APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF GLASS FIBER STRAND

Appts. for the continuous mfr. of a reinforcing glass fibre roving directly from powdered mixtures of glass material comprises: (a) an electric melting furnace for the continuous melting of the glass material to form a glass at 1927-2205 degrees C with a discharge for glass in a uniform molten stream from the furnace at 1593-1705 degrees C, (b) a closed horizontal purification system for the continuous pick-up of the molten glass from the discharge and an arrangement for transporting it continuously from the discharge to the purification system, (c) a forehearth connected to the purification system and arrangement for transport of the molten glass to this, (d) a series of spinning heads situated along and connected to the underside of the forhearth each spinning head taking and retaining molten glass from the forehearth and (e) stretching and collecting devices for drawing the glass away from the forehearth through the spinning heads to a series of filaments and for bringing these together and collecting them in the form of the roving.