Centrifuging with protected fiberforming cones

The method of centrifuging mineral fibers from molten mineral material comprising rotating a spinner having a peripheral wall comprised of an inner layer and an outer layer, supplying molten mineral material to the spinner, passing the molten mineral material through orifices in the inner layer, passing the molten mineral material through cavities extending through the outer layer, the cavities generally corresponding to the orifices, forming fiberforming cones where the orifices join the cavities, forming mineral fibers from the cones without contact between the mineral material and the sides of the cavities, and, intercepting the fibers outside the cavities with relatively cool fluid, the fluid being sufficiently cool to prevent complete attenuation of the fibers in the absence of passing the molten material through the cavities.

Apparatus for centrifuging fibers from molten material comprising a spinner having a peripheral wall comprised of an inner layer and an outer layer, a plurality of orifices extending through the inner layer for the passage of molten material therethrough, and a plurality of cavities extending through the outer layer, the cavities generally corresponding to the orifices, the cavities having sufficient width and length that a) fiber forming cones form where the orifices join the cavities, b) the fibers formed from the cones can exit the cavities without contacting the sides of the cavities, and c) substantial convection cooling of the fiberforming cone, and the plastic, attenuable glass stream emanating therefrom is prevented before the required attenuation can occur.