Lubrication apparatus and method of applying a lubricant

• US 6,543,580 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2000
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Barmag AG (OC Oerlikon Corporation AG)
• Original Assignee: Barmag AG (OC Oerlikon Corporation AG)
• Inventors: Gathmann, Egon, Weigend, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, CHONG HWA
• Application Number:
  US09/536,098
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 184/7.4, 222/136, 222/145.1, 222/145.2, 222/145.5, 222/145.6, 222/145.7, 57/7, 572/92, 572/95, 573/09, 573/62, 118/420, 118/429, 118/DIG.18, 118/DIG.19
• US Class Current: 184/7.4
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/43161 composed of consecutive sections of flat pieces of material
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/62 of the gear type
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/50 Pipe mixers, i.e. mixers wherein the materials to be mixed flow continuously through pipes, e.g. column mixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/822 with moving and non-moving stirring devices in the same receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7176 using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/882 using measuring chambers, e.g. volumetric pumps, for feeding the substances
• CPC Class Codes: D06B 23/205 for adding or mixing constituents of the treating material

Abstract

An apparatus and method for applying a lubricant to an advancing yarn, to facilitate the further processing of the yarn, and wherein the lubricant is composed of a plurality of components such as an emulsion of water and oil. The apparatus includes separate containers for the components of the lubricant, and a feed device for combining and mixing the components in a mixing chamber. The feed device also includes a pump for delivering the resulting lubricant to a wetting device which applies a metered quantity of the lubricant to the yarn. Provision is also made for maintaining a desired mixing ratio of the components of the lubricant.

Claims

1. A lubrication apparatus for applying to an advancing yarn a lubricant which is composed of at least a first component and a second component, the lubricant apparatus comprising:

a first container capable of containing the first component;

a second container capable of containing the second component;

a first line communicatively connected to the first container and through which the first component is capable of flowing from the first container;

a second line communicatively connected to the second container and through which the second component is capable of flowing from the second container;

a feed device comprising an outlet, wherein the feed device is communicatively connected to both the first and second lines, and wherein the feed device is capable of receiving the first component from the first line and the second component from the second line, the feed device being configured for combining the first component received from the first line with the second component received from the second line to form the lubricant, and the feed device being configured for supplying a main flow of the lubricant at the outlet of the feed device; and

a wetting device communicatively connected to the outlet of the feed device and capable of receiving the lubricant from the outlet of the feed device, wherein the wetting device is operable for applying the lubricant to the yarn,

wherein the feed device comprises a mixing chamber which is configured for receiving the first component and the second component and for combining the first component with the second component, and wherein the mixing chamber comprises mixing means for mixing the first and second components,

wherein the feed device defines a flow path leading from the first and second lines to the outlet, and wherein the feed device further comprises a lubrication pump positioned in the flow path for metering and delivering the lubricant, and the mixing chamber has a plurality of mixing elements positioned in the flow path, with one of the pump and mixing chamber connected to the first and second lines and the other of the pump and mixing chamber connected to the outlet,

said lubrication apparatus further comprising a metering device connected in at least one of the first line and the second line, and a controller connected to the pump and to the metering device so that both the flow delivered by the pump and the mixing ratio of the first and second components as determined by the metering device may be adjusted.

2. A lubrication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the lubrication pump comprises

a pump inlet;

a pump outlet;

conveying means communicatively connected between the pump inlet and the pump outlet, wherein the conveying means is responsive to being driven for delivering in a metered volume flow from the pump inlet to the pump outlet; and

said mixing chamber being communicatively connected to and upstream from the pump inlet.

3. A lubrication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the conveying means of the pump comprises paired gears associated with the pump outlet.

4. A lubrication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the lubrication pump further comprises a plurality of pump outlets; and

the conveying means comprises a plurality of paired gears, wherein each pair of gears is associated with a respective pump outlet of the plurality of pump outlets.

5. A lubrication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pump further comprises a drive shaft, wherein each pair of gears is driven by the drive shaft and the paired gears are constructed and arranged so that each pair of gears is operative to provide the same metered volume flow.

6. A lubrication apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the mixing chamber is located in the flow path upstream of the pump.

7. A lubrication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the wetting device is selected from the group consisting of a first wetting device, a second wetting device, and a third wetting device;

the first wetting device comprises;

a yarn guide comprising a yarn track for being in contact with the yarn, and

a channel communicatively connected to the outlet of the feed device and capable of receiving the lubricant from the outlet of the feed device, wherein the channel terminates in the yarn track and is capable of providing the lubricant to the yarn track;

the second wetting device comprises a nozzle comprising an inlet and outlet, wherein;

the inlet of the nozzle is communicatively connected to the outlet of the feed device and capable of receiving the lubricant from the outlet of the feed device,

the outlet of the nozzle is directed toward the yarn, and

the outlet of the nozzle is in communication with the inlet of the nozzle so that the lubricant is capable of emerging from the outlet of the nozzle; and

the third wetting device comprises;

a container communicatively connected to the outlet of the feed device and capable of receiving the lubricant from the outlet of the feed device, and

a rotatable roll comprising a circumference for extending into the container and receiving the lubricant and further for being in contact with the yarn and applying the lubricant to the yarn.