Improved Method of and Means for Producing Gauze Woven Tissues.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 7th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 12th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Means for Producing Gauze Woven
Tissues.
I FRIEDRICH ELMER-HONEGGER of Wald in the Canton of Zürich, Switzerland,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In the ordinary method of producing tissues with a gauze weave two sets of harness,
the back or ground harness and the front or gauze harness are employed, the latter of
which is placed 4 to 5 inches in front of the former. In weaving gauze tissues with
these two sets of harness two unequal sheds are formed, the plain or taffeta shed, and
the gauze shed, in forming the latter of which a twist of the two gauze forming warp
threads round each other takes place between the two sets of harness. This method
of weaving presents the following disadvantges
1
The warp threads are unequally stretched in the two different sheds; for the two
sets of harness four leaves with entire healds and two shafts with doups or half-healds,
consequently 5 shafts at the top and bottom are required, occupying at least 6 inches
of space and leaving little room for other leaves; and the loom can only work
slowly, as the harness otherwise would soon become worn out in consequence of the
great friction.
My improved method consists in employing only one set of gauze harness which
by means of slotted mails arranged therein works in such a manner that in producing
a gauze weave two equal sheds are formed in which the warp threads are never
twisted round each other between the lease rod and the harness. By these means the
following advantages are secured: Equal tension of the warp threads in both sheds ;
a simpler arrangement of harness, consisting only of two slotted mails with two half-
healds, having only three shafts at the top and bottom occupying at most 2 inches
and leaving more rooom for other shafts; and a greater speed of the loom than is
possible with the ordinary arrangement without more wear and tear of the harness.
On the 5 sheets of drawings appended hereunto Fig. 1 shows the harness in its first
position with the shed closed.
Fig. 2 the same with the first open shed.
Fig. 2a and 2 details of the same on an enlarged scale.
Fig. 3 the position with the shed closed a second time.
Fig. 4 the positions with the second open shed.
Fig. 5 a slotted mail with the shafts in approximately full size.
Fig. 5 a part of the mail with the two half-healds on an enlarged scale.
Fig. 6, a detail.
In order to facilitate the explanation of the working of the harness, all other parts
of the loom have been omitted or indicated only on the drawings.
The shaft A is suspended by one or several strings 6 under spring tension as
indicated by the helical spring a and has tied to it by threads c slotted mails D.
The latter have slots e and through which the half-healds or slings g and h, herein-
after called slings, pass and are strung upon the shafts I and K which are actuated in
any ordinary manner. The essential part of the arrangement are the slotted mails.
These are formed out of thin plates of suitable metal finely finished so that the slings
sliding on them are worn as little as possible. The plate is pointed at one end
(figs. 5 and 5) and has near to the point an eyelet s through which a warp thread is
drawn. The other end is rounded and has an eyelet u by which the mail is connected
to the shaft A by means of the thread c. In the mail two long slots e and f
herein before referred to are cut, and terminate near to the point in such a manner
that when one of the slings moving in them is pulled, it covers the point of the mail

page_text: on both sides so that a warp thread sliding along the sling and mail is not impeded
in its motion. The eyelets may also be placed between the ends of the slots or
otherwise near to these ends.
The cords P and 9 are passed over pulleys and t and connected to the shedding
motion of the loom. The two shafts 1 K' are tied to these cords and carry by means
of the slings g' and h¹ the slotted mails D', which are connected to the shaft A¹ by
means of strings c². The shaft A¹ is connected by cord 61 to the spring a¹.
To the shafts I and K¹ cords and m are attached and passing under the guide
pulleys n and o are connected to the shafts I and K, which as herein before described
are suspended by slings and h from the mails D. The shaft I and K are
further connected by cords p' and q' to springs a° and a² attached to a fixed part of
the loom.
The drawing-in of the warp is arranged in the following manner: The lease rod w
is placed between the two warp threads S and S. The thread S₁ passes over w
between the slings gl and h¹ and through the eyes of the mail D, thence through the
reed and under the weft thread v. The warp thread S passes under w through the
eye of the mail D¹, between the slings g and h and between the same dents in
the reed as S₁, but above the weft thread v. In the position shewn by fig. 1 the
thread S is on the right hand of S'.
The first open shed fig. 2 is produced in the following manner, proceeding from
the position, fig. 1: The cord p lifts the shaft l' with sling g¹ and thereby D¹ and A',
the spring a being stretched thereby. By the cord passing round pulley n the
shaft I with sling g and thereby the mail D and shaft A are pulled down, the
springs a and a being further stretched. By these movements the thread S is lifted
by the mail D¹ on the left side of S' and the thread S¹ drawn down by the mail D
on the right side of S, so that behind the weft thread the two warp threads
become twisted round each other and are secured in that position by the next weft
thread v. Simultaneously with the lift of the shaft I¹ the shaft K₁ with slings h¹ is
released by the cord 9 and pulled down by the cord m, the shaft K being lifted at the
same time by the cord q¹ and spring a². This permits the slings h and h¹ to follow
in the slots of the mails the movement of the warp threads S and S¹ up and down
respectively, especially as the spring a² relieves the slings from the weight of the
shaft K.
Figs. 2 and 2 show (more clearly than fig. 2) the way in which tho slings are
held by the warp threads in the slots of the mails.
The next position of the parts when the shed is closed again is shewn by fig. 3.
The shaft I is lowered by the cord p and the shaft K₁ simultaneously lifted by. the
cord into its former position (fig. 1). When the shed is thus closed again, the
thread S¹ is now on the right hand of S contrary to the first position, fig. 1. For
forming the second shed, the cord q lifts the shaft K₁ with slings h¹ and the latter
the mails D¹ and shaft A¹, the spring a¹ being stretched again. At the same time
the cord m passing round pulley o draws down the shaft K with slings and through
these the mail D and shaft A, expanding the springs a and a². In consequence of
these motions the warp thread S is lifted by the mail D¹ on the right side of S¹ and
the latter is drawn down by the mail D on the left of S, therefore the threads are
twisted behind the weft v¹ in the contrary direction to the former twist shewn in
fig. 2, and are secured in this position by the next following weft thread v². While
the shaft Krises, the shaft I¹ is released by the cord p and the spring a pulls it
down, lifting at the same time the shaft 1 by means of the cord. pl. This permits
the slings g and g' to follow in the slots of the mails the movement of the threads S
and S'.
The cords P and g then return to their position shown on fig. 1 and the play of
the parts is repeated, whereby an even complete gauze weave is obtained. Fig. 6
shews a small hook inserted into the threads c, which arrangement allows any one of
the mails to be detached from the shaft A, fig. 5, so that it can be passed through
the warp at any place and then be re-attached to the shaft c,

page_text: The cords p¹, b, q' and 6' instead of being attached to springs may be attached to
jacks or treadles or their equivalent receiving a positive motion from tappets on the
tappet shaft.
"
The harness herein described may obviously be used in conjunction with other
harness for the production of gauze stripes or for crossed warp selvedges for "split-
ups
or tissues to be divided lengthways. It is also obvious that by lifting one of
the shafts I or K several times in succession and then changing, instead of changing
at every pick, one or more of the warpthreads may be floated for several picks for
the production of leno-like fabrics.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Means for Producing Gauze Woven
Tissues.
I FRIEDRICH ELMER-HONEGGER of Wald in the Canton of Zurich Switzerland
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
In the ordinary method of producing tissues with a gauze weave two sets of
harness the back or ground harness and the front or gauze harness are employed the
latter of which is placed 4 to 5 inches in front of the former. In weaving gauze
tissues with these two sets of harness two unequal sheds are formed the plain or
taffeta shed and the gauze shed in forming the latter of which a twist of the two
gauze forming warp threads round each other takes between the two sets of harness.
This method of weaving presents the following disadvantages; the warp threads are
unequally stretched in the two different sheds; for the two sets of harness four
leaves with entire healds and two shafts with doups or half healds, consequently
5 shafts at the top and bottom are required occupying at least 6 inches of space and
leaving little room for other leaves and the loom can only work slowly as the harness
otherwise would soon become worn out in consequence of the great friction.
My improved method consists in employing only one set of gauze harness which by
means of slotted mails arranged therein works in such a manner that in producing
a gauze weave two equal sheds are formed in which the warp threads are never
twisted round each other between the lease rod and the harness. By these means the
following advantages are secured: equal tension of the warp threads in both sheds, a
simpler arrangement of harness, consisting only of two slotted mails with two half
healds having only three shafts at the top and bottom occupying at most 2 inches
and leaving more room for other shafts, and a greater speed of the loom than is
possible with the ordinary arrangement without more wear and tear of the harness.
On the drawings appended hereunto
Figure 1 shows the harness in its first position with the shed closed.
Figure 2 the same with the first open shed.
Figures 2 and 2b details of the same on an enlarged scale.
Figure 3 the positions with the shed closed a second time.
Figure 4 the positions with the second open shed.
Figure 5 a slotted mail with the shafts on an enlarged scale.
Figure 5ª a part of the mail with the two half healds on a still larger scale.
Figure 6. a detail.
Figure 7 a sectional side elevation and
Figure 8 a front elevation of a loom fitted with my improved harness showing in
outline how it may be actuated.
In order to facilitate the explanation of the working of the harness all parts of the
loom not material thereto have been omitted or indicated only on the drawings.
The shaft A is suspended by one or several strings 6 under spring tension as

page_text: indicated by the helical spring a and has tied to it by the threads c slotted mails D.
The latter have slots e and through which the half healds or slings g and h herein-
after called slings pass and are strung upon the shafts I and K which are actuated in
any ordinary manner. The essential part of the arrangement are the slotted mails.
These are formed out of thin plates of suitable metal finely finished so that the slings
sliding on them are worn as little as possible. The plate is pointed at one end
(figures 5 and 5a) and has near to the point an eyelet s through which one or several
warp threads are drawn. The other end is rounded and has an eyelet u by which the
mail is connected to the shaft A by means of the thread c. In the mail two long
slots e and hereinbefore referred to are cut, and terminate near to the point in such
a manner that when one of the slings moving in them is pulled it covers the point of
the mail on both sides so that warp threads sliding along the sling and mail are not
impeded in their motion. The eyelet s may also be placed between the ends of the
slots or otherwise near to those ends.
The cords and q are passed over rollers r and t and connected to the shedding
motion of the loom. The two shafts I' and K¹ are tied to these cords and carry by
means of the slings g' and ¹ the slotted mail D¹ which are connected to the shaft A¹
by means of threads c'. The shaft A¹ is connected by cord 61 to the spring a¹. To
the shafts I¹ and K' cords and m are attached and passing under the guide pulleys n
and o are connected to the shafts, I and K, which as herein before described are
suspended by slings g and h from the mails D. The shafts I and K are further
connected by cords p¹ and q¹ to springs a¹ and a² attached to a fixed part of the
loom.
The drawing in of the warp is arranged in the following manner: the lease rod w is
placed between the two warp threads S and S¹. The thread S¹ passes over w between
the slings g' and hand through the eyes of the mail 1), thence through the reed
and under the weft v. The warp thread S passes under w through the eye of the
mail D¹ between the slings g and hand between the same dents in the reed as S¹ but
above the weft thread v. In the position shewn by figure 1 the thread S is on the
right hand of S'.
The first open shed figure 2 is produced in the following manner proceeding from
the position figure 1, the cord p lifts the shaft 1' with sling g' and thereby D¹ and A',
the spring a¹ being stretched thereby. By the cord passing round pulley n. the
shaft with sling g and thereby the mail D and shaft A are pulled down, the
springs a and a being further stretched. By these movements the thread S is lifted
by the mail D¹ on the left side of S¹ and the thread S¹ drawn down by the mail D on
the right side of S, so that behind the weft thread the two warp threads become
twisted round each other and are secured in that position by the next weft thread v¹.
Simultaneously with the lift of the shaft I' the shaft K' with slings h¹ is released by
the cord q and pulled down by the cord m, the shaft K being lifted at the same time
by the cord q¹ and spring a². This permits the slings h¹ and h to follow in the slots
of the mails the movement of the warp threads S and S¹ up and down respectively
especially as the spring a² relieves the slings / from the weight of the shaft K.
Figures 2 and 2b show (more clearly than figure 2) the way in which the slings
are held by the warp threads in the slot of the mails.
The next position of the parts when the shed is closed again is shewn by figure 3.
The shaft I is lowered by the cord p and the shaft K' simultaneously lifted by the
cord q into its former position (shewn by figure 1). When the shed is thus closed again,
the thread S is now on the right hand of S contrary to the first position figure 1.
For forming the second shed the cord g lifts the shaft K¹ with slings h¹ and the latter
the mail D¹ and shaft A', the spring a being stretched again. At the same time the
cord m passing round pulley o draws down the shaft K with slings h and through
these the mail Dand shaft A expanding the springs a and a². In consequence of these
motions the warp thread S is lifted by the mail D' on the right side of S' and the
latter is drawn down by the mail D on the left of S, therefore the threads are twisted
behind the weft v¹ in the contrary direction to the former twist shewn in figure 2 and
are secured in this position by the next following weft thread v². While the shaft K'

page_text: rises, the shaft I¹ is released by the cord p and the spring a pulls it down, lifting at
the same time the shaft I by means of the cord p'. This permits the slings g and g¹
to follow in the slots of the mails the movement of the threads S and S¹.
The cords p and then return to their position shewn on figure 1 and the play of
the parts is repeated whereby an even complete gauze weave is obtained. Figure 6
shows a small hook inserted into the threads c. which arrangement allows any one of
the mails to be easily detached from the shaft A. figure 5 so that it can be passed
through the warp at any place and then be reattached to the shaft A. The cords p¹, b, q¹
and 6' instead of being attached to springs may be attached to jacks or treadles or
their equivalent receiving a positive motion from tappets on the tappet shaft.
"
The harness herein before described may obviously be used in conjunction with other
harness for the production of gauze stripes or for crossed warp selvedges for "split ups
or tissues to be divided lengthways. It is also obvious that by lifting one of the
shafts I or K¹ several times in succession and then changing instead of changing at
every pick one or both of the warp threads may be floated for several picks for the
production of leno like fabrics.
The harness acting as herein before specified may be simply arranged in a loom as
follows. Figures 7 and 8 represent a loom of ordinary shape a second rail or frame
being arranged above the usual top rail on which the cord pulleys and t are mounted
and from which the shafts are suspended by the springs a° a a². The warp S. S₁ passes
from the warp beam Z over the back beam Y and is divided by the lease rods w¹ w
then passes through the gauze harness the reed R and over the breast beam H and
sand roller U to the cloth beam T; aa and y y are the treadles for lifting the warp.
The gauze harness is held in position by the two treading cords p and q which pass
over the pulleys and t, by the springs a" a a² above the warp and by the cords
and m and the spring a¹ below the warp. It consists as hereinbefore described of the
two sets of shafts AIK and A' 1' K composed of the staves A A' I I¹K K' the
threads c c¹ slotted mails D D' with appertaining slings g h and g¹ h¹.
The cords p and q pass over the pulleys and t and are connected to the treadles
figure 8. To these cords the two shafts or staves I¹ and K' are attached and these
support by means of the slings g¹¹ the slotted mail D' connected by the threads c¹ to
the shaft A'. The shaft A¹ is connected by the thread 6' to the spring a¹. From the
shafts I' and K' the cords and m pass to the bottom round the pulleys n and o and
ascend again to the shafts I and K which as herein before described are connected by
means of the slings g. and h. with the slotted mail D this mail being elastically
connected by c A ba to a fixed point while the shafts I K are held by means of the
cords p q and the tension springs a° and a².
This arrangement of the harness in the loom has been shewn as a specimen of how
the harness may be applied in practice but obviously many different arrangements
may be used for suspending and actuating the shafts as required for producing the
motions hereinbefore described, varying according to the general construction or
arrangement of the loom in which the harness is to be used. One of the two slotted
mails for contiguous warp threads may also be omitted in some cases and the
respective warp thread guided by an ordinary heald operated in a suitable manner
without altering the method of weaving gauze rendered possible by the slotted mails.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
Firstly. The method or process of producing gauze woven fabrics by means of two
sets of shafts containing slotted mails operated in such a manner that two equal open
sheds are formed without any crossing or twisting of the warp threads behind said
shafts substantially as described.
Secondly. A gauze harness for looms in which both sheds are formed symmetrically
in consequence of each two warp threads S. and S¹ to be crossed (or sets of warp
threads to be crossed) being guided by means of lancet shaped slotted mails D and D
whose motions in opposite directions are produced by simultaneous pulls on the

page_text: slings g and g' and releases of the slings and h' alternating with simultaneous pulls
on the slings h and h¹ and releases of the slings g and g¹, the released slings being
moved by the warp thread passing through the other mail so that one of the warp
threads (S) is lifted into the upper shed alternately on the right and the left side of
the other warp thread (S') substantially as described.
Thirdly. In gauze harness the arrangement of a spring a or its equivalent connected
to the shaft A carrying the slotted mails D, slings h and g carrying shafts I and K
and actuated through cords and m directly or indirectly by the treadles and tappets
or their equivalent substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the
drawings.
Fourthly. In harness for weaving gauze and similar fabrics the use of lancet shaped
mails D with longitudinal slots and one or more eyelets s for the
thread near
warp
to which said longitudinal slots terminate and an eyelet at the other end for attaching
the mail to the shaft substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
drawings.
Fifthly. Slotted mails of lancet shaped form with slots e and f and eyelets s near to
the pointed end for the warp and at the other end for the attaching thread, sub-
stantially as herein before described more particularly with reference to figure 5 of the
drawings and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 5th day of March 1890.
EMMOTT & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.