# US 5,343,983 A · Thread brake > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,343,983 A - Document ID: US5343983A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/930,656 - Filed: 1992-09-30 - Granted: 1994-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 1991-02-15 - Assignees: Memminger-IRO GmbH - Inventors: Atila J. Horvath; Hermann Schmodde; Josef Fecker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5343983A ## CPC - D04B 15/44: Tensioning devices for individual threads - B65H 59/225: {Tension discs} - B65H 2555/13: magnetic, e.g. induction motors - B65H 2701/31: Textiles threads or artificial strands of filaments - D04B: KNITTING - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract A thread brake with two disc shaped or plate shaped brake elements resiliently pressed against each other operates with an associated oscillation generating device to set the brake elements in oscillatory motions which are preferably oriented transversely to the bearing axis of the brake elements. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thread brake having two essentially disc-shaped or plate-shaped brake elements (9, 9a); loading means (26, 65) for resiliently pressing the brake elements (9) against each other and to permit at least one thread (10) passed between said brake elements to be braked; bearing means (19, 23, 25; 190) for mounting said brake elements on a common bearing axis; oscillatory motion generating means (30) coupled to said brake elements (9) and oscillating said brake elements in a direction which is oriented substantially transversely to said bearing axis (29) for imparting oscillatory motions essentially transversely to said bearing axis (29) to said brake elements. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thread brake of claim 1, wherein the mounting means (19, 23, 25) for said brake elements (9) comprise an elongated guide element (19) containing said bearing axis; and wherein said brake elements are set in said oscillatory motions jointly with said guide element (19). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The thread brake of claim 2, wherein said guide element (19) is rigid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The thread brake of claim 2, wherein said guide element (19) is at least in part elastic. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The thread brake of claim 2, further comprising a holding means (20, 41) coupled to said guide element (19). ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The thread brake of claim 5, wherein the guide element (19) is connected to said holding means (20); and wherein said holding means (20) is coupled to said oscillatory motion generating means (30) for placing said guide element (19) and said brake elements (9) together in said oscillatory motions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The thread brake of claim 5, wherein said oscillatory motion generating means (30) comprises a driven member (31) which executes a reciprocating motion and is coupled with said brake elements; and wherein said holding means (41) are mounted directly on said driven member (31) executing the reciprocating motion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The thread brake of claim 2, wherein said brake elements (9) are mounted on said guide element (19) with radial play. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The thread brake of claim 1, wherein the oscillatory motions have a frequency of approximately 40 to 500 Hz. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The thread brake of claim 1, wherein said oscillatory motion generating means (30) comprises a driven member (31) which executes a reciprocating motion and is coupled with said brake elements. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The thread brake of claim 10, wherein said driven member (31) executes a reciprocating motion and engages the circumference of at least one of said brake elements (9). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The thread brake of claim 1, in combination with a thread supplying device having a rotating shaft (4); and wherein said driven member (31) executing the reciprocating motion is operatively coupled with said shaft (4) via a reciprocating drive mechanism (37) generating this motion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The thread brake of claim 12, wherein said drive mechanism is a cam drive mechanism (37) having a cam element (38) which is seated on said shaft (4) and a cam surface with which said driven member (31) is held in contact. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The thread brake of claim 1, wherein said oscillatory motion generating means (30) acts directly on said brake elements (9). ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The thread brake of claim 1, wherein the bearing means (190) form a guide element and support at least one of said brake elements (9) in the region of at least part of its circumference. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The thread brake of claim 15, wherein the guide element (190) at least partially embraces one of the brake elements (9) in its circumferential direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The thread brake of claim 15, wherein at least one of the brake elements (9) is mounted on the guide element (190) for rotation around the common bearing axis (29). ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The thread brake of claim 17, wherein said at least one rotationally mounted brake element (9) is radially supported on the guide element (190) on distributed localized bearing points or places (55, 56). ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The thread brake of claim 17, wherein said at least one rotationally mounted brake element (9) is guided in an axial direction with play on the guide element (190). ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The thread brake of claim 15, wherein at least one of the brake elements (9a) is non-rotationally mounted on the guide element (190). ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The thread brake of claim 20, wherein said non-rotationally mounted brake element (9a) is provided with a threading slot (67) extending from its circumference into a central opening (59) formed therein. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The thread brake of claim 21, wherein one of the brake elements (9) is rotationally mounted and is integrally closed in its central area. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The thread brake of claim 1, wherein at least one of the brake elements (9, 9a) is formed with a central opening (59) passing therethrough. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The thread brake of claim 23, wherein said guide element (190) is provided with a thread guide element (62) passing through the opening (59) of the at least one brake element (9). ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The thread brake of claim 1, wherein at least one brake element (9) is rotatably mounted on the guide element (190) and said at least one brake element is rotatable around said common bearing axis (29) in a first sense of rotation (58) by the oscillatory motion generating means (30). ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The thread brake of claim 25, wherein said at least one brake element (9) is adapted to be rotated by the thread (10) passing between the two brake elements (9, 9a) in a second sense of rotation (58), 58a) which is in a sense opposite to the first sense of rotation (58). ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The thread brake of claim 1, wherein said loading means (65) which press the brake elements (9, 9a) against one another in axial direction are magnetic means (65).