Method and apparatus for forming mineral fibers

Apparatus for attenuating molten mineral material into mineral fibers of the type in which an orificed spinner (10) is adapted to receive the molten mineral material and to centrifuge it into primary mineral fibers (20), and means positioned circumferentially of said spinner (10) is adapted to discharge a flow of gases to further attenuate said primary fibers (20) into secondary fibers (24), wherein the improvement comprises said means for discharging comprising a plurality of turbulent flow generators (26) for downwardly discharging rotating flows of gas to further attenuate said primary fibers (20) into secondary fibers (24), each of said turbulent flow generators (26) being adapted to generate gaseous flows (34) exerting attenuation forces in different directions along the path of the fiber being further attenuated.

The method for attenuating molten mineral material into mineral fibers of the type in which an orificed spinner (10) receives molten mineral material and centrifuges it into primary mineral fibers (20), and a flow of gases is discharged circumferentially of said spinner (10) to further attenuate said primary fibers (20) into secondary fibers (24), wherein the improvement comprises downwardly discharging said flow of gases from a plurality of turbulent flow generators (26) positioned circumferentially of said spinner (10) and introducing said primary fibers (20) into zones (36) of turbulent gaseous flow created by said turbulent flow generators (26).

The method of forming fibers comprising centrifuging molten mineral material into primary fibers (20) with a rotating spinner (10), and further attenuating said primary fibers (20) into secondary fibers (24) by exerting attenuation forces in different directions at different loci (38, 40, 42, 44) within each of a plurality of zones (36) of turbulent gasesous flow, said zones (36) being positioned circumferentially of said spinner (10).

The method of forming fibers comprising centrifuging molten mineral material into primary fibers (20) with a spinner (10), generating a plurality of zones (36) of turbulent gaseous flows positioned circumferentially of said spinner (10), each of said zones (36) having gas flow in different directions at different loci (38, 40, 42, 44) within the zone (36), and further attenuating said primary fibers (20) into secondary fibers (24) by introducing said primary fibers (20) into said zones (36).