Dye tube provided with longitudinal stabilizing elements

Abstract: A dye tube (10) for use in dyeing textile yarns has a generally open-ended, cylindrical configuration with a latticed side wall. It includes longitudinal stabilizing elements (28) to prevent growth or collapse during high-speed winding operations. In turn, these longitudinal stabilizing elements buckle and collapse when the dye tube as a whole is compressed in a longitudinal direction in a spring tube application. The longitudinal stabilizing elements may be disposed in pairs separated by a gap, or singly. In the latter case, a longitudinal groove may be provided along the length of the element; the element will split along this groove when the tube is compressed. In either case, this provides a means for dye to pass through that portion of the tube during use in a dyeing operation. The longitudinal stabilizing elements can resemble thin membranes in appearance, the membranes being of greater width than thickness. In yet another case, the longitudinal stabilizing element may cover the entire inner surface of a dye tube. The longitudinal stabilizing elements may be incorporated in helical, and other kinds of, dye tubes known in the art.

Description: This invention relates generally to dye tubes which are cylindrical in shape and some of which are resiliently compressible in the axial direction. Although open-ended, the side cylindrical surface of the dye tubes of the present invention is an open latticework of transverse and axial, or substantially axial, or of helical and axial, members. These members serve as carrier elements upon which yarn is wound for dyeing. The edges of the ends of the dye tubes are perpendicular to the side cylindrical surfaces, so that the tubes can be stacked one atop the next during the dyeing process. Description of the Prior Art Dye tubes are used as cores onto which textile yarn is wound for dyeing. In use, the tubes are placed on dye spindles or the like in pressurized vessels. The dyeing process is carried out when dyestuff passes upwardly through the inside of the core and diffuses outwardly through the yarn wound thereon. Some dye tubes are still and some (referred to as spring tubes) are resiliently collapsible. Resiliently collapsible, or compressible, spring dye tubes are used where it is desired that a greater amount of yarn be placed in the dye kettle for dyeing during a single cycle. This is a result of the ability of each spring dye tube on a stack about a given spindle to be collapsed or axially compressed to some degree. Such dye tubes are known from EP-A-0 315 285 and FR 1 103 656. At the present time, dye tubes are largely molded from thermoplastic materials, and can be produced in large numbers quite economically. Generally, they are used once and discarded, thus obviating the former necessity to clean stainless steel dye tubes thoroughly between successive uses in order to avoid contaminating later dyeing cycles with trace amounts of previously used dye. The present invention is primarily directed toward problems typically encountered during the winding cycle, that is, the manufacturing step wherein the yarn is wound onto the dye tube before dyeing. The winding itself is carried out at high speeds. This often causes an axial lengthening, or growth, of the tube as a whole to occur. The tubes may also be compressed during winding depending on the angle at which the yarn is wound thereunto. In either case, such structural instability could render it impossible to properly stack the dye tubes within the kettle for dyeing. The present invention provides a solution to these often frustrating problems, because it includes a membrane-like stabilizing member which inhibits both undesirable compression and elongation during the winding cycle. Summary of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention is a dye tube having the form of an open-ended cylinder with a latticed side wall. Textile yarns to be dyed are wound at high speeds onto the outer surfaces of the dye tubes. The tubes of the present invention have the necessary structural stability to resist undesirable deformation during high-speed winding. In one embodiment of the present invention, the dye tubes include two end rings, and a number of intermediate rings. These rings are disposed in such a way that their centers fall along a common axis, which is the axis of the cylindrical dye tube itself. The end rings are connected by a number of substantially longitudinal ribs. One such configuration is a zig-zag rib of straight segments defining a series of apexes. Each such rib has an equal number of apexes, falling on the intermediate rings disposed between the end rings. Together, the end and intermediate rings, joined by the substantially longitudinal ribs, form a cylindrical lattice. Such a design allows the tube to be resiliently or longitudinal collapsible if a "spring" tube application is desired. Advantageously, the end rings have edges perpendicular to the latticed side wall surface to enable the dye tubes to be stacked one atop another in the pressurized vats where the dyeing process is carried out. At each end of the dye tube of the present invention is an end zone composed of a number of longitudinal members extending from each of the end rings in a direction away from the substantially longitudinal ribs. The longitudinal members of the end zones extend to ring-like end rims. Where the tube includes such end zones, the end rims have edges perpendicular to the latticed side wall surface to enable the dye tubes to be stacked one atop another in the pressurized vats where the dyeing process is carries out. The end zones may or may not be collapsible, as desired. Finally, the dye tubes of the present invention include a plurality of membrane-like longitudinally extending stabilizing elements. These elements distinguish the present tube from those of the prior art by virtue of their being wider in a direction transverse to the length of the tube than they are thick in a direction radially outward from the axis of the tube. As a consequence of this feature, these elements can buckle in radial directions with respect to the cylindrical tube, instead of in transverse or circumferential directions, when the tube is used as a spring and compressed in an axial direction. The longitudinal stabilizing elements are found adjacent to the inner surface of the dye tube, and may be thin membranes integrally connected to the substantially longitudinal ribs, and intermediate and end rings. On the other hand, the longitudinal stabilizing elements may be separated from the substantially longitudinal ribs, since, depending upon the application, it may be advantageous to provide them centered between the substantially longitudinal ribs. Moreover, these elements may be provided in pairs separated by a small gap, permitting dye liquor to flow freely therethrough. Alternatively, the longitudinal stabilizing elements may be provided with a longitudinally extending groove. When such a tube is subjected to longitudinal compression, in a spring tube application, ensuing stresses within the longitudinal stabilizing elements will cause splitting along the grooves, and produce additional openings for the passage of the dye solution. Circular or oval holes through the longitudinal stabilizing elements may be provided to serve the same purpose as a groove. Whether a gap, a groove, or holes are chosen, they advantageously extend longitudinally between an adjacent pair of substantially longitudinal ribs. In still another embodiment, the longitudinal stabilizing elements may be provided without longitudinally extending grooves. In this embodiment, such a longitudinal stabilizing element is preferably not as wide as the space between an adjacent pair of substantially longitudinal ribs, so that is will not completely fill the openings therebetween through the latticed side wall of the cylindrical dye tube. In yet another embodiment, the longitudinal stabilizing element may be a single thin membrane covering the entire inner surface of the dye tube, and integrally connected to the substantially longitudinal ribs, and to the intermediate and end rings. In such an embodiment, the longitudinal stabilizing element may be provided with a plurality of perforations, comprising circular or oval holes, through those portions of the longitudinal stabilizing element covreing the lattice-life openings between the substantially longitudinal ribs, and intermediate and end rings. The membrane-like longitudinal stabilizing elements of the present invention may also be included in the design of helical dye springs. Such a dye tube, for example, also has the form of an open-ended cylinder with a latticed side wall having an inner surface and an other surface. It includes a first end ring and a second end ring, each of which has an edge perpendicular to the latticed side wall of the dye tube, so that a number of dye tubes may be stacked one atop another. The helical dye tube of the present invention includes at least one helical member extending from the first end ring to the second end ring. Each helical member has a plurality of turns, all centered upon and sharing a common axis with said first end ring and said second end ring. It also includes a plurality of longitudinal members, each of which extends between a pair of adjacent turns of the helical members. Each longitudinal member is separated from others of its kind in both the helical and longitudinal directions on the dye tube. Finally, the helical dye tube includes the longitudinal stabilizing elements described previously above. The dye tube of the present invention will now be more completely and particularly described with reference to a series of figures, which may be briefly identified as follows. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a side view of one embodiment of the dye tube of the present invention. Figure 2 is a cross section of the dye tube, taken at the line 2-2 in Figure 1. Figure 3 shows a side view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 used as a spring tube following the application of a compressive force thereto in a longitudinal direction. Figure 4 is a cross section of the dye tube, taken at the line 4-4 in Figure 3. Figure 5 shows a partial side view of an alternate embodiment of the dye tube of the present invention. Figure 6 is a cross section of the alternate embodiment of the dye tube taken at the line 6-6 in Figure 5. Figure 7 shows a partial side view of another embodiment of the dye tube of the present invention. Figure 8 shows a partial side view of still another embodiment of the dye tube of the present invention. Figure 9 shows a partial side view of yet another embodiment of the dye tube of the present invention. Figure 10 shows a side view of a further embodiment of the dye tube of the present invention. Figure 11 shows a side view of a helical dye tube incorporating the longitudinal stabilizing elements of the present invention. Figure 12 shows an alternate embodiment of the helical dye tube depicted in Figure 11. Description of the Preferred Embodiment Turning now to the figures, an embodiment of the dye tube 10 of the present invention is shown in Figure 1. The dye tube 10 is typically an integral, or one-piece, structure molded from a flexible polymeric resin material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or polybutylene. Materials that might be used in very special applications are polyformaldehyde (acetal) and polyethylene teraphthalate (PET). Other flexible thermoplastic materials than those mentioned may also find use in the production of the tubes. The dye tubes 10 of the present invention have two end rings 12, and a plurality of intermediate rings 14. The end rings 12 and intermediate rings 14 are circular having substantially equal inner radius and are centered on a common axis, the axis of the cylindrical dye tube 10. Extending from one end ring 12 to the other are a plurality of substantially longitudinal ribs 16. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, each substantially longitudinal rib 16 is composed of a number of straight segments 20 in a zig-zag configuration characterized by a plurality of apexes 18. Each apex 18 falls on an intermediate ring 14 and, as a consequence, each substantially longitudinal rib 16 has an equal number of apexes 18 as there are intermediate rings 14. Further, in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, all the apexes 18 on a given one of the intermediate rings 14 point in a common direction about the dye tube 10. The apex-forming straight segments 20 of the substantially longitudinal ribs 16 produce the impression of a plurality of V-shapes, reminiscent of chevrons, on the surface of the dye tube 10. Alternatively, the surface of the dye tube 10 can be said to have a plurality of parallelogram-shaped openings. In an alternate embodiment, shown in Figure 7, all apexes 18 on a given one of the intermediate rings 14 do not point in a common direction about the dye tube 10. Some apexes 18 may point in one direction, while other apexes 18 may point in the opposite direction. In this embodiment, the straight segments 20 of each substantially longitudinal rib 16 between a given adjacent pair of intermediate rings 14 are not all parallel to one another, in order to provide a greater degree of stiffness to the dye tube 10. As consequence, some or all of the openings through the latticed side wall of dye tube 10 are triangular or trapezoidal, instead of parallelogram-shaped. The segments 20, end rings 12, intermediate rings 14, and, it would follow, the substantially longitudinal ribs 16 may have rectangular cross sections. The substantially longitudinal ribs 16 can be disposed in groups of more than one about the dye tube 10. At each end of the dye tube 10 in Figure 1 is an end zone which includes longitudinal members 22 and an end rim 24. The end zones, composed of longitudinal members 22 and end rims 24, can be collapsible or non-collapsible, as desired. The end rims 24 can be of rectangular cross section, while the longitudinal members 22 can have triangular cross sections with apexes residing on the outer surface of the dye tube 10, that is, pointing radially outward from the tube axis. The edges 26 of the end rims 24 are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the dye tube 10, that is, perpendicular to its outer surface, so that the tubes may be stacked one atop another. Also shown in Figure 1 is a longitudinal stabilizing element 28, visible between a pair of adjacent substantially longitudinal ribs 16 and extending substantially from one end ring 12 to the other. The longitudinal stabilizing element 28 is wider in the transverse direction than it is thick in a radial direction. It is characterized by a longitudinal groove 30 located on the longitudinal stabilizing element 28 and running between a pair of the substantially longitudinal ribs 16. Before leaving a discussion of Figure 1, it is important to note, for the purpose of making a comparison below, the double-headed arrow 32 which indicates the distance between an end ring 12 and an intermediate ring 14 in an uncollapsed spring dye tube application. Turning now to Figure 2, a cross section taken at the line 2-2 in Figure 1, it can be seen that the segments 20 of the substantially longitudinal ribs 16 are of rectangular cross section. It can also be seen that the substantially longitudinal ribs 16 are disposed in groups of two, which are closer to each other than either is to those of adjacent groups. In a dye tube 10 of larger diameter than that shown in Figure 2, the substantially longitudinal ribs 16 may be disposed in groups of more than two ribs 16. In such case, those within a given group are closer to one another than the distance from one group to the next. Also shown in cross section in Figure 2 are the longitudinal stabilizing elements 28, which reside adjacent to the inner surface of the dye tube 10. In the view presented, it is readily apparent that they are of substantially greater width than thickness, as measured radially from the axis of the dye tube 10. Also shown is the groove 30 which enables a longitudinal stabilizing element 28 to split when the dye tube 10 as a whole is compressed in a spring tube application. The groove 30 can also be seen to lie between two adjacent substantially longitudinal ribs 16. In Figure 3, a compressed example of the embodiment of the dye tube 10 shown in Figure 1 used as a spring is presented. Note, first, the double-headed arrow 34, indicating the distance between end ring 12 and intermediate ring 14, is shorter than that shown in Figure 1 and indicates, at least qualitatively, the degree of collapse of the dye tube 10. In this instance, the longitudinal members 22 in the end zones have buckled, as suggested by the oblique angles they form with the end rings 12 and end rims 24. This, however, is not a necessary consequence of longitudinal compression on the dye tube 10, as a non-buckling end zone is among the possible characteristics of a dye tube 10 made in accordance with the present invention. As a consequence of the longitudinal compression, the substantially longitudinal ribs 16 have acquired the appearance of a series of connected S-curves. More importantly, the longitudinal stabilizing element 28 has buckled and split along the groove 30 producing a series of openings 36 between a pair of substantially longitudinal ribs 16. The openings 36 permit the passage of dye therethrough when the dye tube 10 of the present invention is put to use in dyeing textile yarn. In Figure 4, a partial cross section of the collapsed dye tube 10 in Figure 3 is shown and was taken at the point indicted by line 4-4 therein. As can be seen in Figure 4, particularly when compared to Figure 2, the longitudinal stabilizing element 28 has buckled radially outward, splitting same along the groove 30 and forming the opening 36. An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 5. There, the longitudinal stabilizing elements 28 are provided in pairs, each said pair being separated by a gap 38. The gap 38 extends longitudinally along the dye tube between a pair of adjacent substantially longitudinal ribs 16. When this embodiment of the dye tube 10 is compressed, the longitudinal stabilizing elements 28 will buckle radially as suggested by Figure 4, and the gap 38 will provide a series of openings 36 without the need for splitting along a groove 30. Figure 6 is a cross section taken along line 6-6 in Figure 5 and shows a pair of longitudinal stabilizing elements 28, each of greater width than thickness, as measured transversely and radially, respectively, separated by a gap 38. In Figure 8 is depicted a further embodiment of the present invention wherein the groove 30 in the longitudinal stabilizing element 28 has been replaced by a longitudinal line of holes 40 to provide stress relief points to split the longitudinal stabilizing element 28 when the dye tube 10 is compressed longitudinally. In Figure 9 is depicted yet another embodiment of the present invention wherein the longitudinal stabilizing element 28 has no groove 30, gap 38, or longitudinal line of holes 40. In this embodiment, the longitudinal stabilizing element 28 preferably will not occupy the entire space between a pair of adjacent longitudinally extending ribs 16. Turning now to Figure 10, a further embodiment of the dye tube of the present invention has much the same appearance as that shown in Figure 1. However, upon closer inspection, this spring dye tube 100 has a longitudinal stabilizing element 102 which substantially covers the inner surface of the tube 100 between the end rings 12. As shown in Figure 10, longitudinal stabilizing element 102 is provided with a plurality of perforations 104. As previously discussed, the perforations 104 provide stress relief points to split the longitudinal stabilizing element 102 when the dye tube 100 is compressed in a longitudinal direction. In this way, openings will be produced to permit dye to pass therethrough between the inner and outer surfaces of the dye tube during use. Advantageously, the plurality of perforations 104 are arrayed in a plurality of longitudinal lines 106, each said line 106 being located between an adjacent pair of substantially longitudinal ribs 16. In Figure 11, a helical dye tube 110 which includes the longitudinal stabilizing element of the present invention is shown. As before, the helical dye tube 110 takes the form of an open-ended cylinder with a latticed side wall, having an inner surface and an outer surface. The helical dye tube 100 includes a first end ring 112 and a second end ring 114. Each of these end rings 112, 114 has an edge 116, which is perpendicular to the latticed side wall of the helical dye tube 100, so that a number of such dye tubes may be stacked one atop another. Also included in helical dye tube 110 is at least one helical member 118 extending from the first end ring 112 to the second end ring 114. Helical member 118 includes a plurality of turns 120, each of which is centered upon and shares a common axis with first end ring 112 and second end ring 114. There are further a plurality of longitudinal members 122, each of which extends between an adjacent pair of turns 120 of the at least one helical member 118. As shown in Figure 11, each of the plurality of longitudinal members 122 is separated from neighboring longitudinal members 122 in both the helical and longitudinal directions, to permit the helical dye tube 110 to collapse in the longitudinal direction in response to a compressive force when used in a spring tube application. Finally, helical dye tube 110 includes at least one longitudinal stabilizing element 124 of the variety previously described. That is, the longitudinal stabilizing element 124 is adjacent to the inner surface of the tube 110, and extends substantially form the first end ring 112 to the second ring 114. As before, the longitudinal stabilizing element 124 has a width dimension, measured transversely on helical dye tube 110, greater than a thickness dimension, measured radially from the common axis of the at least one helical member 118, and of the first end ring 112 and the second end ring 114. When the helical dye tube 110 is subjected to compression in a longitudinal direction, the longitudinal stabilizing elements 124 will buckle in a radial direction. With reference now to Figure 12, an alternate embodiment of the helical dye tube shown in Figure 11. In Figure 12, helical dye tube 130 has a longitudinal stabilizing element 132 which substantially covers the inner surface of the tube 130 between the first end ring 134 and the second end ring 136. As shown in Figure 12, longitudinal stabilizing element 132 is provided with a plurality of perforations 138. As before, the perforations 138 provide stress relief points to split the longitudinal stabilizing element 132 when the helical dye tube 130 is compressed in a longitudinal direction. In this way, openings will be produced to permit dye to pass therethrough between the inner and outer surfaces of the dye tube during use as a spring. Advantageously, the plurality of perforations 138 are arrayed in a plurality of longitudinal lines 140. Modifications to the above would be obvious to one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the appended claims.

Claims: A dye tube (10;100) having the form of an open-ended cylinder with a latticed side wall, said latticed side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, comprising: a first end ring and a second end ring (12), each said end ring having an edge perpendicular to said latticed side wall of said dye tube, so that said dye tube may be stacked one atop another; a plurality of intermediate rings (14) disposed between said first end ring and said second end ring, said intermediate rings centered upon and sharing a common axis with said first end ring and said second end ring; a plurality of substantially longitudinal ribs (16) extending from said first end ring to said second end ring and integrally connected therewith, each of said substantially longitudinal ribs having a zig-zag configuration formed of a plurality of segments (20) and defining a plurality of apexes (18), said plurality of apexes being equal in number to said plurality of intermediate rings, and each of said plurality of apexes being on one of said intermediate rings; and at least one longitudinal stabilizing element (28, 102) adjacent to said inner surface of said latticed side wall, characterized by said at least one longitudinal stabilizing element (28, 102) being a thin membrane extending substantially from said first end ring (12) to said second end ring (12) and having a width dimension, measured transversely on said dye tube, greater than a thickness dimension, measured radially from said common axis of said plurality of intermediate rings; and said one longitudinal stabilizing element (28, 102) being provided with openings or grooves (30;36;40;104) along the length thereof so that, when the dye tube is compressed in the longitudinal direction, openings are present in said one stabilizing element so that dye may pass therethrough between said inner surface and said outer surface of said dye tube during use. A dye tube (10;100) having the form of an open-ended cylinder with a latticed side wall, said latticed side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, comprising: a first end ring and a second end ring (12), each said end ring having an edge perpendicular to said latticed side wall of said dye tube, so that said dye tube may be stacked one atop another; a plurality of intermediate rings (14) disposed between said first end ring and said second end ring, said intermediate rings centered upon and sharing a common axis with said first end ring and said second end ring; a plurality of substantially longitudinal ribs (16) extending from said first end ring to said second end ring and integrally connected therewith, each of said substantially longitudinal ribs having a zig-zag configuration formed of a plurality of segments (20) and defining a plurality of apexes (18), said plurality of apexes being equal in number to said plurality of intermediate rings, and each of said plurality of apexes being on one of said intermediate rings; and at least one longitudinal stabilizing element (28) adjacent to said inner surface of said latticed side wall, characterized by having at least two longitudinal stabilizing elements (28) each being a thin membrane extending substantially from said first end ring (12) to said second end ring (12) and having a width dimension, measured transversely on said dye tube, greater than a thickness dimension, measured radially from said common axis of said plurality of intermediate rings; and said two longitudinal stabilizing elements (28) being disposed in a pair on said dye tube, each said longitudinal stabilizing element of said pair separated from the other of said pair by a longitudinal gap (38), said gap running longitudinally between a pair of adjacent substantially longitudinal ribs, so that dye may pass therethrough between said inner surface and said outer surface of said dye tube during use. A dye tube according to claim 1 or 2 further comprising: a first end zone and a second end zone, said end zones being integrally connected to said first end ring and said second end ring respectively, said end zones having a plurality of longitudinal members extending from its respective end ring and away from said plurality of substantially longitudinal ribs to a respective end rim, each said end rim having an edge perpendicular to said latticed side wall of said dye tube, so that said dye tubes can be stacked one atop another. A dye tube according to one or more of the preceding claims wherein said plurality of intermediate rings and said plurality of substantially longitudinal ribs define together a plurality of parallelogram-shape openings in said latticed side wall of said dye tube. A dye tube according to one or more of the preceding claims wherein one of said plurality of intermediate rings has a substantially rectangular cross section. A dye tube according to one or more of the preceding claims wherein one of said first end ring and said second ring has a substantially rectangular cross section. A dye tube according to one or more of the preceding claims wherein one of said plurality of substantially longitudinal ribs (16) has a substantially rectangular cross section. A dye tube according to one or more of the preceding claims wherein said plurality of substantially longitudinal ribs is formed of a plurality of straight segments (20) which produce a pattern of chevrons on said latticed side wall of said dye tube (10). A dye tube according to one or more of the preceding claims wherein said plurality of intermediate rings have alternating different thicknesses measured longitudinally along said dye tube. A dye tube according to one or more of the preceding claims 3-9 wherein one of said plurality of longitudinal members in one of said first and second end zones has a triangular cross section with an apex directed away from said common axis of said plurality of intermediate rings and residing adjacent to said outer surface of said latticed side wall of said dye tube. A dye tube according to one or more of the preceding claims 3-10 wherein said plurality of longitudinal members in said first and second end zones are of greater length than the longitudinal distance between each of said plurality of intermediate rings. A dye tube according to one or more of the preceding claims wherein said plurality of substantially longitudinal ribs are spaced at equal intervals on the latticed side wall of said dye tube. A dye tube according to one or more of the preceding claims wherein said plurality of substantially longitudinal ribs are disposed in a plurality of groups, each said group having at least two substantially longitudinal ribs. A dye tube according to one or more of the preceding claims 3-13 wherein each of said first end rim and said second end rim has a substantially rectangular cross section. A dye tube according to one or more of the preceding claims 3-14 wherein one of said first end zone and said second end zone is rigid and resists collapse under a compressive force delivered in the longitudinal direction of said dye tube. A dye tube according to one or more of the preceding claims wherein at least one longitudinal stabilizing element (28) has a longitudinal groove (30), said groove running longitudinally on said longitudinal stabilizing element between a pair of adjacent substantially longitudinal ribs, said groove providing a stress relief point to split said longitudinal stabilizing element when said dye tube is compressed in a longitudinal direction, openings being thereby produced so that dye may pass therethrough between said inner surface and said outer surface of said dye tube during use. A dye tube according to one or more of the preceding claims wherein at least one longitudinal stabilizing element (28) has a longitudinal line of holes (40), said longitudinal line of holes running longitudinally on said longitudinal stabilizing element between a pair of adjacent substantially longitudinal ribs, said holes providing stress relief points to split said longitudinal stabilizing element when said dye tube is compressed in a longitudinal direction, openings being thereby produced so that dye may pass therethrough between said inner surface and said outer surface of said dye tube during use. A dye tube according to one or more of the preceding claims wherein said at least one longitudinal stabilizing element (102) covers said inner surface of said dye tube (100) substantially from said first end ring to said second end ring, said longitudinal stabilizing element having a plurality of perforations (104) to provide stress relief points to split said longitudinal stabilizing element when said dye tube is compressed in a longitudinal direction, openings being thereby produced so that dye may pass therethrough between said inner surface and said outer surface of said dye tube during use. A dye tube according to claim 18 wherein said plurality of perforations are arrayed in a plurality of longitudinal lines, each of said plurality of longitudinal lines (106) running longitudinally on said longitudinal stabilizing element between an adjacent pair of substantially longitudinal ribs. A dye tube (130) having the form of an open-ended cylinder with a latticed side wall, said latticed side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, comprising: a fist end ring (134) and a second end ring (136), each of said end ring having an edge perpendicular to said latticed side wall of said dye tube, so that said dye tubes may be stacked one atop another; at least one helical member (118) extending from said first end ring to said second end ring, said at least one helical member having a plurality of turns, said turns being centered upon and sharing a common axis with said first end ring and said second end ring; a plurality of longitudinal members (122), each said longitudinal member extending between a pair of turns of said at least one helical member, each of said plurality of longitudinal members being separated from others of said plurality of longitudinal in both helical and longitudinal directions on said dye tube; and at least one longitudinal stabilizing element (132) adjacent to said inner surface of said latticed side wall, characterized by said at least one longitudinal stabilizing element (132) extending substantially from said first end ring to said second end ring, and having a width dimension, measured transversely on said dye tube, greater than a thickness direction, measured radially from said common axis of said at least one helical member and said first end ring and said second end ring, so that at least one longitudinal stabilizing element will buckle in a radial direction when said dye tube is compressed in a longitudinal direction; and said longitudinal stabilizing element (132) being provided with openings or grooves (138) along the length thereof so that, when the dye tube is compressed in the longitudinal direction, openings are present in said one stabilizing element so that dye may pass therethrough between said inner surface and said outer surface of said dye tube during use. A dye tube according to claim 20 wherein said at least one longitudinal stabilizing element (132) covers said inner surface of said dye tube (130) substantially from said first end ring to said second end ring, said longitudinal stabilizing element having a plurality of perforations (138) to provide stress relief points to split said longitudinal stabilizing element when said dye tube is compressed in a longitudinal direction, openings being thereby produced so that dye may pass therethrough between said inner surface and said outer surface of said dye tube during use. A dye tube (130) according to one or more of the preceding claims 20, 21 wherein said plurality of perforations (138) extend in a plurality of longitudinal lines (140) running longitudinally on said longitudinal stabilizing element substantially from said first end ring to said second end ring.

Inventors: COUCHEY BRIAN, DESROSIERS VICTOR J, PRUITT GARNER, THOMAS ALVIN D, COUCHEY, BRIAN, DESROSIERS, VICTOR J., PRUITT, GARNER, THOMAS, ALVIN D.
Applicants: CRELLIN INC, CRELLIN, INC.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: D06B23
IPC codes: D06B23