IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING HEAVY CLOTH GOODS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Sowden, of the Firm of David Sowden and Sons,
Thornton Road, Bradford, in the County of York, Machine Maker, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING HEAVY CLOTH
GOODS."
Sealed the 16th August 1878, and dated the 19th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Sowden at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th February 1878.
ARTHUR SOWDEN, of the Firm of David Sowden and Sons, Thornton Road,
Bradford, in the County of York, Machine Maker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS
FOR WEAVING HEAVY CLOTH GOODS."
The object of my Invention is to arrange an apparatus for operating upon and
regulating the drop boxes for weaving heavy cloth goods in such a manner that the
boxes will skip from one to any shuttle in the box, and thus weave a variety of
colours of yarn in the piece.
I accomplish my object in the following manner :- -To the under side of what is
commonly known as the going part I fix an angle iron, to which is secured at each
end of the loom a sword that projects at right angles to the same; towards the
bottom of the loom journals are formed in each sword, in which is mounted a screw
that is cut with one or more course pitched threads, according to the pitch and
number of drop boxes fitted to the loom; on each of the screws is fitted a nut that
slides in a groove formed in the before-mentioned swords, and are connected to the
bottoms of each series of drop boxes by means of a connecting rod; near to the
bottom of these screws I form a star, which is operated upon by a spring and presser
for the purpose of keeping the screw and drop boxes in position until they
are required to skip or change shuttles to form the pattern in the piece,
when the screws and drop boxes will actuate the same in the manner hereafter
described.

page_text: When the loom is at rest, and it is desired to change or take out any shuttle from
the drop boxes at either end of the loom, the presser is removed from the before-
named star by means of a foot lever fixed to each end of the loom; when either of
these foot levers are pressed down the lever is held in position by a catch, and the
drop boxes at the end of the loom where the foot lever has been actuated will be
free, and the weaver can raise or lower the same as hereafter described.
I secure a lever to the far box driving shaft and to the bevel wheel at the bottom
of the near screw; to each of these levers is connected a rod that is coupled to a
hand wheel fixed to the loom end, thus when the before-named foot lever is pressed
down by turning the hand wheel in connection with the far box driving shaft, or
the near bevel wheel, the same will actuate the screw, and raise or lower the drop
boxes as required. At the bottom end of each of the before-named screws I fix
bevel pinions, which gear into bevel wheels mounted on a shaft, which I call the far
box driving shaft; this shaft is secured in the before-named swords, and is in line
and parallel with the going part.
For actuating the drop boxes at the near side of the loom, or the side opposite to
the driving end, I arrange one of the bevel wheels to be loose on the shaft, and the
same is connected by means of a rod to the bottom end of a tee lever centred on a
stud or shaft fixed in the bottom rail of the loom; to the other ends of the tee lever
I attach two catch rods, one to each end, which are in connection with the
needle spindles from the card cylinder that is fixed in a frame and mounted on
n stud.
The card cylinder motion is obtained by means of a cam that is secured on the
crank shaft of the loom; this cam is in connection with a lever that is centred on a
stud fixed to any convenient part of the loom; the top end of this lever is attached
by a rod to the card cylinder frame, and by these means an oscillating motion is
imparted to the card cylinder, which brings the same into contact with a catch,
which I call the cylinder catch, and thus revolves the cylinder one-fourth of a revo-
lution each pick of the loom. In case the weft in any of the shuttles is broken,
or all woven into the piece, the weft fork motion is so arranged that it will lift the
cylinder catch clear of the card cylinder, and thus prevent the same from revolving.
In line with the centre of the card cylinder, which is fixed near the top of the
loom, I fix two plates, in which are mounted the card needle spindles; at the ends
of these spindles, next the card cylinders, I fix a head, into which I secure needles
of different lengths; the oscillating card in the backward motion acts upon these
needles, forcing the needle spindle back, and bringing one of the catch rods before
named, that is, in connection with the needle spindle, into contact with a slide that
is secured to the end of the loom. This slide has two projections and is connected
by means of a rod to what is commonly known as a broken back lever; this lever
is in connection with an eccentric that may be fixed either to the crank shaft
or to the low shaft of the loom, according to the nature and pattern of the
piece required to be woven.
n
When the slide is moving in the vertical portion of its stroke, one of the projections
comes in contact with the catch rod that has been actuated by the card cylinder,
and lifts one end of the before-named tee levers, and thus causes the bevel wheel
and pinion that is secured to the end of the screw to revolve and raise or lower
the drop boxes; when the slide returns and releases the catch rod the needle spindle
is brought back into its original position by means of a spring.
