A NEW CLOTH OR CLOTHS CON- STRUCTED FROM COCOA NUT FIBRE, AND OF CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING SUCH FIBROUS MATERIAL FOR THE SAME AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1839

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
LOGAN, of Trafalgar Square, in the County of Middlesex, Esquire, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Eleventh day of January, in the third year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Robert
Logan, Her especial licence that I, the said Robert Logan, my exors, adñiors,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Logan, my exors, admors,
and 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 "A NEW CLOTH OR CLOTHS CON-
STRUCTED FROM COCOA NUT FIBRE, AND OF CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING
SUCH FIBROUS MATERIAL FOR THE SAME AND OTHER PURPOSES;" in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Robert Logan, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and
ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, and to cause the same to be enrolled in Her said Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the
same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Robert Logan, 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 manner following, reference being bad to the Drawing hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, similar letters being
used to denote the similar parts of the same machine wherever šiinilar letters
appear on the same Sheet of Drawing, that is to say:-
My said new cloth or cloths is or are manufactured or composed of yarns
which have been prepared from the fibre of the cocoa nut, by subjecting them
to several processes or modes of preparation and manufacture well known in
manufacturing cloth from certain other fibrous materials, but not hitherto
applied to produce cloth from the cocoa-nut fibre; and my said improvements
in preparing the said fibrous materials consist,―
Firstly, in the application to such fibrous materials of artificial heat, while
the same are subjected to a twist or curl, for the purpose of giving thereto a
springy or elastic quality where they are intended to be used as a stuffing for
mattresses, beds, cushions, and other similar purposes.
Secondly, in a particular combination of parts of machinery to perform the
operation of hackling in the process of preparing such fibrous materials for
spinning.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent the machine by which I effect my said improve-
ments in preparing cocoa-nut fibre, by curling by means of artificial heat, and
this process I employ when I prepare the said fibre for the purposes of stuffing
mattresses, beds, pillows, or other cushions, or other purposes which require
or are more perfectly effected by giving the said fibre a more tortuous and
springy form by means of curling. Figure 1 is an elevation of this curling
machine, shewing a section of one half of the machine, and an outside view
of the other half; Figure 2 is a plan of the same; and 3 is an end view of the
same. A, A, A, represent six mandrils in one machine, upon and round
which mandrils the fibre to be curled is wrapped, sometimes in a dry state,
and sometimes in a moist or wet state, being first fastened to the catch B.
These mandrils are then drawn into the steam heated tubes C, C, C, by a
motion herein-after described. Each of these tubes C, C, C, is surrounded by
a steam-tight case D, D, D, which is heated by a current of steam passing
therethrough. The steam is admitted to this apparatus at E, through any
suitable pipe, and it flows in the direction of the arrows downwards through
the steam chambers D, D, D, and through the connecting pipes T, T, heating
the inner tubes C, C, C, in its passage, and escaping at G, G. When the
cocoa nut fibre wrapped round the mandrils A, A, has been drawn into the

page_text: heated cylinder C, it receives a set curl, and by a motion herein-after described
it is thrust out with and upon the mandril, to be stripped off either by the
hand of an attendant or by means of a stripper attached to the frame. Room
R, R, R, are double
T, T, T, are stops and
is thus made for another supply of cocoa nut fibre to be drawn in like manner
and curled. It will be seen that this apparatus is so arranged that when the
three mandrils upon one side of the machine are drawn in and subjected to
heat, the three other mandrils on the opposite side are thrust out to be
stripped of their curled cocoa nut fibre, and to receive fresh quantities of the
fibre to go through the same curling process. H, II, are riggers or other
suitable means for connecting this curling apparatus with any convenient
shafting or motive power. The vertical shaft J bas three leading wheels
K, K, K, which drive the bevel wheels L, L, L, and these latter, by means of
other bevel wheels on the other end of their respective shafts, shewn at
M, M, M (Figures 1 and 2), give motion to the sets of bevel wheels N, N, N,
and N', N, N. It will be seen that these wheels N, N, N, when in gear
with the clutches R, R, R, by causing the long screws 0, 0, 0, to turn in the
female screws P, P, P, cause also the mandrils A, A, A, to be drawn in or
pushed out of the heating tubes, as the case may be.
clutches with their respective clutch levers S, S, S.
washers, so placed on the long screws 0, 0, 0, that when they touch the
tappet bars U, U, U, the clutch levers fixed on the respective spindles V, V, V,
drive the clutches out of the bevel wheels on one side, which are thrown into
the catches, or the bevel wheels on the other side by hand, and thus the
motion of the screws 0, 0, 0, is reversed. At Z, Z, Z, I place pins or
pinching screws, so as to prevent the stop T, T, from slipping off the screws
0, 0, when the ends of such screws 0, 0, are home. It will be observed that
the long screws 0, 0, 0, are only three in number in this machine, and that
each one of these long screws has two curling mandrils, one mandril being
at each end of the said long screw. At X, X, X, X, X, X, I place helical
springs, to prevent too great a concussion when the steps and washers come
home, to shift the motion by striking the tappet bars U, U, U, and also by
allowing the washers to slide on the screws, to prevent their coming into
contact with the tappet bars U, U, U, before the proper time.
I will now proceed to describe my new cloth or cloths. In manufacturing
the same, the fibres of the cocoa nut having been first picked or sorted by
hand or otherwise, they are separated and loosened by means of beaters, such
as are used in beating hemp, or apparatus, like the apparatus called a devil
in the flax and cotton manufacture, may be used to deprive them of any
foreign matters, and of such of the fibres as may be too stiff and stubborn for

page_text: the kind of yarn intended to be produced. This process must of course be
conducted discretionally, so as to separate, cleanse, and sort the fibres, with
reference to the quality of yarn desired; and so if a devil or other similarly
constructed apparatus be used, the closeness and fineness of its teeth, and the
velocity at which it will be driven, must be regulated by the same considerations.
-The next process to which the fibres are subjected is carding or hackling,
and this I do either by machines constructed like the backling or combing
machines used in the flax manufacture, or else by machinery which I will
herein-after particularly describe. When I use machinery of the same kind
as flax backling machines no difference is requisite in their construction, except
that they should be stronger. By the operation of the carding or hackling
machine the fibres will be brought into the state of a fleece, or slightly felted or
matted layer of fibres, and I cause such fleece to be delivered from the hackling
machine, either on to a roller similar to what is called in cotton machinery a
lapping roller, round which it is lapped or coiled by suitable motion given to
such roller, or else such fleece may be carried through a funnel by means of
two or more fluted rollers, which press it into a riband or sliver, and deliver
it into a can, where such riband or sliver is ready to form a roving. All
these parts of machinery will be of the same kind. and put in motion in the
same way as the corresponding parts performing similar operations in flax-
spinning machinery. The slivers thus obtained may be spun into yarn-by
band, but in general I use machinery; and for the purpose of forming the
ribands or slivers obtained as aforesaid into rovings, I sometimes use a
machine such as is called in cotten spinning machinery a can-roving frame,
or else I use machinery similar to that used in drawing, laying, and
spinning tow, only made stronger to suit the harsher quality of the
cocoa-nut fibre, and I pass the said slivers or ribands through such ma-
chiner, treating them thenceforth until twisted or spun into yarn in the
same manner as slivers of tow would be treated in spinning tow. The
yarn obtained from fibres of cocoa nut, by subjecting them to the above-
described operations, will be fit to be woven into cloth of various qua-
lities, according to the degree of fineness given by the operations herein-before
mentioned to the rovings from which such yarn is spun, and in weaving
it into cloth looms of the ordinary construction will be employed, having
regard only, in constructing and working such loom, to the shallowness and
hardness of the yarn of cocoa nut fibre, which may require to looms to be
somewhat stronger than looms for weaving the yarn ordinarily used in weaving
the various kinds of coarser cloths. The cloth or cloths manufactured by the
series of operations above described from the cocoa nut fibre will be found in

page_text: general of the quality fit for canvas, bed ticks, sacking, sail cloth, and other
similar fabrics usually woven from hemp or flax.
It has been stated that I sometimes perform the heckling process by
machinery of a peculiar construction. Such machinery is represented in
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the Drawings hereunto annexed. Figure 4 is an
elevation thereof, shewing the carding or heckling machinery by means of
which the cocoa nut fibres are carded, separated, and laid on a revolving
endless band or apron, in such manner that they can be taken up in the state
of a thinly spread fleece, or in a lighted matted state. Figure 5 is a full
sized view of one of the heckles or combs. Figure 6 is a cross section of
Figure 5. These combs or hackles are shewn also at A, A, A, set all round the
hackling drum B. C is a fixed brush, and D, D, a series of revolving brushes
set round the circumference of a cylinder. Figure 7 is a full sized end view
of the fluted rollers which draw the cocoa nut fibre into the machine. They
are set in motion by a suitable connection with the other gear that drives the
machine. The stationary brush C is split or divided into two parts, as shewn.
by the Drawing, the upper part pointing to the centre of the hackling drum,
while the lower half prevents the cocoa nut fibre from riding over the upper
fluted roller. The upper part of this brush C dresses the fibre as it is drawn
through the brush by the combs A, A, in their revolution. H is a piece of
wood which rests upon each gudgeon of the upper roller; and I (Figure 4).
is a lever and weight which rests upon the wood H, and presses it downwards
on the gudgeons of the upper roller, so that the cocoa nut fibre may be well.
gripped between the two rollers, and thus be drawn into the machine when one
or both of the rollers are turned. The cocoa nut fibre having been previously
assorted and picked by hand, or otherwise separated or loosened by some of the
means herein-before mentioned in speaking of the preliminary processes in manu-
facturing my new cloth, is supplied to the heckling machine at E, and being drawn
in between the rollers is carried forward towards the heckles A, which catch it
as they revolve in the direction shewn by the arrow Figure 4, and draw it
through the bristles of the fixed brush C, whereby it receives a first dressing.
It is then carried round by the hackle drum B, and passes at d between the
hackles or combs, and the revolving brushes D, D, where the fibres having.
received a second dressing are thrown off and allowed to fall upon the endless
apron F. They fall on that apron in such a manner that they become felted
or matted lightly together, forming what may be called the foundation for.
the future yarn, and from thence they are carried off, in the state of what I
call a fleece, by the endless apron F, to be lapped up, and form a roving in a
manner similar to a roving of cotton. The endless apron F is made to travel.

page_text: at such a speed in relation to the speed of the hackle drum, as will insure a
sufficient quantity of the dressed fibres being deposited by the hackles and
brushes. If I am preparing a lighter yarn, for instance, I cause the apron F
to travel more quickly in reference to the hackle drum than when I am
preparing for stronger yarn. G is a roller on which the lightly matted or
felted fibre falls in its passage from the continuous apron, and its office is
similar to what is known in paper making machinery as the couching roller.
The width of the carding or hackling machine is sufficient to allow the combs,
Figure 5, which are six inches long, and laid parallel to the axis of the drum B
(Figure 4), to clear the frame and casing. I make the width of the endless
apron F twelve inches. I prefer having the power of fixing this apron F
higher up or lower down according as I find the fibres thrown in a more or
less scattered manner. Sometimes I place the roller G at a greater distance
from the apron F, and use it in manner very similar to what is called a
lapping roller in cotton machinery, and in that case I coil up the endless
fleece upon it. The treatment of the fleece produced by hackling in this
machine, to convert it into rovings and then into yarn, will be the same as 1
have already described in speaking of the fleece produced by heekling fibres
of cocoa nut in a heckling machine constructed like a flax heekling machine,
and I need not therefore give any further explanation on that part of the
process of making my new cloth or cloths.
Having now described my said Invention, and the manner of carrying the
same into effect, I do hereby declare that I claim,-
Firstly, as part thereof, such new cloth or cloths as I have herein-before
described manufactured from the fibres of the cocoa nut, by subjecting such
fibres to the several processes of heckling or carding or roving, and the
subsequent processes herein-before mentioned and described or referred to. I
claim―
Secondly, as part of my improvements in preparing the fibre of the cocoa
nut, the combination of revolving hackles with stationary and revolving
brushes, which I have described with reference to Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7,
of the Drawings hereunto annexed, as applied to the process of hackling in the
preparation of cocoa nut fibres.
And I claim, as part of my said improvements, the preparation of
continuous flecce from cocoa nut fibres, and the roving and spinning of this
fibrous material by machinery.
I claim, as a further part of my said improvements, the method herein-
before described of curling by machinery the fibres of the cocoa nut, by the
application of artificial heat thereto while the said fibres are subjected to a

page_text: twist; but I do not confine myself to the particular form of heating and
twisting apparatus which I have shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawings
hereunto annexed.
And such my Invention being, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
entirely new, and never before used within that part of Her said Majesty's
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her said
Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, I do hereby declare
this to be my Specification of the same, and that I do verily believe this my
said Specification doth comply in all respects, fully and without reserve or
disguise, with the said proviso in the said herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent contained, wherefore I hereby claim to maintain exclusive right and
privilege to my said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Logan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine.
ROBT (L.S.) LOGAN.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Eleventh day of July, in the
year of our Lord 1839. the aforesaid Robert Logan came before our said.