IM- PROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Tomlinson Bousfield, of Loughborough
Park, Brixton, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of
" IM-
PROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."-A communication from abroad
by Erastus Brigham Bigelow, residing at Boston, United States
of America.
Scaled the 5th July 1870, and dated the 18th May 1870.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Tomlinson
Bousfield at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition and Declaration, on the 18th May 1870, pursuant to the
9th Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Loughborough Park, Brixton, in the County
of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession, of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOOMS FOR WEAVING," and have petitioned Her most Excellent Majesty
Queen Victoria to grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and

page_text: .
assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn
Declaration that it has been communicated to me from abroad by Erastus
Brigham Bigelow, a person resident at Boston, United States of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in looms for weaving.
One part of the Invention relates to a mode of giving tension to the
warps during the operation of weaving.
In a Patent granted to the said Erastus Brigham Bigelow on the 26th
day of March 1867, No. 883, he describes, in combination with a vibrating
roller or bar which regulates the delivery of the warps a spring arrange-
ment, whereby the tension of the warps is gradually diminished whilst
the open shed is being formed and gradually increased to an extent to
resist the beat up whilst the shed is being closed, a single mechanism
being employed to produce the tension both in the open shed and in
resisting the beat up.
According to this Invention a separate device is employed for accom-
plishing each of these objects, that is to say, one device for producing
the required tension of the warps when the shed is open, and another
for increasing their tension to resist the beating up of the cloth, and
though they co-operate to a certain extent, they have a separate action,
whereby a good result is produced, and their tension force is easily
adapted to the varying requirements of different grades of goods.
These devices are represented in Figures 1 and 2, Figure 1 being an
end elevation, and Figure 2 a plan. The warps f pass from the warp
beam g¹ over a vibrating bar h¹ to the cloth forming line as is usual.
The vibrating bar h¹ (for which a roller may be substituted as repro-
'sented in Figure 6) is supported by an axis 2, which oscillates in bear-
ings, and has a depending lever arm k³ affixed to it. A four-armed
lever with which the tension devices are connected oscillates on a stud /',
with its upright arm m¹ resting against the lever arm.k', so that when
it is turned in one direction it raises the vibrating bar h¹, and tightens
the warps, and when turned in the opposite direction it slackens them.
The arm n¹ carries a strap o¹, from which a weight p³ is suspended. This
weight (for which a spring may be substituted) acts in the direction to
give tension to the warps, and is graduated so as to produce the degree
of tension required when the shed is open. This degree of tension,

page_text: however, is not sufficient (except in weaving light fabrics) to withstand
the beating up of the cloth and to increase the tension at the time of the
beat up a spring lever arm q¹ is affixed to the arm 7¹ by a screw bolt x¹,
and connected with the lay s¹ by a connecting rod t', as shown in the
Drawings. As the lay advances to beat up the cloth it draws the spring
lever arm q¹ forward and gradually increases the tension of the warps to
a degree to resist the beat up, and when the lay falls backs it gradually
relaxes the spring lever arm q¹ until only the force of the weight p¹ is
applied to them. In using these tension devices in connection with the
let-off mechanism, the action of which is regulated by the position of
the vibrating bar h¹ when the shed is open as described in the Specifi-
cation of the before-mentioned Patent, No. 883, in the year 1867, it is
important to notice the relation of the weight p¹, and the spring lever
arm q', to the regulation of the delivery of the warps, as the weight p'
only acts on the vibrating bar h¹ when it determines the action of the
let-off mechanism, the spring lever arm q' being at that time freed from
the action of the lay s¹ by a slot u', in the connecting rod t. The spring
action of the spring lever arm q' is only required to adapt the strain it
gives to the warps at the time of the beat up to the varying position of the
cloth forming line consequent upon the 'varying action of the let-off
mechanism, and except at or nearly at the time of the beat up it acts
as a lever increasing or diminishing the tension of the warps according
to the motion imparted to it by the lay.
A modification of the spring devices is represented in Figure 3, in
which two springs v¹ and w³ are affixed to the arm ¹, the spring v³ being
graduated so as to give the required tension to the warps when the shed
is open, and the spring w¹ employed to co-operate with the spring v¹, and
augment the spring action sufficient to resist the beat up when the.
spring v¹ is drawn forward by the lay as in the case of the spring lever
arm before described. The force with which the spring w¹ acts may be
increased or diminished by increasing or diminishing its length below
the screw bolt x¹, for which adjustment it is provided with a slot or
series of holes through which the screw bolt a³ passes to secure it to
the arm. Another modification is represented in Figure 6, in which the
tension weight p¹ is suspended from a pulley oscillating on a stud l, with
which the spring lever arm q', and arms m¹ and x² are connected. This
modified arrangement (as well as the one previously described) may be

page_text: used in combination with the let-off mechanism, regulated by the
vibrating bar or roller either when the shed is open or when it is closed.
When the let-off mechanism which is regulated when the shed is open is
used, the spring lever arm q' is connected with the pulley by a loose con-
nection and turns the pulley to increase the tension of the warps by
striking against a stud y', when drawn forward by the lay. It is well
known that devices are in use which increase the tension of the warps at
the time of the beat up, and diminish it whilst the shed is being formed
by a positive motion. It is a peculiarity of the spring arrangement for
increasing and diminishing the tension of the warps herein described,
that it allows the vibrating bar or roller to take positions varying
according to the length of the warps between the warp beam and the
cloth forming line, whereby the delivery of the warps is regulated.
What is claimed with respect to this part of the Invention is combining
with a vibrating bar or roller, which by its varying position regulates the
delivery of the warps, a weight (or its mechanical substitute) for pro-
ducing the needed tension of the warps when the shed is open, and a
spring lever arm (or its mechanical substitute) co-operating therewith
for increasing the tension of the warps to resist the beat up substantially
as specified.
Another part of the Invention relates to a mode of letting off the.
warps, and consists in combining with a vibrating bar or roller and
spring arrangement for giving tension to the warps, a let-off mechanism
so arranged that the extent of its action at each beat of the lay is
determined by said vibrating bar or roller and spring arrangement
whilst the lay is beating up the cloth. This let-off mechanism is
intended to be used either in combination with a spring arrangement
whereby the tension of the warps is gradually diminished whilst the
shed is being formed and gradually increased to resist the beat up,
whether the required tension be produced by a single mechanism as
described in said Bigelow's Patent of the 26th day of March 1867, No.
883, before referred to, or by two devices as herein-before described. The
warp beam g¹ (see Figures 1 and 2) is turned to deliver out the warps
by the let-off shaft a², worm b² and gear c², as is usual, the shaft being
supported by a stand d² affixed to the loom frame. Another shaft e²,
supported by a pipe bearing f is connected with the let-off, shaft a²
by mitre gears 92, and has a ratchet wheel, h² affixed to it, the object

page_text: of interposing this shaft being to bring the ratchet wheel into a con-
venient position for receiving motion from the let-off mechanism. An
elbow lever oscillates on the outer end of the shaft e², its upright arm
carrying a pawl j³ which engages with the ratchet wheel ², and its
horizontal arm k² a weight which draws the pawl backwards to renew
its hold on the ratchet when left free to do so, its movement in that
direction being limited by a stud 12 projecting from the loom frame. The
upright arm has another pawl m² jointed to it which engages with a
series of steps 222 on the under side of the connecting rod t before
described. The forward end of the pawl m² is supported by a lever o³
which oscillates on a stud p³, and has a spring q³ attached to it of
sufficient force to raise the pawl m² when the lever o² is set free.
The rear end of the lever o² is supported by a lever arm 2 which
oscillates on a stud ³ and is drawn against the end of said lever .o' by
a spring, the lower end of the lever arm being provided with a scries
of steps u³, (corresponding in number with the series of steps n³,)
on which said lever o² rests. The rear end of the lever s² is also con-
nected with the four armed oscillating lever before described by a con-
necting rod v² provided with a slot w³, which plys on
a stud pro-
jecting from the arm, the use of the slot being to allow the arm x³
to descend when the warps are slackened without pressing on the lever o².
▲ top view of parts of the mechanism just described is given in detail
in Figures 4 and 5. The loom is represented in all the Figures in that
stage of its operation in which the lay beats up the cloth, and in which
the vibrating bar or roller determines the action of the let-off mecha-
nism. The length of the warps between the warp beam and cloth
forming line is supposed to be such as to allow the spring q² to draw
the rear end of the lever o² down to the lowest one of the series of
steps ² on the lever ², and elevate the pawl m² to a position to engage
with the upper one of the series of steps n² on the connecting rod & so that
when the lay falls back it will turn the let-off mechanism to the fullest
extent it is capable of doing. Now suppose that as the weaving goes
on more warps are being given out than are taken up in the cloth, and
the length of the warps between the warp beam and the cloth forming
lino thereby increased, the arm x² under the action of the spring lever
arm q' will raise the rear end of the lever o² to a position to engage with
the second or third one of the series of stops u³, according as,.
the length
of the warps may be. If it be raised so as to engage with the second one

page_text: it will allow the pawl m² to fall to a position to engage with the second.
one of the series of stops n³ which will turn the let-off mechanism a less
extent than the first one, and if it be raised so as to engage with the
third one it will allow the pawl m² to fall to a position to clear the
steps n altogether, in which case the lay will fall back without turning.
the let-off mechanism. At each backward movement of the lay a
stud on the connecting rod t pushes the lever arm ² away from the
lever o² far enough to release it and allow it to descend and rest on the
lowest one of the series of steps u² until it is again raised in the manner
just explained. The number of the steps on the lever arm ³ and
connecting rod t may be varied according to the requirements of the
cloth to be woven, in some cases only one step in each place is employed
but two or more are generally preferred. A modified arrangement of
the let-off mechanism is shown in Figure 6, in which the shaft e² is
dispensed with and a crown ratchet wheel employed which is affixed to
the let-off shaft a², which is vertical. This however is only one of the.
many changes which may be made in the form and arrangement of the
mechanism without departing from the distinguishing principles of the
Invention.
What is claimed in respect of the novelty of this part of the Invention
is a let-off mechanism for delivering out the warps the action of which
is determined by a vibrating bar or roller at the time the lay beats up-
the cloth, as herein-before described in combination with a spring arrange-
ment whereby the tension of the warps is gradually increased to an
extent to resist the beat up and gradually diminished whilst the shed is
being formed substantially as specified.
Another part of the Invention relates to a mode of intermitting the
movement of the pattern surface employed for governing the order in
which the shuttle boxes are shifted, whereby the shifting of the shuttle
boxes for any given pattern may be governed by a less length of pattern
surface than is required when it has a continuous movement. In a
Patent granted to the said Erastus Brigham Bigelow on the 27th of
September 1866, No. 2503, a pattern surface having an intermitting
movement for shifting the shuttle boxes is described, the intermitting
movement being regulated from a positive take-up motion.
This part of the present Invention consists in combining the pattern
surface which governs the shifting of the shuttle boxes with the pattern.

