Self-tensioning reel
AssigneesWestern Electric Company, Inc., Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated
InventorsJohn C. Carlson, Jeremia P. Starace
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A self-tensioning wire reel comprises two flanges threaded together such that, when a brake shoe applies a braking force to one flange, the other flange is free to continue rotating. This rotation on the threaded hubs brings the flanges closer together, exerting a lateral force on the wire coil therebetween and thus keeping the coil sufficiently tight to prevent binding during the unreeling operation. The brake shoe is a resilient cylindrical disk applied to the outer rim of one flange when tension is relieved on the wire. The tightness of fit between the disk brake and the shaft upon which it rotates controls the frictional braking force.
Claims7
A self-tensioning and self-braking reel for unwinding coiled stock mounted on a reel hub extending between two reel flanges characterized by
- a brake for applying a braking force to one of said flanges in response to the relief of unreeling tension on said coiled stock, and
- mated threads axially located on said two flanges and adapted to be automatically threaded together to permit lateral compression of said coiled stock when the other of said flanges rotates independently in an unreeling direction in response to said braking force on said one flange.
A reel for wire coils comprising
- a hub for supporting said wire coils,
- a first flange on one end of said hub,
- a braking mechanism for braking said first flange,
- a second flange mounted to said first flange at the other end of said hub by screw threads pitched to automatically close said second flange toward said first flange in response to braking of said first flange.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.