US3516621A - Strand tensioning device - Google Patents

Description

June 23, 1970 E. M. KAVICK STRAND TENSIONING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 19, 1968 FIG.2

INVENTOR.

EDWARD M. KAVICK ATTORNEYS June 23, 1970 E. M. KAVICK ,5

STRAND TENSIONING DEVICE Filed Aug. 19. 968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

E DWARD M. KAVI C K BY 0 V a m, Jmqbj mmww ATTQRNEYS United States Patent O Ohio Filed Aug. 19, 1968, Ser. No. 753,471 Int. Cl. B65h 49/00 US. Cl. 242129.8 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for controlling the tension of a fibrous strand as it is paid-off from a spool to a machine. The device comprises a rotatable member including a capstan at one end around which the strand from the spool is wound in tensioned relation for feeding to the machine. A reactionary member is provided which coacts with the rotatable member to vary the resistance to rotation of the rotatable member. A pro-tensioning assembly including a resilient member and a deformable member is provided through which the strand passes for imparting a drag action thereto and for maintaining the strand in non-slip relation on the capstan.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to bobbin and cap winding and more particularly to devices for controlling the tension upon a strand that passes from a supply spool to a machine.

Heretofore, in the manufacture of high pressure hose, the practice has been to employ a Winding or braiding machine for applying a layer of fibrous reinforcing material around a core of elastomeric material. In the past, the strands were fed from rotating spools which were mounted at spaced intervals on a stationary support. Friction imparting devices were associated with the rotating spools to control the speed of rotation of the spool in relation to the speed of the strand being fed. Difficulty has been encountered in maintaining uniform tension on the strands due to the necessity for braking the total rotating mass of the spool which gradually lessened as the strands were withdrawn from the spool. Such change in mass has required periodic adjustment of the frictional force applied to the bobbin to maintain a uniform braking action on the entire spool, resulting in an objectionable loss of time.

More recently, the use of relatively stationary spools has been contemplated as disclosed in the co-pending application to Raymond Paulson, Ser. No. 654,163 filed July 18, 1967. The present application constitutes improvements in tensioning devices which may be used with either rotatable spindles or with the non-rotatable spindles. In the case of relatively stationary spindles, removing a strand from a relatively stationary bobbin requires an extremely small force. As a result of this small force, difficulties have been encountered in maintaining the strands in substantially non-slip relation on the tensioning devices presently used, thereby affecting the uniformity of the tension imparted to the strand as it is fed to the winding or braiding machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates providing a tensioning device which is adapted for use with rotatable or non-rotatable spools for maintaining tension on a fibrous strand as it is withdrawn from the spool by machine.

The tensioning device comprises a housing which is adapted for mounting the device on a relatively stationary support member, and a rotatable member which may be carried by the housing being adapted to frictionally engage the strand when it is Wound about the periphery thereof. A reactionary means is provided which is operably associated with the rotatable member for resisting rotation of the rotatable member as the strand is withdrawn from the spool and through the tensioning device by a winding or braiding machine. In addition, the device includes an adjustment means for varying the resistance imparted by the reactionary means to the rotatable member so that the tension on the strand may be effectively controlled. In the preferred form, the rotatable member includes a capstan member comprising a resiliently, deformable material adapted to receive the strand in embedded, frictional engagement thereabout. The reactionary means preferably includes a friction means which coacts with the rotatable member to resist rotation of the capstan member. In the preferred form, the reactionary means includes a flange member mounted adjacent the opposite end of the rotatable member from the capstan member and which may be disposed within a cavity provided in the housing. The friction means may be disposed between the flange member and the housing, and a resilient member may be carried by the rotatable member to urge the housing, rotatable member and friction means into engagement with one another to impart resistance to the rotation of the rotatable member to control the tension on the strand as it is paid-off the capstan member.

To further control the tension of the strand, a pre-tensioning assembly is associated with the tensioning device to impart an initial drag action to the strand as it is fed from the spool to the capstan member. The pretensioning assembly includes a compressible means and a resilient means which coact with one another to fric tionally engage the strand therebetween to maintain tension on the strand as it is fed to the capstan for holding the strand in non-slip relation on the capstan, as well as, prevent unraveling of the strand as it is pulled from a supply spool.

