IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH.
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Thomas Schmidt, Machinist, and Thomas Speight,
Wool Comber, both of Bradford, in the County of York, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH.
Sealed the 25th April 1879, and dated the 12th December 1878. :
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Thomas Schmidt
and Thomas Speight at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th
December 1878.
$5
FREDERICK THOMAS SCHMIDT, Machinist, and THOMAS SPEIGHT, Wool Comber,
both of Bradford, in the County of York. IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR
WEAVING, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH.'
"
Our Invention relates, firstly, to employing metal healds or heddles which are
changeable into different sets, that is to say, large or small sets allowing the weaving
with one set of healds or heddles of fabrics of any required quality or width the
loom will allow to weave.
Secondly. The stopping of looms by means of the healds or beddles when a warp
thread or threads breaks or break, or becomes or become slack.
Thirdly. The metal healds, or heddles, or wires.
For this purpose we employ,-
Firstly. Shafts constructed of wooden bars or laths which are fitted in the top
and in the bottom ends of metal side pieces. Two laths are fitted in the bottom
ends of the side pieces, and one lath in the top ends. A space is left between the
two bottom laths forming a groove or guide, and the top lath is cast with a deep
recess or groove extending the length of the lath, in which is fitted a flat bar, and
which is moveable at pleasure and works in an opening made in the top of the lath's
side connecting piece, allowing the moving of the flat bar to remove or place the healds
or heddles to regulate the different sets for weaving. On the flat bar are suspended
the healds or heddles, and the number of these healds or heddles employed is
מ.
.
071

page_text: regulated by the number of warp threads to be used; the shaft and healds or heddles
are actuated in the usual way. Near the bottom end of the two bottom laths are
fitted at intervals small metal pins, the spaces between the pins forming guides for
the ends of the metal healds or wires.
Secondly. For stopping looms on the breakage or slackness of a warp thread or
threads, we fit under the bottom laths of each shaft metal guides having hooks to
which are attached the suspenders of an ordinary bottom working gear. In the
guides, and to each shaft, is passed a moveable or sliding grate which is made of two
bars of metal or wood, and between which are fitted at intervals small metal pins,
the spaces between the pins corresponding with the spaces between the pins fitted
in the bottom laths of the shaft. A sliding to and fro motion is given to the grate
by means of fixed bars which are fitted in hangers bolted to the top rail of the
loom; the bars are made of sufficient length for the number of shafts required, and
pass through openings made in the metal side ends of the shaft.
The shafts when actuated have an up and down motion, and allow the opening in
the end pieces to work up and down over the bars, and which causes one of the
bars to come in contact with a finger fitted on the end of an upright rod, which
gives the rod an upward motion, the downward motion being given by a spring.
On the upright rod is fitted a rocking catch which receives its rocking forward and
backward motion from the upright rod and causes the wings of the catch to come
in turns in contact with small collars fitted on small rods which work on each side
of the upright rod, giving the small side rods an up and down motion, and which
actuate cords fitted on the bottom ends of the small side rods. The cords work
over small pullies which are fitted to the sliding grate, giving the to and fro sliding
motion to the grate. The tops of the small side rods are formed with small racks,
between which works a small pinion keeping the sinall side rods in working
position.
The sliding grate will continue to slide at intervals to and fro when the loom is
weaving until a warp thread or threads is broken or becomes slack. The warp
threads are passed through eyes made in or near the centre of the healds or wires, or
at any desirable part. The warp threads by their tension, when weaving, hold up the
healds or wires at a certain position of the shafts so long as there is no breakage or
slackness of the warp thread or threads, but directly a thread or threads breaks or
break, or becomes or become slack, the tension being removed, the heald or wire, or
healds or wires, will fall in the space or spaces formed between the pins in the bottom
laths and the sliding grate pins coming in contact with the heald or wire, or healds or
wires, stops the sliding grate and also a finger fitted on the end of the grate, which
coming in contact with a catch {lever fitted on one of the fixed bars herein before
mentioned causes the catch lever to pull or draw a cord or band attached at one end
to the catch lever, and at the other end to a lever on which is fixed or formed a
finger, and which by the pulling or drawing of the cord or band comes in contact
with the starting lever or handle of the loom, throwing the belt on the loose pulley,
stopping the loom.
