IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF WORKING CHECK STRAPS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Braham Parkinson, of Preston, in the
County of Lancaster, Cotton Manufacturer, and John Metcalf, of
the same Place, Overlooker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
"
Sealed the 10th September 1870, and dated the 1st April 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Braham
Parkinson and John Metcalf at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 1st April 1870.
We, CHARLES BRAHAM PARKINSON, of Preston, in the County of
Lancaster, Cotton Manufacturer, and JOHN METCALF, of the same Place,
Overlooker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF WORKING CHECK STRAPS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING,"
to be as follows :-
Our improvements consist in applying an additional spindle to the
back box side board, and through or on the box end. On this spindle
we work a check strap or straps or any other description of check
to the leg or foot of picker, the object being to save wear and tear

page_text: of pickers and breakage of shuttles and yarn. We effect the above by
fixing a spindle in addition to the spindle already in use to the back
box side board and through or on the box end, from this spindle we
pass a check strap through a slott in the front side box to the check
strap already in use. Its effect on the shuttle is to give it a steady
central blow, thereby effectualy preventing the shuttle flying out of
In the present method of work the shuttle does not strike
the picker fairly or central every blow, but has a tendancy to bear
down the end of the shuttle so struck, by which the other end is lifted
and the shuttle often thrown out of the shed, which frequently breaks
the shuttle and always the yarn. The picker likewise will wear twice
the time as by the ordinary method now in use.
the shed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Braham Parkinson and John Metcalf in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21th September 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, CHARLES
BRAHAM PARKINSON, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton
Manufacturer, and JOHN METCALF, of the same Place, Overlooker, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-fourth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto us, the said Charles Braham Parkinson and John Metcalf, Iler special
licence that we, the said Charles Braham Parkinson and John Metcalf,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the
said Charles Braham Parkinson, and John Metcalf, our executors, admi-
nistrators, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD
OF WORKING CHECK STRAPS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said Charles Braham Parkinson and
John Metcalf, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in

page_text: writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 Charles Braham Parkinson and
John Metcalf, 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, reference being had
to the accompanying Drawings.
Our Invention relates to an improvement in checks to looms for
weaving whereby a great saving of wear and tear of pickers is effected,
also very much less yarn is broken oweing to the shuttle working so
truly in the shed, such shuttle being never or very seldom thrown out,
much less yarn is broken, less oil is required, consequently the cloth is
kept much cleaner.
Fig. 1 in our Drawings is a front view of the slay or lathe of a loom;
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same; Figs. 3 and 4, side view and plan of
cushion; Fig. 5, a spindle for cushion to work on; Figs. 6 and 7, sido
view and plan of shuttle guard full size shewing slot I in which
cushion E works.
A in Figs. 1 and 2 are the fly spindles, on which the pickers B work
and on which by the old method the check strap works at the back of
such pickers; C is the back box side board; D, an additional spindle;
E cushion, connected to ordinary check strap now in use. It will
be readily understood by the above with reference to the accompanying
Drawings that the check strap on the fly spindle A is removed and a
cushion E substituted, which being placed at the leg or foot of the
picker is immediatly behind where the shuttle strikes the picker.
The cushion E works on spindle D, the other end coming through
the shuttle guard or plate H working in slot I and secured to ordinary
check strap G. By placing the cushion immediatly behind the leg
or foot of the picker it is supported at its proper place, and by being
supported in such place the leg or foot of the picker does not give way
when the shuttle strikes, hence the wear is central, having no tendency
to wear the picker off at the leg or foot from its giving way when the
blow comes. The central wear on the picker is beneficial in another
point, in driving the shuttle through the shed. If it is worn centraly

page_text: the blow is central and steady and the shuttle will never come out of
the shed from picking, but if worn downward as by the old method it
will. The blow on the end of the shuttle is downward to the extent
of such wear, consequently the other end will be elevated and liable to
fly out of the shed.
Having fully described our Invention, its advantages, and how it is
applied we wish it to be understood that we do not confine ourselves
to the precise details herein contained, nor do we confine ourselves to any
particular material for effecting the same; but what we consider novel
and claim as substantialy ours by these Present is,―
First. Supporting the leg or foot of the picker immediatly behind
where the shuttle strikes such picker by cushion or other equivalent,
we can also accomplish the same by springs, levers, or other mechanical
arrangement acting on the back, side, or sides of the picker.
Second. The guide spindle D or other equivalent for securing the
same, as many variations may be made according to the make of
looms.
Third. The cushion E on small spindle, and the novelty of supporting
the picker at the leg or foot and removing the strain from shoulders of
such pickers.
In witness whereof, wc, the said Charles Braham Parkinson and
John Metcalf, have hereunto set our hands and scals, this
day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy.
CHARLES BRAHAM PARKINSON. (L.S.)
JOHN METCALF.
(L.S.)
Witness,
JOHN LEWIS,
Engineer and Patent Agent,
Preston.