U.S. patent application number 15/119592 was filed with the patent office on 2017-03-23 for device for crimping multifilament threads.
This patent application is currently assigned to Oerlikon Textile GmbH & Co. KG. The applicant listed for this patent is Oerlikon Textile GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Mathias STUNDL.
Application Number | 20170081790 15/119592 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52573658 |
Filed Date | 2017-03-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170081790 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
STUNDL; Mathias |
March 23, 2017 |
DEVICE FOR CRIMPING MULTIFILAMENT THREADS
Abstract
A technique for crimping multifilament threads involves a device
having an injector installation and having a stuffing installation.
The injector installation has a conveying duct having a thread
inlet. The conveying duct of the injector installation opens into a
stuffer chamber of the stuffing installation. The stuffer chamber
in an upper chamber portion, between a plurality of wall portions
of a chamber wall, has a plurality of slot-shaped air-exhaust
openings. The wall portions of the chamber wall, in order to
configure the air-exhaust openings, each have one flow edge which
is aligned so as to be tangential to a chamber circle.
Inventors: |
STUNDL; Mathias; (Wedel,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Oerlikon Textile GmbH & Co. KG |
Remscheid |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Oerlikon Textile GmbH & Co.
KG
Rescheid
DE
|
Family ID: |
52573658 |
Appl. No.: |
15/119592 |
Filed: |
February 13, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
February 13, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2015/053052 |
371 Date: |
August 17, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D02G 1/122 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D02G 1/12 20060101
D02G001/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 19, 2014 |
DE |
10 2014 002 318.4 |
Claims
1. Device for crimping multifilament threads, having an injector
installation and having a stuffing installation, wherein the
injector installation has a conveying duct having a thread inlet,
wherein the conveying duct of the injector installation opens into
a stuffer chamber of the stuffing installation, wherein the stuffer
chamber in an upper chamber portion, between a plurality of wall
portions of a chamber wall, has a plurality of slot-shaped
air-exhaust openings, and wherein the wall portions of the chamber
wall, in order to configure the air-exhaust openings, each have one
flow edge which is aligned so as to be tangential to a chamber
circle.
2. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flow edges of the wall
portions, based on a diameter of the chamber circle, are configured
so as to be symmetrical in a mutually adjacent manner.
3. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chamber circle, in
order to align the flow edges, in terms of diameter is chosen so as
to be smaller than or equal to a cross-sectional envelope of the
stuffer chamber.
4. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall portions of the
chamber wall are formed by a plurality of fins, wherein the flow
edges are formed on internal sides of the fins and wherein the
air-exhaust openings each extend between two adjacent fins.
5. Device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fins, so as to form a
round chamber cross section of the stuffer chamber, are disposed
beside one another in an overlapping manner.
6. Device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fins in an internal
wall region have a plurality of bores which open into an
air-exhaust duct.
7. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fins are disposed on a
support, wherein the free ends of the fins lead into a lower
chamber portion of the stuffer chamber.
8. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the injector installation
has a compressed-air supply which in the conveying duct produces a
swirl flow.
9. Device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the injector installation
and the arrangement of the wall portions of the stuffer chamber are
adapted to one another in such a manner that a rotational direction
of the swirl flow counteracts an exhaust flow which exits through
the air-exhaust openings.
10. Device for crimping multifilament threads, the device
comprising: an injector mechanism that includes a conveying duct
having a thread inlet, and a stuffing mechanism that includes a
stuffer chamber having a chamber wall, wherein the conveying duct
of the injector mechanism opens into the stuffer chamber of the
stuffing mechanism, wherein the stuffer chamber in an upper chamber
portion, between a plurality of wall portions of the chamber wall,
has a plurality of slot-shaped air-exhaust openings, and wherein
the wall portions of the chamber wall, to configure the air-exhaust
openings, each have one flow edge which is aligned so as to be
tangential to a chamber circle.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a device for crimping multifilament
threads according to the preamble of claim 1.
[0002] A device of the generic type for crimping multifilament
threads is known from EP 0 784 109 B1.
[0003] Devices of this type for crimping multifilament threads are
usually employed in a melt-spinning process so as to continuously
produce crimping on a multifilament synthetic thread. To this end,
the device has an injector installation and a stuffing installation
which in the running direction of the thread are disposed in
sequence. In this way, the injector installation has a conveying
duct having a thread inlet, in order for the thread to be guided by
means of an air stream into the contiguous stuffing installation.
The stuffing installation has a stuffer chamber for receiving the
thread, wherein the thread within the stuffer chamber is congested
such that the individual filaments within the stuffer chamber are
deposited in loops and arcs so as to form a thread plug. It is
required here that the air stream utilized for conveying is
diverted in an upper chamber portion of the stuffer chamber. To
this end, a plurality of air-exhaust openings which extend in a
slot-shaped manner between individual fins are formed in the upper
chamber portion. It is usual here for the fins to be disposed in a
radial manner or in parallel beside one another, depending on the
cross section of the stuffer chamber. The air stream utilized for
conveying the thread may thus be laterally diverted out of the
stuffer chamber. Here, the fundamental issue arises that individual
filaments to a greater or lesser extent are released from the plug
composite and are pulled into the air-exhaust openings. Thus,
interlocking and breaking of filaments cannot be excluded.
[0004] However, other solutions in which the air-exhaust openings
are formed by bores in a chamber wall of the stuffer chamber are
also known in the prior art. For example, a device of this type for
crimping multifilament threads is described in EP 1 116 806 A1. By
virtue of the fineness of the filaments, it cannot be avoided even
here that individual filaments are drawn in by the air stream.
Indeed, the bore diameter may be minimized within certain limits,
this however leading to a greater investment in production and, in
particular, to increased susceptibility to contamination. However,
as contamination increases, the ventilation of the stuffer chamber
deteriorates as the operational time progresses.
[0005] It is now an object of the invention to provide a device of
the generic type for crimping multifilament threads, in which
ventilating the stuffer chamber is capable of being carried out in
a manner particularly gentle to the threads.
[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention in that
the wall portions of the stuffer chamber, in order to configure the
air-exhaust openings, each have one flow edge which is aligned so
as to be tangential to a chamber circle.
[0007] Advantageous refinements of the invention are defined by the
features and combination of features of the respective dependent
claims.
[0008] The invention has the particular advantage that no radial
flow outward from the center of the stuffer chamber may be formed.
A deflection of the air stream on the flow casing into the
air-exhaust openings is required independently of the point at
which the air stream impacts the stuffer-chamber wall. However, a
deflection of this type of the air stream impedes the entrainment
of individual filaments. The forced deflection of flow by the flow
edges of the wall portions enables ventilation of the stuffer
chamber at a low tendency toward filaments being drawn into the
air-exhaust openings.
[0009] In order for a uniform air stream from the inside to the
outside to be obtained across the entire chamber cross section of
the stuffer chamber, the refinement of the invention is preferably
embodied in which the flow edges of the wall portions, based on a
diameter of the chamber circle, are configured so as to be
symmetrical in a mutually adjacent manner. The chamber circle is a
geometric auxiliary parameter used for assigning a geometric
definition to the arrangement of the flow edges of the wall
portions.
[0010] The chamber circle, in order to align the wall portions, in
terms of diameter can be chosen so as to be smaller than or equal
to a cross-sectional envelope of the stuffer chamber. The larger
the chamber circle gets in relation to the cross-sectional envelope
of the stuffer chamber, the larger a deflection angle for
deflecting the air stream gets. The theoretical maximum angle is
achieved when the diameter of the chamber circle at which the flow
edges are aligned approximates a nominal diameter of the
stuffer-chamber cross section.
[0011] In order for the air-exhaust openings to be manufactured,
the refinement of the invention is particularly advantageous in
which the wall portions of the stuffer chamber are formed by a
plurality of fins, wherein the flow edges are formed on internal
sides of the fins and wherein the air-exhaust openings each extend
between two adjacent fins. Thus, slot-shaped air-exhaust openings
result, which extend substantially across the length of the
fins.
[0012] In order for the thread plug to be produced, the refinement
is preferably utilized in which the fins, so as to from a round
chamber cross section of the stuffer chamber, are disposed beside
one another in an overlapping manner. The filaments of a thread may
thus be deposited on the surface of the thread plug in a
particularly uniform manner.
[0013] In order to obtain uniform ventilation across the entire
cross section in the case of a low number of fins and, related
thereto, a low number of air-exhaust openings, the refinement of
the invention is provided in which the fins in an internal wall
region have a plurality of bores which open into an air-exhaust
duct. These bores act as additional vents on the lateral face of
the fins, which divert the air from the stuffer chamber.
[0014] The effect of flow deflection when ventilating the stuffer
chamber may yet be advantageously facilitated in that the injector
installation has a compressed-air supply which in the conveying
duct produces a swirl flow. It has already been demonstrated in
this way in the case of conventional radial arrangements of wall
portions that a swirl flow reduces the tendency of the filaments to
be drawn into the air-exhaust openings when the thread is deposited
into a thread plug.
[0015] In particular in the case of the injector installation and
the arrangement of the wall portions of the stuffer chamber being
adapted to one another in such a manner that a rotational direction
of the swirl flow counteracts an exhaust flow which exits through
the air-exhaust opening, a pronounced deflection of the flow is
effected when the stuffer chamber is ventilated.
[0016] The device according to the invention is fundamentally
suitable for producing crimping in a multifilament yarn
independently of the type of polymer and of the thread count. In
this way, the device may be used both in a single-stage as well as
in a multi-stage manufacturing process for crimped yarns.
[0017] The invention will be explained in more detail hereunder by
means of a few exemplary embodiments of the device according to the
invention, with reference to the appended figures in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 schematically shows a longitudinal sectional view of
a first exemplary embodiment of the device according to the
invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 schematically shows a cross section of the stuffer
chamber of the exemplary embodiment as per FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 3 schematically shows a longitudinal sectional view of
a further exemplary embodiment of the device according to the
invention;
[0021] FIG. 4 schematically shows a cross section of the stuffer
chamber of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3;
[0022] FIG. 5 schematically shows a plurality of views of a
stuffer-chamber ventilation.
[0023] A first exemplary embodiment of the device according to the
invention is schematically shown in a plurality of views in FIGS. 1
and 2. The exemplary embodiment is shown in a longitudinal
sectional view in FIG. 1, and in a cross-sectional view in FIG. 2.
To the extent of there being no explicit reference to any of the
figures, the following description applies to both figures.
[0024] As can be derived from the illustration in FIG. 1, the
device according to the invention for crimping multifilament
threads has an injector installation 1 and a stuffing installation
8, preferably formed as a common structural unit. The injector
installation 1 has a nozzle body 22 having a conveying duct 3 which
is disposed so as to be substantially centric and which at a free
end of the nozzle body 22 forms a thread inlet 4. At the opposite
end the conveying duct 3 opens into a stuffer chamber 9 of the
stuffing installation 8.
[0025] The conveying duct 3 is assigned a compressed-air supply 2
through which preferably heated compressed air is introduced into
the conveying duct 3. The compressed-air supply 2 is formed by a
compressed-air connector 7, a compressed-air duct 6, and at least
two injector bores 5.1 and 5.2. The injector bores 5.1 and 5.2 open
into the conveying duct 3 in such a mutually offset manner that
compressed air which is introduced into the injector bores 5.1 and
5.2 by way of the compressed-air duct 6 within the conveying duct 3
leads to a swirl flow.
[0026] During operation, a multifilament thread is suctioned into
the conveying duct 3 by the vacuum effect produced at the thread
inlet 4 and led to the stuffing installation 8 by means of the
swirled air stream.
[0027] The stuffing installation 8 in this exemplary embodiment is
formed by a stuffer chamber 9 which has an upper chamber portion
10.1 and a lower chamber portion 10.2.
[0028] In order for the upper chamber portion 10.1 of the stuffer
chamber 9 to be explained, reference is additionally made to the
illustration in FIG. 2. As can be derived from the illustrations in
FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper chamber portion 10.1 has a plurality of
fins 14, which in an imbricated arrangement form a round chamber
cross section of the stuffer chamber 9. The fins 14, by way of an
internal side forming a flow edge 21, are each aligned so as to be
tangential to a chamber circle 16, and between them form in each
case one slot-shaped air-exhaust opening 13. The flow edges 21 of
the fins 14, based on a diameter of the chamber circle 16, are
symmetrically disposed and aligned in an overlapping manner. The
air-exhaust openings 13 which extend between the fins 14 open into
tangentially aligned exhaust ducts 23, penetrating in a slot-shaped
manner the one chamber wall 11 formed by the fins 14 from the
inside to the outside.
[0029] The diameter of the chamber circle 16 in FIG. 2 is
referenced with the capital letter D. In this exemplary embodiment,
a chamber circle diameter has been chosen which is smaller than a
cross-sectional envelope of the stuffer chamber 9. In principle,
the angular positioning of the fins 14, and the number of fins 14,
and thus the chosen chamber circle diameter, is illustrated in an
exemplary manner only.
[0030] In order for the chamber wall 11 to be formed, the fins 14
are held by a fin support 15.
[0031] As can be derived in particular from FIG. 1, the fin support
15 is embodied in two parts and interacts with a housing 18. The
housing 18 encloses the fins 14 in a spaced-apart manner, so as to
be able to receive air exiting from the chamber portion 10.1 of the
stuffer chamber 9. The housing 18 has ventilation openings or
ventilation connectors (both not illustrated here) for discharging
the spent air.
[0032] As can be further derived from the illustration in FIG. 1,
the free ends of the fins 14 lead into the lower chamber portion
10.2 of the stuffer chamber 9. The lower chamber portion 10.2 of
the stuffer chamber is formed in a duct-shaped manner in a guide
body 24, and is limited by a chamber outlet (not illustrated
here).
[0033] During operation, a multifilament thread is conveyed by way
of the conveying duct 3 of the injector installation 1 into the
stuffer chamber 9 of the stuffing installation 8. At the start of
the process, the stuffer chamber 9 is briefly closed off such that
a thread plug is configured within the stuffer chamber 9. The
thread plug fills the entire chamber cross section of the stuffer
chamber 9, wherein the formation of the thread plug commencing in
the upper chamber portion 10.1. In order for the conveying air of
the thread from the injector installation 1 to not lead to the
thread plug being blown out, the conveying air in the upper chamber
portion 10.1 of the stuffer chamber 9 is laterally discharged by
way of the air-exhaust openings 13 and the exhaust ducts 23 between
the fins 14.
[0034] Guiding of air for ventilating the stuffer chamber is
schematically indicated by flow arrows between adjacent fins 14 in
FIG. 2. The air stream entering into the stuffer chamber 9 here has
a direction of swirl which is in the clockwise direction. The
exhaust air flow which is produced by the exhaust-air opening 13 is
counter to the direction of swirl such that a deflection of flow
arises when the air stream impacts on the flow edge 21. Thus, air
streams which are directed directly from the inside to the outside
can be advantageously avoided. Drawing in of individual filaments
is advantageously substantially impeded by the deflection of flow
at the flow edges 21 of the fins 14. A substantially more stable
and uniform crimping of the filaments has been able to be achieved
therewith. Fraying of the thread plug within the stuffer chamber is
avoided.
[0035] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2,
the number of the fins, the shape of the fins, and the angular
arrangement of the fins is illustrated in an exemplary manner. It
is essential here that the air-exhaust openings and exhaust ducts
by way of the flow edges within the chamber wall 11 have a
tangential alignment in order to deflect the blowing flow.
Likewise, the cross section of the stuffer chamber 9 does not
mandatorily have to be round. In this way, oval or angular cross
sections are also possible. A reduction in the number of fins would
reduce the cost of the stuffing installation, in particular. For
example, a minimum of three fins which are mutually arranged in a
triangular shape could form a ventilation portion of the stuffer
chamber. Likewise, non-uniform arrangements of the fins are also
possible, the tangential alignment thereof being defined by
different chamber-circle diameters.
[0036] A further exemplary embodiment of the device according to
the invention for crimping multifilament threads is illustrated in
a plurality of views in FIGS. 3 and 4. A longitudinal sectional
view is schematically shown in FIG. 3, and a cross-sectional view
of the stuffer chamber is shown in FIG. 2. The exemplary embodiment
as per FIGS. 3 and 4 is substantially identical to the exemplary
embodiment as per FIGS. 1 and 2 such that only the points of
difference will be explained hereunder, reference otherwise being
made to the aforementioned description.
[0037] As opposed to the aforementioned exemplary embodiment, the
chamber wall 11 of the upper chamber portion 10.1 of the stuffer
chamber 9 is formed by a low number of fins 14.
[0038] As can be derived in particular from the illustration in
FIG. 4, the tangential alignment of the flow edges 21 of the fins
14 is determined by a chamber circle 16 which in terms of the
diameter thereof is substantially equal to a cross-sectional
envelope of the stuffer chamber 9. This results in an extreme
position of the fins 14, requiring the greatest possible deflection
of the air stream on the flow edges 21.
[0039] By virtue of the low number of fins 14 for forming the
chamber wall 11, correspondingly few air-exhaust openings 13 are
configured so as to be distributed across the chamber cross
section. In order for intensive ventilation of the stuffer chamber
9 to nevertheless be obtained, the fins 14 have a plurality of
bores 17 in an internal wall region. As can be seen in particular
in the illustration of FIG. 4, the flow edge 21 forms a
delimitation of the stuffer chamber 9 such that the bores 17
contained therein directly contribute toward ventilating the
stuffer chamber 9. The bores 17 in the fins 14 open into a exhaust
duct 23 which extends between adjacent fins 14 and connects the
air-exhaust opening 13 to an environment.
[0040] Functioning of the exemplary embodiment as per FIGS. 3 and 4
is identical to that of the aforementioned exemplary embodiment
such that reference is made at this point to the aforementioned
description.
[0041] In the exemplary embodiments as per FIGS. 1 to 4, the upper
chamber portion 10.1 of the stuffer chamber 9 within the stuffing
installation 8 is formed by a plurality of individual fins 14 which
are arranged beside one another and in an overlapping manner so as
to form a chamber wall 11. In principle, however, there is also the
potential for the chamber portion 10.1 of the stuffer chamber 9 to
be formed by a ventilation body.
[0042] An exemplary embodiment of a ventilation body 19, such as
would be employable for example in the exemplary embodiment as per
FIGS. 1 and 2, in order for the upper chamber portion 10.1 of the
stuffer chamber 9 to be formed, is illustrated in FIGS. 5.1 and
5.2. The ventilation body 19 is illustrated in a side view in FIG.
5.1, and in a cross-sectional view in FIG. 5.2. The following
description applies to either figure unless explicit reference is
made to a specific one of the figures.
[0043] The ventilation body 19 is cylindrically configured,
enclosing an internal chamber portion 10.1 of a stuffer chamber 9.
The chamber wall 11 is subdivided by a plurality of axially running
separation slots 20 into a plurality of wall portions 12.
[0044] As can be derived in particular from FIG. 5.2, the
separation slots 20 penetrate the chamber wall 11 in such a manner
that the wall portions 12, in order to form air-exhaust openings
13, each have a flow edge 21 which is aligned so as to be
tangential to a chamber circle 16. The flow edges 21 formed by the
wall portions 12 thus effect on the air-exhaust openings 13 a
deflection of the exhaust flow exiting from the interior of the
stuffer chamber 9. As can be derived from the illustration in FIG.
5.1, the separation slots 20 on an inlet side 25 of the ventilation
body 19 are delimited such that the separation of the chamber wall
11 into a plurality of wall portions 12 is restricted to a partial
length of the ventilation body 19.
[0045] The invention thus also extends to stuffing installations of
which the upper chamber portion of the stuffer chamber is formed
from a ventilation body having a corresponding configuration of
wall portions, or from a plurality of fins.
[0046] The devices illustrated in the exemplary embodiments may
advantageously be employed for crimping multifilament yarns. Here,
multifilament threads may be crimped directly in a melt-spinning
process or in a multi-stage manufacturing process.
* * * * *