An Improved Means and Method of Automatically Regulating the Let-off and Tension of Warps in Looms.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd June, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 24th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 22nd Jan., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Means and Method of Automatically Regulating the
Let-off and Tension of Warps in Looms.
RICHARD WILBY, Exchange Buildings, Marsh, Huddersfield, Machine Maker, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
The object of this invention is to deliver the warp yarn from the warp beams of
looms automatically, and with the same amount of tension on the warp threads at all
times as was judiciously applied thereto at the commencement of the work.
My invention for this purpose consists.
1st. Of an improved ratchet mechanism for operating the warp beam, which ratchet
mechanism I provide with a new means and method of controlling its pawl by the
varying position of the oscillating back bearer of the loom.
2nd. Of a new means and method of imparting spring force to the oscillating back
bearer of the loom, which I use for the purpose of giving approximately the same
amount of tension to the warp threads in each and every position of the back bearer's
arc of oscillation.
3rd. Of new means and method of locking the oscillating back bearer, and also of
giving additional spring force to the back bearer during each instant that the reed is
driving in the weft.
.
My improved ratchet mechanism for operating the warp beam, consists of a ratchet
wheel, and a rocking frame, on which rocking frame are mounted a pawl; and a pawl
operator. The rocking frame is built up of two parallel arms about three inches
apart, which are joined together integrally by a cross piece. The arms are bored at
their centres of oscillation so as to slide on a worm shaft, and be capable of oscillating
thereon, the worm on this shaft gearing with a worm wheel fixed on the end of the
warp beam. To give oscillatory motion to the rocking frame, one of its arms is
provided with one or more cylindrical lugs projecting from its side, and integral
therewith, on one of which lugs is pivoted a connecting rod that hangs downwards.
The lower end of this connecting rod is coupled by knuckle joint to the arm of a
bracket, which bracket is securely fixed by its opposite end to the slay sword near to
the level of the sword's axis of motion, or when the ratchet mechanism has to be
fixed outside the loom frame; in such case the bracket may be keyed on to the
projecting end of the sword's axis. The backward and forward motion of the sword
when the loom is in action, gives to the free end of this bracket an up and down
motion, which is communicated by the said connecting rod to the frame, causing the
fraine to oscillate on the worm shaft. On said shaft and filling the space between
the two integral arms of this rocking frame, is a ratchet wheel, which is fixed to the
shaft by a couple of setscrews in its boss. Each arm of the rocking frame is provided
on its upper surface with an upright integral lug, one of which is in the same plane as
the arm on which it stands, and this lug is provided with a stud, (or a cylindrical
lug integral with the former lug), on which stud a pawl is mounted, capable of
engaging with the teeth of the above ratchet wheel. The lug on the other arm of
the rocking frame is at right angles thereto, and is bored to receive a long stud on
which is mounted my specially devised pawl operator, so as to be capable of oscillating
thereon, through a small are of a circle, at right angles to the motion of the frame

page_text: and its mountings. This pawl operator is a modified form of L shaped or bell crank
lever, having an axis the length of which exceeds the length of either of its arms,
and being mounted on the rocking frame as described, it oscillates bodily with the
frame and its mounted pawl. Fixed in the end of the horizontal arm of this paw!
operator, is a short steel peg, which forms a continuation of the arm, and is made to
project into a hole bored to receive it in that side of the pawl presented to the pawl
operator, and the centre of this hole is on a level with the centre of the stud on
which the pawl-works.
=
The other arm of the pawl operator is vertical, and is at the opposite end of
its long axis, and also on the opposite side of same, and the centre line of this
arm is purposely designed to be vertically over the centre line of the worm shaft on
which the frame and ratchet wheel are mounted. A half circular recess is cut out
from the central portion of the lower end of this arm, so that the side portions may
extend down to a level with the centre of the shaft, and yet clear the said shaft, so as
not to interfere with the motion of the lever on its axis. From the above description,
it will be seen that a slight pressure applied to this arm of the pawl operator at a
point just above the surface of the shaft, and in the direction of the shafts length,
will cause the steel peg in its other arm to lift the pawl clear of the teeth of the
ratchet wheel, and so cause the oscillating ratchet mechanism to be inoperative, and
that when the said pressure is released, the pawl by its own gravity will re-engage with
the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and operate the warp beam to deliver warp. My device
for coupling or connecting the pawl operator with the oscillating back bearer of the
loom, so as to operate the pawl, and thereby control the delivery of the warp by the
varying position of back bearer, consists of a small tension spring, a lever of the first
order, and a metal rod long enough to extend from the back bearer to the ratchet
mechanism. (This lever, and this rod, I shall hereafter refer to as the regulating
lever, and regulating rod, respectively.)
The regulating lever is pivoted on a stud, which is fixed in one of the back bearer
bearing brackets, just in front of the back bearer, the arms of the lever being nearly
vertical. Near the end of the upper arms of the lever is affixed a setscrew and
lock nut, by the regulation of which the back bearer can be made to come in contact
with the lever at any part of its are of oscillation. To the end of the lower armn the
The
regulating rod is coupled, so as to allow for the radial motion of the arm.
opposite end of the regulating rod abuts against the lower end of the vertical arm of
the pawl operator, at a point just above the surface of the shaft, and over its centre,
and is guided by means of a small piece of flat metal, which is fixed to the rod near to
its end by setscrew, and which metal is bored just below its junction with the rod, so
as to be capable of sliding lengthwise on the shaft, in close proximity to the arm of the
pawl operator, or the rod may be guided in its motion by passing through a hole in
an ordinary guide bracket fixed to the loom frame. The small tension spring is
connected to the lower arm of the regulating lever, so that the pull of the spring will
cause the lower end of the regulating rod to press against the vertical arm of the
pawl operator with just sufficient force as will cause said pawl operator to lift the pawl
clear of the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and keep it lifted, and the position of the
regulating lever in relation to the back bearer is purposely made to be such, that
whenever the warp pulls the back bearer a certain predetermined distance forwards
in its are of oscillation, the back bearer coines in contact with the upper arm of the
regulating lever, causing the lower arm of same to pull the regulating rod, so that
the lower end of the rod leaves the arm of the pawl operator, thus permitting the pawl
by its own gravity to fall into gear with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and operate
the shaft during that pick of the loom, so as to deliver warp.
By having that face of the pawl operator arm, against which the end of the
regulating rod presses, inclined horizontally at an angle of about one in seven, so as
to recede from the rod in the forward stroke, the pawl of the ratchet inechanism by
this device is caused to fall into gear at the latter part of its stroke when a full warp
beam is in the loom, and this causes the ratchet mechanism to turn only one tooth
per stroke at such times, instead of turning the full length of the stroke, and further

page_text: the said device causes the pawl to fall into gear earlier, and earlier in the stroke
as the diameter of the roll of warp yarn on the warp beam lessens during the
weaving.
The second part of my invention is the spring lever device, which I employ to cause
the spring operating on the back bearer of the loom, to give approximately the same
amount of tension to the warp threads in each, and every position of the back bearer's
arc of oscillation, and the hack bearer I prefer to use in connection with this spring
lever device, is of that kind which oscillates on its lower edge as axis, and which is
designed for the warp threads to enter upon it along the line which corresponds with
its centre line of oscillation.
Each end of the back bearer for a length of a few inches, I make in the shape of
thick vertical plates, in order to make room for the regulating lever already
described, and the spring arms to be presently set forth..
The spring lever device is as follows. In the metal of the back bearer, at points
five to seven inches from each end, I fix a strong axial stud, at right angles to the
resultant of the two sets of forces which the warp threads exert on back bearer, and
with the studs' centre line produced passing through the oscillating centre line of the
back bearer. On each of these studs is pivoted a spring lever, bored at one end to fit
the stud. The other end of the lever is about four inches broad, and is provided near
one edge with a strong lug about an inch long projecting from the end. Near the
other edge, and close to the end, is a grooved cylindrical lug cast on the upper face
of the lever. To this lug of each spring lever a stout cord is attached, which cords
are connected with the two ends of a strong tension spring, the cords and spring
extending from lever, to lever across the loom underneath the warp threads, just in
front of the back bearer, and parallel with it. On each of the bearing brackets which
carry the oscillating back bearer, is cast a lug projecting horizontally, the position of
these two lugs being in a line with the centres of the above levers when the back
bearer is in mid-travel, and against these fixed lugs or against a small steel ball free
to roll in a short groove in each of these fixed lugs rest the lugs projecting from the
spring lever ends. On the upper face of one of the spring levers, two lugs are cast,
which lugs are bored to take a screw threaded spindle, on which spindle a nut is
provided with a grooved projection, over which a loop of the spring cord is made to
pass, the end of the cord being fixed to the lever. The screw threaded spindle is
provided with a square on the end, or with a handle, by the turning of which in the
direction to lengthen the loop, tightens the spring, the force of which pulling on each
of the levers, causes the lugs projecting from the ends of the levers to press against
the fixed lugs, the reacting force of which pressure comes on the fulcra of the two
spring levers, forcing the back bearer backwards, in opposition to the tension of the
warp. The points of attachment of the sprin gcords to the lever arms as stated before, is
at the end of the spring arms furthest from their fulcra, so that the angle formed by
the spring cord and that radius of the lever which passes through the point of attachment
of spring cord to lever is acute, being only about 35 degrees instead of the usual
900 degrees of arc, which device causes the leverage of the spring on the arms to increase
as their fulcra travel backwards with the back bearer, thereby causing the spring to gain
in leverage, what it loses in tension, and vice versa. A lug is cast on the underside of
of each spring lever, which lug limits the motion of the lever by coming against the
metal of the back bearer. This provision allows the back bearer to be taken out,
and replaced again when putting a full warp beam in the loom, without in any way
disturbing the spring arrangement, permitting the loom to start with the full beam
(when the work is the same as before) without the tension of the warp being to
readjust, and regulate.
A metal
My device for locking the back bearer of the loom consists as follows.
rod of convenient length, and about three-fourths of an inch square section, is
connected by one end to the back bearer of the loom in such a way, as to be capable
of oscillating lengthwise with the tangential motion of the back bearer, and of freely
turning a little on its axis. An effective way of making such a connection, is to grind
the end of the rod to a blunt conical point, and provide a conical hole in the metal
of the back bearer to receive it. The rod near its other end slides through a square

page_text: hole, provided in a bracket fixed to the loom frame. Mounted on the square rod on
either side of this fixed bracket, are two branches of a locking lever, which consists
of two pieces of metal, each provided with a square hole to loosely fit the rod. These
two pieces are integrally joined by a crosspiece, and the integral mass is provided
with a short horizontal arm in which is a set screw and lock nut. On the fixed
bracket is a stud integral, or otherwise, and on this stud works a two armned lever.
The long arm of this lever is connected to the slay sword by the telescopic spring
rod which is hereinafter described, and the short arm is arranged to come against the
setscrew in the short arm of the locking lever just at the instant of the beat up,
causing the locking lever to twist the square rod, and lock it firmly in the fixed bracket,
while the weft is being driven home, the rod at all other times being free to slide
through both locking lever, and fixed bracket. The amount of locking force imparted
to the square rod can be regulated, by regulating the tension of the spring on the
telescopic rod. To keep the pointed end of the square rod in constant contact with
the back bearer, a spring is under compression on the rod between the locking lever,
and a peg which projects through the rod near its pointed end.
One
My device for giving additional spring force to the swings at the instant of each
beat up of the weft, is to connect each swing to the corresponding slay sword by a
compound rod, which is connected to the swing arm by one end, the opposite end
sliding in the bottom of a slot provided in a bracket, bolted to the slay sword.
portion of the compound rod is capable of sliding about five inches into the tubular
end of the other portion, and around the telescopic joint is a tension spring, with
its respective ends coupled to each portion of the rod, the spring being under the
required tension when the rod is at its shortest length. On the slay sword end
of the rod is a shoulder, or nut, and the rod is of such a length, that the bracket
comes against the shoulder just before the reed reaches the fell of the cloth, which
lengthens the rod, and causes the additional force of this spring to be on each swing,
while the weft is being beaten in. To give additional spring force at the instant
of each beat up to back bearers which oscillate on their lower edge as axis, I pivot a
lever of the first order on the back bearer bearing bracket, as close in front of back
bearer as possible. An adjustable set screw in the upper arm of this lever comes in
contact with the vertical plate of the back bearer, the lower arm is connected by the
above telescopic spring rod to the slay sword, each end of the rod being provided
with an eye, which work on studs, so as to allow for the radial motion of the sword,
and lever.
The telescopic spring rod is of such a length, that the motion of the sword causes
the setscrew in the upper arm of the lever to come against the back bearer at the
instant of the beat up of the weft, thereby lengthening the rod, and causing the
additional force of its spring to operate on the back bearer against the tension of
the warp, during each interval of time that the weft is being driven home.
Dated this 3rd day of June 1897.
An Improved Means and Method of Automatically Regulating the
Let-off and Tension of Warps in Looms.
RICHARD WILBY, Exchange Buildings, Marsh, Huddersfield, Machine Maker, 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 object of this invention is to deliver the warp yarn from the warp beams of

page_text: loons automatically, and with the same amount of tension on the warp threads at all
times as was judiciously applied thereto at the commencement of the work, and my
aim in this invention has been to procure a letting off motion to accomplish the
above object with so few parts in its mechanism, that its cost of manufacture may
not debar its use on the Lancashire quick running cotton looms, on which the
advantage of a constant tension on the warp threads is very desireable.
lu order that my invention for the above object may be perfectly understood by
those skilled in the art to which it relates, I have hereto annexed a number of draw-
ings, which fully illustrate my warp letting-off motion, and the various mechanical
parts connected with it. Fig. is a plan view of the ratchet mechanism, used for
paying off the warp from the beam, which ratchet mechanism is fitted up with my
novel and simple arrangement for controlling, and working the pawl into, and out of
gear with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a loom, with
the warp letting-off motion applied thereto, the warp motion being fixed on the
outside of the loom frame; which drawing shows how my pawl mechanism is coupled,
and connected with the vibrating. back bearer of the loom, and also shows how a
slight elastic pressure permanently applied to said pawl mechanism by a spring, is
temporary withdrawn each time, or pick of the loom that the back bearer reaches a
certain predetermined distance forward in its are of oscillation, which withdrawal
allows the pawl of the ratchet mechanism to gear with its ratchet wheel during each
such pick of the loom, and deliver warp from the beam. Figs. 3 & 4 contain a side,
and end elevation, and also an inverted plan of my pawl operator, which forms the
chief novel feature of the ratchet mechanism.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of my spring lever, and spring, which I employ on the
oscillating back bearer, the lever being pivoted to the back bearer so that its axis
oscillates with it; the portion of the back bearer shown in the drawing being
purposely inclined backwards on its axis 40 degrees of are from the middle position
it occupies when working on the loom, in order to show the spring lever in the
horizontal position, so as to get a full plan view.
Fig. 6 is an end elevation of my spring lever, showing how said lever is pivoted to
the back bearer; while Figs. 8 & 9 & 10 are views of supplemental parts which I use
in connection with the back-bearer for looms weaving heavy fabrics.
I will describe my warp letting-off motion, and afterwards explain its modus
operandi when working on the loom.
Referring to Figs. 1, & 2 in the drawings, it will be seen that my improved ratchet
mechanism for operating the warp beam, consists of a ratchet wheel 1 and a rocking
frame 2 on which rocking frame are mounted a pawl 3 and a pawl operator 4. The
rocking frame is built up of two parallel arms 22 about two and a half inches apart,
which are joined together integrally by a crosspiece 21 Figs. 1, & 2. The arins 22
Fig. 1, are bored so as to slide on the worm shaft 5 and be capable of oscillating
thereou, the worm 6 Fig. 2 on the end of this shaft 5 gearing with a worm wheel 7
fixed in one of the usual ways on to the end of the warp beam. To give oscillatory
motion to the rocking frame 2 when the loom is in action, one of its arms is provided
with one, or more cylindrical lugs 31 Fig. 1 projecting from its side, and integral
therewith, on one of which lugs is pivoted a connecting rod 8 Fig. 2. The lower end
of this connecting rod 8 is coupled to the arm of a bracket 9 by a pin, or an integral
cylindrical lug cast on the arm. The bracket 9 is bolted to the slay sword 91 the
bracket being cranked downwards as shown, so as to get the free end on a level with
the sword's axis of motion 911:
When the ratchet mechanism is fixed on the outside of the loom frame, and the
ratchet wheel turns towards the loom frame on its top side, then a substitute for the
bracket 9 may be keyed on to the projecting end of the sword's axis 911. The back-
ward, and forward motion of the sword when the loom is in action, gives to the free
end of the bracket 9 an up, and down motion, which is communicated by the
connecting rod 8, to the frame 2. causing said frame to oscillate on the worm shaft 5.
On said shaft, and filling the space between the two integral arms 22 Fig. 1, of this

page_text: rocking frame, is a ratchet wheel which is provided with a boss 1' the ratchet wheel
being fixed to the shaft 5 by the two setscrews shown in Fig. 1. Each arm 2 of the
rocking frame Fig. 1, is provided on its upper surface with an upright integral lug,
the lug 3 being provided with a stud, or a cylindrical lug 31 integral with the former
lug 3 as shown; on which stud, or round lug the pawl 3 is mounted, so as to be
capable of engaging with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 1. The lug 2 on the other
arin of the rocking frame, is at right angles to the arm as shown in Figs. 1, & 2,
and this lug is bored to receive the long stud 41 Fig. 1, on which stud is mounted
my specially devised pawl operator 4 Figs. 1 & 4 so that it will be capable of
oscillating through a small arc of a circle, at right angles to the motion of the rock-
ing frame 2. This pawl operator 4 is a modified form of L shaped, or bell
crank lever, as will be seen in its end elevation in Fig. 4. It is constructed so as
to have an axis the length of which exceeds the length of either of its arms, as
shown in Fig. 1, and being mounted on the rocking frame as described, and
as shown in Fig. 1, it oscillates bodily with the frame 2 and its mounted pawl 3
while in addition to this motion which is common to the pawl 3, the pawl
operator 4 is perfectly free to oscillate a limited amount on its own axial stud 4111.
Fixed in the end of the horizontal arm 4" of this pawl operator, is a short steel peg 4°
Figs. 1 & 2, which peg forms a continuation of the arm, and is made to project into
a hole bored to recieve it in the pawl 3 as shown in Fig. 1, the centre of this hole
being purposely made to be on a level with the centre of the stud 3' on which the
pawl 3 works when the pawl frame 2 is in mid-travel. The other arm 4' of the pawl
operator is vertical, and is about one and a quarter inches broad, and its longitudinal
centre line as seen in Figs. 1 & 4, is purposely designed to be vertically over the
centre line of the worm shaft 5, on which the rocking frame 2 and ratchet wheel 1
are mounted. A half circular recess is cut out from the central portion of the lower
end of this arm, as seen in Fig. 4, so that the side portions of the arm 4¹ may extend
down to a level with the centre of the shaft 5 and yet clear the said shaft so as not
to interfere with the motion of the pawl operator 4 on its stud 4111 Fig. 1.
From the above description, and the drawings of this ratchet mechanism, in
Figs. 1, 2, & 4, it will be seen that a slight pressure applied to the arm 4' of the
pawl operator 4 at a point just above the surface of the shaft 5 and in the direction
of the shaft's length towards the mechanism, will cause the steel peg 4º in its other
arm 4 to lift the pawl 3 clear of the teeth of the ratchet wheel i and so cause the
oscillating ratchet inechanism to be inoperative, and that when the said pressure is
released from the arm 4¹ the pawl 3 by its own gravity will reengage with the teeth
of the ratchet wheel 1 and operate the warp beam to deliver warp.
The oscillating back bearer that I prefer to use in connection with my ratchet
mechanism for letting-off the warp, is of that kind which oscillates on its lower edge
as axis, as seen at 10 in Figs. 2 & 6 and which is designed for the warp threads 7¹
to enter upon it along a line which corresponds or nearly so, with its centre line of
oscillation 101 Figs. 2 & 6, and I prefer to make each end of the back bearer for a
few inches in the shape of thick vertical plates 10' as shown in Figs. 2, & 6 (the
portion of the back bearer 10 10¹ shown in Figs. 5, & 6 being tilted 40 degrees of
arc backwards on its axis 1011).
The plate 10' in Fig. 5 is shown broken at 9° because for want of room the plate
is not drawn to full length.
My device for coupling, and connecting the pawl operator 4 of the ratchet
mechanism, with this oscillating back bearer 10 Fig. 2, so as to operate the pawl 3
and thereby control the delivery of the warp by the varying position of the back
bearer 10 consists of the small tension spring 11 the lever 12 and the metal rod 13
Fig. 2. (These two latter I shall hereinafter refer to as the regulating lever and
regulating rod respectively.) The regulating lever 12 is pivoted on a stud as shown
in Fig. 2, which stud is fixed in one of the back bearer bearing brackets 14 two views
of which bearing bracket 14 are shown in Fig. 11. A setscrew and lock nut 12
is fixed in the upper arm of the lever 12 by the regulation of which setscrew the

page_text: back bearer plate 10¹ can be made to commence pushing the lever 12 at any part of
the back bearer's arc of oscillation. The regulating rod 13 is coupled to the lower
arm of the lever 12 by a pin, or by a stud integral with the arm, which kind of joint
allows for the radial notion of said arin. The opposite end of the
regulating rod 13 is fixed to the live guide 15 by a
setscrew. This
live guide 15 is seen in plan in Fig. 1, and in elevation in Fig. 2, and the small
horizontal projection on this guide abuts against the vertical arm 41 of the pawl
operator 4 at a point just above the surface of the shaft 5 and over its centre, as
shown in Figs. 1, & 2. This live guide 15 is bored so as to slide on the worm
shaft 5 and it causes the rod 13 to keep its position vertically over the centre line of
the shaft 5 but allows the rod perfect freedom to move in the direction of its length.
Instead of the live guide 15 the end of the rod 13 may be made to abut against the
arın 4 of the pawl operator, the rod in this case being guide! in its motion by passing
through a guide hole in an ordinary bracket fixed to the loom frame. The
small tension spring 11 Fig. 2, is connected to the loom frame 14" and to the lower
arın of the regulating lever 12 as shown, so that the pull of the spring on.
the arin,
will cause the live guide 15 at the other end of the rod 13 to press against the
vertical arm 4 of the pawl operator with just sufficient force as will cause said pawl
operator to lift the pawl 3 clear of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 1 and keep it
lifted and the position of the regulating lever 12 and its set screw 121 in relation to
the back bearer plate 101 Fig. 2 is purposely made to be such that whenever the warp
pulls the back bearer 10 a predetermined distance, forwards in its are of oscillation
the plate 101 comes in contact with the setscrew 121 in the upper arm of the
regulating lever 12 causing the lower arm of the lever to pull the regulating
rod 13 so that the live guide 15 withdraws from the arm 4¹ of the pawl
operator thus permitting the pawl 3 by its own gravity to fall into gear with the
teeth of the ratchet wheel 1 and to operate the worm shaft 5 during that pick of
the loom so as to deliver warp.
In
My new device which I use for forcing the back bearer backwards for the purpose
of giving tension to the warp threads in an equal degree in every position of
the back bearer's are of oscillation consists of the arrangement shown in
Figs. 5 & 6 which figs. are respectively a plan and elevation of said device.
these figures and also in Fig. 2 10 is the long portion of the oscillating back hearer
or that portion over which the warp threads pass. The end portions of said back bearer
for a length of from 5 to 8 inches according to the size of the loom are made in the form
of thick vertical plates 10¹ seen in end elevation in Figs. 2 & 6 and these plate like
ends on their lower parts merge into and are integral with the long part 10 by the
joining piece 11° Figs. 5 & 6. The lower part of each of these integral plates 10' are
curved near their ends to half a circle with a radius of half the thickness of the
plate so as to serve as journals on which the back bearer oscillates in bearings 14
fixed at each end of the loom see Fig. 2. A plan and elevation of one of these
bearings 14 is shown by itself in Fig. 11. In Figs. 5 & 6 the portion of the
oscillating back bearer shown is tilted backwards on its axis 40 degrees of are from the
middle position it occupies when working on the loom for the purpose of giving a
full plan view of the lever 17 which lever is mounted on the oscillating back hearer
as follows. A strong lug 101 Figs. 5 & 6 is cast integral with and projecting from
each end of the long part 10 of the back bearer in front of the plates 10¹ as
shown in Figs. 5 & 6 the lugs being also partly integral with the plates 101 and in
each of these lugs 10 is firmly fixed. a steel stud 16 Fig. 5 whose centre lines
produced downwards pass through the oscillating centre line 10" of the back bearer
the studs 16 being vertical when the back bearer is leaned backwards 40 degrees of
A novel shaped lever 17 seen in plan in Fig. 5 and in elevation in Fig. 6 is
mounted on the back bearer by its bored boss 170 which boss takes on the stud 16
Fig. 5. Opposite the boss is a strong lug 18 provided with a set-screw and a lock-
nut 181.
A vertical lug 20 is cast on the upper surface of the lever 17 and is bored
to take the screw threaded spindle 21. 171 is another vertical lug integral with the
arc.

page_text: lever and this lug 17' is provided with a groove and is also bored so as to serve as
a step bearing for the screw threaded spindle 21 as shown. A nut 211 Fig. 7 is
provided for the spindle 21 which nut is provided with a grooved projection on its
underside as shown. A cord 19' is fixed by one end to the lever 17 by a knot on the
underside of the hole 17" the cord then passes round the groove in nut 21¹ and
around the grooved lug 17' whence it passes to the spring 19. This spring which is
shown broken off in Fig. 5 passes underneath the warp threads parallel with and
about four inches in front of the axial line 1011 of the back bearer. In the corres-
the other end of the back bearer is fixed a
ponding position near
second
lever similar to lever 17 just described (but contrary handed) and without the
tightening arrangement 20 21 21¹ and to this second lever the other end of the
spring 19 is coupled.
When the back bearer is in the loom and the spring 19 is under tension the points
of the setscrews 18¹ in each lever 17 Fig. 5 rest against the fixed projecting lugs 141
provided on the inner side of the bearing brackets 14 Fig. 11. This lug 14 in
Fig. 2 is shown dotted being on the other side of the bearing bracket 14. When the
oscillating back bearer is in the middle position of its travel the axes of the two
studs 16 Fig. 5 fixed in the back bearer near the opposite ends and the central
portions of the upper back surfaces of the two lugs 141 projecting from the bearing
brackets 14 Figs. 2 & 11 at opposite sides of the loom must all be in line. Operating
the screw threaded spindle 21 Fig. 5 in the direction to lengthen the loop 1811 of
the cord 19¹ tightens the spring 19 the force of which spring pulling on each of the
levers 17 at opposite ends of the back bearer causes the setscrews 18¹ to press against
the fixed lugs 14¹ on bearing brackets 14 Figs. 2 & 11 the reacting force of which
pressure comes on the fulcra 16 of the two spring levers 17 forcing the back bearer
backwards against the tension of the warp. As the part 171 is designed to be as far
beyond the axis 16 as is the point of pressure 18¹ this part 171 where the spring cord
enters on the lever does not oscillate in the same direction as does the lever axis 16
but is practically stationary in that direction which has the effect of causing the
distance from the centre of the lever's axis 16 to the centre line of the cord 191 to
increase as the axis 16 travels backwards with the back bearer and vice versa which
distance is at all times the measure of the leverage with which said spring 19 acts to
push the back bearer backwards. This arrangement has been designed to compensate
for the increasing leverage with which the warp threads act on the slanting back
bearer when it is moving backwards and also to compensate for the slackening of the
spring 19 Fig. 5 as said back bearer moves backwards, and vice versa, so that the
spring may give approximately the same amount of tension to the warp threads in
every position of the back bearer's arc of oscillation. A branch arm 20' of the lever 17
is arranged to come against a lug 1911 provided on the top of the back-bearer plate 10¹
as shown in Fig. 5, which arm, and lug limit the motion of the lever 17 and also that
of the back bearer 10 to a predetermined amount in the backward direction. The
movement of the back bearer in the forward direction, is limited by the back bearer
plate 101 coming against the top part of bearing bracket 14 Fig. 2. This spring and
lever arrangement by being self-contained on the oscillating back bearer allows said
back bearer to be raised, or lowered to suit the fabrics in the loom; and also allows
the back bearer to be taken out, and replaced when putting a full warp beam into the
loom without in any way disturbing said spring arrangement, permitting the loom to
start with the full beam, when the work is the same as before, without the tension
of the warp being to readjust, and regulate.
The modus operandi of this letting off motion on the loom is as follows. Vibratory
motion of the required amplitude is given to the pawl frame 2 from the slay sword 91
by means of the bracket 9 and connecting rod 8 Fig. 2; and the spring 19 Fig. 5
is tightened by the screw threaded spindle 21 sufficient to give the required tension
to the warp; also a constant gentle pressure is communicated to the arm 4¹ Fig. 2, by
means of the tension spring 11 acting through the regulating lever 12 and regulating
rod 13 sufficient to cause the pawl 3 to ride in its oscillations clear of the teeth of the

page_text: ratchet wheel 1. This is the momentary condition of things when the back bearer 10
is vibrating in an are a trifle backwards from the normal are of oscillation, in which
case the lever 12 Fig. 2, is not acted upon by the back bearer plate 10¹ and no warp is
let off, but each successive pick of the loom causes the back bearer 10 to vibrate in an
arc more, and more forwards, until the vertical plate 10¹ of the back bearer comes
against the setscrew 12' Fig. 2, and pushes the lever 12 which in turn causes the
regulating rod 13 to pull the live guide 15 away from the arın 4¹ of the pawl operator,
which act allows the pawl 3 to fall and engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 1
and to turn the shaft 5 so as to deliver warp at that pick of the loom, and this is
repeated at every pick of the loom during which the back bearer 10 vibrates in an arc
sufficiently forward to push the lever 12 as much as will allow the pawl 3 to engage
with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 1 but at every pick of the loom during which the
lever 12 is not pushed sufficiently by the back bearer to allow the pawl 3 to fall into
gear, warp is not delivered. In consequence of the face of the arm 4¹ of the pawl
operator 4 being designed to be on the slant as shown in the inverted plan in Fig. 3,
the pawl 3 falls into gear at the latter part of its stroke and turns only one tooth
should the lever 12 Fig. 2 be pushed by the back bearer 10 only slightly; while when
the back bearer 10 vibrates in an arc say an eighth of an inch more forward so as to
push the lever 12 a trifle further, the pawl 3 falls into gear at the commencement of
the stroke, and turns the ratchet wheel the full stroke of the pawl frame 2. The
effect of this is, that when the warp beam is full, the ratchet mechanism turns only
one tooth per stroke, and turns more, as the diameter of the roll of warp yarn on the
warp beam diminishes.
The new feature in my device for imparting a predetermined amount of additional
spring force to the back bearer of the loom, during each instant the weft is being
driven home, when weaving heavily wefted fabrics, consists of a telescopic rod and
spring, shown in Fig. 8. This telescopic rod is made up of two parts each having
an eye at its outer end, as shown. The part 22 is a tube, with one end closed by
the welding of the eyepiece 22¹ to it. The other part is a rod 23 which slides inside
the tube 22. Around the two parts is a spiral spring 24 one end of which spring
is fixed to the tubular portion 22 the other end of the spring being fixed to the
rod 23 with the spring 24 under a predetermined amount of tension. I use this
telescopic rod, and spring, to connect the oscillating back bearer 10 with the
reciprocating slay sword 91 Fig. 2, so that the sword will pull the back bearer 10 by
this telescopic rod, just at the instant of each beat up of the weft. The momentary
pulls communicated to the back bearer 10 by this telescopic rod, are all exactly equal
in force, being equal to the tension which is on the coils of its spring 24 for the
reason that this telescopic rod is capable of lengthening like a telescope, as soon as
the tension put upon said rod becomes equal to the tension which is on the coils of
its spring. A very satisfactory arrangement for causing this telescopic rod to impart
its spring force to the oscillating back bearer at the instant of each beat up, without
coupling the rod direct to said back-bearer, so that it shall not interfere with the
taking out of the back bearer when putting a full warp beam into the loom, is to
provide a lever with setscrew like the regulating lever 12 Fig. 2, but made stronger
and to pivot this lever on a stud fixed in the same position relative to the back
bearer plate 10¹ but on the opposite side of the bearing bracket 14 Figs. 2,) & 11
the metal of the bearing bracket 14 at this part 14° Fig. 11 being made thick
enough to carry both studs. Taking the regulating rod 13 Fig. 2 to represent the
telescopic spring rod Fig. 8, with the lower end of said rod coupled to the slay
sword 91 instead of to the ratchet mechanism as shown in Fig. 2, then the drawing of
this regulating lever 12, setscrew 12', and regulating rod 13, minus the spring 11,
gives a faithful representation of the above device for using my telescopic spring rod
for the purpose of giving extra spring force to the back bearer at the instant of each
beat up of the weft, and therefore the arrangement need not be shown by another
drawing. Should the fabrics woven be very strong, a second lever, and telescopic
spring rod may be used on the opposite side of the loom. The length of time during

page_text: which the additional spring force is made to operate on the back bearer at each beat
up, can be regulated accurately to suit requirements, by the setscrew in the lever
(corresponding to the lever 12 Fig. 2), while the amount of additional spring force
imparted to the back bearer at the beat up, can also be easily, and accurately
regulated, by tightening, or slackening the spring 24 by the tightening arrangement
shown in Fig. 8, in which drawing 231 is a screw threaded spindle which works
loose in the lug 23° and, is provided with an hexagonal head 23" by which the
spindle is turned. On the spindle is a nut 25 constructed as shown in the two
views, its two prongs 25° preventing its rotation with the spindle 23¹ when the latter
is turned. The spring 24 is attached to the nut by a lug 25¹ on said nut.
My device for locking the back bearer of the loom in the position it happens to
occupy at the commencement of each respective beat up when weaving very heavily
wefted fabrics consists as follows. A square metal bar of the required length to suit
the position on the loom frame where the locking device is to be fixed, and about
three quarters of an inch square section, is connected by one end to the back bearer
in such a way, that the bar is made to oscillate lengthwise tangentially to the
angular motion of that part of the back bearer to which the bar is connected; and
also in such a way that the bar will be free to turn a few degrees of are on its own
longitudinal axis. An effective, and cheap method of making such a connection,
and one that does not interfere with the taking out of the back bearer, is to grind
the end of the square bar to a blunt conical point, and provide a conical, or countersunk
hole about ths of an inch deep in the metal of the back bearer as shown in Figs. 9.
The bar 25 can be worked at any angle to suit that position on the loom frame where
it is convenient to fix the locking device, but care must be taken that a line passing
through the bottom of the conical hole 10° and through the oscillating centre line
of the back bearer 10", shall be at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the
bar 25. The other end of the square bar 25 slides through a square hole of working
fit, provided in a rectangular projection 26 Figs. 9, & 10, which is integral with a
bracket 26°, firmly fixed to the loom frame. Mounted on the bar 25 on either
side of this fixed projection 26 are two branches of a locking lever 27, 27, which
consist of two pieces of metal each provided with a square hole to loosely fit the
square bar. These two branches 27 are joined underneath integrally by a cross-
piece 27¹ and the integral branches are provided with a short horizontal arm 27° in
which arm is fixed a setscrew, and locknut 271, the top of which setscrew is
purposely made to be on a level with the centre line of the square bar 25.
On a
second projection 29, integral with the fixed bracket 26° is a stud 29° which stud
may be be integral with the projection 29 or it may be fixed to it. This projection 29
is provided with a square hole for the bar 25 to pass through, but it is much larger
than the section of the bar. On the stud 291 works a two armed lever 28.
long arm of this lever is connected to the slay sword of the loom by the telescopic
spring rod previously described, and shown in Fig. 8, and the short arın of the lever
is arranged to come against the top of the setscrew 27" fixed in the short arm 27°
of the locking lever 27, at the commencement of the beating in of the weft, and
press it down, causing the locking lever 27 to turn the square bar 25 on its axis and
lock it firmly in the fixed bracket 26 and in itself; the bar 25 while thus locked
acting as a fixed stop to the back bearer during each short interval that the weft is
being driven home, said locking bar 25 being free to slide through both locking
lever 27 and fixed bracket 26 as soon as the short arm of the lever 28 is by the
return of the sword lifted clear of the setscrew 2711 The amount of twisting force
imparted to the square bar 25 by the sword, through the telescopic rod, which rod
can be regulated by altering the tension of the spring 24 on the telescopic rod, which
rod is shown complete in Fig. 8; and the length of the brief period of time during which
the bar is locked at each beat up can be accurately regulated to requirements, by raising,
or lowering the setscrew 2711. To keep the pointed end of the square bar always in
contact with the back bearer plate 101 and also the locking lever 27 always in close
contact with the bracket 26, so that there will be no slack, or play to take up before
The

page_text: the bar 25 becomes operative at the beat up, a spiral spring 25¹ is put on the bar
under compression, between a peg 25 and the locking lever 27. 250 is a safety
pin, which keeps the bar in position when the back bearer is lifted out.
.
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
Firstly. In a ratchet mechanism used for letting off the warps in looms, the
combination therewith of the pawl operator 4, described, and shown in
Figs. 1, 2, 3, & 4, and mounted on the oscillating pawl frame 2 by the integral
lug 2 and stud 411 as shown in Figs. 1, & 2, so as to oscillate bodily with the pawl
frame 2, and its mounted pawl 3, and also so as to be capable of oscillating through
a limited are on its axial stud 41; this pawl operator 4 being designed with a long
axis as seen in Fig. 1, for the purpose of getting the arm 4¹ in close proximity to the
upper surface of the shaft 5 where the amplitude of the oscillations of the arın 4¹
common to the pawl frame 2 is a minimum, the arm 4 at the other end of the long
axis being connected by the steel peg 4° direct to the pawl 3 near to, and on a level
with its axial stud 31 as shown in Fig. 1; the pawl operator 4 being used for the
specific purpose of lowering, and raising the oscillating pawl 3 into, and out of gear
with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 1, substantially in the manner as herein
described, and as set forth by the above numbered drawings.
Secondly. In a warp letting off motion for looms, the combination with the
ratchet mechanism for paying off the warp, and with the rod 13 communicating with
the back bearer of the loom Fig. 2, of the live guide 15 Figs. 1, & 2 used for the
purposes of directing the motion of the rod 13 and of communicating said motion to
the pawl operator 4 substantially as herein set forth.
Thirdly. In a warp letting off motion for looms, the use in combination with the
oscillating back bearer, for the purpose of giving tension to the warp, of the spring
lever 17 Fig. 5, pivoted by the axial stud 16 to the lug 10111 integral with the metal
of the back bearer 10 in order to get the levers 17 (one near each end of the back
bearer) and also the spring 19 self contained on the oscillating back bearer, for the
useful purposes hereinbefore explained; the spring cords 191 Figure 5, being
purposely made to enter on these levers 17 at the curves 17¹, at which parts of the
levers, oscillatory motion in the same direction as that of the lever's fulcra, is
practically nil, causing the distance between the fulcra 16, and the spring cord 19¹
Fig. 5, to increase as the fulcra of the levers 17 travel backward with the back
bearer 10, and vice versa, thereby increasing the effective leverage of the spring 19
as the back bearer 10 travels backwards in its arc of oscillation, and vice versa,
substantially as, and for the specific purposes herein fully set forth.
Fourthly. In a warp letting off motion, the combination with the oscillating back
bearer of the loom, of the telescopic rod and spring, with tightening arrangement
shown complete in Fig. 8; and used in the weaving of heavily wefted fabrics for the
purpose of giving a measured, elastic, backward pull to the oscillating back bearer
at the instant of each beat up of the weft, and also used for the purpose of giving a
ineasured, elastic pull at each beat up, to the back bearer locking device, which
is shown in Fig. 9 substantially as herein set forth.
Fifthly. In a warp letting off motion for looms, the use in combination with the
oscillating back bearer, of the locking device described, and shown in Fig. 9, which
has been designed so as to geta double locking force on the square bar 25 by turning said
bar on its axis by means of the lever 27, and by utilizing the grip of the lever 27
on the bar 25, in addition to its grip in the fixed lug 26, by making one of the
arms 27 Fig. 9, to bear continuously against the fixed lug 26 by means of the
compression spring 25¹ as shown, the locking device being used for the purpose of
preventing any forward motion of the back bearer during each short interval that
the weft is being driven home, the oscillating back bearer being held by this locking
device in that position which it happens to occupy at the commencement of each
respective beat up, substantially as herein set forth, and shown.

page_text: Lastly. The general arrangement, construction, and combination of parts forming
a warp letting-off motion, such as herein described, and as set forth by the drawings
annexed.