Improvements in Segmental Cam Bars for Circular Knitting Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 9th May, 1996
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Segmental Cam Bars for Circular Knitting
Machines.
I, LOUIS NAPOLEON DEVON WILLIAMS of 2077 East Cumberland Street,
in the City of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Manufacturer of Knitting Machines, 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 certain improvements in the cam rings for knitting
machines for which I obtained Letters Patent No. 16,634 dated September 4th 1893,
the object of my present invention being to permit access to the needles without
the necessity of laterally removing the segments having the cams upon which the
bits of the needles are supported.
This object I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to
the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of part of a knitting machine cylinder,
cam ring, driving wheel and bed plate, illustrating my present invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line 2-2 Figure 1, with the
plate which surmounts the cam segments removed;
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, but illustrating part of the cam ring
removed for gaining access to the needles; and
Figure 4 is a sectional view illustrating a modification of the invention.
A represents part of the bed plate of the machine and B part of the vertical
needle cylinder secured thereto and having external grooves for the reception and
guidance of the needles as usual.
Mounted on the bed is an annular bevel wheel D to which are secured the
segments carrying the cams whereby the needles of the cylinder B are actuated,
these segments being backed by removable filling blocks a and both segments and
filling blocks being secured to the bevel wheel D by means of screws b. In the
machine described in the Specification of the Letters Patent No. 16634/93 each of
the cam carrying segments was in one piece, and when it was desired to gain access
to the needles the bolt securing the segment was withdrawn, the filling piece corre-
sponding to said segment removed and the segment withdrawn laterally until its
cams were free from the bits of the needles, the segment being then removed
vertically in order that free access to the needles might be permitted.
In re-applying the cam-carrying segment, difficulty was frequently experienced
in adjusting the needles so as to cause them to again properly enter the cam
grooves, hence in the present construction I make each cam carrying segment in
two parts, namely, the upper part d' and the lower part d, the latter being secured
to the bevel wheel D by the screw b, and the upper part d' of the segment being
secured to the lower part d by a vertical screw 6. In case it is desired to inspect
the needles the upper part d' of any segment can be readily withdrawn without
disturbing the lower part, and without disarranging the needles or disengaging
their bits from the cams of said lower part of the segment, the latter being capable
of being withdrawn radially in the same manner as the segment of the patented
machine, if such withdrawal be necessary.
By this means, proper inspection and repairs can in almost all cases, be effected
in a very short time, as there is nothing to prevent the ready removal or the equally
ready replacement of the upper part d¹ of the cam segment.

page_text: Further than this, the removal and replacing of the upper part of the cam
segment can be effected with slight vertical movement of the same, hence there
need be but little space between the needle confining ring f and the shouldered
portion at the top of the needle cylinder.
In the modified construction shown in Figure 4 the upper section d² of the cam
segment is made in one piece with the filling block a', and the vertical screw 6' is
dispensed with, both the upper section of the cam segment and the filling block
being released on the removal of the screw b. When they are withdrawn the
lower section-d-of the cam-segment-is-not-radially confined, but there is very little
chance of its being accidentally displaced, and even if it is, it cau be readily
readjusted after first lifting the needles, so that its cams can pass beneath the bits
of the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The combination of the needle cylinder and its needles, with the surrounding
cam structure consisting of cam-carrying segments each composed of upper and
lower parts detachably secured together, whereby the upper part can be removed
in order to permit inspection of the needles, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2nd. The combination of the needle cylinder and its needles, a surrounding cam
structure composed of cam-carrying segments each comprising upper and lower
parts secured together, an annular driving wheel, filling blocks or segments inter-
posed between the said driving wheel and the lower parts of the cam segments, and
means for securing the said segments to the said driving wheel, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
3rd. The combination of the needle cylinder and its needles, a surrounding cam
structure composed of cam-carrying segments, each composed of upper and lower
parts, an outer driving wheel, vertical screws securing the said upper and lower
parts of the cam segment together, and other screws securing the lower part of
each segment to the driving wheel, substantially as herein before described.
4th. The combination of the needle cylinder and its needles, a surrounding cam-
structure composed of cam-carrying segments, each composed of upper and lower
parts, an outer driving wheel, vertical screws securing the said upper and lower
parts of the cam segments together, other screws securing the lower part of each
segment to the driving wheel, and filling blocks interposed between the said driving
wheel and the cam segments, substantially as herein before described.
5th. The combination of the needle cylinder and its needles, a surrounding cam-
structure composed of cam-carrying segments, each composed of upper and lower
parts, an outer driving wheel, vertical screws securing the said parts of the cam
segments together, other screws securing the lower part of each segment to the driving
wheel, filling blocks interposed between the said driving wheel and cam segments
and having a bearing against the outer face of both the upper and lower parts of
each cam segment, substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 9th day of April 1896.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.