Improved Means for Controlling the Speed of Power Looms.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 1st May, 1897-Accepted, 5th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Controlling the Speed of Power Looms.
I, HENRY LOUIS COPELAND of Ballymore-Eustace, County Kildare, Ireland,
Woollen Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in power looms, and is especially
designed to neutralize or controll the effects of irregular speed.
In that part of the mechanism which operates the shuttle it is well known that
should any variation in speed occur, the shuttle instead of been driven right across
the fabric will stop short, and thus cause considerable inconvenience in the process
of weaving.
My invention is designed to obviate this defect, and this I accomplish by fixing
on the face of the balance wheel at a certain point between its centre and its
circumference a crank projecting a suitable distance.
To this crank I connect the end of a suitable spiral spring the opposite end of
which is connected to a fixed portion of the frame of the machine or to the
ground.
The spring is so adjusted that it will assume its normal position when the crank
is passing its lowest or nearest point, and will be stretched, when the crank is at
its highest or most remote point. Thus during one half revolution of the balance
wheel the spring will exercise a retarding influence, while during the other half
revolution it will exercise an accelerating influence on the rotation of the wheel.
In the application of my improved contrivance it is proposed that the mechanism
should be so adjusted as to cause the spring to exercise its accelerating influence
at the moment that force is required to cause the tappet to strike the shuttle, and
to exercise its retarding influence immediately after accomplishing this action, and
thus allow sufficient time for the flight of the shuttle to its destination.
By this arrangement it will be obvious that should there be any variation or
irregularity in the speed of the machinery the presence and action of the spring
arranged as described will compensate or controll any such variation or irregularity,
and thus a uniform motion will be secured to the mechanism which acts on the
shuttle, and an improved quality of fabric consequently produced.
Dated this 30th day of June 1896.
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
9 Westland Row, Dublin, Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Controlling the Speed of Power Looms.
I, HENRY LOUIS COPELAND of Ballymore-Eustace, County Kildare, Ireland,
Woollen Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention has reference to improvements in power looms, and is especially
designed to neutralize or controll the effects of irregular speed.
In that part of the mechanism which operates the shuttle it is well known that
should any variation in speed occur the shuttle instead of being driven right across
[Price 81

page_text: the fabric will stop short, and thus cause considerable inconvenience in the process
of weaving.
My invention is designed to obviate this defect, and this I accomplish by fixing
on the face of the balance wheel at a certain point between its centre and its
circumference a crank projecting a suitable distance.
To this crank I connect the end of a suitable spiral spring the opposite end of
which is connected to the ground.
Or instead of attaching the spring to the balance wheel I may attach it to a
suitable crank specially fixed on any suitable part of the driving shaft as hereinafter
.more fully described.
The spring is so adjusted that it will assume its normal condition when the crank
is passing its lowest or nearest point and will be stretched when the crank is at its
highest or most remote point.
Thus during one half revolution of the balance wheel, or driving shaft, the
spring will exercise a retarding influence, while during the other half revolution
it will exercise an accelerating influence on the rotation of the driving shaft.
In the application of my improved contrivance it is proposed that the mechanisin
should be so adjusted as to cause the spring to exercise its accelerating influence at
the moment that force is required to cause the tappett to strike the arm which acts
on the shuttle, and to exercise its retarding influence immediately after accomplishing
this action, and thus allow sufficient time for the flight of the shuttle to its
destination.
In order that my said invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practice I will describe the accompanying drawing which represents an end
view of portion of an ordinary loom shewing the application of my improved
spring arrangement thereto.
A is the frame work; B, the balance or fly wheel; C, the driving wheel which
engages the wheel D mounted on same shaft as tappett wheel; E, is the crank
which may be attached to any convenient part of the driving shaft and to which
is secured one end of the spiral spring F the other end of which is connected to
the ground at F'.
A suitable slot is formed in the crank in which a bolt, 1, is capable of being
moved whereby the tension of the spring may readily be adjusted.
The throw of the crank can also be adjusted by means of set screws 2 and 3 so
as to cause the spring to exert the greatest power just as the tappett strikes the
picking arm as illustrated in the drawing.
By this arrangement it will be obvious that should there be any variation or
irregularity in the speed of the machinery the presence and action of the spring
arranged as described will compensate or controll any such variation or irregularity,
and thus a uniform motion will be secured to the mechanism which acts on the
shuttle, and an improved quality of fabric cousequently produced.
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 connection with power looms the use and application of a spiral spring.
arranged in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Second. The use and application of a spiral spring in combination with the
striking mechanism of power looms for the purpose and in the manner substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 30th day of April 1897
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
9 Westland Row, Dublin, Agents for Applicant..