Strand treating apparatus

Jan. 12, 1954

2,665,699

P. L. PENDLETON

STRAND TREATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1950

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A TTORNEYSPatented Jan. 12, 1954

2,665,699

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,665,699 STRAND TREATING APPARATUS

Pyam L. Pendleton, Cranston, R. I., assignor of one-half to Benjamin R. Sturges, Providence, R. I.

Application January 20, 1950, Serial No. 139,749

Claims. (C

This invention is an improved form of apparatus for fluid manipulation in the fluid treatment of continuous strand, filament, wire, tape, or the like, as generally described in my previous applications, Serial No. 39,758 of July 20, 1948, 5 now abandoned, and Serial No. 104,573 of July 13,1949, now Patent No. 2,612,860.

The objects of this invention are to provide new economies of space and structure in a device operating to produce a reciprocating fluid par- 10 ticle field and to generate a fluid wave for treating purposes.

The principal feature of the invention is the use of a single vibrating member to attain these objects rather than the plurality of spaced vi- 15 brating members previously utilized.

I have found that if a single vibrating member which may be blade shaped is formed to include a recess or channel, fluid injected into the channel area may be dispersed by impact with the 20 channel faces into a matrix of columnar shaped fluid particles and fluid drops held in reciprocation between the faces for a period sufficient to enable bombardment of a strand traversing the channel with fluid to further a fluid treating 25 effect. I have also found that if the vibrating member is positioned in a fluid reservoir partly below and partly above the fluid level with the channel area extending from below to above the fluid level, vibration of the blade will generate so a fluid wave in the channel which will rise above the normal fluid level and be dispersed within the channel as an elevated field of substantially contained and sustained reciprocating fluid particles. I have also found that in general if dif- 35 ferent sections of the channel area vibrate at differing amplitudes, a flow of fluid may take place from an area of lesser amplitude toward an area of greater amplitude whether the channel is vertical or horizontal and supplied with 40 fluid either by immersion or injection.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 45

In the accompanying drawings:

Figures 1 and 2 are diagrammatic views illustrating right angular positions of a fluid wave generator which is the subject of this invention; 50 . 134—122)

.....2

Figures 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views illustrating right angular positions of a fluid wave generator of a modified construction;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the vibrating member shown in Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 6 is a view illustrating a plurality of fluid wave generators arranged in tandem relation; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the vibrating member taken on line 7—7 of Fig. 2.

In the drawing in Figures 1 and 2, I show a fluid reservoir I having ports 2 and 3 by which fluid may be circulated and maintained at a normal level 4. A cover 5 is provided bearing a nozzle 6 by which fluid may be optionally injected into a channel area 7 in a vibrating member 8 mounted on a shaft 9 by which vibration may be transmitted to member 8 from any convenient power source of mechanical vibration, such as a conventional solenoid and armature actuated by alternating current. Shaft 9 is sealed in reservoir I by resilient bushings 10 which may optionally contain splines 9' to limit, twisting of the shaft. A strand 11 is shown traversing reservoir ί through apertures 12 and passing through the channel section 7 in member 8 without coming into physical contact with any part of the device, positioning of the strand being accomplished through the use of enmmnn forms of external thread guides, not shown.

With this structure, vibration of shaft 9 at a frequency which will induce a vibration of member 8 at its natural frequency will cause fluid in reservoir I at a level 4 to flow upward in side channels la and to disperse into a field of fluid particles reciprocating between the walls of the channel 7 whereby a strand traversing the channel without contact with the vibrating member may be effectively bombarded for fluid treating purposes.

As an optional arrangement, fluid may be supplied to the channel area by a nozzle 6 to be dispersed and reciprocated in substantially contained and sustained suspension, in like manner, no level of fluid being maintained in reservoir ί for supply purposes.

Ih Figures 3 and 4, I show a similar reservoir 13 having a port 14 for drainage and a cover 15 bearing a nozzle 16 by which fluid may be injected into a channel 18 in a vibrating member

2,665,699 channel having walls on at least three sides, all of said walls extending at least the greater part of the length of said member, and a pair of said walls being in spaced parallel relation to each other and extending the full length of said member, vibrating driving mechanism connected in driving relation to said vibratable member, the point of connection of said vibratable member to said driving mechanism being spaced from one end of the former, such end remaining free to vibrate, and the frequency and mode of vibration of said mechanism being such as to vibrate said vibratable member at a natural frequency thereof in a direction generally normal to the planes of said pair of opposite walls, whereby said fluid will be elevated in said channel above said level toward said free end independently of any capillary action and be dispersed into a field of particles rapidly reciprocating between said pair of walls, at least a portion of said channel above said level constituting said processing area.

5. In apparatus for use with a process for fluid treating a continuously moving material, means for producing a field of rapidly reciprocating particles of treating fluid in a desired treating area, which comprises an elongated vibratable member shaped to form a fluid channel having walls on at least three sides, all of said walls extending at least the greater part of the length of said member and a pair of said walls being in spaced, parallel relation to each other and extending the full length thereof, vibrating driving mechanism connected, in: driving relation to said vibratable, member, means for supplying treating fluid to said: channel, the point of connection of said vibratable member to said driving mechanism being spaced from one end of the former, such end remaining free to vibrate, and the frequency and mode of vibration of said mechanism being such, as to vibrate said vibratable member at a natural frequency thereof in a direction genenerally. normal to the . planes of said pair of walls, whereby said fluid will be dispersed into a field of particles rapidly reciprocating, between said, pair of walls and tending to travel in the direction of said free end independently of any capillary action, at least a portion of said channel constituting said treating area, and means for passing said material through said area.

. 6.. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5. in which said fluid supply means comprises an inlet pipe directed into said channel.

. 7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which said vibratable member is generally hori55 zontally disposed and said channel opens upwardly.

8. In apparatus for use with a process for fluid treating a continuously moving material, means for producing a field of rapidly reciprocating SO particles of treating fluid in a desired treating area, which comprises a container for said fluid, means for maintaining treating fluid in said container at a predetermined level, a generally upright elongated vibratable member partially sub65 merged in said container and shaped to form a. fluid channel having walls on at least three sides, all of said walls extending at least the greater part of the length of said vibratable member, and a. pair of said walls being in spaced parallel rela70 tion to each other and extending the full length of said vibratable member, vibrating driving mechanism connected in driving relation to said vibratable member, the point of connection of said vibratable member to said driving mechanism being spaced from one end of the former, (9 near an end area IT, the general arrangement being otherwise similar to Figure 1. With this structure, fluid injected into the channel area at IT will flow toward the opposite end area of the channel at 20. A flow of this nature established 5 in opposition to the yarn movement is considered favorable in the accomplishment of a fluid treatment. During this flow the fluid is dispersed and reciprocated in the channel to bombard the strand, as previously described, the 10 cause of the flow being chiefly the differences in amplitude of points IT and 20 resulting in their differing distances from the point of attachment to shaft 9 as established by the form of member 19. ¹⁵

In Figure 5 the dotted lines show schematically the differences in amplitude of points IT and 2 0 on member 19 as a plan view.

In Figures 3 and 4 the structure provides in the horizontal closed bottom of the channel a 20 confined path in which the fluid while in reciprocation may flow in contact with but opposed to the movement of the yarn as an aid to a. treatment. Such an arrangement could not be as readily secured with the parallel spaced blades 25 of the previous application. In many cases the use of a channeled vibrating member may be found equally effective and cheaper to make than the parallel spaced blades of the previous applications. ³⁰

In Figure 6 the sequential treatment of work by treatment in successive baths which may be different in character is shown.