Production of glass fibers from scrap glass fibers
US5352258A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 1993 |
| Grant date | Oct 4, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P40/50
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The process and apparatus of the present invention enable the production of glass fiber product from scrap glass fibers. The process includes: feeding the scrap glass fibers having an average length up to around 12 inches to a glass melting tank having a pool of molten fiberizable glass, melting the scrap glass fibers without the presence of non-vitrified glass forming materials in an oxidizing environment, conditioning the melt to a formable viscosity, and forming the glass fiber from the conditioned melt where for a given glass fiber product there is a near constant pull of the melted glass from the melter. The rate of feeding of the scrap glass to the melter is sufficient to maintain the pool of melted glass with a level within the range of .+-.0.35 inch (9 mm.) over a period of eight hours. The scrap glass fibers have a similar fiberizable inorganic composition to that of the desired glass fiber product and generally include fibers with organic-containing sizes and/or coatings. The apparatus of the present invention has a refractory-lined glass melter, engaged for supply of scrap glass fibers to a positive supply means, a conditioning means to receive formable melted glass, and…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.