IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Andrew Muir, of Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, Machinist, and James McIlwham, of the same
Place, Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR
WEAVING."
Sealed the 8th August 1856, and dated the 18th June 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Muir and James
McIlwham at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 18th June 1856.
We, MATTHEW. ANDREW MUIR, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Machinist, and JAMES MILWIAM, of the same Place, Machinist, do
hereby declare the nature of our said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS
FOR WEAVING," to be as follows,, that is, to say:
This Invention relates, in some. respects, to an Invention for which British
Letters Patent for "Improvements in check and fancy weaving" were
granted to Mr. Muir, on or about the Fifth day of December, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-three, also to an Invention for which British Letters
Patent for "Improvements in weaving" were granted to Mr. Muir, on or
about the Twenty-third day of January, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
four, and consists of a variable or differentially acting drop box or pattern
A

page_text: working movement for looms intended to weave checks, and other more or less
ornamental fabrics. The entire regulation of the pattern working movements
is derived from a "barrel" or figuring cylinder, so applied and arranged in
connection with other mechanical movements, so as to afford the manufacturer
a wide range of variable or differential action, with the use of a small barrel,
whilst the weaver bas the most complete command over bis machinery.
Unlike Mr. Muir's previous arrangements, the whole of the pattern-governing
mechanism, as affects the drop-box action, is placed outside the loom framing.
The ordinary tappet shaft for the heddle action has upon its extreme end,
outside the framing over which it projects, a triple or multiform stepped cam,
having different dimensions of eccentricity, governing a corresponding series of
heavy ended or weighted levers capable of oscillation side by side in an open
frame, forming part of a great lever, which acts as the shifter of the shuttle
drop box. Alongside this cam, on the same shaft, is a disc carrying a stud for
working a long lever, which extends forward to the front of the loot, and
works a double ratchet catch arrangement in connection with the pattern
barrel. The pattern barrel is pierced with holes running spirally round from
end to end, and it runs loose in bearings near the floor at the front left hand
corner of the loom framing. The duplex ratchet catch arrangement is so
contrived that one of the catches gears with a ratchet wheel fast on the end
of the barrel, whilst the other similarly governs a small ratchet wheel fast on
the end of a screw spindle running parallel with the barrel, and carrying at its
opposite end a small toothed pinion in gear with a spur wheel on that end of
the barrel. The disc ou the tappet shaft also actuates the upper end of a
locking lever, the lower end of which locks into detent notches on the segmental
face of a lever oscillating freely on a stud in the loom frame, the boss of which
lever carries a double lever, having one end jointed to the bottom end of the
drop box rod, the upper end of which rod is attached to the drop box; the
other end of the duplex lever is jointed to the open frame before referred to as
carrying the set of heavy ended levers, which levers are fitted at one end with
antifriction pullies coming within the line of action of the stepped cam. The
frame is slotted longitudinally to receive a transverse traversing piece, contrived
to come on or off the path of the heavy ended levers. This traverse piece is
acted upon by a short lover having an elongated top piece, against which the
lower end of the pendant nut lever from the screw spindle of the barrel action
bears. The central portion of the nut lever has a projection bearing against
whatever pattern action pins may be disposed in the ball of the barrel. A
second broad-headed lever is also set loose upon a stud in the floor, and

page_text: made to bear against the back of the pendant nut lever, springs being
attached for the purpose. The rod which connects the traverse slide of the.
open cam lever frame with the barrel action, has upon it a lateral stud,.
governing a pin on the lower end of a lever, set loose on a stud in the loom
framing, the upper end of this lever having a catch face to gear with stepped
notches on the outer end of the open lever frame to form a detent stop holder.
The open lever frame is balanced against the weight of the drop box, and a
spiral spring is attached to improve the action. With this apparatus the
regular working of the loom causes the drop box to be raised or lowered, so as
to bring any required shuttle into play, by reason of there being three or more
gradations of lengths of pins in the pattern barrel, and the traversing piece of
the open lever frame is thus shifted to a greater or less extent, in accordance
with the particular pin in the barrel which acts against the pendant nut lever.
The levers in the open frame for the cam action are of graduated lengths, so
that just as the traverse piece is shifted over one, two, or more of them, to
hold them down at their weighted ends, just so is the drop box elevated to a
greater or lesser height, the drop box being fitted with a spring to give it a
constant tendency to rise against the cam movement. In patterns where the
back and forward action of the barrel with the same nut lever fulfils all the
necessary conditions of the figure, all that is necessary is to insert a long
reversing pin at the required point in the barrel. As the barrel rotates, this
long pin comes in contact with a short traverse lever set on a cranked rod
carrying a weighted tumbler; the tumbler has a cranked lever passing to
the ratchet catches of the barrel, so that each time the pin comes round it
reverses the direction of rotation of the barrel. This tumbler arrangement
answers for giving the weaver an easy means of letting back his warp, as may.
be required in weaving; it also answers for enabling the loom to work for a
short time without the revolution of the barrel. When a pattern is to be
worked which will not admit of this simple action of the barrel in reversing,
two separate nut levers are fitted up in connection with the traversing screw
spindle, one only of these levers being actually workable at one time, whilst
the other is locked back. These levers are disposed for operating over separate
sections of the barrel, and when one has performed its allotted share of the
figuring work it is disengaged and the other completes it.
This Invention relates also to an arrangement for effecting a variable
"take up" of the woven cloth in looms of various kinds, by which arrange-
ment provision is made for beating up certain weft shots or threads harder
than others, so as to produce a closer appearance in the woven fabric. This
effect is accomplished by connecting the drop or shifting shuttle box with the

page_text: ratchet action of the take up, in such manner, that when any predetermined
shuttle comes into action, a greater or smaller amount of take-up is effected,
as may be originally designed. Hence, the weft thrown in at such time will
be closer or more open in the piece, just as the case may be. The ratchet
wheel of the take-up, when so fitted and worked, is of a comparatively fine
pitch, so that an extremely flexible take-up power is secured, or, in other
words, so that the extent of take-up may range between wide limits.
A ratchet wheel with a series of catches of different lengths may also
be used for effecting the same end, of minuto subdivision of shift.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Matthew Andrew Muir and James Mollwham in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 18th December 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, MATTHEW
ANDREW MUIR, of Glasgow, in tho County of Lanark, North Britain,
Machinist, and JAMES MILWHAM, of the same Place, Machinist, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of Junc, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Пer heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Matthew Andrew Muir and James McIlwham, Iler special license that we,
the said Matthew Andrew Muir and James McIlwham, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Matthew Andrew
Muir and James McIlwham, our executors, administrators, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," upon the condition (amongst others) that
we, the said Matthew Andrew Muir and James McIlwham, by an instru-
ment in writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of
one of us, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Matthew Andrew Muir and James
McIlwham, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained 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:-
Our said Invention relates, in some respects, to an Invention for which
British Letters Patent for "Improvements in check and fancy weaving"
were granted to the said Matthew Andrew Muir, on or about the Fifth day of
December, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, also to an Invention
for which British Letters Patent for "Improvements in weaving were
granted to the said Matthew Andrew Muir, on or about the Twenty-third day
of January, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, and consists of a
variable or differentially acting drop box or pattern-working movement for
looms intended to weave checks, and other more or less ornamental fabrics.
The entire regulation of the pattern-working movements for the shuttle drop
box is derived from a "barrel" or figuring cylinder, so applied and arranged
in connection with other mechanical movements as to afford the manufacturer
a wide range of variable or differential action, with the use of a small barrel,
whist the weaver has the most complete command over his machinery.
Unlike the arrangements covered by the ealier Patents, herein-before referred
to, the whole of the pattern-governing mechanism, as effects the drop box
action, is placed outside the loom framing. The ordinary tappet shaft for the
heddle action has upon its extreme end, outside the framing over which it
projects, a triple or multiform stepped cam, having different dimensions of
eccentricity, governing a corresponding series of heavy ended or weighted
levers, capable of oscillation side by side in an open frame, forming part of a
.great lever, which acts as the shifter of the shuttle drop box. Alongside this
cam, on the same shaft, is a disc carrying a stud or a cam for working a
long lever, which extends forward to the front of the. loom, and works a
double ratchet catch arrangement in connection with the pattern barrel. The
pattern barrel is pierced with holes. running, spirally round from end to end,
and it runs loose in bearings near the floor at the front left-hand or 'right-
hand corner of the loom framing. The duplex ratchet catch arrangement is
so contrived that one of the catches gears, with a ratchet wheel fast on the
end of the barrel, whilst the other similarly governs a small, ratchet wheel
fast on the end of a screw spindle running parallel with the barrel, and
carrying at its opposite end a small toothed pinion in gear with a spur wheel
on that end of the barrel. A disc on the tappet shaft also actuates the upper

page_text: end of a locking lever, the lower end of which locks into detent notches on
the segmental face of a lever oscillating freely on a stud in the loom frame,
the boss of which lever carries a lever, having one end jointed to the bottom
end of the drop box rod, the upper end of which rod is attached to the drop
box; the other end of the lever is jointed to the open frame before referred
to as carrying the set of heavy ended levers, which levers are fitted at one
end with anifriction pulleys coming within the line of action of the stepped
cam. The frame is slotted longitudinally to receive a transverse traversing
piece, contrived to come on or off the path of the heavy ended levers; this
traverse piece is acted upon by a short lever, having jointed to it an elongated
rod, against which the lower end of a pendant nut lever from the screw
spindle of the barrel action bears. The central portion of the nut lever has
a projection bearing against whatever pattern action pins may be disposed
in the holes of the barrel. A second broad-headed lever is also made to bear
against the back of the pendant nut lever, springs being attached for the
purpose. The rod which connects the traverse slide of the open cam lever
frame with the barrel action has upon it a lateral stud or stop, acting upon
the lower end of a lever set loose on a stud in the loom framing, the upper
end of this lever having a catch face to gear with stepped notches on the
outer end of the open lever frame to form a detent stop holder. With this
apparatus the regular working of the loom causes the drop box to be raised
or lowered, so as to bring any required shuttle into play, by reason of there
being three or more gradations of lengths of pins in the pattern barrel, and
the traversing piece of the open lever frame is thus shifted to a greater or
less extent, in accordance with the particular pin in the barrel which acts
against the pendant nut lever. The levers in the open frame for the cam
action are of graduated lengths, so that just as the traverse piece is shifted
over one, two, or more of them, to hold them down at their weighted ends,
just so is the drop box elevated to a greater or lesser height, the lever frame
being fitted with a spring to give it a constant tendency to rise against the
cain movement. In patterns where the back and forward action of the barrel
with the same nut lever fulfils all the necessary conditions of the figure, all
that is necessary is to insert a long reversing pin at the required point in
the barrel. As the barrel rotates, this long pin comes in contact with a short
traverse lever set on a cranked rod carrying a weighted or spring tumbler;
the tumbler has a crank lever acting upon the ratchet catches of the barrel,
so that each time the pin comes round it reverses the direction of rotation of
the barrel. This tunibler arrangement answers for giving the weaver an
easy micans of letting back his warp, as may be required, in weaving; it also

page_text: answers for enabling the loom to work for a short time without the revolution
of the barrel. When a pattern is to be worked which will not admit of this
simple action of the barrel in reversing, two separate nut levers are fitted up
in connection with the traversing screw spindle, one only of these levers being
actually workable at one time, whilst the other is locked back; these lovers
are disposed for operating over separate sections of the barrel, and when one
has performed its allotted share of the figuring work it is disengaged, and
the other completes it.
This Invention relates also to an arrangement for effecting a variable
"take-up" of the woven cloth, in looms of various kinds, by which arrangement
provision is made for beating up certain weft shots or threads harder than
others, so as to produce a closer appearance in the woven fabric. This effect
is accomplished by connecting the drop or shifting shuttle box with the
ratchet action of the take-up, in such manner, that when any predetermined
shuttle comes into action, a greater or smaller amount of take-up is effected,
as may be originally designed; hence, the weft thrown in at such time will
be closer or more open in the piece, just as the case may be. The ratchet
wheel of the take-up, when so fitted and worked, is of a comparatively fine
pitch, so that an extremely flexible take-up power is secured, or, in other
words, so that the extent of take up may range between wide limits. A
ratchet wheel with a series of catches of different lengths may also be used
for effecting the same end, of minute subdivision of shift.
And in order that our said Invention may be properly understood, we have
hereunto appended and shall now proceed to describe a Sheet of explanatory
Drawings, shewing the improved arrangement of mechanism, together with
such portions of the loom to which it is supposed to be applied, as are con-
sidered necessary to render the application and practical working out of the
Invention intelligible.
Figure 1 on the Sheet of Drawings is a side elevation, Figure 2 is a front
elevation, and Figure 3 is a plan, of the shuttle box shifting mechanism, as
complete, and arranged at the side of a loom, a portion only of which loom is
shown. Figure 4 is a back elevation, partly in section, of the cam frame
lever and certain other details, as detached. Figure 5 is a transverse vertical
section of the pattern barrel, shewing, in elevation, the details immediately
acted upon by it; and Figure 6 is a side elevation of some of the details as
set in a position differing from that in which they are represented in the other
Figures. In this instance the shuttles are changed at one side only of the
loom lathe A, and the shuttle drop box B, which is in this instance constructed
for four shuttles, is arranged in the ordinary way to slide up and down in a

page_text: framo C, upon the side of the lathe being shifted by a rod D to a cross hend,
on the top of which it is jointed by means of lugs E. The lower end of the
rod D is jointed to the front end of a lever F, which oscillates upon a stud
pin, carried in a bracket bolted to the lower cross bar of the side frame G of
the loom. The lever F is formed with an elongated boss, which has formed
upon or attached to it near the framing a notched segment H, lying directly
or nearly behind the back portion of the lever E, this segment II serving to
lock the shuttle drop box B in its various positions, as will be herein-after
explained. The back end of the lever F has jointed to it a forked link I, the
two upwardly-directed legs of which are jointed to the opposite sides of an
open frame lever J, arranged to vibrate on a centre K in a bracket L, bolted
to the back portion of the side frame G of the loom. The parts being thus
connected, it will be obvious that the shuttle drop box B will rise as the frame
lever J falls, and vice versa. A powerful spring M is applied, so as to give the
lever J and connections a tendency to rise whenever they are free to do so, and
thus lower the shuttle drop box, the spring being attached at its upper end to
n bracket N, bolted to the upper part of the side frame G of the loom, and at
its lower end to a pin O on the arm of the segment II, this pin being set in
such a position with reference to the centre of motion and the movement of
the parts, that the spring acts with proportionately less leverage the more it is
stretched, so that its action is rendered more uniform than it otherwise might
be. When the shuttle drop box is to be raised, this movement is effected by
the depression of the frame lever J, such depression being caused by one or
other of the three cams P, formed by preference in one piece, and keyed upon
the low or tappet shaft Q of the loom, this shaft being prolonged laterally
beyond the side frame G of the loom for the purpose. Each cam is propor-
tioned so as when in effective action to bring a particular cell of the shuttle
drop box on a level with the race; thus, the cam of smallest radius brings
the second cell from the top up to the race; the cam of the next larger radius
brings the third cell up, and the cam of largest radius the fourth or lowest
cell. The cams P do not act directly upon the frame lever J, but each cam
acts upon a pulley, carried by a separate catch bar R, which swings loosely on
n horizontal spindle S, fixed across the open part of the frame lever J, and
vibrates with the rotation of the cam without imparting any motion to the
frame lever J, unless locked by the action of the pattern mechanism, so as to
be incapable of yielding to the depressing action of the cam without causing
the frame lever J to descend also. The locking is effected by means of a
transverse horizontal bar T, which slides in slots in the sides of the frame
lever J near its front end. The catch bars Rare made with tails projecting
.

page_text: in front of the spindle S, the tails being of different lengths to correspond
inversely with the cams, the catch bar acted on by the can of smallest radius
having the longest tail, and the other catch bars shorter ones. When, how-
ever. the locking bar T is at the front end of its slot, it is quite out of the
way of the longest tailed catch bar R, and when the cams P come round they
depress the back ends of the catch bars R, causing their tails to rise, but
without moving the frame lever in any way; but when the locking bar T is
moved one degree back in its slot, it comes over the tail of the longest catch
bar R, corresponding to the cam of smallest radius, and on the cams. coming
round, the tail of this catch bar, being prevented from rising, its back end
cannot be depressed without carrying down with it the frame lever J; the frame
lever J is consequently depressed to the extent corresponding to the cam of
smallest radius, and the shuttle drop box is raised, in the manner herein-before
explained, so as to bring the second cell on a level with the race. If the
lecking bar T is shifted a degree further back, it comes over the tail, of the
second or middle catch bar R, so that on the cams coming round, the frame
lever J will be depressed to the extent corresponding to the second cam, and
the third shuttle cell of the drop box will be raised to a level with the race;
similarly, by shifting the locking bar T still further back, so as to come over
the tail of the shortest catch bar R, the cam of largest radius will be caused
to give an effective stroke, and so raise the fourth or lowermost shuttle cell to
a level with the race. The locking bar T is shifted, as the weaving action
goes on in accordance with the requirements of the pattern, by two rods U
jointed to it, one on each side outside of the frame lever J, through the slots
in which the bar T projects. The two rods U, which are curved to clear the
spindle S, are jointed at their back ends to the two arms of a cross head V;
bolted to the upper end of a lever W, carried on a stud pin fixed in a curved
arm X, formed upon and projecting down from the bracket L. The lever W
with its cross head V is set set that the points of connection of the rods U
may always be, as nearly as possible, in a plane, which passes through the
centres K and the locking bar T, when the frame lever J is in its middle
position, in order that the movements of the frame lever J may affect the
position of the locking bar T as little as possible. The lower end of the lever
W carries an adjustable stud Y, upon which is jointed a rod Z, passing towards
the front of the loom, and resting near its front end upon a roller a. It is
this rod Z which is acted upon by the pattern mechanism, and transmits all
the movements governing the action of the cams P. The pattern mechanism
consists of a barrel b, carried loosely.upon a horizontal spindle c, fixed in the
side standards d of a small frame placed at the side of the loom, to carry the

