Apparatus for gravity feeding powder to a plasma torch for manufacturing glass fiber performs
US6412310B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 15, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 2, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 15, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC03B37/01291
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to manufacturing glass fiber preforms. It relates to a method comprising rotating preform about its own axis, and displacing a plasma torch in translation relative to the preform in a direction parallel to the axis of the preform, the axes of the flame and of the preform and being offset by a certain distance, and then inserting glass powder into the plasma flame under gravity. According to the invention, the glass powder is accelerated before penetrating into the plasma flame by means of an accelerator gas, and the offset distance between the axes is reduced with increasing acceleration of the powder. The invention is applicable to manufacturing glass fibers, and in particular optical fibers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.