As can be seen, there is provided a tensioning device which can effectively control the speed at which the strand is fed from either a rotatable or non-rotatable spool so that the rate of withdrawal from the spool can be closely correlated to the requirements of the winding or braiding machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the tensioning device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view in cross section taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1 showing the tensioning device mounted on a support member;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, side elevation view of the tensioning device showing the rotatable capstan members; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, partly in section, side elevation view of the bobbin mounted on a support member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The tensioning device of the present invention is illustrated, generally at 2 in FIG. 1. As shown, the device includes a base 4 adapted for detachable connection to one end of a cylindrical container 6 (FIG. 2). The container 6 is preferably closed at the opposite end by a wall 7 (FIG. 5), and is adapted to house a spool 8 comprised of strands S wound about a bobbin 9.

Referring now to FIG. 5, in the form shown, the spool 8 is of the non-rotatable type supported by a shaft 10 on which the bobbin 9 is fixedly mounted, and which ex tends through a centrally positioned aperture 11 in the wall 7. The shaft is adapted to extend through an opening 12 in a support plate 13 for securing the spool 8 and container 6 thereto upon threadably tightening a nut 14 thereon.

In accordance with the present invention, the tensioning device 2 includes a housing 15 which is mounted on the base plate 4. A rotatable member 16 is supported for rotation by the housing and includes a capstan member 17 adapted to receive a strand S in wound relation thereabout. A reactionary member 19 (FIG. 2) is mounted within the housing being adapted to control the speed of rotation of the capstan 17, and thus, the tension on the strand S as it is paid-off the capstan 17. The strand S is taken from a spool 8 and passed through a pre-tensioning assembly 18 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which imparts an initial drag action on the strand to maintain the strand is tensioned non-lip engagement on the capstan. A tubular guide member 20 is provided which extends through the base 4, and is adapted to receive the strand therethrough enabling the strand to pass from the spool 8 disposed interiorly of the container to the capstan 17 located exteriorly thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 1, in the form shown, the base plate 4 is generally circular in configuration and may be 'made of any suitable rigid material, such as plastic or the like. The plate 4 may be detachably connected adjacent the outer marginal edge 22 of the cylinder 6 in any suitable manner. In the form shown, the plate 4 is provided with interior pins 23 and 24 (FIG. 3), which may be afi'ixed therein, and which are adapted to project through openings, as at 23 and .24, in the side wall 9 of the container 6. At the opposite end of the plate, there is provided a spring-press, latch pin 25 which is adapted for sliding movement within an elongated, cylindrical recess 26 (FIG. 3), and which is adapted for insertion through an opening 27 in the side wall of the container. A spring 28 is disposed in the recess 26 (FIG. 3) and normally urges the pin 25 outwardly toward the side wall of the container 6. An actuating handle 30 (FIG. 1) is afiixed to the pin 25 and projects outwardly through an elongated slot 31 provided in the base plate 4 to enable the pin 25 to be retracted when it is desired to remove the device 2 from the container for replacement and/or threading of a new spool, as desired.

In the embodiment shown, the housing 15 preferably includes an outer plate 32 and a generally circular inner plate 34 which is adapted to be positioned within a centrally located opening 35 in the base plate 4, such as by press fit or the like. Preferably, the outer plate 32 is circular in configuration, when viewed in top plan, and has a diameter greater than the diameter of the inner plate 34 so as to provide a circumferentially extending flange 36 adapted to overlap the confronting outer surface 38 (FIG. 2) of the base plate 4. The outer plate 32 and the inner plate may be secured to one another by suitable fasteners, such as rivets 42 or the like (FIG. 1), while the entire housing may be further secured to the base plate 4 by other fasteners, such as screws 44, which extend through the flange 36 of the outer plate 32. Preferably, the thickness of the inner plate 34 is greater than the thickness of the base plate 4 so that the inner surface 45 of the inner plate 34 will project inwardly beyond the inner face 46 of the base plate 4 when inserted in the opening 35.

