Improvements in Circular Looms.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 11th June, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Circular Looms.
1, ALBERT DE LASKI, of No. 1263 Slater Avenue Cleveland, in the County of
Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, United States of America Master Mechanic, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My invention relates to that type of weaving machines usually denominated
"Circular Looms," and has for its main object to produce a loom of this species in
which the construction shall be such that, while the machine, as an entirety, shall be
comparatively simple, economic of manufacture, easy of management, (by a com-
paratively unskilled operative), and possessed of great strength and durability,
though built comparatively light; it shall, at the same time, be capable of more
rapid and more efficient action, and thus be competent to produce a larger quantity
of the tubular woven fabric, than machines of its type as heretofore constructed.
My several improvements may be said to comprise certain novel devices and
combinations of devices, relating, collectively, to what may, perhaps, be properly
designated as the four parts, or mechanisms, which go to make up the complete
mechanism called a "Circular Loom," ie., the means, or mechanism, by which the
warp threads, of the several beams, are controlled and supplied to the weaving-pin ;
the harness, or shedding mechanism of the loom; the shuttle and other instrumen-
talities by which the filling threads are manipulated; and the take-off' mechanism,
or the means, by which the woven fabric (either in a flattened, or distended,
tubular, condition) is taken away from the weaving pin and discharged from the
loom.
And as to each of these four parts of the loom, so to speak, my invention involves
a series of novel, structural, features, which I will now fully describe by reference
to the accompanying drawings which form part of this Specification.
At Figures 1 to 9, inclusive, of the drawing, are illustrated, more particularly,
the first inentioned two of what I have just above alluded to as the four parts of
the loom while at Figures 10 to 18, inclusive, is shown, more especially, the third
part; and at Figures 19 to 23, inclusive, is illustrated the fourth part.
Figure 1, is a vertical, central, section of the upper portion of the loom, with
some of the parts, however omitted, to simplify the drawing.
Figure 2, is a partial view of the cap-plate of the machine frame, and of what is
termed, a spider-plate; that is attached to the under side of the said cap-plate.
Figure 3, is a partial top-view of the said spider-plate, showing also one of the
several sliding shoes, which work in the radial apertures of said plate, and also
showing a portion of a pair of connecting rods such as accompanies each one of the
said several sliding shoes.
Figure 4 is a detail, vertical, section, enlarged scale, at the line c, a, of Figure 3;
but showing also the rim of the cap-plate; one of the several pairs of bell-crank
levers mounted thereon; and the upper portions of the two pitmen which connect
said levers to the heddles of the loom harness.
Figure 5, is a top, or face, view of the cam which drives the shoe-pieces that are
mounted on the spider-plate.
Figure 6, is a detail view showing merely, in side view, or elevation, a pair of
heddles, the ways in which they work; and portions of the pitmen by which they
are raised and lowered.
Figure 7, is a detail view, showing, in elevation, one of a series of reed-like
devices, the vertical wires, or rods, of which serve to steady and guide the warp
threads, at the vicinity of the sheds formed during the weaving operation.

page_text: Figure 8, is a diagrammatical view illustrating a certain adjustment of parts
which control the warp threads, in making the sheds; which adjustment is for the
purpose of varying the character of the woven fabric.
Figure 9, is a detail partial, plan view of the reed-like devices, etc.
And in these nine figures I have lettered the same part always with the same
letter.
Figure 10, is a vertical, central, section, of so much only of the loom, as comprises
what I have called the third part of the entire organism.
Figure 11, is a partial, horizontal, section, on an enlarged scale, showing, in top
view, the shuttle, the shuttle track, etc.
Figure 12, is a detail view showing one end of the bobbin and its brake-band
device.
Figure 13, shows, in detail views, (one a central section and the other an inner
face view), the bobbin head, and its dogging, or clutching, devices.
Figure 14, is a detail edge view of the bobbin tension devices; detached.
Figure 15, is a top view of the radial arms for carrying and rotating the shuttle
driving devices.
Figure 16, is a side, or edge, view of the same.
Figure 17, is a detail sectional view, showing one of the frictional, shuttle,
driving wheels, or pinions, with its supports, and the pin-gear with which it
engages.
Figure 18, is a detail, or partial, side view, looking at the outer edge, or exterior,
of the shuttle track.
And in all these figures I have applied the same reference letter always to the
same part.
Figure 19, is an elevation of the take-off mechanism, and so much only of the
lower portion of the weaving mechanisin as is necessary to be shown in order to
explain the operation and effect of said mechanism.
Figure 20, is a similar elevation, or side view, of the take-off mechanism, viewed
in a direction at right angles to that in which it is seen at Figure 19, and from the
left hand side.
Figure 21, is a side view, or elevation, of the contrivance, showing the side
opposite to that seen in Figure 20, and also showing the shifting of certain parts,
and the elimination and addition of certain parts, made in changing the take-off
mechanism, to adapt it to the removal, from the weaving-pin of the loom, of a
jacketed hose, or other article; which has to be drawn away from the loom in a
tubular, or unflattened condition.
Figure 22, is a partial top view, of the mechanism shown, in elevation, at
Figure 21.
Figure 23, is a perspective view of one of the devices, detached.
And in these five figures I have, in like manner, used the same reference letter
always for the same part.
Referring now particularly to the first nine figures of the drawing, A³, are the
four metal columns of the machine, that are supposed to stand on, and be securely
bolted, at their bases, to a suitably firm and strong circular base-frame, and each
of which sustains one of the four vertical, post-like, metallic frame pieces A.
These hollow metallic frame-pieces A', are securely bolted, at their flanged bases,
to the caps, of the columns A³, and, in turn, vertically support as shown, the top
frame A, of the machine; which is cast in skeleton form, with a series of radially
arranged, arm-like portions, a³; a central hub a'; and a ring-like part a', four of
which arm-like portions a, rest upon and are securely bolted, at their extremities,
to the top flanges of the four frame pieces A', and which ring-like portion a',
has secured to it certain other parts of the machine; as will be prescutly
explained.
From the extremities of those arm-like portions a³, which are not supported on
the four castings A', depend four, substantially similar, cast iron, frame-pieces A
and by these eight vertical castings (arranged as shown in a circle and equidistant)

