US2601871A - Circular loom - Google Patents

Description

July 1, 1952 V' M- J. ANCE-|- CIRCULAR LOOM Filed Deo. 27, 1948 4 Sheets sheet l INVENToR V/Hg' MJA/reif Mg@ V. M. J. ANCET July 1, 1952 CIRCULAR LOOM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27. 1948 wm, mM my y/B July 1 1952 v. M. J. ANcET l2,601,871

CIRCULAR LOOM Filed Dec. 2'7, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 V. M. J. ANCET July 1, 1952 CIRCULAR Loom 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 27, 1948 Patented July 1, 1952 CIRCULAR LOOM Victor Marie Joseph Ancet, Lyon, France Application December 27, 1948, Serial No. 67,341 In France April 25, 1944 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires April 25, 1964 9 Claims.

This invention relates to circular looms, which produce fabric in tubular form by means of a shuttle moved along a circular path within a shed made of sheets of warp threads. In such looms, the driving means for the shuttle necessarily lie outside the shed and, accordingly, act on the shuttle through one sheet of threads of the shed. Heretofore, the shuttle and driving means have been connected by mechanical means or else the shuttle has been made of magnetic material and held in place relative to the driving means, so as to be propelled thereby, by magnetic attraction. In prior circular looms, in which the shuttle and its driving means are connected mechanically, the warp threads in the sheet of the shed, through which the cooperating parts of the connection act, are subjected to abrasion, which is liable to do damage to the threads, particularly if they are of ne size. Also, in prior looms, in which the shuttles are driven either mechanically or magnetically, the shuttles are of complicated construction, so that they are expensive to produce and dii'licult to insert into and remove from the shed.

The present invention is directed to the provision of a novel circular loom, which includes, among other features, a new shuttle assembly and driving means therefor, the assembly comprising a shuttle and a frame, in which the shuttle is mounted and which includes a leading portion or nose preceding the shuttle and facilitating its movement through the shed and a trailing portion for guiding the weft thread issuing from the shuttle. The shuttle is formed at least in part of magnetic material, is hollow and has an external shape, whichris that of a surface of revolution and is preferably generally cylindrical, and is supported with its axis extending toward the fell of the fabric in the same general direction as the warp threads in the shed. The weft thread package is carried within the interior of the shuttle and the thread is led through an axial opening in the top of the shuttle and through a guide eye in the trailing portion of the guide frame. The driving means for the shuttle assembly are mounted to rotate about the axis of the loom and include a plurality of rotatary stops and an electromagnet, which attracts the shuttle and holds it against the stops. The drive means lies on one side of one sheet of warp threads in the shed and, preferably, the side nearer the loom aXis in a vertical loom, and the shuttle and guide frame lie on the other side of the sheet. One or more of the stops are positively driven and, as a result, the shuttle is caused to rotate on its axis and thus rolls over the warp threads in the sheet of threads referred to.

In addition to the new features mentioned, the new loom includes novel means operating, in the event that the shuttle assembly encounters an obstruction in the shed, to free the assembly from its driving means, shut down the loom motor or other drive means, and apply a brake to stop rotation of the shuttle assembly drive means quickly. i

This aplication is a continuation-impart of my copending applications, Serial No. 610,436, filed August 13, 1945, now abandoned, and Serial No. 34,085, filed June 19, 1948, now abandoned.- A related application is Serial No. 67,342, led December 27, 1948, now abandoned.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a View, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, of a shuttle assembly used in the loom of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the mode of operation of the shuttle assembly of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View in side elevation showing the shuttle assembly carrier of the loom;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 5 and 6 are plan views of the carrier and shuttle assembly showing, respectively, the normal position of the assembly and the deflection of the frame of the assembly, when it encounters an obstruction in the shed, and the dislodgment of the assembly from the carrier.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view thinugh a modied form of shuttle assembly; an

Fig. 8 is a view of the modified form of shuttle assembly in side elevation.

The new circular loom comprises a central vertical shaft IU, which lies within a cylinder of warp threads Il supplied from a pair of beams and passed upwardly through a reed l2. the fell of the finished fabric I3, the warp threads are separated by suitable heddle mechanism into inner and outer sheets |30., 13b, defining a shed I4 within which operates a shuttle assembly l5.

The shuttle employed in the new loom is hollow and has an external shape, which is that of a surface of revolution. The shuttle has a central zone of magnetic material and is preferably made of such material throughout. The shuttle comprises a hollow body I8, illustrated as being Below of cylindrical form, and closed at one end by an integral closure plate |9. which is provided with a central pivot on its outer face and with a spindle 2|, which extends coaxially within the body. Preferably, the central zone lila of the body is of heavier wall thickness than the ends and the thickened zone is defined at its ends by circumferential shoulders 22. The upper end of the body is closed by a removable cap 23 of generally conical form threaded into the end of the body. At its upper end, the cap is formed with a the belt and rotates its spindle 4B and the rollers hollow boss 24, near the lower end of which there is a circumferential shoulder 25. When the shuttle is in use, it contains a bobbin 26, which is mounted on the spindle to rest on a circumferential enlargement 2|a at the lower end thereof and slightly above the inner face of closure I9. A supply of weft thread 2`| is wound on the bobbin. A frusto-conical sleeve 28 lined with felt or like material may be placed to rest upon the thread wound upon the bobbin to act as a brake.

The weft thread from the bobbin passes upwardly through the opening in the hollow boss 24.

The frame, which forms part of the shuttle assembly in the construction illustrated in Fig. l, comprises a base 2 9, which may be a straight length of wire having a loop at one end, within which is mounted an annular bearing disc `33. The shuttle rests on the disc with its pivot 2G entering the opening through the disc. The base 29 extends forwardly from the shuttle a substantial distance and a pair of elements 3|, which may be wires, extend upwardly and rearwardly from the forward end of the base and over the top of the shuttle. For convenience, the elements 3| may be a continuous length of wire, which is formed lwith a loop, the bight of which lies above the shuttle and carries an annular bearing disc 32. The disc rests upon the shoulder at the top of the cap of the shuttle and the hollow boss 24 extends through the opening in the disc. A plate 33 is mounted for swinging movement on a crossbar 34 extending between the elements 3| and a trolley 35 extends upwardly and rearwardly from the plate and is provided with a weft thread guide 33 at its free end. A spring 31 is connected at one end to the plate and at the other end to a wire 3-8, which is connected to the base 2,9. The spring tends to hold plate 33 with the trolley 34 in erect position,

as shown in Fig. 1, and counterclockwise swinging movement of the trolley is permitted but is resisted by the spring. When the shuttle is to be inserted in or removed from the frame, the base 29 and members 3| are sprung apart sufiiciently to free disc on the base from pivot pin 23 on the shuttle, after which the shuttle may be moved endwise to withdraw boss 24 from disc 32.

'I'he shuttle assembly is moved by a carrier in a circular path through a shed of warp threads, which is opened ahead of the assembly and closed behind it by the heddle mechanism. The carrier comprises a sleeve 39 fast on the shaft and providedwith upper and lower radial arms 49, between which is mounted an electromagnet 4| having a U-shaped core 42. The legs of the core extend radially outward beyond the ends of arms 49 and lie' one above the other, their outer faces being concave. A pair of brackets 43, 44 are mounted on the upper and lower surfaces of arms 40, the brackets being longitudinally slotted and held in place by screws 45 passing through the 43 mounted Vfast thereon.

In the operation of the loom, the shuttle assembly is placed in position with the shuttle bearing against rollers 48 on spindles 45, `Lil of the carrier, the brackets 113, 44 being so adjusted that the surface of the shuttle lies close to but spaced from the outer ends of the core of the electromagnet. The energization of the electromagnet causes it to attract and hold the shuttle in position, so that it is advanced with the carrier, and the increased wall thickness of the central zone Ita of the shuttle increases the attractive effect. The distance lengthwise of the shuttle between shoulders 22 thereon is slightly less than the distance between the opposed faces of the rollers on spindles 46, 41, and, when the shuttle assembly is placed in position, the thickened zone |3a of the shuttle lies between the upper and lower pairs of rollers. The assembly is then prevented from dropping downwardly by engagement of the lower shoulder '22 with the tops of the rollers of the lower pair and the shuttle assembly is advanced without being supported on the reed.

