IM- PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE COVERING OF CYLINDERS WITH CARD FILLETS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Standring Dronsfield, of the Firm of Dronsfield
Brothers, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE COVERING OF CYLINDERS WITH
CARD FILLETS."
Sealed the 13th June 1879, and dated the 27th December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Standring Dronsfield
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th December 1878.
JOSEPH STANDRING DRONSFIELD, of the Firm of Dronsfield Brothers, of Oldham,
in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE
COVERING OF CYLINDERS WITH CARD FILLETS."
My Invention relates to the covering of cylinders of carding engines with card
fillets. In the process of covering such cylinders the cylinder is caused to rotate,
and the card fillet is guided into position so as to be wound in a close spiral upon
the periphery of the cylinder. In the apparatus constructed in accordance with
my Invention the cylinder is actuated by means of a purchase, which is mounted
on the axle as is usual. In my improved purchase the axles of the gearing are
mounted in bearings in two plates which are bolted together at each end, so as to
form a frame which is supported at the outer end by means of an adjustable leg or
prop. The axle of the winch handle gives motion to a set of change gearing, as
well as to the cylinder gearing. The said change gearing actuates a chain wheel.
A bed is planed and prepared to receive a sliding carriage which is arranged to be
slid to and fro upon the bed by means of a screw shaft, which is mounted on the
bed. The said bed is arranged to be placed and secured in position upon the
framing of the carding engine. A chain wheel which is fixed upon the said screw
shaft is connected by means of an endless pitch chain with the chain wheel first
mentioned, so that when the winch handle is turned the said screw is rotated. The
said screw engages with a nut fixed to the said carriage so that the said carriage is
[Price 6d1

page_text: caused to slide upon its bed when the screw is rotated, I prefer to employ a worm
wheel cut in a suitable manner to engage with the thread of the screw and fixed
upon a shaft, so that when the said shaft is prevented from turning, the said wheel
acts as a nut, and on the contrary when the said shaft is rotated the carriage is
moved although the screw may be at rest. In a framing upon the said carriage a
stepped cone pulley is fitted to revolve. The card fillet is led through a trough in
which is fitted a plate which is loaded so as to put a tension upon the fillet. The
fillet passes from this trough partly around the smallest cone, thence over an inclined
guiding groove in a shunting plate, and thence partly around a larger cone, and
then again over the said shunting plate, and when it has passed over all the steps
of the cone, or over as many as required to give the necessary tension, it passes to
the cylinder. The aforesaid change wheels are so proportioned as that the carriage
is caused to travel a distance about equal to the width of the fillet during each
revolution of the cylinder. I may cover the cone pulley with leather or other ma-
terial which will add to the tension, and I may apply a brake to the said pulley,
and I may employ a conical drum or a cylindrical drum in lieu of the stepped cone,
and I may employ a pulley or pullies diagonally arranged with reference to the axis
of the said cone or cylindrical drum in lieu of the aforesaid shunting plate. I may
also dispense with the aforesaid trough and weighted plate, or substitute some other
form of guide for the fillet, and I may arrange to give motion to the said carriage
by means of a rack and pinion, instead of by means of the said screw and nut.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph Standring Dronsfield in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 27th June 1879.
JOSEPH STANDRING DRONSFIELD, of the Firm of Dronsfield Brothers, of Oldham,
in the County of Lancaster. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE
"
COVERING OF CYLINDERS WITH CARD FILLETS."
My Invention relates to the covering of cylinders of carding engines with card
fillets. In the process of covering such cylinders the cylinder is caused to rotate,
and the card fillet is guided into position so as to be wound in a close spiral upon
the periphery of the cylinder. In the apparatus constructed in accordance with
my Invention the cylinder is actuated by means of a "purchase," which is mounted
on the axle of the cylinder as is usual. In my improved purchase the axles of the
gearing are mounted in bearings in two cheek plates which are bolted together at
each end, so as to form a frame which is supported at the outer end by means of an
adjustable leg or prop. The axle of the winch handle gives motion to the cylinder
through gearing and also to change gearing through which motion is transmitted
to a sliding carriage by the means hereinafter to be indicated. In a framing upon
the said carriage a stepped cone pulley is fitted to revolve. The card-fillet is led
through a trough in which is fitted a plate which is loaded or is suitably heavy to
put a tension upon the fillet. The fillet passes from this trough partly around the
smallest cone, thence over an inclined guiding groove in a shunting plate, and thence
partly around a larger cone, and then again over the said shunting plate, and when it
has passed over all the steps of the cone or over as many as required to give the neces-
sary tension, it passes to the cylinder. The aforesaid change wheels are so proportioned
as that the carriage is caused to travel a distance about equal to the width of the fillet
during each revolution of the cylinder. The apparatus may be modified as hereinafter
indicated.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood, I have appended here-
unto a Sheet of Drawings made to a scale of about three inches to the foot, and
marked with letters of reference, corresponding marks indicating the same parts
in the various Figs. Referring in this place to the said Drawing, Fig. 1 repre-
sents an end elevation, Fig. 2 a front elevation, and Fig. 3 a plan of the improved
apparatus. In the said Figs. A represents the framing of an ordinary carding
engine, and B the main carding cylinder of the same. Upon one of the axles of
the said carding cylinder a purchase C is loosely mounted. The frame of the said
purchase consists of two side cheeks d, which are bolted together at each end. In
the said cheeks are formed bearings for the axles of spur-gearing. A pinion e is
fixed upon an axle which is provided with a winch-handle f. The said pinion gears
with a spur wheel g to which is fixed a pinion h which gears with a spur wheel i.
The last named wheel is secured to the axle of the carding cylinder by means of set
screws or by other suitable means. When the handle f is turned the cylinder B is
caused to rotate. The outer end of the frame C is sustained by means of a leg or
prop k, the lower end of which rests upon the floor. This prop is made adjustable
in length in the manner indicated in Fig. 4 or in any suitable manner, in order
that the apparatus may be made suitable for engines varying in the height of their
cylinder axles, or that the winch handle may be adjusted at a convenient height for
the operator. Upon the axle of the wheel g a spur pinion is fixed, and this pinion
gears with a wheel m which is mounted upon a stud which is secured to the cheek
d. The said stud passes through a slot formed in the said cheek and is secured by
means of a nut. The distance of the said stud from the axle of g is thus capable of
being adjusted, in order that the proportions of the gearing and m may be varied.
To the wheel m is secured a chain-wheel which is connected by means of a pitch-
chain with a chain wheel n which is fixed on one end of a screw shaft o. The said
screw shaft is fitted to revolve in bearings in a bed P which is mounted upon the side
frame A of the engine. The bed P is formed with vee slides, and is suitably planed

page_text: 8
to receive a carriage R which is fitted to slide to and fro upon the said bed. A
shaft & is fitted in bearings in the said carriage, and upon this shaft is fixed a worm
wheel t which gears with the screw shaft. The shaft 8 may be turned by means of
a winch handle, and when so turned the wheel t acts upon the threads of the screw
shaft as upon a spur rack, and the carriage is moved upon its bed in one direction or
the other as may be desired. When the carriage is to be actuated by means of the
screw shaft, the shaft s is prevented from revolving by tightening a screw clamp v,
and the said screw shaft then acts upon the pinion t as upon a nut.
In the car-
riage R a cone pulley w is arranged to revolve, and to the said carriage a shunting
plate x is secured. Above this smallest cone of the pulley a trough y is fixed.
This trough is, by preference, made to suit the width of the card fillet, and it is
fitted with a loose plate which can be lifted out. The card fillet u passes through
the said trough with the dents upwards and the plate rests upon the said dents, and
by its weight imparts a certain amount of tension to the fillet. A spring or weighted
lever acting upon the said plate may be employed to regulate the pressure upon the
fillet. The said fillet passes from the inner end of the trough y and is brought
around the small end of the cone pulley to the shunting plate. The said plate is
formed with guiding surfaces or channels which are curved and inclined in such a
manner as to receive the fillet from one step of the cone pulley and to deliver it to
the next step thereof. The fillet is thus passed from one step or diameter of the
cone to another until it passes to the cylinder from the shunting plate through a
guide or supporting arm z which is fixed to the carriage. A portion c¹ of the
shunting plate is secured to the main plate by means of a bolt, and can be adjusted
so as to vary the angle of delivery of the fillet to the cylinder. The manner of
using the apparatus may be described as follow:-The bed P having been mounted
upon the framing and the purchase C arranged for action the fillet is passed through
the trough, and around the steps of the cone, and over the guiding surfaces of the
shunting plate, the end of the fillet being then secured to the card cylinder. The
winch handle fis now turned whereby the screw shaft is rotated by means of the
gearing l, m, and the pitch chain. It must be understood that the said gearing
must be so proportioned with relation to the pitch of the screw o as that the car-
riage R is moved a distance equal or suitable to the width of the card fillet during
each revolution of the carding cylinder. This being the case when the handle fis
turned the fillet is drawn through the inlet trough, and over the cone pulley and
shunting plate, and is coiled upon the carding cylinder, the carriage R sliding upon
its bed as the coiling proceeds so that the coils are regularly and closely laid upon
the cylinder. The fillet is secured to the cylinder in the usual or in a suitable
manner. The cone pulley w is used in order that the fillet may be coiled upon the
cylinder with a suitable amount of tension. In practise I cover the said cone pulley
with leather in order to increase the frictional resistance to the passage of the fillet.
Other material than leather may be found to answer the same purpose. It will
be seen that the surface of the larger end of the cone will travel faster than that of
the smaller end. This has the effect of tightening the fillet and the frictional
resistance to the passage of the fillet over the said pulley and over the shunting
plate aided by the pressure in the inlet trough imparts the requisite tension to the
fillet. If the tension is not sufficient a suitable brake may be applied to the cone-
pulley, or the pressure in the inlet trough may be increased by the means heroin-
before indicated. A conical or cylindrical drum may be used in lieu of a stepped
cone, as, for example, the fillet may be coiled around a cylindrical drum which is
fitted with a brake which may be adjustable. Pullies having their axes arranged
diagonally may be used in lieu of the aforesaid shunting plate, but the frictional
resistance would be less, and a greater length of fillet would be required to pass
through the tension apparatus. may dispense with the trough and the pressing
plate therein, and substitute therefor any other suitable form of guide for the fillet,
or the said fillet may be guided by the hand. Other modifications may be made in
the apparatus without departing from the nature and intent of my Invention, as, for
example, a rack and pinion may be substituted for the aforesaid screw-shaft and

page_text: worm wheel. In some cases the apparatus may be provided with a suitable framing
so as to form an independent machine in which a card cylinder which is to be covered
may be mounted.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of my Invention, and the
manner in which I carry, and may carry, the same into practical effect, I would
have it to be understood that I claim,-
First. The apparatus for covering carding cylinders with fillets constructed and
acting substantially as set forth, and indicated herein-before and in and by the
accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The combination of parts forming the purchase c, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth and indicated.
Thirdly. The tension carriage R arranged to slide continuously during the revo-
lution of the cylinder being covered, substantially as set forth and indicated.
And, lastly. The employment for the indicated purpose of a stepped cone, or of a
conical or cylindrical drum in combination with a shunting plate, or of inclined
pullies.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Standring Dronsfield, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
Signed and sealed by the said
Joseph Standring Dronsfield
in the presence of
HUGH GRANT,
Clerk to Edward K. Dutton,
Agent to the Patentee,
St. Ann's Churchyard,
Manchester.
JOSEPH S. DRONSFIELD. (L.S.)