Improvements in or relating to Circular Looms.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Apr., 1895-Accepted, 22nd June, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Circular Looms.
L, RUDOLPH WEISS, of 7, Lammas Street, in the Borough of Nottinghain,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to improvements in circular looms such as described in
the Specification of Letters Patent No. 888 of January 17th 1891 in which the
shuttles are propelled continuously in a circular path by means of sliding jacks
provided with projections which act on the inclined surfaces at the rear of the
shuttles.
or
In carrying out this invention the sliding jacks are arranged in vertical planes
parallel to the axis of the loom (instead of radially as described in the Specification
of Letters Patent cited) and are carried in tricks or recesses or between plates
combs secured to the exterior of a cylindrical casing or sley carried by brackets
mounted on the outer framing of the loom. The combs or plates may be secured
to the cylindrical casing by casting them into a foundation of soft metal in sections
and securing each section, by screws or bolts, to the casing.
The upper ends of the sliding jacks may be carried in recesses in a second
annular ring placed above the former with a space between for the movement of
the projections on the sliding jacks which form the shuttle race and propelling
mechanism.
The projections on the jacks for operating the shuttles project towards the centre
of the loom and are preferably formed at the base with a short parallel portion to
engage with the shuttles, and are curved from this point towards the end on both
sides so that in crossing, the edges of the projections will not lock together if
forced out of their position.
The ends of the projections on the sliding jacks may be supported in tricks or
recesses in, or between combs secured to two rings arranged one above and one
below the cloth line, and the inner face of one of these rings may be used as a
cloth ring.
The lower cylindrical casing or sley is enclosed by a cam ring the lower edge
of which runs on anti-friction rollers pivotted to the framing, this cam ring retains
the sliding jacks in position and is also provided with eam grooves in its inner
surface to receive the nebs or projections on the jacks, by means of which they
are operated.
Two
wo independent cam grooves may be formed in the cam ring and the nebs or
projections on the jacks arranged so that every alternate jack is operated by one
cam groove and the remainder by the other, additional grooves being formed
where required and switches provided in order that the whole of the jacks may be
moved into their lower position when it is desired to remove the shuttles.
Or, in order to reduce the width of the cam ring, the nebs or projections on the
whole of the jacks may be arranged in the same position with respect to their
shuttle operating projections, and the whole be operated when in the middle of
the shuttle race or space between the upper and lower sleys, by a single cam
groove, which opens out into a double cam groove in order to move alternate jacks
into their extreme upper and lower positions in order to provide spaces between
the projections for the shuttles.
Alternate jacks may be switched into their upper and lower cam grooves by
switches arranged at these points which switches engage with additional recesses

page_text: or projections on the jacks, every alternate jack being operated by one switch and
the remainder by the other. The switches may be arranged so that the nebs on
the whole of the jacks may be switched into the lower cam groove in order to
remove the shuttles as described in reference to the previous arrangement.
The cam ring is provided with teeth which engage with a pinion secured to the
main driving shaft by means of which it is rotated.
The shedding motion is performed by the sliding jacks the warp threads being
carried through holes in the shuttle operating projections.
The shedding motion consists preferably of two movements the threads being
first moved (by the movement of the jacks to propel the shuttles) into the middle
of the shuttle race until aufficient length of weft thread is inserted and then
the movement of the jacks is continued until the shedding motion is completed.
With this arrangement less tension is required on the shuttle thread and a more
perfect web may be produced.
The warp threads in passing from the warp beams to the jacks, and preferably
at the point where they change from a vertical to a horizontal direction, are each
carried through a hole or holes in a take-up jack, these jacks are carried in a
circular sley provided with recesses to receive them, and are operated by a cam
ring secured to the cam ring previously described, this cam ring is provided on
its underside with a cam groove engaging with projecting nebs on the take-up
jacks.
The take up jacks are operated so as to take up the slack at the time the shuttle
operating jacks are crossing and performing the shedding motion and also to give
the requisite tension to the warp threads at different points necessary for the
production of a regular fabric, or to give the face required.
The cloth as it is produced is carried inside a circular cloth ring secured to the
outer framing and outside a second ring arranged above it which is secured to
the central pillar and from thence to the cloth beam.
If preferred the cloth beam may be arranged below the shuttle race instead of
above it.
In order to provide warp stop mechanism each warp thread is carried through
n lingo arranged so as to fall when the thread fails. In connection with these
lingoes employ a wheel provided with projections on its periphery which wheel
rotates within an annular wheel provided with inner projections: the former is
secured to a vertical shaft connected to the main driving sluit of the loom, and
imparts motion only to the latter when a solid object such as a ball is dropped into
the spaces between the projections on the two wheels.
Above the two wheels, which are arranged to rotate preferably in a horizontal
plane, is a box or shoot containing a ball, and this ball is released or pushed by a
finger into the space between the projections on the two wheels when a lingo falls,
by connections from the lingous to the shut or box.
The annular wheel is connected by a flexible strap or connection to the starting
lever, and when rotary motion is imparted to the annular wheel by the ball falling
into one of the spaces, the loom is immediately stopped.
Welt stop mechanism of any well-known construction may be employed to
operate at any point in the circumference of the loom and such mechanism may
be connected to the apparatus previously described in connection with the warp
stop mechanism.
Or in some cases a spring or weight on each shuttle may be released by the
failure of the weft thread and such spring or weight when released may operate a
catch on the underside of the shuttle so that it rubs on the jacks and thus indicates
by the noise that a weft thread has failed.
Dated this 23rd day of June 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Circular Looms.
1, RUDOLPH WEISS, of 143, Great Alfred Street, late of 7, Lammas Street,
oth in the Borough of Nottingham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
lescribed and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to circular looms such as described in the Specification of
Letters Patent No. 888 of January 17th, 1891, in which the shuttles are propelled
continuously in a circular path by means of sliding jacks provided with projections
which act on the inclined surfaces at the rear of the shuttle.
It will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which-
Fig. is a sectional elevation, and
Fig. 2 a plan of a segment or portion of the upper part of the loom.
Fig. 3 is a plan showing detail of part of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a sectional clevation, and
Fig. 5 a plan of the lower part of the loom corresponding to that shewn in
Figs. and 2.
Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the take-up rollers and work beam.
Figs. 7 and 8 are views showing the construction of alternate sliding jacks for
effecting the shuttle propelling and shedding motion.
Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation, and
Fig. 10 a plan of a segment of the combs for carrying the sliding jacks.
Fig. 11 is a projection of the cam race for operating the sliding jacks.
Fig. 12 is a vertical section of the cam race or ring taken on line X X of
Fig. 11.
Fig. 13 is a projection of part of the cam race for operating the warp take up
jacks corresponding to that shewn in Fig. 11 for operating the shuttle propelling
jacks.
Fig. 14 is an elevation showing further detail of the construction of the cam
ring for operating the shuttle-propelling jacks.
Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are drawn to a larger scale than Figs. 1 to 6 and 11 to 14.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
The framing of the loom (see Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5) comprises a circular rail A
carried by vertical supports A¹ which are connected to each other near their lower
ends by segmental stays A. The sliding jacks B (Figs. 1 and 2) forming the
shuttle race or support, and performing the shuttle propelling, the shedding
motion, and the beating up are arranged as shewn concentric with the axis of
the loom and also reciprocate in a direction parallel to the said axis, or nearly so,
(instead of radially as described in the Specification of Letters Patent previously
cited).
By arranging the jacks B to reciprocate parallel to the axis of the loom every
part of the jacks and their supporting rings may be arranged on the exterior
of the cloth line, that is, in a space of greater diameter than the cloth line, and
consequently the jacks and their supporting combs may be made stronger in
proportion to the gauge of the loom. The combs for supporting the jacks are also
necessarily parallel instead of taper as is the case in a loom where the jacks are
arranged to reciprocate radially.
The jacks Bare carried between combs or plates C secured to the exterior of
the double ring or annular casing D, which latter is supported on brackets D'.
secured to the vertical supports A of the framing.

page_text: The combs or plates C (see Figs. 8 and 9) are cast into a foundation C¹ of soft
metal in segments, into each of which segments are also cast, preferably two
screwed nuts or plates C for engaging with the screws C³, by means of which each
segment is secured to the ring D.
The upper ends of the jacks B (see Figs. 1 and 2) are guided in recesses in the
inner face of a ring E, which is supported by brackets F secured to the circular
rail A of the framing.
The projections on the jacks B for supporting and propelling the shuttles,
project towards the centre of the loom and their extreme ends are supported in
tricks or re esses in two rings G G³, arranged above and below the cloth line,
respectively, with an intervening space G for the passage of the cloth G*
The ends of the projections B are preferably formed of sufficient width to
bridge the space G, so that they may engage with the recesses in one ring before
they leave the recesses in the other, and are thus supported when crossing the
space or cloth-line.
By supporting the ends of the projections as described, they are effectively
prevented from being forced out of their relative positions, and from being caused
to strike or engage with each other as they cross by reason of the pressure they
exert on the inclines at the rear of the shuttle, the jacks B by having their
projections B supported may also be made of a finer gauge, and looms for the
production of fine gauged fabrics may be thus constructed.
The length of the projections B may also be increased so as to give more space
in the shuttle race and the cop K' of each shuttle K (as shown for example in
Figs. 1 and 2) may be placed diagonally across it in plan and may thus be longer
and of greater capacity in proportion to the length of the shule.
The ring G is secured to the bracket. F and the ring G to the inner part of the
double ring or annular casing D hereinbefore described.
The inner face of one of these rings G or GI also forms a cloth ring, the cloth
being carried upwards or as shown in the drawings, downwards, as preferred, the
position of the take up and work rollers being arranged accordingly.
The jucks B are enclosed and retained in the combs C by a cylindrical cam
ring the lower edge of which is mounted on anti-friction rollers J pivotted to the
bracket D, this cam ring I is provided with cam races in its inner face to receive
the nebs or projections B2 on the jacks B by means of which the latter are
operated.
The cam ring I (see Fig. 11) is divided into the same number of equal parts as
there are shuttles employed, (only one shuttle is shown in Figs. and 2, but
any desired number may be used) and the cam races in all the parts are
identical.
Each part of the cam ring is formed with two races which open out
from, and again return to a central race 1, the latter alternating with the two
former as shown, all round the cam ring.
In order to effect both the shuttle propelling and the shedding motion, the
jacks B (Fig. 1.) must be operated so that the extensions B', which are provided
with holes 1 for the passage of the warp threads in the interval between the
passage of the shuttles K, must move across the path of the said shuttles, every
alternate jack moving in the reverse direction to the remainder.
The movement of the jacks is ns follows, the projections B' of those jacks
immediately in the rear of each shuttle are successively moved from opposite sides
into the centre of the path of the shuttle race, and their edges acting on the double
inclined surfaces at the rear of the shuttle K propel it forward, the jacks than
remain in this position until sufficient length of weft thread is inserted when they
continue their movement until the projections B' rench the position on the reverse
side of the path of the shuttle, and thus perform the shedding motion for the
insertion of the weft thread of the next shuttle. At the same time the extreme
ends of the projections B' beat up the weft thread that has been inserted by the
shuttle in its passage.

page_text: The jacks B and their projections B it will also be seen, in addition to
performing the shuttle propelling, the shedding motion, and the beating up, also
form the shuttle race or shuttle supporting mechanism.
As the cam ring I (see Fig. 11) moves in the direction indicated by the arrow,
the nebs of the jacks move from both races 111 into the central race I', and in
order to divide them again as the cam ring continues its movement, so that alternate
jacks shall be operated by the upper and lower cam races respectively, as required,
I employ the following arrangement:-
-
Every alternate jack (see Fig. 7) is formed with a recess 13 above the neb B²
and a part cut away at B helow the neb B2. The remaining jacks (see Fig. 8)
are formed with a recess B below the neb B and a part cut away at B above the
neb B
The cam ring (see Fig. 11) is provided at that point where the central race ]
opens out into the two races with projecting cam surfaces or switches I³ 1
arranged above and below the central race I respectively.
These switches 13 1' engage with the recesses B in the jacks 13, the switches 13³
operating those jacks with a recess 13 above the neb B' and missing those with the
corresponding part B cut away, while the switches operate those jacks with a
recess B below the neb B2 and miss those with the corresponding part B cut
away.
It will thus be seen that by means of the switches 11 every alternate jack B
may be placed so that their nebs B³are_engaged by the upper race I', and the
remainder so that their nebs B2 are engaged by the lower race I. This order may
also be reversed every division of the cam as required for the shedding motion,
that is to say, those jacks operated by the upper cam race l' in one division or for
one shuttle, are operated by the lower cam race l' in the next division or for the
next shuttle by placing the switches 1 in the reverse position as shown for each
division.
It will be understood that as the nebs 132 are all the same distance from the
projections B in the whole of the jacks B, the projection of the cam race II¹ I²
(subject to the difference between the width of the cam race and the projections B¹)
represents the position of the projections B' of the jacks, and the spaces I between
the races represent the spaces between the projections 13' of alternate jacks,
occupied by the shuttles, and that as the cam moves forward, the shuttle space also
moves forward, the projections B' opening out in front and closing in on the rear
of the shuttles and moving them forward with the cam.
The length of the central race 1 also represents the space of time during which
the jacks with their projections B together with the warp thread which they
operate are retained in the centre of the path of the shuttle, after the insertion of
a weft thread, and prior to the completion of the shedding motion for the insertion
of the next weft thread and the beating up operation.
With this arrangement less tension than has hitherto been necessary is required
on the shuttle thread, as sufficient length of weft thread is laid in advance of the
completion of the shedding motion, to prevent the warp threads at the completion
of their shedding motion drawing off more weft thread than is required, and a
more perfect fabric may be produced.
In addition to the switches 13 the cam ring I is provided with fixed switches 1°
alternating above and below the central race 12 and corresponding pivotted
switches ; these switches come into operation when the cam ring is moved in the
reverse direction to that indicated by the arrow, and by adjusting the pivoited
switches 1 in the position shewn in dotted lines and turning the cam ring
this
reverse direction, the whole of the jacks B may be moved into the lower position
to admit of the shuttles being removed.
The switches I are mounted on pivots L (see Figs. 12 and 14) passing through
the body of the cam ring 1, and at the external end these pivots are provided with
arms L by means of which the switches may be adjusted.
The whole of the arms L' in the cam ring may be connected by flexible

page_text: connections 1,³ so that the whole of the switches may be simultaneously adjusted,
stops 13 may be also provided and springs L. the latter to hold the arms
the stops and retain the switches in the required position.
against
The flexible connections may be also provided with springs to maintain them in
tension.
The cam ring 1 (see Figs. 1, 2, 11 & 12) is provided with teeth M which engage
with a pinion M' secured to the drawing shaft M², by means of which the cam
ring is rotated.
The shaft M is provided with a driving pulley M³ and is journalled in a
bearing Mª secured to one of the vertical supports A' and a bearing (not shown)
carried by the brackets M' secured to the same vertical support,
The warp threads in passing from the warp beams N (see Figs. 4 and 5) to
the jacks are each carried through a hole in a take up juck 0 (see Figs. 1
and 2).
These jacks O are carried in tricks or recesses in a circular ring O' secured to
the brackets F, and are operated by a cam ring 0%, secured to or forming part of
the cam ring, and provided with a cam race to engage with the nebs Of of the
take up jacks.
The cam race Of (see Fig. 13) is arranged as shewn so as to sucressively operate
each take up jack in order to take up the sinck of the warp threads at the time
the warp threads are crossing and performing the shedding motion and also give
the requisite tension to the warp threads at different points necessary for the
production of a regular fabric.
The cluth Gas it is produced is carried inside the ring G³ and down to the two
inke 14 rollers PP at the lower part of the loom (see Figs. 4, 5, & 6),
The two take up rollers PP are carried in bearings secured to the adjacent.
vertical supports A'; motion is imparted to the roller P by a worm Pon a
vertical shaft Q, through the worm wheel and pinion 1 mounted on a pivot. På
which lutter is secured to the vertical support A¹, and a toothed wheel 1" secured
to the shaft of the roller 1.
The cloth G is delivered from the rollers P P on to the cloth beam R, carried
in elotted arms R' secured to or formed by extensions of the bearing 1”,
The vertical shaft Q is carried in a bearing Q' secured to the vertical support A
and a bearing Qin a bracket Qsecured to the circular rail A: (see Figs. 1
and 2). Rotary notion is imparted to the shaft by helical toothed wheels Q'Q'
secured respectively to the driving shaft M and the shaft Q.
