US1997210A - Strands and a method of assembling them - Google Patents

Description

April 9, 1935. B. K. FORD El AL 1,997,210

STRANDS AND A METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THEM Filed May 13, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l lNVENTORS 8. K. FORD L. L. WEAVER ATTORNEY April 1935- I B. K. FORD'ET AL 1,997,210

STRANDS AND A METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THEM Filed May 15, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 "9'; //vv/v Tops a. x. FOR 0 L. L. WEA VYER 7 8 R.

A TTORN Y April 9, 1935. B. K. FORD El AL 1,997,210

STRANDS AND A METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THEM Filed May 13, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 3.

B. K. FORD L.L. WEAVER 55 INVENTORS B. K. FORD EI'AL STRANDS AND A METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THEM Filed May 13, 1932 April 9, 1935. 1,997,210

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 a. x. FORD 1.. 1.. WEAVER fiRMW A TTORNE) m m TOPS April 9, 1935 FQRD ET AL 1,997,210

STRANDS AND A METHOD QF ASSEMBLING THEM Filed May 13, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS FORD L. LJVEAVER 8) ATTORNEY which embodies Patented Apr. 9, 1935 ,STRANDS AND A'METHO'D or Q I THEM Ben K. Ford, Westfield, ford, N.-J., assignors.

AssnMBLING andLeo'L. WeavenCran to Western Electric Com pany, Incorporated, New )Iork,-,N.,Y., a. corporation of New York Application May 13,

' vjcl inis,

This invention relates to strands and a method of assembling them, and more'particularly to'the continuous braiding of textile coverings for conductor cords. c

An object of the invention is. to'provide a strand assembly of a new and improved construction, and an improved methodof producing the strand assembly. 7

In the preferred embodiment of the invention apparatus for moving a strand at different speeds and in forward-and reverse directions through a braiding machine is provided in order that a braided covering may be .appliedto the strand I which is of difie'rent texture or mesh;'and which is oppositely directed at different portions of the covering. The reversal of the direction 'ofmovement of the strandpermits thebraiding ofa second layer of covering over the first, and the vrestoration of forward movement permits the braiding of a third layer'of coveringwherebya reenforcement comprising aplurality of layers of coveringmay be produced on portions 'ofthe, strand. The braiding material connecting one of the layers to another may be severedtoperz'nit the outer covering to taper uniformly over the end of a reenforcing portion. i These and other objects and'advantages of the inventionwill become apparent from the following detaile'd description pf one embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanyf ing drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a braiding machine; 1

Fig; 2 is an elevational view of the side'of-the same machine on whichthe timing mechanism is carried; I

Figs. 3 and 4, when" perspective the driving andcontrolling mechanism of the braiding machinef I Figs. 5 and 6 show'in elevation an-electrical cord in partial stagesof'completion;

Fig. 7shows in elevation a completed cord in accordance with the invention, and Fig; 8 is a-to'p plan view of the driving and controllingrnechanism of the braiding machine. Referring to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate"corresponding parts throughout the several I Figs. 1 and"'2,"the strand assembling machine the invention has airame I!) mounted onlegs H. posite cornersof the, frame lfl are upright posts 7 Hand !3 which supporta crossmemben l l. The frame it supports a braidinghead l8 of any placed side by side withf Fig. 3 at'the left of Figgi; show-schematically'in ewe, and particularly to Secured to diagonally op 1932, Serial no; 611,01

'(Cl.96-3) p well known type consisting of the usual rotatable carriers for carrying theinner and outer sets of bobbins or cops; l9 and 20, respectively,-of any suitable braiding" material, preferably in the form of strands," such, for example, as thread or twine, the carriers beingrotated by the motor 22, which is supported by the frame I'll, through the motor shaft 23;. gears 24 and 25, shaft 28,,

bevel gear 29, and toothed ring 30 (shown in Fig- 8). The braiding head l8 i'smountedi'n'the sta'-' tionary housing 32 supported by brackets 33 on .theframem,- f As sho'vslninFigs; 1, 2 and'3 acylindrical tube 34 having'a supporting flange 35 is vertically supported inthe frame It in coaxial relation to the rotatable bobbin" carriers:- Theftube 34 has slidably'mounted' therein- "a; cylindrical tube 36 "which extends abovethe top ofjthe The cut-- ed in the collar 45'- turned end forend when the upper end becomes dullil A' hollow'i'nandrel tube 41 extends through the collar 45 coaxially thereof, and the mandrel 41 'is providedwith longitudinal grooves 48 over a considerable portion of its length to receive the inner edges of the cutter members 46. The cutter members thus center the mandrel in the collar 45;-the' groovesof themandrel cooperate with those of} the collar to" retain the cutters, and by reasonof theiact that grooves of the mandrel arelongerthanthe cutters, relative axial movement between the mandrel and the collar 45 is. permitted. The mandrel tube is providedat its upper end with aconicaltip 49 having a shoulder where it joins 'the mainbody oithe mandrel, the tip '49 to the grooves of the mandrel. In the normal or lowered position of the edges of the cutter members are disposed within the slots inthe tip 49 at a" point slightly above the shoulder-44 The-mandrel 41 fitsinto and is supported at its through lower end by a block fifl which has oppositely ex-,

passing tending (pins: 5|

and are provided withi two' cutting edges in ordenthat' they may be I d I elongated slots 52 in thelower'portion'of the tube 36 andien- 7 tube 34. The tube 36 is provided-with a plurality of holes 31 ar- 46 having oblique cutbeing slotted to correspond mandrel the cutting;

supported by bars 59 supported by the legsIL. Thefshaft 58 has j ournalled thereon intermediate the sprockets 56 a sheave'62 for guiding a strand. The chains. 53 support a shaft 63 which has 1 journalled' thereon a sheave 64 also for guiding a strand.

At the base of the machine, brackets 61 are I provided for supporting a supply reel iflfcontain ing a continuous supply of'strand '69 which is to receive a braided covering. At thetop of the machine, on the member I4, is mounted a bracket 70 which supports a grooved sheave II. The upright post I3 supports a bracket I2 in which is journalled a shaft 13 which has its axis substantially parallel to-the axis of the sheave II. A multi-grooved capstan 15 is keyed to the shaft. I3 in alignment'with the sheave II; The capstan I5 is employed to advance a strand through the machine, and it is driven by the shaft I3 in agnslnner whichv will presently be described; At, the base of the machine, brackets I8 are provided for supporting a take-up spool;1 9 which is mountedon a shaft 80andis driven in a manner to be described later.-

: thereon the gears The path of a strand or group of strandsthat is to receivea'braided covering'isu-pward from the supply spool '68, over sheave 64, downward and under the sheave 62, up through the interior of thehollowmandrel41,and outatthe top of the braiding head. The material from thebobbins I9 and 20.is applied-to the strand to formrthe. braided covering just above the braiding head, as indicated at 84, which is the braiding point. Aiguard bracket 85 havingan aperture through through whichthe braidedcord .may pass is mounted on themember I4and has the:gua rd portion 86 to prevent the braiding point from exceeding the desired distance abovethe'braiding head. A vertically bored member 88 is secured to the member I4, andfrom the braiding point the braided cordpasses through the guard portion 85 of the member 85 and -through the mem-; ber 88 to the firstgrooveof thesheave II and then to the first groove of the capstan 15. The sheave and the capstanare preferably each provided with four grooves, so that the cord may advance four times to the'capstanand return three times to the sheave. From the last groove of the capstan the cord goes to take-up'spool, andisreeled thereon. a I The drivefor thecapstan 15,.the take-up spool IS, the chains 53; and for. timing mechanism which will presently be describedais obtained from the shaft 28 whichdrives the rotatable bobbin carriers, and which is driven by'themotor 22. The shaft 28 has keyed thereto a bevel gear 90 that meshes with a bevel gear 9| carried by a shaft: 92;which extends into a gear box 93. The gearbox contains change speed and reverse gearing shownin Fig. 4. v "Referring to Fig. 4, the shaft 02, which is journalled in-the gear box 93, hasfreely rotatable.

w v e I00, IOI, and I 2,;each of which has secured thereto a notched or toothed hubor collar, represented by the reference numerals I 04,

I05, and I05 respectively. The gears I00,;IOI, and I02differ from each other in size and number of teeth, inthe preferred arrangement, the gear I00 has an annular groove,

freely rotatable multi-y less chain being the largest, the gear IOI spacedly adjacent thereto being the smallest, and the gear I 02 being of a size intermediate those of the other two. The shaft 92 has mounted thereon intermediate the gears I00 and BI, a collar I08 which has teeth at its opposite ends corresponding to the teeth of the hub members I04 and. I05. The collar I08 is loosely splined or keyed to the shaft 92so as to be rotatable therewith and slidable thereon, and it I09 in the periphery thereof in which is disposed a yoke portion I I0 of a .lever II I which is pivotally mounted at II 2. By

rocking the lever II I, the collar I08 may be moved into engagement with either of the hub members [I 04 and I05 toestablish driving connection between the shaft 92 and either of the gears I00 and I 0|.

The'shaft 92 also carries adjacent to the hub member I06 of the gear I02 a collar II5 having teeth at one end thereof for engagement with the toothed hub member I06. The collar I I5 is loosely splined or keyed on the shaft 92 to rotate therewith and slide thereon, and is provided with an annular groovev I I6 in which is disposed a yoke I I! of a lever I I8 that is pivoted at II9. Thus the collar may be movedinto engagement with the hub member I'06-to establish driving connection between the shaft QZand'the gear I02.

The gear box 93 has journalled therein a shaft I25 which has its axis substantially parallel with the axis of the shaft 92. The shaft I25 has keyed thereto three gears I26, I21 and I28, meshing respectively with thegears I00 and IOI, and with the idler I29 which meshes with the gear I02. It previously stated relation-ships follows from the between the sizes of the gears I00, IOI, and I02, that of the gears on the shaft I25, the gear I21 will be largest and have the greatest number of teeth, 7

the gear 26 will be smallest and have the smallest number of teeth. The gear embodiment of theinvention, is of a size intermediate the gears I25 and I21. secured thereto, a gear I30 from which the drive for all operating parts of the machine except the bobbin carriers is obtained. When the collar I08 is in engagement with the hub member I04, the

shaft I25 is driven at its maximum velocity- When the collar is in engagement with the hub member, I 05, the shaft I25 is driven in the same direction, and at its minimum,velocity. When the collar I08 is in its central position, and the collar H5 is in engagement with the hub member I06, the shaft I 25 is driven at an intermediate velocity,

and by reason of the idler gear I29, in a reversedirection.

The gear I30-has meshing therewith a gear I3I carried: by a shaft I 32, which also carries a sprocket I34. The sprocket I34 engages an end- 7 I33 which operates upon the sprockets I34 and I 35, and the idler sprockets I36. The sprocket I35 is carried by a shaft I38 which also carries the sprockets I35 and I40, and the gear Isl, all of which are keyedto the shaft l38. The sprocket I35 is the driving connection between the chain I33 and the shaft I38, so that the shaft I38 is driven from the shaft I32, and in the same direction as the latter shaft.

The sprocket I39 which is secured to the shaft I38 engages and drives an endless chain I45 which also engages and drivesa sprocket I46 secured to a ,sh'aft I fl from which the take-up reel 19 is driven. The shaft I41 carries a pulley I48 which is'preferably loosely mounted thereon and rotatably connected thereto through a clutch mechanism of any suitable construction, and preferably operable to drive only in one direction. In the I28, in the preferred- The shaft I 25 has 1 a gear I50 '2 to the take-up shaft 80. It is thus apparent that 01 the shaft I38.

53 toeievate the hollow mandrel tube 41.

' provided drawings, the clutch mechanism comprises a toothed member I5El'secured to the pulley I48 and a cooperating toothed member I5I' slidably keyed I to the shaft. M! and urged into engagement with the member I59- by a spring I52.. The teeth 'of' the members comprise cooperating'shoulders and 7 end on the take-up spool shaft 80. The lever arm I58 supports a weight I51; by means of whichthe belt I54 iskept under sufficient tension to drive the shaft I58. The, shaft I56 has secured thereto which meshes with a gear :I6I secured a driving connection is established between the shaft I38 and the take-upspool to effect rotation of spool upon rotation of the shaft I38 in a predetermined direction; The teeth of the clutch mech- 1 anism are so arranged that the take-up spool will be driven to wind an advancing-strand, but will not be drivento unwind. Thetensioning'arrangement including the lever arm and weight permits slippage between the in Fig. 1, is also driven by the chain I45.

The sprocket I40 which is secured to' the shaft :38 operates an endless; chain I65 to drive a sprocket I63 which is secured to a shaft IB'I. The

shaft i5! has'secured thereto a gear I69 which meshes with a'gear I'H) that is secured'to the capstan shait F3. The capstan I5 is thus connected.

bythe gearing, sprocket, and chain to the shaft E35, and is positively driven thereby in either .di-

rection as determined by the direction ofirotation As previously stated, the shaft I38 ha s'secured thereto a gear Ml. 'Thisgear meshes with an idler gear 53 which in turn meshes with a gear H4 secured to a shaft H5. The shaftI'I5 has secured thereto a sprocket I11 which supports and drives anendless timing chain I18 that is, also supported by an idler sprocket H9. The apparatus associated with and controlled by the timing chain will presently be described. I I 7 As previously stated, a shaft 51' has. secured thereto the sprockets 55 for operating the chain's The shaft 51 extends through and is iournalled lin a stationary supporting member $35 which is pro-.

' vided with teeth or notches at the end farthest from the sprockets 55. A second stationary sup-r port 85 for the shaft 5'! has journalled therein a sleeve 5 84 which securedtheretoat the end. nearest to the sprockets 55 a collar I8! provided with teeth or notches similar to those of the main L35. Atits other end, thelsl eeve I84 has secured a sprocket I89 which meshes with and is driven by the endless chain IE3. Theshafti'l is also journalied in the sleeve 93d and has slidably splined or keyedthereto, intermediate the toothed members 585 and iS'E', a collar 93 which is provided at bothends with teeth corresponding to th-ose'of the adjacent members. The collar S0 is witha'n annular groove I9i ,in the periphery thereof which receives one end of a lever I belt I54 and associated 2 pulleys, and thereby allows the speed of rotation v ment arm I92 that is pivotedat I93. 'It' followsfrom the above description that'by rocking the lever arm I92 in the proper direction, the .collar' I96 maybe moved into engagement with the rotating collar" I81to rotate the sprockets 55 and move the chains 53 toelevatefthe man'drel'tube'. 4?; or it maybe moved into engagement with the stationary. meme ber I85 to positively lock'thechains 53 and mandrel tube in a stationary position.

It has previously; been stated" that guiding sheave 64 supported by the chains 53. Fig. 3 clearly indicates this construction, as well asv the fact that. when the mandrel tube is elevated, the sheave 64 will descend an equal distance, and thepath of the strandfromthe supply reel to thelower guiding sheavewill be shortened. The tension on the strand at the supplyreel will thus be reduced, the strand :thatadvances to the braiding point with the mandrel will include. the surplus from the strand. is carried by a shaft 63 that is thestrand path, endless than enough to accom J pany the mandrel will be unreeled. When the mandrel descends; the strand path will increasein length, and some of the strand which would accu- 'mulate as slack will be absorbed into the strand path. 7 Thus the amount. of; slack caused'bythe descent of the-mandrelwill be less than'itwould be with an unvarying strand path.

7 Referring to'FigS. 2, cranes 9; anagram I having an elongated slot 231 therein :is pivotally" supported parallel to and above the timing chain I18 by lever arms 292 and 203 pivotallymountedin 255 respectively. The v stationary supports 204 and pivot shaft 208 which'carnesthe leverarrn 253;

has secured to the other. end thereof a lever arm 209 which is disposed in the path of one of the. the mandrel block 59. The

pins 5I' that support lever arm-293supports a counterweight 210 which cooperates upon movement of the timing bar 288 in either direction to insure bar and associated levers. mounted on the uppersurface thereof a bracket 2 I2, and atone end an arm2 53 extending outin' alignment with the bar and having at its outer end a portion 2| I extending transversely of the bar. The baralso carries a 'lugor stop 2M adjustable longitudinally ofthebar and-secured in any predeterminedposition .by any suitable means such as a screw2l5 extending "through the slot 2M.

When the timing bar is in the position shown inv is disposed in the path of a pin 2I6 carried by thetiming chain, I18, the normal Fig. 3,.the lug 2 I4 full movement of the The timing bar 209 has movement of which is in thedirection indicatedby the arrow. When the pin advances intoengage mentwith the lug it imparts a longitudinal moveto the timing bar, which is. suspended from the lever. arms 282 and 293, and which therefore. suffers an accompanying upward movement, until the'lug 2 Idclears the pin.;

' Mountedon the frame of the machine adj acent' to thetiming bar bracket 2I2 is a-rock shaft22fl which supports mercury switches, preferably two in. number, identified" by the reference numerals 22I and'222. Each of theseswitches consists of a I I tube of suitablemat'erial, such for example, as; glass, closed at both ends, and partially filled with mercury; Each tube has twoorl more con-f I tact electrodes sealed therein and extendinginto the tube to have'anelectricalcircuit therebetween closed by the mercury when the tube is tipped tov flow themercury into contact with the electrodes.

Theswitch' 22! preferably has two electrodes whereby one circuit is closed or opened upon rocking the shaft..223.. The switch 22 2 preferably has three electrodes,.so

thatone circuit is opened switch to the position shownin broken lines; The several positive clutches which have pre-1 and one is closed upon rocking the shaft 220 in. either direction.

The shaft 220 has mounted thereon at the end adjacent to thebracket'a-lever arm 223 which is connected by the tension spring 224 to the bracket 2I2. The spring 224 is so-positioned that a short longitudinal'movement of the timing bar will cause the spring to move across the axis of the rock shaft 229 and exert atension on the upper endof'the lever arm223 to rock the shaft. The bracket 2I2has a hook shaped portion at the upper end which, when the timing bar moves to rock the switches HI and 222 fromrthe dotted position to the full line position, will bear against the lever arm 223until the spring passes the axis of the shaft 220 and exerts a tensionjon the lever arm to complete the movement thereof. The lever. arm will then be drawn out of the path of the. hook shaped portion of the bracket, and it will not interfere with the movement of the timing bar;

Nearthe end of the timing bar that carries the arm 2I3 is journalled'in; a stationary support arockshaft230 whichsupports a mercury switch 23I arm 232, a connecting link 233, and a: leverarm oftheportionlll of the'arm2I3. I The cylindrical tube 36 carries near its lower end a support for a rock shaft 249 which has secured thereto a mercury switch 24I, preferably having three contact electrodes, and a lever arm 242. The tube 36 also'carries'a. lever 244 pivoted thereto at 245, and urged in an upward direction by means of the tension: spring 246. The lever 244 is disposed below'and in the path oflone of. the mandrelsupporting pins BI; and its outer end is connected by a tension spring 241 to the outer end of the lever arm 24 2;v When the mandrel supporting block 50 is in its lowermostposition,-v the pin 5Ikeeps the lever 244 depressed tomaintainthe mercury switch Him the position shown in full lines. ment' of the chains 53, the lever 244 pivots about the point 245 under the influence of the spring 2 35 .to carry thefspring 241 past the axis of the rock shaft 24iljto rock the shaftandmove the viously been describedfor effecting speed changes in thedriving mechanism andfor controlling the operation of the chains53 are operated by elec-. tromagnetic means, preferably solenoids. Current for energizing the solenoids maybe obtained from anyconvenient sourceof electrical energy," such as the usual one hundred ten volt line consisting of the conductors 248 and 249, the latter of which may have one side of a double pole switch 250 therein for completing the'circuit; I The other side of theswitch 259 is connected in one'side of a powerline '25I of suitable the motor 22; A solenoid 252 has its armature 253 pivotally connectedto the lever I82' which. controls the clutch'collar I99, the arrangement; being suchthat when the solenoid is energized, the 2 collar is kept in engagement with the stationary member I85, and when the solenoid is deenergized, a tension spring 254 connected toflthe lever I92- drawsithe collar into engagementwith the rotatable member I81. One side of the winding'of the solenoid 252 is connected by a conductor256 to an end contact of the mercury switch- 24I ,the center contact of which is connected by aconductor 258 that is preferably provided with two contact. electrodes. 7 The shaft 230 is connected by a lever When the block rises due to move-' I the'lever arm 283.

potential for operating to the conductor 249v of the power line. The other side of the solenoid winding is connected by a conductor 251 to one of the contacts of the mercury switch 23I, which has its other contact connected by a conductor. 259 to the conductor 248 of the powerline. 1

- The lever -II8 which operates the reversing clutch collar 1 I5 is normally held to keep the collar I I5 out of engagement with the hub member I96 by a] tension spring 262, and is pivotally connected to the armature 263 of a solenoid 264. The solenoid is energizable to draw the collar into engagement'with the toothed hub member I06. One side of the winding of the solenoid 264 is connected by a conductor 266 to the third terminal of the mercury switch MI, and the other side of thewinding is connected by a conductor 261 to an' end terminal of the mercury switch 222, the center terminal of which connects through the conductor 259 to the line conductor 248.

The lever I I I which operates the high and low speed forward clutch collar I08 has the transversely extending arms 210 and 21I to which are pivotally connected the armatures 212 and 213 respectivelyof the solenoids 214 and 215 respectively. The solenoids 214a'nd 215 are respectively energizable to move the collar I98 into engage-- ment with the hub member I04 or I95. The tensionspring 216 maintains the collar in a central or neutral position when both of the solenoids are deenergized. The solenoid 214 has one side of its winding connected by a conductor 218 to the third contact of the mercury switch 222, and

the other side of its winding is connected through the conductor'258 to the line conductor 249. The solenoid 215 has one side of its winding connected by a conductor 219 to one of the terminals of the mercury switch 22I, theother terminal of which connects through the conductor 259 to the line conductor248.' The other side of the winding of the solenoid 215 is connected to the conductor 256 which connects to a terminal of the mercury switch 24I, as previously described.

- Mounted adjacent to thelever m is a rock shaft 28I which has secured thereto a mercury switch 282, preferably having two contacts, and a lever arm 283. A member 285 is secured to and extends from the arm 21I of the lever I I I, and a tension spring 286 connects the member 295 to The parts are so arranged that when the clutch collar I08 is in engagement with the hub member I05 by reason of energization of the solenoid 215, the mercury switch will be so positioned as to complete the circuit between its contacts. However, when the clutch collar is in either of the remaining positions, the spring 286'will have passed across the axis of the shaft 23 I' to rock the shaft and open the circuit through the switch.

As shown in Fig. 1, the bracket 10 which is supported by the cross member I4 has pivotally mounted'thereon an arm 288 which supports at its outer end a single grooved sheave 289. The arm and sheave are in alignment with the strand as itffirst advances from. the sheave H to the capstan 15, so that the sheave 289 may ride above link 292 to the arm 288. The arrangement is such that when the solenoid is energized, the sheave 289 is drawn down, to place the strand under tension. One side of the solenoid winding is connected through the conductor 259 to theline conconnectthe two levers.

by one or theother line conductor 249.

- As shown in Figs. 2 and8; the actualmechanism for operating the forward driving andreversing clutches difiers slightly from, the arrangement.

shown schematicallyin Fig.4. ,Thearmatures of the solenoids "2'14 and 2'55, the latter of which can- -notbe seen inFig. 2, are pivotally connectedto a lever. 2S5.which is pivotally supported at 296. A rockshait 291' which is operatively connected to the yoke I ID of Fig. 4 extends through the wall of the gear box 93 and carries exteriorly thereof. a lever v293 which is connected'by a tie rod 299 to the lever'295. It is thus apparent that the rocking movement of thelever 295 in.response to the operation of either of the solenoidswillresultin an angular movement of the lever 298 and a rocking of theshaft 291. I.

Theyoke H1 of Fig. 4; which operates the.re-. versing clutch ll5is operatively connected to .a rock shaft 398 which ,extendsfrom thegear bo'x 93-and carries externally-thereof a lever 30'! comprising the angularly extendingl arms 3fl2 and 303. A lever 304 which ispivotally supported on the:shaft 291 is connected at one end by a tie rod 309 to the armature of the solenoid 264. The other end ofthe lever .304 is bifurcated'to receive the endof the arm 302which has an elongated slot (not shown). A pin 305.cxtends through .the bifurcated end ofthe lever 304 and through'the slot in thearm 302 of the lever 30! to operatively .Thus, when the solenoid 264 is energized; the tie rod 389 is-drawn downwardly, the lever 3841s rocked ina clockwise direction, and the lever 3M and rock shaft 300 are rocked ina counterclockwise direction to engage the reversing clutch. 7 z The arm 303 carried by the lever 30!) cooperates with a lever 306 secured to the rock shaft 291 to form an interlock between the two clutch operating mechanisms to prevent concurrent engagement of the forward I driving and reversing clutches. The lever 396 is providedat its outer end with a V -shaped notch 301, and the arm 303 carries a pin-3E8 which is disposedwithin the notch. vWhen the reversing solenoid operates, the

lever Sill rocks to move the pi 368 to the center of the notch, and the forward driving clutch must be in its 'neutral position in orderfor the pin to move to thecenter of the notch. The notched lever is then prevented from moving, and the forward driving clutch cannot be engaged. When either the high speed orlow speed clutching ar-' rangement is in operation, if the reversing .solenoid should be energized, the pin 308 will'be obstructed of the walls of the. notch near the outer end thereof, and will be prevented from moving to the center of the notch; which it must doin order for the reversing clutch to be engaged. In this way the clutches are interlocked so that the operation of both at the same time is preeluded. V r

It has previou y been stated. that one of the purposes forwhich a machine embodying the invention maybe employed is the continuous'braiding of switchboard cords having ree'nforcedportions comprising a plurality of layers of braided covering. In one instance the strand toc; which a braided covering is to be applied consists oia plurality of three, which er twines, to

have been twisted, together withfillform a substantialln: cylindrical strands t in the i desired arrangement.

insulated conductors, preferably twine has been wound to"maintain.the'twisted Ac-porti'on of .such a strand isshown in Fig. 5 .iniwhich there arethe' insulated conductors 3 l9, the fillertwlnes 3! I ,"and. the retaining serving 3 I2; When. such a;:strand is to.re'ceive'a braided covering, a reel containing preferably an unbroken length of the strand may be mounted 'inzthe hereinbeiore'described supply reel support, andthe strand may be threaded into the machine in the manner also previously described.

strand, and aroundwhicht a retaining serving of ItrShOllldbB rememberedthat the bobbin-car- V riers rotate at. a continuous. velocity; while the linear velocity of thestrand is changed at predetermined intervals by. the change speed gearing. Theflnumberw ofpturns of braiding material ;re-

ceived by the strand perunit of length is there- 1 fore a function ofthe; velocity of the strand.

When thestrand is travelling at its minimum ve:- locity, the greatest number ofturns of; braiding material-per unit of length is applied, and. the

braidis described as a slow'or close-meshed braid.

Gonversely, :when the strand is travelling 'at' its maximum velocity, the-least number of turns of braiding .material per unit of length is applied, and the braid'is describedas affastor openmeshed braid. The closeness or tightness. of the braid varies inversely as the velocity of-the, cord. T y r y be observed by including on one of the bobbin ca of contrasting charactenallowing the machine to operate-through. a cycleof speed changes, and

notingthe distance between, adjacent .turns of the helix; of tracer material atjeach speed.

In thepreferred formof the cord; the'major pOltlOn:-0ffaCh'C0rd lengthis covered with a singlecovering ofbraid of relatively. close mesh, as shown at 315 inFig-Zand thismes'h is defined as thenormal or'slow braid." Afterithe' normal which results :in an ,increase -in the strand, and theapplicationof afast or open braid theret as shown-at 3l6 in Figs. 5, 6 and 7.; After the'open braid hasbeen applied for a predetermined distance;which' is preferably relatively short as comparedzwitn the normally braid ed portion and has been applied over the tip49 of the mandrel 4 1; the direction of advance of the strandisreversed, anditsvelocity is changed to avalue to produce 'amesh intermediate those of the normal and fast braid. -1-' '1he-&reversal of the isagain reversed to advance it in the normal. di= .rection, and the'strand velocityis changed'to that whichgproduces the normal braid- Athird layer of braiding is thus, superimposed on the other two layers, as shown at 3 I 9 in Figs. 6 and7, and this braiding tapers smoothly over-the severed-dwines at the endof the extra; layers, and continues .as a normal single layer 3 l 5 I applied to newly presented portions of, thestrand. The cyole-may; be repeated 'until the-end of the-strand conta ed onetbegsupplr el isreached, aft rv rriers abobbin of tracer material of the twineatthe point where braidhasmeen applied forja predetermineddistance a speed change occurs; in. the machine 7 the velocity" of which the braided strand maybe severed a plurality of times in equallengths; to produce a pluportion. Thus a cord has thereenforcement at tionary member one end and a length of exposed open-meshed orfast' braid at each .end. A connection terminal .such as a switchboard plug may be secured to the reenforced end, thus providing the reenforced portion at the place: where the cord is subject to much handling.- At the other end, the open-meshed braid may easily be removed or pushed back. to expose the conductor strands for connection purposes. 7

Describing in detail the operation of a braiding machine constructed in accordance with the invention to produce 1 conductor cords as previously described, Figs. 3 and 4 :show. the-switch 250 closed, to supply motor 22 and to the several mercury switchand solenoid circuits to -render the machine opera-' tive. The strand is properly strung through the machine from supply reel-to take-up reel and a normal braid isbeingapplied' thereto by reason of the fact that the solenoid. 215'is energized to maintainthe slow speed clutch comprising the members and 108 inoperative engagement. The mandrel tube 41 is at its lowest position and the solenoid 252 is energized to maintain the clutch member 191 in engagement with the sta- 185, bus locking the. shaft 51. The reversing clutch comprising the members 106 and H5 is disengaged and, the timingpin 216 is approaching the lug 214 carried by the timing bar 200. As' the timing chain advances in the direction indicated by the arrow, thetiming pin is broughtinto engagementwith the lug 214 and as itadvanc'es the 'timing' bar is-also advanced in the same direction to rock the shaft 220 and change themercury switches 221 an'd 222 from the full line position to the dotted position. The movement of the'timing bar also rocks the shaft 298 to move thelever 209 from the full line position to the dotted position.

- The movement of the switch 221 opensthe circuit from the line conductor 248 through-the conductor 259, through the conductor 219,

through the solenoid 215, through'themercury switch 241 and through the conductor 258 to the line conductor 249 whereby the solenoid 215 is deenergized to disengage the slow speed clutch. The movement of the mercury switch 222' opens a circuit through the conductor 259, through the conductor 261," through the. solenoid 254, through the conductor266 to the mercury switch 241 which is also positioned to maintain this circuit'opened, the return to the'line conductor 249 being through the conductor cuit of the reversingclutch solenoid which was open at the switch 241 I 222. The switch 222 also closes the circuit from the line conductor 248 through the conductor 259, through the conductor 218, through thesolenoid 214, through the conductor 258- to'the'line conductor 249 whereby the solenoid 214 is energized todraw the collar, 108 into engagement with the hub member 104, thus completing the-high speed drive. The movement of the arm 111 "whichiop crates a clutch member 108 causes the shaft 281 to rock, thus changing the mercury switch 282 from thefull 'lineposition town-e dotted position electrical energy to the 258. The cir-.

is also open at the switch.

ana-imermptmg circuit from'the lin'e 'conduc tor 248through the conductor 259, through the 'winding'of the solenoid 298 and through the conductor 258'to the line conductor 249 whereby the solenoid 298 is deenergized to permit the advancing strand tofdraw the sheave 289 from the full line 'position'to the dotted position.

The change from low to high speed in the'g'ear box increases the velocity of the strand by increasing the velocity-Softhe capstan 15 and the take-'up19; The speed changes thus described cause the fast or'open-meshed' braid to be applied to the strand. 'The timing. chain continues to advance until'the'pin 216 engages and trips the lever arm 23.1 which "causes the shaft 230 to be rocked to change themercury switch 231 from the full line position to the dotted position. A circuit from the line conductor 248 through the conductor 259, through the switch 231, through the conductor 251 and the winding of the solenoid 252, through the conductor 255, through the mercury switch 241 and through the .conductor- 258 to the line conductor 249 is .thusinterrupted to deenergize'the relay '252 and permitthe spring 25.4"to move the clutch collar 190 into engagement with the rotatable member 181 which is drivenlby' the sprocket 189. The mandrel elevating chains 153- are thus'operatively connected to the chain 133 to cause the mandrelto move upwardly toward the braiding permits the lever 244 to rotate about its pivot point' and .rock the shaft 240 to change the mercury switch 241 from the full line position to the dotted position. ,.The' change in position of the swit'ch 241 causes the mandrel elevating solenoid circuit which was previously opened by the switch 231 to also be opened at the switch 241. The circuit of the slow speed-operating solenoid 215 which was previously opened at the switch 221 is also'opened at 241. The break in the' circuit through the reverse operating solenoid 2641s now closed by the switch 241 so that it is open only at the switch 222.

The mandrel tube 41 continues to rise until it reaches the braiding point where the open-mesh braiding willbe applied over the conical tip of themandrel and under the shoulder at the base of the .tip. When the mandrel tube has reached its uppermost position, one of the pins 51 will have engaged, the lever 209 and will have returned it to the full line position, thus rocking the shaft 208 to reset the timing bar 200 and the mercury'switches 221 and 222 to their original positions. The'switch 231 will also be returned to its original position by reason of the engagement ofthe portion 211 of the timing oar extension 213 with thelever arm 231. The switch 231 will close at that point, the circuit of the mandrel elevating solenoid 252 which, however, is still open at the switch 241. .The resetting of the switch 221 will close the circuitof the slow speed solenoid 215 which also is open at 241. The resetting of the switch 222 opens the previously described circuit through the high speed solenoid z'mto' permit the clutch member 108 to move to its intermediate orneutral position. At the same time the switch '22 closes the only remaining break in the circuit of the reversing solenoid 264 so that' the solenoidis energized to draw the 1 clutch member into engagement with the hub 185 to'reverse the direction of operation of the 'shaft125,theshaft- 132, the chain 133, the shaft shaft 92 return 51, the shaft I38, the capstan .1 5'and the timing chain H8. The mandreltube 41 thus begins to descend and it carries with it the strand by reason of the fact that braiding has been applied over the conical tip and under the shoulder. As the strand moves downwardly; a second layer of braiding is applied over the first layer ofviast andopen-meshed braiding and the'meshof the that exceeds the strand. advancing velocitypf' the capstan '15, and the slippagepermitted by the belt :54 enables the take-up reel to rotate ,at slower speeds to reel the strand'as it is supplied. It the take-up reel-were positively driven in the reverse direction upon reversal of the; movement of the strand, excessive amounts of strand would be unreeled, andupon restoration of the normal strand direction; the strand might slip on the capstan and remain stationary while thetakeup reel was rereeling the excess. By employing the one wayratchet clutch, the driving portion thereof rotates in thepreverse direction faster than the driven portion, which may rotate only fast enough to unreel the desired amount of strand, which is drawn from the reel by the, capstan, thus keeping the strandbetween the capstan and reel taut. Thus the; take up reel is ready, immediately upon restoration ofthe normal movement of the strand, to reel strand advanced by the capstan. v

The mandrel continues to descend until one of the pins 5i engages the lever 2M and moves it downwardly to rock the mercury switch 24! to its original position. The return ofthe switch 'to its original position causes the circuit through the reversing solenoid to open and the circuits through the mandrel solenoid 252 and'the slow speed solenoid 235 to be closed so that those solenoids are energized to lock the -mandrel in the lower position and to operate the mechanism at the minimum speed to return to the ,normal or slowbraiding; I

When the mandrel 41 has been drawnto its lowest position, the cutter members .46 enter the slots of the conical tip and the twines which form the braiding are severediby thecutter members at the point where the first reversal occurred. By reason of the inter-twined arrangement or" the braiding twines, some of them will be severed inlone place and others will be severed in two or more places so' that small pieces of the twine will be removedirom thebraiding. These pieces are permitted to .fall through the hollow tube to the bottom thereof from which they may be removed in any suitable manner such as by suction means not shown. 'i

The sheave 239, which is drawn'againstithe strand by the solenoid 290 at the beginning of the slow speed advance of the'strand, prevents piling of the braid at or near the pointofbeginning of the normal braid by causing a sudden shift of the strand in the direction of advance.

With the return of the switch 24.! to its original position all or" the mechanisms driven from the the outer or normal braid is applied over the two layers previously applied. 1 The third layer continues to be applied until thelower end of the reenforced positionwhere the twines were severed approaches the braiding point. The sevreenforcing tending from to their normal operation and,

erance'o'f the twinesfperm'its the ends-thereof;

which may be of varying lengths, to be arranged evenly and ,fiatlyagainst so thatthe normal braiding continues over the severed'threads to newly 'presentedportions of r the strand in a smooth and even taper. ;If the .co rd-:should; be' braided withoutsevering the threads at the junction of the first and second layers, an abrupt change in the di ameter, of the strand might, 'in some instances,

result at that; point, sothat after the outer'braid' was applied, a covered shoulder would exist in the strand, and-when" used in the conventional type of switchboard,. excessive wear on the cord might result at the shoulder. The normal braidingof a single coveiifor .the strand continues until the timingpin 2-16 is advanced to engage-i the body of. the strand ment with-the lug 2 I} when the above described is repeated. 3,"the timing pin cycle of operations I As shownin Fig. 2l6extends from the inner, and outer sidesof the timing chaim and its inner portion engagesthejlug 2M to.;actuate .the mechanism to produce exposed open-meshed braid anditsouter end engages the lever arm 23l.to actuatethe mechanism to pro-- duce reenforcing layers. fIt'is apparent that ad-' ditional pins similar to the pin' 216 may be mounted onthe, chain in equal or :unequal'spacingv arrangement to produce a plurality of-correspondingly spaced reenforcement's preceded by exposed open-meshed braid, during one. cycle of operation of thetiming chain.

1 It is also possibleto change the nature of the strandassembly by providing one or' more pins extehding-onlyirom the outer side of the chain to engage only the lever arm 231. Suchpins would cause the tions having open-meshed braid as a foundation for the reenforcement, .but' having no exposed open-meshed braid. Forexample, one pin exthe outer-side of the chain might be providedin advance of; the pin 2 l 8, to produce a reenforceme'nt immediatelyfollowing the nor-' mally braided body portion of the cord, and havingno exposed open-meshed braid- This pin-may be so spaced from the pin 2H5 that immediately upon the completion of this reenforcement, the pin; 216 may operate to produce a short length production of reenforced 'por-.

of exposed open braid,; followed by a'reenforce ment. In this way, a strand may be :braided which has alternate closely spaced andrelatively widely separated reenforced spaced reeniorcements being separated Eby exposed open-meshed braid, and the portion between .the widely. separated-reenforcements havportions, the closely 1 ing normal braidingthereon. The strand may be severed in the portions having the exposed open braid, thus producing cords having reenforced'portions' near, each end, and open-.meshed the sprocket I34 is removed and another is. sub- 7 stituted therefor which islarger or smallenand which has more or less teeth, the chain I33'will I be driven correspondingly faster or. slower to render the .mesh of the braiding at all speeds closeror more openin the same proportion. The

pointsto vary the dimensions lengths of the cord, the reenforcedportiomand changed, but

, same amount.

applied. If the distance the several types of braiding will remain unsince the quantity of twine applied to unit length of the strand is a function'of the strand velocity, the mesh of all of the types of braiding will be altered in proportion to the in-' crease or decrease in thevelocity of the chain layers of braiding is determined bythe distance between the top'of the mandrel and the braiding point, which is the path of travel of the mandrel.

This distance may be altered by varying. the

height of the cylindrical tube 36 with respect to the tube 34, the holes 31 and pin 39 being provided for that purpose. The effect of reducing the distance of travel of the mandrel is to reduce the length of the reenforced portion by an equal amount. Since the open'braid is applied from the time the timing bar is tripped until it is reset at the termination'of the upward movement of the mandrel, the'lengthofthe open braid will be reduced by the same amount, the reduction occurring in the portion covered by the reenforc ing layers The portion of the open braid that is exposed, the length of the normal braid, and the overall length of the cord 7 An increase in the distance from the'mandrel to the braiding point produces in the cord similar changes in oppositesense. Y

The lug 214 carried by the timing bar'is made adjustable by means of the 'slot in the harm order'that its distance from the lever arm 23! may be varied. "This distance determines the quantity of open braiding that is exposed, and therefore the quantity of normal braiding that is is increased, the length of the portion of the cord having exposed open braiding is increased, and the length of the portion havingnormal braiding is decreased by the Conversely, a decrease in the distance decreasesthe open braid and increases the normal braid by equal amounts. Changing the position of the lug 2|4 does not affect the length of the reenforced portiomnor the overall length of 'the cord.

It is also possible to vary the overall length'of the cord. This maybe accomplished-by changing the sizeofeither of the gears 14! and I14 to change the gear ratio therebetween. I For facilitating such a change, 'theidler gear mounted on a movable; supportllfi, so. that it may mesh with a larger or smaller gear I41 or I'M. ingxperiod of the timing'chain without afiect-' ing the speed of the capstan that advances the strand. Anincrease in the speed of operation of thetiming chain will decrease the'time requiredto complete a cycle, and since the capstan speed is not afieoted, a smaller amount of strand will reach the braiding point, and the cord will be shorter. The shortening, however,

will occur in the normal braiding and'in'the exposed portion of the length of the reenforced fected, as it is determined entirely by the 'disopen braiding, but the tance of travel of the mandrel A reductiorrin,

The lengthof strand that receives reenforcing action of the braids 316 remain unchanged.

I13 may be,

The effect of this is to change the'operatportion will'not be afothers, but that all of the adjustmentsare compatible and may be made or changed at any time to vary the length of the cord, the length of the reenforced portion, the-relative lengths of n0rmal and exposedopen braid, and the texture of mesh of the braids, to satisfy any desired conditionsr The operation of cuttersdfi and the mandrel 41 maybe briefly summarized as follows: As the braid 316' (Fig. 5) is nearing completion the mandrel 41 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5) israised so that the braid 316 is applied over the mandrel head 49 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5) at which time the motion of the mandrel 41 is reversed so that the second braid 311 is applied over themandrel head 69 as shown in Fig. 5 and continued up over the first braid 316 as the braided portion is pulled downward into the machine by means of the gripping and 3|! on the mandrel head 49. The tube '36 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) carrying cutters 46 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) is positioned so that when the desired length of the secondbraid 3 l l is completed the mandrel 41 will have brought the cutting edges of the blades 46 into the slots 48 (Fig. 5) to the junction of the straight portion'of the mandrel 4'! andthe conical tip 59, thereby bringing the junction of the braids 316 and 3!"! down past the upper cutting edges of the cutters 46 and causing them to slit the two braids for a short distance longitudinally. At this time the motion of the mandrel 41 is arrested and the cord again moved in a forward direction by means of the capstan, starting the application of the third braid 3 I 9 (Fig. 6) and pulling the two braids 3l6 and 3!! off of the mandrel head 49, thereby causing the threads forming the braids SIG and 3 I 7 to fray out as shown at 3 I 8 (Fig. 6). The motion of the cord is continued in a forward direction so that the third braid 319 is continued downward over the cut ends of braids 316 and 3 l l, which results in a gradual change in the diameter of the cord as shown in Fig. 7.

Although in the drawings and foregoing description, one embodiment of a conductor cord and of a methodand apparatus and arrangement of parts for braiding it have been shown and described, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment shown and described, but that it contemplates and is'capable of many changes, substitutions, and modifications within-the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: e

l. A method of assembling strands, which coniprises braiding a plurality of threads upon a moving strand to form a covering therefor, reversing the threads and'braiding a second covering over a portion of the previously braided strand, severing the threads at the point of reversal, reversing the threads and braiding a covering over the second covering, over the severed threads, and over newly presented portions of the strand.

' '2. A method of assembling strands, which comprises loosely braiding a plurality of threads upon a strand fora portion of its length, reversing the threads and more tightly braiding the threads in a reversedirection over a portion of the loose braiding, severing the braiding and cutting away portions thereof at the point of reversal, reversing the threads substantially simultaneously with the cutting, and still more tightly braiding an outer covering over the reverse braiding, and over the main body of the strand. and again applying a loosely braided portion spaced from the other. 3. In a strand assembly, acore, a braided covercovering doubled back over and continuous with the second covering and tapered over the severed ends of the first and second coverings.

5. In a strand assembly, a core, anda braided covering therefor including a loosely braided portion at one end, 'a reenforcing portion at the other end comprising a plurality of layers of braided material, and a tightly braidedportion extending from the loosely braided portion to the reenforcing layers. I

6. A method of assembling strands which'comprises the steps of continuously braiding a continuous covering normally ofv one layer upon a moving strand and forming the same covering at predetermined intervals and over predetermined distances to produce three continuously interconnected superimposed layers, and severing the braiding material connecting theinmost layer to the intermediate layer.

'7. A'method of assembling strands which comprises the steps of continuously braiding a continuous covering normally of one layer upon a moving strand and forming the same covering at. predetermined intervals and over predeter mined distances to produce three continuously interconnected superimposed layers.

7 7 BEN K. FORD.

reenforced end and tapered over one end of the LEO L. WEAVER. 2O

Images