EP0208563A1 - Method and apparatus for drying fibrous matter - Google Patents

Abstract

Process and installation for wringing, drying or / or conditioning of fibrous, porous or filamentary materials. Is circulated in an enclosure (45), using one or a plurality of moving means (43,44), a stream of gaseous fluid so that it passes through the materials to be treated in depression and / or overpressure, from the inside to the outside of said materials, or vice-versa and said materials are made to pass through a stream of water vapor, in order to accelerate the spin at the start of drying and / or rapidly raising the temperature of the materials treated, and / or spraying, if necessary, said materials during drying. Use: treatment of textile materials in particular in the form of skeins.

Description

The invention relates to a method and an installation for wringing, drying and / or conditioning fibrous, porous or filamentary materials.

It applies to the spinning, drying and / or conditioning of the most diverse fibrous materials, whatever the form in which they are presented.

It applies, in particular, to textile fibrous materials before spinning (in the form of flock) during spinning (cables or combed ribbons or "tops"), or after spinning (in the form of thread or filament), as well as woven or knitted products.

The invention also applies to fibrous, porous or filamentary materials which are not textile materials such as, for example, nonwoven webs.

The invention is particularly well suited to wringing, drying and / or packaging materials in the form of coils, conical or cylindrical, formed by a winding of wire or filament on a rigid perforated or spring support or to wire cakes, that is to say to the volumes constituted by a winding of son or fibers without support, or to yarns or filaments in the form of skeins.

Spinning and drying installations are already known in which the two operations are carried out in a single enclosure, by forced circulation of air through the materials to be treated, alternately from outside to inside and vice versa , with possible air heating at least during the drying phase.

The Applicant has moreover already produced such installations with or without a heat recovery device, whether the latter is of the air / water type, that is to say with the production of hot water from the hot air leaving of the dryer and which is cooled in said exchanger or of the air / air type, that is to say in which the hot air leaving the dryer is cooled by heating the cold air by trant in it, the calories being thus directly recovered from the dryer itself.

Such known installations, if they are satisfactory, are however generally intended for a specific use, both with regard to the materials to be treated as well as the method and / or the treatment equipment, so that they do not have the characteristics of flexibility currently required and which require that it is possible to treat products of a different nature and / or carry out a multiplicity of different treatments between them on the same material, or else to use different treatment materials.

It is, in general, an object of the invention to provide a process for wringing, drying and / or conditioning fibrous, porous or filamentary materials as well as an installation for its implementation whose versatility is considerably increased, and this as well with regard to the different types of materials to be treated, as to the different treatments that can be envisaged, or even as to the materials that can be used.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a method and an installation for its implementation which make it possible to significantly reduce the processing time of the materials while ensuring excellent quality of the products obtained.

It is, finally, an object of the invention to provide a method and an installation for its implementation making it possible to carry out the required treatments on fibrous, porous, filamentary or similar materials, according to a multiplicity of different modes, depending on the types of wrapping or packaging of said materials and / or depending on the wishes of the practice to achieve in each case the best possible results.

• on fait circuler dans l'enceinte, à l'aide d'un ou d'une pluralité de moyens de mise en mouvement, un courant de fluide gazeux de manière qu'il traverse les matières à traiter en dépression et/ou en surpression, de l'intérieur vers l'extérieur desdites matières, ou vice-versa,
• on fait traverser lesdites matières par un courant de vapeur d'eau, afin d'accélérer l'essorage au début du séchage et/ou d'élever rapidement la température des matières traitées, et/ou de vaporiser, le cas échéant, lesdites matières en cours de séchage,
• on humidifie, éventuellement, l'air de séchage à l'aide d'eau sous pression, en pulvérisation ou à l'aide d'un autre moyen d'humidification,
• on pulvérise, le cas échéant, dans l'air de séchage, des produits de finition destinés à être déposés sur les matières à traiter ; et
• on effectue éventuellement, en fin de séchage, un reconditionnement des matières par circulation à travers elles en dépression et/ou en surpression d'air ambiant frais, avec ou sans adjonction d'eau sous pression, en pulvérisation, ou d'un autre moyen d'humidification.

A method according to the invention, for wringing, drying and / or conditioning fibrous materials, for reuse or in filaments, in which the wringing and drying operations are carried out in a single enclosure by forced circulation of air, with possible heating of the latter at least during the drying phase, is characterized in that:

• a current of gaseous fluid is circulated in the enclosure, using one or a plurality of means for setting in motion, so that it passes through the materials to be treated under vacuum and / or overpressure, from the inside to the outside of the said materials, or vice versa,
• said materials are passed through by a stream of water vapor, in order to accelerate the spinning at the start of drying and / or to rapidly raise the temperature of the treated materials, and / or to vaporize, if necessary, said materials during drying,
• the drying air is optionally humidified with pressurized water, by spraying or with another humidifying means,
• spraying, if necessary, into the drying air, finishing products intended to be deposited on the materials to be treated; and
• if necessary, at the end of drying, reconditioning of the materials by circulation through them in depression and / or in overpressure of fresh ambient air, with or without the addition of pressurized water, by spraying, or by other means humidification.

The implementation of the process with circulation of the gaseous fluid under vacuum is particularly advantageous in that it makes it possible to lower the boiling temperature of the water while maintaining a stream of gaseous treatment fluid, and this in contrast to the embodiments known where the treatment chamber is connected to a vacuum tank or a vacuum pump.

In the case of a circulation of the gaseous fluid using a plurality of means, these are mounted in series, or in parallel.

In the case, also, of a use of a plurality of means for circulating the fluid, provision is advantageously made for arranging the said means so that at least one makes the gaseous treatment fluid penetrate into the overpressure enclosure. while at least one other of said means controls the extraction of said fluid from the enclosure by vacuum.

Whatever the mode of use, provision is made to introduce gaseous fluid, if necessary, into the compressed air.

The method according to the invention is particularly advantageous when applied to the treatment of skeins or similar volumes of material.

In such a case, the invention provides that the gaseous treatment fluid is circulated from top to bottom and / or from bottom to top through the hanged hanks.

