Means and method of controlling the speed of a circular knitting machine

Claim 2

A knitting machine having in combination a variable delivery hydraulic pump of the type adapted for having drive connection with a source of power and to have a constant input speed, a motor having drive connection with said pump and with the knitting machine for driving the latter, a control member operably connected to said pump and adapted for movement to and from machine-starting, stopping and runninG positions, a manual stop control and a timing stop control operably connected to said control member for moving the latter to its machine-stopping position, releasable detent means for releasably holding said control member in its machine-stopping position, a manual start control and a timing start control operably associated with said detent means for releasing the latter from holding said control member and for moving the latter to a low-speed position, spring means biassing said control member towards a high-speed position, adjustable stop means for locating said control member in said low and high speed positions and in an intermediate speed position, and a timing speed control for automatically changing control between said adjustable stop means for the high and intermediate positions.

Claim 3

A machine as claimed in claim 1 having a first solenoid arranged for moving said control member to a machine-starting position, a second solenoid arranged for moving said control member to a machine-stopping position, and a third solenoid arranged for permitting, when energized, movement of said control member to its high speed position and preventing such movement when de-energized.

Claim 4

A knitting machine having in combination, a variable speed hydraulic driver of the type comprising a hydraulic pump adapted for having drive connection with a source of power and for permitting variable delivery adjustments of it while maintaining its input speed constant, a motor having drive connection with said pump. and the knitting machine for driving the latter, control mechanism including a control member operably connected to said pump for effecting the latter''s variable adjustments so that the motor drive is thereby controlled for starting and stopping the knitting machine and for running the latter at variable speeds, operating members operably connected to said control mechanism to provide that said starting and stopping of the knitting machine and said running of the latter at said variable speeds, occur at required times, and having a manually adjustable operating member operably associated with said control mechanism for starting the machine and increasing its speed at will of an operator, and a solenoid and associated mechanism operable under control of a limit operation of said adjustable operating member for maintaining the machine running and permitting release of the adjustable operating member.

Claim 5

A knitting machine having in combination, a variable speed hydraulic driver of the type comprising a hydraulic pump adapted for having drive connection with a source of power and for permitting variable delivery adjustments of it while maintaining its input speed constant, a motor having drive connection with said pump. and the knitting machine for driving the latter, control mechanism including a control member operably connected to said pump for effecting the latter''s variable adjustments so that the motor drive is thereby controlled for starting and stopping the knitting machine and for running the latter at variable speeds, operating members operably connected to said control mechanism to provide that said starting and stopping of the knitting machine and said running of the latter at said variable speeds, occur at required times, and having a manually adjustable operating member operably associated with said control mechanism for starting the machine and increasing its speed at will of an operator, and a solenoid and associated mechanism operable under control of a limit operation of said adjustable operating member for maintaining the machine running and permitting release of the adjustable operating member.

Claim 6

A knitting machine having in combination, a variable speed hydraulic driver of the type comprising a hydraulic pump adapted for having drive connection with a source of power and for permitting variable delivery adjustments of it while maintaining its input speed constant, a motor having drive connection with said pump and the knitting machine for driving the latter, control mechanism including a control member operably connected to said pump for effecting the latter''s variable adjustments so that the motor drive is thereby controlled for starting and stopping the knitting machine and for running the latter at variable speeds, operating members operably connected to said control mechanism to provide that said starting and stopping of the knitting machine and said running of the latter at said variable speeds, occur at required times, and having a manually adjustable operating member arranged for moving said control member to start the machine and increase its speed, a first solenoid and associated mechanism arranged for the purpose of releasably holding said control member in its increased speed position, said first solenoid being energizable for said purpose by limit operation of said manually adjustable operating member, fault-detecting means and a stop control arranged to de-energize said first solenoid, for stopping the machine, and a second solenoid and associated mechanism arranged for moving said control member to reduce the machine''s speed.

Claim 7

A knitting machine having in combination, a variable speed hydraulic driver of the type comprising a hydraulic pump adapted for having drive connection with a source of power and for permitting variable delivery adjustments of it while maintaining its input speed constant, a motor having drive connection with said pump and the knitting machine for driving the latter, control mechanism including a control member operably connected to said pump for effecting the latter''s variable adjustments so that the motor drive is thereby controlled for starting and stopping the knitting machine and for running the latter at variable speeds, operating members operably connected to said control mechanism to provide that said starting and stopping of the knitting machine and said running of the latter at said variable speeds, occur at required times, and having a manually adjustable operating member arranged for moving said control member to start the machine and increase its speed, a first solenoid and associated mechanism arranged for the purpose of releasably holding said control member in its increased speed position, said first solenoid being energizable for said purpose by limit operation of said manually adjustable operating member, fault-detecting means and a stop control arranged to de-energize said first solenoid, for stopping the machine, and a second solenoid and associated mechanism arranged for moving said control member to reduce the machine''s speed.