US2158266A - Braiding machine - Google Patents

Description

Patented May 16,Y 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRAIDING MACHINE Application September 23, 1937, Serial No. 165,285

2 Claims.

This invention relates to braiding machines and more particularly to an improved arrangement of driving mechanism for driving the braider, whereby power is transmitted to the horn gears through the intermediacy of a novel system of gearing adapted for actuating the braider mechanism with greater uniformity and consistency than has beenv the practice heretofore.

One object of the invention is the provision -1 of simplified means for driving the braider mechanism through which there is obtained a more constant and uniform driving effect upon the horn gears and a quiet-er and more eiiicient 0peration.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a driving means of the character described whereby constant and substantially uniform contact is obtained between the gear surfaces at all times toeliminate backlash and' obtain a more effective and quieter drive.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means of this character adapted to furnish a relatively silent drive with constant engagement of the gears substantially throughout their engaging extents, together with the elimination of idler gears and their shafts, to effect a saving of power and produce more constant and uniform operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relate to various novel combinations and arrangements of the parts, as well as certain improved features of construction in the elements themselves, as will be morel fully set forth in the-1 detailed description to follow.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a braiding machine of the type in which the top plate is in the-form of an annulus and provided with the usual grooves for guiding the bobbin carriers, showing the drive shaft and connections for driving the horn gears therefrom,

Fig. 2 isa vertical sectional view through the driving connection shown in Fig. 1, taken sub-'- stantially along the line 2--2V of Fig. l, and showing the driving connection between the drive shaft andtwo of the horn gears,

Fig. 3 is a'detail vertical sectional View showing one form of driving means adapted for use in connection with a braiding machine of thistype through crown gears carried by a driveshaft and located for engagement with the horn gears outwardly of the annular plates,

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a portion o-f a different type of braiding machine in which the top plate may be` of substantially circular shape instead vof in the form of an annulus as shown. in

Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevational view of a segment of a crown gear such as may beeinployed in transmitting power from the drive shaft to the braider mechanism,

Fig. 6 is a top planview of a spur gear and crown gear of the type employed, illustrating the location and arrangement of their contacting surfaces when in position for transmitting power from the spur gear to the crown gear, and,

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 'l-'l of Fig. 4 and i1- lustrating the location of the operating mechanism shown in that figure for transmitting power to the braider mechanism.

In the operation of braiding machines wherein bobbin carriersl are driven in opposite directions along circuitous paths upon a top plate which forms a table for supporting the carriers there is employedl a system of hornV gearsv which may be arranged in a substantially circular or curved path betweenh parallel supporting plates. Adjacent horn gears of such a structure intermesh with each other to impart a substantially constant movement to the bobbin carriers along the circuitous path or paths which they are'constrained toy follow.

Heretofore power has beenl applied to one or more of the horn gears from a drive shaft, through the intermediacy ofa system of spur and bevel gears, and transmitted to the other horn gears of the system through their intermeshing relation. As the horn gears are locatedV in a substantially horizontal plane it has been the practice to employ bevel gears in order to trans'- mit power from the usual horizontal shafting for application tothe gear faces of the horn gears through the intermediacy of other spur gears. The use of such bevel gears together with the interposed spur gearsvfor driving the horn gears involves the use of a considerable number ofl gear members and requires numerous bearings, all of which serves to consume power in excess of what would otherwise be required; as well as to increasethe number'of moving "parts and the noise of operation. In the usual sys'- tems of gearing as now employed in such mechanism there is a certain amount of play between the engaging surfaces which causes unnecessary noise in operation aswell as such playbetween the gear surfaces as results in a certainv amount of backlash between the gears.

The present construction b'yeliminating the use of intermeshing bevel gears,` aswell as the bearings and supports therefor, and by providing rotated. A shift lever 24 is suitably located with not only for the application of power directly or substantially directly to the horn gears, but for its application in such a manner as to provide constantly engaging contacts between the surfaces of the drive gear and driven gear serves to accomplish a substantial saving of power and at the same time effect greater smoothness and quietness in the operation of the mechanism.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, I designates generally a braiding machine of the type employing vertically spaced annular plates for supporting the horn gears, and 2 and 3 indicate the top and bottom plate members respectively of the machine. The annular plate members 2 and 3 have supported therebetween a plurality of intermeshing spur gears 4in the form of a train, the axes of which gears may be located along a Substantially circular path, as shown in Fig. 1.

The gears 4 are each provided with horns 5 for moving bobbin carrier members along circuitous paths or grooves 6 formed in the top plate 2. More specifically, the grooves E are defined by the spaced edges of curvilinear plates 'I positioned within and spaced from the side edges of curvilinear openings formed in the top plate 2. Bolts 8 extend upwardly through the bottom plate 3 and are each provided with a bushing 9 which serves as a spacing means between the bottom plate 3 and one of the curvilinear plates 'I which is seated upon the bushing 9 and secured in position relative to the top plate by means of a nut I I. Each of the spur gears 4 is rotatably mounted upon one of the ushings 9 and meshes with adjacent spur gears upon opposite sides thereof. The spur gears 4 are each provided with horns 5 for engaging portions of bobbin carrier members extending downwardly through the circuitous paths 5 for moving the bobbin carrier members in opposite direction and inwardly and outwardly radially of the top plate along the circuitous paths 6 during the braiding operation, as is well known in the art.

In this form of the invention there may be provided a drive shaft I4 having a pulley I5 rotatably mounted on the shaft and having lateral ears I6 projecting outwardly from one side face thereof. A circumferentially slotted disk Il is secured to the shaft upon that side of the pulley I5 from which the lateral ears I6 extend. A clutch member I8 may be loosely mounted on the shaft I4 and is slidable longitudinally thereof. The clutch member I8 is provided with lateral arms I9 adapted to project through the slots formed in the disk II so as to be movable into operative engagement with the ears I6 carried by the pulley I5 for driving the shaft I4 upon movement of the clutch member I8 longitudinally of the shaft I4 and towards the pulley I5. The clutch member I8 may be provided with a reduced portion having a circular groove 29 engageable by suitable shift mechanism for moving the clutch member into or out of clutching engagement with the pulley I5 through the interconnection of the lateral arms I9 with the ears I5 carried by the pulley I5.

A shift mechanism is provided for moving the clutch member I8 into and out of clutching engagement with the pulley I5 comprising a shaft 22 rotatably supported from the frame and having oppositely positioned jaws 23 engageable with the groove 20 of the clutch member I8 for sliding the same on the shaft I4 when the shaft 22 is relation to any desired form of throw-off mechanism for actuating the shaft 22 after a manner well known in the art. Crown gears 26 and 21 are carried by the shaft I4 and located adjacent to opposite ends thereof in suitable position for meshing engagement with oppositely located spur gears 4 of the series. The shaft I4 is rotatably mounted in bearings 28, which may be supported by portions 29 of the lower plate 3. The crown gears 26 and 2'I are each fixed to the shaft I4 and serve to drive the oppositely positioned spur gears 4 with which they are in mesh for imparting rotation to the train of horn gears.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings there is shown a shaft I4, similar in all respects to the shaft I4 previously described, and adapted for use in connection with a braiding machine of the type shown in Figs. l and 2, for driving the horn gears from outwardly of the annular plates 2 and 3 instead of interiorly of these plates as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This shaft is adapted to be provided with a driving pulley, clutch members and shift mechanism similar in all respects to that shown in Fig. l of the drawings. In this form of the invention the shaft I4 is mounted in bearings 32 carried by an outwardly extending portion of the lower plate member 3, and a crown gear 33, of a type similar to the gears 26 and 2'I, is secured to the shaft I4 outwardly of the lower plate member 3 and mounted for meshing engagement with one of the spur gears 4.