page_text: surface which governs the action of the heddles, whereby the two
pattern surfaces move together in unison with the loom either in a
forward or backward direction, and whereby the movement of the
pattern surface for governing the shifting of the shuttle boxes may be
intermitted, the duration of such intermission being regulated from the
movement of the pattern surface which governs the action of the
heddles.
This part of the Invention and such parts of a loom as are necessary.
to illustrate it are represented in Figures 7 and 8, Figure 7 being an end.
clevation thereof, and Figure 8 a front elevation. The loom frame is
marked a³, the lay shaft b³, and the cam shaft c³. The pattern surface d³
which governs the shifting of the shuttle boxes, and the pattern surface es
for governing the action of the heddles, may each be formed on a
cylinder, as represented in the Drawings, or on a chain carried by a
cylinder as is usual. Their respective axes are supported by a stand 7³
affixed to the loom frame. They both receive a continuously rotating
movement (except when the motion of the former is intermitted, as will.
be herein-after explained) from the lay shaft 6³ through the action of the
bevil gears f³, upright shaft g³, and their respective worms h³ and gears 13.
The gear f³ on the lay shaft may be connected therewith by a clutch
arrangement so as to be easily disconnected by the weaver to adjust the
relation of the pattern surfaces to the moving parts of the loom when
required, and as both of the pattern surfaces are operated by one shaft
they may be both adjusted by one action. The shaft g³ is supported by
three stands j³, and is divided into two parts, as indicated by the dotted.
line ³, so that the lower part may be turned whilst the upper part
remains at rest. 13 is a flange affixed to the lower part of the shaft g³,
in the hub of which the lower end of the upper part of the shaft g³ is.
inserted, and is capable of turning therein; m³ is another flange affixed.
to the upper part of the shaft g³; and n³ is a ring capable of sliding up
and down on said shaft, and has a clutch pin o³ projecting from its under
side and passing through the flange m³. When the ring n³ is depressed
(as represented in the Drawings) the clutch pin o³ enters a hole in the
flange and connects the two parts of the shaft 93, and when it is
clevated it withdraws the clutch pin o³ and disconnects them.. The
pattern surface d³ determines when the sliding ring n³ is to be elevated
to intermit its movement, and a cam p³ affixed to the axis of the pattern
surface e³ determines the duration of its intermission and puts in motion

page_text: retaining balance lever f' to be raised by a projection on the pattern
surface d³ so as to withdraw its depending arm the spring e' will raise
the long arm of the lever c', which through the action of the connecting
rod 6 and elbow lever will slide the shaft q³ forward and bring the
cam roller over the depressed part of the cam p³, in which position
the shaft will be held by the latch lever f³. Now when the raised
part of the cam p³ comes round it will raise the lever v³, which through
the action of the rod m' will raise the lever n, withdraw the clutch
pin o³, and thus disconnect the two parts of the shaft g³ and arrest the
movement of the pattern surface d³, the arrested part of the shaft g³
being held in position by an arm 7 on the lever n', which enters a notch
in the flange m³ when the lever n' is raised. From this description it
will be seen that the pattern surface will remain at rest until the
depressed part of the cam p³ comes round and allows the arm v³ to!
descend and withdraw the arm * from the flange m³ and connect the two
parts of the shaft g³ by the clutch mechanism as before. Then if the
arresting process is not to be immediately repeated an arm s* affixed to
the cam p³ trips the latch lever and allows the spring us to draw the
roller a³ from the cam p³, where it will remain until brought into action.
by the pattern surface d³ as before. It will be obvious therefore that
the duration of the rest of the pattern surface will be in proportion to
the range of the raised surface of the cam p³. If one revolution of the
cam covers twelve periods of shifting and two-twelfths of its surface is
depressed for the purpose of bringing the shifting mechanism into action,
the pattern surface will remain at rest during ten-twelfths.
The governing action of the pattern surface d³ may be transmitted to
the mechanism which shifts the shuttle boxes by a series of levers and
retaining balance levers, similar in their construction and operation to the
lever c* and retaining balance lever f*, before described, for arresting the
movement of the pattern surface d³; but as they form no part of the
present Invention a further description of them is deemed unnecessary.
The governing action of the pattern surface e³ which governs the move-
ment of the heddles may be transmitted to them by balance levers, latch
levers, and horizontal heddle levers, as herein-before described. What is
claimed in respect of the novelty of this part of the Invention is,—
First. The combined arrangement and operation of the two pattern
surfaces as herein described, whereby they receive a continuously rotary

page_text: movement on separate axes and move in unison with the loom, whether
it be turned forwards or backwards, substantially as specified.
-
Secondly. In combination with the two pattern surfaces, having a
continuous rotating movement as herein described, an arresting and
starting mechanism whereby the movement of the pattern surface which
governs the shifting of the shuttle boxes is intermitted, substantially as
and for the purnose specified.