CERTAIN NEW IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WEAVING ENGINE OR MACHINE, SO AS TO RENDER THE WEAVING ENGINE OR MACHINE CAPABLE OF BEING WORKED BY OR CONNECTED TO ANY OF THOSE ENGINES WORKED BY THE POWER OF WIND, WATER, STEAM, FIRE, OR AIR, AND ALSO OF BEING WORKED BY OR CONNECTED TO THOSE ENGINES OR MACHINES WORKED BY THE POWER OF THE HORSE, OR ANY OTHER GIVEN POWER, WITH ALSO CERTAIN NEW IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WEAVING ENGINE OR MACHINE WHERE THE FORCE OF MANUAL LABOUR ONLY IS APPLIED
Year: 1792

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SUTTON
THOMAS WOOD, of the City of Oxford, Brower, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date tho
Fifteenth day of March, in the thirty-second year of His reign, did give and
grant unto me, the said Sutton Thomas Wood, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, His special licence, full power, sole priviledge and authority, that
I, the said Sutton Thomas Wood, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should and lawfully might, for the term of years therein expressed, muke,
use, exercise, and vend, within that part of His Kingdom of Great Britain
called England, the Dominion of Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, my Invention for "CERTAIN NEW IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WEAVING
ENGINE OR MACHINE, SO AS TO RENDER THE WEAVING ENGINE OR MACHINE CAPABLE
OF BEING WORKED BY OR CONNECTED TO ANY OF THOSE ENGINES WORKED BY THE
POWER OF WIND, WATER, STEAM, FIRE, OR AIR, AND ALSO OF BEING WORKED BY OR
CONNECTED TO THOSE ENGINES OR MACHINES WORKED BY THE POWER OF THE HORSE,
OR ANY OTHER GIVEN POWER, WITH ALSO CERTAIN NEW IMPROVEMENTS TO THE
WEAVING ENGINE OR MACHINE WHERE THE FORCE OF MANUAL LABOUR ONLY IS
APPLIED;" in which said recited Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging
me, the said Sutton Thomas Wood, by an instrument under my hand and
seal, to cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within one calendar month after the
date of the said Letters Patent, as by the said recited Letters Patent,
relation being thereunto had, may more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Sutton Thomas Wood, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the samne is to be performed, is herein particularly
described and ascertained; that is to say:-
My first improvement of the weaving engine or machine is, the constructing
of it so as to render it capable of being worked by or connected to cither of
those engines or machines moved by the power of water, steam, fire, or nir, or by
the power of the horse, or by any other given power; and this I do by causing
the primary wheel of my new-invented weaving engine or machine to be con-
nected to one of those engines moved by either of the above-named powers.
And the principle of this my Invention is, the causing an arm, rod, or con-
ductor to pass and return through the threads, chain, or warp, in the end of
which rod or conductor I convey the shuttle or conveyancer of the woof,
thread, or materials to be woven; and I confine and release alternately the
shuttle, which passes through the chain into a sockett, where it is caught, and
by springs is thero retained. The rod or conductor then returns without it,
and remains at rest, while the slay, by means of rack and wheelwork connected
to the primary wheel, brings and beats up the thread or materials left by the
shuttle between the chain or warp. At or near the time the slay touches tho
substance woven, the chain or warp aro crossed by means of quadrants, pins,
rack work, wheels, or pullies moved by the wheel or shaft connected to tho
primary wheel of the engine or machine of the moving power. The primary
wheel, having made its first revolution, weaves tho material; but in this revo-
lution the shuttle is conveyed through the threads, and left in the sockett,
while the chariot returns without it. In the second revolution of the primary
wheel the rods or conductors pass through the chain, and fetch or bring back
the shuttle, which they do by means of a spring, catch, or latch. The chariot
then remains at rest, and the beater during that time beats up the thread, and
the treadles cross, and thus the whole of the motion is performed.
My second improvement of the weaving engine or machine consists also in
connecting my primary wheel of my weaving engine to the above-named
powers. Be it remembered, I call that wheel which is connected to any of those
engines moved by wind, water, steam, fire, or by the power of the horse, of my
woaving engine or machine the primary wheel. And my principle, and tho
nature of this my Invention, consists in throwing the shuttle by means
of springs or vibrating leavers, wheels, or pins, instead of rods or con-
ductors. By motion of the primary wheel two springs are pressed lack or
wound up. They are either fixed before the frame of the beater, or on the
side of it; and by means of cords or other flexable.materials, or by links of irou

page_text: or chains, connected to a moveable body (which I call a messenger). I cause
the shuttle to be thrown through the chain or warp; or the springs, by being
fixed or fastened to the side of the frame of the beater, are made to press
against the moveable body called a messenger, or against the shuttle or convey-
ancer of the woof, so as in either case to cause the shuttle to pass and return
alternately thro' the chain or warp. 1 have also another method of throwing
the shuttle by means of springs, but the principle of this Invention consists of
catching the shuttle or conveyancer of the woof and carrying the sanio with
the spring, where it is retaineil, and the spring is held by latch or catch during
the time the beater and treadles make their movements. A trigger, whero
springs cause the conveyance of the shuttle, lifts up the latch or catch that
holds the spring, and being thereby released by its force and action, throws
the shuttle through the chain or warp, where it is caught in a sockett, or held
by springs imitating the hand, or thumb and fingures. The beater then beats
up, and by its movement draws up the springs with the shuttle. The treadles
cross, and the slay beats up the thread by the same means, and upon the
same principle, as before described, and thus the motion of the machine is
compleat.
My third improvement of the weaving engine or machine is, the constructing
of it where manual labour only is employed, so as to render the weaving
engine or machine capable of working more expeditiously and easier, or
capable of weaving more than one piece or sort of cloth or materials to be
woven, by the power or means of one person. And this I do by applying the
handle to the axis of my primary wheel, instead of the connecting wheel of
any given power, and thereby cause the power of manual labour to work the
weaving engine or machine; but whether I convey the shuttle by rods or
conductors, or by means of springs, or by vibrating leavers, as are more fully
described, it is not material, as either of the Inventions will render the weaving
engine or machine more expeditiously worked by the power of manual
labour.
Fig. 1, the front view of the weaving engine or machine. A, the primary
wheel; E, the connecting wheel, moved by the power of either of those
engines worked by the power of wind, water, steam, fire, or air, or by the
power of the horse, or by any other power. Part of the shaft only is shewn,
as it must be known to all conversant in millwork from this representation
how to connect my primary wheel of my weaving engine or machine to any
engine worked by either of the above powers, but it may be connected by
means of straps or cords over pullies, instead of cogs, or by means of friction
wheels. It is not at all necessary to delineate the different methods common

page_text: to produce a rotative motion, as it must be known to any person ac-
quainted with the mechanicks from this representation how any of the
above-mentioned means may be applied; but it may not be unnecessary to
observe, that in most works it will be proper the wheel E, or connecting wheel
of the moving power, should, by a lifting or sliding barr, or by pullies, be
.made to shift from the wheel A, as in other millwork, and is common where
the wheels are connected and unconnected when required. B, the coggs,
which, by their connection with the bar D, brings forward the frame or chariot
that moves the rods or conductors of the shuttle; H, H, Z, Z, Z, the shuttles;
.C, the back of the coggs on the primary wheel, that immediately take place
by their union of the coggs on the bar G; their connection brings back the
conductors; H, I, the sockett and catch, with its spring, that holds and releases
the shuttle alternately; Y, Y, Y, the female socket and springs, that retain the
shuttles when the male spring releases them. The space on the primary wheel
without the cogs leaves the chariot to which the conductor of the shuttles aro
framed at rest, and gives time for the treadles to cross, and the beater to beat
up and press
the thread. Then the union of the cogs B of the primary wheel
again take place by their connection with the cogs on the bar D, and thus the
alternate conveyance of the shuttle and rotative motions are performed; F, F,
two springs that equalize the power and movement of the chariot; d, the
latch and catch that prevents the rebound of the chariot. It is released by a
bar or leaver from a pin on the primary wheel. Upon the samo principle a