page_text: and the top-frame A³, are sustained, directly or indirectly, all the stationary and
working parts, which compose the weaving mechanism of the loom.
From the under side of the top-frame A, (bolted thereto) depends a sort of
V-shaped casting, or hanger B, which is formed with a hub-like portion 66, within
which is journaled the lower end of a hollow vertical shaft B'; the upper end of
which is journaled in the larger part of the bore of the hub E, of top-frame A°.
This V-shaped casting B', is braced, laterally, at its lowermost part, by obliquely
arranged braces (not shown), which have their lower ends secured to the hub 6,
and their upper ends bolted to the under side of the top-frame Aº, and, as shown,
this casting B', has also an enlargement, or hub-like portion, at 6, which is bored
out to form a bearing box for the inner end of the main drive shaft B, of the
machine which shaft is provided with two other journal boxes, one at 68, (in one
of the metallic frame-pieces A'), and the other at 1, on one of the warp beam
brackets.
The main shaft B is provided, in the case shown, with a pulley B, to which
motive power is imparted by suitable belt, (not shown) and is provided, at its inner
end, with a bevel pinion D, which drives a bevel-gear B³, that is made fast on the
hollow shaft B2, and thereby said shaft is rotated at the proper speed.
To the inner perimeter of the ring-like portion a', of the top-plate is securely
fastened, by suitable lugs e², projecting radially from the perimeter thereof (and
bolts passing through said lugs c, and the portion a') the spider-plate C, which, it
will be seen, lies in substantially the same plane as the part a'; and, arranged in a
plane immediately below that of the said spider-plate, is located the cam B, which
operates to actuate certain shoe-pieces, arranged on the spider-plate, and which,
through the media of said shoc-pieces and certain connections, (to be presently
described) gives motion to the heddles of the loom. The said cam B, is made fast
on the hollow shaft B2, and rotates with it, of course; all as clearly shown.
In the eight oblong, or slot-like apertures, d, of the spider-plate C, are fitted, to
slide freely, the eight shoe-pieces d', (see Figure 3) to the outer ends of which are
pivoted the inner ends of the pitmen ', which, at their outer ends, (see Figure 4)
are connected to the bell-crank levers, that drive the heddle pitmen k.
The pitmen, or connecting rods, k, are arranged, as shown, in eight pairs, with
the lower ends of the two of each pair coupled, respectively, to the upper horizontal
bars of the two frames of each pair, or set, of heddles H (see Figure 6), and each
pair, or set, of bell-crank levers 2, is pivotally combined, as shown, with the
pintle, of a little metallic stand, 3, eight of which stands are bolted to the portion a²,
of the top-frame of the loom; all as clearly shown.
Each of the shoe-pieces d', is composed, as shown, (see Figure 4), of two castings,
the lower one of which is, in cross-section, of a sort of inverted T-shape while the
upper one is in the form of a plate; the two parts being secured together (to hold
them in engagement with the spider-plate), by means of the bolt, that passes
through both castings near the inner end of the shoe, and the, dotted in, serew that
passes through the top-plate and enters a tapped hole in the other casting, near the
outer end of the shoe.
The heddles H are arranged to slide vertically in suitable grooves, or ways, h,
formed in the sides of the castings A', and Aº, (see Fig. 6) near their inner edges,
and the eight sets of heddles constitute a circular harness, or heddle mechanism.
Said heddles are composed each of, curved, upper and lower angle-iron bars H
and vertical parallel wires, secured at their inner ends in said bars, and having
eyes at their middle portions, for the accommodation of the warp threads; and each
end of each curved bar, or angle-iron, is provided with a shoe-piece h', of raw hide,
or other suitably durable material, that fits and works, with the least possible
friction, in one of the grooves h.
Bolted to the outer faces of the eight vertical frame pieces A' and A', a short
distance below their upper ends, and projecting outwardly therefrom, radially of the
loom frame, are eight brackets k¹, located at the outer ends of which, in suitable
journal boxes k³ are mounted the spindles of the eight warp beams ³, while beneath

page_text: these brackets, arranged to be adjusted vertically to the dove-tail ways ², of the
castings A and A, are located the radially projecting brackets K.
These adjustable brackets K, carry two circular rings m' and m², cach of which
is preferably made up (for convenience in the manufacture of and in putting up or
taking down, and shipping the machine), of a series of curved sections, securely
bolted, or otherwise fastened, near their ends, to the brackets.
The inner and lower ring m', I designate a lacing ring; while the upper one m²,
is a feeler-pin ring, and each of said rings is horizontally perforated, with a number
of holes (arranged in sets corresponding to the sets of heddles) equal to the
greatest number of warp threads that can be used on the machine.
In each of the holes of the ring m², is fitted, so as to slide freely therein, a
feeler-pin ring, or short rod n, which, as usual, has an eye in its inner end, through
which passes a warp thread, and has a compressible spiral spring on its outwardly
protruding portion; all so as to operate, in a manner well known, to take up the
slack of the sheds of the warp threads.
These threads are drawn off from the beam 13, at that portion of the beam's
periphery nearest to the center of the loom, and they are passed, from the point
where they leave the wound beam tangentially, downward and outward to and
through the feeler-pin eyes; thence downward and inward, to and through the
holes in the lacing-ring, from whence they pass through the eyes of the heddle
wires h, and thence onto the weaving-pin o2, or central point of the loom.
Interiorly of the circular harness of the loom is a concentrically arranged series
of vertical wires, or rods P, that are, preferably, arranged in eight sets, each set
comprising a sort of reed-like frame, that is secured at each side to the inner edge,
or portion, of one of the vertical frame-pieces of the loom; the entire set making
up a sort of circular cage, with an aggregate number of wires equal to the greatest
number of warp threads ever used on the loom. These wires against which the
warp threads impinge, and slide, when carried up and down by the heddle wire eyes,
are arranged, preferably, as near to the outer surface of the shuttle as possible, and
they serve to guide and steady the threads of the shed, through which the shuttle,
or shuttles, is, or are, rapidly driven.
Each of the warp beams is provided with an automatic, or compensating band-
brake, that operates to insure the drawing off of the beam threads under the proper
and a substantially uniform tension. This tensional device, or warp beam brake,
consists, as shown, of a leather, or other suitable cord, or belt, , passed nearly once
around the grooved periphery of a wheel, or sheave-like head, at one end of the
beam; the said band 2, having one end fastened to a short rod, or bar, l, that
works loosely in a hole in a cross bar of one of the beam brackets, and the other
end secured to the upper end of a rod, which has its lower end coupled to a
bracket m, and in such manner, that, by means of two wings, or thumb-nuts, the
threaded end of the said rod 1, can be taken in, or let out, and fastened in place.
That end of the brake-bar which is anchored to the cross-bar of the beam, is
yieldingly, or elastically, connected with said cross-bar, by reason of the rod 1,
being provided with a loose, or compressible, spiral spring, ; all as clearly
shown.
02, is the weaving-pin which, as usual, is removably secured to the lower end of
a stationary vertical tube E', which is arranged interiorly of (but out of peripheral
contact during nearly its whole length with) the hollow rotatory, shaft B, and
which is made fast, at its upper end, to the smaller portion of the hub E, of the
top-frame A, of the loom.
W2, is the sheave-stand mounted on the upper end of the hub E, of the top frame,
and carrying a peripherally grooved wheel ', which is used as a guide-wheel over
which to draw a flexible tube v, t, or any other cylindrical device, upon, or around
which, it may be desired to weave the tubular fabric; after the well-known
fashion.
The important object of having the warp threads drawn directly from the beams,
under a substantially uniform tension, of the proper degree, I accomplish by means

page_text: or the automatic, or self-acting, band-brake, used, as shown, on each one of the
beams.
This band-brake will not operate to maintain such a variable and constantly
decreasing brake resistance to the rotation of the beam spindle, as is necessary to
form a uniform impediment to the unwinding, or pulling off, of the threads,
throughout the using up of all the thread of the beam; but has to be periodically
set, or readjusted, during the running-off of the warp threads.
Said automatic band-brake will, however, work under an average, rapid, speed of
weaving, for nearly or quite, a whole day, without requiring adjustment, and, hence,
practically speaking, serves the purpose of an automatic tension device, and when in
use it operates as follows:-
After having been set, or adjusted, by either drawing down, or slacking up on,
the draft rod, , to adjust the tension springs, and fastening it, by turning home
the thumb-nuts, thereon, so as to thus effectuate the proper degree of resistance
to the turning of the beam by the draft of the warp threads, the initial movement
of the beam on its axis (caused by the pull of the threads therefrom) tends, of
course, to wind the brake-band 12, closer, or tighter, on the grooved periphery of
the brake-wheel, or head 1, and were the shorter end of the band-brake 1, anchored
by rigid means of attachment to the cross-bar of the bracket K, the said band
would be wound up so tight as to apply an undue amount of brake-power to the
beam-spindle; but, by reason of the elastic, or yielding, means of anchorage shown
and described, this initial tendency of the brake-band is counteracted, and as the
yieldingly anchored end of the band, on which the draft strain comes, yields to the
pull of it, the band acts only with the desired power, predetermined by the extent
to which the band and the spring of its yielding anchorage shall have been strained
up, by the adjustment of the parts previously made.
As, however, the device will then continue to act with a substantially uniform, or
self-compensating, brake-power, throughout a certain limit only, i.e. only until the
diameter of the cylinder of wound thread shall have been reduced to a given extent,
(until the beam shall have been reduced in diameter, say from an inch and a half
to two inches), a readjustment of the brake must then be made, by hand, when it
will again continue to offer the same proper and substantially uniform impediment
to the turn of the beam on its axis, and consequently cause the same tension in, or
on, the warp threads as they are pulled off or unwound.
After having tested thoroughly, in actual practice, such beam tension devices as
shown, in my United States Patent No. 375135 dated Dec. 20 1887, I have found
the device herein shown and described to not only work satisfactorily, but to be
practically perfect in its results and better than anything else known to me, and, I,
therefore, deem this warp beam tension device an important feature of my improved
loom and present invention.
As, in practice, it is necessary, in order to run a circular loom fast and yet have
it wear well, and keep in good running order, that the heddles, or moving parts, of
the harness; be worked with a reciprocatory movement such that while each
complete stroke of a heddle (up and down) shall be completed in the shortest
possible time, the transition, from the movement of the working parts in one
direction to their movement in an opposite direction, shall be gradual enough to
avoid all sudden shocks and strains on any of the working parts, I consider another
important feature of my invention to reside in the novel pattern, or shape, of the
cam, which drives the heddle-operating devices.
As heretofore made, the cam, or other device, for transmitting the rotatory
motion of the driving shaft to the heddle-operating mechanism, and translating such
motion into a reciprocatory one, has been patterned and operated so that, when the
machine was run at a comparatively high speed, not only would all the working
parts and the heddles themselves have to be made very heavy, (to have them strong
to withstand the sudden strains of the usually jerky movements) but, furthermore,
the cam face and its working devices wore out or got out of perfect working
condition, rapidly.

page_text: I have cured these defects of the loom by making the cam B, of the form shown,
that is, of such shape, (see Figure 5), that, while, as usual, and desirable, the
portions concentric to the axis of motion are formed, or proportioned, so that the
heddles of three sets (on one side of the machine), make wide open sheds, while
those of three sets directly opposite create no shed, in the warps, the portions of
said groove that connect these two, concentric, portions are curved, in such manner,
as to effect a very gradual translation of the cam surface, from the small, concentric
curve, into the large one, and vice versa.
By this means have been enabled, in practice, to run the loom at a much-higher
speed, and, consequently, turn out more product in a given time, than was possible
heretofore; and, at the same time, with less wear and tear, though using a lighter
built cam, and other parts, that would, in prior machines, get worn out of shape,
while the machine was doing less work.
Of course, the precise form of the cam shown in the drawing might be varied
some without materially detracting from the advantages due to the improved con-
struction of cam shown, and said cam may be placed over instead of below the
spider-plate.
I also gain further advantage in my improved loom, by operating each heddle
through the medium of a single pitman connected to the middle of the upper bar
thereof, and connecting the pair of pitmen of each set of the heddles to two bell-
crank levers mounted close together on a single arbor, and connecting the other
arms of the said bell-crauks, by a pair of connecting rods, to the shoe-piece of the
spider-frame.
By reason of the easy, or smooth, movements of the heddles, acquired by the use
of my improved driving mechanism, I am enabled to make them very light, and,
at the same time, have them strong and durable.
In the operation of my improved loom, I am enabled to attain to a higher rate
of speed than I could otherwise run the machine at (with the best results), by
reason, further, of the presence and effects of the reed-like frames, or sets of
vertical guide-wires P, that, as shown, encompass the shuttle-track; since these
wires operate not only to greatly diminish, or prevent, the lateral vibrations, or
agitations, of the warp threads, during the rapid making of the sheds and the rapid
flights of the shuttle trucks through the sheds; but also insure the descent always,
of the upper threads of the shed into the spaces between the teeth of the comb-
like device that has to be employed in this type of circular loom to control the
movements of the shuttles, or hold them laterally on the track.
It will be observed that the sections of these guide-wires are arranged, so that
the entire series form an encircling cage of vertical equidistant rods, and I have
avoided having any warp thread (or guide wire) come exactly in line with a radius
that would pass from the axis of the weaving-pin to the center of the heddle, and
have arranged the warp threads of each section so that one-half of them impinge
against one side of the guide-wires of a single frame, and the other half against the
opposite side of the other half of said guide-wires; all of the warp threads being
deflected from radial lines where they come into contact with the guide-wires; all
as plainly shown (see Figure 9) in the drawings.
By this arrangement of the guide-wires and warp-threads, I enforce always a
frictional contact between every thread and some one of the guide-wires, and am
thus enabled, to insure the desired and an efficient contact between these wires and
the said threads, for the purposes explained.
I consider this arrangement, or combination, of the guide-wires and warp threads,
another important feature of my present invention, since thereby, I am enabled to
diminish the agitation of the shed threads, under a fast speed of the loom, as to
prevent such a mixing, or entanglement, of the warps at the vicinity of the
weaving-pin, as would injuriously interfere with the action of the devices, which
are designed to rapidly and properly lay in the filling threads, spirally around
said pin.
In running a loom of the type shown, it is, of course, important to have all the

page_text: parts made so that they will work well, and, at the same time, will neither easily
clog up, nor render liable any soiling (by the dropping on to it of oil, or dirt, from
overhead) of the fabric produced by, and discharged centrally from, the loom; and,
hence, in the practical working of such a loom, I gain more, or less, advantage,
from the novel construction of the spider-plate shown.
In prior machines, a spider-plate having radial recesses, in which worked the
sliding shoe-pieces driven by the cam, has been used but experiment and
experience in the use of such looms have demonstrated that, with such a form of
spider-plate, dust and dirt will quickly collect in the radial recesses, or slots, and,
accumulating on the bottoms of the radial grooves, is liable to escape therefrom
(especially at the inner end of the grooves) and render liable a soiling of the woven
fabric. Besides, in any receptacle thus afforded the collection of oil and dirt tends
to gum up the working parts, and, if the spider-plate and cam both are reversed,
then, as experience has shown, the groove of the cam will collect dirt, and its
working surfaces wear more rapidly.
By the use of a slotted spider-plate, such as described, with shoe-pieces made and
arranged as shown, I have produced a mechanism in which little wear arises and
great cleanliness is attained to.
It will be seen that the warp threads (instead of being arranged as heretofore, so
as to tend to pull unevenly on the feeler-pins) are led from the inner portion of the
beam's periphery down to the eyes of the feeler-pins, and thence obliquely down to
the lacing ring in such manner that every thread, in being drawn off of the beam
through the eye of a feeler-pin, always pulls on, and tends to slide the pin, in a line
coincident with the axis of the pin-hole, and that, hence, there is no liability of and
binding of the feeler-pins.
By having the brackets K vertically adjustable I am enabled (as illustrated at
Figure 8) to adjust both the feeler-pin ring m³, and the lacing-ring m', (though it
is mainly the latter that needs to be moved) so as to vary the condition of the
sheds of the warps and weave a fabric either alike on its interior and exterior
surfaces, or one presenting a harder, or more tightly woven interior than exterior.
For some purposes as, for instance, in the manufacture of small, rubber lined,
garden hose; in the use of which the hose is never subjected to great internal
strain, it is very desirable to have the exterior of the fabricated cotton jacket
woven more loosely than the inner surface, so that the exterior of the hose will
have a soft, cushion-like texture, that renders the article much more durable;
because such a surface will not so soon, or easily, become worn, by abrasion, and
handling, as will the harder surface of a more tightly woven fabric.
At Figure 8 is best illustrated the feature of construction in my loom by which I
am enabled to make this desirable change, when required, in the character of the
product turned out.
It will be understood that if the lacing-ring be in the lowermost position, or, in
other words, in the position usual in weaving a tubular fabric, the texture will be
the same on the outer and inner surfaces of the woven tube; whereas if the lacing-
ring be moved up, more, or less, so as to bring the threads of the shed into the
position indicated by the dotted lines at Figure 8, then the outer surface of the
fabric will be woven more loosely, or will be softer than the inner surface; because
under this condition of the parts the upper threads of the shed will always lie in
lines that more nearly approach straight lines, and, hence, will be under less tension
(because of their feeler-pins not having been pulled inwardly so far) than the lower
threads of the shed, and, as it is the thread of the upper shed that is always on the
outside of the filling last laid in, it follows that the filling being laid in will not
draw the warp so tightly over the outer circumference of the last laid in weft
thread as it would were the said upper thread of the present shed under more
tension.
Of course, in lieu of moving, or adjusting, upwardly, the brackets K, and all
their attachments, to make this change in the character of the fabric woven, the
lacing-ring m¹, alone might be made adjustable; but I have adopted the

