Yarn tensioning device

Abstract

An improved device is disclosed for tensioning a running length of textile yarn. The device has a housing with a yarn passageway extending therethrough. An annular seat is provided in the passageway to receive a spherical element, the surface around the annulus having a radius of curvature upwardly and outwardly therefrom. An upper end of the yarn passageway is provided with an abrasion resistant surface having smooth rounded edges at termination of the passageway, and may be in the form of an insert into the housing or an integral part of the housing. At least one spherical element is receivable in the passageway and resideable at the seat. The spherical element is out of contact with walls defining said passageway when at rest on the seat. One embodiment of the invention includes at least one spherical element in the passageway and a further, larger spherical element that resides atop the passageway, in engagement with the abrasion resistant surface thereat. The housing, seat and abrasion resistant upper end surface may be of integral construction. Further, a collar may be removably received around the housing with an arm secured thereto and extending across at least a portion of the passageway to prevent egress of the spherical element without adversely affecting tension on or condition of the yarn. Mounting means may also be provided for securing the device to a yarn handling machine.

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, an .[.outer.]. .Iadd.upper .Iaddend.end of said large diameter section of passageway having rounded abrasion resistant corners;   b. .Iadd.a first insert defining .Iaddend.an uninterrupted seat provided along said passageway at the junction of said large and small diameter sections and having an opening therethrough, said seat receiving a spherical element thereat and holding said spherical element out of contact with walls of said large diameter section of said passageway when no yarn is passing through said opening, said seat having surfaces around said opening with a radius of curvature opposite the curvature of said spherical element; 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 and said large diameter section having a diameter adjacent said seat to prohibit substantial lateral movment of said spherical element received thereat .Iadd.said passageway being smooth surfaced and substantially unrestricted upwardly from said seat 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 rounded, abrasion resistant corners of said passageway are provided by .[.an.]. .Iadd.a second .Iaddend.insert received on said housing. 
     
     
       3. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 2 wherein said housing is provided with a shoulder around said .[.top.]. .Iadd.upper end .Iaddend.and said .Iadd.second .Iaddend.insert is received on said shoulder, said .Iadd.second .Iaddend.insert having an opening extending therethrough, the top of said .Iadd.second .Iaddend.insert having smooth rounded edges around said opening, and then flaring outwardly in conical fashion. 
     
     
       4. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 3 wherein the diameter of said opening through said .Iadd.second .Iaddend.insert is substantially the same as the diameter of said passageway thereat, whereby said opening provides a continuation of said passageway. .[.5. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 1 wherein said seat is provided by an insert received in 
     
     
        said passageway..]. 6. A yarn tension device as defined in claim .[.5.]. .Iadd.1 .Iaddend.wherein said seat insert is aluminum oxide. .[.7. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 1 wherein the housing and seat are integral and are constructed of a material that is resistant to abrasion 
     
     
        by a yarn passing in contact therewith..]. .[.8.  A yarn tension device as defined in claim 7 wherein the device is manufactured of aluminum 
     
     
        oxide..]. 9. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 1 wherein further means are provided adjacent the top of said passageway to preclude removal of said spherical element from said passageway while permitting yarn to 
     
     
        pass unaffected thereby. 10. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 9 wherein said means comprise a collar removably receivable around said housing at the top thereof, said collar having an arm secured thereto and extending inwardly at least partially across said passageway, said arm 
     
     
        having smooth rounded surfaces thereon. 11. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 10 wherein said arm extends progressively downwardly into 
     
     
        said passageway toward the terminal end thereof. 12. A yarn tension device comprising: a. a housing, said housing having a yarn passageway extending therethrough, said housing having a seat for a spherical element in said passageway, said passageway having rounded abrasion resistant corners at an outer end thereof, said seat having an opening therethrough with surfaces therearound having a radius of curvature outwardly therefrom;   b. a first spherical element receivable in said passageway and residable at said seat, said first spherical element being out of contact with walls of said passageway when at rest on said seat;   c. a large spherical element, said large spherical element being received at said rounded, abrasion resistant corners atop said passageway; and   d. holding means for said large spherical element associated with said device .Iadd.said passageway being substantially unrestricted upwardly from said seat for a distance sufficient to permit substantially unrestricted upward movement of said first spherical element during   
     
     
        tensioning of a yarn.Iaddend.. 13. A yarn tension device as defined in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.12 .Iaddend.wherein said housing is manufactured of a 
     
     
        plastic material. 14. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 13 wherein 
     
     
        said plastic material is transparent. 15. A yarn tension device as defined 
     
     
        in claim 1 comprising further mounting means secured to said housing. 16. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 15 wherein said mounting means comprise an elongated member, said member having a slot extending 
     
     
        along a portion of the length thereof. 17. A yarn tension device as defined in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.12 .Iaddend.wherein said housing has a lower end that angles in toward said passageway, said angled lower end 
     
     
        having a smooth outer surface. 18. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 17 wherein said angled lower end of said housing is radiused 
     
     
        inwardly to said passageway. 19. A yarn tension device comprising: a. a housing, said housing having a yarn passageway extending therethrough, said passageway having an abrasion resistant surface with rounded edges at an upper end thereof, said housing further having a rounded bottom;   b. an annular, uninterrupted insert provided along said passageway, .Iadd.said .Iaddend.insert .[.seat.]. having an opening therethrough with smooth curved surfaces around said opening to define a seat and receive a spherical element thereat, said curved surfaces of said insert having a radius of curvature opposite the curvature of said spherical element whereby said spherical element makes point contact with said seat around said annulus and resides at said seat out of contact with walls of said passageway when no yarn is passing through said annulus; and   c. at least one spherical element being receivable in said passageway, the diameter of said spherical element being less than the length of said passageway above said seat .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. .[.20. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 19 wherein said housing and annular   
     
