US2714494A

US2714494A - Yarn tension compensating device

Info

Publication number: US2714494A
Application number: US381930A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward A Wentz
Original assignee: Specialties Development Corp
Current assignee: Specialties Development Corp
Priority date: 1953-09-23
Filing date: 1953-09-23
Publication date: 1955-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 1972-08-02
Also published as: FR1107021A; CH321831A; GB749228A

Description

Aug. 2, 1955 E. A. WENTZ 2,714,494

YARN TENSION COMPENSATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 25 1953 INVENTOR [WARD A,%m'z

United States Patent 2,714,4s4 YARN runsrorv corararrsnrmo nuvicn Edward A. Wentz, Montclnir, N. 3., assignor to Specialties Development Corporation, Belleville, N. l, a corporation of New filersey Application September 23, 1H3, Serial No. 381,93ll 11 Claims. (*Cl. 242-455) The present invention relates to yarn tension compensating devices wherein the input tension is compensated to atttain a substantially uniform output tension, and, more particularly, is concerned with improvements in such devices of the braked wheel type suitable for tensioning the yarn.

In devices of this type, the yarn passes through means for tensioning the yarn, about a grooved wheel and through or over a guide on an arm which, in response to tension in the yarn, controls the effectiveness of brake means acting on the wheel to maintain substantially uniform output yarn tension.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to improve the brake means and the operating means therefor to maintain the output tension more uniform than has been possible with prior devices of this kind.

Another object is to provide a device of the foregoing character which includes means for readily and accurately adjusting the output tension.

Another object is to provide such a device which is capable of handling wet yarn without contaminating the brake means and associated elements whereby the accuracy thereof is maintained.

Another object is to provide an improved grooved wheel of the open type for such devices which will not degrade the yarn.

A further object is to accomplish the foregoing in a simple, practical and economical manner.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or Will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a yarn tension compensating device in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a back elevational view of the device.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating a detail of the brake means.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating a detail of the yarn tensioning wheel.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a yarn tension compensating device is shown which essentially comprises a support, base or frame 10, a sleeve 11 on the support, a yarn tensioning Wheel 12 rotatably mounted on the sleeve, brake means 14 for the wheel, a member 15 coacting with the sleeve for operating the brake means, means including a spring 16 for urging the member 15 in a direction to cause the brake means to be rendered effective, and a yarn tension responsive arm 17 connected to the member 15 for decreasing the effectiveness of the brake means in response to an increase in yarn tension.

The support It), for the sake of economy, is in the form of a stamped-out plate which comprises an upright body section 1?, a horizontal foot or flange 20 adapted for securernent to structure for supporting the tension compensating device, a lateral flange 21 formed with spaced holes 22, and an offset lug 24 for supporting a conventional yarn tensioning device 25. The body section 19 is provided with a pair of stamped-out cars 26 each having a stop or cushioning element 27 secured thereto which serves to limit the extent of pivotal movement of the arm 17, and further is provided with spaced holes 29 (Fig. 3) and a hole 30 centrally located with respect to the holes 29. The purpose of these holes will be made apparent hereinafter.

The sleeve 11 is horizontally positioned on the body section of the support and is internally screw threaded, having about eight triple lead acme type threads 31 to the inch. One end of the sleeve is connected to the support with its threaded bore in alignment with the hole 3d (Fig. 3). As shown herein, the sleeve can be conveniently secured to the support by forming an annular flange 32 integral therewith having studs 34 thereon which extend through the holes 29 and are peened over to secure the flange 32 to the body section 19 of the support. The flange 32 further has a fiat annular brake surface 35 adjacent the sleeve side, the function of which will be described in connection with the brake means. The free end of the sleeve is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 36 at its exterior (Fig. 4).

The wheel 12 comprises a hub or body 37 having fiat annular brake surfaces 39 and d) at the sides and a peripheral flange 41 formed with screw holes 42, a central bearing 44 for rotatably and slidably mounting the wheel 12 on the sleeve 11, and a pair of annular rims or

flanges

45 and 46 providing a yarn receiving groove 47 for the wheel which are secured to the flange 41 by screws 49 threaded into the holes 42.

