US2177742A - Braiding machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 31, 1939. E. MfPETERsl-:N 2,177.7;42

BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ifi/9b.!

Oct. 3'1, 1939. E. M. PETESN BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 31, 1939 UNITED- sTATEs PATENT OFFICE BBAIDING MACHINE Earl M. Petersen, Winthrop, Masi. Application November 10, 1938, Serial No. 239,918

4Claiml.

This invention relates to an improvement in bobbin carriers, useful for example in weaving looms of the ordinary type; circular looms; braiding machines, or in fact any machine in which a bobbin carrier or shuttle must be moved along a -predetermined track. As here illustrated, by Way of example, it is shown as embodied in a braiding machine of that general type wherein one set of bobbin carriers is revolved in a circular path about l0 the axis of the machine, while another set of bobbin carriers, disposed in a circle concentric with the first-named set, either revolves in the opposite direction or remains stationary, the strands from the second-named set of carriers being so controlled that each carrier of the rstnamed set passes alternately over and under strands from the second-named set of carriers.

The primary object of this invention is to provide improved means for driving a-bobbin carrier or shuttle by which the bobbin carriers of one set are advanced, such means so devised as to impart motion to the bobbin carrier while leaving it free from driving contact with any mechanical part.

A further object of this invention resides in the employment of magnets by which the bobbin carrier is held in nxed relation to driving means for advancing the said carrier but in such a way that a free passage is always left between the carrier and the driving means.

n These and other objects of the invention will appear from a consideration of the following description of one embodiment ofthe invention and of the accompanying drawings which forms a part thereof and in which Fig. 1 is a side view in section of a portion o1 a braiding machine embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section 0i a bobbin carrier and a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

o Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the bobbin carrier shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view on a reduced scale of an element of the machine; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along 46 the line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

By way of example, but not by way of limitation, lthe invention is here shown specifically as embodied in a braiding machine. This machine comprises a stationary rim 26 carried by arms 2| 50 and supporting a 'cam ring 22 provided with a cam groove 23. At the center of the machine is a tube 24 within a stationary hollow post 25 upon which post turns a sleeve 26, suitable anti-friction bearings 21 being interposed between the post and the Il sleeve. Fixed to the sleeve 26 is a hub 29 which supports an annular gear 29 in mesh with the pinion 36 of a drive shaft 3 I. A collar 34 surrounding the hub 26 and supported thereon by a ball bearing 32 so that the collar is freely rotatable about the hub, carries an annular gear 35 also in mesh 5 with the pinion 36 so that the gears 29 and 35 are driven thereby in opposite directions.

Supported by the collar 34 through'arms 36 is a ring 31 concentric with and spaced inwardly of the stationary cam ring 22. Fixed upon the top of the l0 ring 31 are a plurality of caps 38 from which extend inwardly arms 39. The arms 39 are preferably `joined intermediate their lengths by a circumferentially extending ring 40 and carry at their inner ends a ring 42 concentric with the ring 15 31. The caps 36, arms 39, and rings 46 and `42 are here shown as integral but they may be separate units. Similarly the caps 36 may if desired be integral with the ring 31 instead of separate, as illustrated. The opposed faces of the rings 31 and 20 42 are provided Withgrooves 43 and 44 respectively, for a purpose to be set forth hereinbelow.

Fixed to the sleeve 26 above the collar 28 is a disk 45 having a sleeve receiving opening at the center defined by a ilange 46 keyed to the sleeve 26. 25 An annular carrier-driving ring 41 attached to the periphery of the disk 45 serves not only to support bobbin carriers 66 but also to propel them as described below. An oil guard 48 carried by the flange 46 partially encloses the collar 34 and pro- 30 tects the bearings 32.

The bobbins 56 of one set designated for convenience the rst or outer set are supported upon brackets 5|, carried by the ring 40, preferably one at each arm 39. Associated with each 35 bobbin 50 is a warp lever 52 pivotally supported at one end upon a bracket 53 mounted upon the outer face of the ring 31. 'I'he free end of the lever is formed to provide a thread-guide aperture 54 radially opposite to vertical slots 55 and 56 in the rings 40 31 and 42 respectively. A block 51 on the lever 52 enters the cam groove 23 so that the lever is raised and lowered during the operation of the machine.

A strand from the mass of thread or yarn on the bobbin 50 is guided through a notch 58 in a com- 45 bined detector and tension lever 59 to the lever aperture 54 and slots 55, 56.

The bobbins 60 of the other set designated for convenience as the second or inner set are journaled in bobbin carriersv 6| supported upon the 50 ring 41. Each carrier 6| comprises a plate 62 provided with'two rollers 63 which -enter the groove 43 in the ring 31, and a roller 64 which enters the groove 44 in the ring 42. The carrier is thus free to move circumierentially independent of the rings 31. 42 in the path dened by the grooves 43. 44. The plate 62 is further provided with ears 65 in which are supported rollers 66 which rest upon the annular ring 41 and thus space the carriers 6I therefrom.

The carriers 6| are held fixed relatively to the ring 41 so that they move therewith by means of magnets 61 and 68 xed in the ring 41 and in the ears 65 of the carrier plates. As shown the magnets 61 and 68 are permanent magnets of the wellfknown horseshoe form, but it is to be understood that permanent magnets of other forms may be used or that electromagnets may be substituted therefor if desired. Associated with each magnet 61 in the ring is a magnet 68 of a carrier, two pairs of magnets being provided for each carrier in the illustrated embodiment. The poles of each pair of magnets 61, 68 are separated so that the strands from the bobbins of the rst set pass freely between the magnets and under the carriers of the second set. As shown in Fig. 5. the magnets of each pair are arranged with the north pole of each magnet opposite the south pole of the other magnet so that the magnetic iields act to hold the carriers in position.

'Ihe center of the plate 62 is cut away to receive the bobbin 60, the, shaft 69 of which is engaged by sockets 10. The strand from the mass of thread or yarn forming the bobbin is guided by a feeler or detector bar 1| supported by the carrier plate 62. Mounted upon the tube 24 is a braiding die 15 having a central aperture dening the braiding point. If the machine is to be used for covering a core the opening in the die is of suicient size to accommodate this core which is progressed through the tube as the braided covering is laid about it. The strands from the rst or outer set of bobbins pass to the die through slots 55, 56 While the strands from the second or inner set of bobbins pass directly to the die.

Through the connections previously described the bobbins of both sets move through circumferential paths, those of the outer set being driven by the gear 35 in one direction, and those of the inner set being driven by the gear 29 in the opposite direction. As the outer bobbins travel the warp levers 52 raise and lower the strands so that each strand passes over alternate bobbins of the inner set and under the other bobbins of that set thereby forming with the strands from the second set of bobbins braid in the die 15 and tube 24. Since as shown particularly in Fig. 3 bobbin carriers 6l of the second set are spaced from the ring 41 and the poles of the magnets 61 and 68 are at all times separated from each other, they do not interfere with the passage of the strands beneath the bobbins. 'Ihe rollers 66 have merely a line contact with the ring 41 and being freely rotatable permit the strands to pass between them and the ring.

It will be appreciated that by this construction the bobbin carriers 6I are held in association with the driving plate 41 without mechanical connections and so as to provide free passage of strands under the bobbins. While one embodiment of such means has been described and shown, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and that other embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a braiding machine comprising two relatively movable sets of bobbin carriers, and means for passing strands of the mass on the bobbins one set above and below the bobbin carriers of the other set, a rotatable ring on which the bobbin carriers of one set are supported, means for rotating said ring, means for spacing the carriers from the ring and means for holding such bobbin carriers in position upon the ring for movement therewith, such means comprising magnets xed to said 'ring and said carriers, those on the ring being spaced from those on the carriers but in the common magnetic fields whereby the strands from the bobbins of the first set may be passed between suchV magnets.

2. In a braiding machine comprising two relatively movable sets of bobbin carriers, and means for passing strands of the mass on the bobbins one set above and below the bobbin carriers of the other set, a rotatable ring on which the bobbin carriers of one set are supported, means for rotating said ring, means for spacing the carriers from the ring and means for holding such bobbin carriers in position upon the ring for movement therewith such means comprising magnets fixed to said ring and said carriers, one pole of each magnet extending into the space between the ring and the carriers, the pole of each magnet xed in the ring being spaced from but in the magnetic eld of the pole of a magnet xed in a carrier whereby the carriers of the second set are held in position upon the ring and the strands from the bobbins of the first settmay be passed between the poles of the magne s.

3. In a braiding machine comprising two relatively movable sets of bobbin carriers, and means for passing strands of the mass on the bobbins one set above and below the bobbin carriers of the other set, a rotatable ring on which the bobbin carriers of one set are supported, means for rotating said ring, means for spacing the carriers from the ring and means for holding such bobbin carriers in position upon the ring for movement therewith, such means comprising horseshoe magnets fixed to said ring and said carriers with the poles thereof in the space between the ring and the carriers, the poles of each magnet xed to the ring being spaced from and in the magnetic fields of the poles of a magnet fixed to a carrier whereby the carriers of the second set are held in position upon the ring and the strands from the bobbins of the iirst set may be passed between the poles of the magnets.

4. In a braiding machine comprising two relatively movable sets of bobbins and means for passing strands of the masses on the bobbins of one set above and below the bobbin carriers of the second set, a rotatable ring on which the bobbin carriers of one set are supported, means for rotating said ring, rollers on said carriers by which the latter are -spaced from the ring and means for holding such bobbin carriers in position upon the ring for movement therewith, such holding means comprising horseshoe magnets fixed to said ring and said carriers with both poles of each magnet in the space between the ring and the carriers, the poles of each magnet fixed to the ring being spaced from and in the magnetic elds of the poles of a magnet xed to a carrier whereby the carriers are held in position upon the ring and the strands from the bobbins of the first set may be passed between the poles of the magnets.

EARL M. PETERSEN.

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