US2608741A - Constant tension control - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 2, 1952 w, REEVES 2,608,741

CONSTANT TENSION CONTROL Filed June 16, 1950 Y 1 '2 SHEETS-Si-IEET l III, h... r

k g .Q a m I l [I I r 0 V INVENTOR BY. akl.

ATTOENEPY Sept. 2, 1952 w, REEVES 2,608,741 A CONSTANT TENSION CONTROL Filed June 16, 1950 2' SHEETS-SHEET 2 m [I] I?! FED JNVENTOR.

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Patented Sept. 2, 1952 CONSTANT TENSION CONTROL Walter Reeves, Wakefield, Mass., assignor to Reeves Pulley Company, Columbus, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application June 16, 1950, Serial No. 168,626

The present invention relates to a constant tension control, and more specifically to means for controlling the operation of a storage roll or the like, and a delivery roll associated therewith, under conditions such that tension in the material passing between the storage roll and the delivery roll shall be maintained constant throughout the cycle of operation. A primary object of the invention, then, is to provide mechanism establishing control over the power delivery to two such rolls of such character as to accomplish such maintenance of uniform tension.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby, as material builds up upon, or is removed from, a storage roll in an organization of the character above suggested, the ratio between the angular velocities of the two rolls will be progressively modified to compensate for the progressive variation in efiective diameter of the storage roll. A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby, upon completion of a cycle, the starting ratio between such velocities may be readily and quickly reestablished without the necessity of reversing the entire control organization.

, Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

1 One embodiment of the present invention finds its primary utility in the control of a loom beam during the winding of strands thereon; and the invention has been shown, and will be described, in that environment.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that thedrawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

Fig. l is a more or less diagrammatic plan view of a control constructed in accordance with my invention'associated with the beam and delivery roll of such a machine;

Fig. 2 isia fragmentary transverse section taken s bstantially on the line 2, 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a more or less diagrammatic plan view of the control mechanism per se; and

Fig. '4 is a wiring diagram.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that I have indicated at I a-conventional loom beam with which is conventionally associated a, delivery roll II flanked by idlers I2 and I3. ,In accordance with conventional practice-,strands or other material It will be threaded 16 Claims. (Cl. 28-36) V 2 between the idler I2 and around the major periphery of the delivery roll, thence between the delivery roll and the idler I3, and thence to the beam It, all as indicated in Fig. 2. The primary function of the presentinvention is to vary the angular velocity of the beam III, and the ratio of its angular velocity to that of the roll I I, at a rate such as to maintain always a constant tension upon that region of the material l4 between the idler I3 and the effective periphery of the beam l0. Sincematerial will progressively build up on the beam ID to increase the effective periphery thereof, it will be obvious that, if the delivery roll II is driven at constant angular velocity, the angular velocity of the beam I0 must be progressively decreased. A power source, indicated generally by the ref-- erence numeral I5, will preferably comprise an electric motor I6 with which may, if desired, be associated a speed varying transmission unit indicated at I I. For the purposes of disclosing the present invention, it will be assumed that the unit I1 is operated always at a single setting. Suitable means, such as a plurality of V-belts- I8, transmit power from the motor I B and unit IT to a pulley I9 fixed to a jack shaft 20 which is mounted for rotation in suitable bearings parallel with the axes of the delivery roll I I and the beam ID. A sprocket 2| on the shaft 20 is connected by chains 22 to a sprocket 23 on a countershaft 24; and power is delivered from said shaft 24. to the delivery roll II through a sprocket 25, chains 26, and a sprocket 21 on the shaft II. It will be clear that the shaft II will be driven always at a speed constantly proportional to the speed of the power source I5. v The beam I0 carries a sprocket 28 which is. driven, through chains 29, from a sprocket 30 on the output shaft 3| of a gear unit indicated at 32, said gear unit, in turn, being driven by the output shaft 33 (Fig. 3) ofa variable speed trans mis-v sion 3 A further sprocket 35 on the shaft 20 is connected by chains 36 to drive the input unit 3I of a slipping clutch indicated generally by the reference numeral38; and the output element 39 of the clutch 38 is drivingly mounted upon the input shaft 40 of the transmission 34. The clutch 38 will be of the type in which the element 39 will slip and lag behind the element 31 by a constant ratio, so long as the torque demand applied thereto remains constant. The rateof slip, however, will vary in response to the load'impressed: upon the clutch, in the direction of load variation.

Clutches of the character here under considera the delivery roll I I,

" connections are established. A drum or pulley input shafts 33 and 48 upon parallel, spaced cones 4| rotates with the shaft 40, and-a correspondingly pulley comprising cones 42 rotates with the shaft 33, an edge active belt-43-pro viding a driving connection between said pulleys.

A lever 44 is operatively connected tcQone-disc of each pulley, through suitable thrust bearings, and iaarlever r45 :isoperatively connected to the othert discaof each pulley, through thrust bearings; said levers ibeing-i-ntermediately pivoted :as atrit6iianda4l' so that, as the projecting ends dfaithegtwo"ilevers iarezmoved towardi'each other, the cones 4| :will *be -moved -tow-ard -each-other to; inclie'ase-thewefiective diameter of the input pulley, rwhile:ithe:. cones 42 will :be --movedaway from-qeach IlllhfikztOrdBClBfi-SB 1' theeffective diameter ot-the output ipulley, thereby increasing thcsspeedaat whichtheshaft :33 will be driven response'to a predetermined speedof rotation of .ishait-zw. .-Means is-provided for controlling @the relative-positions of .the levers 44 and-e45,- such cneans, -in=the illustrated embodimentaiisthe'iinvention, comprising a fluid motor and: means or :controlling the same, indicated generally 'iby the-"reference numeral 48. Such coht'rol'nneans anayadvantageously take the for'miof the idevicetillustrated and described in ioisHarry C. Clay 7 2,306,541 issued Del'zembetzflf); 71942;;the cylinder 49 of *themotor beingsrsecuredi'to" the :lever 45 and .the piston .50 thereof bein'g' secured to the :lever' 44. .Valve mechanism? for'controllingffiuid: flow "to the'motor is indicated at :lfl and imaydnclude anactuating 1ever' -52, .LIn't the illustrated: embodiment of the inventiona bell :crank lever 53 has one arm 55 op'etativly connected to the actuator :52 by *a link'f'54, th e other arm 560f said lever being arranged for actuationby mechanism .lihereinaiterfto' be described.

I -A sprocket 5-1 carried on an extension of the j'ak shaft is connected, by a chain 58, :to drive a sprocket I59 on =a-shaft fiil or a"difierential' mechanism 6!. A sprocket BZ'on anextension (if the-=-input 'sha ft 'l'fl of the 'transmis'sion 34 is connected; {by a chain '63, to drive --a sprocket 6'4 on a1secon1d shaft "65 of the unit Bl. The unitjlil "may preierably beof the type fully illustrated and described in the patent to William R. Perry ,2,168,07.1.issued August 1,1939; As shownIjni FigBjhereof, the shaft 60' is connected 'bylalchainlfili to .drive a sun gear 61 loosely mountednon .an ..intermediate v.shait 16.9;

the shaft zfi5cis gear connected todrive aisun gear 58 loosely mounted on the shaft 69,; and at carria e- 0; fixed .to .the shaft-$9,. carries v.a seriesrgof planetarygears H :meshing .with the gearsm EaHdGB. It will be clear that thedifferentiallmechanism =willrmeasure any 'difierence in welocityxbetween the shafts 20 and-40, and that' 'iahetshaft ififl w'ill be rotated at :a rate, and in'sia direction, determined by :one-half the ill on the .anmature spindle of the unit 16 is operatively associated with a strand 78 con- :nected tothei-levenarm 56. Rotation of the drum in- 'one directionrwill shift the lever 53 in a counter-clockwise direction; and the valving mechanism such that such movement of the lever '53 will supply fluid to the motor 48 to cause said motor to move the associated ends of the levers A4 and 45; away from each other. This controlsmechanism .is such that each .position of the lever 53 L.will produce. a correspond-, ing: itelativeposition of the levers .44 and 45. I

