IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Sagar Witham, of Nelson, near Burnley, in the
County of Lancaster, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Sagar Witham at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th April 1881.
FRANCIS SAGAR WITHAM, of Nelson, near Burnley, in the County of Lancaster,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
My improvements consist of an adjustable slay or batten, so constructed in the
reed space as to be capable of adjustment to the various widths of cloth required
to be woven in the same loom. For this purpose the slay or batten may be formed
of two or more parts, between which are inserted filling pieces so as to extend the
reed space to the width required. A modification of my Invention consists in
constructing the slay or batten in such a manner that one or both shuttle boxes or
parts thereof may be expanded or contracted thereon to determine the reed
Брасе.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Francis Sagar Witham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th October 1881.
FRANCIS SAGAR WITHAM, of Nelson, near Burnley, in the County of Lancaster,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
My improvements consist of an adjustable sley or batten, so constructed in the
reed space as to be capable of adjustment to the various widths of cloth required
471

page_text: As
to be woven in the same loom. For this purpose the sley or batten may be formed
of two or more parts, between which are inserted suitable filling pieces so as to
extend the reed space to the width required. A modification of my Invention
consists in constructing the sley or batten in such a manner that one or both
shuttle boxes or parts thereof may be extended or contracted thereon to determine
the reed space. And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and
readily carried into operation I will proceed to describe the annexed Sheet of
Drawings, reference being had to the Figures and letters marked thereon.
shewn in Fig. 1 the sley or batten A is constructed of two parts, which parts are
firmly secured together by the bolts a and a' and plate b. It will be observed by
referring to Fig. 1 that the upper part of the sley sword usually used is dispensed
with, the bracket c being substituted, to which is fixed the hand rail d. The
sley A and bracket c are secured to the sword e by the bolts f and f¹. In order
to extend or contract the reed space the nuts of the respective bolts mentioned,
and also the nut of the hand rail d, will require adjusting, so that the parts herein
above mentioned are capable of moving freely inwards or outwards on or with the
said bolts. A suitable filling piece or pieces y having been inserted the nuts of the
said bolts are again firmly secured.
A modification of my Invention is represented in Figs. 2 and 3. To the
bracket c is secured the spindle stud, box end h, and box back, which parts are
carried with the bracket c as the same is moved inwards or outwards upon the
bolts fand f¹, as the case may be, to determine the reed space; a slot of sufficient
length is allowed for this purpose in the hand rail d.
As seen in plan view, Fig. 3, the sley plate K is longer than usual, and is
provided with an additional slot K³, so that the box front L may be placed and
secured in its proper position with the parts carried by the bracket c, which is
firmly secured in its place between the sley and sword e by the bolts and fi
after each adjustment of the reed space, at which time the picking stick will
require adjusting at its centre, so that its extremity may be brought into proper
position with the box, by which means the pick is effectively maintained.
These improvements are equally adaptable to fast or loose reed looms.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention and described the manner of
performing the same, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I claim,-
Firstly. The application and use of an adjustable sley or batten, for the purposes
described and set forth.
Secondly. The application of an adjustable shuttle box or boxes or parts thereof,
as described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Sagar Witham, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty second day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
JOHN CLAYTON,
Engineer,
Burnley.
FRANCIS SAGAR WITHAM. (L.S.)