SHUTTLE-BOX OPERATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Brownlee at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th March 1883.
JOHN BROWNLEE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
SHUTTLE-BOX OPERATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS,"
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention relates to improvements in mechanism or apparatus for operating
the changing shuttle boxes of looms for weaving, and is designed to effect the
shifting of the shuttle-boxes with greater accuracy, and with less expenditure of
power than is usually necessary.
The improved mechanism comprises (1) a novel construction of gearing for
actuating the eccentrics or cranks which raise and lower the shuttle boxes, and (2)
novel arrangements of lever apparatus or devices operated by the jacquard or
pattern mechanism of the loom, and combined with such gearing, to bring each
shuttle box of the series in line with the race of the lath as may be required.
In a modification of the improved mechanism for operating six shuttle boxes,
the actuating gearing consists of three oscillating toothed segments fitted on a
single stud or shaft, and arranged to gear with a corresponding number of smaller
toothed segments also on a single axis. These geared segments correspond to the
wheels and pinions employed in the arrangements of shuttle box mechanism.
known as
"Whitesmith's" motion, and "Hacking's" motion, but instead of the
intermittent rotation of the pinion shafts obtained in these "motions" the smaller
segments merely oscillate to the extent of half a revolution. The smaller segments
are carried on separate shafts or collars which may be arranged and connected to
cranks or eccentrics which operate the shuttle box spear lever, as in the "motions"
referred to. One segment may be on a central solid shaft, the second on a hollow
shaft, and the third on a loose collar, and they may be so combined with the
usual cranks or eccentrics formed on such shafts, that the oscillation of the
segments individually or in combination, brings about the required "skipping" or
shifting of the shuttle-boxes.

page_text: The central part only of each larger segment is formed with teeth to gear into
the corresponding smaller segment, and each end is made plain or without teeth.
The smaller segments are formed with a number of teeth to gear with the larger
segments, and at the termination of the toothed portion, they are made with a
plain concave surface on each side to fit the corresponding plain surfaces of the
larger segments. The object of so forming the segments is to obtain a "dwell" or
stop at the termination of each oscillation, and prevent the smaller segments
oscillating to a greater extent than half a revolution, so that the shuttle box may
be brought exactly in line with the race. Studs or projections are formed on the
large segments to take into corresponding studs on, the smaller segments and bring
them into gear when the large segments are oscillated.
.
The segments are formed with lever arms by which they may be connected to
the ordinary pattern barrel mechanism of the loom. When the loom is provided
with jacquard apparatus, it is preferred to operate the segments thereby, through
the arrangement of levers or devices, constituting the second part of this Invention.
In this arrangement, a long, rod or bar is, jointed to each large segment on each
side of the central shaft or stud carrying the segments, and these bars are fitted to
slide freely in guides at their upper ends. On each sliding bar is formed an
inwardly projecting catch or tooth by which either box is raised by the upward
motion of a pendulous double headed hook or catch. This hooked catch is hung
at the end of a jointed bracket or bell-crank lever, which has an arm on it fitted
with a roller which is acted on by a cam or crank on one of the loom shafts and
thereby raises the hook lever at each revolution of the cam shaft. The pendulous
look or catch has a spring connected to it and to the jointed lever frame so that it
is drawn towards one of the sliding catch bars acting on the segments of the
shuttle-box operating gear. An arm at the upper end of the pendulous hook is
connected by a wire or rod to a weighted lever which counter-balances the power
of the spring and tends to throw the pendulous hook towards the other sliding
catch bar acting on the same segment. "This weighted lever is connected by a
cord or wire to the jacquard or pattern mechanism of the loom. When the
weighted lever is raised by the action of the jacquard, the spring on the pendulous
hook, acts on that hook and causes it to engage with the corresponding catch on
the inner sliding catch bar and the sliding bar is raised. The segment to which
this bar is connected is oscillated, and through the arrangement of smaller segments
and cranks or eccentrics operates the shuttle box spear levér to effect a change or
shift of the shuttle boxes. When the jacquard does not act on the weighted lever,
the weight of this lever overpowers the spring and swings, the hook, so that it
engages with the catch on the outer sliding bar, and by raising that bar brings
back the oscillating segment of the shuttle box gearing. When the shuttle boxes
are not to be shifted, the pendulous hook is swung by the action of the jacquard
towards the sliding bar fast raised and no change is effected. One oscillating
frame only may be used; and be acted on by a single revolving cam or crank, but
three pendulous hooks acted on by. separate cords or wires from the jacquard
mechanism will be required to raise the separate oscillating segments in six shuttle
box operating mechanism.
s
t
When only four 'shuttle boxes are fitted in the loom, two oscillating segments
and operating gearing will be required and the other parts will be correspondingly
simplified. The shuttle box spear lever may be connected directly, or through
levers, to the stud or pin operated by the cranks or eccentrics of the segmental
gearing described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Brownlee in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th September 1883.
