# US 7,743,629 B2 · Process of applying atomized binder to fiberous product using a rotary member

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- Number: US 7,743,629 B2
- Document ID: US7743629B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/274,691
- Filed: 2002-10-21
- Published: 2004-04-22
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2002-10-21
- Assignees: Johns Manville
- Inventors: Philip Francis Miele; Don August Forte; Roy V. Pogue
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743629B2

## CPC

- C03C 25/146: onto fibres in suspension in a gaseous medium (C03C25/143 takes precedence)
- C03C: CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS

## Abstract

Provided is a process and apparatus for applying a liquid binder to fibers. The process involves introducing heat curable liquid binder onto moving fibers by atomizing the liquid binder and applying the atomized binder from a point within the moving column of fibers. Better binder efficiency and a more efficient overall process is realized.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for applying liquid binder to fiberglass, comprising the steps of:
beating glass to liquify same;
introducing the liquified glass into a spinning rotor having a sidewall containing openings therein whereby the molten glass is extruded through the openings by centrifugal force to form primary fiberglass fibers;
attenuating the primary fibers to create a circular column of moving fibers; and
expelling liquid binder from a rotating rotary member within the column into an atomizing screen that atomizes the liquid binder, wherein atomized binder is introduced to the moving fibers.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the atomized binder is in the form of droplets in the range of from 25 to 150 μm in size.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the expelling comprises expelling the liquid binder from the rotary member at a location substantially immediately beneath the spinning rotor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the expelling comprises expelling the liquid binder generally radially outwardly from the rotary member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the liquid binder is supplied at a flow rate of 6.5 g/min.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein water content of the liquid binder is less than water content of a liquid binder used in a method for producing a fibrous body comprising spraying liquid binder on an outside of the column.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein water content of the liquid binder is at least 50% less than water content of a liquid binder used in a method for producing a fibrous body comprising spraying liquid binder on an outside of the column.

### Claim 8

A process for producing a fibrous body, comprising the steps of:
heating material capable of being fiberized to liquify same;
introducing the liquified material into a spinning rotor having a sidewall containing openings therein whereby the liquified material is extruded through the openings by centrifugal force to form primary fibers;
attenuating the primary fibers to thereby create a circular column of moving primary fibers;
expelling liquid binder from a rotating rotary member within the column into an atomizing screen that atomizes the liquid binder, wherein atomized binder is introduced to the moving fibers;
collecting a layer of the fibers and atomized binder; and
heating the layer of fibers and atomized binder to cure the atomized binder.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The process of claim 8, wherein the liquid binder is atomized by the screen at a location substantially immediately beneath the rotor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The process of claim 8, wherein the expelling comprises expelling the liquid binder radially outwardly from the rotary member at a location below the rotor.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The process of claim 8, wherein the atomized binder is in the form of small particles of a size in the range of from 25 to 150 μm.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The process of claim 8, wherein the liquid binder is supplied at a flow rate of 6.5 g/min.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The process of claim 8, wherein water content of the liquid binder is less than water content of a liquid binder used in a method for producing a fibrous body comprising spraying liquid binder on an outside of the column.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The process of claim 8, wherein water content of the liquid binder is at least 50% less than water content of a liquid binder used in a method for producing a fibrous body comprising spraying liquid binder on an outside of the column.