Improvements in Weft Stop Motions to be Used in Power Looms.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 9th July, 1889-Accepted, 10th Aug., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Weft Stop Motions to be Used in Power Looms.
I, WILLIAM TAYLOR, of Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America, but
at present residing at 5 South Street, Paddock, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Manufacturer,
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:-
My invention relates to weft stop motions employed for stopping looms upon the
absence of the weft, whether it is due to breakage or other causes, the object of such
invention being to promptly effect the stopping of the loom upon the absence of weft
from its proper position on the beating up of the slay or going part.
In carrying out my invention I employ ordinary feelers or needles connected to an
oscillating boss supported in bearings projecting from a bracket bolted to the front
side of the slay or running board, such said boss being inclined on its underside, and
operated so as to raise and lower the feelers by a cam or inclined surface formed on
or attached to a horizontal plate, sliding endwise in a dovetailed groove, by means of
a suitable form of rod, or bar, having a spiral spring thereon, one end of which said
rod passes loosely through a slotted or other suitablo swivelled bearing, bolted to the
underside of the breast beam, the end of the said rod being enlarged or having a
collar thereon to prevent its withdrawal from the bearing. The other end of the rod
is attached to the slay and it operates the parts mentioned by the forward and back-
ward movement of the said slay, the arrangement of the said parts being such that
when the weft is present the feelers rest thereon and thereby hold the inclined portion
of the boss clear of a notch or shoulder on the sliding plate, consequently allowing
the loom to proceed, but should the weft be absent, the feelers will lower, and descend
into a groove formed in the slayboard, in which case the inclined surface of the boss
would engage with the notch on the sliding plate, the result being that the tension of
the spring on the rod is overcome, forcing the enlarged end of the said rod against an
adjustable stop on the knocking off bar, moving such bar end wise so as to
transfer the driving strap from the fast to the loose pulley whereby the loom is
stopped.
Where the knocking off bar is moved radially on its axis to operate the strap fork,
I dispense with the swivelled bearing and connect the rod to a bell crank lever, which
when the weft is absent and the sliding plate locked, such rod is moved by the beat
up of the slay so as to strike a short lever arm on the knocking off rod, whereby such
rod is moved on its axis and the strap fork operated as required.
In order that my invention may be more fully understood, I herein make reference
to the accompanying sheet of drawings illustrative thereof.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improvements in weft stop motions, part being mounted
on the front side of the slay board facing the breast beam, and part on the underside
of the breast beam, which for clearness is indicated by dotted lines.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of portion of the weft stop motion, shewing
position of parts when feelers are raised to their highest position, and Fig. 3 is end
view of same.
Figs. 4 and 5 are like views, shewing position of the parts when the feelers have
descended into the slot in the slay board through the absence of weft.
Fig. 6 is side elevation of the operating rod for moving the sliding plate,
and also for moving the knocking off bar, to stop the loom when the weft is
absent.
1 represents the slay or running board and 2 the breast beam of a loom, shewn in
dotted lines, so that the parts on the underside may be shewn in full line. 3 are the
feelers or needles secured by screw to boss 4 capable of oscillating on the pin or

page_text: stud 5 supported in bearings 6 projecting from the bracket 7, the said bracket being
secured to the front side of the slay board by screws 8. The under side or face 9 of
the boss 4 is inclined, and upon this inclined part is made to work the cam or inclined
surface 10 formed on or attached to the horizontal plate 11 made to slide in the dove-
tailed groove 12 formed in the bracket 7, the said cam 10 serving to oscillate the
boss 4 for the purpose of raising and lowering the feelers 3 as afterwards described.
On the sliding plate 11 is formed a notch or sneck 13, which, when weft is absent,
engages with the inclined part 9, the feelers having been allowed to fall into the
slot 14 formed in the slayboard. To the sliding plate 11 is connected one end of a
rod 15, the opposite end of said rod passing loosely through a slot or opening in the
bearing 16, which bearing is supported by and capable of turning (see Figs. 1 and 6)
on the screw 17 carried by the bracket 18 bolted to the underside of the breast beam.
The extreme end of rod 15 is formed or provided with an enlargement or collar 19
to prevent its withdrawal from the slot or opening in the bearing 16. A spiral
spring 20 is placed upon the rod 15, one end of said spring abutting against the
collar 21 secured on said rod; the opposite end of the spring bears against the
washer 22 placed against the face of the bearing 16. 23 is the knocking off bar
supported on the underside of the breast beam by brackets 24 in which the
said rod is capable of sliding end wise. An adjustable finger or stop piece 25 is
secured on said knocking off bar which carries at its extremity the ordinary
lever 26 (shewn in cross section in Fig. 1) for moving the driving strap from the
fast to the loose pulley or vice versa.
