IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR-PICKING LOOMS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Frederick Church, of 5, Glenarm Road,
Lower Clapton, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman; for tho
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR-PICKING LOOMS.”
Sealed the 2nd March 1875, and dated the 7th September 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Frederick
Church at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 7th September 1874.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK CHURCH, of 5, Glenarm Road, Lower Clapton,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR-PICKING Looms," to be as
follows:-
. T

page_text: The first part of this Invention consists of a steel lever constructed
with a nib or hook at one extremity and shaped at the other. This lever
is fitted in an iron box or case and is made to turn upon a steel pin or
pivot passing through the lever and sides of the iron box or case. This
iron box or case with the lever I insert in the lid of each shuttle box
near the back end of it, with the nib or hook fronting the entrance of the
shuttle box, and the lever is acted upon by the buffer being driven back
by the blow of the shuttle forcing the nib or hook downwards, thus
locking the shuttle. I ensure the locking of the shuttle by so shaping
the back end of the lever that it rests for a time upon the top of the
buffer, thus making the rebound of the shuttle upon striking the buffer
quicker than the recovery of the lever to its normal position. I insert a
steel spring in the top of the box or case, which presses upon the back
end of the lever and keeps the nib or hook above the level of the shuttle
box until acted upon by the buffer as before described. The buffer
consists of an iron shell fitted to the shuttle box filled with leather or
buffalo hide, with a spindle attached passing through a hole drilled for
that purpose in the end of the shuttle box. This buffer is regulated and
kept in its position by: locked nuts outside the box. I place between the
buffer and the end of the shuttle box, a thick piece of india-rubber to
break the blow from the shuttle, and at each extremity of the slay beam
I place a strong steel spring against the projecting end of the spindle of
the buffer, to ensure the rebound of the buffer after the blow from the
shuttle, and the release of the shuttle by the lever returning to its
normal position on the rebound of the buffer. I cut slots in the shuttle
where the levers lock it and protect such slots from wearing by means
of guard plates let in the shuttle. This lever can be inserted in either
side of the shuttle box, but I prefer placing it in the top as before
explained.
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The second part of this Invention consists in placing a lever in the
bottom of each shuttle box, so shaped that the back end of it rises above
the level of the bottom of the shuttle box a sufficient heighth to lift the
tongue of the stop rod, as herein-after mentioned, and the front either
flush with or below the level of the bottom of the box. This lever turns
upon a steel pin or pivot, and the front extremity is connected with the
stop rod by means of a jointed or swivel rod passing through an aperture
out for that nou
P
1

page_text: purpose and secured by screw nuts, which when properly adjusted I
cither pass a pin through the under nut or use locked nuts. By this
method the shuttle on entering the box raises the tongues of the stop
rod over the frog pawl, by depressing the raised part of the lever, and as
the stop rod is connected with the lever in each box the tongues of the
stop rod are lifted from each end alternately. This lever as well serves
to hold the shuttle whilst the propelling force is being applied.
In loose reed looms I dispense with the usual side swell and springs,
and in lieu thereof I place on the inside of the lid a small shaped spring,
the width of the box, having a small slot cut in one extremity, and kept
in its position by a screw placed in the lid of the shuttle box, in such a
manner as to allow of the spring expanding and contracting under the
action of the shuttle, and when expanded the spring is flush with the top
of the box.