GB1139459A - Apparatus for spinning artificial filaments - Google Patents

Abstract

1,139,459. Apparatus for spinning filaments. E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS & CO. 9 Oct., 1967 [10 Oct., 1966], No. 46004/67. Heading B5B. A spinning assembly for producing artificial filaments comprises, in combination with a spinning block housing an aligned array of closely spaced spinnerets and carrying equipment for blanketing all of the spinnerets with an inert gas, an enclosure assembly characterized by a pair of elongated flaps and means mounting the flaps on opposite sides of the array of spinnerets for swinging movement toward and away from a closed position adjacent to the spinnerets, the flaps having spaced longitudinal edges when in the closed position. In one embodiment (Figs. 1 and 2) the enclosure assembly 28 comprises a pair of elongated flaps, a back flap 48 and a front flap 50, the flaps having streamlined inner edges and being mounted on opposite sides of the spinneret array by hinges 52 and 54 respectively. Front flap 50 has a series of fingers 56 shaped and arranged so that when the flaps are in position four rectangular openings 58 (Fig. 2) are defined by the spaced longitudinal edges of the flaps and by the fingers, the filaments leaving the enclosure through these restrictive openings. The streamlined shape and angular disposition of the flaps around each opening are such as to give a Venturi effect in the direction of the exiting inert gas as shown by the arrows in Fig. 1. In this connection the upper surface of the flap 50 is substantially parallel to the faces of the spinnerets 18 and the operable length of the flap 48 is angularly disposed with respect to and terminates at a lower level than flap 50. Steam, the preferred inert gas, is supplied by a pipe 44 to plenums 36 and 38 and then through a passage 40 and over a weir 42 to be directed upwards against the faces of the spinnerets. The supply rate is such that the steam passes through the openings 58 with sufficient velocity to prevent stray air currents from coming upward toward the spinneret. The fingers 56 function to prevent cross-currents between adjacent spinnerets. The pack assembly may be changed by releasing the support pin 60 allowing the flap 48 to fall into a vertical position, when flap 50, which is supported by flap 48, can be moved through 180 degrees from its operating position. An example describes the formation of filaments by melt-spinning nylon 66.