IMPROVE MENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Bullough, of Baxenden, near, Accrington, in
the County of Lancaster, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE
MENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
Sealed the 7th October 1864, and dated the 14th April 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Bullough at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th
April 1864.
I, JAMES BULLOUGH, of Baxenden, near Accrington, in the County of
Lancaster, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," to be as follows:
First, I apply to the loom for weaving certain improved arrangements for
causing it to stop sooner after the breakage or absence of the weft than has
been heretofore accomplished. For this purpose I place a slide or rod on or
near the slay cap, breast beam, or other convenient place, which rod extends
across the warp or yarn, and is provided with a number of forks or combs.
This rod is held in bearings, and is caused at the proper time after the shuttle,
has passed to make part of a revolution by attaching it to one or more levers,
wheels, straps, or cords worked by one or more eccentrics on the tappet or

page_text: crank shaft of the loom. This motion of the rod brings the combs or forks
in contact so as to bring the combs or forks in contact with the weft,
thereby forcing it back towards the reed. The weft feelers then descend
and stop the loom or not as heretofore according to the presence or absence
of the weft. But it is evident that these weft feelers can begin to descend
sooner than they could when they had to remain up till the advance of
the slay had brought the reed up to the pick. Thus the machinery which
stops the loom by the breaking or absence of the weft is put into action
sooner relatively to the position of the slay than that arrangement specified in
a Patent dated May 14, 1861, No. 1225, granted to myself and John
Bullough, and the parts for checking the slay from beating up the pick or
part of a pick have more time to act. I modify this arrangement by placing
the shuttle eye next to or fronting the reed, so that the weft is at once
delivered close to the reed, and the weft feelers can descend immediately the
shuttle has passed, that is, without waiting for the reed coming to the weft,
as was the case when the shuttle eye was on the side of the shuttle farthest
from the reed. In order to prevent the breakage of weft which might be
caused by this mode of working by the rubbing of the weft between the
shuttle and backboard or slay sword, I face the latter with leather or 'india-
rubber, or other slightly yielding material, and lengthen the groove in the
shuttle. I also insert leather or other suitable material at each end of the
race where the shuttle wheels run over the weft."
In another arrangement I place at each side of the loom a bobbin at the
back of the slay, and one in front of the slay, which bobbins are connected
by threads which pass through the reed nearly on a level with its upper edge.
Below each of these bobbins I have another bobbin, also connected by threads
passing through the reed. The upper set of threads are stationary, and the
lower set have two motions. First, they are made to rise and fall in the reed
the same as so many yarn threads. By so doing they intersect the weft and
take up any slackness in it. They also sustain the weft, and enable it to
stop the weft feelers in their descent; secondly, they have a horizontal-to-and-
fro motion, by which the weft is brought close up to the reed, thus as before
enabling the weft feelers to descend without waiting for the advance of the
reed. This to-and-fro motion, is obtained by giving the lower pairs of bobbins
a to-and-fro revolving motion, and instead of bobbins sector levers might be
used for giving this motion to the threads. It may not be necessary in all
cases to place these threads at both sides of the loom, but whether at one or
both sides they should be placed. so near the shuttle box as never to require
moving, whatever width of cloth is being woven; and when desired, I place

