Document weyyjpqrL86npxV68Og3by53

Nov. 13, 1945. E. R. POWELL MINERAL WOOL MANUFACTURE Filed April 29, 1943 2,388,935 ./)/) L'/J. 9 AiTORNEY |\ATC 017098 Patented Nov. 13, 1945 2,388,935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,388,935 UNHUL WOOL MANUFACTURE Edward R. Powell. North Plainfield, N. J,, uslgnor to Johna-Manrllle Corporation, New York, N. Y,, a corporation of New York AppUcation April 29,1943, Serial No. 485,010 7 Claims. (CL 49--1) My present Invention relates to the manufac Fig. 2 Is a view on an enlarged scale taken on ture of mineral wool and like products and more the line I--2 of Fig. 1; particularly to Improved means for applying a Fig. 3 la a top plan view of the apparatus shown binder to mineral wool fibers substantially at the in Fig. 2; time of their formation. It will be understood 5 Fig. 4 la an enlarged sectional view of the that the term "mineral wool" is employed herein spray head shown In Fig. 2, the view being taken in a generic sense to Include wool or fibers formed on the line 4--< of Fig. 2; from rock, slag, glass, mixtures thereof and other Fig. 5 Is a perspective view of an apparatus em suitable raw materials. bodying a further feature of the Invention; Heretofore mineral wool has been manufac- 10 Fig. 6 is an elevatlonal view of the apparatus tured In several ways, for example, by subjecting of Fig. 5 with parts In section; and a stream of the molten material to the action of Fig. 7 Is a view similar to Fig. 4 Illustrating a a high pressure steam jet. More recently It has modified form of the spray head. been proposed to disintegrate the molten mate Referring now to the drawing and more Par rial by the use of one or more spinners or rotors is tlcularly to Figs. 1-4 Inclusive, there Is shown rotated at high speed and upon which the mate an apparatus for melting and flberlzlng suitable rial impinges and by which It is broken up Into raw materials such as rock, slag, glass and mix drops or masses which are thrown from the ro tures thereof. The fiber forming elements of tor by centrifugal force and drawn Into thread the apparatus may take different forms but, as or fiber form. The principal object of the In 20 Illustrated, the same comprise a melting furnace stant Invention is the provision of a binder addi 10 of the cupola or tank furnace type and a tion means for use In conjunction with apparatus flberlzlng means Indicated generally at 12. Flber of the latter type and which will provide a rela lzlng means 12 Includes one or more rotors. In tively uniform distribution of the binder In fine the form illustrated, two cylindrical rotors 14 droplet form throughout the newly formed fibers. 25 and 16 are employed having, respectively, cylin Another object of the Invention Is the pro drical surfaces IS and IT and end surfaces 18 and vision of such binder addition means which will 21, whose peripheries define the cylindrical sur deliver the binder throughout substantially the faces. The rotors are carried by shafts IS and entire area of flberlzatlon. 20, respectively, and are adapted for rotation at Another object of the invention Is the pro high speed In opposite directions. The rotors sire vision of an atomizing type binder spray head positioned so that rotor 14 receives the stream of adapted to form a cloud of minute droplets of molten material on Its cylindrical surface, the binder adjacent the peripheries of the flberlzlng molten material being partially converted into rotors, and further to provide a spray head of this fibers by rotor 14 and partially discharged onto type which may be adjusted to control the binder 35 the cylindrical surface of rotor 16 where further concentration to provide a larger amount of flberlzatlon takes place. Flberlzatlon Is caused, binder adjacent the places of maximum fiber for the most part, by small drops of the mate production. rial thrown from the rotors by centrifugal force A still further object of the invention In one and drawn Into fibers. As will be understood, form thereof Is the provision of means to be em 40 the fiber formation occurs adjacent the periph ployed in conjunction with a binder applicator eries of the rotors, and to some extent, substan of the type referred to above, to eliminate or tially throughout their circumferences, but Is substantially reduce whipping and eddying the heaviest near the outer and top portion of the cloud of binder droplets by the windage effects rotors. It will be understood that the two-rotor produced by the rotor. 45 flberlzlng system Is shown only for purposes of My Invention will be more fully understood and Illustration and that the Invention Is not limited further objects and advantages thereof will be to the particular number of rotors to be employed. come apparent when reference is made to the Behind the rotors there Is provided means In more detailed description thereof which Is to dicated generally at 22 for delivering a binder In follow and to the accompanying drawing, In so finely divided form to the fibers as, or shortly aft which: er, they are formed. The binder applying device Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevatlonal view of a Includes a spray head 24 for each rotor supported mineral wool apparatus Illustrating the arrange ment of the flberlzatlon and binder applying ap in any suitable manner behind the rotor adjacent one of Its end surfaces and somewhat off center paratus In accordance with the Invention; 65 but preferably within the space defined by the MTC 017099 2 9,388,085 extended cylindrical surface of the rotor, as indl- ed behind rotor M, but it will be understood that cated. Each spray head 24 comprises a pair of it Is equally applicable to rotor II. As will be members or disks 26 and 21 (see Fig. 4) suitably understood, rotors of the type of 14 and II, when circular in contour and having flat opposed faces driven at the high speeds employed, say, 3800 SO and 12 forming between them a relatively nar- 3 to 4600 R. P. M., create a windage which tends row space and defining an annular port 3S at the to whip the cloud of binder particles and set up edges of the members. The disks or members 20 eddy currents therein which Interfere to a con* and 28 may be secured In this relationship as by siderable extent with the proper distribution of weld or the like S4. It will be understood that the binder. Also a portion of the binder Is the weld 14 takes up only a relatively small portion 10 whipped Into contact with the rotor where It has of the marginal area of the members and Is lo- . an undesirable cooling effect. In the case of cated opposite the shaft of the rotor where no certain types of binders, contact with the rotors binder spray Is required. Member 20 Is provided causes rapid burning or of the binder, with an Internal channel II Into which a binder If a heat-setting binder Is employed it tends to supply line SI Is connected. Channel II termln- 13 be set up by contact with the rotors and to build ates In a mouth 40 opening Into the space between up thereon to an undesirable extent the members and substantially at the center of These various difficulties are avoided by baf- the space. Where multiple rotors are employed. fle II which does not attain a temperature com as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the binder supply line IS parable with that of the rotor, as it Is not con- for each of the spray heads may be joined to a no tacted by the molten material and hence has no main binder supply line 42, which in turn Is con- harmful effect on the bindeh- Also the bailie nected to any suitable source of binder supply (not prevents interference with the binder dlstribu- shown). tlon. Member 21 is provided with a perforation or The apparatus of the instant Invention may opening opposite mouth 40 Into which a pipe 44 23 be employed with any suitable binding material. Is threaded or otherwise secured. Pipe 44 Is con- For example, beat-setting binders such as Bake- nected to a suitable supply of a fluid medium un- llte resins, drying oils and the like have been der pressure and, where multiple rotors are em- found to be suitable. Thermoplastic binders such ployed, may form branches of a main pressure line as thermoplastic resins, asphalts, waxes and the 48 leading from a high pressure steam line, com- 30 like may also be employed, pressed air line or the like. Having thus described my Invention In rather Supply lines 38,44, 42and 48 may serve as the full detail, it will be understood that these de support for the spray heads. tails need not be strictly adhered to, but that In the operation of the apparatus described various changes and modifications will suggest above, fluid under pressure, such as high pres- 33 themselves to one skilled In the art, all falling sure steam. Is supplied through lines 48 and 44. within the scope of the Invention as defined by The fluid enters the space between members 21 the subjoined claims, and 28 and escapes from said space at high ve- What I claim Is: loclty through the annular port II. At the same 1. In a mineral wool apparatus, means for dls- tlme the binder material Is supplied by lines 42 40 integrating a stream of molten material Into and 38. preferably under pressure, and enters fibers, said means comprising a rotor having a through mouth 40 into the space between the cylindrical surface on which said stream Impinges members 28 and 28. Entry of the binder Into and end surfaces having peripheries defining said the space will be aided by the aspirating action _ cylindrical surface, and means for applying a of the steam or other fluid escaping through port 43 binder to said fibers, said last-named means com- 33. The binder Is atomized and driven through prising a spray head supported adjacent one end the orifice In the form of fine droplets or parti- surface of the rotor and having a substantially cles by the escaping steam. Due to the fact that continuous annular port positioned for directing the binder Is sprayed out through a substantially a binder spray adjacent the periphery of said one circular orifice it will be directed adjacent the 50 end surface. periphery of the end surface of the rotor and 2. In a mineral wool apparatus, means for dis will contact the newly formed fibers through- integrating a stream of molten material Into fl out the entire flberizlng area. Where It is found bers, said means comprising a rotor having a that the fiber yield Is higher at certain points cylindrical surface on which said stream impinges than at others, as is usually the case, the amount 35 and end surfaces having peripheries defining said of binder may be Increased at these points and cylindrical surface, and means for applying a correspondingly decreased at others by localized binder to said fibers, said last-named means corn- adjustment of the width of the annular orifice. prising a spray head adjacent one end surface This may be accomplished In any suitable man- of the rotor and within the space defined by the ner. For example, as shown In Fig. 7, at least 00 extended cylindrical surface of the rotor and hav- one of the members or discs defining the orifice lng a substantially continuous annular port for may be made of relatively light weight material, directing a binder spray adjacent the periphery whereby the orifice may be varied at desired lo- ; of said one end surface. cations by forcing the edges of the members 3. In a mineral wool apparatus, means for dls- closer together or farther apart, as the case re- 65 Integrating a stream of molten material Into fl- quires. bers, said means comprising a rotor having a Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, a further fea- cylindrical surface on which said stream impinges ture of the invention is disclosed for use in con- and end surfaces having peripheries defining said Junction with the binder applying device and ro- cylindrical surface, and means for applying a tors described above. This feature comprises a TO binder to said fibers, said last-named means corn- baffle II preferably of somewhat conical shape prising members having spaced, substantially flat located behind the rotor and between it and the surfaces defining an annular port within the binder applying device and supported as by brack- space defined by the extended cylindrical surface et 82 secured to any suitable fixed portion of of the rotor, means for supplying a binder ma- the apparatus. A baffle has been shown- mount- 75 tertal to the space between said flat surfaces and MTC 017100 ,8 888,086 3 mean* for supplying fluid under pressure to said ing a substantially continuous annular port, and last-named space whereby said fluid escaping a binder supply Une and a supply line for a fluid through said port draws the binder therewith and under pressure connected Into each of said spray sprays the binder onto said fibers. heads. 4. in a mineral wool apparatus, means for dls- 6 6. In a mineral wool apparatus, means for dis Integrating a stream of molten material Into fi integrating a stream of molten material Into fi bers, said means comprising a rotor having a bers, said means comprising a rotor having a cy cylindrical surface on which said stream Impinges lindrical surface on which said stream impinges and end surfaces having peripheries defining said and end surfaces having peripheries defining said cylindrical surface, and means for applying a 16 cylindrical surface, a fixed baffle plate overlying binder to said fibers, said last-named means com one end surface of the rotor and substantially prising a pair of circular plates, each having a co-extenslve therewith, and means for applying cylindrical surface and a substantially flat end a binder to the fibers substantially as they an face with said end faces of said plates in adjacent formed by said rotor, said last-named means com relationship to define a circular port, a passage- it prising a spray head supported adjacent said baf way within one of said {dates extending from the fle plate and within the space defined by the ex cylindrical surface thereof to a mouth substan tended cylindrical surface of the rotor and hav tially centrally of its said end face, means con ing a substantially continuous annular port. necting said passageway to a binder supply, a 7. In a mineral wool apparatus, means for dis passageway In the other of said plates termlnat- 20 integrating a stream of molten material Into fi lng In a mouth In Its said end face substantially bers, said means comprising a rotor having a opposite to said mouth In the first-mentioned cylindrical surface on which said stream Impinges plate, and means for supplying a fluid under pres and end surfaces having peripheries defining said sure to said passageway In said second-mentioned cylindrical surface, a conical baffle plate, means plate. 26 for supporting said baffle plate adjacent one end 6. In a mineral wool apparatus, means for dis surface of the rotor, said baffle plate being sub integrating a stream of molten material Into fi stantially co-extenslve therewith, and means for bers, said means comprising a pair of rotors In applying a Under to the fibers substantially as substantial tangential relationship, each having they are formed by said rotor, said last-named a cylindrical surface and end surfaces including SO means comprising a spray head supported ad peripheries defining said cylindrical surface, and jacent said baffle plate and within the space de means for applying a binder to said fibers ad fined by the extended cylindrical surface of the jacent the periphery of an end surface of each rotor and having a substantially continuous an of said rotors, said last-named means compris nular port, and a binder supply line and a sup ing spray heads supported adjacent one end sur- 26 ply line for a fluid under pressure connected to face of each rotor and within the space defined by said spray head. ____ the extended cylindrical surface thereof and hav EDWARD R. POWELL, MTC 017101