IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SILICATE COTTON CLOTH OR MATTING, AND IN LOOMS FOR SAME
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Browne, junior, of Corkstown, in the County of
Tyrone, Ireland, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF SILICATE COTTON CLOTH OR MATTING, AND IN LOOMS FOR SAME,
Sealed the 1st November 1878, and dated the 15th May 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Browne at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th May 1878.
$8
WILLIAM BROWNE, junior, of Cookstown, in the County of Tyrone, Ireland.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SILICATE COTTON CLOTH OR MATTING,
AND IN LOOMS FOR SAME."
The object of this Invention is, by weaving, to produce silicate cotton cloth or
matting, that is, silicate cotton in sheets or bands alone, or on or with a back of
hemp, jute, or other textile fabric in order to facilitate its application in sheets,
bands, or strips for the covering of steam pipes, steam boilers, and other vessels, and
for the covering, or lining, or intermediate layers of walls, ceilings, or other surfaces
for the purpose of rendering the same more proof against fire, heat, cold, or sound,
and the ravages of rats and other vermin.
For the purposes of this Invention I prefer to use an ordinary hand loom, but
with the following alterations and additions:-The breast beam has a space cut
away in the centre, and the cloth, when woven, is passed through this space and
not over the beam as in the ordinary way, thus preventing injury to the silicate
cloth by pressure of the weaver against it when working. Just in front of this
opening in the breast beam there is placed a rounded piece of wood on the side
next the reed, and on the right hand side of same there is a toothed lever, which
drops down on the woven cloth, and is fastened down firmly on left side; this
relieves the cloth passed through the breast beam from all strain of the yarn in
warps, and allows of its being wound up slackly round cloth beam. A catch is
placed on the right or left side of loom, by using which the weaver can fasten
back the sleighs when placing the cotton in position

page_text: On the upper ball of sleighs two iron arms are placed, which work up and down
on a ratchet; at the ends of these arms are openings, through which an iron rod
can be passed by the weaver. This enables him to raise up the top yarn in front of
reed when weaving cotton cloth with a back or backing of hemp or other material,
and giving more liberty and space for placing silicate cotton in position.
Instead of a shuttle the silicate cotton is put in by using a box with movable
bottom; when filled with silicate cotton the box which is as long and as wide as
necessary for the thickness of cloth being woven, is introduced between the warps
and the cotton, thrown out by pressure on the bottom given by two strings passing
through the ends of box, and pulled by the weaver.
Weaving silicate cotton without back requires two shuttles; these are thrown
across the warp from either side, and act as ties for the cotton.
passes.
To weave with back two yarn beams are employed; the warps from these pass
over separate rollers before entering the heddles; the front beam has on it the warp
for the backing, and the other the warp for the top, holding on the cotton; this yarn
is relieved from too much strain by having a spring on the roller over which it
This second beam has two separate motions; by means of a ratchet and spring
the yarn is kept at the necessary tension, and by means of two pulleys with pins
round the circumference, into which works an endless chain, the weaver is enabled
to slacken or tighten his yarn at pleasure.
For making silicate cotton cloth. without back I use the loom with alterations
specified, 2 treadles, 2 leaves of heddles, 1 yarn beam, and 2 shuttles.
I start by throwing across warp a shot of weft yarn from either side, making a
sink with treadles each time, then place in the silicate cotton either from box or by
' hand, then make a sink, and throw across the tying-in weft from right and left
shuttles. As made, the cotton is drawn forward and through breast beam to be
rolled on cloth beam, the lever is dropped to relieve pressure of yarn on cloth.
For making silicate cotton cloth with back I use the same loom with three
treadles, three leaves of heddles, two yarn beams, and three shuttles.
Start as above described by throwing in weft to tie all the yarn from both beams,
let up No. 3 treadle, which is held up by weight, suspending No. 3 heddles, and
weave same cloth with shuttle, having on backing weft on the yarn from front
beam. When enough cloth is woven to cover with the shot of the silicate cotton
the sleighs are kept back by using the catch, the arms recieve the rod which is
passed through the openings in them, and at same time under yarn from back beam
slacken this yarn and raise. the arms and rod (the rod of course is removed before
making a sink, and the sleighs relieved from catch holding them back); place in
the silicate cotton from the box, make a sink with No. 3 treadle, and tie in this
warp with the right and left shuttles.
When weaving with back, strong cords cut in lengths, to project 6 inches loosely
on either selvedge, aro thrown across the warp fastening the cloth by tying selvedge
to selvedge in covering pipes or boilers.
The cloth as made is to be drawn forward and rolled on cloth beam, as above
described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Browne in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th November
1878.
WILLIAM BROWNE, junior, of Cookstown, in the County of Tyrone, Ireland.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SILICATE COTTON CLOTH OR MATTING,
AND IN LOOMS FOR SAME."
The object of this Invention is, by weaving, to produce silicate cotton cloth or
matting; that is, silicate cotton or slag wool in sheets or bands alone or on or with
a back of hemp, jute, or other textile fabric in order to facilitate its application in
sheets, bands, or strips, for the covering of steam pipes, steam boilers, and other
vessels, and for the covering or lining, or intermediate layers of walls, ceilings, or
other surfaces for the purposes of rendering the same more proof against fire, heat,
cold, or sound, and the ravages of rats and other vermin.
For the purposes of this Invention I prefer to use an ordinary hand loom, but with
the following alterations and additions: The breast beain has a spacé cut away in the
centre; and the cloth when woven is passed through this space, and not over the
beam as in the ordinary way, thus preventing injury to the silicate cloth by pressure
of the weaver against it when working. Just in front of this opening in the breast
beam there is placed a rounded piece of wood on the side next the reed, and on the
right-hand side of same there is a toothed lever which drops down on the woven
cloth, and is fastened down firmly on left side; this relieves the cloth passed.
through the breast beam from all strain of the yarn in warps, and allows of its being
wound up slackly round cloth beam: A catch is placed on the right or left side of :
loom, by using which the weaver can fasten back the slays when placing the cotton
in position:
On the upper ball of slays two iron arms are placed, which work up and down
on a ratchet; at the end of these arms are openings, through which a rod can be
passed by the weaver. This enables him to raise up the top yarn in front of reed
when weaving cotton cloth with a back or backing of hemp or other material, and
gives more liberty and space for placing silicate cotton in position.
I find it preferable to put in the silicate cotton by means of a box with moveable
bottom instead of using a shuttle. This box, which I make as long and as wide as
necessary for the thickness of cloth being woven, is introduced between the warps
and the cotton, is thrown out by pressure on the bottom, given by two strings
passing through the ends of box, and pulled by the weaver or by projecting pins
from bottom, working in a slot on sides or ends.
Weaving silicate cotton without back requires two shuttles; these are thrown
across the warp from either side, and act as ties for the cotton.
To weave with back two yarn beams are employed; the warps from these pass
over separate rollers before entering the heddles; the front beam has on it the warp
for the backing, and the other the warp for the top, holding on the cotton; this yarn
is relieved from too much strain by having a spring on the roller over which it passes.
This second beam has two separate motions; by means of a ratchet and spring the
yarn is kept at the necessary tension, and by means of two pulleys with pins round
the circumference, into which works an endless chain, the weaver is enabled to
slacken or tighten his yarn at pleasure.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawing Figure 1 is an isometrical section through
centre of a loom embodying the improvements, whereby I have adapted it for the
weaving of silicate cotton cloth or matting with back.
The loom which I use for the purpose of weaving silicate cotton cloth or matting
without a back embodies the same improvements, but is arranged with only two
treadles, two leaves of heddles, one yarn beam, and two shuttles instead of the
three treadles, three leaves of heddles, two yarn beams, and three shuttles of this
loom.
:

page_text: A. indicates the breast beam with space cut away at Q for the passage of the
woven cloth; B, roller in same with toothed lever B₁ for relieving the cloth from
strain of yarn in warps; C, cloth beam; D, reed; E, E, E, heddles; F, F¹, yarn
beams; H, spring board; I, I, chain pulleys; I³, ratchet; J, pawl for same;
K, lever for holding back the sleys, also for sustaining rod K', keeping top yarn in
front of reed while the weaver is putting silicate cotton in position; L, L³, L³,
treadles; M, M³, M³, shuttles; N, weight for sustaining heddles; O, sleys.
Figures 2 and 3 are elevation and plan views of breast beam detached from loom;
A, roller; B, toothed lever.
Figure 4 shows in elevation, plan, end view, and section a box for holding the
silicate cotton, and putting it into the loom in position for being woven.
As aforesaid the silicate cotton may be put in by hand, but I prefer to use a box,
in which it may be compressed before it is put into the loom.
Figure 5, section taken longitudinally through silicate cotton cloth or matting
woven with back; A, rod for keeping warp raised so as not to hinder the weaver
when placing the box B containing the silicate cotton.
Figure 6 shows chain wheel and ratchet for moving second yarn beam; A, ratchet;
B, chain wheel; C, handle for turning same.
Figure 7 shows the application of a roller between the beam and the leaves of
heddles for the purpose of leading take off of beam.
For making silicate cotton cloth with back I operate as follows:-I start by
throwing in weft to tie all the yarn from both beams, let up No. 3 treadle, which is
held up by weight, suspending No. 3 heddles, and weave some cloth in the usual
way with shuttle having on backing weft on the yarn from front beam F; when
enough cloth is woven to cover with a shot of the silicate cotton the slays are kept
back by using the catch K, the arms receive the rod K', which is passed through
the openings in them, and at the same time under yarn from back beam, slacken
this yarn by means of the chain pulleys I, I', and raise the arms.and rod (the rod
of course is removed before working a sink, and the slays relieved from catch
holding them back), place in the silicato cotton from the box, make a sink with
No. 3 treadle, and tie in this warp with the right and left shuttles.
When weaving with back strong cords cut in lengths to project 6 inches loosely
on either selvedge aro thrown across the warp, these cords aro intended for
fastening the cloth by tying selvedge to selvedge in covering pipes or boilers.
The cloth as made is to be drawn forward and rolled on cloth beam C, as above
described.
For making silicate cotton cloth without back I use a loom differing from that
shown Figure 1 of the Drawing, only as aforesaid in having but two treadles,
2 leaves of heddles, 1 yarn beam, and 2 shuttles, and operate as follows:-I start
by throwing across warp a shot of weft yarn from either side, making a sink with
treadles each time, then place in the silicate cotton, either from box or by hand,
then make a sink, and throw across the tying-in weft from right and left shuttles;
as made, the cotton is drawn forward and through breast beam to be rolled on cloth
beam, the lever B¹ is dropped to relieve pressure of yarn on cloth.
I find wire a very suitable material for forming the warps, enclosing the silicate
cotton, and for the weft tying these warps, but I may use any other material which
I may find preferable..
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is or may be performed, I would have it understood that I
do not limit myself to the use of the improvements in looms herein-before described,
and illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing for the purpose of manu-
facturing silicate cotton cloth or matting, according to my Invention, as other
modifications. may be adopted to adapt looms for this kind of weaving, and that
what I claim as secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is
Firstly. The manufacture by weaving of silicate cotton cloth or matting without
a back; the silicate cotton being held between two or inore warps of wire or other

page_text: material, tied at suitable intervals by weft threads of the same or other material,
substantially as herein-before described.
Secondly. The manufacture by weaving of silicate cotton cloth, or matting with
a back; the silicate cotton being held between two or more warps of wire or other
suitable material tied into the back of hemp, jute, or other material by as many
shots of weft of wire or other material as may be found desirable, substantially as
herein-before described.
Thirdly. In the manufacture of silicate cotton cloth or matting with back, the
throwing of strong cords across the warp so as to project loosely on either selvedge,
substantially as and for the purpose above set forth.
Fourthly. In a loom for manufacturing silicate cotton cloth or matting, the use
of a breast beam with space formed or cut away in the centre, substantially as and
for the purpose herein-before described.
Fifthly. In a loom for manufacturing silicate cotton cloth or matting, the use of
the mode of relieving the cloth passed through the breast beam from all strain of
the yarn, substantially as herein-before described.
Sixthly. In a loom for manufacturing silicate cotton cloth or matting, the mode
of raising the top yarn in front of reed when weaving with back, substantially as.
and for the purpose herein-before described.
Seventhly. The use of a box with moveable bottom for the purpose of introducing
the silicate cotton between the warps, substantially as herein-before described.
Eighthly. In a loom for manufacturing silicate cotton cloth or matting with back,
the use of a second yarn beam having two separate motions, operated substantially
as and for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Browne, junior, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
WILLIAM BROWNE, JU. (L.S.)