Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1886

page_text: Apparatus therefor.
I JOHN THOMSON KING of 4 Clayton Square Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster Patent Agent 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 :—
Mineral wool is usually made by blowing a jet or jets of steam or air through
or against a small stream of molten slag, whereby the same is converted into fine
vitrified fibers. The original and simplest method is to inject through the stream
of molten slag a single jet of steam; but it is open to the objection that only a
part of the slag is converted into fibre, while a large part is formed into hard-
granules or shot. Various devices have been adapted for separating the fiber from
the shot. For instance, it has been beaten and sifted; but this has a tendency to
break up the fiber and partially destroy its usefulness. Another method is to
expose the mixed wool and granules to a lateral jet of steam, which raises the
lighter fibers and permits the granules to fall by their greater weight. This
method is objectionable because it does not effect a perfect separation, is very
wasteful, and produces several inferior grades of wool.
t
By my improvement all, or nearly all, of the slag converted into fiber without
increasing the power used and there is not only a greater product, but it is very.
light and soft, uniform in quality, and very free from granules or shot.
I will now describe my invention so that others skilled in the art may employ
the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of apparatus which may be employed.
Fig. 2 is a plan view Fig. 3 is a section on the line ww of Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5
are respectively plan and side views illustrating the operation. Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9
are views of modifications. Fig. 7 being a section on x x of Fig. 8, 8 a section on y y
of Fig. 7, and 9 a section on 3. 2 of Fig. 8, Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively a
longitudinal section and a perspective view of another modification.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts.
Broadly stated my invention consists in a method of converting a stream of
molten slag into fiber or mineral wool by treating it with a jet or jets of steam
or air, which surround it on all sides, and the preferable operation is to give the

page_text: projected stream of wool a swirling or twisting motion, and while the apparatus.
herein described is applicable to the purpose of our invention, the same result may
be produced by other arrangements of tuyeres of jet-pipes which are capable of
projecting jets of steam or air around and against a stream of slag.
Referring now to Fig. 1. a indicates a steam pipe having a series of five jet
pipes provided preferably with flattened discharge ends or orifices. The central
jet pipe 1. has its flattened orifice extending preferably in a horizontal direction.
On either side, and at or about the same level, is a jet pipe 2. the flattened orifice
of which extends preferably in a vertical direction, and above the jet pipes 2 are
two other jet pipes, 3, the flattened orifices of which extend preferably in a hori-
zontal direction, but are not on the same level, so that the streams or jets there-
from shall tend to pass each other at the point of meeting The ends of the jet
pipes 1 and 2 turn upward and the ends of the pipes 3 turn inward toward each
other and extend some distance beyond the ends of the pipes 1 and 2, so that
there is formed between the ends of the jet pipes a space 4 into which the stream
of molten slag. from the trough or pipe b is caused to fall..
+
The operation of this device is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 where it will be
observed the stream of molten slag from the trough b falls into the space 4 in front
of the end of the central or main jet pipe 1, where, being caught by the jet of
steam from said pipe, it is projected upward and outward. The tendency of the
jet 1 is to spread the stream of slag into a fan shape and to convert only the
central position into fiber, while the sides would be turned into granules or shot.
This is prevented by the jets from the pipes 2, which, meeting the spreading
stream of slag projected by the pipe 1, force it inward and keep it within the
range of action of the jet from the pipe 1, as well as themselves acting upon it.to
convert it into fiber. The upward tendency of the stream of slag thus given to it
by the pipes 1 and 2 brings it within the range of the jets from the pipes 3, which
as they do not exactly register, give it a swirling or twisting motion and hold it
down within the range of action of the jets from the pipes 1 and 2. The jets
from the pipes 1, 2, and 3 all converge to a point 8 some inches away from the
ends of the pipes 8, where they practically unite into a single stream and from
that point the stream of molten slag spreads outward into a conical shape and
enters the end of the receiving conduit c. During the passage of the slag from the
point to the centering point 8 of the jets it is thoroughly converted into fiber, so
that there are so few granules formed that the entire product of the blow is
saleable as "No. 1" wool.
In Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 I show a modified construction which consists in a hollow
casting & to which the steam is supplied by a pipe d¹ and which is provided with
a central opening d³, and a series of converging jet openings or slots 5, 6, and 7
extending through the sides around the central opening d³. When applied for use,
the casting d is placed in an inclined position as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 under the
Blag trough b. A stream of, slag then falls through the opening d where it
encounters the jet of steam from the slot 5, which in this instance answers to
the jet pipe 1 of the first construction. The stream projected by the jet 5 is
treated on the other three sides by the jets from the slots 6 and 7. The angles of
inclination of the slots are different; but they are caused to converge to a point 8,
as in the first construction. By giving a slight lateral slant to either of the two
opposite jets a swirling motion can be given to the slag.
In Figs. 10 and 11 the construction consists of a hollow tubular casting e,
provided with a central opening e' through which the stream of molten slag passes,
a steam pipe e, which supplies steam and an inclined jet opening at the other
end, which gives to the jet of steam a conical shape.
In all the constructions named the stream of molten slag is enveloped on
all sides by jets of steam or air, which cause it be thoroughly treated and converted
into mineral wool. I prefer the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 as with
practical use it has been proven to be a thorough and efficient means of carrying
my invention into practice.

page_text: The product of my invention is a remarkably fine, soft light flexible fibre and
as before stated, the process is attended with little or no waste and consequently
yields an increased product.
I prefer to use the construction of apparatus which gives a swirling motion to
the projected stream of slag, for the reason that the thorough treatment of the Blag
is thereby insured and the fibre produced will be lighter and better.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
First The method herein described of making mineral wool, which consists in
treating a stream of molten slag to an encircling jet or jets of steam or air,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
Second-The method herein described of making mineral wool, which consists
in treating a stream of molten slag to encircling jets of steam or air, whereby the
projected stream is given a twisting or swirling motion, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
.
Third In the manufacture of mineral wool, a converting device having a central
jet pipe for spraying the slag and side jet pipes for preventing the lateral spread of
the sprayed stream, substantially as and for the purposes described.
Fourth In the manufacture of mineral wool a converting device, having a
central jet pipe for spraying the slag, side jet pipes for preventing the lateral
spread of the sprayed stream, and other jet pipes for giving a twisting motion to
the same: substantially as and for the purposes described.
Fifth A device for converting alag into mineral wool having a central opening
through which the molten slag is poured and a surrounding opening or openings
for the passage of a jet or jets of steam or air: substantially as described with
reference to figures 6 to 11 of the drawings..