IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPING MOTIONS OR APPARATUS APPLI- CABLE TO KNITTING AND OTHER MACHINERY
Year: 1873

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to John Garrett Tongue, of the Firm of Tongue &
Birkbeck, Patent Agents & Engineers, of 34, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for the
Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPING MOTIONS OR APPARATUS APPLI-
CABLE TO KNITTING AND OTHER MACHINERY." -A communication from
abroad by George Freeman Lufbery, Manager of the Langlée
Works, near Montargis, Loiret, France.
Sealed the 5th September 1873, and dated the 17th March 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Garrett Tongue
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 17th March 1873.
I, JOHN GARRETT TONGUE, of the Firm of Tongue & Birkbeck, Patent
Agents & Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPING MOTIONS OR APPARATUS APPLICABLE
TO KNITTING AND OTHER MACHINERY," to be as follows:-
:-
This Invention has for its object mechanical arrangements combined
with an electro-magnet for instantaniously stopping certain machines,

page_text: particularly knitting machines, which require to be stopped quickly
under certain circomstances; for instance, when a thread breaks, or
when the bobbin is run out, or other means by which the thread is
supplied, when a needle breaks or is out of order, or when the thread is
irregular or uneven.
From the following description it will be seen how the machine is
suddenly stopped at the required time in accordance with these improve-
ments under the above-named circumstances: -For this purpose one or
several electro-magnets are so arranged as to suddenly withdraw an
armature forming a latch catch or stop from under a stop or projection
on a lever moving freely on an axis. The end of this lever or balance
which carries the stop or projection is heavier than the opposite end,
which gives a tendency to fall as soon as the catch is withdrawn from
beneath the stop or projection on the lever. The end of the lever also
supports a sheet of metal or other equivalent substance or material
sufficiently long for it to fall perpendicularly towards the point of contact
of the two frictional pulleys. At the other end or extremity of the lever
or balance a connecting rod is attached, in order to act on two jointed
rods or arms when the sheet or plate falls between the pulleys.
When the last-described movement takes place to withdraw the latch
or catch the plate descends between the pulleys, then the connecting rod
follows the movement of the balance lever, and acts on the jointed rods
or arms. The centre of the said jointed rods or arms is drawn out of a
straight line, thus bringing their ends or extremities closer together. By
being brought closer together the jointed arms draw with them a hinged
picce in one direction, and in the other a jointed frame carrying one of
the pulleys before mentioned, thus withdrawing it away from the other
pulley by which means its movement will be stopped.
Springs are fixed on the ends of the jointed levers, which have a constant
tendency to draw the levers together. When the apparatus is in gear
the position of the levers is slightly beyond the straight line, but as soon
as the centre is withdrawn by the movement of the plate and balance
lever the springs hasten the closing of the jointed levers to withdraw the
support and its pulley from the other. The piece which is carried by
means of a hinge on the fixed frame is likewise drawn in the direction of
the pulley by a spring. The apparatus is so arranged that it is easy to
open or release the jointed lever without exercising a great pressure on

page_text: the support or frame which carries the driving pulley, and it is by means
of this motion that the machine is put in gear.
The springs regulate the pressure of the driving pulley on the other
pulley in an casy and simple way, according to the strength required to
overcome the resistance opposed by the apparatus. The driving pulley,
in order not to come in contact with the other pulley, is forced by the
springs into a recess or cavity lined with india-rubber or other suitable
material to prevent slipping, in order to overcome the rotation of the
driving pulley. This recess or cavity, which forms a brake, is in contact
with the driving pulley on a portion of its circumference when tho
apparatus is out of gear.
Movement is imparted to the knitting frame or other apparatus from
the driving pulley by means of a belt, driving band, or chain, or by any
other suitable means actuated by hand or other motive power. This
support of the driving pulley carries a small metallic plate near its
upper part, and when the apparatus is in gear this small plate comes in
contact with another fixed plate, and a wire from a galvanic pile or
battery is connected with these two plates in order to communicate or
cut off the electric current, according to whether they are in contact or
not. Thus, supposing the apparatus to be in gear, the plates are in
contact and the current established, but as soon as the apparatus is put
out of gear, the support of the driving pulley being withdrawn carries
with it the contact plate, and by this means the current is immediately
cut off.
The breaking or failure of supply of the thread to a knitting or other
machine is detected, and the machine stopped in consequence, as
follows:-The thread in its passage is passed over three supports. The
first, not being absolutely essential when the thread comes in direct line
with the second and third supports, but the latter are essential. The
middle support is formed of a plate of flexible india-rubber or other
suitable substance, which adheres slightly to the thread, and prevents it
from slipping. The last support, made of glass or other suitable sub-
stance, allows the thread to slip freely over it.
If the first of three supports is used it must be of glass or other
polished surface.
Should the thread break between the third support and the point
where it enters into the machine the weight of a bent wire or other

page_text: small weight which rests on the thread will suffice to draw it back, the
small wire or weight not being any longer held by the thread will sink
down, and its two small ends or branches will descend into cups placed
below, each containing mercury or any other conductor of electricity,
and placed in such manner as to be in connection with the magnetic
poles of a galvanic battery. The metal points, by passing into the cups
of mercury will establish the current with an electro-magnet, which
small weight which rests on the thread will suffice to draw it back, the
small wire or weight not being any longer held by the thread will sink
down, and its two small ends or branches will descend into cups placed
below, each containing mercury or any other conductor of electricity,
and placed in such manner as to be in connection with the magnetic
poles of a galvanic battery. The metal points, by passing into the cups
of mercury will establish the current with an electro-magnet, which
actuates the mechanism or apparatus of the stopping motion.
If the thread breaks between the bobbin and the supports the action
of the apparatus will be more simple still, and also when the thread is
run out.
If a needle breaks or is out of order the top or bottom is bent. On
the top it comes in contact against the edge of a small levér slightly
suspended by pins, which when as soon as it occurs rocks and allows a
hammer to fall. This hammer is of metal, and fixed on the small lever.
When a needle is out of order (it being also the same in regard to an
uneven thread) a small plate or lever allows the hammer to fall direct
between two metal plates, being both connected with one of the magnetic
poles of a galvanic battery. This metal hammer then establishes the
current which produces the stoppage of the machine already explained
in passing through the electro-magnet. In case the needle is bent below
it comes in contact with the top of a small lever placed under the needles.
This small lever, balanced by the needle, acts likewise on the metal
hammer, and the current is established in the same manner as before
described.
Should the thread be uneven a small split picce is so placed as to
allow the thread to slip very easily, even if it happens to be a strong
thread, but which will stop any inequality or thickness in the thread, and
thus break it, thereby establishing the current, as previously stated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent 3
filed by the said John Garrett Tongue in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 17th September 1873.

page_text: and Engineers, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in
the thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said John Garrett Tongue,
Her special license that I, the said John Garrett Tongue, my execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Garrett Tongue, my executors, administrators, and 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPING MOTIONS OR APPARATUS
APPLICABLE TO KNITTING AND OTHER MACHINERY," a communication to me
from abroad by George Freeman Lufbery, Manager of the Langlée
Works, near Montargis, Loiret, France, upon the condition (amongst
others), that I, the said John Garrett Tongue, my executors, or admin-
istrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Garrett Tongue, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
-
The said Invention has for its object mechanical arrangements com-
bined with an electro-magnet for instaneously stopping certain machines,
particularly knitting machines, which require to be stopped quickly
under certain circumstances; for instance, when a thread breaks, or
when the bobbin is run out, or other means by which the thread is
supplied, when a needle breaks or is out of order, or when the thread is
irregular or uneven.
From the following description and accompanying Drawing it will be
seen how the machine is suddenly stopped at the required time, in

page_text: UT LILE
Figure 1 shows an elevation of the mechanism which causes the
stoppage of the machine; Figure 2 shows a front view, partly in
section.
The apparatus consists of one or several electro-magnets K, so arranged
as to suddenly withdraw the armature L, forming a latch catch or stop,
from under the stop or projection on the lever G, moving freely on its
axis. The end of this lever or balance which carries the stop or projec-
tion is heavier than the opposite end, which gives a tendency to fall' as
soon as the catch L is withdrawn from beneath the stop or projection on
the lever. The end of the lever also supports a sheet of metal or other
equivalent substance or material, sufficiently long for it to fall perpen-
dicularly towards the point of contact of the two frictional pulleys A, B.
At the other end or extremity of this lever or balance a connecting rod F
is attached, in order to act on the two jointed rods or arms E when the
sheet or plate Q descends between the pulleys A and B. When the
last-described movement takes place to withdraw the latch or catch L
the plate Q descends between the pulleys A and B, then the connecting
rod F follows the movement of the balance lever G, and acts on the
jointed rods or arms E. The centre of the jointed rods or arms is drawn
out of the straight line, thus bringing their ends or extremities closer
together. By being brought closer together the jointed arms E draw
with them the hinged piece P in one direction, and in the other the
jointed frame C, carrying one of the pulleys B, thus withdrawing it away
from the other pulley A, by which means its movement is stopped.
I will now describe the movements of the springs or of the spring M,
which may be spiral, as shewn in the Drawing, or of india-rubber. These
springs are fixed on the ends of the jointed levers E, which have a
constant tendency to draw the levers together. When the apparatus is
in gear the position of the levers is open, and the extremities get slightly
beyond the straight line, that is to say, at the side where they are unable
to close the springs keep it firmly open, but as soon as the centre is
withdrawn by the movement of the plate Q and balance lever G, the
springs hasten the closing of the jointed levers to withdraw the support C
and its pulley B away from the pulley A. The hinged piece P, which

page_text: is carried by means of a hinge on the fixed frame S, is likewise drawn in
the direction of the frame C and pulley B by the spring N.
The apparatus is so arranged that it is easy to open or release the
jointed lever E without excrcising a great pressure on the support or
frame C which carries the driving pulley, and it is by means of this
motion that the machine is put in gear.
The springs N regulate the pressure of the driving pulley B on the
other pulley in an easy and simple way, according to the strength
required to overcome the resistance opposed by the apparatus. The
driving pulley B, in order not to come in contact with the other pulley A,
is forced by the springs M into a recess or cavity X lined with india-
rubber or other suitable material to prevent slipping, in order to overcome
the rotation of the driving pulley B. This recess or cavity X, which
forms a brake, is in contact with the driving pulley B on a portion of its
circumference when the apparatus is out of gear.
Movement is imparted to the knitting frame or other apparatus from
the driving pulley B by means of a belt, driving band, or chain passing
around the pulley D, or by any other suitable means actuated by hand
or other motive power.
The support C of the driving pulley carries near its upper end a small
metallic plate W, and when the apparatus is in gear this small plate W
comes in contact with another fixed plate X, placed in any convenient
position but fixed to the apparatus, and a wire from a galvanic pile or
battery is connected with these two plates, in order to communicate or
cut off the clectric current, according to whether they are in contact or
not. Thus, supposing the apparatus to be in gear, the plates W and X
are in contact and the current established, but as soon as the apparatus
is put out of gear the support of the driving pulley being withdrawn
carries with it the contact plate W, and by this means the current is
immediately cut off.
By means of this arrangement of apparatus the force of the pile or
battery is not spent in waste on the magnet of the machine at rest; that
power can consequently act immediately and entirely on the machine
which may be in want of it. In this manner one single galvanic pile is
sufficient for several machines, and in this way a great saving is effected
of the material, as well as a saving in time and care to be given to the
galvanic piles.

page_text: The novelty and utility claimed under this part of this Invention
is the arrangement and combination of the clectro-magnet K, the
catch E, the cord or rack F, the balance or lever G, the plate Q, the
catch piece P, the springs M and N, the recess x, the support C carrying
the pulley B at one end, with plates W and X, the other end supporting
the axis of the pulley D, the whole being combined so as to act substan-
tially as previously described, whether the apparatus is placed above or
beneath the machine or loom on which it is to operate, or in any other
position where the effects of gravity can be replaced by springs or other
means.
I will proceed to explain the advantages obtained by the application
of these improvements to knitting machinery.
As previously stated it is important that these machines should stop
suddenly under certain circumstances, for instance, when the thread
breaks, or when it is run off or exhausted.
Figure 3 shows a front view of the arrangement of apparatus employed
for this purpose, arranged in accordance with these improvements;
Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line 3, 4, of Figure 3; Figure 5
is a transverse section taken on the line 5-6 of Figure 3.
The breaking or failure of supply of the thread to a knitting or other
machine is detected, and the machine stopped in consequence, as
follows:-
-
The thread in its passage is passed over three supports a, b, c, Figure 5.
The first of these supports not being absolutely essential when the thread.
comes in direct line with the second and third supports, but the latter
are essential. The middle support 6 is formed of a plate of flexible india-
rubber or other suitable substance, which adheres slightly to the thread,
and prevents it from slipping. The third support c is made of glass or
other suitable substance, which allows the thread to slip freely over it.
If the first of these supports a is used it must be similar to the third,
made of glass or other polished surface.
In case the thread should break between the third support and the
point where it enters into the machine, the weight of the bent wire or
other small weight d, e, f, g, Figures 3, 4, and 5, which rests on the
thread will suffice to draw it back; the small wire or weight not being
any longer held by the thread will sink down, and its two small ends or

page_text: The novelty and utility claimed under this part of these improvements
consists in the arrangement and combination of the supports c and b, the
split picce to prevent the uneven thread to pass, the levers U and V,
the mercury cups 7 and 9', the metal hooks d, e, f, g, the points of
contact and, the hammer m, the whole being combined in order to 5
obtain the result, substantially as herein-before described and shown in
the
στολ
In witness whereof, I, the said John Garrett Tongue, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
11
JOHN GARRETT TONGUE. (L.S.)