It is to be understood that in that form of the invention shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the drive shaft I4 is adapted to extend across the space located between the annular plates and be mounted in similar bearings 32 at opposite ends thereof and have similar gears 33 carried thereby for meshing engagement with two opposed horn gears after the manner of the structure shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

In the forms of the invention Shown in Figs` 1 to 3 of the drawings it is to be understood that the shaft I4 may in each case be offset somewhat from the center of the annular plates so as to be located in offset relation with a diameter of the circular plates and provide space for receiving the formed material centrally of the annulus defined by the plate members.

In each form of the structure above shown and described the drive pulley I5 may be driven from any suitable source of power to rotate the lateral ears I6 carried by or formed integral with the pulley I5. 'I'he clutch member I8 upon the shaft I4 is capable of being moved longitudinally of the shaft by means of the shift mechanism carried by the shaft 22 and engageable with the groove 20 of the clutch member I8. In this way the crown gears 25 and 21, as shown in Fig. 2, or the crown gears 33 of the structure shown in Fig, 3, may or may not be driven from the drive pulley I5 dependent upon the position of the clutch member I8, either to operate the braiding mechanism or permit it to remain idle.

In that form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings 36 designates the top plate of a braiding machine known as a small type braider, and 3'I the lower plate. A plurality of horn gears 38 are positioned between the plates 36 and 31 and arranged in a curved path, each of the horn gears being provided with horns 39 for moving thread carriers 40 along the circuitous paths indicated by the grooves 42 formed in the top plate. A drive pulley 43 may be romisere-e iatabiysusporteby ssnfr 44? earned 5y tf1-cast:

in'g" 45 forming' a' portion dfV th"e"niafchine fram l or" supported in any other= suiir'iblel manner' to prv'ideja' mounting forthe"p1`1l1ey43.I A' crofv'n gear 46`isfo'rmed integral with' the drive pulley 43 or rotated thereby'in anyll suitableA manner to drive the" braider mechanism:

In" the present `embodiment of the invention the crown gear 46 meshes with anddrivesja' spurY gear 41. rotatably mounted upon' theivertical shaft 48', the spur gear 41 being provided with aclut'ch"` face" 50 for a" purpose which' will be riiorelfully described. A second spur gearV is' keyed' or' otherwise secured to the vertical shaft 48 for rotation with the shaft and meshes with one of the horn gears 38 of the system of horn gears to drive the braider mechanism. A clutch member 52 is slidably mounted upon the shaft 48 for rotation therewith, as by being splined thereto, and has a clutch face 54 engageable with the clutch face 50 of the spur gear 41 for rotating the shaft 48 and the gear 5I carried thereby when the clutch faces 54 and 50 are engaged.

A shift lever 58 of any suitable character is carried by or pivotally supported by the machine frame and is actuable to engage or disengage the clutch faces 54 and 56, by raising or lowering the clutch member 52. The shift lever 58 is provided with a latch 55 adapted to hold the lever in position for maintaining the clutch faces in engagement with each other during the operation of the braider mechanism.

Suitable automatic stop motion mechanism, indicated generally by reference characters 56 and 51, and which may be of the character disclosed in U. S. Patent to Littlefield, No. 1,930,245, dated Oct. 10, 1933, may be employed if desired for disconnecting the clutch faces 54 and 50, by releasing the clutch lever 58, upon breakage of a thread.

The several horn gears 38 being in intermeshing engagement with each other are operated throughout when the horn gear 38, shown in Fig. 7, is driven by the spur gear 5I. The spur gear 41 is constantly driven by the crown gear 46 upon rotation of the pulley 43, and when the clutch member 52 is in its raised position, as shown in' Fig. 7, the clutch faces 56 and 54 are engaged, and the shaft 48 and gear 5| carried thereby are rotated to drive the horn gears 38.

