CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BRAIDING MACHINES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas James Sloan, of Paris, in the Empire of
France, Engineer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
BRAIDING MACHINES."
Sealed the 10th November 1868, and dated the 11th September 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas James Sloan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his -Petition, on the
11th September 1863.
I, THOMAS JAMES SLOAN, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BRAIDING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to further improvements in a certain description of
braiding machines for which Letters Patent were granted to John Henry
Johnson, bearing date the Eighteenth day of October, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-one, No. 2604, and these present improvements are designed,
first, to render the said machine (the details of which are fully described
in the Specification of such Letters Patent) available for the manufacture of
one or several widths of braid upon the same machine, or to make braid of
different patterns or colors upon the same machine. This part of the Invention
consists in subdividing the circuit or "race" of the spindles, which is composed

page_text: of a series of segmental plates into as many divisions as there are numbers of
braids required, and placing the "braiding fingers" at the limit of each sub-
division to form the selvedges, stops being employed to confine the movement
of the spindles to each braid. It will thus be evident that by using one pair
of "fingers" in combination with "stops," and altering their position (nearer
together or further apart) that one braid may be produced of any width deter-
nined upon, and that by subdividing the circuit, and employing a pair of
fingers to each width of braid required, that several braids may be produced
on the same machine, such machinery being applicable to the manufacture of
either flat or round braids, either simply braided or enclosing a core of cord,
gut, rubber, or other material.
A second part of the Invention relates to that part of the aforesaid machine
where the braid is formed at the apex of a hollow cone or trumpet mouth, by
which the braid passes from the machine, and consists in the employment and
use of a "cap" or "presser" to fit over the braid so as to press it over the
sides of the cone, and to spread it into a flat circle, whereby the tension is
equalized.
Thirdly, my Invention relates to a method of stopping braiding machines
when a thread breaks, which is applicable to all descriptions of braiding
machines, and consists in the use of four or more bent levers or fingers against
which all the spindles bear as they move round in either direction; and so
arranged that when a thread breaks, the absence of the thread causes the lever
to disconnect the driving gear, the mechanism being acted upon in the same
manner irrespective of the direction of movement of the spindle, whereby
breakage of the machine is avoided.
And, lastly, my Invention consists in the use of a hollow bush or tube
encircling the spindle upon which the carriers are to act to move the spindle,
instend of acting on the spindle as hitherto.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas James Sloan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3
11th March 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
JAMES SLOAN, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of September, in the year of our Lord 3

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto ine, het
said Thomas Janies Sloan, Her special license that I, the said Thomas James
Sloan, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Thomas James Sloan, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BRAIDING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Thomas James Sloan, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas James Sloan, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :-
My Invention relates to further improvements in a certain description of
braiding machines for which Letters Patent were granted to John Henry
Johnson, bearing date the Eighteenth day of October, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-one, No. 2604, and these present improvements are designed,
first, to render such machine (the details of which are fully described in the
Specification of such Letters Patent) available for the manufacture of one or
several widths of braid upon the same machine, or to make braid of different
patterns or colors upon the same machine. This part of the Invention consists
in subdividing the circuit or "race" of the spindles, which is composed of a
series of segmental plates, into as many divisions as there are number of braids
required, and placing the "braiding fingers at the limit of each subdivision
to form the selvedges, "stops" being employed to confine the movement of
the spindles to each braid. It will thus be evident that by using one pair of
fingers" in combination with "stops," and altering their position (nearer
together or further apart) that one braid may be produced of any width deter-
mined upon, and that by subdividing the circuit, and employing a pair of
fingers to each width of braid required, that several braids may be produced
on the same machine, such machinery being applicable to the manufacture of,
13

page_text: either flat or round braids, either simply braided or enclosing a core of cord,
gut, rubber, &c.
A second part of the Invention relates to that part of the aforesaid machine
where the braid is formed at the apex by a hollow cone or trumpet mouth
by which the braid passes from the machine, and consists in the employment
and use of a "cap or "presser" to fit over the braid so as to press it over
the sides of the cone, and to spread it into a flat circle, whereby the tension is
equalized.
"
Thirdly, my Invention relates to a method of stopping braiding machines
when a thread breaks, which is applicable to all descriptions of braiding
machines, and consists in the use of four or more bent levers or fingers, against
which all the spindles bear as they move round in either direction, and so
arranged that when a thread breaks, the absence of the thread causes the lever
to disconnect the driving gear, the mechanism being acted upon in the same
manner irrespective of the direction of movement of the spindles, whereby
breakage of the machine is avoided.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail, I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings made upon a scale of
about three inches to a foot, similar letters of reference being marked on
corresponding parts of the apparatus in the various Figures.
Fig. 1 represents a vertical sectional view of the apparatus or mechanism,
sbewing more particularly the arrangement of apparatus for effecting the
stoppage of the machine when any of the threads become disunited, consisting
of levers, which are acted upon to disconnect the driving gear, by a projecting
"needle" in the spindle during its movement; this view also shews in section
the cap and spring for pressing the braid over the apex or sides of the
"drawing-off" tube as it is formed to spread the braid and make it flat;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, shewing the subdivision of the circuit of the
spindles by the "stop plates," shewn divided into four sections, for example;
this view also shows the arrangement of mechanism for stopping the machine;
Fig. 3 represents a detached portion of the circuit shewn enlarged, exhibiting
the stopping wheel and carriers and stopping levers, the needle being shewn
projecting from the spindle, as when not retained in position by the thread,
and consequently in a position to stop the machine by its contact with the levers;
Fig. 4 is a diagram shewing the entire circuit of the spindles without "stop
plates" or as used for making cord or round braid; Fig. 5 is a diagram shewing
the circuit and disposition of the spindles when two "stop plates" are used, as
in forming one flat braid on the machine; Fig. 6 shews the circuit divided inta

page_text: two by the use of four "
stop plates" for making two flat braids. This system
or principle of subdividing the circuit is equally applicable to the ordinary
construction of braiding machines by simply inserting "stop plates," "governors,"
or "conductors," to divide the circuit, and employing two termination"" roses
or carriers
at the limits of each division. For instance, in ordinary machines
of large circuit the course may be limited by "plates" or "governors" to form
narrow braid thereon instead of wide. I would further remark that in large
circuits "fingers" or their equivalents may be required.
In Figs. 1 and 2, a, a, is the framing of the machine supporting the grooved
plates b, b, and the spindles c, c, and "roses" or "carriers "d, d, all of which
have been described in the Specification of Letters Patent aforesaid; e, e, e, are
the "fingers," which form the braid, and are placed at the limits of each
division, terminating in the "stop plates" f, f, f, which have the return course
or groove formed therein.
In Fig. 1, g is the hollow tube, at the top of which the braid is formed, and
down which it is delivered; h is the cap or presser, which is pressed upon the
braid by means of the spring i at the point marked, where it is interwoven
or braided, the degree of pressure being adjusted by the screw and nut k; this
effects the even tension of the threads, and forms an even flat braid. The
needles in the spindles (seen in Fig. 3), are retained in the spindle by means
of the threads, and in the disunion of a thread the needle projects below, and
comes into contact with the lever m, and forces it outwards, which draws the
wire n, causing the wheel o to turn, which releases the lever p and allows it to
leave the notch in the arm 2, by which means the driving gear is disconnected
in the method, described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to
John Henry Johnson, dated the Twenty-eighth day of January One thousand
eight bundred and sixty-three, No. 257. Any required number of these levers
and wires may be applied according to the precision of action required in
stopping the spindles, the more levers employed and the more speedily will the
machine be stopped when a thread breaks.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the
method of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly.
understood that I claim,-
First, subdividing the circuit or course of the spindles in braiding machines,
whether by means of "stops," plates," or other equivalent means, employed to
limit or confine the movements of the spindles for the purpose of forming
more than one braid on the same machine.
Secondly, the application and use of a "cap" or "
presser" to spread the

page_text: braid into a flat circle over the apex of the delivery tube to equalize the
tension on the braid, which is particularly applicable to the description of
machine in the Letters Patent before recited.
Thirdly, I claim stopping the mechanism of braiding machines by the
action of the "needle" against the lever in the absence of the thread, as
herein-before described, set forth, and fully illustrated in the Drawings
attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas James Sloan, have hereunto set
my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witnessed by.
JOHN L. DAVIES,
Office for Patents,
4, St. Anne's Sqc,
Manchester.
THỤS. J. SLOAN. (L..8.)