Patent Application
20240026576
The present invention relates to a multifunctional nozzle for a spinning machine, said nozzle being usable for a spinning device, for a spinning method and for fibre material compression.
Various types of spinning machine having corresponding spinning devices, spinning methods and compression apparatuses have long been known in the prior art. For instance, using ring spinning methods on ring spinning machines, in particular by means of a compacting device, compressed or compacted threads are produced that, due to their real twist, have high strength, high elongation, high uniformity and high hairiness and cover a large fineness range, but these can only be produced at low spinning speeds due to physical limits. The physical limits in this context are down to ballooning force limitations, ring traveller system limitations and yarn strength limitations.
Another known spinning method is the rotor spinning method on rotor spinning machines, which is based on the open-end (OE) principle. Under the OE principle, fibres that have been separated beforehand by means of fibre opening accumulate at an open thread end provided in the spinning rotor and are bound-in onto the open thread end during the twisting conferred by the rotation of the spinning rotor. Compared with ring yarns, i.e. the threads produced by means of ring spinning methods, threads produced in this way, which are also known as rotor yarns, have better uniformity and lower hairiness and require lower production costs, but they have poorer yarn strength and flexural strength. For process reasons, so-called belly bands and wrap fibres occur in rotor yarns, and these give the rotor {00535938.docx} 1 yarn a characteristic appearance and feel but are not desirable in all textile applications. In particular, the number of belly bands influences the yarn quality in terms of strength, flexural strength and feel. The number of belly bands generally increases both at higher rotational speeds of the spinning rotors and as the spinning rotor diameter becomes smaller. Compared with ring yarns, rotor yarns can also only cover a limited yarn fineness range.
The single-nozzle air spinning process that is likewise known is a real-twist air spinning process in which a fibre band having largely parallel fibres that has been drawn beforehand in a defined manner in a drafting system device is air-spun, by means of a vortex air flow generated in an air spinning nozzle, around a yarn forming element to form a thread. In the air spinning process, individual fibres are laid helically around fibres, which are oriented in parallel with one another and form a yarn core, in the spinning nozzle by means of the vortex air flow. The fibres are medium-length to long fibres. Short fibres, on the other hand, are largely blown out and cannot be reliably processed. Compared with ring yarns, the yarn produced in this manner has poorer yarn strength and uniformity and, like rotor yarns, can only cover a limited yarn fineness range, but it does have lower hairiness and can be produced with lower production costs and at higher spinning speeds than in the ring spinning method.
Yarns produced by means of various spinning methods all share the characteristic that they each come with specific advantages and also with specific disadvantages in terms of the yarn parameters, production costs and productivity.
The aim of the present invention is to make it possible to produce at least one alternative, in particular improved, real twist yarn for a wide field of application, said yarn further preferably being able to do without a core of untwisted, in particular parallel, fibres. Further preferably, as a result of the provided possibility, a yarn is to be created in which advantages of an open-end yarn can be combined, at least in part, with those of a ring yarn.
For this purpose, the present invention proposes a multifunctional nozzle for a spinning machine, said multifunctional nozzle having a nozzle housing, to which pressure can be applied and which has a nozzle channel, which extends along the longitudinal axis direction of the nozzle housing and is open on one side along the longitudinal axis direction. On the side facing away from the open side, the nozzle channel can be closed by a means or by the nozzle housing itself, in each case while forming a through-duct that connects the nozzle channel to the surroundings, as will be explained in more detail below.
In the context of the present invention, a longitudinal axis direction should be understood as the direction of a component, a unit, an apparatus or a device that, in terms of magnitude, has a greater physical extension length compared with an axis orthogonal thereto.
The nozzle housing is a geometric hollow body, the cavity in which forms the nozzle channel. Preferably, the nozzle housing can have a circular, rectangular, polygonal or oval cross section orthogonally to its longitudinal axis direction, and can be made of a metal-containing, plastics-containing or ceramic material, or of a combination of these or other materials, such as silica sand. The wall of the nozzle housing has a thickness and/or material composition that allow(s) it to withstand an ongoing application of pressure by a fluid, as is necessary for operating the multifunctional nozzle.
In addition, the multifunctional nozzle has a fluid inlet, by means of which a pressurised fluid can be admitted into the nozzle channel to bring about a vortex flow within the nozzle channel. The fluid inlet is preferably formed on the nozzle housing by an opening that opens into the nozzle channel. Alternatively or additionally, a fluid inlet can be embodied in a component, separate from the nozzle housing, for admitting the fluid into the nozzle channel, the component being able to be inserted, for example via an opening in the nozzle housing, into said opening and, as applicable, into the nozzle channel.
According to a preferred embodiment, the fluid inlet is arranged inside a pressure chamber of an antechamber housing for the fluid feed. The antechamber housing can be arranged on the nozzle housing in order to keep the structure simple and compact. Further preferably, the antechamber housing can extend circumferentially around the nozzle housing, which is particularly advantageous if more than one fluid inlet is provided, in order to supply the pressurised fluid to this number of fluid inlets simultaneously via the pressure chamber. For example, the antechamber housing having the pressure chamber can extend annularly around the nozzle housing either in part or entirely.
The fluid inlet is configured to generate a vortex flow in the through-duct. For this purpose, the fluid inlet can preferably have at least one fluid inlet mouth having a mouth axis which points in a circumferential direction of the nozzle channel, in particular tangentially thereto. In a preferred alternative or additional manner, the fluid inlet has two or more than two fluid inlet mouths, which lead into the nozzle channel, are distributed circumferentially around the nozzle channel and open into the nozzle channel to generate the vortex flow. Further preferably, the fluid inlet mouths are arranged in an orthogonal plane in relation to the longitudinal axis direction and particularly preferably admit the pressurised fluid tangentially to the nozzle channel. Further preferably, a tangentially oriented mouth axis of at least one fluid inlet mouth can point in a direction facing the open end of the nozzle channel while forming an angle of more than 0° and less than 90° with the orthogonal plane, thereby making it possible to generate an improved vortex flow having reduced turbulence flows.
Preferably, the fluid is a gaseous fluid; further preferably, the fluid is air, such as ambient air, or a mixture of at least two gaseous fluids. A mixture of a gaseous and a liquid fluid is also conceivable. A mixture of this kind is suitable in particular for a predefined treatment of the thread or of the fibre band and/or of the surfaces of the multifunctional nozzle that are in contact with the thread or fibre band, for example to reduce deposits or finishing agents on these surfaces.
The multifunctional nozzle further comprises a nozzle body for arrangement in the nozzle channel. The nozzle body is accordingly configured to be able to be arranged in the nozzle channel, in particular interchangeably. The external shape of the nozzle body is such that the nozzle body can be formed in the nozzle channel together with the nozzle housing, or arranged and/or inserted in the nozzle channel.
The nozzle body comprises a through-duct, which extends along the longitudinal axis direction, for guiding through a thread or fibre band. The cross section of the through-duct is suitably adapted, depending on the cross section of the thread or fibre band being guided therethrough, to be able to guide the thread or fibre band through the nozzle body. Preferably, the internal diameter of the through-duct is adapted to the outer diameter of the thread or fibre band being guided therethrough by being at least 3% and at most 25% larger in order to ensure efficient and in particular unimpeded guidance of the thread or fibre band.
The nozzle body is shorter than the nozzle channel along the longitudinal axis direction so as to be able to guide the admitted pressurised fluid in the nozzle channel past a free end of the nozzle body, thereby making it possible to generate a suction flow in the through-duct.
In addition, the multifunctional nozzle is equipped with an annular gap, which extends in the nozzle channel along the longitudinal axis direction and has at least one narrow point, towards which the annular gap tapers on both sides along the longitudinal axis direction, the narrow point being formed downstream of the fluid inlet along the longitudinal axis direction. Along the longitudinal axis direction, the annular gap can preferably have a cross-sectional shape similar to one or several nozzles, a narrow point being formed by said shape. In the context of the present invention, a cross-sectional shape similar to a nozzle should be understood to be a shape that has a converging cross section towards a narrowest cross section in a longitudinal axis direction.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the annular gap is arranged, in cross section, out of a combination of a cross-sectional shape similar to a nozzle and one similar to a diffuser, having the narrow point between the nozzle-like cross section and the diffuser-like cross section. In the context of the present invention, a cross-sectional shape similar to a diffuser should be understood to be a shape that has a diverging cross section after a narrow point in a longitudinal axis direction. Preferably, the nozzle-like and/or diffuser-like cross-sectional shape is symmetrical in relation to one of the central axes thereof. Further preferably, the cross-sectional shape is similar to a Laval nozzle, by means of which a supersonic flow can be obtained in the diverging part.
In addition, the multifunctional nozzle additionally has an in particular interchangeable delimiting part for arrangement in the nozzle channel, in a manner closing the nozzle housing on one side along the longitudinal axis direction and thus delimiting the nozzle channel on one side along the longitudinal axis direction, on a fluid-inlet side that faces away from the narrow point. The delimiting part is provided for closing the nozzle channel remotely from the fluid inlet, further preferably adjacently to the fluid inlet. The delimiting part has a further through-duct, extending along the longitudinal axis direction, for the thread or fibre band for communicating with the through-duct of the nozzle body. The further through-duct can in particular have an embodiment as described above in relation to the through-duct. Further preferably, the further through-duct and the through-duct are arranged coaxially, further preferably having an identical cross-sectional shape, along the longitudinal axis direction. Preferably, the delimiting part forms a component part of the nozzle body, or a component that is separate from the nozzle body and further preferably formed in one piece with the nozzle housing, or, alternatively, preferably a component that is separate from the nozzle body and nozzle housing and on which the nozzle body is in particular directly arranged or arrangeable such that the further through-duct merges directly into the through-duct and, particularly preferably, bears the nozzle body by means of an integral bond, a frictional connection or interlocking. Alternatively, a connection duct for connecting the further through-duct to the through-duct can preferably be arranged between the further through-duct and the through-duct. In this case, the nozzle body can particularly preferably be borne in the nozzle channel by the connection duct or by means of retaining ribs that connect the nozzle body to the nozzle housing.
The multifunctional nozzle further comprises a hollow-body-like flow conducting body for guiding the thread or fibre band, in a manner accompanied by fluid, between the annular gap and the open end of the nozzle channel. The flow conducting body can preferably be formed by a wall of the nozzle housing or, alternatively or additionally, by a further hollow body. A fixed end of a further hollow-body-like flow conducting body of this kind is preferably coupled to the nozzle housing, the coupling site of the fixed end on the nozzle housing being spaced apart from the open longitudinal end of the nozzle channel. The coupling can be carried out in many different ways and depending on requirements. For example, the coupling can be carried out by means of an integral connection between the nozzle housing and the flow conducting body, for example an adhesive bond. Alternatively or additionally, the fixed end can be latched, screwed, clamped or otherwise frictionally or interlockingly coupled to the nozzle housing. For example, the fixed end of the flow conducting body can be formed so as to be resiliently deformable having a latching means, such as a latching recess and/or a latching protrusion, configured for latching to an associated mating latching means on the wall of the nozzle housing within the nozzle channel. In this way, the fixed end of the flow conducting body could be inserted into the nozzle channel in a resiliently preloaded manner and pushed as far as to the mating latching means while retaining the resilient preload, which at least partly releases at the site of the mating latching means such that latching can take place.
In addition to its fixed end, this kind of preferred further flow conducting body has a free end that is arranged on the fixed-end side that faces away from the delimiting part, having an outer diameter that is smaller than the internal diameter of the nozzle housing at the site of the first narrow point or smaller than the outer diameter of the first narrow point. The free end of the further flow conducting body simultaneously defines and delimits the open end of the nozzle channel due to the formation of at least one terminal part-segment of the nozzle channel.
The flow conducting body can in particular have a cross-sectional shape as described above in relation to the nozzle housing and be made, for example, of a material as described above in relation to the nozzle housing. Particularly preferably, the flow conducting body has a segment having a nozzle-like cross-sectional shape and a diffuser-like cross-sectional shape, more preferably a cross-sectional shape similar to a Laval nozzle, the segment extending between the annular gap and the open end of the nozzle channel.
The annular gap is formed between the nozzle body and the nozzle housing and/or between the nozzle body and the flow conducting body. The annular gap is thus defined by a clearance or gap formed between the outside of the nozzle body and an inside of the nozzle housing or an inside of the flow conducting body. The gap width, i.e. the straight-line distance between the outside of the nozzle body and the inside of the nozzle housing or of the flow conducting body in a cross-sectional plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis direction, decreases in accordance with the nozzle-like cross-sectional shape up to the narrow point, in particular constantly or in intervals, and then increases again, in particular constantly or in intervals. The spaces between the intervals can preferably be selected depending on requirements. Further preferably, the nozzle body can have a cross-sectional shape similar to a candle flame, further preferably a cross-sectional shape that is symmetrical, in particular rotationally symmetrical, in relation to the central longitudinal axis, in a sectional plane running through the central longitudinal axis of the passage thereof.
According to a further preferred embodiment, along the longitudinal axis direction the annular gap has a second narrow point, which follows the narrow point that defines the first narrow point, at the level of free end or at the free end of the nozzle body in the nozzle housing or inside the flow conducting body. As a result, the flow rate can be increased again in the annular-gap segment that converges towards the second narrow point, in order to be able to bring about a defined suction flow effect in the through-duct of the nozzle body.
The multifunctional nozzle according to the present invention makes it possible to generate a vortex flow that propagates helically around the nozzle body in the annular gap along the longitudinal axis direction and, when it passes the annular-gap end at the free end of the nozzle body, acts on the thread or fibre band being guided through by the nozzle body in such a way that a rotation can be imposed on the thread or fibre band about its longitudinal axis along the longitudinal axis direction.
According to a preferred embodiment, the multifunctional nozzle has a fibre feed for feeding separated fibres, the fibre feed comprising a fibre inlet and a fibre duct that communicates therewith and is arranged downstream thereof in the fibre transport direction.
In addition, the multifunctional nozzle comprises a spinning chamber arranged downstream of the flow conducting body along the longitudinal axis direction, the flow conducting body and the fibre duct opening into the spinning chamber along the longitudinal axis direction. Separately from the mouth of the flow conducting body and of the fibre duct, the spinning chamber has a fibre outlet for discharging superfluous fibres, the fibre outlet being able to be connected to a vacuum source.
According to this preferred embodiment, the multifunctional nozzle forms an alternative spinning device by means of which it is possible to produce a real-twist thread without an untwisted core consisting of parallel fibres. For this purpose, according to a preferred embodiment, a pressurised fluid is admitted into the nozzle channel or into the annular gap via the fluid inlet and is pushed towards the spinning chamber by means of the delimiting part as a result of the nozzle channel being closed on one side. The specific configuration of the fluid inlet brings about a vortex flow within the nozzle channel or annular gap. The pressurised fluid is thus pushed helically around the nozzle body towards the spinning chamber. The in particular Laval nozzle-like cross-sectional change in the annular gap brings about an axially accelerated vortex flow as far as to the free end of the nozzle body or as far as to an annular-gap exit at the level of the free end of the nozzle body. The circulatory flow or the vortex flow generates a vacuum or a suction flow at the outlet of the through-duct, by means of which a thread end inserted into the through-duct can be conveyed into the nozzle channel region that is delimited by the flow conducting body. As a result of the vortex flow, the thread end undergoes a rotational movement about its longitudinal axis and about the longitudinal axis of the through-duct and of the flow conducting body. A vacuum is preferably applied to the fibre outlet of the spinning chamber in order, further preferably, to assist conveyance of the rotating thread end into the spinning chamber. The vortex flow prevailing in the flow conducting body and reaching as far as into the spinning chamber brings about a vacuum or a further suction flow in the fibre feed or in the fibre duct and the fibre inlet. Further preferably, this suction flow is reinforced by means of the vacuum applied to the spinning chamber. As a result, by means of the fibre feed, for example, separated fibres that have been opened by an opening unit known from the open-end rotor spinning method can be sucked into the fibre duct via the fibre inlet and brought into the spinning chamber. The separated fibres come into contact with the rotating thread end in the spinning chamber, as a result of which the separated fibres are aggregated to the rotating open thread end and bound-in. Superfluous separated fibres can be blown out via the fibre outlet or sucked away out of the spinning chamber by means of the vacuum applied to the fibre outlet, thereby making it possible to prevent the spinning chamber from becoming blocked. Further preferably, during the aggregation and binding-in of the separated fibres at the thread end, which take place continuously during the spinning process, the thread is drawn out of the multifunctional nozzle, in the opposite direction to the insertion direction, by means of a thread take-up device at a defined take-off speed.
By making use of the OE principle, under which separated fibres are aggregated and bound-in at an open thread end to form the thread, the multifunctional nozzle according to this preferred embodiment makes it possible to produce an air-spun thread that has a real twist and no untwisted parallel fibres. Unlike the open-end rotor spinning method, in which the separated fibres are aggregated and bound-in by means of a rotating spinning rotor, the multifunctional nozzle according to this preferred embodiment is based on the principle of annular-flow spinning, in which, by generating an annular flow, i.e. a vortex flow as described above, the separated fibres are aggregated and bound-in at the thread end to form the thread solely by means of the generated annular flow. A thread produced in this way additionally has the advantage of being practically to entirely free from disruptive belly bands and/or wrap fibres. The yarn thus produced is suitable for a wider range of applications than the rotor yarn. In addition, the thread can be produced at higher spinning speeds compared with ring spinning methods. As a result, by means of the present invention a real-twist thread that combines at least some of the advantages of a rotor yarn with some of those of a ring yarn can be provided.
According to a preferred embodiment, the physical extension length of the spinning chamber along the longitudinal axis direction is tailored to the fibre length of the fibres to be processed. Further preferably, the spinning chamber is formed by the nozzle housing or by a spinning-chamber housing, which can be coupled to and decoupled from the nozzle housing interchangeably, i.e. non-destructively. The interchangeable coupling of the spinning chamber to the multifunctional nozzle makes it possible to easily adapt the multifunctional nozzle to different fibre lengths to be processed, in order to generate the defined air-spun real-twist thread. For instance, depending on the fibre length to be processed, a spinning chamber tailored to that fibre length can be coupled to the multifunctional nozzle.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the flow conducting body forms a partition wall between the nozzle channel and the fibre duct. In other words, the fibre duct is preferably formed on a side of the flow conducting body that faces away from the nozzle channel. Further preferably, the fibre duct can be formed radially on the inside by the flow conducting body and radially on the outside by a wall of the nozzle housing formed at a spacing from the flow conducting body, this wall extending along the longitudinal axis direction, in particular starting from the fixed end of the flow conducting body, together with the flow conducting body so as to form the fibre duct. Particularly preferably, the wall providing delimiting radially on the outside protrudes beyond the flow conducting body towards the spinning chamber, and further preferably is in the form of a coupling member for interchangeably coupling the spinning-chamber housing to the nozzle housing. The configuration of the multifunctional nozzle can thus be simplified and compact.
Along its longitudinal axis, the spinning chamber preferably has a cross-sectional shape similar to one or several Laval nozzles. As a result, the suction flow effect for sucking the separated fibres and the thread end into the spinning chamber can be favourably assisted.
Further preferably, the spinning chamber can be formed by a hose-like flexible structure. In this way, the spinning chamber can be interchangeably coupled to the nozzle housing in a simple manner, for example by being pushed over it. In addition, the spinning chamber can be cost-effectively produced.
Preferably, the spinning chamber can have a cross-sectional shape similar to a rotor cup interior along the longitudinal axis direction, having an internal diameter along which the mouths of the flow conducting body, of the fibre duct and of the fibre outlet are arranged for communicating with the spinning chamber, the mouths being able to be arranged on the same side or different sides. As a result, known rotor cup geometries can be used in a cost-effective manner. Further preferably, the mouth of the flow conducting body is arranged radially internally along the internal diameter and has a circular cross section, the mouth of the fibre outlet is arranged radially externally and has an cross section similar to an annular gap surrounding the mouth of the flow conducting body, and the mouth of the fibre outlet is arranged therebetween in the radial direction, having either a circular cross section or a cross section similar to an annular gap surrounding the mouth of the flow conducting body. The spinning chamber can thus be formed in a simple and compact manner.
As a further alternative, according to a preferred embodiment the multifunctional nozzle can be used as a spinning device at a workstation of a spinning machine for spinning a real-twist thread, in particular in a ring spinning machine. The workstation has a conventional drafting system device for the defined drawing of a fibre band fed to the drafting system device, and a drivable spindle for bearing an empty tube in a manner rotatably entrained therewith, the spindle having the empty tube being rotatably borne by a spindle rail, which is designed to execute a linear stroke movement back and forth along the axis of rotation of the spindle or empty tube while entraining the spindle having the empty tube. Furthermore, the workstation comprises a delimiting sleeve, which is arranged in a stationary manner and has a cavity, in which the empty tube borne by the spindle is at least partly received in an upward end position of the stroke movement. The multifunctional nozzle in the form of a spinning device is arranged between the drafting system and the delimiting sleeve in the fibre band transport direction. The fibre band, which has been drawn in a defined manner, coming from the drafting system is received by the multifunctional nozzle, guided through the through-ducts of the delimiting part and of the nozzle body and spun into a thread in the region of the flow conducting body by means of the applied vortex flow, said thread being conducted out of the flow conducting body towards the spindle, in a manner accompanied by the vortex flow, by being transferred into the cavity in the delimiting sleeve. The spindle is rotated, in particular in a manner correlated with the vortex flow active in the multifunctional nozzle, in order to wind up the empty tube, and is moved back and forth in a defined manner relative to the delimiting sleeve by means of the stroke movement in order to perform a defined winding of the empty tube along its longitudinal axis in the winding region. The correlated rotation favours precise deposition of the thread in the winding region of the empty tube or the winding of the empty tube along its longitudinal axis. In terms of the preferred embodiment of the workstation of a ring spinning machine, the multifunctional nozzle in conjunction with the delimiting sleeve advantageously replaces the conventional ring traveller system. The replacement makes it possible to eliminate the physical limits of the ring traveller system, in which case, alternatively, a real-twist thread can be produced at higher spinning speeds, the empty tube can be wound up more quickly and, consequently, productivity can also be increased.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the twist generated by means of the multifunctional nozzle and in particular acting on the guided fibre band also makes it possible to compact the fibre material being guided. According to a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the multifunctional nozzle can thus be arranged in a fibre band travel path upstream, in the fibre band transport direction, of a roller pair of a drafting system device, in particular a drafting system device for a ring spinning, air spinning or flyer machine, the drafting system device having at least two roller pairs that are drivable at different rotational speeds from one another for drawing the fibre band being guided via the roller pairs, thereby defining a drafting zone between said roller pairs during operation of the drafting system device. The fibre band being guided through the multifunctional nozzle undergoes a false spin, in particular along with a drawing effect when arranged between the two roller pairs during operation of the drafting system device; the false spin is formed between the clamping regions of the roller pairs in the fibre band transport direction and increasingly strengthens in the fibre band transport direction. The fibre band composite can be reliably compressed by means of the active twist, since any edge fibres sticking out can be readily bound into the fibre band composite and the fibre band composite undergoes efficient tapering or compacting in its width direction.
Therefore, as a result of the present invention, a means is provided that is suitable for different textile machine types, in particular for different spinning machine types, and by means of which yarn parameters such as hairiness, strength, stiffness and feel can be favourably influenced depending on the type of use, and yarn structures having advantages of an open-end spinning yarn can be combined with advantages of a ring yarn. According to a preferred embodiment, to simplify the design further, the multifunctional nozzle or some of its components, the spinning chamber and/or the delimiting sleeve can preferably be formed so as to be rotationally symmetrical in relation to their central axis running along the longitudinal axis direction.
The above-described uses of the multifunctional nozzle are examples. In particular, the multifunctional nozzle can be used in other textile machine types, for example a card, drawframe or flyer, and particularly in combination with the drafting system devices thereof, in a manner described above by way of example.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of preferred embodiment examples, on the basis of the figures and drawings illustrating details essential to the present invention, and from the claims. The individual features can be implemented individually or in any desired combination in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
The present invention will be explained in greater detail below on the basis of embodiment examples shown in the drawings.
In the following description of embodiment examples, the same or similar reference signs are used for the elements shown in the various figures that have a similar action, in which case the descriptions of these elements are not repeated.
The nozzle housing 2 is formed having a compressed-air inlet 13 in the form of a fluid inlet for generating a vortex air flow in the nozzle channel 2A, the compressed-air inlet 13 extending in the nozzle channel 2A via the wall 2B having a fluid inlet mouth. The compressed-air inlet 13 is arranged inside a compressed-air chamber 17 of an antechamber housing 14 for the compressed-air feed. The antechamber housing 14 is arranged on the nozzle housing 2 and can be coupled to a compressed air source by means of a further compressed-air inlet 3. As shown in particular by
In the nozzle channel 2A, a nozzle body 1 is interchangeably inserted and has a through-duct 15, which extends along the longitudinal axis direction A, for guiding through a thread F or fibre band FB. The cross section of the through-duct 15 is suitably adapted, depending on the cross section of the thread F or fibre band FB being guided therethrough, to be able to guide the thread F or fibre band FB through the nozzle body 1. According to this embodiment example, the internal diameter of the through-duct 15 is adapted, in cross section, to the outer diameter of the thread F or fibre band FB being guided therethrough by being at least 3% and at most 25% larger in order to be able to ensure efficient and in particular unimpeded guidance of the thread F or fibre band FB.
The nozzle body 1 is shorter than the nozzle channel 2A along the longitudinal axis direction A, in which case the admitted compressed air can be guided in the nozzle housing 2 past a free end of the nozzle body 1 in order to be able to generate a suction flow in the through-duct 15.
At one end, the nozzle body 1 has a delimiting part 1A for arrangement in the nozzle channel 2A, in a manner closing the nozzle housing 2 axially on one side and thus delimiting the nozzle channel 2A axially on one side, in order to close the nozzle channel 2A remotely from the fluid inlet/compressed-air inlet 13. According to this embodiment example, the delimiting part 1A is formed in one piece with the nozzle body 1. The delimiting part 1A has a further through-duct 1B, extending along the longitudinal axis direction A, for the thread F or fibre band FB for communicating with the through-duct 15 of the nozzle body 1. The further through-duct 1B and the through-duct 15 are arranged coaxially along the longitudinal axis direction A and have the same cross-sectional shape.
According to an embodiment example that has not been shown, the delimiting part 1A can be configured as a separate component; in this case, the delimiting part can be arranged directly on the nozzle body 1 in such a way that the further through-duct 1B merges directly into the through-duct 15 and bears the nozzle body 1, in particular by means of an integral bond, frictional connection or interlocking.
Remotely from the delimiting part 1A, the nozzle body 1 forms an intermediate annular gap 18 together with the wall 2B of the nozzle housing 2 over the extension length of the nozzle body 1. The annular gap 18 extends in the nozzle channel 2A along the longitudinal axis direction A, having a first narrow point 19, towards which the annular gap 18 tapers on both sides along the longitudinal axis direction A and which is formed downstream of the compressed-air inlet 13 along the longitudinal axis direction A, and having a second narrow point 20 at the level of the free end of the nozzle body 1. According to this embodiment example, the annular gap 18 forms a nozzle up to the relevant first 19 and second narrow point 20, and a diffuser downstream of the first narrow point 19. In the region of the compressed-air inlet 13, a flow chamber 5 is thus formed in the annular gap 18, from which flow chamber a compressed-air flow propagates towards the first narrow point 19 once the compressed air has been admitted via the compressed-air inlet 13.
Downstream of the nozzle body 1 along the longitudinal axis direction A, there is a hollow-body-like flow conducting body 7 for guiding the thread F or fibre band FB, in a manner accompanied by fluid, between the annular gap 18 and the open end of the nozzle channel 2A, the flow conducting body 7 forming a rotation chamber 6 downstream of the nozzle body 1. In this embodiment example, the flow conducting body 7 is formed by the nozzle housing 2.
By means of the multifunctional nozzle 100, 200 according to the above-described embodiment examples, a vortex air flow W can be generated once a pressurised fluid, in particular compressed air, has been admitted. Once the compressed air has been admitted via the compressed-air inlet 13, a flow circulating around the nozzle body 1 is generated in the flow chamber 5; due to the prevailing positive pressure and the delimiting part 1A, said flow is directed towards the first narrow point 19 in a manner circulating around the nozzle body 1. As per the principle of a nozzle, the vortex air flow W is accelerated past the first narrow point 19 and the second narrow point 20. At the free end of the nozzle body 1, the accelerated vortex air flow W generates a vacuum in the through-duct 15. By means of the vacuum, a suction flow is brought about in the through-duct 15 and is capable of introducing and pulling in a thread F or fibre band FB in the insertion direction B. The vortex air flow W passing by the second narrow point 20 and by the free end of the nozzle body 1 can rotate unimpeded within the free portion of the flow conducting body 7, said free portion being arranged downstream of the nozzle body 1 and defining the rotation chamber 6, and can propagate towards the open end of the nozzle channel 2A. In the process, the vortex air flow W is accelerated towards the open end of the nozzle channel 2A axially or, in other words, along the longitudinal axis direction A by the Laval nozzle-like cross-sectional shape of the flow conducting body 7.
In combination with the introduction of a thread F or fibre band FB, the thread F or fibre band FB introduced into the further through-duct 1B is sucked towards the rotation chamber 6 by means of the suction flow generated in the through-duct 15 and the further through-duct 1B when compressed air is fed in via the compressed-air inlet 13. At the same time, the guided thread F or the guided fibre band FB is set into a rotational motion about its longitudinal axis and about the axis of the insertion direction B or longitudinal axis direction A. The rotation about its own longitudinal axis is determined by a clamping point, located outside the multifunctional nozzle 100, 200 in the opposite direction to the longitudinal axis direction A, during the guidance of the thread or fibre band. For example, the thread F or fibre band FB can be clamped outside the multifunctional nozzle 100, 200 by means of a thread take-up device 12 or by means of a thread feed apparatus, as will be explained in more detail below on the basis of preferred embodiment examples.
Once the thread F or fibre band FB introduced into the multifunctional nozzle 100, 200 has left the nozzle body 1, it undergoes a rotation about the axis of the insertion direction B at a larger rotation diameter, which is limited by the internal diameter of the rotation chamber 6 or of the flow conducting body 7.
An axial end of a spinning-chamber housing 8 is interchangeably linked to the nozzle housing end 2 by means of the wall 2B protruding beyond the flow conducting body 7 along the longitudinal axis direction A. In this preferred embodiment example, the coupling is implemented by means of an airtight press fit between the relevant mutually facing end faces of the nozzle housing 2 and the spinning-chamber housing 8; these can be detached and secured by being withdrawn and plugged along the longitudinal axis direction A in order to change the spinning-chamber housing 8. The spinning-chamber housing 8 has a cross-sectional shape similar to a Laval nozzle along the longitudinal axis direction A, the converging spinning-chamber housing segment downstream of the nozzle housing 2 along the longitudinal axis direction A forming a spinning chamber 9. In the diverging spinning-chamber housing segment, the spinning-chamber housing 8 comprises a fibre outlet 16 that can be connected to a vacuum source.
The open-end spinning device 400 comprises a thread take-up device 12, which is arranged along the thread travel path in order to take off, from the multifunctional nozzle 300, a thread F that has been air-spun by said multifunctional nozzle, in a controlled manner. In this embodiment example, the thread take-up device 12 is formed by means of a roller pair that can be driven in a defined manner. Alternatively, in an embodiment example that has not been shown, the thread take-up device 12 can be implemented, for example, by means of a winding device that is designed to wind up a take-up package, the winding up simultaneously bringing about the thread take-off. As a further alternative, the thread take-up device 12 can be implemented by a thread accumulator, by means of which a defined amount of thread can be stored. In particular, a thread accumulator of this kind favours continual spinning operation while a thread break is being remedied, for example by means of a thread splicing apparatus.
Using the open-end spinning device 400, an open-end spinning method can be carried out to generate a real twist yarn. For this purpose, in particular during a piecing process, a positive pressure first needs to be applied to the compressed-air inlet 3 to admit compressed air, and a vacuum needs to be applied to the fibre outlet 16. This can be done simultaneously or in a desired order. Next, a thread end of a thread F has to be presented to the multifunctional nozzle 300 at the further through-duct 1B or inserted into the further through-duct 1B in a defined manner. The applied positive pressure brings about a suction flow in the further through-duct 1B, via which the thread end can be reliably sucked into the further through-duct 1B or guided via the through-duct 15 of the nozzle body 1 as far as into the rotation chamber 6. The vortex air flow W generated by means of the positive pressure, in a manner favourably assisted by the vacuum, acts on the thread end introduced into the rotation chamber 6, as a result of which the thread end or the thread F is rotated and the thread end or the thread F is entrained along the longitudinal axis direction A. The fibre feed for feeding separated fibres FS is activated. The vacuum applied to the fibre inlet 4 or the applied suction flow brings about a feed of separated fibres FS from the fibre opening unit coupled to the fibre inlet 4. The separated fibres FS are rotationally entrained as far as into the spinning chamber 9 by the vortex air flow W at the end of the nozzle body 1. The thread end and the separated fibres FS can be fed either simultaneously or staggered in a desired order. The separated fibres FS can generally be fed continuously or in intervals, depending on requirements. As soon as the thread end and the fibres FS have arrived in the spinning chamber 9, accompanied by the vortex air flow W, the rotating separated fibres FS adhere to the thread end, which is likewise rotating, thereby producing a new air-spun thread section having a real twist without an internal untwisted core. Superfluous fibres FS are simultaneously carried away through the fibre outlet 16 by means of the applied vacuum. When a vacuum and a positive pressure are applied during the feed of the separated fibres FS, the thread F is drawn out of the multifunctional nozzle 300, in the opposite direction to the insertion direction B of the thread end, by means of the thread take-up device 12 at a take-off speed that allows separated fibres FS to constantly accumulate at the newly forming thread end in order to air-spin the thread F having a real twist.
The embodiment examples described above and shown in the figures are only selected by way of example. Different embodiment examples can be combined with one another completely or with regard to individual features. An embodiment example can also be supplemented with features of a further embodiment example.
If an embodiment example has an “and/or” link between a first feature and a second feature, this should be understood to mean that the embodiment example according to one embodiment comprises both the first feature and the second feature and, according to a further embodiment, comprises either only the first feature or only the second feature.
1A
1B
2A
2B
4A
7A
7B
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2020 133 359.5 | Dec 2020 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2021/083941 | 12/2/2021 | WO |
