Patents by Inventor Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven

Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5946899
    Abstract: In an open-end spinning unit 1 having a pivotably mounted cover element 8 for covering a rotor housing 2 of the spinning unit 1, a sliver opening device is incorporated into the cover element 8. The sliver opening device has an opening cylinder housing 17 fixed to the cover element 8 with an opening cylinder 21 supported by the housing 17 for rotational sliver opening operation. The housing 17 defines a sliver infeed position and a downstream soil discharge opening 28. The opening cylinder housing further includes side walls 43, 44 perpendicular to the axis of the opening cylinder 21, the side walls presenting inner wall surfaces 45 which diverge at least in the area of the soil discharge opening 28 toward respective wall edges 49.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventor: Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven
  • Patent number: 5941058
    Abstract: A sliver opening device for an open-end spinning unit (1) with an opening cylinder (21) which rotates in an opening-cylinder housing (17) and comprises a base (29) arranged on a bearing shaft (26) with a replaceable annulus (30) of card-clothing fitted onto the base (29). The annulus (30) is held between an abutment flange (31) of the base (29) and a cover disk (33) of an enlarged diameter. The housing (17) and the cover disk (33) have mating stepped regions (45) at their outer circumferences to enclose and generally seal the housing. A visor-like shield (50) is arranged at a distance in front of the cover disk (33) to protect the cover disk from being touched inadvertently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventors: Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven, Jochen Dressen, Dieter Haaken
  • Patent number: 5937630
    Abstract: The invention relates to an open-end spinning device with a rotor housing connected to a source of suction and open at a front side, in which a rotor rotates at relatively high rpm. A cover element is provided for closing the rotor housing and a cover extension is affixed to the cover element as an exchangeable, dynamically balanced component. The cover extension is releasably disposed in a receptacle recessed in the cover element by means of mating inclined seating surfaces and by axially acting fasteners, and is exactly fixed in position inside this receptacle by an alignment pin engaged in aligned bores in the cover element and in the cover extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventor: Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven
  • Patent number: 5916121
    Abstract: A sliver feeding device for an open-ended spinning machine (1) wherein sliver is fed to the front of a spinning rotor (44) revolving at high speed in a rotor housing (2), with a pivotable cover element (11) for closing the rotor housing (2) having an integrated sliver opening device (13) with a lateral sliver feeding device embodied as a feeding trough/condenser unit (17). An inlet condenser (28) of this feeding trough/condenser unit (17) has an open sliver guide chute (37) terminating in a condenser funnel (36). The sliver guide chute extends at a rearward inclination around a convexly rounded core area (39) of the inlet condenser. A sliver loop opener (23) is disconnected and arranged at a distance from the cover element (11) so as not to be affected by its pivotal opening movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventor: Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven
  • Patent number: 5673548
    Abstract: A sliver feeding device for an open-end spinning frame, comprising a sliver draw-in roller and a sliver feed trough pivotable about a supporting shaft for movement toward and away from the draw-in roller. The draw-in roller has an annular sliver conveying collar which defines a sliver nip between the collar and the feed trough, and the feed trough has opposed laterally spaced bars for receiving the collar therebetween to guide the sliver at the nip. The draw-in roller is rotatably supported so as to permit a predetermined amount of axial movement of the collar between the guide bars of the feed trough. Similarly, a predetermined amount of axial movement of the feed trough is permitted on the supporting shaft. The collar has axial end faces each comprising a respective cleaning device. The guide bars of the feed trough have inwardly facing bevels which, in connection with the axial play of the feed trough on the supporting shaft, assure automatic pivoting of the feed trough into its operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventors: Hans Raasch, Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven
  • Patent number: 5647196
    Abstract: A pneumatic debris aspirating device adapted to be retrofitted on open-end spinning frames originally designed for a mechanical debris disposal installation utilizes an asymmetrical debris pickup funnel which can be connected via a connector conduit to a source of suction which is part of the spinning mill. The debris aspirating device is embodied and disposed such that opening of a cover to each rotor spinning unit is not hampered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventor: Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven
  • Patent number: 5509261
    Abstract: A rotor spinning machine has a plurality of simultaneously operated spinning stations each with a spinning rotor, an opening roller, a feed roller for delivering sliver to the opening roller, and a stepping motor connect directly to the feed roller for driving thereof. An actuating arrangement is provided for selectively actuating each stepping motor in a normal increment mode during spinning operation and in a microincrement mode during yarn piecing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventors: Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven, Manfred Lassmann
  • Patent number: 5481862
    Abstract: An open-end spinning device (1) of the type having a sliver opening device (30) and a pneumatically operated debris removal device (34) is disclosed. The opening cylinder housing (11) of the sliver opening device (30) has a debris discharge opening (15) and a cover element (9) mounted for restricted pivoting movement on a pivot shaft (10). A debris collecting element (16) is affixed to the cover element at a spacing (33) beneath the debris discharge opening and is connected to a suction device (8) which is a part of the spinning machine. The clear space (33) between the debris discharge opening (15) and the debris collecting element (16) assures that an auxiliary air flow (29), which is effective in the area of the debris discharge opening (15) to control the transport of fibers for the spinning process, is not affected by a suction air flow (28) applied at the debris collecting element (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventor: Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven
  • Patent number: 5419111
    Abstract: In a rotor spinning machine, each spinning station's drawing-in roller is connected directly to its own individual drive supported by the cover of the spinning station housing, which provides a simplified and conveniently accessible alternative to the conventional worm gear driving of the drawing-in rollers of the machine's plural spinning stations from a common drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventors: Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven, Manfred Lassmann
  • Patent number: 5398494
    Abstract: A sliver opening and fiber feeding device for opening a sliver into individual fibers and feeding the individual fibers to the rotor of an open end spinning machine is provided with a polytetrafluoroethylene coating for the interior surface of the housing of the sliver feeding and opening device, in particular, the trash discharge passage. The polytetrafluoroethylene coating advantageously has a relatively low co-efficient of friction to thereby reduce the affinity of sticky material, which may be present in the sliver due to the presence of insect residue or the like, to stick to the interior surfaces of the device. The polytetrafluoroethylene coating is included on an insert element mounted in the discharge passage, with the insert element being capable of being retrofitted in an existing sliver opening and fiber feeding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventors: Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven, Elke Hodenius, Ute Kraehe, Udo Papenfuss
  • Patent number: 5323599
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for treating yarn formed on an open-end spinning machine of the type wherein the yarn is drawn from a rotor through a navel and through draw-off rolls is provided. The yarn is guided from the navel to the draw-off rolls in a path at least a portion of which is inclined with respect to the axis of the navel and a false twist is applied to the yarn during its travel in the inclined portion of the path between the navel and the draw-off rolls. The yarn is permitted to untwist between the false twist application and the draw-off rolls in response to the applied false twist. The untwisting of the yarn causes fiber ends on the surface of the yarn to project outwardly in a hairiness or fleeciness producing manner. The false twist applying element can include a member which produces a rotating air stream about the periphery of the traveling yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst & Co.
    Inventor: Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven
  • Patent number: 5282581
    Abstract: A yarn end loosening apparatus is provided for performing yarn end loosening operations on yarn packages. The yarn end loosening apparatus includes a chamber for directing streams of air relative to a yarn package disposed within the chamber to effect loosening of a yarn end from the yarn package. Additionally, the yarn end loosening apparatus includes an assembly for introducing air streams from, respectively, a taller package jet nozzle and a shorter package jet nozzle, the jet nozzles being spaced from one another to each direct a stream of air at the axial location of a type of yarn package having a predetermined axial length. Additionally, the yarn end loosening apparatus includes a device for selectively controlling the supply of air through the taller and shorter package jet nozzles such that only a selected one of the jet nozzles directs air into the chamber during a yarn end loosening operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventors: Dietmar Engelhardt, Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven, Gregor Ruth
  • Patent number: 5131219
    Abstract: A spinning machine for ring, hopper or cap spinning with a revolver, yarn carriers retained in pairs on the revolver, and a ring traveler, hopper or cap system with a spinning ring, hopper or cap for the yarn carriers. One yarn carrier of a pair of yarn carriers having a finished cop in a spinning position is released from a ring traveler, hopper or cap system after the end of a spinning cycle. The finished cop is rotated through 180.degree. about the axis of the revolver for moving the one yarn carrier of the pair of yarn carriers to a doffing position while moving the other yarn carrier of the pair of yarn carriers to the spinning position and spinning yarn onto the other yarn carrier. The ring traveler, hopper or cap system is mounted on the other yarn carrier once the spinning position is reached. Yarn travel from the one yarn carrier in the doffing position to the spinning ring, hopper or cap is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventors: Karl-Josef Brockmanns, Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven
  • Patent number: 5088266
    Abstract: To improve the quality of spun yarn, a fiber aligning apparatus is formed in the interior wall of the housing of a sliver feeding and opening device of an open-end spinning machine. The fiber aligning apparatus includes as plurality of aligning elements, which are integrally formed from the wall of the housing, for aligning the individual sliver fibers during their travel within the housing. The aligning elements are formed in a recess in the wall of the housing which extends concavely in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical housing wall. Each aligning element is in the form of an angled tooth projecting inwardly with respect to the housing and terminating in an apex, the tooth apices defining an arcuate extent of the cylindrical surface of the housing concentric with the opening roller of the sliver feeding and opening device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst & Co.