latch or catch confines the benter and frame that holds the slay, and is released
upon the same principle as the catch or latch d. L, the moveable bar, with
its projection to strike the spring that hold the shuttle in the socket II; X, X, X,
the conductors or rods to convey the shuttles framed to the chariot or frame
N, N; I, I, I, I, I, rollers connected by a carriage to bear the frame of the
chariot. They are guided by a tongue or bar passing through their groves
under the bottom to guide the carriage, while the grove on their top guides
by a tongue or bar the chariot or frame of the conductors; or the frame or
chariot is supported by means of quadrants or rollers. S, S, S. S, S, S, S,
grooved rollers or pullies to guide the top of the frame or chariot; M, M, M,
and O, O, the frame of the machine; T, T, the beater and frame that holds
the slay, and is moved by wheel and rackwork upon the same principle as the
motion of tho chariot, and by the same principle remains at rest during the
motion of the chariot and frame that conducts the shuttle; K, the wheel
which, by its connection with the primary wheel, moves the wheel or quadrants
c on the same axis that brings forward the frame or beater in which the slays
are fixed. This wheel is confined by the latch or catch n during the motion

page_text: of the frame that conveys the shuttle, by which means the union of cogs from the
primary wheel take place. The wheel K also moves the wheel e, on the axis of
which are fixed oval quadrants, pins, or pivots to turn the number of treadles,
in proportion to the size of the wheels e. W, W, W, spaces for the slays,
through which the threads or materials to be woven pass, and beat up the
cloth, as in other weaving; f, one of the treadles. It is necessary to observe
that the revolutions of the axis on which the leavers that press the treadles
must be in proportion to the number of treadles required to be moved. To
demonstrate more clearly, and more fully explain:-When two treadles are
moved, the axis of the primary wheel revolves three times to the compleating
the movements of the treadles; and where four treadles are moved alternately,
the primary wheel makes four revolutions to the movements of the treadles;
and upon the principle any number of treadles may be moved. Altho' I have
only delineated one method of throwing the shuttle, I think it necessary to
observe, upon this my principle of moving only one chariot, I, by two wheels
instead of one, cause two chariots or sets of conductors to move with equal
velocity, and meet at or near the middle of the work, weaving, giving and
receiving the shuttles alternately. The advantage of this method is, the
gaining in time; but the engine will be found by this means more complex,
and the power to work the engine will be required to be something greater.
The rest of the movements are as have been already described.
Another method, which is a great improvement where the length of the
building will admit of it, is to cause the machine to work a double set of con-
ductors fixed to the other side of the chariot. I have only dotted the place
where the rods or conductors may be connected to the frame, as it must be
known to all who are anyways acquainted with mechanicks, immediately the
principle is communicated wherein this improvement consists; but it may not
be unnecessary to add, the rollers must be more in number that carry the
chariot, and the connecting carriage of those rollers must be longer, and the
primary wheel two feet and an half more in circumference, than the single
machine, to admit also on the other side the chariot the same movements as
are before described.
Fig. 2, a side view of the same machine. Those parts that can be seen in
Fig. 1 are marked with the same letters, and therefore need not again be
described. The other parts are as follow:-a, a small wheel that makes the
same number of revolutions as the primary wheel; b, a wheel twice the
diameter of the wlieel a. Upon its axis is a projection or pin that lifts up the
leaver, rod, or bar L (Fig. 1), which presses against the spring or catch that
holds the shuttle. i, the end of the bar or leaver connected to the bar or

page_text: bar L (Fig. 1); 9, the latch or catch, the use of which is to keep the frame of
the benter at rest during the motion of the chariot that conducts the shuttle;
it is lifted up by the primary wheel; U, U, U, the chain or warp to be
woven, which is wound or passed round the hind rollers Z, Z, Z. The
harness cannot in this representation be seen, as they are intercepted by the
frame M, M, and N.. P, P, P, three rollers to wind up the cloth on which
the weights Q, Q, Q. are atched, to keep or retain the cloth forced forward by
the beater; Z, Z, Z, three hind rollers, with their weights Q, Q, Q, which
weights, by menus of counterweights or by springs, are adjusted in proportion
to the fineness of the cloth or materials weaving, and which weights or springs
any person conversant in the business can readily adjust. The axis of these
hind rollers is raised or lowered at pleasure. R, R, R, are the centres of
three rollers, over which the cloth passes to the fore or breast rollers; h, the
frame of the carriage that connects the rollers which supports the chariot.
