IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Ferguson, of Paisley, in the County of
Renfrew. North Britain. Galvanist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND CONNECTED WITH LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Ferguson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th
May 1860.
I, JAMES FERGUSON. of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew. North Britain,
Galvanist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMIROVE-
MENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH LOOMS FOR WEAVING," to be as follows, that is
to say:--
This Invention relates to improved self-acting appliances for effecting the
stoppage of the loom on the breakage of a warp thread. modifications thereof
being also applicable to warping machines or apparatus for preparing warps for
the loom, and to certain improvements in jacquard apparatus for looms.
The stoppage of the loom is effected by the obstructing of a catch or other
detail capable of releasing the usual spring-stopping lever or its equivalent.
This catch or detail is continually moved by the action of the loom across the
obstructing pieces, and encounters any one of these that may happen to be
projected in consequence of the breakage of the respective warp thread.
The obstructing pieces consist, according to one modification, of small
weights or links strung on a horizontal bar. and attached to the lower ends of
threads or fails. which are formed with eyes, as in heddles, for the passage
through of the warp threads, and which are hung from bars or frames above
the warps, their weighted ends being of course below. For plain weaving two
Price S1

page_text: warp threads are drawn through each eye. and the tail being arranged as close
as possible to the heddles, each shedding action in raising one-half of the
warps will raise the whole of the weighted tails. provided none of the warp
threads is broken. Should, however, one of the warp threads, which ought
then to rise with the shed be broken, the corresponding weight or link will
remain down in the way of the catch or detail for releasing the stopping lever,
and on this catch or detail moving across, which it is arranged to do at this
period of the loom action, the stoppage is at once effected.
According to another modification, which is also suitable for warping
machines. the weights or links may be situated near the warp beam. or at any
part where the warps maintain a uniform or nearly uniform transverse line.
In this case the bar upon which the weights or links are strung will be placed
a little below the line of warps, each thread of which is passed through one of
them, so that on a warp thread breaking the corresponding weight or link will
he free to descend a limited distance, and obstruct the moving catch or detail
for releasing the stopping lever, thereby effecting the stoppage of the loom or
warping machine.
In jacquard apparatus, embodying the improvements forming the second
portion of this Invention. provision is made for shortening the tread or
extent of movement of the main actuating lever or treadle: or if the ordinary
length of tread is retained of lessening the strain or weight acting against it.
This is effected by the agency of a spring or weight, which, according to one
plan, acts by means of a lever and species of toggle joint link on a lever or
other detail through which the movement is transmitted. In the normal posi-
tion the toggle-joint link is slightly to one side of the line of centres, but on
the commencement of the tread it crosses the line of centres, and the spring
or weight then having full power upon it, assists in effecting the remainder of
the tread. If the jacquard apparatus is of the kind in which there are two
lift boards required, which are locked to the lifting mechanism at different
times, a contrivance is introduced to insure the locking when a change takes
place from one lift board to the other. In this contrivance clastic cords, fixed to
the top of the frame at each side. pass down under pulleys attached to one of
the lift boards over pulleys attached to the lifting slides, thence under pulleys
attached to the other lift board. and finally up to fixtures at the top of the
frame. With this arrangement the weight of the descending lift board, which-
ever of the two it may be, assists in bringing down the lifting slides, so as to
insure their locking with the other lift board.
The shifting of the pattern barrel or cylinder out and in is by this Invention
effected by means of a toggle-joint movement, which is most powerful towards

page_text: the termination of the inward shift.
Instead of the ordinary contrivance for
turning the pattern barrel two comparatively small four-toothed ratchet wheels
are fixed on the spindle, one serving for turning in one direction and the other
for turning in the opposite direction, whilst much less outward movement of
the barrel is required than hitherio. It is preferred to form the turning catch
with its acting part consisting of a short cross pin fixed in a thin lever, the edge
of which lies in a groove cut round the ratchet wheel. In the class of weaving
to which a portion of the present improvements have more particular reference,
it is usual to "twice draw," or go a second time over every bridle of cards.
To effect this, according to this Invention, a self-acting motion is introduced.
in which a weighted cord is wound up whilst the bridle is being drawn for the
first time, provision being made to prevent the action from extending beyond
the number of cards in the bridle. At the same time a small pulley on the
spindle of the pattern barrel is thrown into gear with the barrel, and winds up
a pair of cords attached to a lever in such a way as to prevent the barrel being
turned back too far. The lever is acied upon by the weighted cord, when this
last is released at the end of the bridle, and turns the pattern barrel back to
the commencement of the bridle, the releasing being effected by the action of
a needle provided for the purpose, and acted upon by the last card of the
bridle. In weaving symmetrical patterns, such as shawl patterns, wherein the
second half of the pattern is obtained by going over the cards again in the
reverse order and direction the last card of each bridle becomes the first when
the action is reversed, and the needle referred to in the preceding paragraph is
made to slightly change its position, so as to be acted upon by a different part
of the card; and to correspond with this the cards at opposite ends of the
bridle are perforated to suit the different positions of the needle. This change
in the position of the needle is effected by the same movement which alters the
positions of the catches for turning the pattern barrel.
In connection with these improvements the contrivance for keeping the
pattern barrel square is modified so as to prevent the barrel from being drawn
home before it is turned quite square (as is apt to occur when a bridle is being
turned back). When the barrel frame moves out the inverted T-piece is lifted by
the action of a pin fixed in it upon a jointed inclined piece, over which it passes
returning under it in the ordinary course. The pin is, however. caught upon
a catch, when the bridle is to be turned back and the T-piece is kept up; at
the same time a catch comes into action to prevent the return inwards of the
barrel frame; this catch being released only when the barrel is turned back to
the precise extent required.
.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Ferguson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th November 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
FERGUSON. of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Galvanist,
send greeting.
14
WHEREAS er most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent bearing date the Nineteenth day of May in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself.. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said James Ferguson. Her special licence. that 1. the said James
Ferguson. my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Ferguson, 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 Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH LOOMS FOR WEAVING," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said James Ferguson, 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 Oflice within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Ferguson, do hereby declare
the nature of iny said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying. Drawings
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to improved self-acting appliances for effecting
the stoppage of the loom on the breakage of a warp thread, modifications
thereof being also applicable to warping machines or apparatus for preparing
warps for the loom, and to certain improvements in jacquard apparatus for looms.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood and
carried into effect, I have delineated upon three accompanying Sheets of explan-
atory Drawings, and will particularly describe, examples of the application of my
improvements.
The stoppage of the loom is effected according to my said Invention by the

page_text: obstructing of a catch or other detail capable of releasing the usual spring
stopping lever or its equivalent. This catch or detail is continually moved
by the action of the loom across the obstructing pieces. and encounters any
one of these that may happen to be projected in consequence of the breakage
of the respective warp thread.
For plain
Figures and 2. Sheet 1 of the Drawings, are a front and side elevation
of a loom fitted with my improved appliances, but shown without details, to
which reference has not to be made in explaining these appliances. In the
modification here shown. the obstructing pieces consist of small weights
or links A. strung on a pair of horizontal bars B. and attached to the lower
ends of threads or tails C, which are formed with eyes as in heddles for the
passage through of the warp threads D. and which are hung from rods E,
above the warps. the links A being of course below the warps.
weaving two warp threads are drawn through each tail eye, and the tails C
being arranged as close as possible to the heddles F. each shedding action,
in raising one half of the warps D. will raise the whole of the tails C with
their links or weights A. provided none of the warp threads is broken. Should.
however, one of the warp threads which ought then to rise with the shed
be broken. the corresponding weight or link A will remain down in the way
of the catch or detail. which effects the release of the stopping lever, and on
this detail moving across, which it is arranged to do at this period of the loom
action, the stoppage is at once effected. In Figure only a small portion of
the links A and tails C are shown, but they of course extend entirely across
the warps, and the detail which is to encounter any dropped link also extends
an equal length across. This detail consists in this example of a bar or
plate G, formed with separate faces to encounter the links of the two bars B
and carried on the ends of arms g. springing from a horizontal spindle or
shaft carried in bearings in the side frames. From this shaft II a lever I
projects downwards. and is entered into a slot in
the end of a link .J. jointed
to the lathe sword K, in consequence of which connection every forward
niovement of the lathe carries the bar G back from the links A; this bar G
being moved forward across the links by its own weight and that of the parts
in connection at every backward movement of the lathe. This forward
movement of the bar is of course prevented by any link that may be
dropped in consequence of the failure of a warp thread, whereupon the stopping
mechanism comes into action. The shaft H has fast on it a lever L, connected
by two links M, N, to a lever O centred on a fixed stud. The link N is
formed with a notch arranged to be caught by a catch P, fixed upon the lathe
sword K, when the latter moves backwards, but which is ordinarily unacted

page_text: upon, the link N descending out of the way with the forward motion of the
bar G. When, however. the failure of a warp thread causes the obstruction of
the bar G. the link N does not descend, but is caught and drawn back by
the lathe sword K. This throws forward the upper end of the lever 0.
and the latter acting on the horizontal lever R, by its means throws off the
spring stopping lever Q. the lever R being also the one which is acted upon
by the ordinary weit fork contrivance.
According to another modification which is also suitable for warping
machines. the weights or links may be situated near the warp beam or at any
part where the warps maintain a uniform or nearly uniform transverse line.
In this case the bar or bars on which the weights or links are strung will be
placed a little below the line of warps each thread of which is passed through
one of them. so that on a warp thread breaking the corresponding weight or
link will be free to descend a limited distance, and obstruct the moving catch
or detail for releasing the stopping lever, thereby effecting the stoppage of the
loom or warping machine.
Figures 3 and 4. on Sheet 2 of the Drawings, are a front and a side elevation
of a warping machine fitted with this modification of my improved stopping
contrivances. The weights or links A are strung on a horizontal bar B.
and have their upper ends perforated for the passage of a warp thread D
through each. A little below the bar B there is a horizontal oscillating bar
or roller G. having a longitudinal groove, the side of which groove any
dropped link A. This roller G is provided with an arm I, and is moved
in one direction by a slotted link J. worked by an eccentric pin on a rotating
dise R below, whilst a spring S is arranged to draw it back or against any
dropped link A. Ordinarily the spring S draws round the roller G so far that
a small cam T on its spindle lifts a catch U clear of a notch on a lever V
centred upon the framing. The lever is made to reciprocate by a link v,
from an eccentric pin on the rotating disc R. When a-thread D fails the
corresponding link A drops, and prevents the roller G being turned fully back,
the catch U is consequently not lifted but is caught by the lever V, as shown in
Figure 5, and drawn forward. The catch U is jointed to a lever W, which
moving forward with it shifts a horizontal rod or lever X, arranged to throw
off the lever Q, whereby the driving belt is thrown upon the loose pulley and
the machine is stopped. The bar X being formed with a tongue 2, which
supports the descending roller Z, the forward shift of this bar releases the
roller, and it descends so as to keep the warps stretched during the stoppage
of the machine. The roller Z is by preference loose on a spindle, the ends of
which are provided with pinions gearing into racks extending down one side

page_text: In
of each guide slot 2, whereby the roller is kept horizontal in its descent.
Figure 6 a modified form of link, weight. or obstructing piece A is shown.
being designed to be strung on a wire by the arm a. on which wire it turns
down a limited distance on the failure of the respective thread. Jacquard
apparatus embodying the improvements forming the second portion of this
Invention, is shown upon Sheet 3 of the accompanying Drawings. Figure 7
being a side elevation: and Figure 8. a front or end elevation: whilst
Figures 9 and 10 are enlarged views of certain details: and Figure 11 is
a side elevation. showing a modification of some of the improved con-
trivances. One of the improvements consists in provision being made for
shortening the tread or extent of movement of the main actuating lever
or treadle A. or if the ordinary length of read is retained of. lessening
the strain or weight acting against it. This is effected by the agency of a
weight or of a spring B. which according to one plan acts by means of a bell-
crank lever C, and species of toggle joint link D on the lever E (or other
detail,) through which the movement is transmitted.
In the arrangement shown in the Drawing the lever or treadle A is con-
nected to the lever E by a cord or wire, the lever E being connected to a
lever fast on the rocking shaft G. by which the lift boards and other details
are actuated. In the normal or resting position the toggle joint link D is
slightly to one side of the line of centres. but on the commencement of the tread
it crosses the line of centres, and the spring B. then having full power upon
it. assists in effecting the remainder of the tread. If the jacquard apparatus
is of the kind in which there are two lift boards, which are locked to
the lifting mechanism at different times, a contrivance is introduced to insure
the locking when a change takes place from one lift board to the other. In
this contrivance elastic cords fixed to the top of the frame at each side
pass down under pulleys attached to one of the lift boards. over pulleys
attached to the other lift board, and finally up to the fixtures at the top of the
frame. With this arrangement the weight of the descending lift board,
whichever of the two it may be, assists in bringing down the lifting slides so as
to insure their locking with the other lift board.
The shifting of the pattern barrel or cylinder H. out and in. is by this
Invention effected by means of a toggle joint movement, which is most power-
ful towards the termination of the inward shift. A lever 1 on each end of the
rocking shaft G has jointed to it a pendant link J, jointed to two toggle links
K. L. One of these links is jointed to the frame M. and the other to the
back end of the rod N. by which the frame O, carrying the barrel II, is
moved backwards and forwards.

page_text: In the modified arrangement shown in Figure 11, the barrel is carried
in slotted guides fixed to the frame M. and is moved backwards and forwards
by a link at each side. jointed to levers R fixed on the rocking shaft G
Instead of the ordinary contrivance for turning the pattern barrel. two
comparatively small four-toothed ratchet wheels are fixed on the spindle
one serving for turning in one direction. and the other for turning in the
opposite direction. whilst much less outward movement of the barrel is required
than hitherto. It is preferred to form the turning catch with its acting part
consisting of a short cross pin fixed in a thin lever, the edge of which lies in a
groove cut round the ratchet wheel. In the class of weaving to which a portion
of the present improvements have more particular reference it is usual to
twice draw," or go a second time over every bridle of cards. To effect this
according to this Invention, a self-acting motion is introduced. in which a
weighted cord is wound up, whilst the bridle is being drawn for the first time,
provision being made to prevent the action from extending beyond the number
of cards in the bridle. The bell-crank lever has jointed to it a catch rod S,
which at each stroke acts on a pinned pulley T. causing it to wind up a cord U
attached to a weighted lever V: the pulley is retained from turning back
until the bridle is worked off by a pawl or catch W, and the pins acted upon
by the catch rod S are discontinued beyond the number corresponding to the
number of cards in the bridle, so that the weighted cord U cannot be wound up
beyond that extent. At the same time a small pulley X on the spindle of the
pattern barrel II is thrown into gear with the barrel, and winds up a pair of
cords Y, attached to a lever Z, in such a way as to prevent the barrel being
turned back too far. The lever is acted upon by a knot, on the weighted
cord, when this last is released at the end of the bridle. and turns the
pattern barrel back to the commencement of the bridle. the releasing being
effected by the action of a needle provided for the purpose, and acted upon
by the last card of the bridle.
In-weaving symmetrical patterns, such as shawl patterns wherein the second
half of the pattern is obtained by going over the cards again in the reverse
order and direction, the last card of each bridle becomes the first when the
action is reversed. and the needle referred to in the preceding paragraph is
made to slightly change its position, so as to be acted upon by a different part of
the card. and to correspond with this the cards at opposite ends of the bridle
are perforated to suit the different positions of the needle. This change in
the position of the needle is effected by the same movement which alters the
position of the catches for turning the pattern barrel.
In connection with these improvements the contrivance for keeping the

page_text: pattern barrel square is modified so as to prevent the barrel from being drawn
home before it is turned quite square (as is apt to occur when a bridle is being
turned back.) When the barrel frame O moves out, the inverted T-piece
a. Figures 9 and 10. is lifted by the action of a pin fixed in it upon a
jointed incline piece b. in a stationary guide plate c. over which incline piece bit
passes, returning under it in the ordinary course, provided the barrel is squared,
but preventing the return of the frame O as long as the barrel is not squared.
The pin is, however, caught upon a catch d, when the bridle is to be turned
back and the T-piece is kept up, at the same time a catch e comes into action
to prevent the return inwards of the barrel frame O; this catch being re-
leased only when the barrel is turned back to the precise extent required,
being connected by a cord to the pawl W. In order to reduce the extent of
the lift requisite to clear the corners of the barrel H. the T-piece A is hollowed
as shown in Figure 9. In the modification shown in Figure 11. there is
substituted for the T-piece a lever a'. shaped to square the barrel in
precisely the same way but jointed on one of the links Q. the corresponding
guide plate c', being fixed to the inside of the frame M.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be used or carried into effect. I have to state
that do not restrict myself to the precise details herein described or
delineated; but that what I consider to be novel and original, and claim
as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent, is,
First, the effecting of the stoppage of a loom or warping machine, on the
failure or breakage of a warp thread by means of obstructing pieces supported
by the threads, and a constantly vibrating or reciprocating detail. which, on
being directly obstructed by any one of the said pieces, causes the throwing off
of the stopping lever, substantially as herein-before described.
Second, the constructing of jacquard apparatus with improvements sub-
stantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, 1, the said James Ferguson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal. this Sixteenth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand oight hundred and sixty.
JAMES FERGUSON. (L.s.)