IMPROVE- MENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CLOTH THEREPROM
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Chalmers, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
Sealed the 13th June 1862, and dated the 16th December 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Chalmers at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th
December 1861.
I, DAVID CHALMERS, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CLOTH THEREPROM,'
to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of looms for
weaving figured fabrics and checks, and the first part of the improvements has
reference to the mechanical arrangements for actuating circular shuttle boxes
in the required sequential order.
Under one modification, the circular shuttle box, which is of the ordinary
kind, is carried in a frame, the inner part of which is bolted to the lathe, the
end standard of this frame being carried upon a laterally extending portion of
the rocking shaft of the lathe. The spindle fitted in the outer end of the
shuttle box projects out beyond the end standard, and has fast to it at this
part a small chain wheel, over which is passed a chain. Each end of this
short length of chain is attached to a wire cord or other equivalent therefor;

page_text: these cords are carried downwards, and passed round a grooved pulley, which
runs loosely in the rocking shaft. The ends of the wire cords pass over and
are attached to the segmentally-shaped extremities of a duplex lever, which is
fast to a short horizontal shaft. The bearings of this shaft are carried on an
open bracket frame, which is bolted to the end standard of the loom framing.
This frame also carries the modified jacquard mechanism for effecting the
change of the shuttle box. The central part of the shaft carrying the duplex
lever is made in the form of a rectangular frame, so as to admit of a series of
rods or needles passing through the open part without interfering with the
rocking motion of the shaft. The horizontal rods are equivalent to the needles
of an ordinary jacquard apparatus, and they correspond in number to the cells
in the circular shuttle box. These needles are of a T-shaped figure, the arms
extending in a vertical direction, and then bent at right angles so as to come
in contact with the rectangular part of the rocking shaft when pushed back.
The bent ends of the T-shaped parts of the needles are arranged as regards
length so as to operate upon either the upper or the lower portion of the
rectangular part of the rocking shaft in such manner that the duplex lever
will bring the desired cell of the shuttle box in a line with the shed. Just
behind the rods or needles is arranged a short horizontal shaft carrying a
chain wheel, on which is a series of metal plates or cards. These cards are
linked together, and each has a projecting part or tappet formed on the face,
which part moves forward a rod or needle when a change in the pattern is
required, the several cards being so arranged as to move the rods in the
required sequence to produce the pattern. The mechanism herein-before
described is brought into action at the proper moment by means of a pattern
chain which passes over a chain wheel arranged on the spindle of the ratchet
wheel. A lever which is actuated from the tappet shaft, or from the sword,
pushes the ratchet wheel round tooth by tooth, so as to draw up the pattern
chain one link at a time, which is equivalent to a double traverse of the
shuttle. At each change of the shuttle box a projecting piece or tappet is
inserted in the chain. This tappet pushes back a pendant lever, which is
connected to a catch that falls into the teeth of a ratchet wheel on the shaft
of the card barrel; this shaft also carries a duplex pendent lever, which is
connected to a rocking lever actuated from the tappet shaft. A cam on the
tappet shaft depresses the rocking shaft at each revolution; this, however,
does not affect the series of cards unless the catch is in gear with the ratchet
wheel, then the barrel is moved round, and the tappet on the card pushes one
of the needles forward. The projecting part on the T-shaped portion of the
needle comes in contact with the rectangular part of the shaft on which the

page_text: segmentally-ended duplex lever is fitted. This moves the lever about its
axis, and so draws the wire cords as to bring the required shuttle box in a
line with the shed. The shuttle box is held steadily in this position until the
next change, by means of a spring catch, which is actuated from the pendent
5 lever that puts the jacquard apparatus in motion. This spring catch springs
into a notched disc on the spindle of the circular shuttle box, and is liberated
therefrom when a tappet on the pattern chain actuates the pendent lever.
