Improvement in Means for Checking and Adjusting Shuttles in Change-box Looms.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1898
Complete Specifination Loft 16th No
4000
1000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Means for Checking and Adjusting Shuttles in
Change-box Looms.
We, GEORGE STUBLEY, of Calder Mills, Wakefield, in the County of York,
Woollen Manufacturer, and JOHN WILLIAM WRAY, of Ashdown Road, Sandal,
Wakefield, in the County of York, Loon Turner, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
In the ordinary loom, with say two shuttle boxes, the shuttle on its return is
usually brought to rest partly by coming in contact with the picker, (which is
checked by the checking strap), and partly by coming against a wedge, which
narrows the space at the back of the shuttle box. This arrangement has the dis-
advantage, that it sometimes happens, that the shuttle is not stopped by either
of the above means until it has either broken or burst the back part of the shuttle
box, or has become wedged so tight that the checking strap fails to move it,
and the picking strap or arm or other part or connection of the picking motion is
liable to be broken on the next pick, or the picker fails to throw the shuttle full
across the loom.
Now the object of this invention is to avoid these disadvantages, which is effected
by the following means, which constitute or comprise the invention.
On the guide spindles for the picker, and between the picker and the checking
strap, is fitted a sliding piece; which may suitably be and is hereinafter designated
the checker." The checker is capable of sliding on the guide spindles, but its
motion is limited on the one side by the picker and on the other side by the check-
ing strap. The side or end of the checker towards the shuttle boxes extends both
upwards and downwards by a distance somewhat greater than the distance between
the centre lines of the shuttle boxes. These ends or arms of the checker are pro-
vided with pads of buffalo hide, india rubber or the like; so that when the picker
is opposite the nose of the lower shuttle, the top pad of the checker is opposite the
nose of the top shuttle; and when the shuttle boxes are lowered, the picker is
opposite the nose of the top shuttle, and the lower pad of the checker is opposite
the nose of the lower shuttle.
It will be evident, that when the shuttle, say the top shuttle, has been stopped
by the picker, and the shuttle boxes raised so as to bring the lower shuttle opposite
the shuttle race or picker, the top shuttle is then opposite the top pad of the
checker; and as the shuttle race moves back, the checking strap will draw the
checker slightly forward, pushing the top shuttle into proper position for the next
pick. Or supposing that the nose of the shuttle has not been fairly caught by the
picker, but has passed over and past the face of the picker, the shuttle will be
stopped by the checker, and brought back into proper position by the movement of
the checking strap as the shuttle race moves back.
When the loom has three shuttle boxes, the vertical arms of the checker require
to be made longer, and provided with two pads above and two below the level of

page_text: the picker. With four shuttle boxes, three pads must be provided above and three
below the picker, or the arrangement modified to suit the particular loom.
Dated this 19th day of February 1898.
J. CLARK JEFFERSON,
30, Park Row, Leeds, Agent for Applicants.
Improvement in Means for Checking and Adjusting Shuttles in
Change-box Looms.
We, GEORGE STUBLEY, of Calder Mills, Wakefield, in the County of York,
Woollen Manufacturer, and JOIN WILLIAM WRAY, of Ashdown Road, Sandal,
Wakefield, in the County of York, Loom Tuner, 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:-
In the ordinary loom, with say two shuttle boxes, the shuttle on its return is
usually brought to rest, partly by coming in contact with the picker, (which is
checked by the checking strap), and partly by coming against a wedge, which
narrows the space at the back of the shuttle box. This arrangement has the dis-
advantage, that it sometimes happens, that the shuttle is not stopped by either
of the above means until it has either broken or burst the back part of the shuttle
box, or has become wedged so tight that the checking strap fails to move it
into position for the next pick; so that the picker fails to throw the shuttle full
across the loom; or the picking strap or other connection of the picking motion
may be broken.
Now the object of this invention is to avoid these disadvantages, which we effect
by the following means, which constitute or comprise our invention.
On the guide spindles for the picker, and between the picker and the checking
strap, or behind the checking strap, is fitted a sliding piece; which in our Pro-
visional Specification is referred to as the "checker"; but which we now prefer to
designate the shuttle adjuster."
66
This shuttle adjuster is capable of sliding on the guide spindles, but its motion
is limited on the one side 'by the picker, and on the other side by the checking
strap; or by a second strap attached by one end to the adjuster, and by its other
end to some convenient part of the checking strap. The side or end of the adjuster
towards the shuttle box carrier extends both upwards and downwards by a distance
somewhat greater than the distance between the centre lines of the shuttle boxes.
These ends or arms of the adjuster are provided on the side facing the ends of the
shuttle boxes with a pad of buffalo hide, india rubber or the like; or the whole of
the adjuster may be made of such material.
It will be evident, that when the picker is opposite the nose of the lower shuttle,
the top pad or arm of the adjuster is opposite the nose of the top shuttle; and
when the shuttle boxes are lowered, the picker is opposite the nose of the top
shuttle, and the lower pad or arm of the adjuster is opposite the nose of the lower
shuttle.
Also when one of the shuttles, say the top shuttle has been stopped by the picker,
and the shuttle boxes raised so as to bring the lower shuttle box opposite the picker,
the top shuttle is then opposite the top pad or top arm of the adjuster; and as the
shuttle race moves back, the checking strap will draw the adjuster slightly for-
ward, pushing the top shuttle into proper position for the next pick. Or supposing
that the nose of the shuttle has not been fairly caught by the picker, or that the

page_text: checking strap has broken, the shuttle will then not be stopped by the picker or
adjuster at the proper position; but the inertia of the adjuster and the material
of which it or the pad is composed, will cause it to act as a checker or buffer,
lessening the shock on the end bracket and the risk of breaking the same.
Where a loom has three shuttle boxes, the vertical arms of the adjuster require
to be made longer, that is each somewhat longer than the distance between the
centre lines of two adjoining shuttle boxes. With four shuttle boxes, the length
of each arm of the adjuster must be somewhat greater than three times the above
distance.
And in order that our invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed may be more readily and clearly understood, we have annexed hereto
the accompanying sheet of drawings illustrating our invention, and in which
Fig. 1 is a plan, Fig. 2 a front elevation, and Fig. 3 a cross section on line A B
Fig. 1, of part of a loom about the frame carrying the shuttle boxes.
a is a rectangular frame, carrying two shuttle boxes b and c.
dd are the guide spindles on which the picker e slides, being carried from the
bracket f bolted to the frame a, and the bracket g bolted to the shuttle race h.
i is the breast beam, to which one end of the checking strap is fastened.
k is a strap from the picking arm, and is the dolly stick.
m is a stay rod, connecting the lower ends of the brackets f and y.
On the guide spindles d d, and between the picker e and the bracket f, is fitted
the adjuster n, capable of sliding on the spindles d d. The adjuster n is con-
veniently formed T-shaped, that is with a top arm », and a lower arm, as shewn
most clearly in Fig. 3. The lengths of these arms is such, that when the centre
horizontal part of the adjuster is level with the bottom shuttle box c, the top arm
faces the end of the top shuttle box b; so that when the shuttleboxes are lowered
to bring the picker opposite the top shuttle box b, the centre horizontal part of the
adjuster is also in line with the top shuttle box b, whilst the lower arm ng of the
adjuster faces the end of the lower shuttle box c.
The adjuster n may be placed either between the picker e and the looped end
of the checking strap j; or as shewn in the drawing beyond the looped end of the
checking strap j, in which case a second strap o is attached at one end to the
adjuster n, and at the other end to some convenient part of the checking strap j.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: -
1. In connection with change box looms the employment of a sliding piece fitting
on and capable of sliding on the picker guide spindles for the purpose of assist-
ing to check or stop the motion of the shuttle and for bringing back and adjust-
ing the position of the shuttle ready for the next pick.
2. In connection with change box looms the use and arrangement of a T-shaped
sliding piece fitted on the picker guide spindles and on the outer side of the picker
and between the picker and the checking strap or outside the checking strap and
connected thereto by a second strap substantially as and for the purposes herein
set forth and illustrated.
Dated this 15th day of November 1898.
J. CLARK JEFFERSON,
30, Park Row, Leeds, Agent for Applicants.