Improvements in Apparatus for Operating the Healds and Shuttle Boxes of Looms for Weaving.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 19th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1889
Improvements in Apparatus for Operating the Healds and Shuttle
Boxes of Looms for Weaving.
I, ARTHUR SOWDEN of Spring Field House Baildon in the County of York,
Loom Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to improved mechanism for operating the healds and also the
rising and falling shuttle boxes of looms for weaving.
Firstly as to the healds I employ on the dobby a double set of upper and lower
draw bars which are operated by spaced toothed wheels with plain and holding
surfaces and in connection therewith are a series of locking studs, by which I obtain
intermittent action of the T lever, each of the draw hooks is provided with two
catches one on its upper edge the other being in the opposite direction and on the
underside of the draw hook so that each of the latter can be acted upon so as to
serve as either push or pull hooks, these are hinged to an upright or balk lever which
is attached to a slide piece the end of which is connected by a rod with the jack levers
which it operates in either direction as a positive or non positive, the shed being
opened in both directions from the centre in which position it can he maintained any
required number of picks or it can be opened from the centre in one direction only.
I form at each end of the halk lovers a double dolls head, the hollow or recessed neck
forms a cavity in which the balk can move on the cross bar when the latter is acting
as fulcrum for the balk. I also cast on each side of the balk levers projecting fingers
or spacing pieces which retain the said levers always in their vertical and correct
position.
For some class of woven goods I employ between the balk levers and the jacks
intermediate levers which connect the balks and jack levers, the intermediate levers
are of various lengths the longer ones moving the healds to form the widest part of
the shed.
For connecting the straps of the springs for pulling down the healds on what is
known as the Kenyon heald lever I attach at the end of the strap a strip of steel
which is bent or formed to the shape of the lever and on which it lies being secured
thereto by a hook, the connection being permanent and saves much wear and breakage
as hertofore common when the strap was attached direct to the lever.
For the purpose of operating the connecting rod of the T or rocking lever for
working the dobby I dispense with the use of a crank and employ spaced toothed
wheels having plain and holding surfaces similar to a star wheel motion and in
connection therewith are a series of locking studs on which a hammer head or locking
device bears, I thus obtain a dwell or intermittent action of the movement of the
T lever.
For operating the boxes of that type of box motion wherein a series of books are
employed for acting on studs in a disc wheel so as to give intermittent motion to
gear wheels and compound eccentrics which lift the boxes I control the movement
of such hooks by mechanism as follows:
I hang on a stud a pondent lever broken backed, to the lower part of this lever is
a link slide which connects the end of the lever with the hooks referred to. A
pendulous motion is given to the pendent lever in one direction so as to draw the
hooks by means of an eccentric acting on the said lever its movement in the opposite
direction is ensured by a returning spring. In connection with above appliances are
rods and hammer heads and holding springs for holding the disc and intervening
parts of the shuttle boxes.
Connected with the pendent lever or link is a stud or stop piece and a catch, the
catch by rods and connections is brought into communication with the knocking off
apparatus so that when the loom is stopped the catch falls and by coming in contact

page_text: with the stop piece prevents the returning spring from carrying the pendent lever
further and thus the motion of the hooks and consequently the movement of the
boxes is suspended. At each revolution of the eccentric the latter will bear lightly
on the pendent lever pushing the latter backwards sufficiently as to relieve the catch
from the holding stud soon as the loom is set on again. In some cases I apply the
drawhooks in the vertical position, pegs or pattern mechanism being employed for
indicating when the hooks shall engage with the studs for driving the gear and
compound eccentrics as described for operating the boxes, there being like arrangement
of pendent broken backed lever and eccentric as above described. For purpose
facilitating the reversal of the movement of the box I employ a double hook pendent
between the studs a slot of sufficient width being formed in the bottom part of the
hook to receive the stud or shaft of the disc and to allow of side or lateral motion
so that the weaver or attendant on the loom can by a handle swing one or other of
the books into position for engaging with a stud on the disc, thereby to move the
boxes either up or down.
of
In connection with the eccentrics for operating the box rod I employ two wheels-
having teeth around part of the circumference one having a turned locking rim the
other having corresponding semicircular locking pieces there being recesses in the
rim of the locking wheel to admit of the movement of the wheels. The main wheel
having slots or recesses in its locking rim to admit of the requisite motion of the
wheels and parts when the dwell is past.
Dated thin 10th d. of In
1000
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Town Hall Buildings, Halifax, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Operating the Healds and Shuttle
Boxes of Looms for Weaving.
I ARTHUR SOWDEN of Spring Field House, Baildon in the County of York, Loom
Maker, 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 improvements in looms for weaving, consisting of improved
mechanism, and appliances for operating the healds, and also to improved mechanism
for operating, and controlling the rising, and falling shuttle boxes the object being
to ensure a more effective control, over the several parts, at the same time dispensing
with much of the mechanism heretofore employed, and substituting in lieu thereof
apparatus better suited to the requirements.
Such being the nature and object of the said invention the following is a complete
description of same reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a
part of this specification in which:
Fig. 1. is a side elevation of the improved mechanism for operating the healds.
Fig. 2. is a side elevation of a modified form of mechanism for operating the
healds.
Fig. 3. is a side elevation of apparatus for operating the T, or rocking lever.
Fig. 4. is an end elevation of part of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5. is an end elevation of a loom, having applied thereto the improved
mechanism for operating, and controlling the rising and falling shuttle boxes.
Fig. 6. is a side elevation of locking and steadying applied to the eccentric which
operates the box rod.
According to this my invention:-Firstly as to the healds, I employ (see Fig. 1)
on the dobby a double set of upper and lower draw bars 1. 1 and 2. 2 which are
operated by double eccentrics 3 driven from a vertical shaft by means of bevel gear
each of the draw hooks is provided with two catches 5. G one on its upper edge
the other being in the opposite direction and on the underside of the draw hook 4 so

