IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF FISHING & OTHER NETS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 58, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer & Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF FISHING & OTHER NETS."
-A communication from abroad by Messrs. Felix Marie Baudouin and
Achille Baudouin, Civil Engineers, and Jean Baptiste François Jouannin,
M
CD1
C
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th
September 1861.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer & Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF FISHING & OTHER
NETS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, first, to improvements in machinery for the manufac-
ture of fishing and other nets, for which a Patent was granted to Mr. Pecqueur,
dated 30th August 1849, and numbered 12,755; and, secondly, to new
mechanical arrangements, by means of which the machine has been rendered
self-acting.
I will first proceed to describe modifications and improvements in Mr.
Pecqueur's hand apparatus, the whole of which suffice to constitute a new
machine, whether it be worked by hand or be rendered self-acting by means
A

page_text: of any motive power; and I will afterwards proceed to describe the means by
which the working of the loom has been rendered practical, regular, and sure,
while increasing considerably the number of meshes in each series or row, and
causing the loom to be worked at a speed of ten to fifteen rows of tics a
minute, instead of four to five, as obtained by Mr. Pecqueur's mechanical
arrangements, patented in 1849, abovo referred to.
Description of improved loom for manufacturing nets.-In order to make
these improvements better understood, independently of the mechanical arrange-
ments by which the loom is rendered self-acting, I have represented in
Sheets 1, 2, & 3, Figs. 1 to 6 of the Drawings annexed, the apparatus described
in Mr. Pecqueur's Patent before referred to. The improved apparatus of this
Invention is separately represented at Sheet 4, Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, & 11, where
are seen the whole of the parts of the loom, & also some details of the
principal modifications of parts previously employed by Mr. Pecqueur or in the
working thereof. The same letters and figures of reference indicato like parts
in the different Figures, and are the same as those used by Mr. Pecqueur in
his previous Patent, so as to enable one to better compare the original with
the improved achine, & see at once what aro the parts which remain
the same, and what modifications have been made. In this, as well as in
Mr. Pecqueur's machine, the net ties or knots are formed by the combined
action of three principal agents; first, the connecting books, which act first
upon the weft and then upon the warp threads; secondly, the movable stretching
reed T, Figs. 12 & 13, intended to draw back the weft threads at the moment
the shuttles are travelling towards the jaws, and to keep tight the developed
parts of such threads which otherwise would become loose; &, thirdly, the
shuttles o. The number of the weft threads is equal to the number of meshes
which the finished net is to present, and the number of the warp threads is
the same, plus one. The warp threads are fed by a beam E, Fig. 1; in this
case the beam is endless, being combined with a set of spools B, o, Figs. 7 & 14,
fitted on a suitable frame at the back of the loom, and in combination with
other additional parts, which will be hereafter described. The weft threads
are fed by a series of shuttles 0, 0, of equal number to such threads or meshes,
which shuttles may be of two kinds, the details of which are shown at Figs. 17,
18, 19, 20, 21, 22, & 23, they greatly differ from those of Mr. Pecqueur's appa-
ratus, their nature & construction will be described hereafter; the arrange-
ment of the parts upon which the shuttles rest also differs essentially from that
adapted by Mr. Pecqueur. Instead of the movable frame N, N, Figs. 1 & 2,
in Mr. Pecqueur's machine, which oscillates on pivots fixed at its lower part,
are substituted two similar fixed bearings, shown at Figs. 7, 12, 14, 15, & 16,

page_text: secured on the front part of the framing, and having at their upper part two
horizontal rails, upon which run two pairs of rollers n supporting the cast-iron
frame n', to which the shuttles are connected by means of the square or
octagonal shaft Q passing through them. These new arrangements and the
advantages resulting therefrom will be described hereafter. In this, as in
Mr. Pecqueur's machine, both the warp and the weft threads at the commence-
ment of the operation are connected to the rollers L, which, together with the
two other rollers L', L³, constitute a system, the function of which is to take
up, whenever a row of meshes is completed, the net already made in quantity
equal to the distance between the rows; but the manner in which the system
of take-up rollers is arranged and employed, according to this Invention,
presents some important modifications, which will be explained hereafter, and
which have for immediate result to render it more sure in its action, so as to
enable the length of the meshes to be increased or diminished to the minutest
degree possible. Before reaching the roller L all the threads pass through the
pair of jaws i, i, at which parts are formed the knots which constitute the net.
The improvement in said jaws are but secondary modifications, the object of
which is to simplify their construction and adjustment.
Connecting hooks, the hook box, and its frame.-The connecting hooks
and the manner in which they are fitted in their box D', Figs. 5 and 10,
termed a hook box, remains the same as in Mr. Pecqueur's loom, as also the
interior mechanism, whereby the attendant can, at the proper time, by means
1st, of handle D and the pinion it carries, 2ndly, of the long rack D³, Figs. 5
& 10, upon which this pinion acts, and, 3rdly, of small pinions D*, secured on
the shafts of all these hooks, and with which said rack gears, impart to all the
hooks a rotary motion, either to the right or left. The hook box may also turn
on its pivot, so as to either raise or lower the points of the hooks, as before.
The manner in which the attendant works the hook box and the shuttle carrier so
as to operate the throwing & connecting of the warp and weft threads is similar
to that described in the before-mentioned Patent, but their working is better
ensured by the following arrangements :-In Mr. Pecqueur's loom the connect-
ing hooks after having performed one row of meshes are caused to turn their
sharp ends in the opposite direction to that to which they before pointed, in
order to form the next row, and further, when acting upon the warp they
first take the end thread on the left hand to make one row of meshes, while
for the next range they take the right hand thread, and vice versa.
But as
mistakes may happen on the part of the attendant, and false meshes be
produced which would injure the whole piece, the following is a modification
of the foregoing arrangement:-In Mr. Pecqueur's loom the shifting of the

page_text: hook box D' from right to left, and vice versa, for the purpose above mentioned
is effected by changing the position of the frame C, Figs. 1 & 2, to which the
hook box is fitted, but in such displacement the frame has a tendency to get
out of form, and is liable to a certain amount of shaking, which renders the
loom uncertain in its action, and involves a loss of time. To obviate this an
alternate to-and-fro motion of the hook box is substituted for the lateral dis-
placement of the box, Icaving sufficient space between its extremities and the
uprights of the frame for this to-and-fro motion, and arranging the box in
such manner that it may slide on its pins to the right or left, according to the
impulse given to the handle D. The frame not requiring to be displaced any
longer in a lateral direction is strengthened by means of two cheeks W, W,
Figs. 7, 14, 15, & 16, fixed at the right and left of the framing, said cheeks
having sufficient surface to allow of the extremities of the lower cross bar,
which connects the two uprights in all the movements of the frame upwards,
downwards, forwards, and backwards, sliding freely on the two cheeks, which
are made very sinooth for the purpose to prevent, after the end warp thread
has been taken up on one side (the left for instance), another warp thread from
being taken from the same side by the attendant, a sort of cross bar is fitted
te the loom, which is movable in a lateral direction, Figs. 35 & 36, and
terminated by two projecting bolts 2, 2, which slide into two square shaped
holes 8, 8, in the sides of the framing. Between said projecting bolts is a
space equal to the length of the hook box, while the space between the two
square holes is equal to the length of said box plus the distance the box is to bo
moved. The cross bar on being moved to the left the bolt which it carries
becomes flush with the bolt hole on that side, while the other bolt on the
contrary forms a projection on leaving its recess. All the parts being thus
arranged, the attendant takes the extreme left hand thread, and can only work
on this side, as it is only by pushing the hook box towards the left that be can
engage between the left-hand hole and the right-hand projecting bolt, which
latter in projecting is prevented from entering the box on that side in case by
mistake it were attempted to engage it therewith. The hook box being thus
carried towards the left, the attendant pushes it forwards, causing the hooks to
penetrate the warp threads in such manner that the last hook on the left may
be on tho extreme left-hand thread. In this position, in order to cause the
hooks to take hold of the warps, the hook box must be pushed forwards towards
the right, in which movement it carries with it the two bolts, between which
it is fixed, the right-hand one fitting into its recess, whilst the left-hand bolt
projects. When the hook box is disengaged on the row of meshes being
completed, and at a given time, the hook box is to be engaged towards the

page_text: right, said bolt prevents its being engaged by mistake towards the left of said
hook box, while it is free to work towards the right. To prevent said bolts
from being displaced too easily springs 4, 4, are applied, which press against
them, and form a kind of brake to their action. When this improved loom is
worked by mechanical power, the last-mentioned apparatus is dispensed with,
and the alternate displacement on the right and left of the hook box is
regularly produced by the cams.
Improvements in the shuttles.-Instead of the shuttles employed in Mr.
Pecqueur's loom, two arrangements are made use of, although the second form
herein-after described will be found most advantageous.
Shuttles with oblong blades, Figs. 17, 18, & 19.-This improved shuttle
with oblong blades differs from that of Mr. Pecqueur's in many essential points,
1st, the plate O, upon which the thread is wound, is of bevilled form, and is
placed within the body O of the shuttle, the narrow part being directed towards
the jaws of the framing of the loom, the thread is wound across it, which
allows of its unwinding itself at each throw of the shuttle, under the pulling
action it undergoes, while in Mr. Pecqueur's system of shuttle the unwinding
is effected in an intermittent manner through the action of a ruler worked by
the attendant at the moment when the shortening of the thread resulting from
the amount of material employed after a certain number of rows have been
made, only allowed the shuttles an insufficient length of traverse. The main
body of this improved shuttle is provided with two thin sides 0%, 0², so that
when throwing the thread, the warp lap 6, Fig. 19, cannot catch in the weft
thread round the blade. The body of the shuttle carries at 0 a small
cylindrical stop engaging in a T-shaped groove 0³ in the end of the shuttle,
which allows of its oscillating on said stud stop, to allow of the unwinding of
the thread without the traction of the latter carrying away the blade out of the
body of the shuttle. The cap in the body of the shuttle is also dispensed with,
which allows of an increased quantity of thread being placed therein, and also
enables the attendant to ascertain when the thread is about being exhausted,
besides the saving of time required in removing and replacing the caps in
position. Upon its issuing from the plate the thread passes between an upper
fixed cylinder of tempered steel 0%, and another small steel part having a
spring Os, which latter is slightly concave on the side bearing on the thread;
this arrangement forms a sort of check to the developement of the thread from
the shuttle, and ensures a proper degree of tightness in the knots of the
meshes; the elasticity of this spring piece permits of the easy passage of all
inequalities or knots in the thread, at the same time ensuring the requisite
degree of tension, and thus preventing a number of accidents which produce

page_text: both irregularities in the net & much loss of time. At OB is fixed a roller Q
which is the same as that described in Mr. Pecqueur's loom, the arrange-
ment of which permits of the meshes into which the shuttles engage passing
between the lattor and the spindle connecting them to the shuttle holders
without said shuttles ceasing to be attached thereto. In front of the shuttles
is placed a needle 0', turning on its support, which needle is intended to
receive the warp mesh b, b, Fig. 19, as it issues from the body of the shuttle,
thus preventing the twisting & stoppage of said mesh, and the formation of
the knot before it has reached the point where the tie is to be made, to ensure
regularity in the work. Any suitable material may be used for the same
purpose as the needle, such as catgut, either alone or covered with wire of
spiral form, and capable of being lengthened to facilitate the passago of the
meshes. The same result may also be obtained by employing a reed 5,
Figs. 37 & 38, with long teeth sliding in any suitable manner beneath the
lower jaw of the framing, and which meet and engage the meshes as they issuo
from the shuttles, and then withdraw after the tightening of the knots has
been effected. This reed, in hand looms, may be operated by means of a
special treadle, and in self-acting looms by means of connecting rods 6, and
eccentrics 7 suitably arranged. This movable reed and the conducting
needles may also be employed in combination. The front part of the shuttle
is also modified by having the end O somewhat turned up and terminating in
a hook intended to prevent the warp thread escaping on that side. This
improvement has for object to increase the width of the plate, and consequently
the quantity of thread it may carry, also to reduce the distance the warp mesh
bas to travel before embracing the shuttle, and consequently rendering more
uniform the contour of the cams employed to produce the lowering of the hook
box in self-acting looms.
Flat spool shuttles, Figs. 20, 21, 22, & 23.-In this shuttle O the oblong
plate is replaced by a pulley-shaped spool, consisting of two metal cases, shown
in section Fig. 23, which are formed by stamping, and their form is so
calculated that notwithstanding their thinness they possess great solidity, and
their central parts form by their connection when rivetted to each other a sort
of internal boss, round which the thread is wound. In the centre of the bobbin
is made a small square slot for receiving the arbor of the reel for winding on
the thread, which reel is so contrived as to fill a great number of spools at one
time. Between the extreme edges of these cases of the bobbins sufficient
space is left for the thread to pass freely. This form of bobbin also allows of
its being fitted within the body of the shuttle O, which is enclosed, the bottom
being provided with a circular projection on which the edges of said bobbins

page_text: fit.
The weft thread is wound once or more round said appendage according
to the greater or less friction undergone by the thread in such winding, and
for the purpose of proportioning the resistance to the tension the thread has
to undergo without unwinding the hook at the end prevents the thread from
dropping. To the body of the shuttle the conducting needle O', above
mentioned, is also fitted, it being always adjusted in a similar manner with the
roller Q, which remains the same; & further, in order to make the bobbin
pulley O of the greatest possible diameter so that it may carry a greater
quantity of thread, it may also be adjusted on the front part of the shuttle.
The second description of shuttle presents the following advantages:-The
winding of of the thread is much easier, the thread is better, and more regularly
developed or supplied; it cannot become choked, and its action is more
certain, and is not liable to any of the variations usual when employing springs
generally; its action can be easily modified by simply varying the amount of the
thread wound on it; and what is very important, the length of the body of the
shuttle is notably diminished, which consequently reduces the amount of
traverse of the slide or shuttle carrier by double the amount the shuttle itself
has been reduced. The advantage of the latter improvement will prove still
more important where the loom is self-acting, as will be explained herein-
after.
Sliding shuttle carriers.-The oblong frame n' upon the shuttle rest is
arranged in the same manner as in Mr. Pecqueur's loom, with this important
modification, that instead of being attached to long oscillating arms which cause
it to describe an arc of a circle, it is carried upon rollers forming a regular car-
riage which travels on fixed rails N, N. The method of attaching the shuttles by
inserting the shaft Q' through the naves of all the rollers Q, Q, and rotating it
at the two ends of the frame, is the same as in the before-mentioned loom;
as also the manner in which said shaft is operated by the to-and-fro motion of
the frame, causing the shuttle rollers to perform at the desired time one-third
of a revolution for passing the warp meshes from the back to the front of the
shuttles. To the slide or carriage is also applied an arrangement for effecting,
by self-acting mechanism, after a row of meshes has been made, the removal
of the finished piece; whilst in Mr. Pecqueur's process this is effected by
means of a treadle H¹ (Figs. 1 & 2) actuated by the attendant in connection
with a rather complicated apparatus, the detail of which is shown at Fig.
Instead of the apparatus alluded to the following arrangement is substituted,
which is much simpler, and surer in its action npon the rollers g' attached
to the appendage 9 on the sliding shuttle carrier.
.
Apparatus for removing the net, and for regulating the size of the meshes.

page_text: –This apparatus, which is represented at Figs. 8 & 8', chiefly consists of
friction ratchet, composed of a round box R, baving at its centre a socke
fitted on the axis of roller L. In this box the part R' turns freely on sai
socket, to which part is connected the lower lever R". The part R' has at it
circumference two notches, into which enter two catches r, r, catch r being
ncted on by a spring, and catch r¹ by 'a flat spring 7. The position of the
two notches r, r, is such that a lino passing through their centres will be
above the centre of the axis L'; it results therefrom that when the part R
turns from right to left the catch r bears against the edge of the box R, and
causes said box to turn in the same direction; the catch r, which also
embraces freely the edge of the box R at the lower end, has a rocking motion
imparted to it, which movement causes the edge of the box to be gripped by
the catch, thus forcing the latter to partake of the same movement.
When
the piece R is brought back to the opposite side by the counterbalance
weight acting upon it, the catches will again becomo free, & the box R
remain stationary. The lever R³ in its backward movement comes in contact
with a stop pin fixed on a movable bearing sliding in a frame by tho
action of an adjusting screw 7, whereby its position may be varied, as also
the extent of the arc described by the part R. The appendage g, abovo
mentioned, which acts upon the lever R may also change its position, being
attached to the slide N' by means of a slot g³ and screw nut g. By com-
bining the displacement of the stop pin and the appendage g, g', the motion
of the friction ratchet, and consequently the size of the meshes of the net, may
be regulated as desired; whilst with a toothed ratchet the variation in the size
of the meshes can only correspond with the space between the ratchet teeth.
The simple displacement of the stop pin permits of varying the extent of
motion of the ratchet, & consequently the size of the meshes, therefore,
instead of effecting this displacement only before commencing each piece of
netting so as to have all the meshes of an equal size throughout, in certain
cases the loom may be caused to vary at each row the position of the stop by
which the motion of the ratchet is limited, & thus obtain moshes of increasing
or decreasing size.
Hence in this improved loom all descriptions of nets, with unequal meshes
may be produced, which result has been unattainable heretofore otherwise
than by manual labour. For this purposo it is only necessary to connect
to the sliding carriage any suitable mechanism, which during the to-and-
fro movement of said slide, shall act upon the adjusting screw 18, thus deter-
mining at every throw a fraction of a revolution, corresponding to the progress
forward or backwards of the stop pin. It will be easily understood that

page_text: the arrangements for obtaining this result may be of various natures. Thus
instead of the stop piece 7, which is displaced by the action of the screw 8,
a cam, keyed upon a shaft may be employed, which is caused to turn a
fraction of a revolution in an intermittent manner by the to-&-fro movement
of the sliding carriage according to the degree of excentricity, and the form
of said cam, against which the lever R" abuts, and according to the number
of the to-and-fro movements by which the said cam accomplishes a complete
revolution, a greater or less number of meshes will be obtained, the size of
which will first increase and then decrease. The object claimed therefore,
is not such arrangements for conducing to the realization of said improvement,
but the improvement itself, which consists in causing the shuttle by its to-and-
fro motion, and by means of any suitable mechanism, to determine such and
such variations as it may seem proper to adopt in the extent of motion of
the ratchet, which drives the net carrying rollers so as to vary in a self-acting
manner the size of the meshes in the same piece of netting. Moreover this
improvement is independent of the form of the ratchet adapted, as ordinary
ratchets may be applied for the same purpose, though somewhat less advan-
tageously.
Regulator of the pressure carrying rollers.-The apparatus for regulating
the pressure of the carrying rollers L, L, L³, consists of supports K placed
on each side of the loom, terminating in a forked slide s. An axis s which
is pressed upon to the desired degree by the cap of bearing s³ & set
screws passing through a fixed screw cap s, and is more or less tightened,
till the net is held firmly enough not to yield to the tension of the shuttle
threads.
Movable reed stretcher for the shuttle threads, Figs. 6, 24, & 25.-The
warp thread stretcher I, acts in the same manner as described in Pecqueur's
loom, only instead of isolating it, it is connected to the levers m¹, which on
rising, seize it by means of the journals n at its two ends. For this purpose
the shaft on which the two levers m¹ are keyed is lowered, thus placing their
centre of oscillation near the ground in such manner that the arc described
by the upper end of said levers may be nearly a straight line. In this case
the lower notch m³ of each lever is replaced by a cavity m', in which the
journal m³ of reed I takes and turns freely. The second notch m³ on each
side of the loom, may then receive with more certainty and at the proper
time the upper journal of the reed. The reed may also in this case be of
more solid construction, and instead of the two small journals fitted at its ends
which are liable to be deranged and detached, especially when the speed is
great, two rods may be employed, the ends of which form the journals m³,

page_text: passing through the opposite cheeks of the reed. The cord of the treadle
v, Figs. 2 & 7, is passed over a return pulley, for bringing back at tho
desired moment the set of levers m', m', towards the jaws of the framing,
the backward motion being effected as in Mr. Pecqueur's loom, by means
of the counterbalance weight T, the lower counterbalance weight M being no
longor required. This arrangement will provo still more advantageous when
the loom is self-acting, as will be seen herein-after by dispensing with the
treadle, and replacing it by a double action cam, for the purpose of pre-
venting the reed from being thrown out with such rapidity at a certain period.
Beam and appendages constituting an endless beam, Figs. 7, 14, 15, 16,
& 32. Instead of the ordinary beam E, is substituted an arrangement
by which tho warp threads, instead of being previously wound on the beam,
which necessarily limits its length and also presents other inconveniences,
are supplied to the warp beam from a number of spools b, o, corresponding
to the number of warp threads, which spools turn freely in the bobbin
holder B, O. The threads fed by the spools or bobbins b, o, pass through
a first separating reed p, o, Fig. 11, then over a rounded fixed bar 1, Figs.
11, 15, & 32, and afterwards under a similar bar 21, then over a third one 3',
and so forth according to the required degree of resistance to be opposed
to the development of the thread, and the nature of the work.
On leaving these checking bars the warp threads pass under the roller r, o,
of a lever Foscillating at point E' at the front of the machine, thence the
threads pass through a second separating reed p, o¹, Fig. 15, placed close to
the beam E, round which they are wound 11 turns, thence they pass between
the teeth of a third reed p, o², placed in front and close to the beam, & from
there descend to the jaws i, i, passing through another reed J, which will be
described hereafter. Thus guided the threads are arranged in their assigned
place on the beam without the possibility of riding one over the other, each of
them being separated during their traverse from the bobbins until they reach
the jaws i, . The surface of the beam E is roughened by any suitable means,
by emery dust, for instance, by which contrivance the threads, although they
are wound only 1 times round it, are prevented from sliding by their own
impulse. This beam is also provided at one end with a pulley, upon which a
cord is wound two or more times, carrying at each end counterbalance weights
of unequal weight and acting in opposite directions, as usual in looms, for
constantly drawing back the beams. It should be here observed, that this
system of counterbalance weights is not sufficient alone to ensure the efficient
working of the beam, especially where it is combined with a bobbin holder,
except by the arrangements above described, which have for result to regulate

page_text: the development of the tension of the threads fed by the bobbins to a suitable
degree. In order to ensure the proper working of this improved machine for
the manufacture of nets it is necessary that the warp threads, after furnishing
the required amount for the passage of the shuttles through the loops formed
by them, should then rise while still preserving their tension, which result is
infallibly obtained by the combination of parts above described. In fact, when
the warp threads are pulled by the connecting hooks the beam is caused to
turn on its axis in a forward direction, the back net formed by the warp thus
becomes stretched and causes the roller r, o, of the oscillating beam F to
reascend, and the tension exerted on the warp threads by the working of the
loom being greater than the resistance due to the friction of the threads
between the bars 11, 2, & 31, these threads are caused to be supplied from the
spools to a corresponding amount to that which the beam has taken up in its
forward motion. When the threads have been liberated from the tightening
hooks and have returned towards the jaws, the beam, by means of the counter-
balauce weight E, brings back those threads by winding them up forwards
and unrolling them a like quantity backwards. This result is obtained by the
pressure exerted on the back web formed by said threads by the action of the
roller r, o, which takes up the quantity that would otherwise be left loose
and maintains the tightness of the threads on the rough surface of the roller,
still preserving at the back part of the beam a sufficient tension of the threads
to prevent their bagging, which, however, should not be so great as to over-
come the resistance of the check bars 1, 2, 3¹.
These arrangements have further for their object to obviate the great
disadvantages attending the use of ordinary beams, as in the latter the
threads can only be developed altogether, and if a thread happens to break the
two ends cannot be connected by a simple tie, which would have for result to
shorten the one and to loosen the other threads by pulling upon the beam, it
is thus necessary to connect them by means of an additional piece of thread
attached to each end separately, which requires two knots for each breaking
of the thread. In this improved system, although the rough surface of the
beam prevents the thread sliding on its surface, a broken thread may easily be
removed by hand without turning the beam, it suffices to loosen with the
fingers the thread round the beam, and by drawing it through the check bars
the spool is caused to yield the required length, when the two ends of the
broken thread may be afterwards connected by a single knot. Further, when
using ordinary beams the length of the net is of course limited by the length
of the threads wound on the beam, while, from the frequent mountings of the
beams and the difficulty of establishing any exact relation between the length

page_text: of the threads and that of the net to be obtained thero resulted great losses
both of time and material, which losses are obviated by the application of the
combined beam above described, which in fact becomes an endless beam.
Separating reed for guiding the warp threads to tho jaws in the precise
place they are to occupy.-Instead of the movable separating reed h, h,
Figs. 1 & 2, used by Pecqueur, and composed of a set of hooks fixed upon a
plato carried by an oscillating frame II, II, which is raised or lowered at suit-
able intervals by the attendant acting on the treadle II', a different arrange-
ment of reed is substituted, which, although stationary, better answers the
desired purpose. This improved reed, Figs. 13, 14, 15, 19, & 32, is mounted
on the face of the upper jaw J near the top, which is widened for greater
solidity. It consists of two superposed ranges of pin rollers h, h, the diameter
of which is rather less than the distance between two consecutive threads,
the distance from the centre of the roller, juxtaposed, of the other row being
exactly equal to the space between the threads. When the warp threads are
engaged in this reed a horizontal roller h" turning freely on its axis in two
supports h¹ is placed in front of the threads and prevents them disengaging
from the reed. By this arrangement whatever may be the inequalities of
the threads or the size of the knots they may be passed between the rollers h,h,
and leave the reed at regular distances apart. By the employment of
roller placed in front of the threads the friction is obviated which the
threads would otherwise undergo in the fixed hooks, which causes the thread
to fray, the strain resulting from which friction is especially great at the
moment when the warp threads form an angle by being drawn forwards by
the tightening hooks.
Improvements relating to the making of the selvodges or borders.--Various
arrangements may be employed for regulating what aro termed the selvedge
meshes to be formed on each side of the net by the warp threads which are
only connected at every two rows alternately. But the following arrange
ment will be found, notwithstanding its great simplicity, to perfectly fulfil
the purpose desired, on condition however that the finished net shall be
stretched after being taken out from the loom. The two end threads
pass cach through a small ring attached to a cord 9 passing over a
support 10 and carrying at its end a counterbalance weight 11 of sufficient
weight to prevent tho thread from bagging; a throad tightener 12 is applied to
limit the descent of the counterbalance weight at the proper moment by
contact with a small forked socket 13, in order to prevent the knot or tie
which is formed at every two rows alternately on the said thread from being
tightened completely, so that on the contrary the looseness thus produced in

page_text: the tie may absorb any excess of thread supplied by the beam, which excess
is due to the absence of the tie every other two rows. The net ou being taken
out of the loom is stretched laterally when the ties in the selvedge which have
been left loose are tightened, thus making each selvedge mesh of greater length
which when it is desired to unite one piece of net to another will be of advantage
for the regular formation of the connecting meshes. However minute this
arrangement may appear it yet possesses great importance as regards a good
manufacture and the strength of the junction of one piece of web to another.
Improvements resulting from the use of threads alternately twisted right and
left. Nets have a tendency to twist or curl up when in the water, thus if
all the threads were twisted in the same direction it would contribute to
increase the effect of the torsion when in water above-mentioned in the same
direction as the twist of the threads, but by employing threads the torsion or
twisting of which is in alternate directions, the tendency of the net to curl up
will be neutralized during the manufacture as well as when in the water; this
mode of proceeding therefore constitutes an improvement which is claimed as
being one of the distinctive features of this Invention. A further improvement
intended to facilitate the sliding of the weft threads in the warp meshes, is as
follows: When the threads are not perfectly smooth, as generally happens
with warp threads, or are too elastic as cotton threads, it frequently happens that
the sliding of the weft threads into the warp meshes is not easily effected
and the meshes thus irregularly made are liable to twist. This may be
obviated by an apparatus having for object to operate upon the web of weft
threads when returning forwards & driven by the shuttle slide in order to form
the ties, successive movement of which facilitates the sliding of said threads
into the warp meshes. This apparatus is represented at Sheet 7, Figs. 32, 33,
& 34, Fig. 32, showing a vertical section of the above apparatus, Fig. 33 a
side view, and Fig. 34 a plan of the same; 14 represents a plate fixed to the
two side levers 15, jointed to the shaft 16 which turns in bearings secured to
framing A. Upon this shaft 16 is keyed a lever shaft 17 carrying a roller 18
which gears in the cam 19, keyed on a driving shaft c & the teeth 20 which
effect the successive rising and falling movements of the plate 14. With
reference to this part of the Invention it may be remarked that different
pieces of net may be obtained in the same loom, for this purpose it is only
necessary to remove a hook and shuttle, or prevent them from working at
suitable places, by so doing as many selvedges may be made as there are
shuttles and hooks removed.
Peculiar arrangements by means of which the improved loom for the
manufacture of nets above-described is rendered self-acting, Sheets 4, 5, 6,

page_text: & 7. It is well known that by certain combinations of cams and eccentrics
acting upon connecting rods and levers it is possible to produce the most varied
movements. Many inventors of looms for the manufacture of nets have
sought by such combinations to obtain automatically the movements effected
by the persons employed in such manufacture on their own systems. The
mechanical combinations herein adapted to render this improved loom self-
acting differ from preceding ones for the same purpose, first by the simplicity
obtained by the modifications & improvements in the loom when worked by
Land and more particularly by the method herein adopted of bringing each
part employed in the formation of the ties to bear as much as possible on the
very point where the action is required to be exerted in order to make the
mechanical action which is to be substituted for the manual labour as direct
as possible, as in hand looms whero the attendant acts in front of a loom to
directly apply power at the required time to set the loom in motion. Tho
various cams in this improved apparatus are placed near the parts they are
intended to actuate. For this purpose instead of fixing all the cams on two
shafts placed at the back part of the loom, which in order to communicate
their action to the parts in the front part of the loom necessitates the applica-
tion of long connecting rods and levers or bell-crank movements with
multiplied joints which are of a considerable length (12 to 15 feet) and con-
sequently liable to oscillate, bend, or be unsteady, having for result a want of
precision consequent on the multiplicity, elasticity, and looseness of such joints.
Instead of the above arrangement on the main shaft c are fitted the cranks c'
intended to produce on each side of the loom through the medium of the
connecting rod c², the to-and-fro movement of the shuttle slide n', the cam c³
which by means of the connecting rod c' imparts to the frame of the hook box
the forward and backwark movements required at certain times, and the cam c³
which is to act through the connecting rod c on the movable stretching rod T.
These cams which are to determine the other movements, are keyed on shafts
near the point where their action is to be exerted, and impart rotary motion
to the main shaft c' as herein-after described by means of endless chains, which
arrangement permits of the connecting rods or levers driven by these canis
being reduced in length to (about 18 inches or 3 feet). The mechanical
arrangements further differ from those hitherto employed by the application
of double action cams instead of single action cams generally employed for the
purpose, which permits of dispensing with counterbalance weights necessary when
employing single action cams for keeping the rollers of the connecting rods
constantly bearing against the surfaces of the cams which is very difficult
except the loom be driven at a very low speed. Fig. 28, 29 & 31, Sheet 4,

page_text: represent in detail two arrangements of these double action cams, the
advantages as may be seen presented by a cam of this description are, that
the connecting rod it is to act upon, and which is fixed between two dises of
different, but correlative form, which constitutes the cam, having a long slot
embracing the axis of the latter, confines, as it were, the can between the
two rollers carried by said rod, one on each side of it, the one working on the
contour of the one disc and the other on the circumference of the other disc;
and as the relation which exists between the form of the discs is such that
one will always present a convex surface to the concave of the roller
acting on it, while the first disc presents a concave, the second disc presents a
convex surface, & vice versa, hence it ensues that the connecting rod is con-
stantly acted upon at any moment of the revolution of the cam either in one or
the other direction by the pressure on one or other of the rollers, first by one
of the discs & then by the other, according to the position of the latter. By
this means the connecting rods will have no irregularity in their motion which
ensures great certainty in the action of the parts of the loom driven by
them whatever may be the speed employed.
The mechanism of this improved self-acting loom is represented in Sheets
4, 5, 6, & 7 of the Drawings annexed; Fig. 12 is a front view; Fig. 18 a
back view; Fig. 14 a side view; Fig. 15 a vertical section through line 1, 2,
Fig. 12 and Fig. 16 a side view of the loom. In order that the mechanism
by which the loom is rendered self-acting, may be better understood, it will be
necessary to describe the various movements which are required to be effected in
hand looms, which are as follows:-As regards the working of the shuttles it is
only necessary to impart a backward & forward motion to the slide n', n', which
carries them, which is effected by means of connecting rods jointed on one
part to the slide, and on the other to the crank c¹ keyed upon the main shaft c.
In this to-and-fro motion the revolution performed by shaft Q, which carries
the shuttle rollers, is effected automatically the same as in hand looms, while
the appendage 9, Fig. 8' carried by the slide N¹ acts as in said loom upon the
finished net carrying apparatus. The starting of the tightening hooks with
their box D¹, Fig. 10, and the frame which carries it differs somewhat how-
ever from the hand process, on commencing the formation of a row of ties, that
is to say, at the moment when the shuttle slide has reached its greatest dis-
tance from from the jaws i, i, a downward movement is imparted to the rocking
lever B, from which is suspended the frame C of the hook box D', for the pur-
pose of causing said hooks to advance towards the weft threads (shuttle threads),
which movement is effected by means of connecting rods actuated by the
double disc or double action cams d', keyed on the shaft d.

page_text: At the same time this downward movement is being accomplished, the
axes of the hook box D', are caused to turn so that the points of the hooks
may be in a downward direction for penetrating between the shuttle threads,
which effect is obtained by means of the double action cam J, keyed on shaft
J, and actuating the connecting rod J, Fig. 29, which carries at its opposito
end a rack gearing with the pinion J* keyed upon the body of the said hook
box, Figs. 29 & 30. When the tightening hooks have thus penetrated
between the shuttle threads, the hook box is caused to receive a lateral
motion in the direction of its axis, for the purpose of putting the necks of
the hooks underneath the threads, which affect is obtained by means of the
double action grooved cam k, keyed on the shaft k, on the right of the loom,
which cam actuates the connecting rod ', jointed at . This connecting
rod by means of the fork at its end, forces the hook box laterally in one
direction, to the required degree, and returns it a similar distance, when the
next row is formed, the hook box then reascends in order that the hooks
may seize hold of and take up the shuttle threads. The hooks also turn
about half a revolution for the purpose of twisting the threads, and the book
box is also caused to turn upon itself, so as to raise the points of the hooks,
& to engage and hold back against their necks the weft meshes just formed.
The first of, these three movements is obtained by means of the double action
cam, and rod above mentioned; the second movement is obtained by
means of the grooved double action cam, keyed on shaft k, at the left of
the loom, and connecting rod oscillating at 13. This connecting rod ter-
minates in a small fork embracing the axis of the rack on the hook box, and
imparts to it the longitudinal movement which determines the rotation of
the pinions with which the tightening hooks are provided, the third movement
above mentioned is obtained by means of the double action cam J' and con-
necting rod J before described, which causes the hook box to turn on its
axis. At this moment the hook box is caused to make a backward move-
ment for the purpose of introducing the hooks between the warp threads;
this, as well as the contrary movement when the hooks bring the warp threads
up to the shuttles, is produced in the manner already explained by the double
action cams c³, keyed at the right and left extremities of the main shaft and
connecting rods c', which act directly upon the lower part of the upright c
of the frame of hook box. This being done the hooks are displaced laterally
for the purpose of seizing upon the warp threads, and bringing them forwards
by turning the hooks on their axes about a quarter of a revolution, so as to
direct their points downwards to reverse the meshes of the shuttle threads which
they had retained on their necks, so as to cause said meshes to fall upon the

