US2397153A

US2397153A - Adjustable yarn tension device

Info

Publication number: US2397153A
Application number: US519016A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert O Naumann
Original assignee: North American Rayon Corp
Current assignee: North American Rayon Corp
Priority date: 1944-01-20
Filing date: 1944-01-20
Publication date: 1946-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 1963-03-26

Description

H. O. NAUMANN v ADJUSTABLE YARN TENSION DEVICE March 26, 1946. 2,397,153

Filed Jan. 20, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 El 2; I6 3' y N BY I March 26, 1946. o. NAUMANN ADJUSTABLE YARN TENSIFON DEVICE Filed Jan. 20, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. I

Herbert 0. Ndumdnn BY M w 71 ATTOR/VE H. OFNAUMANN ADJUSTABLE YARN TENSION DEVICE Filed Jan. 20, 1944 March 26, 1946.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Her bar! 0. Naumarm BY@Mf/- March 26, 1946. H", NAUMANN 2,397,153

ADJUSTABLE YARN TENSION DEVICE Filed Jan. 20, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Y J 80 6a /-9 A I /7'A.

INVENTOR. Herbert O. -Naumom1 March 26, 1946. Q NAUMANN I ADJUSTABLE YARN TENSION DEVICE Filed Jan. 20, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 as so 79 90 aa 7/ INVENTOR. Herbert O. Noumea/m BY /2 0 x/ Patented Mar. 26, 1946 ADJUSTABLE YARN TENSION DEVICE Herbert 0. Naumann, Englewood, N. J., assignor to North American Rayon Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application January 20, 1944, Serial No. 519,016

14 Clainis.

This invention relates to an improvement in yarn tension devices for use in connection with twisting devices of the type illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 2,013,023 issued September 3, 1935 to Bochmann and Lenk in which the thread is drawn over the top of a stationary unwinding package,

. conducted downwardly through the center of the package and a hollow twisting spindle and thence radially and upwardly around. the stationary package and through a pigtail guide to the winding spool.

In order to control the amount ballooning of the thread around the stationary package and for other purposes, it has been found desirable to employ thread tensioning devices such as those disclosed in U. S. Patent 1,170,153 issued March 11, 1930 to Andrew and Langstreth, 1,826,354 issued October 6, 1931 to Lenk and 2,240,153 issued April 29, 1941 to Carter, et a1. Such tensioning devices while serving admirably in controlling the ballooning and the twisting of the thread, fail to provide for the ready adjustment of the thread tension.

The primary object of the present invention is the precise tensioning of the thread to a predetermined degree as it leaves the stationary package and prior to its entrance into the rotary twisting spindle.

Another object of the invention is the rapid adjustment of the thread tension to the desired degree and the maintenance of the thread tension adjustment throughout the operation.

A further object is to facilitate the initial threading of the device and its rethreading in case of thread breakage during operation.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this invention which embodies among its features yarn engaging elements cooperating to encompass yarn passing through the device, and a rotatable bonnet by the rotation of which the yarn engaging elements may be made to engage the yarn under varying degrees of pressure.

Another feature is the complete manual separation of the yarn engaging elements was to clear the yarn path to facilitate the threading of the device without disturbing the adjustment of the pressure exerted on the yarn by the elements once they are again released.

A further featureof the invention embodies means to releasably hold the yarn engaging elements clear of the yarn path to facilitate threading up, which means may be easily and quickly released once the threading of the device has been threaded.

Still further features reside in apparatus for holding the rotatable cap in its adjusted position and against accidental rotation once the proper yarn tension has been established and also means to visibly indicate the degree of tension under which the yarn passes through the device.

In carrying the invention into practice I employ apparatus and equipment such as that disclosed in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view in elevation of a twisting spindle and yarn package showing this improved tension device in position thereon,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 looking in the direction opposite the arrows,

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the parts in position for threading up,

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view through.

the yarn tension device illustrated in Fig. 11, taken as the line I2--l2 thereof,

Fig. 13, is an enlarged side view of. the yarn tensioning mechanism employed in the device of Fig. 11, and 1 Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line l4--l4 of Fig. 12.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a conventional twisting spindle l5 carries at its upper end a thread guide l6 upon which the lower end of a yarn package I! rests. This package includes the usual spool l8 (Fig. 3) which surrounds a spool support l9 and a cap 20 rests upon the upper end of the spool all in the conventional manner. The stationary portion 2| (Fig. 3) of the spindle structure carries at its upper end a yarn guide 22 which in the present instance comprises a conical cap having a central aperture through which the yarn 23 passes on its way down through the package to the twisting spindle 15 (see Fig. 1).

Supported at the upper end of the spool support I9 is a base 24 having a central aperture 25 through which the upper end of the conical cap 22 projects. Surrounding the aperture 25 in spaced relation thereto is a cylindrical wall 26 the upper end of which is grooved as at 21. The outer wall of the groove projects above the general height of the wall 26 and is internally screw threaded to receive an externally threaded compression ring 28 for a purpose to be more fully hereinafter described. The threaded portion of the outer wall of the groove is tapped to receive a set screw 29 so that the compression ring 28 may be locked against accidental rotation.

Secured to the upper face of the base 24 is a column 30 which is provided in one side with spaced notches in which yarn engaging fingers 3| are secured. The yarn engaging edges of these fingers are concave in plan as shown at 32 in Figs. 4, and 6, though in the opposite plane they'are smoothly rounded to avoid injury to the yarn as it passes over them. The concave edges 32 are arranged in vertical alignment, and at the extreme depth of each concavity the fingers align with the axis of the opening 25 through the base 24. Such a structure presents in efiect a stationary concave jaw over which the yarn passes as it moves from the package II to the twisting spindle l5.

Extending laterally from the column 30 near its lower and upper ends are brackets 33 each of which is formed with an opening for the reception of a pivot pin 34 about which a yoke 35 is adapted to swing. Mounted for rotation about the pivot pin 34, independent of the movement of the yoke 35, is a pinion 36 in which is anchored the end of a coil spring 31 which surrounds the pivot pin 34. The opposite end of the coil spring 31 extends laterally (Figs. 5 and 6) and terminates in a hook 38 which engages the yoke 35 to yieldingly move it toward or away from the column 30. Secured at spaced intervals to the yoke 35 are curved fingers 39 having concave yarn engaging edges. These fingers 39 are so positioned on the yoke 35 that they enter the spaces between fingers 3| on the column 30 and bring the concave edges of the two sets of fingers into engagement with yarn. passing through the device. Thus it will be understood that the structure just described forms in effect a movable concave jaw which cooperates with the fixed jaw structure in encompassing the path of the yarn passing across the fingers 3| and 39.

Mounted for rotation in the groove 21 in the upper end of the cylindrical wall 26 is a bonnet 4| carrying at its upper end a yarn guide 42. The lower end of the bonnet is provided with an outwardly extending peripheral flange 43 which rides on the bottom of the groove 21 beneath the compression ring 28. Seated on the flange 43 below the ring 28 is an undulated spring ring 44 (Figs. 3, 9 and Secured to the bonnet 4| and meshing with the pinion 36 is an internal ring gear 45 which upon. rotation will rotate the pinion 36 and thus impart rotary motion to the spring 31 so as to cause the yoke 35 to swing about its pivot pin 34. A pointer 46 which is secured to the exterior of the bonnet 4| cooperates with graduations 41 around the periphery of the wall 26 (Fig. 1) to indicate the pressure exerted by the fingers on the yarn passing through the device.

Extending radially through the cylindrical wall 26 below the groove 21 and diametrically opposite the pivot pin 34 is a bushing 48 through which a shaft 49 extends. Secured to the outer end of the shaft 49 is a lever 50 which is curved to follow the general contour. of the wall 26 and terminates in a pressure plate 5|. Secured to the inner end of the shaft 49 is an upstanding lever 53 the upper end of which is adapted to engage an extension 54 carried by one of the fingers'39. One end of 'a retractile coil spring 55 is anchored to the lever intermediate its ends, and the opposite end of said spring is fastened to a pin 56 carried by and extending outwardly from the column 39. Seated in a recess at the outer end of the bushing 48 and surrounding the shaft 49 is a compression coil spring 51 which serves to hold the lever 53 against the inner end of the bushing so as to avoid undue chattering of the parts.

