IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MECHANISM OF LOOMS FOR WRAVING
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Braithwaite, of Kendal, in the County of
Westmorland, and Robert Todd and John Musgrove, Mechanics, of the same
Place, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MECHANISM OF LOOMS FOR
WRAVING"
"
Sealed the 2nd July 1878, and dated the 12th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Braithwaite,
Robert Todd, and John Musgrove at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
on the 12th January 1878.
JOHN HENRY BRAITHWAITE, of Kendal, in the County of Westmorland, and
" IMPROVE-
ROBERT TODD and JOHN MUSGROVE, Mechanics, of the same Place.
MENTS IN THE MECHANISM OF LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
This Invention relates,-
Firstly. To means and apparatus for raising and lowering the shuttle boxes in
looms, in which change shuttles are required; and the object of our Invention is
to cause the boxes to move from any one box to any other box of the set, be it the
next in rotation, or separated by one or more boxes to be passed over, and to
render the mechanism and working thereof simple, easy, and not liable to breakage
or disarrangement. The shuttle boxes are supported in their guides or framework
by means of a forked rod, hinged at its forked end to the back of the boxes, and at
its other end to one end of a lever that works upon a stud fixed to the framework
of the loom at a point about equidistant from either of its ends. To the other
end of this lever are hinged one or more levers or racks, or pairs of levers or racks,
by means of which the boxes are moved either up or down, according as they are
acted upon by certain single or double tappits, provided for that purpose, revolving
upon a shaft. The other ends of the levers or racks are attached to slide rods, that,
at one end, notch on to levers connected with the jacquard by means of cords.
When it is required to raise or lower the boxes the motion of the jacquard raises
the lever attached to the slide rods, which being liberated from the before-named
T....J

page_text: notch is drawn forward by means of a spring, and draws the rack or lever to
which it is attached into position against the tappit, which then takes hold of one
of the rack teeth, or one of the small projections fixed upon the lever, or the pro-
jecting adjustable foot fixed to the lever, and moves the boxes. The rack or lever
is then pushed back into its former position by the tappit in the course of its
revolution.
Secondly. Our Invention relates to means and apparatus for giving two separate
and distinct strokes of the slag against each shute of weft thrown in, and is accom-
plished in two ways. A, by certain positive motions obtained by means of an
arrangement of double levers fixed at one end to the back of the slag; at the other
end to the crank of the driving shaft, and at a point somewhat nearer one end
than the other upon a rocking shaft. When the end of the lever attached to the
driving shaft is actuated by the revolution of the crank the slay is forced up
against the cloth, and the hinge or joint of the double levers being raised or
depressed beyond its own centre, upon its return to a horizontal position, causes
the slay to make a second stroke before it is drawn back for the open shed B, by
means of levers and tappits. The tappits being at certain points acted upon by
the revolving crank draw back the slay, then being liberated, the slay, by an
arrangement of levers and springs, makes the stroke against the cloth, and being
received upon an india-rubber buffer is caused to rebound and make a second
stroke before being again drawn back for the open shed.
Thirdly. Our Invention relates to means and apparatus for lifting the draught
boards of the jacquard machine, and consists of a single or double jointed upright
oscilating lever, having a double hook at the top, and working up and down at
the full speed of the driving shaft. To this is attached a spring working at half
_ speed only, that by its action causes the upright lever to oscillate to and fro, and
brings the double hook into position for attaching itself to the levers of the draught
boards alternately, as required.
Fourthly. Our Invention relates to means and apparatus for letting off the warp,
and winding up the cloth during process of weaving, and is so constructed as to
secure two objects, namely, A, the uniform and regular letting off of the warp and
winding up of the cloth with every shute of weft thrown in; and, B, the complete
disconnection of these parts and consequent stoppage of their working, during the
time any piecing up of broken threads, pulling back, or any work of that nature
is being done, thus preventing any disarrangement of the figure, and securing the
perfect matching of the pattern throughout. This apparatus consists of a pawl and
ratchet motion, the lever of which works upon a stud fixed to the loom frame, and
bas at one end a catch working into the ratchet wheel, while its other end is
attached by a cord to the jacquard, and rests upon a revolving tappit. When the
lever is acted upon by the tappit, it causes the catch at its other end to take into
the ratchet wheel, forcing it round one cog and winding up so much of the cloth.
The cloth beam, to one end of which the ratchet wheel is fixed, is connected at its
other end by cog wheels and a small shaft with a fluted roller at the back of the
loom, upon which the warp beam rests. When therefore the cloth beam is acted
upon by the pawl and ratchet motion, it moves also the fluted roller by means of
the cog wheels and connecting shaft, and this delivers the warp from the beam
resting upon it in the exact proportion needed by the amount of cloth woven.
When, through any cause of stoppage, the loom is thrown out of gear, the jacquard
lifts one end of the before-named lever out of connection with the tappit, and thus.
prevents it working till again liberated.
Fifthly. Our Invention consists of means and apparatus for keeping the warp.at
a perfectly equable and unalterable tension throughout, which are as follows:-A
shaft is placed at the bottom of the loom just in front of the warp beam, having
fixed at or about its centre a projecting horizontal lever with an adjustable weight,
and at each end an upright lever supporting a rocking beam, round which the
warp is threaded. The rocking beam thus hangs in a sort of loop of the warp,
which is drawn up as the cloth is woven, drawing the rocking beam with it.

page_text: When more warp is let off from the warp beam the action of the lever and weight
causes the rocking beam to fall back as the before-named loop enlarges, thus
always keeping the same stress on the warp, whether it is being let off or
woven up.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Braithwaite, Robert Todd, and John Musgrove in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th July 1878.
JOHN HENRY BRAITHWAITE, of Kendal, in the County of Westmorland, and
ROBERT TODD and JOHN MUSGROVE, Mechanics, of the same Place. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MECHANISM OF LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
This Invention relates,―
•
Firstly. To means and apparatus for raising and lowering the shuttle boxes in
looms, in which change shuttles are required; and the object of our Invention is
to cause the boxes to move from any one box to any other box of the set, be it the
next in rotation, or separated by one or more boxes to be passed over, and to
render the mechanism and working thereof simple, easy, and not liable to breakage
or disarrangement. Figure 1 illustrates this part of our Invention. The shuttle
boxes A are supported in their guides or framework by means of a forked rod B
hinged at its forked end to the back of the boxes at 6', and at its other end b² to
one end of a lever C that works upon a stud c¹ fixed to the framework of the loom,
at a point about equidistant from either of its ends. To the other end of this
lever C are hinged at the point c² one or more levers or racks D, D, by means of
which the boxes are moved either up or down, according as they are acted upon by
certain single or double tappets E, E, provided for that purpose, revolving upon &
shaft e¹ that extends across the loom from side to side. The other ends of the
levers or racks D, D, are attached at d¹, d, to the slide rods F, F, by means of
pins, or loops, or some other arrangement, in which they work freely up and down.
The other ends of the slide rods F, F, notch at f¹¹, on to the levers G, G, G, G,
which project under the loom, where they are attached to cords H communicating
with the jacquard. The levers G may be increased or diminished in number, as
found convenient, and are worked upon a stud fixed to the loom frame behind the
slide rods at f¹, the ends projecting under the loom being considerably longer than
the end working into the notches f¹, f¹, so that when liberated from the jacquard
they will, of their own weight and leverage, fall back to their normal position.
When it is required to raise or lower the boxes, the motion of the jacquards, by
means of the cords H, raises the lever G, and thus draws its shorter end out of
connection with the notch f¹ on the slide rod F, which being liberated is drawn
forward by means of the spring f, and draws the rack or lever D, to which it is
attached at d, into position against the tappet E, which, then, by its teeth, takes
hold of one or more of the rack teeth or of the projections or adjustable foot that
may be placed upon the rack instead of teeth, and moves the boxes. The rack is
then pushed back into its former position by the tappet at e, in the course of its
revolution, and the rack being attached to the slide rod F pushes it also back till

page_text: the notch f¹ regains its normal position over the lever G, so that it drops into the
notch, and holds its firmly till again released by the jacquard. The tappet E, may,
for convenience, be changed for one containing a larger or smaller number of teeth,
according to the number of boxes it may be desired to operate at the time, but
this is not necessary, as one tappet containing the full complement of teeth will
not only work its own full complement of boxes, but also every other change it is
possible for the loom to make from one box to the largest number of boxes the
loom may contain. When the boxes are being moved, the lock catch I is lifted out
of the lock teeth J by means of the lever K being acted upon at its curved end k¹
by the stud L fixed upon the wheel M, or by a wedge fixed upon the shaft, upon
which the wheel M revolves. When the stud L or wedge is brought into_contact
with the curved end k¹ it lifts up the lever K, and forces the lock catch I out of
the teeth J, and holds it out a sufficient time to allow the boxes to be moved to
their proper place, when the curved end k¹ being released from the stud L, or wedge
allows the lock catch I to be drawn back into the teeth J by the spring N, and
thus holds the boxes firmly in their place. The friction roller O being always held
firmly against the teeth J by the spring P serves to steady the boxes while they
are being moved. The lock I, J, O, may, for increased firmness and security, be
extended and fixed at the extreme end of the lever C at b³, as also this whole
method of working the boxes may be fixed either above or below the loom, or any
intermediate position, in accordance with any method in which the slay may be
working.
Secondly. Our Invention relates to means and apparatus for giving two separate
and distinct strokes of the slay against each shute of weft thrown in, see Figure 2,
and is accomplished in two ways. A, by certain positive motions obtained by
means of an arrangement of double levers B, B, fixed at one end b' to the back of
the slay C; at the other end 62, by the connecting rod D, to the crank shaft E, and
at a point somewhat nearer one end than the other upon a rocking shaft F. When
the end of the lever b* attached to the crank shaft E is actuated by the revolution
of the crank, so that the lever B, B, is placed in a horizontal position, the slay C is
forced up against the cloth, but the crank not having completed the first half of
its revolution continues to rise, and thus forces the joint G down to g¹, drawing
the slay C back as far as c¹. The crank now commencing to descend restores the
joint to its horizontal position, thus forcing the slay a second time against the
cloth at c, and continuing to descend, in completing the second half of its revo-
lution, draws the joint G up to g², drawing the slay back to c³ for the open shed
B, by means of levers B, B, and tappets G, G, see Figure 3. The tappets G being
at certain points acted upon by the revolving crank E draw back the slay C to the
point c¹ when being liberated from the revolving crank at e', the slay is forced up
against the cloth at c by the action of the lever and spring F, H, and being
received upon
an india-rubber buffer I is caused to rebound, and by the repeated
action of the lever and spring F, H, to make a second stroke against the cloth at C
before the crank E again takes hold of the tappets G.
Thirdly. Our Invention relates to means and apparatus for lifting the draught
boards of the jacquard machine Z. Figure 4 illustrates this part of our Invention,
and consists of a single or double, jointed, upright, oscillating lever A, A, A, having
a double hook B at the top, and working up and down at the full speed of the
driving shaft. To this is attached a spring C, C, C, worked by the eccentric D at
half speed only. The eccentric D being in the position d¹ causes the spring C to
press upon the upright lever A at the point c', the lever A being at the same time
forced upwards till the hook b¹ rises to the point E, where being liberated from the
pin F the pressure of the spring C causes the lever A to move over to the point o³,
so that the hook b² takes hold of the pin G; the lever A being then drawn down
again draws also the jacquard lever H, while the eccentric D has also been carried
round to the point d, causing the spring C to press upon the lever A from its
opposite point c³, so that when the lever A again rises, and the hook 6' is liberated
from the pin G, this converse pressure of the spring C carries over the lever A to

page_text: its original position at c¹, and again attaches the hook 61 to the pin F, that at its
next motion it may again draw down the jacquard lever I, and so on alternately.
Fourthly. Our Invention relates to means and apparatus for letting off the warp
winding up the cloth during process of weaving, and is so constructed as to secure
two objects, namely, A, the uniform and regular letting off the warp and winding
up of the cloth with every shute of weft thrown; and B, the complete discon-
nection of these parts and consequent stoppage of their working during the time
any piecing up of broken threads, pulling back, or any work of that nature is
being done, thus preventing any disarrangement of the figure, and securing the
perfect matching of the pattern throughout. Figure 5 illustrates this portion of
the apparatus, which consists of a pawl and ratchet motion, the lever of which, A, A,
works upon a stud B fixed to the loom frame, and has at one end a catch C, C,
working into the ratchet wheel D, and attached to the jacquard by a cord E. The
other end of this lever is actuated by a revolving tappet F, F. When the lever A
is actuated by the tappet F it causes the catch C at its other end to take into the
ratchet wheel D, forcing it round one cog and winding up so much of the cloth
upon the cloth beam, to one end of which the ratchet wheel is fixed. The other
end of the cloth beam is conuected by cog wheels G, G, and a small shaft H, H,
with a fluted roller I at the back of the loom, upon which the warp beam J rests.
When therefore the cloth beam is actuated by the pawl and ratchet motion F, A, C,
it moves also the fluted roller I by means of the cog wheels G and connecting
shaft H, and thus delivers the warp from the beam J resting upon it in the exact
proportion needed by the amount of the cloth woven. When, through any cause
of stoppage, the loom is thrown out of gear, the jacquard lifts one end of the
before-named lever and catch C out of connection, and prevents it working till
again liberated.
Fifthly. Our Invention consists of means and apparatus for keeping the warp at
a perfectly equable and unalterable tension throughout. Figure 5 also illustrates
this portion of our Invention, which consists of a shaft K placed at the bottom of
the loom, just in front of the warp beam J, and extending across the loom from side
to side. Upon this shaft is fixed at about the centre a projecting horizontal
lever L, L, with an adjustable weight M upon it. Fixed upon each end of the
shaft K is an upright arm N supporting a rocking beam O, which also extends
across the loom from side to side, and around which the warp is threaded. The
rocking beam O thus hangs in a sort of loop of the warp P, Q, R, which is drawn
up as the cloth is woven, drawing the rocking beam O with it towards the point S.
When more warp is let off from the warp beam J the action of the lever and
weight L, M, causes the rocking beam O to fall forward towards the point T as the
loop of the warp P, Q, R, enlarges, thus always keeping the same stress upon the
warp, whether it is being let off or woven up.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Braithwaite, on behalf of myself
and of the said Robert Todd and John Musgrove, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight,