Improvements in Loom Dobbies.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 27th May, 1892-Accepted, 2nd July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Loom Dobbies.
We EDWIN ASHWORTH of Fieldhouse Lane Loom Overlooker and AROHIBALD
HARDWICK OLDHAM of Cross Lees Syke Road Mill Manager both of Rochdale
and County of Lancaster do hereby declare the naturo of this invention to be as
follows:
Our invention relates to a double acting loom dobby.
Our improvements comprehend the following features:
Firstly. That according to our arrangement we attain positive action or
movement of the healds.
Secondly. The lifting and dropping of the same being accomplished without
the aid of springs, applied at the lower part of the healds, consequently avoiding
great strain or friction on and between the healds and warp and consequently
the loss or waste. of power due to such occurrences is obviated; and by its use we
are enabled to weave a much heavier cloth than is the case with dobbies where
positive action is not attained as effected by our arrangement.
We also obtain the bevel shed without the aid of intermediate jack levers
between the healds and the jack levers of the dobby, and also the draw hooks are.
according to our improvements adapted to interlock, and be released at the proper
period that is when they are required to be put into engagement with the lifting
bars.
According to our construction we adapt and arrange the springs actuated by the
pegs on the pattern roller or pattern card so as to be capable of being operated
upon by a moving bar or piece, in such a manner so as to allow of the said springs
actuating the upper series of draw hooks to be conveniently depressed or operated
upon so as if necessary to allow the said draw hooks to fall when not actuated by
the pattern roller and to ensure the locking of the hooks with a lock bar and thus
to ensure the rising of the hooks, and consequently the action of the heald or
healds in connection with such hook or hooks to be effected only at the proper
periods or when the said springs are to be actuated by the pattern roller.
At any convenient point or centre we attach to a central stud two lifting bars or
knives in a horizontal position, one above the other, and extending from the central
stud across and beyond an upper and lower series of draw hooks, and about the
axis of which central stud the said bars are free to turn, the other extremities of
the two lifting bars, that is the extremities opposite to the fixed extremities,
or free ends, and at any convenient intermediate part between the extremities
of the said lifting oars, are conveniently attached to horizontal bars or slido rod.
that is a slide rod on each side of each series of draw hooks, each series, the upper
and lower, being situato between two slide rods one set of rods, that is, those
attached to extremities of the lifting bars are attached to a two armed lever free.
to oscillate about a fixed and central stud, which two armed lever is attached to
the connecting rod operated by the eccentric on the main or motion shaft of the
loom. The extremities of the lifting bars being attached to the horizontal slide
rods the movements of the two armed lever which is vertically situated with
relation to the slide rods, and the stud about which the lever oscillates being situate
centrally between the rods, causes one of the lifting bars, the upper or lower as
the case may be, to have a reverse movement with relation to the other, the extent
or distance of the movements of such bars determines or regulates the distance or
opening of the warp or sheds, and the angular movements of the lifting bars
with relation to the axis of the central stud, actuates or lifts more or less the
healds, or pulls the draw hooks put into engagement with the lifting bars

page_text: accordingly as they may be situated nearer to or further from the fixed extremities
of the horizontal moving lifting bars or knives.
At convenient parts of the horizontal rods that is at parts further from the two
armed lever than the extremities of the lifting bars, we provide two bars or knives,
which we term the drop bars, which extend across and transverse to the series of
draw hooks, which series may be any convenient number according to the number
of shafts to be employed in the loom, to the horizontal rods on the other side of
the series, that is a drop bar to each of the series of draw hooks, the upper and
the lower. The said drop bars each being in proximity to projecting parts of the
intermediate levers connecting the upper and lower series of draw hooks to the
jack rods, which levers are provided with studs cast in one piece and upon which
studs the draw hooks which not having hook shaped extremities but have full or
circular apertures are adapted to fit on the studs and which hooks are slotted to
allow of the thickness of the connecting parts of the jack rods to pass therein
and so as to admit of the connecting extremities of the hooks and of the jack rods
to be sprung into position on the studs of the intermediate levers thus avoiding
loose or separate parts at the joints.
The operation of our invention is as follows
When the two armed lever is actuated a catch or paul operates a ratchet wheel
on the spindle of the pattern roller, consequently the roller is operated, and the
pegs on the roller or card actuates or lifts the springs which springs actuate or lift
one or more of the upper series of draw hooks, and through the agency of lifting
bars operate or lift one or more of the lower series of draw hooks, so as to engage
respectively with the upper and lower lifting bars or knives to be actuated at the
proper periods, the attachment of the upper and lower horizontal rods on one side
of the draw hooks each to an arm of the oscillating two armed lever causes the
upper and lower lifting and drop bars or knives to actuate in opposite directions
the upper and lower series of draw hooks. respectively, or each set of bara or
knives to have reverse or opposite motions with relation to each other, consequently
the drop bar of the one set, the upper or lower as the case may be, is by engage-
ment with the projections on the intermediate levers in the act of dropping the healds
whilst the lifting bar or knife of the other set is in the act of lifting. The hooks of
either set when disengaged from the lifting bar or knife fall or are caused to fall
on to a horizontal plate and to engage with a lock bar and remain locked until
required to be pulled or operated upon by the lifting kuife.
By our improvement and arrangement it will thus be seen, that not only do we
provide knives for lifting but we also provide knives or bars for dropping the
healds, by our arrangement the healds are lifted and dropped, with certainty, from
the dobby and is effected without the aid of extraneous appliances, by the employ-
ment or combination of such lifting and dropping bars to act immediately and
directly on the jack levers we effect or accomplish positive action of our apparatus
and also effect the opening of the shed without the aid of extraneous appliances,
such as levers as now employed between the jack levers and the healds.
Dated this 25th day of August A.D. 1891.
EDWIN ASHWORTH:
ARCHIBALD HARDWICK OLDHAM.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Loom Dobbies.
We EDWIN ASHWORTH of Fieldhouse Lane, Loom. Overlooker and ARCHIBALD
HARDWICK OLDHAM of Cross Lees Syke Road Mill Manager both of Rochdale
and County of Lancaster do hereby declare the nature of this invention and..in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described. aud
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to a double acting loom dobby.

page_text: or knives g, g¹ which we term "drop bars," the drop bar 9, passes across an0
transverse to the upper series of draw hooks f, the lower drop bar g' passes
underneath the lower series of draw hooks fi and transverse thereto. At a
convenient distance from the extremities of the rods e, e, e', e', we provide the
ordinary lifting bars or knives h, h' which likewise extend across the upper and 5
lower series of draw hooks, respectively the extremities of the upper bar ½
passing into adjustable collars or pieces i, i, provided on the connecting rods e, e,
the lower bar passing into adjustable slotted pieces j, provided on the connecting
rods e, e. We adapt or form the ordinary links or intermediate links k, k¹ (two
being shewn in the drawings for the purpose of illustration) at their extremities 1
so as to allow of the drop bars g, y' to engage the projecting parts ³, ³, which
is a novel part of our arrangement in connection with the drop bars. The draw
hooks f,being connected to the links k, k¹ in the usual manner, and are raised
into position or engagement with the lifting bars h, h' in the ordinary manner,
when actuated by the pattern card 1, on the pattern roller m through the agency
of the springs n, and the lifting and guide pieces o the action of which is common
knowledge. But according to our arrangement we provide in connection with the
draw hooks a novel arrangement of lock bars or plates p, p.
The operation of our invention is as follows:-
When the two armed lever a is operated and the pattern rollers m, m, by the
usual means, one or more of the upper and lower series of draw hooks are lifted
into engagement respectively with the upper and lower lifting knives at the proper
periods, which action is well known, the oscillating movement of the levers a, a¹ on
the axis of the lever spindle d, actuates the upper and lower set of lifting and
drop bars respectively, consequently the upper and lower set of bars are caused to
have reverse movements with relation to each other, upon referring to Fig. 2 the
relative extreme positions of the upper and lower set of lifting and drop bars is
therein indicated, the illustration shews the lifting bar to have pulled the link k,
in a forward direction, the heald attached to the jack lever r is consequently raised,
and the drop bar g', at the same time to have pushed the lower extremity of the
link in a backward or opposite direction, the heald attached to the jack lever
of the said link is thus positively propped without the aid of springs attached below
the heald as ordinarily used, such heald is consequently dropped with certainty,
without any extraneous appliances apart from the action of the drop bar g' itself.
The hooks or draw bars not in engagement with the lifting bars, are caused to fall
on the lock plates p, p', when this occurs, the healds in connection with such draw
bars are down, see position of jack rod Fig. 3, the tendency of the lower shed
being to resist the downward movement of such healds, this being the case, thé
hooks or draw bars fallen on the lock plates are forced forward into the recess or
locks p, p, of the plates p and p', and are thus held secure, consequently whilst
the draw hooks are in this position, the healds are, and consequently the lower
shed, is held down and maintained in such position until actuated by the pegs on
the pattern roller and released by the actions or movements of the drop bars
coming in contact or into engagement with the projecting parts ², ³, of the levers
as the case may be; which projections or extremities are caused to move forward
in the path of the drop bars when passed into the locks p³, p³, which position is
particularly shewn in Fig. 3. It will be observed in the elevations shewn in the
drawings herein, that two links are shewn for the purpose of illustration, but it
will be readily understood, that what has been stated with reference to the two links
shewn, the same remarks apply to any number of draw hooks and links employed
in connection with the dobby, as for example, one, two, or more of the draw hooks
of the upper series may be in engagement with the lifting bars as shewn in Fig. 4,
and the healds in connection therewith consequently actuated or lifted, and at the
same time one, two, or more of the draw hooks of the lower series may be actuated in
the opposite direction, and the healds in connection therewith positively dropped,
or the two hooks of one or more links may be alternately placed in engagement
with the upper and lower lifting bars respectively, and consequently the healds

page_text: Our improvements comprehend the following features:-
Firstly. That according to our arrangement we attain positive action or move-
ment of the healds.
Secondly. The dropping of the healds being accomplished without the aid of
springs, and the bevel shed without the aid of intermediate jacks, we are thus
enabled to weave a cloth of heavy texture also to accomplish or effect a clear
shed space or opening, and this may be effected with a loom working at a high
speed to which our improved dobby may be applied.
The draw hooks are according to our improvements adapted to lock on a lock
bar or plate, and are capable of being released at the proper periods, that is, when
they are required to be put out of or into engagement with the lifting bars.
According to our arrangement we employ in connection with a two armed lever
or two such levers provided on the outer and opposite ends of a lever shaft, which
shaft is situate centrally between the extremities of the lovers, a lever being
provided one on each side of an upper and lower set of draw bars or hooks, which
draw hooks and levers may be those ordinarily used and as arranged in connection
with a double acting, dobby, one of the levers being connected by means of a
connecting rod to any convenient motion shaft of the loom, we provide horizontal
connecting rods one above the other in connection with the extremities of the two
armed levers, and in the longitudinal direction of or parallel to the draw bars, and
on each side thereof.
To the upper and lower connecting rods that is nearest to the two armed lovers
we attach the extremities of the ordinary lifting bars or knives placed across or
transverso to the draw bars.
.
At the other ends of each set of the upper and lower slide or connecting rods,
that is, the ends opposite to the ends attached to the two armed levers we provide
a bar or knife which we term. the drop "bars" which extend across and transverse
to the series of draw hooks (which series may be any convenient number according
to the number of shafts to be employed in the loom), that is a drop bar to each of
the series of draw hooks, (the upper and the lower), and which drop bars are the
essential features of this our invention. The said drop bars each being in proximity
to projecting or recessed parts of the intermediate levers.connecting the upper and
lower series of draw hooks to the jack rods.
The movement of the two armed lever which is vertically situate with relation
to the glide rods, and oscillating on the lever shaft being situate centrally between
the rods, causes one set being a lifting bar and a drop bar, the upper and the lower
as the case may be, to have a reverse movement with relation to the other set
(lifting and drop bar) the extent or distance of the movements of such bars
determines or regulate the distance or opening of the warp or shed.
In order that our invention may be better understood we have reference to the
accompanying sheets of drawings in which
.
Fig. 1 represents so much of the mechanism of a double acting dobby as is
sufficient to illustrate our invention.
Fig. 2 is an elevation shewing the position of the intermediate links, the upper
and lower set of lifting, and drop bars, when the lifting bar of the one set, and the
drop bar of the other set are situate at extreme strokes or positions.
Fig. 3 is an elevation shewing the position of the draw hooks with relation to
the lock bars or plates.
Fig. 4 is a plan of Fig. 1 shewing a position of a series of lifting and drop bars,
when working.
.
