IMPROVEMENTS IN RING SPINNING FRAMES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN RING SPINNING FRAMES." A communication from abroad by Jean
Jacques Bourcart, of Zurich, Switzerland.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd December 1880.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RING SPINNING FRAMES." [A communication
from abroad by Jean Jacques Bourcart, of Zurich, Switzerland.]
This Invention relates to the following improvements in ring spinning frames,
and of which I bave illustrated examples in the accompanying Drawings:-
1st. The employment of a second thread board or guide rising with the copping
rail or parallel to it. This second thread board or guide may be a rod or even a
wire stretched above and parallel to the line of the rings, and so disposed that it
may receive its motion either from the mechanical device which moves the copping
rail, or by a similar device, or the thread board moving with the copping rail
above the spindles, or a second thread board moving in the same direction as the
copping rail but at a variable distance from it. The object of this second thread
board is to regulate the tension of the yarn, and control its whirling movement in
such a manner that the yarn while being wound on is subjected constantly to the
same tension during the formation of the cop.
Figure 1 shows how the thread board may be merely an abutment T¹, T², or
T¹, Ts, of any suitable form; for instance, a wire disposed in the same direction as
the line of rings, secured to the copping rail, and against which the yarn to be
wound rubs either periodically or continually so as to be guided in any suitable
manner, and so as to entirely or partially avoid the whirling of the yarn.
2nd. The addition to the thread board moving with the copping rail of a small
blade, the object of which is to clean the traveller. The thread board when so
disposed has thus a double action to regulate the whirling of the yarn and to clean
the traveller.
In Figures 2 and 3 a is the small blade upon the thread board, in passing which
he downy particles accumulated on the traveller c are removed; b is the movable

page_text: thread board regulating the whirling of the yarn, upon which are screwed or
otherwise secured the blades a; c is the traveller; d is the ring; e is the copping
rail, upon which is mounted a post f supporting the thread board, whose position
is adjustable.
3rd. When the tension of the yarn is too great the traveller is drawn with
difficulty upon the ring, and this improvement consists in an arrangement designed
to assist this movement, and which is an improvement on the subject of a previous
Patent granted to me.
This disposition consists either of a stationary hollow flyer of any form, or disc a
connected with the part b of the spindle, as in Figure 4, or of a loose frictional
flyer a, as in Figure 5, or connected by a frictional device between a and b or any
outside drag.
These or any similar devices assist the movement of the traveller c by the yarn
itself upon the ring & when the tension of the yarn is too great, and mainly when
the cop begins to be formed.
4th. Another improvement consists in a system of winding on obtained by
suddenly raising the copping rail; this has for object to cause the yarn to be
crossed in a direction opposite to that given by the mules.
5th. In order to be able to place a large number of spindles upon one side of the
ring machines I superpose partially several lines of spindles, and I place them so
as to form lozenge like spaces in combination with a second or third thread
board, &c.
6th. The ring rail, having its upward and downward motion for the purpose of
properly tapering the ends of the cop. I impart to every ring a special movement
in order to make the middle portion or body of said cop. This improvement might
be obtained by any suitable mechanical contrivance, and particularly by the
arrangement shown in Figure 6.
In this arrangement every ring is supported by a screw threaded cylinder or rod,
which is adjusted according to the winding to be effected by a nut moved by a
worm, in order to render the spindles independent of each other during the operation
of winding on.
'
a, copping rail, having the movement required for making the cone of the cop.
b, screw threaded cylinder or rod supporting the ring e either in or out of the
axis of the spindle.
c, worm wheel engaged with a, and provided with a finger g or other suitable
device for taking it out of gear with 6 in order to make another cop; d, worm
gearing with c, and driven in any suitable manner.
When a cop is made it is taken up and the threaded cylinder is brought back to
its original position. The copping rail preserves constantly the same motion.
By this means the spindles are independent of each other as regards the formation
of the cop.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd June 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RING SPINNING FRAMES." A communication
from abroad by Jean Jacques Bourcart, of Zurich, Switzerland.
This Invention relates to improvements in ring spinning frames, and in order
that it may be more readily understood I have illustrated examples of the various
improvements in the Drawings annexed, and will proceed to describe it with
reference thereto, and to the letters and figures marked thereon.
The employment of several superposed sets of spindles has already been attempted
in continuous spinning frames and mules, but has not been as yet a complete
success. This arrangement is especially difficult of employment in ring spinners
because of the ring rail and thread board, which are unsuited for such an
arrangement unless specially devised for the purpose. The arrangement of the
spindles in superposed series, as hereafter described, is (amongst others) one of the
principal objects of this Invention.
In Figure, Sheet 1, is shown on the same side of the machine two rows of
spindles superposed and arranged in quincunx order. The spindles o' rest in
footsteps in the rail a and turn in bolsters in the fixed rail b, whilst the upper row
of spindles o² rest in footsteps on rail b and turn in bolsters in rail c. The ring
rails e and d on which the rings are fixed move up and down together, being
operated by the same mechanism. This is not however obligatory as each ring rail
might be operated by its own mechanism, or even each ring may be operated
separately. It is however essential that each ring rail should have a thread board
or guide, or that each ring should have its own thread guide, and that these thread
boards or guides should be operated by a special mechanism in such wise that their
movements shall correspond with those of the ring rails, the distance between the
travellers and the thread board or guide remaining constant or only varying in
accordance with a fixed law. By this means the employment of two sets of
spindles, the one above the other, is rendered practicable. The Figure shows the
thread guide h for the upper set of spindles adjustable vertically on a stem ƒ by
means of nuts g so as to regulate the distance from the ring c and horizontally by
a screw on the eye h. Similarly for the thread guide k for the lower set of spindles.
This latter is represented as incapable of regulation to show the arrangement of
that kind of thread guides. It is evident that the form and position of those
thread guides may be varied in many ways. The essential point is that the thread
guides should be fixed to the ring or to the ring rail, and that the thread guides
may be placed at the desired distance from the traveller and have an up and down
movement in common. The spindles are driven by bands as usual from drums
Q1, Q2. Those for the upper set of spindles pass directly from the drums to the
spindles, and those for the lower set pass round intermediate drums P1, P2, or
intermediate pulleys may be placed above Q1, Q2, as well as underneath, and in
the case of three sets of spindles the middle set would be driven directly. The
ring rails are combined or moved simultaneously and operated by shafts S, S₁,
placed behind the spindles. A series of rings is mounted on each rail, and each
rail rests on the support o, q, fixed in pairs to the rack rod N (shown at the right
hand side of Figure 1). With each of these racks N gears a pinion p on the
shafts S, S¹. In order to impart a proper up and down movement to the rings as
required for winding on, the rotation of the shafts S, S¹, must be proportional to
such movement, which is obtained by means of the shaft XII., and the in
connection therewith; hereafter described.
gear

page_text: Motion is transmitted from S to S¹ by the cross shaft K, as usual, provided with
a clutch I pressed by spring I into gear with a worm wheel K¹ loose on the shaft
and gearing with a worm H on shaft S, t, which serves to lower the rings to their
original position when, the bobbin is finished. The mechanism for moving each
ring independently consists of small pinions on shafts S and S¹ in equal number to
the rings in a series, each ring of the upper series being connected to a ring of the
lower series, if each series has not its own shaft with a pinion for each ring.
I will now describe the rise and fall of the rings for each layer, the gradual
ascensional movement for the formation of the cop, the change of speed of the
spindles, and the movements for facilitating the crossing of the yarn.
Upon the shaft X (see Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1), which carries the band drum is
a sleeve X¹ carrying a pulley B driven by a belt. This sleeve also carries a mitre
pinion a gearing with another a² on a vertical shaft r mounted in the bracket 8, u, v.
Upon the shaft X there are the fast and loose pulleys B¹, B². At the upper end of
shaft is a worm a³ gearing with a worm wheel a* in one with mitre pinion a³
and turning loose on stud C, which also serves to fix the bracket E. a³ gears
with a on a vertical shaft D turning in the bracket E, and having at its upper
end a mitre pinion a gearing with another a8 on the shaft A, to which motion is
thus transmitted. A is the shaft connecting the two sets of drawing rollers. a³ is
loose on A and in one with the female part of a conical friction clutch, the male
party of which is fixed to the sleeve z, z, keyed on A, but movable by means of
fork lever m, n. The friction clutch is held in gear by the stress of a spring Z on
the lever m, n, and it is only when it is thus in gear that A receives motion from a³.
The forked lever m, n, is oscillated at certain moments by a lever XIII., and when
this occurs the clutch is thrown out of gear and shaft A remains stationary, and
likewise the two sets of drawing rollers F, F¹. This stoppage of the drawing
rollers at certain periods in continuous spinning is produced and utilized in this
machine for the following objects :-
(1.) When the ring rail descends, the length of the yarn between the drawing
rollers and the traveller increases (in consequence of the delivery and drawing of
The twist therefore
the yarn) whilst the speed of the spindles remains the same.
varies at each moment and produces an irregular yarn. If the drawing rollers be
thrown out of gear at the moment that the ring rail reaches the lowest point of its
rise and fall, so as to stop the rollers an instant, the twist has time to distribute
itself equally through the portion of yarn delivered during the descent.
(2.) When the ring rises it advances towards the yarn. If the rollers continue to
deliver yarn, the yarn becomes less stretched and will again have defects of twist.
It is therefore advantageous to stop the delivery by the rollers during the rise of
the ring, or during the last part of the rise.
(3.) When the winding-on is effected during a continuous delivery of the yarn,
there will be formed at the end of the rise or fall of the ring, an accumulation of
yarn on the point of the cop, that is to say, two or three turns of yarn will be
wound on the same spot. To avoid this the delivery is stopped for an instant
when the ring completes its rise or its fall, and is not started again until the
movement in the inverse direction has commenced.
(4.) On stopping or starting the machine, when the drawing rollers, the
travellers, and the spindles are put in motion or stopped, many yarns are broken
or weak places are produced. On this account the machine is provided with an
arrangement whereby the drawing rollers may be stopped before the travellers, and
started after them, that is to say, after the spindles; sudden strains on the
untwisted yarns delivered by the rollers are thus avoided.
These four objects are very important in spinning, and involve the following
combinations of mechanism :-
In order to stop the drawing rollers without stopping the other parts of the
machine, many means may be employed. In Figures 1 and 3, Sheet I., the
shaft XII. is geared with the upright shaft G by a spur wheel 1 keyed on the
former, gearing with another wheel 2 connected to and turning on the same stud m, m

page_text: with another wheel 3, which in turn gears with a pinion 4 fast on a sleeve turning
on XII., and having at its other end a worm 5 in gear with a worm wheel 6 on
the upper end of shaft G. Upon the lower end of said shaft is fixed a cam VIII.
in contact with a bowl IX mounted in a bracket X. fixed to the frame of
the machine, and slotted to guide the lower end of shaft G. The shaft G is
mounted in bearings on the lever XIII., which oscillates upon shaft XII. as a
centre. As the cam VIII. revolves against the bowl IX., this lever XIII. is
oscillated so as to bring the screw n³ at its upper end against the clutch lever n,
these oscillations occurring at regular intervals corresponding exactly with the rise
and fall of the rings. The other purposes of this apparatus will be described
later on.
Another means of producing the same result is shown at Figures 4 and 5,
Sheet II. In these Figures 6 is the belt drum, driving the spindles mounted on
shaft X, and 7 is the equivalent of the sleeve X¹, Figures 1 and 2, Sheet I. Upon
this sleeve is the pinion 4, gearing with wheel 5 for driving the drawing rollers.
Upon shaft X is fixed the pulley 2, whilst the pulley 3 is fast on the sleeve X¹.
The shaft A is in this case driven directly, that is to say, there is no clutch upon
it, the stoppage of shaft A being produced by the belt passing from pulley 3 to
pulley 2 at the moment when the drawing rollers are to be stopped, whereupon
7, 3, 4, 5, and A are stopped, whilst the spindles continue to be driven by 2. The
shifting of the belt can be effected by many mechanical devices, for example, the
elbow lever 3 having a bowl 22 rolling on a cam 12. It should be observed that
this device permits of stopping the spindles if necessary. Another contrivance
having the same object is shown in Figures 6 and 7, Sheet II.
Upon the shaft 8
which drives the drawing rollers (which is the same as shaft A in Figure 1,
Sheet I.) is a differential gear consisting of a bevil wheel 81 keyed on 8 and gearing
with the pair of bevel pinions of differential wheel 7, with which turns the spur
wheel 10 loose on 8. Wheel 10 receives motion through wheels 5 and 12, and
transmits it by bevel wheel 9 and the differential pinions to 81 and the shaft 8
which drives the drawing rollers. The differential wheel 7 is geared with wheel 6
in one with pinion 4 which gears with the toothed sector M oscillating upon an
axis 13, and provided with a curved slotted arm 3 in which is mounted adjustably
a friction bowl 2 rolling against a cam 1 of the form shown. As the shoulder 6 of
the cam passes the bowl the latter falls against the smaller diameter of the cam,
thereby oscillating the sector M and transmitting motion suddenly to 7, which
produces such an effect on 8 and 9 that the motion which 8¹ receives directly
through 5, 10, 9, is neutralised and 8' is arrested, and consequently the drawing
rollers also more or less.
Figures 8 and 9, Sheet II., show another contrivance having the same object.
Upon the shaft C which drives the drawing rollers is a collar 7 and a clutch, the
part 4 of which slides on a key on the shaft. The part 5 is loose on the shaft C
and in one with pulley 6 which is driven by belt or spur gear. If 4 and 5 are in
gear shaft C is caused to turn but stopped in order to arrest the motion of the
drawing rollers at the proper moment by the elbow lever M, the arm 3 of which
is weighted and carries a friction bowl 2 which is in contact with a disc 1. Upon
the recess in the periphery of the disc coming opposite to the bowl 2 it falls into it
and disengages the clutch 4 and stops the drawing rollers.
It is easy to see that these mechanical contrivances enable not only the delivery
of the yarn to be stopped but also the motion of the spindles and that of the rings,
in fact the whole machine. By referring to Figure 5 it will be seen that by
shifting the belt from pulley 3 to pulley 2 the delivery of yarn is stopped; if the
belt is shifted from pulley 2 to pulley 1 the entire machine is stopped if the gear
operating the rings is connected with the drums driving the spindles. But if to
the loose pulley on the drum shaft a worm gear 8 be connected and be capable of
being thrown in and out of gear at will, the ring rail may have a motion inde-
pendent of the delivery of yarn to the spindles. In order to attain the four objects
it is not absolutely necessary to employ the arrangements described, but many other
.

page_text: mechanical combinations adopted in the different systems of ring spinning frames
may be used.
If the effects produced by these methods of arresting the motion be considered,
it may perhaps be important that at the moment of crossing the yarn the delivery of
yarn and the spindles should be arrested, leaving in motion only the rings, which then.
wind on the yarn in proper manner. If the stoppage of the delivery of yarn be
utilised, for instance, at the end of the descent of the ring by stopping or retarding
the ring also, an extra twist may be given in a similar manner to that produced in
self acting mules. If two (or three) belts be used for pulleys 1, 2, 3, Figure 5,
Sheet 7, or one wide one, so as that the first belt shall first leave pulley 3, and the
worm 8 of pulley 1 be then thrown out of gear which is driven by the second belt,
the rings will be arrested before the drums, &c.
