US3417219A

US3417219A - Rotating transformer structure

Info

Publication number: US3417219A
Application number: US534516A
Authority: US
Inventors: Francis M Bailey
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: FYCON INDUSTRIES A CORP OF FLA; General Electric Co
Priority date: 1966-03-15
Filing date: 1966-03-15
Publication date: 1968-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 1985-12-17
Also published as: DE1953696U; FR1510617A; GB1148973A

Description

Dec. 17, 1968 F. M. BAILEY 3,417,219

ROTATING TRANSFORMER STRUCTURE Filed March 15, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENTOR FRANCIS M. BAILEY Dec. 17, 1968 F. M. BAILEY 3,417,219

ROTAT ING TRANSFORMER STRUCTURE Filed March 15, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVENTOR FRA NC 15 M LT-A I LL) WW6. M

United States Patent Oflice 3,417,219 Patented Dec. 17, 1968 ROTATING TRANSFORMER STRUCTURE Francis M. Bailey, Roanoke, Va., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 534,516 2 Claims. (Cl. 219---10.61)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a thermoelectric control for a rotating metallic surface over which synthetic fibers are passed in contact therewith during processing of such fibers.

More specifically, the invention is directed to a rotating transformer structure in combination with a hot roll type of fiber heater whereby the temperature of the roll surface, corresponding most accurately to the temperature of a fiber contacting the roll, is controlled for purposes of regulating the fiber temperature.

Many synthetic fibers, such as polypropylene and polyester, require processing with heat while in filament form, the heat being required for denier reduction, stress relief and the like. The low thermal conductivity of such fibers requires that the fibers be heated by direct contact with a heating surface such .as a metallic heated surface. Be cause of the delicate mechanical nature of these fibers during processing it has been advantageous to make use of a heating device such as a heated, rotating metal roller in order to reduce the frictional drag on such fibers.

A problem arising under the conditions enumerated above is the accurate determination of the roller temperature and the control thereof. A common solution to this problem might be the use of conventional slip rings to which a thermistor contained in the roller per se is connected. However, the temperature variations required to be controlled are of such small magnitude in fiber heating equipment that the slip ring contacts provide both unreliable and inaccurate variations so that the effectiveness of control is unsatisfactory.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a roll type heater control whereby the roll surface temperature can be determined accurately within the limits required in the heat treatment of synthetic fibers.

A feature of the invention is the use of a rotating transformer structure in combination with a roll type heater for providing an accurate reflection of the true temperature of the (heater surface without the normal electrical interference encountered in the use of slip ring devices.

The invention is set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The principles and characteristics of the invention, as well as other objects and advantages are revealed and discussed through the medium of the illustrative embodiments appearing in the specification and drawings which follow.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view in perspective of a roll type heater according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a simplified view of the essential structure of FIGURE 1 illustrating one embodiment of a rotating transformer arrangement.

FIGURE 3 is another simplified view of the essential structure of FIGURE 1 illustrating another embodiment of a rotating transformer arrangement.

With reference to FIGURE 1 a motor shaft 11 (motor not shown) having a reduced diameter forming a shoulder 13 provides a means for rotating a metallic heating drum 17, the latter being provided with a hub 19 slidably fitted to the shaft 11 via a threaded portion 15 to which the hub 19 is attached and held against the shoulder 13 by a nut 21. A support ring 23 is held in position against the hub 19 by mounting

screws

25 and 26, the ring 23 supporting a core 27 and a winding 29, which in effect comprise the core and one winding of a rotary transformer. The core 27 is fastened to the support ring by screws 33. The leads 35 and 36 of the Winding 29 are permanently connected to a thermoelectric device (thermistor) 37 located in the shell 39 of the drum 17 over which a filament of synthetic fiber is passed for heat processing, either being wrapped around the drum 17 or contacting a portion of the drums surface 41.

A plate 51 is mounted in spaced relationship with the aforementioned drum 17 structure in a manner to permit the shaft 11 to project therethrough, and is provided with heat shields 53 and 54 carried by a supporting ring 55, which is attached to the plate 51 by

screws

57 and 58. A stationary core 59, together with a stationary winding 61 is mounted within the supporting ring 55, resting against the heat shield 53 and held in position by a series of washers 63 and screws 65 attached to plate 51. The leads of the Winding 61 are brought through the heat shield 53 and the plate 51, terminating as leads 69 and 71. The stationary core 59 and winding 61 form another component of a rotary transformer for coacting with the aforementioned movable core 27 and winding 29 via the air gap therebetween. A heating unit 67 is provided around the heat shield 54 under the drum shell 39, the unit being fastened by suitable insulating means to the plate 51 and being closely spaced from the inside of the shell 39, the heating unit being energized from an electrical power source (not shown).

The leads 69 and 71 may be connected into one arm of an alternating current bridge apparatus (not shown) so that any variations of the impedance of the thermistor 37, transmitted via the windings 29 and 61 and their respective cores, are detected by the bridge circuit for controlling the current applied to the heating unit 67 in any of many well known voltage regulator arrangements (not shown). In this manner by establishing a predetermined temperature of the drum shell 39 of the drum 17, as measured by the thermistor 37, the temperature of the surface 41 and fiber filaments in contact therewith can be maintained constant.

Although the preferred embodiment 'of the invention is illustrated in FIGURE 1, a simplified rotary transformer arrangement is shown in FIGURE 2 which may be adapted to a rotating heat roll of the type previously described. In this instance an inner cylindrical core having a winding 82 is spaced inside another cylindrical core 81 having a winding 83 for rotation, the

leads

84 and 85 of the winding 82 being brought out an end of the core 80 and the leads of the winding 83 being brought out an end of the core 81, the

cores

80 and 81 being relatively rotational.

A modified form of the structure of FIGURE 2 is shown further in FIGURE 3 where an outside stationary cylindrical member 91 having layers of silicon steel core material 99 wound in cylindrical fashion to conform to the contour of cylinder 91 and carrying a single layer winding 95 insulated from the core material 99 by a layer of insulation 111. An inner cylindrical member 93 similarly provided with layers of silicon steel core material 101, a winding 97 insulated from the core by a layer of insulation 113 is arranged to rotate within the cylindrical member 91, the

leads

103, and 107, 109 respec- 3 tively providing electrical connections to the

windings

95 and 97.

While the invention has been explained and described with the aid of particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereby and that many modifications retaining and utilizing the spirit thereof without departing essentially therefrom will occur to those skilled in the art in applying the invention to specific operating environments and conditions. It is therefore contemplated by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A synthetic fiber heater including a rotatable roll, stationary [heating means coacting therewith, a thermoelectric device in said roll for determining its temperature, a winding carried by said roll connected to said device, a magnetic core for said winding, a stationary winding, and a magnetic core for said stationary winding, the said cores being spaced .apart from each other by an air gap and the said windings being inductively coupled via said cores whereby a representation 'of the temperature of said roll is provided in said stationary winding.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said windings are spaced adjacent each other in the said air gap between the said cores.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,650,290 8/1953 Newhouse 219--10.69 2,681,975 6/1954 Leonard 219-10.69 2,882,378 4/1959 Ticehurst 219--10.69 3,187,150 6/1965 France 21910.49

RICHARD M. WOOD, Primary Examiner.

L. H. BENDER, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 219471