Improvements in and connected with Cone Driving Mechanism and Differential Gearing for Roving Frames, the Feed Regulating Mechanism of Cotton Openers, and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION:
Improvements in and connected with Cone Driving Mechanism and
Differential Gearing for Roving Frames, the Feed Regulating
Mechanism of Cotton Openers, and the like.
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of London
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Janies Charles Potter, of Pawtucket, in the State
of Rhode Island United States of America Manufacturer) and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This, invention relates to that class of eveners, for cotton-openers and like
machines, in which there is interposed in the motion transmitting devices, between
the driven cone and the feed roll, or other device to be actuated thereby, a
differential motion mechanism, or "jack-box," the parts of which are respectively
connected to the driving cone, or power shaft, to the driven cone, and to the feed
roll. In a mechanism thus organised much of the power required to drive the feed
roll is derived directly from the power shaft, thus lightening the load on the cone
belt, so that the work performed by it through the driven cone is, or may be, but
little in excess of that required to produce the variable speed for graduating the
movement of the feed roll to the varying conditions of the work.
To render the cone belt sensitive to slight pressure, or force, applied through the
shipper (and it ought to be sensitive enough to respond to the slightest exercise of
such pressure) it is indispensable that the cones, around which it moves, should
revolve at high speed. If they revolve at a slow speed the belt is sluggish to
respond, and is difficult to shift, thus rendering the action of the evener uncertain.
According to this invention the motion transmitting mechanism is organized and
arranged in such manner as to secure this high speed with a minimum of friction,
strain, and wear, in the differential motion mechanism, and with such an arrangement
of the gearing comprising that mechanism, that all parts of it are readily accessible..
at all times for change, or repair.
The nature of this invention and the manner in which the same is, or may be;.
carried into effect can best be explained and understood by reference to the
accompanying drawing .in which I have represented so much of an evener-for a
cotton-opener or picker, as is required for purposes of this explanation.
Figure 1 is a plan, Figure 2 is a side elevation and Figure 3 is a sectional end
elevation of the mechanism as applied to a cotton opener and
Figures 4 and 5 are respectively a sectional elevation and a plan of so much of
a roving frame as is necessary. to shew the application of the invention thereto.
Referring to Figures 1. 2 and 3. A are the usual evener plates and B is the
evener feed roll, cooperating with the said plates. The plates are carried by
levers A', which are hung on a transverse knife-edge bar, and at their outer ends.
are connected to the system D of scale beams, the lower or terminal one of which.
comes under, and sustains, the pivoted lever E, (the latter resting by its adjusting
screw e upon the centre of the terminal beam). The lever E is connected to the.
lever G, below by the rod F, which above is pinned to the lever E, and below is
jointed, at f, to a hub g, mounted to slide on a screw threaded rod h, on the lever G...
Nuts h¹ (see Figure 1) on this rod serve to shift the hub g nearer to, or further
from, the fulcrum of the lever G in order to vary the throw of the latter for any
given throw of the lever E. By this means the final adjustment of the mechanism
for a given weight of lap per yard is obtained. The lever G is fast on a rock
shaft P, which constitutes the fulcrum, or axis, of the lever. This shaft (which is

page_text: supported in proper bearings in the frame of the machine) carries the toothed
quadrant H, which gears with the sliding rack bar I; and the latter carries the
belt shipper J, by which the belt, which extends between the driving cone C¹, and
the driven cone C, is shifted.
The cotton passes to the machine from the feed apron, (not shewn), over the
evener plates A, between the latter and the feed roll B. Any unevenness in the
sheet, or lap, is felt directly by these plates, and the motion of the latter is
communicated at once, through the scale beam system, and connected parts already
described, to the belt shipper J, which consequently shifts the belt on the cones so
as to correspondingly vary the speed of the cone C and consequently that of the
feed roll B.
Power is applied to the evener through the shaft K from (preferably) the
calender rolls of the picker-supposing that this mechanism is applied to such a
machine. This shaft usually revolves five hundred times per minute.
A 40-tooth bevelled wheel 1 on the outer end of shaft K engages with the
20-tooth bevel wheel 2 on the stud M. On the other end of the stud M is a
24-tooth spur wheel 3 which, through a 30-tooth intermediate wheel 4, drives a
change wheel 5, (in this instance supposed to have 28 teeth) on the outer end of
the shaft L. On the other end of the shaft L a 37-tooth spur wheel 6 is fast
which through a 28-tooth intermediate wheel 7 drives a 19-tooth wheel 8 fast on
the axle of the lower or driving cone C'. In this way motion is imparted to the said
driving cone that motion being constant, and at the rate of about 1800 revolutions
per minute.
The upper cone C, (the maximum rate of revolution of which is about 3500 per
minute and which is driven by the belt from the cone C¹ as hereinbefore explained)
has fast on its axle a 25-tooth spur wheel 9, which through a 56-tooth intermediate
wheel 10 drives a 31-tooth wheel 10', which latter actuates the differential motion
mechanism, as follows:-
--
The wheel 10', is on a sleeves which is loose on the shaft L. At the other end
this sleeve has a 25-tooth spur wheel 11 which engages with the 41-tooth spur
wheels 12, carried on one end of each of the axles t mounted, and capable of
revolution, in the head T, which is keyed to, and revolves with the shaft L.
On the opposite end of these axles are fastened wheels of 25-teeth 13, which
engage with a wheel of 41-teeth 14 on one end of a sleeve s¹ loose on the
shaft L.
While it is possible to use only one axle t with its two wheels 12 and 13, yet the
other axle t and its corresponding wheels are added, not only to balance those first
named, (being for this purpose arranged on the other side of the shaft L diametrically
opposite the others,) but also to take their share of the work, thus prolonging the
lifetime of the differential mechanism.
The sleeves on its other end has a worm 15 which engages with a worm
wheel 16 on the inclined shaft N. At the upper end of this shaft is a worm 17,
which engages with a worm wheel 18, having a spur wheel 19, which engages with
and drives, the wheel 20 on the shaft of the feed roll B.
In this way motion is imparted from the differential motion mechanism to the
feed roll. By means of the worm and worm wheel speed-reducing gearing, the
feed roll is readily rotated at the slow speed required, say from six to twelve
revolutions per minute, or less if required.
Under the arrangement shewn, and with the proportions of wheels as above
given, the load upon the belt is materially reduced, (say about one balf) the
remainder of the work being performed by the shaft L directly-that is to say
through intermediaries other than the belt. This proportion however can of course
be varied by varying the relative proportions of the gearing employed.
The sleeves ss revolve in the same direction as the shaft L, on which they are
mounted, and friction, and consequent wear and loss of power, is thus largely
reduced. Furthermore there are in the differential motion mechanism no internal
wheels, or bevelled wheels. both. of which are extremely objectionable in the

page_text: differential motion mechanism. All the wheels of the differential motion or
"jack-box" are spur wheels, or externally toothed wheels which can be got at with
facility for removal or repairs, and which can be replaced with ease.
This invention with such modifications and changes as will suggest themselves to
those skilled in the art, is applicable, not only to opening machines and scutchers
but also to drawing frames, roving frames, and the like.
Referring for instance to Figures 4 and which shew the invention as applied to
a roving frame A' is the power shaft provided at one end with fast and loose
pulleys as usual, and at the other end with a pinion a' which through an
intermediate drives a spur wheel fast on the arbor of the driving cone C which
latter through a belt C' is connected to and drives the driven cone Č¹.
Upon the arbor of the driveu cone is a pinion d which through the
intermediates el ed elet drives the sleeve S³ loose on shaft A-the final
intermediate e engaging an external gear ƒ³ on one end of said sleeve.
The connecting gearing between the driven cone and the sleeve S is such that
the sleeve, although loose on the shaft A revolves in the same direction with the
shaft. On the other end of the sleeve S' is an external gear g' which engages an
external gear fixed on one end of an arbor having its bearings in a head E
keyed to the shaft A' so as to revolve therewith. On the other end of the arbor
is a smaller external gear which meshes with an external gear ³ on one end of
a sleeve S¹ which like the sleeve S is also loose on the shaft A' and revolves in the
same direction as does the shaft.
In order to balance the differential motion mechanism as well as to take all the
work from the one set of gears h³ the head E is extended diametrically from both
sides of the shaft A' and carries a like set of gears hon each side.
Upon the sleeve S' is the spur wheel and from the latter motion is imparted to
the rotating bobbin shafts F by spur wheels m² n³ o motion being taken from
these shafts to the bobbin gears on the spindles p³ by bevel gearing in the
usual way.
During the operation of the mechanism the cone belt C² of course is by suitable
means given an intermittent movement of traverse on the cones.
Such means
however being well known for the purpose are not here shewn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
:-
In or for evening or feed regulating mechanism for cotton openers roving frames
and analogous machines the construction arrangement and combination of parts
constituting the differential motion transmitting mechanism substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of April 1894.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
Agents.