Yarn tensioning device and method

Abstract

A device is disclosed for tensioning a running length of textile yarn. The device contains a yarn passageway made up of three sections, each section having a progressively larger diameter from the inlet end of the device. A small diameter section at the entrance end of the device has a seat adjacent the inner end thereof which receives a spherical element. The medium diameter section surrounds the seat and retains the spherical element therein. The larger diameter section of the passageway is sufficiently large to enable pressurized air to pass around the spherical element without forcing the element out the end of the passageway. The wall adjacent the junction of the large and medium diameter sections is tapered so as to permit ready return of the spherical element to the medium diameter section to reside on the seat. Mounting means are also provided for securing the device to a yarn handling machine. A method for tensioning yarn is also disclosed and claimed herein where the yarn passes through the three sections of the yarn passageways and is engaged in the medium diameter section by the spherical element so as to impede the progress thereof while the spherical element is retained against lateral movement.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tension device comprising: a. a housing, said housing having a yarn passageway extending therethrough, said yarn passageway having a large diameter section and a small diameter section;   b. an insert received in said small diameter section of said passageway and having an opening therethrough, said insert defining an uninterrupted seat around said opening in said large diameter section of said passageway to receive a spherical element and hold said spherical element out of contact with walls of said passageway when no yarn is passing therethrough; and   c. a spherical element receivable in said large diameter section of said passageway, said spherical element having a diameter less than the length of said large diameter section of said passageway and said large diameter section of said passageway having a diameter adjacent said seat to prohibit substantial lateral movement of a spherical element received thereat whereby said spherical element continuously controls tension of a yarn passing thereby.[...]. .Iadd.said passageway being smooth surfaced and substantially unrestricted upwardly from said insert for a distance sufficient to permit substantially unrestricted upward movement of said spherical element during tensioning of a yarn. .Iaddend.   
     
     
       2. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 1 wherein said large diameter section includes a medium diameter portion located adjacent said seat .[.means.]. .Iadd.and a large diameter portion above the medium diameter portion.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       3. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 2 wherein the large diameter .[.section.]. .Iadd.portion .Iaddend.tapers inwardly to said medium diameter portion and thereat extends downwardly to said seat .[.means.].. 
     
     
       4. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 2 wherein said large diameter section has rounded edges at the top thereof. 
     
     
       5. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 1 comprising further mounting means secured to said housing. 
     
     
       6. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 5 wherein said mounting means extends outwardly from said housing and has an elongated slot therein. 
     
     
       7. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 1 wherein a plurality of spherical elements are received in said passageway, one of said spherical elements being receivable at said seat .[.means.]. and the remainder of said spherical elements being receivable thereabove. 
     
     
       8. A yarn tension device comprising: a. a housing, said housing having an elongated yarn passageway therethrough, said passageway having a first large diameter section, a second medium diameter section and a third small diameter section;   b. an insert received in said small diameter section, said insert having an opening therethrough and defining a seat in said medium diameter section around said opening to receive a spherical element and hold said spherical element out of contact with the walls of said passageway when no yarn is passing therethrough, said insert being uninterrupted around the periphery of said seat; and   c. a spherical element receivable in said medium diameter section at said seat, said spherical element being larger in diameter than said small diameter section of said passageway and smaller in diameter than said medium and large diameter sections of said passageway, said passageway extending at least completely above said spherical element when said spherical element is received at said seat.[...]. .Iadd.said passageway being substantially unrestricted upwardly from said insert for a distance sufficient to permit substantially unrestricted upward movement of said spherical element during tensioning of a yarn. .Iaddend.   
     
     
       9. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 8 wherein said passageway sections are integral. 
     
     
       10. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 8 wherein said spherical element is sized with respect to said passageway to permit passage of pressurized air therearound during feeding of yarn thereby without being forced out of said housing. 
     
     
       11. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 8 wherein a plurality of spherical elements are received in said passageway, one of said spherical elements being receivable at said seat and the remainder of said spherical elements being receivable thereabove. .Iadd. 12. A tension device comprising: (a) a housing, said housing having a yarn passageway extending therethrough, said yarn passageway having a large diameter section and a small diameter section;   (b) an insert received in said small diameter section of said passageway and having an opening therethrough, said insert defining an uninterrupted seat around said opening in said large diameter section of said passageway to receive a spherical element and hold said spherical element out of contact with walls of said passageway when no yarn is passing therethrough; and   (c) a spherical element receiveable in said large diameter section of said passageway, said spherical element having a diameter less than the length of said large diameter section of said passageway, said large diameter section of said passageway having a diameter adjacent said seat to prohibit substantial lateral movement of a spherical element received thereat whereby said spherical element continuously controls tension on a yarn passing thereby, said large diameter section of said passageway having smooth walls therealong and being unrestricted therealong for at least a length above said seat to receive at least two spherical elements therein and permit substantially unrestricted upward movement of said spherical element during tensioning of a yarn. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. A tension device as defined in claim 12 wherein said large diameter section of said passageway is substantially unrestricted at least substantially along the length of the housing. .Iaddend.