Improvements in Electrical Weaving Frames or Looms.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 8th July, 1899.
Improvements in Electrical Weaving Frames or Looms.
We, HENRI BOULANGE, and EMILE FRÉGNAC, Manufacturers, both of Tnaurtrul,
Roubaix, France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement-
The present invention relates to a novel method or arrangement to which we
have recourse for operating electrically by means of a fixed motor weaving
frames or looms, and more especially those which it is desirable should be worked
at relatively reduced speeds.
In order to facilitate the description of our arrangement we have illustrated, by
way of example, one of the forms or modifications thereof in the drawings Figs. 1,
to 4, which are annexed to this specification.
By an examination of these drawings, it will be seen that we operate the
weaving frame or loom by means of the cam shaft, and it is this latter which
acts through the medium of the toothed gearing E and F to rotate the crank
shaft K. Usually it is on the contrary the crank shaft which receives the driving
power, and which transmits it to the cam shaft.
Let us add that our mechanism which performs the office of transmitting the
movement of the electric motor to the weaving loom or frame, is placed at the
same side as the toothed gearing E and F, but it will be readily understood that
this arrangement is in no way imperative, and that it may be placed with equal
advantage at the opposite side for instance.
Our driving arrangement consists.
First, of an electrical motor P' working with polyphase currents, fixed upon a
suitable bed or base plate independent of the weaving frame or loom, and in
such a manner that its horizontal axis will be situated at the height of the centre
of the cam shaft L. Second, of a shaft G also arranged horizontally and placed
at the same height. This shaft mounted between two supports S and T fixed to
the frame of the weaving loom, carries keyed upon it: first, a conical or bevel
toothed pinion C which gears with the conical or mitre toothed wheel D, fixed or
formed on the cam shaft, in such a manner as to drive it. Second, a disc H of
the shape shown, that is to say slightly conical and covered with a frictional
surface of leather a. Third, lastly a large wheel B mounted loosely thereon, and
capable of being moved or displaced horizontally through a distance of some
millimetres in such a manner as to enable it to engage the disc H, in order to
carry round this latter when it is desired to work the weaving loom or frame.
This horizontal movement or displacement is obtained in an extremely simple.
manner. For this purpose the hub of the gear wheel B is provided with an
extension having a circular or annular groove or channel in which engages a con-
necting rod strap C hinged or jointed at 0¹, upon the frame b, d, c, as shown
upon our drawings in Figs. 2, and 4.
:
This connecting rod strap, connected at its upper part to the rod or bar T¹,
fixed to the lever handle for throwing in and out of gear, can thus be operated
borizontally. In order to impart a certain amount of elasticity to this clutch

page_text: gearing, the connecting rod strap C¹, as we have above mentioned, is mounted
upon the rod or bar ; between two series or sets of screw nuts e¹ and e; it
bears then on the one side against a spring r, and on the other against the nuts e³.
Lastly in order to insure the instantaneous stopping of our weaving loom or
frame when it may become necessary to do so, at the same time as the friction
cone or disc is disengaged, we cause a brake to act upon the disc H.
This brake, which is shown in the drawings in Figs. 2, and 3, is composed of
a cast iron piece K¹ terminated by an arc or quadrant shaped piece n', n², formed
of the same material and provided with a leather frictional surface. This quad-
rant shaped piece K', hinged or jointed at o2, is firmly connected to the connect-
ing rod strap of the mechanism for throwing the clutch in and out of gear C¹
by means of the tie rod D¹. It is then easy to understand that as soon as the
connecting rod strap causes the connection of the toothed gearing B with the
disc H, the brake ¹, n, will become disengaged; whilst on the contrary when
the toothed gearing B is disengaged the brake will be put on.
Operation: The electric motor being in rotation, the toothed gearing A which
is dependent upon it will also revolve, and the wheel B which gears or meshes
therewith will turn idly or loosely upon the shaft G.
Let us suppose that it is desired to cause the weaving loom or frame to be put
in operation, the clutch handle or lever Q will be operated and immediately
through the medium of the tie rod T and of the collar or connecting rod strap C₁,
the toothed gearing B will be connected with the disc H and will carry it round
or rotate it by friction.
The shaft G being thus in motion, the conical or mitre toothed pinion C acting
upon the toothed wheel D will put the weaving frame or loom in operation.
Let us now suppose that the weaving loom or frame being in operation it is
desired to stop it. For this purpose the clutch handle or lever Q must be so
operated as to return it to its first or normal position as is shown upon our
drawings; immediately the toothed gearing E is drawn back or clear and disen-
gaged from the disc H; it follows from this that the movement of this latter
is arrested, and that the toothed gearing B alone continues to rotate. At the
same time the brake comes into action.
The shaft G being also stopped, the stoppage of the toothed gearing C and D,
and in consequence also that of the weaving loom or frame is the result.
The stoppage of the weaving loom or frame can be effected automatically when
the shuttle is not thrown with sufficient force from one box or holder to the
other.
For this purpose a well-known mechanism termed "weft-fork" may be utilized.
The fork pivotally secured on a horizontal shaft (not shown in the drawings)
moves each stroke of the shuttle into a grate carried by the lay, said fork being
normally raised by the shoot, entending between the branches of the fork and the
grate. A vertical lever provided with a notch and arranged under said fork is
continuously rocked on a horizontal shaft.
When the shuttle is not thrown with sufficient force, or when the shoot is
broken, said lever carries away the fork of the foregoing mechanism, and said
fork actuates the buffer S', keyed on the shaft g (Figs. 1, and 2); thus the lever h
on the end of said shaft will act on the rod T₁ to throw the loom out of gear.
A suitable spring R, one end of which is attached to a bracket p the other
end being attached to the end f of the above named lever h, has tendency to
throw the loom out of gear by drawing said rod T¹ towards the left, so as to
add to the action of the automatic stop-motion. The crank Q secured on the
shaft g, allows of throwing the loom into gear by rotating it in the direction of
the arrow f1 (Fig. 1).

page_text: simplicity; a labourer or workman of any kind being able to use it. On the
other hand the operation thereof is very regular and certain.
That which constitutes the principal feature of our invention is, as we have
already mentioned, our description of driving by means of a rigidly fixed motor
admitting of a very great constancy in the speed of the weaving loom or frame
being obtained whilst at the same time taking into account or allowing for the
variations in the power or stress to be transmitted, which is modified in each revolu-
tion of the crank shaft in accordance with the position of the lay during the
production of a fabric.
This variation in the power or stress is taken up in point of fact by the sliding
or slipping of the toothed gearing B upon the frictional surface of the leather
of the disc H.
This very important result has never been obtained up to the present time,
except in a very imperfect manner, and by no means mechanical.
In fact in all the known arrangements for driving weaving looms or frames
by means of electric motors, whether it be those wherein belts or bands are
employed, or else those which have recourse to toothed gearing, in all these, we
say, in order to allow for the variations of the power or stress of which we have
just now spoken, the motor is mounted upon springs.
As a result of this defective method of mounting, as soon as the weaving loom
or frame is at work, and in accordance with the greater or lesser speed at which
it runs, and with the more or less resisting or obstinate nature of the material
to be woven, the electric motor will be caused to perform more or less numerous
oscillations or vibrations, which are turned into variations in the tension of
straps or belts when these latter are employed, or by continual alterations in the
amount of gearing of the toothed wheels, in cases in which the driving is effected
by means of toothed gearing.
These oscillations of the motor and the consequences which result therefrom
which are insignificant in the case of looms or frames for weaving which only
require a small amount of driving power, and which are employed for working
light articles or materials easy to weave, are on the contrary very defective when
heavy weaving looms or frames are in question, which should work at speeds of
from 100 to 125 revolutions per minute, such as are required for the manufac
ture of cloth. As a result of our experiments we have in fact found out the
absolute impossibility of employing elastically set motors for strong articles.
We are aware that the driving of weaving looms or frames by electric power is
not new, we also admit that the connection or engagement by means of a fric-
tional clutch or coupling is known.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is;-
1. The driving of weaving looms or frames by means of fixed or rigid electric
motors, that is to say motors not mounted upon springs and without straps or
bands as we have above fully mentioned in the description and illustrated on the
accompanying drawings.
2. The combination of the arrangements which we have described for driving
the weaving loom or frame by means of absolutely fixed or rigid electric motors
mounted or fixed on foundations instead of being moveable within certain limits
as is habitually the case.
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, London, W., Agent for the Applicants.