page_text: arrangement shown and described, in my working looms, because I found it a
good one.
Referring now more especially to Figures 10 to 18, I will particularly describe
the third part of my improved loom mechanism.
As is well understood, it is a great desideratum in the construction of a circular
loom, to have the shuttles, together with the track, or race-way, on which they
travel, and the mechanism for driving said shuttles (no matter whether there be a
greater, or less, number thereof) all constructed and arranged to operate in such
manner, that the highest possible, or practicable, rate of speed may be attained to,
in the weaving operation, without danger of derangement of the parts, and without
undue wear and tear thereon; also, so that the shuttle, or shuttles, can easily have
the bobbin, or bobbins, rapidly removed and replaced, in supplying the shuttle
with fresh filling thread; and also, so that the middle, or interior, portion of the
circular loom will be as free as possible, from gearing and other working parts,
requiring lubrication, the oil from which is liable to drop upon, or otherwise soil,
the product which is taken off, by some suitable means, from the weaving-pin of
the loom.
As is also well known, it is indispensably necessary, (among other things). to
the successful and rapid working of a circular loom, to have the construction of the
shuttle mechanism such that the thread, drawn off from the bobbin (always under
high tension) will be subjected to a perfectly uniform tension, from the beginning
to the end of the use of the contents of the entire bobbin.
F', is the shuttle track, which is secured to the projecting seats 63, as shown, and
which has two rails, each provided with a road-way of inlaid rubber, or other non-
metallic and yielding substance, on which the truck-wheels of the shuttle travel, in
such manner, as to subject the lower threads of the warp shed to the least possible
injurious friction and agitation; the outer track of said circular race-way being
provided, at its inner edge, or perimeter, with a toothed, or comb-like, vertically
arranged rim G, in the spaces between the teeth of which the warp threads move,
up and down, in the formation of the sheds, during the weaving operation.
The inner rail of the circular shuttle track is supported by only one half the
number of radially arranged arms, or pieces, of the framework, that are employed
to support the outer rail of the track; in order that more space may be left between
the horizontal, radial, bars, and thus greatly facilitate, and, in fact, thus permit the
extrication of the bobbin from the shuttle frame, downwardly, or from beneath the
shuttle whereby the operator can much more quickly and conveniently take out
the empty bobbin and replace it by a full one; and can also, much more con-
veniently, and at a better place, effectuate the splicing of the tail-end of the old
filling thread, to the leading end of the thread of the new, or fresh, bobbin.
By the arrangement of the comb-like vertical rim, or circular fence G, at the.
inner perimeter of the outer rail of the shuttle-track, I am enabled to use a larger
set of outer guide-wheels, on the shuttle frame without having to place the guide-
wires, or reeds P, of the loom, too far away from the shuttle; it being important to
have these reeds, or guide-wires, located as near as possible to the outer portion of
the shuttle itself.
The bobbin of the shuttle is provided with novel and simple devices, all as will
be presently explained by means of which it can be easily disengaged from, and
reengaged with, the shuttle frame proper, and the shuttle is also provided with a
novel and efficient friction-brake mechanism, by means of which, as the thread ou
the bobbin is used up, the resistance to the rotation of the bobbin (caused by the
pulling off of the thread), will remain about uniform until all the thread is used off
the bobbin. This novel, automatic, brake-mechanism, consists, essentially, of a
brake-pad acting directly on the thread wound on the bobbin, and a band-brake
acting on a sheave which turns with the bobbin itself; the pressure of said friction-
brake being automatically varied by the ever changing position of the said
friction-pad.
In lieu of a perforated lacing-bar and spring, or such other forms of tension

page_text: devices, as have heretofore been used, on the filling thread, at a point intermediate
of where it leaves the bobbin frame and passes on to the weaving-pin, I employ a
rotatory tension device, composed of a grooved wheel, around the periphery of
which the filling thread makes one, or more, turns, (in its passage to the weaving-
pin), the said tension wheel having combined with it a sheave-like device, or wheel,
on the periphery of which acts the automatic, compensating band-brake, in such
manner, that in drawing off the bobbin thread, during the weaving operation, the
said thread, irrespective of its conditions, or variations, as to size, quality, and
twist, will always be subjected to a uniform tension, of a predetermined force, or
degree. Furthermore, the character of my new tension device, or mechanism, is
such that after the operation of splicing the tail-end of the old filling thread to the
leading end of the thread of a fresh bobbin, (by the usual stranding and square-
knot operation) no impediment whatever is offered to the passage around, and
through, the tension devices, of that portion of the thread where the splicing-knots
occur no matter whether the knotting and splicing shall have been very carefully,
or very roughly and quickly done.
The shuttle frame is provided with a spreader, or batten device, to be presently
more fully described, which is both adjustable (to suit different sized weaving
pins), and reversible to permit the running of the shuttle, or shuttles, in either
direction.
The shuttle truck, or frame, is provided, at its outer end, with beveled-faced
anti-friction wheels, located inside of and partially above, the set of wheels which
travel on the outer rail of the shuttle track; through the rotation of which anti-
friction wheels the shuttle is driven around on its track, by the shuttle driving
mechanism of the loom.
This shuttle driving mechanism, which is entirely novel and constitutes an
important feature of my invention, consists, essentially, in one, or more, friction
wheels, arranged to travel bodily, (and also to rotate axially) with the periphery,
or peripheries, thereof, in contact with one, or the other, of the anti-friction wheels
of the shuttle, last above alluded to; said friction-wheels being mounted, to turn
freely, upon stationary spindles carried in the outer end, or ends, of an arm, or
arms, mounted to rotate around the axis of the weaving-pin, and being connected
with a drive-pinion, or pinions, also mounted on said spindle, or spindles, and
receiving motion from a stationary rim-gear; all as I will now describe.
Mounted interiorly of the circular frame of the loom, preferably in a vertically
adjustable manner, is a rim-gear e³, which, in the case shown, is made in the form
of a pin-gear, with the pins arranged obliquely, or on a bevel; and, in engage-
ment with this, bevel rim-gear work (one or) a series of slightly beveled pinions f
the hubs of which also carry the bevel-faced friction drive-wheels f², that operate,
or drive the shuttle.
Preferably the said beveled pinion f, is composed of raw hide, or vulcanized
fibre, while the working face, or periphery, of the said friction-wheel f, is composed
of rubber compound, or some other soft and elastic material, which will run with
the least possible wear, over the warp threads; and, in operation, as the revoluble
radial arm, or arms, gyrate, or travel rapidly round about the axis of the main
central shaft of the loom, the said beveled pinion, (or pinions) rotates rapidly about
the axis of the said protruding spindle of the radial arm (as the said pinion, or
pinions travel in engagement with the teeth of the said rim-gear); and the said
rapid rotation of the rapidly travelling, or gyrating, friction wheel will effectuate the
driving of the shuttle, at a high rate of speed, and in the most desirable manner
possible.
Preferably the bevel of the said driving friction-wheel and the anti-friction idlers
of the shuttle-truck, or frame, is such as to coincide with the angle at which the
upper threads of the warp shed lie, while passing between these contacting, bevel-
wheel surfaces, during the rapid travel around the shuttle track of the said
shuttle, and the said shuttle driving device, and, hence, these upper threads
of the shed are not only subjected to the least possible wear and tear; but are

page_text: agitated, or vibrated, as little as possible, by the rapid flight of the travelling
devices.
By making the rim-gear e³, vertically adjustable, and having the spindle which
.carries the pinion f, and the friction driving-wheel, adjustable in the direction of
the axis of the latter, I am enabled, both in putting together the parts of the
machine, and subsequently, as occasions and conditions may require, to put and keep
the shuttle driving mechanism, or devices thereon, in a state of perfect adjustment
and perfect working order, or relative arrangement.
In lieu of the arrangement of the parts shown for the shuttle-driving mechanism,
a single friction-wheel may be employed, on the spindle of the gyrating radial arm,
arranged and operating to act, first upon one and then on the other, of the two
anti-friction wheels of the shuttle truck, according as the loom devices may be
rotated, or driven, in one, or the other, direction of motion, or the two friction
wheels shown may be made to act in connection with one anti-friction wheel
on the shuttle, arranged intermediately of the two friction wheels, or drivers.
It will be seen from the drawings that the circular shuttle-track, F is firmly
supported upon the seats 3, and the inner ends of the radial arms F, and it will be
observed that, only four of these radial arms extend (inwardly of the machine)
beyond the outer rail of the track.
By this arrangement and novel construction of the shuttle-driving mechanism, no
matter whether there be one, or more, shuttles and a corresponding number of
driving friction-wheels, I not only avoid the presence, at the middle portion of the
loom frame, of all the gearing, or geared, parts, which have to be kept lubricated,
and thus avoid all possible damage to the fabric which being handled at the
middle of the loom, and beneath the working parts thereof, but I also leave com-
paratively unobstructed, for the convenience of the operator, the central portion of
the circular weaving machinery; so that, not only can the operator easily see and
keep track of the conditions and operations of all the threads and operative parts
of the machine which he is to manage; but can also more conveniently reach up,
into the central, open, space of the loom, for the purpose of performing any necessary
operations upon any of the threads used in the weaving operation, or upon any of
the devices connected with said threads.
In circular looms, as heretofore made, the bobbin has to be taken out from
above but in my improved loom great advantages are gained by the described
capacity of the loom for the extrication of the empty bobbin, and the substitution
therefor of a fresh one from beneath.
By having the truck wheels of the shuttle always roll on the rubber road-ways t,
the threads of the lower shed, which have to be ridden over by these truck-wheels,
while the threads lie radially across the track, will not be cut, broken, or injured, by.
the concussive, or abrasive, action of the contacting surfaces of the track and truck-
wheels.
The shuttle-frame K2 is provided with an outer and an inner pair of track-
wheels r, the outer wheels being, of course, larger than the inner ones, and all the
wheels having the axles set at the proper angles, and their peripheries properly
beveled to run perfectly on the circular tracks shown.
2 are the guide-wheels arranged in about horizontal planes, and which travel
in peripheral contact with the comb-like, or toothed, vertical rim G; two of said
wheels being arranged to bear externally against the rim G; and the other two
against the inner surface thereof; all as clearly shown, and thus the shuttle,
in its rapid, circular, flight, is held laterally to, and guided by, the comb-like
rim G.
At each end of the shuttle frame (see Fig. 11) is a bearing box, 3, and 4, the
first named of which is provided with a tail-piece, K³, having a groove j, and also
a central, cylindrical, cavity, or axial recess, adapted to receive the projecting
end of the spindle K, of the bobbin; the said sliding tail-piece operating to hold
the bobbin in place, laterally, while a spring catch, which engages, as seen, with
groovej, holds it and the tail-piece endwise.

page_text: At the end of the shuttle frame, opposite that where said tail-piece is located, is
located the friction-wheel, or head L (see Figs. 11. 12. & 13) the teat-like journal L³,
of which turns in the bearing-box, and which, at its inner end, is recessed out
and formed with a hub, having a tapering axial cavity, in which is accommodated,
so as to turn freely, the outer end of the bobbin spindle K. The recessed side
of the friction-wheel L, is also formed, or provided, with one member L°, of
a dogging," or clutching, device, the other forked member of which is on the
outer surface of the bobbin-head L the construction being such (as shown at
Figure 13) that the bifurcated projection, of the bobbin head will engage with
the female member L, in the recessed face of the friction-wheel L, and effect an
engagement of the parts, so that, in turning on its axis, the bobbin must rotate the
said friction-wheel.
$
To the grooved periphery of the wheel L, is applied a brake-band 7, preferably
of metal faced with raw hide, that nearly encircles it; the said brake-band, or
metallic strap, may be provided at one end with a lubrication pad, or wiper, and
said end of the band terminated in a threaded rod, or shank, q, which passes through
a hole in the projection, of the frame where it is provided with a thumb-nut, or
jam-nut, and has strung on it a spiral tensional spring q', all as shown. The outer
end of the said band-brake is fastened to a short, pivoted, lever q', by means of a
pivotal connection, that is placed a short distance from the hinge point, or pintle, ³,
by means of which the said lever is hinged to a projecting stand of the shuttle
frame. The pintle, has also fast to its inner end the root of an arm glo, which,
at its lower end, carries a brake-pad 7, that constantly bears, or presses upon the
peripheral surface of the wound thread of the bobbin.
The function and effect of this brake mechanism, of group of bobbin devices,
are to offer to the bobbin an impediment to its rotation, as the filling thread is
unwound from it, and to effect a uniform impediment to the rotation of the bobbin,
notwithstanding the fact that the unwinding thread pulls off with a constantly
varying leverage on the rotatory bobbin.
This mechanism is, therefore, an automatic, equalizing, or compensating, tension
device, since it causes a uniform hold-back force, or tension, to be exerted
on the outgoing bobbin thread, though the bobbin is acted upon by a thread pull
that constantly varies in the degree of leverage, or power, it exerts on the bobbin.
Just in proportion as the leverage of the pulling thread on the bobbin decreases,
does the power of the friction band-brake over the brake-wheel decrease; because,
as the diameter of the cylindrical mass of, bobbin thread decreases, the brake-
pad y, approaches the axis of the bobbin, and in so doing turns the short lever ',
so as to ease up on, or loosen, the gripe of the brake-band, or strap.
By means of the spring attachment, or thumb-nuts, the degree of tension, or the
force of the brake, is adjusted to the desired condition, to suit the kind of work
being done, and the surrounding circumstances, and then the mechanism works
automatically.
The thread of the bobbin passes therefrom back and forth over, first, the curved,
or arched, guide-wire s, then over the spool-like traveller s, and thence through
the guide-eye, to a novel rotatory tension device, which consists of the peripherally
grooved wheel, around which the thread makes say about two turns, and a
band-brake connected therewith.
From said tension device the thread passes, as shown, to and through an eye in
the batten-shoes, which is formed at the end, or point, of the spreader.", the said
batten shoe operating to lay the filling thread tightly around the weaving-pin o,
and properly between the warp threads, as usual.
Said spreaders is secured to the shuttle frame by means of screws that pass
through oblong holes in its ends, so that by loosening said screws said spreader-bar
may be adjusted, to set the batten-shoes, at the proper points for different sized
weaving-pius, and so that it can be removed and replaced in a reversed position
(whenever it may be desired to run the loom in a reverse direction), as indicated by
dotted lines at Figure 11.

page_text: The brake-band 10 of the rotatory tension device is anchored, at one end, to an
ear piece ab, of the shuttle frame, and at the other end has a threaded extension,
which passes through another hole in said ear-piece, and is provided with a com-
pressible spiral spring cb and thumb-nut ed; all in such manner that the band can
be adjusted to exert any desired degree of brake-powder (of a yielding, or elastic,
character) on the brake-wheel, and thus regulate the turning of the rotatory tension
device as may be desired.
At each end of the shuttle frame is a bent ribbon-like bar gh, which, as shown,
encompasses the guide-wheels 2, and is shaped so as to perform the functions of a
spreader, (to open out, if necessary, the warp thread shed as the shuttle enters it),
and a guard to guide the threads, or prevent their getting caught in any of those
devices of the shuttle that first enter the shed.
From the upper surface of said guard, or spreader, the lower shed threads will
pass, certainly, beneath the shuttle truck-wheels; while the upper ones pass along
over the bail-like guard, ³, which insures the clearance of the shuttle, by all the
upper threads of the shed and is an important device in my improved machine.
B, is a four-armed, rotatory, frame which, as shown, is secured to and is driven
by the central, tubular shaft of the loom.
The outer end of each of the radially arranged arms of this rotatory frame is
formed, or provided, with a hub-like socket, in which is placed, and secured, by
set screws, the inner end of a non-rotatable arbor, the outer portion of which
carries a sleeve-like hub, or rotatory thimble 1, at the outer end of which is a
berel-pinion (composed preferably of raw hide, or "vulcanized fibre"), and at the
inner end of which is fastened the friction driving-wheel, the peripheral surface
of which is composed of rubber compound, or other yielding, or elastic, material;
all as clearly shown.
Preferably the arbors are made hollow to, constitute oil reservoirs, from
which, through suitable radial ducts, oil is supplied to the bearing surfaces between
the said arbors and the sleeve-like devices, which rapidly and continuously rotate
thereon. In practice this means for automatically and thoroughly. lubricating these
parts, is quite important.
I have preferably shown the pinion, as engaging with a bevel pin-gear) but
some other form of rim-gear may, of course, be used; though the specific con-
struction shown, I have practically tested, very thoroughly, and found to be perfect
in its operation, durable, and comparatively frictionless.
The wheels, it will be seen, are arranged in pairs, (see Fig. 18) cach pair
straddling, or encompassing the two idlers, or anti-friction wheels, no³, of the
shuttle, in such manner that the shuttle will have some play between the drivers
as shown.
Of course, when the loom is running in one direction, one of the wheels, is the
shuttle driver; the other acting as a hold-back, to check the flight of the shuttle
when the machine may be suddenly stopped and when the loom may be run in the
other direction, these two wheels f, exchange functions.
It is quite obvious that in lien of the two drivers, thus acting on the two
idlers no, of the shuttle, one wheel 2 (and a single arm to support and gyrate it),
might be used, arranged intermediately of the said two idlers; in which case the
one driver would also act to check the flight of the shuttle; said driver acting
sometimes on one, and at other times, on the other of the two idlers; in a manner
easily understood by the ordinarily skilled mechanic.
Referring now to Figures 19 to 23, inclusive, I will describe the take-off
mechanism of my improved loom, which might, however, be used advantageously
with a circular loom otherwise constructed differently from the one I have herein
shown and described.
Suitably secured, to a separate foundational support, or to the central portion of
the metallic base-plate of the loom-frame, is a hollow inetallic post, or column-like
stand W, within, and on which are arranged all the working, or operative, parts of
the take-off mechanism.

page_text: Within this stand is arranged, in suitable bearings, as shown, the central,
vertical, shaft, which has mounted on it, to turn loosely, near its lower end, a
beveled pinion, that is in constant engagement, with a driving bevel-pinion w¹,
that is made fast on the inner end of a horizontal shaft ', that runs close to the
base-plate of the machine, and to the floor on which the machine rests, and which
is provided, at its outer end, with a worm wheel, (not seen) that engages with the
worm, on the lower end of a vertical shaft y. Said shaft, through the medium
of a pair of beveled pinions receives the necessary power and motion (at its upper
end) from the main drive-shaft of the loom. This mechanism, or combination of
devices, for thus conveying the necessary power and motion, from the main shaft of
the loom to the beveled pinion w, of the take-off mechanism, is, however, shown
merely, as one of the means by which said beveled pinion may be driven, and is, of
course, all immaterial to my invention; since the said beveled pinion, and through
it the devices of the take-offt mechanism, might be driven by entirely different
means, or in some other suitable manner.
Immediately above the loose, beveled, pinion, w², of the take-off mechanisın, is
splined on the vertical shaft ³, a clutch device, which by means of a suitable
spiral spring a, and the fixed collar, (on the vertical shaft) is, normally, kept in
clutch with the hub of the loose gear w², so, as to keep the shaft. ., in motion; but
by the use of a foot lever w³, pivoted in the metallic stand of the take-off' mechanism,
and properly connected with the clutch mechanism, as shown, the operator can, at
pleasure, unclutch the driving-pinion 2, from the shaft 3, so as to stop all the move-
ments of the take-off devices, proper, and for the purpose of manipulating them by
hand power (as will be presently explained) whenever occasion may require.
On the upper end of the shaft a³, is mounted a beveled wheel w, which runs in
engagement with a similar gear w, that is splined onto the horizontal shaft, or
spindle, from which, however, it may be easily removed, at pleasure, in a manner
and for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.
:
The spindle, or arbor, z', which is mounted in suitable bearing boxes in the
upper portion of the metallic stand, is provided, at one end (and interiorly of said
metallic stand) with a driven pinion 2, and at the other end with a hand wheel w,
and, in engagement with the said pinion runs an intermediate and changeable
spur-pinion the stud, or arbor, of which (see Figs. 19 and 23) is fastened to the
upper slotted, portion of the laterally projecting bracket cy of the metallic
stand W, and this intermediate pinion, engages with a spur-gear, that is
mounted, fast, on one end of the central, or middle one, of the three arbors, or
spindles, 1, 2, 3, on which are mounted (as shown at Figures 19 to 23) the three
take-off rolls or, the peripheries of which run sufficiently close together to take
the proper bite on the tubular flattened fabric, to be removed from the weaving-
pin o, of the loom; the peripheral surfaces of the rolls being usually provided
with sets of points, or small sharp teeth (such as seen on the rolls shown at
Figure 22) to render the rolls better capable of taking hold of, and pulling away
from the weaving-pin of the loom, the flattened tubular fabric.
Each of the three arbors, or spindles, on which these said take-off rolls are
mounted is provided with a spur-pinion, and the three pinions Q1, Q2 Q³, are
geared together, as clearly shown, so that all three of the rolls are driven, with a
uniform peripheral speed and in the proper directions, through the medium of the
driving-gear.
The upper portion, or head frame, so to speak, of the take-off mechanism stand,
is made separate from the lower, or supporting portion and hinged thereto, as
clearly shown, so that the said head-frame, or upper box-like portion, of the
metallic frame may be vibrated back and forth, to a certain extent, at its upper
end, and may be set at and held at different positions of adjustment for purposes
to be presently explained.
The upper portion of the hollow metallic stand is purposely made with a
sufficient opening, or aperture, az, to enable the operator to insert his hand, as
circumstance may require.

page_text: E, E, represent two take-off rolls, each made with a circumferential groove,
preferably provided with small radial teeth, or sharp points, which rolls are
employed when the machine is adjusted, or arranged, as shown, at Figures 21
and 22, to take off a jacketed article, (which has to be taken away from the
weaving-pin and discharged from the loom, in a cylindrical, or unflattened,
condition), and D represents a removable and attachable device, comprising a thin,
Hat, bar, having a laterally projecting oval-shaped, and warped, or bent, eye d³, that
is used in connection with these grooved rolls, in a manner and for a purpose to be
presently more fully explained.
When the take-off mechanism is to be employed to take away from the weaving-
pin o, of the loom, the woven tubular fabric in a flattened condition, the parts used
are those seen at Figures 19 and 20, adjusted and operating together as illustrated
in said figures, and, in the operation of the mechanism, thus adjusted, the finished
and flattened tubular fabric passes down tangentially into contact with and
partially around the periphery of the upper one of the three take-off rolls; thence
between the said roll and the upper peripheral portion of the next lower roll,
around which latter it makes about half a turn; and thence the material passes
between the periphery of the said roll and that of the lowermost one, from whence
the flattened fabric is discharged, and is carried off and laid into any suitable
receptacle.
In the operation of thus taking off the flattened woven fabric, the rotatory
shaft, of course, imparts the necessary continuous movements, through the
medium of the pinions w, and w³, and the system of spur-gearing shown, to the
three take-off rolls; and, to vary the speed of these take-off rolls (to adapt
the machine to the taking off of different sized fabrics, woven at different speeds),
the intermediate and changeable pinion, is removed and one of another size
substituted therefor.
As it is sometimes necessary, or expedient, to run the circular loom in different
directions, provision is made for reversing the action of the driving-pinion w, on
the take-off rolls (which latter must, of course, always revolve in the same
direction, to pull the woven fabric away from the weaving-pin of the loom, and
properly discharge it). This provision consists in having the beveled pinion w³,
removable, as before remarked, from the spindle ', and the latter casily detachable
from the metallic stand of the take-off mechanism, so that, in the event of changing
the direction of motion of the entire loom mechanism, the operator has simply
while removing the pinion, to pull, or draw out, the spindle, and by putting
his hand through the aperture as, shift the position of the beveled pinion w³, so
that it will engage with the pinion w, on the opposite side of the latter, and then
replace the spindle 1, and reapply its pinion, when, although the pinion w, may
then be rotated in the opposite direction to that in which it previously turned the
spindle, and all the gears and rolls of the take-off mechanism will rotate in the
same direction in which they formerly turned.
When it is desired to shift, or adjust, the parts of the take-off mechanism, to
adapt it to the removal from the weaving-pin of a finished fabric, or jacketed
article, in a cylindrical, or unflattened condition, all of the rolls ou, are removed
from the machine, the lower one of the three spindles in the head-frame, is then
removed and replaced in suitable journal boxes in the slotted bracket-like pro-
jections, or lateral ear-pieces, ', of the head-frame, in such manner that the
spur-gear will engage with the pinion of the upper spindle; and the said upper
spindle and the said shifted spindle are then provided with the set of circum-
ferential grooved take-off rolls, E; all as clearly shown at Figures 21 and 22 of
the drawings.
Then by a proper adjustment and securement in place of the detachable cross-bar,
as shown, with its oval-shaped, warped, guide-ring, or eye d, as shown, and a
proper adjustment of the hinged head-frame, (so as to bring the space between the
two grooved rollers vertically in line beneath the axis of the weaving-pin of the
loom) the tubular fabric will be held and guided, as it passes through the eye dª,

page_text: beneath which it will pass into the bite of the grooved rollers E, and will be led by
them, and drawn away, or pulled down, with a uniform speed, and discharge i
wholly from the loom in a perfect condition.
The object and effect of the oval-shaped eye, d³, are to avoid the partial
flattening of the cylindrical article (if tubular and compressible) in an opposite
direction, which practice and experience have demonstrated it is the tendency of
the grooved rollers to effect, and to prevent the injurious effects, on some kinds
of finished articles, resulting from any such partial flattening of the finished
fabric, or from any pinching of the fabric, at opposite points, between the
peripheral surfaces of the take-off rolls, and at the vicinity of the circumferential
lines where the grooves run into the plane surfaces of the peripheries.
I have found, by practice and experience, that not only is it necessary to employ
some guiding device, such as the eyes, which will distort the cylindrical fabric,
if hollow, in the direction indicated, but also that it is very important to have
this guiding eye shaped so as to lie as closely as possible to the peripheral
surfaces of the take-off rolls where the finisher article enters the bite of the
rolls, and, for this reason, I make the elliptically-shaped guide-eye curved, or
warped, as indicated (see Figs. 22 and 23) in order that it may guide and hold
the finished fabric, or article, in the best possible shape to permit the take-off
rolls to draw away the article without any injurious effect on the latter; and I
consider this structural feature of the take-off mechanism an important one, where
the said mechanism has to be used under the conditions and for the purposes
illustrated at Figures 22 and 23.
It will be observed that, when adjusted in either of its two conditions, or when
doing either of the two species of work for which it is designed, my improved take-
off mechanism, while it is necessarily located in the center of the loom frame, and
immediately beneath the weaving-pin, is capable of being operated, through the
means shown, or some other, in such manner, that the connection between the
vertical shaft, and the source from which power and motion is imparted to said
shaft, can be placed close to the floor and so as not to obstruct the free passage, or
walking, of the operator, all around the take-off mechanism, so that they can have
perfectly free access to the shuttles and threads, and other devices, of the, over-
head, weaving mechanism.
It will also be seen that the operator can, very conveniently, stop and hold in an
inoperative condition, the driving mechanism of the take-off; with one foot; while,
at the same time, he can, by the use of the hand-wheel w, manipulate the take-off
rolls (either while the loom is running, or not) for any of the well known purposes
for which this operation may be necessary, or convenient.
Of course, many of the precise details of construction, as well as the forms and
proportions of the parts, may be varied, without materially changing the novel
Structural features of the take-off mechanism hereinbefore shown and described.
In the general operation of the machine, after it shall have been supplied with
the eight warp beans, and the properly filled shuttle bobbins, and shall have been
properly threaded and adjusted for use, the weaving operation is performed in
substantially the manner of other circular looms of the same type as that shown
and take-off mechanism operating to draw the tubular woven fabric, either
alone, or together with any other tube, or article, on which the fabric may have
been woven, off of the weaving-pin o², at the proper speed.
After having properly started up the loom, in the usual manner, the constant
rotation of the hollow central shaft B², causes the cam B', to revolve, and the
revolution of the latter effects the proper reciprocatory movements of the shoe-
pieces d', that slide in the radial slots of the spider-plate C, and through the con-
nections, shown, between these sliding shoe-pieces and the heddles, the latter are
worked, to properly form the threads in each of the eight sets of warp threads that
are drawn from the eight warp beams.
During the formation of the sheds the shuttle trucks are caused to travel rapidly
and with the proper speed through the sheds, and lay in the filling threads that are

