Patent GB-103157-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Electro-magnetic Shuttle Throwing Gear for Weaving Looms.
IPC: D03D49/44
Filed: 1916-01-17
Abstract: 103,157. Bachelet Shuttle & Loom Co., and Routledge, W. Jan. 17, 1916. Picking-motions; shuttles; checking shuttles; shutile boxes. - In electro-magnetic shuttlethrowing devices of the kind employing solenoids, each solenoid is wound in sections which are cut out, or in and out, of the circuit by the shuttle in its passage through the solenoid, so that an active field is maintained in front of the shuttle to exert a constant pull thereon as it traverses the solenoid. In one form, the sections d, d<1> - - d<4>, Fig. 2, of each solenoid are arranged in series, and each is provided with a switch e, e<1> - - e<4> respectively. Each switch comprises a pivoted contact-arm f<1>, Fig. 6, on which rests an insulating-block f<2> on a spring-pressed contactarm f, and which is adapted to be moved to close the circuit when a spring-pressed rod f<3> with a roller f<4> is raised by a cam-strip g<1>, Fig. 8, on the shuttle g. The shuttle has a tubular metal body g<0> square in cross-section and provided with capped wooden ends. When the shuttle has passed the proper distance through the last section d<4>, which is twice the length of the other sections. it acts on a lever o and moves a contactarm p<1> from a fixed contact p, thus breaking the solenoid circuit. The arm p<1> is secured to a disk p<4>, carried within the hub of the lever o and adapted to be moved relatively to the lever o only in one direction against the action of a spring p<5>, which is compressed when the arm p<1> is moved to the closed position. Spring- pressed friction disks above and below the disk p' and the hub of the lever o prevent the spring from reacting to relieve the pressure between the contacts until the lever o is moved by the shuttle. The iron magnetic poles q on the outside of the solenoid d<4> form a gap, within which is the contact position, and act as a blow-out; the poles may be wound. A selector switch is provided for closing the circuit of the two solenoids alternately and comprises a disk s, Fig 11, driven by spurwheel gearing from, and at half the speed of, the crank-shaft t, and concentric metal rings r, r<1>, r<2> on the disk, the outer rings r<2>, r<2> being divided equally. One half of the ring r' and the opposite half of the ring r<2> are connected electrically with the ring r, with which a brush u makes contact, so that the current is supplied through the ring r and alternately through the rings r', r<2> and contacting brushes u<1>, u<2> to the two solenoids. A spring-actuated hammer i is provided to move the shuttle towards the first section d and give it a flying start. The hammer is moved to its outer position as the lay beats up, by an inclined surface k on the loom frame acting on a roller i<0> on the hammer, which is held in this position by the engagement of a pin i<x> with a lug i<2> on an arm i<3>. This arm is jointed at i<5> to the slotted end of a link i<6> pivotally connected at a roller m to a lever j pivoted at j<1>. When the lay moves backwards, a spring-controlled stop l<1> mounted on a fixed bracket l<2> acts on a pin l on the link i<6>, which thereupon moves the arm i<3> and the lug i<2> to release the hammer. The shuttle mav be checked by a rocking block h having inclines h<3>, h<4>, with which the shuttle successively makes contact, the block rocking en a spring arm h<2> so that the point of contact of the block and the arm moves nearer the fulcrum of the arm as the shuttle moves to its position of rest. The shuttle may alternatively be checked by an additional solenoid with a spring clip bearing frictionally on the shuttle. To relieve the pressure of the block h on the shuttle when picking is to take place, an arm j<2> adapted to act on the arm h<2> is operatively connected to the lever j, and, as the lay moves forwards, the roller m on the lever j frees a cam-piece m<1>, which is thereupon pulled by a spring m<2> into the position shown in dotted lines, so that, as the lay moves backwards, the roller m makes contact with the left side of the cam-piece and the lever j is moved to the left, so that the arm j<2> frees the block h from the pressure of the arm h<2>. When the block h is moved out by the shuttle, a roller j<3> thereon acts on the arm j<2>, and the lever j moves a rod o', supported by a slotted guide o<2>, so that its end is struck by a fixed stop cn the loom frame at the next beat-up of the lay; the rod o<1> acts on the lever o, which has been displaced by the shuttle leaving the shuttle box, to close the switch p, p'. The tubular shuttle box has a fiat back and bottom to ensure proper motion of the shuttle. The section circuits may be arranged in parallel and may have switches controlled by one or two shuttle-actuated rollers, so that the sections are put into and out of the circuit or cut out of the circuit successively. In the Provisional Specification, a mechanically-operated finger is described for ensuring that the shuttle will complete its traverse, and it is stated that the action of the solenoids may be reversed for the same purpose; the application of the invention to change-box looms is also mentioned.