US1188719A - Tension device. - Google Patents

Description

A. BEUTLER.

TENSION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1915.

Patented June 27, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1. 49 46 .50 j

A. BEUTLEB.

TENSION DEVICE.

I APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, I915. Patented v 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- -"an. snares Parana oFFKQEO ALBERT BEUTLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BELDEN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TENSION DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 19, 1915. Serial No. 29,057.

are, to provide a tension device which can be successfully used to regulate the tension of extremely fine wires or filaments; to provlde a device of the class described which, while being capable of use in connection with extremely fine wires or filaments, may, nevertheless, be employed to pay off relatively coarse, heavy wires; to provide a tension device of the class described in which danger of breaking the wire or filament by a sudden pull or .jerk is substantially eliminated; to provide a tension device of the class described which will arrest the rotation of the spool or bobbin holding the wire supply practically as instantaneously as is desired whenever the pull on the wire is arrested;

to provide a construction which occupies a comparatively small amount of floor or' table space; to provide a construction which 1s automatic in operation, comparatively simple toadjust, maintain and keep in repair; to provide a, construction Wl'llCh shall be simple and economical in manufacture; and, in general, to provide an improved tension device of the character referred to.

In describing my invention, I find 1t convenient to refer to the drawings accompanyingthis application, which illustrate one of the preferred embodimentsof my invent on.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a side View of a wire-tension device constructed according to my invention and illustrated as employed in connection with an automatic electrical coil-winding machine; Fig. 2.is an end view of Fig. 1; Fig; 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentaryview of a portion of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a detail view of the chuck or spindle. 4

In Fig. 1, 10 represents as a whole an automatic machine for winding electrical coils, its'supply of wire being obtained from a wire-supply spool 11 mounted on my improved wire-tension device, which is located slightly to'the rear of said machine 10 and is supported upon the same table or bench 12.

The device is entirely self-contained and is supported by or mounted in a cast-iron frame 13, the lower part of which comprises a base 14, flat on its lower side to facilitate attachment by bolts, or otherwise, to the table 12, or other support upon which it is carried. The upper part of the casting 13 is extended and enlarged to constitute a hollow substantially rectangular skeleton, the opening of which is of a sufficient size to admit the largest spool which the machine is deslgned to accommodate. In the center of the vertical sides 15 and 16 of the said rectangular extension, I secure a fixed center 17 and an adjustable center 18. The latter is threaded into the side 16 and is formed with an outer milled head 19 and a lock nut 20. The chuck or spindle 21, which is carried by and rotates upon the centers 17 and 18, is of suitable diameter at its ends 22 and 23 to enter freely the central hole in the spool 11. The end of the portion 22 is threaded, as shown at 24, to accommodate a clamping nut 25 which forces the free end of the spool againstthe outer face 26 of a cylindrical enlargement 27 keyed, or otherwise suitablysecured, upon the end of the spindle. The width of face of the enlargement 27 is sulfioient to constitute a braking surface, and is turned off truly and concentrically with the spindle 21 so that the spool will rotate evenly and uniformly. The vertical side 15 of the rectangular skeleton is extended on each side so as to provide an integral arm 28 and a lug 29.. Upon the end of the arm 28 I pivot at '30 a normally substantially horizontal lever 31, and upon the lug 29 I pivot at 32 and 33 upper and lower brake- arms 34 and 35. The said arms 34 and 35 are arcuate in shape adjacent their pivots, and are shed with pairs of leather segments 36, the inner opposed surfaces of which are curved to engage a substantially similar portion of the brake-drum 27 on the spindle, previously referred to. The free end of the brake-arm 34 carries a pivot 37 which is connected to a pivot 38 on the outer limb of the lever 31 by means of a link 39. The brake-arm 35 carries a similar pivot 40 which is connected to a pivot 41 on the end of the inner limb of the lever 31 by means of a link 42.

amply suflicient to arrest the rotation of the spindle in a very small fraction of a second when the wire stops feeding.

The, braking means just described is applied by means of a coil tension spring 43,

.the upper end of which is connected to a hole 44in the outer free end of the brakelever 31, the lower end of the spring being secured to a hook 45 screwed-into the top of the base 14. I prefer to use a spring in place of a weight in order to avoid inertia effects; and for varying the strength of the spring 43, I find it convenient to change ,its leverage by hooking the upper loop of the spring into any one of a series of notches 46 cut in the upper edge of the brake-lever 31. I

In the top limb of the upper rectangular extension of the casting 13, I mount a pair of spaced-apart parallel vertical rods 47 which extend upwardly a considerable distance, their tops being connected by a bridge-piece 48. The br1dge-plate48 is formed with a rear extension 49in which is s'wiveled a depending pulley-frame 50 carrying a sheave 51. The diameter of the sheave is such that the center groove falls substantially within the plane of the axes of the'two rods 47. Suspended-from the sheave 51 by means of a flexible cord 52 is a carriage 53, comprising a'pair of horivzontal plates 54 and 55 apertured to ride loosely upon the rods 47, and connected by a pair of small vertical rods 56. The rear end of the cord 52 is connected to the outer end 44 of the brake-lever 31 by means of a flexible coil spring 57 so that the carriage 53. may descend or ascend along the track-rods 47 a considerable distance in" either direction, while still maintaining the cord 52 taut. To the lower plate 55 of the carriage is secured a small depending bracket 58 on which is pivoted a sheave 59 over which passes the wire or filament 60 from off the supply spool 11. I

The. operation of thedevice is manifest in view of the. above description. Assuming that the winding machine 10 has been idle and-is suddenly started, the wire 60, as it is fed into the machine, will pull down the carriage 53 b means of the sheave 59,

and the spring 5 will be extended by the cord 52 passing over the sheave 51 until the pull is suflicient to raise the end of the brake-lever 31 and separatethe brake- arms 34 and 35, thus allowing the'spindle to ro-' tate and the Wire tobe paid off. It-is important to note that the presence of thespring 57 in conjunction with the comparatively insignificant weight of the carriage 53, makes it unnecessary for the wire 60 to, impart rota'ry movement 'to the comparatively heavy supply spool 11 the instant that the winding machine commences to pull the Wire. Whenever the wire stops feeding, the carriage rises until the pull on the cord 52 is reduced sufficiently to permit the spring 43 to draw down the brake-lever and arrest the further rotation of the spool.

