US3382681A - Stabber cooling device - Google Patents

Description

y 1968 ,J. H. HAGY STABBER COOLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 12, 1964 INVENTOR A06 HH YY dag. ATTORNEYS M y 1968 .1. H. H AGY STABBER COOLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 12, 1964 VIII/ INVENTOR J3me jZ [/fi ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3382,68]. STABBER CQQLING DEVKTE lack H. Hagy, Melbourne, Fla, assignor of fifty percent to Melville G. Hunter, Melbourne. Fla. Filed Nov. 12, 1%4. Ser. No. 410,362 5 Claims. (Cl. 62--62) ABSTRACT OF THE DESCLQSURE A method for cooling a stabbing device beneath the material being worked on and after the stabbing device has pierced the material with air passed over a coolant to reduce its temperature below 32 F. An apparatus for cooling a stabbing device which is positioned below the material and directs cooled air axially outwardly and, by means of a battle, approximately radially outwar ly or downwardly.

This invention relates to stabbing devices such as used in sewing, lacing, punching, or cutting machines and more particularly to a cooling device for such stabhing devices.

It will be seen that the scope of this invention includes needles, knives, and punchers which are broadly referred to as stabbing devices.

The industries which employ these stabbing devices have been faced with many problems due to the short life of the stabbing device. After a relative short use, the stabber point becomes sufficiently damaged by flash heat to equire replacement.

For instance, when a needle used on a commercial sewing machine gets excessively hot, the chrome with which it is coated to provide smoothness begins to melt and flow from the point, thus leaving the needle dull. The problem is accentuated because as the needle becomes more dull, more heat is created as the needle attempts to pierce the material being worked on. As the chrome flows up the needle away from the point, it has a tendency to close the eye of the needle thus cutting the thread extending therethroug-h. Likewise, the heat created during the piercing of material by the needle causes the sizing, which is applied to almost all materials, to melt and flow up to the needle eye with a result similar to that experienced by the fiow of chrome to the eye.

Plastic or synthetic materials experience another problem which is foreign to cotton or natural fibers. The tremendout flash heat created by the piercing of the material by the needle causes the fibers of the plastic or synthetic material to melt slightly. If two or more layers of cloth are being pierced, this slight melting of the fibers will cause the layers of cloth to fuse together requiring someone to pull them apart manually.

The problem of heat excess is due in part to the high speed at which the stabbing machines run and in part to the difiiculty of piercing the material being worked on by the stabbing device. Thus, in the sewing and lacing industries the diificulty of piercing material is increased by the use of synthetic materials and thick natural materials, such as corduroy, and accordingly there is an increase of flash heat when the penetration occurs. In order to lower the flash heat somewhat, machines at the present operate in the range of 4,000 rpm. to 5,000 rpm. depending on the type of material being worked on, but it is desirable for obvious reasons to operate even at a higher speed if the problem of flash heat can be eliminated.

Heretofore numerous attempts have been made to cool the needle, and while they may have had some success in cooling the normal heat experienced by the needle,

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these cooling attempts have been generally unsatisfactory in combating the flash-heat problem. For instance, wax has been used on the foot which moves the cloth and on the thread itself to absorb heat. But the wax is quite messy and does not cool the needle sufficiently to take care of the flash-heat problem. Air has been blown on top of the fabric, but that has also proved ineffective, due in part to the fact that the surrounding air in the particular room where the stabber machine is located is generally warm enough to offset some of the cooling advantages of the air. Furthermore, only the thread which is inserted through the eye of the needle is cooled by air being blown on top of the fabric. Likewise, by the time that the needle is in position to be cooled by the air, a large amount of flash heat has been absorbed by the material with resulting damage. The rotary hook and thread positioned below the material are effected only a minimal amount by air being blown on top of the material. Therefore, it is desirable to cool the stabbing device after it has pierced the material so that both threads, the rotary hook, and the stabbing device can be effectively cooled in this region.

Air has been blown on a needle in the vicinity adjacent the needle after it has pierced the material, as disclosed in the patent to Christensen et 211., 2,400,741 of May 21, 1946. While such a disclosure may be effective in removing lint from the rotary hook which, it was claimed, provided insulation against any cooling attempt and while the needle is cooled slightly by blowing air thereon, such a method is ineffective to overcome the flash-heat problems which have arisen since this patent. Merely blowing air on the needle does not reduce its temperature sufiiciently to avoid the damage to the needle resulting in considerable lost time due to shutdowns as well as the incurrence of high replacement cost.

