Methods and apparatus for interlacing yarn

Claim 2

Yarn interlacer apparatus for subjecting a bundle of yarn filaments to turbulent fluid movement such that the filaments become compacted and interlaced, the interlacer apparatus comprising: means defining a yarn processing bore having yarn inlet and outlet ends; means for passing a continuous bundle of yarn filaments through said yarn processing bore; and means for establishing, in said bore, separately traveling fluid flows generating a plurality of shock wave formations which extend completely across the path of travel of said yarn filaments such that said filaments pass through and continuously contact said shock wave formations and become compacted and interlaced thereby.

Claim 3

Yarn interlacer apparatus according to claim 1 including a second yarn processing bore and shock wave generating means arranged serially with said first-mentioned yarn processing bore relative to yarn travel.

Claim 4

Yarn interlacer apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fluid flow establishing means comprises means for establishing a first fluid flow generating a first shock wave formation in the form of a first series of compression-rarefaction oblique standing shock waves developed longitudinally relative to the axis of said bore in a first longitudinal direction, and a second fluid flow generating a second shock wave formation in the form of a second series of compression-rarefaction oblique standing shock waves developed longitudinally relative to the axis of said bore in a second direction longitudinally opposed to said first direction.

Claim 5

Yarn interlacer apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said flow establishing means is arranged to establish first and second shock wave formations which originate and terminate within said yarn processing bore.

Claim 6

Yarn interlacer apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said fluid flow establishing means includes a fluid entry duct communicating with said processing bore generally at the midpoint thereof, the cross-sectional area of said fluid inlet duct being substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of said yarn processing bore.

Claim 7

Yarn interlacer apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said flow establishing means is arranged to establish first and second shock wave formations which originate within said bore and extend outwardly beyond the yarn inlet and outlet ends thereof.

Claim 8

Yarn interlacer apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said fluid flow establishing means includes a fluid entry duct communicating with said processing bore generally at the midpoint thereof, the cross-sectional area of said fluid inlet duct being greater than but not more than one and one-half times the cross-sectional area of said yarn processing bore.

Claim 9

Yarn interlacer apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said flow establishing means is arranged to establish first and second shock wave formations which originate at the yarn inlet and outlet ends and extend outwardly therebeyond.

Claim 10

Yarn interlacer apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said fluid flow establishing means includes a fluid entry duct communicating with said processing bore generally at the midpoint thereof, the cross-sectional area of said fluid inlet duct being at least double the cross-sectional area of said yarn processing bore.

Claim 11

Yarn interlacer apparatus in which a bundle of yarn filaments is subjected to highly turbulent fluid movement such that the filaments are substantially uniformly compacted and mutually interlaced, the apparatus comprising: at least one fluid interlacer unit, said unit having a housing and a yarn processing bore of substantially constant cross-section extending therethrough and said bore having yarn inlet and outlet ends; said housing including fluid entry passage means communicating with said bore intermediate said yarn inlet and outlet ends; means for continuously passing a bundle of yarn filaments through said processing bore; fluid pressurizing means communicating with said fluid entry passage means for pressurizing compressible fluid and establishing fluid flow through said fluid entry passage means at least at sonic velocity; said fluid exhausting into said bore intermediate the yarn inlet and outlet ends to produce fluid flows in said bore flowing toward said yarn inlet and outlet ends; said fluid entry passage means and said yarn processing bore being configured such that said fluid flows generate twin shock wave formations originating and terminating within said bore, said shock wave formations being developed longitudinally relative to the axis of said bore in opposite directions and extending completely across the path of travel of said yarn filaments such that the filaments continuously contact said shock wave formations and become fluidly compacted and interlaced thereby.

Claim 12

Yarn interlacer apparatus in which a bundle of yarn filaments is subjected to highly turbulent fluid movement such that the filaments are substantially uniformly compacted and mutually interlaced, the apparatus comprising: at least one fluid interlacer unit, said unit having a housing and a yarn processing bore of substantially constant cross-section extending therethrough and said bore having yarn inlet and outlet ends; said housing including fluid entry passage means communicating with said bore intermediate said yarn inlet and outlet ends; means for continuously passing a bundle of yarn filaments through said processing bore; fluid pressurizing means communicating with said fluid entry passage means for pressurizing compressible fluid and establishing fluid flow through said fluid entry passage means at least at sonic velocity; said fluid exhausting into said bore intermediate the yarn inlet and outlet ends to produce fluid flows in said bore flowing toward said yarn inlet and outlet ends; said fluid entry passage means and said yarn processing bore being configured such that said fluid flows generate twin shock wave formations originating and terminating within said bore, said shock wave formations being developed longitudinally relative to the axis of said bore in opposite directions and extending completely across the path of travel of said yarn filaments such that the filaments continuously contact said shock wave formations and become fluidly compacted and interlaced thereby.

Claim 13

Yarn interlacer apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the cross-section of said fluid entry passage means is of oblong configuration.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said fluid entry passage means comprises a single passage of substantially constant cross-section oriented substantially perpendicularly to said constant cross-section yarn processing bore; the cross-sectional area of said fluid entry passage means being approximately equal to the cross-sectional area of said yarn processing bore such that the flow of sonically traveling pressurized fluid from said fluid entry passage divides into first and second subsonic fluid flows which produce said shock wave formations.

Claim 15

Yarn processing apparatus in which a bundle of yarn filaments is subjected to highly turbulent fluid movement such that the filaments are substantially uniformly compacted and mutually interlaced, the apparatus comprising: at least one fluid interlacer unit, said unit having a housing and a yarn processing bore of substantially constant cross-section extending therethrough; said bore having yarn inlet and outlet ends; said housing including fluid entry passage means communicating with said bore intermediate said yarn inlet and outlet ends; means for continuously passing a bundle of yarn filaments through said yarn processing bore; fluid pressurizing means communicating with said fluid entry passage means for pressurizing compressible fluid and establishing fluid flow through said fluid entry passage means at least at sonic velocity; said fluid exhausting into said bore intermediate said yarn inlet and outlet ends to produce fluid flows in said bore flowing toward said yarn inlet and outlet ends; said fluid entry passage means and said yarn processing bore being configured such that said fluid flows generate twin shock wave formations originating within said bore and extending beyond the yarn inlet and outlet ends thereof, said shock wave formations being developed longitudinally relative to the axis of said bore in opposite directions and extending completely across the path of travel of said yarn filaments such that the filaments continuously contaCt said shock wave formations and become fluidly compacted and interlaced thereby.

Claim 16

Yarn processing apparatus in which a bundle of yarn filaments is subjected to highly turbulent fluid movement such that the filaments are substantially uniformly compacted and mutually interlaced, the apparatus comprising: at least one fluid interlacer unit, said unit having a housing and a yarn processing bore of substantially constant cross-section extending therethrough; said bore having yarn inlet and outlet ends; said housing including fluid entry passage means communicating with said bore intermediate said yarn inlet and outlet ends; means for continuously passing a bundle of yarn filaments through said yarn processing bore; fluid pressurizing means communicating with said fluid entry passage means for pressurizing compressible fluid and establishing fluid flow through said fluid entry passage means at least at sonic velocity; said fluid exhausting into said bore intermediate said yarn inlet and outlet ends to produce fluid flows in said bore flowing toward said yarn inlet and outlet ends; said fluid entry passage means and said yarn processing bore being configured such that said fluid flows generate twin shock wave formations originating within said bore and extending beyond the yarn inlet and outlet ends thereof, said shock wave formations being developed longitudinally relative to the axis of said bore in opposite directions and extending completely across the path of travel of said yarn filaments such that the filaments continuously contaCt said shock wave formations and become fluidly compacted and interlaced thereby.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said fluid entry passage means comprises a single passage of substantially constant cross-section oriented substantially perpendicularly to said constant cross-section yarn processing bore; the cross-sectional area of said fluid entry passage means being more than, but not greater than one and one-half times the cross-sectional area of said yarn processing bore such that the flow of sonically traveling pressurized fluid from said fluid entry passage divides into first and second subsonic fluid flows which produce said shock wave formations.

Claim 18

Yarn processing apparatus in which a bundle of yarn filaments is subjected to highly turbulent fluid movement such that the filaments are substantially uniformly compacted and mutually interlaced, the apparatus comprising: at least one fluid interlacer unit, said unit having a housing and a yarn processing bore of substantially constant cross-section extending therethrough and said bore having yarn inlet and outlet ends; said housing including fluid entry passage means communicating with said bore intermediate said yarn inlet and outlet ends; means for continuously passing a bundle of yarn filaments through said processing bore; fluid pressurizing means communicating with said fluid entry passage means for pressurizing compressible fluid and establishing fluid flow through said fluid entry passage means and into said bore intermediate the yarn inlet and outlet ends to produce fluid flows in said bore flowing at least at sonic speed toward said yarn inlet and outlet ends; said fluid entry passage means and said yarn processing bore being configured to produce twin shock wave formations originating at the yarn inlet and outlet ends of said bore and extending outwardly therebeyond, said shock wave formations being developed longitudinally relative to the axis of said bore in opposite directions and extending completely across the path of travel of said yarn filaments such that the filaments continuously contact said shock wave formations and become fluidly compacted and interlaced thereby.

Claim 19

Yarn processing apparatus in which a bundle of yarn filaments is subjected to highly turbulent fluid movement such that the filaments are substantially uniformly compacted and mutually interlaced, the apparatus comprising: at least one fluid interlacer unit, said unit having a housing and a yarn processing bore of substantially constant cross-section extending therethrough and said bore having yarn inlet and outlet ends; said housing including fluid entry passage means communicating with said bore intermediate said yarn inlet and outlet ends; means for continuously passing a bundle of yarn filaments through said processing bore; fluid pressurizing means communicating with said fluid entry passage means for pressurizing compressible fluid and establishing fluid flow through said fluid entry passage means and into said bore intermediate the yarn inlet and outlet ends to produce fluid flows in said bore flowing at least at sonic speed toward said yarn inlet and outlet ends; said fluid entry passage means and said yarn processing bore being configured to produce twin shock wave formations originating at the yarn inlet and outlet ends of said bore and extending outwardly therebeyond, said shock wave formations being developed longitudinally relative to the axis of said bore in opposite directions and extending completely across the path of travel of said yarn filaments such that the filaments continuously contact said shock wave formations and become fluidly compacted and interlaced thereby.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said fluid entry passage means comprises a single passage of substantially constant cross-section oriented substantially perpendicularly to said constant cross-section yarn processing bore; the cross-sectional area of said fluid entry passage means being at least double the cross-sectional area of said yarn processing bore such that the flow of pressurized fluid from said fluid entry passage divides into first and second sonic fluid flows which produce said shock wave formations at the ends of said processing bore.

Claim 23

A method according to claim 17 wherein said step of establishing fluid flows comprises establishing, in said bore, separately traveling fluid flows generating twin shock wave formations developed longitudinally relative to the axis of said processing bore in opposite directions, said shock wave formations originating and terminating within said bore.

Claim 24

A method according to claim 17 wherein said step of establishing fluid flows comprises establishing, in said bore, separately traveling fluid flows generating twin shock wave formations developed longitudinally relative to the axis of said processing bore in opposite directions, said shock wave formations originating within said bore and extending outwardly beyoNd the yarn inlet and outlet ends thereof.

Claim 25

A method according to claim 17 wherein said step of establishing fluid flows comprises establishing, in said bore, separately traveling fluid flows generating twin shock wave formations developed longitudinally relative to the axis of said processing bore in opposite directions, said shock wave formations originating at the yarn inlet and outlet ends of said processing bore and extending outwardly therebeyond.