Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture or Treatment of Textile or similar Fabrics, usually known as Needle Loom Fabrics.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 19th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 21st May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture or Treatment of
Textile or similar Fabrics, usually known as Needle Loom
Fabrics.
1, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
This invention relates to that class of fabrics which are generally made of a
foundation and a covering or facing of some other and usually more expensive or
ornamental material the two being united together by means of barbed needles
passed backwards and forwards through the materials. Hitherto it has only been
customary to make these materials with a "face on one side and the fibres have
been interlaced in one direction only; now, by the present invention I am enabled
to interlace the fibres in more than one direction and also to produce these fabrics
with a "face" on both sides.
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In carrying out this invention I prefer to employ a needle barbed in both
directions; that is to say that while some of the barbs face towards the point of
the needle others face towards the shank of the needle. These barbs may be
arranged in any convenient manner but generally I prefer to place all those barbs
facing in one direction upon one axial line and those facing in the opposite direction
upon another axial line so that they may not interfere the one with the work of the
other. These lines of barbs may be arranged alternately or in series all around the
needle or the needle may be recessed between each line or row of barbs.
It will
be seen that by employing needles constructed in this manner the fibres are inter-
laced, some in one direction during the inward travel of the needle and others in
the opposite direction during the withdrawal of the needle.
Where two faces were to be provided the "foundation" would be placed between
two "laps," the needles would pass through all three thicknesses, and while the
barbs facing towards the point would chiefly interlace with the foundation the
fibres of the first lap, the barbs facing in the opposite direction would interlace
with the foundation the fibres of the second lap, thereby strengthening the finished
material. The fibres of the one lap would also be carried through the foundation
into the other lap thereby further strengthening the material, while the fibres of
the foundation would in both directions be carried into the laps.
Another way of forming a material with two faces would be by providing two
sets of needles entering the fabric from opposite sides; in this case the same object
could be attained with the needles barbed in one direction only, but I prefer to
use the double barbed needles above described.
It will be understood that although I have specially mentioned the placing of
the barbs in rows I do not bind myself to that arrangement and if desired even
when they are placed in rows these rows may be arranged spirally or zig-zag upon
the needle so that as the needle passes through the fabric every part may be
covered.
Instead of making the barbs face in both directions as above described the
same result may to a certain extent be obtained by making the barb project from
the body of the needle without any special inclination in either direction in which
case the end may be turned over something like a fish hook in one
directions.
or both
Instead of making the barbs project the effect may be obtained by removing a
portion of the body of the needle in advance of the barb thus forming a notch
which would catch the fibres.
It may here be explained that hitherto the only means of producing a double-

page_text: faced fabric of this class has been to run it through the machine as a single-faced
fabric, then reverse it and run it through the machine again to produce the second
face, this of course resulting in the production of only about half the out-put of
fabric that the machine would be capable of producing as a single fabric, or with
the application of this present invention as a double fabric.
Dated this 21st day of February 1890.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture or Treatment of
Textile or similar Fabrios, usually known as Needle Loom
Fabrics.
I, Alfred JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, 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:-
This invention relates to that class of fabrics which are generally made of a
foundation and a covering or facing of some other and usually more expensive or
ornamental material the two being united together by means of barbed needles
passed backwards and forwards through the materials. Hitherto it has only been
customary to make these materials with a "face" on one side and the fibres have
been interlaced in one direction only; the only means of producing a double-faced
fabric of this class having been to run it through the machine as a single-faced
fabric, then reverse it and run it through the machine again to produce the second
face, this of course resulting in the production of only about half the out-put of
fabric that the machine would be capable of producing as a single-fabric, or,
the application of my present invention, as a double fabric. By the present
invention I am enabled to interlace the fibres in more than one direction and also
to produce these fabrics with a "face on both sides at one operation or passage
through the machine.
with
In carrying out this invention I prefer to employ a needle barbed in both
directions that is to say that while some of the barbs face towards the point of
the needle others face towards the shank of the needle. By the term "barb" I
mean the operative face or portion of the needle which acts upon the fibres of the
material whether these faces project beyond the surface of the needle or not.
These barbs may be arranged in any convenient manner but generally I prefer to
place all those barbs facing in one direction upon one axial line and those facing in
the opposite direction upon another axial line so that they may not interfere the
one with the work of the other. These lines of barbs may be arranged alternately
facing in reverse or different directions or in series all around the needle or the
needle may be recessed between each line or row of barbs.
It will be seen that
by employing needles constructed in this manner the fibres are interlaced, some in
one direction during the inward travel of the needle and others in the opposite
direction during the withdrawal of the needle. Usually the barbs would face in
opposite directions but the precise direction is immaterial so long as the action
upon the fibres is obtained at each in or out traverse of the needle.
Where two faces are to be provided with the "foundation" would be placed
between two laps, the needles would pass through all three thicknesses, and while
the barbs facing towards the point would chiefly interlace with the foundation the
fibres of the first lap, the barbs facing in the opposite direction would interlace
with the foundation the fibres of the second lap.
Another way of forming a material with two faces would be by providing two
sets of needles entering the fabric from opposite sides; in this case the same

page_text: object could be attained with the needles barbed in one direction only, or some of
the needles upon the same plate may be barbed in one direction and some in the
other, but I prefer to use the double barbed needles above described.
It will be understood that although I have specially mentioned the placing of
the barbs in rows I do not bind myself to that arrangement and if desired
even when they are placed in rows these rows may be arranged spirally or
zig-zag upon the needle so that as the needle passes through the fabric every part
may be covered.
Instead of making the barbs face in both directions as above described the same
result may to a certain extent be obtained by making the barb project from the
body of the needle without any special inclination in, either direction in which
case the end may if desired be turned over something like a fish-hook in one or
both directions.
Instead of making the barbs project the effect may be obtained by removing
a portion of the body of the needle in advance of the barb thus forming a notch
which would catch the fibres.
The accompanying drawings will serve to illustrate the general construction of
this needle.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the lower portion of such a needle.
Fig. 2 is a section upon line a-b of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 a section upon line c-d
of Fig. 1.
A represents the body of the needle and B the ridges in or upon which the
barbs C may be formed as already explained. E are the furrows between the
ridges B. It will be noticed that while the barb C on the right hand edge of
the needle in Fig. 1 faces towards its point the two barbs C on the left hand of the
needle face toward the shank, the other barbs being variously directed as required.
In this drawing I have shewn a needle with six edges in order the more clearly
to illustrate the opposite arrangement of the barbs but the working needle may
be made as a simple triangle with three plain flats and three ridges or angles or
with only two flats and two ridges or angles in or upon which the barbs would be
formed. With so many as six angles it would be preferable to hollow the flats as
shown, at E.
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. A needle having the barbs or operative portions oppositely directed sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.
2. The method of producing double-faced fabrics in needle looms by means of
needles having the barbs so arranged as to operate both when entering the fabric
and when withdrawing from it substantially as described.
3. The method of producing double-faced fabrics in needle looms by passing
barbed needles through it from both sides during a single passage of the fabric
through the machine the barbs of one set of needles facing in one direction and
those of the other set of needles facing in the opposite direction substantially as
described.
4. The method of producing double faced fabrics in needle looms by means of
needles some of which have the barbs facing in one direction and some in the
other all the needles being carried in or upon the same needle plate substantially
as described.
Dated this 18th day of November 1890.
ALFRED J. BOULT.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.