IMPROVEMENTS IN WEAVING CARPETS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Morton, of Kilmarnock, in the County of
Ayr, North Britain, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WEAVING CARPETS."
Sealed the 3rd August 1855, and dated the 5th February 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Morton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 5th February 1855.
I, ALEXANDER MORTON, of Kilmarnock, in the County of Ayr, North
Britain, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WEAVING CARPETS " to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to various novel arrangements of weaving machinery
as more especially contrived for manufacturing carpets, contrived for the pur-
pose of simplifying the working details and economising the cost of production
of the woven goods. In weaving Brussels carpets according to this Inven-
tion two heddles only are used, whilst the draw bar is dispensed with. The
hemp warp or "chain" is contained upon two separate beams, one half on cach,
each line of warp threads from these beams being passed through a separate
heddle, whilst the wool warp is directly actuated by the tails from the pattern-
working jacquard, which is disposed directly above the shed. In commencing.

page_text: to weave under this plan, the jacquard apparatus is made to elevate the proper
wool warp threads above the level of the hemp warp for the figuring action,
and the wire for raising the loop is then inserted in the shed so made. At the
next change, when plain cloth is to be woven for binding in the figure, one of
the hemp heddles is raised, whilst the other hemp heddle remains down at the
same level as that of the entire wool warp, the primarily lifted threads of which
have returned to the level of the mass of that warp. In this condition of the
lines of warp a binding weft shot is thrown in, and at the next change of
position the hemp heddle which has just been lifted is depressed, so as to bring
its line of warp threads below the level of the other hemp heddle threads and
the wool warp.
Another binding weft shot is now passed through the shed
thus made. This is the entire process for one wire. At the next change the
jacquard lifts the wool warp threads to produce the figuring action, and a
second wire is then inserted in this shed. The other hemp heddle, which has
been hitherto stationary, is now elevated, and a binding weft shot is thrown in
to this shed, which is a repetition of the position already described in reference
to the first-mentioned hemp warp héddle. The hemp heddle last elevated is
now depressed below the level of the wool warp and the other section of the
hemp warp, or "chain," and another binding weft shot is then thrown into the
shed so made, and this completes the routine for weaving "ordinary" Brussels
carpet according to the improved system. In arranging the jacquard lifting
comb, instead of inclining it, as at present pursued, for producing an even shed
in the wool, the catch knots may be set at an incline as regards one another,
for the same end. In adapting the "fly shuttle" to work according to this
system, it is necessary that the shuttle race of the loom lathe should be always
set, to correspond accurately with the level of the sheds, which levels neces
sarily vary. This is accomplished by arranging a treadle for the weaver, so
that he can always raise or lower his lathe at pleasure, and thus bring the
shuttle race to suit the level of the shed through which the shuttle is to be
passed. A convenient way of effecting this object is to support the lathe upon
an adjustable lever, one arm of which is connected with the treadle movement,
or the lathe may be stationary whilst the shuttle race is adjustable within it, to
suit the requirements of the different shed levels. The loop wires are inserted
into the sheds by self-acting mechanism, under the control of the weaver. The
wires in any convenient number are piled one above the other vertically in a
holding guide at the side of the loom and attached to the edge of the lathe.
A vertically-acting lever arm is fitted to work upon a fixed centre above this
pile of wires, and the upper end of this lever is linked to a weighted tumbling
lever, which is also connected with the jacquard treadle action. When the

page_text: treadle is traversed just to its furthest position, the tumbling lever falls over
and shifts the vertical lever arm, before mentioned. The lower end of this
arm is contrived to work against the end of a grooved rod or holding piece,
on which rests the lowest wire of the pile, and the tumbling action thus knocks
or passes the holder and the bottom wire into the shed. At the next treadle
action the succeeding wire is similarly inserted, and so on, throughout the
series included in the pile. After each inserting stroke the wire is left in the
shed, and the holder or grooved rod returns empty; and as it emerges from
the shed, it disengages the bottom wire from its supporting catches, and thus
allows the wire to fall down, to be conveyed as before. The tumbling lever may
be worked by a cord or link from the weaver's hand, instead of by the treadle
action, as herein-before described. In weaving what are known as "two-ply"
and."three-ply" carpeting, the drop box and fly shuttle system is used, instead
of weaving with the hand shuttle, as at present. To suit the requirements of
this system of working, the drop boxes at each side of the loom are arranged
to be shifted to suit the different colors of the shuttle weft by a treadle, or
other convenient action, under the control of the weaver; or the drop boxes
may be shifted in connection with the jacquard apparatus.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Morton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th August 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MORTON, of Kilmarnock, in the County of Ayr, North Britain, Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Alexander Morton, Her special license that I, the said Alexander
Morton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Alexander Morton, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, 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

page_text: WEAVING CARPETS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alex-
ander Morton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly 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 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 Alexander Morton, 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 in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to various novel arrangements of weaving
machinery, as more especially adapted for manufacturing carpets, contrived
for the purpose of simplifying the working details, and economising the cost
of production of the woven goods.
And in order that my said Invention may be more thoroughly understood,
I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings, explanatory of some of the
modes in which the various details of my Invention may be carried into effect,
and in detailing the said Invention I shall refer to the said Sheet of Drawings
by the letters and figures marked thereon.
Figure 1 on the Sheet of Drawings is a side elevation of a hand loom as
fitted up according to my Invention for weaving ordinary Brussels carpets;
and Figure 2 on the same Sheet is a side elevation of a hand loom as fitted
up according to my Invention for weaving "two-ply" carpets. In weaving
Brussels carpets according to this Invention, two heddles only, A, B, are used,
whilst the draw bar hitherto employed is dispensed with. The hemp warp or
chain C, which forms the body of the fabric, may either be contained upon two
separate beams, one half on cach, or both portions of the hemp warp may be
put on one beam D, as represented in Figure 1, being in the latter case
separated and crossed by means of transverse rods, as at E, in such a manner
as that the strain on one portion of the warp will tend to draw up the slack of
the other portion thereof; one half of the warp threads C pass through the
heddle A, and the other half through the heddle B. The wool warp Fis
unwound from a series of bobbins G, arranged on frames in the usual way,
and is directly actuated by the tails II from the pattern-working jacquard I,
which is placed upon the top of the framing J of the loom directly above the
shed. Any convenient kind of jacquard apparatus may be used; but in that
represented in the Drawings, the needles K; acted upon by the barrel L, are
disposed horizontally, and are contrived to shift the tail cords H; or such of

page_text: them as the pattern card selects, to one side, so that the knots upon these cords
may be caught by the lifting board M, and in consequence raise the respective
woollen warp threads below. The lifting board M is raised by means of levers
fixed on a transverse shaft N, and partly indicated by dotted lines at O, being
connected to each of these levers by two connecting rods P, in such a manner
as to be inclined when lifted, so as to form an even shed, as is well understood
by the practical jacquard weaver. The shaft N is actuated by the lever Q,
from which a cord R depends for the hand of the weaver or of his assistant.
The heddles A, B, are each connected at their upper ends to the segmental
ends of the levers S, from the other ends of which cords pass down to the
treadles U. The heddles are connected at their lower ends to the transverse
levers V, which in their turn are connected to their respective treadles U. In
commencing to weave according to this arrangement, the jacquard apparatus
is made to elevate the proper wool warp threads F above the level of the hemp
or body warp C for the figuring action, and the wire for raising the loop is
then inserted in the shed so made. In Figure 1 of the Drawings no details
connected with the insertion of the wires are represented; any of the plans
hitherto in use for effecting this may be adopted; or instead thereof, the plans
which I shall herein-after describe may be employed. In order to make the
figure shed in the wool warp F perfect, and to dispense with the draw bar,
hitherto used, the lines of wool warp threads F are passed through "brakes"
W, arranged towards the rear of the loom. Each of these brakes consists of
two wires or bars, between which the threads pass, and which are fixed in
plates at each end, such plates turning on centres in the lateral uprights X
fixed upon the framing. In the normal position of the brake the threads pass
freely through between the wires, but on the brake being turned the threads
are made to take a zig-zag course, so as to be subjected to a frictional holding
action; thus, when the brakes are in action, the threads F are held with
considerable tightness, and the shed is in consequence formed in a much more
perfect manner. These brakes are actuated from the same levers O, which
work the jacquard lifting board M, rods Y being jointed to the ends of the
levers O and to levers Z below, whilst the opposite ends of the levers Z arc
connected by cords a to short lever arms on the brakes W. Thus, when the
lifting action of the jacquard takes place, the threads F are acted upon by the
brakes, whilst they are quite free therefrom at any other time. At the next
change, when plain cloth is to be woven for binding in the figure, one of the
heddles, as A, for example, is raised, whilst the other heddle B remains down
at the normal level of the entire warps, to which level have returned the
wool warp threads F, raised by the previous figuring action. In this condition
"