page_text: warp meshes, while the latter still continuing to be suspended from the
points of the hooks, thus passing through the shuttle meshes until the hooks
are finally drawn backwards, and lowered down to the shuttles, thence to
return forwards and engage the latter in the warp meshes, at which moment
said meshes escape and pass over the shuttles for the purpose of forming the
back ties.
These improvements are effected, 1st, by means of a lateral movement of
the hook box D' in combination with the cam k above mentioned; 2ndly, by
a backward movement of the frame c, produced by the cam 3; 3rdly, by a
longitudinal motion of the rack on hook box, obtained through the cam k³;
4thly, by the rotary motion of the hook box produced by the cam J*; 5thly, by
a downward motion of the frame c produced by the cam d'; 6thly, by a
forward motion of the same frame, effected by means of cam c³. The hook
box reascends to its former position, for the purpose of commencing a second
row of ties, during which time the hooks and hook box also return to their
former positions; but these various movements are but the repetition at
various times of previous movements effected by the same cams, the cir-
cumferences of which are made of forms in relation to the required duration
and amplitude of the various movements. It should be observed, that these
movements which are required to be effected in one direction for one row of
ties, and in the opposite direction for the next row, are produced by the cams
in connection therewith performing a revolution for each entire revolution of
the main shaft, or the time required for making a row of ties, so that in the
two half revolutions the circumferences of the cams intended to act in opposite
directions on the connecting rods are arranged according to the effects which
it is desired to obtain. The two cams performing only half a revolution, while
the others accomplish an entire one in the time required to make a row of
meshes, are the grooved double-action cams ³ & k' above mentioned; the
one, ³, operating the longitudinal motion of the rack on the hook box or the
rotation of the hooks, and the other, *, operating the lateral displacement of
said box. It should be observed that instead of two grooved double-action
cams, k, the action of which has been above indicated, the double-action
cam discs shown in detail at Figs. 28, 29 & 31, may be adapted by jointing
the opposite ends of the levers or connecting rods, which are actuated by
these cams, to an oscillating elbowed lever, termed a bell-crank movement.
With reference to the movable reed T for stretching the shuttle threads, the
action of which is in connection with that of the shuttles and tightening hooks
for the formation of the net ties, the same arrangements may be employed as
for the hand loom, except that the treadle H', Figs. 1 & 2, which acts.at

page_text: certain intervals, is replaced by the double-action cams c³, c', keyed on the
main shaft c and connecting rods c, c, which actuate the levers m³, m³, and
have for effect to liberate the movable rod T from the meshes formed by the
shuttle threads at the moment the ties are about to be tightened, and to
immediately return said reed in front of the jaws i, i, for the purpose of again
taking up the threads from the shuttles, and drawing them backwards as soon
as the shuttles return towards the jaws, when it tends to slacken them. It
should be further observed, that although only one cam may be herein
mentioned, the number of the cams has been doubled as far as possible, so
that by one acting on the right-hand and the other on the left of the loom,
its action may be more regular & efficient, which, however, will be apparent
by referring to the Drawings.
Various arrangements by which the rotary motion imparted by any motor to
the main shaft of this improved loom is transmitted to the other cam shafts.-
The main shaft C, as already mentioned, carries the cranks c', c', two cams
,, two other cams c', c, and the striking cam 19, the other cams being
distributed upon shafts placed most suitably for accomplishing the desired
action in the simplest and most effectual mauner. The rotary motion of the
main shaft is communicated to the other shafts in the following manner,
motion being first imparted to said shaft either by machine or hand power :-
If driven by manual power, we fit a crank 10 to the fly wheel a' keyed on
the shaft a, which rotates in a frame fixed to the right-hand cross pioce at the
front part of framing A. In the bearings of said frame is keyed a cog
wheel a, which, by means of an endless chain with stretchers a, b, gears with
another cog wheel of like diameter 63 keyed upon the shaft b, carrying on its
opposite end a pinion 6, which gears in the cog wheel
shaft c, by which the self-acting loom is first started.
power acting on a crank, the loom be driven by a strap operated by a steam
engine, water wheel, or other power, the motive power is first applied to
shaft b by means of pullies b', 6', Fig. 27 (one fixed and the other loose), on
which said strap passes. In this caso the gearing a³, a, b, b³, above mentioned
may be dispensed with; it may, however, be retained, and the fly wheel and
crank a employed for gently starting the loom either forwards or backwards,
in case it should be necessary to stop it for mending a broken thread, or other
The main shaft C in its rotary motion actuates the cranks c¹, c", the
cams c¹¹, c, c, c, & c, c, the functions of which have been already described;
it also transmits motion with the same speed to the shaft d by cog wheels co
&d of the same diameter, connected by the endless chaiu with stretchers c, d.
This shaft d turns in two bearings on the top part of the framing, it has also
cause.
keyed on the main
If, instead of manual

page_text: attached to it the two double-action cams d', d', which, through the forked
rods ds, impart at different times a downward and upward motion to the
rocking lever B, and to the frame C of the hook box suspended therefrom.
The shaft C also imparts rotary motion by means of cog wheels C & f¹, shown
at Fig. 13, and endless chain and stretchers e, f, to the shaft f, turning in
bearings placed in the upper back part of the framing A; this shaft forms the
centre of oscillation of the rocking lever B, and also communicates to the
shaft J placed in front at the upper part of the loom the same continuous
rotary motion by means of cog wheel fs, the endless chain with stretchers f, j,
and cog wheel. The shaft j turns in bearings forming part of the rocking
lever B, and oscillating with it; from this shaft is suspended the frame C of
the hook box, which frame is allowed to turn freely on its axis; this shaft
towards the left carries a cam j³, which, as explained, imparts axial motion to
the hook box. Upon the same shaft j is keyed towards the right hand a
pinion, which drives by means of the wheel ¹ the cog wheel * fitted on the
shaft k, which latter is carried by the uprights of the frame, and partakes in
all its movements the same as shaft j. The wheel ³, as also the wheel k², is
double the diameter of that of pinion j*, hence the shaft k only performs a
revolution in the same time that the others perform a complete one; on this
shaft are keyed the grooved cams ³ & k*, the one, k³, causing the tightening hooks
to turn first in one direction and then in the other, and the other, ', producing
the lateral displacement of the hook box in both directions. By means of these
improvements, and also by the application to the loom of double-action cams,
which prevent all deviations and uncertainty in the movement of the con-
necting rods or levers which they actuate, a small amount of motive power is
sufficient to work the loom at a speed for producing from 12 to 15 rows a
minute (each row having 150 ties), whilst only 5 rows at most have been
obtained hitherto in looms occupying more space, giving only fifty ties for
each row with a greater expense of power; while this improved machinery is
capable of producing about 1,800 ties per minute, instead of 250 per minute
obtained in Mr. Pecqueur's loom, which has never been introduced in
practice.
Reducing the speed at certain times during the manufacture.-An improve-
ment as regards the speed which may be imparted to this improved self-acting
loom, intended to better ensure its action, notwithstanding the speed with
which it is worked, consists in a certain arrangement by which, notwithstanding
the uniform speed by the motor, the speed of the main shaft may be reduced
at times when accomplishing the more delicate portions of the manufacture,
and again increased when the parts may not be injured by greater rapidity of

page_text: action. For this purpose above the shaft c, at the place previously occupied
by the transmission shaft c, an oval wheel a¹ is koyed, Figs. 26 & 27, which
is carried by another wheel of like form a³ keyed upon a shaft æ, upon which
is fitted the wheel c, which gears with the pinion on the pulley shaft b,
these two oval wheels being in such relation that the greater axis of the one
may be in the extension or the prolongation of the smaller axis of the other;
hence it results that although the motor imparts a uniform movement to
wheel, the oval wheel a fitted on the axis of the latter will impart
accelerated motion to shaft c when the larger dimensions of the wheel a² acts
upon the smaller diameter of the wheel a³, and vice versa. By thus keying
the two oval wheels upon their axes in the above manner, provided the two
different periods of slackness in the working of the mechanism shall coincide,
the one with the moment when the reed T leaves the weft meshes, and the
other with the moment when the tightening hooks are receiving the warp
threads from the shuttlos. Thus the inconveniences resulting from the rapid
movements assumed by the reed on one hand, and the tightening hooks on
the other will be obvinted, owing to the difference which is suddenly produced
in the curved radii of the cams at these moments. Instead of being oval, the
wheels a, a, may have other forms more or less appropriated to the desired
variations to be introduced in the action of the loom during ono revolution of
the main shaft c.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th March 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said William Clark, IIer special licence that I, the said William
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times 3
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might

page_text: 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 MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF FISHING AND OTHER
NETS," a com" from abroad by Messrs. Felix Marie Baudouin & Achille
Baudouin, Civil Engineers, and Jean Baptiste François Jouannin, Mecha-
nician, all of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Clark, my executors or administrators, 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 Clark, 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 fol-
lowing statement, reference being had to the seven Sheets of Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say:
The improvements which constitute the new machinery for manufacturing
fishing and other nets forming the subject of the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent have for their starting point the machine for manufacturing
nets, which was patented about twenty years ago by Mr. Pecqueur, and who,
on the 20th day of July, 1840, took out, in
which secured to him, for fifteen years, the
arrangements described in his said Patent.
the intervention of an intelligent agent, who
certain determined motions to the various parts contributing to the fabrication
of the net.
France, the Patent of Invention
property of the combination and
This machine, however, required
could impart, at desired times,
On the First of June, 1849, Mr. Pecqueur obtained new Patent, in
France, for certain mechanical arrangements for starting and operating
automatically his 1840 machine, and on the Eighth of August in the same
year took out a Patent in England, which secured to him both the mechanical
arrangements, which were the object of his last French Patent, and also his
improvements previously described in his first, which Invention and improve-
ments were not, in fact, at that time public property, but which from the 20th
July, 1855, have actually become so.
The present improvements are of two kinds, the one being applied to con-
stitutive agents of Mr. Pecqueur's original machine, the other consisting in

page_text: new mechanical arrangements, by means of which the machine has been
rendered self-acting.
I will first proceed to describe modifications and improvements in Mr.
Pecqueur's loom, the whole of which suffice to constitute a new machine,
whether it be worked by hand, or rendered self-acting be means of any motive
power; and I will afterwards proceed to describe the means by which the
working of the loom has been rendered practical, regular, and sure, while
increasing considerably the number of the meshes in each series or rows, and
causing the loom to be worked at a speed of ten to fifteen rows of ties a
minute instead of from four to five, as obtained in Mr. Pecqueur's mechanical
arrangements, patented in 1849, above referred to.
Description of improved loom for manufacturing nets.-In order to make
these improvements better understood independently of the peculiar mecha-
nical arrangements by which the loom is rendered self-acting, I have repre-
sented, in Sheets 1, 2, & 3, Figs. 1 to 6 of the Drawings annexed, the
apparatus described in Mr. Pecqueur's Patent before referred to. The
improved apparatus of this Invention is separately represented at Sheet 4,
Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, where are seen the whole of the parts of the loom,
and also some details of the principal modifications of parts previously
employed by Mr. Pecqueur, or in the working thereof. The same letters and
figures of reference indicate like parts in the different Figures which are the
same as those used by Mr. Pecqueur in bis previous Patent, so as to enablo
one to better compare the original with the improved machine, to see at once
what are the parts which remain the same and what modifications have been
mado. In this, as well as in Mr. Pecqueur's former machine, the net ties or
knots are formed by the combined action of three principal agents; first, the
connecting hooks, which act first upon the weft, and then upon the warp
threads; secondly, the movable stretching reed T, Fig. 2 and Fig. 6,
intended to draw back the weft threads at the moment the shuttles are
travelling towards the jaws, and to keep tight the developed parts of such
threads which otherwise would become loose; and, thirdly, the shuttles o, o.
The number of the weft threads is equal to the number of meshes which the
finished net is to present, and the number of the warp threads is the same
plus one. In both machines the warp threads are fed by beam E, Fig. 1;
in this case the beam is endless, being combined with a set of spools B, 0,
Figs. 7 and 14, fitted on a suitable frame at the back of the loom, and in
combination with other additional parts, which will be described herein-after.
The weft threads are fed by a series of shuttlos o, o, of equal number to such

page_text: threads or meshes, which shuttles may be of two kinds, the details of which are
shown at Figs. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 & 23. They greatly differ from those of
Mr. Pecqueur's apparatus; their nature and construction will be described
herein-after. The arrangement of the parts upon which the shuttles rest also
differs essentially from that adapted by Mr. Pecqueur. Instead of the
movable frame N, N, Figs. 1 & 2, in Mr. Pecqueur's machine, which oscillates
on pivots fixed at its lower part, are substituted two fixed bearings shown at
Figs. 7, 12, 14, 15, and 16, secured on the front part of the framing, and
having at their upper part two horizontal rails, upon which run two pairs of
rollers n, supporting the cast-iron frame n', to which the shuttles are connected
by means of the square or octagonal shaft Q passing through them. These
new arrangements, and the advantages resulting therefrom, will be described
herein-after. In this, as in Mr. Pecqueur's machine, both the warp and the
weft threads at the commencement of the operation are connected to the
roller L, which, together with the two other rollers L³, L², constitute a system,
the function of which is to take up, whenever a row of meshes is completed,
the net already made in quantity equal to the distance between the rows.
But the manner in which this system of take-up rollers is arranged and
employed, according to this Invention, presents some important modifications,
which will be explained herein-after, and which have for immediate result to
render it surer in its action, so as to enable the length of the meshes to be
increased or diminished to the minutest degree possible. Before reaching the
roller L all the threads pass through the pair of jaws 1, 1, at which part are
formed the knots which constitute the net. The improvements in said jaws
are but secondary modifications, the object of which is to simplify their con-
struction and adjustment.
Connecting hooks, the hook box, and its frame.-The connecting hooks, and
the manner in which they are fitted in their box D', Fig. 10, termed a "hook
box," remain the same as in Mr. Pecqueur's loom, as also the interior mechanism,
whereby the attendant can at the proper time, by means, 1st, of handle D and
the pinion it carries, 2ndly, of the long rack D³, Figs. 5 and 10, upon which
this pinion acts, and 3rdly, of small pinions D*, secured on the shafts of all
these hooks, and with which said rack gears, imparting to all the hooks a
rotary motion either to the right or left. The hook box may also turn on its
pivots, so as to either lower or raise the points of the hooks as before. The
manner in which the attendant works the hook box and the shuttle carrier so
as to operate the throwing and connecting of the warp and weft threads is
similar to that described in the before-mentioned Patent, but their working is
better ensured by the following arrangement:-In Mr. Pecqueur's loom, the con-

page_text: necting hooks after having formed one row of meshes, are caused to turn their
sharp ends in the opposite direction to that to which they before pointed, in
order to form the next row, and further when acting upon the warp, they first
take the end thread on the left-hand to make one row of meshes, while for tho
next range they take the right-hand thread, and vice versa, but as mistakes may
happen on the part of the attendant, and false meshes be produced which would
injure the whole piece, the following is a modification of the foregoing arrange-
ment. In Mr. Pecqueur's loom, the shifting of the hook box D' from right to
left, and vice versa, for the purpose above mentioned is effected by changing
the position of the frame C, Figs. 1 & 2, to which the hook box is fitted, but
in such displacement the frame has a tendency to get out of form, and is liablo
to a certain amount of shaking, which renders the loom uncertain in its
action, and involves a loss of time. To obviate this, an alternate to-and-fro
motion of the hook box is substituted for the lateral displacement of said box,
Icaving sufficient space between its extremities, and the uprights of the frame
for this to-and-fro motion, and arranging the box in such manner that
it may slide on its pins to the right or left according to the impulso
given to the handle D. The frame not requiring to be displaced any
longer in a lateral direction is strengthened by means of two cheeks W, W,
Figs. 7, 14, 15, & 16, fixed at the right & left of the framing, said
cheeks having sufficient surface to allow of the extremities of the lower cross
bar which connects the two uprights in all the movements of the frame up-
wards, downwards, forwards, and backwards, sliding freely on the two cheeks,
which are made very smooth for the purpose. To prevent, after the end warp
thread has been taken up on one side, the left for instance, another warp from
being taken up from the same side by the attandant, a sort of cross bar 1 is
fitted to the loom, which is movable in a lateral direction, Figs. 35 & 36, and
terminate by two projecting bolts 2, 2, which slide in two square-shaped
holes 3, 3, in the sides of the framing. Between said projecting bolts is a
space equal to the length of the hook box, while the space between the two
square holes is equal to the length of sd box plus the distance the box is to be
moved. The cross bar on being moved to the left, the bolt which it carries
becomes flush with the bolt hole on that side, while the other bolt on the contrary
forms a projection on leaving its recess. All the parts being thus arranged
the attendant takes the left-hand thread, and can only work on this side, as
it is only by pushing the hook box towards the left that it can engage
between the left-hand bolo and the right-hand projecting bolt, which latter
in projecting is prevented from entering the box on that side, in case by mis-
take it were attempted to engago therewith. The hook box being thus

page_text: carried towards the left, the attendant pushes it forwards, causing the hooks to
penetrate between the warp threads in such manner that the last hook on the
left may be on the left of the extreme left-hand thread. In this position in
order to cause the hooks to take hold of the warp threads, the hook box must
be pushed towards the right, in which movement it carries with it the two
bolts between which it is fitted, the right-hand one being fitted flush with its
recess, whilst the left-hand bolt projects. When the hook box is disengaged
on the row of meshes being completed, and at a given time, the hook box
is to be engaged towards the right, said bolt prevents its being engaged by
mistake towards the left of said hook box, while it is free to work towards the
right. To prevent said hooks from being displaced too easily, springs 4, 4,
are applied, which press against them, and form a kind of brake to their
action. When this improved loom is worked by mechanical power, the last-
mentioned apparatus is dispensed with, and the alternate displacement to the
right and left of the hook box is regularly produced by the cams.
Improvements in the shuttles.-Instead of the shuttles employed in
Mr. Pecqueur's loom, two improved arrangements are made use of, although
the second form herein-after described will be found most advantageous.
1st. Shuttles with oblong blades, Figs. 17, 18, & 19.-This improved oblong
shuttle differs from that of Mr. Pecqueur in many essential points. First,
the plate or blade o upon which the thread is wound is of bevilled form, and
is placed within the body o¹ of the shuttle, the narrow part being directed
towards the jaws of the framing of the loom. The thread is wound, across it,
which allows of its. unwinding itself at each throw of the shuttle under the
pulling action it undergoes, while in Mr. Pecqueur's system of shuttle the
unwinding is effected in an intermittent manner through the action of a ruler.
worked by the attendant at the moment when the shortening of the thread
resulting from the amount of material employed after a certain number of rows
have been made, only allowed the shuttles an insufficient length of traverse. The
main body of this improved shuttle is provided with two thin sides o³, o³, so that
when throwing the thread the warp lap b, Fig. 19, cannot catch in the weft
thread round the blade. The body of the shuttle carries at o³ a small cylindrical
stop, engaging in a T-shaped groove o³ in the end of the shuttle, which allows of
its oscillating on said stop to allow of the unwinding of the thread without the
traction of the latter carrying away the blade out of the body of the shuttle;
the cap in the body of the shuttle is also dispensed with, which allows of an
increased quantity of thread being placed therein, and also enables the attend-
ant to ascertain if the thread is about being exhausted, besides the saving of
time required in removing and replacing the caps in position. Upon its

page_text: issuing from the plate, the thread passes between an upper fixed cylinder of
tempered steel o°, and another small steel part having a spring o, which
latter is slightly concave on the side bearing on the thread, this arrangement
forms a sort of check to the development of the thread from the shuttles, and
ensures a proper degree of tightness in the knots of the meshes. The elas-
ticity of this spring piece permits of the easy passing of all inequalities or knots
in the thread, at the same time ensuring the requisite degree of tension, and
thus preventing a number of accidents which produco both irregularities in
the net, and much loss of time. At o is fitted the roller Q, which is the
same as that described in Mr. Pecquer's loom, the arrangement of which
permits of the meshes into which the shuttles engago passing between the
latter and the spindle, connecting them to the shuttle holders without said
shuttles ceasing to be attached thereto. In front of the shuttle is placed a
needle o turning on its support, which needle is intended to receive the warp
mesh b, b, Fig. 19, as it issues from the body of the shuttle, thus preventing
the twisting and stoppage of said mesh, and the formation of the knot before
it has reached the point where the tie is to be made, to ensure regularity in
the work. Any suitable flexible material may be used for the same purpose
as the needles, such as catgut either alone or covered with wire of spiral form,
and capable of being lengthened to facilitate the passage of the meshes. The
same result may also be obtained by employing a reed 5, Figs. 37, 38, with
long teeth sliding in any suitable manner beneath the lower jaw of the
framing, and which meet and engage the meshes as they issue from the
shuttles, and then withdraw after the tightening of the knots has boon effected.
This reed in hand looms may be operated by means of a special treadle, and
in self-acting looms by means of connecting rods 6 and eccentrics 7 suitably
arranged. This movable reed and the conducting needles may also be
employed in combination. The front part of the shuttle is also modified by
having the end o³ somewhat turned up, and terminating in a hook intended
to prevent the warp thread escaping on that side. This improvement has for
object to increase the width of the plate, and consequently the quantity of
thread it may carry, also to reduce the distance the warp mesh has to travel
before embracing the shuttle, and consequently rendering more uniform the
contour of the cams employed to produce the lowering of the hook box in
self-acting looms.
Flat spool shuttles, Figs. 20, 21, 22, & 23.-In this shuttle o, the oblong
plate is replaced by a pulley-shaped spool, consisting of two metal cases, shown
in section Fig. 28, which are formed by stamping, and their form is so calcu-
lated, that notwithstanding their thinness, they possess great solidity, and their

page_text: central parts form by their connection, when rivetted to each other, a sort of
internal boss, round which the thread is wound. In the centre of the loom is
made a small square slot for receiving the arbor of the reel for winding on the
threads, which reel is so contrived as to fill a great number of spools at one
time. Between the extreme edges of the cases of these bobbins sufficient
space is left for the thread to pass freely. This form of bobbin also allows of
its being fitted within the body of the shuttle o, which is unenclosed, the
bottom being provided with a circular projection on which the edges of said
bobbins fit. The weft thread is wound round the boss in the said spool, and
passes over a round appendage o, which forms part of the shuttles and termi-
nates in a sort of hook. The thread is wound once or more round said appen-
dage, according to the greater or less friction undergone by the thread in such
winding, and for the purpose of proportioning the resistance of the tension the
thread has to undergo without unwinding; the hook at the end prevents the
thread from dropping. To the body of the shuttle the conducting needle o'
above mentioned is also fitted, it being always adjusted in a similar manner
with the roller Q, which remains the same; and further, in order to make the
bobbin pulley o of the greatest possible diameter, so that it may carry a greater
quantity of thread, it may also be adjusted on the front part of the shuttle.
The second description of shuttle presents the following advantages:-The
winding of the thread is much easier, the thread is better and more regularly
developed or supplied, it cannot become choked, is more certain in its action,
and is not liable to any variations usual when employing springs generally, its
action can be easily modified by simply varying the amount of the thread
wound on it, and, what is very important, the length of the body of the shuttle
is notably diminished, which consequently reduces the amount of traverse of
the slide or shuttle carrier by double the amount the shuttle itself has been
reduced. The advantage of the latter improvement will prove still more
important where the loom is self-acting, as will be explained herein-after.
Sliding shuttle carriers.-The oblong frame n', upon which the shuttles
rest, is arranged in the same manner as in Mr. Pecqueur's loom, with this
important modification, that instead of being attached to long oscillating arms
which cause it to describe an arc of a circle, it is carried upon rollers n, form-
ing a regular carriage, which travels on fixed rails N, N. The method of
attaching the shuttles by inserting the shaft Q through the naves of all the
rollers Q, Q, and rotating it at the two ends of the frame is the same as in the
before-mentioned loom, as also the manner in which said shaft is operated by
the to-and-fro motion of the frame, causing the shuttle rollers to perform at
the desired time one-third of a revolution for passing the warp meshes from the

