An Improved Means and Method of Automatically Regulating the Let Off and Tension of Warps in Looms.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 11th July, 1891-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Means and Method of Automatically Regulating the
Let Off and Tension of Warps in Looms.
RICHARD WILBY, Marsh near Huddersfield Yorkshire, Mill Manager. I do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to automatically regulate the tension of warps_in
looms for the purpose of producing a uniform and evenly woven piece, and also for
the purpose of ensuring that all the pieces produced from the same and similar
warps shall be woven of equal strength and weight, and this I effect by operating
automatically the revolutions of the warp beam, by a ratchet mechanism similar in
principle to my speed controlling mechanism for steam engines for the which I was
granted a Patent dating the ninth day of November 1886 and numbered 14431.
In carrying out my invention, I make use of the incipient and slight changes or
variations in the tension of the warp, or web, for the purpose of putting into gear
and putting out of gear the pawls of this ratchet mechanism.
By a suitable arrangement of a rod or rods or other device which I cause to lic
on or under the warp or press against the warp or web or by any other device
which may be best suited to the particular kind of loom in hand that shall act as a
feeler of the tension (as it were) I obtain a motion or movement of such tension
feeling device which when communicated by suitable means to the pawls of my
ratchet mechanism will operate such pawls at the instant of every incipient and
small change that takes place in the tension of the warp which pawl movement will
cause my ratchet mechanism to deliver the warp from the beam at the exact rate
which is required for weaving the cloth at that particular tension of the warp to
which the mechanism is set or adjusted.
The ratchet mechanism has a worm on its shaft which gears with a worm wheel
on the end of the warp beam of such a size as will deliver the warp at the proper
rate, and to compensate for the accelerating velocity which the warp beam requires
to be driven as the diameter of the warp decreases on the beam during unwinding,
I canɛe the oscillating frame of my ratchet mechanism to increase its amplitude of
vibration at a rate proportional to the diminution of the radius of the warp and
beam, that is the radius as measured from the centre of the beam to the surface of
the warp on the beam.
By this means and method I cause the tension itself of the warp to be the agent
or means which acting through my ratchet mechanism automatically delivers the
warp from the beam at the exact rate required for the particular tension of warp
to which the mechanism is set or adjusted.
The mechanism is simple and can be applied at a small cost to both new and
existing looms.
RICHARD WILBY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Means and Method of Automatically Regulating the
Let Off and Tension of Warps in Looms.
RICHARD WILBY Exchange Buildings Marsh near Huddersfield Yorkshire,
Mill 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 :-
The object of my invention is to automatically regulate the tension of the warps

page_text: in looms for the purpose of producing a uniform, and evenly woven piece, and also
for the purpose of ensuring that all the pieces produced from the same and similar
warps shall be woven of equal strength, and weight, and this I effect by operating
automatically the revolutions of the warp beams by a ratchet mechanism similar in
principle to my speed controlling mechanism for steam engines, for the which I
was granted a Patent dating the 9th day of November 1886, and numbered 14431.
In carrying out my invention, I make use of the incipient and slight changes, or
variations in the tension of the warp, or web, for the purpose of occasionally putting
out of gear the pawls of this ratchet mechanism.
By a suitable arrangement of a rod, or rods, or other device which I cause to lie
on or under the warp, or by any other device which may be best suited to the
particular kind of loom in hand that shall (as it were) act as a feeler of the
tension of the warp, I obtain a slight motion or movement of such tension feeling
device, which when communicated by suitable means to the pawls of my ratchet
mechanism, will operate such pawls at the instant of every incipient and small
change that takes place in the tension of the warp, which pawl movement will cause
my ratchet mechanism to deliver the warp from the beam at the exact rate which
is required for weaving the cloth at that particular tension of the warp to which the
mechanism is set, or adjusted.
The ratchet mechanism communicates its motion to the warp beam by a worm
which gears with a worm wheel on one end of said warp beam, of such a size as will
deliver the warp at the proper rate, and to compensate for the accelerating velocity
which the warp beam requires to be driven at as the diameter of the warp decreases
on the beam during unwinding, I cause the oscillating frame of my ratchet
mechanism to increase its amplitude of vibration at a rate proportional to the
diminution of the total radii of warp, and beam.
In order that my invention may be better understood, I herein give reference to
the following sheets of drawings illustrative thereof, wherein
Fig. 1, is one end view of my improved apparatus,
Fig. 2 plan view of same,
Fig. 3 is an end view of a loom with only so much of the loom given as will
illustrate and show my mechanism applied thereto, and
Fig. 4 shows how the tension feeler 31 is coupled up to the lever 17 of the paw!
mechanism of my apparatus.
In the accompanying drawings 1, 1, is the base or frame of my automatic ratchet
mechanism, on which are cast two upright brackets 2, 2, which support a shaft 3,
on which shaft a broad ratchet wheel 4 is keyed or otherwise fastened. On the
same ratchet wheel shaft is loosely fixed on bushes 6, & 7, a rocking frame 5,
which is capable of an oscillating or rocking motion, which rocking motion can be
automatically varied in amplitude of stroke from an are of about 60 degrees, down to
one of 15, or 20 degrees. The said rocking frame 5, carries at its free end a rod or
shaft 8, upon which is loosely mounted two, three, or four pawls, 9, 9, 9, according
as I choose, which pawls are so arranged that they are consecutively one half, one
third, or one fourth of a tooth length (according to the number of pawls used)
different in length, which gives an accuracy of motion, equal to the mechanisni
possessing a ratchet wheel having as many times the number of teeth which it has
got, as there are pawls in use. Upon the said shaft 8, and projecting forward and
under the said pawls, is an arm 10, which 1 choose to term a pawl reliever.
pawls 9, 9, 9, are capable of gearing with the ratchet wheel 4, and they descend into
gear by their own weight when so allowed, while they are lifted out of gear with
their ratchet wheel when required, by the pawl reliever 10. When the ratchet
mechanism has to be exposed to much fly, or fluff, I should advise that the gravity
of the pawls be assisted by a spring, or springs. This would make the pawls more
certain in their action when exposed to such conditions.
The
Projecting from the oscillatory frame 5, is a fulcrum or stud 11, on which works
a double armed lever 12. The outer end of this lever carries a stud or projection 13,
which fits loosely into a hole in crank 12", which crank is fixed on pawl shaft 8,

page_text: while the inner end of lever 12, carries a short horizontal pin 14, so placed, and
arranged that when the oscillating frame 5 is in a horizontal position, the centre
line of the pin 14 is vertically over the centre line of ratchet wheel shaft 3.
The arm projecting from the bracket 2, carries a stud 16, on which works a lever
arm 17, the underside of the free end of which lever arm is curved to a suitable
radius concentric to the shaft 3, and the curved portion of said lever rests upon the
short pin 14, which projects from the lever 12.
The radius of the curve on the underside of lever arm 17 must be struck from
the centre of ratchet wheel axle 3, to the top of short pin 14, when said pin is
pressed half way down of its travel. The curvature of said lever arm 17 is for the
purpose of preventing abberation or irregularity in the motion of the pawls 9, 9, 9,
which must unavoidably be produced without the use of some such curved device,
when the pin 14 or its equivalent, is not placed in the line of centre of ratchet
wheel shaft 3. On the end of shaft 3, is fixed a bevil wheel 33, which gears with
another bevil wheel 34 Fig. 3, mounted on a shaft which is journalled on brackets
fixed to the loom frame. On this shaft 35, is fixed a worm 36, which gears with a
worm wheel 37, which is fastened on the end of the warp beam. I prefer that this
shaft 35 for convenience to the weaver, be prolonged to the front of the loom, and
there be provided with a handwheel 38, which will enable the said weaver to turn
the warp beam backwards, or forwards in cases when it is required to do so,
without he or she being obliged to go round to the back of the loom for that
purpose.
On the end of ratchet wheel shaft 3, is fastened by suitable means a peg, or
pin 21, in such a manner as to lie radially to the shaft, the length of such pin
reckoned from the centre of shaft must be about 3 of an inch, and immediately
above this pin and a little to the front as shown in elevation Fig. 1, 22, is a wheel
which I choose to call the pin wheel, into whose teeth the pin meshes at each
revolution of the ratchet wheel shaft 3, thereby turning said pin wheel 22, one tooth
at cach revolution of said shaft. The wheel 22 is fastened by nut so as to be readily
changed on the end of an axle which works in a moderate long bearing so bracketed
on the rocking frame 5, that by taking out a pin which is made to pass through the
bracket into the frame I can throw the worm 23 out of gear with the worm
wheel 24, which worm wheel 24 is fastened on the bottom end of a screw threaded
rod 25, which runs along the centre of the slot hole in upright arm 28, which said
arm 28 forms part of the rocking frame 5. The bottom end of this threaded rod
works in a step bearing, while its top journal is turned down smaller than the rod
so as to form a shoulder abutting against the cap 40, which thereby prevents any
longitudinal motion of the said screw rod. Working on the thread of the rod 25,
is a cubical shaped nut 26, provided with two projecting studs 26", 26", which nut
travels along the slot hole of the upright arm 28 as the screw 25 is turned in one
direction, or the other.
The form of warp tension feeling device which I cause to communicate motion to
the pawls of my ratchet mechanism, is seen in Figs. 3, and 4, 31. The general
arrangement of its parts which will describe, will sufficiently illustrate to any
intelligent workman acquainted with looms, the general principle which is involved
in its working, from which principle many analogous devices could be so arranged,
that they would efficiently cause the slight variations in the tension of the warp, to
be the means of imparting motion to the pawls of my ratchet mechanism, so as to
lift them out of gear when required. It is made of hard wood to which is securely
fastened at each end a journal which works in bearings bracketed on the loom
frame. It might be made of iron polished on the surface over which the warp has
to pass.
It is made to reach from end to end of the back rest beam and its journals
are at the bottom edge of its two ends. Its top side or edge is free to move on its
bottom side or edge as axis, but is limited in its motion to a fraction of an inch.
The said tension feeler is provided at each end with an adjustable spring 32, which
said springs act upon it in the opposite direction to the force which is exerted by

page_text: the tension of the warp, and the warp threads in passing over the tension feeler
excrt their total united force of tension upon it in opposition to the springs.
Normally the springs 32, are adjusted to balance the particular tension of the
warp that is required for the particular kind of fabric which is being woven, and
when the tension requires altering in such cases as when a change is made in the
counts of yarn composing the warp, the said tension will have to be adjusted to the
new requirements by means of these springs.
It must be understood that the rocking frame 5 has a continued rocking motion
given to it when the loom is in action by the nut 26 with its two projecting lugs 26"
being coupled up by a connecting rod 39 to some moving part of the loom. I need
not show how this has to be done or to which moving part of the loom the
connecting rod 39 must be coupled as it will be effected differently in different
kinds of looms, and any workman of ordinary intelligence, and acquainted with the
kind of loom in hand, will be capable of seeing which will be the best way of
coupling up so as to get the desired rocking motion. It will be seen that the
amplitude of oscillation, or length of stroke of rocking frame 5, other things being
equal will depend upon the position which the nut 26 occupies in the slot hole of
upright arm 28. The nearer said nut 26 is to the centre of motion, the greater
will be the length of stroke of rocking frame 5, and the greater will be the number
of teeth that the ratchet wheel 4 will be turned at each upward stroke of the
rocking frame 5, and likewise vice versa.
The combination of pin 21, pin wheel 22, worm 23, worm wheel 24, and screw
rod 25 are for the purpose of automatically moving the nut 26 towards the centre
of its rocking motion, during the weaving of the warp, and at such a rate of motion,
as shall exactly equal the rate at which the surface of the yarn on the warp beam,
approaches the centre of the said beam during the unwinding of the warp therefrom.
This motion of approach of the surface of the yarn on the beam towards the centre
of the beam, or in other words the rate at which the diameter of the yarn on the
beam diminishes during the unwinding, is an increasing rate. Mathematically
comparing the rates at any two or more points of time during the unwinding of the
warp, they are proportional to one another inversely as the squares of the diameters
of the yarn on the beam as measured at those respective points of time. Now with
the proper number of teeth in wheels 22, & 24, which I will presently show how to
calculate, I get a motion of approach of nut.26 towards the centre of oscillation,
whose ratio, or rate is mathematically identical in all respects to the motion of
approach of the yarn surface of the beam towards the centre of said beam, as above
described. The worm wheel 37 on warp beam must have such a number of teeth
as will give the proper rate of delivery of warp when the beam is full, and when
nut 26 is at, or near the top of the screw rod 25, with at the same time the ratchet
mechanism giving about 2 teeth per stroke.
