Improvements in and relating to Loose Reeds, Stop Motions, Shuttle Boxes, Swells, and Sleys of Looms.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 14th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 15th Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Loose Reeds, Stop Motions, Shuttle
Boxes, Swells, and Sleys of Looms.
I, JAMES TURNER of 18, Beddington Street, Nelson, in the County of
Lancaster, Joiner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates more particularly to loose reed looms, and is designed
firstly to provide a ready means for obtaining a vertical and horizontal adjustment
of the sley-cap, so that the height and bevel of the reed may be adjusted at will
with the greatest nicety as may be required. This may be effected by the employ-
ment of shaped brackets having a vertical slot-hole in one leg, and a horizontal
slot-hole in the other. One leg of the bracket is secured by a bolt or screw or
screws to the end of the sley-cap, and the other to the sley sword, for the purposes
above described; or an angle bolt may be used, one end of which is fixed in the
end of the sley cap, and the other in the slot of the sley sword and secured thereto
by adjusting nuts, one on each side of the sword, whereby adjustment may be effected
either vertically or horizontally.
The invention is further designed to relieve the yarn from undue strain when the
shuttle is trapped in the shed. For this purpose, I secure to the stop-rod, a hori-
zontal lever, slightly hooked or suecked at one end, against which a certain amount
of pressure is exerted by the end of a vertical lever, mounted on a stud secured
to the sley-sword. From the vertical lever branches a horizontal arm connected
by a spiral spring to the end of the horizontal lever secured to the stop rod. When
therefore the shuttle is trapped in the shed, the snecked or hooked eud of the
horizontal lever is at once struck above the end of the vertical lever, which being
thus relieved is moved under the horizontal lever out of the way by the action of
the spring connection.
Another arm may branch downwards from below the centre of the vertical lever,
and act against a vertical blade spring, secured to the lower part of the loom
framing, so as to cause the upper end of the vertical lever to bear against the
hooked end of the horizontal lever, whilst the sley is being moved by the action of
the crank from the bottom round the back to the top centre; thereby dispensing
with the organ handle and bow spring usually used to tighten the back rib against
the reed at this time.
In another arrangement for releasing the yarn from undue strain when the shuttle
is trapped in the shed, I secure to the stop rod a lever, which projects downwards,
and is connected at its lower end by a stud or by toothed quadrants to another
lever. The extremity of this lever is connected by a spring to the sley, or to the
upper end of the sley sword, or to an horizontal arm secured to the stop-rod.
When the reed is in place, the tension of the spring is on one side of the centre
or centres of the lever or levers exerting the greatest pressure upon the reed, but
instantly the reed is struck the stop-rod causes the extremity of the lower lever to
radiate, bringing with it the end of the spring under the centre of the lever, or
even transferring it on the other side thereof, so as to reduce or reverse the
tension of the spring upon the stop-rod.
It frequently occurs in loose reed looms, that when the reed is thrown out of
place, the stop-rod finger fails to rise sufficiently to strike the projection secured
to the spring handle to throw the latter from its detent, consequently the looms
continues to run with the shuttle in the shed. Now to obviate this objection, I fix
another projection below the other with a passage between the two.
Into this

page_text: passage the stop-rod tongue enters when the reed is in place, but should the reed
be thrown out, and the stop rod tongue fails to strike the upper projection on the
spring handle, it will strike the lower projection on the return movement of the
sley, and throw the spring handle from its detent, being in its lowest position, when
the reed is out.
The next part of my invention consists in attaching a slotted bracket to the fork
lever.
In the slot of this bracket, the spring handle is capable of traversing. When
the said handle is thrown from its detent to stop the loom, it carries with it the
weft fork lever and applies the brake. The spring handle having thus arrived at
the opposite end of the slot, the weft fork lever may then be returned to its original
position to relieve the brake, sufficient space being allowed in the slot at this end
for this purpose.
The next part of my invention consists of a bracket cast or otherwise fixed to
the sley sword and extending forwards to support and stiffen the front part of
the sley.
