US2253522A - Tension device - Google Patents

Description

H. w. HITCHCOCK 2,253,522

TENSION DEVICE Filed may 5, 19:59 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A118? ,19 H. w. HITCHCOCK 2,253,522

TENSION DEVICE Filed May 5, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 tively controlling the tension applied to Patented 1 TENSION nEvIcE Harold Wood Hitchcock, Apponaug, R. I., assignor to Universal Winding Company, Boston, Mass.,

,a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 5, 1939, Serial No. 272,033

10 Claims.

This application is a continuation in part of my prior applications for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 224,386, flied August 11, 1938,

and Serial No. 251,816, filed January 19, 1939, now Patent No. 2,207,868.

The present invention relates to improvements in devices for tensioning strand materials such as yarn. thread and the like during their delivery to winding machines or inother trans-fer processes.

In the following specification-and claims the term "yarn is employed in a general sense to apply to all kinds of strand materials, either textile or otherwisaand the designation package", is intended to indicate the product of the'wlnding machine whatever its form. a

One object oi'the invention is to provide a differential tension-device adapted to operate antomatically to maintain a uniiormtenslon on the yarn during the winding or other operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tension-device comprising opposed disks with means for regulating. the pressure on the disks to vary the tension applied to the strand in accordance with the rate of its linear travel.

Another object 'of the invention is to provide in a device of thetype indicated'means for posithe yarn without the use of weights or other elements liable to cause vibration or chatter oi the tension elements. v

Another object of the invention is to provide a tension-device of the type indicated in'which the tension-members may be readily.separated for inspection and cleaning purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a tension-device of the type indicated pressure means for normally urging the tension-members into cooperative relationship to act on the strand and adapted to permit manualseparation of .the

members, said means. being automatically operable to restore the tension-members to cooperative relationship.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tension-device of simple structure and 'arraogement adapted for economical manufacture and proof against derangement'and excessive wear during extended periods of operation.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes one preferred embodiment of the invention and a modified form thereof as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.' In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a conventional type of winding machine incorporating a tension-device for applying tension to the strand of yarn being wound and illustrating the improved controlling means for progressively relieving the applied tension as the linear speed of the yarn increases during the winding operation;

' Fig. 2 is an enlarged part-sectional side elevation of the tension-device and the controlling means therefor, showing the position assumed by the parts at the commencement of the winding operation;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the relationship of the parts at a later stage in the winding operation; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the tension-device and its controlling means;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the tension-device and the pressure-means therefor showing the tension-disks separated to permit inspection and cleaning;

Fig. 61s. a side view of the same with the parts shown partly in section;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the tension-device shown with a modified form of pressure means and incorporating the present improvement; .and

F g. 8 is an end view oi'the tension-device illustrated in Fig. '1.

Thepresent invention is concerned particularly with tension-devices for winding machines in which the winding-spindle is rotated at a constant speed so that during the winding of a package thereon the rate of linear travel of the yarn progressively increases with the increase inv I circumference of the wound mass. It is well known to those skilled in the art that in winding on machines of this type as thewinding progresses and the package increases in circumference the yarn must feed thereto at aprogressively accelerated rate, that is, with an increasing linear speed and, therefore. unless controlled, the tension on the running yarn will be augmented from this cause. It has heretofore been proposed to provide means for gradually relieving or reducing the applied tension on the yarn during the growth of the package and the present invention is distinguished from such known devices in that it provides a positive control' of the ten sion-membersrather than through the use of.

adjustable weights and like unstable elements liable to vibration.

The invention is herein shown as applied to use on a winding machine of conventional type wherein the package is wound on a positively driven winding-spindle and the yarn traversed 55 longitudinallythereoi by means of a reciprocatused for controlling the operation or tension-.

devices of other types wherein the tension-elements are progressively separated, one from the other, or the pressure of one against the other relieved during the winding or like operation.

