CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO SPINNING, WEAVING, AND KNITTING MACHINES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughts-
man, for the Invention of CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO SPINNING,
WEAVING, AND KNITTING MACHINES."-A communication from abroad by
Charles Arthur Radignet and Jean Adolphe Lecène, of Paris, in the
Empire of France.
Sealed the 31st October 1865, and dated the 25th May 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th May 1865.
I, HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsmau, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO
SPINNING, WEAVING, AND KNITTING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the employment of electricity to stop the motion
of spinning, weaving, and knittingmachines when any breakages occur during
the working, such as the breaking of the weft or warp threads, or any
[Price 8d1

page_text: derangement of the headles or other of the working parts of the machine.
To this end an electric circuit is established between the main body of the
machine and a special apparatus fixed to the machine, but separated from it
by means of some insulating substance, such as ivory, glass, gutta percha, or
caoutchouc. This special apparatus consists of an arm fixed to the body of
the machine, in any suitable position, and carrying at its upper end a small
piece of wire which works round a pin or stud fixed on the arm, and at the
other end is bent into the form of a hook in order to receive the thread which
keeps it in position. When the thread breaks it brings into action an electric
bell and releases the hooked piece of wire, which falls against another piece
fixed to the arm horizontally, and thus completes the circuit. This piece is
fixed to the bar by means of ivory or other suitable insulating substance, and
at the other end is hooked to receive the metallic thread or wire. In order
to detect a hole in the fabric, small rollers attached to springs are fixed under
the fabric to the machine. The rollers bear against the fabric, and on the
slightest defect come into contact with the electrical apparatus. It will thus
be understood that the fault which occurs in the work is the sole cause that
produces the electric contact, and this contact causes an electric bell to strike
automatically, and thus draws the attention of the attendant. The completion
of the electric circuit will also act upon the lever which governs the driving
belt, and the machine will be stopped automatically at the same moment that
the defect in the work takes place. The electrical apparatus is of the ordinary
well-known construction, and therefore needs no description. Solongas the
threads are unbroken they will support the armature or other part of the
electrical apparatus in the proper position to maintain the circuit complete,
but immediately any defect takes place, that part of the electrical apparatus
which is supported by the thread will drop, and by breaking the circuit will
release the stop lever and arrest the motion of the machine.
ять, теа
by the said Henry Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on g
the 25th November 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
l'atent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord Onc
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Henry Edward Newton, Her special icence that I, the said Henry Edward
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Henry Edward Newton, 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 APPLICABLE TO SPINNING, WEAVING. AND KNITTING MACHINES,"
being a communication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that
1, the said Henry Edward Newton, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Edward Newton, 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 Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) -
This Invention consists in the employment of electricity to stop the motion
of spinning, weaving, and knitting machines when any breakages occur during
the working, such as the breaking of the weft or warp threads, or any
derangement of the headles or other of the working parts of the machine.
To this end an electric circuit is established between the main body of the
machine and a special apparatus fixed to the machine, but separated from it
by means of some insulating substance, such as ivory, glass, gutta percha, or
caoutchouc. This special apparatus consists of an arm fixed to the body of
the machine, in any suitable position, and carrying at its upper end a small
piece of wire, which works round a pin or stud fixed on the arm, and at the
other end is bent into the form of a hook, in order to receive the thread which
keeps it in position. When the thread breaks it brings into action an electric
bell, and releases the hooked piece of wire, which falls against another piece
fixed to the arm horizontally, and thus completes the circuit. This piece is

page_text: fixed to the bar by means of ivory, or other suitable insulating substance, and
at the other end is hooked to receive the metallic thread or wire. In order
to detect a hole in the fabric small rollers attached to springs are fixed
under the fabric to the machine. The rollers bear against the fabric, and on
passing over the slightest defect they will come into contact with the electrical
apparatus. It will thus be understood that the fault which occurs in the work
in the sole cause that produces the electric contact, and this contact causes
the electric bell to strike automatically, and thus draws the attention of the
attendant. The completion of the electric circuit will also act upon the lever
which governs the driving belt, and the machine will be stopped automatically
at the same moment that the defect in the work takes place. The electrical
apparatus is of the ordinary well-known construction, and therefore needs no
description. So long as the threads are unbroken they will support the
armature or other part of the electrical apparatus in the proper position to
maintain the circuit complete, but immediately any defect takes place, that
part of the electrical apparatus which is supported by the thread will drop,
and by breaking the circuit will release the stop lever, and arrest the motions
of the machine.
In Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5,
represent several arrangements of apparatus for detecting broken threads,
according to this Invention. Fig. 6 shows (in top view) a portion of a
straight knitting machine with the apparatus applied thereto; and Fig. (*
is a side view of one of the apparatuses detached; Fig. 7 is a top view of
a portion of a circular machine with the apparatus applied thereto; and
Fig. 7 is a side view of one of the apparatuses detached; Fig. 8 shews
in elevation an arrangement for raising the presser wheel in circular vertical
needle machines, and Fig. 8 is a plan view of the same: Figures 2, 9*,
and 10 represent other methods of raising the presser wheel.
In Sheet II., Figures 11 to 18 shew several methods of raising the vertical
presser bars or wheels; Figs. 19 and 19* shew in elevation and plan view
the sinkers as having fallen upon the contact piece in consequence of the
breakage of the thread; Figures 20 and 20* shew in underneath view
and in elevation an arrangement in which wheels are employed as the
contact surfaces in horizontal knitting machines; Figures 21 and 21*
shew in elevation and plan an arrangement for throwing a machine out of
gear.
In Sheet III., Fig. 22 shews on an enlarged scale an elevation of the
general arrangement of apparatus for throwing a machine out of gear;

page_text: Figures 23, 24, 25, and 26, shew different arrangements for effecting the
same object as that shewn at Figures 11 to 18, Sheet II.
The means employed according to this Invention for indicating any defect
in the working of machinery forspinning, knitting, and weaving, as aforesaid,
are based upon the general principle of giving warning to the attendant at
the exact moment when the defect takes place, and by means of the electrical
apparatus the machinery is at the same moment thrown out of gear, so that
the defect can be repaired without loss of time, and especially without its
being necessary to undo a certain portion of the work, as is now generally
the case.
These means are the following:-First, the electrical signal apparatus;
second, the apparatus for shewing when a thread is broken; third, the raising
of the pressers in horizontal needle machines, or the presser wheels in vertical
needle machines, or the falling of the regulating screw in sleevemachines,&c.;
fourth, the falling of the sinkers, and contact produced thereby; fifth, the
wheels for indicating any holes which may exist in the fabric by reason of the
fineness of the thread, or from any other cause; sixth, throwing the machine
out of gear by electricity, and which is applicable to all kinds of machines;
whether driven by hand, or by steam, or other motive power.
The object of the electrical signal apparatus is to give notice, first, when
the thread is cut by the sinkers; second, when a hole or cut occurs in the
fabric; third, when the machine stops by reason of the breakage of a thread.
The difference in the signal is such that it is impossible to make a mistake.
In the case of a hole or cut in the fabric the bell rings two or three times,
and then stops immediately, whilst when the machine is stopped the bell ring
until it is again brought into gear.
This apparatus (shewn at Fig. 3) consists of a pendulum a, the bob of
which consists of a small glass hook , which, during the operation of the
machine oscillates in a certain arc of a circle, and which is supported by the
thread passing into the hook. This apparatus, which is called by the Inven
tors the "dancer,' carries at its fulcrum a pin l, which is in contact with a
small spring e, which completes the circuit when the dancer is no longer
supported by the thread.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-In its natural position when
unprovided with thread, the position of the "dancer" is vertical, and its pin d
rubs against the spring e, and the current passes, but when the machine is in
operation the thread is passed through the hooks c, c. and the pendulum
guided by the thread assumes a nearly horizontal position, and the pin d

page_text: which has described the same are of a circle becomes almost vertical. It will
now be understood that if the thread should break, the pendulum a by its own
gravity will resume its vertical position, and the pin d rubbing against the
spring e will complete the circuit which was interrupted when the thread was
not broken. This thread detector is ordinarily employed, according to this
Invention, for raising the knocking over lever, a wheel of horizontal needle
machines, the presser wheels of vertical needle machines, altering the regu-
lation of fashioning machines, and generally any mechanism which requires
the machine to be thrown out of gear. For coarse wool, thread, or any other
resisting substance, the rod of the thread detector is made of copper, or other
suitable material, but when the thread is composed of any delicate or fragile
material a short and fine rod of steel is used. In order to obtain greater
security, and prevent oxidation, it is advisable for the contact surfaces to be
of platinum, silver, or any other substance which is a good conductor of
electricity, and not liable to oxidation. The small framings which support
the thread detectors are made of hard india-rubber; as it is a natural
insulator, they might, however, be made of metal, care being taken to
insulate one pole by means of a piece of ivory, or any other insulating
material. All the brackets or supports forming part of the apparatus
described in this Specification are constructed in the same manner.
The thread detectors represented in Figures 1, 2, 4, and 5, Sheet I., arc
constructed on the same principle as that above described, they only differ in
the manner in which contact may be effected, or in their general form, which
is arranged with a view to the different positions which they may be required
to assume in the machine. It will besides be understood that their form may
be varied to any extent, according to the purpose to which they are intended
to be applied, without departing from the principle of the Invention. In
compound machines, for instance, warp machines, &c. (see Figures 6 and 7,
Sheet I.,) only two conductors g", ", are employed, which serve for all the
thread detectors; one supports all the "drancers," and the second receives all
the contact springs, the number of thread detectors is besides of no im-
portance. The threads are guided by means of rings h, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4,
and 5, hooks c, and tension bars; this latter is moveable on its axis, and
the more it is inclined the greater is the tension. In all horizontal needle
machines there is a set of sinkers in front of the machines, which being
depressed by a depressing wheel or roller cause a new series of loops to be
formed. The roller is carried by a pillar or column, which is furnised with
a screw bearing upon a piece which describes the arc of a circle; this piece is

page_text: called a sinker regulating lever. The screw on the pillar of the bowl which
bears against the lever has an adjusting nut, which allows of the necessary
length being given to the loop, at the same time that the bowl causes the
sinker to fall. If the regulating lever were not in its place the bowl not
acting upon the sinkers, the loop formed would remain upon the needle, and
even if a breakage of the thread should take place, no defect in the work
would be produced. Let us take as an example a quadruple machine which
makes four loops at every revolution, if the thread should be wanting, and the
lever should rise, the fallers will recede, and the machine will continue to
work with three parts without any defect taking place in the work, the only
difference being that the quantity of work produced will beless. If, however,
the regulating lever be not raised, the sinkers will throw the fabric entirely
off the machine. This explains why the regulating lever is raised in
horizontal needle machines, the presser wheel in vertical needle machines,
and any part susceptible of remedying the defect in any machine whatever.
In machines (Fig. 15) where the regulating lever is vertical, as soon as the
thread breaks from any cause whatever the thread detector will form contact,
the armature of the electro-magnet will be attracted by the current which
passes, and the regulating lever being acted upon by a spring 7 will slide.
upon the sinker screw m, the bowl of which will enter the machine, the
the result will be that the loop formed being no longer thrown off will remain
upon the needles, and the machine will continue to work without any defect
in the work taking place, one arrangement or portion of the machine only
being thrown out of work.
In vertical needle machines (see Fig. S, Sheet I.,) the needles being vertical
the fabric will rise as the production of the loop takes place vertically. These
machines have a presser wheel o, which closes the beard p of the needle q,
and allows the newly formed loop to escape from the needle; if the threads
were found wanting, the presser wheel would cause the beard of the needle to
enter its recess, the last loop would come off, and the fabric would escape
from the machine. In order to remedy this, the presser wheel o is mounted
upon a forked rocking lever r, which being acted upon by a springs, has a
tendency to rise, but which is held in a suitable position by means of an
electric stop. The electric stop is at the extremity of the long arm of the
lever, in the position which the wheel should assume in order properly to
close the beard of the needle, the height of the wheel upon the beard of the
needle is regulated by means of an adjusting screw and nut u mounted on the
long arm of the lever 1.

page_text: On a breakage of a thread taking place, the armature of the electro-
magnet is drawn towards it, thereby detaching the small lever,which allows
the lever of the presser wheel to come into action and raise the wheel a certain
distance, whereby the beard of the needle will be no longer closed, and the
loop formed not being able to pass will enter the bottom of the hook of the
needle, and the work will remain in the machine.
In fashioning machines a regulating screw or a gudgeon is operated upon by
means of an electric stop. The same action takes place in all machines as
above described, a spring acting upon the part which is to remedy the defect,
but which is kept in its place by means of an electric stop arrangement. The
form of these stops will vary according to the kind of machine to which it is
adapted, but it is to be always so arranged that the attendant shall not have
more movements to make than by the ordinary plan, and he may always be
able to set his machine to work with one hand only.
In horizontal sinker machines immediately the thread is wanting the
sinkers fall a short distance as they are no longer supported by the thread;
this falling motion is used for the purpose of either ringing a bell or throwing
the machine out of gear, whichever is required. Under the sinkers are placed
levers h, which are in connexion with each other by means of a single wire of
the opposite pole to that in connection with the machine; they are insulated
from the machine by their supports. On the thread breaking, the sinkers v
being no longer supported will in passing rub against the small square pieces t,
and will thus complete the circuit.
Holes may be made in the fabric either in consequence of the breaking of
a needle or from too great fineness of the thread, the presence of some foreign
body, or the dropping of several stitches. These defects are easily remedied
when discovered, and notice given of them in time, but they will in time
become larger and larger, in which case their reparation is attended with
difficulty. In order to give notice when these defects are produced, small
rollers or wheels y, Figures 20 and 20*, are applied one above the other at
various distances, and which are insulated from the machine by the fabric they
are in communication with, the other pole of the battery, which is insulated
by its support. As these wheels are in connection with each other by means
of a spring they follow all the sinuosities of the fabric, so that if a hole
should occur therein, the wheel will enter the hole and be thus brought
into contact with the sinkers, whereby the circuit. will be completed, and the
bell will give warning by rapid and short sounds that a hole has been
produced. Two wheels are employed, in order that in case the first one

