Method for cooling and finishing melt-spun filaments

Abstract

A hollow quench stick tube capable of cooling and finishing melt-spun filaments comprises in one embodiment a hollow cooling tube connected to a hollow support tube, a finish applicator that substantially surrounds the hollow support tube, and a spoiler skirt that substantially surrounds the hollow cooling tube and that is spaced apart from the finish applicator to define a spoiler void. In operation, the spoiler skirt diverts a flow of air to create a partial vacuum in the spoiler void that draws a filament stream inwardly against the finish applicator.

1 . A method of cooling and finishing melt-spun filaments, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an apparatus comprising:    a hollow quench stick tube defining a plurality of openings positioned along its periphery, and an air path within the hollow quench stick tube;    a finish applicator substantially surrounding the hollow quench stick tube; and    a spoiler skirt substantially surrounding the hollow quench stick tube, wherein the spoiler skirt is positioned above and spaced apart from the finish applicator to thereby define a spoiler void;    spinning a filament stream;    pumping a flow of supplied air into the hollow quench stick tube;    dispersing air through the plurality of openings;    cooling a stream of filaments with the flowing air;    diverting the flowing air to create a pressure differential between the spoiler void and adjacent surroundings that draws the filament stream against the finish applicator; and    finishing the filament stream with a desired finishing agent.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of spinning comprises extruding a stream of melt-spun filaments above the hollow quench stick tube such that the filament stream substantially surrounds the hollow quench stick tube.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of pumping comprises directing the flowing air upwardly along the air path.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of dispersing comprises directing the flowing air against the filament stream, such that the filament stream draws the flowing air downwardly.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of diverting comprises directing the downwardly flowing air through the filament stream and into the adjacent surroundings, whereby the flowing air passing through the filament stream creates a negative pressure differential between the spoiler void and the adjacent surroundings.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of diverting further comprises directing the downwardly flowing air into a space between the spoiler skirt and filament stream, whereby the flowing air accelerated into the spoiler void creates a negative pressure differential between the spoiler void and the adjacent surroundings.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of finishing comprises applying a desired finishing agent to the filament stream.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressure differential between the spoiler void and the adjacent surroundings is between about 1 to 5 millibars (mb).  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the velocity of the flowing air moving from an upper end of the quench stick tube to a lower end of the quench stick tube is between about 75 and 315 feet per minute.  
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the draw ratio of the filament stream is between about 1.5 and 3.75.  
   
   
       11 . A method of cooling and finishing melt-spun filaments, the method comprising the steps of: 
 spinning a stream of filaments about a hollow quench stick tube having a plurality of openings along its periphery;    dispersing a flow of supplied air into the hollow quench stick tube and through the plurality of openings to thereby cool the filament stream with the flowing air;    diverting the flowing air to create a pressure differential between a lower portion of the hollow quench stick tube and adjacent surroundings, such that the pressure differential draws the filament stream against a finish applicator; and    finishing the filament stream with a desired finishing agent.    
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the step of spinning comprises extruding a stream of melt-spun filaments above the hollow quench stick tube such that the filament stream substantially surrounds the hollow quench stick tube.  
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the step of dispersing comprises directing the flowing air against the filament stream, such that the filament stream draws the flowing air downwardly.  
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the step of diverting comprises directing the downwardly flowing air through the filament stream and into the adjacent surroundings, whereby the flowing air passing through the filament stream creates a negative pressure differential between the lower portion of the hollow quench stick tube and the adjacent surroundings.  
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the step of finishing comprises applying a desired finishing agent to the filament stream.  
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the velocity of the flowing air through the hollow quench stick tube is between about 75 and 315 feet per minute.  
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the draw ratio of the filament stream is between about 1.5 and 3.75.  
   
   
       18 . A method of cooling and finishing melt-spun filaments, the method comprising the steps of: 
 spinning a stream of filaments;    pumping a flow of supplied air into a hollow quench stick tube;    dispersing a flow of supplied air through a plurality of openings defined by the hollow quench stick tube;    cooling the filament stream with the flowing air;    diverting the flowing air to create a pressure differential at a lower portion of the hollow quench stick tube; and    finishing the filament stream with a desired finishing agent;    wherein the pressure differential draws the filament stream against a finish applicator that substantially surrounds the hollow quench stick tube.    
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the step of pumping comprises directing the flowing air upwardly into the hollow quench stick tube.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the step of dispersing comprises directing the flowing air against the filament stream, such that the filament stream draws the flowing air downwardly.