Alternating Groove Base for Thread Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for cooling heated threads in texturing machines require significant amounts of cooling liquid and result in excess coolant, which is environmentally problematic and costly to process.

Innovation Solution

A cooling device with a cooling groove featuring alternating guide sections with corrugated and smooth groove bases, where the corrugated base enhances wetting and retention of cooling liquid, and the smooth base allows for efficient cooling with minimal liquid contact, reducing coolant usage and environmental impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If air-cooled cooling rail is used to cool the fiber, then the fiber can be cooled from plastic state to fixed temperature, but relatively long cooling sections are required and excessive friction occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidcooling section length
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces air cooling with liquid cooling by introducing a cooling groove with coolant supply. The cooling groove receives coolant through a supply channel and guides the heated filament through the liquid coolant, enabling intensive cooling in a compact space without the long cooling sections required by air cooling methods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Length of stationary object

If cooling liquid is used to cool the filament, then the shortest cooling distances are achieved, but significant amounts of cooling liquid are consumed and excess coolant is generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling distanceVSAvoidcooling liquid consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different surface conditions within the cooling groove. The groove base features alternating smooth sections and corrugated sections, where the corrugated sections enhance coolant retention and wetting locally, while smooth sections allow controlled drainage. This localized variation optimizes cooling efficiency while minimizing overall coolant consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Quantity of substance

If grooved groove base is used in entry area, then wetting of yarn is intensified and coolant retention is improved, but coolant loss increases without proper management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoolant retention on yarnVSAvoidexcess coolant loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action through alternating smooth and corrugated groove base sections along the cooling groove. The corrugated sections periodically enhance coolant retention and wetting, while smooth sections periodically allow drainage and coolant return. This periodic variation along the groove length optimizes cooling while managing coolant loss systematically

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The device achieves intensive cooling with minimal coolant usage, minimizing excess liquid and environmental impact, while maintaining effective thread guidance and reducing wear on machine components.

Implementation Method 1

the cooling of the filament is carried out using a cooling liquid... the heated thread is guided through the cooling groove in contact with the coolant and cooled by the coolant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a grooved groove base in the entry area of the cooling groove significantly intensifies the wetting of the yarn

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentEP3312322B1Device for cooling a heated thread
Publication Date: 2019.05.22 OERLIKON TEXTILE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3312322B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3312322B1 patent drawingFigure 2.1~2.2
  • EP3312322B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A device for cooling a heated thread with a cooling element is described. The cooling element has an elongated cooling groove for guiding the thread, which is connected via a metering opening in the groove base to a metering device for supplying a cooling fluid. To cool the thread with small amounts of cooling fluid without excess cooling fluid, the cooling groove, according to the invention, has several guide sections with a grooved base and at least one guide section with a smooth base, arranged alternately one after the other. The metering opening is located upstream of one of the guide sections with a grooved base in an entry area of ​​the cooling groove.