IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER LOOMS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Erastus Brigham Bigelow, of Boston, United
States of America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER
LOOMS."
Sealed the 1st March 1867, and dated the 27th September 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Erastus Brigham Bigelow
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 27th September 1866.
I, ERASTUS BRIGHAM BIGELOW, of Boston, United States of America, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
POWER Looms," to be as follows:-
:
This Invention has for its object improvements such as will give greater
efficiency and economy in the use of the power loom.
It relates, first, to the mode of engaging the driving pulley with the driving
shaft, and of disengaging the same, whereby the loom may be easily put iu
motion and quickly stopped without a heavy shock to the machinery..
Secondly, to the mode of connecting the driving pulley with the looni,
whereby a reverse motion may be given to the loom to put it into any desired
position.

page_text: Thirdly, to the apparatus for stopping or starting the loom, whereby the
loom shipper, the weft stop motion, the shuttle protector, the stopping break
and the driving pulley are brought into suitable co-operative action.
Fourthly, to the mode of stopping the loom at varied intervals for changing
the shuttles by hand, and also for regulating the time of changing them
automatically.
And, fifthly, to the mode of giving out the warps and of taking up the
cloth.
For these purposes a break wheel is affixed to the driving shaft on which
the driving pulley turns loosely when the loom is at rest. To engage and
disengage the driving pulley with the break wheel to move or to stop the
loom two friction levers are employed which are curved to conform to the
inner surface of therim of the driving pulley, and vibrate on studs in the arms
of the break wheel on opposite sides of the driving shaft. A toggle joint is
formed between these two friction levers with its central part plying in a
mortice in the driving shaft. From this mortice to the outer end of the
driving shaft a hole is formed in which a rod slides, which rod is connected
at one end with the toggle joint, and at the other with an elbow lever which is
nctuated by the loom shipper. When the sliding rod by the movement of the
loom shipper is pressed inwards towards the brake wheel it hits the toggle
joiut, presses the friction levers against the rim of the driving pulley, and
starts the loom, and when it is withdrawn it locsens the toggle joint, dis-
engages the friction levers, and stops the loom. In order to reverse or move
back the loom into any desired position there is a pinion on the hub of the
driving pulley which takes into and drives a wheel which is on a shaft parallel
to the driving shaft, on which is also fixed a small wheel or roller which when
the second-mentioned shaft is pressed towards the driving shaft comes against
the break wheel or otherwise engages with it, and causes it to turn back so
long as the small wheel is kept or pressed in contact with the break wheel;
at other times the second-mentioned shaft or the end of it which carries the
small wheel is moved back a short distance so that the small wheel may be
out of contact with the break wheel.
The apparatus for stopping and starting the loom is arranged as follows:-
Two shafts are applied below the breast beam, which extend across the loom
from side to side, and have shipping handles on each end, the first or shipping
shaft being employed to start the loom, and the second or releasing shaft
being employed to throw the loom out of gear, to transmit the action of the
weft stop motions to the shipping apparatus to stop the loom when the filling
fails to release the break from the break wheel to allow the loom to be turned

page_text: back without moving the shipper, and also to bring the reversing motion
before described into action. The shipping shaft has a spring which con-
stantly tends to throw the loom out of gear, and an arm with a notch into
which a bent latch lever falls to hold the loom, in gear, so that to stop tho
loom it is only necessary to release this latch lever, and to this action the
various stop motions of the loom are directed. When the loom is thrown out
of gear, that is the friction levers released from the driving pulley, a break
lever is brought into action on the break wheel to arrest the further move-
ment of the loom; this is effected by means of a cam on the shipping shaft
acting on a roller on the end of the break lever, which cam is so formed as
to press the break lever into action when the shipping shaft is turned by
its spring to throw the loom out of gear, and to release it again when said
shaft is turned forward to put the loom in motion; but it is sometimes
necessary to release the break lever to turn the loom without moving the
shipper shaft. To effect this the cam surface which acts on the roller of the
break lever is attached to the arm which carries it by an axis so that it can
be moved one side when required to be released from the roller on which it
acts. The releasing shaft has an arm with a cam surface so adjusted as
(when it is turned) to release the can just mentioned from the break lever
roller; it also has another arm to release the latch lever which holds the loom
in gear, and another for bringing the reversing motion into action, the three
arms being so adjusted on the shaft with respect to each other that when the
shaft is turned they act in succession, that is, the loom is first thrown out of
gear, then the break released, and then, if required, the reversing motion is
applied. The releasing shaft also carries the arms to which the weft stop
motion fingers are attached, so that when the weft thread fails this shaft is
turned, and thereby the loom is stopped. The protector for stopping the loom
when the shuttle fails to enter the shuttle box instead of striking directly
against a fixed stop acts on a lever, between which and the fixed stop a spring
is interposed whereby the sudden shock of the loom is avoided. The protector
acts on the stop lever by means of a hooked-formed finger on the protector
rod which engages with a similar hook on the stop lover, and draws the stop
lever forward against the spring until it strikes against the fixed stop, while
the motion thus given to the stop lever through an intervening connecting rod
releases the latch lever before mentioned, and throws the loom out of gear.
The mode of stopping the loom at varied intervals for changing the shuttles
and for other purposes is as follows:-An index wheel is placed on the side
of the loom with ratchet teeth on one part of its rim and interchangeable
cam pins on another part, said interchangeable cam pins being inserted

page_text: in such positions as by suitable connections to release the latch lever before
mentioned when it is required to stop the loom to change the shuttles by
hand or to bring the apparatus for changing shuttles into action when it is
employed te regulate the time of changing the shuttles automatically. The
index wheel when in operation is moved a given listance at every given
number of picks of weft thrown by means of a pall acting on the ratchet
before mentioned, and to give to the index wheel a greater range of action,
that is, to enable it to effect its changes on a greater length of cloth or pattern
than it could otherwise do, its motion is intermitted at the longer plain parts
of the cloth or pattern, which intermitting movements are regulated by the
movement of the positive take up motion.
The giving off of the warps and the taking up of the cloth is accomplished
in the following manner:-The warps from the warp beam. pass over a
vibrating roller, the axis of which at its two ends is supported by the short
ends of two crank levers which move on axis attached to adjustable stands at
each side of the loom, the longer ends of the two crank levers have each a
segment rack formed thereon which gear into two pinions on a shaft which
extends across the loom, and is supported by the before-mentioned
adjustable stands so that the roller and the shaft, when the adjustable stands
are moved, are preserved in their proper relative position. Around this shaft
is placed a spiral spring, and according to the tension of the spring so is the
tension of the warps which pass over the vibrating roller before mentioned
In weaving heavy cloth the tension thus given to the warps is not sufficient to
resist the beating up of the weft and a break or holder is applied to hold the
vibrating roller over which the warps pass firmly at the time the lathe strikes
the cloth. The take up of the cloth is constant and uniform, while the giving
off of the warps is regulated by their tension, or is conditional on the length of
warps required to form the cloth taken up by the take-up motion. A shaft
suitably supported has on one of its ends an endless screw which gears with
the screw wheel on the yarn beam, and on the other end a ratchet wheel by
which said shaft is turned. The pall which acts on this ratchet is drawn
back to renew its action on the teeth by a spring or weight, and is moved
forward to turn the shaft by a cam which is so formed as to allow the pall
to renew its action when the warps are at rest. The amount of motion given
to the ratchet at each vibration of the pall is regulated by an arm on the
shaft which carries the pinions which act on the levers which support the
vibratory roller as before described. This arm is so formed and arranged that
when more warps are required than are being given out it takes a position
which allows the pall to fall back a greater distance and act on a greater

page_text: numberof teeth on the ratchet, and when more warp is being given out than
is required its position is changed so as to allow the pall to fall back a lesser
distance and act on a less number of teeth on the ratchet, thus making the
giving off of the warp self regulating.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Erastus Brigham Bigelow in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th March 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ERASTUS
BRIGHAM BIGELOW, of Boston, United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,give and grant unto me, the
said Erastus Brigham Bigelow, Her special licence that I, the said Erastus
Brigham Bigelow, my exccutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Erastus Brigham Bigelow, 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER LOOMS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that. I, the said Erastus Brigham Bigelow, 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 be 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 Erastus Brigham Bigelow, 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 thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements such as will give greater
efficiency and economy in the use of the power loom.
It relates, first, to the mode of engaging the driving pulley with the driving
shaft, and of disengaging the same, whereby the loom may be easily put in
motion and quickly stopped without a heavy shock to the machinery.

page_text: Secondly, to the mode of connecting the driving pulley with the loom
whereby a reverse motion may be given to the loom to put it into any desired
position.
Thirdly, to the apparatus for stopping or starting the loom whereby the
loom shipper, the weft stop motion, the shuttle protector, the stopping break,
and the driving pulley are brought into suitable co-operative action.
Fourthly, to the mode of stopping the loom at varied intervals for changing
the shuttles by hand, and also for regulating the time of changing them
automatically.
And, fifthly, to the mode of giving out the warps and of taking up the
cloth.
In order to engage and disengage the driving pulley with the driving shaft
a break wheel is affixed to the driving shaft on which the driving pulley turns
loosely when the loom is at rest. To engage and disengage the driving
pulley with the break wheel to move or to stop the loom two friction levers are
employed which are curved to conform to the inner surface of the rim of the
driving pulley and vibrate on studs on the arms of the break wheel on
opposite sides of the driving shaft. A toggle joint is formed between these
two friction levers with its central part plying in a mortice in the driving
shaft. From this mortice to the outer end of the driving shaft a hole is
formed in which a rod slides, which rod is connected at one end with the
toggle joint and at the other with an elbow lever which is actuated by the
loom shipper.
Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of a portion of the driving shaft of
a loom combined with a driving pulley in the manner above described. a is
the driving shaft upon which the driving pulley turns loosely when the
loom is at rest; c is a wheel (shown separately at Figure 2) which may be a
break wheel, and which is fast upon the driving shaft a; d, d, are the two
friction levers which vibrate on studs on opposite arms of the wheel o; the
two levers d are connected together by a toggle joint, the central portion e of
which slides in a mortice a¹ in the driving shaft; el is the rod passing from
the piece e of the toggle joint to the outer end of the driving shaft; the outer
end of the rod is by suitable interposed mechanism acted on by the loom
shipper in the arrangement shown; the outer end of the rod is connected to
an elbow lever f, a portion only of which is shown in this Figure, and this
elbow lever is actuated by the loom shipper. When the sliding rod by the
movement of the loom shipper is pressed inwards towards the brake wheel it
sets the toggle joint, presses the friction levers against the rim of the driving
pulley, and starts the loom, and when it is withdrawn it loosens the toggle

page_text: joint, disengages the friction levers, and stops the loom. In the arrangement
shown at Figures 1 and 2 the arms of the toggle joint are pin-jointed to the
contral portion of the joint and are connected with the friction levers d by
ball-and-socket joints so that the arms may both press forwards and draw
back the friction levers; and in order that both friction levers d may
simultaneously be pressed against the inner circumference of the driving
pulley when the toggle joint is set each arm is as is shown by the Drawings
made in such manner that its length can be adjusted. In place of the arms
of the toggle joint acting both to press outwards and draw back the friction
levers d, the levers d may be arranged to be acted on by springs (as shown at
Figure 3) to draw them back away from the inner circumference of the
driving pulley, and the arms of the toggle joint will then only act to press
outwards the friction levers; it is then only necessary for the ends of the arms
of the toggle joint to enter sockets in the levers d (as is represented in the
detached views of these parts shown at Figures 4 and 5) in place of being
connected to them by a ball-and-socket joint. In Figures 4 and 5 is also
represented a modification of the parts of the toggle joint, one object of
which is to facilitate the adjustment of the parts to ensure that both of the
levers & shall be simultaneously pressed with an equal pressure against the
inner circumference of the driving pulley when the toggle joint is set. In
this modification the inner ends of the arms of the toggle joint abut one
against the other. The abutting ends may either be made to correspond to arcs
of circles struck from the opposite ends of the levers or they may be otherwise
curved to diminish or increase the amount of motion imparted to the levers d
when the inner ends of the arms are moved through equal arcs. The inuer
ends of the arms are also formed with small projections which enter a slot in
the piece e on the end of the rod e', so that when the rod is moved in or out
by the shipping mechanism the toggle joint will be set or unset. When the
toggle joint is set both friction levers will simultaneously and with an equal
pressure be pressed against the inner circumference of the driving pulley; the
force with which they are pressed against the driving pulley can be regulated
by adjusting the length of one of the arms, one of the arms being for this
purpose made capable of extension. The outer curved surfaces of the friction
levers which are pressed against the inner circumference of the driving pulley
I prefer to cover with leather or copper to obtain a good friction surface, but
the friction surfaces of these levers may be otherwise prepared. In each of
the arrangements above described the toggle jointed levers are arranged to
press the friction surfaces of the friction levers against the inner circumference
of the driving pulley; they might, however, be arranged to press friction

page_text: levers against the outer circumference. I, however, prefer to arrange the
friction levers to act on the inner circumference of the driving pulley as shown
in the Drawing.
What I claim in respect to this part of my Invention is the combined
arrangement of mechanism herein described for connecting the driving shaft
of a loom with its driving pulley, consisting of a rod capable of sliding end-
wise of the shaft acting by toggle jointed levers or their equivalents on
friction levers (carried by a wheel fast on the shaft) to press them against the
circumference of a driving pulley, which when not thus engaged turns loosely
around the shaft.
The next part of my Invention consists of an arrangement of mechanism
for reversing or moving back the loom. When the driving shaft receives
motion from a driving pulley, which by a clutch or friction surfaces can be
made fast with the shaft or set free thercon, I place a pinion on the hub of
the driving pulley which transmits motion to a wheel which is on a shaft
parallel to the driving shaft, on which is also fixed a small wheel or roller which
when the second-mentioned shaft is pressed towards the driving shaft comes
against the break wheel or otherwise engages with it, and causes it to turn
back so long as the small wheel is kept or pressed in contact with the break
wheel. At other times the second-mentioned shaft or the end of it which
carries the small wheel is moved back a short distance, so that the small
wheel may be out of contact with the break wheel.
A diagram view of this arrangement is shown at Figure 6, and the arrange
ment is also shewn applied to a loom in Figure 13, Sheet 8. The arrange-
ment of friction mechanism for engaging or disengaging the driving pulley
with the shaft, is the same as that above described, but the reversing
mechanism may be applied where other arrangements are employed for
connecting or disconnecting the driving pulley with the shaft; gisthe pinion
on the hub of the driving pulley, which by the intermediate wheels gl
transmits motion to the toothed wheel fast on one end of the short axis i.
This end of the axis is carried in a fixed bearing, the bearing of the opposite
end of the shaft is carried by 'the lever, and on this end of the axis is a
small friction wheel i¹, which by a slight movement of the lever can either be
caused to press against the periphery of the break wheel, or can be moved
away from it. When the friction wheel is pressed against the periphery of
the break wheel, a slow backward movement is imparted to the driving shaft,
so that the loom may be moved back to any desired position.
What I claim as regards this part of my Invention is the combined
arrangement herein described for imparting a reversing motion to the loom,

page_text: consisting of a pinion on the hub of a pulley (turning freely around the driving
shaft) which transmits motion to a wheel which can be moved up to and so
caused to gear with a wheel fast on the driving shaft. The apparatus for
stopping and starting the loom is arranged as follows:-Two shafts are applied
below the breast beam which extend across the loom from side to side, and
have shipping handles on each end, the first or shipping shaft being employed
to start the loom, and the second or releasing shaft being employed to throw
the loom out of gear to release the break from the wheel to allow the loom
to be turned back without moving the shipper, and also if a reversing motion
be employed to bring the reversing motion into action; it may also if desired
be employed to transmit the action of the weft stop motions to the shipping.
apparatus to stop the loom when the filling fails. The shipping shaft has a
spring which constantly tends to throw the loom out of gear and an arm with
a notch into which a beut latch lever falls to hold the loom in gear, so that
to stop the loom it is only necessary to release this latch lever, and to this
action the various stop motions of the loom are directed. When the loom is
thrown out of gear, that is, the friction levers released from the driving
pulley, a break lever is brought into action on the break wheel to arrest the
further movement of the loom. This may be effected by means of a cam oif
the shipping shaft acting on a roller ou the end of the break lever, which
cam is so formed as to press the break lever into action when the shipping
shaft is turned by its spring to throw the loom out of gear, and to release it
again when said shaft is turned forward to put the loom in motion; but it is
sometimes necessary to release the break lever to turn the loom without
moving the shipper shaft. To effect this the cam surface which acts on the
roller of the break lever is attached to the arm which carries it by an axis,
so that it can be moved on one side when required to be released from the
roller on which it acts. The releasing shaft has an arm with a cam surface
so adjusted as (when it is turned) to rele ise the can just mentioned from
the break lever roller; it also has another arm to release the latch lever
which holds the loom in gear, and another for bringing the reversing motion
into action, the three aums being so adjusted on the shaft with respect to'
cach other that when the shaft is turued they act in succession, that is, the
loom is first thrown out of gear, then the break released, and then if required
the reversing motion is applied. The releasing shaft may also, as above
mentioned, carry
the arms to which the weft stop motion fingers are attached,
so that when the weft thread fails this shaft is turned and thereby the loom
is stopped.
On Sheets 2 3 4 5 6 and 7 is shown a loom liavin' applied to it a

page_text: shipping and releasing shaft arranged and operating in the manner above
described. Figures 7 and 8, on Sheets 2 and 3, are end views of the loom ;
Figures 9 and 10, ou Sheets 4 and 5, are transverse sections; Figure 11, on
Sheet 6, is a front view, and Figure 12, on Sheet 7, is a plan view of the same.
In these Figures the shipping shaft is numbered 1, and the releasing shaft 2.
On the shipping shaft is a lever arm or handle 1*, by which the loom can be
thrown into gear, and on the arm is a projection 1** over the edge of which
a latch lever 3 catches to hold the loom in gear. Around a portion of the
length of the shipping shaft 1 is a coiled spring 4 (see front view Figure 11,
Sheet 6), one end of which is attached to the framing and the other end to a
short arm on the shaft; this spring when the latch lever 3 is released tends
to turn the shaft 1 into the position shown in Figure 7, so as to throw the
loom out of gear. The turning the shaft into this position throws the loom
out of gear by an arm on the under side of the shipping shaft pushing back a
rod 5; the back end of this rod is connected to the elbow leverf, and by
turning this lever it pulls back the rod e' of the engaging and disengaging
apparatus herein-before described, and so throws the loom out of gear. At
the same time a cam surface 6 carried by an arm on the shaft 1 by depressing
the end of the break lever c¹ causes the friction surface of this lever to press
against the periphery of the break wheel c, and so stop the loom. The cam
surface 6 is attached to the arm that carries it by a pin joint 6*, (as seen in
Figure 7), so that the cam surface can be turned aside to free it from the end
of the break lever when required. The releasing shaft 2 in the arrangement
of loom shown in the Sheets of Drawing above mentioned hastwo arms upon
it, one for releasing the latch lever 3 which holds the loom in gear, and a
second arm to release the break when required; the releasing shaft may also
if desired be provided with a third arm for bringing a reversing motion into
action to move back the loom to any desired position, but in the loom shown
in the Drawings this motion is not applied, a modification of the stopping
and starting mechanism having a reversing arrangement combined with it, as
shown at Figure 13, Sheet 8, and will be herein-after described. The operation
of the releasing shaft is as follows:-If the attendant wishes to stop the loom
he turns the releasing shaft by means of one or other of the handles 2* fast
upon the shaft until the end of the arın 2**, which is also fast upon the shaft,
strikes against the latch lever and releases the latch; the coiled spring 4 then
turns the shipping shaft I and throws the loom out of gear at the same time
that the break is caused to stop the loom as herein-before described. If the
attendant wishes to release the break, either to move the loom slightly forward
or backward, he turns the releasing shaft still further by one or other of its

