US3479707A - Jet fiber texturizer - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 25, 1969 c. 1.. LOVELAND I 3,479,707

JET FIBER TEXTURIZER Filed Aug. 2, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 I ;//////4 2 w i &

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JET FIBER TEXTURIZER Filed Aug. 2, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNV N OR 6 /5/59 ova/1N1) J ATT RNEYS United States Patent 3,479,707 JET FIBER TEXTURIZER Chester L. Loveland, Dalton, Pa., assignor to US. Textile Machine Company, Scranton, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 543,700, Apr. 19, 1966. This application Aug. 2, 1967, Ser. No. 660,561

Int. Cl. D02g 1/16 US. Cl. 28-1 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A yarn texturing device wherein a jet of fluid is applied to a yarn for bulking the latter. The yarn texturing device has a cylindrical housing provided with a cylindr' al passageway extending therethrough, and a yarn needle is concentrically positioned in the passageway and is provided with an axial yarn-conveying bore extending therethrough. This needle is formed at a forward portion with a section of a diameter which is less than the diameter of the housing passageway to define an annular space with the latter. An orifice block is fitted into the housing passageway at its end opposite from the needle, and this block has an axial bore aligned with the axial bore extending through the needle. The axial bore of the block is provided with an abruptly enlarged entrance opening at an end which surrounds the forward end of the needle to form an annular chamber therewith. An air inlet for introducing air into the annular space between the housing and needle communicates with the interior of the housing and has a central axis which is offset from the longitudinal central axis of the annular space between the housing and the needle, so that in this way, the air which is introduced into the housing has considerable turbulence for bulking the yarn as it moves through the axial bores of the needle and orifice block.

Cross reference to related application This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 543,700, filed Apr. 19, 1966, and now abandoned, and entitled Jet Fiber Texturizer.

Background of the invention This invention relates to an improvement in an apparatus and process for treating a bundle of filaments such as fiberglass yarn to produce a bulky strand composed of a plurality of individual filaments.

In the textile industry there are many instances in which a bulked yarn is desirable to provide an increase in the air space between the filaments for adding greater warmth-giving, lightness, and covering power to the yarn. In recent years a new method of producing such bulked yarn has been developed which involves passing a filamentary material through a rapidly moving turbulent fluid such as air, thereby inducing a multitude of crunodal filament loops at random intervals along the individual filaments. These loops and snarls of entangled loops increase the bulk of the continuous filament yarns considerably and result in the fabrics of improved cover and bulk, handle and the like.

Such an apparatus is disclosed in my patent No. 2,994,- 938 which discloses a jet texturing device in which the yarn is passed through a yarn needle into a plenum 3,479,707 Patented Nov. 25, 1969 chamber through which a turbulent fluid is passed, thereby forming the loops and snarls in the fiber. However, the known apparatus is limited as to the denier or thickness of the yarn which may be treated in this manner. The known jet texturing devices are also limited as to the rate at which the yarn may be processed.

Summary of the invention It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved fiber texturing device for use in treating filamentary material such as fiberglass.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a jet fiber texturing device by means of which an increase in processing rates is achieved over such devices known in the art.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved jet yarn bulking device by which the amount of bulking of a continuous fiberglass yarn is substantially increased.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a yarn texturing device in which the filaments are introduced into a chamber formed between a yarn needle and a cylindrical housing, and in which a high pressure air input directs air into the chamber. According to one feature of the invention, the high pressure air input passage has its axis displaced from the central axis of the chamber and is not coplanar therewith. It has been found that by so positioning the air input a substantially increased fluid turbulence may be created in a turbulence chamber formed between the tip of the yarn needle and an exhaust venturi section formed within the cylindrical housing.

Another feature of the present invention resides in a nozzle extension containing various control plenum chambers which communicate with the outlet venturi to control the whirlpool action of the discharged air and texturized yarn from the venturi.

The overall result of the improved jet texturing device as herein presented, is an increased bulk and a high degree of uniformity of textured fiber, which may be processed at increased linear rates.

Brief description of the drawings The apparatus of this invention will be more readily understood by reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a yarn texturing device illustrating features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1, illustrating the oifset displacement of the fluid inlet with regard to the central axis of the housing;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line III-III of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified embodiment showing also a preferred construction of the present invention.

