IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William White, of Earl Shilton, in the County of
Leicester, Manager, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
3
Sealed the 10th November 1863, and dated the 16th May 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William White at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th May 1863.
I, WILLIAM WHITE, of Earl Shilton, in the County of Leicester, Manager,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED FABRICS," to be as
follows:-
My improvements relate to the circular or roundabout machine and to the
straight machine.
The first part of my Invention relates to the circular or roundabout machine
of that kind in which the needle bits are moved up and down vertically in saw-
gates formed in an upper and a lower ring. These rings are usually made of
brass, but I prefer to make the upper ring of wrought iron, fitted rather tightly
on the inner cylinder, but capable of sliding vertically upon it, and of being
at the same time carried round with it without sliding upon it horizontally.
This ring I raise or depress by a screw thread turned inside the inner cylinder,
and fitted with a nut, so that as the nut is raised or depressed the upper
ring carrying the needle bits will be likewise raised or depressed, by which
means I run on the whole width or widths of work without moving the

page_text: machine. The lower ring has sawgates in it for the lower ends of the needle
bits to slide in, and is surrounded by an outer ring or case as usual, but the
inclines are cut away on the lower edge, so that as one or more of the needle
bits is or are pressed down by hand (or by a lever moved by the machine or
by hand), the needle bits will pass under the inclines, and consequently the
needles will not be raised above the upper ring until they are again raised as
required. Nearly level with the upper ring is a horizontal ring, which
turns with the head or machine. On the top of this ring are sawgates
radiating towards the centre, in which slide holding-down bits, which prevent
the work rising as the needles rise; the bits are caused to slide to and fro, as
required, by a horizontal incline or inclines. Above the horizontal ring is
another ring, which slides above the horizontal ring as it moves round, and
there is a similar ring underneath, which also moves with it. These two last
rings have one or more thread carriers attached to them; and on the outside
of the rings is a double-ended clawker, one end of which holds fast one of the
rings, while the other end allows the other ring to move with the holding-
down ring, first one ring of thread carriers operating, and then the other alter-
nately, the clawker being moved by the movement of the head or machine.
I sometimes use more than two carrier rings, but they are operated in a
similar manner. Below the lower needle bit ring is a toothed wheel, to which
I communicate motion by a rack having a sliding motion imparted to it by a
revolving crank, on the axle of which is a grooved wheel, round which is a
cord also passing round a roller or rollers bearing upon the thread cop or
cops, so that as a slackness of the thread takes place, the slackness is taken up
by the cop which winds it up. Thus, by the reciprocating motion of the head
or machine I get two or more breadths of work on each head or machine,
each breadth having two perfect selvages, and each breadth being widened as
required, the needles in the needle bits being latchet or tumbler needles. When
I use the bearded or common needle, I employ a presser or pressers in either
of the usual ways; and when I require to vary the throw of the crank which
moves the rack, I use a slotted arm or wheel in which the axle of the crank
slides, the axle being held up to the surface of an excentric or cam by a spring
moved by one or more clawkers and ratchets, or I employ equivalent apparatus
for that purpose.
To a main framing I attach one or more heads or
machines, as above described, and drive them by one or more racks, as above
described.
The second part of my Invention relates to the straight machine. The crank
moves a bar, which has as many drivers attached to it as there are divisions
in the machine; each driver may be thrown out of gear from the bar it drives,

page_text: so that one or more breadths of work may be made at the same time, as one
or more of the divisions in the machine is or are at rest, or the whole may be
moved together, each bar moved by a driver causing the whole of the move-
ments requisite to produce a looped fabric.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William White in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th November 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
WHITE, of Earl Shilton, in the County of Leicester, Manager, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William White, Her special licence that I, the said William
White, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said William White, my executors, 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED
FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
White, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their bands 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 White, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My improvements relate to the circular or roundabout machine, and also
to the straight machine.
The first part of my Invention relates to the circular or roundabout

page_text: machine of that kind in which the needle bits are moved up and down
vertically in sawgates formed in an upper and a lower ring. These rings
are usually made of brass, but I prefer to make the upper ring of wrought
iron, fitted rather tightly on the inner cylinder, but so as to be capable
of sliding vertically upon it, and of being at the same time carried round with
it without sliding upon it horizontally. I raise or depress this ring by a screw
thread turned inside the inner cylinder, and fitted with a nut, so that as
the nut is raised or depressed the upper ring carrying the needle bits will be
likewise raised or depressed, by which means I run on the whole width or
widths of work without moving the machine. The lower ring has sawgates in
it for the lower ends of the needle bits to slide in, and is surrounded by an
outer ring or case as usual, but the inclines are cut away on the lower edge,
so that as one or more of the needle bits is or are pressed down by hand or
by a lever (moved by the machine or by hand), the needle bits will pass under
the inclines, and consequently the needles will not be raised above the upper
ring until they are again raised as required. Nearly level with the upper
ring is a horizontal ring, which turns with the head or machine. On the top
of this ring are sawgates radiating towards the centre in which slide holding-
down bits, which prevent the work from rising as the needles rise; the bits are
caused to slide to and fro as required by a horizontal incline or inclines.
Above the horizontal ring is another ring, which slides above the horizontal
ring as it moves round, and there is a similar ring underneath, which also
moves with it. These two last rings have one or more thread carriers attached
to them; and on the outside of the rings is a double-ended clawker, one end of
which holds fast one of the rings, while the other end allows the other ring to
move with the holding-down ring, first one ring of the thread carriers operating,
and then the other, and so on alternately; the clawker is moved by the move-
ment of the head or machine. I sometimes use more than two carrier rings,
which I operate in a similar manner. Below the lower needle bit ring is a
toothed wheel, to which I communicate motion by a rack, having a sliding
motion imparted to it by a revolving crank, on the axle of which is a grooved
wheel, round which is a cord also passing around a roller or rollers, bearing
upon the thread cop or cops, so that as a slackness of a thread takes place
the slackness is taken up by the cop, which winds it up. Thus, by the reci-
procating motion of the head or machine I get one, two, or more breadths of
work on each head or machine, each breadth having two perfect selvages, and
each breadth being widened as required. The needles in the needle bits are
preferably latchet or tumbler needles, but I can use the bearded or common
needle, in which case I employ a presser or pressers in either of the usual

page_text: ways; and when I require to vary the throw of the crank which moves the
rack, I use a slotted arm or wheel, in which the axle of the crank slides; the
axle is held up to the surface of an excentric or cam by a spring, moved by
one or more clawkers and ratchets, or I can employ equivalent apparatus for
that purpose.
I attach one or more heads or machines, constructed as above
described, to a main framing, and I drive them by one or more racks, as above
described>
The second part of my Invention relates to the straight machine. Here the
crank moves a bar, which has as many drivers attached to it as there are
divisions in the machine; each driver may be thrown out of gear from the bar
which it drives, so that one or more breadths of work may be made at the
same time as one or more of the divisions in the machine is or are at rest, or
the whole may be moved together, each bar moved by a driver causing the
whole of the movements requisite to produce a looped fabric.
Having thus set forth the nature of my said Invention, I now proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same with reference to the
accompanying Drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a plan of a head or frame arranged according to one
modification of my improvements. Figure 2, Sheet 2, is a front side view,
and Figure. 3, Sheet 3, a sectional view of the same. Figure 4, Sheet 4,
represents in side view the inside of portions of the cover plates, shewing the
inclines which give the requisite movements to the needle bits attached.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of a cover plate, with an incline attached; this
Figure also shews a needle bit lying in the two sleys attached to their cylinder,
and above the screw which regulates the inclines is shown a portion of the
ring which carries the holding-down bits. Figure 5 represents a sinker
which I sometimes use instead of the holding-down bits. Figures 6, 8, and
10 represent respectively plans of three rings hereafter referred to. Figures
7 and 9 are side views of the rings shewn at Figures 6 and 8. Figure 11
represents a set of springs secured to a brass plate attached to the ring shewn
in Figure 10, and Figure 12 is a side view of a ring having inclines cut on
its lower edge, and herein-after referred to.
The parts which correspond on
each Sheet are lettered alike.
The first part of my Invention relates to the circular machine of the
description in which the needle bits are moved up and down vertically.
A is a platform or framing supporting the head or frame. To this plat-
form A are attached standards B at both ends, and also intermediately if the

page_text: length of the frame require it. The framing may support as many heads as
required. To the framing or standards are attached bearings for a main
driving shaft and the bearings also for other parts, as required, in each frame
or head; each frame or head consists of the following parts, namely, of a
flanged cylinder C, firmly secured to the framing and bored out to receive a
cylinder D, which is turned down on the outside of its upper end to receive a
wrought-iron ring D', fitted rather tightly upon the cylinder, but capable of
sliding upon it vertically, and of being at the same time carried round with it,
without sliding upon it, horizontally. I raise and depress this ring by a screw
thread turned inside the cylinder D, and fitted with a nut, so that as the nut
is raised or depressed the ring D' will likewise be raised or depressed, by
which means I run on the whole width or widths of work without moving
the head. The ring D' has a number of sawgates cut in it, in which slide
needle bits F, in which the needles are secured; the needles slide in sawgates
in a brass ring E, lying below the ring D', and secured to the cylinder D; or
instead of raising and depressing the ring D', as above described, I attach it
securely by screws to the cylinder D, as shewn in section at Figure 3. Dis
a bolt which takes into a notch, as shown, whereby I prevent this cylinder D
from being moved when the head is thrown out of gear with the main driving
shaft, and raise and depress all the needle bits and needles by means herein-
after described. Surrounding the ring E is an outer ring or case G, cut in
two parts, and having a flange or thin ring II secured to its upper edge, which
prevents the withdrawal of the needle bits and needles upwards, a bit being
cut out for a needle to be taken out. The ring H stands somewhat higher
than the case G at the parts opposite the parts where the lower inclines are
placed to enable the needle bits and needles to be raised by such inclines to
the required height; the two parts forming the outer case G are secured to
the cylinder D by screws placed intermediately between the sets of sleys
formed in the ring E. To the inside of the case G, I attach the inclines I, 1;
the upper inclines are secured by screws passing through slots in the case,
and they are raised or depressed to the required extent by means of thumb-
screws K; each such screw passes through a stud L secured in the upper
end of the case G, the lower ends of the screws K screw into studs L' secured
at the back of the upper inclines I; the studs L' are passed through slots in
the case G. When the upper inclines have been adjusted to the required
height they are secured in that position by the other screws being screwed up
tight; there are as many lower inclines as there are breadths of work being
made on each head. The lower inclines I are screwed fast to the inside of
the case G, and are cut away on the lower edge thereof, so that as one or

