Owens-corning Fiberglas Corporation

Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.

Clarence E Fracker, Jr

Seshadri Srinivasan

Lawrence J Grubka

Jerome F Marra

Michael W Morrison

An apparatus is provided for producing continuous glass filaments. The apparatus comprises a feeder (20) for supplying streams of molten glass to be drawn into continuous filaments, a drawing device (40) adapted to draw the streams into the filaments, and heat removal apparatus (50) located adjacent to the feeder for transferring energy in the form of heat away from a filament forming area adjacent to the feeder. The heat removal apparatus includes first and second manifolds (52a, 54) through which a cooling fluid circulates, a plurality of fins (56) having first and second ends (56a and 56b) and interface material (58). The first ends of the fins are associated with the first manifold and the second ends are positioned adjacent to the second manifold. The first ends may be fixedly connected to the first manifold. The interface material is interposed between the second manifold and the second ends to provide a path for energy in the form of heat to flow from the fins to the second manifold.

Apparatus for producing continuous glass filaments

A glass fiber attenuation apparatus and process wherein molten glass is supplied from a molten glass body to an orifice plate at substantially atmospheric pressure to prevent molten glass flow through an orifice at which attenuation has ceased, thus permitting continuation of the attenuation process despite breakouts at individual orifices. The preferred embodiment of the method includes the steps of cooling the orifice plate undersurface to a non-wetting temperature and delivering molten glass to the orifice plate at a pressure less than the internal, surface tension-generated pressure of any bead formed on the undersurface of the orifice plate upon attenuation cessation at that orifice. The preferred embodiment of the apparatus includes a perforate pressure plate immersed in the body of molten glass and superimposed over the orifice plate to effect a pressure drop upon normal attenuation flow which is sufficient to reduce the pressure immediately above the orifice plate to substantially atmospheric pressure or, in any event, to a pressure less than the internal pressure of a bead or globule formed on attenuation cessation at an orifice. The orifice plate may be of either the planar, non-tipped type or of the tipped type, and the orifice plate may be cooled to the appropriate temperature either by gas flow cooling directed at the undersurface of the orifice plate or by fin shields.

Method for forming glass fibers

The present invention encompasses a system for at least partially drying or curing wet glass strand as it is being wound into a package wherein streams of heated gas, such as air, are directed into contact with the outer layer of strand being collected on a rotating collet. Preferably, the streams of gas have a specific orientation with respect to the layers of strand and are supplied at predetermined temperatures and velocities to maximize the drying effect.

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Frazeysburg, OH, United States of America

Clarence E Fracker, Jr