- A shaft 52 mounted in brackets 43, 44 is encircled by a spring 53 connected to bracket 43 and the shaft and acting to swing the shaft counterclockwise, when it is viewed from the top. Between its ends, the shaft carries a lever 54, on which a small roller 55 is mounted at one end. The other end of the lever is connected by a rod 56 to an arm 5l on a shaft 58 mounted on an arm 59 fast on shaft lil. The shaft carries a pawl 69, which may be swung by rocking of shaft 58 into contact with teeth on the inner face of a flat ring 3|, which lies between upper and lower friction rings 62 held stationary and pressed against ring 6| by suitable means. VShaft 58 also carries a contact blade B3, which, upon swinging orL the shaft, is moved between spring contact members 64 on a block of insulation 64a suitably supported so as to move with shaft Il). The contact members are in a circuit which, when established by insertion of blade 63 between them, operates conventional loom stopping means. Normally, when the shuttle assembly isV in place on the carrier with the shuttle engaging rollers 48, the surface of the shuttle bears against roller 55 and forces it backwardly, so that shaft 58 is held in a position with its pawl ybil free of the teeth of ring 5| and contact blade 63 out of contact .with the spring terminal member 64. If the shuttle assembly is displaced from the carrier, the shaft 52 is swung by its spring and swings shaft 58, so that the pawl B engages the teeth of ring 5| and the circuit through the loom stopping means is closed by insertion of blade 63 between terminal members 64. The engagement of the pawl with ring 6| causes the carrier and loom shaft to berbraked, so that the moving parts of the loom will promptly come to a stop.

When the shuttle assembly is in operating position in the shed, the longitudinal laxis of the shuttle extends toward the fell of the goods in the same general direction as the warp threads in the shed. The base of frame l1 extends forwardly from the shuttle and the forward 'end of the base and the ends of elements 3| connected thereto form a nose, which leads the shuttle in its movement. The trolley 35 extends rearwardly from the shuttle and the weft thread passing through the guide eye 36 lies close to the fell of the goods in position to be beaten up. The shuttle is free to rotate on its longitudinal axis in the frame and the shuttle assembly and the carrier lie on opposite sides of the warp threads in the inner sheet I3a of the shed. During the rotation of the carrier with shaft I0, the rollers 48 on spindle 46 are caused to rotate and this movement is imparted to the shuttle, so that it has a planetary motion,` in which `it travels along a circular path concentric with the loom shaft l0, and, at the same time, rolls over the threads in the inner sheet of the shed. By making the shuttle in the form of a hollow body, the external shape of which is that of a surface of revolution, the shuttle is of simple construction and it may be readily caused to roll over the warp threads so that abrasion of those threads is avoided.

In the normal operation of the loom, the frame, which is free to pivot on the shuttle, is so held that it leads the shuttle, because of the drag of the inserted weft thread on trolley 35. If a warp thread, such as that designated lla (Fig. 5),' becomes broken, for example at the top of the shed, and drops down to become entangled across the other warp threads as though it were a weft laid by the preceding shuttle at the bottom of the shed, it produces an obstruction in the shed, which is first encountered by the nose Ila of the frame of the shuttle assembly. When such a shed obstruction occurs, it is desirable to have the loom stopped at once and, when the nose of the assembly meets the obstruction, it is forced outwardly thereby and penetrates the warp threads of the outer sheet |312` of the shed. A stationary ring 65 having teeth 65a on its inner surface is mounted outside the shed in such position that, when the nose Ila of the frame of the shuttle assembly is forced outwardly as described, the nose engages one of the teeth on the ring. The shuttle assembly is thereby arrested and, as the carrier continues to move, the assembly is dislodged from the carrier. As soon as the shuttle moves away from rollers 48, shaft 52 is free to be swung by its spring 53 and this results in the stopping of the loom and the braking of the moving parts thereof, as previously explained.

The shuttle assembly, shown in Figs. 7 and 8, comprises a shuttle 66, which includes a body 61, which has the normal external shape of a surface of revolution and is illustrated as being generally cylindrical in form. The body has a central zone of magnetic material and preferably is made throughout of such material and has a central Zone 81a of increased wall thickn ness. The lower end of the body is closed by a plate 68, formed with a central opening, in which is seated a flanged bushing 69 of non-metallic material, such as impregnated fibrous material. A tubular spindle 'lll extends upwardly from the closure within and coaxially of the body, the tubular portion of the bushing extending through the closure plate and into the spindle. The closure plate is formed with a circular row of openings 7|. The top of the body is closed by a cap '12, which may be frusto-conical form and is constructed to telescope into the open end of the body. The cap has openings 13 in its inclined surface, which lie outwardly from the axis of the body a greater distance than `the openings 1I. The capgis formed with a hollow boss 14, which is encircled by a flanged bushing 'I5 of non-metallic material and is held in place by a turned-over bead at the outer end of neck 14. The bushing is formed with a flange at its lower end, which may be seated in a depression in the top of the cap around neck 'I4 and preferably has a conical upper bearing surface.

The frame of the shuttle assembly, shown in Figs. 7 and 8, includes a base 16, which may be of sheet metal of channel section and is provided adjacent one end with a pivot pin 11 rising from a flat disc on top of the base and receivable into the bushing 69 at the lower end of the shuttle. At its other end, the base carries a thin vertical plate 11', to which is pivotally attached an element 18 extending upwardly and rearwardly to overlie the topv of the shuttle. The element carries a trolley 19 extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom and provided at its free end with a weft thread guide 80. The free end of element 18 lies parallel to the base and has a central opening containing a bearing bushing 8l, into which the neck 14 of the shuttle With its bushing 'l5 may be received. The base i6 and element 18 are connected by releasable means, which are illustrated as including a wire 82 attached to the upper end of element 18 and terminating in a loop 83. The base 15 of the frame carries a wire loop 84 interconnected with lcop 83, loop 84 being formed with portions 34a, 852i of different height. Wire 82 is formed with a kink 82a., so that its length may be increased by the flattening` of the kink. When loop 83 of wire 82 is engaged with the lower part Bda of loop 84, the base and element 'F8 are held` in engagement with the ends of the shuttle. When wire 82 is swung to bring its loop 83 within the higher portion 84h of loop 84, the base and element may be swung apart on their pivotal connection, so that the shuttle may be readily removed from the frame.

The weft thread 83 issuing from the shuttle through the opening in the hollow neck M passes through tensioning means 86 of conventional construction mounted on the top of element 73.

The shuttle assembly shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is intended to be supported in its movement along its circular path on thereed i2 of the loom and, to facilitate the movement of the assembly along the reed, the base 'I6 of the frame may be provided with a roller 81, which is mounted on a horizontal pivot 88 lying transverse to the base and in the axis of rotation of the shuttle in the frame. In an alternative construction, the base is provided with a shoe in the form of a at disc 89 of non-metallic material, such as impregnated fabric. The disc may be mounted on base 'I6 by a ball and socket connection lying in the axis of rotation of the shuttle or on a horizontal pin 98, which extends transverse to the base and lies in the axis of shuttle rotation.

The shuttle assemblyy shown in Figs. '7 and 8 is moved about the axis of the loom in the same manner as the assembly shown in Fig. 1, that is, the assembly is held by magnetic attraction with the shuttle engaging the rollers 48 at the outer end of the carrier. The frame leads the shuttle in the movement of the assembly and the plate T1 forms a nose which, upon encountering an obstruction in the shed, is forced outwardly between the threads f the, outer sheet 0f the Shed mit!v engagement, with the teeth of stop ring 6L As the assembly is moved along with the carrier, the shuttle rolls on its longitudinal axis and the disposition of the openings 'il and i3 is such that, in the rotationof the shuttle, a current of air is caused to pass through the shuttle by centrifugal action. The air current tends to keep the interior of the shuttle free from lint, which otherwise might be carried into the cloth with the weft thread.

I claim:

l. In a circular loom, in which warp threads are separated into spaced sheets to form a shed, the combination of a carrier movable in a path about the'axis of the loom, a shuttle movable through the Shed and mede at leest in part of magnetic material, the external shape of the shuttle being that of a surface of revolution, roll- 4ers rotatably mounted on the carrier. an, electromagnet mounted on the carrier and operable to attract the shuttle against the rollers with one sheet of the shed therebetween, the surface of revolution of the shuttle being rotatable in development on the said sheet and rollers with the axis of the shuttle extending toward the fell of the fabric in the same general direction as the Warp threads in the shed, whereby the shuttle rolls on the said sheet and on the rollers as the shuttle rotates on its axis and with the carrier, and means for moving the carrier along said path.

2. In a circular loom, in which Warp threads are separated into spaced sheets to form ak shed, the combination of a carrier movable in a path about the axis of the loom, a, shuttle movable through the shed and made at least in part of magnetic material, the external shape of the shuttle being that of a surface of revolution, an electromagnet mounted on the carrier, and operable to attract the shuttle, rollers rotatably supported on the carrier against which the shuttle is held by the electromagnet, the surface of revolution of the shuttle being rotatable in development on the rollers with the axis of the shuttle extending toward the fell of the fabric in the same general direction as the Warp threads in the shed, the threads in one sheet of the shed passing between the surface of revolution of the shuttle and the rollers as the shuttle is rotated on its axis with the carrier, means for moving the carrier along said path, and means for rotating at least one of the rollers and thereby aiding the shuttle to roll on its axis.

3. In a circular loom, in which warp threads are separated into spaced sheets to form a shed, the combination of a carrier movable in a path about the axis of the loom, a shuttle movable through the shed and made at least in part of magnetic material, the external shape of the shuttle being that of a surface of revolution and the shuttle having spaced peripheral shoulders between its ends, an electromagnet mounted on the carrier and operable to attract the shuttle, rollers rotatably supported on the carrier against which the shuttle is held by the electromagnet, the surface of revolution of the shuttle being rotatable in development on the rollers with the axis of the shuttle extending toward the fell of the fabric in the same general direction as the warp threads in the shed, the rollers cooperating with the shoulders on the shuttle to limit axial movement of the latter, the threads in one sheet of the shed passing between the surface of revolution of the shuttle and the rollers as 8 the shuttle is rotated on its axis with the carrier, means for moving the carrier along said path, and means for rotating at least one of the rollers and thereby aiding the shuttle to roll on its axis. Y

4. In a circular loom, in which warp threads are separated into spaced sheets to form a shed, the combination of a carrier movable in a path about the axis of the loom, a shuttle movable through the shed and made at least in part Vof magnetic material, the shuttle comprising a hollow body containing means for the support of a weft thread package and having an Vexternal shape which is that of the surface of revolution, and a cap having an opening for the passage of weft thread therethrough, an electromagnet mounted on the carrier and operable to attract the shuttle, rollers rotatably supported on the carrier against which the shuttle 'is held by the electromagnet, the surface of revolution of the shuttle being rotatable in development on the rollers with the axis of the shuttle extending toward the f ell of the fabric in the same general direction as the warp threads in the shed, the threads in one sheet of the shed passing between the surface of revolution of the shuttle and the rollers as the shuttle rotated on its axis with the carrier, means for moving the carrier along said path, and means for rotating at least one of the rollers and thereby aiding the sljuttle to roll on its axis.

5. In a circular loom, in which the warp threads are separated into spaced sheets to form a shed, the combination of a'shuttle movable through the shed and made at least in part of magnetic material, the external shape of the shuttle being that of a surface of revolution, a carrier movable in a path about the axis of the loom, an electromagnet on the carrier operable to attract the shuttle, means for rotating the carrier, and means on the carrier, against which the shuttle is held by the electromagnet with one sheet of the shed therebetween and with the axis of the shuttle extending toward the fell of the fabric in the same general direction as the warp threads on the shed, whereby the shuttle rolls on said sheet and on said means as the shuttle rotates on its Yaxis and with the carrier, said means engaging the shuttle on opposite sides of a plane passing through the axes of the shuttle and loom.

6. In a circular loom, in which the Warp threads are separated into spaced sheets to form a shed, the combination of a shuttle movable through the shed and made at least in part of magnetic material, the external shape of the shuttle being that of a surface of revolution, a carrier movable in a path about the axis of the loom, an electromagnet on the carrier operable to attract the shuttler, means for rotating the carrienand a plurality of pairs of rollers mounted on the carrier, against which the shuttle is held by the electromagnet with one sheet of the shed therebetween and with the axis of the shuttle extending toward the fell of the fabric in the same general direction as the wrap threads in the shed, the axes of the rollers being parallel to the axis of the shuttle, whereby the shuttle rolls on said sheet and on said means as the shuttle rotates on its axis and with the carrier.

7. In a circular loom, in which the Warp threads are separated into spaced sheets to form a shed, the combination of a shuttle movable through the shed and made at least in part of magnetic material, the external shape of the shuttle being that of a surface of revolution, a

carrier movable in a path about the axis of the loom, an electromagnet on the carrier operable to attract the shuttle, means for rotating the carrier, means on the carrier, against which the shuttle is held by the electromagnet with the axis of the shuttle extending toward the fell of the fabric in the same general direction as the warp threads in the shed, and a frame mounted on the shuttle to pivot on the axis thereof, the frame having a nose extending forwardly from the shuttle at the end thereof remote from the fell and also having a trailing portion at the other end of the shuttle provided with a guide for weft thread leaving the shuttle.

8. In a circular loom, in which the warp threads are separated into spaced sheets to form a shed and the Woven fabric is heldin cylindrical form, the combination of a shaft mounted coaxially of the fabric cylinder, a carrier mounted on the shaft to rotate therewith, an electromagnet mounted on the carrier outwardly from the shaft, a plurality of rollers on the carrier engaging the warp threads of the inner sheet of the shed, a shuttle made at least in part of magnetic material and lying within the shed and held against the rollers by the pull of the electromagnet, the shuttle being of the external shape of a surface of revolution and being held with its axis extending parallel to the axis of the shaft,

and means for rotating at least one of the rollers and thereby rotating the shuttle to cause it to roll on its axis over the warp threads of the inner sheet of the shed.

9. In a circular loom, in which the warp threads are separated into spaced sheets to form a shed 10 and the woven fabric is held in cylindrical form, the combination of a shaft mounted coaxially of the fabric cylinder. a carrier mounted on the shaft to rotate therewith, an electromagnet mounted on the carrier outwardly from the shaft, a pair of spindles mounted for rotation on the carrier adjacent the Warp threads of the inner sheet of the shed with their axes parallel to the axis of the shaft, upper and lower rollers mounted on each spindle, and a shuttle made at least in part of magnetic material and lying within the shed and held against the rollers by the pull of the electromagnet, the shuttle being of the external shape of a surface of revolution and held with its axis parallel to the axis of the shaft.

VICTOR MARIE JOSEPH ANCET,

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 365,216 Winckler June 21, 1887 494,108 Lombard Mar. 21, 1893 628,093 Herold July 4, 1899 694,128 Brown Feb. 25, 1902 '702,281 Brown June 10, 1902 2,419,437 Bricout Apr. 22, 1947 2,433,824 Ancet Jan. 6, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date '76,105 Germany July 12, 1894 327,099 Great Britain Mar. 25, 1930 606,352 Great Britain Apr. 12, 1948

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