Improvements in and connected with Healds employed in Looms for Weaving.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Dec., 1891-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Healds employed in Looms
for Weaving.
We, FRED LISTER, of Park Gate, Berry Brow, near Huddersfield, Yorkshire,
Weaver, JAMES MANN RODGERS, of Armitage Bridge, near Huddersfield, afore-
said, Mechanic, SAM CROSLAND, of Berry Brow, aforesaid, Overlooker, and LORD
BANNISTER of Netherton, near Huddersfield, aforesaid, Manager do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention refers to healds composed of twisted wires and which are at
present provided with loops at each end and passed over flat rods or plates
supported by certain end pieces which connect the heald shafts together, such said
rods or plates being further supported between the ends of the shafts by means of
hooks secured to the shafts at short distances apart. These hooks are objectionable,
because, when the number of warp threads to the inch is increased or diminished,
the lateral position of the vertical wires is altered, which in most cases renders it
necessary to.transfer or to pass one or more wires to the opposite side of the hooks,
this being done by removing the plate from the hook concerned, and then sliding
the wire or wires to the other side thereof after which the plate is put back into
the hook.
The object of our invention is to avoid this inconvenience and to so construct and
arrange the wire healds and the shafts that the said healds shall be free to move
laterally in either direction and to any extent according as the distribution of the
warp determines.
In order to carry out our invention we dispense with the loops at each end of
the wires and in lieu thereof form suitable looks or heads thereon. The horizontal
shafts may be composed of metal, wood or other suitable material. When metal is
employed we prefer to use a thin plate the length of the shaft required and
sufficiently wide to permit of its being bent to the size and shape of an ordinary
shaft. The manner in which the said plate is bent leaves a central opening or
recess, whilst the two edges of the said plate overlap each other, a small space
being left between. A similar groove and overlapping plate may be formed in
wood shafts, or a piece of metal bent as set forth may be attached to the ordinary
wood shafts.
Each wire heald is hooked onto the edges of the grooves or recesses and can be
freely moved from one end of the shaft to the other, the overlapping portions
preventing accidental displacement of the wires. Suitable slots may be formed in
the shafts or metal bars to admit the insertion of the looks into the grooves or
recesses without having to remove the end pieces connecting the shafts together.
When the wires are provided with heads instead of hooks, a longitudinal groove
or opening and slit, are formed in the under or upper edges respectively of the top
and bottom shafts, into which grooves the heads are inserted, the wires passing
through the slits in which they are free to move.
By the method and means above set forth we obtain rigid supports for the wire
healds having no obstructions, throughout their length to the free and independent
movement of the healds, which are easily drawn close together or moved further
apart by the warp as determined by its distribution through the reed. The damage
done to the shafts by the present construction and method of supporting the healds
is also prevented.
Wires which are damaged or useless can be readily removed and replaced by
new ones without disturbing the remainder..
Deted his al
Mach 1901
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Healds employed in Looms
for Weaving.
We, FRED LISTER, of Park Gate Berry Brow, near Huddersfield, Yorkshire,
Weaver, JAMES MANN RODGERS, of Armitage Bridge, near Huddersfield, afore-
said, Mechanic, SAM CROSLAND of Berry Brow, aforesaid, Overlooker, and LORD
BANNISTER of Netherton, near Huddersfield, aforesaid, Manager, 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 refers to wire healds which are provided with loops at each end
and are passed over flat rods or plates supported by certain vertical end pieces
which connect the heald shafts together such said rods or plates being further
supported between the ends of the shafts and at short distances apart by means of
hooks secured to the shafts. These supporting hooks are objectionable, because,
when the number of warp threads to the inch is increased or diminished, the lateral
position of the vertical wires is altered which in most cases renders it necessary to
transfer or to pass one or more wires over to the opposite sides of the hooks and
this can only be done by removing the plate from the hook concerned and then
sliding the wire or wires to the other side thereof after which the plate is put back
into the hook.
The object of our invention is to avoid this trouble or inconvenience and to so
construct and arrange the wire healds and the shafts that the said healds shall be
free to move laterally in either direction and to any extent according as the
distribution of the warp determines.
