Document ppOV6j56OjD16zN16Kzz69Z6

<p) Mp Vf- PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT JM 1043 May 18, 1954 w. t. tillotson etal 2,678,466 APPARATUS AND METHOD OF FIBERIZATION OF MINERAL WOOL Filed Jan. 16, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 jtf&ornefts. MTC 017043 May 18, 1954 w. t. tillotson etal 2,678,466 APPARATUS AND METHOD OF FIBERIZATION OF MINERAL WOOL Filed Jan. 16, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 1 '' i ! i Ii .:V Jrvderttons. liSestet/JlJittotson, -Fr'edefLC&Jf. Horten', JLtto* ri/ 5. MTC 017044 Patented May 18, 1954 ,2 678,466 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,678,466 APPARATUS AND METHOD OF FTBERIZATION OF MINERAL WOOL Wesley T. Tillotson, Wilmette, HL, and Frederick H. Norton, Gloucester, Mass., assignors to American Rock Wool Corp,, Wabash, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application January 16, 1953, Serial No. 331,562 11 Claims. (CL 18--2.6) 12 The present invention relates to a novel means is projected therefrom onto an adjacent wheel, and manner of fiberizing molten fiber-forming or such mass may be caused to cascade or be de material Including blast furnace slag, wool rock, flected or thrown from the circumference of one vitreous materials, etc. to produce fibers herein wheel onto the circumference of another wheel after designated generally as mineral wool. 5 and back and forth, in an effort to increase the . In the present novel embodiment there is pro yield of mineral wool fibers. vided a rapidly rotating distributor in the form Unlike such proposed apparatus and manner of of a cup-shaped or hollow rotor receiving molten operation, in the present novel method and ap slag oi'"'HBt!f-fuiniihg material, and a plurality paratus the cup-shaped rotor receiving the or encompassing wheels so positioned and ar 10 molten material from the cupola functions to ranged about the rotor or distributor that the most effectively distribute and disperse the molten material' ejected by said centrally dis molten material from its peripheral edge and posed rotor or distributor is forcibly projected along its entire periphery of 360, and Impinge thereagalnst by centrifugal force. this molten material at high velocity onto the The plurality of spinning wheels in this novel IS circumference of a plurality of encompassing (arrangement are disposed about but spaced from the peripheral edge or circumference of the cen spinning wheels with each wheel intercepting or receiving a proportionate share of the distributed trally arranged cup distributor or rotor in such molten material, and each of these encompassing manner that as The molten material is centrifu- wheels subjecting its proportionate share to a gally ejected over the discharge edge of the dis 20 spinning action to cause optimum fiberization. tributor or rotor_lts surface tension is broken and By this novel arrangement and assembly of its dispersed mass is distributed as rapidly mov- encompassing spinning wheels, each wheel in re ing particles that are violently thrown and im ceiving its proportionate amount of the dispersed pinged against and collected on the circumfer fiber-forming material centrlfugally ejected from ence of these encompassing spinning wheels and 25 the distributor, spins into fibers the material that rotated therewith as a fire band until ejected as collects thereon in the form of a fire band and ( fibers from the circumference of these wheelsTiy the resulting spun fibers from each fire band are centfHugaT force. ' ......... collected by suction in a collecting chamber. It~is, therefore, an important object of the The encompassing spinning wheels may rotate present invention to provide a distributor in the 3,, in the same or in a direction opposite to that of form of a cup-shaped rotoroperabie at high the centrally disposed cup-shaped distributor speed and adapted to receive on y^ntegior a and adjacent wheels may rotate in the same or in molten stream of fiber-forming matena^uch as opposite directions. As the rapidly travelling blast furnace slag, fusible rock, vitreous ma particles of material are centrlfugally ejected terials, etc., dispersing the mass of molten ma 3;5 from the distributor throughout its entire 360 terial over the inner annular surface of the dis circumference, and assuming there are six spin tributor in the form of a thin sheet, and centrif- ning wheels encompassing the rotor or distrib ugally projecting said molten material from this utor, approximately one-sixth of the total of inner annular surface and over its adjacent pe ejected streams from the distributor are forcibly ripheral edge onto a plurality of encompassing 4(, driven onto the circumference of each wheel to spinning wheels. thereat