An Improved Arrangement of Levers in Kenyon's for Operating the Healds of Looms.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Aug., 1889-Accepted, 5th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Arrangement of Levers in Kenyon's
for Operating the Healds of Looms.
"Under Motion "
I, WILLIAM HENRY KENYON of Denby Dale near Huddersfield Yorkshire, Machine
Maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My present improvements have reference to a prior Patent granted to me on the
14th day of June A.D. 1883 No. 2960. In the specification of said Patent, certain
levers, shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 of the Drawings, are placed and work upon the same
shaft, which levers, after being elevated by the upward motion of the healds, are
lowered or drawn down by spiral springs. Two levers are employed for one heald
and in practice I find that, when a large number of healds are used, the levers, which
are arranged side by side, have to be made very thin in order to work within the
limited space allowed for them. To the use of these thin levers there are many
objections, as they twist and are liable to interlock with each other. To remedy this
is the object of my present invention, and this I accomplish by arranging the
operating levers upon three seperate studs or shafts placed one above another. The
levers are placed upon these studs or shafts at suitable distances apart, and the levers
on one stud work or pass up between the spaces formed by those on the stud or shaft
above or below it, by which means I can strengthen the levers aforesaid, enlarge
the spiral springs and obtain greater stability and durability of the parts.
In Fig. 3 in the Drawings accompanying the specification of Patent above referred
to, another form of lever is shewn, but working singly and not in pairs, as those
already mentioned. I now propose to connect one end of each spiral spring to studs
or teeth formed in a rack, such studs being adjustable laterally by screws and nuts,
whilst the levers are arranged to work upon two or three studs or shafts placed one
above another, thereby economising space and enabling me to strengthen the levers
as previously set forth.
Dated this with day of January 1889
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Arrangement of Levers in Kenyon's "Undermotion"
for Operating the Healds of Looms.
I, WILLIAM HENRY KENYON of Denby Dale, near Huddersfield, Yorkshire,
Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My present improvements have reference to a prior Patent granted to me on
the 14th day of June A.D. 1883, No. 2960. In the Specification of said Patent
certain levers shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 of the Drawings are placed and work upon
the same shaft, which levers, after being elevated by the upward motion of the
healds, are lowered or drawn down by spiral springs. Two levers are employed for
on e heald, and in practice I find that when a large number of healds are used, the
levers, which are arranged side by side, have to be made very thin in order to work
within the limited space allowed for them. To the use of these thin levers there
are many objections, as they twist and are liable to interlock with each other. To
remedy this is the object of my present invention, and this I accomplish by arranging
the operating levers upon three separate studs or shafts placed one above another.
The levers are placed upon these studs or shafts at suitable distances apart, and the

page_text: levers on one stud work or pass up between the spaces formed by those on the stud
or shaft above or below it, by which means I can strengthen the levers afore-
said, enlarge the spiral springs, and obtain greater stability and durability of the
parts.
In order that my invention may be more fully understood, reference is herein made
to the accompanying sheets of drawings illustrative thereof.
'
Fig. 1 is elevation of my improved arrangement of levers for operating the healds
in looms for weaving, and Fig. 2 is plan of same.
a is the rail or bearing plate fixed under the centre of the healds, and longi-
tudinally therewith. Upon each end of this rail is secured a chair or frame cast
with projecting brackets and provided with adjusting screws 62 so that by means
of bolts the said chairs or frames can be moved outward or inward to increase
or ease the springs for the purpose of putting the required tension on the healds.
The side brackets have holes hored therein in which are secured and supported
the small shafts c, c, and c², placed at equal distances apart one above the other, and
upon these shafts are mounted the levers d', and d², which are thus arranged in
three tiers or series capable of working one above another. The said levers d, d',
and are provided with segmental slots e, e¹, and e², through which pass studs f,f',
and, secured to the brackets &', the said studs engaging with the sides or faces of
the segmental slots at each extremity of motion of the levers, thereby determining
the extent of their motion in each direction. The levers d are also formed on their
under sides with projecting curves terminating in hooks or buttons g, g' and g², upon
which are secured straps or bands h, 1, and h², attached at their opposite ends to
spiral springs i,, and, occupying a central position between the brackets b'.
To the extremities of the levers d, d', and d² are connected bands k, k¹, and k², whose
upper ends are secured to the bottom shafts of the healds (not shewn). The levers
work in pairs, viz.-those opposite each other on shafts in the same plane are con-
nected to the same heald, and are raised by the lifting of the heald after a pick has
been delivered into the elevated positions shewn in Fig. 1, the straps h, h¹, h², being
taken up by the upward movement of the levers (as shewn) which reduces the weight
on the healds; and those healds which are not operated after the pick has been
delivered, are drawn down by the contraction of the spiral springs i, i, 2, acting
upon the levers d, which as they descend to their lowest positions, as also shewn in
Fig. 1, gradually place the straps 1, 2, 12, further away from the centre of fulcrum
of the said levers, thereby giving the greatest weight when the healds are at the
bottom, where the weight is really required.
The operation of the levers and springs, and their effect upon the healds, is the
same as that described in my former Patent No. 29608 hereinbefore referred to ;
the especial features of my present invention being the arrangement of the levers
and springs in three tiers or series as set forth and shewn, such arrangements enabling
me to employ more levers and to operate more healds thereby, and this is done in
the limited space allowed under the healds, thus permitting me to use stronger levers
than hitherto, the springs can also be enlarged (if necessary), whereby greater
stability and durability of the parts are obtained.
In consequence of the increased number of healds I am now enabled to employ by
my improved arrangement of levers, it is necessary to reduce the pull of the springs
upon the healds-for example, the same number of ends of warp distributed over,
say twelve healds, in the old method are now distributed over-say, thirty six
healds, therefore in the new method each heald carries a much less weight of warp
and requires less strength of spring to draw the warp down. In order, therefore, to
reduce the strength of the springs without replacing them with lighter ones, I form
on each side of the levers d, d', and d² suitably curved grooves m, into which grooves
clips are placed, as shewn on the levers d'in Fig. 1. The straps connected with
the spiral springs are placed between the prongs of the clip n, which is then forced
home into the groove m so as to bind or secure the strap against the underside of
the levers about midway between their fulcrums and the hooks upon which the straps
are secured, thus placing the pulling point of the strap nearer the fulcrum so that

page_text: when the levers are drawn down to their lowest positions by the springs, the distance
moved by the straps below the fulcra of the levers is considerably reduced, and thereby
proportionately reduces the strength exerted by the springs upon the healds when
they are at the bottom.
Although I have shewn and described the use of the clip n as used in combination
with three tiers of levers, such clip n may be used in combination with only one or two
tiers of levers.
In plan view Fig. 2 I shew the positions occupied by the levers on the two upper
shafts C and C2, where it will be seen that the levers on the shafts C are so arranged
as to freely work or pass up between the levers on the shafts (2, sufficient space
being allowed between the levers for this purpose. The arrangement of levers on the
shafts C is the same as that on the shafts C².
By the arrangement and construction of levers for operating the healds of looms
as herein described and shewn, greater stability and durability of the parts are
obtained, and any number of healds can be operated, and the weight exerted thereon
by the springs easily altered in accordance with the quantity of warp carried by each
heald.
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
Firstly. The arrangement of levers and their springs in three tiers or series, one
above the other, substantially as herein described and shewn.
Secondly. In combination with the levers and springs of clips n capable of
fitting into grooves m in the said levers, for the purposes substantially as herein
described.
Thirdly. In combination with the levers and springs, and the clip n of the grooves m
formed in the said levers for the reception of the said clip, all arranged as shown and
described.
Dated this 22nd day of August 1889.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.