IMPROVEMENTS IN CRANK ARMS AND PICKER SPINDLES FOR LOOMS, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Holding, of Manchester, in the County of Lan-
caster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CRANK ARMS AND
PICKER SPINDLES FOR LOOMS, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 28th February 1879, and dated the 3rd September 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Holding at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd September 1878.
JOSEPH HOLDING, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CRANK ARMS AND PICKER SPINDLES FOR LOOMS, PARTLY
APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention relates, in the first place, to the crank arms of looms for weaving,
and has for its object to simplify the construction of such crank arms, and at tho
same time to give facilities for adjustment.
In one form of crank arın I provide the arm with a cap, and I secure the said
cap to the arm by means of nuts; but I dispense with loose bolts and fix or form
screwed studs either on the arm or on the cap.
In one arrangement the arm is provided with two screwed studs which are cast
or fixed in lugs formed on the arm. The cap is secured to these studs by means of
four nuts, one nut of each pair being on one side of the cap, and the other nut on
the other side thereof. The arrangement permits of the adjustment of the cap in
any position required to produce the desired fit of the bearing upon the crank, and
to effect the firm securing of the cap in such position.
The required adjustment of the bearing rendered advisable through the wearing
of the bearing surfaces can be readily effected by means of the said nuts.
In case the studs be formed on the cap I prefer to make the cap of malleable
cast iron.
In another method of construction the cap fits between two horns which are cast
or formed on the arin, one on each side of the half bearing.

page_text: A key passes through slots in the horns and in the cap, and serves to retain the
cap, and as a means for adjustment, a screw in the cap is tightened up against the
key, when the adjustment is effected. The arms may be fitted with steps, or the
cap may form part of the bearing in each case.
The crank arm may be fitted with steps forined from buffalo hide moulded into
the required form; or the arm end and the cap may be lined with buffalo hide.
The buffalo hide steps or linings for bearings may be used for other bearings in
the loom, or for bearings for driving or line shafting, or for the bearings of other
machines than looms.
My Invention relates, in the second place, to the picker spindles, and has for its
object to promote the effective lubrication of the spindles, and to prevent or check
overheating thereof. To this end I form each spindle in two or more parts, which
are placed together in position in the shuttle box. The form of cach part in the
example which I now consider to be most suitable is that of a half round or semi-
cylindrical spindle, that is to say, of a rod having a cross section of a semicircular
form or of a form approaching thereto. Each rod has a flat face, and when in use
the flat faces of two rods are put together, so as to form a cylindrical spindle. I
prefer that the edges or corners at the junction of the curved and flat surfaces shall
be rounded off. When the spindle so constructed is lubricated part of the lubricant
enters between the two flat faces and is given out during the working of the loom.
I prefer to form each rod or part of the completo spindle of steel drawn or rolled,
or otherwise produced, as found to be most suitable.
The subject matter of an application made on the Twelfth day of August ultimo
is included herein.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Holding in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd March
1879.
JOSEPH HOLDING, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CRANK ARMS AND PICKER SPINDLES FOR LOOMS, PARTLY
APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention relates, in the first place, to the crank arms of looms for weaving,
and has for its object to simplify the construction of such crank arms, and at the
same time to give facilities for adjustment.
In one form of crank arm I provide the arm with a cap, and I secure the said
cap to the arm by means of nuts; but I dispense with loose bolts and fix or form
screwed studs either on the arm or on the cap.
In another method of construction the cap fits between two horns which are cast
or formed on the arm, one on each side of the half bearing.
A key passes through slots in the horns and in the cap, and serves to retain the
cap, and as a means for adjustment, a screw in the cap is tightened up against the
key, when the adjustment is effected.
The crank arm may be fitted with steps formed from buffalo hide moulded into
the required form; or the arm end and the cap may be lined with buffalo hide.
The buffalo hide steps or linings for bearings may be used for other bearings in
the loom, or for bearings for driving or line shafting, or for the bearings of other
machines than looms.
My Invention relates, in the second place, to the picker spindles, and has for its
object to promote the effective lubrication of tho spindles, and to prevent or check
overheating thereof. To this end I form each spindle in two or more parts, which
are placed together in position in the shuttle box. Each rod has a flat face, and
when in use the flat faces of the rods are put together so as to form a cylindrical
spindle. When the spindle so constructed is lubricated part of the lubricant enters
between the two flat faces, and is given out during the working of the loom.
The subject matter of an application made on the Twelfth day of August, in the
year One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight, is included herein.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood I have appended here-
unto a Sheet of Drawings made about the full size, and marked with letters of
reference.
Referring to the said Drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 represent the crank bearing end of
a loom crank arm employed to connect the crank shaft with the Bley.
In the said Figs. a is a part of the crank arm, and b is the cap. In lugs c, c, cast
or formed on the crank arm at each side of the bearing are fixed screws d, d.
These screws may conveniently be cast in position, but if preferred they may be
screwed, riveted, or otherwise fixed in position. When the screws are "cast in "
short lengths of screwed rod may be employed, in which case the thread increases
the hold of the screw in the casting. The cap 6 may be of brass or gun metal, or
of any suitable metal, or of the same metal as the arm a. This cap is formed or
drilled with two holes into which the screws d enter, and the cap is secured in
position by means of four nuts e, e, and f, f, two on each side of the cap. It will
be seen that the cap can be adjusted in position so as to tighten up the bearing at
any time by Blackening the nuts and tightening the nuts e, the ordinary packing
pieces not being required. To prevent the nuts from working loose holes may be
drilled in the cap close to the nuts, as indicated at g, and split or folded wires be
inserted in such holes.
The bearing is or may be bored to fit the crank, but in the example is not fitted
with steps. The other end of the arm, which is connected with the sley sword not
being subjected to so much wear, may have a simple eye for connection with the
ordinary pin, or may be formed in a similar manner to Figs. 1 and 2, or to Figs. 3
and 4, next to be described, as preferred.

page_text: In Figs. 3 and 4 the two screws are formed in one piece with the cap, and pass
through holes drilled or formed in the lugs c, being secured by nuts e and f, as in
the first example. The cap may be formed of malleable cast iron or of other suitable
metal.
In place of forming the screws in one piece with the cap they may be cast,
screwed, or riveted in or into the cap. This bearing is provided with a pair of
steps h formed by pressing and moulding buffalo hide into the required form.
These steps may be moulded with flanches, as indicated in the Drawing, or be
formed without flanches, in which latter case the bearing would be simply lined
with hide. These linings may be secured by means of wood pegs driven into holes
drilled in the bearings or by other suitable means.
Other bearings in the loom, or the bearings of line and driving shafting, or of
machinery other than looms, may be fitted with buffalo hide steps or be lined with
buffalo hide.
Either of the two forms of crank arm may be fitted with steps of any suitable
metal instead of with buffalo hide steps.
Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a crank arm constructed in accordance with the second
arrangement. The crank bearing end of the arm is formed with two horns i, i, in
which are cored or formed slots to receive a taper cottar k. A half step / is bedded
on the bottom of the fork. The other half step is set up by a metal block m. A
slot is cored in the said block and the cottar k passes through the said slot. A
screw n bears against the cottar, and, when tightened, prevents the cottar from
moving. The bearing can be tightened at any time by slackening the said screw
and tapping the broader end of the cottar with a hammer, or otherwise pushing the
cottar further in. When adjusted the screw is tightened to preserve the adjustment.
The eye end of the crank is fitted with a half step o which can be set up by means
of a block p which is passed into a slot in the arm end, and is secured in position
by means of a cottar ?. The said step can be set up by means of the said cottar.
The steps may be formed either of buffalo hide moulded into the required form,
as herein-before indicated, or of brass or other suitable metal or alloy.
The eye end of the arm may be formed without a loose step, but I prefer the
arrangement indicated.
Figs. 7 to 11 illustrate the second part of the Invention.
Fig. 7 represents a complete spindle adapted for a picker to slide upon the spindle
being broken in the Drawings for want of space.
Fig. 9 represents an end view of the two parts of which the spindle is composed.
And Fig. 10 represents an end view of the complete spindle.
Each part of the spindle consists of a semi-cylindrical rod having a flat face on
one side. When in use the two parts are put together with the flat faces face to
face, and the two faces are then soldered or brazed together for a short distance
from each end, so that a complete cylindrical spindle is formed. The spindle so
formed is fixed in position in the shuttle box, so that the picker can slide upon it
instead of upon the ordinary solid spindle.
Fig. 8 represents a modification in the method of securing the two parts of the
spindle together. In this example pins on one half of the spindle enter holes
drilled in the other half. The intention of the connection is that one-half of the
spindle shall not move out of position, and that the spindle may be more readily
secured in position; but such connection may be dispensed with, or other means
for effecting the connection may be adopted. When the spindle is lubricated part
of the lubricant enters between the two flat faces, and is given out during the
working of the loom.
The spindle may consist of more than two parts.
Fig. 11 represents an end view of one consisting of three parts.
The parts of the spindle may be of steel. rolled, drawn, or otherwise worked into

page_text: methods for carrying the same into practical effect, I would have it to be understood
in conclusion that I claim,-
First. The crank arm having a cap secured by means of screws' cast, fixed, or
formed in or on the arm or the cap, and adjusted by means of four nuts, substan-
tially as set forth and indicated herein-before, and in and by the accompanying
Drawings
Secondly. The loom crank arm, substantially as set forth, and illustrated by
Figs. 5 and 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. The buffalo hide steps or linings for bearings.
Fourthly. The picker spindle formed in two or more parts, substantially as set
forth and indicated.
In witness whoreof, I, the said Joseph Holding, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Signed and sealed by the
said Joseph Holding in
the presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentec,
St. Ann's Churchyard,
Manchester.
JOSEPH HOLDING. (L.s.)