The arrangement of the mechanism for actuating the shuttle box may be so
modified as to bring the duplex lever within the framing, and the other parts
may be combined in various ways without departing from the essential features
of these improvements. The same end may be accomplished by means of a
pendent lever centred on the shaft which in the first modification carried the
duplex lever. This pendent lever is connected to a horizontal rack, which
gives motion to a wheel on the rocking shaft of the lathe. The wheel is
fitted on the tubular boss of the pulley round which the cord from the shuttle
box passes, so that as the rack is traversed to and fro a predetermined distance
by means of the jacquard apparatus, the required cell of the shuttle box is
brought in line with the shed or slay. Instead of the horizontal rack, the
movement of the wheel on the rocking shaft may be effected by means of a
pendent lever, the free extremity of which forms a segmental rack, which gives
motion to the wheel.
Another of the present improvements is a modification of the first arrange-
ment applied to the purpose of actuating vertical shuttle boxes. A cam on
the tappet shaft gives motion to a lever centred on a stud in the frame.
This lever is connected by a link to an arm or tail-piece on the axis of a
tappet disc and ratchet wheel, to which it gives motion. This disc is made
with projections on its periphery; the irregular surface of the disc serves to
depress more or less a lever, which is centred at the lower part of the loom
framing. This lever is connected to the shuttle boxes, so that, as the disc
rotates, the projections depress the lever so as to bring the lower shuttle box
up to the race, and when the lever is in contact with the recessed portions of
the disc the upper box is brought into the proper position for weaving.
The second part of these improvements has reference to the arrangement
of parts for effecting the picking motion, so as to obtain a series of picks in
succession from one side of the loom. The tappet shaft has fitted near to
each end and inside the framing a duplex cain, which runs loosely on the
shaft;
either of these cams may be coupled at pleasure, so as to rotate with
the shaft, and when so coupled, the duplex cam causes the picking stick to
make two shots for each revolution of the tappet shaft. The levers which

page_text: move the couplings to and fro on the tappet shaft are centred on a cross rail,
and are connected by studs to an intermediate bar, by means of which the
The inter-
couplings are put into and out of gear with the contiguous cams.
mediate bar moves in a horizontal lateral direction, and it is kept towards
one side of the framing by means of a helical spring or other equivalent when
not otherwise acted upon. On one end of the tappet shaft is a pinion which
gears with a wheel having bolted to it segmental projecting pieces. This
wheel is so arranged that a roller at the end of the laterally traversing bar is
in contact with the inner face of the wheel, and is pressed against it by the
helical spring at the other end. In this position the right-hand coupling is
in gear with its contiguous cam, and so long as it remains so the picking is
effected from that side of the loom; but when one of the segmental pieces
at the back of the wheel intervenes, the coupling shaft is thereby moved
laterally, and this motion frees the right-hand can, and brings the left-hand
coupling into gear with its cam; in this manner the picking from either side
of the loom may be varied at pleasure according to the arrangement of the
segmental projections on the wheel.
The third and last part of the present Invention consists in manufacturing
a particular kind of sail cloth or canvas by power. The loom preferred for
this purpose is the modification herein-before described in referring to the
mode of actuating vertical shuttle boxes. This loom is particularly adapted
for weaving cloth with two kinds of weft, one, for example, being heavier
than the other. In making sail cloth or canvas with this kind of loom, the
sequence of the duplex shuttles are so arranged that a certain number of
shots of weft are thrown in with one kind of weft, and then a certain number
of the stouter weft; in this way the cloth when woven has a series of trans-
verse stripes formed in it by the power loom, which greatly add to its strength
on account of their being formed of the stouter yarn. The strength of the
cloth may be still further increased by having certain portions of the warp at
regular intervals formed of stouter yarn than the rest.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Chalmers in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th June 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
CHALMERS, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Machinist, 3
send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said David Chalmers, Her special license that I, the said David
Chalmers, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said David Chalmers, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOOMS FOR WEAVING, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CLOTH THEREFROM,"
upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said David Chalmers, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, or
under the band and seal of one of them, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said David Chalmers, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of looms
which are more particularly adapted for weaving figured and checked fabrics ;
and these improvements principally consist of new mechanical arrangements for
actuating the shuttle boxes in the required sequential order, so as to produce
the predetermined effect in the woven fabric.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the several Figures on the explanatory Sheets of
Drawings which I have hereunto appended, for the purpose of showing certain
modifications under which my improvements may be judiciously carried out in
in practice, that is to say,-
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, is an end elevation of
a portion of a loom showing one arrangement of apparatus for actuating a
rotatory or circular shuttle box; Figure 2 is an elevation showing a portion of
the front of the loom corresponding to Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a plan of
the same.

page_text: The framing A of the loom is of the ordinary kind. To the lathe B is
attached a laterally projecting frame C, the end standard of which is carried
on a prolongation of the rocking shaft D. The rotatory shuttle box E is carried
in the frame C; the spindle at its outer end projects out beyond the standard
of the frame C, to admit of having fitted to it the chain wheel F. Over this
wheel a short length of chain G is passed, each end of which is connected to
the wire cords H and I. These cords are passed round the double-grooved
pulley J, which runs loosely on the extremity of the rocking shaft D. The
ends of the wire cords are carried up to and attached to the segmentally-shaped
extremities of the duplex lever K, which is fast to the horizontal shaft L.
The bearings of this shaft are carried in an open bracket frame M, which is
bolted to the end standard of the loom framing; this frame also carries the
modified jacquard mechanism for effecting the change of the shuttle box E.
The central part of the shaft L is made in the form of an open rectangular
frame, in order to admit of the reciprocatory movement of a series of hori-
zontal rods or bars N, without interfering with the rocking motion of the shaft.
The rods N slide to and fro in guides formed in the frame M, and they are
fitted at the backward ends with antifriction rollers; these rods correspond in
number to the cells in the rotatory shuttle box E, and in action they are equi-
valent to the needles of an ordinary jacquard apparatus. These rods or needles
are of a T-shaped figure at the central part, the arms extending in a vertical
direction and then bent at right angles, as shown in Figure 1, so that the ex-
tremities come into contact with the cross bar of the rectangular frame of the
shaft L, when the same is pushed back. The bent ends of the T-shaped parts
of the rods or needles N are so arranged as regards length, as to operate upon
either the upper or the lower portion of the rectangular part of the shaft L,
and so that the duplex lever K may bring the desired cell of the shuttle box
in a line with the shed. Immediately behind the rods or needles N is arranged
a short horizontal shaft O, carrying a chain wheel P, on which is placed a
short endless chain of metal plates or cards Q. These cards Q are linked
together, and each one has a projecting part or tappet Q' formed on the face
of it, which part moves forward one of the rods or needles N, when a change
in the pattern is required. The several cards Q are so arranged as regards
the disposition of the tappets Qas to move the rods or needles N in the
sequence required to produce the predetermined pattern. This arrangement
of mechanism is brought into action partly by the reciprocatory movement of
the lathe and partly by a cam on the tappet shaft; at each forward movement
of the lathe it actuates a lever, to which is attached a pall that falls into the
teeth of the ratchet wheel on the spindle of the chain wheel R. Over this

page_text: wheel R is hung the chain S, and as the ratchet wheel is driven round tooth
by tooth by the action of the lathe sword, the chain is taken up one link at a
time, which is equivalent to a double traverse of the shuttle. To effect the
change in the shuttle box, projecting pieces or tappets T are inserted at the
proper intervals in the chain S, which come in contact with the pendent lever
U, which is connected by a long link U, extending backwards to a catch or
pall V, that falls into the teeth of a ratchet wheel W, arranged on the shaft O
of the chain wheel P. On this shaft O is also carried loosely a duplex pendent
lever X, the arms of which extend downwards on either side of the vertical
pall V, as shown in Figure 1, and are connected by a pin to the pall V. The
ends of the duplex lever X are jointed to a link Y, which connects it to a
rocking lever Z, that is actuated by a cam a on the tappet shaft b. Thus, so
long as the links of the chain S pass over the wheel R, the pendent lever U
will not be affected by it, and the lever Z will simply move up and down as the
cam a comes round, without shifting the chain wheel P, because the pall V in
its normal position is beyond the range of the ratchet wheel W. When, how-
ever, one of the tappets T intervene between the chain wheel R and the pen-
