Improvements in and connected with Swivel Power Looms.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1893-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Swivel Power Looms.
We, JONATHAN SMALE of Macclesfield in the County of Chester, Silk Manu-
facturer, and JOSEPH MOTTERSHEAD, of 201 Buxton Road Macclesfield Power
Loom 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:-
Our invention relates to that class of power-looms employed in weaving figured
fabrics, in which some part or parts of the design is or are produced by the aid of
swivel shuttles. As these auxiliary shuttles are employed in hand looms, it is easy
to produce the designs or elements of the designs exactly where they may be
required, since the swivel rack can be brought into the precise position by hand,
but in power looms, mechanism has to be employed for this purpose, and hitherto
it has been found that the swivel rack cannot in all cases be traversed from point
to point in sufficient time to repeat the pattern and that sufficient range of
adjustment cannot be obtained. By our improvements we obviate these difficulties,
and thus enable a power loom to be used in weaving all classes of China silks and
other figured fabrics of a similar character for the production of which swivel hand
looms are at present employed.
We will describe our said invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
in the various figures of which similar parts or details are denoted by similar
letters.
Figure 1 is a sectional side view, and
Figure 2 a partial back view of a loom having our improvements applied thereto.
Figure 3 is a sectional side view of part of the swivel shuttle motion: and
Figure 4 a plan of Figure 3, with the addition of the device for putting the
taking up motion out of gear.
Figure 5 is a side view of the motion employed by us to raise and lower the
swivel rack;
Figure 6 an end view of Figure 5; and
Figure 7 a detail of Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a plan of the swivel rack and reed cap;
Figure 9 a back view of the swivel rack;
Figure 10 a cross section of the same; and
Figure 11 a partial front view.
Figure 12 is an end view of the tappet shaft and its connection with the cam
shaft from which the swivel motions are derived.
Figure 13 shews details of the locking bar.
Figure 14 shews a side elevation of the cam governing the picking motion of the
swivel shuttles, and
Figure 15 a partial sectional side view shewing the motion for adjusting the
swivel rack to the right or to the left, and the weft fork stop motion.
Figure 16 shews in sectional elevation the motion for adjusting the swivel rack
in the reverse position to that represented by Figure 15.
Figure 17 is a detail view shewing the motion in action.
Figure 18 is a front elevation of the swivel rack adjusting and transversing
screw.
On the tappet shaft A there is fixed a spur pinion B, gearing with the wheel C
which has twice as many teeth as B and is freely mounted on the short shaft or
stud D, upon which also the two connected cams E F are also freely mounted.
The cams E F may be caused to rotate or not with the wheel C by means of any

page_text: .
At
suitable clutch, such for example as the locking shaft G, which is carried on the
sleeve H also mounted upon the stud D. This clutch motion is put into and
out of action by means of the slide I which is adjustably connected at one end
by the fork H' to the sleeve H, also shewn in cross section by Figure 2ª.
the other end, the slide I is notched to engage the detent J. Near this end of
the slide I there is also connected with it by an adjustable bolt, a bell-crank
lever K. The detent J and the lower limb of the bell crank lever are connected
respectively, through the cords J K', with the Jacquard machine by means of
which they are raised and lowered at the appropriate times. The cards of the
machine are cut so as to lift and lower the detent at every pick so long as the
ground is being woven, and to keep it down in engagement with the notch in
the slide I whilst the swivel shuttles are picking, and so also as to lift the cord K¹
when the swivel motion is put into operation and to lower it at the end of the
operation. At the commencement of the swivelling the cord K' is lifted, thus
traversing the slide I and causing the locking bar to engage the wheel C with the
cams EF and rotate them at one half of the speed of the tappet shaft. Meanwhile,
the detent J will have dropped into the notch where it remains and holds the
clutch up to its work until the swivelling is ended or the ground is to be woven,
whereupon the cord J' is lifted with the detent J and the cord K' is lowered,
permitting the spring L wound upon the stud D, to come into play and force the
clutch out of gear.
The spring L being in compression between the boss of
the wheel C and the sleeve H, normally tends to force and keep the clutch out
of action.
The means which we prefer to employ for the purpose of engaging and
disengaging the cams E F are illustrated by Figures 2, 12, and 13. In the web
of the wheel C or in lugs cast therein, a hole or holes is or are bored, through
which or one of which the locking bar G can pass to engage with the cam E. As
already described, the cams E and F are connected so that F is compelled to
participate in the motion of E. It is necessary that the motion of the cams should
commence at the precise moment required, and to ensure this and to prevent
failure, we arrange in the face of the cam a spring bolt having an inclined end,
as shewn by Figure 13, and a pair of lunettes cc. The locking bar is forced
forward just before it is timed to engage with and start the cams, and thus is
forced upon the inclined end of the bolt E¹ which is pushed backwards: As soon
as the locking bar has arrived at the exact position to start the cams, it has
travelled beyond the bolt which then shoots forward again, and holds the locking
bar between it and the lunette c, whilst the lunette e tends to prevent the bolt
being moved in the opposite direction.
There is mounted in the loom sides, parallel with the tappet shaft, a rocking
shaft N, Figures 1 and 2, and upon this shaft the vertical arm M is securely fixed.
This arm carries upon a projecting part, a friction bowl O, which is in contact with
the cam E. Consequently, the rotation of the cam will produce oscillatory motion
of the rocking shaft, upon which the two arms P P¹ are also fixed. The outer
ends of these arms, are connected by adjustable connections with the links QQ
and these with the vertical rods R R carried in suitable bracket guides T T t.
These arms links and connections are separately shewn in side elevation by
Figure 5, and in end elevation by Figure 6. Figure 7 is a plan of the
adjustable connection. To each of the rods R R there is attached one end of
a spiral spring S S¹ the other ends of which are connected to the brackets T. T
fixed upon the sword through which brackets the rods R R¹ pass. These
springs normally tend to pull the rods upwards. The cams obviously give
motion to the rods in the downward direction only, the return motion being
effected by the springs controlled by the contour of the cam. The connection
of the spring to the rods may be effected through hooks or the like formed upon
the collars U U fixed upon the rods. Upon the bottom of each rod there is a
stop which may be in the form of a fast collar V V and which limit the upward
motion of the rods by coming into contact with the under sides of the guide

page_text: brackets tt. The horizontal bar W is fixed upon the two rods to prevent their
rotation.
A second arm M is mounted freely upon the rocking shaft, so that they may
move independently, and is provided with a friction bowl O' in contact with the
cam F. A projection X is adjustably fixed in a vertical slot of the arm M¹ and
bears upon a pin X adjustably mounted in the bent arm Y, secured upon the lower
end of the vertical rod Y which is carried in suitable bearings a a'. The rod is
held in vertical position by a fast collar b, and has fixed upon its upper end the
slotted arm . These details are separately shewn in side and end elevations
respectively, by Figures 3 and 4.
When the picking of the ground weft is stopped and it is necessary to put the
weft fork stop motion out of action, the long arm is lifted by the bracket r
adjustably fixed to the bell crank lever K, which and the action of which have
already been described. The weft fork motion consequently remains out of action
during the swivelling.
The swivel rack is connected with the vertically reciprocating rods R R¹ by
the arms dd' and the swivel rack is put into the working position by the down-
ward stroke of these rods already described. At the upper end of the rod R,
there is fixed the short arm d, Figures 2 and 8 carrying at right angles to d and
to R a pine which passes through a suitable bearing in the bracket f, secured
upon the swivel rack. A somewhat similar arrangement is provided at the
opposite end of the swivel rack, only, instead of the pin e, we use the traversing
screw e¹ which engages in a nut formed in the bracket fixed upon the swivel
rack. Parallel with d and integral therewith there is a branch d² which contains
a bearing for a turned down part of the traversing screw e which thus has
bearings in d and d³ respectively. On this turned down part of the screw,
between the two bearings there is fixed a notched wheel g which is in effect a
modified star or ratchet wheel, and which has preferably four teeth, as shewn by
Figures 8, 15, 16, 17, and 18. It will be obvious from the construction described
and illustrated, that if the screw e¹ be rotated in one direction or the other, the
swivel rack will be traversed to the right or to the left, to a distance determined
by the pitch of the screw and the amount of angular motion given to it. The
amount of the angular motion and its direction are determined by the design and
controlled by the cards of the Jacquard machine.
For the purpose of imparting the rotary motion to the screw and therefore
longitudinal motion to the swivel rack, we employ two fingers and pivoted at j
and connected at one end to the Jacquard machine by the cords. The working
parts of the fingers are shaped to engage with the teeth of the wheel y so that when
this wheel partakes in the motion of the lathe, it will be rotated through a quarter
turn for each double stroke. One of the fingers is shaped to pull and the other to
push the teeth, so that when the finger i is lowered, and engages with the wheel, the
swivel rack is moved to the left, and when the finger i is lowered, the rack is moved
to the right. It is evident that only one of the fingers must engage with the wheel
at the same time.
This motion is employed for the purpose of moving the swivel rack from the
position occupied by it in weaving one set of figures to that required for the next
set, and it will be clear that within the limits of ordinary requirements, the swivel
rack may be successively moved to the right or to the left as many times as may be
desired. In existing applications of swivel racks to power looms it has been
necessary to move the rack alternately to the right and to the left through a fixed
distance so that only designs arranged geometrically could be produced, and the
use of power swivel looms has been limited to the production of such designs. Now
according to our invention, it will be easy in almost every case to traverse the
swivel rack from any one position to any other position during a very few picks of
ground weft. Let it be supposed for example, that the traversing screw has a
pitch of half an inch, and it will follow that the swivel rack will be moved through
the distance of one inch in eight picks there being four teeth on the wheel g. If we

page_text: substitute a traversing screw of one third of an inch pitch, the same distance will be
traversed in twelve picks, and so on for other pitches of screw. We may, instead of
mounting the wheel 9 directly upon the traversing screw, mount it upon a shaft or
pin parallel therewith and drive the screw therefrom by change gearing, by means
of which the screw may be geared up or down as may be necessary. It will
generally be found however that it will be sufficient to mount the wheel directly
upon the traversing screw.
