IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TEXTILE FABRICS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Hindle, of Blackburn, in the County of
Lancaster, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF TEXTILE FABRICS."
Sealed the 15th, May 1857, and dated the 19th November 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Hindle at the
Office of the Commissioners, of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th
November 1856.
I, THOMAS HINDLE, of Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, Maufacturer,
.do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF TEXTILE FABRICS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to that method of producing textile fabrics usually
termed cross weaving. In order to effect this, I draw in the warp threads,
according to the ordinary method of weaving, and cause them to be crossed
when required by a positive direct action of heddles or harness. To explain
this, I will suppose, for the sake of example, three warp threads, one raised
above the others, the two outside ones being mounted on shafts in the ordinary
manner, the centre or upper one passing through a loop, connected at one end
to one shaft, and the other to a second shaft, such ends passing under. the
5 ordinary loops. As one of these descends it pulls the centre loop sideways, and
with it the thread therein, so as to effect the crossing over the warp threads,
and as the other descends the same effect is produced in an opposite direction.

page_text: The shafts are returned to their former position by means of weights or
equivalent apparatus.
Another part of my Invention consists in the application of a rod applied
below the warp threads, so as to support and cause them to enter the reed at a
proper level.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Hindle in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th May 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAB
HINDLE, of Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Iler most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign.
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Hindle, Her especial licence that I, the said Thomas Hindle, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
lindle, my 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
PACTURE OF TEXTILE FABRICS," upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the
said Thomas Hindle, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
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 1, the said Thomas Hindle, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to that method of producing textile fabrics usually
termed cross weaving, in which certain of the warp threads are at periods
required to be moved transversely, so as to cross adjacent threads, and this
motion I effect by a positive direct action of heddles or harness.

page_text: In order to explain the method I adopt, I have appended to this my
Specification a Sheet of Diagrams, drawn upon an exaggerated scale, and have
used various colors to denote the several portions of the harness and their
shafts. The Figures illustrate the method of crossing one thread, the necessary
apparatus for which is of course repeated across the width of the loom as often
as may be required, according to the pattern to be woven.
In Fig. 1, the black spot A represents a crossing thread, and the circles
beneath the other warps, which are shed in the usual manner, and over which
the uppermost thread is to cross. Around the thread A are passed two loops,
represented by the red and blue lines, which loops are attached above to two
shafts a, b, but which shafts are fastened together so as to move simultaneously.
These loops, after passing around the thread A, are looped within each other,
as shewn in the Diagram. Supposing, therefore, the blue cord at the point C
to be drawn downward in the direction of the arrow, it would with the red
cord confine the thread A, and cause it to pass beneath the warp d on the left-
hand side thereof; in a similar manner, if the red cord be drawn in the
direction of the dotted arrow, the thread A would be caused to pass downward
on the right-hand side of the thread d, by which means the crossing would be
effected. The arrangements by which these cords are so caused to act is
shewn at Fig. 2. The red cord passes through a loop e cf another cord,
denoted by the yellow color, and also through a continuation f of the said
cord. The upper end is connected to a shaft g, and the lower to another shaft
h. The blue cord in like manner passes through a loop i, shewn by green
color, and also through a continuation thereof at k, the upper end of the said
green cord being connected to a shaft and the lower end to a shaft m.
Suppose the shaft h to be drawn downward by a tappet or other ordinary
means, the loop e of the yellow cord moving with it will be drawn upon
the red cord, so as to close it upon the thread a; and a further downward
motion will draw the said thread to the right hand, and cause it to pass down-
ward in that direction, and as the shafts a, b, of the red and blue cords are fast
together the latter will partake of a similar motion. This position of the parts
is shewn at Fig. 3, and thus a crossing on one side is effected. When it is
desired, according to the pattern, to cross in the other direction, the operation
will be similar; in this case the shafts l, m, being drawn downwards, so as to
cause the loop i of the green cord to close the blue cord upon the thread A,
and thereby draw it to the left-hand of the Figure. The shafts may be con-
nected to levers m, provided with springs or weights to draw them upward, or
mounted after any of the usual methods.
In Fig. 1, n represents a rod extending across the width of the warp threads,

page_text: and situate beneath those which are to cross; this rod is so adapted as
to cause the said threads torenter; at a suitable level as the threads become
unwound, and serves also as-a-support during the operation. of crossing.
It will be observed that in crossing the warp the threads and tho heddles
are not subjected to that frictions which takes place in the ordinary method of
working them; and it is the positive direct action of the heddles, above
described, and which obviates this, that I. claim as secured to me under the
above-recited Letters Patent. And I also claim the use of the rod n'for the
purposes above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, ithe said Thomas Ilindle, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord. Onc
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
THOS HINDLE. (L8.)