US3762854A

US3762854A - Melt spinning apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3762854A
Application number: US00129088A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Kilsdonk
Original assignee: Akzona Inc
Current assignee: Akzona Inc
Priority date: 1970-04-08
Filing date: 1971-03-29
Publication date: 1973-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-02
Also published as: ES390020A1; GB1291966A; DE2117130A1

Abstract

A melt spinning assembly combining ease of assembly and disassembly with an effective sealing means during operation.

Description

United States atefi Kilsdonk 1 1 Oct. 2, 1973 1 1 MELT SPINNING APPARATUS 3,217,922. 11/1965 Glasgon 220/46 P 1,483,499 2/1924 A1188 220/46 P ux [75] lnvemol Har'ey Kllsdonklevendar 2,642,016 6 1953 Thalmann 425 461 Netherlands 3,299,472 1/1967 Martin 425/464 I 3,121,254 2/1964 Heynen et al..... 425/464 [73] Asslgnee g Incorporated Ashe 6 3,500,499 3/1970 GOOSSel'IS 425 192 1 Filed: 1971 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [21] A L NQ 129,088 911,682 7/1946 France 220/46 P [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Prir zary Examir ler-d. S pencer Overholser p 8 970 Neherlands 7004994 Asszstant ExammerM1chae1 0. Sutton Apr. 8, 1970 Netherlands 7004996 Young [52] 11.8. CI 425/382.2, 425/464 57 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl B291 3/04 58 Field 6: Search 425/190, 192, 376, A SPmmng assembly ease assembly Q5/3822 464 220/46 P and disassembly with an effective sealing means during operation.

[56'] References Cited 11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures UNXTED STATES PATENTS 2,969,561 1/1961 McCormick at al 425/382 x INVENTOR HARLEY KILSDONK ATTORNE FIG. 3

I NVEN TOR.

HARLEY KILSDONK ATTORNEY.

SHEET 3 BF 3 I NVENTOR.

HARLEY KILSDONK ATTORNEY MELT SPINNING APPARATUS This invention pertains to an improved melt spinning assembly for the manufacture of threads from one or more synthetic polymers. In particular, this invention pertains to a melt spinning assembly that combines ease of dismantling and reassembly with a simple and efficient means of sealing the assembly to prevent leakage and undesirable pressure losses during operation.

Spinning assemblies of the general type of this invention are known in the art i.e. an assemblage of components for directing a melt solution to and through one or more spinneret holes to form a filamentary product useful for various end-uses in textile and related industries. An example of such an assembly is found in the US. Pat. No. 3,479,692. While such assemblies perform their function well, cleaning and repairs requiring disassembly can be rather time consummg.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a melt spinning assembly that can be quickly and easily disassembled and assembled for cleaning or repairwork.

Another object of this invention is to provide a meltspinning assembly that will provide an effective seal while in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a meltspinning assembly capable of withstanding pressures of up to 500 kg/cm.

A melt spinning assembly, according to the present invention, comprises two parallel side plates which have been formed so that the various components of the assembly can be loosely fitted into place, positioned, and then secured ready for operation. The present invention is especially adaptive for relatively long, rectangular spinneret plates.

One preferred manner of fitting the assembly together is to have the upper and lower guide surface of the assembly form a dovetail groove arrangement with the side plates, thereby locking the assembly together when in position. A simple jack arrangement between the upper and lower sections can be used to secure the assembly in place. It has been found that a total clearance between the upper and lower guide surfaces of 0.3mm to 1mm is adequate for ease in assembly and disassembly of the melt-spinning unit.

In order to provide an effective seal of the melt spinning assembly, a band-shaped sealing ring is placed along the side walls of the polymer cavity. Use of this band-shaped ring removes the necessity of a compression gasket between the upper and lower portions of the polymer cavity. Also, because of its design, the band-shaped seal becomes more effective as pressure within the polymer cavity increases. This is especially beneficial for the higher operating pressures required for high density polymers and for high output requirements of lower density polymers.

The invention will be further described by referring to the following Figures:

FIG. 1 is an end cross-sectional view of the assembly indicated by line II in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the assembly indicated by lines II-II in FIG. ll.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly indicated along the line III-III in FIG. 2; the lid, the hood, and the apron being left out.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the assembly.

FIG. 5 is a variation of FIG. I of the assembly.

FIG. 6 shows the band-shaped sealing ring in the polymer cavity.

The horizontal section of the melt-spinning assembly represented in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 is rectangular.

Side plates

1 and 2 are provided with sloping

guide surfaces

3, 4, 5, and 6. The various spinning assembly parts, i.e. the spinneret plate 7, hood 8, and lid 9, fit between the two side plates. The spinneret plate 7 and the lid 9 are provided respectively, with sloping guide surfaces 10 and Ill and R2 and 13 corresponding to the

guide surfaces

3, 4, 5, and 6 on

side plates

1 and 2 so that the assembled pieces form a dovetail joint with the sides.

The spinneret plate 7 is provided with a number of spinning holes 14 placed in a rectangular pattern. Located in a recess of the spinneret plate 7 are a pack of filter gauges l5 and a pressure ring 16. The hood 8 is provided with an inlet channel 17 for supplying polymer under pressure to the hood 8. The inlet channel 17 may be connected in a known manner (not shown) to a polymer supply with the aid of a stuffing box 18. The inlet channel is connected to the hood 8 by inlet end 19 through an opening 20 in side plate 2.

The inlet channel 17 ends in the polymer cavity 24 formed by surfaces 25 of the spinneret plate 7 and hood 8. The cavity 24 may be largely filled by an apron 27, leaving a distribution channel 28 around the edges of the apron 27, formed by the surfaces 25 of the cavity and the surface of the apron 27. The lower face 28 of the apron slopes downward from the side of the apron. Legs 29 (see FIG. 3) support the apron over the spinneret plate 7, assuring proper flow of the polymer past its lower edge.

Once all components are positioned, slack in the dovetail guides may be removed by jacking up the hood 8 from the spinneret plate 7. This may be accomplished by adjusting screws 31 in the hood 8. In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the screws are accessible through openings 32 in the lid 9. After assembly, the melt-spinning unit may be carried about by handle 33. When hood 8 and the spinneret plate 7 are forced apart by the screws 31, a slit 34 (see FIG. 6) is formed at the boundary surface between the two. Also, polymer pressures within the cavity maintain this slit during operation. To prevent loss of polymer under operating conditions, the slit 34 is sealed from the polymer cavity 24 by a continuous band-shaped sealing ring 26. FIG. 6 shows the sealing ring 26 in the non-deformed state. As soon as polymer pressure is applied, the ring is forced outward against the

walls

35 and 36. These walls are sloped 2 3 toward the slit. The slit 34 is exposed to atmospheric conditions; therefore, the combination of sloping walls and atmospheric pressure on the outer surface of the sealing ring 26 prevents polymer from being trapped behind the sealing ring and floating" the ring away from the slit due to pressure equalization. Preferably, the slit is greater than 0.3 mm in width but less than twice the radial thickness of the sealing ring. It is also preferred that the slit width be virtually constant around the periphery.

FIG. 5 shows a somewhat modified embodiment, with like parts referring to like numerals. The main distinction is that the apron, now referred to as 39, is integrally formed with the hood 8. The polymer supply from inlet 117 to the polymer distribution channel 42 now takes place via points and 41. At these points, the channel 42 has its

greatest heights

43 and 44, which on either side of the supply points 40 and 41 gradually decrease to zero circumferentially.

The above description describes melt spinning a single polymer component. The invention may apply equally well, however, to melt-spinning multi-polymer components by means known. Therefore, elements of the melt-spinning assembly may be adapted for multicomponent melt spinning within the bounds of the invention as disclosed.

What is claimed is:

1. A melt spinning assembly for the manufacture of threads from one or more synthetic polymers, comprisa. a spinneret plate having rectangular sides, said plate having multiple orifices for extruding polymers into threads and sloping guide surfaces;

b. hood means having corresponding rectangular sides adjacent and above the spinneret plate, said hood means forming a cavity over the spinneret plate to supply one or more polymers to said spinneret plate and having sloping guide surfaces forming a male dovetail guide in conjunction with the spinneret plate guide surfaces;

c. sideplates having female dovetail slots loosely cor responding to the combined hood means and spinneret plate male dovetail guide;

d. separating means for forcing said hood guide means and spinneret plate apart; and

e. sealing means for preventing loss of polymer from the cavity formed by said hood means and spinneret plate.

2. The melt spinning assembly of claim 1, wherein said separating means comprises adjustable screws mounted in the hood means.

