CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1841

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
HILL DARKER, Senior, and WILLIAM HILL DARKER, Junior, both of Lambeth,
in the County of Surrey, Engineers, and WILLIAM WOOD, of Wilton, in the
County of Wilts, Carpet Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal, bearing date at Westminster, the
Fourth day of September, in the fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Hor
heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said William Hill Darker,
senior, William Hill Darker, junior, and William Wood, Her especial licence,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that we, the said William Hill
Darker, senior, William Hill Darker, junior, and William Wood, our execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, and such others as we, the said William
Hill Darker, senior, William Hill Darker, junior, and William Wood, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England and Wales and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, our Invention
of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso that we, the said William Hill Darker, senior,
William Hill Darker, junior, and William Wood, shall cause a particular
description of the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery

page_text: within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, we, the said
William Hill Darker, junior, and William Wood, on behalf of ourselves, and
of the said William Hill Darker, senior, do hereby declare that the nature
of the said Invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed,
is particularly described and ascertained in and by the Drawings hereto
annexed, and the following explanation thereof (that is to say):-
These improvements in looms for weaving apply particularly to those looms
for weaving Brussels and other carpets, and also that description or kind of
fabric wherein the warp threads or yarns are used to form a raised face or
figure, by looping such figuring yarns or warps over wires, as is common in
all looms employed for weaving such goods, whether such loops arc afterwards
cut or not. Our improvements consist in the novel application and peculiar
construction and arrangement of the ordinary essential working parts of a power
loom, and the application of such arrangement to the weaving of Brussels
carpets, or such similar goods as above alluded to, instead of weaving or pro-
ducing them by manual labor, as hitherto commonly done. As the suitable
arrangement and application of the power loom with the necessary auxiliary
motions will be better explained in detail and more readily understood by
reference to the Drawings attached to these Presents, we will now describe
the construction and evolutions of the loom, as illustrated by the several Figures
of the machinery exhibited, and by the letters of reference marked thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
In Sheet 1, Fig. 1 is a front view of our improved loom, as arranged for
weaving the ordinary Brussels carpeting, drawn at about one eighth the real
scale; Fig. 2, a side view of the loom taken at the driving end; Fig. 3 is a
detached plan view of the batten lathe or slay, drawn upon a larger scale; and
Fig. 4 is a front view of the same.
In Sheet 2, Fig. 1 is a back view of the loom; Fig. 2 is a side view, taken
opposite to the driving end; and Figs. 3 and 4 are detached representations of
another arrangement of mechanism we propose to employ for raising the
"Jacquard," which will be hereafter described. It will be observed that
similar letters of reference are placed upon corresponding parts of the me-
chanism in all the Figures. The side and cross framing A, A, of the loom are
of cast iron, and bolted together, supporting the ordinary "Jacquard" appa-
ratus above, for working the figure or pattern, and also all the usual essential

page_text: working parts of the loom. The driving or crank shaft is shewn at B, B,
connected to the lathe batten or slay by means of links, as usual, the tappet
shaft at C, C, the vibrating lathe or slay at D, D, with the reed E, E. The
pickers F, F, are worked alternately by the rotation of the cams or excentrics
G, G, upon the tappet shaft. The worsted warp threads, being previously
dyed and suitably arranged in frames in the usual manner, to form the pattern
or figure on the face of the carpet, when looped up, are seen at II, II, as
proceeding from the frames of bobbins placed at a convenient distance from
the loom; and the linen warp threads I, I, to form or constituto the ground
or cloth of the carpet, are wound as usual upon the warp beam or roller K, K,
at the back of the loom; the strength or stability of which ground or cloth
may also be further increased by another set of warp threads 1*, running into
the fabric from a "dandy beam," in the usual manner.
An ordinary
"Jacquard" apparatus is shewn above the loom for working the figure; L, L,
being the perforated cards, M the "cylinder," N, N, the lifting "griff, grate, or
comb," and 0, 0, the stringing and lingoes, divided by the cumber board P.
The front healds or shafts Q, Q, are for working the worsted or pattern warps,
and the back healds or shafts R, R, are for working the linen or ground
warps.
Having now described the principal working parts of the loom, we will pro-
ceed to explain their operation in detail. Supposing power to be applied by
mcans of a strap or band passing around the driving pulley S upon the end of
the shaft B, motion will thus be communicated to the whole, the loom with
its warps being previously arranged ready for work. Spur gearing T and U
proceeding from the extremities of the main shaft, actuate the cams or tappets
upon the tappet shaft; and the first operation in the process of weaving is now
performed by incans of the cam or tappet V, fixed near one extremity of the
tappet shaft, as it revolves striking against the friction bowl or roller W, which
is mounted in the bent lever X, working upon its fulcrum Y, supported
in the framework; and thus the lover X is depressed, its other ex-
tremity being attached to the lower end of the cord Z. The upper end
pulley a above,
of this cord passes over and is fastened to the groove
which is keyed fast upon the extremity of the horizontal shaft b, sup-
ported in small standards above the Jacquard. Upon this shaft are also
keyed small drums or pulleys c, c, fastened to and over which chains aro
passed in connection with the griff, grate, or comb N, for lifting the wires of
the Jacquard. Thus it will be observed that as the lever X is depressed the
griff" of the "Jacquard" is lifted, and the pattern or worsted warps H are
drawn up, and the shed or division is now formed for the passage of the rod

page_text: or wire, over which the worsted warps are to be looped; these rods or wires
being such as are similarly used in weaving Brussels carpets and other such
goods have a small eye or loop formed at one end by bending the wire,
and a few such wires are previously placed loose in a box in a convenient
part of the lathe or batten at d (see detached Figs. 3 and 4), Sheet 1. The
wire e is there shewn, placed in a notched piece f by the weaver, ready to be
put in the shed of the worsted warp, over which the pattern part thereof is
to be looped up to form the pattern or surface of the carpet. In order to placo
the wire e in its required position a novel motion is attached to the loom,
and is actuated by the cam or tappet g, upon the other extremity of the
tappet shaft C as it revolves, raising the lever h upon its fulcrum i; to this
lever a rod is attached (which may be raised by any other suitable means),
having a chain passing round the pulley k, upon the small cross shaft l, and
at one end of this shaft a grooved pulley m is fixed, having the cord n, n,
passing round it. The ends of this cord are attached to a wooden rod o, o,
passing between the guide pullies p, p, and as the pullies are worked round
to and fro alternately by the ascent of the rod j, and its descent by gravitation
on the tappet, having passed the wooden rod or rail, is then passed in and out
of the shed, and is caused to fetch and leave a wire as required. It will be
observed that this rod o is provided with a small spring clip or finger 7, or
other suitable catch, which embraces the loop end of the wire as it is worked
towards it, and that the bent spring is depressed as it passes under the bowl 1,
when being withdrawn from the loom, and the clip consequently opening, will
deposit the wire between the worsted warps ready to be beaten up into its
place by the slay which now advances for this purpose, whilst the pattern or
worsted yarn is up, and the shed open. After the wire just put in has thus
been beaten up by the slay close into the cloth the pattern falls, and the
whole of the worsted warp H are taken down by the rotation of the cam or
tappet S upon the middle of the tappet shaft C, which striking against the
bowl of the lever u, depresses that lever, and by means of the connecting
wire v, attached to the front shafts or healds Q, Q, will draw down the whole
of the worsted or figuro warps. It will be readily understood that this
depression of the worsted warps will form them into a loop over the wire,
and they are retained when the wire is withdrawn in this form, by means of
the linen ground, in which they are thrown or looped up, being kept secure
by the weft or binding thread. The next operation is to bring up one half
of the linen or ground warps I, leaving the other half below, and forming an
open shed for the passage of the shuttle, with the linen weft or binding
thread. This is accomplished by the series of tappet bowls a, a, a, a, keyed fast

page_text: upon one end of the shaft C, acting as they revolve against the levers y, y, y, y,
attached to the top and bottom jacks,, z, z, connected to the healds or
harness R, R. It is not necessary to explain further the construction of the
series of tappets a, a, as they are well known to weavers, being such as are
commonly employed to effect the shed in those looms wherein more than two
shafts or healds are employed. The picker F now coming into action the
shuttle is impelled across the loom, and the weft, shoot, or binding thread put
in, which is then beaten up close by the second rotation of the crank shaft
bringing up the lathe or slay D. The upper half of the linen warps are
now caused to descend by the action of the tappets x, a, a, a, and secure
the weft, the lower half being raised by the division of the healds, ready to
receive the next shoot, and at the same time the outermost cam or tappet 1
on the tappet shaft C, strikes the bowl 2 on the lever 3, also working on a
fulcrum Y. The lever 3 is connected by the cord 4 to the top jack 5, and
cords 6, 6, to the front healds Q, Q; thus the whole of the worsted warps H are
again brought up above the ground warps, and the next linen shoot is thrown
in by means of the opposite picker. The slay again advances by means of the
third rotation of the crank shaft, and beats up this weft also, the griff or
comb N is now lifted by the second rotation of the cam or tappet V, acting
as before, the pattern or figure shed is again formed, the next wire is put in
as before, and the weaving thus proceeds until the entire length of the carpet
or other piece of goods is perfected. The work or cloth 7, 7, now proceeds
as usual over the breast beam 8, 8, on to the cloth beam or roller 9, 9, being
wound or "taken up" thereon by means of the ordinary "taking up" motion
10, 10. We would here remark that the "clearing" is effected by means of
a rod 11, placed in a suitable carrier 12, in such a position that, when the
worsted pattern or figure warps are drawn up, the warps form an angle with the
rod, producing such a tension in the pattern threads that they are drawn up
clear from the rest of the warps in front, which tension can be increased or
diminished at pleasure by altering the position of the rod. Having previously
described the lathe or slay D, as moved by a crank, as usual, we propose
also another method of working the same, being particularly applicable
to this loom, in order to allow an additional time for the insertion of the
wire e to form the loops; which method we would effect by suitable cams or
tappets fixed on the tappet shaft C, working the lathe at irregular intervals,
and consequently dispense with the ordinary crank shaft. The method of
applying a cam to actuate the lathe so as to cause the latter to beat up at
regular intervals will be so easily understood by any competent mechanic
acquainted with the construction of looms, that we have not thought it

page_text: "
necessary to give any Drawing, merely observing that the said cam may be
made to work against an antifriction roller attached to the slay.
Fig. 1, Sheet 3, represents another method of obtaining a dwell of a sufli-
cient length of time to allow the wire e to be inserted. In this Figure, the
slay is actuated by the ordinary crank, and is mounted on two "swords" a, a,
instead of one, as is usual, the crank being connected to the swords a, a, at
some point below the joints b, b, by which the slay is jointed to them. The
lower ends of the swords a, a, are connected by moveable pins to the horizontal
bars c, which are moved laterally by means of cams d, furnished with pecu-
liarly-shaped grooves, and mounted at cach side of the loom on a shaft, which
may be actuated in any convenient manner.
By the foregoing description it will be understood that as by the revolution
of the crank the slay has a tendency to advance, the lower ends of the
swords a, a, are also advanced by means of the cam d, with twice the speed of
the crank, and thereby the slay, instead of slowly advancing, has a tendency
to retreat, and thereby a dwell of sufficient length of time is produced to insert
the wire.
Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 3, also shew another method of raising and lowering
the worsted warps H, H, Sheets 1 and 2, instead of effecting this object by
means of the headles or healds Q, Q; by the arrangement shewn in Sheet 3,
the worsted warps are raised and lowered by raising and lowering the entire
Jacquard apparatus and comber board. This is effected by means of cams &
acting against levers f, weighted at one end, and mounted on fulcra k, k, fixed
to the framework or otherwise. The other ends of these levers are connected
to upright rods g, 9, whose upper ends are attached to any convenient part of
the Jacquard. It will therefore be evident that as the cams e revolve they
will raise one end of the weighted levers f, and by this means the Jacquard
and mounture also, thereby raising the entire worsted warps; or the worsted
warps may be raised by making knots or stops in the mounture above the
comber board, which may be raised by any convenient means; or a comb or a
series of bars may be made to raise the mounture by means of the said knots
or stops.
Figures 3 and 4, Sheet 2, represent another method of counterweighting;
in which Figures, instead of placing the weight at one end of the lever f, it is
attached to the upright rod g, by means of a chain or cord, which passes over
a pulley h.
In Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 3, we have also shewn another method of raising
the griff or pattern warps. This is effected by means of cams i, i, on the same
shaft as the cams c, e. These cams i, i, act against levers j, j, having their

page_text: fulcra atk (see Fig. 1), and in their revolution the cams i, i, raise the end of
the levers j, j, and the rods 7, connected to them, and by this means the griff
or comb also, which may be attached to the upper ends of these rods 1, l.
When the Jacquard and mounture is moved, as before described, it may be
found advantageous to place the linen headles R, R (Figures 1 and 2,
Sheets 1 and 2), behind the mounture, for the purpose of making the worsted
pattern warps clear better. Instead of winding on the cloth or carpet over
the breast beam, as usual, we propose as an improvement to substitute a roller
covered with card pins, or other roughened surface, in connection with any
ordinary "taking up" motion, in order to take up the cloth as it is woven,
when it may be delivered on to a roller beam, or folded below, as required,
insted of being wound on to the work beam, which as it accumulates in
diameter is apt to injure or press the pile.
Having now described our Invention, and the manner in which it is carried
into effect, we wish it to be understood that we do not intend to confine our-
selves to the precise mechanism herein shewn and described for effecting the
various motions of the loon.
But we claim,-
Firstly, the general arrangement and disposition of the various parts of a
power loom, as applied to weavings Brussels carpets, and other similar fabrics,
as above shewn and described.
Secondly, we claim fetching the wire e by means of a rod, having a clip,
spring, or other holder, at the end thereof.
Thirdly, the method shewn and described in Sheet 3, of obtaining a dwell of
sufficient length to insert the wire, which object is effected by means of the
moving fulcra of the swords a, a, worked by a cam, or other convenient means.
Fourthly, we claim, as entirely novel, raising the Jacquard and mounture in
whatever way
it may
be effected, whereby we dispense with the use of headles
for carrying the worsted or other warps.
Fifthly, the method, shewn in Sheet 3, of raising the pattern or griff by
means of upright rods.
Sixthly, placing the linen headles R, R, Sheets 1 and 2, at the back of the
mounture, as applied to weaving Brussels carpets.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Hill Darker, junior, and
William Wood, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourth
day of March, in the year of our Lord One, thousand eight hundred
and forty two
W* HILL (L.S.) DARKER, Jun'.
WILLIAM (L.S.) WOOD.
:

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Fourth day of March, in
the year above mentioned, the aforesaid William Hill Darker, junior, and
William Wood came before our Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and
acknowledged the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing thorein
contained, in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was 5
stamped according to the tenor of the Statute in that case made and pro-
vided.
Inrolled the same Fourth day of March in the year above written.