IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER LOOMS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Wilson, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
POWER LOOMS."
Sealed the 80th December 1856, and dated the 17th October 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Wilson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th October 1856.
I, GEORGE WILSON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN POWER LOOMS," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in power looms, enabling
them to produce certain classes of woven fabrics hitherto produced in the hand
.loom only, or by means of very complicated power loom mechanism; such
improvements comprehending arrangements of great simplicity, which are also
applicable to the weaving various classes of woven fabrics, besides those more
particularly referred to.
The improvements have reference to looms in which two or more shuttles
are used, and consist of arrangements whereby two or more picks may be
effected from one side of the loom in immediate succession, so that in weaving
harness muslins, for example, in which the pattern is produced by the weft,

page_text: two weft threads of different thicknesses being used, a single shot of either of
the threads may be thrown in at any time to suit the pattern. In weaving
corded checks in the power loom, the effect of the cord is generally produced
by throwing in a number of weft shots whilst the warps are kept open at the
same shed; but by means of the present improvements a single cord or thread of
thicker material than the ordinary weft may be thrown in at any point to suit
the pattern. The power of throwing in at pleasure an odd or even number of
shots from any one shuttle will also be very advantageous in check looms
weaving with two or more wefts of different colors, and generally in all power
looms where two or more shuttles are used.
In carrying out the Invention in practice the picking sticks are carried
upon the lathe, in the plane of which they work, their centres being at the
feet of the lathe swords. The picking sticks are actuated by vertical spindles
carried in bracket bearings at the back of the lathe swords, and connected to
the picking sticks by straps attached to cams or projections upon the spindles.
Each spindle has formed or fixed upon it a pin or projection, which, on the
lathe moving backwards, comes in contact with a pin or projection upon the
stationary framing, and causes the spindle to turn, and thereby give the stroke
to the picking stick. Each pin in the stationary framing is capable of moving
in a slot into or out of the way of the pin of the picker spindle, accordingly
as the pick is to be made from one side of the lathe or the other. These
shifting pins may be actuated in a variety of ways, according to the pattern to
be produced. According to one plan, a wheel or disc, which is made to revolve
continuously, or is shifted round intermittently by means of a ratchet move-
ment, is fitted with pins arranged in accordance with the pattern, which pins
act on a lever connected to the shifting pin in such a manner that as each pin
on the wheel comes round it depresses the lever and moves the shifting pin
into the way of the pin on the picker spindle.
When the end of the lever is opposite a point of the wheel which has no
pin, the shifting pin is of course out of the way of the pin on the picker
spindle, and no pick takes place from that side. A separate wheel may be
used for each side of the lathe, or the shifting pin on one side may be con-
nected to that on the other in such a manner that when one pin is in a position
to give a pick the other is out of the way, and vice versa.
In connection with the improved picking movements, shifting drop boxes
are used at both sides of the lathe for the shuttles. These shuttle drop
boxes may be shifted so as to bring the shuttles into play, in accordance
with the pattern, by means of any of the arrangements in use for that
purpose, and such pattern mechanism for shifting the drop boxes may in

page_text: most cases, by a slight modification; be made to act in addition upon the
shifting pins of the picking movement, so as to do away with the necessity for
a separate pattern movement for that purpose. The extreme simplicity of the
improved picking movement admits of the loom being worked at a com-
paratively high speed, and the production of the several kinds of goods, in the
weaving of which the improvements are applicable, is increased, and the cost
consequently reduced.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th April 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
WILSON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said George Wilson, Her special license that I, the said George Wilson, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George
Wilson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter luring tho
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 POWER LOOMS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Wilson, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 George Wilson, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to certain improvements in power looms, which

