A NEW MANUFACTURE OF WEAVERS' HARNESS, AND FOR MACHINERY FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE SAME
Year: 1847

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, KASIMIR
VOGEL, of Saint Paul's Churchyard, London, Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Tenth day of March, in the tenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, my exors,
admors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Kasimir Vogel, my exors, admors, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Kasimir Vogel, my exors, admors, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney,
Sark, and Man, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad,
my Invention for "A NEW MANUFACTURE OF WEAVERS' HARNESS, AND FOR
MACHINERY FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE SAME;" in which said Letters Patent
is contained a proviso that I, the said Kasimir Vogel, shall cause a particular
description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Kasimir Vogel, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the method of carrying the same into effect, are duly ascertained in and by

page_text: the ionowing description thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say:-
My Invention relates,―
First, to a new manufacture of weavers' harness, by which it is rendered
more durable, being made in such a manner that it offers less resistance in
passing through the warp than harness hitherto generally used, consequently
less friction arises therefrom; it also absorbs more of the dressing to which it
is subjected at those parts which come in contact with the warp; also, the
heddles are secured in an improved manner to the shafts, by which the harness
is stretched in the loom.
Secondly, my Invention relates to machinery or arrangement of apparatus
for the manufacture of the harness and heddles herein-before alluded to.
Now be it understood that, throughout this, the description of my said
Invention, that when I use the term heddle I mean the cords and eye
through which part of the warp passes for the purpose of being raised or
depressed during the operation of weaving to afford room for the passage of
the shuttle; and by the term harness I mean a combination of heddles
stretched in a frame as ordinarily used in the weaver's loom; these, so far as
I know, being the terms usually applied thereto.
First, in my improved harness I form the heddle of yarn or other suitable
material, consisting usually of six strands, that being the number I prefer for
the purpose. These strands are twisted together in triplets, as represented at
7, 7, Fig. 1, Sheet B, forming two cords (the strands are shewn loosely put
together, and also in different colors, in order to distinguish more clearly the
way in which they are combined). At the point 8 the six strands are inter-
woven or braided together, thereby forming one cord; they are then divided
and formed into two cords, and at the point 9 are interwoven or braided as
at 8; they are again divided, and the cords are continued by twisting into
triplets as before, the part between the points 8 and 9 forming the eye or
loop of the heddle, through which part of the warp passes, and it will be seen
that the same is made without knots or any projection that will form an
obstacle to its passage through the warp. It will also be observed, by reference
to this Figure, that the two cords of which each separate heddle consists are
twisted in contrary directions, which entirely obviates their tendency to twist
one round the other, as is the case with heddles of the ordinary construction.
Instead of forming the heddle of two cords and braiding or interweaving the
strands in the manner before described, the strands may be braided or inter-
woven the whole length of the heddle, with the exception of the part forming

page_text: the eye or loop in the middle, where they must be separated or twisted in the
manner foregoing. The improved method in which I secure the heddles to
the shafts on which they are stretched in the loom, an end view of which is
represented at Fig. 2, and a side view of Fig. 3, Sheet B, consists in passing
the heddles 10 round a small piece of wood or other suitable material 6, 6,
instead of entirely round the shaft itself. This piece of wood is inserted in a
grove formed in the shaft 11, where it is secured by glue or any suitable
cement.
a
Secondly, my improved machinery or apparatus for the manufacture of
weavers' harness is represented in the annexed Drawings, in which the same
letters of reference denote the same parts of the machine where they recur
in the different views. Fig. 4, Sheet A, is a front elevation of this machine.
Fig. 5, an elevation of the end thereof, where the driving pullies are attached,
but which are removed. Fig. 6, an elevation of the opposite end. Fig. 7 is
plan of the top of the table of the machine; and Fig. 8, a plan of the
under side thereof; the other Figures represent detached views of the various
parts. This machine consists of a cast-iron table A, which is supported by
suitable framework B, B; circular recesses are cast in the surface of this
table A, which are dressed out and fitted with circular metal plates a, a, a, a.
These plates are furnished with stems or axes b, b, b, b, passing through holes
bored in the centre of these recesses, and having fixed at their lower ends spur
wheels c, c, c, c, the whole of which gear into each other. One of the axes b
is continued below the spur wheel e, and has one of a pair of mitre wheels d, d,.
keyed to it. By this means motion is communicated to the plates a, a, a, a, and
other parts of the machine from the main shaft e, this being driven by strap pullies.
ff, or other suitable means that may be found most convenient for the purpose..
The circular plates a, a, a, a, have each six slots J, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, in their cir-
cumference, better seen at Figs. 10 and 11, Fig. 10 being a plan of the table.
on an enlarged scale, and Fig. 11 a section of the same through the dotted
line j, j. Three of the slots g, g. g, in each plate a are furnished with upright
spindles h, h, h, supported in their position by means of collars i, i, above and
below the plate a, the spindle h projecting a little below the under collar.
The spindles h, h, h, are each fitted with a plate k, which forms a base or
support for a light wire frame 1; these frames carry the bobbins m, m, m, on
which the yarn or other suitable material is wound, from which I desire to
manufacture the harness, the bobbins m, m, m, being supported in a vertical
position by the top of the spindles h, h, h, and a centre or point n projecting
below the plate o, which is secured to the wire frame 1. This will be better
seen by reference to Fig. 12, where a bobbin and its applicances are repre-

page_text: sented in section or a larger scale. Two drums d, d, one on either side of the
machine, are supported on shafts e, e, which shafts pass through the boss or
naves of the screw wheels F, F, and F, F; the bosses of these wheels
having journals turned in them are fitted into bearings 9, 9, 9, 9. On the
franiework B, B, endless screws G, G, gear into the screw wheels F, F, being
supported on a horizontal shaft H by the bearings I, I. This shaft H bas
motion communicated to it from the driving shaft e, through the intervention
of a vertical shaft K and level gearing L, L. The screw wheels F, F, are
fitted to the shafts E, E, in such a way that they will slide freely thereon,
while at the same time the rotary motion of the wheel is imparted to it, this
being effected by means of a feather sliding in the groover, one of the endless
screws G being right and the other left handed. The motion given to the
drums D, D, is in contrary directions, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 5,
Sheet A. The action of this machine is as follows:-Bobbins, having the
yarn or other material wound on them of which the harness is to be formed,
are supplied to each bobbin frame l, and a strand, represented by the red
line, is conducted from each bobbin through an eye s, then over the top of
the frame to a hook on the end of a spiral spring t; from thence they are
conducted through a hole u in the entablature M to the drum D, where the
whole of them are affixed. The spiral springs are for the purpose of taking
up the slack of the yarn (or other material on the bobbins at each revolution
of the plate a), caused by the distance between the hole u and the bobbin
eonstantly varying with the motion of the plate. The bobbins which revolve
freely on the spindle h and pin n are furnished with a slight spring v, which
presses on a small lever w; this rubs on the yarn on the bobbin, and thereby
causing sufficient friction to prevent more of the yarn or other material from
being jerked off the bobbin by the action of the machine than is immediately
taken up in the manufacture, thus avoiding any possibilty of the strands
becoming entangled. The strands having been secured to the drum D, as
before mentioned, the machine is set in motion; and it will be observed from
the gearing that the motion of the drums D, D, is slow whilst the plates
a, a, a, a, revolve with considerable rapidity, the drums gradually winding
the yarn or other material off the bobbins, and at the same time the three
bobbins carried by each plate are quickly carried round, by which means the
strands are twisted together, forming two separate cords. But the drums D, D,
having performed half a revolution, the point has arrived where the loop or
eye is desired to be made on the heddle, which is effected by combining the
six strands in the following manner:- is a part of the machine, which I
denominate a changer, seen separately at Figs. 13 and 14. This changer

page_text: occilates on a stem y which passes through the table A, and has fixed at its
lower end a small crank, which is actuated by means of the rod a¹ that is
connected with the ring of an eccentric b¹. This eccentric revolves between
the bearings c¹, c¹, on a vertical spindle d', furnished with a pinion e', which
gears into one of the spur wheels c, c. The number of teeth of the wheels c, c,
being three times greater than the number on the pinion, it follows that the
eccentric will perform three revolutions for each revolution of the plates a, a,
consequently the charger x will oscilate six times for each revolution of the
plates a, a, a, a, and it must be adjusted so that the points of the charger r
will be directly across the table while two of the slots g, g, pass the line of
the centres C, C. The pair of plates a, a, and their six bobbins on one side
of the table A, work quite independent of those on the other side of the table.
The eccentric spindle d' is fitted to the eccentric b¹ in such a manner that it
will slide freely up and down therein, the teeth of the pinion e' being broader
than the spur wheel c, so that it will remain in gear while it is so slided.
A section of the bearings c', c', and eccentric b¹ is represented at Fig. 9; and
it will be seen by reference to this Figure that the eccentric is driven from
the spindle d by means of the two pins 1 and 2; these pins take on to the
ends of the pin 3, which passes through the eccentric 6'. When the spindle
is raised the pin I slips from the pin 3, and the eccentric 6' remains stationary
for half a revolution of the spindle d', when the pin 2 comes in contact with
the lower end of the pin 3. By this interruption the charger x stops in the
position shewn in Fig. 10, Sheet B, while the plates a, a, a, a, make one
sixth of a revolution. The point of the charger x will now be behind the
bobbin spindle h', but in the meantime the pin 2 has again suddenly set the
eccentric in motion, and the charger moving simultaneously therewith the
bobbin spindle h' is moved into the vacant slot g¹ of the other plate a. The
oscillations of the charger will now be such that it will be in the same
position with regard to each succeeding bobbin spindle, and consequently the
next one h³ will be changed in the same way to the vacant slot g³, and so on
till the whole are changed, when the changer would again oscillate without
moving the spindles as before; but by the action of an apparatus, which will be
herein-after explained, the pinion spindle is suddenly depressed, causing the
pin 2 to slip its hold of the pin 3, and thereby allowing the eccentric and changer
again to remain stationary during half a turn of the spindle d¹. This will repeat
or rather continue the changing process, so that the bobbins will again assume
their original position on the plates from whence they were first moved. By
this means the six strands will be woven or braided together, as represented
at 8, Fig. 1, Sheet B. The strands being closely combined form a flat plait or

