IMPROVEMENTS, IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARPETS AND OTHER PILE FABRICS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Wood, of Monkhill House, near Pontefract,
in the County of York, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS,
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARPETS AND
OTHER PILE FABRICS."
Sealed the 5th May 1857, and dated the 25th February 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Wood at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th February 1857...
I, WILLIAM WOOD, of Monkhill House, near Pontefract, in the County of
York, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
CARPETS AND OTHER PILE FABRICS," to be as follows:-
Hitherto, when using loose wires in the formation of the pile of carpets and
other pile fabrics, there has generally been one instrument for inserting and
another for withdrawing them, with apparatus to transfer the wires from
one to the other; but it is found that when quick speeds are required,
that there is some difficulty in safely transferring the wire from the with-
drawing instrument to the inserting one; some plans have been used to remedy
this evil, by making the same instrument which withdraws the wire also insert
it, and by so doing, the transfer of the wire is avoided; but in most cases of
this kind, the instrument having so much more work to do in the same time,
does not act well at high speeds. Now, the object of this my present improve-
ments, is to romedy the evil in both the systems alluded to. This I do by
combining parts of each, that is, I use two instruments, but make each of

page_text: them both draw out and put in a wire alternately, without any transfer of the
wire. This I accomplish by mounting the hooks or instruments in a suitable
bearing, and in causing the bearing to swivel partly round when a wire has
been withdrawn; the hooks or instruments fitting loosely in their bearings, aro
made to preserve the same direction or nearly so, in order that the wire may
be presented in a suitable position to enter the slied, which it does by the
return movement of the hooks and their bearing; the wire last inserted is
then detached from its hook or instrument, and the wire nearest the breast beam
is connected to the other hook or instrument, the bearing and hooks have then
a lateral outward movement given them, thereby drawing out a wire, the
bearing again turns partly round and changes the positions of the hooks or
instruments as before; by this means, although two instruments are in action,
there is no transference of a wire from one to the other, therefore no time is
lost or liability to miscarriage incurred, nor from having two instruments to
the work is there that hurried movement as when only one is used. In lieu
of using a bearing on which the two hooks or instruments are carried, a plate
having suitable grooves cut in it, or rails affixed to it, may be used for altering
the positions of the hooks. The same principle may be carried out by more
than two instruments by using a star wheel on which are mounted hooks or
holders, or mounting the. instruments on a plate or bearing, so as to make the
hooks act in. rotation. Various modes may be adopted for actuating such
combined, alternate, or successive working instruments, so as to produce the
requisite to-and-fro movements to draw out and insert wires in terry or cut
pile weavings. Also, in combining with the improvements before described,
suitable guide plates, stops, and apparatus for releasing, holding, and placing
the wires in their proper position in the shed.
SPECIFICATION in-pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Wood in the Great Seal Patent Office on tho
25th August 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM 30
WOOD, of Monkhill House, near Pontefract, in the County of York, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her 35
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give, and grant unto me, the

page_text: said William Wood, Her special licence that I, the said William Wood, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Wood, my executors, administrators, and 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 mako, 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 OR APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CARPETS AND OTHER
PILE FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Wood, 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 Scal 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 Wood, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say) :-
It has hitherto been customary when using loose wires in the formation
of the pile of carpets and other pile fabrics, to employ one instrument for
inserting and another for withdrawing them, with apparatus to transfer the
wires from one instrument to the other; but it is found, when quick speeds
are required, that there is some difficulty in safely transferring the wire
from the withdrawing instrument to the inserting one; some plans have been
used to remedy this evil, that is, by making the same instrument which with-
draws the wire also insert it, and by so doing, the transfer of the wire is
avoided, but in most cases of this kind, the instrument having so much more
work to do in the same time, does not act well at high speeds. Now, tho
object of this my present improvements, is to remedy the evils in both the
systems alluded to. This I do by combining parts of each system, that is to
say,
I use two or more instruments, but make each of them both draw out
and put in a wire alternately, or in succession, and without any transfer of the
wire. This is accomplished by means of a compound instrument mounted on
a vibrating lever, or otherwise made to move to and fro, so that in moving
from the fabric a wire is withdrawn, the same wire being reinserted after the
compound instrument has been moved to bring the end of the wire towards
the open shed, by this means, although two or more instruments are in action,
the wire is not transferred from one to the other, therefore no time is lost, or

page_text: liability to miscarriage incurred, the movements are also less hurried than
when only one instrument is used.
Having described the nature of my said Invention, the accompanying
Drawings and the following description are intended more particularly to
describe and ascertain the same, and the manner in which it is to be performed.
Figure 1 is a side view of a loom for weaving carpets, to which my improve-
ments are applied; Figure 2 is a front elevation, and Figure 3 a plan of part
of the same. a is the crank or main driving shaft; b is the tappet shaft to
which is fixed the tappet plate 6', which, by means of the lever b³, link s³, lever s*,
and shafts, works the lever s, to which the mechanism for withdrawing and
inserting the wires is connected. c represents the reed supported by the lay as
usual; d is the breast beam; e, the bed plate fixed to the breast beam, and f,
the roller by which the fabric is drawn forward. The foregoing parts, and those
not particularly referred to hereafter, requisite to complete the loom, aro
made in any approved manner. On referring to Figuro 3, it will be seen that
I have represented my improvements as applied to a loom working with seven
loose wires, any other convenient number of wires may however be employed.
The heads of the wires shewn detached in Figure 4, on Sheet 2,. are marked h
and they are made with bevelled ends, shown in Figure 5, the object of which
will be explained hereafter. The instruments i, i, by which the wires aro
withdrawn and inserted, shewn detached in Figures 6, 7, and 8, are each pro-
vided with a shank 3, passing through a bearing plate i³, shewn in Figure 9,
swivelling upon the end of the lever s. To the instruments i, i, are fixed the
slides and, taking into grinding grooves in the fixed segmental plate t, part
of which is shewn full size in Figures 10 and 11. The groves in the plate t
are furnished with four spring shunting points, marked t¹, ts, t³, and t+, the
use and action of which will be described hereafter.
The plate to fixed to the bed plate e is furnished with a stop to and a similar
stop is fixed to the plate e; these stops serve to hold the head of the wire when
it has been inserted in the shed; the wires are held upright by these stops
and by the plate to, which is made with an inclined face t', as shewn best in
Figure 5, the object of which will be explained hereafter. The head of each
wire is made with a slot h¹ for the hook of the holder i to take into, and with
a round hole h² for the pushing instrument j, this instrument is connected to
the lever k, actuated by the tappet & fixed to the shaft b, as shewn in Figure 1.
The mode of operation is as follows:-The Drawings on Sheet 1, repre-
sent the parts in the positions they occupy when the holder has taken hold
of the head of the wire nearest the breast beam, as shewn also in Figure 12,
on Sheet 2. On referring to Figure 5, the hook or holder is shewn near

page_text: the heads of the wires; as soon as it comes in contact with the head of wire
No. 1 it gradually pushes this head against the inclined face t', and inserts
itself between the heads of the wires No. 1 and 2 until the catch of the hook
or holder takes into the slot h', of the head of wire-No. 1, as-shewn in
Figure 12.
1
While the hook or holder is taking hold of the head of wire No. 1, the
holder i deposits the wire that was connected to it in the shed, the head of this
wire coming against the stops to, is held while the catch of the holder i is dis-
connected from the head of the wire: this is effected by the lever s moving
sufficiently towards the selvage of the fabric to allow the bevelled end of tho
slot on the head of the wire being pushed off the catch of the holder i by the
instrument j, which takes into the round hole in the wire head, as before
described; the instrument j also serves to push up the wire heads, and to
bring the head of the wire nearest the breast beam in a line with, the
holder i.
'
Having now described how the wire head is liberated from the holder i, and
how the head of the wire nearest the breast beam becomes connected to the
holder, I will proceed to describe the means by which the bearing plate ³ is
made during its outward movement to swivel round, thereby changing the
position of the holders i and i¹ so as to present the wire last drawn out of tho
fabric towards the open shed. As soon as the wire No. 7, has been dis-
connected from the holder i, and the head of the wire No. 1 is connected to
the holder i, the levers commences its outward motion, and it proceeds about
half its distance, drawing the wire in a parallel direction; the slide of the
holder then comes against the point t' of the segmental plate t, the effect of
which is to cause the bearing plate to swivel partly round in the direction
of the arrow, thereby bringing the slide against the point t², and in advance
of the slide i³, the lever 's continuing its outward course, and the slides ** and
having entered the inclined grooves, cause the bearing plate to swivel
half round in the direction of the arrow in. Figure 10, the points to and t'
having been pushed open by the action of the slides and to allow them to
pass, as shewn in dotted lines. These points resume their original positions
immediately after the passage of the slides. When the lever s arrives at the
end of its outward course the holders i and and slides and have
reversed their positions, as shewn by dotted lines, and the wire that had been
drawn out is in position for being reinserted; the wires being made of spring
steel, are bent or set so as to cause the point to be opposite the open part of
the shed, a suitable stop piece being attached to the inner end of the plate t,
to prevent the point of the wire going too near the reed. The lever s is then

page_text: moved in the contrary direction, thereby carrying forward the bearing plate 2³,
and the slides and , which, during the whole of their inward course move in
straight and parallel lines; the slide to pushing open the point t, and the slide
** the point t', as shewn in dotted lines. When the levers has completed its
return stroke the wire last withdrawn, connected to the holder i, will be
inserted into the shed, and the head of the wire nearest the breast beam will
at the same time be connected to the holder i ready to be withdrawn when the
operations above described will be repeated. I wish to remark, that other
means may be adopted for causing tho holders i and i to swivel round or to
reverse their positions.
Another mode of carrying out my improvements in machinery or appa-
ratus for withdrawing and inserting wires is shewn on Sheet 3. Figure 13,
represents the front elevation of part of a loom; Figure 14 is a plan
of the same; Figures 15, 16, and 17, are detached parts drawn full size.
The vibrating lever s is put in motion in the manner described in reference to
Figures 1, 2, and 3; to the lower part of this lever is connected the star wheel
, shown in plan in Figure 16, and in section in Figure 17. I have shewn
this star wheel with sixteen holders or instruments, each capable of being
connected to the heads of the wires, but a greater or less number may be used
according to the diameter of the wheel, and to the number and size of the
wires, employed; the holders i, and the heads of the wires h are nearly similar
to those described in reference to the Drawings on Sheets 1 and 2. The
holders i may be fixed on a circular disk if preferred. The levers passes
-through the star wheel, its extreme end moving in a groove in the segmental
rail t, to the outer end of which is fixed an inclined plate t, the object of
which is to turn the star wheel partly round when the lever s arrives in the
position shewn by dotted lines in Figure 13. The boss of the star wheel is
made with as many V-shaped recesses as there are holders into which the end
of the spring so, shewn in Figure 13, enters; the object of this spring is to
hold the star wheel in its proper position while drawing out and inserting a
wire. The mode of operation is as follows:-In Figure 16, the star wheel is
shewn near the heads of the wires in the fabric; when the lever s has advanced
to the end of its inward stroke, the head of the wire nearest the breast' beam
is taken hold of in the manner described in reference to Figures 5 and 12;
the bevelled end of the wire head entering between the holder i and the spring
, each of the holders being provided with such a spring as shewn in Figure
16. The levers is then moved outwards to withdraw the wire, and when it
arrives near the end of its traverse, the holder 10 on the opposite side of the
star wheel comes against tho inclined plate to, the continued advance of the

page_text: lever causing the star wheel to swivel partly round in the direction of the
arrow, and bringing the end of the wire last withdrawn against a stop at the
inner end of the segmental rail t in the proper position for entering the shed.
When the levers on its return traverse brings the star wheel away from the
inclined plate t the springs, having previously entered the V-shaped recess
in the boss of the star wheel by its pressure, causes the said wheel to complete
its sixteenth part of a revolution, and again holds the star wheel in suitable
position while the wire is entering the shed. The turning of the star wheel
also produces the effect of presenting another holder in a suitable position for
taking hold of the head of the wire nearest the breast beam; when the lever s
regains its vertical position the pushing instrument j is made to advance, as
previously described in reference to Sheet 1, and pushes the head of the wire
last inserted in the shed off the holder i. During this operation the head of
the wire nearest the breast beam has been taken hold of as before described,
and these operations are repeated. Various modes may be adopted for
actuating such combined instruments, working alternately or in succession, so
as to produce the requisite to-and-fro movements to draw out and insert wires
in terry or cut pile weavings. The apparatus for guiding, stopping, and ro-
leasing the wires may also be varied.
Having thus particularly described the nature of my Invention, and two
modes of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit
myself to the details herein set forth; but what I do claim is,-
First, the use of two or more instruments, each of which draws out and
inserts a wire alternately or in succession, without any transfer of the wire
from one instrument to another.
Secondly, the use of grooves or rails for guiding the withdrawing and
insorting instruments, and for changing their position.
And, thirdly, the star wheel or disk, and parts acting in combination there-
with for withdrawing and inserting wires.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Wood, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
H. B. BARLOW,
Manchester.
WILLIAM WOOD. (L.S.).