CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Whitehead, of David Street, in the City of
Manchester, Commission Agent, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
Scaled the 30th August 1861, and dated the 10th June 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Whitehead at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th June 1861.
I, JAMES WHITEHEAD, of David Street, in the City of Manchester;
Commission Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," to be as follows:-
The nature of my Invention consists in certain improved arrangements of
parts for governing the position of the shuttles in looms in which two or more
shuttles are employed. Instead of the usual single chain of tappets for raising
and lowering the drop box, or for otherwise changing the position of the
shuttles, I employ two or more chains of tappets, which are carried over sinall
drums, either connected together or working independently of each other. Tho
chains of tappets are moved round (by star wheels of the usual construction, or
other suitable mechanism,) cither simultaneously, differentially, or alternately,
and the connection between the chains of tappets and the shuttle box is
effected by levers and rods, as now customary. Instead of the chains of
tappets above referred to, two or more chains of lags and pegs, or perforated

page_text: plates, or other equivalents may be used. By means of these improvements a
very great variety of patterns can be woven with comparatively short tappet
chains.
f
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Whitehead in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th December 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
WHITEHEAD, of David Street, in the City of Manchester, Commission Agent,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Whitehead, Her special licence that I, the said James
Whitehead, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Whitehead, 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said James Whitehead, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, 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 James Whitehead, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
.
The nature of my Invention consists in certain improved arrangements of
parts for governing the position of the shuttles in looms in which two or more
shuttles are employed. Instead of the usual single chain of tappets for raising
and lowering the drop box, or for otherwise changing the position of the
shuttles, I employ two or more chains of tappets, which are carried over small

page_text: drums, either connected together or working independently of each other.
The chains of tappets are moved round by star wheels of the usual con-
struction, or other suitable mechanism,) either simultaneously, differentially,
or alternately, and the connection between the chains of tappets and the
shuttle box is effected by levers and rods, as now customary. Instead of the
chains of tappets above referred to, two or more chains of lags and pegs, or
perforated plates, or other equivalents may be used. By means of these
improvements a great variety of patterns can be woven with comparatively
short tappet chains.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me, reference being
had to the accompanying Sheet of 'Drawings, and to the figures and letters
marked thereon.
Figure 1 represents part of a loom working with two shuttles, to which is
applied what may be termed the "differential " checking chains.
a is part of the side frame viewed from the back of the loom; b, the crank
shaft; c, a pinion fixed on the crank shaft gearing into the carrier wheel d;
e is a lock wheel for driving the intermittent wheelf; g is the chain barrel;
h, the shuttle box lever, and j the bowl on it; k is the tappet chain, and I tho
rod by which the shuttle box is suspended from the end of the lever h. These
parts are partly made and arranged in the manner described in the Speci-
fication of Letters Patent granted to Squire Diggle, on the Eleventh of
January One thousand eight hundred and forty-five, Nunber 10,462. Upon
the same axis as the intermittent wheelf and chain barrel g, I place a second
and similar barrel g', upon which works the second tappet chain, care being
taken that the position of the links of this chain correspond with those of the
first chain k. On the lever h is fixed a stud carrying the bowl j¹ connected
with j, and of the same diameter.
To shew the mode of action I will suppose that the loom is working with
two shuttles, the top shuttle having blue and the bottom white weft. In the
chains of tappets the lowest or depressing links when under the bowls j and j¹
will bring into working position the top shuttle, so they may be called, for the
sake of distinction "blue links." The next size or elevators will raiso the
lower shuttle, so they may be called "white links." Let it now be supposed
that the chain is composed of fifty-one blue links consecutively, and fifty
white links also consecutively; and the chain k¹ of fifty links of each kind:
similarly arranged; let each link represent four picks of weft in the cloth.
When it occurs that the links of both chains under the bowls j and j¹ are not
of the same kind, it is evident that that having the greatest elevation (or in

page_text: the present case the white link); will govern the shuttle that shall come into
action independently of the other chain. If the first blue link of k, and the
last blue link of ¹ be under the bowls j and j' respectively at the same time;
it will be seen that the white shuttle will be in action during the whole
remainder of the round of the chains; that is, in the first round there will be
one link or four picks blue and ninety-nine links, or three hundred and ninety-
six picks white. In consequence of the chain k having one more link in. it
thank, it follows that at the commencement of the second round the first blue
link of will correspond in the barrel to the last blue link but one, or the
fiftieth on k¹, so that there will be two links of blue and ninety-eight links of
white for the second round. Thus by the differential action of the chains the
blue will continue to increase, and the white to decrease one link or four picks
for every round of the same, until all the white links on both chains cor-
respond, or are opposite to each other, when there will be fifty links of white
and fifty links of blue. After this the blue will decrease and the white increase
at the same rate, until the chains are relatively in the same positions in which
they commenced, when one round of the pattern will be complete. The above
pattern is given to show the extent to which the principle may be carried. It
would probably have the very unusual property of being too long for any.
useful purpose, though a modification of the same might be adapted for sun
blinds, tent covers, and other large patterns. If three chains working three.or
four shuttles be used the pattern might be still further extended. Instead of
the simple lever h, as shewn in Figure 1, a compound lever may be used, as
shewn in Figure 2, which represents a plan of a modification of my Invention.
A stud is fixed on the loom side at m, which serves as the fulcrum for the lever n;
on the end of the lever n is fixed a stud, which serves as fulcrum for the second
lever n', of the same length as the lever n; from the end of the lever n¹ is
suspended the rod l connected to the shuttle box. In the middle of the length
of each lever is a stud for the bowls j and j¹. The studs are so arranged that
the bowls rest upon the centres of their respective chain barrels corresponding
to g and g', in Figure 1. The end of the lever n is weighted or held down by
a spring of sufficient force to overcome the weight of the shuttle box and parts
connected therewith. It will be seen on inspection of the Drawings that by
this arrangement three shuttles can be brought into action with only two
heights of tappet chain links, for, suppose the bowlj to be upon a high link,
and the bowl on a low link, the top shuttle box will be in action; if both
bowls are upon either high or low links the middle box will be in position, and
if the bowl j¹ be upon a low link, and the bowl j on a high one, then the
bottom box will be in position. In the same way five shuttles may be worked

page_text: by a chain with only three heights of links and seven shuttles with four
heights. By arranging the links of each chain in a certain manner, and both
chains having the same number of links working simultaneously, the difficulty
if not impossibility of bringing into action any one of the shuttles (when more
than four are in use) may be overcome.
I will now proceed to describe the Drawings illustrating the alternating
checking motion, in which two tappet chains, each having a different arrange-
ment of links, are used separately and at will, for the purpose of giving variety
of pattern; for instance, one chain may be adapted for weaving the body, and
the other the border of a scarf, or handkerchief, or other similar article.
Figure 3 represents the end view of a loom, with the alternating checking
motion attached; Figure 4 is the back view of the same; Figure 5 is a sec-
tional plan; and Figures 6 and 7 are detached parts of the same.
The
chains and are not shewn in Figures 3, 4, and 5, in order that the other
working parts may be seen more distinctly. The intermittent wheel f is moved
in the usual manner by the lock wheel e, carrier d, and pinion c, fixed to the
crank shaft b; o is the framework, bolted to the loom side, and carrying one
end of the hollow shaft p, the other end working in the loom side a. On the
hollow shaft p, and immediately under the lever h¹ is a boss, on each side of
which are placed the chain barrels g and g', working loose on the shaft.
Inside of the hollow shaft p is a rod 9, through and fast in which is the flat
key r, which also passes freely through the boss on the hollow shaft P, which
is slotted for that purpose. The key r is of sufficient length for the ends to
project beyond the periphery of the boss. The sides (next the boss) of the
chain barrels g and g₁ are made to act as catch boxes, having as many notches
or slots as there are divisions in the intermittent wheel f, as shewn in Figures
6 and 7; the slots are to be large enough to admit freely the projecting. ends
of the key. The chain barrels g and g¹ are held stationary when not in geer
with the key r, by the spring catches s, one of which is shewn in Figure 7.
The intermittent wheel f is keyed or screwed on the shaft p, in such a position
that the key shall be opposite to and correspond with the slots in both catch
boxes during the dwell of the same. Either of the chains may be brought
into action. when required in the following manner: The spiral spring
enclosed in the hollow shaft p, draws by means of the rod q the key r into
the catches of the chain barrel g, which is then connected with the inter-
mittent wheel and turns with it. To withdraw the key r from the catchés
of the barrel g, and to bring it into gear with those of g', I adopt the following
means: is a bell crank lever, having its fulcrum at ; the end of the rod.q
passes through one arm of this lever, and is held in position by lock nuts, so

page_text: that it may turn freely therein. On the other arm. of the lever t there is
jointed the rod or finger u, passing through and projecting beyond the plate v;
t is a smaller bell-crank lever, on one end of which is jointed the finger u¹;
also passing through and projecting beyond the plate, v near to and in line
with u, the other end acting as a catch or trigger for the lever t; w is a two-
armed lever, carrying the jacquard barrel a, and oscillating on its fulcrum, the
requisite motion being given to it by a cam or. cams on the lock wheel e; holes
are made in the jacquard barrel. to admit freely the ends of the projecting
fingers u and u¹, when the barrel is brought up to the plate vin its oscillation.
The jacquard barrel carries a series of plates linked together to form a con-
tinuous chain. These plates are perforated with one hole to correspond to
either of the holes in the barrel, as may be required, the other being covered
by the plate or left blank. It will now be seen that if a blank is opposed to
the finger u, and a hole opposite to the finger u,.when the barrel a comes up,
the key will through the rod 7 and lever t, bo drawn from the catches of the
barrel into those of 9', at the same time the end of the lever t is secured
and held in its place by the catch or lever . Though the jacquard barrel is
made to oscillato every two or four picks, as may be required, the barrel is
only turned one quarter when a change in the plate is necessary by means of
the look y, and lever, as shewn in Figures 3 and 6. The lever passes
between the two chain. barrels 9, 9', the fulcrum being at ; a stud is
fixed on both the chains k and k¹ (at the point when the change is to be
made) projecting over the barrels g and g', and under the lever. When either
of the studs passes the tops of the chain barrels the lever is raised, and the
hook y catching on the cam of the jacquard barrel x causes it to turn one
quarter round.
If the next plate on the jacquard barrel should be a similar
one to the last no change is produced, but the chain k¹ again repeats another
around, or until the stud again raises the lever ; but if a blank should be
opposed to u', and a hole opposite to u, the lever t will be pressed back, and
the lever t will be set at liberty; the spring in the hollow shaft p, drawing the
key again into gear with the chain barrel g. Thus the change can be made
at any round or part of a round of either of the chains k or k¹, care being
taken that the change shall be made when one of the lowest or shallowest
links is under the bowl or j' about to be stopped.
In the foregoing description and in the Drawings I have referred to and
shewn tappet chains for acting on the levers, to which the shuttle boxes are
connected, I wish it, however, to be understood that chains of lags and pegs,
or perforated plates, or other equivalents may be used instead. I wish it also
to be understood that the arrangement of the parts for connecting the tappet

page_text: chains or their equivalents to the shuttle boxes may be varied and modified
according to the peculiar construction of the loom to which my improvements
are applied. By means of these improvements a great variety of patterns can
be woven with comparatively short tappet chains.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described several modes
of carrying the same into effect, I declare that I claim,―
First, the application and use of two or more chains of tappets or their
equivalents acting either differentially, alternately, or combined for governing
by self-acting mechanism the position of the shuttles in looms where two or
more shuttles are employed.
And, secondly, the arrangement of the compound levers, shewn and described
in reference to Figure 2, in combination with two or more chains of tappets or
their equivalents for governing the position of the shuttle box.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Whitehead, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of December, in the year of our Lord,
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
JAMES WHITEHEAD.
L.S.)