September 1, 1921 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



903 



Fig. 3. 



Take-up Section About to 

 Be Lowered 



After the new cop has been inserted the take-ups are reset to 

 normal position, thereby restoring to the warp threads precisely 

 the same degree of tension as before slackening. Each take-up 

 section contains an equal number of spring-actuated levers, one 

 for each warp thread, which compensate for the varying pull 



on the warp as the 

 threads reverse and the 

 shuttles pass between 

 thcni. 



SHUTTLES 

 There are two shuttles 

 in the machine, each of 

 which carries and de- 

 livers weft. They are 

 mounted upon wheels, 

 and travel around a 

 leathered circular track, 



t1ilHlllil'lii{ilif'l'l"'illiI^I^W> ''"^^ inside the heddle 

 HlHHiliill enclosure, at diametrically 



^^H In ' liili^^^H opposite points on its 

 ^^II'mI I 1 i^^^V' circumference. Here they 

 ^^P III ' ili^^^H^ pass successively between 

 ^B8 ||i|l I I^^HV the sheds of warp, which 

 ^Sl 'lii ^B> reverse, as to their upper 



3W|| " r** and lower positions, after 



the passage of one shuttle 

 and before the arrival of 

 the other. Each shuttle 

 carries a large, closely- 

 wound cop of filling yarn, which passes in unwinding 

 through a .'pring compensating device for maintaining uniform 

 tension in the filling, or weft, as it enters the weave. Every 

 revolution of each shuttle adds one complete layer or "pick" of 

 weft to the fabric jacket being formed. For delivering weft from 

 these compensating devices to the weaving point two hook-shaped 

 "weft-guides" are used, one for each shuttle, each at its delivery 

 end fitted closely around one-half of the weaving pin, and having 

 on its inner face a groove of approximately the same sectional 

 area as that of the weft being used. From each of these weft- 

 guide grooves a strand of weft is continuously delivered into the 

 forming fabric as long as tlie loom continues in operation. 



The weft-guide grooves are cut spirally so that each layer 

 or "pick" of weft delivered is pushed against the previous layer 

 from beneath, thus clearing room for itself in the weave. In this 

 manner the fabric tube is continually forced upward as fast as it 

 is formed at the weaving point. 



The action of tliese spiral-grooved weft guides is to pinch or 

 nip the warp threads immediately below the weft at the instant 

 the latter is interlaid, thus drawing them tight, and laying in 

 the weft with sufficient pressure to force the preceding layer up 

 and out of the way of the incoming one. 



The shuttles in their circular travel are guided by two stationary 

 comb-like circular fences placed one above the other in the sta- 

 tionary structure of the loom. The warp threads as they 

 converge toward the weaving point pass through the pickets of 

 these guide fences. Tiie motion of the shuttles is always positive, 

 uniform, and in precise harmony with that of the heddles. 

 WEAVING POINT 

 At the center of the loom an upright pin or core is mounted, 

 about which the weave is formed. The outside diameter of this 

 pin determines the inside diameter of the fabric tube, and for 

 every required diameter of hose a weaving pin of corresponding 

 size must be used. The fabric jacket is formed tightly around 

 this pin. The tightness of weave can be varied to a considerable 

 degree by the extent to which the weaving pin is made to project 

 upward into the finished jacket, thereby increasing the amount 

 of upward pressure required to insert each layer of weft. 

 When it is desired to weave a covering around steam or air 



hose, electrical cable, etc., or to make double jacket fire-hose, a 

 tubular weaving pin is usetl, which diminishes in thickness to 

 a very thin rim toward the weaving point. The article to be 

 covered is passed upward through the central column of the 

 machine and through the tubular weaving pin which serves as 

 a guide, bringing it precisely to the center of the weaving point. 

 .As the newly-formed fabric is pushed up and off the outer circum- 

 ference of the guider, it encloses the article being covered with 

 a variable degree of tightness depending chiefly upon the vertical 

 adjustment of the guider. 



tAKE-OFT MECHANISM 



When moderate flattening of the product is required as a con- 

 venience in coiling or in the case of a very loosely woven jacket, 

 consideration must be given to keeping it clear from the loom as it 

 passes the weaving point. To meet these requirements a pair of 

 plain frictioned rollers are provided. These are readily separable 

 and held in contact with the fabric by adjustable spring tension. 

 The speed of the rollers is regulated by a train of change gears 

 to conform to any variations in the rate of weaving. 



Grooved take-od rolls are required for work which must pass 

 through the rolls in tubular form. In such cases a pair of flanged 

 iron hubs are furnished to be filled out with rubber compound to 

 conform with the sectional area of the product. 



CREELS 



The unwinding of the yarn at its source is the starting point 

 of uniform tension, hence the importance of properly designed, 

 well-constructed creels. Viewed endwise, each creel resembles 

 a narrow letter A, connected by wooden rails. On the slanting 

 sides thus formed are fastened iron bars set with iron pins for 

 holding the spools. 



WEAVING FIXTURES 



Certain interchangeable fixtures are used at the center of the 

 loom to form the fabric, and to govern its size and density. These 

 fixtures divide into two sets: those which remain stationary dur- 

 ing the weaving process, and those which belong to and revolve 

 with the shuttle. 



The stationary division comprises the weaving pin, and the 

 circular weft-guide supporter within which it is adjustably 

 mounted. The pin is slidable vertically withia the supporter, 

 which in turn is sup- 

 ported by a ring threaded 

 to the shuttle-supporting 

 platform of the loom. 

 The threaded connection 

 of the ring provides a 

 little vertical adjustment 

 of the weft-guide sup- 

 port to compensate for 

 the use of different thick- 

 nesses of warp, and for 

 any slight lowering of 

 the shuttles that may 

 result from wear on the 

 leathered shuttle track. 

 The outside diameter of 

 the pin determines the 

 inside diameter of the 

 fabric tube, and is of 

 corresponding size. Like- 

 wise the pin must be a sliding fit within the support, so that 

 for every diameter of jacket woven there must be a separate 

 set of stationary fixtures used. 



The revolving division of fixtures comprises the spirally-chan- 

 neled weft-guides which lay-in the weft threads, and the weft- 

 guide holders which provide a connecting element between the 

 weft-guides and the shuttles. Each shuttle requires one holder 



Fig. 4. T.vke-up Section Lowered 



TO Si,.\CKEN Tension of 



Warp Threads 