form a fire band of the fiber-forming ma By the present novel construction and method terial, and as these wheels rotate rapidly this ma of fiberization, the molten slag or fiber-forming terial is spun into fibres of mineral wool. To material is distributed by the rapid rotation of facilitate removal of the spun fibers as formed a cup-shaped rotor, ejected from its peripheral 45 from adjacent the wheels, a suction is applied edge and impinged against the circumference of and draws the loose and relatively light fibers a plurality of closely spaced and encompassing into a collecting chamber or wool room for ac spinning wheels. cumulation as a sheet or batt of suitable thick Although the use of several wheels In the spin ness. ning of fibers has been proposed, such wheels g0 Further objects are to provide a construction of have been arranged in offset or staggered relation maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy and and in such manner that the entire stream or ease of assembly and operation, and such further mass of molten fiber-forming material issuing objects, advantages and capabilities as will later from the guide spout impinges upon the cir more fully appear and are inherently possessed cumference of one rotating wheel and such mass 55 thereby. MTC 017046 3,078,466 34 In the drawings: provided to drive these spinning wheels individ Figure 1 is a view, part in vertical cross section ually or in multiple. and part in side or end elevation, showing the These wheels IT may all be rotated in the same, novel apparatus and manner of fiberizatlon. or adjacent wheels in opposite directions, but, Fig. 2 is a view, part in front elevation and part 5 regardless of their direction of rotation, each in vertical cross section, of the present novel wheel receives its proportionate share of the mechanism or apparatus for the production of rapidly moving particles ejected from the rotor spun fibers, the view being taken on the line 2--2 or distributor 10 as these molten particles are of Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. Impinged against the encompassing wheels and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a 10 these wheels flberizing the intercepted material. modified form of distributor in the novel as In Figs. 3 and 4 is disclosed an alternate form sembly. of rotor or distributor 26 functioning in a manner Fig. 4 is a view in front elevation of the novel similar to that of the cup-sbaped rotor 10 in that assembly of Fig. 3. the molten slag of fiber=ferming=35aterial is Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, part in side eleva 15 directed onto the interior surface or annulus 2T tion and part in vertical cross section, showing of the rotor or distributor 26 adjacent its dis tiie manner in which the encompassing spinning charge edge 28 by means of a guide spout or wheels and their drive shafts of Figs. 1 and 2 directing plate 29. This form of rotor or distribu may be.turned or disposed at a desired angle tor 26, as well as the rotor or distributor 10, may whereby to widen the fire band by causing the 20 be hollow as at 86 to permit the passage there slag ejected by the distributing rotor to strike or through of water or other liquid or gaseous Impinge against a desired width of the circumfer coolant, steam, etc., or it may be cooled by am ence of the spinning wheels, such width depend bient air. ing upon the amount of angle. The rotor or distributor 26 may be driven in Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but devoid of 25 any suitable manner, such as by means of a motor the drive mechanism end encompassing frame II having a drive shaft 32 to which is attached and with the axis of the spinning wheel shafts a sprocket wheel 33 driving a sprocket wheel 34 turned through a desired angle. mounted on an encompassing housing 36 carrying Fig. 7 is a view in elevation of the open end of the rotor or distributor 26, for .rapidly rotating a distributor of the type shown in Figs. 1 and 2 30 the latter through a chain drive 36. The encom but with its discharge edge serrated or notched passing spinning wheels being similar to and to show one method of spreading or widening the similarly arranged with respect to the rotor or fire band. distributor 26 as in the assembly of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 8 is a view in vertical cross section taken similar reference characters have been applied in a plane represented by the line 8--8 of Fig. 7. 33 thereto. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing In Figs. 5 and 6 is disclosed another embodi another embodiment of distributing rotor in ment or arrangement of the rotor or distributor which the discharge edge is given a wavy or un 10 and the encompassing spinning wheels IT, but dulated contour. in which the axis of the spinning wheel shafts 18 Fig. 10 is a view in vertical cross section taken 40 are turned or disposed at an angle whereby to in a plane represented by the line 10--10 of Fig. 9 widen the fire band 41 by causing the slag ejected and viewed in the direction of the arrows. from the peripheral edge 16 of the rotor or dis Referring more particularly to the disclosure in tributor to strike or impinge against the spinning the drawings and to the novel illustrative embod wheels IT at a desired angle. The angle of the iments therein shown. Figs. 1 and 2 disclose a 45 shafts 18 may be varied- through a substantial cup-shaped rotor or distributor 10 for receiving amount or angle depending upon the width of the molten slag or other fiber-forming material fire band desired in the encompassing wheels. 11 Issuing from a cupola or furnace and direct Fig. 5 shows somewhat diagrammatically how ing this stream onto the interior of the rotor or such spinning wheels IT may be located at a de distributor by a guide spout or suitable directing plate 12. This rotor or distributor 10 is given by 50 sired angle and how the width of the fire band 41. angle determines the means of a horizontally arranged drive shaft It Figs. 1,3 and 5 disclose the fire band 41 formed from a motor or other suitable power source (not by the molten fiber-forming material distributed shown) for rotating the rotor or distributor at by the rotor or distributor 10 or 26 and forcibly high speed whereby the molten material collect ing in the form of a thin sheet or layer on the in 55 ejected from these distributing rotors and im pinged against the spinning wheels IT. Figs. 5 terior surface or annulus 14 is ejected centrifu- and 6 show one manner of widening the fire band gally as rapidly travelling material 18 issuing by the angular arrangement of the spinning over the peripheral edge IS. wheel shafts 18, and the embodiments of Figs. Arranged in spaced relation uniformly and rather closely about the circumference of the 00 7 and 8 and Figs. 9 and 10 show how such width may be increased by contouring the peripheral rotor or distributor 10, are a plurality of encom discharge edge of these distributing rotors to passing spinning wheels IT each suitably mounted provide a serrated or undulated surface. upon and driven by a horizontally disposed drive To withdraw the fibers as formed from ad shaft 18. Each shaft 18 is rotatably mounted in spaced bearing supports or brackets 19 and to 05 jacent the spinning wheels IT by 6uction. these wheels are partially enclosed within a wool room permit adjustment of the wheels IT with respect or collecting chamber 42, the bottom of which to the centrally disposed rotor or distributor 10, may be closed by a conveyor (not shown) upon the base of each bearing support or bracket is which the collected fibers may accumulate as mounted on shims 21 located between it and an encompassing frame 22. Several of these spin 70 a mat, all dustry. in a manner well known in the in ning wheels may be driven from a single motor Figs. 7 and 8 disclose an alternate embodiment 21 by means of a belt drive 24 and pulleys or of a distributing rotor 3T similar to the rotor sheaves 28, in the manner shown in Fig. 1, al 10 of Figs. 1 and 2, except that its discharge edge though any suitable drive mechanism may be 75 88 is serrated or notched at 39 whereby the mni- MTC 017047 3.078,486 56 ten slag or fiber-forming material Is discharged and have forcibly Impinged on their circumfer over the Interrupted edge >8 as well as through ence the particles of molten fiber-forming ma the notches or recesses 18 whereby the fire band terial from the distributing means, and means is substantially widened. for rapidly rotating said wheels for forming said In Figs. 9 and 10 the distributing rotor IT is 5 molten fiber-forming material into mineral wool shown as having its discharge edge <0 of a wavy fibers. or undulated contour whereby the discharge from 2. Apparatus for forming mineral wool fibers this edge in striking the encompassing spinning from molten fiber-forming material, comprising wheels IT produces a substantially widened fire a hollow distributing rotor, means for feeding band. 10 a stream of the molten fiber-forming material As but illustrative of the disclosed embodiment to said rotor, means for rapidly rotating said and not to be taken as limiting the present in rotor for forcibly ejecting the molten fiber-form vention, the temperature of the molten slag or ing material therefrom as rapidly travelling par fiber-forming material fed to either form of the ticles, multiple spinning wheels mounted for ro- distributor or rotor 10, 26 or IT, may be approxi 15 tation about the circumference of said rotor and mately 2200 F. to 2800 F,, with the quantity each so constructed and arranged as to receive of slag or material fed thereto being at the rate and have forcibly impinged on its circumference of approximately 4000 pounds per hour, although said particles of the molten fiber-forming ma this may be varied through a relatively wide terial ejected by centrifugal force from the dis- range of between approximately 1000 to 6000 20 tributlng rotor, and means for rapidly rotating pounds per hour, depending upon the size and said spinning wheels to fiberize the molten ma speed of rotation of the rotor or distributor. terial collected on their circumference. The diameter of this rotor is preferably approxi 3. Apparatus for forming mineral wool fibers mately ten (10) inches, with a depth of approxi from molten fiber-forming material, comprising mately two (2) inches rnd operating at a speed 23 a hollow distributing rotor for receiving the mol of approximately 800 R. P. M. However, the ten fiber-forming material, means for rapidly ro effective diameter of the rotor or distributor may tating said distributing rotor and ejecting there vary between approximately six (6) and twelve from the molten fiber-forming material by cen (12) Inches, its depth may vary between approxi trifugal force, a plurality of spinning wheels dis mately one and one-half (lVfe) and four (4) co posed about the circumference of said rotor with Inches and its speed of rotation from approxi raid rotor centrally arranged and each spinning mately 200 to 1200 R. P. M. wheel so constructed and arranged as to receive As further illustrative, the encompassing spin on its circumference its proportionate share of ning wheels IT preferably have an outer diameter the molten fiber-forming material as this molten of approximately twelve (12) Inches and are ro s-> material is ejected by centrifugal force from the tated at a speed of approximately 4000 R. P. M. rotor and distributed to and driven against the However, the diameter of these spinning wheels circumference of the spinning wheels, and means may vary between approximately eight (8) and for rapidly rotating said wheels for flberizing the sixteen (16) Inches end their speed of rotation molten material received thereby. between approximately 2000 and 8000 R. P. M. 4. Apparatus for forming mineral wool fibers These, wheels are shown as preferably six in from molten fiber-forming material, comprising number, but this number may vary between four a hollow distributing rotor receiving the molten and eight, with the number of wheels being de fiber-forming material, means for rapidly rotat termined so that each wheel receives its propor ing said rotor about a horizontal axis to discharge tionate share of the ejected particles from the 13 the molten fiber-forming material therefrom by distributor or rotor 18, 26 or IT, and each may be centrifugal force as rapidly moving particles, cooled or heated, as desired. multiple spinning wheels disposed in encompass From the above disclosure it will be apparent ing relation about the centrally arranged rotor that the present invention comprehends the pro but spaced therefrom and from each other and so vision of a novel means and method of mechan SO constructed and arranged that each wheel has ical fiberization whereby the molten slag or fiber- forcibly Impinged on its circumference a portion forming material is initially received on the in of the material ejected by centrifugal force from terior of a rotating distributor, and from its pe said distributing rotor, and means for rapidly ripheral edge the material is projected by centrif rotating said wheels about their substantially ugal force and forcibly impinged against the cir 53 horizontal axes for fiberization of the distributed cumference of a plurality of encompassing spin molten material collected on their circumference. ning wheels whereby the material is dispersed 5. An apparatus for forming mineral wool and each spinning wheel receives its proportion : fibers from fiber-forming material, comprising a ate share of the total amount distributed by the hollow distributing rotor, means for supplying rotor or distributor 16, 26 or IT. For example, 00 molten fiber-forming material to the Interior of if there are six wheels spaced about the dis said rotor, means for rapidly rotating said rotor tributing rotor, each wheel is adapted and so about a horizontal axis to cause the dispersion positioned as to receive approximately one-sixth and ejection by centrifugal force of said molten of the material distributed by the rotor. material in a plane substantially perpendicular Having thus disclosed the invention, we claim: 05 to the axis of rotation of said rotor, a plurality of 1. Mechanism for flberizing molten fiber- spinning wheels arranged in spaced relation forming material comprising a hollow distribut about the circumference of said rotor and each ing means for receiving said molten fiber-form so constructed and arranged as to receive on Its ing material, means for rapidly rotating said dis circumference a portion of the dispersed molten tributing means for forcibly ejecting therefrom 70 material ejected from the rotor by centrifugal by centrifugal force the molten fiber-forming force, and means for rapidly rotating said wheels materiel in the form of rapidly travelling par for flberizing the molten material collected on ticles, a plurality of spinning wheels mounted the circumference of each wheel. about the periphery of said distributing means 6. Apparatus for forming mineral wool fibers and so constructed and arranged as to receive 73 from molten fiber-forming material, comprising MTC 017048 3,678,466 78 a hollow distributing rotor rotatable about a hori from molten fiber-forming material comprising zontal axis and receiving the molten fiber-form the steps of feeding a stream of said molten fiber ing material, means for rapidly rotating said forming material, discharging this molten mate rotor about its horizontal axis to eject the molten rial in the form of an annular pattern of rapidly material therefrom by centrifugal force, multiple 5 travelling particles with sufficient force to Im spinning wheels disposed in encompassing rela pinge these ejected particles onto the circum tion about the centrally arranged rotor but ference of a plurality of rotating spinning sur spaced therefrom and from each other and so faces disposed about the ejected molten material, constructed and arranged that each wheel re and rapidly rotating said spinning surfaces for ceives and has forcibly impinged upon its cir 10 fiberization of the molten material collected cumference a portion - of the molten material thereon. ejected by centrifugal force from said rotor, 10. The method of forming mineral wool fibers means for rotatably mounting said wheels about from molten fiber-forming material, which com an axis disposed at an angle to the axis of rota prises the steps of converting a stream of said tion of the rotor, and means for rapidly rotating 15 molten material into a multiplicity of rapidly said wheels for flberizing the fiber-forming mol ten material collected on the circumference of travelling diverging particles projecting said par ticles at high velocity from a common axial cen said wheels. ter throughout a circular area against spinning 7. The method of forming mineral wool fibers surfaces substantially surrounding said axial comprising the steps of feeding a stream of mol 20 center and imparting to said spinning surfaces a ten fiber-forming material, ejecting this molten movement transverse to said paths of travel at material by centrifugal force in an annular pat such speed as to effectively flberize said material. tern and in the form of rapidly travelling parti 11. The method of forming mineral wool fibers cles to project said particles and forcibly imping from molten fiber-forming material, comprising ing these particles onto the circumference of a 25 the steps of feeding a stream of said material, plurality of encompassing and rapidly rotating spinning surfaces for fiberization of the molten converting said stream into a thin sheet of fiberforming material, centrifugally ejecting the ma material collected on said spinning surfaces. terial of said sheet at high velocity from a com 8. The method of forming mineral wool fibers mon axial center throughout the area of a circle from molten fiber-forming material comprising 30 against spinning surfaces substantially surround the steps of feeding a stream of said molten ma ing said center and causing said spinning surfaces terial, distributing the molten material in an an nular pattern formed of rapidly moving particles to travel transversely of the paths of said centrif ugally ejected material at a high speed, whereby and forcibly ejecting said particles by centrif said projected material is effectively flberized. ugal force and impinging these particles of ejec 35 ted molten material upon the circumference of a References Cited in the file of this patent plurality of rapidly rotating spinning surfaces UNITED STATES PATENTS disposed in spaced relation thereabout, and rapidly rotating said spinning surfaces for fiberi zation of the molten material collected on said spinning surfaces. 9. The method of forming mineral wool fibers 40 Number 2,439,776 2,587,710 2,632,920 Name Date Klein et al........... . Apr. 13, 1948 DowneyMar. 4, 1952 KoehlerMar. 31. 1953 MTC 017049