£7 WM? @011,“ s
July 31, 1934. w. w. BARDSLEY 1,968,240 BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet l .52 2/622 £7 WM? @011,“ s July 31, .1934- w w. w. BARDSLEY 1,968,240 } BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Jan. s, 1935 ryz/ 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 1. \\\\ 121 We]: 2'01‘: ‘zit-“mag July 31, 1934. w, w. BARDSL-EY 1,968,240 BRAIDING MACHINE ' Filed Jan. 3, 1933 5 Shéets-Sheet 3 ‘ July 31, 1934. w; w. BARDSLEY BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 3, 1933 1,968,240 ' 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 31, 1934. w. w. BARDSLEY 1,968,240 BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 3, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 1,968,24h Patented July 31, 1934 UNITED‘ STATES PATENT 7 1,968,240 BRAIDENG MACHINE Willard W. Bardsley, Providence, R. I., assignor to Wardwell Braiding Machine Company, Central Falls, R. 1., a, corporation of Maine Application January 3, 1933, Serial No. 649,790 15 Claims. This invention ' relates to improvements in (Cl. 96-17) the beater, part-sectional on line 5—-5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a detailed view of one of the cams for such as used for sleeving, for reinforcing rubber operating the beater; Fig. 7 is a side View of the braid-softener and hose or for covering wire and like electrical con doctors. More particularly, the invention con beater ; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the beater dome sists in a strand manipulator and braid-softener, so-called, for controlling the disposition of the and softener mandrel shown in disassembled braided strands to form a relatively loosely relationship ; Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the annular sta— braided fabric. ' ' > as5 One object of the invention is to provide means tionary strand support with which the beater 10 parts cooperate; and fo'r'controllin-g the disposition of the strands as Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13 are plan views showing they merge in the fabric being braided. braiding machines for producing tubular braids Another object of the invention is to provide the relationship of the crossing strands as they control means which‘ act to maintain the braiding lead to the braid and illustrating the manner angle of the strands substantially constant to pro‘ duce a more uniform braid. in which their crossing points are periodically 70, shifted by means of the vibrating beater device. The invention is herein shown ‘as applied to a Another object of the invention is to provide means for raising or lifting the braiding strands machine of the type described and illustrated in at intervals during their passage into the fabric United States Letters Patent No. 1,602,442, dated October 12, 1926, wherein two sets of yarn-sup the crossing points to impose undue tension plies are arranged in tiers and revolved in oppo 20 toprevent them from catching and dragging at thereon. ’ Another object'of the invention is ‘to provide in a machine of the type speci?ed a central man 25 drel or'fornier around which the strands are braided in relatively tight formation and the tubular braid thereafter pushed off either in the site ‘directions about the axis of the machine. The strands of yarn from the supplies of the upper tier lead directly to the braiding point and the strands from the ‘lower supplies are caused 80. to pass over and under the supplies of the upper set to perform the braiding operation. It is to form of sleeving or as a braided covering which be understood, however, that the present improve ments may be applied to other forms of braiding ‘ 85 Another object of the invention is to provide a or like machines. Referring ?rst to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the strand-controlling and braid-softening device of simple construction, proof against derangement braiding machine as herein shown is mounted or getting out of order and which may be easily upon a frame 2 supported from the floor by legs applied to machines already in use without ina 3 and comprises oppositely rotating heads 4 and 90 5 carrying upper and ‘lower supply-carriers 6 " ter‘ial change in the construction thereof. ¥ Further objects of ‘the improvement are set and '7. The carriers 6 and '7 carry the supply forth in the following speci?cation which de packages P and P’ from which the yarn, thread scribes a preferred embodiment of the invention, or other strand material feeds upwardly to the by way of example, as illustrated by the accom braiding point of the machine. 