US2204603A

US2204603A - Apparatus for drying thread or the like

Info

Publication number: US2204603A
Application number: US162700A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hayden B Kline; Lavern J Jordan
Original assignee: Industrial Rayon Corp
Current assignee: Industrial Rayon Corp
Priority date: 1937-09-07
Filing date: 1937-09-07
Publication date: 1940-06-18
Anticipated expiration: 1957-06-18

Description

June 18,1940. H. B. KLINE ET AL 2,204,603

MPARATUS FOR DRYING THR EAD OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 7, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIEI 3nventor LINE nunlmnilllllllll lHlI YDENBK June 18, l 'H. B. KLlNE ET AL 2,204,603

AHARATUS FOR DRYING THREAD OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 7, 19s? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 45 AND LAvERN JJORDAN mmmtomeg V Patented June 18, 1940 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i i I r 2,204,603

APPARATUS FOR DRYING THREAD OR THE LIKE Hayden ,1 B. Kline, Cleveland, and Lavern J. Jordan, Fairview Village, Ohio, assignors to Industrial Rayon Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application September I, 1937, Serial No. 162,700.

9 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for uninterruptedly drying thread-like materials such as filaments, cords, bands, tapes, tubes, etc., hereinafter referred to as thread.

Apparatus capable of uninterruptedly drying means of the invention, shrinkage of the thread may be arrested so that a definite residual capacity to shrink remains in the thread; in consequence, any desired residual capacity to shrink may be imparted to-it.

thread is of considerable importance, among A preferred embodiment of the invention, is 5 Other things, in the art of manufacturing artifishown in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a cial silk thread by continuous processes. Thread front elevation of the lower portion ofa continuproduced by such processes contains, upon the ous thread-processing machine to which the 1 completion of the liquid processing steps, a conthread-drying apparatus of the invention is apm siderable amount of moisture which must be replied. Figure 2 is a sectional elevation on line moved to complete the processing of thethread. 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is an enlarged sec- Apparatus which will dry the thread as rapidly tional elevation from the line 3-3 of Figure l. as it is being produced is of especial value,'since Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

the thread may then be collected-in final pack- Figure 5 is a plan of the device of Figure 3. Fig- 15 age form contemporaneously with its producure'6 is a front elevation of the upper portion tion. The present invention relates to threadi of the device of Figure 3. In the drawings, like drying apparatus of this type which maybe emreference characters refer to like parts throughployed in a continuous thread processingmachine out. l

between the last liquid processing stage and the Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the thread means for collecting the thread in. package form. 8 to be dried in the thread-drying apparatus ,9

Although the invention is here disclosed in conof the invention is received from a, drip reel l0 nection with a machine for producing multiple preceded by a washing reel ll. Reels "land-1| filament viscose artificial silk thread, it will be are the last two of the several reels which ordiunderstood that the invention is not limited narily are present-inacomplete thread-processing thereto, but may be utilized to dry artificial silk apparatus for the performance of the liquid thread produced by other processes. processing steps necessary to treat the thread.

The apparatus of the invention combines ad- Each thread 8 is handled by a number of reels vantages found in the drying of thread by passing superposed to form a descending series and in a so it through a heated drying tube with other adcomplete thread-processing apparatus a large vantages to be had from utilizing electrical ennumber of these vertical series are arranged side ergy as the source of radiant heat. By passing by side as indicated in Figure 1. It is desirable the thread through a drying tube, the entire that the thread-receiving portion of one reel be periphery of t t ead may be exposed, since it is directly below the thread discharge portion of the ot e s y o pp t t d y mea s reel immediately thereabove in order that the 5 W t e y of the tube- Heat produced from thread will pass directly from reel to reel. an electric resistance wire is of value in the Th reels f ach descending series are carp drying of thread because of the great ried by castings l2 fastened to slanting support amount of heat which may be liberated inasmall [3, which forms part of the framework of the 0 space. In accordance with the invention, the hi Th supports l3 necessary toaccom- 0 thread passing th the dryingtube receives modate the several series of reels are carried around its entire periphery from a Substanupon a longitudinally extending rail II. To roy Completely encircling electrical heating tate the several reels making up each descending e c1086 p y relation to the threadseries, a power driven shaft l 5 extending upward I 1' reduce the demands m upon the drying at the rear of the reels is connected by gearing 5 tube in the removal of moisture from thread pass- [6 and H to reels l0 and .l l, respectively. The I 8 therethrmigh. t e ion provides means several shafts l5 are driven by a common drive for removing excess liquid from the thread prior shaft l8 disposed longitudinally of the appato its entrance into the tube: this feature makes ratus.v I I it possible to utilizea shorter drying tube, a smali- The reels l0 and H are representative of any 50 er consumption of electricity, or both. The inunitary helix-forming device which serves to advention further contemplates the provision of vance axially thereof thread fed thereto at the means for controlling shrinkage of the thread supported end thereof. The reels here shown arising from removal of moisture from the thread comprise two reel members having their axes ll during its passage through the drying tube. By

