Fluidic gaging sensor head

Claim 2

In an apparatus for monitoring a selected parameter of a small cross section, continuous material suitable for passage through an improved sensor had component of the apparatus, the improved sensor head comprising, a slotted plate member having a first slotted surface, a cover plate member having a first nonslotted surface, means for alternately engaging in mating relationship and separating the first surfaces of said slotted and cover plate members to thereby form a channel between said plate members in the engaged state thereof, means for supplying a pressurized fluid to said channel centrally thereof, said channel being enclosed along its sides in the engaged state of said plate members except for a port supplying the pressurized fluid into said channel, said channel adapted for passage of a small cross section, continuous material therethrough whereby the pressurized fluid upon issuance from said port restrictively flows along said channel from the center to the ends thereof, the back pressure induced at said port resulting from the restriction caused by the material passing through said channel being proportional to he magnitude of a selected parameter of the material being monitored by the apparatus, means for collecting the strands of a multi-strand yarn material being monitored by the apparatus and for forcing the collected strands into said slot in said slotted plate member, and said strand collecting and forcing means being retained on said cover plate member on a surface thereof opposite from the first nonslotted surface, said strand collecting and forcing means being operative with operation of said alternately engaging and separating means.

Claim 3

The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said strand collecting and forcing means comprises a spring device including a central spring member retained between the surface of said cover plate member opposite from the first nonslotted surface thereof and an actuated member of said alternately engaging and separating means, and a pair of end spring members connected at opposite ends of said central spring member and extending beyond sides of the slotted and cover plate members wherein the ends of the channel are disposed, the extremities of said end spring members being concave-shaped and in an isolated position spaced from the longitudinal axis of the slot during the separated state of said plate members and being forced toward and beyond the axis in an initial engaged state whereby the strands of the multi-strand yarn material being threaded into the sensor head are collected by the concave-shaped extremeties of said end spring members and thence forced into the slot, the extremities of said end spring members being retracted to an isolated position in a subsequent engaged and locked state of said plate members which is the normal operating mode of the monitoring apparatus whereby the yarn material may be threaded into the sensor head without stopping the longitudinal motion of the yarn.

Claim 4

In the apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said central and end spring members are formed from a single piece of metal, and the slot is straight and provided with flared ends for ease of entrance and exit of the yarn material in its passage through the channel.

Claim 5

In an apparatus for monitoring a selected parameter of a small cross section, continuous material suitable for passage through an improved sensor head component of the apparatus, the improved sensor head comprising, a slotted plate member having a first slotted surface, a cover plate member having a first nonslotted surface, means for alternately engaging in mating relationship and separating the first surfaces of said slotted and cover plate members to thereby form a channel between said plate members in the engaged state thereof, said alternately engaging and separating means comprising a toggle clamp providing a hold-down action in the engaged state thereof, said toggle clamp comprising an actuating member, an actuated member coupled to said actuating member and comprising a lever arm having a driven end connected to said cover plate member at a surface thereof opposite from said first nonslotted surface, a nonmovable base having a fulcrum end of said lever arm connected thereto, said nonmovable base connected to said slotted plate member at a surface thereof opposite from said first slotted surface, means for mounting said slotted plate member in a stationary position whereby said cover plate member is alternately operated by said lever arm of said toggle clamp to provide engagement with and separation from said slotted plate member supported in a fixed position, means for supplying a pressurized fluid to said channel centrally thereof, said channel being enclosed along its sides in the engaged state of said plate members except for a port supplying the pressurized fluid into said channel, said channel adapted for passage of a small cross section, continuous material therethrough whereby the pressurized fluid upon issuance from said port restrictively flows along said channel from the center to the ends thereof, the back pressure induced at said port resulting from the restriction caused by the material passing through said channel being proportional to the magnitude of a selected parameter of the material being monitored by the apparatus, a spring device comprising a central spring member retained between the surface of said cover plate member opposite from said first nonslotted surface thereof and said driven end of said lever arm of said toggle clamp, and a pair of end spring members connected at opposite ends of said central spring member and extending beyond sides of said slotted and cover plate members wherein the ends of said channel are disposed, the extremities of said end spring members being concave-shaped and in an isolated position spaced from the longitudinal axis of said slot in said slotted plate member during the separated state of said plate members and being forced toward and beyond the axis in an initial engaged state whereby the strands of a multi-strand yarn material being threaded into the sensor had are collected by the concave-shaped extremities of said end spring members and thence forced into said slot in said slotted plate member, the extremities of said end spring members being retracted to an isolated position in a subsequent engaged and locked state of said plate members which is the normal operating mode of the sensor head whereby the yarn material may be threaded into the sensor head without stopping the longitudinal motion of the yarn.

Claim 6

In an apparatus for monitoring a selected parameter of a small cross section, continuous material suitable for passage through an improved sensor head component of the apparatus, the improved sensor head comprising, a slotted plate member having a first slotted surface, a cover plate member having a first nonslotted surface, means for alternately engaging in mating relationship and separating the first surfaces of said slotted and cover plate members to thereby form a channel between said plate members in the engaged state thereof, said alternately engaging and separating means comprising a toggle clamp providing a hold-down action in the engaged state thereof, said toggle clamp comprising an actuating member, an actuated member coupled to said actuating member and comprising a lever arm having a driven end connected to said cover plate member at a surface thereof opposite from said first nonslotted surface, a nonmovable base having a fulcrum end of said lever arm connected thereto, said nonmovable base connected to said slotted plate member at a surface thereof opposite from said first slotted surface, means for mounting said slotted plate member in a stationary position whereby said cover plate member is alternately operated by said lever arm of said toggle clamp to provide engagement with and separation from said slotted plate member supported in a fixed position, means for supplying a pressurized fluid to said channel centrally thereof, said channel being enclosed along its sides in the engaged state of said plate members except for a port supplying the pressurized fluid into said channel, said channel adapted for passage of a small cross section, continuous material therethrough whereby the pressurized fluid upon issuance from said port restrictively flows along said channel from the center to the ends thereof, the back pressure induced at said port resulting from the restriction caused by the material passing through said channel being proportional to the magnitude of a selected parameter of the material being monitored by the apparatus, a spring device comprising a central spring member retained between the surface of said cover plate member opposite from said first nonslotted surface thereof and said driven end of said lever arm of said toggle clamp, and a pair of end spring members connected at opposite ends of said central spring member and extending beyond sides of said slotted and cover plate members wherein the ends of said channel are disposed, the extremities of said end spring members being concave-shaped and in an isolated position spaced from the longitudinal axis of said slot in said slotted plate member during the separated state of said plate members and being forced toward and beyond the axis in an initial engaged state whereby the strands of a multi-strand yarn material being threaded into the sensor had are collected by the concave-shaped extremities of said end spring members and thence forced into said slot in said slotted plate member, the extremities of said end spring members being retracted to an isolated position in a subsequent engaged and locked state of said plate members which is the normal operating mode of the sensor head whereby the yarn material may be threaded into the sensor head without stopping the longitudinal motion of the yarn.

Claim 7

In the apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein said spring device further comprises means for retaining said end spring members and central spring member in alignment parallel with the longitudinal axis of the slot to insure the concave-shaped extremities of said end spring members being properly aligned with the yarn material in the initial engaged state of said plate members for proper collection of the strands of the yarn material.