A Device for Preventing Breakages of Picking Sticks in Looms.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 27th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 28th Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Device for Preventing Breakages of Picking Sticks in Looms.
We, IRVIN SUTCLIFFE LODGE, of Huddersfield, in the County of York,
Manufacturer, and GEORGE LITTLEWOOD, of Huddersfield, aforesaid, Loom
Tuner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to a device for preventing breakages of picking sticks in
looms when the shuttle box becomes wedged fast while changing or for any other
reason does not complete a change. When the shuttle box is arrested in an
intermediate position, the picker is prevented from picking, and the great pressure
then brought upon the picking stick almost always succeeds in breaking it.
To obviate the breakages arising from the cause above indicated we fix the
picking stick stud to a movable slide mounted in guide ways in the picking stick
bracket instead of rigidly connecting it to the said bracket as heretofore, and we
provide for locking and unlocking the said slide by the movement of the box lifter
rod in such a manner that the slide is locked when the shuttle boxes are in position
for allowing a pick to take place, and is unlocked when the boxes are in any
intermediate position and when consequently the picker is not free to pick. When
the said slide is locked, the picking stick acts in the usual manner, but when the
slide is unlocked, the result of the pull of the picking strap is merely to dislodge
the said slide and throw the picking stick out, thus immediately relieving the latter
from stress and preventing breakage.
In order to prevent accidental displacement of the said slide when unlocked,
we provide a spring or equivalent device for forcing a retaining pin in a lateral
direction against the face of the slide. The said retaining pin may be pointed at
the end and may rest in a countersunk recess formed in the slide so as to be capable
of resisting a comparatively feeble effort to dislodge the slide while readily giving
way to a stronger pull. A thumb screw may be provided for the purpose of
withdrawing the said retaining pin to facilitate the re-introduction, or removal by
hand when desired, of the slide.
The slide-locking device consists preferably of a pin passing through a hole
in the afore-mentioned guide way and entering a hole in the slide at right angles to
the direction of traverse of the latter. We prefer to hinge the locking pin to
a convenient spring actuated lever, preferably a bell-crank lever, and we provide
a bar fixed to the box lifter rod for governing the position of the spring lever
according to the movements of the shuttle boxes. The said bar has projections at
intervals of its length corresponding in number to the number of shuttle boxes and
in distance apart to the distance centre to centre of adjoining shuttle boxes, and
these projections when moving up and down with the box lifter rod pass over
a pointer fixed on the aforesaid spring lever. When the shuttle box is in position
for permitting a pick, the corresponding projection of the said bar is in contact
with the pointer of the spring lever and the latter is thereby caused to
maintain the locking pin in the slide and prevent dislodgment of the slide
while the pick takes place. On the other hand, when the shuttle box
is not in position for permitting a pick, a space or recess of the bar
between two of the projections is opposite the spring lever, and the latter is
thereby permitted to withdraw the locking pin. Should the picking can act
while the shuttle box is in this position the picking stick stud will simply be
thrown out above described without injuring the picking stick.
The essential
features of our said invention are first, a dislodgable picking stick stud; second, a
locking device, governed by the box litter rod, for locking the said stud when the
boxes are in a position for permitting the pick to take place, and unlocking the
stud when the boxes are in any intermediate position to permit of the said stud

page_text: being dislodged and third, n retaining device for preventing accidental displace-
ment of the stud when unlocked.
The bar above described, having projections for locking and unlocking the
picking stick stud, may be applied to any loom however many boxes there may be,
but for a two-box loon we may modify the locking devier as follows. That is to
say, we may provide a locking hole bath at the upper and lower sides of the slide,
and we may fix to the box lifter rol a suitable bracket provided with two locking
pins so arranged that the upper locking pin enters into the upper locking hole when
the box lifter rod dorcends, and the lower locking pin rises into the lower locking
hole when the box lifter rod ascends; and when the box lifter rod is in any
intermediate position neither lacking pin is in gear, and the stnd slide is then free
to be thrown out.
Dated this 6th day of May 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Device for Preventing Breakages of Picking Sticks in Looms.
We, Invis SUTCLIFFE LODGE, of Huddersfield, in the County of York,
Manufacturer, and GEORGE LITTLEWOOD, of Huddersfield, aforesaid, Loom
Tuner, 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 :-
Our invention relates to a device for preventing the breakages of picking sticks of
looms that usually occur when the shuttle box either becomes wedged fast while
changing or for any other reason does not complete a change. When the shuttle
box is arrested in an intermediate position, the picker is prevented from picking,
and the great pressure then brought to bear upon the picking stick due to the pull
of the picking strap almost always succeeds in breaking it.
To obviate the numerous breakages arising from this cause we fix the picking
stick stud to a movable or dislodgable slide mounted in guide ways in the picking
stick bracket instead of rigidly securing it to the said bracket as heretofore, and we
provide for locking and unlocking the said slide by the movement of the box lifter
rod in such a manner that the slide is locked when the shuttle boxes are in position
for allowing a pick to take place and is unlocked when the boxes are in any
intermediate position and when consequently the picker is not free to pick. When
the said slide is locked, the picking stick acts in the usual manner, but when the
slide is unlocked, the result of the pull of the picking strap is merely to dislodge
the said slide and throw out or release the picking stick, thus immediately
relieving the latter from stress and preventing breakage.
n
In order to prevent nccidental displacement of the said slide when unlocked, we
provide a spring or equivalent device for forcing a retaining pin in a lateral direction
against the face of the slide. The said retaining pin may be pointed at the end and
may rest in a countersunk recess formed in the slide so as to be capable of resisting
a comparatively feeble effort to dislodge the slide while readily giving way to a
stronger pull. Suitable means are provided for the purpose of withdrawing the said
retaining pin to facilitate the re-introduction, or removal by land, when desired, of
the slide.
In the accompanying drawings which show one form of our invention,
Figure 1 is a front elevation, and
Figure 2 a side elevation partly in section of a picking stick bracket and portion
of box lifter rod and picking stick to which our improvements are applied.
Figure 3 is a rear elevation of a portion of the said bracket, and
Figures 4 and 5 are detail views showing the slide hereinafter described and
which carries the picking stick stud in plan and rear elevation.

page_text: Like letters of reference indicate the same parts throughout the drawings.
A is a portion of the loom side to which the ordinary picking stick bracket B is
attached. C is the picking stick, D the picking strap, and E the box lifter rod.
These parts are all old. When applying our invention to old looms we attach our
improvements to the said bracket B, but for new looms we may modify the form of
this bracket to adapt it for receiving our said improvements. In the accompanying
drawings we have shown our improved apparatus applied to an ordinary picking
stick bracket.
To the bracket B we attach by screws or otherwise a small box-shaped bracket a
within which is fitted a plate which is capable of sliding between the guide ways
formed by the interior faces of the said box a. The said sliding plate carries the
picking stick stud which may be formed with or attached to the said plate and
which projects rearwardly through a horizontal slot a formed in the bracket a.
The picking stick is pivoted on the stud & and when picking the tendency of the
pull of the strap D is to draw the slide out of the box u. It is obvious therefore
that the said slide must be locked within its supporting box when the pick is
required to take place otherwise the slide would be displaced. For this purpose we
pivot at c on a lug or projection a² of the box a a bell crank levere on one end of
which is suspended a pin d, and the other end is connected by a spring e to the
bracket B. The lower end of the pin d hangs freely within a hole as formed in
the box a and is moved up and down within the said hole by the oscillation of the
lever about its pivot. In the upper edge of the sliding plate & we form a hole or
recess which when the said plate is in its proper position is directly underneath
the hole as so that the pin d can pass through the hole a and project into the hole
or recess thereby locking when so inserted the plate and preventing displacement
of the same.
"
The tendency of the spring e is to withdraw the locking pin from engagement
with the plate and thereby to free the latter, but this action is only allowed to
take place during the changes of the shuttle boxes. When each change is completed
the lever c is forced back against the pull of the spring e and the pin d thus
allowed to again engage with and re-lock the plate b. For this purpose we mount
on the box lifter rod E above the ordinary bearing sleeve El a bracket, and
between the usual locking nuts E we fix a forked bracket g, the fork or slot serving
for the purpose of radial adjustinent. We secure to the bracket a bar h the lower
end of which rests in and is supported by a groove or channel y¹ formed in the
bracket. A slot in the bar, and slots in the bracket permit of the vertical
and horizontal adjustment of the bar h. The said bar is provided with V-shaped
projections corresponding in number and in distance apart from centre to centre
to the number and distance apart of the shuttle boxes in each side the loom. The
lever is provided with a V-shaped projection which is pressed by the spring e
against the bar h, and as the said bar moves up and down along with the box lifter
rod E the projections are successively passed under the projection the lever e
being thereby alternately pushed backwards by the projection and drawn forwards
by the spring e. When the bar is so situated that one of its projections is
acting upon the lever the latter is pushed back, and the pin d is caused to engage
with and lock the plate, but immediately the said projection is moved up or down
by the change of the box lifter rod the spring e acts to pull back the lever and
withdraw the pin d thereby unlocking the plate b. The bar is so adjusted that
one or other of the projections will be in engagement with the projection c² of the
levere when the shuttle box is in a position to permit of a pick being made and
inasmuch as the bar his moved up and down with the box lifter rod it is obvious
that the pin d will be in engagement with the plate and the latter will be locked
when each change of the shuttle box is complete and the pin will be disengaged and
the plate unlocked when the changes of the shuttle boxes are taking place. Should
the shuttle boxes be arrested therefore in any intermediate position, that is to say.
without completing a change, so that a pick cannot take place the plate will be
"

page_text: unlocked and will be free to be thrown out by the pull of the picking strap and
breakage of the picking stick tlmus prevented.
It is obvious that owing to the excessive amount of vibration occurring in a loom
the stud plate unless otherwise prevented is liable to be accidentally displaced
when not locked and if so displaced, it cannot of course be locked by the next
descent of the pin d. so that the stick would be thrown out at the next pick although it
ought not to lie. To avoid this accidental displacement we provide a bolt having
a pointed extremity and a collar or its equivalent. The said bolt passes freely
through a hole a' formed in the box a and enters a shallow countersink recess
provided in the face of the plate b. The outer end of the bolt is supported by a
projecting part a³ of the box a, and a coiled spring j mounted on the bolt is
compressed between the collar and the bearing and acts to press the bolt into
the said countersunk cavity and force the plate against the side of the box a
thereby preventing the displacement of the plate by any mere shaking or feeble
pull. A strong pull however tending to withdraw the stud plate will force back
the retaining bolt and dislodge the said plate. We form a screw thread on the
outer end of the bolt and provide the same with a wing nut for the purpose of
withdrawing the retaining bolt when it is required to replace the stud plate after
being withdrawn or when it is desired to remove the said stud plate by hand.
h
The bar above describ.d, having projections hi for locking and unlocking the
picking stick stil plate b may be applied to any loom however many boxes there
inny b; but for a two-box loom we prefer to modify the locking device as follows.
That is to say, we dispense with the hell crank lever, spring and adjustable har h
with its supporting brackets and we provide a lucking hole both at the upper and
lower sides of the slide plate b. We then fix to the box lifter rod a suitable bracket
provided with two fixed vertical locking pins or two brackets each having a fixed
locking pin so arranged that the upper locking pin enters into the upper locking
hole when the hox lifter rods descends, and the lower locking pin rises into the lower
locking hole when the box lifter rod ascends; and when the shuttle boxes are in any
intermediate position neither locking pin is in gear, and the stud slide plate is then
free to be thrown out. Any suitable guides may be provided for the said locking
pins.
Our improved device is applied to the picking stick brackets on both sides the
loom.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a loon, the employment of a dislodgable slide carrying the picking stick stud,
which said slide is locked when the shuttle boxes have completed a change but is
unlocked when the shuttle boxes occupy an intermediate position and is then free to
be thrown out by the pull of the picking strap, as, and for the purpose, specified.
2. The means for locking and unlorking the said dislodgable slide by the up and
down movement of the box lifter rod, applicable for looms with any number of
shuttle hoxes, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
3. The device for retaining the dislodgable slide in position when unlocked to
prevent accidental displacement thereof, substantially as described.
4. The modification of the locking device applicable for two-box looms sub-
stantially as described.
5. The apparatus constructed substantially as above described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings and operating as, and for the purpose, substantially as
specified.
Dated this 24th
UI. ORLXILIO Y LOH
VILLE #70 \\ UI. ORIHILINDY LOH
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.