Thirdly. The metal healds, or heddles, or wires are made of thin flat wire having
hooks bent the edgeway of the wire. The healds are made with eyes through
which pass the warp threads; these metal healds or wires enable us to obtain finer
sets than any other metal healds heretofore employed, and enables us also to add or
diminish at any desired point in the sets, which we do by lowering the flat bar over
which the heddles or wires are suspended.
Thus we are able to remove and replace, or add or diminish, to any number of
healds or wires, according to the quality of the pieces desired to be woven, with the
same set of shafts and healds without having to remove the shafts and healds, and
replace them by the peculiar set required as heretofore has been the practice.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frederick Thomas Schmidt and Thomas Speight in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 11th June 1879.
FREDERICK THOMAS SCHMIDT, Machinist, and THOMAS SPEIGHT, Wool Comber,
both of Bradford, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR
WEAVING, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
The said Invention relates, firstly, to employing metal healds or heddles which
are changeable into different sets, that is to say, large, small, fine, or coarse sets, so
as to allow with one set of healds or heddles the weaving of fabrics of any required
quality or width the loom will allow.
Secondly. The stopping of the looms by means of the healds or heddles when a
warp thread or threads breaks or break or become slack. Thirdly. The metal healds,
or heddles, or wires.
For this purpose we employ,-
Firstly. Shafts constructed with wooden laths which are fitted to metal side flat
bars, a space being left between the bars in which are passed flat bars. These bars
are moveable, which allows the moving of the bars when required to regulate the
different sets for weaving. On the top flat bar are suspended the healds or heddles,
and the number of these healds or heddles employed is regulated by the number of
warp threads used. The shafts, healds, or heddles are actuated in the usual way.
The bottom wooden lath is cut away the whole length of the top in which slides to
and fro a rack, and between the teeth of the rack, and just over the tops of the teeth,
are fitted pins which stop the sliding of the rack when a warp thread or threads
breaks or break, the bottom of the heald coming in contact with the pin and tooth
of the rack.
Secondly. For stopping the looms on the breakage or slackness of a warp thread
or threads we fit under the bottom lath of each shaft hooks to which are attached
the suspenders of an ordinary bottom working gear. The shafts work between
guide brackets secured to bearers bolted to the loom side frames. In the centre of
the bottom wooden lath is made a recess in which works a tongue formed on a bent
lever; the lever works in a bracket bolted to the underside of the lath; the tongue
works in a recess made in the bottom of a rack, and gives the rack a to and fro
motion. The shafts in descending cause a pin fitted in one of the arms of the bent
lever to come in contact with a plate fitted in a bracket which is secured to a
standard bolted to a rail of the loom. The pin when in contact with the plate pro-
duces an inward motion to the bent lever, and an outward motion is given by a spring
which gives an oscillating motion to the bent lever, actuating the rack and giving
it a to and fro motion. Should a warp thread or threads break, the bottom hooked
part of the heald or heddle falls between the pin and tooth of the rack in a line
with the dropped heald which stops the sliding of the rack and the rocking of the
bent lever, bringing the finger end of the lever in contact with a plate which lifts
it up and consequently lifts up an arm to which is connected a rod; this rod
actuates a lever fitted on the end of a small shaft which pulls down a lever fitted
on the other end of the shaft, and pulls up a lever connected to the starting lever
of the loom. The end of this lever is made with a hammer, which being lifted up
comes in contact with the working going part and forces the starting lever out
of gear with the stop recess, throwing the belt on the loose pulley, stopping the
loom.
The sliding rack will continue to slide to and fro when the loom is weaving until
a warp thread or threads is or are broken or become slack. The warp threads are
passed through eyes made in or near the centre of the healds or wires, or at any
suitable part. The warp threads by their tension when weaving hold up the healds
or wires at a certain position of the shafts so long as there is no breakage or slackness
of the warp thread or threads; but should a thread or threads break or become

page_text: slack, the tension being removed the heald or wire or healds or wires will
immediately fall between the pin or pins and tooth and teeth of the rack.
Or we employ, instead of the racks fitted in the bottom laths of the shafts, two
flat bars cut with teeth which are fitted a little under the top lath. Between the
flat bars works or slides a thin bar also cut with teeth, but the teeth are made the
reverse way of the flat bars. The sliding bar with teeth receives a to and fro
motion from a lever working on a pin which is fitted between the end bars of the
shaft. This lever; on the downward motion of the shaft, comes in contact with one
. of the shaft guides, is forced in, giving the "to" motion, and the "fro" motion is
given by a spring which presses on one of the ends of the lever. Should a thread or
threads break, the top of the heald or wire or healds or wires come in contact with
the teeth of the sliding bar and with the teeth of the fixed bars, stopping the
receding motion of the sliding bar which prevents the lever fitted on the end of the
sliding motion moving, and forces it, with the lifting motion of the shaft, to come
.in contact with a plate having a lever, and to which is fitted a rod which actuates
a lever working on a pin fitted in a bracket secured to the bottom of the end frame
of the loom; the lever lifts up the hammer connected to the starting lever, bringing
it in contact with the going part, stopping the loom.
Thirdly. The metal healds, or heddles, or wires are made of thin flat wire having
hooks bent the edgeway of the wire. The healds are made with eyes, through
which pass the warp threads; these metal healds or wires enable us to obtain finer
sets than can be obtained, with the metal healds heretofore employed, and enable us
also to add or diminish at any desired point in the sets, which we do by raising the
bottom flat bar to which the bottom ends of the healds or wires are hooked. Thus
we are able to remove and replace or add or diminish any number of healds or
wires, according to the quality of the pieces desired to be woven, with the same
set of shafts and healds without having to remove the shafts and healds and replace
them by the peculiar set required, as heretofore has been the practice.
But in order to enable our improvements to be better understood we will proceed
to describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which, in Sheet 1,
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of our improved apparatus fitted to a loom ;
Figure 2, side elevation; and Figure 3, plan of the same.
Figure 4 represents part of our improved shaft with healds drawn to a larger
scale; Figure 5 is a sectional side view of the same with improved heald in position
with warp thread intact; and Figure 6, side sectional view with heald in position
after the warp thread is broken; Figure 7 represents a side view of our improved
metal heald or heddle drawn full size; and Figure 8, front view of the same.
In Sheet 2 Figure 9 represents a front elevation of another method of stopping
the loom when a warp thread or threads break; and Figure 10, side elevation of
the same.
Figure 11 represents part of the top rack and lever drawn full size; and Figure 12
plan of the same.
Similar letters of reference are used to represent similar parts.
A, shafts constructed with wooden laths B and C which are fixed to metal flat
bars D, and also connected to brass brackets E. An opening F is left between the
bars, through which are passed flat bars G and H. These bars are moveable, which
allows the bars to be lowered or raised to remove, replace, add, or diminish any
number of healds or wires according to the quality of the pieces or fabrics desired
to be woven. The metal healds are suspended over the bar G and guided in working
position by the bar H. The shafts are worked by half moons actuated by the jack
rods and by the suspenders I of the ordinary bottom working gear J; the shafts
are kept in working, lifting, and lowering position by guides K which are secured
to brackets L bolted to the loom frame. The bottom wooden lath C is cut away at
the top (Figures 5 and 6) in which cutaway part slides a rack M, the back part N
being fitted with a series of pins O. The rack is actuated by the tongue P of an
oscillating or rocking lever Q; the tongue works in a recess R made in the lath,
and the lever Q works on a pin and inside a small bracket S which is secured to the

page_text: underside of the lath. One of the arms of the oscillating lever is fitted with a stud
T which comes in contact on, the descent of the shaft with a moveable plate U
giving an inward motion to the oscillating lever, the outward motion being given
by a spiral spring V which is fitted to the lever and to the underside of the bottom
lath C. The plate U works in bearings W formed on a bracket X which is secured
to a standard Y fixed to a rail of the loom.
.
The healds or wires A' are shewn in position with the warp threads intact, and
the healds or wires B' after the warp threads are broken, and which cause the
bottom hooked ends R' to fall in the teeth of the rack M and come in contact with
the pins O, which stops the to and fro motion of the rack, and consequently the
oscillation of the lever Q, which lever in lifting causes the finger Z to come in
contact with the plate U lifting up the plate which also lifts up a lever E¹ secured
or cast on the plate U. The lever E¹ lifts up a rod F¹ which is connected to a
lever G secured on one end of a shaft H'. This shaft works in bearings I' secured
to a rail of the loom; the shaft H actuates another lever J¹ which is secured to
the other end of the shaft; the lever pulls down a rod K' which is fitted to a short
arm L' of a lever M' working on a stud fitted in a bracket N₁ which is secured to
the starting handle O' of the loom. The lever M' is made with a hammer P' which
being lifted up comes in contact with the slay Q₁ (or other going part of the loom)
which forces the starting handle O¹ from the handle notch, throwing the belt on the
loose pulley and stopping the loom.
The metal healds or wires A¹ (Figures 7 and 8) are made of thin flat wire with
books R¹ bent the edgeway of the wire, and with eyes S¹ through which pass the
warp threads. These looked bealds or wires enable us to obtain fiuer sets than can
be obtained with the metal healds heretofore employed, and also to add or diminish
at any desired point in the set, which is done by raising the bar H, and which
allows us to remove, replace, add, or diminish any number of healds or wires as
required.
In Figures 9 and 10, Sheet 2, instead of using a bar G for the shaft, a thin rack T"
cut with teeth is employed which works between two bars U, also cut with teeth
V' these teeth are cut the reverse way of the teeth of the rack. A bottom plate W¹
secures the two bars U¹. The end X of the rack is passed into an opening of, a
lever Y, and secured by a pin. Z and plate A The lever Y¹ works in the opening F
of the shaft end and works on a pin B² secured in the bars D. The lever Y is
made with a projecting arm C2, against which presses a spring D2 which brings
back the rack in position. The shaft in descending causes the lever Y₁ to come in
contact with the guide K which gives an outward motion to the rack, the spring
bringing or giving the inward motion, thus producing a to and fro motion of the
rack. Should a warp thread or threads break, the top hook or hooks of the heald
or healds falls or fall between the teeth of the bars U' and rack T' stopping the
rack which stops the motion of the lever Y¹, which in the upward stroke of the
shaft comes in contact with the moveable plate U which is fitted in bearings E²
secured on a bracket F2 which is bolted to the loom frame. The plate U actuates a
lever E lowering a rod F', and the arm G2 of a lever lifting up the other arm H2
and the rod K' which lifts up the lever M¹ and hammer P₁ which coming in contact
with the going part Q1 throws the starting lever out of the notch and the belt on to
the loose pulley, stopping the loom.
Having thus described our improvements, and the best means we are acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, we would have it understood that we do not
confine ourselves to the precise details shewn and described as they may be varied
without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention; and we would
state in respect of this Invention that we are aware that flat metal healds
or heddles nicked or cut at the centre of their length so as to allow the portion so
cut to be opened or bent in opposite directions, so as to form the eyes through which
the yarns are passed, and with hooks formed the flat way of the healds or heddles,
have been used, and to which we make no claim; but what we do claim is,-
Firstly. The construction and employment of metal healds, or heddles, or wires

page_text: made with top and bottom hooks bent or formed edgeway of the wires, and which
are changeable into different sets, i.e., large, small, fine, or coarse sets, and which
allow of removing, replacing, adding, or diminishing any number of healds or wires
according to the quality of the piece or fabric to be woven, substantially as and for
the purpose herein before described, and represented in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of
the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The combination of parts forming our improved apparatus for stopping
a loom by means of the healds, or heddles, or wires when a warp thread or threads
break or become slack, substantially as hereinbefore described, and represented in
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Frederick Thomas Schmidt and Thomas Speight
have hereto set our hands and seals, this Tenth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
WALTER JAS. TURNER, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
Bradford.
FREDERICK THOMAS SCHMIDT. (L.S.)
THOMAS SPEIGHT.
(L.S.)