Yarn tensioning device
AssigneeTexas A&M University Corpus Christi
InventorPetru Aurelian Simionescu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A yarn tensioning device capable of delivering yarn under tension from a spool to a braiding, weaving or knitting machine consisting of a base and a center rod mounted perpendicular to the said base serving to locates the spool while allowing it to pivotally rotate. The device further includes a pawl jointed to the base either via a pin joint or via a flexural hinge and operates in conjunction with a ratchet solidly attached to the spool. The device further includes a compliant yarn guiding means which ensure that yarn reels off at an essentially constant tension. The yarn reel-off tension can be adjusted by modifying the operating length of a stiffening spring using a screw and jam-nut pair, and by limiting the maximum deflection of the compliant yarn guiding means.
Claims1
A yarn tensioning device capable to reel yarn off a spool at an adjustably preset tension comprising:
- a base;
- a center rod mounted perpendicular to the base;
- a spool ending with a ratchet which together pivotally rotate about said center rod;
- a pawl fitted with a flexural joint which allows said pawl to pivot relative to the base and engages said ratchet;
- a pawl stiffening spring acting between the base and a tip of the pawl;
- a compliant yarn guiding device comprising:
- a stationary part;
- and
- a moving part jointed together via a second flexural joint,
- wherein an amount of deflection of the moving part is limited by the action of a stopper, the location of said stopper being modifiable by means of mating serrations, by the action of a screw which threads into the stationary part of said compliant yarn-guiding device, and by the use of a slotted hole along said stopper.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.