An installation according to the invention, for wringing, drying and / or packaging fibrous, porous or filamentary materials, comprising a single enclosure in which said materials are suitable for being placed, means for circulating a gaseous fluid through said materials as well as means for heating the drying air, is characterized in that the means for circulating the gaseous fluid are suitable for circulating it in the enclosure so that it passes through the materials to be treated under vacuum and / or overpressure, from the inside to the outside of said materials, or vice versa, and in that it comprises means for introducing water vapor into the circulation pipes gaseous fluid for passing said materials through said vapor in order to accelerate the spin at the start of drying and / or rapidly raise the temperature of the materials being treated and / or vaporize said materials being dried , means for humidifying the drying air, means for spray in it finishing products intended to be deposited on the treated materials and, if necessary, means of injecting compressed air.

In one embodiment, the means for circulating the gaseous fluid advantageously comprise a plurality of means for forced circulation of said fluid passing through fibrous, porous, filamentous or similar materials during treatment.

In one embodiment, the means of forced circulation of the fluid are arranged in a series connection.

In a variant, the means for forced circulation of the fluid are arranged in a parallel arrangement.

In a preferred embodiment of the installation, the means for forced circulation of the fluid, the pipes connecting said means to the enclosure, as well as organs for opening and / or closing said pipes such as valves or the like are organized so that the gaseous fluid passes through the materials to be treated under vacuum.

In the case of a plurality of circulation means, these are mounted in series for the extraction of the gaseous fluid out of the enclosure where the materials to be treated are passed through under vacuum.

As a variant, the circulation means are mounted in parallel for extracting the gaseous fluid from the enclosure, where the materials to be treated are passed through under vacuum.

In either of these cases, the circulation of the gaseous fluid takes place from the inside to the outside of said materials to be treated.

Alternatively, in one and / or the other of these cases, the circulation of the gaseous fluid takes place from the outside to the inside of said materials to be treated.

An embodiment of the invention provides, in the case of a plurality of means for circulation, to arrange said means, the pipes connecting said means to the enclosure, as well as the opening and / or closing members. of said pipes so that the gaseous treatment fluid enters the overpressure enclosure, under the action of at least one of said circulation means, while it is extracted from said enclosure under depression by at least another said circulation means.

In such an embodiment, the circulation of the gaseous fluid takes place from the inside to the outside of the dobbies to be treated.

As a variant, the circulation of the fluid g _? zeux takes place from the outside to the inside of said materials.

The crossing of the materials to be treated can also, in another variant, take place under overpressure, whether the circulation means are mounted in series or in parallel, in the case of a plurality of means this circulation.

The invention also provides, and in particular for the reconditioning of the treated materials, at the end of drying, to arrange the circulation means, the pipes connecting said means to the enclosure, as well as the opening members and / or closing said pipes so that the circulation of gaseous fluid, which is then advantageously fresh ambient air, with or without the addition of pressurized water, by spraying or by other humidification means, takes place with partial or total recycling.

For this reconditioning phase, too, the gaseous fluid preferably passes through the materials to be treated under vacuum, from the inside to the outside, or vice versa.

In this case, a large amount of air passes through the materials to be treated before passing into the means circulation, which allows air to circulate at room temperature and at ambient humidity levels through the materials.

In the case of a plurality of circulation means, and also for this reconditioning phase, said means can be mounted in series or in parallel.

In a preferred embodiment, the single treatment enclosure is provided with means for distributing the gaseous fluid introduced and / or extracted from said enclosure through the materials to be treated, whether these are in the form of coils, or in the form of cakes of threads, packages, wadding or the like.

In another preferred embodiment, the installation is provided with means for the treatment of threads or filaments in the form of skeins.

In this case, and in particular when the skeins are suspended from the bars of the material carrier, the circulation of the gaseous treatment fluid in the tank advantageously takes place from top to bottom through the suspended skeins.

As a variant, and for certain types of skein yarns, the circulation takes place in both directions, from top to bottom and from bottom to top.

The invention also provides for providing the enclosure in which the materials are placed for their treatment with removable means, easily placed in position for centering in said enclosure of the material-carrying devices on which the materials are placed prior to their treatment. .

In one embodiment, these means consist of rods which differ from each other by the length of their bent part and which are capable of cooperating with a ring and / or a circular sector fixed inside the enclosure, the circular sector , at least, presenting receiving holes at the end of said rods which are distributed in a plurality of concentric circles of decreasing diameter from the wall of the enclosure.

It is thus possible to place without difficulty in the enclosure of the material-carrying devices differing from one another by their structure or their dimensions, while to take into account the differences in height and shape of the channels or the like for the passage of fluid which they present, provision is made to provide clamping, centering and locking means on the removable cover of the enclosure.

Provision is also made, for this purpose, on the one hand for sealing means and, on the other hand, for dimensioning the gaseous treatment fluid distribution members inside the enclosure in such a way that it can accommodate practically all desired material carriers.

This guarantees the sealed connection of the fluid circulation channels or the like of the material carriers to those of the installation on the one hand and, on the other hand, the required satisfactory positioning of the material carriers in said enclosure.

• - la figure 1 est une vue générale schématique d'une installation d'essorage, de séchage et/ou de conditionnement de matières fibreuses, poreuses, ou en filaments, selon l'invention ;
• - la figure 2 est une vue schématique partielle d'un porte-matières propre à être utilisé dans une installation selon l'invention ;
• - la figure 3 est une vue partielle, schématique, d'une enceinte de réception des matières à traiter d'une installation selon l'invention ;
• - la figure 4 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 3, pour une autre partie de l'enceinte et pour une variante ;
• - la figure 5 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 4 ;
• - la figure 6 est une vue schématique d'une enceinte de réception de matières à traiter d'une installation selon l'invention ;
• - la figure 6a est une vue de détail ;
• - la figure 6b est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 6, mais pour une autre réalisation ;
• - les figures 7 à 24 sont des schémas d'une installation selon l'invention, analogue à celui de la figure 1 et illustrant le trajet des fluides mis en oeuvre.

