IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert Portway, of Bradford, in the County of York,
Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert Portway at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th December 1878.
HERBERT PORTWAY, of Bradford, in the County of York, Manufacturer. “IM-
PROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
The improvements hereinafter described are designed to be used on looms
generally, but more especially designed for heavy broad looms and such other looms
to which the weft fork is not easily applied; the object of the Invention being by
improved apparatus to detect the absence of weft, and thereon to bring into
operation the ordinary stopping mechanism by which the further motion of the
loom is for the time being arrested.
My improved apparatus for such purpose consists of parts brought into operation
through the agency of electricity, and according to a second method such object is
attained through the agency of the momentum of certain going parts of the loom
being utilized to operate mechanism hereinafter described. When electricity is
employed I pivot or hinge at each end of the breast beam metallic pieces or fingers
charged from one pole; other like pieces or fingers (charged from the opposite pole)
are attached to a slide bar at the back of the slay board."
So long as the weft is present it acts upon and prevents metallic contact of the
charged pieces or fingers, but when the weft is absent (same when as hereafter referred
to) metallic contact follows, the circuit of electricity is completed, and by magnet and
other mechanism for "knocking off" the loom is stopped. In order to prevent
completion of the circuit through absence of weft at the end of the loom from
which the pick or "shot" is last made, the slide bar (operated from any going part
of the loom) moves the piece or finger out of line with its corresponding part, and
the same moment places the piece or finger for the opposite end in position for

page_text: completing the circuit if weft absent, and vice versa. The arresting the moton
of the loom severs the contact of the pieces or fingers and prevents waste of
electricity.
When electricity is not employed I apply to the breast beam or other part of the
frame of the loom pivoted or hinged catch pieces, which when the weft is absent
act upon like catches applied to the slay board or other going part of the loom and
bring into operation the stopping mechanism, so long as the weft is present the
catches are prevented engageing. There is a like slide bar to the one above referred
to, for the purpose of supplying a substitute for the weft at the end of the loom
from which the pick or shot has last been made. The parts assume their original
position on the loom being restarted.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Herbert Portway in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th June
1879.
HERBERT PORTWAY, of Bradford, in the County of York, Manufacturer.
PROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
*IM-
The improvements hereinafter described are designed to be used on looms
generally, but more especially designed for heavy broad looms and such other looms
to which the weft fork is not easily applied; the object of the Invention being by
improved apparatus to detect the absence of weft, and thereon to bring into
operation the ordinary stopping mechanism by which the further motion of the
loom is for the time being arrested.
My improved apparatus for such purpose consists of parts brought into operation
through the agency of electricity, and according to a second method such object
is attained through the agency of the momentum of certain going parts of the loom
being utilized to operate mechanism, hereinafter described.
When electricity is employed I pivot or hinge at each end of the breast beam
metallic pieces or fingers charged from one pole; other like pieces or fingers
(charged from the opposite pole) are attached to a slide bar at the back of the slay
board. So long as the weft is present it acts upon and prevents metallic contact
of the charged pieces or fingers, but when the weft is absent (save when as here-
after referred to) metallic contact follows, the circuit of electricity is completed,
and by magnet and other mechanism for "knocking off" the loom is stopped.
In order to prevent completion of the circuit through absence of weft at the end
of the loom from which the pick or "shot" is last made, the slide bar (operated
from any going part of the loom) moves the piece or tinger out of line with its
corresponding part, and the same movement places the piece or finger for the
opposite end in position for completing the circuit if weft is absent, and vice versa.
The arresting the motion of the loom.severs the contact of the pieces or fingers and
prevents waste of electricity.
When electricity is not employed I apply to the breast beam or other part of the
frame of the loom pivoted or hinged catch pieces, which when the weft is absent
act upon like catches applied to the slay board or other going part of the loom, and
bring into operation the stopping mechanism; so long as the weft is present the
catches are prevented engaging. There is a like slide bar to the one above referred
to for the purpose of supplying a substitute for the weft at the end of the loom
from which the pick or "shot" has last been made. The parts assume their original
position on the loom being re-started.
Such being the nature and object of this my said Invention I will now proceed
to describe the same, and that the Invention may be fully understood I have here-
unto annexed two Sheets of Drawings illustrative thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figs. 1, 2, and 3 (Sheet 1) illustrate application of my said Invention in con-
nection with electricity; Figs. 4. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate another application thereof
הד
10

page_text: whereby the "knocking off" apparatus is acted upon and the loom stopped. In
order to prevent completion of the circuit through absence of weft at the end of
the loom from which the pick or "shot' is last made, the slide bar 5 (operated
from any going part of the loom) moves the piece or finger 4 out of line with its
corresponding part 2, and the same movement places the piece or finger 4 for the
opposite end in position for completing the circuit if weft is absent, and vice versa.
So soon as the pieces or fingers 2, 4, have completed the circuit the armature
acts as above described, the remaining momentum of the slay serving to sever
contact of parts 2 and 4, and preventing the waste of electricity. When electricity
is not employed I apply to each end of the breast beam 1 or other part of the
frame of the loom pivoted or hinged catch pieces 2, 2, which when the weft is
absent (Fig. 8) act upon like catches 4, 4, applied to the bar 5 in front of the slay
board 6, and bring into operation the stopping mechanism, so long as the weft is
present the catches are prevented engaging. There is a like slide bar 7 to the one
above referred to for the purpose of supplying a substitute for the weft at the end
of the loom from which the pick or "shot" has last been made. The parts assume
their original position on the loom being re-started.
A modification of the first part of my Invention is shown at Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, in
which the metallic pieces or fingers 2, 4, charged from opposite poles are applied to
slay board 6 and fitted with springs. The metal plates 8, 9, attached to the shuttle
are charged from opposite poles as the shuttle passes between the fingers 2, 4, into
the shuttle box 10; should the weft be broken the hanger 11 (see Figs. 6, 7,) will
fall to the position shown by dotted line (Fig. 6) completing the circuit, and by
armature as described act upon the stop motion and knock off the loom; so long as
the weft remains intact the hanger 11 is suspended in position, shown at Fig. 6, by
the weft which is threaded through the hanger. When the shuttle is being picked
out of the box 10 the picking mechanism 12 operates the rod 13, raising the latter,
and by lever 14, drawing the finger 15 clear of the bowl or runner 16. The
finger 15 is charged from the magnet, and in turn charges 16 and 4.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of this my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed or carried into practical.
effect, I would have it understood that I claim,
Firstly. The combination of finger 2 and finger 4, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, operated in
manner and for purpose described.
Secondly. I claim the combination of parts 2, 4, and 11 (Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7,
acting in manner and for purpose described.
Thirdly. I claim combination of finger or hinged pieces 2 and sliding bar 7
(Figs. 8, 9, and 10), for purpose described, and substantially as illustrated by
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert Portway, have hereunto set my hand 4
and seal, this Twenty seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand night hudd
HERBERT PORTWAY. (L.S.)
Witness,
J. E. WALSH,
Mechanical Draughtsman to
Walter Brierley,
Patent Agent,
Halifax and Blackburn.