Improvements in Weft Forks for Looms.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1893-Accepted, 17th June, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Weft Forks for Looms.
We, ERNEST LINCOLN HERSOм, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, United
States of America, Manufacturer, and Amos PATERSON WEBBER, of New
Bedford, Massachusetts, United States of America, Physician, do hereby declare
the nature of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WEFT FORKS FOR LOOMS,"
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to devices, which are commonly called "weft forks," used
on a loom, to stop its motion when the bobbin gives out, or the "filling" breaks.
Heretofore, when the tines of the weft fork, struck the "filling," the fork was
sometimes tilted so far downward, that it did not regain its normal position soon
enough, for the next motion of the "lay"; and this difficulty, has been, in some
instances, remedied, by tying a bit of twine, loosely over the shank of the fork, so
as to limit its movement; but this was objectionable, for the reason, that the
twine was constantly getting out of place, and required to be re-adjusted.
The object of our invention, is to provide suitable means for limiting the down-
ward motion of the tines of the fork; and to this end, our invention consists, in
securing a piece of wire to the underside of the shank of the fork, in rear of the
pivot of the same, which piece of wire projects forward and downward, in a
diagonal direction, between the pivot of the fork, and the cross-piece of the slide.
The accompanying drawing illustrates our invention, in which
Fig. 1, is a view in perspective of our improved fork, removed from its slide.
Fig. 2, is a side view of our improved weft fork, pivoted in its slide, showing one
of the ears of the slide broken away in order to show the operation of the device
for limiting the downward motion of the tines of the fork; and showing in dotted
lines, the fork in its tilted position.
Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several views.
a, represents the tines of the fork, and c, represents the shank of the same, which
is of ordinary construction. b, represents our improvement, consisting of a piece
of wire, secured to the shank c, and projecting forward and downward in a diagonal
direction, under the pivot of the fork. e, represents the slide, of usual construction,
between the ears of which, the fork is pivoted, at d. g, represents a cross-piece or
brace, which connects the two ears of the slide c, as ordinarily constructed. The
downward motion of the tines of the fork, is limited by the wire b, coming in
contact with the cross-piece g, as shown in dotted lines.
It is obvious, that by bending the wire b, closer to, or farther from, the pivot
of the fork, the motion of the same, is thereby limited, in a greater or lesser degree,
as may be desired.
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:
A weft fork, having the wire b, secured to its shank, and extending forward
under its pivot, and adapted to adjustably limit its motion, by contact with a portion
of the slide in which said fork is pivoted, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 29th day of April 1893.
ERNEST LINCOLN HERSOM.
AMOS PATERSON WEBBER.