IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Edward Wilson, of Lille, in the Republic of
France, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR
WEAVING."
Sealed the 13th February 1880, and dated the 20th August 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Edward Wilson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th August 1879.
THOMAS EDWARD WILSON, of Lille, in the Republic of France, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
My Invention relates to the arrangements for letting off the warps from the warp
beams in looms for weaving, and for promoting uniformity in the tension of the
said warps during the employing of the warp beams. I sustain the warp beam by
means of blocks, clips, curved levers, or parts with which the ruffler or friction
pulleys of the beam are in contact, whereby the frictional resistance to the rotation
of the said beam is in proportion to its gross weight, the result being that as the
weight of yarn upon the beam decreases, the said frictional resistance also decreases,
uniformity in the tension of the warp being thus promoted. When carrying my
Invention into effect I cause the said ruffler to rest upon and between pairs of
curved friction blocks which are hinged at the points below the beam axis to fixed
parts or to carriages arranged to slide or travel upon fixed or adjustable inclines, or
I sustain the said beam by means of hinged clips, which are tightened against the
said ruffler by the weight of the beam and warp, or by means of bent or curved
straps or bands of steel or other suitable metal or material, which are suspended
form fixed points or from springs; or I otherwise so sustain the warp beam as that
its downward pressure increases the pressure of the friction surfaces upon the
ruffler, as for example, I may suspend the said beam by means of combinations of
levers which act together to increase the said pressure in proportion to the descent
of the warp beam. I may cover or lime the the friction blocks, clips, bands; or parts
with wood, leather, or other suitable material, or I may form the said blocks, clips,
or parts of wood. In some or in all cases I may employ levers with adjustable
loads or regulating springs to increase and regulate the load upon the sustaining
parts. Suitable means are adopted for relieving the pressure upon the ruffler when
it is necessary to turn back the warp beam or for other reasons. For example, for
this purpose I may use an excentrically pivoted lever, which may or may not be
provided with an anti-friction bowl, which, when the said lever is operated, bears
upon the underside of the ruffler and raises the end of the warp beam, and thereby
decreases the aforesaid frictional resistance.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Edward Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
February 1880.
THOMAS EDWARD WILSON, of Lille, in the Republic of France, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
My Invention relates to the arrangements for letting off the warps from the warp-
beams in looms for weaving, and for promoting uniformity in the tension of the
said warps during the emptying of the warp-beams. I sustain the warp beam by
means of blocks, clips, curved levers, or parts with which the ruffles or friction
pulleys of the beam are in contact, whereby the frictional resistance to the rotation
of the said beam is in proportion to its gross weight,, the result being that, as the
weight of yarn upon the beam decreases the said frictional resistance also decreases,
uniformity in the tension of the warp being thus promoted. When carrying my
Invention into effect I cause the ruffle to rest upon and between pairs of curved
friction blocks which are hinged at the points below the beam axis to fixed parts,
or I sustain the said beam by means of hinged clips, which are tightened against
the said ruffle by the weight of the beam and warp, or I suspend the said beam by
means of levers which act together to increase the said pressure in proportion to the
descent of the warp beam. I may cover or line the friction blocks, clips, or parts,
with wood, leather, or other suitable material; or I may form the said blocks, clips,
or parts of wood. In some or in all cases I may employ levers with adjustable
loads or regulating springs to increase and regulate the load upon the sustaining
parts. Suitable means are adopted for relieving the pressure upon the ruffle when
it is necessary to turn back the warp beam.or for other reasons.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood I have attached hereunto a
Sheet of Drawings, made to a scale of about two inches to the foot and marked
with letters of reference, to which Drawings I will now refer. Fig. 1 represents an
end view of a warp-beam mounted in accordance with my Invention, and Fig. 2
represents a front view of the same. The remaining Figures illustrate modifications in
the arrangements. In all the examples one end only of the warp beam is represented,
but it may be understood that the arrangements at both ends of the beam are the
same. In Figs. 1 and 2 a represents a portion of an ordinary loom framing, and b is the
warp beam.
Upon the end of the warp beam is fixed a ruffle or pulley c as is usual,
and this ruffle is mounted between two curved friction blocks d, d, which are bored
or shaped to fit the periphery of the said ruffle with a suitable degree of exactness.
Each block is mounted upon a fulcrum stud c which is fixed to the loom side or to
a bracket or part which is secured thereto, or the said blocks may be otherwise
mounted to turn upon fixed fulcra corresponding to the said studs. It will be seen
that the said. fulcra are below the level of the axis of the warp-beam and that each.
block will act as a lever, the pressure of the ruffle upon the lower part of the block
causing the upper part thereof to press upon the ruffle. The blocks will therefore
offer frictional resistance to the rotation of the ruffle and, as a consequence, of the
warp beam, such resistance being due to the pressure of the ruffle upon the lower
members of the blocks and to the pressure of the upper members thereof upon the
ruffle. This resistance is increased. or decreased according as the fulcra e are
arranged to be nearer to or further from the level of the beam axis, and is reduced
as the warp beam becoines lighter. In the example a lever f is mounted upon a
fulcrum which is provided at the upper end of the block d' and is formed and
arranged to act upon the, upper end of, the block d. Upon the said lever is
mounted a weight 1 which is adjustable towards and from the said fulcrum.
This weighted lever by tending to draw and force the upper ends of the two
block towards each other increases the pressure of the blocks upon the ruffle and
thereby increases the frictional resistance. The said resistance can be regulated

page_text: by fixing the weight at a point nearer to or further from the fulcrum of the levér.
This regulating lever may be dispensed with if not found to be necessary. To
relieve the pressure of the blocks I employ a lever g which is mounted upon a stud
or fixed fulcrum, and is formed with an excentric swell which is immediately below
the ruffle. When the arm of the said lever is depressed the said swell comes in
contact with the ruffle and takes the weight of the warp-beam whereby the pressure
is relieved and the warp-beam can be turned back. The lover g may be provided
with an anti-friction bowl to come into contact with the ruffle to facilitate the
turning back of the beam, or the beam may be raised by other suitable means as
preferred. Figs: 3 and 4 illustrate a modification wherein the warp-beam is
suspended in a pair of clips h, h, which are hinged together at i and are shaped to
fit the ruffle as in the case of the blocks d. Each clip is jointed by its upper end
to one of a pair of levers or radius links h, k, which are mounted upon two fixed
fulcra at 1, The centres of the connections of the clips with the levers are higher
than the centres of the fulcra.l. The weight of the beam by drawing down the
ends of the levers & tends to force together the upper ends of the clips, whereby the
said clips are caused to press upon the ruffle and to offer frictional resistance to the
rotation of the warp-beam, and it will be seen that the pressure of the clips upon
the ruffle will be the greatest when the beam is full, and will become less as the
weight of warp upon the beam dimminishes. The lever is formed or provided
with an arm or hand lever m so as, together with the said arm, to form a bell crank
lever. By acting upon the lever m the warp beam and the movable ends of the
levers are raised whereby the pressure upon the ruffle is decreased so that the
beam may be turned back. To increase the frictional resistance I apply an
additional adjustable load to the warp beam. A weighted lever n mounted on a
fixed fulcrum is connected by means of a link with the ordinary beam axle, or with
a stud o which is fixed to the warp beam on the axial line. The frictional resistance
can be varied by shifting the weight upon the said lever, as in the first example..
In the example illustrated by Figs. 5 and 6 the warp beam end is sustained by
means of a pair of clip levers p, p, which are jointed together at q. The lever p
is mounted upon a fixed stud or fulcrum at 1. The outer end of the lever prests
upon a stud or fixed point at 8. The weight of the beam causes the curved parts
of the levers to grip the ruffle so as to offer frictional resistance to its rotation, and
this resistance decreases with the decrease in the weight of the beam as in the
previous examples. In order that I may be enabled to increase and regulate the
frictional resistance I prefer to forin or provide the clip p¹ with an extension or arm
p2 upon which I mount an adjustable weight, as indicated in the Drawing. Figs. 5
and 6 also illustrate a variation in the arrangement for enabling the warp beam to
be turned back. In the case of a woodcu beam a turned metal shell is fixed upon
the beam end, and upon this shell is cast, formed, or secured a ratchet wheelt. The
ruffle c is bored to suit the said shell and is loosely mounted thereon. The said
ruffle carries a pawl or by preference three pawls as indicated in the Drawing, and
these pawls engage with the said ratchet-wheel. When the warp beam rotates
forwards, as when the weaving is proceeding, the ratchet-wheel transmits the motion
to the rule, but when the beam is turned back the pawls slip and the beam end
turns in the ruffle. This arrangement enables me to readily turn back the warp-
beam without relieving the pressure upon the ruffle, and is applicable to oither of
the examples previously herein described. In all the examples springs may be
substituted for the adjustable weights if preferred. In all the examples the
arrangements for adding to the weight of the warp-beam or for increasing and
regulating the frictional resistance by means of adjustable weights or springs may
be varied; as for example, the arrangement represented in Figs. 3 and 4 may be
adapted to either of the other two examples, and the arrangement illustrated in
Figs. 1 and 2 may be employed to draw together the upper ends of the clips h,
represented in Figs. 3 and 4, in which case the lever n would be dispensed with.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of my said Invention, and
"

page_text: the manner in which I carry the same in practical effect, I would have it to be
understood in conclusion that I claim,-
First. The combinations and arrangements of parts substantially as and for the
purpose or purposes set forth and indicated hereinbefore, and in and by the accom-
panying Drawings.
Secondly. Suspending the warp beam by mounting the ruffles or end pulleys
within pairs of curved friction blocks which are mounted upon fulcra so arranged
as that the said blocks act as levers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth
and indicated.
Thirdly. Suspending the warp beam by mounting each ruffle within a clip formed
of two parts hinged together and jointed to radius links or, levers, acting substan-
tially as and for the purpose set forth and indicated.
And, Lastly. Suspending the warp beam by means of levers which act together to
increase the frictional resistance in proportion to the descent of the warp beam,
substantially as set forth and indicated with reference to Figs. 5 and 6 of the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Edward Wilson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Signed and sealed, the day and
year last above written, by the
said Thomas Edward Wilson,
in the presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
St. Ann's Churchyard, Manchester,
(Agent for the Patentee).
T E. WILSON. (L.S.)