Twisted Thread Cooling Groove Design for Intensive Liquid Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooling devices for synthetic threads in texturing zones face challenges in achieving intensive cooling due to the twisted thread's dynamics, which lead to inefficient penetration and retention of cooling liquid, resulting in insufficient cooling, especially for larger thread deniers.

Innovation Solution

The cooling groove is designed with a cross-section divided into partial cross-sections, where the groove walls are parallel or inclined at an opening angle of less than 15°, and includes alternating corrugated and smooth groove bases to ensure the thread remains in contact with the cooling liquid, preventing liquid from being thrown off and allowing for efficient cooling liquid consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a cooling liquid is supplied to the twisted thread in a conventional cooling groove, then the cooling intensity should increase, but the cooling liquid is thrown off due to thread dynamics, resulting in insufficient cooling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling intensityVSAvoidcooling liquid retention
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling groove is divided into multiple longitudinal sections with alternating corrugated and smooth groove bases. This segmentation creates different functional zones: corrugated sections provide friction and retention, while smooth sections allow controlled liquid flow and thread movement, preventing the cooling liquid from being thrown off while maintaining cooling effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the cooling groove have different surface characteristics (corrugated vs. smooth) to perform different functions. The corrugated sections locally increase friction to retain cooling liquid, while smooth sections locally reduce friction to allow thread progression, creating optimal conditions for cooling liquid retention at each location

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Temperature

If the thread is guided through a cooling groove with conventional design, then the thread can be cooled, but the twisted thread structure causes the cooling liquid to penetrate insufficiently into the thread interior

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethread coolingVSAvoidcooling liquid penetration
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The alternating corrugated and smooth groove base sections create a periodic action pattern as the thread passes through. This periodic variation in friction and liquid flow conditions allows repeated cycles of liquid application, retention, and penetration, ensuring thorough cooling of the thread interior that would not be achieved with a uniform groove design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Device complexity

If a cooling device uses only ambient air for cooling, then the device structure is simple, but relatively long cooling sections are required leading to multi-level construction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling device structureVSAvoidcooling section length
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a liquid cooling system (hydraulic principle) instead of relying solely on air cooling. The cooling liquid delivered through the metering device and applied in the cooling groove provides intensive cooling that achieves the required temperature reduction in a much shorter distance, eliminating the need for long cooling sections and multi-level construction while maintaining relatively simple device structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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

This design enhances the cooling efficiency by maintaining the thread within the groove, ensuring uniform wetting and intensive cooling over a longer distance, effectively addressing the limitations of previous cooling devices.

Implementation Method 1

The cooling groove (2) is connected via a metering opening (3) to a metering device (5) for supplying a cooling liquid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the cooling of the thread is intensified with the aid of a cooling liquid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP3538697B1Cooling apparatus for a synthetic thread
Publication Date: 2021.02.24 OERLIKON TEXTILE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3538697B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3538697B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3538697B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A description is given of a cooling apparatus for a synthetic thread, in particular a twisted thread, within a texturing zone. The cooling apparatus has an elongate cooling body with a cooling groove which is open on a guiding side. A metering opening in the base of the groove connects the cooling groove to a metering device for supplying a cooling liquid. In order to achieve reliable thread guidance and intensive cooling of the thread, despite the dynamics of the twisted thread itself, the invention provides for the cooling groove to have a groove cross section which is subdivided into a plurality of partial cross sections and in the case of which the groove flanks in at least one of the partial cross sections (guiding cross section) are parallel to one another or inclined in each case at an opening angle of less than 15°.