IMPROVEMENTS IN CLAMPS FOR STRETCHING FRAMES AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Bridson, of Bolton, in the County of Lan-
caster, Bleacher, Dyer, and Finisher, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
Sealed the 22nd September 1865, and dated the 12th April 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Bridson at tho
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
April 1865.
I, HENRY BRIDSON. of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, Bleacher,
Dyer, and Finisher, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CLAMPS FOR STRETCHING FRAMES AND OTHER PURPOSES," to bo
as follows:-
The Invention consists of a series of tongues or clamps either of a circular form,
or of a portion or segment of a circle, and hung eccentrically on one common
spindle or pin, in such a manner that they come in contact by their own gravity
with another clamp of circular form, which holder however may be fixed. The
series of tongues form one link of a chain or strap ordinarily used in stretching
machines. These links are generally about 6 inches in width, and I prefer
making the tongues or clamps from to an inch in width. Each tongue is
independent of the other, and a more perfect holding of the selvage of the
fabric is thus ensured, especially when it is of varying thickness, as for instance
when two or more pieces are stitched together to form a continuous web.
The circular form of the clamps greatly facilitates the feeding of the selvage of

page_text: the fabric into the nip, and the tongues open by the pressure of the selvago
against them, and are thus self-adjusting. In order to release the fabric
when it has travelled to the delivery end of the stretching machine a small
fixed stop or stud acts against each tongue & presses it open.
Another form consists of a pair of circular revolving plates of suitable
size, each furnished with a number of tongues set in the form of a circle.
The selvages of the fabric are fed into the clamps at the circumference and
are not released until the plates have made a portion of a révolution, and the
fabric is thus stretched in its progress to a further finishing process, as for
instance, to a drying cylinder, mangle, or calender.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Bridson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
October 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
BRIDSON, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, Bleacher, Dyer, and Finisher,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and .successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Henry Bridson, Her special license that I, the said Henry Bridson, my executors,
administrators, and assigns,, or such others as I, the said Henry Bridson,
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
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. CLAMPS FOR
STRETCHING FRAMES AND OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst other's)
that I, the said Henry Bridson, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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 1, the said Henry Bridson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
My improved clamps are formed with a series of tongues or holders, either
of a cylindrical or segmental form, bung eccentrically on a spindle, these tongues
or bolders bold the selvage of the fabric or other article to be secured against
the lower bolder of the clamp, which is also of a cylindrical or segmental form;
when these improved clamps are applied to a stretching frame each series of
tongues or holders with their lower holder form one link of an endless chain,
and the fabric is held between two such chains, or the stretching frame con-
sists of a pair of circular revolving plates furnished with a number of tongues.
or holders set in the form of a circle.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into operation I will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
reference being bad to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Figuro.1 is an end view, Figure 2 a sido view, and Figure 3 a plan of.
an ordinary stretching frame to which my improved clamps are applied;
Figure is a section, Figure 5 is a side view, and Figure 6, a plan, drawn
full size, shewing the mode of constructing the improved clamps.
a, a, are. the pulleys at the feeding end of the frame, around which the
endless chains b, b, pass; c, c, are the pulleys at the delivering end of the
frame; the pulleys a are loose on studs fixed to the pillars d, d, one of which
is stationary and the other is adjustable on the foundation plate e, in order to
be able to regulate the distance between the pulleys a, according to the width
of the fabric. The pulleys care fixed to upright shafts c', to which are
also,fixed the bevel wheels c, which are driven by the pinions f, one of which,
is fixed to the shaft f, and the other is connected thereto by a key and groove;
the shaft f is provided with the driving pulley f', which is loose on the shaft,,
but connected to it when required by the clutch box f³.
The parts above enumerated are in common use, and form no part of my
Invention, my improvements consisting only in the improved clamps applied to
the links of the chains b; each link is formed of a metal frame, shewn in
section in Figure 4, and to this frame are cast projections for the spindle g,.
to which the tongues or holders hare suspended freely. I prefer to make
these tongues or holders of brass, or zinc, or other incorrodable metal,
but they may be made of wood or other suitable material for the sake of
lightness. The link here shewn has nine holders or tongues h, which is found
in practice to be a convenient number, but a greater or less number may be
used, the object being to provide for varying thicknesses, such as stitchings,
creases, or other irregularities in the selvage. In order also to prevent any

page_text: gap between the links the two outside holders are formed as shewn in Figure 5.
The selvage of the fabric or other material is held between the lower portion
of the holders h, and the upper surface of the segmental piece i, which is
fixed to the link of the chain. The lower portion of the holder h is partly
cylindrical, but its point of suspension is eccentric to the centre of the said
cylindrical part, consequently the tension of the fabric binds the holders on
the selvages, and retains them securely while the fabric is passing over the
frame. The arrows in Figure 3 indicate the direction of motion of the
chains, and the fabric to be operated upon is brought to the frame on a roller,:
as shewn at J, in Figure 2, or in any other convenient manner; the end of
tho fabric is taken over the guide rail k, and it is conducted by the attendant
or attendants, so that each selvage is led into the nip or bite of the tongues or
holders, the form and disposition of which greatly facilitates this operation,"
and the holders owing to their lightness readily open at the right moment to
admit the selvage of the fabric when it presses against them, and then they
fall back by their own gravity, thus holding the selvage when admitted. Im-.
mediately on the fabric being submitted to lateral tension by the gradual
widening of the frame sides, the holders or tongues, by reason of their eccentric
position are drawn closer and tighter together by the fabric, and the greater
the strain the greater is the holding power; the surface of the upper holder
being roughened slightly to assist the grip. On reaching the further end of
the frame the holders come in contact with a wheel or disc so placed as
to cause them to open and release the selvage, and the holders are kept open
by the bars or plates m which allow the holders to close again gradually when
the fabric is quite free. The fabric is then wound on the latch roller n, or
it is otherwise disposed of. The chains 6 are guided in side rails o, and the
distance between the chains is regulated by screws or otherwise in any con-
venient manner.
I wish also to observe that the clamps above described' may be applied to
stretching frames in which the elastic finish is given by causing the selvages
to advance by the vibrating and progressive motions, as described in the Spe-
cification of Letters Patent granted to me on the First day of October, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, No. 96, or to any other frame for
producing the elastic finish, or for any other purpose to which they are
applicable.
:
. I would also remark that for some purposes it may be preferable to make
the lower holders moveable in the same manner as the upper ones, as shewn
in Figure 7.
Figures 8 and 9 represent another application of my improved clamps, in

page_text: these views, p, p, are two circular plates or discs, which are mounted on fixed
studs or shafts, these dises form the lower portion of the holders, the upper
portions h consisting of a series of holders similar to those previously described
and suspended to a circular spindle g fixed to each disc; q, q, are the releasing
stops which are adjustable on the fulcrum studs of the discs p. The fabric to
be distended is fed in at the points r, r, and by the revolutions of the discs it
is carried forward to the releasing stops which liberate the selvages as before
described, the fabric is then taken forward if it should be necessary to stretch
it again to another pair of circular expanding clamps. These discs may be
driven by gearing, as shown in dotted lines, or in some cases they may work
loose on their studs, the progress of the fabric causing them to revolve.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described the manner
of performing the same, I declare that I claim the clamps provided with two
or more self-acting tongues or holders, as herein-before described and shewn
in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Bridson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of October, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-five.
HENRY BRIDSON. (L.S.)