On the shaft is secured a wheel S (shewn in plan in Fig. 3) provided with
cogs or projections S' on its periphery, this wheel rotates within an annular
wheel provided with corresponding projections S. The wheel S is mounted
loosely on the shaft Q and only receives motion therefrom when a solid object such
as a ball St is dropped into the space between the two wheels S S*.
Above the wheels S S' is a box or shoot T containing a ball S (shewn in
dotted lines in Fig. 3.) and this ball is pushed from the fox into the wheels by
a lever T¹ (part of which is within the box and is shown in dotted lines) operated
by a cord, chain, or the like T connected to the weft stop mechanism.
The annular wheel S2 is connected by a chain To the lower end of the
scopping and starting lever pivotted at T to the bracket M², and actuating the
sliding cone T for operating the frictional grip of the driving pulley M³.
When
the ball S is therefore moved out of the box T and falls between the wheels S S
motion being imparted to the latter, it winds up the chain T3 and reverses the
position of the lever T and thus releases the frictional grip of the pulley M³ and
stops the loom immediately.
Suitable weft stop mechanism is mounted on the ring G preferably at a point
where a space is left in the warp threads for the formation of the selvedges and a
part of it may have reciprocating motion transmitted to it conveniently by means
of a connecting rod W connected to the inner end of a lever W₁ (see Figures |
and 2) pivotted at W to the bracket. Q. This lever W' is operated by a cam W

page_text: on the shaft Q in peripheral contact with an antifriction roller w on the outer en
of the said lever.
So long as the weft thread remains intact the tension on the before named
flexible connection T is just sufficient to hold the lever T' in the position in which
it is shown in Figure 1 but as soon as the weft thread becomes broken the
reciprocating part of the weft stop mechanism is displaced and causes the
connection T to be tightened and the lever T' to eject the ball S from the box T
into the wheels S'S' and thereby as before explained effect the stoppage of the
loom.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what
claim is :-
―:
1. In a circular loom the combined shuttle supporting and propelling mechanism
consisting of sliding jacks reciprocating parallel to the axis of the loom, the
operative parts of which are distributed above and below the shuttle and propel it
by their action as they move across the path of the shuttle in reverse directions.
2. In a circular loom sliding jacks such as B B reciprocating parallel to the
axis of the loom the extensions B carrying and propelling the shuttle and
simultaneously effecting the shedding of the warp threads & the beating up of the
weft thread substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
3. In a circular loom the combination with jacks such as B B of rings such
as G G arranged above and below the cloth line provided with tricks or recesses
to receive and support the ends of the jack projections B substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In a circular loom, a cam race or groove, such as II, partly double, and
partly single, substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
5. In a circular loom a cam ring such as I for operating the jacks B provided
with a single race I for receiving the nebs B of the whole of the jacks, alternating
with two races 1' for receiving the nebs 13' of alternate jacks substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. In a circular loom the combination with a cam ring such as I provided with
a single race 1 alternating with two races of switches such as 13 1 for operating
the jacks B as they leave the single race I substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. In a circular loom the combination with a cam ring such as I provided with
a single race 1' alternating with two races and switches such as 13 of alternate
jacks each provided with a recess B to engage with the switches and the
remainder or intermediate jacks, each with a recess to engage with the switch I'
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
8. In a circular loom the combination with a cam race or groove such as I¹ I'
of adjustable or pivotted switches such as I, substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
9. In a circular loom the combination with a cam ring such as I provided with
a single race 12, alternating with two races I' of adjustable or pivotted switches
such as 1 for switching the whole of the jacks B into the lower position in order
to admit of the removal of the shuttles, substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
10. In a circular loom the combination with the jacks B of take up jacks such
as arranged in the angle of the warp threads operated by a cam ring such
as O for giving a positive take up of the slack of the warp threads substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
11. In a circular loom the combination with a wheel such as S S receiving a
constant motion of a wheel such as S' S' connected to the starting and stopping
mechanism and receiving motion only from the wheel S S' when a solid object

page_text: such as S' is inserted between the wheels substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
12. In a circular loom the combination with wheels such as S S' of a box or
shoot T for holding the solid object Sand lever T' for ojecting the object S',
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of April 1895
RUDOLPH WEISS.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.
RUDOLPH WEISS.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.