Patent Application
20080035783
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
In the figures, in which like reference numerals indicate like elements, there is shown an embodiment of a stackable dye tube according to the present invention, which is generally referred to by the numeral 10. The dye tube 10 provides for end-to-end stacking of multiple tubes, such as those mounted on the spindle of a dye kettle.
The dye tube 10 has a first end 12, a second end 14 and a tubular lattice structure 16 extending between the first end 12 and the second end 14. A longitudinal axis A extends through the center of the dye tube 10. The lattice structure 16 has an inner diameter D1 and an outer diameter D2. The lattice structure 16 defines a tubular longitudinal passageway 17 extending through the dye tube 10. The inner diameter D1 is sized to slidably receive the spindle of a dye kettle (not shown).
The first end 12 of the illustrated example of a dye tube 10 comprises a male fitting 18 having an inner wall 20 and an outer wall 22. The inner wall 20 defines a generally cylindrical opening having a diameter equal to that of the inner diameter D1 of the dye tube 10. The outer wall 22 has a diameter larger than the inner wall D1, thereby defining a thickness T1 of the male fitting 18. An outer tip 24 defines the terminus of the male fitting 18. A chamfer 25 may extend circumferentially around the male fitting 18 between the outer tip 24 and the outer wall 22. It is preferable that the inner wall 20 extends in a longitudinal direction, further away from the lattice structure than the outer wall 22. Although no radial passageways are shown extending through the portion of the dye tube 10 immediately adjacent to the male fitting 18, those skilled in the art will recognize that passageways may extend therethrough without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The second end 14 of the dye tube has a female fitting 26 with a proximal portion 28, located within the lattice structure 16, and a distal portion 30 located on an outer edge of the second end 14. The proximal portion 28 comprises an inner proximal wall 32 and an outer proximal wall 34. The inner proximal wall 32 defines a generally cylindrical passageway having a diameter that is substantially the same as the inner diameter D1 of the tube 10. The outer proximal wall 34 has a diameter that is substantially equal to the outer diameter D2 of the tube 10. The distal portion 30 has an inner distal wall 36 and an outer distal wall 38. The inner distal wall 36 has a diameter that in the illustrated example is slightly larger than the diameter of the outer wall 22 of the male fitting 18, but may alternatively have a diameter that is substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter of the outer wall 22, depending on the type of fit that is desired between the outer wall 22 and inner distal wall 36. The outer distal wall 38 has a diameter that is substantially equal to the outer diameter D2 of the tube 10. A shelf 40 may define the distal terminus of the proximal portion 28 and the proximal terminus of the distal portion 30. When the male fitting 18 of a tube 10 is engaged with the female fitting 26 of a separate tube 10, it is preferable that the outer tip 24 of the male fitting 18 engages the shelf 40 of the female fitting 26. Those skilled in the art will recognize that although the outer proximal wall 34 is shown without radial passageways, that passageways may extend radially therethrough without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The illustrated example of a lattice structure 16 comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs 42 and a plurality of longitudinally spaced circumferential rings 44. The lattice structure 16 is divided into two halves 45 and 47 which are disposed on opposite sides of plane P. The plane P longitudinally bisects the tube 10 and includes the longitudinal axis A. In the illustrated embodiment, a majority of the ribs 42 are disposed perpendicular to the plane P. The ribs 42 extend from the inside of the tube 10 towards the outside of the tube 10.
Each of the ribs 42 have an inner rib edge 48 that serve to partially define the longitudinal passageway 17. The inner rib edge 48 has a generally arcuate profile having a curvature equal to that of a circle with a diameter D1. The ribs 42 are generally tapered, having a wider cross-section at portions that are closer to the plane P than at portions that are further away from the plane P.
As best seen in
In the illustrated example, the plurality of lateral rings 44 extend generally perpendicular to the ribs 42, around the tube 10. The rings 44 have a circumferential inner ring wall 50, with a diameter D1. The inner ring wall 50 of each ring 44 defines the tubular passageway 17 (along with the inner rib edges 48 and the inner edge 46c of the T-shaped ribs 46), and is therefore generally circular. The rings 44 extend radially away from the axis A. The ribs 42 and rings 44 define a plurality of passageways 43 that extend outwardly through the lattice structure 16.
The illustrated rings 44 are widest at portions closer to the axis A and decrease in cross-section at points away from the axis A. Some examples of the rings 44 have varying degrees of taper. In the illustrated example, an inner portion 54 has a generally gradual taper that extends radially outward from the inner edge 52. A beveled portion 56 is disposed on the ring 44 radially outward of the inner portion 54. The beveled portion 56 may have a steeper degree of taper than the inner portion 54. An outer portion 58 of each ring 44 is disposed radially outwardly of the beveled portion 56. The outer portion 58 has less of a taper than the beveled portion 56. Those skilled in the art will recognize that, although rings 44 are described here having a multi-angle taper, the ribs 42, or both the ribs 42 and rings 44 may have a multi-angle taper. There may be many varying degrees of taper, in addition to the embodiment disclosed here, without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is preferable that, regardless of the variation of taper and regardless of whether the rings 44, ribs 42 or both have such a taper, that the widest portion of the rib or ring is located at the portion thereof that is closest to the longitudinal axis A.
Outward projections 60 extend radially outward from each of the ribs 42 and the rings 44. The projections 60 extend along the radial outer edges of each of the ribs 42 and rings 44 and define the outer diameter D2 of the dye tube 10. The projections 60 have rounded edge 61 located at an outermost portion thereof. The rounded edge 61 is adapted to reduce damage to the yarn that are wound on the dye tube 10.
Each projection 60 has a projection length that is measured from the tip of the projection to the rib 42 or ring 44 from which it extends. The length is the distance that the projection extends away from the lattice structure 16. Each projection also has a projection width, measured in a direction that is perpendicular to the projection length. In some examples, the length of the projection 60 is greater than the projection's width. In other examples, the length of the projection 60 is twice the width.
The projections 60 are deformable in a manner that allows them to at least partially collapse towards the ribs 42 and rings 44 when an inward radial force is applied. The collapsing of the projections 60 occurs without comprising the structural integrity of the ribs 42 and rings 44. The inward radial force may be a result of the shrinking of the yarn wound on the dye tube 10 during the dying process. Deformation of the projections 60 allows for a reduction in the outer diameter D2 of the dye tube 10, thereby allowing a relaxation of the tension of the yarn wound on the dye tube 10 that occurs when the yarn shrinks.
It is preferable that the ribs 42 and rings 44 extend to the first and second ends 12, 14 of the dye tube. The ribs 42 and rings 44 are disposed around the entirety of the outer distal wall 38, thereby covering the exterior of the female fitting 26 of the dye tube 10. The illustrated ribs 42 extend longitudinally along the first end 18 until they terminate just before the male fitting 18. The rings are disposed about the sections that are covered by the ribs 42. The extension of the ribs 42 and rings 44 over the female fitting 26 and the first end 18 up to the male fitting 18 allow the entirety of the outer surface of a plurality of tubes that are stacked together to be covered with ribs 42 and rings 44, and therefore also with projections 58, as best shown in
The configuration of the ribs 42 and rings 44, with substantially parallel ribs extending away from the plane P, and a common inner diameter D1 of the lattice structure 16, allows the use of two outer mold portions in constructing the outer features of the dye tube 10. Because the components of the tube 10 share the same arcuate profile, defined by a circle having a diameter D1, a generally cylindrical inner mold having an outer diameter D1 is be used to define the inner portions of the tube 10. Each half of the dye tube 10 corresponds to a single outer mold portion, which may easily be withdrawn in the direction in which the ribs extend after solidification is complete. The use of only two outer molds and one inner mold, along with the ability to withdraw the outer mold portions substantially linearly, simplifies the manufacturing process.
In use, yarn is wound onto the dye tube 10 to facilitate handling of the yarn, during color treatment. Dye is applied to the yarn by causing the dye to flow through the tubular lattice structure 16 and through the wound yarn in a manner known to those skilled in the art.
A variety of modifications to the embodiments described will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure provided herein. Thus, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.
