IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OF APPLIANCES CONNECTED WITH WRAVING AND SPINNING MACHINERY
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Tice, of Worsley, in the County of
Lancaster, Gas Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS OF APPLIANCES CONNECTED WITH WRAVING AND SPINNING
MACHINERY.
"
Sealed the 20th December 1875, and dated the 22nd June 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Tice at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd June 1875.
I, WILLIAM TICE, of Worsley, in the County of Lancaster, Gas
3 Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES CONNECTED WITH WHAVING AND
SPINNING MACHINERY," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus or appliances
connected with weaving and spinning machinery, and consists in forming
O such articles as pickers, picker stioks, shuttles, shuttle boxes, jacquard
cylinders and cards; also slips, steps, saddles, rollers, bobbins, and other

page_text: appliances used in or with weaving or spinning machines from a com-
position or compound capable of being moulded into shape with or
without pressure, and of sufficient hardness to withstand the excessive
blows and actions generally imparted to those appliances, and yet having
the element of flexibility so as not to be damaged.
G
The composition or compound I propose using is composed of india-
rubber, treated in such a manner as to free it from sulphur, the
compound being of such a hardness that the points, edges, and other
parts subject to most wear are not liable to abrasion or roughness that
would interfere with the passage of the yarn or fibre employed or worked 1
in the machines:
In some cases I cover the articles made of rubber compound with felt
or other soft texture or material, and arrange metal rods or other
strengthening body within them to give rigidity.
Instead of the rubber compound for some of the articles I employ :
leather or hide cuttings reduced to a pulp and shaped in moulds in a
similar manner. In the case of using leather pulp for the purpose I
employ heat or other means during the pressing operation to solidify the
body.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Tice in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 22nd December 1875.
' TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
TICE, of Worsley, in the County of Lancaster, Gas Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Tice, Her special license
that I, the said William Tioe, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Tice, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term

page_text: therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS OR AFFLIANCES CONNECTED WITH WEAVING AND SPINNING
MACHINERY," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Tice, my executors, or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Tice, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawing, and to the letters and figure marked thereon, that
is to say:-
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus or appliances
connected with weaving and spinning machinery, and consists in forming
such articles as pickers, picker sticks, shuttles, shuttle boxes, jacquard
cylinders and cards; also slips, steps, saddles, rollers, bobbins, and other
appliances used in or with weaving and spinning machines from a com-
position or compound capable of being moulded into shape with or
without pressure, and of sufficient hardness to withstand the excessive
blows and actions generally imparted to those appliances, and yet having
the element of flexibility so as not to be damaged.
The composition or compound I purpose using is composed of india-
rubber treated in such a manner as to free it from sulphur, the
compound being of such a hardness that the points, edges, and other
parts subject to most wear are not liable to abrasion or roughness that
would interfere with the passage of the yarn or fibre employed or worked
in the machines.
In some cases I cover the articles made of rubber compound with felt

page_text: Instead of the rubber compound for some of the articles I employ
leather or hide cuttings reduced to a pulp and shaped in moulds in a
similar manner. In the case of using leather pulp for the purpose I
émploy heat or other means during the pressing operation to solidify the
body.
I now proceed to describe certain apparatus or appliances constructed
according to the Invention. I form rollers (which are now made of iron
and fluted, and over and between which is passed the cotton thread or
other fibrous material used in mules or other spinning machines) of the
composition or compound composed of india-rubber so vulcanized,
tempered, prepared, and treated as to free it from sulphur, and to admit
of its being fluted to any required form or angle. For the purpose of
connecting end to end I insert metal collars, sockets, rods, or other
suitable means for maintaining the required strength in jointing, or for
driving the rollers the whole length of mule without imparing their
strength while obtaining elasticity and perfect uniformity, and from the
lightness of material will require much less power to turn, also prevent
the threads from being cut, and less fly or waste thrown off as
heretofore.
For rollers covered with felt and leather I substitute the composition
of india-rubber vulcanized on the plain iron roller to any desired
thickness and elasticity, or I cover them with pulped leather or hide
reconverted to the proper consistency and hardness by chemical or other
process.
To prevent rust in rollers used in various kinds of spinning usually
covered in lead, brass, or other metals, I substitute a covering of the
rubber composition or vulcanite, as before mentioned, and of sufficient
hardness to be turned up to a polished face by means of a lathe; or I
make them wholly of this material, and I pass metal rods or bearings in
or through them, as desired, to give them the necessary amount of
rigidity.
I also make pickers for weaving of the india-rubber compound
vulcanized to the required hardness, and into or around which I insert
metal rods, ribs, or bands, or hide, or any suitable fibrous or other
material for strengthening purposes and to render it hard enough to a
withstand the excessive blows imparted to these articles. Picker sticks
I make of similar material, strengthened in same manner, or I make

page_text: them wholly of thin steel which may be plain, rolled, or coiled in such
manner as to give the required flexibility while retaining great
durability.
Saddles now made in metal or wood I make of ebonite or india-rubber
composition vulcanized to the required hardness of texture, and used
either in metal boxes or made of sufficient strength to carry the weight,
the object being to avoid the frequent oiling of parts liable to friction.
The Figure on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing shows a saddle
constructed according to my Invention. A is the box or chamber con-
taining the tallow or grease, and which is over the part applied to the
bearing; and B is the part formed of the compound of india-rubber
which is provided with an orifice to permit the passage of the melted
tallow or grease to avoid the necessity of oiling or other means of
lubrication.
I also form shuttles for weaving of the same material, which I cast or
mould of similar composition, and vulcanize to the desired temper, which
will preclude the possibility of damage to the yarn from fracture or
splitting, as is common in wood shuttles, and give them much greater
durability while lessening the friction in the shuttle box. I strengthen
them with steel plates or other suitable means.
Steps or bearers, swells for looms and bobbins, I form of like material
by moulding the material to the desired shape, vulcanized and
strengthened with wire, steel, or other suitable material turned out
perfectly smooth and not liable to fracture or suffer from friction.
Cards and slips for weaving brocades, &c., I make of sheets of the
india-rubber compound vulcanized and pierced for the thread or pins, as
required, and which from the tenacity of the material will not be liable
to wear or fracture by use.
I know that india-rubber has been tried before for some of the
purposes named, but not in the vulcanized form herein-before mentioned,
and which may be known by the terms vulcanite or ebonite.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim,—
First. Forming rollers, saddles, pickers, picker sticks, shuttles, shuttle
boxes, steps, bobbins, and other apparatus or appliances employed in

page_text: weaving and spinning machines from a composition or compound com-
posed of india-rubber, vulcanized, freed from sulphur, and capable of
being moulded into the desired shape with or without pressure, in the
manner and for the purposes herein-before described.
Second. Covering the articles or appliances made of the compound or 5
composition before described with felt or other soft texture or material,
and arranging metal rods or plates within them for purposes of rigidity,
as described.
Third. The employment of leather or hide cuttings reduced to pulp,
and shaping or moulding the cuttings according to the desired article.
Fourth. Covering iron rollers with vulcanized india-rubber in place of
felt, leather, or metals, as described.
1
In witness whereof, I, the said William Tice, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy- 1
-five.
Witness,
J. YATES,
136, North Road,
Pendlebury,
near Manchester.
W. TICE. (L.B.)