page_text: improvements enable the looms to produce certain classes of woven fabrics
hitherto either produced in the hand loom only, or by means of very com-
plicated power loom mechanism, such improvements comprehending arrange-
ments of great simplicity, which are also applicable to the weaving of various
classes of woven fabrics besides those more particularly referred to."
The improvements have reference to looms in which two or more shuttles
are used, and they consist of arrangements whereby two or more picks may be
effected from one side of the loom in immediate succession, so that in weaving
harness muslins, for example, in which the pattern is produced by the weft,
two weft threads of different thicknesses being used, a single shot of either of
the threads may be thrown in at any time to suit the pattern. In weaving
corded checks in the power loom, the effect of the cord is now generally
produced by throwing in a number of weft shots whilst the warps are kept
open at the same shed; but by means of the present improvements, a single
cord or thread of thicker material than the ordinary weft may be thrown in
at any point to suit the pattern. The power of throwing in at pleasure an odd
or even number of shots from any one shuttle is also very advantageous in
check looms weaving with two or more wefts of different colours, and generally
in all power looms where two or more shuttles are used.
In carrying out the Invention in practice the picking sticks are carried
upon the lathe, in the plane of which they work, their centres being at the
feet of the lathe swords. The picking sticks are actuated by vertical spindles
carried in bracket bearings at the back of the lathe swords, and connected to
the picking sticks by straps attached to cams or projections upon the spindles.
Each spindle has formed or fixed upon it a pin or projection, which, on the
lathe moving backwards, comes in contact with a pin or projection upon the
stationary framing, and causes the spindle to turn, and thereby give the stroke
to the picking stick. Each pin in the stationary framing is capable of moving
in a slot into or out of the way of the pin of the picker spindle, accordingly
as the pick is to be made from one side of the lathe or the other. These
shifting pins may be actuated in a variety of ways, according to the pattern to
be produced. According to one plan, a wheel or disc, which is either made to
revolve continuously,
or is shifted round intermittently by means of a ratchet
movement, is fitted with pins arranged in accordance with the pattern, which
pins act on a lever connected to the shifting pin in such a manner that
as each pin on the wheel comes round, it depresses the lever and moves
the shifting pin into the way of the pin on the picker spindle. When
the end of the lever is opposite a point of the wheel which has no pin,
the shifting pin is of course out of the way of the pin on the picker

page_text: spindle, and no pick takes place from that side. A separate wheel may be
used for each side of the lathe, or the shifting pin on one side may be
connected to that on the other, in such a manner that when one pin is in a
position to give a pick, the other is out of the way, and vice versa.
In connection with the improved picking movements, shifting drop boxes
are used at both sides of the lathe for the shuttles. These shuttle drop boxes
may be shifted so as to bring the shuttles into play, in accordance with the
pattern, by means of any of the arrangements in use for that purpose, and
such pattern mechanism for shifting the drop boxes may in most cases, by a
slight modification, be made to act in addition upon the shifting pins of the
picking movement, so as to do away with the necessity for that purpose. The
extreme simplicity of the improved picking movement admits of the loom
being worked at a comparatively high speed, and the production of the
several kinds of goods, in the weaving of which the improvements are
applicable, i increased, and the cost consequently reduced.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall now
proceed to describe the several illustrative Figures on the explanatory Sheet of
Drawings which I have hereunto appended, for the purpose of showing certain
modifications under which my improvements may be judiciously carried out in
practice. Figure 1 on my Sheet of Drawings is a front elevation of a power
loom, as fitted with my improvements applied thereto; Figure 2 is a side or
end elevation of the loom, corresponding to the right-hand side of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a plan of the lower portion of the loom, corresponding to Figures
1 and 2; Figure 4 is a side elevation of the mechanical arrangements, by
means of which the shifting drop boxes are raised or lowered, according to the
nature of the pattern to be woven in the loom; Figure 5 is a side elevation
of the disc and its connected mechanism, by means of which the picking
sticks are actuated, and the picks or shoots of weft made in the desired
succession. In the illustrative Figures 1 to 3, certain parts of the loom, not
essential to the description of my Invention, are omitted, in order to show
more distinctly the nature of my improvements. The frame of the loom
consists of two rectangular cast-iron side standards A, connected at the lower
part by transverse stays, and at the upper part by the arched stay. B. The
lathe or stay C is connected, by means of the lathe swords D, to the rocking
shaft E, on each end of which is a bracket F, and to these brackets the
picking sticks G are secured by a joint pin. Each of the picking sticks is
actuated by means of a spindle II, the lower end of which rests in a footstep
bearing in a bracket fast to the rocking shaft E of the lathe C. The upper
end of the spindle II rotates in a collar bearing J, which projects from the