In operation the yarn 23 leaving the package is carried upwardly over the upper end of and down through-the center of the yarn guide 42 as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. Leaving the yarn guide 42 the yarn enters the tension device and passes between the

fingers

32 and 39. Pressure on the pressure plate 5| causes the shaft 49 to rotate and'move the lever 53 against the pull of the spring 55. Such movement of the lever 53 causes it to engage the extension 54 and move the yoke 35 about its pivot against the pressure of the spring 31 so as to move the movable fingers 39 away from the fingers 3| to clear the yarn. path (Fig. 6) and allow a free entry of the yarn into and through the tension device. The end of the yarn is then passed downwardly through the yarn guide 22, package l1 and twisting spindle l5 and thence upwardly over the exterior of the yarn guide l6 and 1 through a pigtail guide 51 to a suitable yarn package (not shown). After threading up the device as above described the pressure on the pressure plate 5| is released and the parts are allowed to resume their normal operating position. The pressure of the fingers .39 against the yarn and hence its tension may be varied by rotating the bonnet 4| which in turn rotates the pinion 36 and loads the spring 31 to difierent degrees. The degree of tension on the yarn in grams is indicated by the position of the pointer 46 with relation to the graduations 41 on the outer surface ofthe cylindrical wall '26 as above described. The pressure exerted by the spring ring 44 on the flange 43 of the bonnet 42 serves to hold the bonnet against accidental rotation. This pressure may be increased or decreased by turning the ring 28 with relation to the wall 26, and accidental displacement of these parts can be obviated by tightening the set screw 29 against the ring 28 after proper adjustment of the pressure of the spring ring 44 upon the flange 43 has been eflected.

In the modification of the tension device illustrated in Figs. 11 through 14 inclusive, the principal features of the device previously described have been retained, but the structure has been modified to make use of yarn engaging elements of the type illustrated in Patent No. 2,240,153 issued April 29, 1941 to R. H. Carter et. al.

As illustrated in Fig. 11, the tension device is associated with the conventional yarn package |'|A which includes a spool |8A supported in the conventional manner by a spool support |9A and carryin at its upper end a cap 20A. The stationary hollow upper portion 2 |A of the twisting spindle is fitted with a plug 60 having a central opening 6| through which the thread 23A passes on its way to the rapidly rotating twisting spindle.

Secured to the upper end of the spindle 2 lAls a socket carrying at its upper end a hollow housing 82 of substantially cylindrical conflgura... tion which is counterbored adjacent its upp r end and internally. screw-threaded to. receive an externally screw-threaded ring 83. Seated on the shoulder formed by the counterbore of the housing 82 is the lower edge of a bonnet 64 which is provided with an outwardly extending peripheral flange '65 for engagement with an undulated spring 66 corresponding to the spring 44 (Fig. previously described. As illustrated this spring is located between the flange 65 and the ring 63 so that rotation of the ring will cause the spring 68 to bear with greater or lesser degrees of pressure on the flange. The bonnet 64 tapers toward its upper end and terminates in a yarn guide 61 which is formed with a central aperture 68 aligning with the opening 6| in the plug 6|! (F18. 11). Secured to the inner side of the wall of the bonnet 64 adjacent the junction of the cylindrical and tapered portions thereof is an internal ring gear 69 which meshes with the drive gear of the yarn tension mechanism to be more fully hereinafter described.

The yarn tension mechanism above referred to designated generally 10 embodies an arcuate base plate ii and frame member 12 comprising an arcuate bridge member 13 having legs 7 at opposite ends which are provided at their free ends with outwardly turned flanges 14A for contact with the base plate ll adjacent opposite ends. The plate El and the flanges MA are pierced to receive fastening screws 15 (Fig. 12) by'means of which the frame member 12 is secured within the housing t2 beneath the bonnet t3. Rotatably mounted in aligned openings in the base plate ll and the bridge member 13 and symmetrical about the center of curvature of said base plate and bridge member are shafts l6 and El. Each of these shafts is pierced near its lower end to receive a pin it by means of which lever arms F9 are secured to the shafts for rotation therewith. Near their upper ends, th shafts l6 and Ti are pierced to receive pins 80 by means of which levers 8| are secured thereto. These levers are provided with toothed segments 82 which mesh with one another so that rotation of one of said shafts will impart rotation to the other shaft in'the opposite direction. Loosely mounted for rotation about the shaft 16 near the upper end thereof is a pinion 83 which meshes with the ring gear 69 when the bonnet tit is in place, so that upon rotation of the bonnet the pinion 83 will also rotate. Surrounding the shaft 16 and encompassing the hub of the lease the extensions and their accompanying I mechanism.

Carried at the extreme ends of the levers 8| opposite those secured to the shafts l6 and 11 are pivot-pins 94 by means of which thread engagin elements 95 ar pivotally secured to the levers 8|. lP-he thread engaging elements or Jaws herein preferably employed are of a construction similar to those disclosed in Patent No. 2,240,153 issued April 29, 1941 to R. H. Carter et 9.1., though any type of thread engaging element maybe used within the scope of this invention.

In order that the degree of tension on the thread may be readily determined, I find it desirable to aflix to the bonnet 64 a pointer 96 which cooperates with graduations 81 carried by the housing 62.

The operation of the modified form of the invention is quite similar to that above described but will be briefly described below.- Rotation of the bonnet 64 causes the ring gear 69 to rotate the pinions 83 so as to cause the spring 84 to be loaded to a greater or lesser degree. By reason of the anchorage of the spring to the lever arm 19 fixed to shaft E6 the pressure of the spring will be transmitted to the lever 8| mounted at th upper end of the shaft 16, and such pressure will be transmitted by means of the toothed segments 82 to the lever 8| mounted at the upper end of the shaft l1. It will thus be seen that the free ends of the levers 8| will be urged toward one another under greater or lesser pressure according to the degree of movement of the bonnet 64 with relation to the housing 62. When it is desired to clear the yarn path of all obstructions, as in the threading-up of the device, pressure is exerted on the pressure plates 89 to cause the extensions 88 to move toward one another and thus cause the free ends of the levers 8| to separate and carry the yarn engaging elements 95 into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 12 and clear of the yarn path. When the yarn engaging elements reach their extreme open position the pins 90 carried by the extensions 88 will be engaged in th notches of the latch 9| so that the parts will be held in such position until released by pressure on the serrated extension 93, at which time the parts will be returned to their normal operating ositions under the influence of the spring 84; and operation pinion t3 and the lever arm 19 is a coil spring 84,

the upper end of which is anchored in the pinion s8 while its. lower end is anchored in the lever arm 19 (Fig. 13).

Projecting outwardly from the housing 52 is a ledge 85 having a depression 86. A slot 81 (Figs. 11 and 14) is formed in the housing adjacent the ledge 85, and secured to the lever arms 19 are extensions 88 which project outwardly through the slot and terminate in pressure plates 89 by means of which the lever arms is and shafts l6 and i1 may be moved against the tension of the spring 8 3. Carried by the extensions 88 are depending pins 90 which are adapted to be engaged by a latch 9| mounted for reciprocal movement in the depression 86 when the extensions are moved toward one another. The latch 8| is urged upwardly by means of the springs 92, and the latch is formed. with a serrated extension 93 by means of which it may be depressed against the springs '92 to reresumed without in any way interfering with the tension adjustment.

While in the foregoing there'has been shown and' described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details, construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is: I p

1. In a tension device ya'rn engaging elements cooperating to encompass a yarn path, a bonnet rotatable about an axis aligning with the yarn path and enclosing said elements and means actuated by rotation of the bonnet to regulate the pressure of said elements upon yam passing along the yarn path.

2. In a tension device yarn engaging elements cooperating to encompass a yam path, a bonnet rotatable about an axis aligning with the yarn path and enclosing said elements'..yielding means actuated by rotation of the bonnet to regulate the pressure of said elements upon yarn passing along the yarn path-and means to separate the elements and clear the yarn path to facilitate threading'up.