The strand-"1B islcontinuedto the core 19 of. a. solenoidtfl The-relationhetween the solenoid and the lever 53 is such thatenergizationof the solenoid fiwill ltend to :move the lever 53 in a clockwise direction. In. .some instances, a counter-weight may take the Eplace of the'solenoid-.=80-;

=4,. ,I .hav,e indicated the units 15 and 16 and-conventional. .eleotricconnections locking togetherthe .armaturesof saidunits, a switch unitfil lbeingshown, arranged to dominate those electric .connections. -Assuming the connections between .thetwo .selfesyncln'onou's units "to be established, theioperation of the 'control, "as thus fardescribed, -.v. ill be. as follows:

.A strand .or strands of material 14 being threaded-past the delivery ..roll H and'to the beam 10, in vthe manner illustrated in .Fig. "2,- the ;.motor. I6. willyhe energized to drive the assembly. .l'n-the'heg'inning of a cycle, and-assuming theroll t! and the beam 1'10 to be of equal'peripheral dimensions, the roll and the beam will be drivenatequal angular velocities. Upon the completion of its first irevolution, however, .=.the effective diameter of the beam 10 will begin to increase .as the material i4 is laid thereon. ..Since ,the tworotors are moving at equal angular velocities, this increase in effective diameter of the beam 10 will tendlto increase the ;tension .in v,thecstretch of material extending -.-between the delivery .roll .and the beam. .Ihis increase .in tension will have a braking-effect onthebeam 1.8; and that efiect will be transmitted, through the chain 29 and unit -32; to theoutput shaft 33 .of the .transmission-34, .and thence, through the belt 43, to .the input shaft 4810f the transmission. The rate of slip between the parts of ,the clutch 38 will thus-tendto increase, .thereby .causingthe shaft 65 pfuthe .difierential unit 5! .to :lag .behind the shaft 60 thereof. The shattGQ will measure that change -in .the .ratesbf "rotation .of the shafts 60 and 65, whereby the armature of the transmitter :unit il.5--will .be turned. Thearmature of thereceiver unit 16 will thereby .be turned to a corresponding degree .to windsin on the strand 18 andshift .:the. lever 53 in .a counter-clockwise direction, whereby lthe valving mechanism 5| will cause the motor 48 ,to increase the distance between the ends of thelevers 44and45, whereby. the ,speedrratio between the shafts 40 and '33 of. the ;tr-an smission :34 willibemodified "to reduce 5, the 'velocity'of the shaft lar velocity of the beam I9 will beprogressively reduced, at a rate such as 'to'maintain' a constant degree of tension in'the stretch 'of material extending between the delivery roll II and-the beam I9.--

It will be clear that, if the organization were used for unwinding material from a storage reel, a tendency toward reduction in the tension inthe stretch of material-between thestorage roll-andthe delivery roll would result in a reduction in the rate of slip between the parts of the clutch '38 to produce rotation of the shaft 69 in the opposite direction, An opposite arrangement of the connection between the unit 16 and the motor-49would cause the motor'to be actuated to shift-the'ends of the levers 44 and 45 towardeach other, thereby increasing the angula-r velocity of the shaft 33.

