Tandem braiding system and components thereof

Claim 1

In a system for controlling the operating speeds of tandem machines for covering a moving flexible core element with multiple-layers of reinforcing strands in a process of continuous manufacture, the improvements comprising: establishing the parameters of a chorded festoon having vertically aligned upper and lower parameters and extending laterally between first and second machines; determining a vertically oriented zone of operational tolerance within said upper and lower parameters and substantially midway between the first and second machines; continuously monitoring the position of a core element with a first layer of reinforcing strands thereon, during lateral movement from said first machine toward said second machine, at any point within the parameters of said chorded festoon; detecting any position of said laterally moving core element which is changing within said zone of operational tolerance; and, automatically regulating the operating speed of one machine to correspond with the operating speed of the other machine to return the laterally moving core element from a detected changed position to a preselected position with said zone of operational tolerance.

Claim 5

A system for the control of tandem braiding machines to cover a flexible core element with layers of braided reinforcing strands during successive passes through the braiding mechanisms of the machines, each machine having a powered rotating braiding mechanism and a powered revolving capstan drum for moving said core element coaxially through the braiding mechanism, comprising: powering said braiding mechanism and said capstan drum of each machine from a single variable speed drive motor; proportionally controlling the power output from each said drive motor to determine a specific braid angle for each layer of reinforcing strands; establishing the parameters of a chorded festoon extending laterally between first and second machines and the extent of a vertically oriented zone of operational tolerance for lateral movement of said core element with a first layer of reinforcing strands thereon from said first machine toward said second machine; moving said core element to pass through said braiding mechanism of the first machine and to pass through said braiding mechanism of the second machine by concurrent operation of the drive motor of each machine; continuously monitoring the position of said moving core element at any point within the parameters of said chorded festoon; detecting any position of said moving core element which is changing within said zone of operational tolerance; and, thereafter, regulating the speed of said power output of the drive motor for one machine while maintaining a constant speed for the power output of the drive motor of the other machine to return said moving core element from a detected changed position to a preselected position within said zone of operational tolerance.

Claim 6

A system for the control of tandem braiding machines to cover a flexible core element with layers of braided reinforcing strands during successive passes through the braiding mechanisms of the machines, each machine having a powered rotating braiding mechanism and a powered revolving capstan drum for moving said core element coaxially through the braiding mechanism, comprising: powering said braiding mechanism and said capstan drum of each machine from a single variable speed drive motor; proportionally controlling the power output from each said drive motor to determine a specific braid angle for each layer of reinforcing strands; establishing the parameters of a chorded festoon extending laterally between first and second machines and the extent of a vertically oriented zone of operational tolerance for lateral movement of said core element with a first layer of reinforcing strands thereon from said first machine toward said second machine; moving said core element to pass through said braiding mechanism of the first machine and to pass through said braiding mechanism of the second machine by concurrent operation of the drive motor of each machine; continuously monitoring the position of said moving core element at any point within the parameters of said chorded festoon; detecting any position of said moving core element which is changing within said zone of operational tolerance; and, thereafter, regulating the speed of said power output of the drive motor for one machine while maintaining a constant speed for the power output of the drive motor of the other machine to return said moving core element from a detected changed position to a preselected position within said zone of operational tolerance.