US1282171A - Process of making metallic fabric. - Google Patents

Description

I. S. BARNES.

PROCESS OF MAKING METALLIC FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.8..I9I7.

l 282, T Patented Oct. 22, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I. S. BARNES.

PROCESS 0F MAKING METALLIC FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-8.19I7.

Patented Oct. 22, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

, wie@ J. S. BARNES. PROCESS 0F MAKING MEALLlC FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, |917. id jL Patented (m2219318.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J. S. BARNES.

PROCESS 0F MAKING METALLIC FABRIC.

' Y APPLICATION FILED IAN.8, 1917. v v l LQSQJXL Patented Oct. 22, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Hill" `25. Il y Z? I? @Z4 y jab? mp6@ .JOHN S. BARNES, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

PROCESS OF MAKING METALLIC FABRIC.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, i918..

Application filed January 8, 1917. Serial No. 141,149.

To all whom t may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN S. BARNES, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Making Metallic Fabric, of which the following is a' specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. i

This invention relates to a wire fabric weaving machine especially designed for producing interwoven wire fabric that can be used for fences, gates, trellises, gratings, baskets and various foraminous structures.

My invention aims to provide a weaving machine by which strands of wire may be economically and expeditiously interwoven, in a manner as4 hereinafter set forth, to form a foraminous fabric having uniform interstices and the interwoven strands interlocked against accidental displacement.

. The wire fabric produced by the machine necessarily involves a process of manufacture, and the first step consists incutting a piece of wire into desired lengths and notching each piece of wire. This step of the process is accomplished by a novel punching machine into which the pieces of wire are automatically moved and opposed walls thereof provided with alternate or staggeredly arranged notches. The spacing of the notches and the cross sectional area of the same determine the weave of the fabric and the size of the interstices thereof. The second step involved in weaving the fabric consists in utilizing a pressing machine for holding and correctly positioning the pieces of wire whereby weaving operations may be conveniently and continuously carried on by an attendant of the machine. This step of the process calls for an especiallv designed Dressing machine that will hold pieces of wire in proper relation whereby other pieces of wirev may be expeditiously placed in position to be interwoven.

The third step involved in the process of weaving consists in bending the pieces of wire held in the pressing machine whereby other pieces of wire may be placed in position to'be interwoven. The bending of the pieces of wire held in the machine is of utmost importance as it determines the nature of the weave and more so than any other step it contributes to the perfection of the fabric. To bend unwoven ends of strands of wire held by the machine it is necessary to use coperating members and the design of these members is determined and governed by the spacing of the notches produced by the first step of the process.

The fourth step involved in the fabrication is that of pressing home or correctly positioning pieces of wire whereby they become interlocked at their intersection, and this step is accomplished in connection with the weaving machine.

Associated with the above steps are certain minor steps and results that produce a novel article of manufacture in the form of a woven fabric having all the interwoven strands ina common plane. This is accomplished by interlocking the pieces or strands of wire at the notches thereof and after the pieces or strands of wire are pressed into position it is practically impossible for the same to become accidentally displaced. A rigid and durable fabric is produced which may be used for various purposes, and considerable limportance is attached to the rapidity at which heavy pieces or strands of wiremay be accurately interwoven.

The various steps involved in the production of the fabric will be better understood as the construction of the machine is described; therefore reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein- Figure l is a front elevation of a weaving machine, partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, partly broken away; v

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the machine illustrating the wire bending and interlocking members;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View of the machine, taken on or about the line IV-IV 0f Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a plan of a portion of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a piece of notched wire;

Fig. 7 is a similar view of a piece of wire fabric; A

Fig. S is a perspective view of a ortion of the machine, illustrating spacing clevices;

Fig. 9 vis a plan of a punching or notching machine, partly in section;

Fig, l0 is an elevation of J'he machine partially brolen away and in section;

J fabric to pressure whereby e Woven strands thereof are in a common l ln describing` my invention by aid of the vievvsabove referred to, desire to point out that the same are intended as merely illustrative of an example of machines by `which the process of manufacturing1 Wire fabric may be carriedl into effect; therefore do not care to limit invention. to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown. rlhe followingl description is therefore to be broadly construed as including substitute constructions and arrangement of parts which are the mechanical equivalent of thosehereinafter referred to.,

The first step involved in the manufactu e of Wire fabric is accomplished cutting1 or notching` machine, and the essential of such a machine has been illustrated in lgs. 9 to l2 inclusive.

The reference numeral l denotes a stationary die or head block having a transverse opening;l 2 adapted to receive a piece of Wire 3 Which has been previously cut a desired length. The die or head block l is preferably made with an interenchangeable member l provided with grooves 5 having the lower ends thereof in communication with thevdischarge openings 6 in other members of the die or head block. l

Slidable in the grooves 5 are parallel punches 'l carried by a head 8 connected to a vertical reciprocable member 9, said member representing the punching head of an ordinary machine. rlhe 1grooves 5 are at opposite sides of the opening 2 Which inter- ,sects said grooves and said grooves are at the ends of the opening" of the member e, thereby exposing spaced portions of the piece of Wire 3 in the grooves 5 of the die or head block, whereby the punches 7 may cut or punch opposed Walls of thepiece of Wire 3 and discharge the punchings through theopenings 6. lt is therefore essential that the punches Z be set at opposite sides of the central longitudinal plane of the die or head block l, as best shown in Fig. 9, and by simply changing the member l of saidl block and the punches? of the reciprocable member 9P a piece of wire 3 may be provided with notches spaced as desired. el niece of notched Wire is shown in Fig.

6 and it will be observed ythat the notches l() are in staggered relation and approximately one-half the cross-sectional area of the piece of Wire. The depth of the notches is essential inorder that Woven or interlool/red Stiitz,oly connected to the die or head' is a horizontally disposed table ll roviced ivith a longitudinal slot l2 and a ront iv ll l The front Wall i3 has a lon- `itudinal shoulder lil on Which the piece of 're 3 is intermittently moved and firmly 9 'oarticularly during the punching or y i operation. Adjustable in the slot of the table .il is a holder l5 for a spring, essed beveled detent i6 adapted to engage a notch l0 of the piece of Wire to hold the me against accidental movement. rl`he deent holder l5 can be adjusted upon the able ll and ned relative to said table by olt l? and a nut i6 or similar clamping ans.;

ISlidable in the slot l2 of the table ll is a feeding; niembei1 i9 having a spring pressed beveled do@4 2O to engage in a notch of the piece of vfire and move or advance the piece of -vvire upon the table when the member i9 is moved in one direction. lhen moved in the opposite direction the dog,1 20 recedes to obtain a fresh grip on the piece of vvire and 'tl spring pressed detent 16 will hold the c of wire While the feeding; member i9 Y The detent i6 is only employed or holding the piece of Wire during the intern-- in which the punches 7 are not in engagement with the piece, of Wire. rl`he top of the .feeding member i9 has a Setof apetured lugs 2l pivotally connected to a link 22 which is also pivotally connected to a lever 23 extendingthrough the slot l2 and ivoted or fulcrumed between depending bearings 2l of the table ll. rlhe lower end of the lever 23 is pivotally connected to a link 25 and said link is pivotally connected to a crank 26 on the end of a rock shaft i2'?, journaled in a depending; bearing 28 of the table ll. rlhe roel; shaft 27 has another crank-29 pivotally connected to a two-part A O ,QA

rod 30 held inan upright position by a side extension 3l of the reciprocable member 9. The upper end of the rod 30 is screvvthreaded to receive nuts 32 and 33, the former being above the extension 3l and the latter belovv said extension. As the reciprocable member 9 descends, the extensionv 3l thereof impinges Jdie nut 33 and imparts movement to the rod 30, cranks 29 and 26, lever 23, linlrs 22 and 25, and thereby moves the feeding member i9 toward the die or head block l, allowing; the dog20 to engage in another notch of the piece of Wire 3. @n an upstroke of the reciprocable member 9, it is necessary Vthat the punches. 7 reach a polsition above the opening; 2 of the membere before the piece of Wire 3 is advanced; therefore the clearance between the side extension 6l and the nuts 32 and 33. lmmediately u oon the punches 7 being raised above the iso 1,asa,171

opening 2 of the member 4, the side extension 31 impinges the nut 32 and the rod 30 is elevated and the feeding member 19 shifted away from the die or head block 1 to move the piece of wire 3 a predetermined distance to be notched by t-he punches 7.

The machine just described constitutes means for notching pieces of wire, and reference will now be had to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive and Fig. 8, showing the machine by which the second, third and fourth steps of the process ofmanufacturing wire fabric are carried into eifect.

The machine comprises a stationary frame generally denoted A and a fulcrumed or pivoted frame generallydenoted B. The frame A has a base 40 and in elevation, the frame conforms somewhat in shape to an A-frame, that is, it has legs 41, transverse braces 42 and 43 and angularly disposed converging arms 44 with the apex thereof connected to a ceiling bracket or hanger 45.

The fulcrumed or pivoted frame -B rests upon the base 40 in front of the stationary frame and in front elevation conforms to the shape of said stationary frame. The legs of the fulcrumed frame are designated 46, the arms are designated 47 and a brace is designated 48.

1n front of the apex of the frame B is a ceiling bracket or hanger 49 having bearings 50 coperating with bearings 51 on the stationary frame in supporting cam shafts 52 in front ofthe arms 47 of the fulcrumed frame. The cam shafts 52, contiguous to the v bearings thereof, have cams 53 engaging the fulcrumed frame B to move said frame toward the stationary frame A. Intermediate the ends of the cam shafts 52 are cranks or levers 54 which permit of attendants or operators of the machine rocking said shafts to swing the fulcrumed frame to a closed position. The'legs 46 of the fulcrum frame are prevented from becoming accidentally displaced by forwardly projecting guide members 55 carried by the brace 42 of the stationary frame A, and tending to hold the fulcrum frame normally in an open position are coiled compression springs 56 in pockets 57 of the legs 41 of the frame A. To limit the closing movement of the fulcrum frame B the base 40 has adjustable screws or stops 58 which will correctly position the fulcrumed ends of the links 46 relative to the stationary frame A.

rlhe angularly disposed arms 44 and 47 of the frames A and B respectively are channel shaped, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and the upper anges 80 and 81 of said arms'are provided with detachable bending members 82 and 83 respectively. Each of these members has rigid equally spaced teeth or pro- ]ectlons 84 and when said members arey mounted upon vthe flanges 8O and 81 the teeth of one member are staggered relative to the teeth of the other member. The teeth 84 of said bending members overhang longitudinally recessed confronting walls 85 of the channel arms 44 and 47, and by reference to Fig. 4, it will be observed that the teeth 84 are of suiicient length to engage and v bend pieces or strands 0f wire clamped between the arms 44 and 47 when the frame B is in a closed position relative to the stationary frame A. This bending of the pieces of wire is facilitated by the recessed walls 85 of the channel arms and with the teeth 84 in staggered relation,the pieces of wires are bent in two directions, alternating wires toward the fulcrum frame B and the remaining wires toward the stationary frame A. Such bendingv places one group of wires in one plane and the other group of wires in an-` other plane, producing a V-shaped formation when viewed from either end of an arm.

Considering Fig. 1,l it will be observed that the arms of each frame are at right angles to each other, andthat pieces of wire are shown -as held between the arms of said frames with said pieces of wires in two groups, oneat right angles to the other, with unwoven ends protruding upwardly at right angles to the arms of the frame. This may be better understood by considering one of the frames as having one group of wires in parallelism with one arm thereof and the wire are forced between the groups of wires as far as possible, by hand, then interlocking members are brought into action to properly seat and position the inserted wires. rlhese interlocking members are carried by the arms 44 of the stationary frame A and each arm has bearings 86 for a trunnion bar 87 provided with spaced-rigid fingers 59. The bar 87 has a handle or lever 88 at anend thereof whereby the fingers 59 of said bar can be swung downwardly on to the inserted piece of wire to force the same into position and to hold the lingers normally elevated; the bar 87 has a side extension 61 connected by coiled retractile spring 62 to the 'arm of the frame A.

Again considering Fig. ,1 in connection with Figs. 2 and 8, itwill now be described how a fabric is started in the machine, shifted therein, and held therein'when the frame B is in an open position.

This is accomplished by weaving or starting a piece of fabric by hand or other suitable means and then placing the started piece of fabric in the machine. To `hold it therein and permit of its movement during the weaving operation, novel spacing devices are employed in connection with the frame B. v

The fulcrnmed frame has a longitudinally slotted support 65, above the brace i8 thereof, and adjustable on this support, are brackets 66 supporting housings 67. rlShek top and bottom of each housing has longitudinal slot, and reciprocable in the hous-` ing are slide members 68 and 69, one above the other. The slide members 68 and 69- of each housing have apertured lugs 70 entending through the slots of the housing and connected by linirs 7l to a cross head or double crank 72 slidable upon a shaft 73, but adapted for roclring with said shaft through the medium of splines engaging in the grooves lelof said shaft. intermediate the ends of the shaft is a lever 75 which has the lower end thereof connected by a coiled retractile spring T6 to the support 65. it is by virtue of the lever 75 'that the members 68 and 69 can be reciprocated in the housings 67, and said members are provided with pins 77 adapted to engage in the meshes or interstices of the woven fabric and support said fabric, particularly when the fulcrum frame E is in an open position. The elements 66 to 7'? inclusive constitute spacing devices, and by referring to Fig. 8, it will be observed that the pin `77 of the slide member G9 supports the fabric by engaging under strands of wire, at their intersection, so that the fabric is suspended from said pin. The pin 77 of the slide member 68 is in position to enter the mesh or interstice of the fabric above the pin of the slide member 69, and when said slide member is shifted to a. retracted position by rocking the shaft 73, the pin of the slide member 68 moves forward into the fabric and supports the saine similar to the pin of the slide member 69. During this shifting of the slide members 68 and 69, the woven fabric has descended by gravity and the intermittent movement of the fabric is de'- termined by reciprocating the slide inembers. The spacing devices are operated in -synchronism by the lever 75 and said devices allow the woven fabric to intermittently move in the machine, and to guide the fabric from the machine, the brace d8 of the fulcrum frame has curved slrid or slide ways 7S, as best shown in 2,

ln the operation of the Weaving machine, it is preferable to have two operators, although it is possible to operate the machine with a single operator. Assuming that a piece of'fabric has been started in the machine and that it is clamped between the arms is and s? of the frames A and B, the

gni

these wires to match notches or interlock one end of the inserted wire with one of the protruding wires, as generally designated at C, thus properly positioning the notches of the inserted wire relative to the groups of wires protruding from the machine. As-

suming further that the inserted wire has been forced home as far as possible, by hand, the operator of the machine manipulates the lever 88 to swing the fingers 59 of the interlocking members on to the inserted wires, to further force said wires between the groups of protruding wires, as shown in Figs. 3 and e, thus interlocking the notched or recessed confronting walls of the lcontacting wires. This step in the process of manufacturing the fabric having been performed, the operators of the machine now rock the cam shafts 52 and release the fulcrum frameB relative to the stationary frame A, thus throwing the weight of the upper part ofthe fabric upon a pin 77 of each spacing device. An operator now rocks the shaft Z3 and the spacing devices are actuated in synchronism. The pins??v supporting the fabric are withdrawn therefrom to allow the fabric to descend on to and be supported by the other pins ofthe spacing devices,and in consequence of this operation the fabric has been lowered between the frames A and B.

The wires previously inserted are carried to a position between the channel arms ist and i? of said frames and when the frame i7 is closed by the cams 53, the interloclred wires are pressed between the arms l-f and 47 to such an entent that the walls of the notches l0 are brought into snug engagement thus precluding any danger of the interloched wires becoming accidentally displaced.

Simultaneous with the clamping' of the wires between the arms del and 7 the bendingmembers 82 and 83 are brought into action to bend the protruding ends of the wires whereby the wires may be inserted as previously described.

AThe fabric woven by thevmachine has the pieces or strands of wire thereof interloched by the rigidity of thewire, by the weave of the fabric, and by pressure brought to bear between the frames A and B, and as a precautionary measure, El mayvfurther subject the woven fabric to the action of rolls 79 nassaui shown in Fig. 13. These rolls will positively move all the strands of the wires into a common plane, and in some instances, the strands of wire, at their intersection, may be further secured by spelter, welding, upsetting edges of the notches l0 and otherwise forming a positive connection between the wires, thus assuring a rigid and uniform, metallic fabrication.` y

l desire to call attention to the fact that the first steps of the process of preparing the wire for weaving purposes, may be reversed. For instance, the wire taken from a. bundle may be straightened, punched, and then cut into desired length, and in some instances the punching andcutting of the wire into desired length may be simultaneously performed.

lfd/*hat Iclaim is zk,

l. A process of making wire fabric consisting of placing' wires in parallel relation, simultaneously holding said wiresand bending ends thereof into two groups, placing a wire between the groups of wires, forcing the placed wire into interlocked engagement with said parallel wires, and then bringing pressure to bear on the bent ends of said wires to place all of said wires in a common plane 2. A process `of makingwire fabric consisting of placing wires in parallel relation, bending alternate endsv of said -wires into two groups, placinga wire between the groups of wires, and then bringing pressure to bear on said wires to force said wires into interlocked engagement in a common plane.

3. A process of making wire fabric consisting of placing wires in parallel relation, bending ends of said wires, placing lwires between the bent ends of said parallel wires, intermittently moving all of said wires, and bringing pressure to bear upon the bent portions cf said wires during an interim of movement of said wires.

4e. A process of making wire fabric consisting of simultaneously clamping parallel notched wires and bending ends thereof, inserting notched wires between the bent ends until the notches of the inserted wires interlock with the notches of the bent'ends of said wires, and then shifting all of said wires and bringing pressure to bear, on the bent portions of said wires whereby said fabric is again clamped for a repeated operation.

5. The process of making wire fabric consisting of notching pieces of wire, holding the pieces of wire with their notched portions in contact, bending the parallel ends of' the held pieces of wire, inserting and positioning pieces of wire between the parallel ends of the contacting wires, and then shifting and again holding the wires with pressure brought to hear on the notched contacting portions of the wire.

6. A processof making wire fabric consisting of cutting lengths of wire and notching walls of each wire, weaving the pieces of wire with the notched portions thereof contacting, holding the woven wires and bending protruding ends thereof, inserting pieces of wire between ,the protruding ends of woven wire, pressing the inserted wires until the notched portions thereof interlock with thev notched portions of the protruding ends of woven wires, moving the bent portions of said woven wires, and then bringing pressure to bear against said woven wires.

7. A process of making wire fabric consisting of cutting lengths of wire and notching walls of each wire, weaving the pieces of wire with the notched portions thereof in contact, simultaneouslv bringing pressure to bear upon the contacting notched portions of said wires and bending theprotruding ends thereof, inserting pieces of wire be- Sti tween the protruding ends of woven wire,

pressing the inserted wires until the notched portions thereof interlock with the notched portions of the protruding ends of women wires, and shifting the woven wires and then bringing pressure to bear on the bent wires.

8. A process of making wire fabric consisting of notching pieces of wire. holding the pieces of wire between frames with the notched portions thereof in contact. bending protruding ends of the held niecesof wire bv bending members on said frames, inserting pieces of wire between the protruding ends of said wires. and then locking said insertedv wires in engagement with the ".iirst mentioned wires by interlocking mem.

bers on said frame.

9. A process of making wire yfabric coni sisting in simultaneously clamping' previously woven wire fabric and bending unwoven ends of the wire, inserting additional wires between the bent ends of said wires,

and then shifting and again clamping the L fabric to interlock the wires by pressure.

l0. A process of making wire fabric consisting in placing groups of wires in angularly disposed relation, placing wires between the groups ci wires, and then bringing pressure to bear on all of said wires to force said wires into interlocked engagement in a common plane. A

ln testimony whereof l afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. Jenn s. pannes. Witnesses Q- KARL H. BUTLER,

ANNA M. one.

Images