Not only is it desirable to have the heat removal medium and cooling device positioned underneath the material for the reasons stated above, but also the cooling can be more effective because the temperature of the somewhat enclosed area afforded by the structure of the machine surrounding the rotary hook and bobbin arrangement may be kept lower than the temperature of the surrounding area above the material. Furthermore, by positioning the cooling device below the material, it is out of the way of the operator when he runs the machine.

Broadly, therefore, it is an object of this invention to overcome the difficulties mentioned above and to provide a cooling method and device which will be far more eliective than any device heretofore used to cool stabbing devices.

It is thus an object of this invention to provide a method of cooling a stabbing device comprising the steps of directing a heat removal medium to the vicinity of the stabbing device and cooling the stabbing device suiliciently to dissipate the flash heat of the stabbing device.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to direct the heat removal medium to the vicinity of the stabbing device after it pierces the material.

Furthermore, it is an object of this invention to cool the heat removal medium prior to directing it to the vicinity of the stabbing device. The heat removal medium should be cooled sufficiently to dissipate the flash heat of the stabbing device, and thus it is contemplated that the heat removal medium should be cooled down to at least 32 F. and preferably to at least 20 F. with the most preferable temperature being 0 F. and below.

As disclosed in the preferable form of the invention, it is an object of the invention to employ a method of cooling the stabbing device comprising the steps of directing air or any other gaseous medium through a conduit to the vicinity adjacent the stabbing device after it pierces the needle, positioning a portion of the air conduit adjacent to a cooling medium, and cooling the air or other gaseous medium prior to its transfer to the vicinity of the stabbing device after it pierces the material so that the cooled air will dissipate the fiash heat of the stabbing device. Furthermore, the air should preferably be cooled down to the ranges mentioned above.

iore specifically, it is an object of this invention to transfer the cooling agent through a second conduit adjacent to the air conduit and to vaporize the cooling agent, which, for instance, might be Freon, in the vicinity of the air conduit to absorb heat therefrom prior to the air being transferred to the vicinity of the stabbing device after it pierces the material so that the air can dissipate the flash heat of the stabbing device.

Furthermore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved stabber cooling device comprising a first conduit having a first and second end for conducting a heat removal medium to the vicinity of the stabbing device after it pierces the material, cooling means positioned closely adjacent to at least a portion of the first conduit so as to cool the heat removal medium, and means operatively secured to the stabbing machine for supporting the first conduit so as to position the first end thereof adjacent to the stabbing device after it pierces the material.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a casing means surrounding at least a portion of the cooling means so as to provide protection for at least that portion or" the conduit which is contiguously coiled. The casing means may also have insulation means associated therewith for increasing the efiicien-cy of the cooling means. Such insulation means may either be positioned within the casing means around the coil so as to prevent moisture from forming ice on the coils or it may form a covering for the cylinder for further increasing the efiiciency of the cooling means.

Likewise, it is also an object of this invention to provide the first end of the conduit transferring the heat removal medium with a configuration such that the cooling medium is directed against the stabbing device substantially throughout its entire length between the eye of the needle and the point of the needle so that it can more effectively cool the critical parts of the needle. Furthermore, such configuration should provide for sufficient dissipation of the heat removal medium so that the rotary hook and thread associated therewith are also cooled. Such a configuration consists essentially of allowing air to escape both in at least two directions depending on the type of machine being used. Accordingly, in order to accomplish this object in one embodiment of the invention the first conduit terminates at its first end in a first opening and additionally has a second opening extending through the lower side of the conduit adjacent to its first end.

These and other objects of this invention are more clearly depicted in the following detailed description having specific reference to the attached drawings in which the embodiments of the invention are shown, not to limit the scope of the invention in any respect but so that the principles thereof might be more clearly demonstrated.

in the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a stabbing machine with parts broken away to reveal the stabber cooling device;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the cooling device;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of the cooling device shown also with a clamp for securing the device to the stabbing machine;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines d4 of FIGURE 2 with parts broken away for clarity;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines 55 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view partly in section showing the nozzle of the cooling device in relation to the stabber device and rotary hook.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a stabbing machine 10 having a stabber cooling device 12 associated therewith. Reference is made to a stabbing machine in that this term is broad enough to cover sewing, lacing, punching, or cutting machines in which the stabber device, i.e., needle, puncher, or knife, creates flash heat when piercing the material being worked on.

For illustration purposes, the stabber cooling device 12 is described and illustrated in conjunction with a commercial sewing machine, which, due to its speed of operation and the materials on which it operates, creates a large amount of dash heat as the material is pierced by the stabber device. Formerly, needles of sewing machines created heat clue to normal friction in its operation which was usually dissipated by use of a blower of one sort or another. With the introduction of synthetic materials and with the use of heavy natural fibers such as corduroy, a flash-heat problem arose which was not relieved by normal blowing mechanisms.

The sewing machine used for illustration is the type having a reciprocating needle. As illustrated, the sewing machine It) has a base 14 with a workplate 15 secured thereon which lies in the same plane as the table top 16. A vertical standard portion 18 rises above the base and has an overhanging arm 20 extending outwardly therefrom disposed above the base 14 and approximately parallel thereto. The arm 20 terminates in a needle head 22 housing the mechanism, not shown, which translates the rotary motion of the shaft 24 into a reciprocal motion operating the needle bar 26. The shaft is operatively connected to a combined hand wheel and pulley 28. A belt is positioned over the pulley and driven by some suitable source of power, such as an electric motor 32.

The needle head 22 also receives a. presser bar 34 for the bifurcated presser foot 36 which operates in the usual manner for pressing upon and feeding the material. The reciprocating needle bar 26 carries a needle 3% having an eye as indicated at 40 which passes through the bifurcated foot 36 in the usual manner. Positioned beneath the workplate 15 is a rotary hook 42 driven by an enclosed shaft 44 around a stationary bobbin holder 46 in a manner commonly employed in the industry.

During the course of operation the needle piercing through material becomes quite hot, and the heat is transmitted to the rotary hook and the thread element, not shown, operatively associated with the rotary hook. While the normal operation of these moving parts at high speeds creates friction heat which, in many instances, is aggravated by the fact that lint and dirt collect on the rotary hook and bobbin thereby acting as an insulator against efforts to dissipate the heat, the blowing of air or other heat removal mediums has an initial cooling effect which is aided by the fact that the lint and dirt is blown off the rotary hook and the bobbin. However, the mere blowing of air in the vicinity of these elements does not dissipate the flash heat created by the needle piercing through synthetic materials and heavy natural materials such as corduroy.

In order to cool the stabbing device sufliciently to dissipate the flash heat thereof, it is necessary to direct the heat removal medium to the vicinity of the stabbing device, preferably after the stabbing device pierces the material. The heat removal medium, if at room temperature, generally does not have sufiicient cooling eiiect to dissipate this flash heat, and accordingly, it is contemplated that the heat removal medium must be precooled before being directed to the vicinity of the stabbing device. In order to sufiiciently dissipate the flash heat the heat removal medium is cooled down to at least 32 F. with the heat removal medium being preferably cooled down to at least 20 F. and the most de sirable range being 0 F. and below.

As illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3, the cooling device 12 has a first conduit 48 through which the heat removal medium, such as air, is transferred to the vicinity of the stabbing device. A cooling means 50 is positioned closely adjacent to at least a portion of the first conduit 48 so as to cool the heat removal medium. As illustrated, this cooling means 5i comprises a second conduit 52 through which a cooling agent passes. In order to increase the efiiciency of the cooling effect of the cooling agent passing through the second conduit, at least a portion 54 of the first conduit and at least a portion 56 of the second conduit are coiled together so as to be maintained in contiguous relationship for the greatest possible length and yet minimizing the space required (FIG. 3 and FIG. 4).

Furthermore, the cooling efiiciency of the heat removal medium with respect to the stabbing device is increased due to the fact that the heat removal medium is dispersed in a somewhat enclosed area represented by the base 14 of the sewing machine although the base of the sewing machine is open sufficiently for enabling the cooling device to be removed, if necessary. In comparison to the area above the workplate, however, the area below the workplate is relatively enclosed.