page_text: that each of the latter can be acted upon so as to serve as either push or pull hooks,
these draw hooks 4 are hinged to an upright or baulk 7 which is attached to a slide
piece 8 the rod of which is connected by a rod 9 with the jack or shedding levers 10
which it operates in either direction as a positive and closing shed, or it can be
opened from the centre in one direction only; I form at each end of the baulk levers 7
a double dolls head 11 the hollow or recessed neck forms a cavity in which the
baulk 7 can move on the cross bars 12 which in this case are fixed when the latter
are acting as fulcrum for the baulks 7. When the cross bars 12 are connected by
rod to the draw bars 1. 1. I obtain a moveable fulcrum for the baulk 7 and the
"shed
39'
"
is "open or non positive.
For some class of woven goods I employ (see Fig. 2) between the baulk levers 7
and the jack levers 10, the intermediate levers 124 which are of various lengths the
longer ones moving the jacks 10 and healds to form the widest part of the shed.
For the purpose of operating the connecting rod 13 of the T or rocking lever, for
working the dobby I dispense with the use of a crank and employ spaced toothed
wheels 14. 15 having plain surfaces 16 and holding surfaces 17 similar to a star
wheel motion the wheel 14 being fast on the tappet shaft and rotates with it and
imparts motion to the wheel 15 on which is carried a lug or bracket 18 to which is
attached the connecting rod 13. I thus obtain a dwell or intermittent action of the
movement of the T lever.
For operating the boxes of that type of box motion wherein a series of hooks 19
are employed for acting on studs 20 in a disc wheel 21 so as to give intermittent
motion to gear wheels 22 and compound eccentrics 23 which lift the boxes, I control
the movement of such hooks by mechanism as follows :-
I hang on a stud 24 a pendant lever 25 broken backed to the lower part of this
lever 25 is a link slide 26 which connects the end of the lever 25 with the hooks 19
referred to. A pendulous motion is given to the pendant lover 25 in one direction
so as to draw the hooks 19 by means of an eccentric 27 acting on the said lever 25
its movement in the opposite direction is ensured by a returning spring 28. In
connection with above appliances are rods 30 and hammer heads 31 and holding
springs 32 forming a locking device for holding the disc 21 and intervening parts
of the shuttle boxes. Connected with the pendant lever or link 25 is a stud or stop
piece 33 and a catch 34 the catch 34 by rods and connections is brought into com-
munication with the knocking off apparatus so that when the loom is stopped the
catch 34 falls and by coming in contact with the stop piece 33 prevents the returning
spring 28 from carrying the pendant lever 25 further and thus the motion of the
hooks 19 and consequently the movements of the boxes is superseded.
At each revolution of the eccentric 27 the latter will bear lightly on the pendant
lover 25 pushing the latter "backwards" sufficiently as to relieve the catch 34 from
the holding stud 33 soon as the loom is set on again. In some case I apply the
drawhooks 19 in the vertical position, pegs or pattern mechanism 35 being employed
for indicating when the hooks 19 shall engage with the studs 20 for driving the gear
and compound eccentrics 23 as described for operating the boxes there being
like arrangement of pendant, broken backed lever 25 and eccentric 27 as above
described.
In connection with the eccentrics 23 for operating the box rod 36 I employ two
wheels 21 and 22 (see Fig. 6) having teeth around part of the circumference, one
wheel 22 having a turned locking rim 38 the other having corresponding semicircular
locking pieces 39 there being recesses 40 in the rim of the locking wheel 22 to admit
of the movement of the wheels. The wheel 21 has slots or recesses 41 in its locking
rim 39 to admit of the requisito motion of the wheels 21 and 22 and parts when the
dwel is past.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of my
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1.) The general construction, combination and arrangement of parts, constituting

page_text: my improved shedding motion, or for operating the heads, and as herein described
and substantially as illustrated by Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.
2.) The general construction, combination and arrangement of parts constituting
my improved shedding motion as herein described and substantially as illustrated by
Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.
3.) For operating the T or rocking lever of dobbies. The combination of the
paced toothed wheels 14. 15 having plain and holding surfaces, the lug or bracket 18,
and connecting rod 13, as herein described and substantially as illustrated by Figs. 3
and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
4.) The general construction, combination, and arrangement of parts for operating
and controlling the rising and falling shuttle boxes, as herein fully described and as
illustrated by Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.
5.) The wheels 21 and 22 with teeth and locking rims and recesses, compound
eccentrics 23 and box rod 36 all in combination and as, and for the purpose herein
fully described and as illustrated by Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.
ARTHUR SOWDEN.
By his Agent, Walter Brierley,
Central Chambers, Halifax.
ARTHUR SOWDEN.
By his Agent, Walter Brierley,
Central Chambers, Halifax.