IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER LOOMS AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Heald, of the Town and County of the
Town of Nottingham, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER
LOOMS AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 24th November 1874, and dated the 28th May 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Heald at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
the 28th May 1874.
I, ALFRED HEALD, of the Town and County of the Town of
Nottingham, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER LOOMS AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be
as follows:-
My improvements relate to looms weaving two-ply fabrics for which I
employ a loom having a warp beam, cloth beam, lay, read, shuttles,
driving and cam shafts, and harness controlled by a jacquard apparatus
for selecting either the weft threads and warp threads, or both. The
shuttles do not carry weft thread, spools, or bobbins, but they have a slit
and eye in the centre of their length which take hold of the weft threads
.

page_text: after they are selected and carry the said threads double across through
the sheds; they then release the threads for the jacquard to make a fresh
selection. The loom is provided with a rocking frame or its equivalent
which carries a latch needle at each selvage, each of which seize one or
other of the weft threads and interlocks them to form a chain stich
selvage, the needles pass through slots in a plate which acts as a cast off,
the needles being actuated by levers and a cam. The shuttles are
driven by pickers and are received by semi-revolving boxes, the axles of
which are supported and carried by the lay, the semi-revolution being
given them by 'racks and levers, or by cords, belts, or chains operated by
cams. The jacquard has two cylinders working simultaneously,
alternately, or seperately; one cylinder is moved a greater extent than the
other, cach operate horizontal needles, each row of which lie upon a pair
of rollers and are carried at each end by moveable needle plates moved
inwards by the cylinders, and also outwards except when springs or
their equivalent are employed. Each needle has an eye to which a lash
of the harness is attached and is drawn to the right or left according as
selected by the card.
"
The revolution of the cylinders are reversed by means of two racked
needles selected by the card, the racks operating a pinion carrying a right
angled lever which throws the upper or lower clawkers into operation.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Heald in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 26th November 1874.
·
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED 2
HEALD, of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty- 3
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alfred Heald, Her special licence
that I, the said Alfred Heald, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Heald, my executors,

page_text: 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
POWER LOOMS AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Heald, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
bo performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the dato
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Heald, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings
forming a part of this Specification :-
My improvements relate to looms wearing two-ply fabrics for which I
employ a loom having a warp beam, cloth beam, lay, read, shuttles,
driving and cam shafts, and harness controlled by a jacquard apparatus
for selecting either the weft threads and warp threads, or both. The
shuttles do not carry weft thread, spools, or bobbins, but they have a slit
and eye in the centre of their length which take hold of the weft threads
after they are selected and carry the said threads double across through
the sheds; they then release the threads for the jacquard to make a fresh
selection. The loom is provided with a rocking frame or its equivalent
which carries a latch. needle at each selvage, each of which seize one or
other of the weft threads and interlocks them to form a chain stitch
selvage, the needles pass through slots in a plate which acts as a cast
off, the needles being actuated by levers and a cam. The shuttles are
driven by pickers and are received by semi-revolving boxes, the axles of
which are supported and carried by the lay, the semi-revolution being
given them by racks and levers, or by cords, belts, or chains operated by
cams. The jacquard has two cylinders working simultaneously,
alternately, or separately; one cylinder is moved a greater extent than
the other, each operate horizontal needles, each row of which lie upon a
pair of rollers and are carried at each end by moveable needle plates