dent lever U, the lever is pushed back, which draws with it the link U¹, and
causes the pall V to fall into the teeth of the ratchet wheel W. The pall V
being connected to the pendent lever U, the wheel P'with the chain of cards Q
are moved round by the action of the cam a, until another tappet Q¹is brought
in, which alters the position of the rods N, and these operating on the duplex
lever K, cause the shuttle box E to be shifted round to bring the required cell
of the shuttle box E into a line with the shed. The projecting parts of the
T-shaped portions of the needles N are so arranged as regards length in the
lateral direction, that each rod or needle N puts the rectangular part of the
shaft L into one or other of the four positions indicated by the dotted circles
in Figure 1, and these positions of the shaft will cause the lever K to bring
the several cells of the shuttle box into a line with the shed. During the
weaving the shuttle box is held steadily by means of a spring catch, which is
actuated from the pendent lever U. The spring catch c is arranged in a vertical
position, moving in small guides, and pressed upwards by means of a helical
spring, which keeps the catch up in contact with the notched disc d, when the
catch is not otherwise acted upon. At the central part of the catch c is a
laterally projecting stud, which enters a slot in the lever e fixed on the outer
end of a short shaft, carried below the shuttle box by the sword of the lathe.
When the shuttle box is to be liberated from the catch c, the pendent lever U,
which is connected to the lever f, causes an inclined plane on the extremity
of the latter to push back the pendent lever e¹ on the inner end of the shaft

page_text: which carries the lever e, and so depress the catch c and liberate it from the
disc d. In this manner the shuttle box is liberated at the instant prior to the
change being made in the pattern-governing mechanism.
Another modification for effecting the instantanous change of the shuttle
box according to the requirements of the patterns, is shown in end elevation in
Figure 4, on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings. In this Figure two
modes of arranging the parts are shown, one being delineated in red lines, and
one in blue. The shaft L and the frame M, with the series of rods or
needles N, are similar to the corresponding parts shown in Figures 1 to 3.
On the extremity of the shaft L is fitted the pendent lever K, which corre-
sponds to the duplex lever of the first arrangement. The several positions
which this lever assumes in shifting the cells of the shuttle box are indicated
by the diverging red lines terminating in circles at the lower ends. The
lever K is connected by the link H to the horizontal sliding bar I, to which
is attached the endless wire cord 1', which is carried twice round the pulley J';
this pulley gives motion to a wheel J, formed in one with or keyed to the tubular
boss of the pulley J', which runs loosely on the rocking shaft D. In these
arrangements the chain wheel F and the pulley J¹ may either be carried on
the end standard C', or on the inner side, so as to allow of the lever K and
rack mechanism being arranged near the main frame A of the loom.
endless chain G is passed round the pulley J', and over another pulley F on
the spindle of the shuttle box E. In this way as the pendent lever K is
moved by the positions of the rods or needles N, the horizontal slide or rack I
causes the pulley J¹ and chain wheel J to be turned more or less, and so
bring the required shuttle into use.
An
Another arrangement of equivalent apparatus, which is shown in blue lines,
consists of the pendent lever k keyed to the shaft L, and actuated by rods
or needles N. This lever is connected by the link h to the pendent segmental
lever or rack i, by means of which the pulley or wheel j¹ on the boss of the
chain wheel J is turned, so as to bring the desired cell of the shuttle box into
use. In lieu of the wire cord slide and segmental actions I and i, the same
effect may be obtained by means of a rack and segmental wheel acting upon
a toothed wheel in place of the pulleys J¹ and 1.
Either of these mechanical arrangements may be modified to suit a six-
celled or other number of shuttle boxes, and by trifling modifications to
actuate the vertical drop boxes, as well as those of the rotatory class.
Referring to Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 on the
said Sheet is an end elevation of a loom showing another modification
mechanical arrangement for actuating the rotatory shuttle boxes.
or

page_text: Figure 2 is a partial front elevation corresponding to Figure 1; only those
parts of the loom which are necessary to explain the shuttle-box movement
are shown. The shuttle box A on each side of the loom is arranged as
described in the former modification, its extremity carrying a chain wheel,
over which is passed the endless chain B. This chain is carried down and
passes under the wheel C, carried loosely on the end of the rocking shaft D,
and outside the wheel C is a small pinion C¹, also loose on the shaft, and
which derives its motion from the wheel E. The wheel E is keyed to
a shaft F, which is arranged parallel to the rocking shaft, and extends across
the loom to the opposite side, where there is a corresponding arrangement for
actuating the other shuttle box. The rocking shaft also carries loosely upon
it a ratchet wheel G having six teeth, or curved indentations, corresponding to
the number of cells in the shuttle boxes. The ratchet wheel G has keyed to
it a small spur wheel, which is indicated by a red circle G', in Figure 1. This
wheel gears with a corresponding wheel H keyed to the ratchet wheel I,
which is also fast to the shaft F. On the tappet shaft J is a double cam K,
which imparts an oscillatory movement to the lever L pendent from a laterally
projecting stud in the end standard. The lever L is kept pressed up to the
cam K by a blade spring M, or other equivalent therefor. To the lower part
of the lever L are attached six palls N, three of which act on the ratchet
wheel G, and three on the ratchet wheel I. These palls are brought into
action, so as to move round the shuttle boxes in the proper sequential order,
by connecting them to the ordinary jacquard movement of the loom. Each
of the palls N is connected by a link O to a lever P arranged above, the free
extremity of each lever being connected by a wire or other attachment to the
jacquard apparatus, which is so arranged as to lift the inner ends of the
levers P in the sequence or order in which the different coloured wefts are
required to be woven. All the palls N are made of varying lengths, that is to
say, the three inner ones which actuate the wheel I on the shaft F are made
one longer than the other, so that when brought into action the shorter pall
moves the wheel G round equal to the distance between one cell of the shuttle
boxes to the next. The second or intermediate pall causes the shuttle boxes
to move round to the extent of two cells; and the third or longest pall moves
the shuttle boxes through half a revolution, or to the extent of three cells.
The three palls which actuate the wheel G on the rocking shaft D are
arranged in a corresponding manner, so as to give three several degrees of
rotation to the ratchet wheel G. This wheel being loose on the rocking shaft D,
the partially rotatory movement of the wheel is communicated by the con-
tiguous wheel G' to the wheel H on the shaft F. The movement thus

page_text: imparted to the shaft F is in the opposite direction to that given by the
wheel I to the shaft, so that three cells of the shuttle boxes are brought into
action by a motion in one direction, and the other three by an opposite motion.
As the palls are caused to act in succession upon the ratchet wheels, the
shaft F is caused to rotate to a corresponding degree, and this motion is com-
municated by the wheel E on its extremity to the pinion C¹ and chain
wheel C, which draws round the chain B, and so brings the proper cell of each
shuttle box into a line with the shed.
Between each movement of the shuttle boxes, they are held by a spring
catch arrangement, similar to that herein-before described, but modified to
suit the arrangement of the palls N. A small shaft Q, supported in pendent
brackets, has fitted on one of its extremities a bell crank lever R, the lower
arm of which connected to the stirrup piece S, through which the levers P
are passed. When the jacquard apparatus acts upon either of the levers P,
the stirrup S is depressed, which causes the bell crank lever R to raise the
lever T, and this acting on the roller of the link U, which is connected to the
bent lever V, causes the latter to depress the spring catch W, and so liberate
the shuttle box A. When the pressure of the lever P on the stirrup S is
removed, the helical spring X draws up the arm of the bell crank lever R,
and so allows the catch W to spring into the notch of the shuttle box, and
hold it until another change is made. A corresponding arrangement is fitted
on the opposite side of the loom, which is operated by a simple lever or arm on
the other end of the shaft.
Q, Figure 3, on Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings, is a sectional
elevation of a loom, showing an improved mode of actuating the treadles, so
as to operate the heddles in certain predetermined sequences, and thus produce
a twill or pattern in the cloth. On the ordinary tappet shaft Y is a pinion Z,
which gives motion to a wheel a, keyed on a short supplementary shaft b,
running parallel with the shaft Y. On the shaft 6 is a compound cam, shown
in edge view in Figure 4, for depressing the treadles in the required order or
sequence. The cam is formed by preference of four discs c, to which are
bolted the segmental plates d, which act on the rollers of the treadles e. In
this arrangement there are four discs c, the segmental plates of each one
serving to depress the corresponding treadle e immediately beneath it. Each
of the discs c has bolted to it two of the segmental plates d, so that each
treadle is depressed twice during one revolution of the cam wheel.
In the accompanying Drawing, the plates d attached to the discs 1 and 2
are drawn in black lines, and figured 1 and 2, whilst those on the disc number 3
are drawn and figured in blue, and those on the disc number 4, are drawn

page_text: and figured in red. The treadles are attached in the usual way by the
cords f to the heddles g, which are numbered in accordance with the ope-
rating cams. With the cam wheel arranged in this manner, the following
would be the sequence of the shedding movements. With the cam wheel
in the first position or that shown in the Drawing, the treadles 1 and 4
are down, and the heddles 1 and 4 are in a corresponding position, 2 and 3
being up. As the rotation goes on, 1 and 3 will be down, and 2 and 4 up;
next 3 and 2 down, and 1 and 4 up; then 2 and 4 down, and 1 and 3 up; this
completes the sequence, and the movements are repeated. In the arrange-
ment shown in Figures 3 and 4, the segmental plates d are all of one size,
and are each equal to one-fourth of the periphery of the discs c, but another
modification may be arranged by combining together segmental plates of
unequal length, and so produce a different pattern in the weaving. An
arrangement of this kind is shown in Figures 5 and 6; Figure 5 is a front
view of the cam wheel; and Figure 7 is an edge view of the same. The
longer segmental plates are equal to one-third of the periphery of the discs,
whilst the shorter ones are only one-third of the length of the longer plates.
Thus as the longer cams pass over the rollers of the treadles, they are kept
down three times as long as those which are meanwhile operated by the
shorter cams; this change in the sbedding producing a different pattern
to the other modification. The sequence in which the heddles are operated
by this arrangement, is, first numbers 1 and 4 down, and 2 and 3 up; 4 and 2
down, and 3 and 1 up; 2 and 3 down, and 1 and 4 up; 2 and 4 down, and
1 and 3 up; 4 and 1 down, and 2 and 3 up; 1 and 3 down, and 2 and 4 up;
3 and 2 down, and 1 and 4 up; lastly, 3 and 1 down, and 2 and 4 up, which
completes the order of operation. In weaving jute carpeting, and other
similar heavy fabrics, the weft is drawn tight by the shuttle, and when this
is beat up by the reed the tightening action very frequently causes the weft
to cut through the selvage of the cloth, sometimes to the extent of half an
inch. To obviate this evil, the small apparatus delineated in the upper part
of Figure 4, and in plan in Figure 7, is added to the loom. Extending
across the loom is a small shaft h, which is carried in brackets projecting inwards
just inside the loom, and to this little shaft are fixed by pinching screws two
small bent arms i, which extend over the cloth just in front of the fell, and are
bent at right angles as shown in Figure 7. The extremity of each of the arms i,
is furnished with a pin j, which passes down between the warp a short distance
inwards from the selvage. When the shuttle is driven through the shed, it
passes behind the pins j, and the weft also, so that these pins cause a certain
amount of slackness in the weft by reason of their distance from the fell, and

page_text: so prevent the weft from being drawn tightly from the selvage by the rapid
motion and drag of the shuttle. When the lathe is brought forward to beat up
the weft, the projecting tappet k, in front of the lathe, comes in contact with
the contiguous arm i, and so raises the pins j out of the warp, as shown by the
dotted figure, and thus allows the shot of weft to be properly beaten up. In
this manner, by arranging properly the position of the pins j, the requisite
degree of slackness to be given to the weft may be regulated with the
utmost precision, and an unbroken and uniform selvage always insured.
Lastly my present Invention comprehends a modification of the movement
first herein-before described, for the purpose of imparting a vertical reciproca-
tory movement to a drop shuttle box. This modification is shown in the end
clevation, Figure 7, on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, adapted to a
two-celled shuttle box. On the small shaft g, which extends across the loom,
is fitted the chain and ratchet wheel h. Over this wheel is carried the chain
which has inserted at intervals in it the studs or projecting tappets j. A
portion of the chain is shown drawn to an enlarged scale in Figures 5 and 6,
Figure 5 being an elevation, and Figure 6 a plan. The open links which
take on to the teeth of the chain wheel h, are connected by means of two
flat links k, having a small washer placed between them to fill up the inter-
vening space, a pin being passed through the whole. Each open link of the
chain is equivalent to a shot of weft, and when a change of the shuttle box is
required it is obtained by simply inserting one of the small studs ; between the
links k, and fastening it by means of a split key l, and in this way the chain
may be adapted with ease and rapidity to suit any particular pattern required,
and in connection with either rotatory or drop shuttle boxes. The endless
chain i, is carried over a lower wheel m, to keep the lower portion out of the
way; as the chain is carried round link by link with the action of the loom,
when a stud j intervenes it comes in contact with the roller in the pendent
bent lever n, and pushes the latter back. The lower end of this lever is con-
nected by a long link o to a bell crank lever p, which has a stud projecting
laterally from its free extremity. On this stud a prolongation of the pall g,
rests, the pall being connected to the pendent lever r; the prolongation serves
to support the pall and allow it to vibrate freely to and fro. The lever ris
actuated by the cam s on the tappet shaft t, and is kept in contact with it
by the blade spring u. Whilst the open links of the chain are passing over
the wheel h, the pall merely moves to and fro without affecting the position
of the boxes; but when one of the studs j acts on the pendent lever n, it de-
presses the hooked end of the pall q, and causes it to take into the teeth of
the ratchet wheel on the cam v, and draw it round so that the projecting

page_text: parts of the cam is removed from the roller of the lever c. The other end of
this lever is connected to the rod x, which operates the two shuttle boxes.
Thus, when the cam vis in the position shown in the Figure, the lever w
being depressed at the backward extremity, the lower shuttle box is brought
into use, and the weaving will go on in this way until a stud shifts back the
lever n, which draws the projecting part of the cam off the roller of the lever
w, and this being liberated the spring y raises it instantly, and it rests against
the inner portion of the cam v; in this position the front end of the lever wis
depressed, which brings the upper shuttle box into operation. By increasing
the number and varying the heights of the projections on the cam v, the rod a
may be caused to rise and fall so as to suit the movements of a "drop
shuttle box having a greater number of cells than the foregoing modification.
With these several improvements in the mechanical arrangement of looms,
the manufacture of various kinds of striped, checked, and figured fabrics is
greatly facilitated, and the working of the loom is extended.
"
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the general arrangement, construction, and combination of parts
forming the mechanical movements for operating rotatory and vertical,
reciprocatory, or "drop" shuttle boxes in any sequential order required as
herein-before described, and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second, the arrangement and construction of the tappet or pattern chain,
which is more particularly shown in Figures 5 and 6, on Sheet 1 of the
accompanying Drawings, and also the application of the same to, and use in
looms fitted either with rotatory or " drop" shuttle boxes, which chain is
used as the primary means for effecting the required changes in the positions
of these shuttle boxes, as herein-before described, and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.
Third, the system or mode of actuating the heddles of looms in a certain
predetermined order or sequence by means of the mechanical arrangement
or combination of parts delineated in Figures 3 to 6, in Sheet 2, of the
accompanying Drawings and herein-before described, or any mere modification
of the same.
Fourth, the mechanical arrangement or combination of parts for causing a
certain degree of slackness in the weft just prior to its being beat up by the
reed, and so prevent the selvage from being cut or broken, as herein-before

page_text: described, and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification
or equivalent therefor.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Chalmers, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of June, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-two.
DAVID CHALMERS. (L.S.)