IMPROVEMENTS IN Looms
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Horace Brandon, of 13, Rue Gaillon,
Paris, in the Empire of France, Civil Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN Looms."A communication from George
Crompton, Loom Builder, residing at Worcester, Mass., United
States of America.
Scaled the 27th May 1870, and dated the 9th April 1870.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Horace
Brandon at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition and Declaration, on the 9th April 1870, pursuant to the
9th Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
HORACE BRANDON, Engineer, of No. 13, Rue Gaillon, Paris, in the
Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
Looms," being a communication to me from abroad by George Crompton,
Loom Builder, of Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America,
and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors,

page_text: administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and
have made solemn Declaration that it is a communication from George
Crompton, Loom Builder, residing at Worcester, Mass., United States.
of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Horace Brandon, do
hereby declare that the following Complete Specification, under my
hand and seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):―
My improvements in looms relate in the first place to the mechanism
employed for actuating the harness, and in the second place to the
mechanism employed for bringing into action the requisite shuttle in
what is known as the drop box motion.
In order that my Invention may be clearly understood I will proceed
to give a full description of the same by the aid of the two accompanying
Sheets of Drawings, in which Sheet 1 has reference to the harness
motion, and Sheet 2 to the shuttle motion.
Harness Motion. Sheet 1.-Fig. 1 is a back clevation of the loom
showing such parts only as are necessary for describing the improve-
ments; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a perspective
view of a crown wheel for transmitting motion to the pattern cylinder;
Fig. 4 is an external elevation of shaft and gearing operating the said
crown wheel; and Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the same.
According to these improvements the harness frames 1, 1, are suspended
between the side frames 2, 2, of the loom by ropes or wires 3, 3, passing
over sheaves 4, 4, and attached by their extremities to the upper and
lower extremities of the upright levers 5, 5, hung on a common centre or
shaft 6, supported in brackets 7, 7, attached to the outside of the framing
of the loom. Each of these upright levers 5 is provided with an
externally projecting arm 8, to the extremity of which is articulated a
jack 9 passing directly over the pattern cylinder 10, mounted on an inter-
mittently rotating shaft 11, and these jacks towards their other extremity
are provided with an upper hook 12, and a lower hook 13 united by an
inclined or undulated part 14, the rotation of the pattern cylinder on
which these jacks rest causes them to assume an elevated or a depressed
position according to whether they are resting on the cylinder itself or
on one of its prominent pins; when in this state the upright levers 5, 5,

page_text: are moved in one direction or the other either by the motion of a
lifter bar 15 against the upper hook 12, or by the motion of a depresser
bar 16 against the lower hook 13, in the following manner :-At cach
partial rotation of the pattern cylinder these lifter and depressor bars are
caused simultaneously to approach towards and to recede from one
another, and thus according to the elevated or depressed position of the
jack they draw the upper extremity of its upright lever either further from
or nearer to the loom, for this purpose the lifter bar 15 is attached to an
upright lever 17, and the depressor bar to a similar lever 18, both of
which are hung on a cross shaft 19, supported in the brackets 7, 7. The
requisite motion is transmitted to these two levers by the three-throw
lever 20 hung on the centre 21 between the brackets 7, 7, and to which
an oscillating motion is imparted by the rod 22, and the crank pin 23
stuck in the bevil wheel 24 keyed on the extremity of the main or crank
shaft 25. At the points where the three-throwed lever 20 is connected
with the upright levers 5, 5, these latter have slot holes to compensate
the motion. The inclined or undulated part 14 of the jacks is for the
purpose of bringing all the upright levers in a vertical position, whilst
the lifter and depresser bars 15 and 16 are approaching one another for
the redistribution of the jacks on their receding afterwards from one
another; whilst this receding of the bars 15, 16, caused by a half revolu-
tion of the crank pin 23 is taking place a sufficient time is afforded to
perfect the shed by the movement of the upright levers 5, 5, in opposite
directions. For simplicity sake I have only represented two upright
levers 5, 5, in the accompanying Drawing, it is however obvious that
their number can be increased as may be desired.
Intermittent rotary motion is imparted to the pattern cylinder 10
by means of the bevil wheels 26, 26, the inclined shaft 27, the single
tooth wheel 28, and the star wheel 29 keyed on the spindle 30 of the
pattern cylinder. The wheels 28 and 29 are so set that the pin 31 on
the wheel 28 operates the partial rotation of the star wheel 29 exactly
at the moment when all the upright levers have been placed vertically
by the approaching motion of the lifter and depresser bars 15 and 16, as
previously explained, the jacks 9 being then in position to be operated
on by the depressions or elevations of the pattern cylinder 10. During
its intermissions of motion the pattern cylinder is rendered stationary
by its flanch locking on to the cylindrical part of the single toothed.
wheel 28, as in the common star wheel motion. For the purpose of

page_text: rotating by hand the pattern cylinder I adapt to the outer extremity of
its shaft 30 a hand wheel 32, and as in such case the motion imparted
must be limited to the said pattern cylinder, the single tooth wheel 28
is fitted on its shaft 27 in such a manner as to be easily disengaged from
its correspondent gear 29. In Figures 1 and 2 these wheels are shewn
in gear, and in Figures 4 and 5 out of gear; these two positions are
obtained by turning the ring 33 half a turn either to the right or to
the left, whereby the ring is raised or lowered, and with it the gear
itself by means of its sleeve 31, which rests on the said ring, the pin or
key 35 fixed in the inclined shaft 27 serves to carry round the gear 28
with it, whilst the slot in the said sleeve allows of the gear beng raised
or lowered on the shaft; the ring 33 rests at all times on its pin 36
on the lower part of its bevilled edge when the two wheels 28 and 29
are in gear and on its upper part when these two wheels are out of
gear.
The nature of the novelty in the above-described mechanism and
arrangement for operating harnesses in fancy looms is the combination
for actuating the pattern cylinder with the special arrangement of
upright levers, their jacks with hooks, and inclined parts, lifter and
depresser, when the said hooks rest directly upon the pattern cylinder,
which has a reversible motion, that is to say, when the jacks can be
brought into connection with the lifter and depresser by the reverse motion
of the pattern cylinder without the intervention of fingers, levers, toes,
or other intermediate parts, as have heretofore been used.
I will now describe my new arrangement of mechanism for actuating
the loom, stopping the same instantaneously, or nearly so, as well as for
reversing the motion. This mechanism consists in the driving shaft 37,
turning in bearings attached to the outside of the loom framing 2, and
on which is keyed a bevel pinion 38 gearing in a bevel wheel 39 secured
to cross shaft 40, and which by means of the spur wheels 11 and 42
gives motion to the crank shaft 25 of the loom. On this driving shaft 37
I also fit a brake wheel 43, a spur wheel 44, three pullies 45, 46, 47, a
spur wheel 48, and a fly wheel 49. A strap fork 50 directs the strap
at appropriate moments, as hereafter specified, on one or other of these
three pullies. When it is on the fast pulley 15 motion is imparted to 3
the loom in the ordinary direction, when on central or loose pulley 40
the loom remains motionless, and when it is on the outer pulley 47 the
different parts are caused to act in an inverse direction, but at a slower