Fig. 1 of the drawings illustrates a well-known type of winding machine comprising a main frame 2 having upper bearings for a rotary winding spindle '3 and lower bearings for a cam-shaft d. Cylindrical or conical packages may be wound on the spindle 3 by traversing the yarn longitudinally thereof through the means of a reciprocating thread-guide 5 which is supported on a swinging traverse-frame 8. The threadguide 5 is connected to a traverse-rod 1 slidable in grooved hearings in the traverse-frame 6 and arranged to be reciprocated by a helical cam, not herein shown, which is rotated by the cam-shaft d. The traverse-frame 8 is pivoted on the cam- 2 of the package against the thread-guide 5 which tends to swing the traverse-frame 3 'away from the spindle 3, a diflerential pressure-device is employed. The differential pressure-means comprises a lever s'pivoted on a stud l3 screwed into a boss on the side of a curved arm 28 which supports a tension-bracket 30, to be described later. The tension-bracket is fastened to the side of the frame 2 at 3|. A weight I! slidably mounted on the lever 3 is adjustable therealong to vary its operative pressure on the traversei'rame 8. As shown in Fig. 4, the lever 3 is of bifurcated form having two arms with a hub l2 therebetween for pivoting it on the stud I0. A U-shaped link 3 has one end hooked through alined holes in the sides 01' the lever 3 and headed over to retain it in place; while its opbore of a sleeve 24. The sleeve 24 has a knurled head 25 and its main portion is externally threaded to engage the interiorly-threaided bore of a hub or boss 21 formed integral with the tension-bracket 30. The sleeve 24 may be adjusted longitudinally in the boss 21 and is held in adjusted position by means of a knurled locknut 29 screwed onto the sleeve and set up against the side of the boss. The tension-disks 2| and 22 are of saucer shape, being. preferably constructed of sheet-metal with their opposed portions having fi-at races adapted to bear against the strand s drawing therebetween.

The means for applying pressure to the disks 2| and 22 to force them toward each other to adapt them to bear against the strand s may consist in a flexible diaphragm for each disk constructed from suitable resilient material such as rubber, fiber or the like. The diaphragms 35 are of disk-form as shown in 3, having subto the diaphragms adjacent their centers to I cause them to yieldingly press against the outer rims of the disks 2| and 22.

The tension-device illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 differs 'from that described above only in the form of the pressure means employed therewith.

- In this case the pressure-elements are in the form of spider-like springs 38 slidably mounted on the spindle 23 with the ends of their radial arms bearing against the outer rims of the tension-disks 2| and 22.

In either case. the dilaphragms 35, or the spring-elements 36, are forced toward each other under pressure applied thereto to-urge the tension-disks 2| and 22 toward each other to apply resistance to the passage of the yarn drawing therebetween. As herein shown, a preferred form or construction of the pressure means comprises the spindle or plunger-rod 23 on which the tension-disks 2| and 22 are mounted and which is slidable in the sleeve 23. The inner diaphragm 35 has its central portion abutting the end of the sleeve 24, while the central portion of theouter diaphragm 3B is engaged by awasher or other abutment 31 secured to the outer extremity of the rod or spindle 23 by means of a screw 38. It will thus be observed that when the rod or spindle 23 is slid to the left, asviewed posite bent end is hooked into one of a series in Fig. 2, the abutment 31 will bear against the of slots I4 formed in the side of a sheet-metal bracket l5 adjustably' mounted on the weighted arm 3 of the traverse-frame 3. The lever 9 and weighted arm 8 act to resist the outward swinging movement 01' the traverse-frame 3 to maintain the thread-guide 3 bearing against the package being wound with the required pressure. As the winding progresses and the traverse- !rame 6 swings in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, the lever 3 is swung upwardly by means of the link l3 to relieve the pressure tending to resist the movement 01' the threadguide away trom'the winding-spindle.

The tension-device 20 is shown and described in detail in my prior application, Serial No. 224,386, and is therefore referred to herein only briefly as related to the operation of the pressure means. Sufllce it to state that a pair of concavo-convex disks 2| and 22 are rotatably mounted on a rod or spindle 23 slidable in the adapt them to yieldingly press against the rims of the two disks 2| and 22. As the pressure of the abutment 31 is increased the diaphragms will be flexed to cause them to be bowed inwardly toward each other to a slight extent.

