Patent GB-894254-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for the heat treatment of thermoplastic textile materials
Inventor: GOY RONALD STANSFIELD
IPC: F26B13/10
Filed: 1957-08-17
Abstract: <PICT:0894254/IV (a)/1> Apparatus of the type comprising a container having therein a bed of solid particles, means for the introduction of a gas to maintain the bed in fluidized condition and means for heating and cooling the fluidized bed, is characterized in that the container has an orifice in the base thereof for the passage of continuous lengths of thermoplastic textile material through the fluidized bed, movable sealing means adapted to be moved to a closed position in which the space between the thermoplastic material and the edges of the orifice is covered and to an open position in which part or the whole of the space is uncovered, and movable vanes situated in the fluidized bed which are adapted to be moved to a closed position in which they enclose that portion of the fluidized bed adjacent the thermoplastic material, thereby preventing the remainder of the fluidized bed from reaching the orifice, and to an open position in which they permit free passage of the fluidized bed particles over the orifice.  Specified thermoplastic textile materials are nylon, polyester and polyvinyl resins in the form of yarns or fabrics.  As shown, a bed 10 of particles is held in a container 11 together with electrical elements 12 for heating the bed.  Heating coils containing fluid may replace the electrical elements.  Porous tiles 16 are provided at the base of bed 10 and below the air chamber 18 having connections 19 for supplying air to the bed.  An orifice 13 extends along the whole width of container 11 at the base thereof and is bounded by tiles 16 and vertical walls 14 of chambers 18.  Shutters 29 extend from orifice 13 into the bed 10 and pipes 15 admit air to the orifice.  A seal consisting of two slidable planar members 20 is provided beneath orifice 13, members 20 being movable by means of pistons (not shown) connected to compressed air cylinders 22.  The inner edges of the sliding members 20 are provided with flexible jaws 25 which serve to prevent loss of particles from bed 10.  Situated above the orifice 13 there are provided four pairs of flat vanes 28 each extending across the width of the container and arranged to rotate about a horizontal axis 32 situated in the centre of each vane 28.  These extend in two vertical rows above the orifice 13.  Two fixed shutters 30 are located above axes 32 and the surface of bed 10. To each axis 32 of each vane 28 is connected a lever 31 itself connected via rod 34 to a piston within a cylinder driven by compressed air.  The vanes are of such dimensions that, when rotated about axes 32 to bring them in a vertical plane, they each contact the adjacent vanes, top and bottom vanes contacting shutters 29 and 30 respectively.  When compressed air is fed to inlets 37 vanes 28 are rotated to make an angle of approximately 45 degrees with the vertical, thereby permitting free circulation of the bed particles.  A pair of nip rollers 39 is provided for feeding textile material 41 through the orifice 13 while a second pair of rollers 40 rotating at a higher speed than rollers 39 withdraw thermoplastic textile material from bed 10 under tension.  Automatic means may be provided which operate to close the vanes 28 and open orifice 13 when the speed at which the thermoplastic textile material passing through the fluidized bed falls below a predetermined rate. Specification 885,513 is referred to.ALSO:Apparatus of the type comprising a container having therein a bed of solid particles, means for the introduction of a gas to maintain the bed in fluidised condition and means for heating and cooling the fluidised bed, is characterised in that the container has an orifice in the base thereof for the passage of continuous lengths of thermoplastic textile material through the fluidised bed, movable sealing means adapted to be moved to a closed position in which the space between the thermoplastic material and the edges of the orifice is covered and to an open position in which part or the whole of the space is uncovered, and movable vanes situated in the fluidised bed which are adapted to be moved to a closed position in which they enclose that portion of the fluidised bed adjacent the thermoplastic material, thereby preventing the remainder of the fluidised bed from reaching the orifice, and to an open position in which they permit free passage of the fluidised bed particles over the orifice.  As shown, a bed 10 of particles is held in a container 11 <PICT:0894254/IV (c)/1> together with electrical elements 12 for heating the bed.  Heating coils containing fluid may replace the electrical elements. Porous tiles 16 are provided at the base of bed 10 and below these air chambers 18 having connexions 19 for supplying air to the bed. An orifice 13 extends along the whole width of container 11 at the base thereof and is bounded by tiles 16 and vertical walls 14 of chambers 18.  Shutters 29 extend from orifice 13 into the bed 10 and pipes 15 admit air to the orifice.  A seal consisting of two slidable planar members 20 is provided beneath orifice 13, members 20 being movable by means of pistons (not shown) connected to compressed air cylinders 22.  The inner edges of the sliding members 20 are provided with flexible jaws 25 which serve to prevent loss of particles from bed 10.  Situated above the orifice 13 there are provided four pairs of flat vanes 28 each extending across the width of the container and arranged to rotate about a horizontal axis 32 situated in the centre of each vane 28.  These extend in two vertical rows above the orifice 13.  The fixed shutters 30 are located above axes 32 and the surface of bed 10. To each axis 32 of each vane 28 is connected a lever 31 itself connected via rod 34 of a piston to within a cylinder driven by compressed air.  The vanes are of such dimensions that, when rotated about axes 32 to bring them in a vertical plane, they each contact the adjacent vanes, top and bottom vanes contacting shutters 29 and 30 respectively.  When compressed air is fed to inlets 37 vanes 28 are rotated to make an angle of approximately 45 degrees with the vertical, thereby permitting free circulation of the bed particles.  A pair of nip rollers 39 is provided for feeding textile material 41 through the orifice 13 while a second pair of rollers 40 rotating at a higher speed than rollers 39 withdraw thermoplastic textile material from bed 10 under tension. Automatic means may be provided which operate to close the vanes 28 and open orifice 13 when the speed at which the thermoplastic textile material passing through the fluidised bed falls below a predetermined rate.  Specification 885,513 is referred to.