US3844497A

US3844497A - Strand sensor for automatic knock-off device

Info

Publication number: US3844497A
Application number: US00320379A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Harrill; T Baugham; E Pruitt
Original assignee: PPG Industries Inc
Current assignee: PPG Industries Inc
Priority date: 1973-01-02
Filing date: 1973-01-02
Publication date: 1974-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 1991-10-29

Abstract

A system for stopping the forming winder collet and spiral in a glass filament package winding machine in the event of strand breakage is disclosed. Air currents created when hot glass filaments come into contact with moisture from prepad water sprays are detected by a baffle which activates a microswitch. When the strand breaks, the air currents stop, allowing the microswitch to close and shut down the winder.

Description

United States Patent [191 Harrill et a1.

[ STRAND SENSOR F OR AUTOMATIC KNOCK-OFF DEVICE [75] Inventors: Joseph M. Harrill; Thomas C.

Baugham, both of Shelby; Eugene Pruitt, Bessemer City, all of NC.

[73] Assignee: PPG Industries, lnc., Pittsburgh, Pa. [22] Filed: Jan. 2, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 320,379

[52] [1.8. Cl 242/36, 65/1 1 W, 200/6l.18,

226/11, 242/18 G, 242/38, 242/49, 425/66 [51] Int. Cl..... B65h 63/00 [58] Field of Search 242/36, 37, 38, 42, 28,

242/29, 49, 57, 18 G, 45; 226/45, 11; 65/2, 11 R, 11 W, 12; 340/259; 425/66; 2O0/61.18

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,560,178 2/1971 Minkler 242/37 X /4 sfl ilm.

[ Oct. 29, 1974 3,756,524 9/1973 Felix 242/36 Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert DeMajistre; John E. Curley [57] ABSTRACT A system for stopping the forming winder collet and spiral in a glass filament package winding machine in the event of strand breakage is disclosed. Air currents created when hot glass filaments come into contact with moisture from prepad water sprays are detected by a baffle which activates a microswitch. When the strand breaks, the air currents stop, allowing the microswitch to close and shut down the winder.

16 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PREPAD SPRAY CONTROL STRAND SENSOR 76 a DELAY CONTROLLER IMPULSE COUNTERS 45 as 42 INDICATORS PAIENIEBBNZQ m4 3.8443197 SHED 3 /a /a I v 28 PREPAD 30 0 32 SPRAY 3/ CONTROL m 52 72 Q 54 STRAND SENSOR 76a o DELAY 24 TIMERS 80 OFF 7 CONTROLLER IMPULSE COUNTERS INDICATORS PAIENIEfinmzemn a;a44'.497

SHEET 20F 3 SENSOR 74\ STRAND CONTROL CIRCUITS PA-IENTEMMQM sum m 3 1844,49?

I v F/G.4 L2 r 52 76 9 STRAND SENSOR CONTROL R E LAY L [L [00 SQL 7 PREPAD SPRAY STOP I v sou-mom COLL ET MOTOR RE LAY QUENCH SPRAY D. c. BREAKING RELAY H80 PKG TIMER RESET U TRAVERSE TIMER BRAKING TIMER W- COUNTER RELAY /26a A340 58 TRAVERSE SOLENOID STRAND SENSOR FOR AUTOMATIC KNOCK-OFF DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates, in general, to apparatus for regulating the winding of a strand of filaments in a package, and more particularly to an apparatus for stopping the winding apparatus if the strand should break.

In the manufacture of continuous filaments from heat softened materials such as glass, it is usual to draw such filaments from a plurality of small orifices closely spaced in rows in a bushing located along the bottom of a feeding device. This feeding device supplies the heat-softened glass in streams through the bushing orifices and the filaments are attenuated from the streams, generally by means of a winding apparatus. The configuration of the bushing produces a fan-like spread of filaments which are drawn together into a strand, as by means of a gathering shoe located beneath the bushing, before being wound into a package by the winding apparatus.

