NEW INVENTED MACHINE OR INSTRUTIENT FOR COMBING WOOL AND PREPARING IT FOR SPINNING, AND ALSO FOR DRESSING FLAX AND PREPARING IT FOR SPINNING, AND ALSO CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MACHINE KNOWN BY THE NAME OF A BREAKING FRAME FOR DRAWING AND CLEARING OF THE WOOL IN THE COMES USED IN THE FIRST-MENTIONED MACHINE, AND ALSO A STOVE TO BE HEATED BY FIRE OR STEAM, Λ
Year: 1811

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
GILPIN, of the Bridghouses, in the Parish of Sheffield, and County of York,
Worsted Spinner, send greeting.
WHEREAS is present Majesty King George the Third, in and by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Eleventh day of June,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eleven, and in
the fifty-first year of His reign, for Himself and IIis successors, did give and
grant unto me, the said George Gilpin, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, IIis especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said George Gilpin, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and every
of them, by myself and themselves, or by my and their deputy or deputies,
servants and agents, or such others as I, my exccutors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter 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 "NEW INVENTED MACHINE OR
INSTRUTIENT FOR COMBING WOOL AND PREPARING IT FOR SPINNING, AND ALSO FOR
DRESSING FLAX AND PREPARING IT FOR SPINNING, AND ALSO CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MACHINE KNOWN BY THE NAME OF A BREAKING
FRAME FOR DRAWING AND CLEARING OF THE WOOL IN THE COMES USED IN THE
FIRST-MENTIONED MACHINE, AND ALSO A STOVE TO BE HEATED BY FIRE OR STEAM,
Λ

page_text: FOR THE PURPOSE OF HEATING THE SAID COMBS;" in which Letters Patent there
is contained a proviso obliging me, the said George Gilpin, by an instrument
under my hand and seal, to particularly 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 His Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within two calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same (relation being thereunto had)
may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
George Gilpin, do hereby declare that my said Invention is described in the
manner following (that is to say) :—
The wool is operated upon by two machines:-First, a combing machine;
second, a kind of breaking frame, which draws the wool off the combs into a
sliver of any required length. The third part of my Invention is the stove or
furnace for giving heat to the comb teeth.
The particular nature of these Inventions is ascertained by the Drawings
hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 in these is a section of the said stove or furnace taken at the end
thereof; Figure 2 is a section of the stove; and Figure 3, an elevation
thereof. In any of these Figures A denotes the fireplace with bars for
the fuel, which is coal, coke, wood, or any other fuel. B, the ashpit.
C is a flue proceeding from the fireplace and passing along beneath the
stove marked D, D, D, D, to the back thereof, where it rises upwards
and returns through an iron tube E, extending across through the center
of the stove, and coming out in the front. Here the fuel turns upwards
and passes over the stove, as shewn by F, and proceeds to the chimney G.
By this arrangement the heated air, fire, and smoke, passing along the
flues C, E, and F, diffuses a constant heat throughout all parts of the stove
D, D, D, D, which is a kind of chest formed of cast-iron plates, having
two of its sides pierced with four apertures, each of which will receive a
comb. These apertures are seen in the elevation, Figure 3, and are marked II.
The two upper ones are at the top of the stove, and when a comb is introduced
through these into the stove, its teeth lie betwixt the outside of the tube E and
the iron bottom of the flue F, so as to receive a regular heat therefrom. The
openings in the middle of the stove are in the same manner between the
tube E and the lower flue C. The two openings beneath the stove and flue
(c; aro also marked H, H, in Figure 3), which receive heat from the iron
bottom of the lower fluc c, only the front end of the flues is formed by a cast-
iron plate I, I, which turns the hot air, &c. up the flue F. In the plate I are

page_text: two apertures, one opposite the pipe E, and the other opposite the flue F.
These openings have covers K, K, screwed before them, which may be
removed when the flues require clearing from soot. At a, a, Figures 1 and 3,
are two iron bolts which pass through the whole length of the brickwork and
tie altogether. The outside of the furnace is covered with metallic plates,
which must be kept clean and bright, that the least heat may not escape. This
is shewn in Figure 3, where the openings H for the combs are plainly seen.
At L is a damper in the chimney G, which can be closed or opened to regulate
the draught of the fire, and consequently the heat produced. In cases where
steam can be easily procured, I propose to heat the stove thereby; the steam
must be conducted in the same manner as the hot air is in the stove. The
machine for combing the wool is represented in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
and 11. The direction in which these views are supposed to be taken is
denoted by the titles annexed to each, and the same letters and figures of
reference are employed in all the Figures. A, A, B, B; are four rings of iron,
with six arms, each mounted upon iron spindles placed parallel to each other.
Upon each ring four small standards are screwed to support the ends of eight
wooden bars marked C, four of which are by this means fixed parallel to each
spindle, forming a frame to these bars. The combs D (Figures 5 and 7) are
fastened by means to be hereafter described. These wheels and bars I call
the revolving comb frames; A the stationary, and B the sliding comb frame.
They are caused to revolve by wheelwork, and in this motion the combs fixed
to each meet one another, as is seen in the section Figure 7, and work the
wool previously filled upon them. The wheels for moving the combs are as
follows: First, a bevilled wheel E and F, of thirty-six teeth. On the end of
each spindle two pinions a, b, of eighteen teeth each, on an axis communicating
motion from one frame to the other. A pinion of eighteen teeth at c (Figures
4, 5, and 9) gives motion to the wheel E. This pinion is on a vertical spindle,
having a bevilled wheel G (Figure 4 and 5) of thirty-six teeth on its upper
end. This is turned by a pinion d, of eighteen, upon an horizontal axis and
Figure 4, extending over the machine. This axis is turned by a pair of cog
wheels H, I, Figures 4 and 5, of an elliptical figure; the former upon the
end of the axis e, and the latter on an axis ƒ (Figure 4), which is turned by a
pulley with an endless strap, from any convenient movement of the mill in which
the machine is placed. The pulley j is not fixed to the axis f, but fitted on it so
as to slip round freely. 9 is an arm firmly fixed to the axis; and (Figure 4),
a slider, carrying two locking bolts, which, when thrust towards the pulley,
intercept its arms, and by that means turn the shaft about with them. The
slider is moved by a lever i (Figures 4 and 5) fixed upon an axis K, which

page_text: has a short lever upon it connected by an iron rod, with a long lever m
extending from the ceiling down to the proper point to be within reach. It is
very evident that when the lower end of m (Figure 4) is pushed towards the
machine, the bolts will be detached from the pulley J, and the machine will
stand still. On the other hand, when the lever is pushed from the machine, the
bolts become locked into the pulley, which then turns it's axis and all the
machinery with it. In the middle of the axis c, a wheel K (Figures 4 and 7)
is fixed, which is adapted to receive an endless chain, and by means thereof
communicates motion to a wheel Lupon a spindle parallel to the former. On
the extreme end of this spindle is a wheel O (Figures 4 and 8) for an endless
chain, which turns a wheel n and spindle, carrying a revolving frame M
(Figures 6 and 7), which I call a stroker. Its use and action on the combs
in the frame B will be explained hereafter. The comb frame A is in like
manner provided with its stroker N, which is turned by an endless chain from
a wheel o; on the end of the axis c this wheel is twice the size of the one it
turns, so that the stroker N makes two revolutions for one of the other M.
Having now enumerated the principal constituent parts of the machine, I
shall proceed to speak of the various motions which are given to the two comb
frames. The frame A, A, has two motions: first, a revolution with its axis;
and, second, a transverse motion, that is, a sliding endways, backwards, and
forwards upon its axis. This I term the stationary frame, not that it really is
So, but as its axis preserves the same position, I term it so in contra-distinction
to the other B, called the sliding frame. This has three motions: first, like
the stationary frame, it revolves with its axis; secondly, its axis advances to
and recedes from the other four times in every revolution. In this motion the
axis proceeds paralel to itself; and when it approaches the stationary frame,
it advances with only one third of the velocity with which it will return. This,
which I call the sliding motion, is of determinate extent; but, at the same
time, by the third movement all the machinery connected with the sliding
comb frame is caused to advance slowly towards the stationary frame; that is,
suppose the combs in the two frames, when they meet each other, as at
Figuro 7, are four inches asunder, the next pair which meet will be a small
quantity nearer, the succeeding pair still nearer, and so on, they continue
advancing until they come as close as they can without striking. This
advancing motion then ceases. and the frames turn round a few times
at the same distance from each other. They then suddenly return to the
original distance of four inches, as they were when the motion commenced.
To recapitulate these movements, the stationary frame has in action at the
same time, first, the revolving motion, second, the transverse motion; the

page_text: sliding frame has, first, the revolving motion, second, the sliding motion to and
from the other, third, the advancing movement. The peculiarities of the
revolving motions of both frames are, that the velocity is unequal in various
parts of a revolution; this is caused by tho figure of the elliptical cog
wheels II, I. It is apparent from an inspection of the Drawings (Figures 4
and 5) that these wheels make four turns for one of the comb frames, and from
their figure they must produce an unequal velocity to the second wheel H.
When the rotation of I is equable these wheels are ellipses both of the same
size and number of teeth, and their axis pass through the foci of the elipses;
by this means, though their motion appears to be excessively irregular and
wabling, yet they work or geer with each other with the same regularity as
circular wheels, at the same time the velocity of the wheel H (which is driven)
is exceedingly variable, for, as in Figure 5, the upper wheel I is acting with
its smaller radius upon the larger radius of the lower one H, consequently
the latter will be moving much more slowly than the upper; when the wheels
have turned half round from tho position of Figuro 5 tho action will be
reversed, the longest radius of the upper wheel will act on the shortest of the
lowest, and therefore move the latter much quicker than the former. Now, as
the period for the revolution of H and I is contained four times in the period
of the comb frames, it follows that the latter will have four periods of irre-
gular motion in each revolution; by this arrangement, when the sliding motion
of the sliding frame B is just beginuing, as at Figure 5, the motion of both
comb frames is extremely slow, as it proceeds the motion accelerates until the
sliding motion begins to return, they then move round quickest, but afterwards
continue to decrease in velocity until another pair of combs D meet, when
the effect just described is repeated. I now come to speak of the sliding
motion in the sliding frame, and the means by which it is effected. The bear-
ings for the axis of the sliding comb frame B are placed upon friction wheels q, q,
(Figures 5, 7, and 8) so as to move with freedom backwards and forwards; for
this purpose the bearings are cast of a considerable length, as shown at p, p,
Figure 9, and the wheels have a grove in them to receive a fillett beneath the
slider, which is by that means prevented from deviating sideways from a
straight line motion. The slider is kept down on its friction wheels by a
roller (Figures 5, 7, 8, and 9) turning in a frame screwed down upon it;
this roller acts against a steel spring fixed to a cross bar of the arched
standard P, which supports the machinery. The sliders are moved by two
levers Q, one at cach side, which turn upon a stud or pin fixed to the
frame P. The lower ends of these levers embrace a pair of brasses with a
semicircular hole in each; these are put together round the axis of the sliding

page_text: frame. The upper ends of the levers Q are connected with a cross bar, which
traverses in an opening through the arched standard P; to this cross bar are
jointed two rods S, by means of which motion is given to them. Each of these
rods S have two pillars arising from it to support an iron rack s parallel to
the former, but not in the same plane; thus, in Figures 5 and 8, the racks s
are much nearer to the eye than the rod S; this is also shewn in Figure 4, and
arises from the pillars not being fixed actually on the rods S, but in pieces of
iron projecting sideways from them; the frame thus formed slides freely on four
friction rollers, two above the rack s, and two beneath the rods S (the motion
is given to this frame by what I call the escapement). The rack has six teeth
upon it, and is moved by a pinion fixed upon the same axis with the wheel L.
The pinion, see A, Figure 10, has only six teeth, which extend six ninths of a
circle, the pinion being originally of nine teeth, but three of them cut away,
in
leaving a space on one side of the pinion; on the side opposite to this space
the teeth an iron arm t is fixed upon the axis; it is in the plane of the rod S,
and, when turned round, acts against a stud 1 fixed to the bar S. Now, sup-
pose the axis, pinion, and arın revolving in the direction of the arrow,
Figure 10, when the art meets the stud 1 it moves the rod S with it a
certain space, and then slips off the stud. All this time the side of the pinion
which has no teeth was opposite to the teeth of the rack on s, but by the
time the arm has left the stud the first tooth 2 on the pinion meets the first
tooth a of the rack, and moves it back again; when the last tooth 3 of the
pinion leaves the last tooth of the rack the arm t is again in action to draw
up the rod S. Now it is plain that, as the arm is five times the length of the
radius of the pinion, the rods S will move with five times the velocity when
they are moved by it to what they will move by the action of the rack and
pinion; this motion is communicated, by means of the levers Q, to the axis of
the sliding comb frame, and is so adapted that when the latter is advancing
towards the other frame it moves only one fifth as quick as when it retreats
from it. Note.-Though I have said that it advances only one fifth as quick
as it retreats, this, it must be observed, applies only to the relation between the
motion of the axis of the wheel L, and the alternation of the sliding comb
frame, but, as the rotation of L is unequal from the arrangement of the
elliptical wheels, it is provided that the retreat of the comb frame will really
be performed in twice the above time, or two fifths of the period of its advance.
In the retreating motion, the weight of the slider comb frame and axis, by
moving quickly, acquire a considerable momentum, this is destroyed by the
slider striking against a stop fixed at the upper end of the two levers T, whose
centers are firmly fixed in the framing of the machine; by this means the jerk

