US1689116A - Carrier for tubular braiding machines - Google Patents

Description

- W. E. COOK cARRIEKFok TUBULAR BRAIDme MACHINES Filed Jan. 11, 1926 Oct. 23, 1928;

n W 33 w I f? INVENTCR Patented Get. 23, 1928.

ATENT OFFICE.

W'ILLIAM E. COOK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CARRIER FOR TUBULAR BBAIDING MACHINES.

Application filed January 11, 1926. Serial No 80,400

My invention relates to carriers for tubular braiding machines, and more particularly to carriers particularly adapted for use upon high speed braiding machines.

I-Ieretofore in carriers used in braiding machines, a suitably guided, vertically movable weighted or spring-pressed traveler has been used for controlling the latch mechanism of the machine, this traveler in addition to the functions above referred to controlling the tightness of the braid and taking up slack in the thread between it and the bobbin or cop, and the material being covered as a result of its rise and fall according to the run of thread from the bobbin or cop. With such carriers one bobbin end was provided with ratchet teeth engageable by a pawl operated by the traveler or weight, thus affording a latch mechanism to check the rotary movement of the bobbin or cop and permit the traveler or weight to function in taking up the slack in the manner above referred to and tensioning the thread to secure the desired tightness of the braid.

These functionings of the carrier are one cause of limitation as to the speed at which tubular braiding machines may be operated, and even at moderate speeds, with the construction and arrangement of traveler heretofore used, there is a tendency toward frequent breakage of the thread unless the weight of the thread is selected with regard to the speed of operation of'themachine. In operating at higher speeds, the wear upon the latch mechanism is, as compared with its operation at lower speeds, disproportionately increased, thus materially shortening the life of a bobbin or cop.

With the above conditions in mind my invention contemplates a carrier in which a uniform, constant, predetermined tensioning stress may be applied to the thread between thevbobbin or "cop and the traveler, thus avoiding slack between the traveler and the bobbin or cop andpermitting the traveler to function mainly as a control for the automatic stop mechanism of the machine, and as a tensioning device for determining the degree of tightness of the braid.

By a construction of carrier embodying my invention, the latch mechanism is entirely dispensed with, thus not only avoiding diiliculties in the operation of a braiding machine due to wear in different parts I oftfne latch mechanism, but ensuring a substantially continuous uniform rate of feed of the thread from the bobbin.

The carrier in securing the results includes a tensioning device through which the thread passes after leaving the bobbin or cop and before engaging the traveler, which tensioning device preferably may be adjusted to. accord with the strength or weight of the thread, and the speed of operation of the braiding machine, thus not only permitting the use of lighter threads at higher speedsavoidanceof frequent stoppages thereof,

this, however, being subsidiary to that increase of capacity due to the possibility of increasing the speed of the machine itself. The carrier of my invention is also so constructed as to permit the control of the tension developed by the traveler so as to regulate the tightness of the braid and to adapt the carrier to threads of different weights, heavier threads permitting greater tightness in the braid than lighter and weaker threads.

I may also provide the carrier with means which will permit great ease of operation thereof and minimize wear thereon or upon the top plate of a braiding machine, such means permitting an increased speed in the movements of the carrieras a whole while minimizing wear upon diiferent parts thereof resulting from such increased speed.

The invention consists primarily in a carrier for tubular braiding machines embodying therein an upper late adapted to bear upon the top plate of a braiding machine, a spindle for a'bobbin or cop carried by said plate, a' stem having an eye formed therein carried by said plate and parallel with said spindle, a tensioning traveler slidably mounted in relation to said stem and having an eye formed thereon. forthe thread, means constantly acting upon said traveler to impart movement thereto away from the eye of said stem, a looped gu de for the thread carried by said plate "parallel and interrrm li ill? ate said spindle and said stem, and a tensioning device adapted to engage the thread intermediate said guide and said traveler; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of one side of a carrier embodying my, invention, with portions thereof broken away; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view of said carrier from a different angle. v

Like numerals refer to like parts in both of said views.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, I provide the carrier with aspindle 10 having a seat 11 adapted to receive one end of the bobbin or cop containing the thread, indicated at 12. It is to be noted that no latch mechanism is provided adjacent this spindle thus permitting an unrestrained turning movement of the bobbin or cop.

fAdjacent the spindle 10, is a stem 13 having a quick threading eye, such as the pig tail 14, at the top thereof, the thread leading from this eye to the point of application to the object upon which the braid is being formed. Slidably mounted in relation to the stem 13 is a vertically movable, tensioning traveler 15 of old and well known con struction, this carrier preferably being mounted upon the stem 13 itself. Said traveler 15 is provided with a guide tongue or eye 16 through which the thread 12'is passed. and from which it passes to the pig tail 14;. The traveler 15 rises and falls during its tortuous, in and out, movement in the braiding machine in paying out thread to the object upon which the braid is being formed and in taking up slack formed in the thread between said traveler and said object.

The traveler is made of sheet metal and possesses but little inherent weight, the tensioning efi'ect thereof being seeuredthrough the medium ofv a long coiled spring 17 mounted upon the shank 18 of a looped thread guide adjacent the spindle 10 or between said spindle 10 and the traveler 15, said traveler also having a bearing opening therein co-operating with said shank 18. The shank 18 and stem 13 afford parallel guides for said traveler and prevent any rotative movement thereof with relation to the other parts of the carrier with which it cooperates.

Except for the. resistance encountered by the traveler from the spring 17, it is free to, move vertically upon the stem 13 and shank 18 so that the tension of this spring will determine the tensioning action of the traveler in determining the tightness of the.

braid while at the same time ensuring a rapid movement of the traveler in taking up slack in the threadbetween said traveler and the object upon which the braid is being formed. This latter is particularly desire able when operating a braiding machine at high speeds, since it minimizes likelihood of the overrunning of the traveler in its upward movement and ensures a quick downward movement thereof responsive to a less ened resistance due to the formation of slack resulting from the movement of the carrier in its entirety toward the point of application of the thread to the object upon which the braid is being formed. 7

To permit variation in the tensioning action of the traveler 15, I provide an adjustable seat 19 for the upper end of the spring 17, which seat in the form of the invention shown, consists of a collar slidably mounted upon the shank 18 and secured in any adjusted position in relation to said shank, by means of an ordinary set screw 20.

The looped guide above referred to is formed by a curved and downturned end 21 of the shank 18, the length of the loop thus formed, approximating that of the bobbin or cop so as to compensate for the'vertical run of the thread in relation to the bobbin during its unwinding therefrom.

The thread runs directly from the bobbin or cop through this looped guide, and'in passing therefrom to the eye 16 upon the traveler 15 is subjected to the action of a friction tensioning device consisting of parallel friction plates 22 and 23, mounted upon a screw-threaded stem 2 1 carried by the stem 13. (lo-operating with said stem 2 is an adjusting nut 25 acting through a spring 26 upon the friction plates 22 and 23. This tensioning device is similar to that foundupon certain types of sewing machines,'and

Elli) act-s to develop a continuing uniform friction upon a thread passing between the plates 22 and 23, the extentof this friction being determined by the tension developed in the spring 26. The use of the screwthreaded stem 24 and the adjusting nut 25 permits the regulation'of the tension'of said spring, and of the tensioning effect of the plates 22 and 23 upon the thread.

For the purpose of definition, the tensioning device immediately above described is a fixed tensioning device positioned inter" mediate the tensioning traveler looped guide member adjacent the bobbin or cop supporting spindle. The purpose of this device is to restrain the run of the thread intermediate the traveler and the bobbin or cop while permitting the free run and the V tion of slack to between said traveler and the object upon which the braid is being formed.

The spring 17 may be of a strength capable of developing a tension sufficiently great to overcome the resistance encountered by the thread in passing between the plates 22 and 23, or the complete closing of the coils thereof may be relied upon to stop the upward movement of the traveler, and develop the desired tension to control the tightness of the braid.

To prevent possible creation of slack between the looped guide and the bobbin or cop, a friction device 2'? acting upon one of the ends of the bobbin or cop may be employed, this device, however, being constantly engaged with the edge of the end of the bobbin or cop and exerting a continuous uniform braking action thereon which, however, may be very slight. This device 27 is used merely as a safety device to avoid possible entanglement of the thread resulting from the creation of slack therein bv overrunning of the bobbin or cop when there is a rapid withdrawal of the thread therefrom as a result of the high speed of operation of a braiding machine. The use of such a device is merely for the purpose of inclusion of an additional safeguard to minimize likelihood of breaking of the thread,

The spindle 10, stem 13 and shank 18 are carried by the usual upper plate 28 which bears upon the top plate of the machine and is connected with the lower plate 29 bearing upon the underside of the top plate of the machine. These plates in the form of the invention shown are connected by means of studs such as 30, each stud having mounted thereon an anti-friction roller 31, said rollers 31 moving in the slots of the top plate of the braiding machine. The purpose of these rollers is to minimize w ar upon the walls of the slots, which walls wear rapidly in machines running only at moderate speeds and are subject to much greater wear when the machine is operated at higher speeds.

Depending from the lower plate 29 is a stud 32 having mounted thereon an antifriction roller 33 for engagement with the slots in the gears for actuating the carriers. This roller 33 has for its purpose the reduction of wear of these co-operating parts.

The upper plate 28 hasthe usual guide stud 34 for the traveler 15, and this traveler is provided with the usual diverging arms 35 and 36 for actuating the stop mechanism of the machine. old and well known, the present invention relating more particularly to the control of the threads when passing from the bobbin or cop to the object upon which the braid is bei'ngformed. g

The operation of the herein described carrier is substantially as follows.

These parts, however, are

Carriers embodying my invention may be used with braiding machines for forming braid upon various different objects and the weight and strength of the thread may vary greatly according to the character of the object. In the production of braided flexible conduits, heavy threads are used, and likelihood of breakage even when threads are tightly braided upon the mandrel, is very remote. In applying a covering braid to certain kinds of insulated wire, however, as, by way of example, wires in which the body of the insulation consists of cotton sliver, the methods of making such wires are such as to permit the effective utilization of very light, weak thread, particularly in the smaller wires. Irrespective of the weight or strength of the thread, however, when operating the braiding machine at highspeeds, there is always likelihood of the formation of knots or snarls which will result in the breakage of the thread, so that the carrier of my invention may be advantageously used irrespective of the weight or strength of the thread in thebraid.

When preparing for a run of a braiding machine, each carrier is threaded and will operate insubstantially the following manner. The thread 12 is drawn from the bobbin or cop, passed through the guide loop formed by the shank 18 and the extended end 21, and therefrom is passed between the plates 22 and 23 of the fixed tensioning device. Thence it is passed through the guide or eye 16 upon the tensioning traveler 15 and through the eye or pig tail 14 toward the top of the stem 13. The end of the thread is then applied to the object upon which the braid is to be formed in the usual manner, and power is applied to the braiding machine.

During the formation of the braid the carriers pass in an 'undulatory' pathabout the axis of the object upon which the braid is being formed, having a considerable component ofmovement radially of said axis, relatively much greater than the length of the thread applied to the object during this movement.

This in and out movement necessitates the use of the tensioning traveler 15, since with the movement of the carrier toward'the axis of the object, slack is formed in the thread, this slack being taken up by the downward movement of the traveler. With the outward movement of the carrier, however, it is necessary to pay out the thread rapidly,

the upward movement of the traveler ac-- I nitude to cause breakage of the thread, and

no slack can be formed between the traveler and the bobbin or cop which will result in the formation of knots or snarls which almost inevitably cause breakage.

With the outward movement of the carrier, the paying out of the thread 12 as a result of the upward movement of the traveler is always less than the length of this movement and of the circular componentof movement of the carrier, so that when the traveler reaches the limit of its upward movement, whether this results from a positive stoppage of the traveler due to the closing of the coils of the spring 17 or the development of a tension in said spring greater, than the resistance to the run of the thread between the tension plates 22 and 23, the thread will be drawn from the bobbin or cop through the looped guide 18-21 through the plates 22 and 23, the guide or eye 16 and the eye or pig tail 14, to an exa tent required 'by the braiding operation.

However sudden this drawing of the thread may be, there can be no stress placed thereupon greater than that developed by the plates 22 and 23, and hence there can be no breakage of the thread provided the tensioning action of said plates is regulated to conform to the strength of the thread being used. 7

Since the bobbin or cop may turn freely at all times'upon the spindle 10, and the friction device embodying the plates 22 and 23 is substantially the sole means for checking the run of the thread, the pull on the thread will be controlled by these devices in a manner to prevent movement of the bobbin. or cop to an extent greater than that required by the braiding operation and thus prevent the formation of any slack between the traveler 15 and said bobbin or cop.

Atall times while the machine is in operation and a thread is unbroken, the traveler 15 will be held at some point between the upper plate 28 and the point where its upward movement is stopped by the spring 17 thus supplying a continuous tensioning stress to the thread between the vcarrier and the body upon which the braid is being formed, which tensioning stress is proportionate to the strength of said spring plus the resistance to the run of the thread olfered by the plates 22 and 23. The brake device 27 is not sufficiently strong in its action to modify this condition, this device exerting merely a light braking action to prevent possible overrunning of the bobbin or cop.

By lowering the adjustable spring seat or collar 19, the tensioning effect exerted by the spring 17 maybe increased, and by raising the collar it maybe lessened. The

spring 17 however, while of very light ten sion, is sufficiently strong to ensure a downward movement of the traveler 15 substantially simultaneously with the reversal of the radial component of movement of the carrier requiring such downward movement, and thus permits the operation of the braiding machine at high speeds without likelihood of the presence of slack which through ballooning or otherwise might cause the entanglement of the threads from different carriers or of the thread of any carrier.

The anti-friction rollers 31 and 33 are merely for the purpose of permitting the operation of the machine at high speeds without excessive wear upon the top plate or the actuating gears, or upon the carrier itself.

I have found that threads so light and weak that they could not be used with the ordinary carrier at ordinary speeds of braiding machines, can be effectively used 111 a oraiding machine equipped with carriers embodying my present invention and operating at much higher speeds than ordinary, and that there is practically no breakage of these light, weak threads even at these higher speeds. By interposing between the tensioning traveler and the bobbin or cop I s a fixed tensioning device developlng a constant uniform resistance to the run of the thread, the stresses to which the thread is subjected are limited to the resistance of this tension device, which, in addition to thus preventing the breakage of the thread, will cause substantially uniform tension conditions at all times irrespective of the speed of operation of the machine, and not only ensure an increased output of the machine, but uniformity in the product.

In the event of the running out of a bobbin or cop, or the breakage of a thread from causes other than structural characteristics in the carrier, the tensioning traveler 1.5 will be instantly forced to its lowermost position and acted upon by the stop mechanism in the usual and well known manner. This feature of the carrier is not my invention,

and I make no claim thereto and will not describe in detail this mode of operation, which as stated, is well known to all users of braiding machines,

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire toihave protected by Letters Patent, is:

1. A carrier for tubular braiding machines embodying therein an upper plate adapted to bear upon the top plate of a braiding machine, a spindle for a bobbin or cop carried by said plate, a stem an eye formed therein carried by said plate and parallel with said spindle, a tensioning traveler slidably mounted in relation to said stem and having an eye formed thereon for the thread, means constantly acting upon said traveler to impart a movement thereto away from the eye of said stem, a looped guide for the thread carried by saidplate parallel with and intermediate said spindle and said stem, and a tensioning device adapted to engage the thread intermediate said guide and said traveler.

2, A carrier for tubular braiding machines embodying therein an upper plate adapted to bear upon the top plate of a braiding machine, a spindle for a bobbin or cop carried by said plate, a stem having an eye formed therein carried by said plate and parallel with said spindle, a tensioning traveler slidably mounted in relation to said stem and having an eye formed thereon for the thread, a spring acting constantly upon said traveler with a normal tendency to force it downwardly, an elongated guide for the thread carried by said plate parallel with and intermediate said spindle and said stem, and a tensioning device adapted to engage the thread intermediate said guide and said traveler. I

3. A carrier for tubular braiding machines embodying therein an upper plate adapted to bear upon the top plate of a braiding machine, a spindle for a bobbin or cop carried by said plate, a stem having an eye formed therein carried by said plate and parallel with said spindle, a tensioning traveler slidably mounted in relation to said stem and having an eye formed thereon for the thread, a spring acting constantly upon said traveler with a normal tendency to force it downwardly, means whereby the tension of said spring may be varied, an elongated guide for the thread carried by said plate parallel with and intermediate said spindle and said stem, and a tensioning device adapted to engage the thread intermediate said guide and said traveler.

4. A carrier for tubular braiding machines embodying therein a spindle for a bobbin or cop, a stem having an eye formed therein, a tensioning traveler having an eye formed thereon for the thread, a looped guide for the thread adjacent said spindle having a shank extending parallel with said spindle, said traveler being slidably mounted to have vertical movement upon said stem and said shank, and a tensioning device adapted to engage the thread intermediate said guide and said traveler.

5. A carrier for tubular braiding machines embodying therein a spindle for a bobbin or cop, a stem having an eye formed therein, a tensioning traveler having an eye formed thereon for the thread, a looped guide for the thread adjacent said spindle having a shank extending parallel with said spindle, said traveler beingslidably mounted to have vertical movement upon said stem and said'shank, a coiled spring about said shank and acting upon said" traveler, a spring seat carried by said shank against which said spring acts, and a tensioning device adapted to engage the thread intermediate said guide and said traveler.

.6. A carrier for tubular braiding machines embodying therein a spindle for a bobbin or cop, a stem having an eye formed therein, a tensioning traveler having an eye formed thereon for the thread, a looped guide for the thread adjacent said spindle having a shank extending parallel with said spindle, said traveler being slidably mounted to have vertical movement upon said stem and said shank, a coiled spring about said shank and acting upon said traveler, a spring seat adjustably mounted upon said shank against which said spring acts, means whereby said spring seat may be set in any adjusted position, and a tensioning device adapted to engage the thread intermediate said guide and said traveler. v

7. A carrier for tubular braiding machines cmbodying therein an upper plate adapted to bear upon the top plate ofa braiding machine, a spindle for a bobbin or cop carried by said plate, astem having an eye formed therein carried by said plate and parallel with said spindle, a tensioning traveler slidably mounted in relation to said stem and having an eye formed thereonfor the thread, means constantly acting upon said traveler to impart a movement thereto away from the eye of said stem, a looped guide for the thread carried by said plate parallel with and intermediate said spindle and said stem, a tensioning device adapted to engage the thread intermediatesaid guide,

and said traveler, and means whereby said tensioning device may be adjusted toregulate its operative effect upon the thread passing therethrough.

8. A carrier for tubular braiding ma chines embodying therein an upper plate adapted to bear upon the top plate of a braiding machine, a spindle for a bobbin or cop carried by said plate, a stem having an eye formed therein" carried by said plate and parallel with said spindle, a tension ing traveler slidably mounted in relation to said stem and having an eye formed thereon for the thread, a spring acting constantly upon said traveler with a normal tendency to force it downwardly, an-elongated'guide for the thread carried by said plate parallel withfand intermediate said spindle and said stem, a tensioning device adapted to'engage the thread intermediate said guide and said traveler, and means whereby said tensioning device may be adjusted to regulate its operative effect upon the thread passing therethrough.

9. A carrier for tubular braiding machines embodying therein an upper plate adapted to bear upon the top p ate of a braiding machine, a spindle for a bobbin or cop carried by said plate, a stem hav1ng an eye formed therein carried by said plate and parallel with said spindle, a tensioning traveler slidably mounted in relation to said stem and having an eye formed thereon for the thread, a spring acting constantly upon said traveler with a'normal tendency toforce it downwardly, means whereby the tension of said spring may be varied, an elongated guide for the thread carried by said plate parallel with and intermediate said spindle and said stem, and a tensioning device adapted to engage the thread intermediate said guide and said traveler, and means whereby said tensioning device may bevadjusted to regulate its operative effect upon the thread assing therethrough.

10. A carrier or tubular braiding machines embodying therein a spindle for a bobbin or cop, a stem having an eye formed therein, a tensioning traveler slidably mounted in relation to said stem and having an eye formed thereon for the thread, a

looped guide for the thread adjacent said spindle having a shank extending parallel with said spindle, said traveler being, slidably mounted tohave vertical movement upon said stem and said shank, a coiled spring about said shank and acting upon said traveler, a spring seat carried by said shank against which said spring acts, a tensioning device adapted to engage the thread intermediate said guide and said traveler, and means whereby said tensioning device may be adjusted to regulate its operative effect upon the thread passing therethrough.

'11, A carrier for tubular braiding machines embodying therein a spindle for a bobbin or cop, a stem having an eye formed therein, a tensioning traveler slidably mounted in relation to said stem and having an eye formed thereon for the thread, a guide for the thread adjacent said spindle, a tensioning device adapted to engage the 7 thread intermediate said guide and said traveler, an upper plate carrying said spin dle and said guide, and adapted to seat upon the top plate of a braiding machine, a lower plate spaced away therefrom adapted to enbobbin or co a stem havin an e e formed therein, a tensioning traveler slldably mounted in relation to said stem and having an eye formed thereon for the thread, a guide for the thread adjacent said spindle, a tensioning device adapted to engage the thread intermediate said guide and said traveler, an upper plate carrying said spindle and sa1d guide, and adapted to seat upon the top plate of a braiding machine, a lower plate spaced away therefrom adapted to engage the under side of the top plate of a braiding machlne, studs connecting said "plates, anti-friction rollers mounted upon said studs, said rollers being adapted to move in the slots of the top plate of a braiding machine, a dependent stud carried by said lower plate, and an antifriction roller carried thereby in a position to be engageable by the actuating gears of a braiding machine.

13. A carrier for tubular braiding machines embodying therein an upper plate adapted to bear upon the top plate of a braiding machine, a spindle for a bobbin or cop carried by said plate, a stem having an H eye formed therein carried by said plate and parallel with said spindle, a tensioning traveler slidably mounted in relation to said stem and having an eye formed thereon for the thread, means constantly acting upon said traveler to impart a movement thereto away from the eye of said stem, a looped guide for the thread carried by said plate parallel with and intermediate said spindle and said stem, a tensioning device adapted to engage the thread intermediate said guide and said traveler, and a light friction brak ing device adjacent said spindle and in engageable relation with the end of a bobbin or cop thereon.

14. A carrier for tubular braiding machines embodying therein a spindle for a bobbin or cop, a stem having an eye formed therein, a tensioning traveler having an eye formed thereon for thethread, a looped guide for the thread adjacent said spindle to have vertical movement upon said stem 7 and said shank, a coiled spring about said shank and acting upon said traveler, a spring seat carried by said shank against which said spring acts, a tensioning device adapted to engage the thread intermediatesaid guide and said traveler, means whereby said tensloning device may be adjusted to regulate its operative effect upon the thread passing therethrough, and a light friction braking device adjacent said spindle and in engageable relation with the end of a bobbin or cop thereof.

In witness whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature this 7th day of January, 1926.

WILLIAM E. COOK.

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