The invention will be better understood from the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the appended drawing in which:

• - Figure 1 is a schematic general view of a wringing, drying and / or packaging installation of fibrous, porous, or filamentary materials, according to the invention;
• - Figure 2 is a partial schematic view of a material carrier suitable for use in an installation according to the invention;
• - Figure 3 is a partial schematic view of an enclosure for receiving the materials to be treated from an installation according to the invention;
• - Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3, for another part of the enclosure and for a va laughing;
• - Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 4;
• - Figure 6 is a schematic view of an enclosure for receiving materials to be treated from an installation according to the invention;
• - Figure 6a is a detail view;
• - Figure 6b is a view similar to that of Figure 6, but for another embodiment;
• - Figures 7 to 24 are diagrams of an installation according to the invention, similar to that of Figure 1 and illustrating the path of the fluids used.

Reference is first made to FIGS. 1 to 6b illustrating the structure of an installation according to the invention for wringing, drying and / or conditioning fibrous materials, or the like. It comprises a treatment tank 45, of generally cylindrical shape, which can be sealed at its upper part by a removable cover 75, with quick opening and closing. The tank 45 is designed to accommodate a material-carrying device 46 comprising, in a first embodiment and in a manner known per se, a column 46a pierced with a multiplicity of orifices, not shown, allowing the passage of gaseous fluid between a channel longitudinal axial 40 of said column and the space inside the tank 45, the crossing of the fibrous, porous or filamentary material to be treated taking place from the outside to the inside of the windings, supports or packages, or vice versa .

In another embodiment, FIG. 2, the material-carrying device 46 is in the form of a tray 46b on which are erected a plurality of columns 46c of smaller diameter than the column 46a, so that the gaseous fluid circulating in the channel 40 is distributed in the columns 46c which carry, stacked, the windings E of material to be treated in the form of wires or filaments arranged on their rigid or spring perforated supports, not shown, said windings being produced from yarns, rovings, combed ribbons, woven or knitted ribbons, knits or fabrics.

In the case of knits or fabrics the supports of the windings are, if necessary, horizontal.

Both for the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and for that shown in FIG. 2, centering means are provided, in the tank 45, FIG. 3, most simply constituted by a plurality of bent rods 50, advantageously of circular cross section. and which cooperate by the returns of their bent end parts 60 with the perforations of an annular support 51a fixed on the side wall of the tank 45 in the upper part thereof while the lower ends of the straight parts of the rods 50 are introduced into one of the holes 51b of a circular sector 51c also fixed on the internal lateral wall of the tank 45, at a distance from the ring 51a. The holes 51b are distributed in a plurality of concentric circles of decreasing diameter from the wall of the tank so that when the rods 50 which differ from each other by the length of their bent part are placed on the ring 51a and and sector 51c, a structure somewhat similar to a squirrel cage is obtained for centering the material carriers 46 of different diameters, as shown on the right and left parts of FIG. 3.

A distance from the bottom 45a of the tank 45 opens into the latter, as shown at 41, a dispensing member 41a, FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 4, said dispensing member 41a is of dimensions similar to those of column 46a, so that after positioning and centering of the material-holding device in the tank, the channel 40 of column 46a extends the channel 41b of the dispensing member 41a to establish a continuous passage of gaseous fluid intended to pass through fibrous, porous materials, in filaments, and / or the like in processing.

A seal 41c is provided, where appropriate, at the junction of the channels 40 and 41b.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, the diameter of the dispensing member 41a is larger than that of the column 46a, so that with said dispensing member, column material carriers 46a of different dimensions can cooperate, under provided that the longitudinal channel 40 of said columns is of smaller diameter than that shown at 41b of member 41a.

Seal means 41c are optionally provided, FIGS. 5 and 6 and, to ensure good sealing against gaseous fluids circulating in the dispensing member 41a and in the channel 40, the invention provides, in addition, FIGS. 6 and 6a, a device 70 mounted on the cover 75 of the tank 45. The device 70 comprises a flywheel 70a which controls the insertion of a rod 72 which cooperates with the head 7la of an assembly 71 associated with the material holder 46 for application to force by clamping said material carrier against the seal means 41c.

The assembly 71 also comprises, as clearly visible in FIG. 6a, a lifting ring 73 and, on either side of a centering tail 74, hooks 175 pivotally mounted around an axis 76 against the 'action of springs 77 and adapted to cooperate with pins 78 integral with the material holder for the removable locking thereof.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6b, provided more particularly, according to the invention, for the treatment of materials in the form of skeins, the material carrier is provided with bars 150 on which the Ex skeins are suspended and the column 46a is extended at its upper part by a perforated extension 47 extending between a solid end plate 48 and a lower plate 49, also perforated, to allow the gaseous treatment fluid to pass along the path shown by the arrow g, that is to say -tell through the channel 40, the extension 47, the plate 49 and the hanks Ex placed on the bars 150 placed under the plate 49.

Thanks to the above arrangements, the tank 45 can receive material carriers which differ from one another by their diameter, their height or even the dimensions of the column 46a and of the longitudinal channel 40, so that the installation according to the invention in has already been made versatile in this respect.

The installation further comprises, connected to the distribution member 41a, a pipe 41d, and a pipe 41e, the first being connected, by means of a valve or the like 80, to a heat generator 42, while that the second is connected, by a valve or the like 81, to a pipe 82 on which is piquéc a pipe 83 which, beyond a valve or the like 83a, leads to a branch 83b of pipes which will be described below .

The heat generator 42 can be made as a heat exchanger supplied with steam, or as a heat exchanger supplied with a heat transfer fluid, such as superheated water, or even in the form of 'an electric heating means, or in the form of a gas-fired burner with direct heating, or even in the form of a gas-fired heater, with indirect air heating.

Whatever the embodiment chosen, the heat generator 42 is connected, at the end opposite to that of connection to the pipe 41d, to a pipe 84, into which opens a pipe 85 and which, at its end opposite to that of connection to the heat generator 42, branching off along branches 86 and 87. The first is connected, with the interposition of a valve or the like 88 to an outlet pipe 97 with the interposition of a valve 139 as well as to the outlet pipe a means 44 for circulating air, for example a blower, a ventila tor, a compressor or the like, while the second is connected with the interposition of a valve or the like 89 to a distributor 91. To this leads a first pipe 92 connected with the interposition of a valve 93 or the like to the manifold d inlet 94 of the means 44 for circulating air, a pipe 95 connected by a valve or the like 96 to the pipe 97 and the outlet pipe 98 for a second means 43 for putting air circulation, similar to the medium 44.