page_text: arising from the stroke of this stop is borne by a part of the machine which is
of a sufficient strength to resist it. Of the motion given to the lower ends of
the levers T I shall say more hereafter; but the upper ends carrying the stops
are so adapted that they always preserve the same distance from any part of
the arched standards P, and may (as to their motion) be considered as a part
of the same standard, but supported by another part of the framing of the
machine. Note.-To allow the sliding motion, and at the same time com-
municate a rotation to the sliding comb frame, a particular contrivance intro-
duced in the connecting axis of the wheels a, b, Figures 4, 5, 6, and 9, the
axis of a is supported in two bearings fixed to the framework; in the same
manner the axis of bis supported in bearing bars 36 (Figure 9), fixed to the
sliding bearing p; and to render them firm, the outer ends of the bearing bars
have wheels upon them, which are supported by two parallel iron rods 37,
Figures 5 and 9, fixed by braces from the frame; by this means the sliding
motion is allowed, but the wheel b is supported as steadily as if it was a fixture.
On the end of the axis of a, a cross bar is screwed, and to this two rods 38 arc
fixed paralel to the axis; at the ends of these rods two wheels are fitted, each
of these act between two iron rods fixed paralel to each other, and supported
at their ends by arms 39 fixed to the axis of b; by this means the wheels at the
ends of 38 act between the bars supported by the arms 39, so as to turn them
round with their axis; at the same time, by means of the wheels rolling in
between the bars as in a grove, the sliding motion of the wheels b.and Fis
allowed for. The advancing movement of the sliding comb frame B is pro-
duced by moving the whole of the arched standards P (Figures 5, 6, 7, 8),
supporting the centers of the lovers Q, slowly towards the stationary frame A;
the lowest horizontal bar of each of the arched standards is placed upon
friction wheels v, and guided by brasses screwed down upon the framing at w
Figure 8 and 9, so as to form dovetailed sliders, in which the whole frame
moves a small quantity; the two frames are connected at the top by a cross
bar 1 (Figure 6 and 7), which causes the whole frame to bo sufficiently firm.
The motion is given to the arched standards P, by means of two screws 2, the
nuts or boxes 3, Figures 5 and 9, for these are screwed upon the end of the
slider of the standards P, and the screws turn in bearings fixed to the frame
of the machine, so that when the screws are turned round the standards
advance or recede. The screws 2 receive a rotary motion by equal bevilled
wheels from an axis 4, Figures 6 and 9, turned by equal bevilled wheels 5,
Figures 6, 8, and 9, from a spindle 6 (Figures 8 and 9); this has a wheel
marked 7, see the seperate view, Figure 16, of the count wheelwork of
thirty teeth on the other end of it turned by a pinion of twenty, which is on a

page_text: stud also carrying a wheel 8 of thirty teeth; this is turned by a pinion 25 of
20 (which I call the regulating pinion) on the end of a spindle, which is
turned by a pair of equal bevilled wheels 9. From the axis of the stationary
comb frame A, on the end of the spindle 4 (Figure 6), is a bevilled wheel
turning another on a vertical axis 10 (Figures 5 and 6), and by equal wheels
on the lower end of this a rotary motion is communicated to an horizontal
spindle 11 (Figure 6), just beneath and paralel to 4; on this spindle are
bevilled wheels turning two screws 12 (Figures 5 and 9) of the same thread
as at 2, but turning round in a contrary direction, as will appear from
examining the position of the wheelwork (see Figure 6). These two screws
operate upon a cross bar 13, Figure 9, the ends of which are jointed into
the lower ends of the levers T, which stop the motion of the sliding frame
p, p. Now as the lower screws 12 advance with the same speed, but in
a contrary direction to the upper 2, it is plain that the upper ends of the
levers T will obey the same motion as the arched standard P. As was before
stated, the cross bar 13 is connected by two bolts with a second cross bar 14,
and this, by two long rods 15, communicates with the lowest ends of two
large levers 16 (Figures 5, 7, 8, and 9), the axis of which is supported in
a frame extending from the floor to the ceiling of the building. The upper
ends of the same levers have rods 17 proceeding from them to the axis of
wheel L, which they are connected with, and then proceeds forwards to
the transverse bar 1 of the arched standards P. By this means the standards
P are caused to advance in the most steady manner, being moved at the
lowest point from the screws 2, and receiving a motion at the highest
point by the rods 17 and levers 16 from the lowest screws 12. The lowest
spindle 11 has a barrel 18 (Figure 6) upon it to receive a cord coiled
upon it with a weight suspended to its end. It therefore has a constant
tendency to turn the four screws back, and withdraw the advancing move-
ment. At the extreme end of the spindle 4 is a ratchet wheel, and a click 19
(Figures 6, 8, and 9), which prevents this taking place, but at the proper
time; this is shewn by a kind of timepiece. The horizontal axis of the
wheels 9 is formed into a serew, and turns a worm wheel 20, see separate
view (Figure 15), which I call the count wheel. It is fixed on a spindle
perpendicular to the former, and mounted in a little frame, shewn separately
in Figure 15. At the end of this spindle is a lover 21, which revolves
with it, and in that action rings a bell 22 when it reaches a particular
point of its revolution, at the same time it draws a sliver 23, which is con-
nected by a wire or string with the click 19 of the before-mentioned ratchet.
The bevilled wheel 5 (Figures 6, 8, and 9) is not fixed so as to turn the

page_text: spindle 4, but slips upon it, and a locking bolt is employed to cast it in
gear. The lever 24, which moves this; is acted upon by: a small iron rod
25, Figure 8, screwed. to the arched standard. Upon this.al stud or knob
of iron is fitted; so as to be fast. to it when clamped by a screw at the top
of it. By this means, when the advancing movement has carried the arched
standard so far as is intended, this stud then. seizes the lever 24, and casts
tho wheel 5 out of gear; the ratchet and click 19: novi prevent tho screws
turning back by this barrel. 18, and the machine continues to act without
the advancing movement until the lever 21 of the count wheel at 20 has
rovolved so far as to ring the bell 22, and at the same instant it raises the
click 19 by drawing the slider 23. This releases the ratchet, and the weight
runs the screws back. immediately. It is provided that different count
wheels are fitted on the spindle of the lever which rings the bell 22.
These are of different sizes and number of teeth, so as to cause the machine
to make a certain number of revolutions of the comb frames before the
bell rings. This number of revolutions will be. just the same as the number
of teeth of the count wheel. The frame, Figure 15, will adjust in height
to suit the different sized count wheels. The regulating, pinion 25 on. the
end of the axis of the wheels 9 (Figures 8, 9, and 16), can also be changed
for others of different numbers, which can be fitted upon it. The rato.of
the advancing movement depends upon this pinion, and by changing it-for
a larger the movement by the screws will be quicker, and vice versa. It
will appear from what has been above stated that the axis of the chain
wheel L follows the advancing movement, as it evidently must being con-
nected with the top of the arched standard by the (two iron rods 17;
consequently. it always preserves the. same position relative to the arched
standard and, the centers of the levers Q, Q. Without this the escapement
bearings or brasses for the
could not operate. To allow this motion the
axis slide in paralel groves in the top of the iron standards Z, over the
stationary frame. To prevent. the spindle of L or K (Figures. 4 and 7)
bending by the action of the endless: chain, a frame is attached, to the lower.
spindle, which supports two axis for friction wheels 27, two wheels being
mounted upon each axis; these wheels support two frames, which I call:
the riders; they have each a horizontal bar 28, which applies to the wheels;
a vertical one, which at the upper end has a collar for the reception of the
axis of the wheel K, and two oblique braces to strengthen them; they are.
also secured by cliping them to the fixed iron rod, which extends. across
from one stationary standard Z to the other. By this means the two axis
are rendered as secure as possible from bending without making them beavy,

page_text: and by means of the rollers 27 the advancing movement of the axis of L is
allowed for. 29 is a wheel, which acts upon the endless chain of the two
wheels K and L, and is always is such a possition that the chain does not
grow slack when the lower wheel L partakes of the advancing movement.
This position of the wheel is produced by its axis being fixed in a frame
48, jointed to the horizontal bars 28 of the riders. The upper end of this
frame is connected by a rod 50 with the upper joint of the long levers 16.
By this means the wheel 29 always follows the advancing movement, but
with only half it's quantity of motion, so as to keep the chain light in all
portions. The revolving motion of the stationary comb frame is evidently
the same as that of the sliding frame, except that it's axis preserves the
same position. Its transverse motion is produced by a slider 43 (Figures
4 and 9) upon the axis, which is embraced by a lever 40 (Figure 9), the
opposite end of which is moved by a crank fixed on a wheel 48 (Figures
4, 9, and 16). This wheel has twenty teeth and is turned by a worm upon
the spindle 41. The worm receives it's motion from a pinion 60 (Figure 16),
of 15 leaves, on the end of it, turned by a wheel 61, of thirty teeth, on the
stud, which also carries a pinion 62, of 15 leaves, moved by a wheel 63, of
thirty teeth, on the end of the axis of 9, so that the axis of 9 and 41, though
they appear to be in one line in the Drawing, are moving with different
velocities, 41 being four times the velocity of the other, and as the wheel 48
turns once for twenty revolutions of the worm 41, it follows that this wheel
turns once for every five of the revolving comb frame A, and in this action
slides the frame upon it's spindle two inches and half endways every time.
47 (Figures 4 and 9) are two rings fixed fast upon the spindle of the comb
frame A; 3 cylindric iron rods 49 extend between them and pass through the
arms of the rings A, which forms the support for the combs, the rings there-
fore slide upon these three rods and the spindle, and moving very easily, at the
same time they are free from any shake. The upper axis c (Figure 4) has a
square upon it on which is fitted a sliding arm 30, that can be moved away
from the frame by a lever 31, the axis of which has a longer lever 32
(Figure 5) coming down within reach of the attendant to the machine; when
this lever is pulled towards the machine it moves the sliding arm 30 at the
sa me time, and holds it there as it revolves with the axis; in this position the
end of the arm 30 in its revolution intercepts a piece of iron 33, fixed in an
inclined position upon a sliding bar, moving in a socket screwed to the frame
of the machine; the other end of the slider has an arm fixed upon it, which is
jointed by a small iron rod 34 to a short lever 34 upon the axis k, Figure 5.
Now the arm 30, as above mentioned, by meeting the inclined plane 33 fixed

page_text: to the slider, draws it, an end moves the axis k, and by that means unlocks
the locking bolts g, which connect the pulley J to its axis f, consequently the
machine is cast out of gear, and stands still till the lever m is thrust away
from the machine; this engages the gear and turns it about, still the inclined
plane and arni will disingage it when they meet; this is so adapted that the
combs will stand in such a position when they stop as will be the most con-
venient situation for removing them from the frames. When the lever 32 is
pushed away from the machine the sliding arm 30 is moved towards the frame,
so that in revolving it does not interfere with the inclined plane 33 and slider.
Note. As the elliptic wheels E, I, are neither of them balanced on each
side of the axis, their weight tends, in some positions, to turn the machine,
when the gcar is cast off. To counterbalance this a wheel 58, Figures 4 and
5, and also shewn separately, is fixed on the axis of the upper wheel; it is
formed with the rim of double thickness on one side, as shewn in the separate
Figure. This, in some measure, balances the elliptic wheels, but, as the machine
has some momentum when suddenly cast off, it is necessary to have a friction wheel
at 56 upon the upper axis, which is enclosed by a gripe fixed to the framing;
this is shewn separately. In the same Figure a stud is fixed projecting from
this wheel, and a small rod 58 is fixed upon the rod 34. When the rod 34 is
drawn back and the machine cast off, the rod 58 is put in such a position as to
intercept the stud of the wheel, and by this means prevent it moving after the
locking bolts are drawn back. The manner in which the combs are fastened
to the revolving comb frames is explained by Figure 11, though this is not a
separate view of that part of the machine, but a view of what I call the filling
frame. It is a beam A fixed at a convenient height from the floor; upon this
the combs are fastened with their teeth upwards, and the wool filled on to them
by children, who take the handfuls of the wool in the staple previously formed
by a determinate weight, and fill it upon the combs, which are thus prepared
for the combing machine. The combs are fixed to the beam A by two screws a, d,
which pass through it, and are tapped into two clams b, c, which are adapted
to receive the comb, and two teeth to each to hold the head of the comb fast;
these teeth are longer on the clam 6 than at the other c. The comb head is
first slid under the teeth of the longest clam 6, and pushed in them so far that
it will drop down on the beam clear of the teeth of the short clam C, now
sliding it home under the short teeth c, and, by turning the screws a, d, it
becomes fixed as fast as possible. Two of these filling frames are provided, one
on each side of the stove, Figures 1, 2, and 3, each holding two combs, conse-
quently employing two fillers each. The combs are first heated in the stove,
then filled as above mentioned, next put to heat again with the wool upon

page_text: them, and when sufficiently hot are fixed to the bars in the revolving comb
frames by similar clamps to those upon the beam A, Figure 11.
Operation of the Machine.-Suppose the pulley J is continually turning
round by the strap, then by the lever m the machine is cast in gear, the lever 32
is struck in, and as before described, the machine stops itself just when the
comb is in the position for being put on or removed; a comb full of wool is now
fixed on at both sides, that is on both comb frames; the attendant now strikes
in the lever m, this sets it in motion, but as 32 is still in action when the upper
axis and wheels have made one revolution, and the frames one fourth of a revo-
lution, it stops again; two other combs are now put on, the lever m struck in,
this moves the comb frames round another quarter, and then stops; a third
pair is put on, then set in motion again, and the fourth pair put on; all the
eight combs are now put in, and the lever 32 is struck out and in; struck in,
the machine now sets off, and continues moving to comb the wool. Let us now
attend to the action of the machine. Suppose two combs, both filled with
wool, stand in the position of Figure 7, the wool upon one comb engaged by
the points of the other, and this reciprocally of both combs; in this situation
it will seen that the arm t is just meeting the stud on the rod S; this, as the
machine turns, separates the combs by the sliding motion, and works the wool
by drawing the teeth of one comb through the wool upon the teeth of the
other. At this time the revolving motion of both frames are extremely slow
from the position of the elliptical wheels, but by the time the sliding motion
ceases it is considerably accelerated; the combs are now separated and begin to
revolve quickly to bring another pair of combs in together at the same time
the sliding motion is returning, but with only two fifths of the velocity it went
out, the reason for which has been before explained. When the sliding motion
is about half returned the revolving motion is at its greatest velocity, and from
this period begins to diminish. The combs, when they meet each other, strike
their points through the wool, and comb it in the manner before described.
Every time the combs have passed through, the wool is drawn by their action
over the head of the comb; the office of the revolving strokers M (Figure 7)
is to turn the wool back again towards the point of the combs in a
proper position for the succeeding stroke. It will be seen that the stroker M
requires to turn only half as fast as N, as was before stated, because the comb
frame B is sliding back to meet the stroker, therefore one half of the velocity
of its stroker will produce the same effect upon the combs in B that double
the velocity will in A. It is to be observed that at the commencement of the
process the advancing movements being quite out at his farthest extent, the
combs' teeth only strike just into the staple of the wool, and are then drawn

page_text: 1
out; as the process proceeds, the advancing movement continues, and causes
the teeth to strike further into the wool every time till they come so near as to
comb quite up to the head;. the wheel 5 is now disingaged by the stop 25
(Figure 8) striking the lever 24, and casting off the locking pins; this destroys
the advancing movenient, and the combs continue working a few strokes quite
up to the head. During the whole of this process the stationary frame is per-
forming its transverse motion, sliding backwards and forwards two inches and
a half every five turns it makes, as before stated. The operation of this motion
is to comb the wool with more regularity, as the combs never strike twice
successively in the same place, and consequently none of the fibres can escape
the action of the comb teeth. The proper number of strokes for which the
machine is fixed being made, the count wheel rings the bell, and relieves the
click of the ratchet; the barrel 18 runs the advancing movement back, as
before stated; the attendant hearing the bell strikes the lever 32 in, this causes
the machine to stop. When the first comb comes to the position for being
removed, the attendants at each side remove the combs and put in others filled
with fresh.wool in the staple; this being done m is struck on again, another
pair of combs changed, and in this manner, the whole eight being changed,
the machine proceeds to comb the wool upon them as before. The combs
which are taken off the machine are now warmed a moment in the stove, then
put to the drawing machine for the wool to be taken off from the comb teeth,
and formed into a continued sliver. This machine, which is shewn in
Figures 12, 18, and 14, is, in part the same with the breaking frame in
common use in worsted spinning; the part which is of my Invention is the
addition thereto of a piece of machinery, for conducting the combs down
behind the rollers, which take the wool off from them, and form, it
into a continued sliver. A. (Figure 12) is the pulley which turns the
machine; B, the locking pins and lever to cast it on and off; the axis
of this has a large cog wheel a (Figure 14) upon it, turning a pinion p..
On the other end of the spindle of this is a bevilled wheel, giving motion
to the revolving tube L (Figure 12), which gathers or draws the wool
into a sliver. q is a cog wheel on the axis of the delivering rollers D, D.
E, E, and F, aro, the, fluted rollers which draw, the wool, the upper ono
kept down by the weight G. The rollers are turned in the usual manner by
pinions from the main spindle. Thus far are the parts of the common
breaking frame.. The additional parts which I have invented are a slider or
guide frame, formed by two pieces of iron H, H (Figures 12 and 13), with
groves in the insides. These are fixed into an horizontal piece d, bolted to
the frame of the machine. The bolts pass through an oblong hole, so that the

page_text: slider can be adjusted to stand farther from or nearer to the rollers. This
slider receives the head of the comb. K (Figure 13) is a vertical screw
which I call a conductor. It is turned round by a pinion of eight teeth at its
lower end, worked by a connecting wheel m of thirty teeth. This is turned by
a pinion which is on a vertical spindle, having a bevilled wheel a (Figure 12)
of thirty-two teeth at the upper end, turned by a pinion of sixteen on the end
of the spindle of the back roller E. By this means a rotary motion is given
to the scrow in such a direction that the worm screws downwards. The comb
has a piece of iron projecting from the middle of the head, which enters the
worm of the conductor when the comb head is in the grove. M, M, Figure 12,
are two brass plates, behind which the combs slides. They are bent up, as at M,
Figure 13, to form a passage in which the wood projecting from the comb is
conducted down to be in reach of the roller. P is a sort of wheel, consisting
of eight arms, which successively stroke down the wool and lay its fibres in the
proper position for the rollers to take it in. This stroker is turned by a
wheel (Figures 12 and 14) of forty teeth on its spindle. This is driven by
an intermediate wheel c of twenty-two teeth, receiving motion from another d
of forty teeth, and this is turned by the pinion on the end of the back
roller. Behind the machine a stage X, Figures 13 and 14, is erected, and
upon this a child stands, who take the combs as they come from the stove and
slips the end of it's head into the slider H. It slides down till the piece of iron
on the back of it, before mentioned, rests in the spiral of the conductor, which
is all the while turning round. By. means of this it is gradually let down,
and as it descends the wool is received into the channel between the brass
plates M. Here it is prepared by the stroker P, and as it continues to
decend it is caught and drawn in between the rollers E. The attendant to the
machine now introduces the sliver down the revolving tube I, and through
the delivering rollers D, D, into a can. As the motion continues, the rollers
draw of all the tier or long wool in the comb, leaving the noil or short wool
in the head. Another child is stationed beneath the platform X, and as
the comb comes down he gathers the backings off the comb and deposits
them in a box R. When the comb gets so low as to leave the conductor it
rests upon a piece of wood Z, which slides in a grove, and is balanced with a
sufficient weight to sustain the weight of the comb. The balance rope passes
over two pulleys S, T (Figures 12 and 13), then makes two turns round a
barrel V, and has a sufficient weight appended to it to lower the comb down
easily. The boy beneath receives it and takes it off the slider, which returns
but with an easy and regular motion. This is accomplished by the barrel V
having a gripe w closed round it by a screw, and so adapted that it produces

page_text: sufficient friction to regulate the decent of the weight, and this friction may
not act to retard the decent of the comb. The friction piece or part on
which the gripe operates is not fixed to the barrel the rope passes over, but
is attached to it by a click and ratchet wheel. By this means, when the
weight is rising the friction piece is not moving, the click slipping over the
teeth of the ratchet. On the decent of the weight, the click causes it to run
round with the barrel, and regulates its motion by the friction of the gripe.
It should be observed, that when the comb from which the wool is drawing is
got just level with the plate M, another comb is put into the slider. This
rests upon the other and descends with it, the stroker P preparing the wool of
the upper and lower one in such a manner that the rollers draw the wool
of both off into one continued sliver, which does not exhibit the slightest
appearance of joinings. The vertical spindle of the wheel n has three pinions
upon it, any one of which can be brought to work the wheel m, and by that
means move the conductor quicker or slower as the work may require. For
common work the wool only requires to be operated upon the combing
machine once. In this case I should put on a count wheel of twenty-four teeth,
which, therefore, would allow each comb to make twenty-four strokes before
it rings. For middling work, such as is combed twice in the usual method of
hand combing, it must be combed in my machine twice. After having been
operated upon once in my machines, in the manner before related, the sliver
is broke up into handfuls, then filled on the combs as before, and passed
through the machines in the same manner as the first time, except that the
stove is less heated for the second combing. The count wheel for this kind of
work must have fourteen or sixteen teeth, and the machine will make that
number of strokes before it rings. The wool intended for the finest spinning
must be combed three times in my machino with a count wheel of fourteen or
sixteen teeth. When a count wheel of fourteen or sixteen teeth is used, a
regulating pinion of twenty or twenty-one teeth should be put on. The
process above described relates to such wool as is from six to cight inches
staple, such as is called wether wool. The same machine is calculated to
comb hog wool or wool of eight inches and upwards staple, by increasing
the excurtion of the sliding comb frame. This is done by taking out the
center pins of the levers Q, Q, and putting the pins through other centre
holes which are higher up the levers, as is shown in Figures 5 and 8.
This causes the sliding comb frame to draw further back at each stroke,
and to admit of this the rods 15. must be lengthened by means of a
screw joint in them at 51, so that the stops at the upper end of the

page_text: levers T. are put further back from the comb frame. Under certain cir-
cumstances, when the wool will not wash well, and remain taggy or unclean,
it will be necessary to fill it upon the combs, and slip it off, then fill it again,
preparatory for the machine; when this is to be done, it will be proper to have
an additional stove and pair of filling frames, so as to perform this process
without interrupting the machine. As the object of this filling is chiefly to
warm the wool, the same, may in part be accomplished by merely laying
the wool upon the top of the stove before it is filled.
Having now described my Invention, as enjoined by the proviso of His
Majesty's Letters Patent at first recited, I, the said George Gilpin, do hereby
declare, that the said combing machine may in many of its parts. be con-
structed in a manner different to what I have above described, and its
performance still remain the same; but any machine for combing wool having
the parts above described, and acting in the same manner upon the wool, will
be, exclusively secured to me by the said Letters Patent, though the
wheels, levers, framing, &c., which give motion to and sustain the said parts,
be constructed in a different manner to what I have described, and do prefer,
because I have found them to succeed well in practice. To render this clear,
I shall repeat those parts which I consider as essential to my machine,
and which are of my invention.
First, having two revolving comb frames possessing the motions above
described of revolving, sliding, advancing, and sliding transversely, which, as
applied to combing wool, are new motions and of my invention.
Second, the application of elliptical wheels, to produce an unequal motion of
the comb frames, and also the escapement, Figure 10..
Third, the application of the strokers to turn the wool into a proper situation
to receive the teeth of the comb.
Fourth, the introduction of the contrivance for stoping the machine in the
proper position for changing the combs.
Fifth, applying the count-wheel mechanism for pointing out the time
when the machine has made the proper number of strokes..
Respecting the drawing off machine, I do not claim so much originality
of invention, a machine operating in a similar manner. having been invented
by Mr. William Toplis several years past. What I claim in this machine is,
the mechanical contrivance of its parts, and arrangement of the wheelwork
to admit of turning the screw quicker or slower, so as to draw of a large or
smaller sliver. The parts possessing novelty are, first, the ballance weight to
let.the comb down easily.; second, the stroker P, Figure 13, is. wholly my.

page_text: avention, and therefore no person can introduce it into such a machine
ithout infringing the said Letters Patent.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Gilpin, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this First day of August, in the fifty-first year of the reign
of our Sovereign Lord King George the Third, and in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eleven.