Improvements in Machines for Twisting and Winding Twine, Cord or the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 6th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 29th Apr., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Twisting and Winding Twine,
Cord or the like.
I, GEORGE LOOMIS BROWNELL, of 49, Union Street, Worcester, in the County of
Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States of America, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for improvements in winding
mechanism for twisting machines to be as follows:-
My improvements relate to the device, in machines for twisting twine, or cord,
by which the twisted cord is uniformly and evenly wound upon the winding
spool, comprising a mechanism for winding the cord around the spool and for
traversing the cord back and forth between the heads of the spool during. the
operation of winding.
In machines for twisting cord or twine of the class to which my improvements
relate, the winding spool is held concentrically with a rapidly rotating Hyer frame
provided with a flyer arm which revolves around the winding spool and the cord
to be twisted is conducted through a hollow journal of the Hyer frame, in order
to bring the cord coincident with the axis of rotation of the flyer frame; and from
the hollow journal of the flyer frame the twisted cord is conducted to an eye or
cord-guide which is carried around the winding spool by the flyer arm; so that
the rotation of the flyer frame, when the end of the cord has once been attached
to the winding spool, will serve to twist the cord as it passes through the hollow
journal of the flyer frame and also to wind the twisted cord upon the winding
spool.
Usually two flyer arms are employed on diametrically opposite sides of the flyer
frame, in order to balance the frame.
In my improved winding mechanism I inclose the flyer arms by a ring lying
in a plane at right angles with the axis of the flyer frame and provided on its
inner side with an L-shaped groove which forms a guide-way or track for a
traveller which is provided with an eye forming a guide for the twisted cord and
is engaged by one of the flyer arms, so that the traveller will be driven around
The traveller consists of a short
the grooved ring by the rotation of the flyer arm.
plate of some light material, such as vulcanized fibre, having on its outer edge a
flange projecting at right angles from one side of the plate and curved to correspond
with the curve of the L-shaped groove in the ring. The inner edge of the traveller
projects from the inner side of the grooved ring and is provided with a hole or notch
to receive the flyer arm, with an eye or hole through which the twisted cord passes;
but if preferred, the inner edge of the traveller may be provided with a boss on one
or both sides forming a sleeve inclosing the flyer arın. The traveller is made as
short as may be and provide space for its engagement with the flyer arm and for
the eye or cord-guide, so that the centrifugal force generated by the rapid rotation
of the traveller will be applied at approximately the same point as the tension of
the twisted cord, in order to cause the centrifugal force which tends to throw the
traveller radially outward and the tension of the twisted cord which tends to draw

page_text: the traveller radially inward will act in opposition and tend to counterbalance each
other. The flanged edge of the traveller, which runs in the L-shaped groove of
the ring, holds the tension of the cord from pulling the traveller out of the grooved
ring and, when the flyer arm is cylindrical in form, it also serves to prevent the
rotation of the traveller around the flyer arm.
The grooved ring is attached upon one side to a frame having a reciprocating
motion through connected actuating mechanism, by which a reciprocating motion
is imparted to the grooved ring parallel with the axis of the winding spool and
equaling the distance between the heads of the spool, so that, as the traveller is
driven around the grooved ring in the operation of winding the cord upon the
spool, a traversing motion is imparted to the ring and traveller, causing the cord
to be laid uniformly upon the spool.
In winding mechanisms for twisting machines heretofore used, a grooved ring
has been employed inclosing the flyer arms and having a traversing motion parallei
with the axis of the winding spool, by means of connected actuating mechanism;
but in such cases the cord-guide has consisted of a rotating ring extending entirely
around the traversing ring and provided with an eye for the cord, with the outer
edge of the rotating ring entering the groove in the traversing ring; said groove
lying in a plane at right angles with the axis of rotation of the revolving ring.
A continuous ring rotating in the groove of the traversing ring presents a large
surface in frictional contact with the walls of the groove and, if heavy enough
to be perfectly rigid, it requires to be accurately counterbalanced, when driven
at a high rate of speed, as is usually required in twisting machines; it is also
liable to become heated owing to the difficulty of securing adequate lubrication
without soiling the twisted twine.
My present invention relates particularly to the employment of a short traveller
provided with an eye, or cord-guide, and engaged by a flyer arm, said traveller
having a flanged edge which is inclosed in an L-shaped groove in the traversing
ring, whereby the traveller is reduced in weight; its frictional contact with the
grooved traversing ring is reduced and it is held from rotation about the flyer
arm and a counterbalance is secured between the centrifugal force of the traveller
and the strain exerted by the tension of the twisted cord.
Dated this 29th day of June 1898.
.
Improvements in Machines for Twisting and Winding Twine,
Cord, or the like.
I, GEORGE LOOMIS BROWNELL, of 49, Union Street, Worcester, in the County of
Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States of America, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement;―
My improvements relate to that class of twisting machines which comprise a
rotating flyer frame with a winding spool held concentrically therein to which
the twisted cord is conducted through a hollow journal of the flyer frame and an
eye or cord-guide which is carried around the winding spool by the rotation of the
flyer frame, and it relates particularly to the traversing mechanism by which the
cord is traversed back and forth between the heads of the spool during the opera-
tion of winding, whereby it will be evenly and uniformly laid upon the winding
spool.

page_text: The object of my invention is to provide a winding mechanism having a
traversing device which allows the winding mechanism to be rotated at a high
speed and I accomplish this object by the winding mechanisin embodying my
present invention, whereby the friction is reduced and a perfect balance of the
rotating parts is maintained.
In the following description of my invention and the manner in which the same
is to be performed, reference is made to the reference letters and figures in the
accompanying drawings which represent a portion of a twisting machine, having
a winding mechanism embodying my invention, showing the manner of putting
my invention into practice and forming a part of this specification.
Figure 1 represents a portion of a twisting machine of the class referred to,
showing one of the flyer frames and its winding spool in side elevation.
Figure 2 represents a vertical sectional view of a portion of the traversing ring
provided with an L-shaped groove or guideway and holding a traveler or cord-
guide, and showing a portion of one of the flyer arms which engages the traveler
or cord-guide, and
Figure 3 represents a top view of the cord-guide or traveler removed from the
traversing ring.
Like parts are indicated in the accompanying drawings by like letters and
figures of reference.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, A and A¹ denote the upper and lower
heads respectively of the rotating flyer frame of a twisting machine; said heads
being connected on diametrically opposite sides of the flyer frame by a pair of parallel
rods B and B, known as the flyer arms, and said flyer frame being capable of
rotation about a vertical axis by means of connected driving mechanism. C denotes
a winding spool having heads C and C2 and held concentrically with the axis of
the flyer frame upon which the twisted cord is wound. Surrounding the flyer
arms B, B, is a ring D attached to a bracket D1 projecting from a sleeve D² which
is supported by, and capable of sliding vertically on, a bar D³, held by the frame-
work of the machine.
The sleeve D2 is provided with teeth forming a rack D' which engages a pinion E
carried upon a shaft E to which a reciprocating motion is imparted by means of
the mangle wheel F attached to the shaft E¹ and driven by a rotating star wheel. 1",
whereby a rising and falling motion is imparted to the frame D and ring 1);
said rising and falling motion being equal in extent to the space between the
upper and lower heads C1 and C2 of the winding spool C.
The traversing ring D is provided with an L-shaped groove G opening upon
the interior of the ring and adapted to receive a cord-guide, or traveler H,
preferably made of vulcanized fiber, vulcanized rubber, leatherboard, or similar,
material, in order to reduce its weight. The cord-guide, or traveler H, consists
of a plate H adapted to run in the horizontal section of the L-shaped groove and
provided on its outer edge with a vertical flange H2 adapted to run in the vertical
section G of the L-shaped groove G.
The horizontal portion of the traveler H projects beyond the inner surface of the
traversing ring D and is provided with a notch I to receive one of the flyer arms B
and with an eye J through which the twisted cord a is conducted as it passes from
the twisting mechanism to the winding spool. The cord-guide or traveler H is
only of sufficient length to receive the notch I and the eye J and during the
operation of the machine it is driven around the traversing ring D with great
rapidity by the rotation of the flyer arm B, thereby winding the twisted cord a
around the winding spool C and, by the up and down movement of the traversing
ring, causing the twisted cord to be uniformly and evenly laid on the winding
spool.
The employment of a grooved traversing ring for the purpose of imparting a
raversing motion to the cord-guide which is rotated around the winding spool,
s not new and I do not herein claim such. In winding mechanisms of this class,
however, it is found difficult to preserve a proper balance of the rapidly rotating

page_text: parts and to reduce the friction due to the pressure of the rapidly rotating traveler,
or cord-guide, upon the walls of its guideway; such friction of the cord-guide
being increased by the centrifugal force due to the weight and rapid rotation
of the cord-guide and also by the pull or strain exerted upon the cord-guide by
the tension of the twisted cord.
My present invention overcomes these disadvantages in a large measure by making
the traveler or cord-guide as short as possible and of light material, and resisting
the tension or pull of the cord, by means of the flange H2 which is enclosed within
the L-shaped slot of the traversing ring. The tension or pulling strain of the
cord is partially overcome by the centrifugal force which tends to throw the
cord-guide radially outward, while the tension of the cord tends to draw the cord-
guide radially inward. The cord-guide, or traveler, H, is cheaply made, easily
replaced when worn, and is capable of being rotated at a very high speed without
lubrication of the guide-way or groove G. The flange H2 prevents the traveler
from being pulled out of the groove by the tension of the cord, and also serves
to prevent the rotation of the traveler around the cylindrical flyer arm B.
My present invention relates particularly to the employment of a short traveler
provided with an eye for guiding the cord and carried around the winding spool
by means of the flyer arm, said traveler having a traversing motion by its engage-
ment with a grooved traversing ring, whereby the traveler is lessened in weight;
its frictional contact with the grooved traversing ring is reduced and whereby
it is held from rotation about the flyer arm and a counterbalance is secured between
the centrifugal force of the traveler and the strain exerted by the twisted cord.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The combination with a winding spool, rotating flyer frame having flyer
arms parallel with its axis of rotation and a grooved traversing ring, of a short
traveler, or cord-guide, running in the groove of the traversing ring and engaged
by one of the flyer arms as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In the winding mechanism of a twisting machine, a short traveler, or cord-
guide, provided with a notch to receive one of the flyer arms and an eye through
which the cord to be wound passes, and a grooved traversing ring by which the
traveler, or cord-guide, is moved lengthwise the winding spool, as and for the
purpose set forth.
3. The combination with a winding spool and a flyer frame having a flyer arm
parallel with its axis of rotation, and a traversing ring provided with an
L-shaped groove, of a traveler, or cord-guide, consisting of a short plate with an
eye through which the cord is conducted, said traveler engaging said flyer arm
and having a flange on its outer edge, with said flange inclosed within the
L-shaped groove of the traversing ring, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this Twenty-third day of February 1899.
GEORGE LOOMIS BROWNELL.