IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR PICKING LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1874

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Frederick Church at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd November 1874.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK CHURCH, of 5, Glenarm Road, Lower Clapton,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR PICKING LOOMS FOR WEAVING,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of two parts, namely,—
1st. An improved and simple method of working the pumps or air
compressing cylinders alternately.
Second. An improved and casily adjusted compensating lid for the
shuttle boxes.
The first part of this Invention consists of two plates which may be
made of cast iron connected with the bucket of each pump by means of
a screw in the ordinary way for the purpose of adjustment, the other end
of the screw being screwed into the boss or projection cast on to the front
end of the plates & tapped to receive the screws. When adjusted such
adjustment is retained by screw nuts in the ordinary way. In these

page_text: plates crannels are cut and also a slot through which the crank shaft is
passed in such a manner that the plates can be moved backwards and
forwards upon the crank shaft by means of a moveable bowl turning on
a sliding stud moving in a slot cut in cranks attached to the crank shaft
by means of set screws. To secure a steady action of the stud I make
it with a collar next the moveable bowl, & cut grooves in the cranks
to receive this collar to permit of the cranks being placed flush against
the plates. The studs are made in two parts to admit of their
being placed in the slot in the cranks, and are connected by means of a
set screw passing through a circular boss, or by means of a pin passing
through the boss and a screw nut. I cut a groove in the last mentioned
boss to receive an elastic ring or band, the other end of which is passed
round a pin let into and projecting from the crank for that purpose.
This elastic ring or band is used for the purpose of allowing the sliding
studs to traverse the outer channel, and to keep them to their work
when traversing the inner channel. These channels are so arranged that
only on each alternate revolution of the shaft, & when the moveable
bowl is traversing the inner channel, the pick is given and such inner
channel is so designed that a much quicker blow or pick is given than
by working the pumps by a simple crank or eccentric. By this
alternate action of the pumps a considerable saving of power is effected
in running the loom. The plates & studs at each end of the crank
shaft are so adjusted that whilst the bowl is traversing the outer channel
on the one plate the bowl is traversing the inner channel on the other
plate. The plates are kept in position by means of a collar and set screw
in the ordinary way.
The second part of this Invention consists in constructing the lids of
the shuttle boxes in two parts, the outer part or exterior being made of
wood, and the interior of cast iron, hard wood, or other suitable material.
The interior part is made to fit tightly into the shuttle box, and is
raised or depressed by means of two or more set screws passing through
slots cut in iron plates fastened to the exterior of the lid through the
exterior part of the lid and screwed into the interior part. These set
screws are constructed with collars in such a manner, that by turning
them the interior part of the lid can be raised or depressed at pleasure to
compensate for the wearing of or the use of new shuttles without
removing the lid or packing the space between the exterior and interior
parts of the lid. A-slot is cut on thic interior part of the lid to receive

page_text: the lock for the shuttle, as described in my Specification filed with my
Petition recorded in the Office of the Commissioners of Patents for
Inventions, on the Seventh day of September 1874, No. 3060. This slot
is so arranged or shaped that the action of the spring on the back of the
lock or lever is limited to keeping the nib or hook just above the level
of the lid, thus preventing any unnecessary friction on the buffer.
In lieu of the spring on the inside of the lid of the shuttle boxes to
tbe loosc reed looms referred to in my said specification I prefer placing
in the lids of the shuttle boxes to both fast and loose reed looms a shaped
piece of metal or hard wood with a spindle attached, passing through the
lids of the boxes, and a screw nut at the extremity of the spindle for the
purpose of regulating the projection of the shaped piece of metal or hard
wood below the level of lid. A groove is cut on the inside face of
the lids to receive this shaped piece of metal or hard wood, so that when
the shuttle is boxed the surface of this piece of metal or hard wood is
flush with or above the level of the lid, and by means of a spring acting
upon the nut on the spindle pressure is put upon the shuttle to retain or
hold it in the box until the pick is given. I place between the exterior
of the lid and the nut an india-rubber washer to limit the escape of air
to a minimum.