A NEW OR IMPROVED FLOAT DETECTOR FOR LOOMS to be as follows:-
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JOHN BOWKER of 53 Church St Lancaster in the County of Lancaster,
Weaver, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED
FLOAT DETECTOR FOR LOOMS to be as follows:-
"
My invention relates to looms for weaving and has for its object to protect the
cloth from floats, of anything that tends to damage the cloth whilst being woven.
To this end I employ a float-catcher or cloth-protector, which works on the
cloth.
This float-catcher or cloth protector, formed of any suitable metal is provided at
its under edge with teeth and gimpt at its upper edge to catch pieces of wire or
pickers.
The float catcher or cloth protector is provided with small slots and is attached
to a cross bar by means of screws which pass through the said slots.
The said cross bar has a sliding motion imparted thereto by means of a lever
arm fixed on the top of a vertical shaft and connected to one end of the bar the
other end being connected to a swivel which is fixed underneath a guide rod
or arm.
The said guide rod is kept in its proper position by means of a spring fixed on
the top of the cloth bearer of the loom and one end thereof being fixed to the
cloth bearer and the other end to the float catcher or cloth protector both working
together, guiding the same.
When the float catcher or cloth protector is caused to stop on account of some
float or obstructions the said guide rod or arm will also stop, the cross bar then
moves the swivel which is connected to a small catch fixed to the frame of the
loom, the swivel then brings the said small catch down onto the ordinary weft fork
which causes its motion to be interrupted and thus stops the loom.
The small catch which holds down the weft fork sets itself again as soon as the
Joom has stopped by means of the check spring fixed to the said vertical shaft,
which brings back the cross bar and swivel to their original positions the swivel
then raising and liberating the weft fork.
The said vertical shaft works in bearings fixed to the loom sides and receives its
motion from a cam fixed to a shaft situated underneath the looms by means of a
bent lever which comes into contact with a projection fixed on the upright shaft
and kept in contact with the said bent lever by means of a check spring.

page_text: The float catcher or cloth protector is caused to stop when it meets with some
obstruction or floats, the cross bar continuing moving, works the swivel and catch
and thus stops the loom.
The action of the cross bar and float catcher or cloth-protector may be interrupted
while the loom is working, or the float-catcher or cloth-protector raised from the
cloth by means of two levers which work in slots in the cross bar and are fixed
to a rod which slides in brackets fixed to the temple plate or temple rod of the
loom.
The two levers and rod are actuated by a handle working in a bracket fixed on
the loom which produces a swivel and lever motion to raise the parts from off the
cloth and to stop or interrupt the same.
The float catcher or cloth-protector is made to give way with the temples by
means of small studs fixed suitably, for the purpose of allowing the shuttle to pass
at certain times.
The cloth protector and cross bar can instantly be taken off the cloth by with-
drawing two pins for the purpose of putting in a new beam.

