IMPROVE-> MENTS IN WEAVING
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Andrew Muir, of Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVE->
MENTS IN WEAVING."
Sealed the 6th June 1854, and dated the 23rd January 1854.,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Andrew Muir
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the:
23rd January 1854.
I, MATTHEW ANDREW MUIR, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN WEAVING" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a variable or differentially acting drop box or
pattern working movement suitable as well for the ordinary check or fancy
looms as for figuring looms especially built for it. As applied to an ordinary
check loom on the "barrel" or figuring cylinder principle, this arrangement
is peculiarly serviceable in affording the manufacturer a wide range of variable
or differential action without the necessity of using a barrel of inconvenient
diameter..
In such case the barrel or differential eam is placed in the lower part of the
framing as is usual, and it bears by its periphery upon one end of a counter-
poised lever set on a fixed stud centre, and having its opposite end connected
directly to the drop box movement.. Alongside the barrel, and geared to work
in connection with it, is a differential ratchet wheel arrangement of the class
for which I have already obtained provisional protection. This under one
modification consists of a ratchet wheel set upon a fixed stud in the loom.

page_text: framing, and having upon its side a series or ring of transverse stud pins or
projections adjustable in a ring of holes, so as to be capable of being set at
variable distances asunder. This ratchet is worked from the loom action on
the same general principle as that which I have already described in my
earlier Provisional Specification; and the effect of this system of working is
that the ordinary pattern barrel movement is very considerably improved, in
as far as its working range is greatly increased, without entailing either
increase in size or multiplicity of working parts.
In looms where the shuttles are furnished with guiding and supporting wheels
or pulleys, a practical difficulty occurs in cases where the shuttles have to pass
the slots or recesses cut in the lathe or race for the working of the usual weft
fork or protector.
If such slot were left open the wheels of the shuttle would be apt to catch
therein; hence, it is intended to remove this objection by contriving that a
filling up piece, worked by the loom action, shall work into the slot just before
each pick of the shuttle. This filling up piece prevents the chance of any
catching, whilst it is regularly carried out so as not to interfere with the weft
fork action. And in cases where a single line or pick of cord is to be thrown
into the piece at intervals in weaving, a drop box movement or action is fitted
up at each side of the loom, so that the necessary shift may occur at either
side, otherwise a single pick or cord could not be put in.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Matthew Andrew Muir in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 21st July 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, J, MATTHEW
ANDREW MUIR, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Machinist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of a
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Matthew Andrew Muir, Her special license that I, the said
Matthew Andrew Muir, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Matthew Andrew Muir, my executors, administrators,
or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of

page_text: Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WEAVING," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Matthew Andrew Muir; by an instrument.in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 Matthew Andrew Muir, do hereby.
declare the nature of my 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 accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say
My said Invention relates to a variable or differentially acting 'drop box or
pattern working movement suitable as well for the ordinary 'check or 'fancy.
looms as for figuring looms especially built for it. As applied to an ordinary
check loom on the "barrel" or figuring cylinder principle, this arrangement
is peculiarly serviceable in affording the manufacturer a wide range of variable
or differential action without the necessity of using a barrel of inconvenient
diameter.
In such case the barrel or differential cam is placed in the lower part of the
framing as is usual, and it bears by its periphery upon one end of a counter-
poised lever set on a fixed stud centre, and having at its opposite end connected
directly to the drop box movement. Alongside the barrel, and geared to work
in connection with it, is a differential ratchet wheel arrangement of the class
for which I have already obtained Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day
of December last past. This under one modification consists of a ratchet
wheel set upon a fixed stud in the loom framing, and having upon its side a
ring or series of transverse or radial stud pins or projections adjustable in a
ring or series of holes, so as to be capable of being set at variable distances'
asunder. This ratchet is worked from the loom 'action on the same general
principle as that which I have already described in the Specification of my
earlier Patent already referred to; and the effect of this system of working is,
that the ordinary pattern barrel movement is very considerably improved, in
as far as its working range is greatly increased, without entailing either in-
crease in size or multiplicity of working parts. And in cases where a single
line or pick of cord is to be thrown into the piece at intervals in weaving, a
drop box moveinent or action is fitted up at each side of the loom, so that the
necessary shift may occur at either side, otherwise a single pick or cord could
"

page_text: not be put in. In looms where the shuttles are furnished with guiding and
supporting wheels or pulleys, a practical difficulty occurs in cases where the
shuttles have to pass the slots or recesses cut in the lathe or race for the
working of the usual weft fork or protector. If such slot were left open.
the wheels of the shuttle would be apt to catch therein; hence, it is intended
to remove this objection, by contriving that a filling up piece, worked by the
loom action, shall work into the slot just before each pick of the shuttle.
This filling up piece prevents the chance of any catching, whilst it is regularly
carried out so as not to interfere with the weft fork action. And in order that
my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall now proceed to de-
scribe the several explanatory Figures on the two Sheets of Drawings hereunto
attached; these Figures representing so much of a loom as is needed to render
the principles and details of the Invention intelligible. Figure 1, on Sheet 1
of the Drawings, is a front elevation of a portion of a loom, shewing the
mechanism for regulating and working the shifts of the shuttle drop box;
Figure 2, on the same Sheet, is a side elevation; and Figure 3, on Sheet 2 of
the Drawings, is a plan, both corresponding to Figure 1. The mechanism
here delineated consists of two distinct portions, namely, that which produces
or works the shifts of the shuttle drop box, and that which defines the number
of picks between each shift or 'change of the drop box, or which releases or
sets a-going the former details at those picks at which the changes are in-
tended and arranged to take place. The movement for working the shifts of
the drop box consists of the following details:-The tappet shaft A of the
loom, which, as usual, is geared with the crank shaft B above so as to make
one revolution for each double pick, has keyed upon it a cam C, arranged to
depress a lever D, fast upon the inner end of a horizontal shaft E, which is
carried in bearings in the side standard F, and in an inner standard G, forming
part of the loom framing. The outer overhanging end of the shaft E has
fixed upon it a short lever H, which is connected by a link I, to the long
lever J, arranged to vibrate on centre pin carried by a bracket K, bolted
to the lower part of the framing. The lever J has jointed to its upper
end a bent catch or pall L, which takes into the indentations of a catch
wheel M, bolted to or cast upon the large pattern or segment wheel N.
The catch wheel M is substituted for the ratchet wheel ordinarily adopted
for the same purpose, on account of the greater certainty of action due
to the form of. the indentations, as here delineated. The office of the
arrangement is to turn the segment wheel N, at each vibration of the
lever J. Thus, on the lever J passing backwards, the catch L pushes round
the wheel M a distance equal to the pitch of the indentations. The catch L

page_text: is then lifted out of the indentation by a cam O fixed upon the tappet shaft A,
and acting upon a bent tail P, projecting down from the catch L, of which it
forms part. Whilst the catch L is thus raised, the forward movement of the
lever J takes place, and on the cam O passing from under the catch L, P, this
falls into an indentation of the wheel M in advance of the previous one, in
readiness for moving round the wheel a fresh distance. The proper position
for the cam C to agree with the positions in which the levers D, E, and J are
here delineated, is indicated by the outline C; dotted in red ink, the position
in which it is represented in black lines having been assigned to it by mistake.
The direction of rotation of the cam C is indicated by an arrow, which is also
drawn in red ink. By a slight modification, and one which I prefer, the
mechanism may be made to pull round the wheel M, instead of pushing it, as
herein described. For this purpose the lever J¹ is substituted for the lever J,
and it is made to oscillate on a centre K¹, between the link I and pall L, so
as to reverse the motion in communicating it to the latter, the other details
remaining the same. The lever J is drawn in red ink, for the sake of
.distinction. The segment wheel N is carried by a stud pin Q fixed to a
bracket R, which is bolted, to the side standard F. A washer of leather or
other suitable material is screwed upon the stud pin Q, up against the boss of
the segment wheel N, in order by acting frictionally upon the latter, to prevent
its moving beyond the exact distance due to the action of the pall L. The
wheel N has bolted upon its periphery a number of segments S, which project
radially to different distances, and are arranged to suit the pattern to be
woven. The segments S act upon a lever T, which oscillates on a centre pin
U, carried by a bracket bolted to the side standard F. The opposite end of
the lever T has jointed to it the lower end of the rod V, which passes up to
the shuttle drop box W in the lathe above. The sizes of the segments S
depend upon the number of shuttles used. The mechanism represented in
the Drawings is constructed for four shuttles, and the segments require to be
of three different radial lengths. It is the action of these segments upon the
lever T which raises the shuttle box. Thus, the lever is represented as being
depressed by two of the most prominent segments, and the drop box is raised
to its highest point, so as to bring the lowest shuttles into action. On the
wheel N being turned, since the segment last in action is bevilled away to the
actual periphery of the wheel, that end of the lever.T will rise up by the action
of the spring X, and its other end will pull down the drop box to its lowest
position; so as to bring the top shuttle into action. And, according to the
height of the segments which come upon the lever T, as the wheel N is turned
round at intervals, so will be that of the drop box, thereby bringing the

page_text: corresponding shuttle into. action. The weight of the drop box and connec
tions. is counterbalanced by the weight Y upon the lever T. I, however,
prefer to employ the arrangement indicated in red lines, consisting of a
balance weight connected to the leyer by a cord passing over a pulley or
pulleys, a helical spring being placed between the cord and the weight to
.render its action on the levers free from jerks. If the portion of the
mechanism which I have yet to describe be omitted, leaving only that already
described, the wheel N would be turned to the extent of a space at each
double pick of the loom, and with the arrangement of segments now repre-
sented a change would in consequence take place at each double pick. In
the ordinary loom with a pattern or segment wheel, when two or more double
picks are required with the same shuttle, segments are used of such a shape
as to keep the shuttle box in the same position during the required number of
picks, the segment turning all the while, so that the segment wheel can only
take in a pattern limited to a certain number of double picks whether the
changes of shuttle be few or many.
In a loom constructed according to
my Invention, each movement of the segment wheel produces a change of
shuttle, and a contrivance is added for suspending the movement of the
segment wheel for any required number of double picks between each change,
so that the loom is capable of working a pattern extending over a much
greater number of picks or a much greater length of fabric than can be
worked with the ordinary arrangement. The mechanism which defines or
marks the number of double picks between each change of shuttle is precisely
the same as that described as applied for a similar purpose in the Specification
of my earlier Patent of December last past, already herein-before referred to.
The horizontal shaft E has keyed upon it a lever Z, provided with a long
catch pin a, which, on the cam C depressing the lever D, is lifted into the
catch of a lever changing down from a spindle & above. The pin a is kept
thus elevated until the lever c is thrown out in the manner herein-after to be
described, and the details for shifting the drop box are consequently prevented
from producing any change in the interval. The lever c is thrown out and
releases the shifting mechanism at intervals corresponding to the picks at
which the shuttles are to be changed by means of pins e arranged according to
the required pattern on a helical series of holes upon the pattern barrel f.
This barrel is carried by a stud pin g fixed to the frame piece G, and it is
cast in one piece with or attached to a ratchet wheel h, which is turned
round a distance equal to one tooth for each revolution of the shaft A. This
movement is effected by the pin i, carried by the shaft A, which pin raises the
end of the lever j as it comes round. This lever vibrates on the stud pin g as

page_text: .
having a pall jointed at its
The entire pattern mechanism
out of gear, and a means of
and a short
eyes in the
a centre, and it is formed with an arm k,
extremity for acting upon the ratchet wheel h.
can be kept from working by taking the pall
doing this is herein provided, it being sometimes necessary, as, for example,
when a 'weft thread breaks; to work a few picks without making any advance
in the pattern. The pall is hung by a link m to a lever n fast upon a
spindle. o, which traverses the loom, and has a hand lever p fast upon it, con-
venient for the attendant, in a position so that by drawing the lever p forward,
the pall will be raised out of gear. The link m is connected to the lever n.by
a slot, so that the motion of the pall is not communicated to the levers n or p, as
would be the case were the connection made by an ordinary pin joint. The
pattern barrel f, as already mentioned, is formed with a helical series of holes
for the adjustment of the pattern pins e. These holes correspond to the
double picks of the loom, and the pins e are fitted.into holes corresponding to
the particular picks at which the shuttles are to be changed according to the
pattern: These pins e, as they come round, push the lever c outwards, so' as
to release the lever Z of the segment wheel movement, the lever c having
a projection 9 formed on its inner side for the purpose. The lever c is
loose upon the rod d; being held between an adjustable collar
lever s fixed to the rod, and this rod passes through plain
bracket framing t. The levers c, s, with the rod d, traverse along the pattern
barrel f, so that the catch lever c may follow the helical line of pattern pins,
and this traverse is effected by means of the lever s, the bent in point of
which lies in a helical groove formed, in the barrel f, between the convolutions
of the helical line of pin holes, the barrel acting on the lever in the manner of
a screw. To one end of the rod d is attached a cord u passing over a pulley
to a weight v, which keeps the rod with its levers well up to that end of the
barrel, and brings it back after traversing in the opposite direction. A spring
is interposed between the weight and the cord to render the action easy. On
the other end of the rod d is fixed a short weighted lever w, which keeps the
fixed lever s well up against the barrel f, whilst a spring is interposed between
the end of the rod and the bracket t to ease the jerking action of the weight
in pulling the rod to the other side. In the Drawings, the barrel f is repre-
sented with about seven convolutions of pin holes, but it may be made with
more or fewer convolutions if required, whilst the pattern may be extended
over all the convolutions of the barrel, or over only a portion of them. The
point where the pattern ends being ascertained, a stop piece x is fixed to the
helical ridge at a constant distance from such point.. This stop piece projects
from the surface of the barrel slightly more than the regular pattern pins e,

page_text: and it is arranged to act upon a projection y formed upon the lever c near its
centre of vibration. This projection extends laterally as well as towards the
barrel, so as to lift the lever s; there is; however, a little play allowed, so that
when the lever c is only lifted by the pins e, the lever s is not affected, but the
lever c being moved further by the stop piece a, it then raises the lever s as
well, lifting it out of the helical groove of the barrel f. When this lever is so
lifted off the barrel, the weight v is at liberty to act on the rod d, drawing it
with the levers c, s, to the other end of its traverse to be in readiness for a
repetition of the pattern. The lever's is prevented from falling into any of the
intermediate convolutions of the helical groove, and is made to reach the end
of the traverse with certainty by a line of guide pieces; carried by a rod 1,
passed through eyes in the bracket t. The lever c has a catch 2 formed upon
its front, and this catch is lifted upon the guides i by the action of the stop
piece on the pattern barrel f, so as to slide along them and prevent the
levers c, s, from falling against the barrel until they quite reach the end at
which the pattern commences. When they reach this point they fall into
position, and the mechanism proceeds to work a repetition of the pattern. The
guides z are in pieces corresponding to the helical convolutions of the pattern
barrel, more or fewer of them being fixed upon the rod I, accordingly as the
pattern extends over more or fewer of such convolutions. In Figures 4 and
5, on Sheet 2 of the Drawings, is represented the contrivance which I employ
for preventing the catching of the shuttle in the recess made in the race for
the weft fork action, Figure 4 being a front elevation of a portion of a loom
lathe with the contrivance applied to it, and Figure 5 a corresponding side
elevation. A small metal plate A is made to fit accurately to the recess B, in
which the weft fork acts; this plate is mounted upon a rod C passing. down
through the race piece D to a lever E below. This lever oscillates on, an
adjustable centre at F, and has its opposite end G acted upon by a blade spring
H, which tends to keep the plate A raised upon a level with the race, this
point being accurately adjusted by means of a pin I, against which the spring
forces the end G of the lever, when the recess B has to be made clear for
the weft fork action, as the lathe comes forward. This is accomplished by the
the descent of the plate A to the bottom of the recess B, this descent being
caused by a cam piece J fixed to the framing of the loom behind the breast
beam K. On the lathe coming forward, the cam piece J enters under the
end G of the lever so as to raise it and depress the opposite end and filling-up
piece A.
When the lathe recedes clear of the cam piece J, the spring H
causes the plate A to rise again to the level of the race in readiness for the
passage of the shuttle, this forming a clear flush passage.

page_text: Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself to
the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe or
refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the
principles or main features of my Invention. But what I consider to be
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery or apparatus
to be applied to looms for weaving, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of working the pattern or segment wheel action
of looms for weaving checks and similar patterns by means of a catch or ratchet
wheel and pall arrangement, actuated by a cam on the tappet shaft of the loom,
as herein-before described.
Third, the application and use in looms for weaving checks and similar
patterns, of an auxiliary pattern ring or barrel so arranged in combination with
the pattern or segment wheel mechanism for shifting the shuttle drop box,
that whilst the pattern or segment wheel mechanism produces the changes, the
auxiliary pattern ring or barrel marks or defines the number of shots to be
thrown between each change of the shuttle drop-box, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the system or mode of acting on the retaining lever or catch of the
segment wheel or other change movement of looms for weaving checks and
similar patterns by means of pins adjusted according to a required or pre-
determined pattern upon the periphery of a ring or helical barrel, as herein-
before described.
Fifth, the system or mode of preventing the catching of the shuttle in the
loom race at the part where a recess is made in the race for the weft fork action
by arranging a filling-up piece to rise and fall in such recess by the action of
the lathe or other movement, so as to fill up the mouth of the recess when the
shuttle is passing over it, and to lie in the bottom of the recess when the weft
fork action takes place, as herein-before, described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Matthew Andrew Muir, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
MATTHEW A. MUIR. (L.S.)