IMPROVEMENTS IN Looms AND IN DEVICES TO BE EMPLOYED THEREWITH FOR WEAVING."
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Oldfield, of Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, England, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN Looms
AND IN DEVICES TO BE EMPLOYED THEREWITH FOR WEAVING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Oldfield at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 27th November 1869.
I, BENJAMIN OLDFIELD, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick,
England, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN LOOMS AND IN DEVICES TO BE EMPLOYED THEREWITH FOR WEAVING,"
to be as follows:-
The improvements which form the subject of my present Invention
are applicable to looms of every description, but they are especially
adapted to looms for weaving a number of pieces simultaneously. I use
a shuttle made in two parts, the front being of sheet metal, and the
back of wood or any suitable material, so that when the grooves or
tongues in the back are worn out the front may be used on another
back, and the front of the shuttle can be changed whenever it may be
[Price 8d.]

page_text: desirable. The said shuttle can be made of circular form projecting
either over or under the cloth sufficiently above or below the shed
when at its deepest part, whereby the length of the shuttle race can be
shortened to the width of the space over which it works or nearly so
and in that case the shuttle race will be made shorter than the shuttle
The filling thread is taken from a reel the body of which is made
hollow and contains a coiled spring so as to rewind or take up
the filling
thread and keep the same always at a uniform tension. To the front
of the shuttle is attached a tube or case for the purpose of receiving a
spiral take up spring. The reel which contains the filling thread has
a body made of wood or other suitable material with cheeks made of
metal and pierced so as to enable the operator to see when the reel is
empty, and also to reduce the weight of the reel and to enable the
operator to adjust the yarn when the same is wrong. The thread after
leaving the reel is exposed to a tension device before reaching the shuttle
front in such a manner that a uniform tension of the filling thread can
be insured without fail. A check or brake spring is used on the reel
as well as the ordinary tension spring to prevent more of the thread
from leaving the reel than the work will take up. The check spring
can also be applied upon the old quill, enabling more yarn to be put on
and producing a better tension. Where a quill is used a wire is inserted
in the shuttle for the thread to pass around before going through the
shuttle eye, thus giving a greater distance for the thread than if it came
directly from the quill. The shuttle motion consists mainly of a toothed
wheel situated between the two shuttle racks and gearing in both in
such a manner that a double shuttle batten can be operated by one
wheel, these shuttle racks receiving the required motion through the
medium of toothed slide rods gearing in a pinion mounted on a shaft,
which carries a toothed wheel gearing into the shuttle rack or racks in
such a manner that the motion is produced by rucks and pinions instead
of by the cords and pulleys generally used for this purpose, and the
throw of the shuttles can be easily regulated by changing the relative
proportion of the pinion and toothed wheel. The lifter which imparts
motion to the geared slide rods is connected to the main shaft by means
of a wheel cam and lever or other equivalent means in such a manner
that more than half the revolution of the main shaft is taken up while
the shuttles are in motion, and by using the cam and lever the same
motion can be given to any ordinary "marionette" shuttle motion,
consequently the motion of the shuttle is rendered comparatively slow,

page_text: and the strain on the filling threads and the danger of breaking the
same is materially reduced. The shuttle racks may be constructed with
round tapering holes to mesh into pinions with teeth of a corresponding
shape. With the shuttle motion are combined eccentric toothed wheels
for the purpose of producing an irregular motion of the shuttles. The
shuttle motion mechanism instead of being connected to the "marionette"
motion by chains and pullies may be connected thereto by a loose wheel
mounted on the shaft which drives the shuttle racks, the said wheel
being held by a feather key, so that said shaft is free to slide through
the wheel in accordance with the motion of the batten without throwing
the said wheel out of gear with the rising and falling racks of the
"marionette" motion. The harness motion is composed of bell-crank
levers provided with toothed segments which gear in toothed pinions or
wheels, to which a reciprocating revolving motion is imparted by toothed
slide rods. The pinions which gear in the toothed segments of the bell-
crank levers are provided with stops, which whenever the said pinions
arrive at the extreme ends of their oscillations bear against the ends of
the toothed segments and lock the heddle frames up or down for any
number of picks as the pattern chain may require. The toothed
segments and pinions may however be replaced by an oblique cam slot
formed on a pinion secured to a slide rod and acting on a stud which
projects from a rod, one end of which connects with the vertical arm of
a bell-crank lever, while its other end is guided in a slotted standard
in such a manner, that by the rising and falling motion of the slide rod
or hook with the cam slot the required oscillating motion is imparted to
the bell-crank lever, and as the stud drops into the ends of the cam slot
the heddle frame is looked up or down for any number of picks. When
a long lever is not used the bell-crank levers at the top are connected
with those at the bottom by an upright lever or by suitable rods, and
these rods which form the connections between the several sets of bell-
crank levers at the top and bottom, are provided with suitable slots
which catch over buttons projecting from the bell-crank levers in such
a manner that the relative position of the bell-crank levers to each
other is clearly defiued, and the loom can be mounted level without
great loss of time. The harness may also be connected by rods attached
to a cam slot or bell-crank lever, motion being given thereto at the
other end by a circular cam groove, so as to avoid the use of long levers
and the necessity of mounting the loom at both the top and bottom of
the harness shafts. The vibrator and hooks by means of which the

page_text: slide rods are operated, are pivoted to the said slide rods, and they are
acted on by the pattern chain, so that the said hooks and slide rods
are capable of being thrown in or out of gear with the knives either at
the top or bottom as the pattern chain may require. I employ two
knives which alternate, both being lifters and depressers, or one a lifter
and the other a depresser. They can be connected by toothed wheels
and racks, whereby the required alternating motion is produced. These
knives may be worked at a suitable angle to keep the harness from
moving further than the knives, thereby avoiding the use of a second
hook, they may be operated by eccentric toothed wheels, which give
them an irregular motion. If the rising and falling slide rods or hooks
which receive their motion from the knives are so arranged that their
position in relation to the knives cannot be changed by the pattern
chain, the hooks or catches on the said rods are so constructed that
they can be thrown in or out of the path of the knives by a scalloped
vibrator, which is actuated by the pattern chain. Suitable stops are
combined with the arms, which transmit the motion from the rising
and falling racks to the heddle frames in such a manner that the
dropping of the said arms or hooks below the desired point is prevented.
A drop box motion may also be used, the same being worked by cams,
levers, hooks, and weights, and which will not require the number of studs
in the pattern chain. The ends of the heddles are provided with handles
or rings to enable the operator to move them when necessary. The
pattern chain is composed of studs of varying length in such a manner
that when a long stud comes opposite to one of the vibrating hooks, the
said hook is thrown in gear with the outer knife, and if one of the short
studs comes opposite to one of the hooks the said hook is allowed to
drop into gear with the rear knife, and if one of the studs of medium
length comes opposite to one of the hooks, the said hook is held in a
central position clear of both knives. The motion of the knives
commences a little in advance of that of the pattern chain, so that the
hooks are relieved from the strain of the knives before they are acted
on by the pattern chain. In a close shed loom one treadle only is used,
the same is operated by an eccentric or crank motion, the two knives
being geared together and one being connected to the treadle. The
treadles and the eccentric studs acting thereon (or any equivalent
mechanism which may be substituted therefor) are so arranged that
more than one-half of the revolution of the main shaft is absorbed. in
ifting or depressing the heddles. The let-off motion for the warp aud

page_text: filling thread is composed of a weight acting on a lever which forms a
brake on the beams so as to prevent the coming off of the threads from
the beams faster than required, the said threads passing over a swivelling
pulley attached to the lever. The quiller which serves for filling the
quills or reels is so constructed that it can be readily attached to the
loom, thus enabling the weaver to fill his quills or reels.
In looms where the ordinary shuttles and their races are dispensed
with and the thread is taken from a bobbin (placed in any convenient
part of the loom,) and lying along each edge of the work, I have a rod
to which is attached a small shuttle, and which I pass through the
opening of the warp to the opposite side, the filling thread then passes
under the shuttle which is drawn back, and the thread in the small
shuttle takes hold of the filling thread and brings it across the work.
Two shuttles are used one on each side, one working at one revolution
of the loom, the other at the next revolution, or both can be put in the
same opening. A number of pieces can be made at the same time.
By these means I dispense with needles entirely, and any required
number of colors can be put in by raising them with the harness at the
proper time. The batten of the loom is worked by a parallel motion
composed of iron rods and arms.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Benjamin Oldfield in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th May 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
OLDFIELD, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, England, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of November, in the
year of our Lord Oue thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Benjamin Oldfield, Her special licence
that I, the said Benjamin Oldfield, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Benjamin Oldfield, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others. from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term

page_text: therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOOMS AND IN DEVICES TO BE EMPLOYED THEREWITH FOR WEAVING," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Benjamin Oldfield, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, aud cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Benjamin Oldfield, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings and forming a part of this Specification.
The improvements which form the subject of my present Invention
are applicable to looms of every description, but they are especially
adapted to looms for weaving a number of pieces simultaneously.
I use a shuttle made in two parts, the front being of sheet metal,
and the back of wood or any suitable material, so that when the
grooves or tongues in the back are worn out the front may be used
on another back, and the front of the shuttle can be changed when-
ever it may be desirable. The said shuttle can be made of circular
form projecting either over or under the cloth sufficiently above or below
the shed when at its deepest part, whereby the length of the shuttle
race can be shortened to the width of the space over which it works, or
nearly so, and in that case the shuttle race will be made shorter than
the shuttle. The filling thread is taken from a reel, the body of which
is made hollow and contains a coiled spring so as to rewind or take up
the filling thread and keep the same always at a uniform tension. To
the front of the shuttle is attached a tube or case for the purpose of
receiving a spiral take up spring. The reel which contains the filling
thread has a body made of wood er other suitable material, with cheeks
made of metal and pierced so as to enable the operator to see when
the reel is empty, and also to reduce the weight of the reel and to enable
the operator to adjust the yarn when the same is wrong. The thread
after leaving the reel is exposed to a tension device before reaching the

page_text: shuttle front in such a manner that a uniform tension of the filling
thread can be ensured without fail. A check or brake spring is used on
the reel as well as the ordinary tension spring to prevent more of the
thread from leaving the reel than the work will take up; the check spring
can also be applied upon the old quill rendering the same capable of
receiving more yain and producing a better tension. Where a quill is
used a wire is inserted in the shuttle for the thread to pass round before
going through the shuttle eye, thus giving a greater distance for the
thread than if it came directly from the quill.
The shuttle motion consists mainly of a toothed wheel situated between
the two shuttle racks and gearing in both, in such a manner that a
double shuttle batten can be operated by one wheel, these shuttle racks
receiving the required motion through the medium of toothed slide
rods gearing in a pinion mounted on a shaft which carries a toothed
wheel gearing into the shuttle rack or racks, in such a manner that the
motion is produced by racks and pinions instead of by cords and pulleys
generally used for this purpose, and the throw of the shuttles can be
easily regulated by changing the relative proportion of the pinion and
toothed wheel. The lifter which imparts motion to the geared slide
rods is connected to the main shaft by means of a wheel cam and lever
or other equivalent means in such a manner that more than half the
revolution of the main shaft is taken up while the shuttles are in motion
and by using the cam and lever the same motion can be given to any
ordinary "marionette" shuttle motion, consequently the motion of the
shuttle is rendered comparatively slow and the strain on the filling
threads and the danger of breaking the same is materially reduced.
The shuttle racks are constructed with round tapering holes to mesh
into pinions with teeth of a corresponding shape. With the shuttle
motion may be combined eccentric toothed wheels for the purpose of
producing an irregular motion of the shuttles. The shuttle motion
mechanism instead of being connected to the "marionette" motion by
chains and pulleys may be connected thereto by a loose wheel mounted
on the shaft which drives the shuttle racks, the said wheel being held
by a feather key so that the said shaft is free to slide through the wheel
in accordance with the motion of the batten without throwing the said
wheel out of gear with the rising and falling racks of the "marionette"
motion. The harness motion is composed of bell crank levers provided
with toothed segments which gear in toothed pinions or wheels to which
a reciprocating revolving motion is imparted by toothed slide rods.

page_text: The pinions which gear in the toothed segments of the bell-crank levers
are provided with stops which whenever the said pinions arrive at the
extreme ends of their oscillations bear against the ends of the toothed
segments and lock the heddle frames up or down, for any number of
picks as the pattern chain may require. The toothed segments and
pinions may however be replaced by an oblique cam slot formed in a
piece secured in a slide rod and acting on a stud which projects from
a rod, one end of which connects with the vertical arm of a bell-crank
lever, while its other end is guided in a slotted standard in such a
manner that by the rising and falling motion of the slide rod or hook
with the cam slot the required oscillating motion is imparted to the
bell-crank lever, and as the stud drops into the ends of the cam slot the
heddle frame is locked up or down for any number of picks. The
bell-crank levers at the top are connected with those at the bottom by
an upright lever or by suitable rods, and these rods which form the con-
nections between the several sets of bell-crank levers at the top and
bottom are provided with suitable slots which catch over buttons pro-
jecting from the bell-crank levers in such a manner that the relative
position of the bell-crank levers to each other is clearly defined and
the loom can be mounted level without great loss of time. The harness
may also be connected by rods attached to a cam slot or bell-crank
lever, motion being given thereto at the other end by a circular cam
groove so as to avoid the use of long levers and the necessity of mounting
the loom at both the top and bottom of the harness shafts. The vibrator
and hooks by means of which the slide rods are operated are pivoted
to the said slide rods, and they are acted on by the pattern chain or
cylinder so that the said hooks and slide rods are capable of being thrown
in or out of gear with the knives either at the top or bottom as the
pattern chain may require. I employ two knives which alternate, both
being lifters and depressers, or one a lifter and the other a depresser,
They can be connected by toothed wheels and racks whereby the required
alternating motion is produced. These knives may be worked at a
suitable angle to keep the harness from moving further or faster than
the knives, thereby avoiding the use of a second book, they may be
operated by eccentric toothed wheels which give them an irregular
motion. If the rising and falling slides, rods, or hooks which receive
their motion from the knives are so arranged that their position in
relation to the kuives cannot be changed by the pattern chain or
cylinder the hooks or catches on the said rod are so constructed that

page_text: The
they can be thrown in or out of the path of the knives by a scolloped
vibrator which is actuated by the pattern chain or cylinder. Suitable
stops are combined with the arms which transmit the motion from the
rising and falling racks to the heddle frame in such a manner that the
dropping of the said arms or hooks below the desired point is prevented.
A drop box motion may also be used, the same being worked by cams,
levers, hooks and weights, and which will not require so many studs
in the pattern chain. The ends of the heddles are provided with handles
or rings, to enable the operator to move them when necessary.
pattern chain is composed of studs of varying length in such a manner
that when a long stud comes opposite to one of the vibrating hooks,
the said hook is thrown in gear with the outer knife, and if one of the
short studs comes opposite to one of the hooks, the said hook is allowed
to drop into gear with the rear kuife, and if one of the studs of medium
length comes opposite to one of the hooks said hook is held in a central
position clear of both knives. The motion of the knives commences a
little in advance of that of the pattern chain, so that the hooks are
released from the strain of the knives before they are acted on by the
pattern chain. In a closed shed loom one treadle only is used, the same
is operated by an excentric or crank motion, the two knives being geared
The treadles and
together and one being connected to the treadle.
the excentric studs acting thereon (or any equivalent mechanism which
may be substituted therefor) are so arranged that more than one half
of the revolution of the main shaft is absorbed in lifting or depressing
the heddles. The let off motion for the warp and filling thread is corn-
posed of a weight acting on a lever which forms a brake on the beams
so as to prevent the coming off of the threads from the beams faster
than required, the said threads passing over a swivelling pulley attached
to the lever. The quiller which serves for filling the quills or reels
is so constructed that it can be readily attached to the loom, thus
enabling the weaver to fill his quills or reels.
In looms where the ordinary shuttles and their races are dispensed
with and the thread is taken from a bobbin (placed in any convenient
part of the loom) and lying along each edge I have a rod to which is
attached a small shuttle and which I pass through the shed of the warp
to the opposite side i the filling thread then passes under the shuttle
which is drawn back and the thread in the small shuttle takes hold of
the filling thread, and brings it across the work. Two shuttles are used

page_text: one on each side, one working at one revolution of the loom and the
other at the next revolution, or both can be put in the same opening.
A number of pieces can be made at the same time. By these means
I dispense with needles entirely and any required number of colors can
be put in by raising them with the harness at the proper time. The
batten of the loom is worked by a parallel motion composed of iron
rods and
I represents a sectional rear elevation of a loom constructed
according to my Invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the
harness mechanism for the same; Figure 3 is an end view of the said
loom showing the shuttle mechanism; Figure 4 is an end view of the
said loom shewing the harness mechanism. The remaining Figures
illustrate modifications and detached portions of my Invention which
will be referred to as the description progresses. Like letters indicate
corresponding parts throughout the Drawings.
A designates a frame which is made of wood or metal, or both
combined, and of the required form and strength. This frame forms the
bearing for the main shaft B, to which a revolving motion is imparted
by a belt running on fast and loose pulleys C, C, these pulleys being
represented with a slight space between them in Figure 1 to allow the
shuttle mechanism to be seen. On the shaft B is mounted a cog
wheel a, which gears into another cog wheel a mounted on a stud
secured in the frame, and in the side of this second cog wheel is formed
a cam groove a¹*, which engages with a stud b secured in a rod 6*, see
Figure 3, which is provided with a guide slot enclosing the stud on
which the cog wheel is mounted, and which connects with a lever D.
This lever D has its fulcrum on a stud c secured in the frame A, and to
its loose end is pivoted a rod d, which connects by a hinge joint with
the lifting rack e. This rack moves up and down in suitable guide
brackets secured to the batten E, and the rod d being pivotted at both
ends is free to follow the motion of the batten. The lifter e gears into a
cog wheel e*, which is mounted on one end of a shaft l, to the other end
whereof is secured a pinion m, which gears in the shuttle rack n. If
desired however two shuttle racks may be employed, as shewn in
Figure 10, one being situated above and the other below the pinion m,
so that they move in opposite directions. In this way the motion of the
shuttle is produced by racks and pinions instead of by the cords and

page_text: The rack thus formed
With the shuttle-driving
wheels for the purpose of
pulleys generally used for that purpose, and the throw of the shuttle can
be easily regulated by changing the relative proportion of the pinion m
with the cog wheel e. The cam groove which imparts motion to the
lifting rack is so formed that more than one-half of its revolution is
taken up while the shuttles are in motion, and by using the cam groove
and lever D the same motion can be imparted to any ordinary marionette
shuttle-driving mechanism, the motion of the shuttle being thereby
rendered comparatively slow, and the strain on the filling threads and
the danger of breaking such threads being materially reduced. The
shuttle racks are constructed with round taper holes nx to mesh into
pinions with teeth of a corresponding shape.
extends along the entire length of the batten.
mechanism may be combined excentric toothed
producing a quicker or slower motion of the shuttles as may be desired.
In the Drawing the cam groove a* is shewn geared, so that it makes
one revolution for every two revolutions of the main shaft, but if desired
the cam groove may be mounted directly on the main shaft, the con-
struction of the shuttle-driving mechanism being changed accordingly.
The shuttle S which I use in my loom is shown in Figures 5, 6, and 9;
it is made in two parts, the front a² being of sheet metal, and the back 62
of wood or any suitable material. This back is provided with grooves or
tongues to correspond with similar tongues or grooves in the shuttle
If the grooves or tongues in the back are worn out the front may
be used on another back, and the front of the shuttle can be changed
whenever it is desirable. The said shuttle may be made of a circular
form projecting either over or under the cloth sufficiently above or below
the shed when at its deepest part; I am thereby enabled to shorten the
shuttle race to the width of the space over which the shuttle works, or
nearly so, the race being in this case shorter than the shuttle. The
filling thread is taken from a reel R (see Figures 7 and 8), the body of
which may be made hollow and provided with a coiled spring c², so as to
rewind or take up the filling thread and keep the same always at a
uniform tension. To the front of the shuttle is attached a tube d², see
Figure 6, for the purpose of receiving a spiral take-up spring. The
filling thread as the same is taken from the reel is drawn through an eye
in the end of the said spring. The body of the reel R is made of wood
or other suitable material with cheeks e² of metal, made open to enable
the operator to see when the reel is empty, and also to reduce the weight
of the reel and to allow the yarn or thread to be adjusted when the
races.

page_text: same is wrong. The reel is exposed to the action of a check or brake
spring in addition to the ordinary tension spring f³ to prevent more of
the thread from leaving the reel than the work will take up. The check
spring can also be applied upon the old quill, rendering the same capable
of receiving more yarn and producing a better tension. Where a quill
is used (see Figure 9) a wire 92 is inserted in the shuttle for the thread
to pass around before going through the shuttle eye, thus giving a
greater distance for the thread than if it came directly from the quill.
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the difference between the old method
and my improved method of operating the shuttle in circular weaving.
By referring to Figure 5*, which shows the old method, it will be seen
that the shuttle S wire only pass half way across the web, and that the
block of the batten is from four to five inches above the cloth. This
arrangement hides the light from the slay, and will not allow the weaver
to see the warp threads. The shuttles also are curved to a very short
radius, and require a deep opening of the threads. In my improved
arrangement, shown in Figure 6*, the shuttle races S¹ are shorter than
the shuttles, and the shuttle passes across the space under the cloth T, as
shown by the dotted lines. If desired the shuttles can be arranged to
work over the top of the cloth, but they are more out of the way when
they work under the cloth; moreover the weaver can see the slays
better, as the top shuttle races may be as narrow as in an ordinary loom.
With these circular shuttles it is only necessary that they should be
carried just clear of the opening of the warp threads when at the deepest
point. The harness motion is composed chiefly of a series of bell-crank
levers 0, p, r, s, t, u, v, w, the bell-crank levers o, p, and r, s, have
their bearings on axles a³, 63, secured in the top rails B¹ of the
frame A, and the bell-crank levers t, u, v, w, have their bearings
on axles c³, d³, secured in the bottom part of the said frame, and
the several bell-crank levers connect with each other and with the
heddle frame F as follows:-The arms p of the bell-crank levers o, p,
connect with the arms r of the bell-crank levers r, s, and the arms s
of these last-named levers connect with the heddle frames (as clearly
shown in Figure 1). The arms o of the bell-crank levers o, p, connect
with the arms t of the levers t, u, and the arms u of these last-named
levers connect with the arms v of the levers v, w, the arms w of which
connect with the heddle frames. If one of the bell-crank levers o, p, is
tilted in the direction of the arrow 1, Figure 1, the appropriate heddle
frame is raised, and if the bell-crank lever is tilted in the direction of

page_text: the arrow 2 the appropriate heddle frame is depressed. The rods e³, †³,
and g³ which form the connection between the several bell-crank levers
are flat bars with studs which catch in the pear-shaped slots h³ in the
arms of the bell-crank levers (see Figure 19), and by the use of such
rods the loom can be mounted level with little loss of time. It is obvious
that the rods e, f, and 93, instead of being provided with studs might be
provided with pear-shaped slots to catch over studs secured in the bell-
crank levers. The arms p of the bell-crank levers o, p, connect by
rods j³ with cam slots in the upper ends of slide rods 63, to whose
lower ends are hinged the hooks m (see Figures 2, 2b, which are so
arranged that they can be thrown in or out of gear with the knife G, G¹
and which pass through eyes attached to the vibrators n³, whose position
is controlled by the pattern cylinder H. This pattern cylinder is pro-
vided with projecting pins which act on the heels of the vibrators,
and if one of the vibrators is raised the corresponding hook m³ is thrown
in such a position that the knife G' in going up will carry with it the
slide rod attached to the said hook, and if the vibrator is allowed to
sink down between the pins of the pattern cylinder the corresponding
hook is thrown in gear with the knife G, and the slide rod is carried
down. In order to effect this purpose each hook is provided with two
noses m, m, (see Figure 2b) situated on opposite sides, the hook m* to
be acted on by the knife G, and the hook m₁ to be acted on by the
knife G¹. Mechanism for locking the cylinder, such as shown in
Figure 2*, may be applied. The rectangular cross sectional shape of the
hooks m³ is shown in Figure 2. In the cavity of each hook is situated
a secondary hook m4, which is pivotted to the main hook, and provided
with a crooked shank which passes through a guide rail m³.
secondary hooks m' is provided with two noses m**, ml.
appropriate slide rod is carried up by the
the secondary hook is thrown in under the
the guide rail and crooked shank. In the same manner the nose m**
of the secondary hook is thrown in over the knife G. The oblique slot of
the slide rod catches over a pin k secured in the rods j³, and the said slot
is of such a form that when the pin arrives at either of its ends the rod j³
and the heddle frame connected thereto are locked, and by these meaus
all the huddle frames are locked up or down for any number of picks.
If desired the motion of the bell-crank levers and heddle frames can also
be effected by toothed segments connected to the bell-crank levers o, p,
and gearing into piuions which mesh into racks attached to the upper
Each of the
When the
knife G¹ the nose m¹ of
said knife by the action of
3

page_text: ends of the slide rods, as shewn in Figure 11, where indicates the
segment attached to the bell-crank levers o, p, and gearing in a pinion ³,
which meshes in a rack 62 in the slide rod, and to which are attached the
hooks m. The knives G, G¹, are secured in slides q³, Figure 4, which
move up and down in suitable guides, motion being imparted to them by
cranks, to which said frames are connected by rods s³. The cianks
are placed at an angle of 180 degrees towards each other, and their
motion is produced by eliptical wheels t2, whereby the motion of the
knives is rendered irregular, and the strain on the warp in raising the
heddle frames is materially reduced (see Figure 4). If desired, however,
the knives can be connected by toothed wheels and racks, whereby the
desired alternating motion is produced. The dropping of the vibrators
below the desired point is prevented by stops u³, see Figure 2.
In Figure 2 I have shown a modified arrangement of parts wherein
a series of slots are used in connection with a bell-crank lever. The
cam slots are formed in pieces k*, which are rigidly connected to each
other by rods. The bell-crank lever p is jointed to the series of
slotted plates at k by the rod k7. The said bell-crank lever p has the
hook m³ connected to it. The harness frames F have upright pieces Fi
attached to them. The upper ends of these upright pieces are provided
with rollers F which work in the cam slots k³. The rail B which
extends across the top of the frame A
small antifriction rollers k
which work at the top and bottom of the cam slot pieces k*.
In Figure 2 and 2° I have shown another modification of my Inven-
tion wherein the pattern chain and parts connected therewith are replaced
by an arrangement of cams. The bell-crank levers p, p¹, in this case
have one arm connected by the jointed rods Fx to the upright pieces F¹
of the frame F; the other arm of the lever p is jointed to a rod p2;
through which it is connected to one of the cams p³. The two bell-
cranks are connected together by the rod pt. The cams p³ are fixed on
the shaft p, which by the beviled wheel and pinion p, p, is geared in
connection with the main shaft B of the loom, as shown in Figure 2.
One cam or cam groove is required for each harness. If desired instead
of the bell-crank levers I may use cam slot pieces similar to those
shown in Figure 2c in connection with the cams p³. It will be readily
understood that in the arrangement illustrated in Figure 2 there need
be no mounting at the bottom, and by that shown in Figure 2d there

page_text: need be no mounting at the top of the harness. The beviled wheels
and cams can be readily changed according to the pattern to be woven.
My improved drop box motion is represented in Figures 12 13, 14
and 15. In these Figures a represents a cam slot piece working in
guideways g. To this cam slot piece is connected a hook 6' by a pivot
; the said hook is provided with as many steps o' on its edge as there
are shuttle boxes. The knives j' are connected to the same pivot, and
are worked by a double-sided cam c4, one knife serving to force the
hook 64 in one direction, and the other in the opposite direction. The
position of the hook 64 is governed by the pattern cylinder d', which is
provided with studs of varying length corresponding with the steps o*.
In the piece at a cam slot e is formed to act on a roller on a stud
projecting from the upright bar f*, which connects with the bottom
lever h, and this lever is connected by a rod p' with the drop box 08.
The weight of this drop box is counterbalanced by a weight . The cam
slot piece a is retained in the required position by a stop lever . This
entire mechanism is intended to be placed across the end of the loom.
If it is desired to work one drop box by the other I connect the same by
means of rods p' with the lever h', as shown in Figure 13.
In Figures 14 and 15 I have shown a narrow fabric drop box. In
Figure 14 a designates a lever working halfway across the loom. This
lever is pivotted at its centre and acts on a hook 6, which is constructed
as shown in Figure 12. The lever a³ is connected by cords c with the
jacquard whereby the said lever and by it the hook 6' is raised according
to the shuttle required. In Figure 15 6* designates a rock shaft extending
from one side of the loom to the other, and carrying a lever which
connects by a rod f' with the cam slot piece a', and by a rod g with the
batten. From the opposite end of the rock shaft 6 extends an arm
which also connects with the batten.
Another part of my improvement has reference to a loom worked
without needles or shuttle races, as represented in Figures 17 and 18.
In these Figures 6' designates an arm carrying a shuttle a' or equivalent
device. The said arm swings on a pivot g' secured in a bracket attached
to the breast beam B', and the requisite motion is imparted to it by a
slide rod c which moves on roller brackets projecting from the breast
beam, and is provided with an oblong slot (see Figure 18) catching over
a pin which projects from the arm 67. In the shuttle a' is a small reel

page_text: drawn
carrying a thread; and by imparting to the arm 6' an oscillating motion
the said shuttle is passed through the opening of the warp, the filling
thread then passes under the shuttle a', and as this shuttle is
back the thread contained in it takes hold of the filling thread and
brings it across the work. Two shuttle carrying arms 67 are used one on
each side of the warp; one works at one revolution of the loom and
the other at the next revolution, or if desired both may be put in the
same opening. In place of the shuttle a' carrying a reel I can use a
simple plate of sheet metal provided with an eye to receive a wire which
takes the place of the thread in the shuttle, and and serves to carry the
filling thread across the work. As the cloth makes the wire keeps
drawing out. By these arrangements a number of pieces can be made at
the same time. I dispense with needles entirely, and I can put in any
required number of colors by raising them with the harness at the proper
time. The batten of my loom is worked by a parallel motion composed
of iron rods x, y, z, Figure three, the rods x and z being connected to the
main fraim by means of links x, z, so that the batten moves as near as
possible in a horizontal plane. The batten is pivotted on its under side
to the rod z, and fixed rigid on the back to the connecting rod y, using
the ordinary connecting arms to give it motion.
In Figure 17 I have shewn the self-acting let-off arrangement. Y is
a support for the warp beam Y; Y2 is the leaver which rests on the
beam; Y is a frame carrying the pulley Y, the said frame being
pivotted to the lever Y, that it can adjust itself to the line of the
thread as it passes along the beam; Y' is an independent frame carrying
another pulley Y, and having weights Y'. By taking hold of the warp
thread at 4 and pulling it down the lever will be pulled right on the
beam, and by drawing the thread down at 5 the frame Y is raised until
it lifts the end of the lever and lets off some of the warp threads. As
soon as this quantity of thread is let off the weight pulls the frame down
and locks the warp beam again. The threads are thus given off at
nearly every revolution of the beam, the weaver is relieved of the trouble
of letting the warps down, and the weights are kept in a convenient
position. This let-off arrangement is applied to the bobbings which
carry the filling threads used in the modification of my Invention illus-
trated in Figures 17 and 18. The quiller Q, see Figure 16, which serves
for filling the quills or reels is so constructed that it can be readily
attached to the loom, thus enabling the weaver to fill his quills or reels.

page_text: Having thus fully described my said Invention, and shewn how the
same may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I
wish it understood that I claim,-
First. A shuttle for a loom made in two parts the front, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
Second. A shuttle for a loom made in the form of a circular segment
and projecting under the cloth, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Third. A similarly formed shuttle projecting above the cloth any
distance beyond the centre of the same, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Fourth. The arrangement of a coiled spring in the body of the reel,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
Fifth. The spiral take-up spring in combination with a reel enclosed
in a tube attached to the front of the shuttle, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. A reel having a body of wood or other suitable material and
check pieces made of metal and pierced, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
Seventh. The arrangement of a check spring in addition to the
ordinary tension spring of a shuttle, substantially in the manner and for
the purpose described.
Eighth. The arrangement of a tension wire in the shuttle carrying a
quill, the said wire being parallel to the quill, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
Ninth. Applying a tension device to the filling thread after the same
leaves the reel and before it reaches the shuttle eye, for the purpose set
forth.
Tenth. The within described mechanism for producing the motion of
the shuttles, consisting chiefly of racks and pinions in place of the cords
and pulleys generally used for this purpose.
Eleventh. The arrangement of a wheel, cam, and lever for the purpose
of transmitting motion from the main shaft to the lifter of the shuttle
driving mechanism, substantially as described.
Twelfth. Operating two racks by one wheel for the purpose and
substantially as set forth.

page_text: Thirteenth. The combination of eccentric toothed wheels with the
shuttle driving mechanism, substantially as described.
Fourteenth. The combination with a marionette motion of a wheel
mounted on its shaft with a feather key, and capable of sliding thereon
as the batten oscillates, the said wheel gearing in the shuttle rack or
racks, and taking the place of the cords and pulleys ordinarily used for
connecting a marionette motion with the shuttle driving mechanism,
substantially as described.
Fifteenth. A rack for driving shuttles consisting of a series of taper
holes, substantially as set forth.
Sixteenth. Forming a rack solidly in the material of the grooved part
of the shuttle instead of having a separate rack inserted in the said
grooved part, for the purpose set forth.
Seventeenth. The harness motion composed of bell-cranked levers and
cam slots capable of locking each heddle up or down for any number of
picks, substantially as set forth.
Eighteenth. A harness motion composed of bell-crank levers, toothed
segments, pinions, and slide racks, substantially as shown and described.
Nineteenth. The arrangement of suitable slots and studs in com-
bination with the bell-crank levers and rods connecting the same,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Twentieth. The vibrators and the hooks pivotted to the slide rods of
the harness motion in combination with the pattern cylinder, and with
one or more knives, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Twenty-first. The arrangement of two alternating knives operating
substantially as set forth for the purpose specified.
Twenty-second. The combination of excentric toothed wheels with the
reciprocating knives and the locking mechanism, substantially as and for
the purpose described.
Twenty-third. In open shed looms or where some of the harnesses
are always up the arrangement substantially as herein described for pre-
venting the harnesses moving faster or further than the knives when
released from the locking device where a pattern chain is used.
Twenty-fourth. Arranging the harness so that I can dispense with
weights for pulling the threads down.

page_text: Twenty-fifth. Arranging the said frames so that they need only be
mounted at either the top or bottom instead of at both the top and
bottom.
Twenty-sixth. The cams 23 and mechanism arranged in combination
therewith, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Twenty-seventh. The self-acting let-off mechanism for the warp and
filling threads, substantially as described.
Twenty-eighth. The drop box motion constructed substantially as
herein described.
Twenty-ninth. Attaching a quiller to a loom, substantially as
forth.
Thirtieth. The mechanism substantially as shewn in Figures 17 and 18,
for the purpose described.
Thirty-first. The combination of a parallel motion with the batten of
a loom, for the purpose and substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Oldfield, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
BENJAMIN OLDFIELD. (L.S.)