    Inventor: Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven
  • Patent number: 4901519
    Abstract: A sliver opening apparatus for separating sliver into individual fibers for feeding of the individual fibers to the rotor of an open end spinning machine includes a rotating opening roller having a hollow interior and perforations from its exterior to its interior and air flow control elements disposed in the hollow interior of the opening roller. The air flow control elements define an opening located generally adjacent the sliver intake opening and an interior hollow chamber extending from the opening, the chamber being relatively large and the opening being relatively small. When the opening roller rotates, the air flow control elements cause the fibers from the incoming sliver to project toward the opening roller for optimum separation and combing by the teeth of the opening roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst & Co.
    Inventors: Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven, Karl-Josef Brockmanns
  • Patent number: 4891974
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining characteristics of staple fiber yarn by measuring the change in the yarn diameter after twisting or untwisting of the yarn. The yarn thickness of a length of yarn is measured during a first measuring process and subsequently, by a second measuring process after the twist is released. The two series of values of yarn thickness or diameter can then be compared with one another to determine certain characteristics of the sampled yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst & Co.
    Inventor: Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven
  • Patent number: 4829762
    Abstract: A method and a device for improving a yarn produced with genuine twist in the rotor of an open-end spinning apparatus directs the yarn through a yarn take-off nozzle in a given yarn travel direction. The yarn is subsequently diverted from the given yarn travel direction first to one side and then back to the opposite side over false-twist edges disposed obliquely relative to the given yarn travel direction including a last false-twist edge. Outer fiber ends of the traveling yarn are spread radially apart after passing the last false-twist edge. The yarn is subsequently passed through a pair of delivery rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst & Co.
    Inventor: Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven
  • Patent number: 4825637
    Abstract: A fiber opening device in a spinning unit of an open-end spinning machine wherein an opening roller is mounted within a housing with the housing being integrally formed from a drawing-in opening past a trash discharge opening to a fiber discharge opening and including integrally therewith a drawing-in trough and wall portions at the trash discharge opening. The housing is pivotally mounted to accommodate variations in the silver feed at the drawing-in roller. In an alternate form, the housing is stationary and the drawing-in roller is mounted for relative movement with respect thereto for the same purpose. The opening roller has a fiber opening surface to which the fibers are confined by side flanges on the opening roller and the trash discharge opening is of a width no greater than the width of the fiber opening surface. The opening roller inlcudes a drive shaft rotatably mounted in the housing so that the opening roller and housing are a unit for easy removal and replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst & Co.
    Inventor: Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven
  • Patent number: 4815269
    Abstract: A silver feed and opening device for open-end spinning applications comprises a housing having a rotatable opening roller associated with a pivotable guide plate having a first sliver guide portion for directing incoming sliver to the opening roller, a second arcuate fiber guide portion extending along a portion of the opening roller circumference in its direction of rotation, and a third debris guide portion extending outwardly from the opening roller and defining with the housing a debris discharge opening. The guide plate is of a unitary one-piece construction without joints between individual portions to prevent undesirable fiber accumulation which tends to occur in conventional devices. Each of the fiber and debris guide portions of the guide plate are spaced sufficiently from the sidewalls of the housing to form side slots which are a multiple of the thickness of the fibers, thereby to prevent accumulation thereof between the guide plate and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst & Co.
    Inventor: Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven
  • Patent number: 4773211
    Abstract: An apparatus for open-end spinning is provided which includes a twisting element for twisting yarn. A yarn withdrawal nozzle is provided downstream from the twisting device in a yarn withdrawal direction. A yarn withdrawal device downstream from the yarn withdrawal nozzle withdraws yarn from the twisting device. A yarn deflection device is provided for deflecting yarn downstream from the yarn withdrawal nozzle. The yarn deflection device includes at least one false-twisting edge. The yarn deflection device includes a first deflection which deflects the yarn in a first direction and at least one additional deflection downstream from the first deflection which deflects the yarn into a direction deviating from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignees: W. Schlafhorst & Co., Hans Stahlecker, Fritz Stahlecker
    Inventors: Fritz Stahlecker, Hans Raasch, Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven