IMPROVEMENTS IN "METHOD AND MEANS FOR TESTING FABRICS
Year: 1884

page_text: I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer. do hereby declare the nature of this invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
"METHOD AND MEANS FOR TESTING FABRICS" and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement-
This invention relates to a method of and means for testing fabrics and consists
in a method which involves a selection of a confined area of any fabric to be tested
and puncturing or breaking the same within such confined area and measuring the
force exerted in such puncturing or breaking and our invention consists further iu
any mechanical means for practicing said method.
Referring to the drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective of an apparatus constructed in accordance with our
invention and
Figure 2 is a nearly central vertical section of a portion of Fig. 1,
Figure 3 is a plan of a portion of said figure.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts.
On a suitable base A is secured a standard B the lower portion b of which is
extended to give a broad foundation and the upper portion of which is formed as a
neck b' and a head B. The standard B is bored vertically at B2 B3 and slotted
laterally and completely through as shown at B'. Within the boro B³ is fitted a
cylinder C, which is bored centrally and throughout its length as at C¹ and provided
with a plate bar or disk C³ closing its lower end. The upper end of the cylinder is
reduced to form a shoulder c upon which is fitted a collar D. The collar D is
provided with an anuular rib d'and the head B is provided with a groove b*
arranged to receive the rib d when the collar is raised against the head.
A shaft E bearing a cam E¹ and au operating lever or handle E is journalled in
the standard at or near its lower end and across its bore so that when the lever E³
is turned to an upright position the cam acts against the plate C and raises the
cylinder and the collar thereon so that the latter is forced firmly against the under
surface of the head B¹.
By the meaus thus far described it will be seen that when any fabric or sample

page_text: thereof, is inserted between the head and the collar the saine may be firmly clamped
therein between with its edges projecting therefrom as clearly shown in Fig. 3 and
that an area is selected wholly within its edges which area may be subjected to
force pressure or strain for the purpose of testing the strength of the fabric at any
or all points within the area so selected.
Without reference to further details of the mechanism herein shown it is evident
that by the usual well known devices for producing fluid, steam or air pressure
force may be exerted equally and completely over and against the one or the other
surface of the circular area thus selected by making connection in any suitable
manner with the bore of the cylinder C or of the head B. Such construction being
a matter of mechanical skill further description thereof is omitted.
Any ordinary pressure gage used in connection with such fluid or air pressure as
usual would indicate the amount of force required to fracture the fabric. In this
instance I illustrate means whereby a scale beam F is adapted to convey pressure
to the fabric and to indicate the amount of pressure exerted thereon. For this
purpose a plunger G is fitted within the cylinder C is slotted at G¹ and provided
with a friction roller g which rides upon the beam F back of its knife edged pivot f
as clearly shown in Fig. 2.
A slot c¹ in the cylinder C and a screw passing therethrough and into the
plunger prevents the latter from rotating horizontally and yet permits it to
reciprocate vertically within the cylinder.
As thus far described it will be seen that the fabric being clamped as described
the weight I may be moved until the plunger is forced against the under surface
of the fabric until the fabric X breaks as shown in Fig. 3 at which instant the
weight by its position on the beam and by the scale of pounds thereon will indicate
the number of pounds pressure at which the fabric is or was ruptured.
The essential mechanical devices for the application of our novel method have
now heretofore been described but to secure further accuracy other features of
construction are shown.
Fis a counterbalance rendered adjustable along the extension of the beam F by
means of the slotted body and its set screw f₁ whereby the weight of the poise
may be compensated.
h
The weight F is provided with a projection against which a depending
plate having a curved edge h¹ and supported on a rod H mounted in the neck of
the standard and extended over the beam F may be pressed in order to slide the
weight along the beam, without exerting thereon any downward pressure.
By this means a more accurate weighting of the force exerted by the plunger
upon the fabric is secured.
Additional weights I are provided which may be hung on the weight pan 1' to
measure forces beyond the capacity of the beam F.
In testing fabrics from different sources especially of different manufacturers
reliable tests require that the class be uniform and the fabric of the same grade
and hence the weight for example as in paper, and the thickness of the sample
should be considered 1 therefore secure to the head B pivot standards J and a
stop J of a paper weighing scale K the beam of which is provided with the usual
indicating characters to show the weight per ream of a sheet thereof placed in the
pan K The top of the sliding weight is removable and is used as shown in
connection with a scale of heavier weights upon the opposite side of the beam K
(not shown).
I claim
1. The method of testing fabrics which consists in rupturing or breaking the
same at a confined portion wholly within the edges of the fabric and measuring the

page_text: 3. The combination of a rigid clamping or confining mechanism a plunger and
means for measuring force applied to the plunger substantially as specified.
4. In a machine for testing fabrics an annular clamp, a concentric plunger and
a weighing apparatus connected with the plunger substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.