IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS SUITABLE FOR WEAVING WIRE FABRICS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Tomlinson Bousfield, of Sussex Place,
Loughborough Road, Brixton, in the County of Surrey, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS SUITABLE FOR WEAVING WIRE FABRICS."
-A communication from E. B. Bigelow, of Boston, United States of
America.
Sealed the 25th March 1856, and dated the 13th October 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Tomlinson Bousfield
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th October 1855.
I, GEORGE TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Sussex Place, Loughborough Road,
Brixton, in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS SUITABLE FOR WEAVING WIRE FABRICS
to be as follows:-
Heretofore wire cloth of the description herein contemplated has, it is
believed, been woven by hand looms, a tedius and expensive process, requiring
for wide cloth the aid of two hands (workmen), one on either side of the
loom, who alternately throw the shuttle across the web; and just before throwing
the shuttle they draw from the bobbin and straighten the wire for the suc-
ceeding shoot, while both co-operate to swing the ponderous lathe required to
beat up the cloth. By this Invention, the entire operation of weaving wire

page_text: cloth is performed by automatic machinery, whereby the cost of weaving is
much reduced, and the fabric made of a more uniform texture than has
heretofore been done. The shuttle is handed through the shed of the warps
of wire by means of arms, one on either side of the loom, which simul-
taneously move towards and from the centre of the web, one arm carrying
the shuttle into the shed, until it meets the other arm, which takes it to the
side of the loom opposite from whence it started, the motion of the shuttle
alternating first in one direction and then in the other. The shuttle is provided
with a wire straightener, through which the wire passes, and is straightened
as it is drawn from the bobbin by the movement of the shuttle through the
warps, whilst the positive character of the shuttle motion ensures the passage
of the shuttle, whatever may be the drag of the wire. To prevent the pull of
the filling or weft wire from drawing in the selvage wires and making an
uneven or contracted selvage, pointed levers or instruments are employed, one
on either side of the loom, which have a vibratory motion towards and from
the selvage of the cloth, also a vertical motion up and down, by which latter
motion they are alternately introduced between the wire of the shuttle and
the selvage of the cloth, so that when the shuttle is taken through the shed
the weft wire 'draws the said instruments or levers towards the selvage of the
cloth, until they are arrested by a stop, which prevents the pull of said weft
wire from drawing in the selvage; then just before the shuttle has reached its
greatest outward motion, the instruments or levers are withdrawn, to allow
the final motion of the shuttle to draw the filling wire correctly up to the
selvage wire, thus forming a true smooth selvage without drawing in the
reed, however great may be the pull required to straighten the filling wire.
These levers or instruments for forming the selvage of the cloth are also
employed to stop the loom whenever the weft wire breaks or is exhausted from
the bobbin. They are combined with the loom shipper, that whenever the
weft wire is wanting, so as not to draw said, levers or other form of instru-
.ments or one of them to the selvage of the cloth, as aforesaid, at a given point
in the operation of the loom, it allows apparatus to come into action, and
throw the loom out of gear.
The cloth is beat up by a double stroke of the lathe; the first stroke, or that
which sets the wire, is given by the action of a spring, causing the reed to
strike the cloth with a sudden blow, and the other stroke, or that which
completes the operation, is given by, pressure rollers. The finished cloth is
taken up by a positive take-up motion, and the delivery of the warps is regu-
lated by the tension of the warps acting on a vibratory roller, which yields to
allow the shed to be formed, and is held firm at the beat of the lathe.

page_text: If a warp wire breaks, and chances to be across others when the warps are
crossed to form a new shed, it will be almost sure to cut them off, especially in
weaving fine wire. To prevent inconvenience arising from that source, I
apply a stop notion to the warp wires, which is so combined with the shipper
of the loom, tliat' the breaking of a single warp wire will throw the loom
out of gear.
The mode of driving, stopping, and arresting the momentum of the loom
may be the same as that to be described in a subsequent part of this
Specification. I would remark, however, that on the end of the driving shaft
opposite from that on which the friction cones are placed, as therein described,
I apply a slow motion by a separate band, by which the loom may be turned
in either direction to any desirable position by merely taking hold of a shipper;
this motion is added for convenience in tending the loom.
