IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRACES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Mee, of Leicester, in the County of
Leicester, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF BRACES."
Sealed the 1st March 1854, and dated the 22nd November 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Mee at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 22nd November 1853.
I, WILLIAM MEE, of Leicester, in the County of Leicester, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRACES" to be as follows:-
The improvements relate to that description of braces which are
made in warp machinery by looping series of threads together into a
fabric, and which are commonly called "net braces." And my improve-
ments consist in producing such description of braces with what in the
hosiery manufactures are called "ribs," on both sides of such fabric and
lengthwise thereof. I am aware that it has been proposed to produce
braces of the kind refferred to with "ribs" on one side thereof only.
I mention this in order to state that my improvements relate_only to

page_text: so arranging the loopings of the threads (when using warp machinery)
in the manufacture of braces that like "ribs" may be produced on
both sides thereof, by which I obtain braces superior in appearance &
more uniformly elastic
ADDITION TO PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
The machine which I have used for the purpose is of the rotary
kind, and it has two rows of needles placed vertically, with a row of
guides for each row of needles. The needles are placed back to back
with a knocking over bar behind each row, and the work as it is made
descends between the two knocking over bars, the knocking over being
effected by the rising and falling of the needle bars. The needles
which I have found to answer well are what are called "self-acting,"
and are made under Patent granted to Messrs. Townsend & Moulden,
on or about Feb. 13, 1849, but other needles with pressers might
be employed. The guide bars in this machine are shogged by-lace
wheels, Figs. 1 & 2 (one for each bar), in making the necessary
lappings, and the threads as they come from the beam or bobbins
(especially when cotton or silk is used) are weighted to give the requisite
tension thereto, but the tension_upon_the_threads when bobbins are
used may be obtained by friction on the bobbins or on the surface of
the thread on the bobbins..

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Mee in the Great Seal Patent. Office
on the 22nd May 1854.
"
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1,
WILLIAM MEE, of Leicester, in the County of Leicester, Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty. Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand.eight hundred and fifty-three, in
the seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her, heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said William Mee, Her
special licence that I, the said William Mee, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as. I, the said William Mee, my
executors, administrators; and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to.time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRACES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Mee, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Mee, do hereby de-
clare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manuer the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):
The Invention relates to that description of braces which are made
in warp machinery by looping series of threads together into a fabric,
and which are commonly called "net braces." And my improvements
consist in producing fabric for such description of braces with what in
the hosiery manufactures are called "ribs," on both sides of such fabric

page_text: and lengthwise thereof. I am aware that it has been proposed to
produce braces of the kind referred to with "ribs" (or an approximation
to "ribs ") on one side thereof only. I mention this in order to state
that my improvements relate only to so arranging the loopings of the
threads (when using warp machinery) in the manufacture of braces that
like "ribs" may be produced on both sides thereof, by which I obtain
braces superior in appearance and more uniformly elastic.
I would also state that I am aware that it is not new to manufacture
in warp machinery a fabric with the loopings so arranged as to pro-
duce like "ribs" on both sides or surfaces thereof, such having been
long made and used in the production of what are called "polka
jackets," and other fancy articles in the hosiery trade. But such fabric
has, I believe, been made entirely of worsted, and is of a comparatively
loose and open texture, altogether unsuited for a brace fabric. And to
the best of my belief every attempt hitherto made in arranging warp
machinery to manufacture a fabric with "ribs" on both sides, and of a
stiffness and compactness suitable to be used in the manufacture of
braces, has failed.
I
But that the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which
carry the same into effect, may be fully understood I will proceed to
describe the means pursued by me.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows in cross section so much of a machine which I have
found to answer well in carrying out my Invention as will serve to
point out the modifications which I adopt in the working of the parts to
produce the desired fabric. Figure 2 shows a full size section of some
of the parts separately. Figures 3 and 4 show a cut of lace wheels
for shogging the guide bars employed.
This machine is of the rotary kind, and it has two rows of needles
placed vertically, with a row of guides for each row of needles. The
needles are placed back to back with a knocking over bar behind each
row, and the work as it is made descends between the two knocking
over bars, the knocking over being effected by the rising and falling of
the needle bars.

page_text: The needles which I have found to answer well are what are called
"self-acting," from their not requiring any presser bar to act with
them in the shifting of the loops of the fabric from the stems to the
beards for knocking over, and such needles are made under Patent
granted to Messrs. Townsend and Moulden, on or about the Thirteenth
of February, One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, but other
needles with pressers might be employed.
a, a, is the framing of the machine; b, is the crank handle or driving
shaft, supported in bearings carried by the end framings, Upon one
end of this shaft is affixed a toothed wheel c, indicated by blue lines,
and which by means of an intermediate wheel d, drives a toothed wheel
e, affixed on the cam shaft e', giving motion thereto; f, is the thread
beam or roller, which is weighted, as shewn; and g, is the work roller.
The guide bars h, carrying the guides h¹, h', are supported by arms h²
from the spindle bar h, with a capability for the guide bars being
shogged endwise by their lace wheels, as is well understood, in order to
the guides passing through different spaces between the needles when
forming their required lappings of the threads. The nibs on the lace
wheels show the relative times of the two bars h, h, for their required
shoggings corresponding with the position of the parts shown by the
Drawings. The backward and forward motion to the guide bars to
carry the guides through the spaces between the needles is effected by
means of cams h, one towards each end of the cam shaft, each of which
cams h, being borne upon its two opposite edges by trucks, carried
by the forked end of the lever ho, which turns upon a pin h', projecting
from a bearing carried by the framing, as shown, whilst the upper end
of the lever he, is by means of the link h³, connected to an arm pro-
jecting downwards from the spindle bar h³; i, i, are the needles carried
by the needle bars i, i, and j,j, are stationary bars or plates extending
from end to end of the machine, and serving as knocking over bars,
the work as it is produced passing down between these two bars or
plates jj, to the work roller, as shown. The needle bars i, i, are
cach supported by means of connecting pieces 3,, from the spindle bars
23, which extend lengthwise of the machine, and are of considerable
service in giving stiffness to the needle bars, and thereby ensuring pre-

page_text: cision in the action of the needles. The spindle bars, ³, are each
supported in bearings formed in the ends of arms , projecting from
the spindle bars ", which are capable of turning in bearings carried by
the framing of the machine, in order to the needle bars freely rising and
falling to receive the lappings of the threads for fresh loops, and then
to effect the knocking over of the loops last formed. The rising and
falling of the bars i', are effected by means of cams, one at each end
of the frame, each acting in like manner and at the same time upon
trucks or rollers, carried by rocking levers, which are connected by
links, to pins, projecting from end connecting pieces 2, . The
trucks or rollers 2, are kept to their cams by links 20, which connect
the pins of the trucks 20, with the pins of trucks ", which bear one
upon the upper surface of each cam *. The pins of the trucks or
rollers, are each affixed in the end of a lever 12, whose other end
on a pin 3, by which the trucks will at all times be kept in
position. The bars i', are guided in their rising and falling motions by
resting at their ends (where rollers i", are provided as much as possible
to prevent friction) against the standards j,j, carried by the end
framings, and which standards also support the knocking over bars or
plates j, j.
turns
Fabric having, as already stated, been heretofore made with "ribs"
on both sides or surfaces thereof in warp machinery, arranged for the
most part similar to that herein shewn and described, though such fabric
was not adapted to the manufacture of braces, it will only be necessary
for me to point out more particularly those modifications by which I am
enabled to keep the threads in working more uniformly tight until the
loops are formed, and thereby to produce a closer and stiffer fabric
adapted to be used for braces. k, k, are light bars or rods with arms k¹,
which turn loosely on pins k², carried by the bearings k³, supported by
the frame, as shown, in such manner that these bars or rods are always
bearing against the threads in their passage to the guides, and exert an
elastic tension thereon, which is especially adapted for when cotton or
silk is being used. But this elastic tension upon the threads when
bobbins are used may be obtained by friction on the bobbins, or on the
surface of the thread on the bobbins.

page_text: In combination with this elastic tension upon the threads the courses
on the cams for actuating the backward and forward motion of the
guides for the lappings, and also of the cams for actuating the needle
bars in their movements to receive the lappings, and effect the knocking
over of the last loops, are considerably modified, as will be seen by
reference to the enlarged Figures of the Drawings, where at Figure 5,
A shows the cam ordinarily employed for the lapping motion of the
guides in such machinery, and B shows the cam ordinarily employed
to effect the varying position of the needle bars to receive the lappings
and to effect the knocking over, whilst at Figure 6, I have shewn
corresponding cams suitable to be used when making double ribbed
fabric of a character adapted to the manufacture of braces according to
my Invention.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, I would have
it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein
shown and described, as variations may be made therein. But what I
claim is, the so arranging and adapting parts of warp machinery that
fabric may be produced therein with "ribs" on both sides or surfaces
thereof suitable to be employed in the manufacture of braces.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Mee, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
JOHN FRANCIS GARDINER.
WILLIAM MEE. (L.S.)