Patent ID: 7481076

Claim:
An apparatus for producing fibers from molten material, comprising: a rotary-type fiberizer that is operable to produce from the molten material a column of fibers that flows in a downwardly directed path from the fiberizer; an elongated duct positioned to direct a flow of gas toward the fiberizer; and wherein the duct has an upright upper portion shaped to fit inside the column of fibers that emanates from the fiberizer and a lower portion that passes through the column of fibers, wherein the upper portion has a first cross-sectional area and the lower portion has a reduced, second cross-sectional area that is less than the first cross-sectional area where the fiber column flows over the lower portion, wherein the second cross-sectional area is elongated substantially in the direction of the path of the column of fibers, and the second cross-sectional area is taken at a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the lower portion; wherein the fiberizer comprises a rotatable spinner assembly comprising a bowl containing the molten material and a spinner shield assembly mounted below the bowl, the spinner shield assembly comprising at least a first shielding member and a second shielding member mounted below the first shielding member, wherein the second shielding member is formed with protrusions on a peripheral edge thereof to space the second shielding member from the first shielding member and form an air gap therebetween.