Apparatus for cooling and conditioning melt-spun material

Claim 2

In an apparatus for spinning filaments from a melt, the improvement which comprises a nozzle plate having a plurality of arranged passages in the generally annular pattern adapted to permit said melt to flow therethrough to form a stream of said filaments, a dispersing head downstream of said plate and in said stream, said head being substantially in a form of a cylinder with its axis substantially parallel to said stream and having an upstream end and a downstream end, a coolant souce, a coolant inlet connecting said coolant source with said head at a point, a wall of said head substantially parallel to said stream being porous, whereby coolant passes through said wall and impinges on said filaments, said upstream end is provided with a circular aperture, a tube from said point to said aperture, whereby a substantial amount of coolant is expelled through said aperture.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said passages are arranged concentrically.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said passages are in a circular array.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said head is substantially surrounded by said filaments.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said coolant is a gas.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said coolant is air.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said coolant inlet is connected to said head adjacent or at said downstream end and said coolant flows countercurrently to said stream.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said aperture is directed radially outwardly and downwardly.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a valve is provided which cooperates with said tube and is adapted to close said tube and prevent coolant from flowing therethrough.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said valve comprises a center spike on said upstream end of said cylinder and projecting therefrom, a seat at the upstream end of said tube, a closure on the downstream end of said spike complementary to said seat and adapted to seal thereagainst.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 10 comprising means for moving said head parallel to said stream between a first position remote from said plate and a second position adjacent said plate whereby, when said head is in said second position, said plate exerts pressure on said spike to close said valve.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said coolant inlet is at an angle other than 0° or 180° to said stream.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said coolant inlet is relatively narrow in a direction perpendicular to said stream and relatively wide in a direction parallel to said stream.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said coolant inlet is provided with a filament deflector on its upstream portion.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 1 where said head has a heating means at or adjacent its upstream end.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said plate has a recess into which the upstream end of said spike fits when said head is in said second position.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said head is sintered metal, a filter web, or reinforced filter fleece.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said upstream end of said head is tapered in an upstream direction.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said angle is approximately 90°.

Claim 21

In an apparatus for spinning filaments from a melt, the improvement which comprises a nozzle plate having a plurality of arranged passages in a generally annular pattern adapted to permit said melt to flow therethrough to form a stream of said filaments, a dispersing head downstream of said plate and in said stream, said head being substantially in a form of a cylinder with its axis substantially parallel to said stream and having an upstream end and a downstream end, a coolant source, a coolant inlet connecting said coolant source with said head at a point, a wall of said head substantially parallel to said stream being porous, whereby coolant passes through said wall and impinges on said filaments, an applicator downstream of said head comprising at least one peripheral channel adapted to be contacted by said filaments, a source of coating liquid, a liquid inlet connecting said source of coating liquid with said peripheral channel, whereby said filaments are coated with said liquid.

Claim 22

In an apparatus for spinning filaments from a melt, the improvement which comprises a nozzle plate having a plurality of arranged passages in a generally annular pattern adapted to permit said melt to flow therethrough to form a stream of said filaments, a dispersing head downstream of said plate and in said stream, said head being substantially in a form of a cylinder with its axis substantially parallel to said stream and having an upstream end and a downstream end, a coolant source, a coolant inlet connecting said coolant source with said head at a point, a wall of said head substantially parallel to said stream being porous, whereby coolant passes through said wall and impinges on said filaments, an applicator downstream of said head comprising at least one peripheral channel adapted to be contacted by said filaments, a source of coating liquid, a liquid inlet connecting said source of coating liquid with said peripheral channel, whereby said filaments are coated with said liquid.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 20 having a collector downstream of said applicator comprising a return channel adapted to receive overflow from said applicator, a liquid return from said return channel, whereby excess liquid is conveyed away from said stream.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said liquid inlet and said liquid return are at least partially located in said coolant inlet.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein there is a filament guide downstream of said collector.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said liquid is a conditioning agent or water.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said conditioning agent is a spinning oil or a finishing oil.

Claim 28

In an apparatus for spinning filaments from a melt, the improvement which comprises a nozzle plate having a plurality of arranged passages in a generally annular pattern adapted to permit said melt to flow therethrough to form a stream of said filaments, a dispersing head downstream of said plate and in said stream, said head being substantially in a form of a cylinder with its axis substantially parallel to said stream and having an upstream end and a downstream end, a coolant source, a coolant inlet connecting said coolant source with said head at a point, a wall of said head substantially parallel to said stream being porous, whereby coolant passes through said wall and impinges on said filaments, said head having means for moving said head into and out of said stream during said flow.

Claim 29

In an apparatus for spinning filaments from a melt, the improvement which comprises a nozzle plate having a plurality of arranged passages in a generally annular pattern adapted to permit said melt to flow therethrough to form a stream of said filaments, a dispersing head downstream of said plate and in said stream, said head being substantially in a form of a cylinder with its axis substantially parallel to said stream and having an upstream end and a downstream end, a coolant source, a coolant inlet connecting said coolant source with said head at a point, a wall of said head substantially parallel to said stream being porous, whereby coolant passes through said wall and impinges on said filaments, said head having means for moving said head into and out of said stream during said flow.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising means for moving said head parallel to said stream toward and away from said plate.

Claim 31

The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising means for moving said head parallel to said stream toward and away from said plate during said flow.

Claim 32

In an apparatus for spinning filaments from a melt, the improvement which comprises a nozzle plate having a plurality of arranged passages in a generally annular pattern adapted to permit said melt to flow therethrough to form a stream of said filaments, a dispersing head downstream of said plate and in said stream, said head being substantially in a form of a cylinder with its axis substantially parallel to said stream and having an upstream end and a downstream end, a coolant source, a coolant inlet connecting said coolant source with said head at a point, a wall of said head substantially parallel to said stream being porous, whereby coolant passes through said wall and impinges on said filaments, and means for moving said head parallel to said stream toward and away from said plate.

Claim 33

In an apparatus for spinning filaments from a melt, the improvement which comprises a nozzle plate having a plurality of arranged passages in a generally annular pattern adapted to permit said melt to flow therethrough to form a stream of said filaments, a dispersing head downstream of said plate and in said stream, said head being substantially in a form of a cylinder with its axis substantially parallel to said stream and having an upstream end and a downstream end, a coolant source, a coolant inlet connecting said coolant source with said head at a point, a wall of said head substantially parallel to said stream being porous, whereby coolant passes through said wall and impinges on said filaments, and means for moving said head parallel to said stream toward and away from said plate.

Claim 34

The apparatus of claim 29 wherein there is provided a means for moving said head toward and away from a central longitudinal axis of said stream.

Claim 35

The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said means is for moving said head parallel to said stream toward and away from said plate during said flow.