The next part of my invention is designed to dispense with the wooden box back
of the sley, and to substitute therefor one of iron of novel construction. This iron
box-back is fixed, at one end, by a bolt or the like to the sley sword, whilst the
other end projects along the back of the sley plate say six or eight inches. At this
end is formed a place for the attachment of a shuttle guide, and another for the
free end of the swell to rest against when unaffected by the shuttle. The heel of
the swell is mounted an adjustable or fixed stud, secured to the sley plate, or to the
body of the sley beneath. By this arrangement of the box back, fluff and grease
have no tendency to accumulate, and consequently fewer grease spots and fluff lumps
are thrown from the box into the shed.
The next part of my invention consists of a spring swell, attached to, and so as
to act in conjunction with the flap of a loose reed loom. The flap is mounted upon
a stud, secured to the sley plate or sley. Near to the stud-end of the flap is a
lateral projection, to which a blade spring is fixed, and suitably bent, so as to
project partially round the heel of the Hap, and present a swell or facing on the
contrary side of the stud to that of the flap, to impart the requisite resistance to
the shuttle, and prevent its rebound. This arrangement of spring swell being
attached to the flap also exerts the required degree of tension to retain the flap in
position. On the top of the flap stud may be fixed a small bracket, to which a
shuttle guide may be secured.
In another arrangement of swell, I form a kind of knuckle joint at the heel, and
the parts composing the joint are held together by the tension of a spring, whilst
the said spring is made to apply sufficient tension on the swell to check and
steady the shuttle in the box.
The next part of my invention relates to fast and loose reed combinations. To
the stop rod are secured fingers, which project upwards to carry the back-rib to
bear against the reed, and retain it in position similar to the ordinary loose reed
loom. On each end of the stoprod is loosely mounted a L shaped lever, the
vertical arm of which bears against the swell, whilst the horizontal arms of each
L shaped lever respectively are secured together by a cross bar or stay to obtain
uniformity of action. To the sley is secured a rocking shaft carrying suitable
levers. These levers lock the "duck bills" and stop rod, when the shuttle is
properly boxed, but when the shuttle is absent from the box, the cross-bar con-
necting the two horizontal arms of the shaped levers falls, and being carried
forward by the sley strikes a projection or "frog" upon the loom framing to impart
motion to the locking levers, to release the reed, and allow the sley to continue its
motion until it is arrested by the weft brake.
The invention also relates to a novel construction of a box end spring, which may
be secured to the sley in the ordinary manner by a bolt, and project some distance
downwards below its attachment, when it is bent so as to project upwards to act
upon the end of the loom spindle similar to that of an ordinary box end spring.

page_text: A tightening screw may also be applied to impart more or less tension to the spring
as may be required.
Dated this 13th dor of Me 1800
THOS. RICHMOND,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Loose Reeds, Stop Motions, Shuttle
Boxes, Swells, and Sleys of Looms.
I, JAMES TURNER of 18, Beddington Street, Nelson, in the County of
Lancaster, Joiner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates more particularly to loose reed looms, and is designed
firstly to provide a ready means for obtaining a vertical and horizontal adjustment
of the sley cap, so that the height and bevel of the reed may be adjusted at will
with the greatest nicety as may be required. This may be effected by the employ-
ment of shaped brackets having a vertical slot hole in one leg, and a horizontal
slot hole in the other. One leg of the bracket is secured by a bolt or screw or
screws to the end of the sley cap, and the other to the sley sword for the purposes
above described; or an angle bolt may be used, one end of which is fixed in the
end of the sley cap, and the other in the slot of the sley sword and secured thereto
by adjusting nuts, one on each side, whereby adjustment may be effected either
vertically or horizontally.
The invention is further designed to relieve the yarn from undue strain when
the shuttle is trapped in the shed. For this purpose, I secure to the stop rod a
horizontal lever, slightly hooked or snecked at one end, against which a certain
amount of pressure is exerted by the end of a vertical lever, mounted on a stud,
secured to the sley sword. From this vertical lever branches a horizontal arm
connected by a spiral spring to the end of the horizontal lever secured to the stop-
rod.
When, therefore, the shuttle is trapped in the shed, the snecked or hooked end
of the horizontal lever is at once struck against the end of the vertical lever, which
being thus relieved is moved under the horizontal lever, out of the way by the
action of the spring connection.
Another arm may branch downwards from below the centre of the vertical
lever, and act against a vertical blade spring, secured to the lower part of the loom
framing, so as to cause the upper end of the vertical lever to bear against the
hooked end of the horizontal lever, whilst the sley is being moved by the action
of the crank from the bottom, round the back to the top centre; thereby dispensing
with the organ handle and the bow spring usually used to tighten the back rib
against the reed at this time.
In another arrangement for releasing the yarn from undue strain when the
shuttle is trapped in the shed, I secure to the stop rod a lever, which projects
downwards, and is connected at its lower end by a stud or by toothed quadrants
to another lever. The extremity of this lever is connected by a spring to the sley,
or to the upper end of the sley-sword, or to a horizontal arm secured to the stop
rod.
When the reed is in place, the tension of the spring is on one side of the
centre or centres of the lever or levers exerting the greatest pressure upon the reed,
but instantly the reed is struck, the stop rod causes the extremity of the lower
lever to radiate, bringing with it the end of the spring under the centre of the
lever, or even transferring it to the other side thereof, so as to reduce or reverse
the tension of the spring upon the stop rod.
It frequently occurs in loose reed looms, that when the reed is thrown out of
place, the stop-rod finger fails to rise sufficiently to strike the projection secured

page_text: to the spring haudle to throw the latter from its detent, consequently the loom
continues to run with the shuttle in the shed. Now to obviate this objection, I
fix another projection below the other, with a passage between the two. Into this
passage, the stop-rod tongue enters when the reed is in place, but should the reed
be thrown out and the stop rod tongue fails to strike the upper projection on the
spring handle, it will strike the lower projection on the return movement of the
sley, and throw the spring handle from its detent, being in its lowest position when
the reed is out.
The next part of my invention consists of a bracket cast or otherwise fixed to the
sley sword, and extending forwards to support and stiffen the front part of the
sley.
At
The next part of my invention is designed to dispense with the wooden box back
of the sley, and to substitute therefor one of iron of novel construction. This iron
box back is fixed, at one end by a bolt or the like to the sley sword, whilst the
other end projects along the back of the sley plate, say six or eight inches.
this end is formed a place for the attachment of a shuttle guide, and another for
the free end of the swell to rest against, when unaffected by the shuttle. The heel
of the swell is mounted upon an adjustable or fixed stud secured to the sley plate
or to the body of the sley beneath. By this arrangement of box back fluff and
grease have no tendency to accumulate, and consequently fewer grease spots and
fluff lumps are thrown from the box into the shed.
The next part of my invention consists of an arrangement of swell and bracket
for shuttle guide. This arrangement of swell is slightly different to that described
in my Provisional Specification, as in such Specification the swell is described as
acting in conjunction with the flap of a loose reed loom. I, therefore, disclaim any
right to such arrangement, except as regards the method of securing the swell
and bracket for shuttle guide as is hereinafter described and illustrated.
In another arrangement of swell, I form a kind of knuckle joint at the heel, and
the parts composing the joint are held together by the tension of a spring, whilst
the said spring is made to apply sufficient tension on the swell to check and
steady the shuttle in the box.
The next part of my invention relates to fast and loose reed combinations. To
the stop rod are secured fingers, which project upwards to carry the back rib to
bear against the reed, and retain it in position similar to the ordinary loose reed
loom.
On each end of the stop rud is loosely mounted a L shaped lever, the vertical arm
of which bears against the swell, whilst the horizontal arms of each shaped lever
respectively are secured together by a cross bar or stay to obtain uniformity of
action. To the sley is secured a rocking shaft carrying suitable levers. These
levers lock the "duck bills" and stop rod, when the shuttle is properly boxed, but
when the shuttle is absent from the box the cross bar connecting the two horizontal
arms of the shaped lever falls, and being carried forward by the sley strikes a
projection or frog upon the loom framing to impart motion to the locking
levers to release the reed, and allow the sley to continue its motion until it is
arrested by the weft brake.
"
"
And in order that my invention may be properly understood, and readily
carried into practical effect, I have hereunto attached the accompanying sheet of
drawings, reference being had to the figures and letters marked thereon, the same
letters referring to the same parts in the various views and figures.
Figs. 1 and 2 shew my improved arrangements for obtaining a vertical and
horizontal adjustment of the sley cap, whereby the height and bevel of the reed
may be adjusted to the greatest nicety. A is a L shaped bracket having slots in
each leg and secured by bolt A' to sley cap A and by bolt A' to the sley
sword A, the slots in the ✓ shaped bracket permitting of the horizontal and
vertical movement as already described.
Fig. 3 shews the employment of an angle bolt for the same purpose. B is the
angle bolt secured at one end of the sley cap A' by tightening the nut B¹ against

page_text: the clamp piece B', which spans the sley cap, whilst the other end of the angle
bolt protrudes through the sley sword A, to which it is secured on either side by
nuts Band B'.
Figs. 4 and 5 shew my improved arrangement of mechanism for relieving the
yarn from undue strain, when the shuttle is trapped in the shed. In Fig. 4, C is a
horizontal lever, secured to the stop rod C, and having a hooked or snecked end C,
against which a certain amount of pressure is exerted by the end of vertical lever C
mounted on the stud C' secured to a suitable bracket C' fixed to the aley sword.
Branching from the vertical lever is a horizontal arm D connected by a spiral
spring D to the horizontal lever C. When, therefore, the shuttle is trapped in the
shed, the snecked or hooked end C of the horizontal lever C is at once struck
against the end of the vertical lever C, which being thus relieved is moved under
the horizontal lever C, out of the way by the action of the spring connection.
Acting against a continuation of the vertical lever C is a vertical blade
spring D, which is secured to the loom side by the adjustable bracket D. This
blade spring D causes the upper end of the vertical lever C to bear against the
hooked end of the horizontal lever C, thereby tightening the back rib against the
reed, whilst the sley is being moved by the action of the crank from the bottom,
round the back to the top centre, and dispensing with the usual organ handle and
bowspring.
The next part of my invention for the same purpose as the foregoing is shewn in
Fig. 5. I secure to the stop rod C¹ toothed quadrant E. In gear with the latter
is another toothed quadrant E', having an arm E' projecting downwards, the
extremity of which is secured by a spring E to a projection E cast to quadrant E'.
So long as the reed is in place, the tension of the spring is on that side of the
centres of the quadrants E¹ and E', which exerts the greatest pressure upon the
reed, but instantly the reed is struck, the stop rod C causes the extremity of
the arm E to radiate, thereby bringing with it the tension of the spring E' under
its centre or even transferring the pressure to the other side of the centres of the
quadrants E' and E. so as to reduce or reverse the tension of the spring E upon
the stop rod C, and allow the reed to be thrown out.
In Fig. 6 is shewn my arrangement of mechanism for ensuring certainty of action
of the stop rod finger in striking the projection secured to the spring handle, to
throw the latter from its detent.
I provide the spring handle F with two projections F and F with a passage
between the two. Into this passage, the stop rod finger Fenters when the reed
is in place, but should the reed be thrown out, and the stop rod finger fails to strike
the upper projection F¹ on the spring handle, it will strike the lower projection F*
on the return movement of the sley, and throw the spring handle from its detent.
In the same view is seen the next part of my invention consisting of the bracket G
cast or otherwise fixed to the sley sword G', and extending forward to support or
stiffen the front part of the sley.
The next part of my invention is illustrated in Fig. 7 and is designed to dispense
with the wooden box back of the sley, and substitute therefor one of iron of novel
construction. H is the iron box back fixed at its end H¹ by a plate or the like to
the sley sword H*, its other end projecting along the back of the sley plate H'
about 6 or 8 inches. At this end is formed a bracket H for the attachment of the
shuttle guide H³, whilst a space is also formed for the free end H of the swell to
rest against when unaffected by the shuttle, whilst the heel of the swell is mounted
upon an adjustable or fixed stud H' secured to the sley plate H, or to the body of
the sley beneath. By this novel construction and arrangement of the box back,
fluff and grease lumps will have no tendency to accumulate, and consequently fewer
grease spots and fluff' lumps are thrown from the box into the shed.