The drop boxes at the other or far end of the loom are operated upon in the
same manner as described, except that the connecting rod from the tee lever is
coupled to a disc that is secured on the far box driving shaft, close to the loose
bevel wheel before mentioned; when either of the catch rods for raising or lowering
the drop boxes at the driving or far end of the loom are brought into contact
with the before-named projections on the slide in the manner described, the
tee lever will actuate the disc and shaft, and cause the bevel wheel that is
secured on the other end to revolve and raise or lower the drop boxes as the
case may be.

page_text: In the centre of the going part I fix a stay, projecting towards the bottom of the
loom; through this stay I form a journal for the purpose of carrying and staying
the centre of the far box driving shaft; on this shaft near to the stay I fix one or
more breaks for the purpose of regulating the far drop boxes.
To the top of the swords at each end of the going part I fix a stay for staying
the studs or guides on which the drop boxes slide; these stays are so arranged that
they act as guards, and prevent the picking straps becoming entangled with the
drop boxes and guide studs.
I also fix another stay to each end near the top of the going part swords, to which
is attached a spring that is connected to the nut on the screwed shaft; this spring
is to relieve the weight of the drop boxes off the screw, and thereby assist the screw
in raising the same.
In order to relieve the shuttle when boxing I fix a small pulley under the finger
of the stop rod in such a manner that when the going part is making its back-
ward portion of the stroke the finger is lifted, and the pressure is removed from
the swell.
I regulate the picking cam in such a manner that the pickers will strike alter-
nately, or miss any odd or even number of picks; this is accomplished by a card
spindle in connection with the card cylinder, and mounted as before described; this
spindle is also in connection with one end of a bell-crank lever; the other end of the
bell-crank lever is secured to a rod that is attached to another bell-crank lever
centred on a stud near the bottom of the loom; this last-named bell-crank lever is in
contact with a catch that is attached to the before-named broken back lever, and has
a reciprocating motion, and when acted upon by the bell crank will cause the catch
to come in contact with a peg wheel secured on the picking cam shaft, and bring
the picking shaft into action. When the catch is not acted upon by the card
cylinder, through the bell-crank levers as described, the peg wheel will not be
actuated, and thus the picker will not strike the shutter until the card cylinder
brings the catch into contact with the peg wheel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Arthur Sowden in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th August
1878.
ARTHUR SOWDEN, of the Firm of David Sowden and Sons, Thornton Road, Brad-
ford, in the County of York, Machine Maker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR
WEAVING HEAVY CLOTH GOODS."
The object of my Invention is to arrange an apparatus for operating upon and
regulating the drop boxes in looms for weaving heavy cloth goods in such a manner
that the boxes will skip from one to any shuttle in the box, and thus weave a
variety of colors of yarn in the piece.
I accomplish my object in the following manner :-'
-To the under side of what is
commonly known as the going part I fix an angle iron or frame, to which is secured
at each end of the loom a sword that projects at right angles to the same; towards
the bottom of the loom journals are formed in each sword, in which is mounted
a screw that is cut with one or more coarse pitched threads, according to the pitch
and number of drop boxes that are fitted to the loom.
On each of the screws is
fitted a nut that slides in a groove formed in each of the before-mentioned swords.
Each nut is connected to the bottom of each series of drop boxes by means of a
connecting rod. Near to the bottom of these screws I form a star, which is operated
upon by a spring and presser for the purpose of keeping the screw and drop boxes
in position until they are actuated upon in the manner hereafter described, and are
required to skip or change shuttles to form the pattern in. the piece.
When the loom is at rest, and it is desired to change or take out any shuttle
from the drop boxes at either end of the loom, the presser is removed from the
before-named star by means of a foot lever fixed to each end of the loom. When
either of these foot levers are pressed down the lever is held in position by a catch,
and the drop boxes at the end of the loom where the foot lever has been actuated
will be free, and the weaver can raise or lower the drop boxes as hereafter described.
In order to raise or lower the drop boxes I secure à lever to the far box driving
shaft and to the bevel wheel at the bottom of the near screw. To each of these
levers is connected a rod that is coupled to a hand wheel fixed to the loom end;
thus when the before-named foot lever is pressed down by turning the hand wheel in
connection with the far box driving shaft, or the near bevel wheel, the same will
actuate the screw, and raise or lower the drop boxes as required. At the bottom
end of each of the above-named screws I fix bevel pinions, which gear into bevel
wheels mounted on a shaft, which I call the far box driving shaft; this shaft is
secured in journals formed in the before-named swords, and is in line and parallel
with the going part.
For the purpose of actuating the drop boxes at the near side of the loom, that is,
the side opposite to the driving end, I arrange one of the bevel wheels to be loose
on the far box driving shaft, and the same is connected by means of a rod to the
bottom end of a tee lever centred on a stud or shaft fixed in the bottom rail of the
loom. To the other ends of the tee lever I attach two catch rods, one to each end
of the lever, which are in connection with one of the card needle spindles, and are
actuated by the card cylinder that is fixed in a frame, and mounted on a stud.
Motion to the card cylinder is obtained by means of a cam that is secured on the
crank shaft of the loom; this cam is in connection with a lever that is centred on
a stud fixed to any convenient part of the loom, and the top end of this lever is
attached by a rod to the card cylinder frame. By these means an oscillating motion
is imparted to the card cylinder, which brings the same into contact with a catch,
which I call the cylinder catch, and thus revolves the cylinder one-fourth of a
revolution each pick of the loom. In case the weft is broken in any of the
shuttles, or all woven into the piece, the weft fork motion is so arranged that it
will lift the cylinder catch clear of the card cylinder, and thus prevent the same
from revolving.

page_text: In line with the centre of the card cylinder, which is fixed near the top of the
loom, I fix two plates, in which are mounted the card needle spindles. At the ends
of these spindles, next the card cylinders, I fix a head, into which I secure needles
of different lengths. The card on the card cylinder when oscillating in the back-
ward portion of its stroke acts upon these needles, forcing the needle spindle back,
and bringing one of the catch rods before named, that is, in connection with the
needle spindle, actuated into contact with a slide that is secured to the end of the
loom. This slide has two projections, and is connected by means of a rod to what
is commonly known as a broken back lever. This lever is in connection with an
eccentric that may be fixed either to the crank shaft or to the low shaft of the
loom, according to the nature and pattern of the piece required to be woven.
When the before-named slide is moving in the vertical portion of its stroke one
of the projections on the said slide comes in contact with the catch rod that has been
actuated by the card cylinder, and lifts one end of the before-named tee levers, and
thus causes the bevel wheel and pinion that is secured to the end of the screw to
revolve and raise or lower the drop boxes; and when the slide returns and releases
the catch rod the needle spindle is brought back into its original position by means
of a spring.
The drop boxes at the driving or far end of the loom are operated upon in the same
manner as described, except that the connecting rod from the tee lever is coupled to
a disc that is secured on the far box driving shaft, close to the loose bevel wheel
before mentioned. When either of the catch rods for raising or lowering the drop
boxes at the driving or far end of the loom are brought into contact with the before-
named projections on the slide, in the manner described, the tee lever will actuate
the disc and shaft, and cause the bevel wheel that is secured on the other end that
gears into the pinion at the bottom of the screw to revolve, and raise or lower the
drop boxes as the case may be.
In the centre of the going part I fix a stay, which projects towards the bottom of
the loom. Through this stay I form a journal for the purpose of carrying and
staying the centre of the far box driving shaft. On this shaft, near to the stay, I
fix one or more breaks for the purpose of regulating the far drop boxes.
To the top of the swords, at each end of the going part, I fix a stay for staying
the studs or guides on which the drop boxes slide; these stays are so arranged that
they act as guards, and prevent the picking straps becoming entangled with the
drop boxes and guide studs.
I also fix another stay to each end near the top of the going part swords, to
which is attached a spring that is connected to the nut on the screwed shaft; this
spring is to relieve the weight of the drop boxes off the screw, and thereby assist
the screw in raising the weight of the same.
In order to relieve the shuttle when boxing I fix a small pulley under the finger
of the stop rod in such a manner that when the going part is making its back ward
portion of the stroke the finger is lifted and the pressure is removed from the
swell.
I regulate the picking cams in such a manner that the pickers will strike
alternately or miss any odd or even number of picks; this is accomplished by a
card spindle in connection with the before-mentioned card cylinder, and mounted
as before described; this spindle is also in connection with one end of a bell-crank
lever; the other end of the bell-crank lever is secured to a rod that is attached to
another bell-crank lever centred on a stud near the bottom of the loom; this last-
named bell-crank lever is in contact with a catch that is attached to the before-
named broken back lever, and has a reciprocating motion, and when acted upon by
the bell crank will cause the catch to come into contact with a peg wheel secured on
the picking cam shaft, and bring the picking shaft into action. When the catch is
not acted upon by the card cylinder through the bell-crank levers as described, the
same is drawn back clear of the peg wheel; thus the peg wheel will not be actuated,
and the picker will not strike the shuttle until the card cylinder brings the catch
into contact with the peg wheel

page_text: And in order that my Invention, and the manner of performing the same, may
be properly understood I have hereunto appended one Sheet of explanatory
Drawings, to be hereafter referred to; the Drawings represent such portions of a
loom with my improvements added as are required to ellucidate my Invention.
Figure 1 is an end elevation of a loom with my improvements added.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the near end of a loom.
Figure 3 is a transverse section through the loom, and shews the framework at
the driving end.
Figure 4 is a detail plan shewing the arrangement of the card cylinder, card
needles, and springs; Figure 5 is a side view of the same.
Figure 6 is a view of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrow.
Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the card spindles, spring, and needles.
In all the Figures similar parts are indicated by similar letters and figures.
The frame of the loom is indicated by the letter A, and B represents the angle
iron that is secured to the going part, which is fixed to the swords C that are
mounted at each end of the loom in the usual manner; to each of these swords C
I secure two small brackets D, which form journals for screws E; the nuts E' are
fitted into a slide formed in each of the swords C; at the side of the nuts, opposite|
to the slide, I form a joint, to which is secured rod F, that connects the nut to the
under side of the drop boxes D1; the drop boxes at each side of the loom slide on
the studs d, d, the top ends of which are secured to the stay e, which nets as a
guide to prevent the picking straps becoming entangled with the drop boxes D'
or guide studs d, d. I also fix another stay g near to each end of the going part,
to which is attached a spring hand is connected to the nut E¹, by which means the
weight of the drop boxes on the screws is reduced. Near the bottom of each
screw E I secure a star, which is acted upon by a spring and presser, shewn in
Figure 1, and is for the purpose of keeping each screw and the drop boxes attached
in the position required until actuated upon by the bevel wheels at the bottom of
This is effected in the following manner :-
the screw.
Near the top of the frame A. I mount a frame G, in which is centred a card
cylinder H, around which I place and secure in the usual manner the cards H¹;
the card cylinder has an oscillating motion, which is obtained by means of a cam J
secured on the crank shaft; this cam is in connection with a long lever J, one end
of which rests on a stud secured to rail K.; the top end of lever J' is connected by
means of rod J2 to the card cylinder frame G, and thus an oscillating motion is
imparted to the card cylinder, which comes in contact with the catch J³ and causes
the cylinder to revolve one-fourth of a revolution each stroke of the cylinder or
pick of the loom. At the back side of the card cylinder H I mount two card
needle spindles L; at the end of each spindle, next the card cylinder, I secure a head,
into which I secure needles L¹ of different lengths; these are shewn in plan in
Figure 4, and enlarged view, Figure 7. If the drop boxes D₁ are required to change
at any pick of the loom, the card on the card cylinder will actuate one of the
needles Land force the needle spindle L, and the catch rods M in connection
therewith, back from the card cylinder such a distance that one of the catches M'
will be brought into such a position that the slide N in the upward portion of its
stroke will catch hold of one of the catches M' and lift one of the rods M.
Motion of the slide N is obtained by means of eccentric U secured on crank
shaft this eccentric is connected by means of rod U¹ to broken back lever U, and
the lever to the slide N by connecting rod U³. The bottom ends of the rods M are
secured to the ends of the tee lovers O and P, and the other end of lever O is
connected by means of rod S to the bevel wheel S¹, which is loose on the far box
driving shaft T, and gears into the pinion S2 secured on the end of screw E, so that
when the lever O is actuated in the manner described, and lifted at either end
Oor O³, the lever O will then turn on its fulcrum, and cause the bevel wheels and
screw E to revolve, and raise or lower the nut E' and drop boxes D¹ the distance
corresponding to the length of the needle L¹ that has been operated upon by the

page_text: card. The drop boxes at the far end or driving end of the loom, which are not
shewn on the Drawings, are operated upon in the same manner as described, except
that the end of the tee lever P at P¹ is connected by means of rod P2 to the disc Q
that is secured on the far driving shaft T, and is mounted in suitable journals
formed in the swords C. On the other end of this shaft is fitted bevel wheels and
Bсгew,
and connections to the under side of the drop boxes similar to those before
described, so that when the tee lever P is operated upon by the card through the
needle spindle and catch rods in connection therewith the lever will actuate the
disc and bevel wheels on far end of shaft T, and raise or lower the drop boxes
the distance corresponding to the length of the needle L' that has been operated
upon by the card.
The drop boxes and screws E are held in position during the time the drop boxes
are not required to change by means of presser and spring T¹, which presses
against what is commonly known as a star that is secured at the bottom of each
screw.
When the loom is at rest, and it is required to change any of the shuttles, the
drop boxes are relieved by pressing down the foot lever T until the same is held
in position by the catch T³, when the drop boxes at the end of the loom where the
foot lever has been actuated will be free, and the weaver can raise or lower the
same, which is accomplished by means of a hand wheel T secured at each end of
the loom, and connected by means of a rod T³ to a lever on the back of bevel
wheel mounted on shaft T; thus, by turning one of the hand wheels, the bevel
wheels and screw in connection therewith will be actuated, and the drop boxes will
be raised or lowered as required.
The weft fork motion is so arranged that when the fork is not actuated upon in
the ordinary manner the lever V, which is in connection with the weft fork motion,
will lift the rod V₁, and raise the catch lever J³ clear of the card cylinder, and thus
prevent the same from turning.
At the back side of the card cylinder H I also mount a card needle spindle W;
this spindle is in connection with a bell-crank lever W₁, and centred on fulcrum at
W the other end of this bell-crank lever W' is secured by rod X to another bell.
crank lever Y, which is mounted on a stud as fulcrum. One arm Y' of bell-crank
lever Y is in connection with catch Z that is jointed to the before-mentioned broken
back lever U2; this catch Z has a reciprocating motion, and when actuated upon in
the manner hereafter described the catch will come in contact with one of the pegs
Z on peg wheel Z2 that is secured on picking cam shaft, and bring the picking
shaft into action.
When the card needle spindle W is actuated by the card the rod X will descend
and cause the end of lever at Y₁ to press against the catch Z, so that the same
will come in contact with the pegs Z, and actuate the picker cam; but if the card
needle W is not actuated the end of bell-crank lever at Y¹ will be drawn back, and
the spring Z3 will draw the catch Z clear of the pegs Z', when the picker will not
strike the shuttle until the card, through the levers and rod before described, bring
the catch Z into contact with the pegs Z' on the peg wheel.
Having thus described my said Invention, and the manner in which the same is
or may be performed, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described, but that what I believe to be novel and original, and claim
as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent
is,-
The arrangement of a screw or screws in connection with the drop boxes for
raising or lowering the same, substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated
by the accompanying Drawings.
The arrangement and combination of the various parts for connecting together
the screw or screws and the card needle spindles for raising or lowering the drop
boxes, as herein-before described, and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
The arrangement and combination of the various parts connecting the card cylinder

page_text: needle with the peg wheel for regulating the picking cams, substantially as herein-
before described, and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings,
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Sowden, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
ARTHUR SOWDEN. (L.S.)