IMPROVEMENTS IN WEAVING
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaac Whitesmith, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, and William Whitesmith, of the same Place,
ΠΟΜΕΡΑΙΕΣ ΑΠΟ ΣΟΥ ΕΠΙΘΕΤΑΙ
Sealed the 3rd September 1857, and dated the 9th June 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaac Whitesmith and
William Whitesmith, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 9th June 1857.
We, ISAAC WHITESMITH, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, and WILLIAM WHITESMITH, of the same Place, Machinists, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WEAVING," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates more or less to modifications of and additions to
the Improvements in Weaving," for which Messrs. Isaac and Williani
Whitesmith have already made application for British Letters Patent; but
the present improvements are also judiciously available under other cir-
cumstances.
The first portion of these present improvements relates to the picking action
or the mechanism for throwing or actuating the shuttle. In this arrangement
instead of obtaining the picking action from the ordinary tappet shaft, or from
a reciprocating shaft, as described in the Provisional Specification of Messrs.
Whitesmith's improvements already referred to, one or both of these shafts is
dispensed with, and the picking action is obtained directly from, the two ends.

page_text: of the ordinary crank shaft. The picking levers, described in the Specification
referred to as "horizontal levers," are placed in a diagonal or oblique position,
one end being set beneath the crank shaft, and the other end being connected
with the picking stick, as described in the previous improvements. With this
arrangement the antifriction pulley is of a "lunar" conformation, that is to
say, it is of a differential shape, having a flat surface on one side. It carries a
toothed pinion, which gears with another pinion carried by the loom frame,
and disposed so as to be concentric with the crank shaft. This lunar or
differential pulley is connected to the crank shaft, either by means of a radial
arm, as in the previous Invention referred to, or by preference the ordinary fly
wheels of the loom are made available for the purpose of placing the pulleys
between the arms of the fly wheels. The numbers of the teeth in the two
pinions, herein-before referred to, are so proportioned that, as the crank shaft
revolves, a certain predetermined motion is communicated to the lunar or
differential pulley, causing the latter to affect or operate upon the picking
lever at each alternate revolution of the crank only. This arrangement is
available for operating upon any of the ordinary picking movements or
mechanical combinatious at present in use; but it is preferred to be used in
connection with Messrs. Whitesmith's improved picking lever, as being much
simpler and more direct in its action than any other existing plan.
The second portion of the Invention relates to the shedding motion for the
warp, which is obtained from the action of two toothed annular wipers or
cams, one of which is attached to each fly wheel of the loom. These wipers
or cams are free to revolve upon flanges or collars, which retain them in an
axial position coincident with that of the crank shaft. The teeth upon the
edges of these two wipers gear with the teeth of suitable secondary pinions on
the axes or spindles of the lunar pulleys, which when in motion give a suitable
differential motion to the wipers, the waved contour of which through a
suitable combination of levers, pulleys, and straps, or through a sliding rack
and pinions communicates the requisite movement to the heddles. When it
is wished to render these arrangements available for checking, a short vertical
shaft is introduced at one end of the loom, which shaft is driven by a connection
with the outer end of the crank shaft at half the rate of the latter by means of
a pair of bevel pinions, the smaller one being fast on the end of the crank
shaft, and the larger one on the upper end of the vertical shaft. Near the
lower end of the shaft there is attached the radial arm or disc, and the scroll
plate wipers and details, as described in Messrs. Whitesmith's Provisional
Specification herein-before referred to, the whole being modified to suit the
altered position of the shaft.

page_text: The third head of the Invention relates to a self-operating pace lever and
weight, by means of which, during the gradual reduction of the diameter of the
warp beam as the warp is being drawn, off by the process of weaving, the pace
weight is made to move in the same ratio towards the fulcrum of the lever, in
order that the strain upon the warp may be as nearly as possible uniform
throughout. To effect this there is secured to the side of the loom, nearest to
the fulcrum of the lever, a bracket and stud carrying a pulley fitted with a
pinion, having a suitable number of teeth for the purpose. A small rack, with
its teeth in a vertical position, gears with the pinion; this rack is fitted into
the bracket in a transverse direction immediately above or below the warp
beam, and it has ratchet teeth formed on its upper surface, and a single glaud-
shaped projection embraces the back of the warp beam. A spring pall con-
nected either to the sword of the loom, or by a cam to the crank shaft, pushes
the gland gently against the warp beam at each stroke in such a way that, as
the beam becomes smaller, the rack turns round the pinion and pulley, which
latter, by means of a cord or strap connecting its periphery with the pace
weight, draws the weight along the lever as required.
The fourth part of the Invention has reference to a peculiar arrangement of
brackets, with interposed pieces or cakes of caoutchouc or other elastic
substance, by which means a certain amount of yielding is required to the
warp at each shed as it passes over the ordinary whip roll or back rail of
the loom.
The last improvement is a new arrangement for the measuring take-up
roll, the cloth roll, and the breast beam of the loom. In this plan the
measuring roll is placed immediately under and nearly close to the breast
beam. The cloth roll is supported by the front extremities of two bell crank.
levers, which have their fulcra on studs at each side of the loom. The longer
ends of the levers extend towards the interior of the loom, and may be
weighted or not as required. In either case the cloth roll is pressed against
the lower part of the measuring roll, and as it fills with cloth it is made
gradually to descend in an arc of a circle downwards and forwards. The
breast beam is made with a long slot near to its back part. As the cloth is
I woven it is passed over the top of the breast beam, thence underneath the
measuring roll, and upwards. through the slot in the breast beam; it is then
returned over the back part of the breast beam, and downwards over the back
part of the cloth roll, where it is secured in the ordinary way.
:
The objects secured by this arrangement are, first, that the measuring roll,
gets a better and more secure hold of the cloth than by the ordinary plans;,
and in the second place, the peculiar conditions obtained between the measur-

page_text: ing and cloth rolls, secure a greater amount of traction, and the cloth is
wound up tighter and more effectually than by the ordinary plans. The
arrangement also affords superior facilities for removing and replacing the
cloth roll when required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Isaac Whitesmith and William Whitesmith, in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 9th December 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ISAAC
WHITESMITH, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, and-
WILLIAM WHITESMITH, of the same Place; Machinists, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Isaac Whitesmith and William Whitesmith,. Her special license that
we, the said Isaac Whitesmith and William Whitesmith, our executors,"
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Isaac White-
smith and William Whitesmith, our executors, administrators, or 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 Mau, an Invention- for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WEAVING," upon the condition (amongst others) that we,
the said Isaac Whitesmith and William Whitesmith, by an instrument'
in writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one
of us, 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. Isaac Whitesmith and William:
Whitesmith, do hereby declare the nature of our 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
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that'
is to say:

page_text: Our said Invention relates more or less to modifications of and additions to
the improvements in weaving, for which Messieurs Isaac and William White-
smith have already made application for British Letters Patent; but the pre-
sent improvements are also judiciously available under other circumstances.
The first portion of these present improvements relates to the picking action
or the mechanism for throwing or actuating the shuttle. In this arrangement
instead of obtaining the picking action from the ordinary tappet shaft, or from
a reciprocating shaft, as described in the Specification of Isaac and William
Whitesmith's improvements already referred to, one or both of these shafts is
dispensed with, and the picking action is obtained directly from the two ends
of the ordinary crank shaft. The picking levers, described in the Specification
referre dto as "horizontal levers," are placed in a diagonal or oblique position
one end being set beneath the crank shaft, and the other end being connected
with picking sticks, as described in the previous improvements. With this
arrangement the antifriction pulley is of a "lunar" conformation, that is to
say, it is of a differential shape, having a flat surface on one side. It carries a
toothed pinion which gears with another pinion carried by the loom frame, and
disposed so as to be concentric with the crank shaft. This lunar or differential
pulley is connected to the crank shaft, either by means of a radial arm, as
in the previous Invention referred to, or, by preference, the ordinary fly
wheels of the loom are made available for the purpose, placing the pulleys
between the arms of the fly wheels. The numbers of the teeth in the two
pinions, herein-before referred to, are so proportioned that, as the crank shaft
revolves, a certain predetermined motion is communicated to the lunar or
differential pulley, causing the latter to affect or operate upon the picking lever
at each alternate revolution of the crank only. This arrangement is available
for operating upon any of the ordinary picking movements or mechanical com-
binations at present in use; but it is preferred to be used in connection with
the said Isaac and William Whitesmith's improved picking lever, as being
much simpler and more direct in its action than any other existing plan.
The second portion of the Invention relates to the shedding motion for the
warp, which is obtained from the action of two toothed annular wipers or cams,
one of which is attached to each fly wheel of the loom. These wipers or cams are
free to revolve upon flanges or collars, which retain them in an axial position
coincident with that of the crank shaft. The teeth upon the edges of these
two wipers gear with the teeth of suitable secondary pinions on the axis or
spindles of the lunar pulleys, which when in motion give a suitable differential
motion to the wipers; the waved contour of which through a suitable com-
bination of levers, pulleys, and straps, or through a sliding rack and pinions,

page_text: communicates the requisite movement to the heddles. When it is wished
to render these arrangements available for checking, a short vertical shaft
is introduced at one end of the loom, which shaft is driven by a con-
nection with the outer end of the crank shaft at half the rate of the latter by
means of a pair of bevil pinions, the smaller one being fast on the end of
the crank shaft, and the larger one on the upper end of the vertical shaft.
Near the lower end of the shaft there is attached the radial arm or disc, and.
the scroll plate wipers and details, as described in the said Isaac and William
Whitesmith's Specification herein-before referred to, the whole being modified
to suit the altered position of the shaft.
The third head of the Invention relates to a self-operating pace lever
and weight, by means of which, during the gradual reduction of the
diameter of the warp beam as the warp is being drawn off by the process
of weaving, the pace weight is made to move in the same ratio towards
the fulcrum of the lever, in order that the strain upon the warp, may:
be as nearly as possible uniform throughout. To effect this there is
secured to the side of the loom, nearest to the fulcrum of the lever, a
bracket and stud carrying a pulley, fitted with a pinion having a suitable
number of teeth for the purpose. A small rack, with its teeth in a vertical
position, gears with the pinion; this rack is fitted into the bracket in a trans-
verse direction immediately above or below the warp beam, and it has ratchet
teeth formed on its upper surface, and a single gland-shaped projection
embraces the back of the warp beam. A spring pall connected either to the
sword of the loom, or by a cam to the crank shaft, pushes the gland gently
against the warp beam at each stroke in such a way that, as the beam becomes
smaller, the rack turns round the pinion and pulley, which latter, by means of
a cord or strap connecting its periphery with the pace weight, draws the
weight along the lever as required.
The fourth part of the Invention has reference to a peculiar arrange-
ment of brackets, with interposed pieces or cakes of caoutchouc or other
elastic substance, by which means a certain amount of yielding is secured
to the warp at each shed as it passes over the ordinary whip roll or back
rail of the loom.
The last improvement is a new arrangement for the measuring take-up
roll, the cloth roll, and the breast beam of the loom. In this plan
the measuring roll is placed immediately under and nearly close to the
breast beam. The cloth roll is supported by the front extremities of
two bell crank levers, which have their fulcra on studs at each side
of the loom; the longer ends of the levers extend towards the interior

page_text: of the loom, and may be weighted or not, as required. In either case the
cloth roll is pressed against the lower part of the measuring roll, and as it
fills with cloth it is made gradually to descend in an arc of a circle downwards
and forwards. The breast beam is made with a long slot near to its back
part. As the cloth is woven it is passed over the top of the breast beam,
thence underneath the measuring roll, and upwards through the slot in the
breast beam; it is then returned over the back part of the breast beam and
downwards over the back part of the cloth roll, where it is secured in the
ordinary way. The objects secured by this arrangement are, first, that'
the measuring roll gets a better and more secure hold of the cloth than
by the ordinary plans; and in the second place, the peculiar conditions,.
obtained between the measuring and cloth rolls, secure a greater amount
of traction, and the cloth is wound up tighter and more effectually than by the
ordinary plans. The arrangement also affords superior facilities for removing
and replacing the cloth roll when required.
And in order that our several improvements may be properly understood,
we shall now describe the Sheet of explanatory Drawings which we have
attached hereunto.
Figure 1 on our Sheet of Drawings is an end elevation of one of our.
improved looms; Figure 2 is a longitudinal elevation, and Figure 3 a plan
corresponding. The framing of the loom is of the usual open rectangular
kind.
In these Figures, as already referred to herein, the picking sticks A, for
throwing the shuttles, are centred on studs B fixed to and oscillating. with
the ordinary rocking shafts C. Between the arms of the fly wheels D on each.
side of the loom, are placed the spindles which form axes for the lunar-shaped:
pulleys or cams F, and the bevil pinions. This spindle is placed at right
angles to the axis of the crank shaft H, and is free to move in bearings or
steps, one situated in the bosses and the other in the rims of the fly wheels D,
the inner ends of the brackets or journal bearings I are cast, or otherwise
secured, bevil pinions J, into the teeth of which the corresponding pinions G
are made to take. These pinions J and G bear such a proportion to each
other that the pinion J has half as many more teeth as the pinion G.
upon
.
The picking levers K, which have their fulcra at L, are placed in a diagonal
or oblique position, and are connected at. M, as in our former patented
arrangement, by means of a strap with the picking sticks, and the bent end K
of the levers K are placed.in such a position with regard to the fly wheels D,
and the lunar shaped pulleys F, that, as the crank shaft revolves on its axis in
the process of working in the projecting and the depressed sides respectively.

page_text: of the lunar pulleys are brought alternately to present themselves to the ends
Kin such a way that when the convex side presents itself it comes forcibly in
contact with the end K giving it the necessary jerk, by means of which
the shuttle is put in motion through the agency of the straps and picking
already described. In the. succeeding revolution of the crank shaft, the
depressed side of the lunar pulley will present itself to the end K of the
lever, in which event no action takes place, and therefore by setting the lunar
pulleys on the opposite sides of the loom to present themselves alternately to
their respective picking levers, the ordinary alternation of picks is obtained.
It is obvious that this arrangement of the bevil pinions G and J, or by a
similar arrangement of spur pinions made to give motion to a lunar-shaped
pulley as described, may be made to operate on any of the ordinary picking
arrangements at present in use.
The next part of the Invention relates to a self operating pace lever N, the
weight O being dragged gradually along its upper edge by means of the
cord P, by an arrangement presently to be described in such a way that
the ratio of the distance of the pace weight O from the fulcrum of the lever
N, and the diameter of the warp yarn upon the beam Q, shall always remain
the same, thus rendering the strain upon the warp yarn in the process of
working perfectly uniform without regard to its continually varying diameter..
The weight O is actuated as follows;-A bracket R is secured in any con-
venient position to the framing of the loom, and upon this bracket is centred
upon a stud the pulley S, to the boss of which is secured the pinion T, the
teeth of which are made to take into the short rack U, having on the upper
edge of the end a number of ratchet teeth, as shown in the Drawing. The
short rack T which is made to slide freely in the bracket R has fixed to it a
projecting arm W, which by the action of the pall X, and the plate spring Y,
is made to prèss continually against the warp yarn, following it up as the
diameter of the warp diminishes. The plate spring Y is secured at its lower
end to one of the swords or rocking arms of the loom at Z, so that as the
latter oscillates, the pall keeps continually pushing at the rack U. The con-
tinuous change in the position of the weight O is obtained by the cord P
forming a communication between the weight O and the periphery of the
pulley S, the diameter of the latter being made so as to form a proper pro-
portion with the number of teeth in the pinion T, which latter is actuated by
the movement of the rack U.
The last part of our improvements consists
measuring or take-up roll, and the cloth roll.
is placed immediately beneath the breast beam.
in a new arrangement for the
a is the measuring roll, which
The cloth roll 6 is supported

page_text: by the front extremities of two bell crank levers which have their fulcra on
the studs d; to the inner ends of the levers is attached a weight or spring e,
secured at its lower extremity to the frame at f, the cloth roll being by
this means pressed against the lower part of the measuring roll, and as it fills
with cloth it is made gradually to descend in an arc of a circle downwards
and forwards.
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 may observe, in conclusion, that we do not confine or restrict ourselves
to the precise details or arrangement which we have had occasion to describe
or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the principles or main features of our Invention; but what we consider to be
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 looms for weaving, as
herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of actuating the picking sticks of power looms
directly from the ends of the crank shaft, as herein-before described.
Third, the application and use of a self-acting pace lever and weight, for
rendering uniform the tensional strain upon the warp threads throughout the
entire winding off of the warp during the weaving of a piece, as herein-
before described.
Fourth, the system or mode of regulating or rendering uniform the ten-
sional strain upon the warp threads by causing the diminishing diameter of the
coiled or wound up warp upon the warp beam to operate in traversing the
pace weight towards the fulcrum of its lever.
Fifth, the system or mode of arranging the measuring or take-up rolls and
the cloth rolls of looms, for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Isaac Whitesmith, on behalf of myself
and of the said William Whitesmith, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Eighth day of December, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-seven.
ISAAC WHITESMITH.
(L.S.)