Apparatus for releasably securing a fluid-operated gripper shuttle in a

Abstract

Facilities for temporarily holding a rear portion of a fluid-actuated piston rod coupled to a gripper shuttle in a weaving loom are described. Pressurized fluid is cyclically introduced into a chamber that communicates at its rear end with an elastomeric reservoir and at its front end with the rear portion of a cylinder in which the piston rod moves, with a rear collar on the piston rod projecting into the chamber when the piston is in its rearmost launch position. A pivotally mounted fork is mounted in the chamber for normally engaging and immobilizing the collar on the piston rod. Prior to the initiation of launch, the fork is moved via a lever and pitman assembly from such locking position to a forward release position in which the piston rod may be propelled forwardly by pressurized fluid accumulated in the elastomeric reservoir. When the rear end of the piston rod again engages the fork at the conclusion of the succeeding return stroke, the fork is moved rearwardly into its rear locking position to hold the piston rod collar against inadvertent release until the start of the next launch stroke of the gripper shuttle.