IMPROVEMENTS IN ROVING AND SPINNING WOOL AND FLAX, AND IN TREATING WOOL PREVIOUS TO SPINNING, AND IN HECKLING FLAX
Year: 1847

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
EDMOND DONISTHORPE, of Leeds, in the County of York, Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twelfth day of
June, One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, in the tenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,"
the said George Edmond Donisthorpe, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, Her-
especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said
George Edmond Donisthorpe, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, and such others
as I, the said Georgo Edmond Donisthorpe, my exors, adiñors, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROVING AND SPINNING
WOOL AND FLAX, AND IN TREATING WOOL PREVIOUS TO SPINNING, AND IN HECKLING
FLAX;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the
said George Edmond Donisthorpe, should cause a particular description of
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be.
enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited

page_text: Letters Futent, as in and by the same, reference being hereunto nad, will
more fully and at large appear
NOW KNOW YE, that, in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
George Edmond Donisthorpe, do hereby declare that the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters
marked thereon;, that is to say
...
L..
My Invention relates, first, to improvements in roving and spinning wool
and flax.
Secondly, my Invention relates to improvements in treating wool previous
. to spinning.
And, thirdly, my Invention relates to improvements in heckling flax.
And in order that my Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me.
And, first, as to my improvements in roving and spinning wool and flax,
which, in respect to wool, relates only to the manufacture of worsted; and the
improvements' consist in the application of a double draft or succession of
drawings of the rovings at the time and in the act of spinning, in place of
reducing the rovings by one act of drawing at the time and in the act of
spinning, as heretofore has been the process of spinning worsted;.and the
advantage to be derived by the employment of a double draft or drawing is,
that larger rovings may be employed in a spinning machine for producing
given size of spun worsted than when working by a single drawing or draft.
In carrying out this part of my Invention, I usually cause the surfaces of the
first drawing rollers to move at a speed of about two to four times as fast as
the retaining rollers; but this may be varied by reducing the relative speed of
the first drawing rollers when very fine short wools are being spun, and
encreasing that relative speed of the first drawing rollers when the wools are
of very long fibre? The effect of this arrangement will be, that supposing
comparatively large rovings be introduced into the spinning machinery, they
will each, by the first draft or drawing process, be reduced to one half or one
fourth or other proportion of size, and then may; by the second pair of
drawing rollers, be again drawn out "to the degree of fineness desired, the
second drawing rollers acting as the one pair of drawing rollers -heretofore
used when spinning wool into worsted. The distance of the first pair of rollers
from the holding or retaining rollers, and the distance of the second pair of
drawing rollers from the first pair will, as heretofore, be governed by the length
of fibres which are being spun.

page_text: . I. would remark, that I am aware that a. double. or successive: draft. by
drawing rollers..has before been resorted.to.in.spinning various fibres from
rovings thereof.. I do not, therefore, claim the same generally, this part of my
Invention being confined to. the application of that process to the spinning of
worsted, which manufacture I find greatly improved. by such mode of. working
the rovings of wool in the act of spinning. And in applying this process in
the manufacture of worsted, I have found it desirable, and of great advantage;
to use two or more. rovings in spinning one thread of worsted, as by. such
means I'am enabled to obtain more even spinnings; but I do not claim such
process of doubling rovings of wool generally when spinning, but only when
combined with the process of double-draft, as above explained.
My Invention in respect to roving and spinning flax also relates to the use
of a double draft or.succession of drawings, but only under peculiar circum-
stances; for I would state, that I am aware that it has: before been proposed;
in spinning flax from rovings, to employ a double draft or: succession of
drawings.
b
In carrying out this part of my Invention. I. cause the first drawing rollers
to revolve with a surface speed of from two to three times that of the holding or
retaining rollers, and then the second pair of drawing rollers are to draw down
the roving to the degree of fineness desired for the spinning which is to be
produced; and the distance of the first drawing rollers from the retaining or
holding rollers,' and the distance of the second pair of drawing rollers, are to be:
governed by the length of fibre under process, as heretofore. And in order:to
obtain even spinnings, I have found it highly beneficial to combine with the
use of double draft or successive drawings, whatever be the relative speeds
thereof, the employment of two or more rovings for making each thread or
yarn; "but I do not claim the use of two or more rovings, unless combined
with the employment of double draft or successive drawings
will now describe the second part of my Invention; which consists of a
niode of feeding-wool into conibs, in order that it may be more advantageously
combed or prepared for spinning.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows'so much of 'a plan of a rotatory comb for having wool fed into
it and then combed, there being a feeding apparatus applied thereto, according to
the second part of my Invention. Figure 2 shows ia sectional view of part of
the machinery,' sufficient to enable me to describe this part, of tiny: Invention:
Figure 3 shows a front view, and Figure 4 part of a side-view. of the same!
And I would, at the outset, state, that although the Drawings show a rotatory.

