US2918780A

US2918780A - Ring traveler

Info

Publication number: US2918780A
Application number: US579212A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold G Bowen
Original assignee: U S Ring Traveler Co
Current assignee: U S Ring Traveler Co
Priority date: 1956-04-19
Filing date: 1956-04-19
Publication date: 1959-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 1976-12-29

Description

H. G. BOWEN Dec. 29, 1959 POLYMER 5,3 5/6 (ammo/145mm) oxsm NE PDL YMER 5&9. 4. 5,3 513 (ammo/mew n) our/we POL YMER INVENTOR Harold 6. Bowen .BY Btu-AM M ATTORNEYS RING TRAVELER Harold G. Bowen, Providence, R.I., assignor to U. S.

Ring Traveler Company, Providence, R.l., a corporation of Rhode Island Application April 19, 1956, Serial No. 579,212

8 Claims. (Cl. 57-125) This invention relates to ring travelers employed on spinning and textile frames in the textile industry and, more particularly, to plastic ring travelers of improved performance.

Until relatively recent years, ring travelers were fabricated from either steel or bronze, depending upon whether or not the operation was conducted in the presence of water. The water employed in wet twisting methods rusts steel and, consequently, bronze travelers are normally employed in the wet processes. These metal travelers require varying amounts of lubrication, especially in twisting operations where drag on the ring is heaviest. Even when lubricated, both ring and traveler are subject to considerable wear due to the metal-to-metal contact. The resulting metal particles become admixed with the grease or other lubricant employed, and, particularly when oxidized, cause undesirable staining of the yarn or thread.

More recently attempts have been made to employ plastic materials in the fabrication of ring travelers. It was hoped that the elimination of metal from the traveler would result in a reduction in the amount of lubricant employed and would, therefore, reduce the staining of the yarn or thread. Despite a considerable amount of research, however, the only plastic travelers which have been at all satisfactory for commercial use have been those fabricated from linear polyamides and particularly nylon.

In order to make even the nylon travelers operable, from the standpoint of hardness, it has been necessary to heat treat the plastic travelers either by heating in oil or by exposure to high temperature steam. While both treatments effected a desired hardening in the plastic, the oil absorbed by the plastic in the oil treatment was found to contribute to the discoloration of the yarn. The steam treated nylon travelers, although of improved hardness, do not possess satisfactory self-lubricating characteristics. Nylon travelers are also characterized by excessive springmess.

In view of these and other difliculties experienced by the art, the principal object of the present invention is a plastic ring traveler of improved wearing characteristics.

A further object of the invention is a plastic ring traveler of improved self-lubricating properties.

An additional object of the invention is a self-lubricating plastic ring traveler which does not require special treatment.

In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that ring travelers fabricated from the polymer of 3,3-bis(chloromethyl) oxetane are essentially self-lubricating and exhibit superior wear characteristics. While the poly-3,3-bis(chloromethyl) oxetane travelers of the invention do not require special treatment, they may, if desired, be additionally hardened by heat treatment, such as by treatment with steam. Preferably, however, the hardness, and wear-resistance of the plastic will be controlled by varying the molecular weight of the polymer.

United States Patent ICC Polymers of 3,3-bis(chloromethyl) oxetane may be prepared by contacting the monomer with from about 0.01 to about 10% boron trifluoride or its molecular complexes in the presence of an inert organic liquid diluent such as cyclohexane, benzene or toluene. The polymerization reaction may be conducted over a broad temperature range of from about C. to about 80 C. The higher molecular weights are obtained at the lower temperatures. Consequently, for use in the ring travelers of the invention, it is preferred that the polymerization reaction be conducted at a temperature below about 20 C. The structural formula of monomeric 3,3-bis(chloromethyl) oxetane is as follows:

If desired, a minor proportion of one or more-other monomeric oxetanes may be copolymerized with 3,3- bis(chloromethyl) oxetane, such as 3,3-bis(fluoromethyl) oxetane, 3,3-bis(bromomethyl) oxetane, 3-chloromethyl- 3-methyl oxetane, 3,3-dimethyl oxetane, 3,3-bis(phenoxymethyl) oxetane, and the like. In this manner, the physical properties such as flexibility and softening point may be desirably altered. Additional details pertaining to preparation of polymers comprising 3,3-bis(chloromethyl) oxetane may be found in US. Patent 2,722,340. The polymer of 3,3-bis(chloromethyl) oxetane is manufactured and sold under the trade name Penton by Hercules Powder Company.