page_text: side of the lathe sword D. . Near the lower part of the spindle H is keyed a
cam or segmentally-shaped piece of metal K, and to this is fastened a strap. L,
the free end of which is passed through a slot in the picking stick, to which it
is secured by a buckle or other suitable fastening. The upper end of each
picking stick is connected with the picker by means of a strap in the ordinary
manner. The necessary reciprocating motion of each of the picking sticks,
by means of which the shuttle is driven across the warp from one side of the
loom to the other, is caused by the partial rotation of the spindle H, which has
the effect of winding the strap L round the cam K, and this action suddenly
draws or jerks the picking stick towards the centre of the loom, causing the
pickers to traverse along their guides, and drive the shuttle through the shed.
One modification of the mechanical arrangement by means of which the
spindles are actuated or not, according to the requirements of the pattern,
is shown separately at Figure 5, and in its proper position in the loom in
Figures 1, 2, and 3. It consists of a disc of metal M, made with a number
of lateral studs or pins N, projecting from the outer edge of each of its sides.
These studs or pins N are made with sloping sides, so that the end of a lever
pressing against the side of the dise, and in a line with the apices of the pins,
will have a smooth reciprocating motion given to it. The disc M is made
fast to the shaft O, which runs in end bearings carried by the framing, and is
actuated by the ratchet wheel P, which is keyed on the same shaft. The
ratchet wheel P is moved by means of the pall Q, to which a reciprocating
motion is given by an eccentric R, on the crank shaft S, the free end of the
pall Q takes into the teeth of the ratchet wheel P, and at each revolution of
the crank shaft S, the wheel P is moved round one tooth by this action. This
movement of the ratchet wheel carries with it the disc M, by means of
which the two bent levers T and U are caused to slide to and fro on the
shaft V, also carried in end bearings in the framing, on which shaft they
fitted loosely. These bent levers T and U are prevented from sliding too far
along the shaft V by means of the adjusting collars W, each of which is
secured to the shaft V by a pinching screw. The upper end of each of the
bent levers T and U is bent inwards, forming a right angle with the plane side
of the lever, and this end of each lever presses against the opposite sides of
the disc M. To an eye in the lower end of each of the curved levers T and U
is attached, a cord or band X, Y; the cord X of the lever T is passed under
a pulley Z, fitted in a bracket depending from the right-hand side standard A,
The band or
and is carried upwards and attached to one end of a lever a.
cord Y, attached to the bent lever U, is in like manner passed under a
fitted to the left-hand side standard A, and is attached to a lever c.
are
pulley b,
Each of

