Improvements in Shedding Mechanism for Looms.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Shedding Mechanism for Looms.
I, ELMER GATES, of the corner of Connecticut Avenue and Chevy Chase
Circle, in the Town of Chevy Chase, County of Montgomery, and State of
Maryland, United States of America, Scientist, 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 :-
Generally stated it is the object of my invention to substitute for the cumbrous,
heavy, and expensive, mechanism now employed in the construction and operation
of looms electrically actuated appliances for performing the functions of the parts
replaced.
In another application for English Letters Patent executed and filed
contemporaneously with this, I have shown. described and claimed electrically
actuated mechanism of a character invented by me and designed to replace the
heddles and heddle harness ordinarily heretofore employed in looms, the mechanism
as described in said application being especially designed to effect the regular
ordinary shedding of the warp threads.
My invention aims to provide electrically actuated mechanism by which operative
parts of a loom, not always driven in an invariable order or sequence, may be
driven or operated in any desired sequence, and aims specifically to provide in
connection with electrically actuated warp thread shedding appliances of the
generic type referred to in my said application, devices by which the several warp
threads are in the shedding operation divided irregularly, that is to say in groups,
the individual threads of which vary in predetermined sequences, so as to produce
selected patterns in the fabric manufactured, operating to this end to the same
effect as the well-known Jacquard mechanism.
In the accompanying drawings I show, and herein I describe a good form of a
convenient embodiment of my invention, the particular subject-matter claimed as
novel being hereinafter definitely specified.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a pattern sheet and its operative
mechanism.
Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the pattern sheet, its winding and unwinding
rolls and guide rolls, the mechanism by which its travel is occasioned, and the
terminals of the warp thread manipulating circuits.
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the series of sets of solenoids and the system
of wiring employed in connection therewith.
Figure 4 is a view of a portion of a pattern sheet and of two of the sets of
solenoids and their actuating circuits.
Figures 5 and 6 are views in detail of cores and their lingo extensions.
Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the electro magnet which cecasions the
travel of the pattern sheet and of the circuit wires employed in connection
therewith.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
In carrying my invention into practice in the method which I now deem best
adapted for the purpose, I provide a series, designated 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, &c., of sets of
coils or solenoids, preferably, corresponding by sets in number with the number
of warp threads to be operated upon, and in connection with each set of coils a
core adapted to be moved by the magnetic action of said coils, and equip each core

page_text: with what I term a lingo extension provided with an eye adapted to carry or
engage with one of the warp threads, and I further provide automatic means
of a novel character for throwing the individual coils of the sets into and out of
circuit to effect any desired grouping of the threads in their shedding.
Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, e, e', are a pair of independent coils or
solenoids mounted conveniently and preferably upon the respective extremities of
a hollow spool, E, and independently connected with a source of energy so as to
be adapted to be thrown alternately into and out of circuit.
F is a core of suitable magnetizable material mounted free for reciprocation
within the bore of the spool, and provided with an extension, which I term the
core or lingo extension, FX, of brass, or other suitable non-magnetizable material,
extending a convenient distance beyond the extremity of the spool, E, and provided
with an eye, f, adapted to engage with one of the warp threads.
The lower portion of the extension, FX, is provided with a collar, f', or other
device adapted to engage one end of a spiral spring, f, surrounding said
extension and engaged as to its other end with the adjacent end of the spool, E,
which spring serves to maintain the core normally in a position of balance midway
between the respective centres of the two solenoids.
As will be readily understood by those familiar with electric science, when one
of the coils or solenoids of a set is thrown into circuit or energized while the
other remains out of circuit, the magnetic influence of the first-named coil will
act upon the core and occasion its longitudinal movement to a position in which its
centre coincides with the centre of the energized solenoid, while when the coil
first named is cut out and the other thrown into circuit the last named coil will
act upon the core and occasion its longitudinal movement in the opposite
direction to a position in which its centre coincides with the centre of the second
named core.
Referring now to the diagrammatic illustration of a possible system of connection
and wiring of the parts embodying my invention contained in said Figure 4,
A indicates a dynamo and A' and A² the two divisions of the main conductors
leading therefrom.
In said diagrammatic illustration of Figure 4 but two of the seis of coils,
arbitrarily assumed to be "4" and "5" of the whole series shown in Figure 3 and
employed in a complete loom, are illustrated.
A is a terminal, being a straight bar, assumed to be horizontal, in circuit
with the main conductor A'. A branch a', of the main conductor, A2, constitutes,
or is in circuit with, the coil or solenoid, e, of the set "4" and extends to a point
in the vicinity of and just above the terminal, A4, where it is equipped with
a terminal, in the nature of a brush, c, which tends to rest upon said terminal, A.
A branch, 4, of the main conductor, A³, constitutes or is in circuit with the coil
or solenoid, el, of the set "4," and extends to a point in the vicinity of and just
above the terminal, A*, where it is equipped with a terminal, in the nature of a
brush, e, which tends to rest upon said terminal A*.
