US2107531A - Circular loom - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 8, 1938. F. c. HALE ET AL C IRCULAR .LOOM

Filed July 16, 1935' Patented Feb. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHCE CIRCULAR LOOM Delaware Application July 16, 1935, Serial No. 31,599 In Great Britain July 23, 1934 6 Claims.

This invention relates to circular looms, and in particular to the positioning of the shuttles in such looms, the driving of the shuttles relatively to the warps, and the stopping of the loom in the event of thread failure or breakage. The

invention relates particularly to circular looms of the type in which the shuttles are positioned within the sheds formed by the warps disposed cylindrically or substantially cylindrically by means of vane wheels penetrating one sheet of warps at each shuttle and entering recesses in the shuttle, slots between the vanes permitting the threads of the penetrated sheet of warps to pass the vane wheels. This type of mechanism is particularly efiective in that it overcomes in quite a satisfactory manner one of the principal difficulties of circular'weaving, viz. the positioning of a shuttle totally enclosed by the warp threads without damaging the warp threads, since the only action of the vane wheels on the penetrated sheet of warps is a smooth, uni-directional sliding action on the threads as they pass between the vanes. Used in conjunction with a supporting roller mounted in the shutttle so as to engage a circular race mounted on the side of the shuttle remote from the vane wheels and their sheet of warps passing between the roller and the race, the vane wheels provide for a substantially rigid vibrationless support for the shuttle and so maintain the shuttle accurately positioned. When the vane wheels are free from gaging pairs of flanged rollers mounted on the shuttle as described in U. S. application S. No. 706,322 filed 12th January, 1934, which has issued as Patent No. 2,050,328, very little wear of the mechanism can take place and the accurate positioning of the shutttle is maintained over a long period.

In addition to providing simple means for rotating the vane wheels, the construction'described is extremely simple and provides in a ready manner for weaving to be brought to an end in. the event of yarn failure or breakage. Thus, U. S. Patent No. 1,822,292 describes a circular loom having shuttles positioned by rotatable vane wheels: mounted upon a rotatable ring which is normally held stationary so that the shuttles remain stationary while the warps rotate to elfect weaving. A feeler mounted upon each shuttle detects any jamming of the warps such as is occasioned by breakage of a warp thread, and releases the ring carrying the vanewheel shafts and clutches it to a member rotating with the warps. In this way the shuttle at which the warp jam has been detected has its motion relative to the warps brought to an end before it has seriously damaged the jammed warps. As, however, the amount of relative motion which may be permitted to take place between the shuttle and the warps after jamming of the warps is limited, the space of time in which the relative motion must be brought to an end is inversely proportional to the speed of operation of the loom, so that as the speed of operation is increased the stop mechanism must be capable of operating with extreme rapidity. This consideration applies not only when the shuttles are normall stationary, but also in looms in which the shuttles normally rotate and have to be 15 brought to rest in the event of warp jamming. In either case the mass represented by the shuttles and their supporting and driving gear is a highly important factor. The greater this mass the greater the difiiculty in causing the shuttles to rotate or in bringing them to rest as the case may be.

The present invention has as its principal object the mounting and driving of the shuttle in such a manner that rapid stopping of weaving can be effected even at high speeds of operation.

According to the invention the shuttles are positioned by vane wheels mounted on a rotatable ring disposed at substantially the same level as that at which the vane wheels engage the shuttles, so that apart from the shuttles themselves the principal rotatable mass is comprised by the supporting ring and the vane wheel mechanisms concentrated on the ring. The vane wheels themselves are carried on driving shafts preferably mounted in supports secured to the ring at points adjacent to positions to be occupied by the shuttles and so constructed as to add relatively little weight to the rotatable ring while providing a rigid mounting for the shafts. 40

The driving of the vane wheels is conveniently effected by means of a circular gear concentric with the supporting ring. The connection between the vane wheel shafts and the circular gear may be indirect, as by means of short spindles 45 projecting inwards, e. g. radially inwards or substantially so from the gear, and provided at their outer ends with pinions engaging the gear and at their inner ends with gears, preferably of the helical type, engaging similar gears on the vane 5 wheel shafts. This driving arrangement is therefore of extremely small dimensions and represents only a very small increase of weight in the rotatable parts. The provision of the intermediate gear between the spindles and the 55 vane wheel shafts enables a stepping up of the vane wheel speed to be made.

In a loom in which the shuttles norrnally rotate, the supporting ring is driven at a suitable speed and so carries the pinions on the short spindles round a fixed gear ring disposed close to the supporting ring. In the event of warp jamming, a brake is applied to the supporting ring to bring it rapidly to rest, the connection of the supporting ring and the driving motor or other driving; means preferably being broken with extreme rapidity, as, for example, by means of the type described in U. S. application S. Nfo. 30,059, filed July 6, 193.5, which has issued as Patent No. 2,065,137, and U. S. application S. No. 31,600, filed July 16, 1935, which has issued as Patent No. 2,080,819.

vOne form of apparatus according to the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure l is a somewhat diagrammatic part crosssectional elevation of sufiicient of a circular loom employing rotating shuttles to illustrate the vane wheel driving mechanism in connection therewith; Figure 2 is a part cross-seetional elevation of the vane wheel driving mechanism on larger scale; while Figure 3 is a part cross-sectional. plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1, warp threads i unwinding from beams or like supply packages (not shown) proceed downwardly to the fabric 5 along the fell 6 of which weft is laid by'a number of rotating shuttles i (one shown). The Warp threads 4 are divided into two separate sheets 8, 9 by a number of circular lease rods iii and are spaced evenly round the loom by a circular comb I! supported beneath the lease rods by a spider l2 outstanding from the central shaft 53 of the loom.

Beneath the comb II the two sheets 3, 9 of warp threads pass through a circular reed It having eyed dents i5 and supported by a spider H3. The threads of the sheet 9 are: threaded through the eyes of the dents i5 while the threads of the sheet 8 are passed between the dents. In this manner when all the warp threads of both sheets 8, 9 are pressed inwardly or outwardly with respect to the central shaft 53, the threads of the sheet 8 amino to move radially along the spaces between the. dents it to either side of the path of the shuttle While the threads of the sheet 9 are maintained in fixed position, thereby iorming a shed for shuttle reception.

In Figure l a shedding wheel 2? mounted for free rotation on a pillar E8 upstai'iding from a retatable ring E9 (to be described later) is shown pressing the two sheets of warp threads radially inwards to form a shed for the shuttle "i. This shedding action is eifected immediately in advance of each shuttle progressively round the loom, the warp threads being pressed inwardly and outwardly in turn at alternate shuttles.

Each shuttle 7 is supported from outside the outer warp sheet (9, in Figure 1) and urged round the loom between the shedded warp threads by pairs of vane wheels 2i? which engage pairs of flanged rollers 2| freely mounted two different levels in recesses formed in the shuttle. The shape and construction of the vane wheels 29 is such that the vanes 25 pass freely through the outer Warp sheet without hindering the passage of the warp threads, which pass smoothly through the spaces between the vanes.

A plain roller 22 freely mounted abouta'substantially vertical axis within a further recess between the levels of the flanged rollers 2i bears against the edge of a circular race 23 outstanding from the central shaft 53 of the loom, the race thus serving to support each shuttle from the inside of the loom. The warp threads of the inner sheet a} pass freely between the face of the roller 22 and the edge ,of'the race 23.

The pairs of vane Wheels 20 are secured on a shaft 25 which is driven from a radially disposed spindle 25 by helical gears 2?, 23 mounted respectively between the vanewheels 26 on the shaft 25 and on the driving spindle 2t beneath the shaft 25. The shaft and driving spindle 2'6 are mounted in ball bearings 29 housed in a casing 3a which is secured to the rotatable ring !9. The

casing 38 covers the driving gear 2?, 28 and the greater part of the driving spindle 26 and shaft 25, and in addition to forming a compact unit of the vane wheel mechanism, allows of the provision ofv an'oil bath, (to be described later) for g the driving gear. v

The rotatable ring i9 is mountedclose to the warp threads and driven round the loom, at the rate at which it is desired to cause the shuttles to travel, from an electric. motor 3i, the drive being transmitted by belt gearing 32, a vertical shaft 33 and a gear 34 whichengages teeth 35 formed round the ring.

Mounted concentrically with the rotatable ring i9 is a fixed ring 36 on which are formed teeth 3?.

These teeth engage with a pinion 38secured to.

the outer extremityfof the radial spindle 26 so that on rotation of the ring it not only is the vane wheel mechanism rotated bodily about the loom axis, but the vane wheels themselves are rotated about their axes by reason of the relative motion between the teeth 3? on the fixed ring 35 and the pinion 38. The radial spindle 26 thus provides a direct connection between the shaft 25 and the fixed ring 3%. I

Since thespindle 25 lies close to the supporting ring 89, the height of the vane wheel shaft 25 is kept near to the ring, so that the mass of the vane wheel mechanisms is concentrated on the ring. Further, the total mass of the ring I!) and between the shedded warp threads, while the a rotation of the vane wheels about their own axes allows the vanes 2d ,to pass freely through the outer sheet of warp threads without jamming or damaging the threads.

The casing 36 (and consequently the vane wheel mechanism as a whole) is readily detachable from the ring as in order to provide for quick removal of the corresponding shuttle. Inorder to ensure that the vane wheel mechanism can be replaced quickly in exactly the same position there are provided in connection with each casing 35 pairs of adjusting screws 5% screwing in heads 41 -upstanding from the ring is and abutting against stops 42 formed in the casing. The screws 48 allow of line adjustment of the vane wheel mechanism radially towards or away from the shuttle.

By fitting the ring i9 closely to the warp threads its diameter, and consequently its weight, is reduced to the lowest possible amount in relation to the weaving diameter of the loom; In addition, the ring is given a trough section providing for rigidity coupled with lightness, and is iii) preferably made of light metal, e. g. a light aluminium alloy, all other rotating parts, such as the casing 39 and the shuttles themselves being constructed as far as possible of similar light materials.

As mentioned above, the casing 38 allows of the provision of an oil bath for the gears 2?, 26. oil being inserted in the casing on removing a screw cap 43 situated on the top of the casing over the helical gearing. The oil is thrown upwardly at the gears 21, 28 by a rotatable thrower 44 fixed to the spindle 26, and is kept in the vicinity of the gears and prevented from splashing parts not requiring lubrication, by splashguards 45. The edges of the vane wheels are lubricated by pads 46 carried by spring supports 41.

Provision may be made for securing any desired number of vane wheel mechanisms on the ring [9 so that, for example, a loom designed to accommodate twelve shuttles may also be used with ten shuttles spaced evenly around its periphery.

While the apparatus according to the invention is, in view of its lightness and compactness, of particular value in a circular loom employing rotating shuttles, it is to be understood that it can quite simply be incorporated in a loom in which the shuttles remain in fixed position while the warp threads rotate about the loom axis.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:--

1. A light vane wheel driving unit for a circular loom, comprising a casing, a vane wheel supporting shaft supported by said casing, a gear on said shaft within said casing, a driving spindle sup ported by said casing and disposed substantially at right angles to said vane wheel supporting shaft, a gear on said driving spindle within said casing and in engagement with said gear on said shaft, ball bearings for said shaft and said spindle, and a driving pinion on said spindle outside the casing.

2. In a circular loom in which rotatable vane wheels are provided to pass between, the warp threads into engagement with shuttles to position the shuttles within the warp shed, a vane wheel driving gear-ring. spindles in geared connection with the gear-ring and projecting therefrom substantially radially inwards, a gear on the inner end of each spindle, rotatable shafts for carrying the vane wheels, a gear on, each shaft in engagement with a gear on, the inner end of a spindle, a casing for holding each vane wheel shaft and its associated spindle and for covering the gearing therebetween, and a ring for supporting the casings and between which and the warp threads there is relative circular motion with respect to the loom axis, the vertical positioning of the teeth of the gear-ring and of the casings be ing such that the teeth and the spindles, and also the axes of the rotatable shafts and the gearing connecting the spindles and the shafts lie within a space the bounds of which are at a verti cal distance from the supporting-ring equal to twice the radius of a vane wheel.

3. In a circular loom in which rotatable vane wheels are provided to pass between the warp threads into engagement with shuttles to position the shuttles within the warp shed, a vane wheel driving gear-ring, spindles in geared connection with the gear-ring and projecting therefrom substantially radially inwards, a gear on the inner end of each spindle, rotatable shafts for carrying the vane wheels, a gear on each shaft in engagement with a gear on the inner end of a spindle,

a casing for holding each vane wheel shaft and its associated spindle and for covering the gearing therebetween, a ring for supporting the casings and between which and the warp threads there is relative circular motion with respect to the loom axis, and means for adjusting the radial position of each casing on the supporting-ring, the vertical positioning of the teeth of the gearring and of the casings being such that the teeth and the spindles, and also the axes of the rotatable shafts and the gearing connecting the spindles and the shafts lie within a space the bounds of which are at a vertical distance from the supporting-ring equal to twice the radius of a vane wheel.

4. In a circular loom in which rotatable vane wheels are provided to pass between the warp threads into engagement with shuttles to position the shuttles within the warp shed, a vane wheel driving gear-ring, spindles in geared connection with the gear-ring and projecting therefrom substantially radially inwards, a gear on the inner end of each spindle, rotatable shafts for carrying the vane wheels, a gear on each shaft in engagement with a gear on the inner end of a spindle, a casing for holding each vane wheel shaft and its associated spindle and for covering the gearing therebetween, an oil-thrower disposed within the casing, splash guards co-operat ing with said oil-thrower for confining lubricant to the vicinity of the engaging gears, and a ring for supporting the casings and between which and the warp threads there is relative circular motion with respect to the loom axis, the vertical positioning of the teeth of the gear-ring and of the casings being such that the teeth and the spindles, and also the axes of the rotatable shafts and the gearing connecting the spindles and the shafts lie within a space the bounds of which are at a vertical distance from the supporting-ring equal to twice the radius of a vane wheel.

5. In a circular loom in which rotatable vane wheels are provided to pass between the warp threads into engagement with shuttles to position the shuttles within the warp shed, a stationary vane wheel driving gear-ring, spindles in geared connection with the gear-ring and projecting therefrom substantially radially inwards, a gear on the inner end of each spindle, rotatable shafts for carrying the vane wheels, a gear on each shaft in engagement with a gear on the inner end of a spindle, a casing for holding each vane wheel shaft and its associated spindle and for covering the gearing therebetween. a ring for supporting the casings, means for driving the supportingring round the axis of the loom, the vertical positioning of the teeth of the gear-ring and of the casings being such that the teeth and the spindles, and also the axes of the rotatable shafts and the gearing connecting the spindles and the shafts lie within a space the bounds of which are at a vertical distance from the supporting-ring equal to twice the radius of a vane wheel.

6. In a circular loom in which rotatable vane wheels are provided to pass between the warp threads into engagement with shuttles to position the shuttles within the warp shed, rotatable shafts carrying the vane wheels, a ring between which and the warp threads there is relative circular motion with respect to the loom axis, means cooperating with said ring for supporting the vane wheel shafts with their axes within a space the bounds of which are at a vertical sofa tance from the ring equal to twice th the shaftvane wheel, a gear-ring co 3 supporting ring and disposed with its teeth at a greater radial distance from the loom axis than the vane wheel shafts, spindles in geared connection with the gear-ring and projecting therefrom substantially radially towards the loom axis, and a helical gear on the inner end of each spindle and in engagement with a helical gear on a vane wheel shaft, the teeth of the gear-ring, the

spindles, and the gearing connecting the spindles with the gear-ring and the vane wheel shafts all lying within substantially the same vertical bounds with respect to the shaft-supporting ring as the vane wheel shafts.

FRANK CORBYN HALE. ROBERT YEADON.

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