It is also preferable to enclose those portions, 54 and 56, of the first conduit and cooling means which are closely adjacent to each other so as to provide protection. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, a cylindrical tubular member 58 is provided for enclosing the coiled portions of the first and second conduits. The tubular member has a pair of end plates 60 with apertures 62 for the particular conduits so as to completely enclose the area surrounding the coiled conduits. Still further it is desirable to cover the tubular member 58 and end plates 60 with an insulation means 64, such as a coating, so that the area within the enclosure means can be maintained as cold as possible. Likewise, it is also desirable to envelop the portions, 54 and 56, of the first conduit and cooling means which are closely adjacent to each other with an insulation means 65, such as a foam plastic, so as to prevent ice from forming on the coils and so as to increase the efiiciency of the cooling means. It will be appreciated that the cylindrical tubular member 58 provides protection for the insulating means and keeps it from being crumbled by the jarring of the stabber machine.

The first conduit has a first 66 and second 68 end. In FIGURE 2 the second end 68 of the first conduit is connected by a hose 70 to a suitable source of a heat removal medium, not shown. The hose 70 has a quick disconnect means 69 which automatically closes and seals itself when the first conduit is withdrawn from the connection. Similar connections are provided for the second conduit leading to a source of the cooling agent, not shown. In the preferable form of the invention, the cooling agent is Freon, and accordingly the second conduit provides a closed circuit as seen more clearly in FIG- URE 4. The second conduit is coiled contiguously with the first conduit and then returns through the coil as indicated at 72 so as to provide a closed circuit. By using Freon the second conduit becomes in effect the evaporator such that Freon vaporizes within the portion 56 of the second conduit adjacent to the first conduit and absorbs heat from the first conduit and heat removal medium conducted therein. If Freon is used, the second conduit, serving as an evaporator, would be connected in a circuit with a condenser, not shown, which would absorb heat from the Freon.

A clamp 65, shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, is operatively secured to the stabbing machine for supporting the first conduit 48 so that its first end 66 will be adjacent to the stabbing device after it pierces the material. The clamp may engage the cylindrical member 58 and support the first conduit 48 therethrough. Furthermore, the clamp may be attached to the stabbing machine or any structure associated with the machine, such as a table supporting the machine. In the latter position, the clamp is considered operatively secured to the stabbing machine within the scope of the invention, for it is only necessary that the clamp be secured in relation with the stabbing machine so that the first end 66 of the first conduit extends to a point adjacent to the stabbing device 38 after it pierces the material. By describing the first end of the first conduit as being adjacent to the stabbing device after it pierces the material so that the heat removal medium can be directed to the vicinity of the stabbing device, it is meant that the first conduit must be close enough to the stabbing device to avoid losing its effectiveness due to the absorption of heat of the surrounding air by the heat removal medium prior to contact with the stabbing device. However, the first end of the first conduit is not contiguous with the stabbing device, for it is also desirable to allow the heat removal medium to dissipate slightly prior to contact so that it will cool a much larger area. As illustrated in FIGURE 6, the first end of the first conduit serves as a nozzle for the heat removal medium. Inasmuch as the heat removal medium is designed to cool the needle and thread associated therewith, the rotary hook, bobbin and thread associated therewith, and the material being worked on itself, it is preferable that the first end 66 of the first conduit 43 be so configured that the heat removal medium is directed from the first conduit in at least two directions. As illustrated the heat removal medium is directed from the first conduit in an axial direction as well as a downward direction for effectively cooling the stabbing device. The variety of directions will be controlled in part by the type of machine being used and its particular cooling requirements. As illustrated, therefore, one form of the inveniion discloses the first conduit 43 terminating at its first end 66 in a first opening 74 with the first conduit additionally having a second opening 78 through the lower side 80 of the first conduit adjacent to the first end. The end 82 of the second opening 78 adjacent to the first end 66 of the first conduit 48 has a bafiie means 84 extending inwardly into the first conduit for deflecting air outwardly through the second opening 78. By such a construction the heat removal medium can be directed from the first conduit in an axial direction as well as a downward direction.

In operation, therefore, this invention sets forth a method of cooling a stabbing device used in piercing material comprising the steps of directing the heat removal medium to the vicinity of the stabbing device and cooling the stabbing device sufiiciently to dissipate the flash heat thereof. Preferably, the heat removal medium is directed to the vicinity of the stabbing device after it pierces the material, inasmuch as this is the moment when the flash heat is the greatest. Due to the fact that the heat removal medium at room temperature is not sufiiciently cold to dissipate the flash heat, it is necessary to cool the heat removal medium prior to directing it to the vicinity of the stabbing device. As mentioned heretofore the heat removal medium should be cooled down to at least 32 F. with the preferable temperature being at least 20 F. and the most preferable temperature being 0 F. and below. More specifically, as disclosed above, air is passed or directed through a conduit to the vicinity of the stabbing device after it pierces the material. A portion of the air conduit is positioned adjacent to a cooling medium which, as illustrated, comprises a second conduit a cooling agent, such as Freon, passing therethrougl.. The Freon is vaporized in the second conduit in that portion thereof which is adjacent to the first conduit so as to absorb heat from the air passing through the first conduit. After absorbing heat from the air and first conduit, the Freon is withdrawn and returned to a condenser where its absorbed heat is dissipated. The air after being cooled is directed to the vicinity of the stabbing device after it pierces the material so that it can dissipate the flash heat of the stabbing device.

Although not disclosed, it will be appreciated that a means is provided to cause the air or heat removal medium to pass through the first conduit to the vicinity of the stabbing device. Likewise, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide valve means associated with eitheror both the first conduit and the second conduit so as to regulate the fiow of heat removal medium and cooling agent passing respectively through each conduit.

It will be appreciated that modifications can be made to the stabbing device, such as the manner in which it is attached to the stabber machine, depending in part upon whether the stabber machine is a lacing, securing, cutting, or punching type of machine.

Therefore, while a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated in the drawings and discussed above, it should be adequately clear that considerable modification may be made thereto without departing from the principles of the invention. Therefore, the foregoing should be considered in an illustrative sense rather than a limiting sense, and accordingly the extent of this invention should be limited only by the spirit and scope of the claims appended hereto.

1 claim:

1. A stabber cooling device for use with a stabbing machine having at least a stabber for piercing material comprising:

a first conduit having a first and second end for conducting a heat removal medium to the vicinity of the stabbing devi e after it pierces the material, the first conduit terminating at the first end in an opening and the first conduit additionally having a second opening through the lower side of the conduit adjacent to the first end, the second opening having a bafile means extending from the end of the second opening adjacent to the first end of the conduit inwardly of the first conduit so that the heat removal medium can be directed in an axial direction as well as a downward direction for effectively cooling the stabbing device;

cooling means positioned closely adjacent to at least a portion of the first conduit so as to super cool the heat removal medium; and

means operatively secured to the stabbing machine for supporting the first conduit so as to position the first end thereof beneath the material to be worked on and adjacent the stabbing device after it pierces the material.

2. The stabber cooling device defined in claim 1 wherein the cooling means comprises a second conduit having a cooling agent passing therethrough and wherein at least a portion of the first conduit and at least a portion of the second conduit are contiguously coiled together so as to obtain an increased efficiency of the cooling effect of the cooling agent passing through the second conduit.

3. The stabber cooling device defined in claim 1 additionally comprising: casing means surrounding at least the portion of the cooling means and the first conduit which are closely adjacent to each other.

4. The stabher cooling device defined in claim 3 additionally comprising: insulation means associated with the casing means for increasing the efficiency of the cooling means.

5. A method of cooling a stabbing device used in piercing material comprising the steps of:

confining a coolant in a closed system;

directing the coolant to a first zone;

directing air through first conduit means outside the closed coolant system to the first zone;

passing air over the confined coolant in the first zone;

cooling the air below 32 in;

directing the cooled air through second conduit means to a point underneath the material in the area penetrated by the stabbing device after piercing the material; and

cooling the stabbing device.

Reierences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,339,229 1/1944 Wyllie -136 X 2,376,216 5/1945 Wertz 1l2218 2,491,635 12/1949 Allen 77--55 2,672,632 3/ 1954 Towse 2331 X 3,086,358 4/1963 Tumavicus 165169 X 3,137,184 6/1964 Meyers 83-171 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,133,225 7/1962 Germany.

758,858 9/ 1956 Great Britain.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

H. HAMPTON HUNTER, Examiner.

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