page_text: braid, producing one end of the loop or eye of the heddle. The bobbins are
now carried round by the plates a, a, twisting the strands, as before, into two
cords, which is continued for the length desired for the eye, when the changer
is again caused to operate as before, producing a second combination of the
six strands, and thus completing the eye or loop of the heddle. The twisting
process is then continued as before, forming the strands into two cords during
half a revolution of the drum D, when another loop or eye will be formed in
like manner.
17 and 18, Sheet B.
The apparatus for raising and depressing the eccentric spindle d¹ con-
sists of a lever f¹, best seen at Figs. 4 and 5, Sheet A, but represented
separately at Figs. 15 and 16, Sheet B; it is pivoted on a stud i¹, which is
pivoted at right angles to an arm k', supported from the table A of the machine.
These two bearings or pivots admit of an up and down and also a side move-
ment of the lever f¹, on one end of which the eccentric spindle d¹ rests, the
other being attached by a spring 11 to a vertical lever n', and also by another
spring o to a fixed arm p'. The vertical lever n¹ is pivoted on the framework B
at q', the upper end having a tooth or projection r¹, seen separately at Figs.
Double inclined prongs or teeth s¹, s2, are fixed to the
screw wheel F, which at each semi-revolution come in contact with the tooth
or projection and rises the lever n¹ from the side of the screw wheel. The
movement thus communicated to the lever n', as will be readily understood, has
the effect of pulling the end of the lever f, to which it is attached by the
spring, to the left, and cause it to press against the side of a small drum t¹
on the driving shaft e, when the toe piece u¹ rises up the incline v¹ (or rather
is depressed by it), and passes on to the periphery of the drum t¹ through the
notch w¹ in the rim, thus depressing the lever f, the other end thereof rising,
and with it the eccentric spindle d', causing the stoppage in the changer x,
herein-before described. The toe piece u² remains on the periphery of the drum t¹
during one revolution of the shaft e, when the tooth r³, falling directly to the face
of the screw wheel, the spring is relaxed, when the spring o' pulls the lever f¹
in the opposite direction, and the toe piece u¹ slips from the drum t¹ through the
notch *1 in the rim to its position on the shaft, thereby lowering the end of the
lever ft on which the spindle d¹ rests, this being suddenly depressed by a spring z¹,
secured to the under side of the table. By this means the second stoppage of the
changer x is effected, completing one braided or interwoven part of the heddle,
as herein-before described. During the time occupied by the passing of the
prongs to the prong s² the two cords of the eye or loop are formed, when the
prong s² repeats the action of the levers f' and n', thus forming the second braided
or interwoven part of the heddle. Should it be desired to produce heddles

page_text: braided or interwoven throughout their entire length, except the part forming
the loop or eye, this may be effected by arranging the apparatus so that the
intermissions of the changer will take place regularly at each revolution of
the main shaft e during nearly half a revolution of the drums D, D, producing.
a continual change of the bobbins. The changer x then remains stationary a
time sufficient to admit of the loop or eye being formed, when the braiding
or interweaving is repeated as before. The drums D, D, on which the heddles
are wound and driven, as herein-before explained, have also a lateral motion
communicated to them by means of the screw wheels F¹, F', actuated by the
main shaft e, through the intervention of the bevil gear P, P, and upright
shaft R. The screw wheels F¹, F1, are furnished with female screws fitting the
male screws on the shafts E, E, the object of this apparatus being to regulate
the lateral motion to be imparted to the drums D, D, which will be according
to the number of heddles to be wound on a given length of the drums D, D.
Should this number be in accordance with the rake of the screws on the
shaft E, E, the screw wheels must remain stationary; but should the required
number of heddles wound on an inch of the drums D, D, be greater than the
number of threads of the screw to the inch, then the gearing P, P, must be so
arranged as to drive the screw wheels F', F', at a suitable speed in the same
direction as the shafts E, E; but, on the contrary, should the number of heddles
to the inch be less than the number of threads of the screw to the inch, the
gearing must be arranged to drive the screw wheels F1, F¹, at a corresponding
speed in the opposite direction to that of the drums D, D.
Fig. 19 represents a transverse section of the drum D, which consists of a
cylinder of wood or other suitable material, in which are two longitudinal
grooves 4, 4, fitted with moveable bars 5, 5. These are furnished with the shafts
or strips of wood 6, 6, on which the harness 10 is to be wound. The bars 5, 5,
are so adjusted that the heddles, when removed with the shafts or strips of
wood 6, 6, shall be of the requisite length, the removal of the harness from
the drums D, D, being easily effected by loosening the bars 5, 5, and allowing
them to be brought nearer the centre of the drum, consequently reducing its
diameter, the grooves or recesses 4, 4, being furnished with wedges or adjust-
ing screws for that purpose. Previously to. the removal of the harness from
the drums D, D, it should be secured to the shafts or strips of wood 6, 6, by
means of glue or any suitable cement, so as to keep the separate heddles in a
correct position, and as they are to be introduced to the loom. The harness
when prepared thus far I subject to the process of dressing with which weavers'
harness is usually prepared; this it absorbs to a much greater extent at those
parts with which the warp comes in contact than harness of the ordinary

page_text: description, consequently thereby rendered much more durable, as well as from
other causes before enumerated.
Throughout this description of my Invention I have confined myself to the
action of one set of circular plates a, a, in order that it might be more clearly
understood; but for facilitating the manufacture of the harness I arrange a
number of the circular plates a, a, on the table A of one machine, as repre-
sented in plan at Fig. 20, Sheet B, those plates arranged on one side of the
table being distinctly separate from those on the other side, so that the spur
gearing on the lower ends of their axes only gear throughout the length of the
table, motion being communicated from one series of axes to the other through
the intervention of a larger pair of spur wheels carried beneath the other
spur gearing by a continuation of two of the axes b, b, near the centre
of the table. This has the effect of producing a better movement of the
different parts than would result from the complete gearing of the whole.
The changing apparatus for the whole machine is the same as that already
described, with the addition of a proportionate number of changers x, x,
and cranks z, together with a corresponding length of crank rod a'. In
cases where I desire to manufacture heddles of an unusually strong descrip-
tion, I either use wire instead of yarn, or introduce a wire in the centre of
each cord in the following manner :--I place a bobbin having the wire to be so
introduced wound thereon on a spindle in the centre of each plate a, which
therefore only revolves on its own axis, the other bobbins revolving round it.
The wire is conducted from this bobbin through the hole u in the entablature,
thence to the drums D, D; the yarn by the action of the machine is thus
twisted round the wire, which it completely covers, the braiding or inter-
weaving proceeded as before, the two wires being encased side by side thereby.
Instead of introducing wire any other suitable material calculated to increase
the strength or otherwise improve the harness may be introduced.
Having thus fully described the nature and advantages of my said Invention,
and the best manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be under-
stood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein-before set
forth, neither do I confine myself to the peculiar braid or plait that would
result from the action of my improved machinery, neither do I confine myself
to the number of strands of which each heddle consists, so long as the prin-
ciple of my Invention be retained. But what I claim as new and of my
Invention is,-
First, I claim the forming the eyes or loops of heddles for weavers'
harness by means of interweaving or braiding together the strands of which
the separate cords are composed, as herein-before described.

page_text: Secondly, I claim the interweaving or braiding together the strands through-
out the whole length of the heddle, with the exception of the loop or eye, as
alsr herein-before described.
Thirdly, I claim the twisting the two cords of which each separate heddle
consists in contrary directions, as herein-before described.
Fourthly, I claim the attaching the harness to the shafts in the manner
described and represented at Figs. 2 and 3, Sheet B.
Lastly, I claim the machinery and apparatus arrranged as above described,
and the application thereof to the manufacture of weavers' harness.
In witness whereof, I, the said Kasimir Vogel, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twenty-ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.
KASIMIR (L.8.) VOGEL.
Enrolled the Tenth day of September, in the year of Our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.