Patent GB-1210683-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for spinning filamentary material from a polymer melt or solution
Inventor: LEHNER KARL
IPC: B29C48/05
Filed: 1967-11-01
Abstract: 1,210,683. Spinning apparatus. VICKERS-ZIMMER A.G. PLANTING UND BAU VON INDUSTRIEANLAGEN. 1 Nov., 1967 [3 Nov., 1966], No. 49641/67. Heading B5B. A spinning unit for spinning filamentary material from a polymer melt or solution is a constructional integer such that it can be coupled to another such unit or units on the unit construction principle and comprises at least one pump, at least one spinneret plate, and means whereby melt or solution can be supplied to the or each pump and from the or each pump to the or each spinneret plate. In Fig. 1 a beam 1 comprises three constructional integers 2, secured on frame 5, each integer comprising two spinning stations 3 at each of which there are four spinneret plates 4. Also provided are feed lines 6, 7 formed by jacketed tubes and which start from a central distributer 8. A main feedline 6 for each integer 2 splits up into two secondary feed lines 7, each of which extends to a spinning station 3. Lines 6 and 7 are the same length and internal dimensions as one another, so that there is a constant dwell time of the product in all lines 6, 7. Central distributer 8 is supplied by a melter or solution tank (not shown) and has three valves 9 associated one each with a feed line. Valve 9 can therefore shut off the associated feed line immediately below the melter or solution tank, so that the residual melt or solution remaining between the main feed flow and the place where shut-off is  effected is reduced very considerably. On the left-hand side of Fig. 1 is shown an integer 2 with some front parts broken away. Material supplied through main line 6 is allotted via a secondary distributer 10 to the secondary feed line 7 and hence to stations 3. At each station 3 is a spinning unit 11 with the associated pumps (not shown) and spinneret casings, having conventional spinneret plates 4 and filters. Each station 3 is also framed by two heating chambers 12, 13, rigidly interconnected by a boundary plate 14, and two thrust plates 15. Heating chambers 12, 13 are interconnected via short tubular members in the region between the two plates 15. Flow passages for the heating medium are provided at the bottom ends of the boundary plates 14. At the top of each unit 11 is a cover plate 16 which is releasably connected to the plates 14. Cover plate 16 has an aperture at its centre through which the secondary line 7 extends to the unit 11. Line 7 also has a branch pipe 17 which communicates with the jacketed tube of the line 7 and which is connected to the heating chamber 13. Integer 2 is mounted as a whole by means of two stirrup-shaped members 18 on the beam support structure 5, and the heating chambers of the various integers 2 are interconnected via flow passages 19. Fig. 2 shows on an enlarged scale a spinning station 3 such as is used in the beam shown in Fig. 1. Suspension is by means of the cover plate 16 secured to member 18 by screws 18<SP>1</SP> and connected by screws 20 to the boundary plate 14 and by screw 21 to spinning unit 11. A heat-storage unit 23 made of a highly thermally conductive material covers and to some extent frames the pump 22. Disposed at the rear of unit 11 is a heating chamber 12, the base of which has corrugations 24<SP>1</SP>. Flow passages 25 formed by tubes connect heating chamber 12 to heating chamber 13. Boundary plate 14 is formed with an elongated orifice 26 for the heating medium. Connections 27 for electric heating are disposed below chambers 12, 13. Disposed at the ends thereof are connecting pipes 28, 28<SP>1</SP> which extend to the heating chambers of the adjacent integer 2. Fig. 3 is a section on the line III-III of Fig. 2, unit 11 comprising a pump plate 29 formed with corresponding passages 30 for the feed. Securing plate 31 is disposed on one side of pump plate 29 and two securing ledges 32 on the other side. Pumps 33 are disposed on plate 29 between the members 32 and engage in the recesses in the heat-storage member 23. Member 23 also has passages 24 for pump drive shafts 35, which extend through apertures 36 in a special insulating member 37 inserted in front of member 23 into the insulation encircling station 3 and heating chambers 12, 13. Boundary plate 14 is disposed on the right-hand side of unit 11 as seen in Fig. 3, and disposed on the left of unit 11 is thrust plate 15, the two heating chambers 12, 13 connecting the two plates 14, 15 to one another. The heating chamber 12 comprises a monitoring station 38. Fig. 4 is a view in cross-section of spinning station 3. Feed line 7 takes the form of a double tube and is taken directly to pump plate 29. Line 7 has a flange 39 with a projection 40 extending through an aperture 41 in the spinning unit cover plate 16. Jacketed tube 43, through which a heating medium will flow, of feed line 7 is connected to a tubular connecting member 17 connected via a flange connection 44 to the heating chamber 13. Pump plate 29 is made of high-grade non-rusting steel and is formed with passages 30 for the feed. Pumps 33, disposed on plate 29 are framed by toolsteel securing ledges 32 which also abut pump plate 29. On the other side thereof is a toolsteel securing plate 31 corresponding to the length and width of pump plate 29. Pump plate 29, securing plate 31 and members 32 are located relatively to one another by locating keys 45 which extend lengthwise of these items. Screws 46 also hold pump plate 29, securing plate 31 and members 32 together. Pump plate 29 is formed merely with orifices through which the screws 46 extend. Pumps 33 are mounted similarly on spinning unit 11, so that their securing screws 47 engage solely with the plate 31 and merely extend through pump plate 29. All the other items secured to unit 11 are disposed similarly. Heat-storage member 23 is secured by screws 48 and the cover plate 16 of unit 11 is secured by screws 49. Heating chambers 12, 13 which extend lengthwise of the apparatus engage with spinneret casing 51. Chambers 12, 13 are made from a metal section member 52 having corrugated base inserts 53. Heating chamber 12 on the drive side of spinning unit 11 extends from substantially the spinneret exit plane to substantially below pumps 33. Disposed above chamber 12 is the heat-storage member 23 which receives some of the pumps 33 and their drive shafts 35. On the other side of the spinning station 3 there is the heating chamber 13 extending as far as the top terminating plane of pump plate 29. Heating means 54 are devised from aluminium wedges, and having internal heating webs 55, are secured on the corrugations by a two-armed clamp 56 having one securing screw 57 on each arm. Insulation surrounds the various spinning stations 3 on all sides. A readily releasable insulating member 37 is provided on the drive side of every spinning station 3 and can be removed after release of securing screws, whereafter the heat-storage member 23 is accessible. Flange connections 29, 44 of line 7 and connecting member 17 are also accessible. To replace a pump 33, it is only necessary to remove member 23. Similarly, another readily releasable insulating member 58 is provided on the bottom of each spinning unit adjacent the associated heating chambers 12, 13 and has a passage 59 for spinneret casing 51. After removal of member 58, heating means 54. electrical connections 27 and their securing means 56, 57 are accessible. Heating means 54 can then be replaced without action having to be taken inside chambers 12, 13.