Apparatus for producing organic fibers
AssigneeSchuller International, Inc.
InventorsRobert H. Rook, Daniel C. Bajer, Fred L. Jackson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for producing organic fibers by means of a centrifugal spinning process. The fiberizing disc and the molten material introduction nozzle are designed to prevent the molten material from escaping the disc prior to being fiberized. The heater for heating the material in the disc is designed to accommodate the lower melt temperature of the material to be fiberized. Also, means are provided for diverting the flow of fibers from the disc to cause the fibers to be more precisely or uniformly deposited. The fibers are substantially immediately cooled upon exiting the fiberizing disc, resulting in a fiber structure that is at least about 60% amorphous.
Claims12
Apparatus for producing organic fibers by means of a centrifugal spinning process, comprising:
- a fiberizing disc having a diameter in the range of 3 inches to 48 inches connected to a substantially vertical shaft mounted for axial rotation;
- the disc including a bottom wall, a circular sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, terminating in an upper end, and having a vertical length extending from the bottom wall to the upper end, and an upper flange extending inwardly from the upper end of the circular sidewall;
- means for introducing molten organic material capable of being fiberized by the rotating disc, said means including a nozzle located between the bottom wall, the circular sidewall and a plane extending through the upper end of the circular sidewall parallel to the bottom wall, the nozzle being positioned a short vertical distance from the bottom wall relative to the vertical length of the sidewall, the vertical distance being in the range of about 1/2 inch to 11/2 inches, and a short horizontal distance from the circular sidewall relative to the diameter of the disc, the horizontal distance being in the range of about 1/2 inch to 3 inches;
- and
- means for uniformly heating the interior of the disc to maintain the material therein in a molten state;
- the circular sidewall containing fiberizing holes through which the molten material exits during rotation of the disc;
- and
- a generally circular air ring located above and radially outwardly of the circular sidewall for directing compressed air in a downward direction.
Apparatus for producing fibers by means of a centrifugal spinning process, comprising:
- a fiberizing disc connected to a shaft mounted for axial rotation;
- the disc including a bottom wall and a circular sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom wall;
- means for introducing molten material capable of being fiberized by the rotating disc;
- the sidewall of the disc containing fiberizing holes through which the molten material exits during rotation of the disc to produce fibers;
- and
- a generally circular air ring for directing compressed air in a downward direction at locations spaces radially outwardly of the disc;
- the air ring being comprised of a plurality of arcuate segments, each segment forming a portion of the generally circular air ring and being connected to a source of compressed air, each segment containing at least one downwardly directed nozzle and being adjustably mounted so as to enable the direction of the nozzles to be varied.
Apparatus for producing organic fibers by means of a centrifugal spinning process, comprising:
- a fiberizing disc connected to a substantially vertical shaft mounted for axial rotation;
- the disc including a bottom wall, and a circular sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom wall and terminating in an upper end, and an upper flange extending inwardly from the upper end of the sidewall;
- means for introducing molten organic material capable of being fiberized by the rotating disc, said means including a nozzle located between the bottom wall, the sidewall and a plane extending through the upper end of the sidewall parallel to the bottom wall;
- means for uniformly heating the interior of the disc to maintain the material therein in a molten state;
- the sidewall containing fiberizing holes through which the molten material exits during rotation of the disc;
- a generally circular air ring comprised of a plurality of arcuate segments located above and radially outwardly of the circular sidewall, each segment forming a portion of the generally circular air ring and being connected to a source of compressed air, each segment containing at least one downwardly directed nozzle and being adjustably mounted so as to enable the direction of the nozzles to be varied.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.