Abstract: A heddle frame endbrace assembly is provided which substantially eliminates bowing and distortion of the endbrace when placed under a pre-tension condition. The endbrace includes an elongated body formed of a first material. The body has a longitudinal channel defined therein along the length of the body. The channel is configured for receipt of a drive bolt therethrough. An insert is fitted into and essentially lines the channel from one end of the body to the other. The insert is formed of a second material having a greater stiffness than the first material. The endbrace has an overall longitudinal balanced moment axis through the channel so as to be essentially coaxial with a longitudinal centerline axis of a drive bolt disposed through the channel, wherein upon tensioning of such a drive bolt, the endbrace is prevented from bowing.

Abstract: A reed (28) for a loom includes a frame with upper and lower baulk mechanisms (D, E) that carry a front row (B) of dents (30) on the beat-up side of the frame and a back row (C) of dents (34) staggered in alignment with dents (30). Lower baulk mechanism (E) includes a stepped clamping portion which is reduced in depth compared to the depth of the upper portion of the lower baulk mechanism (E) such that dents (34) are shorter in height in the lower baulk mechanism (E) than dents (30). This renders one of the rows (C) of dents (34) able to be disposed farther from the other row (B) of dents (30) than if they were to extend into the clamping portion of the lower baulk mechanism (E) the same amount as dents (30).

Abstract: A heddle frame has a pair of laterally extending slats and a pair of end braces connected to the slats to form a rectangular heddle frame. Each of the connections between the slats and the end braces includes an elongated opening defined within the end of the slat. The end brace includes an inwardly directed expansion foot configured on and extending essentially perpendicular from the end brace and having a width so as to be slidable within the elongated opening of the slat. A releasable locking member is configured to lock the extension foot within the slat in a locked position and to release the end brace from the slat in a released position, the locking member is disposed through the extreme outward edge of the slat and extends into the elongated opening of the slat. In one embodiment, the end brace is secured directly to the slat by a threaded bolt extending through the extreme outward edge of the slat.

Abstract: A heddle for use in a weaving loom has an end-loop configured at one or both ends thereof for mounting on a slide bar of a harness frame. The heddle includes a substantially flat width section which is substantially parallel to the warp threads in a weaving loom when the heddle is mounted on the slide bar of a harness frame within the loom. An eye is disposed through the width section and is defined by a first side segment and a second side segment. The side segments are oppositely laterally disposed a predetermined distance relative to the width section so that a plane through the eye forms a predetermined angle with the plane of the width section. The side segments are also formed so that a plane through each of the side segments also forms a predetermined angle with the plane of the eye. In a preferred embodiment, the side segments are formed parallel to the width section.

Abstract: A nose guide including a fastening mechanism for attaching the nose guide to a harness frame on a weaving loom. The fastening mechanism includes a pair of elongated straps and a pair of bosses carried on the inner surfaces of the straps which are provided to fit within elongated complimentary recesses provided in the straps. Fasteners extend through the bosses for securing the opposed straps together for attaching the nose guide to a slat of the harness frame.

Abstract: A heddle frame for holding a plurality of heddles comprising a top rail and a bottom rail. Each of the rails has heddle supporting bars attached to them for supporting the heddles within the frame, and the top and bottom rails are held in parallel relationship to each other by end members attached to their adjacent ends. Intermediate the end members is a center brace which may be located in alternative positions within the heddle frame. Each of the rails has an opening to receive the centerbrace and to support it so as to maintain the parallel positions of the top and bottom rails. The holes within the rails are reinforced with steel reinforcing guide tubes which resist the wear of the centerbrace during the use of the heddle frame and protects the rails.

Abstract: A lightweight frame slat for use in a heddle frame assembly. Each of said slats comprises an upper hollow portion and a heddle bar support portion integral with and extending from the hollow elongated portion. The hollow portion is made up of a vertically extending back portion and a vertical front portion so that when the front portion is in place three longitudinal cavities are formed. Adjacent each of the edge of the hollow elongated upper portion is disposed elongated stiffening bars of a carbon fiber reinforced stiffening element. The intermediate cavity between the edge cavities is filled with a strip of ridged foam to add structural stability to the slat without greatly increasing its weight.Extending from, and integral with the back portion of the slat is a heddle bar support portion which has extending from it near its bottom edge two horizontal ledges which define a heddle bar support channel.

Abstract: A heddle bar having a cross-sectional profile for supporting heddles in a heddle frame. The heddle bar has a supporting rib for engaging a heddle bar support channel in each of the slats making up the heddle frame assembly in an interference fit therewith to make its removal difficult but not impossible. The heddle support bar is not bonded or glued to the slat.The heddle bar may be shaped to support any type heddle, and may be T-shaped or shaped to support J-shaped heddles.

Abstract: A nose guide for use on a harness frame having top and bottom slats being joined by end braces to form a substantially rectangular frame. The nose guide has a pair of walls being joined at one end and being separated on the other end so that the separated ends can be slipped over a frame slat and secured to the frame slat by a fastener. The frame slat has a cylindrical bore extending therethrough. Positioned on the inner walls of the separated ends of the nose guide is a pair of cylindrical posts. A cylindrical stabilizing member having an inside diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the posts is placed on the posts and bears against the inner walls of the separated ends of the nose guide and against the surface extending around the bore in the frame slat. Such produces a rigid connection between the nose guide and the frame slat when a screw is inserted through the posts and cylindrical stabilizing member.

Abstract: A loom reed (10) comprised of plastic dent strips (A, B) is illustrated having a profiled section (32, 34) which is reinforced for weft yarn beat-up into the cloth (C). The profiled section includes a web (38, 48) of reduced thickness which creates additional air space facilitating passage of knots and the like in the warp yarn through the space between adjacent dent strips. A rim (40, 50) created by the reduced web maintains the warp yarn generally out of contact with the remaining plastic surface of the dent to reduce surface drag and friction. A metal insert (56) is utilized in the dent strips at the edge of the reed for additional stiffness where the cloth beat-up forces are attenuated. A tunnel forming recess (36, 52) is formed in the dent strips to form a tunnel across a length of the reed facilitating weft insertion by containment of a fluid jet.

Abstract: A heddle frame construction for a loom is disclosed which includes a bottom frame slat 14 constructed of a roll-formed steel tubular element which carries a latch block 30 which connects with a hook connector 28 of a heddle frame drive mechanism 26. A top frame slat 12 is constructed in part of a light extrusion and in part of a steel tubular element. Preferably, a first part includes a hollow steel tubular slat beam 36, 50, 70, 90, 100 having a shoulder on which a neck of a second part in the form of a connector flange 42, 56, 76, 92, 104 is carried. The connector flange has affixed thereto an upper supporting heddle rod 20 by means of rivet connections 21. The neck is uniquely constructed to include groove means 44, 62, 82 which interlock with free ends 38 and 40, 56a and 56b, 72 and 74 of the shoulder of the slat beam.

Abstract: A rod hook (A) is fixed to a heddle rod (20, 22) by which heddles (24) are supported in the frame (10) with unrestricted mobility. A slidable connecting sleeve (C, D) is carried by frame slats (12, 14) which releasably connects the heddle rod hook (A) to the frame slat for convenient connection and disconnection.

Abstract: A dual-face composite frame slat for a heddle frame of a loom includes a long-wall face (30) and a parallel short-wall face (32). Faces (30) and (32) are spaced from one another and define a core space (45) and upper and lower frame slat edges (36) and (38). Integral channel stiffeners (40) and (42) are interposed in the frame slat edges to provide integral beam structure. Faces (30) and (32) are constructed as a ten ply graphite reinforced plastic layup. Channel strips (40) and (42) have a four ply construction. A plastic heddle rod (22) is carried by a free flange portion (34) of the long-wall face and includes metal wear resistant caps (50).