In a variant, not shown, the installation comprises not only two means for circulating air but a plurality of such means.

The air is admitted into the installation through a filter intended to remove impurities 49, a heat exchanger 48 adjacent to said filter being provided for recovering the calories from the air leaving by heating the incoming air.

The outlet 99 of the filter-exchanger assembly is connected to the branch 83b from which comes an intake pipe 100a in the air circulation means 43 and a pipe 100b connected to the intake manifold 94 of the means 44 for circulating air, with interposition on said pipe 100b of a valve or the like 140. From the branch 83b also comes a pipe 101 opening at its other end, with the interposition of a valve or similar 102, in line 86, so that the air entering the installation can be supplied either by lines 99 - 100b - 94 to the inlet of the circulation means 44 or, by lines 99 - 100a at the inlet of the circulation means 43, either again via the pipes 99-101 to the heat generator 42, or finally, from the pipe 100a and a bypass 100c provided before entering the circulation means 43 and on which is placed a valve 100d-, simultaneously in means 43 and 44 for setting in circuit air culation.

The heat exchanger 48 is connected to an air outlet pipe 120, which can be brought into communication by a valve or the like 121, on the one hand, with the pipe 85 connected to the heat generator 42 and, from on the other hand, by valves or the like 122 and 123, respectively, with the pipe 82 which terminates, via the distribution member 41a, at the channel 40 of the column 46a. of the material carrier and to a pipe 124 on which is interposed a valve or the like 125 connecting said pipe to the bottom 45a of the treatment tank 45.

As clearly visible in FIG. 1, the installation also comprises a pipe 126 between the pipe 124 and the pipe 83, as well as a pipe 127 connecting, with the interposition of a valve or the like 138, the interior of the tank 45 either to the pipe 100c or, with the interposition of a valve 128, to the pipe 94, said pipe 127 being mounted in parallel, starting from the outlet 129 of the tank 45, with another pipe 130 which leads to the heat generator 42 with interposition of a valve 131.

A line 132, on which a valve 133 is interposed, also connects line 41d to line 127, while line 97 is connected to line 120 upstream of the heat exchanger 48, this same line 97 being connected to the same pipe 120, but downstream of the heat exchanger 48, by a pipe 136. The connection of the pipe 97 and the pipe 120 upstream of the heat exchanger is under the dependence on the opening and / or closing of a valve or the like 135 while on the pipe 136 is interposed a valve or the like 137.

According to the invention, also, means _V1 , _V2 , _V3 and V _{4 are provided} connected to a pressurized steam generator for the introduction of steam into the installation and, more precisely, on the pipe 41d for the device V ₁ , on the pipe 127 for the device V ₂ , on the pipe 41e for the device V ₃ and on the pipe 124 for the device V ₄ .

Similarly, devices referenced respectively H ₁ , H ₂ , H ₃ , H ₄ and H ₅ are provided for the introduction into the installation of pressurized water and spraying, the devices H ₁ , H ₂ , H ₃ , H ₄ being placed in correspondence with the devices V carrying the same indices, while the device H ₅ allows the introduction of pressurized water and spraying on the pipe 99 for air entry into the installation, at downstream of the heat exchanger 48, in the direction of circulation of the gaseous fluid.

Finally, a set of devices A ₁ , A ₂ , A ₃ , A ₄ opening into the pipes of the installation in correspondence of the devices V and H carrying the same indices allows the addition, to gaseous treatment fluids, of finishing under pressure and spraying like sizing products. Means, not shown, are provided for the introduction of compressed air into the pipes.

An installation as described above can be implemented in different ways, depending on the desired final effect of the treatment, and this by modifying the conditions for circulation of gaseous fluids as well as by a choice of the characteristics of said charged fluids or not loaded with packaging and / or reconditioning products.

In what follows, there will be described by way of nonlimiting example modes of use of the installation with reference to FIGS. 7 to 24, in which the path of the gaseous fluids is indicated by arrow lines.

EXAMPLE 1

In this example, FIG. 7, only one means for circulating air is used, namely the means 43, and this is to circulate the air entering the installation through the filter 49 along a path going, in overpressure, from the inside to the outside of the material to be treated, whether the windings are on coils or in the form of cakes .

In this example, the air circulation from the heat exchanger 48 takes place via the pipe 99, the pipe 100a, the circulation means 43, the branch 87, the pipe 84, the heat exchanger 42 at the outlet of which the air enters the pipe 41d then, through the channel 40, is brought through the material to be treated to escape, through the valve 125, into the pipe 124 from where it reaches the pipe outlet 120 through valve 123.

EXAMPLE 2

In this embodiment, FIG. 8, the circulation of gaseous fluid takes place from the inside towards the outside of the windings of material to be treated, as in the previous example, however no longer by overpressure but by suction, that is to say -to say that the matter is crossed by vacuum.

From the heat exchanger 48 the gaseous fluid borrows the pipes 99, 101, the branch 86, the pipe 84 through which it enters the heat generator 42 and then, through the channel 40, into the material to be treated. the outlet from which it leaves the treatment tank through the orifice 129, is taken up in the pipe 127 after passing through the valve 138, the pipe 100c, the intake manifold 100a of the actuating means 43, the distributor 91 , the line 95, the line 97 and, through the valve 135, to the outlet line 120.

EXAMPLE 3

In this case, in FIG. 9, the crossing of the gaseous fluid through the material to be treated takes place from the outside of the windings towards the inside of them, the path being then defined from the heat exchanger 48, via the pipe 99, the pipe 100a for admission into the moving means 43, the distributor 91, the branch 87, the pipe 84 for supplying the gaseous fluid to the through the heat generator 42, the entry into the treatment tank 45 via the pipe 130 and the valve 131 to the opening 129. After passing through the material to be treated from the outside to the inside the windings, the gaseous fluid crosses the channel 40 and leaves the treatment tank via the pipe 41e, the valve 81, the pipe 82, the valve 122 and finally, the pipe 120.

