Document 8dQqqxXLRRjY683g1VkLMjBo

April 11, 1939. c r buss 2,153,739 APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF FORMING MINERAL WOOL FROM FUSIBLE SOLIDS Filed Dec. 10, 1936 t *n i' 1 MTC 016996 Patented Apr. 11,1939 2,153,739 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8,153,739 APPARATUS FOE AND METHOD OF FORMING MINERAL WOOL FROM FUSIBLE SOLIDS Charles Richard Boss, Thorold, Ontario, Canada, assignor to Spun Book Wools, Limited, Thorold, Ontario, Canada, a company Application December 10, 1936, Serial No, 115,169 13 Claims. (CL 83--91) This invention relates to the disintegrating of rock, slag and other fusible solids into the fibrous state. The process and apparatus at present used for the manufacture of fibrous material of this 6 kind is very unwieldly and requires the use of a large amount of building space. The object of the present invention is to devise apparatus which is very compact in comparison with the present apparatus, and which at the 10 same time will be very efficient in operation and economical in use; The formation of fibers from molten rock, slag and the like is generally termed "blowing." The present process relates to that general type of lb spinning which involves the formation of drops or small masses of the viscous fluid which are pro jected away from their place of formation with the pulling of a thread or fiber from the drop or mass. The drop or head of the thread solid20 ifles, due to loss of heat, and it produces so-called "shot." The production of the "shot" is unavoid able according to this method of producing the fibers. Also it appears that some of the shot are formed under circumstances resulting in little 25 if any drawing of fiber from or by them. How ever, the presence of the shot in the finished fi bers is undesirable because the shot add very greatly to the weight without any compensating utility. 30 According to the present invention the drops or small masses by and from which the threads are drawn are formed and projected by the engage ment of a stream of the molten rock, slag and the like with the peripheral portion of a coned 35 and grooved spinning disc running at a high ve locity. The spinning disc breaks up the viscous fluid into the required drops or masses and pro jects them with sufficient kinetic energy to draw the desired thread. The head and thread con- 40 tlnue to remain attached so long as the head 1s molten and viscous, but as soon as the head loses its molten condition, it should be broken off the thread. The problem then is first to assist in the breaking off the heads or shot when possi- 45 ble and separation of the heads or shot from the threads. According to the present invention I have provided a classifier which works on the combined action of suction and inertia to cause ^ not only separation of the heads from the fibers but also classification and segregation of the same. The way I do this is more fully described here after, but, in general, it consists in establishing a definite flow of air downward in a zone around 04 the spinning disc. This zone is defined by a cir cular wall outside of which is a relatively quiet zone which provides a receptacle for the shot. The flow of air in the first zone is in practice secured by drawing or sucking the air by means of a fan or blower. g The action is as follows: The drops or small masses projected from the disc have sufficient kinetic energy or inertia of motion to carry them selves through the zone of flowing air without ma terial deflection. But the thread or fiber which 10 is being drawn presents so great a hold to the moving current of air that it is carried by the current of air and tends to be broken off of the shot. Thus whereas the shot succeed in passing through the zone of moving air into the recep- 16 tacle for shot, the threads or fibers are drawn away by the current of air before they escape. These fibers as fast as they are formed are then conveyed by the current of air to a second classifier. go Some of the fibers are produced by drops or masses which are so small to begin with or are so much depleted by the drawing of the threads that they do not have the necessary inertia left to carry through the moving current of air and, 25 therefore, are carried along with the fibers by the suction of the fan. As the fibers pass through the fan, the action tends to break off some of the heads or shot from threads. The fan delivers all the fibers, both those without heads and those 30 having heads attached, under considerable veloc ity of movement in a moving current of air which is projected against a wall which is preferably the bottom wall of a pan or classifier. There the cur rent of air is sharply deflected, but the heavier 36 particles impinge upon the bottom wall of the pan. The light fibers tend to follow the flow of air and are likewise deflected, 1. e.. up and over the edge of the pan. The heads of the fibers or any adherent solid particles being more compact 40 and heavy tend to strike against the wall and are thereby broken off of or loosened from the fibers, and much of the shot that escapes the first clas sification at the spinning cone is detached and trapped at this stage. The second classifier is preferably arranged to trap the detached heads and allow the fibers to escape into a suitable re ceptacle. This action of the separation of the solid particles is accomplished by deflecting the solid particles and by allowing them to gravitate 60 into a pocket or trap where they are out of the line of impingement by incoming fibers and shot. The wool or fiber so produced is so much freed of shot that it is greatly superior to any mineral gg MTC 016997 2 3,158,789 wool heretofore produced In respect to fineness, weight, and insulating qualities. I attain my object by means of the apparatus hereinafter described and Illustrated in' the ac- . companying drawing in which-- * Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the im proved apparatus; Pig. 2 a plan view of the disintegrator; Fig. 3 a cross section through the disintegrator; in and Fig. 4 a plan view of the apparatus, parts be ing shown in section; Fig. 5 an enlarged detail Illustrating the shape of the ribs on the disintegrator. .. in the drawing like numerals of reference inrtinate corresponding parts In the different fig ures. The apparatus comprises broadly three main parts, a furnace for melting the material, dlsinte- 2g grating means and collecting means. I indicates a reducing furnace, which may be of any ordinary type and heated In any suitable manner and provided with the discharge spout 2. Adjacent the furnace Is a spinner chamber S ok where the disintegration is effected. On a ver tical shaft 4 is mounted the spinner I. This shaft is provided with a drive pulley ( by means of which it is driven from an electric motor, gasoline engine, or other means not shown. This spin- 30 ner is formed with a flat central disk portion 6* and an outwardly and downwardly Inclined pe ripheral portion 6b, and the upper surface of this inclined peripheral portion Is provided with an nular ribs 6C, forming between them annular 33 grooves. As will be seen from Fig. 5, these ribs are formed with a narrow inner wall and a wide outer wall, and the top of the rib Is above the level of the gToove at the Inner side of the rib. The ribs therefore have a tendency to collect and 40 cany the film of molten material around with the spinner before overflowing to the next groove. A considerably greater spread of the film Is thus obtained before it Is discharged from the spin ner under centrifugal action. It will be noted 45 from Figs. 1 and 3 that the spout 2 is arranged to discharge on to this ribbed Inclined peripheral portion of the spinner. The upper edges of the rib6 which separate- the grooves form definite edges from which the mate50 rial is thrown off and the depth of the groove serves to define the mass of the drops or masses thrown off by centrifugal force. Thus, simul taneous spinning from the upper edges of a plurality of ribs is carried on, greatly Increasing 55 the yield of wool. The material Is disintegrated by discharging It in the molten condition from the furnace on to this inclined peripheral portion 6b of the spin ner. while the latter Is being rapidly rotated. 60 With a spinner approximately twelve inches in diameter I find that best results are attained by driving the spinner at approximately 36004000 revolutions per minute, but It will be under stood that the spinner may be larger or smaller 65 and the speed of rotation may vary with the di ameter of the spinner. The molten material from the spout 2 is, as be fore stated, dropped on or directed against the upper part of the inclined peripheral portion Sb 70 of the spinner while the latter Is rapidly rotated, and due to the centrifugal force, is discharged outwardly from the spinner. Due to the Incli nation of the molten material receiving surface, the deposited material has a tendency to also 76 spread downwardly over said inclined surface thus "thinning** the film of molten material be fore the latter is thrown off, thus facilitating the disintegration or breaking up of the material. Th! ``thinning*' or "spreading'' of~the material la further helped by the corrugating or ribbing of 5 the deposition surface. The stream of molten material from the spout t in running upon the coned and grooved portion of the disc I tends to fill one or more of the grooves. That is to say each groove will accept 10 only a certain flow or quantity of material and any excess tends to be received by the next suc ceeding groove or grooves. The edges of the ridges separating the grooves act like retaining flanges from the rims of which the material is u flung in drops or masses. The size of the grooves which are emptied by centrifugal force tends to control the size of the drops thrown off. These molten viscous drops in being projected by the disc tend to leave behind them a thread to or fiber which is pulled, drawn, or spun from the body of the drop while it Is sufficiently fluid. The drop forms a head from which the fiber or thread streams backward. When the head solidifies, the drawing of fiber ceases and the head tends to sep- gg arate from the fiber because the fiber has much greater friction with the air than the head has. The heads freed from the threads or from which no threads were formed are like small pellets or shot and are generally termed "shot." to These pellets or shot particles, due to their greater weight, are thrown further from the spin ner than the fibrous material and are thus nat urally separated from the latter. I therefore pro vide means for taking advantage of this natural 86 separation to retain the shot separate from the fibrous material. Furthermore, the suction means which I pro vide facilitates the separation or breaking of the heads from the fibers to produce separate fibers 40 and shot, by pulling the fibers downwardly as the heads thereof travel laterally. This tends to re lease the heads from the tails or thread-like fibers and allow them to travel on as shot. If the heads are not separated from the threads, they are 45 pulled with the threads or fibers by the current of air and later subjected to a second separating ac tion. Within the spinner chamber 3 Is provided a deep pan or receptacle 1 having an open top. This receptacle T is of such a size that its wall Is 60 so placed that the fibrous material falls inside the receptacle, whereas the shot or heavier ma terial is thrown outside the receptacle. The fibrous material is drawn from the recep tacle 1 through a conduit 8, a suction fan 9 being 66 provided In the conduit for this purpose. The suction due to the operation of the fan 9 has a tendency to draw down any fibrous material which might tend to pass over the top 'of the wall of the receptacle 2. 