Improvements in Heddles for Cross Weaving Looms.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 7th May, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Heddles for Cross Weaving Looms.
I, HENRY TOPHAM, of 2615, North Sixth Street, in the City of Philadelphia,
State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Designer of Textile Fabrics,
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 relates to that class of heddles for cross weaving looms which consists
of a frame carrying upright bars somewhat similar to those of a reed, and having, in
the spaces between the bars, needles for receiving the warp threads, two of these
heddles being ordinarily used in a loom, the threads which pass through the eyes of
the needles of one heddle passing through the spaces between the bars of the other
heddle, and lateral movement being imparted to one or both of the heddles before
each shedding movement, so that the threads controlled by each needle of one heddle
will rise and fall first on one side and then on the opposite side of the corresponding
needle of the other heddle, whereby the crossing of the warp threads is effected.
The object of my invention is to so construct a heddle of this character as to
facilitate the shedding of the warp threads first on one side and then on the opposite
side of the needles, and to prevent excessive chaffing or abrading of the warp threads
due to their bearing against the heddle bars or to confinement between the bars and
needles as said threads rise and fall in the shedding operation, and this object I
attain mainly by permitting a slight lateral movement of the bars of the headle
when the threads bear sidewise upon the same, a special disposition of the needles in
respect to each other and to the bars of the heddle also aiding in the accomplish-
ment of the desired result.
In the accompanying drawing:
:-
Fig. 1, is a front view of part of a heddle for cross-weaving looms constructed
in accordance with my invention.
Fig. 2, is a sectional plan view of the same on the line 1-2, Fig. 1;
Fig. 3, is a vertical section on the line 3-4, Fig. 2;
Fig. 4, is a perspective view of one of the bars of the heddle; and
Fig. 5, is a perspective view of one of the needles of the same.
A, A, represent the top and bottom bars, and A' one of the end bars of the
wooden frame of the heddle, B, B, are the bars of the heddle and D, the needles
interposed between said metal bars. Said needles D, have their butts driven into
the lower bar A, of the heddle frame so that the needles will project above said bar
to the desired extent, and the eyes of all of the needles will be in line horizontally.
The eyes of the needles are pierced from front to back so that the warp threads
will pass straight through the same, and so that the warp ends can be easily
drawn in.
The bars B, are let into transverse grooves or slots a, in the lower bar of heddle
and are confined vertically to said bar by means of a strip b, secured to the bar and
engaging with notches d, formed in the front edges of the bars B, as shown in
Fig. 4.
The upper ends of the bars B, however, are not rigidly confined laterally, but
have vertical grooves f, for the reception of a rod g, which extends across the
heddle frame beneath the upper bar A, of the same, so that each bar B, is free to
yield laterally at its upper end whenever a warp thread bears upon the bar sidewise
with sufficient force to cause such yielding movement, hence the threads are not
likely to catch upon the points of the needles, or to pass on the wrong side of the
same in shedding, and there is much less abrasion of the threads due to their contact
with the bars or to their movement between the bars and needles than if said bars

page_text: were rigidly confined as regards lateral movement at both top and bottom as
usual.
To further aid in the attainment of this object, the needles D, are staggered
instead of being arranged in line longitudinally as usual, that is to say, the first,
third, fifth, seventh, and so on, are in one longitudinal plane, and the second, fourth,
sixth, eighth and so on, are in another longitudinal plane somewhat in advance of
the first, hence that portion of each bar B, which is adjacent to one needle
yield laterally without coming in contact with the next needle, and ample space is
thus provided for the passage of the warp threads between the bars and needles
even though the heddle is of very fine gauge.
may
The object of my invention would be attained in a measure, even if the heddle
bars B, were not unconfined laterally at one end, so long as they were unconfined
vertically, for instance, even if filling blocks were inserted between the bars, as
shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the vertical freedom of the ends of the bars
would permit them to bend when subjected to sidewise pressure of the warp
threads.
It should be understood that although I have shown the heddles with the needles
projecting from the bottom bar, and with the bars B, unconfined at the top, one of
the heddles, as used in the loom, occupies a reverse position.
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:
-
1. The combination in a heddle for cross-weaving looms, of the frame, the upright
needles and the upright bars located between said needles, said bars being loosely
confined at one end whereby lateral pressure of a warp thread shedded between a
bar and an adjoining needle causes said bar to yield laterally, substantially as
Epecified.
2. In a heddle such as set forth in Claim 1, the means for loosely confining the
heddle bars at one end, said means consisting of a transverse rod adapted to slots in
the ends of the bars so that while the latter are prevented from moving in the line
of the warp, they can yield in a direction transversely to the warp, substantially as
specified.
3. In a heddle such as set forth in Claim 1, I claim the needles interposed
between the bars and arranged in a zig-zag or staggered line for the purpose
specified.
4. In a heddle such as set forth in Claim 1, I claim the means for securing the
heddle bars in place in the heddle frame, said. means comprising a slotted bar on
the frame carrying a retaining bar adapted to notches in the heddle bars, and a
transverse rod adapted to slots in the ends of the heddle bars, substantially as
specified.
Dated this 28th day of March 1892.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Patentee.