IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1862

page_text: 'LETTERS PATENT to William Henson, of the Town and County of the
Town of Nottingham, Engineer, and William Williams Clay, of Sneinton,
in the County of Nottingham, Mechanist, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henson and
William Williams Clay, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 16th July 1862.
We, WILLIAM HENSON, of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham,
Engineer, and WILLIAM WILLIAMS CLAY, of Sneinton, in the County of
Nottingham, Mechanist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention.
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH," to be as follows:→
Our improvements, have for object the manufacture of looped or knitted
fabrics from circular and from straight frames by means of which we can
produce a superior article with increase in the quantity to that heretofore
produced in the same time.
Our improvements relating to the machinery known as the circular frame
may be stated thus:-Each head consists of an inner head, preferably of cast iron,

page_text: :
provided with a pipe at the lower end which revolves in a box or boss cast on
the frame of the machine, and bored truly out for the reception of the pipe of
the inner head; the lower end of the pipe projects through the boss and is
provided with a spur or bevil wheel on a shaft moved by hand or power, the
upper end of the inner head is turned down and fitted with a ring, perferably
of wrought iron, projecting somewhat beyond the head at the outside, which is
provided with the number of saw gates required; in each saw gate the upper
end of a needle is free to slide up and down, the lower ends or stems of the
needles are secured in needle bits sliding in saw gates in a ring on the outside
of the inner head, the ring lying below the aforesaid wrought-iron ring secured
to the inner head. The needle bits have a projection on the lower end on the
outside thereof, which take into a groove cut on the inner side of a ring
preferably of brass, or a groove may be formed by two rings secured to another
ring lying outside them so that by the revolving of the inner head, the needle
bits and needles will be alternately raised and depressed in the well known
'way.
Instead of employing loop wheels to gain the loop and a presser wheel to
press the beards of the needles we use the following apparatus:-Outside the
ring in which the needle bits slide are a series of projections in advance of the
needle bits, the ring has as many saw gates in it as there are needles in the
head, and in each saw gate is a lever somewhat bent at the upper end, the
lower end being hinged to or otherwise attached to the ring; or the levers may
be soldered in the saw gates of the ring and act as springs, the upper bent ends
in either case being exactly opposite the beards of the needle so that as they
rise up above the springs or levers, they are fed with a silk, cotton, or other
thread, and as they descend the bent ends of the springs or levers are pressed
upon the beards and hold them down close to the stems to allow the previously
formed. loops to pass over the beards; the pressure on the springs or levers is
obtained by the revolution of wheels or discs of metal supported by brackets
on the outside of the frame. The wheels or discs may be plain on their
circumference, or they may be cut on the edge or at a part or parts of the
edge, so that only every other needle may be pressed, or one needle in every
three, or otherwise as required. Where the wheel is plain the whole of the
needles will be pressed, thus by arranging the cuts in the wheels suitably we
can make various patterns by "tuck stitches." Outside the wheels or discs
is a double-rimmed ring through which the thread carriers are passed, they
are held in the required positions by set screws in the rims. The thread guides
differ from those heretofore used in having their inner ends somewhat enlarged
and lying close to the needles, a hole is drilled slanting through the enlarged

page_text: end, and terminates in a groove cut on the face of the end, besides which
there is a groove filed in the face, crossing the first-mentioned. groove, so that
as the needles descend the point of the beard will lie in the second groove, the
thread passing between the beard and the stem of the needles.
The tightness or slackness of the work is obtained as follows:--Outside tho
groove ring or rings forming the groove which moves the needle bits is a ring
of cast iron or other metal to which the groove is secured; this ring is attached
to the framing of the machine by tabs slotted so that the ring can be moved
up and down by wedge-shaped inclines, which lie on the frame of the machine
and are moved by one or more worms and wheels gearing into a similar wheel
or wheels on a short vertical or horizontal shaft moved by wheels gearing into
similar wheels on the main driving shaft, and so arranged that the inclines as
they are moved to and fro will raise the needle bit groove and cause the needles
to make a short or long loop as required; or we place the ring carrying the
grooved ring upon three or more pillars or studs and raise or depress them by
means of spur wheels thereupon gearing into the teeth of a ring moved in liko
manner as are the inclines.
- We also apply the above-described springs or levers and discs or wheels to
the straight frame for the manufacture of looped or knitted fabrics.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Henson and William Williams Clay in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 16th January 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
HENSON, of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, Engineer, and
WILLIAM WILLIAMS CLAY, of Sneinton, in the County of Nottingham,
Mechanist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the.
said William Henson and William Williams Clay IIer special licence that
wc, the said William Henson and William Williams Clay, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said William Henson
and William Williams Clay, our 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

