IMPROVEMENTS IN WARPING AND BEAMING MACHINES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Howard and John Bullough, of Accrington,
in the County of Lancaster, Iron Founders and Machine Makers, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WARPING AND BEAMING MACHINES."
Sealed the 30th December 1862, and dated the 4th July 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Howard and John
Bullough at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 4th July 1862.
We, JOHN HOWARD and JOHN BULLOUGH, of Accrington, in the County of
Lancaster, Iron Founders and Machine Makers, do hereby declare the naturė
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WARPING AND BEAMING MACHINES,"
to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to a self-acting stopping motion (that is to say) a
means of stopping the warping or beaming machine when one or more of the
warp threads break by means of a current of electricity. The electric current
charges a magnet which is in connection with a catch or knocker-off piece:
Each thread of the warp supports a pin, which, when so supported; can only
touch one of two conducting surfaces connected 'respectively by wires to.
the negative and positive poles of the battery.. The moment a thread breaks

page_text: its pin drops and comes in contact with both conducting surfaces, and thus
forms a connecting link betwixt the two poles. The electric current thus
established charges a magnet, which, by attracting a catch or other suitable
agent, brings the knocking-off piece into action. The thread being pieced
again supports its pin, thereby breaking the connection betwixt the two poles,
so that the magnet having lost its power cannot attract the agent which
brings the knocker-off into action, and so the machine continues working till
another thread breaks and allows a pin to fall, which acts in the manner
above described and stops the machine. This enables us to use pins as
light as desirable and ensures instantaneous action. We also adopt a
mode of accomplishing the same object by a purely mechanical arrangement.
This arrangement may be termed an escape motion, because the lever or
fork which stops the machine is made to escape a catch or other suitable
instrument which is constantly trying to catch it, and thereby bring it into
action; but when a thread is broken the lever or fork can no longer escape,
but is caught by the said catch and made to fulfil its office of stopping the
machine. We have a wire rod or bar oscillating under the suspended pins;
at each oscillation the fork or lever is carried out of the way, but when a
thread breaks, and allows a pin to fall, the bar is obstructed by this pin and
cannot take the fork out of the way, the fork is therefore caught and made
to stop the machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Howard and John Bullough, in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 3rd January 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
HOWARD and JOHN BULLOUGH, of Accrington, in the County of Lancaster,
Iron Founders and Machine Makers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us
the said John Howard and John Bullough, Her special licence, that we,
the said John Howard and John Bullough, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said John Howard and John Bullough,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,

page_text: and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully night make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, tho
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WARPING AND BEAMING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
we, the said John Howard and John Bullough, our executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of our or their hands
and seals, 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 John Howard and John Bullough,
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 thereof, reference being had to the Figures on
the accompanying four Sheets of Drawings, and to the letters of reference
marked thereon (that is to say):-
Our Invention consists of improved modes or arrangements for stopping
the warping or beaming machine when one or more of the warp threads
break, or when a bobbin is empty. We employ one or more rows of
pins having continuous eyes of a round, oval, or rectangular shape, and
place the shanks of the pins in sheaths, guides, or slots, imbedded in, con-
nected to, or forming part of a holder extending across the front part of
the machine. The threads are passed through the eyes by means of a
light reed hook, and when they are entire they support the pins, but when
a thread breaks or there is no thread, the pin through which it should
pass sinks in its guide and becomes an instrument for putting into action
auxiliary agents to stop the machine. In one arrangement we employ
a current of electricity for charging an electro-magnet, having within its
influence a catch in connection with the knocker-off piece. Below the pins
we have two conducting surfaces connected respectively by wires to the
negative and positive poles of a battery, and placed in such positions that
when the pins are supported by the threads they can only touch one of the
conducting surfaces, but when one or more pins are lowered by the breakage
or absence of the threads, they come in contact with both conducting surfaces,
and thus completes the circuit by forming a connecting link between the
two poles. The electric current thus established charges a magnet, which by
attracting a catch or other agent brings the knocking-off piece into action and
stops the machine. The thread being again pieced supports its pin, thereby

page_text: breaking the connection between the two poles, so that the magnet, having
lost its power cannot attract the catch or agent which brings the knocker-off
into action, and so the machine continues working until another breakage or
absence of thread allows a pin to fall, which acts as before described and
stops the machine.
"
In another arrangement we make the pins instruments for calling into
action purely mechanical agents. This arrangement may be termed an
escape motion," because the lever or fork which stops the machine is made
to escape a catch or other suitable instrument which is constantly trying to
catch it, and thereby bring it into action; but when a thread is broken the
lever or fork can no longer escape, but is caught by the said catch and made
to fulfil its office of stopping the machine. We have one or more wires, rods,
or bars oscillating under the suspended pins; at each oscillation the fork or
lever is carried out of the way, but when a thread breaks and allows a pin
to fall the bar is obstructed by this pin and cannot take the fork out of the
way, the fork is therefore caught and made to stop the machine. The frame
or apparatus which supports and guides the pins is constructed in various
ways.
In one arrangement it is formed by two reeds a, b, Figs. 1, 2,
and 3, Sheet 1, placed parallel one above the other. The dents are so
close as to leave only sufficient room for the pins c to work freely between
them. The reeds are at such a distance apart as will allow the pins when
supported to protrude a little below the bottom reed, and to support them in
a perpendicular position we solder two strips d of brass or other material to
the top and bottom reed, the pins being kept in position sideways by the dents
of the reed. Another apparatus for holding the pins is shewn in Figs. 4, 5,
and 6. We take two strips e of sheet brass, copper, tin, or other suitable
material, of the proper length and breadth, and punch them simultaneously
with a punch of the same form as the pin and as much larger as necessary to
insure the perforation giving sufficient clearance for the free working of the
pin. The strips are then put a proper distance apart, according to the length
of pin, and mounted on a suitable bed fixed to the machine in such a position
that when the pins are put into their spaces they will be perpendicular. We
also cause the pins c to work in sheaths or guides f, soldered or otherwise
fastened to a single reed or plate g, Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.
In another arrangement we imbed the sheaths or guides in one or more
bands of india-rubber, leather, or other suitable material, resting on a suitable
bed, having one or more grooves to admit the sheaths which project below the
band or bands. In cases where two rows of pins are found necessary, we use
either two separate bands of india-rubber, leather, or other suitable material,*

page_text: or one band of the requisite breadth. With either one or two bands of
india-rubber two or more layers may be used with advantage, as a given
thickness of india-rubber would be more easily perforated, if in separate
layers, though all punched at one and the same stroke, than in one solid
layer. The tool we use for perforating is a shade larger every way than the
pins, and has a shoulder or collar formed, where the pin-shaped, part of the
tool ends. The sheaths fit the pin-shaped part of the tool sufficiently tight as
not to fall off by their own weight. The sheath having been slipped on the
tool, the latter descends vertically, and the collar pressing on the top of the
sheath forces it into the india-rubber as far as desirable, the stroke is then
reversed and the sheath is left imbedded in the india-rubber. We make each
pin out of flat or oval wire, thereby obtaining strength in the direction
it is required with lightness. We also make the eye continuous, as shewn in
the Figures, and introduce a light reed hook for the purpose of threading.
And in order to prevent the pins being jerked out of their sheaths by sudden
tension of the threads, we raise a swell or projection h, Fig. 12, Sheet 1, on
the stem below the sheath; or we cause a wire i, Figs. 13 and 14, to be
passed through slots in the lower part of the stems; or we use a stop-bar k,
Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10, which bar is stretched across the line of pins
at such a height above them as they are intended to rise. In consequence of
the extremne lightness of the pins the amount of lift required is so small that
the eyes are raised very little above the sheaths and act as shields in pre-
venting dirt falling into them. The sheaths are made a little taper to faci-
litate the downward passage of anything that might find its way into them.
Another advantage of this short lift is that the weight of the pin being kept
chiefly within the sheath, it is not so liable to be supported at the top
odge of the sheath as to prevent its falling when the end is broken. The
better to guard against this uncertainty of the pin dropping, we cause the bed to
receive sudden blows, or give it a rocking or jerking motion by means of a tappet
placed on the pivot of the tin roller nearest to the bed; this tappet depresses one
arm of a lever, the other arm of which raises the bed, which as the tappet
moves round, is allowed suddenly to fall upon the bracket upon which it
rests; or a hammer to strike the bed may be worked in a similar manner.
The said bed is raised more easily by its resting on centres placed towards
its front edge, so that the bed will always, if allowed, gravitate towards the
back. Still further to secure the certainty of the pins falling, when not
held up by thread, we place the bed at an angle so as to give the pins a
tendency to throw themselves to the opposite side of the sheaths to that
to which the threads pull them. This tendency to throw themselves back:

page_text: counteracts the tendency the pins have to remain in the inclined position
they assume when pulled forwards by the threads when the frame is on a
level. This angular position of the bed, together with the jerking motion
causes many pins to drop which might otherwise be supported by some
obstruction having got into their sheaths. By these means the position
of any such pin is changed, and the pin being put in motion gets an
impetus which gives it power to overcome the obstruction which might
otherwise prevent its descent. In many cases one row of pins is sufficient,
but we use any number of rows required. When there is a double row wè
insert an equal number of sheaths and pins in each row, and regulate the
length of lift of the pins by the stop rods or wires passing through the stems.
We prefer the stop rods at the top, because, when the pins are drawn up
to them, they afford a bearing or resting place to which the pins.seem to
cling, remaining perfectly steady when the machine is working. They are
also very convenient in giving facility for taking out or putting in pins, as the
nuts which stretch them tight have only to be loosened, and the rods can then
be pulled to one side or the other, or lifted high enough to allow this operation
to be performed; and as they are in sight and very accessible, the lift of the
pins can be regulated without inconvenience, and they are also very efficient
protectors of the pins from damage. The first thing to be observed is, that the
pins are put in two rows instead of one, in order that, by having only half the
number in each row, there will be so much more room laterally for the eyes,
which can, therefore, be of an adequate size for admitting whatever bits of
waste or fluke that may be found attached to the threads. Now it is evident
that if all the threads came in a single level sheet through these eyes, this
advantage of room for the eye would be lost, inasmuch as the threads, after
having passed through the back eyes, would then have to pass through the
space left betwixt the two front eyes, which space has already been reduced to
the least possible, in order to have the eyes as large as required. In the same
way the threads coming to the front eyes must pass through the space left
between the back eyes, so that if the threads came in such an uniform level
sheet the eyes would have to be diminished to such a size as would give space
enough betwixt them for the passage of the other threads with whatever
fluke or waste they might bring with them, so that there would be really
nothing gained by the two rows. But we cause the threads going through
the front row of eyes to pass over the stop rod of the back row of eyes, and
the threads after passing through the back row of eyes, rise over the stop rod
of the front row, as shewn in Fig. 4, Sheet 1. Thus the threads of each row
intersect each other, and each sheet clears the eyes of the other sheet. They

page_text: then form into one level sheet in going over the front roller on to the beam.
As this plan satisfactorily disposes of the difficulty it was devised to overcome,
and is free from objection, it will be sufficient merely to suggest other modes
of accomplishing the same object without describing them in detail. The
frame or bed holding the pins may be set at such an angle as will cause
the front pins to stand above the level of the back row, or vice versa; or by
having the reeds, strips, or rows stepped instead of being on the same plane,
as shewn in Fig. 19, Sheet 1; or by having them on the same plane
and the pins of one row made taller than those in the other row; or by
giving one row of pins more lift than the other. The pins may be placed in
one row by means of any of the following plans:-Instead of having the eye
of the pin circular we elongate it, by which means the same area of space
may be retained while the lateral space occupied is diminished; or, the pins
being made sufficiently broad, the eyes are fastened towards the front and
back edge of the stems alternately, as shewn in Figs. 15, 16, and 17. Thus,
while the stems are in one line the eyes are in two. In some cases it is
necessary that each stem should be bevilled off on its edge most remote from
its eye in order that any pin may have room in falling for its eye to clear the
steins it falls betwixt. The stop rod will be required to be sufficiently broad
to act for both rows of eyes, as shewn at 1, Figs. 15 and 16. But it may be
necessary to adopt one of the other modes already mentioned for preventing
the pins flying out, for as the single stop rod allows all the pins to rise to the
same height, it causes the threads, on their way to the front row of eyes, to
have to pass betwixt the eyes of the back row, and causes the threads which
have got through the back row to have to pass between the eyes of the front
row. The mode of overcoming this difficulty would be by punching a hole or.
slot through every stem, as shewn at Fig. 18, one half of these slots reaching
further towards the point of the pin than the other half. Now, having inserted
the pins so that there is a long and a short slot alternately, we pass a wire
through these slots, and it is evident that they will allow one half the pins to
be raised, by the tension of the threads, higher than the other half, so that the
threads coming through the eyes of the pius on the higher level will clear the
eyes of those below them. If this wire be very fine it would be pulled from
the straight line by the upward stress put upon the pins, and when any thread
broke this stress would be taken off that particular pin, and the wire at this
point would tend to spring to its original line, and so act as a spring in
dragging the pin down.
We may here observe that we do not restrict ourselves to any particular

page_text: place for our stopping apparatus; it may stand anywhere between the back
reed and the front comb. .
We may here remark that the foregoing contrivances for the proper and
convenient working of the pins apply equally to the electrical and mechanical
arrangement.
We now describe some of the agents which are called into action by the
falling of the pins when one or more threads break or are absent. Figs. 20
and 21, Sheet 2, are full-sized views of the electrical apparatus; and Figs. 22
and 23, Sheet 3, are front and end elevations of a warping or beaming
machine, in which the electrical apparatus is applied. m, Figs. 22 and 23,
represents the framework of the machine; n, the driving shaft; o, the fast and
loose pulleys; p, the driving drum; and 2, the yarn beam. The yarn or threads
from the creel pass over the roller r, under the swing or take-up roller s, and
over the roller t, from whence they pass through the eyes of the pins u,
Fig. 20, which work in sheaths or guides imbedded in the band of india-
rubber, leather, or other suitable material vattached to the bed w, having slots
or grooves x for the pins to pass through, to which bed are attached strips y,
Figs. 20 and 21, of copper, brass, or other suitable conducting material
properly insulated. There are two strips to each row of pins, and the strips
åre placed a short distance apart. The lower part of the pins is always
between these strips, and tapered, so that when supported by the threads the
pins can only touch one of the two surfaces, but when not supported they fall
and come in contact with both of the surfaces. One strip from each row is
connected by wires to one pole of the battery a¹, and the remaining strip, by
wires 6, to the other pole of the battery, one of these wires having been
previously coiled round a magnet c'. At the top of the spring handle or
setting-on rod d, otherwise called the knocking-off piece, there is a small
support e¹ for carrying a double lever, the lower arm f¹ of which has a plate g¹
placed within the influence of the magnet c', the other arm h¹ being so adjusted
as to be clear of a projection on a pulley P, which is caused to revolve by a
band pulley m driven by a pulley on the drum shaft. When a pin falls and
connects the negative and positive poles of the battery, the magnet becomes
charged and attracts the plate g³, thereby bringing the arm h' in position for
being struck by the projection k¹ on the pulley, which action forces the spring
handle out of its detent and stops the machine.
.f
We now describe the agents we employ in the mechanical plan. Figs. 24
and 25, Sheet 3, are front and end elevations of a beaming machine in which
purely mechanical contrivances are brought into action, for stopping the

page_text: :
machine when a thread breaks or is absent; and Figs. 26 and 27 are full-
sized views of some of the parts. On the drum shaft we fix a grooved pulley a,
which gives motion by the band 6 to the clutch pulley c, shewn. enlarged in
Figs. 26 and 27, revolving on the stud d. The part of the pulley which is
driven by the clutch has a cam f, having in contact with it a lever 9 fixed to
the shaft or tube h, which extends across the machine and carries a number of
arms i supporting as many bars k as there are rows of. pins. The shaft or
tube h carries a balance lever and weight 1, which, when left free to gravitate,
turns the shaft or tube h in the direction for bringing the bars against the pins,
and keeps the 'lever 9 in close contact with the cam f; or a spring may be
employed for the same purpose. The increasing side of the cam f forces the
lever g in the opposite direction, thus taking the bars away from the pins.
The decreasing side of the cam allows the balance weight to gravitate and
brings the bars towards the pins. It will thus be seen that the bars are not
forced against the pins by the cam, but are carried forcibly away from them,
while the bars gravitate towards the pins as lightly as may be desired by
moving the balance weight nearer to or further from the shaft.h. When all
the pins are up the bars can oscillate such a distance as to enable the tail m
on the lever g to come in contact with a double lever n, having at one end a
catch o, which is raised by this contact out of the way of a notch p in the
circumference of the revolving clutch pulley c. .But when a pin is down, this
pin interrupts the stroke of the bars, thus preventing the lever g from arriving
at the requisite point for raising the said catch of the double lever n out of
the way of the notch in the clutch pulley, and therefore the notched part of
the clutch pulley is arrested in its motion whilst the other part continues to
revolve, 'and, acting on the clutch principle, is thrown out of gear, and is thus
brought in a suitable position for enabling projections q on its side to force the
spring handle or setting-on rod r out of its detent and stop the machine.
There is a spiral spring, compressed by the pulley sliding out as described,
which is for the purpose of re-uniting the. two parts of the clutch pulley in
order to be ready for a fresh operation of stopping the machine when a thread
breaks or is absent. The lever for giving the jerking motion to the bed of the
pin holder is shewn at t', Fig. 25, which lever is acted upon by a tappet u.on
the shaft of the tin roller.
In Figs. 28 and 29, Sheet 4, we shew another arrangement for working
the oscillating bar and escape motion. On the shaft a of the front tin roller
we place a spur wheel b, gearing by means of a carrier wheel c into the spur
wheel d, to the boss of which is fixed a pulley e with a projection f standing
out from its circumference. On the boss of the pulley is a cam g, which as

page_text: it revolves comes in contact with a lever h fixed to the oscillating shaft k
extending across the machine, and carrying a number of arms for supporting
the bars m, so that when the full part of the cam is against the lever the bars
shall be carried away from the pins. The shaft k is acted upon by a spring,
or carries a balance lever and weight, which brings the oscillating bars in
contact with any pin that may be down when the decreasing side of the cam
is in contact with the lever. But if all the pins are up, the oscillation of the
bars is not interrupted, and the weight and lever continue to descend, turning
the shaft k so far as to cause the lever h attached to it to come in contact with
the pin attached to a small bálance lever o jointed to the setting-on handle p.
By this contact the end q of the balance lever is depressed and escapes the
blow of the projection f on the pulley e, and therefore no stoppage takes
place. But when a pin is down, the oscillation of the bar is interrupted, and
the lever his arrested before it comes in contact with the pin n, and therefore
the end of the balance lever is struck by the projection f, and forces the
setting-on piece out of its detent and stops the machine. The oscillating bars
are made of wood, horn, whalebone, gutta percha, or any similar substance in
preference to iron, as being lighter, and less severe in their action on the pins.
And still further to diminish the severity of the stroke we face these bars with
india-rubber, leather, or other slightly yielding material, thereby preventing
damage to the pins. And when the sheaths are imbedded in india-rubber the
pins receive the stroke of the bar so gradually as to prevent the possibility of
damage to the lightest description of pin, while they are prevented yielding
too far by the sides of the groove in the bed.
Having now described the nature and particulars of our Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, we desire it to be under-
stood that we claim in warping or beaming machines,―
First, the various modes of making the pin holders with reeds, perforated
plates, with or without sheaths, and also with one or more bands of india-
rubber or leather, or similar material, with sheaths let into them.
Secondly, the peculiar form of pins having the eyes continuous, the stems
with the greatest strength in the direction of the blow, and the employment of
a light reed hook for threading.
Thirdly, the slots or grooves in the bed of the pin holder for admitting
the pins and sheaths, and for sustaining them against the blow of the
oscillating bar.
Fourthly, the stop rods or bars, the projections on the pins, and the stop
wires below the sheaths for preventing the pins from rising too high.
Fifthly, the peculiar system of working with an escape motion, which takes

page_text: the heavy work of stopping the machine off the pins, and enables them to call
in auxiliary agents for this purpose.
And, sixthly, the mode of working the oscillating bar so that it shall strike
the pin by the force of gravitation, or by the action of a spring tempered as
required, and thus prevent severe action on a pin, as such improvements
are herein described and illustrated in the accompanying four Sheets of
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Bullough, for and on behalf of
myself and the said John Howard, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Second day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-three.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named John Bullough, in
the presence of
E. J. HUGHES, Patent Agent,
Manchester.
JOHN BULLOUGH. (L.S.)