US2207866A - Mechanism for use in the manufacture of artificial silk - Google Patents

Description

July 16, 1940.

MECHANISM FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL SILK Filed July 13, 19,38

2 Sheets-Sheet l P. P. KRlEK 2,207,866

P. P. KRIEK 2,207,866 MECHANISM FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL SILK July 16, 1940.

Filed July 13, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :15 w an kw Patented July 16, 1940 MECHANISM FOR USE IN THE MANUFAC v TURE F ARTIFICIAL SILK 7 Peter P. Kri'ek, Enka, N. 0., assignor to American Enka Corporation, Enka, N. 0., a corporation of Delaware Application July 13, 1938 Serial No. 219,081

Claims.

This, invention relates to power transmitting mechanisms in which the speed of operation of the driven means may be varied a small, degree with precision, and more particularly the invention relates to means for spinning artificial silk comprising a differential gearing having included therein transmission mechanism such as epicyclic transmission for driving godets .at controlled speeds and for effecting small percentage speed variations in the travel of the filaments being spunduring the relatively long period involved in a complete spinning operation.

I Transmissiondevices for general use in which variable speed controls are incorporated. are well known and numerous types of transmissions of this general character have been adapted to perform special functions in the different arts. However, the heretofore known devices failed in various respects. to satisfactorily solve the problems encountered in certain of the more ex-v acting manufacturing processes and therefore in such manufacture, special mechanism had to be devised before specific problems could be over come. g i

One specific problem that has been encountered in the spinning of artificial silk and which is present inother arts wherein a plurality of driven means are operated at-speeds that must be changed a small degree during a relatively longperiod of operation is the provision of controllmeans for changing the speeds of the driven means with the required precision.

a It is an object of this invention to overcome the problem specifically mentioned above and to provide a mechanism wherein precision in gradation in speed of driven means may be accom-. plished in a simple and relatively inexpensive manner. 3' p This, invention contemplates .a mechanism in which a plurality of driven means are each ope erated at different relativespeeds from power sources operating at constant speeds and in which a common means is utilized for efiecting a small percentage of relative speed change in each driven means.

Specifically in its relation to-the, art of producing artificial silk, this invention includes-the provision of a mechanism in which succeeding portionsof freshly formed plastic filaments are caused to be varyingly stretched during acornplete spinning operation by being propelled over godets, the peripheral speeds of which are ac-' package form to have different afiinity for dye between the yarn constituting the inner convolutions of the package and the yarn constituting the outer convolutions of the package A further object of this invention is the provision of atransmission mechanism for an arti- 5 ficial silk spinning apparatus by which the extruded filaments or yarn are caused to be stretched in the general manner and for the purposes well known in the art to a heretofore unattainabledegree of accuracy. The mechanism specifically contemplated includes a planetary transmission for each go'det or series of godets driven from the same shaft, and a single change speed unitconnected to all of the planetary transmissions s'o thatthe movement of the epicycloidal ge'arsof the respective transmission is controlled by this single change speed unit and so that a relatively large movement in the control unit is necessary in order to obtain relatively slight and hence accurate changes in the speeds of the respective godets. I Additionally, the present invention contemplates the driving of a godet of a rayon spinning machine, or other machinery which requires a very slow and small speed variation, in such manner that instead of the .direct varying of the speed of the driven member by the utiliza tion of one of the commercially available variable speed drives with resultantinaccuracies, the final speed is compoundedby means of a form' of differential gearing, in which one of the components is a constant one and the other component is derived from a variable speed unit therebypermitting. utilization of a much larger variation range in the variable speed unit than is'possible whenthe speed of the driven member I is had by direct variation.

' Other objects and advantages will be'apparent from aconsideration of the following detailed de-' scription when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: h

' Figurefl illustrates one form of the present inventionjwhich is shown for the purpose of exemplification incorporated in an apparatus for spinning artificial silk; Figure 2 is asec'tional view taken online 2 2 ofcFigure 1;

Figure a detailed sectional view taken on line3,- 3,'of.Figure 2; and

Figure?! 'and,5 are detailed sectional views of v a. type of vcliar'ige speed mechanism which has been, foundjparticularly suitedfor utilization in the j present complete transmission mechanisms;

In the comput spinning apparatus illustrated diagrammatically infi u e l, a spinning or cdagulating bath i0 is contained in a suitable receptacle I I and a freshly formed filament or filaments I2 have been extruded into the bath through the spinneret I3. Filaments or yarn I2 are drawn from the bath and conducted to and around godet I4 and then toand around godet I5. After being passed over godet I5 the filaments are delivered to a collecting device I6 which is diagrammatically shown in the form of a centrifugal pot.

