IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Andrew Muir, of Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, Machinist, and James McIlwham, of the
same Place, Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR
WEAVING."
Sealed the 15th March 1861, and dated the 11th January 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Andrew Muir
and James McIlwham at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 11th January 1861.
We, MATTHEW ANDREW MUIR, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Machinist, and JAMES MILWHAM, of the same Place,
Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to the arrangement, construction, and working of
power looms for weaving check or similar goods. The main body of the
loom and several of the details are constructed in the ordinary way, and are in
many respects covered by earlier "British Letters Patent" granted to Messrs.
Muir and McIlwham on or about the 8th day of August 1856, and also more
recently on or about the 27th day of November, 1858.
In one arrangement of check looms, where two or more colors are required
in the pattern, the raising, retaining, and lowering of the shuttle box is regu-

page_text: lated by the action of the "pattern barrel pins" through the intervention of
two catches or detents so arranged that the one actuates the other before the
change in the position of the shuttle box is required. The mere raising of
the shuttle box is effected by a lever connected with a crank on the outside of
the second motion or tappet shaft, and at every revolution of this shaft the
shuttle box may be raised to its higher position in accordance with the pins
upon the "pattern barrel;" but when it is necessary that the shuttle box
should remain in its lowest position for a longer period, the lifting or disen-
gaging catch is withdrawn either by the presence or absence of the barrel pins
just a sufficient distance to clear the end or lifting snag of the aforesaid lever.
The retaining catch is jointed at its upper end on the outside of the vertical
rod in connection with the shuttle box, and as every oscillation of the lathe or
slay causes a corresponding oscillation of the lifting shuttle box, rod, and
catch, a stud, the centre of which coincides with that of the lathe or slay-
rocking shaft serves as a guide for the shuttle box rod, and in consequence all
the three oscillate on one common centre, and the oscillation of the lathe or
slay cannot therefore alter the position of the retaining catch in whatever step it
may previously have been placed. The disengaging catch may be jointed at its
upper end on any side of the lifting rod, but in the present arrangement a
projection is formed on that side of the rod nearest the barrel, and directly
connected with the barrel lever by a horizontal connecting rod outside of the
main framing. From the vertical or pendant position of the barrel lever and
disengaging catch it is in this case necessary to employ a helical or other
spring, which may be jointed to the catch at any point distant from its vibra-
ting centre to ensure a true return of the barrel lever so soon as a pin or pins
may have acted upon it, and for a similar reason the lifting catch is also
provided with a helical or other spring, so that the steps in the catch are truly
brought over the supporting fixed stud in a line with a lathe or slay rocking
shaft. Instead of the fixed stud coinciding with the centre of the lathe or
slay rocking shaft, a projecting stud in the end of the rocking shaft itself,
although oscillating, will serve the same purpose. Instead of the "barrel
pins" wholly withdrawing the retaining catch, as already described, a more
suitable action at the proper instant may be obtained by slightly modifying the
shape of the disengaging catch, so that the lifting lever, acting upon an angled
or wedged form of the catch, although at the lowest point of the angle, and
merely in contact therewith, the least motion of the lever will suddenly with-
draw the retaining catch, and allow the shuttle box to fall to its normal or
lowest position. It may be preferred to form the upper ends of both catches

page_text: into bell cranks, and instead of attaching the helical or other springs below
their centres of suspension, they may then be attached above and lie at any
angle found suitable, still the action is virtually the same, and the projecting
snug on the disengaging catch in both cases comes in contact, and withdraws
the retaining catch at the proper time, allowing the shuttle box freely to
descend.
Another part of this Invention consists in an improved mode of working
the heddles for producing the plain and twilling actions, and has reference to,
and is worked in connection with the arrangements specified under the herein-
before recited British Letters Patent. Between the two main frames of the
loom, or in any other convenient part of the loom another small frame is
erected in the open space beneath the heddles, and a system of levers is so
arranged that cach is directly connected to its] respective heddle. From these
levers, which are carried by the small frame, an equal number of levers are sus-
pended at their upper end, and their centre of suspension is somewhat out, the
centre line running through each, which causes these levers to have a constant
tendency to hang towards their actuating tappets. Upon each of these sus-
pended levers a small projecting catch is formed on that side nearest the treadles,
and when these catch levers are actuated by their tappets they are caught
and retained by a brander or knife-edged projection on the one end of each of
the two treadles, which are kept against the cams by a compensating lever
overhead, and connected by a rod to the one and a spring to the other.
Alongside and in front of the loom, at right angles with the catch levers, a
small tappet shaft is fitted, and is capable of being moved on end by the
action of the lever or levers connected with the pattern barrel rod outside
of the main framing, and this small shaft is driven to correspond with the
motion of the treadles by an adjustable train of wheels. When the tappet
shaft is in the position for plain work, one half of the catch levers are moved
by the tappets, taken down and retained by the downward motion of one of
the branders alternately, but when twilling, these catch levers are moved in
accordance with the changed position of the tappets. Instead of the former
arrangement of duplex tappets, a small barrel is substituted in their place for
actuating the catch levers. This barrel, is divided into six, five, four, or other
number in straight lines, and a series of pins is inserted in the periphery to
suit any number of heddle leaves for the particular twill, figure, or plain work
required. This barrel and shaft is driven by an arrangement of wheel gear
capable of being altered and adjusted in relation to the speed of the main cam
shaft and the particular series of pins in use. This small barrel may be

page_text: In
wrought by a ratchet wheel and catches instead of the wheel gear described,
and may be shifted on end, as in the former duplex tappet arrangement.
this instance, only one treadle and one brander extending across the whole
series of levers are required, or two may be used as in the former arrangement,
and these are brought together by a double or two-throw cam keyed on the
shaft immediately above the centre of the treadle or treadles. To ensure a
speedy return of the catch levers when moved by the small barrel pins, an
equal number of helical or other springs are connected to the lathe or slay
rocking shaft, and these springs continually tend to keep the levers back
against the ends of their guides. The catches in this instance are jointed to
the catch levers so as to admit of the rising action of the single brauder or
branders, and they are returned to their working position by a small spring
acting upon each catch.
This Invention also includes a novel arrangement of stop or brake motion,
and consists in attaching to the usual brake spring in the front of the loom the
brake lever through the intervention of a connecting rod and helical or other
spring, which by jam nuts can be accurately adjusted to the required tension,
and when in its proper working position, just relieves the brake from off the
fly wheel. Whenever the shuttle does not come home, the stop lever on the
lathe or slay comes in contact with the projecting notch-of-the-vertical spring,
and the brake is then brought into action and continues to act, and increases
its pressure so long as the lathe or slay continues to move. By this means
the whole machine is stopped gradually, and the usual sudden shock is very
much reduced. These arrangements are of essential importance only in
fast-reed" looms.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Matthew Andrew Muir and James M°Ilwham in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 11th July 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, MATTHEW
ANDREW MUIR, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Machinist, and JAMES MILWHAM, of the same Place, Machinist, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of

page_text: Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said Matthew Andrew Muir and James McIlwham, Her special
license that we, the said Matthew Andrew Muir and James McIlwham, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Matthew
Andrew Muir and James McIlwham, our executors, administrators, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times hereafter 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 FOR WEAVING," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said Matthew Andrew Muir and James McIlwham, our executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or
under the hand and seal of one of them, 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 Matthew Andrew Muir and James
McIlwham do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:-
Our said Invention relates to the arrangement, construction, and working
of power looms for weaving check or similar goods. The main body of the
loom and several of the details are constructed in the ordinary way, and are
in many respects covered by earlier British Letters Patent granted to us on or
about the Eighth day of August, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, and
also more recently, on or about the Twenty-seventh day of November, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
In one arrangement of check looms where two or more colours are required
in the pattern, the raising, retaining, and lowering of the shuttle box is
regulated by the action of the "pattern barrel pins" through the intervention
of two catches or detents, so arranged that the one actuates the other before
the change in the position of the shuttle box is required. The mere raising
of the shuttle box is effected by a lever connected with a crank on the outside
of the second motion or tappet shaft, and at every revolution of this shaft the
shuttle box may be raised to its bigher position, or lowered in accordance with

page_text: the pins upon the pattern barrel, but when it is necessary that the shuttle box
should remain in its lower position for a longer period, the lifting or
disengaging catch is withdrawn, either by the presence or absence of the
"barrel pins," just a sufficient distance to clear the end or lifting snug of
the aforesaid lever. The retaining catch is jointed at its upper end on the
outside of the vertical rod in connection with the shuttle box, and as every
oscillation of the lathe or slay causes a corresponding oscillation of the lifting
shuttle box rod and catch, a stud, the centre of which coincides with that of
the lathe or slay rocking shaft, serves as a guide for the shuttle box rod, and
in consequence all the three oscillate on one common centre, and the oscillations
of the lathe or slay cannot therefore alter the position of the retaining catch in
whatever step it may previously have been placed. The disengaging catch
may be jointed at its upper end on any side of the lifting rod, but in the
present arrangement a projection is formed on that-side of the rod nearest the
barrel, and directly connected with the barrel lever by a horizontal connecting
rod outside of the main framing. From the vertical or pendent position of
the barrel lever and disengaging catch, it is in this case necessary to employ a
helical or other spring, which may be jointed to the catch-at-any-point-distant
from its vibrating centre, to ensure a true return of the barrel lever, so soon
as a pin or pins may have acted upon it; and for a similar reason the lifting
catch is also provided with a helical or other spring, so that the steps in the
catch are truly brought over the supporting fixed stud in a line with the lathe
or slay rocking shaft. Instead of the fixed stud coinciding with the centre of
the lathe or slay rocking shaft, a projecting stud in the end of the rocking
shaft itself, although oscillating, will serve the same purpose. Instead of the
"barrel pins" wholly withdrawing the retaining catch, as already described, a
more suitable action at the proper instant may be obtained by slightly modifying
the shape of the disengaging catch, so that the lifting lever acting upon an
angled or wedged form of the catch, although at the lowest point of the angle,
and merely in contact therewith, the least motion of the lever will suddenly
withdraw the retaining catch and allow the shuttle box to fall to its normal
or lowest position. It may be preferable to form the upper ends of both
catches into bell cranks, and instead of attaching the helical or other springs
below their centres of suspension, they may then be attached above, and lie at
any angle found suitable, still the action is virtually the same, and the pro-
jecting snug on the disengaging catch in both cases comes in contact and
withdraws the retaining catch at the proper time, allowing the shuttle box
freely to descend.

page_text: Another part of this Invention consists in an improved mode of working the
heddles for producing the plain and twilling actions, and has reference to and
is worked in connection with the arrangements specified under the herein-
before recited Letters Patent. Between the two main frames of the loom, or
in any other convenient part of the loom another small frame is erected in the
open space beneath the heddles, and a system of levers is so arranged that
each is directly connected to its respective beddle. From these levers, which
are carried by the small frame, an equal number of levers are suspended at
their upper ends, and their centres of suspension are somewhat out of the
centre line running through each, which causes these levers to have a constant
tendency to hang towards their actuating tappets. Upon each of these
suspended levers a small projection is formed on that side nearest the treadles,
and when these catch levers are actuated by their tappets they are caught and
retained by a brander or knife-edged projection on the one end of each of the
two treadles, which are kept against the cams by a compensating lever over-
head, and connected by a rod to the one, and by a spring to the other.
Alongside and in front of the loom at right angles with the catch levers a small
tappet shaft is fitted, and is capable of being moved on end by the action of
the lever or levers connected with the "pattern barrel" rod outside of the
main framing; and this small shaft is driven to correspond with the motion of
the treadles by an adjustable train of wheels. When the tappet shaft is in
the position for plain work, one half of the catch levers are moved by the
tappets, taken down and retained by the downward motion of one of the
branders alternately, but when twilling these catch levers are moved in
accordance with the changed position of the tappets. Instead of the former
arrangement of duplex tappets, a small barrel is substituted in their place for
actuating the catch levers. This barrel is divided into six, five, four, or other
number in straight lines, and a series of pins is inserted in the periphery to
suit any number of heddle leaves for the particular twill, figure, or plain work
required. This barrel and shaft is driven by an arrangement of wheel gearing
capable of being altered and adjusted in relation to the speed of the main cam
shaft, and the particular series of pins in use. This small barrel may be
wrought by a ratchet wheel and catches instead of the wheel gear described,
and may be shifted on end, as in the former duplex tappet arrangement. In
this instance only one treadle and one brander extending across the whole
series of levers are required, or two may be used, as in the former arrange-
ment, and these are wrought together by a double or two-throw cam keyed on
the shaft immediately above the centre of the treadle or treadles. To ensure

page_text: a speedy return of the catch levers when moved by the small barrel pins, an
equal number of helical or other springs are connected to the lathe or slay
rocking shaft, and these springs continually tend to keep the levers back
against the end of their guides in contact with the barrel's surface. The
catches in this instance are jointed to the catch levers, so as to admit of the
rising action of the single brander or branders, and they are returned to their
working position by a small spring acting upon each catch.
Our said Invention also includes a novel arrangement of stop or brake
motion, and consists in attaching to the usual brake spring in front of the
loom the brake lever, through the intervention of a connecting rod and helical
or other spring, which, by jam nuts, can be accurately adjusted to the required
tension, and when in its proper working position just relieves the brake from
off the fly wheel. Whenever the shuttle does not come home, the stop lever
on the lathe or slay comes in contact with the projecting notch of the vertical
spring, and the brake is then brought into action, and continues to act and
increase its pressure so long as the lathe or slay continues to move. By this
means the whole machine is stopped gradually, and the usual sudden shock is
-very-much-reduced. These arrangements are of essential importance only in
fast reed looms.
And in order that our said Invention of improvements in looms for weaving
may be properly understood, we shall now proceed to describe the several
Figures on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings which we have hereunto
appended, for the purpose of showing certain modifications under which our
improvements may be judiciously carried out in practice, that is to say :-
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, is an end elevation of
a loom, showing a portion of our improvements applied thereto. Figure 2 is
a front elevation of a loom, showing more particularly our improvements in
actuating the heddles in the desired sequential order for twilling or for pro-
ducing other effects in the woven fabric. Figure 3 is a plan corresponding
to Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section of the loom taken
on the line 1, 2, in Figure 2.
Figures 4 and 5 are an elevation and plan of a portion of the details,
showing another mode of actuating the shuttle boxes, and differing from the
mechanical arrangement delineated in Figures 1 to 3.. Figures 6 and 7 are
a partially sectional elevation and front views of a portion of the details of the
heddle motion.
The first part of our present Invention has reference to a self-acting
mechanical arrangement for actuating the shuttle boxes in the required order.

page_text: The end standards A of the loom are of the ordinary kind, and to the right or
left hand standard is fitted the perforated barrel or cylinder, by means of
which the shuttle boxes are raised and lowered to obtain the required effect
in the woven fabric. This cylinder and a portion of its connected mechanism
forms a part of the improvements in looms for weaving, for which Letters Patent
were granted to us, bearing date the Seventeenth day of November, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, and numbered 2581. An outwardly
curved bracket B carries a laterally projecting stud, on which is fitted the
rotating cylinder C. This cylinder is made of cast-iron, its inner margin is
toothed and forms a spur wheel D. The periphery of the cylinder is pierced
with two rows of equidistant holes extending round the circumference of the
cylinder; or these rows of holes may be arraged in a spiral form. In the
upper extremity of the bracket B is fitted a stud, on which is carried
the pinion E, in gear with the wheel D. Motion is communicated either to
the wheel D or pinion E by means of the double-lever catch or detent F,
which is carried loosely upon a stud fixed in the upper extremity of the long
bell-crank lever G. This lever is centered upon the stud which carries the
cylinder C, and its longer arm is curved upwards and extends in a backward
direction over the tappet shaft H, from whence it derives its motion. As the
shaft H rotates, the cam I, which is fixed thereto, raises the bell-crank lever G,
wbich descends by its own gravity when the cam has passed it, so that while
the shaft H is in motion a continuous reciprocatory movement is imparted to
the lever G. The lifting of the backward end of the lever G has the effect of
causing the front extremity to move forward, which having connected to it
the catch or detent F, its after end resting on the wheel D, draws the wheel
round one tooth; and so long as the shaft H rotates, and the position of the
detent is unaltered, the wheel D will be moved forward one tooth at a time to
each revolution of the shaft, or to each pick, if required. Provision is also
made for moving the cylinder C in the opposite or backward direction, which
will be referred to after describing the connection of the cylinder with the
shuttle boxes. On the stud of the pinion E is fitted a pendent lever J, which
is made with an angular projecting part or nib, the apex of which is in contact
with the periphery of the cylinder C. The lower end of the lever J is con-
nected by means of the rod K with a bell-crank catch L. There are two of.
these catches L and M, one for lifting the shuttle boxes, and the other for
retaining them in the elevated position. The catches are centred on laterally
projecting studs fixed in the vertical rod N, carrying the shuttle boxes O, and.
in their normal position they are kept in a backward direction by means of the

page_text: helical springs P. The lower end of the rod N is slotted, and it is carried ou
a steel stud forming a continuation of the rocking shaft Q. on which the
swords R of the lathe are centred. The front catch M is made somewhat longer
than the other, and it has a projecting part formed on the lower end which
rests on the stud in the rocking shaft Q, when the lower shuttle box is raised
to the level of the shed. So long as the projection on the pendent lever .J
moves simply over the periphery of the cylinder C, no alteration would take
place in the position of the several parts; but if one or more pins S be inserted
in one of the rows of holes in the cylinder C, the projection on the lever J
passes over the pins, which has the effect of drawing the catch L forward, and
this motion pushes the catch M off the stud, and the shuttle boxes descend.
The upper shuttle box is now level with the shed, and will remain so as long
as the lever J is kept forward by the interposition of the pins S; but when
the lever J moves inward from the absence of the pins S, the spring P
attached to the catch L draws it back to its normal position in readiness to
be lifted. The lifting of the shuttle boxes is effected from the tappet shaft H,
on the outer extremity of which is an adjustable crank T, connected by the
rod--with-the-rocking lever V, centred on a laterally projecting stud at the
lower part of the end standard. The free end of this lever is formed-with-a
small lateral projection or stud on its outer face, which comes under the lower
projecting part of the catch L when the shuttle boxes are to be raised. The
upward motion of the lever V lifts the catch L, which being attached to the
rod N it is also raised, as well as the catch M, the helical spring of which
causes the projecting part at the foot of the catch to spring over the stud
in the shaft Q. The upper part of the stud is squared off to admit of the
retaining catch M resting fairly upon it, and so long as the position of the
lever J remains unchanged the weaving of the fabric will continue to be
effected by the weft from the lower shuttle. In this way it will be seen that
the arrangement of the movement in conjunction with the disposal of the
pins S in the pattern barrel C, provides for the instantaneous shifting of the
shuttle boxes up or down, and at the same time regulates the number of shots
of weft to be thrown in, either in succession or intermittently, according to the
requirements of the pattern to be woven. Thus, where the pattern to be
woven is formed of repeats, the pins S are arranged in the proper order in one
of the series of holes extending round the cylinder, the sequential movement
of the shuttle boxes being carried ou continuously, and the cylinder always
moving in the one direction; but where the pattern requires that a portion of
the weaving operation is to be done in the inverse order, the barrel is caused to

page_text: perform a portion of a revolution, and is then turned in the opposite direction.
This is done by means of the stops W upon one of these coming in contact with
a lateral projection on the bell-crank lever X, which is centred on a stud in
the bracket B; the long arm of the lever is depressed, which draws down the
link Yattached to the fore end of the detent F, and causes it to engage in
the teeth of the pinion E. The reciprocatory movement of the lever G
through the detent F, now moves the pinion E tooth by tooth, and the
wheel D is moved in a corresponding ratio, but in the reverse or backward
direction. The extremity of the shorter arm of the bell-crank lever X is fur-
nished with a stud, which passes through a slot formed in the bracket B; to
this stud is secured one end of a helical spring Z, and the other extremity is
fastened to the base of the bracket B. This arrangement holds the lever X
and its connected parts steadily in position until another change is required,
which takes place when the other stop W comes round and restores it to the
position delineated in the Drawings.
The modification shown in Figures 5 and 6, on Sheet 1, of the accompanying
Drawings illustrates another mode of actuating the shuttle boxes, and is
arranged in accordance with the mechanical contrivance described in the first
part of the Provisional Specification of this Invention. The shuttle box rod N,
is formed with two laterally projecting parts as shown in Figure 5, to the front
projection is centred the lifting catch L, the lower part of which is con-
nected by the rod K. to the pendent lever J, as herein-before described, and
shown in Figure 1. Sheet 1. At about the centre of the lifting catch L. a
helical spring
is attached to it, which is fastened at the other end to the
backward projection of the shuttle box rod N. The retaining catch M is
centred to the rod N, and furnished with a helical spring P, in manner similar
to the catch L. At the end of the rocking lever V, is a laterally projecting stud
made flat on the upper side and which lifts the catch L, when the absence of
a pin in the pattern cylinder admits of its falling into the position to
be raised by the rocking lever V. A slot is formed in the lower end of
the rod N, through which a stud passes, this stud is fixed in a line with the
axis of the rocking shaft Q, and is carried in a small vertical standard
arranged on the floor. When the lifting catch L is raised, the rod N and
catch M, ascends with it and the projecting part at the bottom of the catch
is drawn by the tension of the spring P, on to the stud fixed in the standard
so that the shuttle boxes remain in this elevated position so long as the
pattern may require. But when a pin intervenes between the lever J, and
the pattern barrel, the rod K, then draws the lifting catch L away, and

page_text: this being partly encircled by the bent projecting part of the catch M,
it draws it also away, so that the rod N decends and rests upon the
transverse stud and the shuttle boxes are then in their lowest position.
Although we give the preference to the arrangement first herein-before
described, the same object may obviously be accomplished by means of the
second modification.
Another part of our present Invention consists of certain mechanical
arrangements for actuating the heddles for producing plain or twilled fabrics.
One arrangement for this purpose is delineated in the Figures 1 to 4,
Sheet 1, of the accompanying Drawings. The treadles a and b, are centred
on a stud carried in a bracket at the back of the loom, these levers are
kept up in contact with the actuating cams by means of the compensating
lever c, which is centred on a stud carried in an upwardly projecting bracket
bolted to the inner face of the back rail of the framing. The lever c is
connected to the treadle a by a rod, and to the other treadle b by a helical
spring, and on the tappet shaft H are the two cams d, which alternately
depress the treadles. To the front extremity of each treadle is bolted a hook-
shaped piece of metal c, these hooked extremities extend laterally towards
each other, and act on the pendent levers f, which are suspended from the
horizontal levers g. The upper ends of the levers f are bent as shown in
Figure 4, so that when suspended freely they have a tendency towards the
front of the loom, a swell or projection is formed on the front of each lever, and
at the back part is a projecting catch h, which is caught by the hooked
extremity of one or the other of the treadles when the levers are pushed back
for that purpose. A secondary rectangular frame i is arranged between
the end standards of the loom, at the upper part of which is a horizontal
spindle carrying the levers g. The number of the levers g, correspond to that
of the heddles in use, in the example given in Sheet 1, four heddles are
represented in use, but the supporting spindle of the levers is of sufficient length
to admit of six or more being fitted thereto. The levers 9, are connected by
cords directly to the heddles j, which are suspended by means of cords and
straps to the segmental rims formed on the ends of the bell crank levers k.
These levers are carried on studs projecting in front of the upper part of the
framing, they are connected in pairs and are attached to the helical springs 1,
which retain the heddles in their highest position so long as they are not
otherwise acted upon. The backward ends of the heddle levers g, pass
through a guide plate m, which is bolted to the frame i, this plate is made
with a series of slots in it through each of which is passed the end of a lever

page_text: so that they move correctly in vertical planes when the heddles are either raised
or depressed. On the tappet shaft H, is fitted a pinion n, which gives motion
through an intermediate wheel o, to the wheel p, which has double the
number of teeth to those contained in the pinion n. The wheel p, is keyed to
the end of the horizontal shaft q, the bearings of which are carried in
brackets projecting from the front part of the framing i.
Upon this
shaft are fixed by means of pinching screws four tappets 7, which are formed
with quadruple projecting parts as shown in the enlarged sectional end
view, Figure 7, and in the corresponding front view, Figure 8. The
arms of the tappets 7, are made alternately narrower at the extremities
by cutting away a portion of the metal as shown at s, so that if the shaft g is
shifted slightly in a lateral direction these narrower parts will pass between the
hanging levers f. In this way the tappets r are arranged on the shaft I in
such manner that the broader ends of the tappets will come into contact with
two of the levers f, whilst the other two tappets will pass between the levers
and not affect them, and thus produce plain cloth. Provision is, however,
made for shifting the shaft laterally by self-acting means, and thus alter the
sequential order in which the levers f are actuated, so as to produce the twilling
of the fabric. To the right hand extremity of the shaft q is fitted a clutch t;
which is fastened thereto by a pinching screw. This clutch is actuated by the
lever u that is carried on a stud arranged in the slot of a bracket projecting
laterally from the framing i. The lower end of the lever is made of a
segmental figure, and there are holes in this part for inserting pins v therein.
The end of the lever u extends downwards between the two vertical lever arms w,
secured by pinching screws to the horizontal shaft x. The levers w are made
with inwardly projecting parts at their upper extremities, which are bevelled
off to a V-shaped figure at the parts next the pins v, the presence of these pins
in the lever u causing it to be moved over to the right or to the left as shown
in Figure 2. The motion of the lever u moves the shaft q slightly in a lateral
direction, so as to bring the narrower ends of the tappets either in contact
with the levers for cause them to pass between as may be required. The
shaft carries at its outer extremity a crank y, which is connected by means
of the rod z with the pendent lever J, so that in the absence of a pin S in the
barrel C, the crank y is pushed towards the back of the loom. This motion
moves the levers w, and by the interposition of the pin v the lever u is moved
aside carrying with it the shaft r, so that the presence or absence of the pins S
in the barrel C, regulates the movement of the heddles for producing plain or
twilled cloth according to the predetermined pattern.

page_text: In Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings are also delineated our improve-
ments for stopping the loom by automatic means, but so as to avoid the
injurious concussion which ordinarily arises from stopping the movements ton
suddenly whenever the shuttle does not come home. The brake spring 1 bas
fixed to the face of it a blade spring 2, the upper part of which presses against the
inner face of the breast beam 3. To the back of the brake sping 1 is bolted the
stop 4, to the side of which is attached one end of the rod 5; this rod connects
the spring 1 with the brake lever 6, through which the backward extremity of
the rod passes. Jam nuts are fitted to the rod 5 in front of the lever 6, and
at the end of the rod, between these nuts, is interposed the helical spring 7,
the tension of which is adjusted by means of the nuts. The brake lever is
centred on a stud carried in a bracket bolted to the loom framing, and the
tension of the spring 7 is so regulated that the brake 8 is kept just clear of the
fly-wheel 9, when the weaving is proceeding in regular order. When, however,
the weft thread breaks and the shuttle fails to reach the shuttle box, the lever 10
not being lifted clear of the stop 4, owing to the absence of the shuttle, its
extremity comes in contact with the notch at the end of the stop. This action
pushes the spring 1 forward, which brings the brake 8 forcibly down on to the
rim of the fly-wheel 9. Owing however to the arrangement-of-the-rod-5-and.the
spring 7, the elasticity of the latter causes the brake 8 to press with a gradually
increasing force upon the periphery of the wheel 9, so that whilst the loom
is still effectually and quickly stopped, the sudden concussion arising from
the ordinary mode of bringing on the break action is avoided, and the motion
is in consequence rendered easier and less liable to injure the working parts.
The Figures delineated on Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings represent
another modification of our improvements in the twilling action.
Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation of the loom; Figure 2 is a front
elevation of the same; and Figure 3 is a plan corresponding to Figures 1
and 2. Figures 4 and 5 represent an elevation and end view of the barrel
and pendent levers, by means of which the heddles are actuated in the required
sequential order.
In this modification only one treadle a is used which is centred on the stud
carried in the bracket at the back of the loom, and is connected to the over-
hanging bracket b by the helical spring c. The treadle a is depressed by the
double or two-throw cam d on the tappet shaft EI, so that it is depressed twice
to each revolution of the shaft. To the front of the treadle a is attached the
hook or catch e, which is of a T-shaped figure, and extends across the series of
pendent levers f which are suspended from the horizontal levers g. The

page_text: levers fare fitted with the moveable catches h, each of which projects out
through a slot formed in the lever and is centred on a pin. A blade spring '
which is secured by a screw to the front of each lever f, presses on the lower part
of the catch h, so that if pressed inward by the upward motion of the treadle < it
instantly returns to its normal position. The lower end of each lever fis connected
by a helical spring to a cross rail of the framing, the springs keep the levers
clear of the hooked extremity of the treadle a so long as they are not otherwise
acted upon. The levers g are carried in the framing i and connected to the
heddles j, which are arranged as herein-before described in reference to Sheet 1,
the corresponding parts being marked with similar letters of reference. On
the shaft H is a change pinion n, which, through the intermediate wheel o,
gives motion to the wheel p on the shaft q on which is fitted the barrel r.
This barrel is by preference formed of metal and is perforated, the rows of
holes being made so that the pins s may be arranged to actuate any required
number of leaves of heddles. In Figure 5 six rows of pins are shown for
actuating a corresponding number of leaves of heddles; the pins may also be
arranged in the several equidistant rows of holes indicated by the numbers
4 and 5 to adapt the pins to a like number of heddles, or they may be arranged
to suit any other series of leaves, according to the nature of the fabric to be
The rotatory movement of the barrel causes the pins s to come in
contact with the projections on the front of the levers f, and as these are
pushed back they are caught by the hooked extremity of the treadle a, so as
to draw down the corresponding heddles and form the shed. As the cam d
continues its rototary movement the treadle a rises, and those levers which were
depressed by it are now released and are brought back to their normal position
by the helical springs h². In this way the barrel r may be arranged to pro-
duce either plain or twilled cloth, or by a combination of the lateral movement
of the barrel, as herein-before described, either kind of cloth may be woven
alternately, as desired.
woven.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, we would observe in conclusion that what we consider novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery or apparatus
for weaving, as herein-before described and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Second, the system or mode of actuating the shuttle drop box by means of

page_text: the mechanical arrangements working in connection with the pattern barrel,
as herein-before described and delineated in the accompanying Drawings or
any mere equivalent therefor.
Third, the system or mode of working the heddles in the required sequen-
tial order to produce either plain or twilled cloth, as desired, by means of the
mechanical arrangements or combination of parts, as herein-before described
and shown in two modifications in the accompanying Drawings or any mere
equivalent therefor.
Fourth, the system or mode of causing the self-acting brake action of
looms to come into operation with a modified but increasing degree of force by
means of the mechanical arrangement herein-before described and shown in
the accompanying Drawings, or any mere equivalent therefor.
In witness whereof, we, the said Matthew Andrew Muir and James
Mcllwham, have hereunto set our hands and seals this Ninth day of
July One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.