Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A melt-spinning apparatus (30) comprising means (32, 33) for feeding a molten polymer composition from at least one extruder (31) to a multiplicity of spinning orifices (29) for producing a multiplicity of discrete continuous extrudates emerging from said orifices in a generally downward direction; quenching means (38) for cooling said extrudates and for solidifying them to form a multiplicity of discrete continuous filaments; said quenching means including means (21, 23) for directing at least one stream of a cooling gas having a quenching temperature onto a portion, at least, of said extrudates; and take-up and stretching means (39) provided downstream from said orifices for contacting and stretching said filaments; characterized in that a portion, at least, of said orifices is arranged to form an annular array, and that a portion, at least, of said quenching means is provided to direct said at least one stream of said cooling gas in an essentially radial manner onto said extrudates that emerge from said spinning orifices in said annular array.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
A melt-spinning apparatus (30) comprising means (32, 33) for feeding a molten polymer composition from at least one extruder (31) to a multiplicity of spinning orifices (29) for producing a multiplicity of discrete continuous extrudates emerging from said orifices in a generally downward direction; quenching means (38) for cooling said extrudates and for solidifying them to form a multiplicity of discrete continuous filaments; said quenching means including means (21, 23) for directing at least one stream of a cooling gas having a quenching temperature onto a portion, at least, of said extrudates; and take-up and stretching means (39) provided downstream from said orifices for contacting and stretching said filaments; characterized in that a portion, at least, of said orifices is arranged to form an annular array, and that a portion, at least, of said quenching means is provided to direct said at least one stream of said cooling gas in an essentially radial manner onto said extrudates that emerge from said spinning orifices in said annular array.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spinning orifices (29) are provided by spinnerets (25, 351) arranged in a spinning beam (35) which further includes said means (33) for feeding said polymer composition to said orifices.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said spinnerets (25, 351) are arranged in said spinning beam (35) so as to form said annular array.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claims 1 or 3 wherein said spinnerets (25, 351) are provided in a mutually equidistant and essentially circular arrangement substantially aligned in a common horizontal plane.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of any of claims 1-4 wherein said quenching means comprise an elongated chamber means (38) in an essentially coaxial position relative to said at least one annular array and having at least one essentially tubular inner chamber wall member (387) positioned radially within said annular array and at least one outer chamber wall member (388) positioned radially outside of said array.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said inner chamber wall member (387) is connected to a source (380) of cooling gas and has at least one wall portion that is permeable to said cooling gas while said outer chamber wall member (388) is connected to an outlet duct (389) for said cooling gas and is substantially impermeable thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said inner chamber wall member (387) includes at least two essentially coaxial ducts (382, 383) for compartmented emergence of said cooling gas at different axial levels of said elongated chamber means (38).
Claim 9
Independent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of any of claims 2-7 wherein from 6 to 18 spinnerets are arranged in said beam to form said annular array.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of producing a multiplicity of discrete continuous filaments by extruding a molten polymer composition through a multiplicity of orifices so as to form a multiplicity of discrete continuous extrudates emerging from said orifices and moving in a generally downward direction through a quenching zone for a heat exchange between said extrudates and a stream of a cooling gas for solidification of said extrudates and for forming said filaments; characterized by passing said continuous extrudates in a substantially annular array through said quenching zone while effecting said heat exchange by directing said stream of cooling gas in a substantially radial manner through said annular array.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of producing a multiplicity of discrete continuous filaments by extruding a molten polymer composition through a multiplicity of orifices so as to form a multiplicity of discrete continuous extrudates emerging from said orifices and moving in a generally downward direction through a quenching zone for a heat exchange between said extrudates and a stream of a cooling gas for solidification of said extrudates and for forming said filaments; characterized by passing said continuous extrudates in a substantially annular array through said quenching zone while effecting said heat exchange by directing said stream of cooling gas in a substantially radial manner through said annular array.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said molten polymer composition consists essentially of polypropylene and wherein said annular array is formed by providing a plurality of spinnerets in a generally circular arrangement and in an essentially coplanar alignment.