Bushing tip plate support assembly for a bushing in a filament forming apparatus

Abstract

A bushing tip plate support assembly for a bushing in a filament forming apparatus is disclosed. The support assembly improves the flatness of the tip section within the spans between the external support and the center support. The filament forming apparatus includes a bushing having a bottom plate from which nozzles or tips depend. The disclosed support assembly is an improvement on the internal support assemblies in conventional bushings because it has several functions. The support assembly includes two vertical dividers mounted in the bushing. The bottom ends of the dividers are welded to the tops of tip plate gussets in the bushing. The dividers are attached to side plates of the bushing as well. An upper portion of each divider serves as an upper side wall for the bushing and defines part of the throat of the bushing into which the molten glass flows. The dividers also include middle and lower portions with perforations through which the glass in the bushing may flow. The openings permit the dividers to thermally mix and homogenize the glass within the bushing. The dividers provide additional tip plate support to conventional tip plate gussets and resistance to long term creep and sag of the bottom plate, especially at the point of maximum deflection of the tip plate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.