US1947159A - Apparatus for the production of artificial threads and the like - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 13, 1934. H. HOFMANN 1,947,159

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL THREADS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 16, 1951 if w Patented Feb. 13, 1934 ENETED STATES hATENl FFEQE APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL THREADS AND THE LIKE Application December 16, 1931 Serial No. 581,475

1 Claim.

My present invention has to do with the manufacture of artificial silk and the like, and more particularly with the provision of suitable means which will increase both the quality and quan- 5 tity of the thread produced.

One object of my present invention is to provide a novel form of outlet for the spinning funnel which will prevent the formation of air bubbles which are likely to harm the freshly 1 extruded filaments or thread.

Another object of my present invention is to so construct the outlet of the spinning funnel that the amount of coagulating or hardening liquid used may be readily controlled.

15 A further object of my present invention is to so form the outlet for the spinning funnel that the salts which are precipitated during the spinning process will not aiTect in any way the production of the artificial thread or filaments.

20 These and other objects of my present invention will become more apparent from a study of the following description and of the drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a partial sectional view of the spin- 25. ning mechanism;

Figure 2 is a detailed view of the outlet or nipple shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a modified form of the outlet or nipple;

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the same;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a further modification of the outlet or nipple; and

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the same.

Referring now to the drawing, and more par- 35 ticularly to Figures 1 and 2, I have shown a spinning chamber 10 having a head 11. This head is provided with a spinneret 12 to which a suitable spinning solution is led by the pipe 13. A funnel 14 is located in the spinning cham- 40, beer and is held in place by a casting or ring 15 secured to said chamber. The casting or ring is provided with an inlet 16 for the coagulating or hardening liquid and is also provided with openings (not shown) through which the 45 coagulating or hardening liquid enters the spinning chamber between the walls of said chamber and the funnel.

The funnel comprises a funnel-like portion 14 secured in the spinning chamber which tapers 50. into a tube 1'7. To the end of this tube is secured, by any convenient means, a nipple or outlet tube 18 shown in detail in Figures 2 and 3. The nipple or outlet tube comprises a U -shaped portion 19, the leg 20 of which termimates in a widened opening or flared portion 21.

As may be seen from an inspection of Figure 2 the nipple is provided with an inwardly projecting portion 22 forming a guiding surface for the filaments and which will hold them from contacting with the Wall of the tube, thus re- 60, ducing friction.

The spinning solution is forced through the spinneret into the hardening or coagulating bath contained in the spinning chamber. The liquid and the freshly spun filaments move downward- 65. ly through the funnel, such action imparting a stretch to the filaments. The filaments then pass through the U-shaped nipple 22 over the acid guides 25, secured to a reciprocating bar 23 and wound on a suitable receiver, such as a reel 24.

, As will be seen from the drawing, the usual level of the treating liquid in the U-shaped tube is designated by L- L. The liquid in that portion of the tube thus forms a liquid pocket or seal which effectively prevents air bubbles from passing into the funnel. Should the flow of the treating or hardening liquid be temporarily or suddenly shut off, the liquid in the U-portion of the tube would be sufficient to form 8 usable filaments. As is well known, great difficulty has been experienced in the formation of air bubbles since they tend to injure or rupture the freshly spun filaments resulting in the formation of low grade yarn. Moreover, since because of the shutting oil of the supply of treating liquid, according to existing devices, no filaments would be formed, but on the contrary, the cellulosic spinning solution would continue to be forced into the spinning chamber and consequently would necessitate a complete cleaning of the same before reuse. If the extrusion of the spinning solution were, or could be, stopped at the same time that the fiow of treating liquid ceased there would still be considerable time wasted in the restarting of the spinning operation. This would be due to the fact that the cellulosic solution in the nozzle would become hardened by contact with the air thus resulting in a considerable period of time to be wasted in the cleaning thereof. With my present invention sufficient hardening liquid would be present to avoid the shutting down or clogging of the mechanism.

The outlet end of the U-shaped tube is Wid- 5 ened as described before. Since the cellulose of the spinning solution before extrusion is dissolved in a cuprammonium solution, the copper thereof is precipitated out in the form of salts by the hardening liquid. In the usual form 9 of funnel now in use the exit end thereof soon becomes restricted by the depositing of these salts at that point retarding the rate of flow of the hardening or coagulating; liquid. This results in the formation of a peer thread. By the use of my present invention the outlet is large requiring the removal of the deposited salts at stated intervals only. Since the amount of liquid necessary to harden the liquid and designated by L-L' is trapped in the iJ-portion of the nipple the fact that the outlet may become restricted in size does not affect the formation of the filaments.

In Figures 3 and 4, I have disclosed a modified form of nipple or outlet. In this modification the U-portion 19' is provided with a grooved guiding section 26, the function of which is to cause a slight compacting of the thread or filament. Should it be desired to form a soft thread, a fiat guiding surface, such as is formed by the portion 22, would be used to spread the filaments. The bend of the lJ-portion of the filament is of considerable length, so that when only a small amount or" coagulating or hardening liquid is in the funnel and the level is reduced to L-L because of a temporary failure of the liquid supply, or for any other reason, there will be suflicient liquid yet remaining in the nipple or outlet to produce a satisfactory thread.

In Figures 4 and 5 I have shown a form of nipple or outlet which is provided with a U- shaped guiding surface 26 similar to that shown in Figures 3 and 4. This nipple or outlet functions in a manner similar to that of Figures 1 and 2 but forms a hard thread rather than the soft thread formed by the use of the nipple or outlet shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Although I have described three preferred forms of my invention it is obvious to one skilled in th art that many mechanical variations may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. I wish it therefore to be understood that my invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

In an outlet tube for use with a funnel for the production or" artificial filaments, a straight tube portion, the lower end or" which is bent to form a U and the exit orifice of which is flared, the said tube at the beginning of the bend being depressed to provide an inwardly extending curved portion, the convex side thereof facing the beforeinentioned dared orifice whereby the filaments passing downwardly through the straight tube portion are held out of contact with the sides thereof, the U-portion having a guiding cons ricting surface serving to compact filaments.

HUGO HOFMANN.

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