IMPROVEMENTS IN THE HOLDING, DISTENDING, AND OTHERWISE TREATING OR FINISHING WOVEN AND OTHER WEB FABRICS, AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Erskine Brown, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE HOLDING, DISTENDING, AND OTHERWISE TREATING OR FINISHING WOVEN
AND OTHER WEB FABRICS, AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREFOR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Erskine Brown
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 29th December 1866.
I, JOHN ERSKINE BROWN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE HOLDING, DISTENDING, AND OTHERWISE TREATING OR
FINISHING WOVEN AND OTHER WEB FABRICS, AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREFOR," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This said Invention consists essentially of improvements in the construction
of endless chains, and in their use in textile finishing machines for stretching,
treating, and finishing woven fabrics, and also in the construction of the clips,
clamps, or holders attached to such chains, and in their use for holding the fabrics.
by their selvages while being so treated in passing through such machines, which
Invention and improvements have reference to or consists to some extent of
[Price Bd.]

page_text: improvements upon the Invention for which the petitioner received Provisional
Protection on or about the 7th day of November 1866, and numbered 2896,
and which improved chains and holders are cheaper in their construction and
better in their use than heretofore, and whether applied to finishing machines
such as have been heretofore constructed or to machines constructed in
accordance with the petitioner's said provisionally protected Invention, they
render such machines much more economical and perfect in-their construction
and action or use for holding, stretching, and finishing the fabrics while
passing through them than they have been as heretofore constructed or used.
The improvements in the construction of the chains for such finishing
machines consist in forming each link of the chains of the same shape or
configuration by two side links of thin plates of mallable or mallable cast
iron set on edge vertically, having semicircular ends with joint holes for n
parallel circular pin to pass through them, and a round broad stiffening and
widthening or distance block or washer forming the eye or joint of each
pair of links, which form two thicknesses of the links on each side of the
round distancing block of the links or sides of the chains, each side or link
being formed with a short bend inwards at one end equal to its own thickness.
and rather more than the diameter of the joint in length, so that at the joints
each of the two bent ends of the sides fits in between each of the two straight
ends of the adjacent link and the joint or distance block, having the joint pin
passing through them, by preference riveted tightly into the two straight ends
forming the outside links at the joint; the whole when so put together
forming a strong rigid parallel chain of a most suitable form for passing
smoothly through the parallel slots formed in the stretching and guiding rails
or frames and round the actuating and guiding chain wheels, whether these
guide rails and wheels are made stationary in position or made to oscillate or
"jig" with the chains, as in the machines for giving the elastic finish to the
fabric, or such as are described under the petitioner's provisionally protected
Invention before named, and others of that class. The teeth of the chain
wheels take into the space formed in every link by the distance blocks at the
joints, and act on them when drawing the chain through the machine; and
instead of a pin being passed through the links and distance pieces these
pieces may be made solid and formed with a round pin on each side to take
into the joint holes of the links, and be riveted into the outer links in the
same way as the joint pins before described, so that the inner ends of the
links next the distance block swivel on the joint pins in either case.
The improvements in the construction of the clips, clamps, or holders for
holding and distending the cloth while passing through the machine along with

page_text: the chains consists of a fixed under surface or jaw for each clip in the form of a
narrow longitudinal face projecting out from each link of the chain by a short
light lateral arm, from which it rises up at the inner end, and is cast or formed
in one with the arm which is bolted to a small flange cast or riveted on to
the outside of the inner plate of each link, according as the links are made of
cast mallable or mallable iron respectively; or otherwise the end of the
lateral arm may be firmly fitted into a square hole formed in the link with a
collar or shoulder outside, and further secured to the link by a screw and
screw nut at the point of the arm on the inside of the link; or a knee may
be formed on the end of the lateral arm so as to be bolted by a screw and nut
to the side link direct. The surface or fixed lower jaw of the clip on which
the cloth is fed and rests is by preference nearly horizontal and parallel with
a longitudinal line through the centre of the chain, or it may be a little higher
towards the inside edge of the machine towards the cloth, while each face of
the holder being a very little shorter than the full length of the link from
centre to centre causes the whole when put together on the chain to form a
nearly continuous holding or gripping surface along the whole line of each
chain and selvage of the cloth while being fed or drawn through the machine.
When the fixed lower jaw or holding surface is formed, as by preference of
mallable or cast mallable iron, it is preferred to form the upper gripping
surface of or by a thin strip of wood, block tin, or brass firmly attached to the
iron jaw by dovetail grooves and feathers, or by round pins formed on the
thin plate and fixed into holes bored in the iron face or jaw, either by rivets
or screw nuts; and when tenter or stenter pins are used for holding the
selvage of the cloth to be fed on to them in the usual manner these pins are
fixed into the thin portable surface plates from the under side before being
attached to the iron jaw of the lateral arm. The lateral arm and lower holding
surface for receiving the fabric is also when desired used as the fixed lower
jaw of a clip or clamp along with an upper moveable or hinged jaw of the
same length, having an inverted narrow face or edge for acting on the upper
surface of the lower jaw, so as to grasp and hold the cloth between them.
tighter and tighter in proportion to the increased tentional strain brought on
the fabric in the direction of the weft, or across the web in tentering and
finishing it. This upper inverted jaw is rounded on the top, and is made to
rise off and receed backwards from the lower holding surface or jaw by being
hinged or jointed through one or more pendent arms to the fixed lateral arm
of the lower holding surface by a pin passing through joint holes formed in
these arms; or otherwise it may be so jointed by studs on the pendent arms
working in slotted bearing formed in the fixed lateral arm so as to form a joint

page_text: in the above-stated and following improved manners, that is, fulcrumed at a
point or position some little distance vertically below the outer edge of the
lower holding surface, so that the rounded and inverted holding edge will be
quite free of the cloth when pushed back to allow the cloth to be fed on to
the lower holding surface and yet be caught by the inverted edge of the upper
holding jaw when pushed forward by a light spiral or blade spring for the
purpose attached to the fixed lateral arm, the spring acting in an upward
direction above the joint on a projection formed on the pendent joint of the
moveable jaw. The holding edge of the upper jaw describing an arc from its
axis, (at a point close in towards and a little below the lower holding surface,
as herein-before named,) which is cut by the transverse line or plane of that
surface at the extreme forward point of motion of the jaw where it catches
and holds the cloth on the lower jaw or surface by the acute wedge action of
the moving edge of the upper jaw in relation to the fixed holding surface.
The backward action of the moving jaws are effected at the proper place or
position in the finishing machines where the fabric is fed on to and removed
from the lower holding surfaces of the clips by a pendent tail or arm on each
moving jaw below the joint or fulcrum on which it turns. These pendent
arms as they come round with the chains are pushed outwards by an inclined
or cam surface attached to the guiding rail or other convenient part of the
framing of the machine against the power of the light spring tending to close
the gripping or holding surfaces of the clip, all at the proper time and place
for both feeding on the cloth or removing it from the machine.
Another improved modification of this holding clip consists in forming the
upper moving jaw with a lateral arm right over the fixed lateral arm of the
lower jaw, and jointing it by a duplex arrangement of nearly vertical and
angular radiating links near the front and rear ends of these lateral arms
respectively. The lower ends of the front nearly vertical links are fulcrumed
in nearly the same position, and actuated in nearly the same manner by a
spring and a pendent arm below the fulcrum, as in the former modifications,
so as to cause the upper joint of these links and the front part of the jaw near
the joint to act on nearly the same wedge principle in holding the cloth, but
as the back end of the lateral arm of the upper jaw is jointed by links laying
considerably outwards at the top, the back end is drawn considerably down as
the jaw is pushed back by the cam surface, which has the effect of raising the
front gripping edge of the moving jaw up off the cloth so as to free it, and
come down upon it again by the action of the spring in or through a
curvilineal line of motion quite clear of the cloth without the chance of
pushing it off the lower surface before it had got the proper catch or wedge

page_text: action to hold it, as would be the case when the greatest wedge power was
taken advantage of in the simple radiating jaw by the fixed gripping surface
being made to touch or cut the arc passed through by the edge of the upper
jaw at the part where the cloth is caught or held, at or by a nearly tangential
line to the arc.
In describing the construction and action of these improved clips the fabric
has always been understood to be stretched or drawn tight transversely and
longitudinally in or on the plane of the holding surfaces of the lower jaws of
the clips, which are fixed into the chains and moves steadily through the
machine along with them. The upper jaws of the clips are by preference
formed of brass, but when made of iron the gripping edge or surface of each
may be formed by inserting or fixing a strip of wood or of brass or other metal
into it, which would not so easily stain or injure the cloth as iron would. The
gripping surfaces of the clips are also in some cases made of iron, and when so
made they are either galvanised or electroplated, so as to coat them with tin,
zinc, or copper; or when desired the whole surface of the clips may be so
coated. In some cases the inverted holding edge of the upper jaw may be
made thin and elastic, and slit some distance up from the holding edge, so as
to yield and act upon or hold along the whole length of the lower holding
surface or jaw; or in some cases the gripping surfaces of either or both jaws
may be roughened or cut with fine notches or teeth in a similar manner to the
surfaces of filés or gripping parts of pincers when desired, so as to take an
effective hold of the cloth; or by another arrangement the lower surface may
be formed of india-rubber, or of india-rubber covered by a strip of brass or
other metal, or of wood firmly secured to it by pins or screws, the strips being
intersected between the fastenings in several places, so that each piece can
yield to a certain extent independent of the others, and when greater elasticity
is required the india-rubber is also intersected to insure the complete bearing
or gripping action along the whole length of the clips.
Although these improved holding clips have been herein described as
attached to the chains of textile finishing machines and applied to machines
using such chains only, yet still it will be evident that they may also be
applied to drying, finishing, and printing cylinders, also by attaching the stems
of the lower clip to or round the extreme ends and periphery of such cylinders,
or to chains or bands passing round them, so as to catch the edges of the webs
of cloth, paper, or other material, whether they are in the form of long
lengths or in short sheets, and to tentering and holding frames generally, by
attaching the one jaw of each clip to the fixed or moveable parts of the frame
or table where or on which the said materials have to be stretched or held,

page_text: all for the like purpose and acting in the same or equivalent manner to that
herein-before described in reference to textile finishing machines for the
purpose of holding or stretching the fabrics or web work while being dried,
finished, printed, sewed, embroidered, or otherwise treated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Erskine Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th June 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
ERSKINE BROWN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her Most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Erskine Brown, Her special licence that I, the said John Erskine
Brown, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Erskine Brown, my executors, 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 the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE HOLDING, DISTENDING, AND OTHERWISE TREATING OR FINISHING
WOVEN AND OTHER WEB FABRICS, AND IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREFOR."
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Erskine Brown, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their 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 I, the said John Erskine Brown, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying two
Sheets of Drawings, and to the several illustrative figures, letters, and
numerals marked thereon, the same reference letters and numerals indicating

page_text: the same or corresponding parts in all the Figures, and which I hereunto
append for the purpose of showing the best modifications and means I am at
present aware of for practically performing or putting my said Invention into
practice:―
My said Invention consists essentially of improvements in the construction
of endless chains, and in their use in textile finishing machines for stretching,
treating, and finishing woven fabrics, and also in the construction of the
clips," clamps, or holders attached to such chains, and their use for holding
the fabric by their selvages while being so treated in passing through such
machines, which Invention and improvements have reference to or consist to
some extent of improvements upon the Invention for which Royal Letters
Patent were granted to me on or about the Seventh day November, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, and numbered 2896, and which
improved chains and holders are cheaper in their construction and better in
their use than as heretofore constructed and used, whether applied to finishing
machines, such as have been heretofore constructed, or to machines con-
structed in accordance with the Invention for which the said Patent was
granted to me, and they render such machines much more economical and
perfect in their construction and action or use for holding, stretching, and
finishing the fabrics while passing through them than they have been as
heretofore constructed and used.
One modification of my said improvements in the construction of the chains
for such textile stretching and finishing machines is shown in Figures 1 and 2
on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, in the side elevation and plan
respectively, of a few links, sufficient to illustrate the construction of such a
chain, in accordance with this my said Invention, and which consists in
forming each complete link of the chain a of the same shape or configuration
by the two side links a¹ of thin plates of malleable or malleable cast iron set
on edge vertically, having semicircular ends with joint holes for a parallel
circular pin b to pass through them and a round, broad, stiffening, and
"widthening" or distance block or washer c forming the eye or joint of
each pair of links, which form two thicknesses of the links on each side of the
round distancing block c of the links or sides a¹ of the chains a, each side or
link a being formed with a short bend inward at one end equal to its own
thickness, and rather more than the diameter of the joint in length, so that at
the joint each of the two bent ends of the sides a' fits in between each of the
two straight ends of the adjacent link, and the joint or distance block c having.
the joint pin b passing through them, by preference, rivetted tightly into the
two straight ends forming the outside links at the joint. The whole when so

page_text: put together forms a strong rigid or steady working parallel chain of a most
cheaply constructed and suitable form for passing smoothly through the
parallel slots formed in the stretching and guiding rails or frames A, shown
in transverse section and partial plan detached in Figures 3 and 4 respec-
tively, and over the actuating and guiding chain wheels of textile finishing
machines, whether these guide rails and wheels are made stationary in position,
or made to oscillate or "jig" with the chains mounted on them, as in the
machines at present in use for giving the elastic finish to the fabric; or such
machines as are described for finishing and treating fabrics in the final Speci-
fication of my said patented Invention, herein-before named. The teeth of
the chain wheels take into the space formed in every link between the side
links a¹ by the distance block c at the joints, and act on these blocks when
drawing the chain through the machine. Instead of a pin being passed
through the links a¹ and distance pieces c the pieces c may be made solid and
formed with a round pin b¹ (Figure 2) on each side to take into the joint
holes of the links a¹, and be rivetted into the outer links in the same way as
the joint pins b, before described, so that the inner ends of the links next the
distance block swivel on the joint pins b¹ in either case.
The improvements in the construction of the clips, clamps, or holders d for
holding and distending the cloth while passing through the machine along
with the chains in this modification and construction of chain (Figures 1 to 4)
consist of a fixed under surface or jaw d¹ for each clip in the form of a
narrow longitudinal face projecting out from each link of the chain by a short
light lateral duplex arm e, from which it rises up at the inner end, and is
cast or formed in one piece with the arm e, which may either be bolted to a
small flange cast or rivetted or otherwise formed on to the outside of the
inner plate a¹ of each link, according as convenient in making the links of
malleable cast or malleable iron respectively, as shown in the transverse
section of the chain detached in Figure 5; or otherwise the end of the lateral
arm or arms e may be firmly fitted into a square hole or holes formed in the
link with a collar or shoulder outside, and further secured to the link by a
screw and screw nut at the point of the arm, on the inside of the link, or a
knee or flange e¹ may be formed on the end or ends of the lateral arm or
arms e, according as one or two arms are used, so as to be bolted by the screw
and nut e to the side link a¹ direct. The surface or fixed lower jaw d¹ of the
clips on which the cloth z is fed and rests is by preference nearly hori-
zontal and parallel with a longitudinal line through the centre of the chain
(Figure 3), or it may be a little higher on the inside edge of the machine towards
the cloth, while each face d of the holder being a very little shorter than the

page_text: full length from centre to centre b of the link causes the whole when put
together on the chain to form a nearly continuous holding or gripping surface
along the whole line of each chain and selvage of the cloth while being fed
or drawn through the machine. When this fixed lower jaw or holding surface
is formed, as, by preference, of malleable or malleable cast iron it is preferred
to form the upper gripping surface of or by a thin strip of wood, block tin, or
brass firmly attached to the iron jaw by dovetail grooves and feathers, or by
round pins formed on the thin plate fixed into holes bored in the iron face or
jaw d¹, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, by rivetting them; or, instead, screw
nuts may be employed to fasten the plates. When tenter or stenter pins f
are used for holding the selvages of the cloth to be fed on to them in the
usual manner the pins are fixed into the thin portable surface plates from
the under side before being attached to the iron jaw d¹ of the lateral arm e,
as shown in side and end views in Figures 6 and 7 respectively. The lateral
arms e and lower holding surface d¹ for receiving the fabric z is also, when
preferred, used as the fixed lower jaw of a clip or clamp along with an upper
moveable or hinged jaw d of the same length having an inverted narrow face
or edge for acting on the upper surface of the lower jaw, by preference,
bearing sharper and tightest on the outer edge, so as to grasp and hold the
cloth between the two surfaces or jaws d¹ and of the clips tighter and
tighter in proportion to the increased tensional strain brought on the fabric z
in the direction of the weft, or across the web in tentering and finishing it.
This upper inverted jaw d is in some cases rounded on the top, and is made
to rise off and recede backwards from the lower holding surface or jaw d¹ by
being hinged or jointed through one or more drooping or pendent arms d³ to
the fixed lateral arm or arms e of the lower holding surface d¹ by the pin g
passing through joint holes formed in both of these arms d³ and e, or otherwise
it may be so jointed by studs formed on the pendent arms a working in
slotted bearings formed in the fixed lateral arm e, or the slots may be formed
in the arms d³ instead of in the arms e, so as to form in either case a joint in
the above stated and following improved manners, that is, fulcrumed at a
point or position some little distance vertically below the outer edge of the
lower holding surface d¹, so that the round head and inverted holding edge d³
will be quite free of the cloth when pushed back, as shown in dotted lines in
Figure 3, to allow the cloth to be fed on to the lower holding surface d¹, and
vet be caught by the inverted edge of the upper holding jaw when pushed
forward by a light spiral spring, or as shown by the two blade springs h
for the purpose attached to projections on the fixed lateral arms e, these
springs h acting in an upwards direction above the joint on the arms of the

page_text: The
moveable jaw d³, or on a projection formed on them for the purpose.
holding edge of the upper jaw d describing an arc shown in red lines in
Figure 3 from its axes g, at a point close in towards and a little below the
lower holding surface d¹, as hercin-before named), which is cut by the
transverse line or plane of that surface at the extreme forward point of motion
of the jaw d, where it catches and holds the cloth on the lower jaw or
surface d' by the acute wedge action of the moving edge of the upper jaw d
in relation to the fixed holding surface d'. The backward action of the
moving jaw d is effected at the proper place or position in the finishing
machines where the fabric is fed on to and removed from the lower holding
surfaces of the clips d, under one modification by a pendent tail or arin i on
each moving jaw d below the joint or fulcrum g, on which it turns. These
pendent arms as they come around with the chains are pushed outwards by an
inclined or cam surface or platej attached to the guiding rail A or other con-
venient part of the framing of the machine against the power of the light
springs h tending to close the gripping or holding surfaces of the clip d
upon the lower holding surface d', all at the proper time and place for
both feeding on the cloth or removing it from the machine respectively, as
.desired.
In the modification of my said Invention, illustrated by Figures 1, 2, 3.
and 4, the chain a is shown formed of straight parallel links for revolving or
being turned over polygonal chain wheels, and the guide rails A are shown as
cast solid with long square recesses formed in them for guiding the chains 'a
within them, screwed to the rocking or jigging frames B of elastic finishing
machines by countersunk headed bolts, the lateral arms e of the clips d¹
passing out and moving through a slot formed on the inner side of the rail A.
which in some cases, when desired, has a guide plate bolted to it over the
arm e above where the cam or incline plate j acts on the lower arms i of the
moving jaws d³ of the clips.
Figures 8 and 9 are a side elevation and plan respectively of a few links
and clips detached of the chain of an elastic finishing machine, showing a
slightly different modification of my said improvements from that shown and
described in reference to Figures 1 to 7: and Figures 10 and 11 are a trans-
verse section and plan of the same, corresponding to Figures 8 and 9, showing
the guiding rail and cam surface plate for guiding and actuating the chains
and clips respectively. In this modification (Figures 8 to 11) the links of
the chains a and lower jaws d' of the clips are by preference made of
malleable cast iron, and formed or cast together. each alternate link only
being formed double by two thin side links a¹ and a', as in the former modi-

page_text: fication described. The sides a' and a¹ are jointed by the pins or rivets b³,
which are cast upon one of the sides to the solid intermediate links a³, which
have the distance pieces c, as it were, cast in one with their sides, or having a
vertical slot or space in the centre for the teeth of the chain wheels to enter.
The central portion of each link is curved or hollowed out so as to suit or pass
over cylindrical instead of polygonal chain wheels, a portion at the ends, by
preference, being left flat to give bearing surface when sliding within the
guides A. The under jaw d¹ (Figure 10) is made in the form of a dovetail
feather, with the under brass gripping surface driven fast over it in the form
of a dovetail groove, the upper jaw d being in this case drawn out or off the
under gripping jaw d' against the power of the springs h to allow the cloth z to be
fed on to the under gripping surface d¹ by the short arm i projecting upwards,
and acting on a cam surface or plate bolted over the clips to the top of the
The guide rail A is in this
guide rail or a convenient part of the framing.
case formed in two parts with a cover, and screwed to the rocking, jigging, or
stationary frame B, as the case may be, according to the kind of finishing
machine to which the improvements are applied, the rails A being further
secured by resting on a lateral flange, or snugs cast on the side frame, as
shown in Figure 10.
"
Figures 12, 13, and 14 are a front elevation, transverse section, and plan
respectively of a detached part of an elastic finishing machine, chain, and clips,
showing a modification of my said Invention in the form and action of the
clip," in which the upper jaw oscillates on vertical slots in the arms ď³
working on the joint ping so as to be raised vertically and tilted back laterally
further and more clear of the under face d¹ of the clip for holding the cloth
than is the case in the former modifications in which the upper jaw simply
oscillates on an axis by the pendent stem or arm i acting on the horizontal
and lateral inclined surfaces of the cam plate j, further steadied when desired
by the upper projecting stem i, guided and depressed when free from the
plate by the cam surface of the plate, both at the proper place and time
for feeding on or releasing the fabric z under treatment. By another arrange-
inent I form the lower surface of the clips d¹ of india-rubber, or of india-
rubber covered by a strip of brass or other metal, or of wood firmly secured
to it by pins or screws, the strips being intersected between the fastenings in
several places, so that each piece can yield to a certain extent independent of
the others; and when greater elasticity is required I in some cases also
intersect the india-rubber, so as to insure the complete bearing or gripping
action along the whole length of the clips.
Figures 15, 16, and 17 are respectively a front elevation, transverse section,

page_text: and plan of a couple of links of chain and their clips, showing one modifica-
tion or arrangement of these improvements or mode of forming the under
gripping surface d' of the clips, which in this case is formed of several short
sectional parts or plates of brass d", each having a stem or pin driven or
rivetted tight into holes in the main part d' of the under jaw, each plate being
bedded on a layer of thin india-rubber or other soft or elastic surface, so as to
yield and insure a proper and regular gripping surface d" and d² of the two
jaws of the clips d', d, which grasp and hold the cloth z.
Figures 18 and 19 are a transverse section and plan respectively of another
modification of this improved holding clip d, which consists in forming the upper
moving jaw d with a lateral arm or arms d³ right over the top of the fixed
lateral arm or arms e of the lower jaw d', according as the jaws are formed
with one or two arms respectively, and jointing each upper moving arm d³ to
its corresponding lower fixed arm e to each other by a duplex arrangement of
radiating links k, k¹, placed in a nearly vertical or slightly angular position
near the front and rear ends of these lateral arms and e respectively. The
lower ends of the front nearly vertical links k are fulcrumed in nearly the
same position below the gripping surfaces d¹, as in the former modification
shown in Figures 3 and 10; and the links k, k¹, and jaws dare moved by the
back links k' in nearly the same manner, as in the former modification, by the
spring and a pendent arm i below the fulcrum g' acting on the cam plate ¡¹,
so as to cause the upper joints of these links h, k, and the front part of the
jaw near the joint g to act on nearly the same wedge principle in holding
the cloth, as described in reference to Figure 3.
Figure 20 shows a transverse section of a modification similar to that shown
in Figures 18 and 19, but having the joints and g¹ in the horizontal line of
the gripping surface and the centre of the chain.
Figure 21 is a transverse section of a modification having the back ends of
the lateral arms of the upper jaw jointed by links ', laying considerably
outwards at the top, so that the back ends of the arms are drawn con-
siderably down as the jaw is pushed back by the cam surface j, which has the
effect of raising the front gripping edge of the moving jaw up off the cloth z
so as to free it, and come down upon it again by the action of the springs h
in or through a curvilinear line of motion (as indicated in red lines in the
Figure) quite clear of the cloth without the chance of pushing it off the lower
surface d¹ before it had got the proper catch or wedge action to hold it, as
would take place when the greatest effective wedge power of the mechanical
action was taken advantage of, as in the case of the simple jaw d radiating
on the axis g, when the fixed gripping surface d' is made to touch or cut the

page_text: are only passed through by the edge of the upper jaw d at the part where
the cloth is caught or held at or by a nearly tangential line of the arc. In
some cases I make the inverted holding edge of the upper jaw thin and
elastic, and slit at several parts for some distance up from the holding edge,
as shown in side and end view in Figures 22 and 23 respectively, so as to
yield and act upon or hold along the whole length of the lower holding surface
or jaw d¹. In some cases I form the gripping surfaces of either or both jaws
with fine notches or teeth in a similar manner to the surfaces of files or the
gripping parts of pincers, so as to take an effective hold of the cloth. The
gripping surfaces of the clips are also in some cases made of iron, and when
so made they are either galvanized or electro-plated so as to coat them with
tin, zinc, or copper, or, when desired, the whole surface of the clips may be
so coated.
Figures 24, 25, and 26 are a transverse section, side elevation, and plan
respectively of two links and clips of a modification of tentering chain for
textile finishing machines analogous to that shown in Figures 8, 9, and 10,
but having long lateral arms attached to the under part of the oscillating
arms of the upper moving jaws of the clips projecting inwards beneath
the fabric z to be stretched and treated for the purpose of holding up the same
when the jaw d is drawn back off the under gripping surface d¹ by the cam
plate, and so that the weight of the arms and the tightening pressure of
the fabric in being stretched will press them down so as to cause the gripping
surfaces d and d of the clips to hold the cloth the more firmly, that the
greater strain is brought upon it in stretching, tending to draw the selvages
out of the holding clips.
Figures 27, 28, and 29 are a side elevation, transverse section, and plan
respectively of a few links of a somewhat improved construction of chain for
textile finishing machines formed of alternate long broad flat links a connected
or jointed by two short side links a¹ and rivets or joint pins b, all formed, by
preference, of malleable cast iron, and having the pins formed or cast in one
with or attached to one of the side links a' and rivetted into the other on the
opposite side in each case. A lateral arm is cast on each long link a for
carrying the brass plate with the tenter pins inserted in the plate from the
under side, the plate being either bolted by a snug to the arm or fitted tight
When this form of chain is to
into dovetailed snugs formed in it, as desired.
be used with my improved form of clip the broad flat links a have two light
arms e formed on them projecting out and down from their deep ends near
the joint pins carrying a lower gripping face d' and upper nipping jaw d
hinged at
9. close in below the outer edge of the under gripping face d², so as

page_text: to catch the selvages of the cloth by the radiating wedge action of the upper
edge or face of the jaw d in a nearly tangential direction with or over the
lower gripping face d' by the action of the springs h and cam plate i, all as
shown in the transverse section, Figure 30, and in the improved manner
described in reference to Figures 1 to 4; and this mode of applying my
improved form and construction of clips (Figure 30) will also illustrate in a
general manner how these clips may be applied to the numerous forms of
chains at present used in textile finishing machines.
The various modifications of my improved chains which I have described
and shown as attached to my improved clips may, if desired, be used, and are
equally applicable for many other forms of clip, such as are at present in
common use.
Although these improved holding clips have herein principally been described
as attached to the chains of textile finishing machines, and applied to machines
using such chains only, yet still it will be evident that they may be applied to
drying, finishing, and printing cylinders; also by attaching the stems e of the
lower clip d to or round the extreme ends, edges, and periphery of such
cylinders, or to those within the recesses formed in them, a modification or adap-
tation of which is shown in Figures 31 and 32 on Sheet 2 of the accompanying
two Sheets of Drawings, which are respectively a sectional side elevation and
end view of a duplex stretching and drying cylinder for treating textile fabrics,
chains or bands may be passed round such cylinders having these improved
clips attached to them so as to catch the edges of the webs of cloth, paper, or
other material desired to be treated by either of these mechanical arrange-
ments, whether the said fabrics are in the form of long lengths or in short
sheets; and these clips may also be applied to tentering and holding frames
generally by attaching one fixed set of jaws to the fixed and another set to
the moveable parts of the frame or table where or on which the said materials
have to be stretched or held by the clips, all for the like purpose and acting
in the same or equivalent manner to that which I have herein-before described
in reference to textile finishing machines for the purpose of holding or
stretching the fabrics or webwork while being dried, finished, printed, sewed,
embroidered, or otherwise treated.
Referring to Figures 31 and 32, the stems e of the lower jaws d' are
secured by flanges to a polygonal part of the inner edge and periphery of
the two revolving drums or pulleys C driven by the internal annular spur
wheel D through the pinions D' on the actuating transverse shaft E, passing
through the wheels D and the arms of the rigid oscillating ring frame F on
which the annular drums C and wheels D are caused to revolve steadily

page_text: by the annular groove F¹ and "cods" or bearing pieces C' working in them;
each piece made fast in the web of the drum C by the two screw pins C³, seen
more clearly in the transverse section (Figure 33) of parts of the webs of
the drum C, and oscillating frame F. The frames F, which do not revolve
are carried by, and oscillate laterally on the flat sided eyes or bosses G upon
the screw pin F as axes, screwed fast in the eyes of the frames F the width
of the drums C and their two sets of clips are set at any required distance
from each other to suit the width of the cloth or other material in sheets or
webs to be stretched and treated by the two screws H screwed into them
and carried in bearing blocks H¹ bolted to the two sides of the strong bar or
shaft G on which the bosses G slide, and are carried at a proper height
from the floor by the shaft G supported in the upper part of the two strong
triangular standards I, so that the drums C are free to turn. When the two
frames F are set to the proper width and fixed at the proper angle in relation
to each other necessary for the particular width of cloth or other fabric to be
treated and the amount of strain or stretching to be given to it while passing
over the tentering drum the fabric z is fed on to the lower nipping surface d¹
of the clips d at the front or narrow end of the drums C, under and by the
roller J, the upper jaw-d of the clips being kept back by the segmental-cam
platej screwed to the inside edge of the web of the frame F at the front
part for the purpose, and from which cam plate ; they are released as soon
as the fabric is properly fed on, so as to catch it between the upper and lower
gripping surfaces of the clips d, which then carry the fabric round with them
as the drums C are turned by the shaft E and wheels and pinions D and D³,
so as to stretch it as it comes round over the top and down towards the back
of the drums C, where they are at their widest angular position, and where
the upper jaws of the clips are released by a second cam plate ; fixed to
the inside of the stationary rim of the angled frame F at this part for the
purpose, when the cloth is then free to be removed from the under clips d¹
by the withdrawing roller J' after being stretched and finished as desired.
Having thus described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine or restrict myself
to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe
and delineate, as many variations may be made therefrom without departing
rom the main or essential features thereof; neither, on the other hand, do I
claim as new or as my Invention the use of chains, clips, and tenter pins
generally, nor many other details of mechanical construction separately, which
have had occasion to describe and refer to for the purpose of making my
.
.

page_text: Invention understood (as many of these have heretofore been used) except
in combination with and forming part of the essential features and for the
objects or purposes of my said Invention: but what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,--
First, the general construction and arrangement of chains and clips, and
the parts composing them and other apparatus, and their use for the holding,
distending, and otherwise treating or finishing woven and other web fabrics,
all substantially in the new or improved manner herein described and shown
in the accompanying Drawings or any mere modification thereof.
Second, the particular form, construction, and use of chains and tenter
pins, with or without the several forms of clip described or others, for the
holding, distending, and otherwise treating or finishing woven and other web
fabrics, substantially in the new or improved manner herein described and
shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Third, the particular form, construction, and arrangement of the parts of
"clips" and their use whether attached to chains, drums, cylinders, or frames,
for the holding, distending, and otherwise treating or finishing woven and
other web fabrics, substantially in the new or improved manner herein
described, and shown in the accompanying Drawings or any mere modifi-
cation thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Erskine Brown, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
20, Buchanan Street,
Glasgow.
J. ERSKINE BROWN. (L.S.)