IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS
Year: 1883

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Julius Boult of 323 High Holborn in the county
of Middlesex Engineer for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS
a communication from Michel Baltus of Rouen in the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Julius Boult at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th May 1883.
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the county of Middlesex
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS [a communication from Michel Baltus of
Rouen in the Republic of France.]
This invention has for its object to diminish friction in looms.
The friction in the centre is inconvenient in "check" motions for looms with
movable boxes, especially where there are to be more than two shuttles, as
exceedingly accurate attention thereto is required.
In this new arrangement the central friction devices are replaced by a brake
acting on two stud wheels.
One of these two wheels has a pulley cast on it, in looms with two shuttles,
where there are four shuttles such a wheel is keyed on a hollow shaft carrying
the pulley surrounding an inner shaft on which the other wheel and pulley are
mounted
The brake is segment shaped and covered with leather, it is guided by a rod
surrounded by a coiled spring bearing on the segment a set screw allows the
tension of said spring to be adjusted. To ensure steadiness of the boxes at the
moment when the shuttles pass, the ordinary pedal plates are replaced by curved
pedal plates holding the aforesaid wheels fast when the change of the shuttles has
taken place and setting the same free when they are to operate.
To improve the operation of the boxes, a compensating spring is attached at the

page_text: end of the race which balances the weight of the movable boxes and of the devices
operating the same.
Two forms of spring may be used; in one form it is a flat coiled spring enclosed
in a barrel to which one end is attached and its other end to a spindle passing
through the barrel. To the bottom of the barrel is attached a lever the effect is
hereinafter set forth. This lever carries a roller fixed on a pin connecting the
support of the movable box with the rising rod.
The other form of spring is a stout iron wire fixed on a suitable carrier one end
being attached to a lever such as above described.
In either case the spring arrangement serves to render the movement even

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred Julius Boult in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th November 1883.
"
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the county of Middlesex,
Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS a communication from Michel Baltus of
Rouen in the Republic of France.
These improvements have for object to diminish the friction in looms for
weaving. The central friction is inconvenient in the "check" motion for the
looms with movable boxes, especially when more than two shuttles are to be
employed, as most accurate attention has to be given to that friction. In this
improved arrangement the central friction of such motions is replaced by a brake
acting upon a pulley rigidly connected with each of the two studwheels of these
motions.
For one of the wheels the pulley is cast with the wheels (that is for looms with
two shuttles) If four shuttles are to be used, the first. named arrangement is
retained for one wheel and for the other, the wheel is keyed upon the sleeve cast
in one piece with one of the pulleys. This sleeve surrounds the fixed or captive
axle of the motion and forms the shaft on which rotates the other wheel with its
pulley (see Figure 3.)
The brake is formed by a segment of a circle fitted with a leather and guided by
a rod surrounded by a coiled spring, which bears upon the segment (see Figures 2.
3 and 4)
The tension of this spring is regulated as desired by a set screw bearing on a
small disc placed upon the upper part of the spring as shewn in Figure 2, part of
which is shown broken away so as to show the interior.
This novel manner of applying the brake is much softer, more even and regular
than the ordinary central friction device by reason of the slight pressure which it
is sufficient to apply to the brake which acts on a larger radius.
Moreover to ensure the stability of the boxes at the moment when the shuttles
pass, the ordinary flat pedals are dispensed with and as the case may require, one
or two hooked pedals are adopted which keep the wheels immovable after the
change of shuttles has been effected and release the same at the moment when they
are again to be set in motion (see Figure 4)
Lastly to diminish as much as possible the utility of the brake and for regulating
the change of motion in the descent as well as in the rising of the boxes. At the .
end of the race is applied a compensating spring balancing the movable boxes and
the parts which set the same in motion.
As the case may require this compensating spring is applied in one of two
different forms. One of these consists of a barrel enclosing a spiral spring formed
by a strong steel plate fixed at one end to the barrel and at the other to an axle
passing through the same. At the bottom of the barrel is fixed a lever as will
hereinafter be explained for the spring. This lever supports a roller fixed on a
fixed bolt connecting the movable box with the raising rod (see Figure 1).
The other form consists of a strong steel wire fixed in the basis of a fixed pin
round which it is rolled, the last turn of this wire is extended in a straight line
and replaces the above mentioned lever and answers the same purpose.
In either case the spring acts in two manners.
1. In the rising movement its power is such that the weight of the parts to be
raised is rendered ineffective
2. Its resistance supports the boxes and renders the downward movement much
easier.

page_text: From this construction it results that the loom is rendered much lighter and as
there is no friction of the friction devices to overcome, it operates very regularly at
a minimum speed of 170 shots per minute.
C. Barrel fixed at the race by the lug E and containing the spiral spring
D. Lever fixed at the bottom of the barrel and under the action of the
spiral spring balancing the weight of the boxes.
E. Cast lug carrying the fixed axle of the barrel."
CF: Fixed axle of the barrel.
.
j
G. Fixed bolt carrying the roller of the lever.
Fig 2. A. Friction pullies
B. Stud wheels
C. Brakes fitted with leather and lightly bearing on the pullies.
D. Small disc bearing on the coiled spring acting as brake.
E. Set screw for regulating the brakes.
Fig 3. A. Fixed shaft of the system.
こ
B. Sleeve on which wheel C is fixed.
D. Pulley cast with sleeve B.
E. Wheel and pulley cast in one piece and freely turning on sleeve B.
F. Brakes.
f
Fig 4. A. Elevation of brake with its leather covering.
B. Hooked pedal fixing the position of the wheel during its stoppage and
setting the same free at the moment it begins to move again.
Having now described the nature of the said invention as communicated to me
y my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same I claim
1. The system of brake, dispensing with the central friction devices in the "check '
otions of looms with several shuttles substantially as set forth.
"
2. The hooked pedal or pedals B. Figure 4. Keeping the wheels immovable after
e shuttles are changed and releasing the same at the moment when they have
gain to start their movement, substantially as described and illustrated.
3. A compensating spring for balancing the movable boxes substantially as set
rth.
In witness whereof I the said Alfred Julius Boult have hereunto set my hand
d seal this fifteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand
ght hundred and eighty three.
An n
ALFRED J. DOULT
(L.S.)