IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Bullough, of Accrington, in the County of
Lancaster, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS
FOR WEAVING."
Sealed the 7th June 1864, and dated the 11th December 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Bullough at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th December 1863.
I, JAMES BULLOUGH, of Accrington, in the County of Lancaster, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to wide looms used for weaving plain or fancy woollen
or other fabrics, but it is especially adapted to looms having drop boxes,
jacquard apparatus, dobbies, or other arrangements used for fancy weaving.
My object is to stop the loom when the weft breaks or is absent sooner than
has heretofore been accomplished, and for this purpose I employ a weft motion
at or near each selvage of the warp, and in cases of extreme width one or more
between the selvages.
At one or both ends of the loom I employ a sliding bar, having at the front
a lever or catch, which is raised so that the slay or batten shall come in
contact with it, and pull the bar forwards when the weft breaks or is absent,
the said lever or catch being connected by a cord, wire, or shaft with the
setting-on rod, or to a lever connected with the weft motion. To the sliding

page_text: bar is attached one end of a strong spring, the other end of which is connected
to the brake, which acts on a separate brake wheel, and the back part of the
bar is connected to a strap passing over friction studs, and connected to another
spring, or in some cases the bar is connected to the spring only. I connect
the driving pulley and fly wheel to the crank shaft by a clutch box or friction
pulleys, and disconnect them when the weft breaks or is absent by causing the
setting-on rod to act on a lever which works the said clutch box or friction
pulleys.
In those looms where the clutch box is not used the sliding bar acts upon
the ordinary brake and fly wheel. Thus, when the weft breaks or is absent
the lever or catch on the sliding bar is raised, and is caught by the slay as it
advances, and pulls forward the bar, and presses the brake against the brake
wheel, so as to stop the loom before the reed can beat up the last pick or
portion of a pick, the springs on the sliding bar preventing at the same time
undue violence or concussion.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Bullough in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th June 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
BULLOUGH, of Accrington, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said James Bullough, Her special license that I,
the said James Bullough, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said James Bullough, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Bullough, my executors or adminis
trators, 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

page_text: 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 Bullough, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to wide looms used for weaving plain or fancy
woollen or other fabrics, and is especially adapted to looms having drop boxes,
jacquard apparatus, dobbies, or other arrangements used for fancy weaving.
My object is to stop the loom when the weft breaks or is absent sooner than
has been heretofore accomplished, and for this purpose I employ a weft motion
at or near each selvage of the warp, and in cases of extreme width one or
more between the selvages. At one or both ends of the loom I employ a
sliding bar, having at the front a lever or catch, which is raised so that the
slay or batten shall come in contact with it and push the bar when a weft
breaks or is absent, the said lever or catch being connected by a cord,
wire, or shaft with the setting-on rod, or to a lever operated upon by the weft
motion. To the sliding bar is attached one end of a strong spring, the other
end of which is connected to the brake which acts on a separate brake wheel
fixed to the crank shaft, and the back part of the bar is connected to a strap
passing over friction studs or rollers and connected to another spring, or in
some cases the bar is connected to the spring only. Or instead of the sliding
bottom to a strong spring,
I
bar I employ a vibrating bar connected at the
and put the bar in motion when a weft breaks or is absent, by causing
a catch worked by the weft motion to seize the teeth of a catch wheel
fixed to the crank shaft, the said catch and catch wheel being a modifica-
tion of and producing the same effect as the brake and brake wheel.
also connect the driving pulley or fly wheel to the crank shaft by a clutch
box or friction pulley, and disconnect the clutch or pulley when a weft
breaks or is absent by causing the setting-on rod to act on the lever which
works the said clutch or pulley. In some looms where the clutch box is not
used the sliding bar acts upon the ordinary brake and fly wheel.
When a
weft is broken or is absent the lever or catch on the sliding bar is raised, and
the slay as it advances comes in contact with the lever or catch, and pushes
forwards the bar and presses the brake against the brake wheel, and also
tightens the strap on the friction studs or rollers, so as to stop the loom before
the reed can beat up the last pick or portion of a pick, the springs connected
with the sliding bar preventing at the same time, any undue violence or con

page_text: cussion; and the same effects are obtained when the vibrating bar and spring
are acted upon by means of the catch and catch wheel.
;
The manner in which my Invention is to be performed will be clearly
understood by referring to the figures and letters on the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a part of a loom to which
are applied the weft motions, the sliding bar, the brake and brake wheel; the
friction studs or rollers, and also the clutch box; Figs. 2 and 3 are end eleva
tions of the same, with parts in section; Figs. 4 and 5 are front and end eleva-
tions of part of a loom having the vibrating bar and the catch and catch wheel
employed as a modification of the sliding bar. and brake and brake wheel;
Fig. 6 is an end view representing a mode of enabling the sliding bar and
vibrating bar to work in conjunction with each other; and Figs. 7, 8, and 9
are detached views of parts of the improvements drawn to an enlarged scale. ;
In Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, a represents the end frames of the loom; b, the
crank shaft; c, the tappet shaft; d, the slay or batten; e, the sword arms;
f, the reed; and g, the reed cap.
In the weft motions each weft feeler is similar to one described in the
Specification of an Invention for which Letters Patent were granted to myself
and John Bullough, dated the Fourteenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, Number 1225. This weft
feeler consists of a thin bar or plate placed in guides at the back of the reed
cap and slay, and having a projection protruding a short distance from the
front of the reed. The feeler is made so light that it can be supported by the
weft, and therefore no stoppage of the loom. takes place; but when there is a
breakage or absence of weft the feeler descends and puts in action the
stopping apparatus. In the Figures I shew the application of three weft
motions, one near each outer selvage of the warp, and one in the middle; and
each outer feeler moves up and down at every other pick, and the middle.one
at every pick; so that they can be supported by the weft, and also be raised
for allowing the reed to beat up the warp and the shuttle to pass across the
race. The bars or plates constituting the weft feelers are shewn at h, Figs. ?
and 9, and one detached drawn about full size at Fig. 7, and each feeler is
connected at the top by a cord i to the end of a lever k, which is fixed to a
shaft working in bearings m, and to each shaft is fixed another lever'n, there
being as many shafts and two sets of levers as there are weft motions. The
ends of the levers n are connected by connecting rods o to levers p working
on stationary studs. The two end levers p.are mounted with bowls in con
tact with tappets 9 on the tappet shaft c; and the middle lever has a bowl in
contact with a tappet on the crank shaft b, or with double tappets on the tappet

page_text: shaft, and the levers and rods are sufficiently heavy to overbalance the levers k.
and pull up the cords and feelers when the bowls are in contact with the
circular parts of the tappets; but when the projecting parts of the tappets act
upon the bowls the levers p, n, are raised and the front ends of the levers k
depressed, so as to slacken the cords and allow the feelers to descend by their
weight. The projections of the end. tappets are placed in opposite positions,
that is, when one is up the other is down, and the projection on the middle
tappet is placed in an intermediate position, which arrangement is for
the purpose of enabling the feelers to descend at the time the weft should
be in those places; and as the projections are narrow in width, the feelers
descend and rise rapidly, and they are maintained in their raised positions as
long as the bowls on the levers are in contact with the circular parts of the
tappets. In order that the descent of the weft feelers shail lead to the quick
stoppage of the loom when a weft breaks or is absent, I employ the following
mechanical contrivances:-To the front of the reed cap g, Figs. 2, 5, and 9,
I fix bearings 1, one opposite each feeler, and joint to each bearing a double
lever, the back or tail parts having a slot, through which the feeler passes, and
the front part t formed to act as a finger; and at the upper part of each feeler
there are holes, into one of which is placed a pin, which when the feeler
descends comes in contact with the tail, and depresses it and at the same time
raises the finger. At the ends of the breast beam, or on the end frames of the
loom, there are bearings which carry a shaft u, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9,
extending from one end of the loom to the other; and to the shaft are fixed
quadrants v, to which are fastened levers w, having bosses loose on the shaft so.
that the levers can be adjusted and fixed at any required position. To the top
of each lever is fixed a stud carrying an arm a connected at one end by a
spring y with the boss of the lever, and the other end of the arm is recessed as
at z. To the stud is fixed ar pin, which is acted upon by a projection 6' on the
boss c', Fig. 1, which is adjusted and fixed at the right position in the boss of
the arm, and the positions of the recess and the tip of the finger are such,
that when the finger is raised and the slay comes forward it shall enter the
recess, push back the arm by means of the projection and pin, and give
motion to the shaft; and as the tip of the finger and the recessed end of the
arm move in a curvilinear direction the spring yields and allows the arm to
vibrate, the recessed end moving horizontally as the lever is becoming perpen-
dicular, and the projection moving away from the pin to allow it to do so, or a
weight may be employed instead of a spring, and as the weft lies diagonally
across the warp, the middle or intermediate fingers, or the arms with which
they come in contact, should be made shorter than those at the outer ends of

page_text: the selvage in order to allow time for the slay to advance sufficiently to enable
the feeler or feelers to come in contact with the weft. Each finger is heavier
than the tail part of the lever, and when the feeler is raised the tip of the
finger falls sufficiently low to pass under the recessed part of the arm, and
therefore no action is given to the lever and shaft, and the precise position the
finger is allowed to fall is regulated by a plate d², Fig. 1, placed above the tail,
which plate is of such length as to allow the finger to be moved according to the
width of the warp, and the bolts for holding the bearings are passed through
slots in a small frame e¹ for the same purpose, it being understood that the
levers k to which the cords are attached must be shifted to suit the positions
of the feelers; and for the purpose of preventing the weaver from injuring or
bending the feelers by pressing against them, I adjust and fix to the slay
guards formed of pieces of wood or metal. It is well known that when the
weft motions have caused a shaft or slide to be put in movement a means has
been procured for giving other movements for various purposes, such as shift-
ing the setting-on rod out of its detent, and causing the strap to be moved
from the fast to the loose pulley, or working a clutch box, or putting the
different varieties of breaks into action. Thus I fix to or form upon the shaft u
a projection g, Fig. 3, just behind the setting-on rod when it is held in its
detent, so that when the shaft is slightly turned the projection forces the
setting-on rod out of its detent and shifts the strap from the fast to the loose
pulley, or shifts a clutch out of gear.
One of my improved arrangements for stopping the loom when a weft
breaks or is absent before the reed can beat up the last pick or portion of a
pick is shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, and parts of the same in Figs. 8 and 9. At-
one or both ends of the loom I employ a sliding bar h¹ connected by means
of the spring k¹ to the brake lever 1, which acts on a separate brake wheel m¹.
To the back end of the sliding bar is connected one end of a strap n², Fig. 8,
which passes over and under friction rollers o³, and is connected at the other
end to the spring p², fastened at the bottom to the stationary bracket q', the
said rollers having ratchet wheels and catches s; so that they can turn in
one direction, but not in the other. At the front of the bar there is a stud,
on which works a lever or catch t¹ connected by the cord, wire, or chain u
with the lever z working on a stud fixed to the end frame, and having its tail
end formed of a cam shape. At this end of the shaft u an arm or lever vis
fixed in such a position that when the arm turns downwards it shall depress
the tail end and lift the other end of the lever, and thereby raise the lever
or catch t¹ on the sliding bar. To the front of the slay or batten is fixed a
notched plate w³, so that when the slay or batten comes forward for the reed
t

page_text: to beat up, he said plate shall come in contact with the catch t', when it is
raised and push forwards the sliding bar h', and thereby press the brake.
against the brake wheel, and pull the strap n' tightly on the friction rollers o,
which rollers are now prevented from turning by the catches and ratchet
wheels, these operations causing such resistance to the forward movement of
the slay that it stops before the last pick or portion of a pick can be beaten up,
the springs at the same time preventing any undue violence or concussion, and
also returning the slay and opening the shed to the last or broken piece of the
pick. The catch t¹ when not raised is sufficiently low for the bottom of the
notched plate or slay to pass without contact and allow the bar h¹ to be
stationary. To the top of the brake lever is connected a spring for. pulling
the brake off the brake wheel when the sliding bar is released, and the spring p¹
pulls the strap n¹, and turns the rollers in consequence of the catches.not
holding the ratchet wheels, so as to bring the bar to its ordinary stationary.
position ready to be called into action at the next breakage or absence of weft..
My improved vibrating bar and catch and catch wheel for stopping the
loom when a weft breaks or is absent before the reed can beat up the last
pick or portion of a pick are shewn in Figs. 4 and 5, and the arrangement
is intended to be used either singly or in combination with the sliding bar and
brake motion, and also with or without a clutch box. The crank shaft is
provided with the ordinary fast and loose pulleys, and to the fast pulley a² on
the crank shaft 6 I attach a catch wheel, and place loose on the shaft a
vibrating bar or lever c, to the upper part of which is jointed the weighted
catch d², and to the bottom, which is formed as a segment, is fastened a
strap, connected to one end of a strong spring få, held at its other end to a
bracket fixed to the end of the loom. To the detent plate g³ is jointed a bent
arm or lever , having its upper part connected by a wire or rod k³ to the
arm of a cranked lever working on a stationary stud; and on the shaft u,
which is worked by the weft motions as before described, I fix a boss and
projection m³ in such a position, that when the shaft is moved by one of the
fingers of the weft motions the projection shail bring forward the bent lever h³,
and cause the arm n³ of the cranked lever to press the catch d² into the teeth
of the catch wheel &, and thereby cause the wheel to give vibrating motion
to the bar or lever c³, and stretch the strong spring fs, the resistance of which
stops the forward movement of the slay without any shock or concussion
before the reed can beat up the last pick or portion of a pick, and also turn
back the crank shaft to past the top centre; and when the slay has moved
backwards, and the fingers removed from the arms a, the shaft u turns back
by the weight of the levers and arms, and moves back the projection m³, the

page_text: bent lever h² then falls backwards and enables the weighted end of the arm 12.
to raise the arm n³, and thereby allow the weighted end of the catch to remove.
the catch from the teeth of the catch wheel.
In Fig. 6 I. represent à mode of working the sliding bar in unison or
conjunction with the. vibrating bar and catch and catch wheel at the same
end of the loom. The sliding bar is shewn at 1, the catch or lever jointed to.
its front end .at. s², the catch wheel at 6, the vibrating bar or lever at c, and:
the weighted catch at d. And in order to raise the catch or lever s³, so .that.
the notched plate on the slay shall come in contact with it and push forward
the bar, it is only necessary to connect the said catch or lever by a cord or
wire t with the bent lever h³, because, as the bent lever is pushed forwards by.
the projection m³ on the shaft u by means of the weft motions, it affords the
leverage for raising the said catch or lever * to the required height. To the
sliding bar I weld or connect a vertical bar or rod u², to. which is attached
one end of a strong spring, the other end of which is connected to the
bottom end of the vibrating bar or lever c. Thus, when the bent lever his
pushed forwards by the projection m² on the shaft u by the weft motions, it
enables, the catch.d² to be depressed into the teeth of the catch wheel b³, and
also raises the catch or levers, so that the notched plate on the slay shall
come in contact with it and push the sliding bar forwards, and at the same
time the catch wheel, by means of the catch, turns the vibrating bar back-
wards, thereby stretching the spring at both ends, the effect of which is to
cause such resistance to the forward movement of the slay and revolving
motion of the crank as to stop the loom before the reed can beat up the last
pick or portion of a pick, and also cause the return of the slay and opening
the shed, so that the weaver can more easily put in the shuttle and piece
up. the pick.
In some cases, instead of the ordinary fast and loose pulleys on the crank
shaft, I employ a clutch box, and put it in and out of gear by a lever con-
nected to the setting-on rod, as shewn in Figs. 1, 3, and 6. On the crank
shaft b there is a pulley a³ connected by a strap with a driving shaft, and
working loose on the crank shaft. This pulley has at one side a plate or .disc
containing a hole or recess, and on the outside of the pulley there is a clutch
plate or disc 63 forming part of the boss c³, which bas in its periphery a circular
groove for the bowls or studs on the fork d³ of the clutch lever to work in.
The boss is held to the crank shaft by a key or feather, so that it can
revolve with, it, and at the same time be made to move to and fro sideways;
and to the plate is fixed a knob or projection es corresponding with the hole
plate or disc of the pulley, so that when the knob is in the
or recess in the

page_text: hole or recess, the pulley turns the plate 63; and also the crank shaft of the
loom; but when the knob is out of the recess the pulley runs loose and the
crank shaft is stationary. The clutch lever works on a stud fixed to the
bracket, and the part is connected to the setting-on rod h, the said part
being made of hammered or tempered steel to act as a spring for pressing the
knob e³ into the hole or recess when the setting-on rod is being placed or has
been placed in its detent. Thus, when the setting-on rod is in its detent, and
the knob or projection has entered the hole or recess in the plate of the
pulley, the clutch plate and pulley both move together and give revolving
motion to the crank shaft; but when from any cause the setting-on rod is
pushed out of its detent, it gives motion to the clutch lever, and separates the
clutch plate 63 from the plate or disc of. the pulley, and removes the knob or
projection from the hole or recess, thereby allowing the pulley to run loose on
the crank shaft; and as these operations are more quickly performed than
shifting the strap, when used with the ordinary fast and loose pulleys, the
moving power is more quickly removed from the crank shaft.
In some cases the sliding bar worked by. the weft motions may be attached
directly to the brake without the intervention of the intermediate spring k',
Figs. 2 and 9, but then the friction rollers and spring in connection with
them must be connected with the sliding bar, and the brake held sufficiently
far from the brake wheel to avoid danger from concussion.
The sliding bar and spring and brake may also be worked without the
friction rollers, or the friction rollers employed without the brake; and there
may be a sliding bar and brake at one or both ends of the loom, or a
vibrating bar and catch and catch wheel at one or both ends, the different
parts of the Invention being applied singly or conjointly according to the size
of the loom and the speed at which it is worked.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood
that I do not claim the weft feelers, nor the mode of giving them up-and-down
motion, nor the sliding bar with a single spring, as they have been before
patented by me, neither do I claim the clutch box by itself, as that has been
before used; but what I claim is,-
First, the employment of the shaft u, the levers w, and the recessed or
notched arms x, for enabling the fingers, when a weft breaks or is absent, to
give a slightly revolving motion to the shaft u for various purposes.
Secondly, the employment of the brake and brake wheel m¹ in combina-.
tion with the sliding bar h¹ and springs k¹ and x', and the friction rollers o',
and the spring p' in connection with them.

page_text: Thirdly, the bent arm h², worked by the projection or lever m³ on the
shaft u, the catch wheel &, the weighted catch d, and weighted lever for
enabling the said weighted catch to seize the teeth of the catch wheel when a
weft breaks or is absent.
Fourthly, the vibrating bar c³ and spring f2 for resisting the forward motion
of the slay when the catch is in the catch wheel.
And, fifthly, the system of working the sliding bar with its appendages, either
singly or in combination with the vibrating bar and its appendages, either one
at each end of the loom, or both at the same end of the loom, as all such
improvements are herein described and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Bullough, have hereunto set mý
hand and seal, this Tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named James Bullough,
in the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
JAMES BULLOUGH. (L.S.)
Patent Agent,
Manchester.