US2046100A - Latch for heddle frames - Google Patents

Description

. une 30, 1936 J K JR 2,046,100

LATCH FOR HEDDLE FRAMES I Filed-Dec. 28, 1934 f Q .C L P; g 7e i L2 I WWW Q ,INVENTOR Jim Walker, J23.

Patented June 30, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LATCH FOR HEDDLE FRAMES Application December 28, 1934, Serial No. 759,439

4 Claims.

The object of the invention is to provide improvements in latches for heddle frames, and particularly in latches which are designed to operatively support single heddle bars, both in relation with the frame itself and with respect to each other, as compared with latches which are designed to operatively support a plurality of such bars in parallel relation with one another.

In heddle frames which are generally of considerable length, it is necessary to support the usual heddle bars at one or more points intermediate of their ends, in relatively fixed relation with respect to the rails of the said frames, yet the support must be of such character as to permit the heddles carried by said bar to be readily shifted past the positions of such supporting means, whenever and in such number as may be desired.

In the usual latch or hook by which single heddle bars are operatively supported, there is inclined to be more or less play or looseness, with the result that rods become badly worn and finally break under the rapid vibration of the frame and the tension of the heddles. By contrast, the presr ent form of latch clamps a single bar so positively and securely, that relative movement between the latch and bar is prevented, with resulting prevention of wear and consequent breaking of the bar. On the other hand, if the nut which serves to normally secure the latch parts in positive, fixed and locked relation should accidentally become loosened, the spring which is then interposed between the nut and adjacent latch part operates as an auxiliary safeguard, to prevent the latch from opening and releasing the bar as would otherwise be possible, with probably disastrous results to the fabric being produced by the loom.

Another object, briefly stated, is to provide in the present invention a combined simplification of an improvement over certain earlier structures in the particular art involved, making use of details which have proved of distinct value, and

, adding to them the cooperation of additional desection, and provided with a cut-out recess upon one lateral side adapted to receive a heddle bar inserted laterally thereinto, in combination with a substantially cylindrical sleeve having a notch extending longitudinally inwardly from its nor- 5 mal outer end and adapted to receive the bar,

as the sleeve slides upon and towards the free end of the shank, said sleeve being also provided with a teat or other suitable radially extending oiiset, slidably engageable within a groove which 10 extends longitudinally in a convenient portion of the surface of said shank, to prevent axial movement of said sleeve upon said shank, the upper end of said shank (as viewed in the detailed figures of the drawing) being reduced to provide a shoulder, which cooperates with a radially inwardly extending flange or reduced portion of the sleeve to limit relative movement of the two members longitudinally in one direction, in combination with a spiral or other suitable spring to yieldingly force the sleeve towards the free end of the shank, and a nut carried by and in threaded engagement upon the upper portion of said shank, and provided in its normal lower portion (as viewed in the drawing) with a recess to receive said spring, when said nut is employed to positively maintain said sleeve in outer operative position, and said nut when spaced from said sleeve being operative thru said spring to adjustably vary the tension upon said spring, and thereby the force with which said sleeve is held against the heddle bar supported thereby.

Herein when reference is made to the outward or inward movement of the sleeve, adjustable nut, and any other parts of the device, it is to be understood that such reference is made in lieu of such terms as upper and lower which latter strictly speaking apply only to the position of the latch as shown in Figs. 2 to 6, since in each loom harness similar latches are positioned opposite thereto in inverted position.

With the foregoing objects in mind, the invention comprises further details of construction and. operation, which are brought out in the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is an elevational view of a heddle frame in which are employed a pair of supporting latches comprising one embodiment of the invention, he upper of said latches being in depending position, while the other latch of the pair is in inverted or upright position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

sleeve in retracted position, to permit the removal of the heddle bar; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary View, showing the spring and a portion of the shank in ele-' vation, and adjacent portions of the nut and sleeve in section.

Referring to the drawing, a heddle frame is here shown as comprising parallel, oppositely positioned top and bottom rails l and 2, connected at their ends by any suitable means such as straps; 3.

Singleheddle bars and extend longitudinally of the frame parallel with and slightly spaced from their respectively adjacent rails l and 2, and operatively support corresponding series of heddles 5, only portions of which series are shown. In describing the present invention, reference will be made only to the upper rail 8 and the latch or latches supported thereby, as the lower rail and latches are: but duplicates of theformer.

The rail l is provided with a bore i into which extends the, reduced end portion 8 of a. latch shank 9, said reduced end portion eitherterminating within and being in adjustable. threaded engagement with the walls of said bore, or extending completely thru said bore and in such case being held in longitudinally adjusted position, in any well known manner. In the case of the latter construction it has been customary to operatively secure the shank in desired position by means of' suitable nuts-upon said shank, in. binding engagement with the opposite surfaces of the intervening rail. This construction. is mentioned merely to show that/the exact manner of support and adjustably positioning of the latch shank is no part of the present invention.

In that embodiment of the invention here shown, the intermediate portion of the. shank is threaded as shown at it, while the free end portion'of 'said shank comprises a radially enlarged headli of substantially cylindrical cross sectil tion, separated from the said intermediate threaded portion by a circumferential shoulder Y l2,'said head being also provided with a cut-out head, is slidably mounted with respect to the lat- 'ter and providedat its upper end with a radially inwardly extending flange H, which cooperates with the shoulder E2 to limit' the movement of said'sleeve upon said head in one direction, but

permits a sufficient degree of movement to allow the innermost walls 58 of slots 19, extending inwardly from the outer free end of said sleeve, to engage in. binding relation. the adjacent edge portion of the heddle bar 4. Said slot is centrally positioned transversely of the outer end of said sleeve, and provides a retaining tongue or the like 20, to normally overhang and operatively se- 7 cure said bar within the recess i3.

A coil spring 2! preferably surrounds the intermediate portion 9 of the shank and at one end bears against the flanged end "of the sleeve l6, while its opposite end bears against the innermost relatively planular surface 22 of a hollow cylindrical nut 23, which at 24 is adjustably secured to the threaded portion H] of said shank. 5 In the position of said nut shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the pressure of the spring 2| being relatively light permits the sleeve Hi to be raised into the 7 position shown in Fig. 5, to; permit the lateral transverse removal of the bar 4 lateral of the recess i9. On the other hand, when the nut 23 is screwed down into an intermediate position, much" greater tension is placed upon said spring and consequently upon said sleeve, while screwing the nut 23 into its lowermost position as shown. in Fig. 2, serves to positively lock said sleeve against upward movement, andbinding the same into fixed operative position, whereby the bar 4 is rigidly gripped and held against either transverse, vertical or even. longitudinal movement with respect to saidlatch.

In order to prevent said sleeve from rotating or in fact moving even slightly angularly about the axis of said latch head H, and thereby shifting the slots 59 out of angular alignment with the recess l3, said head is provided at any suitable point with a longitudinally extending groove 25 into which projects the. inner end of a teat 26 with which said sleeveis' provided, as shown in detail in Fig. 3.

In the operation of this device the parts are assembled as shown in the drawing, but'initially with the nut 23 in raised position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. The sleeve may then be raised'into the position shown in Fig. 5, to permit the insertion of the bar i in the slot l3, after which the spring automatically forces thesleeve into its lower operative position, where it is heldby said spring to a degree depending upon the force applied to the spring by means of and in accordance with the position of the nut upon the threaded portion of said shank. Said cap is then screwed down into its operativelowermost position, as shown in Fig. 2, in order to maintain said sleeve rigidly in. operative position, as hereinbe- 'fo-re described. In order to remove the bar from the recess E3, the reverse operation is performed,

thereby upon raising said nut permitting, said sleeve to be moved against the tension of said spring in the upper position. as shown in Fig. 5, whereupon the bar may be removed laterally at will.

Havingthus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:--

1. A latch for heddle frames, comprising a' r cylindrical shank, an enlarged cylindrical head providing an annular shoulder and provided with a recess, and a cylindrical sleevejslidable upon said head and comprising a tongue adapted to engage and retain a heddle bar in saidrecess, said sleeve being also provided with an annular flange surrounding said shank and engageable with said shoulderto limit the movement of said sleeve in one direction." j

2. A latch for heddle frames, comprising a cylindrical shank, an enlargedcylindrical head providing. an annular shoulder and provided with a recess, a cylindrical sleeve slidable upon said head and comprising a tongue adapted to engage and retain a heddle bar'in said recess, said sleeve being also provided with an annular flange surrounding said shank and engageable with said shoulder to limit the movement of said sleeve in one direction, a spring normally forcing said V sleeve towards the free end of said head, and a nut in threaded engagement with said shank, operative to vary the tension upon said spring and in one position being directly engageable with said sleeve, to lock said sleeve against the release of a heddle bar in said recess.

3. A latch for heddle frames, comprising a cylindrical shank, an enlarged cylindrical head providing an annular shoulder and provided with a recess, and a cylindrical sleeve slidable upon said head and comprising a tongue adapted to engage and retain a heddle bar in said recess, said sleeve being also provided with an annular flange surrounding said shank and engageable with said shoulder to limit the movement of said sleeve in one direction, said sleeve being splined upon and to prevent its rotation with respect to said latch.

4. A latch for heddle frames, comprising a cylindrical shank, an enlarged cylindrical head providing an annular shoulder and provided with a recess, a cylindrical sleeve slidable upon said head and comprising a tongue adapted to engage and retain a heddle bar in said recess, said sleeve being also provided with an annular flange surrounding said shank and engageable with said shoulder to limit the movement of said sleeve in one direction, said sleeve being splined upon and to prevent its rotation with respect to said latch, a spring surrounding said shank and engaging said flange, to normally force said sleeve towards the free end of said head, and a nut in threaded engagement with said shank, operative to vary the tension upon said spring and in one position being directly engageable with said flange, to lock said sleeve against the release of a heddle bar in said recess.

JOHN WALKER, JR.

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