Abstract: A variable speed drive motor is provided for imparting rotation to the improved and simplified gear assembly of the present invention so that the main drive shaft may be rotated at selected rates of speed. The drive gears includes a segment gear continuously moved in a back-and-forth movement and being operable to selectively impart reciprocatory motion to a cylinder drive shaft. Resilient means, in the form of a compression spring, is supported by the frame of the machine and is positioned to be engaged by the segment drive gear during at least one end portion of the back-and-forth movement thereof to reduce the noise and vibration of the gear assembly and to permit operation of the knitting machine at increased rates of speed during both rotary and reciprocating knitting.

Abstract: A motion-restraining device for dissipating at a controlled rate the force of a moving body. The device is characterized by a drive shaft adapted to be driven in rotation by a moving body connected thereto through a tape wound about a reel mounted on the drive shaft, oscillatable mass, a crankshaft connected with the drive shaft, and an elongated pitman link having one end pivotally connected to the crankshaft and the opposite end thereof connected with the mass through an energy dissipating linkage including a shuttle disposed within a slot and guided thereby for rectilinear motion between a pair of spaced impact surfaces so configured that reaction forces applied at impact of the shuttle with the impact surfaces include oppositely projected force components angularly related to the direction of the applied impact forces, whereby a cancellation of components of reaction forces is achieved.

Abstract: A warp knitting machine includes a linkage system for translating the rotational motion of a drive crank into a back and forth movement suitable for a weft inserting mechanism. The linkage system includes five separate linkage elements. A first linkage element drives a second linkage element which in turn causes a third linkage element to rotate around a fixed reference point. A fourth linkage element is connected to the junction of the second and third linkage elements at one end and at the other end is connected to a fifth linkage element. The fifth linkage element is pivoted in the center thereof. The rotational motion of the first linkage element causes the fifth linkage element to move in a backward and forward direction. The linkage elements are arranged relative to one another according to a special relationship which helps to smooth out the accelerative forces and to prevent dead points where the linkage elements may lock.