IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Martin Benson, of No. 9, Southampton Buildings,
London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS." -A com-
munication from abroad by Joseph Frank Wicks, of the City and
County of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, United States
of North America.
Sealed the 3rd August 1875, and dated the 30th March 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Martin Benson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th March 1875.
I, MARTIN BENSON, of No. 9, Southampton Buildings, London, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
Looms," a communication to me from abroad by Joseph Frank Wicks, of
the City and County of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, United
States of North America, to be as follows:-
My said improvements relate wholly to that class of looms which are
adapted for weaving fancy fabrics, and are only applicable to that par-
ticular class of looms known to weavers as "closed shed" looms, from

page_text: the fact that in their operation after every pick the shed is closed.
"Closed shed" looms embody with the warp controlling harness or
heddles a pattern chain, or its equivalent, operating against jacks, or
their equivalents, for placing said jacks into operative relations with
"knife bars," or equivalent devices acting as "lifters" and "depressers,"
and "evener bars," or their equivalent, for returning all the harnesses
to their normal position after each pick is laid.
My Invention as before stated is limited to "closed shed" looms, and
it consists in connecting the main shaft of the loom, or other suitable
driver, with a rotating shaft or sleeve which operates the harness
"lifters," "
depressers," and "evener bars," by means of a clutch con-
trolled by shipping mechanism, whereby I am enabled to disconnect
said harness actuating mechanism at will, and independently of other
parts of the loom, to impart to the "depressers," "lifters," and "evener
bars" any required number of movements in either direction, which
movements when accompanied by the proper sequential movements
of the pattern chain will cause the heddles to advance, as originally
determined, or return through a reversed sequence of movement to any
desired position, and also whereby on the stoppage of the loom incident
to the breaking of a shuttle thread the imperfect shed may be promptly
reopened without involving on the part of the operative the movement
of the lathe, as has always heretofore been necessary under like cir-
cumstances in all "closed shed" looms as heretofore constructed.
In order that the labor in operating the heddles thus disconnected
may be rendered as light as possible I have provided a hand crank shaft
which is geared to the shaft or sleeve through which power is com-
municated from the driver to the heddle operating mechanism.
.
In connection with this prime feature of my Invention I will say that
practically economic results may be attained even if the pattern chain,
shaft, or cylinder be intermittently rotated by hand at each pick, or if it
be capable only of being automatically rotated forward in proper time with
the heddle mechanism when the latter has been disconnected from the
rest of the loom; but in order to still further facilitate this operation I
have devised a means whereby on reversing the movement of the "lifters,"
depressers," and "evener bars," the pattern chain shaft may be auto-
matically rotated backward in perfect time with the movement of the
heddle mechanism which the chain immediately controls.
re

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Martin Benson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th August 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARTIN
BENSON, of No. 9, Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Martin Benson, Her special licence,
that I, the said Martin Benson, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Martin Benson, 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 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 LOOMS," a communication to me from abroad by Joseph Frank Wicks,
of the City and County of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island,
United States of North America, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Martin Benson, 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 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 Martin Benson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is

page_text: "Closed shed" looms embody with the warp controlling harnesses or
heddles a pattern chain, or its equivalent, operating against jacks, or
their equivalents, for placing said jacks into operative relations with
"knife bars" or equivalent devices acting as "lifters," and "depressers,"
and
evener bars," or their equivalent, for returning all the harnesses
to their normal position after each pick is laid.
My Invention, as before stated, is limited to "closed shed" looms,
and it consists in connecting the main shaft of the loom or other suitable
driver with a rotating shaft or sleeve which operates the harness
_"lifters,"
*** depressers," and “ evener bars" by means of a clutch con-
trolled by shipping mechanism, whereby I am enabled to disconnect said
harness actuating mechanism at will, and independently of other parts
of the loom, to impart to the "depressers," "lifters," and "evener bars "
any required number of movements in either direction, which move-
ments, when accompanied by the proper sequential movements of the
pattern chain will cause the heddles to advance, as originally determined,
or return through a reversed sequence of movement to any desired
position, and also whereby, on the stoppage of the loom incident to the
breaking of a shuttle thread, the imperfect shed may be promptly
reopened without involving on the part of the operative the movement
of the lathe, as has always heretofore been necessary under like cir-
cumstances in all "closed shed" looms as heretofore constructed.
In order that the labor of operating the heddles thus disconnected
may be rendered as light as possible I have provided a hand crank shaft
which is geared to the shaft or sleeve, through which power is comuni-
cated from the driver to the heddle operating mechanism.
In connection with the prime features of my Invention I will say that
practically economic results may be attained even if the pattern chain,
shaft, or cylinder be intermittently rotated by hand at each pick, or if it
be capable only of being automatically rotated forward in proper time
with the heddle mechanism when the latter has been disconnected from
the rest of the loom; but in order to still further facilitate this operation
I have devised a means whereby on reversing the movement of the
"lifters," "depressers," and "evener bars," the pattern chain shaft may
be automatically rotated backward in perfect time with the movement
of the heddle mechanism which the chain immediately controls.

page_text: In order to more particularly describe my Invention I will now refer
to the accompanying Drawings forming part of this Specification in
which,―
!
Fig. 1 represents in perspective the frame with a portion of the
mechanism of a loom of a certain well known class, in which the "knife
bars," or "
lifters," and "depressers," and the "evener bars," move in
vertical lines, and are attached to and actuated by vertically recipro-
cating rods.
Fig. 2 represents on an enlarged scale that portion of the loom which
embodies the mechanism to which my Invention relates.
Figs. 3 and 4 represents portions of loom mechanism belonging to a
certain other well known class, in which the "knife bars" and " evener
bars" move in horizontal lines, in which I illustrate one embodiment
of my Invention as applied to looms of that general character.
In Figs. 3 and 4 I have only deemed it necessary to show the operative
mechanism without details as to the frame of the loom, or the particular
method of mounting said mechanism on the frame.
Referring to the Drawing, Figs. 1 and 2, the crank shaft is shown at A.
In some cases the entire mechanism of the loom derives motion from the
main shaft not shown. For the purpose of illustration I have shown in
this instance the crank shaft as the one to which power is applied, and
by which the entire mechanism of the loom is driven.
In looms of the class shown in Fig. 1 the heddles are suspended by
cords which pass upward and are secured to heddle levers, the ends of
which are connected to vertically operating jacks. To the lower sides of
these heddles cords are attached which extend downward around pullies,
thence to the end of the loom, thence upward around the pullies, and
connect with the lower ends of the vertically operated jacks before
referred to. Each of these jacks is provided on its front and on its rear
sides with an engaging shoulder respectively in position. The vertical
movement of these jacks is derived from the knife bars shown at
a and a', which are attached to and operated by the vertically recipro-
cating rods B and B. The knife bar a operates as a heddle lifter, and
knife bar a¹ as a depresser. After a shed has been opened by these
knife bars it is closed (after each pick) by the "evener bars " at 6 and b¹,
mounted respectively on the rods B and B'. It is well known that in

page_text: this class of looms the jacks are by means of a pattern chain placed in
such a position with relation to the "knife bars," that they will or will
not be raised or depressed thereby. Also that the pattern chain, shaft,
or cylinder is rotated at proper intervals (in many looms) by means of a
curved toothed wheel on said shaft, a lever carrying a book pawl and a
vertically reciprocating pitman or rod, which operatively connects said.
lever with a constantly rotating portion of the loom mechanism.
Fig. 1 I show the chain, shaft, or cylinder at c operated by the curved
tooth wheel at d, the lever and pawl at e, a rock shaft at ƒ, and
connecting rod at g, all substantially in a manner well known.
In
For preventing undue movement of the chain shaft or pattern
cylinder, I employ the well known stop wheel on the end of said shaft
and a spring preserver as is clearly shown. It is well known that when
h shuttle thread breaks and the usual stop motion has operated, that the
impetus of the mechanism continues sufficiently to cause the shifting of
the harnesses, and a consequent change of shed, and that it is essential
before the loom can be again started that the imperfect shed be reopened.
To accomplish this in all "closed shed" looms as heretofore con-
structed, the operative must drive the heavy lathe backward and
forward, reversely turning the chain shaft by hand in order to return
through the several heddle changes which succeeded the operation of the
stop motion.
By reason of my Invention I enable the operative to rapidly and
easily effect these reverse movements of the heddles without moving the
heavier portions of the loom mechanism. In looms like that shown in
Fig. 1 I accomplish this by mounting the eccentrics and the crank which
operates respectively the reciprocating rods B and B and the chain
pitman or connecting rod on a sleeve which is loosely mounted on
the driving shaft, and operatively connected thereto by means of a
clutch, which is actuated on occasion by means of a slipper; and to
enable the operator to work the heddle and the chain independently of
the balance of the loom a hand crank shaft is geared to said sleeve.
In Figs. 1 and 2 the sleeve is shown at C, on which is mounted the
eccentrics and h¹ which actuate the vertical rods B and B', and also
the crank which actuates the chain shaft through the pitman ŋ. The
clutch D is arranged to slide longitudinally on the main shaft, and is
operatively connected therewith by means of a spline in a manner well
known. This clutch is thrown in and out of gear by means of the

page_text: shipper at k. Mounted on the sleeve C is a bevel driving gear at 7
which meshes with a pinion on the end of the hand crank shaft m
mounted on the frame of the loom, and extending to the front so as to
place its crank n within easy access of the operative.
With the chain and heddle operating mechanism as heretofore con-
structed, but connected with the main shaft, as herein described in
accordance with my Invention, whenever a mis-pick is made and the
loom stopped the operative will disconnect the clutch from the sleeve
and by turning the crank shaft m reverse the entire heddle mechanism
at proper intervals, revolving the chain shaft backward by hand until
the imperfect shed is reached and duly reopened. It will be seen
therefore that even this portion of my Invention has a specific value,
and that still greater utility is attained, when the chain cylinder can
also be automatically rotated forward at the same time, in accordance
with one portion of my Invention; but I go still farther in my improve-
ments, and in order to render the backward movement of the chain shaft
automatic I have devised a means whereby the reverse movement of the
sleeve will also reverse the movement of the chain shaft, thus bringing
the heddles wholly within the control of the hand crank shaft m. This
is accomplished in looms of the class shown in Fig. 1 by mounting on
the end of the rock shaft f a geared quadrant o, which meshes with a
similar geared quadrant 2 mounted upon a stud projecting from the
frame of the loom. This latter quadrant has attached to it an arm or
lever which carries a pawl for engaging with a second curved toothed
wheel, key to the chain shaft inside of the toothed wheel d, already
described. The teeth of the wheel are curved in a direction opposite
to the curve of the teeth in wheel d in order that the chain shaft may
be intermittently rotated backward by means of the pawl engaging
therewith.
q
It sometimes occurs when working with short chains that it is as
convenient to continue a forward movement of the chain shaft and
heddles until the. imperfect shed is reopened as to move them backward,
and therefore with short chains the second toothed wheel need not be
brought into operation. On the other hand in working with a long
chain it is more desirable to reverse its movement, and sequentially

page_text: as stated, the pawl e is detached and the pawl or lever q placed in
operative relation to the toothed wheel ».
However the loom may be constructed the heddle operating
mechanism must be actuated by a revolving shaft, and the prime object
of my Invention may be attained if a clutch be arranged so
that a
driving shaft may at will be connected to or disconnected from said
revolving shaft, and this may be effected in certain kinds of looms
without the use of a sleeve.
I will now proceed to describe a loom of a construction largely in use,
in which the sleeve may or may not be employed. In Fig. 3, as before
stated, I show in part a loom in which the "knife bars" and " evener
bars are moved reciprocally in a horizontal plane, and they actuate the
heddles through horizontal longitudinally sliding jacks, which are con-
trolled by the pattern chain.
"
eveners
"
Power is communicated to the chain shaft by means of a vertically
revolving shaft, as shown at E, and to the "knife bars" and "
by means of a vertically reciprocating rod actuated by a crank plate on
the end of a driving shaft in the lower part of the loom, designated
at A¹.
I will first describe this loom as if provided with a sleeve, sub- 2
stantially as shown in connection with Fig. 1. It will be seen that on
said driving shaft A' a sleeve C is loosely mounted, and that this sleeve
carries a bevel gear which meshes with the gear m¹ keyed to the
vertical shaft E which drives the chain cylinder. Also that said collar
carries at its outer end a crank plate at K to which the pitman L is 2
connected for operating the "knife bars" and " eveners." Also that on
said shaft A¹ a sliding clutch I is mounted, and operatively connected
therewith by a spline. This clutch is controlled by a shipper within
easy access of the operative, as in the instance first described. On the
sleeve a bevel gear t is keyed, with which a hand crank shaft u and its 3
bevel pinion engages; the crank shaft extends to the front of the loom,
and its crank is also easily accessible to the operative. Now with this
latter construction when the loom has been stopped through the action
of the "stop motion" the operative throws back the clutch, disconnects
the main shaft from the sleeve, and rotates the hand crank shaft back- 3
ward or forward, as the case may be, until the imperfect shed has been
opened.

page_text: 66
I will now describe how a loom of this class may embody my In-
vention without the use of a sleeve; I do not deem it necessary to show
in the Drawings, nor to particularly describe any special mechanism to
be employed in this connection, for imparting from a revolving shaft
3 located in the upper portion of the frame of the loom the requisite
reciprocating movements to the horizontally actuated "knife bars" and
eveners," as a great variety of mechanism is well known and may be
readily connected with any revolving shaft, wherever it may be located.
It is deemed advisable, however, for the guidance of persons skilled in
the art to designate in Fig. 8, at F, a horizontal revolving shaft, hereto-
fore used for other purposes, which is geared to the vertical shaft E. I
show at G, in dotted lines, a crank to which a pitman s may be attached
which is in turn connected to a rock shaft or equivalent device, through.
which, by means of levers, the reciprocating movement of the "knife
bars" and "
"
eveners is attained. It will be seen that when thus con-
nected the shaft F will operate not only the chain shaft or pattern
cylinder c¹ as heretofore, but also the heddles, and that all of these will
be actuated by the vertical shaft E. With this construction it will be
seen that if the pitman at s be arranged to connect with the crank G
after the manner of connecting eccentric rods of steam engines with
their valve gear, that by lifting the pitman free from the crank pin the
heddles will not be actuated by the rotation of that shaft, and that the
chain cylinder only will be rotated. It will also be seen that by this
means the heddles and chain cylinder are rendered capable of being
operated in proper sequence forward or backward, and that in this case,
it is only necessary to effect a disconnection between the driving shaft A¹
and the vertical shaft E. Although this may be done by means of the
sleeve C³, and the clutch, as already described, it may as well be done by
constructing said vertical shaft in two pieces, both in the same axial line,.
and rendered capable of connection or disconnection with each other by
means of a hub clutch, as has heretofore been done in looms of this
class, for the purpose of disconnecting the chain cylinder from the
driving shaft of the loom. In dotted lines I have indicated a desirable
position for the hub clutch at H, a shipper at I, and also certain
hanggers, which will be requisite for sustaining said vertical shaft E
when made in two parts as described.

