US3084413A

US3084413A - Yarn fluid treatment apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3084413A
Application number: US149268A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Carl E Hallden
Original assignee: EI Du Pont de Nemours and Co
Current assignee: EIDP Inc
Priority date: 1961-11-01
Filing date: 1961-11-01
Publication date: 1963-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 1980-04-09
Also published as: DE1903142U; LU42608A1; GB983967A

Description

C. E. HALLDEN, JR

YARN FLUID TREATMENT APPARATUS Filed NOV. 1, 1961 FIG.!

April 9, 1963 FIG.3

INVENTOR CARL E. HALLDEN, JR.

BY Z z v ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,984,413 YARN FLUID TREATMENT APPARATUS Carl E. Hallden, Ilia, Avondale, Fa, assignor to E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 1, 1961, Ser. No. 149,268 3 Claims. (Cl. 281) This invention relates to an apparatus to be used in treating a bundle of filaments such as a yarn to produce a bulky strand composed of a plurality of individually convoluted filaments, and is more particularly concerned with jets for producing bulky yarn by fluid treatment.

Artificial fibers are normally produced most easily as continuous filaments. Their extreme uniformity and lack of discontinuity makes conventional textile filament yarns much more dense than yarns made from staple fibers. The production of yarns from staple fibers, however, is time-consuming and requires a complex series of operations. The occluded air spaces in staple fiber yarns gives them a lightness, covering power, and warmthgiving bulk not normally possible with continuous filament yarns.

I Bulky yarns enhance the fullness of woven and knit fabrics, as well as affect other functional properties of textile materials.

The bulk, covering power, and recoverable elongation of continuous filament yarns have been greatly improved by a variety of mechanical and/ or heat-setting processes. A most important new product in this area is textured yarn of the type described in U.S. Patent No. 2,783,609 issued March 5, 1957, to Breen. Its production involves exposing a filamentary material to a rapidly moving turbulent fluid to introduce a multitude of crunodal filament loops at random intervals along the individual filaments. These loops and snarls of entangled loops, together with other convolutions, increase the bulk of continuous filament yarns considerably and result in fabrics of improved cover, bulk, handle, and the like. Another technique is described in Belgian Patent No. 573,230, dated November 22, 1958, to the assignee of the present application, in which yarns are introduced into a plasticizing stream of a compressible fluid under turbulent conditions and the filaments are individually crimped into a curvilinear threedimensional configuration. The effectiveness of these new bulking processes depends upon special apparatus for achieving the desired treatment with turbulent fluid. A new apparatus or jet has now been discovered for utilizing the above turbulent fluid techniques more effectively and to produce improved yarn products with highly useful properties.

An object of this invention is to provide a new fluid jet apparatus for producing bulky yarns of the type and in accordance with the general process disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,783,609 to Breen. Another object is to provide an apparatus which is more effective for bulking heavy denier yarns than apparatus previously devised for the fluid jet technique of the Breen patent. Still another object is to provide a new fluid jet for treating yarn which eliminates the need for manual adjustment of the jet by the operator during the texturing operation. Other objects will become apparent from the disclosure and claims.

In the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention,

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of jet apparatus as used for treating yarn,

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the jet, the left side corresponding to the elevation of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view of the jet embodiment shown in FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 4 is a view corresponding to that of FIGURE 2 of a modified form of jet.

"ice

FIGURE 1 illustrates a typical arrangement of apparatus of this invention for treating yarn. Yarn 11 to be treated is fed at a controlled rate, determined by

feed rolls

12 and 13, through :an appropriate guide 14 and into the jet 15. Air for treating the yarn is supplied to the jet through duct 16 from a source of compressed air, and leaves the jet with the yarn. The textured yarn 17 pro duced is withdrawn at right angles to the jet exit air stream and in a direction away from the jet body at la rate controlled by take-up rolls 18 and 19'.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the jet is suitably made in two parts, a body member 20 and a front plate 21, which are fastened together in proper orientation with suitable screws 22 or other fasteners.

Referring to FIGURE 3, the body 20 is drilled with a passageway 23 for air or other compressed fluid which is admitted through supply duct 16. The front plate 21 is machined to provide a straight inlet throat 24 for entry of "the untreated yarn and a larger texturing chamber 25 for treating the yarn which is preferably rectangular in cross-section at right angles to the principal axis of the chamber. The face of body 20 forms one side of both the inlet throat and the texturing chamber. Throat or passage 24 leads the yarn into the texturing chamber 25, where the yarn is immediately penetrated by the fluid stream entering the chamber from fluid duct 16. The zone of turbulence so created exerts an opening action on the yarn components, so that the filaments are formed into loops and whorls by the action of the fluid.

In operation, air is supplied under a pressure which provides a high velocity through texturing chamber 25. A zone of turbulence is created between the exit of the fluid duct and the inner end of the texturing chamber as the fluid rushes into this zone. Yarn is fed into the zone of turbulence from the yarn inlet throat 24 where it is agitated violently, whipped about, and exits from the texturing chamber 25 along with the high velocity air. The yarn is removed from the air stream immediately upon issuing from the texturing chamber 25 by withdrawing it in the direction away from the face of the body 20. It is important that the apparatus have dimensions such that the air or other suitable compressible fluid utilized v will have a velocity equal to at least /2 sonic velocity and preferably approaches sonic velocity where it first strikes the yarnin the zone of turbulence 25, and that the crosssectional area of the exit of the texturing chamber be of suflicient size to minimize back pressure in the yarn inlet without substantially decreasing yarn velocity in the zone of turbulence.

The angular relationship of the fluid duct to the texturing chamber is highly important to the operation of the jet As shown in FIGURE 3, the fluid duct 2'3 approaches the face of the'body 20 at an angle of about 30, in the general direction of yarn travel, to forward the yarn. Angles in the range of 20 to 45 are suitable for this purpose. As shown in FIGURE 2, the axis of the duct is in a plane which is at right-angles to the body face and is skewed at an agle 5 with respect to the axis of the yarn passage. This angle must be within critical limits for production of textured yarn of the type referred to in COnnection with Breen U.S. Patent No. 2,783,609. When the angle 5 is less than 10 crunodal loops are not produced. For textur-izing Dacron polyester yarn (polyethylene terephthalate), the angle is preferably about 35 and not less than 20. Angles up to about 45 are satisfactory.

Angles of less than 10 are useful for crimping yarn with steam or other plasticizing fluid, as described in the referenced Belgian Patent No. 573,230, when the formation of crunodal loops is not desired. The crimping treatment can be carried out with B angles from 0 to 10. The desired angularity can be provided in various ways,

and an alternative embodiment is illustrated in FIGURE 4, wherein the significance of the numbers is the same as in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 discussed above.

It has also been found necessary that the terminal portion of the side of the texturing chamber opposite to the 4 The over-feed rate of the yarns will depend upon the character of the feed yarn as Well as the particular characteristics desired in the product. Overfeeds as high as 120% or higher have been used effectively.

fluid entrance be tapered outwardly to provide a yarn and a particularlg preferred as a gaming begause its c eapness an convenience. owever, eate air, ig fg ig fi 222 g 25 3 5 233? i i gi fi superheated or saturated steam or any other suitable cornshortened in FIGURE 3 is less than 7". This angle of i i tf g j il gt t t1 outward taper is preferably about 10 for texturizing 19 H mg ac.1on ls.app.am us aparenfly nylon preferably about for texturizing results from the manner in which the high velocity fluid pols/Ester yam, and not more than However, it has acts on the individual yarn filaments as the yarn passes again been found that different conditions apply to crirnp 'f the Zone of turbulence' appears that Y ing with steam or other plasticizing fluid; angles of 2 to Is openfid allclbulked more efiectlvely (1113 to h actlon of 7 are suitable and angles up to 45 can be used. the fluid striking the yarn at an obl que angle in the zone The width of the texturing chamber 25 should be of turbulence. Not only are the individual filaments Withslightly narrower than the fluid inlet opening so that the in the yarn bundle separately whipped about and ranedges partially overlap the fluid opening as illustrated in domly twisted so that they become intimately entangled FIGURES 2 and 4. The absolute and relative dimensions and interlocked with adjacent filaments but at the same of the yarn inlet throat 24 and the teX-turing chamber 25 i are f d jntg loops d h l uniformly may b va g tti tfgirlty s 3, 1 p g g 11 2 dleslfed through the yarn bundle to provide the desired bulking treatment, u 6 6X llflllg 6 am Q1115 e algef action. Apparently, a fluid vortex is also formed which 9 advantage of'lhls apparatus 15 the .efiectlveness causes intermingling and interlocking of fibers within the Processmg a grejat g i t of Y li wlthoult 9 yarn bundle, so that the yarn bundle itself remains coheslty of l l z g c i g g g sf f f g s g sive under moderate tension after it is removed from the a yarn in e u e apparatus denier from about 440 to 2000 or more may be readily 1 a a processed using a texturing chamber width of 0.067 inch. gj g g and gnterllnmglmg i yam An optimum dimension depends upon the yarn being proct a f F may i reason L13 fipparzftus 1S essed and the degree of texturing desired. Typical Widths partcularly sultaole for bukmg heavy demer Polyester for the texturing chamber run from 0.04 inch to 0.08 inch. y Treatment of 811 a y hp f a P F The Width of yarn inlet is preferably considerably smaller Y bundle which Is Coherent and iurtflel" Processabie and can be varied from 0.02 up to 0.05. the same manner as a unitary strand. Previously known For maximum operability, the cross-sectional area of fluidtreating apparatuses for bulking yarns are less effecthe texturing chamber should be at least 25% greater tive, particularly for the texturing of heavy denier polythan the CI'OSS-SGCtiOnal area. of the duct The ester yarns of 10W ,dgnier per filament Be ause of the ratio 1 cgosls'secfional areas can be Varied more efficient bulking and unifying results produced by tween 1 up 0 I the apparatus of this invention, the feed yarn may be y i l f 3 251 23? 2322 yglfi in i g xg g; 40 twisted or untwisted, and the product may be twisted or yarns including polyamides e g' poly(epsflon caproank not, as desired. Where a zero twist yarn is fed to the ide), poly(hexamethylene adipamide); cellulose esters; apparatus pwduct 1S a bulked yam which the polyesters, e'g', Polyethylene terephthalate, poly(hexa ments are interm ngled and interlocked with one another ,terephthalate); polyethylene, polyvinyls. besides beinguniforrnly loopy throughout, and there is and polyacrylics, e.g., polyacrylonitrile, as -Well as copolyno need to IWISt 11115 Product l further Processingmers thereof, are particularly suitable for producing the The examples of the following table illustrate repreuniformly bulked products described herein. While the sentative bulking conditions for processing yarn with the preferred form of material is continuous filaments, the apparatus illustrated: process and resultant improvements occur with staple yarns as Well. Both types of materials can be made into 5 Typwal Bulkmg C(mdtmns Air Skew Chamber Yarn Example Yarn Pressure, Angle B Angel or Windup Overfeed,

p.s.i.g. in FIG. 2, in FIG. 3, Speed, Percent degrees degrees y.p.m.

Polyester 1100/450/0 35 20 100 25 Polyester 1100/250/0..-

35 20 100 25 S" 3% i8 28 i e O Nylon 800/140/1/2Z s0 35 20 100 2 Cellulose Acetate 1800/8B/0.. superheated 2 7 151 52 Steam.

bulky yarns and fabrics having improved bulk, covering In this table, the yarn descriptions refer to total denier, power (opacity), and hand. number of filaments, and twist for the feed yarn being fil pp l i tli S are usefulllfor gf h l treated. Polyester refers to polyethylene terephthalate amellt Y 111 1 6 emers as as e earlier yarns. Nylon refers specifically to polyhexamethylene- Farpet and lndustnal Y S1Zes e1ther Smgly if combinedt adipamide yarn. The extent of the bulking action could gag}: y zfr gs i i gjg gg f g fi ss ii :52 be increased or decreased as desired by varying the peri O I A Cruciform, Y-shaped, delta-shaped, ribbon, and dumbbell g g up or down from Values shown In the and other non-round filamentary cross-sections can be processed at least as well as round filaments and usually Smce dlfferent @bOdlments of ths 1I Went1On may contribute still more bulk than is obtained with round be f departmg from i f F 9 filaments. The jet and passages therethrough can be f thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not sufficient size to handle multiple ends of yarn, either in limited by the p llluflmtlons BXCBPt the extent the form of warp sheets, ribbons, or tows. cfi 1n the following Clalms- I claim:

1. In apparatus for making bulky yarn which comprises jet means for treating yarn with fluid, yarn feeding means for passing yarn continuously through the jet for treatment, and fluid supply means for flowing compressible fluid through the jet at a velocity of at least /2 sonic velocity in contact with the yarn to separate yarn filaments and form them into convolutions; the improved jet means characterized by having a texturing chamber with generally rectangular cross-section at right angles to the principal axis of the chamber (path of yarn travel through the chamber) and with inlet and outlet openings at opposite ends of said axis, said inlet opening having a straight throat of smaller cross-sectional area than the chamber for entry of yarn and one face of the throat in the same plane as one chamber face, and a fluid duct for introducing the treating fluid into the chamber through said chamber face; the axis of the duct being in a plane, which plane is at right angles to said chamber face, the axis of the duct being at an angle to said face of from 20 to 45 in the general direction of yarn travel and being skewed at an angle of up to 45 to the principal axis of the chamber; the side of the chamber opposite to said fluid duct having a terminal portion tapering outwardly 6 at an angle at 2 to 45' providing an outlet of increasing cross-sectional area.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said jet comprises a body member and a front plate fastened on one face of the body, said texturing chamber and said yarn inlet throat being cut into the front plate with the face of the body member forming the one side of each, and said fluid duct being drilled through the body memher.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said front plate is skewed relative to said duct to provide an angle of from 10 to 45 between the principal aXis of the texturing chamber and a plane passing through the axis of the fluid duct so as to be at right angles to the face of the body member, and wherein said texturing chamber increases in depth toward the chamber outlet at an angle of 7 to relative to said body face to provide an outward taper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims

1. IN APPARATUS FOR MAKING BULKY YARN WHICH COMPRISES JET MEANS FOR TREATING YARN WITH FLUID, YARN FEEDING MEANS FOR PASSING YARN CONTINUOUSLY THROUGH THE JET FOR TREATMENT, AND FLUID SUPPLY MEANS FOR FLOWING COMPRESSIBLE FLUID THROUGH THE JET AT A VELOCITY OF AT LEAST 1/2 SONIC VELOCITY IN CONTACT WITH THE YARN TO SEPARATE YARN FILAMENTS AND FORM THEM INTO CONVOLUTIONS; THE IMPROVED JET MEANS CHARACTERIZED BY HAVING A TEXTURING CHAMBER WITH GENERALLY RECTANGULAR CROSS-SECTION AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE PRINCIPAL AXIS OF THE CHAMBER (PATH OF YARN TRAVEL THROUGH THE CHAMBER) AND WITH INLET AND OUTLET OPENINGS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID AXIS, SAID INLET OPENING HAVING A STRAIGHT THROAT OF SMALLER CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA THAN THE CHAMBER FOR ENTRY OF YARN AND ONE FACE OF THE THROAT IN THE SAME PLANE AS ONE CHAMBER FACE, AND A FLUID DUCT FOR INTRODUCING THE TREATING FLUID INTO THE CHAMBER THROUGH SAID CHAMBER FACE; THE AXIS OF THE DUCT BEING IN A PLANE, WHICH PLANE IS AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID CHAMBER FACE, THE AXIS OF THE DUCT BEING AT AN ANGLE TO SAID FACE OF FROM 20* TO 45* IN THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF YARN TRAVEL AND BEING SKEWED AT AN ANGLE OF UP TO 45* TO THE PRINCIPAL AXIS OF THE CHAMBER; THE SIDE OF THE CHAMBER OPPOSITE TO SAID FLUID DUCT HAVING A TERMINAL PORTION TAPERING OUTWARDLY AT AN ANGLE AT 2* TO 45* PROVIDING AN OUTLET OF INCREASING CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA.