Method and system for starting a power loom

A power loom is started by first accelerating a flywheel mass to an r.p.m. higher than a rated operational r.p.m. of a loom drive shaft while the flywheel mass is disconnected from the loom drive shaft but connected to the loom drive motor which is operated at a higher r.p.m. than the rated operational r.p.m. Then, the flywheel mass is connected to the loom drive shaft while the loom drive motor is disconnected from its power supply so that only the energy stored in the accelerated flywheel mass accelerates the loom drive shaft to its rated r.p.m. Then, after the first beat of the reed the drive motor is electrically reconnected to its power supply for driving the loom at the rated r.p.m. The motor may be operated at a higher r.p.m. e.g., through a frequency converter or by switching a multipole motor from a higher pole number, e.g., four poles to a lower pole number, e.g. two poles, whereby the motor operation at the higher pole number with a lower r.p.m. corresponds to the rated operational r.p.m. The pole switch-over takes place with such a delay that the full higher r.p.m. is not reached.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to a method and system for starting a power loom 
equipped with an electrical main drive. In such a loom the start-up energy 
is provided primarily or substantially by electrically driven flywheel 
masses that can be coupled to the loom drive. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
It is customary to drive power looms by electrical motors which are 
connected to an alternating power supply or a three-phase power supply 
network. The r.p.m. of the main drive motor is determined by the type of 
motor construction, for example, the pole number and by the frequency of 
the power supply network. Hereafter, reference will simply be made to 
"power supply". The main drive motor is coupled by power transmission 
means, for example, belt and pulley drives, to the main drive shaft of the 
loom to which flywheel masses are coupled. Prior art systems are so 
constructed that following the switching-on of the main drive, the 
flywheel mass is first accelerated by the motor to the respective r.p.m. 
For starting the loom itself a clutch brake unit is used for connecting 
the flywheel mass to the main drive shaft of the loom so that the flywheel 
mass starts the loom out of standstill. The performance characteristic or 
curve of the clutch, the stiffness or excess dimensioning of the motor, 
and the size of the effective flywheel masses, as well as friction 
resistances, determine a very specific r.p.m. characteristic of the power 
loom during its start-up. These start-up characteristics are to be 
considered separately for the flywheel masses on the one hand, and for the 
main drive shaft of the power loom on the other hand. Thus, the r.p.m. of 
the flywheel masses drops substantially subsequent to engaging the clutch. 
The drop of the r.p.m. of the flywheel mass continues until the flywheel 
mass r.p.m. is synchronous to the r.p.m. of the main drive shaft of the 
loom which rises from standstill. 
Starting systems for looms of the type mentioned above must satisfy special 
conditions in practice. Thus, for example, it is necessary that the loom 
is completely coupled to its power drive before the first beat of the 
reed. It can happen in such a coupling operation of the loom drive to the 
loom drive shaft that the coupling is completed on time, while the 
instantaneous rotational speed of the loom is too small at the first beat 
of the reed so that so-called start-up faults are formed in the fabric. 
Such start-up faults show up if the inserted weft thread is not beat-up 
into the correct position so that an enlarged spacing occurs between 
neighboring weft threads. A series of such enlarged spacings resulting 
from improperly beat-up weft threads may show up as a stripe-type fabric 
fault if a certain limit value with regard to the spacings between weft 
threads is exceeded. 
In order to keep the above mentioned faults which result from an 
insufficient rotational speed in the start-up phase of the loom, as small 
as possible, it has been customary heretofore to construct the loom drive 
in such a way that it reaches an adequate instantaneous rotational speed 
as quickly as possible so that only a minimal number of reed beats can 
take place while the loom does not yet operate at its rated r.p.m. In 
other words, the loom is supposed to reach a rotational speed of more than 
96% of the desired or rated operational speed in a minimal length of time 
in order to avoid the start-up stripe faults in the fabric. Such stripe 
faults reduce the quality of the fabric. Practical experience has shown 
that, for example, at the time of the first beat of the reed an 
instantaneous speed of about 80% of the rated operational r.p.m. can be 
reached, while approximately after the third reed beat an instantaneous 
rotational speed of about 96% of the rated r.p.m. may be achieved. In 
order to obtain these percentage values it has been customary to use ever 
larger and stiffer, that is over-dimensioned, motors, while simultaneously 
reducing the weight, yet increasing the stiffness of the structure of the 
reed drive. However, this trend has its limitations due to the increase of 
the flywheel masses of the motor, of the clutch and of the power loom. 