page_text: one or more vertical weft feelers at any part of the reed between these out--
side threads, and in all cases of weaving fabrics where one revolution of the
tappet shaft gives more than two picks, I have twice as many eccentrics or
weft feeler lifters or depressers to each weft feeler as there are picks in.
one.revolution..
Each spring is coiled round
to it. At the other end the
. Secondly, I employ certain improvements for facilitating the setting on of
the loom after it has stopped through breakage of weft or its absence. Here--
tofore the weaver has had to lift the weft feelers to prevent them stopping the
loom till a pick has been thrown across. For this purpose I make. use of a
rod or small shaft which reaches across the loom at or near the top.. On this
shaft I put a spiral spring. to every weft. feeler.
the shaft, and. has one of its ends. made fast
springs are cranked, and stand up from the rod in position for raising the
weft. feelers. Now the loom having stopped from breakage or absence of
weft, it is necessary that all the weft feelers should be brought to a certain
height before the loom can be set on again. To the rod above described is a
suitable connection convenient to the operator, which he uses before or in the
act of setting the loom on to give the rod part of a turn. By so doing the
cranked ends of the springs are brought in contact with the wires, chains, or
strings which suspend. the weft feelers. In those strings which are tight,
whose weft feelers are sufficiently raised, the springs yield to them, but those
strings which are slack, whose weft feelers are too low, yield to the springs
till the weft, feelers are raised sufficiently to allow the loom to be.set on. Or
instead of the springs described above I hinge an L-lever opposite the sus-
pending string.of each weft feeler. These levers are so weighted as to have:
a tendency to fall forward against. these suspending strings, but are prevented
doing so by a wire going underneath the heavier arm. When the weaver
sets the loom on this wire is withdrawn and the levers fall forward. As
before stated, these strings are tight or slack as the weft feelers are suffi-
ciently high or not.. When not sufficiently high, the: levér pressing against
the slack. string tightens it, and in so doing raises the weft feeler sufficiently.
to allow the loom to be set on.
7
Thirdly, I modify the common calico loom weft motion: so as to make it
suitable for woollen and other looms.. The fork consists: either of one prong
only which goes into a nick in the slay, or it has more than one prong, but
only one working in the slay. This fork is not new, but I modify it by
making its preponderating end straight or merely bevilled, suitably to act.in
a recess of a finger when it.is required to stop.. the loom. The stem of the
fork is fastened to what is commonly known as the sector or weft fork hammer,

page_text: and this sector is worked by a suitable form of eccentric placed on the tappet
shaft or its substitute.. Thus the fork will have a to-and-fro motion, the
object of which is to enable the loom to be stopped as the slay is advancing
The fork follows, the slay as it recedes from the cloth, makes a short dwell to
allow the weft brought by the slay in its return to act on the fork, then falls
back somewhat quicker than the slay itself. If the weft is absent, the fork
protrudes through the grate. in the usual way, and its heavier end is not lifted;
the consequence of which is that it comes in contact with a finger, which is
connected by a chain, cord, or shaft to the knocking-off handle. By thus
meeting the weft the fork has time to put the knocking-off parts into action
before the slay has advanced so far as to knock the pick or part of a pick
up. This arrangement may be applied, at one or both sides of the loom
with one or more vertical weft notions intermediately placed. I may also
remark tliat instead of having one prong of the fork working in a.nick in the
slay I can use the angle stationary wire-weft lifter as described in the Patent
dated May 14, 1861, before alluded to.
Fourthly, I employ certain improvements for enabling a loom to make
more picks per minute without interfering with the time in which the shuttle
does its work. For this purpose I put an. eccentric on the crank or tappet
shaft, which works, an L lever which is in contact with the driving strap.
The motion of the eccentric acting on this lever is so timed that when the
shuttle: is safe home in the box this lever immediately tightens the strap.
When the shuttle is about to cross the race the pressure of this lever is
removed, and the strap is slackened, thereby causing the loom to slacken its
speed till the shuttle has got safe across, thus the speed is alternately quick
and slow according to the position of the shuttle. With the same object I
have the driving pulley on the crank shaft slightly eccentric, that is to say,
that part of the palley 'which drives the loom while the slay moves from
the top to the bottom centre is a little larger than the other part. But it
must be understood that I do not seek to gain or lose speed by these different
sizes, except in so far as they slacken or tighten the strap. The difference in
diameter of the two parts being very small would only give a trifling variation
of speed, and would gain and lose speed at the wrong time, but the difference
in the tightness of the strap. rectifies this, and gives and loses speed at the
right time and in sufficient quantity. The eccentric pulley and the L. lever
above described may be worked in combination..
}

