IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING FIRE-HOSE AND OTHER FABRICS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOOMS FOR WEAVING FIRE-HOSE AND OTHER FABRICS." A communication
from abroad by Benjamin Levi Stowe, of the City, County, and State of New
York, United States of America.
Sealed the 16th November 1877, and dated the 20th September 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th September 1877.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING FIRE-HOSE AND OTHER
FABRICS. [A communication from abroad by Benjamin Levi Stowe, of the City,
County, and State of New York, United States of America.]
This Invention relates, first, to looms for weaving fabric of a single ply in the
form of a hollow cylinder or tube, used principally for fire-hose, and consists of
the devices and combinations shown in the accompanying Drawings, Figures 1 to 7
inclusive, herein-after particularly described, whereby hose of any desired length may
be woven.
Figure 1 is a vertical central section of a loom, with the improvements of this
Invention, for weaving webs of a single ply; Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figures 3, 4, and 5, are detailed views of several parts of the said loom; Figure 3
being a front view of a number of what I denominate "pick-ups."
Figure 4 is a top view or plan of the apparatus for operating the " pick-ups."
Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the same.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the portion of the loom in which are held and
operated the pick-ups and the apparatus for operating them, being a top view
presented by a section of the loom upon the dotted lines x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 7 is a top face view of the segmental woof carriers detached from the
loom.
The working parts of this loom are mounted upon a circular frame which is
supported on suitable posts, preferably four in number, placed at equal distances

page_text: apart. Two of these posts are shown in Figure 1, and designated A¹, A³, and an
end view of the four is shown in Figure 2 and designated A', A2, A³, A Two cross
beams crossing each other at the centre tie the posts together at the bottom; a
section of one of these beams is shown in Figure 1 and designated C. The body of
the frame consists of two or more rings fixed one over the other and supported by
said posts. Sections of these rings are shown in Figure 1 and designated B and B.
In the centre of the frame rises a hollow pillar or tube D, which may rest upon the
bars C at their crossing. The upper end of this hollow pillar is about on a level
with the ring B'.
The object of this loom being to weave a fabric in the form of a tube (such as fire-
hose) of indefinite or any desired length, the warp threads of the web are delivered
from spools (each thread having preferably its own separate spool) which are
arranged around the loom and held in suitable racks. These spools and racks are
seen in section in Figure 1, and in plan in Figure 2, the spools being designated by
the letter E, and the racks by the letter F. These warp threads run off from the
spools upon and across the upper surface of the ring B', and all converge to and
around the upper open end of the tube D and pass down into it, the said tube
furnishing a support for the warp threads at the point of weaving, and by its size or
diameter in conjunction with the shuttle arm and beater determining the diameter
of the woven tube or hose. The weaving operation takes place around the rim of
this tube.
The letter e represents what may be called pick-ups, consisting of a series of
small rods or pins fitted to slide up and down in holes in the ring B'. The series
extend around the entire circle, there being one for each thread or strand of the web.
The holes in which these pick-ups work are near the inner edge of the plate B', and
in the upper end of each is fixed an arm i which extends outward at right angles,
or nearly so, across the upper face of said ring, and on the outer end is a hook or
bend in which a warp thread may lie. The lower ends of these pick-ups are bent,
forming short arms c at right angles to their bodies, the alternate arms being turned
in opposite directions, one half inward and the other outward, for a purpose to be
presently described. The letter h indicates a series of wires or bars fixed in and
between the rings B and B', the series extending around the entire circle of the loom,
corresponding in number to the pick-ups. They are arranged preferably near the
inner edges of the said rings B and B₁, and the looped or bent ends of the arms i
lie immediately between them, so that the warp threads run between these wires,
a single strand between each two of the wires, and lie in the bent ends of the
arms 2.
G is a revolving annulus or ring provided with a groove in its under face to run
upon a series of wheels or discs of secured to brackets or arms g. It is provided with
gear teeth on its outer edge which mesh into the teeth of the gear wheel K, to which
motion is communicated from the driving pulley H through the bevelled gears 1, l'.
By these means the ring G is rotated, running upon the wheels or discs which fit
into the annular groove before mentioned. Upon this annulus or ring are mounted
inclined planes or cams n, n', o, o', which as the annulus or ring G is rotated operate
to throw up the pick-ups e one after another around the circle. One half of these
pick-ups upon side of the loom are somewhat shorter than the other half on the
opposite side (as seen in Figure 1) for a purpose to be presently more fully described.
Then there are two pairs of the cams or inclined planes, one pair n, n', being of
sufficient elevation to operate the shorter pick-ups, the other pair o, o¹, of less
elevation to operate the longer pick-ups. Each pair is fixed upon a movable plate,
the pair n, n, on the plate p, the pair o, o¹, on the plate p¹, Figure 4. One of the
cams of each pair is intended to operate upon every alternate pick-up around one
half of the circle, that is to say, the cam n is to operate upon all the short pick-ups,
the lower ends of which turn outward, and the cam n' on all the short pick-ups
whose lower ends turn inward. Then the cam o is to operate on the long pick-ups
whose ends turn outward, and the cam o' on those whose ends turn inward. The
two cams of each pair are arranged side by side parallel to each other, and just far

page_text: enough apart, so that when one is thrown under the bent ends of the pick-ups it
is intended to operate upon, the other will be thrown out of range with its pick-
ups or the alternates. These cams, as we have said before, are fixed to the plates p, p',
which are fitted to slide in ways in a bed plate q which is secured to the annulus or
rotating ring G. During one revolution of this annulus or ring G, the plates p, p',
are placed in position to bring one of each pair of the cams under the pick-ups
whose ends turn inward, then for the next revolution the positions of the said
plates are shifted to bring the other cams of the two pairs under the pick-ups whose
ends turn outward. This shifting of the position of the plates p, p', is accomplished
by the eccentrics r, r', fixed on shafts 8, 8, and working in slotted openings in
said plates. The shafts 8, 81, pass through the bed plate q, and in the lower end of
each are fixed four arms t, t', t, t¹¹¹, u, u¹, u¹¹, ull; suitable stops x, x1, x, xll, are
fixed to the frame of the loom at points where the said arms in their revolution
with the annulus G will come in contact with them, and in passing give a quarter
revolution to the shafts 8, 8¹, and eccentrics r, 7. Two of these stops will be
encountered by the arms at each revolution of the ring G, and thus at each
revolution, a half revolution will be given to the said eccentrics, and such shifting
of each of the plates p, p, takes place during that half of their revolution respectively
around the circle when they are not operating on the pick-ups, that is to say, the
plate p¹ is shifted while it, with its cams o, o¹, is passing through that half of the
circle in which are placed the short pick-ups, and the plate p is shifted while it,
with the cams n, n¹, is passing through that half of the circle in which are placed
the long pick-ups, thus the shifting takes place when the cams are freed from contact
with the pick-ups. As will be understood the said stops are so arranged and placed
as to accomplish this result.
I is what may be denominated the woof carrier and warp separator. It consists
of an annulus (resembling the ring G) with a small segment cut out. It is also
provided with a groove on its lower face, and rests and runs upon small wheels v, v',
revolving on axes fixed to brackets or arms w, w, on the frame of the loom. It is
also provided with gear teeth on its outer edge, meshing into a gear pinion 1 on
the same shaft with the gear K. Arranged around the loom are three other similar
shafts and gear wheels 1, 2, 3, Figure 6, the three lower gear wheels receiving
motion from the annulus or ring G, and thereby motion being communicated to the
upper gear on said shaft, and thence to the carrier. Upon each of these shafts
immediately above each of the gear wheels is a plane disc or wheel represented in
Figure 6 by the circles around the gear vl, 1, 2, 3, and designated 45, 46, 47, and 48,
in Figures 2 and 7. These discs extend over the upper ends of the gear teeth on
the ring G and segment I with their peripheries against shoulders on the said plate
and segment. They serve to hold the plate and segment in position concentric to
the axial centre of the hollow post D, and to prevent the gears being too deeply
engaged. Upon this carrier is mounted the spool 10, which carries the woof thread.
It also carries the shuttle arm 12, the woof thread, and a suitable tension device,
the woof thread being delivered from the spool 10 into the web at the end of the
shuttle arm, this shuttle arm consisting of a strong bar attached to the carrier I, and
braced as shown in Figure 7, having a hole in its inner end through which the woof
thread passes into the web. To this carrier is also attached the separator 13, which
is an arm formed of an iron or steel rod attached to the carrier, extending inward
to the rim of the upper end of the hollow post D, and looped, as shown in Figures 1,
2, and 7, so as to pass between the upper and lower threads of the web shed and
separate them just around the rim of the said hollow post, to give free opportunity
for the delivery and forcing into the web of the woof thread. The inner end of
arm 12 works between the branches of the looped end of the separator as seen in
Figure 7, and a pin 28 in the said arm keeps the inner end of the separator in its
proper position.
Jis a thread lifter or guard consisting of a curved metal rod fixed upon the
carrier I above the upper surface. Its forward end J' being inclined downward and
extending to just a little above the upper surface of the ring B' and over the pick-up

page_text: cams 0,
o, n, n', by which arrangement such warp threads, as they are carried
up one after the other by the pick-ups, will slide up the inclined part J' and along the
guard J until they drop off from it at its opposite end J", which is also inclined
downward to permit them to do so. The arm 12 is made to also act in connection
with the separator as a packer to force the woof thread into the web, or as it is
termed to "beat up" the web.
L, L, Figures 3 and 6, are two reverse cams or inclines, whose office is to draw
down the pick-ups if when passing off from the cams o, n, they should chance not to
drop down by their own weight.
A series of tension devices is provided, there being one for each warp strand.
Each consists of a small hub N, in which is fixed a wire or rod 52 extending down-
ward, to which is attached a weight 54. Another wire 50 having a loop at the
outer end extends from the hub at or nearly at right angles to the first. A third
shorter wire 51 looped at the outer end is fixed in the hub midway between the two
longer ones. The thread from the spool passes through the loop in the short wire,
then is wound several times spirally round the upper wire, then passes through the
loop at its end, and thence into the loom between the partition wires h to the
tube D. By these means a yielding tension is given to the warp threads which
will permit them to be carried up on to the guard J, and draw them tight again
when dropped back on to the plate B¹. These hubs are strung on to a rod or wire
which surrounds the frame, and is held in arms or brackets attached to the posts of
the frame.
There are three rods running around the loom, the centre one 14 supporting the
tension wires, the lower one 15 furnishing a rest for the upper tension arms, the
upper one 16 acting to regulate the yielding tension upon the warp threads when
they pass up on to the guard J, and the threads are separated by the separator 13,
the operation being as follows:-As the strands are raised by the pick-ups e, the
guard J, and the separator 13, the tension device yields until the strain brings the
upper wire or arm 50 in contact with the rod 16, where it is stopped, when the
strain being continued the strand will be drawn off from the spool to the extent it
is taken up into the web. Thus the tension device yields to a certain limit, that
limit being the rod 16, when the yielding ceases, and then additional strain on the
strand unwinds it from the spool.
The operation of this loom is as follows:-The warp strands being provided,
wound on the spools E, and severally carried into the loom through the loops of the
tension wires 50 and 51, between the wires h, and over the looped or bent ends of
the arms i, all converging to and passing down over the circular rim of the upper
open end of the hollow post D, down through the same, and so on out of the loom,
the woof thread being provided on the spool 10 and passed through a hole in the
inner ends of the arms 12 ready to be wound on to the web. Then suppose that
the plate p is pushed outward so that the cam n' ranges under the short pick-ups,
whose bent ends turn inward, and the loom is set in motion, the carrier G being
thereby started on its revolution with the cam n¹, entering under the series of the
short pick-ups. Those of this series whose ends turn inward will be raised up one
after another, carrying up with them the arms, on whose looped ends lie the warp
threads; the said threads are one after another thereby thrown up above the lower
point of the inclined end J' of the lifter or guard J, and as the said guard moves
around they will slide up on to and along the said guard until they drop off at
the opposite end. While the said cam n¹ is thus operating through one half of
the circle upon short pick-ups whose ends turn inwards, the cams on plate pl will be
shifted or set in position by the eccentric r¹, so that the cam o' will range under
the long pick-ups, whose ends turn inward, through the other half of the circle,
carrying up in like manner the warp threads lying on the looped ends of the arms
in such pick-ups on to the guard J. Thus a complete revolution of the carrier will
have been made, and every alternate thread around the entire circle will have been
thrown up on to the guard, and held in that position while the said guard has been
passing under it. While the said threads have been assuming this position the

page_text: woof thread has been delivered from the arm 12 (which has revolved with said
carrier) into the angle between the upper and lower threads of the web, the same
being carried in a circle just at the upper edge of the open end of the tube D, full
opportunity to do so having been secured by the separator 13, which attached to
the carrier has been carried between the sheds of the warp, spreading them wide
apart to allow the arm 12 to pass between them. Now while the cam o' has been
operating upon the long pick-ups the plate p has been shifted by its eccentric so as
to bring the cam n¹ to range under the short pick-ups, whose ends turn outwards,
so that the warp threads that were left down during the first half of the revolution
will now be picked up and carried on to the guard. While this last operation is
going on the plate p will be shifted by its eccentric so as to bring the cam o to
range under the long pick-ups, whose ends turn outward, and thus the warp threads
of the other half of the circle will be carried up; meantime the woof thread has
been delivered and wound into the web from the shuttle arm 12, and by the same
forcibly "beaten up." The separator forcibly separates the strands so as to enable
the web to be laid close up to the weaving point, and at the same time the arm or
blade 12 applies a pressure against the web already woven. Then the next revolu-
tion of the separator again forces the strands apart which have just passed behind
the weft already laid in. Thus the forcing the strands apart in connection with
the tension on the strands caused by the weights on the tension wires and pressure
applied by arm or blade 12 forces the weft close to that previously laid in, or "beats
it up."
Thus at each revolution of the loom the warp threads are crossed over the
filling threads, and the operation of weaving a tubular web is thereby accomplished.
As fast as the web is formed it passes down through the hollow tube D, and so out
of the loom. The requisite tension may be given to the completed web in any
suitable way. In order to hold the eccentrics still in position after each quarter
revolution a yielding stop pin (25, 26,) is provided for each, which engages a notch
in the periphery of a disc wheel fixed in the shaft of each eccentric, as seen in
Figure 4, the said disc and notches being shown in dotted lines, and the yielding
stop pins in full lines. The shafts of these eccentrics, to which the arms t, u, are
attached, are of different lengths, thereby the said arms on the one will move round
the circle in a different plane from those on the other, so that the arms t will
encounter and be revolved by the stops x and x², each stop giving to the shaft a
quarter turn, and the arms u will encounter the stops x" and on the opposite
side of the circle, and be similarly thereby operated on.
The following is a description of a modification of the loom above described,
whereby a hose formed of a hollow cylindrical web of more than one ply may be
woven, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, Figure 8 to 16
inclusive.
The letters and figures of reference used in said following description refer to the
said last-named Drawings 8 to 16.
Figure 8 is a central vertical section of a circular loom containing the improve-
ment for weaving a web of more than one ply.
Figure 9 is a top face view of the portion of the said loom immediately in sight
when the part above the dotted line x, x, in Figure 8 is removed.
Figure 10 is a similar view taken on the dotted lines y, y, of Figure 8.
Figures 11 to 14 are detailed views of the cams and their accessories by which
the pick-up levers, herein-after described, are actuated, Figure 11 being an upper
face view of the said cams with the sliding bars to which they are attached, and the
base plate in which they are held and slide, and a broken piece of the ring to which
said base plate is attached; Figure 12 is an under face view of the same; Figure 13,
a central section of the same with two of the pick-up levers in position to be operated
upon by the said cams; and Figure 14 is a cross section of the same.
Figure 15 is a detailed upper face view of the pick-up levers and pick-ups, and
the aforesaid cams.
Figure 16 is a similar view without the levers, showing the said cams in different
positions.

page_text: The working parts are mounted upon a suitable circular frame, consisting prefer-
ably of four posts A, A¹, A¹¹, A¹¹¹, tied together at the bottom by cross beams B, and
at the top by the flat ring or annular plate C. D is a second flat ring or annular
plate which lies upon and is secured to brackets or arms designated by the letter E.
The warp threads held on and delivered from spools S disposed in suitable racks
arranged around the outside of the loom, all pass into the loom over the upper face
of the ring D and converge to and pass down into the hollow post or cylinder F set
in the centre of the loom. They thus arrange themselves around the upper rim of
this cylinder, and it is on this circle at the top of said cylinder that the weaving of
the woof thread into the web takes place.
The apparatus by which the warp threads are thrown in the process of weaving
consists of the following devices:-A series of pick-up pins, indicated by the letter a
in Figure 8 (two only however being shown, one on either side of the Figure, as to
have attempted to represent the whole series would have confused the view), and by
the larger of the series of small circles in Figure 9. These pick-ups are fitted to
work up and down in holes made through the ring D. Their lower ends are jointed
to a series of levers c, each pick-up having its separate lever, and all the levers being
at the opposite end pivoted on a wire d in the form of a ring, which is sup-
ported by the arms 6. Each of these levers is provided with a pin or lug which
projects downward from its under edge, designated by the letter h. The upper
,ends of the pick-ups are forked slightly, and in each one of these forks lies one of the
warp threads as it runs from its spool over the ring or annular plate D to the
cylinder F. G is an annular gear which runs upon rollers f which revolve on axes
fixed in brackets on arms g, there being several of these rollers and brackets
attached to the frame of the loom. An annular groove is made in the under
face of this gear in which the said rollers / run. Motion is given to this gear
from a driving shaft through any suitable intermediate mechanism. I, I, I", are
three segments of an annular gear fitted similarly to the gear G to run on
rollers which work in annular grooves on their under faces. There are also
grooves on the upper faces of these segments in which work the rollers / upon
axes at right angles to the axes of the rollers 7. There is a large number of
these rollers around the loom mounted on brackets P and P' attached to the
frame, so that the said segments, although separated some distance apart, will
make a continuous circuit around the loom supported from one bracket to another.
These segments are provided with gear teeth on their outer edges, and motion is
given to them by several pinions, two of which are shown in Figure 8, and designated
by the letter J and J'. Another two are on opposite sides of the loom, midway
between those shown in the said Figure, and these pinions receive their motion, the
pinion J directly from the driving shaft H through the gears j, k, and the other
three from the annular gear G and pinions on the lower end of the shafts m, m², ml,
two of which only are shown in the Drawing. These separate segments do not fill
the circle, there being a small space between I and I' and between I and I, and a
larger space between I' and I" for the purpose to be presently explained. Upon
each of these segments is fixed an arm n, n¹, n¹¹, which projects inward and down-
ward to the edge of the rim of the open upper end of the tube F, as shown in
Figure 10. These arms are stayed and strengthened by the braces o, o¹, o¹¹.
Three spools p, p, p, are provided for three woof threads, the design being to
weave a three-ply hose. These spools are set on axes fixed in the cross bars 7, 1, 11
A woof thread running from each of these spools passes through a hole in the end
of the arm with which its spool is connected, and thence into the web. As the said
arms revolve around the said tube with the segments I, I¹, I¹¹, each one winds into
the web a woof strand. The inner ends of the arms n, n¹³, 11, are so arranged in
relation to each other and to the web that each acts as a shuttle to deliver into the
web a woof thread of one of the plies, n, for example, delivering the threads for the
inner ply, n¹ that for the next outer ply, thus forming a coil around outside of the
coil formed by n and n¹ (when a fabric of more than two plies is woven), for that
which is coiled into the exterior ply around outside of the coil formed by n². Upon

page_text: each of these segments is also fixed a guard or thread lifter t, t¹, t¹, being a rod or
wire curved to conform to the shape of the segment, and raised a few inches above
its upper face. The rear end of the guard on segment I extends over on to
segment I¹, as does that of the latter on to segment I. The forward end of the
several guards are curved downward, as seen at 1, Figure 8, so that the extreme
ends range just above the plane of the warp_threads when they are not thrown up.
The rear end of the guard in segment I also drops down to the same plane;
8 and 8¹ are stationary wire guards attached, one to the plate Cand the other to the
plate D, the lower end of the former terminating in the groove in the upper face of
the segments I, I, I, and the upper end of the latter extending upward on the
inner edge of the segments to near the upper face of the same. There are similar
guards before each one of the brackets and posts around the loom which carry the
friction rollers on which the said segments run. Their office is to prevent the warp
threads as they pass up on to the guard t from becoming caught in the rollers / or 1.
Attached to each shuttle arm is a separator q formed of a rod or wire looped over
the inner end of the arm and the ends carried back and fastened to the arm near its
outer end. It ranges along the upper and lower surfaces of the arms, a little distance
from them. The office of each is to separate the sheds of the web and give free
opportunity to the ends of the shuttle arm to deliver the woof threads into the web.
It will be borne in mind that the design of the improvements herein intended to be
claimed is the weaving of a web of more than a single ply. The loom represented
by the Drawings is constructed to weave a three-ply web. To understand the
method and devices by which this is done, the entire number of the warp threads
may be considered as divided into series or sets of eight each, six of the eight com-
prising three pairs, each pair designed to form a single web, and the other two of
the eight, which may be denominated the "tying strands," being designed to pass
entirely through the single webs and tie them together. Thus every fourth pair
will be tying strands.
The operation of weaving this three-ply web may be accomplished by throwing
the warp threads up, and carrying the woof threads between them in the following
order in each of the said series or sets, which for convenience of description we
designate as follows:-The tying threads, the two first of the series by the letters
X, Y, and the remaining six by numbers 1 to 6 inclusive (Figures 15 and 16).
To receive the three woof threads in succession the warp threads are thrown up
in the following order :-First, strands X and 1; second, strands 2 and 4; and
third, strands 3 and 5. This operation will pass the first woof thread between the
tying strands and strands 1 and 2, the second between the tying strands and
strands 3 and 4, strand 2 being raised with strand 4; the pairs of strand 1 and 2
and 5 and 6 will be out of range of this second woof thread, the one pair above and
the other below it, and it will pass between only the tying threads and the strands
3 and 4. Then the third woof thread will pass between the tying strands and
strands 5 and 6; as with strand 5 strand 3 is carried up, leaving only strands Y
and 6 down when the third woof thread is passed in. It will be understood that
the several warp threads, of the different series of eight, when thrown up, remain
in that position until all the three woof threads have been woven in; they then
all fall back to their first position, resting on the upper face of the annular ring D.
The above movements are accomplished by one revolution of the loom. At the
next revolution the warp strands are thrown up in the following order :-First,
the tying strand Y and strand 2; second, strands 1 and 3; and third, strands 4
and 6. By these means, it is obvious, all three of the woof strands will at each
revolution of the loom be carried between the tying strands, while only one will
be carried between any other two of the series. This has been found to be the
preferable order from its simplicity and effectiveness, but I do not however intend
to limit myself to it. Any other may be adopted that is preferred, it only being
essential that a sufficient number of the warp threads shall be employed as tying
strands, to effectually tie the several plies of the web together.
The necessary modification of mechanism, herein described, for throwing the

page_text: woof strands in any desired order, any expert mechanic will be able to make upon
the principle here explained.
Having thus described the movements of the strands or threads required in the
operation of weaving a three-ply hose or web, the special mechanism by which the
pick-ups a are actuated, so as to produce these movements will be readily understood.
It consists of three sets of cams or inclined planes, which are fixed upon and revolve
with the annular gear G. They are shown in detail in Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14,
and an upper face view is given in Figure 9. Each set consists of two pairs of
cams or inclined planes, each pair being secured to a bar or plate which is fitted to
slide in a dovetailed groove in a base plate, attached at one end to the said gear G,
the other end extending inward towards the centre of the loom. These plates are
designated L, L', L". The said sliding bars are designated by numbers 30 to 35
inclusive in Figure 9. Upon the bars 30, 32, and 34 are fixed the inner pairs of
cams or those nearest the centre of the loom, and on the bars 31, 33, and 35 are
fixed the outer pairs or those farthest from the centre of the loom. Near the inner
end of each of the plates L are two short shafts w, w¹, fitted to revolve in suitable
bearings in said plate. They extend above the said plate into slotted openings in
the sliding bars (30 to 35), and on the upper ends are fixed eccentrics V, which
work in the said slotted openings, and as the shafts w, w¹, are revolved slide the
bars 30 to 35 back and forth on the plate L. The shafts (w) extend below the
plates L, and in each are fixed four arms 10, 11, 12, 13, Figure 12; N, N¹, are two
brackets or arms, one on each side of the hollow post F. In each end of these arms
is fixed a stop pin (15 to 18); these pins on the brackets N' extend upward and
those on bracket N extend downward, as seen in Figure 8. The shafts (w) which
actuates the sliding bars 30, 32, and 34 are longer than the other shafts which
actuate the bars 31, 33, and 35, and the four arms in each range below the
brackets N, so that they will on their way, as they are carried around by the revo-
lution of the gear G, encounter the stop pins in said bracket N, while the arms in
the short shafts which actuate the bars 31, 33, and 35 range above the bracket N¹,
and will therefore encounter the stop pins in the said bracket N'. These arms and
stop pins are so arranged with reference to each other that each shaft as it passes
a bracket, with the stop pins of which its arms comes in contact, will be caused
thereby to revolve on its axis a half revolution, and thus by the action of the
eccentric on its upper end shift the sliding bar with which it is connected, inward
or outward, as the case may be. The cams or inclined planes on the said bars are
arranged to pass under the lugs or pins h on the under edge of the pick-up levers c,
so as to throw up said levers in the order required to accomplish three-ply
weaving, as herein-before described. This will be understood by reference to
Figure 15, representing the levers divided into groups of eight, each as indicated by
the brackets surrounding the figure. The small circles on the levers represent the
positions of the pins or lugs on the under edge of the levers, and the three sets of
segmental lines, numbered from 40 to 51 inclusive, indicate the cams or inclined
planes. The levers are lettered and numbered in groups X, Y, 1 to 6 inclusive,
corresponding to the letters and numbers applied to the warp threads, as before
described. Now, it is evident, that upon these cams being carried round one-half
of the circle, starting from the positions shown, cam 40, Figure 15, will engage the
pins on all the levers marked X, 41, on those marked 1; 42, on those marked 2;
43, on those marked 4; 44, on those marked 3; and 45, on those marked 5. The
said cams 40 to 45 will act only through one half of the circle, the cams 46, 47, 48,
49, 50, and 51 operating through the other half of the circle upon the pins, arranged
in a similar order nearer the centre of the loom in range of the last-named
cams. This division of labor on the part of the cams is made to afford the
opportunity of shifting their position when not engaged with lever pins, the outer
range of cams being shifted while passing through the half of the circle where the
pins are in range of the inner cams 46 to 51, and the latter cams are shifted while
passing through the opposite half of the circle, where they will range within the
fever pins and therefore be free to revolve. One revolution having been made, with

page_text: the result before described, and the cams having been shifted in making it, the
next revolution will take place with the cams in the position indicated by the
dotted lines in Figure 16, the result of which will be to throw up the levers inter-
mediate of those that were raised by the first revolution. Then the cams having now
been shifted back to their first position the operation of the first revolution is
repeated, followed in turn by that of the second, and so on continuously.
M, M¹, M¹¹, are wires or rods which encircle the loom supported in brackets
attached to its frame, upon one of which (M) are placed the tension devices, con-
sisting of small hubs or discs, in each of which are inserted three wires radiating
outward. To the lower one is attached a weight 52; the other two have loops in
their outer ends, as seen at z, z¹, Figure 8. There is one of these tension devices
for each warp strand, which, as it is wound off from its spool, passes over the rod M'
through the eye Z, then spirally around the wire Z' through its eye and into the
loom over the rod M". A series of partition wires are fixed in the frame between
the annular plates or rings C and D, between which the warp threads pass, whereby
the threads are kept from tangling, and held in position in the forked ends of the
pick-ups a.
The operation of this loom is as follows:-It being understood that the spools
containing the warp threads are provided and in their places, and that the said
threads have all been gathered in and carried down through the tube F, so as to
arrange themselves in place around its rim; also that the woof threads are supplied
from the spools p, each being passed through the hole in its arm and ready to move
into the web. The loom is now put in motion with the pick-up cams in the
position shown in Figures 9 and 15, and by the full lines in Figure 16. The pick-up
levers will thereby be thrown up in the order herein-before described, carrying up
the warp threads in the same order. The said threads, as they are one after another
thrown up, will be received upon the forward inclined ends of the guards t, t¹, t¹¹,
and will be carried and supported on these guides during the entire revolution of
the segments until they fall back again to their first position at the rear end (111 (f
the guard on segment I. The shuttle arms, carrying the woof threads; weave the
woof threads into the web around the rim of the tube F, the three arms at each
revolution weaving in three woof threads and forcing them up into the web. Each
set of cams is situated with reference to one of the said segments, so that the warp
threads are thrown up by it just in front of the guard wire t on such segment and
then remain up, the guard wires sliding under them until they, the threads, fall
back to their first position at the rear of the segment I, as before described. By
this joint action of the several shuttle arms, pick-up levers, and cams, as described,
a three-ply hose is produced.
If a web of a greater or less number of plies is desired to be made, as it is evident
may be done, it is only necessary to employ a greater or less number of sets of
cains, and a corresponding number of woof threads, shuttle carriers, arms, and carrier
segments, arranging the pins in the pick-up levers upon the principles which I have
fully explained.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
March 1878.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING FIRE-HOSE AND OTHER
FABRICS." A communication from abroad by Benjamin Levi Stowe, of the City,
County, and State of New York, United States of America.
This Invention relates, first, to looms for weaving a single-ply fabric in the form
of a tube suitable for fire-hose, and the Invention consists of the devices and combi-
nations herein-after particularly described and claimed, and shown in Figures
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the accompanying Drawings, whereby hose of any desired
length may be woven.
Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a loom for weaving tubular webs of a
single ply. Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 are detailed views of several parts of the said loom, Figure 3
being a front view of a number of what I denominate "pick-ups."
Figure 4 a plan, and Figure 5 an elevation of the apparatus for operating the said
"pick-ups."
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the portion of the loom in which the pick-ups
and the apparatus for operating them are mounted, being a top view presented by a
section of the loom upon the dotted lines x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 7 is a plan of the segmental woof carrier detached from the loom.
The working parts of the loom are mounted upon a circular frame supported on
posts A, A, A, A, tied together at the bottom by cross beams C. The body of the
frame consists of two or more rings B, B', fixed one above the other, and supported
by posts A. In the centre of the loom rises a hollow pillar or tube D, whose upper
end is about level with the ring B'. This tube may rest on the bars C.
The object being to weave a tubular fabric (such as fire-hose) of indefinite length,
the warp threads of the web are delivered from spools E (each thread having
preferably its own separate spool) which are arranged around the loom and held in
suitable racks F. These warp threads run off from the spools upon and across the
upper surface of the ring B¹ and all converge to and around the open upper end of
the tube D, and pass down into it, the said tube furnishing a support for the warp
threads at the point of weaving, and by its size or diameter, in conjunction with its
shuttle arm and beater, determining the diameter of the woven tube or hose. The
weaving operation takes place around the rim of this tabe.
e are what may be called pick-ups, consisting of a series of small rods or pins fitted
to slide up and down in holes in the ring B¹. The series extend around the entire
circle, there being one for each thread or strand of the web. The holes in which
these pick-ups work are near the inner edge of the ring B¹, and in the upper end of
each is fixed an arm i (see Figures 2, 4, and 5) which extends outwards at right
angles, or nearly so, across the upper face of said ring, and on the outer end of each
of said arms i is formed a book or bend in which a warp thread may lie. The lower
ends of these pick-ups are bent to form short arms c at right angles to their shanks,
the arms c being turned alternately inward and outward for a purpose to be
presently described. h are a series of wires or bars fixed in and between the rings
B and B¹, preferably near their inner edges, the series extending around the entire
circle of the loom, and corresponding in number to the pick-ups. The looped or bent
ends of the arms lie immediately between the wires h, as shown in Figure 4, so
that the warp threads run between these wires, a single strand between each two of
the wires, and lie in the bent ends of the arms i.
G is a revolving annulus or ring provided with a groove in its under face to run
upon wheels or rollers f, carried by brackets or arms g. The ring G has gear teeth
on its outer edge, with which gears a wheel K, driven through the bevelled gears

page_text: 1,, from the driving pulley H. By these means the ring G is rotated, running
upon the wheels f, which fit into the annular groove before mentioned. Upon this
ring G are mounted inclined planes or cams n, n¹, o, o', which, as the ring G is
rotated operate to throw up the pick-ups e in a certain order, one after another
around the circle, as hereafter explained. The pick-ups upon one half of the loom
are somewhat shorter than those on the other half (as seen in Figure 1), for a
purpose to be presently more fully described. There are two pairs of the cams or
inclined planes, one pair n, n', being of sufficient clevation to operate the shorter
pick-ups, and the other pair, o, o¹, of less elevation to operate the longer pick-ups
(see Figures 1, 3, and 5, the cams nearest the spectator being removed in Figure 3).
Each pair is fixed upon a moveable plate, the pair n, n', on the plate p, and the pair
o, o', on the plate p¹, Figure 4. One of the cams of each pair is intended to operate
upon every alternate pick-up around one half of the circle, that is to say, the cam n
is to operate upon all the short pick-ups, whose lower ends turn outward, and the
cam n² on all the short pick-ups whose lower ends turn inward, and the cam o is to
operate upon the long pick-ups whose ends turn outward, and the cam o¹ on those
whose ends turn inward. The two cams of each pair are arranged side by side
parallel, and just far enough apart, so that when one is thrown under the bent ends
c of the pick-ups it is intended to operate upon, the other will be thrown out of
range with its pick-ups, i.e., the alternate ones. The plates p, p, to which these
cams are fixed, are fitted to slide in ways in a bed plate q, secured to the rotating
ring G. During one revolution of this ring G the plates p, p, are placed in position
to bring one of each pair of the cams under the pick-ups, whose ends turn inward;
then for the next revolution the said plates are shifted to bring the other cams of
the two pairs under the pick-ups whose ends turn outward. This shifting of the
plates p, p, is accomplished by the eccentrics r, r¹, (see Figure 4) fixed on shafts
8, 81, and working in slotted openings in said plates. The shafts 8, 81, through
the bed plate q, and to the lower end of each are fixed four arins t, t¹, t², ts,
u, u', u², u³. Suitable stops x, x', x², ³, are fixed to the frame of the loon at points
where the said arms in their revolution with the ring G will strike them, so as in
passing to give a quarter revolution to the shafts 8, 81, and eccentrics r, r¹. Two of
these stops will be encountered by the arms and a half revolution will thus be given
to the said eccentrics at each revolution of the ring G, the shifting of each of the
plates p, pl, respectively taking place during that half of their revolution around
the circle when they are not operating on the pick-ups, that is to say, the plate pl
is shifted while it, with its cams o, o¹, is passing through that half of the circle in
which are placed the short pick-ups, and the plate p is shifted while it, with its
cams n, n', is passing through that half of the circle in which are placed the long
pick-ups; thus the shifting takes place when the cams are freed from contact with
the pick-ups, the stops being so arranged and placed as to accomplish this result.
In order to hold the eccentrics 7, 1, still in position after each quarter revolution
a yielding stop pin (25, 26) is provided for each, which engages a notch in the
periphery of a disc wheel fixed on the shafts 8, 8, as seen in Figure 4, the said disc
and notches being shown in dotted lines and the yielding stop pins in full lines.
The shafts 8, 8', are of different lengths, so that the arms on the one will move round
the circle in a different plane from those on the other, in order that the arms t shall
encounter and be revolved by the stops x and x', each stop giving to the shaft &¹ a
quarter turn, and the arms u shall encounter the stops and on the opposite
side of the circle, and be similarly thereby operated on.
L, L, Figures 3 and 6, are two reverse cams or inclines whose office is to draw
down the pick-ups, if when passing off from the cams o, n, they should chance not*
to drop down by their own weight.
It consists
I is what may be denominated the woof carrier and warp separator.
of a ring (resembling the ring G) with a small segment cut out, as shown in Figures
1, 2, 6, and 7. It is also provided with a groove on its lower face, and rests and
runs upon small wheel v, v³, (see Figure 1) revolving on axes fixed to arms w, w¹,
on the frame of the loom. It is also provided with gear teeth on its outer edge,

page_text: *
meshing into a gear pinion u³ on the same shaft with the gear wheel K. Arranged
around the loom are three other similar shafts with gear wheels 1, 2, 3, Figure 6,
on the upper ends gearing with the carrier I, and other gear wheels on their lower
ends, which mesh with and receive motion from the ring G, whereby motion is
communicated to the carrier I. Upon each of these shafts, immediately above each
of the gear wheels, is a plain disc or wheel represented in Figure 6 by the circles
around the gears v³, 1, 2, 3, and designated 45, 46, 47, and 48 in Figures 1, 2, and 7.
These discs extend over the upper ends of the gear teeth on the ring G and segment
I, with their peripherys, against shoulders on the said ring and segment. They
serve to hold the ring and segment in position eccentric to the axial centre of the
hollow post D, and to prevent the gears being too deeply engaged. Upon this carrier
I is mounted the spool 10, which carries the woof thread. It also carries the shuttle
arm 12, the woof thread, and a suitable tension device, the woof thread being
delivered from the spool 10 into the web at the end of the shuttle arm. The shuttle
arm consists of a strong bar attached to the carrier I, and braced as shown in
Figure 7, having a hole in its inner end, through which the woof thread passes into
the web. To this carrier is also attached the separator 13, which is an arm formed of
an iron or steel rod attached to the carrier, extending inward to the rim of the upper
end of the hollow post D, and looped as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 7, so as to pass
between the upper and lower threads of the of the web shed and separate them just
around the rim of said hollow post to give free opportunity for the delivery and
forcing into the web of the woof thread. The inner end of arm 12 works between
the branches of the looped end of the separator, as seen in Figure 7, and a pin 28 in
the said arm keeps the inner end of the separator in its proper position.
J is a warp lifter, consisting of a curved metal rod fixed upon the carrier I above
the upper surface, its forward end J being inclined downward, and extending to
just a little above the upper surface of the ring B¹, and directly over the pick-up
cams o, o¹, n, n¹. The warp threads, as they are carried up one after another by
the pick-ups, will slide up the inclined end J, and along the lifter J until they drop
off at its opposite end J2, which is also inclined downward to permit them to do so.
The arm 12 is made to also act in connection with the separator as a packer to
force the woof thread into the web, or, as it is termed, to "beat up" the web.
A series of tension devices is provided, there being one for each warp strand.
Each consists of a small hub N, in which is fixed a wire or rod 52 extending down-
ward, to which is attached a weight 54. Another wire 50 (shown in two positions),
having a loop at its outer end, extends from the hub N at or nearly at right angles
to the first. A third shorter wire 51, also looped at the outer end, is fixed in the
hub midway between the two longer ones. The thread from the spool passes
through the loop in the short wire, then is wound several times spirally round the
upper wire 50, then passes through the loop at its end, and thence into the loom
between the partition wires h to the tube D. By these means a yielding tension is
given to the warp threads, which will permit them to be carried up on to the lifter
J, and draw them tight again when dropped back on to the plate B. These hubs
are strung on to a rod or wire, which surrounds the frame, and is held in brackets
attached to the posts of the frame.
There are three rods running around the loom, the centre one, 14, supporting the
tension wires, the lower one, 15, furnishing a rest for the upper tension arins, the
upper one, 16, acting to regulate the yielding tension upon the warp threads when
they pass up on to the lifter J, and the threads are separated by the separator 13,
the operation being as follows:-As the strands are raised by the pick-ups e, the
lifter J, and the separator 13, the tension device yields until the strain brings the
upper wire or arm 50 in contact with the rod 16, where it is stopped, when the
strain being continued the strand will be drawn off from the spool to the extent it
is taken up into the web. Thus the tension device yields to a certain limit, that
limit being the rod 16 when the yielding ceases, and then additional strain on the
strand unwinds it from the spool.
The operation of this loom is as follows:-The warp threads being provided,

page_text: wound on the spools E, and severally carried into the loom through the loops of
the tension wires 50 and 51 between the wires h, and over the looped or bent ends
of the arms i, all converging to and passing down over the circular rim of the
upper open end of the hollow post D, down through the same, and so on out of the
loom; the woof thread being provided on the spool 10, and passed through a hole
in the inner end of the arms 12 ready to be wound into the web. Then suppose
the plate p to be pushed outward, so that the cam n¹ ranges under the short pick-
ups, whose bent ends turn inward, and the loom to be set in motion, the carrier G
being thereby started on its revolution with the cam n¹ entering under the series
of the short pick-ups. Those of this series, whose end turn inward, will be raised
up one after another, carrying up with them the arms on whose looped ends lie
the warp threads. The said threads are one after another thereby thrown up above
the lower point of the inclined end J' of the lifter J, and as the said lifter moves
around they will slide up on to and along the said lifter until they drop off at the
opposite end.
While the said cam n¹ is thus operating through one half of the
circle upon short pick-ups, whose ends turn inwards, the cams on plate p' will be
shifted or set in position by the eccentric ¹, so that the cam o¹ will range under
the long pick-ups, whose ends turn inward through the other half of the circle,
carrying up in like manner the warp threads lying on the looped ends of the arms
of such pick-ups on to the lifter J. Thus a complete revolution of the carrier will
have been made, and every alternate thread around the entire circle will have been
thrown up on to the lifter, and held in that position while the said lifter has been
passing under it. While the said threads have been assuming this position the
woof thread has been delivered from the arm 12, which has revolved with said
carrier, into the angle between the upper and lower threads of the web, the same
being carried in a circle just at the upper edge of the open end of the tube D, full
opportunity to do so having been secured by the separator 13, which, attached to
the carrier, has been carried between the sheds of the warp, spreading them wide
apart to allow the arm 12 to pass between them. Now, while the cam o' has been
operating upon the long pick-ups, the plate p has been shifted by its eccentric, so
as to bring the cam n¹ to range under the short pick-ups, whose ends turn outwards
so that the warp threads that were left down during the first half of the revolution
will now be picked up, and carried on to the lifter. While this last operation is
going on the plate p will be shifted by its eccentric, so as to bring the cam o
to range under long pick-ups whose ends turn outward; and thus the warp
threads of the other half of the circle will be carried up. In the meantime the
woof thread has been delivered and wound into the web from the shuttle 12,
and by the same forcibly "beaten up." The separator forcibly separates the strands,
so as to enable the web to be laid close up to the weaving point, and at the same
time the arm or blade 12 applies a pressure against the web already woven. Then
the next revolution of the separator again forces the strands apart, which have just
passed behind the weft thread already laid in. Thus the forcing the strands apart
in connection with the tension on the strands caused by the weights on the tension
wires, and pressure applied by the arm or blade 12 forces the weft close to that
previously laid in, or "beats it up." Thus, at each revolution of the loom, the warp
threads are crossed over the filling threads, and the operation of weaving a tubular
web is thereby accomplished. As fast as the web is formed it passes down through the
hollow tube D, and so out of the loom. The requisite tension may be given to the
completed web in any suitable way.
The following is a description of a modification of the loom above described,
whereby a bose formed of a hollow cylindrical web of more than one ply may
be woven, reference being had to Figures 8 to 16 inclusive, of the accompanying
Drawings.
The letters and figures of reference used in said following description refer to
the said last-named Figures 8 to 16.
Figure 8 is a central vertical section of a circular loom containing the improve-
ments for weaving a web of more than one ply.

page_text: Figure 9 is a top view of the portion of the said loom immediately in sight, when
the part above the dotted line x, x, in Figure 8, is removed.
Figure 10 is a similar view, taken on the dotted lines y, y, of Figure 8.
Figures 11 to 14 are detailed views of the cams and their accessories, by which
the pick-up levers, herein-after described, are actuated; Figure 11 being a top view
of the said cams with the sliding plates, to which they are attached, and the
base plate in which they are held, and slide, and a broken piece of the ring
to which said base plate is attached; Figure 12, an under face view of the
same; Figure 13, a central section of the same, with two of the pick-up levers
in position to be operated upon by the said cams; and Figure 14, a cross section of
the same.
Figure 15 is a detailed top view of the pick-up levers and pick-ups, and the
aforesaid cams.
Figure 16 is a similar view, without the levers, showing the said cams in different
positions.
The working parts are mounted upon a suitable circular frame, consisting prefer-
ably of four posts A, A1, A2, A3, tied together at the bottom by cross beams B, and
at the top by the flat ring or annular plate C; D is a second flat ring or annular
plate, fixed on brackets or arms E. The warp threads held on and delivered from
spools S, disposed in suitable racks arranged around the outside of the loom, all pass
into the loom over the upper face of the ring D, and converge to and pass down
into the hollow post or tube F, set in the centre of the loom. They thus arrange
themseves around the upper rim of this cylinder, and it is on the circle at
the top of said cylinder that the weaving of the woof thread into the web takes
place.
Each
The apparatus by which the warp threads are thrown in the process of weaving
consists of the following devices :-A series of pick-up pins a, Figures 8 and 9 (two
only however been shown, one on either side in the former Figure, to avoid con-
fusing the view). These pick-ups are fitted to work up and down through holes in
the ring D. Their lower ends are jointed to the outer ends of a series of levers c,
each pick-up having its separate lever, and all the levers being at the opposite end
pivoted on a wire d in the form of a ring, which is supported by the arms e.
of these levers c is provided with a pin or lug h, which projects downward from its
under edge (see Figure 13). The upper ends of the pick-ups a are forked slightly,
as shown detached, Figure 13, and in each one of these forks lies one of the
warp threads, as it runs from its spool over the ring D to the tube F. A series of
partition wires are fixed in the frame between the rings C and D, between which
the warp threads pass, whereby the threads are kept from tangling, and are held in
position in the forked ends of the pick-ups a. G is a ring with teeth on its outer
periphery, and which runs upon rollers f that revolve on axes, fixed in brackets or
arms g, there being several of these rollers and brackets attached to the frame of
the loom. A groove is made in the under face of this ring, in which the said rollers
f run. Motion is given to this ring G from a driving shaft, through any suitable
intermediate mechanism. I, I', I2, (Figure 10) are three segments of a toothed
ring, fitted similarly to the ring G, to run on rollers l, which run in a groove on the
under face of each segment. There is also a groove on the upper face of each
segment in which work the rollers l' upon axes, at right angles to the axes of the
rollers l. There is a large number of these rollers around the loom, mounted on
brackets P and P¹ attached to the frame, so that the said segment, although
separated some distance apart, will make a continuous circuit around the loom,
supported from one bracket to another. These segments are provided with gear
teeth on their outer edges, and motion is given to them by several pinions, two of
which are shown in Figure 8, and designated by the letters J and J. Another two
are on opposite sides of the loom, midway between those, as shown in Figure 10,
and these pinions receive their motion, the pinion J directly from the driving
shaft H, through the bevel gear j, k, and shaft i; and the other three from the
toothed ring G and pinions K on the 'lower ends of the shafts m, m', m². These

page_text: separate segments do not fill the circle, there being a small space between the I and
I, and between I¹ and I, and a larger space between I and I, for a purpose to be
presently explained. Upon each of these segments is fixed an arm n, n', n², which
projects inward and downward to the edge of the rim of the open upper end
of the tube F, as shown in Figure 10. These arms are stayed and strengthened by
the braces o, o¹, 0%.
Three spools p, p, p, are provided for three woof threads, the object being to
weave a three-ply hose. These spools are set on axes, fixed in the cross bars r, µª²,
72; a woof thread running from each of these spools, passes through a hole in the
end of the arm with which its spool is connected, and thence into the web. As
the said arms revolve around the said tube with the segments I, I¹, 1%, each one
winds into the web a woof strand. The inner ends of the arms n, n', n³, are so
arranged in relation to each other and to the web, that each acts as a shuttle
to deliver into the web a woof thread of one of the plies; n, for example,
delivering the threads for the inner ply; n¹, that for the next outer ply, thus
forming a coil around, outside of the coil formed by n und n³ (when a fabric of
more than two plies is woven) for that which is coiled into the exterior ply,
around outside of the coil formed by n¹. Upon each of these segments is also fixed
a warp lifter t, tl, t³, being a strong steel rod curved to conform to the shape of the
segment, and raised a few inches above its upper face. The rear end of the lifter t
on segment I extends a short distance past the lifter t¹ of segment I', as does that
of the latter past the lifter of segment 12, as shown in Figure 10; and the
forward ends of the several lifters are curved downward, as seen at 3, Figure 8,
so that the points range just above the plane of the warp threads when they
are not thrown up. The rear end of the lifter on segment I² also drops down to
the same plane. 8 and 8 are stationary guards attached, one to the plate C and
the other to the plate D, the lower end of the former terminating in the groove in
the upper face of the segments I, I, I, and the upper ends of the latter extending
upward on the inner edge of the segments to near the upper face of the same.
There are similar guards before each of the brackets and posts around the loom,
which carry the friction rollers on which the said segments run.
Their office is to
prevent the warp threads as they pass up on to the lifter t from becoming caught
in the rollers and . Attached to each shuttle arm is a separator q, formed of a
rod looped over the inner end of the arm, and the ends carried back and fastened
to the arm near its outer end. It ranges along the upper and lower surfaces of the
arms at a little distance from them. The office of each is to separate the sheds of
the web, and give free opportunity to the ends of the shuttle arm to deliver the
woof threads into the web. The loom, represented by the Drawings, is constructed
to weave a three-ply web. To understand the method and devices by which this
is done, the entire number of the warp threads may be considered as divided into
series or sets of eight each, six of the eight comprising three pairs, each pair designed
to form a single web, and the other two of the eight, which may be denominated the
"tying" strands, being designed to pass entirely through the three webs and tie them
together. Thus every fourth pair will be tying strands.
The operation of weaving this three-ply web may be accomplished by throwing
the
warp threads up, and carrying the woof threads between them in the following
order in each of the said series or sets, which for convenience of description I desig-
nate as follows:-The tying threads, the first two of the series, by the letters X, Y,
and the remaining six by numbers 1 to 6 inclusive (Figures 15 and 16).
To receive the three-woof threads in succession the warp threads are thrown up
in the following order, vizt. First, strands X and 1; second, strands 2 and 4; and
third, strands 3 and 5. This operation will pass the first woof thread between the
tying strands and strands 1 and 2; the second, between the tying strands and
strands 3 and 4, strand 2 being raised with strand 4, the pairs of strands 1 and 2
and 5 and 6 will be out of range of this second woof thread, the one pair above and
the other below it, and it will pass between only the tying threads and the strands
3 and 4; then the third woof thread will pass between the tying strands and strands

page_text: 5 and 6; as with strand 5 strand 3 is carried up, leaving only strands Y and 6 down
when the third woof thread is passed in. It will be understood that the several
warp threads of the different series of eight when thrown up remain in that position
until all the three woof threads have been woven in; they then all fall back to their
first position by slipping off at the tail end t of the last lifter 2, and rest on the
upper face of the ring D. The above movements are accomplished by one revolution
of the loom. At the next revolution the warp strands are thrown up in the
following order :-First, the tying strand Y and strand 2; second, strands 1 and 3;
and third, strands 4 and 6. By these means it is obvious all three of the woof
strands will at each revolution of the loom be carried between the tying strands,
while only one will be carried between any other two of the series; I have found
this to be the preferable order from its simplicity and effectiveness, but I do not
intend to limit myself to it. Any other may be adopted that is preferred, it only
being essential that a sufficient number of the warp threads shall be employed as
tying strands to effectually tie the several plies of the web together.
Any expert mechanic will be able to make the necessary modifications of
mechanism herein described for throwing the woof strands in any desired order
upon the principle here explained.
Having thus described the movements of the strands or threads required in the
operation of weaving a three-ply hose or web, the special mechanism by which the
pick-ups a are actuated so as to produce these movements will be readily understood.
It consists of three sets of cams or inclined planes, which are fixed upon and revolve
with the ring G; they are shown in detail in Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14, and an
upper face view is given in Figure 9. Each set consists of two pairs of cams or
inclined planes, each pair being secured to a plate which is fitted to slide in a dove-
tailed groove in a base plate attached at one end to the said ring G, the other end
extending inward towards the centre of the loom; these plates are designated
L, L', L. The said sliding plates are numbered 30 to 35 inclusive in Figure 9.
Upon the plates 30, 32, and 34 are fixed the inner pairs of cams or those nearest
the centre of the loom, and on the plates 31, 33, and 35 are fixed the outer pairs or
those farthest from the centre of the loom. Near the inner end of each of the
plates L are two short shafts w, u¹, fitted to revolve in suitable bearings in said
plate; they extend above the said plate into slotted openings in the sliding plates
(30 to 35), and on the upper ends are fixed eccentrics v, which work in the said
slotted openings, and as the shafts w, w¹, are revolved slide the plates 30 to 35 back
and forth on the plate L. The shafts w extend below the plates L, and in each are
fixed four arms 10, 11, 12, 13, Figure 12. N, N¹, are two brackets or arms, one on
each side of the hollow post F. In each end of these arms is fixed a stop pin (15 to 18);
these pins on the bracket N¹ extend upward, and those on bracket N extend down-
ward, as seen in Figure 8. The shafts w, which actuate the sliding bars 30, 32, and
34, are longer than the other shafts which actuate the bars 31, 33, and 35, and the
four arms in each range below the bracket N, so that they will on their way, as
they are carried around by the revolution of the ring G, encounter stop pins in the
said bracket N, while the arms in the short shafts which actuate the bars 31, and
33, and 35 range above the bracket N¹, and will therefore encounter the stop pins
in the said bracket N1; these arms and stop pins are so arranged with reference to
each other that each shaft as it passes a bracket with the stop pins of which its
arms come in contact, will be caused thereby to revolve on its axis a half revolution,
and thus by the action of the eccentric on its upper end shift the sliding plate with
which it is connected inward or outward, as the case may be. The cams or inclined
planes on the said plates are arranged to pass under the lugs or pins h on the under
edge of the pick-up levers c, so as to throw up said levers in the order required to
accomplish three-ply weaving, as herein-before described; this will be understood
by reference to Figure 15, representing the levers divided into groups of eight each,
as indicated by the brackets surrounding the Figure. The small circles on the
levers represent the positions of the pins or lugs h on the under edge of the levers,
and the three sets of segmental lines numbered from 40 to 51 inclusive indicate the

page_text: cams or inclined planes. The levers are lettered and numbered in groups X, Y, 1 to
6 inclusive, corresponding to the letters and numbers applied to the warp threads,
as before described. Now it is evident that upon these cams being carried round
one half of the circle, starting from the positions shown, cam 40, Figure 15, will
engage the pins on all the levers marked X; 41, the pins on those marked 1; 42,
the pins on those marked 2; 43, the pins on those marked 4; 44, the pins on those
marked 3; and 45, the pins on those marked 5. The said cams 40 to 45 will act
only through one half of the circle, the cams 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, and 51 operating
through the other half of the circle upon the pins arranged in a similar order nearer
the centre of the loom in range of the last-named cams; this division of labor on
the part of the cams is made in order to afford the opportunity of shifting their
position when not engaged with lever pins, the outer range of cams being shifted
while passing through the half of the circle where the pins are in range of the inner
cams 46 to 51, and the latter cans are shifted while passing through the opposite
half of the circle where the pins are in range of the outer cams. One revolution
having been made with the result before described, and the cams having been
shifted in making it, the next revolution will take place with the cams in the posi-
tion indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 16, the result of which will be to throw
up the levers intermediate of those that were raised by the first revolution; then
the cams having now been shifted back to their first position, the operation of
the first revolution is repeated, followed by that of the second, and so on con-
tinuously.
M, M, M, are wires or rods which encircle the loom, supported in brackets
attached to its frame. Upon M are placed the tension devices consisting of small
hubs, in each of which are inserted three wires radiating outward. To the lower
one is attached a weight 52; the other two have loops in their outer ends, as seen
at 2, 2¹, Figure 8. There is one of these tension devices for each warp strand, which
as it is wound off from its spool passes over the rod M₁ through the eye z, then
spirally around the wire ¹ through its eye and into the loom over the rod M¹¹.
:
The operation of this loom is as follows:-It being understood that the spool
containing the warp threads are provided and in their places, and that the said
threads have all been gathered in and carried down through the tube F so as to
arrange themselves in place around its rim, also that the woof threads are supplied
from the spools p, each being passed through the hole in its arm and ready to move
into the web; the loom is now put in motion, with the pick-up cams in the position
shown in Figures 9 and 15, and by the full lines in Figure 16. The pick-up levers
will thereby be thrown up in the order herein-before described, carrying up the
warp threads in the same order. The said threads as they are one after another
thrown up will be received upon the forward inclined ends of the lifters t, t¹, t², and
will be carried and supported on these lifters during the entire revolution of the
segment until they fall back again to their first position at the rear end of the
lifter on the last segment 19. The shuttle arms carrying the woof threads weave
the woof threads into the web around the rim of the tube F, the three arms at each
revolution weaving in three woof threads, and forcing them up into the web. Each
set of cams is situated with reference to one of the said segments so that the warp
threads are thrown up by it just in front of the lifter on such segment, and then remain
up, the lifters sliding under them, until they, the threads, fall back to their first
position at the rear of the segment I*, as before described. By this joint action of
the several shuttle arms, pick-up levers, and cams, as described, a three-ply hose is
produced.
If a web of a greater or less number of plies is desired to be made, as it is evident
may be done, it is only necessary to employ a greater or less number of sets of cams,
and a corresponding number of woof threads, shuttle carriers, arms, and carrier seg-
ments, arranging the pins in the pick-up levers upon the principles which I have
fully explained.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing

page_text: the same, I declare that, as the Invention to be protected by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent, I claim,―
In respect of the loom for weaving a single-ply fabric in the form of a tube, illus-
trated in Figures 1 to 7 of the Drawings,
First. In a circular loom for weaving a tubular web of indefinite length, the com-
bination of the pick-ups e actuated by mechanism, substantially as herein-before
specified, and so arranged as to raise the warp strands individually in a predeter-
mined order and present them to the lifter, the lifter J taking the warp strands
so raised from the pick-ups and lifting them collectively, for opening thereby the shed
of the warp, the partition wires for preserving the proper relation of the warp
strands to their respective pick-ups, devices for giving to the warp strands a yielding
tension, and means for delivering and packing the woof thread into the web, all
constructed and arranged to operate as shown and described.
Second. In a circular loom for weaving a cylindrical web, the combination of the
hollow tube D, through which passes the completed web, and around the open end
of which the web is formed, the segmental carrier I, and separator 13, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth and described.
Third. In a circular loom, the combination of the segmental carrier I, the sepa-
rator 13, and the arm 12, all being constructed to operate as shown and described.
Fourth. In a circular loom, the combination of the cams n, n¹, o, o', and mechanism,
substantially as described, for shifting the position of the same at each revolution
around the loom, whereby the pick-ups e are actuated to open the shed of the
all being constructed to operate as shown and described.
warp,
Fifth. In a circular loom for weaving a cylindrical web of indefinite length, the
_combination of the separator 13, the pick-ups e, and the devices described for giving
to the warp threads a yielding tension, all being constructed to operate as shown
and described.
Sixth. In a circular loom for weaving a tubular web of indefinite length, the
combination of a separator 13 for separating the warp shed near the point of
weaving, and mechanism, substantially as described, for giving to the warp threads
the requisite tension, all being constructed to operate as shown and described.
Seventh. The combination in a circular loom of the toothed carrier I, the pinions
3, 1, 2, 3, the rollers v, v¹, the discs 45, 46, 47, 48, whereby the said carrier is
driven, and while in motion is supported and maintained in position concentric to
the tube D, all being constructed to operate as shown and described.
Eighth. In a circular loom for weaving a tubular web of indefinite length, the
tension devices described, consisting of the hub N, the wires 50, 51, and 52, and the
weight 54 for regulating the tension of the warp threads, all being constructed to
operate as shown and described.
And in respect of the loom illustrated in Figures 8 to 16 of the Drawings I
claim,―
Ninth. In a circular loom for weaving a tubular web of more than one ply, the
combination of the pick-ups a with their levers c, having pins or lugs constructed
and arranged to operate as shown and described.
Tenth. In a circular loom for weaving a tubular web for more than one ply, the
combination of two or more sets of cams or inclined planes with the pick-ups a and
levers c provided with pins or lugs, with mechanism substantially as described,
whereby said cams are shifted relatively to each other, all being constructed to
operate as shown and described.
Eleventh. In a circular loom for weaving more than one ply, the combination of
two or more segmental gears I with the lifters t, t, &c., the pick-ups a, the partition
wires preserving the proper relation of the warp strands to their respective pick-ups,
the levers c, and shifting cams, all being constructed to operate as shown and
described.
Twelfth. The combination with the segmental carriers I of two or more lifters t,
constructed and acting to receive upon themselves the warp threads as and where

page_text: they are successively raised up by the pick-ups described, and conjointly acting
when said threads are once raised to bear up the same until a revolution of the loom
is completed, as shown and described.
Thirteenth. The combination in a circular loom for weaving a tubular web of
more than one ply of two or more segmental carriers, two or more shuttle arms n,
the pick-ups a, and two or more sets of shifting cams or inclined planes for actuating
said pick-ups, all being constructed to operate as shown and described.
Fourteenth. In a circular loom for weaving more than one ply, the combination of
the segmental carriers I, I', &c., the guards 8, 8', the lifters t, t¹, &c., the rollers l, l',
&c., and the pinions J, J', &c., all constructed to operate as shown and described.
Fifteenth. In a circular loom for weaving a tubular web of more than one ply, the
combination with two or more shifting cams or inclines, 40 to 51 inclusive, of devices,
substantially as described, actuated by said cams or inclines to throw the warp
threads to form the shed, the said cams or inclines being arranged to operate upon
certain series or groups of said devices during a portion only of their revolution
around the loom, and during the other portion of their revolution, and while free
from engagement with said devices, to be shifted to engage with an alternate series
of said devices, whereby the said warp threads, are during successive revolutions of
the loom, thrown in proper alternation to form the web, as set forth.
Sixteenth. In a circular loom the combination with mechanism for separating the
warp into a multiple shed of two or more gear segments I, severally carrying arms n
which bear spools of the woof thread, the whole constructed and arranged as
described, whereby two or more woof threads are delivered into the web at each
revolution in spiral coils one within another, thereby producing a web of more than
one ply, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.