CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Daniel Heyworth, Manager of Featherstall Mill,
Littleborough, in the County of Lancaster, and John Heyworth, Manager
of Prospect Mill, Hebden Bridge, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, for
the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
Sealed the 25th February 1859, and dated the 31st August 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Daniel Heyworth and John
Heyworth at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their.
Petition, on the 31st August 1858.
We, DANIEL HEYWORTH, Manager, Featherstall Mill, Littleborough, in the
County of Lancaster, and JOHN HEYWORTH, Manager, Prospect Mill, Hebden
Bridge, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," to be as
follows:-
First. Across the hand rail of the loom, by which the top of the reed is
supported, we carry a piece of metal or other suitable material, forming a.bar
or rod, supported at or near each end by the lathe or slay swords, or by the
hand rail, or other convenient part or parts of the loom, in such a manner that
when the loom is working it is projected forward from the reed at a certain
elevation by the action of a positive motion of the loom to such a position as
effectually to prevent the shuttle from passing materially out of its true course,
or from what is generally expressed flying out. When the loom is at rest
the bar or rod is planted against the face of the reed just below the top
balk bar or rib thereof, so as to protect the dents of the reed from being
damaged by the pressure of the weaver's hook, immediately under the top
balk bar or rib. Motion is given to this bar or rod by the setting-on rod,

page_text: strap, guider, or other simultaneous movement in the loom. To this rod we
connect another rod near to each, and in such manner that when the loom is
in work it is depressed so as to keep the shuttle from rising above the warp
threads; and when the loom is at rest it is elevated, so as not to inconvenience
the weaver when drawing the warp threads through the reed; this we call a
self-acting shutttle and reed protector.
Second. To the lathe or slay we fix a spring, to which we attach a strap
of leather, or other substance, passing therefrom to the open end of the shuttle
box, and so firmly held as to receive the force of. the picker when it has
discharged the shuttle; the spring slightly yielding breaks the force of the
blow; this we call the picker check.
Third. To the back of the fly box or lathe sword we fix a strap of leather
or other suitable material, which we pass across the back of an elevated finger
from the swell, or the finger from the stop rod which acts upon the swell
midway of the shuttle box; we pass the strap inside and fix it near the
extreme end thereof, in such a manner that at the instant the shuttle is driven
against it, the swell is caused to press tightly upon the shuttle, and prevent
any rebound; this we call the shuttle check.
Fourth. Upon the threadle or jack we place. a sliding hook or link, so
ärranged that, when adjusted to its position by the setting of the jack iron
connecting with the healds, it cannot move from its place. By this..arrange-
ment we preserve the bottom shafts of the healds-from coming in contact-with
each other and damaging the healds; this we call-the jack or threadle link...
We are aware that a bar or rod has been some time in.use as.a shuttle
guard or protector, but not in manner or combination as herein described.
•
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Daniel Heyworth and John Heyworth in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 28th February 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, DANIEL
HEYWORTH, Manager of Featherstall Mill, Littleborough, in the County of
Lancaster, and JOHN HEYWORTH, Manager of Prospect Mill, Hebden Bridge,
in the West Riding of Yorkshire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of August, anno Domini One thou-
sand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said

page_text: Daniel Heyworth and John Heyworth, Her special licence that we, the said
Daniel Heyworth and John Heyworth, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Daniel Heyworth and John Heyworth,
our 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 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR
WEAVING," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Daniel
Heyworth and John Heyworth, 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 Daniel: Heyworth and John Heyworth,
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 and accompanyings Drawings (that is to say) :-
First. Across the hand rail of the loom by which the top of the reed is
supported, we carry a piece of metal or other suitable material forming a bar
or rod, supported at or near each end by the lathe or slay swords, or by. the
hand rail, or other convenient part or parts of the loom, in such manner that
when the loom is working it is projected forward from the reed at a certain
elevation by the action of a positive motion of the loom to such a position as
effectually to prevent the shuttle from passing materially out of its true course,
or from what is generally termed flying out.
When the loom is at rest the
bar or rod is planted against the face of the reed just below the top balk bar
or rib thereof, so as to protect the dents of the reed from being damaged by
the pressure of the weaver's hook immediately under the top balk bar or rib.
Motion is given to this bar or rod by the setting-on rod, strap, guider, or other
simultaneous movement in the loom. To this rod we connect another rod
near to each end in such a manner, that when the loom is in work it is
depressed so as to keep the shuttle from rising above the warp threads; and
when the loom is at rest it is elevated, so as not to inconvenience the weaver
when drawing the warp threads through the reed; this we call a "self-acting
shuttle and reed protector:"
Secondly. To the lathe or slay we fix a spring or weight, to which we attach
a strap of leather or other suitable substance, passing therefrom to the open

page_text: end of the shuttle box, and so firmly held as to receive the force of the picker
when it has discharged the shuttle; the spring slightly yielding breaks the
force of the blow; this we call the "picker check."
Thirdly. To the back of the fly box or lathe sword we fix a strap of leather
or other suitable material, which we pass across the back of an elevated
finger from the swell, or the finger from the stop rod, which acts upon the
swell midway of the shuttle box; we pass the strap inside and fix it near the
extreme end thereof in such a manner that, at the instant the shuttle is driven
against it, the swell is caused to press tightly upon the shuttle and prevent
any rebound; this we call the "shuttle check."
::
Fourthly. Upon the treddle or jack we place a sliding hook or link so
arranged that, when adjusted to its position by the setting of the jack iron
connecting with the healds, it cannot move from its place. By this arrange-
ment we preserve the bottom shafts of the healds from coming in contact with
each other and damaging the healds; this we call the "jack or treddle link."
In order that the Invention may be more clearly understood and
explained in detail, we have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings, having
similar letters of reference marked upon corresponding parts of the apparatus.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, are illustrative of the first part of our Invention,
which represent different methods of carrying out our arrangements for
working the bar or rod e, shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, which we
call a self-acting shuttle and reed protector, and which said rod e is so formed
at or near each end as to form a crank or otherwise suitably contrived for
giving the required motion, connections to which for working are herein-after
described.
•
Figure 1 represents the first of our arrangements for this purpose. a shews the
setting-on rod, attached to which is a bracket f, which projects forward towards
the lathe bottom b, and attached to lathe 6 we have a double-acting crank g,
connected by a long arm to a lever h, held by a pin to the lower part of the lathe
sword c, the other end of which lever is connected to the rod e on hand rail d;
when the setting-on rod a is moved to stop the loom, the end of the projecting
bracket fixed on it comes in contact with one end of the double-acting crank ġ,
which forces the rod h, held by one end to lathe sword c, away from the lathe b,
and depresses the bar or rod e on hand rail d, which is again raised (on the
loom being set to work) to such an elevation as to prevent the shuttle from
deviating from its true course by rod h, fixed to lathe sword c, coming in contact
with an adjustable bracket (not shewn in the Drawings) fixed on breast beam
or front bearer, the double-acting crank g being always held in its place by a
spring fixed on lathe bottom, or on the upper side of hand rail d.

page_text: Figure 2 represents our second arrangement for similar purpose. Attached
to the setting-on rod a is another rod i, passing from thence to the opposite
side of the loom, and connected to a double-acting crank g, working on a stud
and bracket fixed to the back of lathe 6, the other end of which crank g
influences the bar or rod e, fixed on the front of hand rail in manner similarly
before described.
Figure 3 represents our third arrangement for giving motion to the bar or
rod e fixed on the hand rail of loom; we employ a long stud connected to
setting-on rod, and projecting forwards underneath the lathe b, and through a
vertical slot in a flat rod j, fixed by suitable brackets to one end of the lathe,
and made to slide backwards and forwards in accordance with the motion of
the setting-on rod a; one end of the top side of flat rod is so shaped of an
incline as to raise or depress by means of pulley k, working on top side of the
sliding rod j, fixed to a vertical rod 7, which said pulley k on the rod l, is held
to its place on the top side of the sliding rod by spring or other contrivance
fixed to lathe or slay, acting upon the bar or rod attached to the hand rail d,
in manner like unto before described.
"
Figure 4 represents our fourth arrangement for similar purpose. We have
a cam or tappet m fixed on crank shaft, which raises and depresses a lever n
with pulley o, and working on stud p fixed on bracket attached' to side of
loom, which lever n and pulley o are held to their place on the under side face
of the cam or tappet m by a spring, and is shewn connected to a vertical rod l,
influencing the bar or rod e, supported by two brackets attached to slay or
lathe bottom, raising and depressing it with each revolution of crank shaft.
This is more applicable to looms where hand temples are used.
Figure 5 represents our fifth arrangement for similar purpose.. We employ
bar, rod, or other suitable material, flat or otherwise, attached to hand rail by
two or more links q, which bar, rod, or other suitable material being connected
by means of crank r working on stud, fixed on hand rail to rod S, descending
midway down the lathe sword, and kept in place by a guide fixed on lathe
sword connected by means of stud to another rod t, coupled to a crank lever 2,
working on a stud adjusted to some convenient part of the loom, the other end
of which cranked lever is connected to setting-on rod at v. On the aforesaid
cranked lever u is an arm or lever rising up immediately behind the breast
beam or front bearer, having on its upper end a projecting catch or other
contrivance, which on loom being set to work by motion of setting-on rod, is
thrown on the lever holding the weft fork; the bar, rod, or other suitable
material e on hand rail d is then depressed low enough to prevent the shuttle
departing from its true course, and when setting-on rod is again moved to stop

page_text: the loom, the catch or other contrivance on arm of cranked lever is thrown off
lever holding weft fork, thereby causing the bar, rod, or other suitable
material e to rise to such a position as to prevent damage to the reed by the
weaver's hook, without, however, being inconvenient to the weaver when
drawing in ends of broken warp threads.
Figures 6 & 7 represent our sixth method or arrangement for similar
purpose, and the mode of attaching same to loom; Figure 6 being a front
elevation, and Figure 7 a side elevation of loom. Connected to bar, rod, or
other suitable material e on handrail d is another rod w, passing in front of or
through or behind the lathe b, (as may be most convenient,) to the bottom of
lathe sword, where it is connected to one end of another rod x, being kept in
its place by guide on lathe sword, the lower end of which said rod being con-
nected to a strap of leather or other suitable material passing over a wheel or
pulley y, adjusted by bracket or other fixing to some convenient part of the
loom and connected to setting-on rod or other simultaneous motion of the
loom, when the stop rod of the loom is moved to start the loom, the strap
being pulled draws up the rods w, x, connected to crank z on bar, rod, or
other suitable material é, in front of hand rail d, thereby raising the bar, rod;
or other suitable material e to such an elevation as may be required for
keeping the shuttle from departure from its true course, and on the stop rod
being again moved to stop the loom, the strap being slackened lowers the
rods w, x, connected to crank z, on bar, rod, or other suitable material e, on
hand rail lowering the bar, rod, or other suitable material e, until it is planted
upon the surface of the reed immediately below the top balk bar or rib
thereof, thereby preventing damage to the reed as in arrangements before
described. We have also an arrangement for working the rods w, x, in place
of the strap shewn and specified, which is done as follows:-To the side of the
loom is fixed a bracket with boss or collar, in which works a double-acting
crank, one arm of which is connected to setting-on rod, the other is attached
to rod x, Figures 6 & 7, acting in like manner as shewn in those Figures
and in the foregoing description. We have also an arrangement for working
the bar, rod, or other suitable material on hand rail by a lever connected to
crank arm, which connection can be made either on the top or under side of
the crank arm as may be most convenient.
Figures 8, 9, and 10 represent the second and third parts of our Invention, the
second being an improved "picker check," or method of breaking or lessening
the force of the blow after the shuttle is discharged, which is done as follows:-
To the back of the lathe b or slay we fix a spring or weight a-, to which we
attach a strap of leather 6 or other substance passing therefrom to the open

page_text: end of the shuttle box, and so held on to the picker spindle c, or, other con-
venient part or parts of the lathe, handrail, or shuttle box, as to receive the
force of the picker when it has discharged the shuttle, the spring slightly
yielding breaks the force of the blow. In Figure 10, m and n shew con-
struction of lever working on stud d, to which the strap and spring or
weight are attached.
The third part of our Invention being an improved method of, binding the
shuttle when driven into the shuttle box, thereby preventing any rebound,
which is done as follows:-To the back of the fly box e or lathe sword, we
fix a strap of leather for other substance which we pass across the back of
an elevated finger 9 on swell h, from which or from the finger from stop
rod, which acts upon swell midway of the shuttle box we pass the strap f
inside, and fix it near the extreme end thereof on the picker spindle or other
convenient part of the lathe or shuttle box, as shewn at i, in such a manner
that the instant the shuttle is driven against it, the swell his caused to press
tightly upon the shuttle, and so prevent any rebound.
Figures 11 and 12 represent the fourth part of our, Invention, which
consists of an improved "jack or treddle link," by which arrangement we prevent
the bottom shafts of the healds being damaged by coming in contact with each
other. Upon the treddle or jack we place a sliding hook or link j, so arranged
that when adjusted to its position by means of set screw r or other contrivance
on the jack iron connected to the healds, it cannot move from its place.
Having thus fully described the nature of our said Invention, and its
various applications, we desire it to be distinctly understood that we do not
confine ourselves to the precise details herein set forth, as such may be varied
or modified without departing from the principle thereof; but we claim as our
Invention,―
Firstly, the peculiar. construction of bar, rod, or other suitable material,
which we call a "shuttle and reed protector," and the method of working the
same, as described and shewn in our Specification and Drawings with figures,
numbers, and references thereto, for preventing the shuttle departing from its
true course or from what is generally termed flying out, and also for protecting
the reed from damage by wide dents being made by the weaver's reed hook,
when drawing the warp threads through it.
Secondly, an improved method of lessening the shock of the picker as
discharging the shuttle from the shuttle box.
Thirdly, the construction of the swell with finger, and the arrangement of
the strap thereon, so as to prevent the shuttle rebounding in the shuttle-
box.

page_text: Fourthly, an improved method of connecting the heald jack irons or rods
to the treddles, and the mode of fixing the same:
We are aware that a bar or rod has been some time in use as shuttle guard
or protector, but not in manner or combination as herein contained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Daniel Heyworth, for and on behalf of
myself and the said John Heyworth, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
W. HY. DEAN,
8, Market Place,
Manchester.
DANIEL HEYWORTH. (L.S.)