IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Richardson, of Batley, in the County of York,
Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR
WEAVING."
Sealed the 18th June 1878, and dated the 20th December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Richardson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th December 1877.
GEORGE RICHARDSON, of Batley, in the County of York, Mechanical Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
My Invention refers to what are commonly called rising box looms.
In one arrangement I employ a cam upon the crank or other shaft which actuates
a lever capable of turning upon a centre, and which carries a projecting adjustable
stud, situate beneath a pendant rod, the vertical situation of which is regulated by
the movement of a rack or similar part governed by the ordinary jacquard apparatus
or its equivalent.
When the aforesaid notch is over the stud, the shuttle box is lifted, but when it
is not to be lifted, the said pendant rod is moved on one side. This pendant rod is
connected at its upper end to a bell-crank lever, one arm of which is provided with
an incliue, and this bell-crank lever, on the rod being lifted, carries its incline
under a bowl, which, through the intervention of a lever and rod, acts upon the
balance apparatus, by means of which the shuttle box is lifted; in this manner
the box is raised by the incline and held in position, and the said bowl is fixed in
an adjustable position on the intervening lever or on the balance lever to give the
exact height. In like manner, there is another pendant rod, which, when the
jacquard causes it to take the place of that above-mentioned, acts upon a second
bell-crank lever and incline (connected to the first-named bell-crank lever by strap
or rack) for lowering the box; but in this case the lever which carries a bowl is
in connection with a spring and intermediate spiral pulley, or it may be attached
direct. By this arrangement, when the box is being raised in the afore-mentioned
manner, the bowl of this last-named lever descends down the last-named incline,

page_text: thus assisting in the rising of the box, and when the box shall be lowered the
bowl of the intervening lever descends down the first-named incline, and the bowl
of the lever acted upon by spring pressure ascends the second-mentioned incline and
helps to retard the gravitation of the box.
For simplicity of explanation, two inclines only for raising and lowering the box
have been referred to, but such additional inclines in pairs, together with parts
connected therewith and varied in height, are of course employed, according to the
number of shuttles to be used. The changing of the boxes could also be effected by
the inclines being adapted to bars operated on by levers, as required, or modified in
other ways to produce the aforesaid effects.
In another arrangement, a lever worked by a cam carries an adjustable stud
which acts on a pendant rod in a similar manner to that above described; this
pendant rod is connected at its upper end to an intermediate lever which is joined
by a rod to the usual balance lever, or the pendant rod is connected at its upper
end direct to the balance lever; by this means the adjustable stud, acting on the
pendant rod, causes the balance apparatus to raise the shuttle box, and as this takes
place, a pin or bowl projecting from the balance lever passes over the surface of an
incline on a bell-crank lever, and is drawn towards the said pin by a spring, a
notch at the end of such incline constituting a stop to hold the shuttle box in
position.
For lowering the box, another adjustable stud on the lever which is turned on its
centre by the cam lifts a pendant rod connected to the bell-crank lever of the
incline, whereby the stop is turned back so as to allow the pin of the balance lever
to move down the incline, as in the former case; the parts are of course repeated
according to the number of shuttles to be used, with suitable adjustment and com-
bination of all the parts together to ensure the combined action of the whole.
In another arrangement I employ a sliding cam of different elevations answering
to the several shuttle boxes, and which, by suitable connections, actuates the balance
apparatus in the usual manner and raises the shuttle box to the required height,
but causes the pin of the balance lever, as aforesaid, to traverse the inclines above
mentioned, and which are provided with the spring above referred to. These
.inclines are however in this case provided with tail ends acted upon by a series of
levers which are worked by the aforesaid sliding cam for the purpose of lowering
the shuttle boxes.
The lowering of the boxes could also be effected by inclines in combination with
bell-crank levers as above, and connected by rods to simple or bell-crank levers
worked by the sliding cam as above.
When bell-crank levers are spoken of, other levers with gearing may be used.
The arrangements above described may be adapted to under-pick looms by adapting
suitable mechanical modifications.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Richardson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
June 1878.
GEORGE RICHARDSON, of Batley, in the County of York, Mechanical Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENT IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
My Invention refers to what are commonly called rising box looms, and consists
in arrangements whereby I am enabled to work the loom in a more efficient manner,
especially as regards the balancing of the rising box during its downward move-
ment.
One arrangement I employ is shewn in the partial end view of a loom at Fig. 1,
such arrangement being adapted for a. two-box loom. At 1 is the framework, and
at 2 the main shaft, upon which is a cam 3 capable of acting against a bowl 4
carried by a lever 5 which turns on a centre 6 and is provided with a projecting
pin 7.
At 8 is a rod proceeding from the jacquard apparatus, or its equivalent, to
govern the "rising" box, as is well understood, which rod is connected to a bell-
crank lever 9 turning on a centre 10, and having on one arm a cradle or ruck 11
which embraces, by means of pins, two pendant rods 12, 13, connected at their upper
ends to bell-crank levers 14, 15, turning on centres 16, 17, and provided at their
upper ends with inclines 18, 19, the latter of which has level parts 20, and the
former a recess 21, and also a stop 22. On the incline 19 is a bowl 23, carried by
a levor 24 which turns upon a centre 25, the other end of the said lever being jointed
to a rod 26, the upper end of which is connected to the usual lever 27 by means of
which the shuttle boxes 28 are raised. Upon the incline 18 is a bowl 29 carried by
a léver 30 turning upon a centre 31, its outward end being provided with a rod 32
connected to a spring 33. The bell-crank lever 9 has an arın, in which are two
notches 34, 35, into which a catch 36 may pass, as hereafter to be described, such
catch being formed on a lever 37 turning on a centre 38, and having on its lower
end an incline 39, situate over a pin 40 projecting from the lever 5.
According to the positions of the parts shown, the shuttle box is at the bottom,
and a change having to be made the jacquard rod has turned the bell-crank lever 9
upon its centre 10, so as to have brought the pendant rod 12, by means of the rack
or cradle 11, over the projecting pin 7, and this pin being caused to rise by means
of the cam 3, will lift the pendant rod 12, and this, by turning the bell-crank lever 15
on its centre 17, will cause the incline 19 to pass along the bowl 23, and thus the
shuttle box will be raised through the medium of the rod 40, and kept in position
by the flat 20. This movement of the bell-crank lever 15 will, by means of the
connecting rod 41, also turn the bell-crank lever 14 upon its centre, thus causing
the lower part of the incline 18 to arrive beneath the bowl 29 until arrested by the
stop 22, and by these means the tension of the spring 33 is slackened.
During the above-described movements, however, another operation has taken
place. The first part of the motion of the lever 5 has caused the pin 40 to pass along
the incline 39, whereby the lever 37 is turned upon its centre 38, so as to bring the
catch 36 far enough into the notch 34 to keep the bell-crank lever 9 in the position
shewn, as it is well known that such pattern apparatus acts for a short time only,
and by these means the weaving continues until a change is desired, it being under-
stood that the lifting of the rod 12 has, by means of the connecting rod 41, moved
the other pendant rod 13 downward, so that the positions of the two are reversed
as regards the elevation of their ends.
When a change of box has to be effected the jacquard rod 8 moves the rack or
cradle 11 upon its centre, so as to carry the pendant rod 13 over the pin 7, in which
position it is kept by the incline 39 moving the catch 36 into the notch 35, and the
cam 3 then proceeds to lift the said rod 13, by which means the inclines 18, 19, will
be moved along the bowls 29, 23, such bowls being now respectively on the lower
and higher parts of the said inclines, by which movements the shuttle box will be

page_text: lowered along the incline 19, but this motion will be restrained by the higher part
of the incline 18 moving along the bowl 29, and thus distending the spring 33,
which acts as a restraining power, and by these means the shuttle box descends with
a steady uniform motion.
The above description refers to two shuttle boxes only, but by multiplying the
parts and modifying the inclines the same principle may be adopted for three or'
more.
Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, shew another arrangement specially adapted for three or more
shuttles. The main shaft is at 2, the cum 3, as before, acting upon a lever 5, to
which is connected a rod 41 formed at its upper end wfth a fork 42, 43, as shewn
detached at Fig. 3, and provided with a slot 44 which embraces a pin 45, by means
of which therefore the said rod is guided. This pin projects from a bell-crank
lever 46 turning upon a centre 47, and connected at its other end to a rod 48,
which, by means of rods and levers, communicate with the jacquard or other such
apparatus, and by means of which therefore the bell-crank lever 46 may be caused
to turn upon its centre 47, so as by means of the pin 45 to cause the rod 41 to
vibrate on its centre 49, and convey its forked ends 42, 43, alternately beneath two
pins 50, 51, which project from a double incline 52, 53, mounted so as to be capable
of turning upon a centre 54 carried by the framework. In contact with the incline 52
is a bowl 55 carried by the lever 27, which by means of the rod 40 effects the lifting
of the shuttle box. At 56 is a bowl, situate at this time in a notch formed in the
incline 53, and carried by a bell-crank lever 57 turning on a centre 58, and con-
nected by a rod 59 to a spring 60. Upon the rod 41 is mounted a stud 61, but
which projects also at right angles.from the said rod, and vibrates therewith, and in
so moving into the position shewn (when actuated by the jacquard) passes through
an opening in a curved plate 62, and when the rod 41 therefore moves upward the
said stud traverses the plate 62, and by analogous means to that before described in
reference to the catch 36 and notch 34 constitutes an equivalent for the jacquard
when its holding power is withdrawn.
So far the description has referred to the apparatus required for two shuttle boxes
only, and it will be better for clearness to describe, in the first place, the operation
thereof. According to the positions of the parts shewn, the shuttle box is in its
lowest position, that is, the shuttle at A is in operation, but the jacquard or similar
apparatus hins turned over the part 42 of the rod 41, beneath the pin 50, and has
also protruded the stud 61 through the opening in the plate 62. The cam 3 now
comes into operation and through the medium of the lever 5 lifts the rod 41, the
first effect of which will be to move the stud 61 clear of the opening in the plate 62,
so that it bears against the face of the said plate. Then the forked part 42 arrives
against the pin 50, and turns over the inclines 52, 53, upon their centre 54, by
which movement the former is caused to act against the bowl 55, and turn the
lever 27 upon its centre, whereby the shuttle as nt B is elevated to the working
position, the stud 61 running against the curved plate 62, at the same time the
bowl 56 by being brought in contact with a decreasing radius of the incline 53
relaxes the tension of the spring 60. When it is desired to bring the shuttle at A
again into operation the jacquard or similar apparatus allows the forked part 43 of
the rod 41 to turn to a position under the pin 51 which has been turned downward
into a position corresponding to that shewn at 50, and the said forked part 43
being then moved upward by the cam 3 causes the incline 53, by distending the
spring 60, to govern the descent of the box as the bowl 55 passes down
the incline 52 precisely after the manner of that described in reference to
Fig. 1.
Thus far the description has referred to two shuttle boxes only, but for the third
there is additional apparatus to be now described. Behind the two inclines 52, 53,
and on the same centre, but capable of moving independently, are others, 62, 63, of
increased radii, and provided also with projecting pins 64, 65, beneath which is a
second rod 66, formed with forked parts 67, 68, connected to the lever 5, and capable
of being caused to vibrate by a pin 69, slot and bell-crank lever 71, actuated by

page_text: jacquard apparatus precisely in the same manner as that above described. Suppose
it desired to raise the shuttle as at C to the working position, then the jacquard
apparatus moves the forked part 67 beneath the pin 64, whereby the incline 62 will
be caused to come into operation against a second bowl 55, and effect the required
lifting; and at a subsequent falling the incline 63, working against a bowl 72, will
govern the motion through the medium of a spring 73, as before described, and sup-
posing that it is desired to drop from A to C, then the jacquard or similar apparatus
not acting allows the forked part 68 to fall back under the pin 65, in all cases the
descent of the shuttle box being governed by the inclines and springs, and the bowls
56, 72, by passing into the recesses registering the positions of the inclines. Both of
the rods 41, 66, are of course provided with the detaining stud 61. The projection
74 is simply a handle to enable the attendant to move the inclines by;
band.
By reference to Fig. 3, it will be seen that an incline 75 is formed on the lifting
rods 41, 66, which inclines run against a fixed part 76, and are for the purpose of
preventing the forked ends from leaving the pins they act upon as such pins move
in the arc of a circle.
Fig. 6 shews a modification of the foregoing arrangement. At 52, 53, 62, 63, are
the inclines as before, but in this instance they are provided with pendant rods
42, 43, and 67, 68, extending through racks or cradles 11, carried by bell-crank.
levers 80, 81, turning upon a centre 80*, and which are actuated by rods 82, 83,
proceeding from the jacquard or other such apparatus. Beneath the pendant rods
are two pins 84, 85, carried by the lever 5, and according to the positions shown, the
pin 84 is about to be raised by the cam 3, so as to lift the rod 42 and turn the
incline 52, which will then lift the box as before described, and for lowering it
again to the starting position the rack or cradle 11 conveys the rod 43 over the
pin 85, the action of the second inclines 62, 63, being effected by pins corresponding
to those shewn at 84, 85, but on the other side of the lever 5, acting against the
other pendant rods 67, 68, the disposition of the parts being simply the reverse of
those shewn at Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, the pins in one case being at the upper and in the
other at the lower ends of the rods. The governing springs 68, 73, and locking
apparatus 56, 57, are as before, but for retaining the parts after the action of the
jacquard the arrangement is varied. Upon the lever 5 is a pin 40, situato against
an incline forined on a lever 37, which turns upon a centre and carries a wedge 86.
When the jacquard has acted for lifting, tho wedge 86 is caused by the pin 40 and
incline to pass under a bracket 87 on the bell-crank lever 80, and when for
lowering the wedge 86 passes into a recess 88, the arrangement for the other bell-
crank lever 81 being the same.
In reference to the above described part of my Invention, I may observe that
instead of the raising and lowering inclines being mounted so as to turn upon
centres, they might be caused to slide in right lines with precisely the same effect,
and that my Invention may be applied to under-pick loomis by suitable dispositions
of the parts.
Figs. 7, 8, and 9 shew another part of my Invention, and which refers to that
known arrangement in which the several shuttles are raised and lowered by means
of a cam or cams of different elevations.
At 101 is the main shaft, and at 102 the cam caused to slide by a jacquard or
other such apparatus in any usual manner, the said cam actuating the lifting lever
103 by coming into operation against the bowl 104.
At 105 is a lever mounted so as to turn on a centre 106, and situate so as to
be capable of being turned by the cam 102, when it is shifted away from the same
plane as the bowl 104. Fig. 9 shews these two relative planes. To the upper end
of the lever 105 is jointed an arm 107, connected at its other end to a lever 108,
which turns on a centre 109, and the upper end thereof is provided with a recess,
into which a snug 110 fixed to the lever 103 passes at certain times; it is so situate
in the Drawing; and at 111 is a stop on the lever 108, which also acts at times as a
support for the said snug 110. To the upper part of the lever 10S is connected a

page_text: spring 112, its other end being attached to the framework, and between the two
parts 110, 111, the lever 108 is formed with an incline 114. Behind the lever 108
is another 115, also turning upon the centre 109, but independently of the other
lever 108, and provided with a stop 116, and incline 117 drawn forward by a
spring 118. The lower end of this lever is connected by a rod 119 to a lever 120
turning upon the centre 106, but independently of the lever 105; but its
tail end is also capable of being acted on by the cam 102. Upon the front lever
108 is a plate 121, which extends transversely, so as to be situate in the same plane
as the back lever 115.
The operation is as follows, according to the positions of the parts shewn :-The
the box has been lifted, so as to bring the shuttle at A into the picking position; the
cam 102 has moved back, its highest elevation is in the same plane as the back
lever 120, and it is supposed that the box is to fall, so as to bring the shuttle at B
into the picking position. The revolution of the said can will therefore cause the
lever 120 to turn upon its centre, and this giving motion to the lever 115, that said
lever 115 by acting against the strap 121 will cause the lever 108 to turn on its
centre 109, and the snug 110 will be liberated from its notch in the said lever, and
will descend the incline 114, according to the progress of the cam, but drawn
towards the said incline by the force of the spring 112, which therefore governs the
descent of the box, as in the former instances, and when the said snug has reached
the stop 111, the desired position of the box is registered, the first motion of the lever
115 having moved back the stop 116. Suppose however that it is desired to bring
the shuttle at C into the picking position, then the cam 102 is slidden, so as to bring
the highest elevation opposite the front lever 105, whereby the snug 110 is liberated
from its recess, and free to descend as before, but this motion of the said lever
carries with it the lever 108 and a projecting pin 130 on the same casting as the
strap 121, and this pin by arriving in contact with the back lever 115, and by
turning it on its centre, brings the stop 116 beneath a snug like that shewn at 110,
but on the other side of the lifting lever 103. The picking position is now at C,
and if it be desired to change therefrom to B, the same operations as those above
described upon the levers 115, 108, will remove the stop 116, and allow the
snug 110 to pass along the incline 114 to the stop 111.
The above description refers to the use of three shuttle boxes, but any other
number may be worked on the same principle.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood that I
claim as secured to me under the above in part recited Letters Patent, and for the
purposes above set forth,—
Firstly. The arrangement of inclines and parts connected therewith, sub-
stantially as described, for raising and lowering the shuttle boxes, as shewn from
Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive.
Secondly. The arrangement and construction of parts, substantially as described,
for lowering the shuttle boxes shewn at Figs. 7, 8, and 9.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Richardson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Nineteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
GEO. RICHARDSON. (L.S.)