Control system for the drawing of glass fibers

An improved system for use in supplying gas to a bushing assembly used for the drawing of glass fibers, said system comprising:

• a nozzle having a plurality of individual inlet conduits and an elongate discharge passage communicating with said conduits whereby individual streams of gas may enter the nozzle through the inlet conduits and gas may exit the nozzle through the discharge passage in bulk flow form;
• manifold means for supplying gas to the inlet conduits of the nozzle, said means having valves to individually control the gas supplied to the respective inlet conduits;
• a plurality of restricted flow conduits connected in parallel relationship to one another and in series relationship to the manifold means to supply gas thereto;
• and, a solenoid operable closure valve disposed in at least one of said restricted flow conduits to selectively open or close the conduit to the flow of gas therethrough.

In combination with a bushing assembly for the drawing of glass fibers, said assembly having an orifice plate with a perforated drawing area having a generally planar undersurface, an improved system for supplying cooling gas to the undersurface of the drawing area, said system comprising:

• a nozzle having a plurality of individual inlet conduits and an elongate discharge passage communicating with said conduits whereby individual streams of gas may enter the nozzle through the inlet conduits and the gas may exit the nozzle through the discharge passage in elongate bulk flow form;
• means supporting the nozzle beneath the bushing assembly in a position wherein gas exiting the nozzle is directed against the undersurface of the perforated drawing area of the orifice plate;
• and,
• manifold means for supplying gas to the inlet conduits of the nozzle, said means having valves to individually control the gas supplied to the inlet conduits.

In a glass fiber draing assembly comprising a bushing assembly having an orifice plate with a drawing area having a flat undersurface through which fibers are drawn, a collet for drawing glass fibers from the plate, a supply nozzle for directing bulk gas against the undersurface of the plate, and a heater for heating molten glass within the bushing assembly to condition the glass for drawing through the drawing area of the plate, apparatus for supplying bulk gas to the nozzle and instantaneously increasing or decreasing the flow of gas to the nozzle, said apparatus comprising:

• a series of restricted flow conduits connected to one another in parallel relationship;
• means securing said conduits in series communication with said nozzle;
• a valve located in at least one of said conduits to normally maintain said one conduit in a closed condition;
• and, means to energize the valve to open said at least one conduit to increase the flow of bulk gas through the nozzle in response to a breakout condition of fibers being drawn from the orifice plate.

In a glass fiber drawing assembly comprising a bushing assembly having an orifice plate with a drawing area having a flat undersurface through which fibers are drawn, a collet for drawing glass fibers from the plate, a supply nozzle for directing bulk gas against the undersurface of the plate, and a heater for heating molten glass within the bushing assembly to condition the glass for drawing through the drawing area of the plate, apparatus for supplying bulk gas to the nozzle and instantaneously increasing or decreasing the flow of gas to the nozzle, said apparatus comprising:

• a series of restricted flow conduits connected to one another in parallel relationship, and connected to said nozzle in series relationship, at least one of said conduits being in a normally open condition;
• valves in at least two of said conduits to maintain said at least two conduits in a normally closed condition;
• means to energize at least one of the valves to open the conduit in which said valve is located in response to a breakout condition of fibers being drawn from the orifice plate;
• and, means to energize at least two of the valves to open the conduits in which said valves are located to increase the supply of bulk gas to the supply nozzle to clear the undersurface of the orifice plate.

In combination with a bushing assembly for the drawing of glass fibers, said assembly having an orifice plate with a perforated drawing area having a generally planar undersurface, an improved system for supplying cooling gas to the undersurface of the drawing area, said system comprising:

• a nozzle having a plurality of individual inlet conduits including discharge means whereby individual streams of gas may enter the nozzle through the inlet conduits and the gas may exit the nozzle through the discharge means in bulk flow form;
• means supporting the nozzle beneath the bushing assembly in a position wherein gas exiting the nozzle is directed against the undersurface of the perforated drawing area of the orifice plate;
• and,
• manifold means for supplying gas separately to the inlet conduits of the nozzle, said means having valves to individually control the gas supplied to the inlet conduits.