US3143772A

US3143772A - Textile drafting roll pressure applying means

Info

Publication number: US3143772A
Application number: US271275A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joe R Whitehurst
Original assignee: Ideal Industries Inc
Current assignee: Ideal Industries Inc
Priority date: 1963-04-08
Filing date: 1963-04-08
Publication date: 1964-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 1981-08-11

Description

g- 11, 1964 J. R. WHITEHURST 3,143,772

TEXTILE DRAFTING ROLL PRESSURE APPLYING MEANS Filed April 8, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. J0E- R. WHWEHLIEST 69.9: wahhmg A g- 1954 J. R. WHITEHURST 3,143,772

TEXTILE DRAFTING ROLL PRESSURE APPLYING MEANS Filed April 8, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Joe R. WHITEHLJR$T United States Patent 3,143,772 TEXTILE DRAFTING ROLL PRESSURE APPLYING MEANS Joe R. Whitehurst, Bessemer City, N.C., assignor to Ideal Industries, Inc, Bessemer City, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Apr. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 271,275 11 Claims. (Cl. 19-272) This invention relates to an improved fluid operated apparatus for applying pressure to the drafting rolls of textile fiber processing machinery, such as drawing frames, roving frames, spinning frames and the like, and it is an object of this invention to provide a simple and efiicient fluid operated apparatus which is capable of accurately applying predetermined pressure to the ends of each drafting roll of a drafting mechanism independently of the pressure applied to the ends of other drafting rolls.

It is another object of this invention to provide a fluid operated pressure applying apparatus of the type described wherein an individual self-contained pressure applying unit is provided for each end of each top drafting roll and wherein pressure may be introduced into each unit at its location independently of the others, which avoids the necessity of providing fluid pressure lines, such as are required in prior art devices, on the textile machinery and the attendant pressure source or pump.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for applying downward pressure to opposite ends of each top roll of a series of top and bottom drafting rolls wherein bracket means overlies the ends of the top rolls and means, including an individual expansible chamber, is positioned between each top drafting roll end and the bracket means for applying downward pressure to the corresponding top roll ends, with an individual manually releasable check valve communicating with the interior of each expansible chamber for directing fluid pressure into and maintaining fluid pressure in each expansible chamber independently of the other chambers. Thus, the pressure applied to each end of each top drafting roll may be varied at will independently of the pressure applied to the other top roll ends. Generally the pressure applied to each end of any one of the top rolls would be the same, but would diifer from the pressure applied to opposed ends of other top drafting rolls in the same or in an adjacent series. Thus, the present invention facilitates the drafting of textile fibers of ditferent characteristics or types through adjacent roll sections or drafting zones of a given drafting machine, for example.

It is another more specific object of this invention to provide a pressure applying means for the top drafting rolls of a drafting mechanism comprising an individual pressure applying unit for each end of each top roll wherein each unit includes a plunger adapted to bear against the corresponding end portion of a corresponding roll, or against the bearing within which the corresponding end of the roll is journaled, and wherein an axially extensible hollow chamber engages the upper end of each plunger in air-tight engagement therewith, a closure member or cap is provided for the upper end of each chamber, and a check valve unit is connected to the cap and adapted to receive an air pressure pipe thereon for introducing a predetermined amount of air pressure into the chamber, and common support means is provided for the closure members of the pressure applying units at each side of each group of drafting rolls.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- FIGURE 1 is a top plan View of a portion of a textile fiber drafting machine embodied in a drawing frame provided with two drafting zones or roll sections and showing the improved drafting roll pressure applying apparatus in association with opposed ends of the top drafting rolls of each roll section;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, with parts broken away, taken substantially along line 22 in FIGURE 1, but showing the individual pressure applying units in elevation;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken longitudinally of the axes of corresponding top and bottom drafting rolls, substantially along line 33 in FIGURE 1, with the centermost pressure applying unit being shown in cross-section;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 in FIGURE 3, and showing a preferred form of check-valve unit for use with the expansible chamber of each pressure applying unit; and

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to the upper central portion of FIGURE 3, but showing a modified form of expansible chamber.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, and to FIGURE 1, in particular, the numerals 10, 10' broadly designate respective drafting zones or roll sections of a textile fiber processing machine, such as a drawing frame, roving frame, spinning frame or the like and which, in this instance, is shown in the form of a drawing frame. Since both

roll sections

10, 10 may be identical, only the roll section 10 will be described and like parts associated with the roll section 111' will bear the same reference characters with the prime notation added, where applicable, to avoid repetitive description.

In this instance, roll section 19 includes a series of sets of top and bottom drafting rolls 11, 12, there being four top rolls 11 and four bottom rolls 12 in the series shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, by way of example. Opposed ends of the top drafting rolls 11, and corresponding portions of the bottom drafting rolls 12 are mounted in corresponding substantially U-shaped bearing blocks 14, the centermost bearing blocks 14 in FIGURE 1 being common to the top and bottom drafting rolls in both roll sections 10, 10'. Corresponding ends of each pair or set of top and bottom drafting rolls 11, 12 are mounted in a corresponding bearing block 14.

It will be observed in FIGURE 3 that corresponding ends of the top and bottom drafting rolls 11, 12 are journaled in respective tubular bearing

members

15, 16 positioned in the bearing blocks 14. Since the drafting rolls 11, 12 are shown in the form of fluted rolls, the

bearings

15, 16 preferably have respective enlarged

boss portions

17, 18 thereon whose external diameters are substantially equal to the pitch diameters of the fluted rolls 11, 12 to thereby maintain the axes of the drafting rolls 11, 12 of each set in accurately spaced relationship when each boss portion 17 is resting upon the corresponding boss portion 18.

In this instance, the proximal ends of adjacent bottom drafting rolls of the two

roll sections

10, 10 are interconnected by a conventional roller neck 21 extending through the corresponding tubular bearing member 16. The reduced medial portion of each bearing member 16 rests upon the bottom of the groove in the corresponding U-shaped bearing block 14 while each end of each top drafting roll 11 is journaled in an independent tubular bearing member 15 which is free to move upwardly and downwardly within the groove of the corresponding U- shaped bearing block 14.

Since the drafting rolls 11, 12 of each set must be adjustable relative to the other drafting rolls of each set, in accordance with the characteristics of the fibers to be drafted and the amount of draft to be imparted thereto,

thebearing blocks 14 of each group, of which three groups are shown in FIGURE 1, are mounted for forward and rearward relative adjustment on a corresponding frame member or roll stand 22. Each roll stand 22 is provided with a longitudinally extending adjustment slot 23 therethrough which is loosely penetrated by screws 25 threaded into the corresponding bearing blocks 14. s

In the present illustration, textile strands S, S pass from a suitable source, not shown, through the respective roll sections 10, where they are drafted, after which they are condensed as they are drawn through corresponding trumpets T, T and thus directed to coiler cans of other suitable carriers C, C. o w

According to the present invention, an individual fluidpressure-operated pressure applying unit, broadly designated at 30, is positioned above each end of each top drafting roll 11, 11, the pressure applying units 30 associated with each group of top roll ends being supported by a common bracket broadly designated at 31. Each bracket 31 is spaced above and normally overlies each group of corresponding ends of the top drafting rolls 11, 11. Each bracket 31 comprises a pair of elongate substantially parallel spaced apart side rails or

frame members

32, 33 which are bent inwardly toward each other at their lower edges to form a bottom frame member or wall 34 having a longitudinally extending adjustment slot 35 therein. The upper portions of

side frame members

32, 33 also extend inwardly toward each other to form a top wall or top frame member 36 which is also provided with a longitudinally extending slot 37 therein, preferably of lesser width than the slot 35 in bottom frame member 34.

The rear ends of

frame members

32, 33, 34, 36 are connected to or formed integral with a rear wall member or block 40 which is journaled, as at 41, on a corresponding standard or post 42. The lowerend of each post 42 is suitably secured to thecorresp'onding roll stand 22 In this instance, although a single post 42 is provided for pivotally supporting the rear portions of each of the two outermost brackets 31, it is apparent that the centermost post 42 of FIGURE 1 is common to the two centermost brackets 31.

The front ends of the

frame members

32, 33, 34, 36 of each bracket 31 are connected to a commonupright plate member 45 which projects downwardly beyond the bottom frame member 34 of the corresponding bracket 31 and is adapted to rest against a corresponding block 46 which is suitably secured to the corresponding front bearing block 14 and forms a part of the frame of the machine. The plate 45 of each bracket 31 has a hook member 47 fixed thereon, and projecting forwardly therefrom, which is adapted to be engaged by a latch member 50 pivotally mounted, as at 51, on the corresponding block 46. It is apparent that the single block 46 at the central portion of the drawing frame in FIGURE 1 serves to support the latch members 50 for both of the centrally located brackets 31, while a single latch member is carried by the two outermost blocks 46 in FIGURE 1.

Each pressure applying unit includes an expansible chamber 60 positioned between the upper frame member 36 of the corresponding bracket 31 and each respective top roll end, with a corresponding check valve unit 63 communicating with each expansible chamber 613 so that any desired amount of fluid pressure, preferably compressed air, may be introduced into each expansible chamber to maintain any desired amount of pressure in each expansible chamber independently of all the other expansible chambers for applying a corresponding downward pressure to the corresponding top roll end. Accordingly, inthe embodiment shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the expansible chamber 60 of each pressure applying unit 30 is shown in the form of a hollow bellows which is in the form of a tubular body made from metal and having annular corrugations thereon, and which is of well-known construction.

The upper end of each bellows or expansible chamber 60 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to a closure member or cap 61 which is adapted to bear against the lower surface of the top frame member 36 of the corresponding bracket 31. An individual check valve unit 63 is provided for each expansible chamber 60 and includes a tubular body 62 suitably secured to and projecting upwardly from the cap 61 so that body 62 communicates. with the interior of expansible chamber 60. In this instance, the valve body 62 is shown as being threaded into the corresponding cap 61 in FIGURE 3.

The lower end of each .bellows or .expansible chamber 6%) is closed by a closure plate 65 which bears against and may be adhesively or otherwise suitably secured to the upper surface of a ram plunger 66, which extends through slot 35 in the bottom wall 34 of the corresponding bracket 31, and whose lower end is adapted to bear against one end of the corresponding top drafting roll 11 or against the enlarged portion 17 of the corresponding bearing member 15, as the case may be. The lower end of eachplunger 66 is preferably provided with a concave groove 67 which is adapted to fit in mating relationship with the enlarged portion 17 of the correspo nding bearing member 15.

The upper portion of each plunger 66 is provided with v a flange or shoulder 70 which is preferably, but not necesa sarily, annular and overlies the bottom frame member or wall 34 of the corresponding bracket 31 so that, when the latch member 5t associated with any one of the brackets 31 is released and the corresponding bracket is pivoted upwardly away from the corresponding ends of the top drafting rolls, the expansible chambers will maintain the respective caps 61 and flanges 70 of the corresponding pressure applying units 30 in pressure engagement with the proximal surfaces of the

corresponding frame members

36, 34, thus preventing unintentional displacement of the pressure applying units 30 relative to the corresponding brackets 31.

Since the check valve units 63 are of a manually re leasable type, it is apparent that fluid pressure or compressed air may be exhausted or released from within the corresponding expansible chambers 60 whenever it becomes necessary to adjust the pressure applying units 30 relative to the corresponding brackets 31,such as when the spacing between adjacent sets of top and bottom rolls is changed. Each of the check valve units 63 is preferably of the type usually connected to the inner tubes of pneumatic tires, a typical check valve construction of this type being shown in detail in FIGURE 4. The body 62 of each check valve unit 63 shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 has a valve cap 73 threadedly mounted thereon. However, the valve cap 73 is omitted in FIGURE 4.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the upper portion of tubular body 62 of each check valve unit 63 has a tubular core 74 seated therein, as by being threaded into the upper portion of tubular body 62. A medial portion of tubular core 74 has an internal annular projection 75 therein against which the lower end of a compression spring 76 is positioned. The compression spring encircles a valve plunger 77 whose upper end terminates in closeproximity to the upper end of tubular body 62' and whose medial portion is provided with an abutment 80 thereon which is engaged by the upper end of compression spring 76, thus normally urging valve plunger 77 upwardly. The lower end portion of valve plunger 77 has a valve 82 suitably fixed thereon which normally seats against the open lower end of tubular core 74, to whic h position valve 82 is urged by compression spring'76, thus preventing fluid pressure from escaping from within the corresponding expansible chamber 60. Valve 82 may be moved downwardly, when desired, to open position in spaced relation below the lower end of tubular core 74 by applying pressure to the upper end of valve plunger 77 to permit fluid pressure to escape from the corresponding expansible chamber 60 through the tubular core 74 and tubular body 62 of the check valve unit 63.

It is thus seen that the conventional chuck on one'end of a hose or conduit connected to a suitable source of fluid pressure, such as compressed air, may be positioned on the free ends of the tubular bodies 62 of the check valve units 63, one at a time, for introducing any desired amount of fluid pressure into the corresponding expansible chambers 60 so that the amount of pressure applied to each end of each top drafting roll is independent of the amount of pressure applied to the other ends of the top drafting rolls. Since the aforementioned chuck is of a well-known type, as is used in automobile service stations, an illustration and description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

In order to facilitate an operator introducing a predetermined amount of fluid pressure into each of the expansible chambers 69, it is contemplated that a portable compressed air tank With a pressure gauge thereon and a pipe extending therefrom with a conventional chuck on the free end thereof may be used for this purpose.

It is thus seen that I have provided a novel apparatus for applying pressure to opposed ends of top drafting rolls wherein bracket means overlie the ends of the top drafting rolls and an individual pressure applying unit 39, including an expansible chamber 69, is positioned between each top roll end and the bracket means, and wherein an individual check valve unit is provided which communicates with the interior of each expansible chamber oil, which check valve unit includes a tubular body terminating in a free end which is adapted for introducing fluid pressure, preferably compressed air, into each expansible chamber independently of the other chambers to thereby apply a predetermined pressure to each top roll end inde-- pendently of the amount of pressure applied to the other of the top roll ends. This arrangement facilitates the drafting of fibers of different characteristics through the adjacent roll sections 1%, since, for example, the ends of the top drafting rolls 11 in roll section 10 may have greater or lesser pressure applied thereto by the present apparatus than the pressure which is applied to the opposed ends of the top drafting rolls 11' of roll section 10', dependhig upon the diflerences in the types of fibers being drafted through the two

roll sections

10, 16.

Referring to FIGURE 5, a modified form of pressure applying unit is shown, which is similar to the form heretofore described, but wherein the expansible chamber is shown in the form of an externally bound flexible or pliable tube made from rubber or the like, whereas the expansible chamber 653 shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 is in the form of a metal tubular bellows. Those parts of FIG- URE 5 corresponding to parts shown in the upper central portion of FIGURE 3, for example, will bear the same reference characters with the letter a added, in order to avoid repetitive description.

In order to accommodate attachment of the opposed ends of the pliable tube 69a to the proximal ends of cap 61a and plunger 66a, the proximal ends of the cap 61a and plunger 66a in FIGURE 5 are provided with respective reduced portions or shoulders 85, 86 about which opposed end portions of the pliable tube 69a are fitted. The opposed end portions of pliable tube 66a may be adhesively or otherwise secured to cap 61a and plunger 66a. Binding means is provided to insure that fluid pressure does not fracture the Wall of the pliable tube 66a or force tube 60a outwardly against the proximal surfaces of the

side frame members

32a, 33a of the corresponding bracket 31a, and to also prevent opposed end portions of the pliable tube tla from being separated from the cap 61a and/or the plunger 66a by fluid pressure within the pliable tube 6911. To this end, the pliable tube 66a is bound or encircled by a plurality of closely axially spaced binding rings 90 which are preferably made from metal and whose inner diameters are preferably slightly less than the normal external diameter of the pliable tube 60a when in relaxed condition so that the wall of the pliable tube 60a is corrugated substantially throughout its length. Thus, upon fluid pressure being admitted into the pliable tube 60a, it is apparent that very little if any lateral or radial expansion of the pliable tube 60a will occur so that the pressure is efficiently applied to the upper end of the plunger 66a and, in turn, to the end of the corresponding top roll.

La the drawings and specification there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a textile drafting mechanism having a series of top and bottom drafting rolls, apparatus for applying pressure to opposed ends of the top rolls comprising (a) bracket means overlying said top roll ends,

(19) means positioned between said bracket means and said top roll ends for applying a downward pressure to the corresponding top roll ends and including an expansible chamber disposed between each top roll end and said bracket means, and

(0) means including a check valve communicating with the interior of each expansible chamber for directing fluid pressure into and maintaining fluid pressure in each chamber independently of the other chambers.

2. In a textile drafting mechanism having a series of top and bottom drafting rolls, apparatus for applying pressure to opposed ends of the top rolls comprising (a) bracket means overlying said top roll ends,

(b) means positioned between said bracket means and said top roll ends for applying a downward pressure to the corresponding top roll ends and including an expansible chamber disposed between each top roll end and said bracket means, and

(c) an individual check valve unit communicating with the interior of each expansible chamber and including a tubular body adapted for directing fluid pressure into each chamber independently of the other chambers and normally preventing fluid pressure from escaping from each chamber.

3. A structure according to claim 2, wherein said tubular body terminates in a free end closely adjacent the corresponding chamber.

4. A structure according to claim 2, in which said expansible chamber is a tubular bellows.

5. A structure according to claim 2, in which said expansible chamber comprises a pliable tube, and a plurality of closely spaced binding rings encircling said tube and being of lesser inner diameter than the external diameter of said tube when in relaxed condition to restrict expansion of said tube radially of its axis.

6. In a textile drafting mechanism having a series of top and bottom drafting rolls, apparatus for applying pressure to opposed ends of the top rolls comprising (a) bracket means overlying said top roll ends,

(b) a cap positioned above each top roll end,

(0) a plunger spaced beneath each cap and adapted to apply pressure to the corresponding top roll end,

(d) an expansible chamber positioned between each of said caps and the corresponding plunger therebeneath, the expansion of each chamber serving to apply a downward pressure to the corresponding plunger and, in turn, to the corresponding top roll end, and

(e) an individual check valve unit communicating with the interior of each expansible chamber and having a tubular body terminating in a free end adapted to receive thereon a chuck on one end of a pipe extending from a fluid pressure source for introducing fluid pressure into each chamber independently of the other chambers.

7. In a drafting mechanism having a series of top and bottom drafting rolls, apparatus for applying pressure to opposed ends of the top rolls comprising 7 p 7 V (a) an individual self-containedfiuid-pressure-operated pressure applying unit for each end of each top roll including 7 (l) an expansible chamber,

(2) a plunger on one end of said chamber adapted to apply pressure to the corresponding top roll end,

(3) a cap on the other end of said chamber opposite from said plunger,

(4) an individual manually releasable check valve unit attached to and communicating with j the interior of each chamber and being arranged to permit introduction of fluid pressurefrom an external source into each chamber independently of the other chambers and to prevent fluid pressure from escaping from each chamber, and