EXAMPLE 4

In this application, FIG. 10, the gaseous fluid passes through the material to be treated from the outside towards the inside, but, unlike the application of Example 3, by depression and no longer overpressure.

The path of the gaseous fluid, from the heat exchanger 48, is then that comprising the pipe 99, the pipe 101, the branch 86, the pipe 84 for entry into the heat generator 42, the pipe 130 of supply of hot air inside the tank 45 and outside the material to be treated. When the gaseous fluid has passed through the material and has entered the channel 40, it is then discharged through the valve 133, the line 132, the valve 100d, the line 100c and the intake manifold 100a of the circulation means. 43 from which it emerges as in Example 2.

EXAMPLE 5

In this mode of use, FIG. 11, the invention no longer calls on a single means of circulating air but on the two means provided, simultaneously, and this following a series connection for passing through the material to be treated. by the gaseous fluid from the inside to the outside, under overpressure.

After passing through the heat exchanger 48, the fluid is brought through the pipes 99 and 100a in the first circulation means 43 then, through the distributor 91 and the manifold 92, to the intake manifold 94 of the second means circulation 44. The outlet thereof takes place through the pipe 90 and the branch 86 from which the fluid enters the pipe 84, passes through the heat generator 42 and reaches the channel 40 through the valve 80 and line 41d.

After passing through the material to be treated from the inside to the outside of the windings, the gaseous fluid leaves the tank 45 through the valve 125, the pipe 124, the valve 123 and the pipe 120.

A variant provides, by opening the valve 83a, to establish a bypass of the outlet fluid through the line 126, so that, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 11, the derived part ends in the branch 83b thus defining a recycling operating mode.

EXAMPLE 6

In this operating mode, and as in the previous example, the two means for circulating fluid 43 and 44 are operating in series, FIG. 12.

By cons, and unlike Example 5, we proceed here by suction, the fluid path being formed from the heat exchanger 48, by the line 99, the line 101, the branch 86, the line 84, the heat generator 42, the pipe 41d the channel 40. From the latter, the gaseous fluid passes through the materials to be treated from the inside to the outside of the windings and then escapes from the tank 45 through the orifice 129, the line 127, the line 100c, the intake manifold 100a of the circulation means 43, the distributor 91, the intake manifold 94 of the second circulation means 44 then the exhaust of the latter by line 90, valve 139, line 97, and exhaust pipe pement 120, after crossing valve 135.

As a variant, and as shown in dotted lines on the right-hand side of FIG. 12, the invention also provides, by opening the valve 137, an additional exhaust via the pipe 136.

EXAMPLE 7

In this operating mode, the two means for circulating fluid 43 and 44 are no longer operative in series but in parallel, FIG. 13.

At the outlet of the heat exchanger 48, the treatment air borrows the line 99, the inlet line 100a in the air circulation means 43 and simultaneously the line 100c leading to the intake manifold 94 of the circulating means 44 so that the outlets of the means 43 and 44 through the branches 87 and 86, respectively, meet in the pipe 84 for entry into the heat generator 42. The gaseous fluid leaves said generator by the pipe 41d, enters the channel 40, passes through the windings to be treated from the inside to the outside and leaves the tank 45 via the valve 125 and the pipe 124, in a similar manner to what has been described above. for example 5.

As in said example, part of the gaseous fluid leaving the tank 45 can be directed into the line 126, then the line 123, the valve 140 and the line 100b for partial recycling.

EXAMPLE 8

While in the previous example the circulation means 43 and 44 find application for a treatment by overpressure, they are, in the example now considered, FIG. 14, implemented for obtaining a treatment by suction. and in a parallel assembly as in the previous example.

The path of the gaseous fluid then comprises, from the heat exchanger 48: the pipe 99, the canali sation 101, the line 84 for entry into the heat generator 42, the line 41d for entry into the tank 45, the passage of the materials to be treated from the inside to the outside and then the exit of the tank through the orifice 129, the line 127, the line 100c, the inlet pipe 100a of the circulation means 43, and simultaneously the inlet pipe 94 of the circulation means 44, the exhausts of said circulation means terminating , both in line 97 and then in outlet line 120, Figure 14.

As in Example 6, a partial diversion of the output can be carried out via line 136.

EXAMPLE 9

In this embodiment, FIG. 15, which makes use of the two circulation means 43 and 44 in a series arrangement, the path of the gaseous fluid from the heat exchanger 48 to the inlet of the heat generator 42 is identical to that of Example 5,

In the present example, however, the output of the heat generator 42 is not effected by the line 41d but by the line 130, so that the gaseous fluid penetrates inside the tank 45 to pass through the windings to be treated from outside to inside. The fluid is then taken out from the channel 40 by the valve 81, the pipe 82, the valve 122 and the pipe 120.

As in Example 5, partial recycling can be obtained by withdrawing a certain quantity of the fluid leaving the tank via the pipe 83, the path of said fluid thus re-eyed being shown in dotted lines in FIG. 15.

EXAMPLE 10

In this operating mode, FIG. 16, provided for crossing the windings of material to be treated from the outside to the inside, the means for circulating the fluid 43 and 44, operate in series and exert a suction effect.

The path of the gaseous fluid is then as shown in FIG. 16, that is to say identical to that of Example 6 between the heat exchanger 48 and the entry into the heat generator 42, the exit from said generator, however, is carried out by line 130 and not by line 41d as in Example 6.

The gaseous fluid which has passed through the material to be treated leaves the tank 45 via the line 132, crosses the valve 100d, enters via the intake manifold 100a in the circulation means 43, leaves this means via the line 98 for gain the intake manifold 94 of the circulation means 44, the exit of this circulation means 44 being effected, by reason of the closing of the valve 88, by the pipe 90 leading to the outlet pipe 120.

As in Examples 6 or 8, a bypass outlet via the pipe 136 can also be performed, the path of which is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 16.

EXAMPLE 11

It provides for a circulation of the treatment fluid under overpressure from the outside to the inside of the windings by applying a parallel mounting of the circulation means 43 and 44, FIG. 17.

In this example, the path of the gaseous fluid from the heat exchanger 48 and up to the inlet of the heat generator 42 is as in Example 7.

Contrary to this example, however, the heat generator 42 does not exit through the pipe 41d, the gaseous fluid penetrating into the tank 45 through the orifice 129 and leaving said tank via the channel 40, through valve 81 and line 82 to line 120.

As in the operating mode of Example 7, the opening of the valve 43a causes the recovery of a certain quantity of fluid from the tank 45 towards the intake manifold 94 of the circulation means 44, c ' i.e. operation with partial recycling, Figure 17.

EXAMPLE 12

In this operating mode, illustrated in FIG. 18, the gaseous fluid is caused to pass through the windings of material to be treated, from the outside to the inside, with suction, that is to say under vacuum through the material and with the circulation means mounted in parallel.

From the heat exchanger 48 and up to the inlet of the heat generator 42 the path of the fluid is identical to that of Example 8 but, unlike this example, the outlet of the heat generator 42 s performed by the valve 131, so that the gaseous fluid enters the tank 45 through the orifice 129.

After passing through the material to be treated, the gaseous fluid leaves the tank 45 via the line 41d, the line 132 and, from the junction of the said line with the line 127, follows the same path as that of Example 11, that is to say that a first current is treated by the means for circulating fluid 43 while a second current is treated by the means for circulating 44, the outputs of the two said means leading to the pipeline 97.

EXAMPLE 13

In this operating mode, the treatment is carried out by crossing the material to be treated from the inside to the outside of the windings with, simultaneously, suction and overpressure, FIG. 19.

For this purpose, the gaseous fluid issuing from the heat exchanger 48 is brought via the pipe 99 to the intake manifold 100a of the circulation means 43. At the outlet of the latter, the valve 89 then being open in the direction of flow from the distributor 91 to the heat generator 42, the gaseous fluid passes through said generator and enters the tank 45 via the pipe 41d. It then crosses the channel 40, the material to be treated, and leaves the tank through the orifice 129. Via the line 127 the gaseous fluid reaches the intake manifold 94 of the circulation means 44 from which it leaves via the line 90 then the pipe 97, which is connected to the pipe 120 upstream and / or downstream of the heat exchanger 48.

EXAMPLE 14

In this operating mode, FIG. 20, somewhat analogous to that described immediately above, the invention also provides for the simultaneous use of suction and overpressure.

However, unlike the previous example, the gaseous fluid is circulated so as to pass through the windings of material to be treated from the outside to the inside, that is to say that the path of the fluid in this example is identical to that of the previous example for the part between the heat exchanger 48 and the heat generator 42. However, instead of entering the tank via the pipe 41d, the entry is made through the orifice 129, the outlet then being via the pipe 41d, the pipe 132, the valve 128, the intake manifold 94 of the circulation means 44 then the outlet of said means through the valve 139 and the pipe 97.

As shown in solid and broken lines in FIG. 20, the gaseous treatment fluid joins the pipe 120 upstream of the heat exchanger 48 and / or also downstream of it, if necessary.

EXAMPLE 15

In this operating mode, FIG. 21, the gaseous fluid is set in motion with the aid of the two means 43 and 44, to make the windings of material to be treated pass from the inside to the outside.

In this operating mode, however, a first embodiment plans not to use an air inlet through the heat exchanger 48, so that the circulation is in closed circuit, that is to say with total recycling.

As shown by the arrows in solid lines in FIG. 21, the air which enters the tank 45 via the pipe 41d and, from there, gains the channel 40, crosses the windings of material to be treated from the inside towards the outside to exit from the tank 45 through the orifice 129, the pipe 127, the intake manifold 100a of the circulation means 43, the distributor 91, the valve 93, the intake manifold 94 of the intake means circulation 44, the outlet of this means forming, through the valve 88, a return to the heat generator 42, the outlet of which then takes place via the pipe 41d, etc.

In a variant, and as shown in phantom, the valve 100e, -upstream of the intake manifold 100a of the circulation means 43-, is open, -when it was closed in the previous condition -, so that a certain amount of air can be introduced into the circuit, the treatment then being with partial recycling.

EXAMPLE 16

In this operating mode, close to that of the previous example, the circulation of gaseous fluid is carried out from the outside towards the inside of the windings of materials to be treated, as shown by the arrows in solid line in FIG. 22.

The entry of fluid into the tank 45 is then through the orifice 129, connected to the outlet of the heat generator 42 and the outlet of said tank is carried out by the pipe 41d, the pipe 132, the valve 100d, the tubing d inlet 100a in the circulation means 43, the distributor 91, the intake manifold 94 in the circulation means 44, the valve 88, and return by the pipe 84 in the heat generator 42 from which the gaseous fluid again enters the treatment tank.

As in the previous example, the operating mode described above which is fully recycled, can be replaced by an operating mode with partial recycling, when the valve 100e is momentarily open.

Analogously to the embodiment of Example 15, where a partial fluid outlet can be carried out through the valve 125 and the pipe 124, in Example 16, provision is made to carry out an outlet through the valve 81 and line 82.

EXAMPLE 17

In this operating mode, the means for circulating 43 and 44 of the gaseous fluid are mounted in parallel, FIG. 23.

In a first condition, the valve 100e is closed. The gaseous treatment fluid enters the tank 45 through the pipe 41d, the channel 40, passes through the material windings to be treated from the inside to the outside, leaves the tank 45 through the orifice 129 and is brought in by the line 127 on the one hand, to the intake manifold 100a of the moving means 43 and, on the other hand, to the intake manifold 94 of the moving means 44. The outputs of the means 43 and 44 , by the branches 87 and 86, respectively, are then joined in the pipe 84 supplying the heat generator 42 whose outlet, via the pipe 41d, reintroduced with total recycling, the gaseous treatment fluid in the tank 45.

In a variant, illustrated in phantom, recycling is only partial; the valve 100e being open, a certain quantity of air is admitted from the heat exchanger 48, while the valve 125 being also open, a certain quantity of air can be extracted from the tank 45 by the line 124 and the valve 123 until brought into the line 120.

