IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER LOOMS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Conradi, of 8, Lower James Street, Golden Square,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER
LOOMS." A communication from abroad by Herrmann Koettgen, of Langenberg,
in Prussia, Empire of Germany.
Sealed the 12th March 1878, and dated the 15th September 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Conradi at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th September 1877.
HENRY CONRADI, of 8, Lower James Street, Golden Square, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER LOOMS." [A communication from abroad
by Herrmann Koettgen, of Langenberg, in Prussia, Empire of Germany.]
The improvements consist in,―
The movement of the batten.
In the regulator arrangement.
And in the movement of the shafts.
The different mechanism hitherto known for the movement of the batten are so
far defficient, as an elastic touch similar to that effected by the hand is wanted, as
well as an efficient stop after the lash or stitch has been formed, in order to give to
the shuttle sufficient time to shoot through it freely without obstruction. It often
occurs in rapidly moved looms that the shuttle is caught by the reed, whereby the
tissue is damaged. To avoid this the cloth must be unduly lengthened, producing
other defects; the batten being nearly entirely stopped during the shooting, the
resistance to its movements is also lessened, as the chain lies then quietly upon the
reed; and, finally, woof threads are spared, as the weft slides plainly into the
shooting hole, which by an equal lift of the shafts or combs is about 3 centimetre,
or 1-18 inch shorter.
In the enclosed Drawing Fig. 2 represents a front, and Fig. 1 a side view of the
loom supplied with the improvements.
The batten a swings like a pendulum between two upright stands b, b², which can

page_text: turn round the bottom points c, c¹. The hinges d, d', of the swinging batten project
forward, so that the centre of gravity of the latter lies beyond the stands b, bl. The
two bent levers f, of which only one is shown in the Drawing, are drawn and held
fast by the spiral springs e, and exercise continually a slight pressure upon the batten
in a forward direction; the batten, swinging freely between the stands b, b¹, would
therefore be continually pushed out of its vertical position, but as this is only
intended in the moment when it touches the tissue, the trailing mechanism, as
represented in Fig. 3, is therefore attached to the apparatus in order to check the
action of the spiral springs c during the greater part of the travel of the batten. A
latch g fastened upon the reed frame trails upon a staff h fixed in the loom frame,
producing through the friction such a considerable resistance that the batten a
remains like fixed to the upright swinging stands b, 61, till the latch
has left the
nose of the staff h. In this moment the spiral springs c begin to act by means
of the bent lever fjerking the reed a forward, and effecting by it an elastic shock,
the upright stands b, 61, attaining in the meantime their highest speed. At the
back stroke of the batten, which takes place somewhat before the shock occurs, the
momentum of the swinging batten overcomes the action of the springs e, the trailing
latch g turns over, passes the nose i, and then stands up again by means of a small
spring k, which undergoes a slight pressure during the trailing.
The
The motion of the swinging stands b, b, and therefore that of the batten a₁ 18
effected by the rods and the bent lever m by means of the crank shaft n.
combination of the dead points of n and m effects for the final position of the batten
to the right-hand side very nearly a complete stop, while in its final position to the
left-hand side the shock takes place with the greatest speed. In the meantime it
must be observed that the described construction of the batten motion allows,
without any other requirements, to weave a power loom by hand.
The automatic arrangement regulating the winding up of the tissue upon the
breast beam produces a steady and equal tension in the tissue, which is obtained
through the breast beam revolving in the same ratio more slowly as its diameter
becomes greater through the amount of tissue rolled up.
The slackening of the motion produced by the stop arrangement is represented in
Fig. 1, 2, and 4.
The fork o turns upon the bolt p fixed into the frame, turning the trailing
wheels by means of two trailing catches or ratchets r, r', of which the pitch differs
a half tooth; this trailing wheel & carries a pinion t, which revolves upon a fixed
pivot gearing into two small wheels u and v. The wheel u is fixed upon the bolt p,
whilst the wheel v revolves upon it; they are both of the same diameter, but the
wheel has one or two teeth less than u. This arrangement makes that, the pinion t
revolving upon the wheel u during the rotation of the inserted wheels turns the
wheel at each revolution of the wheel s to an extend equal to the above-mentioned
difference of the pitch. Another small wheel w is fastened to the wheel v, which by
means of a short transmission effects the rotation of the breast beam A. Below the
breast beam A. is placed the so-called test roller B, bearing on two guides x, x,
pressing continually against the breast beam by means of the counterweights y. In
the same ratio as A becomes thicker through the winding up of the tissue, B moves
downwards, and that downward motion is utilised by means of the apparatus shown
in detail in Fig. 4, to slacken the gearing of the wheel 8, and therefore with it at the
same ratio the movement of A. The prolonged end of the shaft of the breast beam B
is carried by the slide stone z, which can slide in the tee shaped slide piece a; this
slide piece slides again in a vertical direction in the dovetailed groove of the
swinging fork o. The rod B, which is set in motion by the swinging segment Ŏ,
takes hold of the pivot & of the slide piece a, and thus moves the inserted stop
arrangement. As soon as the slide piece a mooves downward by the increase of the
diameter of the breast beam A and the test roller B, the working lever of the
swinging fork o is prolonged, and the inserted stop arrangement is slackened. The
regulating of the winding up in order to obtain an even tension in the tissue as
intended is therefore obtained.

page_text: The motion of the shafts by means of the cone c, Fig. 1 and 2, is also a special
feature of my arrangement. This cone by revolving also moves forward and back-
ward, as shown in the Drawing. If now a number of the cords working upon the
shaft is winded round the cone to the right-hand side, and the others to the left, the
respective shafts must rise and fall according to the swinging motion of the cone.
A bar, fastened to the cone and fixed with two screws, keeps the cords or strings
in the grooves, and offers at the same time the means of regulating the shafts most
accurately, as each single string or cord can be easily lengthened or shortened by
drawing it underneath the bar, and by fixing the latter firmly after the regulating
of the strings or cords. The cone corresponds exactly to the angle formed by the
opened cloth, so that the cloth is plain all over, and the shooting motion finds no
obstruction.
The special features of the improvements in power looms consists therefore,-
In the mechanisin to move the batten, so that it nearly stops it during the
shooting motion, but without interrupting the revolving motion of the main crank
shaft.
In the pendulum-like suspension of the batten, which produces a free, elastic, and
still energetic shock while the swinging upright stands have already begun their
backward motion, and which shock is also in the meantime produced by means of
the described trailing mechanism combined with the driving bend levers.
In the arrangement of the so-called test boom and an inserted differential catch
or ratchet arrangement or gear provided with bent levers, which prolong themselves
automatically through the downward motion of the aforesaid boom in order to
slacken the motion of the breast boom in the same ratio as its diameter increases
by the winding up of the tissue.
In the application of the described cone, upon which the strings or cords are
running partly to the right-hand side, partly to the left, in order to obtain a clear
piece, or square, or division of the cloth."

page_text: Z. The regulator arrangement.
3. The movement of the shafts.
The different mechanism hitherto known for the movement of the batten are so
far deficient, as an elastic touch similar to that effected by the hand is wanted, as
well as an efficient stop after the lash or stitch has been formed, in order to give to
the shuttle sufficient time to shoot through it freely without obstruction or being
hindred in any way.
It often occurs that in rapidly moved looms the shuttle is
caught by the reed, whereby the tissue becomes damaged. To avoid this the cloth
must be unduly lengthened, producing therefore other defects; the batten being
nearly entirely stopped during the shooting, the resistance to its movement is also
lessened, as the chain lies then quietly upon the reed; and, finally, woof threads are
spared, as the weft slides plainly into the shooting hole, which by an equal lift of
the shafts or combs is about 3 centimetres, equal to 1.18 inch shorter.
In the enclosed Drawing Fig. 2 represents a front or longitudinal view, and Fig. 1
a side or end view of the loom with its improved arrangements.
The batten a swings like a pendulum between two upright stands b, b', which in
their turn can swing or turn around the bottom points c, c¹. The hinges d, d³, of
the swinging batten are fastened or fixed in the forward projecting part of the
stands in such a manner that the centre of gravity of the batten lies beyond the
stands 6, 61. The two bent levers f, of which only one is shown in the Drawing,
are drawn or held fast by the spiral springs e, and exercise continually a slight
pressure upon the batten in a forward direction; the batten, swinging freely between
the stands b, b', would therefore be continually pushed out of its vertical position,
but as this is only intended in the moment it touches the tissue, the trailing
mechanism or arrangement, as represented in Fig. 3, is therefore in addition attached
to the apparatus in order to check the action of the spiral spring e during the
greater part of the travel of the batten. A latch fastened to the reed frame trails
upon a staff h fixed on to the loom frame, producing through the friction such a con-
siderable resistance that the batten a remains like fixed to the upright swinging
stands b, b¹, till the latch g has left the nose i of the staff or lever h.
In this mo-
ment the spiral springs e begin to act by means of the bent lever fjerking the reed a
forward, and effecting by it an elastic shock, while the upright stands or bearer b, b',
attain in the meantime their highest speed. At the back stroke of the batten, which
takes place somewhat before the shock occurs, the momentum of the swinging batten
overcomes the action of the springs e, the trailing latch g turns over, passes the
nose i, and is then raised again by means of a small spring k, which is subjected to
a slight pressure during the trailing.
The motion of the swinging stands or bearers b, b', and therefore that of the
batten a, is effected by the rods and the bent levers m through the crank shaft n.
The combination of the dead points of n and m effects in regard to the final position
of the batten when it moves in the direction of the right-hand side very nearly a
complete stop, while in its final position when moved to the left the shock takes
place with the greatest speed. In the meantime it must be stated that the motion
of the batten, arranged as above described, permits also, without any further addi-
tional arrangement, to weave with or to work the power loom by hand.
For looms with only one shaft, as, for example, for looms weaving cloth, the motion
arrangement or mechanism of the batten, as represented in Fig. 5 of the adjoined

page_text: Drawing, is to be recomended. The principle of this arrangement is also based upon
the accumulation of two dead points during the greatest part of the motion of the
crank shaft, producing nearly a complete stop of the batten. The rotating shaft 1
of the loom carries the crank 2, which works by means of the rod 3 the single
lever 4, which is a lever of the second kind, and swings around the point 5. The
rod 6 transmits the motion of the lever 4 to the batten.
The improvement obtained by this modification consists in the application of a
lever of the second kind instead of using one of the first kind, and in its connection
with the motion of the crank in order to obtain easier the desired effect.
The automatic arrangement regulating the winding up of the tissue upon the
breast beam produces a steady and equal tension in the tissue, which is obtained
by the breast beam revolving in the same ratio more slowly as its diameter increases
through the amount of tissue rolled upon it.
The slackening of the motion produced by the stop arrangement is represented in
Fig. 1, 2, and 4.
The fork o turns upon the bolt p fixed into the frame, turning the trailing
wheels by means of two trailing catches or ratchet r, r¹, which differ in pitch by
half a tooth; this trailing wheels carries a pinion t, which revolves upon a fixed
pivot gearing into two small wheels u and v. The wheel u is fixed upon the bolt p,
while the wheel v revolves upon it; they are both of the same diameter, but the
wheel has one or two teeth less than u. This arrangement causes that, the pinion t
gearing the fixed wheel u turns the wheel v during the rotation of the inserted
wheels at each revolution of the wheel s to an extend equal to the above-mentioned
difference of the pitch. Another small wheel w is fastened to the wheel v, which by
means of a short transmission effects the rotation of the breast beam A. Below the
breast beam A is placed the so-called touching or test roller B, bearing in two
guides x, x, which presses continually against the breast beam by means of the
counterweights y. In the same ratio as A becomes thicker through the winding on
it of the tissue, B moves downwards, and these downward motion is utilized to
slacken the working or the motion of the wheel 8, and therefore with it in the same
ratio the movement of A. The arrangement to slacken the just described motions
by utilizing the above-mentioned downward motion of B is shown in detail at
Fig. 4. The prolonged end of the shaft of the breast beam B is carried by the sliding
or grooved stone e, which can slide in the tee shaped (T) slide piece a; this slide
piece slides again in a vertical direction in the dovetailed groove of the swinging
fork o. The rod 8, which is set in motion by the swinging segment Ŏ, takes hold
of the pivot 6 of the grooved slide piece a, and thus moves the inserted mechanism or
stop arrangement. As soon as the slide piece a moves downwards by the increase
of the diameter of the breast beam A and the touching or test roller B, the working
lever of the swinging fork o is prolonged, and the inserted stop arrangement becomes
slackened. The regulating of the winding up in order to obtain an even tension in
the tissue as intended is therefore obtained.
The motion of the shafts by means of the cone c, Fig. 1, 2, is also a special feature
of my arrangement. This cone by revolving also moves forward and backward, and
the manner in which it is arranged is shown in the Drawing. If now a number of
the cords or strings working upon the shafts are wound round the cone to the right-
hand side, and the others to the left, the respective shafts must rise and fall
according to the swinging motion of the cone. A bar or bracket ; fastened to the
cone and fixed with two screws, keeps the strings or cords in the grooves, and offers
at the same times the means for regulating the shafts most accurately, as each single
string or cord can be easily lengthened or shortened by drawing it underneath the
bar or bracket, and by fixing the latter firmly after the cords having been regulated.
The cone corresponds exactly to the angle formed by the opened cloth, so that the
cloth is plain all over, and the shooting motion finds no obstruction.
The improvements upon which the claims are principally based consists,―
1. In the mechanism or arrangement to move the batten, so that it nearly stops

page_text: it during the shooting motion, but without interrupting the revolving motion of the
main crank shaft.
2. In the pendulum-like suspension of the batten, which produces a free, elastic,
and still energetic shock while the swinging upright stands or bearers have already
begun their back motion, this shock being produced in the meantime by means of
the described trailing mechanism or arrangement combined with the propelling
or driving bent levers.
3. In the arrangement of the so-called touching or test roller or beam and an
inserted differential catch or ratchet arrangement or gear provided with bent levers,
which prolong themselves automatically through the downward motion of the afore-
said beam in order to slacken the motion of the breast beam in the same ratio as its
diameter increases by the winding up of the tissue.
4. In the application of the described cone, upon which the strings or cords are
running partly to the right-hand side, partly to the left, similar to a countermotion,
in order to obtain a clear plain field, or piece, or crossed, or square parts, or other
kind of divisions of the cloth.
5. In the above-described application of a lever of the second kind, instead of
using one of the first kind, and in its connection with the motion of the crank in
the above-described arrangement.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Conradi, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.