IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND DRIVING OF POWER LOOMS, IN THE FORMATION OF SHUTTLES, AND IN THE WINDING AND ARRANGEMENT OF WEPT, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Combe, of Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND
DRIVING OF POWER LOOMS, IN THE FORMATION OF SHUTTLES, AND IN THE
WINDING AND ARRANGEMENT OF WEPT, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 11th August 1857, and dated the 20th February 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Combe at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th February
1857.
I, JOHN COMBE, of Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION. AND DRIVING OF POWER LOOMS, IN THE FORMATION OF SHUTTLES, AND IN
THE WINDING AND ARRANGEMENT OF WEFT, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:.
The first head of my Invention consists in an arrangement of cams and
levers or sliding bars, whereby a percussive action is obtained in driving home
the weft, and a dwell or pause in the motion of the lathe during the passage of
the shuttle, and with which, by the use of double cams, a loom for plain goods
may be actuated by a single shaft without any wheelwork or "gearing.
The second head of my Invention consists in applying a stop to the forward
5 motion of the lathe, and so arranging the connecting rods of crank looms

page_text: that they will yield or spring in the direction of their length, whereby a
smarter action is given to the crank loom in driving home the weft.
The third head of my Invention consists in combining a spring with the
weight applied to the friction straps of the warp beam, so as to give it a yielding
and resilient motion under the action of the lathe.
The fourth head of my Invention consists in stretching the cloth in power
looms by the rotation of horizontal discs, against the periphery of which the
selvage of the cloth is pressed by opposing fixed or movable surfaces.
The fifth head of my Invention consists in leading the weft along a groove
or channel formed in the side of the shuttle, so as to give an uniform friction
to it in its passage, and cause it to issue from the centre of the shuttle.
The sixth head of my Invention consists in withdrawing the stem or bobbin
on which the weft is wound, and compressing the tube or cocoon firmly in the
shuttle, so that the weft may be drawn smoothly and continuously from the
internal surface.
The seventh head of my Invention consists in applying a circle or cylinder
of, shuttle boxes to the end of the lathe, in such a manner that the cylinder
may be moved on its axis by the rising or falling of catches during the
forward motion of the lathe.
The eighth head of my Invention consists in giving motion to power looms
and other machines by the pressure and interposition of pullies or drums with
surfaces made of compressible and elastic material.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Combe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th August 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
COMBE, of Leeds; in the County of York, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give. and grant unto me, the
said John Combe, Her special license that I, the said John Combe, my execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Combe,
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

page_text: "
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND DRIVING OF
POWER LOOMS, IN THE FORMATION OF SHUTTLES, AND IN THE WINDING AND ARRANGE-
MENT OF WEFT, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Combe, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, 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 I, the said John Combe, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
•
The first head of my Invention consists in an arrangement of cams and
levers or sliding bars, whereby a percussive action is obtained in driving home
the weft, and a dwell or pause in the motion of the lathe during the passage
of the shuttle, and with which, by the use of double cams, a loom for
plain goods may be actuated by a single shaft without any wheelwork or
gearing.
In the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 is an end view in section, Fig. 2,
a plan view, and Fig. 3, a front view of portions of a power loom representing
the various parts of the cam and lever motion; and in all these three Figures
the same letters of reference denote similar parts. a, a, is the fly wheel of
one side of the loom keyed fast on the straight driving or main shaft c, to
which motion is given by the driving strap. On the inner side of the fly
wheel a, a, an internal and external cam b, b, is cast or fixed, and projects
inwards from the face of the fly wheel, as seen in the plan view, Fig. 2. The
sword d, d, jointed to the lower bar of the frame end, as shown in Figures 1
and 3, carries between two projecting lugs the roller f, which plays upon the
external surface of the cam b, b, as seen in Figures 1 and 2. e, e, is a plain
bar, the top and bottom ends of which are forged with pins or studs projecting
at right angles from the face of the bar. The pin or stud at the lower end of
the bar e, e, works freely in a socket cast on the frame end of the loom, as
represented in Figs. 1 and 3, and the pin or stud at the upper end' of e, e,
carries a roller g, Fig. 1, which is represented in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and
which plays on the internal surface of the cam b, b. The top of the sword d, d,
carries a curved steel spring h, h, somewhat in the form of an S, which is

page_text: fixed between the lugs which carry the roller f, and which passes round
under the roller f, and then rises with a slight twist to one side, so as to
bite with its book end over the top of the bar c, e; this spring h, h,
is shown in Fig. 1 in its proper position, but in Fig. 2* it is shown
detached, in order that its peculiar form may be more readily perceived.
A small screw in front of the sword d, d, is tapped into the end of the
spring h, h, so that the hooked end of the spring can be tightened on
the top of the bar e, e, so as to close the rollers ƒ and g firmly on the
external and internal surfaces of the cam b, b. The external and internal
surfaces of this cam are made as nearly as is practicable to give an uniform
motion to the rollers f and g, and from the description now given it will
readily be perceived that the rotation of the shaft c will cause the sword d, d,
to advance and return twice for each rotation of the shaft c, with the form of
cam b, b, represented in Fig. 1, and to pause during that portion of the
rotation in which the surfaces of the cams acting on the rollers ƒ and g coincido
with circles described from the centre of the shaft c. In some cases a sliding
bar might be substituted for the sword d, d, and rocking bar e, e, but I prefer
the arrangement described as being freer and sweeter in its action.
Under this head of the Invention, I claim the use of the double cams b, b,
as described, which allows the picking motion and the treading motion for plain
goods to be taken directly from the cam shaft. I claim also the peculiar
formation of the cam in conjunction with the fly wheel, together with the
general arrangement of the sword d and spring h, and rocking bar e, or any
modification thereof which I have described and represented herewith.
The second head of my Invention consists in applying a stop to the forward
motion of the lathe, and so arranging the connecting rods of crank looms that
they will yield or spring in the direction of their length, whereby a smarter
action is given to the crank loom in driving home the weft.
Fig. 4 in the Drawings represents an end view in section of a portion of a
power loom, shewing the crank a, the connecting rod 6, and the upper portion
of the sword c, with the lathe f attached; the crank is in that part of-its-
forward motion when the lathe f, in an ordinary crank loom, would be within
about a quarter of an inch of the completion of its forward motion. The
connecting rod b, b, is represented detached in plan view at Fig. 4*; tho
hole for the pin 9, by which the end of the connecting rod b, b, is jointed to
the top of the sword c, c, is made oblong, as represented by dotted lines in Fig,
4, so as to allow the connecting rod to play in the direction of its length on the
joint pin g about a quarter of an inch., & is a steel spring fixed at the top of
the sword c, c, so that the lower end of the spring presses firmly against the
+

page_text: end of the connecting rod b, b, and prevents any play of the rod b, b, on the
joint pin g, except when the spring d is made to give way to a superior force.
e is a flat face about two and a half inches broad, cast or fixed on the frame
side of the loom, so as to form a stop to the forward motion of the lathe f, on
the front side of which a piece of leather is fastened, as shewn in Fig. 4.
Now, it is evident that the rotation of the crank a, a, with the usual impetus
of a power loom, will carry the lathe forward till it is stopped against the faco
e, and then the spring & will be made to gave way to allow the crank to pass
the front centre, after which the spring will recoil as the crank recedes, and
the connecting rod will return to the position in which it is represented in
relation to the joint pin g, which position it will retain till the next blow of
the lathe against the stop e, when the same action will again take place, by
which the forward motion of the lathe is made to end with a sudden blow, the
effect of which, however, is modified by the yielding action of the spring.
Under this head, I claim the application of a stop to the forward motion
produced by the crank; also the combination therewith of a yielding and
resilient action, so as to allow the crank to continue in uninterrupted rotation.
The third head of my Invention consists in combining a spring with tho
weight applied to the friction straps of the warp beam, so as to give it a
yielding and resilient motion under the action of the lathe.
In Figures 1 and 3, k, k, is the warp beam, with the friction pulley j,j, round
which
passes the friction strap i, i, one end of which is held by a nut and
screw passing through a projecting lug 4, cast on or fixed to the framing of
the loom; the other end of the friction strap i, i, is formed with a hook, which
catches the round end of a spring bar m, m, made of cast iron or flat steel, or
other suitable material, such as ash or lancewood. This spring bar m, m, is
made with a hole in the middle of its length, which allows it to drop on to the
upright pivot of the bent lever n, n, which works on pivots carried by the pro-
jecting lugs p, p, which are cast or fixed on the framing of the loom. Along
the bent lever n, n, a set of weights o, o, are made to traverse by an adjusting
screw, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 1, by which the drag on the warp beam
is regulated as may be required. From the description given, it is evident
that the spring bar m, m, will give a yielding and resilient action to the move-
ment of the warp beam when the blow is given by the loom in driving up the
weft, while the weight o will always regulate to an uniform resistarice the drág
upon the warp beam ; the friction strap i may be made of a flexible metal
strap, lined with a strap of leather, or of any other materials such as will give
the requisite strength combined with flexibility and uniform friction.
Under this head of the Invention, I claim the combination of a spring and

page_text: a weight acting directly on the friction pulleys of the warp beam, so as to
obtain the uniformity of drag of the weight in conjunction with the yielding
and resilient action of the spring.
The fourth head of my Invention consists in stretching the cloth in power
looms by the rotation of horizontal discs, against the periphery of which the
selvage of the cloth is pressed by opposing fixed or movable surfaces..
In Figures 5 and 6, a is a small shaft passing across the loom immediately.
under the cloth and behind the breast beam, to which motion is given by a
small pulley and band at one end. The bearings of the shaft a are formed in
the upper part of a movable socket 6, one of which is placed at each side of
the loom, and is jointed to a small bracket, as shewn in Fig. 6. c is a circular
plate of metal about four inches in diameter, and one-eighth of an inch thick, the
pin or axis of which drops into the socket b, in which it freely revolves. Ou
the lower surface of the circular plate care a series of cogs, like those of a
crown wheel, which are acted upon by a small pinion on the shaft a. d is
another circular plate of the same diameter and thickness as c, but having a
square hole in its centre, which fits on to the upper part of the axle of the
plate c, which is made square to receive the plate d; the upper part of the
axle of c terminates in a screw, and is provided with a nut, between which nut
and the plate d a washer of vulcanized india-rubber or a spiral spring is inter-
posed, so that tho plates c and d may be pressed together to any required
degree by means of the screw and nut described; e is a packing of leather or
wood interposed between the plates c and d, so as to cause thom to nip tho
selvage of the cloth at the opposite part of their circumference. It will now
be evident that when a slow and continual outward motion at the point where
they nip the selvage is given to these discs by the rotation of the shaft a, the
stretch, and at the same
effect will be to keep the cloth continually at the
time as the plates are polished on their surfaces to smooth the selvage as it
passes through their nip.
Under this head of the Invention I claim the application of continuously
moving surfaces to stretch and smooth the selvages of cloth, as herein
described.
The fifth head of my Invention relates to an improved construction of
shuttle, and consists in leading the weft along a groove or channel formed
in the side of the shuttle, so as to give an uniform friction to the weft in its
passage, and cause it to issue from the centre of the shuttle.
At Fig. 7 are three views of a shuttle, the plan view shewing the channel
through which the weft is conducted. The channel along the side of the
shuttle is supposed to be cut out as a groove, and then covered over with a

page_text: slip of wood or metal. The circular part of the channel at the end of the
shuttle is formed in a piece of glazed pottery which is let into the end of the
shuttle, as represented. And in order to get the weft through the channel, a
small steel wire or piece of catgut or twisted horsehair, with a loop at the
end, is passed into the channel, so as to come out at the end of the shuttle;
the weft is then threaded through the loop and drawn through the channel of
the shuttle as required.
Under this head of my Invention I claim the formation of shuttles with
grooves or channels for leading the weft towards the centre of the shuttle, as
described.
The sixth head of my Invention consists in withdrawing the stem or bobbin
on which the weft is wound, and compressing the tube or cocoon, firmly in the
shuttle, so that the weft may be drawn smoothly and continuously from the
internal surface.
In Fig. 8 the top part of a spindle is represented with the weft wound on
and ready to be taken off and packed into the shuttle, which, as shewn in
Fig. 7, is made with a slip of steel or other metal jointed on a pin at one end,
and retained, when it is closed, on the weft by a spring catch, as shown in
Fig. 7.
With weft which from its peculiar nature may not hold itself together
sufficiently when drawn off the spindle and packed in the shuttle, I place in
the bottom of the shuttle a number of steel pins, set at an angle pointing
towards the entrance of the channel through which the weft is to pass, so as to
hold the weft in a body together, and at the same time allow it to uncoil with
perfect freedom when drawn in the direction of the entrance of the channel.
I also, if necessary, put similar pins into the slip or bar which closes on and
presses down the weft. At the end of the shuttle I also place steel pins, 'to
retain the few last coils of the weft, which would otherwise be drawn away in
a lump.
Under this head of my Invention I claim the packing of the weft into the
shuttle without a stem or bobbin, in the manner described; also, the with-
drawing of the weft from the stem or bobbin on which it is wound, and the
leading of it from the internal surface of the hollow cylinder, in which shape it
is wound.
The seventh head of my Invention consists in applying a circle or cylinder
of shuttle boxes to the end of the lathe in such a manner that the cylinder
may be moved on its axis by the rising and falling of catches during the
forward motion of the lathe.
In Figures 1, 2, and 3 are represented various views of the cylinder or circle

page_text: of movable shuttle boxes. 9, 9, is a hollow cylinder open at both ends, and is
made fast by two projecting lugs to the breast beam of the loom, which is
lengthened, as seen in Fig. 2, in order to form a bearing for the lugs of the
cylinder q, q. Within this cylinder a circle of boxes 7, 7, revolves on pivots at
its ends, which are carried by the two brackets w, w, which are fixed to the
breast beam of the loom, as shewn in Figures 1 and 2; and a portion of one
side of the cylinder 9, 9, is lengthened, as seen at a, e, and is furnished with a
slot, in which the end of the picking stick t, t, plays freely. The circle of
shuttle boxes 1, 1, is retained in its position by a small roller which is sus-
pended on the link x, x, and which roller is pressed by a spiral spring between
the divisions of the boxes in r, r, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. Two
catches *, *, shewn in Fig. 3, and detached in Fig. 9, are fixed with a
cranked stud to the upper part of the sword d, d, so that when the catches
are raised, as shown in Fig. 9, to play on the divisions of the circle r, r, and
move it round on its axis by the forward motion of the top of the sword that
carries the lathe, the end of which is cut short, as seen in Figures 2 and 3.
The catches *,*, are raised by means of wires, which are acted upon at the
lower ends by jacquard apparatus, or any other method usually adopted. The
division of the circle in which the end of the picking stick t, t, plays is made
to coincide exactly with the top of the lathe and the reed; and immediately
the lathe has got to the end of the back stroke the shuttle is made to shoot
out of the division of the circle 7, r, in which the picking stick t, t, is then
acting, and across the lathe, which is then stationary, for about one half of the
time of a stroke of the loom. It is evident that the proper working of such a
mechanical arrangement as that described must greatly depend on the freedom
and regularity of the action of the picking apparatus; and with a view to attain
this object, I arrange the picking apparatus as represented in Figures 1, 2,
and in the detached view, Fig. 10. t, t, (Figures 1 and 2,) is the picking
stick, suspended on two moveable links and v, which cause the end of t, t,
to travel in a straight line instead of an arc of a circle, as it would do if
suspended on a single fixed centre. Motion is given to the picking stick t, t,
by the wrought-iron link 3, 3, (Fig. 2,) which is forged with a flat end, and is
turned round in the form of a square hook, as seen in Fig. 10. Between the
hook end of 3, 3, and the picking stick t, t, a square block of vulcanized india-
rubber, marked 5 in Fig. 10, is placed, and the hooked end of 3, 8, is retained
in its proper position by the metal strap 4, which strides over the hooked end
of 3, 3, and is screwed to the picking stick t, t, and which also retains the block
of india-rubber from slipping out of its place.
Under this head of the Invention I claim the construction and application

page_text: in the manner shewn of moveable shuttle boxes to the end of the lathe, the
moving apparatus of which shuttle boxes is fixed to the framing of the loom,
and is independent of the motion of the lathe; also, the suspending of picking
sticks on two links, or any mechanical modification, so as to cause the ends of
such picking sticks to travel in a straight line, whereby I am enabled to
dispense with the use of a sliding picker.
The eighth head of my Invention consists in giving motion to power looms
and other machines by the pressure and interposition of pullies or drums with
surfaces made of compressible and elastic material.
d, d, and f,f, are two plate wheels
faces of which are made to press on
The disc f, f, is keyed fast on the
Fig. 11 is a side view, and Fig. 11 a partial section of the driving
apparatus. a, a, is a pulley, turned on the outside to receive the driving strap
which gives motion to the machine. This pulley a, a, carries a set of small
pullies or rollers b, b, which are partially formed of india-rubber or other
elastic material covered over with leather, as seen in the sectional view.
Fig. 11, and which work freely on round pins made fast in the pulley a, a,
which revolves freely on the shaft h, h.
or discs fitted on the shaft h, h, the inner
the faces of the series of rollers b, b.
shaft h, h, and the disc d, d, is loose on the shaft h, h, and is provided with a
ratchet wheel e, e, which is acted upon by a catch fixed to the framing of the
machine to which the apparatus is applied. Now, it is evident that if motion
be given to the pulley a, a, by a driving strap, and if the catch acting on the
ratchet wheel c, e, be thrown in so as to prevent the rotation of the disc d, d,
then the friction of the series of compressible rollers b, b, will cause the discf,f,
to revolve at double the velocity of the pulley a, a, and the machinery actuated
by the shaft h, h, will be put into action. But immediately the catch is with-
drawn from the ratchet wheel e, e, then the resistance to the rotation of the
disc d, d, being less than the resistance to the rotation of the disc f. f, and the
machinery which it actuates, the disc d, d, will begin to move, and the
machinery actuated by the shaft h, h, will stop.
Fig. 12 is a sectional view of another arrangement or modification of this
driving apparatus, in which the rollers b, b, are made of wood or metal, and
the compressible surfaces are formed on the faces of the discs d, d, and f,f, the
rollers b, b, being made of a conical form, and the compressible faces made
bevelled, so as to give an uniform pressure. These compressible surfaces
are made of circles or washers of vulcanized india-rubber i, i, let into the
dises d, d, and f, f, and covered by circles of leather fixed in their places by
means of wrought-iron rings g. 9, and g', g', which are fastened to the discs

page_text: d, d, and f, f, by a series of small screws, so that the leather surface may bo
readily replaced when it is worn out.
Under this head of the Invention I claim the use and application of the
apparatus above shewn and described to the driving of power looms and other
machines.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Combe, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Fourteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness to the signature of John Combe,.
J. B. WILKINSON,
11, Albion Street, Leeds.
JOHN COMBE. (L.S.)