The rims are constructed and grip the yarn as it passes through but without chafing the yarn This is accomplished ribs or radial spokes being much wider in arranged to effectively the base of the groove to degrade the same. by providing the rims with alternate 5d and openings 51, the openings a circumferential direction than the spokes, for example, on an order of about three to one (Fig. 5). The radial midpoints of the spokes of one rim face the radial midpoints of the openings of the other rim whereby the yarn travels in a zig-zag path to provide a grip between the yarn and the rims Without unduly pinching the yarn.

The yarn tensioning wheel just described is particularly adapted for use in connection with yarn which is tensioned while wet. For example, in the treatment of yarns such as tire cord, the yarn is first passed through a bath of a yarn impregnating composition or the like and is then stretched prior to passing the same through a drying oven. Thus, any moisture, which is squeezed from the yarn in passing through the Wheel groove 47, can drain through the openings 51.

in order to prevent such moisture from contaminating the brake surfaces, the brake means and the brake operating means, a shield is associated with the wheel. As shown herein, this shield comprises two generally cylindrical sections 52 and 53, each having a radially inwardly facing annular flange 54- at one end (Fig. 3) and each having a radially outwardly extending lip 56 at the other end for preventing liquid from flowing beyond the side edges of the shield. The shield section 52 terminates adjacent the support body 19, and the shield section 53 extends outwardly beyond the brake means elements. These shield sections can be conveniently mounted on the wheel by placing the inner zones of the

rims

45 and 46 between the flanges 54 and utilizing the screws 49 to secure both the rims and the shield sections to the flange 41 of the wheel.

The. brake means 14 include a disc 57 slidably mounted on the sleeve 11 and held against rotation with respect to the sleeve by a pin 58 (Fig. 4) slidably positioned in the slot 36 of the sleeve. The disc has a brake surface 59 on one side which faces the wheel brake surface 4i), and is adapted to be engaged at the other side by the brake operating means as about to be described. In order to provide for more effective braking action, a friction washer 60 is positioned between the

brake surfaces

35 and 39 and a friction washer 61 is positioned between the brake surfaces 41) and 59.

The brake operating means include the member 15 already referred to, a head 6d carried by this member at one end thereof containing a thrust bearing 65, and a spring washer 66 adapted to be pressed against the brake disc 57 by this head. The member 15 is externally threaded to provide screw threads 31:; thereon which cooperate with the sleeve threads 31 to move the head 64 axially with respect to the sleeve to vary the pressure applied on the spring washer and the resulting braking force applied on the wheel 12.

The end of the member 15 opposite the head 64 extends outwardly through the back end of the sleeve 11 and the support body hole 34 and has a clamp 67 secured thereto which serves to connect the arm 17 to the member 15. If desired, the arm 17 may have a section 69 extending downwardly through the clamp or this arm section may be a separate element secured to the clamp (Fig. 2). The spring 16 has one end connected to this lower arm section by a link 76 and has its other end connected to the flange 21 by means of the holes 22, whereby the spring is connected to the member 15 in a manner to urge this member in a direction to cause the brake means to be rendered effective. The upper end of the arm 17 has a conventional yarn guide 71 thereon for causing the arm to respond to tension in the yarn and thereby decrease the effectiveness of the brake means in response to an increase in yarn tension.

In order to adjust the effectiveness of the spr1ng 16, the link 70 which supports one end thereof is adjustably positioned on the arm section 69 by nuts 72 threadedly secured to this arm section and/ or by connecting the other end of the spring to different holes 22. In this manner, the spring can be tensioned to apply a predetermined force on the arm section. Coarse adjustment is accomplished by selection of the holes 22, whereas fine ad ustment is accomplished by positioning of the link 7 i).

in operation, the yarn Y is threaded through the ten sion device 25, is passed under the wheel 12 in the groove 47, and is passed over the yarn guide 71 (Fig. l). The yarn leaving the guide is then attached to a tension measuring device such as a spring scale and is pulled to move the arm 17 into a position between the stops 27 (Fig. 3). The spring 16 is then adjusted to cause the scale to register the desired output tension to which the yarn is to be subjected. Usually, such tension is on the order of several pounds, the device in accordance with this invention being of the high tension type adapted to subjectthe yarn to a tension of between about one to seven pounds. The tensioned yarn is eventually led to a winder, whereby, in the course of winding the yarn, any changes in the output tension are compensated.

