US2964787A - Continuous spinning system - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 20, 1960 H. P. RILLING ETAL 2,964,787

coNTINuoUS SPINNING SYSTEM Filed June 1e. 1953 A 11 sheets-Sheet 1 M ZMORNEY Dec. 20, 1960 H. P. RILLING :TAL

CONTINUOUS SPINNING SYSTEM Filed June 16. 1953 11 sheets-sheet 2 l INVENTORS #aan E19/'L UNG.

[e/yfsr J. 6TH/sfr, Je. @pee-WAY 7.' yA/CH m, CHARLES F /V/c/foLs BY Mw ,1

Mmmm .qui

Dec. 20, 1960 H. P. RILLING ET AL 2,964,787

CONTINUOUS SPINNING SYSTEM Filed June 16. 1953 v l1 Sheets-Sheet 3 1N VENTORS sa m 7 ATTORNEY Dec. 20, 1960 H. P. RILLING ET A1.

CONTINUOUS SPINNING SYSTEM 1l* Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 16. 1953 Dec. 20, 1960 H. P. RILLING l-:TAL 2,964,787

CONTINUOUS SPINNING SYSTEM Filed June 16. 1953 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 Mp )ZMTTORNEY Dec. 20, 1960 H. P. RILLING ETAL CONTINUOUS SPINNING SYSTEM Filed June 16, 1953 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS HUGH R R/z L /A/G,

mais f.' /l//c/foLs BY 7 l Mmmm Dec. 20, 1960 H. P. RILLING ETAL coNTINuoUs SPINNING SYSTEM Filed June 16. 1953 Il IlIIIIlII Dec. 20, 1960 H. P. RILLING ErAL 2,964,787

i CONTINUOUS SPINNING SYSTEM Filed June 16.V 1953 11 Sheets-sheet s INVENTORS m )ZMTORNEY 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 Dec. zo, 1960 Filed June 16, 1953v Dec. 20, 1960 i H. P. RILLING ErAL CONTINUOUS SPINNING SYSTEM 11l Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed June 16, 1953 www BY Mw ATTORNEY Dec 20, 1960 H. P. RILLING ET AL 2,964,787

CONTINUOUS SPINNING sYsIEN I1 Sheets-sheet I1 Filed June 16. 1953 xl y INVENToRs bfc/6H R RMU/v6,

[9A/fsf J @I2/sfr, Jg., Flaw-WAY 7TH/vc# A,

GHAKL 5s E/V/c/foLs 2 ATTORNEY United States PatetOce .CONTINUOUS SPINNING SYSTEM Enea June 16, 195s, ser. No. 361,892 1 claim. (ci. 1ss) 4This invention relates to continuousspinning of rayon and more particularly to methods of and a machine for theproductionof high quality rayon yarn such as viscose heavy denier yarn for reinforcing rubber articles such as cord tires and thev like, on a commercial scale.

ln tube spinning equipment each yarn to be aftertreated i s spun in an acid bath, subjected to hot water stretching, if desired, and then propelled successively through a group otglass tubesby treating liquids so that the yarn emerging' from the last tube` of a series is ready for drying. Thistype` of aftert'reatment involves many'inherent advantge's over ,both the discontinuous and the older continuousspinning systems, but, to exploit those advantages to'.l 'the' fullest possible extent, it was necessary todeSign machines of largeproductive capacity. Y

Inthe development of commercial machines for tube spinning, the cost, safety and efficiency aspect of p lant space, labor,` accessibility for spinning-in, localized repair without` cessation of spinning, maintenance of ambient atmosphere and circulation of treating liquids for theservice of a. largenumber of spinning positions are all factors that need to be considered in mutually dependent relationship.

It is, therefore, an object of this .invention to provide a tube spinning machineof high productive capacity which is characterized by the compact arrangement of the tube groups associated with each spinning position as well as easy accessibility of tube groups and individual components thereof without-necessity for general shutdown for localized repair. j

I't is contemplated according to the present invention to provide liquid supply and gas withdrawal connections which are easily and conveniently shifted from operative to inoperative positions to aiford access to the after- 4treating equipment with which they are associated. I Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description in conjunction with the annexed drawings wherein: Y

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a two-sided rayon spinning machine--constructed in accordance with the principle of the present invention, the gas hoods being removed for convenience of illustration; IFigure 2 is a perspective view of one side of the machine of Figure 1;

' IFig. 3 is a view in plan of a portion of the side of the machine shown in Figure 2;

' Figure 4"is.a view in section taken on'the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a v iew-in'cro'ss-section to an enlarged scale' f the'spinning side' of the machine;

