US2354624A - Thread control system for weft replenishing looms - Google Patents

Description

July 25, 1944. R.-G. TURNER 2,354,624

THREAD CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 8, 1945 July 25, 1944. `R. G. Tum-:R l2,354,624

THREAD CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed March 8, 1943 2 sheetssheet ,2y

- en?? l l /lcHARo G. TURNER Patented July 25., 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT' omc THREAD CONTROL SYSTEM FORA WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Richard G. Turner, Worcester, Mass., assigner to Crompton '& Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, l`tlas's.,a`oorporation of Massachusetts u Application March 8, 1943,- Serialy No. 478,329

(Cll 139;-256) Y 18 Claims.

This invention relateslto systems forthe control of weftthreads in a group of weft replenis'hing llooms and it isv the general object of thei-nve'ntion to provide a common pneumatic reservoir connected to the threadremovers .ofthe several looms the group. f Y Her-etof'ore I have proposedlapneumatic'thread 'removing systeni for weft replenishing I looms wherein an air pum-properatingat sub-atmosplieri'c pressures islutilized to remove. the threads of' theV outgoing. and`A incomin'gbobbinsrwhich re'- main in thepath-ofi-theshuttle incident to a weft replenishi-ng operation of the loom. The pump is operated byfthe lay to ereate'l a-'p'artial vacuum as the lay movesl from frontv t-oback center, and the pump pistonn'iovesmost rapidly. at top center,

`but this is the point vinthe loomcycle at which 4shuttle picking-occurs. As a' result-of -thi's timing Vthe pump places a peak load-demand on the loom vat the instant when-considerable power is r'equiredto drve the shuttle.v

It is an important object of my present iriv'ntion to connect'ra -common'rese'rv'oir -to a-g-roup oipumps, one for each' loom, and operate-'the pumpsby the loom lays as'the lattern'fiovey from back to front center,thereby placingtlfie demand for maximum power so far as' the pump is-concerned at some time in the loom cycley other than theV `time at which' picking occurs.- The-s`ub atmospheric pressures thuscreated within the reservoir are used to operateeach pneumatic thread control' system during' the "backward stroke of the associated layata time when the pump -hasanidlestrok'e and require very little power from the looms.

In order to -preventunnecessary loss of pressure from the reservoir duringtha'tpart of the loom cycle when sub-atmospheric pressures are not needed, that isg-when the layV ismoving for- `wardly, itis a further object-of my presentinven- -tion to provide 'a'valve between the` common reservoir and each thread system which will close the latter as its corresponding lay'advances, butwill openf the system as thev la'y recedes.

It is Vafurther object of my present invention to provide a common reservoir lconstructed of units,rone for eachloom in a group', wherein -ea'ch unit is provided with means for connection with the-corresponding thread control system and also to the associated pump.' Thereservoir'thus made can be enlarged'to accommodatea'varying number oflooms in-lthe groupwh-ich `it' serves? Inathe modified form of 'the'invention the common .reservoir may `besuprilied with sub-atmosphericipressures by meansof alp'umpdrven inde'- atmospheric pressures within" thereservoir when-- pendently of the Vlooms and acting rtol create sub# ever any of' the looms inthe? group are running. In this modcation the' unit"s`-o the. reservoir will omit the connections for individual pumps as already mentioned; loutl will-y have connections with their corresponding thread'fcorrtr'o'l systems.

Withthese and other objects=.in,vw whicli'will appear as the description proceeds;V my :invention residesv in the combination-andarrangement of lparts hereinafter described; andvset forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein arcoir- Venient embodiment of myinvention is-set'iorth,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic"plariivw of-agfroip of four looms showing fthe maiine'r in which the preferred form of my invention operates with respect to the group; A

Fig42 is a sideelevation ofone of the *looms andi Vitspump; showing` connections-fromithe latiter to the common reservoir,

Fig. 3 isy a diagrammatic frontk elevation `of the thread control 'system of' efa'chdoor'n,`

Fig. 4 is afdetails'ide elevation,1part`ly'in sec tion, setting forth the valve mechanism foi'icl'os ing the thread control system ofv4 theass'ciated loom during'that part' ofitsoyc'le corresponding to movement of' its layfrom backto fron'ticentr,

Fig. 5 isa view similar" to' Fig.;4-" but showing the valve 'mechanism -in open yposition,V

Fig. 6 is a vertical section Online 6&6, FigaA",

Fig.- 7 is adetailed plan View fo'the" common reservoir showing the unit constructiohthereof,

Fig. 8 is a-detail vertical longitudinal vse' ':tior' through one of the pumps, and f Fig.. 9 is a diagrammatic'viewof a modified forni of thev invention which utilizesla pump driven independently ofthe loom's.v

Referring to Fig. 2,I which'showsafloomhaving 'a-pump used in the preferred form of the'inven'# a" lay L driven by acrank sha-ft Il attached thereto by connectors-'Hi A pumpP secured'E to the frame is provided with a pistonf5' the'frod I6 of which is connected to theuppe end-oi."y a lever H pivoted asatl I8to` the Yloom fi'arneJ A connector IB 'extending between theflay' andthe lower party of lever 'l1 oause'sbackward movement of `the piston l 5' as the'iaylfmoves 1`forwardly rfifojr' back to' front cent'erp'osition, hence" afplrtial vacuum is' created-'f inthe pump'v .15Y 'toi tiieift-'q'f thepis'toa as viewe'di Fig- 2 land'flaf tuben communicates withltheiiiterir-of the frojrii-o'fV theV pstonga'nd anIn escape? valve nfiit's-a-v bypass for' the air' iri fronti o'fthe 1the pathofthe shuttle; Y

aExcept as indicated hereinafterthematter selvage S of the cloth being woven and the shuttle" box B of the lay. A tube 29 leads from thecan..` 26 to mouth 28. A thread W' extends from the i selvage into the shuttle box when the shuttle is at the magazine end of the loom. 1

The threads W should be kepttautand above; i

the path of the lay and whenever one of theal* bobbins R is transferred into theibox B its weft i end W Will move downwardly and be held by,I v

pneumatic attraction in the holder during the pickiimmediately'following replenishment,

thereby -assistlngfthreading of the shuttle. At somezsubsequent pick the thread of the freshly replenished shuttle will be fout at the selvage S 2in Well-knownmanner and will be drawn through ythe vtube-25 into' the can 26. Onther replenish- Aing-beat the threadxextractor E draws that' part of ythread W' .extendinglfrom the shuttle boxV to .the rextractor .into the latter, 'and'whenthis Ythread is laterk cut-atthe selvage the whole of the thread moves :through the lextractorland -alongf avv pipe-29 to 'the can`2i.` ,Both .of these threads arethus removed pneumatically from thus far describedisfof usual construction and may be made as set forthin my `prior Patents Nos. 2,199,353; 2,199,296 and 2,162,290.l The partial .vacuum within thecan 426 serves to hold the weft ends W in proper position and .both the,

thread holder: and theextractor operate to -remove theirrespective -threads so that the latter -will not.-'be whipped intoy the warp shed by the shuttle..- Y'

, .In Ythediagram shown in. Fig. 1 I have shown ,Y

four. looms LI, L2,.-L3,and` L4. These looms are vallasubstantially the same as the loom shown in Figs.. v2 and3 and each will have a lay operated pump, agbobbin-magazine, a thread holder, and a thread. extractor'. Located at some point con- ;venienttothe looms is a: pneumatic reservoir ,formed ofunits 35', 352, 35?. and 354 for the looms Ll', L2, L3 and L4, respectively, and each unit will be connected toits corresponding` pump by th'e'previously described tube 20. -operatefthey act by their pumps to create reduced pressures within the reservoir 35.

,l .v In order that the thread removing mechanisms Off :each-loom may be connected to the reservoir .35.each can 26 is connected by a tube 40 to its correspondingunit of the reservoir 35. Thus, the `can 26a-of 'loom-L' is connected by its tube yim to unit 35', the can of loom L2 is connected by .its tubelll to unit 352, etc.

f Eachlayonits forward stroke Will cause the associated pump to ldraw air from the reservoir ,3 5 and-suficiently 'low pressures will be maintained-within the reservoir so that all of. the cans 26 Vand their corresponding threadl holders 25 vand thread extractors E will operate satisfactorily to remove the threads already described.V It is ,a matter Aof vcommon experience that Yeven though agroup o f looms are intended to run at exactly the same speed, there is nevertheless As the looms the fact that the weaver in starting the looms up one at a time starts each loom Without regard to the position of the lay of the other, leads to asynchronism in the motions of the lays. As a result, air will be drawn from the reservoir at all times by at least one pump so that a practically continuous partial vacuum always exists within thejreservoinj IEven if all the lays should temporarly be 'moving forwardly at'the same time,

v this condition would not last very long, since the "f looms would soon get out of step with each other.

The ,Cans 2.6 will therefore be under substantially continuous conditions of partial vacuum and the thread holders and thread extractors will operate fasdescribed.`

'Anotherfe'ature "of my invention relates to the sawing of the sub-atmospheric pressures Within Nthe:reservoirf35 by preventing loss during that part of the cycle of each loom when the correspondingthread holder and extractor need not operate.. Y This featureneed not be used but when employed Twill permit the use of Ycomparatively small' pumps... Accordingly, I provide each loom with avalve in its tube 40 so that the corresponding can26 will be momentarily and periodically disconnected from the reservoir 35 when 'theassociated lay is moving fromback to front centen The mechanism for accomplishing this -result :is shown .in Figs. 2, 4, and 6, and includes acam 5U secured in correct angular position on ,thetop` or crank shaft Il. This cam cooperates Awith a plunger 52 the stem of which issurrounded by a compression spring 53 effective .to urge the plunger toward the cam at all times. The stem is connected to a vane or valve 55 slidable -vertically in a fitting 56 secured as at 51 to some part ofthe loom frame I0. The fitting is provided with tubular ends 58 located in tube A(lll when this feature is used. The cam is set `on its shaft in sucha position as to open the valve as shown in Fig. 5 when the lay is moving fromv front to back center and close the valve as shown .in Figs. fl and 6 when the lay is moving from back to front centen Each valve isclosed in .correcttimed relation with respect to its loom and without regard to the positions of the other Valveszinthegroup. v .Y Y

Ther common reservoir 35 may be constructed as shown in Fig-7. Each unit comprises .a pipe 6 6 and the endvpipes areclosed by the vcaps 6I. .Threaded fittings 62 and 63 are tapped into each `pipe l6 0 and are connected, respectively, to the .tubeS 2 0 `and 4 0. Adjoining pipes are connected byfa coupling 65. It will be apparentfrom Fig. 7 that I have provided a pipe 60 for each loom in .the system, and thatif more than four looms are used onecap 6l can be removed and other units added, one for each additional loom.

In operation, the looms in the group will all .run according to their owntime without regard .to each othe r,;and as each loom moves from back to frontIl centerits lever I1 will be rocked in a direction to, create a partial vacuum `in front of its piston I5, thereby also creating a partial vacv uum inthe reservoir 35. During this forward movement of the lay the valve in the correspondingtube 40, if used, will be closed. On the backward stroke ofthe lay when the pump is not creatingvacuum, the valve 55 will be open and the-interior of reservoir 35 will be connected Vtothe can 26.v The thread holder and thread extractor ofthe loom will therefore operate on the backward stroke of the lay in a manner :similarto that set forth in the, previously some variatiodand this condition, taken with mentioned'vpal'er1ts- .'It is to be understood that the conditions just described Lexist for each loom.

In the modified form oftheinvention I use .a single air pump connected directly to the reservoir and driven by `its -own source of `power independently ofthe looms. Thus, as shownvin Fig. 9, a vacuum pump connected to a motor 16 controlled in any approved mannerby the weaver is connected by a tube 'll to a reservoir R which is similar to the reservoir 35 already described except for a cap 18 at one endthereof which lis provided with an inlet 19 for connection with the tube 11. The reservoir units 8 0, onevfor'each loom, will have a single inlet 8l for attachment to the tubes 40 and the tube 20 will be omitted as well as its connection with the reservoir R. 'The pump 15 runs continuously throughout loom operation to create sub-atmospheric pressures Within the reservoir R' and the latter,` acting through'the tubes 40, will induce movement of -afcolumn of air into each Vof the thread controllers for purposes similar to those already described. Where the capacity of the pump 15 is sufficiently high it will not be necessary to use the valve lshown in Figs. 4 and 5, but thesevalves can be used if desired for the purpose of permitting the use of a lower capacity vacuum pump. Y 1

-From the foregoing it will be seen thatI have provided a common reservoir for operating the thread control systems of a group of looms each provided with an air pump which is .operated by forward motion of the associatedlay. It will also be seen that each loom .may be provided with a valve 55 which disconnects its pneumatic system from the reservoir while the corresponding lay is rmoving from back to front .center and while the associated pump is operating to create a partial vacuum withinthe reservoir. It will also be noted that the. reservoir is built rup -of a series of units and can be extended to accommodate additional looms. Furthermore;V the reservoir .need not be `fed by individual pumps, oneffor -each loom, but can be connected to a-single ,pump operating independently of the looms.

Having thus described Vmy invention it` will b seen that changes and modifications may lbe made therein by those skilled in the `art Without `departing from the spirit and scope of thelinvention and I do not wish to be limited to theldetails herein disclosed, but whatIclaim is:

V1. In .a thread control system` for agroupof weft replenishing looms operating at different speeds and each loom having a pneumatic thread remover to remove athread by suction on the backward stroke of the reciprocatinglay of the loom subsequent to a replenishingoperation, said system comprising a reservoir common tov the group of looms, meansl for each loom pneumatically connected to the common reservoir and operated by the corresponding lay when the latter moves forwardly to create sub-atmospheric pressures within the reservoir, and a pneumatic connection from the reservo-ir to each thread remover in the group.

2. In a thread control system for a group of weft replenishing looms operating at different speeds and'each loom having a pneumatic thread remover to remove a thread by suction on the backward stroke of the reciprocating lay thereof subsequent to a replenishing operation, said system comprising an air pump for each loom, a common reservoir for the group of looms'con# nected to each air pump-driving connections be-v tween each lay and the corresponding `pump lto cause the latter to create sub-atmospheric pr'essures within the reservoir when theiayfmoves forwardly, and pneumatic rconnectionsbetween said yreservoir and each thread removerf. f .v

3.. In a thread control system for abgroup o weft replenishing looms having reciprocating lays which move asynchronously with respectfto the times when they reach their forwardpositions, each yloom in the group having a pneumatic thread remover to remove a thread by' suction on the backward stroke of the corresponding lay subsequent to a replenishing operation, said system .comprising a reservoir common tothe group of looms and pneumatically connectedato eachof said thread removers, and means -forgeach loom pneumatically connected to said reservoir and operated by the corresponding layr when the latter moves forwardlytocreate sub-atmospheric pressures within said reservoir. u

4. In a thread control system for a group of weft replenishing looms having reciprocating lays which move asynchronously withrespect to the` timeswhen theyA reach their forward-positions, each loom in the group having apneumatic thread remover to remove a threadbysuction on the backward stroke of the corresponding lay subsequent to a replenishing operation, said system comprising an air pump for each -loom,lja pneumatic reservoir connected pneumatically to said air pumps and common to the looms of .the group and pneumaticallyV connected to each thread remover, and driving connections between each lay and the corresponding air pump to cause the latter to create sub-atmospheric pres,.- sure within said reservoir when the associated lay moves forwardly. i Y5.` In a thread control system fora groupof weft replenishinglooms each of, which Vis pro; vided with a reserve bobbin having` a. weftend extending to a pneur'naticthread holder lto,;b'e held by the latter'when the shuttleconnected thereto is picked on the backward stroke of'the lay subsequent to a replenishing operationVthe lays reaching their forward positions asynchronously, said*v system ,comprising an air pump for each loom, a pneumatic reservoir Icom.- mon to the group and connected pneumatically'lto each air pump, driving connections between each lay land the corresponding air pumptofca'use the latter tol createy subatmospheric pressure within the reservoir whenv the vlay is moving for'.- wardly, and pneumatic connections between the reservoir and each thread remover. 6. In a thread control system for a groupfof weft replenishing looms, each loom having, a thread to be removed from the shuttlefpathbyfa pneumatic thread remover during backward movement of the lay when the shuttle is picked subsequent to a replenishing operation of the loom, and thelays of the looms in the group mov- 'ing asynchronously with respect to they times kat which they reach their front center positions,

said system comprising anA air pumpfjfor each loom in the'group, a pneumatic'reservoir common tothe group and connected pneumatically to each air pump, operating connections between each lay and the corresponding pump to cause the latter to create subfatmospheric pressures with# in the reservoir when the lay moves forwardly, and pneumatic connectionsfrom said common (reservoir to each thread remover in said group.

' '7. In a thread control system fora group of weft replenishing looms, each loomV having a threadto be removed from the shuttle pathby 1a pneumatic thread remover lduring backward movement of the lay thereof subsequent' to a replenishing` operation, andY each lom -havingva shuttlegpickingy operation while the lay thereof is moving lrearwardly, and the lays moving asynchronously with-respect tothe times at:l which they reach their front center positions, said system; comprising a pneumatic reservoircommonto the looms of said group, means foreach loom.: pneumatically connected toA lthe reservoir andloperated by the corresponding lay'when the 'latter vmoves forwardly to createsub-:atmospheric pressures/:within said reservoir, and pneumatic connections between thev reservoir 'and each 'thread remover. i .f

8.` In afthread controlsystem for 5a group of weft replenishing looms .having reciprocating lays which move asychronously with'. respect'fto the 'times' when they reach theirvforward positions, each loom in-the group having a' pneumatic thread remover toremove a thread =by suction -on-the'back'ward strokev of the 'corresponding yweit repleni'shing looms each having a pneumatic f -thread vremover and a reciprocating lay, said system comprising a pneumatic reservoir common'to the looms of the group, means .to create sub-atmospheric pressures within said reservoir, av pneumatic connect-ion between the reservoir and each thread remover, and means controlled by yeachploom when the associated lay is moving forwardly'to close said pneumatic connection and openfsaid vconnection when the associated lay is vmoving rearwardly'.

' `10. In a thread control system for a group of weft replenishing looms each having a pneumatic thread remover and a reciprocatinglay, said system comprising a pneumatic reservoir common tothe looms of the group, .a pneumatic connection between vthe'rese'rvoir and each thread remover, means controlled by each loom to close the corresponding pneumatic connection when the/associated lay is moving forwardly and open said pneumatic connection when the associated layjisfmoving rearwardly, and an air pump for .eachjloom :in the group pneumatically connected 'togthe reservoir and operated by the associated llaywhen the latter moves forwardly -to create sub-atmospheric pressures within saidreservoir.

A1I. In a rthread control system for a group of weft replenishing looms each having a reciprocating lay and a pneumatic thread remover which is connected to a thread extending fromva shuttle subsequent to a replenishing operation, and each loom having a shuttle picking operation while the lay thereof is moving rearwardly subsequent to a replenishing operation thereof, said system comprising .a penumatic'reservoir common to said group of looms and connected pneumatically to each thread remover in the group, an air pump foreach loom pneumatically connected tothe reservoir, means operated by each loom when the corresponding lay is moving forwardly to cause the associated pump to create sub-atmospheric pressures within said reservoir, and other means controlled by'ieach loom to vdisconnect the corresponding thread remover pneumatically from the reservoir when the corresponding lay is advancing and;v connect the associated thread remover pneumatically; with -said Vreservoir when the corresponding lay` is receding. Y g

12. In a thread control system foray group of weft replenishing looms each having a reciprocating lay `and a pneumatic thread remover which is connected to a thread extending from a shuttle subsequent-to a. replenishing operation, and each loom having, a shuttley picking operation While the lay thereof is moving rearwardly subsequent to a replenishing operation thereof, said system comprising a pneumatic reservoir common to said group-of looms, an air pump foreach loom operative whenV the corresponding lay is moving forwardly to create v sub-,atmospheric pressures within said reservoir, a pneumatic connection .between the reservoir and each thread remover, a valvev ineachof said pneumatic connections, and meansl controlledby each loom to eiect closing of the corresponding valve when the associated lay is moving forwardly and eiect opening of said valvev when the associated lay isr moving rear,- wardly. v s

13. In a thread control system for a group of weft replenishing looms each having a pneumatic thread remover, said system including `apneumatic reservoir common to said group of looms and'comprising a group of pneumatically connected 'hollowv units, one unit for each loom, a pneumatic connection between eachunit and the thread remover of the corresponding'loom, and an air' pump for each loom pneumatically connected to the corresponding unit to create subatmospheric pressures Within said reservoir.

14. A pneumatic reservoir for a group of looms each having a vpneumatic .thread remover, said reservoir comprising a group of hollow units,'one unit foreach loom of the group, means to connectY said units together to form said reservoir, and Seach unit having a pneumatic fitting for the corresponding thread remover.

15. A pneumatic reservoir for a group of looms each having a pneumatic thread remover and an air-pump, said reservoir comprising a plurality of pipe units, one unit for each loom, means to connect said pipe lunits together and cause said units to form a pneumatically closed reservoir, and each unit having a tting for the corresponding air pump and a second tting for the corresponding thread remover.

16 A pneumatic reservoir for a group of looms each having a4 pneumatic thread remover, said reservoir comprising a'plurality of aligned pipe units', means to connect adjacent ends of adjacent pipe units together, means to close the outer ends of the outer units, and arfitting on each unit for the corresponding thread remover. y

`1'7."1In a thread control system fora group of weft replenishing looms each having a pneumatic thread remover with a thread receiving mouth, a pneumatic reservoir common tothe looms of the group and comprising aseries of connected unitsone unitffory each loom, a pneumatic connectio'nfbetween each unit and the corresponding thread remover, and means to create pneumatic pressure within said. reservoir diil'erent from the. atmospheric pressure at the mouths of said removers.

y 18, Ina thread control system for av group of wett replenishing looms having reciprocating lays whichimove `asynchronously with respect to the tween each thread remover and said reservoir, and means for each loom operated by the latter when the lay thereof is moving forwardly to alter the pneumatic pressure within said reservoir re1- 5 atively to the atmospheric pressure.

RICHARD TURNER.

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