US4469499A — Method and apparatus for the manufacture of fibers

Claim 1

Independent Claim 99 words

A method for drawing attenuable material in attenuable condition, such as molten glass, into filaments, characterized by delivering the attenuable material in attenuable condition downwardly through a bushing the bottom of which has a plurality of series of bosses, each series comprising a multiplicity of bosses, each with a bottom wall having a plurality of orifices therethrough, and concurrently drawing one filament from each boss, and thereafter controlling the cooling to effect a separation of the attenuable material into individual filaments formed from the attenuable material delivered from each orifice of the bottom wall of each of said bosses.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 99 words

A method for drawing attenuable material in attenuable condition, such as molten glass, into filaments, characterized by delivering the attenuable material in attenuable condition downwardly through a bushing the bottom of which has a plurality of series of bosses, each series comprising a multiplicity of bosses, each with a bottom wall having a plurality of orifices therethrough, and concurrently drawing one filament from each boss, and thereafter controlling the cooling to effect a separation of the attenuable material into individual filaments formed from the attenuable material delivered from each orifice of the bottom wall of each of said bosses.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 213 words

Apparatus adapted for use in the drawing of attenuable material in attenuable condition, such as molten glass, into filaments, comprising a bushing and mechanism spaced below the bushing for drawing filaments from the material, said bushing having a chamber for attenuable material in attenuable condition and having a bottom wall with downwardly presented wall portions at higher and lower levels, the lower wall portions comprising bottom walls of bosses, the bosses being arranged in a plurality of parallel series and the lower walls of the bosses having orifices in communication with said chamber for delivery of said material, the orifices in the bottom of each boss comprising a clustered group of at least three orifices, the downwardly presented surface of each boss being substantially continuous throughout the region immediately surrounding the orifices and the spacing between the orifices being sufficiently close to maintain a condition of flooding of said material on the substantially continuous surface between the orifices in a boss under specific drawing temperature conditions, and thereby provide for drawing of a single filament from the flooded material from a boss, but the orifices being sufficiently spaced to maintain a non-flooded condition under other specific drawing temperature conditions and thereby provide for drawing of individual filaments from each orifice of said boss.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 213 words

Apparatus adapted for use in the drawing of attenuable material in attenuable condition, such as molten glass, into filaments, comprising a bushing and mechanism spaced below the bushing for drawing filaments from the material, said bushing having a chamber for attenuable material in attenuable condition and having a bottom wall with downwardly presented wall portions at higher and lower levels, the lower wall portions comprising bottom walls of bosses, the bosses being arranged in a plurality of parallel series and the lower walls of the bosses having orifices in communication with said chamber for delivery of said material, the orifices in the bottom of each boss comprising a clustered group of at least three orifices, the downwardly presented surface of each boss being substantially continuous throughout the region immediately surrounding the orifices and the spacing between the orifices being sufficiently close to maintain a condition of flooding of said material on the substantially continuous surface between the orifices in a boss under specific drawing temperature conditions, and thereby provide for drawing of a single filament from the flooded material from a boss, but the orifices being sufficiently spaced to maintain a non-flooded condition under other specific drawing temperature conditions and thereby provide for drawing of individual filaments from each orifice of said boss.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

Apparatus according to claim 2, there being downwardly open channels between the series of bosses of sufficient depth to inhibit flooding of said material from the substantially continuous surface surrounding the orifices in one boss to that of other bosses.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the orifices in each of said bosses are equidistantly spaced from the vertical axis extending through the center of each boss.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which the downwardly presented surface of each boss is planar throughout the region immediately surrounding the orifices therethrough.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which each boss is provided with a clustered group of at least three orifices.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 33 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the channels surrounding the bosses extend from the downwardly presented wall portion at the lower level to the downwardly presented wall portion at the higher level.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 7 characterized in that the edge-to-edge distance separating orifices on said bosses is less than about 1 mm.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 19 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the bosses in adjacent series are staggered in relation to one another.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 40 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 2 further including a blowing device spaced beneath said bushing, said blowing device having means for directing a current of gas to the region directly adjacent the orifices in the lower walls of said bosses.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 43 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 2 and further including means for changing the fiberizing parameters during drawing of the filaments and thereby effect change between the drawing of a single filament from a boss to the drawing of plural filaments from a boss.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the interaxial distance between adjacent orifices in a boss is not more than 2.1 mm.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 31 words

Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the blowing device has means for directing a current of gas continuously to the region of the orifices in the bottom of the bosses.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 228 words

Apparatus adapted for use in drawing of filaments from attenuable material in attenuable condition, such as molten glass, comprising a bushing having a chamber for the attenuable material in attenuable condition and having a bottom wall with downwardly presented wall portions at higher and lower levels, characterized in that the lower wall portions comprise bottom walls of bosses, the bosses being arranged in parallel series and each series comprising a multiplicity of spaced bosses, the higher wall portions of the bottom wall comprising a plurality of strip-like wall portions lying between series of bosses and extended between opposite edges of the bushing, means at said edges providing for attachment of electrical connections for effecting electrical resistance heating of the bushing by passage of current through said strip-like wall portions, the lower walls of the bosses each having a plurality of orifices for delivery of the attenuable material, and mechanism spaced below the bushing for drawing filaments from the attenuable material delivered through the bosses from said chamber, and downwardly open channels below said strips extended between the series of bosses and having side wall portions on the sides of said bosses forming said downwardly open channels, said side wall portions being of sufficient depth to inhibit flooding of the attenuable material from the substantially continuous bottom wall of one boss to that of other bosses in adjoining series.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 228 words

Apparatus adapted for use in drawing of filaments from attenuable material in attenuable condition, such as molten glass, comprising a bushing having a chamber for the attenuable material in attenuable condition and having a bottom wall with downwardly presented wall portions at higher and lower levels, characterized in that the lower wall portions comprise bottom walls of bosses, the bosses being arranged in parallel series and each series comprising a multiplicity of spaced bosses, the higher wall portions of the bottom wall comprising a plurality of strip-like wall portions lying between series of bosses and extended between opposite edges of the bushing, means at said edges providing for attachment of electrical connections for effecting electrical resistance heating of the bushing by passage of current through said strip-like wall portions, the lower walls of the bosses each having a plurality of orifices for delivery of the attenuable material, and mechanism spaced below the bushing for drawing filaments from the attenuable material delivered through the bosses from said chamber, and downwardly open channels below said strips extended between the series of bosses and having side wall portions on the sides of said bosses forming said downwardly open channels, said side wall portions being of sufficient depth to inhibit flooding of the attenuable material from the substantially continuous bottom wall of one boss to that of other bosses in adjoining series.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 84 words

A method of establishing filament flow from a bushing plate having bosses having a plurality of orifices therein which comprises: (a) flowing glass from a plurality of orifices in a bushing boss as a single fiber; (b) directing a cooling fluid into contact with the bottoms of the bosses of said bushing plate to cause said single fiber to separate into individual filaments issuing from each of said orifices; and, (c) discontinuing directing said cooling fluid into contact with the bosses of said bushing.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 84 words

A method of establishing filament flow from a bushing plate having bosses having a plurality of orifices therein which comprises: (a) flowing glass from a plurality of orifices in a bushing boss as a single fiber; (b) directing a cooling fluid into contact with the bottoms of the bosses of said bushing plate to cause said single fiber to separate into individual filaments issuing from each of said orifices; and, (c) discontinuing directing said cooling fluid into contact with the bosses of said bushing.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 15 in which said bosses contain from about three to about seven orifices.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 136 words

In a method of making glass filaments from a body of molten glass confined above a bushing base plate, said base plate having a plurality of individual bosses depending therefrom and each boss having a plurality of spaced orifices therein, said orifices of each said boss being so closely spaced from one another as to normally flood across the boss to form a single merged stream of molten glass issuing from all of the orifices at each individual boss, the improvement comprising directing a stream of cooling fluid at the bosses to impinge directly upon the merged stream of glass issuing therefrom, the fluid stream cooling the merged glass stream sufficiently to cause it to separate into individual molten glass cones each located at its own orifice, and thereafter drawing a glass filament from each cone.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 136 words

In a method of making glass filaments from a body of molten glass confined above a bushing base plate, said base plate having a plurality of individual bosses depending therefrom and each boss having a plurality of spaced orifices therein, said orifices of each said boss being so closely spaced from one another as to normally flood across the boss to form a single merged stream of molten glass issuing from all of the orifices at each individual boss, the improvement comprising directing a stream of cooling fluid at the bosses to impinge directly upon the merged stream of glass issuing therefrom, the fluid stream cooling the merged glass stream sufficiently to cause it to separate into individual molten glass cones each located at its own orifice, and thereafter drawing a glass filament from each cone.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 117 words

In a method of starting a flooded glass filament bushing base plate, the base plate having a plurality of transversely and longitudinally spaced bosses, each of which is provided with a plurality of individual orifices so closely spaced as to flood with the molten glass from the individual orifices of each boss merging into a single stream substantially covering the lower face of the boss, the improvement comprising impinging a jet of fluid on the single merged stream at each boss for a period of time sufficient to separate the merged single stream into individual cones issuing from each orifice of the boss, and thereafter stopping the fluid impingement while concurrently drawing a filament from each cone.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 117 words

In a method of starting a flooded glass filament bushing base plate, the base plate having a plurality of transversely and longitudinally spaced bosses, each of which is provided with a plurality of individual orifices so closely spaced as to flood with the molten glass from the individual orifices of each boss merging into a single stream substantially covering the lower face of the boss, the improvement comprising impinging a jet of fluid on the single merged stream at each boss for a period of time sufficient to separate the merged single stream into individual cones issuing from each orifice of the boss, and thereafter stopping the fluid impingement while concurrently drawing a filament from each cone.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 81 words

A method of making glass filaments comprising drawing filaments from a plurality of bosses, each boss having a plurality of orifices therein, and, in the event of flooding of any boss, directing a stream of fluid toward the flooded boss for a period of time sufficient to separate the flooded glass of the flooded boss into individual filaments which can be drawn from the individual orifices, thereby reinstating the drawing of a filament from each orifice of the previously flooded boss.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 81 words

A method of making glass filaments comprising drawing filaments from a plurality of bosses, each boss having a plurality of orifices therein, and, in the event of flooding of any boss, directing a stream of fluid toward the flooded boss for a period of time sufficient to separate the flooded glass of the flooded boss into individual filaments which can be drawn from the individual orifices, thereby reinstating the drawing of a filament from each orifice of the previously flooded boss.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 102 words

A method of starting operation of a glass filament bushing, the base plate of which has a plurality of bosses each provided with a plurality of orifices, comprising the steps of flooding the base plate with glass issuing from each boss as a single stream in which the glass streams from the boss orifices merge into a composite glass filament, directing a fluid onto each composite glass filament to cool the same sufficiently to effect separation of the composite filament into separate cones located in each orifice, terminating the fluid once separation is effected and thereafter drawing a filament from each cone.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 102 words

A method of starting operation of a glass filament bushing, the base plate of which has a plurality of bosses each provided with a plurality of orifices, comprising the steps of flooding the base plate with glass issuing from each boss as a single stream in which the glass streams from the boss orifices merge into a composite glass filament, directing a fluid onto each composite glass filament to cool the same sufficiently to effect separation of the composite filament into separate cones located in each orifice, terminating the fluid once separation is effected and thereafter drawing a filament from each cone.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 76 words

The method of decreasing beaddown time in a flooded glass filament bushing having an orificed bushing base plate, comprising merging together the molten glass from separate groups of orifices, drawing composite filaments from each of said groups of orifices, directing a cooling fluid onto the composite filaments adjacent the base plate to separate the composite filaments into their component filaments, each such filament being individual to one orifice, and drawing the individual filaments from the orifices.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 76 words

The method of decreasing beaddown time in a flooded glass filament bushing having an orificed bushing base plate, comprising merging together the molten glass from separate groups of orifices, drawing composite filaments from each of said groups of orifices, directing a cooling fluid onto the composite filaments adjacent the base plate to separate the composite filaments into their component filaments, each such filament being individual to one orifice, and drawing the individual filaments from the orifices.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 103 words

The method of decreasing beaddown time in a glass filament bushing having a bushing base plate provided with isolated, individual boss, each boss having a plurality of orifices therethrough, said orifices being so closely spaced as to normally flood, comprising flooding the base plate to form a composite filament at each boss by merging together the molten glass issuing from the orifices of said boss, quenching the composite filament at each boss with fluid only to the extent necessary to separate the composite filaments into their component filaments, each such filament being individual to one orifice, and drawing individual filaments from the orifices.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 103 words

The method of decreasing beaddown time in a glass filament bushing having a bushing base plate provided with isolated, individual boss, each boss having a plurality of orifices therethrough, said orifices being so closely spaced as to normally flood, comprising flooding the base plate to form a composite filament at each boss by merging together the molten glass issuing from the orifices of said boss, quenching the composite filament at each boss with fluid only to the extent necessary to separate the composite filaments into their component filaments, each such filament being individual to one orifice, and drawing individual filaments from the orifices.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1987-09-04	1988-03-05	1988-09-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1991-09-04	1992-03-05	1992-09-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1995-09-04	1996-03-05	1996-09-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for the manufacture of fibers

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