with the form 01' tension-device shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the spring-elements 33 are flexed in the same manner to cause them to be bowed inwardly toward each other to a slight extent. The inner spring 33 may be held against rotation by a screw 43 in the bracket 30 engaging the side 01' one of the radial arms of the spring. Rotation of the outer spring 33 is prevented by an arm 3| formed integral with and extending laterally from the abutment or washer 39 into engagement with the side of an arm. of the spr n The strand 8 leads upwardly from a suitable source of supply, not herein shown, passes through -a pigtail guide supported by the bracket 88, and across a rod. 45 forming one element of a slub-catcher mounted at the upper end of the bracket.. From the guiding rod 48 the strand s leads across a wire-bail 41 carried by the traverse-frame 8 and thence through a groove in the thread-guide to the package'being wound. I I

A bifurcated tension-lever." has a hub-portion 5| mounted on the stud ll, previously referred to, with arms 82 and 88 radiating therefrom and connected at their ends by a cross-strut 84, see Fig. 4. The hub 8| is held axially in abutting relation to the hub of the lever 8 by means of a washer." and screw 88. The arms '82 and 58 of the lever 88 are provided with alined holes for receiving the body-portion of an adjusting stud It. As shown inFig's. 3 and 4, the adjusting stud 88 has an eccentric disk-like portion 80 at its forward end with its side abutting the outer face of the arm 82 while its shankportion extends beyond the arm 68 with its end providedwith a threaded bore. An enlarged head 6| formed at the outer end "of the stud 59 is slotted to receive a screw-driver to facilitate turning the stud when adjusting the posi-,

the'pressure means ofthe. tension-device 2t.

The plunger-rod or spindle 28, previously described as slidabiy mounted in the sleeve 24 of the tension-device 20, is slotted or bifurcated at its rearward extremity, as shown at 88 in Fig. 5, to adapt it to receive one end of a link or ex- .tension 80. A pin 8| passing through holes in the sides of the bifurcated end of the spindle 28 also passes through a longitudinal slot 82 in the link 80 to connect the latter. therewith.

tion of its eccentric portion 88 for a purpose to be explained later. A link 88 has'an eye or loop at one end enclosing the-end of the stud 59 and held in place abutting the side of the lever-arm 53 by means of a headed screw 86..

on a stud 12 held in the bracket I5. previously described as fastened to the side of the traverseframe arm 8 and forming part of the differential pressure means common to winding machines of the type herein illustrated. The bracket 89 is provided with an arcuate slot 18 through which passes a screw 14 screwed into a threaded hole in the bracket It. By loosening the screw the smaller bracket 88 may be adjusted about the ,stud I2 and thereafter secured in position by tightening the .screw. It will beapparent that during the winding operation the swing-' ing motion of the traverse-frame 8 will rock the weighted arm 8 in a clockwise direction-as viewed in Fig. 1, and through its connection by the link with the lever 50 the latter will be rocked about its pivot ID in a counterclocb wise direction.

The forward arm 52 of the lever 88 is longer than its rearward arm 88. as shown in Fig. 4,,

and is provided atitsextremity with a threaded- As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the pin 9| has a head 88 abutting the rearward side of the spindle 23 while its other end is headed over to hold it fixedly in place. The opposite end of the link 80 is pivotally connected to'a stud 88 screwed into the end of the extension 82 of thelever 80. As shown in Fig. 4, the end of the link 80 surrounds the enlarged shank-por tion-96 of the stud 98 between its head 91 and the side of the lever-extension 82 and the stud is held in place by a nut 88 screwed onto its end and abutting the opposite side of the exten- .sion. Adjacent this end of the link 80 is a pin I00 riveted through a hole in the link. The pins I88 and 8| are provided with circumferential grooves for receiving the hooked ends of a relatively stiff helical spring I02 which acts to draw the spindle 23 towardthe left as viewed in Fig. 2 and normally maintains its pin 8| in engagement with the left-hand end of the slot 82 of the connecting-link 80.

A preferred form of construction of the tension-controlling device having. been described in detail its method of operation isexplained as follows: To prepare the machine for winding, the strand s-of yarn or the like is drawn .upwardly through the guide 44, threaded between the tension-disks 2| and 22, and thence ledacross the guide-rod 45 and ball H.- The strand is then passed through the slot in the threadguide I and its end attached to the tube t or other yarn-receiver mounted on the spindle 3; the traverse-frame 8 being thenmoved into position to place the thread-guide against the coptube t. The tension-controlling device, including the levels 88 and 80, will then assume the position substantially as shown in Fig. 1. The tension on the strand 3 is initially regulated by adjusting the sleeve 24 longitudinally of the hub 21 to "cause it tob'ear'against the inner diaphragm 88 to flex both 'diaphragms, or springelements 28, as the case may be, to the required degree; Itwill be, observed that the spindle 28 and. its extension or link 80 are held in 1011817 .tudinally-contracted or telescoped relationship by the tension of the relatively strong spring I02 hole for receiving the reduced-threaded end of a stud l8. Pivoted on the larger shank-portion 11 of the stud 18 is a sheet-metal lever 80 provided with a longitudinal slot 8|. see F18. 3,' with an enlargement or opening 88 at its end arranged with its sides embracing the periphery of the eccentric portion 80 of the adjusting stud 59. The narrower portion of the slot 8| renders the upper .portion of the lever 80 resilient'wherewith the pin 8| engaging the left-hand end of the slot 82in the link as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4. The adjustment of the sleeve 24 will tend to flex the diaphragms 88; or springs 38, to bear against the rims of the tensionedisks 2| and 22 and thus the initial tension applied to the-strand s at the start ofthe winding is regulated in accordance with requirements.

The controlling device is further adjusted to regulate the extent of sliding movement lmpartadiust the connected end of the link 90 into eccentric relation to the axis of the pivot-stud l0. With the lever 8d adjusted in position with the stud 98 in eccentric relation to the axis of the pivot-stud Ill the rocking movement of the levers t and 80 during the winding operation will cause the end of the connecting-link 90 to swing in an arc concentric 'with the axis of the stud ill in the manner of a crank-pin; and since the pin 8i of the spindle 28 is held in engagement with the end of the slot 82 by the spring M2 the spindle will be moved bodily toward the right to gradually relieve the pressure of the diaphragrns 35 against the rims of the tensiondisks2i and 22.

By the above-explained method of operation of the control-device the pressure of the two dlaphragms on the tension-disks 2i and 22 is relieved so that the pressure of the disks on the strand s drawing therebetween is correspondingly diminished. It will be understood that this reliei of the pressure on the diaphragms and the corresponding reduction in the pressure of the tension-disks on the strand is effected gradually and continuously from start to finish of the winding of each package and in direct proportion to the increase in linear speed or rate of draft of the strand as the package grows in size. In fine, as the speed of draft, of the yarn increases due to the growing diameter of the package being wound the applied tension on the yarn is gradually relieved so that the ultimate tension remains substantially constant or uniform throughout the winding.

During the winding operation ,the weighted arm 5 acts through thelink id to swing the weighted lever-arm ii upwardly to gradually diminish the active pressure tending to resist movement of the thread=guide 5 away from the winding spindle 8. It will be noted that the arms and 58 are independently pivoted on the common stud id and since their pivotal movement is controlled by separate links it and 85 the rocking movement of either arm will not. aflect the movement of the other arm.

It has been explained that the pin 9! in the end of the spindle 23 is normally held in engagernent with the left-hand end of the slot 92 in the link so by means of the spring id: to maintain the tension-disks 2i and 22 in cooperative relationship with the diaphragms 35, or springs 85, as the casemay be, flexed to the required degree. It is sometimes desirable to open the tension-device, that is by separating the disks 2i and 22 so that their yarn-engaging'surfaces maybe inspected and cleaned of lint, specks or the like; or to clear the device ofany loose yarn that may have become entangled around the when it is desired to separate the er disks 22, or the abutment on the. spindle 28, and draws thev latter outwardly or toward the right in the manner indicated in Figs. 5 and 6. During this longitudinal movement of the spindle 28 its pin ll will slide in the slot 82 of the link I and extend thespring ll! until final-- ly the pin brings up a ainst the right-hand end of the slot to prevent further movement of the spindle in this direction. with the disks II and 22 separated their yarn-engaging surfaces and the spindle 23 may be readily cleaned, after which the spindle a is released and permitted to return to initial position under the action of the spring I02. Return movement of the spindle 28 is limitedby the re-engagement of its pin Furthermore, with the parts in their normal position the pin. 9! is held against the end of the slot 92 by the action of the relatively stiff spring I02 so that positive operation of the device without vibration is secured.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present invention provides a particularly simple yet ingenious means for positively and accurately controlling the pressure on the tension-members during the winding of a package whereby to relieve the tension applied to the yarn as the linear speed of the latter, increases. In this way the device operates automatic-ally to maintain a substantially constant and uniform tension on the yarn from startto finish of the package.

The tension-controlling device is operated directly ifrom the winding mechanism in direct proportion to the growth of the package being wound without the use of weights or other unstable elements liable to cause vibration or chatter of the tension-elements and result in uneven tension being applied to the yarn. The improved tension-controlling means may be quickly and accurately adjusted to effect a range of action necessary to properly relieve the tension during the winding or like operation.

As a particular feature of improvement in the present invention the tension-controlling device is so constructed that the tension-elements may be separated one from the other when it is desired to inspect or clean-their yarn-engaging suradapted to bear against a strand of yarn or the like to apply resistance to its draft, resilient means for forcing said member against the strand, a lever, a two-part spindle actuated by said lever to maintain the resilient means under compression, and a second resilient means arranged between the parts ofthe spindle to permit extension of the latter to release it from the first resilient means.

2. A tension-device comprising a two-part spindle, a tension-disk supported coaxially of said v spindle, resilient means acting against the tension-disk, means on the spindle acting against the resilient means to maintain the latter under compression, a lever for sliding the spindle to relieve the compression of the resilient means means for actuating said lever, and a spring be: tween the parts-of the spindle adapted to permil; manual'extension of the spindle to remove the compression means from the resilient means.

3. A tension device comprising a slidable spindie, a pair of tension-disks mounted coaxially of said spindle to adapt them to bear against .a of yarn feeding ther'ebetween, resilient means acting against said tension-disks to cause them to press against the strand, means carried by the spindle .for compressing the resilient means, a link slidable longitudinally of the spindle, a lever for moving said link to slide the 4. A tension-device comprising a slidable spindle, a pair of tension-disks supported coaxially of said spindle, resilient means acting'against said tension-disks to cause them to press against a yarn feeding therebetween, an abutment on the spindle acting against the resilient means to maintain the latter under compression, an extension telescopically connected to the spindle, a spring acting between the extension and the spindle to maintain them normally in contracted relationship, and means acting on the extension to slide the spindle to relieve the pressure of the abutment against the resilient means.

5. A tension-device comprising a slidable spindle, a pair of tension-disks arranged coaxially of said spindle, resilient means acting against the tension-disks to adapt them to press against a strand drawing therebetween, an abutment on the spindle for maintaining the resilient means under compression, an extension slidable axially of the spindle, means to limit the sliding movement of the extension with respect to the spindle,

' a spring for normally maintaining said spindle and extension in axially-contracted relationship, and means acting on the spindle-extension to slide the spindle to gradually relieve the pressure of the compression means against the resilient means.

6. A tension-device comprising a slidable spindle, a pair of tension-disks arranged concentrically of said spindle, resilient means acting against the tension-disks to cause them to press against a strand drawing therebetween, an abutment on the spindle for maintaining the resilient means under compression, an extension slidable axially of the spindle, said extension and spindle being joined by a pin-and-slot connection, and a spring for normally maintaining -taid spindle and extension in axially-contracted relationship with the pin at the-end of the slot.

7. A tension-device comprising a support, a

sleeve threadedihrough an opening in the support, a spindle slidable in said sleeve, a pair of opposed tension-disks mounted on said spindle and having peripheral rims, resilient means bearing against the rims of the tension-disks, and an abutment on the spindle bearing against said resilient means, said sleeve and abutment acting to maintain the resilient means under compression.

8. A tension-device comprising a tension-member adapted to bear against a running yarn to cause resistance to its draft,-a two-part extensible spindle for supporting said tension-member, resilient pressure means acting against the tension-member, means on the spindle acting against the pressure means to maintain the latter under compression, one of said spindle parts.

, being manually slidable with respect to the other part to release the means on the spindle from the pressure means, and resilient means" acting between the spindle parts to yieldingly hold them in-contracted relationshipto cause the means on the spindle to act on the pressure means.

9. A tension-device comprising a pairci tension-members adapted to bear against a strand of yarn or thelike feedingtherebetween, resilient pressure means acting against said tension-memaxially movable with respect to the other part to relieve the pressure of the abutment on the pressure means, and means for yieldingly maintaining the spindle partsin contracted relationship to cause the abutment to compress the pressure means.

HAROLD WOOD HITCHCOCK.

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