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US 2010/0147033 A1Published application
Method of fiberizing molten glass
AssigneeJohns Manville
InventorsTerry Joe Hanna, Thomas Kent Thompson, Russell Donovan Arterburn
Life of this patent
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AssigneeJohns Manville
InventorsTerry Joe Hanna, Thomas Kent Thompson, Russell Donovan Arterburn
Estimating the term…
Methods for substantially improving the stability of a melting furnace system including bushings and cooling apparatus for converting molten mineral material to continuous fibers is disclosed. Apparatus and methods for maintaining the molten material throughput and the electrical power load on fiberizing bushings substantially constant are disclosed. The orifice plate, with or without tips or nozzles, is subjected to a more rapid rate of heat removal after the bushing breaks out than it did while the bushing was in a desired fiberizing mode. Apparatus for blowing cooling air upward onto the orifice plate during the time the bushing is breaking out and/or hanging to provide additional cooling is disclosed along with optional additional or alternative apparatus to use for optional additional or alternative cooling is also disclosed.
1-40. (canceled)
A system comprising a bushing for making fibers from molten glass, the bushing comprising at least one sidewall and an orifice plate or tip plate having nozzles or tips protruding from the bottom surface, and cooling members mounted beneath and close to the bottom of the orifice plate or tips for providing cooling for the molten glass as it exits the tips or the orifice plate and during fiberizing and hanging modes, the improvement comprising a nozzle or plurality of nozzles, supplied by a manifold connected to one or more sources of cooling gas, the nozzle or manifold being located at least about 9 inches below the bottom surface of the orifice plate or tip plate and on each side of the orifice plate, but out of the path of fibers, beads, and primary fibers coming from the orifice plate or tip plate, an on/off valve being attached to each cooling air source for each manifold, a breakout sensor and a control system that opens each valve upon sensing a breakout and closes each valve near the time the sensor again signals a desired fiberization mode.
47-68. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.