3. The melt spinning assembly of claim 1 wherein the total vertical clearance between the male and female guide surfaces is greater than 0.3 mm but less than 1.5

4. The melt spinning assembly of claim 1 wherein said sealing means comprise: I

a. at least one groove around the periphery of the cavity formed by the hood means and spinneret plate, said groove being approximately centered along the boundary surface of said hood means and spinneret plate, and

b. a continuous band-shaped sealing ring mountable in said groove.

5. The melt spinning assembly of claim 4 wherein the boundary surface of said hood means and spinneret plate is exposed to atmospheric pressure during operation.

6. The melt spinning assembly of claim 4 wherein the side walls of said groove are sloped at an angle of 2 3 from the vertical toward said boundary surface.

7. The melt spinning assembly of claim 5 wherein the width of the slit formed by the boundary surface is smaller than'twice the thickness of the sealing ring before the latter is subjected to deformation.

8. The melt spinning assembly of claim 4 wherein said groove is formed by the sidewalls of said cavity.

9. The melt spinning assembly of claim 4 wherein the height of said sealing ring is less than the height of said groove.

10. The melt spinning assembly of claim 5 wherein the height of said sealing ring is approximately 1 mm less than the height of said groove.

11. A melt spinning assembly for the manufacture of threads from one or more synthetic polymers, comprisa. a spinneret plate having rectangular sides, said plate having multiple orifices for extruding polymers into threads;

b. hood means having corresponding rectangular sides adjacent and above the spinneret plate for supplying one or more polymers to the spinneret plate, said hood means forming a cavity over the spinneret plate to supply poimer to each spinneret orifice;

c. sloping guide surfaces formed on the sides of said spinneret plate and adjacent hood means, said guide surfaces conjunctively forming a male dovetail guide;

d. side plates in which are formed female dovetail slots loosely corresponding to the combined hood means and spinneret plate male dovetail guide; and

e. a continuous band-shaped sealing ring mountable in the cavity formed between said hood means and said spinneret plate.

a a a

Claims

1. A melt spinning assembly for the manufacture of threads from one or more synthetic polymers, comprising: a. a spinneret plate having rectangular sides, said plate having multiple orifices for extruding polymers into threads and sloping guide surfaces; b. hood means having corresponding rectangular sides adjacent and above the spinneret plate, said hood means forming a cavity over the spinneret plate to supply one or more polymers to said spinneret plate and having sloping guide surfaces forming a male dovetail guide in conjunction with the spinneret plate guide surfaces; c. sideplates having female dovetail slots loosely corresponding to the combined hood means and spinneret plate male dovetail guide; d. separating means for forcing said hood guide means and spinneret plate apart; and e. sealing means for preventing loss of polymer from the cavity formed by said hood means and spinneret plate.

3. The melt spinning assembly of claim 1 wherein the total vertical clearance between the male and female guide surfaces is greater than 0.3 mm but less than 1.5 mm.

4. The melt spinning assembly of claim 1 wherein said sealing means comprise: a. at least one groove around the periphery of the cavity formed by the hood means and spinneret plate, said groove being approximately centered along the boundary surface of said hood means and spinneret plate, and b. a continuous band-shaped sealing ring mountable in said groove.

6. The melt spinning assembly of claim 4 wherein the side walls of said groove are sloped at an angle of 2* - 3* from the vertical toward said boundary surface.

7. The melt spinning assembly of claim 5 wherein the width of the slit formed by the boundary surface is smaller than twice the thickness of the sealing ring before the latter is subjected to deformation.

11. A melt spinning assembly for the manufacture of threads from one or more synthetic polymers, comprising: a. a spinneret plate having rectangular sides, said plate having multiple orifices for extruding polymers into threads; b. hood means having corresponding rectangular sides adjacent and above the spinneret plate for supplying one or more polymers to the spinneret plate, said hood means forming a cavity over the spinneret plate to supply polmer to each spinneret orifice; c. sloping guide surfaces formed on the sides of said spinneret plate and adjacent hood means, said guide surfaces conjunctively forming a male dovetail guide; d. side plates in which are formed female dovetail slots loosely corresponding to the combined hood means and spinneret plate male dovetail guide; and e. a continuous band-shaped sealing ring mountable in the cavity formed between said hood means and said spinneret plate.