page_text: Figures 15 show a plan and front view of a shuttle or weft carrier for
taking single yarn from a spool and doubling it in the shed.
Figures 16, a front and end view of a shuttle or weft carrier supporting
a weft spool or bobbin.
Figure 17, a side view of the levers for operating the jacquard
cylinders alternately; Figure 18, a side view of the cam for lifting the
same.
Figure 184, a side view of the cam and lower end of tho connecting
rod for moving the jack cylinders simultaneously.
Figures 19 and 20 are respectively a side view and front view of the
apparatus I employ for inserting and withdrawing the wires for forming
piled fabrics.
Figures 21, 22, and 23 are separate views of the cams, wheel, rack,
and lever which rock and traverse the wire inserting and withdrawing
apparatus.
Figures 24, a view of the end of a lever and needle for forming a chain
stitch sclvage and a cam which operates the needle lever.
Figures 4 and 25 are side views of various reads hereafter referred to.
In carrying out my Invention one modification of a power loom and
jacquard apparatus that I employ for wearing two-ply fabrics is shewn
at Figures 1 and 2, and consists of a framing A, A, which form or support
bearings for a warp beam B, cloth beam C, lay D, read E, and one or
other of certain shuttles referred to hereafter; the whole operated by
cams on a shaft F provided with driving pulleys. The read is of
peculiar construction, cach plate of which is punched of the form shewn
at Figure 4, having two holes and slots in the direction of it's thickness;
cach hole and slot allows of the passage of a shuttle or weft carrier
(shown at Figure 14), which consists of a pin, platform, and a fixed lip,
to which is hinged a movable lip which is pressed to the fixed lip by
springs, so as to firmly hold the weft thread when placed in it. Each
lip is slit in the centre of its length to further assist in holding the weft
thread, a front view of a weft carrier so constructed is shewn in the
upper box in Figure 3, two such weft carriers are propelled across the
lay at each pick, and are employed in conjunction with a cutting and
tucking apparatus afterwards referred to. Each weft carrier as it passes

page_text: 'across the lay conveys a single or double yarn thread which is fed to it by
one or other of the shading needles H, each of which are supplied from
spools H¹, on frames attached to the framing A; the shading needles
vary in length, so as to supply both weft carriers at each side of the lay.
The lay at each end at its upper part is provided with a bracket, each of
which carries the axle of a rocking frame I. In the upper plate of the
frame are square holes in which the shading needles are free to rock, and
rise and fall, the lower part of the needles which supply the upper weft
carrier slide and rise and fall in slots in the lower plate of the frame
between the two plates. The stem of each needle for supplying the upper
weft carrier is provided with a stud which carries the upper end of a
slotted link H², which slides on a pin carried by a stud on the lower
plate. Both the upper and lower plates have holes in them through which
the weft threads are passed which supply all the needles. One of the
upper plates is shown in plan at Figure 5, and one of the lower plates is
shown in plan at Figure 6, with the slotted links in position for attaching
to the needles, both the upper and lower plates have square holes in
them in which the needles which supply the lower weft carrier rise and
fall, such needles radiate from the centre of the upper plate and point to
the centre of the lower plate. Each such needle is lifted by a lash
attached to its upper end and to a needle lifter shewn at Figure 9; these
lifters have each a lash from the jack attached to them by which they
are operated, and the needles which supply the upper weft carriers have
a lash from the jack attached to their upper ends, and. are lifted direct
from the jack. The frame I is rocked so as to pass the lower ends of the
selected needles between the lips of the weft carriers by means of a
short rod hinged to the lower plate of the frame, having its outer end
secured by a pin, but so that it may be free to move in a slot in a
bracket G which is operated by the picker G, or it may be rocked
direct from the jack by a lash attached to the weighted lever of the
upper plate.
The rocking frame plates, shewn at Figures 5 and 6, are arranged for
only 11 weft shading needles for the upper weft carrier, and for 5 weft
shading needles for the lower weft carrier, but I would have it under-
stood that I do not confine myself to that number, as I have only to
make the rocking frame larger and set out the plates for any number of
needles I may require. The lashes from the jack and needle lifters,
which lift the shading needles, are passed through a guide block H³, and