page_text: geared be always employed for that purpose, although it will bo
practicable to independently operate the heddles and chain cylinder by
means of the hand crank, shown on shaft F, which has heretofore been
employed for operating the pattern cylinder only. In this class of
looms tho chain shaft or pattern cylinder is rotated by a star wheel and
a pin wheel, and it is as readily rotated backward as forward, and there-
forc in such looms no special arrangement of pawls is requisite for
effecting a change of movement of the pattern cylinder, as is the case
with looms of that class shown in Fig. 1. The substantial benefits of
that portion of my Invention which relates to means for imparting
independently of other portions of the loom a backward movement of
the pattern cylinder in time with the backward movements of the
heddles are attained in this class of looms by connecting the levers
" and «
which operate the "knife bars
"
eveners to the shaft F which
operates the pattern cylinder, and this, so far as I have been able to
learn, has never been done prior to my Invention.
"
I am aware that open shed looms, in which no
evener bars" are
employed, have been heretofore constructed so that the vertical shaft
which operates the chain cylinder, and through it the heddles, might be
disconnected by means of a clutch from the shaft which drives said
vertical shaft, in order that when said disconnection was effected the
pattern cylinder might be rotated so as to bring the several heddles in
one plane.
I am also aware that in "closed shed" looms the pattern cylinder has
been rotated by means of a vertical shaft geared at its bottom to a
driving shaft, and constructed in parts connected by a clutch, whereby a
disconnection of said vertical shaft could be effected in order that the
pattern cylinder might be freely rotated.
It is a fact well known to weavers that open shed looms in their
operation injuriously abrade or roughen the warp, especially in weaving
certain classes of goods, and that for this reason they have been practi-
cally superceded by "closed shed" looms.
By reason of my Invention I have already been practically enabled to
reduce the cost of weaving at least fourteen per cent., and this is owing
to the saving of time effected in enabling the weaver to more promptly
return to and re-open an imperfect shed after the operation of the stop
motion.

page_text: Another substantial advantage accruing from my Invention is this,―
to operate a "closed shed" loom as formerly constructed it required
persons of sufficient physical capacity to enable them to swing the heavy
lathe backward and forward for returning to an imperfect shed, while
with my improvement it is rendered possible for weavers of less physical
capacity to properly operate the loom under all circumstances.
I desire it distinctly to be understood that my Invention is limited to
"closed shed" looms, but that it is not limited to any precise construc-
tion of mechanism, whereby the valuable results of my Invention may
be attained, I am well aware that said construction may be largely.
varied (and will be readily suggested to persons skilled in the art) for
accomplishing said results.
Having thus described my Invention, what I claim as new and desire
to secure by these Letters Patent is,―
1rst. In a closed shed loom, the combination with a revolving shaft or
sleeve, which operates the "knife bars" and "evener bars," and the
shaft, from which power is communicated thereto, of a clutch or other
suitable connecting device, substantially as described, whereby the
heddle operating mechanism may at will be disconnected from the main
portion of the loom, as and for the purposes specified.
2rd. In a closed shed loom, the combination of a revolving shaft or
sleeve, which operates the "knife bars," "evener bars," and pattern
cylinder, and the shaft from which power is communicated thereto,
with a clutch or other suitable connecting device, substantially as
described, whereby the heddle operating mechanism and the pattern
cylinder may be disconnected at will from the main portion of the loom,
as and for the purposes specified.
3rd. In a closed shed loom, the combination of a revolving shaft or
sleeve, which operates the "knife bars" and "evener bars," and the
shaft from which power is derived, with a clutch or other suitable con-
necting device, and a hand crank shaft, substantially as described,
whereby at will the disconnection of the heddle operating mechanism
may be effected, and a forward movement imparted to the heddles
independently of other portions of the loom, as set forth.
4th. In a closed shed loom the combination of a revolving shaft or
sleeve which operates the "knife bars," "evener bars," and pattern

page_text: cylinder, and the shaft from which power is derived, of a clutch and a
hand crank, substantially as described, whereby a forward movement
may, by the operative, be imparted to the heddles and the pattern
cylinder independently of other portions of the loom, as set forth.
5th. In a closed shed loom, the combination with the driving shaft,
clutch mechanism, and a revolving shaft or sleeve which operates the
"knife bars" and "evener bars," of a pattern cylinder arranged to be
automatically rotated forward or backward, and a crank shaft, sub-..
stantially as described, whereby the operative may at will disconnect
said shaft or sleeve from the driving shaft, and independently of other
portions of the loom operate the heddles and the chain or pattern
cylinder, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Martin Benson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.