Improvements in Connecting Rods for Looms.
Year: 1895

page_text: Improvements in Connecting Rods for Looms.
We THOMAS FELL and JOHN FELL both of Hollinbank Foundry, Blackburn
in the County of Lancaster, Iron Founders, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
--
Our said invention relates to improvements in the construction of the rods links
or arms used for transmitting a reciprocating motion to the slay of a loom from the
crank shaft thereof. As heretofore constructed the bearings of such connecting
rods have been held in their places and tightened to take up slack by means of
straps and gibs and cotters. Such a mode of construction is however subject to
certain defects especially when the connecting rods are elbowed or cranked in
which case the pull is not in a direct line from one end of the connecting rod to the
other.
-
According to our said invention we form a recess in the part of the connecting
rod which receives the loose steps or bearings which are inserted in the said
recess.
A side plate or bar taking over the said recess and the end of the connecting rod
prevents lateral movement of the steps.
To adjust or tighten the movable step we use in some cases a set screw provided
with suitable lock nuts and working in the solid part of the connecting rod. The
inner end of the set screw is armed with an adjusting nut or block which bears
either immediately on the back of the movable step or on to a saddle or slipper
used in combination therewith.
In other cases instead of a set screw or in combination therewith we use an
excentric provided with means for a partial rotation thereof and with detents or
engaging parts for securing the excentric in any desired angular position.
The periphery of the excentric bears against the loose step or a saddle or slipper
on the back thereof.
Dated this 5th day of June 1895.
E. T. WHITELOW, A.M. Inst. C.E.,
70 Deansgate, Manchester, Agent for the Applicants.
We, THOMAS FELL and JOHN FELL, of Hollin Bank Foundry, Blackburn in.
the County of Lancaster, Machine Makers do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in connecting rods, "crankarms" or
other similar rods or links used for transmitting a reciprocating motion to the slay
of a loom from the ordinary crank shaft of such loom. As hitherto constructed the

page_text: bearing brasses or steps of such connecting rods have been held in their position
and adjusted, as circumstances required, by means of straps, gibs and cotters.
Such a mode of construction is a clumsy one for the purpose and is, moreover
subject to certain defects, especially when the connecting rods are elbowed or
cranked, in which case the pull is not in a line coincident with the centre line of
the rod.
To obviate the defects arising from a construction such as referred to is the
object of our invention and in order that our improvements may be readily under-
stood we have appended hereunto a sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a part sectional elevation of the improved and
Fig. 2 a plan of same.
Fig. 3 is an elevation and
Fig. 4 a plan of a modified construction of rod.
as usual.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 we form in one end of the connecting rod a recess A,
to receive the ordinary brasses or steps a, a¹, which are preferably made in halves
The step a abuts against one end of the recess and is prevented rotating
by any of the usual means, whilst the step a¹ is adjusted and held in place as
circumstances require by means of a screw B. This screw is passed through a
tapped hole in the part of the rod, and at its inner end is provided with a head b¹
which bears directly against the movable step a' or against a loose saddle piece C
interposed between the latter and the head of the screw. When the parts referred
to are in position they are kept there by means of a cap D one end of which is
bolted to the rod by a bolt d passing therethrough whilst the other end is bent over
the end of the rod, and kept in place by means of a nut 6". The cap is provided
with a oil hole e and is so formed at e¹ that when the screw B is tightened up the
latter is prevented turning round owing to the head b¹ engaging with the said
parte. It will be observed also that the nut 6" besides holding the cap D in place
serves as a lock-nut to screw B. The bolt d may be passed through the cap D
at right angles to the position shown, the latter being provided with side lugs
or ears.
In the modified form of connecting rod shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and in which
similar letters indicate corresponding parts to those shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the
movable step a¹ is kept in place by means of an eccentric E which bears either
directly against it or against a saddle C as before. The eccentric is fixed upon a
short pin, or, as shown, is formed in one with a solid pin ƒ the lower end of which
passes through a hole formed in the rod whilst the upper end passes through a hole
formed in the cap D. The pin at one side or end is formed with ratchet teeth f¹
and a catch or pawl f" pivoted to the cap D engages with the teeth and so
prevents the eccentric rotating when it has once been fixed. To turn the eccentric
round for the purpose of adjusting the brasses the pin f' is squared at one end and
an ordinary screw-key or the like applied to it. The pawlf may be kept in
position by a small spring. The cap D is held in position at the outer end by a
short set-screw B. Instead of the ratchet teeth being placed on the pin f they may
be formed on the cap D or on the connecting rod and a spring arm or catch secured
to the eccentric to engage with the teeth. The eccentric might also be rotated by
a set screw being forced against. the spring arm.
It will be obvious that the constructions we have shown are more effective for
the purpose than the strap, gib and cotter arrangement and that the details of such
construction may be altered in part without departing from the spirit of our
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A connecting rod for looms in which the brasses or steps are held in place or
adjusted substantially in the manner described.

page_text: 2. A connecting rod for looms in which the brasses or steps are held in position
and adjusted substantially as described with reference either to Figs. 1 and 2 or
Figs. 3 and 4.
1
1000
THOMAS FELL.
JOHN FELL,
Applicants.