If the output tension increases, the arm 17 is rocked clockwise (as viewed in Fig. l) in opposition to the spring 16 causing the member 15 to rotate in the sleeve 11 and move its head 64 to the left (as viewed in Fig. 3) whereby pressure on the brake disc 57 is relieved. This permits the wheel 12 to rotate more freely and causes less braking tension to be applied to the yarn. If the output tension decreases, the arm 17 is rocked counterclockwise (as viewed in Fig. 1) under the influence of the spring 16 causing the member 15 to rotate in the sleeve 11 and move its head 64 to the right (as viewed in Fig. 3) whereby pressure on the brake disc 57 is increased. This causes the wheel 12 to rotate less freely and causes greater braking tension to be applied to the yarn.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides an improved tension compensating device of the braking tension type which is i simple and practical in construction, reliable in operation and is particularly adapted for handling Wet yarn.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and 1;; without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A yarn tension compensating device comprising a support, an internally screw threaded sleeve connected to said support, a grooved wheel rotatably mounted on said sleeve having a brake surface at one side thereof, brake means in frictional contact with said surface, an externally screw threaded member having means at one end for operating said brake means, said member being threaded through said sleeve and cooperating therewith to vary the efiectiveness of said bralte means, spring means on said support for urging said member in a direction to cause said brake means to be rendered ef- LJ fcctive, and a yarn tension responsive arm connected to said member for decreasing the effectiveness of said brrke means in response to an increase in yarn tension.

2. A yarn tension compensating device comprising a support including an internally screw threaded sleeve nd a flat annular surface adjacent said sleeve, a grooved wheel rotatably and slidably mounted on said sleevehaving a brake surface at one side thereof and a fiat surface at the opposite side adjacent said annular surface, a friction washer between said flat surfaces, brake means 5,9 in frictional contact with said brake surface, an externally screw threaded member having means at one end for operating said brake means, said member being threaded through said sleeve and cooperating therewith to vary the efiectiveness of said brake means, spring means on said support for urging said member in a direction to cause said brake means to be rendered effective, and a yarn tension responsive arm connected to said member for decreasing the effectiveness of said brake means in response to an increase in yarn tension.

3. A yarn tension compensating device comprising a support, an internally screw threaded sleeve connected to said support, a grooved wheel rotatably mounted on said sleeve having a brake surface at one side thereof, bralte means in frictional contact with said surface including a yieldable element, an externally screw threaded member having means at one end for operating said brake means, said member being threaded through said sleeve and cooperating therewith to vary the effectiveness of said brake means, spring means on said support for urging said member in a direction to cause said brake means to be rendered effective, and a yarn tension responsive arm connected to said member for decreasing the effectiveness of said brake means in response to an increase in yarn tension.

- 4. A yarn tension compensating device comprising a support; an internally screw threaded sleeve connected to said support; a grooved wheel rotatably mounted on said sleeve having a brake surface at one side thereof; brake means including a disc on said sleeve having surface means in frictional contact with said surface and including a spring washer on said sleeve in contact with said disc; an externally screw threaded member having a head at one end engaging said spring washer to operate said brake means, said member being threaded through said sleeve and cooperating therewith to vary the effectiveness of said brake means; spring means on said support for urging said member in a direction to cause said brake means to be rendered effective; and a yarn tension responsive arm connected to said member for decreasing the effectiveness of said brake means in response to an increase in yarn tension.

5. A yarn tension compensating device comprising a support; an internally screw threaded sleeve having one end connected to said support and having a lengthwise extending groove on its outer surface adjacent the opposite end; a grooved wheel rotatably and slidably mounted on said sleeve having a brake surface at one side thereof; means for limiting sliding movement of said wheel toward the connected end of said sleeve; brake means including a disc slidably mounted on said sleeve, a friction washer on said sleeve in frictional contact with said surface and one side of said disc, a spring washer on said sleeve in contact with the other side of said disc, and a member on said disc slidably disposed in said groove of said sleeve to prevent rotation of said disc with respect to said sleeve; an externally screw threaded member having a head at one end for engaging said spring washer to operate said brake means, said member being threaded through said sleeve and cooperating therewith to vary the effectiveness of said brake means; spring means on said support for urging said member in a direction to cause said brake means to be rendered effective; and a yarn tension responsive arm connected to said member for decreasing the eifectiveness of said brake means in response to an increase in yarn tension.

6. A yarn tension compensating device comprising a support, an internally screw threaded sleeve connected to said support, a grooved wheel rotatably mounted on said sleeve having a brake surface at one side thereof, brake means in frictional contact with said surface, an externally screw threaded member having means at one end for operating said brake means, said member being threaded through said sleeve and cooperating therewith to vary the effectiveness of said brake means, an arm connected to said member having a threaded section, a yarn tension responsive arm connected to said member for decreasing the eifectiveness of said brake means in response to an increase in yarn tension, a tension spring having one end connected to said support, and means on said first mentioned arm for connecting the other end of said spring thereto to urge said member in a direction to cause said brake means to be rendered ineffective, said spring connecting means being threadedly secured to said threaded arm section to vary the position thereof and thereby adjust the tension of said spring.

7. A yarn tension compensating device comprising a support, a grooved wheel rotatably mounted on said support, brake means for said wheel adjacent the axis of rotation of said wheel, means for varying the effectiveness of said brake means including a yarn tension responsive arm, and a cylindrical shell on said wheel concentric with the axis of rotation of said wheel and disposed between said brake means and the groove of said wheel and surrounding said brake means wardly thereof.

8. A yarn tension compensating device comprising a support, a grooved wheel rotatably mounted on said support, brake means for said wheel including a disc and a spring washer extending about the axis of rotation of said wheel at one side of said wheel, means for varying the effectiveness of said brake means including a disc operating head and a yarn tension responsive arm, and a cylindrical shell on said wheel concentric with the axis of rotation or said wheel and disposed between said brake means and the groove of the wheel and extending axially outwardly from said wheel beyond said brake means to surround said discs, said spring washer and said head.

9. A yarn tension compensating device comprising a support, a wheel rotatably mounted on said support, said wheel having a pair of peripheral flanges providing a groove, said flanges being formed with circumferentially spaced openings, brake means for said wheel adjacent the axis of rotation of said wheel, means for varying the effectiveness of said brake means including a yarn tension responsive arm, and a cylindrical shell on said wheel concentric with the axis of rotation of said wheel and disposed between said brake means and the openings of said wheel flanges and surrounding said brake means and extending axially outwardly thereof.

10. A Wheel for a yarn tension compensating device of the class described, said wheel comprising a hub having a peripheral flange, rim means having openings therein and providing a yarn receiving groove, a generally cylindrical shield section concentric with said hub and extending laterally therefrom, and common means for securing said rim means and said shield section to said flange.

11. A wheel for a yarn tension compensating device of the class described, said wheel comprising a hub having a peripheral flange, a pair of annular rims having openings therein and providing a yarn receiving groove, a generally cylindrical shield section having a radially inwardly extending flange at one end thereof adjacent one side of said peripheral flange and having a radially outwardly projecting lip adjacent the other end thereof, a second generally cylindrical shield section having a radially inwardly extending flange at one end thereof concentric with said first shield section flange and having a radially outwardly projecting lip adjacent the other end thereof, said rims having an inner annular zone positioned between said shield section flanges, and common means for securing said rims and said shield section flanges to said peripheral hub flange.

and extending axially out- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 93,459 Macaulay Aug. 10, 1869 651,219 Wardwell June 5, 1900 686,013 Webster Nov. 5, 1901 1,632,876 Bouvier June 21, 1927 2,642,236 Heizer June 16, 1953