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Bullough in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th October 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
5. BULLOUGH, of Baxenden, near Accrington, in the County. Lancaster, Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me,
the said James Bullough, Her special license that I, the said James
Bullough, my executors; administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Bullough, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
5. 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said James Bullough, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one 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 James Bullough, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say) :-
First, I apply to the loom for weaving certain improved arrangements for
causing it to stop sooner after the breakage or absence of the weft than has
been heretofore accomplished. For this purpose I place a rod or shaft on or
near the reed cap, breast beam, or other convenient place, which rod extends
across the warp or yarn and is provided with one or more forks or combs.
This rod is held in bearings and is caused at the proper time after the shuttle
has passed to make part of a revolution by attaching it to one or more levers,
wheels, straps, or cords worked by one or more eccentrics on the tappet or
crank shaft of the loom. This motion of the rod brings the combs or forks in
contact with the weft, thereby forcing it back towards the reed. The weft
"

page_text: feelers, described in the Specification of an Invention for which Letters Patent
were granted to myself and John Bullough dated the Fourteenth day of May,
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, Number. 1225, then descend and
cause the stoppage of the loom or not as heretofore, according to the presence
'or absence of the weft. But it is evident that these weft feelers can begin to
descend sooner than they could when they had to remain up till the advance
of the slay had brought the reed up to the pick. Thus the machinery which
stops the loom by the breakage or absence of the weft is put into action sooner
relatively to the position of the slay than in the arrangements specified in the
Patent before alluded to, or in the Patent granted to myself dated the Eleventh
day of December One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, Number 3120,
and the parts for checking the slay from beating up the pick or part of a pick
have more time to act. I modify this arrangement by placing the shuttle eye
of the shuttle next to or fronting the reed, so that the weft is at once delivered
close to the reed and thereby allow the weft feeler at the side where the shuttle
is entering the box to descend immediately the shuttle has passed, that is, with-
out waiting for the reed coming to the weft, as was the case when the shuttle
eye was on the side of the shuttle farthest from the reed. In order to prevent
the breaking of weft which might be caused by this mode of working by the
rubbing of the weft between the shuttle and backboard or slay sword, I
face the latter with leather, or india-rubber, or other slightly yielding material,
and lengthen the groove in the shuttle. I also insert leather or other suitable
material at each end of the race where the shuttle wheels run over the
weft.
:
.
In another arrangement I place at each side of the loom a stud or bobbin
on the framework behind the slay and one in front of the breast beam, which
bobbins are connected by threads passing through a grid in the backboard or
plate between the reed and the shuttle box, the said threads being nearly at
the top of the grid. Below each of these studs or bobbins I have another
bobbin, also connected by threads passing through the aforesaid grid. The
upper set of threads are stationary, and the lower set have two motions; first,
they are made to rise and fall in the grid the same as so many yarn threads,
by so doing they intersect the weft and take up any slackness in it; they also
sustain the weft and enable it to stop the weft feelers in their descent. Secondly,
they have a horizontal to-and-fro motion, by which the weft before clasped by
the intersection of the threads is brought nearly close to the reed, thus, as
before, enabling the weft feelers to descend without waiting for the advance of
the reed as effectually as was accomplished by the forks or combs. This to-
and-fro motion is obtained by giving the lower pairs of bobbins a to-and-

page_text: fro revolving motion, and instead of bobbins sector levers might be used for
giving this motion to the threads; and also, instead of only giving motion to
the lower threads, both sets of threads may have motion imparted to them.
It may not be necessary in all cases to place these threads at both sides of the
loom, but whether at one or both sides they should be placed so near the
shuttle box as never to require moving whatever width of cloth is being woven,
and when desired I place one or more vertical weft feelers at any part of the
reed between these outside threads, and in, all cases of weaving fabrics where
one-revolution of the tappet shaft gives more than two picks I have as many
eccentrics or weft feeler lifters or depressers to each weft feeler as there are
picks in one revolution of the tappet shaft.
Secondly, I employ, certain improvements for facilitating the setting.on of
the loom after it has stopped through breakage or absence of weft. Heretofore
the weaver has had to lift the weft feelers one after the other to prevent them
from stopping the loom until a pick has been thrown across; but now I make
use, of a small shaft or rod which reaches across the loom at or near the top.
On this shaft I place a spiral spring to every weft feeler; each spring is coiled
round the shaft and has one of its ends made fast to it, at the other end the
springs are cranked and stand up from the rod in position for tightening the
cords and raising the weft feelers. Now the loom having stopped from breakage
or absence of weft, it is necessary that all the weft feelers should be brought to a
certain height before the loom can be set on again. To the aforesaid shaft is
fixed one or more arms or handles convenient to the operator, which he uses
before or in the act of setting the loom on to give the rod part of a turn. By so
doing the cranked ends of the springs are brought in contact with the wires,
chains, or strings which suspend the weft feelers. In those strings which are
tight, whose weft feelers are sufficiently raised, the springs yield to them, but
those strings which are slack, whose weft feelers are too low, yield to the
springs until the weft feclers are raised sufficiently to allow the loom to be set on,
Or instead of the springs before described I hinge on the rod an L lever having
a vertical arm and a weighted horizontal arm opposite the suspending string
of each weft feeler. These levers are so weighted as to cause the vertical arms
to have a tendency to fall forward against these suspended strings, but but are
prevented doing so until required by other levers or arms, fixed to the rod
below the heavier arms of the L levers. When the weaver turns the rod and
sets the loom on, each fixed arm or lever is withdrawn from the weighted
of each L lever and allows the vertical arm to fall forward and tighten the
string and take up the weft feeler when the said string is slack, but when the
strings are tight they keep the vertical arms upright and prevent the weighted
arm

page_text: arms from falling to shift the vertical arms until the strings are slack. 'A's
'before stated, these strings are tight or slack as the weft feelers are sufficiently
high or not. When not sufficiently bigh the lever pressing against the slack
string tightens it, and in so doing raises the weft feeler sufficiently to allow
'the loom to be set on.
»
Thirdly, I modify the common calico loom weft. motion so as to make it
suitable for woollen and other looms. The fork consists either of one prong
only, which goes into a nick in the slay, or it has more than one prong with
either one or more working in the slay. This fork is not new, as it is described
in the first of the Patents before alluded to; but I modify it by making its
preponderating end straight or merely bevilled suitably to act in a recess of á
finger connected with the knocking-off motion when it is required to stop the
loom. Or instead of making its preponderating end of one piece, I cause it
to act on one or more levers, the end of the outer one acting in a recess of a
finger connected to the knocking-off motion. The stem of the fork is fastened
to what is commonly known as the sector or weft fork hammer, and this sector
is worked by a suitable form of eccentric placed on the tappet shaft, or its
substitute, thus the fork will have a to-and-fro motion, the object of which is
to enable the loom to be stopped as the slay is advancing; the fork follows
the slay as it recedes from the cloth, makes a short dwell to allow the weft
brought by the slay in its return to act on the fork, then falls back somewliat
quicker than the slay itself. If the weft is absent the fork protrudes through
the grate in the usual way and its heavier end is not lifted, the consequence
of which is that it comes in contact with a lever which is connected by a
chain, cord, or shaft to the knocking-off handle; by thus meeting the weft
the fork has time to put the knocking-off parts into action before the slay bas
advanced so far as to knock the pick or part of a pick up. This arrangement
may be applied at one or both sides of the loom, with one or more vertical
weft motions intermediately placed. I may also remark that instead of having
one prong of the fork working in a nick in the slay I can use the angle
stationary wire weft lifter, as described in the Patent, dated the Fourteenth
day of May One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, before alluded to.
Fourthly, I employ certain improvements for enabling a loom to make more
picks per minute without interfering with the time in which the shuttle does
its work. For this purpose I put a tappet or eccentric on the crank shaft,
which works an L lever carrying a bowl, which is in contact with the driving
strap. The motion of the tappet or eccentric acting on this lever is so`timed
that when the shuttle is safe home in the box, this lever immediately tightens
the strap, and when the shuttle is about to cross the race, the pressure of this

page_text: lever is removed and the strap is slackened, thereby causing the loom to
slacken its speed till the shuttle has got safe across, thus the speed is alter-
nately quick and slow, according to the position of the shuttle. With the
same object I fix on the driving pulley on the cranked shaft a curved pro-
jection or tightener, that is to say, that part of the pulley which drives, the
loom, while the slay moves from the top to the bottom centre, has a lump or
projection upon it; but it must be understood that I do not seek to gain or
lose speed by this projection, except in so far as it slackens or tightens the
strap. The difference in diameter of the two parts being very small would
only give a trifling variation of speed, and would gain and lose speed at the
wrong time; but the difference in the tightness of the strap rectifies this, and
gives and loses speed at the right time and in sufficient quantity. The pulley
with the. tightener and the L lever above described may be
combination.
worked in
These improvements will be clearly understood by referring to the figures
and letters on the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is
an end elevation of part of a loom provided with weft feelers, and also my
improved forks or combs, and one arrangement for working them; Figs. 2
and 3 are end and front elevations, shewing one arrangement of the bobbins
and threads for intersecting and moving the weft, and also one mode of raising
the weft féelers; Figs. 4 and 5 are end and front views of another contrivance
for giving motion to the forks or combs; Fig. 6, an end view of another mode
of raising the weft feelers; Fig. 7, an end view of my improved arrangements
for tightening and slackening the driving strap of the loom; Figs. 8 and 9
are end and front elevations of part of a loom having at the middle a weft
feeler, and at each end of the warp one of my improved weft forks and parts
connected with them; Fig. 10, a plan of the same, and also shewing a shuttle
with the eye facing the reed; Fig. 11 is an end view of a modification of the
heavier end of the weft fork.
In one or other of the Figures a represents the end frames of the loom;
b, the crank shaft; c, the slay or batten; d, the slay swords; e; the breast
beam; f, the reed;.g, the reed cap; and h, the tappet shaft. In the loom,
parts of which are shewn in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, weft feelers only are the means of
putting in action the stopping apparatus; and it is for the purpose of enabling
these feelers to find the weft more quickly that I employ my improved forks
or combs, and the feelers are raised by strings, levers, and tappets in the same
manner as described in the Specification of the Patents before alluded to, and
the feelers are made to act upon any suitable arrangement of levers and con-
nections for moving the setting-on rod out of its detent and shifting the

page_text: driving strap from the fast to the loose pulley, and also for acting on the
.sliding bar and brakes, the clutch box, the vibrating lever or levers, and parts
connected therewith, described in the Patent of the Eleventh day of December,
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, for stopping the loom without
prejudicial shock or concussion before the reed can beat up the last pick or a
portion of a pick.
One of my improved, forks or combs for bringing the weft close up to the
<reed is represented in Figs. 1, 4, and 5, but I employ any convenient number
of them, or one for each weft feeler.. The said forks or combs are shewn at i,
they are jointed to the bottom of bent holders k fixed to a shaft 7 working in
bearings on the top of the reed cap 9, and the forks or combs are held to the
holders by india-rubber rings m, or other springs, so that the combs may be
sufficiently firm to take the weft to the reed, but, will yield if they come in
contact with the fabric or shuttle, or any other obstruction. The combs' move
to the position shewn by the dotted lines, Fig. 4, after the shuttle has passed
through the shed, and it is evident that there are various ways for giving, the
-to-and-fro oscillating motion to the combs. One arrangement for, this purpose
is, shewn in Fig. 1.... To one end of the shaft is fixed an. arm and stud o,
and loose on the shaft there is an L lever, having a vertical arm p projecting
downwards, and a horizontal arm q carrying a weight or attached to a spring.
On the crank shaft b is fixed the cam s, which acts on a bowl on the lever t
working on the fulcrum, u, the front end of the lever being 'hooked as at v,
and as the cam revolves that, end of the lever moves up and down. If when
the slay is moving back the vertical arm comes in contact with the hooked
end v, it moves forward loose on the shaft and clears the hook; after which
the weight or spring, connected to the horizontal arm q. brings the vertical
arm p against the stud, so that when the slay comes forwards the vertical arm
shall act upon the fixed arm o and turn the shaft l, and bring the combs, and
consequently the weft, close up to the reed, and thereby enable the feelers to
find the pick of weft or detect its absence very shortly after it has been thrown
across, in consequence of the pick meeting the reed; after which the hook, v
is depressed as, the lever t follows the cams, and the spring w reverses the
shaft and places the combs in their forward position ready for a fresh
operation.
Another arrangement for working the combs is shewn in Figs. 4 and 5.
The shaft at the top of the reed cap passes through a hole in the bracket.
fixed to the backboard of the slay, and carries a pinion y gearing into a
.toothed wheel fixed to a short shaft a working in the bracket and car;
ying an L lever, having a vertical arm b' projecting upwards, and a

page_text: horizontal arm c provided with a weight or spring. The said L' lever is loose
on the short shaft a', and can move forwards without interruption, but it is
prevented from moving the reverse way by means of a stop on the short shaft:
To the framework of the loom is fixed the catch d', in such a position that
when the, slay moves back the vertical arm 6 shall come in contact with the
catch d' and be moved forwards until it arrives at the back of the catch, and
then the weighted arm brings it against the stop, so that when the slay moves
forwards the catch shall pull the vertical arm and turn the short shaft, and
bring by means of the gearing the combs close to the reed, as shewn by the
dotted lines, there being a spring e¹ to return the combs to their original
forward position.
In another arrangement I. cause the weft to be delivered close to the reed
by placing the eye of the shuttle next to or fronting the reed. In Fig. 10
the shuttle is shewn at f¹, and the plain line 9 shews the position of the pick
of weft when the eye fronts the reed, and the dotted line h¹ the position of the
weft when the eye is in the ordinary position, and it will be seen that, as the
pick of weft shewn by the plain line is closer to the reed 'than the other
line, the feelers can rest on the pick or fall, if it is broken or absent, sooner
than with the ordinary shuttle..
:.
One arrangement of bobbins and'intersecting threads for bringing the weft
close to the reed is shewn in Figs. 2 and 3. To the framework behind the slay
I fix a stud k; or place a boblin, and at the front of the breast beam e place
another stud or bobbin 7, which studs or bobbins are connected together by a
set of threads m¹ passing through a grid in the backboard or plate and held
stationary, and below these studs or bobbins there are other bobbins n¹; o¹;
also connected by a set of threads p', which pass through the grid in such
manner that they can pass the sides of the first set, and these lower threads
after passing over the studs or bobbins are connected to a stud or bobbin q¹;
having its holder r¹ attached to a spring s¹, it being understood that there
are grooves in the race of the slay for allowing the threads to enter out of the
way of the shuttle. The up-and-down and to-and-fro motions of the lower
threads are obtained by attaching the bobbin'o' to a lever t¹ jointed to a
sliding bar u, and having upon it an incline v₁ passing through a-horizontal
grid w. The sliding bar u¹ is jointed at the bottom to the lever x', which
works on the fulcrum y', and has a bowl-in contact with the tappet z' fixed to
the tappet shaft h. As the tappet z¹ revolves the sliding bar u¹ and lever t¹
move up and down, and at the same time the lever moves to and fro by means
of the incline v¹ and grid w¹, and thus the lower threads are moved up and
down and to and fro as shewn by the dotted lines, the spring s¹ yielding: to

page_text: allow them to do so, and then cause their return to their original positions,
and, as before stated, this intersection and to-and-fro motion of the threads
cause them to clasp the weft and carry it close to the reed, and thus enable
the combs and feelers to act sooner upon it. Or instead of allowing the upper
set of threads m³ to be stationary I connect them to a holder and spring, and
give them to-and-fro motion by connecting the stud or bobbin k¹ to au addi
tional lever jointed at the top to the end frame of the loom, which lever has
fixed to it a T-headed pin; the head of which is in contact with the back of
the inclined lever t₁, so that when the inclined lever moves to and fro the
additional lever, with its stud or bobbin, moves to and fro with it without
any vertical motion, thus giving the upper threads a to-and-fro motion at the
same time as the lower threads.
One arrangement of my improvements for facilitating the setting on of the
loom after it has stopped through the breakage or absence of weft is shewn in
Figs. 2 and 3. On the top of the loom I place a shaft a² which reaches across
the loom and works in bearings, and on this shaft I place a spiral spring b
to each weft feeler. Each spring is coiled round the shaft and has one, of its
ends made fast to it, and the other end of the spring is cranked and stands up
from the shaft, as at c², in position for acting on the string d², and raising its
corresponding weft feeler, there being an eye at the end of each cranked arm
through which passes the string attached to the feeler. To the shaft a² is
fixed one or more levers or handles e which the operative uses before or in
the act of setting on the loom to give the shaft part of a turn for raising the
feelers which are down from the breakage or absence of weft, and the springs
yield to the strings which are tight in consequence of the feelers being suffi-
ciently raised, but the strings which are slack, whose feelers are down, yield to
the springs until they become tight and raise the feelers sufficiently high to
allow the loom to be set on. The shaft a² may also be turned in a self-acting
manner by attaching one end of a cord f to the setting-on rope g, and its
other end to a lever or handle h² at the end of the shaft a², so that when the
setting-on rod i is shifted out of its detent the shaft a is turned and raises
all the weft feelers which were down; there being a weighted lever j for
reversing the shaft a³ and placing the cranked arni c² in a vertical position.
when the loom is set on.
Another arrangement for turning the shaft a and raising the feelers is
shewn in Fig. 6. On the shaft a opposite the suspending string of each
weft feeler I place an L lever working loose and having a vertical arm and
a heavier horizontal arm 12, the vertical arm having an eye at the top through
which the string passes; and to the shaft a² I fix below each heavier-arm 12

page_text: an arm or lever m² for supporting the L lever when the loom is working.
When the operative turns the shaft a² the fixed arms m² are turned with it
and are withdrawn from the heavier arms 12 of the L levers, as shewn by the
dotted lines, thereby allowing the vertical arms free to be held upright by the
strings which are tight or fall forwards by means of the heavier arms against
the strings which are slack, and tighten them until they raise the feelers,
there being a weighted lever j for reversing the shaft a² and placing the
vertical arins 2 in an upright position when the loom is set on."
My improvements connected to the ordinary calicó loom weft motion, so as
to make it suitable for woollen and other wide looms, are shewn in Figs. 8, 9,
and 10, in which there is a weft fork át each end and a weft feeler in the
middle, and also one of my improved forks or combs. The weft feeler is
shewn at a', it is moved up and down in the same manner as before described,
but instead of causing a pin at the top of the feeler to raise a finger the
bottom of the feeler itself is employed for that purpose, and instead of placing
the finger at the top of the reed cap it is placed at the bottom of the slay.
At the bottom of the breast beam e, Figs. 8 and 10, I joint a lever n³, having
near the middle a bowl o³, and at the end a projection p², with a recess so
placed that when the finger q is raised by the depression of the feeler it shall
enter the recess and shift the lever as the slay comes forward, but when
the finger is down it passes below the projection and no action takes
place. At the back and bottom of the breast beam I joint one end of an
arm having an inclines and connected to one end of a wire t in front of
the breast beam, and the other end of the wire is attached to the vertical
armi u of an L lever working on a stud at the front of the breast beam; the
horizontal arm of the Llever being in contact with a lever w, which works.
loose on the short shaft a, but is provided with a catch which can come in
contact with a stop y fixed to the said shaft a², to which is also fixed an arm
with an inclined end behind the setting-on rod. When the lever n² is pushed
forwards by the finger q² the bowl-o acts upon the incline s² and pushes back
the arm so as to pull the wire t2 and vertical arm u² and depress the arm vi
and lever wand bring forward the arm and shift the setting-on rod out of
its detent and stop the loom, after which the lever n-is moved back to its
original position by the spring a³, there being a stop 63 to hold it at its right
place. The weft forks are shewn at and d³, they are each attached to a
lever e³, similar to what is. usually called the sector or weft fork hammer.
Each lever works on a fulcrum fƒ³, Fig. 8, and is connected at the back end
by a connecting rod to another lever h³ working on the fulcrum k³ and
having a bowl resting on the tappet 1 fixed to the tappet shaft h, and as the

