US2664009A - Fluid treating apparatus for strands - Google Patents

Description

W Mm q .Q x l, ay Q \Q Q Q RF \flq I II! V Dec. 29, 1953 P. D. EMERSON FLUID TREATING APPARATUS FOR STRANDS Filed Feb. 15, 1951 INVENTOR. PAUL 0. EMERSON BY ,,%M f

ATTQRNEY.

Patented Dec. 29, 1953 FLUID TREATING APPARATUS FOR STRANDS Paul D. Emerson, Media, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Chemstrand Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application February 15, 1951 Serial No. 211,014

Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for the treatment of strands and like materials. 'More particularly, the invention relates to a new and improved apparatus for treating natural, synthetic, or artificial yarns and monofilaments with fluid media in liquid or vapor condition in a substantially closed chamber during their travel from one point to another.

Strand, as used throughout this specification and the appended claims, is intended to include all types of strands, threads, yarns, filaments, fibers, fibrous bundles, bundles of filaments or filamentary material, ribbons, bands, extruded wire, rods, and the like, etc.

The present invention is especially applicable to the treatment of yarns made from various types of materials, such as cotton, wool, flax, hemp, etc., regenerated cellulose, such as that produced from viscose, cuprammonium cellulose, and the like, cellulose ethers and esters, such as methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, etc., cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate, cellulose butyrate, mixed cellulose ethers and esters, vinyl resins, such as polyacrylonitrile, copolymers of acrylonitrile, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, copolymers of vinyl chloride with vinyl acetate or acrylonitrile, after-chlorinated vinyl polymers and copolymers, vinylidene polymers, such as polyvinylidene chloride, etc., and condensation polymers, such as polyamides and polyesters, and the like, etc.

The known apparatus for the treatment of strands with fluids in liquid or vapor condition during their travel from one point to another comprise a substantially closed chamber,. into. which the strands pass through orifices which have dimensions only slightly greater than those of the cross-sections of the strands in order to reduce loss of treatment fluid as far as possible. For example, it is customary to treat synthetic or artificial strands with steam for the purpose of altering their properties, such as by stretching the strands in an atmosphere of'steamunder pressure or by permitting the strands to shrink during the steam treatment.

However, threading of such apparatus presents quite a problem because it is necessary, each time that a fresh batch of materials or strands is to be treated, to open up the apparatus sufficiently to make it possible to pass the materials through the orifices by hand. This involves loss of treatment fluid and also loss oi heat when the operation is onecarried out at a superatmospheric temperature, particularly if it is necessary to allow the apparatus to cool before 2 it can be handled. Moreover, it takes up the time of the operators and involves an extra overhead charge on account of loss of output while the apparatus is standing idle.

"To overcome these disadvantages, it has been an adverse effect on the strands being treated. That is, there is a pressure drop across the orifices or openings and treating fluid, such as steam, escaping therethrough exerts a frictional efiect on the strands passing through the orifices, which sets up an irregular and uncontrolled tension in the strands in addition to the tension exerted by any mechanical stretching devices. Therefore, it is desirable to keep the size of the orifices as small as possible.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for the continuous treatment of strands with a fluid medium, in either liquid or vapor condition, which overcomes the hereinbeiore mentioned difficulties and disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for the continuous treatment of strands with a fluid medium which is easily laced or threaded at the start of operation, or whenever rethreading becomes necessary, while reducing the escape of fluid from the chamber to a minimum during operation.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description thereof hereinafter.

In general, the objects of the present invention are accomplished by passing a strand to be treated continuously through a chamber while her. Preferably, the fluid medium is passed through the chamber in the same direction as the direction of travel of the strand. The strand enters the chamber through an entrance orifice or opening and leaves through an exit orifice or opening, said orifices being only slightly larger in size than the strand passing therethrough with the exit orifice being movably mounted toward and away from the entrance orifice.

Since the present invention is applicable to numerous and different types of strand-treating apparatus, for simplicity the invention will be described in detail as the same is employed in connection with a strand stretching device or tube, it being understood that the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing is merely intended to be illustrative and the invention is not to be limited thereby, but only in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation view oia strand stretching tube or chamber-as itappears when ready for threading or lacingyand Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation view ofthe apparatus of Figure 1 in operative position, i. e., with a strand passing continuously therethrough.

Referring to both figures of the drawing, which depicts a preferred embodiment of the invention, :a strang 3 passes around agodet or wheel band an associated lap=displrcing guide 5, through a fluid medium treating chamber or tube 6, which :may be made of glass, porcelain, iron, steel, copper, and the like, but preferably of metal which is resistant to the particular fluid being employed therein, through the elongated tube l, which is preferrbly a capillary tube, and then about another godet or wheel 8 and its associated lap-displacing guide 9. The tube or chamber 5 may be wrapped or lagged with a suitable insulating material, such as asbestos, rock wool, cork, or'the like, as shown by the dotted line iii. If desired, the tube may be jacketed and a heat interchanger liquid or gas, such as hot or cold water,

steam, etc., passed therethrough. Godet a may be driven at the same, slower, or faster speed than godet 4, depending on whether shrinkage, stretching or neither is desired.

Threaded onto the strand entrance end of tube -5 Ba cap I! in the center of which a nozzle I2 is threadedly mounted, the leading, tapered por-.

"tion 12a of which extends into the tube or chamber 6. There is a small opening or orifice IS in the nozzle I2 which fans out'into the funnelshaped entrance opening i3a in that part of the nozzle positioned outside of the tube 6. Threaded onto the strand exit end of tube 6 is a retaining cap M which has an opening l5 in the center thereof.

Slidably mounted inchamber 6 is a member "or piston or piston-like member it which has an opening I! therein in perfect alignment with and corresponding in size to the inlet orifice 13. Opening H is in reality the exit orifice. The capillary tube 1 has a sliding fit in the opening l5 which serves as a guide-way and centering means for the tube 1, and threaded into the piston it so that the opening to in tube l is in perfect alignment with the opening 1! and inlet orifice l3. The opening in; is preferably slightly larger thanthe opening l! but it maybe of 'the'same size if desired. The length of the tube I should be at least equal to and preferably slightly grer ter "than the distance from the outer face-or wall Ma of cap I d to the inner end of inlet opening or orifice l3. A portion of tube I should extend beyond the face Ma to enable one'to grasp the same and also to place a vacuum line 2|! thereon. The inlet orifice l3 and the exit orifice 11 may he varied in size depending upon the size of the strand or strands being treated. For best operation, i. e., preventing abrasion to the strands and -reducing the escape of fluid treating .medium to exhaust steam and condensate, if any, is expelled the direction of flow, conduit 48 would be positionedadjacentcap It and conduit i9 positioned from the tube through conduit [9 connected to the bottom thereof. When using a liquid for treating the strand, the direction of flow would preferably be reversed in order to fill the tube with the liquid. As shown, the direction of flow .of the steam isconcurrent with the direction of travel of the strand through the tube. To reverse adjacent cap 1 l. The tube 6 may be of any desired length depending upon the contact time desired between the steam or other fiuid media and the strand.

While steam has beenspecifically referred to in describing the apparatus, it is to be understood that the invention contemplates the use of other vapors, for example, acetone or acetone-air and acetone-steam mixtures, air, formaldehyde, chlorine, and other toxic, corrosive, or obnoxious gases, etc., and various liquids, such as water, alkalies, acids, organic solvents, and solutions of solids and gases in liquids.

the inlet and exit orifices are in alignment and form one continuous opening. A portion of tube 1' still extends outwardly from tube 6. The strand 3 is directed around godet 4 and the lap-displacing guide 5 and directed through the opening to into orifice i3. A vacuum line 29 is placed over the end of tube I outside of tube 5 and the strand .3 is drawn through orifices I3 and I! and through the opening la in tube I. The vacuum line 26 is then removed from tube I and the strand 3 directed around the godet 8 and'lap-displacing guide 8. Prior to moving the member i6 through the chamber into abutting relation with the nozzle it, the steam or other fluid passing through the chamberpreferably is cut off and is not allowed to pass through the chamber 6 again until the tubehas been threaded or laced and member l5 has been returned to the fixed position shown in Figure 2. However, it is to be noted that the steam inlet conduit l8 isso positioned that the steam enters the chamber or tube behind member i6 when it is in abutment with nozzle I2. Therefore, in the embodiment shown, it is not necessary to cut oil the steam or other fluid flowing through the chamber while threading the same because member It acts as a barrier Y and prevents the fluid from getting into the space .21 around nozzle [2 and thereby prevents any possibility:ofthestrand 3 being defiectedfrorn the course desired, namely through the inlet and exit orifices l3 and IT. Thentube l is pulled outwardly until piston i6 abuts against'theretaining cap I I, as shown in Figure 2. The pressure of the steam or other fluid medium helps to holdmember lfi'in'the fixed position shown in Figure" 2, in abutment with .cap M.

Various changes in the dimensions, other than those hereinbefore mentioned, may be made in the apparatus as desired. For example, tube 6 may be cylindrical or rectangular, or it may be increased or decreased in diameter, or shortened or lengthened. .All of these changes depend upon the type of treatment and the particular strand being treated. If desired, the size or diameter of member it may be less than that shown so that it does not contact the inner wall of chamber t. Member l6 would'then serve only as a retainin means by abutting against cap I4 when tube 3 is moved to the position shown in Figure 2. However, the use of the piston-like member It as shown is preferred since it helps to center the tube 'i in chamber 5. The chamber 6 then acts as a guideway for member [5 which is in reality a centering means.

By means of the present invention, threading or lacing of strand treating tubes or chambers is greatly facilitated without opening the chamher and without increasing the size of the strand inlet and exit orifices. In fact, the present invention enables the use of the smallest possible inlet and exit orifices thus practically eliminating the loss of steam or other fluid media. By thus reducing the steam or fluid loss to such an appreciable extent, there results a more nearly constant pressure throughout the length of the tube which often permits lower operating pressures. The device is simple in construction. Numerous other advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

It is to be understood that the drawing and description are merely intended to be illustrative and that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for treating continuously moving strands with fluid comprising. a fluid treating chamber having two end-Walls therein, a strandentrance orifice in one end-wall of the chamber, a member in the chamber mounted movably toward and away from the strand-entrance orifice, an opening in the member for passage of the strand therethrough, an opening in the other end-wall of the chamber, means slidably mounted in the said other end-wall opening and integrally attached to the member for moving the member in the chamber, said means having an opening therein for passage of the strand therethrough, means for continuously passing a strand through the chamber, and means for supplying fluid to the chamber, said fluid supplying means being positioned so as to allow the fluid to force the member in abutting relationship with the secondmentioned end-wall of the chamber.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the chamber comprises an elongated straight tube.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for moving the member is a tube, the opening in the tube being in alignment with the opening in the member.

4. An apparatus for treating continuously moving strands with fluid comprising a fluid treating chamber having two end-walls therein, a nozzle in one end-wall of the chamber and extending into the chamber, said nozzle having an opening and away from abutting relationship with the nozzle, said means having an opening therein for passage of the strand therethrough, means for continuously passing a strand through the chamher, and means for supplying fluid to the chamher, said fluid sup-plying means being positioned so as to allow the fluid to force the member into abutting relationship with the second-mentioned end-wall of the chamber.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the chamber comprises an elongated cylindrical straight tube.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim a wherein the means for moving the member is a capillary tube, the length of whichis greater than the distance between the inner face of the nozzie and the outer surface of the second-mentioned end-wall, said capillary being in alignment with the said other end-wall opening.

'7. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the member is a piston.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein the means for moving the piston is a capillary tube, said capillary tube being larger than and in alignment with the opening in the piston.

9. An apparatus for treating continuously moving strands with fluid comprising a fluid treating chamber consisting of an elongated cylindrical straight tube having two end-walls therein, a noz zle in one end-wall or the chamber and extending into the chamber, said nozzle having an opening therein for the passage of a strand therethrough. a piston in the chamber mounted rnovably to= ward and awayfrom the nozzle in sliding fit with the inner walls of the chamber, an opening in the piston for passage of the strand therethrough, an opening in thc'other end-wall of the chamber, capillary tube means slidably mounted in said other end-wail opening and integrally attached to the piston for moving the piston toward and away from abutting relationship with the nozzle, said capillary being larger than and in alignment with the opening in the piston, means for continuously passing a strand through the chamber, and means for supplying fluid to the chamber, said fluid supplying means being positioned so as to allow the fluid to force the member into abutting relationship with the second-mentioned end-wall of the chamber.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the capillary tube means is greater in length than the distance between the inner face of the nozzle and the outer surface of the second mentioned end-wall.

PAUL D. EMERSON.

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

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