Improvements in or relating to Shedding Motions of Looms for Weaving.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Jan., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 11th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 10th Dec., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Shedding Motions of Looms for
Weaving.
We, JAMES WARD and JOSEPH WARD, both of Ingham Street Iron Works,
Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, Dobby Makers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in looms for weaving and consists
of an improved under or over motion or spring box employed for ensuring the
return of the heald staves and healds to their normal position after they have
been operated by the dobby or by the shedding tappets of the loom. The object
of the invention is to obviate the great objection of the under or over motion as
heretofore constructed wherein the distension of the spiral springs exerted a
constantly increasing pressure on the jacks, healds, warps, and shedding
mechanism as the healds were moved to form the shed, and this had a detrimental
effect on the weaving, and also a loss of power. The invention also relates to
improvements in the method of and means employed for coupling the dobby
with the extension motion used in wide looms, and also in double jack dobbies
as used in narrow looms, where the motion from the dobby at one end of the
loom is conveyed to jacks at the opposite end of the loom.
According to this invention we employ a frame for carrying the shafts on
which the jacks are mounted and geared into one another in pairs in the usual
manner. Each jack has a finger or projection cast to it, and resting on these
fingers are the ends of levers mounted on cross shafts or in brackets, and the
outer ends of each pair of such levers are connected together by means of a
spiral spring which tending to draw the outer ends of the levers together causes
the inner ends to press on the fingers or projections and move the jacks so as
to pull upon the heald staves and healds.
When the jacks are lifted by the dobby or other mechanism the projections
advance towards one another and the ends of the levers and away from their
fulera and from this peculiar arrangement and combination the spring exerts
a continually decreasing pull on the jacks. Each alternate lever may be con-
nected to short springs fixed to hooks below the fulcra of the levers, the other
ends of such springs being fixed to stationary brackets, or grates. By this
means stronger springs may be used as there is double the amount of space for
their reception, and the levers themselves are shorter, the tail or upper portion
being unnecessary.
Anti-friction runners may be placed in the projections of the jacks or in the
levers to prevent friction, and the motion may be double as described, or single
by using half only of the apparatus, in which case the springs would be attached
to fixed points preferably under and over alternately.
The improved connection for coupling the extension motion or link for con-
necting the dobby to the jacks at the opposite end of the loom consists of a link
made in two or three parts, the inner ends of which are dovetailed and further

page_text: fixed to one another by bolts or rivets, the two outer ends forming hooks of cast
or malleable iron, whilst the inner lengths may be of wrought or cast iron as
desired.
Dated this 10th day of January 1898.
BRIERLEY & HOWARD,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax, Agents for the Applicants.
CALL DIE DI MOLTIVATION
Improvements in or relating to Shedding Motions of Looms for
Weaving.
We, JAMES WARD and JOSEPH WARD, both of Ingham Street Iron Works,
Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, Dobby Makers, 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:-
_
This invention relates to improvements in looms for weaving and consists
of an improved under or over motion or spring box employed for ensuring the
return of the heald staves and healds to their normal position after they have
been operated by the dobby or by the shedding tappets of the loom. The object
of the invention is to obviate the great objection of the under or over motion as
heretofore constructed wherein the distension of the spiral springs exerted a
constantly increasing pressure on the jacks, healds, warps, and shedding
mechanism as the healds were moved to form the shed, and this had a detrimental
effect on the weaving, and also a loss of power. The invention also relates to
improvements in the method of and means employed for coupling the dobby
with the extension motion used in wide looms where the motion from the dobby
at one end of the loom is conveyed to jacks at the opposite end of the loom and
also for coupling the jack levers to the outside jacks in dobbies of narrow looms.
Such being the nature and object of our said invention, the following is a
complete description of same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of the improved undermotion.
Figs. 2 and 3 are views of the spring levers.
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are side views of the improved coupling or connecting rods.
According to this invention and referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, we employ
a frame 1 for carrying the fulcrum shafts 2, 2 which extend across the machine
from front to back of same. On these shafts 2, 2 are mounted jacks 3, 3 geared
together by teeth in the usual manner and working in grates 4, 4 for steadying
and guiding purposes. The grates 4, 4 may be dispensed with and radius pieces
cast to each jack substituted therefor and when desired the teeth in the jacks 3, 3
are dispensed with, the jacks not being geared together, for instance where the
double jack arrangement is used on narrow looms. Each jack 3, 3 has cast or
fixed to it a cranked finger piece 3, 3, and in the frame 1, or carried in brackets
fixed thereto are two fulcrum shafts 5, 5 carrying spring levers 6, 6 and 7, 7
(see Figs. 2 and 3) the levers 6, 6 being straight, and the levers 7 bell-cranked.
The levers 6 are placed on their fulcrums 5 so that their lower ends bear on to
the cranked fingers 3 of the jacks 3, 3, and the other ends of such levers 6
terminate in hooks to which long springs 8 are attached, the levers 6, 6 on each
side being thus connected together as shewn. Bell-cranked levers 7, 7, are
also mounted on the shafts 5, 5 and the hooked ends of these levers 7, 7 are
directed downwards and attached by springs 9, 9 (of about half the length of

page_text: the springs 8) to fixed hooks or points 10 on the top of the grates 4, 4. As
these undermotions are usually very narrow consequently only a very small
space is available for each jack 3, the levers 6, 6 and 7, 7 are arranged alter-
nately and double the amount of space is given the springs 8, 9. Thus the
jacks, 3, 3 may be close side by side from front to back but by arranging the
straight levers 6, 6 to bear on the fingers 3 of every alternate pair of jacks 3, 3
and two bell-cranked levers 7, to bear on every intervening pair of jacks 3, 3,
springs of double diameter may be employed. If all the levers on the fulcrum
shafts 5 were alike, then there would only be sufficient spaces for small springs
to be used. The portions of the fingers which bear against the levers 6 and 7
have projecting surfaces or tonges (which are received in grooves of similar
shape provided in the levers 6, 7, such grooves and projections preventing any
tendency of the levers 6 or 7 to slip sideways off the fingers 3".
The grooves
are shewn by dotted lines and are not necessarily on levers 6, 7, but may be
on the fingers 3 and the projections on the hooks 6 and 7. An anti-friction
bowl may be placed either on the finger 3 or on the levers 6, 7 at the point of
contact with the two parts if thought desirable.
The motion as illustrated is designed principally for use on looms of medium
width. For very wide looms we propose to cut the machine in two at or about
the centre. The spring 8 will then be only about the same length as the
spring 9 and a bar such as 10 will be necessary and may be fixed to the frame 1.
This motion could be used on either side of a wide loom or in the centre of a very
narrow one, and as there would be no use for the teeth on the jacks 3, 3 if the
machine were divided, such teeth could be dispensed with.
If additional springs are required for heavy work they can be employed with-
out adding to the width of the machine by casting on each jack 3, 3 projections 3*
above and below, and combined therewith levers such as 6 and 7 and springs
such as 8 and 9 on the underside of the machine.
By placing the projections or fingers 3" on the jacks 3 alternately above and
below, double the amount of frictional surface between fingers and levers 6, 7
can be obtained, providing at same time extra room for springs of larger diameter.
Referring to the improved coupling rods or connections (see Sheet 2) as used
on wide looms. Heretofore these couplings being made of wrought iron or of
cast iron all in one piece, have not been adjustable as to length and have not
been provided with such bearing surfaces as are requisite to ensure good working.
According to this invention the coupling rods are made in two or more lengths
for an extension motion for a wide loom. Fig. 4 shews a rod made up of
3 parts, the middle part 1 being preferably of wrought iron or mild steel, and
the ends 1 cast or malleable iron secured to the middle 1 by means of bolts
or screws.
It will be seen that in Fig. 5 the ends 1b are not quite the same shape as the
ends of Fig. 4. When the couplings are in the dobby they are placed alternately
(from front to back) say all the odd numbers like Fig. 4, and all the even ones
as Fig. 5, the bending or cranking allowing the bolts which attach the middles
to the ends to clear one another.
In Fig. 6a similar coupling to the above is shewn, but the middle is also in
two parts bolted together so as to provide for longitudinal adjustment.
The ends of the coupling rods have full width bearing surfaces, and the great
objection to the use of extension motions is overcome as the joints of the couplings
will be durable and lasting.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
(1) The general construction, arrangement, and combination of parts con-
stituting the improved under or over motion, as and for the purpose herein
described and substantially as illustrated by the drawings hereto annexed.

page_text: (2) The jack levers 3 having fingers 3 in frictional contact with which are
levers such as 6 and 7 held thereto by springs 8, 9 all in combination as and
for the purpose herein described and substantially as illustrated by Sheet 1 of
the accompanying drawings.
(3) In loom dobbies provided with double sets of shedding levers or jacks,
coupling or connecting rods made as herein described and substantially as illus-
trated by Sheet 2 of the accompanying drawings.
1.000
JAMES WARD.
JOSEPH WARD.
By their Agents, Brierley & Howard,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax.