Abstract: A yarn brake which can be used in projectile looms and rapier looms is actuated by a stepping motor with the rotational movement of a drive shaft of the stepping motor being converted to a linear movement of the braking member of the yarn brake.

Abstract: A braking assembly for use on loom shuttle boxes is provided extending inwardly of at least one wall of the shuttle cell and includes a support member attachable to the shuttle cell wall, a shuttle engaging member having at least one surface for engaging a shuttle entering the cell and at least one inflatable bladder interposed between the support member and the shuttle engaging member for urging the shuttle engaging member inwardly of the cell upon inflation of the bladder into a position interfering with movement of the shuttle within the cell. The assembly further includes apparatus for urging the bladder to a deflated condition to move the shuttle engaging member away from engagement of the shuttle when the bladder is deflated.

Abstract: To improve performance and to overcome dangerous problems of overheating in projectile looms, the loom brake has a cooler for dissipating the heat of braking and for reducing local temperature peaks. A coolant is guided in a flow into the vicinity of the braking surfaces. Appropriate cooling facilities can have air nozzles aimed at the braking surface, a liquid circuit supplying coolant to ducts within the brake shoes or tubes in heat-conductive contact with the brake shoes or heat pipes.

Abstract: The projectile-catching brake employs at least one resilient brake shoe which is made of metal for use with plastic projectiles. Where used with steel projectiles, the brake shoe may be provided with an insert of plastic material which can be replaced from time-to-time. In some embodiments, the resilient brake shoe is formed of a hollow section member to define a cavity through which air or other coolant may flow. In still other embodiments, bent stampings are used to form the brake shoes. A brake shoe body of metal may also be mounted by spaced apart resilient plastic strips.

Abstract: The movable brake shoe of the projectile brake is controlled by a wedge shaped adjusting member. A servomotor and spindle arrangement are used to move the adjusting member so as to adjust the position of a slider which, in turn, serves to adjust the amount of movement of the movable brake shoe towards the stationary brake shoe during a braking operation.

Abstract: One or both of the brake shoes of the projectile brake is provided with a composite brake lining composed of a carrier plate, a brake on one side of the carrier plate facing the projectile and a damping plate secured to the opposite side of the carrier plate. The Shore hardness of the brake plate is much higher than that of the damping plate.

Abstract: The projectile brake has two brake shoes movable relative to one another. The brake shoe carriers engage with spring pressure on either side of a wedge which is movable transversely to the application and release directions of movement of the brake shoes. When the wedge moves, the two brake shoe carriers move in opposite directions to one another; the two shoes move over the same distance relative to one another so that the longitudinal axis of the braking channel is always in alignment with the path of the projectile entering from the guide channel despite wear of the brake linings.

Abstract: The catcher is operated so that prior to moving the projectile back into the ejection position, the brake block of the second braking station is disengaged while the first brake block remains in a braking position. Friction on the projectile and brake linings of the second braking station is reduced with a corresponding reduction in wear.In one embodiment, the braking stations are constructed with independent brake blocks. In a second embodiment, a common brake block may straddle the two braking stations.

Abstract: The brake is constructed of a clamp-shaped receiving member into which a gripper projectile penetrates during an initial braking stage. The receiving member is, in turn, slidably mounted between two brake shoes which carry out a further braking action. The complementary braking surfaces of the receiving member and brake shoes may be tapered in order to increase the braking action on the moving receiving member.

Abstract: Shuttle control apparatus for looms having a shuttlebox rotatable 180.degree. from a first, shuttle receiving, position to a second picking position, means for checking and positioning the shuttle to a predetermined picking position within the shuttle box, and means for picking the shuttle. The control apparatus comprises means for guiding and maintaining the shuttle in the predetermined picking position during rotation of the shuttle box and means for braking the shuttle only when it is in the second position.

Abstract: For added strength and efficiency, the handles of impact or striking implements are weighted near their striking ends by the addition thereto of carefully pre-weighed supplemental veneers intervened with main veneers or by providing in a solid handle blank a head portion of increased thickness prior to compression. The mass of the handle at the striking end is effectively increased.

Abstract: An improved shuttle box for use on a loom, the box having one or more shuttle receiving cells each containing an elongated binder which is adjustably mounted and pivotally movable under fluid pressure from a retracted position to an extended shuttle engaging position, the binder, upon contact by the shuttle, acting to provide controlled deceleration of the shuttle as opposed to impact stoppage of the shuttle, the shuttle box being constructed of non-metallic materials which act to dampen noise, the binder components and the fluid pressure applying means being cushioned to assist in noise reduction.

Abstract: In gripper shuttle looms for a shuttle box which contains a groove for receiving a gripper shuttle and which rotates 180.degree. to turn the shuttle around and has a braking member which cooperates with the groove to check the shuttle in the groove, and wherein said braking member moves away from the groove to permit the shuttle box to be turned and the shuttle to be picked: restraining means located in the groove for restraining the shuttle against lateral movement along the longitudinal axis of the groove during the shuttle box turning motion and which maintains the shuttle in the proper position in the shuttle box and allows the shuttle to be picked out of the shuttle box.

Abstract: A brakeshoe for shuttle brakes on a loom which stops a shuttle in a shuttlebox after the shuttle has inserted a filling yarn during weaving cloth. The brakeshoe includes an arcuate shaped rigid support member. Positioned on top of the acrcuate shaped rigid support member is a rubber layer which has a height decreasing with increasing distance from the selvage of the cloth. A coating of abrasion proof material such as shett steel, covers the upper surface of the rubber layer on a side next to the shuttlebox for engaging the shuttle as it enters the shuttlebox.

Abstract: A fly shuttle loom shuttle box is provided with a solid elastomer binder attached at both ends in place of a conventional pivoted, rigid-backed binder. In one modification there is attached to the end of the binder a pivoted extension which permits use of dagger fingers in the normal position on a loom. The greater force exerted by the binder results in improved shuttle deceleration when it enters the shuttle box. This also eliminates picker stick over throw when accelerating the shuttle, which permits, when in proper adjustment, in some cases elimination of picker stick loom side bumper and check strap without, of course, eliminating their useful functions. As there is a considerable amount of heat developed by the flexing of the solid elastomer, it is desirable to provide for ventilation in the form of a few relatively large holes in the elastomer near its center and adjacent to the leather face of the binder.