IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1884

page_text: We, MICHAEL SHUTTLEWORTH, of 100 Elizabeth Terrace, Manager; and WILLIAM
HACKING, of 6 Gregson Street, Overlooker, both of Darwen in the County of
Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of our Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOOMS FOR WEAVING," to be as follows:-
.
This invention consists in several improved arrangements and combinations of
movements and contrivances for enabling the loom to be more automatic in its
action, thereby lessening to a great extent the wear and tear, also the cost of
repairs and supervision, at the same time improving the quality of the cloth, and
consists, first, in an improved weighting motion arranged to regulate itself by the
weight of the warp beam, thus giving an equal tension throughout the entire warp,
with the result of producing a more even cloth than hitherto.
This is accomplished by securing to the frame of the loom at each end of the
warp beam vertical flat springs, provided at the top ends with bearings of
convenient size to admit the centres of the warp beam, in which the latter is
carried. To the ordinary rest beam of the loom are attached, immediately opposite
the ends of the warp beam, suitable chains or other equivalents, which are passed
round the barrel ends of the warp beam a sufficient number of times according to
the amount of tension required, and coupled to other flat springs, the bottom ends
being secured to the frame sides of the loom by suitable fixings. These springs
pass upwards and press against the barrel ends of the warp beams, the requisite
tension being applied to the warp beam by the adjusting screws or other
equivalents secured to the aforesaid chains at the commencement of the warp, the
tension regulating itself by the said springs according to the decrease in the weight
of the beam, thus delivering the warp with equal tension throughout its entire
length.
The second part relates to an improved connecting rod, constructed to dispense
with brass steps, cotters, &c, being economical and more durable than those at
present in use. The centre or main portion of the connecting rod is constructed in
the form of a block with concaved ends to the diameter of the crank pin and the
pin in the slay sword, being provided on the underside with projections placed at
right angles to the centre line of the rod. To the underside of the centre or main
block at each end are secured adjustable slides in the form of a hook concaved to
the diameter of the pins on which they couple. These adjustable ends are also

page_text: provided with projections placed at right angles to the centre line, being connected
and regulated according to wear by adjusting screws passed through each projection;
being locked in position by vertical bolts passing through the main block and the
adjustable ends.
The third part consists in an improved method of constructing and supporting
the taking up catch lever. To the side of the loom is attached a fixing in which
the centre or swivelling pin of the catch lever is placed, being secured by means of
a set screw or other equivalents: the catch is provided with a loose pin which is
secured by a set screw or other equivalent passing through the lever, thus making
the same easy for repairs or removal, and less costly than those now in use.
The next part of our invention consists of an improved self-acting brake. To
the back side of the loom frame is attached by a suitable bolt or centre a curved
brake lever, which extends over and down the front side of the brake pulley to a
weight lever attached to the loom side in a convenient position to be operated by a
suitable taper bracket on the starting handle. When the loom is in operation the
weight lever rests on the taper bracket, which, when the weft breaks, is knocked
off by the lateral action of the starting handle. Sometimes it is necessary to
release the brake without working the loom by power, in which case the starting
handle is provided with another projection, on which it is lifted by hand. By the
use of this brake a simultaneous action is obtained between itself and the starting
handle, being instantaneous in its action, stopping the loom on the back centre
when the weft breaks, which is the most convenient position for the weaver, or in
other desired positions, which is accomplished by adjusting the pressure on the
weight lever.

page_text: Improvements in Looms for Weaving.
We, MICHAEL SHUTTLEWORTH of 453 Rock Terrace, Baxenden, late of
100 Elizabeth Terrace, Darwen, Manager, and WILLIAM HACKING of 6 Gregson
Street, Darwen, Overlooker, both in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declaro
the nature of our Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to several improved arrangements and combinations of
movements and contrivances for enabling the loom to be more automatic in its
action, thereby lessening to a great extent the wear and tear, also the cost of
repairs and supervision, at the same time improving the quality of the cloth, as we
will describe referring to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is an end elevation
of a loom with part of our improvements applied and Fig. 2 is a back view of a
loom shewing our improved weighting motion which forms the first part of this
invention.
The ends or centres A of the warp beam B are held and carried in the bearings C
provided on the top ends of the vertical flat springs D. To the ordinary rest
beam G of the loom are attached the hooks a¹ placed immediately opposite the
barrel ends I of the warp beam B. The chains H or other suitable equivalents,
such as, bands, are passed or lapped round the barrel ends I of the warp beam Ba
sufficient number of times according to the amount of tension required which is
regulated by the attendant when starting a fresh warp or beam, which position is
somewhat similar to that shewn in Fig. 3, or thereabouts. After the chains H or
other equivalents have been lapped round the barrel ends I a sufficient number of
times to produce the requisite tension the lower ends are attached to the adjustable
hooks or filbows 6' secured to the lower part of the flat springs J. The top ends
of these springs are left flat or concaved to the diameter of the barrel ends I,
against which they are pressed by the tension on the chains or bands H attached
thereto.
As the warp beam revolves in delivering the warp the barrel ends I slip in the
chains or bands H, and gradually increases the tension on the lower part of the
chains, i.e. between the barrel ends I and the point of attachment to the flat
springs J, which increases the pressure on the barrel ends I and gradually moves or
pushes the springs D outwardly with the beam as shewn in Fig. 1, the pressure
being increased in proportion to the decreased weight of the warp and beam,
thereby producing an uniform tension throughout the entire length of the warp,
the same being automatically regulated in proportion to the decrease or weight of
the beam.
The second part of our invention relates to an improved connecting rod,
constructed to dispense with brass steps, cotters, &c, and which will be fully
understood by referring to Fig. 8 which is an elevation and Fig. 9 a plan. The
block a is provided with the concaved ends b and c according to the diameter of
the crank or other pins they connect. On each end of the block a are fitted the
adjustable slides d, secured into position by the set screws e to the projections / on

page_text: the block a, by which, regulation and adjustment are performed according to wear;
the whole being locked into position by the bolts g passing through the block a
and the slides or adjustable ends d.
The third part of this invention relates to improvements in the method of
constructing and supporting or mounting the taking up catch lever. Fig. 10 is a
side elevation, and Fig. 11 a front view; Fig. 12 is a section through line A¹ B¹,
and Fig. 13 is a plan of Fig. 10. To the frame E of the loom is attached the
fixing in which the pin k is placed for supporting the taking up catch lever K,
being held in position by the set screw l. The lever K is provided with the boss m
at the point where the catch K' is attached, so as to allow or admit of the set
screw n for securing the pin o and catch K¹ in position.
The last part of this invention relates to an improved self-acting brake which
will be readily understood by referring to Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7. To the frame E
of the loom is attached the bracket M to which is fixed the flexible curved brake
lever or band N carrying the saddle O provided with a lining of leather or other
analogous substance for operating on the rim of the brake pulley P. The flexible
band or lever N extends over and down the front side of the brake pulley P to the
weight lever R pivotted on the pin S to the frame E. The weight lever R
extends as usual to the front of the loom and rests-when the loom is working―
on the point U on the taper bracket T attached to the ordinary starting handle, as
shewn in Fig. 5. When the weft breaks the starting handle is operated laterally,
by which the end of the weight lever is knocked off into the inclined notch V as
shewn in Fig. 6, by which operation the weight lever drops and applies the brake.
By raising the weight lever by hand the loom can be stopped and held on the back
centre, or in any other position most convenient to the weaver, which is
accomplished by adjusting the pressure on the weight lever. In case it is
necessary to release the brake when the loom is stopped, the weight lever is
lifted by hand on the projection W, as shewn in Fig. 7, when the loom can be
operated by hand as desired.
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. The improved combination and arrangement of mechanism for selfactingly
regulating the tension on the warp beam, substantially as described and shewn on
the drawings in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
2. The improved connecting rod constructed and arranged as shewn, illustrated,
and described in Figs. 8 and 9.
3. Mounting and constructing the taking up catch lever with the method of
securing the catch K¹ thereto, substantially as described and shewn.
4. The use, construction, and arrangement of brake, applied and operating
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and shewn on the drawings
in Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
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