90 This drawing down of the air In a zone sur rounding the disc 9 and inside the walls of the chamber 1 presents a novel and effective action. The current of air tends to draw the fiber or thread downwardly much more than it does the 95 head or shot because the head or shot presents much less surface for a given mass. A a result, by the downward pull of the air upon the thread or fiber not only Is the thread pulled down Into the receptacle T, but this action tends to pull or TO break the threads off of and away from the heads or shot and out of the path in which the heads or shot are projected. Thus, by projecting the spun material heads or shot and the fibers transversely across the cur- T6 MTC 016998 9,108,788 3 rent of air. it la possible to secure a my good angle II with the bottom wall 11. The solid par classifying action due to first that the heads or ticles in the air borne current tend to impinge t having a higher ratio of volume to surface upon said conical bottom wall and by their in- to retain a greater Inertia and are projected to a ertia, bounce, and gravity are deflected into the _ greater radial distance than the threads or fibers. annular pocket II. The inwardly coned wall 18 g Second, the transverse current of air draws the tends to deflect any solid particles which strike threads sidewise (1. e., down in Figure 1) relative it further into the corner or trap II. The up to the path in which the material is projected. wardly and outwardly flared wall 14 allows and Hence, a large part of the heads or shot are re- directs an easy expansion of the reflex current 10 moved in this operation, while the fibers largely of air carrying the light fibers so that they are m freed of heads or shot are drawn off and dis wafted out of the pan 11 and tend to settle in the charged through conduit I. receptacle or bin II. Obviously, the structural This conduit 8 leads to a receiver II, prefer form of the pocket constituted by pan 11 may be ably of woven wire or similar openwork construe- wide'y varied giving, however, the above mode .. tlon to permit air to pass therethrough while col- of impacting and separating. The fibrous stock 75 10 lecting the fibrous material. A small percentage under the action of the air is carried outwardly of heavy or shot material will cling to the fibrous towards the wall of the receiver and drops to the material and drop into the reseptacle 1, and is bottom thereof. The fibrous material is removed drawn off through the conduit I, which it is de- from the receiver and bagged or baled as desired go sired to separate as far as possible from the fi for convenient handling. jq brous material. While the applicant does not desire to restrict This shot comprises some beads which are still himself to any particular dimensions, he has integral with their fibers, which heads were not found that with a spinner 12" in diameter good broken off by the air flow *n the zone lying results are obtained if the spinner chamber 8 is ,, around the disc 8 and inside the receptacle 1. approximately seven feet square and six feet high, 25 To some extent these heads may be freed as shot the receptacle 1 approximately four feet in di by the action of the fan and the travel of the ma ameter. It will be seen therefore that the main teria] through the conduit 8--8. However, I pro disintegration and separation of the fibrous ma vide a further action in the second stage of treat- terial from the shot is conducted within the 30 ment where I provide means for breaking off and chamber 2, which is quite small in sl^e. The re- p* separating as shot those heads which still are at celver 11 may be of any suitable size. The cham tached to threads. This second stage of treat ber 3 and receiver 18 will, of course, be provided ment also classifies and separates such loose shot with suitable openings through which access may as was not removed by the action in the first be had to their interiors for removing the shot u classifier 8--1--8 and such as has been freed from material or other purposes. 55 the threads or fibers in passing from the first The apparatus above described is intended par classifier 8--1--I to the second classifier. I ticularly for the manufacture of rock wool. It is therefore suitably support within the receiver found that with the apparatus above described, 10 a pan II, and the conduit 8 is arranged to dis- the rock wool is formed with considerably longer 40 charge into this pan II. The wall of this pan fibres and contains less shot or heavy particles. 40 is inclined inwardly from the base of the pan, The wool also possesses greater resiliency than and then outwardly, thus forming a wide mouth rock wool as made by the older processes, and has to receive the material from the conduit, and a a lesser tendency to break down under vibration. narrow neck portion which tends to trap any shot A given quantity of wool when subjected to a giv 45 which has adhered to the fibres. en pressure weighs lighter than wool made ac- 46 The bottom wall of the pan as shown is coned cording to the old methods, and therefore a given convexly in order to direct impinging heads or quantity of the wool by weight, will go consider shot laterally to trap the same in the lower ably further than the old type wool, and possesses outer corner of the pan, both by their inertia a higher insulating value. 50 and by gravity. The product carried by the It is found that the thickness of the fibres may 60 current of air from the receptacle 1 through be regulated by varying the speed of rotation of conduit 8 and fan 9 is discharged toward the the spinner. coned bottom wall of the pan II. Fibers with no appreciable weight of head or shot tends to What I claim as my invention is: 1. In apparatus for forming mineral wool from 55 be immediately wafted out of the pan. but heavy fusible solids, the combination with a furnace, of 66 particles, such as shot or fibers with heads or a rotary member having a downwardly and out shot adhering to them, have sufficient inertia wardly inclined peripheral portion; said periph to actually impinge against the bottom of the pan. eral portion having a plurality of closely spaced This impingement tends to shake loose or break small V-shaped annular ribs formed in its upper go loose from the fibers any solid particles such as ' surface, the inner sides of said ribs being narrow 60 shot or heads. Thereby the breaking off and with a slight upward inclination, and the outer separation of the solid particles as shot is ef sides of said ribs wide with a slow downward in fected by an action different from that in the clination; means for rotating said member; and separator and classifier 8--1--3. The deflection means for depositing molten material from said Go and gravitation of the solid particles laterally furnace in a small stream on to said inclined 65 and downwardly keeps them from getting in the peripheral portion of the rotary member. way of the incoming current of air and air borne 2. In apparatus for forming mineral wool from material. fusible solids, the combination with a furnace The pan II forms a pocket with an inclined of a rotary member; means tor depositing molten 7o wall, 1 e., specifically, a flat cone 12 against the material from said furnace in a fine stream on 70 apex of which the discharge end of the tube 8 to said rotary member; means for rotating said directs the air borne current of material. The member to centrifugally discharge the deposited bottom wall has an annular conical wall I] of material from said member; and a chamber for steeper inclination than the wall 12 joined to the receiving said discharged material, said chamber 75 outer end thereof so as to form an acute dihedral having a partition dividing said chamber into 76 MTC 016999 4 a.i6a,7so Inner and outer compartments; suction means rock wool which comprises conveying a stream of for withdrawing the mineral wool deposited In the material to be separated In a current of air, the Inner compartment, and a receptacle having ' discharging said current of air and air borne openwork walls for receiving material from said material against an Inclined bottom wall of a 5 suction means. - pocket whereby the denser portion of the current 5 3. In apparatus for forming mineral wool from of air borne material impinges against said In fusible solids, the combination with a furnace clined wall and breaks the solid particles loose of a rotary member; means for depositing molten from the fibers of the wool. solid particles material from said furnace in a line stream an to being deflected laterally and downwardly by 10 said rotary member; means for rotating said Inclined wall by inertia and by gravity and the 10 member to centrlfugally discharge the deposited fibers are wafted up and out of the pocket by the material from said member; and a chamber for reflected"current of air escaping out of the pocket. receiving said discharged material, said chamber 8. The combination of a pan having a coned having a partition dividing said chamber into bottom wall and a rim, said rim consisting of an 15 Inner and outer compartments; suction means annular wall forming with the bottom wall an 15 for withdrawing the mineral wool deposited In acute angle to provide an annular pocket for the Inner chamber; a receptacle having open trapping said particles which Impinge upon the work walls for receiving material from said suc coned portion wall, and means for discharging tion means; and a pan positioned in said casing an air borne current at fibrous material with ad SO Into which the discharge from the suction means herent solid particles against said coned bottom 20 Is directed, said pan having a restricted neck por wall, said means comprising a discharge tube tion adapted to trap heavier particles of material. directed axially upon the point of the cone. 4. A method of forming mineral wool from 8. The combination of claim 8 with an out fusible solids which consists In reducing the solids wardly and upwardly flared conical wall Joining 25 to a molten state; discharging the molten mate the upper margin of said annular wall and serving 25 rial In a fine stream, then bringing the molten to form an expansion passageway for the reflex stream Into contact with downwardly and out current of air which Is discharged by said tube wardly Inclined annular surface while rotating In the direction of said coned bottom wall. the latter at high speed, drawing off, In a current 10. Apparatus for forming mineral wool com SO of air, the fibres from the loose shot adjacent the prising the combination of a shaft Journaled for 30 point of formation as fast as they are formed, rotation on a vertical axis, a rotary spinning discharging In said current of air the withdrawn member mounted on the lower end of the shaft, fibres downwardly against the wall of a pocket to the space around and under the member being. break off any shot adhering to the fibres, and rals- unobstructed so as to permit the free passage of 55 lng the fibers out of the pockets by the current fibers spun by the member downward and later- 35 of air to separate the broken-off shot from the ally, said member having its upper marginal por fibres. tion disposed In the form of a cone sloping down 5. In combination, a spinning cone comprising wardly and outwardly, said marginal conical por a central body portion and a downwardly and tion having a series of closely spaced circumfer 40 outwardly tapered marginal portion, said ta ential grooves the radially outermost sides of the 411 pered marginal portion having upon Its upper grooves being defined by ribs having edges stand face a series of closely spaced grooves separated ing above the bottoms of the grooves, means for by circular ribs forming circular spinning edges supplying a stream of viscous molten wool-form from which fibers are adapted to be spun, means ing material to be spun and depositing the same 40 for pouring upon the grooved surface of the cone upon said marginal conical portion at a point 45 adjacent Its periphery a stream of molten viscous remote from the center of the member and In slag like material which supplies simultaneously a sufficient volume to cause the molten material to plurality of said grooves to produce multiple spin spread upon the Inclined surface simultaneously ning from the corresponding spinning edges, a fl- over a series of said grooves, said grooves and . ber receiving receptacle having its upper rim dis ribs tending to assist In the spreading of said posed below the cone and substantially surround material on the member, and means for rotating ing the cone, said cone being mounted upon a the member at high speed, whereby the molten vertical shaft extending solely from the upper material Is spun into fine fibers from a plurality end of the cone whereby the space below the of said edges In multiple at the same time and ,, cone and in the receptacle Is unobstructed by the under substantially the same temperature condl- 55 shaft, and a suction pipe having means for suck tlons by the operation of said spinning member. ing a current of air downward around the periph 11. Apparatus for spinning molten viscous ma ery of the cone and through the receptacle and terial into fine fibers comprising a rotating spin suction pipe to remove the fibers as fast as they ner consisting of a central body having a down are formed. wardly sloping conical margin, said body having a so 6. In the manufacture of mineral wool from series of closely spaced circumferential grooves a viscous molten material, the method of sepa formed on said margin, said grooves being spaced rating shot from fibers which consists in project apart by sharp ridges from the tops of which fibers ing the molten material transversely to a current are spun, a shaft Journaled for rotation on a ver gs of air which Is ineffective to deflect the shot but tical axis, said spinner being disposed on the 55 which draws the fibers transversely from the path lower end of the shaft leaving the space around of the shot as fast as the fibers are formed, and the sides and under the spinner clear of obstruc by said current of air convey the fibers as fast tions whereby fibers spun from the periphery of as they are formed and discharging them so as the spinner may be removed, as fast as formed, 75 to Impact them against a wall disposed within by a current of air, means for providing molten 70 a pocket, said Impacting tending to knock shot viscous material to be spun, and means for de or heavy particles loose from the fibers and the positing a stream of said moltfen material upon current of air flowing out of the pocket wafting the conical margin remote from the center of the the fibers back out of the pocket. spinner In sufficient volume to supply directly a 75 7. The process of freeing solid particles from plurality of said grooves simultaneously with ma- 75 MTC 017000 9,1 BS,780 s terial for spinning, and suction means lor con tinuously drawing the fibers downwardly and away to remove them as fast as formed. 12. Apparatus for producing mineral wool comS prising means providing a supply of molten viscous mineral for spinning, a rotary spinner having on its upper surface a conical margin on which are formed a series of closely spaced cir cumferential grooves separated by narrow ridges 10 from the tops of which fibers are spun, a shaft journaled for rotation, the spinner being mounted on the end of the shaft leaving the space about and beyond the spinner clear of obstructions, means for depositing a stream of said molten U material upon the grooved surface of the spinner at a point remote from its axis simultaneously into a plurality of said grooves whereby fibers are spun in multiple at the same time and under substantially the same temperature conditions from a plurality of said spinning ridges, means for driving the shaft and said spinner at high rotative speed to cause the aforesaid spinning of fibers by the rotation of the disc, a fiber receiving receptacle having a wall, particles of the mate- 5 rial not drawn into fibers being adapted to be discharged beyond the edge of the wall, said receptacle being disposed adjacent the spinner in position to receive the fibers, and suction pro ducing means for drawing a current of air 10 through the space in which the fibers are spun and through the receptacle to carry the fibers into the receptacle and to remove the fibers from the receptacle in a continuous operation, the space in which the fibers are spun and the interior of 15 the receptacle being free of obstructions whereby the fibers may be continuously removed as fast as they are formed. CHARLES RICHARD BUSS. V MTC 017001 MTC 017002 Oct 22, 1935. C. C. WHITTIER MACHINE FOR MAKING CHEMICAL ASBESTOS Filed Jan. 16, 1933 2,018,478 &Jct7ie.S<5&3 Q&y*s: MTC 017003 Patented Oct 22, 1835 2,018,478 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,018,478 MACHINE FOB MAKING CHEMICAL ASBESTOS Charles O. Whittier, Chicago, HL Application January 16, 1988, Serial No. 652,093 2 Claims. (CL 49--1) This invention relates to a new and useful flla- malnder falling won a rapidly moving carrier 6, mentary material and to methods and means for preferably of rotor design, whereby the material, producing same, and more especially to artificial carried thereon is further submitted to the fric- asbejtos or chemically new asbestos-llke fibers tlonal attack of the atmosphere and further 6 and cq efficient continuous-process methods and drawn off In filamentary form; said carrier as 5 mechanisms or means for manufacturing such shown in Figs. 1 and 2 being In discoidal form material or product. ' and rotated horizontally, whereby the material The main objects of the Invention are to artlfl- deposited thereon or part of It Is hurled centrif- clally product a fibrous mineral product or ma- ugally outward In liquid form whereby it is still 10 terlal having substantially all of the desirable further acted upon frictlonally and parts or sub 10 attributes of natural asbestos fiber in Its various stantlally all of the remaining material Is drawn forms, and to provide such a product of superior off by the atmosphere in filamentary form. All quality and better adapted for various purposes of the filaments 1, upon passing Into the atmos- for which natural asbestos Is used, and also for phere, congeal and become set In permanent flla- 16 many other purposes for which natural asbestos ment or fiber form and thereupon settle by gravity 15 is not adapted; including especially insulating and collect feltwise In the chamber 6 which sur- and textile commodities; to produce a tempered rounds and extends below the carrier. The rotor and more flexible fiber of greater strength and 6 Is driven by a motor 6'. toughness; to combine synthetically. In suitable The fibrous or filamentary material 1 thus col- 20 proportions, appropriate materials mainly of lected Is removed in any convenient way and 20 natural source and to so treat the same as to ac- may be packaged or baled In any desired manner complish the foregoing purposes and thus pro- ready for storage or shipment, as will be under- duce a product having the desired qualities herein stood, or It may be conveyed directly to any point set forth; and to provide means adapted for con- whereon wanted, as for utilization in the lndus- 26 tlnuous-process operation whereby the product trial arts or for other purposes. 25 herein described may be produced or manu- The said chamber 8 Is annuloldal in shape and factured commercially and of satisfactory quality Is positioned horizontally with the Inlet and out- and in sufficient volume to meet practical Indus- let openings 9 and 4 In vertical coaxial aline- trial and commercial needs. ment therewith. Fuel Is admitted in a somewhat 30 Means adapted for carrying out the purposes tangential direction through a burner jet 10 hav- 30 and for manufacturing the product herein de- lng a delicately responsive control valve II. This scribed are illustrated by the accompanying draw- valve is regulated automatically by a pyrometric lng, in which: thermostat 12 or the like posltloned adjacent to - Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a mineral the path of the molten mineral as it passes from 36 fusing furnace having combined therewith appro- chamber I to chamber 3, the said thermostat and 35 priate heat regulating means and suitable mech- valve being responsively connected, as understood anlsm to cause and effect drawing of filaments ' In the temperature control art, as for Instance by from the molten material treated. electrical means not fully shown. Fig. 2 Is a plan substantially on the line 2--2 In order to temper the resultant fibers and so 40 of Fig. 1. enhance their toughness and flexibility and cor-' 40 Fig. 3 is a side view of a modified form of flla- responding fitness for fabrication and textile pur ulent drawing rotor. poses and the like, an oil spray pressure jet or Referring to said drawing, the process as a series of jets IS are mounted to discharge oil whole may be briefly described by stating that raw vapor into the filament drawing air and against 46 material, comprising the several necessary ele- the hot filaments as they are formed. 45 ments or minerals, is fed Into the fusing furnace The component elements In this new flla- chamber I from which It flows by gravity through mentary product are substantially those found the outlet 2 and falls in a stream through a tern- in natural asbestos but may be varied consldera- perature controlling chamber 3, and thence bly in their relative proportions, an<j other ele- 6o downward through the opening 4 Into an open ments may be added to impart particular or 50 space or. chamber 6 where It is submitted to the special characteristics, as for Instance coloring frictional attack of a rapidly moving gaseous oxides, etc. Fusing together appropriate natural atmosphere as for Instance air, certain parts of minerals Is sufficient for the main purposes. It the material being Immediately drawn off In flla- has been found, for Instance, that a very good mentary form Into the atmosphere, and the re- quality of asbestos fiber may be obtained by com- 55 MTC 017004 2 3,018,478 bluing and treating materials as fallows: nants as may occur are reprocessed, or they may alumina 27%; lime 22%; magnesia 17%; and be used for other purposes, as for inKtanne silica 34%. This results in a light colored prod ground far use as an abrasive, so there is no uct consisting of fine flexible fibers or fiimnmt*. waste of material. 5 Appropriate metafile oxides may be added in Referring to the modified construction shown s small proportions to produce desired "colors, as In Figure 3, the rotor IS here shown Is mounted for Instance Iran oxide. on a horizontal axis and the molten mineral falls A very good asbestos may be obtained by chem upon the broad cylindriform face thereof; the ically combining by heat ordinary natural dolo- operative effect on the mineral being substan 1G mite and clay in appropriate proportions, the tially the same as results from using the form lo clay containing 25% or more of alumina. See shown In figures 1 and 2. Bulletin 95 (1920) of the Department of the In The specific quality and size of the asbestos terior. Bureau of Mines, page 225, regarding dolo fibers may be varied somewhat according to the mite. purpose for which they are to be used by varying 15 In case the necessary material* are readily the temperature and fluidity of the molten is available, a good asbestos may be made advan stream as it passes through the temperature ad tageously by combining magnesium limestone, justment chamber. bauxite and silica, or by combining silica, mag It Is to be understood that some of the de nesite and hematite. tails set forth may be altered or omitted without 20 Whenever the device herein described Is to be departing from the spirit of the invention as de- go operated, fuel is supplied to the fusing chamber fined by the following claims: I through the burner nozzle 14, and raw mate I claim: rials, usually containing the necessary elements, 1. An asbestos making apparatus comprising as for Instance clay and dolomite, or other suit- a fusing furnace having a discharge cascade 25 able materials, are fed in at IS. outlet, a horizontally d'sposed temperature rey 25 When the material begins to fuse sufficiently, mating combustion chamber substantiallyyaniu- one or more clay plugs are removed from the loidal in sbape arranged coaxial with, ant1 sur openings. IS of the gate or dam IS', by access rounding, an intermediate portion of said cu&'et through the rear opening IT so as to permit the In open communication therewith, a burner en 30 molten mineral to trickle down at 2. The burner tering, and arranged tangential to, the outer pe- so 10 having been started, the temperature of the riphery of said chamber to cause rotation of the stream IB will be held constant at a predeter atmosphere in the chamber about the slag in the mined value by thermostat 12. Then as the course of its discharge through said outlet, and stream enters the space S It Is acted upon by means to promote the drawing of filaments from 35 the draft of air generated frictionally by the said slag below the discharge end of the outlet. 35 rotor S and the impinging air overcomes the sur 2. An asbestos making apparatus comprising face tension of the liquid stream and pulls par a fusing furnace having a discharge cascade out ticles, wh'ch it draws out. Into long strings or let, a horizontal disposed temperature regulating filaments which are Instantly congealed by the combustion chamber annuloidal in shape, ar 40 relatively cool but substantially hot air. The ranged coaxial with and around an Intermediate 40 rotor 6 Is maintained at proper speed correspond portion of said outlet, said chamber being sub ing with the temperature and fluidity of the stantially kidney-shape in cross-section and In molten mineral stream and may range in pe open communication at its center with that por ripheral speed from almost three to six thousand tion of the outlet surrounded by the chamber, a 4S feet per minute. burner entering, and arranged tangential to, the 45 Whatever liquid falls upon the rotor Is farther outer periphery of the chamber to cause rotation subject to the filament drawing action of the air of the atmosphere In said chamber about the as it is carried along mare or less on the rotor; slag in the course of its passage through the out but whatever of the liquid on the rotor is not let, and "" to promote the drawing of fila 5G drawn into filaments is thrown off centrifugally ments from the dag below the discharge end of 59 and further exposed to air drawing, usually suf the outlet. ficient to exhaust the m and leave little or no CHARLES C. WHITTIER. residue or solid remnants; but any such rem MTC 017005 March 4, 1941. f. rosengarth etal 2,234,087 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OP FIBERS FROM GLASS, SLAG, AND THE LIKE MELTABLE MATERIALS Filed Nov. 16, 1931 MTC 017006 Patented Mar. 4,1941 2,234,087 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,234,087 apparatus and method fob produc tion OF FIBERS FROM GLASS, SLAG. AND THE LIKE MELTABLE MATERIALS Friedrich Rosengarth, Cologne-on-the-Rhine, and Frits Hater, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, as signors, by mesne assignments, to OwensCorning Fiberslas Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application November 18,1931, Serial No. 575,358 In Germany November 29, 1930 8 Claims. (CL 49--1) The production of fibers or threads from mol ten glass, so-called glass silk, is hitherto per formed by means of spinning machines on which the threads are drawn from prepared glass rods 5 or from the molten mass through nozzles, while in the manufacture of slag wool the threads are produced by the aid of steam or air blowers. It is the object of the invention to provide a novel method and device for making fibers or 10 threads of the kind stated. According to this invention, the hot liquid glass or slag mass is flown in a continuous and uniform thin stream onto a rapidly rotating body, such as a disc of suitable material. The liquid mass is thrown off 15 the periphery of the disc by the centrifugal force and simultaneously formed into thin threads which sink down in the space around the rotat ing disc and can be collected as a uniform fibrous web. 20 Owing to the higher momentum imparted to heavier particles, such as thicker drops and threads, these are thrown off the disc to a great er distance and thus can be easily separated from the threads of the normal or desired thickness. 25 For facilitating the production of the fibers and aiding them in sinking down after their formation, a circular current of air under pres sure is blown around the disc toward the dls,,0 charge end of the device, this air current exertu0 lng a downward pressure on the fibers thrown off the disc so that they can be readily carried off. In order to allow of the Invention to be more clearly understood, an embodiment of a device for carrying the Invention Into effect is shown "* on the accompanying drawing in a sectional ele vation. I designates a furnace for melting the work ing materia], such as glass or slag, the furnace 40 being heated by burners 2. 3 is an opening for filling in fresh material and S' Is a cover for the said opening. 4 designates the outlet of the fur nace with which cooperates a plug 5 which is adapted to be raised and lowered for regulating AT, the quantity of material discharged through the outlet. The outlet mouth 4 Is surrounded by a rim 6. The annular space between the mouth 4 and rim 6 is designed to be heated by gas flames or the like for regulating the temperature of 50 the glass or slag discharged through the mouth. The space below the outlet 4 is enclosed by an nular guard walls 1 and 8 which reduce the out ward radiation and avoid premature cooling of the down flowing mass. A narrow gap 9 Is left 55 between the two walls 7 and 8. Arranged below the outlet 4 at a predetermined distance there from is a centrifuging disc 18. This disc con sists of a circular plate 11 of a suitable, prefer ably refractory material and of a metal ring or casing 12 holding and encircling the plate It in 5 such a manner as to prevent breaking of the lat ter due to the high number of revolutions. The disc 10 is mounted on a shaft 13 which has the required high speed imparted to it from an elec tromotor or other source of power through a pul- 10 ley 14 and belt 15 or any other suitable drive. The upper edge of the wall 8 lies substantially on the same level as the top surface of the cen trifuging disc 10, so that the glass or slag par ticles which are too heavy will be thrown over 13 and beyond the said edge into the gap 9. They are thus separated from the fibers or threads which have the prescribed weight. The particles entering the gap 9 fall into a collecting gutter 16 from which they can be returned to the melt- 20 ing furnace (. The liquid mass flowing out of the mouth 4 is thrown off the disc in horizontal direction form ing a kind of cloud of thin threads which sinks down between the disc 10 and the guard wall 8. 23 This sinking mass constantly increased by the succeeding fresh threads surrounds the shaft 13 as a jacket-like envelope which deposits on an Inclined bottom plate II. The material is pro jected from the disc at points angularly spaced 30 around the axis of rotation of the disc and dur ing the formation of the fibers one end of each fiber is anchored to the disc. The fibrous envelope is continuously or inter mittently severed by means of cutting shears 18, 35 which may be operated mechanically, and then glides down over the Inclined bottom IT to a winding device, not shown. The fibrous web produced by the cutting corresponds in width to the circumference of the fibrous Jacket formed * about the disc 10 and shaft 13. Owing to their low weight, the fine fibers thrown off the disc have a comparatively low velocity of fall. Moreover, the high temperature 45 prevailing near the disc gives the light fibers the tendency of flying upwards. This slow sinking of the fibers or their tendency to rise may be come a hindrance to the proper carrying off of the fibers and may even affect more or less the 50 operation of production and the quality of the product. To avoid this evil, a circular current of air is blown about the disc towards the dis charge end of the device. According to the em bodiment illustrated in the drawing, this air 65 MTC 017007 .2 3,934,087 current Is produced by an annular nozzle II which is formed by the rim I or separately there from and to which air under pressure is supplied through a pipe 20. The air current emitted by 8 the nozzle II'urges the fibers thrown off the disc II continuously downwards so as to make the path free for the succeeding fresh fibers. In this way, the continuous production of fibers can take place unhlnderedly and the carrying off of 18 the resulting product is greatly aided. Instead of air there may also be used any other suitable gaseous medium. The thickness of the fibers can be regulated In various ways, such as by working with more or less high temperatures of the liquid mass, by changing the distance between the disc II and the mouth 4 or by controlling the quantity of liquid mass discharged through the outlet 4. Having thus described our Invention, what we 20 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent, Is: 1. A device for producing fibers from molten glass, slag and the like meltable material, com,, prising a receptacle for molten material, an out- 89 let In the receptacle wherethrough to discharge a stream of molten material, a rotatable solid body whereon to deliver the stream of molten material, means for imparting a high rotary .. speed to the said body, and means for directing a circular downward current of air around said body substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the same. 2. A device for producing fibers from molten .. glass, slag and the like material, comprising a melting furnace for the material, an outlet In the bottom of the furnace wherethrough to dis charge a continuous thin stream of molten mate rial. a circular disc at a distance below this out- M let whereon to deliver the stream of molten ma49 terlal, an annular air nozzle around the said out let for directing a circular current of air parallel to the stream of molten material In spaced rela tion thereto and past the circumference of the said disc, and means for imparting a high rotary 45 speed to the disc. 3. A device for producing fibers from molten glass, slag and the like meltable material, com prising a melting furnace for the material, an g- outlet in the bottom of the furnace wherethrough to discharge a continuous thin stream of molten material, a horizontally disposed circular disc below this outlet whereon to deliver the stream of molten material, means for Imparting a high 65 rotary speed to the disc, guard walls about the path of the stream and the rotating disc in spaced relation thereto, an annular gap In the guard walls at substantially the same level as the top surface of the rotating disc, and means for 60 cuttln6 th fibers as they sink down from the disc about the same In the space defined by the guard walls. 4. A device for producing fibers from molten glass, slag and the like meltable material, com prising a melting furnace for the material, an 8 outlet in the bottom of the furnace wherethrough to discharge a continuous thin stream of molten material, a horizontally disposed circular disc below this outlet whereon to deliver the stream of molten material, means for Imparting a high 10 rotary speed to the disc, guard walls about the path of the stream and the rotating disc in spaced relation thereto, an annh gap tn the guard walls at substantially the same level as the top surface of the rotating disc, an annular 15 air nozzle above the disc opening downwardly for directing a current of air around the disc sub stantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the same, and means for cutting the fibers as they move downwardly away from the disc. 20 5. In a device of the character described, the combination with means for delivering a down wardly flowing stream of molten material, of a disc mounted for rotation in a horizontal plane in a heated zone in the path of said stream, and 25 means for rotating said disc at a speed suffi ciently great to project the molten material therefrom In fiber form, and means for directing a current of air downwardly around the disc. 6. In an apparatus of the character described, 30 the combination with means for projecting hori zontally from a center fibers of vitreous material, and means for directing a current of air down wardly around such center and across the path of the fibers. 35 7. The hereinbefore described process of pro ducing fibers from molten glass or similar mate rial which comprises projecting the material in the form of fibers from the periphery of a hori zontally rotating disc and collecting and com- <n pactlng the fibers by projecting across the path of the fibers a downward current of air. 8. The hereinbefore described method of pro ducing fibers from a material having no definite melting point but having a definite range of softening, which comprises flowing a stream of molten glass or slag, onto a member rotating horizontally, projecting the material from the member and thereby forming fibers therefrom anchored to the member at points angularly fin spaced around the axis of rotation of the mem ber by the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the member, and maintaining the material while being projected at a temperature suffi ciently high to give the material a viscosity suit- 85 able for the formation of the fibers from the pro jected material under the forces acting thereon. FRIEDRICH ROSENGARTH. FRITZ HAGER 6Q MTC 017008