disposed in ofiset and inclined relation and hav- .periphery of the other reel member.

ing the axis of one reel member lying within the Each reel member includes a plurality of longitudinally extending bar members, the bar members of the two reel members being disposed in interdigitating relation. It is'not' necessary, however, to the practice'of the invention that reels of this particular construction be employed; indeed, it is contemplated that the thread-drying apparatus of the invention may, if desired, be associated with any other means supplying wet thread.

In advancing in helical form over the surface of reel I I, the thread is subjectedto a washing treatment by water showered upon the reel from distributor l9. The several distributors I9 are supplied with water from a pipe 29. In passing over reel 10, a considerable amount ofthe external moisture upon the thread is removed by dripping therefrom, but even upon leaving reel H] the water content of the thread may be as high as 300%. The thread-drying apparatus 9 of the invention removes from the thread all or as much as is desired of its internal moisture content, so that the thread may be collected in finished packageform as upon cap twister 2|.

The thread-drying apparatus 9, comprises a tu-' {with a'thick layer of heat insulating material 2l extending between the flared ends 24 and the channel 26. To close the upper and lower open ends of the tubular member,

plates

28 and 29 are provided, each having therein slots 38 and 3| which extend inward from theperiphery to the center of the plates. These plates are so located upon the tubular member that the opening to the slots 30 and 3| will register with the opening 25 between theflared ends 24. The plates 28 and '29 may be held in position by any desired means such as welding at 32.

Within the tubular member and ,seated against the

end plates

28 and 29 are

ring members

34 and 35, preferably made of some electric insulating material such as porcelain. Seated within recesses 36 in the

ring members

34 and 35 and extending between them are the,

rods

31 and 31 preferably of the same insulatingmaterial. Rods 31 and'31' are circumferentially disposed about the axis of the tubular member- The rods 31' near the entrance 25 to the tubular member are preferably formed with projections 38 at spaced intervals therealong.

An electrical resistance. wire 39 is wound as shown about the rods 31 and 31'. In installing such wire, it is first hooked upon the uppermost two of the projections 38 of one of the rods 31' and then is brought away from opening-v 25 and laid around the several rods 31 until the other rod 31 is reached. The wire is then hooked over then hooked upon the next two lower projections 38 of this ,rod and is again carried around the several rods 31 until the other rod 31 is reached.

By carrying the wire back and forth in this manner, the entrance 25 and the slots 30 and 3| in the end plates are not obstructed and the thread may readily be introduced into the tubular member. Also, due to the winding of the wire about the axis of the tubular member, the thread which is passing longitudinally through the center of the tubular member'is exposed over virtually its entire periphery to the radiant heat emitted'by the resistance element. Projections 38 not only enable the wire to be wound about the interior of thetubular member in the manner noted but serve to' maintain the spacing between the turns of the wire.

The

ends

40 and 4| of the resistance wire 39 lead into the channel 26and pass out through opening 42 therein for connection to

line wires

89 and 90.

In assembling the tubular member,

rings

34 and 35 are located upon opposite ends of

rods

31 and 31" and the resistance wire 39 is wound about the rods in the formation described. This assembly is then inserted through one of the open ends of the cylindrically formed metal sheet 23 and is held in proper position therein by'sec'uring the

plates

28 and 29, as by weld 32, upon the ends of the metal sheet 23. The

lead wires

49 and 4| are next brought out through the opening 42 and the channel 26 is then positioned against the exterior of the metal sheet 23.

' To retain tubular member 22 upon'the frame of the apparatus, it may be and. preferably is secured to a bracket 44 having arms 45.and 4B. Tubular member 22 is secured to arm 45 by screws 41 passing through the wall of metal sheet 23 and through the rear wall of thechannel 26. In this manner the channel 26 is clamped against the exterior of metal sheet 23. Arm 46 of bracket 44 is secured by bolts 48 to a channel member 49 Vii secured to the rail l4. Extending between the upon the arm 45 of bracket 44. To rotate the rollers, 52 and 53 at the same speed they are connected together by gears 58 and 59 mounted uponthe projecting ends of the shafts. To drive

rollers

52 and 53 from the inclined shaft 15 whichv drivesv the reels l9 and II, they are connected to the shaft l5 through an intermediate shaft 68. Shaft 60, which is rotatable in bearings 6| and 62 carried upon opposite arms of bracket 44, carries at one end a bevel gear 63 and at the other end a spur gear 64. Bevel gear 63 meshes with bevel gear upon shaft l5 while spur gear 64 meshes with gear 59 which is mounted upon the shaft 55-for the squeeze roller 53.

Immediately below tubular member 22 is a pair of

squeeze rollers

53 and 61, the shafts 68 and 59 of which are rotatable in bosses 10 and 'H carried by the arm 45 of bracket 44. Upon the projecting ends of shafts 68 and 69 are gears 12 and 13 which drive

rollers

86 and 61 at the same peripheral speed. Shaft 69 is driven by shaft 55 through the vertical connecting shaft 14 which is rotatable in bearing l5'carried by the cross piece 50 and the bearing 16 at the lower part of bracket 44., Shafts ,55 and T4 are connected together through bevel gears 11 and 18 and shaft 14 is connected to shaft 69 through bevel gears I9 and 80.

Squeeze rollers

52 and 53 are so disposed that the periphery of the roller 53 is in line with the axis of tubular member 22, as shown in Figure 6. Because of this relationship, thread leaving roller 53 passes directly into slot 30 in upper plate 28.

Squeeze rollers

66 and 61 are so located below'the tubular member 22 that the contacting portion between them is vertically below slot 3| in lower end plate 29. Due to this relationship, the thread is drawn axially through the tubular member22; consequently, by varying the ratio between

gears

19 and 80 and gears I1 and I8, it is possible to cause

squeeze rollers

66 and 61 to have a peripheral speed different from the peripheral speed of

squeeze rollers

52 and 53.

It is possible, for example, to have the squeeze rollers 66 and B1 rotate at a slower speed than

rollers

52 and 53, so that a definite amount of shrinkage will be permitted in the thread between the two pairs of rollers. In this manner it is possible to permit the thread to shrink to the full extent to which it will normally shrink if unrestrained or, if preferred, it is possible to limit this shrinkage by rotating the

rollers

66 and 61 at a greater rate of speed than the speed of rotation which they should have if unrestrained shrinkage were to occur. It will be apparent that if

rollers

66 and 61 are rotated at the same peripheral speed as

rollers

52 and 53 no shrinkage of the thread passing through the drying tubeis permitted.

Between drip reel l0 and the pair of

rollers

52 and 53 is a guide eye 82 and immediately below the pair of

rollers

66 and 61 is a similar guide eye 83. Guide eye 82 serves to deliver thread to that portion of

rollers

52 and 53 which will result in entrance of the thread at the axis of tubular member 22. Guide eye 83 serves to prevent the movement of the thread imposed l upon it by cap twister 2| from reaching

squeeze rollers

66 and 61.

To remove from roller 53 fluid which collects thereon after being squeezed from the thread passing between

rollers

52 and 53, a wiper blade 84 may bear forcibly upon the roller 53. Wiper blade 84 is carried upon a rod 85. held in opposite ends of a trough 86 which is carried by arm 45 of bracket 44. Water collected in the trough 86 may be conducted through pipe 81 to a common discharge conduit 88 extending longitudinally of the machine.

In threading up the apparatus, the thread is drawn from the drip reel l0 and is passed at once to cap twister 2|. Thereafter the thread is looped into

eyes

82 and 83, the thread being allowed at this time to pass over the exterior surface of tubular member 22. It is then possible to pass the thread between the upper pair of

rollers

52 and 53 and between the lower pair of rollers and 61 and to allow the thread to enter through opening 25 into the interior of the tubular member 22.

In passing between the squeeze rollers 52 and 53 a considerable amount of the surface moisture upon the thread is squeezed out and is collected in the trough 86. This serves to relieve the burden imposed upon the tubular member 22 of reducing the moisture content to the desired minimum amount. By regulating the amount of electrical energy supplied to the heating wire 39 and by properly proportioning the length of tubular member 22 to the electrical energy supplied and the total fluid to be removed from the thread, the thread may be dried to any desired extent so that upon issuing from the tubular member 22 it may be immediately collected upon cap twister 2 l' as a dry or nearly dry thread. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise details of construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings. For example, the invention contemplates the substitution of an equivalent element for any element of the structure herein disclosed. Furthermore, omissions may be made from the complete drying apparatus represented in the drawings without impairing the functioning of the remaining portion of the apparatus. Thus, it is possible to eliminate one or bothof the pairs of

rollers

52, 53, 66 and 61, utilizing the drying tube alone to remove moisture from the thread.

It is intended that thepatent shall cover,

by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty reside in the invention.

What is claimed is: a

1. Apparatus for drying wet thread comprising, in combination, a unitary helix-forming device on the periphery of which the thread is continuously but temporarily stored in a large number of closely spaced generally helical turns: means for mounting said helix-forming device for rotation about its own axis; and, cooperating with said helix-forming device in the removal of moisture from the thread, an elongated drying chamber through which the thread is passed endwise in a generally longitudinal path.

2 Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said elongated drying chamber includes means for drying the thread by radiant energy.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said elongated drying chamber includes'an electrical resistance element for drying the thread by radiant energy.

4. Apparatus for drying wet thread compristhread to drip therefrom; means for mountingsaid helix-forming device for rotation about its own axis; and, for removing at least the greater part of the balance of the moisture from the thread, an elongated drying chamber through which the thread is passed endwise in a generally longitudinal path upon its discharge from said helix-forming device.

5. Apparatus fordrying wet thread comprising, in combination, a unitary helix-forming device mounted for-rotation about its own axis on the periphery of which the thread is continuously but temporarily stored in a large number of closely spaced generally helical turns, said device being so arranged as to permit a substantial part of the moisture content of the thread to drip therefrom; an elongated drying chamber for removing at least the greater part of the balance of the moisture from the thread through which the thread is passed endwise in a generally longitudinal path upon its discharge from said helix-forming device; and means for withdrawing the thread from said elongated drying chamber at a linear speed less than that at which it is fed into said chamber.

6. The process of drying wet thread comprising removing the first part of the moisture under one set of dehydrating conditions with the 4 g thread continuously but temporarily stored on a thread-advancing device in the form of a traveling helix made up of a single layer of closely spaced generally helical turns and at least the greater part of the balance of the moisture under 8. different set of dehydrating conditions as the thread is passed endwise in a generally longitudinal path.

'7. ,The process of claim 6 in which liquid clinging to the thread is allowed 'to drip therefrom in the course of the removal of the first part of the moisture from the thread.

8. The process of claim 6 in which, in or'der to compensate for stresses developed in the threat as a result of its tendency to shrink, the tens'io'n upon the thread is relaxed in the, course of the removal of its internal moisture.

moisture.

under-fa diiierent set of dehydrating conditions as the thread is passed endwise in a generally longitudinal path, simultaneously relaxing the tension on the thread toc'ompen'sate for stresses developed in the thread as a result o fits tendency toshrink upon theiremoval'of its internal B. KLINE;

'LAVERN J. JORDAN.