'The upper pack ages P are arranged circumferentially of the head 40 panying drawings. In the drawings: 1 is a front elevation of a braiding machine 4 with their axes inclined toward the vertical embodying the improved features of the present axis of the machine and the strands :1/ drawing is loose on its core. 30 off from the supplies pass through tension-de Fig. '2 is a vertical se'ctionalview through the vices, indicated generally by the reference char 100 ’ central turret of the machine and illustrating acter l0, and thence lead to the braiding point the strand-controllingor beater elements in de to be enmeshed in the braid. The lower pack invention; pressed position; r’ig. 3 is a similar sectional view showing the ages 'P' are supported on the carriers or brackets '7 spaced about the head 5 with their axes ar beater device in raised position at the completion ranged substantially at right-angles to the axes 105 of the upper packages P. ‘The strands y’ from of the stroke to lift the strands; Fig. 4 ‘is an enlarged plan View of the central the packages P" pass through tension-devices 11 turret of the braiding machine shown with a and thence draw upwardly to the fabric being braided. During the revolution of the supplies portion of its cap or cover broken away to illus in opposite directions about the axis of the ‘crate the mechanism enclomd therein; the strands from the lower packages 110 Fig. :5 is a plan view of "the driving means for 2 1,968,240 P’ are caused to pass over and under the upper carriers 6 by the operation of means as shown by screws 45. Held fast within the bore of the bushing 43 is a tubular sleeve 46 extending up and described in the patent above referred to. wardly therefrom to support a tubular mandrel The machine is driven from a shaft 12 journaled or former 50 which serves as an element of the in a bracket 13 at one side of the frame 2 and carrying a pulley 14 which may be belted to a motor or other suitable source of power. The braid-softener. The forming mandrel 50 about which the strands. are enmeshed or braided takes the form inner endof the shaft 12 is connected to drive of a nozzle-shaped tube having a lower enlarged the heads 4 and 5 through the means of gearing base 51 which is exteriorly threaded to screw into 10 in the manner as illustrated in the prior patent ‘the upper interiorly threaded end of the sleeve 46. before referred to. In braiding machines of the type herein illus The upper shank portion 52 of the mandrel 50 has its periphery tapered to adapt the tubular trated the core w upon which the covering is braided, or in other cases the tubular fabric it fabric to slide off from its end after the strands are braided, therearounvd. The base of the man 15 self, is fed through the machine by means of a drel 50 has its axial bore flared outwardly at the The capstan 15 is bottom to form a bell-shaped mouth for facilitat— journaled on a stud-shaft 16 fast in a cross ing the threading of the core to through the tubu strut 17 extending diagonally‘ across the top of lar shank 52 in preparing the machine for opera the machine and supported by uprights or stand tion. 7 The shank 52 of the mandrel 50 is shoul 20 ards i8 rising from the frame 2. The capstan dered at 55 to form an enlarged cylindrical bear 95 15 is driven from the machine by means of gear ing 54 below its tapered portion.‘ A plurality, of ing as next described. A pinion-gear 19 on the grooves 53 are formed in the cylindrical portion machine drive-shaft 12 meshes with a larger gear 54 of the mandrel 50 to provide keyways for a 20 fast on a shaft 21 which is journaled in the reciprocable dome 82 to be later described. Re 25 bearing bracket 13. Keyed to the end of the ferring to Figs. 7 and 8, the mandrel 50 as herein L503 take-up reel or capstan 15. shaft 21 is a gear 22 which meshes with a simi lar gear 23 connected to a sprocket 24. The sprocket 24 is connected by a chain 25 to drive a sprocket 26 fast on a shaft 27 which is jour 30 naled in a bearing 28. Keyed to the opposite end shown is adapted to accommodate a core of cir cular cross-section and of relatively smalldiam eter but in other cases it may be much larger and‘ take different forms. For example, when a r,ec-' tangular, elliptical or polygonal core is to be cov of the shaft 27 is a change-gear 29 which meshes ered a mandrel having similarly formed outer with a larger change-gear 30 on a shaft 31. The and inner contours may be provided. , hub of the gear 30 carries a sprocket 32 which is‘ Surrounding the upper end of the sleever46 is a connected by a chain 33 to drive a sprocket 34 35 fast on the end of an upper shaft 35. The shaft‘ 35 is journaled in a bearing in the cross-strut 17. At its opposite end the shaft 35 carries a small pinion gear 36 which meshes with a ring” gear 37 on the side of the rim'of the capstan 15. 40 It will be understood that through the gear train and chain connections above described the cap stan 15 is driven from the drive-shaft 12 at a reduced rate of speed to take up the braided product which is fed therefrom to a wind-up 45 reel, not shown, in accordance with the usual ar rangement. The rate of feed of the braided ma bushing 57 formed with a circumferential ?ange 58 at its lower end which rests upon the ?ange 44 i ' of the bushing 43. The bushing 57 is slitted cir cumferentially at 56 and split longitudinally on one side as shown at 59 in Figs. 2 and ‘5 to provide a resilient section adapted to be clamped tightly around the sleeve 46 by means to be later de- ‘1 scribed.‘ Rotatably, mounted on the bushing 57 and abutting its bottom ?ange 58 is a gear 601 having’ an annular rim formed with beveled teeth. The gear 60 constitutes the driving element for actuating the'beater mechanism in the manner i as later explained. The gear 60 is formedwithj terial is governed by the speed of revolution of a radial arm 61 adapted to engage-with the side, the braiding carriers, the diameter of the core of a stud 63 projecting upwardly from the turret and the size of yarn being braided to produce a like top of the head 4 whereby the gear is rotated 50 fabric having the required number of > picks or crosses per inch. To vary the feed the speed of by and with the head. The stud 63 projects up ' 55 trolled by means of a starting handle 38 connect the yarn-carriers. 7 wardly through an arcuate slot 64 in the top'of the capstan may be altered by substituting gears the turret, ‘see Fig. 4, to adapt it for adjustment. of different ratio for the change-gears 29 and 30. circumferentially of the head to time the action The operation of the machine is manually con-. of the beater synchronously with the movement of ed to a shipper-arm 39 for operating a clutch, in dicated generally at 40 in Fig. 1.- The clutch 40 A nut 65 on the stud 63se- 1.: cures the latter in adjusted position. Clamped around the bushing 57 above the an~4 connects the pulley 14 rotatively with the shaft nular gear 60 is a spider-member .68 formed with. 12 to drive the heads 4 and 5 which revolve the Suit 60 supply-carriers 6 and 7 in their orbits. able stopping mechanism is usually provided for arresting the operation of the machine when a strand breaks'or its supply is exhausted, such a form of mechanism being shown and described. 65: in United States Letters Patent No. 1,085,369, dated January 27, 1914. ' a pluralityv of arms 69 radiating from a central hub 70, see Fig.;4.-- The hub .70 is split at 71 and ~.~ provided with ears 72 through which extendsa binding screw 73. The screw 73 serves to clamp, the spider-member 68 to the bushing 57 and the latter in turn contracts the split section of the bushing around the inner sleeve 46'. In this man- , ner the bushing 57 and spider-member 68 are secured fast to the inner sleeve 46 which is 'sta-. The strand-manipulator and braid-softener of the present invention is organized with the braid—' tionary with the post 42. The ends of the radial ing machine in the manner as next described. T Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, 42 designates a central hollow post or axial bearing member which is sta-' tionary with the frame of the machine and about, which the heads 4 and 5 rotate. The axial bore of ' arms 69 of the spider-member 68 are recessed at 74 to provide seats for engagement with an an?’ 1: nular shouldered seat 75 on the inside of a cap 76 which is supported thereon above the top of the turret on the head 4; The cap 76 serves as a cover _ the post 42 is lined with a bushing 43 having an; for enclosing the operating elements of the heater annular ?ange 44 secured to the top of the post: and is provided with an upwardly projecting ring 1 3 1596.8,240 or annulus 77 ?tted to an interior seat '78 therein. clearly in Fig. 8 of the drawings, and in the The upper rim of the ring ‘7'7 is rounded on its lower edge of the lateral portion of the slot 95 is edges to provide a smooth rest or support for the an arcuately shaped depression or notch 96. A strands of yarn as they draw thereacross in feed stud 97 riveted through the annular shell 87 of the ing to the braid. Supported from the spider-member‘ 6'8 isa. sec ond inner ring or annular rest for the strands consisting in a cylinder '79 formed with depending legs 80 as shown in detail in Fig. 9. The legs 30 of the annulus '79 are fastened to an upper vertical ?ange-portion 81 of the spider-member 68 by, means of screws 83, see Fig. 2. The upper rim of the annulus 79 is positioned slightly above the top beater 84 projects radially therefrom for engage ment with the bayoneteslot 95 in the skirt of the dome 82. It will be noted that the lateral por tion of the slot 95 is tapered and by turning the dome in clockwise direction the stud v97 is caused to slide into