Abstract A conventional round spinneret is blanketed with inert gas by providing a passage for the gas through the spinning pack assembly to the lower face of the spinneret and providing a metering ring encircling the filament array and in contact with the lower face of the spinneret. In the upper surface of the ring is a groove for distributing gas around the filament array and a plurality of vertical holes connect the groove with the underside of the ring. Below the metering ring is a spinneret retainer ring with a groove in its upper surface in communication with the vertical holes in the metering ring. The retainer ring has a lip formed in its inner periphery which in conjunction with the metering ring forms an open slot through which inert gas passes laterally towards the filament array. The vertical holes are sized to provide an appreciable pressure drop through each hole while avoiding turbulent flow into the retainer ring groove which must diffuse the individual streams of gas and deliver the gas in a smooth uniform stream to the filaments through the slot.
An apparatus for blanketing the face of a spinneret with inert gas comprising: a spinneret assembly containing spinneret plate having a lower face with an orifice array through which filaments are extruded, said plate being held in place by a retainer ring surrounding said array, said retainer ring having an upper surface and an inner periphery, said upper retainer ring surface having a continuous groove therein, said retainer ring terminating in a lip at its inner periphery; a metering ring surrounding said array located between the lower face of the spinneret and the upper surface of the retainer ring, said metering ring having upper and lower surfaces connected by a continuous groove in communication with a plurality of vertical holes leading through the lower metering ring surface; and means for supplying inert gas to the continuous groove in the metering ring, the retainer ring lip and the lower surface of the metering ring forming an open slot surrounding the array of orifices, said slot being in communication with the continuous groove in the retainer ring.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
An apparatus for blanketing the face of a spinneret with inert gas comprising: a spinneret assembly containing spinneret plate having a lower face with an orifice array through which filaments are extruded, said plate being held in place by a retainer ring surrounding said array, said retainer ring having an upper surface and an inner periphery, said upper retainer ring surface having a continuous groove therein, said retainer ring terminating in a lip at its inner periphery; a metering ring surrounding said array located between the lower face of the spinneret and the upper surface of the retainer ring, said metering ring having upper and lower surfaces connected by a continuous groove in communication with a plurality of vertical holes leading through the lower metering ring surface; and means for supplying inert gas to the continuous groove in the metering ring, the retainer ring lip and the lower surface of the metering ring forming an open slot surrounding the array of orifices, said slot being in communication with the continuous groove in the retainer ring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, said continuous groove in said metering ring being in the form of an indentation in the upper surface of the ring with a corresponding protrusion in the lower surface of the ring, said protrusion extending into the groove formed in the upper surface of the retainer ring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as described in claim 1, said vertical holes being equispaced radially and equispaced from each other in said metering ring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus as described in claim 1, said groove being circular.