The drawing of the filaments from the bushing generally is performed by the winding apparatus at a comparatively high linear= speed, and accordingly sensitive and highly responsive controls must be used to regulate the operation. The temperature of the feed material must be carefully adjusted to insure proper viscosity with respect to the speed of withdrawal of the filaments, in order to maintain the desired filament diameter, coatings or lubricants must be applied to the strands, and the speed of the winding mechanism must be accurately controlled to insure proper Winding of the package of filaments. However, it has been found that on occasion the strand of filaments being fed to the winding apparatus may break, not only disrupting the manufacturing process and reducing the amount of material being produced, but in addition causing damage to the winding apparatus.

Not only is it important promptly to detect strand breakage in order to return the filament winding station to production as rapidly as possible, but it is necessary to provide some means for quickly responding to such a condition to prevent machine damage. Although this problem has been recognized in the art, and although attempts have been made to provide a suitable detection means, an entirely reliable and satisfactory control system for accomplishing this has not previously been devised.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a systemfor detecting interruptions in a strand and for providing control signals in response to such signals.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a reliable, yet simple and inexpensive device for detecting breakage of a glass fiber strand and for responding to such breakage to shut down the strand winding apparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for sensing the breakage of a strand and for providing a control signal in response thereto for regulating the operation of the strand winding appara tus, which device will respond promptly and reliably to a breakage, yet will be insensitive to ambient conditions which might produce false signals that would shut down the system when no breakage had occurred.

Briefly, the present invention contemplates the provision of an air baffle mechanism sensitive to the air flow caused by the rapid linear motion of the filaments being attenuated by the winder, the baffle serving to operate a microswitch mechanism or the like which, in turn, produces a control signal when actuated. The baffie is placed near the prepad water sprays used to cool the filaments as they are attenuated, so that the moistureladen, warmed air operates on the baffle. As long as the filaments are being attenuated, the flow of air holds the microswitch open, and the control circuitry operates to keep the winder operable in the usual manner. Temporary movements of the baffle caused, for example, by air blowing on the baffle from a direction other than that produced by the filament motion, may cause the microswitch to close briefly, but to prevent such temporary conditions from disturbing the operation of the winder a delay means is interposed between the microswitch and the control circuit. This delay may be of the order of 10 seconds, thereby preventing nuisance shutdowns of the package winder. The baffle is arranged at an acute angle with the air flow to be detected, thereby assuring that dust, water, and other particulate material will not accumulate and affect the measurement.

The control circuit responsive to the operation of the microswitch includes not only the main drive motor for the winder, but the motor for the winding spiral as well, where separate motors are used. In addition, the closure of the microswitch can be used to turn off the prepad water sprayer, reset the package timers, operate suitable indicator lights, and the like, so that the operator of the system will be warned of the failure, can remove the partially wrapped package from the winder collet, secure the end of the strand to the new package, and restart the system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a fiber producing and winding system employing the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the illustration of FIG. 1, showing in partial cross section a baffle operated switch in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an air baffle suitable for use with the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a partial schematic diagram of the control circuitry for the system of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, the air flow responsive circuit control device of the present invention is shown in association with a filament-producing apparatus 10 such as a glass fiber attenuating system. In the illustrated embodiment, a receptacle or bushing 12 is adapted to receive glass marbles for melting or molten glass from a furnace forehearth. Electrical currents are supplied to the receptacle by way of conductors l4 and 16 to heat the glass to a molten condition and/or to maintain it at a temperature to provide the viscosity required for the formation of filaments, as is known in the art. Suitable temperature controllers (not shown) are provided to regulate the current flow at a level to insure proper melting of the glass marbles or to provide the proper temperature for molten glass fed thereto from the forehearth of a glass furnace so that a sufficient supply of molten material is available for the filament formation.

The bottom of the receptacle or bushing 12 is provided with a plurality of bushing orifices 18 through which flow thin streams of molten glass from the bushing or receptacle 12. The streams are drawn down, or attenuated, into fine continuous linear fibers or filaments 20 which are converged into a strand 22 by means of a gathering shoe 24.

A large number of orifices 18 are provided in the bottom of receptacle l2, and these are arranged in one or more rows, with a single filament being drawn from each orifice. Any number of filaments may be delivered from the feeder receptacle, the number depending upon the size of the receptacle and the spacing of the orifices. The convergence of the filaments from the elongated feeder 12 toward the gathering shoe 24 provides the generally fan-shaped configuration illustrated in the drawings.

The filaments 20 are drawn past a prepad sprayer 28 which comprises a plurality of

spray heads

30, 31 and 32 connected to a pipeline 34 carrying water or other suitable cooling liquid. The spray heads direct a fine spray of water onto the filaments 20 near the point where they are drawn from feeder l2 and while they are still hot, the water spray serving to cool the filaments before they reach the applicator 26. Although three spray heads are shown connected to a single distribution pipe 34, it will be evident that any desired number of heads may be used, depending, in particular, on the width of the feeder unit. A solenoid-operated valve 36 is provided in the pipeline to regulate the flow of water to the spray heads, and suitable control circuit means 38 are provided to open and close the valve at the start and end of a package winding operation. As will be seen, the control circuit means preferably includes a relay responsive to the operation of the baffleoperated switch of the present invention to open or close the solenoid valve 36.

The strand 22 of filaments, after being formed by the collecting shoe 24, is wound upon a tubular collector 40 carried by a rotatable mandrel, or collet, 42 driven by a speed-controlled electric motor 44. The collet may be mounted directly on the motor shaft, or may be separately mounted and driven by means of a belt or other mechanical connection 46, as is known in the art. The strand is traversed across the length of the collet by means of a rotatable traverse mechanism indicated generally at 48. This traverse, which is of conventional construction, effects a crossing of the individual convolutions of the strand 22 as it is wrapped around the collector sleeve 40. The traverse may be driven by an electric drive motor (not shown) the operation of which may be regulated by a suitable control circuit.

As is known in the glass fiber manufacturing art, the filaments 20 can be attenuated from the feeder 12 by the winder mechanism at speeds upwards of ten thousand linear feet per minute. This high speed of motion in the vicinity of the prepad water spray heads 30 32 causes a movement of warm, moist air in the direction of motion of the filaments; e.g., in a downward direction as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2 and as indicated by the arrow 50. This air movement is enhanced by the use of the prepad Sprayers, for the hot filaments tend to carry along any droplets of waterthat are present in the air, and these droplets add to the downward flow. This fiow of air ambient to the fan of filaments 20 is used in the present invention to detect any interruption in the attenuation of the filaments such as might be caused by a break in the strand 22.

The strand continuity detection is provided, in accordance with the present invention, by a microswitch 52 operated by means of an air-flow sensing baffle 54. As diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 2, the baffle 54 is secured to an elongated support arm 56 which is so secured that its motion in response to variations in the flow of air will open or close the

contacts

58, 59 of the microswitch, whereby the switch operates in accordance with the air flow, and thus in response to themetion of the filaments 20.

The microswitch 52 may include a housing 60 fixedly secured as by a mounting bracket 62 to a suitable supporting structure 64 adjacent the path followed by the filaments as they are attenuated from feeder 12. The baffle support arm 56 is secured to the housing 60 in any suitable manner so that it is biased in a direction to tend to close switch contacts 58 59, but is movable by a predetermined air flow to hold the contacts open. The support arm may be fixedly secured to the housing as by a pin 64 fixed to a mounting block 66, and may extend past the contacts and be sufficiently flexible to enable the air flow to open the switch. Alternatively, the arm 56 may be pivotally mounted at 64 and biased, as by a spring, to close

contacts

58, 59 in the absence of a minimum air velocity striking the baffle 54. It will be apparent that many variations of the switch arrangement can be used, in accordance withknown methods of operating microswitches by means of lever arms, and the illustrated provision of a fixed contact 58 secured to a mounting block 68 within the housing 60 and cooperating with a movable contact 59 mounted on the flexible arm 56 is considered illustrative of one mode of carrying out the invention. Thus, for example, the microswitch could be a self-contained unit mounted on block 68 adjacent arm 56, the switch having a lever arm operable by means of arm 56, with the switch lever arm serving to actuate the switch contacts.