Fig. 3 is a front representation of my second improvement of the weaving
engite or machine, wherein the principle of the Invention consists in passing
the shuttle through the materials to be woven by means of springs or leavers
instead of rods or conductors. k, k, k, k, k, k, the springs or leavers, which
are either pressed back by means of wheels, or by links or chains, or ropes,
cords, or any flexible materials fixed thereunto. In this representation the
springs, during the passing forward of the beater, are pulled back or wound
up, but they may be either in the shape of leavers or spiral springs, and they
may be placed longitudinal or horizontal, altho' they are here represented
as leavers inclined or perpendicularly. p. p, p, are the moveable picces
which are confined by means of grooves or rods which I call messengers;
they are here represented with the shuttle close to them, and the springs in
the state to give their power; on the springs being released by the catch or
latch, m carries the messenger with a velocity nearly equal to the action of the
spring, and with it the shuttle. The moveable pieces which I call messengers
are stopped at the bar or stop 7, and remains at rest until the return of the
shuttle, which brings the messengers back to the same situation as represented
at r,p; the shuttles pass through the chain or warp with their velocity until
they strike against the messengers r, p, which they press forward by a slow
motion to the end of the box, in which position they remain until the springs
are again released from the catch or latch m, and thus the conveyance of the
shuttle through the chain or warp is made. 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7. 9.
9. 9. 9. 7,9, the links, chains, strings, or flexible body that connects the springs
and messengers, latch or catch. The rest of the movement being the same
as Fig. 1, relation thereunto will fully explain.

page_text: Fig. 4 is a side view of the machine Fig. 3, the parts figured with the
same letters as in the representation of Fig. 2, and being therein particularly
before described, need not be again mentioned; but, in this representation of
the machine I have shewn a different means of keeping the chain or warp
of the tightness necessary by means of springs and their thumbscrews 8, 8, 8,
instead of weights, as in Figure 2. The advantage of weaving different
materials will be found by the case and adjustment of the springs by the
means of their thumbscrews. R, R, R, are the centres of the breast rollers
over which the material woven passes to the fore rollers P, P, P. The rest
of the rollers cannot be shewn, being intercepted by the frame of the
machine.
Fig. 5 is a view of a machine, the principle of which also consists of throw-
ing or causing the shuttle to pass through the chain or warp by means of
springs or vibrating leavers, but the method differs from Fig. 3. In this prin-
ciple of the machine, the shuttle is caught in a case or socket, or by springs
in the shape of the thumb or fingers, where they are carried back with the
springs or leavers. I have in this representation shewn the weaving engine or
machine with a handle fixed to the axis of my primary wheel instead of the
connecting wheel of any other machine, to show in what manner the weaving
engine may be worked by the power of manual labour as well as any other
power where the application of power is by the rotative motion of the hand.
Fig. 6 is the representation of the weaving engine or machine where the
chain or warp is placed perpendicular instead of horizontal. The dotted
lines shew those parts of the machine necessary to be seen in this method of
weaving; the other parts, being figured as in the other representations,
need not again be repeated, but it may be necessary to observe there are
two distinct principles of conveying the shuttle or conveyance of the woof:
the one is by means of rods and conductors, as represented Fig. 1; the
other principle, by means of springs, vibrating leavers, pins, or other revolving
bodies, which are made to strike the shuttle, or pull or strike the moveable
body called a messenger, and cause the shuttle to pass on a slay; and the advan-
tago of this method, and the nature of this Invention, consists in passing the
shuttle or conveyancer of the woof without passing on the chain or warp.
Fig. 7. This Figure is a representation of the weaving engine or machine,
where the principle of that Invention consists in throwing or passing the
shuttle through the chain or warp by means of vibrating leavers, wheels, pins,
or revolving bodies with one set of springs instead of two, and without the
catch or latch m, as before represented in Figure 3, 4, 5, and 6. The parts
of the machine as have been before mentioned need not be again repeated, as
they are lettered the same in the other Figures, and the movement of the

page_text: beater and treadles are upon the same principles. The other parts are as
follows-u 1; u 2, are two leavers moving on their centres on their centre
pin s. They are pressed by their projecting part or cant a 1, and are sup
ported until by the motion of the wheel the part of the cant a 2 comes a
little beyond the situation of a 1 on the wheel b, b. The leaver is then
released, and the action of the spring produces the motion of the shuttles
with their messengers. On the wheel a, a, the situation of the leaver π 1, as
it is on the other side the wheel, which can only be represented by the dotted
lines, is just passed from the projecting part of the wheel x 2, and is in the
situation again to be pressed up at a 1; c, c, the supporter of the two leavers
with the centre pin c.
Fig. 8 is a representation of the weaving engine or machine where the
power of manual labour is employed. It is not only so constructed as to
render the weaving engine or machine more casily and expeditiously worked,
but also but also capable of weaving more than one piece of cloth by the
power of one person. The letters marked in any of the former Figures are
the same, but as it is here only represented to be worked by manual labour, the
manner of throwing or conveying the shuttles, and the movement of the
beaters being in this representation differently deliuented from any of the
other Figures, I here more particularly describe them. u, the leaver with its
handle, the centre of which passes ou an axis or pin, to the ends of which
vibrating leaver are annexed the strings or connecting bodies at equal distanco
from its center, so that the hand, by being applied at u, by an alternate vibrating
motion from p tot, p, brings forward the shuttles and their messengers. It
cannot be necessary to particularize the manner of the shuttle passing through
the chain or warp, or the other parts of a weaving loom, as they are used in the
different parts of this kingdom; but it may be necessary to observe, this appli-
cation of the vibrating leaver with its axis may be applied to those looms
where the shuttle is made to pass through the chain or warp by means of the
bow, rod, or handle held in the hand, and connected only to the strings of the
moveable bodies which I call messengers. d, d 1, the beater and framework
for the slay and boxes with its centers; it is hung as in the common loom.
d, d 2, is a beater where the centers are reversed. These are connected by the
bow or strap, cord, or other body e, e, so that the hand pulls the beater for-
ward with equal power and velocity, and thereby beats up the work, or the
beaters may receive their movements upon the samo principle by the con-
necting wheels or quadrants moved by the power of either of the other
weaving engines or machines before described; and it may be also necessary
to add, that the horizontal movement of the beater of either of the machines
before described may be adapted to this method where manual labour only is

page_text: employed. And by this my Invention of weaving, two or more pieces of cloth
or other materials may be woven where the distances exceed the breadth of horse
girths, ribbands, or bindings; but, by the addition of this my improvement, the
ribband and those weaving looms that convey the shuttle through so narrow a
chain or warp, this vibrating principle with its beaters may be applied, so that
two or more teers, or frames, or shuttles may be worked by manual labour.
But it is necessary to observe, that upon the principle of wheels and vibrating
leavers, as delineated in Fig. 7, I connect those weaving looms that are used
in common for weaving ribbands, girths, or bindings to those engines worked
by the power of either wind, water, steam, fire, or air, or by the power of the
horse.
Reference to Fig. 1.-Altho' in this Figure I have not drawn the springs
that may be applied to bring back the chariot or conductors, it is only neces-
sary to say that by a spring connected to either side of the chariot, or in
manner of one of the springs F, F, the return of the chariot may be effected
by the removing the cogs of the bar G. But if the sping is applied to
carry the chariot forward instead of taking it back, the cogs on the bar D
must then be removed instead of the bar G, and on this principle and by this
means the beater and frame may be moved; and altho' I have only described the
horizontal movement of my new-invented frame and beater, yet it is necessary
to observe, that the movement of the frame and beater may be applied by
vibrating leavers moved by crank wheels, pins, or quadrants.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sutton Thomas Wood, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, the Twelfth day of April, in the thirty-second
year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, by the
grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender
of the Faith, and so forth, and in the year of our Lord One thousand