Abstract: A braiding bobbin includes a shaft and a spool from which a fiber thread can be drawn off through a thread guide mounted to rotate on the shaft. At least one torsion spring joins the shaft and the spool to each other. The spool is rotatable in a draw-off direction against the spring force and in an opposite, backwinding direction by the spring force of the torsion spring. A brake having an adjustable braking torque brakes rotation of the shaft in the draw-off direction.

Abstract: A braider having a braider bed. The bed has first and second closed tracks defining an intersecting serpentine path. The tracks define an average path which is non-circular. A plurality of yarn package carriers travel along said tracks. Yarns fed from the packages form a braid at a location substantially central of the bed.

Abstract: A fiber spool apparatus for a braiding machine or the like, comprising a support, a fiber supply spool rotatably mounted on the support, a housing fixedly mounted on the support and having a plurality of recessed portions on the inner surface thereof, and a coil spring mounted within the housing. The coil spring has an inner end operatively associated with the spool and an outer end in engagement with the inner surface of the housing. When fiber is fed from the spool to the braiding machine, the spool is rotated in a first direction to wind and tension the spring by engagement of the outer end thereof in one of the recessed portions in the housing rotation of the spool in the first direction until the spring reaches a predetermined tension. Continued rotation of the spool in the first direction causes the outer spring end to slip from one recessed portion to another after the spring has reached the predetermined tension.

Abstract: A braider carrier for wide ribbon and/or composite strand is disclosed. The braider carrier guide pulley assembly includes a support, a pulley frame operatively, pivotly mounted to the support, a generally cylindrical guide pulley operatively, rotatably mounted to the pulley frame to accommodate movement of the carrier during the braiding operation, openings through the support and pulley frame at the point of pivot and aligned with the guide pulley, a delivery eye operatively connected to the pulley frame, the eye and the openings capable of holding strand to be braided against the cylindrical surface of the pulley preventing the strand to be braided from twisting during the braiding operation which pivots the pulley frame. The braider carrier bobbin assembly utilizes a magnetic clutch and a torsion spring, the spring capable of providing slack control of strand to be braided and the clutch capable of providing tensioned feed of strand as strand is wound off of the bobbin.

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 braider carrier for wide ribbon and/or composite strand is disclosed. The braider carrier guide pulley assembly includes a support, a pulley frame operatively, pivotly mounted to the support, a generally cylindrical guide pulley operatively, rotatably mounted to the pulley frame to accomodate movement of the carrier during the braiding operation, openings through the support and pulley frame at the point of pivot and aligned with the guide pulley, a delivery eye operatively connected to the pulley frame, the eye and the openings capable of holding strand to be braided against the cylindrical surface of the pulley preventing the strand to be braided from twisting during the braiding operation which pivots the pulley frame. The braider carrier bobbin assembly utilizes a magnetic clutch and a torsion spring, the spring capable of providing slack control of strand to be braided and the clutch capable of providing tensioned feed of strand as strand is wound off of the bobbin.

Abstract: Fast-moving eyelet guide for use on a braiding machine, such as a Wardwell braiding machine having a lower carrier mounting track with a plurality of carriers movable along the track. Each carrier holds a spool of strands with a guide clamped onto the carrier. The guide includes a pair of spaced parallel guide rods with a very lightweight spool-shaped eyelet mounted for free movement up and down while remaining captured between these parallel rods. The strands are threaded through and carried by the eyelet, and thus the strands are controlled by the eyelet and are kept closely together as a controlled group during their up and down movement along the parallel guide rods which avoids separation of the strands, thereby dramatically limiting the incidence of breakage of the strands.

Abstract: A wire winding device pays out thin wires from a plurality of wire reels with the same tension in an orderly manner and winds them on a take-up bobbin. The winding device is comprised of a plurality of revolving shafts juxtaposed to one another on a base and supporting the reels on which the wires are coiled; a plurality of pulleys each two of which are mounted on respective one of the revolving shafts; a plurality of braking belts trained between the neighboring pulleys for producing sliding friction; the aforementioned take-up bobbin; and a winder having a revolving shaft on which the take-up bobbin is mounted.

Abstract: A cylindrical tensioning device fits over a fixed shaft against a rotatable bobbin containing a supply of wire such as used in a wire braiding machine. The device includes an outer tensioning section cylinder enclosing a spring supported between two bushings. A fixed bushing at one end holds an external friction pad which engages the end of the bobbin to apply a force that controls the tension on the wire drawn from the bobbin. A locking section at the other end includes a smaller outer cylinder enclosing another spring around an inner cylinder. The spring is held between an end of the outer cylinder and a ridge on the inner cylinder. The other end of the inner cylinder includes holes holding ball bearings which are slidable along the shaft. A wedged ring fits over the inner cylinder and bearings. The other end of the smaller outer cylinder is press fit within the other bushing which is movable within the larger outer cylinder against the first spring.

Abstract: A bobbin assembly (10) is disclosed for simultaneously dispensing a plurality of wires and controllably maintaining a predetermined tension on the wires.In the construction of a high pressure, multiple-ply, wire reinforced hose, it is necessary that each of the wires be applied at a uniform, predetermined tension. The present invention solves this problem by providing each spool assembly (12) of a multiple spool bobbin assembly (10) with an internally disposed adjustable brake assembly (22). The brake assembly (22) of the present invention imparts a controllable and uniform resistance to the rotation of a supply reel (20) in each of the spool assemblies (12). The present invention is particularly useful in the construction of high pressure hydraulic hose products.

Abstract: A strand carrier for a strand fabricating machine includes a support structure and a shaft mounted thereon. A hub is mounted for rotation around the shaft for receipt of a bobbin of strand thereon for common rotation about the shaft. A helical clutch spring includes a first end secured to the support structure so that it closely encircles an outer cylindrical surface of the hub to restrict rotation thereof. A clutch release sleeve is rotatably mounted on the support structure around the clutch spring and receives the other end of the spring in an opening therein so that rotation of the clutch release sleeve in a first direction will tend to unwind the clutch spring to reduce friction on the hub. A control lever pivotally mounted on the support structure has a first section which includes a strand guide thereon and is connected to the sleeve. The lever is biased in a direction tending to rotate the sleeve in an opposite direction from the first direction.