US2293165A - Method and apparatus for forming fibrous material - Google Patents

Description

Aug.18,1942. c. L. NORTON I umgon AND APPARATUiS FOR FORMING FIBROUS MATERIAL In venior:

f. Mau qi w I Patented Aug, 18, lj 942 I Marxian AND APPARATUS For; ronMmG FIBROUS MATERIAL 7 Charles L. Norton, deceased, late of Boston, Mass, by Dorothy Norton,- Boston, Mass, and Charles L. Norton, Jr., New York, N. Y., executors Application November 13, 1939, Serial No. 304,082

, 10 Claims. (01.18-8).

In a prior application, Serial No. 117,600, filed December 24, 1936, now Patent No. 2,265,742, are described a method and apparatus for producing a continuous length of fibrous material, for example, a roving, yarn, cord. or the like, from a men a pointed electrode above referred to. With the latter arrangement, each fibre, in the I field or region of its formation, is attracted at succession of discontinuous artificial fibresby" the electrostatic disruption into such fibres of a viscous liquid capable of rapid solidification, and the progressive withdrawal of the fibres, asthey are formed, to a suitable collecting apparatus.

As described in said application, the method includes electrifying the viscous liquid, for example,

a solution of cellulose acetate in acetone, with an electrostatic charge while delivering thesame from, a nozzle in a continuous stream, thereby causing the stream to be disrupted and solidified into fibres in a region adjacent to but spaced from the point of delivery, collecting the fibres as they are formed on previously formed fibres in the form of a freely depending tail, and progressively withdrawing the tail, as it builds up, over a grounded support to form a sliver which may j be led directly to a twisting and winding mecha- IllSm.

It has been found that the character, and particularly the evenness and strength, of the yarn or the like produced by the practice of the above method can be very greatly improved by subjectone end by the electrode and at the other by the taiLcausing it to straighten out. The end of the fibre attracted by theelectrode is prevented from approaching and adhering to the latter by the stream or current of electrified air which is pro-' jected from said electrode due to its pointed form. Consequently, asone end of the fibre is attracted toward and carried into engagement with the tail, the opposite end attracted by the electrostatic field createdlby the electrode, so as to hold the fibre relatively straight, said fibre being, at the same time-caused or permitted by the air current to move toward the tail and to be drawn in into even and more truly parallel relation to the .preceding fibres. In this way it has been found possible to produce a fine, even yarn of excellent quality and appearance having nearly three times the tensile strength andelasticity required by theminimum standards of leading manufacturers of textile material of this general character. p p p The invention best be understood from the following description of the arrangement and operation of certain forms of apparatus embodying the fibres, as they are formed and collected.

to the effect of an electrified field of opposite polarity, and preferably substantially equal potential, to that of the disrupting chargePThis is preferably done by means of a pointed electrode located beneath the nozzle and at the same side of the field orregion of fibre formation, and directed or pointed toward the latter. As explained in the prior application above referred to, due to the electrostatic action, thematerial leaves the nozzle in the form of a 'tonguein a state of violent, agitation or vibrationwhich causes the resuiting fibres to assume amore or less sinuous form and heterogeneous arrangement in the field of fibre formation. By reason, however, of the fact that the tail is supported in depending position, the fibres tend to move endwise and more or less upwardly into engagement therewith in orderly and generally parallel relatioinship.

This is believed to be because each fibre, as it is formed, has its electrostatic chargeconcentrated at the ends, and the nearer of these ends 1tends to attach itself to the free end of the taiLleavv a ing the remainder of, the fibre free to'be drawn in into parallel relationship ,withthe other fibres.

This action is assisted, and the resultingeffect ing the same and by which it may be practiced, as illustratedin the accompanying drawing, the particular arrangements shown and the particular operations described having,,however, been chosen for purposes of exemplification merely, as it willbe obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention, asdefined by the claims hereunto appended, may beotherwise embodied and practiced without departure from the spirit and scope thereof. It will also be understood that the theoretical statements herein contained as to the behavior of the materials, the effect of various ,factors involved, etcl, are based on applicants present knowledge of these matters, and are for the purpose of giving the fullest possible information now known to them,but without in- 5 tention to limit themselves to the particular theories advanced.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view, partly broken away, of an arrangement of ap paratus embodying and suitable, for practicing the invention. i f

Fig. 2 is an, enlarged diagrammatic fvie'w illustrating the formation and collection of the fibres.

, Except as hereinafter pointed out, the'apparatus shown is similar to that described in prior application Serial No. 150,308, above referred to,

and includes a reservoir l (Fig. 1) for the viscous liquid material of which the fibres are to be formed, for example a solution of cellulose acej tate in acetone. Means are preferably provided for applying a light pressure, indicated-by a gauge I l, to the material in the reservoir, as, for

under pressure and controlled by a valve I3. A supply pipe l4 controlled by a valve I5 may also be provided for replenishing the solution in the reservoir from time to time as may be required.

' Leading from the reservoir [0 is a standpipe Ii communicating with a. conduit II leading to a delivery spout or nozzle [8 having an unobstructed discharge orifice of substantial size, for examexample, a pipe l2 leading from a source of air ple a diameter or the order of $4; of an inch, or I greatly in excess oi thatv of the fibres to be formed. At a suitable point in the system, for example at the junction of the standpipe i6 and conduit I], there is preferably interposed a metering pump l9 driven by a suitable motor '20.

' able source of electric potential one pole, for example, the positive pole, of which is connected with the conduit I! or other part of the discharge system as indicated at 23, whereby the liquid, prior to and at the instant of its discharge, is electrified with anelectrostatic charge of single polarity. As-a convenient means for controlling the potential of the charge, an adover the guide 26 'and allowed to hang down in the water stream to serve asa start for the fibres to build on. Said fibres are collected in or by contact with the wet string and the liquid 33 which flows through said region, whence they may be progressively withdrawn from said region and from said stream of liquid upwardly, or in a direction opposite to the direction of fiow of said stream, over the support 26, so that the continued formation of "fibres in said region and stream causes them to be built up on the tail 3! of fibres previously formed, resulting in the production of a. continuous sliver or length 38 of fibrous material which is withdrawn over the support '26 and led' to the twisting and winding apparatus where it is twisted into a yarn.

In-accordance with the present invention there 'is provided, beneath the nozzle [8, a pointed .The potential of the charge imposed upon the electrode 40 can be conveniently controlled by an adjustable spark gap 42 in a ground connection 43 leading from the connection 4|. Preferably the electrostatic charges imposed upon the nozzle l8 and electrode 40, while of opposite polarity, are

of substantially equal potential, although this is susceptible of variation.

Referring particularly to Fig.

. vibration of the tongue 44 of electrified liquid as justable spark gap 24 may be included in a ground connectiog 22 leading from the connection 23. The pote tial employed is susceptible of considerable variation in accordance with the length and fineness of the fibres desired; It should not .be materially less than 5600 volts or materially greater than 13,000 volts, and is preferably of the order of from 7000to 9000 volts. The electrified parts are all insulated from their support as indicated at 25.

Spaced horizontally from the discharge spout ll is the collecting apparatus which, asshown,

' comprises a support as in the form of'a short trough or guide, and a suitablelwinding and twisting apparatus which, as shown, comprises a spin- .dle 21 and fiyer 28 operatedby an electric motor 20 through suitable power. transmitting connections adapted to rotate the spindle and fiyer at .auitable point of disposal through a conduit 35.

Between the'support 2i and spindle 21 may be suitably positioned guiding means 9 as well as wipers 0 for removing excess moisture.

, With the apparatus arranged as above described, when the pump l9 and electrostatic machine 2| are started the material is discharged from the spout l8 in a highly electrified condition and is separated or disrupted into fine particles which are drawn out and solidified into discontinuous fibres in a region 36 adjacent to but spaced from the spout A leader of cotton string is attached to the spindle 21 and passed it leaves the nozzle l8, the fibres initially formed are of sinuous form and more or less heterogeneous arrangement, as indicated at 45, :but since their electrostatic charges are concentrated at their ends, the end of each fibre nearest the grounded tail 3'! is attracted thereto, as indicated at 46, while the opposite ,end is attracted toward the electrode 40, as indicated at 4 1, so that the fibres straighten out and tend to arrange themselves more or less inparallelism. The ends 41,

' themselves to the tall, the remainder of the fibres will be drawn in in parallel relation, resulting in an even and altogether satisfactory sliver.

What is claimed is: 1. The art of forming a sliver of textile fibres,

the method which comprises disrupting by an electrostatic charge a stream of liquid of a character adapted to form individual fibres when so disrupted, providing a ground including a sliver for attracting the disrupted fibres' by electro-- static action, supporting the sliver so as to pro- 'vide a depending tail thereon, subjecting said fibres as they are formed and in the region of .said tail to the effect of an electrified current or air carrying a charge of opposite polarity to that of the disrupting charge and moving in a direction toward said sliver, whereby the fibres are caused to arrange themselves in substantially parallel relation and to attach themselves endwise to one another and to the sliver tail,

2, due to the static action, supporting the sliver so as to provide a depending tail thereon, subjecting said fibres as they are formed and in the region of said tail to the efiect of an electrified current of air carrying a charge of opposite polarity to and of substantially equal potential to that of the disrupting charge and moving in a direction toward said sliver, whereby the fibres are caused to arrange themselves in substantially parallel relation and to attach themselves endwise to one another and to the silver tail, and progressively withdrawing the silver at a speed to render the same continuous.

3. The art of forming a sliver of textile fibres, the method which comprises disrupting by an electrostatic charge a stream of liquid of a character adapted to form individual fibres when so disrupted, providing a ground including a sliver wetted with a non-solvent electrically conductive liquid for attracting the disrupted fibres by I fibres upon a tail of previously formed fibres de-- pending from said support and sliver.

6. An apparatus for forming asliver of' textile fibres comprising-in combination, means for disrupting a spinning liquid into discontinuous fibres in a field of fibre formation by the action of .an electrostatic charge, means for subjecting said field toan electrostatic charge of opposite polarity and substantially equal potential to that of said first-named charge, a grounded support above said field adapted to support a sliver with a freely dependent tail, and means for progreslsively withdrawing a sliver of said fibres upward 1y over said support as it is built up by the collection ofsuccessively formed fibres upon a tail of a previously formed fibres depending from said support and sliver.

7. An apparatus for forming a sliver of textile fibres comprising, in combination, means for disrupting a spinning liquid into discontinuous fibres in a field of fibre formation by the action of an electrostatic charge, a pointed electrode having an electrostatic charge of opposite polarity to that of said first-named charge adjacent said field and directed toward the latter, a grounded support above said field adapted to support a sliver with a freely dependent tail, and means electrostatic action, supporting the sliver so as I ,to provide a depending tail thereon, subjecting said fibres as they are formed and in the region of said tail to the effect of an electrified current of air carrying a charge of opposite polarity to that of the disrupting charge and moving in a direction toward said sliver, whereby the fibres are caused to arrange themselves in substantially parallel relation and to attach themselves endwise to one another and to the sliver tail, continuously wetting the sliver with said electrically conductive liquid, and progressively withdrawing the sliver at a speed to render the same continuous.

4. The art of forming a sliver of textile fibres, the method which comprises disrupting by an electrostatic charge a stream of liquid of a characted adapted to form individual fibres when so disrupted, providing a ground including a sliver wetted with a non-solvent electrically conductive liquid for attracting the disrupted fibres by electrostatic action, supporting the sliver so as to provide a depending tail thereon, subjecting said fibres as they are formed and in the region of said tail to the efifectof an electrified current of air carrying a charge of opposite polarity to that of the disrupting charge and moving in a direction toward said sliver, whereby the fibres are caused to arrange themselves in substantially parallel relation and to attach themselves endwise to one another and to the sliver tail, and progressively withdrawing the sliver from the field of fibre formation counter to the fiow of said stream of electrically conducting liquid at a speed to render the sliver continuous.

' 5. An apparatus for forming a sliver of textile fibres comprising, in combination, means for disrupting a spinning liquid into discontinuous fibres in a field of fibre formation by theaction of an electrostatic charge, means for subjecting said field to an electrostatic charge of opposite polarity to that of said first-named charge, a grounded support above said field adapted to support a sliver with a freely dependent tail, and means for progressively withdrawing a sliver of said fibres upwardly over said support as it is built up by the collection of successively formed for progressively withdrawing a sliver of said fibres upwardly over said support as it is built up by the collection of successively formed fibres upon a tail of previously formed fibres depending from said support and sliver.

8. An apparatus for forming artificial fibrous material from a spinning liquid capable of electrostatic disruption comprising, in combination, a nozzle, means for delivering the liquid from said nozzle in the form of an electrified stream, whereby said liquid, as it leaves said nozzle, is broken up and solidified into discontinuous fibres in a region adjacent to but spaced from said nozzle, a pointed electrode having an electrostatic charge of opposite polarity to that of said liquid located below said nozzle at the same side of said region and directed toward the latter, a support above said region adapted to support a sliver with a freely dependent tail, and means for progressively withdrawing the resulting material upwardly over said support in a continuous length as it is built up by the collection of successively formed fibres upon a tail of previously formed fibres depending from said support.

9. An apparatus for forming a sliver of textile fibres comprising, in combination, means for disrupting a spinning liquid into discontinuous fibres in a field of fibre formation by the action of an electrostatic charge, means for subjecting said field to an electrostatic charge of opposite polarity to that of said first-named charge, a grounded support, means for progressively withdrawing a sliver of said fibres over said support as it is built up by the collection of successively formed fibres upon a tail of previously formed fibres depending from said support and sliver, and means for progressively wetting said tall with a non-solvent, electrically conductive liquid.

10. An apparatus for forming artificial fibrous material from a spinning liquid capable of electrostatic disruption comprising, in combination,

' a pointed electrode having an electrostatic charge of opposite polarity to that of said liquid located below said nozzle at the same side of said region and directed toward the latter, a support above 4 said region adapted to support a sliver with a freely dependent tail, means for progressively withdrawing the resulting material upwardly over said support in a continuous length as it is built' from said support, and means for directing over said supportandtailaialling stream otanelectrically conductive liquid in which said fibres are insoluble. v i

. DOROTHY NORTON,

- CHARLES L. NORTON, Jn., Executor: 0/ the Estate of Charles L. Norton, de-

ceased. Y

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