US1909976A - Bobbin clutch - Google Patents

Description

May 23, 1933. G. H. MAGRATH BOBBIN CLUTCH Filed April 3, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l G. H. MAGRATH BOBBIN CLUTCH May 23, 1933.

Filed April 3. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 23, 1933 ion". 5,.

rename BQBB'I onnron 'n iicati n mea Apri 13, 1913 1 Serial No. 527,599;

This application is a'continuation inpart of application, Serial No. 1353, f1 28, filed April 8, 1929.

This invention relates'to a clutch-by which.

a bobbin may be centered on a spinnmg or twisting spindle and: frictionally rotated thereby l i i w It is the general object of my inventionto provide a bobbin clutch oi'an improved and simplified construction, by which the-bob bin may be accurately centered with respect to the axis of the spindle and by which it may be rotated with the oesired: driving force. l p I Y1 I A further object of my invention is 'to' pro vide a bobbin clutch which has relatively few and simple parts, all of which maybe easily and economically manufactured; The clutch thus constructed :is reliable andncer a-in in operation and is exceptionally? free from ac 'idental breakage of partswhcnin use. I s y My invention further relates'to arrangements and combinations of parts whichwill be hereinafter described'and more" particularly pointed out in the appendedeclaimsej In the drawings: I 3;

Fig. l is an elevatioin-partly in section, of portions of a spindle embodying 'lhyvlflb provenients; I i 1 4 Fig. 2 is a side elevation of casing menu ber; I a Fig. 3 is a plan View of certainizparts, looking in the directionjof the' arrow S'in Figs. 4: and 5 are sideand front elevations of one of the spring. clutchifingers; Fig. 6 is a planrview of the retainin cap; Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. l-but showing a modified i orin' o'fconstruction;

S is a section along the line 88 of R1 w 1 19;. 9 is'a combined-view lllustratlng 1n irontand in edge elevation acontactseg ment; I

Fig. 10 is a central vertical section .tlirdugh the clutch shown in Fig. 7, illustrating' a bobbin mounted thereon; an i i FigY-ll is a side elevation, pa'rtly'in seet-io 'n of the casing forming apart of the clutch illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10. f s

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings,

I'have shown a spindle comprising a blade lOh'avinga whirl 11 fixed thereon. The 55 whirl 11 is preferably provided with'an upwardly projectingend or hub portion 12 Efm-id with an annular recess 13 in its upper ace. I I I I A casing member 15 is firmly mounted on the blade 10 above the whirl'll and is slotted in its lower portion, as indicated at 16,:thus providing depending parts 18 which extend downward and engage the-bottom otthe annular recess 13 when the parts are assembled. I v r Spring clutch fingers 20 are formed as indicated'in Figs. 4 and 5, the fingers being in general substantially L-shaped, with laterallyprojecting arms 21 at their lower ends and with offset projections 22'at their upper ends.

In assembling the parts, the fingers2O are inserted in the slots 16 and theolfset ends 22 of the fingers project upward into a recess 24 above the slots 16. A retaining member or'cap 26 is then forced downwardly over the periphery'of the whirl 11 and engages the outwardly projecting portions 21 of the spring fingers. 1 i

The fingers-.20" are so shaped that such engagement by the cap 26 places the upper p'ortions of the fingers 20 under tension, said upper ends being firmly pressed outward as far-as is permitted by the-engagement of the projections 22 with the flange 25 surrounding the recess 24. I I 7 '1 The fingers 20 are formed ofresilient material' preferably steel, which ishardened and 'tempered after the fingers are shaped. 9 WVh'en the bobbin B is placed on the blade 10 and is'forced downward, thefingers 20; will beengaged by the inner'wall30 of the butt of the bobbin and will be forced slightly inward to the position indicated in Fig. 1, in which'position they will firmly center the bobbin andwill provide the desired 'frictional driving engagement therewith. Each ofthe fingers isindependently formed and separately movable, with featurescontribute 'which diverge preferably at an acute angle.

The arms 38 are adapted. to, seat in, the annular recess 36 and are clamped firmly in this recess by the retaining upper flange of the cap member 39 which issecured; to the whirl preferably by being a. driving fit thereon. Thus the upper flange of the cap member and base of the recess 36 provide opposed clamping surfaces which maintain the out wardly directed armsj38 of the spring memhere substantially fixed upon and rigid with the whirl and therefore rigid with the blade 33.

The contact segments 41 have their upper. ends curved inwardly to provide. 'upwardly directed lips 42 which extend within the annular recess 34: in the casing member and are retained in this recess by the depending annular wall thereof. The lower ends of these contact segments fit within,

the circular opening in the top flange or wall of the cap-member '39 and have their outward movement limited by thisportion of the cap member. Preferably-the casing 31 is of the type illustrated in Fig. 11 in which slots 43 extend longitudinally toward the whirl for receiving the contact segments, the material forming these slots providing fingers 44 which maintain the contact segments in circumferentially spaced relation about the blade. The lower ends of the fingers 44 extend to a position slightly below and within the opening in the top wall of the cap member 39 and the slots 43 are formed to fit closely about the contact segments 41 so as to, be eifectiveffor guiding the latter for movement toward and from the blade in an approximately radial direction.

The arms 37 of the springs extend longitudinally [of the blade behind the contact segments and incline upwardly toward the latter, these arms engaging the segments at points intermediate the ends thereof. Preferably the arms 37 are proportioned to terminate toward-the upper ends of the segments at the points where" engagement is effected as this provides relatively long and resilient spring arms which have smooth and' easy and yet firm engagement, providing a very desirable clutching action.QWhile the longitudinal arms 37 of the spring preferably have their free ends in direct engagement with the segments intermediate the ends of the latter and these arms are inclined with respect to the axis of the blade to render this engagement more effective, it will be evident that in some instances it may be desirable to have the arms 37 extend substantially parallel to the blade, in which event they may be provided with lugs or other protuberances, as with outturned end portions, for engagement with the segments.

In assembling the apparatus of the type disclosed in Figs. 7 to 11 inclusive, the spring members 37 are disposed about the whirlwith their outwardly directed arms 38 properly spaced in the annular recess 36 in the upper surface of the whirl. The cap member 39 is then applied and'caused firmly to engage these arms 38 and to clamp the same securely to the whirl. The casing 31 is thenapplied to the blade 33 and positioned so that the lower ends of the fingers extend within the circular opening in the top of the cap member and the spring arms 37 project upwardly and outwardly into the slots 43. The segments 41 may then be applied by pushing the upper ends of these segments into the slots and across the free upper ends of the spring arms 37, bending the latter inwardly and then pressing on the lower portions ofthe-segments to cause the free lower ends thereof to enter the space between the circular opening in the cap 39 and the associated spring member.

All parts of the bobbin clutch maybe cheaply and easily manufactured and the spring fingers may be easily removed and replaced iffor any reason renewal becomes necessary.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that in each modification the springs have their outwardly disposed legs maintained substantially rigid with the blade due to the clamping action of the cap and-the whirl, and this manner of mounting the outwardly disposed arms causes the longitudinal or upwardly directed arms to exert an outward or approximately radialpressure which is applied torthe bobbin for retaining the latter. Thus, while in one instance the springs have direct engagement with the bobbin chamber and in the other instance these springs act on the segments to cause the latter to engage the bobbin, in each case advantages of the springs are embodiedin the new structure, resutling in the improved mode of operation. The outward movement of the free upper ends of the fingers is limited by the casing ineach embodiment, by direct engagement with the casing inthe first embodiment and by indircet engagement through the segments in the second embodiment. r

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall. within the scope of thea-ppended claims.

I claim: I

1. In a spindle clutch construction comprising blade, a contact segment disposed longitudinally of the blade, and means for supporting the contact segment for movei ment toward and from the blade and for limiting outward movement of the contact segment relative to the blade, the combination of a unitary spring member, comprising diverging arms, one arm being disposed approximately longitudinally between the blade and the contact segment and engaging the latter, the other arm extending outwardly beyond the contact segment, and means for holding the latter arm substantially rigid with the blade, whereby the longitudinally disposed arm may be caused to bear against the contact segment with a yielding pressure.

2. In a spindle clutch construction comprising a blade, a 'contactsegment disposed longitudinally oi the blade, and means for supporting the contact segment for move ment toward and from the blade and for limiting outward movement of the contact segment relative to the blade, the combination of a unitary spring member, comprising arms diverging at an acute angle, one arm extending longitudinally of the blade and between the latter and the contact segmen-t, this arm ii clining outwardly from the blade and engaging the segment, the other arm extending outwardly beyond the ,con tact segment substantiall Y radially oi the blade, and means for holding the latter arm substantially rigid with the blade, whereby the longitudinally disposed arm 'may be caused to bear against the contact segment with a yielding pressure. 1

3. In a spindle clutch comprising a blade, a whirl mounted thereon, contact segments disposed longitudinally of the blade and spaced about the latter, and'means for retaining the segments and for supportingthe same -for movement transversely of the blade, the combination of means for urging the segments outwardly comprising resilient arms extending longitudinally of the blade and spaced circumferentially thereabout for engagement with the segments, each resilient arm having a base portion united there with and extending outwardly of the blade, and means for securing the base portions to the whirl, so that the arms may be caused to bear with a yielding pressure on the segments. i

l. In a spindle clutch comprising a blade, a whirl mounted thereon, contact segments disposed longitudinally of the blade and spaced about the latter, and means, for retaining the segments and for supporting the same for movement transversely of the blade,

a whirl mounted thereon, contact segments disposedlongitudinally of the blade'and spaced about the latter, and means for retaining-the segments and "for supporting the same for movement transversely of the blade, the combination of-means for urging the segments outwardly comprising spring members having unitary diverging arms, one arm of each spring member being disposed longitudinally of the blade and. in engagement witha segment, the other arm of each spring member extending outwardly across the whirl, and means for securing the latter arms to the. whirl, whereby the first-mentioned arms may be caused to bear with a yic ding pressure on the segments for urging thelatter'outwardly.'

' 6. In a spindle clutch comprising a blade, a whirl mounted thereon, contact segments disposed longitudinally of the blade and spaced about the latteiyand means for retainin the segments and for supporting the same ror movement transversely of the blade, the combination of means for urging the segments outwardly comprising spring members having unitary diverging arms, one arm ofeach spring memberbeing disposed longitudinally of the blade and inclined out wardly toward a segment for engagement therewith, the other arm of each spring mem; ber extending outwardly at an acute angle o the longitudinal arm and across the whirl, and means for, securing the outwardly extending arms to the whirl, whereby the first-mentioned. arms may be caused to bear with a yielding pressure on the segments for urging the latter outwardly.

7. A spindle clutch comprisinga blade, whirl and easing members mounted thereon in axially spaced relation, these members. having opposed recesses therein, contactv seg ments disposed longitudinally about the blade and mounted in the opposed recesses of the whirl and easing members, a spring member associated with each se 'ment and comprising a resilient arm extencing longitudinally'oi theblade and between the latter and the segment, each of these ari'ns extending Olltwlldly from'the blade toengage the segment with which it is associated, a base portion'unitary with each of these arms and extendingoutwardly acrossthewhirl beyond the segment, and means for maintaining each base portion firmly mounted-on and substantiallyrigid with the whirl, whereby the resilient-arms may be maintained elfective forlurging thesegments outwardly.

8. A spindle clutch comprising 'a blade, whirl and easing members mounted thereon in axially spaced relation, these members having opposed recesses therein, contact segments disposed longitudinally about the blade and mounted in the opposed recesses of the whirland casing members, a spring member associated with each segment and comprising a resilient arm extending longitudinally of the blade, and between the latter and the segment, each of these arms terminating intermediate the ends of the segment with which it is associated and inclining outwardly from the blade and having its free end portion bearing against the segment, a base portion unitary with each of these arms and extending outwardly across the end of the segment and across the whirl beyond the Segment, and means for maintaining each base portion firmly mounted on and substantially rigid with the whirl, whereby the resilient arms may be maintained effective for urging the segments outwardly.

9. A bobbin clutch compri ing a blade, a whirl on the blade, a casing-mounted on the blade with longitudinal slots in its periphery, mechanism acting through the slots for frictionally holding a bobbin,said mechanism including spring fingers, and clamping means at the upperend of the whirl for clamping the spring fin ers between the end of the whirl and the cramping means, said mechanismincluding parts whiehproject upwardly inside the upper edges of said slots to limit the action of'said spring fingers.

10. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a wnirl on the blade, :1 casing mounted on the blade with depending fingers defining longitudinal slots therebetween, mechanism acting through the slots for frictionally holding a bobbin, said mechanism including spring fingers, and clamping means at the upper end of the whirl for clamping the spring fingers between the end of the whirl and the clamping means, the whirl having integral spacing means projecting upwardly from its upper end close to the bladefor holding said mechanism in spaced relation to the bladc,

and said casing fingers projecting downwardly between said clzunping and spacing means. v

1 1. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a whirl on the blade, a casing mounted on the blade with depending fingers defining longitudinal slots therebetween, mechanism for frictionally holding a bobbin, said mechanism including L-shaped spring fingers, clamping means at the upper end of the whirl for clamping said spring fingers between the end of the whirland' the clamping means, and means projecting upwardly and engaging the inner edgesofythe casing for slots for frictionally holding a bobbin, said mechanism including spring means, and clamping means at the upper end of the whirl for clamping the spring means between the end of the whirl and the clamping means, and means for limiting the action of said spring means. 1

13. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a whirl on the blade, a casing mounted on the blade having longitudinal slots in its periphery, and mechanism acting through said slotsfor frietionally holding a, bobbin, said mechanism including'contaet surfaces movable radially of said blade through said slots and normally arranged to engage the inner periphery of the bobbin and spring means for controlling said surfaces, a cap on the end of the whirl, said cap pressing said spring means toward the whirl to cause the spring means yieldingly to hold said contact surfaces in "position to engage the bobbin, and means for limiting the outward movement of said contact surfaces relative to said'blade.

14. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a whirl mounted on the blade, a casing mounted on the blade with depending fin; gers defining longitudinal slots therebetween, mechanism for frictionally holding a bobbin, said mechanism including contact surfaces movable radially of the blade through said slots and resilient means for yieldingly holding said contact surfaces in position to engage the inner periphery of the bobbin, clamping'means mounted on the upper end of the whirl, said clamping means pressing said resilient means toward the whirl and holding the same in position, and means for limiting the outward movement of said contact surfaces relative to the blade.

15. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a whirl mounted on the blade, a casing mounted on the blade with depending fingers defining longitudinal slots therebetween, mechanism for frictionally holding a bobbin, said mechanism including cont-act surfaces movable radially ofthe blade through said slots and resilient means for urging said contact surfaces outwardly through said slots, a cap mounted on the upper end of the whirl. having an interior flange pressing said resilient means toward the upper end of the whirl, said cap holding said resilient means in position yieldingly to'urge said contact surfaces outwardly against the inner periphery of the bobbin, and-means for limiting the outward movement of said contact surfaces relative to said blade.

16. A bobbin clutch comprising a blade, a whirl mounted on the blade, a casing mounted on the blade with depending fingers defining longitudinal slots therebetween, and mechanism for frictionally holding a bobbin, said mechanism including contact members fulcrumed at the upper end of the whirl to move radially of the blade through said slots, said members having parts which project upwardly inside the upper edges of said slots to limit the outward movement of said members, resilient means for urging said contact members outwardly through said slots, and a cap mounted on the upper end of the whirl having an interior annular flange pressing said resilient means toward the upper end of the whirl, said cap holding said resilient means in position yieldingly to urge said contact members outwardly against the inner periphery of the bobbin.

Signed by me at WVhitinsville, Massachusetts this 31st day of March, 1931.

GEORGE H. MAGRATH.

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