page_text: more of the needle bits is or are pressed down by hand or by a lever moved
by the machine or by hand, the needle bits and needles will pass under the
inclines, and consequently the needles will not be raised above the upper
ring D until they are again raised as required. The case G is securely
attached to four brackets G¹, secured to the main framing A. Two brackets
are secured to the inside of the cylinder D₁ and project outwards over the
ring D
; a horizontal ring M is secured to the outer end of these brackets
and turns with the frame. In the top of this ring are cut sawgates radiating
towards the centre, in which sawgates slide holding-down bits M¹; the ring is
provided with a plate on the top side thereof, which holds the bits M' down;
this ring is surrounded with a fillet on the outer edge, which prevents the bits
from sliding outwards. These bits, which prevent the work from rising as
the needles rise, are caused to slide to and fro, as required, by horizontal
inclines N, N, secured on the lower side of a plate N¹; this plate is capable
of adjustment on the top of a bracket N2, and is supported by two of the
brackets G, there being similar inclines, plate, and bracket supported by the
other two brackets G' on the other side of the head.
On the top of each
for the purpose of
of the plates N¹ is a thin plate N³, Figure 3, which is
preventing the latchets or tumblers of the needles from flying up as they
are successively forced down by the work as the needles rise; above the thin
plate is placed a thread guide N', both the plates and guides being secured
to the plates N by screws as shewn. To the brackets carrying the horizontal
ring M are secured other brackets, which support a flanged ring O, Figure 3,
standing somewhat higher than the ring M. O¹ and O2 are two other rings
which slide upon the ring O; the ring O' is on the inside, and the ring 02
on the outside thereof; each of these rings O' and 0 has as many thread
carriers attached to it as there are breadths of work being made on the
machine. In this instance there are two carriers 0 secured to the inner
ring O', and two other carriers O* secured to the outer ring 0%. On the out-
side of the rings is a double-ended clawker O³, which works upon an axle in a
bracket secured to the framing A; the clawker holds fast the inner ring O' by
means of a stud or pin 06; a similar pin or stud projects from the outside of
the ring O. The outer ring of thread carriers moves with the holding-down
ring M the number of courses required, when it is secured by the clawker,
and the inner ring of carriers becomes released, first one ring of thread carriers
operating, and then the other, and so on alternately. The clawker is moved
in the following manner :-0' is a stud which projects from one side of the
clawker, and rests upon a cam disc P, provided with a ratchet wheel P', which
is moved round one tooth at once by a driver P2, which may be driven by a

