Year: 1888

page_text: A communication from abroad by EDWIN OLDFIELD, Citizen of the United States, and
JOHN RUSH, Subject of the Queen of Great Britain, both of Norwich, New
London County, State of Connecticut, United States of America, Silk Manufacturer
and Overseer (in silk mill) respectively.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool & 6 Bank Street Manchester, both in the
County of Lancaster & 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to the various classes of Looms in which a shuttle is employed
to carry the weft or filling, but it is especially valuable when applied to that class of
Looms in which a multiple of shuttles is used, as in weaving ribbons, webbing or other
narrow fabrics.
The object of said invention is to provide mechanism which will act automatically to
stop the loom when the filling-thread in any one of the multiple of shuttles breaks, or
runs nearly out, or when one or more of the warp threads break.
In running such looms (those having a multiple of shuttles), the operator is taxed
to his utmost capacity in keeping the several shuttles supplied with filling and in
watching both the warp and the finished fabric. In spite of the most careful attention
the bobbin in one or more shuttles will occasionally run out, or a warp-thread break,
and as a result the entire loom must be stopped until the operator can pick back the
spoiled fabric and start in the new filling, or piece up the broken warp, as the case
may be. This is not only annoying but causes a loss of time and stock that is very
expensive.
The present invention for overcoming this difficulty consists briefly, of a clutch

page_text: operated by an electro-magnet to ship the driving belt and stop the loom when the
filling-thread breaks or is nearly exhausted in any one of the shuttles, or when a warp
thread breaks; the electrical circuit being completed through the shuttle in either
case.
To illustrate said invention there are annexed hereto several drawings, in which
figure 1 is a side elevation of such portions of a narrow-fabric loom as are necessary
to explain said new devices and figure 1 a an end view of the batten with the electro-
magnet and its armature attached thereto.
Figure 2 is a top or plan view showing one end of said batten and a portion of
the loom-frame and illustrates particularly the manner of connecting the swinging
batten with the shipper-rod. Figure 3 is a front side elevation of a loom embodying
the said improvements, having its upper rail and take-up mechanism removed.
Figure 4 is a top-side view of a portion of the batten, showing (in dotted lines)
shuttles in operative positions therein, and figure 5 is a rear-side elevation of said
batten illustrating the electrical connections with the said shuttles.
Figure 6 shows plan and end views of a shuttle for ribbon weaving, with metallic
bobbin, arranged in a simple manner for making the electrical connection when the
filling runs out, and figure 7 shows plan and rear-side views of a similar shuttle
in which a wire covered wooden bobbin is used. Figure 8 is a rear side view of
a shuttle having attached thereto a wire device for operating with a broken warp-thread
to stop the loom.
Figures 9 and 10 illustrate, respectively, side and longitudinal sectional views of
the metallic bobbin forming a feature of this invention and figure 11 shows the relative
positions of the shuttle, reed, warp and take-up. The last named figure shows also the
action of a broken warp-thread, as fully explained hereinafter.
Referring to the drawings the letters a a indicate the end frames of a narrow fabric
loom, connected in the usual manner by girders b. Said end frames project well
upward and have hinged to their upper ends rods c c¹ whose lower ends are secured
to the so called lathe or batten d; said batten being swung forward and backward, in
practice, by a connecting-rod e and crank e¹, carried by the main shaft f.
This invention is here shown as applied to a loom having a multiple of shuttles (A)
which travel in the race g of batten d.
The elementary parts thus far described are substantially as commonly constructed
in this class of looms.
Referring now to figures 6 and 7, A indicates the body of a shuttle, having its
central portion cut away to receive the bobbin h that carries the weft or filling thread.
This bobbin rotates on an axial wire hand the thread is delivered under a suitable
tension attained by one or more spring-brakes i.
One end of said brakes is formed with spring coils to give a proper degree of
elasticity and is secured in the main body of the shuttle. The opposite end of said
brake bears on the filling and gradually works toward the bobbin as the filling is
used out. The shuttle shown in figure 6 is intended for use with a bobbin made
entirely of metal, while that in figure 7 may be used with a wooden bobbin having
only a jacket of metal.
On the rear side or edge of the shuttle are metal plates klet in flush and
preferably formed with a body or shank that is threaded as a screw and projects into
the body of the shuttle.
In the form of shuttle illustrated in figure 6 one of said screws is long enough to
engage
the brake wire i and the other reaches the axial wire . So long as the metal
bobbin is completely covered by the filling-thread the brake is kept from contact with
said bobbin but, when said filling is nearly run off (as in said figure 6), a metallic
circuit is completed through the screw on one side, to and through the axial-wire,
bobbin and brake, to the screw on the opposite side.
When it is desired to use a wooden bobbin said circuit may be made as follows:-two
spring brakes are employed, each in contact with a screw connecting with plates kk,
and the wooden bobbin is either wound spirally with fine wire, as in figure 7, or is
jacketed with sheet metal. When so provided a complete circuit is established (as

page_text: the filling runs nearly out) by the two brakes resting on the metal jacket of the
bobbin.
The batten d has attached to one end an electro-magnet C. D indicates a battery
located in a convenient position, having wires y running to the electro-magnet and
batten, as is best illustrated in figures 1 a, 2 and 3. Said wires connect, on the rear
side of the batten, with a rock-shaft m that is provided with a series of wires or
fingers n, arranged in pairs as best illustrated in figures 4 and 5. The free ends of
said fingers are bent to enter perforations in the batten, and may be carried through
said perforations at prescribed times, into the path of the shuttles, so that when said
shuttles are at rest, between the acts of carrying the weft through the warp, said
fingers n may for an instant press on the shuttle-plates k k¹ above described.
The rocking of shaft m is effected by means of a depending arm o, secured to said
shaft at one end, which arm engages a stud or screw o¹ in the main frame of the loom,
as the batten swings forward toward the take-up.
As the shuttles travel back and forth in the race-way the metal plates k k¹ are
brought into contact with the fingers n at each return movement. When the filling
thread is run nearly off, so that the brakes i are brought into contact with the bobbin;
and when the shuttle reaches a position where plates k k¹ register with, and touch, the
said fingers n, a complete metallic circuit is established and the magnet immediately
acts to draw the armature. Said armature (p) is pivoted to a bracket secured to the
batten and is held normally out of engagement with the magnet by a spring p² secured
to the batten, as in figures 2 and 3. The front end of the armature lever p is formed
as a book which, as the batten swings back and forth, moves past one arm of a bell-
crank lever H; hinged to the end frame a of the loom. The other arm of said bell-
crank lever is pivoted to a belt-shipper rod K supported in suitable bearings and
extending along the front of the loom within easy reach of the operator, as commonly
provided. The opposite end of rod K is connected with a belt-shipping fork u in such
manner that the sliding movement of said rod K will cause the belt to be transferred
from the tight to the loose pulley. So long as the hook-shaped end of the armature
lever is under the control of spring p¹ the said hook cannot engage the bell-crank
lever to move it but when the electrical circuit is completed by the running off of the
filling, as described above, magnet C instantly draws the adjacent end of the armature>
and throws the hook-shaped other end into engagement with the bell-crank lever H..
As the batten swings backward the armature rocks the bell-crank lever which, in turn;
actuates the shipper-rod and belt shipper, and the loom stops.
It should be understood that the stopping of the loom occurs before the filling is
entirely run off, leaving the finished fabric perfect and allowing the operator to start
in the new filling without having to pick back or otherwise disturb said fabric.
That portion of the stop motion that is controlled by the breaking of a warp-thread
is described as follows
The shuttles used are constructed as above described, except that they have added
thereto on the rear side a wire w shaped substantially as an arc of a circle. One end
of said wire is looped loosely around the screw forming a part of one of the plates k,
and the bow or central portion extends upward above the shuttle (see figure 8). The
opposite or free end of said wire is formed with a spring coil and with two bends z¹,
one above the other in such positions that either may engage a stud 22 fixed in the
shuttle. Wire w is shown in figure 8 as elevated and the circuit broken. When
drawn downward by a broken or tangled warp-thread, as described below, said wire is
depressed until its spring coil is brought into contact with plate k and is retained in
such contact by the upper bend 2. This closing of the electrical circuit causes the
magnet and belt-shipping devices to act, precisely as before explained, to stop the
loom.
2
•
'
The action of a broken warp-thread is more clearly seen by refering to figure 11, 'in
which one of said threads is shown as broken and inter-twined with the adjacent
threads. This tangling of the threads becomes more complicated as the harness works
up and down until the tension on the broken thread is sufficient to force downward
wire w, as the shuttle shoots under it, and thus closes the electrical circuit.