page_text: the single or double yarn weft threads supplied from the spools H¹ are
passed through guide plates H* secured to the jack frame. Below the
brackets carrying the rocking frames I at each end of the lay is a capped
bracket G', each of which support and carry two weft carrier boxes, in
the outer ends of which carrier drivers G³ slide, the stems of which
have springs helically coiled round them to ensure unity of action; the
outer ends of the stems are secured in a looped bracket G2, which is
drawn outward by the picker G operated by, a cam G', seen at Figures
2 and 24, the pickers upon being released drive a weft carrier across the
read from cach side of the lay. These pickers when released from the
cams rest upon stop blocks secured to any convenient part of the
framing, so as to prevent the pickers binding upon the sides of the lay
(as it passes to-and-fro horizontally between its bearing rollers D', being
supported by two rollers on each side below the lay, and held down on
cach side by one above its slides, which are provided with trucks, cach
of which take into a grooved cam D², seen at Figures 1 and 2, which.
cause the lay to beat up, slide back, and remain stationary each revolu-
tion. Every time a pick is made cach weft carrier passes over the inner
end of one of tlic clawkers G, which rides upon and is carried by a pin
in the driver G³; this clawker as the picker is moved outwards draws the
carrier into the position shewn at Figure 3, being held up by a spring
screwed to the bracket under the carrier box. Each clawker has a pin
on the side next the carrier box, which pin, just before the completion
of the outward movement of the picker passes over the outer end of a
bent spring G³, the end of which then flies up, so that the pin and
clawker on its inward movement passes under and is held down by the
Instead of the carrier box brackets, above described
prefer shorter ones, one of which is shewn at Figure 20, and dispense
with the carrier drivers, letting the pins of the carriers protrude from
the boxes and drive direct from the end of the pickers, which are made
T shaped at their outer end, and of such a width that one or more
carriers may be struck at each pick, according to the number of boxes
employed or sheds opened. Each carrier box, just under where the
carrier rests at its outward throw, is furnished with a short platform Go,
upon which the bottom of the carrier rests, and is kept steady while the
shading needle is passed between its lips; or instead of such platforms

page_text: and clawkers a bent spring may be passed through the box at the back
where the carrier stops, which spring presses into a groove at the back
of the carrier pin, thus acting as a stop and platform.
The jacquard apparatus I employ for opening one or more sheds is
seen in side view at Figure 1, in front at Figure 2, and an enlarged
sectional view of the upper part at Figure 7. This jack has two
cylinders K, K', which may be worked simultaneously, alternately, or
separately; the front cylinder K is moved outwards to a greater extent
than the back one K', cach cylinder operates needles K², each row of
of which lie and slide upon a pair of rollers K³, and are carried by
needle plates K* attached to the jack frame, and also near each end by
needle plates K5 which are secured to and move with the cylinders;
each needle has an eye, to which a lash of the harness is attached, and
is drawn to the right or left according as it is selected by the card, such
horizontal movement of the needle producing a vertical lift of the warp
thread, needle lifter, rocking frame, or other instrument to which its
lash is attached. The clawkers K, which turn the front cylinder either
way, are represented by dotted lines at the left of Figure 7; and the
clawkers K', which turn the back cylinder either way, are shewn to the
right of the Figure broken through, as their length will depend upon
the throw to be given to the cylinder.
Each pair of clawkers are operated to reverse the cylinders by means
of racked needles K³, and partially revolving pinion wheels attached to
right angled levers K' on the outside of the jack framing, which throw the
upper or lower clawkers into operation, one of which is shown by dotted
lines in the centre of Figure 7. These racked needles are operated by
the first and last cards of the pattern. By such means I avoid the
expense of punching and the use of a double set of cards; and for the
purpose of keeping the lifted shading needles up when lifted until a
fresh selection is made I employ the following described apparatus :—On
each side of the jack framing inside I secure a bracket L and two rods L',
upon the lower ends of which a vertical plate L³ rides upon and is
supported by springs, which allow the plate to lower as the lay is
advanced. This plate has as many holes in it as there are shading
needles employed. Each hole terminates on one side in a slot above;
and sliding upon this plate is a grid L², which slides being operated by
an inclined rod L, the outer end of which takes into a hole in one of
the throwing levers of the back cylinder, the inclined end of the rod