page_text: lever handles 2*, so causing the cam surface on the arm 2*** to force aside
the cam surface 6 that before held up the break, thus setting the.loom free to
be turned in either direction. When the attendant again desires to put the loom
in gear he turns the shipping shaft by one or other of its lever handles 1* until
it is caught by the latch lever 3, by which means the loom is put in gear
as herein-before described; the releasing shaft is brought back by a spring y.
In the arrangement shewn in the Drawings the weft stop motion is also con-
nected with the releasing shaft; the manner in which this is effected is most
clearly seen in the sectional view Figure 10, Sheet 5. The weft stop motion
fingers are numbered 7; they are carried and operated in a similar manner at
both ends of the loom; each finger is fixed to a latch lever 7, which turns
freely on a pin carried by an arm 7** fast on the releasing shaft 2. So long
as the filling is complete the weft holds up the levers 7* in the ordinary
manner, so that they are above the end of the vibrating lever 8 and are not
acted upon by this lever when it is moved forward. If, however, the weft
fails one or other of the latch levers 7* drops and hooks over the end of its
lever 8, so that when the lever 8 is moved forward the arın 7** will be caused
to move with it, thus turning the releasing shatt the necessary distance to cause
it to lift the latch lever 3 and stop the loom, as before explained. The to-
and-fro vibratory movement is imparted alternately to each of the levers 8 at
either end of the loom, one or other lever being moved forward for every beat
of the lay or lathe according to the direction in which the shuttle is thrown.
The forward movement is given to the levers 8 by cam pins 8x on the cam
axis 9 of the loom, the relative position of the cam pins on the axis being such
as to act on the levers at the two ends of the loom alternately, as above
explained. The cam axis in the loom shown in the Drawings makes one
revolution for every two revolutions of the crank shaft 10, which imparts
motion to the lathe 1, the shafts 9 and 10 being geared together by toothed
wheels and 10%, as clearly seen in Figure 7. The toothed wheel 9* is
driven by a pinion a* on the driving shaft, as is seen in the plan view. One
or other of the cam pins 8 will therefore cause one or other of the levers 8
to move forward for every beat-up of the lathe.
At Figure10x is shown another arrangement in which a weft stop motion may
be applied to my combined arrangement of stopping and starting mechanism.
For this arrangement a Patent was applied for by me on the 26th day of March
1867, and is only now shown to illustrate another way in which a weft stop
motion may be employed. In the arrangement shown at Figure 10 in place
of the fingers 7 being carried by arms on the releasing shaft 2 they are carried
by the lathe, and each finger is connected by a rod to a lever 7*, the axis of

page_text: which
passes across the lathe; on this axis is an acm having a looked latch
formed at one end, and carrying at its other end a roller 7**. If the filling
of weft is complete the fingers 7 rest on the top of the weft, and the hooked
latch of the lever 7* is held up, so that as the lathe moves forward the hooked
latch cannot catch on to the projection 8 of the rod 8, which is connected
with the latch lever 3, as shown. If, however, the filling fails the fingers 7
will be unsupported by the weft, and will allow the hooked latch of the
lever 7 to descend low enough to catch on to the projection 8 as the lathe
moves forward, and will thus draw forward the rod 8, and so release the latch
lever 3 and stop the loom. When the shuttle is being thrown the fingers 7
are held up by the roller 7** bearing against the cam surface 7***.
I will now describe the arrangement of stopping and starting mechanism
shown at Figure 13, Sheet 8. In this arrangement the details of the mechan-
ism are somewhat modified; a reversing motion is also combined therewith;
as herein-before mentioned. In this Figare the shipping and releasing shafts
are numbered respectively 1 and 2, and the lever handle of the shipping
shaft is numbered 1*; it carries as in the former arrangement a projection 1**,
over which a latch lever 3 latches to hold the loom in gear; the shipping
shaft is also as in the former arrangement acted on by a spring to cause it to
turn to throw the loom out of gear when the latch 3 is released; when the
shipping shaft is thus turned by its spring it throws the loom out of gear in
the same manner as in the arrangement already described, at the same time
the break c' is brought against the break wheel e by an arm 6 on the shipping
shaft acting by the intermediate connecting rod 6* on the sliding rod 6** that
is connected to the break lever as shown. The releasing shaft 2, which by
three successive actions has first to raise the latch lever 3 to throw the loom
out of gear, secondly, to release the break from the break wheel, and, thirdly,
to bring into action the slow reversing motion, effects these operations in the
following manner:-The shaft has upon it a quadrant, an incline or cam
surface 2** , upon which quadrant at the first movement of the axis raises
the latch lever as in the former arrangement. To the lower end of the
quadrant is pin-jointed a rod 4 in which there are two slots 4*, 4**. In
the first slut 4* is received a pin carried by the end of the connecting rod 6*,
and when the attendant turns the axis 2 by one or other of its lever handles 2*
the lower end of the slot raises this connecting rod and frees it from the
sliding rod 6** attached to the break lever c'; the counterbalance weight c*
then draws the break lever away from the break wheel and sets the loom free
to be turned in either direction. In the second slot 4** is received a pin on
the lever of the reversing mechanism, which has been already described; if

page_text: the attendant still further turns the shaft 2 by its lever handle the bottom of
the slot 4** raises this lever, and so brings the wheel ¹ into gear with the
break wheel c and turns the loom back to any desired position. When the
attendant desires again to start the loom forwards he effects this by pressing
forward the lever handle 13 on the shipping shaft up to the stop 1***, when
the latch lever 3 will latch over the projection 1**, the releasing shaft being
brought back to its original position by springs as in the former arrangement.
If however when the loom is stopped the attendant desires to move the loom
slowly forwards to bring it to any desired position before putting the loom
again into action he can effect this by pressing down the small slide a carried
by the shipping lever 1, before moving forward this lever the lower end of
the slide will then come between the shipping lever 1* and the stop 1***,
thus preventing the shipping lever being moved forward sufficiently to put the
loom entirely in gear, whilst at the same time the thickness of the slide a is
so adjusted that the shipping lever may be moved forward far enough to bring:
the friction surfaces of the driving gear into slight contact with the driving.
pulley, so that the loom may be caused to move forward slowly.
What I claim in regard to this part of my Invention is the combined
arrangement herein described for stopping and starting the loom, consisting of
two shafts placed below the breast beam of the loom, viz., a shipping shaft
which when set free is caused to turn, and by so doing throw the loom out of
gear and apply à break to stop the loom and a releasing shaft which when
turned first acts to release the shipping shaft, if turned still further to release
the break to set the loom free, and also, if desired, when caused a third time
to turn still further to bring into action a reversing motion to turn back the
loom to any desired position. The protector for stopping the loom, when the
shuttle fails to enter the shuttle box instead of striking directly against a
fixed stop, acts on a lever, between which and the fixed stop a spring is inter-
posed, whereby the sudden shock of the loom is avoided. The protector acts
on the stop lever by means of a hook-formed finger on the protector rod,
which engages with a similar hook on the stop lever and draws the stop
lever forward against the spring until it strikes against the fixed stop while
the motion, thus given to the stop lever through an intervening connecting rod
releases the latch lever before mentioned and throws the loom out of gear.
This combined arrangement of operating the protector motion, and applying a
spring thereto, is seen clearly in Figure 10, Sheet 5; in this Figure m is the
shuttle binder acting on one end of the bent lever n carried by the lathe /;
when the shuttle correctly enters its box the binder lowers the end n¹ of the
lever in such manner that when the lathe moves forward it shall not catch

page_text: against the stop o but shall pass freely below it; if, however, the shuttle fails
correctly to enter the box the catch » hooks on to the stop o; the stop o is
carried by the lever o¹, which turns on a fixed pin carried by the framing of
the loom; when the catch n¹ has caught on to the stop o the lever o' is turned
on its pin until its lower end is brought against a fixed stop p between which
and the lever o' is a spring 03, so that the forward movement of the lathe is
arrested without shock during this time the loom has been thrown out of gear,
and the break applied to the break wheel by the first portion of the move-
ment of the lever o', having turned the bent lever 7 on its centre, so moving
forward the rod q' attached to its lower end and tripping the latch lever 3, asis
clearly seen by the Drawings. The lever q is also employed for stopping
the loom when it is required to change the shuttle, as will afterwards be
described.
What I claim in regard to this part of my Invention is the combined
arrangement herein described for stopping the loom when the shuttle fails,
consisting of a hook on the protector rod, which when the shuttle fails is
caused to engage with a hook on a stop lever, which is then drawn forward.
against a spring before it can strike against a fixed stop as herein described.
The mode of stopping the loom at varied intervals for changing the shuttles
and for other purposes is as follows:-An index wheel is placed on the side of
the loom with ratchet teeth on one part of its rim, and interchangeable cam
pins or another part, said interchangeable cam pins being inserted in such
positions as by suitable connections to release the latch lever before mentioned
when it is required to stop the loom to change the shuttles by land or to bring
the apparatus for changing shuttles into action when it is employed to
regulate the time of changing the shuttles automatically. The index wheel
when in operation is moved a given distance at every given number of picks
of weft thrown by means of a pawl acting on the ratchet before mentioned,
and to give to the index wheel a greater range of action, that is, to enable it
to effect its changes on a greater length of cloth or pattern than it could
otherwise do, its motion is intermitted at the longer plain parts of the cloth
or pattern, which intermitting movements are regulated by the movement of
the positive take up motion. This arrangement is seen most clearly in
Figure 7 on Sheet 2, and is also seen in the plan and front views of the loom ;
is the index wheel having ratchet teeth on part of its rim, and inter-
changeable cam pins 2 on another part of its rim. Around the index wheel
lines of color are also marked to come opposite a fixed pointer u³, and thus
when the index wheel is stopped to show to the attendant what colored shuttle
is to be next thrown.. The index wheel has a step-by-step motion given to it

