IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF YARNS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF INTO TEXTILE FABRICS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Singleton, of Over Darwen, in the County
of Lancaster, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF YARNS, AND IN THE
MANUFACTURE THEREOF INTO TEXTILE FABRICS."
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Singleton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 26th December 1873.
I, THOMAS SINGLETON, of Over Darwen, in the County of Lancaster,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF YARNS,
AND IN THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF INTO TEXTILE FABRICS," to be as follows:-
The first part of this Invention is an improved guide for the winding
machine. It consists of a guide somewhat similar to the ones in present
use, except that instead of an upright slot for the thread to work in
it works in a horizontal slot at the bottom of the upright slot; a rest is
A

page_text: placed close to the said horizontal slot to prevent the thread bearing
hard upon the edges of it. The advantage of the above arrangement is
that the thread can adapt itself to the various angles necessitated by the
increasing diameter of the bobbin, without having to form acute angles
over the thin edges of the guide as in an upright slot.
The next part of this Invention is an improved expanding comb to be
used in the sizing and warping machines. This improvement is intended
to prevent fluke from getting into the box of the comb and choking the
expanding parts: It consists of an ordinary-expanding comb turned
upon its side and the dents bent upwards, so that the slot is then upon
the side of the box and not upon the top, and is thus less liable to receive
fluke. A slot may 'be made at each side of the box and two rows of
dents, bent as before described, may be used instead of one.
The next part of this Invention is an improved manner of drying the
warp
in the sizing machine and is intended to render the yarn less brittle
than when dried entirely on cylinders. I have an ordinary cylinder.
heated by steam, and the warp after leaving the squeezing rollers passes
on to this cylinder and is by this.means about half dried;, it next. passes
¡over carrier rollers and is carried a number of times up and down an
upright. trunk or chamber at the foot of which is placed a number of
pipes or chests also heated by steam; in this chamber the warp
is ren-
dered nearly dry by the leat ascending from the said chests or pipes; it is
next caused to pass into and several times up and down another chamber
also having steam chests or pipes at the bottom; a fan is placed under
the last named steam cliests or pipes and blows a current of air between
them; the said air thus becomes heated and passes into the chamber
where its action upon the warp completes the drying of it. The warp
after leaving this chamber passes. to the dividing rods and the weaver's
beam in tho usual manner. Outlets are provided at the top of the
chambers for the exit of the moist air, and a stage and doors are pro-
vided for enabling the operative to inspect the work..
'
The next part of this Invention consists in an improved means of
regulating the feeding of size to the sizing inachine, and by which the
size, is kept at or near a uniform level in the size box, and the new size
is more evenly distributed among that in the box.
The apparatus consists of two parts; a "feeder" and. a." distributor."
The feeder consists of a liollow ball or other float resting or floating in

page_text: the size in the box, or in a compartment for the purpose communicating
with the box. In one form of the feeder this float is connected by a
lever to a small steam tap which it opens and shuts as it rises and falls
with the level of size in the box. When the steam tap is opened it
admits steam into a small cylinder in which is a plug or piston, and
which is connected by a shank or rod with a valve or tap regulating the
feed of size. As the plug or piston is raised it opens the valve or tap
and allows the size to flow; as the level of size in the box approaches
a certain height the float shuts off the steam and the plug or piston
descends and closes the feed valve or tap.
Another form of feeder consists of a lever working in connection with
the ball or float before-named, and carrying by means of a link a sort
of double catch working above and below one or more ratchet wheels
placed on the plug of a tap regulating the admission of size to the size
box. This catch receives a vibratory motion from a lever actuated by a
cam or crank from the side shaft of the machine, and a balance weight
is placed on the tail end of the double catch to prevent too much weight
pressing on the ball or float. When the level of size in the size box
falls the lever in connection with the ball or float descends and lowers
the double catch so that it comes into gear with a ratchet wheel on tho
plug of the tap regulating the feed of size, and by turning the said
ratchet wheel opens tho said tap and admits size to the size box. If the
level rises above the proper height it brings the double catch into gear
with the opposite side of the same, or another ratchet wheel on the plug
of the said tap, and by moving the ratchet wheel in the opposito
direction closes or partly closes the said tap and so stops or diminishes
the feed of size. A tap worked by a connection from the knocking off
handle cuts off the feed of size every time the machine stops, instead
of a separate tap for the purpose. The tap regulating the feed of size
may be made with a double plug, one part of which is actuated as
before-named to entirely cut off the supply at each stoppage of the
machine.
The distributor is a hollow cylinder perforated with holes, or having a
slot almost throughout its length, it is placed across the size box and
made to revolve, being driven from any convenient part of the machine's
motion; the size flows into this cylinder and along its length, and at
every revolution is emptied into the size box pretty evenly across the
width. Or in another form of apparatus for the purpose of regulating

page_text: named frog has been moved forward a spring draws it back to its
place.
"
The next part of this Invention relates to a loose reed loom, and
consists in dispensing with the ordinary bow spring, organ handle, and
the springs upon the duck bills, all of which. are used for exerting
pressure upon the reed at different points of the travel of the slay. I
substitute in place of the above articles a bow spring placed underneath
where the slay travels, and I have a link coming from one of the duck
bills to the end of the said bow spring; this link passes through a hole.
in the spring and is kept in position by a cylindrical collar underneath.
As the centre of the cylindrical collar does not coincide with the centre
of the slay's oscillations, it is evident that the pressure of the spring upon
the stop rod is not constant but varies according to the position of the
slay. The bow spring and cylindrical collar are accordingly fixed in
such a position that the pressure of the spring is weakest
the reed
upon
at such times as the reed is liable to be thrown out by the shuttle being
trapped in the shed; at another time, such as when the shuttle is
travelling across the reed, the pressure of the spring is greatest. By
using a cast iron tubular stop rod with the wings cast upon it I am enabled
tọ work with one duck bill instead of two or more.
t
The next part of this Invention is an improvću brake in which the
ordinary weight is dispensed with, the power being obtained from the
spring handle of the loom. The end of the brake pressing on the wheel
is formed in any convenient or common manner; it is made to swivel on
a stock or shank sliding in a bracket attached to the loom side; the end
of the stock or shank terminates in a small bowl or pulley opposite a
small lever on the spring handle.
When it is desired to stop the loom the spring handle is thrown off,
the end of the lever attached to it presses upon the bowl before-named
and forces the brake forward against the wheel. The end of the small:
lever is either formed with a curve, an incline, or a small bowl to work
against the one before named; but it is so arranged that the operative-.
can raise the said end of the lever and so throw the brake out of action.
while the loom is yet stopped.
..
The foregoing arrangement is for a loose reed loom, but for a fast reed
loom or a loom where the reed is both fast and loose, and where at times
it is necessary that the frog should actuate the brake I-connect the frog

page_text: to the foregoing brake in the following manner :-I place a lever on a
fixed stud; one end of the lever works on a stud on the brake stock, and
the other end on a stud on the frog, so that when the frog is struck and
moves the lever forward the lever moves the brake back upon the wheel;
or I cast the frog with a rack on one side and place a toothed wheel or
quadrant on a fixed stud so as to work in the said rack. On the opposite
side of the wheel or quadrant and working in it I place another rack
sliding in a suitable bracket, so that as the frog slides towards the front
of the loom the last named rack slides towards the back of the loom;
this rack terminates in a shank carrying a spring which presses against
a projection on the stock of the break, so that when the frog is struck
and carried forward the brake is pressed backward against the wheel.
The use of the spring before named in a fast reed loom is to render
the force of the concussion less violent, and its use in the loom which is
both a fast and loose reed is to allow the frog to slide after the brake
block has come in contact with the wheel. The frog is furnished with
a finger which knocks off the spring handle in the usual manner.
The next part of this Invention is an improved means of weighting
the cloth beam up to the emery beam; it consists at each end of the
beam of a rope passed several times round the shafts of the emery and
cloth beams, and afterwards passed below the cloth beam where a weight
is hung upon it. As the roll of cloth upon the beam becomes larger the
two rollers are forced further apart and the weight is drawn up through
a much larger space than that through which the bottom roller falls.
The power of the weight is therefore multiplied upon the beams, and
being placed near to the front of the loom is more convenient for the
operative.
In order to protect the rope from the friction loose bosses may be
placed on the roller shafts and the rope passed round them instead of tho
shafts, and instead of a ropo a chain or strap may be used.
The next part of this Invention is an improved yarn beam weighting
motion by means of which I dispense with the weights and obtain the
same result by frictional clips. On one end of the yarn beam I fix a
ruffle firmly, one end of which is formed as a ratchet wheel, and fitting
loose upon this ruffle is placed another ruffle carrying a catch working a
in the said ratchet wheel; two or more clips which are capable of being
tightened and slackened by set screws or bolts are placed upon the last .
"

page_text: named ruffle and act as a friction thereon, the force of which it is
necessary for the warp to overcome before it can move forward. One end
of the clips come in contact with a stop, and the same or opposite end
is placed in contact with a spring which serves to give a vibratory motion
to the yarn beam at tho treading of the healds and so keep the yarn tight
in the loom.
The use of the catch before named is that the weaver may lift it out
of the ratchet wheel and for any purpose let off some of the warp from
the beam and wind it on again without interfering with the clips or
having to overcome their friction.
The advantage of using two or more clips instead of one is that a
number of them allows of a greater nicety of regulation. When the
beam is emptied the top ruffle can be slipped off and put on to another
beam without unloosening or altering the clips.
In another arrangement of the same apparatus I place the ruffle, clips,
and other parts before named to work upon a stud; a spur wheel is
attached to the ratchet wheel and a spur wheel on the yarn beam works
into it.
The next part of this Invention is a cover for the warp in the loom
for the purpose of keeping the said warp moist. It consists of a sheet
of india-rubber, macintosh, or other waterproof material extending
round the yarn beam from near the lease rods to the same place on the
under side of the warp.
The next part of this Invention is for damping the warp in the loom.
It consists of a trough of water placed across the loom under the warp,
and a pipe fed with steam placed in the said water to promote its
evaporation; the warp passes over the edges of the trough, and a cover
sufficiently raised so as not to touch the warp is placed upon the trough
to have the effect of confining or throwing down the steam from tho
water upon the warp
to damp it. More or less steam may be turned
into the pipe to cause more or less evaporation, and where the atmosphere
is sufficiently warm for the purpose the steam may be turned off
altogether. The condensed steam formed in the pipe may be allowed to
run into the trough, and thus supply it with water; or I place a trough
of water or other fluid across the loom under the warp. A shaft carrying
a wire or rib turns above the fluid, and at every revolution dips the rib
or wire in the fluid and afterwards touches the warp with it, each time

page_text: conveying a small quantity of liquid from the trough to the warp; or
I place the shaft below, or on one side of the trough, and fix upon the
shaft two eccentrics, the use of which is to lift two shafts or levers
resting thereon working in guides and extending to above the trough.
A wire or rib connects the two upper extremities of the two shafts or
levers, and at every revolution of the eccentrics the wire is dipped in the
fluid and afterwards lifted up to touch the warp.
The shaft is driven from any convenient part of the loom's motion, and
there is a cone pulley or change wheel in the driving of it for obtaining
different speeds, so that more or less moisture may be given to the
yarn.
The next part of this Invention is for damping and brushing the warp
in the loom. It consists of a revolving brush, so fixed that its fibros
may touch the warp. It receives moisture either by running in a trough
of water or running in contact with a roller or rib revolving in a trough
of water or other fluid, and communicates the moisture it receives to
the warp. The brush and roller or rib is driven from any convenient
part of the loom's motion, and in the said driving there is a change wheel
or cone pulley, by changing which more or less moisture may be given
to the warp.
In all or any of the above-named apparatus for damping, and damping
and brushing the warp I keep the fluid in the trough at a uniform level
by means of a closed cistern, same as named for feeding the sizing
machine with size.
The next part of this Invention is an improved weft grate. It consists
of a frame fixed to the back board in the usual manner, but instead of
fixed wires I have moveable blades of steel fastened at the top with and
swivelling upon a screw or rivet, and loose at the bottom, so that if they
be struck with the shuttle or with the weft fork they will move back or
spring to one side without becoming bent, as is the case with wires. In
case they be moved back the operative replaces them, but where moved
sideways they will spring back to their original position.
The next part of this Invention is a small washer of wood placed on
the picking band between the pin or peg and the picker to prevent the
hole in which the pcg is placed being so near that part of the band

page_text: which wears with the friction of the picker. This renders the picking
band more durable, being less liable to break.
The next part of this Invention is an article, which during the process
of weaving prevents the gold thread used for heading calicoes and other
fabrics from entangling round that head of the reel which is farthest
from the shuttle eye. It consists of a small hollow cone fitting at the
small end upon the shuttle peg, and at the large end upon one end of
the reel holding the gold thread; it thus prevents the gold thread from
getting over that end of the reel and breaking while weaving.
The next part of my Invention consists in dispensing with the rigid
wood or metal staples used as guides for the check strap and substituting
them by flexible staples made of leather or other flexible material,
which will not wear out the check strap like the first-named ones; or
instead of staples substituting small levers attached at their ends to the
check strap and swivelling upon small studs or screws attached to the
slay.
The next part of this Invention is an improved manner of forming the
healds. At the top and bottom of the healds I have thin plates of metal
pierced with holes to receive the staves and also to receive a tape
joining the said plates with the eyes of the healds, which are also made
of thin plates of metal, the holes being sufficiently large to receive the
tape.
The warp in passing through the eyes come next the tape, and the
said tape is arranged in short lengths and in such a manner that when
one portion of it be worn by the warp it can be moved so as to present a
new wearing surface to the warp.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Singleton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 25th June 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
SINGLETON, of Over Darwen, in the County of Lancaster, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of December, in the

page_text: :
-
B
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in
the thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Singleton, Her.
special license, that I, the said Thomas Singleton, my executors
administrators, -and assigns, or. such others, as I, the said Thomas
Singleton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there,
after 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 In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED IN THE
PREPARATION OF YARNS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF INTO TEXTILE
FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, 'the said Thomas
Singleton, my executors or administrators, 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 Thomas Singleton, 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, reference being had to the accom-
panying Sheets of Drawings.
The first part of this Invention is an improved guide for the winding a
machine. It is represented in Fig. 1, and is similar to those in present
use except that instead of the thread working in an upright slot, it
works in a horizontal slot at the bottom of the upright slot; B is the
said horizontal slot, and C is a rest placed close to it to prevent the
thread bearing upon the edge of it. The advantage of the above a
arrangement is that the thread can adapt itself to the various angles
necessitated by the varying diameter of the bobbin without having to
form acute angles over the thin edges of the guide, as is the case with
the upright slot.
The next part of this Invention is an improved expanding comb for a
use in the sizing and warping machines. The improvement is intended
to prevent fluke". from getting, into the box of the comb and choking

page_text: the expanding parts.. For this purpose an ordinary expanding comb is:
turned upon its side, and the dents: D, Fig. 2, are bent upwards. The,
slot E is tlien upon the side of the box and not upon the top, and is,
thus less liable to.recieve" fluke." A slot may be made at both sides of
Itlie:box, and two rows of dents, bent as before described, may be used
instead of one.
:
'
1
The next part of this Invention is an improved manner of drying the
warp in the sizing machine, and is, intended to render the yarn less
brittle than when dried entirely on cylinders. Fig. 3 shews a section of
part of a machine. F is an ordinary cylinder heated by steam, and the
warp after leaving the squeezing rollers A, A, passes on to this cylinder,
and is by this means made about half dry. It is next carried by
rollers G into and a number of times up and down a tall upright trunk.
or chamber H, at the foot or bottom of which is placed a number of
steam pipes K. In this chamber the warp is rendered nearly dry by the:
licat ascending from the said chests or pipes. The warp next, passes.
into and several times up and down another similar chamber-M, also
having steam chests or pipes at the bottom. A fan N is placed under-
the last-named steam chests or pipes, and blows a current of air between
them. The said air thus becomes heated and passes into the chamber M,
where. its action upon the warp completes the drying of it. It then.
passes to the dividing rods and weavers' beam in the usual manner.
Seperate outlets c³, d¹, e¹‚ƒ³, arc¨ provided at the top of the chambers
for the exit of the moist air and the steam arising from the drying,
cylinder. Platforms and doors are also provided for enabling the ope-
rative to inspect the work. In this improvement the warp is dried in.
three stages, the most violent. heat-being applied in the first stage, and.
the least heat in the last stage. Each stage is kept distinct from the
others by the system of chambers adopted, so that the steam arising.
from each stage of drying is prevented from coming into contact with
that part of the warp more thoroughly dried.
The next part of this Invention is an improved manner of regulating.
the feeding of size to the sizing machine. By means of this improve-
ment.the.size is kept at or near a uniform lovel in the size box, and the
new size-is more evenly distributed among that in the box.
.
'
The apparatus consists of two parts,.a "feeder" and a "distributer.":
The "feeder.". shown in Figs. 4 and 5 consists of a hollow ball or other:

page_text: float O, resting or floating in the sizo in the box or in a compartment
communicating with the box. This float is connected by a lever to a
small steam tap Q, which tap it opens and shuts as it rises and falls with
the level of tho size in the box. The tap when opened admits steam
into a small cylinder R, in which is a plug or piston S, and which is ₺
connected by a shank or rod T with a valve U, regulating the feed of
size. As the plug or piston is raised by the steam it opens the valve Ụ,
and allows the size fed to the chamber V to flow to the size box. As
the level of the size in the box approaches.a certain height the float
shuts off the steam, the plug or piston descends and closes the valve U,
thus cutting off the feed of size.
In another form of feeder shewn in Figs. 8 and 9 a lever W works in
in connection with a float O, which carries by means of a link X: a double-
catch C¹. A lever Z, actuated by a cam D' on the side shaft of the
machine, imparts a vibratory motion to the catch C', which works abovo 1
and below the ratchet wheel B', and this wheel is fixed on the plug of
the tap Y regulating the admission of size to the-size box. When the
level of the size in the box falls the float O descends and lowers the
double catch C³, so that its upper part comes into gear with the wheel B',
the said catch then turns 'the said wheel, and thus opens the tap 2
admitting size to the size box. If the level of size rises above the proper
height the float brings the bottom part of the double catch into gear
with the under side of the wheel B', and by turning the wheel in the
opposite direction closes or partly closes the said tap, and so arrests or
diminishes the feed of size. E' is a balance weight placed on the tail a
end of the catch to prevent too much weight pressing on the ball or
float O. F is a tap worked by a connection from the knocking-off'
handle, and serves to cut off the feed of size when the machine stops.
Instead of the tap F¹ the tap Y may be made with a double plug, ono
part of which is actuated, as before-named, to entirely cut off the supply
of size at cach stoppage of the machino.
.
The distributer shewn in Figs. 6 and 7 may be worked in conjunction
with either of the before-named feeders. In form it is a hollow cylinder
or roller A¹ perforated with holes, or having a slot almost throughout its
length. It is placed across the size box, and made to revolve, being a
driven from any convenient part of the machine's motion. The size
flows into this cylinder and along its length, and at every revolution is
emptied into the size box pretty evenly across the width. K¹is a.

page_text: weight to assist in turning over the box suddenly when it has arrived at
a certain point in its revolution.
Another form of apparatus for the purpose of regulating the feed of
size so as to keep that in the box at a uniform level is shewn in Fig. 10.
It consists of a large closed cylinder or cistern I filled with size, and
having a tap at the top, and one at the bottom. The orifice of the
bottom tap or of a pipe coming from the said tap is placed in the size of
the sizing machine at exactly the level the size should remain in the
box. If the size falls below the required level, the orifice becomes
uncovered, a quantity of air rushes into thọ cylinder, and the same
volume of size escapes into the box. When the level of the size rises so
high in the box as to cover the before-named orifice the admission of air
is prevented, and consequently the flow of size. When it is requisito to
fill the cistern with size the tap at the bottom, is closed, and the one at
the top opened to admit the size. At other times the one at the top is
kept closed. A glass tube M' is connected to the cistern, so that the
level of the size may be seen. N¹ is a pipe to let the air out of the
cistern when filling it with size. The said pipe also serves to indicate
when the cistern is full of size.
I also use the above-named apparatus on a smaller scale. for main-
taining at a uniform level the fluid used for damping the warp in the
loom, and named hereafter.
The remainder of this Invention relates to looms. Figs. 13 and 14
represent an arrangement by which the reed is made fast at one time
; and loose at another.
:
The apparatus consists of an ordinary stop rod g', with fingers to the
swells in the usual manner, being actuated by the shuttle as it enters
the boxes of the slay. The said stop rod passes through a tube P¹,
furnished with wings h', carrying the reed case R¹. One end of the said
tube is furnished with a lever S¹, and in the end of the lever is fixed
stud T. When the loom is working the reed is kept fast in consequence
of the before-named stud being held down by a projection U on a hori-
zontal lever. The said horizontal lever moves with the slay, and carries
a spring V, which may either work above or catch into a frog W₁
5 capable of sliding on the loom side. A finger ✗' elevates or depresses
the end of the said spring according as the shuttle may be in one of the
boxes or not.

page_text: "
If the shuttle be absent from one of the boxes at the proper time tho
finger X does not elevate the said spring. It then catches; as also the
finger X,in the frog, and moves the horizontal lever sufficient to remove
the projection U¹ from. off the before-named stud T', and set the reed
casc free. The reed thien becomes loose. The stop rod actuates the
stoppage of the loom in the manner of a loose reed loom, allowing the
slay to come forward to the front, and after the before-named frog has
been moved forward a spring draws it back to its place.
'
pressuro
The next part of this Invention is shown in Fig. 15; and relates to a
loose reed loom. In this improvement the ordinary bow. spring, organ
handle, and the duck-bill springs are all dispensed with, and in place of
them a spring Y¹ is fixed underneath where the slay travels; a link-Z¹
comes from the duck bill to the end of the said spring, passing
through a hole in it, and being fastened by a cylindrical collar: A"
underneath. As the centre of the cylindrical collar A" does not coincide:
with the centre B" of the slay's oscillation it is evident that the
of the spring upon the stop-rod is not constant; but varies according to.
the position of the slay. The said spring and cylindrical collar is
accordingly fixed in such a position that the pressure of the spring is
weakest upon the reed at such times as the reed should give way should'?
tho shuttle be trapped in the shed. At other times, such as when tho
shuttle is travelling across the reed, the pressure of the spring is greater.
By using a cast-iron tubular stop-rod with the wings cast upon it one
duck bill may be used instead of two or more.
"
The next part of this Invention is shown in Fig. 16, and, is an im- 2
proved brake for looms. In this brake the ordinary weight is dispensed
with, the power being obtained from the spring handle of the loom.
The end D¹ of the brake is formed in any convenient or common.
manner, and is made to swivel on a shank E", which slides in a bracket
attached to the loom side; the end of the shank terminates in a small s
bowl F" opposite a small lever G" on the spring handle H¹..
When it is desired to stop the loom. the spring handlo H is thrown
off, the small lever attached to it then presses upon the bowl beförė -
named, and forces the brake forward against the wheel. The end of the
lever G is formed with an incline to work against the bowl before 3
named, and the said end may be raised by the operative, so as to throw
the brake out of action while the loom is stopped.

page_text: The foregoing form of brake is intended for a loose reed loom, but for
a fast reed loom, or a loom where the reed is both fast and loose, and
where at times it is necessary that the frog should actuate the brake, I
connect the frog to the foregoing brake in the manner shewn in Fig. 17,
that is to say, I place a lever K" on a fixed stud L"; one end of the lever
works on a stud N" on the brake shank, and the other end on a stud "
on the frog, so that when the frog is struck it moves the lever forward,
and the lever moves the brake back upon the wheel. Or, as shewn in
Fig. 18, I cast the frog with a rack O" on one side, and place a toothed
wheel or quadrant P" on a fixed stud, so as to work in the said rack.
On the opposite side of the wheel or quadrant, and working in it, I
place another rack Qu sliding in a suitable bracket, so that as the frog
slides towards the front of the loom the last-named rack slides towards
the back of the loom. This rack terminates in a shank carrying a
spring R", which presses against a projection S" on the stock of the
brake, so that when the frog is struck and carried forward the brake
block D" is pressed backward against the wheel.
In a fast reed loom the use of the spring before named is to render the
force of the concussion less violent upon the break, and its use in a loom,
which is both fast and loose reed, is to allow the frog to slide after the brake
block has come in contact with the wheel. The frog is furnished with
a finger T, which knocks off the spring handle in the usual manner.
It
The next part of this Invention is shewn in Fig. 19, and is an im-
proved means of weighting the cloth beam up the emery beam.
consists at each end of the beam of a ropo U" passed several times round
the shafts of the emery and cloth beams W" & X", and afterwards
passed below the cloth beam, where a weight is hung upon it. As the
roll of cloth upon the beam becomes larger the two rollers are forced
farther apart, and the weight is drawn up through a much larger space
than that through which the bottom roller falls. The power of the
weight is therefore multiplied upon the beams, and the arrangement
being all at the front of the loom is more convenient for the operative.
In order to protect the rope from the friction loose bosses V" and Y"
may be placed on the roller shafts, and the rope passed round them instead
of round the shafts, and instead of a rope a chain or strap may be used.
The next part of this Invention is shewn in Fig. 20, and is an im-
proved yarn beam weighting motion, by means of which I dispenso with

page_text: the weights, and obtain the same result by frictional clips. On one end
of the yarn beam I fix a ruffle L, one edge of which is formed as a
ratchet wheel. Fitting loose upon, this ruffle is placed another ruffle
carrying a catch Z" working in the said ratchet wheel. Two or more
clips a capable of being tightened and slackened by set screws or bolts:
are placed upon the last-named ruffle, and act as a friction thereon, the
force of which it is necessary for the warp to overcome before it can
move forward. One end of the clips come in contact. with a stop b,
and the same or opposite end is placed in, contact with a spring c;
this spring-serves to give, a vibratory motion to the yarn beam at the
treading of the healds, and so keep the yarn tight in the loom.
'
The use of the catch before named is that the weaver may 1
y lift it out
of the ratchet wheel, and for any purpose let off some of the warp from
the beam and wind it on again without interfering with the clips or
having to overcome their friction.
The advantage of using two or more clips instead of one is that a
number of them allow of a greater nicety of regulation. When the
beam is emptied the top ruffle may be slipped off and put on to another
beam without unloosening or altering the clips.
In another arrangement of the same apparatus I place the ruffles, a
clips, and other parts before named to work upon a stud. A spur wheel
is attached to the ratchet wheel, and a spur wheel on the yarn beam
works into it.
-
The next part of this Invention is shewn in Fig. 21, and is a cover for
the warp in the loom for the purpose of keeping the said warp moist. §
It consists of a sheet of macintosh, india-rubber, or other waterproof
material & extending round the yarn beam from near the lease rods e to
about the same place on the under side of the warp.
"
The next part of this Invention is shewn in section in Fig. 22, and is
for damping the warp in the loom. It consists of a trough of water g
placed across the loom under the warp f, and a pipe & fed with steam is
placed in the said water to promote its evaporation. The warp passes
over the edges of the trough, and a cover ', sufficiently raised so as not
to touch the warp, is placed upon the trough, to have the effect of con-
fining or throwing down the steam from the water upon the warp. More 8
or less steam may be turned into the pipe to cause more or less evapo-
ration, and where the atmosphere is sufficiently warm for the purpose
the steam may be turned off altogether. The condensed steam formed

page_text: in the pipe may be allowed to run into the trough and thus supply it
with water.
The next part of this Invention, shewn in section in Fig. 23, is for
damping and brushing the warp in the loom. It consists of a revolving
brush t, so fixed that its fibres may touch the warp f. It recieves
moisture by running in contact with a roller to revolving in a trough of
water or other fluid p, and communicates the moisture it receives to the
warp. The brush and roller may be driven from any convenient part of
the loom's motion, and in the driving there is a change wheel or cone
pulley, by changing which more or less revolutions may be given to the
brush or roller, and so more or less moisture to the warp.
In the before-named apparatus for damping and brushing the warp,
and in the before-named apparatus for damping the warp by steam, I
keep the fluid in the trough at a uniform level by means of a closed
cistern, same as named for feeding the sizing machine with size and
shewn in Fig. 10.
The next part of this Invention, represented in Figs. 11 and 12, is
an improved weft grate for looms. It consists of a frame v fixed to the
back board of the slay in the usual manner, but instead of fixed wires
moveable blades of steel n are fastened at the top with and swivel upon
a screw or rivet x. The said blades are loose at the bottom, so that if
they be struck with the shuttle or the weft fork they will move back-
ward as shewn by the dotted lines in Fig. 12, or spring to ono side as
shown in Fig. 11, without remaining bent as is often the case with
wires. In cases where they are moved backward the operative replaces
them, but where moved sideway they will spring back to their original
position.
The next part of this Invention is shewn in Fig. 24. It is a small
washer of woody placed on the picking band between the peg n¹ and
the picker p'. The object is to prevent the hole in which the peg is
placed from being so near that part of the band which wears with the
friction of the picker. This renders the picking bands of looms more
durable, being less liable to break.
The next part of this Invention is shewn in Fig. 25, and is an article
which during the process of weaving prevents the gold thread used for
heading calicos and other fabrics from entangling round the head of the
recl upon which it is wound. It consists of a small hollow conc 1, the
B

page_text: small end of which fits upon the shuttle peg a² and the large end upon
that end of the reel farthest from the shuttle eye. It thus prevents the
gold thread from getting over that end of the reel and breaking while
weaving.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Singleton, have here- &
unto set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of June, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.