IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International Patent
Office," Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."—A com-
munication from abroad by John A. Bassett, and John Robinson
Norfolk, both of Salem, Massachusetts, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 10th February 1870.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,”
Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS
FOR WEAVING," a communication, to be as follows :—
My Invention has for its objects the production of a loom in which
the reciprocating movement of the shuttle is obtained by positive
mechanism which acts through its entire reciprocation, thereby dis-..

page_text: pensing with the picker motion and its accessories and its various
disadvantages; also the separation from the lay of the devices by which
the weft thread is beat up, and the fixing of the lay permanently in place,
dispensing with the cranks, connections, rocker shaft, and swords, and
operating the reed independently of the lay; also the acceleration of 5
the speed at which the loom can be safely worked, and the weaving of
wider fabrics than can be woven by the ordinary loom; and, lastly, the
adaptation (without material alteration of the loom) of the devices used
for this purpose to the ordinary forms of looms in general use.
The nature of the said Invention consists in carrying the shuttle 1
across the lay of the loom between the warps by means of a shuttlo
carriage below the warp, communicating motion to the shuttle from the
carriage by means of rollers arranged on the upper side of the carriage
and the lower side of the shuttle, the motion of the rollers in the shuttle
carriage being produced by contact of the rollers with the under side of 1
the race plate, and the rollers being actuated in the shuttle;
thus rolled between the carriage and the shuttle.
the
warp
is
Also consists in actuating the shuttle carriage by means of wheels,
which have a continuous rotary motion, communicating a reciprocating
movement by the alternate winding of cords upon their periphery.
It also consists in fixing the lay in a permanent position and beating
up the weft thread by a rced fastened to a swinging frame and vibrated
by means of a lever and cam on the cam shaft, thus giving the rced a
motion independent of the lay.
2
The first part of my Invention relates to the method of actuating 2
the shuttle.
The second part of my Invention relates to the lay and method of
nctuating the reed.
And the first part of the said Invention may be used, if desired, in'
connection with the ordinary vibrating lay, and in this loom the move- 3
ments with the exception of the picker need not be disturbed; the stop
motions, let of, and take-up harness motions and lay are operated as
usual without alteration.
The second part of the said Invention may be used as herein described,
or in connection with the ordinary picker motion.
3
I will now proceed to describe the first part of my Invention. The
lay may be made either of wood or metal, but I prefer to make it of

page_text: wood. It is of the same size and length as the common lay; it is open
through its entire length, forming a groove of sufficient size to allow the
shuttle carriage to pass through it freely from end to end. To the top
of the lay is secured the race plate, which is made of cast or malleable
5 iron or other suitable metal, and has an opening through its entire
length of sufficient width to allow the rollers in the shuttle carriage to
pass freely through it. It is secured to the top of the lay by suitable
screws, and projects over the groove, closing the top of the groove,
except the space required for the rollers to pass through it. Attached
to or cast upon the top of the race plate is a series of guides, which are
placed at suitable distances apart, and are so shaped as to receive and
guide the shuttle by means of a projection from the lower side of the
shuttle. I prefer to cast these guides on the race plate. At the ends
of the lay outside the warp these guides are continuous, making a groove
corresponding in shape to the guides. It will be found most convenient
to cast the race plate in section. The rollers should be made of brass,
and are fitted in the top side of the shuttle carriage upon spring
bearings, which may be made of rubber or metal. Above the spring I
place a leather bearing in which the shaft of the roller runs. These
rollers have a flange on each side bearing up against the under side of
the race plate. This flange is covered with a ring of vulcanized rubber.
The shuttle carriage may be made of wood or metal, and should be of
sufficient length for the rollers on the carriage to bear outside the rollers
on the shuttle. Attached to each end of the shuttle carriage is a thin
piece of vulcanized rubber for the purpose of clearing the groove from
waste or dirt. The shuttle carriage runs in the groove on rollers, which
simply support the carriage and have no connection with the rollers on
the carriage. The projection on the shuttle is attached to a thin plate of
metal, and secured to the bottom of the shuttle; the rollers at the ends
of the shuttle have leather bearings. The projection on the shuttle is
shaped to correspond with the space between the guides.
Wheels for actuating the shuttle are mounted on the ends of a crank
shaft outside the frame of the loom, and outside the driving pulleys and
driving gear wheels. These actuating wheels have a projection near the
periphery of sufficient circumference to give the necessary movement of
the shuttle carriage across the lay. The said projection is slightly
grooved for the purpose of retaining a cord near the point at which it is

