The Manufacture of Textile Fabric for Forming the Outer Covers of Pneumatic Tyres or for other similarly Shaped Articles and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Apr., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 21st Feb., 1899-Accepted, 25th Mar., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
The Manufacture of Textile Fabric for Forming the Outer Covers of
Pneumatic Tyres or for other similarly Shaped Articles and
Apparatus therefor.
We, THOMAS CALDWELL, of 137, Blackburn Road, Bolton, Cycle Agent, and
WILLIAM CALDWELL, of Vicarage Square, Leigh, Cotton Mill Manager, both in
the County of Lancashire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of textile fabric for forming the
outer covers for pneumatic tyres or other similarly shaped articles and apparatus
therefor and has for its object to produce such fabric of a doubly curved form or
shape i.e. curved to a radius and curved (somewhat of an inverted V-shape or
U-shape) in cross section as for instance in forming covers for pneumatic tyres
the fabric is made of (or about) the radius and cross sectional form which the
outer cover will assume when fully inflated on the rim.
This object is obtained by differentiating the amount of length of warp in the
tabric from the centre to the selvedge-greater length of warp being put in the
centre than in the selvedges and advantageously in a graduated manner from
the centre towards each selvedge and proportioned according to the shape desired.
The weft may be put in either in a regular or irregular manner as desired for
instance we may put more weft picks in the central part of the fabric than in
the outer edge as follows:-
On an ordinary or any suitable loom the warp threads are arranged or mounted
in several sections or groups for instance the centre section is on a beam of its
own.
The section on each side of the centre and next adjoining thereto comes off
one and the same beam and travels slower than the centre. Each succeeding
(group of) warp is arranged so that half the threads go to one side and half to
the other side of the warp immediately preceding it and so on through the whole
series or the threads may be mounted on separate and independent beams or
bobbins or otherwise suitably arranged in suchwise that the various warp threads
or groups of threads can be drawn off as required independently of one another.
A drum or barrel having varying diameters arranged in a graduated manner
for instance with the greatest diameter midway of its length and descending
(decreasing) step by step towards each end (or a number of separate drums of
different diameters may be similarly arranged) is or may be mounted in such a
position that the warp threads will be led around or partly around same as said
threads are drawn off their bobbins or beams in the above-mentioned proportions.
In place of the ordinary breast beam and taking up rollers--according to the
present invention we arrange and mount a specially shaped horn or ridge of a
curved form both longitudinally and crosswise such shape corresponding (or
thereabouts) to the radius and cross section of the tyre for which said outer
cover is intended and we also provide a convex roller or drum (the convexity of

page_text: same advantageously corresponding or thereabouts to said ridge) and a small con-
cave roller
is mounted proximate thereto or other suitable means may be
employed so as to draw off the fabric as produced said drawing off roller being
driven or actuated in any suitable manner; or we may use a piece of flexible
material somewhat like a band brake (such as strong canvas) which embraces
the aforesaid convex drawing off wheel or roller for say about half its circum-
ference and against which (with the newly woven fabric in between) it is very
strongly pressed or drawn by means of strong springs to which latter said band
brake or device is securely attached at each end-the springs at the front being
stronger than and adapted to overcome the springs at the other end--whereby
the newly woven fabric is firmly pressed onto the convex drawing off roller
which latter may be roughened or other than smooth.
As the employment of the aforesaid horn or ridge (which is fixed or mounted
close up to the fell of the cloth) causes the warp threads to lie in different planes
and consequently causes an uneven shed and interference with, the traverse of
the shuttle to avoid this and in order to keep the fell of the cloth flat or level.
we form arrange or mount any suitable fixed guiding bar or guiding device such
for instance as a long horizontal slot in a device fixed or mounted on the frame
or other suitable part of the machine advantageously with one or more side or
sides forming said slot removable so that the warp threads can be readily laid
in or removed therefrom when desired--the position of this device being such as
to be out of reach of the reed etc. on the beat up.
For instance an arm extending from the breast beam towards the reed is
forked or carries at its free end two upwardly extending side lugs cheeks or
bearings or equivalent in suchwise that a detachable pin or cross-bar can be
readily and firmly affixed in position (or said pin or cross-bar may be hinged at
one end if desired) so as to hold the fell of the cloth level.
A mode of weaving is as follows:-
The warp threads are arranged in the healds in suchwise that each section or
group of threads may be operated independently or in combination with any or
all of the other groups of threads so as to permit the weft being introduced and
the weaving to be effected as follows:-
First the healds are so operated that the weft for the first few picks (say
three) is shot right across but on the return thereof the shed of all the sections
on the shuttle side up to the middle section are left open for instance with
eleven sections the first five are left open the weft first binding on the outer
thread of the middle section and then passing through to the other side of the
loom.
Next the shed of the five sections on this other side is left open and the weft
now binds on the other outer thread of the middle section and the shuttle con-
tinues right across next the shed is changed for a complete shoot thus leaving
a six section pick in, then several complete shoots (say three) are effected, and
then another complete shoot and now on the return shoot the shed is left open
for the four outside sections the weft being now bound on the outer thread of the
fifth section and passes right across similarly for the next pick the shed on the
other side is left open the weft binding on the outer thread of the fifth section
on this side and passing to the opposite side when the shed is again altered
leaving a seven section pick in and then several complete shoots and so on pro-
gressively until all the sections have been thus progressively taken in by the
selective picks whereupon the cycle of operations is repeated beginning with
the middle section as first described and so on.
The hereinbefore described arrangement of independently mounted warp
threads permits the latter to travel at different speeds and a greater length of
warp goes into the central section than into the next outer sections successively
least warp going into the two outside sections forming the outer edges of the
fabric these outer sections however travel slower than the inner sections and

page_text: the latter travel slower than the central section thus notwithstanding the unequal
number of picks inserted in the different parts of the width of the material
nevertheless a uniform fabric or closeness of texture is produced the extra picks
in the central portions going to fill up the extra length of warp as aforesaid
and consequently the finished fabric is formed or assumes the curved shape
desired both in radius and cross section.
"
In place of using healds or their equivalents—we may use jacquard harness
in which case each individual warp thread may be independently operated and
drawn off independent bobbins.
Or we may weave the fabric in any known and suitable manner (that is with-
out putting more picks in one part than in another) and take off the made
fabric in the manner described or in any suitable manner or any suitable means
which will draw same off more quickly at the centre than at the selvedges and
in the required proportion for instance we may use a convex roller (or fixed
surface) or a double cone roller (or double inclined surface) or both--which will
draw off more warp at the centre than at the edge.
14444
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
The Manufacture of Textile Fabric for Forming the Outer Covers of
Pneumatic Tyres or for other similarly Shaped Articles and
Apparatus therefor.
We, THOMAS CALDWELL, of 137, Blackburn Road, Bolton, Cycle Agent, and
WILLIAM CALDWELL, of Vicarage Square, Leigh, Cotton Mill Manager, both in
the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of textile fabric for forming the
outer covers for pneumatic tyres or other similarly shaped articles and apparatus
therefor and has for its object to produce such fabric of a curved form or
shape i.e. curved to a radius (and somewhat of an inverted V-shape or U-shape
in cross section) as for instance in forming covers for pneumatic tyres the fabric
is made of (or about) the radius and cross-sectional form which the outer cover
will assume when fully inflated on the rim.
We will now proceed to describe our present invention with reference to the
accompanying drawings:-
-
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of apparatus according to our present
invention which can be applied to any suitable loom such for instance as an
ordinary cotton cloth loom.
Fig. 2 is a view looking in the direction of the arrow 1 Fig. 1.
"
Fig. 3 is a local" detail view (on an enlarged scale) in side elevation of the
attachment or means which we provide according to the present invention to
keep the fell of the cloth flat or level for the beat up.
Fig. 4 is a plan of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a local detail view in side elevation showing the means according to
the present invention for drawing or winding off the made fabric.

page_text: Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 Fig. 5 and looking in
the direction of the arrow 5..
Fig. 7 is a "local" plan view (diagram) of a modified arrangement of the
warp-beams or bobbins viz. the latter are arranged in a horizontal plane instead
of in a vertical plane as shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 8 shows a diagram of a weave.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
In an ordinary, or any suitable loom the warp threads are arranged or
mounted in several sections or groups for instance the centre section A is on a
beam X of its own see Figs. 1 and 2 and diagram Fig. 8.
The section or group B B of warp on each side of the centre group A and
next adjoining thereto comes off another bobbin or beam X².
The succeeding (group of) warp CC is arranged so that half the threads go
to one side and half to the other side of the warp groups BB immediately pre-
ceding it and so on through the whole series; the threads a being mounted on
separate and independent beams or bobbins X1 X2 and so on or otherwise suit-
ably arranged in suchwise that the various warp threads or groups of
threads A B C etc. respectively can be drawn off as required independently of
one another.
A drum or barrel 6 having varying diameters arranged in a graduated manner
for instance with the greatest diameter midway of its length and descending
(decreasing) step by step towards each end (or a number of separate drums of
different diameters may be similarly arranged) is or may be mounted in such a
position that the warp threads a will be led around or partly around same as
said threads are drawn off their bobbins or beams in the above-mentioned
proportions.
Instead of using the ordinary breast beam o and taking up rollers (not shown)
according to the present invention we arrange and mount on or over said breast
beam a specially shaped horn or ridge d of a curved form. both longitudinally
and crosswise (see Figs. 5 and 6) such shape corresponding (or thereabouts) to
the radius and cross section of the tyre for which said outer cover is intended
and we also provide a convex roller or drume see Figs. 1, 5 and 6 (the convexity
of same advantageously corresponding or thereabouts to said ridge) and a small
concave roller f (which in such case would bear against convex roller e) is mounted
proximate thereto or other suitable means may be employed so as to draw off
the fabric as produced said drawing off rollers e and f being driven or actuated
in any suitable manner; or the drawing off roller may be mounted a little
distance from the roller e as shown in Fig. 5 and we may use a piece of flexible
material acting as a pressure band (such as strong canvas) which embraces
the aforesaid convex drawing off wheel or roller e for say less than half its
circumference and against which (with the newly woven fabric in between) it
is very strongly pressed or drawn by means of strong springs and i to which
latter the said pressure band or device g is securely attached at 1 and 2 respec-
tively the springs h at the front being stronger than and adapted to overcome
the springs at the other end said springs h and i being attached at j to a
fixed part of the loom-whereby the newly woven fabric a is firmly pressed onto
the convex drawing off roller e which latter may be roughened or other than
smooth around its circumference.
As the employment of the aforesaid horn or ridge d (which is fixed or mounted
close up to the fell of the cloth) causes the warp threads a to lie in different
planes and consequently would cause an uneven shed and would interfere with
the traverse of the shuttle to avoid this and in order to keep the fell of the cloth
at a flat or level we form arrange or mount any suitable fixed guiding bar or
guiding device such for instance as a long horizontal slot in a device fixed or
mounted on the frame or other suitable part of the machine advantageously with
one or more side or sides forming said slot removable so that the warp threads

page_text: can be readily laid in or removed therefrom when desired-the position of this
device being such as to be out of reach of the reed etc. on the beat up.
For instance the arm m is rigidly fixed to the breast beam c and extends
towards the reed n and is forked or widened at m¹ and carries two upwardly
extending side lugs cheeks or bearings m² or equivalent in such wise that a
detachable pin or cross-bar o can be readily and firmly affixed in position in said
supports m² (or said pin or crossbar may be hinged at one end if desired) so as
to hold the fell of the cloth a** level.
A mode of weaving is as follows:-
The warp threads a are arranged in the healds p in suchwise that each section
or group of threads may be operated independently or in combination with any
or all of the other groups of threads so as to permit the weft being introduced
and the weaving to be effected as follows:-
First the healds are so operated (by a dobbie or other suitable mechanism
at g) that the weft for the first few picks (say four) is shot right across (see Fig. 8)
but on the return shoot 5 thereof the shed of all the sections on the shuttle side
up to the middle section are left open for instance with eleven sections the first
five are left open the weft first binding on the outer thread A' of the middle
section A and then passing through to the other side of the loom.
Next the shed of the five sections on this other side is left open and the weft
now binds on the other outer thread A2 of the middle section A and the shuttle
continues right across, next the shed is changed for a complete shoot thus leav-
ing a six section pick in, then several complete shoots (say three) are effected,
and then another complete shoot 10, and now on the return shoot the shed is left
open for the four outside sections, the weft being next bound on the outer
thread B of the fifth section B and passes right across, similarly for the next
pick the shed on the other side is left open the weft binding on the outer
thread B2 of the fifth section B on this side and passing to the opposite side when
the shed is again altered leaving a seven section pick in and then several com-
plete shoots and so on progressively until all the sections have been thus pro-
gressively taken in by the selective picks whereupon the cycle of operations is
repeated beginning with the middle section as first described and so on as will
be readily understood on reference to Fig. 8.
The hereinbefore described arrangement of independently mounted warp
threads a permits the latter to travel at different speeds and a greater length
of warp goes into the central section A than into the next outer sections B and
so on successively least warp going into the two outside sections forming the
outer edges of the fabric-these outer sections however travel slower than the
inner sections and the latter travel slower than the central sections thus not-
withstanding the unequal number of picks inserted in the different parts of the
width of the material nevertheless an approximately uniform fabric or closeness
of texture is produced the extra picks in the central portions going to fill up
the extra length of warp as aforesaid and the finished fabric is formed
assumes the curved shape desired both in radius and cross section.
or
In place of using healds or their equivalents--we may use jacquard harness
in which case each individual warp thread may be independently operated and
drawn off independent bobbins.
Or we may weave the fabric in any known and suitable manner (that is
without putting more picks in one part than in another) and take off the made
fabric in the manner described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The combination in a weaving loom of a curved drawing-off ridge or convex
surface over which latter the made fabric is drawn in order that the middle por-
tion of the strip of fabric may have more warp than the outer portions so that

page_text: said fabric is formed curved in the direction of its length, a correspondingly
convex roller such as e, and a pressure band such as g held tightly on the said
roller e by the opposing springs h and i with the fabric a between said band
brake and the said convex roller e substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
2. The combination in a weaving loom of a curved drawing-off ridge or convex
.surface over which latter the made fabric is drawn in order that the middle
portion of the strip of fabric may have more warp than the outer portions, so
that said fabric is formed curved in the direction of its length, a correspond-
-on the said
ingly convex roller such as e, a pressure band such as g held tightly-o
roller e by the opposing springs and i with the fabric a between said pressure
band and the said convex roller e, and means to hold flat or level the fell of
the cloth and the warp threads at the latter point substantially as and for the
-purposes set forth.
3. The combination in a weaving loom of a curved drawing off ridge or convex
surface over which latter the made fabric is drawn in order that the middle
portion of the strip of fabric may have more warp than the outer portions so that
said fabric is formed curved in the direction of its length, means-arranged
between said curved ridge or surface and the fell of the cloth-to hold flat or
level the fell of the cloth and the warp threads at this point and a differential
drum such as b or series of different sized drums around which the warp threads
are led substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. The combination in a loom, of means for holding the fell of the fabric in
a level position, a curved drawing off ridge, a roller with a convex face and means
for holding the fabric in contact with the convex face of said roller, substantially
as described.
5. The combination in a loom, of means for holding the fell of the fabric
flat, a curved drawing-off ridge, a roller with a convex face, a pressure band
between which and the roller the fabric passes, and means for pressing the
pressure band against the fabric or roll, substantially as described.
6. The combination in a loom, of a frame provided with a bar under which
the fabric is adapted to pass, a curved drawing off ridge, a roller with a convex
face, a pressure band and means for holding said band against the roller, sub-
stantially as described.
7. The improved arrangement and construction of looms for weaving strips
of fabric formed curved in the direction of its length-combined and operating
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before set forth.
1
1800
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,.
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.