APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING REMOVAL OF CONTAMINANTS FROM THE SURFACE OF CONTINUOUS ELONGATE PRODUCTS

Abstract: Wire (62), the surface of which is to be contacted by treatment liquid such as for cleaning purposes, is passed through successive treatment zones (2, 12) and an interposed intermediate zone or interposed intermediate zones. A vibratory motion is induced in the wire (62) in the intermediate zone or zones by means of one or more hydro-converter assemblies (50) positioned in the treatment zones, and or mechanical or electro-mechanical means (not shown), or sufficient amplitude as to shake any residual treatment liquid from the wire in the intermediate zone or zones. Inwardly directed jets in nozzles (26) positioned at inlet and outlet ends of the apparatus and successive treatment zones substantially limit egress of treatment liquid or vapour to atmosphere or to adjacent treatment zones. All treatment liquid and vapour from the intermediate and treatment zones is returned to the associated reservoir (6, 16) such that no venting to atmosphere occurs.

Description: Apparatus for effecting removal of contaminants from the surface of continuous elongate products. This invention relates to apparatus for effecting removal of contaminants from the surface of continuous elongate products such as wire. EP-A-0 050 036 discloses apparatus for effecting removal of contaminants from the surface of continuous elongate products in which there is provided a first liquid treatment zone, an intermediate zone arranged to receive elongate product from the first liquid treatment zone and a second treatment zone arranged to receive the elongate product from the intermediate zone. According to the present invention, means are provided to induce a vibrating motion in the elongate product in the intermediate zone of sufficient amplitude as to effect detachment of any liquid adhering to the elongate product from the elongate product prior to transfer of the elongate product to the second treatment zone. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying, partly diagrammatic, drawings, in which :- Figure 1 is a partly sectioned side elevation of the apparatus for effecting removal of contaminants from wire; Figure 2 shows a portion of Figure 1 to an enlarged scale and in greater detail; Figure 3 shows a portion of Figure 2 to an enlarged scale and in greater detail; Figure 4 shows another portion of Figure 2 to an enlarged scale and in greater detail; and Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line V - V of Figure 4. As shown in the drawings, the apparatus includes a first treatment zone 2 having a first cleaning head 4 mounted on top of a first tank or reservoir 6 for a first treatment liquid 8; a first intermediate zone formed in a first closed duct 10 draining to the first tank or reservoir 6; a second treatment zone 12 having a second cleaning head 14 mounted on top of a second tank or reservoir 16 for a second treatment liquid 18 and positioned in a second closed duct 20 draining to the second tank or reservoir 16; the first cleaning head 4, the first closed duct 10, the second cleaning head 14 and the second closed duct 20 being axially aligned. A further treatment zone or zones (not shown) may be arranged downstream of the second closed duct 20 and may include apparatus in which further processes or treatments are applied to cleaned wire discharged from the second closed duct 20. As shown in Figure 2 , the first and second cleaning heads 4 and 14 include respective blocks 22, 24 provided with axial through bores. Mounted at each end of each block 22, 24 are annular cross-section liquid jet nozzles 26 arranged to direct continuous streams of liquid in an inward direction. As shown in Figure 3, each nozzle 26 includes a sleeve 28 formed with two pairs of four, equi-angularly spaced, passages 30 extending through the sleeve 28 at an acute angle toward each other in the respective one of the pair and directed inwardly of the cleaning head 4 or 14. The sleeve 28 is positioned in a bore 36 in a boss 38 formed with a pair of circumferential grooves 40 registering with the passages 30 and each connected through a passageway 42 to a convergent insert 44 in an inlet port 46 connected to a supply line 48. Mounted at intermediate locations in the blocks 22, 24 are hydro-converter assemblies 50. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, each hydro-converter assembly 50 includes a case 52 formed with a bore 54 provided with end rings or walls 56. A tangential inlet 58 is provided centrally of the case 52 registering with a convergent insert 60 connected to the supply line 48. The first and second closed ducts 10 and 20 are approximately 300 millimetres in length. The downstream end of the second closed duct 20 is provided with a simple bushing (not shown) . Alternatively, an air jet nozzle 64 of the general form of the hereinbefore described liquid jet nozzles 26 but arranged to be connected to an air supply source may be provided at the downstream end of the second closed duct 20. In operation, a wire 62, the surface of which is required to be cleaned, is threaded through a capstan pulley drive (not shown) at delivery and exit ends, through the first and second cleaning heads 4 and 14 and through the first and second closed ducts 10 and 20. Pumps (not shown) are then energised to supply the first and second treatment liquids 8, 18 through the respective supply lines 48 to the first and second cleaning heads 4 and 14. Treatment liquid discharged through the tangential inlet 58 of the hydro-converter assembly 50 moves in a cyclonic manner to discharge axially through the end rings 56 and generates a vibrating motion in the wire 62, with the wire moving around a circular envelope arising from the vibration, whilst at the same time scouring the wire. The liquid jet nozzles 26 are also supplied with treatment liquid from the supply line 48 and discharge the treatment liquid substantially axially along the wire 62 in a direction toward the centre of the respective cleaning head 4, 14, thereby limiting leakage of the treatment liquid from the ends of the cleaning heads. However, inevitably, there is likely to be some carry-over of the treatment liquid past the downstream liquid jet nozzles 26 of the respective cleaning heads 4, 14. Any treatment liquid so carried over is removed from the wire 62 in the first and second closed ducts 10 and 20 by virtue of the vibratory motion induced in the wire by the hydro-convertor assemblies 50 being permitted to persist in the wire passing through the closed ducts and thereby shaking any treatment liquid from the wire. Liquid shaken from the wire 62 drains back along the respective closed duct to the associated first and second cleaning heads 4, 14 and the first and second ducts discharge to the associated tanks or reservoirs 6, 16, so that a substantially enclosed assembly results. This dispenses with the need to vent an assembly of the form disclosed in the prior art (which requires the provision of air jet nozzles to remove treatment liquid) to atmosphere with the danger of discharge of vapours arising from the treatment liquids to atmosphere. Since the interiors of the first and second ducts 10, 20 operate at atmospheric pressure, hinged lids may be provided on the ducts to facilitate inspection and initial threading of the wire 62. If it is required to position an air jet nozzle 64 at the downstream exit, a baffle 66 is provided in the second closed duct 20, adjacent the exit, to restrict dispersion of vapour in the closed duct into the air flow arising from the air jet nozzle. It will be appreciated that vibratory motion in the wire 62 passing through the closed ducts 10, 20 may be induced or enhanced by mechanical or electro-mechanical means independent of any vibratory motion arising in the cleaning heads 4, 14 and also that treatment baths may be substituted for the cleaning heads with carry-over liquid from a bath being shaken from the wire by inducing a vibratory motion in the wire following exit from the bath.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for effecting removal of contaminants from the surface of continuous elongate products (62) in which there is provided a first liquid treatment zone (2) , an intermediate zone arranged to receive elongate product from the first liquid treatment zone (2) and a second treatment zone (12) arranged to receive the elongate product from the intermediate zone, characterised in that means (50) are provided to induce a vibrating motion in the elongate product in the intermediate zone of sufficient amplitude as to effect detachment of any liquid adhering to the elongate product (62) from the elongate product prior to transfer of the elongate product to the second treatment zone (12). 2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that liquid recovered in the intermediate zone is returned to a supply reservoir (6) associated with the first liquid treatment zone in a closed circuit. 3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that a vibrating motion is arranged to be induced in the elongate product (62) in the first liquid treatment zone (2) of such amplitude as to persist in the elongate product in the intermediate zone. 4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that the vibrating motion is arranged to be induced in the elongate product (62) in the first liquid treatment zone (2) by passing the elongate product axially through a cylindrical orifice (50) and supplying the orifice with a tangentially directed stream of treatment liquid, the treatment liquid discharging axially of the orifice. 5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, characterised in that the cylindrical orifice (50) includes a cylindrical chamber (52) having end walls (56) provided with central apertures of a lesser diameter than the internal diameter of the cylindrical chamber, with an inlet duct (58) being positioned adjacent the mid-plane of the cylindrical chamber (52) discharging along an axis tangential to the cylindrical wall of the chamber and connected to a convergent passage (60) for the supply of treatment liquid. 6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, characterised in that the intermediate zone has an axial length in excess of 300 millimetres. 7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim characterised in that liquid jet nozzles (26) positioned at an inlet and at an outlet end of the first treatment zone (2) each include a sleeve (28) formed with a multiplicity of equi-angularly spaced passages (30) directed inwardly at an acute angle to a central axis and toward a central portion of the first treatment zone (2), the sleeve (28) being formed in an outer cylindrical face with at least one circumferential groove (40) registering with the passages (30) and with a convergent inlet port (44, 46) connected to a supply line (48) . 8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, characterised in that a multiplicity of treatment zones alternating with intermediate zones are arranged in series, with liquid recovered from respective intermediate zones being returned to the associated supply reservoir in an individual closed circuit. 9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, characterised in that a drying gas jet nozzle (64) positioned at an outlet end of the apparatus includes a sleeve formed with a multiplicity of equi-angularly spaced passages directed inwardly at an acute angle to a central axis and away from the outlet end, the sleeve being formed in an outer cylindrical face with at least one circumferential groove registering with the passages and connected to a drying gas supply line. 10. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, characterised in that a baffle (66) is positioned upstream of the drying gas jet nozzle (64) to restrict dispersion of vapour from the treatment liquid into the drying gas flow.

Inventors: HAWKES DANIEL JOHN, HAWKES, DANIEL, JOHN
Applicants: BWE LTD, HAWKES DANIEL JOHN, BWE LIMITED, HAWKES, DANIEL, JOHN
Application year: 1996
Main classification: C23G3
IPC codes: C23G3