Document mDEOGNdE7pbDJEd88b1JB8z0

PLAINTIFFS EXHIBIT JM 1051 May 11, 1943. b. wallrath etal 2,318,821 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING FIBROUS MINERAL MATERIAL Filed Sept. 16, 1940 NlTC 017093 Patented May 11,1943 ,2 318,821 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .2 318,821 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING fibrous MINERAL MATERIAL Burton WaHraUi and Leonard Barinskl, Saginaw, Mich* assignor* to Oweni-Coming Flberglaa Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware . Application September 16,1940, Serial No. 357,012 8 Claims. (CL 83--91) This Invention relates to machines for convert were retained by most makers of mineral wool ing viscous substances Into filaments, and pertains machines up to the development of our present more particularly to machines for making mineral invention. wool from glass, slag, or other molten materiaL Our Improvement departs from the hitherto ac Objects of our Invention are; to provide means 5 cepted Ideas that wool threads should originate for increasing the hourly output rate of fibre from in a free-flying molten particle or shot whose a machine of given size; to produce longer and momentum constituted an essential factor for finer fibres more nearly uniform as to length and converting it into a filament. We have found that diameter; to minimize the production of "shot,** better fibres, longer and more uniform In diame granules, or other particles which are detrimental 10 ter and commercially void of granules can be In high-grade mineral wool. formed by avoiding as far as possible the creating We attain these objects and certain others of any flying shot and also avoiding the use of which will appear later in the specifications by high pressure air blasts or of centrifugal force or using a rotor of improved structure, arrangement of momentum in the material being worked. In and mode of operation described and claimed 15 stead. we draw out the fibres from molten particles herein; and by a novel co-operative arrangement that are relatively stationary, utilizing their in of the rotor and Its housing for the purpose of ertia Instead of momentum. better discharging the fibres from the machine Having explained the general purposes and na without harming them. ture of our Improvement, reference may now be Our claimed improvements are exemplified in go had to the accompanying drawing showing In pre the construction and mode of operation of a ma ferred form a machine embodying our invention; chine for making such fibres or filaments. typical structural modifications of the rotor and Before describing our Improvement in detail spinners also being illustrated to indicate the na it will be helpful to note briefly the modes of ture and scope of the claimed invention. operation of certain earlier mineral wool ma- 25 Figs. 1. 2, and 3 are schematic diagrams for the chines. For many years molten slag has been dis purpose of describing the function and apparent integrated by being poured through high pressure mode of operation of the rotor and spinners; Jets of air or gas that blew away particles of the Fig. 4 Is a vertical sectional view of the machine viscous material and strung them out Into fibres. and the supply source; In other machines the molten stream has been 30 Fig. 5 is a face view of the machine, the front Impinged by paddles rotating at high speed, each cover of the casing having been removed;. splattering a bit of the material into spray and Fig. 6 Is a cross-sectional detail of a modified driving it at high speed like sparks from an emery rotor structure; wheel, into the surrounding air ahead of the Fig. 7 Is a face view of the parts shown In Fig. 6; paddles where a portion of the particles threaded 35 Fig. 8 Is a cross-sectional view of a further themselves out by their own momentum. In modified form of rotor; and still other earlier machines molten slag was Fig. 9 is a face view of the same, the ring being poured onto the flat surface of a rapidly revolv broken away in part. ing horizontal disk, where it spread out. was sub Brief reference will first be made to schematic jected to great centrifugal force, and when it 40 Figs. 1 and 2. reached the rim divided Itself Into "shot" that We have discovered that high grade filaments flew off Into space, each "shot" drawing itself out can be created most effectively by allowing a small into a thread during Its centrifugal flight, because stream of molten material M to drop a short dis of its own momentum. tance at relatively low velocity onto a series of All of such known machine types alluded to 45 filament-drawing or spinning members, as for were characterized by segregating molten parti example, pins or sleeves 4 traveling sidewise at cles of shot from a supply body, giving each par relatively high velocity across the path of fall ticle a high velocity and a free-flight into the air. of the material, as indicated by the horizontal whereby reason of Its own momentum, each piece arrow. Fig. 1. The rate of fall is also the rate of was expected to convert itself into fibre. But go feed to the spinners. Assuming the height of fall always a considerable portion of undesired granu to be about one foot, the spinners 4 may travel in lar material was developed along with the desired the order of about fourteen or fifteen thousand fibres. feet per minute. Certain disadvantages of those earlier methods, The bottom end of the stream touches the up although apparent to the trade for many years 66 per surface of a spinner. Fig. 1, and some adheres MTC 017094 2 3,318,831 at A, while some also is dislodged and splatters Fig. 3, about 4 inches long. The place of dis off the pm due to the high speed of the pin. Hie charge of fibres from the rotors will be in a splattered part or droplet D, Fig. 2, has at first zone corresponding to the bottom part of the no appreciable velocity sidewise. The spinner 4 circle of revolution where the material is sup- departs from the droplet at D so quickly as to <> plied to the spinners. instantaneously draw the droplet out into a thin Due to the rotor and spinners, a current of air filament F. So the droplet disappears, leaving is set up in the direction Indicated by the arrow practically no granular residue. Apparently it is the inertia of the splattered B, Figs. 3 and S, between successive pins, tend ing to waft the newly formed filaments radially particles released from the end of the falling li outward and thus prevent their breakage by the stream by the wiping action of the top surfaces next advancing pin. In other words, the spinners of the spinners that enables the droplets to be create their own fibre-clearing action by creating so completely drawn out into fine even fibres. the outward air flow at B. The exact action is not known to us because of It is to be noted that the air circulation here the brilliant glare and the high speed and the u; mentioned is not a blast or Jet as employed In great numbers of fibres being generated simul the earlier devices alluded to for the purpose of taneously. disintegrating the molten material. Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, a rotor com Having described the rotor and its mode of prising a disk-like member I is mounted for ro operation, we shall now explain the housing and tation 'in its own plane around an axis 1, being (1 its co-operative action with the rotor or spinner driven as by a pulley S from a source of power, for the purpose of removing filaments from the not shown. On the face of the member f and machine without breaking them and without arranged in a circle are upstanding pins or pro clogging the outlet The casing Is like that of a jections spaced apart in the peripheral direction, conventional helical air blower with axial air ln- as shown in Fig. 5. A preferred structure for ,,5; take and tangential discharge for air and fibres. such a pin is shown in Fig. 4, where a heat re The whirling of the rotor sets up a current of sistant tubular sleeve 4 is mounted on a pintle I air, as above described, drawing it in through fixed to the member I. Preferably, an annular openings II at the back of the casing, and if ring I is fixed to the outer ends of all of the desired, through similar openings 14 at the front pintles, as shown, to give strength and rigidity 30 of the casing, as shown in Fig. 4. The openings to the members and to facilitate the filament- may be adjusted as to size by providing them spinning action and the fibre removing action of with louvers 15, as shown. Regulating the louver the rotor In use. For purposes of description we openings controls the volume of air permitted term the members I and 4, or their equivalents, to circulate through the casing, between the pins "spinners." ss and out through the discharge opening. The axis 2 of the disk I is mounted in an Too much air would cool and solidify the fila inclined bearing 2 so as to rotate in a plane at ments too soon, making them too coarse; but by an acute angle to the vertical, as shown in Fig. 4. varying the speed of the rotor and the size of By this arrangement the spinners are so ar the air openings in the casing, the machine can ranged that the molten material to be worked 40 be quickly adapted to suit any physical or chemi can drop in a stream from source I either directly cal composition of the molten material at various onto the spinner 4. or else onto the disk I close degrees of viscosity so as to produce thin even to the spinner, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The filaments practically void of granules. contact point of the material with the spinners, The initial action of the air current as it passes or with the disk adjacent the spinners, is near out between the pins at B is, as stated, to permit the bottom of the circle of revolution defined by the trailing end of the filament to be deflected the spinners, as is shown in Fig. 5. outwardly so it will not be broken by the next Although we have Just described the preferred pin. Also an effect of the air vents It, 14 around spinner structure as consisting of the pintle 6 the casing is to produce a substantial air flow and the sleeve 4. other spinner arrangements may from the outlet 16 whereby the filaments F, be employed, for example that shown in Figs. 6 Fig. 3, are carried lengthwise along the outlet and 7, where upstanding rods 4a, either slightly nozzle and flow with the air stream, and parallel inclined toward the axis 2 as shown, or perpen therewith, so that a large percentage of the fila dicular to the member I. are fixed at one end to ments are delivered without breakage. the disk, their other ends being bent radially - - It will now be apparent that by the means above inward as at 9 and secured to a ring 10. A fur described the molten material is made to hit di ther modified structure is shown in Figs. 8 and rectly upon the pins, or upon the disk in close 9, where the pin is of polygonal cross-sectional proximity to them, thus avoiding the undesirable shape and presents a prow-like advancing edge feature of former disk devices that permitted the 11 which is