US2910761A - Yarn crimping apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 3, 1959 Filed larch 27, 1957 R. sA. aLl-:Y 2,910,761

YARN CRIMPING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheetl .1

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ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1959 R. s. BLEY 2,910,751

YARN CRIMPING APPARATUS Filed 'uarch 2v, 1957 s sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR BY M ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1959 R. s. BLEY YARN CRIMPING APPARATUS Filed latch 27, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 NNN United States Patent O YARN CRIMPING APPARATUS Rudolph S. Bley, Milligan College, Tenn Beaunit Mills, Incorporated, New York, ration of New York assigner to X., a corpo- 'Ihis invention relates to the production of crimped thermoplastic yarn or, as it is better known, stretch yarn or stretch nylon. More especially, it relates to apparatus for producing stretch yarn by the socalled false twist method and in its more particular aspects the invention is concerned with improved means for setting the twist or crimp in the yarn. I

The general method of crimping thermoplastic yarn with which this invention deals involves a false twist spindle through which the yarn strand passes while being pulled from a supply package. The false twist spindle is rotated at high speed and the yarn strand is so operated upon by the spindle that a twist is produced in a portion of the running length of said strand. The yarn is heated by external means in that portion wherein it is twisted and since the yarn is of a thermoplastic nature, the heating causes it to become soft or somewhat plastic and upon cooling it retains the twist. This` is one of the commercial methods of producing yarn having a high degree (approximately 100 percent) of stretchability and almost complete recovery. As is well known, such yarn has been widely used for making socks, underclothing and other garments.

A plant producing stretch yarn by the method briey outlined or by any other method for that matter, is not commercially feasible unless it has several thousand spindles operating; that is, unless several thousand yarn strands are being operated upon simultaneously. As is the case with textile plants generally, plants producing stretch yarn operate twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Because of the large number of strands being operated upon, the cost of heating the strands to the extent necessary to set` the twist is considerable and it is therefore highly desirable to have an eflicient means for doing this. Any given plant may desire to produce yarns of different denier, either simultaneously or to change from on denier to another from time to time, and what may be the most etlicient arrangement for heating a strand of a given denier may not be so for a ditferent denier or indeed may not even be satisfactory for a diterent denier.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an etticient means for uniformly heating a plurality of strands of thermoplastic yarn while said strands are in twisted condition whereby the twist will be set in the yarn.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved heating device for use with the false twist method of crimping yarn wherein the maior portion of the device is used for all different deniers but which has elements which may be removed and replaced with other elements when it is desired to change denier.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved heating device having replaceable elements lfor use with yarns of diterent denier wherein the replaceable elements may be changed while the device in general is maintained at an elevated temperature.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of "ice the invention will become apparent as the description of certain preferred embodiments thereof proceeds.

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view over-all of one of the stations of a yarn crimping machine and showing the present invention incorporated therein,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the arrangement for circulating heating fluid past a plurality of "stations,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on a larger scale showing a yarn heating chamber constructed in accordance with this invention,

Fig. 4 is a view partially in section and partially in side elevation showing a modified form of the invention and Fig. 5 is a plan view of a cap element useful in carrying out the invention.

Since` the present invention deals wth only certain aspects of the over-all yarn crimping operation it will not be necessary to describe the entire operation in detail but same has been shown diagrammatically in Fig. l and will be briey described in order to further an understanding of the utility of this invention. The noncrimped yarn is wound on a pirn l0 mounted upon a rail 11 and the yarn strand 12 is drawn from the pirn through a guide 13 and thence through a compensating tension device 14 and through an eye in the end of a tension sensing and regulating arm 15 of the tension device. After leaving the eye in the arm 15, the yarn strand passes upward through a heating chamber generally designated 16 and which will presently be described in detail. Located directly above the heating chamber 16 is a false twist spindle 17 which may be of any suitable construction, the details of which are not a part of the present invention. It will be understood that each rotation of the false twist spindle inserts one turn of twist into the yarn strand and that the twist runs back along the strand through the heating chamber wherein the twist or crimp is set After leaving the spindle 17, the yarn passes through a pigtail guide 18 and a traversing guide 19 and onto a spool 20, said spool being driven to take up the yarn by a cork covered roller 21 which bears against the yarn in order to pull the yarn strand at a constant speed.

Fig. l illustrates what has been referred to above as a station and in practice a machine comprises a large number of stations arranged in two parallel rows. For reasons well understood by those in the industry a plant cannot be operated economically unless it has a large number of machines and, what is more important as far as the present invention is concerned, the plant must be operated on a twenty-four hour basis.

The heating chamber 16 comprises an inner container consisting of an upper shell 22 and lower shell 23 suitably secured together and divided by a partition 24 into an upper compartment 25 and lower compartment 26. A plurality of cylindrical tubes 27 extend vertically through the inner container and are sealed thereto as indicated at 28 so that heating uid passing through the compartments 25 and 26 cannot escape. As will presently be explained, there are a number of compartments 25 and 26 for each machine and each pair of compartments accommodates a number of tubes 27. There is a tube27 vertically aligned with each spindle 17.

For purposes of insulation, the shells 22 and 23 are surrounded by a casing 29 and suitable insulating material 30 is provided between the shells and the casing. 'Ihe tubes 27 extend through the casing 29 and said tubes serve to support the- shells 22 and 23 within the casing by means of collars 31 and 32 which fit around the upper and lower ends of the tubes and which are held tightly against the top and bottom respectively of the casing by means of snap rings 33 and 34 which fit into grooves provided therefor in said tubes. The collars 31 and 32 are made of porcelain or other heat insulating material and, as best shown in ..gs. 3 and 4, the openings in the casing for accommodating the tubes are larger than the tubes so that the heat of the tubes will not be transmitted to the casing.

Since the amount of heat applied to the yarn while the yarn is twisted is one of the factors which determines the degree of crimp set in the yarn, it is desirable that each strand, if all strands are of the same denier, be heated to the same extent and for that reason the arrangement shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2 is employed. While Fig. 2 shows only six heating chambers 16 each provided with four tubes 27, in actual practice there are a great deal more than six chambers and each chamber may accommodate more than four tubes, but the showing of Fig. 2 is sufficient to illustrate the principle. To further simplify the showing, the other casings 29 have been omitted from Fig. 2.

Heating fluid preferably a liquid of high specific heat, for example oil, is introduced by means of a pipe 35 into the lower compartment 26 of the first chamber 16 of the series wherein said tiuid contacts the lower portions of the tubes 27 of that chamber. The lower compartments 26 are connected in series by short pipes as shown in Fig. 2 and the lower compartment of the last chamber 16 is connected by a pipe 36 to the upper compartment 25 of that chamber. The upper compartments are also connected in series as illustrated and the upper compartment of the first of the series of chambers 16 is connected by a pipe 37 to the source of the heating uid, where the uid is reheated for recirculation through pipe 35. By means of a suitable pump the heating uid is thus circulated first through the lower compartments of the series of chambers and returned by way of the upper compartments. With such an arrangement it will be apparent that even though the temperature of the heating Huid drops a certain amount in each compartment as it circulates through each of the lower and upper comcnts of the series of chambers, the average temof all chambers (i.e., the average of the temr tures of the lower and the upper compartments of each chamber) will be the same and consequently the average temperature in all the tubes 27 will be the same.

After the heating fluid is brought up to the desired temperature and has circulated through the heating chambers for awhile the tubes 27 become quite hot. While it takes a large amount of energy to bring the tubes to the desired temperature,l it takes a comparatively small amount to maintain them at that temperature so it is of course desirable, and practical since the yarn processing plant operates on a twenty-four hour basis, to maintain the tubes 27 in heated condition at all times.

However, it has been previously mentioned that while the plant operates continuously, it is desired from time to time to process yarns of different denier and sometimes to process simultaneously yarns of different denier. It will be apparent that a cylindrical tube such as the tubes 27 which has a certain predetermined diameter is not suitable by itself for providing the proper degree of heat for more than a limited range of denier of yarn unless the temperature of the heating fluid is changed to suit the different deniers. As has already been mentioned the temperature of all the tubes 27 is always the same because of the manner in which the heating uid is circulated around them and therefore it is obvious that the arrangement thus far described could only be used for yarns having a limited range of denier at any one time. Also because of the expense factor it is not practicable to vary the temperature of the heating fluid.

To overcome the limitations of the device thus far described, the present invention provides adapters in the form of removable and replaceable cartridges which fit snugly within the tubes 27 and which are variously con- 4 structed to provide varying degrees of heat for yarn strands passing therethrough.

One form of cartridge is illustrated in Fig. 3 and comprises a cylindrical tube 38 which is adapted to fit snugly within the cylindrical tube 27. The tube 38 is provided with a cap 39 which rests on top of thetube 27 to prevent the tube 38 from slipping therethrough. The cap 39 is provided with indentations 40 for accommodating a suitable tool whereby the cartridge may be removed.

Force fitted within the tube 38 and secured to the cap 39 thereof is a member 4l having bulbous portions 42 which provide the force fit and having a longitudinally extending bore of a size such that the yarn strand 12 may pass freely through said member without contacting same. The wall of the tube 38 may be quite thin as may the wall of the member 41 so that the heat of the tube 27 may readily be conducted therethrough to heat the air within the member 41 and consequently heat the yarn strand. To further provide for etlcient heating of the yarn the inner surface of the member 41 may be blackened so as to give off infrared rays. The member 41 and the tube 38 may be formed of anodized aluminum, copper or brass or preferably of Karbate. This latter material has an outstanding thermal conduction characteristic. It is a composition of carbon and graphite impregnated with a synthetic resin and is described in an article by L. C. Werking in Trans. Amer. Instit. Chem. Engrs., vol. 35, pp. 489-503 (1939) under the title: Carbon, Graphite and Karbate as Materials of Construction.

As the yarn strand moves rapidly up through the member 41 it has a tendency to draw air up through said member with the result that the heated air within said member would be quickly dissipated and its heat lost were it not for the bulbous portions 42 which cause the air to swirl around and move slowly through said members. By varying the number and shape of the bulbous portions 42 the flow of air through member 41 can be controlled to thereby control the amount of heating of the yarn strand, the temperature of the heating uid within the compartments 25 and 26 remaining constant. It will be recognized that increasing the number or the size of the bulbous portions 42 will increase the rate of heat transfer into member 41 and will also reduce the heat loss from this member.

With this arrangement it will be seen that when it is desired to change the denier of the yarn being crimped, it is merely necessary to withdraw the cartridge from the tube 27 and replace it with one appropriately formed for heating the new denier. It will not be necessary to change the cartridge for minor variations in denier but only when substantially different yarn is to be processed, for example, in changing from tine denier yarn suitable for stockings to high denier yarn for textile fabrics, etc. By using a suitable tool for cooperating with the indentations 40 of the cap 39 the cartridge can be lifted out while the heating system is hot.

To further increase the eliiciency of the device by slowing the movement of air through the cartridge, a cap 43 is provided. As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the cap 43 is made in two sections which are secured to the top of the casing 29 by hinges 44 and 45 so that the cap sections may be folded back out of the Way when it is desired to change the cartridge. During threading up ,of the device, it is only necessary to fold back one of the sections of the cap in order to permit easy insertion of a thread-up twire into the top of the member 41 of the cartridge.

The cap 43 is provided with an opening 54 at the top thereof, said opening being vertically aligned with the central bore of the member 41 whereby the yarn strand can move in a straight-line path between -the heating device and the false twist spindle. A baille 46 secured intside the cap 43 is so shaped as to tend to redirect the air escaping from the member 41 back down into said member.

Since only that portion of the yarn strands which is v directly above the false twist spindle and the other being located closely below the bottom of the heating chamber. Suitable barriers for this purpose are pairs of rollers which press the yarn strand therebetween and prevent the twist from passing through. In Fig. l, one such barrier is formed by the rollers 47 and 48 located above the false twist spindle 17 and which may be spring urged together or may be made magnetically attractive to one another. The lower barrier is formed by a similar pair of rollers 49 and 50.

A modified form of cartridge is illustrated in Fig. 4. This cartridge comprises a cylindrical 'tube 5l having a cap 52 and force fitted within which and secured to said cap is a member 53 having a spiral configuration. The spiral shape of the member 53 causes the air moving upward therethrough to move in a spiral path and consequently remain within said member for a considerable period of time. The member 53 has a longitudinally extending bore through which the yarn strand l2 passes without touching said member. By changing the pitch of the spiral the amount of time that the air remains within the member 53 can be regulated. Clearly, increasing the pitch of the spiral will retard the movement of the air through the member and reducing the pitch will permit more rapid air movement. The member 53 and tube 5l may of course be made of the same material as is the cartridge illustrated in Fig. 3 and previously described. The modified form shown in Fig. 4 offers an advantage in efficiency over the form shown in Fig. 3 inasmuch as there is a greater area of contact between the member 53 and tube 51, and thus more efficient heat transfer into the tube, than there is between the corresponding parts of the cartridge of Fig. 3.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. For use in yarn crimping apparatus having a heating chamber comprising a cylindrical tube surrounded by heating liuid and having a false twist device which puts a twist in the yarn in the heating chamber wherein the twist is set in the yarn; an adapter cartridge for adapting the heating chamber for eicient heating of yarn having a particular range of denier, and cartridge comprising a cylindrical member adapted to fit snugly within the cylindrical tube of the heating chamber, a second member positioned within said cylindrical member, said second member having a straight-line bore therethrough whereby a yarn strand may be drawn therethrough without touching said member, said bore having a diameter considerably smaller than the internal diameter of said cylindrical member, and said second member having portions protruding outwardly from said bore and into engagement with said cylindrical member whereby heat applied to said cylindrical member will be conducted to the bore of said second member.

2. For use in yarn crimping apparatus having a heating chamber comprising a cylindrical tube surrounded by heating fluid and having a false twist device which puts a twist in the yarn in the heating chamber wherein the twist is set in the yarn; an adapter cartridge for adapting the heating chamber for eicient heating of yarn having a particular range of denier, said cartridge comprising a cylindrical member adapted to t snugly within the cylindrical tube of the heating chamber, a second member positioned within said cylindrical member, said second member having a stright-line bore therethrough whereby a yarn strand may be drawn therethrough without touching said member, said bore having a diameter considerably smaller than the internal diameterV of said cylindrical member, said second member having portions protruding outwardly from said bore and into engagement with said cylindrical member whereby heat applied to said y cylindrical member will be conducted to the bore of said second member, and a cap securing said second memberv to said cylindrical member at one end thereof.

3. For use in yarn crimping apparatus having a heating chamber comprising a cylindrical tube surrounded by heating tiuid and having a false twist device which puts a twist in the yarn in the heating chamber wherein the twist is set in the yarn; an adapter cartridge for adapting the heating chamber for etlicient heating of yarn having a particular range of denier, said cartridge comprising a cylindrical member adapted to fit snugly within the cylindrical tube of the heating chamber, a second member positioned within said cylindrical member, said second member having a straight-line bore therethrough whereby a yarn strand may be drawn therethrough without touching said member, said bore having a diameter considerably smaller than the internal diameter of said cylindrical member, said second member having portions protruding outwardly from said bore and into engagement with said cylindrical member whereby heat applied to said cylindrical member will be conducted to the bore of said second member, a cap securing said second member to said cylindrical member at one end thereof, and said cap having a portion overhanging said cylindrical member to prevent said cartridge from dropping through the cylindrical tube of the heating chamber when said cartridge is positioned therein.

4. For use in yarn crimping apparatus having a heating chamber comprising a cylindrical tube surrounded by heating fluid and having a false twist device which puts a twist in the yarn in the heating chamber wherein the twist is set in the yarn; an adapter cartridge for adapting the heating chamber for efficient heating of yarn having a particular range of denier, said cartridge range of denier, said cartridge comprising a cylindrical mem` ber adapted to fit snugly within the cylindrical tube of the heating chamber, a second member positioned within said cylindrical member, said second member having a straight-line bore therethrough whereby a yarn strand may be drawn therethrough without touching said member, said bore having a diameter considerably smaller than the internal diameter of said cylindrical member, said second member having portions protruding outwardly from said bore and into engagement with :said cylindrical member whereby heat applied to said cylindrical member will be conducted to the bore of said second member, a cap securing said second member to said cylindrical member at one end thereof, said cap overhanging said cylindrical member to prevent said cartridge from dropping through the cylindrical tube of the heating charnber when said cartridge is positioned therein, and said cap having means for the reception of a tool whereby said cartridge may be removed from the heating chamber while the chamber and cartridge are hot.

5. For use in yarn crimping apparatus having a heating chamber comprising a cylindrical tube surrounded by heating uid and having a false twist device which puts a twist in the yarn in the heating chamber wherein the twst is set in the yarn; an improved heating chamber comprising a cylindrical tube mounted in a container for heating uid, means for circulating heating fluid through said container whereby said tube is maintained at an elevated temperature, an adapter cartridge for adapting the heating chamber for efficient heating of yarn having a particular range of denier, said cartridge comprising a thin walled cylindrical member adapted to t snugly within the cylindrical tube of the heating chamber, a thin walled second member longitudinally coextensive with said cylindrical member positioned within said cylindrical member, said second member having a straight-line bore therethrough whereby a yarn strand may be drawn therethrough without touching said member, said second member having portions protruding outwardly from said bore and into engagement with said cylindrical member whereby-heat applied. by said cylindrical tube to said cylindrical member is conducted to the bore of said second member, a cap securing said cylindrical member to said second member, said cap overhanging said cylindrical member to prevent said cartridge from falling through said cylindrical tube, and said cap having means for the reception of a tool whereby said cartridge may be removed from said cylindrical tube while said heating chamber is hot.

6. An adapter cartridge as set forth in claim l in which said second member has bulbous portions protruding outwardly from said bore and into engagement with said cylindrical member whereby heat applied to said cylindrical member will be conducted to the bore of said second member.

7. An adapter cartridge as set forth in claim 1 in which said second member has a spiral portion protruding outwardly from said bore and into engagement with said cylindrical member whereby heat applied to said cylindrical member will be conducted to the bore of said second member.

8. An adapter cartridge as set forth in claim 2 in which said cap has an air baille disposed about the upper end of said straight-line bote.

twist in the yarn in the heating chamber wherein the twist is set in the yarn; an adapter cartridge for adapting the heating chamber for etiicient heating of 'yarn having a particular range of denier, said cartridge com prising a rst member adapted to t snugly within the tube of the heating chamber, a second member positioned within said rst member, said second member. having a straight-line bore therethrough whereby a yarn strand may -be drawn therethrough without touching said member, said .bore being spaced apart from said first member, and said second member having portions protruding outwardly from said bore and into engagement with said rst member whereby heat applied to said rst memwill be conducted to the bore of said second memlReferences Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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