Abstract: A braiding machine comprises a frame, a plurality of rotors on the frame and rotatable about rotor axes arranged about a braiding axis, drive gears for rotating adjacent ones of the rotors in opposite directions, and a plurality of strand shuttles which are driven by the rotors along a sinuous path in a given direction about the braiding axis. Adjacent ones of said rotors have transfer points for sequentially transferring a shuttle from a preceding rotor to a succeeding rotor with respect to the direction of the path, and the rotors and shuttle include interengaging retaining and escapement members by which the shuttle is moved with the preceding rotor toward the transfer point and then with the succeeding rotor away from the transfer point.

Abstract: The tension head of a strand carrier for a braiding machine comprises coaxial head members, the first of which is fixed and the second of which is axially displaceable toward the first member, and a plurality of tension spring cartridges therebetween biasing the second head member away from the first head member. The carrier further includes a bobbin and strand guide components coaxial with the tension head, and the tension head further includes a clutch arrangement including a clutch plate interposed between the bobbin and the second head member of the tension head, and a plurality of clutch spring units interposed between the first head member of the tension head and the clutch plate to bias the latter toward the bobbin. The tension head, bobbin and strand guide components are releasably mounted on a support shaft of the carrier by a latch arrangement between the shaft and first head member of the tension head.

Abstract: The tension head of a strand carrier for a braiding machine comprises coaxial head members, the first of which is fixed and the second of which is axially displaceable toward the first, and a plurality of tension spring cartridges therebetween biasing the second head member away from the first head member. The carrier further includes a bobbin coaxial with the first and second head members and a clutch arrangement including a clutch plate interposed between the bobbin and the second head member of the tension head. A plurality of clutch spring units are interposed between the first head member of the tension head and the clutch plate to bias the latter toward the bobbin. Each of the clutch spring units includes a compression spring releasably compressed in place by a corresponding retaining member mounted on the first head member.

Abstract: The tension head of a strand carrier for a braiding machine comprises coaxial members, the first of which is fixed and the second of which is axially displaceable toward the first member, and a plurality of tension spring cartridges therebetween biasing the second member away from the first member. The spring cartridges are removable without disassembly of the fixed and movable members and each cartridge includes a spring guide supporting a compression spring in a precompressed condition in which the spring has a length considerably shorter than its uncompressed length. When the cartridge is in place, the spring is adapted to be further compressed from its precompressed length to bias the second member away from the first member.

Abstract: A strand carrier for a braiding machine enables the braiding machine to operate at greater speeds and with fewer and shorter interruptions for replenishment of strand supply or for other service. The carrier is an enlongated assembly comprising a longitudinal sequence of spring, bobbin, clutch, and tension controlling components, and is radially symmetrical about the longitudinal axis and rotatably mounted at one end thereof to a braiding machine shuttle.

Abstract: A compressible liquid ride strut includes a ported piston which reciprocates in a cylinder chamber to divide the chamber into two sections. The piston ports provide controlled flow of liquid from one section to the other. A valve member engages the piston upon extreme rebound strut extension to greatly diminish flow of liquid through the piston and increase the rebound dampening rate of the strut. The valve member is acted on by a pair of springs which hold the valve member away from the piston during normal operation and permit it to move against the piston during rebound.

Abstract: A braiding machine which has higher speeds of operation, versatile material handling characteristics and is able to handle larger lengths of strands between reloads. Inside and outside sets of a plurality, e.g., eight, of circumferentially spaced bobbins are mounted in axially spaced relationship for rotation in opposite directions on a common axis. The carriers for the inside bobbins are also circumferentially spaced and mounted on slotted plates rotatable in the same direction as the outside bobbins. These carriers alternately bridge and clear the slots. An eyelet for each of the outside bobbins rotates in the same direction as the plates and the outside bobbins and synchronously move into and out of the slots to carry the strands from the outside bobbins between, under, between and over adjacent inside bobbins as the supports rotate.