page_text: the levers a and c are secured to the standards A by a bolt fitted in a slot, by
means of which the height of each lever may be adjusted, the bolt forming
the fulcrum of the lever. The free end of each lever a, c, is connected by a
pin to an intermediate link or rod d, and the upper end of this link or rod is
placed between the plates of a bracket e, which is bolted to the side
standards A. A slot is made in each of the cheek plates of the bracket e,
and the upper end of the link or rod d has an eye, through which is passed a
pin or stud f, which works in the slots; the pin fis secured to the rod d by a
pinching screw, and slides freely in a vertical direction in the slots of the
bracket e. The pin f projects from the inner side of the bracket c, so that
when it is in the position shown in the Drawings on the right-hand side of
Figure 1, a stud or pin 9, fitted on the upper part of each of the spindles H,
strikes against the pin fat each backward movement of the lathe or slay.
The action of this mechanical arrangement is as follows:-As the disc M
rotates, the bent lever T is pushed away as its upper end travels over the pins
or studs projecting from the sides of the disc M. This motion causes the
lever to move a short distance along the shaft V, which has the effect of
tightening the cord X, attached to its lower end, and depressing the lever a.
The motion of the lever U is precisely similar to that of the lever T, the
action of the pins being arranged to take place alternately. The depression
of the end of the lever a or c raises the
level with the stud g on the spindle II.
lathe the stud g comes in contact with the
to rotate upon its axis, and wind the strap L on the cam K, and this action
jerks the picking stick to which it is attached towards the centre of the loom,
thereby driving the shuttle through the shed. As the action of the levers T
and U is arranged to take place alternately, when the pin f of one lever is
raised, the other is depressed, and therefore the picking stick on that side
remains unaffected by the movement of the lathe. The studs or pins on each
side of the disc M are arranged according to the number of picks required in
succession from one side of the lathe or the other; and instead of this disc M
being actuated by a ratchet wheel, it may be moved by a cog wheel on the
shaft O, in gear with another wheel on the crank shaft.
rod d, which brings the pin f on a
At the backward movement of the
pin f, which causes the spindle H
Another part of my Invention consists of certain means for actuating the
shifting drop boxes, when several shuttles containing wefts of varying thick-
nesses or different colours are used. In one modification of this improvement
the shuttle boxes are raised or lowered, as required, by means of a disc which
actuates the levers connected to the shuttle boxes. The arrangement of this
modification is shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the disc is also shown separately
'

page_text: at Figure 4. To the outer edge of the disc h are bolted a number of
segmental pieces of metal i, which are made to project above the periphery of
the disc, forming a series of teeth upon its edge. The projecting parts of
these lifting segments i, are varied according to the height the shuttle boxes
are to be raised, and are so arranged as to bring each shuttle box in a line
with the shed in the required order or succession. The disc h is keyed to the
shaft of the loom, and to the shaft V is keyed a lever k the end of which
rests upon the periphery of the disc h. On each end of the shaft V is a
lever 1, the other end of which is fastened by a pin to the
of this rod is secured to
The frame n slides on the
lower end of the
the back of the
guides p, and is
vertical rod m. The upper end
frame n of the shuttle boxes o.
raised or lowered by the action of the rod m, the metal segments i being so
arranged on the disc h as to bring the shuttle boxes o opposite the shed in
the succession required. For example, if the loom is furnished with four
shuttle boxes on each side, as shown in the Drawings, the disc h would require
to be fitted with three of the metal lifting segments i, each varying in .the
length of its projecting part, so that when the lever rests on the periphery of
the disc h, the upper shuttle box will be in a line with the shed, and as the
end of the lever passes over the projecting portions of the segments i, tho
lever raises the rod m, which carrics with it the shuttle box frame, bringing
each shuttle box in. succession opposite the shed; therefore, according to the
arrangement of the segments i on the disc h, so will the shuttle boxes be
successively brought into action, and by this means wefts of varying thick-
nesses or different colours may be thrown into the fabric with the utmost
facility, thus placing at the command of the weaver a great variety of patterns
and effects without requiring the aid of the complicated mechanism hitherto
used for the purpose.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of my Invention; but what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part reciting Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery or apparatus
for varying the action of the pickers and shuttle boxes of looms, as herein-
before described.

page_text: Second, the application, and use of the lathe or slay actions of looms for
effecting the pick or traverse of the shuttles.
Third, the system or mode of arranging and constructing looms wherein
the picking sticks or levers are carried with or by the lathe or slay.
Fourth, the system or mode of obtaining two or more picks in succession
from one side of the loom, by means of the mechanical arrangements herein-
before described.
Fifth, the system or mode of actuating the shifting drop boxes of looms, by
means of which different wefts may be thrown across the shed, as desired, and
the fabric thereby varied in pattern or effect, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Wilson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of April, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-seven.
GEORGE WILSON. (L.S.)