In order to carry out our invention we dispense with the loops at each end of the
wires, and in lieu thereof form suitable hooks thereon. The horizontal shafts may
be composed of metal, or other suitable material. When metal is employed we
prefer to use a thin plate the length of the shaft required and sufficiently wide to
permit of its being bent to the required size and shape. The manner in which the
said plate is bent leaves a central opening or recess, whilst the two edges of
the said plate overlap each other so as to forin a small space or groove.
Each wire heald is hooked on to the edge of the plate or bar and can be freely
moved from one end of the shaft to the other, the overlapping portions preventing
accidental displacement of the wires. Suitable slots may be formed in the shafts or
metal bars to admit the insertion of the hooks on to the edge of the plate or bar
without having to remove the vertical end pieces connecting the shafts together.
Such being the nature and object of our invention we will now make reference
to the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein
Fig. represents what is commonly called a wire heald constructed according to
the present or old system, wherein a represents the wire healds formed at each end
with a closed loop and which are slided endwise on to the supporting bars or
rods c such bars or reds being connected to vertical rods d at each end of the heald
shafts e but along their length the said rods c are supported at suitable distances
apart by hooks which are employed to keep the said bars rigid. To the use of
these bars and hooks f there are many objections because when the number of warp
threads per inch is altered cither more or less, it frequently happens that some of
the wire healds must be passed over the hooks f and to do this, the bars c have to
be removed, which causes a loss of time and is a source of trouble to the tuner or
weaver and in many cases the wires on one side are pushed close against the hooks
and those on the other side are drawn away or spread out by the warp or lateral
movement of the healds or by other causes which leaves a space between those on
one side and those on the other side of the hooks by reason of which chafing or
rubbing of the warp takes place. To prevent the evils complained of, we form at 5
each end of the wire healds a hook instead of a loop as formerly, shewn on an
с

page_text: enlarged scale in Fig. 5 wherein a twisted wire heald and an untwisted tempered
wire heald are shewn either of which said constructions are equally adapted for the
purposes of our invention. Instead of employing horizontal bars as shewn in
Fig. we use a bent bar composed of metal or other material as shewn at Fig. 3
and marked two of such bars being used as shewn at Fig. 2 and they are joined
at each end by vertical bars d. The wire healds are hooked on to the lip or edge i
of the said bent bars h and for the sake of convenience in placing the hooked wires
into their positions, we formn a slit or an opening at at one or both ends of the
said bars and in order to prevent the vertical hooked wires from getting out of
their positions, we employ a hinged locking bark which can be turned down into
the opening as shewn in Fig. 4. The overlapping edge m of bent shaft prevents
displacement of the hooks or wire healds. By the employment of the bent bar h
where the edges overlap cach other as shewn, and of the vertical hooked wires
used in the manner herein described said wires are supported without any
obstruction throughout the whole length of the said horizontal bars, consequently
we obtain free and uninterrupted lateral movements of the said vertical wires, and
they can be easily drawn closer together or moved further apart to suit the varying
distribution of warp threads; the damage done to the shafts by the present
construction and method of supporting the healds is also avoided.
Our invention also permits damaged or useless wires to be readily removed and
new ones replacel. The loom will also weave straighter pieces and there will be
less "ends down, whilst a considerable saving of time in starting a warp will also
be effected.
We do not confine ourselves to the precise shape or configuration of the bent
metal shafts or to the formation of the same out of one piece of metal as the shape
may be varied and the shafts constructed of two pieces of metal without departing
from the nature of our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
Firstly. The construction of the heald shafts substantially as shewn in Fig. 3
and employed in the manner and for purposes herein described.
Secondly. The construction of a twisted or untwisted wire heald having a hook
formed at each end in manner substantially as herein shewn and described.
Thirdly. In healds or harness employed in looms for weaving, the use of a bent
bar as shewn in Fig. 3, in combination with hooked vertical wires, constructed and
arranged in the manner substantially as herein shewn and described.
Fourthly. In healds or harness employed in looms for weaving, the use of the
overlapping shaft formed with recesses for the insertion of the heald wires as
described and shewn herein.
Lastly. In healds or harness having overlapping heald shafts and recessed ends
for the insertion of the wire heald, the combination therewith of the locking bar k
for purposes herein shewn and described.
Dated this 21st day of December 1891.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Agents.