US3114511A

US3114511A - Builder mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3114511A
Application number: US117638A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cory P Geen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-06-16
Filing date: 1961-06-16
Publication date: 1963-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 1980-12-17

Description

Dec. 17, 1963 c. P. GEEN BUILDR MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Juxe 16, 1961 FIG.I.

FIG.2.

INVENTOR CORY P. GEEN MW ATTYS.

Dec. 17, 1963 c. P. GEEN BUILDER MECHANISM s Shets-Sheet 2 Filed June 16. 1961 INVENTORI conv P. GEEN ATTYS.

Dec. 17, 1963 Filed June 16, 1961 C. P. GEEN BUILDER MECHANISM s Sheets-Sheet mvswron: C0 RY P. GEEN Dec. 17, 1963 c, GEEN 3,114-51I BUILDER MECHANISM Filed June 16, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ENTOR: B CORY GEEN Dec. 17, 1963 c, E 3,114,511

BUILDER MECHANISM Filed June 16, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 mvenron:

CORY F. GEEN ATTVS,

Unted States Patent O1 3,114,511 BUILDER MECHANISM Cory P. Geen, Rittenhouse Savoy Apts., 1810 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, Pa. Filed June 16, 1961, Ser. No. 117,638 4 Claims. (Cl. 242-43) The present invention reates generally to thread or fiber winding mechanisms and more particularly to a builder mechanism adapted to distribute a thread or fiber onto a tube to produce a level thread package thereon.

The mechanism of the present invention is suited for use in winding a wide range of threads or fibers, but the principal application is in the initial winding of glass fiber strands. Accordingly, the invention is presented below in the context of glass fiber manufacture although it should be understood that this is for 1eason of convenient illustration, and not a limitation on the uses to which the device may be applied.

The production of glass fiber conventionally involves the drawing of several hundred fine molten glass filaments through a bushing or spinneret from a supply of molten glass. The filaments may be cooled, such as by reatment with a water mist, and are then brought together over a grooved carbon gathering wheel. Passage of the fiiaments over the gathering wheel and further treatrnent with a size binder forms a single strand of g lass fiber or yarn. The strand is then wound onto cylindrical tubes which are driven by a suitable collet assembly.

T permit a full understanding of the advantages provided by the present device, the peculiar problems involved in winding glass fiber should be briefiy considered. in the process describecl above, the filaments and the strand are drawn through the various process stages by the collet assembly driving the tube in rotation. A1- though this is referred to as a winding operation, the fact must be borne in mind that it is at the Same time a drawing operation, and that the condition and uniformity of the drawn fiber is dependent on the maintaining of a constant strand winding speed. Variations in the speed at which the strand is wound will result in variations in strand size due to the molten initial nature of the filaments.

A hydraulic collet drive mechanism such as shown in the inventors U.S. Patent No. 2663541 compensates automaticaily for the increasing diameter of the fiber package on the tube since a constant driving torque is appiied to an increasingly heavier and larger package. However, compensation is made only for the increasing diameter of the entire package and not for the speed changes which are caused by an uneven application of the strand to the winding tube. It is accordingly necessary to distribute the fiber on the tube to form a level package in order to maintain a constant linear strand speed and thus a constant strand size.

A builder has not been developed to pr0duce a fiber package which is completely level along the length of its axial periphery, mainly because of the high speed at which the strand is moving, commonly in excess of 15,000 feet per minute. The tendency of the ends of the package to come unwound and the difiiculty of preventing a dwell at the end of the package, among ether factors, have produced the situation now existing in which nearly a11 commercially wound packages are of a humped configuration, the center of the package beng of a substantially greater diameter than the ends. Such a package rotating on the coliet causes the yarn wound over the center portion of the package to be drawn faster and hence, thinner than that wound at the ends thereof. Be cause of the non-uniform results produced by the humped s,m5ri Patenteti Ben. 17, 1953 package, acceptable commercial packages can presently be wound to only a relatively small diameter which thus limits the weight of the package.

It is therefore, a first object of the present invention to provide a builder mechanism which will distribute a strand or fiber onto a rotating tube t0 produce a level package thereon, thereby maintaining a substantially constant linear strand speed.

