Patent GB-1063252-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to textile materials
IPC: D04H1/42
Filed: 1963-07-06
Abstract: 1,063,252. Seaming non-metallic sheet material; laminates and laminating. E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS & CO. July 6, 1963 [July 6, 1962], No. 26820/63. Headings B5K and B5N. [Also in Division D1] Sheet material composed of textile fibres or filaments is treated by projecting one or more continuous or intermittent fine, columnar streams of a con-compressible fluid against the surface of the sheet material with sufficient force to drive portions of individual surface fibres or filaments a substantial distance into the sheet to cause three-dimensional interentanglement of the fibres or filaments in the path of each stream. A fibrous, random-laid batt 14 to be treated is placed on a sheet of Kraft paper on a rectangular wire screen carrier 15 freely positioned on a metal plate 16 situated below a vertically disposed nozzle 20 through which water under pressure is delivered. A vent hole 18 is provided in the plate 16 and is aligned with the nozzle axis to allow treating fluid to pass therethrough. The height of the plate 16 is adjusted by a jack 17 so that the upper face of the batt 14 is about one inch below the tip of the nozzle 20. The batt is then exposed to a high-velocity stream of water while it is passed horizontally across the plate 16. The batt may be treated in successive passes along lines parallel to the first pass. Successive passes may also be made at right angles to the first passes. The lines of fluid treatment form lines on consolidation and cause the fibres to become interentangled and intertwined. The nozzle 20 may comprise a body 21, Fig. 2a, having an axial bore 22 with a pair of coplanar orifices 23, 24 inclined towards each other at an angle A of about 20- 25 degrees. The batt 14 is placed either above or at the point of intersection of the two streams from the orifices 23, 24. In a modification, Fig. 2b (not shown), the orifices 23, 24 are parallel to each other and in a further modification, Fig. 2c (not shown), a single central orifice 24 coaxial with the bore 22 is provided. In another modification, Fig. 3, the conical tip 31 of a plunger 30 which is urged downwardly by a spring 36 forms a fluid-tight seal against a seat 32 in the bore 22. The plunger 30 is forced, upwardly when the pressure of the spring 36 is exceeded by that of fluid supplied through a passage 35 so that fluid passes into a passage 33 and through orifices 24, 25, 26 in an interchangeable tip 37. A nozzle tip 37 having six orifices equally spaced on a cone of angle 50 degrees around a central orifice may be provided. A number of orifices may be provided in a manifold, Fig. 4 (not shown), or a plurality of nozzles may be arranged in a row. The fluid may be supplied continuously by the system shown in full lines in Fig. 1 or intermittently by the system shown in chain lines in Fig. 1 or in Fig. 4 (not shown). In the latter case the lines of consolidation consist of lines of points. The batt may be treated at least once on each side thereof. Apparatus for continuously producing a non- woven fabric, Fig. 5, comprises stationary nozzles 51 spaced across an endless screen conveyer 50 to form consolidation lines 52 and one or more nozzles 53 arranged to be reciprocated transversely of the batt to form consolidation lines 54 perpendicular to the lines 52. The treated batt may pass through a tank 56 of liquid to effect shrinkage, dyeing or bleaching. A roller 55d may press, wring, heat treat, dry or emboss the batt. Apparatus for forming continuous chenilletype yarns, Fig. 6, comprises spaced nozzles 61 which treat a fibrous batt 28 to form a number of closely spaced consolidation lines. Driven circular knives 62 cut the batt into discrete yarns along these lines. A yarn in which fibres or filaments protrude at an angle with respect to the yarn axis is produced by angling the fluid streams in the direction of movement of the batt. Non-woven batts of polyethylene terephthalate staple fibres or continuous filaments, cotton fibres, polyacrylic staple fibres or polypropylene continuous filaments are specified and fine metal fibres may be converted to yarns by high velocity fluid treatment. A batt of dolyethylene terephthalate staple fibres or continuous filaments is attached to a nylon fabric by high velocity fluid streams to form laminate. Non-woven webs of staple fibres and/or continuous filaments may be attached to paper, sponge, cellular structures, wire screens or soft woods. The reverse or untreated side of a batt fabric laminate made by this method has a pile or furlike effect and by controlling the process a uniform pile-like surface may be obtained and the protruding fibres sheared to any desired pile height. Fluid streams may act on the fibrous material to produce any desired pattern and/or at different velocities to produce different effects. Natural and/or synthetic fibres having a variety of lengths, crimp, colour and texture may be used. In one example, continuous filament polyethylene terephthalate yarn is wound around a metal frame to form two sets of yarns crossing each other at 90 degrees and these sets are sprayed with polyvinyl alcohol to hold them in place. The yarns are slit at the edges of the frame to form two sheets. A batt of staple fibres or continuous filaments is laminated to one side of one of these sheets by high-velocity fluid streams and a second batt is laminated to the other side thereof. The bat may consist of polyethylene terephthalate staple fibres or two component continuous, crimpable filaments prepared from polyhexamethylene adipamide and a copolymer of polyhexamethylene adipamide and polyhexamethylene sebacamide. In the latter case, the crimp is developed after lamination. The " cross-warp " fabric may comprise elastic yarn. High velocity fluid streams may be used to treat a woven or knitted fabric to produce a fulling or napping effect. Examples given are woven fabrics of wool and synthetic fibres, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate or polyacrylonitrile fibres, knitted polyacrylic fabrics and a shirting fabric of a blend of cotton and polyethylene terephthalate fibres.