IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DOUBLING OR TWINING YARNS OR THREADS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS "ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO MULES FOR SPINNING.
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS, PATENT to John Platt, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster,
Mechanical Engineer, and John Whitaker, of the same Place, Doubler
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
DOUBLING OR TWINING YARNS OR THREADS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
"ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO MULES FOR SPINNING.".
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
DOUBLING OR TWINING YARNS OR THREADS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO MULES FOR SPINNING.".
Sealed the 8th July 1856, and dated the 17th January 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Platt and John
Whitaker at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 17th January 1856..
We, JOHN PLATT, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical
Engineer; and JOHN. WHITAKER, of the same Place, Doubler, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR DOUBLING OR TWINING YARNS OR THREADS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
ALSO APPLICABLE TO MULES FOR SPINNING," to be as follows:-
Our, Invention relates, firstly, to machinery for doubling or twining yarus or
threads constructed upon the principle of the mule or jenny, and consists, firstly,
in applying thereto three or more "list boards" (in place of one as usual), over
which the yarn-passes, and in contact with which it is kept by a rod or rods,
supplied with hooks or guides for the threads to pass through; secondly, in
reference to the holding of the material during the winding on, we apply the
apparatus for effecting that object behind the list boards, or between the first
and second, or second and third, instead of before that where the grooves, clamps,

page_text: jaws, or slides are usually placed. We also effect the holding in a peculiar
manner, the essential feature of which consists in causing it to be detained by
friction around an extended surface, in contradistinction to the nipping action,
in common use. To illustrate this, we will describe an arrangement we employ.
The rod or rods supplied with hooks through which the threads pass may be both
movable, or one may be fixed, according to the requirements of the yarn. The
movable one is mounted upon a lever capable of turning upon a centre, and
upon which it is caused to move when the winding on commences, so as to
bear the material down and bend it round the surface of the list board or
boards. When three list boards are used, according to a before-mentioned part
of our Invention, the two rods may be connected together and caused to effect
the holding simultaneously, or the one or the other may be employed separately.
Another part of our Invention refers to the under faller, and consists, firstly,
in forming it hollow; secondly, we apply a covering of flannel or other such
substance; thirdly, we cause the said faller to turn a portion of a revolution at
intervals, in order to bring fresh portions of its surface in contact with the
material; fourthly, we propose applying heat thereto; and this may be effected
by constructing it hollow, as above, and admitting steam. These improvements
relating to the faller we apply to mules for spinning, with the exception of that
which relates to the application of heat.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Platt and John Whitaker in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th July 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
PLATT, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer, and
JOHN WHITAKER, of the same Place, Doubler, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said John Platt and John Whitaker, Her especial licence that we, the said
John Platt and. John Whitaker, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said John Platt and John Whitaker, our execu-*
tors, 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.

page_text: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR DOUBLING OR TWINING YARNS OR THREADS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
ALSO APPLICABLE TO MULES FOR SPINNING," upon the condition, amongst others,
that we, the said John Platt and John Whitaker, by an instrument in
writing under our 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 we, the said John Platt and John Whitaker, do
hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
Our Invention relates, firstly, to machinery for doubling or twining yarns or
threads' constructed upon the principle of the mule or jenny, and consists, firstly,
in applying thereto three or more list boards (in place of the one as usual),
over which the yarn passes, and in contact with which it is kept by a rod or
rods, supplied with hooks or guides for the threads to pass through; secondly,
in reference to the holding of the material during the winding on, we apply the
apparatus for effecting that object behind the list boards, or between the first
and second, or second and third, instead of before that where the grooves,
clamps, jaws, or slides are usually placed. We also effect the holding in a
peculiar manner, the essential feature of which consists in causing it to be
detained by friction around an extended surface, in contradistinction to the
nipping action, in common use. To illustrate this, we will describe an arrange:
ment we employ. The rod or rods, supplied with hooks through which the
threads pass are both moveable, or one may be fixed, according to the require-
ments of the yarn. The moveable one is mounted upon a lever capable of
turning upon a centre, and upon which it is caused to move when the winding
on commences, so as to bear the material down and bend it round the surface
of the list board or boards. When three list boards are used, according to a
before-mentioned part of our Invention, the two rods may be connected
together, and cause to effect the holding simultaneously, or the one or the
other may be employed separately.
Another part of our Invention refers to the under faller, and consists, firstly,
in forming it hollow; secondly, we apply a covering of flannel or other substance;
thirdly, we cause the said faller to turn a portion of a revolution at intervals,
in order to bring fresh portions of its surface in contact with the material;

