IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OPERATING THE SHUTTLES OF LOOMS FOR WEAVING NARROW FABRICS
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry English and John Farndon
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, oni
the 19th November 1867.
We, HENRY ENGLISH and JOHN FARNDON, both of the Town and County of
Leicester, Machinists, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OPERATING THE SHUTTLES OF LOOMS FOR
WEAVING NARROW FABRICS," to be as follows:-
The parts taking immediate effect on the shuttles in the operation of
driving are comprised entirely within the limits of the length of the race, and
consist of levers mounted on axes having spur or other gearing taking into a
rack bar below, by which the motion is communicated. These levers each
consist of two arms of equal length and diametrically opposite on the axis; the
extremity of the arms each terminate in curved branches spreading in opposite
directions and described of a radius about equal to half the radius of the lever
arm. The curved branches are in the plane of the motion given to the levers,
and are each provided with a cam groove which meet in an apex towards the
centre of motion on the back of the shuttle; two pegs project which take into
these cam grooves, the motion of which causes the shuttle to traverse..
During the traverse in one direction the peg in its direct motion in the shuttle-
race at same time proceeds in the cam groove of one arm of lever (two-
branches), entering at the extremity of one and proceeding by the curve-
towards the conjunction (the apex before mentioned) with the other, thence
passing up that branch, from which it escapes. Any form of peg that will

page_text: traverse the groove may do, but we prefer one of a double wedge form, so as
to readily enter the cam grooves, and also to direct its course at their con-
junction. Each of the double levers performs about a revolution on its axis,
and then reverses for the traverse of the shuttle in both directions, and each
operates two shuttles, that is to say, it receives a shuttle on the one side
while it is delivering one on the other; the hold of the shuttle on the one
side is always taken before it is let go on the other.
Our Invention further consists in providing an arrangement by which we are
enabled to operate a double set of shuttles, one set above the other, in two.
distinct races.
Upon the axis of each of the levers before mentioned we
mount a spur wheel of suitable diameter, which is fixed to and rotates with
said levers; each of these wheels operates two pinions mounted at convenient
distances apart between the two races, which pinions in turn gear with a
rack fixed longitudinally on the back of the upper shuttle; the lower shuttle
is traversed in one direction by the rotation of the lever arms as before, at the
same time that the rotation communicated to the pinions by the spur wheel
above mentioned causes the upper shuttle to traverse in the opposite direction
by the pinions taking into the rack on said shuttle,
According to another mode of operating a double set of shuttles we dispense
with the lever arms and cam grooves, and fix a rack on the back of the lower
shuttle facing the other rack, the pinions being mounted between and taking
into the two racks, which pinions gear with a spur wheel mounted as before
described on a similar axis to that of the levers, so as to cause the shuttles to
traverse in opposite directions at the same time. The spur wheels above
mentioned may either be driven by pinions gearing with a rack bar below, as
in the lever arrangement first described, or gear directly therewith for com-
municating motion to the shuttles. Each of the spur wheels rotate backwards
and forwards, the same as the double levers, for the traverse of the shuttle in
both directions, and each operate two shuttles on the same race, that is to say,
it receives a shuttle on the one pinion while it is delivering one on the other;
the hold of the shuttles on the one pinion is always taken up before it is let go
on the other.
Another part of our Invention relates to means of driving the shuttles by
the oscillating motion of the batten, which as usual is suspended from above;
below the batten we place a stationary cam groove, somewhat of a U-form,
but instead of being round at the bend is V-shaped at that point; it is formed
on the side of a fixed metal plate curved to suit the curve described by the
batten, from which depends a pin or stud in communication with the rack
bar berein-before mentioned; the motion of the pin in the groove is along

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the straight limb on one side, and thence round the V end and along the other
straight limb the subsequent oscillation causes the pin to retrace the course
described. In order to effect and control this traverse the inside fence of the
V-part is furnished with two movable pieces, one forming an extended point
thereto, which is operated on by a spring, and the other oscillating imme-
diately behind and forming a part of the inside of the cam, and occupying a
space extending from the inside line of communication on the one side to the
outside on the other. The pin in passing up the one limb to the apex of the
V encounters the extra point piece, which is enclosed across the cam groove;
this point it thrusts back, but it returns immediately to its position, when
the traversing pin completes its course; in the return movement the pin is
compelled to proceed by the other limb of the V, in which it encounters the
oscillating back piece before mentioned, which it thrusts on one side, causing
it to occupy a like position in the opposite limb, at the same time throwing
over the point piece by the medium of its spring holder in readiness for the
return stroke. The two movable pieces are both mounted on the same
centre, and the back piece, which is of a quadrant form, is held by a spring
stronger than that of the point piece. The lateral movement from one limb
of the cam to the other of the traversing pin, which may be provided with a
truck roller, may be communicated at once to the rack bar if sufficient, or if
not transmitted through levers or other means to give the motion required, as
will be readily understood.