US2064074A - Knitted fabric - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 15, 1936. J. McNAMEE 2,064,074

KNITTED FABRIC Filed Nov. 15, 1955 5 SheetsSheet 1 //VV/V 70;? HQ. L ZAMEE ME/VAMEE 4 7'7'0R/VEY J. M NAMEE KNITTED FABRIC Dec. 15, 1936.

Filed Nov. 15, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 //Vl /V 7-02 JAMES 2%" AMEE I KM 47-7-0RNEY Dec. 15, 1936. J. McNAMEE KNITTED FABRIC 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 15, 1935 //Vl EN 7-0;? JAMES ML'ZVAMEE I W ATTORNEY Dec. .15, 1936. J. MCNAMEI; 2,064,074

KNITTED FABRI C Filed Nov. 15, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 //v1//v 7-0;? 1 /AMES MC/VAMEE fly WOXW ATT RNEY Dec. 15, 1936. J. McNAMEE 2,064,074

KNITTED FABRIC Filed Nov. 15, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 //v I/E/V TOR l 7AME5 M/VAMEE 4 7' TOR/V5) Patented Dec.'15, 1936 v I Z.,064,074

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE K KNITTED FABRIC James McNamee, Ballston Spa, N. Ya ,I Application November. 15, 1935, Serial No. 49,948 I 4 Claims. (01. 66169) My invention more particularly relates to a which machine is designed to fabricate the yarn yarn composed of a multiplicity of threads, prefof Fig.- 1;

- erably 'two in number, which are interconnected Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, front elevation view in such a manner as to provide'a yarn which is of the machine shown in Fig. 3; 5 characterized by its durability, flexibility, resiL- Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, detail view of an adiency and adaptability for use with weaving or justable form of a cam for controlling the moveknitting machines. ment of the thread guide bars; My invention has for a further object the pro- Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the main cam vision of ayarn of the foregoingcharacter formed shaft, illustrating some of the cams mounted of two yarns, which is comparatively simple to thereon; 4 v 10 fabricate and isrrelatively much stronger than Fig. 7 is a detail view of the needles and an two yarns, taken together, having an equivalent associated cam control} a 7 weight per unit of'length. My yarn is also dis- Fig. 8 illustrates the presser bar-and one of its tinguished by the fact that a breakage of one of associated controls the individual threads of which it is composed, Fig. 9 illustrates the cast-off mechanism and 15 due to the novel structural arrangement thereof, one of its cam controls; is localized and the effectupon the appearance Fig. 10 illustrates the control mechanism for of the yarn does not extend an appreciable extent the shaft which carries the thread guide bars; along the same. Furthermore, the tendency to Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14, 1 5, 16 and 17 represent 20 run or become discomposed, which is prevalent diagrammatically successive, relative positions in ordinary fabrics, is absent in a fabric made of the various cooperating elements for one cycle from a yarn embodying my invention. of operation thereof in fabricating the yarn; and Afurther object of my invention resides-in pro- Fig. 18 is a schematic representation of the viding a yarn in which the individual threads manner in which the threads are placed around forming the same may be of different colors and the needles in the formation of the yarn. 25 wherein, due to the construction involved, these It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 1

colors are intimately associated and blended to that my yarn, in its preferred form, comprises produce a resultant yarn coloration which is suba double series of interconnected loops or stitches..

stantially uniform to all outward appearances. This structure may be readily created by a ma- A still further object of my invention resides chine employing the principles of knitting and,

in the provision of a fabric which is formed with for this purpose, I have illustrated a. machine a yarn of the foregoing character which fabric which is adapted and designed to knit and intersimulates the appearance-of a hand-made article connect two threads in the manner hereinafter and which is' unbiased. In other words, the described.

fabric inherently lacks any tendency to curl or The yarn, indicated generally at II, in Fig. 1 warp, a reason for which being attributable to is composed of two threads, indicated at l and 2. the character of the yarn employed in fabricat- Thread], for purposes of describing the strucing the same. tural formation of the yarn, is formed into a first With these and other objects in view, my'inloop 3, which may be designated as lying onone 40 vention includes the novel arrangement of two side of the yarn, a second loop 4, which may be 40 or more threads to form a composite yarn and said to be on the other side, and then the further the fabric which is made therefrom together with ,loops 5 and 6, said loops lying respectively on their equivalent structure's, described below and alternate sides of the yarn. Likewise, thread 2 illustrated in the accompanying drawings in is formed into a first loop I, a second loop 8, a

whichthird loop- 9 andfa fourth loop Ill, loops 1 and 9 45 Fig. 1 is a highly magnified and somewhat lying on a side oppositeto that of the loops 8 and distorted view of my yarn; l0. It will be seen that the second loop 8 of Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, schematic view of a thread 2 isv looped through the first loop 3'01.v knitted fabric formed from the yarn illustrated thread I and that the second loop 4 of thread l 5 in Fig. 1; is looped .through the first loop 1 of thread 2.

Fig. 2a is a fragmentary, schematic view of a This process is continued in forming my yarn woven fabric formed from the yarn illustrated in as, for example, the third loop 9 of thread Fig. 1; 2 is looped through the second loop 4 of Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a machine with thread l and the third loop 5' of thread I is u some of the operating mechanisms removed, looped through the second loop-8 of thread 2. In

the practical method of fabricating a yarn of this character, the successive loops of each thread are formed on alternate knitting needles as hereinafter specifically described.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the yarn is composed of a series of loops formed from two separate threads, successive loops of one thread being passed through successive loops of the other and forming two, closely associated rows or series of knitted or substantially chainlike stitches. Hence, it will be evident that in the event of the rupture of one thread, the other thread will serve to bind the ends of the broken thread in place and prevent a progressive collapse of the yarn structure. This feature is very desirable in yarns and particularly in yarns of the general construction herein disclosed.

In the finished product, the yarn, of -course, does not appear the same as that illustrated in the drawings as the yarn in the drawings is somewhat distorted'for the sake of clearness. Actually, the yarn is substantially of uniform size throughout and in cross-section may be said to be polygonal or approximately rectangular.

Due to the successively inter-looped, structural arrangement of my yarn, it is characterized by its durability, as above indicated in reference to rupture, flexibility and resiliency. In flexing the yarn, each loop is moved relative to the adjacent loops as in the manner of hinges. Hence, in many cases, a much smaller loop may be formed by my yarn than may be formed by a single thread of which it is composed. This, of course, is dependent upon the character of the thread used; but, the character of the threads of which my yarn is primarily intended to be fabricated, such, for example, as silk, rayon and the like, has been determined to be less flexible than the yarn made therefrom in conformity with my invention. Obviously, in comparing the yarn with a thread of equivalent weight per unit of length, the difference therebetween in flexibility is very marked.

The resiliency of the yarn'is also attributable to the interlooped construction and, furthermore, this construction renders the yarn inherently unbiased so that, when made into a fabric, the fabric does not curl or warp but is comparatively soft and pliable.

I have for convenience referred in the claims to wales. It is to be understood that such wales refer to the chain-like stitches of the character above referred to and which are displaced from each other laterally of the yarn.

In' Fig. 2 I have illustrated, by way of example, a knitted fabric in which my yarn is used. The fabric is indicated generally at I02 and is formed in the well known manner by interlooping the yarn I ill to form successive stitches. And in Fig. 2a I have illustrated a woven fabric, indicated generally at I03 which also is made in the usual manner.

The machine which I have illustrated as one means of fabricating my yarn may be best understood by reference to Figs. 3 and 4 wherein the general disposition of the cooperating elements employed in knitting the yarn is illustrated. Referring first to Fig. 3, H indicates generally the frame of the machine which comprises a bed portion l2 and standards l3 extending upwardly at each end thereof. Each standard I3 is formed with laterally extending arms l3l, I32, I33 and I34 adapted to support the spools of thread l4 and I5 and the thread tensioning devices l6 and IT. The thread extending from the SPOO S a d the desired tension on the threads.

I5 is represented by the dot-dash lines it and I9 and is illustrated as passing over the-tensioning devices l6 and II, respectively, which, in the embodiment illustrated, comprises shafts extending transversely of the machine and helical springs are employed for the purpose of imposing From the tensioning devices, the threads are brought downwardly and threaded through holes or eyes provided in the guide bars indicated generally at 20. For example, thread I8 is passed through the eye 2| provided in the rear guide bar 2M and thread I! is passed through the eye 22 of the front bar 202. Obviously, the threads extend from the guide bars to the work or yarn contained on the needles.

The guide bars 20 are disposed in a double row transversely of the machine, the disposition thereof being shown in Figs. 3 and 4 which are views taken at right angles. A suitable number of guide bars are secured in proper spaced relationship in each of the blocks 23 which in turn are secured along two similar frames 24, one of which is disposed behind and substantially parallel with the other. The frames are designed to be supported on, movable by and movable relative to rocker arms 25. This construction is afforded by means of angle plates 26, secured to frames 24, which are provided with pins 21 adapted to extend through openings in the rocker arm 25. The rocker arm 25 is likewise provided with pins 28 which extend through openings in the angle plate 26.

It would be well to note at this point that my machine is symmetrically arranged as regards the supporting and operating elements of the stitch forming mechanisms.

similar to arm 25. Because of similarity, there-' fore, approximately a half only of the machine has been illustrated and, it is believed, a description of this portion will sumce when read with the understanding that it is applicable to both halves of the machine. It should also be noted that only a few of the needles, guide bars and associated mechanisms are illustrated because, in each case, they are duplicates and a. description of one is suiiicient for all. Obviously, the number employed depends upon the number of yarns that are being made at one time on the machine.

The rocker arms 25 are secured to a shaft 29 extending transversely of the machine and journaled in bearings 30 depending from the arms I34. A cam controlled arm 2| (see Fig. 4) here inafter specifically described, is secured to shaft 29 and serves to efl'ect an oscillatory rotation thereof to move the guide bars back and forth relative to the needles.

The frames 24 are provided at one end with slotted openings 32 within which are secured links 33 which serve to connect frames 24 to the operating means for eflecting a predetermined movement thereof transversely of the machine. The main cam shaft 34 which extends transversely of and is journaled in the bed of the machine is provided at one end with a worm 35 which meshes with a worm wheel 36, indicated in a dotted lines in Fig. 4. Worm wheel 36 is secured on a shaft 31 which is journalled in the brackets 38 which may be cast integrally with the frame l2, Shaft 31 has secured thereon two cams 39 and40 which are engaged by the arms of bell cranks 4| and 42, respectively, which are pivoted on a shaft 43 secured between the brackets 33. To the other arms of the bell cranks are respectively connected the links 33. The worm and wheel transmit motion from the main cam shaft 34 to shaft 3] and the rotation of cams 33 and 40 effect through the bell cranks 4| and 42 and links 33 an independent reciprocating movement of the. frames 24 transversely of the machine. This movement is intermittent due to the slotted construction of the frames with which the links cooperate and is, obviously, timed with relation to the other moving parts. of the machine. Furthermore, the weight of the arms of cranks 4| and 42 maintain the same in engagement with their operating cams.

The cams 39 and 40 may be constructed in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5 wherein the degree of movement of the guide bars transversely of themachine may be varied and adjusted by the set screws 39| which form the cam surface.

The guide bars, above described, are adapted to cooperate with and guide the passage of the threads about the needles, indicated at 44, which .are disposed in a single row transversely of the machine. Fig. 7 illustrates the manner in which the needles are supported and controlled to move. it beingunderstocd that the needles are disposed to extend vertically between the bars of the castoff mechanism, hereinafter described, and are actuated in a substantially vertical direction. By referring to Fig. 7 it will be seen that the needles 44 are suitably secured in frames 45 which are supported on needle arms or cranks 46, pivoted on a shaft 41. Shaft 41 is supported in the frame H and extends transversely of the machine to provide a pivot for the needle arms and the operating arm for the shaft 29 which supports the guide bars. There are preferably two needle arms 46 each of which is connected adjacent an end of the needle frames and the description of one is sufficient for both. The needle arm 46 is provided with two diametrically opposed rollers 48 and 48|, disposed on opposite sides thereof and adapted to contact identically formed earns 49 whereby a positively controlled movement is transmitted to the needles. Cams 49,are keyed on the cam shaft 34 and effect through the medium of the comparatively long needle arms 46 a predetermined, substantially vertical movement of the needles.

Fig. 8 illustrates the presser bar 50 and one of its two similar supporting and actuating mechanisms. The-presser bar extends transversely of the machine adjacent the needles and is actuated to press against the beards thereof during a predetermined portion of the cycle of operation of the stitch forming mechanisms. The presser bar 50 is suitably secured to a rocker arm 5| which is pivotally mounted on a shaft 52 extending transversely of the machine. A roller 53 rotatably mounted on the arm 5| is engaged by a cam 54 mounted on cam shaft 34. The roller is urged in contact with cam 54 by a tension spring 55 which is secured between a pin 55 on arm 5| and a stud 51 secured in a transverse member of the bed I2.

In Fig. 9 is illustrated one of the two similar supporting and actuating devices for the cast-off mechanism indicated generally at 58. The castofi mechanism comprises a series of bifurcated vanes 59 extending in spaced, parallel relation- I ship transversely of the machine. These vanes are disposed to permit the needles 44 to reciprocatetherebetween and, preferably, a needle is accommodated in each space between adjacent ing the same.

vanes. The reentrant portion ll in the vanes,

stitches being cast oil over the. lip of the upper and shorter branch of the vanes and being caught thereunder. The cast-off mechanism 58 is suitably secured to two bell cranks 6|, rotatabiy supported on a shaft 62 which extends transversely of the machine and is suitably supported in the.

frame l2 thereof. Each bell crank ii is provided with a roller 83 which engages a cam 64 secured to the cam shaft 34 whereby the desired movement of the cast-ofi mechanism is effected. A tension spring 55 is connected between one arm 6 of the bell crank II and a stud ,6|'2 secured in a transverse member of the frame l2 to maintain the roller 33 in engagement with its cooperating cam 64.

The cam drive for effecting an oscillatory movement of the guide bars 20, hereinbefore described, is illustrated inFig. 10. The arm 3| which is secured to shaft 29 is connected to an arm 65 through a flexible couplingindicated generally at Gill and comprising a pin pivoted to arm 3| and sl-idably mounted in a slot in arm 66. Cams 61, secured to camshaft 34, engage rollers 88 and 59, respectively, which are mounted on the arm 65 and are adapted to engage the cams on diametrigather with the means for supporting and actuating the same. Their dispositions relative to each other and to the frame of the machine may be readily understood from an inspection of Figs. 3and 4. g I 4 Furthermore, in Fig. 6, I have'shown a fragmentary portion of the cam shaft 34 with some of the cams mounted thereon, it being understood that. with the exception of the guide bar cams which are mounted substantially in the middle of the shaft, the balance of the cams are duplicates of those illustrated and are disposed in inverse order on the shaft from its middle toward the end. A pulley SM is illustrated mounted on the end of shaft 34 over which may be reeved a belt for driv- The cooperation of the stitch forming or knitting elements of my machine and their manner of operation .in fabricating my yarn will best be understood by reference to Figs. 11 to 17, inclusive, which respectively illustrate the elements in consecutive positions during one cycle of their knitting operation. It should be remembered that the elements are operated from the same cam shaft and that the actuating cams for each eler-ent are designed to effect a timed operation thereof relative to the other elements. Furthermore, it is to be understood that in the formation of a single yarn two needles and two guide bars are utilized, the two guide bars being, at the beginning of a cycle, disposed in a plane extending be,-

tween the two needles with which they cooperate and at right angles to the plane of the needles.

Referring first to Fig. 1'1,.the elements are illustratcd in the positions which they assume at the beginning of a stitch forming cycle. It will be understood that the other needle employed in forming the yarn is directly back of the needle illustrated and therefore does not appear. Assuming that the last loops of the yarn encircle the two needles N, a first thread thereof extends upwardly through the eye 21 in the guide bar and, as shown in Fig. 3, over the tensioning device IE to spool H. The second thread extends through the eye 22 of guide bar 202 and over the tensioning device I! to spool IS. The guide bars 20 are moved between the two needles toward the left as viewed in Figs. 12 and 13. This movement is produced through an'operation of cam 61 which effects a rotation of shaft 29 upon which the guide bars are supported. Cams 39 and 40 then effect a movement of the two bars transversely of the machine in opposite directions and into planes through which they may be moved back on the outside of the needles and to the position illusthen, at or slightly before the termination of movement of the guide bars, moved upwardly thereby causing-the loops to pass downwardly on the needles and below the beards thereof. Thereafter, the needles descend and the loop of thread on each needle passes under the beard thereof.

As the needles continue to descend and immedi ately before the beards engage the last formed loop of the yarn which is around the needles and approximately in the plane of the reentrant portions of the cast-of! mechanism, the presser bar 50 is urged against said beards thereby causing said loops of the yarn to pass thereover. As the presser bar is withdrawn from engagement with the needles, the cast-off mechanism 58 is moved to the left, as shown in Fig. 16 so that as the needles pass beneath the upper branch of the bifurcated element-59 the loops of yarn are cast off over the top of the needle and over the lip of the castvoff mechanism. The needles continue to descend and the cast-of! mechanism moves toward the right to the position shown in Fig. 17,

, vane disposed intermediate the two needles. needles 44 then move upwardly to the position thereby preventing the work from riding up with the needles. In other words, the threads extending between the loops formed on the two needles are caught in the. reentrant portion of the The shown in Fig. 11 in readiness for substantially a repetition of the foregoing cycle. The above described operation of the stitch formingmechanism discloses the manner in which one of the threads is knitted on one of the needles and the other on the other needle. However, the yarn of my invention comprises two threads which are knitted together to form alternateloops in the double row of stitches of which the yarn is composed. In the stitch forming cycle following the one above described, therefore, the guide bars are again moved between the needles to the position illustrated in Fig. 13 and are again moved transversely of the machine but in a direction opposite to that described above. m other words, the first thread A which in the above described cycle was passed. around the needle has shown in Fig. 18 is, in the second cycle, passed around the adjacent needle 2 and the second thread B, which passed around the last mentioned needle in the first cycle, is passed around the needle J. The above described cycles of operation are successively repeated and a yarn having the structure hereinbefore described is produced. 7

When myyam is, for example, madeintoaknitted fabric, the result produced simulates a hand made article which is much more attractive than an equivalent machine made article. Furthermore, due to the novel construction of my yarn, a fabric formed therefrom is unbiased; that is, it lacks any tendency to curi or warp, a characteristic which is very desirable in a fabric which is to be usedin the manufacture of garments and similar articles. l

It should also be noted that a great many colors and shades may be produced in my yarns by selecting the desired combination of colored threads used in fabricating the same. Likewise, this wide range of colors is obtainable in the fabrics made from my yarns. Furthermore, the resultant'color of the yarn has a much better aesthetic appearance than for example, a twisted yarnformed from threads of the same coloration. This result is due to the fact that the two threads are intimately joined together to form minute, succesive loops of alternate colors. Obviously, in the fabric formed from a yarn of my .construction, the

coloration of the individual threads of which the yarn is composed is not readily ascertainable and the fabric appears to be of substantially uniform coloration. i

It is to be understood that my yarn may be, if desired, composed of three or more threads joined For example, a very important application of fabrics made from a yarn of the character set forth extends to the tire industry. Because of the great flexibility and strength of the fabric, which characteristics are derived from the yai'n of which it is composed, it is admirably adapted for use in the base of a rubber-tire. Furthermore, the comparatively pervious character of the fabric and also the yarn itself permits a very v intimate bond to be formed between it and the rubber which is applied thereto.

A further important feature resides in the fact that a woven fabric embodying my invention has a resiliency in all directions that has hitherto been enjoyed in part only by knitted fabrics.

While I have described my novel yarn in its preferred embodiment and a representative woven and knitted fabric formed therefrom, it is to be understoodthat the words are descriptive and the illustrations exemplary and, hence-"changes within the purview of the appended claims may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of my invention in its broader aspects.

What I claim is: I

1. A knitted fabric composed of a plurality of interknitted yarn loops the yarn of which consists of two threads forming only two wales, the loops of the two threads alternating in a given wale.

2. A knitted fabric composed of a plurality of interknitted loops the yarn of which consists of two threads forming only two wales, a loopof one thread being disposed in and interconnected with one of said wales and the next succeeding loop of said thread being disposed in and interconnected with the other of said wales.

3. A knitted fabric composed o fa plurality of interlmitted yarn loops the yarn of which consists of two threads forming only two wales, a'loop of one thread being disposed in and interconnected with one of said wales and the next succeeding loop of said thread being disposed in and interccnmected with the. other of said wales and in a predetermined sequence.

JAMES MCNAMEE.

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