IMPROVE- MENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Bottomley, of Laister Dyke, near Bradford,
in the County of York, Hotel Proprietor, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Bottomley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th
May 1867.
I, JOHN BOTTOMLEY, of Laister Dyke, near Bradford, in the County' of
York, Hotel Proprietor, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," to be as follows:-
The objects of my Invention are, firstly, to cause the weft fork to act with a
loss of one pick instead of two as is now the case; and, secondly, to make the
weft fork act for any number of colours of weft that may be used' in circular
box looms either in single pick or double pick on each side of the "going
part," and for any number the loom may be made for; and thirdly, the
separation during the process of weaving of each yarn from the remainder.;
and, fourthly, to make less waste and produce smoother edges in the piece.

page_text: In double circulatbox looms I place revolving grates at each end of the
circular boxes to revolve with them, so as to effect my object better' I place
at one end of the "going part" an extra revolving box so as to revolve with
the other box in order to keep the threads more apart from each other. I
use a horizontal weft fork at the end of each circular box, and I impart to it
a horizontal motion to throw the driving belt off when the thread is broken
by means of hammer catch and levers in the usual way, mounting it upon
a fulcrum; I also impart to it a motion in the arc of a circle by means of an
eccentric on one or other of the shafts, a spring on the shorter arm of the
weft fork keeping it clear of the shuttle. The weft is kept in a state of
tension by a léver actuated by an eccentric from one of the shafts, such
leser working in a grate in the "going part." The horizontal weft fork
upon the weft breaking falls down into the revolving grate (having been
released by the spring upon its shorter arm before named) and thus causes
the knocking off motion to be brought into operation; each weft fork is
of course similarly fitted. In the event of several picks from each side
being required an extension of the above arrangement of eccentrics or stud
wheels is requisite to bring the springs and catch levers into operation by
releasing the catch end of the weft fork. At the end of each circular box I
put.a race or groove for each colour of weft to prevent the pulling, off so
much yarn so as to keep it as tight as possible and in the end of the "shuttle
board.;" adjoining the extra box or adjoining the ordinary box I place a
small conical I groove in a sloped direction to effect the same purpose and
prevent the yarn catching projections that may present themselves. In single
as well as double circular box looms, this arrangement is an improvement
upon the old plan.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Bottomley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th November 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BOTTOMLEY; of Laister Dyke, near Bradford, in the County of York, Hotel
Proprietor, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing. date the Twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight. hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for. Herself, IIer heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said

page_text: John Bottomley, Her special license that I, the said John Bottomley, my.
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the, said John
Bottomley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time.
agree. with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during 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 LOOMS FOR WEAVING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said John Bottomley, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly.
describe and aseertain 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 I, the said John Bottomley, do hereby declare.
the nature of the 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 thereof, that is to say:-
The objects of my Invention are, firstly, to cause the weft fork or single.
prong to act with a loss of one pick instead of two, as is now the case; and,
secondly, to make the weft fork act for any number of colours of weft or
picks that may be used in circular box looms, either in single pick or double:
pick on each side of the "going part" or lay, and for any number the loom
may be made for; and, thirdly, the separation (in a greater degree than is
now the case) during the process of weaving of each yarn from the remainder;
and, fourthly, to make less waste and produce smoother edges in the piece..
In double circular box looms (to which my improvements have special reference)
I place revolving grates at each end of the eircular boxes to revolve with
them. I also have a horizontal weft fork or single prong at the end of each
circular box to work within the grates, and I impart to it a horizontal motion
to throw the driving belt off when the thread or yarn is broken by means of a
hammer catch and levers in the usual manner, mounting it upon a fulerum;
I also impart to it a motion in the arc of a circle by means of a link rod
actuated by an eccentric or tappet and lever on one or other of the shafts of
the loom, a spring on the shorter arm of the weft fork or prong or attached to
the link rod before named, keeping it clear of the shuttle. The thread is
kept in a state of tension, if requisite, to aid the weft fork or prong when-
acting by a lever actuated by an eccentric from one. of the shafts, such lever-
falling into a grate in the "going part" near the side of the box. The-

page_text: :
horizontal weft fork or prong upon the weft breaking falls down into. the
revolving grate, (having been released by the spring, upon its shorter arm
before named) and thus causes the knocking-off motion to be brought. into
operation; each weft fork or prong is of course similarly fitted. In the
event of several picks from each side being required an extension of the above
arrangement of eccentrics or stud wheels is requisite to bring the springs and.
catch levers into operation by releasing the catch end of the weft fork or
prong. At the end of each circular box I put a race or groove for each:
colour of weft to prevent the pulling off so much yarn so as to keep it as tight.
as possible, and in the end of the "shuttle board "adjoining the extra box or
adjoining the ordinary box I place a conical groove in a sloped direction to
effect the same purpose and prevent the yarn catching projections that may.
présent themselves. In single as well as double circular box looms this:
arrangement is an improvement upon the old plan. I prefer, however, to
effect the better separating of the threads by cutting off a few inches of the
"shuttle board" near to the regular boxes, and using a moveable self-acting.
table, door, or trap, which is in position, that is, shut when the shuttle passes,
over it, and which opens out and leaves a hollow when the box revolves for a.
fresh pick, thereby keeping the threads from twisting and pulling off. To
this arrangement I sometimes; add in. addition a series of small troughs placed
around, each other in a conical form and within the trap of the going, part and
arranged so as to revolve with the circular box, the larger ends of the cone
being level with and opposite the holes or slides which receive the shuttles in
the circular boxes. I also by means of a coupling arrangement in the bottom
portion of the loom cause the two weft forks to be alternately in position for
knocking off when the yarn is. broken.
It will be seen that the first prominent feature of this Invention consists in
the use of horizontal as distinguished, from vertical weft forks, such forks
knocking off through the absence of pressure or dead weight upon the yarn,
instead of through the absence of impact as is now the case; also that with
my arrangement of a circular grate (in which the weft fork or prong acts.)
attached to each box a pick is saved upon the old plan, two weft forks or
prongs, one at each side being used, and the belt being thrown off if the thread
breaks at either side. ".
I
The second prominent feature of my Invention consists in leaving an
opening between each box, and that portion of the shuttle board nearest to
it (such opening being closed by a table or trap when the shuttle requires
to travel over it) for the purpose of keeping the threads better separated as
the box revolves.

page_text: .. In order; however, that my Invention may be the better understood reference:
is made to the accompanying. Sheet of Drawings and the letters' and figures.
marked thereon, that is to say:-
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a plan and Figure 2 a side elevation of my weft fork A in
position, its tines passing between the revolving grates a attached to the
circular box B.. The guide and fulcrum 6 connected to a grooved slide c on
the breast beam C of the loom supports the fork, and upon the weft breaking.
and the fork falling into the grates its extreme end (which in this instance' is
upturned) is caught by an ordinary hammer f and receives a horizontal motion:
along with the guide band so throws off the loom through the intervention of;
the ordinary catch levers & and e. Upon the neck of the fork is placed a
linked rod 9 having a spring fastened to its lower extremity with the object
of keeping the fork in a horizontal. position, or in other words, allowing it to.
just "feel" the weft when passing. Should, however, the weft be broken as
the link rod is raised at each pick by the action of a lever and tappet h and i,
motion connected to its lower extremity in the loom, the fork falls and the
Joom is stopped by the throwing-off motion referred to. A modification of
this arrangement is shown in Figures 3 and 4 (side elevation and plan) in
which it will be seen that the catch a of the fork 6 is pointed downwards.
instead of upwards, as in the previous case and to effect its operation a. com-
pound lever arrangement is requisite. The fork swings upon the centre c and
through the intermediate lever d depresses the catch point of the lever a, and
through the sliding fulcrum f receives from a hammer. as in the previous case,"
a horizontal backward motion which throws off the stop apparatus.. Also as in
the previous case a vertical rod depends or hangs from the fulcrum lever A
actuated as before by a lever and tappet motion, but pressed upwards by
springs instead of downwards on account of the catch a pointing the reverse.
way. Whichever of the two styles are used the two hanging rods are con-
nected by a transverse rode (Figure 7) having a slight reciprocating motion
by means of a lever f(which is passed over a spring swell fastened to the rail
at the bottom of the loom,) such lever receiving motion from the cords used
in the regulation motion for turning the boxes. The object of this connection
is to throw the hanging rods. alternately into gear by means of loose studs
with their respective levers and tappets y and z. Figure 5 shows a section of
the going part or lay A having a moveable door or trap a working on a
fulcrum band connected to the lever c, the slotted end of which works on a
fixed stud d. As the going part approaches the front of the loom the door or

page_text: trap a near the box which has "picked "opens, the lever c coming in contact
with the stud d, and the threads are unsupported for a few inches from the
box. An iron case C opposite the hollow B. preserves the grates from injury
by the shuttle; as the "going part" returns the spring closes the door or
trap a and a surface is presented for the shuttle to pass over; Figure 6 is a
section showing a horizontal trap retained at a given point by the spring 2.
Having now deseribed the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that what I claim as novel
and of my Invention is,―
Firstly, the use of horizontal weft forks or prongs in conjunction with
revolving grates in either single or double box looms essentially in the manner
shown and described.
Secondly, the mode of keeping separate the various threads in box looms
by having tables or traps opening temporarily between the boxes and the
shuttle board, whilst the boxes are being revolved or turned as shown and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Bottomley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
P. H. SHARP,
Leeds.
JOHN BOTTOMLEY. (L.S.)