Yarn supply apparatus and clutch arrangement therefor

A clutch arrangement (30), especially for a yarn supply apparatus, comprising:

• at least one first clutch half (12a) which is rotatably mounted and connected with a drive means (34) and which includes a first plurality of interengaging clutch elements (38), and
• a second clutch half (15a) which is rotatably mounted concentrically with the first clutch half (12a) and connected with a driven means (6), and which includes a plurality of second interengaging clutch elements (44),
• wherein at least one of the first and second clutch halves (15a) is axially movable so that it can be moved to and from the respective other clutch half (12a) to enable the plurality of first and second interengaging clutch elements to engage and disengage,
• wherein the first and second clutch halves (12a, 15a) are constructed such that, in the engaged condition, an open fluff space (70, 71) remains between faces of the first and second clutch halves (12a, 15a) or adjacent thereto, the faces of the first and second clutch halves being moved toward each other during the engagement process and being accessible to fluff deposition, in both an engaged and disengaged condition the fluff space being fluidly coupled with a region exterior with respect to the clutch arrangement, and
• wherein the plurality of first interengaging clutch elements (38) are free-standing axially directed fingers.

A clutch arrangement (30), especially for a yarn supply apparatus comprising:

• at least one first clutch half (12a) which is rotatably mounted and connected with a drive means (34) and which includes a first plurality of interengaging clutch elements (38), and
• a second clutch half (15a) which is rotatably mounted concentrically with the first clutch half (12a) and connected with a driven means (6), and which includes a plurality of second interengaging clutch elements (44),
• wherein at least one of the first and second clutch halves (15a) is axially movable so that it can be moved to and from the respective other clutch half (12a) to enable the plurality of first and second interengaging clutch elements to engage and disengage,
• wherein the first and second clutch halves (12a, 15a) are constructed such that, in the engaged condition, an open fluff space (70, 71) remains between faces of the first and second clutch halves (12a, 15a) or adjacent thereto, the faces of the first and second clutch halves being moved toward each other during the engagement process and being accessible to fluff deposition, in both an engaged and disengaged condition the fluff space being fluidly coupled with a region exterior with respect to the clutch arrangement, and
• wherein the plurality of first interengaging clutch elements (38) are rounded at their ends facing the second clutch half (15a).

A clutch arrangement (30), especially for a yarn supply apparatus, comprising:

• at least one first clutch half (12a) which is rotatably mounted and connected with a drive means (34) and which includes a first plurality of interengaging clutch elements (38), and
• a second clutch half (15a) which is rotatably mounted concentrically with the first clutch half (12a) and connected with a driven means (6), and which includes a plurality of second interengaging clutch elements (44),
• wherein at least one of the first and second clutch halves (15a) is axially movable so that it can be moved to and from the respective other clutch half (12a) to enable the plurality of first and second interengaging clutch elements to engage and disengage,
• wherein the first and second clutch halves (12a, 15a) are constructed such that, in the engaged condition, an open fluff space (70, 71) remains between faces of the first and second clutch halves (12a, 15a) or adjacent thereto, the faces of the first and second clutch halves being moved toward each other during the engagement process and being accessible to fluff deposition, in both an engaged and disengaged condition the fluff space being fluidly coupled with a region exterior with respect to the clutch arrangement, and
• wherein in at least one of an engaged position and a disengaged position, the second clutch half (15a) is axially secured in its axial position with a fixing arrangement (51), and
• wherein the fixing arrangement (51, 61) includes at least one tongue formed on one of the first and second clutch halves (15), the tongue extending in an axial direction and being supported in a radial direction by a spring.

A clutch arrangement (30), especially for a yarn supply apparatus, comprising:

• at least one first clutch half (12a) which is rotatably mounted and connected with a drive means (34) and which includes a first plurality of interengaging clutch elements (38), and
• a second clutch half (15a) which is rotatably mounted concentrically with the first clutch half (12a) and connected with a driven means (6), and which includes a second interengaging clutch element (44),
• wherein at least one of the first and second clutch halves (15a) is axially movable so that it can be moved to and from the respective other clutch half (12a) to enable the plurality of first and second interengaging clutch elements to engage and disengage,
• wherein the first and second clutch halves (12a, 15a) are constructed such that, in the engaged condition, an open fluff space (70, 71) remains between faces of the first and second clutch halves (12a, 15a) or adjacent thereto, the faces of the first and second clutch halves being moved toward each other during the engagement process and being accessible to fluff deposition, in both an engaged and disengaged condition the fluff space being fluidly coupled with a region exterior with respect to the clutch arrangement, and
• wherein the first and second clutch halves (12, 15) are rotatable mounted relative to each other by means of at least one rolling bearing (9) and wherein the rolling bearing (9) is sealed with respect to the plurality of first and second clutch elements (38, 44) and includes an absorbing means (66, 67) for a lubricant.

A yarn supply apparatus comprising a clutch arrangement (30) which includes:

• at least one first clutch half (12a) which is rotatably mounted and connected with a drive means (34) and which includes a plurality of first interengaging clutch elements (38), and
• a second clutch half (15a) which is rotatably mounted concentrically with the first clutch half (12a) and connected with a driven means (6), and which includes a plurality of second interengaging clutch elements (44), wherein
• at least one of the first and second clutch halves (15a) is axially movable so that it can be moved to and from the respective other clutch half (12a) to enable the plurality of first and second interengaging clutch elements (38, 44) to engage and disengage,
• wherein the first and second clutch halves (12a, 15a) are constructed such that, in an engaged condition, an open fluff space (70, 71) remains between the plurality of first and second interengaging clutch elements and respective faces of the first and second clutch halves (12a, 15a) or adjacent thereto, the faces of the first and second clutch halves being moved toward each other during the engagement process and being accessible to fluff deposition, in both an engaged and disengaged condition the fluff space being fluidly coupled with a region exterior with respect to the clutch arrangement to enable removal of the fluff from the fluff space.

A clutch arrangement comprising:

• a first clutch half being rotatably mounted, said first clutch half having drive means and a plurality of first interengaging clutch elements, said first clutch half having a first engaging surface on an outer peripheral edge thereof;
• a second clutch half being rotatably mounted concentrically with the first clutch half and being coupled to a driven member, said second clutch half having a plurality of second interengaging clutch elements which are complementary to the plurality of first interengaging clutch elements, said second clutch half having a second engaging surface on an outer peripheral edge thereof;
• wherein at least one of said first and second clutch halves is axially moveable such that said at least one clutch half is movable toward and away from the other of said at least one clutch half to enable the plurality of first and second interengaging clutch elements to engage and disengage;
• and
• wherein when said at least one clutch half is moved toward the other of said at least one clutch half, said first and second engaging surfaces of said first and second clutch halves limit an extent of engagement of the plurality of first and second interengaging clutch elements such that a space, which is fluidly coupled to a region outside the clutch arrangement to enable removal of debris, is maintained between at least a leading edge of the plurality of first interengaging clutch elements and the second clutch half to prevent compression of the debris.