Adjustable positioning apparatus for cooling members and method

Abstract

An apparatus for adjusting the cooling members located beneath fiberizing bushings is disclosed having the capability of moving each cooling member, or one portion of each cooling member, in a generally vertical direction, and/or in a lateral and/or tilting direction. Also disclosed is a process of using the apparatus to make fibers from molten material including molten glass.

1 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A process of making fiber from a molten material by flowing the molten material into a fiberizing bushing having at least one generally vertical side wall, an orifice plate having holes therein or a tip plate having a plurality of fiberizing tips thereon, each tip having an orifice therethrough that communicates with the molten glass in the bushing and with the environment external of the bushing, causing the molten material to flow through the orifices in the orifice plate or in the tips whereby a meniscus is formed below each operative orifice or tip and pulling one or more fibers from each meniscus, cooling the molten glass meniscus and just formed fibers using a plurality of cooling members held in place below the orifice plate or tip plate with a mounting apparatus for mounting the plurality of cooling members, the improvement comprising one or more mechanisms on the mounting apparatus to allow vertical adjustment of each cooling member with respect to the orifice or nozzle plate independently from other cooling members. 
     
     
         39 . The process of  claim 38  wherein each cooling member is supported with one or more generally vertical and bendable or rotatable items. 
     
     
         40 . The process of  claim 38  further comprising adjusting the temperature profile of the orifice plate or tip plate by adjusting one or more of the vertical spacings between each end portion of each cooling member and a row of orifices or row of fiberizing tips closest to each cooling member and/or by bending or rotating one or more of said rods to adjust the one or more cooling members laterally.