Fluid Adjusting Means

Abstract

An improvement in a device through which passage of filaments is accelerated which device has a housing, a primary fluid inlet through which fluid enters to accelerate said passage of filaments, a plenum communicating with said fluid inlet, and a passageway in fluid communicating relationship with said plenum which passageway terminates within a filament passageway through which spun filaments pass, said improvement comprising at least two baffle means disposed in said fluid inlet, one of said baffle means being a primary fluid directing means, another of said baffle means being a secondary fluid directing means; an improvement for such an accelerating means comprising at least one variable baffle disposed in said plenum; a device for determining the extent of swirl in a tube through which fluid passes which device comprises a rotatable member adapted to extend within said tube through which fluid passes and indicator means associated with such rotatable member for measuring the number of rotations in a given period of time.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is directed toward insuring that freshly spun filaments when withdrawn, especially through a device which accelerates the rate of travel of the filaments through a tube and passed through such device under optimum conditions of fluid flow. Specifically, this invention is directed toward regulating any fluid swirl in the area proximate the filaments and to regulate the distribution of quantities of fluids and their respective forces. This invention is directed, therefore, to devices for regulating the fluid which enters such accelerating means and for measuring the extent of fluid swirling proximate the filaments. The devices of the present invention are particularly useful for the apparatus disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 850,500, assigned to the assignee hereof.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

It is known that desirable effects can be provided by utilizing a filament accelerating means through which freshly spun filaments pass. It is especially known that an air gun can be suitably employed to aspirate filaments through an accelerating means to speed up collection of the filaments. However, it is possible that air or other suitable fluid under force, when passed through such an accelerating apparatus, can have varying pressures such that the fluid pressure in the filaments is not uniform. Such could be caused by extraneous factors such as dirt, imperfections in the surfaces which come in contact with the entering fluid, manufacture misalignments. Such can cause the fluid to be in a generally helical flow path or swirl as air flows through the device. As a result thereof, undesirable twisting or roping of the filaments can occur. Thus, it has become desirable to provide means for detecting the helical flow of fluid in the area near the filaments. It has also become desirable to provide a means for compensating for such uneven fluid flow so as to achieve the desired extent of helical flow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention contemplates an improvement in a device through which passage of filaments is accelerated which device has a housing, a primary fluid inlet through which fluid enters to accelerate said passage of filaments, a plenum communicating with said fluid inlet, and a passageway in fluid communicating relationship with said plenum which passageway terminates within a filament passageway through which spun filaments pass. The improvement comprises at least two baffle means disposed in said fluid inlet, one of said baffle means being a primary fluid directing means, another of said baffle means being a secondary fluid directing means.

In a desirable embodiment, the invention contemplates such an improvement wherein the primary fluid directing means lies at least partially within the fluid inlet, said secondary fluid directing means lies at least partially within said fluid inlet and can be rotated longitudinally in said inlet with respect to said primary fluid directing means to adjust the distribution of fluid and fluid forces in said plenum.

In a particularly desirable embodiment, the primary and secondary fluid adjusting means are each fitted with an arcuately-shaped tip which protrudes into said plenum. By adjustment of the relative positions of said tips, the distribution of the entering fluid can be regulated so as to adjust the flow of fluid to that desired. The assembly can be used to reduce swirl of fluid to insure no entanglement of filaments or, alternatively, it can be used to create swirl which effects a desired degree of filament entanglement.

This invention further contemplates an apparatus for determining the extent of swirl in a tube through which fluid passes which device comprises a rotatable member adapted to extend within said tube through which fluid passes, a means and indicator associated with said rotatable member for measuring the number of rotations in a given period of time. Preferably, this apparatus comprises a rod adapted to extend into a tube through which filaments and a fluid under force pass such that the rod extends in the same direction as the filaments, an opaque object having a slot therethrough at one end of the rod which slot is aligned with a light source on one side and a solar cell on the other such that when light passes through said slot, a voltage pulse is generated in said solar cell. Such pulse can be recorded on a recorder. Thus, every revolution of the rod is recorded and the extent of swirling is recorded as the number of revolutions per unit of time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a filament accelerating device showing the helical movement of fluid through the tube through which freshly spun filaments pass.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 1 wherein the device is provided with a swirl-detecting device and a means for regulating the direction of air flow into the plenum chanber of the accelerating device.

FIG. 4 shows the fluid flow adjusting means in the primary fluid inlet affixed to a calibrated scale.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 partly broken away showing the device of FIG. 4 within the accelerating device FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a frontal elevation, partly broken away, of a swirl detecting devic.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing a baffle arrangement within the plenum of the device for adjusting fluid flow within said plenum.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the lines 8--8 of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of this invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The accelerating device for which the improvements of the present invention are useful comprises a plenum 1 fed with a primary fluid source which enters a primary fluid inlet 2 in fluid communicating relationship therewith. Fluid entering the inlet 2 passes through the plenum 1 and into the funnel or throat 3. The fluid emanates from throat 3 and passes into an expansion chamber 4. Filaments 6 pass through funnel 5 and enter guide tube 7 which is in fluid communicating relationship with expansion chamber 4 all of which are maintained in a housing 15. FIG. 1 depicts the possible helical flow of air through such device.

In accordance with the present invention, a device is provided for regulating the flow of air through the primary fluid inlet 2. Such device comprises a primary fluid directing means 10 desirably terminating in an arcuate tip 12 positioned within plenum 1. The provision of such an arcuate tip enables the device to direct the flow of incoming air around the plenum before the same ascends upwardly to a position where it can enter throat 3. Such device is provided with a secondary fluid directing means 14 in the form of a rotatable tube within inlet 2 terminating in an arcuate shaped tip positioned in said plenum. Secondary fluid directing means 14 can be rotated so that its tip 16 can face tip 12 of the primary directing means 10. By adjusting the relative position of tip 16 with respect to tip 12, the fluid flow is adjusted to maintain the desired distribution of fluid sources throughout the various passageways. Secondary fluid directing means 14 is rotated simply by rotating knob 18. Knob 18 is provided with an L-shaped bracket 20 secured into the shorter indicator of which terminates in a V-shaped indicator as seen in FIG. 4. A calibrated scale 22 is secured to inlet 2 such that the secondary fluid directing means 14 is rotated with respect thereto. Plus, it is possible through the use of scale 22 to instruct an operator to set rod 14 at a given calibration issuring optimum operating conditions.

FIGS. 3 and 6 depict a swirl indicator. FIG. 6 shows the complete apparatus apart from the accelerating device. FIG. 3 shows its placement in such a device. The indicator comprises a rotatable rod 30 located in a housing 32 via support 34 containing bearings 36 and 38 suitably ball or roller bearings. These bearings enable free rotation of the rod 30. Rod 30 terminates in an opaque end 40 having an open passageway therethrough 41. Housing 32 is provided with a light source 42 on one side thereof and a solar cell 44 on the other such that when the open passageway is in registry within the light source 42, the solar cell generates a voltage pulse recorded in recorder 46.

Housing 32 is suitably maintained on a bracket 48 terminating in a ring 50 which is adaptable to be fastened or positioned over the walls defining funnel 5.

The rod 30 can be provided with outwardly protruding baffles or veins to catch the flow of swirling air or other fluid. Alternatively, it can be in a flattened shape. Desirably, it is of such a size as to fit within the strands of filaments passing through guide tube 7, but not in contact with such strands.

Another feature of the present invention involves the utilization of at least one baffle or dampening means situated within the plenum 1. Referring specifically to FIGS. 7 and 8, the aspirating jet or fluid gun is provided with a plurality of baffle means each of which can be desirably adjusted to adjust the air flow. These baffle means 50 extends upwardly and fills a major portion of the depth of the space constituting plenum 1. They can be adjusted to vary their angle by suitable adjusting means. One single, accurate and inexpensive means for adjusting these baffles 50 comprises a pair of spur gears comprising inner gear 52 having an axis 54 affixed to the baffle 50. Inner gear 52 meshes with outer gear 56 rotatable about axis 58. Thus, by movement of outer gear 56, rotation of gear 52 is effected which, in turn, regulates the position of baffle element 50 within plenum 51. Desirably a plurality of such elements is provided as seen in FIG. 8. When such a plurality of baffle elements are employed, they are generally evenly distribued throughout the annular chamber or plenum 1.

The improvements provided herein are particularly suitable for use in connection with the device disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 850,500. Such device comprises an inlet tube through which a secondary fluid source, e.g., air, is passed together with freshly spun filaments. This terminates in a guide tube. Surrounding this secondary air source is an aspirating means comprising a primary fluid inlet which feeds an annular chamber. The primary fluid passes into that annular chamber and enters an inlet funnel which ultimately terminates in the aforementioned guide tube, generally via an expansion tube. The aspirating means or fluid jet can easily be affixed to the secondary fluid inlet by being screwed thereabout or by other fastening means.

Utilization of such a device enables lay down of synthetic filaments at extremely high rates, as high as 10,000 meters per minute. The aspirating flow can be accelerated to sound velocity such that when it reaches the narrowest jet cross section and in the expansion zone, it is up to Mach figures of 3.5 either parallel to the direction of the filaments or away from such direction depending upon the motive pressure and the ratio between exit cross sectional area and inlet cross sectional area of the expansion zone. Operation of devices provided by this invention is simple. With respect to the means provided within inlet tube 2, the air flow and pressures are adjusted merely by rotating knob 18 and fixing the setting on scale 22 so that the L-shaped pointer 20 is at a pre-determined setting.

Operation of the swirl detecting device merely involves insertion of the rod 30 through funnel 5 which functions as a secondary inlet for fluid and as inlet for the freshly spun filaments. The power sources are provided such that the light source can be in registry with the slot 41 in the opaque end 40. A suitable solar cell is provided in electrical association with a counter or rate determining device. The rest of the operation is done by the apparatus.

Use of the baffle system shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 merely involves adjustment of the baffles 50 employing the spur gears bearing in mind that each baffle is provided with its own set adjusting means, e.g., gears.

Claims

I claim:

1. In a housing through which spun filaments pass wherein fluid is employed to aspirate said filaments through said housing, said housing having a primary fluid inlet, a plenum communicating with said fluid inlet, a passageway in fluid communicating relationship with said plenum which passageway terminates within a filament passageway through which spun filaments pass, the improvement for controlling swirling of fluid in said plenum and said passageway which comprises a plurality of baffle elements disposed in said plenum.

2. An improvement according to claim 1 wherein each baffle element is rotatably mounted to an axis of a spur gear rotatable by a second spur gear which meshes therewith and is positioned with a surface on the outside of said housing.

3. An improvement according to claim 1 wherein said plenum comprises an annular chamber.

4. In a device through which passage of filaments is accelerated which device has a housing, a primary flow inlet through which fluid enters to accelerate said passage of filaments, a plenum communicating with said flow inlet and a passageway in fluid communicating relationship with said plenum which passageway terminates within a filament passageway through which spun filaments pass, the improvement which comprises at least two baffle means disposed in said fluid inlet, one of said baffle means being a primary fluid directing means, another of said baffle means being a secondary fluid directing means.

5. An improvement according to claim 4 wherein said primary fluid directing means lies at least partially wiithin the fluid inlet and the plenum and said secondary fluid directing means lies at least partially within said fluid inlet and said plenum and can be longitudinally rotatable in said inlet with respect to said primary fluid directing means.

6. An improvement according to claim 5 wherein each of said primary or secondary fluid directing means are fitted with an arcuately-shaped tip which protrudes into said plenum, said primary fluid directing means having a larger tip than said secondary fluid directing means.

7. An improvement according to claim 6 wherein said secondary fluid directing means is in the form of a rod-like member rotatable with respect to a calibrated scale which member has a pointer affixed to a knob at the end thereof adaptable to point at a given calibration on said scale.