Improvements in Machines for Weaving Fish and other Nets.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1892-Accepted, 15th Oct., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Weaving Fish and other Nets.
1, HENRY WILLIAM THURSTON, of Newark, Essex County New Jersey
United States of America, Superintendent do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention consists of a machine for weaving fish and other nets, embodying
a series of hooks each of which is adapted to take hold of two threads of which.
the net is to be formed, and then twist or turn the same, so as to form a loop, and
also a shuttle which passes through the said loop and forms a knot and a partial
mesh, which knot is suitably tightened. The hook is then disengaged from the
said threads and next engages with one of the same, and an adjacent thread, and
forms part of another mesh and a knot at the side thereof.
Provision is made for rotating the hooks in reverse directions raising and lowering
the hook-carrier, and moving the same to the opposite sides of the feed throat, and
imparting longitudinal motions to the carrier, whereby the hooks are placed in
position to engage with the threads of meshes partly made, and threads aside of
the same.
Rollers are also employed for carrying away the net as formed, and means pro-
vided for varying the intermittent motions of said rollers, whereby the latter are
rendered adjustable to different sizes of meshes.
In the accompanying drawings
--
Figure 1 represents a top or plan view of a portion of a machine for weaving
nets embodying my invention.
Figure 2 represents a side elevation of a portion of the same.
Figure 3 represents an end view thereof, an outer wheel, and outer part of one
of the cams, an oscillating lever, and a rising and falling arm on which said lever
is mounted by a bracket having been removed from said figure, it being noticed
that the shaft shown in said figure is in section, and that the devices for actuating
said arm are the same at the opposite end of the machine.
Figure 4 represents a side elevation of a portion embracing the end opposite to
Figure 2.
Figure 5 represents a vertical section on line x x Figure 4.
Figure 6 represents a top view of a portion drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figures 7, 8, 9, 12 and 13 represent vertical sections of parts shown in Figure 6,
portions of the same being in different positions.
Figure 10 represents a side elevation partly broken away, of the shuttle and
bobbin, drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 11 represents a view of a portion of a rack and pinion employed for
imparting inclined positions to the hook-carrier.
Figure 13 represents a perspective view of a portion of the loop-forming
hooks, the bar on which they are journalled, and meshes partly and entirely
formed.
Figure 14 represents a partial top view and partial horizontal section of the hook
carrier and connected parts.
Figure 15 represents a side elevation of the hook carrier and connected parts,
the front thereof being removed.
Figure 16 represents a section of a portion on line y y Figure 2.
Figure 16 represents a side elevation of the machine.
The remaining Figures 17 to 22 inclusive, illustrate the work.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

page_text: A designates the frame of the machine, and B designates tables at the top
thereof.
C designates, a series of parallel separated bars which extend vertically, and
form races for the shuttles D, which are pointed at both ends and have recesses E
near said ends for the alternate engagement of hooks F, which latter are secured
to heads G forming shuttle carriers arranged horizontally over the bars C, and at
a right angle thereto, the ends of said heads carrying journals H which are
mounted on the upper portions of arms or drivers J, the latter being secured' on
rocker shafts J J mounted on the frame A, it being noticed that the journals 'H
are freely fitted in slots or guides K, extending transversely on the top of the frame,
and sustained thereon.
In the centre of each shuttle on the upper part thereof is a circular depression L,
in which is freely fitted the bobbin M, the twine or thread of which is passed from
the bobbin through the eye N in the shuttle, both shuttle and bobbin being flat or
narrow, as most plainly shown in Figure 6.
Centrally between the tables is a vertical throat P for the passage of the net as
woven, and on each side of said throat is a space or channel Q for the reception of
hooks R, the shanks of which are mounted on the tubular bar U, and carry
pinions S with which meshes the sliding rack T, the latter being fitted within said
tubular bar U, and having its end piece U¹ provided with a collar V, with which
engages the lever W, whose axis is mounted on the arm X, said lever engaging
with a cam Y on the shaft Z, it being seen that owing to said cam Y and the
lever W, reciprocating motions are imparted to the rack T, whereby rotary motions:
in opposite directions are imparted to the pinion S and hooks R.
The end piece U₁ of the rack 'bar, and the opposite end of the tubular bar U
are mounted on rising and falling oscillating arms A¹ one of which carries the
arm X, and whose lower ends are forked, and embraces the shaft Z, and they
also carry studs or rollers A³, which play in the cam grooves A³ of the wheel A. A,
on the shaft Z, whereby the tubular bar U with the rack bar and hooks are raised
and lowered. The cam Y is in its face view of the same shape as the cam groove A³,
consequently the lower end of the lever W remains engaged with said cam Y, as
the, arms Arise and fall.
A designates a rising and falling oscillating bar, whose lower end is forked as
at A, and freely straddles the shaft Z, and carries a stud or roller A** which
engages with cam groove A of the wheel A A on the shaft Z, it being remembered
that there is a wheel A, A, with a cam groove A³ at each end of the machine, but
only one of said wheels is shown toothed, as in Figure 16, said groove AⓇ being a
duplicate of the groove 'A' excepting that at two points it has slight swells as
at A as shown in dotted lines, to give the hook bar the angle motion as seen in
Figure 9. In all other respects the roller A** follows the groove A³.
The upper ends of the bar A* is slotted, and has a rack A on the inner wall of
the slot, the same meshing with a mutilated pinion A' on the end or journal of the
tubular bar U, it being seen that as the bar A' rises and falls reciprocating rotary
motions are imparted to the pinion 'A' and consequently to the bar U.
AA and A designate cams on shafts A" whose bearings are on the frame A in
opposite sides of the middle thereof, see Figure 3, it being noticed that said cams
are duplicated at each end of the frame, the cams A' being below the axes or
shafts A so as to come in contact with the arms or levers A. The cams.A¹are
ábove said axes and are adapted to be alternately engaged by' the hooks 'F, so that
the latter ride upon said cams, and are thereby raised, thus releasing said hooks
from shuttles. As the levers Aare engaged by the cams A' and pressed by the
same, said levers are moved, thus carrying the hook bar with them. The camis A'
on the opposite sides are then struck by said lever, so that the cams A³ above the
same are depressed and allow the shuttle carrier hook on that side of the machine
to engage the shuttles' and draw them across to the other side of the machine.
The rock shafts J'J' receive motion by means of jointed arms "A" one limb of

page_text: each of which is forked and embraces a box A¹³, freely fitted on the shaft Z, the
limbs carrying studs or rollers A" which engage with cam A on the shaft Z.
On the shaft J' is loosely mounted an arm A which is engaged by studs or
rollers AA18, on a wheel A", the latter being secured to the shaft Z.
The arm A is adjustably connected with an arm A by means of a slots and
screws, as seen in Figure 5, and both arms are loosely mounted on the shaft J',
the upper end of said arms A being connected with a horizontal. slide A" which
is mounted on the guide Ax on the frame A, said slide having connected with it
an elbow lever A which is freely mounted on a shaft A23, the latter having its
bearings on a hanger A" secured to the frame A. The lever A" carries a pawl A2
which engages with a ratchet. A 28 secured to the shaft A, the latter having
attached to it a feed roller A" geared to which are feed rollers A which are
mounted on the hanger A" at one end, see Figure 5, and a hanger A" on the other
end, see Figure 2, it being noticed that the feed rollers are below the throat P so
as to receive the net as woven and convey the same from the machine.
The
slide A has two V-shaped or pointed heads which are cast or otherwise connected,
and between the same the lower end of the elbow lever A" is freely held. Back
of the head, opposite to the arm A is a piece A20x whose head A20xx is movably
fitted in the guide A". In the end of said guide is a screw A30 whose inner end
bears against the head Axx whereby the throw of said lever A" may be
adjusted, and thus the feed rollers are rendered adjustable for different sizes of
meshes.
The return motion of the lever A", and consequently of the pawl A slide A",
and arms A A" is accomplished by means of the spring A** which is connected
with said lever A", and a proper part of the frame of the machine.
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The end of the hook bar opposite to the sleeve or collar V, carries cams A³
which project in opposite directions and are partly oblique in the direction of their
length, and adapted to engage with upright posts A on the frame A, so that as
the arms A¹ are struck by the cams A when the shuttle carriers advance, one of
the cams A is caused to ride against the contiguous posts A thus imparting
longitudinal motion to said cam, and consequently to the hook bar.
Then as
the arms A¹ make their return motion, the opposite cam A" engages with the
respective post A" whereby the hook bar is returned, it being evident that the hook
bar receives motion in opposite directions.
The machine receives motion by means of the pulley on the shaft 2, the latter
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carrying a pinion 3 which meshes with the toothed wheel A. A, the latter having
cams and cam grooves therein as has been stated.
The threads extend from the hobbins over the channel Q, and into the middle
throat, down around the feed rollers. The hooks descend into channel Q between
the threads as in Figure 7. The hook bar receives lateral motion so as to have the
points of the hooks come under two threads and hook on, as in Figures 8 and 13.
The hooks gradually rise, see also Figure 8, and each carries with it two threads,
and at the same time gradually turns until it makes three quarters of a turn, as
shown dotted in Figure 9, forming a loop of the thread, see Figure 17, the hooks
continuing to rise so as to enlarge the loop, see Figure 18.
Meanwhile, the shuttles have advanced and passed, say from the right to the
left, through the lengthened or enlarged loop beneath the hook, see Figure 12, the
bottom of the hooks being channeled to allow the shuttles to come close to said
hooks.
When the shuttles have passed half through the loops the bar U gradually
descends, the shuttles passing to nearly their full stroke to the left, see Figure 13,
the hooks being in such a position when descending that the threads are stripped
from the ends of the books, as also seen in Figure 13. This makes an open knot
as in Figure 19, said knot being tightened by the shuttles making a further slight
motion in completing the full throw to the left for the purpose of tightening the
knot, see Figure 20, the feed and taking up then occurring see Figure 21. The
hook bar now rises without threads, see Figure 13, and then again descends

page_text: between two threads in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 7, and next
rises carrying with it one of the threads of the previously formed mesh, and a
new length of the thread of the shuttle next to it, thus again producing a loop
when the shuttles move from left to right through the loops, and the other
operations as in the previous case are repeated, thus making in each case the meshes
whose knots are tight, and without liability to slip.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The shuttles and shuttle races, and a table for said races having a central
passage, rotatable, and sliding heads mounted on said tables, hooks projecting
inwardly from said heads, and arms carrying said heads, in combination with
the shafts JJ, with which said arms are connected, the arms A" on said
shafts and the cams A1 for operating said arms, substantially as described.
2. The shuttles and shuttle races, and a table for said races having a central
passage in the top thereof, in combination with rotatable and sliding heads,
hooks projecting inwardly from said heads arms carrying said heads, shafts con-
nected with said heads, jointed arms secured to said shafts, and cams on the
frame engaging said jointed arms, and throw-off cams for said heads on opposite
sides of said passage, said carrying arms being at opposite ends of said passage,
substantially as described.
3. In a net weaving machine, shuttles with recesses in opposite ends and races
on a table, rising and falling hooks guided on said table, arms carrying the heads
of said hooks, and means for operating said arms, in combination with rotary hooks,
a tubular bar in which said hooks are mounted, a rack in said bar, pinions on said
hooks meshing with said rack, rising and falling arms carrying said bar and rack, a
lever for oscillating said rack and means for operating said lever, and cams for
throwing off the hooks from the shuttles, said cams being on opposite sides of the
centre of the table, substantially as described.
4. In a net weaving machine, shuttles with recesses in opposite ends, and races
on the table, rising and falling hooks guided on said table, arms carrying the heads
of said hooks and means for operating said arms, in combination with rotary hooks,
a tubular bar in which said hooks are mounted rising and falling arms carrying
said tubular bar, and means for operating said arms, a rack in said bar, pinions
on said hooks meshing with said rack, a lever for oscillating said rack, means
for operating said lever, and cams for throwing off the hooks from the shuttles,
said cams being on opposite sides of the centre of the table, substantially as
described.
5. The shuttles, the tables with races and rising and falling hooks thereon,
heads, oscillating arms which carry the same, the hooks and means for supporting
and rotating the same, rising and falling arms carrying said means, and means for
operating said arms, in combination with cams which are mounted on the ends of
the table and located in the paths of the oscillating and rising and falling arms and
the hooks aforesaid.
6. A hook carrier, means for supporting the same, a pinion on said carrier, and a
rising and falling rack mounted on the frame and engaging with said pinion, in
combination with the cams on said carrier, and posts against which the cams abut,
said posts being on opposite sides of said cams, substantially as described.
7. A bar having a rack fitted thereto, and hooks with pinions mounted therein,
in combination with rising and falling arms A', means for vibrating said arms on
which said bar is mounted, the oscillating arm or lever W, which is connected with
said rack bar, and the cams A" on the device which carries the hooks and
connected parts, and the posts A" on opposite sides of said cams, whereby the
hooks are rotated and the bar receives reciprocating motions, substantially as
described.
8. The rollers A27 A 29 in combination with a ratchet on the shaft of one of said

page_text: rollers, a pawl mounted on an arm or lever engaging said ratchet, a slide engaging
with said lever, arms A20, A1 connected with said slide a shaft carrying said arms
and means for operating said arms, combined substantially as described.
9. The rollers A" A a pawl and ratchet, a lever carrying said pawl, and a slide
engaging said lever in combination with means for operating said slide, consisting
of the arms A1 and A20 and a wheel engaging the arm A as described.
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10. The rollers A" A a ratchet on the roller A", a pawl engaging said ratchet,
and a lever carrying said pawl, said rollers A" and A being geared together, in
combination with a slide which engages said lever, and the arms A1 and A20 and a
wheel engaging the arm A for operating said slide, the support of the latter being
provided with a screw which may be set nearer to and further from the slide for
adjusting the feeding action of said rollers.
Dated this 14th day of June 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.