US395842A - Charles a - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Modl.)

G. A. LITTLEPIELD.

SHUTTLE OPERATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Patented Janis, 1889.,

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(No Model.)

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G. A. LITTLEPIELD.

SHUTTLE OPERA-TING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS. No. 395,842.

Patented Jan. 8

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UNITED TATES ATENT' rrrcn.

CHARLES A. LITTLEFIELD, OF FALL RIVER, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ELIAS A. TUTTLE AND JAMES T. MILNE, OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSA- CHUSETTS.

SHUTTLE=OPERATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,842, dated January 8, 1889.

Application filed November 1, 1887. Serial No. 253,954. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. LITTLE- FIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fall River, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shuttle-Op crating Mechanism for Looms; and Idohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The so-called parallel foot-motions for looms in common use at the present time with which I am acquainted in their practical working do not move the picker in a fixed line. The reason of this is that the foot or rockerresting upon the pedestal upon which it works as the picking-stick moves back and forth in its movement to drive the shuttle and its return has no direct and positive connection therewith, thus permitting the foot and stick to rise or jump from the foot-rest upon the pedestal when the picking-cam strikes the blow which drives the shuttle across to the opposite shuttle-box. It is well known that the speed at which a loom maybe run is more or less decreased by the lack of means to properly receive and check the shuttle in its rapid flightfrom box to box, thereby fixing a limit of speed lower than desirable at which it can be safely run. In running at high speed there is frequent and continuous trouble encountered in what is known as throwing or stripping filling from the shuttle-spindle, thereby causing serious loss in prepared yarns, stoppage of looms, &c. This results from the too sudden checking of the shuttle in its flight. It is a well-known fact that the power required to run a loom is not continuously consumed while it is in motion, the larger part of the power being consumed while the loom is in the act of st arting and driving the shuttle from the box.

The object of this invention is, first, to provide a foot-motion that shall always, when made in accordance with these specifications, move the picker in a fixed line when driving the shuttle; second, to provide a frictioncheck. that can be so adjusted as to hold the picker in position to receive the shuttle at some distance from the end of g the box and that shalloffer such resistance to the movement of the shuttle as shall bring the shuttle to a state of rest when it has fully entered the box, thereby saving in a great measure sudden shocks to the shuttle and the picker, with which it comes in contact, and affording an effective substitute for the check-straps and other checking devices now in use; third, to provide means whereby the shuttle in its flight is brought to a stop by degrees, so that the filling will not be thrown or stripped from the spindle; fourth, to provide shuttle-checking devices that shall allow the loom to be run with a comparatively open box, thereby doing away with a large amount of power nowrequired to start the shuttle when closely wedged therein.

I have illustrated my invention by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front view of a loom-frame with my invention placed thereon, other and unnecessary parts being omitted. Fig. 2 is a face view of my improved foot-motion and shuttle-check. Fig. 3 is a rear view of the same, showing the ratchet and pawl when in position to receive the shuttle. Fig. 4 is a section on linertxof Fig. 2 of the drawings, parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line .2 z of Fig. 3, parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 6 is an outside end view of the parts shown in Fig. 2.

Like letters refer to similar parts through-- out the several drawings.

In Fig. 1 the loom-frame A, with its sides A A, lay B, lay-swords B B, picking-sticks a and a, lay rock-shaft c, meshing-gears C C, cam-shaft F, cams F and F", pickingarms f and f rock-shafts 1' 1', picking-bowls 7L and i, are all such as are common to many different kinds of looms, and are arranged in the usual well-known manner.

At each end of the lay rock-shaft c is secured a stock, G, by means of a socket or sleeve upon the said stock fitting upon the end of the lay rock-shaft and clamped in place by a set-screw, 7c, or the stock may be applied and secured in place upon the said rock-shaft in any other suitable and convenient manner.

Upon one side of the stock G is formed a hub Lil with a nose, I, which rests upon the upper side i of the cam-formed portion 5 on one arm ol a lever, g, pivoted to a pin, p, on an upward extension or arnu p, ot' the stock G. The upper arm of the lever g has pivoted to it one end of a link, G", which at its opposite end is pivoted to the stock It. L is held in contact with the emu-formed portion g of the leverg 1 iv means of a strap, 1, t'astened at one end to a stuthj, adjustahly secured in a slot, 7', in The lever l1, and secured usual swell or hinder ot' the shuttle-hex from at the other end to a harrel, 0' mounted on a pin, '1', on the stock G, and containing a spring, 0, which tends to rotate the barrel and wind the strap Z upon its exterior.

It dcsirml, a spring of any other convenitmt form may he connected with the lever L to hold its nose I against the cam-lm-med portion g.

The operation of the devices so far d cscrihcd is simple and ohvious, and is as follows: As the picker-stick is drawn inward to throw the shuttle, motion is imparted to the lever (1 through the link (:illli\'ll]gt 11(5 cannli'ormed portion g to act upon the noseland move the lever L. The canntormed portion 9 is formed, as shown, with a rise at its middleportion and a tall or downward incline on each side thereof, and as it moves against: the nose? it serves to grad uall depress the outer end of the lever L and the picker-stick duringthe first portion of the movement of the ])l(:l O1.'-Sl lCl while d uring the remainder of the movement of the picker-stick the latter is permitted gradually to rise. By this means 1 positively insure a movement oi. the upper end of the pickerstick and the pickercarricd therch in a horizontal straight line, it?- hcing iu'lpossihle .t'or the parts to jump or otherwlse 'im' ve,so as to cause a departure [from the said line.

A highly impmrtant advantage of the construction shown is that during the movement of the picker-stick while driving the shuttle, after the apex of the cam-formed portion g has passed the point of the nose I, and the latter has reached one of The dtuvngrades of the cam-formed portion, the spring 0 assists the action of the picking-cam, imparting an additional and gradually-inereasing impulse to the pioken, ick just hefore the shuttle leaves the picker and flies from its hex. At the same time the action of the spring 0 in causing the nose Z to bear upon the downgrade 01: the cam-formed portion g of the lever g is such as to neutralize the increased tension ol. the spring q, occasioned hy the stretching thercolf as the upper end of the The nose I of the lever piekmr-stiek moves inward. l' arrest the outward movement of the picker-stick before the picker-stick has entirely reached the outer limit of such movement, and hold it; in a yielding manner, so as to cause it to receive the shuttle in its flight across the loom from the hoX on the opposite side and gradually check and destroy its movement. This cuahlcs me to dispense wit h the great pressure ordinarily applied to the sides of the shuttle to check its momentum as it enters the shut Tle-hox, and prevents the stripping of the cop, heretofore frequently occasioned by the sudden arrest ol' the shuttle at the end of its flight across the loom. The reduction in the pressure applied to the shuttle in the hex enahles the shuttle to he thrown with a much less expenditure of power, and renders unnecessary the employment of the relief mechanism heretofore devised and employed for the purpose of removing the pressure of the the shuttle just prior to effecting the pick.

My devices for stopping the picker-stick and holding it in the yielding manner are as follows: The holt m, which passes through the huh or sleeve m on the stock t, receives upon it on the rear side of the stock (It a ratchet-wheel, ll, on each side oli which is placed a disk or washer, 12, of cloth, leather, or other ll llClllOll-(ilOttll11g nntterial. Against the outer washer or disk, n, is applied a metallic washer, a, and upon the threaded end of the bolt is turned a nut, n", serving to press the wheel ll and washers 22 into close contact, a look-nut, n, preferablybeing employed in additiomasshown in liig. 5. Preferahly, the side of the wheel ll is recessed, as shown in fltig. 5, to receive one of the washers n and a circular enlargement or huh on the stock (l. A pawl, m", is pivoted upon. the side of the lever The length of. the teeth upon the wheel II and the point at; which the pawl in" is pivoted to the lUXOl g are such that as the picker-stick is moved inward to throwthe shuttle the pawl m is moved a distance such as to carry it over one tooth upon the wheel ill, hut not quite to the end olf the Following tooth.

In uactioe l have found it ex iedicnt to so construct and adjust the parts as to occasion a movement of the pawl upon the wheel II a distance equal to the length ol one tooth and threc-fourths ot' the length of The following tooth.

The enlarged head of the pin or holtm' serves to hold the lever L in place upon. the hub or sleeve m. The pin p passes through a vertical slot, p, in. the arm p of the stock G, and is :uljustahly securet'l in position by the nut 13. In operation after the throw of the shuttle the pieker-stiek will he arrested. in its movement toward the outward extremity ot' theshuttle-hox hy the engagement of the pawl with. a tooth ot' the ratehet-whecl and will he held. therehy at a short distance from the end of the hex. Al'ter the shuttle lIO has entered the box at the end of its flight from the box on the opposite side of the loom it will strike against the picker and carry the latter and the upper end of the picker-stick outward with it. The retardation of the rotation of the ratchet-wheel occasioned by the friction-creating devices, however, will cause the stick to resist the advance of the shuttle and thus bring the latter to a state of rest without undue shock.

Having described my invention and the best means with which I am acquainted for reducing it to practice, I claim as my invention 1. The combination, with the picker-stick, a wheel, and devices for frictionally retarding the rotation of said wheel, of a pawl connected with the said picker-stick and adapted to engage with the wheel in the outward movement of the picker-stick, the picker-stick being thereby stopped in the outward movement and held at a slight distance from the extreme end of the said movement and in position to receive the shuttle and check it in its flight from the opposite box, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the picker-stick,

of a wheel, devices for retarding the rotation thereof, and a pawl connected with the said picker-stick, the said pawl during the inward movement of the pickerstick moving over more than one tooth on the said wheel, but not far enough to engage with the following tooth, and the combination being and operating substantially as described, whereby the outward movement of the picker-stick is arrested by the engagement of the pawl with the tooth of the wheel passed over by the pawl, and the picker-stick is held in position to receive the shuttle. I

23. The combination, with the picker-stick, of the pawl-carryin g lever connected thereto, a wheel and devices for retarding the rotation thereof, the combination being and operating substantially as described, whereby during the increased movement of the picker-stick the pawl is moved a distance sufficient to carry it over more than one tooth on the wheel, but not far enough to engage with the following tooth, and whereby the outward movement of the picker-stick is arrested by the engagement of the pawl with the tooth of the wheel passed over by the pawl, and the pickerstick is held in position to receive the shuttle.

et. The combination, with the picker-stick, of the link G, the lever g, pawl m wheel H, and devices for frictionally retarding the rotation of said wheel, the said pawl during the inward movement of the picker-stick moving over more than one tooth on the said wheel, but not far enough to engage with the following tooth, and the outward movement of the picker-stick being arrested by engagement of the pawl with the tooth passed over by the pawl, and the picker-stick held in position to receive the shuttle, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the picker-stick and its holder or stock, of the lever on one end of which said holder or stock is pivoted, and a lever connected with the stock or holder and having a cam-formed portion engaging with the said lever, substantially as described, whereby the upper end of the picker-stick is caused to move in a horizontal straight line.

(5. The combination, with the picker-stick and its holder or stock, of a supporting-lever on which said holder or stock is pivoted, a second lever connected with the holder or stock and provided with a cam-formed portion acting upon said supporting-lever, and a spring for holding the supporting-lever in contact with the cam portion of the second lever, substantially as described, whereby the upper end of the picker-stick is caused to move in a horizontal straight line.

7. The combination, with the stock G and the lever L, of the lever g, connected with said stock and provided with the cam portion 9, and the spring 0, connected with the said lever L, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the stock it and the supportiug-lever L, of the lever g, connected with the said stock and provided with the cam-formed portion g, the spring 0, connected with the supporting-lever L, the pawl m the ratchet-wheel H, and devices for frictionally retarding the rotation of the said wheel, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. LITTLEFIELD.

'itnesses:

THOS. T. BRADY, JAMES T. MILNE.

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