page_text: 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING MACHINERY, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said William
Henson and William Williams Clay, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our or their hands and seals, or under the band
and seal of one of us or them, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same. was to be
performed, 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 we, the said William Henson and William
Williams Clay, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being
had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon, that is to say :-
Our improvements have for their object the manufacture of looped or.
knitted fabrics on circular and straight frames. By means of our improve-
ments we produce a superior article with an increase in quantity to what has
been heretofore produced in the same period of time.
Our improvements relating to the circular frame, and which are also
applicable to the straight frame, are as follows:- Each head consists of an
inner head, provided with a pipe at the lower end, which revolves in a box or
boss cast on the frame of the machine, and bored truly out to receive the said
pipe of the inner head; the lower end of the pipe projects through the boss,
and is provided with a spur or bevil wheel gearing into a similar wheel on a
shaft driven by hand or power; the upper end of the inner head is turned
down and fitted with a ring, which projects somewhat beyond the head at the
outside thereof, this ring is provided with the number of saw gates required;
in each saw gate the upper end of a needle is free to slide up and down, the
lower ends or stems of the needles are secured in the needle bits, which slide
in saw gates in another ring on the outside of the inner head, this ring lying
below the ring first above mentioned; the ring first mentioned is secured to the
inner head. The needle bits have a projection on the lower end on the outside
thereof; these projections take into a groove cut on the inner side of a ring,
or a groove may be formed by (that is between) two rings secured to another
ring lying outside them, so that by the revolution of the inner head the needle
bits and needles will be alternately raised and depressed, the needles thus

page_text: performing the well known action though actuated by the novel arrangement
described.
Instead of employing looped wheels to gain the loop, and a presser wheel to
press the beards of the needles, we use the following apparatus:-Outside the
ring in which the needle bits slide are a series of projections in advance of the
needle bits. This ring has as many saw gates in it as there are needles in
the head, and in each saw gate is a lever which is somewhat bent at the upper
end, the lower end is hinged or otherwise attached to the ring; or the levers,
may be soldered in the saw gates of the ring and act as springs, the upper
bent ends in either case being exactly opposite the beards of the needles, so
that as they rise up above the springs or levers they are fed with a thread of
silk, cotton, or other material; and as they descend the bent ends of the
springs or levers are pressed upon the beards, and hold them down close to the
stems, to allow the previously formed loops to pass over the beards; the
pressure on the springs or levers is obtained by the revolution of wheels or
discs of metal supported by brackets on the outside of the frame. The wheels
or discs may be plain on their circumference, in which case all the needles will
be pressed, or the wheels or discs may be cut on the edge or on a part or parts
thereof, in which case, according as they are cut, every other needlo may bo
pressed, or one needle in every three needles, or otherwise, as may be desired.
Thus by arranging the cuts in the wheels accordingly, we can make various
patterns by what are called "tuck stitches." Outside the wheels or discs is
a double-rimmed ring through which are passed the thread carriers, which
are held in the required position by means of set screws placed in the rims.
The thread guides differ from those heretofore used in baving their inner ends
somewhat enlarged and lying close to the needles, and a hole is drilled slanting
through the enlarged end, and terminates in a groove cut on the face of the
end, besides which there is a groove filed in the face crossing the first-mentioned
groove, so that as the needles descend, the point of the beard will lie in the
second groove, the thread passing between the beard and the stem of the
needles.
The tightness or slackness of the work is obtained in the following
manner: Outside the grooved ring, or the rings forming the groove whereby
the needle bits are moved, is a metal ring, to which the grooved ring or rings
forming the groove are secured, and this outside ring is attached to the framing
of the machine by tabs; these tabs are slotted in order that the ring may be
inoved up and down by means of wedge-shaped inclines which lie on the frame
of the machine; these inclines are moved by one or more worms and wheels
gearing into a wheel or wheels on a short vertical or horizontal shaft, driven.

page_text: by wheels gearing into similar wheels on the main driving shaft, and so
arranged that the inclines, as they are moved to and fro, will raise the needle
bit groove, and thus cause the needles to make either a short or long loop,
as may be required. Or we place the ring carrying the grooved ring or the
rings forming the groove upon three or more pillars or studs, and we raise
and depress the ring or rings attached to the slides by means of spur wheels
upon them gearing into the teeth of a ring moved in like manner to the
inclines.
Having thus set forth the nature of our said Invention, we now proceed
more particularly to describe the manner of performing the same.
'
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS OF THE CIRCULAR FRAME, SHEWN ON
SHEETS 1, 2, AND 3.
Sheet 1 represents a section of a circular frame shewing the needles in
position, and also tho general working parts of the machine; Sheet 2 is a
partial view of the same frame, and affords another view of the apparatus for
slackening or tightening the loops; Sheet 3, which represents the ground plan
of the same machine, explains more clearly the action of the slackening and
tightening apparatus.
Each head consists of an inner head, made preferably of cast iron, and is
provided with a pipe at the lower end thereof, as shewn at A', Sheet 1; this
pipe A revolves in a box or boss A³, Sheet 1, cast on the frame of the
machine. The box or boss is bored truly out for the reception of the said
pipe, the lower end of the pipe projects through the boss, and is provided with
a spur or bevil wheel on a shaft gearing into small wheels fixed on a shaft
driven by hand or power; upon the upper end of the inner head, which is
turned down is fixed a ring As, Sheets 1 and 2, (made preferably of wrought-
iron,) which projects somewhat beyond the head at the outside thereof, and is
provided with as many saw gates as there are needles in each saw gate; the
upper end of a needle rounded on the underneath side is free to slide up and
down; the lower ends or stems of the needles are secured in needle bits A',
Shect i, which slide in two saw gates of the ring B', Sheet 1; this ring,
which is mado preferably of brass, and lies below the ring A3, is secured to the
outside of the inner head. The needle bits have a projection on the lower
end on the outside thereof, which projections fit in a grooved cam 1,
Sheets 1 and 2; (the exact form of which is shewn at K, Sheet 4,) so that
as the inner head revolves the needle bits and needles will be alternately
raised and depressed, the needles thus performing the well known action,
though actuated by the novel arrangement described.

page_text: Instead of employing looped wheels to gain the loop, and a presser wheel
to press the beards of the needles we use the following apparatus:-Outside
the ring in which the needle bits slide are a series of projections in advance
of the needle bits; this ring, shewn at B³, Sheet 1, is provided with as many
saw gates as there are needles in the head, and in each saw gate is a lever B',.
Sheet 1, which is somewhat bent at the upper end, and is grooved on the.
outside to fit on the beards of the needles, thereby preventing them from
mis-pressing; the lower end is hinged or otherwise attached to the ring; or.
the levers may be soldered in the saw gates in the bottom part of the ring B³,
Sheet 1, and act as springs; the upper bent ends are in either case exactly
opposite the needles, so that as they rise up above the springs or levers:
they are fed with a thread of silk, cotton, or other material, and as they.
descend the bent ends of the springs or levers are pressed upon the beards of
the needles C, Sheet 1, forcing them into a recess in their stems to.
allow the previously formed loops to pass over them.
The pressure on the springs or levers is obtained by the revolution of:
metal wheels or discs C³, Sheet 1, supported by brackets on the outside of the
frame, which are secured to the ring C³, Sheets 1 and 2. The wheels or discs.
may be plain on their outer edge or circumferences, in which case the whole of
the needles will be pressed and plain work or circular striped work will be pro-.
duced, or they may be cut on their edge or circumference, so that every other
needle may be pressed, or one needle in every three needles, or otherwise, as
may be desired; thus, by merely arranging or varying the cuts in the wheels:
or discs accordingly, longitudinal stripes, diamonds, spots, or sprigs may be
produced; in fact an almost endless variety of patterns may thus be made by
what is known in the trade as "tuck stitches" or "tuck work." Plated work
may also be made from this machine. The ring C³, Sheet 1, has two rims on
the upper surface thereof through which the thread carriers are passed, scen.
at C', Sheet 1. These carriers are held in their required position by set
screws placed in the rims, to the under side of which the wheels or discs are.
secured. The thread guides or carriers differ from those heretofore used in.
these respects, namely, that they have their inner ends somewhat enlarged
and lie close to the stem of the needles, and a hole is drilled obliquely through
the enlarged end and terminates in a groove cut on the face of the end, besides
which there is also a groove cut on the upper side of the end and running.
nearly parallel with the first-named groove, so that as the needles descend
their beards will lie in the second groove, the threads passing between the
beards and the stems of the needles. The needles also differ from 'needles
heretofore in uso in respect of being made round on the under side of the

page_text: bends and the bend being wider than in ordinary needles. The tightness or
slackness of the work is obtained in the following manner:-Outside tho
grooved ring or rings forming the groove which move the needle bits is a ring,
of cast iron or. other metal, seen at D', Sheets 2 and 3, to which they are
secured. This ring is attached to the framing of the machine by v or wedge-
shaped slides at each side thereof, and is moved up or down simultaneously
with the work being made by, the wheels D2, D3, D, Sheet 3, which are set.
in motion by another wheel affixed to the axle of the ratchet wheel E', Sheets
1 and 3; the levers E and E³, on Sheet 3, connected to the rod E by the
lever F, Sheets 2 and 3, worked from the cam F, Sheet 2; motion. is given by
a lever to the levers E and E³, which work the ratchet wheel, which said
ratchet wheel raises or depresses the slides, as the case may be, thereby raising
or depressing the grooved cams which govern the needles and determino tho
length of loop which may be required. The lever F, Sheet 2, is always in
motion, but is so arranged that it moves the ratchet wheel E¹ only when
required. The lever E* governs the levers E and Es, and brings them into
motion as required. The above apparatus is set in motion by the worm and,
wheel, as seen in F4 and G' on Sheets 2 and 3.
Wo now proceed to describe the application of our Invention to the straight
frame, or what is commonly. known as the rotary frame. The same principle,
in fact, as that before described for the circular frame is applied to the
straight or rotary frame used in a horizontal position instead of a circular
position. The Figures on Sheet 4 exemplify this portion of our Invention.
DESCRIPTION OF SHEET 4.
Figure 1, Sheet 4, is an end view of a straight frame, commonly called a
rotary frame, shewing our improvements thereon; Figure 2, Sheet 4, is a
front view of the same machine.
A¹, Figure 1, is a slide box, to which the feeder is attached; this slide box
is moved backwards and forwards in the usual way. The feeder A, Figure 1,
is precisely the same in principle as the one applied to the circular frame;
A is the bar upon which the box A¹ slides; the slide B' has upon it two
levers, each lever is indicated by B', and a catch is formed upon each of them..
Upon the slide A' are two drivers A³, A³. The levers B' and B' are alter-
nately raised at each end by their bent ends coming in contact with a round
pin attached to the bolt o, which allows the slide B to travel the required.
distance, leaving the thread carriers and box behind. B is a sliding bar
attached to Bs and carrying the presser wheels or discs B.
travels across the levers or springs C which press upon
This bar slides or
the bearls of the

page_text: needles C, in the same manner as in the circular frame before described. C³is
the cam which moves backwards and forwards and gives motion to the needles,
moving them backwards and forwards alternately. The form of cam-used is
shewn at K', and differs from any cam previously employed; its peculiar form
affords time for pressing the beards of the needles in their grooves so as to
allow the previously formed loops to pass over them. The cam K' is used in
the straight or rotary frame only. The cam K², having one side only irre-
gularly formed, is used for the circular frames. F is the end of the needle
bar, the top side of which is provided with as many saw gates as there are
needles. The needles C³ slide in the bottom of each saw gate, their ends
being fixed to needle bits D', which slide in the bar G*; made preferably of
brass, and having as many saw gates cut in it as there are needles; this bar
rests upon and is carried by the bar F. The bars D³, D³, are moved by the
projection E' acting upon the lever D³ longitudinally, to lengthen or shorten
the said bars, as may be required; such bars acting on the needlo bits. D' will
push forward those needles that are required for the running on of any new
fabric. The levers E³, E³, attached to the bars E and E' fixed upon the
lever F¹ are moved backwards and forwards by cams and lovers, or their
equivalents, and act upon the needle bits D', pushing them backwards and
forwards, as may be required, at the time the narrowing or widening of tho
work is being made. The bars E and E are caused to slide backwards and
forwards longitudinally, as may be required, by means of racking apparatus,
and the sliding bars E' and ' slide in the angle bar G. The point carriers,
with their bars H, H³, are brought forward by the lever H*; the ends of the
points are tipped into grooves on the stems of the needles by the levers G³
and G³, at which time the lever F3 will push the loops on to the points H³, H³;
the levers G³ and G³ then raise the points out of the eyes of the needles, and
the levers E and E³ draw back the needles, leaving the loops upon the points
H', H, when, by means of the bars H¹ and H2 being slidden in opposite
directions by racking apparatus, the points will be placed opposite the adjoining
needles, and the levers E and Es bring the needles forward and push them
through the loops lying on the points then opposite to them; the lever H
then draws back the points with their bars, leaving the loops on the needles,
and the motions proceed as before. Upon the lever F is fastened the facing
bar F, which serves to keep the work in its proper position; the spring G¹
will act upon the end of the lever F and will allow it to be brought forward
for the running on of fresh work.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same may be performed, wo declare that we claim as our improvements

page_text: in knitting machinery, and in apparatus connected therewith, the general
arrangement and combination of parts herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Henson and William Williams
Clay, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourteenth day of
January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-three
WILLIAM HENSON.
(L.8.)
WILLIAM WILLIAMS CLAY. (L.S.)
Witness,
GEO. JON. ROBINSON,
'
Patent Office,
Nottingham.