Noise reduction and heat zone separation system

Claim 1

In combination with a yarn draw panel of the type wherein advancing yarn is subjected to pressurized, super-heated fluid flow utilizing a draw point localizing jet and is subsequently subjected to further treatment and/or is wound up, and wherein said draw point localizing jet has at least one yarn passage vertically therethrough with an adjacent access slot to facilitate string-up and has fluid conduits for admitting treating fluid into each of said yarn passage(s), said access slot being on the side of said draw point localizing jet farthest away from said draw panel, the improvement comprising: A. noisE reducing and heat directing means, said noise reducing and heat directing means comprising: a. a mounting plate, said mounting plate having means for securing it to said draw point localizing jet; b. a seal of heat resistant and noise absorbent material, the length of said seal being at least equal to the length of said access slot, said seal having one side which is shaped so as to close said access slot when brought into communication therewith; c. a seal support plate, said seal support plate having two brackets at one end which extend in the plane of said seal support plate, the distance between said brackets being greater than the height of said mounting plate, said seal support plate having first pivot means thereon adapted for connection through one end of said mounting plate to both of said brackets and about which said seal support plate can pivot, the pivot of said seal support plate about said first pivot means in one direction causing said seal support plate to face the side of said draw point localizing jet having said access slot and in the other direction causing said seal support plate to clear access to draw point localizing jet, the side of said seal support plate facing said access slot when said seal support plate pivots about said first pivot means in that direction having a groove therein, said seal being secured in said groove so that the side which is shaped so as to close said access slot faces said access slot, said seal support plate having a lever extending from the side of said seal support opposite to that with said groove; and d. spring urging means, said spring urging means comprising a spring guide, a pin, a shield, and a compression spring, said spring guide being located above the upper bracket of said seal support plate and being attached thereto by second pivot means about which said seal support plate can pivot, the axis of said second pivot means being parallel to the axis of said first pivot means, said spring guide having secured thereto said pin the axis of which is transverse to the axis of said second pivot means, said shield having means for securing it to said mounting plate and having a downwardly extending lip, said lip having a slot therein which is significantly wider that said pin, the diameter of said compression spring being greater than that of said pin and greater than the height of said slot, said compression spring being located between said spring guide and said slot with said pin passing completely therethrough and into said slot, said shield covering said pin and said compression spring no matter what position they assume when said seal support plate pivots about said first and second pivot means, said spring urging means urging said seal support plate in a maximum pivot about its first and second pivot means when said lever is contacted; and B. heat zone separating means, said heat zone separating means comprising: a. two baffles, the planes of said baffles extending transversely to said yarn passage, said baffles being located on the side of said draw point localizing jet to which said mounting plate is secured, one of said baffles being fixedly secured; b. means for slideably supporting the baffle which is not fixedly secured so that it can be moved in a direction transverse to said yarn passage; and c. two fingers, said fingers extending in the same general direction from and having means for securing them to the baffle which is slideably supported, said fingers being of sufficient length and positioned such that said lever is located therebetween; whereby when the slideably supported baffle is pulled forward said seal is actuated to close and seal said access slot due to the spring urged pivot of said seal support plate in that direction resulting from contact of one of said fingers with said lever and functions to absorb some of the noise produced by said draw point localizing jet and to cause any unabsorbed noise as well as any heat produced to exit from the exit enD of said draw localizing jet where said heat is confined downstream of the entrance of said draw point localizing jet by said baffles, and whereby said slideably supported baffle is pushed inward said seal is actuated to disengage from said access slot due to the spring urged pivot of said seal support plate in that direction resulting from contact of the other of said fingers with said lever and functions to clear access to the yarn heating system for safer string-up.