IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND FINISHING CERTAIN Wonen
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Midgley, of Northowram, in the Parish
of Halifax, in the County of York, Worsted Spinner, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND FINISHING CERTAIN
Wonen Vinvo
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Midgley at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 20th June 1853.
I, ROBERT MIDGLEY, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND FINISHING CERTAIN WORSTED
YARNS, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:--
Firstly, in having the ordinary singe plate used in the preparation of
yarns in two or more parts, screwed together in such manner that it
can be adjusted after being warped or bent by the heat, whereby the
yarns can be more regularly and evenly singed in all parts.
Secondly, in steaming the yarn whilst on the reel in a cylinder, and
afterwards condensing the steam and drawing the water off by means
of an air pump; and,

page_text: Thirdly, by drawing through the cylinder by the air pump a current
of heated air, whereby the yarn is "set" and dried, leaving a beautiful
lustre thereon.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Midgley in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 19th December 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
ROBERT MIDGLEY, of Northowram, in the Parish of Halifax, in the
County of York, Worsted Spinner, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of June, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in
the seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Robert Midgley, Her
especial license that I, the said Robert Midgley, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert
Midgley, my executors, administrators, or 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 of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND FINISHING CERTAIN
WORSTED YARNS, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Midgley, by an in-
strument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Royal Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Midgley, 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 (that is to say):

page_text: and
My Invention relates to those yarns known as "Genappe
Heald yarn," and consists, firstly, in having the ordinary singe plate
used in the finishing of yarns in two or more parts, the joinings being
liagonal, and having "lugs" or "snugs" cast on the edge, so that they
can be screwed together and adjusted after they have been warped or
bent by the heat. On the present plan the singe plate is cast or made
in one piece, and the intense heat being applied to it causes it to warp
or bend, thus causing an uneven surface, whereby the yarns passing
over it to be singed are not evenly or effectually operated upon, in
consequence of which the plate has to be replaced with a new one, but
by my plan of casting or making them in two or more parts I can
adjust the different parts of the plate so as to form a level and even
surface.
The second part of my said improvements consists of "setting"
the yarn by steam whilst on the reel in a cylinder, and afterwards
drawing the steam off by means of an air pump. The process hitherto
adopted for this purpose has been to wind the yarn on bobbins to be
steamed and afterwards singed, whereby some of the yarn not being
equally dry with the other could not be singed evenly; instead of which
I put the reel with the yarn on it into a cylinder sufficiently large for
the purpose;
I then put on the lid of the cylinder, and fasten it in any
convenient manner so as to make it air or steam tight; I then admit
steam into the said cylinder so that it shall penetrate or saturate the
yarn, after which I draw the steam off by means of an air pump.
The third part of my improvements consists of drawing through the
cylinder by means of the air pump a current of heated air, whereby
the yarn will be dried, leaving a beautiful lustre thereon.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of my said
Invention, and the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I
desire it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the
exact details herein described, as such may be varied or modified
without departing from the principle thereof. But I claim as of my
Invention, and which, to the best of my knowledge and belief, has not
been hitherto used within this realm, firstly, the method of making
5 and connecting the singe plate in two or more parts; secondly, the

page_text: method of setting the yarn by steam in a cylinder whilst on the reel ;
and, thirdly, the method of drying the yarn in the cylinder by means of
heated air drawn through the cylinder by the air pump; as all of such
improvements are herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Midgley, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of December, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Signed, sealed, and delivered
by the within-named Robert
Midgley in the presence of
W
TASKER,
ROBERT MIDGLEY. (L.S.)
Patent Agent,
Halifax.