Patent GB-734688-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of wire fabric and particularly chainlink fabric
IPC: B21F27/04
Filed: 1952-08-20
Abstract: 734,688. Making chain link fabric. RYLANDS BROS., Ltd., and FAULKNER, D. S. Nov. 20, 1953 [Aug. 20, 1952], No. 20854/52. Class 83 (4). A machine for the manufacture of chain link fabric comprising a rotating blade or spinner which draws wire from a coil and forms it into a flat spiral and feeds it into and along a tube so as to interlink with the preceding spiral is characterized in that operation of the blade intermittently to form successive spirals' and feed them into the tube is effected by a pressure fluid motor or a .pressure fluid con-. trolled motor, operation of said motor to form the successive spirals being governed by a valve mechanism actuated by, or in step with, the blade operating mechanism. Wire is wound on and by a rotating blade 10 into a flat spiral which is fed by the blade, as it rotates, into a guide tube 11 where it is interlocked with the previously formed spiral. When a sufficient length of spiral has been formed and fed into the tube 11 the blade 10 is stopped momentarily and the spiral is severed by blades 15, the interlocked fabric being drawn up over a backing plate 12 onto a take-up roller 13. The blade 10 is rotated by a hydraulic motor 18 for a predetermined number of revolutions when a stop 31, on a cam plate assembly 22, 23 rotated by a wheel 20 engaging a worm 19 on the shaft of the motor 18, strikes a valve 38 in a low pressure hydraulic circuit 44, 45 controlling a valve 39 in a high pressure hydraulic circuit 41, 46, 43 to the motor 18. The valve 39 is thus moved to reverse the flow to the motor, first to stop it and then, through a bleed hole in a non-return valve 47 in its circuit, slowly to reverse it until a notched disc 48 on the motor shaft engages a detent 49, moved forward by pressure means 50, to stop the motor and thus position the blade 10 exactly. A switch 64 is closed by a cam on a suitable timing shaft to cause the cutters 15 to operate and a peg bar 58, which positions the previously interlocked spiral, to lift and allow the fabric to be wound on for one row. The cam plate assembly is meanwhile declutched from the worm wheel 20 by hydraulic means 27, Fig. 4, and is moved in a reverse direction by a weight 37 until a stop 30 on the assembly reverses the valve 38 to start the motor 18 again, simultaneously the assembly 22, 23 re-engages the worm wheel 20. In order to vary the length of spiral formed the stops 30, 31 on the cam plate assembly are carried on separate plates 23, 22 which can be adjusted about their axis relative to one another. Means 16 to knuckle over the out ends of the wire are provided. Instead of stopping the blade just beyond its exact intended rest position and then reversing the motor, it may be stopped just before and the motor restarted. A separate inchirig mechanism may effect the final movement of the blade or the blade may be braked or slowed by a decelerating clutch. Delay valves may be provided in the hydraulic circuits. Instead of a hydraulic motor 18 a continuously operating electric motor with a hydraulic or pneumatic clutch may be provided. Specification 703,021 is referred to.