US3834271A

US3834271A - Braiding machine

Info

Publication number: US3834271A
Application number: US00398972A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Hinds; J Akister; N Akister
Original assignee: B&F Carter and Co Ltd
Current assignee: B&F Carter and Co Ltd
Priority date: 1972-09-20
Filing date: 1973-09-20
Publication date: 1974-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 1991-09-10
Also published as: DE2347131A1; GB1390993A; IT994307B; JPS4992360A; DE2347131B2

Abstract

A high-speed braiding machine comprises a central disc and a surrounding annulus which are both stationary with respect to a chosen frame of reference for all the motions. Lobes on the inner periphery of the annulus are intercalated with lobes on the periphery of the disc to define between them an endless continuous sinuous gap; and carriers for bobbins of an inner set are mounted to one side of the disc and annulus so as to be rotatable about a machine axis passing through the central area of the disc whilst threads from bobbins mounted thereon pass through the sinuous gap to a braiding point spaced from the disc on its opposite side. On the side of the disc and annulus facing the braiding point and partly carried by the lobes of each of them is a circular track, concentric with the machine axis, the path of which repeatedly crosses the sinuous gap, but the track is interrupted where it does so. Carriers for bobbins of an outer set mounted on the said track are each of sufficient length in the direction of the track to pass freely over the gaps therein. Concentric central and peripheral actuator heads on the same side of the disc and annulus as the track are mounted for rotation in unison in the opposite direction to the carriers for the bobbins of the inner set, the central actuator head having an external radius less than the minimum radius of the lobed disc and the peripheral actuator head correspondingly having an internal radius greater than the maximum internal radius of the lobes annulus. On each actuator head a series of actuator fingers, one finger for each carrier of the outer set, can be projected into the annular gap between the actuator heads to engage the associated carrier and can be withdrawn to clear the said sinuous gap to allow passage of thread from a bobbin of the inner set. When the machine is in operation each carrier of the outer set is always engaged by at least one actuating finger but the passage of threads from the inner set of bobbins is not obstructed.

Description

United States Patent Hinds et al.

[451 Sept. 10,1974

[ BRAIDING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Ronald Hinds, Woolton, England;

James Martin Akister, deceased, late of Bury, Lancashire, England by Nora Akister, legal representative [73] Assignee: B & F. Carter & Co. Limited,

London, England 221 Filed: Sept. 20, 1973 211 App]. No.: 398,972

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 2,672,071 3/1954 Marogg 87/46 Primary Examiner-John Petrakes Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Buell, Blenko & Ziesenheim [57] ABSTRACT A high-speed braiding machine comprises a central disc and a surrounding annulus which are both stationary with respect to a chosen frame of reference for all the motions. Lobes on the inner periphery of the annulus are intercalated with lobes on the periphery of the disc to define between them an endless continuous sinuous gap; and carriers for bobbins of an inner set are mounted to one side of the disc and annulus so as to be rotatable about a machine axis passing through the central area of the disc whilst threads from bobbins mounted thereon pass through the sinuous gap to a braiding point spaced from the disc on its opposite side. On the side of the disc and annulus facing the braiding point and partly carried by the lobes of each of them is a circular track, concentric with the machine axis, the path of which repeatedly crosses the sinuous gap, but the track is interrupted where it does so. Carriers for bobbins of an outer set mounted on the said track are each of sufficient length in the direction of the track to pass freely over the gaps therein. Concentric central and peripheral actuator heads on the same side of the disc and annulus as the track are mounted for rotation in unison in the opposite direction to the carriers for the bobbins of the inner set, the central actuator head having an external radius less than the minimum radius of the lobed disc and the peripheral actuator head correspondingly having an internal radius greater than the maximum internal radius of the lobes annulus. On each actuator head a series of actuator fingers, one finger for each carrier of the outer set, can be projected into the annular gap between the actuator heads to engage the associated carrier and can be withdrawn to clear the said sinuous gap to allow passage of thread from a bobbin of the inner set. When the machine is in operation each carrier of the outer set is always engaged by at least one actuating finger but the passage of threads from the inner set of bobbins is not obstructed.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENTED SEPI 01914 sum 3 BF 4 I vHaj.-

BRAIDING MACHINE outer set) rotates in one or possibly more than one circular path which defines the axis of the machine and bobbins of another set (hereinafter called the inner set) are either stationary or more usually rotate in the opposite direction in one or possibly more than one circular path about the same axis, the threads from the inner set of reels being deflected to pass inside some and outside others of the bobbins of the outer set. (The term thread is used herein to include, where the context admits, wires whether of round or other crosssection). Since only relative motions are important, it will be assumed in the following description that the bobbins of the inner and outer sets rotate in opposite directions at the same angular velocity; it will be understood that this assumption is merely defining a frame of reference for the rotational movements and is not to be construed as limiting the actual absolute rotational movements.

In accordance with the invention, a high-speed braiding machine comprises an inner lobed disc and a surrounding lobed annulus which are both stationary with respect to the frame of reference. The lobes on the annulus are on its inner periphery and are intercalated with the lobes of the disc in such a way that the disc and the annulus define between them an endless continuous sinuous gap, preferably of uniform width. It will be appreciated that the disc will have a central aperture which may be sufficiently large to justify reference to it as an annulus. However, for convenience it will be referred to as a disc. Carriers for the bobbins of the inner set are mounted to one side of the disc and annulus for rotation about a machine axis passing through the central area of the disc and threads from these bobbins pass through the sinuous gap to a braiding point spaced from the disc on its opposite side and usually on the machine axis. Normally means will be provided for positively guiding the threads through the sinuous gap as the bobbins revolve, but there may be exceptional cases where such guide means could be dispensed with and the thread guided solely by contact with the boundary of the gap. On the side of the disc and annulus facing the braiding point and partly carried by the lobes of each of them is a circular track, concentric with the machine axis, the path of which repeatedly crosses the sinuous gap but is interrupted where it does so, whereby the rotation of threads as they pass through the gaps is not obstructed by bobbin carriers mounted on this track. These are carriers for the bobbins of the outer set, and they are of sufficient length in the direction of the track to pass freely over the gaps therein. On the same side of the lobed disc and annulus as the track for the carriers for the bobbins of the outer set and mounted for rotation in unison in the opposite direction to the carriers for the bobbins of the inner set are concentric central and peripheral actuator heads. The central actuator head has an external radius less than the minimum radius of the lobed disc and the peripheral actuator head correspondingly has an internal radius greater than the maximum internal radius of the lobed annulus so that the actuator heads offer no obstruction to the threads passing through the gap between the disc and the annulus. Each actuator head carries a series of actuator fingers, one for each carrier of the outer set, which fingers can be projected into the annular gap between the two heads to engage the associated carrier and can be withdrawn to clear the sinuous gap between the lobed disc and the lobed annulus to allow passage of a thread from a bobbin of the inner set, and means are provided for projecting and withdrawing the fingers when the machine is in operation in such a way that each carrier of the outer set is always engaged by at least one actuating finger but the passage of threads from the inner set of bobbins is not obstructed.

The preferred arrangement is such that each actuating finger of the inner actuating head is engaged when its bobbin carrier is on a part of the track supported by the lobed disc and the corresponding finger of the outer actuating head is engaged and the firstmentioned finger then disengaged as the carrier is passing over an interruption in the track to a part supported by the lobed annulus, this procedure being repeated in reverse at the next crossing, and so on.

The required movement of the fingers can be produced by followers coupled to or mounted on the fingers and engaging cam tracks on or fixed with respect to the lobed disc and the lobed annulus. In a preferred arrangement, each finger comprises a curved lever, pivotted on the respective actuator head and preferably carrying a camfollower at a point between the pivot and the end of the lever that engages the carrier. However, other ways of operating the fingers, for example electromagnetic operation controlled by switches, magnetic proximity detectors, photodetectors or the like responsive to the rotation of the machine, may be used if preferred, and the fingers may be straight and slideable instead of curved and pivotted.

Guides for the threads from the bobbins of the inner set can also be moved by a follower engaging a further cam track. In a preferred arrangement, such a cam track is provided to the side of the inner carriers remote from the braiding point and each follower is mounted on the end of a hollow lever pivotted on the corresponding carrier. The other end of the lever projects through the sinuous gap and the thread is guided through it, entering the tubular lever along its pivot axis. With this arrangement the cam track will of course resemble the inverse of the sinuous gap.

It will be appreciated that when a tubular guide, passing through the sinuous gap between the lobes of the disc and of the annulus, is provided and the radial reciprocation of the guide is controlled then it is not necessary for the boundaries of the gap to be smoothly curved. In other words the lobes need not be protrusions with curved boundaries and the word lobe as used in this specification should be so interpreted.

The required rotary motions are preferably derived through appropriate gearing from a common main drive shaft for the machine.

Normally the axis of the machine will be hollow, to allow passage of a cable core, hose or other body to be covered by the braid formed.

The braiding machine in accordance with the invention is especially useful in connection with the braiding of relatively heavy metal wires; it has the advantage over known high-speed braiding machines that the deflection of the threads from the inner set of bobbins, which is essentially defined by the sinuous gap, may be made of any shape that may be required, and in particular may be made as smooth as is required.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings of a preferred design of braiding machine which is illustrated with its axis vertical, though it is equally suitable for operation with its axis horizontal. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of one half of the machine (the other half being identical so far as features illustrated in this figure are concerned) with a diagrammatic section appended to it as an aid to visual identification of the various members;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sections on the lines IIII and III-III in FIG. 1, but showing the rotatable parts in different relative positions;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view, partly sectioned on IVIV in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary underneath plan view on VV in FIG. 2.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the principal nonrotating parts of the machine are the disc 1 bearing outwardlyprojecting lobes 2, 3, 4 (six in all) and the annulus 5 bearing complementary inwardly-projecting lobes 6, 7,

8, 9 (also six in all). The lobes cooperate to define a sinuous gap 10 along which a guide 11 for the thread from each bobbin of the inner set is constrained to pass. Usually there will be at least one bobbin in the inner set for each lobe of either the disc or the annulus, but for simplicity only one is shown.

Each lobe supports a section of a circular track 12 for the bobbin carriers of the outer set, which track is interrupted where it crosses the sinuous gap 10.

FIG. 1 also shows a central and peripheral

actuator cam tracks

13, 14 respectively and a thread-guide cam track 15, the functions of which will be described shortly.

On turning to FIGS. 2 and 3, it is useful to note at the outset that the disc 1 is formed integrally with a first support 16 and annulus 5 is formed integrally with a second support 17 which is bolted to a third support 18, all four of these supports being rigidly connected with the stationary central column 19 of the machine.

The carriers 20 for the bobbins 21 of the inner set are mounted around the periphery of a ring 22 mounted concentrically with the machine axis 23 (FIG. 2) in bearings 24 on the fixed support 16. This ring is rotated, in an anticlockwise direction as seen in FIG. 1, by an intemally-toothed gear 25 meshing with a first spur gear 26 on the main drive shaft 27 (see also FIG. 5).

Each of the bobbin carriers 20 includes a support 28 on which the guide 11, which is of tubular form, is mounted for pivotal movement in the plane of FIG. 2 or FIG. 3. The thread 29 passes from the bobbin via a conventional tensioning

mechanism including pulleys

30, 31 and then enters the guide 11 through a bellmouth 32 on the pivotting axis. From the upper end of the guide 1 1 the thread passes to a braiding point which is on the axis 23 and some distance above the top of the drawing. The machine preferably includes a boom, a

fragment of which appears at 33 in FIG. 2, supporting conventional guides for controlling the conveyance of the threads towards the braiding point.

The lower end of the tubular thread guide 11 carries a thread guide cam follower 34, the working surface of which is spherical and bears on the side faces 35, 36 of the thread-guide cam track 15 (see also FIG. 1) which is shaped in a manner inverse to the sinuous gap 10 to cause the tubular thread guide 1 1 to follow the sinuous gap as the inner set of bobbins rotate. another spur gear 47 on the main drive shaft 27 (see also FIG. 5); whereas the outer actuator head is mounted on a rotor 48 that encloses a major part of the mechanism but is apertured to permit loading of bobbins 21. This rotor 48 is mounted in bearings 49 on the fixed support 18 and has mounted on it an internally toothed spur gear 50 which drives it from the main shaft 27 via a spur gear 51 thereon and an idler 52 (seen only in FIG. 5) which serves to obtain the correct direction of rotation.

For transmitting motion from the actuator heads 43, 44 to each of the bobbin carriers 38 a respective pair of actuator levers 53, 54 is provided (FIGS. 2 and 4). These are mounted on pivot pins 55, 56 mounted in fixed positions on the central and peripheral actuator heads 43 and 44 respectively. Secured to each actuator lever at a point spaced from its pivot is a

cam follower

57, 58 and these engage the cam tracks 13 and 14 respectively to engage the hooked ends 59, 60 of the actuator levers with cooperating recesses 61, 62 in the bobbin carrier 37 or to disengage one of them therefrom as the operation requires.

The operation of the actuator levers will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawings, commencing the description as a bobbin carrier of the outer set, travelling in a clockwise direction on the track 12, enters FIG. 1. At this position the central actuator lever 53 is disengaged and the peripheral actuator lever 54 is fully engaged (as shown in chain dotted lines in FIG. 4), and this condition is maintained until the cam follower 57 reaches the deflection 63 in its track which causes lever 57 to pivot and engage its end 59 in the recess 61. When this engaging motion is nearly complete, the cam follower 58 reaches the deflection 64 in its track 14 and the peripheral actuator lever 54 is thereby withdrawn, the mechanism now being in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 4, and the segment 65 of the gap 10 is free for passage of a thread guide 11 in the opposite direction. In due course the follower 58 reaches the deflection 66 and reengages the peripheral actuator lever 54 and, as that movement approaches completion, the follower 57 reaches the deflection 67 and disengages the central actuator lever 53 to leave the segment 68 of the gap 10 clear for passage of another thread guide 11. This sequence is repeated five times as the rotation continues from this position to complete a revolution. The engagement of one actuator lever always precedes the disengagement of the other, so that the bobbin carriers are constantly and positively driven: sometimes from the central actuator head, sometimes from the peripheral actuator head, and sometimes from both actuator heads simultaneously.

What is claimed is:

1. A high-speed braiding machine comprising: a central disc and a surrounding annulus which are both stationary with respect to a frame of reference; lobes on the inner periphery of the annulus and lobes on the periphery of the disc, said lobes being intercalated to define between them an endless continuous sinuous gap; carriers for bobbins of an inner set mounted to one side of the disc and annulus and rotatable in a first direction with respect to said frame of reference about a machine axis passing through the central area of the disc whilst threads from bobbins mounted thereon may pass through said sinuous gap to a braiding point. spaced from said disc on its opposite side; on the side of said disc and annulus facing the braiding point and partly carried by the lobes of each of them a circular track, concentric with said machine axis, the path of which track repeatedly crosses said sinuous gap but said track having interruptions where it does so; carriers for bobbins of an outer set mounted on said track and each of sufficient length in the direction of the track to pass freely over said interruptions therein; concentric central and peripheral actuator heads on the same side of the disc and annulus as said track and mounted for rotation in unison with respect to said frame of reference in the direction opposite to said first direction, said central actuator head having an external radius less than the minimum radius of said lobed disc and said peripheral actuator head having an internal radius greater than the maximum internal radius of said lobed annulus; on each actuator head a series of actuator fingers, one said finger for each said carrier of said outer set, each of which said fingers can be projected into the annular gap between the actuator heads to engage its associated carrier and can be withdrawn to clear said sinuous gap to allow passage of thread from a bobbin of said inner set; and means for projecting and withdrawing said fingers when the machine is in operation to engage each said carrier of the outer set always by at least one actuating finger but to allow passage of threads from the inner set of bobbins through said sinuous gap to said braiding point.

2. A high speed braiding machine as claimed in claim 1 including also means for guiding said threads through said sinuous gap.

3. A high-speed braiding machine as claimed in claim 1 including also a cam-track stationary with respect to said frame of reference, followers engaging said camtrack and guides moved by respective ones of said followers to guide said threads through said sinuous gap.

4. A high-speed braiding machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said means for projecting and withdrawing fingers is operative to engage each carrier with a finger mounted on said inner actuator head whenever said carrier is on a part of said track supported by a lobe of said disc and to engage each carrier with a finger mounted on said inner actuator head whenever said carrier is on a part of said track supported by a lobe of said annulus.

5. A high-speed braiding machine as claimed in claim 4 including also means for guiding said threads through said sinuous gap.

6. A high-speed braiding machine as claimed in claim 4 including also a cam-track stationary with respect to said frame of reference, followers engaging said camtrack and guides moved by respective ones of said followers to guide said threads through said sinuous gap.

7. A high-speed braiding machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said means for projecting and withdrawing fingers comprises cam-tracks that are stationary with respect to said frame of reference and operatively related to each said finger a cam follower engaging one of said cam tracks.

8. A braiding machine as claimed in claim 1 in which each said actuator finger consists of a curved lever having first and second ends, pivotted at its first end on the respective said actuator head and engaging its said associated carrier at its second end, and in which said means for projecting and withdrawing said fingers comprises cam tracks that are stationary with respect to said frame of reference and cam followers each mounted on a respective one of said curved levers intennediate its said first and second ends and engaging one of said cam tracks.

9. A braiding machine as claimed in claim 8 in which said cam followers comprise a first set mounted one on each of said curved levers that is pivotted on said central actuator head and a second set mounted one on each of said curved levers that is pivotted on said peripheral actuator head, and in which each cam follower of said first set engages a first said cam track and each cam follower of said second set engages a second said cam track.

10. A braiding machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the said means for projecting and withdrawing fingers is electromagnetic means controlled by means responsive to rotation of the machine.

Claims

1. A high-speed braiding machine comprising: a central disc and a surrounding annulus which are both stationary with respect to a frame of reference; lobes on the inner periphery of the annulus and lobes on the periphery of the disc, said lobes being intercalated to define between them an endless continuous sinuous gap; carriers for bobbins of an inner set mounted to one side of the disc and annulus and rotatable in a first direction with respect to said frame of reference about a machine axis passing through the central area of the disc whilst threads from bobbins mounted thereon may pass through said sinuous gap to a braiding point spaced from said disc on its opposite side; on the side of said disc and annulus facing the braiding point and partly carried by the lobes of each of them a circular track, concentric with said machine axis, the path of which track repeatedly crosses said sinuous gap but said track having interruptions where it does so; carriers for bobbins of an outer set mounted on said track and each of sufficient length in the direction of the track to pass freely over said interruptions therein; concentric central and peripheral actuator heads on the same side of the disc and annulus as said track and mounted for rotation in unison with respect to said frame of reference in the direction opposite to said first direction, said central actuator head having an external radius less than the minimum radius of said lobed disc and said peripheral actuator head having an internal radius greater than the maximum internal radius of said lobed annulus; on each actuator head a series of actuator fingers, one said finger for each said carrier of said outer set, each of which said fingers can be projected into the annular gap between the actuator heads to engage its associated carrier and can be withdrawn to clear said sinuous gap to allow passage of thread from a bobbin of said inner set; and means for projecting and withdrawing said fingers when the machine is in operation to engage each said carrier of the outer set always by at least one actuating finger but to allow passage of threads from the inner set of bobbins through said sinuous gap to said braiding point.

3. A high-speed braiding machine as claimed in claim 1 including also a cam-track stationary with respect to said frame of reference, followers engaging said cam-track and guides moved by respective ones of said followers to guide said threads through said sinuous gap.

6. A high-speed braiding machine as claimed in claim 4 including also a cam-track stationary with respect to said frame of reference, followers engaging said cam-track and guides moved by respective ones of said followers to guide said threads through said sinuous gap.

8. A braidiNg machine as claimed in claim 1 in which each said actuator finger consists of a curved lever having first and second ends, pivotted at its first end on the respective said actuator head and engaging its said associated carrier at its second end, and in which said means for projecting and withdrawing said fingers comprises cam tracks that are stationary with respect to said frame of reference and cam followers each mounted on a respective one of said curved levers intermediate its said first and second ends and engaging one of said cam tracks.