All these arrangements enable continuous spinning and twisting frames to
accomplish the operations of the self actor although in the inverse way, that is to
say, the layers of yarn are wound very close in descending and very open in
ascending. To illustrate I will refer to Figures 10 and 11, Sheet II. If the yarn
is wound-on during the descent of the ring on the cone Y of the cop as far as b³
where the straight body of the cop commences, the yarn takes a downwardly
inclined direction. To cross the yarn then, the crossing does not begin effectively
until the yarn has acquired an upwardly inclined direction, as at 3a, and that is the
reason why the rings should move the distance 62, 3ª, without the yarn being
wound-on during this movement, and the drawing rollers should be stopped to
permit this change of direction to take place. In self actors the carriage, the drums,
and the spindles are stopped whilst the faller is lowering the yarns to the proper
inclination for crossing. In continuous spinners however the stoppage of the
delivery of the yarn is often only necessary during the crossing at the point
from 4a, Figure 10, to b', Figure 11, Sheet II., and the stoppage of the spindles is
often unnecessary.
The other improvements relate to the rise and fall of the rings. I have already
.described the combination represented Figure 1, Sheet I. I will now describe a
new arrangement shown in Figures 12 and 13 of the same Sheet. Upon shaft B
(which is S, S', Figure 1) are wheels 1, 2, in connection with the clutch 3 loose on
the shaft; the other part 4 of the clutch is keyed on the shaft and capable of sliding
thereon, and is pressed into gear with 3 by a spring 5 confined by a collar 6 secured
on the shaft. The racks which operate the ring rail have two sets of teeth K, K³,
corresponding respectively with piùions 2, 1, of different diameters and numbers of
teeth, in consequence of which the movement of the rings is quicker when K is in
gear with 1, and slower when K¹ and 2 are in gear, and vice versa, if, on the other
hand the racks operate the shafts B, by disconnecting the clutch the rings or
ring rail may be returned to the initial position.
Another arrangement is shown in Figure 1, Sheet I. The shaft S carries a
pinion p for giving motion to the rings. This shaft receives its motion in the
following way-The shaft XII., which is the shaft of the drum a², turns con-
"tinuously and drives the upright shaft G through the gear 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Figure 3,
as before described. Upon said shaft G is a worm 7 in gear with a worm wheel 8,
fixed
fixed upon the same sleeve with a pinion 9 turning loose on a stud r, r,
adjustably in a slot o, o, of the lever XIII. Pinion 9 gears with a wheel 10
turning loose on the sleeve which carries pinions 4, 5, and wheel 10 gears with a
pinion 11 in one with a wheel 12, which gears with pinion 13 on shaft S, which
produces the rise and fall of the rings. By this means ordinary motion is trans-
mitted from 12 to S. It remains to explain how this regular rising and falling
motion of the rings is gradually modified, so that the rings gradually rise higher
and fall less so that the bobbin is gradually filled. To this end it is necessary
to introduce a differential motion for 9 and 10, which is obtained by the con-
tinuous motion of shaft XII. (in its transmission through 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 to
10, 11, 12, 13, S), being alternately increased and diminished to the extent of the
rotary motion alternately to the right and left produced by the oscillations of

page_text: lever XIII. As the rotation in the positive direction continues to take place
during the negative movement a differential motion is produced, whereby the rings
are caused to gradually rise higher and descend less low during their up and
down movements. The tension of a powerful spring or springs F, e, attached by
the upper end to the shaft S, causes a very rapid ascent of the rings, and assists
the oscillations of the apparatus just described; 8 is the change wheel, and
1, 2, 3, 4, are changed for different groups of numbers spun for instance for No. 10
and for No. 20, and so on.
I will now describe the movable thread guide and cup shaped device for carrying
round the thread, as improvements on my Patent dated 4th March, 1879, No. 870.
In winding on the thread in the operation of ring spinning the thread (as shown
in Figure 1, Sheet III.) passes down from the ordinary thread guide a to the
traveller B, and thence to the spindle within the ring. The thread by its whirling
motion generates a cone whose height does not vary if the apex remains at a, but
which on the other hand changes constantly by the up and down motion of the
ring and traveller. This variation of beight produces a difference of twist in the
yarn and likewise an irregularity of tension. For this reason it is necessary not
to allow the twist or the tension to depend upon the height of this cone or
"balloon," and for this purpose the devices T, shown in Figure 1, Sheet III., and
Figures 1 to 7, Sheet IV., are used which have also the advantage of preventing
breakage of yarn.
"
In Figures 1 to 7, Sheet IV., these devices are fixed on the ring rail. Above the
rings and at a suitable distance therefrom are thread guides or drags which are
mounted on supports c, d, which may be more or less movable. At the
commencement of a bobbin, the distance between the thread guide and the traveller
being at its greatest, the yarn forms a large cone or "balloon" which by
centrifugal action expands and causes the traveller to run ahead of the spindle.
But when these thread guides are applied so that the yarn touches them, they act
as a drag and cause the excess of yarn to be wound on. These thread guides may
be so arranged as to catch and wind the yarn on the cop and prevent all
"ballooning" of the yarn. The form of these thread guides may be varied. For
instance, they may be wires T on supports c, d, as in Figure 1, Sheet IV., against
which the yarn would lash, or they may be cranked and oscillate as in Figure 2,
Sheet IV., or they may be parallel wires between which the yarn whirls, as in
Figure 3, Sheet IV.; or hooks T on c, as in Figure 4, Sheet IV., and Figure 1,
Sheet III.; or corrugated wires, as in Figure 5, Sheet IV; or wires with curls, as
in Figure 6, Sheet IV. The distance between T and the traveller remains always
the same, the supports c, d, being fixed on the ring rail or ring, and they have the
same motion (except when the ring rail is fixed and the spindles are movable for
the copping motion). In Figure 7, Sheet IV., the yarn guide is above the spindles.
Figure 11 shows a ring shaped guide Ts surrounding the bobbin and rather
exceeding in diameter the exterior diameter of the ring. This Figure also shows
the mode of mounting the yarn guide on the ring rail.
Sheet 5 represents a movable thread board or guide for ring spinning frames
capable of being operated in various rays. In the case of a yarn passing through
two guides, 11 is the guide on the stationary thread board through which the yarn
first passes as it comes from the drawing rollers; 10 is the guide on the movable
thread board; it is capable of adjustment horizontally by means of a set screw 9,
and the thread board n is capable of vertical adjustment on the rod 7 which slides
through 8. This rod 7 receives motion through chain 6 passing round a, b and
attached to lever 2, which is actuated by the cam 1. The nosing motion, to form
the conical nose of the cop, is obtained by mounting pulley 6 on a lever 4, and
giving the latter a rising and falling motion by a cam 3. This rise and fall
coincides with the rising and falling movements of the ring. During these rising
and falling movements of guide 10 the cam 1 turns slowly and completes its
movement only when the cop is completed, thereby producing the gradual ascent of
the yarn guide 10, and as it likewise rises and falls, the distance between it and

page_text: the ring is kept constant since both have the same rising and falling and gradually
ascending movements. Instead of the distance between guide 10 and the ring
remaining constant, it is necessary in spinning fine numbers to gradually augment
the distance between the guide and the ring as the cop approaches completion
because the diminution in diameter of the spindle alters the condition of tension on
the yarn.
This variable tension is compensated by the increased " ballooning" or whirling
of the yarn due to the increase of distance between the movable guide 10 and the
ring. To produce this increase of distance whilst the other functions remain
unchanged, the extent of motion produced by the eccentric 1 is increased, or the
extent of motion of the ring is reduced. This variation of the distance between
the guide and the ring is also useful for yarns having but slight twist, in which
case with the same apparatus the distances may be varied in proportion to the
diameter on which the yarn is wound. The mechanism for operating this movable
yarn guide may be varied in many ways; for example, racks or levers, &c. may be
used instead of chains, and the guide of rod 7 might be on the ring rail instead of
being separate. The yarn guides shown as stationary might also receive a
continuous horizontal or traverse motion.
Figures 8, 9, and 10, Sheet IV., show devices for assisting the commencement of
the winding-on. Figure 4, Sheet III., shows a cup shaped disc or flyer a loose on
spindle 6 within the ring & fixed on the ring rail. The yarn in passing from the
traveller to the spindle to which it is attached rubs on the upper edge of this cup
shaped disc or flyer a, and is carried round thereby as soon as the spindle 6 begins
to revolve, thus avoiding a sudden tension on the yarn which would cause it to
break without carrying round the traveller. A similar device is represented in
Figure 8, Sheet IV., consisting of a cup Z loose on the spindle x, and resting on the
collar v fixed thereon. Figure 9, Sheet IV., shows a similar device consisting of a
cup Z fixed on the spindle x.
These devices avoid breakage of the yarn to a remarkable extent.
The spindles of ring frames are very varied in construction on account of the
high speed at which they run, which by the least oscillation or variation produces
very sensible alterations in the regularity of the twist and the strength of the yarn.
One of the most injurious effects is that produced by the traveller when it acts
suddenly in consequence of a lateral traction against which the spindles now in use
are powerless. The spindles shown in Figures 1 to 4, Sheet VI., are designed to
overcome this objection. In Figure 1 the spindle turns in a long tubular bolster g
fixed to the bolster rail. Upon this spindle and immediately above the bolster
bearing is fixed a cup c, which serves to assist the commencement of the winding
on by its friction upon the yarn (see Figures 40, 41, 46, 36, 37, 38, of a previous
Patent dated 4th March 1879, No. 870.) This cup differs in form and in working
only at starting the cop. Upon this tubular bolster bearing g slides the ring tube f,
operated as before described by the rack and pinion 11. Upon a polygonal part
of this spindle, just above the footstep bearing, are placed a pair of friction discs a,
the lower one of which is provided with the wharve d fixed on a tube m revolving
independently of the spindle in its own footstep bearing e.
Between the upper
friction disc a and the lower one to which the wharve is attached. there may be
placed a washer of cloth, indiarubber, lead, or other material. If an excessive
tractive effect be exerted on the spindle above the cup c, the spindle is able to yield
a little, because its foot is not rigidly held in its footstep, and the friction disc a is
able to slip upon d, the spindle being returned by the rotation to its normal position
immediately the abnormal traction ceases.
In Figure 2, Sheet VI., the spindle b rests in a footstep e having a greater degree
of conicality than that of the spindle foot, so that the spindle is not necessarily kept
vertical by the footstep. The wharve & turns in its own footstep Z upon the outside
of g; it has a convex flange in frictional contact with the arched cap a fixed on the
spindle b so as to turn together, whilst it is free to rest by its own weight on d.
The spindle turns in a bolster bearing m at about the middle of its height, this

page_text: bolster being loose in the bolster rail, and pressed down therein by a spring m.
If traction be exerted on the spindle the bolster bearing m yields, and the spindle
can momentarily incline itself from the perpendicular. The spring m¹ then has
the effect of bringing the bolster m and spindle b back to their normal position ;
c is the cup shaped device for assisting the commencement of the winding-on of the
yarn.
Figure 3, Sheet VI., represents a spindle turning in a long oil tube e³ resting on
a footstep e² in an oil cup e'. The wharve d turns around the tubular extension g
at the upper end of the oil tube es. Upon the upper side of the wharve is a friction
disc upon which rests a grooved friction disc a' carrying the cup shaped device c
for assisting the commencement of the winding-on, the same being connected to
the spindle by fitting on a polygonal part thereof in such a way that it can rest
freely on the friction disc of the wharve d, or by being fastened upon the spindle.
Each tractive effect on the spindle caused by the ring f, if excessive, would cause
the spindle to deviate from its normal position to which it is returned by the
rotation of the independent wharve d, the spindle thus being rendered elastic, so to
speak.
Figure 4 represents a spindle with, a flyer c or wings, as often used, turning in
the ring f. These wings c may be as short as desired if they are to act only at the
commencement of the winding. The spindle b is loose in the footstep e, and is
received in an oil tube or long bolster, at the upper part of which is the spindle
wharve & turning on a bearing z. The wharve carries with it the flyer or wings c,
and the latter carries round the cap a¹ which turns the spindle. To limit the
deviation of which the spindle is capable a brake i is applied, consisting of a split
ring pressed by a set screw more or less against the spindle. All the friction discs
of the spindles above described may have intermediate washers to increase the
friction and may be grooved. The groove in the spindle serves to prevent the
oil rising beyond this point owing to the conicality of the spindle. The rings Z
are bearing rings for the wharves to rest upon in turning upon the tubular part g.
This spindle (Figure 4) acts in a curious but not new way during the winding-on.
When the winding-on is in the same direction as the twist of the thread, the latter
is more highly twisted at the part wound on the smaller than that wound on the
larger diameter of the cop. In this case the twist becomes uniform as soon as the
thread is drawn off through the point of the cop, the excess of twist being then
deducted, whereas in the ordinary ring frame the reverse is the case. All these
spindles act according to the tension of the thread and make it uniform, being
provided with the cup shaped disc for assisting the commencement of the
winding-on.
Another improvement necessary as the complement of the cup consists in the
form of the traveller, shown in Figures 5 and 6, Sheet, VII. This traveller, which
is like the ordinary traveller, has an extension provided with one or several
branches fixed or connected to its principal portion. Figure 5 shows one of these
branches with several eyes. The traveller c, like the usual traveller, runs on the
crown edge of the ring, but the centrifugal forces acting on the arm of the
traveller a produces an increase of friction of the traveller c on the edge f of the
ring. The centrifugal force g acting on b and b¹, likewise presses the arm against
the cop.
The arrows s and g indicate the two forces. The arm a also rests and slides
upon the edge of the ring. (This action, which is very favorable for winding-on,
differs in form from that patented on behalf of the same inventor, dated 4th March
1879, and from travellers with counterweights invented by Tatham and others and
Vimont, in which the travellers are either inclined towards the cop or are composed
of two travellers united by a bar, or composed of a bar, or of a needle, or of a
simple circle, &c.) According to the form of the arm of the traveller the force s
acts more strongly and augments the friction of the traveller c on the ring d, or if
the force g predominates the arm adheres more against the cop. Between these
two limits an infinite number of forms of arm may be made for different kinds of
thread. The arm may consist of a circle which is united to the traveller c (or a

page_text: simple steel, iron, or other wire bent to form an angle and put in the ordinary
traveller) and which rests on the ring by which the yarn is guided in a very regular
manner.
In ordinary ring spinning frames the ring rail carrying the rings usually has an
up and down motion, and likewise a gradually ascending motion imparted to it
by differential gear in order to give the proper form to the cop. Figure 6, Sheet III,
shows a mechanical contrivance for imparting this gradually ascending motion to
the rings independently of the ring rail. To this end each ring e is supported on a
tube b, screwthreaded externally and passing up through a hole in the ring rail a.
This tube 6 is raised and with it the ring as the winding-on progresses by a finger g
or other suitable device engaging with its thread and carried by a worm wheel c
mounted beneath a and turned by a worm d driven in any suitable manner. When
a cop is finished it is doffed, and the finger g is disengaged from the threaded tube
which is returned to its original position for commencing another cop. The motion
of the ring rail a is invariable, differential motion being dispensed with, and the
ring rail receiving only the up and down traverse required for winding each layer
of yarn on the cone of the cop. By.this means the spindles are independent of
each other as regards the formation of the cop.
Figure 1, Sheet VIII., represents a modification of the arrangement just described;
in this arrangement each ring has not only the up and down movement necessary
for winding-on a layer of yarn, but also the gradual and if necessary variable
ascending movement necessary for the formation of the body of the cop. In this
case the ring is formed on the upper end of a long tube f fitted to slide upon the
spindle bolster g. At the upper end tube f slides on a cup shaped head screwed to
the upper end of the spindle bolster g, and at the lower end it has a ring fixed
within it which slides directly on g. The ring tube f is thus free to rise gradually
and to receive the up and down traverse motion. The tube fis furnished externally
with a rack with which gears a pinion on a shaft B, or instead of a rack the
tube for the rack z might be screwthreaded and geared with a worm or helical
pinion r. The shaft B runs alongside the whole row of spindles and carries a
pinion for each ring tube f; it is operated from the driving end of the machine by
ineans of the mechanism now known and in use, in such a way that the rings
shall have the movement necessary for the proper winding of the yarn on the
spindle. The principal advantage is the independence of each spindle, that is to
say, of each ring from the rest, whilst the varied rise and fall and the uniform or
variable gradual ascent are retained. The same Figure shows a short racks at the
upper end of tube f, with which gears a pinion n on shaft B alongside pinion r, and
of smaller diameter than the latter pinion, to give the ring a slower movement at
the commencement of the cop when n and s gear together, and by the rising ring r
and z are caused to gear together, the pinion r owing to its greater diameter,
imparting a quicker movement.
Figures 2 and 3, Sheet VIII., show two views of mechanism for imparting a
proper and continuous movement for the winding-on of the yarn.. This apparatus
is ordinarily mounted on an extension of the shaft N of the tin drum which drives
the spindles which has continuous motion. Upon shaft N is keyed a worm wheel 5
that gears with a worm 4 on a shaft 3, which carries at its other end a worm
wheel 7 that gears with a worm on a shaft M. Upon the same shaft is fixed a
cam 1, against which runs a friction bowl 2 mounted at the end of a lever 9
turning loose on shaft N. A pinion a is mounted on lever 9 and participates in
the up and down movement which the said lever receives from the cam 1, and
said pinion a gears with a spur wheel c keyed on N and having continuous rotary
motion, and also with an internal ring of teeth on wheel a loose on shaft N. If the
wheel c moves in the direction of the arrow upon it, and if the lever g rises, the
wheel a receives a deduction; this movement of the pinion a is transmitted to
the wheel d. The latter wheel advances and recedes when the lever goes down
and up proportionally, and it gears by an external ring of teeth e with a pinion p
keyed on the shaft B that carries all the pinions n, r, (shown in Figure 1) for

page_text: operating the rings; thus all the rings participate in the oscillations of wheel d.
It is easy to see that the rotation of pinion a is less when the lever 9 rises than
when it descends, and for this reason during the continually repeated oscillations the
wheel d will perform, for instance, a revolution about its axis so as to produce the
gradual rise of the rings as required for the formation of the cop.
Figures 4 and 5, Sheet VIII., show a modification of the gear just, described.
N is the motor shaft which gears by a worm 8 upon it with worm wheel 7 on
shaft M mounted in bearings on lever 9. The cam 1 is mounted at the other end
of shaft M and rolls upon a stationary friction bowl 2, thereby oscillating the
lever 9. A worm 4 on shaft M gears with a worm wheel 5 mounted on lever 9, and
fast on the same axis A with pinion a which gears with the spur wheel d loose on
shaft N, which wheel drives pinion p on shaft B through an intermediate wheel e.
The pinion a receives continuous motion from the rotation of shaft M through
worm gear 4, 5, and by the rise and fall of lever 9 imparts a differential motion to
wheel d, and through e and p to shaft B, and thus to the rings.
Figures 2 and 3, Sheet III., show a device to keep the traveller clean by
removing the down which would otherwise collect upon it. A blade a is placed on
the plate b, or on the ring c, or on the finger, the said blade being capable of
regulation so that the traveller shall just touch it and give up the down which
may have become caught upon it. A similar device is also employed in other
ring frames, but it is here necessary that the blade may be capable of regulation
and removable for cleaning.
In order to economise time or to cross the yarn during the winding on, the ring
rail or the ring receives a quick ascending and a slow descending movement, as has
been hitherto practised, and the yarn is placed in each up and down movement of
winding the layer inversely to the way in which it is placed by the mule. To
this end the new arrangement is employed, shown in Figure 7, Sheet III. a is a
cam whose periphery gradually recedes from its axis and then approaches it
suddenly. The friction bowl c rests against the cam, and when the latter revolves
it is caused by the stress of a spring d to fall rapidly and to rise gradually, this
movement being transmitted inversely to the ring or ring rail b. The cam may
vary in form, as likewise the means of transmitting the motion from the bowl to
the ring or ring rail.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. In a ring spinning frame the employment of a movable thread board
independent of the ring rail and receiving a gradual ascending motion as well as
the rising and falling movements necessary for the formation of the cop, the
distance between the thread guide and the ring remaining constant.
2nd. The variation of the distance between the independent movable thread
board, operating as above described, and the ring, whether such variation be
produced by giving a longer course to the thread board, or a shorter one to the
ring.
3rd. The variation of the distance between the thread guide and the ring during
the formation of each layer of yarn.
4th. The application of a thread guide having a horizontal continuously variable
movement.
5th. The application of a second thread guide, as shown in Figures 2 and 3,
Sheet III.; Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, Sheet IV.; Figure 1, Sheet VIII.; and
Figure 1, Sheet 1.
6th. In ring spinning and doubling frames the combination of the yarn guides
on the ring rail or ring, as shown and described, Figures 1, 2, 3, Sheet III.;
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, Sheet IV.
7th. The application of the combination of parts marked b, d, h, r², to other
continuous spinning and twisting frames combined with 'the movable thread
board.

page_text: 8th. The superposition of one or more rows of spindles above a first row on each
side of a continuous ring spinning machine in such manner that all the adjustable
thread guides fixed to the rings or ring rails shall move therewith, and maintain
always the same distance between the thread guides and the travellers.
9th. Mounting the traveller cleaner on a rod capable of being regulated and
removed, as described and shown in Figures 2 and 3, Sheet III.
10th. The employment of a cup shaped flyer disc or flyer (Z, Figures 8 and 9,
Sheet IV. a, Figures 4 and 5, Sheet III.), fixed or loose on the spindle for carrying
round the yarn and traveller only at the moment of starting the machine, and only
at the commencement of the lift, with or without a frictional device between a and
b, or any outside drag.
11th. A spindle having an independent wharve revolving in its own footstep, as
described in reference to Figure 1, Sheet 1.
12th. Spindles provided with cupped discs for assisting the winding on, and
driven by friction from wharves loose on their bolsters and turning in their own foot-
step bearings, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, Sheet III.; Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, Sheet VI.
13th. Spindles so mounted as to be capable of deviating slightly from their
normal position, and of returning automatically to such normal position when the
traction which caused their deviation ceases, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4,
Sheet VI.; and Figures 4, 5, Sheet III.
14th. The employment of the brake i to limit the deviation of the spindle, as
shown in Figure 4, Sheet VI.
15th. The collar or bolster returning automatically to its normal position if
displaced by traction on the spindle, as shown in Figure 2, Sheet VI.
16th. Spindles so mounted and driven by friction as to be capable of yielding to
an excessive tension of the yarn, so as to regulate the tension of the yarn wound
on the cop, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, Sheet VI.
17th. A traveller having one or more arms acting not as levers but by centrifugal
force, whereby the friction of the traveller on the ring is augmented, or the arm
is pressed against the cop, or these two effects are produced simultaneously whilst
the free end of the traveller rests upon the edge of the ring, in order that the
traveller may be regularly guided, as described and shown in Figures 5 and 6,
Sheet VII.
18th. The mode of producing and rendering possible the sudden ascent and slow
descent of the ring to cross the yarn in winding in a direction opposite to that
given by the mule, as described.
19th. The combination of mechanism for imparting motion to the drawing
rollers, as described and represented, Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1, with change wheel a
and change worm a³ and adjustable bracket u, v, s.
20th. Stopping the drawing rollers (a) when the rings are at the lowest point of
their up and down motion; (b), during the rise or a part of the rise of the rings;
(c), during the crossing of the yarn; (d), at the beginning of the winding on and
until the travellers and spindles are in motion; (e), at the end of the winding on
before the travellers and spindles are stopped.
21st. The arrangements of mechanism for effecting the stoppage of the drawing
rollers, as described and represented, Figures 1, 2, 3, Sheet I., and Figures 4 and 5,
6 and 7, 8 and 9, Sheet II., and whereby the motion of the spindles and the ring
rail may also be arrested separately, successively, or simultaneously.
22nd. The independent gradual raising of each ring for the formation of the
body or build of the cop during the rise and fall of the ring rail for forming each
layer of yarn.
23rd. The independent rise and fall of each ring by means of racks and pinions
for forming the layers of yarn on the cop during the gradual rising of the ring for
forming the body of the cop by a differential motion (as described and shown in
Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, Sheet VIII., by employing lever 9 and cam 1).
24th. Giving two different speeds to the ring by means of two racks and pinions
combined.

page_text: 25th. The combination of the subjects of the claiming clauses, Nos. 22, 23,
and 24.
26th. Raising and lowering the rings by means of racks and pinions of different
diameters, as described and shown, Figures 12 and 13, Sheet I.
27th. The differential gear, with oscillating frame and change wheel 8, substan-
tially as described and shown, Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, Sheet VIII.; Figures 1, 3, Sheet I.,
for raising and lowering the rings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of June, A.D. 1881.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)