Description of preferred embodiments In the drawings, there is shown a yarn texturing device comprising a cylindrical housing 1 having a cylindrical passageway 2 extending therethrough. A yarn needle 3 is disposed within the cylindrical passageway, with a close sliding fit, and has an end yarn inlet portion 4 of reduced cross-section projecting out of the passageway, as seen at the left in FIG. 1. The yarn inlet end of the housing 1 is externally threaded as at 5, and a nut 6 is screwed upon such threads to make contact with the shoulder 7 of the yarn needle defined by the yarn inlet portion 4. The nut 6 holds the needle in place within the passageway. The nut 6 has a central axial opening therethrough which accommodates the outwardly extending end yarn inlet portion 4, to which it is suitably attached. Thus, by turning the nut 6, the axial position of the yarn needle 3 may be adjusted to control the bulking of the yarn.

The yarn needle 3 has an axial bore 8 therethrough which terminates in a funnel-shaped entrance 9 in the inlet portion 4. The yarn fibers are fed to the needle through this inlet portion.

The yarn needle 3 is of materially reduced external section over a considerable portion of its length at its end opposite to its end yarn inlet portion, the reduction in section being abr-upt as shown at 3a in FIG. 1. This reduced section terminates in a discharge end 10 of the needle. The discharge end 10 has an external cross-section which is further abruptly reduced, as at 10a, and continues cylindrically to its delivery end. Closely adjacent the discharge end 10 of the yarn needle 3, an outlet orifice block 11 is fitted in the cylindrical passageway 2. The outlet orifice block 11 has an axial bore 12 therethrough of a diameter which is larger than that of the axis bore 8 in the yarn needle. Inwardly of the passageway 2, the axial bore 12 terminates in an entrance opening 13, which surrounds the discharge end 10 of the needle for a considerable distance back of its delivery opening. The diameter of the entrance opening 13 is substantially larger than the external diameter of the discharge end 10 of the yarn needle 3, and a venturi passage is thus formed between the two. It is to be noted that the entrance opening 13 in the outlet orifice block 11 is enlarged abruptly, as at 13a upstream of the axial bore 12.

A forward end 14 of reduced cross-section is formed on the outlet orifice block 11, to extend out of the passage 2, and against the resulting annular shoulder 15, a centrally apertured cup-shaped member 16 presses to hold the outlet orifice block 11 in place within the housing 1.

An external nozzle extension 17, having an axial bore 18 therethrough of substantially twice the diameter of that of the bore 12 in the outlet orifice block 11, and a counterbore 19 forming a pressure reducing chamber .at the inner end of its axial bore, is held tightly against the outer end of the outlet orifice block 11 with its counterbore communicating directly with the axial bore 12 in the orifice block.

The fitting which makes the latter connection is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Thus, an internally threaded annular member 20 engages external threads on a reduced end portion 21 of the external nozzle extension 17. Bolts 22 extend from sockets 23 in the annular member 20, through that member, through the cup-shaped member 16 and into internally threaded bores 24 extending inwardly from adjacent end face 25 of the housing 1.

It Will be understood that the filaments pass into the apparatus through the funnel-shaped entrance 9, and pass thence through the axial bore 8 in the yarn needle 3 to the space between the discharge end 10 of the needle and the entrance opening 13 of the outlet orifice block 11. From this area, the filaments pass through the larger axial bore 12 of the outlet orifice block to the pressure reducing chamber formed by the counterbore 19 of the external nozzle extension 17, and thence through the still larger axial bore 18 and out of the machine.

In order to provide an increase in the air space between the filaments, turbulent carrying fluid such as air is added to the filaments as they pass through the apparatus. To this end a nipple 26 is provided to conduct such fluid under pressure through the housing 1 and into the cylindrical passageway 2. As here shown the nipple is formed i t g al y w h. e o ing.

4 Increased fluid turbulence is effected by a novel construction and arrangement at the nipple 26. Thus the bore 27 of the nipple is formed eccentrically of the axis A thereof, and the axis B of the bore 27 is eccentric to the axis of the axial bores 8, 12 and 13 of the successive elements of the yarn texturing device. In other words, the axis of the bore through the nipple and the axis of the axial bores of the successive elements of the device are not coplanar. Accordingly, the fluid enters the device under pressure to create a swirling motion therein.

In the embodiment shown, the bore of the nipple 26 has been displaced to the right (as viewed downstream in FIG. 3) of the central axis of the axial bores. This displacement is approximately of an inch for an approximately .375 inch diameter cylindrical passageway 2. A preferable diameter of passageway 2 is .400 inch For use in the southern hemisphere this ofl. center position would be approximately 1 inch to the left side of the central axis. In this manner, the extent of the turbulence in the space between the housing and the needle is controlled by taking advantage of the natural whirlpool effect of either the northern or southern hemispheres of the globe. Thus, an offset air flow causes the yarn to bulk in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction and thereby obtain better loft in the bulk.

Fluid enters the annular space between the wall of the cylindrical passageway 2 and the portion of the needle 3 which is of reduced section. By abruptly reducing the section of the needle, as shown at 3a in FIG. 1, additional turbulence is provided in the area where the fluid enters the apparatus. Swirling forward with great turbulence, the fluid passes into the entrance opening 13 of the outlet orifice block 11 around the reduced section of the yarn needle 3 and its further reduced discharge end 10, and enters the axial bore 12 of the outlet orifice block with the yarn fibers issuing from the axial bore 8. Upon entering the venturi section between the discharge end 10 and the entrance opening 13, the velocity of the fluid is increased. It is into this section that the yarn is fed. This fluffs the yarn to a certain extent. From the axial bore 12, the fibers and the fluid enter the counterbore 19 of the external nozzle extension 17, where the sudden expansion in diameter causes further turbulence and instrusion of the fluid between the fibers. From the counterbore the flutfed fibers pass into the large axial bore 18 of the external nozzle extension 17 which delivers the fully textured yarn 28 with increased bulk as illustrated at the right in FIG. 1.

In jet fiber texturizing devices made in accordance with the embodiments disclosed in FIGS. 1-3, the axial bore 12 was given a diameter of .075 inch while the coun terbore 19 was given a diameter of .300 inch. Axial bore 18 of external nozzle 17 was given a diameter of .150 inch. The length of the axial bore 12 was approximately .400 inch, while the axial lengths of counterbore 19 and bore 18 were approximately .020 of an inch and up to .750 of an inch respectively. These dimensions were applied to cylindrical housing which was 1% inches long having an outside diameter of 1 inch and an inside diameter of approximately .375 to .400 inch. The bore 27 of nipple 26 was .250 of an inch, offset as previously noted A of an inch from the axis of bore 2. In any event, it should be noted that although the central axis of the air inlet is laterally offset from the angular space between the housing and needle it is non-tangential to said space In the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIG. 4, all of the components are identical with that of FIG. 1 except that the forward end 14' of the outlet orifice block 11 is provided with a tapered axial bore 12', which has at 5 taper, while the external nozzle extension 17 has an axial bore 18' which also is tapered, this taper being 7 /2". It has been found that with these tapers a highly favorable influence on the texturing of the yarn is achieved,

Furthermore, it has been found from experience that the results which are achieved are influenced to a considerable extent by the length of the external nozzle 17 or 17. In a case where this length is .750 inch, there is a marked improvement in the uniformity of texturing on various sizes, and in some cases this improvement was as great as 100%. Yarn irregularity in bulking and looping was minimized in all cases where this length of .750 inch was used. In the case, for example, where a nozzle of inch or less was used, the irregularities were far more noticeable and texturing qualities were very erratic. Thus, it is believed on the basis of experience that a length of .750 inch for the external nozzle may be an optimum nozzle length for texturizing yarn, all other conditions remaining the same.

The various dimensions, above noted, particularly the .750 inch length for the external nozzle, are best suited for all types of texturizing yarns; that is, fiberglass, nylon, Dacron, etc. However, this nozzle diameter and length may be varied to suit different types of yarn as well as deniers. The kind of bulk desired also establishes nozzle dimensioning; small diameter for minimum bulk to large diameter for maximum bulk.

It will be appreciated that all abrupt changes of diameter in the apparatus increase the turbulence of the air or other fluid and its fiuffing action upon the fibers.

It is of importance that the apparatus have dimensions such that air, or other compressible fluid utilized, will have a velocity equal to at least one-half sonic velocity, and preferably sonic velocity, where it first strikes the yarn in the zone of turbulence immediately downstream from the discharge end of the needle.

By the use of a jet texturing device constructed in accordance with the invention, it has been found that an increase in bulkiness of treated continuous filament fiberglass yarns may be increased by approximately 100%, and furthermore an increase of between 150% and 300% in the rate of processing over previously used texturizing devices may be achieved. Yarn has been successfully texturized at a rate of 240 yards per minute by the use of the yarn texturing device described above.

While it is obvious that modifications of the present disclosure can be made by those skilled in the art, it is my wish and intention that the invention described be limited only by the scope of the claims which are appended below.

What is clairned is:

1. A yarn texturing device for processing yarn comprising a cylindrical housing having a cylindrical passageway extending therethrough, a yarn needle concentrically positioned in said passageway having an axial yarn conveying bore extending therethrough and being formed at a forward portion thereof in a section of a diameter less than the diameter of said housing passageway for defining therewith an annular space, said yarn needle having an outer surface in a plane parallel to said passageway with at lest one abruptly reduced section provided with a wall which is transverse to the plane of said passageway, an orifice block fitting into said housing passageway at the opposite end of said housing from said needle, said block having an axial bore aligned with the axial bore extending through said needle and having an abruptly enlarged entrance opening at its inner end surrounding the end of said needle and forming therewith an'annular chamber, and an air inlet for introducing air into the annular space between the housing and the needle, the central axis of said air inlet being substantially transverse to but laterally otfset from the longitudinal central axis of the annular space between the housing and the needle whereby turbulence of the air is increased and additional turbulence of the air is created by said abruptly reduced section of the yarn needle.

2. A yarn texturing device according to claim 1, further comprising an external nozzle extension secured to the outer end of said orifice block, said external nozzle extension having an axial bore therethrough, and a counterbored pressure reducing chamber communicating and in axial alignment with said passageway, said axial bore of said external nozzle communicating with said chamber and said orifice block and coaxial therewith.

3. A yarn texturing device according to claim 2, wherein the axial bore of said external nozzle extension is twice the diameter of the axial bore of said orifice block.

4. A yarn texturing device according to claim 3, wherein the diameter of said pressure reducing chamber is twice that of the axial bore of said external nozzle extension.

5. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said external nozzle has a length of .750 inch.

6. The combinations of claim 2 and wherein said axial bore of said orifice block and said outlet conduit of said external nozzle are both tapered in a downstream direction.

7. The combination of claim 6 and wherein the taper of said orifice block is on the order of 5 and the taper of said conduit of said external nozzle extension is on the order of 7 /2 8. A yarn texturing apparatus comprising a cylindrical housing, a yarn needle having a yarn passageway therethrough concentrically placed within said housing, a portion of said yarn needle being of reduced cross-sectional area thereby forming an annular space between said area and the interior of said housing, said yarn needle having an outer surface in a plane parallel to said passageway with at least one abruptly reduced section provided with a wall which is transverse to the plane of said passageway, a yarn exit member in the form of a venturi disposed at the downstream end of said housing having an entrance opening into which the delivery end of said yarn needle extends, and a fluid inlet passageway extending into said chamber and located transverse to said passageway and having its central axis laterally olfset from the central axis of said passageway whereby turbulence of'the air is increased and additional turbulence of the air is created by said abruptly reduced section of the yarn needle.

9. A yarn texturing apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein a nozzle extension is aifixed to said yarn exit member coaxially therewith, said nozzle extension having a first and a second passageway in coaxial registry with said yarn passageway.

10. A yarn texturing device comprisig a cylindrical housing having a cylindrical passageway extending therethrough, a yarn needle concentrically positioned in said passageway having an axial yarn conveying bore extending therethrough and being formed at a forward portion thereof in a section of a diameter less than the diameter of said housing passageway for defining therewith an annular space, said yarn needle having an outer surface in a plane parallel to said passageway with at least one abruptly reduced section provided with a wall which is transverse to the plane of said passageway, an orifice block fitting into said housing passageway at the opposite end of said housing from said needle, said block having an axial bore aligned with the axial bore extending through said needle and having an abruptly enlarged entrance opening at its inner end surrounding the end of said needle and forming therewith an annular chamber, and an air inlet having a bore for introducing air into the annuspace between the housing of the needle, the central axis of said air inlet being substantially transverse to but laterally olfset from the longitudinal central axis of said annular space between the housing and the needle and non-tangential and at least part of said bore of the air inlet overlying said longitudinal central axis of said annular space whereby turbulence of the air is increased and additional turbulence of the air is created by said abruptly reduced section of the yarn needle.

11. A yarn texturing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said yarn processed is continuous fiber glass yarn.

12. A yarn texturing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the central axis of said air inlet is oflset a distance of A of an inch from the longitudinal central axis of said annular space between the housing and the needle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 5 JAMES KEECHI, Primary Examiner Martyn.

Yamamoto.

Cobb et al.

Dyer 281.4

US. Cl. X.R. 28-72; 57-34

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