Improvements in the Construction of Weft Forks of Looms.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 27th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 4th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Weft Forks of Looms.
I, RICHARD CROASDALE of Skelton Street, Colne, in the County of Lancaster,
Spring Spindle and Weft Fork Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to make weft forks, lighter and more economical
than heretofore, and at the same time reduce friction and thus give more freedom
of action.
The improvements consist in forming the whole fork out of one piece of sheet
metal by cutting or stamping. For this purpose, I take say a blank or piece of
sheet metal of the width of the fork to be made and of about twice the length, out
of which two forks are made. Five parallel slits are cut lengthwise in the metal
blank, within say th of an inch of each end.
By again cutting up the metal sheet in the following manner, I am enabled to
make two weft forks, without wasting any of the material. The two outer and
centre strips, I cut transversely in the middle to form the prongs of the two forks,
whilst the two intervening strips are cut from the blank at one end and the other
respectively, so that the metal blank is now in two pieces, having three strips or
prongs for each piece, and one long intervening strip about twice the length of the
prongs.
.
Each end portion is turned or bent round in order to form a boss, which works
upon a stud or centre like the common weft fork. The prongs are now bent to
shape, whilst the remaining intervening long strip is turned over upon the boss to
form the shank on the opposite side to that of the prongs.
Dated this 26th day of February 1892.
THOS. RICHMOND,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Weft Forks of Looms.
I, RICHARD CROASDALE of Skelton Street, Colne, in the County of Lancaster,
Weft Fork 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 :-
The object of this invention is to make weft forks lighter and more economical
than heretofore, and at the same time reduce friction and thus give more freedom
of action.
The improvements consist in forming the whole fork out of one piece of sheet
metal by cutting or stamping.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a plan of a sheet blank of metal for the formation of my improved
weft fork.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same stamped or cut with five longitudinal strips previous
to their being formed or bent into the required fork. Of these strips, A A A are
to constitute the prongs of the fork; B is to form the catch lever of the desired
fork; the short strip may serve as a stop piece hereinafter more fully described;
whilst the blank end D is to serve as the boss of the fork.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation, wherein is fully shewn how the prepared blank is bent
into the shape of the required fork. The strips A are now shewn properly formed
[Price 8d.1

page_text: into the prongs of the fork; the blank end D is beut to form the boss, which
works upon a stud or centre like the common weft fork; the strip B is formed into
the catch lever of the fork by being bent round at E above or on the underside of
the boss, as seen in Fig. 3, into the required shape; whilst the short strip C is bent
vertically downwards, so as to form a kind of stop piece to come against the fork
holder in case the fork holder has a tendancy to be raised too high by the weft,
the piece F being the only part cut to waste (see Fig. 2). If desired, the bent
portion E may be let. or sunk into a groove or slit in the boss, so as to be on the
same level.
From the foregoing description of my invention it will be evident that my
invention is not by any means limited to one method of stamping or cutting the
sheet blank for the formation of a complete weft fork out of one piece of metal as.
for instance two forks may be cut or stamped from a double length blank. I have
simply described and illustrated the readiest way of carrying my invention into
effect.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
T
The formation of a complete weft fork or forks out of one piece of metal,
substantially as described and illustrated for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1892.
THOS. RICHMOND,
Agent.