page_text: of the warps a binding weft shot is thrown in at b, above the main level of the
warps, and at the next change the heddle A, last raised, is depressed, so as to
bring its line of warp threads below the level of all the other warp threads,
whereupon another binding weft shot is passed at c through the shed thus
made. This is the entire process for one wire. At the next change the
jacquard lifts the wool warp threads, in accordance with the pattern, for the
figuring action, and a second wire is then inserted in the shed so formed.
Next, the heddle B, which was stationary before, is elevated, and a binding
weft shot is thrown into this shed at b, above the main line of warps; after
which the same heddle B is depressed, and another binding weft shot is
thrown in at c, below the main line of warps. This completes the routine of
operations for weaving "ordinary" Brussels carpets according to this system.
In arranging the movements of the jacquard lifting board or comb M, instead
of causing it to assume an inclined position, as at present practised for pro-
ducing an even shed in the warp, the catch knots on the tail cords H may be
arranged according to an inclined line for the same end, as indicated by red
knots, at d, in Figure 1 of the Drawings. In adapting the "fly shuttle" to
work Brussels carpets by hand according to this system, it is necessary that
the shuttle race of the loom lathe should be always set to correspond
accurately with the levels of the sheds, which levels necessarily vary. This is
accomplished by arranging a treadle for the weaver, contrived so that he can
always raise or lower his lathe at pleasure, and thus bring the shuttle race to
suit the level of the shed through which the shuttle is to be passed. A con-
venient way of effecting this object is to support the lathe upon an adjustable
lever; one arm of which is connected with the treadle movement; or the lathe
may be stationary, whilst the shuttle race is adjustable upon it, to suit the
requirements of the various shed levels. Or, again, the ordinary race and side
boxes may be arranged for the lower shed level, whilst simple shuttle boxes at
the sides may be used for the upper shed level, the body of warps remaining
at the main level, being sufficient to dispense with a race. The loop wires
may be inserted into the sheds by self-acting mechanism, under the control of
the weaver. According to one plan, the wires in any convenient, number are
piled one above the other vertically in a holding guide at the side of the loom,
and attached to the edge of the lathe. A vertically-acting lever arm is fitted
to work upon a fixed centre above this pile of wires, and the upper end of
this lever is linked to a weighted tumbling lever, which is also connected with
the jacquard treadle action. When the treadle is traversed just to its furthest
position, the tumbling lever falls over and shifts the vertical lever arm, before
mentioned. The lower end of this arm is contrived to work against the end

page_text: of a grooved rod or holding piece, on which rests the lowest wire of the pile,
and the tumbling action thus knocks or passes the holder and the bottom wire
into the shed. At the next treadle action the succeeding wire is similarly
inserted, and so on, throughout the series included in the pile. After such
inserting stroke, the wire is left in the shed, and the holder or grooved rod
returns empty, and as it emerges from the shed it disengages the next bottom
wire from its supporting.catches, and thus allows the wire to fall down to be
conveyed as before. The tumbling lever may be worked by a cord or link
from the weaver's hand, instead of by the treadle action, as herein-before
described; or, instead of the plan just described, the holder or grooved rod
with the wire may be pushed into the shed, and afterwards be withdrawn
thence, leaving the wire behind, by an assistant, who may also place the wires
in the grooved rod. In weaving what are known as "two-ply" and "three-
ply" carpets, the drop box and fly shuttle system is adopted, instead of
weaving with the hand shuttle, as at present. Figure 2 of the Drawings indi-
cates the manner of working out this improvement when weaving "two-ply"
carpets, and the practical weaver will easily adapt the same contrivances to
three-ply" weaving. In the arrangement of loom represented in Figure 2,
the whole of the warps A are unwound from a single beam B, and are passed
through the eyes of the jacquard tails C. In this instance the duplex
jacquard apparatus D, which is the same as is generally employed in weaving
this class of goods, is placed immediately over the shed, but the upper portions
of the mass of jacquard tails C are not represented in the Figure, to avoid
confusion. The needles E, which are acted upon by the jacquard cards, are
disposed horizontally, the two lifting boards or combs F, G, working vertically.
The lifting board F is connected by links H to levers I on a transverse shaft,
which is actuated by means of the lever J, connected by a cord to the treadle
K beneath; and the lifting board G is similarly connected by links L to
levers M on a second transverse shaft, worked by a lever N, connected by a
cord to its respective treadle K beneath. Each lifting board F, G, acts
directly upon half of the warp threads A, and in addition to this each board
also acts on threads O, which pass down to four secondary lifting boards or
bars, indicated by dotted lines at P; but the threads O cross each other in
such a manner, that when the lifting board F, for example, is acting upon
its half of the warp threads, it also lifts one of the bars P, appertaining
to the other half of the warp threads. In the arrangement represented,
two of the bars P are supposed each to act on all the threads of one colour,
whilst the other two bars P act on the "ground" warp threads. This arrange-
ment is needed in weaving this particular class of goods, as is well under-

page_text: stood by the practical carpet weaver, and is briefly indicated here merely
to render the application of the present Invention intelligible. Along with
the two colours and a ground warp, in this example, three weft shuttles are
used, of corresponding colours, and these are worked by means of the shifting
drop boxes Q at the sides of the lathe. These drop boxes have three
compartments, one for each shuttle, and they are raised or lowered either by
the jacquard or by a treadle, so as to bring the respective shuttle to the
level of the shed at the proper time. The drop boxes are arranged in any
convenient inanner so as to be capable of sliding up and down on the face of
the lathe, and they are suspended by cords R which pass over pulleys S, placed
in such a position above as that the vibrating motion of the lathe shall not
apprecially alter the positions of the drop boxes. The cords R pass on to
levers S, fixed on the end of a transverse shaft T, a lever U, on which is con-
nected by a cord to a treadle K beneath; or, instead of this plan, levers V
may be fixed on the shaft T, so as to extend beneath the jacquard apparatus,
for the purpose of being worked thereby by means of the cords O, or of
special cords and needles set apart for that purpose. The looms represented in
Figures 1 and 2 are both fitted with improved take-up mechanisın. In the
latter loom the cloth is taken up by a small roller, indicated by dotted lines at
W, which is covered with card filleting, such as is used in carding engines,
and this roller takes a firm hold of the cloth, and it may be allowed to fall
away from it loosely into a box; it is, however, represented as being wound
upon a roller X. The roller W is geared to the spindle of the ratchet wheel Y,
which is actuated by the lever and pall Z.
connected by the link a to a short lever
which last has a lever fast upon it, indicated by dotted lines at d, and connected
by a link e to one of the jacquard working levers I. In this manner the
descending weight of the jacquard tails and other details is made to take up
the fabric. The lever bis, however, so contrived that the taking-up does not
transmit any strain to the jacquard towards the end of the descent of the
latter, for before the lever I reaches its lowest position, the lever 6 passes the
vertical line, and if it went further, would rather tend to relieve the pall Z
from the ratchet wheel Y than otherwise. The cloth is taken up on the
roller X by means of the lever and pall f, which acts on the ratchet wheels g,
fixed on the roller. The lever f is lifted periodically by a cord h connected to
one of the lifting bars P, and descends by means of the weight i. The take-
up details in the loom, represented in Figure 1, is very similar to that just
described. The cloth passes over the card-covered roller at e (Figure 1), and
is wound upon the roller at f. The roller e is turned by means of the ratchet
The extremity of the lever Z is
on a horizontal spindle c above,

page_text: wheel 9, which is actuated by the pall and lever h, and this last is connected by
the link to a lever j on the end of the shaft N above. The roller f is turned
by means of the ratchet wheel k, which is actuated by the pall and lever l,
which last is connected by a cord m to one of the levers O on the shaft N
above. A weight n is hung on the end of the lever l, which causes this lever
to descend and take up the slack of the cloth. In the loom, represented in
Figure 1, is also shewn my improved contrivance for holding the body warp C
firmly during the beating-up action of the lathe. For this purpose, when the
beat up is about to take place, a pair of palls o are made to engage with a
ratchet wheel p on the roller D, and thereby prevent the warp from being
drawn off it by the strain. These palls o fall into gear by their own weight,
and are taken out of gear when the holding action is not wanted by the cord 9,
which passes up to the three-armed lever above. One of the arms of this lever
is weighted at 8, to lift the palls o out of gear when the holding action is not
required. The other arm of the lever is connected by the cord t to a bell
crank lever u, placed above the heddles, and from the other arm of this last
lever cords v descend, and are attached to the segmental ends of the heddles
A, B, so that when either of the heddles is depressed, the palls o fall into gear,
and prevent the warp from being drawn off the roller or beam D.
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 mechanism or apparatus
to be applied to hand looms for weaving carpets, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of weaving Brussels carpets, wherein the sheds
for the binding weft shots are formed first above and then below the main
line of woollen warp threads, the weft shots being thrown in at two different
levels without disturbing the woollen warps, as herein-before described.
Third, the application and use in hand looms for weaving carpets of
"brakes," for holding or tightening the woollen warp threads during the
formation of the shed in these threads, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the system or mode of working hand looms for weaving Brussels
carpets with the "fly shuttle," in the manner herein-before described.
Fifth, the application and use in hand looms for weaving "two-ply" and

page_text: three-ply" carpets of shifting shuttle boxes for working the shuttles, such
boxes being actuated by an independent treadle movement, or by the jacquard
action, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Morton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of August, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-five.
ALEXANDER MORTON. (L.S.)
ALEXANDER MORTON. (L.S.)