US2436356A - Shuttle - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 17, 1948. A, GELPKE 2,436,356

SHUTTLE Filed April 25, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ewen/07" jaw/v K. A. GELPKE SHUTTLE Feb. 17, 1948.

Filed April 25 1944 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Patented Feb. 17 1948 UNITED STATES TENT, OFFICE SHUTTLE corporation of Delaware Application April 25, 1944, Serial No. 532,590

The invention relates to loom shuttles in general, and more particularly to shuttles for weftreplenishing looms in which the supply of filling in the shuttle is replenished automatically by mechanical means forming a part of the loom.

. A leading object of the invention is to reduce the Weight of the shuttle while increasing or at least maintaining its capacity, its useful life, its

1 Claim. (Cl, 139196) convenience, and utility, and. without substantially increasing its cost. Tests have indicated that in looms running at customary speeds using conventional wooden shuttles a decrease of one ounce in shuttle weight results in a corresponding drive the loom, in addition to the economies realized through lightening the load and the wear and tear on the pickers, binders, and other parts sharing in the picking and checking of the shuttle, and through the reduction of shock and vibration in the loom.

Refinements in the conventional wooden shuttle have been carried tothe point where no further reduction in weight without corresponding loss of its essential qualities have been possible in working with this material, and metal shuttles as hitherto proposed have either been heavier than their wooden counterparts or have possessed other drawbackswhich have prevented their entering into common use in fly shuttle cloth looms.

To attain its leading object, the invention provides a shuttle bodymade wholly from metal or metallic alloys of theclass technically known as light metals, such as magnesiuimmagnesium alloys, Duralumin, and the like, and also designed to be fabricated by pressure die casting or forging to cut the complexity and cost of manufacture. The improved shuttle weighs from one to two or more ounces less imam wooden'counterpart.

saving of at least 1 in the power required to Along with its lightness and the s mplification of the manufacturing steps, the superior physical characteristics of appropriate metals or alioysof this class permit the shaping of the side walls of the shuttle in thin sections, thinner than practicable with wood, thus enabling an increase in the internal dimensions of the bobbin chamber so as to accommodate a bobbin wound to greater di ameter and thus carrying more yarn for the same outside dimensions of the shuttle. Being made of metal, the shuttle cannot warp, and is devoid oi any tendency to roughen, splinter, or split in use,

thus obviating entirely the commonest forms of .shuttle failure whichi necessarily terminate the useful life of a wooden shuttle; even if deformed by an accident the improvedv shuttle is capable of being brought back into shape for further use, and it is made in two halves each comprising one entire side of the shuttleso thatin the event of extreme wear or injury beyond repair an entire new side, made interchangeable with the worn half without need for machining or fitting, can be quickly and easily installed with retention of the unworn or undamaged half. Further, the discarded parts or shuttles have an important salvage value, by contrast with wooden shuttles, thus additionally reducing the cost to the mill.

-For further economy, the shuttle is provided with self-threading devices or parts which are mainly or wholly integral with the material of the shuttle, thus saving a large part of the cost of making and fitting the usual self-threading attachment, as well as eliminating the possibility of this attachment working loose in use.

both the metaldents of the reed and the metal of the shuttle which hasrendered prior types of metal shuttles impracticable. The outward surfaces of the restof the shuttleare subjected to a case hardening treatment to provide them with a wear-resisting surface. In addition, the entire surface of, the shuttle is provided with a color, coating or surface treatment producing a higher degree of heat radiation and dissipation than that of the normal untreated component metal, so that the very material degree of heat generated by the shuttle in working will not be allowed to make the shuttle too hot to be handled by the loom attendant whenever necessary and without delay. Other objects of the invention, and the manner of their attainment, are set forth hereinafter.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. V Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal section on line 3-3 of Fig, 2. l

Fig. 4 is a partly sectional elevation on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing the rear half of the shuttle, the mounting of the bobbin jaws and guide, and the arrangement of the self-threading devices.

Fig. 5 is a view in horizontal section On line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig, 6 is a vertical section on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 'l is a side elevation of the combined horn and thread hook when this member is formed separately from the parts of the shuttle.

Fig. 8 is a view of the same when viewed from the right-hand side of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a section similar toFig. 6 but showing only one-half the shuttle width, illustrating the ca e-hardened surfacing of the shuttle.

The improved shuttle is of conventional outside shape, dimensions, and contour, and comprises two main parts fabricated by pressure die casting or forging from any suitable moldable or castable metals or metallic alloys of specific gravity ranging from 1.70 to 1.90, the front side or half I which has the usual feeler slot .3 and longitudinal yarn groove 5, preferably cast or molded therein as this side is formed, and a rear side or half I which is formed with a straight surface throughout its entire length except adjacent thetapered end-portions 9. 'These end portions of both halves are given the 'usual or any preferred taper in the process of molding, but the rear'hali l is prolonged substantially beyond the length of the front half, and this prolongation II at each end of the rear half is given a conical shape and made to overlap and fit closely against aweb l3 formed on "each end .of 'front wall The conical lprojections H are shaped to continue accurately the conformation of "the tapered end portions '9 of the shuttle, and thus form integral shuttle points for engagement by the loom pickers. Horizontal webs l5 extend inwardly at both ends ofboth. halves, at thebottom of the shuttlaand at H .at the top of the shuttle at the end thereof that is away from the selfthreading devices, to meet in a vertical plane extending axially of the shuttle; these meeting edges 19 form the bearing surfaces between the two halves when bolted togetherby retaining'bolts 2| put through countersunk holes formed in bosses 23, 25, provided .on the inside of each half near each end thereof, and through countersunk steel nuts 22. Arounded lateral extension of the terminal web |3 at each end o'fthe from half fits accurately within the hollow of the rear 'half adjacent the base .of each conical projection H to aid in preventing "relative vertical 'movement of the two halves. By reason of the close fit of the terminal web l3 of the front half against the base of projection this part is adequately supported against the stress of the impact of the picker. The bottom surfaces of the webs at the bottom of the shuttle are arched upward and inward toward their edges I!) to give clearance .of these areas from the shuttle race. I

The bosses 23 at the end of-the shuttle remote from the delivery eye are elongated lengthwise and extend inward to grip tightly the shank 21 of the bobbin jaws 29, the latter being of conventional design and of usual steel construction, a. spacer 3i being inserted between the two sides of the shank .21 and the bolt 2! passing through such :spacer as it goes through holes provided in theshank so that the span of the jaws will not be altered when this bolt is drawn up tight. A bobbin-guide 33 of more or less standard shape and function is combined with the :bobbin jaws, its horizontal arms 35 extending respectively above and below the shank 21 and being permanently attached thereto by a rivet 31 put through aligned holes in these arms and fitting tightly within the space left between spacer 3| and the bend at the end of the shank 21.

To hold the bobbin jaws 29 against movement up and down about the bolt 2| as a center of gyration, the webs l5, Fig. 6, at the bottom of the bobbin are extended lengthwise to form shelves engaging and supporting the bobbin jaws throughout the entire length of their curved shoulders and partway along the straight portions of their jaws, with other projections 39 formed on the inside wall of each half above the bobbin jaws to engage and hold down the bobbin jaws adjacent the curve of the shoulders. An appropriate rabbet is provided in each shelf Hi V to receive and support the lower arm of the bobbin guide. Thus held, the bobbin jaws are much more rigidly maintained against vertical gyration than 'in the conventional wooden shutt e, with consequent greatly reduced likelihood of the occurrence 'of a bobbin smash as a result of sending an upwardly protruding bobbin through the shed. The metallic deck over the upper arm of the bobbin guide created by the upper webs H at this end of the shuttle effectively eliminates all chance of theguide or its conventional retaining screw as used in wooden shuttles working loose to extend upward above the shuttle so that it can catch and break the warps.

As shown in the transverse section of Fig. 6, theupper and lower edges of the walls are thickened and extended inward slightly to form ribs or flanges 4| which give the interior surfaces of these walls alhollow section imparting stifiness resisting .the'bending inward of these walls under the pressure of the binder or swell in the shuttle box, and the front wall is also in certain instances given a corrugated form in section by reason of the inward curvature of this wall made to provideadditional metal for forming the yarn groove 5 "on the exterior of this wall. this shaping aided by the flange outlining the feeler slot 3 at the inside of the front wall imparting further stiffness, By reason of these special sectional shapes, combined with the physical characteristics of the light metals used. the walls are ordinarily only one-half as thick, and in all cases much thinner than they can safely be made in wood,.and hence the space within the shuttle is /8 to /2 inch wider and will take a yarn package having this amount of increased diameter, with corresponding lowering of dofferand battery hand and other costs to the mill. The ratio or side-wall thickness to the width of the space between the walls defining the bobbin diameter is ordinarily around 1 to 11, in contrast with the usual ratio in wooden bobbins of from 1110 4 up'to 1 to 6.

The non-metallic facing strip 43 forming the wearing surface of the'rear wall is ordinaril of uniform thickness throughout and formed with beveled or rabbeted margins. the strip being inlaid for approximately half its thickness in a sunken area 45 formed inthe rear side of the shuttle. A slight bead 4'! of metal formed in the molding operation outlines the sunken area, and after coating the inward surface of the strip with cement and pressing it into the sunken area this head is rolled or pressed into overhanging relation with the rabbeted or beveled edges all the way around the strip. thus fixing the strip securely in place. Preferably the strip extends partway of the taper at both ends of the shuttle, to get the ends of the strip-out of range of the reed and the parts at the mouth of the shuttle box. However, the method of attachment is such that the strip can be replaced in case of damage, by proper manipulation of the retaining bead 41. In certain instances the strip is additionally secured to the rear wall-by the use of soft copper rivets as indicated by the dotted circles 49. This strip stiifens and strengthens the rear wall of the shuttle, and enables it to be made thinner than the front wall.

The integral self-threading arrangements comprise an oblique web 5| on the rear half of the shuttle the edge of which is straight and slants forward from substantially at the median vertical plane of the shuttle to a point well in front of such plane, extending to the base of the projection forming the shuttle point ll. Beneath this web-there is formed .on the rear half a shoulder 53 having a roughly semi-circular hol- .the shuttle point, the swirling of the unwinding yarn as it leaves the bobbin tip carrying it low 55 which tapers and becomes shallower to-' v ward the adjacent end of the shuttle, and on the front half of the shuttle is formed a curving beak 51 tapering inwardly and downwardly toward the adjacent end of the shuttle and terminating in a thread-hook 59 which extends to the said median plane of the shuttle, and confronting the semi-circular hollow. Below the beak 51 there is formed onrthe front half I a generally fiat surface 6l which inclines downwardly in a direction away from the adjacent shuttle point, extending in spaced relation to the under side of the beak. The edge 65 of this fiat surface nearest the eye 63 of the shuttle extends inwardly at substantially right angles to the shuttle axis for a cer tain distance, and then obliquely inward in a direction toward the adjacent end of the shuttle. The under side of the beak is correspondingly shaped to parallel these adjacent parts, so that a thread slot 61 is formed between the beak and the fiat surface 6| which slot extends in a slanting direction down and away from the adjacent end of the shuttle, and then vertically down into the shuttle eye 63.

Onzth'e bolt 2| at this end of the shuttle is mounted a plate 69 of hardened steel or other hard metal having a sharp-pointed horn I l' which is located centrally upon the axis of the eye, and a guide surface 13 extending down to the inturned web I 5 at the shuttle bottom, around which surface the yarn reeves in making a nearly right angle turn in its course to the eye. The plate 69 is clamped tightly between the boss 23 on the front half and the end of the much longer sleeve-like boss 25 on the rear half and surrounding the shank of the bolt. The upper edge of this platelis' shaped to fit smoothly against the curving interior wall of the front half, and to be completely shielded from above by the overhanging rim of the front wall, so that the yarn cannot get caught between these latter parts. The end of the plate toward the bobbin is bent to ex-' tend trans vers'ely across the thread passage left between the rearward face of the plate and the parts Yon the rear half of the shuttle, and shaped to provide a rearwardly and downwardly curving hook 15, the web 11 below the hook diverting the yarn laterally to prevent its wedging between the end of the sleeve 25 and the adjacent face of the plate. When the shuttle is made of sufficiently wear-resisting metal, or alternatively when the guide surface 13 is formed by a hardened pin, the horn H and hook 15 are cast as integral parts of the front half of the shuttle, and the boss 25 on the rear half extends clear to the corresponding boss at the front half.

beneath the thread hook l5 and the end of beak 51. On the second pick, the yarn is diverted by the under surface of the beak down the slot 61 and into the eye 63, and slides down the inclined surface of horn II that is toward the adjacent shuttle end, thereafter rising into the notch behind the horn. During the continuance of the weaving, the yarn runs under the hook 75, over the boss or sleeve '25, through the notch and around surface 13, and out through the shuttle eye, in both directions of the shuttles travel.

Any suitable known method of case hardening the specific metal chosen for the shuttle is used,

provided that it does not render the metal brittie or otherwise impair the physical qualities needed in the shuttle. A specific form of surface hardening found satisfactory in use is that of the Dow Chemical Co., termed by them Dow No. 6 hardening. A case-hardened outer'skin is illustrated at 82 in Fig. 9.

The treatment of the metallic surfaces of the shuttle to radiate and dissipate heat therefrom includes a number of different techniques such as blackening or darkening the inside and outside surfaces as indcated at 18 in Fig. 1 by chemical coloring or tarnishing treatments, heat treatments, and application of pigmented adhesive coatings such as paints, enamels, and lacquers, or, as an alternative, mechanically grooving or pitting the surfaces as indicated at 80, Fig. 2,

on a scale fine enough to extend the total radiat-' ing surface of the shuttle without roughening the shuttle exterior so that it will catch the yarns; it also includes the use of coatings or alloys subject to tarnishing upon exposure to the air alone, or to the humidfied air commonly present in the mill, the alloy used being either the entire component material of the shuttle or a surface coating applied to the shuttle parts. A preferred treatment comprises a matte black finish created on all surfaces, inside and out, of the shuttle by a chemical dipping treatment which results in the blackening of all exposed surfaces of the metal. Though this finish is superficial, only those parts on the bottom and sides of the shuttle which are subjected to constant rubbing contact wear bright, leaving by far the greater part of the shuttles surfaces black and possessed of increased heat-radiating power.

While I have illustrated and described a certain form in which the invention may be embodied, I am aware that many modications may be made therein by any person skilled n the art, without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claim. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the particular form shown, or to the details of construction thereof, but

What I do claim is:

A shuttle for automatic weft-replenishing looms comprising two halves respectively forming the front and rear walls of the shuttle and each wall cast from metal so as to have a relatively thick rim at its top and bottom edges and a relatively thinner web intervening between the runs of each wall, one of the halves being longer than '7 the other and provided at each extremity with a conical point, and the half forming thev rear wall having a synthetic non-metallic surfacing for engagement with the 100m reed. KARL A. (-BdilLPKE.

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

"UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 182,150 Beatly Sept 12, 1876 411,097 Elsas et a1 Sept. 17, 1889 450,554 Briggs Apr. 14, 1891 4 514,232 Kobertz Feb. 6, 1894 588,935 Wood. Aug. 24,- 1897 639,441 Ryon Dec. 19, 1899 728,371 Cote May 19, 1903 -"747,300 Cote Dec. 15, 1903 1,037,523 Portner et a1 Sept. 3, 1912 1,247,601 Renzo Nov. 20, 1917 OTHER REFERENCES Magnesium, a. handbook published by American Magnesium. Corp.,lNiagara Falls, N. Y. Copyright 1923.

Metal Industry (London), pages, 5-9, vol 58,

9 Jan. 3, 1941.

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