page_text: short arm attached to the holding-down bit, ring, or other convenient part of
the head which has the same reciprocating motion. The driver is pulled back
by a spring so as to be ready for the next movement; the ratchet wheel is
held in the meantime by the holding-down lever P³, which lever is furnished
with a spring; the throw of the driver P is regulated by a set screw as
shewn. The circular reciprocating motion of the head is effected as follows:
-To the lower end of the cylinder D is secured a toothed wheel Q, to which
motion is communicated by a rack Q', to which a sliding motion is imparted
by a revolving crank Q on an axle Q, which lies in bearings attached to the
under side of the framing A, and also in a bearing Q lying between two
collars on the main shaft Q, upon which is a bevil wheel Q, the boss of which
is formed as a clutch, and is engaged with a clutch sliding upon a key in the
shaft Q, and moved by the hand lever Q; the bevil wheel Q gears into a
bevil wheel on the crank shaft. This arrangement enables the attendant to
stop one head from working without stopping the others, for according to the
length of the travel given to the rack, so are the proportional widths of work
made on each head; thus, by the reciprocating motion of each head I get
one, two, or more breadths of work on each, each breadth having two perfect
selvages. The boss of the wheel, above described as being on the crank axle,
may be grooved, and a cord may be passed round it, the cord also passing
round a roller or rollers bearing upon the thread cop or cops, so that as a
slackness of the thread takes place, the slackness is taken up by the cop which
winds it up, or the same result may be effected by passing a cord over the
fly wheel or over a pulley on the main shaft Q and around a pulley on the
shaft or axle of the roller Qs, Figures 2 and 3, which is covered with cloth,
felt, flannel, or other similar rough substance, and revolves in a contrary
direction to the feed of the threads from the cops, as shown at Figures 2
and 3.
The arrangement above shewn and described constitutes the combination
of parts which I employ for the manufacture of one or more plain or striped
looped fabrics of the same width from end to end. The number of plain and
coloured courses is varied according to the colours used and the number of
thread carriers employed, such of the said carriers being secured to the
sliding rings, O' and 0%, each working a set number of courses alternately
according to the cut of the cam disc P, which in the head above described
makes thirty-two white or colored courses and four black or other coloured
courses alternately. Each width of fabric can also be made of varying widtlis
by combining with the above parts the following, namely:-R is a ring which
I attach by means of brackets to the cylinder D a little above the flange of

page_text: the cylinder C. To this ring R are fixed two or more pairs of brasses R'; in
each of these brasses are secured as many springs as there are needles required
to effect the fashioning at each selvage of the fabrics. These brasses and
springs are shewn at Figure 11, Sheet 4, and the brasses are shewn on the
ring at Figure 10. The inner ends of the springs lie in sleys on a portion of
the circumference of the cylinder D under the brass sleys E, in which the
needle bits slide; the inner ends of the springs press the needle bits upward,
except when the springs are held down by the holding-down bits S¹ on the
rings S, shewn in Figures 6 to 9 inclusively. Both of these rings are super-
imposed and rest upon the collars of the studs R2; the studs or pins R2 pass
through the slots in the rings S. Each ring is provided with a short arm S²;
these arms, as the head is turned to and fro, strike against set screws in
short brackets on sliding racks T and T", which racks are moved one notch at
a time by the drivers on the upper ends of the levers T2 and T. These drivers
are moved by a stud in the boss of a toothed wheel U, which gears into and
is driven by a smaller wheel on the crank axle Q3. The wheel U makes one
revolution, and thereby moves each rack one notch while the crank shaft
makes two revolutions, by which means the rings S, and consequently the
holding-down bits S', are moved off the springs in the brasses R¹ one at a
time, thereby throwing up a needle bit and needle on the reverse edge of the
course just completed, the same occurring each course until the whole width
is obtained. The boss of the small wheel on the crank axle Q is provided
with a clutch, which engages with a similar clutch at the back of a wheel V;
this wheel gears into a wheel W, which may be moved by the handle when
the head is thrown out of gear with the main driving shaft. The needles
which form the fashioned portion of the fabric are depressed below the
inclines I by means of the hand levers X, the inner ends of which pass
through holes in the case G, portions being cut away for that purpose; the
levers are withdrawn before the head is thrown into gear with the driving
shaft. The levers X are slotted, and turn and slide upon pins secured to two
of the brackets G¹. These parts working in conjunction with the combination,
first described, for making a plain or striped looped fabric, constitute the
arrangement which I employ for making fashioned, plain, or striped looped
fabric having two perfect selvages to each width.
In the above combinations the needles shewn are those known as the
latchet or tumbler needles; but I can also use therein the bearded or common
needles, in which case I employ a presser or pressers in any ordinary way,
and I substitute for the holding-down bit M' a sinker bit M, as shewn.
The approximate shape is shewn at Figure 5*, Sheet 4, for the purpose of

page_text: forming a loop between the needles. When I require to vary the throw of
the crank which moves the rack, I employ a slotted arm or arms, or a wheel
in which I can adjust the axle of the crank, or I employ equivalent apparatus
for that purpose. To a main framing I attach one or more heads or frames of
either or any of the above combinations, and I drive them by one or more
racks, as above described, or their equivalent contrivance. In either of the
above combinations I sometimes employ a ring Y, Figure 12, for raising the
whole of the needle bits simultaneously to enable me to run on the whole width
or widths of work without moving the machine. The ring Y has inclines cut
on its lower edge, which inclines slide upon inclines Z, so that by moving the
ring to the left it will be raised, and will lift the needle bits and needles until
the work is run on, when the ring is again lowered, the ring Y lying under
the sley E and encircling the cylinder D.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim the arrangement
and combination of apparatus described, whereby plain and striped and
fashioned fabrics are produced on the round frame or machine.
In witness whereof, I, the said William White, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight bundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
GEO. JON. ROBINSON,
Patent Office,
Nottingham.
WILLIAM WHITE. (L.s.)