page_text: pattern mechanism. Washers of leather or other suitable material are applied
to the bosses of the barrel to prevent it from being jerked too far when moved.
The barrel is formed with a ratchet wheel e upon one end, and a spur wheel f
upon the other end, and the spur wheel is in gear with a pinion g upon a
parallel screw spindle h, carried in bearings in brackets formed upon the
standards d. The barrel b is formed with holes disposed helically or spirally round
it, the pitch of the helical line of holes on the barrel, and the pitch of the screw
spindle h, together with the sizes of the wheels fand g, being so proportioned,
that a detail carried by a nut upon the screw spindle h, as it were, follows the
helical line of holes upon the barrel, being moved longitudinally a distance
equal to the pitch of the helical line of holes at every turn of the barrel.
The pitch of the teeth of the ratchet wheel e corresponds to that of the holes
on the barrel, as taken circularly, and at each revolution of the tappet shaft Q
the barrel is moved round to the extent of a hole by the action a lever i,
centred upon the spindle c, and acted upon by a cam j (Figure 6) on the
shaft Q. The pall k, which is carried by the lever i, and which acts upon the
ratchet wheel e, is forked, so as to be lifted out of gear by a pin on the back
end of another pall 7, also carried on a pin on the lever i. This second pall Z
is for causing the barrel to turn backwards, or in the opposite direction to
that in which it is driven by the pall Z, when required; the backward motion
being produced by the action of the pall on a ratchet wheel m, fast on the
screw spindle h, the reversal of the motion being effected by simply lowering
or raising the pall 7 by means of the link n, the manner of actuating which
link will be herein-after described. The holes in the barrel b are contrived to
receive pins or buttons p, which have various amounts of projection from the
barrel surface, according to the number of shuttles used; thus, in the present
instance, in which arrangements are made for working four shuttles, there are
pins p of three different sizes, corresponding, in fact, to the three cams P, already
described; the absence at any point of any pin, and the consequent inaction of
all the cams P, corresponding to the use in the pattern of the top shuttle, and
the pins and cams corresponding severally to the other three shuttles, making
four in all. The screw spindle h carries two nut levers q, the bosses of which
are tapped to work upon the thread of the spindle, the levers consequently
moving longitudinally back and forwards as the screw spindle turns alternately
in opposite directions. The nut levers are formed with bevilled or pointed
projections r, which come in contact with the pins p on the barrel b, each
lever assuming a position determined by the amount of projection of the
particular pin p acting upon it at any one time. The nut levers are, however,
never both in action at once, but are thrown into and out of gear alternately;

page_text: their lower ends are prolonged, to act upon a horizontal cross heads fixed
upon the front end of the rod Z, which transmits the pattern action to the
actual shifting details, as already explained. Each nut lever q is always
pressed towards the barrel by the cross head of a lever t turning loosely on a
spindle u fixed across the framing d, the lever t being formed with an elongated
boss, which has another short lever v upon it, acted upon by a powerful spring
w in such a manner as to cause the levert to press the nut lever q towards the
barrel. The rod Z has imparted to it by the lever W, which is acted upon by
a spring a, a constant tendency to push the cross head s forward against which-
ever nut lever q happens to be in action. With these arrangements, it follows
that when an unoccupied hole on the barrel b is opposite to or against the pro-
jection r on the nut lever q in action, the spring w will force back the nut lever,
and with it the cross heads and rod Z, as far as they can go, thereby causing
the locking bar T to occupy the front end of its slots clear of the catch bars R,
so that the revolution of the cams P at this period do not depress the frame
lever J, and the shuttle drop box A consequently remains in its lowest position,
with its top cell on a level with the race, the various details being, in fact, in the
positions in which they are represented in Figures 1 to 5 of the Drawings. If
at the next shift of the barrel b a pin p 1 (Figure 5) of the smallest or first
size acts on the nut lever q, it will push it forward against the pressure of the
spring w; the spring a will then shift the lever W and rod Z a corresponding
distance, the lever W bringing the locking bar T back over the tail of the
first catch bar R, the effect of which will be to lift up the shuttle drop box so
as to bring its second shuttle cell on a level with the race, in the manner
already explained. If pins p and p³ (Figure 5) of the second and third
sizes follow in succession upon the barrel b, the nut lever q will be pushed
further forward at each shift, and the lever W, in following it, will shift the
locking bar T further back, so as in succession to act on the second and third
catch bars, and through their means cause the corresponding shift upwards of
the shuttle drop box. If the shuttle drop box is to remain unaltered during
more than one shift of the barrel b, a pin of the size corresponding to the
position of the drop box is repeated in as many successive holes on the barrel
as is necessary, or if the drop box is in its lowest position, the number
proper
of holes are simply left unoccupied. The projection r of the nut lever q is,
by preference, never allowed to press against the surface of the barrel b at the
places where the unoccupied holes occur, but is prevented from doing so by
the lever W, the cross head V of which is fitted with an adjustable screw
pin y contrived to come against the bracket X. This pin y is set so that the
lever W cannot allow the rod Z to move so far backwards as will admit of the

