US981299A

US981299A - Controlling mechanism for looms.

Info

Publication number: US981299A
Application number: US56357010A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry P Merriam
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1910-05-26
Filing date: 1910-05-26
Publication date: 1911-01-10
Anticipated expiration: 1928-01-10

Description

H'. P. MLRRIAM.-

GONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APLIGATION FILED MAY 26, 1910.

Patented J an. 10, 1911.

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PJMERRIAM.

GONTROLLING MEGHANISM FOR 'LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1910.

Patented J an. 10, 1911.

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UNTED STTES @PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY P. MERRIAM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Application ined May 2e, 1910,

1'0 all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY l). Minimi-fiat, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, city7 county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controlling Mechanism for Looms, of which the following is a specification.

It is 'a common practice in the construction of looms to provide a loom stopping mechanism operated lby a slide upon which is pivoted a weft fork formed with a dog or detent which is adapted to be engaged by the weft hammer in the event`of the fork remaining in normal position by reason of the breakingof the weft thread. It is also common practice in the construction of automatic looms to provide a weft replenishing mechanism by which either the exhausted shuttle is removed from the lay and replaced by a filled shuttle, or the exhausted weft carrier in the active shuttle is replaced by a filled weft carrier; such automatic weft repl'enishing mechanisms being actuated by some form of weft detecting device which controls a dog or detent (or some other form of intermediate mechanism) which connects up the replenishing mechanism with some form of constantly moving operating mechanism.

The present invention relates to an improved form of "controlling mechanism with weft detecting device for controlling the operation of looms. This improved controlling mechanism may be utilized for arresting the operation of a loom, or for throwing into action a weft replenishing mechanism of any suitable construction, and when used for the latter purpose, it may be employed in combination with one of the usual forms of loom stopping mechanism, controlled by the ordinary weft fork.

My present invention comprises a loom controlling mechanism operating upon the pneumatic principle in which the pressure is determined by the presence or absence of the weft upon the carrier in the shuttle.

In the preferred construction of my improved constrolling mechanism, I provide a pressure operated device controlling` the position of a dog or detent upon a slide which voperates the loom stopping mechanism or the weft replenishing mechanism, said pressure operated device serving to hold said dog or detent out of engagement Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

Serial No. 563,570.

with the weft hammer during the normal operation of the machine or so long as the active shuttle carries sufficient weft thread for its work and to retain the pressure at normal, and to permit said dog or detent to move into the path of said weft hammer when the exhaustion or near exhaustion 0f the weft thread in the active shuttle necessitates a change and allows the pressure to drop below normal. A' suitable source of air pressure communicates with said pressure operated device through a valved passage, to supply air pressure thereto. A normally closed escape or release valve is provided for said pressure operated device for normally retaining the pressure therein and for reducing the pressure when the weft in the active shuttle is nearly or quite exhausted. This escape or release valve is designed to be operated by a tubular weft detecting member which is arranged to project through openings in the shuttle box and shuttle into engagement with the weft carrier or the weft thread wound thereon at each alternate movement of the lay toward the breast beam. The engagement of the carrier or the weft thereon with the tubular detecting member opens up communication through said release valve between the tubular detecting member and the pressure operated device. If the weft carrier in the active shuttle contains a sutlicient length of weft thread for the next succeeding to and fro flights 'of the shuttle, the escape opening in the end of the tubular detecting member will be closed by the weft simultaneously with the opening of the release valve, so that the pressure in the pressure operated device will be maintained at normal and the controlled mechanism held out of operation. Theoperation of this controlling mechanism continues for every alternate movement of the lay toward the breast beam until the weft upon the carrier in the active shuttle is nearly or quite exhausted, when there will not be sutlicient weft left upon the carrier to close the escape opening in the end of the filling detecting member so that upon the opening of the release valve, the air pressure is allowed to escape through said filling d itecting member and the pressure will be reduced in the pressure operated device sufficiently to throw the dog or detent in the path of the weft hammer, which latter, engages said dog or detent upon its next forward stroke and actuates the wett replenishing mechanism ot the loom throw out mechanism in a manner well understood. lin this way the presence or absence of a sutlicient length oi" wett thread in the active shuttle determines the pressure in the pressure operated device which in turn determines the operation oit the controlled mechanism.

ldlhen the improved controlling mechanism is applied to the control of a wettreplenishing mechanism, it is desirable to provide means for automatically and quickly restoring the normal pressure to the pressure operated device immediately after the change ot a shuttle or wett carrier in order that the mechanism will be presented in controlling condition when the replenished shuttle is thrown into action in the loom. To accomplish this result, l provide an automatically operated auxiliary pressure supplying device. prefer to provide an auxilla ry pressure supply passage in communication with the pressure operated device and an automatic valve controlling said passage and arranged to be operated by a part ot the mechanism which is actuated when the wett replenishing mechanism is operated. 1With such an arrangement, it will be understood that the controlling' mechanism operates, when the pressure is reducedj and causes the operation of the wett replenishing mechanism, and that the operation ot the controlled mechanism causes an immediate restoration of the pressure in the pressure actuated device so that the loom can continue to operate under the automatic control with the replenished shuttle without material interruption. This auxiliary pressure restoring device is particularly important when the controlling` mechanism is operated with a throttled down main pressure supply and the escape ot pressure for each operation ot the pneumatic detecting device at theapproaching exhaustion of the wett from the shuttle, is not entirely restored by said main pressure supply, so as to cause the operation ot' the automatic control by the cumulative loss ot' pressure.

The improved loom controlling mechanism operating upon the described principle in which the presence and absence ot the filling in the active shuttle are detected by air pressure, may be variously constructed so tar as concerns the detail arrangement ot parts. rThe mechanism is not t'unctionally dependent upon the change in volume ot the wett in the active shuttle, nor upon the form or uniformity of the wett carrier or the winding of the thread.

To clearly illustrate the principle ot my invention, l have shown in the accompanying drawings one term ot controlling mechanismconstructed in accordance therewith.

ln said drawings: Figure .l is a plan view ot part ot a loom having my improved con-- trolling mechanism applied thereto. Fig. l is a detail sectional plan view ot a part ot the same showing the auxiliary pressure supply device. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view talien on the line of Figs. l and 2. Fig. l is detail sectional view ot the adjustable air supply valve tor the pressure operated device. ltig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5 ot Figs. l and Figs. (5 and 7 are detail views illustrating the operation of the pneumatic wett detecting device. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view ot part ot said detecting` device. t) is a View similar to Figs. G and 7 showing a slightly modified form ot wett detecting device. F l0 is a detailv perspective view ot a modiiied form of the controlled mechanism adapted to be actuated either by the filling forli or the improved pneumatic detecting device.

ln the drawings. which show only parts ot an ordinary loom with my in'iprovements applied thereto, l represents the breast beam, 2 the lay bar, and 3 the shuttle box at the lett hand end ot' the lay bar. 5 represents a shuttle in the shuttle box 3, and the wett bobbin mounted in the shuttle in the usual way. These parts are all ot usual construction with the exception that the front wall ot the shuttle box 3 has an opening il cut through it and the front wall oit the shuttle has an opening o cut through it which is designed to register with the opening et of the shuttle box when the shuttle is in proper' position therein for the reception ot the wett detecting device in the manner hereinafter explained. In the application ot| my invention to automatic looms, the shuttle box at the end of the lay opposite to the wett rcplenishing magazine is the one which is termed with the detector receivingl opening ft, and in the application ot the in'- vention to plain looms, the shuttle box near the ordinary wett detecting tori; is the one formed with said detector receiving` opening.

l() is the ordinary shipper bar byV which the loom is thrown into and out ot operation. rThis shipper bar is indicated only in section in Fig. l of the drawings but it will be understood that it is mounted in the usual manner and connected up with the belt shitting devices. This shipper bar l0 is retained in positionfor holding the loom in operation by the shoulder ll formed in the plate ot the breast beam l, and when the shipper bar is disengaged trom said shoulder, its sin-ing moves it to the lett oit Fig. l in the slot l2 in a manner well understood.

l5 is a lever pivoted at lG upon the breast beam l in position to engage the .trout ot the shipper bar l0 at one end and to he engaged by the adjustable controlling and operating slide '17 mounted upon the breast lOO beam in the usual manner and carrying at its forward end the usual weft detectingl fork 18 which is operated by the weft hammer indicated at 20. This throw out mechanism under the control of the weft detectlig fork 18 is of common construction.

Arranged alongside of the slide 17 in suitable guideways 25 upon the breast beam 1 is a second controlling slide 26 which is designed to be connected in any suitable manner with any appropriate form of w-eft replenishing mechanism. In the drawings, I have shown part of a vertical lever 30 connected with the controlling slide 26 through a link 31. These weft replenishing mechanisms are so well known in this art that it is thought unnecessary to illustrate any particular form of such mechanism. By the term weft replenishing mechanism I mean to include all types of such mechaiiism, whether of the form for replacing an exhausted shuttle with a filled shuttle, or the form in which an exhausted weft cari'ier or bobbin is replaced in the same shuttle by a filled weft carrier.

The slide 2G has pivotally mounted upon it at 27 a controlled dog or detent 28 formed with a downwardly presented flange or shoulder 29 which is adapted to be engaged by the weft hammer 20 for operating said slide and throwing` into action the mechanism connected therewith.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I have formed the weft hammer 2O with a U-shaped upper rnd to provide two dog engaging arms, one arranged to engage the dog of the weft detecting fork 18, while the other is arranged to engage the dog 28 of the slide which operates the weft replenishiiig mechanism. The dog or detent 28 is provided with an angular arm 28a which projects over the rearwardly presented arm 35 of a controlling lever 86 mounted upon a pivot rod 37 supported at its ends in the adjustable bearings 38 seated in brackets 39. A torsion spring 1() is coiled upon the pivot roc 37 with one end in engagement with the controlling lever 86 and the other end in engagement with an adjustable disk 41 pivoted upon one of the bearings 38 and formed with a series of holes or openings 42 into which the retaining pin is designed to engage for holding` the torsion spring 40 adjusted to the desired tension. The retaining pin fst-3 is slidingly mounted in one of the brackets 39 so that it can readily be moved into and out of engagement with the holes or openings L12 of adjustable disk 41. This controlling lever 36 extends diametrically across the casing of a controlling diaphragm which constitutes an element which I have heretofore referred to as a pressure operated device for controlling the above described dog or detent upon the slide 26.

A cylindrical diaphragm casing 45 is suitably mounted upon the breast beam of the loom alongside o f the guideway 25. Mount.- ed within the diaphragm casing in the usual manner is a diaphragm 50 secured at its edge between the casing #l5 and the cover plate lo, it being understood that the chamber formed by the casing 45 and cover 46 is of proper shape to allow the fi'ee rise and fall of the diaphragm under the action of air pressure supplied beneath the diaphragm in the manner hereinafter explain-ed. The central part of the diaphragm is reinforced in the usual inaiiner by suitable metal plates or disks indicated at 47 and secured in place upon the diaphragm in any usual way. A pin 48 is shown projecting up from the uppei plate 47 and operating freely in a central guide opening 49 of the cover plate 1G. The controlling lever 8G is formed with a downwardly presented lug or boss 36a which rests upon the pin L18 and by reason of the rising and falling of the diaphragm 50, said lever 3G is caused to move up and down upon its pivot, the tension spring 40 tending to move it and the diaphragm downwardly, and the air pressure beneath the diaphragm tending to move the diaphragm and supported controlling lever 8G upwardly against the tension of the spring 40. Since the controlled dog or detent 28 is supported by the engagement of its arm 28a with the arm of lever 3G, it will be understood that the pressure operated device or diaphragm 50 controls the position of the dog or detent 28. When this dog or detent 28 is in lowered position, its lug or flange 29 is presented in the path of one arm of the weft hammer 20,

whereas when'it is in its raised position, said flange 29 will be supported out of the path of the weft hammer so that it will not be engaged.

The arm 35 of lever 3G is preferably constructed as shown in Fig. 3 of t-lie drawings, with a high portion at its end and a reduced or cut out intermediate portion. The arm 28a of dog or detent 28 is of small cross section and rests normally upon high portion 35a of arm 35. Then slide 26 moves outwardly under the action of the weft hammer, the arm 28a is moved away from high portion 35 of arm and thereby frees lever 3G to permit the restoration of pressure beneath diaphragm 50 in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter explained.

The diaphragm chamber 415 has a port or passage 55 leading from it beneath the diaphragm and communicating with a threeway coupling 5G. This three-way coupling 5G has connected with one of its passageways 'an air supply pipe 57 which leads from an air pump, a pressure reservoir or some other suitable source of air under pressure. The

that because of the extreme delicacy of the controlling mechanism, very small air pump is suthcient to supply the requisite air under pressure for accurately operating the 'mechanisnn A throttling screw valve 5S is threaded into the three-way coupling 56 with its conical end adapted to be seated in the passage leading 'from the air supply pipe 57. By adjusting this screw valve 58, the rate of tlow of air admitted to the passage leading' to the pressure diaphragm will be regulated to a nicety.

1t is desirable for reasons hereinafter explained to provide means for quickly restoring the pressure beneath the diaphragm 50 immediately after the operation oitl the controlling mechanism. To accomplish this result 1 have arranged an auxiliary pressure supply pipe leading from the main pressure supply pipe to the chamber beneath the diaphragm, and have mounted in said auxiliary passageway a normally closed automatically opcn valve operated by some part et the controlled mechanism. This auxiliary pressure supply device is shown in Figs. 1, 1, and 2. 130 is the auxiliary pipe leading trom the main air supply pipe 57 beneath valve 5S and communicating with a valve casing 131 which is in open communication at 132 with the diaphragm casing 415 beneath the diaphragm. 133 a valve seat in casing 131. and 131 is a valve operating against the seat 133. rThe valve 13-1 is mounted upon a valve stem 135 supported in suitable bearing in the valve casing 131. An expansion spring 136 surrounds the valve stem 135 and tends to move the valve away trom its seat toopen it. The valve stem 135 projects through an opening in the closingplug` 137 and its end is normally engaged by a spring i'inger 139 shown attached to the lever 30 which controls the operation of the wett replenishing mecha- .nism. The engagement of spring linger 13S with the valve stem holds the valve normally in closed position so that no air pressure passes through the easing 131 into the diaphragm chamber. lVhen, however. slide 26 is operated the spring finger 139 is moved away from the valve stem and t-he spring oit the valve moves it. into open position to allow suticient additional pressure beneath the diaphragm to restore it to normal expanded position. llhe importance of this auxiliary air pressure supply will be more fully explained in connection with the operation of the machine.

The three-way coupling 5G has a branch to which is coupled a short section ot flexible hose or pipe (l0 which communicates at its opposite end with a nipple 61 of the coupling which communicates with the rel-.ase valve and tubular weft.- detecting device which will now be explained.

Secured to the end o't the breast beam by screws GG is a rearwardly projecting bracket which supports the release valve and the weft detecting device. rlthis bracket G5 is formed with a horizontal rectangular guideway (57 and a vertical cylindrical bore 08 opening into the guideway G7. Nlounted in the guideway (37 is a horizontally reciprocating weft detecting and release valve member 70. This sliding member is accurately itted in the guideway G7 but is tree to move therein when actuated as hereinafter explained.

71 is a stud or pin screwed into the ttorward end of the member 7() and secured by means of nut 72 threaded upon the reduced end oi the stud 'l' 1. A rod T3 is formed with a yoke-shaped head 7'1- which engages the grooved upper end of the pin or stud 71 and extends therefrom through a guide opening 75 formed in the vertical liront iange oit' the bracket An expansion spring 7G surrounds the rod 73 and is confined between the vertical iiange oi bracket 65 and the yoke head P1 of rod 73 for the purpose o1 tending to hold the slide member 70 in its rearmost or inner position.

The slide member 70 is formed in its upper tace with a port and a communicating longitudinal passage 81 leading to the escape opening ot member 70 through the automatically adjustable filling engaging member hereinafter explained.

Snugly fitted in the vertical cylindrical bore GS of bracket G5 is a cylindrical hollow valve plug 35 formed with a trued lower face which rests upon the upper face ot' slide member 70, and a central port Sti which is designed to register with the port 8O of slide 70 when the member TO is in position to open the release valve.

Threaded in the upper end of the vertical cylindrical bore 68 ot' bracket (35 is a hollow set screw 510 and coniined between the plug 85 and set screw 90, and located vin the cavities of said parts, is an expansion spring 95 which is 'tor the purpose ot pressing the valve plug 85 irmly against the tace oit the slide member 70 to al'tord an approximately air-tight joint between these parts.

A coupling ring 100 formed wit-h an internal annular groove 101 is confined upon the hollow set screw and is in constant connnunication with the interior bore ot said screw through the radial ports 90a. 'lhis coupling ring 100 has a radial port 102 in connuunieation with the nipple (51 above referred to which is secured in a radial socket `termed upon the coupling ring. Pry the described means it will be clear that there is a passageway for air pressure from the channel S1, ot' slide member 70 to the interior of diaphragm chamber 45.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings, the slide member 70 is shown in its forward operative position with iti-ee eon'nnuuication open trom the hollow valve plug 68 to the channel 81 of the slide member 70. This is the position of the parts when the slide member l0 has been pushed forwardly against the action of' its spring 76, by the engagement of the weft carrier or the weft thread wound thereon. This will be hereinafter more fully explained. The normal position of the slide 70 is the reverse of' that shown in Fig. 5, in which the port 86 in plug 85 is closed by the plain surface of slide member 7 0 beyond the port 80. The slide member T0 with release port 80 and channel S1 and hollow plug 85 of port S6 constitute the escape or release valve of the improved controlling mechanism.

The rear or inner end of the slide member 70 has an internal crescent-shaped recess 105 cut into it, said recess being a little more than one half of a circle in extent. The wall of this internal recess is channeled above and below to form a key flange 106.

110 is the self-adjusting weft engaging member of the weftI detecting device. This member 110, shown particularly in Fig. 6, 7, S and 9 of the drawings, is shaped to snugly fit in the crescent-shaped opening 105 at the end of the slide member 70, it being grooved as shown at 111 to receive the key flange 106. The member 110 is formed with a weft engaging face 112 having an internal recess 113 communicating with a diametrical channel 114 extending into the flared port. or opening 115 which is designed to afford free communication with the channel 81 in the various adjusted positions of the member 110 upon the member 70.

In fitting the self-adjusting weft engaging member 110 upon the slide member 70, it is necessary to first place member 110 in engagement with the recess 105 of slide member 70 with the face 112 extending parallel with the longitudinal axis of member 70. The key flange 106 is engaged with the groove or recess 112 in this position and the member 110 then rotated on its center until the face 112 is brought wholly without the end of slide 70 as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The key flange 106 is formed with a limiting slot- 115 through which passes a limiting` pin 116 seated in the member 110. This pin and slot engagement between

members

110 and 70 confines them against accidental displacement, and .permits the free automatic adjustment of member 110 to engage the weft carrier or the weft thread wound thereon. The purpose of providing the slide member 70 with the seltadjusting member 110 is to enable the weft detecting device to accurately engage the surface of the weft wound upon the bobbin or other form of' weft carrier no matter whether wound in cylindrical form or conical form, it being very important in carrying out my invention that a substantially accurate engagementbe made between the wound weft and the engaging face of the detecting member.

ln F ig. 9 1 have shown a slightly modified form of' wett detecting device. 1n this form the contact piece 110 is formed with a serrated engaging face 110'UL to render t-he device operative upon bobbins without grooves or upon cop tubes, the seirations in the contact piece embedding in the weft and cutting oft the escape of Ipressure so long as a sulfieient length remains upon the weft carrier, and engaging the plain surface of the bobbin or cop as the weft becomes exhausted and allo-wing the escape of pressure through the serrations.

In Fig. 10 T have shown a modification of automatically controlled dogs or detents by which the improved pneumatic controlling mechanism can be coupled up to operate the slide of the loom stopping mechanism in common with the ordinary weft detecting fork. 1n this modification, the slide 17d has pivotally mounted upon it a` weft fork 18a constructed exactly in the form now commonly used. 1 have added to this ordinary controlling slide and filling fork a U-shaped dog or detent 125 which is pivoted to the slide as indicated at 126 and mounted so as to straddle the forwardly projecting detent arm 181 of the fork 18a. This U-shaped dog or detent 125 has projecting from it an angular arm 125a which is designed to rest above the arm 35 of the pneumatically controlled lever B6 above described. lith reference to this modified structure, it will be understood that the combined dogs or detents mounted upon a single slide which operates the loom throw out mechanism under the independent control of the broken thread detecting fork 18a and the pneumatic weft detecting device acting upon dog 125, are intended to take the place of both of the

slides

17 and 26 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. lVhen using this modified combined controlling mechanism, it is intended to throw out the loom either when a broken weft thread is detected or when the approaching exhaustion of the weft thread from the bobbin is detected. Such an arrangement would be particularly applicable to the simple form of loom which is not provided with a weft replenishing mechanism. but can` however. be applied to a weft replenishing loom` in which case, the weft rcplenishing mechanism would act upon the breakage of the filling` well as when the bobbin was nearly exhausted.

1t will be observed with particular reference to Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings, that my improved pneumatic weft detecting device will operate properly only when the shuttle reaches proper position in the shuttle box at the end of its flight to the left, for the reason that it is necessary for the opening 5 in the side Wall oit the shuttle to approximately register with the opening '-it in the side Wall oit the shuttle box. lt sometimesl happens, however, that the shuttle does not operate properly and tails to reach its true position in the shuttle box with the result that the opening 5 olf the shuttle does not register with the vopening -L ot the shuttle box when the shuttle is at rest in the shuttle box. Such action due to faulty adjustment ot the loom or some derangement of the parts and prompt detection ot same important. Under these circumstances, the nf'et't detecting device Will engage the side of the shuttle upon the forward moveinem, oi the lay and Will not enter the opening 51. l'l this accident happens to a loom in which the improved pneumatic controlling mechanism is applied to control a Wett replenishing mechanism, it will be clear that the shuttle or bobbin changing mechanism 'would be operated by reason of the opening otl the release valve by the pressing in of member T0 through the engagement ot the side Wall of the shuttle7 it there was not an etfective closing up of the escape opening in member 110, but the operation of the Wett replenishing .mechanism would not be e'liiected in ease the shuttle were so tar out oi" the 'ay that its side Wall would sutliciently close the opening in the tace of member 110. ln the event of the automatic controlling mechanism being' in use to control the stopping of a loom Without Wett replenishing mechanism and the shuttle fails to reach proper position in the shuttle box. the loom would be stopped by the ,operation ot the automatic controlling` mechanism7 under the first conditions cited above, but continues to operate under the second.`

To avoid the continued operation of either type of loom when out of proper adjustment to the extent that the shuttle fails to reach proper position, as explained, l may extend the spring actuated rod T3 t'ornf'ardly 'from its bearing in bracket (35 and mount upon a stud 150 a short lever 151 in position to engage the shipper lever lO. A stout spring 152 projects to the left of short lever ll into the path of pin 73. The result oi? this arrangement is that in the event of the Wett detecting member 7 0-110 being engaged by the side \vall o't the shuttle because ot the failure ot the shuttle to reach proper position in the shuttle box.y said member vtilh its rod Will be moved forwardly to a greater' extent than during the normal operation ot the apparatus, and this extreme movement of pin 78 will. engage the spring and operate the shipper lever l() to stop the loom. In the normal operation of the controlling mechanism the pin 73 does not move tar enough to engage the spring 152.

The operation of my impro' ed pneumatic I sena-aa understood from the following explanation. The pneumatic or pressure operated device shown in the form ot a diaphragm controls a dog or detent for the loom stopping mechanism or for the Wett replenishing mechanism in exactly the same manner, the dille"- ent results depending upon the ditl'erent forms olE mechanism to which the controlling devices are applied. ln the normal operation oi the loom, equipped with my improved controlling mechanism. the source ot air pressure supplies a su'l'licient pressure beneath the controlling diaphragm to retain the controlled dog or deteut out ot' the path olf the Wett, hammer'. The air under pressure beneath the diaphragm is also in communication with the coupling` leading to the escape or release valve .vhich is normally closed to retain the pressure. Upon each alternate movement of the lay toward the breast beam, the shuttle comes into position in the shuttle box at the lett hand end ol the lay and as the shuttle box reaches the limit of its movement toward the breast beam, the end of the member TO is presented through the openings l and 5a ot the shuttle box and shuttle to bring the selt-:uljusting member 110 in engagement with the Wett Wound upon the bobbin or other Ytorni ot Wett carrier in the shuttle. lf there is sut"- cient length oit weft upon the bobbin at the moment ot engagement with the detecing device7 the open end ot' member llO will be completely closed by the yielding wett being pressed irmly against the engaging face 112 of said member. Then the ne't't is pressed in this manner against the member 110, the latter automatically adjusts itself to tit snugly against the wett. by turning sufficiently in the crescent-shaped recess in the end of member 70. rlhe engagement of the ivound weft With member Vll() as the lay moves toward the breast beam. forces the slide member 70 iliorivardly in the bracket G5 and opens up the release or escape valve so that there is free cou'nnunication bctwcen the channel ot member 70 and the chamber of the controlling diaphragm. rllhe closing of the escape opening in the adjusting member 110 by the filling prevents anyY material reduction in the pressure beneath the tliaphragnij so that the controlled dog or detent is retained out ot the path ot the Wett hammer. rlhis operation continues Ytor each alternate n'iovement of the lay toward the breast beam. )rs the wett` is used up from the active shuttle. the sel'l'a 'ljustiug member llO ot the detecting device automatically corrects its position for each engagement so to close the escape tor coni-- pressed air so long as sutcient wett remains inthe shuttle. `When the Wett is nearly exhausted and the `grooved part ot the bobbin which is engaged by the member ll() is becontrolling mechanism for looms will be I coming uncovered. there will not. be sutlillo cient Weft left to close the opening in the member 110 so that when the bobbin presses forward the member and opens the escape or release valve, the air under pressure beneath the diaphragm and in the channels leading therefrom'to the release valve will escape and, because the amount of air which can enter the system through the opening under the throttling screw 58 is small compared with what can escape by the release valve, the reduced pressure will lower the diaphragm and permit the controlled dog or detent to fall into the path of the weft hammer, which upon its next succeeding stroke w-ill engage said depressed dog or detent and operate said slide for either stopping the loom or actuating the weft replenishing mechanism.

By comparing the representations of the self-adjusting member 110 of the filling detect-ing device in Figs. l, (3 and 7, it will be observed that it is immaterial to the operation of my improved controlling device, whether the bobbin is formed with a cylindrical series of ribs to facilitate the winding of the thread, as shown in F ig. l, or is formed with a conical series of ribs as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. TWhen the weft detecting device enga-ges a bobbin from which the. filling is practically exhausted, the grooves between the ribs of the bobbin permit a sufficient escape ofthe air pressure to insure the oeration of the automaticall7 con` trolled dog or detent.

The serrations 110a of the contact piece 110 shown in Fig. 9, make it possible to dispense with the circumferential grooves on the bobbin and also render the device applicable to shuttles using` cop filling. t will be readily noted that this device does not require special bobbins, bobbins of special uniformity or special winding of the thread on the bobbins or cop-quills. To reduce to the minimum, however, the amount of filling left on the bobbin when the automatic controlling mechanism acts, it is important that only as many of the grooves at the base of the bobbin as is presented to the face of contact piece 110, be wound with thread to a level with the top of the grooves at the commencement of the winding of the filling on the bobbin. If the contacting piece shown in 9 is used, then oue or two layers of thread continuously wound on the base of the filling carrier would take the place of filling wound in grooves. lt must be clearly understood, however, that the operation of this apparatus is not functionally dependent on the change of volume of the filling on the filling carrier. This distinction can be the more clearly recognized when we notice that the slide 70 and its contacting piece 110 reach their extreme approach toward the axis of the shuttle by contact with the top of the grooves on the bobbin and this may be some time before the underlying grooves are sufliciently emptied of thread to permit the necessary escape of air and the consequent functioning of the controlling mechanism.

So far as l am aware, am the lirst to provide au automatic controlling mechanism for looms operating upon the pneumatic principle in which the pressure in the pneumatic device `is controlled by the presence or absence of the weft or filling in the active shuttle and l desire to claim this principle in a broad sense without regard to the specilic construction employed for carrying it out. Under this principle the air pressure is in reality the weft detector as well as the medium for operating the controlling mechanism, since the variations in pressure indicate the presence and absence of the filling and prevent and cause the the operation of the controlled mechanism.

rlhe pressure operated device shown and described in the form of a dia phragm is not necessarily constructed in this form since it is clear that other well known forms of devices operated by varying pressures could be employed for controlling the action of the dog or detent which constitutes the connecting element between the weft hammer and the operated slide of the controlled mechanism.

I have found from practical demonstrations with my improved controlling mechanism that it is extremely sensitive. The adjustments for the tension spring of the controlling lever 36 and of the air supply valve 5S enable me to regulate the operation to a nicety. I have found that by throttling down the air supply, the mechanism can be operated on the'cumulative plan, or in other words, it can be arranged so that the air pressure which maintains the dog or detent out of the path of the weft hammer can be gradually reduced by successive actions of the weft detecting device until the mechanism is iinally operated. Under this plan the approaching exhaustion of the thread from the weft carrier in the shuttle will lirst be indicated by a slight reduction in the pressure beneath the diaphragm and since the air supply is throttled to such an extent that the amount entering in the interval between successive openings of release valve would not be sutlicient to entirely restore the amount that escaped at the first reduction in pressure, the pressure will be further reduced upon the next operation of the detecting device and so on until the controlled mechanism is operated. Coincident with this cumulative reduction of pressure is the progressive emptying of thread from the grooves on the bobbin by which the escape of air at each successive operation is increased. By the described adjustments, I am able to delay the operation of the controlled mechanism until there is a very short length of filling thread left upon the bobbin in the active shuttle.

ln the application of my invention to weft-replenishing looms in which the change of shuttle or bobbin is accomplished with out sensible reduction of speed of the ma chine, it is necessary Vthat the amount of air supplied to the diaphragm chamber` in the interval of time that intervenes between the closure of the release valve at last contact with a nearly exhausted bobbin and its immediate opening by iirst Contact with a fresh bobbin. be su'tlicient 'to restore the pressure therein to a point where the diaphragm will be lifted and the dog` or detent raised suiiiciently to he out of the path of the weft hammer, otherwise another operation of the weft-changing device will immediately follow. To insure a positive control of this action, l may, as above described, add an auxiliary air admission valve,l in addition to the throttling valve which may be opened by the forward movement of the slide which brings the weft changing mechanism into operation and which is under the control of the weft hammer. ri`he. object of this auxiliary valve is to more quickly restore the normal pressure in the diaphragm chamber than is possible wien all the air that enters this chamber must come through the throttling valve. This auxiliary valve, during the normal working of the machine, is kept closed against the passage of air from the supply pipe to the diaphragm chamber. When the lever 30 is forced forward with the movement of the slide the coil spring i3?) surrounding the rearwardly projecting stein of the valve forces the valve oil its seat,r thus openii'ig the channel to the passage of air from the air supply pipe 57 to the diaphragm chamber, restoring the pressure therein and lifting the diaphragm 50 and the superimposed lever 3G to its normal raised position. lt will he noted that this .is rendered possible by reason of the depression in the upper edge of the arm of the lever Bti as shown in Fig. 3. As soon as the slide 26 begins to move forward by reason of the engagement of the dog 2i) by the weft hammer 2O the part QS is moved from its position at the highest part 352 at the end of the, arm 35 to a position above the dein'essed edge of the arm 35, thus affording space for the raising of the diaphragm and lever 353 withw out raising the ear 2S 'which continues in contact with the weft hammer Q() during the continuance of its stroke. lVhen the slide returns to its normal position and the weft hammer frees itself from the dog, the ear 28 rides up on the inclined edge of the arm to high part 85a near the end and lifts the dog out of the path of the weft hammer at the succeeding stroke.

seneca l would have it clearly understood that l do not intend to limit my present invention to the details in construction employed in the particular mechanism illustrated in the drawings and above described. l desire to cover the broad principle involved in the mechanism for the purpose explained. lWhile the specific form of mechanism set forth operates under the action of air pres sure supplied to the pressure actuated controlling device and regulated by the weft detecting device, it will be perfectly clear that the same results can be accomplished with but a slight rearrangement of parts of the mechanism under the vacuum or exhaustion plan. Such rearrangement would involve essentially the same elements so arranged that the pressure actuated controlling device would be retained in its controh ling position by the exhaustion of air above the diaphragm. by any suitable suction apparatus, and the detecting device so arranged that the apiliroaching exhaustion of weft from the active shuttle will admit air to the exhaustion chamber above the diaphragm to thereby lower the controlled dog into the path of the weft hammer. rlhis rearrangement of parts is so obvious that it has been thought unnecessary to illustrate the same. ln either case the detecting device equalizes the air in the controlling del a. vice with the atn'iospheric air, but in one case there is a raising of pressure and in the other case, there is a lowering. lVith this explanation, it will be understood that the expressions used in the claims with referI` ence to the pressure actuated device and the regulation or control of pressure applied thereto are intended to refer to the prin-I ciple involved in my invention, whether operating upon the plan in which air is supplied under pressure or air is exhausted to render the atmospheric pressure effective.

What l claim is:

l. ln a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a iuid pressure actuated controlling device, with means, controlled by the presence or absence of weft in the active shuttle, for regulating the pressureI applied to said coiitrolling device.

ln a, controlling n'iechanirlfm for looms, 'the combination of a Vtluid pressure actuated controlling device, with a weft detecting' device adapted to regulate the pressuri applied to said controlling device.

Si. ln a controlling mechanism for looms, the coml'iination of a pressure actuated coutrolling device, with a pneumatic weftl de tecting device adapted to regulate the pressure applied to said coiitrolling device.

4t. In a` controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pneumatic controlling device, with a pneumatic weft detecting device adapted to detect the presence or absence of weft in the active shuttle by air pressure and thereby regulate the pressure applied to said controlling device.

5. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressure actuated con` trolling device, with a pneumatic Weft detecting device communicating With said controlling device and adapted to detect the presence or absence of Wett upon the Wett carrier in the active shuttle and thereby regulate the pressure applied to said controlling device, and means for supplying air pressure to said controlling device.

G. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressure actuated controlling device, With means controlled by the presence or absence of weft upon the weft carrier in the active shuttle for regulating pressure applied to said controlling device, a source of air pressure communicating With said controlling device, and means controlling the supply of air pressure.

7. In a controlling mechanism for looms, tbe combination of a pressure actuated controlling device, With a pneumatic Wett dctect-ing device communicating with said controlling device and adapted to detect the presence or absence of filling upon the weft carrier, in the active shuttle and thereby regulate the pressure applied to said controlling device, means or supplying air pressure to said controlling device, main and auxiliary means controlling` the supply of air pressure, and an automatic device controlling said auxiliary means.

8. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressure actuated controlling` device, with a pneumatic wett detecting device communicating with said controlling device and adapted to detect the presence or absence of Wett in the active shuttle and thereby regulate the pressure applied to said controlling device, a main air pressure supply pipe communicating with said controlling device, a normally closed auxiliary air pressure supplv pipe communieating with said controlling device, and means actuated by the operation of said controlling device for opening said auxiliary supply pipe.

9. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressure actuated controlling device, With means controlled by the presence or absence of weft in the active shuttle for regulating pressure applied to said controlling device, a source of air pressure communicating with said controlling device, means controlling the normal supply of air pressure, and auxiliary means for augmenting the supply of air pressure.

10. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressure actuated controlling device, With means controlled by the presence or absence of weft in the active shuttle for regulating pressure applied to said controlling device, a source of air pressure communicating With said controlling device, a main controlling valve regulating the normal supply of air pressure, an auxiliary valve for admitting supplemental air pressure and means for automatically operating said auxiliary valve.

11. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a controlling dog or detent, a pressure actuated device arranged to control said dog or detent, and means controlled by the presence or absence 01"' weft in the active shuttle for regulating pressure in said pressure actuated device.

1Q. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a controlled mechanism, an operating device therefor, a controlling dog or detent arranged to operatively connect said controlled mechanism With said operating device, a pressure actuated device arranged to control said dog or detent, and a weft detecting device constructed to regulate the pressure in said pressure actuated device. y

13. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a controlling dog or detent, a pressure actuated device arranged to control said dog or detent, a source of air pressure communicating With said pressure actuated device, an adjustable valve arranged between said device and said source of air pressure, and a weft detecting device constructed to regulate the pressure in said pressure actuated device.

14. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a controlled mechanism, an operating device therefor, a. controlling dog or detent arranged to operatively connect said controlled mechanism with said operating device, a pressure actuated device arranged to control said dog or detent, a source of air pressure communicating with said pressure actuated device, a weft detecting device constructed to regulate the pressure in said pressure actuated device, a valve between said source of air pressure and said pressure actuated device, and means actuated by said controlled mechanism for operating said valve.

15. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a controlling dog or detent, a pressure actuated device arranged to control said dog or detent, a source of air pressure communicating With said pressure actuated device, an adjustable valve arranged between said device and said source of air pressure, a lling detecting device constructed to regulate the pressure in said pressure actuated device, an auxiliary valve also arranged between said device and said source of air pressure, means holding said auxiliary valve normally closed, and means for automatically opening said auxiliary valve.

16. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressure actuated controlling device, with a release valve for said device, and means operated by the active shuttle for operating said release valve.

17. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combinati'ii of a pressure actuated controlling device, vand a source of air pressure communicating with said device, with a release valve for said device, and means operated by the active shuttle for operating said release valve.

1S. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination ot a pressure actuated controlling device, and a source of air pressure communicating with said device, with an adj ustable valve arranged between said device and said source of air pressure, a release valve tor said device, and means operated by the active shuttle for operating said release valve.

19. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressure actuated controlling device, and a source of air pressure communicating with said device, with a release valve for said device, means operated by the active shuttle for operating said release valve, and means tor quickly restoring pressure to said device after the pressure has been released by said valve.

20. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressure actuated controlling device, and a source of air pressure communicating with said device, with an adjustable valve arranged between said device and said source of air pressure tor controlling the normal pressure supply to said device, a release valve for said device, means operated by the active shuttle for operating said release valve, and an automatically operated auxiliary valve between said device and said source of air pressure adapted to quickly restore pressure in said device after it has been reduced through said release valve.

2l. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressure actuated controlling device, with a pressure regulating weft detecting device, and means for causing the engagement of said weft detecting device and the weft carrier in the active shuttle.

22. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressure actuated controlling device, with a release valve for said device, a valve operating device and means for causing the engagement of said valve operating device and the weft carrier in the active shuttle.

23. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressure actuated controlling device, with a release valve for said device, and a tubular detecting member communicating with said release valve and adapted to operate it and retain the pressure when engaged by the wett on the carrier in the active shuttle.

2li. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressure actuatral controlling device, with a tubular detecting device communicating with said controlling device and adapted to have its release opening closed by the wett in the activo shuttle, and an autcniatically operated release valve ai ranged between said controlling device and said detecting device.

25. In a controlling mechanism tor looms, the combination of a controlling dog or detent, a pressure actuated device arr ged to operate said dog or detent, mea-ns tor supplying air under pressrue to said pressure actuated device, and an intermittently operated tubular lling detecting device in communication with said pressure actuated doevice arranged to be actuated by a wett carrier for maintaining or releasing the pressure in accordance with the presence or al sence or' wett upon the wett carrier.

2G. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a controlling dog or des tent, a pressure actuated device arranged to operate said dog or det-ent, means tor supplying air under pressure to said pressure actuated device, and an intermittently opcrated tubular detecting device having a release valve in communication with said pressure actuated device arranged to be actuated by a wett carri-er for maintaining or releasing the pressure in accordance with the presence or absence of weft.

27. In a loom controlling mechanism, the combination of a controlling dog or detent,

a pressure actuated device for operating said dog or detent, means for supplying air under pressure to said pressure actuated device, a normally closed release valve in communication with said pressure actuated device, a tubular wett detecting device communicating with said release valve and adapted to be engaged by a weft carrier or the wett thereon to intermittently open said release valve and in the event et the presence ot' a sutlicient quantity et wettto close the release opening through said tubular detecting device.

28. In a loom controlling mechanism, the combination of the wett hammer, a slide suitably connected with the mechanism to be operated, a dog or detent mounted upon said slide, a controlling lever engaging said dog or detent, a pressure operated device engaging said controlling lever, a source or air pressure in communication with said pressure operated device, and a wett detecting device adapted to regulate the pressure in said pressure operated device.

29. In loom controlling mechanism, the

combination of the weft hammer, a slide suitably connected with the mechanism to be operated, a dog or detent mounted upon said slide, a controlling lever engaging' said dog or detent, a pressure ope ated device engaging said controlling lever, a tension spring holding said lever into engagement with said pressure operated device, a source of air pressure in communication with said pressure operated device, an adjustable valve arranged between said source of air pressure and said pressure operated device, and a weft detecting device adapted to regulate the pressure in said pressure operated device.

30. In a loom controlling` mechanism, the combination of the weft hammer, a slide suitably connected with the mechanism to be operated, a dog or detent mounted upon said slide, a controlling lever engaging said dog or detent, a pressure operated device engaging said controlling lever, a source of air pressure in communication with said pressure operated device, a pressure supply valve arranged between said source of air pressure and said pressure operated device, means actuated by said slide for operating said valve, and a filling detecting device adapted to regulate the pressure in said pressure operated device.

31. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressure operated controlling device, and means for supplying air pressure thereto, with a tubular weft detecting device in communication with said pressure operated device, and a self-adjusting weft engaging member upon said detecting device.

32. ln a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressure operated controlling device, and means for supplying air pressure thereto, with a weft detecting device in communication with said pressure operated device, and comprising a member projecting into the path of the shuttle box of the lay and formed with an air escape passage, a weft engaging member formed with an engaging face and an air passage therethrough, and means pivotally connecting said engaging member with said detecting member to permit said engaging mem- 5 ber to automatically adjust itself with relation to the carrier or the weft wound thereon.

33. In a controlling mechanism for loomsv` the combination of a pressure operated controlling device, and means for supplying air pressure thereto, with a weft detecting member projecting into the path of the shuttle boX of the lay, and formed with an air passage therethrough and a crescent shaped recess in its inner end, a weft engaging member shaped to fit the recessed end of said detecting member and formed with an engaging :tace and an air passage communicating with the passage of said detecting member and means for confining said weft engaging member in place.

34. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pressure operated controlling device, and means for supplying air pressure thereto, with a weft detecting member projecting into the path of the shuttle box of the lay, and having a weft engaging face, a spring yieldingly holding said detecting member .in its inner position, and a release valve between said pressure operated device and said detecting member operated by the movement of said detecting member.

ln a loom controlling mechanism, the combination of a pressure operated controlling device, and means for supplying air pressure thereto, with a supporting bracket formed with a guideway and a plug receiving socket, a weft detecting member movably mounted in said guideway and formed with an air passage therethrough, a spring device for holding said detecting device in its inner position, a hollow valve plug movably mounted in said socket in engagement with said detecting device, and communication between said socket and said pressure operated device.

HENRY r. MEnnmM.

Witnesses:

WVM. E. KNIGHT, M. G. CRAWFORD.