IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARPETS AND OTHER FABRICS
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Collier, of Halifax, in the County of
York, Mechanic, for the Invention of
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF CARPETS AND OTHER FABRICS."
Sealed the 8th January 1853, and dated the 1st October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Collier at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st October 1852.
I, GEORGE COLLIER, of Halifax, in the County of York, Mechanic,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARPETS AND OTHER FABRICS" to be as follows:-
My first improvement relates to the application of a double shed
being formed, one for the wire and the other for the weft, to be inserted
simultaneously for Brussels carpets and all other terry fabrics, when
such fabrics are produced by a jacquard or figuring machine by power;
but I am aware that it is not new to have a double shed, as a Patent
was granted to John Hill, in the year 1847. My claim is therefore
entirely confined to its application and combination with a jacquard or
figuring machine.

page_text: My second improvement consists in the application to a power loom
for weaving velvet carpets with a jacquard or figuring machine, of single
threads in lieu of two or more threads on each bobbin (meaning by a
thread one line, which may consist of one, two, or more strands twisted
together), and, in combination with these single threads, thinner flat wires
than are commonly used, in order that I may get double the number in
thus bringing up the same quantity of worsted to the face of the
fabric, whilst only half the quantity will be on the back as dead. I
confine my claim to this, when used in combination with the power
loom, and when inore than 700 bobbins 'are 'filled with single threads.
When the power loom is used it becomes a very important considera-
tion to save valuable material, and in this case it is accomplished by
putting in a great number of wires, which, if done by hand, would be too
costly, and would counterbalance the advantage of the saving in material.
My third improvement consists in terry weaving by power, where a
series of wires are used, in contradistinction to where two wires are used,
fixed to arms to insert into and withdraw "them from the fabric, and
relates to both cut" and uncut terry or pile fabrics, but is more useful
in velvet than in uncut "terry' fabrics. Heretofore, where a series of
wires have been used by power, they have in number been to the
extent of thirty, forty, or fifty, according to circumstances;
when the last wire has been withdrawn, the beating up of the lay has
had no effect upon driving the pile closer. where the wire has just been
withdrawn, but only had the effect of driving the wires together, as
close as the machinery was calculated for. But I find that where a fine
fabric is wanted by this mode, "such very small wires are required that
they are exceedingly delicate, and difficult to insert and withdraw; but
by my improved mechanism and arrangement I am enabled to have the
wires much thicker and stronger than by any mode 'heretofore adopted
where a series of wires have been' used by power, because the number
is limited to three wires. For some very open fabrics four or five wires
may be used, but för general purposes I prefer three, because, when
the last wire is cut out, and 'the lay comes to the cloth, it presses up
the pile closer with greater facility, thus making a beautiful fine full
top, without very'small wires being employed. "My improvement under
S-> that

page_text: this head is, that where terry or cut pile fabrics are woven by power
with a series of wires, limiting that number to three, four, or five wires
(employed whilst the loom is in motion), according to the fabric required
to be produced.
My sixth improvement still relates to looms for weaving terry
fabrics, where a limited number of wires are used. I have found that
to have the same tension or weight continuously on the terry warp or
warps, where a limited number of wires are employed, especially where
only two are used, to be an evil, because, when a wire is cut out, it
frequently happens that the terry pile is pulled down. To obviate this
difficulty, I find it desirable and necessary to apply a motion to ease or
take off part of the tension on the said terry warp or warps, just at the
time the lay comes to, to strike the cloth.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Collier, in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 1st April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE
WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL
SHALL COME. I,
GEORGE COLLIER, of Halifax, in the County of York, Mechanic, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said George Collier, Her special licence
that I, the said George Collier, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said George Collier, my executors
administrators, 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 aud 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 THE MANUFACTURE OF CARPETS AND OTHER FABRICS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said George Collier, by an instrument in

page_text: writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manuer 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 George Collier, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof (that is to say):
One part
of my Invention relates to the application of a double shed
being formed, one for the wire and the other for the weft, to be in-
serted simultaneously for Brussels carpets, and all other terry fabrics,
when such fabrics are produced by a jacquard or figuring machine by
And in order that this part of my Invention may be most
power.
fully understood, I would, in the first place, remark that it is not new
to open two sheds, one for the wire and the other for the weft, when
weaving terry fabrics by power, as a Patent for an Invention for
arranging power looms to accomplish that object was granted to Mr.
John Hill, in One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, and there
are now many working in which double sheds are opened for such
purposes, and wherein several separate wires are in the fabric at the
same time, and therefore such matters separately are not claimed under
these Letters Patent. But my Invention consists of combining with
power looms, capable of working with separate and independent wires,
jacquard or figuring apparatus, in order that the pattern or figuring
apparatus may select and raise up those yarns in the terry warp which,
for the time being, are to form the shed for receiving a wire simulta-
neously with the opening of another shed for receiving the weft. I
would state that the combination of apparatus for carrying out this
part of my Invention may be variously modified, both in respect to the
jacquard apparatus, and also in respect to the pulling in and taking
out the independent wires, but the arrangement shown in the drawing
is the best I am acquainted with; and I believe the jacquard appa
ratus is preferable to any other form of figuring machinery; but a
machinest, aided by the drawing annexed, and the description herein

page_text: given, will readily understand the Invention, and he will perceive what
is necessary to the Invention, and will vary the parts according as he
prefers one arrangement of apparatus over another.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A,
which show the section of so much of a power loom an 1 jacquard
figuring machinery, and also the cams, as will enable me to describe
this part of my Invention; and as power looms and jacquard machinery
have before been combined, when single sheds only have been opened,
and as they both separately are well known, it will not be neces-
sary that I should enter at any great length into a description of the
working of the several parts, further than is necessary to point out how
a power loom, having jacquard or figuring machinery combined there-
with, may be so worked as to have two sheds simultaneously open, one
for receiving the wire, and the other for receiving the weft. The
comber board A, of the jacquard apparatus is put in motion by the
cams B, which act on the levers C, which by the connecting rods C¹,
give motion to the comber board, which, by the harness, carries up
all the terry warp to a horizontal or middle position; and the figuring
apparatus is to be arranged to carry up those parts of the terry warp
which are for the time being to form the upper shed for the wire; and
I prefer this to be accomplished by the arrangement of apparatus
shewn in the Drawings; but, as before stated, this may be modified.
D, is a cam, by which the board E, (which carries up the selected warp,
in order to produce the open shed for receiving the wire,) is raised and
lowered the cam D, gives motion to the lever D¹, which, by the con-
necting rod D2, gives motion to the arm F, and causes it to rise and
fall a distance suitable for the opening the upper shed composed of the
selected terry. The arm F, is affixed to the axis or spindle G, which
has several arms H, fixed to it, by means of which the board E, is
carried in the following manner:-Each arm H, has two connecting
rods I, I, attached to it by pin joints; and the rods are also connected to
the board E, by pin joints, by which means the board E, is lifted in
such manner as to assume an inclined position. J, is the jacquard

page_text: barrel, which is worked in the following manner-J¹, is a con-
necting rod, which has an up and down movement communicated to it
by a lever, actuated by a cam fixed on the cam shaft, but not shown in
the Drawing. One for every revolution of the cam shaft, the connecting
rod J¹, gives motion to the lever, arm J2, on the axis J3; that axis giving
motion to lever arms J+, which are connected by pin joints to the
sliding barrels J5, which support the axis of the jacquard barrel, the action
of which, being well known, will not require description, and will be
readily understood on examining the Drawings. K, K, are two leaves
of heddles, when working Brussels carpet or terry fabrics, and these give
motion to the linen or back warp in the same manner as when weaving
terry fabrics by power, where double sheds are opened; and where no
jacquard or figuring machinery are employed for selecting and raising
the terry warp for opening the upper shed. I use a third leaf of
heddles when making velvet or cut pile, to carry an additional warp;
but the same is not new, and is well understood; but I find it convenient
to connect such third leaf of heddles K¹, with the comber boards, so
that it will rise and fall with it, and the warp will thereby be carried to
a horizontal or middle position, and to the lowest position. And I would
remark, that the comber board A, only acts in respect to the terry warp,
to bring them all to the middle or horizontal position, where those
which are not selected by the figuring apparatus remain, and they will
therefore be under the wire and over the weft, thrown in simul-
taneously with the introduction of the wire, and which wire is introduced
into the upper shed, produced by the raising of the selected yarns of the
terry warp rising of the board E. I would remark, in respect to this
part of my Invention, that I make no claim to any of the parts of
the machinery separately; and, as before stated, power looms have
before been combined with jacquard and other figuring machinery; and
therefore I wish it to be understood that I only claim the combination
of power looms, working to introduce and draw out independent wires,
and jacquard or figuring apparatus (acting on the separate terry warp
yarns), when such combination has the further combination of parts to
enable a loom to open two sheds at the same time, one for the wire and
the other for the weft.

page_text: Another part of my Invention consists of the application to a power
loom for weaving velvet carpets, with a jacquard or figuring machine of
single threads, in lieu of two or more threads on each bobbin (meaning
by a thread one line, which may consist of one, two, or more strands
twisted together), and in combination with these single threads thinner
flat wires than are commonly used, in order that I may get double the
number of wires in thus bringing up the same quantity of the worsted
to the face of the fabric, whilst only half the quantity will be on the
back of the fabric as dead. I confine my chain to this, when used in
combination with power looms, and when more than seven hundred
bobbins are filled with single threads. When the power loom is used
it becomes a very important consideration to save valuable material;
and in this case it is accomplished by putting in a great number of
wires, which, if done by hand, would be too costly, and would counter-
balance the advantage of the saving in materials.
.1
as,
Another part of my Invention consists in terry weaving by power,
where a series of wires are used, in contradistinction to where two wires
are used, fixed to arms, to insert into and withdraw them from the
fabric, and relates to both cut and uncut terry or piled fabrics, but is
more useful in velvet than in uncut terry fabrics. Heretofore, where a
series of wires have been used by power, they have in number been to
the extent of thirty, forty, or fifty, according to circumstances, so that
when the last wire has been withdrawn the beating up of the lay has
had no effect upon driving the pile closer where the wire has just been
withdrawn, but only had the effect of driving the wires together as close
as the machinery was calculated. But I find that where a fine fabric
is wanted by this mode, such very small wires are required that they
are exceedingly delicate and difficult to insert and withdraw; but by
my improved mechanism and arrangement, I am enabled to have the
wires much thicker and stronger than by any mode heretofore adopted,
where a series of wires have been used by power, because the number
is limited to three wires: for some very open fabrics four or five wires
may be used; but for general purposes I prefer three, because when
the last wire is cut out, and the lay comes to the cloth, it presses up the

page_text: pile closer with greater facility, thus making a beautiful fine full top
without very small wires being employed. My improvement under this
head is, that when terry or cut pile fabrics are woven by power with a
series of wires, limiting that number to three, four, or five wires em-
ployed (whilst the loom is in motion), according to the fabric required
to be produced
These drawings show so much of a front view and so much of a side
view of a loom as will enable me to describe this part of my Invention;
and it may be stated that a workman will more readily understand the
same if he first make himself well acquainted with the power loom
described with reference to the Drawings B, attached to the Specification
of a Patent granted to me on or about the Thirty-first day of December
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one; this part of my Invention
being a modification of the construction and mode of working of some of
the parts fully described in the said former Specification. In the present
arrangement the bar j², on which the slide j¹, (carrying the hook which
draws out the wires) moved is made moveable, and receives a to and
fro motion from and to the reed, in place of being fixed and stationary,
as was the case in the former machine. For the purpose, the bar 2, is
suspended by arms a, from above, as shewn by the present Drawings B
and motion is communicated to the bar j2, by means of a cam a¹,
acting on a lever 2, which, by means of a connecting rod 3, is
And
attached to one of the arms to which the bar 2, is affixed.
in order that the lever, which moves the slide 1, may be enabled
to do so properly, it is arranged with an additional axis of motion,
by which it can be made to swing to and from the reed, as well
as to and fro in the opposite direction, to remove the wires; and this
lever, receives its motion from a cam x, and lever, as shewn. The
object of this moving to and fro of the bar 2, is that it may be out of
the way of the shutter box, as the slay beats up, and yet come into
a correct position for the slide j¹, by its hook to take the last wire, that
is, the wire most distant from the reed, and place it in the receiver,

page_text: ready for being again inserted into the shed; hence may the bar 12,
and parts working therewith, be caused to work correctly, though only
a few wires are introduced, that is, only three or four or five, so long as
the act of beating up will be able to drive up the pile where the last
wire has been withdrawn. Hence it will be seen, that, although
detached wires are used, a small number may with facility be employed,
allowing of the pile being beaten up closer, after the last (the most
distant) wire from the reed has been withdrawn; and it is this peculi-
arity that constitutes the novel feature of this part of my Invention.
I would, however, remark that I do not confine myself to the precise
details shewn, as they may be varied without departing from this part
of my improvements; and I claim, in respect thereto, the combination
and action of the parts herein described.
Another part of my Invention consists of improvements in weaving
terry fabrics where a limited number of wires are used. I have found
that to have the same tension or weight continuously on the terry
warp or warps, where a limited number of wires are employed,
(especially where only two are used,) to be an evil, because, when
a wire is cut out, it frequently happens that the terry pile is pulled
down. To obviate this difficulty, I find it desirable and necessary to
apply a motion to ease or take off part of the tension on the said terry
warp or warps just at the time the lay comes to to strike the cloth.
This part of my Invention is peculiarly applicable to looms working by
power, where a limited number of wires are employed; and the best
means I am acquainted with for performing this part of my Invention
is to cause the weight of the beam or beams to be lifted just as the
beat up takes place; and, for this purpose, I apply a cam on the main
axis, which gives motion by means of a lever to another lever with a
plain surface covered with leather or other elastic substance, fixed on the
rocking shaft (which regulates the tension on the worsted warp); and
this, at the moment of beating up the warp, is slackened; but other
mechanical arrangements for the same purpose may be resorted to.
I would remark that I do not claim generally to slack the warps
of looms at the times of beating up, this part of my Invention being

page_text: confined to the combining of such a motion with the warps of power
looms which work with a limited number of terry wires, as herein
explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Collier, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
GEORGE COLLIER. (L.s.)
Witness, GEORGE DEARDEN.