TENSION MECHANISM FOR LOOMS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JACOB SHEW, of Wilmington, in the County of New Castle, and the State of
Delaware, U.S.A. Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of said Invention
for "TENSION MECHANISM FOR LOOMS," and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My Invention relates to an improvement in tension mechanism for looms; and it
consists:
First In the combination of the beam of the loom, with suitable bands or straps
which are passed over the ends of the beam, in order to exert a suitable pressure
thereon, and which bands or straps are connected to suitable springs at one of their
ends, and to a suitable tightening shaft at the other.
Second in the combination of the beam of the loom, suitable bands or straps
which exert a suitable pressure thereon, springs which are attached to one end of
the bands, a tightening shaft, and an arm, or lever, provided with a friction roller
at its upper end, for bearing against the yarn on the side of the beam.
Third: The combination of the beam of the loom, suitable bands or straps, the
tightening shaft provided with a ratchet, an arm for bearing against the side of
the beam, and a suitable mechanism for relaxing the bands or straps so as to leave
the beam free at any time, all of which will be more fully described hereinafter..
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying my Invention. Figure 2 is
an end view of the same.. A, represents the frame of the loom, and B, the beam
which is journaled therein, and which is provided with the flanged ends C. Passing
up over these flanged ends C, of the beam, are the straps or bands D, which are
secured at one of their ends to the spiral springs E, and to the shaft F, at their.
other ends. These straps exert a frictional contact upon the beam, for the purpose
of producing a steady and even pressure upon the threads, or the yarns which are
wrapped thereon for the purpose of being woven. Upon the shaft F, are secured
suitable pulleys G, around which the ends of the straps or bands are wound.
Secured to this shaft at or near its center, is the part H, of the clutch, to which is
secured the adjustable arm I, having a friction roller J, pivoted in its upper end;"
for the purpose of bearing against the beam.
This arm is made adjustable in length so as to adjust the roller to any desired
point upon the beam, and the upper portion of the arm can be swung around at
Driss cri

page_text: right angles, as shown in dotted lines, for the purpose of removing the pressure of
the arm from against the beam, whenever so desired. After the upper portion of
the arm has been adjusted into any desired position, it is only necessary to tighten
the set screw L, when it will be held rigidly in place. For the purpose of always
returning this arm to position, after it has been moved, a spiral spring M, is secured
to its inner side, as shown, and this spring serves not only to return the arm to
position, but will help to exert a suitable pressure- in drawing the arm against the
side of the beam. The other part N, of the clutch, is kept constantly in contact
with the part H, by means of the spiral spring O, which is placed upon the shaft F.
This part of the clutch is keyed upon the shaft, and holds the shaft into any
position into which it may be adjusted, by the application of a wrench upon
its end at P. When this shaft F, is turned by means of a wrench, which
will be made to fit the shafts upon all of the different looms, the bands
or straps are either. tightened or loosened, as may be desired, and thus made to
exert any desired pressure upon the beam. By having this shaft adjusted only
by the means of a wrench, the superintendent can adjust the tension upon
the beam of every loom, and thus prevent any tampering with the tension by
the weavers. When the shaft is turned so as to wrap the straps or bands around
the shaft F, the springs are stretched correspondingly, and thus made to exert a
greater pressure upon the beam, than they did before they were stretched, by the
turning of the shaft. In order that the pressure may be released from the beam at
any time, and thus enable it to be turned freely backward and forward by the
weaver, the shaft Q, is pivoted in the frame at any suitable distance from the beam,
and this shaft is provided with a cam or eccentric R, for each one of the straps or
bands. Suitable cords, wires or bands, are attached to the spiral springs at one
end, and to the cams for eccentrics at the other, so that when the shaft is turned,
the cords, bands or wires will be partially wrapped upon the eccentrics, and thus
made to stretch the spiral springs, and, by stretching them, release their tension or
pull upon the bands or straps, which pass up over the beam. For the purpose of
enabling the weaver to relax the tension upon the beam at any time, the eccentric
shaft is provided with a suitable handle or lever which extends up where it can be
readily grasped at any time. As soon as the weaver releases the handle upon the
eccentric shaft, the springs M, draw the shaft back into position again, and the
spiral springs again exert their tension upon, the beam." A suitable spring S,
applied upon the eccentric shaft exerts just enough pressure upon it to always hold
the shaft in position, so that the slightest movement exerted upon it by the
weaver, will at once be transferred to the springs, for the purpose of stretching
them.
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 of the beam, the bands or straps which are passed over it,
the spiral springs which are secured to the straps at one end, and a tightening
shaft which is secured to them at the other, substantially as shown.
2. The combination of the beam, the straps or bands, the springs, and the
tightening shaft provided with an arm for bearing against the side of the beam,
substantially as described.
3. The combination of the beam, the straps or bands, the spiral springs, the
tightening shaft, provided with an arm for bearing against the side of the beam,
and a clutch, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination of the beam, the bands or straps, the tightening shaft, and
the arm for bearing against the side of the beam, the arm being made adjustable,
substantially as specified.
5. The combination of the beam, the bands or straps, the spiral springs, a
mechanism for stretching the springs, and the tightening shaft, substantially as
shown.

page_text: 6. The combination of the beam, the bands or s'raps, the spiral springs, a
mechanism for stretching the springs so as to release the tension of the straps, and
a tightening shaft provided with an arm, for bearing against the side of the beam,
and a clutch, substantially as described.