An Improved Machine for Making Fire Hose.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for Making Fire Hose.
I, JOHANN HERMANN NITZSCHE, of 9 Heinrichstrasse, Reudnitz, Leipzig, in
the Empire of Germany, Manufacturer, 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:-
Fire hose as heretofore made of pure hemp yarn has many drawbacks resulting
from the hard and brittle nature of the hemp fibre. This kind of hose is hut
slightly flexible when it is quite wet and when it dries up it becomes brittle and
leaky. Furthermore hose made of hemp yarn with an outer and an inner covering
of rubber is also imperfect because the layers of rubber are injuriously affected
by direct contact with the liquids and the atmosphere so that the old drawbacks
reappear.
Now the present invention relates to a machine for making hose the longitudinal
or warp threads of which consist of rubber spun over with hemp yarn, whilst the
peripheral or weft threads consist of hemp yarn and are combined with the afore-
said warp threads in such a manner that the spun rubber threads are completely
enclosed by hemp threads. The practical advantage gained by this construction
of hose lies chiefly in the great flexibility of the hose, in its great durability
against breakage, as the brittle hemp yarn is never bent, and finally in the great
durability of the whole fabric, because the rubber threads which are in this case
bound in, are not directly attacked either by liquid or by the atmosphere.
According to our invention the hose is manufactured directly as such by the
machine hereinafter described and the covering of the warp threads of rubber with
the weft threads of hemp is effected by the peculiar formation of shed which is
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figures 1 to 3 are views of the shedding mechanism.
Figures 4 to 7 are detail views of the carriers (carriers and spindles) for the
warp and weft threads, and
Figures 8 to 10 are views of the lathe for beating up the weft threads against the
piece of fabric already woven, and finally,
Figures 11, 12 and 13 are general views of the machine.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The warp threads "a," are in this machine, actuated to form the sheds by means
of spindles "b" which are all arranged on an annular plate "c" and move in radial
slots "d" in the said plate. Corresponding to the diameter of the hose pipe, there
are as many such spindles as there are warp threads in the finished fabric. The
weft threads "e" execute-similarly to the several strands in braiding machines-a
continuous circular movement and are drawn off the bobbins "g" which are mounted
on the carriers "" These carriers "f" move in a circular slot in the plate "c'
and the said slot crosses the aforesaid radial guide slots. The circular motion of
the carriers "f" in view of the radial oscillation of the spindles "b," can be seen
from Figure 3, and may be explained as follows :—
22
For the purpose of this Specification it is sufficient to follow the motion of one
of the carriers B, with regard to the oscillations of the spindles which are numbered
consecutively 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. The carrier B is situated between the spindles 1 and 3
and has therefore traversed the shed that was formed between 1 and 2. The
spindle 2 remains stationary, partly because it would otherwise collide in the outward
oscillation with the carrier B, and partly because it would have to remain in its
innermost position to form the shed between 2 and 3. But the spindle 1 moves
inwards in the direction of the arrow C and closes the shed that has just been
traversed. Carrier 3 on the contrary is executing the outward oscillation and

page_text: At
opens the shed 2 and 3 entirely. The carrier B continuing its travel traverses
shed 2 and 3, whilst the spindle 4 oscillates inwardly and forms the shed 3, 4.
the same time that the carrier B moves away from the guide slot of the spindle 2 ;
the latter moves outwardly, closes the shed with 3, and forms with 1 a new
shed for the next carrier. Thus the spindles are all actuated in such a manner
that during the passage of the successive carriers through the sheds, the spindles
are situated at one time inwards, and at the next time outwards. The several
longitudinal or warp threads are thus completely enclosed by the weft threads.
"
"
All the spindles and also the carriers are arranged in an annular plate "c
fixed to the framing "" as shown by Figures 11 and 12. The spindles "b"
receive their inward and outward oscillatory motion from a crank mechanism
composed of rods "i" and cranks "j" as shown by Figures 1, 3 and 5. The
cranks "j" are keyed on the same pins as the toothed wheels " k and receive their
rotary motion from the said toothed wheels, whilst the rod "i" engages with the
pins "" situated underneath the plate "" and in this manner actuates the spindles.
The toothed wheels "k" gear with one another by means of small wheels "m" which
are of such a width that they gear with both at the same time, this method of gearing
the wheels "k" together is brought about because the exigencies of constructional
arrangement necessitate the wheels "k" being mounted alternately one above or
below the next following one.
"
The wheels "k" and "
suitable standard ""
The carriers "" as shown by Figures 4 and 7 are provided at their feet or
bases with a toothed rod or rack "o" and are actuated in such a manner that the
spur wheels "" mounted between the two annular plates "c" and "n," and actuated
by the wheels " m," gear with the racks "o" and thus operate the carriers "f.”
As the racks "o are situated close to the upper plate "c" and the small
wheels "m are situated nearer the plate "n," the small wheels "p" are mounted
on a piece of tube " "which also carries the wheel "q" with which the small
wheel" m engages.
are mounted on the plate "n" which is carried by a
as shown by Figures 11 and 12.
arm
"
"
"
s
For regulating the weft thread drawn from the carrier-bobbins "g," the upper
edge of the bobbin "g" is provided with ratchet teeth in which lies the rotary
"s." The thread drawn off from "g" passes first through two openings in
the carrier "," is then led over the arm ** "
through an eye in said arm, and
passes over a pulley weighted with a weight "t," over the guide pulley
into
the shed. During the movement of the carrier thread is drawn off, and the
weight "" is raised until it strikes against the arm "&" and lifts the latter out
of the teeth. As the thread " e is under tension, it rotates the bobbin and draws
a fresh length of thread from off it, until the weight "t" falls and thus presses
the arm "" into the teeth, whereupon the movements as above described are
repeated.
"
""
The warp threads " a are kept in tension by a similar tension device, as are the
weft threads, only this tension device is fixed not to the spindles "6" themselves,
but in the framing "h" as shown by Figure 12. The threads pass through the
delivery and through the perforated spindles to the fabric.
The weft threads passed into the shed must be beaten up against the thread
that has been previously passed. For this purpose the machine is furnished with
a ring-shaped lathe K illustrated by Figures 8 to 10, the crown or ring of which
consists of rows of prongs N, M & O arranged in a circle, the prongs passing after
the manner of knives between the warp threads " a "of the hose or tubular fabric
in order to push up the weft threads "e."
The uppermost row of prongs N beats up the weft thread "e" whilst the
following weft thread is drawn up to some extent, whereby a certain length of
the same is brought within the reach of the next row of prongs M, so that
again the thread situated below this row of prongs is drawn up, until in like
manner, the last row of prongs O brings up a certain length of thread, so that
notwithstanding the seemingly great length of the weft threads situated below,

page_text: these latter are brought up only to the extent required by the intended closeness
of texture of the fabric.
In this manner and by increasing the number of beats in proportion to the
rotation of the carriers, the weft threads are properly and securely combined and
beaten up with the warp threads, so that a peculiarly strong tubular fabric is
produced, which has a strength very much greater than that of similar fabrics
manufactured by known processes.
ઃઃ
$$
V
The movement of the crown K is effected by means of a crank mechanism
and the cranked shaft " w," which latter receives its motion directly from the main
driving pulley "al." The crown is guided in its upward and downward movement
by the hollow shaft "y" fixed in the standard "" The crown is limited in its
upward stroke by means of the abutment " z on the shaft "y."
66
"
66
The movement of the carriers and spindles and of their driving gears from the
main driving shaft "a¹," is effected by means of a small bevel wheel "c" on the
driving shaft gearing with a large bevel wheel d," with which small bevel
wheels """"""" "" "p"," and "el" carried by radially mounted
shafts """"
n" and "o"the said shafts carrying bevel
wheels "g" which gear with bevel wheels "" mounted on vertical shafts
carrying spur wheels "," gearing with the wheels "k" which actuate the spindles
by means of the aforesaid crank mechanism.
,
66
66
I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself to the precise
details of construction herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings, but that I hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations
as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein before described combination of parts constituting a new and
improved machine for making fire hose or other flexible tube.
2
a
"
2. A machine for making hose or flexible tubes in which the warp threads "
of rubber (spun over or round with hemp yarn) are moved to form sheds by means
of radially movable spindles "," and in which the weft threads "
e of hemp are
carried through the shed (which is always open) by revolving carriers "f," so that
the spun rubber threads are completely enclosed by the hempen weft threads, as
and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a machine as claimed by the preceding claim, the device for actuating the
spindles "," consisting essentially of the crank mechanism "i" "j," which acts
in such a manner on the spindles "6"-which are radially movable in the bed-
plate "c" that the warp threads drawn through the said perforated spindles "b,"
always form an open shed, as set forth.
4. In a machine of the type claimed by the second claim, the device for
actuating the carriers "f," consisting essentially of a toothed rod or rack "o"
which is mounted on the carrier "," and which engages with the small toothed
wheels "p" in succession and thus imparts a revolving motion to the carrier "f,"
as set forth.
5. In a machine of the type claimed by the second claim, the thread regulator of
the warp and weft threads drawn off the carriers and spindles, consisting essentially
of the toothed yarn hobbin "g," in the teeth of which engages an arm "5" which
is thrown out of engagement by the thread so as to allow of the winding off of a
fresh length of thread when the length of thread between the arm " 8 and the
delivery "u" is almost entirely used up, the said thread being guided by the
arm 66 8 " and drawn down by the weight "t," as set forth.
6. In a machine as claimed by the second claim, the ring-shaped lathe for
beating up the weft threads, consisting essentially of knife-like rows of prongs N, M
and O arranged in a circle, the said rows of prongs being adapted to gradually
push the weft threads "e" to one another so that a gradual uniform upward

page_text: movement or beating up of the weft threads situated between the warp threads
is ensured, as set forth."
Dated this 5th day of October 1893.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.