IMPROVEMENTS IN WARPING OR BEAMING. MACHINES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Howard and John Bullough, Machine Makers,
and Thomas Watson, Tackler, all of Accrington, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WARPING OR BEAMING.
MACHINES."
Sealed the 16th August 1864, and dated the 23rd February 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jol Howard, John
Bullough, and Thomas Watson at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 23rd February 1864.
We, JOHN HOWARD and JOHN BULLOUGH, Machine Makers, and THOMAS
WATSON, Tackler, all of Accrington, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WARPING OR
BEAMING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists in certain improvements in self-stopping beaming
machines, and is a further development of the plans patented by Howard
and Bullough, and dated respectively July 4th, 1862, No. 1948, and January
5th, 1868, No. 84.
In those Inventions we used a number of pins working in sheaths, guides,
or sockets, and each pin was suspended by a thread, when the said thread was
entire and brought to a state of tension by the working of the machine, but
so soon as a thread was broken the pin which it held suspended fell down and
put in action a current of electricity or stopped a vibrating bar and caused
the machine to stop.

page_text: In the first of the said Patents the pin holder was non-expansive and the pins
had no lateral motion. In the second the pin holder was made to expand by
being formed of vulcanized india-rubber bands connected by means of tapes to
a spindle at each side of the machine, which on being turned round wound or
unwound the tapes, and so caused the elastic bands to expand, or allowed them
to contract. Metal springs also were shewn to answer the same purpose.
In our present Invention we dispense with the above-mentioned sheaths,
guides, or sockets, and also with the material into which they are embedded,
or of which they form part, and retain only a frame. We form this pin frame
of one or more pieces of iron or other suitable material which stretch from
side to side of the machine. If formed of one piece, we cut a slot or slots,
according to the number of rows of pins. If of more than one piece, we
plane the edges and fit them together so that the planed edges leave a slot or
nick sufficiently wide to admit the stems of the pins. In these slots or nicks
the pins are inserted, which are made by preference of round wire. The heads
of the pins are made of two coils of wire so that when the pin falls the head
will not pass through the slot. Or in making the pins after the eye is formed
we twist one coil of wire round its under side, which forms a collar to prevent
the pin falling too far. Thus it will be seen that the pin frame though non-
expansive in itself allows the pins to move vertically and laterally with the
threads. In combination with this novel pin frame we use a common expand-
ing comb between the dents of which the threads pass after leaving the eyes
of the pins. Now as this comb is expanded or contracted the threads approach
or recede from each other, and as the pins are not restrained laterally they
accommodate themselves to the shifting position of the threads as the comb is
expanded or contracted. It will readily be understood that these slots are not
so liable to get filled with "fluke" or dirt as the sheaths, guides, or sockets
before mentioned are, so that greater certainty of the pin falling when an end
breaks is secured.
It will also be seen that in changing from a greater to a less number of
threads or ends it is not necessary as heretofore to take out any of the pins,
they simply require to be pushed to the end of the slot.
Our next improvement is in the form of the stop bars which stretch across
above the tops of the pins to prevent them from being pulled or plucked out
of the slots. We formerly made these bars flat on the under side, and allowed
the eyes of the pins to be pressed against them by the tension of the threads.
We now hollow the bars on the under side so that the eyes of the pins cannot
be pressed against the bars, the sides or edges of the bars being made to bear
the upward stress of the threads.

page_text: Our next improvement has reference to the friction motion by which we drive
the machine. We combine the sudden stopping of the machine obtained by
these friction pulleys with the facility for regulating the speed of the machine
possessed by the machine driven by the loose and fast pulley in the ordinary
way. For this purpose we have the friction disc which is fastened to the drum
shaft made to slide in and out of gear by the action of the setting on rod
with a pulley working loosely on the same shaft, which pulley is always
revolving, being driven by the strap. And we place another pulley on the
other side of this, also loose on the shaft. Now if the whole of the strap is on
the middle or driving pulley when the friction disc is put in gear it will drive
the machine with the full power of the strap, but if only half the breadth of
the strap is on the driving pulley, and the other half on the pulley which is
not in connection with the friction disc, the machine will only be driven by
half the breadth of the strap. We therefore have these pulleys so arranged with
a strap fork worked by a quadrant and rack screw, or other similar contrivance,
that the warper can adjust the strap at pleasure so as to drive the machine
quicker or slower.
Lastly, we combine these improvements or a part of them with the falling
od machine, so as to get a machine which shall have the self-stopping qualities
of the one and the facility for reversing the machine to find the broken end of
he other.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Howard, John Bullough, and Thomas Watson in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd August 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
HOWARD and JOHN BULLOUGH, Machine Makers, and THOMAS WATSON,
Tackler, all of Accrington, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto us, the said John Howard and John Bullough and Thomas Watson, Her
special license that we, the said John Howard and John Bullough and
Thomas Watson, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as we, the said John Howard and John Bullough and Thomas Watson, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and

page_text: no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
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 WARPING
OR BEAMING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the 5
said John Howard and John Bullough and Thomas Watson, our executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of
our or their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and 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 we, the said John Howard and John Bullough and
Thomas Watson, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement (that is to say) :-
This Invention consists in certain improvements in self-stopping warping or
beaming machines, and is a further development of the plans patented-by-the
said Howard and Bullough, and dated respectively the Fourth day of July
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, Number 1948, and the Fifth day
of January One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, No. 34.
In these Inventions we used a number of pins working in sheaths, guides,
or sockets, and each pin was suspended by a thread, when the said thread
was entire and brought to a state of tension by the working of the machine,
but as soon as a thread was broken the pin which it held suspended fell down
and put in action a current of electricity or stopped a vibrating bar and caused
the machine to stop. In the first of the said Patents the pin holder was
non-expansive and the pins had no lateral motion. In the second the pin
holder was enabled to expand by being formed of vulcanized india-rubber
bands connected by means of tapes to a spindle at each side of the machine,
which spindle, on being turned round, wound or unwound the tapes, and so
caused the elastic bands to expand or allowed them to contract. Metal springs
also were shewn to answer the same purpose.
In our present Invention we dispense with the before-mentioned sheaths,
guides, or sockets, and also with the material into which they are imbedded
or of which they form part, and retain only a frame. We form this pin frame
or pin holder of one or more pieces of iron or other suitable material which
extend from side to side of the machine. If formed of one piece we cut a
slot or slots according to the number of rows of pins. If of more than one

page_text: piece we plane the edges and fit them together, so that between the planed
edges a slot or space is left sufficiently wide to admit the stems of the pins,
and in these slots or spaces we insert the pins, which are formed by pre-
ference of round wire, the heads in one arrangement being made of two coils
of wire, so that when the pins fall the heads will not pass through the slot or
space in the pin holder. Or in making the pins, after the eye of each is
formed with one coil of wire, we twist the end of the coil round the stem,
which forms a collar to prevent the pin falling too far; or we clench a collar
over the stem of the pin below the coil for the purpose of completing the eye
and making a projection which cannot pass through the slots or spaces of the
pin holders; and as any of these pins are free in the slots, it will be seen that
the pin holder, though non-expansive in itself, allows the pins to move ver-
tically and laterally with the threads. In combination with this improved pin
holder we use a common expanding comb, between the dents of which the
threads pass after leaving the eyes of the pins, and as the comb is expanded or
contracted the threads approach or recede from each other, and as the pins
are not restrained laterally they accommodate themselves to the shifting
position of the threads. It will be readily understood that the slots or spaces
in the pin holder are not so liable to become filled with "fluke" or dirt as the
sheath, guides, or sockets before alluded to, and therefore a greater certainty
of the pin falling when an end or thread breaks is secured. It will also be
seen that in changing from a greater to a less number of threads or ends it is
not required, as heretofore, to take out any of the pins, it being only necessary
to push them to one or both ends of the slot or slots. In some cases, instead
of placing the expanding comb in front and detached from the pin holder, we
make the comb and pin holder part and parcel of each other. We accomplish
this by taking the inside or expanding part of an expanding comb and place
it horizontally from side to side of the machine. At the bend of the wire at
cach fold of a flat spring we swage a round or rectangular space for the admit-
tance of a round or flat pin. This flat spring, which may be from two to
three inches broad, is then threaded between the wire of longitudinal spiral
springs, having rods through them from end to end for the springs to slide
upon when they are expanded or contracted.
Our next improvement relates to the stop bars which extend across the
machine above the tops of the pins to prevent them from being pulled or
plucked out of the slots. We formerly made these bars flat on the under side
and allowed the tops of the pins to be pressed against them by the tension of
the threads. We now hollow the bars on the under side so that the tops

page_text: of the pins cannot be pressed against the bars, thus causing the sides or edges
of the bars to bear the upward stress of the threads.
Our next improvement has reference to the friction motion by which we
drive the machine. We combine the sudden stopping obtained by the friction
pulleys with a facility for regulating the speed of the driving drum similar to
that possessed by the machine driven by the loose and fast pulley in the
ordinary way. For this purpose we fix the friction disc to the drum shaft and
cause the loose friction pulley, which is always revolving by means of the
driving strap, to slide in and out of gear by the action of the setting-on rod or
knocker-off, and on the boss of the friction pulley we place another loose
pulley. Now if the whole of the strap is on the friction or driving pulley
when it is put in gear with the friction disc, it will drive the machine with the
full power of the strap, but if only half the breadth of the strap is on the
friction pullay and the other half on the additional loose pulley which is not
in connection with the friction disc, the machine will only be driven by half
the breadth of the strap, and so on in proportion to the width of the strap
placed on-the-friction-pulley. The said friction pulley and additional loose
pulley are close together, and are moved to and fro by a clutch lever for
putting the friction pulley in gear with the friction disc, and for shifting the
strap we employ a strap fork worked by a quadrant and rack lever, or screw,
or other similar contrivance, so that the warper can adjust the strap at pleasure
in order to drive the machine quicker or slower.
Lastly, we combine the improvements described in our former Patents, or
the improvements upon them before described, or a part of them, with the
falling-rod warping or beaming machine, so as to obtain a machine which
shall be self-stopping, and also have the facility for reversing the machine to
find the broken end or threads, with the capability of employing one or more
of the falling rods to take up the slack yarn given off by the overrun of the
bobbins.
These improvements will be clearly understood by the following particular
description thereof, reference being had to the figures and letters on the accom-
panying two Sheets of Drawings, in which Figs. 1 and 2 are end and front
elevations of one of our self-stopping warping or beaming machines having one
of our improved pin frames or holders, one description of our improved pins, and
also our improvenients connected with the friction motion; Fig. 3, a transverse
section, full size, of our improved pin holder and stop bars in connection with
one form of our improved pins and one of our oscillating bars; Fig. 4, a
transverse section, full size, of a modified form of the planed bars forming the

page_text: pin frame or holder; Figs. 5, 6, and 7, are full-sized views of various arrange.
ments of our improved pins; Fig. 8, a full-sized plan of part of the expanding
comb and pin holder combined together; Figs. 9 and 10 are end and front
elevations of a falling-rod warping machine provided with one of our self-
stopping motions, and the arrangement for taking up the overrun of the
bobbins; Fig. 11, a plan of part of the same; Fig. 12, a transverse section
of some of the parts drawn full size; and Figs. 18 and 14 are end and front
elevations of other parts drawn a quarter size.
Our improved pin frame or holder employed in Figs. 1 and 2, and shewn
enlarged in Fig. 8, is adapted for two rows of pins; it is composed of three
pieces of metal a, b, c, extending from side to side of the machine, and so
placed in relation to each other as to leave between them slots or spaces d,
in which are placed the stems of the pins e, which can move vertically and
laterally with perfect freedom. The pin frame shown in Fig. 4 consists of
narrow bars f, with spaces between them for the pins, and bevilled at the top
to prevent the fluke and dirt from lodging, there being an open space between
the bars for allowing the dirt and fluke to escape, and thereby obviate to a
great extent the necessity of cleaning. The ends or threads pass from the
roller g, Fig. 1, through the eyes of the pins, and then between the dents h of
an expanding and contracting comb to the beam i, so that as the comb is
expanded or contracted the threads shift the pins laterally in the slots of the
pin frame; and in order to enable the comb to be expanded to a great extent
we make it longer than usual and extend it beyond each side frame of the
machine, as shewn at j, which arrangement is applicable to any machine where
the slides for the falling rods do not limit us.
Our improved pins are made of round wire, and the heads and eyes are
formed in various ways. In one arrangement the head and eye of each pin is
made of two coils of wire, as shewn in Fig. 5, in another method the wire is
coiled once to form the head and eye, and the end of the coil twisted round
the stem, as shewn in Fig. 6, and in another mode the end of the coil and sten
are fixed together by a clenched collar, as shewn in Fig. 7, the double
coil, twisted end, and collar being for the purpose of preventing the pins
from passing through the slots of the pin frame when a thread breaks or a
bobbin is empty.
Our improved stop bars for preventing the pins from being pulled out of
the slots by the tension of the threads are shewn at k, Fig. 3. Each bar has
at the bottom a hollow or groove 7, in which the heads of the pins enter, and
thereby allow the pins to be freely suspended, the threads simply pressing
against the edges of the groove. In the expanding comb and pin holder

page_text: combined, part of which is shewn in Fig. 8, a³, represents a flat spring
placed horizontally and threaded on two spiral springs b³, riding on rods c³.
The bends of the flat spring are swaged or formed into round or rectangular
spaces, as at d³, for the admittance of the pins, and as the springs are expanded
or contracted they cause the pins and threads to approach to and recede from
each other.
Our improvements connected with the friction motion for combining the
sudden stopping of the machine with the facility of regulating its speed and
enabling it to be started gradually after each stoppage are shewn in Figs. 1
and 2. The friction disc mis fixed to the drum shaft n, and works in
connection with a loose friction pulley o, fixed on a long boss, which carries
another loose pulley 2, a loose clip 9, and a fixed collar r. To the clip is
linked the clutch lever s working on the fulcrum t, and having its top eud in
contact with knobs u, fastened to the sliding bar v, at the other end of which
are knobs w, in contact with the setting-on handle or knocker-off w, and the
bar vis provided with a rack gearing into a toothed quadrant fixed to the
vertical rod y, having at the top the handle . The driving strap is shewn at
a', and the strap fork at 6'. The said fork is fixed to the sliding-bar-c³,
working at one end in one of the side frames, and supported at the other end
by a lever d', fixed to a tube e¹, oncircling the vertical rod y, and having at
the top the handle f¹, and both bars v and may be either independent of
each other or moved together in one direction by a lever g', working on a stud
fixed to the framework.
In Figs. 1 and 2 the machine is shewn in its non-working condition as the
knocker-off is out of its detent, the friction pulley out of gear with the friction
disc, and the driving strap on the additional loose pulley; but when it is desired
to set on the machine the handle is turned outwards, and shifts the sliding
bar v, and clutch lever s, so as to place the knocker-off in its detent and put
the friction pulley in gear with the friction disc, after which the operative
slowly turns the handle f¹ and lever d¹, which shifts the sliding bar cand
strap fork b', and places the driving strap a¹ on the friction pulley o by
degrees, in order that the speed of the machine may be at first slow and then
gradually increased, and thus prevent the breakages of the threads which
might arise if the machine were driven at once at its highest speed. When
a thread breaks or there is no thread on a bobbin the knocker-off is shifted
out of its detent by the self-stopping motion and moving inwards gives motion
to the sliding bar v, so as to shift the clutch levers and pulleys o, p, and
suddenly stop the machine, the friction pulley o being no longer in gear with
the friction disc, and during these operations the lever is shifting the sliding

page_text: bar c', and causing the strap fork to place the strap on the additional loose
pulley p, ready to be shifted gradually on to the friction pulley o, for regulating
the speed of the machine when the friction motion has again been put in
gear.
It is evident that though not so compact as the arrangement shewn in
the Drawings, a separate rod may be employed instead of the tube e¹, in
which case the handles would be side by side, and both rods would have
bearings independent of each other, and it is also evident that by a slight
modification the friction disc may be moved sideways instead of the friction
pulley.
We apply the improved pin frame or holder, the improved pins, and the
improved stop rods before described, as well as the improvements described
in our former Patents, to the falling rod warping machine for the purpose of
making it self-stopping when an end or thread breaks, or when a bobbin is
empty, and also for enabling us to use one or more of the falling rods to take
up the overrun of the bobbins.
In Figs 9 and 10 we represent a falling rod warping machine provided with
one arrangement of our improvements, and in Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14, parts
of the same shewn detached. The pin holder, pins, stop bars, and comb are
similar to those shewn in Figs 1, 2, and 3, and the threads pass from the
comb to the beam, as before described. Below the pins there is one of our
oscillating shafts h, and oscillating bars ¹, Figs. 9, 10, 12, 13, and 14,
worked one way by an eccentric on the shaft m¹, and the other way by a
spring n', or by a weight, revolving motion being given to the eccentric from
the drum shaft o' by the pulleys p¹, 9, and band r¹. At one end of the
oscillating shaft there is a hooked lever s¹, Figs. 9, 10, 13, and 14, which
vibrates up and down at each vibration of the oscillating arms, and at the
outer end of the shaft m¹ there is a pulley t, having upon it a spur or projec-
tion, which comes in contact unless prevented with the top of an arm u¹,
jointed to one end of the lever v¹, to the other end of which is jointed the
vertical rod w, having a projection at the bottom in contact with the under
side of the lever a¹, which is notched at one end, and passed through a slot
in the side frame, and at the other end jointed to the knocker-off y¹, the said
notch fitting the metal at the bottom of the slot, and holding back the
knocker-off, when the machine is working. The arm u' is weighted by its
pivot being placed out of the centre, and at the side of the arm there is a
pine, which is caught by the hooked end of the lever s¹, when it is moving
downwards, so as to shift the arm, and prevent its top from being in contact
with the spur or projection on the revolving pulley t, as long as the oscillating

page_text: bars have to-and-fro, and the hooked lever up-and-down motion, or as long
as there is no breakage or absence of thread. When there is a breakage or
absence of thread, a pin fals and holds the oscillating bars and. hooked lever,
and thereby prevents the top of the arm u³ from escaping the spur or projection
on the revolving pulley t', and therefore the spur presses down the arm w³, and
raises the vertical rod w¹ and lever ¹, lifting its notch from the metal of the
side frame, and thereby allowing the knocker-off to shift the strap forks and
straps, and stop the machine. When the oscillating bars come in contact
with one or more fallen pins they would prevent the pins from rising unless
the bars were removed, and for this purpose we place on the lever va
finger a², which lifts the hooked lever and shifts the bars from the pins, when
the arm is being depressed. When the machine is being set on, if the
vertical rod w¹ were allowed to fall and raise the arm u, before all the pins
were raised by the tension of the threads, the spur on the pulley t¹ would
again come in contact with the top of the arm u. and stop the machine. We
therefore connect to the knocker-off a slide 63, curved or inclined at the end,
and of such length as to hold up the vertical rod until the pins are properly
raised, after which the curved-or-inclined_end_passes from under the vertical
rod and allows it to fall and raise the arm u³, ready to be operated upon when
required.
It is evident that the mechanism between the oscillating shaft and knocker-
off can be varied to a great extent, and that any of the movements described
in-our former Patents can be substituted for it. For taking up the overrun
of the bobbins when the machine is suddenly stopped by tho self-stopping
motion, we employ one of the falling rods c², Fig. 9, and cause the slides d²,
Figs. 9 and 10, to move forward to allow the rod to fall and take up the
slack. To each setting-on rod e³ we fix a lever f, Fig. 11, for acting on the
cam levers g, Figs. 9, 10, and 11, working on stationary studs, and having
their ends in contact with the slides d, and as the setting-on rods are turned
by the stoppage of the machine the levers push out the levers and
slides d³, so as to allow a rod to fall and take up the slack, and as both straps
are on the loose pulleys, the operative, if away from the machine when there
was a breakage or absence of thread, would find it stopped on returning, and
when the setting-on rods are turned to place the reversing strap on the
reversing pulley, the front of the levers f work in the concentric part of the
levers g, and have no further action upon them.
Having now described the nature and particulars of our said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, we desire it to
be understood that we claim, in warping or beaming machines,―

page_text: First, the improved pin holder in combination with an expanding comb for
enabling the pins to have vertical and lateral motion.
Secondly, the improved pins of round wire.
Thirdly, the recesses or hollows at the under side of the stop bars.
Fourthly, the additional loose pulley of the friction motion, and parts
connected with it, and also the arrangement for throwing the strap off
the friction pulley, which gears in the friction disc on to the additional
loose pulley by the action of the knocker-off when stopping the machine.
And, fifthly, the application of the self-stopping motions to the falling rod
warping or beaming machine, and the mode of letting the first rod down to
take up the overrun of the bobbins, as all such improvements are herein
described and illustrated in the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Howard and John Bullough, for
and on behalf of ourselves and the said Thomas Watson, have here-
unto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-second day of August, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
C. W. COLLINS,
20, Cross Street,
Manchester.
(L.S.)
JOHN HOWARD.
JOHN BULLOUGH. (L.B.)