Thus arranged at the commencement of the warp to give the exact delivery
required, the mechanism will continue to give the same uniform delivery, until the
beam is empty, because just as the diameter of the warp diminishes, so does the
number of teeth taken per stroke increase through all the stages of the unwinding
of the warp.
When putting in a new warp similar to the last that was woven, the
nut 26 will require winding to the same position that it occupied at the cominence
ment of last warp. This must be done by throwing worm 23 out of gear with
wheel 24, and turning the handle 29 in the proper direction to bring the nut 26 to
its right position at the top of the slot hole, afterwards regearing said worm with
its wheel, which will be all the attention that will be required till the next new warp
is put into the loom. The number of teeth in wheels 22, & 24, when the number
of threads to the inch in screw rod 25 is fixed upon, and when also the bevil
wheels 33, and 34, and likewise the worm wheel 37 are fixed upon, will b
determined by the number of turns of a single warp thread on the full beam.
As the lengths of the warps are always known, we can get the number of turns
of each thread on the full beam by dividing the length of the warp by the mean or

page_text: average length of one turn, then the number of turns so got multiplied by the
number of teeth in worm wheel 37, multiplied again by the ratio of the bevil
wheels 33, and 34, will represent the number of revolutions which the ratchet wheel
shaft 3 will make in unwinding the said warp from the beam; and having got the
total number of revolutions of ratchet wheel shaft 3, we can easily get the required
number of teeth in wheels 22, and 24, which are necessary to give the required
amount of travel of nut 26 which has been fixed upon.
It would almost seem as if this ratchet mechanism would give an accurate
positive delivery of the warp from full beam to empty beam, but there are circum-
For instance the
stances in practice which prevent the mechanism being accurate.
same kind of warps, although of exactly the same length, often occupy rather
different bulks when wound on the beam, either from different tension being
employed in the process of winding, or from differences in the hygrometric state of
the atmosphere when the warps were wound on the beams, which differences of bulk
of the warp would disturb the compensating quality of stud 26 in its motion of
approach towards the centre of oscillation. Also the number of teeth which a
ratchet mechanism takes is not always proportional to the amplitude of the motion
of the pawl, because the pawl may be all but taking three teeth at a stroke, and yet
it only turns the ratchet wheel two teeth per stroke. As the stroke is lengthened,
it eventually takes 3 teeth per stroke, but the jump from 2 teeth to 3 teeth per
stroke, is one third of the total amount of motion communicated.
By using 2, 3, or 4 pawls arranged as herein described, we get the jumps reduced
to one half, one third, or one fourth their original amount, and yet supposing we
have three pawls, and the mechanism is giving 2 teeth per stroke, the jump from
two teeth, to two and a third would be one seventh of the whole motion, which is an
inequality of motion quite unfit for operating a warp beam.
In order to compensate for this inequality of motion, and for the inaccuracies in
the winding of the warps, I connect the pawl mechanism of my ratchet apparatus,
to what I have chosen to call a tension feeler 31, seen in Figs. 3, and 4, and I cause
the ratchet mechanism to deliver the warp from the beam at a rate of about one
sixth faster than would be required if the mechanism was always working. The
pawls being thus under control of the tension itself of the warp, I get a motion of
the warp beam, which gives a constant, uniform, and even tension to the warp
from full beam, to empty beam, the ratchet mechanism being perfectly automatic.
The modus operandi is as follows.
The springs 32 which are placed on the tension feeler 31, are adjusted to balance
the required tension of the warp, and the collar 19 Fig. 4 is so set, or adjusted that
the pawls 9, 9, 9, of the ratchet mechanism shall be in gear when the tension
feeler 31 is touching its front stops, and that the said pawls shall be clear, or out
of gear, when said tension feeler is against its back stops. Supposing a full beam
is in the loom, the nut 26 Fig. 1, must be at, or near the top of screw rod 25, and
the worm wheel 37 must have such a number of teeth in it, as will give about one
sixth part more delivery of warp than is required in the weaving, when the ratchet
mechanism is taking about 2 teeth per stroke.
The action is then as follows, assuming the tension of the warp to begin with, to
be just sufficient to keep the tension feeler 31 touching, or nearly touching its front
stops, which position of the said tension feeler will through the medium of arm 30,
rod 18, collar 19, curved lever 17, lever 12, crank 12", shaft 8, and pawl reliever 10,
allow the pawls 9, 9, 9 to engage with their ratchet wheel 4, thereby giving motion
to the warp beam through the medium of bevil wheels 33, and 34, worm, and worm
wheel 36, and 37, at a rate as aforesaid of about one sixth faster than is required in
the weaving, which extra length is gradually taken up by the tension feeler moving
towards its back stops.
Just before arriving at this position however, the pawls through the medium of
arm 30, rod 18, collar 19, curved lever 17, lever 12, crank 12, shaft 8, and pawl
reliever 10, are lifted clear, or out of gear with their ratchet wheel 4, which thereby

page_text: stops the delivery of the warp during one, or two picks of the loom. This short
stoppage of the delivery, brings the tension feeler towards its front stops again, but
just before arriving there, it puts the pawls 9 once more into action, which starts the
delivery of the warp as aforesaid, to be again stopped for a pick, or two, when the
tension feeler again approaches its back stops.
By this means, and method, I give a constant & uniform tension to the warp through
all the stages of unwinding of same, thereby rendering unnecessary a lot of cumber-
some tackle which has up to the present been used for this purpose.
Instead of lever 12 occupying the position shown in the drawings, it might be,
placed on the outside of the frame of the apparatus, and by this means, get short"
pin 14 situate at one end of shaft 3, and in line with the shafts centre thereby
evading one of my claims by rendering unnecessary the curved surface on the
underside of lever arm 17. Also it is possible to dispense with lever 12, by fixing
on rod 8 an arm which shall reach to the end of ratchet wheel shaft 3, this arm
being provided with a pin or stud equivalent to stud 14, which could be so placed
and arranged that its centre line would be in line with centre of ratchet wheel axle 3
when the said pin was pressed down half way of its travel thereby evading another
of my claims, but in both these cases the mechanism would be less compact, and
instead of having perfect and complete control of the pawls in their action, which
complete control of the pawls forms the chief advantage of my automatic ratchet
mechanism, this control would be very greatly diminished in such modifications of
its build as those just described.
I do not confine myself to that form of warp tension feeling device which I have
herein described, and illustrated, as there are several ways and means not differing.
in principle to that herein described, by which the variations in the tension of the
warp could be made to communicate motion to operate the pawls of my ratchet
mechanism.
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;
Firstly. In ratchet mechanism used for the purpose of automatically actuating
or revolving the warp beams of looms the combination therewith of the lever 12,
used for the purpose of securing better control of the pawls, substantially as set
forth.
Secondly. In ratchet mechanism used for the purpose of automatically actuating
or revolving the warp beams of looms, the use therewith of the curved end of lever
arm 17, or any similar curved device for the purpose of preventing the irregular
motion of the pawls which must unavoidably be produced without the use of some
such curved device, when the motion is imparted to such pawls elsewhere than in
the line of action of ratchet wheels substantially as set forth.
Thirdly. In ratchet mechanism used for the purpose of automatically actuating
or revolving the warp beams of looms, the combination therewith of the pawl
relieving arm 10, used for the purpose of lifting the pawls out of gear when required,
substantially as set forth.
Fourthly. In ratchet mechanism used for the purpose of automatically actuating,
or revolving the warp beams of looms the combination therewith of the arm 28,
pin 21, pin wheel 22, worm 23, worm wheel 24, screw rod 25, with its nut 26, used
together, and in combination for the purpose of increasing the stroke of the pawl
frame 5, at a rate which equals the rate of approach of surface of warp on beam
towards the centre of beam during the unwinding of said warp substantially as set
forth.
Fifthly. In combination with ratchet mechanism used for the purpose of
automatically actuating, or revolving the warp beams of looms, the use of a tension
feeler 31, placed in close proximity, or serving the double purpose of tension feeler,
and back rest beam, of the form described, and illustrated, together with its tension

page_text: springs 32, arm 30, rod 18, and collar 19, used together, and in combination for the
purpose of operating the pawls 9, 9, 9, substantially as herein set forth.
Lastly. The general arrangement, construction, and combination of parts, as
herein set forth, and illustrated by the drawings of mechanism for automatically
actuating, or revolving the warp beams of looms.
Dated this 10th day of July 1891.
RICHARD WILBY.