Improvements in Warp Stop Motions of Looms for Weaving.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 23rd Apr., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Warp Stop Motions of Looms for Weaving.
I, SAMUEL WALKEY GILLETT, of the Firm of H. B. Barlow and Gillett, of 17, St.
Ann's Square, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Registered Patent Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention, which has been communicated to me by
John Franklin Dustin, Loom Fixer, and the Parkhill Manufacturing Company,
Cloth Manufacturers (a Corporation organized under the laws of the State of
Massachusetts), both of Circle Street, Fitchburg, in the County of Worcester, State of
Massachusetts, and United States of America, 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 improved constructions for automatically stopping a loom
whenever a warp thread is broken, and the especial object of the invention is to
provide novel, simple and efficient warp stop motions, which can be readily and
cheaply applied to existing or new plain or fancy looms.
A further object of this invention is to construct the parts or castings employed in
a warp stop motion so that the same pieces can be applied either to a loom which is
driven or geared at the right hand side thereof, or to a loom which is driven at the
left hand side thereof.
To these ends, this invention consists of the parts and combinations of parts, as
hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of
this Specification.
In the accompanying four sheets of drawings,
Sheets 1 and 2 illustrate the form of warp stop motion preferably employed in plain
looms having but two harness-frames, and
Sheets 3 and 4 illustrate a somewhat modified form of warp stop motion, which
is preferably employed in connection with fancy looms having more than two
harness-frames.
Referring to the specific figures of the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a sectional view illustrating sufficient parts of a plain loom to show the
application of this invention thereto.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of the stopping devices.
Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views illustrating the operation of the oscillating feelers
which may be employed.
Figs. 5 to 8 are detail views illustrating the pieces employed in mounting an
oscillating feeler on the beddle-frame.
Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view of sufficient parts of a fancy loom employing
four harness frames to illustrate the preferred manner in which this invention can be
applied thereto.
Figs. 10 and 11 are perspective views illustrating sections of a toothed feeler, and
of a toothed heddle-rod in which the same is mounted respectively.
Fig. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the form of heddle which is preferably
employed.

page_text: Fig. 13 is a front view illustrating the normal position of the parts, and
Fig. 14 is a similar view illustrating the position assumed by the parts on the failure
or breaking of a warp thread.
A warp stop motion for looms constructed according to this invention is controlled
by the position of the heddles, which are movably mounted on their heddle-rods.
The heddles employed have central, thread-receiving eyes and slots or loops near
their opposite ends for engaging.the heddle-rods of the heddle-frames.
These slots are considerably longer than the thickness of the heddle-rods.
By mounting the heddles loosely on the heddle-rods in this manner, when a
heddle-frame is moved down by the harness motion of the loom, the tension of
the warp threads will normally raise the heddles to their highest position on their
heddle-rods.
Whenever, during the operation of the loom, a warp-thread is broken or becomes
unduly slackened, the heddle of such thread will be left free to remain in its lowest
position in the heddle-frame.
A detector or feeler is mounted on each of the heddle-frames in position to engage
. and be controlled by a heddle when in an abnormally low position.
In applying this invention to plain looms, i.e., looms having but two heddle-
frames, the feelers may be pivotally mounted to oscillate transversely with respect to
said heddle-frames.
In fancy looms employing a larger number of heddle-frames, the heddle-frames
have to be set closely together, and it is not ordinarily feasible to employ feelers
which vibrate transversely with respect to said heddle-frames.
In applying this invention, therefore, to fancy looms, the modified form of
construction which is illustrated on Sheets 3 and 4 of the drawings, in which
construction the feelers are reciprocated longitudinally with respect to the frames, is
preferably employed.
The feelers, both in the plain warp stop motion and in the fancy warp stop motion,
are operated by the harness motion through what may be termed "resistance-
interposing connections," that is to say, the resistance-interposing connection has a
stiffness or degree of resistance which is sufficient to effectuate the actuation of the
feeler during the normal operation of a loom.
Whenever it happens, however, that a feeler is locked or prevented from moving by
encountering a heddle in an abnormal position, then the resistance-interposing
connection is caused to yield so as to bring the stopping devices of the loom into
operation.
The resistance-interposing connection in the plain warp stop motion illustrated in
Sheets 1 and 2 of the drawings consists of an over-balanced rock-shaft having wires
or rods extending therefrom, down through the arms of the feelers.