page_text: by a pawl s acting with the ratchet teeth, the pawls is carried by a levers
turning freely on the axis of the index wheel, and the lower end of this lever
is acted on by a cam on the cam shaft, the cam being so formed as to cause
the pattern wheel to be turned by the pawl oue tooth for every revolution of
the shaft. As the index wheel is thus turned the cam pins " on its rim will
in succession be brought against the end of the lever before mentioned, and
by causing this lever to turn on its centre, the rod 7' will be moved, the latch
lever 3 tripped, and the loom thus stopped. In order to throw the index
wheel out of action during the time that the longer plain parts of the pattern
are being woven, some of the arms of the index wheel are arranged to carry
bent levers 2, as is seen more clearly in the sectional view Figure 7*, on
Sheet; these levers are constantly acted on by springs to bring them into
such a position that the ends * of these levers may (as they are carried round
with the index wheel) come in contact with a radial arm * turning at one
end on the axis of the index wheel and at the other carrying the plate u. The
plate is by this means brought under the pawls and the pawl is thus
thrown out of action until the lever is turned to free its end o* from
the radial arm, when the radial arm ux is thus set free it is drawn back by a
spring & against the stop the pawls is then again free to act, and the index
wheel is again caused to rotate with a step-by-step motion. The time during
which the plate is allowed to hold the index wheel out of action is governed
by a cam wheel t, on the axis of which is a toothed wheel driven by a
pinion on one end of the take-up roller, as shewn in Figures 7 and 11.
This cam wheel in the arrangement shewn in the Drawing is caused to act
upon one end of a lever r, the opposite end of which lever is pin-jointed to
a rod e', the upper end of which is bent over so as to come above the end of
the lever v2 which is at that time beneath it. When the index wheel is to
be again put in action the cam wheel allows the lever
manner as to lower the rod v', so turning the lever
freed from the radial arm carrying the plate u, the arm carrying the plate u
will then be brought back by its spring so as again to permit the pawl to
turn the index wheel as before explained. In place of the index wheel other
pattern surfaces may be employed, and may in a similar manner be for a
time thrown out of action, as herein described. The index wheel or pattern
surface may also, as will readily be understood, be employed for bringing
into action an automatic apparatus for changing the shuttle in place of being
employed to stop the loom as above described.
to turn in such
until its arm v is
What 1 claim as regards this part of my Invention is the combining with
an index wheel or other patieru surface employed for stopping the loom when

page_text: the shuttle is to be changed, or for bringing into action the apparatus for
changing the shuttles when automatic apparatus is employed; for changing
the shuttles an intermitting movement to throw the pattern wheel out of
action as herein described, the intermitting movement being regulated from
the positive take-up motion.
The giving off of the warps and the taking up of the cloth is accomplished
in the following manner:-The warps from the warp beam pass over a
vibrating roller, the axis of which at its two ends is supported by the short
ends of two crank levers which move on an axis attached to adjustable stands
at each side of the loon. The longer ends of the two crank levers have each
a segment rack formed thereon which gear into two pinions on a shaft
which extends across the loom, and is supported by the before-mentioned
adjustable stands, so that the roller and the shaft when the adjustable stands
are moved are preserved in their proper relative positions. Around this shaft
is placed a spiral spring, and according to the tension of the spring so is the
tension of the warps which pass over the vibrating roller before mentioned.
In weaving heavy cloth the tension thus given to the warps is not sufficient
to resist the beating up of the weft, and a break or holder is applied to hold
the vibrating roller over which the warps pass firmly at the time the lathe
strikes the cloth. The take up of the cloth is constant and uniform, while
the giving off of the warps is regulated by their tension, oris conditional on the
length of warps required to form the cloth taken up by the take-up motion.
A shaft suitably supported has on one of its ends an endless screw which
gears with a screw wheel on the yarn beam, and on the other end a ratchet
wheel by which said shaft is turned; the pawl which acts on this ratchet is
drawn back to renew its action on the teeth by a spring or weight, and is
moved forward to turn the shaft by a cam which is so formed as to allow the
pawl to renew its action when the warps are at rest. The amount of motion
given to the ratchet at each vibration of the pawl is regulated by an arm ou
the shaft which carries the pinions which act on the levers which support the
vibrating roller as before described; this arm is so formed and arranged that
when more warps are are required than are being given out it takes a position
which allows the pawl to fall back a greater distance and act on a greater
number of teeth on the ratchet, and when more warp is being given out than
is required its position is changed so as to allow the pawl to fall back a lesser
distance and act on a less number of teeth on the ratchet, thus making the
giving off of the warps self-regulating.
The above-described arrangement of mechanism for giving off of the warps
and taking up the cloth is clearly seen in the Drawings of the loom shown on

page_text: Sheets 2 to 7; enlarged views of this part of the loom are also shown on
Sheets 9 and 10. In these views no means of putting extra tension on the
warp threads at the time of the beat up is shown, no such motion being
required for weaving the class of goods for which the loom shown therein
was intended; modes of applying extra tension to the warp threads when
employing the combined arrangement herein described for giving off warp and
taking up the cloth are shown at Figures 14 and 14*, and will be herein-after
described. The vibrating roller over which the warps pass is numbered 12
and 13; 13 are the crank levers which supports its axis; the crank levers at
the two ends of the loom turn on pius carried by the adjustable stands 14,
which can be fixed at any desired height to the framing of the loom; 13*,13*,
are the segment racks formed on the longer arms of the levers 13; and
15, 15, are the toothed wheels with which these rucks gear; the wheels 15
are fast on the shaft 16, which shaft passes across the loom, and is carried in
bearings on the stands 14, so that all the parts of this mechanism are pre-
served in their proper relative position whether the stands 14 be raised or
lowered; 16*, 16*, are two springs coiled around the two ends of the shaft,
one end of each spring is fixed to a stud 17 which also serves to limit the
motion of the levers 13, and the other end of the springs are made fast to the
shaft; the shaft is thus caused to turn in the direction required for tightening
the warps, and the tension on the warps can be regulated by varying the
tension of these springs; the take up of the cloth is constant.
In the arrangement shown (seen most clearly in Figure 8, Sheet 3, and in
the enlarged view Sheets 9 and 10) the take up roller is driven from the
short cam axis 19 which carries the cam 20 for operating the let-off motion*
of the warps, and also carries the cams for operating the harness. The cam
shaft 19 receives motion from the cam shaft 9, as is clearly seen in Figure 8,
and the cam shaft by a pinion 21 upon it gives motion by the intermediate
wheel 22 to a pinion 23* on the shaft 23, on this shaft is a worm 24 which
by interposed gearing transmits motion to the take-up roller 25. After the
cloth has passed around the take-up roller it is wound on to a beam below it
in the ordinary manner.
I will now describe the arrangement for letting off the warps. 26* is a
worm wheel on the yarn bean 26; into the worm wheel gears a worin 27;
on the axis of this worm is a ratchet wheel 27*, acted on by a pawl 27**,
carried by a lever capable of turning around the axis of the ratchet wheel;
the other end of this lever has a segment rack upon it gearing with another
segment rack on a lever arm 28** fixed to a short tubular shaft 28 which
turns on a fixed pin. On the tubular shaft is another arm 28* which carries

page_text: a roller that is acted on during the time the warps are at rest by the cam 20
on the short cam shaft 19, in such manner as to cause the pawl 27** to turn
its ratchet wheel and so turn the yarn beam to cause it to give off the required
amount of yarn. When the arm 28* is no longer acted on by the cam 20 it
falls back, and by so doing brings back the pawl 27**, and the amount of
yarn given off is dependent on the distance to which the arm 28* is allowed
to fall back; this is governed by the backward motion of the arm 28* being
arrested by means of an arm 29 carried by the same hollow axis that carries
the arm 25 coming against a stop 30 carried by an arm on the axis 16,
which
gears with the rack on the lever arms that carry the vibrating roller 12
over which the yarns pass; this stop is made with steps or notches which
allow the arm 29 to move back a greater or less distance according to which
of the steps of the stop 30 is brought into the path in which it moves, and
this is governed by the position of the vibrating roller 12 over which the
yarns pass, so that the arm 28* is allowed to move back a greater distance
when more yarn is to be given off, and a less distance if less yarn is required.
The arm carrying the stop 30 is not fast on the axis 16, but is by a balance
weight held up to an arm on the shaft, as shown, so that the arm may yield
should it strike against other parts of the loom as it moves to and fro.
A modification of the arrangement for taking up the cloth and letting off
the warp is shown at Figure 14; this arrangement has combined with it a
means of holding the warp at the time of the beat up. I would here reinark
that I lay no claim generally to the holding the warp fast at the time of the
beat up. The arrangement for effecting this, and also the arrangement for
gradually increasing the tension during the beat of the lathe, which are shown
at Figures 14 and 14*, are described in the Provisional Specification herein-
before mentioned, and are only shown in these Figures with a view to show in
manner the warps may be held more firmly at the time of the beat up
when employing the combined arrangement herein described for letting off the
warp.
In Figure 14 the same figures of reference refer to like parts to those
shown in the arrangement already described, 12 being the vibrating roller
over which the warps pass; 13, the levers carrying these rollers and formed
with segment racks 13* that gear with pinions 15* on the axis 16; on this
axis is an arm carrying the stop 30, the position of which regulates the
distance to which the arın 29 on the axis 28 is allowed to descend, and so
governs the amount of movement given by the cam 20 to the roller on the
arın 28. From the arm 29 is a strap 29, which as the arm 29 rises and
falls works the pawl 27**, so driving the ratchet wheel 27* ou the axis of the

page_text: worm 27. In order to hold the warps at the time of the beat up, the arm
carrying the stop 30 has pin-jointed to it one end of a rod 30, the opposite
end of the rod being supported by a small bracket on the lathel; on this
end of the rod is a spring 30** (which may be of vulcanized india-rubber),
against which the lathe strikes at the time of the beat up, so holding fast
the arm carrying the stop 30, and consequently holding fast the vibrating
roller 12.
In the arrangement shown at Figure 14* the warps are held fast at the
time of the beat up by increasing at that time the tension of the coiled
spring 16 which turn the axis 16; for this purpose in place of the end of
the coiled springs 16* being connected to fixed stops they are attached to
arms 16** which can turn freely around the axis; these arms 16** are
struck by the lathe as it moves forward, and by being caused to turn on
the axis they increase the tension of the springs 16 and so increase the
tension on the warps.
What I claim as regards this part of my Invention is the combining with a
positive take-up motion the combined arrangement herein described forgiving
off the warps, and regulating the tension upon them, such combined arrange-
ment consisting,
First, of a vibrating roller over which the warps pass and which is carried
by levers having segment racks formed thereon that gear with pinions on a
shaft acted on by coiled springs as herein described.
Secondly, of a lever arn on this shaft carrying a stop, the position of which
regulates the amount of motion given to the ratchet that turns the yarn beam
as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Eustus Brigham Bigelow, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of March, in the year of
our Lord Que thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
E. B. BIGELOW. (L.B.)