page_text: fourthly, we propose applying heat thereto; and this may be effected by
constructing it. hollow, as above mentioned; and admitting steam: These
improvements relating to the faller we apply to mules for spinning, with the
exception of that which relates to the application of heat.-
In order that our Invention may be fully understood, we will now .proceed
to describe the same with reference to the accompanying illustrative: Drawing,
which represents a partial transverse section of a doubling machine constructed
upon the "mule" principle. The list boards; covered with flannel,. felt, or
other suitable material, are at a, a, and a², extending in a longitudinal direction,
according to the required length of the machine, and mounted or secured to
the traversing carriage or frame-b, carried by means of the pulleys or rollers c,
running on the edge of the slip: d, secured in the ordinary manner. The cops
of yarn or thread to be twisted or doubled, two of which are shewn at e,
mounted in the longitudinal, rails f, attached as usual to the traversing carriage
or frame aforesaid, and one of the series of spindles upon which the cops
are to be formed, is shewn at g, mounted in suitable bearings in. the rails h, h,
the spindles being driven by any ordinary arrangement of drums,and bands
by means of the wharve i fast upon the same.
It will be seen, on reference to the Drawing, that the threads or yarn (indi-
cated, by red lines) passes from the copse through guides 2 and over the list
boards a, a', and a³, and may be kept in contact therewith by means of rods:
placed between and extending the required length of the machine; but
according to the second part of our Invention, we employ a series of hook j
and, under which the threads or yarns pass for this purpose,. which are
fixed in the longitudinal 'rails or rods k-and l. The rail kis mounted upon
levers m,
fast upon the shaft n, capable of turning' on bearings, 3, attached to:
the traversing frame or carriage b, above mentioned, the rail sliding.at each
end upon the same, and connected, by means of 'the joints and link p. to the
rail k, so as to partake (if desirable) of the .motion communicated thereto.
The lever m and shaft n may receive the required amount of motion: (for. the
purpose hereafter described) by any suitable arrangement of apparatus; as, for
instance, a heart wheel acting upon a lever fast on the end of the shaft n. The
rails and may also receive a traversing motion in a longitudinal direction,
for the purpose of bringing the yarns or threads on their passage over the list
boards a, a', and a³, into different positions on the same, so as to prevent their
cutting the flannel or felt with which the list boards above mentioned are
covered. When the winding-on is about to commence, the traversing.carriaget
or frame b being then in its proper position, the lever in and rails and will
then receive the required amount of motion to bring the same into. the position:

page_text: 4
shewn by the dotted lines (in the Drawing). By this means..the yarns or
threads will be bent round and brought into contact with an extended surface
of the list boards a' and a³, and thereby held until the winding-on. is com-
pleted....We have shewn the, two rails.k'and connected together, so, as to
receive. the. same motion simultaneously; but it will be evident, that one
only may be so used, the other being stationary; and, if desirable,. other list
boards may be used; arranged in a similar manner to those shewn and described.
Our improvement with reference to the under faller, is shewn at g, which is
formed hollow so as to admit steam; it being 'covered with flannel, or other
suitable material, and mounted in the eye of upright rods or levers.r,,which
are attached to, the.. ordinary weighted levers s, turning on centres fixed upon
the frame t. The steam is conveyed to the faller. by means of the pipe u,
having at its upper.end the flexible pipe u, formed of vulcanized india-rubber,
or other suitable material, and attached to the end of the hollow faller q in a
suitable manner, so that the same is capable of receiving the motion required
for the winding-on. The ratchet wheel v is fast upon the end of the faller q,
and the retaining click w is mounted on a stud attached to the upright rod r;
the click for acting on the ratchet wheel is at x,-mounted on-a-stud on the
radial arm y, which is acted upon by means of a lever z, fast on the upper or
winding-on faller shaft 1. The action of the fallers is as follows: When the
winding-on commences, the upper or winding-on faller will bring the yarns
or threads into the position (or nearly so) shewn by the dotted red
the Drawing), when the hollow or under faller q will be then caused
usual, carrying with it the ratchet wheel v, and clicks w and x.
however, as the winding-on is completed and the upper faller raised, the lever =
will move the click lever y, so as to cause the ratchet wheel v, and thereby the
under faller q, to turn a portion of a revolution, for the purpose of bringing a
fresh portion of its surface in contact with the material. We would remark,
that although we have shewn a combination of the various parts of our
Invention, it will be evident that the same may be used separately, if desirable.
lines (in
to fall as
As soon,
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of our Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, we desire it to be under-
stood that we do not intend to confine ourselves to the precise arrangements
shewn and described, as the same may be varied without departing from
the principle set forth; but we claim as secured to us under the above in part
recited Letters Patent,-
Firstly, the use or application of three or more list boards over which the
material passes, also keeping the yarns or threads in contact therewith by a
rod or rods supplied with hooks.

page_text: Secondly, applying the apparatus for holding or detaining the material
during the winding-on between the list boards.
Thirdly, effecting the said holding or detaining of the material during
the winding-on by friction; and also the arrangement of hooks, &c., shewn
and described for this purpose, whether the same are used separately or
conjointly.
In reference to the under faller, we claim, firstly, forming the same hollow,
and covering it with flannel or other suitable substance.
Secondly, causing the said faller to turn a portion of a revolution at
intervals.
Lastly, applying heat thereto, as above described and set forth..
In witness whereof, we, the said John Platt and John Whitaker, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fifteenth day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
JOHN PLATT.
(L.S.)
JOHN WHITAKER. (L.S.)