Self-threading yarn brake mechanism

Abstract

The improved yarn brake mechanism of this invention is provided with a tubular brake housing having axially spaced apart inlet and outlet openings for passage of a yarn therethrough and an enlarged cavity formed in the tubular brake housing between the inlet and outlet openings. A pair of cooperating brake platelets is mounted in the enlarged cavity of the brake housing, the brake platelets having surface portions positioned in opposing contacting relation for applying tension to a yarn passing therebetween, and having peripheral portions which cooperate with one another to form a V-shaped groove for guiding the yarn between the opposing contacting surface portions. To insure that a yarn which is threaded through the brake housing will reach the V-shaped groove so as to become properly positioned between the opposing contacting surfaces of the brake platelets, a yarn passageway is provided extending within the cavity of the brake housing from the yarn inlet opening to the yarn outlet opening and past the pair of brake platelets. The passageway is so arranged as to extend alongside the periphery of the brake platelets with one wall of the yarn passageway comprising the peripheral portions of the brake platelets which form the V-shaped groove. The V-shaped groove is thus located for reliably guiding the yarn which is threaded through the elongate passageway between the brake platelets when tension is subsequently applied to the yarn.