The operation of the parts above described is as follows:-
When the loom is weaving and the weft indicated at 27 is present, the feelers or
needles 3 will rest thereon, therefore the inclined face 9 of the boss 4 will be held
clear of the notch or shoulder 13 on the plate 11 which is being moved endwise in the
direction of the arrow 28 by the stop motion rod 15 operated by the movement of the
slay as it beats up, the resistance offered to the rod 15 by the spring 20 prevents
the said rod being moved far enough to strike against the finger or stop piece 25
on the knocking off bar 23 whereby the loom is allowed to proceed. As the slay
or going part returns, the sliding plate 11 by means of rod 15 is moved in the
opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow 28, and the cam or inclined surface 10
as it works against the inclined face 9, moves or causes the boss 4 to oscillate on its
axis and raise or lift the needles or feelers through the warp to the position shewn in
Figs. 2 and 3, the movement of the sliding plate in each direction, as and for the
purposes above described, being repeated at each backward and forward movement of
the slay; but when the warp 27 is absent, the feelers being deprived of their
support, fall into the slot 14, whereupon the inclined part 9 of boss 4 descends into
and engages with the notch or sneck 13 in the sliding plate, thus locking the said
plate 11 and preventing any further movement thereof in the direction of arrow 28,
therefore as the slay beats up it overcomes the resistance of spring 20 and pushes
the stop motion rod 15 against the stop piece 25 whereby the knocking off bar 23
is slided end wise in direction of arrow 20 and moves the strap from the fast to the
loose pulley by which means the loom is stopped.
The feelers 3 are sometimes obstructed and prevented from descending onto the
weft through stiffness of parts and other causes, and in order to prevent this I form
a tailpiece 30 on the boss 4, the end of which works upon the under surface of
the cam or inclined surface 10 on the sliding plate 11, whereby the descent of the
feelers is ensured.
In plan view Fig. 7 I shew one method of stopping the loom by the stop motion
above described where the knocking off bar is required to be oscillated on its axis
instead of being moved lengthwise for the purpose of operating the strap fork. In
this case I employ a bell crank lever 31 pivotted at 32 to a bracket 33 bolted to the
underside of the breast beam. The stop motion rod 15 is connected to one arm of
said lever 31, the other arm of which is capable of engaging with the short lever
arm 34 on the bar 23. When the weft is present and in proper position the lever 31
is not operated sufficiently to strike the arm 34 because of the resistance offered to

page_text: rod 15 and lever 31 by the spring 35 connected at 36 to the said lever and at 37 to
the breast beam, but when the weft is absent and the sliding plate 11 is locked as
before described, the beat up of the slay moves the rod 15 and bell crank lever 31
sufficiently to strike the short arm 34 thereby partially rotating the rod 23 so as to
move the strap from the fast to the loose pulley and stop the loom.
Front elevation Fig. 8 shews a modification of the sliding plate 11 which is shewn
at 38, and in this case it is made to have a pendulous movement. This plate is
pivotted at 39 to the bracket 7 and is provided with segmental slot 40 working on
stud 41 also secured to bracket 7. The upper end of said plate is inclined to answer
the same purpose as the inclined or cam surface 10 and the said plate is also provided
with a like notch or sneck 42. The stop motion rod 15 is connected to the lower end
of the pendulous plate 38 which latter is operated in the manner and by the same
means as previously described with regard to the plate 11.
By the apparatus herein before fully described, the movement of the several parts,
for transferring the strap from the fast to the loose pulley, is certain and effective,
and much easier or smoother in action than some of the motions at present in use for
the same purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
Firstly. In a loom weft stop motion, the use and employment of a rod 15, connected
at one end to a sliding or pendulous plate, the opposite end thereof passing loosely
through an opening or slot in the swivelled bearing 16 and having a collar or
enlargement 19 thereon, said rod being provided with spring 20 to resist motion
imparted to said rod by the movement of the slay, as and for the purposes herein
shewn and described.
Secondly. In a loom weft stop motion, the use and employment of a rod 15, bell
crank lever 31 and spring 35 operated in the manner and for the purposes substantially
as described and shewn in Fig. 7.
Thirdly. In a loom weft stop motion, the combination with an oscillating boss
carrying feelers or needles of a tail piece 30 working upon a cam surface on the
sliding plate 11 or pendulous lever 38 in the manner and for the purpose herein set
forth.
Fourthly. In combination with oscillatory boss. 4 having inclined face 9, sliding
plate 11, provided with cam surface 10 and notch or sneck 13, of the rod 15, having
an enlargement or collar 19 and spring 20 thereon, and swivelled bearing 16 all
arranged and operated in the manner herein set forth and shewn in Figs. 1 to 6.
Fifthly. In combination with boss 4 having inclined face 9, sliding plate 11
provided with cam surface 10 for oscillating needles and with notch or shoulder 13,
of the rod 15, bell crank lever 31 and spring 35 arranged and operated in the manner
substantially as herein described.
Sixthly. In combination with stop motion rod 15, the adjustable finger or stop
piece 25 or lever arın 34 mounted on knocking off bar 23 for moving said bar end-
wise or partially rotating same for the purpose substantially as described.
Dated this 8th day of July 1880
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.