The end wise motion of the shuttle drivers is effected through the rod 1,
adjustably connected at one end to the rod on the shaft Y', the operation of
which has already been described. At the other, end, the rod is connected to the
carriage m by the pin . The motion of the drivers in one direction is effected by
the direct action of the cam, and in the other by that of the spring u, Figures
and 4, fixed at one end to the loom side, and at the other to the pin X. The
carriage m together with the similar carriage m' is mounted upon the two parallel
bars n n'. These bars are connected at each end by cross pieces o o¹ secured to the
swivel rack by brackets p p. A small toothed rack q is fixed upon the
carriage m'. In the teeth of this rack the detent engages, and is normally kept
in engagement by the spring y. A cord is attached to the detent and to the
Jacquard machine so that the detent may be engaged and disengaged as may be
determined by the cards. The rack being fixed upon the carriage m and the
detent upon the carriage m the distance between these two carriages may be
maintained at intervals governed by the pitch of the rack.
The shuttle drivers k¹ in addition to their end wise motion, have a rising and
falling motion independent of the motion of the swivel rack. Upon each of the
drivers there is fixed the usual metallic semi-loop s s¹ with which the U-shaped
plate engages. This actuates the drivers in the same way as the weaver's fingers
in the hand loom swivel rack. In other respects the swivel rack and shuttles are
arranged and operated as in the hand loom.
Assuming the carriages m m to be in the relative positions indicated by
Figures 8 and 9, and that a set of figures has just been produced in the cloth by
the swivel shuttles. It is now necessary to move the swivel rack into the position
required for the next set of figures, and for this purpose the detent is lifted
through the cord »' by the Jacquard machine. The finger i is then lowered by the
Jacquard machine into engagement with the wheel g during as many strokes of the
lathe as may be required to bring the swivel rack into the position for the next set
of figures, upon reaching which, the finger is lifted and the detent is again
lowered into engagement with the rack which is thus locked in place. The rod
then comes into action as hereinbefore described and produces the necessary
reciprocal motion of the swivel shuttles to pick in the swivel wefts. The set of
figures being completed, the detent is again lifted to release the rack, the finger i¹
is lowered into engagement with the wheel which is thereby rotated in the
reverse direction and the swivel rack is restored to the original position. It.will be
understood that before swivelling the swivel rack is lowered and after swivelling it
is raised, as already set forth.
Whilst the swivel shuttle wefts are being inserted we disengage the take up
motion by the action of the vertical arm M¹ to which there is pivoted the link v
pinned at the other end to the pendulum link v pivoted at its upper end to the loom
side Figure 1. The pivot ² connecting the links vis prolonged and comes under
the link w carrying the pawl w' which drives the ratchet wheel of the take up
motion. When the vertical arm M' is moved to the right by the cam F, the pin
lifts the link w and thus disengages the pawl from the ratchet and stops the take up
notion.
The details of construction herein before described and illustrated by the drawings
may in many respects be materially modified without departing from our invention.
Thus, instead of employing cams acting by their peripheries we may form them in
a well known, manner with grooves in their faces in which the friction bowls
engage, and thus dispense with the use of springs to ensure the return motion of the

page_text: parts operated by the cams. Similar modifications may also be made, as will be
quite obvious with respect to other details.
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-
1. In swivel power looms, the combination and arrangement with a cam put into
and out of action by the Jacquard machine, of transmitting devices imparting end-
wise motion to the swivel shuttles, constructed and operated substantially as
hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In swivel power looms, the combination and arrangement with a cam put into
and out of action by the Jacquard machine of transmitting devices imparting a rising
and falling motion to the swivel rack, constructed and operated substantially as
hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
3. In swivel power looms, the combination and arrangement with the swivel
rack of a traversing screw and notched wheel or its equivalent, and two driving
fingers either of which is capable of being engaged with the notched wheel by the
Jacquard machine, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and
as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
4. In a swivel power loom, the combination and arrangement with a swivel rack
of a traversing screw and notched wheel or its equivalent, two driving fingers either
of which is capable of being engaged with the notched wheel by the Jacquard
machine, a nut on the traversing screw connected with the swivel rack, and two
carriages capable of movement on the swivel rack, substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
5. In a swivel power loom, the combination and arrangement with devices for
imparting endwise motion to the swivel shuttles, of the rod and the two
carriages m m' adjustably connected by means of a toothed rack on one carriage
substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
T
6. In a swivel power loom, the combination and arrangement with a carriage m¹
carrying a toothed rack of a second carriage m carrying a detent capable of
engaging with the toothed rack and of being moved into and out of gear with
the rack by the Jacquard machine, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated 04th day of July AD 1892
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicants.