Improvements in the Manufacture of Woven Fabrics into which Metal Wires are Woven.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1897-Accepted, 28th Aug., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Woven Fabrics into which
Metal Wires are Woven.
A communication to me from HERMANN MAY the Younger, of Georgstrassenecke
Meiningen S/M., in the Empire of Germany, Merchant.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the Firin of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and Engineers,
of 65 and 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, 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, that is to
say:-
It has long been known that, in order to make certain woven fabrics stronger and
more durable, metal wires may be woven in them. Hitherto, for this purpose plain
inetal wires alone have been used, but their use has many serious disadvantages. For
instance, it is impossible to produce a fabric having warp threads of different
thicknesses which will show a uniform good appearance, so that it has been necessary
to make use of plain metal wires of the same thickness as the threads of which the
fabric is being woven. From this it results that, even if very little such metal wire
be used, the fabric is extremely stiff and inflexible, and when coarse yarns are
used it is unsuitable for most purposes. Moreover, these thick wires must, in
weaving, have a much greater tension than the other threads of the fabric, and it is
obvious that the weft will thereby be liable to be injured or destroyed. If, in thin
fabrics, the metal warp wires are left looser so as to save the weft thread, then instead
of being straight they lie in undulations. But in such case, the strength of the
metal threads when not stretched is not made practical use of, and the ordinary
threads have to bear greater strain.
Moreover, when plain or uncovered wires are used, they exert a destructive
influence, on account of their rapid oxidation, on the threads, or at least injure the
appearance of the fabric by their action on the dyes which it contains. Again, thǝ
durability of the structure of the fabric, is greatly prejudiced by changes of
temperature and variations in the length of the metal wire, which wires project at the
edges and ends of the fabric, both in the warp and weft of the latter. More especially
in strong driving belts and hose, the combination with coarse threads of thick wires is
impracticable on account of the extreme stiffness and rigidity produced in spite of the
great strength and capacity for resistance of the fabric.
The present invention has for its object the complete avoidance of the disadvantages
heretofore experienced in such fabrics. For this purpose, instead of plain metal wires,
wires round which an outer flexible covering has been wound are used. By the use
of such covered wires it is possible, as their total thickness must be equal to that of
the threads used in the fabric, to use considerably thinner wire, and it is obvious that
where thinner wires are used in this way, much greater flexibility and elasticity are
obtained.
Moreover, when the covering is used,-which may be made waterproof, if the fabric
is used in a damp atmosphere, the oxidation is reduced to a minimum, and the
consequent injury to the fabric is prevented. There could be no intimate

page_text: combination of the threads of the fabric with plain uncovered wires, for the smooth
surface of the latter offers little or no hold for the warp or weft threads of the fabric,
but on the contrary affords every facility for their slipping. Breakage of the wires is
prevented by the covering of the wires woven in the fabric, inasmuch as by the
folding of the new stuff, not the wire, but the covering is first affected by such
folding.
Any injury or breakage of the weft threads by the use of metal wire in the warp
threads can no longer take place, as instead of being injured they simply press against
the soft covering of the wire. If silk is used for the covering, then the influence of
temperature upon the metal wire is reduced almost to nothing, so that changes of
shape and in the structure of the fabric are prevented from taking place.
The fabrics with covered metal wires woven into them can be ue used for any
desired purpose, where great strength and durability of the stuff is required. For
instance the improvement may be applied to linen, silk, oil cloth, silk gauze,
trimmings, tapestry, and the like, and especially to driving belts and hose, both of
which may have woven in them, considerably inore wires than could otherwise be
used, without affecting the flexibility of the fabric.
By first dyeing the material which forms the covering for the wires, to the colour
of the fabric, the presence of the metal wires is imperceptible, and the effect of the
design on the finished fabric in not prejudiced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
clain is
The improvement in the manufacture of woven fabrics having metal wires woven
into them, consisting in the preliminary covering of such wires, so that the total
thickness of the wires and covering is the same as that of the threads of which the
fabric is woven, substantially as described.
DALEA
this 21st day of July 1897.
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.