IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Lea, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, and Thomas Lane, of Birmingham,
aforesaid, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS
FOR WEAVING."
Sealed the 15th January 1867, and dated the 25th July 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Lea and Thomas
Lane at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,.
on the 25th July 1866.
We, HENRY LEA, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical
Engineer, and THOMAS LANE, of Birmingham, aforesaid, Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN Looms.
FOR WEAVING," to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to that part of a loom for weaving called the shuttle
box, and consists of the improvements herein-after described in shuttle boxes,
by which improvements the shuttle is received into the shuttle box with
great certainty and thrown therefrom with great precision. Our Invention is
especially applicable to pneumatic looms, or looms in which the shuttle is
propelled by compressed' air, but is also applicable to the ordinary power and
hand looms.

page_text: In constructing the shuttle boxes of looms and parts connected therewith
according to our Invention we proceed as follows:-We place the back of the
shuttle box in a line with the reed and secure the said back firmly to the
lathe in the usual manner. We make the front side of the shuttle box loose
and capable of a horizontal vibratory motion upon a vertical pin. To receive
the incoming shuttle we cause the moveable front side to be pressed at one end
by a spring so as to incline the said side, and thereby form a taper shuttle box
wider at its mouth than the shuttle and narrower than the shuttle at the other
end. The shuttle in forcing its way into the narrow end of the shuttle box
presses back the loose side into a position nearly parallel with its opposite
fixed side, and is brought to rest by friction in so doing. For the exit of the
shuttle from the shuttle box we cause a lever or wedge to act in opposition
to the said spring, so as to place and hold the loose side of the shuttle box
parallel to and nearly touching the side of the shuttle, thereby relieving the
shuttle of the friction and giving it a true direction in its course. We limit
the motion of the loose side each way by adjustable stops. At the mouth of
the shuttle box we place a short adjustable guide in the usual manner, the
said gnide being fixed in a line with the loose side when open. We place a
top upon the shuttle box. and we make the loose side air-tight by means of a
continuous flexible flange applied to its top, bottom, and end.
In applying our improvements to ordinary power and hand looms we do
not apply a top to the shuttle box, and we dispense with the flexible flange at
the top, bottom, and end of the loose side of the shuttle box.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Lea and Thomas Lanc in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 23rd January 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HENRY
LEA, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, and
THOMAS LANE, of Birmingham, aforesaid, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Iler Most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Iler Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of ller reign,
did, for Herself, ller heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Henry Lea and Thomas Lane, Her special licence, that we, the said
Henry Lea and Thomas Lane, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or

page_text: such others as we, the said Henry Lea and Thomas Lane, our executors,
administrators, and 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," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Henry Lea
and Thomas Lane, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under our or their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of
us or 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 we, the said Henry Lea and Thomas Lane, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
Our Invention relates to that part of a loom for weaving called the shuttle
box, and consists of the improvements herein-after described in shuttle boxes,
by which improvements the shuttle is received into the shuttle box with great
certainty and thrown therefrom with great precision. Our Invention is
especially applicable to pneumatic looms, or looms in which the shuttle is
propelled by compressed air, but is also applicable to the ordinary power and
hand looms.
In constructing the shuttle boxes of looms and parts connected therewith
according to our Invention we proceed as follows: We place the back of
the shuttle box in a line with the reed and secure the said back firmly to the
lathe in the usual manner. We make the front side of the shuttle box loose.
and capable of a horizontal vibratory motion upon a vertical pin. To receive
the incoming shuttle we cause the moveable front side to be pressed at one
end by a spring so as to incline the said side, and thereby form a taper
shuttle box wider at its mouth than the shuttle and narrower than the shuttle
at the other end. The shuttle in forcing its way into the narrow end of the
shuttle box presses back the loose side into a position nearly parallel with its
opposite fixed side, and is brought to rest by friction in so doing. For the
exit of the shuttle from the shuttle box we cause a lever or wedge to act in
opposition to the said spring, so as to place and hold the loose side of the

page_text: shuttle box parallel to and nearly touching the side of the shuttle, thereby
relieving the shuttle of the friction and giving it a true direction in its course.
We limit the motion of the loose side each way by adjustable stops. At the
mouth of the shuttle box we place a short adjustable guide in the usual
manner, the said guide being fixed in a line with the loose side when open.
We place a top upon the shuttle box, and we make the loose side air-tight by
means of a continuous flexible flange applied to its top, bottom, and end.
In applying our improvements to ordinary power and hand looms we do
not apply a top to the shuttle box, and we dispense with the flexible flange at
the top, bottom, and end of the loose side of the shuttle box.
Having explained the nature of our Invention, we will proceed to describe
with reference to the accompanying Drawing the manner in which the same
is to be performed.
Our Invention may be carried into effect in various ways. In the Drawing
we have shown two arrangements only, but the said arrangements may be
modified in the manner herein-after described, which said modifications will
be readily understood from the description of the arrangements represented.
Figure is a front elevation of a shuttle box constructed according to the
first method of carrying our Invention into effect; Figure 2 is a transverse
section looking towards the mouth of the shuttle box; and Figure 3 is a plan
of the same, some of the parts being omitted. The box is drawn as if fixed
upon the left-hand side of the loom.
1 is the lathe 2 is the bottom of the shuttle box firmly fixed to the lathe;
3 is the fixed side or back of the box, which is set in a line with the reed;
4 is the fixed end of the box; 5 is the loose side having a horizontal vibratory
motion upon the pin or stud 6, which is secured by the nut 7 in a slot 8*
formed in the bottom 2 of the box. The stud 6, and consequently the loose
side 5, can thus be set closer to the fixed side 4, as the shuttle becomes
narrower by wear; 8, 8, are flexible flanges for the purpose of making the
loose side 5 air-tight, and in this case they are shown as forming a continuous
lining inside the shuttle box, so as to make an air-tight joint between the
top 9 of the box and the fixed side 3 and the fixed end 4, as well as between
the top 9 of the box and the loose side 5. The flexible flanges are drawn as
if formed out of one strip of leather or other flexible material, and the strip is
held in its place by packing strips 10 screwed to the sides of the box;
these strips may be of wood or metal, or both combined, and they form the
surfaces between which the shuttle is pressed and guided when it is in the
box. The strips are not necessary beyond the dotted lines 16 or thereabouts.

page_text: The flexibility of the flanges at the part 11 (see Figure 3) allows of the
motion of the loose side, and an adjustable block 12 is placed so as to prevent
them from being blown out by the pressure of the air within the box. The
action of the flexible flanges is precisely similar to that of the well-known
hydraulic cupped leather. The pressure of the air itself forms the air-tight
joint by pressing outwards the flexible flanges against the adjacent surfaces of
the box. The loose side of the box is shown in the position for receiving the
shuttle from the opposite box, and is held so by the adjustable spring 13.
The mouth of the box at 14 (see Figure 3) is now considerably wider than
the shuttle, the other end at 15 is narrower than the shuttle, while that part
of the box just opposite to the stud 6 is only so much wider than the shuttle
as will allow the latter to pass out of the box without friction when the
loose side is laid parallel with the opposite side. When the shuttle enters the
box it forces back the end 15 of the loose side, and the spring 13, and is
gradually brought to rest in so doing. A small piece of india-rubber may be
placed at the end of the shuttle box to receive the shuttle should it acci-
dentally strike the end of the box. The top 9 of the box is hinged at the back
end 17, and is raised at the mouth by a spring to about the same height as
the ordinary spindle stud, so as to allow for the occasional lifting of the
shuttle by the warp threads. The hinge consists of two set screws 18, 18, upon
which the top rests, and one bolt 19 to hold the top down. Any other hinge
may be used provided that a vertical adjustment of the top can be made to
allow for the shuttle becoming shallower by wear. The top is held up and
open at the front end or mouth of the box by means of the spring 20 (see
Figure 2) pressing underneath the head of the set screw 21 screwed into the
top 9. When the shuttle is required to be expelled from the box by the
blast of air, in whatsoever manner the blast may be produced or admitted to
the box, the loose side is laid parallel to the opposite fixed side, and the top is
simultaneously pressed down parallel with the bottom of the box by the
following arrangement: A bridle 22 passes over the top of the box and is
fixed to the lathe ; a bell-crank lever 23 is mounted upon a stud 24
attached to the bridle 22, and is provided with a set screw 25 bearing against
the loose side 5; another lever 26 is mounted upon a stud 27, also attached
to the bridle 22, and the lever 26 has a hole or slot in one end through which
passes the set screw 21; nuts 28 are provided above and below the lever 26,
locking each other by means of a short piece of tube (not represented) placed
between them; the levers 23 and 26 are placed on opposite sides of the
bridle 22, and between their external ends 29 and 30 is placed a swivel pin

page_text: 31, through which passes the rod 32 held by the nuts 33; the rod 32 is also
guided by the bracket 42. It will thus be seen that the loose side 5 and the
top 9 may be simultaneously closed by raising the rod 32; their exact
position when closed is determined by a set screw 34 passing through the end
of the loose side 5, and bearing against the fixed adjustable guide 35, firmly
bolted at the mouth of the box. To the bottom of the rod 32 is attached a
roller 36 hung between a pair of links 37 having joint pins 38, and forming
a knuckle joint. The links and roller can be moved to the right, but cannot
be moved further to the left than shown in Figure 2 because of the stop 39
bearing against the projecting end 32 of the rod 32. When the lathe
moving in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2 nearly reaches the
point at which the shuttle is to be thrown the roller 36 ascends the inclined and
curved bar 40, which is attached to the loom frame, and the shuttle box is
thereby closed and made parallel and air-tight for the exit of the shuttle.
After the roller 36 has passed over the bar 40, which is curved to keep the box
closed for the proper time, the shuttle box is re-opened by its springs and
remains open during the whole of the back stroke, because the roller 36 and
links 37 upon coming in contact with the end 41 of the bar 40 assume the
position indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2, and do not close the box.
This arrangement being in duplicate closes both of the boxes at the same
time, but opens them again in ample time for the shuttle to find an open
shuttle box ready to receive it when it has traversed the lathe race. If an
alternate action is desired it is only necessary to cause the bar 40 to rise and
fall at each alternate forward beat of the lathe by connecting it with a cam
upon the lower shaft of the loom, or upon any shaft revolving once only for
every two revolutions of the crank shaft which works the lathe. This method
is so obvious and simple that it will be readily understood without the aid of
Drawings. The knuckle joint 37, 38, may in this case be dispensed with,
because the cam will have withdrawn the bar 40 before the back stroke of the
lathe takes place.
We will now describe with reference to the Drawing the second method of
constructing the shuttle boxes according to our Invention.
Figure 4 is a front elevation, Figure 5 a plan, and Figure 6 an end
elevation looking at the mouth of the box.
The top 9 has hinges 10, 10, at one side instead of at one end, and is made
air-tight when closed by means of the flexible flanges 8, 8, which are cemented
and pegged or otherwise firmly attached to the top 9 instead of to the sides
of the box as before described. The fixed side 3 and the fixed end 4 arc