page_text: speed, as is hereafter explained. This reverse motion of the loom when
the strap is on the pulley 47 results from the following arrangement
of parts:-The pulley 47, which is made fast with the pinion 51, run
together loose on a sleeve connecting the loose pulley 46 and fly
wheel 49. This pinion 51 drives the gear 52 keyed on one extremity
of the shaft 53, whilst the gear 51 keyed on the other extremity of the
shaft by the intervention of the intermediate pinion 55 drives the
wheel 56, with which it is in gear in the opposite direction to that in
which the pulley 47 runs, and this wheel 56 being keyed on the shaft 37
puts the loom in motion. The relative diameters of the gears in this
arrangement produces the diminished speed, which can by altering the
said relative diameters be increased or diminished as may be advisable.
The driving belt is made of the same width as the inside of the fork 50,
consequently as the fast pulley 45 is narrower than the belt a portion of
the latter is made to drive the loose pulley 46, which is connected by a
sleeve with the fly wheel 49. This arrangement has for its object to
keep the belt tight through all the irregularities of the operations of the
loom by means of the momentum of the fly wheel 49. When it is
required to stop the loom by the action of the protector the horizontal
arm of the bell crank lever 57 is pulled up against the internal rim of the
brake wheel 43, which rim is provided with a pad for the purpose of
increasing the friction thus produced. The action of this braking
device combined with the rapid momentum of the fly wheel 49 induces
the rapid movement of the belt on the loose pulley 46, producing thus
an instantaneous, or nearly instantaneous stoppage of the loom. The
belt fork 50 is moved by a handle in the usual way, the said handle
being provided with three holding points for the purpose of retaining
the belt guide in its three different positions of forward motion, immo-
bility, and backward motion above described. The rod 58, which is used
to operate the belt fork 50 by means of a handle is also made to operate
the displacement of the belt by the ordinary protective devices well
known in looms, as well as to apply the brake 57 to the brake

page_text: a link 61 to the outer extremity of a box lever 62 hung at 63 in an
arm 61 which in its turn is hung on a stud 65 projecting from the side
frame 2, it is by means of the oscillation of this lever 62 on its compound
centres 63 and 65 that the requisite shuttle box is brought opposite to
the shuttle race; these oscillations of 62 are effected as follows, by the
upward or the downward motion of the connecting rods 66, 66, and CG",
commanded by the pattern chain 67, suspended on the shaft GS;
intermittent rotary motion is transmitted to the pattern chain by the
bevil wheels 69 and 70, the upright shaft 71, the single tooth wheel 72,
and the star wheel 73, the rotation of the pattern chain causes the
elevation or the depression of three fingers 74, 71, 71, hung on a common
centre 75, and from the extremity of each of these levers 71, 74, and 74"
a rod or wire 76 unites them with the horizontal arms of bell crank
levers 77, 77º, and 77b, the other extremities of which are obliged by the
pattern chain to assume one or the other of the positions indicated by
dotted and by full lines in Fig. 2; intermittent rotary motion is imparted
to the three pinions 78, 78, and 78 by the large gear 79 keyed on the
same shaft as the star wheel 80, which is actuated by the two studs 81, 81,
on the spur wheel 82, which receives its motion from the pinion 83 on the
crank shaft 25; the proportions of the gears 78 and 79, are such that
one intermittent motion of 79 imparts exactly one revolution to the
pinions 78, 78, 78°. When the bell crank lever 77 above referred to
is in the position indicated in full lines Fig. 2 the pinion 78 revolves
without carrying with it the crank 84, and when on the contrary it is in
the position indicated by the dotted lines the rotation of the pinion
causes the crank to make exactly one half revolution, the cranks 81, 81,
and 84, are also set in such a manner that they can assume but two
positions, one raised as 81° or the other lowered as 81 and 81, Fig. 1.
The mechanical parts effecting this result and more clearly shewn in
Fig. 2 consists, firstly, in the pinion 78 united with the bevil wheel 85 by
a sleeve 80 and running loosely on the shaft 87, secondly in the disc SS,
keyed on the shaft 87 and containing the small bevil pinion 89 gearing with
bevil wheel 85 and turning freely on its axis within the said disc, thirdly
in the disc plate and bevil wheel 90 cast in one and running loose on the
shaft, and, fourthly, in the crank 81 formed on the shaft 87 when during the
rotation of 78 and 83 the bell crank lever 77 is in the position indicated
in full lines, the disc 88 being thereby held stationary, the wheel 85 will
communicate rotary motion to 89 and 90, but the shaft 87 and its

page_text: crank 84 will remain stationary, when on the contrary the lever 77 is
locked in the loose disc 90 as shewn in dotted lines it, the disc 90, will not
be rotated, but the fast disc SS and the shaft 87 will be turned exactly
half a turn; 91 is a spring attached to the bell crank lever 77 and to the
framing for the purpose of avoiding any looseness of motion in the said
lever 77. It will thus be seen that the pinions 78, 78, and 78° are con-
stantly rotating intermittently, but that it depends on the position of
the bell crank levers 77, 77, and 77%, which are under the command
of the pattern chain whether they rotate the cranks S4, 8+, and S4 and
thereby elevate or depress the range of shuttle boxes 59.
I will describe now how the clevation or depression of the connecting
rods 66, 66ª, and 66º, act on the box lever 62 in such a manner as to
bring the requisite shuttle box of the range opposite the shuttle race,
as represented in the Drawing Fig. 1, it is the box e which is in a line
with the shuttle race, if in the first case it is the crank 84 which is
reversed by its half revolution downwards, its rod 66 acting on the
compound or auxillary lever 92 forces it to assume a horizontal position,
and since this lever is articulated on the box lever 62 at 93 it clevates
the front end of the said lever 62 to the extent of one box, thus bringing
d opposite the shuttle race; in the second case if the crank 84ª is caused
to reverse its position the same extent of motion will be imparted to the
lever 62, but in the opposite direction, thus bringing the box opposite
the shuttle race; in the third case if the cranks 84 and 84b being in the
same position either up or down are both reversed simultaneously the
boxes will be moved two divisions, thus bringing c opposite the shuttle
race; in the fourth case if the crank 84 is raised it elevates the arm 61
forming one of the fulcrums of the lever 62, and raises the shuttle range
three compartments, thus bringing the compartment opposite the
shuttle race, during this motion the other two cranks remain stationary;
in the fifth case if the crank 84 is moved in one direction, and 84* in
the opposite direction, S4 remaining stationary, meanwhile the com-
partments will be moved through the distance of four boxes, thus
bringing compartment a opposite to the shuttle race; in the sixth case if
the crank 84 is moved in one direction and simultaneously the other two
in opposite directions the boxes will be elevated or depressed to the
extent of five compartments.
It will thus be seen that by the combined action of these cranks any

page_text: opposite to the race it will also be further understood that by
multiplying these cranks and their concomitant parts, any increased
range of compartments may be used, and each compartment raised or
lowered by a positive motion, all their motions beginning and ending
at the same period with regard to the rotative operation of the crank
shaft of the loom.
Having thus described the nature of my improvements as well as tho
best means that I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practice,
I claim with regard to the harness motion,-
Firstly. The combination of the upright levers, horizontal jacks
notched at top and bottom, lifter and depresser, and pattern mechanism
actuating directly the jacks at a part situated between their points of
suspension and their hooks, when the said pattern mechanism is
combined with an intermittently moving apparatus for reversing when
required the motion of the said pattern cylinder.
Secondly. The construction and arrangements of parts for the purpose
of actuating automatically the pattern mechanism and of casily
disengaging the same so as to rotate the said pattern mechanism by
hand.
Thirdly. The construction and arrangement of mechanism described
for imparting motion to the loom in the ordinary direction conjointly
with the fly wheel 49 for equalising the irregularities of the said
motion.
Fourthly. The construction and arrangement of mechanism conjointly
with the brake motion for stopping the loom instantaneously or nearly
SO.
And, fifthly. The construction and arrangement of mechanism for
reversing the motion of the loom as described.
And with regard to the shuttle motion,―
Firstly. The construction and arrangement of mechanism for impart-
ing intermittent rotary motion to the pattern chain.
Secondly. The construction and arrangement of mechanism for
imparting intermittingly constant rotation to the pinions 78, 78,
and 78b.
Thirdly. The construction and arrangemont of mechanism whereby
the pattern chain commands either the rotation or the immobility of the
cranks 81, 81, and S.

page_text: Fourthly. The construction and arrangement of mechanism whereby
thic motion of these cranks is made to raise or to lower the range of shuttle
boxes 59 as required and as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Horace Brandon, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Eighth day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
D. H. BRANDON,
13, Rue Gaillon,
Paris.
A. H. BRANDON. (L.S.)