An upright standard 60 may be carried by the lower plate 31 of the braider or other suitable portion of the machine frame for supporting a reel or other means for receiving the formed fabric from the braider mechanism. c

The crown gears 26, 21 and 33 previously described, as well as the crown gear 46, may each be provided with a plurality of teeth 62, each of which has a widened portion 63 which may be located inwardly of its radial extent and which is of a width substantially equal to the space separating the teeth of the spur gear with which it is intended to mesh. Each tooth 62 may be suitably reduced in thickness outwardly radially of its extent from the widened portion 63, The reduction in width being accomplished to form oppositely positioned inclined surfaces 64 on each side of the tooth, and the narrowing of the teeth being carried to such an extent as to materially reduce the heighth of each tooth at a point somewhat distant from the widened portion, as indicated at 65. The position of each crown gear tooth relative to one of the spur gear teeth during the period of contact is sub- .'iec`: `tp tb constant variation" from anextreme angiilarposition'`l tor` directly opposed engagement andfroinjthere to a'position of extreme angularlty. The'provision of meansjsuch as the widened portions'63?and` narrowed portions 65 having intermediate curved surfaces 64 insure a constant' driving contact between the teeth of the crown gear and tho'seof the spur gear which will-ib substantially uniformly effective in all angular pos'itionsof the gear teeth.

Asslowri more'particularly in Fig. 6 of the drawings, thet'eetli166 of theY spur gear are each first" engaged" by one of the curved surfaces y64 ofa' crown gear tooth 62', as shownv at the right in Fig. 6. The tooth 66 slides over this curved surface 64 of the crown gear tooth 62 as the teeth continue towards full engagement after the manner indicated from right to left of Fig. 6. As each spur gear too-th 66 moves into more complete meshing engagement with the teeth 62 of the crown gear it slides further along the curved surface 64, until when the tooth 62 of the crown gear is fully engaged the widened portion 63 thereof is brought into position between two adjacent spur gear teeth 66 so as to substantially ll the space therebetween. As the gears rotate further the teeth move into disengaging position, during which movement the curved or inclined surfaces 64 continue to slide over the faces of the teeth 66 so as to obtain constant contact between the surfaces of the teeth 62 and the side faces of the spur gear teeth 66 and provide substantially constant contact of the driving surface throughout their engagement.

In driving a mechanism of this character which consists of a train of intermeshing gear members mutually engageable for operation, and in which driving force is applied to one or two gears of the system and communicated to the others through the mutual interconnection of the gears themselves it is desirable to provide constantly effective driving engagement between the driving gears and the driven gears of the system which are directly actuated by the driving gears.

This tends to eliminate wear upon the faces of the gear teeth as well as backlash and results in a more uniform and constantly effective driving action as well as greater uniformity in the distribution of the driving force throughout the train, particularly in cases where the driving impulse is applied simultaneously to two or more of the members making up the gear train or system.

In the use of bevel gears for the purpose of driving mechanisms of this character, as employed heretofore, such gearing requires additional bearing supports and the increased number of gear members results in more o-r less play bringing about considerable wear upon the surfaces of the teeth and a corresponding lack of consistent and uniform driving force as applied to members of the train.

By employing a system of gearing in which the teeth of the driving gears are so constructed as to be in substantially constant effective engagement with the teeth of the driven gears making up the the system of gears, these disadvantages above named are substantially overcome and a drive is provided which requires a considerably less expenditure of power and which gives more uniform operation of the mechanism with consequently greatly decreased noise of operation.

What I claim is:

1. In a braiding machine having a plurality of horn .gears arranged in intermeshing relation with each other and each provided with spur teeth, driving means for one of said horn gears comprising intermeshing spur and crown gears, said crown gear being provided with teeth diminishing in height outwardly radially thereof and having inclined side faces extending outwardly from its point of maximum height, said crown gear being located in constantly intermeshing relation with the teeth of said spur lgear and having the inclined side faces of its radial teeth in substantial contact with the teeth of said spur gear throughout their common path of travel.

2. In a braiding machine of the character described, a plurality of horn gears mounted in intermeshing relation with each other for driving bobbin carrier members, and means for driving said horn gears comprising a spur gear and a crown gear mounted in intermeshing relation, the teeth of said crown gear being each of gradually diminishing height and thickness outwardly radially of said gear to provide substantially constantly engaging outwardly and transversely inclined surfaces of contact between the teeth of said spur gear and the teeth of said crown gear throughout their intermeshing relation regardless of the degree of angularity between said teeth. JOHN G. ALDRICH.

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