IMPROVEMENTS CONNECTED WITH APPARATUS FOR OPERATING THE RISING AND FALLING SHUTTLE BOXES OF LOOMS
Year: 1884

page_text: We JAMES COWBURN of Silk Street Mill, Eccles in the County of Lancaster
Manager and CHRISTOPHER PECK of the same place Manufacturer do hereby declare
the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS CONNECTED WITH APPARATUS
FOR OPERATING THE RISING AND FALLING SHUTTLE BOXES OF LOOMS to be as
follows:-
Our invention relates to looms for weaving and refers to looms of the construction
known as "Wright Shaws" and consists in improved arrangements for governing
the motion of the rising and falling shuttle boxes of such looms.
We mount the vibrating barrel carrying the card pattern chain in such position
that the said card pattern chain may depend therefrom and in order that the
aforesaid card pattern chain may act upon the apparatus for changing the shuttle
boxes, we provide darts or spindles sliding within a bracket one end of each of
which darts or spindles is jointed to one of a number of bell crank levers to each
of which levers is jointed one of a number of rods. To the lower end of each of
the said rods we attach a perforated plate sliding within guides formed upon a
bracket fast upon a lever which lever is vibrated by a cam fast upon the tappet
shaft of the loom. The perforated plates aforesaid actuate the darts or spindles
which are usually actuated by the card plates.
To the lever actuated by the cam above referred to we joint the lower end of a
rod upon the upper end of which we form a projecting part or hook which
projecting part or hook as the lever above named is vibrated acts upon the teeth
of a peg or ratchet wheel which wheel by means of suitable gearing rotates the card
pattern chain previously mentioned which it also causes to vibrate by means of a
suitable cam or by means of an endless chain formed of suitable links fixed upon
the same shaft as the peg wheel before referred to.
By means of the arrangements above described the pattern chain is allowed to
depend from the barrel by which it is rotated thus obviating the use of the carrier
roller or rollers or other similar appliances around which the pattern chain has
hitherto required to be passed when a long chain has been employed in looms of
the class above referred to, which was inconvenient and also interfered with the
correct working of the before named pattern chain.

page_text: A further part of our invention consists in arrangements by which we advance
the card pattern chain in looms of the class before referred to at such times only as
it is requisite to raise or lower the shuttle boxes or to bring a repeat card into
position according to the pattern required to be produced.
For this purpose we cause the toothed or peg wheel previously referred to to
rotate a barrel around which passes a chain or other equivalent which is formed of
links of suitable shape which as they revolve prevent a star or ratchet wheel fast
with the barrel around which passes the card pattern chain from passing into
contact with a wheel by which it is driven except at such times as it is desired to
rotate the card pattern chain either for changing the shuttle boxes or for bringing
a repeat card into position by which we are enabled to employ a much shorter card
pattern chain than has hitherto been practicable.

page_text: We JAMES COWBURN of Silk Street Mill Eccles in the County of Lancaster
Manager and CHRISTOPHER PECK of the same place Manufacturer do hereby declare
the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS CONNECTED WITH APPARATUS FOR
OPERATING THE RISING AND FALLING SHUTTLE BOXES OF LOOMS and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to looms for weaving and refers to looms of the construction
known as "Wright Shaws" and consists in improved arrangements for governing
the motion of the rising and falling shuttle boxes of looms.
Our invention consists firstly in arrangements by which the card pattern chain
is allowed to depend from the barrel by which it is rotated and by the employment
of which arrangements we are enabled to dispense with the use of the carrier
roller or rollers or other equivalent appliances around which the card pattern chain
has hitherto required to be passed when a long card pattern chain has been
employed in looms of the class above referred to-A further part of our invention
consists in arrangements by which we advance the card pattern chain in looms of
the class above referred to at such times only as it is, requisite. to raise or lower
the shuttle boxes or to bring a repeat card into position according to the pattern
required to be produced-In the accompanying drawing Fig: 1 is an end view,
Fig: 2 is a plan and Fig 3 is a back view of so much of a loom of the construction
known as Wright Shaw's " as is requisite to illustrate our invention and
Fige 4 and 5 are views of portions shown detached Similar letters of reference are
applied to corresponding parts throughout the whole series of figures. a is the
end frame of a loom of the construction known as "Wright Shaw's "-To the end.
frame a is secured a tubular boss b which tubular boss 6 supports a shaft c fast upon
which shaft c are arms d-The ends d¹ of the arms & support the axle e of the card
pattern chain barrel f-Mounted loosely upon the axle e is a bowl or roller g―Fast:
upon the shaft c is a lever h.-j is a spring one end of which spring j is secured to
the lever h while the remaining end of such spring j is secured to the end frame a
The spring tends to turn the lever h and arms & and card pattern chain barrel f
in the direction indicated by the arrow A.
"
Secured to the end frame a is a tubular bracket k carried by which tubular.
bracket k so as to be capable of being rotated therein is a shaft / fast upon which
shaft is a chain barrel m provided with recesses into which pass the pins n which
join the links of a chain o to be hereinafter more particularly described Secured
to and projecting from the end frame a is a stud p upon which stud p are mounted.
Bo as to be capable of being oscillated thereon three bell-crank-levers q.r. s. to the
arms g¹¹ of which bell-crank-levers q. r. a. are jointed by pins darts or
spindles tu. v. respectively the ends t u v of which darts or spindles t. u. v pass,
through and are supported in holes formed in a bracket to secured upon the stud p.
To the ends of the bell-crank-levers q. r. s are connected respectively the

page_text: upper ends of rods x. y. z the lower ends of which rods x. y. z are secured to
plates 1. 2. 3 respectively which plates 1. 2. 3 slide in grooves or recesses formed in
a bar 4 which bar 4 is carried by a frame 5 mounted fast upon a shaft 6.
The weight of the bell-crank-levers q. r. 8 and parts connected thereto causes such
bell-crank-levers q. r. 8 to turn downward but movement in such direction is
prevented by enlarged parts t u v formed upon the darts t. u. v respectively
which enlarged parts t u v² arrive against the frame w. Through each of the
plates 1. 2. 3.is formed a hole or perforation which hole or perforation will when
the parts are in the position shewn in the drawing and the frame 5 is oscillated in
the direction indicated by the arrow B pass over the end of one of the darts or
spindles 7. 8. 9 ordinarily employed in looms of the construction known as
Wright Shaw's " When however any one or more of the plates 1. 2. 3 is or are
raised as will be hereinafter described a blank portion or blank portions of such
plate or plates will when the frame 5 is oscillated in the direction indicated by the
arrow B arrive against the end or ends of the dart or spindle or darts or spindles
opposite to the said plate or plates so that a further movement of the frame 5 in
the direction indicated by the arrow B will cause the dart or spindle or darts or
spindles opposite to such one or more of the plates 1. 2. 3 as has or have been
raised to be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow C.
The shaft 6 is supported at one end in a bearing formed in the end frame a and
such shaft 6 is supported at its other end by a bracket 10 secured to the cross
rail 11. Mounted fast upon the shaft 6 is a lever 12 provided with a stud 13
upon which stud 13 is mounted a bowl or roller 14 which bowl or roller 14 is acted
upon as will be hereinafter described by a cam 15 mounted fast upon the "tappet
shaft 16." Secured to the boss 5° of the frame 5 is an arm 17 to the end 17 of which
arm 17 is jointed the lower end of a rod 18. Upon the upper end of the rod 18
is formed a hook or catch 18* which hook or catch 18° as will be hereinafter
described acts upon the pins 19 which pins 19 are fast with the chain barrel m.
18b is a spring one end of which spring 18b is secured to the lever 17 while the
other end of such spring 18b presses against the rod 18 and by so doing tends to
ensure that the hook 18ª engage with the pins 19. Fast upon the shaft 7 is a
disc 20 which disc 20 and the chain barrel m together act as a guide for the upper
end of the rod 18. 7. 8. 9 are the darts or spindles which in looms of the
construction known as " Wright Shaw's" are acted upon by the card pattern
chain 21 for the purpose of bringing into action the mechanism by means of which
the shuttle boxes of the loom are raised and lowered.
As the tappet shaft 16 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow D the
cam 15 acting upon the bowl 14 will cause the levers 12. 17 and frame 5 to
oscillate first in the direction indicated by the arrow B and then in the opposite
direction-The lever 12 is turned in the direction opposite to that indicated by the
arrow B by means of the weight 12 which weight 12 is attached to one end of a
strap 12b which strap 12b passes over a carrier pulley 12° mounted loosely upon the
shaft 16 and is secured to the lever 12.
When the frame 5 is being oscillated in the direction indicated by the arrow B
the plates 1. 2. 3. mounted upon such frame 5 may at certain times as will be
hereinafter described be caused to arrive against and act upon any one or more of
the darts or spindles 7. 8. 9-The oscillations of the levers 12. 17 will cause the
rod 18 to ascend and descend.
During the ascent of the rod 18 the hook 18 will be slidden past the pins 19
and upon the descent of such rod 18 will catch upon one of the said pins 19 and
will thereby during the descent of the said rod 18 rotate the chain barrel mone
eighth of a revolution in the direction indicated by the arrow E and will thus rotate
the chain-o-in the direction indicated by the arrow E.
Figs 6 and 7 show a portion of the chain o upon an enlarged scale-Fig 6 being
a side view and Fig: 7 a plan of such portion of the chain o-The pins by which
the links of the chain o are secured together project at each side of such chain o-
The projecting parts n¹ of each of the said pins n pass at certain times into the

page_text: .
recesses formed in the chain barrel m as above mentioned so that the chain o will
be driven by the rotation of the said chain barrel m-We prefer to form the
chain o of three rows o¹ 03 0³ of links one row o¹ of such links being formed of
connecting links only, one of which connecting links is shown detached in Fig 8
the rows o os of links being formed partly of links similar to that shown detached
in Fig: 9 partly of links similar to that shown detached in Fig: 10 and partly
of links similar to that shown detached in Fig: 11. When the parts are in the
position shown in the drawing one link o of the chain o has arrived in contact with
the bowl or roller g and has turned the arms & supporting the card pattern chain
barrel fin a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow A.
Upon a further rotation of the chain barrel m taking place the link o of the
chain o will be carried clear of the bowl or roller 9. As soon as the link o' of the
chain o has been carried by the rotation of the chain barrel m clear of the bowl or
roller g the spring ; will carry the arms d and card pattern chain barrel f in the
direction indicated by the arrow A-If the card of the card pattern chain 21 which
is opposite to the ends of the darts or spindles t. u. v is provided with three
perforations as shewn at N in the detached view Fig 5 none of the darts or
spindles t. u. v will be acted upon but if the portion of such card which is opposite
to the end of any one or more of the darts or spindles t. u. v be not perforated such
one or more of the darts or spindles t. u. v will be thrust in the direction indicated
by the arrow F when the arms d and card pattern chain barrel f. are carried by the
spring, in the direction indicated by the arrow A and by being thrust in
the direction indicated by the arrow F the said one or more of the darts or
spindles t, u, v, will cause one or more of the bell-crank-levers q, r, s, to turn in the
direction indicated by the arrow G, and by means of one or more of the rods x, y, z,
raise one or more of the plates 1. 2. 3, so as to bring a blank portion or portions of
such one or more of the plates 1. 2. 3 opposite to the end or ends of one or more of
the darts or spindles 7, 8, 9. so that when the frame 5 is caused to move in the
direction indicated by the arrow B by the cam 15 one or more of the darts or
spindles 7, 8. 9 will be acted upon by the said one or more of the plates 1, 2, 3 so
as to bring into action the mechanism by which the shuttle boxes are raised and
lowered After the said one or more of the plates 1, 2, 3, have been caused to act
upon one or more of the darts or spindles 7, 8, 9 the frame 5. and the plates 1, 2. 3
are allowed by the cam 15, to move in a direction opposite to that indicated by the
arrow B. A further rotation of the chain barrel m, will cause the link o³ of the
chain o, to act upon the bowl or roller g, and thereby move the pattern card chain 21,
clear of the darts or spindles t, u, v. and into the position shown in the drawing-
In order that the card pattern chain 21, may be rotated when a fresh card is
required to be brought into position for acting upon the darts or spindles t, u. v. we
provide each of the links which is next in advance in the direction in which the
chain o rotates of one of the spaces M which allow the bowl or roller g, arms d, and
card pattern chain barrel f, to be moved by the spring j, in the direction indicated
by the arrow A with a projecting part 22, which as the chain o, is caused to rotate
will pass into and engage with one of the recesses 23 formed in the star wheel 23
and thereby rotate the card pattern chain barrel f, when a fresh card of the card
pattern chain 21, is required by the pattern being woven, to be brought into position
for acting upon the darts or spindles t, u. v,-Fast upon the axle e, of the card
pattern chain barrel f, we mount a disc 25 which disc 25, is provided with flattened
portions formed upon its edge. 26 is a spring one end of which spring 26 is secured
to the frame d, while the remaining end of the spring 26, presses against one of the
flattened portions of the disc 25 and by so doing tends to prevent the card pattern
chain barrel f, from being rotated except at such times as such card pattern chain
barrel f, may be required to be rotated.
From the foregoing it will be readily understood by persons conversant with
weaving that it will be requisite to advance the card pattern chain 21, to cause a
fresh card of such card pattern chain 21, to act upon any one or more of the darts

page_text: or spindles t, u. v, only when the shuttle boxes are required to be raised or lowered
or at such times as a repeat card is required to be used.
Although we have only shown and described our invention as applied to looms
having five shuttle boxes it will be readily and we would have it understood that
our invention may be applied to looms having a greater or less number of shuttle
boxes raised and lowered by means of cams eccentrics or other equivalent parts.
By means of the arrangements above described we are enabled to allow the card
pattern chain 21, to depend from the card pattern chain barrel f, by which it is
supported.
By means of the arrangements above described we are enabled by allowing the
card pattern chain 21. to depend from the card pattern chain barrel f, by which the
card pattern chain 21, is supported, to dispense with the carrier roller or rollers or
equivalent appliances which have hitherto required to be used for supporting the
card pattern chain 21, the use of which carrier roller or rollers or equivalent
appliances has been found to be inconvenient and to interfere with the correct
working of the card pattern chain above mentioned.
By the above described arrangements we are also enabled to employ a much
shorter card pattern chain than has hitherto been practicable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
Firstly. The combination construction and arrangement of the rod 18 with its
hook or catch 18ª the pins 19, chain barrel m chain o with its projecting parts 22
the star wheel 23 card-pattern-chain-barrel f card-pattern-chain 21 and darts or
spindles t u v operating substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
and shown whereby the employment of the carrier roller or rollers or other
appliances ordinarily used for supporting the card pattern chain in looms of the
construction known as "Wright Shaw's" is dispensed with.
Secondly. The chain o provided with projecting parts 22, the star wheel 23 and
pins 19 when used in conjunction with each other by means of which chain o the
star wheel 23 and card pattern chain barrel f are caused to remain stationary
except at such times as the card-pattern-chain 21 is required to be advanced and
by means of which chain o and projecting parts 22 the star wheel 23 is rotated at
such times as the card pattern chain 21 is required to be advanced and which
chain o with its projecting parts 22 and star wheel 23 are constructed and arranged
and operate for the purposes and substantially as herein before described and shown in
reference to and in and by the drawing hereunto annexed.
Thirdly. The use in combination of the darts or spindles t. u. v bell-crank-
levers q. r. 8 rods x. y. z sliding plates 1. 2. 3 and frame 5 all constructed arranged
and operating substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
shown in reference to and in and by the drawing hereunto annexed.
Dated this twentieth day of Mov 1005
JAMES COWBURN.
CHRISTOPHER PECK.