Abstract: A method and apparatus for quenching synthetic filaments such as synthetic yarn filaments as they exit a plurality of openings in an extrusion die in a downward direction and in an annular pattern. A quenching head is provided with quenching gas from a source, and the quenching head includes first and second nozzles which are disposed adjacent and beneath the extrusion die and within the annular pattern of filaments, and each of the nozzles is formed to cause the quenching gas to pass therefrom generally radially toward the annular pattern of filaments and at a predetermined angle directed upwardly with respect to a horizontal plane through the nozzle to provide a more uniform quenching of all of the filaments in the annular pattern.

Abstract: A timing gear belt and pulley drive apparatus for a precision winder characterized by permitting a change in wind ratios by varying the speed ratio between the winder traverse assembly and the winder chuck assembly without the removal and replacement of gear pulleys. The precision winder drive apparatus comprises a drive motor for driving the chuck assembly and traverse assembly of the winder off of a common motor drive shaft. A plurality of concentric, differently toothed drive gears are mounted for rotation on the motor drive shaft for driving one of the chuck assembly or traverse assembly. A plurality of concentric, differently toothed driven gears are mounted on one of the chuck assembly or traverse assembly in belt drive alignment with the drive gears mounted on the motor drive shaft. A drive gear is mounted for rotation on the motor drive for driving a driven gear on the other of the chuck or traverse assembly.

Abstract: A bundle of fibers fed from a stuffer box longitudinally in a corrugated form is wrapped with a breathable heat resistant fabric to form a continuous belt-like shape and then introduced into and drawn out of a thermal treatment region by the aid of inlet and outlet ducts and guide channel in a heat-treatment chamber into which is supplied a heating medium comprising one of non-condensable gas, superheated steam, and a mixture of said non-condensable gas and said superheated steam. The chamber includes a high-pressure portion and a low-pressure portion disposed on opposite sides of the guide channel. The heating medium flows longitudinally along the inlet and outlet ducts in opposite directions towards outsides and transversely from the high-pressure portion to the low-pressure portion across the guide channel, whereby the fibers wrapped with the breathable heat resistant fabric is thermally treated.