Abstract: The invention relates to a yarn feeding device (F) for weaving or knitting machines whose winding element (W) is driven by an electric motor (M) controlled by an electronic speed control device (CU). According to the invention, the electric motor (M) is a synchronous motor, in particular, a permanent magnet (PM) motor with the speed control device (CU) provided for effecting a permanent vector control with the stator being sinusoidally acted upon. Continuously determined information pertaining to the relevant rotational position of the rotor (R) of the motor (M) is used in the speed control device (CU), which serves to perform permanent vector control, in order to adjust at least one predetermined rotational position (X1, X2) of the winding element (W).

Abstract: A thread supplying device provided with a housing containing an electric motor wherein the stator is non-rotatingly mounted and the rotor is rotatingly mounted on a motor shaft. A thread guiding element is fixed to the motor shaft and a threader device which is fixed to the housing is also provided. When the motor shaft is in a set rotational position, the thread guiding element is physically associated with said threader device. A permanent magnet motor with pole cores provided with windings is integrated into the stator and permanent magnets are integrated into the rotor in such a way that the stator, rotor and the thread guiding element are arranged relative to the housing, in such a way that the motor shaft adopts the set position of rotation when the permanent magnet motor is devoid of electric current in a stable relative position of rotation, caused by magnetic forces, of the rotor in the stator.

Abstract: The inner end of a snake or drain cleaning cable coiled in a rotatable cable storage drum of drain cleaning apparatus is provided with a torque arm which frictionally engages the outer wall of the drum to restrain sliding of the cable relative thereto during a drain cleaning operation. The drain cleaning apparatus is motor driven, and a cable feed device for axially displacing the cable relative to the storage drum is provided on the outer end of a flexible guide tube detachably mounted on the apparatus to facilitate an operator guiding the outer end of the cable into a drain to be cleaned and advancing or retracting the cable relative to the apparatus without having to physically contact the cable.