Improvements in or relating to Shuttle Planers
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1894-Accepted, 7th July, 1894
Improvements in or relating to Shuttle Planers.
A communication by JOHN MARTIN NEWTON, of Norwich, in the County
of New London and State of Connecticut, United States of America,
Manufacturer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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 is in that class of shuttle-planers in which the shuttle is held on
centers, one of which is usually a strong thumb-screw, the side of said shuttle
being trued up by means of a finely-adjusted plane that slides on said bed, as
on ways.
The particular purpose of this present invention is to provide, in connection with
such a shuttle-planer, simple and inexpensive devices by means of which a shuttle
may not only be squared up, but may as readily be tapered or beveled, if desired.
Many of the shuttles used in weaving are so beveled to overcome, in a measure, the
tendency and liability to jump upward and out of the shuttle-race as they shoot
ahead. The slight bevel thus provided leaves the bottom of the shuttle a little
wider than the top, thus enabling the shuttle-box brake-spring to hold the shuttle
down in the race as said shuttle passes under said spring.
In truing up a pair or set of shuttles for use in the same loom, it is desirable that
they be exactly the same size, weight, and bevel, so that, when a full shuttle is
substituted for an empty one, there will be no appreciable difference in the tension
and texture of the woven fabric. The device which is here provided, and which will
now be described, when once adjusted enables the operator to true up and bevel a
multiple of shuttles, so that they are all practically alike.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a planer embodying said invention, the bed-section
being partly cut away to expose a shuttle held therein.
Figure 2 is a cross-section of a similar bed, considerably enlarged, taken on
line a-a.
Referring to the drawings, the letter a indicates the bed of said shuttle-planer,
having feet or standards b-b, and having its upper side planed up to form ways,
on and between which a plane c may travel. Said plane is supported on each side
by bars d, that are attached to the main frame or shoe of the plane by links e.
The bars d are joined at one end to a cross-head f, that is slotted vertically, and in
the slot thus provided is a thumb-screw h, whose inner threaded end is tapped into
a rigid portion of the plane. When said thumb-screw is rotated, the bars d are
moved endwise, (substantially like one member of a parallel ruler,) and as a result
the plane rises and lowers between the ways of the bed, according to the direction
of rotation of screw h. By this adjustment of the plane the depth of cut may be
controlled.
At one or both ends, if desired, of bed a is a strong thumb-screw i, whose inner
end is cupped to support one end of the shuttle. The opposite end of said shuttle
may be held in a cup-center formed in the bed, as shown in Figure 1.
To hold the shuttle against rotation on its centers, a thumb-screw k, having a
loose washer on its inner end, is tapped into bed a on one side, preferably about
midway of its length. The clamping devices thus provided are sufficient to hold

page_text: the shuttle rigidly in position while being squared up.
When it is desired to bevel
the side of a shuttle, other devices are added, as follows:- A bar m is secured
to the under side of bed a by bolts or screws m¹, one of which may consist of a
thumb-screw, as shown in Figure 2, and for a purpose hereinafter explained.
After a shuttle n has been secured between the described centers, a wedge o is
forced between the bar m and the lower face of the shuttle. This wedge may be
tapered transversely as well as longitudinally, and, when forced home, rocks the
shuttle on its centers, throwing the upper face of the shuttle, which is to engage
the cutting-bit, slightly out of a horizontal plane. The same result may be
attained by means of a wedge of ordinary shape, that is to say, one tapered only in
its length by unscrewing the thumb-screw m¹ and allowing one end of the bar m
to drop slightly away from the bed.
The wedge o, when forced into place, not only serves to adjust the shuttle to
produce a bevel cut, but also provides a solid backing at or about the center of the
shuttle to prevent it from springing during the act of planing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a shuttle-planer, in combination with a bed having centers, as set forth, for
supporting a shuttle, a cross-bar secured to the under side of said bed, and a wedge
inserted between said bar and the shuttle, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
2. A bed having centers, as set forth, for supporting a shuttle, and a cross-bar
attached to the under side of said bed and having one end vertically adjustable, as
described, in combination with a wedge inserted between the said. cross-bar and
shuttle, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 5th day of June 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.