page_text: comb, such as has now come largely into use since former Letters, Patent granted
to me, yet this part of my Invention is equally applicable for feeding wool into
any passing comb, this part of my Invention only relating to the feeding appa-
ratus; and as the modes of combing wool are well understood, it will not be neces-
sary to enter into any description of the combing machinery, and it will only be
necessary, to the full understanding of this part of my Invention, that I should
confine myself to a description of the machinery for lashing wool into a passing
comb.a is an axis receiving motion from any suitable power by a strap
acting on the drum or pulley b, fixed on the axis a. On the axis a is fixed a
worm or screw c, which takes into and drives the screw wheel d on the axis e,
on the other end of which is fixed the bevelled tooth wheel f, which takes into
and drives the bevelled toothed wheel g, which is fixed on the axis of one of
the feed rollers h. These parts, and their mode of action,. are very similar to
the means. of giving motion to like feed rollers of other arrangements of
machinery. The feed rollers h,.h, are carried by two lever armsj from the
drum; and these arms; are worked by the excentric drum c' revolving in the
drum of the levers j. On one end of this drum c is formed or affixed the
worm c.. At the under side of the drum is formed another arm ; and this
arm.js, with the lever arms j, are governed by means of connecting rods or arms
k, k, on the axis l; the bearings. of which axis are fixed to the side framings of
the machine, but in such manner, that by having slots in the framing, the
bearings of the axis can be moved to or fro; and it is important thus to
arrange the parts so as to be moved, for by such means the action of the feeding
rollers may be adjusted from time to time to accommodate their working
according to the quality of the wool to be treated. And there is also a slot
in the arm to vary the position of the pin. by which the connecting rods or
arms are attached thereto, which arrangement will also facilitate the adjusting of
the working of the feed rollers. The excentric drum c¹ is fixed on the axis a,
the bearings of which are capable of adjustment by means of the screws m, n.
The screws n, passing through slots in the framing, fix the standards o, which
carry the bearings of the axis a to the framing of the machine. I would
remark, in respect to this part of my Invention, that heretofore the feeding
apparatus employed have been so arranged, that in addition to the rollers
revolving about their own axes, they have been caused to perform in cir-
cular, or nearly circular, orbits; and in the instance where it has been
attempted to make the rollers depart from a circular orbit, the rollers have
been prevented departing or receding from the comb into which the wool is
being fed a distance so great as the greatest diameter of the orbit. Now the
object of this part of my Invention is to give to the rollers of a feeding appa-

page_text: ratus, in addition to their motion on their own axes, such a motion that they
may move in such an orbit that the feeding rollers will be able to depart or
recede from the comb after lashing or feeding in the wool a larger distance
than the shortest diameter of the orbit, it being desirable to use as short teeth
as may be, and depart from the combs as long a distance as the wool may
require without it being necessary for the rollers to move in an orbit as large,
or nearly as large, as a circle equal in diameter to the length of movement
of the rollers in receding from the comb; and I would stato that variations
may be made in the arrangement and construction of the apparatus, so long
as this result is obtained to the working rollers.
I will now describe the third part of my Invention, which has for its object
improvements in heckling flax. This part of my Invention consists of
mounting heckles in a series of chambers or otherwise, so as that they may.
have a capability of receding back from the working positions, such heckles
being carried by endless surfaces, and in such manner that the heckles may be
within the chambers, or out of their working position, for a part of their
rotation or motion, and then be brought or moved out of their chambers, or
into their working position, and caused to penetrate the flax, and then for a
time to continue in action, dividing the flax in like manner to licckles hereto-
fore used; and then to be caused to recede back into their chambers, or out of
their working position, and out of the flax, by which not only are the heckles
made to enter into and leave the flax under process with considerable advan-
tage, but, in addition thereto, the heckles, in the act of retiring from the flax,
may be cleansed from any tow which may be in the teeth or heckles.
Figure 5 shows an end elevation of the machinery used by me in carrying
out this part of my. Invention; Figure 6 is a vertical section of the machine;
and Figure 7 shows a side elevation. a, a, is the framing of the machine;
b, b, are the holders for sustaining the stricks of flax whilst the flax is being
acted upon by the heckles. These holders b, b, are supported in the trough c,
which, in the working of the machine, is caused to move up and down, so as
to bring the stricks uniformly to be acted upon by the heckles, as will be here-
after described.. d, d, are the heckle chambers, one of which is shown sepa-
rately at Figure 8, with the heckle bar in two positions. Each of these chambers
carries a bar e, in which the heckle teeth are set, and these bars e have a
tendency at all times to be forced outwards from the chambers d by the action
of the springs e¹; and it is the controlling of these bars e, so that the teeth
be forced outwards into the stricks at the proper time for heckling, and
be withdrawn back therefrom again when they have done their work, which
constitutes the peculiarity of this part of my Invention. The chambers d are
may

page_text: "
carried by the endless belts f,f, which may be formed of leather, gutta percha,
or other suitable yielding material, or of chain plates; and they are carried by
the drums g, g, h, h, affixed to the axes g', g', h¹, h', to which motion is given
in the following manner:-* is a drum, over which. passes a strap or band,
which is set in motion by a steam engine or other power. The drum is affixed
on one of the axes h¹, and on the other end of this axis is affixed the toothed
wheel h², which takes into and gives motion to the toothed wheel ³ on the
other axis h¹. On the peripheries of the drums h, h, are formed longitudinal
recesses, which, receive bars affixed to the inside of the belts f, f, so as to
control those belts and the heckle bars to travel at the same speed as the
drums h, h. The drums 9, 9, are caused to revolvė by the bars on the inside
of the belts taking into similar recesses formed in their surface; and in
order to keep the belts f distended, the axes' 9' and h' are supported in adjust-
able bearings, carried by the main framing, as shown. i, i, are plates affixed
towards each end of the machine, so as to be capable of acting upon the ends
of the heckle bars e during part of their motion. These plates i allow of the
heckle bars e being forced outwards from the chambers d; and into the stricks,
by the action. of. the springs e' when the heckles arrive at the points (1), (1);
and they continue protruding beyond the face of the chambers d till they
arrive at the points (2), (2), when the ends of the bars e again come in contact
with the plates i, and the heckle teeth are withdrawn from the strick of flax
into the chambers d, and they continue so till, in the travelling of the bands f;
they again come to the points (1), (1). The bars e are prevented being
forced out from the chambers (e) by means of the stops d', or, in place of the
stops d', pieces of wire may be fastened across between each of the heckle
teeth'in the bars e, so as better to remove the tow from the teeth in the process
of heckling, or otherwise a reticulate surface may be affixed over the
longitudinal opening in the chambers d, instead of the stops d'.'.
To the upper
These chains
I will now proceed to describe how the trough c is raised and lowered, so
that the heckle teeth may act upon the length of the strick. The sides of the
trough c are held together by means of the arched pieces c¹, c³, whilst in the
up and down movement they are guided by the guide plates k.
ends of these arched pieces c¹, c, are attached the chains c.
pass partly round and are affixed to the drums on the axis l'; on which is
also affixed the drum , to which is attached the chain m, which is connected
at its other end to the counter balance n. This counter balance n' is guided in
its movement at its upper end by the guide n, and at the lower end by its
being forked to embrace the axis of the cam o, and it is by the raising of the
counter balance weight n, by. means of the cam o acting upon the truck 'n*
!

page_text: affixed to, the balance n, that the trough c, with the stricks of flax, are caused
to descend, which they do by their own weight, and then', when in the revolution:
of the cam o, the counter balance weight is allowed to descend, the trough c.
with the stricks of flax, will again, be raised. Motion.is.communicated to the
axis of the cam o by means of the toothed wheel p, on the axis of one of the
drums, h, giving motion to the wheel q by means of, the intermediate whell.r.
To the wheel' is affixed the pinion , which takes into and drives the toothed
wheels, to which is affixed the pinion s³, which takes into and drives: the
toothed "wheel't, affixed to the axis of the cam o. In arranging the machine,
I prefer that eäch of the bars è have several sets of teeth of sufficient degrees:
of coarseness, and that the holders 6 be from time to time drawn successively.
across the machine, so that as the stricks of flax are each acted upon by the
first and coarsest set of teeth, they are then to be shifted along the trough c,
so as to be acted upon by the next finer set of teeth, and so on till they have
been moved all across the machine, and acted upon by the finest sets of teeth'
in the bars e. This movement of the holders 6 across the machine is accom-.
plished in the following manner:-u is a bar which slides in bearings in the
arched pieces c¹. To one end of the bar u is attached, by.a hinge joint, the
hanging piece u. While the machine is, in, motion, the workman attending
it from time to time places fresh holders 6 with flax, to be acted upon by the
heckles at the right-hand end of the trough c. In the descent of this trough c
the bar is moved..to the right (the part u' sliding over the holder .fresh.put
in) by means of, the chain it, one end of which is connected to the bar u. It
then passes over the guide roller us, and partly round, the drumu, to, which
the chain u² is attached. The drum uis affixed to a hollow spindle; to which
is affixed the drumu,. to. which one end of the chain u is attached, and:
partly around which it passes, the other end of the chain being attached to,
the trough c. The bar u having travelled sufficiently far to the right during
the descent of the trough e to allow of the lower end of the piece u¹ passing the
outer end of the fresh holder 6 in the ascent of the trough c, the bar u is
allowed to move to the left by its weighted chain u', moving with it the fresh
holder, and that moving the whole of the other holders a distance equal to the
width of one of the holders.
I would remark, that although I employ complete chambers to receive the
heckles as they recede from their working positions, such complete chambers
are not absolutely necessary, so long as the heckles are otherwise capable, in
going out of work, to recede back from their working positions.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would have it understood, that I do not

page_text: G. E. (L.s.) DONISTHORPE.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Eleventh day of December, in
the year of our Lord 1847, the aforesaid George Edmond Donisthorpe came.
before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,.
in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Eleventh day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.