US2580617A - Power-operated circular knitting machines - Google Patents

Description

1952 v E. v. STIBBE ET AL 2,580,617

POWER-OPERATED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 5, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventors 1952 E. v. sneer-z ETAL 2,580,617

POWER-OPERATED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 5, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 2 NNQ U Jan. 1, 1952 E. v. STIBBE ETAL POWER-OPERATED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 5, 1950 Inventor? fdwr/ K 7' e ,deonard l1}. yall lf Patented Jan. 1, 1952 POWER-OPERATED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Edward Victor Stibbe and Leonard Walter Gibbins, Leicester, England, assignors to G. Stibbe & Co. Limited,

company Leicester, England, a British Application August 5, 1950, Serial No. 177,852 In Great Britain August 19, 1949 power-operated cirquired. Thus, for instance, the hand-wheel or handle may be used to turn the rotary component or components of the machine head slowly to a definite point or location, e. g. to facilitate the changing of a needle, sinker or other knitting instrument. The hand-wheel or handle may, moreover, be used for operating the machine manually as occasion may demand.

Power-operated circular knitting machines of the smaller diameters are usually fitted for' the aforementioned purposes with but a single handwheel or handle, whereas a body or other machine of a comparatively large diameter is furnished with a plurality of such hand-wheels or handles appropriately spaced around the machine for the convenience of the operator or mechanic.

In a power-operated circular knitting machine, a hand-wheel of the character concerned is associated with a drive shaft to which is secured a pinion meshing with a gear in driving connection with the rotary head of the machine. This gear is adapted to be driven, viathe said shaft,'or anothershaft, either from a'continually driven line shaft through the medium of a belt, or by or from an "electric motor suitably mounted upon the machine. I

Now heretofore, the hub or boss of such a hand-wheel or handle, or'a, bush inserted in the said hub or boss has usually been mounted directly upon the drive shaft. If, as is sometimes the case, a hand-wheel is rigidly connected to the drive shaft, then naturally whenever the ma-v chine is operatin under power the hand-wheel will rotate and constitute a, potential source of danger.

. In some machines, however, the hand-wheel or handle is freely mounted directly upon the drive shaft, and is adapted to be coupled to the latter, as occasion demands, through the; medium of a clutch of the free-wheel type. But although, in theory, this arrangement issuch as to enable the hand-wheel or handle to remain quiescent When- 12 Claims. (Cl. 6B8) ever the machine is operating under power, in practice it often happens, for example in the event of dryness occurring between the parts concerned, that the handwheel or handle spins round when not required to do so-thereby constituting a source of danger as aforesaid.

The object of the present invention is to provide, as a safety measure in a power-operated circular knitting machine, improved mounting means for a hand wheel or a handle whereby the latter is positively prevented from spinnin round while the knitting machine is running under power.

According to this invention, then, there is provided in such a machine an assembly comprising a hand-wheel or a handle of the character and for the purposes herein defined which is mounted to turn upon a fixed sleeve serving to house and constitute a bearing for the aforementioned rotatable drive shaft, and means enabling the said shaft and the hand-wheel or handle to be coupled together whenever it is desired to turn the machine by hand.

The idea, as will be appreciated, is that the fixed sleeve which provides a housing or bearing for the drive shaft, constitutes, in eifect, a dead shaft upon which the hub or boss (bushed or un-bushed) of the hand-wheel or handle is mounted toturn. Consequently, at such times as the hand-wheel or handle is uncoupled from the drive shaft and the knitting machine is running under power, the hand-wheel or handle will remain quiescent without any tendency to spin since the part upon which it is directly mounted and makes contact, 1. e. the aforesaid sleeve, is fixed. This assembly is, therefore, distinguished fromall prior assemblies inwhich the: handwheel or handle is in direct contact with the drive shaft.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried into practical efiect, a specific constructional example of a hand-wheel assembly applied to a power operated circular knitting machine of the rotary needle cylinder type will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the complete'hand-wheel assembly shown in the dis? engaged position, i. e. withthe-hand-wheel uncoupled from the drive shaft,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the assembly in the engaged position, that is with the hand-wheel pushed in to couple it to the drive shaft,

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the component parts of the said assembly,

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view showing more clearly the manner in which the cylinder driving gear is driven from the drive shaft of the hand-wheel assembly, and

Figure is a. general perspective view, merely in outlineof a circular power operated body'machine showing, by way of example, locations at which hand-wheel assemblies constructed in ac-' cordance with the invention may be applied.

