IL46411A - Ring twister assembly - Google Patents

Description

11 · τ Β7 ΠΡ3Ρ IMPROVED RING TWISTER ASSEMBLY IMPROVED RING A SSEMBLY ABSTRA CT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure relates to a ring assembly providing forced circulation of a cooling liquid in thermally conductive contact with the ring. The use of a forced cooled and lubricated ring permits substantially increased spindle speeds, particularly for spinning or twisting of materials requiring high balloon tensions.

IMPROVED RING A SSEMBLY This invention relates to textile ring assemblies of the type commonly referred to as spinning rings and to methods for their improved use for spinning and twisting operations. Spindle speeds of ring assemblies and balloon tensions associated with their use are limited because the heat of friction developed as a result of the passage of the traveler about the inner circumference of the ring.

In the course of such operations thermoplastic travelers commonly employed will rapidly wear, or even melt, as the heat of friction accumulates in the ring as a result of increasing speeds and tensions. Moreover, as heat of friction develops the viscosity of the lubricant changes and can, with enough heat, evaporate from the surface of the ring.

This invention relates to improvements in ring assemblies.

The invention further relates to methods for use of such improved assemblies for spinning and twisting fiber and filamentary materials.

More particularly, the invention relates to a ring twister assembly comprising a ring support having a metallic ring mounted thereon in combination with means for lubricating the said ring and means for force circulating a heat transfer liquid in thermally conductive contact and preferably in direct contact with the said ring.

Additionally, the invention relates to an improved method for spinning or twisting a plurality of fibers or filaments, such as wire or other mineral fibers or organic fibers on a ring twister assembly having a supported and lubricated metallic ring and a traveler mounted on the said ring where the fibers or filaments traverse the traveler, wherein the improvement comprises force circulating a cooling heat transfer liquid in thermally conductive contact with the said ring.

The use of the improved ring assembly of this invention generally permits operations at higher traveler speeds and higher balloon tensions without corresponding reductions in the useful life of plastic travelers and without substantial viscosity changes or degradation of the lubricant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of a ring assembly showing m eans for force circulating a heat transfer liquid in thermally conductive contact with the said ring; Figure 2 is a plan view showing, in part, the ring assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of a different ring modification of the invention; Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of a different ring modification of the invention; and Figure 5 is a vertical section view of still another different DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In Figure 1 strand 10 is wound onto rotating bobbin 12 mounted on a driven spindle 14. The strand 10 traverses traveler 16 slidably mounted on ring 20 which is in turn mounted on a ring support 22.

The traveler 16 will contact the ring 21 as it rotates or slides thereabout at points, for example, 24 and 26. Additionally, the strand 10 traverses the traveler across an abrasion resistant insert 18. A passageway or cavity 28 is situated about the circumference of the ring 20 to provide passageway for a heat transfer liquid in actual contact with the ring 20. Jet 30 provides a means for spraying a lubricant oil 32 on the surface of the ring 20. As spindle 14 is rotated strand 10 traverses traveler 16 and is wound onto bobbin 12. Higher spindle speeds and higher tensions of the strand balloon 34 cause increasing friction at points 24 and 26 as the traveler 16 rotates about ring 20. The friction results in heat build-up in the ring sufficient to severely increase wear or even melt conventional plastic coated or nylon travelers. Referring to Figure 2, liquid coolant input conduit 36 and liquid coolant exit conduit 38 are connected to the passageway 28. The passageway 28 has a baffle or dam 40 so that liquid coolant supplied to the passageway 28 by a pump, or other means not shown, through input pipe 36 conduit will be forced to exit, at least in part, and preferably entirely, through the liquid coolant conduit exit 38.

Other modifications of the forced cooled ring assembly are illustrated by Figures 3, 4 and 5 wherein each depicts a ring 42, 44 and 46, respectively, mounted on a ring support 48, 50 and 52, respectively, and each having a passageway 54, 56 and 58, respectively, for circulation of the liquid coolant in thermally conductive contact with the ring. As an alternative to the spray lubricating means 30 shown in Figure 1, rings 42 and 44 have lubricant ducts 60 and 62, respectively, in which case a lubricant is norm lly gravity fed to the ducts used in combination with porous sintered metallic rings.

As. indicated above the use of the method and apparatus of this invention result in greatly increasing the performance levels attainable both. in terms of spindle speeds and balloon tensions. The invention has particular applicability for operations which require balloon, tensions of greater than 1000 grams to avoid kinks and curls in the strand balloon and in order to form symmetrical cord constructions.

Heat of friction appears to increase with increasing products of balloon tension and traveler velocity. That is, as either the traveler velocity or the balloon tension is increased, more heat accumulates in the ring as a result of increased friction between the traveler and the ring. Although a well lubricated ring is necessary for operations according to this invention, the combined use of a force circulated liquid coolant is essential as below indicated in the example and in the appended claims. Thus, at high spindle speeds and high balloon tensions, the lubricant changes viscosity and will, if heat continues to accumulate, vaporize with copious evolution of smoke. If conventional thermoplastic travelers, notably nylon, are used heat accumulation in the ring will rapidly degrade the traveler and, as above indicated, even melt the traveler. Thus, where one desires to spin or twist heavy organic fiber constructions, or where one uses the ring twister for operations involving materials such as wire or bast fibers, If such a kink or curl is formed in the balloon it will normally break or disengage the traveler from the ring as the kink or curl attempts to traverse the traveler. To avoid the formation of such kinks or curls, high balloon tensions are imposed on the system and, as already indicated, this results in increases in the friction between the ring and traveler. Thus, according to the instant invention, the problems of increasing heat of friction due to higher spindle speeds and higher balloon tensions can be resolved by force circulating a cooling liquid in thermally conductive co ntact with the ring during the spinning or twisting operation to remove heat from the ring.

Except for the force cooling means and corresponding increased operational potential, the construction and operation of the ring twister assembly, the travelers used, whether metallic or plastic, as well as the use of either mist ring lubrication spray or gravity fed porous ring lubrication, may comprise the use of standard art practices and equipment.

In the operation of the preferred embodi ent of this invention a cooling liquid, most preferably water, is forced from a source, such as a pump, through a passageway having a relationship to the ring such that the fluid will remove heat energy from the ring. While best heat transfer from the ring to the circulating liquid is achieved by direct contact between the liquid and the ring, the improvements of the invention can also be realized in modifications as depicted in Figures 3, 4 and 5 wherein the. coolant is forced through a passageway where the liquid coolant is not in actual contact with the ring, but rather in thermally conductive contact, as through a copper pipe This invention is believed to expand the potential of rin twister technology for use in the spinning and twisting of fibers and filaments for reasons hereinbefore assigned. Such fibers and fila¬ m ents comprise wire, particularly steel wire for tire cord, mineral fibers such as glass fibers, organic fibers sue h as nylon, polyester, bast fibers, including hemp, sisal and jute, slit film s, foam ed fibers and the like.

While water is the coolant liquid preferred for use in the operation of the invention, other heat transfer liquids, including aqueous mixtures, can be used.

EXAMPLE Using a forced water cooled and spray mist lubricated 18 . 4 x 2 . 54 cm . twisting ring cooled directly with force circulated water a 2. 54 xl2 . 7x0 . 025cm er cm . having a 1. 06 Z twist r&s made using a nylon traveler under the follow¬ ing conditions : Spindle Speed 6400 rpm Traveler Speed about 6200 rpm Feed Rate 190 fpm Lubricant 30 SA E spray at 6 d rops per min.

Traveler Weight 50 grains (all nylon) Balloon Tension about 2200 grains nom inal Normal water flow 30 . 3 liters per hour After 63 m inutes of continuous operation the twister was deliberately stopped for purpose of inspecting the traveler. A slight cut diagonally across the traveler was observed as a result of the traversel of cord thereacross. The point at which the traveler contacted the ring (generally corresponding to point 26 on Figure 1) showed only very slight wear. was turned off. Operations were involuntarily terminated in each of the three runs at 2 minutes and 30 seconds, 2 minutes and 20 seconds and 2 minutes and 7 seconds, all because of traveler failure. Inspection of the travelers in each case revealed that the nylon polymer had melted at the point of the break.

While this invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, various changes and modifications may be apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is not therefore intended to be limited to such embodiments except as set forth in the appended claim s.

Claims (6)

11-52-0242A k What is claimed is:

1. A ring twister assembly having a ring support, a metallic ring mounted thereon and means for lubricating the said ring characterized by providing said metallic ring with means for force circulating a heat transfer liquid in thermally conductive contact with the said ring.

2. An assembly of claim 1 characterized wherein said means for force circulating a heat transfer liquid is in direct contact with the said ring.

3. An assembly of claim 1 characterized wherein said heat transfer liquid is water.

4. A process for spinning or twisting a plurality of fibers or filaments on a ring twister assembly having a supported and lubricated metallic ring and a traveler mounted on the said ring, wherein said fibers or filaments traverse the said traveler, characterized wherein said metallic ring is cooled by force circulating a cooling heat transfer liquid in thermally conductive contact with said ring.

5. A process according to claim 5 characterized wherein said fibers or filaments are wires, mineral fibers, glass filaments or organic materials.

6. . A process according to claim 4 characterized wherein said heat transfer liquid is water and is in direct . contact with the ring. Attorneye for pp c a n t