(b) bracket means overlying said top roll ends and against which said caps are positioned, 8. Apparatus for applying downward pressure to the 53 in the corresponding bearing blocks; apparatus for applying pressure to opposed ends of the top drafting rolls comprising (a) a pair of brackets overlying at least portions of said bearing members at each side of said series of drafting rolls, each bracket including an upper elongate frame member and a lower elongate frame member spaced beneath the upper frame member and having a longitudinally extending "slot therein,-

(b) means for releasably securing each bracket in a fixed, substantially horizontal position spaced above the corresponding top roll ends and corresponding bearing members, r v

(c) a plunger for each top roll end bearing member and having a lower end adapted to engage the corresponding bearing member and loosely extending through said slot, l

(d) shoulder means on each plunger and spaced from the lower end thereof and normally being spaced above, but being adapted to engage, the upper surface top rolls of a drafting mechanism for textile strands and wherein each top roll is positioned above a corresponding bottom roll,- said apparatus comprising (a) an individual plunger'for applying downward pressure to each. end of each top roll, I

(b) bracket means spaced above the ends of said top 5 7 rolls,

(c) a cap member spaced above each plunger and engageable with said bracket means,

(d) ahollow longitudinally expansible chamber extending between and in air-tight engagement with each plunger and the respective cap member thereabove, t

(e) a tubular valve body communicatively connected to and extending outwardly from each cap member and adapted to receive the chuck of an air pressure hose thereon, and V t (f) a manually releasable check valve in each valve body preventing escapementof air pressure from within each expansible chamber whereby any air pressure in each expansible chamber maintains the corresponding plunger in pressure engagement with the corresponding top roll end, and whereby the amount of pressure applied to each top roll end may be established independently of the amount of pressure applied to the other ,top roll ends. 7 V

9.- In a textile drafting machine having a frame, bearing blocks carried by said frame, at, least one series of top and bottom drafting rolls mounted in said bearing blocks, and bearing members in which opposed ends of the top rolls are journaled and being vertically movable of the corresponding lower elongate frame member, (e) an expansible chamber engageable with the upper end of each plunger,

(f) means on the upper end of each expansible chamber and engageable with the lower surface of the corresponding upper elongate frame member, and

(g) an individual check valve unit including a tubular body connected to said last-named means and communicating with the interior of said expansible chamber and adapted for introducing fluid pressure into the corresponding expansible chamber independently of the other chambers, said shoulder means on each plunger serving to restrict movement of the plunger relative to the corresponding bracket when said bracket is released from said securing means.

10. A structure according to claim 9, including means pivotally supporting one end of each bracket for movement about a substantially horizontal axis, and said securing means (b) including a releasable latch means attaching the other end of each bracket to said frame.

11. A structure according to claim 10, including means limiting the extent to which said other end of each bracket may be moved toward the corresponding top roll end bearing members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,624,077 Winslow Jan. 6, 1953

Claims

1. IN A TEXTILE DRAFTING MECHANISM HAVING A SERIES OF TOP AND BOTTOM DRAFTING ROLLS, APPARATUS FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO OPPOSED ENDS OF THE TOP ROLLS COMPRISING (A) BRACKET MEANS OVERLYING SAID TOP ROLL ENDS, (B) MEANS POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID BRACKET MEANS AND SAID TOP ROLL ENDS FOR APPLYING A DOWNWARD PRESSURE TO THE CORRESPONDING TOP ROLL ENDS AND INCLUDING AN EXPANSIBLE CHAMBER DISPOSED BETWEEN EACH TOP ROLL END AND SAID BRACKET MEANS, AND (C) MEANS INCLUDING A CHECK VALVE COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR OF EACH EXPANSIBLE CHAMBER FOR DIRECTING FLUID PRESSURE INTO AND MAINTAINING FLUID PRESSURE IN EACH CHAMBER INDEPENDENTLY OF THE OTHER CHAMBERS.