The baffle 54 preferably is a thin, light-weight, elongated, yet rigid plate or sheet mounted on the free end of flexible arm 56 adjacent the path of filaments 20 and in the path of the air current 50 generated by the motion of the filaments. The baffle is approximately equal to width to the expanse of filaments 20 and is located close to the path of the filaments so as to obtain maximum sensitivity to filament-generated air currents and minimum sensitivity to stray air currents from other sources which might impinge on the baffle to provide a false indication of strand breakage.

A thin, generally oval-shaped aluminum sheet such as that indicated in FIG. 3 is suitable. This plate may be secured to the end of the flexible arm by welding, riveting, or other suitable fastener means as desired.

The sensing mechanism including the baffle 54, arm 56 and microswitch 52 is extremely sensitive to the flow of the air currents 50 generated by the filaments, and accordingly the baffle need not be at right angles to the air flow 50 in order to be effective; in fact, it is preferred that the angle a formed between the baffle arm and direction of air be acute, as shown in FIG. 2, to prevent the accumulation of water or other matter on the upper surface of the baffle. Such particulate matter, if collected on the surface of the baffle, would tend to weight it down and hold the microswitch open, thereby reducing the sensitivity of the apparatus to air flow. With the illustrated arrangement, however, the sensing mechanism is substantially immune to atmospheric dust and other particles, in contrast to prior art devices, for even if some material does collect on the baffle, it will have relatively little effect on the operation of the present device.

Switch contacts

58, 59 are connected by way of

electrical leads

70 and 72 to the winder mechanism control circuitry indicated in block diagram form in FIG. 1 and in partial schematic form in FIG. 4. Thus, the contacts are connected to a strand sensor 74 (FIG. 1) which may take the form of a relay coil 76 (FIG. 4) connected in series with the

contacts

58, 59 of microswitch 52 and the secondary of a power supply transfon'ner 78 connected across power supply lines L1 and L2 through additional control elements to be described.

Relay coil 76 is a variable time delay device, and when energized by the closure of

contacts

58, 59 will open its corresponding contacts 76a after a delay of up to seconds, the exact delay being predetermined in accordance with the particular winding station to which the present system is applied.

The length of the time delay will be dependent upon a number of factors, but is selected to be long enough to prevent shut-down of the winder in response to spurious or temporary variations in the velocity or direction of the air current, yet short enough to prevent damage to the winder if the strand breaks. Such damage can occur if the winder operates for an appreciable length of time substantially without load, i.e., without attenuating the fibers and pulling the strand 22 onto the collet.

The main controller for the system is indicated at 80 in F IG. 1, and includes, among other things the remaining elements of FIG. 4. Controllers of this type utilize various timers 82 and counters 84 to regulate the length of time the collet 42 is to be operated to produce a package of wound filaments of desired size, to time the motion of the traverse, to keep track of the number of packages wound at a given station, and to perform other known functions. Various indicators 86 may be utilized to signal the operator of the status of the winder unit. Some of these features are illustrated in FIG. 4 to illustrate the relationship of the baffle microswitch 52 with a conventional control circuit.

Thus, the controller 80 incorporates a main control relay 88 connected across lines L1 and L2 through a manual stop pushbuttom switch 90, a normally open relay contact 880 which holds in relay 88 after it has been energized, a normally closed contact 92a of the spiral motor 92, and a package contact 94 which is normally closed. Contact 92a is connected in parallel with the strand sensor contact 76a. To start the system, a normally open starting contact 96 is used to bypass contact 88a, thereby energizing coil 88 to close and hold contact 88a. Thereafter contact 96 may be released.

Mechanically connected to contact 96 is a normally closed reset contact 98 which opens when contact 96 is closed, thereby deenergizing the collet and spiral motors and various timing relays to be described. With the spiral motor deenergized, contact 92a remains closed to allow the main control relay to be energized. Upon release of contact 96, contact 98 closes to energize the spiral motor and open contact 92a; thereafter the main relay coil is retained in its energized state by normally closed

contact

76a, 50 that the control system is then under the control of the strand sensor relay 76 and thus of the microswitch 52.

The primary of transformer 78, which supplies the strand sensor relay, is connected across the control relay 88, and thus is energized only when relay coil 88 is energized. Accordingly, if a discontinuity in the strand 22 causes the microswitch 52 to close, contact 76a will open to deenergize both coil 76 and coil 88, in turn opening contact 88a, and deenergizing the control system.

Connected between the common junction 100 of

contacts

76a, 88a and 96 and line L2 are the prepad spray control valve solenoid 102 and, where a quench spray is used, a quench spray valve solenoid 104. A normally open contact 92b controlled by the spiral motor relay 92 may be provided to limit the operation of solenoid 104 to the time during which the spiral motor is energized.

Reset contact 98 is connected between a power supply line 106, which is connected to pushbutton 90, and a plurality of control relays connected to a power line 108. Thus, a collet motor relay is connected between line 108 and line L2 through a plurality of contacts which insure that the motor will not operate unless a number of conditions are met. For example, normally open contact 88b prevents the motor from operating until the main control relay 88 is energized, while a plurality of normally closed overload relays 112, 113 and 114 may be used to shut down the motor in the event of a system fault. A relay contact 116a may be provided to open in response to energization of a DC. breaking relay coil 116 connected between line L1 and collet motor relay 110 through a normally open braking timer contact 118a and a normally closed motor relay contact 110a. The junction between contact 110a and relay 116 is connected through a package timer reset relay 120 to line L2.

Line 108 is connected through a collet motor relay contact 11% to a power line 122, with the braking timer 118 being connected between lines 122 and L2 for energization when the motor relay closes contact 11%. Also connected between lines 122 and L2 is the series arrangement of a switch 124 and a traverse timer relay 126 which regulates the operation of the traverse mechanism 48.

Line 122 is connected through a relay contact 126a, which is closed by the energization of relay coil 126, to a line 128 which leads through the spiral motor relay coil 92 and a pair of normally closed

overload contacts

130, 131, to line L2 to energize the motor. Also connected between lines 128 and L2 through a relay contact 134a are a pair of relay coils 136 and 138. Coil 136 is connected in series with a normally closed collet motor contact 1100 for energization whenever the motor shuts down, thereby providing a count of the number of shutdowns. Coil 138 is a solenoid for use with the traverse mechanism 48. Additional control relays and timers may be provided in accordance with the known procedures in the fiber attenuating and winding 7' arts and which do not need amplification herein, since such controls are not apart of the present invention.

