IMPROVEMENTS IN Looms FOR WEAVING
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Sowden and Reuben Calvert Stephenson,
of Bradford, in the County of York, Machine Makers, and John
Myers, of the same Place, Overlooker, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN Looms FOR WEAVING."
Sealed the 8th April 1870, and dated the 9th October 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Sowden, Reuben
Calvert Stephenson, and John Myers at the Office of the Com-
missioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 9th October
1869.
We, DAVID SOWDEN and REUBEN CALVERT STEPHENSON, of Bradford,
in the County of York, Machine Makers, and JOHN MYERS, of the same
Place, Overlooker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to means of rendering the reed loose or
capable of giving way if a shuttle stops in the shed, and yet fast when
the said reed arrives at the beat up or face of the woven fabric, and
consists in having the hand tree hinged by levers to the sword arms, the

page_text: reed being carried thereby and the bottom edge resting in a groove
provided in the lathe or batten, the back part of which groove is formed
at an incline, so that the reed can slide out when pressure is brought
against it. The levers to which the hand tree is hinged are formed so
as to pass upon or into contact with projections fixed on the loom end
frames which hold the healds in position at the beat up or on coming in
contact with the face of the fabric.
Secondly. The improvements relate to means of operating or lifting
the healds or heddles, and consists in hinging a series of levers to the
top rail of the loom, one end of each being connected by cords passing
over pullies to one of the healds respectively. Also a series of inverted
tappets or cams are suitably arranged and mounted upon a shaft carried
by a bracket fixed on the said top rail, which shaft receives rotary
motion by an upright shaft and bevil wheels from the crank shaft of the
loom. Weights are applied to the bottom parts of the healds to press
them down.
Thirdly. This Invention relates to rising box looms, especially those
to be used for weaving heavy goods, or to run at a great speed.
And the improvements consist in the application of an additional
crank to the end of the ordinary crank shaft with an arm to connect it
to the outer end of the boxes to produce steadiness of motion thereof.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said David Sowden, Reuben Calvert Stephenson, and
John Myers in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th April
1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, DAVID
SOWDEN and REUBEN CALVERT STEPHENSON, of Bradford, in the County
of York, Machine Makers, and JOHN MYERS, of the same Place, Over-
looker, send greeting.
2
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 3
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said David Sowden, Reuben Calvert Stephenson,

page_text: and John Myers, Her special licence, that we, the said David Sowden,
Reuben Calvert Stephenson, and John Myers, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said David Sowden,
Reuben Calvert Stephenson, and John Myers, our executors, adminis-
trators, 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 LOONS
FOR WEAVING," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
David Sowden, Reuben Calvert Stephenson, and John Myers, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or
their, or one of our or 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 samo 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 we, the said David Sowden, Reuben Calvert
Stephenson, and John Myers, do hereby declare the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
and two accompanying Sheets of Drawings (that is to say):
This Invention relates, firstly, to means of rendering the reed loose or
capable of giving way if a shuttle stops in the shed, and yet fast when
the said reed arrives at the beat up or face of the woven fabric, and
consists in having the hand tree hinged by levers to the sword arms, the
reed being carried thereby, and the bottom edge resting in a groove
provided in the lathe or batten, the back part of which groove is formed
at an incline, so that the reed can slide out when pressure is brought
against it. The levers to which the hand tree is hinged are formed so
as to pass upon or into contact with projections fixed on the loom end
frames, which hold the reeds in position at the beat up or on coming in
contact with the face of the fabric.
Secondly. The improvements relate to means of operating or lifting
the healds or heddles, and consists in hinging a series of levers to the top
rail of the loom, one end of each being connected by cords to one of the
healds respectively. Also a series of inverted tappets or cams are
suitably arranged and mounted upon a shaft or stud carried by a bracket

page_text: fixed on the said top rail, which shaft or the cams thereon receives rotary
motion by an upright shaft and bevel wheels from the crank shaft of the
loom. Weights are applied to the bottom parts of the healds to press or
draw them down.
Thirdly. This Invention relates to rising box looms, especially those
to be used for weaving heavy goods or to run at a great speed.
And the improvements consist in the application of an additional
crank to the end of the ordinary crank shaft, with arm to connect it to
the outer end of the boxes to produce steadiness of motion thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is an end elevation, and Fig. 2 a portion of the front elevation
of such parts of a loom as are necessary to shew the application of the
first and second parts of our improvements thereto.
The first part will be understood by reference to the following letters:
-A is the hand tree, which is hinged on levers B to the top of the
sword arms C, and D is the reed which is carried thereby, but with the
bottom edge resting in a groove E provided in the batten F, the back
part of which groove is formed at an incline to allow the rced to slide
casily out when pressure is brought against it, as in the case of the
shuttle stopping in the shed. The reed is rendered fast at the beat up
or on coming into contact with the face of the cloth or woven fabric by
the projection B¹ of the lever B being formed into an incline, which
passes upon another inclined projection G fixed on the loom end frame,
as will be seen by reference to the Drawings. In some cases instead of
the projecting end of the lever B' and the incline G, we have the back
or inclined part of the groove E hinged by a rod e to the batten with a
lever H fixed thereto, the end I of which is inclined so as to pass under
an inclined fixed projection J at the beat up or when coming to the
cloth, by which the reed is held fast at that time.
The second part of the Invention will be understood by referring to
the following letters on the same Figs. K are a series of cams fixed
together in suitable arrangement and mounted loose upon the stud L,
which is fixed in a bracket L' to the top rail M, and to these cams is
fixed a spur wheel N, which gears into a pinion O fixed on a boss
running loose on a stud P, which is also fixed to the top rail, and on this
boss is also a bevel wheel Q gearing into another bevel wheel Q¹ fixed
on the top of an upright shaft R carried by brackets R' and R' fastened

page_text: to the loom frame. On the bottom end of the said shaft is a bevel
wheel S gearing with another bevel wheel T fixed on the crank shaft by
means of which rotary motion is given to the cams. A series of levers U
are hinged on a stud fixed to the top rail, which levers are operated
respectively by the cams according to the arrangement thereof, and each
lever is connected respectively by a cord V passing under a pulley V+,
and over another pulley V to one of the healds or heddles W for lifting
them, and when not lifted by the cams the said healds or beddles are
pressed or drawn down by ordinary weights or springs. These cams
may be made of different forms according to requirement for lifting
or lowering the healds or heddles, and may also be driven at various
speeds relatively to the speed of the crank shaft, according to the pro-
portions of the gearing used for the purpose, which can be changed to
suit circumstances, as will be readily understood.
The third part of the said Invention is shewn at Figs. 3 and 4, the
former being an end elevation of a portion of a rising box loom, and tho
latter a portion of the plan view of the same end. A is the loom end
frame; B, the lathe or lay carrying a series of rising boxes C, which
may be operated by any of the usual means; D is the crank shaft, and E
is one of the arms which give motion to the lathe or lay in the usual
manner.
In looms of this class (especially such as shewn in this illustration)
where there are six rising boxes which are of considerable weight the
oscillation of the lay produces a vibratory motion upon the said boxes
which is objectionable, preventing the free passage of the shuttle in and
out. To remedy which we extend the crank shaft, and support the
overhanging end by a stay or bracket G fixed to the loom end, and we
fix an additional crank or stud plate H on the crank shaft and to the
balance wheel I, in which is a slot formed to enable us to adjust or set
the stud J to the correct position of the ordinary crank; this crank or
stud J is connected by a rod K to a joint bracket L fixed on the back of
the shuttle box frame M by means of which the vibratory motion is
prevented or steadiness of motion in the boxes is effected.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and shewn
by Drawings how the same is or may be performed or carried into
practical operation, we would have it understood that what we claim as
of our Invention is,―

page_text: Firstly. The method of hinging or jointing the hand tree to the sword
arms to allow the reed to slip out from the batten when a shuttle stops
in the shed.
Secondly. The application and use of a series of suitably formed
inverted tappets or cams, and a series of levers for them to act upon 5
for working healds or heddles.
Thirdly. The application and use of an additional crank to the
ordinary crank shaft connected to the outer end of the box frame for
producing steadiness of motion in rising box looms.
In witness whereof, I, the said Reuben Calvert Stephenson, for 1
and on behalf of myself and the said David Sowden and John
Myers, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day
of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy.
REUBEN CALVERT STEPHENSON. (L.s.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the within-named Reuben Calvert
Stephenson, in the presence of
WN. TASKER,
Patent Agent,
Halifax & Bradford.