page_text: firmly secured to the bottom 2 and made air-tight by glue, cement, or other-
wise. The loose side 5 is mounted upon a stud 6 as in the arrangement first
described, and is provided with a flexible flange 11 (see Figure 6) cemented
and pegged or otherwise firmly attached to its lower side, which lies upon
the bottom 2 of the box; the flange is continued on round the end 12 of
the loose side until it is covered by the aforesaid flange 8 of the top 9. The
adjustment of the loose side for the wear of the shuttle is the same as in the
previously described arrangement; that for the top is obtained by means of
a loose but well-fitting block 13 recessed into the top 9 and extending for a
part or the whole of its length. The block 13 can be raised or lowered to
suit the size of the shuttle by means of the screws 14. The loose side is
pressed by a spring 15 as before; the top is held open by a spring 16 acting
upon a flat part of the hinge 10; the same spring also serves to hold the top
in position when it is raised for the purpose of examining the box or renewing
the cop in the shuttle, as shown by the dotted lines 9 in Figure 6. The
motion for closing the box is derived from the vertical movement of the con-
necting rod or crank arm 17; a lever 18 is fixed upon a short weigh shaft 19,
and has its bent end 20 inserted into the open space of the crank arm 17; a
lever 21 is also fixed upon the weigh. shaft 19 for the purpose of closing the
loose side by pressing against the head of the set screw 22, and another lever
23 secured upon the same shaft serves to hold down the top 9; a wedge 24
is screwed to the top 9, and the said top 9 is pressed down by the roller 25 of
the lever 23 passing over the wedge 24; the roller travels on to the flat
portion 26 of the wedge 24, and the top 9 is thus locked down so as to resist
the pressure of the air within the box independently of any strain upon the
lever 18 and the crank arm 17. The main part of the top 0 always shuts
down upon the fixed side 3, the fixed end 4, and the guide 27, and the wear
of the shuttle is compensated for by the adjustable block 13 before described.
The parallel position of the loose side is determined by the set screw 22, and
the position of the several levers 18, 21, and 23 is regulated by their respec-
tive set screws. When the crank arm is placed in its highest position or
thereabouts, which is the position in which a loom is ordinarily set to stop,
each of the box tops 9 can be raised by the hand clear of the roller 25 to the
position indicated by the dotted lines at 9 in Figure 6, and the shuttle can
then be removed or the box examined. When the shuttle has been replaced
the top is simply pulled down by the hand, and the box is then ready for work.
At the lowest position of the crank or thereabouts, that is, while the pick
is taking place, the boxes are held closed by the levers, and the flexible flanges
دو

page_text: ensure the joints being air-tight. The lever 18 may be made thin and flexible
so as to close the box before the crank arm 17 reaches its lowest position, and
then to spring slightly so as to keep the box closed for the proper length of
time without causing undue strain upon the weigh shaft 19 and levers 23 and
26. The arrangement of the adjustable top 13 can be applied to the arrange-
ment represented in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Another method of closing the boxes consists in arranging a bar to slide
longitudinally along the front of the lathe, and to act by means of wedges
upon the loose sides and tops of the boxes. The motion of the sliding bar is
derived from a cam upon the lower tappet shaft of the loom, or from the heddle
levers, or in any convenient manner, and in this case also the boxes can be
closed alternately only or at each forward stroke of the lathe.
In applying our Invention to ordinary power and hand looms in which
ordinary pickers and picking motions are used, we omit (referring to Figures 1,
2, and 3) the top 9, the flexible flanges 8,. 8, the packing strips 10, the lever
26, the stud 27, and the swivel 31, and we retain only the fixed side and end,
and the loose side, together with the bridle, levers, and springs necessary to
work the loose side. Also with reference to Figures 4, 5, and 6, we dispense
with the top 9, the hinges 10, and the lever 23 for closing the top 9; we
also dispense with the flexible flange 11, and we retain only the fixed portions
of the box, together with the loose side and springs, and levers for opening
and closing the same; in some instances we also dispense with the fixed
guide 27, and we prolong the loose side 5 in its place. The set screw 22 for
determining the parallel position of the loose side is then removed and
replaced by a stationary set screw at the other end of the shuttle box against
which the end 12 of the loose side 5 is pressed. Any of the before-described
methods of closing the loose side may be used when our Invention is applied
to an ordinary hand or power loom. The shuttle boxes herein-before
described are equally applicable to looms with loose or fixed reeds. The stop
rod, which is necessary with the fixed reed, can be applied to and worked by
the loose side in our Invention instead of by the swell of the ordinary loom.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we do not
limit ourselves to the precise details herein described and illustrated in the
Drawing, as the same may be varied without departing from the nature of
our Invention; but we claim as our Invention the improvements in the
shuttle boxes of looms for weaving herein-before described and illustrated in
the accompanying Drawing, that is to say, constructing shuttle boxes to open

page_text: to receive the entering shuttle, and to close again parallel and air-tight for
the expulsion of the shuttle, substantially as described and illustrated, the
said shuttle boxes being applicable to looms in which the shuttle is thrown or
propelled by compressed air, but being also applicable by the omission, as
described, of certain parts to ordinary power and hand looms in which the
shuttle is thrown or propelled by pickers in the usual manner.
In witness whereof, we, the said Henry Lea and Thomas Lane, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-first day of January, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
HENDY LEL
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
THOMAS LANE. (L..s.)