IMPROVEMENTS IN CIRCULAR LOOMS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CIRCULAR LOOMS." A communication from abroad by John Van Dussen Reed,
of the City, County, and State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 21st August 1877, and dated the 20th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th April 1877.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CIRCULAR LOOMS." A communication from
abroad by John Van Dussen Reed, of the City, County, and State of New York,
United States of America.
This Invention of improvements in circular looms for weaving cylindrical or
tubular fabrics relates,-
First. To the peculiar construction and arrangement of the harness cams berein-
after described, in which the said cams are separated from each other and placed
one above another around a cylindrical surface, and in the same or nearly the same
vertical plane, so that several series of vertical sliding rods for throwing the sheds
of the different plies may be arranged around the said cams so as to engage with
and be operated by them.
Secondly. To the novel construction and arrangements of parts whereby the
shuttles are held in their orbits both against the centrifugal force to which they are
subjected, and the tension of the woof threads while they are permitted to move
freely in their circular race.
Thirdly. To the peculiar construction and combination described by the vertical
sliding rods for throwing the warp threads to form the sheds whereby the said rods
afford each other mutual support and prevention against torsion, bending, and
rotating.
And, Fourthly. To providing the walls of the circular race in which the shuttles
run with notches or recesses, into which the warp threads may drop, in order that
the under threads of the shed may lie down upon the floor of the race as the
shuttles pass over them.
Lastly. To a tension device for the warp threads.

page_text: The accompanying Drawing represents a central vertical section of a loom con-
structed according to this Invention.
B is a central stationary post, upon the lower end a of which the tubular web is
woven; c, c, d, d, e, e¹, are the cams by which the warp cams or harness are raised
and lowered to form the sheds. These cams are seen bent into a circular form and
supported on vertical bars D, D², D³.
Each pair of cams operate to form a shed; these cams are in position separated
entirely from each other, but all act conjointly to produce the desired result, namely,
to throw the warp threads so as to weave a web, and if desired, a web of more than.
one ply. In the Drawing they are shown arranged one above another in the same
vertical plane; G is a disc, to the periphery of which the said bars D are fixed.
This disc C is connected with the sleeve H, fitted to revolve upon the post B, and
rests and has its bearings on the collar B¹.
Motion is communicated to the disc G from the shaft I by bevel gear g, g¹. The
bars D thus constitute a revolving frame carrying the harness cams c, d, and e; J is
a stationary bevel gear wheel fixed to the lower end of the post B, and K, K,
are bevel pinions which gear with wheel J; they are fixed upon shafts h, which
rotate in bearings in the revolving frame D, and are carried around the loom with
it; are plane disc wheels fixed on the shafts h. By the engagement of the
pinions K with wheel J, said pinions with the shafts h and the wheels i are
revolved on their axes as they are carried around the loom, there being thus
imparted to said wheels a positive rotary motion. The letter K is used to designate
the warp carriers, which are vertical rods that slide up and down in holes in the
annular plates L, L¹.
There are as many of these carriers as there are warp threads. The said threads
pass through eyes in the lower ends of these rods. These said rods k are arranged
round the loom vertically, parallel to the harness cams, and may be said to be
divided into series or groups of three each. Upon each one of the three is fixed a
collar having an arm v extending laterally from it through holes in which the
other two pass.
Thus the several rods of each group afford each other natural
support, and prevent each other from revolving on their axes. Two of these groups
of three may be said to form a set together, carrying six of the warp threads,
which constitute the complete sheds of a two-ply web.
The several collars have also arms which extend inward to the harness cams
c, c, d, d, and e, e¹, and engage therewith. As the harness cams are revolved, the
several arms engaging therewith, as described, will raise and lower the rods k so as
to throw the warp threads to weave two plies and tie them together into a single
web. The sets of these rods thus formed and connected with the harness cams are
duplicated to entirely surround the loom to weave a tubular web.
The warp threads are unwound from spools m placed on pins fixed in a circular
bar attached to the frame of the loom. From these spools the warp threads run
down through the tension device n, thence through the eyes in the lower end of
the rods k, and thence all converge to the lower end of the post B, where the web
is formed.
The tension device consists of a small rod having a head n¹ at one end and a
screw thread and nut n² at the other. Near the head is an eye or hole with a
notch or slot inclined away from the head and opening out on one side of the rod,
thus permitting the thread to be passed through the notch into the eye without
passing the end through it; n³, n*, are too small washers or flat rings on the said
rod between which the thread runs. These rods are fitted into holes in a circular
bar p, and between said bar and the nut n² are spiral springs no, which act to press
the rods outward and force the discs n³, nt, together between the heads n¹ and
bar p, thus giving tension to the thread as it passes through the eye. By this.
arrangement the tension will be uniform and just what is made by the stress of the
spiral spring ne, for if there should be any obstruction to the tread running out
between the rings n³, nt, the increased tension thereby caused will pull the rod

page_text: inward against the stress of the spring, thereby, separating the said rings and
relieving the friction upon the threads.
4
M, M³, are the shuttles, and N is the circular race in which they run.
shuttles designed for rapid weaving deliver two woof threads one after the other
into the same ply. The race is in fact a circular groove having lateral walls,
between which the shuttles or portions of them are confined, and are thereby kept
in their orbits, both against the tendency to fly onward from the centrifugal force
generated by their movement around the loom, and against the tension of the woof
thread, which tends to draw them inward towards the centre of the loom.
Notches are cut in the side walls of the race, into which the lower threads of
the shed fall, thus permitting the said threads to rest on the floor of the race, and
the shuttles to run over them.
The shuttles are driven around the race by the disc wheels i as they are carried,
the loom with the harness cam frame D. At the heel of the shuttle in its upper
face is a friction roller, and the shuttle is propelled by contact of the wheels with
this friction roller. As has been shewn the wheels i have a positive rotation on
their axes, and the wheels i will of course rotate the rollers of the shuttles on their
axes as the shuttles are propelled around the loom in the race. The wheels i are
above the upper shed thread of the web and the shuttles are below them, and the
arrangement described of the wheels i and the rollers is for the purpose of por-
mitting the upper threads of the sheds to pass between the propelling wheel i and
the shuttle without disarranging the threads.
The under surface of the shuttle is provided with friction rollers to facilitate
their movements over the warp threads on the floor of the race N.
The preferable method of constructing and arranging the shuttles in the race
consists in a curved recess cut into the under face of the shuttle, into which projects
the inner wall of the race, the under face of the part of the shuttle which projects
down into the race being provided with friction rollers. Thus only a portion of the
shuttle lies within the race, the opposite end of the shuttle provided with a friction
roller running upon a curved rail. By this construction the race may be quite
narrow, and only of sufficient width to receive the inner wall of the race, and a
single pair of friction rollers will servo to relievo the friction between the shuttles
and both walls of the race.
Tension may be given to the woof threads as it is unwound from the spool, by
tho tension device u', which as shown consists of two plates pressed together by
spiral springs, the thread running between the plates; but any suitable tension devise
may be used.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd
October 1877.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agont "IMPROVEMENTS IN CIRCULAR LOOMS." A communication from
abroad by John Van Dussen Reed, of the City, County, and State of New York,
United States of America.
This Invention of improvements in circular looms for weaving cylindrical or
tubular fabrics relates,-
-
First. To the peculiar construction and arrangement of the harness cams herein-
after described, in which the said cams are separated from each other and placed
one above another around a cylindrical surface, and in the same or nearly the same
vertical plane, so that several series of vertical sliding rods for throwing the sheds of
the different plies may be arranged around the said cams, so as to engage with and
be operated by them.
"
Secondly. In the novel construction and arrangement of parts wheroby the

page_text: shuttles are held in their orbits, both against the centrifugal force to which they are
subjected, and the tension of the woof threads, while they are permitted to move
freely in their circular race.
Thirdly. To the peculiar construction and combination described of the vertical
sliding rods for throwing the warp threads to form the sheds, whereby the said
rods afford each other mutual support and prevention against torsion, bending and
rotating.
Fourthly. To providing the walls of the circular race in which the shuttles run
with notches or recesses, into which the warp threads may drop, in order that the
under threads of the shed may lie down upon the floor of the race as the shuttles
pass over them,
Lastly. To a tension device for the warp threads.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a plan or top view of a loom con-
taining the improvements; Figure 2, a vertical section of same on line , x,
Figure 1; Figure 3, a horizontal section on line y—y, Figure 2; Figure 4, a similar
section on line 2, 2, Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a detached view of a broken segment of the "race" with one of the
shuttles in it, with a side view of one of the rollers by which the shuttle is
propelled.
Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9, are several views of the shuttle.
Figure 10 is a plane view of the harness cams. The shape and position of these
cams in a loom are circular upon the periphery of a cylinder. In this Figure they
are shown straightened out to a plane in order that they may be the more plainly
exhibited.
Figure 11 is a side view of the tension device.
And Figure 12 is a top view of one of the warp-carrying rods or harness cut
through the collar and arms attached to it, as herein-after described.
A is a circular frame upon which the several parts of the loom are mounted; B is
a central stationary post, upon the lower end a of which the tubular web is woven ;
c, c¹, d, d, e, e¹, are the cams by which the warp cams or harness are raised
and lowered to form the sheds. In the loom, as shown in Figures 1 and 2,
these cams are seen bent into a circular form and supported on vertical bars
D, D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, Dº, D7
Each pair of the cams operate to form a shed. These cams are in position
separated entirely from each other, but all act conjointly to produce the desired
result, viz., to throw the warp threads so as to weave a web, and if desired a
web of more than one ply. They are, as shown, arranged one above another in the
same vertical plane. G is a disc wheel, to the periphery of which the said bars D
to D' are fixed. This disc is connected with the sleeve H fitted to revolve upon
the post B, and rests and has its bearings on the collar B¹.
Motion is communicated to the disc G from the shaft I, through bevel gear g
and g¹.
The bars D thus constitute a revolving frame carrying the harness
cams c, d, and e. J is a stationary bevel gear wheel fixed to the lower end of the
post B, and K, K¹, K2, K³, are bevel pinions, which mesh into the gear wheel J.
They are fixed upon shafts h, h1, h2, h3, which rotate in bearings in the revolving
frame D, and are carried around the loom with it; i, i¹, 22, i³, are plain disc wheels
fixed on the shafts h. By the engagement of the pinions K with the fixed gear
wheel J, said pinions with the shafts h, and the disc wheels i are revolved on their
axes as they are carried around the loom, there being thus imparted to said wheels
a positive rotary motion. The letter k is used to designate the warp carriers, which
are vertical rods that slide up and down in holes in the annular plates L, L¹.
There are as many of these carriers as there are warp threads. The said threads
pass through eyes ; (Figure 10) in the lower ends of these rods. These said rods k
are arranged round the loom vertically, parallel to the harness cams, and may be
said to be divided into series or groups of three each. Upon each one of the three
is fixed a collar, designated by the letter 1, having an arm v extending laterally
from it, through holes in which the other two pass. Thus the several rods of each

page_text: group afford each other mutual support, and prevent each other revolving on their
axes. This construction and arrangement are plainly shown in Figure 10. Two of
these groups of three may be said to form a set, together carrying six of the warp
threads which constitute the complete sheds of a two-ply web.
The several collars I have also arms (one of which marked is shown in Figure 12),
which extend inward to the harness cams c, c, d, d¹, and e, e¹, and engage therewith,
the arm from resting on c, that from lon c', that from I on d, that from l' on d²,
that from on e, and that from 1 on e¹. As the harness cams are shown revolved,
the several arms engaging therewith as described will raise and lower the rods k, so
as to throw the warp threads to weave two plies and tie them together into a single
web. The sets of these rods thus formed and connected with the harness cams are
duplicated to entirely surround the loom to weave a tubular web.
The warp threads are unwound from spools, a few only of which, designated by
the letter m (Figure 1) are shown placed on pins fixed in a circular bar attached to
the frame of the loom. From the spools the warp threads run down through the
tension device n, thence through the eyes in the lower end of the rods k, and thence
all converge to the lower end of the post B, where the web is formed.
The tension device consists of a small rod, having a head n¹ at one end, and a
screw thread and nut n² at the other (see Figure 11). Near the head is an eye or
hole o with a notch or slot cut, inclined away from the head and opening out on one
side of the rod, thus permitting the thread to be passed through the notch into the
eye without passing the end through it. n³ and n are two small washers or flat
rings on the said rod between which the thread runs. These rods are fitted into
holes in a circular bar p (seen in Figure 3), and between the said bar and the nut n²
are spiral springs no which act to press the rods outward and force the discs n³, n*,
together between the heads n' and bar p, thus giving tension to the thread as it
passes through the eye o. By this arrangement the tension will be uniform, and
just what is made by the stress of the spiral spring me, for if there should be any
obstruction to the thread running out between the rings n³, n*, the increased tension
thereby caused will pull the rod inward against the stress of the spring, thereby
separating the said rings and relieving the friction upon the threads.
M, M, M², M³, are the shuttles, and N is the circular race in which they run.
Four shuttles are shown designed for rapid weaving by delivering two woof threads,
one after the other, into the same ply. The race is in fact a circular groove, having
lateral walls, between which the shuttles, or portions of them, are confined, and are
thereby kept in their orbits, both against the tendency to fly outward from the
centrifugal force generated by their movement around the loom, and against the
tension of the woof thread, which tends to draw them inwards towards the centre
of the loom.
.
Notches are cut in the side walls of the race, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, into
which the lower threads of the shed fall, thus permitting the said threads to rest on
the floor of the race, and the shuttles to run over them.
The shuttles are driven around the race by the disc wheels i, 1, 2, 3, as they are
carried around the loom with the harness cam frame D. At the heel of the shuttle,
in its upper face, is a friction roller r, and the shuttle is propelled by contact of the
wheels with this friction roller 7. As has been shown, the wheels have a
positive rotation on their axes by means of the pinion K and fixed gear wheel J.
The wheels i will, of course, rotate the rollers r on their axes as the shuttles are
propelled around the loom in the race. The wheels are above the upper shod
threads of the web, and the shuttles are below them, and the arrangement described
of the wheels i and the rollers 7 is for the purpose of permitting the upper threads
of the sheds to pass between the propelling wheel i and the shuttle without dis-
arranging the threads.
The under surface of the shuttle is provided with friction rollers, as seen in
Figures 7 and 8, to facilitate their movements over the warp threads on the floor of
the race N.
The preferable method of constructing and arranging the shuttles in the race is

page_text: shown in Figure 6, in which t is a curved recess cut into the under face of the
shuttle, into which projects the inner wall t¹ of the race, and the under face of tho
part 2 of the shuttle which projects down into the race is provided with friction
rollers 82, 82. Thus, only the portion t2 of the shuttle lies within the race, the
opposite end of the shuttle, provided with a friction roller running upon a curved
rail P. By this construction the race may be quite narrow, and only of sufficient
'width to receive the portion t¹, and a single pair of friction rollers 82, 88, will serve to
relieve the friction between the shuttles and both walls of the race.
Tension may be given to the woof threads as it is unwound from the spool u by
the tension device u¹, which, as shown, consists of two plates pressed together by
spiral springs, the thread running between the plates, but any suitable tension
device may be used.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,
First. In a circular loom the combination of two or more harness cams separated
from each other and arranged upon the periphery of a revolving vertical and cylin-
drical frame, with the vertically sliding rods k, arranged substantially as described,
whereby the warps are separated into sheds, and a web of more than one ply is
woven, as and for the purpose specified.
Second. In a circular loom the combination of the warp carrier rods k arranged in
groups of two, or more, each rod of the group carrying an arm v, through which
the other rods of the group pass, with the mechanism for inserting into the sheds
two or more weft threads, all constructed and arranged to operate as and for the
purpose described
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of October, in the year. of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.