page_text: lies in a loop of a link carried by the bracket L. A spring is attached
to this bracket and the grid, which spring as the inclined portion of the
rod L is drawn out as the cylinder is moved outward will pull the grid
over the slotted portion of the plate, and a knot being tied upon each
lash attached to a shading needle, such lash when lifted will have its
knot above the slotted portion of the plate, and the knot of the selected
needle lash will be below the plate, the lifted needles remaining in that
position until a fresh selection is made. This knot catching apparatus is.
shewn separately in plan at Figure 8.
The weft cutting and tucking apparatus I employ is. shown at
Figures 10, 11, 114, and 11", and consists of a bracket M near each
selvage, each of which support the axle of a pair of cutter bosses M¹
which are grooved inside so as to slide upon a key on the axle M.
Springs arc helically coiled upon the axle between the ends of the
bracket and the bosses, so as to press the cutters together; a back view
of the cutters is shown at Figure 11 in the position they occupy
between the warps after having cut the weft. Between its carrier and
the selvage in the Figures above mentioned the apparatus is shewn as
applied to the right selvage, the bracket being secured to the breast
beam, portion of which is cut away to receive it and to allow the
apparatus to be operated. The cutters are opened the full width just
before the lay reaches the points of the cutters as it advances to beat up,
being opened by a cam plate, shewn in side view at 11ª, which is rocked
by a short lever attached to the upper end of an adjustable link M³
carried by the outer double slotted end of a rocking lever M*, which is
actuated by a cam seen in side and edge views at Figures 13, the lever
and cam being shown also at Figure 12. As the lay commences to
recede the cutters are turned in between the upper and lower warps, so
as to push the severed ends of the beat up wefts into the newly opened
sheds, being so turned in by a lever M³ secured on the lower end of the
cutter boss axles, said lever being actuated by an adjustable pin in the
slide of the advancing lay M. The cutters on arriving at the position
shewn at Figure 11 are opened wide enough to admit of the passage of
a wire M', partly shown by dotted lines at Figure 11. This wire is bent
to the shape shown at Figure 11B, so as to escape the weft carrier. The
wire is secured in and carried by a sliding bracket M³ carrying a pin,
which takes into a slot in a lever attached to the upper end of a link
adjustable in the other slot of the lever M.
This link has a lead given

page_text: it so as to allow the cutters to open for the passage of the wire, which
pushes the severed end of the weft thread clear of the cutters and
prevents it being withdrawn by them as they turn outwards. The lay
is cut away at each end at the point marked M in Figure 3 to allow the
points of the cutters to pass between the lay and the read.
For taking single yarn wefts and carrying them through the sheds I
employ a carrier, shewn at Figures 15, consisting of a pin platform and
a split stud, the split is for the passage of a wire N attached to the outer
end of cach bracket G¹, seen at Figure 3, which wire as the carrier
passes to the end of its outward throw lifts the weft clear of the stud,
the weft then falls through the operation of a weighted lingoe until
again selected. In this case the weft threads are passed through, and
lie in the spaces between the sides of the lay and each end of the read,
and also through a guide or small read at the back of the lay, and being
passed through the centre hole of a male is raised when selected by a
lash from the jack. The said clearing wire N instead of being secured
to the bracket G₁ may be secured to the edge of the breast beam, and
will clear the weft in a similar manner, but the split in the carrier stud
must in such case be made at a right angle to the carrier pin.
For forming a chain-stitch selvage I employ a pointed and inclined
wire N¹ secured to the breast beam. This wire passes under the weft
threads as the lay beats up, and holds both the weft threads at the
proper height for a swivel latched needle N2 to secure such threads,
which form a loop or loops round the stem of the needle which are cast
off after the succeeding beat up. The needle N2 is carried by and
turns upon a stud secured in the end of a lever M', like that seen at
Figure 12, but operated by a cam M5 at Figures 24.
For carrying a single weft through the sheds I also employ a spool or
bobbin carrier, scen at Figure 16, which consists of a pin platform
studded frame for the spool, and a spring guide for the weft. Figures 4^
and 25 are side views of various reads I employ, which will allow of the
passage of from one to four weft carriers at each pick.
For weaving piled fabrics I employ apparatus shewn at Figures 19
to 23 inclusive, for inserting and withdrawing the wires for forming the
pile, consisting of a rocking and traversing shaft B which lies and slides
in bearings attached to the framing A of the loom. On the shaft B is
keyed a semicircular shaped arm C grooved on its outer edge, and

page_text: provided with a pair of nippers which are firmly closed upon one end of
a wire by a spring C¹. The nippers are opened at certain times by a
rocking plate C, above which the bent end of a rod slides the whole
length of the traverse of the arm C. This rod when pressed upwards by
the plate will open the nippers. The rocking plate is provided with a
link attached to a lever operated by a cam C³. The length of the
traverse of the arm C is shewn by dotted lines at the left in Figure 19.
The traverse is effected by the lower forked end of a lever C³, seen at
Figure 21, which lies in the groove of a boss secured on the shaft B.
The lever turns on an axle at its upper end, carried by a bearing secured
to the jack framing. The lever bears a truck, and is operated by a
cam C on the cam shaft. The partial revolution of the arm C is effected
by the following means, as shewn at Figure 22:-The back end of the
shaft B is made square in section, and is passed through one side of a
double capped box B³, then through a toothed boss B', and through a
bearing boss which revolves in the other side of the box B³. The bearing
boss is held in the box by a plate B³ and a cap Bt. The toothed boss B¹
is partly revolved by a rack B2 which slides in the box B³, which is
secured at one side and at its lower end to the framing of the loom.
The rack carries at its upper end a truck operated by a cam B', seen at
Figure 23. The beat up wire lying nearest the front of the breast beam
is secured by the end of the nippers pressing on one side a plate D
which turns on a pin in the top of the breast beam, thus allowing the
end of the wire the nippers are about to withdraw to slip past the end of
the plate, being pressed upon for that purpose by a spring D¹ at the
opposite selvage. As the wire clears the right sclvage and the plate D
as it is drawn out of the cloth its end flies up and is received between
three rods C secured to the right side of the lay, which rods guide the
wire through the shed as it is inserted by the arm C, which is traversed
back to the position seen at Figure 19 for that purpose. Such apparatus
I propose to apply to any loom for making piled fabrics.
The apparatus I employ for unwinding the requisite length of warp
from the beam B is similar to the apparatus I employ for winding the
cloth or other fabric upon the beain C, but are operated by separate
cams. Each apparatus consists of a double-ended lever B₁ which is
adjustable in a slotted bearing B, and is provided at its lower end with
a short roller or plate which is held to the warp or fabric by a spring
seen at Figure 1. Upon the upper end of the lever a pin projecting

page_text: from an adjustable clawker B³ rests and governs the lowering of the
clawker, which is raised to a certain height after each beat up of the lay
by a cam B which operates a lever carrying the clawker. This clawker
takes into the teeth of a toothed wheel B', which is changeable for others
of various pitch, and is secured on one end of a shaft revolving in i
bearings attached to the frame of the loom. The other end of the shaft
terminates in a screw which gears into and turns a whicel B secured on
the axle of the beam B or C.
The apparatus I employ to take the strain off a warp while the jack is.
lifting consists of two slotted links O, each of which are attached to near
the back end of the lay slides, as shewn in side view by dotted lines in
Figure 1. As the lay advances to beat up the dead beam O¹ is drawn
inwards up the slotted bearings at the back of the loom.
The knock off motion. I employ to stop a loom upon the breaking of
either weft thread is shewn in side view at Figure 26, and in plan at
Figure 27. The apparatus consists of a double-ended lever C, the outer
and longer end of which lies close to the driving belt, and turns upon an
axle carried by the jack framing A. The inner end of the lever carries
a swivelled bearing in which two balanced levers C¹ rock, each of which
at their front end carry a wire C² which lie between the side of the lay D
and the read. These wires lic upon the weft threads, except when they are
lifted above the carrier boxes by the jack while a pick is being made, so
as to clear the carriers. At other times if a weft thread breaks, one or
other of them will fall down, so as to allow the bent front end of the
balanced lever to drop upon and be moved by an adjustable pin C*
carried by the slide of the lay D as it beats up, causing the outer end of
the lever C to travel the driving belt on to the loose pulley. The
wires C² arc attached by a lash to a lever C³ hinged to the lash guide
block H. The lever C is lifted by a lash attached to a lever on the
front jack cylinder throwing axle.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. For the construction and use of looms and jacquard apparatus
as herein-before described and illustrated in the Drawings annexed.
Second. For the reads.
Third. For the shuttle or carrier boxes.
Fourth. For the shuttle or carriers.

page_text: Fifth. For the shading apparatus.
Sixth. For the cutting and tucking apparatus.
Seventh. For the selvage needles.
And, Eighth. For the jacquard and lash knot catcher, cach constructed
and operating as severally described in the above Specification, and
illustrated in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Heald, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
Witness,
H. W. GOUGH, C.E.,
Nottingham.
ALFRED HEALD. (L.S.)