page_text: nut lever touching the surface of the barrel, whilst the extent of movement
actually allowed is sufficient to shift the locking bar T quite clear of the catch
bars R. On referring to Figure 5, it will be observed that the pin p³ is
followed by another pin of the same size, in consequence of which the lowest
shuttle cell will be kept on a level with the race during two shifts of the
barrel 6, that is to say, during two turns of the tappet shaft Q, corresponding
to four single picks of the shuttle. The next hole on the barrel is, however,
left unoccupied, which will have the effect of lowering the shuttle drop box to
its lowest position.
But before proceeding to describe what takes place when the shuttle drop
box is lowered, we consider it will be proper first to explain, to a certain
extent, the action of the locking mechanism which holds the shuttle drop box
in position between the shifts. As already mentioned, a notched segment
His formed upon or attached to the boss of the lever F for the purpose of
locking the shuttle drop box in position; this segment II is formed with
four notches, corresponding to the four positions the shuttle drop box is
in this instance constructed to assume, and the locking is effected by the
entrance into one of these notches of the lower bent end of a locking
lever, carried upon a stud pin attached to the side frame G of the loom. The
upper arm of this locking lever is pulled backwards by a spring 4, to give
its lower end a tendency to enter one of the notches in the segment II, when
permitted to do so, by the action of a cam 5, against the periphery of which
the upper bent end of the same lever is pulled by the spring 4. The cam 5
is fixed upon the tappet shaft Q, and it may here be mentioned that it has
bolted to it the cam j, which acts on the lever i, giving motion to the barrel b.
The cam 5 has its periphery concentric with the shaft Q for the greater part
round, and when the top end of the lever is in contact with this portion, the
lower end is in a notch of the segment H. When, however, a projecting
portion 6 of the cam comes round and acts upon the lever z, it takes the latter
out of the notch in the segment II, and the cam is set in such a position upon
the shaft that the lever is kept clear from the segment II during the time
that the shuttle drop box is or may be being shifted. In connection with the
locking mechanism there is a stepped catch piece 7 formed or fixed upon the
front end of the frame lever J, and acting with a catch lever 8 to regulate the
descent of the shuttle drop box. The catch lever 8 is carried on a stud upon
the bracket supporting the lever F, and its lower end carries a pin 9, which is
acted upon by an adjustable stop 10 fast upon the rod Z, against which stop
the lever is always kept by a spring 11. The action of these details will be
best understood on reference to Figure 6, where the parts are shown in the

page_text: positions corresponding to the highest position of the shuttle drop box. We
shall suppose that at the next change of shuttle the drop box is only required
to be lowered one step, in which case, before the lever F can be moved, the
locking lever must be shifted clear from the segment H; this is effected by
the coming round of the projecting portion 6 of the cam 5; and it is obvious
that the locking lever must at all times be quite clear before the cams begin to
depress the frame lever J, should it have to be depressed (which is not the
case, however, when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 6); in other
words, in all cases, whether the frame lever J is about to be depressed or to be
raised, the unlocking is effected, as far as regards the segment II, some time
before the most projecting portion of the cam which next comes into effective
action actually bears upon the frame lever; this would allow time for the
spring M to pull up the lever F further than it might be required to go, were
it not for the catch pieco 7 and lever 8. When the shuttle drop box is in its
highest position, the locking bar T is at the back end of its slots in the frame
lever J, as in Figure 6, the bar Z being in its most forward position, allowing
the spring 11 to pull the lever 8 so that its top end is thrown over the top-
catch of the piece 7. Then if, on the next shift taking place, the shuttle drop
box is to fall, for example, to the extent of only one shuttle cell, the rod Z is
moved one degree backwards by the action of the barrel 6, and turns the lever 8
off the top catch of the piece 7, but not further than will allow the second
catch of this piece to come up to and be caught by it. This takes place before
the locking lever is free from the segment II, so that when the spring M
comes into action it cannot lift the frame lever J higher than the catch lever 8
will allow it to go; then, as the cams P come round, the largest one does not
again depress the frame lever J to its previous position, for the locking bar T is
by this time moved forward clear of the tail of the catch bar R corresponding
to this cam. If the shift down of the shuttle box had been to the extent of
two or three cells instead of only one, the corresponding movement of the
rod Z would have shifted the catch lever 8 so as to hold the frame lever J at
the corresponding catch of the piece 7. It will be observed that the locking
lever releases the segment II at every turn of the tappet shaft Q, whether
the shuttle drop box has to be shifted or not, but in case no shift takes
place, the position of the catch lever 8 remains unaltered, and prevents the
frame lever J from moving when the segment II is released. It is found
desirable in practice to make the teeth of the segment II, or the solid portions
between the notches, to project to different extents, the top tooth projecting
the most, the next tooth slightly less, and the two next ones slightly less still.
The object of this arrangement is to insure the entrance of the locking lever =

page_text: into the proper notch, when a shift up to the extent of two or three shuttle
cells takes place, the increased projection of the upper teeth catching the end
of the locking lever, and preventing the comparatively more rapid movement
from carrying the segment II, and the parts connected with it, too far.
It now remains for us to describe the remainder of the contrivances connected
with the pattern barrel b. If the pattern to be woven is of the class in which
the second half is precisely like the first half, but with the various portions in
an inverted order, a single nut lever q, upon the screw spindle h, will be sufficient,
one-half of the pattern being woven whilst the barrel turns in one direction, and
the other half whilst the barrel turns in the opposite direction, the nut lever
being correspondingly carried longitudinally, first in one direction and then in
the other, so that at the end of each complete repeat of the pattern, the parts
are in the proper positions for starting a fresh repeat, a mere reversing con-
trivance being required at the end and at the beginning of the half pattern.
In cases, however, where the pattern is not repreated inversely in this way, two
nut levers 9 are required, as shown in the accompanying Drawings. These
two nut levers are disposed so that their projections r, upon which the barrel
pins p act, are about half the length of the barrel apart, and contrivances are
applied for throwing them alternately into action, the two never being in action
together. The entire extent of pattern which is to be set out upon the barrel
by means of the pins p, whether this extent comprehends repetitions of com-
plete repeats, or of portions of repeats of the pattern, or forms in itself one
complete repeat of the pattern, is divided into two portions, which are set out
one upon each half of the barrel, but so that one portion runs in one direction
and the other portion in the opposite direction. Then, when the barrel is
turning in one direction, that nut lever q is in action which is acted upon by
the portion of the barrel which has its pins arranged to suit the portion of the
pattern as running in the corresponding direction, and the other nut lever
will come into action when the first one has traversed over the whole of its
portion of the pattern, the barrel and nut levers being simultaneously reversed
to work over the portion of the pattern running in the opposite direction.
Thus, on the second portion of the pattern being completed, the first nut lever q,
which has been out of action in the meantime, will have returned to the point
from whence it originally started, and on the reversal of the movements, this
first nut lever will come into action again and commence a fresh repeat of the
pattern. The reversing of the motion of the pattern barrel b, and accom-
panying details, as well as the throwing the nut levers into and out of gear, is
effected by means of a tumbling bar 12, formed with end spindles which turn
in bearings in the frame d. On one of the end spindles which projects through

page_text: the framing
there is is fixed a lever 13, to a pin on which is connected a
spring 14, attached below to a fixed bracket. The lever 13 and spring 14 are
so disposed that when the tumbling bar 12 is midway between its extreme
positions, the spring pulls directly across the centre of the spindle, and on the
tumbling bar being shifted beyond this point towards either side, the spring
immediately comes into effective action to complete the shift of the bar. The
nut levers are made with catches 15, that of one lever being above the
tumbling bar 12, and that of the other lever below it, so that when the
tumbling bar is raised it holds back one nut lever q out of action, and when it
is lowered it holds back the other, either nut lever being in action when not
thus held back. At the end of the helical line of pins p, or holes on the
barrel b, corresponding to each portion of the pattern, there is inserted in
the barrel a reversing pin 16, which projects further from the surface of the
barrel than the other pins, and is formed with a lateral projection. This
lateral projection comes in contact at the proper time with one or other, as the
case may be, of two catches 17, capable of adjustment upon the tumbling
bar 12. The reversing pin 16 by this means turns over the tumbling bar
12, the latter portion of the movement being assisted by the spring 14, as
already explained. At the same time the pin 16 also lifts the nut lever q,
which has just been in action, away from the barrel, and into such a position
that the tumbling bar 12 locks it out of action, by means of the catch 15; the
movement of the tumbling bar releasing the other nut lever q, which is
immediately forced into action by the corresponding spring w. The lever 13
is formed in one piece, with an arm or lever 18, carrying a pin working in a
slot in the link n of the pall 7 of the ratchet movement, by means of which
the pattern mechanism is driven, as already herein-before described. Thus, at
every shift of the tumbling bar 12, the motion of the barrel b is reversed by.
bringing into gear the pall 1, and throwing out of gear the pall k, or vice versa,
by the downward or upward shift given to the link n by the lever 18. The
stroke or movement of the tumbling bar 12 is limited each way, by means of
adjustable screw pins 19 tapped through lugs formed upon the lever 18, and
arranged so that one of them comes in contact with the top side of a lug 20,
cast upon the framing d, when the lever 18 moves down, whilst the other one
comes in contact with the under side of the same lug 20, when the lever 18
moves up.
In constructing the apparatus each of the springs w must be made powerful
enough to overcome the springs x and 11, as it has to move back the rod Z
against the action of these springs, whilst the spring a has only to shift tho
locking bar T back ward, and to move the rod Z forward to keep its cross head

page_text: in contact with the nut lever g, when the action of the barrel b forces forward
this nut lever against the action of its spring w, the spring 11 serving also at
the same time merely to keep the pin 9 of the lever 8 forward against the
stop 10 on the rod Z. The springs w and x are fixed to points in such
positions that they act with less leverage in proportion as they become more
stretched, being placed so that they act more nearly at right angles when not
stretched, and gradually less so as they become stretched. The variable
movement of the frame lever J may be obtained by means of a single cam P,
and a single catch bar R, the tail of the catch bar being formed with steps
like the catch piece 7, fast on the frame lever itself. In this case the cam is
made of such a size as to give the greatest shift of which the shuttle box is
capable, and any lesser shift is obtained by shifting the locking bar T forward
more or less, so that as the cam comes round it does not depress the framo
lever until one of the steps of tho catch bar catches the locking bar T. In
practice, however, it is preferred to adopt the arrangement represented upon
the Drawings, and horein-before described, as in it advantage is taken of the
smaller spaces to be passed through with the lesser shifts of the shuttle box to
make the shifting movement with such lesser shifts as slow as possible, whilst
with the single cam and catch bar arrangement the movement on a com-
paratively small shift occurring is as rapid as the latter portion of the movement
when a comparatively large shift takes place. In applying shifting shuttle boxes
to both sides of the loom lathe, the movements of both shuttle boxes may be
derived from apparatus constructed on the herein-before described system,
suitably modified in its minor details to suit the object in view. For example, if
the loom is to be arranged for the weaving or manufacture of "corded " fabrics,
that is to say, fabrics with occasional lines of coarser or thicker weft, this is
accomplished in a very simple manner, by carrying a shaft across the loom to
connect the shuttle boxes on each side with the cam and pattern movement.
Instead of setting the lever F on a stud pin, as represented in Figure 1 on our
Sheet of Drawings, this lever is made fast upon a shaft set in bearings in the
two ends of the loom frame, and the opposite end of this shaft carries a single-
armed lever, from the end of which a rod passes upwards to the shuttle boxes
on that side of the loom. Under such an arrangement the cam or tappet
action of the loom is contrived so that the shuttle boxes shall shift at every
pick of weft, so that the "cord" weft shuttle shall always be held and retained
in its box after cach pick, to whichever side it may be thrown.
In the Drawings hereunto attached, portions of the loom are shown, to
which our Invention has no direct reference, and which may be arranged and
constructed according to any suitable plan, the representation of such portions

page_text: serving merely to mark out the relative positions in which we prefer to place
the details comprehended in our Invention.
In practically carrying out our arrangements herein-before referred to, for
varying the taking-up movement of looms working with more than one shuttle,
according to the plan which we at present prefer, the shuttle.drop box is con-
nected with the pin on the lathe sword, which, according to a well-known
arrangement, imparts an oscillating motion to the taking-up lever, carrying a
pall to act on the taking-up ratchet wheel. The pin works in a slot in the
taking-up lever, and, as it is shifted up or down on the lathe sword, gives a
greater or less stroke, accordingly as it acts nearer to or further from the
centre of motion of the lever. Thus, if the pin acts below the centre of the
lever, the lever will make the smallest stroke when the shuttle drop box is in
its lowest position, that is, when the top shuttle is working. Then at each shift
up of the shuttle box the lever will be made to give a greater stroke, giving
its greatest when the lowest shuttle is in use; the weaver has, therefore, to
arrange his shuttles so that the weft which has to be most slowly taken up is
in a shuttle appertaining to the top cell of the shuttle box, the other shuttles
being arranged below in the order corresponding with the degree of rapidity
of take-up to be imparted to the woven fabric when each is in use.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same. is or may be used or carried
into effect, we may observe, in conclusion, that. we do not confine or restrict
ourselves to the precise details or arrangements which we have had occasion
to describe or refer to, as many variations may be. made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of our Invention; but what
we consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the application and use of apparatus for shifting the shuttle drop box
or boxes in looms for weaving with more than one shuttle, wherein the shifts
are effected by means of a lever, acted upon when required by a constantly
revolving cam or cams, the cams, when more than one is used, corresponding
in number to the number of shuttles used, and in their various proportions to
the various positions of the shuttle drop box or boxes, motion being given to
the lever through a catch bar or catch bars brought into or out of action,
or the action of which is regulated by suitable pattern mechanism at the
periods at which the changes or shifts occur, as herein-before described;
together with the herein-before described locking and catching or temporarily
holding details to be used in connection with the lever and cams.
Second, the application and use, in looms for weaving with more than ono

page_text: shuttle, of a pattern barrel, formed with helically or spirally disposed per-
forations to receive pins of various sizes, corresponding in number to the
number of shuttles used, such pins being placed in the holes in the barrel, in cor-
respondence with the periods in the weaving action at which the shuttle drop
box is to be moved to or retained in a position above its lowest position, whilst
the barrel, as it moves round step by step, acts upon or determines the position
of a lever, which is made to follow the helical or spiral line on the barrel by
means of a screw spindle driven from or in connection with the barrel, such
lever acting upon or regulating the movements of the details, which directly
cause the shifts of the shuttle drop box, as herein-before described, together
with the herein-before described contrivances, in connection with the pattern
barrel, for reversing the motion of the barrel and lever or levers, and throwing
the levers alternately into and out of gear when two levers are used.
Third, the application and use, in looms for weaving, of a spring or elastic
connection for aiding the action of the shuttle drop box movement, in the
manner more particularly described in reference to Figure 1 on our Sheet of
Drawings.
Fourth, the application and use, in looms for weaving ornamental fabrics of
the "corded" class, of connected shuttle drop boxes on each side of the loom,
working simultaneously or in concert.
Fifth, the system or mode of connecting the shuttle drop box of looms
working with more than one shuttle with the taking-up motion of the loom,
so that the taking-up may be varied according to the shuttle which is in use,
as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James McIlwham, on behalf of the said
Matthew Andrew Muir and myself, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Seventeenth day of December, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-six.
JAMES MCILWHAM. (L.s.)