Additionally, the lightweight structure of the reed drive has also its 
limitations due to economic considerations. 
Similar problems occur in looms in which so-called free-flying weft thread 
insertion shuttles pass through the loom shed, for example, in the form of 
gripper shuttles. The starting velocity of the gripper shuttles must be so 
large that the shuttle passes safely through the loom shed and that it 
exits out of the loom shed within narrow time limits. In these instances 
the rated operational r.p.m. of the main shaft of the power loom is also 
to be achieved as early as possible after starting the loom, preferably 
before the first firing of a gripper shuttle. In this connection, German 
Patent (DE-PS) No. 1,535,525 describes a starting mechanism for power 
looms in which the flywheel used for the start-up of the power loom is 
driven prior to engaging the clutch between the flywheel and the main 
drive shaft of the loom in such a way that the flywheel rotates with a 
larger r.p.m. than is the normal r.p.m. during the weaving. In order to 
drive the flywheel prior to the start-up of the loom with a higher r.p.m. 
than the rated operational r.p.m., it is possible to provide a drive motor 
which runs with a constant r.p.m. and which drives the flywheel at the 
higher r.p.m. through a planetary gear which increases the r.p.m. of the 
motor to the higher r.p.m. of the flywheel. 
The known apparatus according to German Patent (DE-PS) No. 1,535,525 
requires an additional effort and expense due to the planetary gear. 
Additionally, the switch-over or starting operation of the power loom 
depends on the state of the clutch. Therefore, as long as the clutch is 
not engaged, the flywheel must be driven at the increased r.p.m. As a 
result, if the loom needs to be shut down due to the occurrence of a fault 
which causes an automatic shut-down of the loom and a disengagement of the 
clutch, the planetary gear will be driven and the flywheel will rotate at 
the increased r.p.m. during the entire time needed for removing the fault. 
German Patent (DE-PS) No. 1,535,525 also discloses another possibility of 
accelerating the flywheel, namely by using an electric motor capable of 
running at two different speeds and which runs at the higher speed when 
the flywheel engaging clutch is disengaged. This type of structure is 
supposed to avoid the need for the above mentioned planetary gear drive 
and to permit constructing the wheels that are driven by the electromotor, 
so that these wheels provide the required flywheel mass. This type of 
arrangement according to the prior art is also subject to the above 
mentioned drawback that the operation at the increased r.p.m. takes place 
for prolonged periods of time. Additionally, a free-wheeling device is 
required in order to avoid during the clutch engagement that the kinetic 
energy stored in the rapidly rotating flywheel is taken up by the electric 
motor in that instance when the motor rotates at its lower r.p.m. This 
free-wheeling device between the electric drive motor and the flywheel 
also involves an additional structural effort and expense which should be 
avoided. 
German Patent Publication (DE-OS) No. 3,542,650 also relates to the problem 
involved in the start-up of power looms. In that reference it is also 
suggested to increase the r.p.m. of the electrical drive motor to a value 
above the rated operational r.p.m. while the clutch between the flywheel 
and the loom drive shaft is disengaged. Several possibilities are 
suggested to achieve this purpose, namely, how to adjust or control the 
increased r.p.m. Basically, the disclosure of German Patent Publication 
(DE-OS) No. 3,542,650 does not add anything of significance to the 
disclosure of the above mentioned German Patent (DE-PS) No. 1,535,525. 
Another suggestion disclosed in German Patent Publication (DE-OS) No. 
3,542,650 mentions the use of a frequency controlled electric motor as the 
drive for the loom. Such a frequency controlled electric motor can easily 
embody the electric motor according to German Patent (DE-PS) No. 1,535,525 
which is to be able to run at one or the other of two r.p.m.s. Particular 
details in this respect are not mentioned in German Patent Publication 
(DE-OS) No. 3,542,650. Rather, the disclosure of this reference is limited 
exclusively to the control of the run-up and of the higher r.p.m. of the 
drive motor. Regarding the procedures or operations during the coupling of 
the loom to the drive motor running at a higher r.p.m. there is merely 
mentioned in connection with the r.p.m. diagram in the disclosure of 
German Patent Publication No. 3,542,650 a time section in which the loom 
runs up from standstill to its rated operational r.p.m., while the r.p.m. 
of the drive motor first drops from its increased r.p.m. to an r.p.m. 
below the rated operational r.p.m. of the loom, whereupon it rises again 
together with the r.p.m. of the loom until the rated operational r.p.m. is 
reached. It is also mentioned in said German Patent Publication that by 
selecting the higher idling r.p.m. sufficiently high, the r.p.m. reduction 
below the rated operational r.p.m. can be reduced or even avoided. 
However, this fact points out new problems because avoiding the r.p.m. 
reduction requires a substantial increase of the r.p.m. range and such an 
increase in turn calls for a higher power rating of the drive motor which 
in turn requires a higher effort and expense. This must be avoided. 
However, said German Patent Publication does not disclose how such 
problems can be avoided. The reference also does not mention anything 
regarding the possibility of using free wheeling devices as are disclosed 
in said German Patent (DE-PS) No. 1,535,525. 
The above discussed prior art does not make any suggestion how, by simple 
means, the above mentioned time duration could be shortened and how, even 
with a slightly increased acceleration r.p.m., the undesired r.p.m. 
reduction caused by the engagement of the clutch can be avoided. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing it is the aim of the invention to achieve the 
following objects singly or in combination: 
to avoid the use of a planetary gear drive and the use of free wheeling 
devices in connection with the start-up of a power loom; 
to reduce the time duration during which the drive motor runs with an 
increased r.p.m. for the acceleration of the flywheel; 
to make sure that the required higher r.p.m. for the acceleration of the 
flywheel is reached in the shortest possible time; and 
to avoid the above damage to the fabric by assuring that the loom has the 
proper rated operational speed at the time when the reed executes its 
first beat. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The characterizing features of the invention are seen in that during the 
start-up of the power loom the drive motor is disconnected from its 
electrical power supply for that period of time during which the higher 
rotational speed of the flywheel mass adapts itself to the r.p.m. of the 
main loom drive shaft so that the power loom is started up exclusively 
with the mechanical energy stored in the flywheel mass. By temporarily 
disconnecting the electric drive motor from its electrical power supply so 
that it is neither driven at an increased r.p.m., nor with a reduced 
r.p.m., the use of mechanical free wheeling devices and the use of a 
planetary gear drive becomes unnecessary. This teaching for starting-up a 
power loom can be employed in connection with different types of electric 
drive motors capable of being operated at higher or lower rotational 
speeds. Frequency controlled electric motors are suitable for the present 
purpose and so are pole switchable electric motors or brushless d.c. 
motors. 
An electrical motor having switchable poles provides a simple possibility 
of switching between two different r.p.m.s. Thus, the planetary gear drive 
may be avoided. However, the requirement that a free wheeling 
characteristic is available remains and so does the requirement that the 
operation of the pole switchable motor at an increased r.p.m. should be as 
short as possible. The invention satisfies these requirements by 
completely disconnecting the pole switchable motor from its power supply 
when the stored energy of the flywheel rotating at a higher r.p.m. is used 
for starting-up the drive shaft of the loom and by switching off the pole 
switchable motor when it accelerates the flywheel, well before the pole 
switchable motor reaches its full r.p.m. at the lower pole number. The 
r.p.m. ratios in a pole switchable motor are customarily 1:2 between 
neighboring pole numbers. However, the invention is based on the discovery 
that an increase of the motor r.p.m. to twice its rated operational r.p.m. 
is not necessary for charging up the flywheel mass prior to using the 
mechanical energy stored in the flywheel mass for starting up the power 
loom. Rather, it is sufficient to increase the r.p.m. only to about 15 to 
20% above the rated operational speed. Thus, if according to the invention 
the control signal for switching the pole switchable motor to its 
increased r.p.m. is provided directly prior to the time when the power 
loom is to be started up, then the higher r.p.m. that is required or 
desired for the start-up of the power loom, is achieved within the 
shortest possible time because the r.p.m. increase does not need to reach 
twice the rated speed as stated above. Rather, the run-up of the pole 
switchable motor can be interrupted when the r.p.m. reaches a value 
corresponding to about 15 to 20% of the rated r.p.m. and at that time the 
flywheel can be coupled to the drive shaft of the loom while the pole 
switchable motor itself is disconnected from the power supply. The exact 
point of time for disconnecting the pole switchable motor from its power 
supply for interrupting the run-up can be monitored in any suitable way, 
for example a time delay based on experience can be used or a device for 
measuring the r.p.m. or rotational speed of the loom shaft may provide the 
required control signal. Adjustable time delay circuits for providing the 
required control signal may be used. In any event, the invention avoids a 
prolonged running of the drive motor at an increased r.p.m. during a time 
needed for removing of a fault in the operation of the loom. The coupling 
of the flywheel to the loom shaft may be synchronized with the 
interruption of the run-up of the pole switchable motor to its higher 
r.p.m. However, according to the invention the motor itself is not 
immediately switched back to its lower r.p.m., but rather it is completely 
disconnected temporarily from its electrical power supply and its windings 
are short-circuited for this intermediate time. 
In all embodiments of the invention the adaptation of the r.p.m. of the 
flywheel to the r.p.m. of the loom drive shaft takes place during a 
transition time during which the loom shaft is accelerated with the energy 
stored in the flywheel. A special mechanical free wheeling device between 
motor and flywheel are thus no longer necessary. Only after a certain 
deceleration of the electrical motor has taken place, will the motor be 
reconnected to its power supply and switched to the lower r.p.m. for 
subsequently driving the loom at its rated operational r.p.m. or speed. 
The delay time or transition period is advantageously so selected that the 
connection between the three-phase power supply and the motor is 
accomplished briefly after the first beat of the reed. The time delay 
between disconnecting the motor from its power supply until reconnecting 
the motor to its power supply can be automatically determined in response 
to several different values. For example, the instantaneous r.p.m. or 
rotational speed of the flywheel mass or of the loom main drive shaft or 
the rotational angle of the loom shaft may be measured for producing a 
respective switching control signal with the required time delay. As 
mentioned, an experience time delay may be used for adjusting a 
conventional switch for the power supply of the electric motor. In this 
manner it is possible to bring the instantaneous rotational speed of the 
loom drive shaft in the shortest possible time to a value of more than 96% 
of the rated operational speed counted from the time when the accelerated 
flywheel has been coupled to the loom main drive shaft. Thus, the above 
mentioned stripe faults in the fabric are avoided because a sufficient 
beat of the loom reed is assured. 
Other advantages of the invention are seen in that the present teaching may 
be employed in presently installed looms without any substantial 
additional investment. Further, a fully automatic operation may be 
accomplished with the present teaching, for example, by employing a 
microprocessor control. Such a microprocessor control can control the loom 
in such a way that it is switched off in response to a fault, and then 
prepared for the subsequent automatic start-up and run-up. The 
microprocessor control also can take over the disconnection of the motor 
from its power supply and its switching, as well as the operation of the 
clutch between the shafts and the flywheel after the fault has been 
removed. Thus, all controls or the control sequence can be performed 
automatically.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS AND OF THE BEST MODE 
OF THE INVENTION 
FIG. 1 shows a block circuit diagram of a first system for performing the 
present method of starting up a power loom W of which only the main drive 
shaft H is shown since all the other loom components are not necessary for 
understanding the invention. The shaft H is driven through an electrical 
motor A which is normally energized by a three-phase power supply N having 
a basic frequency f1. According to the invention the motor A is 
connectable and disconnectable from the N during particular time periods 
of a start-up sequence, by means of a change-over switch U which is 
operated by a solenoid S which in turn is responsive to a time delay 
circuit or device Z. The change-over switch U has a first ganged set of 
contacts 1, 2, and 3 and a second ganged set of contacts 1', 2', and 3'. 
Each contact in each set can cooperate with three terminals. Thus, in the 
shown full line position of the contacts, the drive motor A is connected 
to the power supply N through a frequency converter F having a frequency 
f2. In this first position the contacts 1, 2, and 3 which normally connect 
the motor A directly to the N are all disconnected from the power supply 
net. When the solenoid S, which operates the two sets of contacts 
simultaneously, moves the contacts to the intermediate positions 
respectively, the motor A is completely disconnected from the power supply 
N. When the solenoid S moves the ganged sets of contacts by another step 
the motor A is directly connected to the net N through the contacts 1, 2, 
and 3 and the frequency converter F is disconnected from the power supply 
net N. 
The frequency converter F converts the frequency f1 of the net N to a 
higher frequency f2. Devices for this purpose are well known in the art. 
The second frequency f2 is adjustable at the frequency converter F. 
In accordance with the above mentioned three switch positions of the 
contacts 1, 2, and 3, and 1', 2', 3', there are three operational phases. 
In the first phase I in which the motor A is energized through the 
frequency converter F, the motor operates at an increased r.p.m. above the 
rated operational r.p.m. of the loom shaft H. In this first phase I the 
motor A drives a flywheel M through a power transmission G such as a belt 
and pulley drive, to accelerate the flywheel M to said increased r.p.m. In 
this first phase I, the flywheel M is disconnected from the shaft H by 
disengaging the clutch brake unit K. In the second phase II an operator 
generates a control signal, for example, through a switch E which 
simultaneously causes the solenoid S to completely disconnect the motor A 
from its power supply and to simultaneously engage the clutch brake unit K 
for connecting the flywheel M to the shaft H. Simultaneously, a time delay 
may be started. In the third phase III which begins after said time delay, 
the solenoid switches the switch U so that the motor A is now directly 
energized by the net N at the lower frequency f1 so that the motor runs at 
its lower rated operational r.p.m. This third phase III begins when the 
instantaneous rotational speed of the flywheel M has decreased into the 
range of the rated operational r.p.m. of the shaft H. 
The above described motor A with its power transmission G and the flywheel 
M as well as the clutch brake unit K are of conventional construction. 
When the motor A is directly connected to the net, the power supply to the 
motor has a frequency f1 so that the motor drives the flywheel M with an 
r.p.m. n1. This r.p.m. depends on the structural details of the motor, the 
power transmission, and so forth. These considerations will be taken into 
account to make sure that the rated operational r.p.m. of the shaft H and 
the r.p.m. n1 are equal to each other. On the other hand, when the motor A 
is energized through the frequency converter F with the frequency f2, the 
resulting r.p.m. for accelerating the flywheel M will be n2. Since the 
frequency f2 is higher than the frequency f1, the r.p.m. n2 will be higher 
than the r.p.m. n1. The above mentioned operator controlled switch E is 
provided for the start-up of the power loom W. When the operator closes 
the switch E the solenoid S and the brake clutch unit K are activated. A 
signal generator D, for example in the form of an r.p.m. sensor or 
rotational speed sensor, is provided to produce a signal for stopping the 
time delay Z which was started with the closing of the switch E. The 
dashed line indicates the supply of a signal from the sensor D to the time 
delay Z. Alternately, the sensor D may directly switch the solenoid S. 
For describing the operation of the present system let it be assumed that 
the loom has been shut off automatically, for example, due to a fault and 
that the entire system is in the operational first phase I as mentioned 
above. In that phase the shaft H of the loom W is disconnected from the 
flywheel M by the deactivation of the brake clutch unit K and thus the 
loom is also disconnected from the motor A and the shaft H is at 
standstill. The switch-over ganged switch U is in position 1, 1'. In this 
position the motor 1 is energized through the frequency converter F at the 
higher frequency f2. Thus, the flywheel M is accelerated with the higher 
r.p.m. n2 due to the higher frequency f2. FIG. 2 shows this first phase I 
in its left-hand portion. For starting the power loom W after a fault has 
been removed, the switch E is activated at the point of time E1 for 
initiating the second operational phase II. As a result of closing the 
switch E, the solenoid S drives the change-over switch U into the 
intermediate position 2,2' in which the motor A is completely disconnected 
from the power supply net. In other words, the motor is not energized 
directly, nor is it energized through the frequency converter F. During 
this phase II the energy stored in the flywheel M is exclusively 
effective. Simultaneously, with the operation of the switch E, the brake 
clutch unit K is activated and the flywheel M is connected or coupled to 
the loom shaft H. As shown in FIG. 2 during the second phase II the r.p.m. 
n' of the flywheel M decreases from its accelerated value n2 as indicated 
by the dashed line. Simultaneously, the r.p.m. n of the shaft H increases 
as indicated by the dash-dotted line. When the coupling is completed, the 
two r.p.m.s n and n' have equal values. Due to the initially higher 
accelerated r.p.m. n2 of the flywheel M, the equalization takes place 
approximately in the range of the rated operational r.p.m. n1, for 
example, only slightly below this value n1. As a result, the rotational 
speed of the power loom is already sufficiently high when the first beat 
B1 of the reed takes place so that the first weft thread is beat up 
practically with the full force and the above mentioned stripe faults are 
avoided in the fabric. As mentioned, during the second phase II having a 
duration T1 as determined by the time delay Z, only the mechanical energy 
stored in the flywheel M is effective. 
The time delay T1 is so selected that preferably after the first beat of 
the reed the third phase III is initiated at a time E2. For this purpose 
the switch U is operated from position 2, 2' into position 3, 3', at this 
switch position the motor A is directly connected to its power supply net 
N. Thus, the flywheel M and the main shaft H are now driven by the rated 
operational r.p.m. n1. The second reed beat B2 now takes place with the 
full force. 
The time delay T1 can be adjusted, for example, based on experience. Thus, 
when the switch E is closed for operating the solenoid S, the time delay 
member Z is also started simultaneously for controlling the solenoid after 
a predetermined time delay to move the switch U from position 2, 2' into 
position 3, 3'. Instead of using the time delay member Z, it is possible 
to provide the delayed signal by the sensor D which measures the 
instantaneous r.p.m. or rotational angle of the shaft H to provide a 
respective signal to the solenoid S as indicated by a dashed line L in 
FIG. 1 for switching the switch U from position 2, 2' to position 3, 3'. 
In this embodiment the delay time is determined by the time needed by the 
shaft H to reach a preselected r.p.m. In both instances, the operational 
phases I, II, and III correspond in FIG. 2 to the switch positions 1, 1'; 
2, 2'; and 3, 3' of the switch U. 
In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the motor P is a pole changeable motor which 
is capable of operating either in a two pole fashion 2p or in a four pole 
fashion 4p. The motor P drives the loom W and the flywheel M in the same 
manner as in FIG. 1. Pole changeable motors as such are known and can be 
operated in a number of different circuit arrangements. The switches Sh 
and Sn shown in FIG. 3 are arranged in the so-called Dahlander circuit. 
When the switch Sh is closed the motor P operates as a two pole 2p motor, 
while the switch Sn is open. The two pole motor has a higher r.p.m. When 
the switch Sh is open and the switch Sn is closed, the motor P operates as 
a four pole 4p motor at a lower r.p.m. Conductors 2w, 2v, and 2u connect 
the two pole motor P to the three phase net L1, L2, L3 through the switch 
Sh. Conductors 1w, 1v, 1u connect the four pole motor P to the three phase 
net through the switch Sn. The switches Sh and Sn are operated by a 
solenoid S controlled by a control unit St. The arrangement is such that 
normally the motor P operates in the 4p fashion at the lower r.p.m. 
corresponding to the rated operational speed n1. For the start-up the 
motor P is briefly switched to the two pole fashion. However, the time 
duration T2, please see FIG. 4b, is so selected that the motor P cannot 
reach its full r.p.m. n2. Rather, the time duration T2 ends when the motor 
P has reached an r.p.m. about 10 to 20% higher than the rated operational 
r.p.m. n1. At that time the rise of the motor r.p.m. is stopped and the 
motor is disconnected from the power supply altogether so that it is not 
energized at all at this time. When the motor P is disconnected altogether 
from the power supply, the flywheel M is coupled to the shaft H and the 
time period T1 takes place as shown in FIG. 4b, whereby the speed of the 
flywheel is reduced and the r.p.m. of the shaft H increased substantially 
in the same manner as described above. The time T1 is terminated when the 
substantial equalization of the two r.p.m.s has taken place at the end of 
the delay time T1 at which point the motor P is connected to the power 
supply through the switch Sn so that the motor operates as a four pole 
motor at the normal rated operational r.p.m. n1. The delay times T1 and T2 
can be stored in a memory of the control unit St based on experience 
values or these delay times may be obtained by measuring respective 
values, for example, with the sensor D as mentioned above. The control 
unit St is also connected to the loom W for sensing the operational state 
of the loom and using respective values for the control operation. The 
following situations may, for example, be taken into account in the 
control operation. 
EXAMPLE (a) 
A fault occurred in that a first broken weft thread was fixed, but a second 
broken weft thread was not fixed. In this instance the start-up of the 
loom is prevented. 
EXAMPLE (b) 
Even if the operator should accidentally operate the switch E several 
times, an acceleration of the motor P to the full two pole r.p.m. is 
prevented. 
EXAMPLE (c) 
The loom cannot be started when a motor solenoid has not been energized. 
These Examples (a), (b), and (c) are possible during the respective time 
periods as shown in FIG. 4b. 
The above mentioned rated operational r.p.m. n1 is maintained even when a 
fault occurs because in that case only the loom W is decoupled or 
disconnected from its drive including the flywheel M. 
FIGS. 4a and 4b show the short time duration T1 that is needed for bringing 
the shafts H from a standstill to the rated r.p.m. with the flywheel. The 
coupling of the flywheel rotating at the higher r.p.m. is also completed 
during this short time duration T1. Incidentally, the illustration in 
FIGS. 4b and 4a, as well as in FIG. 2 is not intended to be to any scale, 
but only for the illustration of the three operational phases I, II, and 
III according to the invention, and of the three operational phases a, b 
and c respectively. 
FIG. 4a illustrates the operation of the present system equipped with a 
frequency controlled motor A as shown in FIG. 1. The rotational speeds n 
are shown as a function of time, whereby again n1 illustrates the rated 
operational r.p.m. or speed while n2 illustrates the increased r.p.m. of 
the accelerated flywheel. The full line indicates the r.p.m. 
characteristic of the frequency controlled motor, while the dash-dotted 
line illustrates the frequency characteristics of the loom. To the left of 
the point of time E0 the loom operates normally at the rated r.p.m. n1. At 
E0 a fault begins. Such a fault causes the automatic disconnection of the 
loom W from the drive motor A by disconnecting or deenergizing the brake 
clutch mechanism K. During the time durations I or operational phase I 
between E0 and E1, the fault in the loom is removed. At the same time, 
starting with E0, the motor A is switched to the higher r.p.m. by 
energizing the motor through the frequency converter F so that the motor 
reaches the higher r.p.m. n2 after a lapse of time T2'. The motor 
maintains this higher r.p.m. as long as it is energized through the 
frequency converter, namely until E1 at which time the fault has been 
removed. Now the operator activates the switch E, whereby the motor A is 
completely disconnected from the power supply net. Simultaneously, the 
brake clutch mechanism K is activated to connect the flywheel to the shaft 
during phase II or time period T1. The flywheel starts up the loom as 
described above and during this time the motor A remains disconnected from 
its power supply. At the time E2 the motor is reconnected to the power 
supply directly without the frequency converter to start phase III. 
FIG. 4b has been described above and illustrates the several time phases 
for comparing the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 3 with that of FIG. 
1. In FIG. 4b the fault also occurs at E0. However, the motor P remains at 
its normal r.p.m. n1 until point E1. At this time the motor is switched to 
its two pole operation for increasing the r.p.m. to the extent mentioned 
above. The predetermined time delay T2 makes sure that the motor reaches 
only the r.p.m. necessary for a proper acceleration of the flywheel and 
does not reach its complete two pole r.p.m. When the sufficient r.p.m. has 
been reached, the phase b for the duration T1 takes place as described. 
The phase b starts at Ex and when the time duration T1 has elapsed at 
point E2 normal operation is resumed in phase c at which the operational 
rated r.p.m. n1 is effective. 
The important difference between the r.p.m. characteristics shown in FIGS. 
4a and 4b is seen in that in connection with a frequency control drive 
motor A the time duration T2' as shown in FIG. 4a is relatively long for 
permitting the motor A to run up to the higher r.p.m. n2. Experience has 
shown that the duration T2' is longer by more than one order of magnitude 
than the duration T2 needed in connection with a pole changeable motor. 
Thus, it is recommended that a frequency controlled motor is not switched 
to the higher r.p.m. only at time E1, but rather to do so at the beginning 
right after a fault has occurred, please see FIG. 4a. Generally, even the 
frequency controlled motor needs less time for its run-up to the higher 
r.p.m. than is necessary for the fault removal, the time T2' is only a 
portion of the total time in the first phase I. However, in this manner 
the motor A would be running during the entire duration of phase I. Thus, 
the use of pole changeable motors requiring but a few seconds for the 
run-up might be preferable, depending on circumstances. 
The present teaching of completely disconnecting the drive motor from its 
power supply temporarily during the start-up of the loom by the flywheel 
can be employed independently of the type of faults that needs to be 
removed and it is also very useful for the first start-up of the loom as 
well as for repeated start-ups after fault removals. The present method is 
also applicable, regardless of what caused the shut-down of the loom. It 
is also not important whether the motor runs at least part of the time at 
the higher r.p.m. during a fault removal or at the operational rated 
r.p.m. during the fault removal. 
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific 
example embodiments, it will be appreciated, that it is intended to cover 
all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the appended claims.