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27, 1941. c. f. ramseyer MEANS FOR SPINNING MINERAL WOOL Filed Aug. 13, 1938 2,243,122 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2r?ver?t&r CA2r?es7H>arr?'Scrt/er Xkiutu**- MTC 017014 May 27, 1941. c. f. ramseyer MEANS FOR SFINNINO MINERAL WOOL Filed Aug. 13, 1938 2,243,122 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J7?&er?t&r CftartesfTJTamseyier MTC 017015 Patented May 27, 1941 2,243,122 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,243,122 MEANS FOR SPINNING MINERAL WOOL Charles F. Ramseyer, Chicago, ID. Application August 13,1938, Serial No. 224,830 1 Claim. (CL 48--1) This Invention relates generally to the art of right viscosity when it comes into contact with forming mineral wool and more particularly to the wool forming means in order to retain for the art of producing mineral fiber from molten as long as possible the viscosity at which the most material by spinning or drawing out the latter wool is formed. through the use of rapidly rotating surfaces onto 5 An Important feature of this invention is the which the material in molten form is caused to provision of a method of spinning mineral wool flow and from which it is thrown by centrifugal and the like from a molten material having a force. Heretofore, the -method of forming relatively short viscosity range which comprises mineral wool most generally In use Involved the flowing the molten slag onto the spinning disc use of a jet of steam or air under pressure which 10 in a pair of short streams so that in its fall the was caused to Impinge on a falling stream of streams of slag are cooled from fluid stage down molten material, and recently mineral wool has to the temperature at which the nost mineral been formed by depositing molten material in a wool is formed. fine stream onto the outwardly and downwardly These and other objects and advantages of this inclined periphery of a rapidly rotating disc. 15 invention will be apparent to those skilled in the The object and general nature of this invention art after a consideration of the foll< n-ing detailed is the provision of a method of producing mineral description taken in conjunction with the accom wool from such material as coal ash slag. panying drawings, in which: It has been found that the viscosity of the Figure 1 is an end view of a conditioning fur- molten material at the time the spinning or blow 20 nace in which the slag is retained and held in its ing takes place is one of the most important molten state until it is desired to form mineral factors determining the quantity and quality of wool; the wool. Usually the better grades of wool are Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the made up of relatively small but long fibers. The installation shown in Figure 1, showing the two molten materials from which commercial forms 25 spinning discs associated with each conditioning of rock and glass wools have been made have a furnace and each disposed so as to receive the relatively long viscosity range; that is, such ma molten slag from two separate channels of the terials remain viscous over a long temperature spout of the conditioning furnace; range, and hence little difficulty Is experienced Figure 3 is an enlarged view, taken on the line in forming the relatively small but long fibers 30 3--3 of Figure 1, showing one of the spinning desired. discs and the manner in which the mineral wool This Invention, however, is particularly con fibers are formed; and cerned with the formation of mineral wool from Figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate somewhat dia- molten coal ash slag, such as is available as a grammatlcally the distribution of the molten by-product in the operation of the so-called wet 35 material on the spinning disc. bottom or slag tap boiler furnaces in which the Referring now to the drawings more particu ash collects in molten form in the bottom of the larly to Figures 1 and 2, the conditioning furnace furnace and can be drawn off at will. Molten is indicated in its entirety by the reference nu coal ash slags, especially those including relative meral 11 and Includes a refractory container 11 ly high iron oxide content, produce a very fine 40 having suitable water jacketed side and end walls soft grade of mineral wool, but the formation of 13 and 14 and a pouring spout construction indi the wool from such material by conventional cated in its entirety by the reference numeral IB. means and methods has been attended by certain As Is more fully disclosed in my copending ap difficulties, due to the fact that molten coal ash plication Serial No. 217,397, filed July 5, 1938, slag has a viscosity range that is quite short and 45 the conditioning furnace 10 is a relatively small hence in certain instances the fibers, while fine unit which is ordinarily disposed adjacent or and soft, tended to be short. underneath the boiler furnace and in a posi In order to form mineral wool In a commer tion to receive molten slag therefrom through a cially successful fashion from molten coal ashes suitable runner or other means. The function other factors must also be considered, especially 50 of the conditioning furnace 10 is to receive the when using spinning discs, cylinders and the like. molten material from the boiler furnace and, For example, the molten slag must be maintained through suitable controls, retain the molten ma In a molten state in which the material is of terial at or bring the same to the desired vis sufficient fluidity that It can be easily handled cosity state by raising or lowering the tempera- and controlled, yet the material must be at the 55 ture, as by passing a controlled amount of elec- MTC 017016 M4S.1M trio current through the molten mew of dag. and length an formed. Preferably, the slag The present Invention Is not concerned with the streams for each disc an to adjusted that then details of the conditioning furnace since that Is la some excess for the first 10', as described fully disclosed and claimed In my oopending ap above. While a large portion of this excess is plication mentioned above. It Is therefore suf wasted m the form of "shot" it has been found ficient here to point out that the pouring spout that supplying a alight excess at this point In II of the conditioning furnace II Is so arranged sures sufficient slag so that then la some slag In that when the furnace Is tilted, the molten slag each groove. No claim Is made hen to the use Is divided Into four streams by the channels II, of a grooved spinning disc perse. XI. II and XI. such channels being arranged 10 In employing spinning discs In this manner, In pairs and diverging as best shown In {figure 3. then an a number at factors which have to be The exit lips of the channels II to II are Indi correlated In order to secure the best results and cated at XI to II. The channels XI to II are obtain a commercially satisfactory quantity of formed by suitable refractory material so as to be mineral wool from any given amount of molten capable of withstanding the heat of the molten 15 slag. As mentioned above, this Invention Is par slag. The temperature of the slag flowing out ticularly concerned with the formation of min of the runners XI to 14 is maintained at the de eral wool from the molten coal ash slag which sired point by gas burners IX and II. as best comes from a wet bottom furnace. In order to shown in Figure 1. have sufficient fluidity to pour easily and to ob- As best indicated In Figure 3, a pair of spinning 20 viate any danger of the slag freezing and dog discs II Is provided In spaced apart relation, one ging <me or more of the channels. It Is desirable disc for each of each set of channels XI--XX and to maintain the molten slag at a temperature of XI--XI. There may be. of course, a greater or about 2350 F. Molten coal ash slag at this tem smaller number of discs and channels, and the perature flows readily but is not sufficiently vis. number of channels for each disc may vary, as 25 cous to form mineral wool satisfactorily. Molten desired. Each spinning disc II Is supported at coal ash slag should be at a temperature of ap the lower end of a vertical shaft II. and rota proximately 2250 F. if the mineral wool Is to be tion of the shafts II may be effected by any suit In an acceptable form. It will therefore be seen, able means. As best shown In Figure 4, each disc that the temperature of the molten slag must Is provided with a generally conical margin which 30 be reduced by about 100 F. between the time the Is peripherally grooved, as at II. slag streams leave the conditioning furnace and In operation, each of the discs 11 receives two the time they strike the spinning discs. In flow slag streams, the disc being positioned below the ing from the slag spout IS (Figure 1) to the pouring spout II associated therewith In such spinning discs II. the slag cools a substantial relation that one slag stream hits the disc ad 35 amount, and the greater the distance of fall, jacent the margin thereof while the other slag the greater the cooling effect will be. However, stream hits the disc at a point behind and slight it has been found that the terminal velocity of ly upwardly and Inwardly thereof, thereby sub the falling slag as It strikes the spinning disc stantially covering the entire grooved portion of should not be too great, otherwise the slag stream the disc at this point. For example, looking at 40 will scatter and will not- acquire the desired Figure 3, which Illustrates the right hand disc amount of peripheral velocity from the spin II of Figure 2, the point where the slag stream ning disc. On the other hand, the velocity of from the lip XI hits the disc Is indicated at Xla the falling stream of slag should be sufficient to In Figure 3, and the point where the slag stream cause the slag to readily fill the grooves on the from the lip XI hits the disc Is indicated at Xla. 45 spinning disc. For coal ash slag, the terminal In coming into contact with the disc, the slag velocity of the falling stream must be kept streams fall freely through a distance Indicated down to such a minimum. In order to prevent at X In Figure 1. scattering, yet It Is necessary, to secure the neces The discs II revolve at a high speed In the sary temperature reduction mentioned above In direction of the arrows shown In Figures 2 and 3, 50 order to have the slag at the proper viscosity the latter figure showing somewhat diagram- for spinning at the time It strikes the disc. 1 matically the distribution of the molten slag have found that where the slag falls in the ordi about the disc periphery when In normal oper nary manner In a single stream the distance of ation. The movement of the two slag streams fall necessary to secure the desired tempera- from the spout II onto the disc II at first fills 55 ture reduction becomes so great that spattering substantially all of the grooves II to overflowing. takes place when the slag strikes the spinning This condition of overflowing the grooves II con disc. On the other hand, if the amount of fall tinues for about 60. The excess slag at this is reduced, the desired temperature reduction point is thus largely In the form of globules of is not secured and the temperature at which apln- molten slag which rapidly solidify to form what 50 nlng takes place Is higher than is desirable. is called "shot" Indicated at II. Figure 4 is a Hence, according to the principles of the present fragmentary cross section taken at a point where invention, the slag is delivered to each disc by the slag, indicated at II overflows the grooves II. a pair of channels. Olven the same quantity of Very little wool of acceptable grade Is formed at material, two streams of slag will lose approxl- this point on the disc. After the excess slag has 55 mately sixty percent more heat than the same been thrown off, each of the grooves II is almost quantity of slag If falling in a single stream. I full of slag, which is distributed fairly uniformly have found that providing two streams of slag therein due partly to the fact that the slag from secures the desired temperature reduction be the spout runner strikes the edge at two spaced tween the point where the slag streams leave the apart points. As the disc rotates portions of the 70 pouring spout and the points where they strike slag are thrown out from each of the grooves In the spinning disc, and that the terminal velocity the form of small fibers which are fine and soft, of the falling streams, while sufficient to fill the and so long as there Is any slag In the grooves grooves of the spinning discs. Is not great enough II, as Indicated in Figure 6, the slag continues to cause scattering of the slag. to be thrown off and fibers of the desired fineness 75 As far os I am aware, I am the first to spin MTC 017017 mineral wool successfully from molten material having a short viscosity range by so correlating the surface exposure and the distance of fall of the slag stream that the slag strikes the spin ning discs at the proper temperature Bind termi nal velocity. What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: In combination, a pair of rotary spinners mounted for rotation on vertical axes, each spin ner having a conical spinning surface upon which are disposed a multiplicity of circumferential grooves for the spinning of fibers or threads, a container for a pool of molten material to be 3 spun, a pair of ducts for each spinner leading from the container to a point above the spinner, said ducts terminating In spouts for depositing the material to be spun upon the grooves of the i discs, the axes of the spinners being spaced a less distance than the pairs of spouts and the spinners having means for driving them in op posite directions, the spouts of each pair lying at different racial and angular positions rela1 tlve to the cooperating spinner whereby the grooves are supplied with molten material of substantially equal consistency and substantially without spattering, OH ARTiPlfl F. RAMSEVKR, MTC 017018