Improvements in Harness Motions of Looms for Weaving.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 20th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Harness Motions of Looms for Weaving.
I, EDWARD HOLLINGWORTH, of Hutchinson, Hollingworth & Company, Limited,
of Dobcross, in the County of York, Power Loom Makers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention (which has been communicated to me by Horace Wyman,
of 311, Main Street, Worcester, Massachusetts, in the United States of America,
Power Loom Maker) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement ;-
My invention relates to looms, in which the movement of the harnesses is
governed by a series of under cams and more particularly to what is called the
top rigging of the loom for moving the harnesses. The under cams draw the
harnesses down, and through the top rigging, draw into the upper shed the har-
ness which is to be raised.
The object of my invention is to improve upon and simplify the ordinary top
rigging mechanism, and to place it at one side of the loom instead of directly
over the harnesses, and thus remove any risk of oil falling from it upon the fabric;
and my invention consists in certain novel features of construction of the top
rigging mechanism which sustains the harnesses in a loom, and causes them to
assume successive operative positions under the control of a series of cams. The
top rigging mechanism comprises, in this instance, a main lever or a lever of
the first order mounted upon a stand or support on the top of the loom frame, at
one side thereof, and adapted to have a pivotal motion on a stud on said stand.
This main lever carries a stud at each of its ends, upon which are mounted
devices adapted to oscillate through the small are of a circle, which devices may
be designated as strap carriers, their office being to carry straps which may be
attached to each of them, one at each side of their fulcra; said straps pass sub-
stantially in a horizontal direction to two series of pulleys or sheaves supported
upon fixed pins on the loom frame above the harnesses, and from thence in a
downward direction to the top or upper side of the harnesses. Each of the straps
a tached to a strap carrier, is connected to a separate harness, and each strap
may be connected to is harness at two or more places to give it stability. From
the under side of each of the harnesses there are connections to a series of levers
operated by cams (one cam to each harness); said canis determine, by their rota-
tion, which of the harnesses shall move, the whole combination being such, that
when one harness is moved from one shed, the connection, through some part of
the mechanism, will make a corresponding movement of a harness in the opposite
direction, from the opposite shed, the movement of each harness being governed
by its corresponding cam. For the purpose of some kinds of weaving, the main
lever is adapted to be held or locked in a fixed position, whereby the strap carriers
at the ends of the main lever may be used by their connections to their respective
harnesses, without any movement of the main lever. One of the strap carriers
at one end of the main lever is adapted to be held or locked in a fixed position
whereby a connection from one side only of such strap carrier may be attached
to its harness.
As the strap carriers make only a partial oscillation, when moving the harness

page_text: to which they are connected from one shed to the opposite shed, either rolls or
levers, mounted upon the same stud may be used, to which the straps or cords
which lead to the harnesses may be attached.
Any one of the strap carriers may have attached to it, instead of a strap con-
nection direct to a harness, the stud of an additional strap carrier, from which
additional strap carrier connections may go to the harnesses in the same manner
as those from the strap carriers mounted directly upon the main lever.
The strap carriers may have their surfaces, to which the straps are attached,
so proportioned that the connections on some of the carriers, owing to their moving
through different arcs, will move their connected harness through a greater dis-
tance than others, by which means the harnesses are moved into suitable planes
for the formation of the shed for the passage of the shuttle, the back harness
requiring a gradual increase of movement over the movement of the one next
front of it.
Referring to the drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a front view of a loom frame, looking in the direction of arrow a,
Fig. 2, and shewing the harnesses under cams, and levers, and my improved top
rigging machine.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the parts shewn in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of
arrow b. same figure.
Fig. 3 shews, on an enlarged scale, the top rigging shewn in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a section on line 4, 4, Fig. 3, looking in the direction of arrow c, same
figure.
Fig. 5 corresponds to Fig. 3, but shews the top rigging mechanism in its
opposite position.
Fig. 6 is a section on line 6, 6, Fig. 5 looking in the direction of arrow d,
same figure.
Fig. 7 shews a modified construction of the top rigging mechanism.
Fig. 8 corresponds to Fig. 7, but shews the top rigging mechanism in its
opposite position.
In the accompanying drawings, 1 are the loom sides, 2 the top rail of the loom,
3 a driving shaft having a pinion 4 thereon meshing with a gear 5 on a shaft (,
suitably journalled on the loom frame, and carrying in this instance five cams 7.
each adapted to engage with a lever 8 pivotally supported at one end on a shaft
or rod 9 secured in bearings 10 at the rear of the loom, and connected at its other
end, through a link 11 adjustable in notches on the lever 8, see Fig. 2, with a
strap 12 secured to the lower side of a harness frame as 13. The upper side of
each harness frame has two straps, cach passing separately over a pulley 15, and
then united into one, as shewn in Fig. 1, and extending to one of the strap carriers
shewn in the form of rolls in said figure, on the top rigging mechanism and secured
to said strap carrier.
The top rigging mechanism consists in this instance of a main lever, or lever
of the first order, 16, which is centrally pivoted at 16" upon a stand or bracket 17
secured to the loom arch or the top rail, in this instance on the left side of the
loom,
On a stud or pin 171 secured in the upper end of the lever 16 are loosely
mounted two strap carriers in the form of rolls 18 and 19, attached together
or made integral to turn freely on said stud 17. To one end of said rolls, as 18,
is secured one end of a strap 321 the other end of said strap is connected to the
two straps 14, each of which passes over one of the sheaves 15, and is secured
et its end to the top side of one of the harnesses. To the other of said rolls, as 19,
is secured one end of a strap 14'; the other end of said strap is connected to the
two straps 32, each of which passes over a sheave 15, and is secured at its end
to the top side of one of the harnesses. The position of the straps or cords 14'
and 321 on the rolls 18 and 19 is such, (that is on the opposite sides of their fulcra)
that the revolution of said rolls in one direction will lower one harness and
raise the other, and rice versa.

page_text: At the lower end of the main lever 16 are two strap carriers in the form of
rols 20 and 21 attached together or made integral, and loosely mounted on a
pin 22 fast in the lower end of said lever, to turn freely on said pin. To one of
said rolls, as 20, is secured one end or a strap 331, the other end of said strap
is connected to the two straps 33, each of which passes over one of the sheaves 1.0,
and is secured at its end to the top side of one of the harnesses. io the other
of said rolls, as 21, is secured one end of a strap 23, which has attached to its
other end, in this instance, a loop 24 carrying two rolls 25 and 26 attached to-
gether or made integral to turn freely on a pin 27 supported in said loop 24.
To one of said rolls, as 25, is secured the end of a strap 34, the other end of said
strap is connected to the two straps 34, each of which passes over one of the
sheaves 15, and is secured at its end to the top side of one of the harnesses. To
the other of said rolls, as 26, is secured one end of a strap 35: the other end of
said strap is connected to the two straps 35, each of which passes over a sheave 15,
and is secured at its end to the top side of one of the harnesses.
The position of the straps 3 and 23 on the rolls 20 and 21 is such, (that is ou
the opposite sides of their fulera) that the revolution of said rolls in one direction
will raise the harness connected with the roll 20, and lower the harnesses con-
nected with the strap carriers in the form of rolls 25 and 26 in the loop 24, and
vice versa.
The several parts of the top rigging mechanism are adapted to be used in
different ways or combinations, according to the number of harnesses used.
The main lever 16 may oscillate from the position shewn in Fig. 3 to the posi-
tion shewn in Fig. 5, or it may be held on or locked to the stand or support 17,
on which it is mounted, by the pin 28 or equivalent device passing through the
upper end of the stand, and entering a hole 16 in the lever, as shewn in Fig. 5.
The strap carriers in the form of rolls 20 and 21 may oscillate or turn on the
stud 22 in the lever 16, or they may be prevented from oscillating or turning,
and held on or locked to the lever 16 by the pin 29 or equivalent device in the
lever entering a hole in the side of the pulley 20, see Figs. 5 and 6.
1 will now briefly describe the operation of the top rigging mechanism.
It will be understood that when less than five harnesses are used, those which
are not used, and the strapping connected therewith, may be removed.
When five harnesses are to be used, the strapping or cording from the top rig-
ging mechanism to the harnesses will be connected, as shewn in the drawings,
and the main lever 16 will be free to oscillate or move on its supporting stad on
the stand or support 17. The strap carriers 20 and 21 will also be free to oscil-
late or turn on their supporting pin 22.
The front harness frame, as 133, (see Figs. 1 and 2) will be connected by
straps 35 passing over sheaves 15 and strap 35 to the strap carrier 26.
The second harness frame, as 13, will be connected by straps 34 passing over
sheaves 15 and strap 31 to the strap carrier 25. The strap carriers 25 and 26
are carried in the loop 24, which is connected by the strap 23 with the strap
carrier 21.
The third harness frame, as 131, is connected by straps 33 passing over
sheaves 15 and strap 33 to the strap carrier 20.
The fourth harness, as 13, is connected by straps 32 passing over sheaves 15
and strap 32 to the strap carrier 19.
The fifth harness as 13, is connected by straps 14 passing over sheaves 15
and strap 14 to the strap carrier 18. The under side of each of the five har-
nesses 13, 131, 13, 13, and 13 is connected by strap 12 to a lever 8, which
is operated by a cam 7, as described above.
When four harnesses are to be used. the strap carriers 20 and 21 are locked
or held on the main lever 16. in this instance by means of the pin 29, as described
above. The strapping 331 and 33,88, and the harness 1311 are removed. To
operate the four harnesses, the strap carriers 18 and 19, and 25 and 26, are used

page_text: in connection with the cording or straps from the harnesses 131, 131, 13, and 13
respectively.
When three harnesses are to be used, two of the harnesses and the cording or
straps from said harnesses to their strap carriers are removed, leaving three har-
uesses with cording or straps extending to three strap carriers. The strap carriers
for the three harnesses may be the rolls 18 and 19, and the roll 20, the strap-
ping 34, 34, and 35, 35, and harnesses 13 and 13 being removed; or the strap
carriers for the three harnesses may be the roll 20 and the rolls 25 and 26, the
cording or straps 321, 32, and 14', 14, and the harnesses 13 and 13 being
removed.
When only two harnesses are to be used, the main lever 16 will be fixed to the
support or stand 17 by the pin 28, and the strapping or cords leading to three
of the harnesses, and said three harnesses will be removed. To operate two har-
nesses, the strap carriers 18 and 19 may be used connected by strapping or
cords 321, 32, and cording 14', 14, to the harnesses 13 and 13 respectively,
the other harnesses and the strapping or cords connected therewith being
removed, or the strap carriers 20 and 21 may be held on or locked to the main
lever 16 by the pin 29, and the two strap carriers 25 and 26 connected by strap-
ping 341, 34, 35, 35, to the harnesses 13 and 13 respectively may be used to
operate two harnesses, and the other three harnesses and the strapping connected
therewith will be removed.
In Figs. 7 and 8 is shewn a modified construction of the compound lifting
device shown in the other figures of the drawings.
It will be understood that the pulleys or rolls 18 and 19, 20 and 21, and 25 and
26 do not rotate or turn for a full rotation at any time during the operation of
the loom, but merely oscillate, or turn back and forth through a small portion
of a circle, consequently instead of having complete pulleys as shewn, to make a
pair of strap carriers the strap carriers may be made in the form of levers, as
shewn in the case of pulleys 18 and 19, and 20 and 21, in Figs. 7 and 8, in which
figures the lever 30 pivoted on the pin 171 has one arm 30 corresponding to the
pulley 19, and the other arm 30, corresponding to the pulley 18 in their
relative diameters, and which receive the harness cording and to which is
attached the strap 321 leading to one harness, and a second strap 14
leading to another harness, said lever 30 thus forming two strap carriers, or a
pair of strap carriers, equivalent to the two pulleys 18 and 19; the lever 31
termed a secondary lever" pivoted at one side of its centre on the lower end
of the main lever 16 has the longer arm 31 corresponding with the pulley 20,
and the shorter arm 131 corresponding with the small pulley 21, in their rela
tive diameters, and which receive the harness cording and to which is attached
the strap 33 leading to one harness, and the strap 23 leading to the loop 24.
It will be understood that the details of construction of my mechanism may
be varied from what is shewn and described if desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:.
-
1. The combination with a stand or bracket, of a main supporting lever having
a pair of strap carriers mounted to turn on one arm of said lever, a secondary
lever mounted on the other arm of said lever, a pair of strap carriers pivotally
mounted and connected with one arm of said secondary lever, and the other arm
of said secondary lever adapted to receive harness cording, substantially as
described.
2. The combination with a stand or bracket, of a main supporting lever mounted
on said stand, a pair of strap carriers mounted to turn on one arm of said lever,
a secondary lever mounted on the other arm of said main lever, a pair of strap
carriers pivotally mounted and connected with one arm of the said secondary

page_text: lever, and the other arm of said lever adapted to receive harness cording, and
means for holding the secondary lever from movement relatively to the main
lever, substantially as described.
3. The combination with a support, of the main or supporting lever mounted
pivotally on the said support, a pair of strap carriers mounted to turn on one
arm of said lever, a secondary lever mounted pivotally on the other arm of the
said main lever, a pair of strap carriers, pivotally mounted and connected with one
arm of the said secondary lever, the other arm of said secondary lever adapted to
receive harness cording, and means for holding respectively the main lever from
movement relatively to the support, and the secondary lever from movement rela-
tively to the main lever, substantially as describeil.
4. The combination with a stand or bracket, of a lever having a pair of strap
carriers mounted on one arm thereof, and a second pair of strap carriers mounted
on the other arm thereof, and means for holding one pair of strap carriers from
movement, substantially as shewn and described.
5. The combination with a stand or bracket, and a lever having a pair of strap
carriers, mounted on one arm thereof, and means for holding said lever and sail
strap carriers from movement, of a second pair of strap carriers pivotally mounted
and connected with one of the strap carriers of the first mentioned pair of strap
carriers, substantially as shewn and described.
6. The combination with a stand or bracket, and a lever pivotally mounted
thereon, and having a pair of strap carriers pivotally mounted on one arm thereof,
of means for locking said lever on its stand, comprising a moveable pin or pro-
jection to extend in a hole in said stand and lever substantially as shewn and
described.
7. The combination with a stand or bracket, of a swinging lever having two
pair of strap carriers mounted thereon upon opposite sides of its fulcrum, and
means for preventing said lever from moving, substantially as shewn and described.
8. The combination with a stand or bracket, of a swinging lever having two
pair of strap carriers mounted thereon upon opposite sides of its fulcrum, and
means for preventing said lever from moving, comprising a moveable pin or pro-
jection to extend in a hole or recess in said stand and lever, substantially as shewn
and described.