IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Allison, of the firm of Allison Brothers,
Patent Agents, of Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS" communicated to him from abroad by Charles
Irwin Kane and Robert Ellison Lester, both of the City and State of New
York, United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Herbert John Allison at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th December 1883.
"
HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of the firm of Allison Brothers, Patent Agents, of
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS communicated to
me from abroad by Charles Irwin Kane and Robert Ellison Lester, both of the
City and State of New York, United States of America.
This invention more especially relates to looms for weaving "narrow ware" but
is also applicable to looms for other purposes.
The chief object of said invention is to provide a loom, which, though adapted for
a great variety of work, is simple in construction and very compact, so that a
number of looms arranged side by side may be advantageously operated by a single
driving shaft.
The invention consists in various combinations of parts for operating the heddles,,
the warp stop motion, the shuttle, and the take up roll, and in novel details of
construction, all of said features being fully hereinafter described and referred to.
My improvement in the warp stop motion consists in a convenient and effective
arrangement of devices for automatically disengaging the driving mechanism of
either one or more of the looms of the series from the common shaft in the event of
breaking or failing of any one of the warp-yarns.
My improvement in the shuttle driving mechanism consists in a combination
with a curved raceway and curvilinearly reciprocating shuttle driver, of a lever'
for actuating the latter having its centre of motion concentric with the raceway
and actuated by a rotary cam arranged in the rear of the shuttle driver,

page_text: My improvement in what is known in the trade as the harness motion, has for
its object the facilitating the changing of the order of working of the harness with
the least possible change in the parts of the harness motion.
To accomplish this object I use a vertical shaft connected by gears with the
driving mechanism of the looms; upon this shaft I mount a series of cams, composed 5
of flanged cylinders having removable sections.
The arrangement of these removable sections for different orders will enable
the loom to weave either plain goods, or twilled or other descriptions of fabric as
desired.
My improvement in the take up motion consists of an adjustable gear wheel, 1
sliding freely on one of the shafts of the driving mechanism, and receiving motion
from one of a series of gears arranged in the form of a cone, and carried by a shaft
at an angle in such manner that the adjustable gear may at any time be shifted
upon its shaft so as to engage with a larger or smaller gear by simply withdrawing
a spring catch or other holding means, carried by the adjustable gear and received 1
on its shaft. The friction roller or driver and the take up roll are also formed of
different diameters, capable of being alternately used for the purpose of further
adjusting the take up.
By this means a great saving of time and trouble is effected to the weaver and
manufacturer by enabling them to vary the speed of the take up without removing 2
any of the parts of the loom.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the loom embodying
my improvements.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the dotted lines y, y, Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a plan.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the dotted line x, x, Fig. 1.
Figs. 5 to 11 inclusive represent the warp stop motion in detail.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the loom only such parts being shown as will best
illustrate the warp stop motion, and its connection with the driving mechanism.
Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same with the upper plate containing the raceway 3
removed.
Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken transversely to the warp on the line x, x,
Fig. 5.
Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the part of the main shaft and the clutch mechanism
separately.
Fig. 9 is a detailed view of part of one of the drop-levers with its shaft and its
weighted levers.
Fig. 10 is a detached view of part of one of the drop-levers.
Fig. 11 is a side-view of one of the weighted levers separately.
Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive represent the shuttle driving notion in detail.
Fig. 12 is a vertical section transversely to the raceway.
Fig. 13 is a vertical section of the same on the line x, x, in Fig. 12.
Fig. 14 is an inverted plan of like parts, and Fig. 15 is a longitudinal elevation
of the shuttle driver detached.
Figs. 16 to 22 inclusive show the harness motion in detail.
Fig. 16 is a vertical section of so much of my loom as will illustrate the heddles
or harness motion.
Fig. 17 is a horizontal section of the upper working parts removed.
Fig. 18 is a diagram showing the surface of one of the cams laid out in a plane
with its sections arranged to produce plain weaving.
Fig. 19 is a similar diagram representing the sections arranged to produce four
leaf twill.
Fig. 20 is another diagram showing the sections arranged for producing gros
grain.
5
Figs. 21 and 22 are perspective views of two forms of sections which I have 5
shown employed in Figs. 18, 19, 20.
Figs. 23, 24 and 25 show the take up motion in detail,

page_text: Fig. 23 is a vertical section of so much of my loom as will show my take up
motion to advantage.
Fig. 24 is a partial horizontal sectional view on line 2, z, of Fig. 23, and Fig. 25
is a front view of part of the framing of the loom, with cloth or take up roll and
parts immediately connected therewith.
Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
A designates the side frames which are connected by an intermediate rectangular
frame A and a top plate or frame A², to which is fixed the breast beam A³.
B designates the main driving shaft which may be rotated by a belt B¹, passing
over a pulley B², and which may be extended through and impart motion to a
number of looms, similar to that shown, arranged side by side. Upon the shaft B,
is a spur gear wheel B³ which is loose upon the shaft and which may be locked
thereto when it is desired to operate the loom by means of a clutch a sliding on
the shaft and adapted to be thrown into and out of engagement with a clutch
positioned on the wheel by means of a hand lever B*.
And I may employ in connection with such a clutch the "warp-stop" mechanism
which is more fully shown in Figs. 5 to 11 or I may employ any other suitable
warp-stop motion to shift a clutch to stop the loom when any one of the
threads breaks or gives out.
"
">
My warp-stop motion which is more particularly shown in Figs. 5 to 11 is as
follows:-
In my warp-stop motion I apply on the main shaft for each loom of the series a
double clutch, one half of which is capable of being operated by a hand-lever for
the purpose of enabling the operator or attendant to stop the loom, while the other
half is provided with a cam-course adapted to operate one end of a pivoted
vibrating lever, the opposite end of which at each vibration either passes or engages
with one or more of a series of weighted levers, depending upon whether all the
warps are intact or whether some have broken or failed. Each of the weighted
levers is peculiarly formed and mounted on a pin or axis carried by the short end
of one of a series of drop-levers arranged at the rear of the loom and mounted on a
shaft parallel with the warps.
The drop-levers are spaced on their shaft by means of short tubes or collars.
The long end of each of the drop-levers is suitably guided and passed through one
of a series of elongated loops, the lower end of each of which is weighted, whilst
its upper end is provided with a suspension or drop-wire which passes a guide-ring
carried by a cross-bar.
At their upper ends the suspension or drop-wires are formed with loops to
prevent their accidental passage through the guide-rings, and at their extreme
upper ends, they are formed with hooks, one of each of which is adapted to be
applied to the individual warp-yarns at the time of starting the loom and be
suspended thereby until such time that a warp-yarn should break or fail when the
suspension or drop-wire will immediately fall and by means of its intermediate
mechanism (as hereinafter more fully explained) cause the second half of the clutch
mechanism to automatically disconnect the main shaft and stop the loom in which
the
warp broke without causing or necessitating the stoppage of any other loom of
the series.
The clutch is double, one half is applied to the main shaft B, in the proper
position for each loom of the series. The half V₁ of the clutch is formed with a
boss capable of sliding freely on the shaft B, in a direction parallel with the axis
of the said shaft, and it is prevented from turning thereon by means of a feather.
Upon the boss of the half V₁ of the clutch is formed a circular extension
provided with flanges between which flanges the forked end 6' of the hand
lever B constantly engages, which lever is pivoted on an axis 65 carried by the
inain framing.
On one face of the half V¹ of the clutch are formed or applied pins or equivalent
means which engage with holes or recesses in the side of the second half V2 of
the clutch in the periphery of which is formed a cam groove or course adapted to

page_text: operate one end N2 of a horizontally vibrating lever N¹ which is pivoted at N³ to
the cross-bar forming part of the main framing.
The compound clutch is connected with the wheel B3 by means of studs, pins or
equivalent engaging means, 18, formed on or applied to the face of the wheel Ba
and adapted to be received into corresponding recesses in the second half of the
clutch.
The half V of the clutch is held in its normal position by means of springs 1°
having a bearing against the wheel B³ which itself is retained in position laterally
on the side opposed to the clutch by means of a collar screwed or keyed on the
shaft B as shown in Fig. 6.
The long end N of the vibrating lever N¹ at each revolution of the main shaft B,
is caused by the cam 17 to either pass over or engage with one or more of a series
of weighted levers o each of which is mounted on an axis o¹ carried by the short
arm P¹ of one of a series of drop-levers P, which are arranged at the rear of the
loom, and mounted on a shaft P² arranged parallel with the warps.
The drop-levers P are by preference constructed of stout wire bent as shown, so
as to form eyes p which serve as hubs and are received upon the shaft P2 and
there held in place by means of short tubes or collars p¹.
The short arms P₁ of the levers P are also formed with eyes or loops p² which
are finally clinched or forged on to the axis o¹ upon which the weighted levers o
are supported.
The weighted levers o are also by preference formed of stout wire having a
straight upper portion of adapted for engagement with the vibrating lever N';
the wire is then bent into the form of an eye or hub o2 adapted to be placed
so as to move freely on the axis o¹, where it is secured by the washer o³ and
pin ot
After forming the eye or hub o² the wire is bent forward and retained at an
angle forming a nose o³ adapted to engage with the short arm P¹ of lever P ; it is
then carried downward and formed with an eye o' to which is suspended a
weight.
The weight and leverage of the levers o and the short arms P¹ of the levers
should be such as to slightly overbalance the weight and leverage of the long
arms P2 of levers P.
Each of the drop-levers P is kept in proper position by means of guides Pa
carried by the main framing.
R, R, are a series of elongated loops formed by preference of metal and provided
at their lower ends with weights R₁; one of each is provided for each warp
thread.
At their upper ends each of the loops R is attached to the lower end of a
drop wire s which passes through a guide-ring 84 carried by a cross-bar s³.
At their upper ends the drop wires 82 are formed with loops 85 to prevent their
accidental passage through the guide-rings s¹ and at their extreme upper ends they
are formed with hooks s, one of each of which is adapted to be applied to each
individual warp-yarn l, at the time of starting the loom and be suspended thereby
until such time that a warp yarn breaks or fails when the drop-wire s² supported
by the said yarn will fall and in so doing cause its weighted loops to counterbalance
the lever P and cause it to fall as indicated at P4, Fig. 7.
As the arm P² of said lever falls its arm P¹ is raised, carrying with it the weighted
lever o and thereby causing the upper portion of the latter to be obtruded in the
way of levers N¹. The nose o which extends under arm P¹ of lever P prevents
weighted lever o from turning on its pivot when lever N¹ strikes it in moving
outwards, and it therefore forms a stop sufficiently rigid to arrest the movement of
lever N¹. The weighted lever o is however free to turn on its pivot when engaged
by lever N¹ in the movement of the latter in the reverse direction so that it will
always hang vertically even when the drop-lever P is raised.
The outward movement of the end N₁ of the lever N¹ being arrested, its end
will serve as a fixed abutment which, acting in the cam-course during the rotary

page_text: motion of the clutch will move part V2 out of engagement with the part VI thus
freeing wheel B³ from the shaft B which continues to rotate; and stopping shaft G
and wheel G. The loom will be then stopped automatically and remain stopped
until the warp-yarn is mended or replaced and the loom again started by the
attendant.
If the attendant wishes to stop any of the looms he has simply to operate
the half of the double clutch by means of a hand lever B when the loom will
instantly stop and remain stopped until the half of the clutch is replaced.
So long as all the warps remain intact the weighted levers o will offer no
impediment to the motion of the vibrating lever N' and weaving will continue in
its ordinary course.
C designates a shaft parallel with shaft B, and serving to impart the necessary
motion to the shuttle and take up roll or beam.
Upon the shaft is fixed a spur wheel C¹, meshing with the loose wheel B³, and
which receives motion from said wheel B³, when the latter is locked to the shaft
by the clutch a.
D designates the shuttle raceway, here shown as open at the top and bottom,
and D¹ designates the shuttle driver.
The details of the construction of the shuttle driver are more fully shown in
Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive in which the lettering corresponds with that of Figs. 1 to 4
inclusive but there are some additional parts indicated which could not be properly
shown on the general drawings.
In Figs. 12 to 15 A3 indicates the top of the frame, or table, having a curved
raceway D open for the shuttle D2, to work in and divided at its centre
leaving a space t¹, t¹, of sufficient width to admit of the passage and shedding of
the warps.
C is a horizontal rotating shaft arranged beneath the table A, and at a suitable
distance in the rear of the raceway D; this shaft may be extended to operate several
looms, and is provided with a grooved cam E¹, that is one for each loom for operating
the shuttle driving mechanism. It may be also fitted for gear for acting the other
working parts of the loom.
The cain E¹ is arranged opposite and in the rear of the shuttle driver D¹ which
has a curvilinearly reciprocating motion by means of a simple lever E directly
connected with said driver and having its centre of motion 6 concentric with
raceway D.
The vibrating motion of lever E to actuate the shuttle driver is effected by a
stud or roller c, arranged to gear with a grooved cam E¹.
This forms a very simple and direct means within the narrow frame of the loom
for operating the shuttle driver.
The fingers d³, d³, by which shuttle driver D¹ is made to propel shuttle D², are
arranged, one near either end of said driver and are fitted to have a sliding motion
up and down through guides d, d, in the driver for their being alternately drawi
downward out of the shuttle below the warps during the travel of the portion of
the loom with which they engage through the warp and of their subsequent
engagement again with the shuttle.
This usual and necessary action of fingers d³, d³, is produced as follows:-
Mounted upon lever E and having their fulcrums at d³, d, are two independent
levers d', d, which are connected at their front or free end with the fingers d³, d³,
in any suitable way to provide for elevating or depressing the latter.
These levers d', d', are constructed to accommodate their curvilinear action to the.
motion of the fingers and alternately raised and lowered accordingly as it is
necessary to put the fingers in and out of connection with the shuttle, by means of
a stationary slotted cam d², in the slot S, of which the rollers do, do, on said levers
engage and along which they travel as the lever E, is vibrated from the centre of
motion, b, the said cam being suitably constructed to provide for the proper action
of the fingers relatively to the shuttle.
A much higher velocity, may be obtained for the shuttle, by this construction
,

page_text: and combination of devices than is practicable under any other combination for
the same purpose, and great compactness with perfect freedom of action obtained.
F designates the lay, which is pivoted at f, and upon the shaft C, is a cam F¹,
having in its side a groove f¹, which receives a roller f2, carried by a rod F2, which
is connected with the lay.
The rod F2, is slotted or formed with a yoke f³, which rides upon the shaft C,
and as cam F, rotates a reciprocating motion is imparted to the said rod, and the
lay is vibrated.
G, designates a vertical shaft which, as here shown is arranged centrally below
the shaft C, and which carries at its upper end a bevel gear wheel G¹ which is
made concave or bowl shape so as to receive cam E¹ and economize space.
.
Upon shaft C is fixed a bevel pin g, which engages with the wheel G' and so
rotates the shaft G.
Upon the shaft G are secured a number of cams G2 which have each a groove g¹.
In the present example of my invention, each cam consists of a cylindrical body
with flanges g at the opposite sides, and sections or blocks g³ secured between said
flanges and arranged so as to form a cam-course g¹.
The sections or blocks gå are detachably secured in place by screws, 96, and by
changing their position, the character of the cam grooves g¹, may be changed to
adapt the looms for different kinds of weaving.
These minor details of construction are best shown in Figures 16 to 22.
H designates the leaves of heddles or heddle frames which are movable upwards
and downwards in guides H¹ and to their lower ends are connected treadles or
levers H² where they are operated.
The ends of the treadles or levers may be pivoted to the heddle frame as here
shown, or they may enter slots in said frames, or they may be otherwise connected
with said frames in any suitable manner.
I designates upright bars which are carried by or form a part of the intermediate
frame A and to which the treadles or levers are fulcrumed at h.
These treadles or levers H² also carry rollers h¹ which engage with the cam
grooves, gl, and as shaft G and its cams are rotated the desired rising and falling
motion is imparted to the treadles or levers and to heddles H.
In Figs. 16 and 17 I have shown my improved device arranged for producing
plain weaving and in which case sections g³ are arranged at equal distances apart
on opposite sides of the space on cylinders G³.
There are sixteen holes g, shown tapped in each cylinder G³, one half only of
each of which are used at the same time.
In Figures 16, 17 and 18 the sections being arranged alternately on opposite
sides for the production of plain weaving, the alternate holes go are used and
vacant.
In Figure 19 when the sections g³ are arranged three together on the top side of
cylinder G with one section interspaced on the lower side to operate treadles in
such a manner that there will always be one up and one down for the purpose of
producing four leaf twill, two holes go, on the top side, and six holes on the lower
side are vacant, whilst the remainder are employed in holding sections g³ in
position.
In Fig. 20 I have shown cylinder G³, with sections g³ arranged two together
alternately to operate treadles in such a manner that two will always be up and
two down, so as to produce what is known as gros grain, in which every alternate
two of the holes on each side are occupied and vacant.
In Fig. 20 I have shown two forms of sections g³ employed, one of each is
shown separately at Figs. 21 and 22 and other forms of sections may however be
employed.
Other number of divisions of the cylinder, and other number of sections may be
employed on the cylinders so long as the number is made to agree with the motions
of the shuttle and lay.
Fios 22 94 and 95 show the tales un motion in detail

page_text: In the lower part of the loom are two shafts J, K, arranged obliquely to each
other and supported in bearings in the frames A¹. Upon the shaft J is secured a
worin wheel J¹ and on the lower end of shaft G is formed or secured a worm or
screw J. Upon the shaft J are also a number of gear wheels J³ of different
diameters arranged in the form of a cone, and the shafts J and K are placed at
such a degree of obliquity that the face of the cone formed by the series of wheels
will be approximately parallel with shaft K.
Upon shaft K is a spur wheel K¹ which engages with and receives motion from
the wheels J³. The wheel K¹ may be adjusted lengthwise of its shaft, and by
securing it in different positions it will be driven by wheels J³ of different diameters,
and its speed correspondingly varied.
This adjustment is effected by means of a sliding spring catch 6¹ the point of
which engages with one or the other of a series of notches 6 formed in the
periphery of shaft K. The wheel K' is prevented from turning on the shaft K by
the means of a feather b³ formed on the said shaft.
Upon the end of shaft K is mounted a bevel wheel / which engages with a
bevel affixed on the lower end of an inclined shaft N revolving in bearings
carried by the framing A¹ and having on its upper end a bevel wheel which
gears with a bevel wheel j affixed on a shaft 3 supported in bearings in framing
A' and upon which is mounted the friction roller or driver M by means of which
motion is communicated to the take up roll L which is mounted on a shaft L'
supported in slotted bearings i, i, affixed on the framing A¹ in such a manner as to
allow the ready accumulation of the fabric on the take up rolls and the consequent
increased diameter of the roll of web or material so accumulated.
The friction roll M at m¹ and m² and the take up roll L at land 18 are formed
of different diameters, either portion of either roll being capable of being brought
into position for use as desired.
The roll M by means of a binding screw m³ and the roll L by means of a binding
screw ³ are held in their proper positions on their respective shafts M, L.
The part m of the roll M is shown in position in Figs. 24 and 25 to cause the
web or fabric being woven to be taken up on to the part 12 of roller L; it will
however be readily seen that by simply loosening the screws m³ and 1³ the parts m
and 12 or m² and l, may be readily brought into position to act in a similar manner.
By thus shifting the relation of the parts of rolls L, M, a further variation and
adjustment of the take up of the fabric is obtained.
In place of spring latch b¹ any other suitable device or a screw may be employed
so long as it is capable of ready operation or removal to allow of sliding to and fro
of the pinion K' when desired and its easy engagement with its shaft K.
In place of shifting the wheel K¹ in some cases I can shift the cone or series of
pinions Js.
This take up motion can also be used on other makes of looms.
Having thus described the nature of this Invention what I claim and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is :-
1 The curved raceway, and shuttle driver operated by vertically moving
fingers, vibrating horizontal lever and a stationary cam substantially as shown and
described.
2nd The combination with the main or driving shaft and a clutch on said shaft,
one half of which is formed with a cam course, of a vibrating lever operated by
the cam on the clutch a series of weighted and drop-levers for controlling the
operation of said vibrating lever, and drop-wires adapted to be suspended from
the warp-yarns and serving to move the drop-levers on the breakage of the yarns
substantially as shown and described.
3rd The vertical shaft and cams having flanges on opposite sides and inter-
changeable sections forming a variable cam course together with the bowls or
rollers at the treadles of heddle frames, substantially as shown and described.
4th The combination in the take up motion of a loom of the take up rolls, an

page_text: interchangeable cone of gearing wheels, an adjustable pinion and inclined shaft
with bevel gears substantially as shown and described.
5th The construction and combination of the parts of a loom, substantially as
shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Allison, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this fifteenth day of December in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty-three.
HERBERT J. ALLISON. (L.S.)