3. In a tension device yarn engaging elements cooperating to encompass a yarn path. a rotatable bonnet enclosing said elements, yielding means actuated by rotation of the bonnet to regulate the.

assure crating to encompass a yarn path, a rotatable to separate the elements and clear the yarn path to facilitate threading up. a

' 4 In a tension device yarn engaging elements cooperating to encompus a yarn path, a rotatable bonnet enclosing said elements, a yarn guide carried by the bonnet for directing yarn into the yarn path and means actuated by rotation of the bonnet to advance or retract at least one or the yarn engaging elements and thereby regulate the pressure of the elements upon yarn passing along the yarn p u 5. In a tension device yarn engaging elements cooperating to encompass a yarn ath, a rotatable bonnet enclosing said elements. a yarn guide carried by the bonnet for directing yarn into the yarn path, yielding means actuated by rotation of the bonnet to advance or retract at least one of the yarn engaging elements and thereby regulate the pressure of the elements upon yam passing along the yarn path and means to separate the elements and clear the yarn path to facilitate threading up. v

6. In a tension device yarn engaging elements cooperating to encompass a yarn path, a bonnet rotatable about an axis aligning with the yarn path and enclosing said elements, means actuated by rotation of the bonnet to regulate the pressure of the elements upon yarn passing along the y path and means to hold the bonnet against accidental rotation.

7. In a tension device yarn engaging elements cooperating to encompass a yarn path, a bonnet rotatable about an axis aligning with the yarn ath and enclosing said elements, means actuated by rotation of the bonnet to regulate the pressure of the elements upon yarn passing along the yarn path and adjustable means yieldingly engaging the bonnet to cause it to resist rotation.

8. In a tension device a housing, yarn engaging elements within the housing, said elements cooperating to encompass a yarn path, a bonnet associated with the housing, said bonnet being rotatable about an axis aligning with the yarn path and enclosing said yarn encompassing elements, means carried by the housing and actuated by rotation of the bonnet to regulate the pressure of the elements upon yarn passing along said yarn path and means to cause the bonnet to resist rotation with relation to the housing. J

9. In a tension device-a housing. yarn engaging elements within the housing. said elements coop= 0f the yarn path.

bonnet associated with the housingand-enclosing said yarn encompassing elements, means carried by the housin and actuated by rotationoi" the bonnet to advance or retract at least one of the yarn engaging elements and thereby regulat the pressure or the elements upon yarn passing along said yarn ath, means to cause the bonnet to resist rotation with relation tofthe housing and means to vary the resistance of the bonnet to such rotation. a

10. In a tension device fixed yarn engaging elements. movable yarn engaging elements, said elements' cooperating 'to encompass a yarn path, a bonnet rotatable about an axis aligning with the yarn path and enclosing the elements and means actuated by rotation of the bonnet to advance or retract the movable elements with relation to the yarn path. c

11. In a tension device fixed yarn engaging elements, movable yarn engaging elements, said ele ments cooperating o encompass a yarn path, a rotatable bonnet enclosing the elements, yieldable means actuated by rotation of the bonnet to advance or retract the movable elements with relation to the yarn path and means to move the movable elements against the yielding means to clear the yarn path and facilitate threading up.

12. In a tension device a fixed series of spaced yarn engaging elements, a movable series of yarn engaging elements, said elements cooperating to encompass a yarn path, a rotatable bonnet en- I circling the elements, yieldable means actuate by rotation-of the bonnet to advance or retract the movable series of elements in unison with relation to the yarn path, and a lever operable from the exterior of the device for moving the movable elements in unison to clear the yarn path and facilitate threading up.

13. In a tension device yarn engaging elements cooperating to encompass a yarn path, a rotatable bonnet enclosing said elements, means actuated by rotation of the bonnet to move the elements into contact with yarn assin alon the yarn path under controlled degrees of pressure and means to move the yarn engaging elements clear of the yarn path-to facilitate threading up.

is. In a tension device yarn engaging elementscooperating to encompass a yarn path, a rotatable bonnet enclosing said elements, means actuated by rotation of the bonnet to move the elements into contact with yarn passing along the yarnpath under controlled degrees of pressure, means to move the yarn engaging elements clear of the yarn path to facilitate threading up and means to releasably hold the yarn engaging elements clear