Systems and methods for controlling the flow of vitrified material. In at least some embodiments, a vitrified material control system comprises a melt chamber (8) configured to contain a molten material (27) during operation of the control system; a siphon valve (11) configured to facilitate a flow of the molten material from the melt chamber; and a vacuum-generation system (26, 15, 16) configured to controllably deliver a vacuum to the molten material in the melt chamber and to thereby regulate a flow of the molten material from the melt chamber. In other embodiments, methods of controlling a flow of molten vitrified material from a heating device are disclosed. The methods may include, for example, applying a vacuum to the molten material to control a dwell time of the molten material in a vessel of the heating device and regulating the vacuum based on a measured temperature of the molten material.

The present invention concerns a method and an apparatus (12) for measuring the temperature of a fluid stream (11), said apparatus comprising a movable frame (13, 14) having first end facing towards the fluid stream to be measured and an oppositely directed second end; a beam splitter (9) which is movably arranged in the frame for advancement into said fluid stream to open the fluid stream; an optical temperature measurement device (8) for determining the temperature of the fluid stream by measuring the thermal radiation from the fluid stream; and control means for controlling the movement of the frame and the beam splitter and controlling the performance of the optical temperature measurement device.

The present invention relates to a glass ceramic powder comprising i) a glass material formed from a glass mixture containing a lithium and oxygen containing compound selected from Li.sub.2O and/or Li.sub.2CO.sub.3, SiO.sub.2, K.sub.2O, La.sub.2O.sub.3, and ii) seed particles comprising Li.sub.2SiO.sub.3 crystals and/or Li.sub.2Si.sub.2O.sub.5 crystals. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing of said glass ceramic powder, a method for preparing compacted and sintered bodies from the glass ceramic powder and bodies obtainable by said method.

A machine for fiberizing mineral wool by free centrifugation, includes a frame on which is mounted at least one centrifugation wheel, the centrifugation wheel being connected to a transmission shaft designed to rotate it by transmitting the movement of rotation of an output shaft of a drive unit, wherein the machine further includes at least one intermediary transmission box connected at least by one input to the drive rod and by one output to the transmission shaft, the intermediary transmission box being arranged such as to transmit the movement of rotation of the drive shaft to the transmission shaft.

A machine for fiberizing mineral wool by free centrifugation, includes a frame on which is mounted at least one centrifugation wheel; a transmission shaft connected to the at least one centrifugation wheel and configured to rotate the centrifugation wheel; a drive unit including an output rod; and an intermediary transmission box connected at least by one input to the output rod of the drive unit and by at least one output to the transmission shaft, wherein the intermediary transmission box includes a coupling mechanism operatively arranged between the output rod and the transmission shaft, the coupling mechanism being configured to transmit rotational movement from the drive unit to the transmission shaft including one or more rotary engagement elements.

A rotor for a fiberising apparatus includes a rotor housing; a first and second bearing assembly, wherein each bearing assembly has at least two ball bearings, each seated in a respective bearing seat; a substantially horizontal shaft rotatably mounted between the first bearing assembly and the second bearing assembly; and a plurality of resilient dampers arranged in an annular ring, wherein each resilient damper is releasably connected at a first end to the bearing seat and is releasably connected at a second end to the inner wall of the rotor housing.

A rotor for a fiberising apparatus includes a rotor housing and a first and second bearing assembly, wherein each bearing assembly includes at least two ball bearings, each seated in a respective bearing seat. A substantially horizontal shaft rotatably is mounted between the first bearing assembly and the second bearing assembly. The apparatus includes a plurality of resilient dampers arranged in an annular ring, wherein each resilient damper is releasably connected at a first end to the bearing seat and is releasably connected at a second end to the inner wall of the rotor housing.