Clutch and brake construction for spinning and twisting frames

Claim 2

A spindle assembly for use in a spinning frame comprising a supporting housing with aligned spindle and driving shaft mounted therein, a clutch between said spindle and driving shaft, said clutch comprising a drive plate on the end of said driving shaft adjacent said spindle, a clutch disc on the end of said spindle adjacent said drive plate, said clutch disc comprising an annulus of ferrous material connected to said spindle by an annular unit of elastomeric material, the interior of said unit secured to said spindle and the exterior of said unit secured to the said clutch disc, whereby said disc is capable of limited axial movement with respect to said spindle and said clutch disc will be pressed by said elastomeric unit against said drive plate, electromagnetic means for periodically moving said clutch disc out of engagement with said drive plate, said electromagnetic means comprising a stationary cylindrical electromagnet enclosed in a cylindrical metallic cover with inner and outer walls, said cover having an outer diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said clutch disc, said electromagnet surrounding the end of said spindle and being closely adjacent one face of said clutch disc, said clutch disc being cut away at its upper outer circumference to produce an air gap below the bottom of the outer wall of said metallic cover, said air gap being of such size to cause a substantial lessening of the braking effect of the clutch disc against said electromagnet whereby the rate of deceleration of rotation of said spindle is decreased substantially as compared with the deceleration rate in the absence of said air gap.

Claim 3

A spindle assembly for use in a spinning frame comprising a supporting housing with aligned spindle and driving shaft mounted therein, a clutch between said spindle and driving shaft, said clutch comprising a drive plate on the end of said driving shaft adjacent said spindle, a clutch disc on the end of said spindle adjacent said drive plate, said clutch disc comprising an annulus of ferrous material connected to said spindle by an annular unit of elastomeric material, the interior of said unit secured to said spindle and the exterior of said unit secured to the said clutch disc, whereby said disc is capable of limited axial movement with respect to said spindle and said clutch disc will be pressed by said elastomeric unit against said drive plate, electromagnetic means for periodically moving said clutch disc out of engagement with said drive plate, said spindle and driving shaft being mounted in bearings supported by said housing, said housing and bearing supporting structure being constructed as follows: said housing having a first continuous cylindrical surface and a second split cylindrical surface both concentric with the spindle and driving shaft axes, there being within the first cylindrical housing surface first, second and third sleeves having concentric cylindrical surfaces, said first and second sleeves separated by a cylinder of insulating material, said third sleeve carrying bearings within which said spindle may turn on its axis which coincides with the axis of said cylindriCal surfaces, said first, second and third sleeves and spindle fixed axially with respect to each other and to said housing, said housing being split longitudinally at the said second split cylindrical surface, another sleeve carrying bearings within which said driving shaft is mounted for rotation, said last named sleeve positioned within said second split cylindrical housing surface, said split housing providing releasable clamping means permitting adjustment of the axial position of said last named sleeve and driving shaft with respect to said spindle without misalignment of their axes.

Claim 4

A spindle assembly for use in a spinning frame comprising a supporting housing with aligned spindle and driving shaft mounted therein, a clutch between said spindle and driving shaft, said clutch comprising a drive plate on the end of said driving shaft adjacent said spindle, a clutch disc on the end of said spindle adjacent said drive plate, said clutch disc comprising an annulus of ferrous material connected to said spindle by an annular unit of elastomeric material, the interior of said unit secured to said spindle and the exterior of said unit secured to the said clutch disc, whereby said disc is capable of limited axial movement with respect to said spindle and said clutch disc will be pressed by said elastomeric unit against said drive plate, electromagnetic means for periodically moving said clutch disc out of engagement with said drive plate, said spindle and driving shaft being mounted in bearings supported by said housing, said housing and bearing supporting structure being constructed as follows: said housing having a first continuous cylindrical surface and a second split cylindrical surface both concentric with the spindle and driving shaft axes, there being within the first cylindrical housing surface first, second and third sleeves having concentric cylindrical surfaces, said first and second sleeves separated by a cylinder of insulating material, said third sleeve carrying bearings within which said spindle may turn on its axis which coincides with the axis of said cylindriCal surfaces, said first, second and third sleeves and spindle fixed axially with respect to each other and to said housing, said housing being split longitudinally at the said second split cylindrical surface, another sleeve carrying bearings within which said driving shaft is mounted for rotation, said last named sleeve positioned within said second split cylindrical housing surface, said split housing providing releasable clamping means permitting adjustment of the axial position of said last named sleeve and driving shaft with respect to said spindle without misalignment of their axes.

Claim 5

The construction set forth in claim 1 and means for augmenting the frictional force between said drive plate and clutch disc, said means comprising a circular flange mounted on said spindle above said elastomeric unit, an annular element surrounding said spindle and located for axial movement on said spindle between said flange and clutch disc; said annular element having parts overlying said clutch disc, and a spring located between said flange and said annular element urging the latter downwardly against said clutch disc.

Claim 6

The construction set forth in claim 2, and means for augmenting the frictional force between said drive plate and clutch disc, said means comprising a circular flange mounted on said spindle above said elastomeric unit, an annular element surrounding said spindle and located for axial movement on said spindle between said flange and clutch disc; said annular element having parts overlying said clutch disc, and a spring located between said flange and said annular element urging the latter downwardly against said clutch disc.