IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WEAVING VELVETS AND OTHER PILED PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Davies, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn,
in the County of Middlesex, and No. 28, St. Enoch Square, in the City'
of Glasgow, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WEAVING VELVETS AND OTHER PILED
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Davies at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st November 1858.
I, GEORGE DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of
Middlesex, and No. 28, St. Enoch Square, in the City of Glasgow, Civil'
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WEAVING VELVETS AND OTHER
PILED FABRICS," (a communication from a foreigner residing abroad,) to be as
follows:-
These improvements relate principally to looms driven by steam or other
power for weaving two pieces of velvet or other piled fabric face to face at
one operation, the said pieces being connected together by means of the pile
threads, upon severing which two separate and distinct pieces of piled fabric
are produced.
The Invention consists, firstly, of a peculiar combination of ten cams for
working the healds or harness, and the pile cutter in looms for weaving' such
double piled fabrics. These cams are shown in the annexed Drawings, and
marked 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10. The cams 2, 3, 4, and 5; are repeated in the same
order, and form the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th of the series. The cam No. 1 actuates
the pile cutter" by means of a lever and cords passing over pullies; the

page_text: cams 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, actuate the healds or harness for the cloth o
back warp, and the cam 10 controls the pile warp; 1* shows a variation in the
form of cam No. 1, which actuates the pile cutter, and 11, 12, 13, 14, repre-
sent additional cams for weaving "taffeta."
The second part of the Invention relates to the mechanism for "letting off"
the pile warp at the proper speed for forming the double piled fabric, which is
constructed as follows:-Upon the lower or cam shaft of the loom is a spur
pinion engaged with a similar wheel, the axis of which carries a friction plate
or the side of the wheel itself forms a friction plate, and in contact therewith
is a convex friction pulley mounted upon an inclined shaft, one end of which
carries a worm in gear with a worm wheel fixed upon the axis of a roller
covered with cloth or other suitable material, upon the surface of which rests
the circumference of the pile warp beam, which is consequently unwound or
"let off" by friction of contact. The other end of the same shaft may also be
furnished with a worm or worms, actuating worm wheels in connection with
rollers for separating and taking up the two pieces of piled fabric after the pile
has been severed. In another modification this shaft is driven from the cam
shaft by means of a worm whccl and worm, instead of a friction plate and
roller, and effects the "letting off" of the tie or back warp and the taking up
of the cloth simultaneously. This "letting off" and "taking up" arrangement
or combination is also applicable to other looms.
The third part of the Invention relates to the "pile warp lease rods," or
mechanism for distending and raising and depressing the pile warp as re-
quired. An axis above the loom carries two arms, which are connected to
the "pile warp lease rods" by elastic or spring rods or wires, and another arm
on this axis is connected to the lever actuated by the pile warp cam.
The fourth part of the Invention relates to the knife for cutting or severing
the pile, and to the apparatus for sharpening the same. The pile cutting
knife or blade is mounted upon a carriage working in a transverse slide, and
is drawn backwards and forwards by means of cords actuated by levers in
connection with the cam 1, before mentioned. For sharpening the under side
of the cutter, a series of small stones are mounted upon rods and pressed
upwards by springs, being controlled and prevented from rising too high by
means of screws. A somewhat similar apparatus is employed for sharpening
the upper side or edge of the knife, the principal difference being that in this
instance the springs press the stones downwards.
The fifth part of this Invention relates to apparatus for throwing the "taking
up "motion out of gear when it is necessary to "let back" the pieces of fabric.
Upon the axis of the "taking up ratchet" is a curved arm which is acted

page_text: upon by a spring lever, so as to throw the said ratchet out of the teeth of the
"taking up ratchet wheel" when required.
The sixth part of the Invention applies to the "temple," which consists of a
blade at each end of a rod round which the weft threads pass, and which slides
5 in a fixed piece, being regulated by a screw so as to give the requisite amount
of transverse tension to the fabric as it is woven.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th April 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
and 28, St. Enoch Square, in the City of Glasgow, Civil Engineer and Patent
Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said George Davies, Her special licence that I, the said George
Davies, my exccutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said George Davies, 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 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 MACHINERY FOR WEAVING VELVETS AND OTHER PILED
FABRICS," being a communication from a foreigner residing abroad, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Davies, 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 bo performed, 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 I, the said George Davies, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying Drawings, that is
to say:-

page_text: These improvements relate principally to looms driven by steam or other
power, for weaving two pieces of velvet or other piled fabric face to face at
one operation, the said pieces being connected together by means of the pile
threads, upon severing which, two separate and distinct pieces of piled fabric
are produced.
The Invention consists, firstly, of a peculiar combination of ten cams for
working the healds or harness and the pile cutter in looms for weaving such
double piled fabrics..
The second part of the Invention relates to the mechanism for "letting off"
the pile warp at the proper speed for forming the double piled fabric which is
constructed as follows:-Upon the lower or cam shaft of the loom is a spur
pinion engaged with a similar wheel, the axis of which carries a friction plate,
or the side of the. wheel itself forms a friction plate; and in contact therewith is
a convex friction pulley mounted upon an inclined shaft, one end of which carries
a worm in gear with a worm wheel fixed upon the axis of a roller covered
with cloth or other suitable material, upon the surface of which rests the
circumference of the pile warp beam, which is consequently unwound or "let
off" by friction of contact. The other end of the same shaft may also be
furnished with a worm or worms, actuating worm wheels in connection with
rollers for separating and taking up the two pieces of piled fabric after the
pile has been severed.
In another modification this shaft is driven from the cam shaft by means of
a worm wheel and worm, instead of a friction plate and roller, and effects the
"letting off" of the tie or back warp, and the "taking up "of the cloth
simultaneously. This "letting off" and "taking up" arrangement or com-
bination is also applicable to other looms.
The third part of the Invention relates to the "pile warp lease rods," or
mechanism for distending, and raising, and depressing the pile warp, as
required. An axis above the loom carries two arms, which are connected to
the "pile warp lease rods " by elastic or spring rods or wires; and another
arm on this axis is connected to the lever actuated by the pile warp cam.
The fourth part of the Invention relates to the knife for cutting or severing
the pile and to the apparatus for sharpening the same. The pile-cutting knife
or blade is mounted upon a carriage working in a transverse slide, and is
drawn backwards and forwards by means of cords actuated by levers in con-
nection with the cam before mentioned. For sharpening the under side of
the cutter, a series of small stones is mounted upon rods and pressed upwards
by springs, being controlled and prevented from rising too high by means of
A somewhat similar apparatus is employed for sharpening the upper
screws.

page_text: side or edge of the knife, the principal difference being, that in this instance-
the springs press the stones downwards.
The fifth part of this Invention relates to apparatus for throwing the
"taking-up" motion out of gear when it is necessary to "let back" the pieces
of fabric. Upon the axis of the "taking-up ratchet" is a curved arm, which
is acted upon by a spring lever so as to throw the said ratchet out of the teeth
of the "taking-up ratchet wheel" when required.
The sixth part of the Invention applies to the "temple" which consists of
a blade at each end of a rod, round which the weft threads pass, and which
slides in a fixed piece, being regulated by a screw, so as to give the requisite
amount of transverse tension to the fabric as it is woven.
But in order that these said improvements may be perfectly understood, and
to describe the same more in detail, I have annexed hereunto four Sheets of
Drawings, illustrative thereof, and. have marked the same with figures and
letters of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation
thereof, that is to say:-
In Sheet 1 of the Drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the improved loom;
and Figure 2 is a plan or horizontal view of the same as seen from above.
In Sheet 2 of the Drawings, Figure 3 is an elevation of the tappet side of
the loom or the right hand of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a transverse and
vertical section of the loom taken through about the line 1, 2, in Figure 2,
Sheet 1, looking towards the end of the loom shewn in Figure 3..
In Sheet 3 of the Drawings, Figure 5 is an elevation of the driving end
of the loom or the reverse side to that shown in Figure 3, Sheet 2.
These Figures are all drawn to a geometrical scale of about one-fifth the
actual size. The other Figures in Sheets 3 and 4, are views of detached parts
which will be hereafter explained.
The framing of the loom supports the crank shaft B, which carries at one
end a fixed driving pulley A', and a loose pulley A. When it is desired to
stop or start the loom the driving strap is passed from one to the other of
these pulleys by means of the fork a; each end of the crank shaft B is furnished
with a fly wheel 6; the crank shaft B by its two cranks b', actuates the
beating up by means of the crank arms C, and by means of a toothed wheel D
fixed at one extremity; it also drives a similar wheel d fixed on a second shaft E,
which transmits the movement to the different parts of the loom. This shaft
actuates the healds or harness and the cutter or knife which cuts the pile.
For this purpose the shaft E carries at one end a spur pinion F (see Figure 3)
which gears with a spur wheel F, and thus communicates rotary motion to a
drum or assemblage of cams G (Figures 1 and 2), which consists of ten discs

page_text: or plates provided with grooves of a particular form, as represented in Figure 6,
Sheet 3. These cams are ranged in the order of their numbers from 1 to 10.
The cams, Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5, are repeated in the same order; and this repe-
tition constitutes the cams 6, 7, 8, and 9. The curved levers 9 (see Figure 3),
oscillating on fixed centres g* at one end, are each provided about their centre
with a roller working in the groove of its corresponding cam G, the ends of
these levers furthest from their fulcrum control the movements of the healds
and of the pile cutter; the lever g of the cam No. 1, actuates the cutter or
knife which cuts the pile, and thus separates the two pieces of velvet. For
this purpose this lever is connected by a link H to a lever H', keyed upon an
axle h2, which thus receives an oscillating or alternate circular motion, and
transmits such movement to the shaft h by means of a train of gearing h³. The
shaft h carries at each extremity a grooved pulley h', and to these pulleys are
attached the extremities of a cord passing over the guide pulleys h², in such a
manner that part of the cord extends horizontally across the loom. The cords
are attached to opposite sides of their respective grooved pulleys h³, so that as
one winds the other unwinds. Hence it results that the alternate circular
motion of the shaft h will communicate an alternate rectilinear motion to the
cord; and to the centre of this cord is attached the knife or cutter V hereafter
mentioned. The levers g actuated by the cams Nos. 2 to 10, inclusive, are
connected to the healds or harness J (Figures 1 and 4), which are ten in
number (that is to say) eight to actuate the ground warp threads, and two for
the formation of the pile; the cams, Nos. 2 to 9, control the ground warp
healds, and the cam No. 10, controls the two healds for the pile warp. The
healds or harness J rise or fall according to the oscillations of the levers g,
occasioned by the form and combination of the cams G, these levers 9 are
tied by the cords to the treadles I (above and below), which actuate the
healds or harness. The warp destined to form the pile is wound on a beam M
resting on the roller L, and it is unwound as required to form the pile by the
agency of the following mechanism :-The shaft E carries a spur pinion A
(Figure 4), which gears with a spur wheel k¹, on the axle of which is a friction
plate (or the face of the wheel ¹ itself may form the friction plate) driving
by friction, a convex pulley k² fixed on the inclined shaft k³, which thus receives
a rotary movement; the shaft ³ carries a worm which drives a worm wheel
on the axis of the roller L; this roller, the surface of which is covered with
cloth or felt, turns slowly, and causes the beam M to revolve and unwind the
pile warp at the required speed.
The work rollers R, R, on which the pieces of velvet after their separation
are wound, are actuated in the following manner :-A gudgeon e fixed on:

page_text: small arm of the shaft E (Figure 1) acts (on each revolution of this shaft)
upon a curved lever P (Figures 1 and 5) and also detached view Figure 7,
Sheet 3, the fulcrum of which is the shaft h, on which it moves freely, and the
other arm P¹ of this lever is furnished with a click, which at each oscillation
takes up one tooth of the ratchet wheel p of the "taking up" motion, the
wheels p¹ of which transmit the movement to the rollers R, R. The curved
arm Q on the axis of the click is acted on by the spring handle q, so as to lift
the click out of the teeth of the ratchet wheel when it is desired to turn the
cloth rollers R back. The warp beam S (Figure 4) carries the tie or ground
warp, and is so weighted as to keep this warp at the tension required. The
ground warp "lease rods" are represented at s. The pile warp is suspended
by its lease rods s¹ (see Figures 1 and 3) by means of the two levers g' vibrating
on the axle g and connected by spring cords to the lease rods s¹, an arm g³ on
the axle g² is connected by a link 95 to one of the upper treadles I. This
treadle I being that of the pile warp healds, it follows that the rods s' rise.and
fall at the proper times, and that the warp is held at the requisite even tension.
A gudgeon N (Figure 5) and another N' (Figure 3) act alternately on the
levers n. The straps n' of which (Figure 1) actuate the picking sticks or levers
O, which drive the shuttles across the loom. Two gudgeons fixed to the arm e¹
of the shaft E operate two weft forks (Figure 4) similar to those usually em-
ployed in power looms. The warp threads after passing through the loops or eyes
of the healds arrive at the teeth of the reed or comb T (Figure 4) in front of
which the weft passes and combining therewith according to the movements
of the healds, forms at one operation two pieces, which are united one to the
other by the weft thread. The pile is severed, and the two pieces separated at U
(Figure 4) near the edge of the horizontal bar u, on which slides the knife or
cutter V (Figure 2), actuated by the shaft h, and pulleys h¹, as above described.
The pieces are thence separated and wound on to their respective rollers. The
bar u has a dovetailed or other groove, in which is adjusted the cutter, which
moves with a to and fro longitudinal motion, being drawn by the cord on either
side. The knife or cutter is represented full size at Figure 8, Sheet 3, which
Figure comprises an end view and two plans, in one of which the upper plate
is represented as removed. W represents the curved cutting blade flat at the
top and bevilled below. It rests on a plate W", and is held by a plate or cover
W, attached by a screw. The bar U is furnished with two special arrange-
ments of mechanism shewn full size at Figure 9 and 9*, and destined to
sharpen the edge of the knife or cutter as it traverses. Figure 9 represents a
transverse section, a front elevation, and plan view of the apparatus designed
for sharpening the lower or bevilled edge of the blade. It is composed of a

page_text: number of small bones X mounted upon small plates held by screws a, which
give them a certain amount of play. Each of these plates is furnished with a
rod surrounded by a spiral spring X', which tends to push the plate and the hone
X upwards, as far as the screw a permits. The hones are pressed slightly
downwards by the blade as it passes over them.
The other arrangement of mechanism, Figure 9* is intended to sharpen the
flat or upper edge of the cutting blade, and is composed of about six small
hones Z, fixed under plates or keys Z', held in an horizontal position by small
springs Z", so that when the knife passes, the hones press flat on the blade, the
keys or plates Z¹ being previously raised by a rim or projection at their ends,
after which the keys or plates fall with the hones on to the blade with a gentle
and even pressure caused by the spring Z".
In Sheet 4 of the Drawings, Figure 10 shews a vertical section of a
modification of the loom taken through about the centre, and Figure 11 is.an
elevation of the driving end of the same. The other Figures in this Sheet are
views of detached pieces hereafter explained.
In Figure 10 it will be seen that the roller L covered with cloth, and
driving by friction of contact the pile warp letting-off roller M, is replaced by
two wooden rollers L, intended to produce the same effect. This arrangement
is intended to augment the friction, and consequently to better ensure the
regularity of the intermittent movement, and for the same object it is preferred
to cover these rollers with caoutchouc.
The carrier shaft k, which drives the same by means of a worm gearing into
two worm wheels fixed on their axles, is also modified. It will be seen that it
is here so arranged as to give motion to the additional parts on the front part
of the loom. These new parts are two pairs of small wooden rollers m, the
use of which is to effect the separation of the two pieces of velvet produced
simultaneously by the weaving.
Figures 10 and 11, Sheet 4, also show another modification appertaining to
the back or tie warp beam S. This beam rests also upon two similar rollers
C, which communicate motion thereto by friction of contact. And in order to
increase this friction, a pulley X fixed on the axis of the roller or beam S has
a groove on its circumference which receives a cord by which is suspended a
weight P. The warp threads which unwind from this beam S pass successively
around a series of small wrought-iron rollers c to the number of eight, which
are substituted for the two lease rods s, shown in Figure 4, Sheet 2. All these
rollers c receive movement in the manner hereafter explained.
Figure 11 shews the arrangement of driving gear for this modification of
the loom. The shaft carries a worm wheel D¹ driven by a similar wheel D,

page_text: mounted on the shaft E. The same shaft carries at each of its extremities
a worm, by which the movement is communicated simultaneously to the
"letting off" and "taking up" motions. Firstly, to the "letting off" rollers
above described, in the exact pro--
C, which unwind the back or tie warp, as
portion in which it is taken up by the work. This is effected by the train of
spur gearing Z, mounted in a common frame T), the latter of which Z' drives
the first of the wheels on the ends of the small rollers c above mentioned.
The same wheel Z' also gives motion to the "letting-off" rollers C by means of
the intermediate wheel Z". And secondly, the worm x at the other end of
the shaft k, communicates motion to the "taking-up" rollers R, upon which
the two pieces of fabric are wound) by means of the intermediate gearing y.
Thus it will be seen that by means of the shaft k all the moving parts com-
posing the "letting-off" and "taking-up" motions are connected together,
and are driven at the requisite relative degrees of speed according to the
relative proportions of the gearing, and thus an uniform movement is obtained,
and the warp threads and the woven fabric are always kept at an equal tension.
The frame T is oscillating and carries at its lower end a gudgeon passing
through a curved guide or slot t, which admits of changing at will the diameter
of the worm wheel v, whenever it is required to change or vary the degrees of
speed of the whole of this part of the apparatus. On the right-hand side of
Sheet 4 are detached views of variations of some of the cams G above named.
No. 1 represents a modified form of the cam which works the pile cutter, and
is to be substituted for the cam No. 1, shewn on Sheet 3. This variation is
intended to produce an alternate or rubbing motion of the knife W on the
hones each time that it has traversed the piece of fabric. Four new cams are
also added, which are to be placed in the order of their numbers 11, 12, 13,
14, and are intended for the purpose of weaving taffeta.
Figure 12 shews a modification of the knife or cutter W, wherein the blade
is of the same form as that previously described, but instead of being fixed to
the carrier it is moveable and provided with a spiral spring r, s.
Figure 13 represents front and side elevation of a modified arrangement of
mechanism by the aid of which the blade sharpens itself on its return from the
cutting operation. The mechanism is intended to sharpen the blade on the
upper side by means of a stone d carried by a screw bolt a. In order to give
this screw bolt a certain degree of elasticity, as the blade passes under the stone
it is furnished with a spring 6, placed on the neck thereof, and acting against
the bracket c, which latter is hinged to another piece e, which carries a steel
spring acting on the said bracket c in order to maintain it in its vertical
position when in action.

page_text: Figure 14 exhibits two views of a "temple" to be adapted to each end of
the bar U (Figures 2 and 4) in order to keep the piece distended in a trans-
verse direction. The tension may be regulated at will by the screw i of the
piece h, which slides in the fixed piece g.
66
Having now described the nature and objects of the said Invention for
Improvements in Machinery for Weaving Velvets and other Piled Fabrics,"
together with the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I desire to
state in conclusion, that I claim as the Invention communicated to me,-
Firstly, the particular forms and combinations of cams shown and described
for actuating the healds or harness in looms for weaving double piled fabrics.
Secondly, the mechanism shewn and described, by the aid of which the
pile warp, which connects the two pieces is "let off."
Thirdly, the arrangement shewn and described, by which the pile warp is
held in a constant and regular state of tension.
Fourthly, the means shewn and described for producing the traversing
motion of the knife or cutter.
Fifthly, the particular form and construction of knife for separating the
two pieces.
Sixthly, the apparatus shewn and described for sharpening the blade of the
said knife above and below.
Seventhly, the mechanism shewn and described for stopping (when required)
the action of the ratchet, which actuates the "taking up
" motion.
Eighthly, the method of actuating the warp beams by two rollers covered
with coautchouc, upon which they rest.
Ninthly, the application of the small wooden rollers, shewn and above
described, for facilitating the separation of the two pieces.
Tenthly, the apparatus shewn and described for controlling, connecting, and
regulating the "letting-off" and "taking-up" motions.
And, eleventhly, the form or construction of "temple," shewn and described
for ensuring the tension of the fabric in a transverse direction.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Davies, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
GEORGE DAVIES. (L.S.)