As is evident from the foregoing,'the present invention provides a sensitive and reliable means for detecting a break in a strand of filaments being attenuated from a stream of molten material such as glass and for stopping a strand winding mechanism in response to the occurrence of such a break. The invention includes a baffle mechanism arranged to operate a microswitch in response to air currents generated by the filaments as they are drawn toward the winder through a water spray which cools the filaments. The warm, moist air in the region of the sprayer is drawn along with the fastmovingfilaments and the resulting air current flowing against the baffle holds the microswitch open against a bias which would tend to close it. If the strand should break, the air currents stop and the bias-arrangement of the baffle mechanism returns it to its initial position, thereby closing the microswitch to energize the strand sensor relay coil 76. After a suitable delay, selected to be long enough to -prevent spurious operation of the control mechanism yet short enough to prevent damage to the winder machinery which operates substantially without load after the strand breaks, the relay coil opens its associatedcontacts 76a to deenergize the I main system control relay 88. This opens relay contacts 88a and 88b, prevent reenergization of the motor, as by an accidental or spurious motion of the baffle that when a predetermined length of strand has been wound inthe art'are riotaffected by the present invention except'upon the occurrence of a break in the strand.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in terms of a specific embodiment, it will be understood that the switch structure and control circuitry shown and described are to be considered as illustrative of the invention,-and that modifications and variations of the device will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, it will'be understood that the sensor of the present invention may also respond to the breakage of a number of filaments, rather than only to the breakage of the strand; thus, when a sufficient number of filaments have broken to reduce the velocity of the air currents created by attenuation of the streams of molten glass to a predetermined level, the winder will be shut down. Although the primary use of the baffle switch is to sense breakage of all of the filaments, by adjusting the sensitivity of the microswitch to respond to the reduction of the air currents to an intermediate velocity breakage of a portion of the filaments can be detected. Additional variations in the system, such as in the shape, size or location of the baffle, in the provision of a microswitch that opens instead of closes in response to reduced air velocity, or in modifications of the control circuitry will be evident, and accordingly it is desired that the true spirit and scope of the invention be limited only by the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a system for forming a plurality of filaments from a heat softened material including: means for attenuating said filaments; means for gathering said filaments into strand; means for winding said strand, said 8 I means for winding and said means'for attenuating providing motion to said filaments and thestrand associated therewith, said motion of said filaments causing air currents; the improvement comprising a movable sensing means adjacent to said filaments, positioned in the path of movement of said air currents and movably responsive to variations in saidair currents; and control circuit means responsive to the movement of said sensing means when said air currents fall below a predetermined value to stop said means for winding and attenuating said filaments and the strand associated therewith. Y

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensing means incorporates delay means for delayingthe response of said control circuit means, whereby temporary variations in said air currents will not stop said means for winding said strand.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes baffle means located adjacent said filaments and sensitive to said air currents.

4. The system of claim 3, whereinsaid control-circuit means includes relay means responsive to the movement of said baffle means by said air'currents.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said sensing means further includes switch means responsive to the movement of said baffle means by said air currents.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein said baffle means comprises a thin, rigid sheet suspended in the path of said air currents and a lever arm supporting said baffle for movement by said air currents.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said sensing means further includes switch means responsive to'the movement of said lever arm by air currents striking said baffie 8. The system of claim 7, wherein said switch means comprises a microswitch mechanically operated by said lever arm to open and close in accordance with the velocity of the air currents produced by said filaments, and wherein said control circuit means includes relay means energizable by said microswitch for stopping said means for winding saidstrand.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said relay means comprises a time delay relay for delaying the stopping of said means for winding said strand to thereby prevent shutdown of said system upon occurrence of temporary variations in said air currents.

l0. ln a system for continuously attenuating aplurality of filaments from streams of heat softened material, said attenuation producing air currents, the improvement comprising:

sensing the velocity of said air currents by movable sensing means disposed in the path of said air currents, moving said sensing means in response to said air currents and stopping the attenuation of said filaments when the velocity of said air currents as determined by said movable sensing means is less than a predetermined value.

11. In a system for continuously attenuating a plurality of filaments from streams of heat softened material; said attenuation providing motion to said filaments, said motion of said filaments producing air currents, the improvement which comprises:

sensing the velocity of said air currents generated by said motion of said filaments by a movable sensing means disposed in the path of said air currents; moving said sensing means in response to said air currents; and

stopping the attenuation of said filaments when the velocity of the air currents is less than a predetermined value as determined by the movement of said movable sensing means.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the step of stopping the attenuation of said streams comprises interrupting the winding of said strand.