A branch, a³, of the conductor, A2, constitutes or is in circuit with the coil or
solenoid e of the set "5" and extends to a point in the vicinity of and just above
the terminal, A*, where it is equipped with a terminal in the nature of a brush, c³,
which tends to rest upon said terminal, A*.
A branch,, of the conductor, A, constitutes or is in circuit with the coil or
solenoid, e', of the set "5," and extends to a point in the vicinity of and just above
the terminal, A*, where it is equipped with a terminal, e, in the nature of a brush,
which tends to rest upon the terminal, A.
The branch conductors, a, b, a, b, are hereinafter referred to as solenoid
branch conductors.
As will now be understood from a study of the diagram of Figure 4 in connection
with the description just given, when the brush, c, is in contact with the
terminal, A, the circuit of the solenoid branch conductor, a', will be closed and
the core associated with the set of solenoids "4" will, the brush, c', being assumed

page_text: N is an armature provided with a pin, N₁, extending through the transverse
frame of the magnet and equipped at its protruding extremity with a pawl, n¹,
which engages with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, m*.
n is a collar mounted upon said pin and n³ is a spiral push spring surrounding
said pin and bearing respectively against said collar and the adjacent framework
of the magnet, and tending to carry the armature away from the magnet, being
limited, however, in such movement by the contact of the rear end of the pawl,
pivotally mounted upon the pin, N', with the frame of the magnet.
The line wire, o, is intermediate of the magnet and the dynamo, carried to a
point in the vicinity of the shuttle race, Figure 7, or in the path of a moving part
of the loom, where it is parted and provided with a pair of terininals, ox, ox, upon
one of which is mounted a spring tongue, o, adapted, when it rests upon the other
terminal, to close the circuit, but which spring tongue is normally open and in
position to extend into the path of the shuttle, (or other part), so that each time
the shuttle (or other part) returns to the side of the loom where said switch is
situated the circuit will be momentarily closed.
When the circuit is thus closed, as will be understood, the magnet will be
energized and attract the armature, N*, with the result that the movement of the
armature will, through the pin and pawl, be transmitted to the ratchet wheel, m*,
and occasion the movement of the said ratchet wheel one tooth, with the further
result that the corresponding rotation of the drumm M, will draw the pattern sheet
along and carry a new set of conducting spaces into registry with the terminals of
the solenoid wires.
It will, of course, be understood that any desired form of connection between
the cores and the heddle eyes or equivalent devices which engage the warp threads
may be resorted to, and said connection may either be direct, as shown in Figure 4,
or otherwise,
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:
1. In a loom, in combination, a series of warp thread eyes, a series of electrically
actuated devices connected with said eyes, a dynamo or source of electric energy
having a main conductor, one division of which is provided with branches in
circuit with said electrically-actuated devices, and the other of which is provided
with a common terminal, terminals in circuit with said branches adapted to make
contact with the common terminal, a sheet of non-conducting material, provided
with conducting spaces, interposed between said terminals and the common terminal,
and electrically actuated means controlled by a moving part of the loom, for
occasioning the travel of said sheet, substantially as set forth.
2. In a loom, in combination, a pattern sheet embodying conducting spaces or
openings, a roll in contact with said sheet, electrically actuated mechanism adapted
to occasion the rotation of said roll, a conducting wire leading to said mechanism
and equipped with a switch adapted to be operated by a moving part of the loom,
substantially as set forth.
3. In a loom, in combination, a sheet adapted to be moved longitudinally, rolls
upon which said sheet travels, a drum adapted to positively engage with said sheet,
a magnet provided with an armature, mechanism connective of said armature and
drum, a dynamo, wires leading from said dynamo to said magnet, a switch mounted
on said wire and arranged in the path of so as to be operated by a moving member
of the loom, substantially as set forth.
4. In a loom, in combination, a sheet adapted to be moved longitudinally, rolls
upon which said sheet travels, a drum adapted to positively engage said sheet, a
magnet provided with an armature, a dynamo, wires leading from said dynamo to
said magnet, a switch mounted on said wire and arranged in the path of so as to
be operated by a moving member of the loom, a toothed wheel mounted on said
drum, a pin connected to said armature, a pawl connected to said pin and engaging

page_text: out of contact with said terminal, A*, be drawn to a position in which its centre
coincides with the centre of the solenoid, e, or vice versa, and it will be understood
that the carrying of said core to or maintaining it in a given position with respect
to its set of solenoids is only a matter of placing one of the solenoid branch con-
ductors, a, b, in, and the other out, of circuit with the terminal, A*, and, this
being true, not only of the sets of solenoids designated "4" and "5" shown in.
Figure 6, but of all the sets employed in a full-sized loom, if said solenoid branch
conductors are placed in and held out of contact with the terminal, A*, in a pre-
determined sequence a correspondent shedding of the warp threads will be effected
and consequently a correspondent pattern produced in the resultant fabric.
G, Figures 1, 2, and 4, is a sheet or film of any suitable non-conducting material,
such as paper, interposed between the terminal, A*, and the terminals of the
solenoid branch conductors, and adapted to normally maintain the terminals of the
solenoid branch conductors out of circuit with said terminal, A*.
This sheet, which 1 term the pattern sheet, is caused to travel at a predetermined
speed past said terminals, and is, to permit of the prearranged contact of the
terminals of the solenoid branch conductors with said terminal, A*, provided with
apertures, g, as shown in Figure 1, which apertures, in the travel of the sheet,
register with the terminals of the solenoid branch conductors, so that said terminals
make contact through said openings with the terminal, A*.
As an alternative arrangement, the pattern sheet. may, in lieu of said apertures,
be provided with conducting spaces designated, o*, in Figure 4, being spaces
saturated with a suitable conducting solution, which render them conductive.
Hereinafter the term spaces refers both to the apertures, g, and the saturated
regions, g*.
The series of sets of coils or solenoids represented in the diagram of Figure 3
are supposed to represent the complete number requisite in the operation of a
working loom, and are to be each provided with a core. Connections between said.
cores and the warp threads of the loom, are to be provided, of such form and
arrangement, as may be dictated by the general arrangement of the mechanism of
the loom, and as convenience of manufacture may dictate, and while the arrange-
ment shown in Figures 4 and 5, and herein before explained in detail is one well
adapted for the purpose, my invention is not to be considered as restricted to said
arrangement.
Thus, for example, instead of pendent brushes, c, d, e, c³, which constitute the
terminals of the wires, a, b, a, 66, of the sets "4" and "5" of Figure 4, the
arrangement shown in Figure 2 may be resorted to, in which a pair of non-
conducting supports H, I, extend in parallelism over and transversely with respect
to the direction of travel of the pattern sheet, and a series of spring wires, J,
mounted upon the support. H, and a corresponding series, K, mounted upon the
support, I, project as to their free extremities to a position midway between the
two supports and are given such set as cause them to bear or tread upon the pattern
sheet, said wires being, to minimize wear of the sheet, bent to form eyes at their
free extremities, and the individual members of the series, K, of which wires are
respectively connected one to each of the solenoid branch conductors of the upper
solenoids of the sets shown in Figure 3, while the members of the series, J, are
respectively connected one to each of the solenoid branch conductors of the lower
solenoids of said sets.
As a means for occasioning the predetermined travel of the pattern sheet in
correspondence with the speed of operation of the loom, I resort to the following
devices. The sheet is led from the feed roll, L, Figure 2, over guide rolls L, L,
and a drum, M, to the winding roll, L*.
The drum, M, is provided at its respective extremities with circular series of
sprockets, m, which take into corresponding apertures in the respective margins of
the pattern sheet, and is also provided at one end with a ratchet wheel, m*.
N is a borse-shoe magnet mounted in the vicinity of the drum, M, and in circuit
through the line wires, o, with the dynamo.
:

page_text: said toothed wheel, and a spring which tends to carry the armature away from the
toothed wheel, substantially as set forth.
5. In a loom, in combination, a sheet adapted to be moved longitudinally, rolls
upon which said sheet travels, a drum adapted to positively engage with said sheet,
a magnet provided with an armature, mechanism connective of said armature and
drum, a dynamo, wires leading from said dynamo to said magnet, a normally open
switch mounted on said wires and arranged in the path of so as to be encountered
by the shuttle, substantially as set forth.
6. In a loom, in combination, a dynamo, two main conductors leading from said
dynamo, a series of sets of solenoids, each set consisting of two, a series of
branches from one of the main conductors, two of which branches lead to and are
so connected with each set of solenoids as to place the individual solenoids of each
set in multiple circuit, terminals mounted upon each of said branches, which
terminals are located in proximity to and adapted to make contact with the other
of the main conductors, a sheet of non-conducting material, provided with
conducting spaces, interposed between said terminals and said second branch,
cores adapted to be reciprocated by said solenoids, and heddle eyes connected with
said cores, substantially as set forth.
7. In a loom, in combination, a dynamo, two main conductors leading from said
dynamo, a series of sets of solenoids, each set consisting of two, a series of
branches leading from one of the main conductors, two of which lead to and are
so connected with each set of solenoids as to place the individual solenoids of
each set in multiple circuit, terminals mounted upon each of said branches, which
terminals are located in proximity to and adapted to make contact with the other
branch of the main conductor, a sheet of non-conducting material provided with
conducting spaces interposed between said terminals and said second branch, cores
adapted to be reciprocated by said solenoids, heddle eyes connected with said cores,
and electrically actuated mechanism for occasioning the movement of the sheet,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 11th day of August 1896
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.