An Improved Needle Applicable to Circular and Straight Knitting Machines.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1886.
Complete Left, 14th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 19th Aug., 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Needle Applicable to Circular and Straight Knitting
Machines.
GEORGE FREDERICK STURGESS, of 13 Free Lane Leicester in the County of Leicester
Hosiery Machinist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
An improved needle applicable to Circular & straight Knitting Machines such as
the Griswold universal Rothwells & similar machines Instead of having the foot
formed out of the rigid stem of the needle has knitting machine needles are now made
I cramp the foot of my needle up from the bottom and in front of the needle stem
so that the foot has a spring action to & from the needle stem which tensions the up
& down movement of the needle when at work in the cylinder slots by the foot
pressing against the cam box, so that the needle will remain in any position in the
cylinder slots without falling down so that the needle will pass from one came to
another without falling between them So that I shall be able to work without any
movable cams which all other knitting machines have.
By this needle holding itself up I ovbiate the risk of the foot jagging against the
cams has the needles now in use do which results in breaking the cylinder slots &
otherwise damaging the machine.
When raised out of action my needle will hold its self out of action by the foot
springing out above the top of the cam box or by the foot springing into a recess cut
out all round on the inside of the cam box.
In this kind of needle I am able to have the foot more in the centre of the needle
without the yarn loops catching against the needle foot when when passing down the
stem of the needle.
I shall not require a clasp ring or any other ring round the cylinder to hold the
needles in a upright position in the cylinder slots has the spring action will answer that
purpose so that I shall be able to work with a smaller needle in the cylinder than
usual because their will be no clasp ring for the tumbler or latch of the needle to come
in contract with & I shall be able to work with the same needle in the dial or rib
machine without having a short needle for the dial & a long needle for the cylinder
has in the Griswold & similar knitting machines.
Dated this 1st day of December 1886.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Needle Applicable to Circular and Straight Knitting
Machines.
1, GEORGE FREDERICK STURGESS of No. 13 Free Lane Leicester in the county of
Leicester Hosiery Machinist, 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 and illustrated by the drawings accompanying this
Specification
Figure 1 is a representation of an ordinary latch needle A. having a foot B. and
Tail C. Figure 2. shews the stem of the needle A having the foot B turned round in
the one piece, the spring action C. can be obtained to a greater advantage by reducing
the base D. the modifications in the said springs and feet are shown in the following
figures in the drawings. Figures 3 and 4, shew the stem of the needle A. soldered
to a jack C, at the point (% were the spring action is obtained its movement is
indicated by the dotted lines. Figure 5 is formed out of one piece of metal cramped
at the base, and turned that it has a secondary foot B. deriving the spring action at
the point C. Figure 6. is another view of the stem of a needle A. soldered to the
jack Chaving the foot B. and a spring inserted in the recess in the back c. Figure 7.
is a representation of a needle stem A. with the foot B. and the spring C. inserted
into the foot. Figure 8. represents the stem A. with the foot B. so shaped that the
Tail will move into it, to form the spring C. Figure 9. It will be observed that in
this modification the stem A is carried round, with the foot B at the bottom and the
Tail bent upwards, C. to give the spring action, it will be well understood that the
foot, or projection B. may be formed out of the stem A. of the needle, or cramped
up from the base, in front of the needle stem, in all cases, having the spring action
to give the Tension to the up or down movement of the needle, the spring pressing
towards the needle stem when employed in the slots of the needle cylinder. To
facilitate the working of my improved needle in cylindrical, or circular machines the
cam box is so arranged that it comes level or thereabouts, with the Top of the needle
cylinder, when the needle is drawn up out of the way of the cams, the foot of the
needle comes within a short distance of the Top of the needle cylinder, and it is
imperative that the cam box is constructed, so that the foot, or projecting part of the
needle is supported when in position, it is necessary also that more room is provided
between the cam box and the inner end of the grooves in the needle cylinder, than
in ordinary machines that there is sufficient room for the latch or tumbler to open
and shut, when drawing its loop which by this Invention, is done below the upper
edge of the cam box, this is obtained by the grooves or slots in the needle cylinder
being made deeper, and the needles being made broader, in a dial rib machine by
using my small needle I am enabled to employ the same needle in the dial, as in the
cylinder, obviating the use of a short needle for the dial, and a long needle in the
cylinder. By the employment of a needle constructed in accordance with this inven

page_text: tion having a spring action, that springs the needle when in its position to tension
its movement up or down in the needle cylinder, and not fitting loose in the slots,
1 do away with the danger of the needle jumping up, or falling down, or getting out
of the limit of the cam actions. The spring action supporting the needle in its proper
working position without the aid of a clasp ring now used, or any other rings, or
section of rings employed to guard the needle feet from rubbing on the inner surface
of the cam box. I do not confine myself only to the manner of forming the needles
as shewn in the drawings, but I may form the spring to fit in the grooves, or bed,
and the cam box from the stem of the needle in any suitable manner for the purpose
herein referred to. It is well known that by needles working loose in their slots in
the needle cylinder are apt to jump up at the least jerk in the movement of the
machine and strike against the points of the knitting cams, which causes damage to
the machine, or when lifted up out of action, for making heels or Gussets they are
liable to fall and strike the knitting cam, or when brought into action they all down
in advance of the action of the cams, and miss the yarn thread, and so trows the
stitch off, or, when rising on the clearing cams the loose needles are jerk d up too-
high allowing the Tumbler to get above the thread, this also throws the stitch off,
and causes damage. In machines were switch or other moveable cams ar employed
to keep, or try and prevent the needles that are put loose in their slots, from falling
down between the spaces when passing from one cam to the other, the said cams
in the cam box have to depend upon the foot of the needle for their action, causes
the machine to jag and the feet are apt to catch in the pivoted parts of the cams.
this my Invention I overcome these difficulties by my needle tensioning its own
action, or movement up or down, in the needle cylinder, and that there is no risk of
the feet striking against the cams when in or out of action by jumping up, or falling
down, the needles being stationery except when actuated by the cams, even then they
check themselves from going beyond the limits of the cam actions, the needles
supporting themselves while passing from cam to cam, so that I am enabled to use
cams that are stationery, fixed to the inner face of the cam box, and are more simple
and effective than those now in use, also by the use of needles having the spring
action, I am enabled to make gussets, heels, and Toes, automatically by using an
oscilliating cam, in the throat of the knitting cam actuated from ratchet rings on
the base of the machine. This Invention can be applied to bearded as well as Latci,
needles.
By
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this Invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
An improved needle, constructed that a spring action is formed from the stem, or
arranged by the addition of a spring, to tension its own action, or movement up or
down while in the grooves or slots in a needle cylinder, or bed.
Applicable to circular and straight knitting machines substantially in the manner
and for the purpose as hereinbefore described and set forth.
T
1011
Ր T11007
WILLIAM BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
19, Bowling Green Street, Leicester,
Agent for the Applicant.