CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Wright Shaw, of Clayton, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR
WEAVING,"
Sealed the 29th December 1868, and dated the 14th July 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Wright Shaw at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th July 1868.
I, WRIGHT SHAW, of Clayton, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOOMS FOR WEAVING," to be as follows:-
My improvements relate to that description of looms called "check
looms" in which drop boxes are employed, and consist, first, in the
use and employment of double-acting levers mounted on the loom frame
and reciprocating in opposite directions, which act in combination with
a bowl mounted on a fixed stud on one of the levers, and which is
caused to slide laterally by a lever motion governed by the pattern

page_text: chain so as to bring the bowl in contact with one of two tappets of
different diameters which actuate the same, thereby giving movement
to the double-acting levers and to rods suspended therefrom, which are
provided at their lower extremities with notches or teeth. During the
contact of the bowl with either of the tappets it is held or locked in
position by means of a finger attached to the lever motion, which causes
the bowl to slide, such finger being guided by a locking bar or pointer
on either one or the other side of it. The finger slides up and down, the
locking bar or pointer being fixed to the frame of the loom.
A second part of the Invention consists in an improved construction
and arrangement of the "box rod," the up part of which is attached
to the boxes as usual, but the lower part is provided with a series of
teeth or notches corresponding with the teeth or notches on the ends of
the aforesaid rods. These rods are governed by the pattern chain so
as to raise the series of teeth or notches to engage alternately with
those on the bottom, thus imparting the required rising and falling of
the rods and the drop boxes connected therewith. A spring bolt entering
one or the other of the series of notches formed on the "box rod"
assists in retarding it at the different lifts, but giving way to its up and
down motion when acted upon by the levers and rods. The lower ends
of the rods are constructed in two parts or bars, which slide in each
other, but are held or locked in their position by a moveable V-shaped
piece or tooth fitted in one of the bars projecting into a recess formed
on the other bar, in which it is held by a spring during the proper
working of the drop boxes. Should their movement however be
interrupted the strain caused on the "box rod" will force the V-shaped
locking piece out of its socket, thus allowing the two bars to slide in
each other and so prevent breakage. This improvement is also
applicable to "box rods" now in use.
A third part of my improvements consists in an improved method of
actuating the chain by the interposition of a spring between the lever
carrying the barrel or cylinder and the tappet giving motion thereto,
such spring being attached to a connecting rod, and is of sufficient
resistance to actuate the barrel or cylinder and yet sufficiently yielding
at certain positions of the barrel and also in stopping the chain motion.
This stopping motion constitutes a fourth part of my improvements and
consists in the application and use of a double catch having two curved

page_text: claws in the form of a horse-shoe. This catch is mounted and vibrates
on a stud; one of its claws extending above the barrel actuates the
barrel pinion, the other extends below the oscillating frame or bracket
which carries the barrel and the catch from the ordinary "catch rod"
of the loom by means of the strap catch, which is here extended beyond
the ratchet wheel of the taking-up motion and is connected with the
catch, and is so arranged that on the catch rod being moved in
consequence of the weft breaking, or the shuttle not entering the box,
the stop catch lever elevates the upper claw of the horse-shoe catch
out of gear with the barrel pinion, thus stopping the motion of the
chain, while the lower claw is sufficiently lifted to form a stop for the
barrel frame, and the barrel and chain cease to operate upon the needles
and no further change is made in the drop boxes. Instead of applying
the catch rod now in use to move the double claw or horse-shoc catch
a separate rod and lever may be employed.
Another part of the improvements consists in an arrangement of
apparatus for varying or continuing the number of picks from the same
card, and thus reducing considerably the number of links and cards in
the same. This is effected by means of a wheel or disc, to which is
attached a number of adjustable and removeable projections or bowls
according to the pattern desired, and from the aforesaid double claw or
"horse-shoe catch" a feeler or finger extends within contact of the
projections, the said wheel being caused to revolve part of a revolution
every two picks by means of a ratchet or other apparatus. During
the revolutions of the disc the projections where any are fixed depress
the feeler of the double claw catch, and cause a similar effect as in
the aforesaid improvement, namely, stopping the motion of the chain.
Another part of the improvements relates to a novel arrangement of
apparatus whereby the pattern chains varying in length may be actuated
without causing any slackness, and consists in attaching to the "taking-
up barrel" a ratchet wheel actuated by a catch attached to a lever
having an adjustable weight. The motion of the lever lifts the catch a
certain distance during its return stroke, and at the forward movement
when the catch turns the wheel and barrel and takes up the chain is
performed by the action of the weights or a spring adjusted on the lever,
so that the barrel is moved until the chain is tightened, thus preventing
any slackness.

page_text: Another part of my improvements consists in the application,
employment, and use of shuttle boxes such as are used for plain
weaving instead of the drop boxes when required, which plain shuttle
boxes may either be entirely separate and arranged so as to be easily
attached instead of the drop boxes, or they may be arranged on
the top of the drop boxes, which when the plain box is used will
remain stationary.
Another part of the Invention relates to an improved form and
construction of chain, and consists in the use of elastic wire or plate
links of peculiar shape, which by slightly contracting or bending they
may be speedily coupled, their own elasticity retaining them in position
and connection,
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Wright Shaw in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 14th January 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WRIGHT
SHAW, of Clayton, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Wright Shaw, Her special license that
I, the said Wright Shaw, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Wright Shaw, 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 time 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
Looms FOR WEAVING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Wright Shaw, 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,

page_text: 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 Wright Shaw, 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 and accompanying Drawings (that is
to say) :-
My improvements relate to that description of looms called check
looms in which drop boxes are employed, and consists, firstly, in the
use of double-acting levers mounted on the loom frame and reciprocating
in opposite directions which act in combination with a bowl mounted
on a fixed stud on one of the levers, and which is caused to slide laterally
by a lever motion governed by the pattern chain so as to bring the
bowl in contact with one of two tappets of different diameters which
actuate the same, thereby giving movement to the double-acting levers
and bars suspended therefrom, which are provided at their lower
extremities with notches or teeth. During the contact of the bowl with
either of the tappets it is held or locked in position by means of a finger
attached to the lever motion which causes the bowl to slide, such finger
being guided by a bar or pointer on either one or the other side of it.
The finger slides up and down, the locking bar or pointer being fixed
to the frame of the loom.
A second part of the Invention consists in an improved construction
and arrangement of the "box rod," the upper part of which is attached
to the boxes as usual, but the lower part is provided with a series of
teeth or notches corresponding with the teeth or notches on the ends
of the aforesaid suspended bars. These bars are governed by the pattern
chain so as to raise the series of teeth or notches to engage alternately
with those on the bottom, thus imparting the required rising and falling of
the rods and the drop boxes connected therewith. A spring bolt entering
one or the other of the series of notches formed on the box rod assists
in retaining it at the different lifts, but giving way to its up-and-down
motion when acted upon by the levers and rods. The lower end of the
box rod may be constructed in two parts or bars which slide in each
other, but are held or locked in their position by a moveable V-shaped

page_text: piece or tooth fitted in one of the bars projecting into a recess formed on
the other bar, in which it is held by a spring during the proper working of
the drop boxes. Should their movement however be interrupted the
strain caused on the box will force the V-shaped locking piece out of
its socket, thus allowing the two bars to slide in each other and so
prevent breakage. This improvement is also applicable to box rods now
in use.
A third part of my improvements consists in an improved method of
actuating the chain by the interposition of a spring between the lever
carrying the "barrel or cylinder" and the tappet giving motion thereto,
such spring being attached to a connecting rod, and is of sufficient
resistance to actuate the barrel or cylinder, and yet sufficiently yielding
at certain positions of the barrel, and also in stopping the chain motion.
This stopping motion constitutes a fourth part of my improvements,
and consists in the application and use of a double catch having two
curved claws in the form of a horse-shoe. This catch is mounted and
vibrates on a stud; one of its claws extending above the barrel actuates
the barrel pinion, the other extends below the oscillating frame or lever
which carries the barrel, and the catch is actuated from the ordinary
"catch rod" of the loom by means of the stop catch, which is here
extended, and is connected with the catch beyond the ratchet wheel
of the taking-up motion, and is so arranged that on the catch rod being
moved in consequence of the weft breaking or the shuttle not entering
the box, the stop catch lever elevates the upper claw of the horse-shoe
catch out of gear with the barrel pinion, thus stopping the motion of the
chain, while the lower claw is sufficiently lifted to form a stop for the
barrel frame, and the barrel and chain cease to operate upon the needles,
and consequently no further change is made in the drop boxes. Instead
of applying the catch rod lever to move the double claw or horse-shoe
catch a separate rod and lever may be employed.
Another part of the improvements consists in an arrangement of
apparatus for varying or retaining the number of picks from the same
card, thus reducing considerably the number of links in the chain. This
is effected by means of a wheel or disc, to which is attached a number of
adjustable and removeable projections or bowls according to the pattern
desired, and from the aforesaid double claw or "horse-shoe catch" a finger
or feeler extends within contact of the projections, the said wheel being

page_text: caused to revolve part of a revolution every two picks by means of a
ratchet or other apparatus. During the revolution of the disc the pro-
jections (where any are fixed) depress the feeler of the double claw catch
and cause a similar effect as in the aforesaid improvement, viz., stopping
the motion of the chain.
Another part of the improvements relates to a novel arrangement of
apparatus whereby pattern chains varying in length may be actuated
without causing any slackness, and consists in attaching to the "taking-
up barrel" a ratchet wheel actuated by a catch attached to a lever having
an adjustable weight. The motion of the lever lifts the catch a certain
distance during its return stroke and forward movement, the catch turns
the wheel and barrel and takes up the chain, which is performed by the
action of a weight or spring, so that the barrel is moved until the chain
is tightened, thus preventing any slackness.
Another part of my improvements consists in the application, em-
ployment, and use of shuttle boxes such as are used for plain weaving
instead of the drop boxes when required, which plain shuttle boxes
may either be entirely separate and arranged so as to be easily attached
instead of the drop boxes, or they may be arranged on the top of the
drop boxes, which when the plain box is used will remain stationary.
Another part of the Invention relates to an improved form and con-
struction of chain, and consists in the use of elastic wire or plate
links of peculiar shape, which by slightly contracting or bending they
may be speedily coupled, their own elasticity retaining them in position
and connection.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for "Certain
Improvements in Looms for Weaving," I will now proceed to describe
more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be
carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be clearly
understood I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative
thereof, and have marked the same with figures and letters of reference
corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof (that is to
say) :-
:-
In the annexed Drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of so much of a
check loom as is necessary to illustrate my Invention, and Fig. 2 is a
front view of the same; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the improved apparatus.
a, b, are the double-acting levers, to the latter of which is attached

page_text: it
bolt.
a stud carrying a bowl c capable of sliding laterally thereon, so that
may
be brought into contact with either of the cams d, e, of different
diameters fixed on the cam shaft f. The extremities of the levers a
and 6 have bars g, g, suspended therefrom and provided with notches
or teeth at their lower ends. h is the finger which moves the bowl
in one direction when acted on by the sliding of the lever i which
actuates the levers a and b, the bowl being returned to its original
position (when released) by means of a spiral spring (as shown more
clearly in Fig. 4); k is the locking bar or pointer attached to the
loom frame; is the drop box rod, the lower end of which is provided
with a series of teeth corresponding with the teeth or notches on the
lower extremities of the suspended bars g. When either of these
suspended bars is brought into gear with the teeth or notches on the
drop box rod it imparts its rising or falling motion to the latter.
The suspended bars are brought alternately into contact with the drop
box rod by means of needles m acted on by the pattern chain which
passes round the cylinder n. o (see Fig. 2) is the spring retaining
The box rod 1, as shown detached and partly in section at
Fig. 5, is constructed of two parts or bars which are capable of sliding
one within the other, but are locked in their normal position by means
of a V-shaped tooth p pressed upon by a spring so long as the drop
boxes are working properly, but as soon as any unusual strain is caused
the spring and tooth give way and allow the bars to slide on each
other and thus breakage is prevented. The cylinder n is carried
by a lever q connected by a rod or link to a bowl working in a
grooved cam or tappet s on the shaft f. This connecting rod or link r
is made in two pieces, and is sufficiently rigid to actuate the cylinder,
but is provided with a spring t which allows it to yield when required.
The turning and stopping motion of the cylinder is effected by means
of the horse-shoe formed catch u which is let fall and raised by means
of a lever v on the catch rod w. The vibration of the lever q causes
the upper limb of the horse-shoe catch u to turn the pattern card
cylinder n one-fourth a revolution at each movement, but should the
loom be stopped at any time, either from the breaking of the weft
thread or otherwise, the catch rod lever v raises the upper limb of the
horse-shoe catch u out of reach of the barrel pinion and places its lower
limb in front of the lever q, and thus effectually stops the movement of
the pattern cylinder.

page_text: In order to reduce the number of links in the chain I sometimes
employ a disc or ratchet wheel x (as shewn in Fig. 4, and detached
in plan view at Fig. 6) to which are attached a number of moveable
projections y according to the pattern desired; this wheel is caused to
revolve the distance of one tooth at every two picks by means of the
ratchet lever z.
The arrangement for preventing slackness in the pattern chain is
shown detached at Figs. 7 and 8, in which 1 is the taking-up band
for the chain, to one end of the axis of which is attached a ratchet
wheel 2 acted on by a catch 3 carried by a lever 4; the other end of
this lever is connected by a cord and bell-crank lever 5 to the vibrating
lever which carries the pattern chain cylinder n. When this lever
moves in the direction of the arrow the catch 3 overruns the teeth of
the ratchet wheel, and when it moves in the reverse direction the
spring 6 acts upon the other end of the lever 4 and causes the catch 3
to turn the barrel and pull the chain tight. 7 is a retaining catch.
My improved construction of chain is shewn in Figs. 9, 10, and 11;
Fig. 9 being a side view of a portion thereof with the pattern chain
cylinder shown in section; Fig. 10 a front view, and Fig. 11 a plan.
view of a separate link, from which the peculiar form of the links will
be clearly understood. The positions of the stops 8 (in the respective
links) which act upon the needles determine the pattern to be produced.
Fig. 12 shows a section of the chain as constructed with plate links.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention,
together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be
performed or carried into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that
I claim as my Invention,-
Firstly. The construction and arrangements of apparatus shown in the
Drawings and herein-before more particularly described for raising and
lowering the drop boxes in check looms, or any mere modification or
imitation thereof, constructed and operating in substantially the same or
a similar manner.
Secondly. I claim the application or addition of plain shuttle boxes
when required to check the drop box looms in the manner and for the
purposes herein-before described.

page_text: 4. thirdly. I claim the peculiar formation or construction of chain,
n and described with reference to Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12 in the
xed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Wright Shaw, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of January, in the year of 5
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.