CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Lacey Davies, of the Firm of John Davies
and Son, of 4, St. Anne's Square, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Patent Agents, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."- A communication from abroad by. Paul
Rebuschinsky and William Cheetham, both of Moscow, in the Empire of
Russia.
Sealed the 21st August 1866, and dated the 28th April 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Lacey Davies
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 28th April 1866.
I, JOHN LACEY DAVIES, of the Firm of John Davies and Son, of 4, St.
Anne's Square, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Patent Agents, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," being a communication to me from abroad by Paul
Rebuschinsky and William Cheetham, both of Moscow, in the Empire of
Russia, to be as follows:-
The Invention. relates to that part of looms for weaving called the healds
wherein metal strips are substituted as supports and guides for the warp in
place of healds made from worsted or other yarn, and the improvements
consist in the use of metallic "shafts" or framing for the healds, from which

page_text: sinall brackets project and which are arranged so as to support metal rods
which extend the length of such "shafts." These rods support short thin
strips of flat steel or other suitable metal by passing through holes previously
perforated in the ends of the same; each particular steel strip is perforated
about midway between their supporting rods with small polished holes or eyes
through which the warp threads pass. The number of metallic plates or healds
contained between the shafts of the healds being diminished or increased
according to the texture of the fabric required, that is to say, the steel strips
of the healds supporting the warp thread must correspond with the number
of "dents" in the reed according to the quality of cloth. The increase or
reduction in number is easily accomplished by placing a greater or less
number of them on the said sliding rods or bars supported by the brackets
secured to the "shafts" of the healds. The "shafts" of the healds are
connected to the treadles by leather strapping or other suitable fastenings.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Lacey Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th October 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
LACEY DAVIES, of the Firm of John Davies and Son, of 4, St. Ann's
Square, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Patent Agents, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Lacey Davies, Her special license that I, the said John
Lacey Davies, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said John Lacey Davies, 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," being a
communication to me from abroad by Paul Rebuschinsky and William Cheet-
ham, both of Moscow, in the Empire of Russia, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Lacey Davies, my executors or administrators,

page_text: 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 Lacey Davies, 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 and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :-
The Invention relates to that part of looms for weaving wherein metal strips
are substituted as supports and guides for the warp in place of healds made
from worsted or, other yarn, and the improvements consist in the use, of
metallic "shafts" or framing for the healds, from which small brackets projectį
and which are arranged so as to support metal rods which extend the length
of such "shafts." These rods support short thin strips of flat steel or other
suitable metal by passing through holes previously perforated in the
ends of the same; each particular steel strip is perforated about midway
between their supporting rods with small polished holes or eyes through which
the warp threads pass. The number of the metallic plates or healds contained.
between the shafts of the healds being diminished or increased according to
the texture of the fabric required, that is to say, the steel strips of the healds
supporting the warp thread must correspond with the number of "dents" in the
reed according to the quality of the cloth. The increase or reduction in number
is easily accomplished by placing a greater or less number of them on the said
sliding rods or bars supported by the brackets secured to the "shafts" of the
healds. The "shafts" of the healds are connected to the treadles by leather
strapping or other suitable fastenings. The chief feature of the Invention
being the method of mounting or supporting metallic healds so that they are
relieved from any strain or tension, and are capable of moving or yielding,
either slightly vertically or laterally, so as to allow for inequalities in the
yarn, by which means the cutting or injury to the yarn is avoided.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings illustrative of same, and
having similar letters of reference marked thereupon.
Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of the rigid framework in which the
metallic strips or "healds" are mounted or supported, Fig. 2 being an end view
of the same, and Fig. 3 represents a front view or flat side of one of the
metallic plates or strips.
In Fig. 1, a, a, are the upper and lower bars or shafts which are

page_text: attached to the treddles by the leather thongs b, b; these bars or shafts
are connected together by the vertical tie bars d, d, and thus a rigid quadri-
lateral frame is formed. The brackets e, e, e, e, are furnished with eyes, and
are rivitted or attached to the top. and bottom shafts in the position shewn,
and the "heald" rods f, f, are passed through the eyes and are supported
thereby, and these heald rods being passed through the perforated ends of the
metallic plates or "healds" h support them loosely and in a vertical position,
the rods being prevented from withdrawing by means of the pins g, g. The
yarn is passed through the aperture which is formed in the middle of the
length of the plate, and as the yarn and the plate is in the same line it bears
against the sides of the plate or heald, which together with the looseness
of the plates or healds preserves the yarn from being cut by the edges of the
perforation.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the
-method of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly
understood that I claim mounting or supporting metallic healds in a rigid frame-
work, so that when under the action of the treadles such frame shall bear the
pull or strain, leaving the healds or metallic plates loose and free to move_and
yield to the warp.
Secondly, the novel construction and arrangement of framework to be
employed for the purpose as herein-before described, set forth, and fully
illustrated in the Drawings attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Lacey Davies, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
JOHN LACEY DAVIES