The wires or rods are provided at their lower ends with abutments or stops.
The weight of the operating arm of each oscillating feeler is sufficient to normally
hold the same in a retracted position, and the weight of the parts mounted on the
rock-shaft before referred to is sufficient to balance the rock-shaft so that the resistance
to be overcome in turning the same is greater than the resistance to be overcome in
moving or tipping a feeler.
By means of this construction, when a heddle-frame is moved down by the harness
motion, the resistance-interposing connection or over-balanced rock-shaft will hold
the feeler so that the downward motion will tip or move the feeler from its normal
position.
Whenever a feeler strikes a heddle in an abnormal position, the motion of the feeler
will be checked, and the continued downward motion of the heddle-frame will then
actuate the resistance-interposing connection or the over-balanced rock-shaft to bring
the stopping devices of the loom into action.
The resistance-interposing connection in the fancy stop motion illustrated in
Sheets 3 and 4 of the drawings comprises a spring-supported cam-plate located in
position to engage the ends of the reciprocating feelers.
When a heddle-frame moves down in the normal operation of a loom provided with

page_text: this fancy stopping motion, the resistance-interposing. connection or spring cam-plate
will normally shift or move the feelers.
Whenever a feeler is locked, .or its motion stopped by engaging a heddle in an
abnormal position, the continued downward motion of the heddle-frame will then tip
the spring-supported camn-plate, and bring the stopping devices of the loom into
action.
Referring to the specific form of plain warp stop motion illustrated in the first two
sheets of drawings, A designates the side frame of a loom, B the breast-beam thereof, C
the whip-roll, D the vibrating lay, and E and F the heddle-frames which are alternately
moved up and down by a harness motion.
These parts may be of any of the ordinary or approved constructions, and need not
be herein described at length.
The heddles h, illustrated in Fig. 1, are preferably formed of sheet-metal, and have
central, thread-receiving eyes and end slots, which are somewhat longer than the
depth of the heddle-rods, so that said heddles are capable of movement in the heddle-
frames.
Pivotally mounted on the lower part of the heddle-frames E and F are transversely
oscillating feelers 10.
The feelers 10 are notched or serrated along their operative edges, as shown in
Fig. 2, and co-operate with stationary, notched cross-pieces or combs 11.
The object of serrating or notching the edges of the cross-pieces 11 and feelers 10
is to prevent a heddle from crippling or twisting when engaged by a feeler.
The serrations in the feeler 10 are somewhat deeper than those in the combs 11.
For example, if the notches in the combs 11 are an eighth of an inch deep, those
in the feelers may be a fourth of an inch deep, the serrations in both combs and
feelers being the same in number.
The construction for supporting and mounting these transverse, oscillating feelers.
on the heddle-frames is most clearly illustrated in the second sheet of drawings.
In this description, the construction at the bottom of one heddle-frame will alone.
be described, it being understood that the same applies (except for the differences.
hereinafter pointed out) to the other heddle-frame.
Secured to the bottom of the heddle-frame E are two brackets 12 mounted in
which is a rod 13.
Loosely mounted on the right-hand end of the rod 13, or at the same side as the
stopping mechanism of the loom, and held in place on said rod by a cotter-pin, is
an operating arm 15 having three projecting fingers 150.
Journalled upon the rod 13 are two arins 14 carrying the feeler 10 before
referred to."
The two upper fingers 150 of the operating arm 15 project over the extending
portion of the bracket 12, and engage the right-hand arm 14, the lower finger 150
acting as a stop by striking against the under side of the bracket 12, limiting
the downward movement of the operating arm 15.
The resistance-interposing connection between the feelers 10 and the stopping
devices of the loom may, and preferably does in this form of the device, consist of
an over-balanced rock-shaft, which is mounted or supported on the side-frame of the
loom in any desired manner.
In the construction illustrated, 16 designates an arm or bracket, which may be
fastened in place by one of the same bolts employed to secure the arch of the loom to
the side-frames.
Bolted to the upper end of the bracket 16 is a casting 17 having projecting end
arms.
Journalled in the projecting end arms of the casting 17 is an over-balanced rock-
shaft 18.
Adjustably mounted on the rock-shaft 18 are inwardly extending arms 19 having
holes therein for receiving downwardly extending rods or wires 20.
The downwardly. extending rods or wires 20 pass through conical holes in the
operating arms 15 of the feelers 10.

page_text: Adjustably secured substantially in the middle of the rock-shaft 18 is an outwardly
extending arm 21, which is connected to a multiplying lever or arm 22 journalled upon
a stud projecting from the casting 17.
The multiplying lever or arm 22 is connected by a downwardly extending wire or
rod 23 to a throw-off slide 24, which is mounted in bearing-pieces .25 and 26 secured
to the loom side, as shown in Fig. 1.
The parts for supporting the feeler on the heddle-frame F are substantially the
same as those hereinbefore referred to, except that the operating lever 15 is arranged
to project towards the rear instead of towards the front of the loom..
One especial advantage in constructing the parts of this warp stop motion for looms,
as herein illustrated, is that the same parts or pieces may be interchangeably applied
either to the right-hand or left-hand side of the loom..
When it is desired to apply the stop motion to the left side of the loom instead of
to the right side, as herein shown, the piece 17 is connected to the bracket 16 by a
bolt passing through the hole 170 shown in Fig. 2, so that, when the bracket 17 is
secured in place inside of the left-hand side-frame, the rock-shaft 18 will be located
in proper position.
The operating lever 15 of the feeler of the heddle-frame E may be brought to the
left-hand end of the heddle-frame F, and, in the same manner, the operating lever 15
employed at the right-hand end of the heddle-frame F may be employed at the
left-hand end of the heddle-frame E, the rods 13 being made of a length as much
longer than the distance between the brackets 12 as the thickness of an operating
lever 15, so that the rods 13 can be pushed to the left, and the levers 15 placed
thereon, as indicated in Fig. 8.
In other words, the operating levers 15 illustrated in connection with the heddle-
frames E and F respectively are of right and left patterns, and a pair of such right
and left operating levers are required without reference to the fact that the loom is
driven at the right or left-hand side thereof.
In the normal operation of a warp stop motion, as thus constructed, the feelers 10
are normally retracted by the weight of their operating levers 15.
When a heddle-frame is moved down by the harness motion of the loom, the
-operating lever 15 will engage the stop or enlargement at the lower end of a
downwardly extending rod or wire 20, which passes therethrough, and the end of the
operating lever 15 will be held or stopped, so that the feeler.10 will be oscillated or
turned, as shown in Fig. 4, the weight of the arms 21 and 22 and the connections
therefrom being sufficient to over-balance the rock-shaft 18, and hold the same from
turning during the normal operation of the loom.
If, however, a warp-thread should break or become slackened on the downward
movement of a heddle-frame, there would be nothing to support the heddle through
which this particular thread passes, and, therefore, the lower end of the heddle would
stand between the comb and feeler 10.
When a heddle has assumed this abnormal position, it will prevent the free passage
of the feeler below the heddles, and the downward motion of the heddle-frame will
then be transmitted through one of the rods or wires 20 to turn the resistance-
-interposing connection or over-balanced rock-shaft 18, thus by means of the wire 23
lifting the throw-off slide 24, so that a finger 27 on the vibrating lay will engage a
notch therein on the back stroke of the lay, thus shifting the slide 24 to operate the
knock-off lever of the loom in the ordinary manner.
One especial advantage in the use of a warp stop motion, as thus constructed,
resides in the fact that the heddle-frames do not need to be accurately guided in the
loom, but may have a considerable forward and back swing therein, without interfering
with the operation of the stopping device.
The heddle-frames may also be readily removed from the loom by simply
detaching the operating lever 15. therefrom.
In order to prevent some of the heddles froin dropping down into position to
be engaged by the feeler 10, when the warp threads have simply become slightly

page_text: slackened without actually breaking, a supporting-frame-the cross-rod of which
has a fixed height-may be used, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4.
As shown in these figures, 30 designates a supporting-frame, the cross-rod of
which is of the right height to be engaged by the warp threads when the shed is
open.
The frame 30 rests upon supporting-plates as 31, or its lower end may simply
rest upon the floor or other convenient support to maintain the cross-rod at a constant
height, and, as the side-legs of the supporting-frame 30 are passed through eyes or
guides on the heddle-frames, the supporting-frame 30 will be free to move laterally
with the heddle-frames, and will not cramp them, as would be the case if the
supporting-frames were secured in fixed positions.
Referring to Sheets 3 and 4 of the drawings, which illustrate the form of warp stop
motion constructed according to this invention preferably employed in connection
with fancy looms, G designates the side-frame of the loom, H the breast-beam thereof,
I the whip-roll and J the vibrating lay.
These parts may be of the ordinary constructions employed in fancy looms, and need
not be herein described at length.
The heddle-frames which are alternately moved up and down by any of the ordinary
harness motions, are designated by the reference letter K, and, in the present instance,
a construction employing four heddle-frames has been illustrated, but it is to be under-
stood that this form of warp stop motion can be applied to looms employing a lesser or
greater number of heddle-frames, as desired.
As shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the top and bottom bars 40 of the heddle-frames are
preferably made of wood, and the end bars 41 are preferably formed of malleable iron
castings or other metal, and have bosses or guides 42 for receiving the movable feelers
hereinafter described.
The lower heddle-rods 43 of the.heddle-frames are of the ordinary construction, and
the upper heddle-rods are preferably formed by plates 44 and 45 having ratchet-teeth
along their upper edges, the plates 44 and 45 being separated by strips 46.
Movably mounted between the plates 44 and 45 of the upper heddle-rods are
feelers 47 having ratchet-teeth along their upper edges, facing in the opposite direction
to the teeth formed in the upper edges of the plates 44 and 45.
To properly guide the heddle-frames and prevent the same from swaying back
and forth in the loom, guides are preferably provided for engaging the end bars
thereof.
As illustrated, the bracket-pieces 52 are bolted to the loom-sides, and adjustably
Inounted on the brackets 52 are guiding pieces 53.
Secured on one of the guiding-pieces 53 is a sheet-metal cam-plate 64 for throw-
ing the feelers 47 in one direction when the heddle-frames are moved up.
A second cam-plate for throwing the feelers in the opposite direction when the
heddle-frames are moved down is mounted at the opposite side of the loom, and con-
stitutes a resistance-interposing connection, which will yield to bring the stopping
devices into action when a feeler is locked in position for engaging a heddle which has
been allowed to drop down by the failure of a warp thread.
A bracket 54 is bolted to the loom-side, and adjustably mounted on the bracket 54
is a yoke 55, journalled in which is a rock-shaft carrying the cam-plate 61.
Bolted at one side of the cam-plate 61 is a finger 62 for engaging a lever 56
pivoted in the yoke-piece 55.
17
The rear end of the lever 56 is connected by a downwardly extending rod or wire 60
to the stopping slide or link 59, which is mounted in guiding-pieces 57 and 58, as
shown in Fig. 9, and is normally located below the path of the vibrating lay, but can
be moved up to bring a notch or lug therein in position to co-operate with a stop on
the vibrating lay.
At its front end, the stopping slide or link 59 is provided with an up-turned finger,
ocated in position to engage the ordinary knock-off lever of the loom, which is
usually pivoted on the rear side of the breast-beam to be operated by the ordinary
veft stop motion, and which need not be illustrated herein.

page_text: Also, secured to the rear end of the lever 56; and connected to any suitable part of
the loom is a spring 66, which normally raises the front end of the lever 56, and holds
the cam-plate: in position to move the feelers 47 to the right as the heddle-frames
move down, as illustrated in Fig. 13.
-
Threaded into the upper part of the cam-plate 61 is a set-screw 63, which can be
adjusted to regulate the normal position of the cam-plate 61 so as to impart a more
or less motion to the feelers 47, as desired..
By means of this construction, the feelers 47 will be reciprocated or moved in
opposite directions by the cam-plates 64 and 61 during the normal operation of the
looin.
When a heddle assumes an abnormal position by reason of the failure of its warp-
thread, the feeler 47 may be ratcheted or moved to the left, as illustrated in Fig. 13,
but it is locked against motion to the right, and, on the next downward motion of its
heddle-frame, it will overcome the resistance-interposing connection or spring-sup-
ported cam-plate 61, turning the same to the position illustrated in Fig. 14, thus
raising the stopping slide 59 so that, at the next motion of the vibrating lay, the
stopping slide will be shifted by the lay to operate the. knock-off lever, and stop the
loom in the ordinary manner.
