GB952381A - Improvements in knitting machines - Google Patents

Abstract

952,381. Knitting-machines. WILDT MELLOR BROMLEY Ltd. Aug.10, 1962 [Aug. 18, 1961], No. 29914/61. Heading DIC. [Also in Division G3] The needles of a knitting machine are actuated by fluid pressure. The needles 11 of a circular knitting machine are pivotable about an axis 12 into positions 1-5, of which positions 2-5 correspond respectively to miss, tuck, clear and transfer, by successive step by step movements of a yoke 17 connected by a rod 19 to a plunger 21 movable by hydraulic pressure. The rod 19 passes through a series of sleeves 22-24, each having an enlarged domed head, and reciprocable in aligned bores in the machine body. Annular chambers 32-35 are supplied with oil at successively increasing pressures. The lower end of the plunger 21 extends within a sleeve valve 25 which is moveable by a cam (not shown) into positions 1-5 to supply oil at successively increasing pressure, from annular chambers 27-30, to the underside of the plunger. Chambers 26, 31 and 36 are maintained at exhaust pressure. When the valve 25 is in the position 1 as shown the plunger, together with its needle, is maintained at its lowest level being pressed downwards by the pressure in chamber 32 acting on the upper end of the plunger. On movement of the valve to position 2 the underside of the plunger receives pressure from chamber 27 which is sufficient to raise the plunger until its upper end abuts the underside of sleeve 24 which cannot rise against the pressure in chamber 33. Movement of the valve to position 3 allows the pressure from chamber 28 to act below the plunger; this pressure is sufficient to raise the plunger and sleeve 24 against the pressure in chamber 33 to abut sleeves 24 and 23, but not to raise the sleeve 23 against the pressure in chamber 34. The operations for positions 4 and 5 of the valve is similar, the heads of the sleeves 23, 24 being arranged to enter the bores for sleeves 24 and 25 respectively. In the position 1 of the needle the latter rests on a surface 13 of a stitch length control device 14 threaded on the machine body at 15 and adjustable by rotation of a gear 16 formed with screw-driver slots for manual operation.