Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Metal Fibre and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 16th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Metal Fibre and to
Apparatus therefor.
.
I, ABNER TORKINGTON, of Moorgate, Rotherham, in the County of York,
Retired Major, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as.
follows:-
My invention relates to the manufacture of metal fibre.
According to my invention I heat the metal to be reduced to a fibrous condition
until it assumes a sufficiently fluid state and then I allow it to flow under the action
of gravity through a die or nozzle in which are a number of very fine holes. The
metal issues from the said nozzle or die in the condition of very fine filaments
resembling wool or silk which are cooled by contact with the atmosphere and
solidified. The said threads are thus prevented from coalescing and are caused to
preserve their fibrous character. I prefer to so provide that the fibrous metal
after issuing from the die or nozzle will have a fall through the atmosphere of
several feet so as to give it time to cool and set before being collected. The depth
of such fall 1 regulate to suit the character of the metal and the temperature to
which it is raised previous to its passage through the die or nozzle.
I prefer moreover to so arrange that a draft or current of air is allowed to play
upon the metal as it is falling. By this means I not only effectually cool the fibre
but I curl the same which is very advantageous.
The apparatus for carrying out my improved manufacture comprises a suitabic
vessel in which the metal to be treated is inelted. In or near the lower end of this
vessel or in a screw cap or plug or other equivalent closure applied to an outlet
orifice in the said vessel, minute holes are provided, such as might be made for
example by a jewellers, drill. Through the said holes the molten metal flows under
the action of gravity.
Or the molten metal may be allowed to flow from the vessel in which it is melted
through a pipe' or channel provided with suitable means for regulating the flow.
into another vessel in the lower end of which or in a cap or the like fixed on the.
said vessel; the aforesaid minute perforations are provided.
The threads or filaments of metal after issuing from the minute perforations and
falling through the" air as aforesaid are received upon a board or tray or other
suitable receiver.
40; Southampton Dinings; on, w
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Metal Fibre and to."
Apparatus therefor.
I, Abner TorKINGTON, of Moorgate, Rotherham, in the County of York,
Retired Major do hereby declare the nature of this: invention. and in what manner.
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained-in and. by..
the following statement :—-—
My invention relates to the manufacture of metal fibre and to-apparatus
therefor.
According to my invention' I heat the metal to be reduced to a fibrous condition r
to a temperature just above melting point and then I allow it to flow under the action -
T
E

page_text: of gravity through a die or nozzle in which are a number of small holes. The metal
issues from the said nozzle or die in the condition of fine filaments the thickness of
which corresponds with the size of the holes. When the holes are very fine the
filaments or threads produced resenible wool or silk. I arrange that the filaments
after issuing from the said nozzle or die shall fall through the atmosphere a
distance sufficiently great to effect the cooling and solidification of the same so
that the said filaments are prevented from coalescing and are caused to preserve
their fibrous character.
In order that the nature of my said invention may be readily understood I will
now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings,
which illustrate diagrammatically an arrangement of apparatus by which my said
invention may be put into practice, and which illustrate also certain details of the
same.
Figure is an elevation partly in section of one arrangement of apparatus
constructed according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of one form of die or nozzle for the same, showing
view of boss as seen from below, and
Figure 3 an end elevation of a part of Figure 2 hereinafter referred to.
Figure 4 is a front view drawn to a larger scale of the cap or die shown in
Figure 1.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the drawings.
In Figure 1 is a tank or chamber open at the top within which the metal to
be reduced to a fibrous condition is maintained at a temperature a little higher
than the melting point of the said metal.
B is a furnace by means of which the temperature of the metal in the tank A is
maintained at the desired point.
C is a pipe open at its upper end and having preferably a polished interior.
D is a branch which connects the pipe C with the tank A. D' is a slide for
closing the end of the said branch and shutting off the connection between the
pipe and tank A when required. The said slide may be raised and lowered by
means of a screw D2 operated by a wheel D³ or otherwise. Or I
other suitable means for closing the branch D.
may provide
The pipe C which may be detachably connected to the tank A is provided at its
lower end with a screw .cap E or other equivalent closure, in which cap minute
holes N are provided such as might be made for example by a jewellers drill.
Such a cap is shown on an enlarged scale by Figure 4. Through the said holes
the molten metal from the tank or chamber A. flows under the action of gravity
and falls on a movable tray F or other suitable receiver. Or I may very con-
veniently collect the fibres as they fall by means of a movable rod or rods which
said rod or rods when full are removed and replaced by empty rods.
I prefer that
the head of metal in the pipe C shall be about three feet above the outlet at E
but a much smaller head may sometimes be used. The dross is skimmed off the
surface of the molten metal while in the tank A so that the metal passing through
the branch D into the pipe C is quite clean. Moreover the said pipe C being
polished internally no particles of grit or the like are carried down into the die
holes and the said holes remain clear.
Another form of closure for the pipe C is shown in Figures 2 and 3 in which the
lower end of the pipe C is shown as provided with an opening having an inwardly
projecting rim G the edge of which is made sharp as at H. Into the said opening
fits a boss I which has a smoothly polished curved inner face, upon which are made
fine grooves J disposed as shown in Figure 3. These grooves may be formed on
the lower half of the boss as shown, or a complete circle of them may be provided.
I also sometimes attain the same result by notching the sharp edge H of the
rim G in which case I do not cut any grooves on the boss I. The said boss is
retained in place at the end of the tube C by means of a bridge bar K engaging
with a flange on the end of the pipe C through which bar passes a screw L which
by means of a thumb nut M can be made to press the surface of the boss I against

page_text: the sharp edge H of the orifice so that no exit is left for the molten metal except
by the minute passages afforded between the surface of the boss I and the sharp
edge H of the rim G.
I may use any other suitable clamp for retaining the boss
in position. This arrangement of sharp edge in combination with the curved and
grooved surface of the boss I, or of notches in sharp edge in conjunction with
smooth boss, reduces to a minimum the liability of the said passages to clog, and
permits the ready removal of the boss for the inspection and cleansing of the said
passages or notches:
Where I employ a simple screw cap E, the external form of the cap may be
inade hexagonal, or of any other suitable outline which would admit of its being
readily screwed upon or unscrewed from the pipe C. Or instead of a cap,
I may
place at the end of the pipe a perforated disc and secure the same in place by a
metal ring or collar which would retain the said disc in place and force it tightly
against the end of the said pipe. Or a perforated cap may be brazed upon or
otherwise permanently secured to the end of the pipe; or the pipe may be formed
with a closed end in which fine perforations may be made.
I prefer to so provide that the fibrous metal after issuing from the die or nozzle
will have a sufficient fall through the atmosphere so as to give it time to cool and
set before being collected. The depth of such fall I regulate to suit the character
of the metal and the temperature to which it is raised previous to its passage
through the die or nozzle.
I prefer moreover to so arrange that a draught or current of air is allowed to
play upon the metal as it is falling. By this means I not only effectually cool
the fibre, but I curl the same which for some purposes is advantageous. Should
the holes N or the grooves or notches J become clogged with metal they may be
readily cleaned by means of a needle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The method of manufacturing metal fibre consisting in melting the metal
and allowing the same to flow under the action of gravity through minute orifices
and cooling the fibres by allowing them to fall through the atmosphere substan-
tially as herein described.
Second. The apparatus constructed substantially as described with reference to
the drawings, for the purpose specified.
This reall
Contoh 1001
A. TORKINGTON.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.