According to our arrangement we attach to the extremities of the levers a, a¹,
which are actuated from any convenient motion shaft of the loom by means of a
connecting rod b, adjustable pieces c, c, c', c', which are capable of adjustment more
or. less to or from the axis of the lever shaft d, by unscrewing the nuts c³, c³,
through which adjustable pieces c, c', we pass a set of rods e, e, el, e', that is, a set.
being on each side of the draw hooks, one above the other, see Figs. 1 & 4,
at the other extremities of the slide or connecting rods e, e, e¹, e¹, we attach bars

page_text: connected therewith through the medium or instrumentality of the jack levers may
be maintained in a raised, lifted, or in one position so long as the two draw hooks
in connection with such links are alternately placed in engagement with and
lifted by the lifting bars, and which is consequent or due to double action mechanism,
the position of the draw hooks in the event of such latter example or action,
being shewn in Fig. 1, which fig. also shews the position of the lifting and drop
bars when moved to a central position, or at half stroke or movement thereof, the
engagement or disengagement of the draw hooks being entirely. controlled through
the agency of the pattern card as before stated and which is common knowledge.
When it is desired to vary the distance of tho shed space or opening, the studs or
nuts c,, connected with the adjustable pieces c, c', are moved or adjusted
in the slots of the levers a, a, towards the axis of the spindle or shaft d,
consequently more or less movement may be given to the movements of the
lifting and drop bars as the studs c³, c, are situate further from, or nearer to the
axis of the shaft d, consequently to such extent, more or less, the healds may be
raised and dropped, thus controlling the dimensions or opening of the shed.
What we do wish to be understood, is, that we claim no novelty whatever as
regards.the operation or mechanism for lifting the hooks into engagement with the
lifting bars, or the lifting of the healds by means of the horizontal lifting bars;
but what we do consider novel, and new, is the employment of the intermediate links so
formed at their extremities so as to allow of the drop bars alternately or otherwise
to engage therewith, by which means we are enabled to effect or accomplish a
positive action, movement, or drop of the healds, and thus to accomplish or effect
a clear or unobstructed opening of the shed for the passage of the weft, and this
without the aid of extraneous appliances, such as springs or other equivalents, as
now used, as when such are used a clear shed space or opening cannot be constantly
effected or maintained and as a consequence of such positive dropping of the
healds we are enabled to put a good cover or surface on the cloth, also we claim as
novel the interlooking of the draw hooks with the lock plates or bars so as to
ensure the healds being kept down or maintained in position until required to be
raised or lifted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In combination the horizontal moving lifting bars, h² the drop bars.g, g¹ and
the connecting or slide rods e, e, e, e, and the intermediate levers k provided with
projecting parts k³, k³, such combination of parts being applied and used in
connection with the upper and lower series of draw hooks or bars of a double
acting loom dobby, whereby the healds are positively dropped by the direct
engagement of the drop bars with the levers, substantially as and for the purposes
berein fully set forth.
the
2 The combination of the horizontal moving lift bar h, and the drop bar
slide rods e, e, which may be employed in connection with the upper and the lower
series of draw bars as and for the purposes herein set forth.
3. The combination of the horizontal moving drop bars with the intermediate
lever or levers k, so formed at each extremity that when in the act of dropping,
the said drop bars shall engage directly therewith, the draw hooks or bars f,f, and
the horizontally situated lock plates or pieces p, pl whereby the action of the drop
bars causes the hooks f, f¹ to be withdrawn out of the locks or recesses p³, p³
when required to be put into engagement with the lifting bars as berein fully
Bet forth.
1
4. The combination of the intermediate lever or levers k, the draw hooks,
and the lock bars or plates p, pl whereby the hooks when not in engagement with
the lifting bars may interlock or become locked with the lock plates consequent or
due to the resistance set up between the lower shed and the healds, and whilst thus
interlocked the healds are kept down, consequently the lower shed may be

page_text: maintained or kept open after such healds have been dropped by the action of the
drop bars.
6 The intermediate lever or levers k, provided at their extremities with pro-
jecting parts,, as and for the purposes herein fully set forth.
6. The horizontally situate lock bars or plates p, p', placed in position with
relation to the horizontal moving draw hooks or bars f, fas and for the
purposes herein set forth.
7. The drop bars or knives g, g' employed in conjunction with the extremities
of the intermediate lever or levers kas and for the purposes herein set forth.
Dated this 26th day of May A.D. 1892.
EDWIN ASHWORTH.
ARCHIBALD HARDWICK OLDHAM.
J. H. Butterworth,
For the Applicants.