CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER LOOMS FOR WEAVING, AND IN SHUTTLES TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Todd and Jacob Todd, of Heywood, in the
County of Lancaster, Spinners and Manufacturers, for the Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER LOOMS FOR WEAVING, AND IN SHUTTLES
TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 17th September 1858, and dated the 17th March 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Todd and Jacob
Todd at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 17th March 1858.
We, WILLIAM TODD and JACOB TODD, of Heywood, in the County of
Lancaster, Spinners and Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of our
said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER LOOMS FOR WEAVING, AND
IN SHUTTLES TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
The first part of these improvements is solely applicable to such power
looms in which moveable shuttle boxes containing a number of shuttles are
employed, and relates to a novel and peculiar method of actuating and
regulating the motions of such shuttle boxes. The apparatus consists in a
horizontal shaft placed below the ordinary crank shaft, and receiving motion
therefrom by means of spur gearing; upon this shaft a hollow shaft slides
and revolves with it, carrying two or more tappets, such horizontal sliding
to-and-fro motion being obtained by means of a face cam upon the driving
spur wheel, and weight or spring to withdraw or bring back the shaft. This

page_text: sliding motion is also imparted to a "feeler" or finger connected with the
hollow shaft. The hooked end of this finger is in contact with the face of
a "pattern dise or face plate, in which indentations and projections forming
steps are made in number and depths to correspond with the shuttle boxes.
This pattern disc is caused to rotate slowly by suitable gearing in connection
with the horizontal shaft, and when the apparatus is in motion its action is
thus: The face cam forces forward the revolving hollow shaft carrying the
tappets, also revolving, and simultaneously the finger is forced forward until
the hooked end overhangs the irregular or stepped surface of the pattern disc;
the shaft and finger are then drawn back by the springs or weights until the
finger hooks upon one of the "steps" of the disc; this prevents the hollow
shaft receding further, and consequently the tappet thereupon as it revolves
strikes and forces back a cranked lever, to which the pattern disc may have
been designed to regulate it, and raises the opposite end of such lever, which
lifts a lever resting upon it connected to a vertical rod which moves the
shuttle box, and also brings a finger or lever upon the cranked lever into
contact with a "frog" stepped in correspondence with the pattern disc, thus
preventing the vertical rod falling, and retaining it in its position until another
shuttle is required, the levers being so arranged that in the event of any
obstruction of the shuttle a weight upon the lever may be
moving the shuttle box, so as to prevent breakage.
lifted instead of
The second part of the Invention relates to the moveable shuttle box (of
such looms) in which or three or more channels boxes are formed to contain
three or more shuttles. The improvement consists in placing a suitably
curved bracket behind the back springs of these shuttle boxes, the object being
to retain or press the spring of the shuttle boxes not in use against the shuttles,
and retain them in the boxes, the bracket being so constructed or curved as
to allow the "back spring" of the shuttle box in operation to remain unpressed
by such bracket, and also in providing two inclined or sloping springs in the
shuttle box above and below the "picker" so as to form an elastic " stopper"
for the shuttles at the end of the "race," and by means of the incline to bring
them into proper position to be struck by the "picker."
Our improvements relate, thirdly, to that portion of the loom known as the
"tappet motion," and employed when a number of healds are used, and are
applicable to all descriptions of power looms. The apparatus consists in four
or more shafts placed around one central shaft, and all connected and driven
together by means of spur gearing. Upon each of the outside shafts may be
placed one or more cams revolving with such shafts, which are to act upon
treadles in connection with the healds, the entire combination of wheels and

page_text: shafts and cams being worked by an arrangement of "pattern disc," and
appertaining apparatus, similar to that herein-before described; the object
being to weave one description or pattern of fabric by the use of one cam, so
that a number of different fabrics, (such as "twills," "satin tops," &c.,) may be
wove consecutively in one picce, the number of cams and shafts being
dependant upon the number of different fabrics, each cam being brought to
the lowest point of the circle to act upon the treddles by an intermittent
motion, regulated by the "pattern disc." Another method being to cause the
tappets as ordinarily used to work the treddles by the presence of an inter-
mediate roller, tappet, or cam, mounted upon a link hinging upon each of the
treddles, the links being in connection with a "pattern disc" by means of
rods, which when a treddle is required to be depressed will raise the link to a
vertical position, and bring the cam or roller thereupon into contact with the
rotating tappet; the pattern disc allowing the link to fall causes the absence
of the roller, and thus disconnects the tappet and treddle.
And, fourthly, our improvement relates to the heald motion of such looms
wherein only two healds are employed, and consists in attag the "healds
straps" to one-half or part of a "clutch box," which is made to slide to and
fro upon a rocking shaft, upon which the other part is secured, and whilst the
"clutch box" is out of gear or disconnected the healds remain open during
the passage of the shuttle for as many "picks" as required, the loose part of
the "box" being steadied by a pin or stud fitting therein; but when the
"box" is in gear the healds are moved by the rocking shaft at every
"pick."
Fifthly, the Invention relates to a novel method of regulating the tension of
the yarn beam, which consists in attaching a spring to the slay sword, and
connecting it to the rope or band passing round the warp beam, so that at
each "beat up" of the slay extra tension will be placed upon the yarn, as
required.
And, lastly, the Invention relates to the "peg" or "pin" of the shuttle upon
which the weft is placed. The improvement consists in dispensing with the
ordinary solid pin, having one or more springs thereupon, and substituting
four or more wires or springs secured together at each end, and widening
towards the middle, which will exert pressure upon the interior of the bobbin
more evenly and retain it more securely in the shuttle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Todd and Jacob Todd in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 17th September 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
TODD and JACOB TODD, of Heywood, in the County of Lancaster, Spinners,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said William Todd and Jacob Todd, Her special licence that we, the
said William Todd and Jacob Todd, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said William Todd and Jacob Todd, our
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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
POWER LOOMS FOR WEAVING, AND IN SHUTTLES TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon
the condition (amongst others) that we, the said William Todd and Jacob
Todd, or one of us, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals,
or under the hand and seal of one of us, 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 we, the said William Todd and Jacob Todd, do
hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :-
The first part of these improvements is solely applicable to such power
looms in which moveable shuttle boxes containing a number of shuttles are
employed, and relates to a novel and peculiar method of actuating and
regulating the motions of such shuttle boxes. The apparatus consists in a
horizontal shaft placed below the ordinary crank shaft, and receiving motion
therefrom by means of spur gearing; upon this shaft a hollow shaft slides and
revolves with it, carrying two or more tappets, such horizontal sliding to-and-
fro motion being obtained by means of a face cam upon the driven spur wheel,

page_text: and a weight or spring to withdraw or bring back the shaft; this sliding
motion is also imparted to a feeler or finger connected with the hollow
shaft; the hooked end of this finger is in contact with the face of a "pattern
disc," or face plate or "pattern chain," in which indentations and projections
forming steps are made in number and depths to correspond with the shuttle
boxes. This pattern disc is caused to rotate slowly by suitable gearing in
connection with the horizontal shaft, and when the apparatus is in motion its
action is thus:-The face cam forces forward the revolving hollow shaft carrying
the tappets, also revolving, and simultaneously the finger is forced forward
until the hooked end overhangs the irregular or stepped surface of the pattern
disc; the shaft and finger are then drawn back by the spring or weights until
the finger hooks upon one of the "steps" of the disc. This prevents the
hollow shaft receding further, and consequently the tappet thereupon as it
revolves strikes and forces back a cranked lever a certain distance, to which the
pattern disc or chain may have been designed to regulate it, and raises the
opposite end of such lever, which lifts a lever resting upon it connected to a
vertical rod, which moves the shuttle box and also brings a finger or lever
upon the cranked lever into contact with a "frog" stepped in correspondence
with the pattern disc, thus preventing the vertical rod falling, and retaining it
in its position until another shuttle is required, the lever being so arranged
that in the event of any obstruction of the shuttle, a weight upon the lever
may be lifted instead of moving the shuttle box, so as to prevent breakage; or,
instead of the hollow shaft and stepped "frog," a simpler arrangement may be
employed, as shewn in the Drawings and hereafter described.
The second part of the Invention relates to the moveable shuttle box (of
such looms), in which three or more channels or. boxes are formed to contain
three or more shuttles. The improvement consists in placing suitably
curved bracket behind the back springs of these shuttle boxes; the object
being to retain or press the spring of the shuttle boxes not in use against the
shuttles and retain them in the boxes, the bracket being so constructed or
curved as to allow the "back spring" of the shuttle box in operation to
remain unpressed by such bracket, or free from the pressure. of the same; and
also in providing two inclined or sloping springs in the shuttle box above and
below the "picker," so as to form an elastic "stopper" for the shuttles at the
end of the "race," and by means of the incline to bring them into proper
position to be struck by the "picker," a simpler substitute for such springs
being hereafter described.
Our improvements relate, thirdly, to that portion of the loom known as the
"tappet motion." and employed when a number of healds are used. and are.

page_text: applicable to all descriptions of power looms; the apparatus consists in two
or more shafts placed around one central shaft, and all connected and driven
together by means of spur gearing; upon each of the outside shafts may be
placed one or more cams revolving with such shafts, which are to act upon
treadles in connection with the healds, the entire combination of wheels and
shafts and cams being worked by an arrangement of "pattern disc" or
"pattern chain," and appertaining apparatus similar to that herein-before de-
scribed; the object being to weave one description or pattern of fabric by the
use of one cam, so that a number of different fabrics (such as twills," satin
tops, &c.,) may be woven consecutively in one piece, the number of cams and
shafts being dependant upon the number of different fabrics, each cam being
brought to the lowest point of the circle to act upon the treadles by an
intermittent motion, regulated by the "pattern disc." Another method being
to cause the tappets as ordinarily used to work the treddles by the presence of
an intermediate roller, tappet, or cam, mounted upon a link hinging upon
each of the treddles, the links being in connection with a "pattern dise" by
means of rods which, when a treddle is required to be depressed, will raise tho
link to a vertical position and bring the cam or roller thereupon into contact
with the rotating tappet; the pattern disc allowing the link to fall, causes the
absence of the roller, and thus disconnects the tappet and treddle.
And, fourthly, our improvement relates to the heald motion of such looms
wherein only two healds are employed, and consists in attaching the "heald
straps" to one half or part of a "clutch box," which is made to slide to and
fro upon a rocking shaft upon which the other part is secured, and whilst the
"clutch box" is out of gear or disconnected, the healds remain open during
the passage of the shuttle for as many "picks" as required, the loose part of
the "box" being steadied by a pin or stud fitting therein; but when the
"box" is in gear the healds are moved by the rocking shaft at every "pick."
Fifthly, the Invention relates to a novel method of regulating the tension of
the yarn beam, which consists in attaching a spring to the slaysword and
connecting it to the rope or band passing round the warp beam, so that at
each "beat up" of the slay extra tension will be placed upon the yarn as
required.
And, lastly, the Invention relates to the "peg or pin" of the shuttle
upon which the weft is placed; the improvement consists in dispensing with
the ordinary solid "pin, having one or more springs thereupon, and substi-
tuting four or more wires or springs secured together at each end and
widening towards the middle, which will exert pressure upon the interior of
the bobbin or cap more evenly and retain it more securely in the shuttle.

page_text: In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail, we have hereunto attached two Sheets of Drawings made upon a scale
of about three inches to a foot, and having similar letters of reference marked
upon corresponding parts of the apparatus throughout all the Figures.
In Sheet 1, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a power loom having the improve-
ments attached, shewing particularly the "pattern elastic band" or chain,
with its division wheel, and also the arrangement of levers for raising and
lowering the shuttle boxes. Figure 2 is a plan view of that portion of the
loom to which the first part of these present improvements apply, shewing a
slight alteration and improvement in the mechanism for working the "finger,"
and also shews the employment of hollow sliding tappets, instead of a hollow
shaft, carrying the tappets, as before mentioned. Figure 3 is a detached view
of the mechanism for raising and lowering the "boxes," shewing the applica-
tion of the double-jointed levers and springs as used in connection with the
shuttle boxes, for the purpose of yielding elastically to any strain caused by an
impediment in the rising of the "boxes." Figure 4 is a front view of a shuttle
box, shewing the spring or band for retaining the shuttle in the boxes when
unemployed. Figure 4* is a detached view of the curved bracket for retaining
the shuttles in the boxes; Figure 5 is an extended view of the pattern band or
chain, composed of a series of metallic ribs or bars of the lengths required, and
connected elastically by means of a band of india-rubber passing through a
slot in each, near its centre; Figure 5* is a side view of a pattern disc or face
plate, which may be employed in a similar manner to the "chain;" Figure 6
is a side view of one of the ribs or bars in gear with the driving star wheel,
shewing the position of the slot and india-rubber band, and the V groove for
passing the band through when the pattern is required to be altered; Figure 7
is a detached view of the shuttle pin, formed of three or more wires.
In Sheet 1, Figures 1 and 2, a, a, is the framing of the loom; and b, the
crank shaft, which imparts motion through the spur gearing c, c, to the cams
d, d, and the division wheel e, which moves the "pattern band" A one bar or rib
at every backward and forward movement of the shuttle, or if preferred a
"pattern disc" may be employed, as shewn in Figure 5*, having irregular inden-
tations, in a similar manner to the chain or band; the spring f retains the
finger g upon the ends or indented surface of the chain or band, and according
to the depth of such indentations the cams d, d, are caused to strike the bowls
upon the double-jointed levers h, h, and by means of the link i to lift the
lever k, which is held securely in its proper position by the notches in the
cranked lever 1, and by such motion is caused to lift or lower the next shuttle

page_text: box to the required position, the link i being provided with a weight to
counterbalance the weight of the shuttle boxes, and remove their weight
from the mechanism employed to actuate them, as seen more clearly in
the detached Figure 3.
In Figure 4, m, m, m, are the shuttle boxes; and n, n, are the thin ribs or
springs which pass through the roofs of the first and second boxes, leaving the
third or lowest box open, and the shuttle unconfined, so that all the shuttles
unemployed will be retained in the boxes, the one in use only being free to
pass from box to box, and as the boxes rise or fall the shuttle therein is
brought to the open space between the two springs, and opposite the shed.
Figure 4 shews the formation of the curved bracket behind the shuttle boxes
for retaining the shuttles in the boxes by pressing the back springs n', n', of
the shuttles not in use, the curve allowing the one in use to be free from
pressure.
In Figures 5 and 6, 0, 0, 0, 0, are the ribs or bars of metal, of which the endless
elastic band or pattern chain is composed; the ribs are shewn the real size,
and may be of any length to form the pattern required; the band is driven
by the star wheel p at intervals, regulated by the revolution of the division
wheel e; the star wheel is turned by a stud or pin, and is kept in its position
by spring or weight 2, and the stud or pin is pressed to the wheel by the said
spring, so that they can be readily disconnected by the handle 7', when the
pattern is required to be set at any particular part, and may be brought into
gear again by the cranked lever y and spring z; when the ribs are to be
removed the india-rubber is stretched until opposite the aperture in the rib,
when it may be slipped off the band. Figure 7 is a detached view of the shuttle
"pin," which is composed of three or more wires x, x, x, instead of the solid
pin, as hitherto employed.
In Sheet 2, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a number of tappet shafts and
tappets arranged around one central shaft, and employed in "fancy" weaving,
when a number of healds are used; and Figure 2 is a side elevation, shewn in
section, illustrating the arrangement of the cams or tappets around the central
shaft, and also the action of the tappets upon the treadles; Figure 3 is a side
view of the same, shewing the gearing for bringing the tappets into action at
the required intervals; Figure 4 is a side view of the tappets and treddles, in
which it will be seen that the intermediate tappets or rollers hinge upon the
treadles, and may be raised or lowered by means of rods; Figure 5 is a front.
elevation of the apparatus used when only four healds are employed, for the
purpose of weaving twills; and Figure 6 is an end view of the same; Figure 7 is a,

page_text: detached view of the cam for actuating the aforesaid apparatus by self-acting
means; Figure 8 is a side view of the apparatus for regulating the tension of the
warp beam; and Figure 9 is a front elevation of the apparatus used for
actuating the healds when only two healds are employed.
In Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 2, a is the central or ordinary tappet shaft,
around which are arranged the extra shafts b, b, b, b, which are each provided
with any required number of tappets, which are driven and brought in gear as
follows:-The tappet shafts pass through two division cams or wheels c, c, and
are each supplied with a pinion gearing into the loose pinion on the shaft a,
which is driven by intermediate gearing from the crank shaft, so that the
shafts b, b, b, rotate independently of the shaft a, when another set of cams is
required to be brought into action, the cam d lifts the lever e, and throws the
pinion e¹ into gear with the wheel f, secured upon the shaft a, and allowing
the latch g to release the treadle h, which causes a bar ¹ to fall upon and hold
the heald treadles, whilst the division wheel c and pinion f turn the shafts one
quarter of a circle round the shaft a, and thereby to bring the next set of cams
into operation; after which has taken place the springs i, 2, bring the apparatus
to its former position.
In Figure 4, is the treadle, and 1, 1, the tappets, which are situated directly
over the hinging centre of the links m, m, which support the intermediate
bowls or rollers n, n. The links are connected by rods to the pattern band or
chain, so that the bowls may be brought into contact with, or disconnected
from, the tappets, according to the design upon the pattern chain.
In Figures 5 and 6, o is the tappet shaft upon which the tappets p, p, slide
in such a manner as either to work upon the treadles p¹, p¹, separately and
as four distinct tappets, or by being locked together (as a clutch box) to act
in connection, or as two, so as to weave a twill when the tappets are discon-
nected, and plain when in contact. The motion for regulating the action of
these tappets is governed by the pattern chain, which at certain intervals
causes one of the levers employed to lift the shuttle boxes to impart motion
to the bar q, which will cause the rods r,r, which carry the forks 8, s, to
slide, and thus connect or disconnect the tappets as required; or a similar
motion may be obtained by self-acting means by placing the cam t, Figure 7,
upon the end of the tappet shaft o, and allowing it to work or act upon the
ends of the rods r, r.
In Figure 8 a spring u is connected from the slay-sword v to a strap passing
around the warp-beam w, so that at each "beat up" of the slay a pull or strain
will be exerted upon the warp, whereby the tension of the yarn will be regulated

page_text: as required. In such looms, wherein only two healds are employed, as shew
in Figure 9, a' is the rocking shaft upon which the half of the clutch box b
slides, the other half 6 being secured upon the shaft. c, c, are the heald straps
attached to the sliding portion of the clutch box upon the bracket. d is a
stud, fitting into the "clutch box," so that when the sliding portion of the
box is out of gear it becomes retained by the stud to allow of any number of
wefts or threads to be thrown, the shed remaining open for such purpose, and
when the clutch box is in gear the healds are actuated regularly by means of
the rocking shaft.
Having now described the nature and object of our said Invention, together
with the method of performing the same, we wish it to be distinctly under-
stood that we claim,-
66
First; the novel and peculiar construction, arrangement, and application of
the several parts or portions of the mechanism for actuating or working the
shuttle boxes as above described, that is, the pattern band or chain, or the
face plate or disc substituted therefor, and its connected apparatus as exhibited
in Sheet of the Drawings, in Figures 1, 2, and 3, and also the applica-
tion, employment, or use of this apparatus for the purpose of regulating the
'shedding," as described and exhibited in the Drawings in Sheet 2 in the
several Figures, with the exception of Figures 7 and 8. We also claim the
particular construction of the said pattern band or chain, or face plate, or disc,
as herein-before described and exhibited in Sheet 1 of the Drawings in
Figures 1, 2, 5, and 6; also the use of the double jointed levers h, h, and
springs, as described and shewn in Sheet 1 of the Drawings, in Figures 1, 2,
and 3, and further the particular arrangement whereby the "star wheel" e, e, is
kept in gear by the bell crank lever y and spring z, as described and shewn in
Sheet 1 of the Drawings in Figure 1.
Secondly, we claim the employment or use of the curved bracket placed
behind the back springs of the shuttle boxes, as herein-before described and
shewn in Sheet 1 of the Drawings in Figure 4*, and also the employment or
use of the other spring or springs n, n, in the shuttle boxes for the purpose of
forming an elastic stopper, as described, and also shewn in Sheet 1 of the
Drawings in Figure 4.
Thirdly, we claim the novel method of actuating the "tappets" and the par-
ticular arrangement and construction of the mechanism or apparatus con-
stituting the "tappet" motion, as described and shewn in the Drawings in
Sheet 2, in all the several Figures with the exception of Fig. 8.;
Fourthly, we claim in respect to looms wherein only two healds are

page_text: employed, the general arrangement of the apparatus as described and shewn
in Sheet 2 of the Drawings in Fig. 9, but particularly the use of the "clutch
box" upon the "rocking shaft."
Fifthly, we claim the novel method of regulating the tension of the yarn
beam, as described and exhibited in the Drawings in Sheet 2, Fig. 8.
And, lastly, as to the shuttles to be employed in power looms, we claim pro-
viding or furnishing the shuttle with three, four, or more wires or springs to
exert the required pressure upon the interior of the bobbin or cop in place of
the ordinary solid "peg" or "pin," as before described and shewn in the
Drawings in Sheet 1 in Fig. 7.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jacob Todd, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
JACOB TODD. (L.S.)