Apparatus for producing desired fiber column configuration

A rotary glass fiberizer including:

• a rotating disc member for receiving a stream of liquid glass and, under the influence of centrifugal forces, delivering a plurality of glass fibers emanating from said rotating disc;
• means for directing said fibers in a direction generally parallel to the axis of said disc and thereby forming a rotating generally cylindrical column of glass fibers defining an axially extending interior zone within said column, and below said disc and generally void of said fibers
• a traveling chain collection means for collecting said fibers in a continuous blanket;
• means for mounting stationery tubular shaft means above said disc, said shaft means including:
• a first tubular shaft extending from said mounting means through said rotating disc and terminating a predetermined distance below said disc generally within said zone for distributing material to said column of fibers;
• and,
• a second tubular shaft extending from said mounting means through said disc and terminating a predetermined distance below said disc generally within said zone, said second shaft in fluid communication with a pressurized gas and containing discharge means for directing said pressurized gas to impinge on said rotating column of fibers from said zone so as to, in conjunction with the rotating motion of said column, alter said generally cylindrical configuration of said fiber column to form a column having a generally elliptical cross sectional configuration.