IMPROVEMENTS IN PICKING ARMS EMPLOYED IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hutchinson and James Hollingworth, both
of Dobcross, Saddleworth, in the County of York, Machine Makers,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PICKING ARMS EMPLOYED IN
LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
-
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said John Hutchinson and
James Hollingworth at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition and Declaration, on the 23rd April 1873,
pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act,
1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
HUTCHINSON and JAMES HOLLINGWORTH, both of Dobcross, Saddleworth,
in the County of York, Machine Makers, send greeting.
WHEREAS we are in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
'PICKING ARMS' EMPLOYED IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," and have petitioned Her
Majesty to grant unto us, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn
Declaration that we are the true and first Inventors thereof.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Hutchinson and James
Hollingworth, do hereby declare that the following Complete Speci-
fication, under our hands and seals fully describes, and ascertains the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed in and by the following Statement (and accompanying
Drawings, that is to say)
'
Our Invention relates to the "picking arms" employed in imparting
motion to the shuttles in looms used in the weaving of fabrics, such for
example as woollen and cotton goods, and our said Invention has for its
object to render such picking arms resilient, that is to say, capable of 1
yielding to some extent.
The picking arms as ordinarily constructed being composed of a
comparatively rigid and unyielding material cause the pickers to strike
the shuttle with a force greatly in excess of what is actually required to
effect the traverse of the said shuttle, and there is thereby a loss of 1
power and also a rapid destruction of the picker and other parts of the
loom. When constructing the said arms in manner according with our
Invention we form each arm or the main portion of each arm wholly or
partially of a metallic spiral coil or of metallic spiral coils.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood we will
now refer to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, wherein Fig. 1
represents a "picking arm" drawn about three quarters of the full size.
The said arm is in this example composed of a spiral coil of round wire
formed in a similar manner to ordinary spiral springs. The said arm is
represented as fitted with iron ends a and b for attachment to the
picking shaft, and for connection with the picker, but as the methods of
attachment and connection do not form any material part of our
Invention they may be varied as desired or found to be most suitable
in each case. We prefer to employ steel wire in the formation of the
said arm, but wire of any other metal which may be found to be suitable
may be employed.
We may combine other substances or materials with the spiral coil, as
for example we may insert a cone or rod of wood or flexible material
within the coil, as represented in Fig. 2, wherein c is a cone inserted
within a coil of wire.
We do not wish to confine ourselves to the use of a single coil of wire
in each arm as a second coil may be formed upon or placed over the first

page_text: coil if found to be desirable, nor do we confine ourselves to the.
employment of round wire as wire of a square or rectangular or other
section or a strip or riband of metal may be employed in lieu of the said
round wire.
Fig. 3 illustrates the formation of an arm from flattened wire or from
a riband of metal. In such a case it would or might be advantageous
to employ a riband decreasing in breadth or in strength from one end
towards the other, so as to cause the completed arm to be more flexible
at one end than at the other end. Also in any case the coil may be
made of a taper form if found or considered to be desirable.
We have found that by the employment of picking arms constructed
as herein aforesaid, there is less wear and tear of the pickers and other
parts, and that less power is required for picking in consequence of the
shuttle being put in motion more gradually, and that other important
advantages are derived.
Having now fully described and indicated the nature of our said
Invention and means for carrying the same into practical effect, we
would in conclusion have it to be understood that we claim the employ-
ment of picking arms composed wholly or partially of coiled metal
substantially as and for the purposes herein-before set forth and
indicated.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Hutchinson and James
Hollingworth. have hereunto. set 011
hands and coola thin