preferably outside of the circle of molten material to strike the surface of the disk revolution described by the geometrical centers near its axis and flow outwardly across it to the of the projections. The trailing ends of the pro rim where it was disintegrated and thrown off by jections may be flat, as shown at 12, or any centrifugal force. Here the molten stream.upon other suitable shape. hitting the pin has its bottom end sheared away, The machine may be made in various sizes and , - as it were, as fast as it falls, so the fluid has its capacities, but as an example of a practical com physical character changed instantly into fine mercial working unit the following proportions filaments; a result which, so far as we are aware, have been found satisfactory: has not been attained to any such a degree of A disk with a rotor pin circle 10 Inches diam completeness in rock wool machines heretofore eter revolves at 5600 revolutions per minute. 70 produced. being a pin speed of approximately 15.000 feet We have found that the character of the fila per minute. There are eight pins around the ment is dependent upon the transverse speed cf circumference, spaced about a third of a foot the pins across the end of the stream; the tem apart, so that between successive pins there is a perature of the material; the ingredients in the free space for escape of freshly formed fibres, F, 75 material; the temperature of the projections; MTC 017095 3,818,8*1 3 and the chntrol of the amount of air moving comprising a member of polygonal cross-sectional around thi projection. The outlet of the housing shape presenting a prow-like advancing edge may be horizontal, as shown, or vertical, but the offset outwardly from the geometric circle of most satisfactory position is one that delivers revolution of the spinners. the material slightly upward from the horizontal. 5 3. In apparatus for producing mineral wool, a It may be noted that the air circulation Is In no rotor comprising a disk-like member mounted for sense a blast such as was necessary to form rotation in its own plane, spinner projections filaments by the earlier blowing process. thereon extending from the face of said member In our device only a few ounces of pressure in a direction substantially parallel with the axis from the rotor are needed, whereas from 60 to 110 10 of rotation of said member and arranged in a pounds per square inch is usually required for circle and spaced apart about the peripheral the production of wool by the blast or air jet margin of the disk-like member, means for ro method. tating said member at relatively high speed, a A suitable liquid, paraffin oil, for example, is casing surrounding said rotor having an axial used for coating the filaments and tempering 15 air inlet and a tangential discharge outlet where them. The tempering liquid Is fed from a con by rotation of said rotor causes a flow of air tainer II through a pipe It to the disk I at or through said casing, means for flowing a stream near the place where the molten stream meets of molten material in a direction acutely angu the spinners, as indicated in Tig. 1. By this ar larly related to the plane of the said member and rangement a minimum amount of tempering fluid at relatively low velocity to the inner peripheral can be used for a given amount of newly formed surfaces of the said spinners during their rota filaments, and none of the fluid Is wasted, since tion, said supply means and said rotor being so it is all applied directly at the place where the related that the stream contacts the spinners filaments are generated. only at one point of the circle of revolution de- The machine above described has the follow 2j fined thereby, whereby the stream is converted ing important advantages in use: its small size into fibres by the action of said spinners, the renders it inexpensive to build and install, and fibers thus formed being conveyed from the spin the small amount of power required to convert ners by the air passing through said casing. material into filaments represents a considerable 4. In a machine for use in the manufacture of saving in operating cost. The machine more 3), mineral wool, in combination, a disk-like member over is adaptable for small or large production on mounted for rotation at relatively high speed in an economical basis, that Is to say, a given ma a plane acutely inclined to the vertical, upstand chine need not be run at Its maximum capacity ing spinner projections thereon spaced apart in order to produce maximum economy. The peripherally, means for flowing in a generally machine will convert materials with a wide range 55 vertical direction a stream of molten material in proportions of the various chemical elements, at relatively low feed velocity to the inner pe whereas in other types of machines referred to ripheral surfaces of said spinner projections dur the attendance of an especially skilled workman ing their revolution, the relative arrangement of was required for such control. No special atten said supply stream and spinners being such that tion is required to maintain a closely regulated 40 the bottom of the stream contacts with the spin Incoming flow of material. Also the direction of ners only at a point near the bottom of their discharge is under control and no special ar circle of revolution, a casing surrounding said rangements of rooms, chambers, or hoppers are required to deliver the material from the machine. rotor having an axial air inlet and a tangential discharge outlet whereby the rotation of said Having