IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR TWISTING CORD OR TWINE
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Sept., 1886.
Complete Left, 6th June, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 8th July, 1887.
I, GEORGE LOOMIS BROWNELL, of Worcester, in the County of Worcester, and
State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR TWISTING CORD
OR TWINE, to be as follows:-
My improvements relate to that class of twisting machines in which several threads,
or strands, are drawn from spools, or cops, and are brought together by passing
through a hole the size of the cord to be twisted, termed a "die," and a rotary motion
And my
given to the threads, or strands, by which they are twisted into a cord.
improvements relate, especially, to that part of the machine by which the several
threads or strands, are moistened and presented to the twisting mechanism proper,
or the mechanism by which the rotary motion is imparted to the cord.
1. My first improvement relates to the water cup in which the strands are moistened,
and which consists of a circular cup mounted upon a vertical post having an enlarged
base resting on three equidistant feet, by which the water cup is levelled.
Water is admitted to the water cup by a pipe extending from the bottom of the
cup, down through the vertical post and to an independent water basin, in which the
water is maintained at the same height as the desired water line in the water cup.
2. My second improvement relates to the spool supporting device, consisting of a
circular rim or wheel journalled on the vertical post as an axis, so it may be
turned thereon by the attendant; and having a row of concentric slots in which
vertical pins are held, upon which the spools turn as the strands are drawn off.
Outside the row of spools are a similar row of concentric slots holding guide pins
around which the strands are passed and from thence over the edge of the water cup.
3. My third improvement relates to the water reservoir from which the water is
fed to the water cup. I place a water basin at the same height as the water cup and
connected therewith by a pipe having a flexible section. The water basin is adjustable
vertically, not only for the purpose of regulating the height of the water in the water
cup, but also to allow the water to be entirely removed from the water cup by lowering
the basin and permitting the water to flow back and empty the water cup. The water
DQ77

page_text: is kept at the requisite level by a well known device long employed for analagous
uses, and consisting of an air tight water receptacle above the water basin and with its
lower end entering the basin, and having an opening through which the water flows
into the basin until the water rises in the basin above the opening, sealing it to the
admission of air, when the pressure of the atmosphere upon the water in the basin will
prevent the further flow of water.
4. My fourth improvement relates to the arrangement of the "die" and water cup,
and consists in bringing the "die" down so as to bring its under surface in contact
with the water in the water cup. The strands are carried over the edge of the water
cup and under the "die," and up through the hole in the "die;" each strand
therefore forms an acute angle with the axial line of the "die" and the tension on the
strands serves to hold them in contact with the inner surface of the "die" and prevent
any of the strands from being drawn into the center of the cord. I thereby secure a
uniform length of all the strands in a given section of the cord; as all the strands
are kept on the outside of the cord and all therefore receive an equal amount of
twist."
5. My fifth improvement consists in making the "die" vertically adjustable with
reference to the water cup, whereby the immersion of the strands in the water may be
varied and the amount of water absorbed by them varied. The "die is a small
circular plate having a central hole the size of the cord when twisted, and attached to
an arm extending upward to the rigid portion of the machine to which it is adjustably
attached so the circular plate may be moved toward or away from the water in the
water cup.
From the "die" the assembled strands are given a rapid rotary motion by any of
the mechanisms commonly employed in twisting cord, and as twisted it is wound
upon a reel.
My present invention however does not relate to the mechanism by which a rotary
motion is imparted to the strands as they leave the "die
" nor does it require
particular description as its construction and operation is well known and will be
familiar to all who are conversant with the art of twisting cord or twine.
Dated this 20th day of August 1886

page_text: Improvements in Machines for Twisting Cord or Twine.
I, GEORGE LOOMIS BROWNELL of Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State
of Massachusetts, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR TWISTING CORD OR
TWINE, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My improvements relate especially to that class of twisting machines in which
several threads, or strands, are drawn from spools or cops and are brought together by
passing through a hole the size of the cord to be twisted, termed a "die" and a
rotary motion given to the threads, or strands, by which they are twisted into a cord,
and the object of my invention is to produce a cord or twine in which all the
component strands shall be of equal length and evenly laid upon the outside of the
cord and giving a smooth cylindrical surface thereto.
In the following description of the nature of my invention and the mode of carrying
the saine into effect reference is made to the accompanying drawings and to the
reference letters marked thereon; like letters indicating like parts in the several
Figures.
Figure 1 is a vertical elevation of a portion of a twisting frame, or machine,
embodying my invention.
Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the spool supporting stand.
Fig. 3 is a top view of the same.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the water reservoir.
Fig. 5 is a detached view of the die, and
Fig. 6 represents on a larger scale a portion of the spool supporting stand.
It is usual to place several sets of twisting mechanisms in a single frame, but
as each is a duplicate of the others in its construction and operation, I have shown,
in the accompanying drawings but one twisting mechanism and a portion of the
supporting frame.
22
Referring to Figure 1, A denotes the frame; B the lower rail, and D the upper
rail between which and the upper horizontal portion of the frame I pivot the revolving
"head" or twisting mechanisin proper. The cord to be twisted is taken through the
tube a held in the rail D and forming the lower pivot about which the "head
revolves; the cord is then carried around the two stretching drums b, b, and is wound
upon the reel c.
I have not described in detail the construction and operation of this
part of my machine as it forms no part of my present invention and is also substantially
the same as the corresponding part of the machine forming the subject of my English
Letters Patent No. 799 of 1885, for improvements in Machines for making Twine
and Cordage.
To the lower rail B, I attach a spool supporting stand, consisting of a cone shaped
base C, with a vertical spindle E, upon which is placed the circular creel E¹, resting
upon a collar d, attached by a set screw d¹ to the vertical spindle E, permitting a

page_text: vertical adjustment of the spool supporting creel on the vertical spindle. In the
creel E¹, are two rows of concentric slots, e and f; in the inner row is placed the
spool spindles e¹, and in the outer row the pins, serving as guides for the strands as
they are taken from the spools. Both these series of spool spindles e¹ and guide
pins are held in place by collars resting on the upper surface of the creel and
nuts e² screwed against the under surface of the creel. The enlarged base C of the
stand rests upon the three equi-distant feet (", which enable the stand to be made
plumb, and all the stands in the frame to be brought at the same level by simply
filling one or more of the feet (".
F denotes the strands to be twisted and F¹ the spools; G is a water basin from
which water is supplied to the pipes G³, through a section of flexible tubing G²; G³ is
a water reservoir consisting of a tubular chamber placed in an inverted position in the
basin G. The reservoir G³ has a transverse partition g above the lower or open end,
and a short distance below the top of the basin G, forming an upper inclosed
chamber g¹, containing water, and a lower compartment g². A tube g³ extends from
the partition g to within a short distance of the bottom of the basin & with its lower
end closed by a step valve. When the reservoir is placed in the position shown in
the drawings, the valve g₁ is raised by means of its stem being brought in contact
with the bottom of the basin G, allowing water to flow from the upper chamber g¹
into the basin G and the lower compartment g², and through the pipe G' into the
water cups as hereinafter described. The flow of water will continue until the water
in the basin rises high enough to close the lower end of the tube g³ to the admission
of air to the upper water chamber g¹.
An opening g is made through the wall of the reservoir G³ to admit air above
the water in the lower compartment g². To the basin G, I attach a pipe G which
is held in the clamp G³ and tightened by the thumb screw 9. From the pipe G¹,
which is carried beneath the lower rail B, pipes G7 pass up through the hollow
stand C and spindle E. The pipe G' is screw-threaded at the top to receive the
nut Gs, whose under side is chamferred and enters the end of the hollow spindle E,
as shown in Fig. 6, thereby centering the pipe G7 with the spindle E and drawing
the flange G of the pipe against the under side of the lower rail B, and firmly
binding the stand C against the rail B. Upon the projecting end of the screw-threaded
pipe G7, I screw the circular water cup Ĥ, screwing it down upon the nut G and
forming a water tight joint.
The die I is a small circular plate, having a central hole i, the size of the twisted
cord. It is supported from the sleeve I', which is attached to the tube a by a set
screw, thereby allowing the die to be adjusted with reference to the water cup H
and also permitting the immersion of the die in the water to be varied. Water is
maintained in the cup H by means of the vertical adjustment of the basin G in the
clamp G³, so the water line required to seal the end of the tube 9 shall correspond
with the desired water line in the cup H. When it is desired to withdraw the water
from the water cup H, the basin G is lowered so the water will run back into the
lower compartment 92. Each of the strands F are carried around its corresponding
guide pin and over the edge of the circular water cup II, beneath the die plate I
and through its central opening i and the tube a to the twisting mechanism by whose
rotation they are twisted into the cord F2, and wound upon the reel c.
The strands F are carried over the edge of the water cup H and are presented to
the die at nearly right angles to the axis of the die, the tension upon each strand
tending to hold it against the inner edge of the die and preventing any of the strands
from being drawn into the center of the cord and forming a core "around which the
remaining strands are twisted.
6
By holding the strands against the inner surface of the die, they are maintained at
all times at an equal distance from the axis of rotation, and as the cord is twisted they
become laid upon the outside of the cord, thereby securing a uniform length of all the
strands in any given section of the cord.
The under surface of the die I, is brought into contact with the surface of the
water in the cup H, which secures the wetting of the strands as they pass beneath the

page_text: 2
die. If the die is barely in contact with the water, the strands will be but slightly
moistened; the amount of water absorbed by the strands may be increased by
loosening the set screw and lowering the die into the water and increasing the time
the strand is held beneath the water as it passes under the die. The die may be
raised entirely free from the water cup by sliding the sleeve I' upward on the tube a,
allowing the die to be cleared of lint or knots which
may obstruct its passage.
The spools F are arranged at equal distances upon the creel E' and within as small
space as will afford room for the changing the spools, and sufficient length of strand
is obtained by carrying the strands over the guide pins f¹. The creel E¹, is capable
of being rotated around the spindle E, and the occasional turning of the creel for the
purpose of mending broken strands and replacing the spools will so change the position
of the strands as they move across the edge of the water cup as to prevent its
becoming worn into grooves by the continued friction of the strand in one path.
That portion of my improvements relating to the spool supporting creel having a
series of concentric slots and a series of guide pins, as set forth in my provisional
specification as my second improvement, I do not now claim as I am aware that the
same has been used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood that I
do not claim as of my invention all the detailed parts as set forth and described in the
accompanying drawings, but I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The water cup H, supported upon a vertical stand having three equi-distant feet
for the adjustment of the stand, and a spool supporting creel held on said stand, as
shown and described.
2. The stand C, E, supporting a water cup H, and a spool supporting creel vertically
adjustable on said stand, as shown and described.
3. The water cup H, a die with its lower surface in contact with the water held in
said water cup, and a series of spool supports arranged around said water cup,
combined and operating as shown and described.
4. The combination with a water cup and a series of spool supports arranged
around said water cup, of a die vertically adjustable with reference to said water cup,
as shown and described.
5. The water cup H, spool supports arranged around said water cup, a die placed
above the water in the water cup and a water supplying reservoir, said reservoir
being vertically adjustable with reference to said water cup so the level of the water in
the water cup may be varied, as shown and described.
6. The stand supporting a water cup H, a water cup H on said stand, a die above
the water in said water cup, and a creel capable of being rotated on said stand, as
shown and described.
7. The combination with mechanism for imparting a rotary motion to the cord to be
twisted and a die through which the cord is passed, of a circular water holding
receptacle with its edge forming a guide for the strands as they enter said die, as
shown and described.