the narrower portion of the slot to .85 force it into the depression or notch 96. A spanner wrench may be used for turning the dome, being provided with prongs for engaging holes 99 in the of the outer ring or annulus 77 on the cap '16 as de sides of the dome. In this way the dome 82 may under the yarns y from the upper set of supplies dome in securing the latter in position and con sequently the threaded base of the mandrel is not seated before the dome is applied to posi~ tion. be attached to the beater after the latter is in 15 ?ned by the inclination of the strands leading place while providing for its convenient removal thereacross to the braiding point. The strands drawing across the ?xed rings or therefrom when occasion requires. It is further annuli 7'7 and 79 in feeding to the braiding point noted that since the dome 821's keyed to the man cross and recross each other in pairs as the yarns drel 50 by the prongs 90 engaging the grooves 53 y’ from the lower supplies are de?ected over and in the latter, the. mandrel will be turned with the 20 by the braiding action. As the crossing points of the strands approach the rim of the outer annulus '77, and likewise that of the inner annulus '79, in passing into the braid the crosses tend to catch 25 90 The arms 86 depending from the beater 85 are 100 on the rings to impede their progress intorthe' braid. This will result in a drag which aug ments the tension on the strands to draw them tighter and cause irregularities in the braided bowed outwardly and then extended downwardly chine comprises essentially a vertically recipro cable ring or annulus 85 disposed concentrically with and between the outer ?xed annulus '77 and the inner ?xed annulus 79. The beater 84 is shown in detail in Fig. '7 of the drawings as com sleeves 106 project axially from the sides of the cam-disks 105 to abut the ends of the bosses 109 120 and take the form of beveled pinions having teeth on their peripheries engaging the teeth of the driving gear 60. Through these connections the means as later described. The top of the dome 82 sleeve 46 until its shouldered portion brings up '» or" the ring or annulus '77 and provided at its with a circular aperture 88 through which the forming mandrel 50 projects. The rim of the aperture 38 in the dome 82 is formed with teeth or prongs 90 projecting radially into the grooves 53 in the mandrel 50 whereby to key the dome turned back in the reverse direction approxi mately two full turns and the dome 82 placed over its end and slid downwardly thereon with its to slide in vertical slots 100 in the hub of the spider-member 68, see Figs. 2 and 3. Riveted through the lower end of each arm 86 is a shoul fabric. In such conditions, as the crosses are derecl stud 101 which serves as a journal for a bowl 105 ?nally released to slide over the rings the ten or roller 102. ‘The rollers 102 journaled on the sion on the strands will be suddenly relieved to arms 36 are engaged with undulating cam-grooves further disturb the uniformity of the braid. It 104- in three. disks 105, see Figs. 5 and 6, carried is one object of the present invention to preserve by the spider-member 68. The cam-disks 105 ' the uniformity of the braided fabric by preventing have hubs secured rotatively to inner sleeves 106 118 the crosses in the strands from catching or being by means‘ of keys 107 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. impeded as they pass into the braid and for this The sleeves 106 are journaled on pins 108 pro purpose a reciprocating heater is provided to pc jecting from radial bosses 109 on the sides of the riodically lift the strands off from their rests or hub of the spider-member 68 and secured in the supports to free the crosses so that their passage bosses by cross-pins 110. Washers 111 are held 115 against the outer ends of the hubs of the cam into the fabric will be unhindered. Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 3 and 7, the disks 105 by means of cotter pins 112 engaged in‘ beater device 84 as embodied in the present ma holes in the ends of the journal pins 108. The prising a cylindrical portion 85 surrounding the cam-disks 105 are rotated from the turning move inner ?xed ring '79 and provided with three de ment. of the gear 60 with the head 4 and the cam 1.2a. pending arms 86, only one of which is shown in grooves 104 arethereby caused to reciprocate the the drawings, by means of which it is reciprocated. . beater with a relatively rapid oscillating motion Also forming a part of the beater 84 is an inner as the heads 4 and '5 revolve in opposite directions annulus or cylindrical shell 87 which surrounds about the axis of the machine. The method of operation of the complete ma 13d the central sleeve 45 and is adapted to slide up and down thereon. Surmounting or capping the chineis as next explained. To prepare the braider foroperation a mandrel 50 of suitable form and inner annulus or shell 87 is the dome 82,.pre viously referred to, which is ?tted to a reduced seat size is selected and applied to the top of the ma on the beater and removably secured thereto by chine by screwing its base 51 into the end of the is of spherical shape projecting above the top against the top thereof. The mandrel 50 is then prongs 90 engaging the grooves 53. As the dome . .82 is slid downwardly the stud 97 on the beater ' 84: is entered into the vertical portion of the bayo net-slot 95 and by manually turning the dome the thereto to prevent it from rotating therearound. Preferably, the upper surface of the demo 8?. is stud is caused to slide into the lateral portion of r ' scored with a series of concentric grooves 91, thus providing that the strands drawing thereacross to the braid are relieved of frictional contact with the slot to engage with the notch 96 to lock the partsv in connection. - ' 7 When a core such as a wire, represented in the drawings at w, is to be covered with braid, or in The lower cylindrical skirt of thedome 82 is other cases when the braided covering is to be 150 ' formed with a bayonet-slot 95, as illustrated most applied to a rubber tube or hose pipe, the core is the full surface of the dome. 4.. 1,968,240 led upwardly from its supply reel,§.not herein less diagrammatically .in ' Figs. 10 to 13 of the shown and passed through the axial opening of drawings as viewed in connection with Figs. 2 and the machine and the bore of the 'mandrel’50 as 3. ' In Fig.‘ 10, which is a plan view ‘of the operat shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The leading end of .the ing elements of the beater device, the strands of wire 20 or other core" is then passed around the yarn y and y’ are shown in position correspond 80 rim of the take-up wheel or capstan 15 to cause ing to their relationship‘ to the parts-as illustrated it to be fed through the machine when the braid; in Fig. 2 of the drawings. That is to say, at this ing operation is started. point in the operation of the machine the strands The supply-packages P and P’ of yarn, thread, y and 1/’ rest across the edges of the ?xed rings 77 cord or other strand material are applied to the and 79 and those of each pair are crossed at a 85 upper and lower carriers 6 and 7 and the strands point outside of the periphery of the outer ?xed y and y’ drawn off therefrom and passed through ring '77. With the strands thus disposed their the tension-devices 10 and 11 to lead toethe braid crosses will tend to catch or drag on the edge of ing point above the top of the dome 82. The ends the ring 77 to impede their progress into the 15 of the strands may be fastened to the mandrel fabric. To prevent such a contingency the op 90 50 or otherwise secured to hold them .until the eration of the beater device is so timed that be braiding operation commences. ' fore the crosses in the yarns reach the location To start the braiding operation the handle 38 is shown in Fig. 10 the beater ring85 starts to rise manually shifted to clutch the pulley 14 to the to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. I drive-shaftv 12. Through the connections before That is to say, as the crosses reach the rim of 95 described the shaft 12 rotates the heads 4 and5 in the-outer ?xed ring '77 the beater-ring 85 rises opposite directions to ‘revolve the supply-pacl_<—. and lifts the several pairs of crossing yarns away ages P and P’ about the axis 'of the machine. To” from the top of the ?xed rings '77 and ‘79; the effect the braiding action the strands y’ from" dome 82 being also simultaneously raised to lift 25.. the lower ' supplies are de?ected from a normal the'strands at the point where they merge in the course to pass them alternately over and under the braid. Under this action the crosses will advance 100 upper strands y in the prescribed order‘ to ‘form' inwardly to the edge of the beater-ring 85 as the braid in accordance with the desired pattern. shown in Fig. 11. . ‘The beater is now depressed Simultaneously with the turning movement of the or slid downwardly whereby the strands will again 301 heads 4 and 5 the capstan 15 is rotated to feed rest on the two ?xed rings '77 and Y9, the position the core to through the machine and deliverithe of the crosses at this juncture being illustrated, 105 braided product to a wind-up reel, not herein il in Fig. 12 of the diagrammatic views. lustrated. The strandsy-and'y’ draw across the It has been explained that the movement of upper rim of the ?xed rings 77 and 79 as they lead the beater is very rapid and, consequently, before to the braiding point which is normally located the crossing points of the yarns. advance to the above the shouldered portion 55 of the forming edge of the inner ?xed ring ‘79 the beater-ring 85 110 mandrel 50. The strands are enmeshed by thev is'once again moved upwardly to lift the strands braiding action to form a tubular braid b enclosing away from the ring '79. This action occurs'with the mandrel 50 which, as before noted, tapers to the strands related as shown in Fig. 12. After the 40 ward its upper end so that the fabric ‘may. be crossing points of the strands have passed in 'readily slid off therefrom. As the mandrel is wardly beyond the ?xed ring '79 the beater is de 115 greater in circumference than the wire or other pressed once more and ?nally the crosses rest on core to which the fabric b is applied its use results ‘ the'grooved crown of the‘ dome 82 as indicated in a relatively-loose fabric on the core. That is in Fig. 13 of the diagrammatic views. At this 45 to say, while the strands may be braidedv tightly point in the braiding operation the rapid oscilla 120) 'about the mandrel as is required to, secure a tion of the ‘beater prevents the crosses in the smooth, uniform fabric, when the tubular braid strands from being retarded in their advance to is slipped off from the mandrel it will be relatively. the fabric being braided. The purpose of the loose on the core. Likewise, if no core is used; grooves 91 on the dome is, as before noted, to re when the tightly braided tubular fabric is slipped lieve the'friction on the strands by providing a I ‘oil’ from the mandrel it becomes relatively'loose plurality of contact points rather than an ex and soft without tendency of the strands to draw tended surface. ' together to reduce its size. The feeding ofthe During the continuation of the braiding opera— core or the braided tube under the action, of the capstan tends to draw the fabricb off from the tion the beater device'functions as above ex-" ' mandrel but actually the tubular braid is pushed-v plained to intermittently raise the strands off 130 upwardly to feed it 01f the end of- the mandrel by from their ?xed rests to insure the unhindered the reciprocating action of the dome 82,‘ carried‘ progress of their crosses into the braid. Mean by the beater 84, which is intermittently, raised while, the oscillating action of the dome 82 causes the braid b to be continuously pushed or urged . against the strands as they merge into thefabric. The heater and braid-softener cooperate with upwardly on the tapered‘mandrel 50 so that it 135 the braiding mechanism of the machine in the: will feed off from the end thereof to enclose the manner as next explained. During the rotation core passing through the axial bore of the man drel or, in other cases, to assume the form of loose of the heads 4 and 5 the gear 60 is driven from ly braided sleeving. ' the head 4 to effect rotation of the cam-disks 7105 In order that the beater may function proper 140 at a relatively rapid rate. The cam-disks 105 act lyvin synchronism with the braiding action it‘ through the arms 86 to vertically reciprocate the must be timed accurately with the other going beater 84 whereby to rapidlyoscillate its ring 85 elements of the machine. The timing of the beat and the dome 82. The effect of the oscillation of; eris effected by adjusting the angular relation these parts is to periodically lift the strands from. ship of the gear 60 with respectto the driving their supports on the ?xed rings '77 and 79, the head 4,‘ this adjustment being accomplished by M5 purpose being tofree the strands at theircross sliding the stud 63 in its slot 64. The closeness or ing points so as to prevent the crosses. from density of the braid is regulated by the size of the, catching and impeding the progress of the yarns yarn and the diameter‘ of the lower portion of ;into the braid. This action is illustrated more'or the tapered shank 52 of the mandrel 50 where the 150 5,968,246 braiding actiontakes place. The degree of‘ con striction of the braid on the core is governed by the rate of’ feed of the fabric o? the mandrel in relation to the rate of feed of the core; it being noted that to render the fabric loose on the core it must be fed from the mandrel at- a rate faster than that of the advance of the core. To regulate this characteristic of ‘ the braided product the 5, annuli, and means for reciprocating the third annulus and the inner rest. 4. In a braiding machine, the combination of braiding mechanism, a central post arranged axially of said mechanism, an annular beater reciprocable axially on said post, a member fast on the-post, a cam journaled on said member to rotate on an axis extending radially thereof, a ratio between the speed of rotation of the capstan follower on the beater engaging the cam, a gear - I0 80 and the speedy of the revolving supplies is adjusted on t‘ie cam, and a gear rotatable on the post and 85 by means of the change-gears 29 and 30. 1 ' ' meshing with the gear ‘on the cam to rotate the It will be observed from ‘the foregoing that the latter. 5. Li a braiding machine, the combination of present invention provides a highly'e?icient, ‘autc— matiomachine for fabricating tubular coverings braiding mechanism, a post arranged axially of themachine, a beater reciprocable longitudinally ducing soft-braided sleeving. The mandrel pro of the post to periodically engage the strands 15 for wire, hose pipes and other cores, or for pro» vides a. ?xed former around which the strands leading to the braiding point,v a follower on said may-be braided under relatively ‘heavy tension beater, a cam journaled to rotate on anaxis ex whereby to permit high speed operation of the tending radially of the post and'engaging the £20 machine to secure a rapid rate of production and follower on the beater, a gear on said cam, and a a uniformproduct. The operation of the machine gear driven with the braiding mechanism and may be controlled to produce a tubular fabric meshing with the‘ gear .on the cam to rotate the having the strands braided uniformly about a cen latter. 6. In a. braiding machine, the combination of tral core with any desired degree of looseness or tightness thereon. A loose braid of this nature means for interlacing strands to form a braid, an 100 axially arranged mandrel around which the is of advantage for covering wire or other con ductors which are ?rst sheathed with soft insue strands are braided, a central strand-rest enclos lating material such as unvulcanized rubber and ing the mandrel and reciprocable longitudinally also for reinforcing hose pipe before its rubber thereof, ‘?xed annular rests arranged coneentri~ cally- of the mandrel to adapt the strands to draw 105 walls are vulcanized. I ‘ thereacross in feeding to the braid, a vibratory > The present machine has various other uses annulus arranged concentric with and between such, ‘for example, as braiding soft coverings on the ?xed annuli, and means to oscillate the vibra~ telephone cords or the like to render them more tory annulus and the central strand rest to peri pliable and for producing tubular braid which may odically lift the strands away from the ?xed 110 ~ be used as sleeving adapted to numerous purposes. annuli. 5 While the invention is herein illustrated and '7. In a braiding machine, the combination of described in a preferred form of construction and means for interlacing strands to form a braid, as applied to a-particular type of machine, it is to an axially arranged mandrel around which the be understood that various modi?cations may be strands are braided, ?xed annular rests arranged .919 1 made in the form and arrangement of the parts concentrically oi. the mandrel to adapt the of the device and in its application to use without strands to draw thereacross in feeding to the departing from the spirit or scope of the inven braid, a vibratory annulus arranged concentric tion. Therefore, without limiting myself in this with and between the ?xed annuli, means. for oscillating the vibratory annulus to periodically 120 in; respect, I claim: 1. In a braiding machine, the combination of lift the strands from the ?xed annuli, and an a braiding mechanism, a central support, a form element movable with the vibratory annulus and an annulus surrounding the mandrel in spaced cally engage the strands adjacent the braiding ing mandrel projecting axially from said support, surrounding the mandrel to adapt it to periodi point to force the braided fabric toward the end 3125 a dome carried by said annulus in axial relation of the mandrel. 8. In a braiding machine, the combination of thereto and provided with an opening through which the mandrel projects, and means for recip two sets of revolving strand supplies, means for rocating the annulus to oscillate the dome longi interlacing the strands from the supplies to form a tubular braid, a turret arranged axially of - H tudinally of the mandrel. 130 2. In a braiding machine, the combination of the strand supplies, an outer ?xed ring sup ported from the turret to adapt the strands to braiding mechanism, a support arranged axially of the braiding mechanism, a forming mandrel draw thereacross in feeding to the braid, an projecting axially from said support, an annular inner ?xed ring supported from the turret in member surrounding the mandrel in spaced rela concentric relation with the outer ring, a recip (F39 V. tion thereto and reciprocable on said support, a rocatory ring arranged between and concentric member carried by said annular member in axial with the ?xed rings, means operated synchro relation thereto and provided with a portion sur nously with the braiding action to reciprocate rounding the axial mandrel, and means for recip the vibratory ring to periodically raise the strands rocating said annular member longitudinally of away from the ?xed rings, and a member carried 140 by the vibratory ring with its upper portion sur its axis. 3. In a braiding machine, the combination of rounding the mandrei to adapt it to be recip braiding mechanism, a support arranged axially rccated therealong to feed the braided fabric off of the braiding mechanism, an annulus carried the end of the mandrel. 9. In a braiding machine, the combination of ._ 1» by said support and disposed to provide a rest for the strands leading to the braiding point, a sec braiding mechanism, a tubular support arranged ond ?xed annular rest arranged concentrically of axially of the braiding mechanism, a forming mandrel projecting axially from said support, the ?rst annulus, a third reciprocable annulus ar ranged between the outer and inner annular rests, an annular beater reciprocable axially with re _ an inner reciprocable rest arranged axially of said spect to the mandrel, means for reciprocating ~~ H relation thereto and reciprocable on the support, 6 1,968,246 the beater, a dome mounted on the beater with combination of a hollow mandrel, ‘means for’ the mandrel projecting through an opening in feeding a core through the mandrel at a pre its top, said dome formed with a bayonet-slot, determined rate, means for applying strands and a stud projecting from the beater for en around the mandrel to form a tubular covering gagement with the bayonet-slot in the dome to for the core, and means for forcing the covering 80 secure the parts in connected relationship. 01f from the end of the mandrel at a faster rate 10. In a braiding machine, the combination than the feed of the corewhereby to apply it of braiding mechanism, a tubular support ar to the core without constriction of the strands ranged axially thereof, a tubular mandrel se thereon. '10 cured in the end of thertubular support, an 13. In a machine of the type speci?ed,‘ the annular beater reciprocable longitudinally of the combination of a hollow mandrel, means for tubular support, a dome-shaped member mount feeding a core through the mandrel at apre ed on ‘the beater with the mandrel projecting determined rate, means for applying a plurality through an opening in its top, said dome formed of strands to the outside of the mandrel to form $15 with a bayonet-slot in its skirt with a notch a covering for the core, and intermittently op ~90 in the lateral portion thereof, a stud projecting erated means for pushing the covering off from from the beater to adapt it to be entered into the end of the mandrel at a faster rate than the bayonet-slot in the dome to engage it with the feed of the core to apply the covering loosely the notch therein, and means for reciprocating around the core. the beater to oscillate the dome longitudinally 14. In a machine of the type speci?ed, the 95 of the mandrel. combination of a tubular‘ mandrel, means for 11. In a braiding machine, the combination of feeding a core through the mandrel at a pre braiding mechanism, a turret extending axially determined rate, means for interlacing strands thereof, a tubular support extending axially of to form a tubular fabric around the mandrel, 25 the turret, a ring supported from the turret in and means for pushing the fabric off from the 100 position to provide a rest for the strands feeding end of the mandrel at a faster rate than the to the braiding point, a member secured to the feed of the core whereby to prevent the fabric inner tubular support, an annulus carried on from constricting the core. said member in concentric relation with the outer 15. In a machine of the type speci?ed, the ?xed annulus, a beater surrounding the central combination of a tapered forming mandrel hav 105 tubular support and reciprocable longitudinally ing a longitudinal bore, means for feeding a thereof, said beater formed with an annulus ar core through the mandrel at a predetermined ranged concentric with the ?xed annuli, and rate, means for interlacing strands, to form a means for reciprocating the beater to cause its tubular fabric around the mandrel, and means annular portion to raise the strands off from the for pushing the core off from the end of the 110 ?xed annuli to prevent their crosses from drag mandrel onto the core at a faster rate than ging thereon to impede their progress into the the feed of the latter to prevent constriction of braid. the fabric thereon. 12. In a machine of the type speci?ed, the WILLARD W. BARDSLEY. 115 45 120 50 125 5,5 130 135 65 140 :10 145 r 150
© Copyright 2024