The apparatus for stopping the loom when a warp wire breaks.-This
apparatus is placed under the warps, the back side of the loom, and is sup-
ported at either end by stands. A frame divided in the middle contains as
many weights as there are threads in the warp; one half of the weights are
put into one compartment of the frame, and suspended from one division
of the warps, and the other half in the other compartment, and suspended
from the other division of the warp, each warp wire having its respective
weight. The weights are made of a square form, and of 'a thickness so
nearly to fill the frame as to require no other guide to steady them, but at
the same time having sufficient play to move up and down freely; when a'
warp wire breaks, its weight falls down on to a support. A shaft which
vibrates in the bearings on the frame has two arms, one on either end,
extending down through their respective ends of a bar, so that when
the shaft vibrates, they cause the bar to slide to and fro in slots. When
no. obstruction is offered. to the bar, the shaft is caused to vibrate in
unison, with it, but if a weight falls, it arrests the movement of the bar, and
causes a projection on a spring to.. rise out of the notch in the shaft, and rest
on the face of a cam, whilst the said cam moves forward. The rising of
the projection consequent upon. the falling of a weight, as aforesaid, acts
upon the shipper to throw the loom out of gear in the following manner:
The depending arm of the cam is connected by a bar to a lever, which
through the medium of a rod receives a vibratory motion from a cam on the
main shaft, which by suitable intermediate apparatus will draw back a rod
and throw the loom out of gear.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Tomlinson Bousfield in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 12th April 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Sussex Place, Loughborough Road, Brixton, in the
County of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said George Tomlinson Bousfield, Her special licence that I, the said George
Tomlinson Bousfield, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said George Tomliuson Bousfield, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS SUITABLE FOR WEAVING WIRE FABRICS,"
a. communication from E. B. Bigelow, of Boston, United States, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, 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 George Tomlinson Bousfield, 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 thereof, that is to say :-
Heretofore wire cloth of the description herein contemplated has been
woven by hand looms, which require for weaving wide cloth the aid of two
persons, one on either side of the loom, who alternately throw the shuttle
across the web, and just before throwing the shuttle they draw from the
bobbin and straighten the wire for the succeeding shute, while both co-operate
to swing the ponderous lathe required to beat up the cloth.
The ordinary power loom is not suited to the weaving of wire fabrics, the
fly shuttle" being too uncertain in its action for perfect work.

page_text: In the improved loom, the shuttle is handed through the shed of the wire
warps by means of arms, one on either side of the loom, which simultaneously
move towards and from the centre of the web, one arm carrying the shuttle
into the shed, until it meets the other arm, which takes it to the side of the
loom opposite from whence it started, the motion of the shuttle alternating
first in one direction and then in the other. The shuttle is provided with a
wire straightener, through which the wire passes, and is straightened as it is
drawn from the bobbin by the movement of the shuttle through the warps,
whilst the positive character of the shuttle motion insures the passage of the
shuttle, whatever may be the drag necessary to straighten the wire.
To prevent the pull of the filling. wire from drawing in the, selvage wires
and making an uneven or contracted selvage, pointed levers are employed,
one on either side of the loom, which have a vibratory motion toward and
from the selvage of the cloth, also a vertical motion up and down, by which
latter motion they are alternately thrust between the wire of the shuttle and
the selvage of the cloth, so that when the shuttle is taken through the warps
the filling wire draws said levers respectively towards the selvage of the cloth,
until they are arrested by a stop, which prevents the pull of said filling wire
from drawing in the selvage; then just before the shuttle has reached its
greatest outward motion said levers are withdrawn, to allow the final motion
of the shuttle to draw the filling wire snug up to the selvage wire, thus
forming a true smooth selvage without drawing in the reed, however. great
may be the pull required to straighten the filling wire. These levers for
forming the selvage of the cloth are also employed to stop the loom when. a
filling wire breaks or is exhausted from the bobbin. They are so combined
with the loom shipper, that whenever the filling wire is wanting, so. as not to
draw said selvage levers or one of them to the selvage of the cloth, as afore-
said, at a given stage of the operation of the loom, it allows certain levers to.
come into action, and throw the loom out of gear.
The cloth is beat up by a double stroke of the lathe; the first stroke, or that
which sits the wire, is given by the action of a spring, causing the reed to
strike the cloth with a sudden blow, and the other stroke, or that which com-
pletes the operation, is given by pressure rollers. The finished cloth is taken
up by a positive take-up motion, and the delivery of the warp wires is regu-
lated by their tension acting on a vibrating roller, which yields to allow the
shed to be formed, and is held firmly at the beat of the lathe.
If a warp wire breaks, and chances to be across others when they are
crossed to form a new shed, it will be likely to cut them off, especially in fine
work. To prevent inconvenience arising from this source, I apply a stop

page_text: motion to the warp wires, which is so combined with the shipper of the loom,
that the breaking of a single warp wire will throw the loom out of gear.
These improvements will be better understood by reference to the accom-
panying Drawings; in which, Figure 1 is a front elevation, Figures 2 and 3
are end elevations, Figure 4 is a plan, Figure 5 is a vertical section, looking
towards the left, and Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, are
details, of a loom arranged for weaving wire cloth according to this Invention.
a, a, represents the frame of the loom; b, the main shaft; c; the cain shaft;
and-d, the driving shaft. The driving shaft d turns the main shaft b by the
pinion e, which engages with the cogged wheel f, and the main shaft b turns
the cam shaft c by. the action of the cogged wheels g and h. The loom is
driven by friction cones, and it's momentum overcome by a friction brake.
i represents the friction cone; and j, the belt cone; which is pressed against
the friction cone i to drive the loom, and withdrawn from it to stop the loom.
The belt conej is acted upon to drive and stop the loom by the shipping
lever k, the rear end of which is supported by the stud l, and vibrates on the
stud m, whilst its forward end engages with the shipper n. The shipper n
vibrates on the stud o, and at its upper end plys in the stand p, and is drawi
inward by the weaver to start the loom, and when released is thrown outward
by the shipper spring to stop the loom in the usual way. represents the
break lever for arresting the loom, which is brought into action by the cam
acting on the roller s.. When it is desirable to turn the loom without moving
the shipper, the weaver may release the brake lever q by stepping on the
treadle t, which, through the medium of the arm u and the lever v, forces the
roller's from under the cam r. This mode of driving and stopping power
loomis is more fully described in my Patent entitled "Improvements in Power
Looms," and numbered 2296."
To'enable the weaver to conveniently turn the loom forward and back to
place it in position for mending the warp wires, &c., I apply a double-acting
slow motion to the end of the driving shaft d, opposite from the main driving
cones, as follows:-q' represents an upright shaft, the lower end of which is
to be supported, and receives motion from a main driver in any way best
suited to the mill where the looms are to be run; whilst its upper end is sup
ported by, the shipper lever r¹, and carries the bevil pinion s¹; which is suitably
formed to engage with either of the bevil wheels t' and ' on the said driving
shaft d. The shipper lever r¹ is supported by the shaft 'v', which vibrates in
the stands w¹ and a y¹ represents a spring, which extends forward from the
shipper lever r', and terminates in the form of a handle ¹; a represents a
guide stand, which is shaped as shewn in Figure 15; and ", a stud, which is

page_text: shaped to conform thereto. When the stud 6" is at the bottom of the V; the
bevilled pinion s runs clear of both of the bevil wheels tandu. To turn the
loom, therefore, the weaver by acting on the handle a 'throws said bevilled
pinion s into one or the other of said bevilled wheels t" and.u', according to
the direction of the motion required, and when said bevil pinion is withdrawn,
the spring y forces the stud back to the bottom of the V, and holds the
said pinion in a neutral position until the weaver shall again bring it into
action. w represents the warp wire beam, which is formed with a series of
recesses for the wire, as in hand 'looms; x represents the vibrating roller for
regulating the delivery of the 'warp wire; and y and z, the take-up rollers, for
taking up the finished cloth.
1:15 "
The wire warps pass from the warp wire beam w around the vibrating
roller x, through the harnesses a', a', and reed b¹, to the take-up rollers y and z;
the take-up rollers are drawn together to hold the cloth by the springs c¹, c',
acting on the rods d', d', and to insure the movement of the top roller y
the two rollers are geared together by the gears 9¹ and f¹; the take-up rollers
y and z are moved a given distance every thread of filling wire introduced
by the cam g', which acts on the lever h', and through the medium of the
bar i, lever j', and pawl k, turns the ratchet wheel . The ratchet wheel./'
turns on the end of the axis of the take-up roller zas on a stud, and through
the action of the pinion m', intermediate wheel and pinion'n', and wheël'o',
(which is fast to the axis of the roller ) turns the said take-up rollers. The
object of the intermediate wheel and pinion n¹ is to graduate by change of
size the movement of the take-up motion to the great variety of cloth required,
which varies from four to eighty wires per inch. p represents a pawl to hold
the ratchet wheel from being drawn back by the pull of the wire warps;
the vibrating roller x, for regulating the delivery of the warp wire before
mentioned, is supported by the vibrating levers q', q', which are jointed at their
upper ends to the stands r, r, while their lower ends terminate in the form of
a cogged segment, and engage with 'the pinions s', s, on the shaft t. "The
shaft t rocks in the stands u', u', and carries the arms v¹, v', from which
tension weights are suspended to give tension to the warp wire. The said
tension weights may be applied directly to the arms v³, v, or they may be
suspended below the floor of the weaving room by the straps w¹, w. The
object of the weights just described is to give tension to the warp wire merely,
but as the degree of tension best suited to shedding the warp wires is not
in most fabrics sufficient to resist the blow of the lathe in beating <up the
weft wires, breaks are employed to hold the vibrating roller during that
operation, which breaks are applied as follows:-To either end of the shaft,t'

page_text: a friction pulley o¹ is affixed. p", 2", represent friction breaks, one on either
side of the loom (though in light. fabrics one brake will be sufficient), which
vibrate on the studs q", q", at their upper ends, and are connected with their
respective levers 11, 11, at their lower ends by the connecting rods s¹¹, s¹¹.
The levers r,, vibrate on their respective. studs t, t, and are actuated
by the cams u, u", on the main shaft b, which cams are so shaped as
to bring the said brakes p", p", into action, when the lathe beats up and
set them free at other times. On the warp wire beam w the worm
wheel x is affixed, which receives motion from the worm y¹ on the let-off
motion shaft - z¹. The let-off motion shaft. 2 is supported by the stands
a", a", and actuated by the cam 6" on the main shaft 6. The cam bu
acts on the roller c", and forces the lever du forward to turn the let-off
motion, whilst said lever du falls back for renewed action by its own weight.
Motion is communicated from said lever du to the let-off. motion shaft z¹
through the medium of the connecting bar ", the three-armed vibrating
lever f, crown ratchet g¹¹, pawls h", h, pinion ", and cogged wheel ".
The ratchet g" revolves on the stud ", and has the pinion ¹¹ affixed to its hub.
One of the pawls h", h", is made shorter than the other by one half the space
between the ratchet teeth, thus giving greater accuracy of action than if only
one pall was used.
The action of the let-off motion is regulated and adapted to the requirements
of the loom as follows:-The rear end of the connecting bar e¹¹ is bent down,
and terminates in a sharp edge, as represented by ". m represents a regu-
lating lever, which turns freely on the end of the shaft 6', and is provided at
its forward end with a series of notches n", n", rising one above the other to
receive the said sharp edge of the bar e, whilst its rear end terminates in
the form of a weight, of sufficient size to constantly tend to throw up the
opposite end, just described. ¹¹ represents a stop, which is affixed to the brake
pulley o", to limit the upward movement of said regulating lever m".
From the foregoing description of the parts which compose the let-off
motion, it will be understood that as the cam 611 at each revolution forces the
lever du forward to a given point to turn the let-off motion, the extent to
which said let-off motion will be moved by any one revolution of said cam 6"
will depend upon the extent which said lever d" shall fall back for renewed
action; consequently, when more warp wire is being given out than is required
for the cloth being woven, the vibrating roller x under the action of tension
weights falls back and raises the stop v", which allows the end of the regu-
lating lever m", on which it acts, to rise, and present such an one of the series
of notches n", n", as will suitably diminish the backward movement of the

page_text: lever d; then, as more warp wire is required than is being given out, the
said vibrating roller a is drawn forward, which, forces down the regulating
lever m, and presents such an one of the notches n", n", as will give the
required increase of motion to the lever d".
The harnesses a¹, a', are suspended from the roller v by the chains w", w¹¹,
and connected with the treadles all, al, by the jacks y", y", and rods 2", 2",
the whole being operated by the cams a³, a, in a similar manner to the
harnesses in the ordinary power loom.
The lathe is suspended from the shaft 3, which rocks in the boxes c³, c³.
ds, d, represent the swords of the lathe; e³, the race beam; f³, the reed
binder; and g, the reed cap.
