U.S. patent number 3,817,147 [Application Number 05/354,457] was granted by the patent office on 1974-06-18 for braider carrier.
Invention is credited to Donald Richardson.
United States Patent |
3,817,147 |
Richardson |
June 18, 1974 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
BRAIDER CARRIER
Abstract
A strand carrier for a high-speed maypole braiding machine, in
which the strand pay-off point of each strand carrier is maintained
in substantially the same orientation relatively to the braiding
point during the travel of the carrier in its serpentine path
around the braiding point. The strand carrier of the instant
invention is of a construction providing for an increased capacity
of the strand supply and includes a hinged upper section normally
overlying the strand supply but which may be readily swung open to
permit the replenishment of the supply, the hinged upper section
incorporating a slack take-up and strand-tensioning means, means
for normally preventing rotation of the strand supply bobbin
relatively to the carrier, and means under the control of the
strand take-up and tensioning means for releasing the bobbin for
rotation in a strand pay-off direction when an additional length of
the strand is required in the braiding operation.
Inventors: |
Richardson; Donald (Reading,
PA) |
Family
ID: |
23393415 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/354,457 |
Filed: |
April 25, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
87/57; 87/21;
87/56 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D04C
3/18 (20130101); D04C 3/40 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
D04C
3/00 (20060101); D04c 003/18 () |
Field of
Search: |
;87/21,22,54,55,56,57 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Petrakes; John
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Synnestvedt & Lechner
Claims
I claim:
1. In a braider carrier for a maypole-type braider, said carrier
having a frame structure including means for rotatably supporting a
bobbin having a braiding strand wound thereon, means providing for
the withdrawal of lengths of said strand from said bobbin and means
for taking up slack in and applying tension to the strand withdrawn
from a bobbin mounted on said bobbin supporting means, the
improvement wherein said slack take-up and strand-tensioning means
comprises a pair of strand guide elements carried by said frame
structure in fixed positions relatively thereof and oscillatory
means for guiding a strand in a substantially S or Z path between
said strand guide elements of said pair.
2. A braider carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein said oscillatory
means for guiding a strand in an S or Z path between said strand
guide elements comprises a compensator arm, strand guide means
carried by said arm, and pivot means mounted said arm for
oscillation.
3. A braider carrier as defined in claim 2 wherein said strand
guide means comprise strand guide members on opposite sides of said
pivot means and spaced therefrom.
4. A braider carrier as defined in claim 3 wherein said slack
take-up and strand-tensioning means additionally comprises spring
means and there is means for causing cooperation between said
spring means and said compensator arm.
5. A braider carrier as defined in claim 4 wherein said spring
means is a torsion spring.
6. A braider carrier as defined in claim 4 wherein there is means
for adjusting the force of said spring means to vary the tension
applied to the strand.
7. A braider carrier as defined in claim 5 wherein said torsion
spring comprises a coil of wire terminating in end portions and
there is means affixing one of said end portions of said wire to
said compensator arm and there is means affixing the other of said
end portions of said wire to an element of said frame
structure.
8. A braider carrier as defined in claim 7 wherein there is means
for readily adjusting the torque exerted by said torsion
spring.
9. A braider carrier as defined in claim 3 wherein said compensator
arm supports means for guiding a strand from one of said pair of
strand guide elements to one of said strand guide members and also
supports means for guiding a strand from the other of said strand
guide members to the other of said strand guide elements.
10. A braider carrier as defined in claim 2 wherein said means
providing for the withdrawal of strand lengths from a bobbin
comprises a clutch which, when in clutching operation, maintains
said bobbin against rotation, and wherein said improvement
additionally includes means operated by said compensator arm for
releasing said clutch to permit rotation of said bobbin to provide
pay-out supplies of said strands.
11. In a braider carrier as defined in claim 10, the further
improvement wherein said clutch comprises a nonrotatable hub member
of said frame structure, a rotatable hub element, means for
releasably locking said rotatable hub element to a bobbin, and a
coil spring mounted for cooperation with said nonrotatable hub
memeber and said rotatable hub element.
12. A braider carrier as defined in claim 11 wherein said means
operated by said compensator arm for releasing said clutch
comprises a projecting end portion of said coil spring and a
rockable lever member in contact therewith, said lever member
including a portion projecting into the path of oscillatory
movement of said compensator arm for rocking movement thereby.
13. In a braider carrier having a frame structure including a base
member having a support for a braiding strand supply bobbin, means
providing for the withdrawal of strand lengths from a bobbin
mounted on said support, and means for taking up slack in and for
applying tension to said strand withdrawn from said bobbin, the
improvement wherein said frame structure includes a projecting
member and additionally includes frame elements overlying said
bobbin and supporting said strand-tensioning and strand length
compensating means, and there is hinge means connecting said frame
elements to said projecting member whereby said frame elements may
be rotated on said hinge means to a position sufficiently remote
from said bobbin support to permit the removal and replacement of
bobbins.
14. A braider carrier as defined in claim 13 wherein said frame
elements include a hub member by which other of said frame elements
are supported, and said hub member includes an arm of said
hinge.
15. A braider carrier as defined in claim 14 wherein there is a
releasable means for connecting said hub element to said bobbin
support for operation of said carrier.
16. In a braider carrier including support means for a rotatable
strand supply bobbin, means for, at certain times, permitting
rotation of a bobbin on said support for withdrawal of a strand
therefrom and at other times restraining such rotation, means for
taking up slack in a strand and for applying tension thereto, and
means for guiding a strand through said slack take-up and
tensioning means and toward a braiding point, the improvement
wherein there is means supporting said means for permitting
rotation of a bobbin at times and restraining said rotation at
other times, said means for taking up slack in a strand and for
applying tension thereto, and said strand guiding means, as an
integrated unit, and for movement of said integrated unit between
operative and inoperative positions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
Conventionally in strand carriers for braiding machines, the strand
material is wound on bobbins rotatably mounted on the carriers and
the bobbins are alternately held against rotation to provide
tension in the strand material and released under the control of
tension members to permit the withdrawal of the strand material as
the carriers are propelled along their serpentine paths about the
braiding point of the machine.
In the known braiding machines employing such carriers, the
transfer of each carrier from one driver or horn gear to the next
in its travel along its serpentine path results in the simultaneous
reversal of the direction of rotation of the carrier due to the
fact that the adjacent drivers or horn gears rotate in opposite
directions. As a consequence, special means have been necessitated
to arrest the energy of rotation of the carrier bobbin, such means
conventionally consisting of ratchets and the like. The provision
of such devices not only adds to the cost of the machine but, at
the same time, reduces the carrier reliability. Also, such devices
add extra weight to the carrier and reduce the capacity of the
carrier to accomodate the strand material. Furthermore, inasmuch as
the conventional carrier rotates in the same direction as that of
the driver or horn gear by which it is propelled, it is necessary
that the strand be guided by an eye or swivel pay-out element or
the like to compensate for the motion of the carrier relatively to
its driver as it moves along its serpentine path.
These problems have been eliminated in the braider construction of
Applicant's prior application Ser. No. 280,631, filed Aug. 14,
1972, now U.S.Pat. No. 3,783,736 dated Jan. 8, 1971 which discloses
a strand carrier propelling means which isolates the carrier
spindle rotation from that of the drivers or horn gears.
Specifically, the rotation of each carrier on its own axis is so
controlled that the customary sudden reversal of the carrier
rotation during transfer from one driver or horn gear to the next
is eliminated. Further, the construction is such that the carrier
maintains its strand pay-out point in substantially the same
orientation relatively to the braiding point during its travel
around the braiding point whereby the customary relatively
complicated pay-out eye or swivel device may be eliminated.
Furthermore, and of particular importance, due to the fact that the
braider construction eliminates the sudden reversal of rotation of
the carriers, the employment of simplified mechanisms for taking up
the slack and applying tension to the strand as the carrier moves
along its sinuous path, is permitted.
The present invention is directed to a braider carrier,
particularly adapted for employment in a braiding machine of
Applicant's said prior application although it may be used in
braiding machines of other types, in which the slack take-up and
strand-tensioning means and other strand control elements are
readily removably mounted above the bobbin whereby maximum space is
provided for the bobbin with consequent increased strand-carrying
capacity and other advantages are attained, as will become apparent
hereinafter.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Of the many prior patents relating to braider carriers, the most
pertinent are believed to be represented by patents to Ostermann
U.S. Pat. No. 3,359,848, issued Dec. 26, 1967, and Singh U.S. Pat.
No. 3,408,893, issued Nov. 5, 1968. Referring to these patents
individually, Ostermann discloses a carrier construction in which
certain elements of the strand take-up and tensioning mechanism are
also supported above the bobbin by means which allows for their
removal to permit the substitution of full bobbins for empty ones.
However, the patented construction additionally requires a braking
system which adds substantially to the cost and complexity of the
carrier. Also, the carrier includes other undesirable features
which are eliminated by the carrier of the present invention, as
will become apparent hereinafter.
In patent to Singh, the strand-tensioning means again is, in part,
mounted above the strand supply bobbin and provision is made for
the removal of such mechanism when the strand supply is to be
renewed. However, the strand take-up and tensioning means
additionally require the inclusion of a torsion spring located
interiorly of the carrier with the result that the strand-carrying
capacity of the bobbin is compromised or substantially limited. An
associated strand-clamping mechanism, of which there is no
counterpart in the carrier of the instant invention, is also
required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The principal object of the instant invention is the provision of a
strand carrier of an improved construction for employment in a
high-speed braiding machine of the maypole type and particularly in
a braiding machine incorporating the features of Applicant's said
prior application Ser. No. 280,631.
Another object of the invention is the provision of a braider
carrier attaining the foregoing object having a maximum
strand-carrying capacity.
A further object of the invention is the provision of a braider
carrier attaining the foregoing objects which additionally includes
improved and simplified means for compensating for or taking up the
slack in the braiding strand and applying substantially uniform
tension thereto as the carrier moves in its sinuous or serpentine
path around the braiding point.
A still further object of the invention is the provision of a
braider carrier attaining the foregoing objects in which the mass
of the mechanism serving to take up or compensate for the slack
which would otherwise occur in the strand and for tensioning the
strand is substantially reduce as compared to the mechanism
accomplishing similar functions in prior carriers.
The aforementioned and other objects of the invention, which will
become apparent, are attained by the braider carrier now to be
described. It will be understood that the carrier may be employed
without modification in braiders in which the braider deck is in
either a vertical, horizontal or intermediate plane. However, for
the purpose of convenience only and without limiting the use of the
carrier in any way, in the following description it will be assumed
that the braider deck is in a horizontal plane with the carriers
positioned thereabove.
The braider carrier of the invention comprises a frame structure
including a base member and a bobbin supporting spindle or post
projecting upwardly therefrom, and additionally comprises means
supported by the frame structure in overlying relationship to the
bobbin for taking up, or compensating for, the slack which would
otherwise occur at intervals in the braiding strand as the carrier
travels in its serpentine path around the braiding point and for
applying substantially uniform tension to the strand during such
travel.
The preferred means employed to perform the above-mentioned
functions comprises an arm (herein termed a "compensator arm")
pivotally mounted at the longitudinal center thereof, and with the
pivot point in axial alignment with the bobbin-supporting spindle,
on a frame member overlying the yarn supply bobbin, the arm having
sheaves affixed adjacent the opposite ends thereof for guiding the
strands in what is here termed an S or Z path. The compensator arm
is urged to rotate in a direction to tension the strand by a
torsion spring having associated means to adjust the torque exerted
thereby. The bobbin carrying the strand supply is normally held
against rotation as by a clutch mechanism which is released at
times, under the influence of the compensator arm, to permit
pay-off of the strand from the bobbin when an additional length of
the strand is required for the braiding operation. The frame member
referred to above which supports the compensator arm and which also
supports the torsion spring and the clutch mechanism comprises a
hub element which is hingedly connected to a fixed
vertically-extending post forming a portion of the carrier frame.
This construction permits the ready removal or swinging out of the
strand-tensioning and controlling elements when a bobbin is to be
replaced.
The advantageous features of the construction include the ability
to maintain the mass of the compensator arm at a minimum, thereby
permitting high speeds to be employed. Also, the advantageous
features include the ease with which the strand may be threaded and
the elimination of the customary braking or sliding elements and
the necessity of a pay-out eye or swivel device. The construction
also affords ample space for an appropriately large torsion spring
which reduces tension variation in the strand, as it is fed to the
braiding point, to a minimum.
A substantial field of use of the carrier of the invention is in
braiding machines of the type employed for the reinforcement of
high pressure hose and the like with metallic strands. However, its
field of use is not so limited as the carrier may be equally well
employed in the production of other braided products such as, for
example, those composed of textile or other nonmetallic strands. In
this connection, the provision of means, previously mentioned, to
adjust the force or torque exerted on the compensator arm by the
torsion spring is of critical importance as it permits the tension
imparted to the strand to be selected as required by the particular
strand material employed or the product to be produced.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an elevational view, with certain parts broken away and
other parts omitted, or a braider carrier in accordance with the
instant invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view, with certain lower parts omitted for
clearance of illustration, of the braider carrier of FIG. 1, the
view illustrating the position of a compensator arm of the carrier
at one stage in the operation of the carrier;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the position of the
compensator arm of the carrier at another stage in the operation of
the carrier;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 2 and
also illustrating certain lower parts of the carrier not disclosed
in FIG. 2; and
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the movement of a
carrier of the invention in its serpentine path around a braiding
point during the braiding operation.
Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1-4, a braider carrier
incorporating the instant invention and indicated generally by the
reference character 10 in FIG. 1 has a frame structure including a
base plate 12 affixed to a column 14, the upwardly-extending
portion of which defines a bobbin-supporting spindle or post 15.
The column 14 also carries a foot (not shown) for cooperation with
the drive elements of the braider, as is conventional; the foot in
the instant case, however, suitably being of the construction as
disclosed in Applicant's copending application Ser. No. 280,613
previously referred to.
Base member 12 has a projecting arm 16 (see FIG. 4) supporting, as
by being formed integrally therewith, an upwardly-extending frame
member or post 18. The upper end of post 18 is connected to a strut
element 20 as by a hinge 22 suitably comprising (see FIG. 1) a
projecting portion 24 of the post of reduced width received between
wing members 26 of the strut element and a hinge pin 28 penetrating
wing members 26 and projection 24. Strut element 20 includes an
upwardly-projecting portion 25 connected, as by being formed
integrally therewith or welded thereto, to a nonrotatable hub
member 30 of the carrier frame structure. An arm 32 suitably formed
integrally with strut element 20 projects upwardly therefrom and,
when the parts are in the assembled position illustrated in FIG. 4,
is substantially in alignment with, but in somewhat twisted
relationship with respect to, post 18. Arm 32 supports a rotatable
sheave 34 as by a pin 36 projecting from the arm. Hub 30 also has a
second arm 33 projecting upwardly and outwardly of the hub. Arm 33
rotatably supports a sheave 35 as by a pin 37. As disclosed
particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the central points of sheaves 34 and
35 are substantially diametrically opposite to each other and the
sheaves lie in substantially parallel vertical planes in more and
less than right angular relationship to the vertical diametrical
plane of said central points.
When the carrier is prepared for operation a bobbin 38, having a
longitudinally-extending central bore, is mounted on bobbin support
spindle 15 between hub 30 and base member 12 with antifriction
bearings 42 of any suitable type interposed between the inner wall
of the bore and the spindle. Bobbin 38 is adapted to carry a supply
40 of the strand material to be braided, such as wire, textile or
other strands required for the production of the particular braid
product desired. Frame member or post 18, previously referred to,
supports a baler bar 44 of conventional type, the baler bar being
mounted adjacent a recessed portion of the post and including
axially positioned pins 46 projecting from the ends thereof and
received within bearing openings in ears 48 extending outwardly
from the post. Post 18 also supports a rotatable sheave 50 as by
pin 52.
A slack take-up and strand-tensioning mechanism is positioned above
the bobbin, the mechanism including a compensator arm 56 mounted at
its longitudinal center for rocking or oscillating movements on an
upwardly-projecting cylindrical element 58 of hub 30 which is in
axial alignment with the bobbin spindle or post 15. Suitably for
this purpose, the compensator arm has a central bore receiving the
element 58 with antifriction bearing members 60 of any desired type
interposed therebetween. The opposite ends of the compensator arm
carry sheaves 62 and 64 mounted for rotation on pins 66 and 68
respectively projecting upwardly from the compensator arm. The
sheaves are spaced equidistant from the pivot point of the arm and
are positioned at a level that the groove of sheave 62 is
substantially in horizontal alignment with the lower peripheral
portion of the groove of sheave 35 and the groove of sheave 64 is
substantially in horizontal alignment with the upper peripheral
portion of the groove of sheave 34.
Affixed to the respective end portions of the compensator arm in
any suitable manner, as by being welded thereto or formed
integrally therewith, are arcuate counterclockwise projecting arms
69 and 70, each arm carrying a pair of grooved rollers or sheaves
71 rotatably mounted at the level of sheaves 62 and 64 on pins 72.
The sheaves 71 carried by arm 69 are so positioned and are of such
diameter that they will successively guide the braiding strand to
sheave 35 as compensator arm 56 rotates from the position
illustrated in FIG. 3 toward the position illustrated in FIG. 2,
said sheaves 71 thereafter passing between arm 33 and sheave 35 as
the compensator approaches the position of FIG. 2. Guide sheaves 71
of arm 69 will also perform equivalent functions upon the return
rotation of the compensator arm to the position of FIG. 3.
Similarly, the sheaves 71 carried by arm 70 are so positioned and
are of such diameter that they will successively guide the braiding
strand between sheaves 34 and 64, as the compensator arm 56 rotates
or oscillates between its positions as shown in FIG. 2 and 3,
without contact with sheave 34.
In addition to the compensator arm, the slack take-up and
strand-tensioning mechanism includes a torsion spring 74 having a
right-angle end portion or tang 75 (see FIG. 1) projecting from the
upper coil of the spring and received within a perforation in an
ear 76 of the compensator arm. The lower coil of torsion spring 74
has a downwardly-projecting right-angle end portion or tang 78
received within a selected one of a plurality of notches 80 formed
in an outwardly-projecting flange portion 82 of hub 30, portion 82
suitably being at the level of the hinged inwardly-directed arm of
strut 20. The torsion spring is of a character to urge rotation of
compensator arm 56 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 2
and 3.
The carrier of the invention also includes mechanism to normally
prevent rotation of bobbin 38 relatively to bobbin spindle post 15
and other fixed parts of the carrier, but to release it for pay-off
of the strand when that is required in the braiding operation. The
mechanism for this purpose may be selected from one of several
known types such as brakes, spring clutches, and roller clutches,
the final selection depending upon cost factors, product
requirements and the like, as well as the facility of the mechanism
to be released from its clutching function at the proper time. In
the preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated, the
bobbin-holding and releasing means comprises a wrapped clutch
spring 84 surrounding a portion 85 of the peripheral surface of hub
30 and a vertically-aligned peripheral surface 86 of a rotatable
hub 87, the hub 87 being received in a circumferentially recessed
portion 88 of hub 30. Spring clutch 84 is of a character that, when
unrestrained, it will clutchingly engage the surfaces 85 and 86 and
prevent relative rotation of the hubs 30 and 87. As illustrated
particularly in FIG. 4, rotatable hub 87, which has an inner
diameter sufficiently less than the diameter of the recessed
portion 88 of hub 30 as to permit ready rotation with respect
thereto when the clutch is released, is supported on hub 30 by a
retaining ring 92 received in an annular groove 94 in hub 30 and
projecting therebeyond into an undercut 90 provided in the
rotatable hub.
Referring particularly to FIG. 1, a circumferential flange portion
96 of rotatable hub 86 carries at least one, but preferably
several, downwardly-projecting fins 98, the fins being snugly
received within notches 100 in the upper end portion or flange 102
of bobbin 38. As a consequence, the bobbin will rotate or be held
against rotation in correspondence with rotatable hub 86. The upper
coil or clutch spring 84 includes an upwardly-extending end portion
or tang 97 received within a correspondingly shaped recess or bore
in the upper horizontal portion of strut 20, as illustrated in FIG.
4. The lower coil of clutch spring 84 includes an
outwardly-projecting end portion or tang 104 received within a
recess or notch in the lower arm of a lever member 91 mounted for
rocking movement on the vertical portion of strut 20 ad by pivot
pin 93. The other arm of the lever member projects upwardly to a
position in which it is first contacted and then moved in a
counterclockwise direction by compensator arm 56 when the latter is
rotated in a counterclockwise direction to its terminal position
illustrated in FIG. 2. Clutch spring 84 is of a type that its
clutching action is released upon relatively minor displacement of
tang 104 in the clockwise direction upon the application of a
relatively light force to the upper arm of lever member 91 by the
compensator arm.
As will be observed, hub 30 and the various parts carried thereby,
including the compensator arm, torsion spring, spring clutch and
other elements, may be swung on hinge 22 to a position sufficiently
remote from bobbin spindle 15 to permit ready removal and
replacement of a bobbin. In order to ensure maintenance of hub 30
and its associated parts in the positions illustrated in FIG. 4
during the operation of the braider, suitably a pin 105 is
employed, the pin having a head portion 106 which may be of
integral construction or, alternatively, include a separate washer
108, overlying the upper end of element 58 and a portion of the
bearing 60, and also having a lower threaded end 110 received
within a threaded bore extending axially of bobbin spindle 14.
In preparation for the operation of a braiding machine, preferably
of the construction disclosed in Applicant's said copending
application Ser. No. 280,631, and which employs the carriers
described above, pin 105 of each carrier is first removed and hub
30 and the parts associated therewith are swung on hinge 22 to a
position sufficiently remote from bobbin support spindle 14 that a
bobbin carrying a supply of the selected strand material may be
slipped onto the spindle. Hub 30 and the attendant parts are then
swung back to the position as illustrated in FIG. 4 and pin 105
reinserted to maintain hub 30 in locked position relatively to
spindle 14. The clutching function of spring 84 is released as by
moving the upper arm of lever member 91 in a counterclockwise
direction by any suitable means, such as by manual rotation of the
compensator arm 56 to bring it into contact with and thereafter
rock the lever member, and a strand 111 is drawn from the supply 40
partially around baler bar 44 and partially around the groove of
each of sheaves 50 and 34. From sheave 34 the strand is drawn
around the outer peripheral portion of the grooves of strand guide
sheaves 71 carried by arm 70 and then in clockwise direction
partially around the groove of sheave 64. From sheave 64 the strand
is drawn to sheave 62 and in a counterclockwise direction partially
around the groove thereof, around outer peripheral portions of the
grooves of guide sheaves 71 carried by arm 69, partially around the
groove of sheave 36 from the lower to the upper peripheral portion
thereof, and thence to the braiding point 112 indicated in FIG. 5.
The pressure exerted on the upper arm of lever member 91 is then
released as by clockwise rotation of the compensator arm to permit
the clutch spring 84 to again assert its clutching function. The
torque to be asserted against the compensator arm by torsion spring
74 is adjusted to that required for the particular braiding
operation by positioning tang 78 in a selected notch 80.
Referring now to FIG. 5, a portion of the sinuous or serpentine
path taken by a braider carrier of the instant invention as it
travels in a clockwise direction around the braiding point 112 is
illustrated, in being understood that while only one such carrier
is shown, a multiple number of carriers will follow the same path,
as is conventional. Also, it will be understood that, as is
conventional, a same number of carriers will travel in a similar
path, but in a counterclockwise direction around the braiding
point, the paths having carrier cross-over points at the B and D
locations shown in FIG. 5 and corresponding points.
The braiding machine in which the carriers are employed is, as
above noted, preferably of the construction disclosed in
Applicant's copending application Ser. No. 280,631 whereby, due to
the controlled rotation of each carrier on its own axis, the strand
pay-off point of each carrier, defined in the instant carrier by
sheave 35, maintains a substantially constant orientation to the
braiding point 112. When the carrier is in position A of FIG. 5,
namely at a nearest location to the braiding point, compensator arm
56 will be in the position illustrated in FIG. 3 with tension
applied to the strand by the torsion spring 74. Also, at this stage
clutch spring 84 will be in its clutching condition, maintaining
the rotatable hub 86 against rotation relatively to hub 30, whereby
the bobbin 38 is held against rotation relatively to the
bobbin-support post or spindle 15. Hence, no pay-off of the strand
is permitted at this time. As the carrier moves from position A
through position B and approaches position C, compensator arm 56 is
rotated, by the change to a strand demand status, in a
counterclockwise direction and against the force of spring 74 until
the arm reaches a position in which it is in contact with the upper
arm of lever member 91. Further minor counterclockwise rotation of
the compensator arm to the position illustrated in FIG. 2, as the
carrier moves to position C, rocks the lever member sufficiently to
release the clutching action of clutch spring 84 and permit
rotation of the bobbin 38 and withdrawal of a length of the strand
material therefrom to provide a pay-out supply thereof as required
for the braiding operation until the clutch is again released.
Upon further movement of the carrier to and through position D and
finally to position E, namely toward the braiding point 112, the
compensator arm is rotated in a clockwise direction by the torsion
spring, a first part of such movement withdrawing the arm from its
contact with the upper arm of lever member 91 and permitting clutch
spring 84 to again perform its clutch function. The further
clockwise rotation of the compensator arm also takes up the slack
in the strand as the length of strand extending between sheave 35
and the braiding point decreases and maintains the strand under
controlled tension. As will be understood, the above-described
operations will be repeated during each movement of each carrier
from a position in which it is nearest to the braiding point to a
position in which it is most remote therefrom and then back to a
position nearest the braiding point.
The braider carrier above described fully attains the several
objects of the invention, as previously set forth, and provides
additional advantages, as is readily apparent. For example,
inasmuch as the several elements around which the braiding strand
is passed are fully exposed, the carrier may be easily threaded.
Also, the location of the strand control and tensioning mechanism
above the bobbin permits the use of a bobbin of maximum
strand-carrying capacity, as previously mentioned, and also places
the mass of the strand supply in the most desirable location,
namely as close as possible to the carrier-propelling means. In
addition, the space available for the strand-tensioning torsion
spring 74 permits the use of a relatively large torsion spring
whereby variation in the tension of the braiding strand as the
carrier moves toward and away from the braiding point is reduced to
a minimum. Also, the adjustable feature of the torsion spring
permits the force supplied by it to the compensator arm to be
readily selected to conform to the requirements of virtually any
strand material. A further important feature of the braider carrier
of the invention is the arrangement of the strand let-off means
including the hubs 30 and 86 and the clutch spring 84, the slack
take-up and strand-tensioning means including the compensator arm
56 and torsion spring 74 and other associated parts, and the strand
guide sheaves 34 and 35 and their supporting posts, as a single
integrated unit movable between operative and inoperative
positions.
* * * * *