Two arrangements of the adjustable stud for regulating the swell are shewn in
Figs. 8 and 9. The adjustable stud I arranged to slide on the head of a bracket I'
is adjustable to any degree by the nut 1*. The lower portion of the bracket I' is
adjustable to any degree by the nut I. The lower portion of the bracket is slotted,

page_text: and protrudes through the body of the sley (as seen in Fig. 7) and is secured by a
nut so as to permit of vertical as well as horizontal adjustment. In Fig. 9 the
adjustable stud for regulating the swell is in the form of a screw stud I, which is
introduced through a slot in the head of the bracket I', along which it is slid and
regulated..
Fig. 10 illustrates my arrangement of a swell and bracket. The swell J is
secured in a recess in the box back J' by means of a stud J, which also secures the
small bracket J³, to which the shuttle guide is fixed.
Another method of fixing the swell and shuttle guide is shewn in Figs. 11
and 12. In these views, the box back J' and small bracket J' is cast in one piece,
whilst the stud J to secure the swell J is introduced at the bottom of the hox back.
Figs. 13 and 14 are plan aud elevation respectively of my arrangement of swell
formed into a kind of knuckle joint at its heel. K is the swell formed into a kind
of knuckle joint, by being cast with a stud K', which penetrates a semicircular
casting K fixed to the box back. Round the heel of the swell is bent blade
spring K, which is secured to the cast stud of the swell by set screw K' and
proceeds forward to bear against the fore part of the swell, in such a manner as to
apply sufficient tension or spring on the swell to check and steady the shuttle in the
"box. A small slot is left in the semicircular casting K' to permit of the free
movement of the set screw and spring.
The arrangement is slightly modified in Figs. 15 and 16. In these views, the
knuckle joint is formed by a bracket secured to the box back by bolt L and having
a semicircular projection L' formed at one end, which partially envelops the cast
stud L of the swell L. Introduced between the bracket and the box back is a
small blade spring, which bears against the underside of the cast stud L* sufficiently
to apply the requisite tension or spring to the swell.
The next part of my invention relating to fast and loose reed combinations is
illustrated in Figs. 17, 18 and 19. To the stop rod are secured fingers M (seen in
Fig. 18) which project upwards to carry the back rib to bear against the reed N,
and retain it in position similar to the ordinary loose reed loom.
On each end of the stop rod O is loosely mounted a L shaped lever O' (seen in
Fig. 19) the vertical arm of which bears against the swell P, whilst the horizontal
arm of each shaped lever respectively is secured together by a cross-bar or
stay to obtain uniformity of action. To the sley is secured a rocking shaft R,
carrying suitable levers or locking device R'. These levers R' lock the reed in
position (as seen in Figs. 17 and 18) when the shuttle is properly boxed, but when
the shuttle is absent from the box, the cross bar Q connecting the two horizontal
arms of the shaped levers O' falls, and allows the U shaped spring connection S
also to fall from pressure exerted by blade spring S'. This U shaped spring
connection strikes the projection or frog T upon the loom framing, and with the
motion of the sley bangs against the raised portion U of the rocking shaft R,
thereby unlocking the levers R₁ from the fingers M (seen in Fig. 18) which now
release the reed, and allow the sley to continue its motion until it is arrested by the
weft brake.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The means for obtaining a horizontal or vertical adjustment of the sley cap,
substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
2. The arrangement of mechanism for relieving the yarn from undue strain when
the shuttle is trapped in the shed, substantially as described and illustrated in
Figs. 4 and 5.
3. Providing the spring handle with two projections and a recess between the
two, substantially as described and illustrated in Fig: 6 for the purpose set forth.
4. A bracket cast or otherwise fixed to the sley sword to stiffen and support the
front part of the sley, substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 6,

page_text: 3. The novel arrangement and construction of iron box back, substantially as
described and illustrated in Fig. 7.
6. Adjustable studs illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 for permitting of horizontal and
vertical adjustment of the swell, substantially as described and illustrated.
7. The construction and arrangement of swell, stud and bracket for shuttle guide,
substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12.
8. The construction and arrangement of knuckle jointed swells, together with the
mode or method of applying spring pressure thereto, substantially as described and
illustrated in Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 16.
9. The novel construction and arrangement of fast and loose reed combinations,
substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 17, 18 and 19.
DL
1902
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.