The inner plate 34 preferably includes an annular recess providing a cavity 56 (FIG. 2) within the housing 15 between the inner and outer plates when in the installed position. The outer plate 32 may be provided With an integral annular boss-like projection 58 (FIG. 2) having a diameter complementary to the diameter of the cavity 56 to properly axially align the outer plate and inner plate with one another in the superposed position thereof. The projection 58 is adapted for a tight fit within the recess 55 to provide a cap-like seal for the cavity 56.

In the form shown, the rotatable member 16 comprises a capstan member 17 which is fixedly mounted adjacent one end of a shaft 52. The shaft 52 is preferably disposed in generally axial alignment with the spool 8 and extends through a generally centrally disposed aperture 54 in the outer plate 32 for rotation therein. The opposite end of the shaft 52 is supported within a generally centrally disposed recess 60 provided in the inner plate 34. The shaft 52 may be made of any suitable material and may be secured to the capstan 17 in any suitable manner, such as by a press fit or the like.

Preferably, the capstan member 17 is of a generally H- shaped, in cross section, configuration having upper 17a and lower 17b circular flanges which define therebetween an annular recess 61. The recess 61 is provided with a complementary shaped cushion member or lining 62 of resilient elastomeric material, such as rubber or the like, to enable the strand S to become partially embedded therein and to provide increased gripping action between the strand and the lining when the strand is wound in tensioned relation on the capstan 17.

In the form shown, the reactionary member 19 (FIG. 2) comprises an annular flange 63 which may be fixedly mounted adjacent the opposite end of the shaft 52 disposed within the housing 15. The flange 63 projects radially outwardly within the cavity 56 and is adapted for sliding frictional engagement with a disc 64, such as of friction material, which may be permanently bonded to the confronting undersurface of the outer plate 32. In the alternative, the friction disc 64 may be bonded to the uppersurface of the flange 63 or frictional engagement with a confronting undersurface of the plate 32.

To hold the flange 63 in engagement with the disc 64, the shaft 52 may be provided with a spring 66 which extends lengthwise through a centrally disposed bore 68 in the shaft 52. The spring is biased at one end by a spherical member 70, such as a steel ball, disposed within the bore 68 and which provides a point contact with the inner plate 34 to achieve minimum friction with the inner plate 34 as the shaft 52 rotates. The spring 66 is biased at the opposite end by a screw 71 which is threadably engaged within the bore 68 and which provides a means for adjusting the compression in the spring, and thus, the degree of frictional engagement between the flange 63 and the disc 64. In addition, by this arrangement the shaft 52 is held in axially spaced relation from the plate 34. The remaining portion of the cavity 56 may be provided with a lubricating media, such as oil or the like, so that wear on the disc and flange are substantially reduced while achieving a greater uniformity of the frictional force resisting rotation of the capstan 17. Seals 69 may be provided to prevent leaking of the lubricating media along the shaft. In addition, disposition of the disc 64 and flange 63 within the sealed cavity 56 also prevents the entrance of contaminants to the interior of the housing 15 which might otherwise effect the smoothness of rotation of the capstan 17 and cause excessive wear on the parts.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, in the embodiment shown, the pre-tensioning assembly 18 of the present invention includes a resilient member 72 and a compressible member 73 which coact with one another to receive the strand S in compressed relation therebetween. Preferably, the resilient member 72 is provided in the form of a leafspring having a first elongated resilient arm 74 which may extend angularly downwardly and generally transversely of the inner plate 34 of the housing 15 in the normal operating condition of the device. One end of the resilient arm 74 may be connected to the housing in any suitable manner, such as by a screw 75, while the opposite end is connected, such as by riveting or the like, to a second or drag arm member 76, which is generally angularly disposed with respect to the first arm member, and which is adapted for compressible engagement with the compressible member 73. Preferably, the first arm 74 is disposed at an acute angle with respect to the second arm 76 so that the confronting edges 78 and 80 form a generally V-shaped slot which will tend to guide the strand S to the point of intersection 81 of the respective edges 78 and 80 when the strand is drawn through the device. In addition, the resilient arm 74 is preferably disposed adjacent the housing so that the edge 78 will extend generally diametrically across the inner plate 34.

The drag arm 76 preferably is provided with a generally lengthwise extending inclined guide surface 82 which extends angularly downwardly in a direction away from the plate 34. By this arrangement, the arm 76 provides a cam surface for-smooth sliding coaction with the strand S. The guide surface 82 defines a lengthwise extending apex surface 79 which imparts maximum pressure on the strand as it passes between the arm 76 and the compressible member 73.

The compressible member 73 may be any suitable resilient compressible material, but in the form shown, consists of a pad of synthetic fiber felt. The member 73 may be affixed to the housing in any suitable manner, such as bonding with adhesive or the like, and should have sufiicient compressible characteristics so that the resilient arm member 76 due to the spring characteristics of the arm 74 will be substantially depressed therein to maintain the intersection 81 substantially within the marginal confines of the compressible member 73 during the operation of the device.

The guide member is provided to enable the strand to pass freely and substantially smoothly from the interior of the container 6 to the exterior thereof, and from the pre-tensioning assembly 18 to the rotatable capstan 17. In the form shown, the guide member 20 comprises an elongated tube 83 having a lengthwise extending passageway 84 therethrough. Preferably, the tube 83 extends through an aperture 85 in the base 4 and an aligned aperture 89 in the plate 32 which may be off-set from the geometric center of the base 4, and which tube may be secured therein, such as by a press fit or the like. The tube may be provided with a lengthwise extending slot 86 (FIG. 1) which is aligned and communicates with a radially extending slot 88 in the base 4, and which extends to the outer marginal edge thereof so that the strand S may be slid therethrough into position within the passageway 84 in the tube 83. The tube 83 may be made of any suitable material, but preferably should be of a material which offers substantially negligible frictional resistance to the strand as it slides therethrough. The inner end of the tube should be positioned so that the strand S will move in a path generally parallel to the inner surface 45 of the plate 34 while the opposite end of the tube is preferably positioned to direct the strand onto the innermost portion of the lining 62 adjacent the lower flange 17b as it is fed to the capstan 17. To this end, the lower or innermost end of the tube 83 may terminate generally adjacent the lowermost extremity of the compressible member 73, while the upper or outermost end of the tube may terminate generally adjacent the lower or innermost end of the capstan 17, as seen in FIG. 2. In addition, it is preferred that the point of intersection 81 defined by the arms 74 and 76 be positioned on an imaginary line coincident with the diametric center of the base and the geometric center of the tube 83 to feed the strand in a radial direction from arm 76 to the guide member 20.

In the form shown, the device may be provided with another guide in the form of a reverse bent member 90 which defines a loop-like eyelet 91 threadably mounted on the base member 4, as at 92. The geometric center of the eyelet is preferably disposed in axial alignment with the mid-portion of the capstan 17 so that the strand S may be payed-off adjacent the upper or outermost end of the capstan and generally horizontally through and adjacent the upper or outermost end of the eyelet to prevent any overlapping of strands on the capstan during operation of the device.

By the foregoing arrangement, it will be seen that the device of the invention provides a novel construction for maintaining adequate and uniform tension on a strand as it is payed-off a supply spool of the rotatable or nonrotatable type for use with a winding or braiding machine. The device incorporates a novel capstan member having. a resilient and deformable construction to hold a strand in frictional, non-slip relation thereon during rotation thereof. A selectively adjustable reactionary member coacts in friction drag action relationship with the capstan member to provide a primary controlled resistance to rotation of the capstan so as to maintain a substantially uniform tension on the strand payed-off the capstan to the machine. A pre-tensioning assembly coacts in resilient and compressible relationship with a strand as it is immediately payed-off the spool to provide a secondary controlled resistance to rotation of the capstan so as to maintain a substantially uniform drag action tension on the strand as it is fed to the capstan and so as to further hold the strand in frictional, non-slip relationship on the capstan during rotation thereof.

The terms and expressions which have been used are employed as terms of description, and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of any of the features shown or described, or portions thereof, and it is recognized that various modifications are contemplated within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. A device for controlling the tension and a flexible element of the type drawn off a supply spool or the like comprising,

a base-like housing adapted for securement to a support for said spool,

a rotatable means mounted on said housing adapted to receive in wound relation a flexible element drawn from said spool,

said rotatable means including a resilient, deformable take-up member,

said flexible element adapted to be frictionally retained in substantially non-slip embedded relation around said take-up member upon being drawn in tensioned relation from said spool,

a reactionary means operably connected to said rotatable means for frictional coacting engagement therewith to control the rotation of said rotatable means,

said rotatable means comprises a capstan means disposed for rotation on a shaft mounted on said housing,

said capstan means including an inner support member and an outer elastomeric cushion-like member,

said reactionary means includes a friction member disposed interiorly of said housing for operable coaction between said housing and said shaft,

said housing includes an interior fluid sealed cavity,

and

said friction member disposed within said cavity for self-lubricated rotation therein.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, including selectively adjustable means disposed for operable coaction with said reactionary means to control the resistance to rotation of said rotatable means.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said shaft is of a hollow tubular construction, and

selectively adjustable resilient means disposed within said shaft for controlling the frictional resistance of said reactionary means.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1, including pre-tensioning means mounted on said housing adapted for drag action friction engagement with said flexible element as it is drawn-off said spool onto said rotatable means.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1, including a tubular guide member extending through said housing adjacent one side of said rotatable means adapted to guide said flexible element in oif-set relation from said spool to said rotatable means. 6. A device for controlling the tension on a flexible element of the type drawn oil a supply spool or the like comprising,

a base-like housing adapted for securement to a support for said spool,

a rotatable means mounted on said housing adapted to receive in wound relation 21 flexible element drawn from said spool,

said rotatable means including a resilient, deformable take-up member,

said flexible element adapted to be frictionally retained in substantially non-slip embedded relation around said take-up member upon being drawn in tensioned relation from said spool,

a pre-tensioning means mounted on said housing adapted for drag action friction engagement with said flexible element as it is drawn oil said spool onto said rotatable means,

said pre-tensioning means includes a compressible member disposed adjacent said housing on the side opposite said rotatable means, and

a resilient member attached at one end to said housing for resilient pivotal movement adjacent its other end into engagement with said compressible member and adapted to frictionally urge said flexible element into engagement with said compressible member.

7. A device in accordance with claim 6, including a reactionary means operably connected to said rotatable means for frictional coacting engagement therewith to control the rotation of said rotatable means.

8. A device in accordance with claim 7, wherein said reactionary means includes a friction member disposed interiorly of said housing for operable coaction between said housing and said shaft.

9. A device for controlling the tension on a flexible element of the type drawn oil? a supply spool or the like comprising,

a base-like housing adapted for securement to a support for said spool,

a rotatable means mounted on said housing adapted to receive in wound relation a flexible element drawn from said spool,

a reactionary means operably connected to said rotatable means for frictional coacting engagement therewith to control the rotation of said rotatable means, and

said reactionary means disposed interiorly of said housing for operable coaction between said housing and said rotatable member to reduce contamination of and wear on said reactionary means.

10. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said housing includes an interior fluid sealed cavity,

and

said reactionary member is disposed within said cavity for self-lubricated rotation therein.

11. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said reactionary means includes a friction member disposed interiorly of said housing for operable coaction between said housing and said rotatable means.

12. A device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said friction member is disposed within said cavity for self-lubricated rotation therein.

13. A device in accordance with claim 9, including pre-tensioning means mounted on said housing adapted for drag action friction engagement with said flexible element as it is drawn off said spool onto said rotatable means.

14. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said rotatable means includes a resilient, deformable pick-up member, and

said flexible element is frictionally retained in substantially non-slip embedded relation around said take-up member upon being drawn in tensioned relation from said spool.

15. A device in accordance with claim 9, including selectively adjustable means disposed for operable coaction with said reactionary means to control the resistance to rotation of said rotatable means.

16. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said rotatable means comprises a capstan means disposed for rotation on a shaft mounted on said housing, and

said capstan means including an inner support member and an outer elastomeric cushion-like member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,487,889 11/1949 Moore 242-128 LEONARD D. CHRISTIAN, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

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