IMPROVEMENTS IN WEAVERS' SHUTTLES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WEAVERS' SHUTTLES
59 to be as follows :-
1
This invention relates to weavers shuttles.
Hitherto it has been usual to lead the filling thread of a weaving shuttle through
bushed holes in the wood of the shuttle, and to cause the thread to pass through
these holes from the interior of the shuttle to the exterior, by placing the slack or
bight of the thread over the holes on the inside of the shuttle and sucking it
through by drawing in the breath, the mouth of the weaver being applied to
the hole on the exterior of the shuttle, though sometimes hooks are used. This
method of threading the tension holes of the shuttle has been productive, of various
lung disorders among the weavers, because particles of lint are by this means
constantly sucked into the lungs.
Various devices for threading the shuttle have from time to time been proposed
whereby this sucking process could be dispensed with, but for some reason or other
they have not been generally adopted.
The fundamental requirement of any such device is a slot leading from the hole
in the side of the shuttle to its interior, the edge of this slot being protected so that
the warp threads shall not be caught in it as the shuttle is thrown.
It is also desirable to so arrange the tension device that it shall be applicable
to more than one degree of tension, although a shuttle bas seldom any arrangement
for adjusting the tension. The tension in the weavers shuttle is given by causing
the thread to pull around corners, and I do not propose to change this method but
to adapt it to a shuttle in which the thread comes to the exterior of the shuttle
through the slotted hole.
The shuttle may be provided with a divided spindle which is automatically
enlarged upon the closing thereof within the spindle body to firmly lock the cop
theroon, and which is automatically decreased in size upon being opened out from
the shuttle case to allow the cop to be taken off and put on easily.
According to the present invention the hole in the side of the shuttle is provided
with a bushing, and has a slot leading therefrom to the upper surface of the
shuttle. A metallic plate is recessed into the wood of the shuttle at the thread
end, and this plate carries a post upon its lower side. This post is slightly inclined
at its upper part next the metallic plate from above downwards towards the
spindle, and when near the bottom of the cavity, is bent sharply towards the bobbin

page_text: and then again bent vertically and tightly inserted into the body of the shuttle.
There is space enough around the edge of the metallic plate, between it and the
wood of the shuttle into which it is recessed, for the easy passage of the thread
from the bobbin ; and this space extends around the plate as far as 'the slot which
leads to the hole in the side of the shuttle...
This hole is smooth bushed and is larger than the slot, so that when the thread
is once placed in it it will not be likely to come out unless assisted by the hand of
an operator, and the centre of the hole is recessed back from the inner surface of the
shuttle cavity so that the thread pulls under an overhanging piece, The wood of
the shuttle at the upper corner of the slot over the eye is bevelled backward and
downward so that the thread will easily pass into the eye.. This arrangement
gives what may be called a single tension. If it is desired to have a doublo
tension an additional plate is employed, the two plates having a curye between
them.
:
The additional plate is also provided with a tension post, the bottom of which
is embedded in the wood of the shuttle, and which is sloped in the opposite
direction from the first mentioned post, which is adjusted so that the bobbin thread
leads further towards the point of the shuttle than the eye, and then around the
post back to the eye; when the second tension is put on the thread leads forward
to the first tension post, then back to the tension post of the additional plate, and
then forward to the eye of the shuttle, so that additional tension is obtained.
This shuttle is threaded by taking the thread from the bobbin and leading it
around the foremost point of the first metallic plate, and then through the slot,
into the hole, or through the slot between the plate around the second post and
then to the slot and the eye.
"
Different degrees of tension may be given to a given shuttle by changing the
relation of the tension posts to each other and to the eye, bringing them nearer to
lighten the tension, and setting them apart to increase it.
The two portions of the divided spindle are united at the point.
In making this division care must be taken to have the stock removed unequally,
or the two parts of the spindle bent apart from each other and then again approxi-
mate near the butt, so that there shall be a fulcrum point a little in advance of
the pivot. The spindle has one of its members made fast to the fulcrum block,
which is pivotted to the body of the spindle, and the usual plate spring, serves to
hold the spindle in placo when it is thrown down.
On the side of the recess in which the spindle is pivotted is a cam which coines
into contact with the free branch of the spindle. This cam is so shaped that when
the spindle is thrown up the butt of the spindle moves into the hollow part of the
cam, and so relieves the pressure upon the fulcrum point. When the spindle is
turned down this free branch is compressed at its butt towards the other branch,
and by. this compression spreads the two parts of the spindle apart above the
fulcrum point, the greatest enlargement being about half way between the point of
the shuttle and the fulcrum. This causes a very strong pressure on the inside of
the cop to hold it on the spindle.
This construction may be somewhat modified in that the free branch of the
spindle instead of being actuated by a cam may be provided with a bent end
against which the flat spring bears, and which, when thrown out from the shuttle,
has such relation to the spring that very little, if any, pressure is brought upon the
butt end; but when it is thrown into the case the spring bears directly upon the
same and causes the bulge in the spindle to be formed.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
'
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WEAVERS' SHUTTLES" and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to weavers' shuttles.
Hitherto it has been usual to lead the filling thread of a weaver's shuttle through
bushed holes in the wood of the shuttle, and to cause the thread to pass through
these holes from the interior of the shuttle to the exterior, by placing the slack or
bight of the thread over the holes on the inside of the shuttle and sucking it through
by drawing in the breath, the mouth of the weaver being applied to the hole on
the exterior of the shuttle, though sometimes hooks are used. This method of
threading the tension holes of the shuttle has been productive of various lung
disorders among the weavers, becauso particles of lint are by this means constantly
sucked into the lungs.
Various devices for threading the shuttle have from time to time been proposed
whereby this sucking process could be dispensed with, but for some reason or other
they have not been generally adopted.
The fundamental requirement of any such device is a slot leading from the hole
in the side of the shuttle to its interior, the edge of this slot being protected so that
the warp threads shall not be caught in it as the shuttle is thrown.
It is also desirable to so arrange the tension device that it shall be applicable to
more than one degree of tension, although a shuttle has seldom any arrangement
for adjusting the tension. The tension in the weaver's shuttle is obtained by
causing the thread- to pull around corners, and I do not propose to change this
method but to adapt it to a shuttle in which the thread comes to the exterior of
the shuttle through the slotted hole.
One object of this invention is to construct a shuttle which shall meet the .
requirements and obviate the objections hereinbefore set forth.
Another object of the invention is to provide a shuttle with a divided spindle
which is automatically enlarged upon the closing thereof within the shuttle body
to firmly lock the cop thereon, and which is automatically decreased in size, upon
being opened out from the shuttle case to allow the cop to be taken off and put on
easily.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shuttle provided with means for threading it,
constructed according to this invention and with a strong tension.
Figure 2 is a perspective view, in section, of the thread end of the shuttle,
shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the thread end of a light tension shuttle.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the modified device represented in Figure 3.

page_text: Figures 6° to 13 are views hereinafter referred to illustrating the arrangement of
the divided spindle.
A represents the body of the shuttle, B the bobbins, and C (Figures 1, 3 and 4),
the hole in the side of the shuttle through which the thread leads. The hole C is
provided with a bushing, and has a slot e leading therefrom to the upper surface of
the shuttle. A metallic plato is recessed into the wood of the shuttle at the
threaded end, as shown at d (Figures 1, 2 and 3), and this plate carries a post d'
upon its lower side. This post is slightly inclined at its upper part next the plate d
from above downwards towards the spindle, and, when near the bottom of the
cavity, is bent sharply towards the bobbin B, and then again bent vertically, and
tightly inserted into the body of the shuttle. There is space enough around the
edge of the plate d, between it and the wood of the shuttle into which it is recessed
for the easy passage of the thread from the bobbin.; and this space extends
around the plate as far as the slot e, which leads to the hole C in the side of the
shuttle.
The hole C is larger than the slot, so that when the thread is once placed in it,
it will not be likely to come out unless assisted by the hand of an operator, and the
centre of the said hole is recessed back from the inner surface of the shuttle cavity,
so that the thread pulls under an overhanging' piece. The wood of the shuttlo at
the upper corner of the slot over the eye is bevelled backward and downward, so
that the thread will easily pass into the eye, as shown in Figure 5. This arrange-
ment shown in Figures 3 and 4 gives what may.be called a singlo tension. If it is
desired to have a double tension, an additional plate, d shown in Figures 1 and 2,
is employed, the two plates being arranged as shown in Figure 1, having a curved
slot between them.
The plate d' is also provided with a tension post d³ the bottom of which is
embedded in the wood of the shuttle, and which is sloped in the opposite direction
from the post d', which is adjusted so that the bobbin thread-lends further towards
the point of the shuttle than the eye C and then around the post back to the eyc.
When the second tension is put on, the thread leads forward to the tension post d',
then back to the tension post d³, and then forward to the eye C of the shuttlo so
that additional tension is obtained.
This shuttle is threaded by taking the thread from the bobbin and leading it
around the foremost point of the plate d and then through the slot e into the holo C ;
or through the slot between the plates, around the post, d³, and then to the slot c
and the eye C.
Different degrees of tension may be given by changing the relation of the tension
posts to each other and to the eye, bringing them nearer to lighten the tension,
and setting them away to increase it, as will be readily understood by observing
the course of the thread f, in the drawing, Figures 1, 2 and 4.
In Figure 6 a complete tension is illustrated which is in all respects like that
shown in Figure 3 already described, with the exception that the front portion of
the plate is extended, across the slot or opening through which the thread passes
froin the tension post to the spindle, very nearly to the opposite side of the shuttle,
and thus guides the thread directly to the edge of the plate which forms one side
of the guido, passage or channel to the eyo of the shuttle. In other words, by
shaping and extending the plate as shown in Figure 6 the thread cannot be
drawn into the cavity of the hooked plate shown in Figure 3, but is guided
directly to the proper passage or channel about the edge of the plate.
As shown in Figures 6 to 11 the body of the shuttle is recessed to receive the
spindle and cop in the ordinary manner.
The spindle G is divided from its butt end nearly to the point, making the two
parts g' g². In making this division from the butt to the point care must be taken
to have the stock removed unequally, or the two parts of the spindle bent apart
from each other and then again approximate near the butt so that there shall be a
fulcrum a little in advance of the pivot g. The spindle has one of its members
made fast to the fulcrum block, which is pivotted to the body of the spindle, and

page_text: the usual plate spring g serves to hold the spindle in place when it is thrown
down.
On the side of the recess on which the member g' of the spindle is pivotted is a
cam g³ arranged as shown in Figures 6° 7 8 and 9, which comes into contact with
the branch of the spindle. This cam is so shaped that when the spindle is
thrown up the butt of the spindle moves into the hollow part of the cam, and so
relieves the pressure upon the fulcrum h¹. When the spindle is turned down this
free branch is compressed at its butt towards the other branch, and by this
compression spreads the two parts of the spindle apart above the fulcrum h¹ the
greatest enlargement being about half way between the point of the shuttle and
the fulcrum (see Figures 6 and 7). This causes a very strong pressure on the
inside of the cop to hold it on the spindle.
In Figures 10 to 13 inclusive is represented a somewhat different construction,
in that the branch g' of the spindle instead of being actuated by a cam, is provided
with a bent end against which the spring y bears, and which when thrown out
from the shuttle has such relation to the spring that very little if any pressure is
brought upon the butt end; but when it is thrown into the case the spring bears
directly upon the same as shown in Figure 11, and causes the enlargement in the
spindle to be formed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. In a shuttle having a slotted eye, the combination with the body A of
the shuttle, of the protecting plates d d³, and tension posts d¹ d³, substantially as
described.
Second. The tension post embedded in the wood of the shuttle body A at its
base, and sharply bent away a short distance above its bed in the direction of the
lead of the thread from the bobbin, and then again bent to, or nearly to, a
perpendicular, substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
Third. The combination of the tension posts d' d³, bent substantially as described,
with the covering plates dd, arranged in relation to the body of the shuttle near
enough to the wood thereof to guard the warp threads from injury by catching in
the slot, and far enough from the walls of the recess in the shuttle to allow the
filling thread to pass into its working position, substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination of the eye C, of the shuttle, having the slot e leading
to its exterior, with the tension post and covering plate d, substantially as, and
for the purposes, described.
Fifth. The combination of the eye C recessed back on its interior, in the
direction of the lead of the thread, with the slot e, having the bevelled interior
corners in the same direction, substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
Sixth. A shuttle the spindle G of which is formed of two parts g' g³, shaped as
described, has the fulcrum ', and is adapted to be operated by the cam g³, or
spring g, substantially as specified.
Seventh. A shuttle having the spindle G, adapted to be automatically expanded
upon closing the same into the shuttle case to tightly hold the cop thereon, and to
be automatically reduced in diameter upon turning the same out from the case to
permit the cop to be easily' removed, all substantially as, and for the purposes,
described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.