CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS' PATENT to Peter Todd, of Wheelton, near Chorley, in the
County of Lancaster, and Joseph Holding, of the same Place, Overlooker,
for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
Sealed the 3rd April 1866, and dated the 9th October 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Peter Todd and Joseph
Holding at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with 'their
Petition, on the 9th October 1865.
We, PETER TODD, of Wheelton, near Chorley, in the County of Lan-
caster, and JOSEPH HOLDING, of the same Place, Overlooker, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOOMS FOR WEAVING," to be as follows:-
The Invention relates to that part of the loom called the "slay board" or
"race," along which the shuttle travels, and more particularly to that part of
the "slay board" which is usually recessed for the reception of the "weft
fork" levers, all of which are well-known parts of a loom.
The improvements consist in the application and use of a series of vertical
plates (like a "grid") in the said space usually left open; the upper edges of
these vertical plates are made level and even with the surface of the "slay
board," and are employed for the purpose of partially filling the said space,
and thereby preventing the weft from falling into it; and also by making the
I

page_text: intervals of space less the shuttle is supported by the edges of the plates when
passing over the space, whereby its course is rendered more perfect, and the
tendency of the shuttle to depart from the race is diminished. The arrange-
ment of vertical plates is also particularly useful when shuttles running
on wheels are employed, as in large wide looms, the feature of the Invention
being the use of plates or equivalents to divide the width of the space into
small intervals, so that as the shuttle passes over it may have the support of
the edges of the plates which would be the same in effect as if it passed over
a continuous surface.
.SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Peter Todd and Joseph Holding in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 9th April 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, PETER
TODD, of Wheelton, near Chorley, in the County of Lancaster, and JOSEPH
HOLDING, of the same Place, Overlookers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty- year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Peter Todd and Joseph Holding, Her special license that we, the said Peter
Todd and Joseph Holding, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as we, the said Peter Todd and Joseph Holding, our executors,
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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," upon
the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Peter Todd and Joseph
Holding, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
our, 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 be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Peter Todd, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to .be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawings, that is to say :—
"The Invention relates to that part of the loom called the "slay board" or
"race," along which the shuttle travels, and more particularly to that part of
the "slay board" which is usually recessed for the reception of the "weft
fork," levers, or prongs, all of which are well-known parts of a loom.
.
The improvements consist in the application and use of a series of vertical
plates (like a grid) in the said space usually left open; the upper edges of
these vertical plates are made level and even with the surface of the "slay
board," and are employed for the purpose of partially filling the said space,
and thereby preventing the weft from falling into it; and also by making the
intervals of space less the shuttle is supported by the edges of the plates
when passing over the space, whereby its course is rendered more perfect, and
the tendency of the shuttle to depart from the "race" is diminished. The
arrangement of vertical plates is also particularly useful when shuttles running
on wheels are employed, as in large wide looms, the feature of the Invention
being the use of plates or equivalents to divide the width of the space into
small intervals, so that as the shuttle passes over it may have the support of
the edges of the plates, which would be the same in effect as if it passed over
a continuous surface.
In order that our Invention may be more clearly and fully understood, we
have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings made about full size.
Figure 1 represents the front elevation of that portion of the "slay" of a
loom in which the levers or prongs of the weft fork move, having adapted
thereto our improved grid or shuttle support, and Figure 2 is a plan view of
the same.
In Figures 1 and 2 a, a, is the "slay," and B the shuttle race or that
portion or surface upon which the shuttle moves in passing from box to box;
c, c, is a opening or recess formed in the slay for the reception of the prongs
of the weft fork.
Our improvements consists in diminishing the extent or width of this
opening by placing therein the vertical plates d, the intervals or spaces between
the plates being for the reception and action of the weft fork, the usually
large gap or opening in the slay being by this means reduced; the vertical
plates d, by which such gap is divided, form supports for the weft and also
for the shuttle when "picking," thereby rendering its course more perfect,
and also insures a more uniform and even pick by reducing the tendency of
the shuttle from departing or flying from its race.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, together with the

page_text: method of carrying the same into practical effect, we wish it to be distinctly
understood, in conclusion, that we claim the novel employment and use of the
vertical plates or grid, as herein-before, described, for the purpose of reducing
the space or opening in that part of the slay board which is usually recessed
for the reception of the weft fork.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Todd, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
PETER TODD. (L.B.)