Aerodynamic ring travelers for yarn twisters

An ear-shaped ring traveler designed for movement in only one given direction along a ring of a yarn twister or like machine,

• a. the traveler having a main body section, first and second transition sections at the opposite ends of said main body section, respectively, upper and lower arms extending generally codirectionally from said first and second transition sections, respectively, third and fourth transition sections at the ends of said upper and lower arms remote from said main body section, respectively, and upper and lower hook-like ends extending mutually inwardly toward one another from said third and fourth transition sections, respectively,
• b. of which, when the traveler is mounted on a ring, said main body section extends generally vertically across and moves translationally along the inside face of the ring, said upper and lower arms extend generally horizontally outwardly across and move translationally along the upper and lower edges of the ring, respectively, said upper and lower hook-like ends extend downwardly and upwardly, respectively, over and move translationally along the outside face of the ring, and said first transition section at its inside surface defines a guide surface for the yarn being twisted,
• c. the traveler having aerodynamically streamlined cross-sectional contours throughout,
• d. the cross-sectional configuration of any part of the traveler on a transverse plane perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the respective part being generally oblong in shape and having, as viewed with reference to said given direction of movement, a relatively blunt leading edge and a relatively less blunt trailing edge,
• e. said cross-sectional configuration of said main body section being airfoil-shaped and oriented, with reference to said given direction of movement, so as to generate, when the traveler is in motion along the ring, aerodynamic lift forces directed oppositely to and counteracting the centrifugal forces exerted on the traveler, thereby to urge said main body section out of frictional engagement with the inside face of the ring,
• f. said cross-sectional configuration of at least said lower arm being airfoil-shaped and oriented, with reference to said given direction of movement, so as as to generate aerodynamic lift forces directed downwardly with respect to the ring oppositely to and counteracting the upward component of the yarn force, thereby to urge said lower arm out of frictional engagement with the lower edge of the ring, and
• g. said main body section and at least said lower arm each being constructed to define therein and within the confines of their respective airfoil-shaped cross-sectional configurations at least one hollow space, thereby to provide the traveler with a maximized ratio of outer surface to weight at said main body section and at least at said lower arm.

A C-shaped ring traveler designed for movement in a given direction along a ring of a yarn twister or like machine, wherein the ring is of generally T-shaped cross-section and has a generally upright annular web and at the top of the latter a pair of generally transverse circumferential flanges the free lateral edges of which face inwardly and outwardly of the ring, respectively,

• a. the traveler having a body including (i) a relatively thicker elongated foot or base section which, when the traveler is mounted on the ring, is juxtaposed to and moves longitudinally along the inside of the ring, and (ii) a relatively thinner transverse bowed or arched section which, when the traveler is mounted on the ring, extends generally horizontally across and moves translationally along the top of the ring, said bowed or arched section being secured to and extending laterally from a medial portion of said foot or base section and terminating in a hook-like free end which, when the traveler is mounted on the ring, extends in under said free lateral edge of and moves translationally along beneath said outwardly facing flange of the ring,
• b. said foot or base section of said body on the side thereof which, when the traveler is mounted on the ring, faces away from the center of the ring having (i) a pair of laterally and vertically offset, generally vertical guide surfaces for sliding engagement, respectively, with said free lateral edge of said inwardly facing flange and with the surface of said web beneath said inwardly facing flange, and (ii) a generally horizontal guide surface intermediate and bridging the gap between said vertical guide surfaces for sliding engagement with the underside of said inwardly facing flange,
• c. said foot or base section of said body having throughout its expanse, except at the locations of said vertical and horizontal guide surfaces, a cross-sectional configuration (i) which has, as viewed with reference to said given direction of movement of the traveler, a relatively blunt leading edge and a relatively less blunt trailing edge, and (ii) which is generally airfoil-like and so oriented with reference to the longitudinal axis of said foot or base section as to generate, when the traveler is in motion along the ring, aerodynamic lift forces directed oppositely to and counteracting the centrifugal forces exerted on the traveler, thereby to urge said vertical guide surfaces of said foot or base section out of frictional engagement with said free lateral edge of said inwardly facing flange and with the surface of said web beneath said inwardly facing flange, and
• d. said foot or base section of the traveler being constructed to define therein and within the confines of said airfoil-like cross-sectional configuration thereof at least one hollow space, thereby to provide the traveler at said foot or base section with a maximized ratio of outer surface to weight.