' [Figure 6 is a view in cross section to an enlarged scale of theiinishing side of themachine;

' f Figure 7 is a top plan viewof a typical tube group serving ay single spinningposition;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view partially in elevation i lof the tube group of Figure 7;

2,964,787 Patented Dec.A 20, 1960 Figure 9 is a detailed View in vertical section of a typical jet box with which the machine is provided;

Figure l0 is a View in longitudinal section of the lower end of the finishing side of the machine of Figure 2;

Figure l1 is a fragmentary view in elevation of one of the spinning points of the machine;

'Figure l2 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing a typical vapor hood with `which the machine is provided;

Figure 13 is a detailed View in transverse section of the lock and articulation arrangement for a vapor hood;

Figure 14 is a view in vertical section of the lock and articulation arrangement for a vapor hood;

Figure 15 is a liquid ilow distribution layout for the various treating liquids used in treatingrayon inv the machine of the present invention; and

'Figure 16 is a view in side elevation of Warp drying apparatus.

A two-sided commercial machine, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, is very large indeed since each side may include a large number of spinning positions and each spinning position usually includes a spinneret, two godets and a group of -aftertreating tubes. Naturally, the number of aftertreating tubes is variable depending upon the treatment tobe accomplished, as is the number of godets dependent upon the stretch conditions sought to be brought about. A typical machine is illustrated in Figure l and that ma-l chine has one hundred and forty-four spinning positions,l each position `having associated with it eight aftertreatingtubes. In the machine of Figure 1 seventy-two spinneretsat ,one side of the machine are served by avery long common spinning bath tank 10, while seventy-two spinnerets on the other 'side of the machine are served by a similar-elongated common spinningbath tankll. Adjacentbathtanks 10 and. 11 are hot water bath tanks 12 and 13, respectively. All of the tanks 10, 11, 12 and' 13, are disposed in mutually parallel relationship. v The yarns, after leaving the hot water baths 12 and 13, are led to and through a group of aftertreating tubes 14. In Figure 1 the total of the groups 14 of aftertreating tubes which are associated .with the baths 10 and 12, is designated by the numeral 15, while the total of the tube groups 16 for aftertreating the yarns spun in the bath 11 is designated by the numeral 17. The various tube groups 14 or 16 are disposed with their general axes at right angles to the long axis of the bath tanks 10, 11, 12 and 13. The tube groups 14 serve to establish a plurality of yarn paths between the hot Water bath 12 and a V-section trough 18, which slopes downwardly from left to right as viewed in Figure l and receives the yarns issuing from the various tube groups 14. A similar V- I- section trough 19 slopes in the same direction as the trough 18 and it serves the series 17 of tube groups 16, which are associated with bath tanks 11 and 13 at the other side of the machine.

The advantage inherent in the relative locations of major parts of the machine, as shown in Figure 1, can be better appreciated after the structure and function of one of the onehundred and forty-four spinning positions is described and analyzed. Hence this description will cover first a single spinning position and then relate that position to the assembly constituting one side of the machine. Except in Figure 1, both sides of the machine are not illustrated since the two seventy-two position sides are mirror image mutual equivalents and the advantages of their positioning relative to one another is fully apparent from the single figure in which both are illustrated.

The exact manner in which a spinneret, the godets and the associated group of aftertreating tubes coact can best be understood by concurrent reference to Figures ft to 9, inclusive, and Figure 11. While Figures 7 and 8 3 are concerned with" the' tubes serving but a single spinneret, it will be understood that thel subassembly` associated with each spinneret is the same throughout both sides of the machine Vfor the entire one hundred and forty-four units except for differences in the length of the connections between the tubeA groups and the troughs 1S and 19.

In Figures 5 and 11 there is shown at 20 one of the spinnerets which is located in the spinning bath tank 10. Yarn issuing from this spinneret is drawn oi by godet' 21 from which it is led downwardly over a guide roller 22 located in hot water bath r12 and then upwardly to godet 23. The spinning solution is delivered to the spinneret 20 through conventional means. operated at a higher peripheral speed than godet 21 and serves to stretch the yarn about 75% in its passage through the hotwater bath in the tankA 12. After leaving the godet'23 (see Figure 11.) the yarn is passed downwardly in a path tangential to the peripheral wall of the godet and is automatically washed by a jet of Water issuing from a nozzle 24 into a deector 25 which guides the running end of yarn to a low pressureV zone 26 (see Figure 5) created by a jet of liquid coaxially directed by a nozzle 27 into the ared mouth ofV a tube 28. Once the yarn is drawn into the tube 28, it is there propelled by the liquid issuing from the nozzle 27 until the tube 28 discharges into a jet box 29. Referring nowto Figures 7 and 8, the yarn entering the box 29 from the tube 28 first passes along deflector 30 and then in succession through tube 31, detiector 32, tube 33, deecto'r 34,V tube 35, deliector 36, tube 37, deector 38, Vtube 39, deecto'r 40, tube 41, deector 42, and nally tube 43. As" can be seen in Figure 8, the deilectors 32, 36, and 40' are' mounted in ajet boxY 44 which is similar to, but positionedto face, the box 29; whereby the tubes' may extend Back and' forth to reducethe overall length requirements ofjatube" group 14'.

Godet 23 is From tubeY 43, which is 'the eighth tube of the group'.

just' describen, the yarn is l'ed over the end of the jef. box 44 a'nd'is led into a large tubular conduit 45' from which it falls into V-section trough 18 to be washed downwardly to form a part of a warp which is eventually led to drawoff rollers 46 at the downstream end of the V-section trough 18, see Figures 2 and l0.

The washing-in device which causes the yarn to enter the low pressure zone at 26 from the godet 23 forms per se no part ofthe present invention but is shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,675,690, dated April 20, 1954'.

The jet boxes 29 and 44 correspond to those shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,724,956, dated November 29, 1955 ,L and perY se form no part ofthe present invention.

The basic idea of the introduction of yrunning yarns4 into, and their propulsion through, 'aftertreating' tubes by aftertreating liquids is explained in U.S. Patent No. 2,725,276, dated November 29, 1955.

The construction of the trough 18 and the formation of warp therein is shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,789,339,v dated April 23, 1957.

While the applications cross-referenced above will afford information regarding the structure and function of some of the components of the present invention, it is proposed to describe those components quite fully herein so that their mutual association and association with other elements of the machine can be appreciated.

While the yarn issuing from the tube 43 passes through tube 45 of large cross section which leads to the near edge of the trough 18, it is apparent from Figure 8 and from Figure 6 that the trough 18 is much deeper and much wider at the downstream end than it is at the upstream end. Consequently, wht'le there is an equivalent to the tube 45 for each group of aftertreating tubes,l the tubes which carry the yarn from the last aftertreating tube to the trough 18 vary in length from a maximum tube 457of Figure 6 to a minimum tube 45" of Figure 6 so that the yarns issuing from thel large diameter carryover tube will be laterally otset to run longitudinally of the trough 18 as a warp.

It is apparent that the speed of propulsion of yarn through tubes depends upon the velocity of the treating liquid and the length and cross section of the tubes. In order to standardize on liquid y pressures which will maintain uniform yarn velocity in the tubes, all of the tubes are made of the same length. aad internal cross section. It can be seen that this delicate balance would be upset if each of the tubes 43 were made a different lcngthsoV that, regardless of position, all of them wouldvl reach the edge ofthe trough 18'. To solve this problem all tubes 43 are made alike andv thev tubes 45 are made of such great internal diameter as`l tot/have no. effect upon the pressure-velocity characteristics of the liquid issuing from tubes 43. Thus, in their eiect" upon ow, the tubes 45 may be regarded as open troughs.

inasmuch as the spinning-in and aftertreating operations in the tube assembly are more or less automatic, and manual handling of the yarn duringregeneration isf not required, treatingV liquids having high temperatures may be employed. For example, treating liquids having a temperatureabove C. have been employed in the above-described tube treating process. The use of these excessively hot treating solutions is one factor contribute ing to a reduction in the total time required for com-f pletely regenerating the viscose rayon yarn. The yarn passes through the entire aftertreating system in a remarkably short time. For example, at a spinning speed of about 76 meters per minute, it has'been found that the yarn passes through eight treating tubes each 32 inches long in around seven seconds. In viewv of the fact' that not more than seven or eight seconds are required for then yarn to pass from thev initialy spinning bath 10 through thev stretching operation andI into the first treating tube4 2'8, the total timerequired for transformingviscose soiu tion'into substantially completely regenerated'and finished. viscose rayon yarn is less than twenty seconds. ConsiderA ing the many physical and chemical changes which'occur' duringv this transformation, the shortened treating time is indeed phenomenal.

It is important to note that the abbreviated treating time mentioned above is not achieved by the use of high temperatures alone. An even more important factor is' the tension condition of the yarn during the aftertreatment. Since the yarn is conveyed through the treating' tubes solely byA the passage ot' the liquid flowing throughI the tubes, it is subjected to a negligible tension duringl the time-it isv being aftertreated. The tension on the'yarn 12 is'only about 10 grams as it enters tubey 28 and it is reasonable to assume that this tension does not increase a'pprcciably as the-yarn proceeds through the other tubes. By observation it isapparent that the yarn n the tubes isin a substantially relaxed condition; the filaments are fullyseparated and dispersed with the liquid freely pene-r trating between them. This relaxed condition of the yarn is of primary importance in the practicing of the' present invention.

In a typical aftertreating arrangement, tube 28Yis sup plied with water containing 0.16% H2SO4 at 90 C., tube 31 is supplied with 4% sulphuric acid at 90'v C., tube 33l with 0.1% HZSO., and tube 35 with water at 90 C., tube 37 with 0.1% sodium bicarbonate. at 90" C., tubes 39 and 41 with-water at room temperature and tube 43 with a finishing solution at vroom temperature. Even without a specific desulphurization treating liquid, the sulphur content of the treated varn is abnormallyf' lo'w, usually averaging less than,0.05%.

Heretofore, the bare description of the movement of the yarn through a group of tubes from the spinneret to the warp-forming troughhas not been concernedwith. the manner in which the treating and propelling liquids are delivered for use. In a commercial machine, however, supply of large numbers of different. treating liquids and the location of parts for convenience Vof adjustment for repair is 'of greatimporta'nce.' To this end the frame` of the machine of the present invention is so constructed as to afford convenient support for uid conduits as well as easy operator access thereto which result in operating efficiencies of considerable magnitude. Turning now to Figures 4 and 5, the frame includes main standards 48, 49 and 50, suitably braced for rigidity. The standards 48 and 49 are interconnected by girders 51 and 52 while a girder 53 denes with standardr50 a right angle con` struction which'is braced by an element 454. Between the' members 59 are supported from the framework by ad-A justing screws 60 so that the level of the tanks 10 and 12 may be adjusted. The frame elements shown in the cross-sectional views constituting Figures 4, and 6 occur repeatedly at intervals along themachine. Conveniently these intervals may be six spinningpositions apart. The

frame elements are, of course, interconnected longitudiiially by suitable girders or structural elements, now shown.

4\The structure comprised of standards 50, girders-53 and braces 54, longitudinally interconnected, supports the V-trough 18 and a catwalk 61 serving the textile or linishing side of the machine. The groups of aftertreatingtubes are supported above the arch girder 57 and a catwalk 62 overlies the groups of tubes so that operators may'` concurrently work different stations on the machine' from catwalks 58, 61 and 62. In view of the posi-` tion of girder 57, the floor of the plant provides anotherv walk at 63 underneath the walk 62 and convenient to the various conduits which supply liquids to the tubes with whichfthe machine is equipped.

r In order to serve the tube groups 14 shown in Figure l, the aftertreating liquids are circulated in manifolds, distributed to the appropriate jet boxes, used in the tubes, recovered in the appropriate jet box and returned to a manifold. To explain the principles of 'treating liquid circulation, a typical series of aftertreatments will be described. :'The first'aftertreating liquid to be supplied to a freshly spunv y`arn` is delivered to manifold 64 shown in Figure 8 andfrom that manifold is delivered to the seventy-two pipes 65 each`leading to a nozzle 27. This liquid treats the incoming yarn in the tubes 28 and is recovered in the'box 29. To this end, the jet boxes, such as boxes 29' and 44, are provided with liquid recovery compartments under each of the deectors.

The deectors 30, 34, 38 and 42 are mounted on a bar 66 for lateral shifting to and from a position registering with the ends of the tubes 28, 33, 37 and 41, respectively,A

see Figure 9. -Deectors 32, 36 and 40 are mounted on a bar 67 similar in structure and function to the bar 66. Underneath deflectors 30, 34, 38 and 42 and in registryv with .the ends of the tubes lie liquid recovery compartments 68, 69, 70 and 71, respectively, and similar compartmentation exists in the box 44 where compartments 72, 73 and 74 underlie detlectors, 32, 36 and 40, respectively, as'shown in Figure 7. When spinning-in is complete, each aftertreating tube, except tube 43, discharges intoy a compartment and each compartment has a drain by which the liquid recovered therein can be recycled.

' With the foregoing background, the circulation of liq' u id for the entire machine can be understood, the feeds andv returns to all of the tube groups being like those shown and described in conjunction with boxes 29 and 44. 'During spinning-in, the yarn issuing from tube 28 isv :guided by deflector 30 to the mouth of tube 31. Liquid is supplied to me 'me'm from manifoldjrs ihrghj conduit 76 terminating in'a nozzle like nozzle 27. Yarn'- issuing from tube 31 discharges into deector 32 and is guided thereby to the mouth of tube 33. Tube 33 is supplied with liquid from a tube 77 which is connected' to manifold 78. The yarn continues similarly from tube'l 33 to deector 34 totube 35 to deector 36 to tube' 37- to deflector 38 to tube 39 to dellector 40 to tube 41 to.

deliector 42 to tube 43 and finally to oversize tube 45 leading to trough 18.

Tubes 35, 39 and 43 are supplied from conduits 79, '80 and 81, respectively, issuing'from supply manifolds 82, 83 and 84. Tubesv 37 and 41 are supplied from conduits- 85 and 86, respectively, issuing from supply manifolds 87and 88.-

"During spinning-in while the deflectors are in .the-posi,- tion shown in Figure 7, the liquid and thread from each tube are guided by the deector to the mouth of the next4 tube of the group. Accordingly, liquid recovery isnot' effected during spinning-in and smallliquidentrainment occurs. The liquid which is not entrainedis discharged to waste through waste outlets 89 and 90 with which all of theboxes such as 29 and 44 are= equipped. These wasteoutlets in the boxes 29 lie on the opposite side of atransverse partition 91 from the compartments 68, 69,

70 and 71. A similar partition 92 transversely subdividesI each box 44. The result of these partitions is to subdivide each box'into a number of smallcompartments one under.

the end of each tube and a single large compartment for waste recovery. The large waste recovery compartment of box`29 bears reference numeral 93 and the equivalent waste recovery compartment for b ox.44 bears reference numeral 94.

1 Waste from` the lvarious compartments such as 93..and

94 is connected `by exible tubular drains 'such as'89 and.

to Waste manifolds 95 and 96. Waste manifolds '95' and 96 are drained by pipes 97v and 98 connected at the Vlow point of the respective manifolds. v- Thus provision for waste during spinning-in is made and partitions 91 and 92 are made low enough so that the clogging of the drain 4for any of the compartments 68 to 74, inclusive, results in spillage from the clogged compartment into one of the compartments 93 or 94. During all but a few seconds, while spinning-in is being effected, the described system provides for full liquid recovery without intermixing. Y

Once spinning-in is completed and the yarn is runningv in a complete tube group such asthat shown in Figures 7;.8 and 9, the deector rods such as 66 and 67 are shifted axially to move'thedeectors out of registry with the respective tube ends. When this happens, the yarn con. tinues to run to the mouth of the next tube of the system but the liquid from each tube discharges into the appro priate'one of the compartments 68 to 74, inclusive. So that the treating liquid may be recovered, each of the compartments 68 to 74, inclusive, is connected to a liquid return manifold. In Figure 5 it can be seen that compartment 68 is connected by a flexible tube 99 to manifold 100. r Compartments 69, 71 and 72 are similarly connected by flexible - tubes 101, 102 and 103 to manifolds 104,- 105 Aand 106, respectively. The compartments 72, 73and 74 from Abox 44 are connected by flexible tubes 107,108 and 109 to manifolds 110, 111 and 112, respectively, as shown in Figure `6. Upon reference to Figure l5 a typical liquid circulation system for aftertreating tire yarn can be seen. In that iigurethe supplyand exhaust manifolds are represented as blocks'and all of the seventy-,two tubes through'which the liquids pass from one manifold tothe other are represented'by a single solid line numbered to correspond' to the appropriate treating tube of Figure 7.

Beginning then with the tubes 28, it is seen that they are supplied with hot water from a tank S-1 and that manifold 99 drains to sewer. Water is supplied to tank `S-1 through a temperature control heater 113 by a pump114 7. whichv draws from a: recovery' tanltA R-I'which. receives; from" manifold 104 the: dischargefrom. tubes 33.. Tubes 33 aresupplied frommanifold 78.`which; isfed-from tank' S43:r 'IfanlCS-3is supplied by a pump 115 which delivers water fromr'recovery tank R,3` through a temperaturecontroll heater 116. The: waterin tank R-.3 is. recovered from manifold 111 fed by tubes' 35. Tubes. 35 are supplied from. a` tank S-4 through manifold 82. The tank S`4 receives. its water through afheatei` elementll? from` a pump 118 drawing from a tank R-4. Tank R4 is sup-4 plied from manifold 112 which isffedbyy tubes 39 which in turn aresupplied. from manifold. '83.. Manifold 83 supplied. from tank S6 which is; fedsfronlY tank R`+6fliy a-pump 119i delivering through a.. heater element. 120'.' Tubes 41 are supplied with fresh soft water heated tothe. proper. temperature. This .watens discharged. fronr tank S`7 through manifold. 88; Therecovery from tubes. 41 istk 1recived i1rmanifold:106` and deliveredto, recovery tank:

It-cart now'be-seen. that for treating; tire-yarnfthe: rst,. third,- fourth-sixth and. seventh tubes of. each group may contain. water' or water containing small amounts of. acid. Thev water whichiirst. contacts the newly spun: yarn' has already contacted yarnon four previous-occasions.' and it isnot until the tfthwater treatment that.' the yarrrencounfv ters freshwater;

In ther secondtube of each group,. the tubes 31, the yarn. is: treated withsulfuric acidsupplied to tank Rf-Z and.de liveredfromzitfby pump 121 through heat'controlelement; 122. to^ supply tanlc S-2. The: tank;S"-2 feedsr manifold 75. andthe recovery manifoldllfeedss-backzto. tanlc R.2.v Make. up, liquid is supplied.' to;- tanlc. R-Z: as'indicated'. im' Figure 15.

Thev fifth; urbesofreach. group-,'- tubesc37, are` supplied with. NaHCOg. by` 'm system'. identicatfto' acidi-supply sys tem fortubes 31. Sodium: bicarbonaterecoveredv from manifold: 105 is. discharged into'tank R.5 from which. pump 123 delivers it throughaheat control element 124 to'tanlciSJ. EronrA supply tanlcSS thefsodiumbicarhonate is delivered to manifold 87.

The only other solution is finishing: solution which is; delivered from the tank S-8 to the tubesx43 from the manifold 84. This solution isnot recovered irr a manifold at all but passesv from the'tubes` 43 through'. the large. tubes 45 into thetrough` 18. The finishing solution stayswiih. the yarns as they move along the trough during. spinningin. and it'. moves parallel.` to: tbefwai'pA of yarns.A running above the troughv 18. during the remainderV of' the: doif.- Atv the. end of thes trough 18,4 the finishing.` solirtion'is discharged. through azehute' 125 toia screened. tanlc marked 126-in' Figure 104 and marked. R-S.' in Figure` 15. Broma the recoveryk tank; to: which malte.v up. may be added through line'. 127 ,1 a pump128t delivers the solution to .tank S-8. Iff further finish is supplied. to the yarns while they: are'ru'nning'as ai warp beyond the lower endof the trough 18, the slasher pan may be supplied in. parallel with the tubes 43 as can be seen in Figure 15.

-In Figure all ofA the supply tanks are shown as above the recovery tanks. Thisv is actually true in the. machine where the 'supply' tanks? are disposed' higher than the tube groups to give'a uniform head or pressure at the supply manifolds which, in turn, results in uniform flow' through the'tubes: Byl arranging the heaters between the recovery tanks. and thesupply tanks, the likelihood ofentraining air 'is reduced.

If reference4 is vagain. made to Figures 5 and( 6, it willi.' be noted that all of the drainconneetions from the boxes 29 andl 44 include a llexibleportion, see-parts89, v 90, 99,` 101, 102103, 107, 108, and 109. A exible'sleeveis also included in all of the liquid supply lines to the boxes 29-and44, typical sleeves being'shownat-129 in the line 76,. and 130 in the line` 77. These sleeves are located` n`ear therespective boxes; Similar sleves'4 also connect the part of treatingtube-that runs` between the iet boxes m to; facilitate. isolation of a pair of jet boxes from the system forA easy replacement or repair. To this end a pair ofangle members.133 and 134 are supported on the machine frame to run lengthwise thereof near the facing; edgesof boxes 29' and 44, respectively. Walk 62 is made 15. up; of: separate: planks 135. resting on the members 133 andp134. but not' fastened. Thus. an operator can move along walk 62 until he reaches a position adjacent a box" needing repair and kneel, there. In the kneeling positionhe may liftfone or more of'. the planks. 135 thereby ex- 204 posing the tube'l group on which work is required.

While the foregoing description makes it clear that thei area below the' walk 62 is easily accessible there is anotherv problem in gaining access to the boxes 29 and 44and thatis thevapor or gas removal hoods 136 and 137. The hoods. 136 serve the boxes 29 in groups of six, see Figure-2,. and the hoodsv 137 serve the boxes 44 in the same way, a pair of hoods 136-137 serving. paired opposite boxes. Each hood 136 is connected to a: high manifold 138 by a connecting conduit 139 and:

- eachhood 137 is connected to the same manifold by a conduit-'140'. Thermanfold is'exhausted by a largef'an' or gas' pump, notV shown, acting through. a conduit 141v se'rvingthe. entire` manifold 138.

Itis: apparentth'at the evolutionl of gasI will of necessitycc'cu'r where the treating liquids are. owing under condi tions-y of some agitation while exposed to atmosphere. This; in apractical sense, means that the hoods 136 and 137 tov be eective. should have their mouths above, close to and in registry with the boxes 29 and 44. On-

Y the other hand in that position operator access to the boxes 29'and 44 is blocked. This problem is solved in a manner shown in Figures 4 and 12 to 14, inclusive. Forv purposes of explanation one of the hoods 137 will be described in detail with the understanding that all ofi the hoods 136 and 137 are made and used in the samel way.

In Figure 4it will benoted that neither of the hoods 136T or 137 extends in a truly vertical direction above the respective boxes 29 and 44. They are held in theposition shown, dependent from the conduits 139 and 140, by locks at points 142 and 143 and hinges at 144 and'145; It is now apparent that if the locks 142 and 143 are released the hoods 136 and 137 will swing by gravity about the hinges 144 and 144 to a vertical.

position shown in broken lines in Figure 4.

Each hood is of rectangular cross section adjacent the hinges 144 or 145 and is provided with a flange, see theY flange 146 of' Figures 12 to 14. A similar ange is provided onthe lower end of the ducts 139 and 140 see the liangle 147 of Figures l2 and 14. The hinges 144 lie between these. anges. The locks 142 and 143 are no more. than. bolts' and nuts such as are shown at 148 in Figures 13 and 14.

It can .now be seen that when `an operator desires. ac` cessto. any of. the. pairs of boxes 29-44 he not only removes the appropriate plank but also releases the appropriate locks 142-143 so that the hoods will swingy away fromy registry above the boxes. It is found that the vapor evolved during a short repair period from the live exposed boxes which are not served by the hood when it is in the broken line position of Figure 4 is negligible. If the machine were operating under conditions to producecreadlly dangerous quantities of fumes, it would only benecessary toincrease. the number of hoods to reduce 9 the number of boxes served condition existed.

Vapor control from above the spinning and hot water baths is best understood by further reference to Figure 4. It will be noted that a closed spaced above the bath tanks 10 and 12 is defined by sliding windows 149, ducts 150 and 151 and a wall 152 through which the drive shafts for the godets pass. The sliding windows ex pose six spinning positions at a time. Fresh air pumped in'through conduit 153 to duct 150 and'through small apertures at 154 in its lower wall thereby supplies fresh humidified air to the space above the baths. Through large apertures at 155, duct 151 receives vapors from the baths and these vapors are withdrawn through duct 156.

Acid is supplied to the spin bath in tank 10 through a stand pipe 157 and a similar stand pipe 158 serves the hot water bath in tank 12.

The description has thus far covered the spinning of the yarns and their aftertreatment including the circulation of the various aftertreating liquids. To complete the description from the point of view of yarn handling, it is necessary to describe the manipulations which take place once the yarn issues from the tubes 45. In this discussion reference to Figures 1 and 6 will be helpful.

It will be recalled that troughs 18 and 19 are of V cross section, and slope downwardly from left to right as viewed in Figure l. A finishing solution is introduced at the upper end of each trough, the slope of the troughs being such that the liquid will fiow at a rate a little in excess of the rate of yarn propulsion in the tube groups 14 and 16. The liquid flows from the lower end of trough 18 into the chute 125. A chute 161 performs the same function for the trough 19. Upon leaving the chute 125 the finish is recovered in receptacle 126 while a similar receptacle 162 serves the chute 161 in the same way.

With the finish solution running in the troughs 18 and 19 one is in a position to appreciate the layout of Figure 1. Note that the spinning side of the machine including baths 11 and 13 has a walkway 163 corresponding to walkway 58 and that the groups 16 are served by a walkway 164 like walkway 62, while walk 61 is common to both sides of the machine.

' Now suppose the machine of Figure 1 is to be spun-in. One operator spins-in the godets and the tubes 28 from walk 58 and another does the same from walk 163, both beginning at the right end of Figure l. An operator on walk 62 and another on walk 164 spin-in the tube groups as the yarns issue from the tubes 28. Thus the operators on walks 58, 62, 163 and 164 must work substantially simultaneously as a team. However, since the tubes 45 discharge automatically into the troughs 18 and 19, no particular timing is required of the operator on walk 61 and he can easily serve both sides of the machine.

As the yarns fall into the troughs 18 and 19 they are carried downstream by the current of finishing solution, and because of the graduations in length of the tubes 45 the tendency is for the yarns to separate. After six or more yarns are running in either of the troughs 18 or 19, the operator lifts them out of the trough and slips in a removable comb across the top of the trough. The yarns are then arranged as a warp in this comb. The combs for trough 18 bear reference numeral 165 and those for trough 19 bear reference numeral 166, see Figure 6. As further positions are spun-in the operator repeats the combing operation until finally a warp of seventy-two yarns is running over each of the chutes 125 and 161. These are drawn by drawol rollers 46 and 167 and delivered to a common warp dryer of the type schematically shown in Figure 2, and described in detail in conjunction with Figure 16. If desired, the first six or twelve yarns spun-in may be combed out and passed through the dryer to the take-up before additional yarns are spun-in. As additional yarns are then spun-in they may be combed out and led through the dryer using the method and deby each hood until a safe 10 vice disclosed in co-pending application Serial No. 262,145, now U.S. Patent No. 2,844,859, dated July 29,

Referring now to Figure 16, the warp of yarns passing through drawof rollers 46 and 167 is brought into con# tact with a` first series of rotating drying cylinders 16S-- 179, inclusive. The completely dried yarns leaving the cylinder 179 are guided by freely rotatable rollers 180 and 181 into a bath of finishing solution 182, through driven squeeze rolls 183, 184.and 185 and toa second series of drying cylinders 186-197, inclusive. The second series of drying cylinders 186-197, inclusive, are preferably operated at a speed slightly in excess of that of squeeze rolls 183, 184 and 185 to impart an additional stretch to the once dried yarns. On leaving the final drying cylinder 197, the warp of yarns is passed to any suitable take-up for a continuously running filamentary material. The propulsion of the drying cylinders 168- 179, inclusive, is effected by a driving chain 198 which interconnects the cylinders, the drive being imparted to the system through a sprocket 199 coaxial with drying cylinder 172. Sprocket 199 is driven from a chain 200 which in turn is driven from a transmission system generally designated by numeral 201. Drying cylinders 186- 197, inclusive, are similarly driven by an interconnecting chain 202 and power is applied from transmission system 201 to this group through a sprocket 203 coaxial with cylinder 193 and suitable chains, as shown.

Inasmuch as various modifications will become apparent to those skilled in this art, it is intended that the scope of this invention be limited only to the extent set forth in the following claim.

What is claimed is:

A continuous viscose spinning machine comprising an elongated spinning bath tank, a plurality of spinnerets supported within said tank at spaced intervals, a first row of jet boxes extending parallel to said spinning bath tank, a second row of jet boxes extending parallel to said spinning bath tank in spaced relationship to said first row, the number of jet boxes in each row corresponding to the lnumber of spinnerets in said spinning bath tank and corresponding jet boxes in each of said rows cooperating to form a plurality of pairs, a plurality of groups of aftertreating tubes, the number of groups corresponding to the number of spinnerets and to the number of pairs of jet boxes, each group consisting of a plurality of elongated tubes extending at right angles to said spinning bath tank with respective ends thereof communicating with and being supported by a cooperating pair of said jet boxes, means to guide and propel yarn from each spinneret to a corresponding group of aftertreating tubes, means for automatically threading said yarn back and forth between each pair of jet boxes and through the group of aftertreating tubes associated therewith, an elongated trough extending parallel to said spinning bath tank but spaced therefrom a distance greater than that between the first and second rows of jet boxes, means to deliver yarn from each group of aftertreating tubes to said trough, and means for withdrawing yarn from said trough in warp form for further processing.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,427,238 Sinkwitz Aug. 29, 1922 2,146,747 Kline et al. Feb. 14, 1939 2,203,793 Lovett June 11, 1940 2,246,735 Kline et al June 24, 1941 2,251,886 .Tannell Aug. 5, 1941 2,313,006 Ufnowski Mar. 2, 1943 2,348,415 -Polak May 9, 1944 2,410,456 Naumann Nov. 5, 1946 2,418,126 Spalding et al Apr. l, 1947 2,433,733 Brown Dec. 30, 1947 (Other references on following page) l 1 UNITED STATES. PATENTS Battista Apr. 6, 19.48. Schlosser et a1 Dec. 20, 19491 Bakker et al. Sept. 4, 1951 Hofmann Mar. 4, 1952 5 Griset Apr. 20, 1954 Grjset Apr. 20,. 1954 Griset Nov. 29, 1955 Griset Nov. 29, 1955 Haven er a1 Nov.29, 1955 10 169.700

12' Grset Nov. 29 A195,5 -Rilling et a1 Nov. 29 1955y Nikleset al. Dec. 4, 1956 Griset Dec. 18, 1956 Grset Apr. 2, 1957 Lynch et al Apr. 23, 1957 Griset Jan. 21, 1958l FOREIGN PATENTS Austria Dec. vl0, 1951

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