Spinning apparatus with converging gas streams

Claim 1

Apparatus for producing organic thermoplastic filamentary material comprising nozzle means having an extrusion orifice for fiber-forming material and a plurality of substantially rectangular gas outlet passages shaped so as to emit substantially planar gas streams, said gas outlet passages being spaced from said extrusion orifice and separated from said nozzle means by an insulating means, said gas outlet passages being so positioned with respect to the nozzle means such that: 1) the gas passages are closer to the axis of the extrusion orifice at the outlet end of the passage than at an interior zone of the passage so as to direct the gas stream in a convergence angle with the axis of the extrusion orifice of from about 5* to 45*, 2) no two of the planar projections of the gas outlet passages converge and intersect with the axis of the extrusion orifice at the same angle, and 3) planar projections of the gas outlet passages intersect at a point which is at a distance measured perpendicularly from the axis of the extrusion orifice at least equal to the diameter of the extrudate stream at a point along the extrudate stream in juxtaposition to the point of intersection of the planar projections of the gas outlet passages, and means for supplying said gas passages with gas under pressure to be projected from said passages to contact and attenuate the stream of fiber-forming material issuing from said extrusion orifice.