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US 4,542,044 AGranted
Method and apparatus to automatically apply a liquid dust inhibitor to fiberglass blowing wool
AssigneeOwens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation
InventorsBarclay P. Gano, James L. Rucker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for applying a dust inhibitor consisting of a 50% oil, 50% water emulsion in a ratio of 0.5% by weight to milled fiberglass blowing wool is disclosed. The apparatus senses the weight of fiberglass being milled and selectively and automatically sprays the emulsion on the fiberglass as it is being transported through the production system.
Claims16
An apparatus for applying a dust inhibitor to milled glass fibers comprised of:
- a means for determining the weight of glass fibers milled;
- a means for transporting said glass fibers along a supply tube;
- a plurality of spray nozzles positioned along said supply tube;
- a source of air to constantly supply air through said spray nozzle;
- a plurality of solenoid controlled valves connected to a source of liquid dust inhibitor, each of said plurality of solenoid controlled valves associated with an individual spray nozzle of said plurality of spray nozzles;
- and a means to concurrently activate in sequential combination said solenoid controlled valves in stepped response to the weight sensed to apply the dust inhibitor to the glass fibers in a stepped percentage by weight to the weight of the glass fibers sensed.
3 more elements
An apparatus for applying a dust inhibitor in a stepped percentage ratio by weight to milled fiberglass to produce a blowing wool insulation comprising:
- a means to sense the weight of fiberglass being milled;
- a means for transporting said glass fibers along a supply tube;
- a plurality of spray nozzles positioned along said supply tube;
- an air supply constantly supplying an air flow through said spray nozzle;
- a plurality of solenoid controlled valves connected to a source of liquid dust inhibitor, each of said plurality of solenoid controlled valves associated with an individual spray nozzle of said plurality of spray nozzles;
- and a control means responsive to the weight of fiberglass being milled for activating in sequential combination said plurality of solenoid controlled valves.
3 more elements
An apparatus for spraying a dust inhibitor onto milled glass fibers comprising:
- (a) a hammermill for milling fiberglass products into discontinuous glass fibers;
- (b) an electric motor for driving said hammermill;
- (c) a sensing means connected to said electric motor for sensing the amount of power drawn by said motor and for producing a signal proportional to the amount of power drawn by the motor;
- (d) a plurality of liquid spray means for spraying a dust inhibitor onto the milled glass fibers;
- (e) an air supply connected to said plurality of spray means for constantly applying an air flow through said spray means;
- (f) a plurality of solenoid controlled valve means, one of said plurality of solenoid controlled valves connected to each liquid spray means said plurality of liquid spray means to allow liquid dust inhibitor to flow to selective combination of liquid spray means when that solenoid controlled valve is activated;
- and
- (g) a control means receiving said signal from said sensing means and sequentially activating in combination said plurality of solenoid controlled valve means in stepped response to the magnitude of the signal.
5 more elements
A method of applying a dust inhibitor to milled glass fibers comprising the steps of:
- sensing the weight of milled glass fibers;
- transporting said glass fibers along a supply tube;
- positioning a plurality of spray nozzles along said supply tube;
- and air supply means for constantly applying air pressure through said spray nozzles;
- connecting a plurality of solenoid controlled valves between a supply of liquid dust inhibitor and each individual spray nozzle of said plurality of spray nozzles;
- and applying a dust inhibitor to said fibers in a stepped percentage by weight by selectively activating in combination one or more of said plurality of said solenoid controlled valves in stepped response to the weight of glass fibers sensed.
3 more elements
An apparatus for applying a dust inhibitor to milled glass fibers comprised of:
- (a) a hammermill for chopping glass fibrous material into discrete glass fibers;
- (b) a means to drive said hammermill;
- (c) a means to power said drive means, said power being proportional to the amount of said glass fibers being milled;
- (d) a means for sensing the power drawn by said drive means and for producing a signal proportional to the power sensed;
- (e) a means for transporting said glass fibers along a supply tube;
- (f) a plurality of spray nozzles positioned along said supply tube;
- (g) an air source continuously applying air through said plurality of spray nozzles;
- (h) a plurality of solenoid controlled valves connected to a source of liquid dust inhibitor, each of said plurality of solenoid controlled valves associated with an individual spray nozzle of said plurality of spray nozzles;
- (i) a control means to concurrently activate in sequential combination said solenoid control valves in stepped response to said signal produced;
- and
- (j) a delay means associated with said control means for delaying said actuation of said solenoid control valves to compensate for time of flight of said glass fibers from said hammermill along said supply tube to said spray nozzles.
8 more elements
A method for applying a dust inhibitor to milled glass fibers comprising the steps of:
- (a) milling glass fibrous material into discrete glass fibers by means of a hammermill;
- (b) driving said hammermill with a drive means whose power consumption is proportional to the amount of glass fibrous material milled;
- (c) producing a signal proportional to the amount of power drawn by said hammermill drive means;
- (d) transporting said milled glass fibers from said hammermill along a supply tube;
- (e) placing a plurality of spray nozzles along said supply tube;
- (f) continuously supplying air from an air supply through said spray nozzles;
- (g) connecting each of said plurality of spray nozzles to an individual solenoid controlled valve, said solenoid controlled valve being connected to a source of liquid dust inhibitor;
- and
- (h) sensing said signal produced and concurrently activating in sequential combination each of said solenoid controlled valves in stepped response to said signal sensed.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.