Interlacing textile jet

Abstract

A textile interlacing slide jet 2, 102 includes a jet body 10, a jet carriage 40, 140 on which a ceramic jet nozzle insert 30, 130 is mounted, and a spring housing 52 that includes a stack of compression spring washers 70, 170, such as Belleville washers. The spring housing 52 is rotatable, relative to an upper arm 20 of the jet body 10, to a tilted position to permit insertion and removal of the jet carriage 40, 140 and the jet nozzle insert 30, 130 without the use of special tools. The compression spring washers 70, 170 are located in the spring housing 52 directly above a ceramic impact plate 66, 166 located on the bottom of the spring housing. These springs 70, 170 urge the ceramic plate or bottom layer into engagement of the top surface of the jet nozzle insert 30, 130 so that the ceramic impact plate 66, 166 can close a yarn channel when the jet carriage 40, 140 and the jet nozzle insert 30, 130 have been moved to a closed position by rotation of an actuating lever 80, 180.

1 - 30 . (canceled)  
   
   
       31 . A process for interlacing textile yarn strands comprising the steps of: 
 mounting a jet insert on a jet carriage with a yarn channel facing upwardly;    positioning textile yarn strands in an upwardly facing yarn channel on the jet insert mounted on the jet carriage;    positioning the jet carriage with the jet insert mounted therein beneath a spring assembly, the spring assembly being tilted at an angle before the jet insert on the jet carriage is inserted beneath the spring assembly;    sliding the jet carriage beneath the spring assembly, with the spring assembly tilting to position a bottom layer of the spring assembly over the jet insert, the spring assembly asserting a force on the jet insert through the bottom layer to hold the jet insert in place beneath the spring assembly; and    subjecting the textile yarn strands to a high velocity airstream as the textile yarn strands are drawn though the yarn channel to interlace the textile yarn strands.    
   
   
       32 . The process of  claim 31  wherein insertion of the jet carriage with the jet insert mounted therein engages the bottom layer of the spring assembly to tilt the bottom layer of the spring assembly as the jet carriage with the jet insert is inserted into an operative position above an orifice through which a high velocity airstream will flow.  
   
   
       33 . The process of  claim 32  wherein the spring housing is rotated to a position in which the bottom layer of the spring housing is parallel to the yarn channel when the jet carriage and the jet insert slide beneath the spring assembly.  
   
   
       34 . The process of  claim 32  wherein the spring assembly is tilted by insertion and extraction of the jet carriage with the jet insert mounted therein form a position above the orifice.  
   
   
       35 . The process of  claim 31  wherein a lever is pivoted to a position locking the jet carriage with the jet insert mounted therein above the orifice.  
   
   
       36 . The process of  claim 31  wherein a spring in the spring assembly presses the bottom layer against the jet insert to prevent air from escaping between the bottom layer and the jet insert along sides of the yarn channel.  
   
   
       37 . The process of  claim 36  wherein the spring comprises a compression spring.  
   
   
       38 . The process of  claim 31  wherein the spring assembly exerts a downward force on the jet insert as the jet carriage moves between an open and a closed position.  
   
   
       39 . The process of  claim 38  wherein the yarn channel extends beneath the spring assembly in the closed position.  
   
   
       40 . A process for interlacing textile yarn strands comprising the steps of: 
 positioning the textile yarn strands in an upwardly facing yarn channel on a jet insert mounted on a jet carriage;    sliding the jet carriage and the jet insert between a compressed air inlet and a compression spring on a body until the yarn channel is aligned with the compressed air inlet while the compression spring applies a force directed toward an upper surface of the jet insert to hold the jet insert in position relative to the compressed air inlet; and    subjecting the textile yarn strands to a high velocity airstream as the textile yarn strands are drawn though the yarn channel to interlace the textile yarn strands.