13. In a system for continuously manufacturing filaments comprising the steps of flowing spaced streams of heat softened material from a source, attenuating said streams into continuous filaments, cooling said filaments with a fine spray of water, continuously gathering said filaments into a strand and winding said strand into a package, said attenuation of said filaments inducing currents of air in the area of said filaments, the improvement comprising sensing the velocity of said air currents caused by the motion of said filaments said sensing the velocity of said air currents comprising 10- cating an air baffle adjacent to said filaments in the path of said air currents and mounting said baffle for movement in accordance with the velocity of said currents whereby the motion of said baffle indicates the velocity of said air currents; and stopping the attenuation of said streams into filaments upon sensing a change in velocity of said air currents indicating a break in said filaments.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the step of sensing the velocity of said air currents further includes energizing a control circuit in accordance with the motion of said baffle, whereby energization and deenergization of said control circuit regulates the attenuation of said filaments.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the step of sensing the velocity of said air currents further includes locating said baffle adjacent the water spray used to cool the attenuated filaments, whereby the baffle is activated by a flow of warm, moist air.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the step of sensing the velocity of said air currents further includes mounting said baffle at an acute angle with the path of i UNITED STATES PA'I ENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PatentNo. 3,8445697 "Dated October 29, L974 Inventr-(s) M0 at 1 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

001 9, 111m .21, Claim 13, after the word "said", please insert --a1r-.

Signed and sealed this 14th day of January 1975.

(SEAL) Attesta McCOY M. GIBSON JR. Attesting Officer c. MARSHALL 1mm: Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC 6037 6-P69 FORM PO-IOSO (10-69) a u. s. sovanmat m rnm'rms omc: Ins o-sss-au.

Claims

1. In a system for forming a plurality of filaments from a heat softened material including: means for attenuating said filaments; means for gathering said filaments into strand; means for winding said strand, said means for winding and said means for attenuating providing motion to said filaments and the strand associated therewith, said motion of said filaments causing air currents; the improvement comprising a movable sensing means adjacent to said filaments, positioned in the path of movement of said air currents and movably responsive to variations in said air currents; and control circuit means responsive to the movement of said sensing means when said air currents fall below a predetermined value to stop said means for winding and attenuating said filaments and the strand associated therewith.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensing means incorporates delay means for delaying the response of said control circuit means, whereby temporary variations in said air currents will not stop said means for winding said strand.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said control circuit means includes relay means responsive to the movement of said baffle means by said air currents.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said sensing means further includes switch means responsive to the movement of said lever arm by air currents striking said baffle

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said switch means comprises a microswitch mechanically operated by said lever arm to open and close in accordance with the velocity of the air currents produced by said filaments, and wherein said control circuit means includes relay means energizable by said microswitch for stopping said means for winding said strand.

10. In a system for continuously attenuating a plurality of filaments from streams of heat softened material, said attenuation producing air currents, the improvement comprising: sensing the velocity of said air currents by movable sensing means disposed in the path of said air currents, moving said sensing means in response to said air currents and stopping the attenuation of said filaments when the velocity of said air currents as determined by said movable sensing means is less than a predetermined value.

11. In a system for continuously attenuating a plurality of filaments From streams of heat softened material; said attenuation providing motion to said filaments, said motion of said filaments producing air currents, the improvement which comprises: sensing the velocity of said air currents generated by said motion of said filaments by a movable sensing means disposed in the path of said air currents; moving said sensing means in response to said air currents; and stopping the attenuation of said filaments when the velocity of the air currents is less than a predetermined value as determined by the movement of said movable sensing means.

13. In a system for continuously manufacturing filaments comprising the steps of flowing spaced streams of heat softened material from a source, attenuating said streams into continuous filaments, cooling said filaments with a fine spray of water, continuously gathering said filaments into a strand and winding said strand into a package, said attenuation of said filaments inducing currents of air in the area of said filaments, the improvement comprising sensing the velocity of said air currents caused by the motion of said filaments said sensing the velocity of said air currents comprising locating an air baffle adjacent to said filaments in the path of said air currents and mounting said baffle for movement in accordance with the velocity of said currents whereby the motion of said baffle indicates the velocity of said air currents; and stopping the attenuation of said streams into filaments upon sensing a change in velocity of said air currents indicating a break in said filaments.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the step of sensing the velocity of said air currents further includes mounting said baffle at an acute angle with the path of said filaments.