     
        seat are integral..]. 21. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 19 wherein the housing adjacent the top of said passageway is cutaway to define a shoulder around said passageway and an annular insert is received therein, said insert providing the abrasion resistant surface and smooth 
     
     
        rounded edges. 22. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 21 wherein 
     
     
        said insert is manufactured of aluminum oxide. 23. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 19 comprising further a collar .[.removable.]. .Iadd.removably .Iaddend.received around said housing, said collar having an arm secured thereto and extending inwardly over a portion of said passageway, said arm precluding removal of said spherical element while 
     
     
        permitting unimpeded movement of yarn thereby. 24. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 19 wherein said housing is manufactured of a 
     
     
        transparent plastic material. 25. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 19 wherein the upper end of said passageway defines a second annular seat and comprising further a large spherical element receivable at said second seat, atop said passageway, said second large spherical element 
     
     
        further tensioning yarn passing thereby. 26. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 19 wherein mounting means are secured to said housing. 
     
     
            A yarn tension device as defined in claim 26 wherein said mounting means comprise an elongated member having a slot extending a portion of 
     
     
        the length thereof. 28. A yarn tension device comprising: a. a housing, said housing having a rounded bottom and having a yarn passageway extending therethrough, said passageway having a large diameter section and a small diameter section therealong;   b. an annular, uninterrupted seat received in said passageway at the junction of said large and small diameter sections, said seat having continuous curvature away from said annulus at least through an area to be contacted by a spherical element .Iadd.said seat being defined by a first insert received in said passageway.Iaddend.;   c. A spherical element receivable in said passageway and residable at said seat without making contact with walls of said large diameter section of said passageway, said spherical element having a diameter less than the length of the large diameter section of said passageway;   d. .[.an.]. .Iadd.a second .Iaddend.insert received in an upper end of said large diameter section of said passageway, said .Iadd.second .Iaddend.insert having an opening therethrough whose diameter is substantially the same as the diameter of said passageway, and having smooth rounded corners around an upper end of said insert opening; and   e. a collar removeably receivable around said housing at said insert, said collar having an arm securd thereto and extending at least partially across said passageway .Iadd.said passageway being substantially unrestricted upwardly from said seat for a distance sufficient to permit substantially unrestricted upward movement of said spherical element during tensioning of a yarn.Iaddend.. .[.29. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 28 wherein said housing, insert and seat are of integral   
     
     
        construction..]. 30. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 28 wherein 
     
     
        said housing is manufactured of a transparent plastic material. 31. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 28 wherein further a large spherical element is received atop said .Iadd.second .Iaddend.insert and residable at said .Iadd.second .Iaddend.insert opening which defines a seat therefor, said .[.area.]. .Iadd.arm .Iaddend.secured to said collar being 
     
     
        positioned above said large spherical element. 32. A yarn tension device comprising: a. a housing, said housing having a yarn passageway extending therethrough, said passageway having a large diameter section and a small diameter section, said large diameter section having a diameter at an upper end thereof at least as large as the diameter at a lower end thereof;   b. an uninterrupted insert received in said passageway and having an opening therethrough, said insert having a surface around said opening curving outwardly therefrom to define an annular seat at the junction of said large and small diameter sections,   c. a spherical element receivable in said large diameter section of said passageway and being residable at said annular seat, said spherical element having a diameter compared to the diameter of the passageway at said seat such that permanent lateral movement away from said seat is precluded, said spherical element being out of contact with walls defining said large diameter section of said passageway when at rest on said seat with no yarn passing thereby; and   d. a collar removeably receivable around said housing adjacent an upper end thereof, said collar having means thereon to preclude removal of said spherical element from said passageway without impeding passage of yarn thereby .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. 33. A yarn tension device as defined in claim 32 wherein said means on said collar is an arm secured thereto and extending outwardly across at least a portion of the top of said passageway. 
     
     
        .Iadd.  .  A tension device comprising: (a) a housing, said housing having a yarn passageway therethrough, said passageway having a large diameter section and a small diameter section, said passageway having rounded, abrasion resistant corners at an outer end of same;   (b) an uninterrupted insert received in said passageway and having an opening therethrough, said insert having a surface around said opening curving outwardly therefrom to define an annular seat at the junction of said large and small diameter sections;   (c) a spherical element receivable in said large diameter section of said passageway and being residable at said annular seat, said spherical element having a diameter compared to the diameter of the passageway at said seat such that permanent lateral movement away from said seat is precluded, said spherical element being out of contact with walls defining said large diameter section of said passageway when at rest on said seat with no yarn passing thereby; said passageway being substantially unrestricted upwardly from said seat for at least a length to receive two spherical elements therein and permit substantially unrestricted upward movement of the number of spherical elements utilized therein during tensioning of a yarn, said passageway above said seat having smooth walls   
     
     
        therealong. .Iaddend. .Iadd.35.  A tension device as defined in claim 34 wherein said yarn passageway above said seat is unrestricted and has smooth walls at least substantially along the length of the housing. .Iaddend.