US3638415A - Balloon breaker - Google Patents

Abstract

A ring twister having lubricated balloon control rings which facilitate handling yarns at substantially higher speeds. The rings may be of porous material for passage of the lubricant therethrough, or they may be nonporous material having ports for passage of the lubricant to the yarn. The rings are generally applicable to spinning frames and any other equipment on which control of a ballooning strand is desired.

Description

United States Patent Andrews [451 Feb. 1,1972

[54] BALLOON BREAKER [72] Inventor: Bernard Andrews, Johnston, R1.

[73] Assignee: Leesona Corporation, Warwick, R1.

[22] Filed: Feb. 11, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 10,528

[52] U.S.Cl ..57/108,57/35,57/120, 57/164 [51] Int. Cl. ..D0lh1/42, D01h 7/18, D0lh 13/30 [58] Field ot'Search ..57/35, 58.83, 58.86, 75, 106, 57/107,108, l19,120,122,124, 164

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,295,306 l/1967 Rehn ..57/58.83 3,159,962 12/1964 Franzen.... 3,222,857 12/1965 Keyser 3,458,983 8/1969 Hamel 1,918,644 7/1933 Hofmann.. 2,084,756 6/1937 Albrecht 2,867,076 1/1959 Atwood ..57/120 Primary Examiner.1ohn Petrakes Att0rneyAlbert P. Davis and Burnett W. Norton [5 7] ABSTRACT A ring twister having lubricated balloon control rings which facilitate handling yarns at substantially higher speeds. The rings may be of porous material for passage of the lubricant therethrough, or they may be nonporous material having ports for passage of the lubricant to the yarn. The rings are generally applicable to spinning frames and any other equipment on which control of a ballooning strand is desired.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures mama] FEB BERNARD ANDREWS BY ATTORHEYS BALLOON BREAKER This invention relates to strand handling and, more particularly, to a ring twister and a balloon control ring.

As used herein the term package means the product of a twisting machine, spinning frame, winder, or the like, wound so that it may be readily moved from place to place. The term yarn is employed in a general sense to apply to all kinds of strand material, either textile or otherwise.

Indirectly related to the present development are Leesona Corporation patents, U.S. Pat. No. 3,407,585, granted Oct. 29, I968, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,484,032, granted Dec. 16, 1969.

In a ring twister, such as Model Nos. 512 or 514, manufactured by Leesona Corporation, Warwick, Rhode Island, a core is received on a generally vertical rotating spindle which is rotated to wind a strand of yarn onto the core to form a package. The yarn is advanced, in succession, through a centering eye generally concentric with the spindle axis, through a balloon ring and then a traveler slidable on a traveler ring and rotated about the axis of the spindle by the yarn as it is wound onto the core to form a package. The traveler ring is mounted on a vertically reciprocating ring rail to traverse the winding yarn onto the package. As the yarn is wound onto the package it rotates with the traveler about the spindle axis and is deflected outwardly by centrifugal force so that it simulates the appearance of a balloon. As the diameter of the winding package increases, the rotational speed of both the yarn and the traveler also increase while the tension of the yarn decreases, so that the diameter of the "balloon increases. To limit this diameter and to prevent the ballooning portion ofthe yarn from whipping against separator plates between stations of the twisting machine, one or more balloon control rings are conventionally provided at each twisting station.

A balloon control ring, more commonly called a balloon ring, is conventionally a round steel rod formed into an annulus with opposite ends overlapping and then extending outwardly to form mounting arms which are secured to the ring rail above the ring and traveler assembly. Two such balloon rings may be provided at each spindle for winding of longer packages.

As the spindle speed is increased, in order to increase the production capacity, certain yarns are subject to damage through engagement with the balloon rings when the yarn is wound above a particular speed. Depending on the particular yarn, such damage may be in the form of fusing, fibrillating, or loss of finish, for example, as will be discussed more fully later.

The invention, in brief, is directed to eliminating such yarn damage at increased winding speed by providing a lubricant between the yarn and the balloon ring. The yarn engaging surface of the balloon ring is lightly lubricated so that only a very small amount of lubricant is transferred to the yarn. It is conceivable that in a practical sense, no lubricant would be transferred to the yarn.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved apparatus and method for handling a strand and, more particularly, for facilitating higher winding and twisting speeds for yarns.

Another object is provision of new and improved apparatus and method for handling a ballooning yarn, the apparatus including a balloon control ring having a surface for receiving a yarn and restraining ballooning of the yarn, with provision for lubricating the surface independently of engagement of the yarn with the ring. A related object is provision of a porous ring, the pores providing the passageways, with the lubricant applied to the porous portion away from the ring surface.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, schematic, perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a portion ofa ring twister, with parts removed for clearer illustration;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, schematic, top view ofa portion ofa balloon control ring shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2, to a reduced scale;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view of a portion of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 4, and showing another embodiment ofthe invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a typical ring twister. such as the previously noted Leesona Ring Twisters, Models 512 or 514, includes a frame (not shown) which carries a series of twisting stations 10 (only one shown). Each station 10 includes a spindle l2 rotatably mounted in ajournal I4 operatively fixed to the frame (not shown) and having a whorl l6 drivingly engaged by a drive belt 18 common to all of the spindles, for rotating the spindle l2 clockwise, as indicated by the arrow 20, during operation of the twister. A core 22, on which a yarn package 24 is wound, is received on the spindle 12 for rotation therewith. As the package 24 is being wound, a strand of yarn 26 passes downwardly, in the direction of the arrow 28, successively from an overhead supply (not shown) and through an operatively fixed centering eye 30, a balloon control ring 32, more commonly called a balloon ring 32, and

through a traveler 34 to the package 24. The centering eye 30 is preferably pivotally mounted on a bracket 36 fixed to the frame (not shown), to swing upwardly from a position (as shown) concentric with the spindle to a position clear of the spindle so that the core 22 may be placed on and removed from the spindle 12 without obstruction.

The traveler 34 is carried by a traveler ring 38 and therewith provides a traveler and ring assembly 40 which is fixedly secured, as by bolts 42, to a ring rail 44 mounted on the frame (not shown) for generally vertical reciprocating movement, as indicated by the arrow 46, responsive to operation of a builder mechanism (not shown), all as is well understood in the field to which this invention pertains. The traveler and ring assembly 40 may be of the self-lubricating type such as those manufactured by Merriman Brothers Inc., I00 Industrial Park Road, Hingham, Mass, and sold by Leesona Corporation as Part No. 5 12-266-] 18X. This assembly will be described later.

The balloon ring 32 is part of a balloon ring assembly 48 which is mounted on the ring rail 44 for movement therewith. As illustrated, this mounting includes a bracket 50 partially embracing an upstanding lug 52, integral with a body 50 of the traveler and ring assembly 40, and fixed thereto as by a bolt 54. A generally horizontal flange 56 of the bracket 50 receives a body 58 of the balloon ring assembly 48 which is fixedly secured thereto as by bolts 60.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. l-4, the balloon ring assembly 48 may be identical to the traveler ring assembly 40 except that the upstanding mounting lug 52 is preferably eliminated since this lug would serve no useful function, and the traveler 34 is eliminated. The balloon ring assembly 48 includes the balloon ring 32 which is a member received within the body 58 which is split, as at 64, and the ring 62 is firmly clamped in place by a bolt 66 (FIG. 2) and a nut 68 received in a recess in the body 58. The split is machined to close tightly. A lubricant reservoir (FIGS. [-3) has a transparent top 72 and a filler plug 74 and is provided with a spongelike like pad 76 which controls the passage of the lubricant through a supply passage 78 (FIGS. 3 and 4), formed in the body 58, and into a channel 80. This channel 80 (FIG. 4) is formed by a recess 82 in the outer periphery of the ring 32 and an inner face 84 of the body 58 which abuts the ring. The ring 32 is preferably sintered steel and has a smooth, porous, circumferential inner surface 86 curved outwardly, as at 88 (FIG. 4) along the top of the ring, and if desired, the ring may be modified by provision of a similar curved surface (not shown) at the bottom ofthe ring. Lubricant passes through the channel 80 and about the ring 32, and through the pores in the sintered ring to the surface 86 of the ring. The portions of the ring 32 not engaged by the yarn 26, other than the recess 82, are preferably sealed, in a known manner, to prevent passage of the lubricant therethrough. Thus, as the yarn passes through the balloon ring 32 its surface engages the lubricated surface 86 of the ring thus reducing friction between these surfaces and also reducing heating of the yarn.

The lubricant may be any suitable nonloaded oil (an oil devoid of lards, fats, or other matter which would clog the pores of the ring), and a suitable oil is No. 1,209 Coning Oil, sold by New York and New Jersey Nonfluid Oil Corporation, 292 Madison Avenue, New York, New York. Alternatively, the ring surface, as 86, may be lubricated by water, but in this event it is preferable that the ring be a sintered bronze or other material which is not subject to rust or corrosion by the water. Similarly, any other suitable lubricant may be used in conjunction with a compatible ring.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the balloon ring assembly in which the previously described balloon ring 32 has been replaced by a nonporous ring 94 having small passageways in the form of tunnels 96 communicating with an annular channel 98 containing a wick 100 extending about the ring, generally as previously described, and terminating in ports opening through a yarn engaging surface 102 of the ring. Rings of this general type are known in the trade as Eadie rings, or Herr rings, and the illustrated ring may have any number of equally spaced tunnels 96 opening through the surface 102, for example four such tunnels each of about one thirty-second inch diameter.

In the following examples the yarns were run on Leesona Corporation ring twisters as previously noted.

EXAMPLE I A 2.25's/2-ply staple polyester carpet yarn when run at a spindle speed of 3,800 r.p.m. with two conventional steel rod balloon rings produced fused spots in the yarn. With oillubricated balloon rings as described with reference to FIGS. 1-4, satisfactory yarn devoid of fused spots was produced at a spindle speed of5,200 r.p.m.

EXAMPLE I] A 1,100-denier continuous filament Dacron when run at a spindle speed of 5,200 r.p.m. with a conventional balloon ring produced broken filaments due to hard twist. When run at the same speed with'an oil lubricated balloon ring as described with reference to FIGS. 1-4, no broken filaments resulted.

EXAMPLE 111 Two tests of 1,000-denier and 1,400-denier texture Dupont nylon produced broken filaments when run at a spindle speed of 5,200 r.p.m. with a conventional balloon ring. When run with an oil-lubricated balloon ring described with reference to FIGS. 14, no broken filaments were found at a spindle speed of 6,074 r.p.m.

EXAMPLE IV Nonfuming Dupont nylon deposited yarn spin finish on a conventional balloon ring at spindle speeds above 8,000 r.p.m. With the lubricated balloon ring described with reference to FIGS. 1-4, no such deposits were noted at 12,000 r.p.m.

While this invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments in a particular environment. various changes may be apparent to one skilled in the art and the invention is therefore not to be limited to such embodiments or environment except as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for controlling a ballooning portion ofa strand of yarn, comprising a balloon control ring having a generally circumferential surface for engaging and controlling ballooning of the ballooning portion of the strand, said ring including means for lubricating substantially the entire said surface of the ring engaged by the strand substantially independently of engagement of the strand with the ring, the lubricating means including a substantially continuous, porous ring body, and said surface being a surface of said ring body, and means mounting said balloon control ring with said surface positioned for engaging and controlling said ballooning portion of the strand.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the lubricating a generally annular chamber and extends substantially entirely about said portion.

5. A method of controlling a ballooning portion of a strand of yarn by means of a balloon control ring having a substantially continuous porous ring body with a generally circumferential surface for controlling ballooning of the strand, the method comprising the steps of engaging the ballooning portion of the strand with the surface, and passing lubricant through the pores of said body and onto substantially the entire said surface for lubricating said surface substantially independently of engagement of the strand with the surface.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 in which the ring has a portion remote from said surface, and in which the step of passing a lubricant through the ring includes passing the lubricant through said portion and the pores of the ring, and then through said surface.

Claims (6)

1. Apparatus for controlling a ballooning portion of a strand of yarn, comprising a balloon control ring having a generally circumferential surface for engaging and controlling ballooning of the ballooning portion of the strand, said ring including means for lubricating substantially the entire said surface of the ring engaged by the strand substantially independently of engagement of the strand with the ring, the lubricating means including a substantially continuous, porous ring body, and said surface being a surface of said ring body, and means mounting said balloon control ring with said surface positioned for engaging and controlling said ballooning portion of the strand.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the lubricating means includes means for applying a lubricant to a portion of the ring body remote from said surface and the pores of the ring body provide for passage of lubricant from said portion through the ring body to said surface.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which the lubricating means includes means defining a chamber about said portion and in communication therewith for delivering lubricant to said portion.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said chamber is a generally annular chamber and extends substantially entirely about said portion.

5. A method of controlling a ballooning portion of a strand of yarn by means of a balloon control ring having a substantially continuous porous ring body with a generally circumferential surface for controlling ballooning of the strand, the method comprising the steps of engaging the ballooning portion of the strand with the surface, and passing lubricant through the pores of said body and onto substantially the entire said surface for lubricating said surface substantially independently of engagement of the strand with the surface.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 in which the ring has a portion remote from said surface, and in which the step of passing a lubricant through the ring includes passing the lubricant through said portion and the pores of the ring, and then through said surface.

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