An additional object is to provide a builder mechanism having a snap-action reversing unit which effectvely eliminates dwell during the reversing phase of operation.

A further object is to provide a builder mechanism which will eiect a lapped strand package such that the package may be easily unwound from its inner or outer surface.

Another object is to provide a builder mechanism which will distribute a thread or fiber onto a rotatng tube in a manner which will permit a relatively large thread package to develop thereon, thus increasing the yield on a weight basis per package and reducing the lost time frorn re-starts to a minimum.

A still further object is to provide a builder mechanism which is characterized by simplicity and durability which is not subject to the usual rapd wear caused by sliding frictional engagement with a fiber.

Still another object is to provide a builder mechanism of the type described which is suited for high speed operation and which is adaptable to speed variation as conditions require.

The present invention in realizing these and other objects includes a lap wheel rotating on an axially reciprocating shaft spaced radially from a collet assembly. The lap wheel is driven in rotation so as to have a surface speed equal to that of the fiber or thread which is to be wound on the collet. The thread is engaged in an angularly disposed groove on the lap wheel which induces a wave into the thread as it passes over the wheel. A snap action reversing mechanism evenly reciprocates the lap wheel drive shaft axially, distributing the thread on the collet in a level manner. The wave induced in the thread by the lap wheel groove prevents sinking of the thread between previously wound turns and allows unwinding of the thread package from either the inside or outside with case.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed discussion of embodiments thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention installed in the operating position on a dual collet winding unit;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the paths taken by the strand during the winding operation;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 3-? of F1G. 2 showing the shaft drive mechanism in side elevation;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 3 showing the bearing assembly connecting the cylinder shaft with the reciprocating unit;

FIG. 7 is a view taken along line 77 of FIG. 3 showing the lap wheel assembly support bar and latching mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a view taken along line 38 of FIG. 5 showing an end view of the snap action reversing valve mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG.11 is a sectional view taken along line 1111 of FIG. and showing the arrangement of the reversing valve fluid chambers for a first operating position;

FIG. 12 is a view as in PK}. 11 showing the valve fluid chambers arranged for a second operating position;

FIG. 13 is a view as in FIG. 3 of a modified ernbodiment of the invention utilizing an electric motor te drive a single lap wheel in rotation;

FIG. 14 is a view taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a view taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a view showing a cylindrical fiber package which may be wound using the apparatus of the present invention; and

FIG. 17 is an end elevation view of the embodiment of FIGS. 13-15 mounted on a dual collet winding unit showing the paths of the strand during the winding operation.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a winding unit w'nieh includes

dual collect assemblies

12 and 14 which are driven in rotation in the directions indicated. Although conventional commercial collet assemblies could be ernployed in conjunction With the present device, the col let assemblies illustrated and preferred are the subject of the applicants U.S. Patent Nurnber 3,099,411.

Secured to the winding unit 10 is the buiider drive housing 16. A drive shaf-t 18 extends from the builder drive housing parallel with the axes of the

collet assemblies

12 and 14 supported by a seal tube 20. Rota-tably mounted on the end of the drive shatt is a primary la.p whec1 22. A seeondary lap wheel 24 is mounted on a support bar 26 and is driven by the primary lapwheel.

A shown in the broken lino portion of FIG. 1 the drive shaft 18 and the attached lap wheel assembly generally designated 28 are adapted to reciproc-ate axially, the displacernent of the reciproeating stroke corresponding with the axial length of the

collet assemblies

12 and 14.

Continuous grooves

30 and 32 on the cylindrical surfaces of the primary and secondary lap wheels are adapted to guide a strand 34 onto one of the collet assemblies. In FIG. 2, the strand 34 is shown passing over the primary lap wheel 22 and onto the collet 12, the lap wheel and of course the winding collet rotating at a surface speed matching the linear strand speed in the direetions indicated. Due to the shape and angular disposition of the lap wheel groove, a wave is irnparted to the strand as it is wound on the collet which prevents sinking of the wound strand between previously wound strand layers. At the sarne time, the reciprocating action of the lap wheel assembly, distributing the strand axially along the collet at a uniform rate, and the instantaneous reversing mechanism prevent a build up or dwell of the strand at the ends of the collet and perm-it the winding of a level package 36 as shown in FIG. 16.

