IMPROVEMENTS IN LET OFF MOTIONS OF LOOMS
Year: 1884

page_text: We ROBERT HALL of Hope Foundry, Bury, in the County of Lancaster and
JAMES HOBSON, of the same place, Foreman do hereby declare the nature of said
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN LET OFF MOTIONS OF LOOMS, to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the "let off" motion" of looms and the object is to
dispense with chains and weights.
In carrying our Improvements into effect we support the ruffles of the warp
beam in bearings at each side of the loom; these bearings lined with leather, or
other suitable material are bolted to, or cast with the loom sides, and they extend
about half way round the ruffles; friction straps, preferably lined with leather are
provided with a threaded stud or pin at one end on which is a strong spiral spring.
A shaft connected to a long lever rests in fixed bearings and has a slotted bracket
or brackets secured to it for controlling the friction straps.
When the warp beam is put in its place in the loom, the ruffles rest in the
stationary bearings and the friction straps are hooked in their places and brought
one over the upper surface of each ruffle; the studs on the straps are moved into
the slotted brackets against the lower side of which the spiral springs bear: near
the bottom of each stud is a winged nut by which the springs can be compressed
when necessary.
On the long lever and shaft being moved, the slotted brackets draw the friction
plates tight over the ruffles and put the desired friction on the warp beam.
The friction on the lower fixed bearings depends to some extent on the weight
or quantity of yarn on the beam and as the beam decreases in weight this friction
will be reduced.
This invention can be applied to looms in which more than one warp beam is
employed.

page_text: We ROBERT HALL, of Hope Foundry, Bury in the County of Lancaster and
JAMES HOBSON, of the same place, Foreman do hereby declare the nature of said
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN LET OFF MOTIONS OF LOOMS, 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 "let off" motion of looms, and the object is to
dispense with chains and weights.
In carrying our Improvements into effect we support the ruffles of the warp
beam in bearings at each side of the loom; these bearings, lined with leather or
suitable material, are bolted to or cast with the loom sides and they extend about
half way round the ruffles; friction straps preferably lined with leather are
provided with a threaded stud or pin at one end on which is a strong spiral spring.
A shaft connected to a long lever rests in fixed bearings and has a slotted bracket
or brackets secured to it for controlling the friction straps. A slotted bracket (or
brackets) is secured to the frame of the loom for the purpose of controlling the
position of the long lever.
When the warp beam is put in its place in the loom, the ruffles rest in the
stationary bearings, and the friction straps are hooked in their places, and brought
one over the upper surface of each ruffle; the studs on the straps are moved into
the slotted brackets, against the lower side of which the spiral springs bear; near
the bottom of each stud is a winged nut by which the springs can be compressed
when necessary. On the long lever and shaft being moved the slotted brackets
draw the friction plates tight over the ruffles and put the desired friction on the
warp beam.
The friction on the lower fixed bearings depends to some extent on the weight
or quantity of yarn on the beam, and as the beam decreases in weight this friction
will be reduced.
This invention can be applied to looms in which more than one warp beam is
employed.
And in order that our Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect we will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
reference being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a side view and Fig. 2 a back view of our improved "let off"
motion.
The ordinary ruffles or friction pulleys a are secured to the warp beam 6 as
usual, and rest in the brackets c, the bearing surfaces of which are lined with
leather or other suitable material c¹: the brackets c are bolted to the frame d of
the loom, and on each is formed a projection c³, to which is hooked one end of a
friction strap, e, formed of metal lined with leather or other suitable material e¹ ;
the other end of each friction strap e is secured to a threaded stud f which passes
through a slotted bracket g and on which is fitted a spiral spring h; the tension
exerted by the spiral springs on the friction straps e is regulated by the wing
nuta i and thus the amount of friction on the beam is varied by screwing the nuts
up or down the slotted brackets g are fixed one at either end of a shaft j to
which is also secured the long lever k, which may be moved from one end to the
other of the slotted bracket, bolted to the frame d.
When the long lever k is moved into the position shown in the Drawings, the
shaft j is also moved and the slotted brackets g bear against and compress the

page_text: spiral springs h and thus tighten the friction straps e on the ruffles a, and put the
full amount of friction on the warp beam b.
When it is desired to turn the beam back the lever k is moved to the other end
of the bracket into the position indicated by dotted lines Fig. 1, thereby taking
off all tension from the friction straps e.
By the use of our improved let off motion weights and cords are dispensed with
and the amount of tension on the warp beam may be readily put on, varied, or
taken off, as required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
We declare that what we claim is-
1. The combination of parts forming the improved "let off" motion for the warp
beams of looms substantially as and for the purposes herein shown and described.
2. The combination with the brackets c of the adjustable friction straps e,
arranged to operate substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein
described and as illustrated by the Drawings annexed.
Dated Mis on day of over 100,
H. B. BARLOW,
Agent for Applicants,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.