page_text: back to the front of the shuttles. To the slide or carriage is also applied an
arrangement for effecting by self-acting mechanism, after a row of stitches has
been made, the removal of the finished piece, whilst in Mr. Pecqueur's process
this is effected by means of a treadle II, actuated by the attendant, in con-
nection with a rather complicated apparatus, the detail of which is shown at
Fig. 3.
Instead of the apparatus alluded to, the following arrangement is substi-
tuted, which is much simpler and surer in its action, being acted upon by the
rollers g' attached to the appendage g on the sliding shuttle carrier.
Apparatus for removing the net and for regulating the size of the meshes.―
This apparatus, which is represented at Figs. 8 and 8', chiefly consists of a
ratchet composed of a round box R, having at its centro a socket fitted on the
axis of roller L'. In this box the part R' turns freely in said socket, to which
part is connected the lower lever R. The part R' has on its circumference
two notches, into which enter two catches r, r³, catch r being acted on by a
spring, and catch by a flat spring ; the position of the two notches r, r³,
is such, that a line passing through their centres will be above the centre of
the axis L', it results therefrom that when the part R' turns from right to left
the catch r bears against the edge of the box R, and causes said box to turn in
the same direction; the catch, which also embraces freely the edge of the
box R at its lower end, has a rocking motion imparted to it, which movement
causes the edge of the box to be gripped by the catch, thus forcing the latter to
partake of the same movements. When the piece R' is brought back to the oppo-
site side by the counterbalance weight acting upon it, the catches will again
become freo and the box R remains stationary. The lever R³ in its backward
movement comes in contact with a stop pin r', fixed upon a movable bearing r³,
sliding in a frame 77 by the action of an adjusting screw r³, whereby its position
may be varied as also the extent of the aro described by the part R'. Tho
appendage 9 above mentioned, which acts upon the lever R", may also change
its position, being attached to the slide N¹ by means of a slot and screw 8
nut g. By combining this displacement of the pin and the appendage g, g',
the motion of the friction ratchet, and consequently the size of the meshes of
the net, may be regulated as desired, whilst with a toothed ratchet the variations
in the size of the meshes can only correspond with the space behind the
ratchet wheel. The simple displacement of the stop pin r permits of varying 3
the extent of motion of the ratchet and consequently the size of the meshes,
therefore, instead of effecting this displacement only before commencing each
piece of netting so as to have all the meshes of an equal size throughout, in
certain cases tho loom may be caused to vary at each row the position of the

page_text: stop by which the motion of the ratchet is limited, and thus obtain meshes of
increasing or decreasing size. Hence in this improved loom all descriptions of
nets with unequal meshes may be produced, which result has been unattain-
able heretofore otherwise than by manual labour. For this purpose it is only
necessary to connect to the sliding carriage any suitable mechanism which,
during the to-and-fro motion of the said slide shall act upon the adjusting
screw, thus determining at every throw a fraction of a revolution corre-
sponding to the progress forwards or backwards of the stop pin . It will be
easily understood that the arrangements for obtaining this result may be of
various natures. Thus, instead of the stop piece r¹, which is displaced by the
action of the screw 28, a cam keyed upon a shaft may be employed, which is
caused to turn a fraction of a revolution in an intermittent manner by the to-
and-fro movement of the sliding carriage. According to the degree of excen-
tricity and the form of said cam, against which the lever R2 abuts, and
according to the number of the to-and-fro movements by which the said cam
accomplishes a complete revolution, a greater or less number of meshes will be
obtained, the size of which will first increase and then decrease. The object
claimed is not therefore such or such arrangements for conducing to the
realization of said improvement but the improvement itself, which consists in
causing the shuttle, its to-&-fro motion and by means of any suitable
mechanism, to determine such and such variations, as it may seem proper to
adapt in the extent of motion of the ratchet which drives the net-carrying rollers,
so as to vary, in a self-acting manner, the size of the meshes in the same piece
of netting. Moreover this improvement is independent of the form of the
ratchet adopted, as ordinary ratchets may be applied for the same purpose,
though somewhat less advantageously.
Regulator of pressure of drawing-off rollers.-It is only necessary here to
indicate the simplification made in the means of regulating the pressure of the
drawing rollers L, L, L. The supports K, placed on both sides of the loom,
terminate in a forked slide s, the axis s¹ of the roller L' turns in the slides,
which is pressed upon to the desired degree by the cap of bearings, & by set
screw s³, passing through a fixed screw cap s, and is more or less tightened
till the net is held firmly enough not to yield to the tension of the shuttle
threads.
Movable reed stretcher for the shuttle threads, Figs. 6, 24, & 25,
Sheet 2.The warp thread stretcher T, acts in the same manner as described
in Mr. Pecqueur's loom, only instead of isolating it, it is connected to the
levers m', which, on rising, seize it by means of its journal n at its two ends.
For this purpose the shaft on which the two levers m³ are keyed is lowered,

page_text: thus placing their centre of oscillation near the ground in such manner that the
are described by the upper end of said levers may be nearly a straight line.
In this case the lower notch m³, Fig. 2, of each lever is replaced by a cavity m*,
in which the journal m³ of reed T takes and turns freely. The second notch m³
on each side of the loom may then receive with more certainty and at the proper
time the upper journal of the reed. The reed may also in this case be of more
solid construction, and instead of the two small journals fitted at its ends,
which are liable to be deranged and detached, especially when the speed is
great, two rods may be employed, the ends of which form the journals m³,
passing through the opposite cheeks of the reed. The cord of the treadlo v',
Figs. 2 & 7 is passed over a return pulley for bringing back at the desired
moment the set of levers m³, m', towards the jaws of the framing, tho back-
ward motion being effected, as in Mr. Pecqueur's loom, by means of the
counterbalance weight T in which case the other counterbalance weight M' is
no longer required. This arrangement will prove still more advantageous
when the loom is self-acting, as will be seen heroin-after by dispensing with
the treadle V and replacing it by a double-action cam for the purpose
of preventing the reed from being thrown out with such rapidity at a cortain
period.
Beam and appendages constituting an endless beam, Figs. 7, 14, 15, 16 S
and 82. Instead of the ordinary beam E is substituted an arrangement by
which the warp threads instead of being previously wound on the beam, which
necessarily limits its length and also presents other inconveniences, are supplied
to the warp beam from a number of spools b, o, corresponding to the number
of warp threads, which spools turn freely in the bobbin holder B, O. The
threads fed by the spools or bobbins b, o, pass through a first separating reed
p, o, Fig. 11, then over a rounded fixed bar i, Figs. 11, 15 and 32, and
afterwards under a similar bar 21, then over a third 3', and so forth according
to the required degree of resistance to be opposed to the developement of the
thread and the nature of the work. On leaving these checking bars the warp 3
threads pass under the roller r, o, of a lever F oscillating at point F¹ at tho
front of the machine, thence the threads pass through a second separating
reed p, o¹, Fig. 15, placed close to the beam E, round which they are wound
one and a quarter turns, thence they pass between the teeth of a third reed p, 0',
placed in front and close to the beam, and from thence descend to the jaws i, i', 3
passing through another reed J, which will be described herein-after. Thus
guided the threads are arranged in their assigned place on the boam without
the possibility of riding one ovor the other, each of them being separated
during their traverse from the bobbins until they reach the jaws i, . The

page_text: surface of the beam E is roughened by any suitable means, by emery dust,
for instance, by which contrivance the threads, although they are only.
wound once and a quarter round it, are prevented from sliding by their own
impulse.
This beam is also provided at one of its ends with a pulley, upon which a
cord is wound two or more times, carrying at each end counterbalance weights.
of unequal weight, and acting in opposite directions as usual in looms for
constantly drawing back the threads. It should be here observed that this
system of counterbalance weights is not sufficient alone to ensure the efficient
working of the beam, this especially where it is combined with a bobbin
holder, except by the arrangements above described, which have for result to
regulate the developement and the tension of the threads fed by the bobbins in
a suitable degree.
In order to ensure the proper working of this improved machinery for the
manufacture of nets, it is necessary that the warp threads after furnishing the
required amount for the passage of the shuttles through the loops formed by
them should then rise, while still preserving their tension, which result is
infallibly obtained by the combination of parts above described; in fact, when
the warp threads are pulled by the connecting hooks, the beam is caused to
turn on its axis in a forward direction; the back net formed by the warp thus
becomes stretched, and causes the roller r, o, of the oscillating lever F to
reascend, and the tension exerted on the warp threads by the working of the
loom being greater than the resistance due to the friction of the threads
between the bars 11, 2, & 31, these threads are caused to be supplied from
the spools to a corresponding amount to that which the beam has taken up in
its forward motion.
When the threads have been liberated from the tightening hooks and
have returned towards the jaws, the beam, by means of the counterbalance
weight E, brings back those threads by winding them up forwards &
unrolling them a like quantity backwards; this result is obtained by the
pressure exerted on the back web formed by said threads; the action of roller
r, o, which takes up the quantity that would be otherwise left loose, and
maintains the tightness of the threads on the rough surface of the roller, still
preserving on the back part of the beam a sufficient tension of the threads so
as to prevent their bagging, which, however, should not be so great as to
overcome the resistance of the check bars 1, 2, & 3¹. These arrangements
have further for their object to obviate the great disadvantages attending the
use of ordinary beams, as in the latter the threads can only be developed all
together; and if a thread happens to break the two ends cannot be connected

page_text: by a simple tie, which would have for result to shorten this and to loosen the
other threads by pulling upon the beam; it is thus necessary to connect them
by means of an additional piece of thread attached to each end separately,
which requires two knots for each breaking of the thread. In this improved
system, although the rough surface of the beam prevents the threads sliding
on its surface, a broken thread may be easily removed by hand without
turning the beam, it suffices to loosen with the finger the thread round the
beam, and by drawing it through the check bars the spool is caused to yield
the required length, when the two ends of the broken thread may be after-
wards connected by a single knot.
Further when using ordinary beams the length of the net is of course
limited by the length of the threads wound on the beam, while from the
frequent mountings of the beam and the difficulty of establishing any exact
relation between the length of the threads and that of the net to be obtained,
there resulted great losses both of time and of material, which are obvinted by
the application of the combined beam above described, which, in fact, becomes
an endless beam.
Separating reed for guiding the warp threads to the jaws in the precise place
they are to occupy.-Instead of the movable separating reed h, h, Figs. 1 & 2
used by Mr. Pecqueur, and composed of a set of hooks fixed upon a plate
carried by an oscillating frame H, H, which is raised or lowered at suitable
intervals by the attendant acting on the trendle H³, a different arrangement
of reed is substituted, which, although stationary, better answers the desired
purpose. This improved reed, Figs. 13, 14, 15, 19 & 32, is mounted on the
face of the upper jaw J near the top, which is widened for greater solidity. It
consists of two superposed ranges of pin rollers h, h, the diameter of which is
rather less than the distance between two consecutive threads, the distance
from the centre of a roller of one row to the centre of the roller juxtaposed
of the other row being exactly equal to the space between the threads. When
the warp threads are engaged in the reed a horizontal roller h¹, turning
freely on its axis in the supports h', is placed in front of the threads and
prevents them disengaging from the reed. By this arrangement whatever may
be the inequalities of the threads, or the size of the knots, they may be passed
between the rollers h, h, and leave the reed at regular distances apart. By
the employment of the roller h³, placed in front of the threads is obviated the
friction which the threads would otherwise undergo, in the fixed hooks which
cause the threads to fray. The strain resulting from the friction is especially
great at the moment when the warp threads form an anglo to be drawn forwards
by the tightening hooks.

page_text: Improvements relating to the making of the selvedges or borders.--Various
arrangements may be employed for regulating what are termed the selvedge
meshes to be formed on each side of the net by the warp threads which are
only connected at every two rows alternately; but the following arrangement
will be found, notwithstanding its great simplicity, to perfectly fulfil the
purpose desired, on condition however that the finished net shall be stretched
after being taken out of the loom. The two end threads pass each through a
small ring attached to a cord 9 passing over a support 10, and carrying at its
end a counterbalance weight 11 of sufficient weight to prevent the thread
from bagging; a thread tightener 12, is applied to limit the descent of the
counterbalance weight at the proper moment by contact with a small forked
socket 13 in order to prevent the knot or tie which is formed at every two rows
alternately on the said thread from being tightened completely, and so that on
the contrary the looseness thus produced in the tie may absorb any excess of
thread supplied by the beam which excess is due to the absence of the tie
every other two rows. The net on being taken out of the loom is stretched.
laterally, the ties in the selvedge which have been left loose are tightened, thus
making each selvedge mesh of greater length, which when it is desired to unite
one piece of net to another will be of advantage for the regular formation of
the connecting meshes.
However minute this arrangement may appear it yet possesses great
importance as regards a good manufacture, and the strength of the junction of
one peice of web to another.
Improvements resulting from the use of threads alternately twisted right
5 and left.-Nets have a tendency to twist or curl up when in the water; thus
if all the threads of a net were twisted in the same direction it would con-
tribute to increase the effect of the torsion when in water as above mentioned
in the same direction as the twist of the thread, but by employing threads the
torsion or twisting of which is in alternate directions, the tendency of the net
to curl will be neutralized during the manufacture as well as when in the
water, this mode of proceeding therefore constitutes an improvement which
is claimed as being one of the distinctive features of this Invention. A further
improvement intended to facilitate the sliding of the weft threads in the warp
meshes is as follows:-When the threads are not perfectly smooth as generally
5 happens with warp threads, or are too elastic as cotton threads, it frequently
happens that the sliding of the weft threads into the warp meshes is not easily
effected, and the meshes thus irregularly made are liable to twist. This may
be obviated by an apparatus having for object to operate upon the weft threads
when returning forwards drawn by the shuttle slide in order to form the ties suc-
C

page_text: cessive movements of which facilitates the sliding of said threads into the warp
meshes. This apparatus is represented at Sheet 7, Figs. 32, 33 & 34. Fig. 32,
showing a vertical section of the above apparatus; Fig. 39 a side view, and Fig.
34, a plan of the same; 14 represents a plate fixed to the two side lovers 15,
jointed to the shaft 16 which turns in bearings secured to framing A. Upon this
shaft 16, is keyed a lever shaft 17, carrying a roller 18, which gears in a cam 19,
keyed on a driving shaft c, and the toeth 20 of which effect the successivo
rising and falling movements of the plato 14.
With reference to this part of the Invention it may be remarked that differ-
ent pieces of net may be obtained in the same loom; for this purpose it is only
necessary to remove a hook and shuttle or prevent them from working at
suitable places by so doing as many selvedges may be made as there are
shuttles and hooks removed.
Peculiar arrangements by means of which the improved loom for the
manufacturo of nets above described is rendered self-acting, Sheets 4, 5, 6,
and 7.-It is well known that by certain combinations of cams and eccentrics
acting upon connecting rods and lovers it is possible to produce the most
varied movements. Many inventors of looms for the manufacture of nets
have sought by such combinations to obtain automatically the movements
effected by the persons employed in such manufacture on their own systems.
The mechanical combinations herein adopted to render this improved loom
self-acting differ from preceding ones for the same purpose, first, by the
simplicity obtained by the modifications and improvements in the loom when
worked by hand, and more particularly by the method herein adopted of
bringing each part employed in the formation of the ties to bear as much
as possible on the very point where the action is required to be exerted.
In order to make the mechanical action, which is to be substituted for the
manual labour as direct as possible, as in hand looms, where the attendant
acts in front of a loom to directly apply power at the required time to set the
loom in motion, the various cams in this improved apparatus are placed near
the parts where they are intended to actuate. For this purpose, instead of
fixing all the cams on two shafts placed at the back part of the loom, which,
in order to communicate their action to the parts in the front of the loom,
necessitates the application of long connecting rods and levers or boll-crank
movements with multiplied joints, which are of considerable length (twelve to
fifteen feet), and consequently liable to oscillate, bend, or be unsteady, and
resulting in a want of precision consequent on the multiciplicity, elasticity,
and looseness of such joints. Instead of the above arrangement, on the main
shaft c are fitted the cranks c', intended to produce on each side of the loom,

page_text: through the medium of the connecting rod c³, the to-and-fro movement of the
shuttle slide n', the cam which, by means of the connecting rod c, imparts
to the frame of the hook box the forward and backward movements required
at certain times, and the cam c³, which is to act, through the connecting
rod c, on the movable stretching reed T. These cams, which are to determine
the other movements, are keyed on shafts near the point where their action is
to be exerted, and impart rotary motion to the main shaft c¹, as herein-after
described, by means of endless chains, with stretchers and toothed wheels
gearing in such chains, which arrangement permits of the connecting rods or
levers driven by these cams being reduced in length to about eighteen inches
from three and a quarter feet. The mechanical arrangements further differ
from those hitherto employed by the application of double-action cams generally
employed for the purpose, which permits of dispensing with counterbalanco
weights, necessary when employing single-action cams, for keeping the rollers
of the connecting rods constantly leaning against the surfaces of the cams,
which is very difficult except the loom be driven at a low speed.
Figs. 28, 29, & 31, Sheet 4, represent in detail two arrangements of these
double-action cams. The advantages, as may be seen, presented by a cam of
this description are, that the connecting rod it is to act upon, and which is
fitted between two discs of different but corelative form, which constitutes the
cam, having a long stem embracing the axis of the latter, confines, as it were,
the cain between the two rollers carried by said rod, one on each side of it,
the one working on the contour of one disc, and the other on the circum-
ference of the other disc, and as the relation which exists between the form of
the discs is such that while one will always present a convex surface to the
concave surface of the roller acting on it, the second disc presents a concave
surface, and vice versa, hence it ensues that the connecting rod is constantly
acted upon at any moment of the revolution of the cam, either in one or in
the other direction, by the pressure on one or other of the rollers, first by one
of the discs, and then by the other, according to the position of the latter;
by this means the connecting rods will have no irregularity in their motion,
which ensures great certainty in the action of the parts of the loom driven
by them whatever may be the speed employed. The mechanisin of this
self-acting loom is represented in Sheets 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the Drawings
annexed. Fig. 12 is a front view, Fig. 13, a back view, Fig. 14, a side
view, Fig. 15, a vertical section, through line 1, 2, Fig. 12, and Fig. 16, a
side view of the loom.
In order that the mechanism by which the loom is rendered self-acting
may be better understood, it will be necessary to describe the various move-

page_text: ments which are required to be effected in hand looms, and are as follows:-
As regards the working of the shuttles it is only necessary to impart a back-
ward and forward motion to the slide n', n', which carries them, which is
effected by means of connecting rods c jointed on one part to the slide, and
on the other to the crank C' keyed upon the main shaft C. In this to-and-
fro motion the one-third revolution performed by the shaft Q which carries the
shuttle rollers is effected automatically the same as tho loom, while tho
appendage 9, Fig. 8', carried by the slide n' acts as in said hand loom upon
tho finished net-carrying apparatus. The starting of the tightening hooks,
with their box D' and the frame which carries it, differs, however, somewhat
from the hand process on commencing the formation of a row of ties, that is
to say, at the moment when the shuttle slide has reached its greatest distance
from the jaws i, i, a downward motion is imparted to the rocking lever 13,
from which is suspended the frame C of the hook box D' for the purpose of
causing said hooks to advance towards the weft threads (shuttle threads),
which movement is effected by means of connecting rods d³ actuated by the
double disc or double-action cams d' keyed on the shaft d. At the samo time
as this downward movement is being accomplished, the axes of the hook box
D' are caused to turn, so that the points of the hooks may be in a downward
direction for penetrating between the shuttle threads, which effect is obtained
by means of the double-action cam J keyed on shaft J, and actuating the
connecting rod J, Fig. 29, which carries at its opposite end a rack gearing
with the pinion Ju keyed upon the body of the said hook box, Figs. 29 & 30.
When the tightening hooks have thus penetrated between the shuttle threads,
the hook box is caused to receive a lateral motion in the direction of its axis
for the purpose of putting the necks of the hooks underneath the threads,
which effect is obtained by means of the double-action grooved cam k' keyed on
the shaft on the right of the loom, which cam actuates the connecting rod k
jointed at . This connecting rod, by means of the fork at its end, forces the
hook box Interally in one direction to the required degree, and returns it a
similar distance when the next row is formed. The hook box then re-
ascends in order that the hooks may seize hold of and tako up the shuttle
threads. The hooks also turn about a half-revolution for the purpose of
twisting the threads, and the hook box is also caused to turn upon itself, so as
to raise the points of the hooks, and to engage and hold back against their
necks the weft meshes just formed. The first of these three movements is
obtained by means of the double-action cam d and rod, above mentioned;
the second movement is obtained by means of the grooved double-action
cam keyed on shaft k at the left of the loom, and connecting rod k oscil-

page_text: lating at . This connecting rod terminates in a small fork embracing the
axis of the rack on the hook box, and imparts to it the longitudinal movement
which determines the rotation of the pinions with which the tightening books
are provided; the third movement above mentioned is obtained by means of
the double-action cam J³, before described, and connecting rod J³, which
causes the hook box to turn on its axis. At this moment the hook box is
caused to make a backward movement for the purpose of introducing the hooks
between the warp threads. This, as well as the contrary movement, when the
hooks bring the warp threads up to the shuttles, is produced in the manner
already explained by the double-action cams keyed at the right and left
03
extremities of the main shaft, and connecting rods c³, which act directly upon
the lower part of the upright c of the frame of hook box. This being done
the hooks are displaced laterally for the purpose of seizing upon the warp
threads and bringing them forwards by turning the hooks on their axes about
a quarter of a revolution, so as to direct their points downwards to reverse tho
meshes of the shuttle threads which they had retained on their necks, so as to
cause said shuttle meshes to fall upon the warp meshes while the latter still
continuing to be suspended from the points of the hook thus pass through
the shuttle meshes until the hooks are finally drawn backwards and lowered
down to the shuttles, thence to return forwards and engage the latter in the
warp meshes, at which moment said meshes escape and pass to the shuttles
for the purpose of forming the back ties. These movements are effected, 1st,
by means of a lateral movement of the hook box D', in combination with the
cam ke, above mentioned; 2ndly, by a backward movement of the frame C pro-
duced by means of the cam c³; 3rdly, by a longitudinal motion of the rack on
the hook box obtained by the cam ; 4thly, by a rotary motion of the hook box
produced by the cam J; 5thly, by a downward motion of the frame C produced
by the cam d'; 6thly, by a forward motion of the same frame effected by means
of cam C. The hook box re-ascends to its former position for the purpose
of recommencing a second row of ties, during which time the hooks & hook
box also return to their former position; but these various movements are but
the repetition at various times of previous movements effected by the same
cams, the circumferences of which are made of forms in relation to the
required direction and amplitude of the various movements. It should be
observed that these movements which are required to be effected in one
direction for one row of ties, and in the opposite direction for the next row, are
produced by the cam in connection therewith making half a revolution for
each entire revolution of the main shaft, or the time required for making a
row of ties, so that in the two half revolutions the circumference of the cams

page_text: intended to act in opposite directions on the connecting rods are arranged
according to the effects which it is desired to obtain. The two cams which
perform only half a revolution while the others accomplish an entire one in
the time required to make a row of moshes, are the grooved double-action
cams and above mentioned; the one, , operating the longitudinal
motion of the rack on the hook box or the rotation of the hooks, and the
other, k, operating the lateral displacement of said box. It should be observed
that instead of two grooved double-action cam k, k', the action of which has
been abovo indicated, the double-action cam disc shown in detail at Figs. 28,
29 and 31, may be adopted by jointing the opposite ends of the levers or
connecting rods which are actuated by these cams to an oscillating elbowed
lever termed a "bell-crauk movement." With reference to the movablo
reed T for stretching the shuttle threads, the action of which is in connection
with that of the shuttles and tightening hooks for the formation of the net
ties, the same arrangement may be employed as for the hand loom, except
that the treadle II', Fig. 7, which acts at certain intervals, is replaced by the
double-action cams c³, c³, keyed on the main shaft C and connecting rods c², c³,
which actuate the levers m³, m', and have for object to liberate the movable
reed T from the meshes formed by the shuttle threads at the moment the
ties are about to be tightened, and to immediately return said reed in front
of the jaws i, , for the purpose of again taking up the threads from the
shuttles and drawing them backwards as soon as the shuttles return towards
the jaws which tends to slacken them. It should be further observed that
although only one cam may be herein mentioned, the number of tho cams
has been doubled, as far as possible, so that by the one acting on the right
and the other on the left of the loom their action may be more regular and
efficient, which will, however, be apparent by referring to the Drawings.
Various arrangements by which the rotary motion imparted by any motor
to the main shaft of this improved self-acting loom is transmitted to the other
cam shafts. The main shaft C, as already mentioned, carries the cranks c', c',
the cams, c³, two other cams c³, c³, and the striking cam 19, the other cams
being distributed upon shafts placed most suitably for accomplishing the desired
action in the simplest and most effectual manner. The rotary motion of the
main shaft is communicated to the other shafts in the following manner,
motion being first imparted to said shaft either by machine or hand power:-If
driven by manual power, I fit a crank to the fly wheel a¹ keyed on the shaft a,
which rotates in a frame fixed to the right-hand cross piece at the front part
of the framing A. In the bearings of said frame is keyed a cog wheel a²,
which by means of an endless chain with stretchers a, b, gears with another

page_text: cog wheel of like diameter, 63, keyed upon the shaft b, which rotates in a
frame fixed to the right-hand cross piece of back of the framing, the same
shaft b, carrying on its opposite end a pinion 3, which gears in the cog
wheelckeyed upon the main shaft c, by which the self-acting loom is first
started. If, instead of manual power acting on a crank, the loom be driven
by a strap operated by a steam engine, water wheel, or other power, the
motive power is first applied to shaft 6 by means of pullies b', 6', Fig. 27, (one
fixed and the other loose) on which said strap passes. In this case the
gearing a, a, b, ³, above described, may be dispensed with; it may, however,
be retained, and the fly wheel and crank a employed for gently starting the
loom either forwards or backwards in case it should be necessary to stop it
for mending a broken thread, or other cause. The main shaft c on its
rotary motion actuates the cranks C¹, C", the cams C³, C³, C³, C³, and C³, Cº, the
functions of which have been already described; it also transmits motion with
the same speed to the shaft d by cog wheels C, d, of the same diameter con-
nected by the endless chain with stretchers c, d. This shaft d turns in two
bearings on the top part of the framing; it has also attached to it the two
double-action cams d¹, d¹, which, through the forked rods d³, impart at
different times a downward and upward motion to the rocking lever B and to
the frame C of the hook box suspended therefrom. The shaft C also imparts
rotary motion by means of cog wheels C and f¹, shown at Fig. 3, and the
endless chain and stretcher e, f, to the shaft f, turning in bearings placed at
the upper and back part of the framing A, this shaft forms the centre of
oscillation of the rocking lever b, and also communicates to the shaft J placed
in front of the upper part of the loom the same continuous rotary motion by
means of cog wheel f², the endless chain with stretchers f, j, and cog wheel j¹.
The shaft turns in bearings forming part of the rocking lever B, and oscil-
lating with it; from this shaft is suspended the frame C of the hook box,
which frame is allowed to turn freely on its axis. This shaft, towards the
left hand, carries a cam 72, which as before explained imparts axial motion
to the hook box. Upon the same shaft is keyed towards the right hand a
pinion j*, which drives, by means of wheel k, the cog wheel fitted on the
shaft k, which latter is carried by the uprights of the frame, and partakes in
all its movements, the same as shaft j. The wheel ², as also the wheel k¹, is
double the diameter of that of pinion ; the shaft k only performs half a
revolution in the same time that the others perform a complete one. On this
shaft are keyed the grooved cams k³, k, the one, ³, causing the tightening
hooks to turn first in one direction and then in the other; and the other, k+,
producing the lateral displacement of the hook box in both directions. By

page_text: means of these improvements, and also by the application to the loom of
doublo-action cams which prevent all deviation and uncertainty in the move-
ment of the connecting rods or lovers which they actuate. A small amount
of motive power is sufficient to work the loom at a speed for producing from
twelve to fifteen rows a minute (cach row having one hundred and fifty tics),
whilst only five rows at most have been obtained hitherto, the looms occupying
more space, giving only fifty ties for each row, with a greater expense of
power, while this improved machinery is capable of producing about eighteen
hundred ties per minute instead of two hundred and fifty per minuto as
obtained in Mr. Pecqueur's loom, which has never been introduced in practice.
Reducing and augmenting the speed at certain times during the manu-
facture. An improvement as regards tho speed which may be imparted to
this self-acting loom intended to better ensure its action notwithstanding
the speed with which it is worked, consists in a certain arrangement by which,
notwithstanding the uniform speed of the motor, the speed of the main shaft
may be reduced at times when accomplishing the most delicate portions of
the manufacture, and again increased at such parts as may not be injured by
great rapidity of action. For this purpose, on the shaft C, at the place
previously occupied by the transmission shaft c', an oval wheel a' is keyed
upon a shaft æ, upon which is fitted the wheel c. which gears with the
pinion on the pulley b, these two oval wheels being in such relation that
the greater axis of the one may be in the extension or prolongation of the
smaller axis of the other; hence it results, that although the motor imparts a
uniform movement to wheel c', the oval wheel, fitted on the axis of the
latter, will impart an accelerated motion to shaft c, when tho larger diameter
of the wheel acts upon the smaller diameter of the wheel a³, and vice versa.
By thus keeping the two oval wheels upon their axes in the above manner,
provided the two different periods of slackness in the working of the whole
mechanism shall coincide, the one at the delicate moment when the reed T
leaves the meshes, and the other at the delicate movement when the tightening
hooks aro receiving the warp threads from the shuttle. Thus the incon-
venionces resulting from the rapid movements assumed by the reed on one
hand and tho tightening hooks on the other will be obviated, owing to the
difference which is suddenly produced in the curved radii of the cams at these
moments. Instead of being oval, the wheels a, a, may have other forms
more or less appropriate to the desired variations to be introduced in the
action of the loom during one revolution of the main shaft c.
The following arrangements may also be employed:-First, it will be
remembered that the hook box moves first to the right and then to the left,

page_text: in order to take the thread from each side alternately. Instead of this
arrangement the hook box may be fixed, and the threads be carried first on
one side and then on the other as desirable. For this purpose, I dispense
with the to-and-fro motion of the hook box, and impart it to the separating
reed h² and the movable stretching reed T, thus rendering the apparatus
simpler, and obtaining greater regularity in the motion. In this manner
the shaft K, and the gearing for transmitting motion by means of cams K³,
to the hook box are dispensed with.
Secondly, instead of giving motion either to the stretching reed, or the
movable separating reed, I may impart a lateral movement (from right to
left) of the frame C of hook box, in concert with one of the movements
above-mentioned, which movement would be effected not as before described
in the course of this Specification by means of cams, but by hollows and
rises made in the inner faces of the guide cheeks W, placed on each side of
frame a, for keeping the frame C always vertical. It will be understood
that these hollows and rises are in such relation one to the other as to change
at will the vertical motion of frame c into an alternating movement of the
hook box as desired.
Thirdly, it will also be remembered that as the beam B oscillates freely
on shaft f, which simply serves as a support therefor, the friction resulting
from this arrangement impedes all rotation, to obviate which I employ an
arrangement, represented in Sheet 7 of the Drawings annexed, Figs. 41, 42
and 43, where I dispense with the shaft f, and substitute for it the cylindrical
part 32, 33, fixed to supports 30, at each end of frame. One of the cylindrical
parts 32 is hollow, the shaft 34 turning on it; is a furnished at each end
with a toothed wheel for transmitting motion. The parts 32, 33, being fixed
only serve as supports for the frame, which by this arrangement is rendered
entirely independent of shaft 34.
Fourthly, instead of double cams c³, c³, and others, I may employ the
cams shown at Fig. 44, having a lateral groove, arranged in such manner
as to produce the return of the rod. I also dispense with the double rollers
for producing a similar result. I have represented the foregoing modifications
in Sheet 7, of the Drawings annexed, in which Fig. 41 shows a front view
of the loom, and Fig. 42 a side view of same; Fig. 43 also represents a side
view, and Fig. 44 shows a grooved cam, used as a substitute for the double
cams. In all these Figures the same letters and figures of reference represent
the same parts seen in different positions; 21 double cam, receiving motion
from shaft d by means of two toothed wheels 22, 23, and endless chain 24.

page_text: This cam communicates an alternating motion to the separating reed h";
sliding in guides 25, fixed to the framo; 26 cam, keyed on the driving shaft c;
27 bent lever, oscillating on pivot 28 fixed to the frame, this lever which
terminates in a fork, oscillates from left to right, and imparts a movement
to the stretching reed T, similar to that of separating reed "; 30 doublo
supports fixed to cross piece 31 of frame A; 32 hollow cylinder fixed to
supports 30; 33 cylindrical part fixed to supports 80; 34 shaft turning in
hollow cylinder 32, having at each extremity a toothed wheel for transmitting
motion. The beam B thus acting on the one hand on the cylindrical part 38,
and on the other on 32, does not in the least impede the rotation of shaft 34,
substituted for shaft f; 35 cam having a lateral winding groove 86; 37 rod
receiving motion from cam 34, by means of roller 38 running in groove 36.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the improved action of the hook box, which consists in substituting
for the lateral displacement of the frame carrying said box a similar displace
ment of the box itself in the length of its pivots.
Secondly, I claim the addition to the frame of two cheeks for preventing
lateral oscillation.
Thirdly, I claim the self-acting method berein-before described of pre-
venting any error on the part of the weaver as to when he should alternately
leave or take up the extreme thread of the warp.
Fourtbly, I claim the different improvements in Mr. Pecqueur's shuttles,
herein-before described and represented in detail in the Drawings annexed.
Fifthly, I claim the use of shuttles having flat bobbins, instead of oblong
shuttles, as and for the purposes described.
Sixthly, I claim the application of jointed conducting needles to the
front part of both the above descriptions of shuttles as horcin-beforo described,
also combining said needles, if desired, with a long toothed reed placed in front
of them, as shown in Figs. 37 and 38.
Seventhly, I claim the application of a shuttle carrier running on iron
guides instead of the oscillating shuttle carriers, as in Pecqueur's apparatus.
Eighthly, I claim the adaptation to said carrier of an appendage for
actuating the self-acting apparatus for removing the finished work, as described.
Ninthly, I claim the modification effected in said apparatus itself for the
purpose of obtaining a more gradual withdrawal of the finished net, and con-
sequently of graduating the size of the meshes, as herein-before described.

page_text: Tenthly, I claim the method, herein-before described, of varying the size of
the stitches for each row and of thus producing net capable of stretching or
shrinking at will.
Eleventhly, I claim the modification, herein-before described, in the action
of the movable stretching reed of the shuttle threads.
Twelfthly, I claim the use of an endless beam instead of the ordinary beam
for supplying only those warp threads to the loom which are furnished by the
renewable bobbins, and also the adaptation of necessary parts, the combination
of which permits of applying or removing any separate thread at will and also
of reuniting a broken thread by a single tie.
Thirteenthly, I claim the use, instead of the movable separating reed and
hooks of Pecqueur's apparatus, of a fixed reed with two rows of teeth in con-
nection with a roller, as and for the purposes herein-before described.
Fourteenthly, I claim the improvement having for its object the prevention
of the net curling up either in the loom or in the water, which consists in
alternately twisting the warp or weft threads to the right and left.
Fifteenthly, I claim the arrangement of mechanism for acting on the weft
threads at the moment of forming the knots, which determines the sliding of
the hooks and ensures regularity in said knots.
.
Sixteenthly, I claim the arrangement of the self-acting mechanism by
means of which the cam shafts producing the various movements in the parts
of the loom for the manufacture of the net are placed in as close proximity as
possible to the parts they are intended to actuate, which shafts receive motion
from the principal shaft, placed at a distance, by means of endless chains, thus
obtaining considerable reduction in the length of the rods and levers and in
the number of joints required, and also preventing the shaking and straining
so injurious to the proper action of the loom.
Seventeenthly, I claim the use, instead of the ordinary cams with a single
disc requiring counterbalance weights whose action is very uncertain, espe-
cially at high speeds, of double-action cams which are worked without counter-
balance weights, acting constantly on the levers whatever may be their
position, thus preventing any uncertainty in the movements of the rods, the
ease and regularity in the motion of which will allow speed being attained
hitherto unprecedented.
Eighteenthly, I claim the method of obtaining certainty in the action of
the stretching reed of the shuttle threads by the application of a double-action
cam together with a suitable arrangement of rods, as herein-before described.
Nineteenthly, I claim the application of two oval toothed wheels, the major
axis of the one being in connection with the minor axis of the other, for the

page_text: purpose of slackening the speed during the action of certain delicate operations
of the apparatus and of accelerating it at other times, as herein-before described;
I also claim the various arrangements for rendering the loom self-acting,
lierein-before described.
Twentiethly, I claim the method of producing, instead of the to-and-fro
motion of the hook box for taking up the threads, two similar movements, the
one applied to the separating reed and the other to the movable stretching
reed; and I also claim imparting a to-and-fro motion to the hook box by
means of hollows and rises made in guide W in combination with that of the
reeds above-mentioned, and as berein-before described.
Twenty-firstly, I claim the method of obtaining a diminution of friction of
shaft f by the application of fixed sleeve pieces on which beam B oscillates, as
herein-before described.
Twenty-secondly, I claim the use of cams having winding grooves, herein-
before described, instead of the double cams heretofore used.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane, W. C.
W. CLARK. (LS.)