Spinning head with an exchangeable, self-sealing nozzle assembly

Claim 2

A spinning head for the spinning of thermoplastic polymers around a vertical axis, including a relatively stationary feed member supplying the melt, a nozzle assembly laterally withdrawable from and insertable in said spinning head and connectable to said feed member in self-sealing relationship under the action of the melt pressure, said nozzle assembly comprising a casing member and, supported by and retained in said casing member, spinning elements including at least a die plate, elongated cooperating guideways being respectively provided on said feed member and said casing member for the withdrawal and insertion of said casing member with said spinning elements therein, said guideways being disposed so that the self-sealing forces due to the action of the melt pressure give rise, in a direction parallel to the vertical axis of said spinning head, substantially to only tensional stresses in said casing member.

Claim 3

A spinning head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said casing member adjacent its lower end has an inwardly extending support portion against which said die plate bears when subjected to said melt pressure.

Claim 4

A spinning head as claimed in claim 2, wherein said guideways comprise cooperating guide bars on said two members, respectively, said cooperating guide bars being urged by said melt pressure against each other, and one of said members having formed therein adjacent its guide bars, guide grooves in which the guide bars of the other member ride.

Claim 5

A spinning head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spinning head further includes a piston containing a bore aligned with a passage in said feed member.

Claim 6

A spinning head as claimed in claim 4, wherein said spinning head also includes sealing means interposed between said piston on the one hand and a filter associated with said die plate on the other hand.

Claim 7

A spinning head as claimed in claim 5, wherein said piston and said sealing means are part of said nozzle assembly, said piston being mounted for slidable movement in said casing member.

Claim 8

A spinning head as claimed in claim 5, wherein said piston and said sealing means are mounted in said feed member.

Claim 9

A multi-unit spinning head apparatus having a plurality of nozzle assemblies, said appratus including a relatively stationary feed member common to said nozzle assemblies for supplying the melt to the individual assemblies, each said nozzle assembly being laterally withdrawable from and insertable in said feed member and connectable to said member in self-sealing relationship under the action of the melt pressure, and each comprising a casing member and, supported by and retained in said casing member, spinning elements including at least a die plate, and said apparatus further including a plurality of elongated cooperating guideways respectively provided on said common feed member and on the individual casing members, for the withdrawal and insertion of any of said casing members with the corresponding elements therein, each of said plurality of cooperating guideways being disposed so that the self-sealing forces due to the action of the melt pressure give rise, in a direction parallel to the axis of the corresponding nozzle assembly, substantially to only tensional stresses in the respective casing member.

Claim 10

A multi-unit spinning head apparatus having a plurality of nozzle assemblies, said appratus including a relatively stationary feed member common to said nozzle assemblies for supplying the melt to the individual assemblies, each said nozzle assembly being laterally withdrawable from and insertable in said feed member and connectable to said member in self-sealing relationship under the action of the melt pressure, and each comprising a casing member and, supported by and retained in said casing member, spinning elements including at least a die plate, and said apparatus further including a plurality of elongated cooperating guideways respectively provided on said common feed member and on the individual casing members, for the withdrawal and insertion of any of said casing members with the corresponding elements therein, each of said plurality of cooperating guideways being disposed so that the self-sealing forces due to the action of the melt pressure give rise, in a direction parallel to the axis of the corresponding nozzle assembly, substantially to only tensional stresses in the respective casing member.

Claim 11

A multi-unit spinning head appratus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said plurality of nozzle assemblies are mutually aligned in a direction normal to the direction of withdrawal and insertion of said assemblies.

Claim 12

A multi-unit spinning head apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said plurality of nozzle assemblies are mutually aligned in a direction parallel to the direction of withdrawal and insertion of said assemblies.