page_text: desired to stop the shuttle carriage. The projection is gradually sloped
off so that it does not retain the cord. The space between the starting
and stopping points on the wheel correspond to the time during which
it is desired to allow the shuttle to remain still while the cloth is being
beat up and the harnesses changed.
When it is desired to weave wider cloth, and consequently to increase
the movement of the shuttle carriage, the actuating wheels must be
geared to give the number of turns corresponding to the increased
length of cord. In order to accomplish this result the said wheels are
placed on a separate shaft or stud, and geared from the crank or cam
shaft to give the requisite speed; the cord may be wound upon the
projection a sufficient number of times to give the required movement of
the shuttle carriage. In this case the width of the projection must
correspond to the number of turns which the cord is required to be
wound upon it. The said cord is attached to the end of the shuttle
carriage, and passes over leading pulleys in the ends of the lay, down to
or near the rocker shaft under pulleys or cyes at that point, and up
through a pulley or eye placed on the end of the shifting bar; it
terminates in a swivel which is connected with the axis of the actuating
wheel by means of a screw. The said shifting bar throws the cord on or
off of the projection at each movement of the shuttle across the lay; it
is operated by a shifting cam placed on a shaft geared in connection
with the driving shaft of the loom.
The second part of my Invention, which relates to the fixed lay
and reed, may be described as follows:-The lay is firmly secured in
the proper position by means of a stand bolted to the sides of the
loom; it is constructed in the same manner as the lay above described.
The cranks, connections, rocker shaft, and swords are dispensed with.
The shuttle is operated in the same manner as heroin-before set forth,
except that the cord passes through an eye bolted to the side of the
loom instead of the rocker shaft. The vibrating reed is hung in a
swinging frame attached to the breast beam of the loom; it is con-
structed in the same manner and of the same materials as the common
reed, except that the ordinary top rail is not used and the top of the
dents are rounded and made semicircular. The reed is fastened in a
groove in the swinging frame by means of a cap secured by bolts. The
reed is operated by a connecting bar and levers and a cam upon the cam

page_text: shaft. This cam should commence to vibrate the reed as soon as the
shuttle has left the warp, and allow it to fall back as soon as the shuttle
re-enters the warp, and to remain in that position while the shuttle is
passing through the warp.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 9th August 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," Southampton Build-
ings, London, Consulting Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,
my exccutors,, 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 LOOMS FOR WEAVING," a communication to me from
abroad by John A. Bassett and John Robinson Norfolk, both of Salem,
Massachusetts, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, 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 I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declaro-the-nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same.

page_text: by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings forming a part of this Specification :-
My Invention has for its object the production of a loom in which the
reciprocating movement of the shuttle is obtained by positive mechanism
which acts through its entire reciprocation, thereby dispensing with the 5
picker motion and its accessories and its various disadvantages; also the
separation from the lay of the devices by which the weft thread is beat
up and the fixing of the lay permanently in place, dispensing with the
cranks, connections, rocker shaft, and swords, and operating the reed
independently of the lay; also the acceleration of the speed at which 1
the loom can be safely worked, and the weaving of wider fabrics than
can be woven by the ordinary loom; and, lastly, the adaptation (without
material alteration of the loom) of the devices used for the purpose to
the ordinary forms of looms in general use.
The nature of the said Invention consists in carrying the shuttle 1
across the lay of the loom between the warps by means of a shuttle
carriage below the warp communicating motion to the shuttle from the
carriage by means of rollers arranged on the upper side of the carriage
and the lower side of the shuttle, the motion of the rollers in the shuttle
carriage being produced by contact of the rollers with the under side of 2
the race plate, the rollers being actuated in the shuttle; the warp is thus
rolled between the carriage and the shuttle.
It also consists in actuating the shuttle carriage by means of wheels,
which have a continuous rotary motion, communicating a reciprocating
movement by the alternate winding of cords upon their periphery.
It also consists in fixing the lay in a permanent position and beating
up the weft thread by a reed fastened to a swinging frame, and vibrated
by means of a lever and can on the cam shaft, thus giving the recd a
motion independent of the lay.
2
The first part of my Invention relates to the shuttle and method of 3
actuating the shuttle.
The second part of my Invention relates to the lay and method of
actuating the reed.
The first part of the said Invention may be used if desired in
connection with the ordinary vibrating lay, and in this loom the move- 3
ments with the exception of the picker need not be disturbed; the stop

page_text: motions, let off, and take up harness motions and lay are operated as
usual without alteration.
The second part of the said Invention may be used as herein described
or in connection with the ordinary picker motion.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a front elevation, partially in section, of a common
|loom adapted to use my improvements; Figure 2 is an end elevation of
the same; Figure 3 is an enlarged section of the actuating wheel;
Figure 4 is an enlarged edge view of the swivel; Figure 5 is an enlarged
front view of the swivel; Figure 6 is an enlarged edge view of the
shifting cam; Figure 7 is an enlarged side view of the same; Figures 8
and 9 are a section and top view of the projection on the under side of
the shuttle; Figures 10 and 11 are an edge and top view of the shuttle
guides; Figure 12 is an end section of the said shuttle guides; Figure 13
is an end section of the shuttle guides at the ends of the lay; Figure 14
is a side elevation of the shuttle; Figure 15 is a side clevation of the
shuttle carriage; Figure 16 is a top view of the shuttle; Figure 17 is a
top view of the shuttle carriage; Figure 18 is a transverse section of the
said shuttle; Figure 19 shows a section and side view of the wheels of
the shuttle; Figure 20 shows a section and side view of the wheels in
the top side of the shuttle carriage; Figure 21 shows a section and side
view of the wheels in the bottom of the said shuttle carriage; Figures 8
to 21 shew the parts full size; Figure 22 is a sectional elevation of the
loom with a fixed lay and independent vibrating reed; Figure 23 is an
end elevation of the reed and swinging frame enlarged; Figure 24 is a
front elevation of part of the reed and swinging frame; Figure 25 is a
sectional elevation of the lay drawn to an enlarged scale;. Figure 26 is a
top view of the same; Figure 27 is a top view of continuous guides on
the ends of the lay. Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts
in all of the Figures.
may
I will now proceed to describe the first part of my Invention.
Referring to the Drawings, U represents the hy of the loom; this lay
be made either of wood or metal, but I prefer to make it of wood.
It is of the same size and length as the common lay; it is open through
its entire length, forming a groove V of sufficient size to allow the
shuttle carriage H to pass through it freely from end to end. To the top
of the lay is secured the race plate W, which is made of cast or malleable.

page_text: iron or other suitable metal, and has an opening through its entire length
of sufficient width to allow the rollers B, B, in the shuttle carriage H to
pass freely through it. It is secured to the top of the lay by suitable
screws, and projects over the groove V, closing the top of the groove,
except the space required for the rollers B, B, to pass through it..
Attached to or cast upon the top of the race plate W is a series of
guides X, which are placed at suitable distances apart, and are so shaped
as to receive and guide the shuttle G by means of a projection Y from
the lower side of the shuttle. I prefer to cast these guides on the race
plate. At the ends of the lay outside the warp these guides are con-
tinuous. The opening making a groove corresponding in shape to
the guides X. It will be found advantageous to cast the race plate W
in sections for convenience in fitting; it can also be cast much lighter.
The rollers B, B, should be made of brass, and are fitted in the top side
of the shuttle carriage H upon spring bearings D, which may be made
of rubber, or a metal spring may be used. Above the spring I place a
leather bearing E, in which the shaft of the roller B runs. The shaft of
the roller B should be made of steel perfectly smooth. These rollers
have a flange on each side bearing up against the under side of the race
plate W. This flange is covered with a ring of vulcanised rubber D*,
seen most clearly in Figure 20. The rollers B should be heated before
applying the rubber rings. The shuttle carriage H may be made of
wood or metal (by preference of wood) and should be of sufficient length
for the rollers B, B, to bear outside the rollers A, A, in the shuttle G
Attached to each end of the shuttle carriage is a thin piece of vulcanised
rubber D¹ placed so as to bear slightly upon the bottom of the groove
for the purpose of clearing the groove from the waste or dirt which
may collect there. The shuttle carriage runs in the groove V on the
rollers C, C, shewn in Figure 15%; these rollers simply support the
carriage, and have no connection with the rollers B, B, on the top of
the carriage; the rollers C, C, are made of wood. The shuttle G is the
common shuttle now in use with the addition of the projection Y, which
is attached to a thin plate of metal F, and secured to the bottom of the
shuttle; the rollers A, A, which are fitted at the ends of the shuttle,
have leather bearings E, like the wheels B on the carriage. The pro-
jection Y on the bottom of the shuttle may be made of malleable iron
or other suitable metal, and its shape is such as to correspond with the
shape of the space between the guides X, and it is so fitted as to allow
it to be moved freely across, but not to be taken out. A sufficient space

page_text: is left between the bottom of the projection and the top of the race plate
so as not to press against the threads of the warp during its passage
across.
The actuating wheels K are mounted on the ends of the crank shaft
outside the frame of the loom, and outside the driving pulleys and
driving gear wheels; they are made of cast iron, and are for the purpose
of actuating the shuttle carriage H, and have a projection L cast upon
the outside near the periphery, and of sufficient circumference to give
the necessary movement of the shuttle carriage across the lay. The
projection L is slightly grooved for the purpose of retaining the cord O
while being wound. The projection L starts at a point when it is desired
to commence the movement of the shuttle carriage, and the groove for
retaining the cord is continued around its circumference until it comes
near the point at which it is desired to stop the shuttle carriage, when
the projection is gradually sloped off, so that it does not retain the cord
and it is released. The amount of space between the starting and
stopping points on the wheel correspond to the time during which it is
desired to allow the shuttle to remain still while the cloth is being beat
up and the harnesses changed. The wheels K are constructed as above
described when the loom is intended to weave goods of common width.
When it is desired to weave wider cloth, and consequently to increase
the movement of the shuttle carriage, the wheels K must be geared so
as to give the number of turns corresponding to the increased length of
cord; in order to accomplish this result the wheels K are placed on a
separate shaft or stud, and geared from the crank or cam shaft to give
the requisite speed; the cord O may be wound upon the projection La
sufficient number of times to give the required movement to the shuttle
carriage. In this case the width of the projection must correspond to
the number of turns which the cord is required to be wound upon it.
O The cord O is attached to the end of the shuttle carriage and passes over
leading pulleys in the end of the lay down to or near the rocker shaft
under pulleys or eyes P at that point, and up through a pulley or cyc
placed on the end of the shifting bar N; it terminates in a swivel M,
which is connected with the axis of the wheel K by means of a screw
5 with a countersunk head. The shifting bar N throws the cord O on o
off of the projection L on the wheel K at each movement of the shuttle
across the lay; it is operated by the shifting cam I, which is placed on
-a-shaft-geared-in-connection-with-the-driving-shaft-of-the-loom,
and

page_text: communicates motion to the shifting bar N through the lever J. The
shifting bar may be placed in any position where it will least interfere
with the other working parts of the loom.
;
The second part of my Invention, which relates to the fixed lay and
reed, may be described as follows:-Figures 22, 23, and 21 aro intended
to illustrate this part of my Invention as applied to the loom described
in the first part of this Specification. U represents the lay, which is
firmly secured in the position shown in Figure 22 by means of the stand
T bolted to the sides of the loom; it is constructed in the same manner
as the lay above described. The cranks, connections, rock shaft, and :
swords are dispensed with. The shuttle is operated in the same manner
as herein-before set forth, except that the cord O passes through an eye
bolted to the side of the loom instead of the rocker shaft. The vibrating
recd R, Figures 22, 23, and 24, is hung in the swinging frame Z
attached to the breast beam of the loom; it is constructed in the same ]
manner and of the same materials as the common recd, except that the
ordinary top rail is not used therewith, and the tops of the dents are
rounded and bent into a semicircular form, as shewn in Figure 23. The
reed R is fastened in a groove in the swinging frame Z by means of a
cap extending the whole length and secured by a sufficient number of 2
bolts, as shewn in Figure 23. The reed is operated by a connecting
bar 28 and levers 29 hung upon the cross bearing Q, which extends from
side to side of the loom and is operated by the cam S, Figure 22, upon
the cam shaft. This cam S should be of such form as to commence to
vibrate the reed as soon as tho shuttle has left the warp, and to allow it 2
to fall back after beating up the filling as soon as the shuttle re-enters
the warp, and allow it to remain in that position while the shuttle is
passing through the warp. The dotted lines of the reed, Figure 22, show
its position after the beating up of the filling.
The operation of this improved loom is as follows:-The warp and 3
harness being hung and operated as usual and the cop placed in the
shuttle the latter is placed at either end of the lay. While in this
position one of the cords O will be slack and the other will be drawn
tight. The shifting bar N will draw the cord O to the position indicated
on the right-hand side of the loom in Figure 2 close to the wheel in a 3
line with the line of the projection L, any suitable power being applied to
the loom through the driving pulleys. The wheel K is rotated in the
direction of the arrow, winding the cord upon the projection L and

page_text: drawing the shuttle carriage H across the lay. The rollers B, B, in the
shuttle carriage are rotated by contact with the under side of the
race plate in a reverse direction to the motion of the carriage, and arrows
showing the direction of the movement. The rollers A, A, in the shuttle
are rotated in the same direction by contact with the rollers B, B, the
warp being slightly raised as it passes between the rollers B and A.
Any inequalities in the thickness of the warp threads are compensated
for by the elasticity of the spring bearings D, D, in the shuttle carriage:
While the shuttle is passing the lower shed of the warp is below the
guides X, and lies upon the surface of the lay. When the cloth is beat
up the guides X are below the warp, and the cloth is beat up by the
reed as usual. The dotted lines in Figure 2 indicate the position of the
warp with the shuttle passing through. It is obvious that by varying
the starting and stopping angle of the projection L on the wheels K the
shuttle carriage may be made to start and stop at any required degree of
speed. If it be required to have the shuttle enter and have the warp
gradually increasing the speed as it enters and decreasing it as it leaves
the warp a curve may be given to the projection L at these points, as
shown, which will secure the required result. It will be found that with
the shape shown in weaving most classes of fabrics the starting of the
shuttle in the manner set forth will be easy and regular, and the speed
across the warp uniform. The swivel M is for the purpose of taking out
the turn which is given to the cord O as it is wound and keeping it at
a uniform length. A separate shuttle may be placed in a carriage
occupying the position of the shuttle G, which may be taken out and
replaced with the same facility as the ordinary shuttle, and which for
convenience may be preferred to a fixed shuttle.
For weaving fabrics of the ordinary narrow width when but one-turn
of the cord is required around the wheel the shifting bar may be
dispensed with. In this case the wheel K must be so large that the
cord O occupies less than half the wheel and the starting points arc set
opposite each other.
The advantages of my improved loom over those now in use may be
stated as follows:-The mechanism employed in moving the shuttle has
a continuous rotary motion, and is more simple and durable than any
before devised, avoiding the sudden jars and concussions incident to the
picker motion as now used, and which injure and ultimately destroy the
loom. This continuous rotary motion giving an alternate reciprocating.

page_text: .
movement of the shuttle has never before been obtained. By operating
the loom in this way less power is required than by the common
method; it is applicable to weaving fabrics of any desired width.
The shuttle is always moving in positive relation to the other movements
of the loom, and is therefore absolutely under control. The warp is not
liable to be injured by pressure of the shuttle, and the shuttle running
free from the reed cannot injure it. The adjustments of the shuttle and
shuttle carriage are simple and casy; when once fitted properly it will
operate and wear with great uniformity and durability, and is entirely
under the control of the attendant. It may be applied to common looms
now in use for weaving cotton, wool, silk, hemp, jute, and other fabrics
with but slight alterations and expense.
The advantages of the use of the fixed lay and independent vibrating.
reed may be stated as follows:-The vibrating reed is very light, and is
moved with but a fraction of the power required to move the reed when
attached to the lay and swords, these heavy moving parts being entirely
dispensed with. The loom runs much more steadily, and the vibration
and jar is much diminished; consequently the speed of the loom may be
increased. The harnesses may be set nearer the cloth, and can be
driven with less speed than the vibrating lay. The recd is only in a
contact with the warp at the time when the filling is being beat up,
consequently there is much less wear and friction upon the warp threads.
than when the warp is always in contact with the reed.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to mo
by my foreign correspondents, and shown how the same may be con- 2
veniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,―
First. A shuttle carriage with the rollers arranged on the upper side
of the carriage and in contact with the under side of the race plate so as
to communicate motion to the rollers in the reverse direction to the
motion of the shuttle carriage while the shuttle is being drawn through 3
the warp, the said rollers being held up to the race plato by springs or
their equivalents, substantially in the manner set forth.
Second. A shuttle carried through the warp by a shuttle carriage and
guided in its passage across the lay by a series of guides on the upper
side of the race plate, which will allow the warp to pass freely 3
between said guides, and so arranged as to prevent the shuttle from
deviating from its proper course or flying out while in its passage

page_text: through the warp, with the rollers in the ends of the shuttle so arranged
as to be in contact with the rollers in the top of the shuttle carriage.
Third. The flanged or grooved wheels K having a continuous rotary
motion attached to or in connection with either shaft of the loom and
by which the reciprocating motion of the shuttle is obtained by the
connection of the wheels K and shuttle carriage H with suitable cords
and other connections.
Fourth. The guiding of the cords O from off to on the flanged or
grooved wheels K at each alternate revolution by means of the can I
and its connections when used for this purpose, substantially as
described.
Fifth. A fixed lay and independent vibrating reed or beater con-
structed and operated substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
W. J. LOWE.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)