page_text: tappet revolves the top of the lever e³ moves to and fro and carries the fork with
it. To a bracket at the right hand end of the breast beam I joint a lever m³,
Figs. 9 and 10, having a bowl n³ near the middle and a recessed projection
os at the end, and to the bracket is jointed an arm 23 having an incline g³
and attached to one end of the wire ³, the other end of which is fastened to
the arm r² in the middle of the loom. The weft forks have preponderating
ends s, t, without hooks, being merely formed at their extreme ends so that
they can enter a recess or abut against a projection. When the fork
comes
in contact with the weft the preponderating end ³ is raised and no stoppage
takes place, but when the weft is broken or absent the preponderating end not
being raised comes in contact with the recessed projection o³ and pushes for-
ward the lever m³, the bowl n³ of which acting on the incline q3 pushes back
the arm p³ and pulls the wire and middle arm 2 and stops the loom as
before described. The preponderating arm of the weft fork d³ when not
raised comes in contact with an arm or projection us on the short shaft x²
and turns it so as to shift the setting-on rod out of its detent and stop the
loom, the arm us being capable of being adjusted and fixed in the shaft in
any required position.
In Fig. 11 I shew a modification of the preponderating arm of the weft
fork. The top of the lever e³ carries bearings for holding levers v³, w³, the
back end of the lever w³ being in contact with the short tail of the weft
fork, and the front end of the lever w³ being in contact with the back end of
the lever v³, the front of which is adapted for entering the recess in the pro-
jection us on the short shaft a², Figs. 8, 9, and 10, or the recess o³ on the
lever m³, Fig. 10, which arrangements are for the purpose of lightening the
weft fork and, shortening the striking end of the preponderating arm, so as to
make it work with greater ease and steadiness. When the loom is stopped
from, the absence or breakage of weft, and the operative moves the slay to
and fro by hand, the front end of the preponderating arms would come in
contact with the, recessed projections on the levers unless prevented, and there-
fore I place at the back of the slay or rod y', carrying levers 2³ and an arm a*,
the levers being behind the grids of the weft forks, and the arm a con-
nected by a cord 6 to a lever on the shaft a², Fig. 2. When the cord f³,
Fig. 2, is pulled by the rope g², the shaft a² is turned, and raises the lever
upon it, which pulls the cord *, Fig. 11, and brings the lever ³ close up to
the grid, as shewn by the dotted lines, it being brought back by its own weight
when the loom is set on.
.
My improvements, for enabling a loom to make more picks per minute,
without interfering with the time in which the shuttle does its work, are

page_text: shewn in Fig. 7. To the crank shaft 6 is fixed the tappet, which as it
revolves comes in contact with the bowl d' on the horizontal arm e of
an Llever, the vertical arm f* of which carries a roller 9', in contact with
the driving strap h, and on a stud fixed to the end frame there is a roller j',
and when the tappet revolves it moves the roller g under the roller j*
and tightens the strap, as shewn by the dotted lines, which strap is afterwards
slackened by the further movement of the tappet. Or instead of the
tightening and slackening roller g' I may employ a curved projection k*
on the driving pulley, which tightens and slackens the strap as required;
or I may work the roller g and projection k conjointly, as shewn in the
Drawing.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood
that I claim, in looms for weaving,―
First, the improved forks or combs i, Figs. 1, 4, and 5, and the modes
of giving them to-and-fro motion, for the purpose of bringing the last pick
of weft close up to the reed for enabling the weft feelers to cause the stoppage
of the loom after the breakage or absence of weft sooner than has been
before accomplished.
Secondly, the arrangement of placing the eye of the shuttle next to or
fronting the reed for the purpose of delivering the weft closer to the reed,
and thereby enable the weft feelers to be in contact with the weft or detect
its breakage or absence sooner than with the ordinary shuttle.
Thirdly, the employment of intersecting and traversing threads for the
purpose of sustaining and carrying the pick of weft close to the reed, and
thus enable the weft feelers to come in contact with it or detect its breakage
or absence as soon as when my improved forks or combs are employed.
Fourthly, the improved arrangements for raising the weft feelers when the
loom is stopped and when it has to be set on.
Fifthly, the improved system of fastening the weft fork to a vibrating lever
similar to what is usually called the sector or weft fork hammer, for the
purpose of causing the fork to meet the advancing reed, and thereby come
in contact with the weft or detect its breakage or absence sooner than
when the fork is attached to the ordinary weft fork lever or its equivalent;
and,-
Sixthly, my improved arrangements for tightening and slackening the
driving strap of the loom, for enabling more picks to be made in a given
time without interfering with the traversing speed of the shuttle, as all such

page_text: improvements are herein; described and illustrated in the accompanying two
Sheets of Drawings, or any mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Bullough, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named James Bullough in-
the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.
JAMES BULLOUGH. (L.S.)