US1895810A - Bobbin clutch - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 31, 1933. Q H MAGRATH' 1,895,810

BOBBIN CLUTCH .Filed Aug. 2s', 195o van tw: 'emye H ./Va r t/z,

Patented Jan. 3l, 1933 UMTEDSTATS PATENT- F'FICEL GEonGE nl. MAGR'ATH, or wnrr'msvnrln. MASSACHUSETTS' `1301313111 CLUTCH Appnctign ,may August 26, lago. serialJ No. 477,811.1.;V

This 'inventiongrelates to an improvement in bobbinv clutches for rotatable spindles in which the clutching members-are provided to t within the b ase of the bobbin and to expand therein, thus to maintain the bobbin' in position during the spinning or other opera-V tion. More particularly vthis invention emfl bodies an 4improved spring element which is adapted to be used in bobbinclutches of the type shown in my copending application Serial No. 295,158, filed July 25, 1928, now Patent No. 1,820,574, issued August'25, 1931, as well as in variousA other types well known in the arte It is the 4object of this invention to prof vide a spring element which is simple and economical to manufacture, which is eicient and durable in use, and which is generally superior to those heretofore used in bobbin clutches. Further objects and advantages will be apparent as attributes of the construction and design hereinafter to beset forth and described.

This invention provides a spring element which comprises spring metal wire so mounted as to afford a plurality of upwardly extending, symmetrically disposed, circumferentially spaced resilient fingers. A particularly desirous feature in the manufacture of such a spring is that there is no necessity for heat treatment after shaping. Dispensing with this relatively expensive and time-consuming operation not only produces a less expensive structure, but also one which is tenacious and durable in c-ontradistinction to the spring elements now or heretofore used which require heat treatment, which resultsV in the production of a brittle structure not adapted to stand the stress and strain to which such elements are subjected.

As the general construction and operation ofy rotatable spindles with expansible clutching members are well known and familiar to those skilled in the. art, it will only be necessary here to illustrate and describe. the parts directly concerned with the present invention.

In the drawing: j

p Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section of a clutch mechanism;

line `2 2 of Fig. 1;. y l, "Fig 3 is aplan'view and elevation ofthe spring; `and fFig. 2 is atransverse cross section takenon hub 3 has four radial slots extending longi` 65;

tudinally from one end throughout the maJor portion ofthe length ofthe case 7 leaving therebetween finger portions 8 which project into the annular recess 6."Disposed in the clutching members 11, having their. u per ends lipped to engage inside lthe 'case ias shown in Fig. 1, and having their lower ends terminating in outwardly vprojecting feet10` extending into and resting onthe bottom of 75 the annular recessl 6. The clutching membersl1 are preferably heldin position byr a ring-'12 forced inthe annular recess 6 above the feet 10.

Y The spring element 13, shown in Fig. 3, is a one-piece structure formed from a) blank -of spring steel wire. The blank is bent or shaped to define Vannular base sectors 14, up-

wardly extending, symmetricallyl disposed,"

circumferentially spaced'resilient fingers '15', 85"

the upper Vportions of which have outwardlyV flaring' tips 16. Preferablythe ends 17 of the spring arefwelded together. Seated on the neck 4 is the spring 13 with its annular base sectors blade'l, and the Vflared tips 16 of the projecting lingers y15 engaging Athe clutching meme bers'll near their upper ends,-as shown in Fig; 1. VThe width of the fingers 15 is equal to'Vor preferably slightly less than the .width 9.521

of the contact pieces k9.l The collar 18 with laterallyLprojecting tabs Y19 V'is fitted on the: bladefl: withyitstabs'19 extending between the `fingers l lof the springl andtheir under surfaces in pressing 'contact' with the '100 Fig. 4: is a plan View of a collar used in one 55;

aforesaid slots are *thel contact pieces 9 of the 70 surrounding the base portions 14 of the spring, as shown in Fig. 1. The collar is held in this position referably by means of a pressed fit on the lade 1, or itmay be edectively so held by a pressed fit resulting from the contact of the ends of the tabs 19 with the lower interior walls Vof the finger portions 8 of the case 7 Eitherfway the relative positions' of the fingers 15 of the spring, the clutching members 11, and the case fingers 8 is maintained.

In assembling the parts `the whirl 2 is pref-J erably applied to the blade 1 first; the spring` 14 is dropped on the blade and then-r thev collar 18is pressed on the blade in close relation to the neck. The case 7 is pressed partiallyv on ythe blade andthe clutching ymembers 11 are inserted in theradial slots between. the ngers 8 of the case and while being so held (by a temporaryiing yor equiv-yrv alentmeans) the case is pressed into position with its lingers 8: extending into the annular recess 6. The ring`12 which holds the feet of the clutching members 11y is theny pressed into place.

' From the foregoing it will be evident that the spring is held in positionby the collar, Whichis maintained in fixed relation to the blad-ev and-consequently the -spring lingers 15; throughthe medium of the clutching members 11 will yieldingly engage thev bobbin to hold it in position.

i It should be understood that the present disclosure jis for'the purpose of illustration only Vand that this Linvention includes all modifications l and equivalentsy which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I'c1aim: `l Y i 1, Apparatus of. the character vdescribed comprising 'a blade, a whirl secured to the blade, the whirl havinga hub provided with a neck fitting around the-blade and an annu-4 larrecess surrounding the neck, a case conf' centric the lbladeand secured at its kupper end theretoand having a plurality of vertical-slots, a .plurality of clutching members seated at theirllower ends in said recess with their contact segments disposed in the 4vertical slots of the case, a spring comprising a vpiece of, resilient wire shaped to define an annular base anda: plurality of upwardly extending resilient ngers, saidspringbeing concentric the blade within thecase and having its fingers engaging said contact segments, and means `for securing said spring in a fixed relationto the clutching members. li o 2. ,Avbcbbin clutch comprising a blade, a whirl secured to the blade, the Whirlhaving a hub provided with a neckfitting around theV blade and an annular recess surround-` ingrthe neck, a case concentric the blade and secured at itsupper end thereto" and having a. lurality of symmetrically ldisposed,tvertil ca slots, a plurality of clutching members seated at their lower ends in said recess with their ncontact segments disposed inthe vertif,

ing its fingers engaging said contact seg-k ments. n v Y 3.Y A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a whirl secured to the blade, the whirl having a hub/'provided with a neck tting around the blade and an annular recess surrounding the neck, a case concentric the blade and secured Y at'its upper end thereto and having a plurality of symmetricallyldisposed, vertical slots,

ra plurality `of clutching members seated at theirlower lends in vrsaid recess kwith 1their contact lsegments V.disposed 'in ,the vertical slots of the case, a spring com.y rising a piece of resilient wire shapedtorde e'an annular base and a plurality kof upwardly; extending resilient fingers, said'spring'being concen tric the. blade within the case'and having its fingersfengaging the Contact segments, and an annular collar concentric the bladeand havinga plurality ofvradially projecting vtabs engaging the base portions of the spring to hold the samein fixed position.

4Signed by meat Boston, Massachusetts this 20th day of August, 1930.

Y Guionesn.y ,MAGRATH; et l

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