Like parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout the drawings.

' Referring to Figures 1 and. 2,.it will be seen:

head. The pinion 2 is keyed at 5' to the shaft;

I, and has a boss 6 through which is passed a grub screw I screwed into a tapped hole formed radially in the said shaft. The drive shaft I, moreover, is horizontally disposed and mounted for rotation within a cylindrical housing sleeve 8 which is fixed in an auxiliary housing 9 previded in a head-supporting leg ['0' mounted, as shown in Figure 5,, on the stand, H of. thematchine. The internal. surface of the fixed sleeve 8 is annularly recessed. at 12 to providez-ashallow space between the said bush and the drive shaft l for the accumulation and retention of lubricating oil. The outer: end8a' of the fixed sleeve 8 is slightly enlarged in diameter (as clearly shown in Figure 3) and projects outwards through a counterbored circular recess. 1.3 in the auxiliary housing 9.v the outer end ofthe fixed sleeve 8' provides a shoulder for abutment against the hack: of the counterboreor circular recess l3. A vertically disposed oil-hole I4- is formed through: the wall of the: fixed sleeve 8'. A hand-wheel E5 the hub it of which is fitted with a bush" is mounted for rotation upon the enlarged projecting end Ba of the fixed sleeve 8. The inner end of the bush l! is reduced in diameter at Ma and projects' from the hub l6 into the counterbore or circular recess l3 in the outerend of the auxiliary housing 9. This counterbore or recess is of substantially larger diameter than that of the outer enlarged end 8c of the fixed sleeve 8. Interposed between the back of the said counten, bore or recess and the inner end Ha of the bush #1 in thehub IS, and accommodated in the-annular space s thus provided between. the fixed sleeve 8 and the wall of the counterbore or recess, is a compression. spring IS. A thrust washer i9 is secured by means of screws 20, to the outer end of the fixed sleeve 8. One part if of a claw or like clutch formed with a circular series of jaws, claws or teeth such as 2m is attached to the outer end of the drive shaft, The clutch part 2| is of larger diameter than the drive shaft l and is arranged with its back in contact with the front of the thrust washer l9. To locate it in position the said clutch part is formed with a pair of rearwardly directed and suitably spaced locating formations 22. adapted to receive between them a complementary key-like formation 23 diametrically disposed on the outer end of the drive shaft l. The. clutch part 2| is secured by a single screw 24.

The enlargement of 4% which is passed centrally therethrough into a tapped hole formed axially in the drive shaft. A peripherally flanged opposing clutch'part 25 formed with a complementary series of jaws, claws or teeth such as 25a is secured, by screws 26 passed through the flange 25b, to the outer end of the bush l'I fitted in the wheel hub 15. A dowel pin (not shown) may, if desired, be provided in the hub bush ll accurately to 1ocate the clutch part 25. The hub bush i1 is suitably counterboredas illustrated more clearly in Figuresl and 2, to, accommodate the clutch. The outer end of the Wheel hub 16 is closed by a cap 21. An oil Well or chamber formed in the hushed wheel hub I6 is fitted with a springinfiuenced oiling nipple 28 (Figure 1), the construction and arrangement being such that whenever the hand-wheel I5 is rotated, oil from the well. orychamber will, once per revolution 01 the wheel; pass downwards through the vertical oil-hole lkto lubricate the surface of the drive shaft. l.. Tov couple the hand-wheel !5 to the drive shaft. I all that is necessary is to press the wheel inwards against the action of the compression spring I8 as a consequence of which the opposing series of clutch jaws, claws or teeth will: be pushed. together and interlocked as shown in Figure 2. Conversely, wheneverthe hand-wheel I5? is released it'wilt. be pushed outwards by the spring, [8' disengage the clutch parts and so u-ncouple. the wheel from thedrive shaft depicted in Figure: 1..

The invention-may;. if desired, be applied to a hand-wheel associated with a, shaftv driven by a motor through the: medium of change' s'peed gearingl.

The; invention is: applicable to circular newer operated knitting machines. having rotary cam boxes; as well.v as. tomachines having a: rotary needle bed or bedsr In Figure 5 is shown, in outline, a circular body machine having a needle cylinder 29- (Figures: 1, 2. and 4) rotatable with in. a fixed cam box 3IL Hand-wheel assemblies of the particular form and for the purpose herein described; are appropriately spaced aroiind the machinefor the convenience of the operator or mechanic. Two such assemblies are visible in Figure 5..

The cylinder driving bevel gear 3' is furnished with inwardly directed lugs such as 3a: (Figures 1,, 2 and 4) having therein holes through which arepassed screws 3:! whereby the said gear is secured to the. bottom of the cylinder 29;

What we claimthen is:

1.. In a powereoperated circular knitting. a;

chine, in combination, a rotary machine head, gear in driving connection with said head, a drive shaft provided with a pinion arranged in mesh with said gear, a fixed sleeve servingto house and constitute a bearing for said drive shaft; a manually-rotatable member mountedto turn upon the fixed sleeve, and means for. coupling together the drive shaft and the manually rotatable member so. as to enable the machine, when disconnected frompower, to be turned by hand.

' 2. In a power-operated circular knitting ma chine, in combination, a rotary machine head, a gear in driving connection with said head,.a drive shaft provided with a pinion arranged in mesh. with said gear, a fixed sleeve serving to house and constitute a bearing for said drive shaft, a manually rotatable member mounted to turn upon the fixed sleeve, and clutch means between the drive shaft and the manually rotatable membenthe said'means comprising a part fixed. to and rotat able together with the drive shaft and an opposed complerrientarily formed part secured to the manually rotatable member, and interengagement of the two parts being effectible consequent upon axial movement of the manually rotatable member. I

'3. In a power-operated circular knitting machine, in combination, a rotary machine head, a gear in driving connection with said head, a drive shaft provided with a pinion arranged in mesh with said-gear, a fixed sleeve serving to house and constitute a bearing for said drive shaft, a manually rotatable member mounted to turn upon the fixed sleeve, clutch means between the drive shaft and the manually rotatable member, the said means comprising a part fixed to and rotatable together with the drive shaft and an opposed complementarily formed part secured to the manually rotatable member, and spring means associated with the said member whereby interengagement of the opposed clutch parts is effectible against the spring action by pushing the manually rotatable member axially inwards whilst, normally, the said parts are held out of engagement by the spring means.

4. In a power-operated circular knitting machine, in combination, a rotary machine head, a structure supporting said head, a gear in driving connection with said head, a drive shaft provided with a pinion arranged in mesh with said gear, a sleeve serving to house and constitute a bearing for said drive shaft, an auxiliary housing provided in the head-supporting structure and in which the sleeve is fixed, a manually rotatable member mounted to turn upon the fixed sleeve, and means for coupling together the drive shaft and the manually rotatable member so as to enable the machine, when disconnected from power, to be turned by hand.

5. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the internal surface of the fixed sleeve is annularly recessed to provide a space between the said sleeve and the drive shaft for the accumulation and retention of lubricating oil.

6, In a power-operated circular knitting machine, in combination, a rotary machine head, a gear in driving connection with said head, a drive shaft provided with a pinion arranged in mesh with said gear, a fixed sleeve serving to house and constitute a bearing for said drive shaft, a manually rotatable member fitted with a bush mounted to turn directly upon the fixed sleeve, and means for coupling together the drive shaft and the manually rotatable member so as to enable the machine, when disconnected from power, to be turned by hand.

clutch means between the drive shaft and the manually rotatable member, the said means comprising a part fixed to and rotatable together withthe drive shaft and an opposed complementarily formed part secured to the manually rotatable member, the construction being such that interengagement of the opposed clutch parts is effectible against the spring action by pushing i the manually rotatable member axially inwards 7. In a power-operated circular knitting machine, in combination, a rotary machine head, a structure supporting said head, a gear in driving connection with said head, a drive shaft provided with a pinion arranged in mesh with said gear, a sleeve serving to house and constitute a bearing for said drive shaft, an auxiliary housing provided in the head-supporting structure and in which the sleeve is fixed, the said auxiliary housing being counterbored to form therein a circular recess through which the outer end of the fixed sleeve projects and to provide an annular space between the said sleeve and the wall of the recess, a manually rotatable member fitted with a bush mounted to turn upon the outer end of the fixed sleeve, a compression spring which is accommodated within the annular space and interposed between the back of the circular recess and the inner end of the aforesaid bush, and

thereby enabling the machine, when disconnected from power, to be turned by hand Whilst, normally, the said clutch parts are held out of engagement by the spring.

8. A combination according to claim '7, wherein the inner end of the bush in the manually rotatable member projects from the latter into the circular recess in the auxiliary housing.

9. In a power-operated circular knitting ma.- chine, in combination, a rotary machine head, a gear in driving connection with said head, a drive shaft provided with a pinion arranged in mesh with said gear, a fixed sleeve serving to house and constitute a bearing for said drive shaft, a thrust washer secured to the outer end of the fixed sleeve, a manually rotatable member mounted to turn upon the fixed sleeve, and clutch means between the drive shaft and the manually rotatable member, the said means comprising a toothed part attached to the outer end of and rotatable together with the drive shaft, the said part being of larger diameter than the drive shaft and arranged with its back in contact with the thrust washer, and an opposed complementarily toothed part secured to the manually rotatable member, interengagement of the two parts being en'ectible consequent upon axial movement of the manually rotatable member.

10. A combination according toclaim 9, wherein the drive shaft and the clutch part attached thereto are provided with interengaged complementary locating formations, and a single screw is used to secure the said clutch part in position.

11. In a power-operated circular knitting machine, in combination, a rotary machine head, a gear in driving connection with said head, a drive shaft provided with a pinion arranged in mesh with said gear, a fixed sleeve serving to house and constitute a bearing for said drive shaft, a manually rotatable member fitted with a bush mounted to turn directly upon the fixed sleeve, a thrust washer secured to the outer end of the fixed sleeve, and clutch means between the drive shaft and the manually rotatable memher, the said means comprising a toothed part attached to the outer end of and rotatable together with the drive shaft, the said part being of larger diameter than the drive shaft and arranged with its back in contact with'the thrust washer, and an opposed complementarily toothed part formed with a peripheral flange which is secured to the outer end of the aforesaid bush, interengagement of the two parts being efiectible consequent upon axial movement of the manually rotatable member.

12. In a power-operated circular knitting machine, in combination, a rotary machine head, a gear in driving connection with said head, a drive shaft provided with a pinion arranged in mesh with said gear, a fixed sleeve serving to house and constitute a bearing for said drive shaft, the said sleeve having formed through its wall an upright oil hole, a manually rotatable member which has a boss arranged to turn upon the portion of the fixed sleeve in which the oil hole is downwar sm ougli the. oil, o ei l br cate th sm-mpeforth dr ve hat-b. an c u h. ea s be:

' tw e he driye haf and thefm iiuall o al abl member, th fi l id means comprising. a part fixed ahdmflatable b eth n w th, he drive shaft.

and mom ed 9mn ea erw 3! f ed. t s ure m e; ma u llm rotat b msimb t nd ezengaeem nt Q t e W9 P r b i g fi ct bl consequent upon axial lii bvement of the manually rotetablgmembel:

E WA D, VIG-TOB STIBBEI BEFERENQ CITE The following references are of record in; the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number I Name, Date 2,127,179 Laws on at. 2,1. Aug. 16, 1938 Krukonis ----'---V'7-.-

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