Pneumatic tension gauge

Claim 2

A tension gauge for measuring the tension in a running thread comprising a support having a pair of laterally spaced idler rolls mounted thereon for rotation about spaced parallel axes, a reaction roll mounted on said support intermediate said pair of idler rolls for rotation about an axis parallel to and intermediate said parallel axes, said rolls being arranged such that a thread running under tension in driving engagement with the three rolls exerts a radial force on the reaction roll, pneumatic means for rotatably supporting said reaction roll including an annular layer of pressurized gas between stationary and rotary members of the reaction roll, and signal means responsive to the pressure in said annular layer of gas at diametrically opposed points located in a plane intersecting the plane defined by the spaced parallel axes of the idler rolls.

Claim 3

A tension gauge for measuring tension in a running thread comprising a support having a pair of laterally spaced idler rolls mounted thereon for rotation about spaced parallel axes, said idler rolls including pneumatic radial bearing means, a reaction roll mounted on said support intermediate said pair of idler rolls for rotation about an axis equidistant from the parallel axes of said idler rolls, said rolls being arranged such that a thread running under tension in driving engagement with the three rolls exerts a radial force on said reaction roll, pneumatic means for rotatably supporting said reaction roll including an annular layer of pressurized gas between stationary and rotary members of said reaction roll, a pair of pressure tap means intersecting the surface of said stationary member adjacent said layer of pressurized gas at diametrically opposed points located in the axial plane of said stationary member which is the perpendicular bisector of the plane joining the spaced parallel axes of the idler rolls, and signal means responsive to the pressure in said annular layer of gas at said pressure tap means.

Claim 4

A tension gauge for measuring tension in a running thread comprising a support having a pair of laterally spaced idler rolls mounted thereon for rotation about spaced parallel axes, said idler rolls including pneumatic radial bearing means, a reaction roll mounted on said support intermediate said pair of idler rolls for rotation about an axis equidistant from the parallel axes of said idler rolls, said rolls being arranged such that a thread running under tension in driving engagement with the three rolls exerts a radial force on said reaction roll, pneumatic means for rotatably supporting said reaction roll including an annular layer of pressurized gas between stationary and rotary members of said reaction roll, a pair of pressure tap means intersecting the surface of said stationary member adjacent said layer of pressurized gas at diametrically opposed points located in the axial plane of said stationary member which is the perpendicular bisector of the plane joining the spaced parallel axes of the idler rolls, and signal means responsive to the pressure in said annular layer of gas at said pressure tap means.

Claim 5

A tension gauge for measuring rotation in a running thread comprising a support having a pair of laterally spaced idler rolls mounted thereon for rotation about spaced parallel axes, said idler rolls including pneumatic radial bearing means, a reaction roll mounted on said support intermediate said pair of idler rolls for rotation about an axis equidistant from the parallel axes of said idler rolls, said rolls being arranged such that a thread running under tension in driving engagement with the three rolls exerts a radial force on said reaction roll, pneumatic means for rotatably supporting said reaction roll including an annular layer of pressurized gas between a stationary porous sleeve and a rotary shaft disposed therein, a pair of pressure tap means intersecting the inner surface of said porous sleeve adjacent said layer of pressurized gas at diametrically opposed points located in the axial plane of said porous sleeve which is the perpendicular bisector of the plane joining the spaced parallel axes of the idler rolls, said porous sleeve being surrounded by a plenum and said pressure tap means including tubes disposed in radial bores through said sleeves and extending through said plenum, signal means responsive to the pressure in said annular layer of gas at said pressure tap means including a pressure responsive transducer operatively connected to said pair of pressure tap means.

Claim 6

A tension gauge for measuring rotation in a running thread comprising a support having a pair of laterally spaced idler rolls mounted thereon for rotation about spaced parallel axes, said idler rolls including pneumatic radial bearing means, a reaction roll mounted on said support intermediate said pair of idler rolls for rotation about an axis equidistant from the parallel axes of said idler rolls, said rolls being arranged such that a thread running under tension in driving engagement with the three rolls exerts a radial force on said reaction roll, pneumatic means for rotatably supporting said reaction roll including an annular layer of pressurized gas between a stationary porous sleeve and a rotary shaft disposed therein, a pair of pressure tap means intersecting the inner surface of said porous sleeve adjacent said layer of pressurized gas at diametrically opposed points located in the axial plane of said porous sleeve which is the perpendicular bisector of the plane joining the spaced parallel axes of the idler rolls, said porous sleeve being surrounded by a plenum and said pressure tap means including tubes disposed in radial bores through said sleeves and extending through said plenum, signal means responsive to the pressure in said annular layer of gas at said pressure tap means including a pressure responsive transducer operatively connected to said pair of pressure tap means.