Importance

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Abstract

A fiber spool apparatus for a braiding machine or the like, comprising a support, a fiber supply spool rotatably mounted on the support, a housing fixedly mounted on the support and having a plurality of recessed portions on the inner surface thereof, and a coil spring mounted within the housing. The coil spring has an inner end operatively associated with the spool and an outer end in engagement with the inner surface of the housing. When fiber is fed from the spool to the braiding machine, the spool is rotated in a first direction to wind and tension the spring by engagement of the outer end thereof in one of the recessed portions in the housing rotation of the spool in the first direction until the spring reaches a predetermined tension. Continued rotation of the spool in the first direction causes the outer spring end to slip from one recessed portion to another after the spring has reached the predetermined tension. In the event of slack in the fiber being fed to the braiding machine, the tensioned coil spring, by engagement of its outer end in one of the recessed portions of the housing, causes the spool to rotate in the opposite direction to maintain tension in the fiber.

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First Claim