111 the illustrated organization, when the beam I9 has been-filled todesired capacity, it is desirable to stop further operation of the control while the beam is dofied, and it is highly desirable that the control be returned to startingcondition promptly, so that there may be no delay in preparingto loada new beam. I accomplish such prompt return through'the mechanism now to be-described; v

A main switch82 is arranged to connectthe switching mechanism of Fig. 4 into an electric power line. The electric connections between the units and I9 are dominated by the switch 82 andcomprise line wires 83 and 84 leading from opposite sides of the switch 82. The line wire 83 is connected to a movable'arm 95 of Q the switch unit 8| said arm 85 normally being in contact with a terminal 86 of the self-synchronous system connections. A second movable switch arm: 91 is normally in contact'with the opposite terminal 88 of said connections; and a wire 89 'connectssaid switch arm 81 with a wire 99, from which a wire 9i leads to theline wire 84. I A relay, comprising a magnet coil 92 dominatesthe switch arms 85 and 87, being operable, upon energization of said magnet coil, to" shift the arms 85 and 81 out or contact withithe ter minals (Sand-99. One end of the coil '92 is connected by a wire 93 with the wire 99, and so with the linew'ire'94, while awire 94 leads from the'opp'ositeend of saidcoil to a-terminal 95 of a manually controlled,normally open switch. Said switch includes a bridge piece 99 movable to-bridge the terminal 95and a terminal 91, the terminal 9'! being connected by a wire 98 with the line wire 83. Obviously, when the manual switch is actuated, to bridge the terminals 95 and 97, the coil: 92 will be energized to break the electrical connection between the self-synchronous units I5andl9f ,7

The bridge piece 99.also establishes an energizing circuit for a relay in a switchv unit'9'I', comprising a magnet coil I99. One end of the 0011. I99 is connected by a wire 99 with the wire 94, while the other-end of said coil I99 isconnectedby a wire I9I withthe wire 99. Thus, when the terminals 95 and 97 are bridged, an energizing circuit for said coil I99 is established fromfline wire '83 through wire 98, terminal 9?, bridge piece 96, terminal 95, wire 94, wire99, coil I99, wire I9I, wire 99, and wire 9| to line Wire 84; -.A,switch-arm I92 is dominated by the coil I99-and, uponenergization of said coil, is moved intocontactpwith a terminal I93. .A wire I94 connects said terminal .I93 with line wire 93, while-,a wire. I95 vconnects the switch arm i I 92 3. Thereby, the angu 6 with one end of thecoil 1990f the solenoidfifl, the opposite endof said coilbeing connected by wire I91 with line'wire 84. Thuscontactof the switch arm I92 with the terminal I93 -estab-' lishesan energizing circuit for the solenoid 89 leading from line wire 93 throughwire I94,-terminal I93, switch arm I92, wire I95, coil I96,'and wire I91 to line wire 84..

Thus it will be seen that manual shiftingof the bridge piece 99 into engagement with-the terminals and 9' not-only breaks theelectric connections through which-the transmitter unit I9dominates the receiver unit I6, but also energizes the solenoid 89 to return the levers and 45 to starting position without'at all affecting the unit Si or the transmitter unit .75. ,J The switch unit 8I includes also a switch arm I99 dominated by the relay coil I99 and movable, upon energization of said coil, into contact with a terminal I99; The arm I98 is connected by wire III) with a terminal III normally engaged bya bridge piece IIZ which engages also, a terminal I I3 connected by wire II 4 with wire 94; The terminal I99 is connected to wire I94., Thus, upon energization of the coilv I99, a holding ,circuit for said coil is established, leading fromgline wire 83through wire I94, terminal I99, switch arm I98, wire II9, terminal III, bridge pieceII2; terminal H9, wirei I4, wire 94, wire 99, coil I99, wire I9I, wire 99, and wire 9| to line wire 84. .Whenthe lever 44 reaches starting position, it engages the plunger H5 of a normally closed limitswitch IIB, said plunger carrying a bridge piece III. A wire H9 leadsfrom the-wire I95 to one terminal of a lamp I I9, the opposite terminal of which is connected by a wire I29 with a terminal I2! of the switch H9, Bridge piece II'I electrically connects terminals I 2I and I 22, the latter of which is connected by wire I23 with line wire 84. Thus, when coil I99 is energized to move switch arm I92 into engagement with terminalIIlS, the lamp I99 is energized; and it will remain energized until plunger H5 is err,- gaged and shifted by arm 44 to open switch-I I6.

