Improvements in and relating to Shuttle Operating Devices for Looms.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Shuttle Operating Devices
for Looms.
I, ELMER GATES, of the corner of Connecticut Avenue and Chevy Chase
Circle, in the Town of Chevy Chase, County of Montgomery, and State of
Maryland, United States of America, Scientist, 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:-
My invention relates to the shuttle throwing mechanism of a loom, and it is its
object to substitute for the ordinary mechanical devices heretofore employed for
the purpose of throwing the shuttle, electrically actuated devices of the general
character hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings I show, and herein I describe, a good form of a
convenient embodiment of my invention, the particular subject-matter claimed as
novel being hereinafter definitely specified.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the cloth roller, warp beams, and threads,
a pair of heddles, a lay, and a shuttle shown as resting upon the shuttle race bar,
the parts mentioned being all of the parts of an ordinary loom that I deem it
necessary to illustrate in explanation of my invention, which is applicable in
connection with looms of any ordinary or usual construction.
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of a pair of coils or solenoids supposed mounted
at the respective sides of a loom, and of a shuttle supposed in transit from one to
the other of said solenoids.
Figure 3 is a view in perspective of a form of automatic switch which I prefer
to employ.
Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of solenoids, dynamo, circuit wires, and switches,
employed in connection with the solenoids.
Figure 5 is a view in perspective of a switch of a character diagrammatically
illustrated in Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of solenoids, dynamo, circuit wires, and switches,
employed in connection with the solenoids.
Figure 7 is a view in perspective of a switch of a character diagrammatically
illustrated in Figure 6.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
In the accompanying drawings,
A is a cloth roller; B B the warp beams; b the warp threads; C the heddle
frames; D the lay carrying the shuttle race bar, D'; and E is the shuttle.
F G are a pair of solenoids or coils preferably mounted respectively upon hollow
non-conducting spools, F* G*, situated respectively at opposite sides of the loom
beyond the respective extremities of the shuttle race and in approximately axial
alignment with each other, being respectively inclined somewhat from the horizontal
to approximate the trajectory of the shuttle which is projected from one to the
other as hereinafter set forth.
Each of the coils, F and G, is in circuit with a dynamo or other suitable source
of energy and the shuttle, E, is formed or provided with a mass of magnetizable
metal, but is otherwise of ordinary construction.
As is well known, if a core is placed within the interior of a solenoid, as for
instance that designated, F, and the circuit which includes said solenoid be closed,

page_text: the influence of the coil acting upon said core will tend to draw said core into a
position in which its magnetic center coincides with the magnetic centre of the
solenoid, and if when the core is in the position represented in dotted lines in
Figure 2, in which its magnetic centre Y-Y is to the left of and not in coincidence
with the magnetic centre X-X of the coil, the circuit is closed, the core will be
drawn to a position in which its centre coincides with the magnetic centre of the
core, and drawn so swiftly the the momentum of the core will carry it beyond the
magnetic centre of the coil on the right, and said core will then rebound, so to
speak, to or almost to its original position, and will continue to reciprocate until it
finally comes to rest in a position in which the line Y-Y coincides with the
line X-X.
I have discovered that if, when the core is in a position further to the left than
that shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, and the circuit is first closed to propel the
core to the right, and then, opened, the initial impulse imparted to the core will
occasion its projecting from the coil with a force determined by the strength
of the current in the coil and the position of the core in the coil, F, at the
moment when the circuit controlling said solenoid was opened and the current thus
turned off.
If a second coil or solenoid be placed in line with the first named, the core thus
projected from the coil, F, will, by the force of the impulse thus given to it, be
carried to the interior of said second solenoid, and the said second solenoid being
supposed energized, the core will, under the influence of the said coil which tends
to bring the core to rest with its magnetic centre in coincidence with its own centre,
be arrested in its movement just after the magnetic centre of the core passes
the magnetic centre of the solenoid, and cause to rebound so to speak to the
left.
If, however, in the return of the core to the left, the current is at the proper
moment turned off from the second solenoid, the impulse given to propel said core
to the left will serve to carry the core back to the coil, F, assumed to have been,
in the meantime, placed again in circuit, so that it serves to receive and arrest the
progress of the core, and to again project it to the right in the manner described,
and so on.
Broadly stated my invention comprehends the provision of a pair of coils or
solenoids situated respectively at the respective ends of the shuttle race, and of a
shuttle formed as a core, and the utilization of this principle of operation of
the coils or solenoids for the reciprocation of the shuttle to and fro across the
loom.
The turning on and off of the currents which control the coils may be effected
in any desired manner, but I prefer to provide means by which the current shall
be automatically controlled by a moving member of the machine and preferably by
the shuttle itself, and in Figures 3 to 7 inclusive I have illustrated different
arrangements whereby the switching of the current is automatically effected by the
shuttle.
H is a dynamo or electric generator and h, h' are line conductors shown as
leading therefrom, one of said wires being in Figure 4 shown as provided with a
resistance coil, hx, by which the strength of the current may be controlled.
The coils, F, G, are respectively provided at their inuer ends with terminals, f, g,
and are connected in series by the line wire, I, which is in the vicinity of the
respective terminals, f, g, provided with terminals, f, g, and the conductors, h, h',
leading from the electric generator are provided with switch tongues, k, k¹, normally
respectively in contact with the respective terminals, f, g, with the result that the
coils, F, G, are normally in circuit.
The switch tongues employed may be of any preferred construction and
arrangement.
In Figure 7, the switch tongue, assumed to be that designated, k, and of which
that designated, k³, is a counterpart, is shown as consisting of a U-shaped loop of
wire, the extremities of which are attached to a plate in circuit with the wire, h

page_text: mounted on the end of the spool, and the free rounded end of which loop extends
between the terminals, ff, but normally rests against the terminal, f.
The side members of the said loop of wire are spread apart intermediate of
their length a distance which is slightly less than the greatest diameter of the
core or shuttle, but said loop is sufficiently resilient to permit of the passage of the
shuttle between said members.
away
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As will be understood, assuming the shuttle mounted in said solenoid, F, and
given an impulse to the right in the manner described, its end will when the
shuttle reaches a predetermined position, protrude from the coil between the sides
of the U-shaped loop formning the switch tongue and force said switch
the terminal, and into contact with the terminal, f', with the result (see
Figures 4 and 6) of throwing the coil, F, out of circuit, and thereby, as
explained, enabling the shuttle to be carried by the force of its impulse out
between the side members of the switch, across the loom, and to the interior of the
coil, G.
As soon as the shuttle leaves the coil, F, the switch, k, automatically reassumes
its normal set, in contact with the terminal, f, to throw the coil, F, again in
circuit.
The coil, G, being provided with a switch which is, as explained, the counter-
part of that described with relation to the coil, F, the shuttle will, in entering
said coil, pass between the side members of said switch without altering the
arrangement of the circuit, and, said coil being normally in circuit, the travel of
the shuttle will be arrested by the magnetic action of the coil and said shuttle will
be returned to the left with the result that it will encounter the switch, k, of the
coil, G, and throw said coil out of circuit and thereupon continue its travel back
to the coil, F.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 5 the terminals, f,f, are shown as con-
ducting blocks mounted upon the end of the non-conducting spool, and the switch, k,
itself is shown as a C-shaped spring one end of which, in circuit with the wire, h, is
secured to the end of the spool, while a portion of its body extends across the end
of the spool, in the path of the shuttle, and its free extremity rests normally upon
the terminal, f.
The shuttle in its passage through the spool passes beneath the switch, k,
extending across the bore of the spool, and deflects it upwardly and into contact
with the terminal, f, with the result of cutting out the coil, F, in the manner
described.
The free end of the switch, k, in this arrangement is of a breadth greater than
the distance between the terminals, f,f¹, so that the switch, in its movement, does
not leave one terminal until after it has made contact with the other, and thereby
the breaking of the circuit and the consequent sparking is avoided.
92, is a yoke of wire which serves as a guide to maintain the free end of the
switch in operative position.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 3, the switch tongue, k, is shown as a latch
bar pivotally mounted as to one end upon an upright member of conducting
material, *, with which the wire, h, is in circuit.
The terminals, f, f', are shown as latch-receiving plates, mounted some little
distance apart upon an upright, f, of non-conducting material, and the latch is
shown as normally resting upon the lower of said terminals, f, being normally held
in contact therewith by the force of gravity, assisted, if desired, by a small
spring,, connected with the upright, h, and bearing upon the switch bar.
The switch or latch bar, k, is in the construction of Figure 3, arranged at such
height and in such relation to the adjacent coil that in the operation of the loom
the shuttle will pass beneath the said bar and in passing elevate it into contact
with the terminal, f', with the result hereinbefore described, of cutting out of
circuit the coil F.
The uprights, h*, f, are conveniently mounted upon the supporting block, M,
provided with a longitudinal slot, m', through which a thumb screw, M³, passes

page_text: into engagement with the permanent framework of the loom, with the result, as
will be obvious, that the switch may be set in any desired position of adjustment
with relation to the coil.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner it is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a loom, a shuttle formed as an armature, and means for throwing said
shuttle consisting of a pair of coils or solenoids mounted at the respective ends of
the shuttle race, an electric generator in circuit with said coils or solenoids,
switches adapted to be opened to throw said coils out of circuit and
placed in the path of said shuttle so as to be operated by it,-substantially as set
forth.
2. In a loom, a shuttle formed as an armature, and means for throwing said
shuttle, consisting of a pair of coils situated in axial alignment at the respective
ends of the shuttle race, an electric generator, circuit wires leading from said coils
to the electric generator and provided with switches normally closed, one located
in proximity to each coil, and each adapted when open to throw the adjacent coil
out of circuit, said switches being arranged in the path of said shuttle so as to be
operated by it, substantially as set forth.
3. In a loom, a shuttle formed as an armature, and means for throwing said
shuttle, consisting of a pair of solenoids, an electric generator, said coils being
connected in series, line wires leading from the electric generator to the respective
solenoids, switches mounted in connection with the respective line wires and each
adapted to make contact alternately with the adjacent coil to place said coil in
circuit or with the wire connecting the two coils to cut said coil out of circuit, said
switches being normally in position to maintain said coils in circuit and placed in
the path of said shuttle so as to be operated by it,-substantially as set forth.
4. In a loom, a shuttle formed as an armature, and means for throwing said
shuttle, consisting of a pair of solenoids located at opposite sides of the loom and
connected in series, an electric generator,-line wires leading from said generator
to the vicinity of the respective solenoids, a switch adapted to connect the first
line wire alternately with the coil of the first solenoid and the conductor connecting
the two solenoids, and a switch adapted to connect the second line wire alternately
with the coil of the second solenoid and the conductor connecting the two solenoids,
-substantially as set forth.
5. In a loom, a shuttle formed as an armature, and means for throwing said
shuttle, consisting of a pair of solenoids located at opposite sides of the loom and
connected in series,-an electric generator,-line wires leading from said generator
to the vicinity of the respective solenoids, a switch adapted to connect the first
line wire alternately with the coil of the first solenoid and the conductor connecting
the two solenoids, and a switch adapted to connect the second line wire alternately
with the coil of the second solenoid and the conductor connecting the two solenoids,
said switches being mounted in the path of so as to be thrown by a moving part
of the loom, substantially as set forth.
6. In a loom, a shuttle formed as an armature, and means for throwing said
shuttle, consisting of a pair of solenoids located at opposite sides of the loom and
connected in series,-an electric generator,-line wires leading from said generator
to the vicinity of the respective solenoids, a switch adapted to connect the first
line wire alternately with the coil of the first solenoid and the conductor connecting
the two solenoids, and a switch adapted to connect the second line wire alternately
with the coil of the second solenoid and the conductor connecting the two solenoids,
said switches being mounted in the path of said shuttle so as to be operated by
it, substantially as set forth.
7. In a loom, in combination, a pair of solenoids mounted on hollow spools
located at opposite sides of the loom,-an electric generator,-line wires leading
from the generator to the vicinity of the respective solenoids, and each of which is

page_text: in circuit with a conducting pivotal latch bar extending across the mouth or bore
of the adjacent spool, the free or front ends of which latch bars normally rest in
plates or sockets which constitute the terminals of the respective coils or solenoids,
a pair of plates or sockets, independent of the plates or sockets first named,
located respectively a short distance from said respective sockets first named, and
adapted to be encountered by the latch bar when said bar is moved away
from said plates or sockets first named, and a conductor by which the two
solenoids are connected in series, said conductor being connected with both of
the second named plates or sockets, and a shuttle, formed as an armature,
which, in its travel, passes beneath said latch bars and elevates them into contact
respectively with the second named plates or sockets,-substantially as set forth.
Dated this 11th day of August 1896.
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HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.