IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING, SPINNING, AND DOUBLING FLAX, COTTON, WOOL, SILK, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to François Vallée, of Bruxelles, in the Kingdom
of Belgium, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PREPARING, SPINNING, AND DOUBLING FLAX, COTTON, WOOL, SILK, AND
OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
Sealed the 16th May 1853, and dated the 16th November 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said François Vallée at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 16th November 1852.
I, FRANÇOIS VALLÉE, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING, SPINNING, AND DOUBLING FLAX,
COTTON, WOOL, SILK, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS," to be as follows:-
The principal object of this Invention is to spin "high numbers,"
or fine threads or yarns, with greater case and facility, and of
greater strength than heretofore. This object is effected by con-
structing and operating the bobbins and spindles in an improved
manner, and also in subjecting the thread during the winding oper-
ation to a process whereby the fibres may be consolidated, and the
strength of the yarn thereby increased.

page_text: On the upper end of the spindle is mounted a flyer, whereby the
twist is given to the yarn; and, as this flyer is required to be driven
at very high speeds, I enclose the arms in a ring for the purpose of
preventing them from spreading. The lower end of the flyer
spindle rests on a copping rail or bar, and by raising or lowering
this bar the thread, during the operation of spinning, is wound re-
gularly on to the bobbin, which is placed on a tube through which
the spindle passes freely; the bobbin can therefore be held so as to
allow it to rotate at a given speed, while the spindle and flyer re-
volve at another speed, in order that the winding-on operation inay
be properly conducted.
In order to regulate the rotation of the tube on which the bobbin
is mounted there is a friction pulley at the lower end thereof.
In order to strengthen and consolidate the rovings, they are made
to pass from the spools through a mucilaginous preparation or com-
position, or even through pure water, or in contact with a roller or
cylinder covered with cloth or felt, which is kept damp by any con-
venient means.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said François Vallée in the Great Seal Pa-
tent Office on the 16th May 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
FRANÇOIS VALLÉE, of Bruxelles, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her inost Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said François Vallée, Her special
license that I, the said François Vallée, my executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said François Vallée, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter

page_text: during the terin 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 PREPARING, SPINNING, AND DOUBLING FLAX, COTTON,
WOOL, SILK, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said François Vallée, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, 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 François Vallée, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement; reference being had to the Drawing
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon
(that is to say):
. The principal object of this Invention is to spin "high numbers,"
or fine threads or yarns, with greater case and facility, and of greater
strength than heretofore.
This object is effected by constructing and operating the bobbins
and spindles in an improved manner, and also in subjecting the
thread during the winding operation to a process whereby the fibres
may be consolidated and the strength of the yarn increased. On
the upper end of the spindle is mounted a flyer, whereby the twist
is given to the yarn; and, as this flyer is required to be driven at
very high speeds, I enclose the arms in a ring for the purpose of
preventing them from spreading. The lower end of the flyer spindle
rests on a copping rail or bar, and by raising or lowering this bar
the thread, during the operation of spinning, is wound regularly on
to the bobbin, which is placed on a tube through which the spindle
passes freely; the bobbin can therefore be held so as to allow it to rotate
at a given speed, while the spindle and flyer revolve at another speed,
in order that the winding-on operation may be properly conducted.
In order to regulate the rotation of the tube on which the bobbin is

page_text: mounted, there is a friction pulley at the lower end thereof.
In
order to strengthen and consolidate the rovings, they are made to pass
from the spools through a mucilaginous preparation or composition,
or even through pure water, or in contact with a roller or cylinder
covered with cloth or felt, which is kept damp by any convenient
means. The advantages possessed by the present Invention are
that the differential motion of the spindles is dispensed with; the
spindles, whether employed for the purposes of preparing, spinning,
or roving, being made to rotate at a greater speed, and requiring
less power to drive them than by the plans ordinarily adopted.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1, represents a vertical
section of a spindle, with its bobbin and flyer intended to be em-
ployed in the process of preparation; Fig. 2, represents a side view,
and Fig. 4, a sectional view of a spindle for spinning and twisting;
and Fig. 3. is a sectional view of a flyer detached and intended to
be employed for the same purpose. The same letters indicate like
parts in all these figures: A, is the spindle, which is intended to be
mounted in a step on a copping rail, and moving up and down there-
with. B, is the flyer, screwed or otherwise fixed to the spindle A:
the arms of this flyer, may, if thought necessary, be surrounded by
metal rings. Instead of this flyer a cup-shaped piece, made of
copper or other suitable material, might be mounted on the spindle.
C, is a tube, made hollow throughout, and through which the spindle
A, passes so as to allow this latter to turn freely therein; this tube
is mounted perpendicularly in an aperture made for that purpose in
the framing, and is fastened thereto either by means of an adjusting
screw or by a screw bolt and nut. This tube C, rests upon and is
supported by a shoulder at F. G, is a pulley or wharve mounted
loosely upon the shoulder F, and intended for the reception of the
driving cord, while the operative is mending a broken thread or re.
moving the spindle. 1), is a hollow shaft enclosing the tube C, the
lower extremity of which works in a step in the shoulder F, of the
tube C. This hollow shaft is provided with a pulley II, which is
furnished with a small stud at the point O, which enters the bobbin
1, mounted upon the moveable hollow shaft D. By this means the

page_text: bobbin will be caused to rotate with the pulley H. The thread
passes from the reel or bobbin through the eye of one of the arms
of the flyer B, and by that means carries it round with it. By the
copping motion of the spindle and flyer the thread is wound evenly
upon the bobbin E, the winding-on being effected by the resistance
or drag of the spindle, the operation of which is regulated by means
of a weighted cord bearing upon its lower extremity. For spinning
or twisting high numbers it is advisable to enclose the arms of the
flyer in a ring (see Fig. 2), in order that the thread may not be
forced to carry round the spindle, but
may, if necessary, pass round
this ring. The resistance necessary for the winding-on is obtained
by means of crescent-shaped pieces of copper, zinc, or by any other
suitable separation, between each of the bobbins upon which the
thread is caused to bear, by which the rapidity of its motion is checked.
For spinning or twisting "low numbers" it is advisable to adapt to
the top of the spindle a twistle, as shewn in Fig. 3, for the purpose
of moderating the speed of the motion of the thread, and to prevent
it from winding-on irregularly. This improvement may also be
adopted for the preparation process with advantage, but the twistle
may be employed or dispensed with according to the quality of
thread desired to be produced.
In order to impart strength to cotton yarns I pass the rovings
through a decoction of some mucilaginous substance, or even through
pure water, by which the fibres are caused to adhere closer together:
the same result may be obtained by causing the thread, on leaving
the delivering rollers, to pass over a roller which revolves in a vessel
filled with water, and the circumference of which it slightly
touches.
Instead of making the spindle C, hollow throughout, a hole night
be inade to a certain depth in its upper part, and a short spindle
carrying the flyer inserted therein: in this case the copping motion
would be produced by the bobbin instead of the spindle. The po-
sition of the flyer might also be reversed, the head being below and
the arms above; in which case the head of the flyer would work in
the step of the tube C. In order to facilitate the revolution of the

page_text: flyer, it might be made to turn on a pivot in an aperture made for
that purpose in the upper part of the spindle.
Ilaving now described my Invention and the best means with
which I am acquainted of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to
be understood that I claim the general arrangement and combination
of parts herein shewn and described, or any mere modification
thereof, and I claim particularly the use and application of the
hollow tubes C, and D, as shewn and described, whereby increased
steadiness is obtained.
In witness whereof, I, the said François Vallée, have hereunto
Witness,
ISID. VERMANDEL.
FRANÇOIS VALLEE. (L.S.)