:
JOHN BROWNLEE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, . "IMPROVEMENTS IN
5 SHUTTLE-BOX OPERATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS."
0
My said Invention relates to improvements in mechanism or apparatus for
operating the changing shuttle boxes of looms for weaving, and is designed to effect
the shifting of the shuttle-boxes with greater accuracy, and with less expenditure
of power than is usually necessary. C
The improved mechanism comprises (1) a novel construction of gearing for
actuating the eccentrics or cranks which raise and lower the shuttle-boxes, and (2)
novel arrangements of lever apparatus or devices operated by the jacquard or
pattern mechanism of the loom, and combined, with such gearing to bring each
shuttle box of the series in line with the race of the lath as may be required.
The Invention is illustrated by the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a power loom to which my improvements are applied,
Figure 2 is a back elevation of part of the loom, and Figures 3, 4, and 5 are views
of details herein-after referred to.
In a modification of the improved mechanism for opérating six shuttle boxes, as
in the loom illustrated, the actuating gearing consists of three oscillating toothed
segments A, A1, A2, fitted on' a single stud or shaft a, and arranged to gear with a
corresponding number of smaller toothed seginents B, B1, B2, also on a single axis.
These geared seginents A, A1, A2, and B, B1, B2, correspond to the wheels and
pinions employed in the arrangements of shuttle box mechanism known “as
"Whitesmiths" motion, and "Hackings" motion, but instead of the intermittent
rotation of the pinion shafts obtained in these motions, the smaller seginents
B,. B', B2, merely oscillate to the extent of half a revolution.
The smaller
segments B, B1, B2, are carried on separate shafts or collars which may be arranged
and connected to cranks or eccentrics which operate the shuttle box spear lover as
in the "motions" referred to. One segment may be on a central solid shaft, the
second on a hollow shaft, and the third on a loose collar, and they may be so
combined. with the usual cranks or eccentrics formed on such shafts, that the
oscillation of the segments individually or in combination, brings about the required
"skipping" or shifting of the shuttle-boxes. Thus, as is indicated in the enlarged
elevation and section of the segments B, B', B2, in figures 4 and 5, the segment B is
keyed on the central solid spindle b, the segment B' is keyed on a hollow spindle b',
and the segment B' is fitted loose on that spindle. The oscillation of the segment B,
to the extent of half a revolution produces a corresponding oscillation or throw of a
small crank 62, and raises or lowers a disc C fitted eccentrically thereon. The
corresponding oscillation of the segment B₁, causes a slotted crank arm b³ to act on
a pin c in the eccentric disc C, and rotates that disc to the extent of half a revolu-
tion on the crank pin 62 as a centre. The oscillation of the segment B³ causes a
slotted crank arm. 6 formed on it to act on a pin c¹ fitted in a strap C' on the
eccentric disc C, and turns that strap on the disc to the extent of half a revolution.
The connecting rod D which is attached to and acts on the spear lever D' to which
is connected the spear D carrying the shuttle boxes D³, is jointed to the eccentric
strap C, and is raised or lowered by the action of the cranks 62, 63, 64, due to the
oscillation of the corresponding segments B, B1, B2. The throw of the crank pin be,
by the oscillation of the segment B, is arranged to raise or lower the spear D², to
the extent of one shuttle box. The throw of the crank 63, causes the shifting or
"skipping" of one shuttle-box also, and the throw of the crank b shifts three
shuttle boxes; and the skipping of four, five, or six boxes is brought about by
combined action of the cranks b², b³, b. This arrangement of crank spindles and
eccentrics is the same in substance as that commonly known as Whitesmiths

page_text: Motion, excepting that the toothed pinions which in
mittent rotatory movement are replaced, in my Invention by the oscillating
segments B, B1, B2. The objection to the use of Whitesmith's and similar motions,
that the pinions may be acted on at a time when the corresponding cranks are
at the wrong half of the revolution, is however avoided by the use of the improved
Oscillating segments.
$6
The central part only of each larger segment A, A1, A3, is formed with teeth to
gear into the corresponding smaller segments, and each end A', is made plain or
without teeth. The smaller segments B, B1, B2 are formed with a number of teeth
to gear with the larger segments, and at the termination of the toothed portion,
they are made with a plain concave surface B, on each side, to fit the corresponding
plain surfaces of the larger segments. The object of so forming the segments is to
obtain a dwell" or stop at the termination of each oscillation, and prevent the
smaller segments and corresponding cranks oscillating to a greater extent than
half a revolution, so that the shuttle box may be brought exactly in line with the
Studs or projections A³ are formed on the large segments A, A1, A², to take
into corresponding studs B5 on the smaller segments B, B¹, B, and bring them into
gear when the large segments are oscillated. The segments A, A', A* are formed
with lever arms A6, by which they may be connected to the ordinary pattern barrel
mechanism of the loom, or to the jacquard machine or dobbie as hereinafter
described.
race.
When the loom is provided with jacquard apparatus, as in the case of the loom
illustrated, it is preferred to operate the segments A, A1, A2, thereby, through the
arrangement of levers or devices constituting the second part of this Invention.
In this arrangement, a long rod or bar E, E¹, is jointed to each large segment
A, A', A³, on each side of the central shaft or stud a carrying the segments, and
these bars are fitted to slide freely in guides G at their upper ends. On each
sliding bar is formed an inwardly projecting catch or tooth e, e¹, by which either
bar is raised by the upward motion of a pendulous double headed hook or catch F.
This hooked catch F is hung at the end of a jointed bracket or bell-crank lever H,
which has an arm H' on it fitted with a roller which is acted on by a cam I or
crank on one of the loom shafts I¹, and thereby raises the hook lever Hand
hook Fat each revolution of the cam shaft I. The pendulous hook or catch F
has an adjustable spring f connected to it, and to the jointed lever frame H, so that
it is drawn towards one of the sliding catch bars E, acting on the segments A, A¹,
or A, of the shuttle-box operating gear. An arm F', at the upper end of the
pendulous book F is connected by a wire or rod f¹, to a weighted or spring
lever f, which overcomes the power of the spring f; and throws the pendulous
hook F towards the other sliding catch bar F', acting on the same segment A, A',
or A². When a weighted lever is used, it may be connected by a cord or wire
direct to the jacquard or pattern mechanism of the loom. Or as is indicated in
figure 1, and in the plan view Figure 3, the spring lever f2, to which the rod f¹ is
attached, is retained by a catch f" which is disengaged with the lever f2 by the
action of the jacquard or pattern mechanism. The catch bar f³ retains the spring
lever f, so long as the bar f³ is held down by a small weigh bar fjointed to
it, but when this bar f is raised by the end of the jacquard cord f³ which is
attached to it, the catch fs being heavier at the opposite end, swivels on its centre
and frees the lever f³. Immediately before the jacquard acts to free the catch f³,
a bar fo formed with a crosshead, and attached to the lath of the loom comes in
contact with and presses back the lever f against the power of the spring f', so
that the catch f³ is readily disengaged. When the catch bar f³f is raised by the
action of the jacquard, the spring f, acts on the pendulous hook F, and causes it to
engage with the corresponding catch e on the inner sliding catch bar E, and that
sliding bar is raised. The segment A, A, or A³, to which this bar E is connected
is oscillated, and acting on the corresponding smaller segment, and through the
arrangement of cranks or eccentrics described, operates the shuttle box spear lever
to effect a change or shift of the shuttle boxes. When the jacquard does not act

page_text: on the weighted lever f³, f, the weight of this lever allows the catch f² to retain
the rod f, (or the weighted lever overpowers the spring ƒ) and swings the hook F,
so that it engages with the catch e¹ on the outer sliding bar E, and by raising that
bar brings back the oscillating segment A, A1, or A³, acting on the arrangement of
shuttle-box actuating gearing. When the shuttle-boxes are not to be shifted, the
pendulous hook F is swung by the action of the jacquard towards the sliding bar
(E or E¹) last raised, and no change is effected. One oscillating frame H only may
be used, and be acted on by a single revolving cam I or crank, but three pendulous
hooks F acted on by separate cords or wires f³ from the jacquard mechanism are
required to raise the separate oscillating segments A, A; A₁, in six shuttle-box
operating mechanism. The pendulous hook F may be lengthened considerably, so
that the catches formed on it may engage direct with pins formed or fitted on the
segments A, A', A², on both sides of the shaft a, and actuate these segments without
the intervention of the sliding bars E, E¹.
.
When only four shuttle boxes are fitted in the loom, two oscillating segments
and operating gearing will be required, and the other parts will be correspondingly
simplified. The shuttle box spear lever D¹ may be connected directly to the stud
or pin 6 operated by the cranks or eccentrics of the segmental gearing described,
in which case, the segments and operating devices will be in proximity to the
spear D²
Having particularly described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is,-
First. The arrangement or combination of parts of shuttle-box operating
mechanism for looms, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Second. The combination, substantially as herein described and illustrated, of
one, two or more pairs of oscillating geared segments (as A, B) with the ordinary
crank or eccentric "motions" of shuttle-box operating mechanism for looms.
Third. In shuttle-box operating mechanism for looms, the oscillating toothed
segments gearing in pairs (as A, B,) and arranged to stop or "dwell" at the
termination of each oscillation, substantially as described and for the purpose set
forth.
Fourth. The combination with shuttle-box actuating gearing for looms of the
catch bars E, E, and pendulous hooks F operated by the action of the jacquard or
pattern mechanism, and adapted to engage with and raise one or other of the catch
bars, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Fifth. As neaus for actuating the shuttle-box shifting gear in looms, the pendulous
hooks F, carried on an oscillating lever frame or bell-crank, and so held by springs
or weights that by the action of the jacquard or pattern mechanism of the loom,
they may be swung to engage with one or other of the catch bars E, E¹, or of the
segments A, A1, A2, to impart an oscillatory motion to the shifting gear,
substantially as herein described and illustrated.
In Witness Whereof, I the said John Brownlee, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourth Day of September, in the year of our Lord, One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-three.
Witness
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER C.E,
Fel. Inst. Patent Agents
96 Buchanan Street
Glasgow.
JOHN BROWNLEE. (L.S.)