US2654962A - Thread processing reel - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 13, 1953 R. w. STANLEY THREAD PROCESSING REEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 9, 1951 INVENTOR R/CHARD W. STANLEY A TTORNEY Oct. 13, 1953 R. w. STANLEY 2,654,962

THREAD PROCESSING REEL Filed March 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //vv/vro/? RICHARD W STANLEY ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 13, 1953 THREAD PROCESSING REEL Richard W. Stanley,

Rocky River, Ohio, assignor to Industrial Rayon Corporation,

Cleveland,

Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application March 9, 1951, Serial No. 214,687

8 Claims. (Cl. 34153) vvThis invention relates to thread processing reels, and more particularly to reels through which is circulated a heating medium for drying thread or the like or for the application of other processing treatments at elevated temperatures.

Reels utilized for drying of thread or for raising the temperature of the thread during a processing step while it is temporarily stored on the reel are generally lubricated with oils or greases that require frequent replacement because of the high temperatures involved. Improved greases, seals and the circulation of cooling lubricating oils through the various reel bearlngs have not overcome the required frequent maintenance of reels operating at elevated temperatures. Lubricating greases are not yet available that can withstand continuous high temperatures for prolonged periods of time, and where oil is recirculated the problem of efl'iciently sealing the bearings against leakage has not yet been satisfactorily solved. The use of circulating oils also requires additional complicated apparatus such as pumps, oil cooling devices, and conduits. It is, of course, desirable to have bearings within a heated reel that are longwearing and that need little or no attention, that are self-lubricated, and that will withstand elevated temperatures.

This invention advantageously provides for a reel adapted to transmit heat which includes carbon type bearings that are long lived and that serve as eflicient seals and that are lubricated by a heated circulating medium, e. g. steam, hot water, etc. that is used for heating the reel. The circulating medium, advantageously, also increases the effectiveness of sealing the contacting faces of the bearing surfaces. The bearings, also, provide for a fully enclosed chamber in the thread-storing, thread-advancing reel to be hereinafter described through which the heating medium is adapted to circulate. The bearing material, advantageously, is of impervious graphite, or carbon and graphite, formed and machined into a bearing and as a sealing means.

Such a material is available under the names of Graphitar or Karbate. The material has qualties which no other material heretofore had.

The use of a carbon-graphite material for bearings in a heated reel overcomes the shortcomings of various lubricants, their handling, etc. and other types of lubricating means. Heretofore all antifriction bearings in heated reels had to be provided with a lubricant, either grease or oil, unable to withstand continued elevated temperatures. The use of carbon-graphite, however, advantageously replaces standard metallic bearings and the need for an oil or grease type of lubricant, a small quantity of the circulating temperature changing medium, e. g., steam or hot water, used to heat the reel readily provides for the necessary lubrication.

This invention will be more specifically described in the following specification and accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 represents, in plan, a thread storing, thread advancing reel through which is circulated a temperature changing heating medium;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the reel of Figure 1 taken across lines 22;

Figure 3 is a cross-section of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a section in dimetric projection of one of the reel bearings.

As shown in Figure'l the reel is of a type shown and described in U. S. Patent No. 2,413,217 which comprises a combined plurality of longitudinally extending bar members l2, l3 of two separate reel members It) and II, the bar members of the one reel member interdigitating with those of the other. The reel members are mounted for rotation about axes that are offset and askew relative to each other and the rotation of the reel members will advance thread in a plurality of generally helical turns. The reel members, advantageously, are made of heat transmitting material such as, for instance, aluminum having a high coemcient of heat conductivity.

A heating fluid circulated through the interior of the reel at elevated temperatures heats the entire unit with the result that ordinary grease lubricants soon become melted, the seals deteriorate and leak. An impervious graphite or graphitic carbon hearing, as will be hereinafter explained, provides for a bearing and a seal when lubricated with steam-condensate as well as for an indefinitely long life.

The reel is supported by and mounted for rotation about a stationary hollow shaft it. As shown in Figure 3 there is concentrically positioned within the tubular shaft it a tube it. The hollow s'haft l5 and the tube It are each adapted for the circulation of a heating medium; the annular space about the tube It conducts the heating medium out of the interior chamber ll of the reel member H, and to a bearing 66, and thetube I6 conducts the medium to the front bearing Bl. The shaft I5 is supported in a, flanged sleeve l8 through which it extends. The flange of the above provides support for the shaft and for the reel when positioned in the face of 3 a spinning machine (not shown). A reel driving gear [9 is mounted on the reel hub 2| which upon rotation actuates the reel to advance thread and the like in the form of a helix having a plurality of spaced turns.

Referring more particularly to Figure 3, reel member I I is supported by and rotates on spaced carbon- graphite type bearings 23 and 24 positioned about the reel shaft l but within the lengths of the bar members l3 of the reel member ll. Each bearing is formed of two elements 25, 26, and 21, 28. Element 25 is impressed in the annular wall by a threaded collar 3|, while the element 26 is fixed to the reel shaft "-15.

Similarly, the element 21 is secured in the wall 30 by a threaded collar 34 and the element 2-8 is on the sleeve 40. being, however. moveable thereon for lateral adjustmentl' The annular bearings 23 and 24 with the cylindrical wall 30 of the reel member form the enclosed chamber IT t ou h h ch there s c culated a tempera ture c anei sh atin A Sleeve 40 having rod i xten ion 41, 2 :is positioned abou th r e sh ft 1. he extensions 4!, e bored to nroride passa es 43. .44 tendin into a idio nins wi h he o ening 41. 4B in the reel Shaft fihndwith annu ar r el shaft Pa g 59- h inne c r o tube i5. is joined w h the c be 4 by the passa es 5.2, 5.3.. A temperature changing heating medium such as s ea i io ced hroush the hollow core of the tub It an fro the tu e th u h the pas s .3 5. in o th c amber :11 visiiroodby the end seal n ar on g aphite. bearing 23; 2.4 and the cylindrical al fii soft c reel member 11.. The st a i s pbli d hmush an in et at theend f th ree Sha 5., onic oi the st am within the reel chamber condenses andthe condensate flows onto and lubricatcs the bea ing '23. 24 surfac h exce s condensa e how out or the c amb lth ough the adialpas a cs 4.3,. 4.4 in he rad al ex en ion of sleeve 49 n t e annu ar passa 5.0 th tubular shaft 5 an ut th ou h, openin 1- The bearin s A in addi ion toscaling th chamber Ilalso ro d sup o t fo th reel member A! about the he e l member. 1 is also upp rted by condcn ate luhr ca cdh arings. At one end or the ceiinchibcr 9 and withi the hub 21 there is,

osi ned the car on raphitc bearing iifljabout.

the ststionaryrccl shaft I5, and atthe other end he b aring i is positioned in the frontal reel s ct on 1 nd about the reel shaft i5.

Th earing 50 comprises two elements 64 and 5, Th e ement 65 is positioned about and lose y f tted to the shaft 15 while. the element 4 i contained in the nd of the hub 1 orv sleeve an it is maintainedin Position by being comressed by he lower bearing elementresisting a.

sprin 2- h aring element 65 is provided i h a conden ate passage fidwhichconnects w t a haft opening 69 and with the annular pas a e 59 of the rc lshan l5, Mo st t m or n ensa e is hu p ovid d to. the contacting surfaces of the arin xoess condensate forced uehthe War n ,v iian w ll flow into the hub enclosure 19 and therefore it. will be forced out through passages 11 in the wall of hub e a in e m t s continu u y maintained in contact with the bearing element 64 by the expansion spring 12 positioned about the reel shaft l5 and abutting a ring or collar 13. The spring 12 also tendsto maintainthe front reel bearing 5i compression. Th iront 4 supporting bearing SI of the reel member in also comprises two bearing elements 15 and I6. Bearing element 16 is positioned about the reel shaft l5 while the bearing element 15 is contained in a recess in the front supporting section 11 of the reel member Ill. The bearing element 15 presses against the element 16 through the expansion forces or the spring 12. 'IlieIbearing I 6 is fixed in position about the shaft abutting the bearing element 26 which in turn is maintained against movement by the sleeve 40 that is maintained against displacement by the collar 13. The ele- "menisci the spaced bearing iii are kept in continual compres'sionhy the expansion of the spring 1-: acting through the reel member In while the contacting "bearing surfaces are lubricated by stctaru condensatenowing to them through passage 19 provided for such a purpose. Continued pressure is exerted against all bearing surfaces through the expansionlof the springs 46 and 12 positioned about the. sleeve. M and the reel shaft 15. v

The manner of lubrication of the end reel bearings 513,51 is more specifically shown in Figure 4. The bearing oiEigure i is the. front reel bearing 6| having component parts 15, 16. The part 18, positioned .on thefshaft'ifi, is lubricated bycondensate from within the tube 15 flowing through the condensate conducting passage, 19 which terminates in a small wellBfl. The. well fioadvan tageously maintains a supply of the condensate liquid as a small reservoir which supplies itt a passage ilianrltherethroughto between the suriaces'ofthe componentparts 15, '15. The condensate, upon emerging from the passage on, flows into a 'slightdepression 84 which alsdacts as a reservoir and a lubricant-spreadin means over the two contacting surfaces of the component bearing parts; The. rearbearing is similarly constructed and-lubricated.- The bearings 23, which form the endclosures of the reel'chamber 11 are lubricated directly by the condensate from within the chamber itself. But a' small amount of condensate is necessary to lubricate the contacting surfaces of all the bearings. The lubricant also acts as an excellent seal tc'p'revent the escape'of the'fluid from chamber l] which fluid is generally under some pressure.

When the gear I9 is driven thereel member l0 drives thereel member it through the annular gear 81 'which drive the inner gear 82 positioned withinthe reel hub 21. The gear M is attached to'the hub 21 by bolts Maud-gear 82 isattached to the reel member 11- by bolts 85;

There is-p'rovided by the aforesaid described bearing construction a reel that can be heated: toisubstantiallyany desirable degree for the processing of thread and thel-ike and one which does not require" the use of' any lubricating medium other than the circulating heating fluid] The moisture i'n the" circulating steam, or it hot water is:used,'provldes for -a'sufliciency of lubrication or the contacting carbon graphite bearing surfaces. Whenthus lubricated substantially no friction isexistentbetweenthe two surfaces so hat long life may be expected.v The illustration.

shows a vreel including .a chamber for. purposes of. storing heat however. where heat-requirements re w. .01'.;Wh ie.n0ne is required the chamber can be eliminated .andwaterflcan be circulated hrough the reel-shaft Passagescan be readily P ovided thebcarin sirom theshait conduits. ince thefihaitis stationary and thebearing ele-.-

m s ab utlit also in. the reel escribed, such bea his oomt ho ionnr yidestor r eidityof the reel members against the compressive forces of a drying thread with the result that long and consistent quality of drying thread can be maintained.

While the preferred type of material described herein is an impervious graphite, or carbongraphite, a metallic material including graphite, e. g. graphite-bronze, can also be utilized. With metallic bearings the circulating medium preferably would be an oil solution.

I claim:

1. In a reel through which a temperature changing medium is circulated, a shaft, bearings about the shaft, the bearings load carrying surfaces being in continuous sealing contact, said reel rotating on said bearings, a chamber in said reel, end bearings in said chamber forming endclosures for said chamber, means for supplying a temperature changing fluid medium to said chamber for circulation therethrough, means for exhausting said temperature changing fluid from said chamber, and means diverting a portion of said temperature changing fluid to the bearings for their lubrication.

2. A reel through which a temperature changing medium is circulated comprising, a hollow shaft adapted for the circulation of a temperature changing fluid, two reel members in an interdigitating relation mounted for rotation about said hollow shaft, said reel members having peripheries of longitudinally extending bar memhere the bar members of one being interleaved with the bar members of the other, a chamber in one of said reel members, said chamber being connected by passages to said hollow shaft, bearings in the ends of said chamber forming endclosures for said chamber and rotatably supporting the reel member in which they are included, bearings for the rotatable support of the other of said reel members, said chamber forming bearings being lubricated by the temperature changin fluid medium in said chamber, and means connecting said bearings of said other reel member with the hollow shaft and with the circulating temperature changing fluid medium flowing therethrough.

3. A reel through which a temperature changing medium is circulated comprising, a hollow shaft adapted for the circulation of a temperature changing fluid, two reel members in an interdigitating relation mounted for rotation about said hollow shaft, said reel members having peripheries of longitudinally extending bar members the bar members of one being interleaved with the bar members of the other, a chamber in one of said reel members, said chamber being connected by passages to said hollow shaft, carbon-graphlte bearings in the ends of said chamber forming end-closures for said chamber and rotatably supporting the reel member, carbongraphite bearings for the rotatable support of the other of said reel members, said carbongraphite bearings having two elements the bearing surfaces being inclined and one of said elements being held against rotation, said chamber end-closure carbon-graphite bearings being lubricated by the circulating temperature changing fluid medium in said chamber, means connecting the carbon-graphite bearings of said other reel member with the hollow shaft and with the circulating temperature changing fluid medium flowing therethrough, and said carbon-graphite bearings of said other reel member having a de-= pression in the surface of one of the elements for the accumulation and spreading of a lubricating temperature changing medium between the rotating surfaces.

4. In a thread-storing, thread-advancing reel through which a temperature changing fluid medium is circulated, a hollow stationary shaft, a plurality of bearings about the shaft, the bearings load carrying surfaces being in continuous sealing contact, said reel rotating on said bearings, a chamber in said reel communicating with said hollow shaft, some of said bearings forming end closures for said chamber, means for circulating a fluid temperature changing medium through said hollow shaft and into said chamber. means for exhausting said fluid medium from said chamber through said hollow shaft, and means diverting a portion of said circulating fluid medium to the bearings for their lubrication.

5. In the reel of the character described in claim 1 where the circulating fluid medium is steam.

6. In the reel of the character described in claim 1 where the circulating fluid medium is a liquid lubricant.

'7. In the reel of the character described in claim 1 wherein all of the bearings about the shaft are carbon-graphite bearings.

8. In the thread-storing, thread-advancing reel of the character described in claim 4 wherein all of the bearings about the shaft are carbongraphite bearings.

RICHARD W. STANLEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

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