US3905075A

US3905075A - Noise reduction and heat zone separation system

Info

Publication number: US3905075A
Application number: US503905A
Authority: US
Inventors: Beryl Aaron Boggs; James Judson Cooksey; Jr Harry Lee Newell; John Walter Showers
Original assignee: Allied Chemical Corp
Current assignee: Allied Corp
Priority date: 1974-09-06
Filing date: 1974-09-06
Publication date: 1975-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-16

Abstract

A noise reduction and heat zone separation system for use in conjunction with a draw point localizing jet which has a yarn passage therethrough with at least one fluid conduit to deliver treating fluid thereto and an adjacent access slot to facilitate string-up. The system has a baffle which slides transversely to the direction of and is located between the entrance and exit ends of the yarn passage, to one side of the draw point localizing jet. The baffle slides in one direction to trip the movement of noise damping elements to form a seal with the access slot and slides in the other direction to trip the movement of the noise damping elements into a retracted position for stringup.

Description

[4 1 Sept. 16, 1975 NOISE REDUCTION AND HEAT ZONE SEPARATION SYSTEM Inventors: Beryl Aaron Boggs, Chester; James Judson Cooksey, Colonial Heights; Harry Lee Newell, Jr., Richmond, all of Va.; John Walter Showers,

Raleigh, NC.

Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation, New

York, NY.

Filed: Sept. 6, 1974 Appl. No.: 503,905

US. Cl 28/1.4; 28/71.3; 181/33 K Int. CL' i. D02G 1/16 Field of Search 28/1.4, 59.5, 71.3;

Gonsalves 28/1.4

3,543,358 12/1970 Breen et al. 28/1.4 X 3,694,872 10/1972 Sundbeck 28/7l.3 3,713,509 l/l973 Carroll 28/1.4 X

Primary ExaminerL0uis K. Rimrodt Attorney, Agent, or FirmPatrick L. Henry 5 7 ABSTRACT A noise reduction and heat zone separation system for use in conjunction with a draw point localizing jet which has a yarn passage therethrough with at least one fluid conduit to deliver treating fluid thereto and an adjacent access slot to facilitate string-up. The system has a baffle which slides transversely to the direction of and is located between the entrance and exit ends of the yarn passage, to one side of the draw point localizing jet. The baffle slides in one direction to trip the movement of noise damping elements to form a seal with the access slot and slides in the other direction to trip the movement of the noise damping elements into a retracted position for stringup.

27 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED SEP 1 6 a 3,905 O75 sum 5 [IF 5 FIG. 6

CLOSED FIG] EXTENDED NOISE REDUCTION AND HEAT ZONE SEPARATION SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for noise reduction and heat zone separation in a yarn treating system. In particular, it relates to a noise reduction and heat zone separation system to be used in conjunction with a yarn treating jet for the continuous fluid treatment of running ends of yarn. The jet has yarn passages, with adjacent access slots to facilitate stringup, as well as fluid conduits in comminication with each of the yarn passages to deliver the treating fluid.

Throughout the present specification and claims, the term yarn is employed in a general sense to indicate a continuous, often plied, strand composed of fibers, filaments, glass, metal, asbestos, paper, or plastic, or a noncontinuous strand such as staple, and the like. An end is one or a contiguous group of such strands of yarn. The treating fluid to be used may be virtually any gas which approaches ideal gas behavior, such as air, steam, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, etc.

Jets have become widely used in recent years for the treatment of industrial and textile yarns, and different jets are used for the various end uses with specific designs having been developed according to the yarn treatment to be effected. Fluid jets have been utilized for such diverse yarn treating operations as conveying, projecting or exerting tension twisting, crimping by treatment in a turbulent zone, fluffing by using air streams, localizing the draw point, or otherwise agitating or treating the yarn by means of treating fluid. All of these jets utilize a fluid which issues therefrom at high speed, thereby creating an extremely high noise level which may harm people who are in the general vicinity of the treatment apparatus. The problem may be further compounded when the treatment comprises a series of fluid treating jets and/or when a plurality of treatment positionsare operated simultaneously. An additional problem arises when the treating fluid is heated. If heat is essential to the treatment being effected in the fluid jet, any heat issuing therefrom may adversly affect the yarn prior to its entry into the jet.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,127,729, 3,167,847, 3,363,294, 3,394,440 and 3,713,509 relate to various noise suppressors for yarn treating jets. US. Pat. No. 3,296,679 relates to string-up slot closure of a fluid nozzle. The most common method employed to reduce the high noise levels and heat accompanying the operation of a fluid jet assembly is to substantially enclose the yarn treating jet or its exit end with a sound absorbing material and to remove heat and/or fluid by exhaust ports. The initial replacement of existing units is expensive and can be difficult due to restricted equipment space. Also, noise reducing covers are bulky, require a considerable amount of work to fabricate, and are not easily installed.

The noise attendant the operation of a fluid treating jet which has a yarn passage therethrough with an adjacent access slot issues from the yarn passage primarily via its exit end and the adjacent access slot. Sealing of the access slot during treatment should reduce the level of noise issuing therefrom as well as redirect any unabsorbed noise toward the exit end of the yarn passage, thereby changing its noise level. It is important to note that the sealing of the access slot by closure plate of US. Pat. No. 3,296,679 relies upon the slideability of the closure plate and gravity. The reliance upon gravity to seal the access slot seriously restricts the positioning of the yarn treating jet, and may necessitate the repositioning of other treatment apparatus relative to the yarn treatment jet.

None of the prior art patents teach the apparatus of the present invention for noise reduction and heat Zone separation in a yarn treating system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a noise reduction and heat zone separation system for use in conjunction with a yarn treating jet which has at least one yarn passage therethrough with an adjacent access slot to facilitate string-up. The essential elements are noise reducing and heat directing means and heat zone separating means. The noise reducing and heat directing means comprises mounting means, noise damping means, and means for urging wedges in the access slots to form a seal. The noise damping means has first pivot means thereon adapted for connection to the mounting means and about which the noise damping means can pivot. The noise damping means also has at least one wedge projecting therefrom. The number of wedges corresponds to the number of access slots and are centered thereon when the noise damping means pivots about its first pivot means so that the wedges face the access slots. The noise damping means can pivot about its first pivot means in one direction until its wedges mate with the access slots and in the other direction until access to the yarn passage of the yarn treating jet is cleared. The means for urging the wedges of the noise damping means in the access slots to form a seal is triggered by the pivot of the noise damping means which results in the wedges mating with the access slots. The heat zone separating means comprises at least one baffle, the plane of which extends transversely to the general direction of the yarn passage and is located to one side of the yarn treating jet. At least one of the baffles is ca pable of moving in a direction transverse to that of the yarn passage and includes actuating means which trips the pivot of the noise damping means about its first pivot means when the baffle is moved. When the actuating means trips the pivot of the noise damping means about its first pivot means so that the wedges seal the access slots, the Wedges absorb some of the noise produced by the yarn treating jet and force any unabsorbed noise to exit from the exit end of the yarn treating jet, thereby lowering the noise level. Additionally, the sealing of the access slots by the wedges forces any heat produced by the yarn treating jet to exit from the exit end thereof, and this exiting heat is confined downstream of the entrance end of the yarn jet by the baffle. The actuating means also trips the pivot of the noise damping means about its first pivot means so that the wedges disengage from the access slots and thereby clear access to the yarn passages of the yarn treating jet for string-up. The heat reducing and noise directing means and the heat zone separating means of the present invention are preferably used in conjunction with one another in combination with a draw point localizing jet in a draw zone for effective muffling of noise and directing of heat which are produced during treatment. They may, however, be used in combination with other systems. The heat reducing and noise directing means can be manually actuated, thereby obviating the need of the heat zone separating means, for use in combination with a system which does not necessarily produce a great deal of heat or wherein heat may not adversely affect treatment.

In a preferred embodiment, the noise reduction and heat zone separation system of the present invention is used in combination with a yarn draw panel of the type wherein advancing yarn is subjected to pressurized, superheated fluid flow utilizing a draw point localizing jet and is subsequently subjected to further treatment and/or is wound up. The draw point localizing jet has at least one yarn passage vertically therethrough, with an adjacent access slot to facilitate string-up, and has fluid conduits for admitting treating fluid into each of the yarn passage(s). The access slot is on the side of the draw point localizing jet farthest away from the draw panel. The essential elements are noise reducing and heat directing means and heat zone separating means. The noise reducing and heat directing means comprises a mounting plate, a seal of heat resistant and noise absorbent material, a seal support plate, and spring urging means. The mounting plate has means for securing it to the draw point localizing jet. The seal has a strength equal to at least the length of the access slot and has one side which is shaped so as to close the access slot when brought into communication therewith. The seal support plate has two brackets at one end which extend in the plane thereof and which are farther apart than the height of the mounting plate. The seal support plate has first pivot means thereon adapted for connection through one end of the mounting plate to both of the brackets and about which the seal support plate can pivot; the pivot of the seal support plate about its first pivot means, in one direction causes the seal support plate to face the side of the draw point localizing jet having the access slot, and in the other direction causes the seal support plate to clear access to the draw point localizing jet. The side of the seal support plate which faces the access slot when the seal support plate is piv oted about its first pivot means in that direction has a groove therein. Into the groove is secured the seal with its side which is shaped so as to close the access slot facing the access slot. The seal support plate also has a lever extending from the side opposite to that with the groove. The spring urging means comprises a spring guide, a pin, a shield, and a compression spring. The spring guide is located above the upper bracket of the seal support plate and is attached thereto by second pivot means about which the seal support plate can pivot; the axis of the second pivot means is parallel to that of the first pivot means. To the spring guide is secured a pin with its axis transverse to that of the second pivot means. The shield has means for securing it to the mounting plate and also has a downwardly extending lip; the lip has a slot therein which is significantly wider than the pin. The compression spring, the diameter of which is greater than that of the pin and greater than the height of the slot, is located between the spring guide and the slot, and has the pin passing completely therethrough and into the slot. The shield covers the pin and the compression spring no matter what position they assume when the seal support plate pivots about its first and second pivot means. The spring urging means urges the seal support plate in a maximum pivot about its first and second pivot means when the lever is contacted. The heat zone separating means comprises two baffles, means for slideably supporting one of the baffles, and two fingers. The two baffles are cated on the side of the draw point localizing jet to which the mounting plate is secured and their planes extend transversely to the yarn passage of the draw point localizing jet. One of the baffles is fixedly secured, and means are provided for slideably supporting the baffle which is not fixedly secured so that it can be moved in a direction transverse to the yarn passage. The two fingers extend in the same general direction from and have means for securing them to the slidably supported baffle. The fingers are of a sufficient length and positioned such that the lever of the seal support plate is located therebetween. When the slideably supported baffle is pulled forward, one of the fingers contacts the lever, thereby resulting in the closing and sealing of the access slot by the seal due to the spring urged pivot of the seal support plate in that direction. The seal functions to absorb some of the noise produced by the draw point localizing jet and to cause any unabsorbed noise as well as any heat produced to exit from the exit end of the draw point localizing yet where the heat is confined downstream of the entrance end of the draw point localizing jet by the baffles. When the slideably supported baffle is pushed inward, the other finger contacts the lever, thereby resulting in the clearing of access to the yarn treating system due to the spring urged pivot of the seal support plate in that direction for safer string-up.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. I is a schematic side view of the draw panel with the apparatus in its operative position;

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the draw panel omitting the noise reducing and heat directing means 21;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus in its operative position;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the apparatus in its operative position;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus in its operative position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 7 with the heat zone separating means 40 in its inoperative (retracted) position; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 3 of the heat zone separating means 40 in its operative position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With reference to the accompanying drawings, like numbers indicate like apparatus. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, a single yarn end 12 is strung-up and drawn in a draw point localizing jet 15. During the drawing operation, noise produced by the draw point localizing jet 15 is muffled by the noise reducing and heat directing means 21, and heat is prevented from adversely affecting the undrawn yarn by both the noise reducing and heat directing means 21 and the heat zone separating means 40.

With reference to FIGS. land 2, it will be seen that draw panel 10 is provided for supporting and maintaining in proper position feed Godet rolls l3 and 13', draw point localizingjet support 14, draw Godet rolls 56 and 56, and the heat zone separating means 40. For each draw panel position, there are two panel position divid ers 39 and 39 which extend perpendicularly out from the draw panel 10 in a vertical plane on either side of the treating apparatus. Further discussion is directed to one of such draw panel positions. The draw panel is stepped, thereby creating an overhang 1 1. Draw Godet rolls 56 and 56 and feed Godet rolls 13 and 13 are mounted, respectively, above and below the overhang 11 on the draw panel 10, and extend outwardly therefrom in a plane parallel to the overhang 11; the length of each Godet roll is approximately 1.4 times the length of the overhang 11. The feed Godet rolls 13 and 13' and the draw Godet rolls 56 and 56 are driven by means (not shown) in a clockwise direction. The draw point localizing jet support 14 is secured by two bolts (not shown) to the draw panel 10 between the overhang 1 1 and feed Godet roll 13. The draw point localiz ing jet 15 is secured by two bolts (not shown to the draw point localizing jet support 14, thereby locating it between feed Godet roll 13 and draw Godet roll 56 with its exit end below a plane coincident with the overhang 11.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 5, the draw point 10- calizing jet 15 has a cylindrical yarn passage 16 vertically therethrough which is centered on the path of yarn end 12 from feed Godet roll 13 to draw Godet roll 56. To facilitate string-up, the yarn passage 16 has an adjacent access slot 17 on the side of the draw point 10- calizing jet l5 farthest away from the draw point localizing jet support 14. There are fluid conduits (not shown) which open on the yarn passage 16 to admit treating fluid supplied by a fluid manifold (not shown). Heat

resistant plates

19 and 19 are secured by screws (not shown) on either side of the access slot 17 to the draw point localizing jet 15. The heat resistant plates 19 and 19' are beveled next to the access slot 17 to form a 90 angle with one another; otherwise, their perimeters coincide with the side of the draw point localizing jet 15 to which they are secured.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the noise reducing and heat directing means 21 comprises a mounting plate 22, a wedge support plate 25, a wedge 29 of heat resistant and noise absorbent material, a spring guide 31, a shield 34, and a compression spring 38. The mounting plate 22 is secured by two screws 23 and 23' through a laminated shim 24 to the side of the draw point localizingjet 15 to the right of the side having the access slot 17. The wedge support plate 25 has two

parallel brackets

26 and 26 extending in the plane thereof which are far enough apart to place the forward end of the mounting plate 22 therebetween. A first dowel pin 27' passes through the forward end of the mounting plate 22 with its axis perpendicular to and its ends secured in

brackets

26 and 26. Wedge support plate 25 pivots laterally with respect to the traveling yarn path on first dowel pin 27; when pivoted clockwise, the side of the wedge support plate 25 which faces the draw point 10- calizing jet 15 has a groove 28 therein which is centered on and extends in the same direction as the access slot 17. A wedge 29 of heat resistant and noise absorbent material is secured into the groove 28; the exposed edge of the wedge 29 which faces the access slot 17 has an angle of 90 or less, preferably 60. The groove 28 may, for example, be a dovetail groove, and the laminated shim 24 may be used to center wedge 29 on the access slot 17. On the side of the wedge support plate 25 opposite to that with the groove 28, a lever 30 extends outwardly and to the right from the lower bracket 26' at an angle of approximately 135 with respect to the Wedge support plate 25. The spring guide 31 is connected to the top of the upper bracket 26 by a second dowel pin 32 which passes therethrough and about which the wedge support plate 25 can pivot; the second dowel pin 32 passes through the upper bracket 26 with its axis parallel to that of the first dowel pin 27 but closer than that of the first dowel pin 27 to the end of the upper bracket 26. One of the sides of the spring guide 31 is flat and supports a cylindrical pin 33, the axis of which is perpendicular to that of the second dowel pin 32. The shield 34 is secured by two

screws

35 and 35 to the top of the mounting plate 22, from which it curves up and then to the right before flattening out. The height of the shield 34 between its curved portions is slightly greater than the combined thicknesses of the upper bracket 26 and the spring guide 31. On the side closest to the draw panel 10, the shield 34 has a downwardly extending lip 36 with a slot 37 therein which is significantly wider than the diameter of the cylindrical pin 33; the cylindrical pin 33 passes through a compression spring 38 and into the slot 37. As the diameter of the compression spring 38 is large enough to prevent its entrance into the slot 37, the compression spring 38 bears against the lip 36 and against the flat end of spring guide 31. With reference to FIG. 5, it can be seen that the shield 34 is in contact with and curves up and to the right from less than half of the top of the mounting plate 22 and that this half of the top of the mounting plate 22 is that which is closer to the draw panel 10; the flat portion of the shield 34, however, extends outward and over part of the top of the mounting plate 22. The spring guide 31 describes an are which will be more fully explained later. The flattened portion of the shield 34 is designed so as to cover the cylindrical pin 33 and the compression spring 38 no matter what position in this are the spring guide 31 assumes. The shield 34 thus prevents yarn from contacting and subsequently becoming entangled in the compression spring 38 and the cylindrical pin 33.

The heat zone separating means 40 comprises a back support plate 41, a left-hand track 42, a right-hand track 45, and a sliding baffle 49. The back support plate 41 is located directly beneath and parallel to the overhang 11. The plane of the back support plate 41 is bounded on the left by the mounting plate 22 and on the right by the panel position divider 39, and extends outwardly from the draw panel 10 approximately five to six inches beyond the overhang 11. The left-hand track 42, which is U-shaped with its open side facing to the right to form a groove 43, is located directly beneath the left-hand side of the back support plate 41; it extends outwardly from the draw panel 10 for the same distance as the back support plate 41. The back support plate 41 is secured to the left-hand track 42 by two screws (not shown), and they are both secured to the overhang 11 by two screws (also not shown) which pass from the left-hand track 42 through the back support plate 41 into the overhang 11. The screws do not interfere with the operation of the groove 43, which will be explained below. The left-hand track 42 has a stop 44 welded onto the bottom of the groove 43 at its most outward part. This stop 44, which extends back along the groove 43 approximately one inch, is less than half as high as the groove 43. The right-hand track 45, which is U-shaped with its open side facing to the left to form a groove 46, is located directly beneath the right-hand side of the back support plate 41; it extends from the draw panel 10 for a distance corresponding to that of the left-hand track 42. The back support plate 41 is secured to the right-hand track 45 by two screws (not shown), and they are both held in place by two screws (also not shown) which pass from the righthand track 45 into the panel position divider 39'. These screws do not interfere with the operation of the groove 46. The right-hand track 45 also has a stop 47 welded onto the bottom of its respective groove 46, which is similar to and exactly the same distance from the draw panel 10 as the stop 44 welded onto the bottom of the groove 43 of the left-hand track 42. With reference to FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, the portion of the back support plate 41 which extends outwardly beyond the overhang 11 has riveted to its underside an insulator plate 48 which butts up against the left-hand 42 and the right-hand 45 tracks. The sliding baffle 49 slides along the

grooves

43 and 46 in a direction transverse to the traveling yarn; to prevent its sliding completely out of the

grooves

43 and 46, the sliding baffle 49 has on the underside of its far end two stops 50 and 50 (50' is not shown) which are similar to

stops

44 and 47 and which fit in the

grooves

46 and 43, respectively. Thus, when the sliding baffle 49 is pulled outwardly, the

stops

50 and 50 contact, respectively, the

stops

47 and 44 to halt further outward movement. The length of the sliding baffle 49 is approximately equal to that of the back support plate 41. An angle 51 is secured to the outer end of the sliding baffle 49 with one leg facing up, perpendicular to the plane of the sliding baffle 49. A handle 53, which extends downwardly, is secured by two screws (not shown) to the sliding baffle 49 beneath the angle 51. To the underside of the sliding baffle 49 is riveted an insulator plate 52 which butts up against the entrance to

grooves

43 and 46. Two

parallel fingers

54 and 55 are provided on the underside of the sliding baf fle 49. Each

finger

54 and 55 comprises an angle, the long leg of which is secured by two

screws

57 and 57 to the sliding baffle 49 and the short leg of which curves down at an angle of approximately 90. The

fingers

54 and 55, whose longitudinal axes are coincident with the width of the sliding baffle 49, are placed with their short legs closer to the left hand side of the sliding baffle 49. The short legs of

fingers

54 and 55 have the lever 30 of the noise reducing and heat directing means 21 disposed therebetween; the forward finger 54 contacts the lever 30 when the sliding baffle 49 is pushed inward, and the backward finger 55 contacts the lever 30 when the sliding baffle 49 is pulled outward.

With reference to FIG. 5, the lateral pivot of the wedge support plate about the first 27 and second 32 dowel pins causes the spring guide 31 to describe an arc whose radius is determined by the distance between the first 27 and second 32 dowel pins; the boundaries of the are are determined by the maximum pivot of the wedge support plate 25, i.e., the wedge support plate 25 pivots clockwise until the wedge 29 seals the access slot 17 of the draw point localizing jet 15, and pivots counterclockwise until its lever contacts the backward finger 55 of the sliding baffle 49.

When the planes of the wedge support plate 25 and the mounting plate 22 are in alignment, maximum compression of the compression spring 38 results; hereinafter this will be referred to as the neutral position. Lateral movement of the wedge support plate 25 by its lever 30 out of the neutral position releases the compression spring 38; this forces the spring guide 31 to complete its arc, which in turn, compels the wedge support plate 25 to achieve a maximum pivot. When the lateral movement is clockwise, the spring guide 31 completes its arc to the right and forward, compelling the wedge support plate 25 to continue moving clockwise until the wedge 29 seals the access slot 17. The sliding baffle 49 is fully extended. Hereinafter this will be referred to as the operative position. When the lateral movement is counterclockwise, the spring guide 31 completes its arc to the left and backward, compelling the wedge support plate 25 to continue moving counterclockwise until its lever 30 contacts the backward finger 55 of the sliding baffle 49. The sliding baffle 49 is fully retracted. Hereinafter this will be referred to as the inoperative, or string-up position.

Yarn end 12, which is supplied from an unshown source, is passed over the feed Godet rolls l3 and 13, strung-up through the draw point localizing jet 15, passed over the draw Godet rolls 56 and 56', and then strung-up through further process apparatus (unshown). Treatment has not yet begun, and the noise reducing and heat directing means 21 and the heat zone separating means 40 are in the inoperative position. The operator now pulls the sliding baffle 49 outward until fully extended, by means of its handle 53; the backward finger 55, which is in contact with the lever 30, moves the lever 30 and consequently the wedge support plate 25 in a clockwise lateral pivot about the first 27 and second 32 dowel pins until the neutral position is achieved and passed, thus forcing the wedge 29 to seal the access slot 17 of the draw point localizing jet 15 in the operative position. Treatment is now begun. The treating fluid passes through the fluid conduits (not shown) to impinge upon yarn end 12 as it passes through the yarn passage 16 of the draw point localiz ing jet 15. The treating fluid is preferably pressurized, superheated steam. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the access slot 17 has been sealed by the wedge 29, which not only forces the heat produced during treatment to exhaust from the exit end of the draw point localizing jet 15, but also any unabsorbed accompanying noise; this deflection lowers the noise level. The draw Godet rolls 56 and 56' are driven in a clockwise direction, and as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2, the heated air exiting from the draw point localizing jet 15 tends to circulate up and over the draw Godet rolls 56 and 56 and then downward. The back support plate 41 and the fully extended sliding baffle 49 function to restrict the heated air to a zone where it can only contact the yarn end 12 after the yarn end 12 has exited from the draw point lo calizing jet 15; this prevents the heated air from contacting the yarn end 12 prior to its entrance into the draw point localizing jet 15 and from possibly adversely affecting the localization of its draw point. Any condensing spin finish vapor which may fall on the sliding baffle 49 will be prevented from dripping off the front end of the sliding bafl'le 49 by the angle 51. When treatment is stopped, the operator removes any fluid which has collected at the angle 51 and then pushes inward on handle 53 until the sliding baffle 49 is fully retracted. The forward finger 54 contacts and moves the lever 30 and consequentially the wedge support plate 25 in a counterclockwise lateral pivot about the first 27 and second 32 dowel pins until the neutral position is achieved and passed, thus disengaging the wedge 29 from the access slot 17 in the inoperative position. The

noise reducing and heat directing means 21 have left clear access to the draw point .localizing jet 15, and the sliding baffle 49 is fully retracted to provide a safe working area during cleaning and string-up of the process equipment.

The materials of construction are preferably as follows: for the wedge, a fluorocarbon elastomer such as Viton, or a metal as aluminum or stainless steel; for the heat resistant plates and insulator plates, an asbestosfree insulating material such as compressed mineral wool, or Transite; for the laminated shim, a metal such as brass; for the screws, stainless steel or carbon steel plated with black oxide to prevent corrosion; for the spring, stainless steel; for the handle and the angle, a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel, with a glass blast finish; for the stops, a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel, with a lubricated surface such as teflon; and for the remainder of the apparatus, a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel.

While the invention has been described primarily in conjunction with the muffling of noise and the directing of heat in a draw point localizing jet with a single access slot, it is not intended to exclude the muffling of noise and the directing of heat in other kinds of noise and/or heat producing jets, provided they have at least one access slot. Various modifications and other advantages will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and it is intended that this invention be limited only as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a yarn draw panel of the type wherein advancing yarn is subjected to pressurized, superheated fluid flow utilizing a draw point localizing jet and is subsequently subjected to further treatment and/or is wound up, and wherein said draw point localizing jet has at least one yarn passage vertically there through with an adjacent access slot to facilitate stringup and has fluid conduits for admitting treating fluid into each of said yarn passage(s), said access slot being on the side of said draw point localizing jet farthest away from said draw panel, the improvement comprising:

A. noise reducing and heat directing means, said noise reducing and heat directing means comprising:

a. a mounting plate, said mounting plate having means for securing it to said draw point localizing j b. a seal of heat resistant and noise absorbent material, the length of said seal being at least equal to the length of said access slot, said seal having one side which is shaped so as to close said access slot when brought into communication therewith;

c. a seal support plate, said seal support plate having two brackets at one end which extend in the plane of said seal support plate, the distance between said brackets being greater than the height of said mounting plate, said seal support plate having first pivot means thereon adapted for connection through one end of said mounting plate to both of said brackets and about which said seal support plate can pivot, the pivot of said seal support plate about said first pivot means in one direction causing said seal support plate to face the side of said draw point localizing jet having said access slot and in the other direction causing said seal support plate to clear access to draw point localizing jet, the side of said seal support plate facing said access slot when said seal support plate pivots about said first pivot means in that direction having a groove therein, said seal being secured in said groove so that the side which is shaped so as to close said access slot faces said access slot, said seal support plate having a lever extending from the side of said seal support opposite to that with said groove; and

d. spring urging means, said spring urging means comprisinga spring guide, a pin, a shield, and a compression spring, said spring guide being located above the upper bracket of said seal support plate and being attached thereto by second pivot means about which said seal support plate can pivot, the axis of said second pivot means being parallel to the axis of said first pivot means, said spring guide having secured thereto said pin the axis of which is transverse to the axis of said second pivot means, said shield having means for securing it to said mounting plate and having a downwardly extending lip, said lip having a slot therein which is significantly wider that said pin, the diameter of said compression spring being greater than that of said pin and greater than the height of said slot, said compression spring being located between said spring guide and said slot with said pin passing completely therethrough and into said slot, said shield covering said pin and said compression spring no matter what position they assume when said seal support plate pivots about said first and second pivot means, said spring urging means urging said seal support plate in a maximum pivot about its first and second pivot means when said lever is contacted; and

B. heat zone separating means, said heat zone separating means comprising:

a. two baffles, the planes of said baffles extending transversely to said yarn passage, said baffles being located on the side of said draw point localizing jet to which said mounting plate is secured, one of said baffles being fixedly secured;

b. means for slideably supporting the baffle which is not fixedly secured so that it can be moved in a direction transverse to said yarn passage; and

c. two fingers, said fingers extending in the same general direction from and having means for securing them to the baffle which is slideably supported, said fingers being of sufficient length and positioned such that said lever is located therebetween; whereby when the slideably supported baffle is pulled forward said seal is actuated to close and seal said access slot due to the spring urged pivot of said seal support plate in that direction resulting from contact of one of said fingers with said lever and functions to absorb some of the noise produced by said draw point localizing jet and to cause any unabsorbed noise as well as any heat produced to exit from the exit end of said draw localizing jet where said heat is confined downstream of the entrance of said draw point localizing jet by said baffles, and whereby said slideably supported baffle is pushed inward said seal is actuated to disengage from said access slot due to the spring urged pivot of said seal support plate in that direction resulting from contact of the other of said fingers with said lever and functions to clear access to the yarn heating system for safer string-up.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said seal is wedge-shaped and is formed of a fluorocarbon elastomer such as Viton.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said groove is a dovetail groove.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the means for slideably supporting said slideably supported baffle is secured along with said baffle which is fixedly secured to said draw panel, and wherein said slideably supported baffle has means for preventing its disengagement with the means which supports it as well as a handle and an upwardly turned angle, said handle and said angle being secured to one end of said slidably supported baffle with said handle being provided for pushing and pulling said slideably supported baffle and said angle functioning to prevent any fluid which may collect on said slideably supported baffie from dripping off said end to which said angle is secured.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein a laminated shim is located between said draw point localizing jet and said mounting plate and functions to center said seal on said access slot.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said baffles and the side of said draw point localizing jet having said access slot have an asbestosfree insulating material such as compressed mineral wool, or Transite, secured thereto which does not interfere with their operation.

7. A noise reduction and heat zone separation system for use in conjunction with a yarn treating jet, said jet having at least one yarn passage therethrough which has an adjacent access slot to facilitate string-up, said noise reduction and heat zone separation system comprising:

a. mounting means;

b. noise damping means, said noise damping means having first pivot means thereon adapted for connection to said mounting means and about which said noise damping means can pivot, said noise damping means having at least one wedge projecting therefrom, the number of said wedges corresponding to the number of said access slots and being centered thereof when said noise damping means pivots about said first pivot means so that said wedges face said access slots, said noise damping means pivoting about said first pivot means in one direcrion until said wedges mate with said access slots and in the other direction until access to said yarn passage of said yarn treating jet is cleared; and means for urging said wedges in said access slots to form a seal, said means for urging said wedges in said access slots to form a seal being triggered by the pivot of said noise damping means about said first pivot means which results in said wedges mating with said access slots; and B. heat zone separating means, said heat zone separating means comprising at least one baffle, the

planes of said bafi'les extending transversely to the general direction of said yarn passage and being located to the side of said yarn treating jet, at least one of said baffles being capable of moving in a direction transverse to that of said yarn passage and including actuating means, said actuating means tripping the pivot of said noise damping means about said first pivot means when its respective baffle is moved; whereby said wedges seal said access slots to absorb some of the noise produced by said yarn treating jet and force any unabsorbed noise as well as any heat produced by said yarn treating jet to exit from the exit end thereof to thereby lower the noise level, and said baffle confines any of the exiting heat downstream of the entrance end of said yarn treating jet when said actuating means trips the pivot of said noise damping means about said first pivot means in that direction, and whereby said wedges disengage from said access slots to clear access to said yarn passage of said yarn treating jet for string-up when said actuating means trips the pivot of said noise damping means about said pivot means in that direction.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for urging said wedges in said access slots to form a seal in spring urging means.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said noise damping means has second pivot means thereon adapted for connection to said spring urging means and about which said noise damping means can pivot.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said noise damping means has a lever extending therefrom and wherein said actuating means is two fingers which extend in the same general direction from and have means for securing them to one of the baffles which moves, said fingers being of sufficient length and positioned such that said lever is located therebetween, whereby when the baffle to which said fingers are secured moves in one direction one of said fingers contacts said lever to cause the pivot of said noise damping means about said first pivot means so that said wedges seal said access slots and when said baffle to which said fingers are secured moves in the other direction the other of said fingers contacts said lever to cause the pivot of said noise damping means about first pivot means so that access to said yarn treating jet is cleared.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said noise damping means comprises a wedge support plate, and wherein said wedges are separate pieces of heat resistant and noise absorbent material which are secured to said wedge support plate, said wedge support plate having said first pivot means thereon adapted for connection to said mounting means and about which said wedge support plate can pivot.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said means for urging said wedges in said access slots to form a seal is spring urging means.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said wedge support plate has second pivot means thereon adapted for connection to said spring urging means and about which said wedge support plate can pivot, said spring urging means comprising a spring guide, a pin, a shield, and a compression spring, said spring guide being attached to said wedge support plate by said second pivot means, said spring guide having secured thereto said pin, said shield having means for securing it to said mounting means and having a lip, said lip having a slot therein, the dimensions of said slot being such.

that said compression spring cannot pass through said slot and said pin can pass into and move laterally in said slot, said compression spring having a diameter greater .than that of said pin and being located between said spring guide and said slot with said pin passing completely therethrough and into said slot, said shield covering said pin and said compression spring no matter what position they assume when said wedge support plate pivots about its said first and second pivot means,

said spring urging means functioning to urge said wedges against said access slots when said wedge support plate pivots about its said first and second pivot means in that direction and to urge said wedge support plate to clear access to said yarn passage of said yarn treating jet when said wedge support plate pivots about its first and second pivot means in that direction.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said mounting means is a mounting plate, said mounting plate having means for securing it to said yarn treating jet.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said yarn treating jet is a draw point localizing jet which has fluid conduits for admitting treating fluid to each of said yarn passages, and wherein the number of said wedges, said access slots, said yarn passages, and said baffles which move is one.

16. In combination with a yarn draw panel of the type wherein advancing yarn is subjected to pressurized, superheated fluid flow utilizing a draw point localizing jet and is subsequently subjected to further treatment and- /or is wound up, wherein said draw point localizing jet has at least one yarn passage vertically therethrough with an adjacent access slot to facilitate string-up and has fluid conduits for admitting treating fluid into each of said yarn passage(s), said access slot being on the side of said draw point localizing jet farthest away from said draw panel, the improvement comprising noise reducing and heat directing means, said noise reducing and heat directing means comprising:

A. a mounting plate, said mounting plate having means for securing it to said draw point localizing jet;

B. a seal of heat resistant and noise absorbent material, the length of said seal being at least equal to the length of said access slot, said seal having one side which is shaped so as to close said access slot when brought into communication therewith;

C. a seal support plate, said seal support plate having two brackets at one end which extend in the plane of said seal support plate, the distance between said brackets being greater than the height of said mounting plate, said seal support plate having first pivot means thereon adapted for connection through one end of said mounting plate to both of said brackets and about which said seal support plate can pivot, the pivot of said seal support plate about said first pivot means in one direction causing said seal support plate to face the side of said draw point localizing jet having said access slot and in the other direction causing said seal support plate to clear access to said draw point localizing jet, the side of said seal support plate facing said access slot when said seal support plate pivots about said first pivot means in that direction having a groove therein, said seal being secured in said groove so that the side which is shaped so as to close said access slot faces said access slot, said seal support plate having a lever extending from the side of said seal support plate opposite to that with said groove; and

D. spring urging means, said spring urging means comprising a spring guide, a pin, a shield, and a compression spring, said spring guide being located above the upper bracket of said seal support plate and being attached thereto by second pivot means about which said seal support plate can pivot, the axis of said second pivot means being parallel to the axis of said first pivot means, said spring guide having secured thereto said pin the axis of which is transverse to the axis of said second pivot means, said shield having means for securing it to said mounting plate and having a downwardly extending lip, said lip having a slot therein which is significantly wider than said pin, the diameter of said compression spring being greater than that of said pin and greater than the height of said slot, said compression spring being located between said spring guide and said slot with said pin passing completely therethrough and into said slot, said shield covering said pin and said compression spring no matter what position they assume when said seal support plate pivots about said first and second pivot means, said spring urging means urging a maximum possible pivot of said seal support plate about said first and second pivot means when said lever is contacted;

whereby said seal is actuated to close and seal said access slot by the spring urged pivot of said seal support plate when said lever is forced forward and functions to absorb some of the noise produced by said draw point localizing jet and to cause any unabsorbed noise as well as any heat produced to exit from the exit end of said draw point localizing jet and to thereby lower the noise level, and whereby said seal is actuated to disengage from said access slot by the spring urged pivot of said seal support plate when said lever is forced inward and functions to clear access to the yarn treating system for safer string-up.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said seal is wedge-shaped and is formed of a fluorocarbon elastomer such as Viton.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said groove is a dovetail groove.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein a laminated shim is located between said draw point localizing jet and said mounting plate and functions to center said seal on said access slot, and wherein the side of said draw point localizing jet having said access slot has an asbestos-free insulating material such as compressed mineral wood, or Transite, secured thereto which does not interfere with its operation.

20. A noise reduction and heat direction system for use in conjunction with a yarn treating jet, said jet having at least one yarn passage therethrough which has an adjacent access slot to facilitate string-up, said noise reduction and heat direction system comprising:

A. mounting means;

B. noise damping means, said noise damping means having first pivot means thereon adapted for connection to said mounting means and about which said noise damping means can pivot, said noise damping means having at least one wedge projecting therefrom, the number of said wedges corresponding to the number of said access slots and being centered thereon when said noise damping means pivots about said first pivot means so that said wedges face said access slots, said noise damping means pivoting about said first pivot means in one direction until said wedges mate with said access slots and in the other direction until access to said yarn passage of said yarn treating jet is cleared, said noise damping means having actuating means, said actuating means functioning to trip the pivot of said noise damping means about said first pivot means; and

C. means for urging said wedges in said access slots to form a, seal, said means for urging said wedges in said access slots to form a seal being triggered by the pivot of said noise damping means about said first pivot means which results in said wedges mating with said access slots; whereby said wedges seal said access slots to absorb some of the noise produced by said yarn treating jet and force any unabsorbed noise as well as any heat produced to exitfrom the exit end thereof and thereby lower the noise level when said actuating means trips the pivot of said noise damping means about said first pivot means in that direction, and whereby said wedges disengage from said access slots to clear access to said yarn passage of said yarn treating jet for string-up when said actuating means trips the pivot of said noise damping means about said first pivot means in that direction.

21. Apparatus as defined in claim wherein said means for urging said wedges in said access slots to form a seal is spring urging means.

22. Apparatus as defined in claim 21 wherein said noise damping means has second pivot means thereon adapted for connection to said spring urging means and about which said noise damping means can pivot.

23. Apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said noise damping means comprises a wedge support plate, and wherein said wedges are separate pieces of heat resistant and noise absorbent material which are secured to said wedge support plate, said wedge support plate having said first pivot means thereon adapted for connection to said mounting means and about which said wedge support plate can pivot, said actuating means comprising a lever which extends from said wedge support plate.

24. Apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said means for urging said wedges in said access slots to form a seal is spring urging means.

25. Apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein said wedge support plate has second pivot means thereon adapted for connection to said spring urging means and about which said wedge support plate can pivot, said spring urging means comprising a spring guide, a pin, a shield, and a compression spring, said spring guide being attached to said wedge support plate by said second pivot means, said spring guide having secured thereto said pin, said shield having means for securing it to said mounting means and having a lip, said lip having a slot therein, the dimensions of said slot being such that said compression spring cannot pass through said slot and said pin can pass into and move laterally in said slot, said compression spring having a diameter greater than that of said pin and being located between said spring guide and said slot with said pin passing completely therethrough and into said slot, said shield covering said pin and said compression spring no matter what position they assume when said wedge support plate pivots about its said first and second pivot means, said spring urging means functioning to urge said wedges against said access slots when said wedge support plate pivots about said first and second pivot means in that direction and to urge said wedge support plate to clear access to said yarn passage of said yarn treating jet when said wedge support plate pivots about said first and second pivot means in that direction.

26. Apparatus as defined in claim 25 wherein said mounting means is a mounting plate, said mounting plate having means for securing it to said yarn treating jet.

27. Apparatus as defined in claim 26 wherein said yarn treating jet is a draw point localizing jet which has fluid conduits for admitting treating fluid into each of said yarn passages, and wherein the number of said wedges, said access slots, and said yarn passages is one.

Claims

1. In combination with a yarn draw panel of the type wherein advancing yarn is subjected to pressurized, super-heated fluid flow utilizing a draw point localizing jet and is subsequently subjected to further treatment and/or is wound up, and wherein said draw point localizing jet has at least one yarn passage vertically therethrough with an adjacent access slot to facilitate string-up and has fluid conduits for admitting treating fluid into each of said yarn passage(s), said access slot being on the side of said draw point localizing jet farthest away from said draw panel, the improvement comprising: A. noisE reducing and heat directing means, said noise reducing and heat directing means comprising: a. a mounting plate, said mounting plate having means for securing it to said draw point localizing jet; b. a seal of heat resistant and noise absorbent material, the length of said seal being at least equal to the length of said access slot, said seal having one side which is shaped so as to close said access slot when brought into communication therewith; c. a seal support plate, said seal support plate having two brackets at one end which extend in the plane of said seal support plate, the distance between said brackets being greater than the height of said mounting plate, said seal support plate having first pivot means thereon adapted for connection through one end of said mounting plate to both of said brackets and about which said seal support plate can pivot, the pivot of said seal support plate about said first pivot means in one direction causing said seal support plate to face the side of said draw point localizing jet having said access slot and in the other direction causing said seal support plate to clear access to draw point localizing jet, the side of said seal support plate facing said access slot when said seal support plate pivots about said first pivot means in that direction having a groove therein, said seal being secured in said groove so that the side which is shaped so as to close said access slot faces said access slot, said seal support plate having a lever extending from the side of said seal support opposite to that with said groove; and d. spring urging means, said spring urging means comprising a spring guide, a pin, a shield, and a compression spring, said spring guide being located above the upper bracket of said seal support plate and being attached thereto by second pivot means about which said seal support plate can pivot, the axis of said second pivot means being parallel to the axis of said first pivot means, said spring guide having secured thereto said pin the axis of which is transverse to the axis of said second pivot means, said shield having means for securing it to said mounting plate and having a downwardly extending lip, said lip having a slot therein which is significantly wider that said pin, the diameter of said compression spring being greater than that of said pin and greater than the height of said slot, said compression spring being located between said spring guide and said slot with said pin passing completely therethrough and into said slot, said shield covering said pin and said compression spring no matter what position they assume when said seal support plate pivots about said first and second pivot means, said spring urging means urging said seal support plate in a maximum pivot about its first and second pivot means when said lever is contacted; and B. heat zone separating means, said heat zone separating means comprising: a. two baffles, the planes of said baffles extending transversely to said yarn passage, said baffles being located on the side of said draw point localizing jet to which said mounting plate is secured, one of said baffles being fixedly secured; b. means for slideably supporting the baffle which is not fixedly secured so that it can be moved in a direction transverse to said yarn passage; and c. two fingers, said fingers extending in the same general direction from and having means for securing them to the baffle which is slideably supported, said fingers being of sufficient length and positioned such that said lever is located therebetween; whereby when the slideably supported baffle is pulled forward said seal is actuated to close and seal said access slot due to the spring urged pivot of said seal support plate in that direction resulting from contact of one of said fingers with said lever and functions to absorb some of the noise produced by said draw point localizing jet and to cause any unabsorbed noise as well as any heat produced to exit from the exit enD of said draw localizing jet where said heat is confined downstream of the entrance of said draw point localizing jet by said baffles, and whereby said slideably supported baffle is pushed inward said seal is actuated to disengage from said access slot due to the spring urged pivot of said seal support plate in that direction resulting from contact of the other of said fingers with said lever and functions to clear access to the yarn heating system for safer string-up.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said groove is a dovetail groove.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the means for slideably supporting said slideably supported baffle is secured along with said baffle which is fixedly secured to said draw panel, and wherein said slideably supported baffle has means for preventing its disengagement with the means which supports it as well as a handle and an upwardly turned angle, said handle and said angle being secured to one end of said slidably supported baffle with said handle being provided for pushing and pulling said slideably supported baffle and said angle functioning to prevent any fluid which may collect on said slideably supported baffle from dripping off said end to which said angle is secured.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said baffles and the side of said draw point localizing jet having said access slot have an asbestos-free insulating material such as compressed mineral wool, or Transite, secured thereto which does not interfere with their operation.

7. A noise reduction and heat zone separation system for use in conjunction with a yarn treating jet, said jet having at least one yarn passage therethrough which has an adjacent access slot to facilitate string-up, said noise reduction and heat zone separation system comprising: A. noise reducing and heat directing means, said noise reducing and heat directing means comprising: a. mounting means; b. noise damping means, said noise damping means having first pivot means thereon adapted for connection to said mounting means and about which said noise damping means can pivot, said noise damping means having at least one wedge projecting therefrom, the number of said wedges corresponding to the number of said access slots and being centered thereof when said noise damping means pivots about said first pivot means so that said wedges face said access slots, said noise damping means pivoting about said first pivot means in one direcrion until said wedges mate with said access slots and in the other direction until access to said yarn passage of said yarn treating jet is cleared; and c. means for urging said wedges in said access slots to form a seal, said means for urging said wedges in said access slots to form a seal being triggered by the pivot of said noise damping means about said first pivot means which results in said wedges mating with said access slots; and B. heat zone separating means, said heat zone separating means comprising at least one baffle, the planes of said baffles extending transversely to the general direction of said yarn passage and being located to the side of said yarn treating jet, at least one of said baffles being capable of moving in a direction transverse to that of said yarn passage and including actuating means, said actuating means tripping the pivot of said noise damping means about said first pivot means when its respective baffle is moved; whereby said wedges seal said access slots to absorb some of the noise produced by said yarn treating jet and force any unabsorbed noise as well as any heat produced by said yarn treating jet to exit from the exit end thereof to thereby lower the noiSe level, and said baffle confines any of the exiting heat downstream of the entrance end of said yarn treating jet when said actuating means trips the pivot of said noise damping means about said first pivot means in that direction, and whereby said wedges disengage from said access slots to clear access to said yarn passage of said yarn treating jet for string-up when said actuating means trips the pivot of said noise damping means about said pivot means in that direction.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said wedge support plate has second pivot means thereon adapted for connection to said spring urging means and about which said wedge support plate can pivot, said spring urging means comprising a spring guide, a pin, a shield, and a compression spring, said spring guide being attached to said wedge support plate by said second pivot means, said spring guide having secured thereto said pin, said shield having means for securing it to said mounting means and having a lip, said lip having a slot therein, the dimensions of said slot being such that said compression spring cannot pass through said slot and said pin can pass into and move laterally in said slot, said compression spring having a diameter greater than that of said pin and being located between said spring guide and said slot with said pin passing completely therethrough and into said slot, said shield covering said pin and said compression spring no matter what position they assume when said wedge support plate pivots about its said first and second pivot means, said spring urging means functioning to urge said wedges against said access slots when said wedge support plate pivots about its said first and second pivot means in that direction and to urge said wedge support plate to clear access to said yarn passage of said yarn treating jet when said wedge support plate pivots about its first and second pivot means in that direction.

16. In combination with a yarn draw panel of the type wherein advancing yarn is subjected to pressurized, superheated fluid flow utilizing a draw point localizing jet and is subsequently subjected to further treatment and/or is wound up, wherein said draw point localizing jet has at least one yarn passage vertically therethrough with an adjacent access slot to facilitate string-up and has fluid conduits for admitting treating fluid into each of said yarn passage(s), said access slot being on the side of said draw point localizing jet farthest away from said draw panel, the improvement comprising noise reducing and heat directing means, said noise reducing and heat directing means comprising: A. a mounting plate, said mounting plate having means for securing it to said draw point localizing jet; B. a seal of heat resistant and noise absorbent material, the length of said seal being at least equal to the length of said access slot, said seal having one side which is shaped so as to close said access slot when brought into communication therewith; C. a seal support plate, said seal support plate having two brackets at one end which extend in the plane of said seal support plate, the distance between said brackets being greater than the height of said mounting plate, said seal support plate having first pivot means thereon adapted for connection through one end of said mounting plate to both of said brackets and about which said seal support plate can pivot, the pivot of said seal support plate about said first pivot means in one direction causing said seal support plate to face the side of said draw point localizing jet having said access slot and in the other direction causing said seal support plate to clear access to said draw point localizing jet, the side of said seal support plate facing said access slot when said seal support plate pivots about said first pivot means in that direction having a groove therein, said seal being secured in said groove so that the side which is shaped so as to close said access slot faces said access slot, said seal support plate having a lever extending from the side of said seal support plate opposite to that with said groove; and D. spring urging means, said spring urging means comprising a spring guide, a pin, a shield, and a compression spring, said spring guide being located above the upper bracket of said seal support plate and being attached thereto by second pivot means about which said seal support plate can pivot, the axis of said second pivot means being parallel to the axis of said first pivot means, said spring guide having secured thereto said pin the axis of which is transverse to the axis of said second pivot means, said shield having means for securing it to said mounting plate and having a downwardly extending lip, said lip having a slot therein which is significantly wider than said pin, the diameter of said compression spring being greater than that of said pin and greater than the height of said slot, said compression spring being located between said spring guide and said slot with said pin passing completely therethrough and into said slot, said shield covering said pin and said compression spring no matter what position they assume when said seal support plate pivots about said first and second pivot means, said spring urging means urging a maximum possible pivot of said seal support plate about said first and second pivot means when said lever is contacted; whereby said seal is actuated to close and seal said access slot by the spring urged pivot of said seal support plate when said lever is forced forward and functions to absorb some of the noise produced by said draw point localizing jet and to cause any unabsorbed noise as well as any heat produced to exit from the exit end of said draw point localizing jet and to thereby lower the noise level, and whereby saId seal is actuated to disengage from said access slot by the spring urged pivot of said seal support plate when said lever is forced inward and functions to clear access to the yarn treating system for safer string-up.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said groove is a dovetail groove.

20. A noise reduction and heat direction system for use in conjunction with a yarn treating jet, said jet having at least one yarn passage therethrough which has an adjacent access slot to facilitate string-up, said noise reduction and heat direction system comprising: A. mounting means; B. noise damping means, said noise damping means having first pivot means thereon adapted for connection to said mounting means and about which said noise damping means can pivot, said noise damping means having at least one wedge projecting therefrom, the number of said wedges corresponding to the number of said access slots and being centered thereon when said noise damping means pivots about said first pivot means so that said wedges face said access slots, said noise damping means pivoting about said first pivot means in one direction until said wedges mate with said access slots and in the other direction until access to said yarn passage of said yarn treating jet is cleared, said noise damping means having actuating means, said actuating means functioning to trip the pivot of said noise damping means about said first pivot means; and C. means for urging said wedges in said access slots to form a seal, said means for urging said wedges in said access slots to form a seal being triggered by the pivot of said noise damping means about said first pivot means which results in said wedges mating with said access slots; whereby said wedges seal said access slots to absorb some of the noise produced by said yarn treating jet and force any unabsorbed noise as well as any heat produced to exit from the exit end thereof and thereby lower the noise level when said actuating means trips the pivot of said noise damping means about said first pivot means in that direction, and whereby said wedges disengage from said access slots to clear access to said yarn passage of said yarn treating jet for string-up when said actuating means trips the pivot of said noise damping means about said first pivot means in that direction.

21. Apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said means for urging said wedges in said access slots to form a seal is spring urging means.