Improvements in the Manufacture of Woven Fabrics and in Looms or Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 4th May, 1893-Accepted, 29th July. 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Woven Fabrics and in Looms
or Apparatus therefor.
JOHN SMITH, of Tighnalister, Venner Road, Sydenham, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to the manufacture of woven fabrics and to looms or
apparatus therefor, and has for its chief object the production of woven fabrics of
greater strength and durability than those heretofore made.
In the manufacture of woven fabrics according to my present invention I employ
in addition to the usual warp and weft threads, diagonal threads which not only add
to the thickness and compactness of the fabric but also greatly increase the strength
thereof and its resistance to tearing.
In woven fabrics as heretofore made only warp and weft threads are used, and
any force applied in such a manner as to tear the fabric in the direction of either
of these threads is resisted by only a single thread at a time, the threads of the
warp or of the weft, as the case may be, being successively subjected to and broken
by the tensile strain. It is, however, very difficult if not practically impossible to
tear such fabrics in a direction diagonal or at any angle other than a right angle to.
the warp or to the weft threads.
Now with my improved fabric, in which diagonal threads are used in combination
with the usual warp and weft threads, any force tending to tear the said fabric
must always take effect in a direction diagonal or at an angle other than a right angle
either to the warp or the weft threads or to the said diagonal threads of the
fabric; therefore no such force can, under any circumstances, act upon only a.
single thread at a time as in the woven fabrics hitherto made. Hence, if it is at.
all possible to tear my improved woven fabric, it will require very great force to
tear the same either in the direction of the warp or the weft threads or in any other
direction.
I find it most advantageous to make my improved woven fabric with warp or
chain threads and weft threads and with diagonal threads some of which extend
from right hand edge to the left hand edge thereof, and others of which extend from.
the left hand to the right hand edge thereof.
In making my improved woven fabric, some of the diagonal threads are lowered:
and others raised with the warp or chain threads somewhat after the manner in
which the warp or chain threads are raised and lowered in ordinary weaving, so as:
to form what is termed the shed, and the weft thread is then shot across through.
The chain and
the shed by means of a shuttle or in any other convenient manner.
diagonal threads that were first raised are then lowered and those that were first
lowered are raised, and the weft again passed through the shed, and so on. The
diagonal threads, are, however, fed gradually across the fabric in opposite directions
during the weaving operation, so that they shall extend in the desired direction in
the said fabric.
For the manufacture of my improved fabric I can use a machine or apparatus.
constructed somewhat as follows, viz. :-In a suitable frame are mounted rollers or
other convenient devices for guiding the warp or chain threads from the reels or
beams upon which they are wound to the roller or beam upon which the woven
fabric is to be wound. For supplying the extra or diagonal threads and feeding
the same as required across the chain in opposite directions, I provide two rollers.
one above and the other below the aforesaid guiding devices and each having a

page_text: helical or spiral groove, in each convolution of which one of the said diagonal
threads is laid, so that, in each revolution of the grooved roller, the diagonal
threads passing over or under the same will be moved along the said roller through
a distance equal to the pitch of the helix. I also provide suitable devices, such as
oscillating arms with notched ends, whereby, as the diagonal threads arrive in
succession at the end of the helical groove, they will be automatically transferred
from the said groove to the commencement of the helical groove in the other roller.
The said threads will, therefore, be successively fed along first in one direction by
the one roller and then in the reverse direction by the other roller. To permit
such transfer of the diagonal threads from one to the other grooved roller and the
feeding of the said threads by these rollers, I pass the said threads through a
revolving disc or frame upon which are mounted the reels or bobbins whereon the
said threads are wound. Suitable guide-rollers or other guiding devices are, if
necessary, arranged between the said revolving disc or frame and the aforesaid
grooved rollers.
In place of the harness hitherto used in looms for weaving, I employ devices
which are separate from the threads but which act upon the same somewhat after
the manner of such harness and perform the same function as the latter and the
additional function of raising and lowering the diagonal threads as required. For
instance, I provide vertically sliding combs each of which has half as many teeth as
there are warp or chain threads. The operative end of each of these teeth is
formed with a V-shaped or other suitable notch so that it is adapted to engage with
one of the diagonal threads and with the corresponding warp or chain thread and to
retain the same in place while the said comb is raising or lowering the threads. It
is necessary that these devices shall move away from the threads in order to permit
the feeding of the diagonal threads by the aforesaid grooved rollers.
The weft may be thrown across alternately in either direction by means of a
shuttle in the ordinary manner; or, if desirable, I employ a shuttle arranged to
move in suitable guides and of such length that before it leaves the guides on one
Bide of the fabric it will enter the guides on the other side of the fabric, and I
provide means whereby the said shuttle will be moved through a portion of its
travel by one lever and through the remainder of its travel by another lever, that
is to say, I provide for moving the shuttle to and fro through the shed without
using any supports or guides that would interfere with the feeding of the diagonal
threads as above mentioned.
I also provide a lathe so arranged that it will move into and out of its operative
position, that is to say, after beating the weft into the fabric, it will be withdrawn
from the chain to permit the feeding of the said diagonal threads.
Moreover I provide suitable tension devices for the chain and diagonal threads,
so arranged that they will permit the required movements of these threads and will
take up the slack thereof when required.
I wish it to be understood, however, that I do not confine myself to the use of the
apparatus above mentioned in making my improved woven fabric.
My improvements are advantageous for a variety of purposes, for example for
the manufacture of canvas for sails, tarpaulins and the like, for the manufacture of
silk and other materials to be used in the making of balloons and for other purposes,
or for the manufacture of waterproof materials. My improvements are, moreover,
also applicable to the production of wire-cloth, wire-gauze and the like.
Dated the Fourth day of August 1892.
JOHN SMITH.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Woven Fabrics and in Looms
or Apparatus therefor.
I, JOHN SMITH, of Tighnalister, Venner Road, Sydenham, in the County of
Surrey, 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 :—
My invention relates to the manufacture of woven fabrics and to machinery or
apparatus therefor, and has for its chief object the production of textile fabrics of
greater strength and durability than those heretofore made.
In the manufacture of woven fabrics according to my present invention, I employ,
in addition to the usual warp and weft threads, diagonal threads which not only
add to the thickness and compactness of the fabric, but also greatly increase the
strength and durability thereof and its resistance to tearing.
In woven fabrics as heretofore made, in which only warp and weft threads are
used, any force applied in such a manner as to tear the fabrics in a direction at
right angles to the warp-threads or to the weft-threads, is resisted by only a single
thread at a time, the threads of the weft or of the warp, as the case may be, being
thus in succession separately subjected to and eventually broken by the tensile
stress applied. It is, however, very difficult, if not practically impossible, to tear
such fabrics in a direction diagonal, or at any angle other than a right-angle, to the
warp-threads or to the weft-threads.
Now in my improved fabric, in which diagonal threads are used in combination
with the usual warp and weft threads, any force tending to tear the said fabric
must always take effect in a direction diagonal, or at an angle other than a right
angle, either to the warp-threads or to the weft-threads or to the diagonal threads
of the fabric; therefore no such force can, under any circumstances, act upon only
a single thread at a time as in the woven fabrics hitherto made. Hence, if it is at
all possible to tear my improved woven fabric, it will require very great force to
tear the same either in a direction at right angles to the warp or to the weft threads,
or in any other direction.
I find it most advantageous to make my improved woven fabric with warp or
chain threads and weft threads and with two sets or series of extra or diagonal
threads, the threads of one set or series extending across those of the other set or
series. I can, however, make my improved fabric with only a single set or series
of diagonal threads extending from the right-hand to the left-hand edge thereof or
vice versa.
The
In weaving my improved fabric, some of the diagonal threads are lowered and
others raised with the warp or chain threads, somewhat after the manner in which
the warp or chain threads are raised and lowered in ordinary weaving, so as to
form what is termed the shed, and the weft-thread is then thrown or shot across
through the shed by means of a shuttle or in any other convenient manner.
chain-threads and diagonal threads that were first raised are then lowered, and
those that were first lowered are raised, and the weft again passed through the shed,
The diagonal threads are, moreover, fed gradually or intermittently
across the fabric during the weaving operation, so that they shall extend in the
desired direction in the said fabric.
and so on.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan, drawn to an enlarged scale, of a piece of woven fabric unde
in accordance with my said invention.
Figure 2 is a plan. and

page_text: •
Figure 3 a side elevation showing a loom or apparatus constructed according to
my said invention and adapted for the manufacture of my improved fabric.
Figure 4 is a section partly on the line x, x, and partly on the line ¹, x',
Figure 2, and
Figure 5 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, illustrating details of
construction.
Figure 6 is a section on the line a³, ³, Figures 2 and 3.
Figure 7 is a detail view showing portions of the devices for raising and
depressing the chain and diagonal threads.
Figure 8 is a plan, and
Figure 9 an end view of one of the grooved rollers hereinafter described, showing
also one of the hooks for transferring the threads to this roller from the other
grooved roller.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
a, a are the warp or chain threads, b, bare the weft-threads, and c, c are the
extra or diagonal threads of my improved fabric.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3, A is a base-plate on which are mounted suitable
standards A', A. To the standard A¹ is rigidly attached an arm A³ which
supports at its free end a frame B. In this frame are mounted convenient
devices, such as the grooved rollers C, for guiding the warp or chain threads a
as they are conducted from the reels or beams upon which they are wound, to
the roller or beam upon which the woven fabric is to be wound. For guiding
the extra or diagonal threads c and feeding the two sets or series thereof as
required across the chain in opposite directions, two rollers D, D¹ each having
a helical or spiral groove d, are mounted in the frame B one above and the
other below the aforesaid guide-rollers C. In each convolution of the groove d
one or other of the diagonal threads c is laid, one series of the said threads
being passed over the upper grooved roller D and the other series thereof being
passed under the lower grooved roller D'. Only some of these threads are
shown in the drawings. The roller D is provided with a right-hand spiral groove
and the roller D¹ with a left-hand spiral groove. Therefore, in each revolution
of the grooved rollers D, D', the diagonal threads passing over or under the
same as the case may be, will be moved laterally along the said roller through
a distance equal to the pitch of the helix, the said threads being moved in one
direction by the upper roller and in the reverse direction by the lower roller.
e, e are oscillating arms attached to toothed pinions e², e respectively and
having notched ends, whereby, as the diagonal threads c arrive in succession at
the end of the helical groove of either roller D or D', they will be automatically
transferred from the said groove to the commencement of the helical groove in the
other roller. The said threads c will, therefore, be successively fed along first in
one direction by the one roller until they arrive at one edge of the fabric, and
then in the reverse direction by the other roller, until they arrive at the
other edge of the fabric, and so on. To permit such transfer of the diagonal
threads from one to the other of the grooved rollers D, D' and the lateral
movement of the said threads by these rollers, the said threads are passed through
a revolving disc or frame E upon which are mounted the reels or bobbins c¹
whereon the said threads are wound. For the sake of clearness, only a few of
these bobbins are shown in the drawings. The said disc or frame E is fitted
to rotate upon a collar A* on the arm A³, which collar is formed with openings
through which the warp or chain threads a are conducted from the reels or beams
upon which they are wound.
In place of the harness hitherto used in looms for weaving, I employ devices
which are separate from or unconnected with the threads, but which act upon the.
said threads somewhat after the manner of such harness, and perform the same
function as the latter and also the additional function of raising and lowering the
diagonal threads c as required. For this purpose, I find it advantageous to employ
vertically sliding combs F each of which has half as many teeth f as there are

page_text: warp, or chain threads a. The operative end of each of these teeth is formed
with a V-shaped or other suitable notch f' so that it will engage with one of
the diagonal threads c and with the corresponding warp or chain thread a, and
will retain the same in place while the said comb is raising or depressing the
threads. It is necessary that these devices shall move away from the threads in
order to permit the feeding of the diagonal threads in a transverse or lateral
direction by the grooved rollers D, D. Therefore the said devices must only
engage temporarily with the chain-threads and diagonal threads.
The weft may, if desired, be thrown across through the shed alternately in either
direction by means of a shuttle in the ordinary manner, in which case, I find it
advantageous to provide a shuttle-race G which is carried by levers G₁ pivoted
at G² to the standards A* respectively. These levers are connected with suitable
mechanism whereby the said shuttle-race will be moved up to and away from the
lower chain-threads at the proper times to permit the throwing of the shuttle and
the beating up of the weft by the lathe or batten. The usual shuttle-boxes and
picker-motion may be used, but, to avoid complication, they are omitted from the
drawings.
Or, if preferred, I employ a shuttle arranged to move in suitable guides at either
side of the loom and of such length that, before it leaves the guides at one side of
the loom, it will enter the guides at the other side thereof, and I provide means
whereby the said shuttle will be moved through a portion of its travel by one lever
and through the remainder of its travel by another lever. Or I provide other
convenient devices for moving the shuttle to and fro through the shed without
using supports or guides such as would interfere with the lateral movement or
feeding of the diagonal threads in the manner above described.
H is the lathe or batten, which, in the improved loom shown in the drawings, is
mounted upon rods H' connected through the medium of levers H2, H³, with
suitable mechanism for moving the said lathe into and out of its operative position,
that is to say, for moving it forward to beat the weft into the fabric, and theu
drawing it back to permit the feeding of the diagonal threads in a transverse or
lateral direction as above described, and the raising and lowering of the chain-
threads and diagonal threads as required. The chain-threads a pass through the
lathe or batten between the reeds or wires thereof in the usual manner; but the
diagonal threads c must not be passed through the lathe, and are, therefore, passed
over or under guide-rollers H' at the top and bottom of the lathe H, and, in the
beating of the weft into the fabric, are moved with the lathe into the position
indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3.
Suitable tension devices are provided for the chain and diagonal threads, which
devices are so arranged that they will permit the required movements of these
threads and wi: take up the slack thereof when required.
In the apparatus shown in the drawings, the various movements are effected by
the mechanism hereinafter described.
J is the main or driving-shaft which is mounted in suitable bearings on the base-
plate A, and to which motion is communicated in any convenient manner.
K is a
cam fixed on the shaft J and arranged to operate the lathe or batten H through
the medium of a lever K¹ coupled by a connecting-rod. K2 to the lever H³, the
return movement of the said lathe or batten being effected by a spring L attached
at one end to the connecting-rod K2 and at its other end to the base-plate A.
M is a cam for imparting intermittent rotary motion to the rollers D, D'. This
cam acts upon an arm or lever M¹ fixed upon a rock-shaft M', on which is also
fixed an arm or lever N. This lever is coupled by a link N' to a lever N' carrying
a spring pawl N³ whereby intermittent rotary motion is imparted to a ratchet-
wheel N fixed on a shaft No. This shaft is connected through bevel-gearing with
a shaft No which in turn is connected by bevel pinions with a shaft P. On the
shaft P is fixed a sprocket-wheel P¹ connected by an endless chain P' with sprocket-
wheels P, P on the axles of the rollers D, D' respectively.
For rotating the disc E, a worm or endless screw Q is fixed on the shaft J and

page_text: '
is geared with a worm-wheel Q' on the shaft Q. On this shaft is fixed a toothed
wheel Q which is geared with the disc E.
The mechanism for operating the transferring hooks e, e¹ comprises a cam R
fixed on the shaft J and acting upon an arm Ri fixed upon a rock-shaft R', on
which is also fixed a lever R. This lever is connected, through the medium of
other levers and links as shown, with a lever R* fixed upon one end of a shaft R³,
on the other end of which is fixed a toothed wheel R connected by spur-gearing
with the toothed wheels e², e respectively. As the rods H' of the lathe or batten H
have to pass through some of the toothed wheels, I provide such toothed wheels
with slots R' to permit their partial rotation as required.
In the arrangement shown, the rollers D, D¹ are turned through an angle of
180 degrees in each operation of the lever M' by the cam M. Each of the said
rollers is provided at each end with an annular groove or recess d¹ to admit the
corresponding transferring hook e or e', and each of the said rollers has its grooved
portion partly cut away at each end as at d to permit the taking off or putting on
of the thread by the hook e or e¹ as the case may be.
S, S and S¹, S¹ are cams fixed upon the shaft J, for operating the combs F
through the medium of levers S2, S3 and links S, So respectively.
T, T are cams also fixed upon the shaft J, for operating the movable shuttle-
race G through the medium of levers T' coupled by links T2 to the levers G.
Guide-rollers should be employed, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3, for
ensuring the retention of the extra or diagonal threads in the grooves of the
rollers D, D¹ during the beating up of the weft by the lathe or batten H. Or,
if desired, the frame B may be extended vertically and the rollers D, D' be placed
further apart, in which case there is no necessity for the said guide-rollers.
In weaving my improved fabrics for some purposes, it may be sufficient to
employ two sets or series of diagonal threads in combination with weft-threads,
the usual warp
or chain threads being dispensed with. I prefer, however, to use
both warp and weft threads in combination with the diagonal threads as herein-
before described.
The extra or diagonal threads in my improved fabric may be of the same material
as the warp and weft threads; in some instances, however, I use threads of different
materials.
I wish it understood that I do not confine myself to the use of apparatus con-
structed and arranged as shown in the drawings, as my improved method of weaving
can be carried into effect by other arrangements of apparatus.
My improvements are advantageous for a variety of purposes, for example for
the manufacture of canvas for sails, tarpaulins and the like, for the manufacture of
silk and other materials to be used in the making of balloons and for other
purposes, or for the manufacture of waterproof materials. My improvements are,
moreover, also applicable to the production of wire-cloth, wire-gauze and the like.
I
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood that
am, of course, aware that chair-seatings and the like have been made of strips of
cane, by first securing some of the strips in position, then interlacing therewith
other strips at right angles thereto, and finally inserting other strips in such a
manner that they extend diagonally across the chair-seating or the like; and I,
therefore, make no claim to such cane seatings or the like. But I am not aware
that it has ever been proposed to weave canvas, cloth and similar fabrics with
diagonal threads as hereinbefore described; nor am I aware that any machine
has ever been devised whereby fabrics with diagonal threads could be woven; and
I claim :-
First. The manufacture of a textile fabric in which diagonal threads are inter-
woven with weft threads or with the usual warp and weft threads, substantially as
.hereinbefore described.
Second. The herein described method of manufacturing textile fabrics, wherein

page_text: some of the threads which are, during the weaving, alternately raised and lowered
to permit the introduction of the weft, are moved or fed across the fabric as required,.
for the purpose specified.
Third. A loom which is adapted for weaving fabrics with diagonal threads, and
which is provided with suitable means for raising and lowering these threads with
the usual warp or chain threads, and for intermittently moving or feeding the said
diagonal threads across the fabric in one or the other direction as required, sub-
stantially. as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Fourth. The employment, in a loom, of rollers provided with helical or spiral
grooves, and means for rotating such rollers about their axes, substantially as, and
for the purpose, above specified.
Fifth. The combination, with the rotating rollers provided with the helical or
spiral grooves, of a revolving disc or frame through which the extra or diagonal
threads are passed, and means for transferring such threads from one to the
other of the said rollers as required, substantially as, and for the purposes, above
specified.
Sixth. The lathe or batten provided at the top and bottom with guide-rollers for
the extra or diagonal threads, and so constructed that the warp or chain threads.
may be passed through it, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Seventh. The combination of a lathe or batten, a movable shuttle-race, and
devices for raising and lowering the warp-threads and the extra or diagonal threads,.
all so arranged as to permit the feeding of the said extra or diagonal threads across.
the fabric, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Eighth. The employment, in a loom, of suitable devices for raising and lowering
the warp and diagonal threads, which devices are unconnected with the said threads,
substantially as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Ninth. The combination of the rollers having the helical or spiral grooves, means.
for intermittently rotating the said rollers, the hooks for transferring the threads
from one to the other of the said rollers, and means for operating the said hooks,.
substantially as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Tenth. The improved loom or apparatus constructed substantially as described
with reference to the accompanying drawings and operating as, and for the purpose,.
above specified.
Dated the 3rd doy of M
1000
JOHN SMITH.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.