US3875973A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shed mechanism for a weaving machine
Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corp
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Filing: 1972-10-13
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1992-10-13
Abstract
Abstract A circular weaving machine in which longitudinal threads are arranged in radial groups is provided with a shed mechanism for creating shed openings in the radial groups so that a wrap thread can be passed through the openings to produce a circular weave. The shed mechanism includes operating threads connected with the longitudinal threads and arranged in corresponding groups. The operating threads of each group extend outwardly from the longitudinal threads and thence downwardly, and suspended from the depending portions of the operating threads are gripping balls. A draw bar positioned below the gripping balls carries a pick-up assembly and indexing assembly for incrementally advancing the pick-up assembly. The pick-up assembly moves in the direction in which the group of balls is arranged, and as it does it either engages or disengages the gripping balls of the group, depending on the direction of movement. When a selected number of gripping balls are engaged or disengaged, a drive assembly lowers the draw bar and this pulls the operating threads connected with the engaged gripping balls downwardly. The displaced operating threads in turn draw the longitudinal threads to which they are connected outwardly to create a shed opening in the group of longitudinal threads.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert W Kallmeyer
- 👤 Jr Harry A Holman
- 👤 William W Weaver
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:08
CPC Classifications
D; D03; D03D; D03D37/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
In a weaving machine having longitudinal threads arranged in groups with the threads of each group being side-by-side, a device for creating shed openings in the groups so that another thread can be passed through the shed openings to effect a weave; said device comprising: a connector engaged with each longitudinal thread for displacing its longitudinal thread when the connector is moved, the connectors for the longitudinal threads of each group being arranged in a line; pick-up means for engaging a selected number of the connectors of a line of connectors; selector means connected to the pick-up means for moving the pick-up means in the direction of the line of connectors and for thereby varying the number of connectors engaged by the pick-up means; and drive means for moving the pick-up means such that the connectors engaged by the pick-up means move, whereby the longitudinal threads are displaced and a shed opening may be created in the individual groups of longitudinal threads.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
In a weaving machine having longitudinal threads arranged in groups with the threads of each group being side-by-side, a device for creating shed openings in the groups so that another thread can be passed through the shed openings to effect a weave; said device comprising: a connector engaged with each longitudinal thread for displacing its longitudinal thread when the connector is moved, the connectors for the longitudinal threads of each group being arranged in a line; pick-up means for engaging a selected number of the connectors of a line of connectors; selector means connected to the pick-up means for moving the pick-up means in the direction of the line of connectors and for thereby varying the number of connectors engaged by the pick-up means; and drive means for moving the pick-up means such that the connectors engaged by the pick-up means move, whereby the longitudinal threads are displaced and a shed opening may be created in the individual groups of longitudinal threads.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the connectors are enlarged at their ends; wherein the pick-up means has an open end and a hollow interior leading from the open end; and wherein the selector means moves the pick-up means such that the open end thereof receives the enlarged portions on the connectors in a line as the pick-up means moves toward and along the line of connectors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 2 wherein each connector includes an elongated flexible element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 3 wherein the elongated flexible element for each connector depends downwardly and the enlarged portion of the connector is suspended from the depending flexible element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A device according to claim 4 wherein the pick-up means and selector means are carried by a draw bar, and the drive means moves the draw bar upwardly and downwardly, whereby when the draw bar moves downwardly the enlarged portions are engaged by the pick-up assembly and the flexible elements are drawn downwardly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
A device according to claim 2 wherein the pick-up means and the selector means are mounted on a member which is shifted by the drive means; wherein the pick-up means has ratchet teeth thereon; and wherein the selector means includes a pawl for engaging the ratchet teeth and shifting the pick-up means, and actuating means for moving the pawl.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
A device according to claim 6 wherein the pick-up means has two sets of ratchet teeth with the teeth of one set being oriented in the direction opposite to the teeth in the other set, and wherein the selector means includes two pawls with one pawl being engageable with one set of ratchet teeth for moving the pick-up means in one direction, and the other pawl being engaged with the other set of ratchet teeth for moving the pick-up means in the opposite direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
174 words
In a circular weaving machine having longitudinal threads arranged in radial groups about the center axis of the weaving machine, a device for creating shed openings in the radial groups so that a wrap thread can be passed through the shed openings to effect a weave; said device comprising elongated connectors including thread-like elements connected with the longitudinal threads of each group and extended outwardly therefrom and thereafter depending downwardly and further including enlarged elements suspended from the depending portion of the thread-like elements, the connectors also being arranged in groups such that a group of connectors is associated with each group of the longitudinal threads, pick-up means for each group of connectors, each pick-up means being engageable with the enlarged elements of the connectors of a group, selector means for each pick-up means for varying the number of connectors engaged by that pick-up means, and drive means for moving the pick-up means so that the engaged connectors will be displaced, whereby the longitudinal threads connected with the displaced connectors will also be displaced.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
174 words
In a circular weaving machine having longitudinal threads arranged in radial groups about the center axis of the weaving machine, a device for creating shed openings in the radial groups so that a wrap thread can be passed through the shed openings to effect a weave; said device comprising elongated connectors including thread-like elements connected with the longitudinal threads of each group and extended outwardly therefrom and thereafter depending downwardly and further including enlarged elements suspended from the depending portion of the thread-like elements, the connectors also being arranged in groups such that a group of connectors is associated with each group of the longitudinal threads, pick-up means for each group of connectors, each pick-up means being engageable with the enlarged elements of the connectors of a group, selector means for each pick-up means for varying the number of connectors engaged by that pick-up means, and drive means for moving the pick-up means so that the engaged connectors will be displaced, whereby the longitudinal threads connected with the displaced connectors will also be displaced.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
271 words
In a circular weaving machine including means for arranging longitudinal threads in radial groups about the center axis of the machine with the longitudinal threads of each radial group being positioned within a radially extending plane passing through the center axis and with succeeding longitudinal threads of each group being located further from the center axis, and further including threading means moving circumferentially around the center axis and through the groups of longitudinal threads for laying a wrap thread in the radial groups so as to form a generally circular weave; a device for creating shed openings in the radial groups so that the threading means can deposit the wrap thread in the shed openings, said device comprising: elongated connectors having inner ends connected with the longitudinal threads and extending outwardly away from the center axis, the connectors also being arranged in groups such that each group of connectors is associated with a different group of longitudinal threads, the opposite ends of the connectors for each group being arranged in a row which lies generally in a radial plane, pick-up means for each group of connectors for engaging a selected number of the connectors at their opposite ends, selector means connected to the pick-up means for varying the number of connectors engaged by the pick-up means, and drive means for moving the pick-up means such that the connectors engaged by the drive means move, whereby the longitudinal threads associated with the engaged connectors are displaced and shed openings may be created in the individual groups of longitudinal threads and the position of a shed opening in a group may be changed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
271 words
In a circular weaving machine including means for arranging longitudinal threads in radial groups about the center axis of the machine with the longitudinal threads of each radial group being positioned within a radially extending plane passing through the center axis and with succeeding longitudinal threads of each group being located further from the center axis, and further including threading means moving circumferentially around the center axis and through the groups of longitudinal threads for laying a wrap thread in the radial groups so as to form a generally circular weave; a device for creating shed openings in the radial groups so that the threading means can deposit the wrap thread in the shed openings, said device comprising: elongated connectors having inner ends connected with the longitudinal threads and extending outwardly away from the center axis, the connectors also being arranged in groups such that each group of connectors is associated with a different group of longitudinal threads, the opposite ends of the connectors for each group being arranged in a row which lies generally in a radial plane, pick-up means for each group of connectors for engaging a selected number of the connectors at their opposite ends, selector means connected to the pick-up means for varying the number of connectors engaged by the pick-up means, and drive means for moving the pick-up means such that the connectors engaged by the drive means move, whereby the longitudinal threads associated with the engaged connectors are displaced and shed openings may be created in the individual groups of longitudinal threads and the position of a shed opening in a group may be changed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The structure according to claim 9 wherein the connectors of each group including the opposite ends of those connectors lie generally in the same radial plane as the longitudinal threads associated with and controlled by the connectors of that group.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The structure according to claim 10 wherein the pick-up means for each group is moved radially by the selector means generally in the plane of that group and along the opposite ends of the connectors.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
88 words
The structure according to claim 11 wherein the center axis is upright and the connectors after extending outwardly depend downwardly with said opposite ends being at the lowest portions of the connectors; wherein the pick-up means for each group moves radially to vary the number of connectors engaged thereby, and the drive means when actuated moves the pick-up means downwardly to pull the engaged connectors downwardly and thereby draw the inner ends of the engaged connectors and the longitudinal threads connected therewith outwardly away from the center axis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure according to claim 12 wherein the center axis is upright and the downwardly opening included angles between the center axis and the longitudinal threads are always acute angles.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The structure according to claim 13 wherein the weave is formed about a mandrel of circular cross-section and having large and small diameter ends with the small diameter end being below the large diameter end.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2728357A
Cited
US3719210A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |