US3643298A

US3643298A - Steam crimping of yarn

Info

Publication number: US3643298A
Application number: US76433A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hayes J Schmick
Original assignee: Phillips Fibers Corp
Current assignee: Phillips Fibers Corp
Priority date: 1970-09-29
Filing date: 1970-09-29
Publication date: 1972-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-22

Abstract

An apparatus and method for uniformly crimping yarn by passing a yarn through a confined crimping zone and providing means in the crimping zone for interrupting the flow of steam streams against opposed sides of the yarn. Each steam stream intermittently contacts the yarn at uniformly spaced portions along the length of the yarn with one steam stream contacting the yarn at a medial location between the contacting locations of the other steam stream. The yarn is thereafter cooled and recovered in a relaxed condition.

Description

United States Patent Schmick Feb. 22, 1972 [54] STEAM CRIMPING OF YARN [72] Inventor: Hayes J. Schmick, Morrisville, NC.

[73] Assignee: Phillips Fibers Corporation [22] Filed: Sept. 29, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 76,433

[52] U.S. Cl ..28/l.4, 28/7212 [51] Int. Cl. ..D02g 1/16 [58] Field otSearch ..28/l.2,1.3,1.4, 72.1, 72.11, 28/7212; 57/34 B, 157 F [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,052,009 9/1962 Epstein et al. ..28/ 1.2 3,409,956 11/1968 Longbottom et a1. ..28/1.3

3,501,819 3/1970 Satterwhite ..28/1.3 3,525,134 8/1970 Coon ..28/1.4

Primary Examiner-Louis K. Rimrodt Attorney-Young and Quigg [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus and method for uniformly crimping yarn by passing a yarn through a confined crimping zone and providing means in the crimping zone for interrupting the flow of steam streams against opposed sides of the yarn. Each steam stream intermittently contacts the yarn at uniformly spaced portions along the length of the yarn with one steam stream contacting the yarn at a medial location between the contacting locations of the other steam stream. The yarn is thereafter cooled and recovered in a relaxed condition.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Pmlinrteza I812 3.643.298

INVENTOR.

H. J. SCHMICK F/G. 3 BY q"-"1* Q a? A T TORNEVS STEAM CRIMPING F YARN In the crimping of yarn by heretofore-utilized methods and apparatus, the crimped yarn often is of a generally low quality owing to the variations in the crimp along the length of the yarn and partial fracturing of portions of the yarn.

Gear crimpers and stuffer box crimpers previously gave a crimp with uniform frequency and amplitude, but these methods are too slow to be economical. My invention produces the frequency and amplitude uniformity of the gear crimper without physical contact of the yarn and the gears, thereby eliminating bruising and breakage of the yarn while simultaneously operating at the speed of jet crimpers.

This invention therefore resides in an apparatus and method for uniformly crimping yarn without fracturing the yarn by crimping the yarn with opposed jet steam streams and recovering the yarn in a relaxed position. The jet steam streams are caused to impinge upon the yarn passing through a crimping zone at uniformly spaced-apart locations along the length of the yarn by providing means for interrupting the flow of the steam streams. The means for interrupting steam flow is controlled to cause one steam stream to contact the yarn at a medial location between the contacting locations of the other steam stream thereby uniformly crimping the yarn in frequency and amplitude.

Other aspects, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a study of the disclosure, the appended claims, and the drawing.

The drawings are diagrammatic views of the apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 1 shows a frontal view of the apparatus of this invention with portions cut away,

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with portions of the apparatus cutaway, and

FIG. 3 shows a portion of another embodiment of an interrupting element.

Referring to FIG. 1, a yarn 2 is delivered at a substantial uniform speed by delivering means 4 to a confined crimping zone 6. The yarn can be of any synthetic material that can be crimped by contacting yarn 2 with heat and a lateral force. Examples of yarn that can be crimped by the method and apparatus of this invention are: polypropylene, nylon, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, and the like.

The delivery means 4 can be a fluid-operated jet which forwards the yarn 2 into crimping zone 6 of housing 1. The jet 4 is operated by a hot fluid such as steam from line 3 thereby preheating the yarn as it enters the housing 1. Details of construction of such jets for forwarding yarn are known in the art. It is important, however, that the rate at which yarn passes through the crimping zone 6 be substantially uniform in order to uniformly crimp the yarn over the entire length. The yarn can be fed to the delivery means 4 from a yarn-spinning assembly, draw rolls, a yarn package, or other process apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 2, first and

second jet nozzles

12, 14 are located in the crimping zone 6 on opposed sides of the yarn 2 passing through the crimping zone 6 from the delivery means 4. An

outlet end

16,18 of each

nozzle

12,14 is directed toward the yarn 2 and preferably one nozzle is spaced along the yarn a distance from the other nozzle in order to more easily provide for uniform operation of the apparatus at high speeds. A reservoir is connected to each of the

nozzles

12,14 for the passage of a stream of heated fluid, preferably steam, from the reservoir 20 and through each

jet nozzle

12,14.

A controlling means 22 is associated with each steam stream for intermittently discharging steam from each

nozzle

12 and 14 onto the yarn 2 at uniformly spaced-apart locations along the length of the yarn 2 during passage of the yarn 2 through the crimping zone 6. The controlling means 22 provides for discharging steam against the yarn from one of the nozzles, for example, the second nozzle 14, at locations on the yarn uniformly spaced between locations on the yarn 2 contacted by steam discharging from the opposed nozzle, for example the first nozzle 12. A means such as a tube 24 or other apparatus known in the art is thereafter positioned in the pathway of the yarn discharging from the crimping zone 6 for recovering and cooling the yarn in a substantially relaxed condition by, for example, forming a yarn plug in the tube 24. That tube 24 can extend between the

elements

26,28 to a position adjacent nozzle outlet end 18, as shown in FIG. 1, for assuring the flow of yarn into the tube 24. Housing 1 is substantially closed except for the openings of delivery and discharge of yarn 2 and is therefore under slight pressure due to the influx of steam a portion of which is exhausted through line 5 which can be controlled by means not shown.

A preferred embodiment of the controlling means 22 of the apparatus of this invention comprises first and second interrupting

elements

26,28. Each

element

26,28 preferably has a disclike configuration and is coaxially positioned relative to the other element. The

elements

26,28 can be independently synchronously rotated about their axes but preferably are fixedly attached one to the other, or are of unitary construction. The

elements

26,28 are positioned in the crimping zone 6 with each element extending between the yarn 2 and each elements associated jet nozzle. Each

element

26,28 has a plurality of spaced-apart openings 30 extending therethrough in a direction toward the yarn 2 with each opening 30 of each

element

26,28 being of substantially uniform configuration, spaced a common radial distance from; the common axis and spaced apart a common circumferential distance. Openings 30 and

nozzles

12 and 14 are preferably oriented about 45 toward the direction of travel of the yam 2 through the apparatus for providing a gentle forwarding of the yarn against the yarn plug. Each

element

26,28 is preferably maintained on the axis at a rotated position relative one to the other such that an opening of one element, for example element 26, is opposite a location on an equal circumferential distance between adjacent openings of the other element: 28. All openings 30 of the first and

second elements

26,28 are rotatable at a uniform peripheral speed to a common elevation of the yarn 2 and the associated

nozzles

12,14 by a power means 32 such as a constant speed electric motor, for example.

In order to uniformly crimp the yarn 2 to form a sinusoidal crimp configuration, it is preferred that the

elements

26,28 be rotated by the power means 32 at a uniform peripheral speed that is substantially equal to the lineal speed of the yarn entering the crimping zone 6. Depending upon yarn delivery speed, the openings 30 through each element are circumferentially positioned so that the rotational speed of the elements produces the sinusoidal period desired for the resultant yarn.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the

elements

26,28 wherein the elements have slots 31 formed therethrough and extending inwardly from the outer periphery of each element thereby forming the openings for the passage of the steam streams from

nozzles

12,14. These slots can be of V, rectangular, or other configuration for forming a crimp in the yarn which has a configuration desired by the operator. It can also be seen that the placement of the openings, relative to the yarn and element's speed, etc., can be varied to alter the configuration of the resultant crimped yarn.

In order to further control the uniformity of the crimp of the resultant yarn, the first and

second nozzles

12,14 each can have an opening extending therethrough that is of a common configuration and area and the nozzles can each be connected to the reservoir 20 by a

separate line

34,36 having a common inside diameter and being of substantially equal lengths for discharging a stream of steam from each nozzle with each stream having a substantially equal velocity and temperature. Where said lines and nozzles differ to a large degree, the force and temperature of the steam stream from one nozzle can crimp one portion of the yarn a noticeable amount more than the crimp caused by the other stream. It would, however, require relatively large stream variations to produce visible yarn crimp variations.

In the method of this invention, a preheated yarn 2 is uniformly crimped during passage of the yarn 2 through the crimping zone 6 at a substantially uniform speed. In the crimping zone 6 a first jet stream of steam is uniformly, intermittently impinged upon one side of the yarn and a second jet stream of steam is uniformly, intermittently impinged upon an opposed side of the yarn 2 at locations on the yarn uniformly spaced between locations on the yarn contacted by the first jet steam stream. The first and second jet steam streams have substantially equal velocities and temperatures. The temperature of each steam stream is maintained sufficiently high to plasticize the yarn in the crimping zone and the velocity of each steam stream is maintained sufficiently high to crimp the yarn in the crimping zone. After contacting the yarn with the first and second steam streams the yarn is cooled and recovered from the crimping zone in a substantially relaxed condition for maintaining the imparted crimp. By controlling the steam streams, the yarn can be crimped to form a substantially sinusoidal configuration.

This apparatus can be used, for example, for crimping nylon 66 yarn with superheated steam operating at about 130 C., polyethylene terephthalate with steam at about l65l75 C., and polypropylene with steam at about 1 l-l C., at yarn speeds of about 800 meters/minute, and steam pressure preferably in the range from about 50 to 150 p.s.i.g.

Other modifications and alterations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing discussion, example, and accompanying drawing, and it should be understood that this invention is not to be unduly limited thereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A method for uniformly crimping yarn, comprising:

passing a preheated yarn through a confined crimping zone at a substantially uniform speed;

uniformly, intermittently impinging in the crimping zone a first jet stream of heated fluid against one side of the yarn;

uniformly, intermittently impinging in the crimping zone a second jet stream of heated fluid against an opposed side of the yarn at locations on the yarn uniformly spaced between locations on the yarn contacted by the first jet stream, said first and second jet streams of heated fluid having substantially equal velocities and temperatures with said temperatures being sufficiently high to plasticize the yarn in the crimping zone and said velocities being sufficiently high to crimp the yarn in the crimping zone; and

cooling and recovering the yarn from the crimping zone in a substantially relaxed condition.

2. A method, as set forth in claim 1, including controlling the heated fluid streams for crimping the yarn in a substantially sinusoidal configuration.

3. An apparatus for uniformly crimping yarn, comprising:

a substantially closed housing having a fluid jet;

means for preheating and delivering yarn at a substantially uniform speed to a hereafter crimping zone;

first and second jet nozzles located in the crimping zone on opposed sides of the yarn passing through the crimping zone with an outlet of each nozzle being directed toward the yarn;

means for passing a heated fluid through the nozzles;

controlling means for intermittently discharging the heated fluid from each nozzle onto the yarn at uniformly spacedapart locations along the length of the yarn with one of the nozzles discharging the fluid against the yarn at locations on the yarn uniformly spaced between locations on the yarn contacted by fluid discharged from the other nozzle; and

means for recovering the yarn from the crimping zone in a substantially relaxed condition.

4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the controlling means comprises first and second interrupting elements each having a coaxial configuration and being rotatably mounted in the crimping zone with each element extending between the yarn and its associated nozzles, each element having a plurality of spaced-apart openings extending therethrough with each opening of each element being of substantially uniform configuration, spaced a common radial distance from the common axis and spaced apart a common circumferential distance and each element being maintained on the axis at a relative rotated position one from the other such that an opening of one element is opposite a location an equal circumferential distance between adjacent openings of the other element with all elements being rotatable to a common elevation of the yarn and that elements associated nozzle, and

power means for rotating the elements at a uniform peripheral speed.

5. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the power means rotates the elements at a uniform peripheral speed that is substantially equal to the lineal speed of the yarn entering the crimping zone.

6. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the interrupting elements have slots extending inwardly from the outer periphery of each element thereby forming the openings of the elements.

7. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the first and second nozzles each have an opening that is of common configuration and area and the nozzles are each connected to a steam reservoir by a separate line having common inside diameters and substantially equal length for discharging a stream of steam from each nozzle with each stream having a substantially equal velocity and temperature.

8. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the first and second jet nozzles are spaced along the yarn a distance one from the other.

9. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the spacedapart element openings and their associated nozzles are oriented about 45 toward the direction of travel of the yarn.

Claims

1. A method for uniformly crimping yarn, comprising: passing a preheated yarn through a confined crimping zone at a substantially uniform speed; uniformly, intermittently impinging in the crimping zone a first jet stream of heated fluid against one side of the yarn; uniformly, intermittently impinging in the crimping zone a second jet stream of heated fluid against an opposed side of the yarn at locations on the yarn uniformly spaced between locations on the yarn contacted by the first jet stream, said first and second jet streams of heated fluid having substantially equal velocities and temperatures with said temperatures being sufficiently high to plasticize the yarn in the crimping zone and said velocities being sufficiently high to crimp the yarn in the crimping zone; and cooling and recovering the yarn from the crimping zone in a substantially relaxed condition.

3. An apparatus for uniformly crimping yarn, comprising: a substantially closed housing having a fluid jet; means for preheating and delivering yarn at a substantially uniform speed to a hereafter crimping zone; first and second jet nozzles located in the crimping zone on opposed sides of the yarn passing through the crimping zone with an outlet of each nozzle being directed toward the yarn; means for passing a heated fluid through the nozzles; controlling means for intermittently discharging the heated fluid from each nozzle onto the yarn at uniformly spaced-apart locations along the length of the yarn with one of the nozzles discharging the fluid against the yarn at locations on the yarn uniformly spaced between locations on the yarn contacted by fluid discharged from the other nozzle; and means for recovering the yarn from the crimping zone in a substantially relaxed condition.

4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the controlling means comprises first and second interrupting elements each having a coaxial configuration and being rotatably mounted in the crimping zone with each element extending between the yarn and its associated nozzles, each element having a plurality of spaced-apart openings extending therethrough with each opening of each element being of substantially uniform configuration, spaced a common radial distance from the common axis and spaced apart a common circumferential distance and each element being maintained on the axis at a relative rotated position one from the other such that an opening of one element is opposite a location an equal circumferential distance between adjacent openings of the other element with all elements being rotatable to a common elevation of the yarn and that element''s associated nozzle, and power means for rotating the elements at a uniform peripheral speed.

9. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the spaced-apart element openings and their associated nozzles are oriented about 45* toward the direction of travel of the yarn.