In the present instance, this fancy stop motion is illustrated as applied to a loom
driven at the left-hand side thereof, but in order to employ the parts constituting
this stop-motion in a. loom. which is driven at the right-hand side thereof, it is simply
necessary to secure the stationary cam-plate to the other guiding-piece 53 to turn the
heddles-frames around so as to present the opposite sides towards the front, and to
change the relative adjustment of the brackets 54 and yoke 55, so that, when these
parts are secured to the opposite side-frame of the loom, the cam-plate will be
presented in proper position to co-operate with the feelers.
The application of this fancy stop motion to a loom does not prevent the ready
removal of the heddle-frames from the loom for the purpose of drawing in fresh
warps, and one especial advantage in the use of this warp stop motion resides in the
fact that the same adds little or nothing to the thickness or weight of the heddle-
frames, and, as it does not require the use of attachments which extend laterally from
the heddle-frames, this fancy stop motion is especially applicable to those looms
employing a comparatively large number of heddle-frames, which are necessarily set
close together, and which, from the nature of loom construction, cannot be provided
with lateral extensions which would, in any way, interfere with the free up and down
movement of the heddle-frames.
In connection with this fancy warp stop motion, the composite heddle illustrated
in Fig. 12 is preferably employed.
As shown in this figure, each of the composite heddles comprises metallic end
plates 48 and wire body or central portions 50, having thread-receiving eyes 51 in a
plane at right angles to the end plates 48.
In practice, the wire body portions 50 are preferably formed of two strands of wire,
and the wire strands can be laced through the metallic end plates, or may be brazed
or secured thereto in any of the ordinary manners.
In connection with this fancy warp stop motion, wire heddles of substantially the
ordinary construction, except that the end loops.thereof. have been somewhat elongated
to allow the heddles to be movably mounted, have, in some instances, been employed,
and, in other instances, heddles formed of flat metallic strips have been employed;
but it has been found in practice that the wire heddles are somewhat objectionable,
as the elongated end-loops or eyes are apt to permit the heddles crossing each other
that is to say, the end eye of one heddle in some instances has been crowded through
the eye of the next adjacent heddle.
4
The flat metallic heddles have also been found undesirable, as the thread-receiving
eye therein and the end slots are necessarily in the saine plane, which causes each
warp thread to be deflected as it passes through its heddle."
..Composite beddles of the form illustrated in Fig. 12, have been found, however,
to

page_text: overcome these objections, as they are not liable to cross, and do not require a deflec-
tion of the warp threads in passing the thread-receiving eyes thereof.
In order to prevent some of the heddles from dropping down in position to lock the
feelers 47 when the warp threads have simply become slightly slackened, without
actual breaking, cross-rods 65 are usually provided, which are supported in sockets on
the guiding-pieces 53 in such position that, when a heddle-frame moves down, they
will engage the abnormally slack warp threads, and, as a heddle-frame continues to
move down, will raise the heddles corresponding thereto up out of the way of the
feelers 47.
It is obvious, of course, that this fancy warp stop motion may be applied, if
desired, to plain looms, and it is also obvious that changes may be made either in the
plain stop motion or the fancy stop motion so as to adapt said motions to various
forms and designs of loom.
The essential feature of novelty in each of these warp stop motions resides in
mounting the heddles loosely in the heddle-frames, providing each heddle-frame with
a feeler, and in employing a resistance-interposing connection from the feeler to the
stopping devices, which will normally actuate the feeler, but which will yield and
bring the stopping devices of the loom into action whenever a feeler strikes a heddle
in an abnormal position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improvements in warp stop motions, substantially as herein described, and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a loom, the combination of movably mounted heddles, a feeler and a resist-
ance-interposing connection mounted to have sufficient stiffness or resistance to
actuate the feeler during the normal operation of the loom, and arranged to be over-
come by the harness motion and cause the loom to stop if the feeler strikes a heddle
in an abnormal position, substantially as described.
3. The plain warp stop motion, as herein described and illustrated in Sheets 1 and 2
of the drawings.
4. The fancy warp stop motion, as herein described and illustrated in Sheets 3 and 4
of the drawings.
5. As an article of manufacture, a composite heddle substantially of the form herein
shown and described.
Dated this 5th day of March 1898.
H. B. BARLOW & GILLETT,
Agents for Applicant, 17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.