Method for cooling and finishing melt-spun filaments

1 . A method of cooling and finishing melt-spun filaments, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus comprising:

a hollow quench stick tube defining a plurality of openings positioned along its periphery, and an air path within the hollow quench stick tube;

a finish applicator substantially surrounding the hollow quench stick tube; and

a spoiler skirt substantially surrounding the hollow quench stick tube, wherein the spoiler skirt is positioned above and spaced apart from the finish applicator to thereby define a spoiler void;

spinning a filament stream;

pumping a flow of supplied air into the hollow quench stick tube;

dispersing air through the plurality of openings;

cooling a stream of filaments with the flowing air;

diverting the flowing air to create a pressure differential between the spoiler void and adjacent surroundings that draws the filament stream against the finish applicator; and

finishing the filament stream with a desired finishing agent.

2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of spinning comprises extruding a stream of melt-spun filaments above the hollow quench stick tube such that the filament stream substantially surrounds the hollow quench stick tube.

3 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of pumping comprises directing the flowing air upwardly along the air path.

4 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of dispersing comprises directing the flowing air against the filament stream, such that the filament stream draws the flowing air downwardly.

5 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of diverting comprises directing the downwardly flowing air through the filament stream and into the adjacent surroundings, whereby the flowing air passing through the filament stream creates a negative pressure differential between the spoiler void and the adjacent surroundings.

6 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of diverting further comprises directing the downwardly flowing air into a space between the spoiler skirt and filament stream, whereby the flowing air accelerated into the spoiler void creates a negative pressure differential between the spoiler void and the adjacent surroundings.

7 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of finishing comprises applying a desired finishing agent to the filament stream.

8 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure differential between the spoiler void and the adjacent surroundings is between about 1 to 5 millibars (mb).

9 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the velocity of the flowing air moving from an upper end of the quench stick tube to a lower end of the quench stick tube is between about 75 and 315 feet per minute.

10 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the draw ratio of the filament stream is between about 1.5 and 3.75.

11 . A method of cooling and finishing melt-spun filaments, the method comprising the steps of:

spinning a stream of filaments about a hollow quench stick tube having a plurality of openings along its periphery;

dispersing a flow of supplied air into the hollow quench stick tube and through the plurality of openings to thereby cool the filament stream with the flowing air;

diverting the flowing air to create a pressure differential between a lower portion of the hollow quench stick tube and adjacent surroundings, such that the pressure differential draws the filament stream against a finish applicator; and

finishing the filament stream with a desired finishing agent.

12 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein the step of spinning comprises extruding a stream of melt-spun filaments above the hollow quench stick tube such that the filament stream substantially surrounds the hollow quench stick tube.

13 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein the step of dispersing comprises directing the flowing air against the filament stream, such that the filament stream draws the flowing air downwardly.

14 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein the step of diverting comprises directing the downwardly flowing air through the filament stream and into the adjacent surroundings, whereby the flowing air passing through the filament stream creates a negative pressure differential between the lower portion of the hollow quench stick tube and the adjacent surroundings.

15 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein the step of finishing comprises applying a desired finishing agent to the filament stream.

16 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein the velocity of the flowing air through the hollow quench stick tube is between about 75 and 315 feet per minute.

17 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein the draw ratio of the filament stream is between about 1.5 and 3.75.

18 . A method of cooling and finishing melt-spun filaments, the method comprising the steps of:

spinning a stream of filaments;

pumping a flow of supplied air into a hollow quench stick tube;

dispersing a flow of supplied air through a plurality of openings defined by the hollow quench stick tube;

cooling the filament stream with the flowing air;

diverting the flowing air to create a pressure differential at a lower portion of the hollow quench stick tube; and

finishing the filament stream with a desired finishing agent;

wherein the pressure differential draws the filament stream against a finish applicator that substantially surrounds the hollow quench stick tube.

19 . A method according to claim 18 , wherein the step of pumping comprises directing the flowing air upwardly into the hollow quench stick tube.

20 . A method according to claim 18 , wherein the step of dispersing comprises directing the flowing air against the filament stream, such that the filament stream draws the flowing air downwardly.