EXAMPLE 18

In this operating mode, similar to that described immediately above, the circulation of the gaseous fluid is from the outside to the inside of the windings of material to be treated.

The introduction of the gaseous fluid is therefore done in the tank 45 through the orifice 129, at the outlet of the heat generator 42, while the outlet of said tank is through the pipe 41d, the pipe 132, the tubing 100a of admission into the setting-in means 43 and simultaneously the manifold 94 of admission into the setting-up means 44, the outlets of the two said means being joined through the branches 87 and 86, respectively, to end up in the line 84 and to the heat generator 42, the outlet of which is via the orifice 129, as indicated above.

In this embodiment, also, partial recycling can be obtained when, on the one hand, the valve 100e is open and that, on the other hand, part of the gaseous fluid is evacuated through the valve 81 in the line 82 and in line 120, Figure 24.

The installation according to the invention allows the treatment of fibrous, porous or filamentary materials according to a multiplicity of operating modes and that said materials are in the form of hanks, windings of threads, wicks, comb ribbons, woven ribbons or knitted, knitted or woven fabrics.

Thus, for the dewatering of the volumes of material to be treated, whether in the form of windings or of packages, provision is made for circulation under water vapor pressure, the latter being introduced into the installation by actuation. V ₁ -V ₄ devices, either at the entrance to the tank 45, in the pipe 41d or in the pipe 130, near the orifice 129, or even in the pipes 82 or 124. The circulation of steam to through the material can take place either under the effect of the steam's own pressure, or by using the vacuum or the overpressure of the circulation means 43 and / or 44, with or without air intake.

After spinning, when the windings or packages of material to be treated are still strongly impregnated with water, and therefore not very permeable to the circulation of gaseous fluid, in particular at the start of the drying treatment, the procedure is as shown in Examples 5 or 9, that is to say by making the two circulation means operational in series for overpressure operation.

As soon as the permeability of the material to be treated is sufficient, the installation is made to operate as described with reference to Example 7 (Figure 13) or Example 8 (Figure 14), that is to say also with the two means for circulating the fluid, but then following a parallel mounting. ,

On the other hand, for materials liable to undergo deformations such as felting or tangling during the circulation of gaseous fluid at high flow rate, the invention provides, from a certain humidity level, to apply not more than two circulation means, but only one, for example as described in examples 1 to 4, and with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10.

Both in the case of the use of one and of two means for circulating gaseous fluid, the invention advantageously provides for a suction operating mode, examples 2, 4, 6 and 10, by depressurizing d 'Part of the material to be treated, that is to say with lowering the vapor pressure and the temperature of said material.

Drying, which leads to this lower temperature, makes it possible to preserve the intrinsic qualities of certain textile materials, such as shrinking, touching, bulging, etc.

In addition, the fact of carrying out the treatment at a lower temperature than that generally used, makes it possible to reduce in whole or in part the risks of migration of the dyes or of the finishing products deposited on the material, this migration taking place from the less dry parts towards the drier parts and being favored by the high temperatures of the drying air.

This also reduces, in the case of fibrous textile materials, the risk of yellowing, this being favored by the high temperatures of the drying air, in particular for materials bleached or dyed in light colors.

The presence of devices A and H considerably increases the possibilities of using the installation according to the invention for the packaging of fibrous materials, in particular textile materials.

One can, in fact, using the devices A, introduce into the fluid circulation pipes, one or more finishing product (s) intended to be deposited on the treated material to give it the desired quality. The finishing product can, for example, be a softener or a lubricant to improve the feel or facilitate the subsequent use of the material during weaving, knitting or during use, for example for sewing thread.

The devices H, using which the invention provides for the introduction of water under pressure and / or spraying into the gaseous treatment fluid, contribute to obtaining satisfactory and rapid conditioning and / or reconditioning.

It is known, in fact, that for textile materials, in particular, there are relative humidity levels considered to be optimum and which vary from one fiber to another. Thus, for cotton, such a rate is around 7 to 8%, while it is around 16% for wool. Now, at the At the end of drying operations, it is frequent that this relative humidity rate is lower than the optimum value, for example of the order of 1 to 2% at the end of treatment of cotton fibers.

While the usual conditioning techniques consist in exposing the treated material to ambient air, in order to gradually return it to the state of natural equilibrium, this process which is both relatively long and non-uniform, for example at 'inside and outside of the volumes of material treated, causes homogeneity defects and damaging delays in use in modern factories with high productivity.

This is why, according to the invention, provision is made to circulate through the material treated fresh ambient air, with or without the addition of water under pressure, by spraying, introduced by the devices H, or with any other means of humidifying the air introduced by the devices H, with or without recycling, and this so as to bring the relative humidity level of the treated material to a value close to the optimal conditioning rate, this circulation being able to be carried out with the heat exchanger 48 rendered temporarily inoperative and according to the operating methods of examples 15 to 18, FIGS. 21 to 24, without this indication having any limiting nature whatsoever.

In the above, the method and the installation have been described for a vertical treatment tank in which the material carrier is also vertical.

It goes without saying that the invention also applies, subject to the treatment of the skeins, to a process or an installation in which the treatment tank is horizontal, the material carrier then being arranged in correspondence.

Claims (28)

1. Method for spinning, drying and / or conditioning fibrous, porous or filamentary materials in which the spinning and drying operations are carried out in a single enclosure by forced circulation of air, with heating any of the latter at least during the drying phase, characterized in that: a current of gaseous fluid is circulated in the enclosure, using one or a plurality of means for setting in motion, so that it passes through the materials to be treated under vacuum and / or overpressure, from the inside to the outside of the said materials, or vice versa, said materials are passed through by a stream of water vapor, in order to accelerate the spinning at the start of drying and / or to rapidly raise the temperature of the treated materials, and / or to vaporize, if necessary, said materials during drying, the drying air is optionally humidified with pressurized water, by spraying or with another humidifying means, spraying, if necessary, into the drying air, finishing products intended to be deposited on the materials to be treated; and if necessary, at the end of drying, reconditioning of the materials by circulation through them in depression and / or in overpressure of fresh ambient air, with or without the addition of pressurized water, by spraying, or by other means humidification. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the gaseous fluid is circulated using a plurality of means, and in that said means are connected in series. 3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the gaseous fluid is circulated using a plurality of means and in that said means are mounted in parallel. 4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the gaseous fluid is circulated using a plurality of means and in that said means are arranged so that at least one makes the gaseous fluid penetrate treatment in the overpressure enclosure while at least one other of said means controls the extraction of said fluid from the enclosure by vacuum. 5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that compressed air is introduced into the stream of gaseous fluid. 6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is applied to the treatment of fibrous, porous or filamentary materials in the form of skeins. 7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the gaseous treatment fluid is circulated from top to bottom and / or from bottom to top through the hanged skeins. 8. Installation for wringing, drying and / or conditioning fibrous, porous or filamentary materials comprising a single enclosure in which said materials are suitable for placing, means for circulating a gaseous fluid through said materials as well as means for heating the drying air, characterized in that the means for circulating the gaseous fluid (43,44) are suitable for circulating it in the enclosure (45) so that it passes through the materials to be treated under vacuum and / or overpressure, from the inside to the outside of said materials, or vice-versa, and in that it comprises means (V) for introducing water vapor in the gaseous fluid circulation pipes for passing said materials through said vapor in order to accelerate the spinning at the start of drying and / or rapidly raise the temperature of the materials being treated and / or vaporizing said materials during drying, means (H) for humidifying the drying air, means (A) for spraying therein finishing products intended to be deposited on the treated materials and , where appropriate, means for introducing compressed air. 9. Installation according to claim 8, characterized in that the means for circulating the gaseous fluid advantageously comprise a plurality of means for forced circulation of said fluid passing through fibrous, porous material in filaments or the like during treatment. 10. Installation according to claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the means (43,44) of forced circulation of the fluid, the pipes connecting said means to the enclosure (45), as well as opening members and / or closing said pipes such as valves or the like (81,125,133 ...) are organized in such a way that the gaseous fluid passes through the materials to be treated under vacuum. 11. Installation according to claim 9, characterized in that the means (43,44) of circulation are mounted in series for the extraction of the gaseous fluid out of the enclosure (45) where the materials to be treated are passed through in depression. 12. Installation according to claim 9, characterized in that the circulation means are mounted in parallel for the extraction of the gaseous fluid out of the enclosure (45) where the materials to be treated are crossed under vacuum. 13. Installation according to claim 11 or claim 12, characterized in that the circulation of the gaseous fluid takes place from the inside to the outside of the materials to be treated. 14. Installation according to claim 11 or claim 12, characterized in that the circulation of gaseous fluid takes place from the outside to the inside of the materials to be treated. 15. Installation according to claim 9, characterized in that said circulation means (43,44), the pipes connecting said means to the enclosure (45), as well as the opening and / or closing members of said pipes are arranged so that the gaseous treatment fluid enters the overpressure enclosure, under the action of at least one of said circulation means, while it is extracted from said enclosure under depression by another at less of said circulation means. 16. Installation according to claim 15, characterized in that the circulation of the gaseous fluid takes place from the inside to the outside of the materials to be treated. 17. Installation according to claim 15, characterized in that the circulation of the gaseous fluid takes place from the outside towards the inside of the materials to be treated. 18. Installation according to claim 9, characterized in that the circulation means (43,44) are mounted in series for passing through the materials to be treated by the pressurized gaseous fluid. 19. Installation according to claim 9, characterized in that the circulation means (43,44) are mounted in parallel to pass through the materials to be treated by the pressurized gaseous fluid. 20. Installation according to any one of claims 8 to 19, characterized in that the circulation means, the pipes connecting said means to the enclosure (45), as well as the opening and / or closing members said pipes (in particular 131,133, etc.) are arranged so that the circulation of gaseous fluid takes place with partial or total recycling. 21. Installation according to claim 20, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of placing means in circulation (43, 44) and in that these means are mounted in series or in parallel, to cause the materials to be treated to pass through the gaseous fluid under vacuum and / or under pressure from the inside to the outside of said materials, or vice versa. 22. Installation according to claim 8, characterized in that the single treatment enclosure (45) is provided with means for distributing the gaseous fluid introduced and / or extracted from said enclosure through the materials to be treated, whether these are in the form of spools, or in the form of cakes for threads, packages, wad, skeins or the like. 23. Installation according to claim 8, characterized in that the enclosure (45) in which the materials are placed for their treatment comprises removable means (50-60) easily positioned for centering in said enclosure devices material carriers (46) on which the materials are arranged prior to their treatment. 24. Installation according to claim 23, characterized in that said removable means consist of rods (50) which differ from one another by the length of their bent part (60) and which are suitable for cooperating with a ring (51a) and / or a circular sector (51c) fixed inside the enclosure (45) at least the circular sector (51c), having holes (51b) for receiving the end of said rods which are distributed in a plurality of concentric circles of decreasing diameter from the wall of the enclosure. 25. Installation according to claim 8 and any one of claims 9 to 24, characterized in that, for the treatment of yarns or filaments in the form of skeins, the material holder is provided with means (150) for suspending said said skeins and in that the circulation of the gaseous treatment fluid advantageously takes place from top to bottom at through said hanging skeins. 26. Installation according to claim 25, characterized in that the means of forced circulation of the fluid (43,44), the pipes connecting said means to the enclosure (45), as well as the opening members and / or for closing said pipes (81,125,100e, 88,89 ...) are arranged to also control a circulation of the fluid from bottom to top. 27. Installation according to any one of claims 8 to 26, characterized in that it comprises means for clamping, centering and locking (70,71,74) of the material holder (46) in the enclosure (45) . 28. Installation according to claim 27, characterized in that it comprises seal means (41c) and distribution members (41a) of the gaseous fluid dimensioned in such a way that the circulation of said fluid inside the enclosure. (45) between the channels or the like (40) of the material carriers (46) and those of the dispensing members (41a) takes place regardless of the structure and / or the dimensions of said material carrier (46).

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