Improvements in Jacquard Looms for Weaving Tapestry, Worsted Coatings, and other Heavy Worsted Fabrics.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 20th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Jacquard Looms for Weaving Tapestry, Worsted
Coatings, and other Heavy Worsted Fabrics.
We. GEORGE MILLIGAN, of the firm of H. C. McCrea and Company Limited, of
Halifax, Yorkshire, Manufacturers and GEORGE HERBERT BRIGGS, of Shelf, near
Halifax, aforesaid Overlooker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention has reference to drop box or change box looms employed in weaving
tapestries, worsted coatings, and other heavy fabrics. In this class of looms which are
broad looms, it has hitherto been impossible where extra heavy jacquard harness are
required, to send the shuttle across the loom at every pick, in consequence of the
width of the said loom not giving sufficient time for the shuttle to pass through the
shed. It has therefore been customary to send the shuttle across the loom at every
alternate pick consequently the production of fabrics being woven was curtailed. The
object of our invention is to rearrange or reconstruct that part of the apparatus which
operates the harness or shed so as to work the harness more quickly during the
opening of the shed, thereby giving the said shed time to "dwell" whilst the shuttle is
being sent across the loom, and also to operate the harness a little quicker in the
closing of the shed, but these varying motions we accomplish without disturbing or in
any way affecting the speed of the picking or the going parts of the loom.
In carrying out our invention we remove the ordinary vertical connecting rod
attached to a lever arm on the end of the crank shaft, which vertical connecting rod
employed for actuating the harness; and we connect the lower end of the said con-
necting rod to one end of a lever arm capable of oscillating upon a stud. To this lever
arm, we attach, by bolt or other means, a short clamp or bracket attached to another
connecting rod, the opposite end of such connecting rod being attached to a crank
working upon a stud or short shaft caused to revolve by gear wheels from the driving
shaft of the loom. This peculiar arrangement of lever arm and connecting rods causes
the harness to be operated in its opening movement at a quicker speed than has
hitherto been the case; but the said lever arm and connecting rods are so adjusted in
their movements as to cause a "dwell" or a decrease of speed during the time the shed
is opened, so as to permit the shuttle to pass through the open shed. The oscillating
lever arm is slotted so as to allow for the adjustment of the clamp thereon and the
connecting rods are provided with screws and nuts so as to regulate the adjustment of
the parts. It must be understood that the rotary motion of the wheels driven from
the driving shaft is equal to that of the crank shaft, the difference being that the
speed of the lever arm and connecting rods varies, the result being that the speed
gained at one part of their motion is lost at the other part, making the time
occupied by each revolution of the several parts equal.
By constructing and arranging the parts as above described, we are enabled to
throw the shuttle across the loom at each pick, consequently there is a larger
production of material than can be inade on the old construction of loom.
The second part of the invention has reference to the picker and picking stick, which
are made to enter the shuttle boxes by a tappet, but to be withdrawn by a spiral spring.
In practice it is found that, after the spiral spring has withdrawn the picker from the
shuttle boxes, the rebound thereof causes the picker to re-enter the shuttle boxes some
little distance, consequently the upward and downward motion of the shuttle boxes is
retarded. To prevent the picker and picking stick returning into the shuttle boxes
after they have been withdrawn by the spiral spring is the object of our invention, and
this we effect by means of an oscillating horn or finger carried by the swing rail to
which the lathe swords are attached, such swing rail causing the said finger to strike

page_text: a bowl or other projecting part carried by the picking stick, the finger being timed
so as to act upon the said bowl immediately after the picker leaves the box, by which
means it is prevented from re-entering, as is now the case.
By the employment of this oscillating finger for keeping the picker out of the
the shuttle-boxes, the upward and downward movement of the said boxes can be
accelerated, permitting the loom to run at an increased speed without danger of
breakages which would otherwise occur if the picker were not moved out of the
shuttle boxes by the means above described.
Dated this 28th day of Anril 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Jacquard Looms for Weaving Tapestry, Worsted
Coatings, and other Heavy Worsted Fabrics.
We, GEORGE MILLIGAN, of the firm of H. C. McCrea and Company, Limited, of
Halifax, Yorkshire, Manufacturers, and GEORGE HERBERT BRIGGS, of Shelf, near
Halifax aforesaid, Overlooker, 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:-
Our invention has reference to drop box or change box looms employed in weaving
tapestries, worsted coatings, and other heavy fabrics. In this class of looms, which are
broad, it has hitherto been impossible, where an extra heavy jacquard harness is
required, to send the shuttle across the loom at every pick, in consequence of the
width of the said loom not giving sufficient time for the shuttle to pass through the
shed. It has therefore been customary to send the shuttle across the loom at every
alternate pick, consequently the production of fabrics being woven was curtailed. The
object of our invention is to rearrange or reconstruct that part of the apparatus which
operates the harness or shed, so as to work the harness more quickly during the
opening of the shed, thereby giving the said shed time to "dwell" whilst the shuttle is
being sent across the loom, and also to operate the harness a little quicker in the closing
of the shed; and these varying motions we accomplish without disturbing or in any
way affecting the speed of the picking or the "going parts" of the loom.
In carrying out our invention we remove the ordinary vertical connecting rod
attached to a lever arm on the end of the crank shaft, employed to actuate the
harness; and we now connect the lower end of the said connecting rod to one end of
a lever arm capable of oscillating upon a stud. To this lever arm we attach, by bolt
or other means, a short clamp or bracket attached to another connecting rod, the
opposite end of such connecting rod being attached to a crank working upon a stud
or short shaft caused to revolve by gear wheels from the driving shaft of the loom.
This peculiar arrangement of lever arm and connecting rods causes the harness to be
operated in its opening movement at a quicker speed than has hitherto been the case;
but the said lever arm and connecting rods are so adjusted in their movements as to
cause a "dwell" or a decrease of speed during the time the shed is open, so as to
permit the shuttle to pass through the open shed.
In order that this part of our invention may be better understood, we herein make
reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein Fig. 1 is elevation of such
parts of the end of a loom as is necessary to shew our improvements. A represents
the loom frame, supporting a stud or counter-shaft B, driven by strap D and pulley E.
Upon this stud or shaft B is mounted a spur driving wheel F which drives the crank
shatt (not shewn), and also the spur wheel G working upon a stud H, which,
together with the crank arm I, have continuous rotary motion imparted to them. The
ordinary vertical connecting rod is shewn at J, the upper end of which is in direct
communication with the harness or jacquard, but instead of the lower end thereof

page_text: being connected as hitherto to a lever arm on the crank shaft, we attach the lower
end of the said vertical connecting rod to the lever arm K working upon a fulcrum
or stud L. To this last mentioned lever arm we fix a clamp or bracket M provided
with a joint N which by the adjustable connecting rod O is connected to the lever
arm I, whereby the lever K is made to oscillate upon its fulcrum I., in doing which
the harness is operated. It must be understood that the rotary motion of the wheel G
is equal to that of the crank shaft, the difference being that the speed or movements
of the lever arms and connecting rods shewn and described varies, that is to say,
between the points a and the parts dwell, giving time for the shuttle to be sent
across the loom, but the speed lost during the dwell is gained during the subsequent
movements of the levers and rods, therefore notwithstanding the uniform speed of
the wheels, the movement of the harness is slower when opening than when closing.
The oscillating lever arm K is slotted at c so as to allow for the adjustment of the
parts.
By constructing and arranging mechanism as above described for operating the
Jacquard harness unequally in its movements, we are enabled to throw the shuttle
across the loom at each pick, consequently there is a larger production of material
than can be made on the old construction of loom.
The second part of our invention has reference to the picker and picking stick,
which are made to enter the shuttle boxes by a tappet, but to be withdrawn by a
spiral spring. In practice it is found that, after the spiral spring has withdrawn the
picker from the shuttle boxes, the rebound thereof causes the picker to re-enter the
shuttle boxes some little distance, consequently the upward and downward motion of
the shuttle boxes is retarded. To prevent the picker and picking stick returning into
the shuttle boxes after they have been withdrawn by the spiral spring is the object of
our invention, and this we effect by means of an oscillating horn or finger carried
by the swing rail to which the lathe swords are attached, such swing rail causing the
said finger to strike a bowl or other projecting part carried by the picking stick, the
finger being timed so as to act upon the said bowl immediately after the picker
leaves the box, by which means it is prevented from re-entering, as is now the case.
This part of our invention is shewn on sheet 2, whero Fig. 2 is end elevation of
our improvements, Fig. 4 front view of the improved parts, and Fig. 5 plan view
thereof. A is the loom framing, B the picking stick, working on a fulcrum C, and
D the lathe sword, all arranged in the ordinary manner. To prevent the picker
rebounding, we employ a bowl a carried by a bracket 6 attached to the lower end of
the picking arm. For acting on the bowl a each time the picker enters the box, we
employ a horn or finger c attached by bolt d to the bell crank lever e connected to a
rod made to oscillate upon the stud or fulcrum g, therefore when the picker is about
to be used for sending the shuttle across the loom, the several parts of the improved
mechanism occupy the position shewn in Fig. 3, where it will be seen that the front
end of the horn or finger c is clear of the bowl a, but when the slay beats up towards
the last shoot of weft sent across the loom, the mechanism will then occupy the
position shewn in Fig. 2, where it will be seen that the oscillating movement of the
lathe sword has placed the front end of the horn or finger c in front of the bowl a,
consequently if there is any tendency of the picker to rebound after it has entered
the box the finger e would prevent the rebounding of the said picker.
By the employment of this oscillating finger for keeping the picker out of the
shuttle box, the upward and downward movement of the said boxes can be accelerated,
permitting the loom to run at an increased speed, without danger of breakages which
would otherwise occur if the picker were not removed out of the shuttle boxes by the
means above described.
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 :-
Firstly. In looms for weaving, the employment of levers and rods such as those
herein shewn and described for operating the Jacquard harness,

page_text: Secondly. In looms for weaving, the combination therewith of lever arm I,
connecting rod 0, clamp M, oscillating arm K, and connecting rod J, all arranged
substantially as shewn and described.
Thirdly. In looms for weaving, the employment of the finger c or its equivalent
operated in manner described and for purposes set forth.
Dated thie 18th dox of Tonu 1800
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.