page_text: In practice the warp threads are alternately raised and lowered by the harness and,
when a thread breaks below the shuttle, its loose ends become entangled with the
adjacent threads and are carried upward, and as the harness continues to move the
threads, thus entangled, up and down, the unbroken (as well as the broken) threads
are drawn taut across the bow w of the shuttle, as already explained. Every other
shuttle of the series could be placed in the shuttle-race with the bow w downward, if
desired, but it is not found necessary in practice.
The foregoing describes the methods of completing the circuit when the filling
thread runs nearly out and when a warp-thread breaks. To attain the same result
when the filling thread breaks (as frequently occurs) the following slight changes are
made in the shuttle. Refering to figure 7, L L' indicate delicate spiral springs as
commonly provided to take up the slack of the filling thread. When the shuttle is
not threaded these springs draw back into their respective recesses in the body of the
shuttle, the rings alone being exposed to view. The inner ends of said springs are
connected with plates kk by wires q and by establishing a metallic connection
between the entrances to the said recesses so that when a thread breaks and the springs
snap back into the shuttle body, the rings are brought into contact with said metallic
connection and the electrical circuit is completed. The metallic connection between
the two spring recesses is provided by inserting metal bushings in the entrances of
each recess and by connecting such bushings by a wire or strip of sheet metal 12
passing from one to the other.
While the shuttle is threaded and in use the tension of its filling thread draws the
said rings toward each other, as shown in figure 7, in which position the wire that
connects one of said rings with its spring is held from contact with its bushing 1, and
the circuit broken. Should the filling thread break, the rings snap back against the
bushings, the circuit is completed, and the loom stops. Figure 7 shows the common
method of threading a shuttle of this class, the thread being indicated by dotted lines.
Said thread is first passed through an idle ring of glass hung loosely on a cord
attached to the bow of the shuttle, thence passed through one of the rings l, thence
through the companion ring and finally outward through the shuttle bow.
The devices thus added to accomplish the desired results are not expensive, and may
be readily applied to looms of ordinary construction.
The metal bobbin illustrated in figures 9 and 10 forms an essential feature of this
invention. Said bobbin is formed by inserting in the contiguous ends of two pieces of
tubing a short tube a and, preferably, soldering said parts together.
Previous to so joiuing said parts the outer ends of the pieces of tubing forming the
barrel of the shuttle are swaged to form cupped heads and in the outer ends of said
heads are located discs a, having a central hole to receive the axial wire on which the
said bobbin rotates. This construction provides a light and strong bobbin and insures
a perfect metallic surface by which the current of electricity may pass from one
brake-wire to its mate, when the filling threads run out.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1-The within described method of controlling the belt-shipper of a loom by means
of a system of batteries, magnet, and wire connections leading into the path of the
shuttles, whereby the breaking or running off of a thread may complete the electrical
circuit and stop the loom.
2 In combination with the belt-shipper, shipper-rod and batten of a loom, devices
for actuating said shipper to effect the stopping of the loom, consisting of an electro-
magnet moving with the batten; an armature for said magnet formed as a latch or
hook; a bell-crank-lever one of whose armis is pivoted to the said shipper-rod and the
other arm is in the path of said armature-hook as set forth; a battery; wire connec-
tions leading from said magnet and battery into the path of the shuttle; and a shuttle
with metal jacketed bobbin having wires leading therefrom adapted to engage the wire
connections first above described, as and for the object specified.

page_text: 3-In combination with the belt-shipper, shipper-rod and batten of a loom, an
electro-magnet moving with the batten; an armature for said magnet formed as a
latch or hook; a bell-crank lever one of whose arms is connected to said shipper-rod
and the other arm is in the path of said armature as set forth; a battery; wire
connections leading from said magnet and battery into the path of the shuttle, and a
shuttle provided with the bow-shaped wire w, plates kk, and pin z², said wire w being
formed with retaining bends z¹, all substantially as, and for the purpose specified.
4-The combination with the belt shipper and batten of a loom, of the slidable rod K,
a bell-crank-lever one of whose arms is pivoted to said rod, a reciprocating electro-
magnet whose armature is provided with a hook adapted to engage and operate said
bell-crank-lever when an electrical current is passed through said magnet, and
devices as herein described for controlling said electrical current, for the purpose
specified.
5-In combination with the batten and belt-shipper of a loom, an electro-magnet;
a battery; wires leading from said magnet and battery into the path of the shuttle ;
mechanism connected therewith for moving the belt-shipper as herein set forth, and a
shuttle having combined therein a metal jacketed bobbin, spring-brakes 1, and
plates k k², all substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6-In combination with the batten and belt-shipper of a loom, an electro-magnet
and a battery; wires leading therefrom into the path of the shuttle; mechanism for
moving the belt shipper, and a shuttle having combined therein plates k k¹, wires w and
stud all being substantially as and for the purpose specified.
7-In combination with the batten and belt-shipper of a loom, an electro-magnet
and battery; wires leading therefrom into the path of the shuttle; mechanism
connected therewith for moving the belt-shipper, and a shuttle having combined
therein plates kk, wires q, springs L L with rings 11, bushings and connecting
wire 12, all being substantially as described and for the object set forth.
S-A bobbin for shuttles of the class herein described, consisting of two barrel
sections connected by a tube inserted in their contiguous ends as set forth; the outer
ends of said barrel being swaged to receive perforated dises as described, and to form
the heads of said bobbin.
Dated this 18th day of June 1888