Ring travelers fabricated from 3,3-bis(chloromethy1) oxetane and copolymeric oxetanes containing 3,3- bis(chloromethyl) oxetane are characterized by just the right degree of flexibility to readily snap on the ring. These polymers are essentially self-lubricating and have a coefiicient of friction which permits higher traveler speeds than are possible with bronze or case hardened steel. The polymer is substantially impermeable to water, grease or usual hydrocarbon solvents and, consequently, is ideally suited for wet processes where Water or solvents are present.

The general type of ring traveler contemplated by this invention is exemplified by the accompanying drawingv Fig. 1 shows a simple, conventional ring traveler mounted on a commonly employed ring. In Fig. 2 is shown a view of the traveler of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a special ring structure with a traveler mounted thereon. In Fig. 4 is shown a view of the traveler of Fig. 3.

Since the softening point of 3,3-bis(chloromethyl) oxetane and the listed oxetane copolymers is in the neighborhood of C., the travelers of the invention may readily be prepared by any of the conventional casting or molding techniques and preferably will be prepared by injection molding. Alternatively, although less desirably, the travelers may be machined from sheets of the plastic which may be prepared by pressing or calendering operations.

Example Ring travelers similar to those shown in the drawing as rial. The reinforcing member may be integrated into the traveler during a casting operation or the plastic may be applied as a coating or layer by known techniques such as dipping or extrusion.

Since various modifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-lubricating ring traveler for spinning or twisting operations, the surface of which comprises a polymer of 3,3-bis(chloromethyl) oxetane.

2. A self-lubricating ring traveler for spinning or twisting operations, the surface of which comprises a copolymer of 3,3-bis(chloromethyl) oXetane and another monomeric oxetane.

3. A self-lubricating ring traveler for spinning or twisting operations which comprises a polymer of 3,3- bis(chloromethyl) oXetane.

4. A self-lubricating ring traveler for spinning or twisting operations which comprises a copolymer of 3,3- bis(chloromethyl) oxetane and another monomeric oxetane.

5. A self lubricating ring traveler for spinning or twisting operations which consists of the homopolymer of 3,3-bis(chloromethyl) oxetane.

6. A self-lubricating ring traveler for spinning or twisting operations which consists of the copolymer of 3,3- bis(chloromethyl) oxetane and another monomeric oxetane.

7. A self-lubricating ring traveler for spinning or twisting operations which comprises an internal reinforcing member covered with a layer of synthetic polymer com prising 3,3-bis(chloromethyl) oxetane.

8. A self-lubricating ring traveler for spinning or twisting operations which comprises an internal reinforcing member covered with a layer of synthetic polymer comprising the copolymer of 3,3-bis(chloromethyl) oxetane and another monomeric oxetane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,326,828 Camp Aug. 17, 1943 2,722,340 Feild et al. Nov. 1, 1955 2,722,493 Markwood et a1. Nov. 1, 1955

Claims

8. A SELF-LUBRICATING RING TRAVELER FOR SPINING OR TWISTING OPERATIONS WHICH COMPRISES AN INTERNAL REINFORCING MEMBER COVERED WITH A LAYER OF SYNTHETIC POLYMER COMPRISING THE COPOLYMER OF 3,3-BIS(CHLOROMETHYL) OXETANE AND ANOTHER MONOMERIC OXETANE.