Oil mist lubricated textile machine and method

Claim 2

In a textile fabric weaving machine having weaving instrumentalities for interweaving textile strand materials into fabric, and means for lubricating the weaving instrumentalities with airborne fine particles of lubricant, the improvement comprising means mounted on said machine for inducing an airstream to flow adjacent said weaving instrumentalities and for entraining in the airstream airborne fine particles of the lubricant, and (electrostatic filter) means for removing from the airstream and collecting lubricant entrained therein including electrostatic means for precipitating the entrained fine particles of lubricant from the airstream, whereby contamination of areas ambient to the weaving machine by airborne fine particles of lubricant is controlled.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said airstream inducing means comprises hood means mounted on said machine adjacent said weaving instrumentalities and means mounted on said machine remotely from said hood means for drawing suction on said hood means and thereby inducing the airstream to flow from a localized area adjacent said hood means thereinto, whereby airborne fine particles of lubricant emitted into said localized area are drawn into said hood means and conveyed to said collecting means.

Claim 4

In a textile fabric weaving machine having picking instrumentalities for inserting weft yarns into warp sheds, and means for lubricating the picking instrumentalities with airborne fine particles of lubricant, the improvement comprising fan means mounted on said machine for inducing a suction airstream to flow, hood means mounted on said machine adjacent said picking instrumentalities and operatively communicating with said fan means for inducing air to flow from a localized area adjacent said picking instrumentalities, and filter means interposed between said fan means and said hood means for removing from the airstream airborne fine particles of the lubricant entrained therein and conveyed thereby from the localized area, whereby contamination of areas ambient to the picking instrumentalities by airborne fine particles of lubricant is controlled.

Claim 5

In a textile fabric weaving machine having picking instrumentalities for inserting weft yarns into warp sheds, and means for lubricating the picking instrumentalities with airborne fine particles of lubricant, the improvement comprising fan means mounted on said machine for inducing a suction airstream to flow, hood means mounted on said machine adjacent said picking instrumentalities and operatively communicating with said fan means for inducing air to flow from a localized area adjacent said picking instrumentalities, and filter means interposed between said fan means and said hood means for removing from the airstream airborne fine particles of the lubricant entrained therein and conveyed thereby from the localized area, whereby contamination of areas ambient to the picking instrumentalities by airborne fine particles of lubricant is controlled.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising housing means for containing said fan means and said filter means and being mounted on said machine remotely from said hood means.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising reservoir means operatively communicating with said filter means for collecting lubricant removed from the airstream by said filter means.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said weaving machine further has enclosure means for enclosing at least a portion of said picking instrumentalities and further wherein said hood means operatively communicates with said enclosure means for drawing a negative air pressure therewithin.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said hood means comprises wall means defining an inlet opening downwardly adjacent said enclosure means, and further comprising damper means cooperating with said hood means for apportioning suction air flow between said inlet and said enclosure means.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said filter means comprises mechanical prefilter means.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said filter means comprises electrostatic filter means for precipitating entrained fine particles of lubricant from the airstream.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said filter means comprises mechanical prefilter means and electrostatic filter means arranged for series flow of the airstream successively through the mechanical prefilter means and then the electrostatic filter means.

Claim 13

A textile fabric weaving machine equipped to minimize contamination of ambient areas by lubricant and comprising frame means, means mounted on said frame means for interweaving textile strand materials into fabric and including picking instrumentalities, oil mist lubricating means mounted adjacent said interweaving means for lubricating said picking instrumentalities with airborne fine particles of lubricant, housing means mounted on said frame means in spaced relation to said picking instrumentalities, fan means mounted in said housing means for inducing a suction airstream to flow, electrostatic precipitator filter means mounted in said housing means for precipitating from the airstream fine particles of lubricant, reservoir means operatively communicating with said filter means for collecting lubricant precipitated by said filter means, duct means operatively communicating with said housing means for delivering the airstream thereto, and hood means mounted adjacent said picking instrumentalities and operatively communicating with said duct means for inducing air to flow from a localized area adjacent said picking instrumentalities and thereby for entraining and removing from said area airborne fine particles of lubricant.

Claim 14

A textile fabric weaving machine equipped to minimize contamination of ambient areas by lubricant and comprising frame means, means mounted on said frame means for interweaving textile strand materials into fabric and including picking instrumentalities, oil mist lubricating means mounted adjacent said interweaving means for lubricating said picking instrumentalities with airborne fine particles of lubricant, housing means mounted on said frame means in spaced relation to said picking instrumentalities, fan means mounted in said housing means for inducing a suction airstream to flow, electrostatic precipitator filter means mounted in said housing means for precipitating from the airstream fine particles of lubricant, reservoir means operatively communicating with said filter means for collecting lubricant precipitated by said filter means, duct means operatively communicating with said housing means for delivering the airstream thereto, and hood means mounted adjacent said picking instrumentalities and operatively communicating with said duct means for inducing air to flow from a localized area adjacent said picking instrumentalities and thereby for entraining and removing from said area airborne fine particles of lubricant.

Claim 17

A method according to claim 12 wherein the weaving machine has an oil mist lubricating system for the weaving instrumentalities and further wherein said inducing of an airstream comprises drawing a flow of air from a localized area adjacent the weaving instrumentalities.

Claim 20

A textile fabric weaving machine equipped to minimize contamination of ambient areas by lubricant and comprising frame means, means mounted on said frame means for interweaving textile strand materials into fabric and including picking instrumentalities, means mounted on said frame for supplying air atomized oil mist and for delivering oil mist adjacent said interweaving means for lubricating said picking instrumentalities with airborne fine particles of lubricant, housing means mounted on said frame means in spaced relation to said picking instrumentalities, means operatively associated with said housing means for inducing an airstream to flow therethrough, filter means mounted in said housing means and including mechanical prefilter means and electrostatic filter means arranged for series flow of the airstream successively through the mechanical prefilter means and then the electrostatic filter means for removing from the airstream airborne fine particles of the lubricant, reservoir means operatively communicating with said filter means for collecting lubricant removed by said filter means, duct means operatively communicating with said housing means for delivering the airstream thereto, and hood means mounted adjacent said picking instrumentalities and operatively communicating with said duct means for inducing air to flow from a localized area adjacent said picking instrumentalities and thereby for entraining and removing from said localized area airborne fine particles of the lubricant.

Claim 21

A textile fabric weaving machine equipped to minimize contamination of ambient areas by lubricant and comprising frame means, means mounted on said frame means for interweaving textile strand materials into fabric and including picking instrumentalities, means mounted on said frame for supplying air atomized oil mist and for delivering oil mist adjacent said interweaving means for lubricating said picking instrumentalities with airborne fine particles of lubricant, housing means mounted on said frame means in spaced relation to said picking instrumentalities, means operatively associated with said housing means for inducing an airstream to flow therethrough, filter means mounted in said housing means and including mechanical prefilter means and electrostatic filter means arranged for series flow of the airstream successively through the mechanical prefilter means and then the electrostatic filter means for removing from the airstream airborne fine particles of the lubricant, reservoir means operatively communicating with said filter means for collecting lubricant removed by said filter means, duct means operatively communicating with said housing means for delivering the airstream thereto, and hood means mounted adjacent said picking instrumentalities and operatively communicating with said duct means for inducing air to flow from a localized area adjacent said picking instrumentalities and thereby for entraining and removing from said localized area airborne fine particles of the lubricant.