page_text: supplied from their bobbins, and which pass finally through the eyes in the batten-
shoes that form the extremities of the spreaders S³, and which operate to force the
helically laid-in weft threads close onto the external surface of the weaving-pin;
all in a manner which will be easily understood by one skilled in the art, and in the
same general manner, as in the case of circular looms such as hereinbefore made,
and that are now in use for weaving hose, etc.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
First. In a circular loom, the combination with a warp beam, of a band-brake,
arranged to coact with the periphery of a suitable sheave-like head to said beam,
and having one of its ends provided with an elastic anchorage, or attachment, and
its other end longitudinally adjustable; all substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
Second. In a circular loom, the combination with the central rotatory shaft of
the machine the radially sliding devices, that drive the heddle operating
mechanism and suitable guides for said sliding devices, of a cam, the groove
of which is composed of two portions which are concentric to the axis of
motion of the cam, and two (similar) portions, connecting said concentric portions,
that are of such shape, as specified, as to effect the reciprocatory movements
of the sliding pieces without any sudden transitions; all substantially as set
forth.
Third. In a circular loom, the combination with the central rotatory shaft;
the slotted spider-plate C; the cam-plate B; and a pair of heddles, of a heddle-
operating mechanism, composed of a sliding shoe-piece d, arranged in the spider-
plate and in engagement with the groove of the cam B; a pair of connecting rods
connected at one end, to said shoe-piece; a pair of bell-crank levers, one arm of
each of which is coupled to the other end of said connecting rods; a suitable
support for the pintle, or arbor, on which said levers oscillate; and a pair of
connecting rods, connected at their upper ends to different ones of the arms of said
.bell-crank levers, and at their lower ends to the frames of said pair of heddles; all
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. In a circular loom, the combination with the frame of the machine, of a
reed-like frame, or frames, having a series of vertical rods, or wires P; the said
device being arranged, as specified, so that the warp threads of the loom will
impinge, laterally, against, and thus be laterally steadied and vertically guided by
said wires, at the locality where the sheds are formed; all substantially as and for
the purposes herein before set forth.
Fifth. The combination with the warp-beam of the loom, of a series of feeler-
pins and a lacing-ring, or device m'; the combination being such, and so operating,
that all the warp threads pass from the beam through the feeler-pins, and thence
through the holes of the said lacing-ring, and each and all pull always on the
feeler-pins, during the weaving operations, in a direction tending only to move the
said pins in lines coincident with the axial lines of the holes, or bearings, within
which said pins are arranged.
Sixth. In a circular loom, the combination with the harness thereof, of a
vertically adjustable device m', through holes in which all the warp threads are
passed whereby the loom may be adjusted to weave either a tubular fabric that
will have a softer exterior surface, or a fabric equally hard on its exterior and
interior surfaces.
Seventh. In a circular loom, a two-rail shuttle-track, the inner rail of which is
supported in such a manner, as specified that space is afforded, between the two
rails, and between the supports of the inner one, for the removal downwardly of the
bobbin of the shuttle; substantially as set forth.
Eighth. In a circular loom, a shuttle truck, formed or provided, with road-
ways of rubber compound, or other soft, or yielding and elastic material; to

page_text: support the threads of the lower shed while the wheels of the shuttle pass over
them.
Ninth. In a circular loom, the combination with the circular shuttle track, and
any suitable means for making the sheds of the warp threads, of the toothed rim G,
located about at the inner perimeter of the outer rail of the track; all substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
Tenth. In a shuttle mechanism, the combination with the shuttle-frame, of a
sliding tail-piece, arranged in a bearing box, at one end of said frame, and having
a central cavity at 2: a friction-wheel, or head, the journal of which is mounted
in a bearing-box at the outer end of said frame, and that is provided with
one member of a dogging device; a bobbin spindle adapted, at one end, to
engage with the central cavity of said tail-piece, and at the other end to interlock
with said friction-wheel and its dogging device; and means for locking in place,
end-wise, the said sliding tail-piece; all substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
Eleventh. In a shuttle mechanism, the combination, with a rotatory bobbin,
provided at one end with a friction-wheel, of a band friction-brake, applied to said
wheel; a brake-pad applied to act on the peripheral surface of the mass of thread
wound on the bobbin; and devices, intermediate of the said band and pad,
operating to diminish the brake-power of the band according to the variations in
position (relatively to the axis of the bobbin) of the said pad; all substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
Twelfth. In combination with the bobbin and frame of a shuttle mechanism, á
rotatory tension-device, around the grooved wheel of which the thread of the bobbin
passes, as specified, and which is provided with an adjustable, band, friction-brake,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Thirteenth. In combination with the bobbin and frame of a shuttle mechanism,
the reversible spreader S'; and a rotatory tension device, having a reversible
and adjustable friction brake device applied thereto; as and for the purposes set
forth.
Fourteenth. In a circular loom, the combination with a shuttle mechanism in
which the shuttle may be driven in either direction; of a reversible spreader, S³,
and batten-shoe S³, arranged to operate substantially as set forth.
Fifteenth. In a circular loom, the combination, with the shuttle frame, of a
spreader device, and guards gh, arranged at each end thereof, substantially such
as shown, and operating to spread apart the shed threads and guide them clear of
the advance parts of the shuttle, as the latter enters the shed; all substantially as
hercinbefore set forth.
Sixteenth. In combination with the shuttle, the arched, or bail-like guard, 3;
arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Seventeenth. In a circular loom, the combination with the circular shuttle track;
and a shuttle provided with truck-wheels to travel thereon, and with anti-friction-
wheels, or idlers, as specified; of a shuttle-driving device, composed, essentially, of
a friction driving-wheel, or wheels, arranged to coact with one, or the other, of
said idlers, and suitably mounted (to rotate about its own axis) at the outer end of
an arm, or arms, made fast at its, or their; inner end, or ends, to the central,
rotatory, shaft of the loom; all substantially as set forth.
Eighteenth. In a circular loom, a shuttle-driving mechanism composed, essentially,
of a suitable friction driving-wheel, or wheels; a gyrating, or rotatory, frame
mounted fast on the central spindle of the loom; a rim-gear, arranged concentri-
cally with but above the shuttle track of the loom; and a pinion, or pinions, which
run in engagement with said rim-gear and are mounted on the same axis with and
which rotate the said friction driving-wheels; all substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
Nineteenth. In a take-off mechanism, or device, the combination with a suitable
supporting stand; a vertical drive-shaft mounted therein; and means for driving
the said shaft at its lower end, from any suitable source of power and motion in
с

page_text: the loom of a driving spindle mounted horizontally in the head-frame, or upper
portion of the stand, and a series of three take-off rolls, the spindles of which are
suitably geared together, and which operate to grasp and draw away from the
weaving-pin of the loom, and properly discharge, the finished woven fabric; all
substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
Twentieth. In a take-off mechanism, the combination with a suitable supporting
stand; and a vertical shaft arranged therein and geared to the horizontal spindle,
which in turn imparts the necessary motion (by a system of gearing) to the take-
off rolls, of a hand-wheel applied to said horizontal spindle, and a clutch mechanism,
connecting the lower end of the said vertical drive-shaft with the constantly
rotating drive-gear and provided with a foot-lever, as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described.
Twenty-first. In a take-off mechanism, the stand, or column, provided with a
swinging, or adjustable, head-frame, or upper portion, having brackets and bearing
boxes; the removable take-off rolls, on; and a shifting roll spindle and gear;
whereby the machine, or mechanism, may be transposed, or adjusted, into one
having two upper spindles, which may be provided with circumferentially grooved
take-off rolls, and properly adjusted to the weaving-pin for taking off a tubular, or
unflattened, finished article; all substantially as hereinbefore described.
Twenty-second. In a take-off mechanism adapted to the removal of a finished
article in a tubular condition, the combination with a pair of circumferentially
grooved take-off rolls; of an elliptically shaped, and bent, or warped, guide-ring,
for the tubular article; arranged in close proximity to the bite of the said take-off
rolls on the article; all substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set
forth.
Dated this Tenth day of March 1892.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.