secondary fibers (24), each of said turbulent flow generators (26) being adapted to generate gaseous flows (34) exerting attenuation forces in different directions along the path of the fiber being further attenuated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
125 words
Apparatus for attenuating molten mineral material into mineral fibers of the type in which an orificed spinner (10) is adapted to receive the molten mineral material and to centrifuge it into primary mineral fibers (20), and means positioned circumferentially of said spinner (10) is adapted to discharge a flow of gases to further attenuate said primary fibers (20) into secondary fibers (24), wherein the improvement comprises said means for discharging comprising a plurality of turbulent flow generators (26) for downwardly discharging rotating flows of gas to further attenuate said primary fibers (20) into secondary fibers (24), each of said turbulent flow generators (26) being adapted to generate gaseous flows (34) exerting attenuation forces in different directions along the path of the fiber being further attenuated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in which said attenuation forces occur at spaced-apart loci (38, 40, 42, 44) within the turbulent flow.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
98 words
The method for attenuating molten mineral material into mineral fibers of the type in which an orificed spinner (10) receives molten mineral material and centrifuges it into primary mineral fibers (20), and a flow of gases is discharged circumferentially of said spinner (10) to further attenuate said primary fibers (20) into secondary fibers (24), wherein the improvement comprises downwardly discharging said flow of gases from a plurality of turbulent flow generators (26) positioned circumferentially of said spinner (10) and introducing said primary fibers (20) into zones (36) of turbulent gaseous flow created by said turbulent flow generators (26).
Claim 12
Independent Claim
98 words
The method for attenuating molten mineral material into mineral fibers of the type in which an orificed spinner (10) receives molten mineral material and centrifuges it into primary mineral fibers (20), and a flow of gases is discharged circumferentially of said spinner (10) to further attenuate said primary fibers (20) into secondary fibers (24), wherein the improvement comprises downwardly discharging said flow of gases from a plurality of turbulent flow generators (26) positioned circumferentially of said spinner (10) and introducing said primary fibers (20) into zones (36) of turbulent gaseous flow created by said turbulent flow generators (26).
Claim 13
Independent Claim
66 words
The method of forming fibers comprising centrifuging molten mineral material into primary fibers (20) with a rotating spinner (10), and further attenuating said primary fibers (20) into secondary fibers (24) by exerting attenuation forces in different directions at different loci (38, 40, 42, 44) within each of a plurality of zones (36) of turbulent gasesous flow, said zones (36) being positioned circumferentially of said spinner (10).
Claim 14
Independent Claim
66 words
The method of forming fibers comprising centrifuging molten mineral material into primary fibers (20) with a rotating spinner (10), and further attenuating said primary fibers (20) into secondary fibers (24) by exerting attenuation forces in different directions at different loci (38, 40, 42, 44) within each of a plurality of zones (36) of turbulent gasesous flow, said zones (36) being positioned circumferentially of said spinner (10).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 10 comprising generating vortices to produce said attenuation forces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 11 comprising discharging gas from two or more gas discharge conduits (28) to generate said vortices.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 12 in which adjacent vortices are counter-rotating.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 10 comprising discharging gas (46) from a gas discharge conduit (28a) and deflecting said gas (46) with a baffle (48) to generate said turbulent gaseous flow.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
77 words
The method of forming fibers comprising centrifuging molten mineral material into primary fibers (20) with a spinner (10), generating a plurality of zones (36) of turbulent gaseous flows positioned circumferentially of said spinner (10), each of said zones (36) having gas flow in different directions at different loci (38, 40, 42, 44) within the zone (36), and further attenuating said primary fibers (20) into secondary fibers (24) by introducing said primary fibers (20) into said zones (36).
Claim 20
Independent Claim
77 words
The method of forming fibers comprising centrifuging molten mineral material into primary fibers (20) with a spinner (10), generating a plurality of zones (36) of turbulent gaseous flows positioned circumferentially of said spinner (10), each of said zones (36) having gas flow in different directions at different loci (38, 40, 42, 44) within the zone (36), and further attenuating said primary fibers (20) into secondary fibers (24) by introducing said primary fibers (20) into said zones (36).
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-11-30 | 1985-06-01 | 1985-12-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-11-30 | 1989-06-01 | 1989-12-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-11-30 | 1993-06-01 | 1993-12-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |