US2080193A - Treatment of artificial silk - Google Patents

Description

May 11, 1937. w, BAKKER 2,080,193

TREATMENT OF ARTIFICIAL SILK Filed Jan. 21, 1936 Patented May 11, 1937 TREATMENT or ARTIFICIAL SILK Willem Bakker, Arnhem, Netherlands, assiznor to American Enka Corporation, Enka, N. 0., a corporation of Delaware Application January 21-, 1936, Serial No. 60,110

In Germany February 5, 1935 8 Claims. (01. 117-2) This invention relates to the moistening of artificial silk threads, especially of the type made by dry methods, and has particular reference to the application of fluids to the running strand of such thread in a twisting machine prior to being collected on the twisting spool.

Various methods and devices havebeen employed up to the present time for applying treating fluids to artifical silk threads while being twisted in twisting machines, but for one reason or another none of thesemethods or devices have been found satisfactory. For example, it has apparatus should be avoided, particularly in the manufacture of artificial silk.

It is also common practice to draw the threads to be treated over a wick, pad, or similar device which is saturated with the desired fluid. Such arrangements, however, are also unsatisfactory, as the threads frequently do not take up or absorb a uniform quantity of fluid, and in addition,

- \where suflicient wick surface is employed to assure a thorough saturation of the thread, the tension on the thread is usually greater than has been found desirable for threads of the kind referred to herein.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for applying treating fluid to artificial silk threads in regulated amounts and in such a manner that the threads are evenly saturated on all sides. A' further object of the invention is to eliminate excessive tension on the thread and to diminish the size of the fluid contact area while at the sametime obtaining a uniformly andthoroughly saturated product, and a still further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus which is capable of accomplishing these purposes and is relatively simple and compact in construction and does not interfere with the twisting operation in any way, as by interfering with visibility of the machine or any part thereof.

' The invention generally comprises a substantially horizontal moistening pipe to which the treating liquid is conducted in controlled amounts and which is provided with a plurality of apertures at spaced points along the length thereof. These apertures connect the interior of the pipe with a multiplicity of annular grooves in the periphery of the pipe which not only convey the treating liquid a predetermined distance, de- 5 pending upon the position of the apertures in the .pipe, but also act as guides for the threads passing to the twisting devices.

A more complete understanding of the invention will be obtained by referring to the accom- 1o panying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the essential and associated parts constituting the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of 15 the moistening device and drain taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged section of a portion of the moistening pipe taken on line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure l, i ll represents a relatively thick walled pipe positioned intermediately of the winding spools II and the twisting bobbins I2 and serving to apply treating fluid to the threads I3 as they pass downwardly in contact therewith. Pipe 10 is provided with a plurality of annular 25 grooves H, i. e. one for each thread which passes by the'pipe, and these grooves not only act as guides for the threads, but also constitute passageways or furrows for conducting the treating liquid along the threads a relatively short dis- 30 tance and finally conveying it down'to the lower side of pipe it where it is discharged by suitable pegs or pins IS. A pump I6 is adapted to supply the treating fluid to pipe H) from any suitable source, such as the supply tank II, the fluid being preferably sucked upwardly through pipe l8 and forced through pipes l9 and 20 to the filter 2|. .From the filter it passes through pipe 22 and a plurality of pipes 23 extending downwardly from pipe 22 and connecting this pipe with'mois- 4o tening pipe ID at longitudinally spaced points. The liquid flows out of pipe l0 through the apertures 24 whichare located at about the middle portion of the side of pipe I0, as shown in Figure 2, and connect the interior of the pipe with the 45 pipe may be returned directly to tank l'l if ,Figure 3).

desired.

A uniform flow through the system and espccially through apertures 26 is obtained by means of the check valve 32 which is adapted to automatically control the amount of fluid passing through the system by varying, in accordance with the various pressures encountered, the

quantity of fluid returned directly to tank I! through the by-pass pipe 33. Uniform flow through apertures 24 is also effected by arranging pipe It in a horizontal position and providing' valves 34 for regulating the level of the liquid in the pipe.

It is also possible to vary the distance 35 (Figure 2) which the threads travel through the fluid streams emanating from apertures 24 by rotating pipe I0 about its own longitudinal axis, thereby raising or lowering apertures 24 with respect to the line of thread contact. This may also be accomplished by changing the relative positions of the thread guides 36 and 31 with respect to pipe l0. These adjustments as well as the regulation of fluid flow are highly important, as it is otherwise exceedingly diflicult to obtain threads which are uniformly treated to the desired degree.

In operation, the pump is first started, causing the treating fluid to circulate through-the system. During starting the suction of fluid up through pipe I8 is facilitated by pouring a quantity of the fluid into the funnel 38 located at the upper end of pipe l8, and after thus priming, the valve 39 is closed to prevent loss of fluid. The threads iii are then led downwardly from the winding spools I! through guides 36, over apertures 24 in pipe I!) and through guides 31 to the twisting bobbins.

The invention not only has the advantage of being exceedingly simple in construction, this being particularly true of that portion of it which is directly associated or in contact with the twisting mechanisms, but it also is capable of uniformly impregnating or treating artificial silk threads on all sides and with amounts which may be regulated according to the inherent capacity of the thread to take up or absorb the treating fluid. It is to be observed that the apertures 24 are considerably larger in diameter than the diameter of the threads, so that the fluid readily covers and impregnates the thread on its entire surface (see Moreover excessive tension on the threads is avoided, and this eliminates numerous undesirable results in the treated material.

The apparatus is adapted for all kinds of moistening operations, including such methods as brightening, sizing and dyeing, and may be employed to apply all kinds of fluids to the threads, including water, soap solutions, oil emulsions,

drying and non-drying oils, and solutions of starch, gelatine and glue as well as solutions of dyestuffs and numerous other solutions, emulsions, and suspensions. The circulation of the fluid mixtures through the system and moistening pipe, which extends the entire length of the twisting machine, and the return of fluid to the supply tank tends to maintain the mixture uniform over a long period of time.

Although the invention has been found most effective in the treatment of acetate silk threads and in combination with twisting machines commonly used in the-manufacture ofsuch threads, it is to be understood that it is generally useful for treating all kinds of artificial silk threads regardless-of the method of manufacture. Furthermore, the size and shape of the grooves may be varied, and if desired more than one aperture may be associated with each groove, the arrangement shown and described herein being merely the preferred form of the invention.

I claim:-

1. In combination with a twisting apparatus for artificial silk threads, a moistening device comprising a rotatably adjustable and substantially horizontal pipe having a plurality of annular grooves the spaced points for guiding the threads to the twisting apparatus and a plurality of apertures associated with the grooves and in substantially the middle portion of the side of the pipe, the apertures serving to conduct fluid from the interior of the pipe to moisten the threads contacting the grooves.

2. In combination with a twisting apparatus for artificial silk threads, a moistcning device comprising a substantially horizontal pipe having a plurality of annular grooves for guiding the threads to the twisting apparatus and a plurality of apertures for connecting the interior of the pipe with the grooves, the apertures being larger 3. In combination with a twisting apparatus 7 for artificial silk threads, a moistening device comprising a substantially horizontal pipe extending the length of the twisting apparatus and having a plurality of annular grooves and an equal number of apertures for conveying moistening fluid from the interior of the pipe to the grooves, each groove having a pin extending downwardly from the lower portion of the pipe and serving to discharge fluid from the groove.

4. In combination with devices for twisting artificial silk thread, a moistcning system comprising a pipe having annular grooves for guiding the threads to the twisting device and apertures therein for supplying treating fluid directly to the threads, means for regulating the quantity of fluid supplied to the pipe, and means for maintaining a uniform level of fluid throughout the length of the pipe.

5. In combination with devices for twistin artificial silk threads, a moistening system comprising a pipe for supplying treating fluid directly to a plurality of moving threads, means for forcing the fluid through the system in a circulatory manner, means for regulating the quantity of fluid supplied to the threads, and means for priming the fluid forcing means during initial circulation of the fluid.

6. In combination with an apparatus for twisting artificial silk threads, a circulatory moistening system comprising a source of fluid supply, means for forcing the fluid through the system, a pipe for conveying fluid directly to the threads, means for regulating the rate of flow through the pipe, and means for returning the fluid from the pipe to the source of supply.

'7. In combination with devices for twistin 8. In combination with devices for twisting artificial silk threads, a system for moistening the moving strands during the twisting operation comprising means for forcing treating fluid through the system at a predetermined rate of flow and a substantially horizontal pipe having a plurality of apertures for conveying the fluid from the interior of the pipe into contact with the threads passing thereover, the pipe being rotatable to vary the distance which the threads travel through the fluid.

WIILEM BAKKER.

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