US4909976A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for high speed melt spinning
Assignee: North Carolina State University
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Filing: 1988-05-09
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Granted: 1990-03-20
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Expires: 2008-05-09
Abstract
Abstract The high speed melt spinning of synthetic polymer fibers is provided with on-line zone heating and cooling by which the strand emerging from the spinneret is initially cooled to an optimum temperature above the glass transition point of the polymer, the maintained near that temperature for a period of time to promote development of desirable fiber properties such as crystallization and crystal orientation, and then finally cooled below the solidification point for take up.
Inventors
- 👤 John A. Cuculo
- 👤 Paul A. Tucker
- 👤 Gao-Yuan Chen
- 👤 Chon-yie Lin
- 👤 Jeffrey Denton
- 👤 Ferdinand Lundberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 00:37
CPC Classifications
D; D01; D01D; D01D5/00; D01D5/08; D01D5/098; D01D5/088; D01F; D01F6/00; D01F6/58; D01F6/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A high speed melt spinning process for producing textile fibers having improved physical properties, comprising extruding a molten polymer from a spinneret to form continuous strands, directing the molten polymer strands from the spinneret into and through a first cooling zone and rapidly cooling the strands from the extrusion temperature to a predetermined optimum crystallization temperature range above the glass transition temperature of the strands, directing the strands from the first cooling zone into and through a heating zone and heating the strands so as to maintain the strands for a period of time at a temperature within said optimum crystallization temperature range, directing the strands from the heating zone to a second cooling zone and cooling and solidifying the strands, and taking up the strands at a high speed of 3000 meters per minute or greater.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A high speed melt spinning process for producing textile fibers having improved physical properties, comprising extruding a molten polymer from a spinneret to form continuous strands, directing the molten polymer strands from the spinneret into and through a first cooling zone and rapidly cooling the strands from the extrusion temperature to a predetermined optimum crystallization temperature range above the glass transition temperature of the strands, directing the strands from the first cooling zone into and through a heating zone and heating the strands so as to maintain the strands for a period of time at a temperature within said optimum crystallization temperature range, directing the strands from the heating zone to a second cooling zone and cooling and solidifying the strands, and taking up the strands at a high speed of 3000 meters per minute or greater.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of heating the material comprises maintaining the strands in a substantially isothermal condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of heating the strands maintains a temperature between 80° C. and 160° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of heating the strands maintains a substantially isothermal temperature of approximately 140° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of cooling the strands comprises contacting the strands with cool air.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the step of heating the strands comprises contacting the strands with heated air.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the strands are heated for a period of time less than 0.005 seconds.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
150 words
A high speed melt spinning process for producing textile fibers having improved physical properties, comprising extruding molten polyethylene terephthalate polymer from a spinneret to form continuous strands, directing the molten polyethylene terephthalate strands from the spinneret into and through a first cooling zone and cooling the molten strands with cool air to a predetermined optimum crystallization temperature range between 80° C. and 160° C., directing the strands from the first cooling zone into and through a heating zone and heating the strands with heated air so as to maintain the strands for a time less than 0.005 seconds at a temperature within said optimum crystallization temperature range between 80° C. and 160° C., directing the strands from the heating zone to a second cooling zone and cooling and solidifying the strands with cool air, and taking up the strands at a high speed of 3000 meters per minute or greater.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
150 words
A high speed melt spinning process for producing textile fibers having improved physical properties, comprising extruding molten polyethylene terephthalate polymer from a spinneret to form continuous strands, directing the molten polyethylene terephthalate strands from the spinneret into and through a first cooling zone and cooling the molten strands with cool air to a predetermined optimum crystallization temperature range between 80° C. and 160° C., directing the strands from the first cooling zone into and through a heating zone and heating the strands with heated air so as to maintain the strands for a time less than 0.005 seconds at a temperature within said optimum crystallization temperature range between 80° C. and 160° C., directing the strands from the heating zone to a second cooling zone and cooling and solidifying the strands with cool air, and taking up the strands at a high speed of 3000 meters per minute or greater.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the step of heating the strands maintains a temperature of approximately 140° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the step of cooling the strands with cool air uses air at 23° C. flowing at approximately 300 feet per minute.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-03-19 | 1993-09-18 | 1994-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-03-19 | 1997-09-18 | 1998-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-03-19 | 2001-09-18 | 2002-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |