Contactless Adjustable Tensioner for Craft Spinning Apparatus

Abstract

A hobbyist spinning apparatus uses a position-adjustable permanent magnet to induce eddy currents in a rotating conductive disc. The eddy currents oppose the rotation, and the opposing (braking) force applies a consistent tension to a fiber yarn being wound onto a bobbin.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An adjustable tensioner for a spinning wheel, comprising:
 a Y-shaped flyer having a yarn guide on one arm of the Y;   a cylindrical bobbin with flanges at either end;   a frame arranged to hold the cylindrical bobbin and the Y-shaped flyer on a common axis about which both the cylindrical bobbin and the Y-shaped flyer can rotate, the cylindrical bobbin being disposed between arms of the Y;   a conductive member coupled to one of the Y-shaped flyer or the cylindrical bobbin so that the conductive member rotates with the one of the Y-shaped flyer or the cylindrical bobbin; and   a permanent magnet held by the frame so that a distance between the permanent magnet and the conductive member may be adjusted.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable tensioner of  claim 1  wherein the conductive member is a circular disc. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable tensioner of  claim 1  wherein the conductive member comprises at least one of aluminum, copper, brass or steel. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable tensioner of  claim 1  wherein the conductive member is a non-ferromagnetic metal. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable tensioner of  claim 1  wherein the yarn guide on one arm of the Y is configured to automatically advance and retreat smoothly along the one arm of the Y. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable tensioner of  claim 1  wherein the yarn guide on one arm of the Y is manually adjustable in position along the one arm of the Y. 
     
     
         7 . A spinning wheel with an adjustable tensioner, comprising:
 a rotating bobbin to wind spun yarn;   a feed mechanism to convey the spun yarn onto the rotating bobbin;   a drive mechanism to cause the rotating bobbin and the feed mechanism to rotate; and   adjustable tensioning means for altering a rotation of one of the rotating bobbin or the feed mechanism without physical contact to cause said altering.   
     
     
         8 . The spinning wheel of  claim 7  wherein the adjustable tensioning means is coupled to the rotating bobbin. 
     
     
         9 . The spinning wheel of  claim 7  wherein the adjustable tensioning means is coupled to the feed mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The spinning wheel of  claim 9  wherein the feed mechanism is a Y-shaped flyer. 
     
     
         11 . The spinning wheel of  claim 7  wherein the adjustable tensioning means is a conductive disc adjacent a permanent magnet, said conductive disc coupled to rotate with either the rotating bobbin or the feed mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . The spinning wheel of  claim 7  wherein the adjustable tensioning means is a conductive disc adjacent an electromagnet, said conductive disc coupled to rotate with either the rotating bobbin or the feed mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The spinning wheel of  claim 7  wherein the adjustable tensioning means is an AC induction motor rotor adjacent an electromagnet, said rotor coupled to rotate with either the rotating bobbin or the feed mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . An electric hobbyist spinning wheel comprising:
 an electric motor;   a Y-shaped flyer driven by the electric motor;   a bobbin;   a conductive disc coupled to the bobbin;   a frame to hold the Y-shaped flyer and the bobbin so that they can rotate on a common axis, the bobbin positioned between arms of the Y-shaped flyer; and   a magnet adjustably positioned near the conductive disc, oriented to oppose rotation of the conductive disc and the bobbin coupled thereto without physical contact between the magnet and the conductive disc.