Document oeLwZ1ege7eO3d8VjBkDJ8GnD

Feb. 24, 1942. c. c. davis APPARATUS FOB SPINNING FIBERS Filed Deo. 7, 1939 2,274,130 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (> >ii f i i I rvuFNTOR. % i i i MTC 017019 Patented Feb. 24,1942 ,2 274,130 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,2741st APPARATUS FOE SPINNING FIBERS Carlton C. Davis, Wabash, Ind assignor to American Rook Wool Corponu.on, Wabash, Ind, a corporation of Indiana Application December 7,1939, Serial No. 397,954 8 Claims. (CL 83--91) This invention relates to apparatus for and fibers without the employment of relatively ex method* of spinning fibers from suitable molten pensive adhesives or casings, which being com materials by the application of centrifugal force. bustible render the batts unsuitable for use In It also relates to improvements in a spinning stoves, furnaces, and the like. The adhesives wheel whereby the capacity of the wheel for 5 generally employed in manufacturing these blan producing fibers, either mineral or organic, is kets or batts are not only combustible, but are substantially increased. inflammable to such an extent that their use An object of thin invention is to provide means constitutes a distinct fire hazard both in the and methods whereby mineral materials may be production and in the shipment of these batts. rapidly and efficiently spun into mineral fibers 10 It is a matter of record that a number of fires with the application of centrifugal force. have occurred in batts which have been packed Another object is the provision of a method and stored for such a long period of time after and a means for manufacturing a superior grade the batts were manufactured that the fires were of mineral or organic fibers. believed to have been caused by the spontaneous The art of producing mineral fibers from suit- is combustion of the binding material In these batts. able molten mineral materials by the application Despite the superiority of the centrifugally of centrifugal force is old. It is well recognized spun mineral fibers, these spun fibers have never by those skilled In the art that the fibers pro generally supplanted the blast-shredded fibers in duced by this method are definitely superior in the heat Insulating industry. The inability of quality to the fibers which are formed by shred- so the centrifugally spun fibers to compete on a ding the molten materials with a steam or air commercial basis with the blown product is chief blast. Fibers spun on a rapidly rotating wheel ly due to the fact that heretofore, insofar as are long and silky and in many respects compare Is known to the applicant, no one has been able favorably with the far more expensive mineral to provide a spinning wheel capable of producing fibers which are formed by extrusion, and are 23 mineral fibers rapidly and economically. used In the production of woven mineral textiles. The low producing capacity of the conven The fibers produced with a steam or air blast tional spinning wheel has long been a serious can hardly be compared with the fibers which obstacle or bar to the wide introduction of a are formed on a spinning wheel. The blast- far superior grade of mineral wool to the public shredded fibers include a very large proportion of "shot" and other nonfibrous portions. These nonflbrous portions not only do not have any substantial Insulating value, but are so objec tionable that they may well be termed "The curse of the mineral wool Industry." These obJectlonable portions often, and In applicant's opinion generally, do constitute at least 50 per cent of all the commercial grades of blown min eral wool, except "granulated wool" which has been previously treated to remove some of the "shot." In granulating the wool, however, the mineral wool fibers are rolled and tumbled in such a manner that the larger proportion of 30 35 40 at a very low price at which mineral wool must be sold. This low capacity was apparently due to an inherent limitation, found in the operation of the spinning wheel. If a small amount of lava be continuously ap plied to the conventional spinning wheel, a thin coating or film Is formed continuously on the operating surface of the wheel and is continuously thrown oil in the form of fibers. This coating or film, however, is too thin to provide a satis factory rate of production. If larger amounts of lava are applied to the wheel, nearly all, ex cept the portion forming the before mentioned the fibrous portion Is crushed or broken to a film or coating, apparently slips or slides over serious extent. These nonflbrous portions are 43 the film in such a manner that the wheel is also objectionable for the reason that these por unable to Impart Its angular velocity, or even tions readily pierce the hands of the operators in- approximately its angular velocity, to the outer the factory and of the applicators in the field. portion of the lava on the wheel. Much of this Mineral wool fibers formed in the steam blast outer portion Is, therefore, not thrown off the have the further disadvantage of being extremely 50 spinning wheel at a velocity sufficient to stream irregular In size, shape, diameter, flexibility, ten line this outer portion of the molten material sile strength, and other physical characteristics. into fibers. The manner in which the conven Because of these irregularities, it Is almost Im tional wheel operates apparently limits the out possible to produce commercially acceptable put of the wheel to the small amount of lava blown mineral wool blankets or batts with these 35 which comes in direct contact with the outer MTC 017020 2 3,974,130 surface of the wheel and momentarily forms thin Figure 12 is a partly sectional and partly ele film or coating. vatlonal view of a perforated spinning wheel Numerous attempts have been made to over which is adapted to spin mineral fibers by any come this difficulty by the provision of small of the methods shown in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive. abutments or striking bars on the operating sur 3 This Invention contemplates the employment face of the spinning wheel, but these abutments. of a spinning wheel, the operating surface of In practice, hurled the molten material off the which is porous, perforated, recessed. Indented wheel In masses which were too large to become or etched for the purpose of preventing the lava thoroughly flberized before these masses were from flying from the wheel under conditions un cftllled. to favorable for flberization without unduly limit After considerable research and numerous ing the amount of the lava applied to the wheel. failures, applicant has discovered that the low The efficient spinning capacity of the spinning capacity output of the conventional spinning wheels of the prior art. insofar as their operation wheel was due to the fact that the outer operat is understood by the applicant, is definitely 11m- ing surface of the conventional spinning wheel u ited by the relatively small amount of lava which is nonporous or imperforate and, therefore, pro becomes adhered to or wets the outer spinning vides no means whereby any large amount of surface of these wheels. lava could be adhered or secured to the wheel Unfortunately, however, it is only possible to for even that fraction of a second necessary for wet the wheel with a relatively thin film or coat- this wheel to impart its angular velocity to the 20 lng of lava. This film becomes readily flberized, lava, and that, therefore, the greater proportion but when any substantially additional coating or of any substantial amount of lava applied to the mass of lava is applied over this film, the addi wheel would be thrown off of the spinning wheel tional lava slips or slides over the surface of the at a speed too low to flberlze the molten mate thin film in such a manner that the lava form- rial before It became frozen. 23 lng the added coating or mass is thrown off the The present Invention, therefore, contemplates wheel at a velocity too low to become properly the provision of an improved spinning wheel hav flberized. ing porous, recessed, or perforated portions pro According to applicant's invention a substan vided in the spinning surfaces of the wheel in tially increased spinning capacity may be ob- such a manner that these portions act as tem 30 talned either by porary reservoirs or "vacuum cups" in which ap (1) Increasing the area of the wheel's outer preciable quantities of the lava are given, at spinning surface in proportion to its size and least, the approximate angular velocity of the weight, or by spinning wheel before they are thrown off of the (2) Providing numerous porous, recessed or wheel. S3 perforated portions which are adapted to serve The other objects and advantages of this in as reservoirs In which the lava is retained mo vention will become apparent from the following mentarily and la thereby given the approximate specification and the accompanying claims and angular velocity of the wheel, or by drawings. (3) A combination of these two methods. In the drawings: 10 In the above mentioned drawings four embodi figures 1 and 2 are partly sectional and partly ments of this Invention are shown for the pur elevatlonal views showing the preferred appara pose of illustrating, but not limiting, the scope of tus of my Invention as it Is used in spinning mineral fibers from molten material which is hurled up from a pool or reservoir by the spin ning wheel. figures 3 and 4 are partly sectional and partly elevatlonal views showing the spinning wheel of figure 1, as this wheel is preferably used In spin ning mineral fibers from molten materials which are poured In a stream upon the spinning wheel. Figures 5 and 6 are partly sectional and partly elevatlonal views of the spinning wheel of figure I showing this wheel as It is preferably used in spinning mineral fibers from a more or less hori zontally moving stream of molten material which flows against the outer portions of the wheel. figure 7 is a partly elevatlonal and partly applicant's Invention. Referring now to Figures 1 to 6 inclusive and 13 also to Figures 9 and 10, the preferred form of the invention makes use of a spinning wheel I. This wheel includes a suitable hub 2, a suitable web or disk I, and a preferably large rim 4. This rim has a circumferential wall portion I 0 and two side