' A wire I24 connects line wire 83 'withone side of a lampI25, the other side of which is connected by wire I29 with line wire 84 so that, whenever the switch 82 is .closed, the lamp I25 will be energized. I r

The switch. arm I98 dominates, also, a holding circuit for the coil 92 ofthe switchunit- 8I,'said circuitbeing traced from line wire 93 through wire I94, terminal I99, switch arm I99,'-wire I I9, terminal III, bridge piece II2, terminal II3';;wire H4, wire 94, coil 92, wire 93, wire 99 and wire!!! to line wire 94. After the levers '44 and 45have attained starting position, as indicated by :.the deenergization of the lamp H9, and when a new beam has been installed for loading, the operator will press the button associated with the bridge piece II2 to break the holding circuits for the coils 92 and I99, whereupon the switchparts will return to the positions in which they are-illustrated, thus breaking the energizing circuit for the coil I96 and reestablishing the locking con-. nections between the units I5 and TB.

Pr'eferably, the clutch'38 willbe capable of adjustment while running to'vary the torque trans= mission capacity of the clutclnthereby varying the value of the gross tension maintainedin the stretch of material between the idler I3 and the beam I9; and I have shown-a 'hand wheel 'I 21 for efiiecting such adjustment.

Iclaim as my invention: r '1. A constant tension control mechanism com- 91' necte'dtcisaia transmission shiftable' 7 element to shiftthe' same, self-compensating ,valve mechanism controlling'fiuid flowto said'fiuid motor, a transmitter unit of a self-synchronous. system having an armature. drivingly. connected to said carriage, a receiver unit of a: self -synchronous system having. anx'armature connected to actuate saidvalvemechanism progressively in one direction, Y upon progressive rotation of saidlreceiver armature in one'di'rection'; electric connections between saidlunits' to enforce rotation of said receiver armature in response to rotation of said transmitter armatura'a normally-closed switch the electric connections between said units, re-

lay means operable, upon energization, to move said switch to ope n position tobreak said connections to "freesaid receiver armature from the domination of said transmitter armature, electric motor 'meansoperatively connected to said valve mechanism and operable, whensaid receiverarmature is so freed and said electric motor means is energized, to actuate said valve mechanism in the opposite direction, an energizing circuit for said electric motor means, a normally open switch in said energizing circuit, relay means operable, upon energization, to close said normally-open switch, an energizing circuit for said relays, said relays being connected therein in parallel, and a normally-open manually-operable switch in said last-named energizing circuit.

10. The mechanism of claim 9 including a holding circuit for said relays independent of said manually-operable switch, a normally-open switch connected in said holding circuit, said last-named relay being operable, upon energization, to close said last-named normally-open switch, and a normally-closed manually-operable switch connected in said holding circuit.

11. In a device of the class described, a delivery roll and a storage roll, said delivery roll bein driven at a velocity constantly proportional to the lineal velocity of a strand running between said rolls, and means for controlling tension inthat reach or" such strand extending between said rolls, comprising speed-varying mean for driving said storage roll including an element shiftable oppositely to vary oppositely the speed at which said storage roll is'driven, and including a slipping drive connection having a substantially fixed slip ratio under predetermined load conditions, such ratio being oppositely variable in response to opposite load variations, a diiierential mechanism including a first sun gear, a second sun gear, a planetary gear meshing with said sun gears, and a carriage supporting said planetary gear, means driving said first sun gear at a velocity constantly proportional to that of said delivery roll, means driving said second gun gear through said slipping drive connection at a velocity constantly proportional to the output velocity of said slipping drive connection, a transmitter unit of a selfsynchronous system having an armature drivingly connected to said carriage, a receiver unit of a self-synchronous system having an armature operatively connected to shift said element, and electric connections between said units enforcing rotation of said receiver armature in response to rotation of said transmitter armature.

12. The device of claim 11 including switch means in said electric connections operable to break said connections thereby freeing said receiver unit armature from the domination of said transmitter unit.

13. In a device of the class described, a delivery roll and a storage roll, said delivery roll being ratio being oppositely variable, in response to ope posite load variations, means for measuring the direction and degree of variationin-suchslip ratio including a self-synchronous receiver and-means for transmitting such variations to said receiver to efiect rotation of the receiver armature oppositely in responsetoopposite variations in such slip ratio, and means .ol eratively connecting; aid

armature to shift said element. l4; In a deviceof t-heiclass described, 'a e: livery roll and a storage rolLsaid; delivery 011 being driven at a velocity constantly proportional to the lineal velocity of a strand running between said rolls, and means for controlling tension in that reach of such strand extending between said rolls, comprising speed-varying means for driving said storage roll including an element shiftable oppositely to vary oppositely the speed at which said storage rollv is driven, and including a slipping drive connection having a substantially fixed slip ratio under predetermined load conditions, such ratio being oppositely variable in response to opposite load variations, a differential mechanism including a first sun gear, a second sun gear, a planetary gear meshing with said sun gears, and a carriage supporting said planetary gear, means driving said first sun gear at a velocity constantly proportional to that of said delivery roll, means driving said second sun gear through said slipping drive connection at a velocity constantly proportional to the output vel ci y of said slippi drive connection, a transmitter unit of a self-synchronous system having an armature drivingly connected to said carriage, a receiver unit of a self-synchronous system having an armature, electric connections between said units enforcing rotation of said receiver armature in response to rotation of said transmitter armature, a fluid motor operatively connected to said transmission shiftable element to shift the same, self-compensating valve mechanism controlling fluid flow to said fluid motor, said receiver unit armature being connected to actuate said valve mechanism progressively in one direction, upon progressive rotation of said receiver unit armature in one direction, a normally-closed switch in the electric connections between said units, relay means operable, upon energization, to move said switch to open position to break said connections to free said receiver armature from the domination of said transmitter armature, electric motor means operatively connected to said valve mechanism and operable, when said receiver armature is so freed and said electric motor means is energized, to actuate said valve mechanism in the opposite direction, an energizing circuit for said electric motor means, a normally-open switch in said energizing circuit, relay means operable, upon energization, to close said normally-open switch, an energizing circuit for said relays, said relays being connected therein in parallel, and normally-open manually-operable switch'in said last-named energizing circuit.

15. In a device of the class described, a deliv- 1%1 mfl andas'torage rollg saidideliverwroli'being ans/ ate velocity constantly: proportional to the lineal vei'ocity of a' strand running-between said rolls, and means= for control-ling. tension' in that reach ofsuch' strand extending betweentsaid polls; c'ompr-isingspeed'-varying -"means forrdrivmg said; storage-r011 including an' element shift able oppositely tovary oppositely the speedat which said storageroll is driven, and including wsii'pping-di iveconnection-having: a substantially fixed sii-izvratio under predeterminedl'oad: conditions; such-ratio being; oppositely variable 1x1 re sponse' to opposite load" variations; means for measuring; the direction and degree of variation in 'such slip ratio including-aself synchronous receiverand" meansfor transmitting such varia--- tions to said' reoeiver to efiect rotation ofthe re= ceiver' armature oppositelyin-response to opposite variations in suchslip ratio; a fluid motor-con"- nected 1 to shift-1sai'ck'shift-able element; self-compensating-wave mechanism eontrol-ling -fliiid'fiow motor means operativel'y connected: taantuate said valve mechanism; said: switch..meanss eluding means for: energizingzsadckelectricimnml means when, amt only when; said: transmitting means is sozrendered ineffective.

REE RENQES; 21.33.1211:

The" following references M89016 the;

fi Ie'ofth-i'smatenty (l UNL'I'E 511E133 V. Nnmbei Name;

2,392,226: Butter-wort ve1; 8L

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