The lathe has a double action upon the filling wire; the first consists of a
sudden blow given by the action of springs, and the second consists of pressure
produced by the action of pressure rollers. h³ represents a shaft, which rocks
in the boxes 3, 3, and has the arms 3, 3, (one on either end thereof) extending
upwards from it, the upper ends of said arms being connected to their respective
swords d', d³, by the connecting bars, ; represents a cam on the main
shaft b; and m³, m³, springs, the forward ends of which are bolted to projections
cast on the shaft h³, whilst their rear ends are connected to a loom girth by
their respective straps ³, n³; 03, 0³, represent balance weights to counteract the
weight of the lathe when forward of its centre of gravity.
The lathe is drawn back by the cam acting on the roller p³, then as the
said roller p³ is set free by the said cam P, the springs m³, m³, force the reed
against the fill of the cloth by a sudden blow of the lathe, which sets the warp
wires;, then the pressure rollers g³, q³, one of which is carried by the arm 7³, and
the other by the main gear f, come round and strike against similar rollers
53, 83, on the lower ends of the swords d³, d³, of the lathe, and complete the
operation.
In weaving light fabrics the sudden blow of the lathe is not required, in
which case the shaft and its appendages, and the springs m³, m³, may
be dispensed with, and the whole operation of the lathe be effected by two
double cams, one on either end of the main shaft 6 of the loom, acting on their
respective swords d³, ds, of the lathe, as represented in Figure 6. ³, t³, repre-
sent straps for preventing the springs m³, m³, from throwing the lathe too far
forward, being chiefly required when no warp wires are in the loom. The
shuttle, and the mode of operating it, will now be described.
The shuttle is formed as represented, on a scale of one half size in Figures
10 and 11, in which Figure 10 represents a front view, and Figure 11 a top
view. u³ represents the body part of the shuttle, and v, 3, the shuttle handles

page_text: by which the shuttle is carried through the shed, as herein-after to be described;
w³, w³, represent stands, which extend forward from the body part u³ of the
shuttle, and supports the filling wire bobbin a³, which revolves on the pin 2³ ;
a* represents a friction lever, which is forced against the filling wire on the
bobbin a by the spiral spring 64, to prevent the too free movement of the said
bobbin a³ As the filling wire is drawn from the bobbin a³ in the process of
weaving, it passes through a wire straightener out between the guide rollers
c, c, as indicated by the red lines, in Figures, 4 and 11. The wire
straightener is composed of a series of pins d', d', a part of which project
upwards from the arm e, and the remaining part project downwards from the
arm f. The arm is screwed firmly to the body part us of the shuttle,
whilst the arm f* is made to swing on the stud screw 9', to facilitate passing
the filling wire between the said pins d', d, and is held in position by the
spring h, which may be adjusted so as to hold the said pins d', d', in greater
or less proximity, according as more or less pull is required to straighten the
wire. The ends of the pins d', d, and the guide rollers c, care sunk into
the parts which are connected with them, whereby they are shielded so as to
prevent the filling wire from slipping over them.
In weaving some fabrics, instead of the pins d', d', two conforming surfaces
may be employed to straighten the wire, said surfaces being pressed together
by a spring and the wire drawn between them.
The shuttle is handed or carried through the shed of the warp wire from
one side of the loom to the other by the shuttle arms, , one on either side
of the loom, which have a simultaneous motion towards and from the centre of
the web, and slide on their respective ways j, j. The inner ends of the
shuttle arms i, i, are provided with sockets, which are suitably formed to
receive the shuttle handles v2, v3, and are made bell-shaped at their openings
to facilitate the ingress of said handles. The shuttles engage with the shuttle
arms as represented in Figures 1 and 4, and is secured thereto when required
by the latch levers k', k, which vibrate on their respective studs 1*, *.
m*, mt, represent springs which have a constant tendency to throw the
hooks n, n, on the latch levers k, k, into action, so that when the shuttle
handles v, v, enter the sockets in their respective shuttle arms , 2, the
hooks n, n, glide over the points of the said shuttle handles, and
lock into the openings o*, o*. The shuttle is alternately carried from
one side of the web to the other, one arm carrying it towards the centre
of the web, until it meets the other arm, which receives it, and carries
it to the opposite side of the web. from whence it started. The hooks
m, m,are alternately released to cause the shuttle to take the right

page_text: direction after the two arms have come together in the centre of the web,
as aforesaid, by the levers p, p, which vibrate on their respective studs q', g*.
represent projections which present a cam-like surface to similar
surfaces st, st, on the latch levers , k, as represented in Figures 9 and 4.
The levers p, p, are alternately raised as the shuttle is about to be carried
from the side of the web towards the centre thereof, so that the cam-like
surfaces st, st, come in contact with the projections, r, just before the shuttle
arms reach their greatest extent of inward motion, and thus release the hooks
n*, *; the said hooks n', n', being released in alternate correspondence with
the movement of the shuttle, that is to say, the hooks on the side of the loom
from which the shuttle is taken into the shed is released, while the one on' the
opposite side is left in action to draw the shuttle to the opposite side of the
loom from whence it started.
The inode of communicating motion to the levers p, p, will be hereafter
described in connection with the filling wire stop motion. The ways j; j*,
before mentioned, are screwed to the horizontal plate t', one end of which is
supported by the stand u', whilst the other is bolted to the projection * on the
loom frame. w represents a 'horizontal girth, placed between the loom frame
and the upper end of the stand u³, to give steadiness to the parts connected
therewith; represents another horizontal girth, which connects the lower
end of said stand to the loom frame, and supports the counter shafts
y', y', which operate the shuttle. The end of the girth a, which is presented
to the loom frame, is made in two parts to receive the bevil gears z', ', as
represented in Figure 17. The counter shafts y', y', through the said bevil
gears 2,2, receive motion from the main shaft b, and carry their respective
double cams a³, a; the said double cams a³, a³, act on their respective cam
rollers, , and through the medium of the depending levers cc, con-
necting bars d³, d, upright levers e, e, and bars f, fs, move their respective
shuttle arms, i, in a manner to carry the shuttle through the shed, as
'before described.
7%
The apparatus for preserving the selvages of the cloth may be understood as
follows: The points or levers g³, 9%, which prevent the drag on the filling
wire from drawing in the selvages, extend upwards from the horizontál arms
ho, ho, which are affixed to the upper ends of the vertical shafts ³, . The
vertical shafts 2, 3, one on either side of the loom, are supported by suitable
sockets formed in their respective rock levers ³, at the lower ends, whilst
they are guided and supported at their upper ends by the stands k, k³, in
which they have both a vertical and rocking motion.
The rock levers j³, j³,
are supported by their respective stands 1, 15, and their inward arms extend

page_text: back and receive motion from the double cams m³, m³, on the cam shaft c,
whilst their outward arms extend forward, and are bent to receive the lower
ends of the vertical shafts i, i, as aforesaid, and as represented by the detached
plan thereof in Figure 7. The vertical shafts 1, 2, are prevented from rising
out of their respective sockets by the lugs no, no, which so ply in grooves in
said shafts as to secure them in their position without impeding their rocking
motion. 0, 0, represent arms which extend from the vertical shafts i³, 15,
to act upon the filling wire stop motion, as herein-after to be explained.
P, P, represent stops against which the arms 05, 0%, strike to prevent the
shafts,, from rocking too far towards or from the selvages of the cloth;
9,9, represent springs which have a constant tendency to draw the arms h³, h³,
away from the selvages of the cloth.
Now, suppose the loom to be in that stage of its operation at which it is
represented in Figures 4 and 5: the cam m³ raises the shaft (on the side of
the loom where the shuttle is located), and brings the point or lever 95 up
between the filling wire and the selvage of the cloth; the shuttle then
enters the web, and draws the said filling wire around the said point or
lever g, which at this stage of the operation serves to take up the slack of
said filling wire 73, caused by the returning movement of the shuttle, and pre-
vent it from kinking or twisting together; but as the shuttle further proceeds
on its course across the web, the said filling wire r³ draws the said point or
lever g³ around towards the selvage to a line with the fill of the cloth, where it
is arrested by the stop po, and prevents the drag on the filling wire, from
drawing in the selvage wire, then just before the shuttle completes its move-
ment, the said cam m³ withdraws the said point or lever g³, which allows
the final movement of the shuttle to draw the said filling wire snug up to
the selvage wire, thus forming a true selvage without drawing in the reed.
When the point or lever g is withdrawn from the filling wire, as aforesaid,
the spring q draws it back to clear the lathe, and to the place where it is
arrested by the stop p³, for renewed action. t, t, represent guide stands so
formed as to prevent the filling wire from whipping over their respective points
or levers g³.
The points or levers gare brought into action alternately corresponding
with the movements of the shuttle, and the shafts 1, 2, carry their respective
arms u³, us, which engage with the levers p, p, before mentioned, so that
when said shafts 1, 1, are raised and depressed to bring into action and with-
draw the said points or levers 9³, they at the same time bring into action and
withdraw the said levers p, p, which act on the latch levers k, k*, to release
the shuttle, as above specified. The hubs of the arms us, us, being loosely

page_text: fitted to their respective shafts 3, 3, offer no obstruction to their rocking
motion, but they are secured to and made to move vertically in unison with
the said shafts , ", by the hub of the arms h³, hs, and the collar v³, v.
In weaving some wire fabrics, the filling wire is crimped by the process
of weaving, and consequently requires a length of filling wire to be introduced
greater than the width of the cloth being woven, otherwise the contraction of
the said filling wire produced by crimping it will cause undue action upon
the warp wires at the edges of the cloth, and produce what is called ruffle.
selvages, that is, selvages longer than the body of the cloth. In weaving such
fabrics, I employ, in addition to the above-described apparatus for preserving
the selvages, two or more pointed instruments w³, w, which are in proper
order of time and by appropriate mechanism thrust into the shed of the warp
wire forward of the filling wire, so as to give it a sort of curve (and thus
increase the length thereof taken into the shed), as represented in Figure 16.
In order that the curve of the filling wire may be equal on both sides of the
web when the lathe. strikes, I employ two levers, one on either side of the
loom, the position of which is indicated at yo, y, which levers, after the shuttle
has passed, and before the said pointed instruments w³, ws, are withdrawn, are
alternately.moved forward to bend the wire to the fell of the cloth, so that
when the lathe. beats up it shall act alike on both edges.
The mode of connecting the apparatus which is employed to preserve the
selvages with the loom shipper for stopping the loom when a filling wire fails is
as follows:- represents a lever, which vibrates on the stud a', and has its
upper end suitably formed to act on the shipper n, and throw the loom out of
gear when brought into action for that purpose. The lower end of said lever a
is not only connected with the apparatus now under consideration for stopping the
loom when the filling wire fails, but also with the apparatus for stopping the loom
when a warp wire breaks, which latter connection will herein-after be described.
It is connected with the former apparatus by means of the horizontal bar 66,
bent arm c, horizontal rock shaft de, upright arms e, e, and cords fo, f, which
are attached to their respective arms o³, o, before described; the rear end of
bar bis jointed to the lower end of the vibrating lever g, which vibrates on
the stud h, and receives motion to throw the loom out of gear from the double
cam on the main shaft b.. The forward end of the said bar 66 is provided
with a hook jo, which acts on the projection ko, on the side of the lever x³.
The bent arm is provided with a fork at its extremity, on the bottom of which
the bar rests, and as the stop prevents the shaft de from turning too far,
the said arm.c sustains the bar be in a suitable position to act on the pro-
iection 1 when drawn back by the said double cam 2. The said double cam i

page_text: gives one vibratory motion to the bar 6 every movement of the shuttle, and if
the said bar 6 was allowed to remain in the position. just described and repre-
sented in Figure 3, it is obvious that it would throw the loom out of gear,every
operation; but by tracing the connection of the parts of the apparatus. before
specified, it will be seen, that whenever the points or levers g', g, or either one
of them, are drawn towards the selvage of the cloth by the filling wire to pre-
serve the selvage, as aforesaid, the cords f, f, will draw forward the arms e, e^,
and raise the bar 66, so that when it is drawn back by, the aforesaid cam 2, the.
hook will pass clear of the projection ko, and the loom continue in motion;
whereas if the filling wire from any cause fails to act on said points or levers.
g³, g³, or one of them, as aforesaid, the said hook j engages with the pro-
jection ko, and throws the loom out of gear.
The apparatus for stopping the loom when a warp.wire breaks will now.
be described. The controlling part of the apparatus is placed under,
the warps the back side of the loom, and is supported at either end
by the stands mo, m³. no represents a guide frame, which resembles a
long box divided by a partition o", but without a bottom,. and contains as
many weights p, p, as there are wires in the warp.; one half of the said
weights being put into one compartment of said guide frame no, and sus-
pended from one division or portion of the shed of the warp wire, and the other
half in the other compartment, and suspended from the other division or
portion of the shed of the warp wire, each warp, wire. having its respective
weight. The said weights are made of a square form, and of a thickness so
nearly to fill their respective compartments of the said guide frame no as to
require no other guide to steady them, but at the same time having sufficient
play to move up and down freely: 9" represents a bed, on which the weights
p, p, drop when their respective warp wires break, said bed being supported
by the aforesaid stands mo, m; the stands me, m, are provided with slots r6, 76,
in which the stop bar se slides to and fro, said stop bar 8 being connected at.
both ends,to the rock shaft to by their respective bars u, u, and upright arms
v, v. The rock shaft to rocks in the stands w, w³, and receives motion from the
double cam on the main shaft b, said motion being communicated through
the medium of the vibrating lever y, connecting rod 26, and rock lever a².
The upper arm of the rock lever a' is provided with a bub, in which the rod.b'
slides, said rod b7 being constantly forced against the cam c on the aforesaid
upright arm by the spring d', which plys in the groove e7, as represented in
a front elevation thereof in Figures 1, 2, and 14. f' is another rock lever on
the rock shaft to, the lower end of which is connected to. the lever ', before
specified, by the rod g; the forward end of said, rod g' being provided with a

page_text: slot to allow the filling stop motion to act on the said lever a, as before
specified, without disturbing the parts of the warp wire stop motion. The
stops and the spring serve to keep the levers x and f' in position to be
acted upon. is a lever, which is connected with the lever f", as shewn in
Figure 14, and vibrates on the stud k to change the direction of the motion of
the lever a', so that when either of the parts F, V, are acted upon by the said
lever a', it will move the lever a³, and throw the loom out of gear.
'
The mode in which the depressing of any one of the weights po, po; consequent
upon the breaking of a warp wire, brings the lever a into action to stop the
loom, is as follows:-It should be borne in mind that the arms v,, are per-
manently affixed to the rock shaft to, whilst the hubs of the rock levers a" and f
turn loosely on said rock shaft to; the said rock lever a being connected with
the arm v, to give. motion to the stop bar so, by the rod pressing against the
recess m of the cam c', as represented in Figure 14. Now, when all the warp
wires are in working order, the weights p, p, are suspended, so as to allow
the stop bar se to vibrate freely, and the inner end of the rod 67 being in the
recess m of the cam c, allows the outer end thereof to pass the parts, 1,
without contact; but whenever a warp wire breaks, its respective weight po falls
on to the bed go, or is sufficiently depressed to arrest the stop bar so, and as the
rock lever a is continued in motion by the double cam a, which actuates it,
the rod brises out of the recess m', and brings its outer end in contact with
one or the other (according to the direction of the motion when the stop bar so
is arrested) of the parts I, I, and stops the loom.
tendency to depress the warp wires, to prevent
under them, which revolves in the stands o7, 0%.
stands may be placed under the ends of the base rods p, p, and the middle
portion of said rods may be supported by wires, as represented by the red lines.
97, q', in Figure 5.
The weights p, p, have a
which the roller is placed
For the same purpose also
It will be obvious to machinists that many parts of the loom may be
varied in construction without altering their essential character; as, for
example, instead of operating the shuttle arms cams and levers, as
above described, they may be operated by revolving screws placed with their
axes parallel to the line of motion of said arms; so.also in weaving some kinds
of wire cloth, some of the motions may be dispensed with without changing the
organized character of the machine; as, for example, the stop motion for
stopping the loom when a warp wire breaks may be taken away, and the
weaving functions of the remaining parts continue unimpaired.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I make no claim to any

page_text: of the mechanical parts separately, nor do I confine myself to the details herein
described; but what I claim is, the mode herein described of combining and
organizing the parts of power looms for weaving wire fabrics, whereby the
shuttles have a positive mechanical motion when they are being passed from
side to side of the looms, the.weft wires are straightened as they come from the
shuttles, and the selvages of the fabric are preserved.
I also claim the mode of arranging the apparatus herein described for
stopping the loom when a filling wire fails; I also claim the mode of operating
the lathe as herein described; and I also claim the arrangement of apparatus
herein described for stopping power looms when a warp breaks.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
R. BROWNING,
New Court, St Swithin's Lane.
GEO. T. BOUSFIELD. (L.S.)