page_text: I, JOHN BOWKER of 53 Church Street Lancaster in the County of Lancaster
Weaver, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My invention relates to looms for weaving and has for its object to protect the
cloth from floats or anything that tend to damage the cloth whilst being woven.
And in order that my invention may be better understood I have caused to
be appended hereunto one sheet of drawings marked with letters of reference,
corresponding letters indicating like parts in the various figures.
Fig. 1 is a front view. Fig. 2 a plan and Fig. 3 a vertical cross section of a
loom provided with a float detector, constructed in accordance with my invention.
Fig. 4 is a front view and Fig. 5, a plan in an enlarged scale of the float catcher.
In carrying out my invention I employ a float catcher or cloth protector a,
which works on the cloth, either below or on top thereof, but I illustrate the same
on top, and to which a sliding or reciprocating motion is imparted through a
suitable mechanism from any convenient moving part of the loom, which sliding
or reciprocating motion is interrupted as soon as the float-catcher or cloth
protector a meets with a float or obstruction formed on the cloth, and causes the
loom to stop for the purpose of enabling the operator to remove such obstruction
or floats.
This float catcher or cloth protector is formed of any suitable metal and
provided at its under edge with teeth a¹, similar to those of a saw, or other
similar projections, and gimpt at its upper edge or its side nearest the reed to catch
pieces of wire or pickers.
The float catcher or cloth protector a is provided with small slots a³ sec
Figs. 2, 4, & 5, and is attached to a cross bar b by means of screws or pins c which
pass through the said slots.
The said cross bar b has a sliding or reciprocating motion imparted thereto, by
means of a lever arm d, which is fixed on the top of a vertical shaft e and is
connected to one end of the bar b by means of the pin u the other end thereof
being connected to a swivel lever f, by means of the stud f¹ which is fixed
underneath a guide rod or arm g.
The said guide rod or arm g is kept in its position by means of a spring / fixed
on the top of the cloth bearer i of the loom and has one end thereof fixed to the
cloth bearer i, and the other end to the float catcher or cloth protector a, by means
of the stud and pin u', the lever arm d and guide rod or arm g, both working
together, guiding the float catcher or cloth protector a.
When the float catcher or cloth protector a is caused to stop on account of
some float or obstruction, the said guide rod or arm g, will also stop, the cross
bar b then moves the swivel lever f which is connected to a small catch or bell
crank lever k fixed to the frame of the loom, the swivel lever f then brings the
said small catch or bell crank lever le down onto the ordinary weft fork l, which
latter causes the weft fork lever m to actuate the stop lever n and strap fork o
thus interrupting and stopping the movement of the loom in the ordinary way as
when the weft breaks.

page_text: The small catch or bell crank lever / which holds down the weft fork l sets
itself again as soon as the loom has stopped by means of the check spring o', fixed
to the said vertical shaft c, which latter brings back the cross bar b and swivel
lever f to their original positions, the small catch or bell crank lever k then raising
and liberating the weft fork.
The said vertical shaft e works in suitable bearings fixed to the loom side and
receives its motion from a cam p fixed to a shaft situated underneath the loom,
by means of a bent lever which comes into and is kept in contact with a
projection el fixed on the upright shaft e by means of the check spring o¹.
The float catcher or cloth protector a is caused to stop when it meets with some
obstruction or floats, the cross bar b continuing moving, works the swivel lever f,
and catch or bell crank lever k, and thus stops the loom.
The action of the cross bar b and float catcher or cloth protector a, may be
interrupted while the loom is working, by means of two levers or studs g³ which
work in slots g² in the cross bar b, and are fixed to a rod q' which latter slides in
suitable brackets fixed to the temple plate 1 or temple rod of the loom.
The two levers or studs gl and rod q¹ are actuated by a hand lever s suitably
fixed onto the loom, and cause the cross bar b to draw the lever arm d and
consequently bring the projection e¹, on the vertical shaft e, out of contact with
the bent lever 7 thus stopping or interrupting the sliding or reciprocating motion
of the float catcher or cloth protector a while the other part of the loom shall
continue working.
The float catcher or cloth protector is made to give way with the temple or
plate by means of the studs t and see Fig. 2. fixed in the cloth bearer i and
lever arm and slots and d formed in the parts respectively for the purpose of
allowing the shuttle to pass at certain times and examine the cloth.
The cloth protector a and cross bar b can instantly be taken off the cloth by
withdrawing two pins u and u¹ for the purpose of putting in a new warp beam, or
also more particularly examine the cloth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be understood
that I do not confine myself to the machinery illustrated and described in the
accompanying drawings and specification, for effecting the sliding or reciprocating
motion for the float catcher or cloth protector, as such motion may also be obtained
by different or other means, but what I claim, is
First. In a loom for weaving, the use and employment of a float catcher or
cloth protector, provided with teeth or similar projections, to which a sliding or
reciprocating motion is imparted by a suitable mechanism brought in connection
with the weft fork or other suitable moving part of the loom substantially as and
for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Second. The combination of the float catcher or cloth protector a with the cross
barb both having a simultaneous sliding or reciprocating motion imparted thereto
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Third. The rod and hand lever s in combination with the cross bar b
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.