US2429348A

US2429348A - Check strap for picker sticks

Info

Publication number: US2429348A
Application number: US622013A
Authority: US
Inventors: Etchier Robert Benjamin
Original assignee: CHESTER JOHNSON J
Current assignee: CHESTER JOHNSON J; J CHESTER JOHNSON
Priority date: 1945-10-12
Filing date: 1945-10-12
Publication date: 1947-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 1964-10-21

Description

Oct. 21, 1947. c R. B. ETcHu-:R 2,429,348

V CHECK STRAP FOR PICKER STICKS Filed Oct. 12,1945

ggg

'.Patented Oct. 21, 1947 CHECK STRAP FOR PICKER STICKS Robert Benjamin Etchier, Gastonia, N. C., as-

signor of one-tenth to J. Chester Johnson,

Mooresville, N. C.

Application October l2, 1945, Serial No. 622,013

Claims.

This invention relates to looms having picker sticks for operating a reciprocating shuttle, and pertains particularly to an improved check strap to cooperate with and limit the movement of the picker stick,

The check strap of this invention is particularly intended for use in looped form, the overlapped ends of the strap being supported by a bracket carried by some portion of the loom, as for eX- ample a depending bracket extending downwardly from a shuttle guide. In that arrangement the picker stick moves back and forth within the loop and at the end of the stroke of the picker stick in both directions the stick is adapted to engage the strap to somewhat cushion and finally terminate the movement of the stick. Picker stick straps are subjected to a terric incessant beating by the picker stick. Various improvements have been conceived with the idea of making it possible for the picker stick to strike against the full width of a check strap; and in some instances peculiarly shaped straps have been provided as a departure from the conventional strap which is substantially rectangular and has a straight parallel edge along its greatest dimension.

Another factor, which is a common problem, arises out of the frictional heat generated between the sides of the picker stick and the adjacent surface of the check straps. Not only is the friction the cause of wear but the heat generated tends to destroy the parts so engaged.

One of the objects of the present invention is to make possible the use of a check strap of conventional rectangular shape having straight parallel edges, but which is peculiarly advantageous because of certain details which enable the strap to readily and quickly take a conical form at the ends of the loop Where the strap is engaged by the picker stick.

Another object of the invention is to provide va strap which has the characteristic of being self cooling, although the strap functions properly as a check strap to limit the movement of the picker stick.

According to the present invention, a check strap having parallel edges is provided with grooves or depressions on one or both surfaces and which grooves or depressions extend only part way through the thickness of the strap. The grooves or depressions may be of any number and of substantially any configuration. Although many theories may be advanced as to why a strap having these characteristics is capable of functioning as here described, it seems apparent that the result is due to the modification of the surface of the material of the strap by reason of the provision of the depressions or grooves, thus making it possible for the strap to adapt itself to the line of contact with the picker stick. This is not true if a conventional fiat facedA strap is used. Also, it is believed that the depressions or grooves serve to provide a self cooling effect, while nevertheless insuring strength andoffering adequate surface for frictional engagement.

The foregoing and additional features and advantages of the invention are described and claimed in the following specication and claims, and the invention is illustrated in the following drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a fragmentary View` of a portion of a loom including the upper end of a picker stick and a check strap therefor, showing how the check strap of this invention is adapted to be used;

Fig. 2 s a face view of one form of check strap, and illustrating grooves arranged in parallel rows;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is a View of a Amodication of groove arrangement showing a series of separate longitudinally extending grooves;

Fig. 5 is a view of amodication in which longitudinally extending curved grooves are provided, some of the curves extending in opposite directions;

Fig. 6 is a View of further modication in which the depressions or grooves are in the form of individual crosses;

Fig. 7 is a view of further modification in which the depressions are circular in outline; and

Fig. 8 is a further modification showing grooves in the opposite faces of a strap.

The check strap of this invention is adapted for use with a picker stick after the manner illustrated in Fig. l, in which the check strap l is shown as engaged by a picker stick 2, the strap being looped about the picker stick and supported from a shuttle guide 3 by a bracket 4. As shown in Fig. 1, the end portions of the looped strap l have conformed to the inclined face of the picker stick, with the result that the strap'has the appearance of a cone, as viewed in Fig. 1.l In other words, the opposite ends of the loop have assumed'a shape in whichV the lower edge of the strap is shorter than the upper edgev and the end walls slope outwardly from the lower edge toward the upper edge. The adaptability of the strap of the present invention to conform to the inclined face of the picker stick is possible by reason of the following peculiar characteristics which will now be explained.

Check straps may be formed from any suitable material such as leather, rubber, fabrics, synthetic materials. The present invention does not require the use of any particular material', but is directed to the details which permit a strap of conventional rectangular shape to adapt itself to the contour shown in Fig. 1 while at the same time insuring the escape of heat caused. by friction between the surface of the strap and the picker stick. This effect isobtained by providing one or both surfaces of the check strap` with a plurality of grooves, depressions, extending only part way through the thickness of the strap. In Fig. 2, grooves are indicated at 5 and are shown as extending in parallel arrangement. The depth of the grooves is illustrated in Fig. 3, which is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3--3A of Fig. 2.

Modiedarrangements of groovesanda variety of shapes for the depressions may be used satisfactorily. In Fig. 4, a seriesof grooves are shown extending lengthwise of the strap. The grooves shown. inv Fig. 4 differ from the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 in that the grooves are curved from end to end.

In Fig. 5, grooves are illustrated similar to those shown in Fig. 4 but an extra set of curved grooves is provided with the curves of each set extending in overlapping and opposite directions.

In Fig. 6, the grooves or depressions are-a series of small crosses.

Fig. 7 illustrates the use of a plurality of substantially circular depressions.

InFig. 8, grooves of the type Shown in Figs. 2 and 3 are provided on the opposite faces ofthe same strap. Similarly, the type of groove or depression illustrated in Figs. 4-7, inclusive, might be used on both faces of the same strap.

It will be understood that the types of grooves shown herein are merely illustrative and that the present invention is not restricted to the par,- ticular types of grooves shown.

The surface of the strap, thus provided with a plurality of grooves, facilitatesthe releaseV of heat caused by friction, and such dissipation of heat is muchY more rapid thant if a plain or smooth strap surface is used.

The adaptability of the strap to conform to-the angle of impact of the picker stick is believed to be the result of the interrupted contour of the surface of the strap. Whereas a strap havingl a' conventional smooth or plain surface resists deformation by the picker stick, the strap of the present invention has shown an adaptability to change of shape. Apparently it stretches along the upper portion, as usedin Fig, l, when. under the influence of the strokes of a picker stick.

The provision of grooves or depressions may be accomplished by cutting out the material from the surface of the check strap, or by pressingv or stamping the grooves-or depressions into the-surface of the strap, or by molding theA desired depressionV contours iny event the strap is formed of rubber or other materiali susceptible to molding, after the manner in which automobile tire treads aremolded.

It WillV be clear that the check strap of this inventon, when subjected to the repeated blows of a picker stick, isV changed in shapefso that the pickerv stick, instead of striking only the upper edge portion of the strap, ultimately strikes the entire breadth of the strap from top to bottom. Thus the strap has been converted from a conventional shape to a shape conforming to the picker stick. After such a treatment, when such a strap is removed and opened up from its looped form, it will be observed to have a substantially arcuate shape at those points which have been operated upon by the picker stick.

I claim:

1. A picker stick check strap comprising a strap of tough Wear resistant pliable material adapted to be usedv in the form of a loop and the inside of which loop is frictionally engaged by a picker stick, the wear face of the strap immediate the .i points defining the end of the path of travel of the picker stick being provided with depressions extending only part way through the thickness of the strap, said depressions being spaced inwardly from the marginal edge of said strap.

2. A picker stick check strap comprising a strap of tough wear resistant pliabler material adapted: to be used in theform of a loop and the inside of whichV loopV is frictionally engaged by a picker stick. the surface of the strap immediate the points defining the end of the path of travel of the picker stick being provided with depressions extending only part way through the thickness of the strap, said depressions being spaced inwardlyA from the marginal edge of said strap.

3. AV picker stick check strap comprising a strap 0fI tOugh Wear resistant pliable material adapted to beused' in the form of a loop and the inside of which', loop is frictionally engaged by a picker stick, the surface of the strap being provided with depressions extending only part way through the thickness of the strap, said depressions extending as al plurality of rows of grooves lengthwise of the strap.

4. A. picker stick check strap comprising a strap of' tough wear resistant pliable material adapted tobe used.' in the form of a loop and the inside ofv which loop is frictionally engaged by a picker stick, the surface of the strap being provided With depressions extending only part way through the thickness of the strap, said depressions extending as a plurality of curved roWs of grooves lengthwise of the strap.

5. A picker stick check strap comprising a strap of tough wear resistant pliable material adapted tofbe used inthe formv of a loop and the inside of which loop is frictionally engaged by a picker stick, they surface of the strap immediate the points defining the end of the path of travel of the; picker stick being provided with depressions extending only part way through the thickness of the strap, said, depressions including a multiplicityY of separate recesses located along the width and length of the strap and said depressions being spaced away from the marginal edge of' theA strap.

ROBERT BENJAMIN ETCHIER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,350,495 Crocker June 6, 1944 2,221,281 Bond Nov. 12, 1940 2,236,488 Clark Mar. 25, 1941 1,322,790 Herbert Nov. 25, 1919 2,291,537r Howarth July 28, 1942