When the desired amount of fiber has been wound on the collet 12, the strand 34 is transferred to the collet 14 as indicated, the strand being guided by the groeve 32 in the secondary lap wheel 24. The primary and secondary lap wheels and grooves are identical. The

grooves

30 and 32 need not be coordinately aligned since each funotions independently of the other, the strand being engaged by one groeve at a time.

The drive mechanisn1 enclosed within the housing 16 which effects a rotation of the lap wheels and reciprocation of the lap wheel assembly is shown in detail in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. Guide bars 38 secured to the housing floor 41} by guide bar supports 4-2 provide a supporting means for the reeiprocating unit 43.

A crosshead 44 slidably mounted on the guide bars 38 supports a high-speed hydraulic turbine 46. Although any motor having a suficiently high speed to drive the lap Wheels at the strand speed may be satisfaetorily employed, embodiment shown utilizes a hydraulic drive such as shown in the inventors U.S. Patents Nos. 2,663,541

4 2,856,749 and 2,857,216. 'I he turbine, as shown, is run in an unenclosed condition, the housing 16 serving te pre vent the hydraulic fluid trom escaping from the machine. High pressure fluid is led into the turbine through a flexible fluid hose 43 which is connceted to a high prcssure fiuid supply.

A supporting structure consisting of pistes 59 and 52 and spacers 54 secures the turbine 46 to the crossheed 44 and serves additionally to support the coupling assembly connecting the hydraulic cylinder to the reeiproeating unit, and to support the reversing stop plate, the function and structure 0 each of whioh Will be diseussed below in detail.

A hydraulic cylinder 56 is mounted on the drive housing end Wall 58 aligned concentrieally with the mounted turbine 46. The marmer in which the cylinder shaft 60 is conneoted with the turbine support structure and also the rna.nner in which the turbine rotor shaft is journaled in this structure is shown in the sectiona1 view of FG. 6. A eoupling body 62 is bcited to the supporting plate 5 as is the back plate 64. The cylin-der shaft 60 is threadedrly secured to a coupling hub 66 which is held in place by a coupling nut 68. The shoulder '75? of the coupling hub 66 extends into the groove 72 forrned between the back plate 64 and the coupling body 62. Flexible inserts 74 on the faces of the groove 72 provide a cushion to absorb the reversing shock of the reciproeating cylinder shaft 60. The turbine 46 drives a motor shaft 76 which extends between the supporting plates 5=3 and 52. Secured Within the rotor s'naft 76 is the lap wheel drive spindle 78, the inner end mounting of which is shown in FIG. 6. The spindle 73 terminatcs in a threaded end 80. A chamber 82 in the coupling body 62 provides clearance for a securing nut 84 on the spindic end 80. Bearings 86 mounted in the supporting plate 50 journal the rotor shafit 76 and spindle '73.

Secured to the end of the turbine 46 and extending therefrom in concentric relation with the spindie 73 is the -tubular drive shaft 18, whioh has an internal diameter suificiently in excess of the spindle diameter to provide a substantial olearance between the spindle and sha=ft. Tlie spindle and shat extend through the housing 16 and through a sea1l tube 20 =attached to the housing which includes a conventional seal ring to seal and support the reeiproeating shaft.

The drive shat 18 extends beyond the sea] tube 20 to receive the lap wheel assembly support bar 26 which is secured thereto in the marmer indcated in FG. 7, The support bar, Which is secured in a horizontal positior, i11- cludes =a reotangular opening 94, which serves as a sup porting guide for the secondary lap wheel aXle assernbiy 96, which is adapted to slide horizontally therein. The position of the axle assembly 96 in the opening 94 is adjusted by means of the Spring loaded latch pin The spind=le 73 extends beyond the drive shaft 18 and rterrninates in :a -threaded portion 10% as shown in F1G. 4. The primary lap wheel 22 is secured to the threaded spindle end 100. The spindle is journaled within the drive shaft 18 at a peint near the lap wheel by suitable conventional bearings (net shown).

T he lap

Wheels

22 and 24, as shown in the partial sec- -tional view of FIG. 4 include a hard rubber insert 102 which forms the peripheral surface of the wheeis. Shoulders 104 extending axially from the insert 102 secure the insert against the high centrifugal forces developed by the unusually ra.pid rotation of the wheels.

The

grooves

30 and 32 in the lap wheels are of a 1nodified V shape, having a rounded apex. The groove on eaeh wheel lies in a plane inclined to the axis of the wheel, and thus eflects a wave on a. strand guided by the groove in rotation.

The insert 1112 includes raised annular drive shoulders 1116 which extend radially beyond the cylindrical insert surface. With reference to FIGS. 4- and 7 it een be seen that the primary lap wheel drives the:seeondary lap wheel due to the frictional contact of their respective drive sl1oulders 106 whioh are maintained in engagement by the spring acting en the axle assembly 96 within the opening 94. T disengage the lap wheels, the latcl1 pin 98 is moved outwardly and rotated, causing -a pin 108 in the latch pin 98 te be moved out of alignment with a slot 110 in the support bar 26 thus maintaining the lap wheels in a separa=ted condition in spite of the spring orce acting en the axle assembly 96. The lap wheels may be reengaged by rotating the latch pin 98 te its eriginal position, permitting the pin 108 to reengage the slot 110.

The reciprocation of the lap wheel assembly, shaft, spindle, and turbine which comprises the reciprocating unit 43 is controlled automatcally by the reversing valve 112 Which alternates the fluid flow into the cylinder 56. As shown in FIGS. 3 and die reversing valve, w l1-ich is rn0unted en the housing 16 by a mounting plate 114, is automatically aetuated at the end of each stroke by stops 116 and 1-18 postio-ned en stop plate 12th which is bracketed te the supporting

plates

50 and 52 of the reeiprecating unit. The stops 1126 and 11% aitemately engage the roller hearing 122 of the pivotally meun-ted valve trip lever 124 which through an over center spring loaded linkage actuates the v&ve and provides the desired autematic recip-rocating action.

Referring te FIGS. 8, 9 and the snap action linkage which produces the instantaneous reversing action is shown secured to the valve housing 126 by attachment to a boss 123 and interaction With a guide bracket 130 extending therefrorn. The trip lever 124 is pivotally mounted en the stud 132 located on the boss 128. A sletted snap arm 134 is coupled to the upper bifurcated end 136 of the trip lever 12 1 by means of a pin 138 slidably engaging a slot 140 in the snap arm 134. A roller 142 is rotatably mounted in the upper foriced end 144 of the arrn 134, the roller engaging groeve 146 in the guide bracket 130. A spring 14-8 positiened in compression against a shoulder 150 of the snap arm 134 bears against the bifurcated end of the valve trip lever 124, thus acting te extend the snap arm 134 away frem the trip lever 124 and bias the roller 142 against the guide bracket 130 in the groeve 146. Hard rubber stops 152 and 154 positoned on the guide bracket 130 and pins 156 and 153 extending from the valve housing serve to limit the movement of the snap arm 134 and the trip lever 124 respectively.

The described valve structure constitutes a snap action over-center mechanisrn Which cannet be stepped on dead center. Movernent of the trip lever 124 by the steps 116 and 1118 causes the pin 1353 te travel in the slot 149 in the snap arm 134 and the snap arm is telescoped within the bifurcated end 136 of the trip lever 124 until the arm and the lever are longitudinally aligned. The snap arrn 1334 at this point is still in contact with the stop 152 er 154. However, when the trip lever is moved beyond the point of alignrnent, the spring 148 acting against the end 136 of the lever abruptly swings the snap arrn 134 along the groeve 146 and into contact With the oppesing step. Movement of the trip lever in the opposite direction will esult in the same snap action of the snap arm back to its original pesitien.

T0 link this snap action motien to me retary valve stem 16d, en arm 162 is rotatably seoured to the upper end 144- ef the snap arrn 134, te which is attaehed a finger 164 whieh engages a split coilar 16d en the valve stem 160. The valve stem is tnus rotated in a manner corresponding with the metion of the snap arrn 134.

The fiuid flow in the reversing valve is controlled in the marmer normally employed in a rotary valve which will be briefiy descrieed with reference te FIGS. 11 and 12. The four fiuid passages leading into the valve are connected with the fiuid pressure pump, the fluid tank, and cennections 1 and 2 of the hydraulic cylinder 56 which are respectively labeled P, T, 1 and 2 on the drawings. With the valve actuated by the step 1-18 into the position shown in F163. 3 and 8, the interior valve fluid passages weuld appear as in FIG. 11 in which the high pressure finid flows therugh the passage 168 in the valve spoel 169 and into the #1 connection in the hydraulic cylinder 56, thus activating the cylinder into motion toward the turbine assembly. The fluid in the opposite end of the cylinder is exhausted tbreugh conneetien #2 and passes through the valve by way of the exha-ust passage 17% in the valve spoel into the fluid tank.

At the end of the stroke the valve is aetuated by the stop 116, and the position of the valve spoel 169 is as shown in FIG. 12 in which the high pressure fiuid is directed by the passage 172 into the #2; fiuid connection of the hydraulic cylinder. At the same time the exhaust passage 17% of the valve spoel permits the fiuid from the #1 cyiinder connection te be exhausted through the valve into the fiuid tank. The abrupt snap actien of the valve aetuating linkage alternates the flew of the high pressure fluid between the #1 and #2 cyiinder connections i-nstantaneously so that the reciprocating unit does not dwell at the ends of its strokes.

For eperatien, the fiexible hese 43 is attached te a hydraulic iiuid supply and pump te direct high pressure fluid into the turbine. Likewise tne inlet P en the reversing valve is connected with a high pressure hydraulic fiuid supply, and the port T of the valve is connected with a fluid reservoir. Suitable tubing (net shown) is used te cennect the valve ports 1 and 2 with the inlets 1 and 2 of the hydraulic cylinder 56.

Tne latch pin 98 is actuated te separate the lap vvheels and is retated te maintain the lap wheels in the separated pesition. The turbine 46 sets the rotor shaft 76 and the drive spindle 'i into rotation upon introduction of high presure iluid through the fiexible hese 48. The speed of rotation of the turbine and lap wheels may be regulated by adjusting the pressure of the hydraulie fluid. Similarly the intreduction of a high pressure fluid flow into the inlet P of the reversing valve automatically begins the reeiprecating cycle since, as described above, the valve cannot be stopped en dead center and is at all times in a position te aetuate the cyiinder 55.

The winding eperation is started with the collet and prirnary lap wheei rotating slowly. A strand is irst started en the collet in a conventional manner, after which it is manually led into the lap Wheel groeve. Both the collet and lap wheel are tl2en brought up te the desired winding speed. The reciprocation of the lap wheels distributes the strand axially along the collet surface in an even manner te dorm a level fiber package. The speed of the reciprocating stroke is governed by the fluid pressure applied to the cylinder ss, and by maintaining the fiuid pressure at an unvarying level, the streke is held at en even speed te produc-e the desired level thread package. Although a wide variation of re-eiprecating frequencies may be successfully used, the preferred range for winding glass fibers has been found te be 40 te 60 strokes per minute depending upon the type of iass fibers being weund and the winding speed. lie frequency of the reciprecation is controlled by varying the fiuid pressure into the reversing valve.

The rotatienal speed of the lap wheeis is adjusted so that the surface speed of the lap wheel is matched to the linear speed of the strand. Sinoe, as pointed out aoove, it is a purpose of the winder te held the strand speed censtant, the lap wheel retational speed s'nould need no adjustment after an initial setting for a given winding speed.

The engagement of the strand in the lap wheel grooves imparts a wave to the strand prior to the winding of the strand onto the cellet. Because of the fact that the strand is drawn through the builder mehcanisrn by the cellet, it can be understeod tnat the amplitude of the wave is substantially decreased at the point at which the strand engages the previously wound strand t'urns on the package. However, the wave structure remaining is sufficient to preclude the strand trom sinking and wedging between oreviousl wound strands.

insures an overlapping wound turns suci1 tiint Instead the wave of the strand on the previously sn even paclnge will result and, equally important, ti e unwinding of the package rnay proeeed easily from the inside or outside.

Tlie abrasive frictonal action usually encountered in distributing glass fibers at high speeds is obviated by tlie present lap Wheels, wlriclr moving at the same speed as tlie strand, eliminate darnaging frictional contact.

For transfer of die strand to the second collet 14, the latch pin fellowing tle startng of the strand on the second collet and the introduction thereof in the secondary lap wheel groove, is manipulated to engage the secondary 2nd prirnary lap wheel snoulders. Ti1e primary tl1en drives the secondary lap wheel and tl1e winding operation is carried out as previously deseribed.

A rnodified ernbodiment of the invention is shown in FGS. 13-15 and 17 wnich utilizes a high speed electric motor te drive the lap wlreel. A advantage ot such en electrie drive is tlrat a single lap wheel znay be used to distribute fibers onto dual collet assembiies since the electrica ly driven wl1eel rnay be reversed to perrnt its us-e with either of two collets. An additional and obvious advantge over te turbine driven ernbodirnent is the absence of hydraulic fluid lines and the need for an additional hih pressure fluid supply.

Referring to Fl'GS. 13-15, tl1e rnodified embodiment is shown enclosed in a housing E? wiricn is mounted on a winding unit 153. A reciprocs-ting unit frame 176 is slidably disposed within tlie housing on guide bars 178. A high speed electric motor 13-9 is secured within tlie frame 3:.7 and drives a grooved sheave 82. A smaller grooved sheave E34 is engaged with and driven by the sheave 132 and is n1ounted on a drive spindle 2186 supported wi iin a tubular drive slraft 188 which is anchored to the frame 17 'ihe drive shaft 133 is journaled in a hearing tube secured to the exterior face of the housing 3174. A single lap wlreel l92 is secured to the spindle 1186 and is of a design and construction similar to the lap wheels of the preferred embodirnent.

The reciprocating unit frame 176 is driven as in the preferred embodirnent by a hydraulic cylinder F194 which is controli d by an automatic snap action hydraulic rotary valve 196 actuated by a stop plate 198 mounted on the frame 176.

Power is supplied to tlre motor througl1 rails 2% secured in an insulated manner to die housing '74 parallel with the reciproeating path of the motor. Brushes 2t2 1nounted on l.C motor frictionally engage the rails and conduct current to the motor anti armature.

Operation of tne rnodiiied ernbodiment is similar in most respects to that of the preferred embodirnent. '1'he paths foliowed by a strand during winding on each of tle two collets of the winder i is shown in FIG. 17. The single lap whee 1%. is rapidly reversed during transfer of tlre strand to t'ne second collet. 'ihe lap wl1eel Speed during the builder operation is controlled by varying tlie arn1ature voltage in tbe motor which may be done by use of a conventional control system.

Actual operation of the present invention under normal winding conditions using conventional sized winding tube and coilet has proven tne present builder mechanism eiective to provide a level wound paclrage. Accordin ly, tl1e diameter of tl1e pacl age can be greatly increased over conventionally wouncl packages since the winding speed is as a result maintained substantially constant. It bas, for instance, been found With the present device that a strand may be wound en a collet for a period of approxirnately one hour as contrasted to ten or fifteen minutes Witli conventionai equiprnent at ti1e sarne winding speed. Tiie larger package size now possible substantiailly decreases the frequency of the strand transfer operations and increases the efliciency of the winding machine, in addition to providing a more econorncally trans- 2ortablc and eiiicienctly processable packsgc.

Manifestly minor changes in details of construction can be efeeted by tlrose skilled in the ar"; without depsrting froin tne spirit and tl1e scope 0 tl.e invention as defined in, and limitcd solcly by the eppended claims.

I claim:

1. A builder mechanisrn for distributing a thread or fiber onto a rotating tube con1pri g a housing, a reciprocating unit slidnbly secured to said housiug, nreans for reeiprocatinv said reciprocating unit comprising 21 bydraulic cylinder secured to said housing opeartively ensaid reciprocating unit, a reversing valve secured to said liousing having a rotatable valve control, means comprising a lxydraulie circuit operatively connecting said valve and cylinder with a fiuid supply such tl1at luid iow actuating said cylinder is controller! by said valve, valve reversing means comprising a springloaded eter-center iinkage on said valve coupled to said rotatable valve control, said over-center linlcage comprising a trip lever pivotally secured to a pivot stud on said valve, and o snap arrn pivotally eonneetcd to said trip lever springbiased between said trip lever and a guide bracket on said valve, an arm and finger operatively conneeting said snap arrn and said rotatable valve element, ll thrust of said over-center linkage being borne by said pivot stud and guide braeket and tiius prevented trom afiecting rotation of said rotatable valve control, and means on said reciprocating unit for tripping said trip lever upon completion of each stroke of reciprocation thereby aetuating said valve control and instantaneously reversing said ligdraulie eylinder; said reciproeating unit comprising a motor, 21 spindle parallel with the patl1 of reciprocation driven in rotation by said motor, and a grooved lap wheel on said spindle, whereby said builder rneclranism may be positioned adjacent a rotating tube so as to engage a tbread or fiber in said grooved lap wheel prior to tlie winding tnereof on the tube while rotatng said lap wheel at a speed corresponding with the linear winding speed of tbe thread, and reciprocating said reciprocating unit at a constant rate to spread the thread along said tube, thus providing an evenly distributed thread paekage on said tube.

2. A self-starting hydraulic reciprocating engine for actuating a. reciprocating member c0rnprising a housing, a hydraulic cylinder secured to said housng operatively engnging the reciprocating member, a hydraulic reversing valve se-eured to said housing having a rotatable valve control, means comprising a hydraulic circuit operatively conneeting said valve and cylinder with a fluid supply such that fiuid flow actuating said cylinder is controlled by said valve, valve reversing means comprising a springloaded over-center lnkage on said valve coupled to said rotatable valve control, said over-center linkage comprising a trip lever pivotally seeured to a pivot stad on said valve, and a snap arrn ivotally conneeted to said trip lever spring-biased between said trip lever and a guide brscket on said valve, an arrn and tinger operatively conneeting said snap arnn and said rotatable valve element, tbe thrust of said over-center linkage being borne by pivot stud ancl guide bracket and tiius prevented rorn ai"ecting rotation of said rotatable valve control, and means en die reeiprocating member for tripping said trip lever upon completion of each stroke of reciprocation thereby actuating said valve control and reversing said hydraulic cylinder.

3. A builder mechanism for traversing a tl1read or fiber along a rotating tube to provide 0. level wound thread or fiber package comprising a housing, a reciprocating unit slidably secured to said housing, means on said reciprocating unit engaging and guiding a thread or fiber proxirnate the rotaung tube to traverse said thread or fiber along the tube, a hydraulic snap-action reversing valve secured to said housing having a rotatable valve control, nreans comprising a bydraulic circuit operatively connecting said valve and cyiinder with a fiuid supply such that fiud flow actuating said cylinder is controlled by sad valve, sad valve actuated by an over-center linkage comprising a pivot stud on sad valve parallel with sad rotatable valve control, a valve trip lever pvotally monnted on sad pivot stud, a snap arm pvotally connected with sad trip lever, means permitting movement of the snap a1m and trip lever pvotal connection longitudinally along said snap arm, a guide bracket on sad valve, hearing means on sad snap arm operatively engaging sad guide bracket, spring means on sad snap arm biasing sad snap arm away from sad trip lever and against sad guide bracket, an arm and finger extending from sad snap arm connecting sad snap arm with sad rotatable valve control, stop means limiting rotation of sad trip lever, sad pivot stud, guide bracket, and stop means absorbing the thrust of sad spring means and preventing the thrust from aecting the rotation of sad valve control, and means on sad reciprocating unit for tripping sad trip lever upon completion of each stroke of reciprocation thereby actuating sad valve control and instantaneously reversing sad hydraulic cylnder.

4. A self-starting hydraulic reciprocating engine lfor actuating a reciprocating member comprising a housing, a hydraulic cylnder secured to sad housng operatively engaging the reciprocating member, a hydraulic reversing valve secured to sad housing having a rotatable valve control, means comprising a hydraulic circuit operatively connecting sad valve and cylnder with a fluid supply such that fluid flow aetuatng sad cylnder is controlled by sad valve, valve reversing means comprising a springloaded over-center linkage on sad valve, sad over-center linkage comprising a pivot stud on sad valve parallel with sad rotatable valve control, a valve trip lever pivotally mounted on sad pivot -stucl, a snap arm pvotally connected with sad trip lever, means permitting movement of the snap arm and trip lever pivotal connection longitudinally along sad snap arm, a guide bracket on sad valve, hearing means on sad snap arm operatvely engaging sad guide bracket in slidable relation therewith, spring means on sad snap arm biasing sad snap arm away from sad trip lever and against sad guide bracket, an arm and finger extending from sad snap arm operatively connecting sad snap arm with sad rotatable valve control, stop means limiting rotation of sad trip lever, sad pivot stud, guide bracket, and stop means absorbing the thrust of sad spring means and preventng the thrust from afl.ecting the rotation of sad valve control, and means on the reciprocating member for tripping sad trip lever upon completion of each stroke of reciprocation thereby actuating sad valve control and reversing sad hydraulic cylnder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,119,214 Andersom Dec. 1, 1914 1,295,638 Triggs Feb. 25, 1919 1,641,300 Spencer Sept. 6, 1927 1985,603 Elssner Dec. 25, 1934 2,147,664 Moncrief et al Feb. 21, 1939 2,433,304 Stream Dec. 23, 1947 2539,942 Beeftnk Jan. 30, 1951 2,646,075 Elkington July 21, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,012,078 France Apr. 9, 1952

Claims

1. A BUILDER MECHANISM FOR DISTRIBUTING A THREAD OR FIBER ONTO A ROTATING TUBE COMPRISING A HOUSING, A RECIPROCATING UNIT SLIDABLY SECURED TO SAID HOUSING, MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID RECIPROCATING UNIT COMPRISING A HYDRAULIC CYLINDER SECURED TO SAID HOUSING OPERATIVELY ENGAGING SAID RECIPROCATING UNIT, A REVERSING VALVE SECURED TO SAID HOUSING HAVING A ROTATABLE VALVE CONTROL, MEANS COMPRISING A HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID VALVE AND CYLINDER WITH A FLUID SUPPLY SUCH THAT FLUID FLOW ACTUATING SAID CYLINDER IS CONTROLLED BY SAID VALVE, VALVE REVERSING MEANS COMPRISING A SPRING-LOADED OVER-CENTER LINKAGE ON SAID VALVE COUPLED TO SAID ROTATABLE VALVE CONTROL, SAID OVER-CENTER LINKAGE COMPRISING A TRIP LEVER PIVOTALLY SECURED TO A PIVOT STUD ON SAID VALVE, AND A SNAP ARM PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID TRIP LEVER SPRINGBIASED BETWEEN SAID TRIP LEVER AND A GUIDE BRACKET ON SAID VALVE, AN ARM AND FINGER OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID SNAP ARM AND SAID ROTATABLE VALVE ELEMENT, THE THRUST OF SAID OVER-CENTER LINKAGE BEING BORNE BY SAID PIVOT STUD AND GUIDE BRACKET AND THUS PREVENTED FROM AFFECTING ROTATION OF SAID ROTATABLE VALVE CONTROL, AND MEANS ON SAID RECIPROCATING UNIT FOR TRIPPING SAID TRIP LEVER UPON COMPLETION OF EACH STROKE OF RECIPROCATION THEREBY ACTUATING SAID VALVE CONTROL AND INSTANTANEOUSLY REVERSING SAID HYDRAULIC CYLINDER; SAID RECIPROCATING UNIT COMPRISING A MOTOR, A SPINDLE PARALLEL WITH THE PATH OF RECIPROCATION DRIVEN IN ROTATION BY SAID MOTOR, AND A GROOVED LAP WHEEL ON SAID SPINDLE, WHEREBY SAID BUILDER MECHANISM MAY BE POSITIONED ADJACENT A ROTATING TUBE SO AS TO ENGAGE A THREAD OR FIBER IN SAID GROOVED LAP WHEEL PRIOR TO THE WINDING THEREOF ON THE TUBE WHILE ROTATING SAID LAP WHEEL AT A SPEED CORRESPONDING WITH THE LINEAR WINDING SPEED OF THE THREAD, AND RECIPROCATING SAID RECIPROCATING UNIT AT A CONSTANT RATE TO SPREAD THE THREAD ALONG SAID TUBE, THUS PROVIDING AN EVENLY DISTRIBUTED THREAD PACKAGE ON SAID TUBE.