APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING MINERAL WOOL AS WELL AS A MINERAL WOOL PRODUCT

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing mineral wool. The apparatus includes means (1) for producing molten mineral material, at least one fiberizing device (3) for forming fibres, into which fiberizing device the molten mineral material is fed (2) and by which fibres (12) are formed. The fiberizing device (3) comprises, rotationally arranged around a vertical axis (15), at least one fiberizing plate (13) having a vertical peripheral edge, into which are formed numerous small-sized holes (14), through which the molten material is led by centrifugal force to form fibres (12). Into the fiberizing device (3) are arranged elements to produce a vertical flow of blowing medium (16) to be led around the fiberizing plate (13), the flow causing the fibres (12) to turn downwards and, at the same time, to thin. Downstream the fiberizing device (3) is arranged a collection device (6), into which the formed fibres (12) are led and collected into a mat-like material. In connection with said at least one fiberizing plate (13) is arranged a substantially horizontal, relatively narrow channel (5), through which the fibres (12) are brought into the chamber space (7) of the collection device (6). The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing mineral wool and a mineral wool product manufactured by the method.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A method of manufacturing mineral wool, the method comprising: producing a molten mineral material; feeding the molten mineral material into a first fiberizing device for forming a first group of fibers and a second fiberizing device for forming a second group of fibers, each of the fiberizing devices comprising, rotationally arranged around a vertical axis, a fiberizing plate having a vertical peripheral edge, into which are formed a plurality of holes, through which the molten material is led by centrifugal force to form the fibers; directing an annular flow of blowing medium downwards around each of the fiberizing devices to cause the fibers to turn downwards and to thin; conveying the first group of fibers by a first conveying means to a collection device; and conveying the second group of fibers by a second conveying means to the collection device; and forming a mat-like material in the collection device using the first group of fibers and the second group of fibers; wherein the first conveying device and the second conveying device are not parallel to one another.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein a height of the first fiberizing device relative to the collection device is different from a height of the second fiberizing device relative to the collection device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein a distance of the first fiberizing device from the collection device is different from a distance of the second fiberizing device from the collection device.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the first conveying device is a first channel; and wherein the second conveying device is a second channel.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein a length of the first channel is in the range of about 1 m to about 10 m, and wherein a length of the second channel is in the range of about 1 m to about 10 M.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein a length of the first channel is different from a length of the second channel.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein a size of the first channel is different from a size of the second channel.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first channel and the second channel includes a portion that is curved.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising blowing air through at least one of the first channel and the second channel.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the first conveying device is a first circular belt, and wherein the second conveying device is a second circular belt.

27. An apparatus for manufacturing mineral wool, the apparatus comprising: means for producing a molten mineral material; a first fiberizing device for receiving the molten mineral material to form a first group of fibers; a second fiberizing device for receiving the molten mineral material to form a second group of fibers; a third fiberizing device for receiving the molten mineral material to form a third group of fibers; a fourth fiberizing device for receiving the molten mineral material to form a fourth group of fibers; means for conveying the first group of fibers along a first path to a collection device; means for conveying the second group of fibers along a second path to the collection device; means for conveying the third group of fibers along a third path to the collection device; means for conveying the fourth group of fibers along a fourth path to the collection device; wherein each of the fiberizing devices comprises, rotationally arranged around a vertical axis, a fiberizing plate having a vertical peripheral edge, into which are formed a plurality of holes, through which the molten material is led by centrifugal force to form the fibers; wherein the first path terminates at a first location in an opening of the collection device; wherein the second path terminates at a second location in the opening of the collection device; wherein the third path terminates at a third location in the opening of the collection device; wherein the fourth path terminates at a fourth location in the opening of the collection device; wherein at least two of the first location, the second location, the third location, and the fourth location are horizontally aligned with one another; and wherein a mat-like material is formed within the collection device using the first group of fibers, the second group of fibers, the third group of fibers, and the fourth group of fibers.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein at least two of the first location, the second location, the third location, and the fourth location are vertically aligned with one another.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein at least two of the first location, the second location, the third location, and the fourth location are not horizontally aligned with one another.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein at least two of the first location, the second location, the third location, and the fourth location are not vertically aligned with one another.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] In the following, the invention is described in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention;

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration viewed from above of one possible embodiment of the placement of fiberizing devices with their channels;

[0018] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the placement of the channels in the mouth of the collection device, the channels being connected to the fiberizing devices;

[0019] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention where the conveying device is a belt;

[0020] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention where the conveying device comprises a curved channel; and

[0021] FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention where the conveying device comprises an inclined channel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 denotes a melting furnace, from which the molten material is led along a trough 2 into a fiberizing device 3. The fiberizing device 3 is equipped with a blower 4, which produces a flow 17 of blowing air, which transports the fibres 12 formed by the fiberizing device into the channel 5 and further into the collection device 6. The collection device 6 has a collection chamber 7 and collector elements 8, which, in this embodiment, comprise a collection drum 9 equipped with a perforated peripheral surface, inside which is a suction box 10. The blowing air moves through the holes of the drum 9 into the suction box and further away from the collection apparatus. This contributes to the collecting of the fibres 12 onto the surface of the drum 9 to form a primary fibre mat or web, which is then transported, for example, by a conveyor 11, to the pendulum device (not shown), in which it is formed into a secondary mat, which is then brought for further processing, for example, hardening. The collection chamber can as such be according to known art, or it can differ from known art. The feeding of binder is not shown in the figure. For example, the collection device can be a foraminous or perforated belt conveyor having suction boxes inside the belt loop.

[0023] The fiberizing device 3 comprises, rotating around a vertical axis 15, a cup-like plate 13, on the periphery of which are numerous small holes 14, through which the molten mass moves under the influence of centrifugal force forming fibres 12, which are stretched around the plate by vertically led blowing air 16, annularly surrounding the plate. In connection with the feeding of blowing air and the stretching of the fibres, binder and other necessary chemicals can be fed. Such a fiberizing plate and the production of blowing air, surrounding it annularly, in the manufacture of glass wool is prior known to the skilled person in the art, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,974. The advantage in using such a fiberizing plate is that the majority of the mass can be fiberized. The disadvantage is that through one fiberizing device can be fed only approx. 400-500 kg molten mass per hour, which is significantly less than in solutions implemented with spinner discs, in which the fed amount of molten mass can be, for example, 5000-7000 kg per hour. In the solution according to the invention, in connection with the fiberizing device 3, preferably below it, is arranged a relatively small—diameter, horizontal channel 5 leading to the collection device, the length of which channel can be several metres, for example, in the range of approx. 1 m-approx. 10 m. In connection with the channel 5 is arranged a blower 4, which creates a horizontal air flow in the channel 5 directing the fibres 12, oriented downwards by the vertical blowing air 16 in the fiberizing device, horizontally along the channel 5 towards the collection device 6. By means of this channel solution, it is possible to place several fiberizing devices 3 to feed one collection device 6, wherein the production output can be increased to a desired level. The fiberizing devices can be placed at different height levels with each other and at different horizontal distance from the collection device 6, wherein only the channels 5 need to be adapted to the inlet port of the collection device. The channels 5 do not need to all be the same shape or size, and their location in relation to the collection apparatus can also be modified.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows as a schematic illustration viewed from above of one placement of the fiberizing devices 3 in relation to each other, as well as in relation to the collection chamber 7 and the collector elements 8. FIG. 3 shows schematically an example of one manner of placing the channels 5 in the mouth of the collection device 6 as viewed from the direction of the collection drum 9.

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of the apparatus wherein the conveying device comprises a belt 20 on which the fibres are deposited. The belt can be provided with suction boxes inside the belt loop to assist depositing of the fibres on the certain portion of upper run of the belt. For releasing the fibres into a collection device the belt is preferably without any suction means in the discharging area of the belt loop or there can be blower means for directing an air flow from inside the belt loop through the belt in the discharging area of the belt 20 to assist releasing of the fibres.

[0026] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of the apparatus wherein the conveying device 5 comprises a curved channel 5 through which the fibres are transported from a fiberizing device 3 to a collection device 6 by means of the blowing air directed vertically downwards around the fiberizing plate and/or by means of suction means arranged in the channel in the vicinity of the collection device.

[0027] FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of the apparatus wherein the conveying device 5 comprises an inclined channel 5 through which the fibres are transported from a fiberizing device 3 to a collection device by means of the blowing air directed vertically downwards around the fiberizing plate and/or by means of suction means arranged in the channel in the vicinity of the collection device.

[0028] One or more fiberizing plates can be equipped with perforations of different size in relation to the other fiberizing plates, wherein different fiberizing plates can be used to produce fibres of different size. Furthermore, different fiberizing plates can be u sed to produce different fiberizing parameters, such as, for example, the rotation speed of the plate, the feeding rate of the molten material and/or the flow rate of the vertical blowing air, to vary in a desired manner the characteristics of the intermediate product and/or final product to be manufactured by the apparatus.

[0029] In the solution according to the invention, the fiberizing plates can be similar to or different from each other, i.e. their dimensions, such as, for example, the diameters of the fiberizing plates may differ from each other, and the fiberizing plates may also differ in their design (for example, the height and shape of the edges of the fiberizing plate).

[0030] By using the method according to the invention, it is possible to create a mineral wool product having a fibre content in excess of 90%, preferably in excess of 95%, based on the following standards or specifications: [0031] 1. Eurima 5 (Oct. 5, 1967), Determination of the content of non-fibrous material in mineral wool [0032] 2. BS 2972:1975, Method of test for inorganic thermal insulating material, Section 14 [0033] 3. ASTM C 612-83, Annex, Shot content of unorganic fibrous thermal insulation [0034] 4. JIS A 9504-1984, Heat insulation made of Rockwool.

[0035] The method according to the invention enables the manufacture of a mineral wool product having the desired tensile strength characteristics, i.e. the transverse tensile strength of which is greater than the linear tensile strength.