IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE PRE- PARATION AND SPINNING OF COTTON, WOOL, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUB- STANCES
Year: 1847

page_text: In the Matter of a Patent granted to JAMES HOUGHTON, of Oldham, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineer, for his Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE PRE-
PARATION AND SPINNING OF COTTON, WOOL, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUB-
STANCES," bearing date at Westminster, the Fifteenth day of June,
One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.
DISCLAIMER entered by the said James Houghton, with the Clerk of the
Patents of England, pursuant to an Act passed in the fifth and sixth
years of His late Majesty's reign, intituled "An Act to amend the Law
touching Letters Patent for Inventions."
I, the said James Houghton, do hereby declare that, in compliance with the
said proviso contained in the said Letters Patent, I duly enrolled a Specifica-
tion of my said Invention.
And I do hereby further declare that in my said Specification I described
my Invention to apply, firstly, to machinery or apparatus to be employed in
connexion with the ordinary carding engine or drawing frame for the purpose
of delivering the cotton or other fibrous substance into the can or other vessel
commonly employed to receive the sliver, and laying or coiling the same in a
compact and even form therein.
Secondly, to a certain arrangement of apparatus to be applied to the draw-
ing frame or other preparation machine, for the purpose of stopping the
evolutions of the coiling apparatus, as soon as any requisite amount of cotton
or other fibrous substance has been delivered or deposited in the can or other
receptacle employed.

page_text: Thirdly, to improvements in that class of flyers used in roving and slubbing
frames, generally denominated "presser flyers;" the improvement consisting in
the employment, application, or use of an elastic band or bands of vulcanized
india-rubber or other similar material, in place of the metallic springs usually
employed for the purpose of causing the presser lever to bear upon the bobbin
of cotton, wool, or other fibrous material.
And, fourthly, to improvements in those machines employed for spinning
cotton, &c., called "mules," and more particularly that class of mulės generally
denominated" self-actors," the improvement consisting in a method of pre-
venting the occurrence of "snarls," by causing the carriage to commence its
"going out" before the rollers begin to revolve, which is accomplished by
means of an improved catch box thereafter described.
46
And I do hereby further declare that I have discovered since the taking of
such Letters Patent, and since the enrolment of the said Specification, that so
much of my Invention as is described under the second and third heads of my
said Specification cannot be carried into effect beneficially, or so as to make
the same of public benefit and -advantage, for which reason I am desirous to
disclaim all those parts of my said Specification, and also such parts of the
Drawings accompanying and forming part of my said Specification, as are
referred to by letters of reference in the second and third heads of Invention
above referred to.
And I further declare that (for the reason aforesaid) I do hereby disclaim
and omit all those parts of my said Specification which relate to the second
and third heads or divisions of the Invention, and also such parts of the
Drawings as are referred to by letters of reference in my said Specification and
form part thereof, and that from and after such Disclaimer as aforesaid shall
have been entered, my Specification will read as follows:-
"My improvements in machinery or apparatus to be used in the preparation
and spinning of cotton, wool, and other fibrous substances apply,―
Firstly, to the machinery or apparatus to be employed in connection with
the ordinary carding engine or drawing frame (or other machinery used in the.
preparation of cotton, wool, and other fibrous substances), for the purpose of
delivering the cotton or other fibrous substance into the can or other vessel.
commonly employed to receive the sliver, and laying or coiling the same in a
certain compact and even form therein, that is, in a peculiar manner so as to
assume the form of excentric helices, winding one above the other around the
interior of the can, as described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted
by Her present most Excellent Majesty to John Tatham and David Cheetham,..
and bearing date at Westminster, the Fourteenth day of March, One thousand
.

page_text: eight hundred and forty-four, and consist principally in a certain novel arrange-
ment or combination of mechanism designed for the purpose of effecting the
aforesaid object, wherein the revolving "calendering rollers" are dispensed
with, the cotton, wool, or other fibrous substance being deposited in the can
or other vessel employed by means of an inclined tube, as hereafter more
particularly described.
Secondly, my improvements apply to those machines employed for spinning
cotton, &c., called "mules," and more particularly to that class of mules now
generally denominated "self-actors." In all spinning, but more particularly
where "self-actors," are employed, it usually happens that upon the rising of
the "faller" a "snarl" (as it is termed) is produced, in consequence of the
rollers commencing to revolve and give out the yarn before the spindle carriage
begins to run out and the spinning commences, which snarl in hard twist is
difficult to remove during the "going out" of the carriage. These improve-
ments consist in a method of preventing the concurrence of "snarls," by
causing the carriage to commence its "going out" before the rollers begin to
revolve, which I accomplish by means of an improved catch box hereafter
described.
In order that my improvements may be more fully explained, and their
application to the above purposes more readily understood, I have attached to
these presents a Sheet of Drawings exhibiting my several improvements, and
have marked the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with
those in the following description thereof (that is to say) --
:
In the Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a plan or horizontal view of part of an
ordinary drawing frame, with the first part of my Invention shewn as applied
thereto; and Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, the "coiling apparatus
being shewn in section and drawn to a scale of about three inches to a foot.
a is part of the framing of the "drawing frame," and 6 is the box containing
the ordinary drawing rollers; and c is the ordinary tin can (in which the sliver
of cotton or other fibrous material is to be deposited), which is placed upon the
moveable ring or plate d, and caused to revolve in the following manner:→
Upon the end of the front drawing roller, the pulley e is keyed, driving the
shaft by means of the strap or band g, which motion is communicated to the
shaft h by the strap i. Upon the shaft his keyed a worm k, taking into the
teeth formed around the periphery of the plate d, (upon which the can c is
placed,) and causing the same to revolve in the outer fixed ring or. foundation
plate. The cotton or other fibrous, substance proceeding from the ordinary
drawing rollers passes through the cone or trumpet m, and between the pair
of delivering rollers n, n, which are coupled together by the spur wheels o, o,

page_text: and caused to revolve by being connected to the front drawing roller by the
train of spur gearing p, p, p. The cotton or other fibrous material thence
passes through the "coiling apparatus," which is placed excentric with regard
to the can or other receptacle for the sliver, and consists of an outer stationary
plate or box g, supporting a moveable plate or disc r, having a rim of spur
teeth cast or otherwise formed around the periphery thereof. This plate r
is furnished also with an inclined tube 8, the lower orifice of the same being at
or near the outer edge or circumference of the plate r, and extending upwards
in an inclined direction above the centre of the plate, and opening immediately
below the centre of the delivering rollers n, n. The moveable plater with its
inclined tube s is caused to revolve in the interior of the outer plate or box q
in the following manner-Upon one end of the shaft t is keyed a spur wheel
u, which is connected to the train of spur wheels p, p, p, by the carrier pinion
v. Upon the shaft ta bevil wheel w is also keyed, driving a similar wheel x,
upon the boss of which is fixed a spur pinion y, gearing into the ring of spur
teeth formed around the periphery of the plater. Thus it will be seen, that
as the plate. r,, with its inclined tube 8, is continually revolving whilst the
cotton, &c., passes through it, and as the can is placed excentric, and revolves
slowly in the opposite direction, the cotton or other fibrous substance will be
delivered or deposited in the can in the peculiar coil or form above mentioned.
Fig. 5 is a front view of my improved catch box to be applied to the ".front
roller" of a self-acting mule for the purpose aforesaid, being drawn full size;
and Fig. 6 is an end view of the same; and Fig. 7 is a section taken through
the middle of the catch box. a, a, is the front roller upon which the half 6 of
the catch box (to which the bevil wheel c is attached) is placed loose as usual.
The sliding half d of the catch box is also placed loose upon the roller, and has
a slot or mortice e cut or formed therein, in which a stud or pin f works, which
is attached to the.disc g keyed fast upon the front roller a, and which disc has
two spaces cut in or upon it, in which two nogs h, h; cast upon the interior of
the sliding catch box works. Thus it will be evident, that when the catch box
is thrown into gear, the front roller a will remain stationary until the pin f. has
traversed the length of the slot e, but will then commence to revolve. As
soon as the sliding half d of the catch box is thrown out of. gear it will be
turned back (as far as the slot e will allow) by the spring i."
In witness whereof, I, the said James Houghton; have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.
JAMES (LS.) HOUGHTON.

page_text: To the Clerk of the Patents of England.
This is to certify, that the above-named James Houghton, of Oldham, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineer, has applied to me for leave to enter with
you the above-written Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration of part
of the Specification of a certain Invention for which Letters Patent were
granted to him under the Great Seal of Great Britain, dated at Westminster,
the 15th day of June 1847, and to which a Specification was duly enrolled;
and having considered of the said application, I directed him to advertise his
said Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration, in some of the public papers
& London Gazette, and such advertisements having been duly made, namely,
in the London Gazette, the Times newspaper, and the Daily News, on the
12th day of December 1848, and in the Manchester Courier, on the 18th of
the same month, and no objection having been made to the same, I hereby
grant leave to the said James Houghton to file his said Disclaimer &
Memorandum of Alteration, pursuant to the Statute passed in the fifth and
sixth years of-the reign of His late Majesty King William the Fourth,
entituled "An Act to amend the Law touching Letters Patent for Inventions."
JOHN ROMILLY.

page_text: ⚫ HOUGHTON'S SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
HOUGHTON, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Fifteenth day of June, in the tenth year of Her reign, and in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
James Houghton, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said James Houghton, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
and such others as I, the said James Houghton, my executors, administrators,
or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England and Wales and the
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE PREPARATION AND SPINNING OF
COTTON, WOOL, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES;" in which said Letters Patent
is contained a proviso that I, the said James Houghton, shall cause a parti-
cular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within, six, calendar months next and immediately after the date of

page_text: the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference
being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Houghton, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described
and ascertained in and by the Drawings hereto annexed, and the following
explanation thereof (that is to say) :-
My Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus to be used in the Preparation
and Spinning of Cotton, Wool, and other Fibrous Substances apply,―
Firstly, to the machinery or apparatus to be employed in connection with
the ordinary carding engine or drawing frame (or other machinery used in the
preparation of cotton, wool, and other fibrous substances) for the purpose of
delivering the cotton or other fibrous substance into the can or other vessel
commonly employed to receive the sliver, and laying or coiling the same in a
certain compact and even form therein, that is in a peculiar manner so as to
assume the form of "excentric helices winding one above the other around the
interior of the can," as described in. the Specification of Letters Patent granted
by Her present most Excellent Majesty to John Tatham and David Cheetham,
and-bearing date at Westminster, the Fourteenth day of March, One thousand
eight hundred and forty-four, and consist principally in a certain novel.
arrangement or combination of mechanism designed for the purpose of
effecting the aforesaid object, wherein the revolving "calendering. rollers" are
dispensed with, the cotton, wool, or other fibrous substance being deposited in
the can or other vessel employed by means of an inclined tube; ás hereafter
more particularly described. .
.
"
Secondly, my improvements consist in a certain arrangement of apparatus
to be applied to the drawing frame or other preparation machine for the
purpose of stopping the evolutions of the "coiling apparatus' as soon as. any
requisite amount of cotton or other fibrous substance has been delivered or
deposited in the can or other receptacle employed.
.
Thirdly, my improvements apply to that class of "flyers". used in roving
and slubbing frames, now generally denominated "presser flyers," whether the
same be "single" or "double presser flyers," and consist in the application,
employment, or use of an elastic band or bands of vulcanized india-rubber or
other similar material'in place of the metallic-springs usually employed for the
purpose of causing the presser lever to bear upon the bobbin of cotton, wool,
or other fibrous material; and,
Fourthly, my improvements apply to those machines employed for 'spinning

page_text: cotton, &c: called
"
mules," and more particularly, to that class of mules.now
generally denominated "self actors." In all spinning, but more particularly
where "self actors are employed, it usually. happens that upon the rising of
the "faller." a." snarl" (as it is termed) is. produced, in consequence of the
rollers commencing to revolve, and give out the yarn before the spindle
carriage begins to run out, and the spinning commences; which in hard twist
is difficult to remove during the "going out" of the carriage.. These im-
provements consist in a method of preventing the occurrence of "snarls"
by causing, the carriage to commence its "going out" before the rollers
begin to revolve, which I accomplish by means of an improved catċli box,
hereafter described. In order that my improvements may be more fully
explained, and their application to the above purposes more readily understood,
I have attached to these Presents two Sheets.of Drawings exhibiting my
'several improvements, and have marked the same with figures and letters, of
reference corresponding with those in the following description thereof (that
is to say).
.In Sheet 1 of the Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a plan or horizontal view of
part of an ordinary drawing frame, with the first and second parts of my
Invention shewn as applied thereto, and Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the
same, the "coiling apparatus" being shewn in: section; and drawn to a scale of
about three inches to a foot; a is part of the framing of the "drawing
frame," and 6 is the box containing the ordinary drawing rollers, and c is the
ordinary tin can (in which the sliver of cotton or other fibrous material is
to be deposited) which is placed upon the moveable ring or plate'd, and caused
to revolve in the following manner:-Upon the end of the front drawing roller
the pulley e is keyed, driving the shaft f by means of the strap or band g, which
motion is communicated to the shaft h by the strap i; upon the shaft h is keyed
a worm k; taking into the teeth formed around the periphery of the plate d
(upon which the can'c is placed), and causing the same to revolve in the
outer fixed ring or foundation plate'. The cotton or other fibrous substance
proceeding from the ordinary drawing, rollers passes through the cone or
trumpet m, and between the pair of delivering rollers,n, n, which are coupled
together by the spur wheels o, o, and caused to revolve by being connected to
the front drawing roller by: the train of spur gearing p, p, p. The cotton or
other fibrous material thence passes through the "coiling apparatus," which is
placed excentric with regard to the can or other receptacle for the sliver, and
consists of an outer stationary plate of box q supporting a moveable plate.or
diser, having a rim of spur teeth, cast or otherwise formed around the

page_text: periphery thereof. This plate r is furnished also with an inclined tube s,
the lower orifice of the same being at or near the outer edge or circum-
ference of the plate r, and extending upwards in an inclined direction
above the centre of the plate and opening immediately below the centre of
the delivering rollers n, n. This moveable plate with its inclined tubes is
caused to revolve in the interior of the outer plate or box q, in the following
manner: Upon one end of a shaft t is keyed a spur wheel u, which is con-
nected to the train of spur wheels p, p, p, by the carrier pinion v; upon the
shaft ta bevil wheel w is also keyed, driving a similar wheel a, upon the boss
of which is fixed a spur pinion q, gearing into the ring of spur teeth formed
around the periphery of the plate r. Thus it will be seen, that as the plate r,
with its inclined tube 8, is continually revolving, whilst the cotton, &c. passes
through it, and as the can is placed excentric and revolves slowly in the
opposite direction, the cotton or other fibrous substance will be delivered or
deposited in the can in the peculiar coil or form above mentioned. When a
sufficient quantity of cotton, &c. has been thus deposited, the coiling apparatus
will be stopped by self-acting means, as follows:-The pinion w upon the end
of the shaft t drives a spur wheel z keyed upon the shaft 1, at the other end of
which is fixed a worm 2; taking into and driving two worn wheels 3, 4.
(See Figs. 3 and 4, which are plan and section of this part of the apparatus
drawn half size). The upper wheel 3 has one tooth less than the wheel '4,
and has in its interior a groove in which a notch 5 is formed. The wheel 4 is
furnished with a catch 6, which is mounted upon a stud, and the upper end of
which is constantly pressed inwards by a spring 7. As the wheel 8 has one
tooth less than the wheel 4, of course it will lose one tooth at each revolution,
and when the wheel has lost a certain number of teeth (according as it is set)
the upper end of the catch 6 will fall into the notch 5, and the lower end of
the same coming into contact with a projecting part of the lever 8, will cause it
to raise one end of the weighted lever 9 (see Figs. 1 and 2), and thus release
the pin 10 upon the upper end of the bell crank lever 11 from the notch in the
slot 12 of the lever 9, thus allowing the weighted end of the lever 11 to fall
(and by means of the upright lever 13 to which the strap fork is attached)
throw the strap on to the loose pulley. In Sheet 2, Fig. 1 is an elevation of a
"single presser flyer," shewing one method of applying the third part of my
Invention thereto, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. a, a, is the hollow
arm of the flyer, which is furnished with two projecting pieces b, b,. through
which passes a cranked wire c, c, to the lower end of which the "presser"
lever d is attached, and around the upper end of the same-the endless band

page_text: e of vulcanized india-rubber passes, extending also around the pin f. Thus
it will be evident that the endless band of india-rubber e will by its elasticity
constantly press the lever d against the bobbin. Fig. 3. is a modification of
the above, the band of india-rubber e being passed around the boss g of the
flyer instead of the pin f. Fig. 4. is an elevation of a."double presser flyer."
a, a, are the arms of the flyer, at or near the lower extremities of which aro
placed loose the tubes b, b, to which the presser levers c, c, are attached; the
bands of india-rubber d, d, are passed around the pins e, e, attached to the flyer
legs, and the pins f,f, attached to the presser levers. Fig. 5 is a plan view,
shewing more clearly this method of applying the india-rubber. Fig. 6 is an
elevation, and Fig. 7 a plan view, shewing the method of applying the plan
shewn in Fig. 3 to "double presser flyers," and admits of the same description
and letters of reference, excepting that the one band of india-rubber e acts
upon the upper end of both of the cranked wires c, c. I would here remark,
that all the bearing parts of the flyer that are in connection with the vulcanized
india-rubber, must be tinned or suitably coated to prevent the action of the
sulphur in combination therewith.
In Sheet 1,. Fig. 5 is a front view of my improved catch box to be
applied to the "front roller" of a self-acting mule for the purpose aforesaid,
being drawn full size, and Fig. 6 is an end view of the same, and Fig. 7 is
a section taken through the middle of the catch box; a, a, is the front roller
upon which the half 6 of the catch box (to which the bevel wheel c is attached)
is placed loose as usual. The sliding half d of the catch box is also placed
loose upon the roller, and has a slot or mortice e cut or formed therein, in
which a stud or pin f works, which is attached to the disc g, keyed fast upon
the front roller a, and which disc has two spaces cut in or upon it, in which
two nogs h, h, cast upon the interior of the sliding catch box work. Thus it
will be evident that when the catch box is thrown into gear, the front roller a
will remain stationary, until the pin f bas traversed the length of the slot e.
but will then commence to revolve. As soon as the sliding half d of the
catch box is thrown out of gear, it will be turned back (as far as the slot e will
allow) by the spring i.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Fourteenth day of Decem-
ber, in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid James Houghton came before
our Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor
of the Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the Fifteenth day of December, in the year above written.