US1346498A - Spacing-clamp for warp-threads and other purposes - Google Patents

Description

C. LEA.

SPACING CLAMP FOR WARP THREADS AND OTHER PURPOSES. APPLICATION FILED AUG.3I. 191s. RENEWED OCT. 11. 1919.

f 5 [m m 2 Patented. July 13, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES LEA, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN WARP DRAWING MACHINE COMIEANY, 01 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- TION 0F MAINE.

SPACING-CLAlVLP FOR TARP-THREADS AND OTHER PURPOSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 31, 1915, Serial No. 48,221. Renewed October 11, 1919. Serial No. 330.140.

To (LY/Z w/tmn it may concern Be it known that I, CHAnLns LEA, citizen of the United States, and resident of Boston, Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spacing-Clamps for l/Varp-Threads and other Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spacing clamps and is more particularly intended for use in the holding and spacing of warp threads preparatory to or during the weaving operation, although said clamps may be used in other relations also.

The clamps commonly used for this purpose consisted of a comb-like member combined with a trough-like cover adapted to he slipped over the ends of the comb teeth after the warp or other threads have been laid between the teeth. Obviously, such thin metal cover when dented or bent, which easily happens, cannot readily be applied to the comb or spacing member.

It is the object of the present invention to improve and simplify the construction of these devices by providing a spacing clamp whose efliciency is not likely to be impaired by careless handling and which is positively locked together in operative position, while at the same time cheapening and simplifying the construction, and also rendering it capable of use 011 a warp beam or spool that is of shorter length than the'clamp itself.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated the preferred form embodying the principles of the present invention, .in which-- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the clamp closed for use and containing the warp threads.

Fig. 2 is a detail view in side elevation of a portion of the spacing member or comb.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the clamp showing the locking member inserted in the retaining eyes of the clamp.

Fig. .L is a View of a modified form of retaining member.

In the practice of this invention, the comb member may be most conveniently and cheaply formed of sprin metal whose teeth have a slight degree of resilience. l Vhen made of such material it embraces the back or solid portion a and the properly spaced teeth a between which the warp threads are placed, the teeth being pointed preferablv to facilitate insertion of the warp threads. The teeth a, or a portionof them at least, are formed with off-sets a thus producing a series of open loops or eyes, some of which face to one side of the comb and others of which face to the opposite side in the particular form shown for the purpose of receiving a suitable retaining memberwhich closes the spaces between the teeth to pre vent the warp threads from falling out.

This retaining member 7) may consist simply of a. wire rod which is preferably of a diameter to fit tightly into the retaining eyes formed in the comb teeth. lVhen the comb teeth are made of resilient material, such as thin steel or the like, they will be slightly spread apart by the inserted rod and by pinching the rod frictionally tend to prevent any accidental endwise displacement of the retaining member.

As shown in Fig. l, the retaining member may consist simply of a cord 6 secured to a threading needle 5 which facilitates drawingthe thread through the eyes of the teeth.

It will be observed that the locking member, whether consisting of a cord or a rod,

'is positively held against outward movement under the tension or weight of the warp threads and yet is very easily removed by withdrawal endwise. To facilitate the insertion of the retaining member, it may be tapered at one end, as shown in the drawings, which makes it easier to slightly spread apart or open the retaining loops or eyes of the comb teeth.

One very important characteristic of the clamp having this construction is that it is sufficiently flexible to allow it to be curled or bent diagonally around the warp spool between the spool heads, even when the clamp is of greater length than the direct measurement between the two heads of the warp spool. This is a feature of practical importance, since the same clamp can be. used on spools carrying a different number of warp threads to the inch, since the extra length of the comb or clamp can be disposed of by bending it around the warp beam in a diagonal or spiral direction as the warp threads can be just as readily wound over this flexible clamp in a spiral position as when it is arranged parallel to the axis ofthe beam.

What I claim is:

1. A spacing clamp for warp threads or the like embracing a spacing member portions fof said teeth by which it is re-. movably'loclred in operative position to prevent the threads from falling out of place, substantially as described.

2. A spacing clamp for warp threads or the like consisting of a comb-like member whose teeth are formed with cit-set open recesses or loops, some of which face toward one side and others toward the opposite side, and arranged at the same level longitudinally of the comb,'and a retaining member adapted to be inserted endwise through the oil-set loops so as to be positively held against outward displacement, substantially as described.

3. A spacing clamp embracing in its construction a comb having resilient teeth formed with open oft-set portions, some facingto one side and others to the other side to form retaining eyes, -a longitudinal retaining member capable of being passed through said eyes longitudinally to close the open ends of the space .between the 'teeth, said retaining member being of a diameter to be pinched by the resilient teeth to hold it frictionally against longitudinal slipping, substantially as described.

.4. A spacing clamp embracingin its construction a comb-1ike member having teeth formed to interlockingly embrace a retaining rod, and a retaining rod insertible endwise through the teeth and positively held thereby against outward displacement; substantially as described. p

5. The combination of a comb having spring teeth, corresponding portions of the difl erent teeth being oil-set in opposite directions, a retaining rod formed to be inserted between said off-set portions, said retaining rod having one end tapered, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a flexible comb having a series of flexible spacing teeth, and a flexible retaining member adapted to form a detachable engagement with said teeth to hold the interposed threads in position, the comb and the'retaining member when assembled for use being sufficiently flexible to be wrapped diagonally around the warp spool, substantially as described.

7. A spacing clamp for warpthreads or the like, embracing in its construction a combdike structure having a flexible back or base, and a series of laterally projecting parallel teeth spaced apart to receive warp threads between them, said teeth being formed to interlockinglyengage a longitudinal Warp-retaining member, intermediate of their ends, and a flexible warp-retaining member adapted to be removably held. in warp-retaining engagement with said teeth intermediate of their ends, where by the entire clamp may be readily bent around the warp spool in a helical or spiral direction, substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have subscribed the above specification. v c CHARLES LEA.

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