thus described our invention, what we 41 disk-like member creates a flow of air through claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: said casing to convey from said casing the fibres 1. In a machine for use in the manufacture of mineral wool; In combination, a disk-like mem ber mounted for rotation at relatively high speed in a plane acutely angularly related to the ver tical; upstanding spinner projections thereon ar ranged in a circle and spaced apart peripherally, a ring member connecting the ends of said pro jections; means for flowing in a generally vertical direction a stream of molten material at rela tively low feed velocity to the inner peripheral surfaces of said spinner projections during their revolution; the relative arrangement of said sup ply stream and spinners being such that the bot tom of the stream contacts with the spinners only at a point near the bottom of their circle of revolution; and a casing surrounding said rotor having an axial air inlet and a tangential dis charge outlet adjacent the bottom of the circle of revolution defined by the spinners. 2. In apparatus for making mineral wool, a disk mounted for rotation in a plane acutely an gularly related to the vertical, spinners fixed to said disk In circular peripherally spaced arrange to .v> uo B3 70 formed by the action of said spinners upon said stream. 5. In a machine for use in the manufacture of mineral wool, in combination, a disk-like member mounted for rotation at relatively high speed in a plane inclined at substantially 30 to the vertical, upstanding spinner projections thereon spaced apart peripherally, each of said spinners being in the form of a bar circular in cross-section and secured to said member at one of its ends, and means for flowing in a generally vertical direction a stream of molten material at relatively feed velocity to the inner peripheral surfaces of said spinner projections during their revolution, the relative arrangement of said sup ply stream and spinners being such that the bot tom of the stream contacts with the spinners only at a point near the bottom of their circle of revolution. 6. In apparatus for producing mineral wool, a rotor comprising a disk-like member mounted for rotation in a plane acutely Inclined to the ver tical. spinner projections thereon in the form of cross-sectionally substantially circular bars ex ment and extending from the face of said disk in tending from the face of said member in a direc a direction substantially parallel with the axis of tion substantially parallel with the axis of rota rotation of said disk, and means tor feeding a tion of said member and spaced apart in a circle stream of viscous molten material to the inner about the margin of the disk-like member, means peripheral surfaces of the spinners, each spinner 73 for rotating said member at relatively high speed. MTC 017096 4 9,8X8,891 a casing surrounding said rotor baring an axial the stream contacts with the spinners only at a air Inlet and a tangential discharge outlet where point near the bottom of their circle of revolu by rotation of said rotor causes a flow of air tion. through said casing, said tangential discharge 8. The process of producing mineral fibres being adjacent the lowest point of the circle of which comprises moving an element at high speed revolution defined by the spinners, means for In a circle about an axis parallel with the ele supplying a stream of molten material at rela ment and In a plane Inclined acutely to the ver tively low velocity to the Inwardly presented pe tical, directing a continuous integral stream of ripheral surfaces of the said spinners during their molten mineral material In a generally vertical rotation, said supply means and said rotor being 10 direction and substantially radially relative to so related that the stream contacts the spinners the path of movement of said element and caus only at a point near the bottom of said circle of ing the stream to contact the element on Its in-. revolution, whereby the stream is converted Into wardly presented face and near the bottom of fibres by the action of said spinners, the fibres its circle of movement, converting the material thus formed being conveyed from the spinners IS of the stream Into fibres by repeated contact be by the air currents created by said rotor and tween the element and the stream and movement passing through said casing. of the element across the stream while preserving 7. In a machine for making mineral wool. In the integrity of the stream until It Is engaged combination, a disk-like member mounted for by the element, setting up a current of air In a rotation at relatively high speed in a plane acutely 20 path from the Inside outwardly past the circle inclined to the vertical, upstanding spinner pro of movement of said element to convey the fibres jections thereon spaced apart peripherally of as they are formed away from the region of their said member, and supply means for flowing in a formation, and guiding said air current and the generally vertical direction a stream of molten fibres conveyed thereby away from the region of material at relatively low feed velocity to the gg fibre formation in a single compact beam tan inwardly presented peripheral surfaces of said gentially related to the circle of movement of the spinner projections during rotation of said mem element. ber, the relative arrangement of said supply BURTON WALLRATH. means and spinners being such that the bottom of LEONARD BASXNSKX. 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