page_text: should miss the hole (which is not very likely), it cannot be missed by the
second.
A good arrangement for throwing machinery out of gear by means of
electricity, becomesa necessity for completing the various arrangements above
described, in order that when any defect is produced the machine might be
automatically and instantaneously stopped at the same time that the attendant
is warned thereof by the alarm.
The apparatus employed for this purpose is usually placed upon a bracket
or support fixed to the bed or framing of the machine, or in case it cannot
occupy that positionit is placed in front of the machine. In circular machines
of small diameter it is sometimes placed upon the shaft itself. The bracket
or support may be arranged in such a manner as to allow of the ungearing
apparatus being raised or lowered, in order to find the axis of the driving shaft
before fixing it.
The apparatus which appears most suitable for the purpose is the ordinary
clutch apparatus (see Fig. 22, Sheet III.) the dimensions of which are con-
On a bracket B is mounted the fork C against the upper
siderably reduced.
limb E of which a spring D bears. The lever E is attached by a link F to a
horizontal square piece G, which has two catches at its other end; this piece G
works in two guides H, I, mounted on the top of the bracket, and one of its
catches takes into the electric latch lever I. In this arrangement the apparatus
has always a tendency to throw the machine out of gear, but is prevented
from doing so by the electrical apparatus attached thereto. In order to
facilitate the throwing out of gear the teeth of the clutch box are inclined,
so that the resistance produced by the momentum acquired shall produce no
frictional effect. This ungcaring apparatus is composed of two principal
parts, viz., first, a hooked rock lever i, and which has a vertical heel-piece z
between its fulcrum and its hook w; second, the armature j of the electro-
magnet. The T-piece when forced back into its groove bears at its lower
which in falling had described a
part against the heel of the lever
certain arc of a circle from below, and bearing upon the heel-piece = forces
it to resume its vertical position, the lever arm again rises to resume its
horizontal position, but in turning upon its axis it has lowered its hook wr,
which takes into the upper catch of the lever G until the longer arm of the
lever I comes upon the rocking armature j, which is kept in place below by
means of a spring.
The following is the operation of the apparatus:-Whenever from auy cause
I thrown the machine out of gear the rocking arma-

page_text: ture is attracted by the electro-magnet, the other part is, on the contrary, by
means of the rocking lever 1, released from the long arm of the lever, which
then falls, and turning upon its axis releases from its hook the T-piece G,
which is held; this piece which is acted on by the spring on the bracket
would escape from its guides were it not retained by the latches at its extremity.
The contact of these latches with the bracket has been taken advantage of in
order that the current may pass directly into the alarm without being obliged
to pass through any electro-magnet. The Tor latch-piece G might be done
away with by causing the hook of the heel-picce and lever to take into the
extremity of the long limb of the clutch lever E. In certain cases a spring
may be adapted inside the heel-piece to facilitate the release of the lever and
hook-piece I.
The driving shaft of circular machines is provided with a winch handle, in
order that before throwing the machine into gear the workman may work a
few courses by hand, and thus assure himself of the regularity of the working.
This electrical apparatus for throwing machinery out of gear may be applied
to various manufacturing purposes with advantage, by reason of its instan-
taneous action. Or it might easily be applied to the same purpose without the
agency of electricity, and put in operation by pressing (even slightly) upon a
knob or button with which it is provided. In order to act electrically, it would
only be necessary to substitute an electro-magnet for the small pulley.
As regards the economical production of the electricity necessary for working
these apparatus, any workshop where motive power is employed might pro-
duce it by means of a Clark's apparatus, and an induction coil, or any suitable
electro-magnetic engine.
In the above description a certain number of electro-magnets have been
referred to and shewn in the accompanying Drawings, most of which are of
special construction, which is necessitated by reason of the various purposes to
which they are applied. Thus, as regards those shewn in Figures 11 to 18,
Sheet II., Figure S, Sheet I., and Fig. 22, Sheet III., I claim those arrange-
ments and the various applications which may be made thereof. Upon
the back of the electro-magnet is a forked piece C, which serves as a
fulcrum for the hooked lever i, and also another forked piece d', which
serves as a bearing for the rocking armature j, and upon this piece is
mounted a bracket bearing u', which carries a regulating screw b for the
rocking armature /.
In conclusion, I desire it to be understood; that under the above in part
recited Letters Patent I claim, the application of electricity for the purposes

page_text: herein set forth, and also the general construction and arrangement of parts
above shewn and described, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-fifth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
E. SINCLAIR,
66, Chancery Lane.
H. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)