CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN-POWER LOOMS. FOR WEAVING
Year: 1863

page_text: :LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Sagar, of Burnley, in the County of Lan-
caster, Machine Maker, and John Wilkinson, of the same Place,
Foreman, for the-Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN-POWER LOOMS.
FOR WEAVING."
Sealed the 2nd November 1863, and. dated the 6th May 1863.
[PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Sagar and John
Wilkinson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
. Petition, on the 6th May 1863.
We, THOMAS SAGAR, of Burnley, in the County of Lancaster, Machine
Maker, and JOHN WILKINSON, of the same Place, -Foreman, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER LOOMS
FOR WEAVING," to be as follows:―
Our Invention consists in an improved method of applying the "weft fork "
to power looms, whereby the liability of breaking or damaging the prongs of
the weft fork is lessened. The slot cut across the lay through which the weft
fork traverses does not require to be so large as usual, thereby increasing the
strength of the lay at that point, and allowing of wider cloth being woven in
the same width of loom. The weft fork has usually been carried by the weft
fork lever, and when in action through the breaking of the weft it moved in
the arc of a circle, thereby requiring considerably more room for working in

page_text: than its own breadth, and a corresponding increased width in the slot or
groove cut across the lay, which frequently impeded the free traverse of the
shuttle.
Now our improvements consist in supporting the weft fork in a sliding
bracket which is adjustable vertically and moves horizontally, and when the
weft fork is operated upon through the weft breaking, the slide which carries
the weft fork moves in a straight-line and operates upon the weft fork lever,
thereby stopping the loom. The weft fork lever and the slide or bracket
which carries the weft fork are not connected together, but may be connected
if required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Sagar and John Wilkinson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th November 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
SAGAR, of Burnley, in the County of Lancaster, Machine Maker, and JOHN
WILKINSON, of the same Place, Foreman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Thomas Sagar and John Wilkinson, Her special license that we,
the said Thomas Sagar and John Wilkinson, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Thomas Sagar and
John Wilkinson, our 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVE-.
"MENTS IN POWER LOOMS FOR WEAVING," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said Thomas Sagar and John Wilkinson, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of our
or their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Thomas Sagar and John Wilkinson,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, that is to say):-
Our Invention consists in an improved method of applying the "weft fork "
to power looms, whereby the liability of breaking or damaging the prongs of
the weft fork is lessened. The slot cut across the lay through which the weft
fork traverses does not require to be so large as usual, thereby increasing the
strength of the lay at that point, and allowing of wider cloth being woven in
the same width of loom.
And in order that our Invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into operation, we will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings.
Figure 1 is a plan of an improved weft motion as fixed to the loom,
together with the weft fork lever and part of the breast beam; Figure 2 is a
side view of the same; Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a side and end view
of our weft fork slide with the weft fork attached.
a is the ordinary weft fork; b is the slide for carrying the weft fork; c, the
bracket bolted to the breast beam g or otherwise, upon which the slide b
moves; d, the ordinary weft fork lever which is acted upon by the slide b
pressing against it to stop the loom when the weft breaks; e, the stud upon
which the lever d swivels; f, the framing of the loom; h, the vibrating hammer
into which the weft fork a catches when the weft breaks in the usual manner.
The weft fork a has usually been supported by or connected with the weft
fork lever d, and when in action through the breaking of the weft, the weft
fork moved in the arc of a circle, thereby requiring considerably more room
for working in than its own breadth, and requiring a correspondingly increased
width in the slot or groove cut across the lay which frequently impeded tho
free traverse of the shuttle.
Now by our improvements the weft fork a slides in or upon the bracket c,
which is adjustable vertically and horizontally, and when the weft fork is
operated upon through the weft breaking, the slide 6 which carries the weft
fork moves in a straight line and operates upon the weft fork lever d, thereby
liberating the spring starting lever i and stopping the loom. The weft fork
lever and the slide or bracket which carries the weft fork are not connected
together, but they may be connected if required.
Having thus stated the nature of our Invention, and described the manner
of performing the same, we declare that we claim the slide for carrying the
weft fork and the adjustable bracket to which the slide is connected, or any

page_text: equivalent parts for causing the weft fork to act in a straight line instead of in
the arc of a circle as heretofore.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Sagar, have hereto set my
hand and seal, the Third day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
THOMAS SAGAR. (L.S.)