wall portions I, each of which are provided with numerous spaced apart recessed portions or cup-shaped cavities 1. It will, of course, be understood that the term "cup-shaped cavity," as used herein and In certain of the ap;3 pended claims, is employed in a general sense and is not to be construed with so narrowly as merely to include a bowl-shaped cavity. sectional view showing a modified form of a spin ning wheel, which is particularly adapted to be rotated around a vertical axis. These recessed portions or cup-shaped cavities form a novel feature of this wheel and may vary 0 widely In form and in dimensions without de figure 8 is an upper plan view of the spinning wheel shown in figure 7. parting from the spirit of this invention. It will, however, be found unnecessary to make these figure 9 is a somewhat enlarged partly sec portions greater than Mi of an inch either in tional and partly elevatlonal view of the pro- ( width or in depth and that much smaller re- ferred form of spinning wheel shown In Figures '* cessed portions will function In a satisfactory 1 to 6 inclusive. figure 10 is a side elevatlonal view of the wheel manner. These recessed portions, may be formed by any suitable method such as, for instance by shown in Figure 9. drilling, indenting, or by even deeply etching figure 11 is a partly sectional and partly ele- . the spinning surface of the wheel, according to vatlonal view showing a modified form of a spin 0 the size of recessed portions desired. It is, how ning wheel which is particularly adapted for ever, highly desirable that a sufficient number spinning mineral fibers from a descending stream of these portions be employed to provide an of molten lava while the wheel is being rotated appreciable increase In the amount of lava which about a horizontal axis. 1 5 may rotate with the approximate angular ve- MTC 017021 8,874,130 3 lodty of the wheel before the lave la tailed off of the wheel. Hum wheels are believed to func the wheel. tion in the above described manner, but regard In Figures 2,4, and 6. four of the wheels I are less of the exact in which the wheels shown rigidly secured in spaced apart relation operate, it is an establishart fact that under any ship to each other on a shaft which is rotat- 8 fair operating conditions a larger amount or ably mounted on Journal members I which are greater proportion of the lava is prevented from carried on a movable* and vertically adjustable unduly sliding or slipping on the wheel and from frame having separated supports II. The shaft being thrown off of the wheel at a velocity too may, of course, be rotated by any suitable means low to become completely flberlzed. such as, for instance, by a pulley (I. 10 Figure 11 shows a wheel 21 which is similar in In Figures 1 and 3, these wheels I are shown construction to the wheel I except that the rim mounted above a forehearth it of any suitable of this wheel is provided with a large annular melting furnace or tank (not otherwise indi channel or grooved portion 21 and two side wall cated) in such a position that the rim portion portions 21 which are adapted to hold the lava in 4 may be rapidly rotated in contact with the up- ,. this channel which is preferably provided with per portion of a pool of lava II which may be numerous spaced apart recessed portions or cup maintained at the proper temperature and level shaped cavities 21 which serve the same purpose by the operation of the melting tank. Above as the recessed portions 1 on the wheel I. The this forehearth there is preferably provided a spinning action of this wheel is the same as of roof portion 14 to reduce the amount of heat 2n the wheel, except that the effective spinning sur energy radiated and to prevent any excessive face of the wheel 21 is limited to the circumfer cooling of the lava. ential portions of the wheel. A plurality of nozzle members 11 are preferably employed for the purpose of directing a stream of air, steam or other suitable fluid against each of the wheels substantially as shown. These fluid In Figures 7 and 8 applicant has shown a mod ified form of this invention which is particularly adapted to spin mineral libers around a vertical or inclined axis. This apparatus makes use of an streams may have a fairly low velocity as it is upwardly extending shaft II which may be rotat only necessary that the newly formed libers II ably secured in its operating position by a thrust be gently blown away from the wheels and be bearing II and a Journal bearing 12. On tbe thereby prevented from clinging to the wheels 3Q upper end of this shaft there is secured a circu and from being brought into contact with the lar plate or drum It having a large centrally po lava pool. In certain instances, however, it may be desired to provide a blast of high velocity for the purpose of producing a combination of cen- sitioned recessed portion 14 in which is remov ably secured in any suitable manner a circular spinning disk II having a large number of spaced trifugally spun fibers and blast blown fibers. ss apart recessed portions II. The upper surface In Figures 3 and 4, four separate spaced apart of the disk IS preferably extends above the upper streams of lava IT are shown Issuing from any surface of the recessed plate or drum II, to pre four suitable spaced apart lava discharge con vent this plate or drum from interfering in any duits II and being discharged upon the recessed manner with the fiber spinning operation and to circumferential portions I of the wheels I. With also prevent the upper surface of thin recessed this arrangement four noales II are preferably plate from being overheated or injured by the provided for the same reason as are the noales lava. II of Figure 1. In operation, the shaft II may be driven by Figures 5 and 6 show four streams of lava 31 any suitable means, such as for Instance, by a being discharged from four conduits II directly ., motor IT and a stream of lava issues from any against the rim portions 4 of each of four wheels suitable supply means II and falls on the spin I in such a manner that all of the circumfer ning disk IB. A part of the lava flows into these ential and side wall portions of the rims 4 may recessed portions II which serve the same pur act upon the lava. With this arrangement two pose as do the recessed portions T on the wheel sets of four spaced apart nozzles 22 and 21 may I. A nozzle II is preferably provided for blowing be directed substantially as shown against these tiie newly formed fibers in any desired direction. wheels so that air or other fluid streams may be An advantage of this construction is that the blown against both the upper and lower portions disk IB may be formed of either metal or any of these wheels. suitable refractory material. This is due to the It has been proven by numerous tests that the ,, fact that the outer edge of the recessed drum re rate at which the wheels spin the mineral fibers inforces the disk IS and thus reduces any danger is definitely increased by the provision of these of the disk flying apart due to centrifugal force. recessed portions. In the spinning operation, In figure 12, another modified form of this In however, the wheels are necessarily spun too fast vention Is shown which makes use of a spinning for the eye to observe the exact manner in which ,, wheel 41, which is provided with a plurality of any of the recessed portions function, but the w closely spewed apart inner spinning 41 and action of the wheels as a whole Indicates that two outer spinning disks 42 the latter of which when lava is applied to the spinning wheels in are made preferably slightly larger in diameter any suitable manner the recessed portions pro than the disks 41 for the purpose of preventing vide numerous momentary reservoirs to receive the unflberlzed lava from falling off of the wheel. the lava and also provide a gripping means These disks are spaced slightly apart from each whereby the slipping or sliding of the lava is other by any suitable means, such as for in greatly reduced and the lava is more effectively stance, spacer disks 41. Both the spinning hib> adhered to the wheel. The operation of the 41 and 42 and the spacer disks 41 may be oper wheels also indicates that the recessed portions 75 atively secured together by any suitable means, after 'becoming wholly or partially filled with such as an adjustable hub 44 consisting of an lava function somewhat as suction cups and exteriorly threaded sleeve and collar means 41 thereby retard the rate at which the molten ma and an Internally threaded bolt 41. This wheel terials are thrown out of these depressed portions may be mounted on the shaft I Instead of the and are spread over the outer spinning surface yg wheels I and this wheel is particularly adapted MTC 017022 4 $.974,130 to spilt or divide a relatively large stream of lava body and means for feeding said materials to Into separate smaller streams of lava and to spin said body, the body being substantially circular the lava In these smaller streams Into mineral In cross section and being provided with a spin fibers. Each of the spaced apart disks Is prefer ning surface having numerous small spaced apart ably tapered at Its circumference and may be $ cup-shaped cavities therein adapted to receive .provided with a large number of relatively small and momentarily retain portions of the molten holes or perforated portions 48 material applied to said surface during the rota In operation a large stream or mass of lava Is tion thereof. divided by the tapered circumferential portions. 3. A spinning wheel for centrlfugally spinning 49 of tiie Inner spaced apart disks 41 and the 10 mineral wool fibers from suitable molten material .separated lava flows between the disks 41 and provided with a spinning surface having numer- - 42 The lava then spreads out over the flat sur ous small cup-shaped cavities therein adapted to face portions of these disks. The perforated por receive and momentarily retain said material tions 41 serve to receive and momentarily retain when said material is fed to said surface while a portion of the lava which Is. of course, in op- is said surface Is being rotated. eratlon quickly acted upon by centrifugal force. 4. A spinning wheel for centrlfugally spinning The lava tends to ding to these perforated por mineral wool fibers from suitable molten ma tions, but It is, of course, promptly discharged terial provided with a spinning surface having upon the outer flat portions of the disks from numerous small cup-shaped cavities adapted to which the lava Is rapidly thrown off of the wheel go receive and momentarily retain said material In the form of fibers. when said material is applied to said surface The wheel 49 Is designed to produce an unus while said surface is being rotated, said spinning ually large quantity of wool for Its size and surface being In a plane substantially at right weight, but the spinning disks and especially the angles to the axis of rotation of said wheel. inner disks 41, if care is not used, may become M 5. A spinning wheel for centrlfugally spinning overheated. It is, therefore recommended that a mineral wool fibers from suitable molten material strong cold air or other fluid stream be blown provided with a spinning surface having numer between each of these disks by any suitable noz ous small cup-shaped cavities adapted to receive zle means (not shown). The perforated portions and momentarily retain said material when said of the disks aid materially In cooling the wheel material is applied to said surface while said sur by permitting a centrlfugally induced stream of face is being rotated, said spinning surface being air to pass through the wheeL The inducing of on a rim portion of said wheel and In a plane this air stream, however, materially Increases the substantially at right angles to the axis of rota power required to rotate this wheel at a high tion of said wheel. velocity, and if a very high fiber output Is not re- ns 6. a spinning wheel for centrlfugally spinning quired. It will be found advantageous to make mineral wool fibers from suitable molten material the two outer disks 42 Imperforate and merely provided with a Bpinning surface having numer blow the stream of air between the various spin ous small cup-rshaped cavities adapted to receive ning disks. and momentarily retain said material when said It will, of course, be understood that the spin- 40 material Is applied to said surface while said sur ning wheel must be operated at a fairly high face Is being rotated, said spinning surface being velocity to provide enough centrifugal force to on a rim portion of said wheel and In a plane sub economically and effectively spin the lava Into stantially parallel with the axis of rotation of fibers. It Is, therefore, apparent that the molten said wheel, said cup-shaped cavities on the rim material, which Is to be spun almost immediately 45 portion extending toward the center of said into fibers, after It has fallen upon the spinning wheel. wheels does not remain In the recessed portions 7. A spinning wheel for centrlfugally spinning or even on the surface portion of the spinning mineral wool fibers from suitable molten material wheels longer than a very small fraction of a provided with a spinning surface having numer second. For this reason when such terms as 50 ous small cup-shaped cavities adapted to receive "rapidly," "gradually" and ``momentarily" are and momentarily retain said material when said used herein, they should be considered In relation material Is applied to said surface while said sur to high rate of speed at which the molten ma face is being rotated, said spinning surface being terials move on the outer surface of the spin on the rim portion of said wheel snfi in a plane ning wheel. as substantially at right angles to the axis of rota It will also be understood that the spinning tion of said wheel, said cup-shaped cavities ex apparatus of this invention Is adapted to spin tending in a direction substantially parallel with any suitable viscous materials into fibers and that the axis of rotation of said wheel. the viscous materials may be either of mineral or 8. A spinning apparatus of the character de organic origin. a,) scribed for centrlfugally spinning mineral wool I claim: fibers from suitable molten matPTifti, M14 appa 1. A spinning wheel apparatus of the charac ratus having a rotatably mounted body portion ter described, said apparatus including a rotat provided with a substantially smooth annular ably mounted wheel having a circumferential spinning surface having multitudinous substan spinning surface portion and an inwardly extend- M tially uniformly distributed small wells thereon ing spinning surface portion on each side of said, extending Into the external surface but not circumferential spinning portion, each of said through the same and being of substantially surface portions being provided with numerous uniform size and shape, said wells forming molten Inwardly extending cavities adapted to Increase material reservoirs to receive and momentarily the lava retaining capacity of said spinning 70 retain portions of molten materials received by wheel. said surface, means to feed molten mineral ma 2. A spinning apparatus for centrlfugally spin terials to said surface and means for rapidly ro ning mineral wool fibers from suitable molten tating said body. material, said apparatus Including a rotatably CARLTON C. DAVIS. mounted body, means for rapidly rotating said 78 MTC 017023