IMPROVE MENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Lec Norton, of Belle Sauvage Yard,
Ludgate Hill, in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVE
MENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
Sealed the 24th August 1869, and dated the 16th March 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Lee Norton ai
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 16th March 1869.
I, JAMES LEE NORTON, of Belle Sauvage Yard, in the City of London,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," to be as follows:--
This Invention has for its object improvements in looms for weaving.
In constructing the shedding motion of looms I arrange the mechanism
for working the heddles so that the framework and slides for the knives
as usually constructed are rendered unnecessary. In place of the above-
named framework a simple
simple upright bracket is used which can be easily
attached to any ordinary loom frame. To this upright bracket is fixed
the mechanism for working the heddles, and the knives and levelling
Price 81

page_text: levers are arranged for producing a proper <shed The lever for
actuating the knives and levelling levers works on a stud fixed to the
loom frame, so that vibration in the upright bracket is as nearly as
possible avoided, and stays or supports are not required. The top and
bottom of the heddles are fastened by cords to the opposite ends of levers
or jacks which work on a pin that passes through them about midway of
their length. The pin on which the jacks work is supported by an
upright bracket fixed to one end of the loom top. The ends of the jacks
which project over the outside of the loom are jointed to double hooks,
which are held by springs in a vertical position to be operated on by a
pattern chain of pegs or cards in the usual manner; to the same upright
bracket which supports the jacks and other parts two studs are fixed
one above the other, nearly vertical over the line to which the batten
beats up. Two levers are fixed on the bottom stud, one of which passes
over and the other under the ends of the jacks near to where the vertical
hooks are jointed, and when these levers are brought as near together
as possible horizontally they enclose the ends of the jacks, and thus hold
the jacks in a uniform horizontal position. These levers are called
levelling levers. On the top stud two other levers are jointed in a
similar manner to those below, but these levers when in a horizontai
position lie along each side of the top of the double hooks, and they
have knife or bevelled edges facing each other; these levers are called
kuife levers. The loose end of one of the top levers with its knife edge
facing downwards is connected by a link to the loose end of one of the
bottom levers which passes under the jacks. The other top lever with
its knife edge facing upwards is connected in a similar manner to the
other bottom lever which lies along the top of the jacks. The links
which connect the alternate pairs of levers are themselves connected by
rods to the opposite ends of an oscillating lever which works on a stud
fixed to the loom frame, and receives its motion from any of the con-
venient working parts of the loom. At each revolution of the crank
shaft of the loom one end of the oscillating lever is raised and the other
end depressed, consequently a simultaneous upward and downward
motion is given to each alternate pair of knife and levelling levers.
When the bottom levelling levers enclosing the jacks are brought
together the vertical double hooks are free to move between the knife
edges of the top levers. At the same time the pattern surface is brought
into contact with the double hooks, which are thus selected and pushed
under or over the knives according to a predetermined arrangement.

page_text: Those hooks which are pushed or allowed to fall over the ascending knife
are raised up with it. The remaining hooks are pushed down with the
other knife; this downward and upward movement is thus communicated
by the hooks to the jacks, and thereby to the heddles producing a
prompt shed.
The next part of the Invention relates to a new method of actuating
the shuttle boxes in looms when more than one shuttle is used. The
shuttle boxes work vertically in a frame at the end of the slay, and are
connected by a rod which is jointed near the rocking rail of the loom to
the end of a horizontal lever working on a stud fixed on the bottom part.
of the loom frame The other end of this lever carries a balance weight
to poise the boxes, or a spring may be used for the same purpose. To
the above lever a rod is attached vertically, and is of any convenient
length. The top end of the vertical rod carries an adjustable piece of
wrought or cast iron or steel, having a double serrated edge or two series
of steps or projections in juxtaposition to each other. The vertical
rod passes through a guide, and by means of a finger or otherwise is
regulated in its position by a pattern surface which pushes the serrated
edge between two vibrating levers, which advanced towards and recede
from each other every one or two picks of the loom. The pattern surface
governs the position of the serrated edge between the vibrating levers,
and the vibrating levers. elevate or depress the shuttle boxes according to
the corresponding projectious which they operate upon. The horizontal
lever which is attached by a rod to the bottom of the shuttle boxes is
made in tivo parts which are held together by a spring or weight, the
object being to interpose an elastic medium between the moter and the
shuttle boxes, and also to prevent injury to any part of the loom should
the picker or shuttle fail to get clear of its box and offer any obstruction
to the free movement of the boxes. This elastic lever is applicable to
all shuttle notions where the shuttle boxes are connected to and raised
by a horizontal lever as before described.
The next part of the Invention consists in an improvement on the
shuttle box motion described in Specification of the Patent No. 3126 in
the year 1864. The improvement consists in cutting away a part of the
double revolving cylinder described in the above Patent, so that only a
segment is left where the pins take hold of the star wheel. This enables
the star wheel to be traversed freely along its axis. To retain it in its
position when not in contact with the segment of the revolving cylinders

page_text: another star wheel is fastened to the same axis at the most convenient
end. This star wheel is locked up by a part of one of the revolving
cylinders referred to above. The locking part or segment of this star
wheel is left on the revolving cylinder opposite to where the other
segments are taken away. This arrangement secures a freedom of
latteral motion on its axis of the first star wheel, while the star wheel
which is fast on its axis holds the shuttle boxes in a proper position with
the shuttle race. Thus dispensing with the use of springs or weights as
generally used, and which are not only uncertain in action but are a
cause of much friction and wear and tear of the working parts.
The last part of this Invention relates to a positive taking-up motion,
in which two ratchet wheels attached to pinions are used to convey
motion to the cloth roller, as is described in the Specification of a Patent
granted to Samuel Berrisford on the 17th day of October 1863 (No. 2538).
The improvement consists of placing the ratchet wheels eccentric with
the pinions in order to obtain a greater number of changes in decreasing
the speed of the take up according as the cloth roller increases its
diameter by accumulation of cloth.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Lee Norton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 15th September 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I JAMES
LEB NORTON, of Belle Sauvage Yard, Ludgate Hill, in the City of
London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said James Lee Norton, Her special licence
that I, the said James Lee Norton, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said James Lee Norton, 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

page_text: Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,.
the said James Lee Nortou, 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 Lee Norton, 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 thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in looms for weaving.
In constructing the shedding motion of looms we arrange the mechanism
for working the heddles so that the framework and slides for the knives
as usually constructed are rendered unnecessary. In place of the above-
named framework a simple upright bracket is used which can be easily
attached to an ordinary loom frame. To this upright bracket is fixed
the mechanism for working the heddles, and the knives and levelling
levers are arranged for producing a proper <shed. The lever for
actuating the knives and levelling levers works on a stud fixed to the
loom frame, so that vibration in the upright bracket is as nearly as
possible avoided, and stays or supports are not required. The top and
bottom of the heddles are fastened by cords to the opposite ends of
levers or jacks which work on a pin that passes through them about
midway of their length. The pin on which the jacks work is supported
by an upright bracket fixed to one end of the loom top. The ends of the
jacks which project over the outside of the loom are jointed to double
hooks which are held by springs in a vertical position to be operated on
by a pattern chain of pegs or cards in the usual manner.
To the same
upright bracket which supports the jacks and other parts two studs are
fixed one above the other nearly vertical over the line to which the
batten beats up. Two levers are fixed on the bottom stud, one of which
passes over and the other under the ends of the jacks near to where the
vertical hooks are jointed, and when these levers are brought as near
together as possible horizontally they enclose the ends of the jacks, and
thus hold the jacks in a uniform horizontal position.
These levers are

page_text: called levelling levers.
On the top stud two other levers are jointed in
a similar manner to those below, but these levers when in a horizontal
position lie along each side of the top of the double hooks, and they have
knife or bevelled edges facing each other. These levers are called knife
levers. The loose end of one of the top levers with its knife edge facing
downwards is connected by a link to the loose end of one of the bottom
levers which passes under the jacks. The other top lever with its knife
edge facing upwards is connected in a similar manner to the other bottom
lever which lies along the top of the jacks. The links which connect
the alternate pairs of levers are themselves connected by rods to the
opposite ends of an oscillating lever which works on a stud fixed to the
loom frame, and receives its motion from any of the convenient working
parts of the loom.
At each revolution of the crank shaft of the loom
one end of the oscillating lever is raised and the other end depressed, con-
sequently a simultaneous upward and downward motion is given to each
alternate pair of knife and levelling levers. When the bottom levelling]
levers enclosing the jacks are brought together the vertical double hooks
are free to 'move between the knife edges of the top levers. At the same
time the pattern surface is brought into contact with the double hooks
which are thus selected and pushed under or over the knives according
to a predetermined arrangement. Those hooks which are pushed or
allowed to fall over the ascending knife are raised up with it. The
remaining hooks are pushed down with the other knife. This downward
and upward movement is thus communicated by the hooks to the jacks,
and thereby to the heddles producing a proper <shed. When the knives
move back to their original position the levelling levers moving in
unison with them act upon the ends of the jacks and bring them to a
uniform level..
Figure 1 of the Drawing hereunto annexed shews a side view, and
Figure 2 a front view of so much of a loom as is necessary to shew
clearly the shedding motion above described. is the upright bracket
bolted to the top of one side of the loom frame b; c and d are the
knife levers mounted on the stud e; and g are the levelling levers
mounted on the stud h. The link connects the knife lever c and the
levelling lever g. The link similarly connects the levers d, f. The
rods and connect the links i, j, to the opposite ends of the oscillating
lever m.
One end of the lever m is connected by the rod n to the crank o
at the end of the crank shaft of the loom p; qis the cylinder for carrying

page_text: the pattern chain of lags and pegs and receives it motion by means of
the bevel wheels 7, s, and the spur wheels u, v, transmitted through the
shaft . The hooks y are drawn towards this pattern chain by springs as
is well understood; these springs I have not thought necessary to show in
the Drawing; and are two of the jacks or levers which have hinged
to their end the double hooks and y. From the jacks a, a, cords are
attached to the heddles in the usual manner as shewn in the Drawing.
The next part of the Invention relates to a new method of actuating
the shuttle boxes in looms when inore than one shuttle is used. The
shuttle boxes work vertically in a frame at the end of the slay and are
connected by a rod which is jointed near the rocking rail of the loom to
the end of a horizontal lever working on a stud fixed on the bottom part
of the loom frame. The other end of this lever carries a balance weight
to poise the boxes, or a spring may be used for the same purpose. To the
above lever a rod is attached vertically and is of any convenient length.
The top end of the vertical rod carries an adjustable piece of wrought or
cast iron or steel having a double serrated edge or two series of steps or
projections in juxtaposition to each other.
The vertical rod passes
through a guide and by means of a finger or otherwise is regulated in its
position by a pattern surface which pushes the serrated edge between two
vibrating levers which advance toward and recede from each other
every one or two picks of the loom. The pattern surface governs the
position of the serrated edge between the vibrating levers, and the
vibrating levers elevate or depress the shuttle boxes according to the
corresponding projections which they operate upon. The horizontal
lever which is attached by a rod to the bottom of the shuttle boxes is
made in two parts which are held together by a spring or weight, the
object being to interpose an elastic medium between the notor and the
shuttle boxes, and also to prevent injury to any part of the loom should
the picker or shuttle fail to get clear of its box and offer any obstruction
to the free movement of the boxes. This elastic lover is applicable to
all shuttle motions where the shuttle boxes are connected to and raised
by a horizontal lever as before described.
Figure 3, Sheet 2, of the Drawings represents a shuttle motion
arranged as above described. a are the shuttle boxes; b is a lever, at one
end of which is a loose part c, held in position by a spring d. The rod J
is attached to the lever b at g, and its other end terminates in a double
series of steps or projections h. A double enclosed cam i, which receives

page_text: its motion from any suitable part of the loom, actuates the levers j and k,
which oscillate on the studs l, m, alternately advancing and receding
from each other. The free end of each of the levers j, k, terminate with
nibs or projections » and o. The crank lever p works on the stud q; at
one end of it is the friction pulley r, and at the end of the other arm is
a guide slot s. The position of the pattern surface is shown at t, and as
it elevates more or less the arin of the crank lever p, so are the steps or
projections on the rod moved in a corresponding manner between the
uibs on the levers j, k, thereby causing the shuttle boxes a to be raised
or lowered as required. The weight is for balancing the boxes a. The
parte held to the lever 6 by the spring d is for preventing damage to the
mechanism.
The next part of the Invention consists in an improvement on the
shuttle box motion described in the Specification of the Patent, No. 3126,
in the year 1864. The improvement consists in cutting away a part of
the double revolving cylinders described in the above Patent, so that
only a segment is left where the pins take hold of the star wheel. This
enables the star wheel to be traversed freely along its axis. To retain it
in its position when not in contact with the segment of the revolving
cylinders another star wheel is fastened to the same axis at the most
convenient end. This star wheel is locked by a part of one of the
revolving cylinders referred to above. The locking part or segment for
this star wheel is left on the revolving cylinder opposite to where the
other segments are taken away. This arrangement secures a freedom of
lateral motion or its axis of the first star wheel, while the star wheel
which is fast on its axis holds the shuttle boxes in a proper position with
the shuttle race, thus dispensing with the use of springs or weights as
generally used, and which are not only uncertain in action but are a
cause of much friction and wear and tear of the working parts.
At Figures 1 to 5, on Sheet 3 of the Drawings, is shown a shuttle
motion arranged as above described. Figure 1 is a side view of a part of
a loom frame; and Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 are views of separate parts
of the mechanism for working the shuttle boxes. a is the loom frame;
b is the end of the crauk shaft, on which is mounted the bevel wheel c,
geared into the wheel d on the shaft e. Another bevel wheel on the
same shaft is geared into the two bevel wheels g, h, mounted on the
stud i. The star wheel j is fixed on the shaft k, and the star wheel is
fitted on the same shaft, but it is free to slide laterally on it, and it is

page_text: kept in its position by a key on the shaft %, which fits in a groove cut
out of the star wheel. The crank lever m is for sliding the star wheel /
laterally on its axis, and it is 'connected by the rod n to the lever o, which
is actuated at intervals by means of a pattern chain at p, which receives
an intermittent motion by a train of wheels from the crank shaft b. q is
a rack working in the spur wheel, and it is attached to the shuttle
boxes s. Figures 2 and 3 show one of the bevel wheels ġ, which on its
inner face carries two studs t and u of different lengths, and also a part
of a rim or cylinder o, suitable for giving motion to the star wheel /
when it is slid opposite to one or both of the studs t, u. Figure 5 shows
the bevel wheels ġ and h as mounted opposite to each other. The wheel h
has similar studs w and x, and part of a rim y, like the' wheel g. It has
also on its outside a rim or locking surface z, with a portion cut away
opposite to the part of the rim on the inside of the wheel, as shown at
Figure 4. By this arrangement of mechanism, if the wheel be slid along
the shaft into the position shewn at Figure 5, the shuttle boxes will
remain at rest, but if the wheel be shifted to one side or the other to
such a distance that one or other of the pins t, x, can act upon it the
shuttle boxes will either be raised or lowered one box. If the wheel Z
be shifted to a position so that either both the pins u and tor wand a
can act upon it then the shuttle boxes will either be raised or lowered
a distance equal to two boxes.
The last part of this Invention relates to a positive taking-up motion,
in which two ratchet wheels attached to pinions are used to convey
"motion to the cloth roller, 'as is described in the Specification of a
Patent granted to Samuel' Beresford' on the 17th day of October 1863
(No. 2538). The improvement consists in placing the ratchet wheels
eccentric with the pinions in order to obtain a greater number of changes
in decreasing the speed of the take-up, according as the cloth roller
increases its diameter by accumulation of cloth: -
Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 4, represent a take-up motion of a loom
arranged in the manner above described. a is a part of the loom frame;
b is the slay sword; c is the cloth roller; d is a bearing through which a
stud passes. The wheels e and fare fastened to the stud close to each
end of the bearing d. On the same stud a lever g is mounted in an
upright position, and it carries a ratchet wheel h and a pinion i con-
nected or cast together, but a little eccentric with each other. On thé
same. lever g is also a catch j, which only allows the ratchet wheel to

page_text: turn in one direction. k and are another ratchet wheel and pinion
similar to h, i; m is a catch mounted on a stud fixed to the loom frame.
The lever n receives an oscillating motion from the slay sword 6 by
means of the link o. From the lever n at its
From the lever n at its extremity another link p
is connected by a stud into the slot q in the lever g. The link is also
connected by a link to a bar s, which lies along the top of the cloth
roller c, that passes at each end through slots or guides attached to the
loom frame. The slay sword b gives an oscillating motion to the lever g
by means of the lever and links u, v, p. The lever g gives motion in one
direction to the wheel e by means of the ratchet wheel pinion and
catch, i, j, and the ratchet wheel pinion and catch k, l, m, prevents
the wheel from turning back. The wheel ƒ transmits this motion
f
through the wheels t, u, v, to the cloth roller c. As the cloth ou the
roller c elevates the bar s so does the link raise the link p in the slot q
thus causing a decrease of motion in the take-up as the cloth increases
in thickness on the roller c as usual. The ratchet wheels h, k, I
prefer to make about 3 to 4 inches diameter, and set them about or
of an inch eccentric to the pinions and 7. I also prefer to set the
eccentric ratchet wheels h, k, with their longest radii at an angle of
about 45° to one another. By thus setting the ratchet wheels h, k,
eccentric to the pinions i and 1, although there may be greater variation
between the amount of take-up at consecutive beats up of the sley, yet
on the whole a more regular and uniform take-up of the cloth will be
effected.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Lee Norton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Third day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
J. L. NORTON. (L.S.)