Improvements in Drop-box Motions for Looms.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 5th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 19th Apr., 1890 c
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Drop-box Motions for Looms.
I WILLIAM HENRY HACKING of the California Iron Works, Bury in the County
of Lancaster, Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be
as follows:-
My Invention relates partly to a former invention for which 'Letters Patent
number 1449 of the year 1878 were granted to me. In the specification of my
said former Invention I described an arrangement wherein the drop box actuating
lever was operated by a compound excentric consisting of two excentrics one inside
the other. Either excentric could be semi-rotated by means of a sliding peg wheel
which was controlled in its action by a pattern chain acting through a sliding
needle. The pattern chain barrel was intermittently rotated by means of a star
wheel motion the star wheel being actuated by a wheel which for sake of distinction
I will term the stud wheel and the said stud wheel received motion from a smaller
wheel which was actuated by an intermediate wheel and was provided with a
tubular boss upon which the peg wheels were fitted to slide. The whole of the parts
received motion from a spur wheel which was fixed upon the crank shaft so that four
wheels were required two being intermediate between the driving wheel and the said
stud wheel. In my present invention I dispense with the two intermediate wheels
and form or fix the said stud wheel upon the said tubular boss the driving wheel
gearing directly with the said stud wheel. The said stud wheel may be adapted to
actuate a star wheel upon the pattern chain barrel shaft as in my former Invention
but I prefer to provide it with a set of teeth which in each revolution gear with a
spur wheel upon the barrel shaft and rotate the said shaft to the extent of a quarter
of a revolution or to a suitable extent according as the said barrel may have a
greater or less number of sides than four. In practice I form the said set of teeth
by lengthening two three or more of the teeth of the wheel which I have termed the
stud wheel. The motion is much simplified friction is lessened the needles are
shortened and the apparatus is rendered more compact so that it can be readily
mounted in a single bracket. It has been proposed to actuate the pattern chain
barrel by means of two hinged hooks either of which could be put into action by
means of a second chain barrel one hook turning the pattern chain barrel forward
and the other backward. The said second chain barrel was to be actuated by means
of a special needle and catch but this would not turn the special barrel back when the
loom would be turned back. 1 arrange for the said special needle to act upon a
lever which is connected with a sliding star wheel which actuates the second chain
barrel. When the special needle is pushed in the star wheel is slid into position to
be acted upon by a stud upon the aforesaid stud wheel or upon a suitable part of
the apparatus. A spur wheel actuated by spur. teeth might take the place of the
star wheel. The motion may be provided with less or more than two excentrics
according to the number of shuttle compartments in the drop box as in my said
former invention. In order to lessen the risk of breakage of parts at the times when
the drop-box is jammed or prevented from moving with ordinary freedom and to
facilitate the moving of the drop box by hand when desirable I connect the excentric
link or links with the bottom lever by means of a coupling which will be released
at the times when the resistance to the movement of the said lever is excessive.
One part of the said coupling interlocks with the other part and is fitted to slide out
of connection but is kept in connection by means of a spring or load which is
sufficient to withstand the ordinary working strain. In the event of the drop-box
jamming the sliding part yields and releases the other part the parts being so shaped
as that the excessive strain has the effect of pushing the sliding part out of connection

page_text: and also that the parts will again interlock as the part connected with the excentrics
is moved up and down. The connection may be effected by means of a supplementary
lever mounted upon the same fulcrum as the main lever or upon the main lever
and connected with the excentrics or by means of a part fitted to slide vertically or
thereabouts upon the main lever. A rod and finger or lever are provided whereby
the sliding part can be drawn out of connection by operating upon a handle at the
upper end of such rod. Whilst the part is held-out of connection the main lever can
be worked up and down by hand. This may be effected by acting upon the same
handle by drawing it upward or pushing it downward whilst it is held in position to
hold back the sliding part. The releasing motion is applicable in cases wherein the
bottom lever is not actuated in accordance with my said former invention.
Dated this 17th day of June 1889.
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester, Agents.
COMPLETE SPecification.
Improvements in Drop-box Motions for Looms.
I WILLIAM HENRY HACKING of the California Iron Works, Bury in the County of
Lancaster Machine Maker do hereby declare the nature of this Invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement and accompanying drawings:-
:―
My Invention relates partly to a former invention for which Letters Patent
number 1449 of the year 1878 were granted to me. In the specification of my said
former Invention I described an arrangement wherein the drop box actuating lever
was operated by a compound excentric consisting of two excentrics one inside the
other. Either excentric could be semi-rotated by means of a sliding peg wheel which
was controlled in its action by a pattern chain acting through a sliding needle.
The pattern chain barrel was intermittently rotated by means of a star wheel motion
the star wheel being actuated by a wheel which for sake of distinction I will
term the stud wheel and the said stud wheel received motion from a. smaller wheel
which was actuated by an intermediate wheel and was provided with a tubular boss
upon which the peg wheels were fitted to slide. The whole of the parts received
motion from a spur wheel which was. fixed upon the crank shaft so that four wheels
were required two being intermediate between the driving wheel and the said stud
wheel. In my present invention I dispense with the two interinediate wheels and.
form or fix the said stud wheel upon the said tubular boss the driving wheel gearing
directly with the said stud wheel. The said stud wheel may be adapted to actuate a
star wheel upon the pattern chain barrel shaft as in my former Invention but I prefer
to provide it with a set of teeth which in each revolution gear with a spur wheel upon
the barrel shaft and rotate the said shaft, to the extent of a quarter of a revolution
or to a suitable extent according as the said barrel may have a greater or less number
of sides than four. In practice 1 form, the said set of teeth by lengthening two
three or more of the teeth of the wheel which I have termed the stud wheel.
The motion is much simplified friction is lessened the needles are shortened and the
apparatus is rendered more compact so that it can be readily mounted in a single
bracket.
=
I also make other improvements in the parts which act in concert with the drop
box motion but such improvements can be best described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
In the said drawings Fig. 1 represents an end elevation of a loom fitted with my
improvements.
Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in section of the improved drop box motion.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation.
12
Fig. 4 is a sectional plan of the saine..

page_text: In these figures parts which are the same as or similar to parts in the drawings
attached to the specification of my former Invention are marked with the same letters
of reference.
Referring to Figs. 1. 2. and 3 a represents the crank shaft of the loom ƒ ƒ¹
are the two peg wheels and m n are the two excentrics. Upon the shaft a is fixed a
spur pinion which gears with the spur teeth upon the stud wheel which is also
separately represented by Figs. 7 and 8 and has twice the number of teeth of the
pinion b. The said stud wheel is formed in one piece with a sleeve d which is fitted
to revolve upon a stud e which is fixed to the bracket M which carries the parts of the
motion. Upon the sleeved the peg wheels ff" are mounted to revolve and also to
slide. The two excentrics and connected parts are mounted to revolve upon a
second stud which is also fixed to the said bracket the outer ends of the said studs
being connected by means of a link . The excentric m revolves within the
excentric n and the strap of the latter is connected by a rod E with the drop box
lever as in my former invention. The larger excentric n is connected with a lock
plate and a toothed wheel k¹ also separately represented in Fig. 5 and the smaller,
excentric is connected with a lock plate i and a toothed wheel k, which are separately
represented in Fig. 6. The wheel k¹ is formed with a slot o which engages with a
projection upon the large excentric and carries the same around when the wheel A' is
turned. The wheel k is at times rotated to the extent of half a revolution by the
peg wheel the wheel being similarly actuated by the peg wheel f¹. The peg wheels
are formed with pegs g g' to act upon the wheels kk and are slid upon the
sleeved when required to engage with the toothed wheels such shifting of the
peg wheels being effected by needles y y'a cam groove upon the peg wheels acting
against the needle ends as abutments the pushing in of either of the needles causing
the corresponding peg wheel to be slid into gear with its toothed wheel. I have used
this method of shifting the peg wheels before the date of this prevent invention
but in the present example the needles are mounted in a detachable bracket Y which
can be quickly removed and be replaced by a bracket carrying a different number or
arrangement of needles. The operation of the needles is controlled by a pattern
chain as is usual. The chain barrel t is carried by a swing frame H which is
mounted upon a fulcrum pin I which is carried by the arm k. The lower end of the
said swing frame is provided with a bowl which is acted upon by a cam ŕ formed
upon the wheel 9 so that the chain barrel is swung away from the needles at each.
revolution of the said wheel the return movement being effected by means of a
spring w. Upon one axle of the chain barrel is secured a spur wheel u. Three of
the teeth of the wheel q are made broader than the others as seen at sss in
Figs. 7 and 8. As the said wheel revolves all of the teeth clear the wheel u with the
exception of these broader teeth which gear with the wheel u at the times when
the card barrel swings home whereby the wheel u is rotated to the extent required
to bring a fresh link of the chain into operation. The number of the teeth s may be
varied as required. It will be seen that the "motion" is very compact being all
carried by the bracket M so that it is only necessary to bolt this bracket to the side
of the loom in such a position as that the wheel q shall gear with the wheel b. It
will also be seen that the peg wheels revolve at half the speed of the crank shaft.
instead of at the same speed as was the case in my former invention-so that there
is a saving in power and wear and tear and there is a smoother action and less shock.
As the wheel y gears directly with the pinion intermediate wheels are dispensed
with and also the card barrel is brought nearer to the front of the loom so that it is
more accessible.
It has been proposed to actuate the pattern chain barrel by means of two hinged
hooks either of which could be put into action by means of a second chain barrel one
hook turning the pattern chain barrel forward and the other backward. The said
second chain barrel was to be actuated by means of a special needle and catch but
this would not turn the special barrel back when the loom would be turned back. I
arrange for the said special needle to act upon a lever which is connected with a
sliding star wheel which actuates the second chain barrel.

page_text: This improvement is illustrated by Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings wherein the
improved apparatus shewn as applied in connection with the wheel which appears
in the previously described Figs, and is indicated by the dotted lines q in Fig. 9. The
pattern chain barrel is carried by the lever frame H as in, the previous example but
is rotated by means of hooks a¹ a² therefore the long teeth are not required. The
said hooks are hinged at a³ so that their free ends can be raised or lowered to
engage with or to clear the pegs upon a peg wheel which is fixed upon one
end of the chain barrel. in the drawing the four pegs are indicated by dotted
circles.
6.
It will be seen that if the hook a¹ is lowered into action the barrel will be rotated
in the direction indicated by the arrow whereas if the hook a² be lifted into action the
barrel will be rotated in the contrary direction similar to a jacquard cylinder." I
do not claim this action of the two hooks apart from the means whereby 1 effect and
control the raising and lowering of such hooks. The two hooks are suspended by
means of wires or links from the free end of a lever c which is mounted to turn
upon a fulcrum at c¹. Upon this lever is mounted a bowl c' which is acted upon at
times by pegs upon the links of a pattern chain d¹. When a link which has not a
peg is below the said bowl the lever remains in its lower position indicated by the
dotted lines the hook a¹ being then in action the hook a being out of action but
when a peg is brought below the bowl the lever is lifted into its higher
position whereby the hook a¹ is raised out of action and the hook a" into
action. The barrel upon which the chain dis mounted receives motion through
a train of gearing from a star wheel e' which is actuated at times by the wheel q.
In the drawing the said train of gearing is indicated by dotted circles a wheel e³
upon the same shaft as the star wheel transmitting motion through an intermediate to
a wheel upon the chain barrel. The star wheel is mounted to slide upon and to
revolve with a shaft e² and is controlled by means of a forked bell-crank lever which
is mounted upon a fulcrum at g² pins upon the fork of the said lever entering a
groove in the boss of the star wheel so that when the lever is turned upon its
fulcrum the star wheel is slid upon the shaft e². The back of the stud wheel
provided with a circular rim g' which acts to lock the star wheel in the ordinary
manner.
is
At one point in the said rim a recess is formed to permit the star wheel to turn
and a short peg is fixed in position to act upon the star wheel. When the star
wheel is in the position indicated in Fig. 10 this peg clears the star wheel and the
said recess passes to one side of the wheel but when the star wheel is slid toward
the wheel the peg on coming round will engage with the star wheel and turn it
to the extent of an eighth part of a revolution supposing it to have eight rays as in
the example.
The end of the shorter arm of the lever f projects into a slot in the upper
end of a lever which is mounted upon a fulcrum h the lower end of this lever
being adapted to be acted upon by a third needle which is mounted between the
two needles which control the peg wheels ff' in the drop box motion as aforesaid.
When the needle y² is pushed in the lever is turned upon its fulcrum and by
acting upon the lever f2 causes the star wheel to slide into position to be acted upon
by the peg whereby the star wheel is caused to make one eighth of a revolution.
This movement of the star wheel being transmitted by the gearing to the chain wheel
the chain is moved so as to bring a fresh link below the lever c. A spiral spring
upon the needle y2 acting upon the lever h' effects the movement of the star wheel
out of the range of action of the peg / so that the chain d' and the parts which it
controls remain at rest until the needle y² is again pushed in. It will thus be seen
that so long as the star wheel is at rest the main chain barrel will be worked in the
same direction by one of the two hooks until the needle y is pushed in to shift the
star wheel so as to effect the reversal of the direction of motion of the main chain
barrel. Fig. 11 illustrates a modification adapted for use in cases wherein the reversal
of the pattern chain is not required. In this example only one hook a' is required
the star wheel motion being used to put the hook into action when the chain barrel

page_text: is to be rotated and to hold the hook out of action during a number of picks in casès
wherein several picks have to be made with the same shuttle. An important feature
in both motions is that when the loom is turned back the star wheel when actuated is
turned in the reverse direction and thereby turns back the chain . The chain d'
or d might be dispensed with and a cam or barrel be used to raise and lower the
lever c and a spur wheel actuated by spur teeth upon the wheel y might take the place
of the star wheel. Any suitable wheel might take the place of the wheel q in cases
wherein the motion first herein described would not be used.
In order to lessen the risk of breakage of parts at the times when the drop box
is jammed or prevented from moving with ordinary freedom and to facilitate the
moving of the drop box by hand when desirable I connect the excentric link or
links with the bottom lever by means of a coupling which will be released at the
times when the resistance to the movement of the said lever is excessive. One part
of the said coupling interlocks with the other part and is fitted to slide out of connec-
tion but is kept in connection by means of a spring or load which is sufficient to
withstand the ordinary working strain. The drawings in sheet 4 illustrate this part
my Invention Fig. 13 being a side elevation and Fig. 12 a plan view. Fig. 14 is a
part of Fig. 13 with the parts as they appear when the connection with the excentric
has become released or unlocked. The parts also appear in position on the loom side
in Fig. 1.
of
In Fig. 13 m n are the two excentrics which appear in Fig. 2 L is the drop box
lever and N is an auxilliary lever both levers being mounted upon a common
fulcrum stud p.
The lower end of the excentric link E engages with a stud m' which
is adjustable in a slot in the auxilliary lever N.
The extreme free end n¹ of the last named lever is made of a vee shape and
engages with a vee slot in a block o' which is mounted to slide upon the main
lever L. A spiral spring p¹ is attached by one end to the lever Land by the other
end to the block of the effect being that the said block is drawn against the end n of
the lever N which is thereby locked or prevented from moving independently of the
lever L.
_
The outer end of the drop box lever L is connected with the drop box by means
of the link O. It will be seen that as all the movements of the lever Land of the
link O with its attached drop box are received from the auxilliary lever N and are
imparted by the simple contact of the part n' with the block o' there will be a
tendency for the said block to be pushed away along the lever L. This tendency is
resisted by the spring p' which is of a strength calculated to keep the block o' up to.
its work so as to lock the lever N during the ordinary working of the loom In
the event however of an extraordinary resistance to the movements of the drop.
box, such for example, as would arise from the jamming of the shuttle between
its box and the shuttle race the spring not being powerful enough to resist the
increased strain the block o' would be pushed away by the action of one or other
of the inclined surfaces on the nose n¹ and the connection between the two lovers.
would be broken thereby unlocking or releasing the lever N as indicated in Fig. 14.
In some cases the release would be effected by the lifting of the lever N. The link O
carries a rod which is mounted to turn in bearings and is provided with a suitable
handle s'. On the lower end of this rod is fixed or formed a short lever t' which is
adapted to act as a finger upon the block o¹ and to draw it out of locking gear with
the lever N. When the handle s' is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow
in Fig. 12 the finger acting upon an upward projection which is formed or
fixed upon a backward extension o of the block draws the said block away from the
end of the lever N thereby unlocking the connection between the two levers.
Whilst the part is held out of connection the main lever can be worked up and
down by hand. This may be effected by acting upon the same handle by drawing
it upward or pushing it downward whilst it is held in position to hold back the
sliding part. The releasing motion is applicable in cases wherein the bottom lever
is not actuated in accordance with my said former invention. The arrangement may
be varied so long as the strain transmitted by the rod E is imparted to the lever L

page_text: '
.
through a spring connection which will unlock or yield at the required times as
for example the end of the rod E might be connected with a part fitted to slide up
and down upon the lever L and adapted to lock or engage with the block o' or with
a part capable of yielding but kept in locking gear by means of a spring.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The combination of parts arranged and acting substantially as and for the purpose
set forth and indicated with reference to Figs. 2 to 8 of the drawings hereto.
2. The wheel gearing with the pinion & upon the crank shaft and provided with
a sleeve carrying the two peg wheels ff substantially as and for the purpose set
forth and indicated.
3. The wheel provided with teeth s for actuating at intervals the wheel u upon
the card barrel shaft substantially as set forth and indicated.
4. The bracket M having fixed thereto the stud e carrying the wheel q and the
sleeve d upon which are mounted the two peg wheels and also having fixed thereto
the stud carrying the excentrics m and n and their toothed wheels kk and locking
wheels i substantially as and for the purpose set forth and indicated.
5. The needle bracket Y carrying the needles and secured to the bracket M so as
to be readily exchanged for a bracket carrying a different number of needles when
such a change would be desirable as set forth and indicated.
6. The combination of parts substantially as and for the purpose set forth and
indicated with reference to Figs. 9 to 11 of the drawings.
7. The star wheel mounted to slide upon its shaft into position to be locked by the
wheel or to be partly rotated by the same such star wheel being slid by the operation
of the connected levers f and h¹ the latter acted upon by a special needle and the
chain d' or an equivalent actuated by the said star wheel and acting upon a lever
which is connected with two hooks a¹ a substantially as and for the purpose set
forth and indicated.
8. In apparatus for controlling the operations of pattern chains in drop box
motions for looms a wheel mounted to be slid into and out of turning gear with a
locking wheel by the operation of connected levers acted upon by a special needle so
that when such needle is pushed in the said wheel is moved into position to be turned
and thereby to turn a chain wheel peg wheel or cam which raises or lowers a lever
which is connected with the pattern chain barrel actuating hook or hooks sub-
stantially as set forth and indicated.
9. The combination and arrangement of parts substantially as and for the purpose
set forth and indicated with reference to Figs. 12 and 14 of the drawings.
10. The auxiliary lever N connected with the drop box lever L by means of a
yielding slide block o' which is kept in connection with the end of the auxilliary. lever
by means of a spring during the ordinary working of the loom substantially as and
for the purpose set forth and indicated.
11. The excentric rod E jointed to the lever N the vee end n' on the said lever
fitting the vee recess in the sliding piece o³ the spring p' or an equivalent spring and
the rod for withdrawing the said sliding piece substantially as and for the purpose
set forth and indicated.
12. The excentric rod E imparting movement to the drop hox lever through a
locking device which is kept in gear by means of a spring during the ordinary working
of the loom but which yields or unlocks at the times when there is excessive
resistance to the movement of the drop box substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Dated thi L 3
Ր ...
1800
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester, Agents.