The spring 57 elevates the carriage 53 and takes up any slack of the wire 60 whenever the winding machine stops suddenly, before the brake 31 has a chance to come into operation and arrest the movement of the spindle. The brakelever 31 being, as it were, resiliently float ed betweenthe two springs 43 and 57, is caused to operate very flexibly and smoothly without suddenjars or jerks, which might have a tendency to break or kink thewire, or cause it to jump the pulleys.

The construction details shown and -described may be varied considerably without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is not limited, except as specified in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a w1re=tens1on device, the combination of a supporting frame, a spindle jour- -one of its ends pivoted on said-frame and adapted, intermediate its length, to engage the periphery of said enlargement, an articulated link .operatively connecting the other end of said brake-arm with said brake-lever, a substantially vertical trackguide mounted oversaid spindle; a carriage adapted to slide up and down on said guide,-

a stationary sheave mounted over said car; riage, a cord passlng over said sheave and connecting said carriage with the brakelever, means automatically tending to operate said brake-lever to apply the brake, and

a wire-guide mounted on said carriage.

2. In awire-tension device, the combina tion of a supporting frame, a spindle journaled in said frame, said spindle being; pro vided with chucking means for a wire-sup,- ply spool and having an enlargement pro- -.vided with a peripheral braking surface, a

lever having its inner end pivoted on said and brake-lever, means automatically tending to operate said brake-lever to apply the brake, and a wire-guide sheave mounted on said carriage.

3. In a wire-tension device, the combination of a supporting frame, a spindle journaled in said frame, said spindle being provided with chucking means for a wiresupply spool and having an enlargement provided with a peripheral braking surface, a lever having its inner end pivoted on said frame and adapted to swing in a substantially vertical plane, a pair of opposed brake-arms each having one of its ends piv-- oted on' said frame and adapted intermediate its length to engage the periphery of said enlargement, links connecting the other ends of said arms with points on said lever on either side of the lever pivot, a substantially vertical track-guide mounted over said spindle, a carriage adapted to slide up and down on said guide. a stationary sheave mounted over said carriage, a cord passing over said sheave and connecting said carriage with the brake-lever, means auto math-ally tending to operate said brakelever to apply the brake, and a wire-guide sheave mounted on said carriage.

4. In a wire-tension device, the combination of a supporting frame, a spindle journaled in said frame, said spindle being provided with chucking means for a wire-supply spool and having an enlargement provided with a peripheral braking surface, a lever having its inner end pivoted on said frame and adapted to swing in a substantially vertical plane, a pair of opposed ln-alw-arms each having one of its ends pivoted on said frame and adapted intermediate its length to engage the periphery of said enlargement, links connecting the other ends of said arms with pivots on said lever on either side of the lever pivot, a substantially vertical track-guide mounted over said spindle, a carriage adapted to slide up and down on said guide, a stationary sheave mounted over sald carriage, a cord passing over said sheave and connecting said carriage with said brake-lever, a spring interposed between said cord and brake lever, means automatically tending to operate said brake lever to apply the brake, and a wire-.

guide sheave mounted on said carriage.

5. In a wire-tension device, the combina: tion of means for rotatably supporting a wire-supply spool, a brake for said spool, means constantly tending to apply said brake, a track, a carriage on said track, a guide-member on said carriage over which the wire from said supply spool is delivered whereby the pull of the wire tends to move the carriage, and a spring permanently connected between said carriage and said brake adapted to release the brake upon movement of the carriage by a pull of the wire passing over the guide member, said carriage being' movable on said track between limits controlled by the extension and contraction of said spring.

6. In a wire-tension device, the combination of means for rotatably supporting a wire-supply spool, a brake for said spool, means constantly tending to apply said brake, a vertical track, a carriage slidable up and down on said track, a guide memher on said carriage over which the wire from said supply spool is delivered whereby the pull of the wire tends to lower the carriage, a connection between said carriage and said brake adapted to release the b 'ake upon movement of the-carriage by a pull of the wire passing over the guide member, and a spring supporting said carriage and permanently interposed between said connection and the brake. I

7. In a wire-tension device, the combination of a supporting frame, a spindle journaled in said frame rotatably supporting a wire-supply spool, brakemechanism for said spindle, a brake lever, means connet-ted to said brakeelever constantly tending to apply the brake, a vertical track, a carriage slidable on saidtrack, a guidesheave on said carriage over said spool over which the wire from said spool is conducted and delivered whereby the pull of the wire tends to lower the carriage on said track, a stationary sheave mounted over saidcarriage, a cord passing over said stationary sheave and connecting said brake lever and said carriage whereby a downward movement of said carriage tends to release said brake, and a spring interposed in said cord between said carriage and stationary sheave.

ALBERT BEUTLER. \Vitnesses:

( A. So.\Ns, M. M. LErPo.

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