While only one set of cooperating godets I4 and I5 have been illustrated in the drawings, it is to be understood that a plurality of sets of godets may be utilized depending upon the number of threads being spun, and that the transmissionmechanism hereinafter referred to can be utilized to control the operation of many sets of similar godets, the speed of which has to be controlled in the same manner.

The detailed transmission mechanism for op erating godets I4 and I5 is more fully illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings and while this detailed mechanism is particularly adapted for use in a spinning apparatus as illustrated in Figure 1, it is clear that it is also suitable for use in propelling any plurality of driven means, wherein there is a cooperative relation between the driven means, and they are to be propelled at speeds which are changed in small degrees relative to each other during a period of relatively long duration. For'the purpose of this description, however, the driven means will be defined as godets. I

A shaft II, mounted for rotation in suitable bearings and driven from a source of power (not shown), has a gear I8 fixed thereto, which gear meshes with gear I9 supported upon a shaft 20. Shaft extends through a bearing 2| arranged in the upper portion of support 22 and it has fixed to its end remote from gear I9 another gear 23. Gear 23 meshes with gear 24 and gear 24 is vfixed to a shaft 25 which constitutes a part of a planetary transmission designated generally as 26. A circular plate provided with an annular flange to form a dish-shaped enlargement on shaft 25 is designated by numeral 21 and an orbit or ring gear is internally arranged within the annular flange at 28. Shaft 25 is mounted in bearings 29 arranged in a tubular extension 30 of a housing 3I which encloses and supports the planetary transmission.

The housing 3I is supported by means of a tubular extension 32 secured 'in' a support 33. This extension containsbe'arings 34 in which ismounted a tubular shaft 35 provided with a spider 36 at its inner end. Three epicycloidal planet pinions 31 are mounted upon the legs of the spider by means of shafts 38. v

Godet wheel I4 is caused to be rotated by shaft 39 upon which it is carried, the shaft 39 extending through bearings 40 in tubular shaft 35. The end of shaft 39 is received in a journal 4| arranged in the base of the'dish member 21. Between spider 36 and bearing 4I is a sun gear 42 which is keyed to shaft 39' and is' in constant mesh with the epicycloidal planet pinions 3I. Tubular shaft 35 is provided. at its outer end with a spur wheel 43 which meshes with pinion ,44 mounted upon a shaft 45, which shaft operates in bearings 46 arranged in support 33 A gear 47 is secured to theshaft at its end oppositeto pinion 44 and this "gear 41 meshes with gear 48 which constitutes a part of a change speed mechanism 49. Thechange speed mechanism 49 may be of any of the well known commercial types such as that shown, in which the speed change is preferably infinitely variable, that is, without step by step operation. In the particular type of change speed mechanism 49 illustrated, a housing 50 is provided which contains a shaft 5I mounted for rotation in bearings 52 and 53 contained in the side walls of the housing.

Shaft 5| has keyed thereto a sprocket wheel v54, or its equivalent, adapted to be driven from a suitable source of power (not shown) which is operated at a constant speed. Parallel to shaft 5| is another shaft 55. Shaft 55 is similarly mounted in the walls of the hoiising 50 of the change other and the pair of cones 51 to approach each other when they are pivoted in one direction and the opposite movement to be effected between the respective cones when the'levers are moved in ment of the respective cones with which belt 58 engages.

Toggle 6! may be automatically moved from the shaft onwhich it is mounted through the medium of a reduction gear (notshown) which may be connected to a suitable source of power.

It is preferable to drive the shaft of the toggle at a constant speed.

Another planetary transmission 62 is arranged to drive the godet I5, the transmission being substantially identical with planetary transmission 26. Planetary transmission 62 is driven at a constant speed by shaft 63 from a source of po-wer (not shown) and the power istransmitted to the orbit gear 64 through the medium of'reduction gears 65. A spider 66 carries the planet epicy cloidal gears 61 which are meshed with orbit gear 62' and sun gear 68. The. spider 66 is rotated by means of gear 69 which gear 69 is connected to change speed mechanism 49 through the medium of an idler gear III, a pinion -II, shaft I2, gear I3 and the gear 48.

In operation, if R represents the number of teeth on the orbit gear and S represents the number of teeth on the sun gear, gears will have teeth. Then if T and 1') represent the number of revolutions per minute made by the orbit gear and the spider that carries the planet gears, respectively, and s the revolutions per minute of the sun gear, then I 10 determines the variable component of the re sultant speed and-r the constant component inthen the planet mes the present arrangement and conditi'ons 'can. be

chosen so that a large change in only a smallchange ins; 1

It is this principle which isutilized in the apparatushere involved and 'in the practicing of the present method. In thespinning' ofrayon yarn it is quite customary togradually change the speeds of the respective godets, andthese changes are relatively small and gradual during a period which may extend over several hours. In some instances when the initial speed of a godet is-200 revolutions per minute, the finalspeed is increased only to 205 revolutions' per minute, under such circumstances. Howeverfsince the desired speeds of the godets and the variations in the speeds thereof during. the spinning operations and the purposes of such modifications are well known in the art the'various'speeds of propulsion of the plastic filaments by-therespective godets will not be specifically discussed. Furthermore, the pump speeds for causing extrusion of the solution into the spinning bath and the cooperating speeds of rotation of the respective godets together with the changes made in these speeds will not be specified as it will suff ce to' point-out' that by slight changes in the gear ratios and propulsion speeds of the driving shafts the' present complete apparatus may be utilizedto obtain theutmost 4) will effect accuracy in the production of artificial silk as well as in the production of other products requir ing precision in speed'changes' of driven shafts. To illustrate the applicability of the above general formula of the present invention, let us assume that the initial speed of a godet is 200 revolutions per minute whichis. supposed to in.- crease during a period of several-hours to 205 revolutions per minute. Now if the constant component w whereas, without the differential gearing the variable speed mechanism would be required to produce directly the speeds from 200 to 205 or only 2 increase. Thus the arrangement in this particular case increases the working range of the variable speed mechanism ten times, thereby making it far less susceptible to errors. Since means employed heretofore for eifecting such small increases in speed have proved for the greater part unsatisfactory and unreliable, the problem of accurate control was present but the use of the epicyclic gear system and the control of the speed of the spider 36 which carries the planetary gears 31, permits a small percentage of change in the speed of the sun gear relative to that of the driving orbit gear to be efiected by a large percentage change in the speed of the spider.

While the operation set forth has been described in connection with the planetary gear system for godet I5 the described operation is also applicable to the planetary gear system that drives the godet l4. However, in the operation of the completev apparatus as illustrated in Fig ure 2, eachtransmi'ssion 26 and ML-iscause'd to be propelled in a manner so as to effect different speeds 'of-rotation of the-godets according tothe particular 1. spinning operation being utilized. The speed-of thespider 36xthrough the sleeve and the gears 43-, 44, 41, and 48 can be controlled by the conventional speed change mechamenu 49, which at the same time controls the speed of the spider 66 through the-gear train comprising the gears 48, 13, H, 10, and 69.. It will be noted that the last gear train recited includes an idler gear 10 which is adapted to drive the gear 69 an opposite direction to .thatin which the gear 43= ,is=driven. By properly selectingthe-gears for these two gear trains, it is -pos-- sible to-drive the "spider 66 at such a speed .that the sun gear 68 and the godet [5 that issecured to the same shaft can be made to rotate in the same direction. as the sun gear 42 and the godet to be in any desired proportion. ,Once established thisrelativej speed. will remain-constant except for the smallchange effected bythe superimposed variable speed originating from the variable speed mechanism 49. However, .by

changing thisrelative driving speed, considerable flexibility of the control of the relative godet speeds is attained. 1 v

It will be seen'that by selecting a proper ;predetermined speed for each of the shafts l1 and 63 the godets l4 and I5 may be caused to be rotated at any-desired respectivespeeds and that the speed of each may be changed through the medium of.- the change speed mechanism 49 so as to cause the speeds of the godets to decrease simultaneously, to increase simultaneously, or

each godet, a planetary transmission for each godet comprising an epicyclic gear train, each epicyclic gear train consisting of a sun gear, a set of planet gears mounted on a rotatable support and meshing with the sun gear, and an orbit gear meshing with the planet gears, means 'for driving one part of the epicyclic gear train at a predetermined constant speed. a progressively .changeable speed propulsion mechanism, means connecting the speed changemechanism to another part of the epicyclic gear train to thereby cause a compounded resultant speed change of each of the godets, said resultant speed change of each godet being in such a ratio as to cause the second godet to be propelled at a higher speed than the draw-01f godet, thereby to effect a stretching of filaments being propelled between the godets.

2. In a spinning apparatus for the production of artificial silk provided with a spinneret for sion for driving the second godet shaft, each of said transmissions having a sun gear, a set of planet gears meshing with ,thesungear mounted upon a rotatable support for movement about the sun gear, and an orbit gear, means for driving the orbit gear of each transmission at a predetermined constant speed, a progressively changeable speed propulsion mechanism, means for connecting the change speed mechanism with the support for the planet gears .of the transmission for driving the draw-off godet, and means for connecting the change speed mechanism with the support for the planet gears of the transmission for driving the second godet at a ratio to cause the second godet to be propelled at a higher speed than the draw-off godet, thereby to effect a stretching of the filaments being propelled between the godets.

3. In a spinning apparatus for the production of artificial silk provided with a spinneret for extruding filaments, a draw-off godet for the newly formed filaments and. a second godet for effecting a stretch in the newly formed filaments being propelled between the godets, a shaft for each godet, a planetary transmission for driving the draw-off godet shaft, a planetary transmission for driving the second godet shaft, each of said transmissions having a sun gear fixed to its godet shaft with -a set of planet gears meshing with the sun gear and mounted upon a rotatable support for movement about the sun gear, and an orbit gear, means for driving the orbit gear of each transmission at a predetermined constant speed, a progressively changeable speed propulsion mechanism, a gear keyed to the rotatable support for the planet gears of the transmission for the draw-off godet, reduction gearing connecting the changeable speed propulsion mechanism to said last mentioned gear, a gear key to the rotatable support for the planet gears of the transmission for the second godet, reduction gearing connecting the changeable speed propulsion mechanism to said last mentioned gear of the second godet transmissiomthe reduction gearing connecting the changeable speed propulsion mechanism to the transmission for said second godet including an idler gear for causing the rotatable support for the set of planet gears of said transmission to be driven in a direction opposite to the direction in which the rotatable support of the transmission for the draw-off godet is driven, whereby a relatively large variation in the speed of the changeable speed pro pulsion mechanism maybe utilizedin connection with the constant speed orbit gear driving means of each transmission, to effect a slight degree. of change in the respective speeds of rotation of the godets over a long period of operation.

4. Driving mechanism comprising a of driven shafts, a planetary transmission for each shaft including a sun gear connected to the shaft, a spider carrying a set of planet gears meshing with the sun gear, an orbit gear meshing with the set of planet gears adapted to be operated at a constant speed and a gear bywhich the spider may be rotated, a change speed mechanism, the spider of each transmission through the medium of its said gear being connected to said change speed mechanism and being caused to be rotated thereby at a varied speed whereby when each of the orbitgears is operated at a constant speed, the movement of each spider with its respective set of planet gears will effect a variation in the speed of 'that shaft drivenby the transmission which includes the respective planet gears.

5. Driving mechanism comprising a plurality of driven shafts, a planetary transmission for each shaft including a sun gear connected to the shaft, a spider carrying a set of planet gears meshing with the sun gear, an orbit gear meshing with the set of planet gears adapted to be operated at a constant speed and a gear secured to each spider for rotating the same, a reduction gearing assembly connected to the gear secured to one of the spiders, a reduction gearing assembly connected to the gear securedto another of the spiders, a change speed mechanism for driving both reduction gearing assemblies, the

reduction gearing assemblies being of different ratio thereby to cause the movement of said plurality spiders with their respective set of planet gears about their sun gears at different speedsso that when the orbit gears of the transmissions are operated at constant speeds modification of the speed of operation of the change speed mechanism will effect a different variation in the speeds of the respective driven shafts.

PETER P. KRIEK.

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