IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS."
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Crook, Gilbert Rushton, and Joseph
Crowther, all of Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Crook, Gilbert
Rushton, and Joseph Crowther, at the Office of the Commissioners of
- Patents, with their Petition, on. the 26th June 1857..
We, WILLIAM CROOK, GILBERT RUSHTON, and JOSEPH CROWTHER, all of
Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of further improvements on a Patent granted to the
said William Crook and others, dated September 18th, 1845, No. 10,832, and
to William Crook, October 5th, 1852, No. 283, and relates,―
Firstly, to an extension of the sun and planet motion, described in the said
Patent of October 1852. We add a compound mitre-wheel motion, acted
upon by the cam or plate of the said planet motion, to regulate the number of
picks required for varying the pattern, and for encreasing or diminishing the
speed.
Secondly, instead of using one clutch tappet as patented by the said William
Crook in 1852, we use two, that is to say, we fix a clutch box to each tappet,

page_text: so that we can detach one or both tappets at pleasure, as may be required, to
vary the pattern of cloth.
Thirdly, we pass a shaft across the back part of the loom, turned or acted
upon by the mitre wheel of the aforesaid mitre motion, which shaft we will
now call the mitre-motion shaft; on this shaft wo place a pulley or pulleys, to
act on the clutch box or boxes of the tappet shaft when necessary, or as may
be found desirable to alter or vary the pattern of the cloth, so that it will be
clearly seen the said clutches may be acted on from either the slay sword, the
tappet, or this mitre-motion shaft.
Fourthly, at the other end of the said mitre-motion shaft we fix a notch
plate, or other apparatus to carry the notches, which acts upon the usual rods
and levers to raise the shuttle boxes as desired. The arrangement of this
notch plate or apparatus being solely owing to the action and position of the
mitre-motion shaft.
Fifthly, to an improved arrangement of working the treddles to make the
shed as required for the particular pattern, by fixing spring stops, that is, levers
or stops acted upon by springs to prevent the treddles acting on the shed, as
may be required.
Sixthly, to an improved taking-up or stop motion. In the Patent granted
to the said William Crook and others, dated 1845, the taking-up or stop
motion is shewn as being influenced by certain wheels which only allow the
motion to stop at intervals or by degrees, instead of which we pass the whole
space at once, as may be required for the desired pattern, by fixing a pro-
jection or catch so as to act on the taking-up wheel and give the necessary
letting off or recoiling all at once.
Seventhly, we place the knives or treddles which work the vertical shafts
outside the loom instead of inside; as heretofore, and act upon them by a rack
and pinion instead of the levers, as heretofore.
Eighthly, we cause the vertical shafts or rods to be acted upon by notches
on a revolving strap or belt outside the loom.
-
Ninthly, to using the catch cord, either to one or both tappets, as may be
desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Williain Crook, Gilbert Rushton, and Joseph Crowther, in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th December 1857..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, WILLIAM
CROOK, GILBERT RUSHTON, and JOSEPH CROWTHER, all of Blackburn, in the
County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of June; in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for. Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said William Crook, Gilbert Rushton, and Joseph Crowther, Her special
licence that we, the said William Crook, Gilbert Rushton, and Joseph
Crowther, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we,
the said William Crook, Gilbert Rushton, and Joseph Crowther, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that wo, tho said William Crook, Gilbert
Rushton, and Joseph Crowther, by an instrument in writing under our hands
and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, 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
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said William Crook, Gilbert Rushton, and
Joseph Crowther, 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 of further improvements on Inventions for which
Letters Patent were granted to the said William Crook and others, dated
September 18th, 1845, No: 10,832, and to William Crook, October 5th;-1852,
No. 233, and relates,-
Firstly, to the sun and planet or star motion frequently applied to looms
working two or more shuttles. We add a compound meter or measuring
motion to the aforesaid planet or star wheel, for the purpose of obtaining
greater latitude and power in diminishing the speed and regulating the number

page_text: of picks required for varying the pattern, the said meter wheels consisting of
notched drums, one on the planet or star wheel stud, and another on a shaft
extending across the back of the loom. Or, instead of notched drums, we
employ gearing or toothed wheels for diminishing the speed and obtaining
change, which diminution and alteration can be attained to a still further
extent by the employment of a clutch causing the back shaft to be stationary
or in motion, as required. At the end of the aforesaid back shaft we fix a
pattern plate or other suitable apparatus to carry the projections which net
upon the lever and rod to raise the shuttle boxes as desired. Or, instead of
carrying the back shaft across the loom, we can employ the pattern plate on
the same side as the diminishing gearing wheels, the clutches being placed on
the tappet shaft instead of the back shaft, thereby taking the pinion out of gear
instead of the large toothed wheel.
Secondly, to the employment of a clutch to each tappet instead of using one
clutch tappet, as patented by the said William Crook in 1852. We use two
of them, the said tappets being stationary or in motion, either separately or
conjointly, and also the motions changed from one to the other, so as to meet
the requirements of diversified patterns of cloth.
Thirdly, to an improved stop and taking-up motion. In the Specification
of the Patent granted to the said William Crook and others, dated in 1845,
the taking-up or stop motion is shewn as being influenced by certain wheels
which only allow the taking up of the cloth at intervals or by degrees, instead
of which we pass the whole space at once as may be required for the desired
pattern, by employing a projection or catch, so as to act on the taking-up
wheel and give the necessary letting off or taking up all at once.
Fourthly, to an improved arrangement of the treddles, which we placo
outsido the framing of the loom instead of inside, as heretofore, having motion
imparted to them by means of tappets placed outside the framing in con-
junction with a pinion and racks. And also instead of connecting tho treddles
and jacks to cords for the purpose of giving motion to the jacks and healds,
we employ rigid hooked bars, plates, or streamers, having projections upon
them, the whole being pushed in and out by studs or projections upon an
endless pattern strap for the purpose of making diversified patterns of cloth,
the counter motion of the jacks and healds being produced by springs placed
on or near the floor. Or, we reverse the operations by placing the springs at
the top of the framing, and cause the treddles to lift jacks placed near tho
floor by means of short hooked levers or plates pushed in and out as the
pattern requires.
These improvements will be clearly understood by reference to the accom-

page_text: panying three Sheets of Drawings, with the figures and letters of reference
thereon, the said letters referring to each figure separately; in which Figs. 1,
2, and 8 are elevations of the framing and other parts of a loom, having one
of our improved meter, measuring, or diminishing motions attached, and also
a clutch for each tappet; Fig. 4 is a modification of one of the movements;
Figs. 5, 6, and 7, are similar elevations representing another arrangement for
the same purpose; Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the main parts of a loom,
shewing the employment of our improved external treddles in connection with
rigid booked bars or streamers for moving the jacks and healds; Fig. 9 is
a front elevation of part of the same, shewing the application of the treddles
to lifting shuttle boxes, and also our improved recoiling motion; Fig. 10 is
a transverse elevation of Figs. 8 and 9; and Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, are
enlarged views of detached movements; Fig. 16 is a front elevation of the
main parts of a loom, in which short hooked plates or bars are connected to
jacks near the floor and raised by our improved treddles; Fig. 17, a trans-
verse elevation of the same; Fig. 18 is also a transverse view, shewing the
employment of one of the treddles for shifting shuttle boxes; and Figs. 19,
20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25, are detached views of various parts drawn to an
enlarged scale.
In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, representing one of our improved meter or diminishing
motions, a represents the end frames of the loom; b, the crank shaft; and
c, the tappet shaft, upon which is the pin wheel d, which gives motion to the
planet or star wheel e, and also the notched drum f, which turns the pattern
belt 9. furnished with rods or wires h placed according to the required pattern,
the said rods or wires also giving motion to the notched drum i, and the
shaft & extending across the back of the loom, the said shaft carrying at the
other end a spur wheel 1, driving another spur wheel m, and with it the
pattern plate n, which acts as it revolves on the lever o, rod p, and shuttle
boxes g.
In order to hold the aforesaid parts steady, we place near the
notched drum i a disc or plate, having any suitable number of sides, which
press against the end of the levers, which is held in check by the spring t.
Or the discs or plates, shewn in Fig. 4, may be advantageously employed for
keeping the parts firm. At u, Fig. 1, we show one arrangement of tappets
and clutches, the latter being moved in and out by connecting them with
a pattern wheel or belt.
In Figs. 5, 6, and 7, representing another of our improved meter or
diminishing motions, a represents the end frames of the loom; b, the crank
shaft; and c, the tappet shaft, at one end of which we fix the pinion d.
driving the toothed wheel e, on the shaft f, and also the notched drunig,

page_text: which gives motion to a pattern belt h, furnished with the knobs or pro-
jections. The shaft is connected by gearing k to the pattern wheel 7,
which with the said shaft f may either revolve or be stationary by means of
the clutch m, one half of which is attached to the toothed wheel e and the
other to the shaft f, the said clutch being moved out of gear by the lever n,
connected by the rod o to the lever on the fulcrum 2 attached to the
framing, the said levers being actuated according to the pattern by the knobs
or projections i on the belt h, the clutch being again geared with the wheel e
by the spring . Although only a pinion and wheel are shown, any suitablo
gearing may be employed for diminishing speed, which diminution can be still
further attained by the use of the clutch, thus affording the means of weaving
patterns hitherto deemed impracticable by the power loom. It is evident
a similar arrangement of clutch and levers may be equally applied to the
notched drums before described, of which two or more may be employed as
desired.
In Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13, we represent our improved treddles and
some of the improvements connected therewith. a represents the end frames of
the loom; b, the crank shaft; c, the tappet shaft;,d, the breast beam; e, the
sand roller; f, the slay; 9, the slay swords; h, the healds; and i, the tappets,
placed outside the framing, the said tappets giving motion to the treddles 1,
the alternate action of which is maintained by means of the pinion m and
racks n. Instead of cords connecting the said treddles with the jacks o, wo
employ bars or plates p, having hooks placed so that they may be drawn
down by the treddles as the healds require to be lifted for forming the shed
according to the desired pattern of the cloth, springs being attached to the
bottom shafts of the healds to draw them down, the hooks of the said bars or
plates p being kept under the treddles by springs 7 made of india-rubber or
metal, and pushed off as required to work the pattern by the studs or pro-
jections r on the endless straps, carried on the drums &, and put in motion
by the worm u turning the worm wheel v on the lower drum shaft. The
worm u is shewn on the tappet shaft, but by placing it nearer the back of
the loom and driving it by gearing the endless strap may be widened, and
any suitable number of healds, with their corresponding number of hooked
bars or plates, employed. It is evident that the operation may be somewhat
varied by turning the hooks, in which case they would be pushed under the
treddles by the studs or projections on the endless strap, and taken off by the
action of the spring; and also, that though, we prefer the rack treddles instead
of the vibrating ones at present employed, it is obvious that in some cases
the latter may be desired, in order to obtain still greater economy, and when

page_text: placed outside the framing they may be made to act in conjunction with our
improved rigid booked bars or plates, which substituted for the usual cords,
and applied to our improved rack and vibrating treddles, produce a very
efficient and economical arrangement for working the shed.
In Figs. 9, 10, 14, and 15, we shew the arrangement for lifting an extra
shuttle box by means of rigid hooked bars or plates, two of which are added
to those required for the bealds, but differing in. their shape at the bottom;
they are, however, both acted on as desired by studs or projections placed for
the purpose on the endless pattern strap. When the shuttle is to be lifted,
the bar or rod w is pushed inwards by one of the pattern studs or projections,
so as to be under the inuer treddle 2, and be drawn down with it, the bottom
of the bar or rod depressing one end of the lever æ and raising the other
placed under a stud in which the rod y is attached, the said stud sliding on
the frame or bracket, and the rod connecting both lever and shuttle boxes,
the latter being held stationary as long as required by the catch a' then
above, the depressed end of the lever a being pushed forward for the purposo
by the spring b. When the boxes are to be again changed, the catch a' is
pushed back by the descent of the rigid bar or plate c', also acted on by one
of the pattern studs or projections so as to be under the treddle and come
in contact with the catch, thereby relieving the lever a,
original position, as seen by the dotted lines, Fig. 15.
which returns to its
The changes by this
arrangement are made with great facility and precision, with only a slight
additional number of parts.
•
In Figs. 9 and 10 our improved stop and taking-up motion is represented.
When it is desired to stop the taking-up during the throw of two or more
picks, according to tho pattern, the catch d' is lifted off the ratchet wheel e
by means of the rod f, one end of which is connected to the catch d³ and the
other to a beam or lever g', which is put in motion by studs or projections on
the endless pattern strap s, the said studs depressing one end of the lever and
raising the other, and with it the catch, thereby preventing the revolution of
the ratchet wheel e¹ and consequent taking-up. Instead of taking up by
degrees the cloth woven during the lifting off the catch, we take it up all at
once by giving the necessary motion to the ratchet wheel h', connected with
the pinion k', which drives the wheel on the shaft of the sand roller or
taking-up beam. Wo place on a pin m³, attached to the framing, the arm
or lever n', carrying the bar o', in which is fixed the pin or ratchet p', resting
on the ratchet wheel h'. On the lever n¹ is the slide q', raised when the
taking-up is required by a lever ', acted on by a projection in the pattern
strap so as to come in contact with a rod or projection r³ on the slay sword g;

page_text: so that as the latter moves backward it may impart motion to the lever n',
bar o', and pin or ratchet p¹, thereby acting on the ratchet wheel h', and
taking up the cloth, the length of motion being easily adjusted as desired by
holes or a screw in the bar.
In Figs. 16 and 17 we represent the employment of short hooked levers or
plates to transmit the motion of the treddles to jacks placed near the floor,
the springs for obtaining the counter movement of the healds being attached
to the top of the framing. a are the tappets placed outside the loom for
giving motion, when in gear with the clutch b, to the treddles c, which lift
the ends of the jacks c, depressing their opposite ends connected to the
healds f, the cords from the top of which pass over guide pulleys g to the
springs for giving the upward or return movement of the healds. The
ends d. of the jacks are furnished with two hooked levers or plates i and k,
one on each side, enlarged in Figs. 19 and 20, and shewn out of position, in
order to be seen more clearly, one hook being longer than the other, so as to
cover both treddles when desired, by which means any jack may be held up,
and thereby keep down its corresponding heald according to the pattern of
the cloth. The hooked levers, or plates i and k move upon pins in the ends
of the jacks, and are put in motion when required by connecting them by the
rods or wires m to the arms or levers n, put in motion by the studs or pro-
jections o on the endless pattern strap p, which is placed on drums having
a revolving motion by means of a worm and worm wheel similar to those
before described. The tappets a are loose on the tappet shaft, and may either
revolve or be stationary, see Figs. 21 and 22, in which the parts are enlarged.
If required to revolve, the clutch which turns with the tappet shaft is in
gear with the tappets, and maintained in or returned to that position by a
spring; but if required to be stationary we cause a vec catch r to come in
I contact with a veo segments on the clutch b, so as to draw it from the
corresponding notches on the tappets, thereby leaving the latter without the
power of turning; tho catch r is connected to a slide t, pushed inwards by
the arm or lever u, operated on as desired by studs or projections on the
endless strap p, the catch being pulled back so as to be on the outside of the
vee segment on the clutch by the spring v, which also places the arm or
lever u in position to be again acted on by a stud or projection when required.
It will easily be perceived that the aforesaid clutch motion may be applied to
tappets placed in the interior of the loom. To the lower drum carrying the
endless band p we also attach a clutch to, scen in Figs. 17 and 23, so that
if the clutch is out of gear the drum is stationary, thereby giving facility to
the weaver to check or adjust the pattern strap.
"

page_text: In Figs. 18, 24, and 25, we shew another efficient mode of raising two or.
more shuttles in connection with our improved external treddles, the said
shuttles being lifted, as in the former instance, by a pattern plate acting as
it revolves upon the lever and rods connected with the shuttle box. We
cause the said pattern plate to turn according to the desired pattern of cloth
by connecting with it a ratchet wheel 6, put in motion by the catch or
ratchet c attached to the lever d, both made to move up and down when
a change of shuttle is required, by causing a hooked rod e to come in contact
with and be pulled down by one of the handles f, the alternate positions of
the said hooked rode being governed by studs or projections on the endless
pattern band g, partly seen in Fig. 25, the studs acting against a lever h
having its lower end connected to the hooked rod e, thereby pulling it under
the treddle, and giving as required the consequent motion to the lever d,
catch c, ratchet wheel b, and pattern plate a; the return stroke is caused by
the spring i, or by employing discs or plates of similar construction to those
shewn in Fig. 4.
We may here observe that the aforesaid improvements may be placed in
different positions to those shown in the Drawings, inasmuch as they can be
applied either simply or compound, and incorporated one with the other. as
the kind or pattern of the cloth may require, and also that the hooked levers,
shuttle box, and clutch motions may be equally adapted to vibrating treddles
or levers, provided they are placed outside the framing of the loom; and
instead of the pattern plate we can employ an endless chain with teeth on
its interior, the said chain having external projections of various depths to
act upon the lever which lifts the shuttle boxes.
Having thus fully described the nature of our said Invention, and tho
manner in which the same is to be performed, we desire it to be distinctly
understood that we do not confine ourselves to the exact details herein set
forth, as such may be varied or modified without departing from the principle
thereof; but we claim as our Invention, and which to the best of our
knowledge and belief has not been hitherto used within the realm,―
First, the application to fancy looms of our improved meter, measuring, or
diminishing motion, consisting of either notched drums or gearing with or
without a clutch.
Secondly, the employment of a clutch to each tappet, either in the interior
or exterior of the loom, or both combined, and the modes of working the
same.
Thirdly, an improved letting-back and taking-up motion.
And, fourthly, our improved external treddles, and the sliding arrangement

page_text: for lifting the shuttle box, with the employment of rigid booked bars, plates,
or levers adapted either to jacks at the top of the framing or near the floor,
and also to shuttle-box motions, and the general arrangement of the machinery
or apparatus, as herein described, and illustrated in tho accompanying threo
Sheets of Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Crook, Gilbert Rushton, and
Joseph Crowther, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-
third day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
(L.B.)
WILLIAM CROOK.
GILBERT RUSHTON. (L.S.)
JOSEPH CROWTHER. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-named
William Crook, Gilbert Rushton, and Joseph
Crowther, in the presence of
E. J. HUGHES, Patent Agent,
Manchester.