CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE OPERATION OF DRYING COTTON, LINEF, AND OTHER SIMILAR MANUFACTURED GOODS
Year: 1834

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
RIDGWAY BRIDSON, of the Township of Great Bolton, in the parish of Bolton-
le-Moors, in the County of Lancaster, Bleacher, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth, by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Tenth day of June, in the fourth year of His reign, did,
for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Ridgway Bridson, my exors, adñors, and assigns, bis especial licence,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Thomas Ridgway
Bridson, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Thomas Ridgway Bridson, my exors, adiiors, and 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, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
TO BE USED IN THE OPERATION OF DRYING COTTON, LINEF, AND OTHER SIMILAR
MANUFACTURED GOODS," and which said improvements were partly my own
Invention, and partly communicated to me by a Foreigner then residing
abroad; in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso that if
I, the said Thomas Ridgway Bridson, should not particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and cause
the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part

page_text: recited Letters Patent, that then the said Letters Patent, and all liberties and
advantages whatsoever thereby granted, should utterly cease, determine, and
become void, 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
Thomas Ridgway Bridson, do hereby declare the nature of my said Inven-
tion, by the following description thereof, reference being had to the manner
in which the same is to be performed and carried into effect, by the three
Sheets of Drawings or Plans which are hereunto annexed, and the particular
explanation thereof, reference being thereunto had.
My Invention consists in the application of certain improved machinery or
apparatus to machinery or apparatus already in use, adapted to perform the
operation of hanging or suspending damp or wet calicoes, linens, and other
similar manufactured goods over a series of rails or staves, situated in a stove
or drying house, for the purpose of drying the same, the said machinery or
apparatus being also adapted to perform the operations of taking up or
removing the said calicoes, linens, or other similar manufactured goods from off
the said rails or staves after they have been sufficiently dried. I construct the
stove or drying house in a manner similar, or the same as those which are at
present in use for the operation of William Southworth's "Patent Stove Ma-
chinery or Apparatus, adapted to facilitate the operation of drying calicoes,
"muslins, linens, or other similar fabrics," by arranging the series of rails or
staves over which the said manufactured goods are intended to be hung or sus-
pended near to the upper part of the said stove or drying house. I have also a
frame or carriage containing any said improved machinery or apparatus, which
I cause to traverse, move, or progress freely upon guides or supports from one
end to the other of the stove or drying house, the said frame or carriage being
situated, as in the case of the said William Southworth's patent stove
machinery, immediately above the said series of rails or staves. The said
frame or carriage is furnished, as in the said William Southworth's patent
frame or carriage, with proper supports for receiving and carrying certain
rollers or boxes, upon the circumference of which the wet manufactured goods
or cloth have been previously wound. The said frame or carriage is also
furnished with a certain cylinder or cylinders, drum or drums, together with
my said improved apparatus of certain pullies, cords, and ascending and
descending revolving rollers and fixed staves, by which (when they are put in
motion) the wet manufactured goods or cloth is unwound from off the aforesaid
rollers or boxes, delivered over the cylinder or cylinders, drum or drums,
and carried down between each of the said series of rails or staves to any

page_text: convenient length, according the depth of the drying house or stove from the
said series of rails or staves, the said frame or carriage being made to traverse,
move, or progress at certain intervals on its guides or supports through a
space equal to the distance between the centre of one stave and the centre of
the other next in succession, and such progression being made to take place
immediately after the requisite length of cloth has been drawn off and carried
down by the operation of the said ascending and descending revolving rollers
and fixed staves, and thus the said wet manufactured goods or cloth is hung
or suspended in long loops or folds, so as effectually to expose its surface to
the action of the dry or heated air. When the said manufactured goods or
cloth has been hung a sufficient length of time to become dry, I cause it to be
taken up again and wound upon the said rollers or boxes, by simply reversing
the motion of the said cylinder or cylinders, drum or drums, together with my
said improved apparatus of certain pullies, cords, and ascending and descending
revolving rollers, and fixed staves, by means of the wheelwork and geering
thereto belonging, and thereby causing the said frame or carriage to move,
traverse, or progress on its said guides or supports, in the opposite direction
to that in which it moved, traversed, or progressed when the said wet manu-
factured goods or cloth was hung out to be dried; but in order to explain
clearly the manner of carrying my said improvements into effect, and to
enable persons conversant with similar machinery to put them into practice,
I shall explain the construction and action of my said improved machinery or
apparatus by the following description, and with the three annexed sheets of
Drawings or Plans, so far at least as to render the nature and use of my said
improvements apparent.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, is an horizontal plan of the frame or carriage containing
my improved machinery or apparatus; Figure 2, Sheet 2, is an external
elevation of the left-hand end of the said frame or carriage, when viewed
from the front side thereof; and Figure 3, Sheet 2, is an external elevation
of the opposite or right-hand end of the said frame or carriage when
viewed from the front side thereof. Figure 4, Sheet 3, is a sectional
elevation of the said frame or carriage viewed from the left-hand end, and
represented as in the operation of hanging out or taking up the manufactured
goods or cloth; and Figures 5, 6, and 7 are parts of the same, which could
not be so clearly shewn in the other Figures. The same letters, figures, or
numbers of reference are employed to designate the same parts in all the
several Figures in which they occur; and in order to avoid in the following
description the multiplied use of the same letter, figure, or number of
reference when referring to similar or corresponding parts marked with the

page_text: said letter, figure, or number, I declare that by a reference to any singlo
letter, figure, or number, I intend to refer to all the parts (if more than one)
marked therewith in any Figure or Figures in which they occur. Figure 1,
Sheet One, is an horizontal plan of the frame or carriage. The said framo or
carriage is intended and designed to be worked or moved by manual labour.
A, Figures 1 and 4, Sheets 1 and 3, is a handle or winch which, when moved
by the person working the machine, gives motion to a pair of bevil wheels B
and C in geer with each other, best scen in Figure 1, the wheel B being
represented by dotted lines in Figure 4. The wheel B is fixed on a short
shaft D, and the wheel C is fixed near to the end of a shaft E, the inner ends
of which shafts D and E are supported by a bracket carrier F fixed to the
front side of the frame of the carriage, and the outer ends thereof are carried
by the usual preparations made in the front side and the right-hand end of the
frame or carriage. G is a small spur wheel placed on the shaft E, immediately
behind the wheel C. for the purpose of driving a larger spur wheel II, and
is so constructed that it may be thrown out of gear with the said wheel II by
being slid along the shaft E in the direction of its length; the said larger
spur wheel works upon a friction block HP, which is fixed on a shaft I, the
end of which is seen in section in Figure 4 (and it is also seen in part in
Figure 5), the said shaft being supported as herein-after described.
I repre-
sents two small spur wheels, one of which is fixed upon each end of the
shaft I. L represents two double grooved pullies, the diameter of which,
added to one thickness of the rope passing round them, must be equal to the
distance between the centres of the staves. One of these pullies L, with its
carriers and other apparatus, is fixed near to each end of the frame or carriage;
and as their form and construction are the same, I shall now proceed to
describe only one of them. The said double grooved pulley L is fixed
(see Figure 5) on the middle of a short shaft M, on the ends of which shaft
are fixed spur wheels K, K* (shewn by dotted red lines, Figure 1, Sheet 1).
which are alternately engaged or brought into gear with one of the smaller
spur wheels J in manner hercin-after mentioned. N is a frame or hanging
carrier, by which the said pully L, with its shaft M and the wheels K, K*,
are carried. To the upper part of this frame or carrier N is fixed horizon-
tally a bevilled wheel O, seen in Figures 5, 6, and 7. P is a metal plate,
one end of which is (see Figure 1) made fast to the end frame of the carriage,
the other end projecting inwardly a short distance over the machine. Qis a
vertical stud or centre (seen in Figure 5) fastened at its upper end into the
said plate, and to the lower end of which stud the horizontal bevilled wheel O,
and the frame or carrier N, with its appendages, as above described, are

page_text: suspended, and are made to turn or swivel upon the said stud or centre in
manner herein-after mentioned. I will now return to the shaft E, upon the
outer end of which a small spur wheel R is fixed,, engaging another larger spur
wheel S, which is carried by a stud T. Projecting from the end of the frame
or carriage U is a small spur wheel driven by the wheel S, and carried by a
stud U. W is a pinion fixed to the small spur wheel U engaging a large
wheel X, which is fastened on the outer end of the axis of a large cylinder
or drum Y, which axis is carried in the usual way by stationary bearing
formed in the end frames of the carriage. Z represents the rollers or boxes
upon which the cloth has been previously wound (see Figures 2, 3, and 4),
the pivots of which are carried by the triangular supports a, which triangular
supports have long bosses at their lower ends, so as to fit and slide upon
the strong square bars b and c, the outer ends of which bars are fastened
in the ends of the frame or carriage. These triangular supports are
adapted to move and be secured upon the said square bars for the purpose
of supporting the pivots of the rollers or boxes z, of any required length,
so as to suit the width of the cloth. dare radial arms, two of which are
used for each roller or box 2. In taking up the cloth their roller ends are
formed with round bosses made to fit into and turn freely in corresponding holes
formed in the triangular supports at e and f, and they are connected by square
bars g, h, and h*, one end of each of which square bars is made to pass freely
through a square hole formed in the said bosses. The object of these said
radial arms and their square connecting shafts is to keep the surface of the:
rollers or boxes parallel to the surface of the cylinder or drum Y.
in taking up the cloth. I will now, return to the double grooved pullies
L, one of which, as I before observed, with its carrier and other apparatus,
is fixed near to each end of the said frame or carriage. i and jare two
ascending and descending revolving rollers, furnished with a small pivot at
each end, capable of turning freely in bearing k, connecting the rollers i and
with the fixed staves and m. nare small swivels attached to the ends
of the fixed staves and m, with a small pulley o fixed in the upper ends of
such swivels. The length of the frame or carriage depends upon the width
of the bays of the stove where it is used, and the vertical studs or centres Q
should be placed as near to the ends of the frame as they conveniently can
for the working of the aforesaid machinery or apparatus thereunto belonging.
It should be observed that the position of the said small swivels n and pulleys
o, with regard to the length of the revolving rollers and fixed staves, is deter-
mined by the situation of the vertical studs or contres Q, it being necessary
they should be placed as nearly as possible directly beneath the said centres,

page_text: and also that the ends of the said revolving rollers and fixed staves should not
project beyond the centres of the said small swivels and pullics o quite as
much as half the diameter of the double grooved pullies L. I must further
observe that the length from the lower part of the revolving rollers i and to
the top of the pullies o must not be quite so great as the distance between
the top of the series of staves and the under side of the bottom P. of the frame
or carriage. aro ropes, cords, or chains which are passed under one of the
little pulleys o, carried round one of the grooves of the double grooved pulley
I., under the other small pulley o, back round the other groove of the double
grooved pulley, and the ends spliced together so as to form an endless cord,
rope, or chain. There are two of these endless cords, ropes, or chains, one of
them supporting each end of the said revolving rollers and, and fixed
staves and m. p is a board forming a bottom in the frame or machine
between the geering and the series of staves in order to prevent dirt, oil, or
grease from falling upon the cloth. In this bottom, and directly under the
7"
said grooved pulleys L. are circular openings for allowing the cords or ropes
9 to pass through and swivel in the manner herein-after described.
(see
Figures and 4) is a second winch or handle applied to one end of a short
shafts, carried by a tube and bracket carrier t, which is made fast to the
front side of the frame or carriage.
is a small bevilled wheel fixed on the
end of the shafts, and in gear with a larger wheel v fixed on a long
horizontal shaft w, extending the whole length, and supported in the ends
of the frame or carriage; this shaft w passes just over the plates P herein-
before mentioned, in which plates openings are made for the small bevilled
wheels O which are fixed upon the said shaft w, and drive the horizontal
beville wheels O. On the outer and left-hand end of the long horizontal
shaft is fixed a small spur wheel a, working in gear with a larger spur
wheel y placed on a stud z projecting from the end frame of the carriage. 1
is a spur wheel made fast to the wheel 2 of the frame or carriage (see Figures
1 and 2), which said spur wheel 1 is driven by the spur wheel y. The said
carriage wheel 2 is made fast on an axle 3, which extends the whole length
of the frame or carriage, and has a corresponding wheel 4 made fast on
the opposite end of the said axis; this axis is supported in usual bearings
formed in the ends of the frame or carriage 5 and 6. 7 and 8 are two smaller
carriage wheels turning on stuls 9, which are fixed into slotted holes minde
into the ends of the carriage. The carriage wheels are adapted to run upon
guides or iron rails 10 fixed upon the supports 11, in which the ends of the
series of rails or staves 12 are placed. I shall now return to the shaft I.
(see Figures and 4) are levers or arms fixed at one end to a long shaft 14,
13

page_text: extending nearly the whole length of the machine, and carried at each end by
supports 15 fixed to the back planking 16, the other ends of the arms 13
form bearings in which the shaft i revolves. From the bosses of the levers or
arms 19 short levers or bell cranks 17 are formed, projecting downwards; similar
levers 18 are made fast on a short shaft 19, which is carried at each end by
supports similar to those which carry the shaft 14. The said levers 18
project upwards from the said shaft 19, and are connected to the levers 17
by rods 20. From the boss of the levers 18, arms 21 are formed, protruding
through the bottom p of the frame or carriage, and advancing a little in
front of the machine; to the extreme ends of these arms 21 a wooden or
stuffed rail 22 is fixed; at each end of the shaft 14, vertical arms 23 are
fixed, into the upper ends of each of which a steel pin 24 is inserted,
projecting a small distance towards the front of the machine. 25 and 25* (seen
best in Figure 7, Sheet 8) are small notches corresponding in size with the
steel pins 24, and formed in the edge of the horizontal bevilled wheels (),
diametrically opposite each to the other.
Having now described the several parts of the said frame or carriage, and
of my improved machinery or apparatus combined therewith, I proceed to
shew the mode in which the same is made to operate during the processes
of banging and taking up the manufactured goods or cloth. The said
manufactured goods or cloth having been previously wound in a wet state
upon the rollers or boxes Z, and placed upon the triangular supports a in
the situations indicated by the red lines in Figures 2, 3, and 4, Sheets 2 and 3,
the ends of the goods or cloth are taken over the surface of the cylinder or
drum y, and carried down underneath the ascending and descending roller i,
and fastened at the ends to the rail or stave 12 by brass hooks 26, as scen
in Figure 24; the situation of the roller i at this time is represented by red
lines near the rail or stave 12, in which situation the said roller i will be
when the machine is ready to begin the operation of hanging the cloth, and
the roller will be at the same time in its lowest situation, also represented
by red lines; the cloth being thus fastened, the person attending the machine
moves the winch or handle A in the direction of the black arrow, and thereby
and by means of the train of wheels B, C, R, S, U, W, and X, causes the
cylinder or drum y to revolve in the direction of the black arrow, as shewn
in the Drawings, by means of which the said manufactured goods or cloth is
delivered down to the series of staves 12, and is there met by the descending
roller i, represented by the red lines in Figure 4, Sheet 3, as already described,
which roller i, having a descending motion given to it from the shaft E, the
train of wheels G, H, J. K and K*, & the double grooved pullies L, descends
with the goods or cloth; and because the speed of the double grooved pulley

page_text: L is a fraction greater than that of the cylinder or drum y, or the descending
cloth, the roller i exerts a gentle bearing or pressure upon the loop of cloth
as it descends with it; but in order to compensate for such difference of speed,
the action of the friction block or hoop H already alluded to is brought
into use. The loop having attained the required length, and the roller i resting
at the bottom of it, in the situation marked by black dotted lines in Figure 4
Sheet 9, the roller J will assume its highest position, in the machine; being a
little above the series of rails or staves 12, and in the situation behind 19*
also indicated by black dotted lines in Figure 4. Sheet 3. At this moment
the person working the machine presses with his knee upon or against the
wooden or stuffed rail 22, and thereby, and by means of the levers 21 and 18,
connecting rods 20, levers or bell cranks 17, and the levers or arms 13,
disengages the small spur wheels J from the larger spur wheels K, and the
steel pins 24 from the notches 25 cut in the edge of the bevilled wheels O by
the means of the vertical levers 23 which are fixed on the said shaft 1.4. At
the same time he, by means of the second handle or winch turned in the
direction of the black arrow, as shewn in the Figures and 4, and by the
short shafts, pair of bevelled wheels u and v. long shaft w, two pair of bevilled
wheels and O, causes the frame N, carrying the double grooved pullies L,
with their appendages, to turn or swivel on their vertical studs or centres Q
half a revolution, and thereby, and by the progression of the carriage herein-
after described, the revolving roller is brought from its position represented
by the black dotted lines behind 12, in Figure 4, Sheet 3, into the position j*,
also represented by black dotted lines in the said Figure 4, when the operation
already described is continued or repeated. The manner in which the revolving
roller i and fixed stave 7, when swivelling round, clear that part of the rope
q by which the roller is suspended, is clearly exhibited in Figure 6, Sheet
3; and the position of the said revolving rollers i and j, and fixed staves and
m, previous to the commencement of of the swivel motion of the grooved
pulleys Land their appendages, is clearly shewn in Figure 5, Sheet 3. During
the before-mentioned half revolution the steel pins 24 are resting on the
plane edge of the bevilled wheels O, and in this manner keep out of gear the
said small spur wheels J until the spur wheels K* have taken the position
previously occupied by the spur wheels K, when the steel pins 24 drop into the
notches 25, and bring the spur wheels J now into gear with the spur wheels
K; but during the time that this operation was being performed the carriage
has progressed through a space equal to the distance between the centre of
one stave and the centre of the other next in succession by means of motion
communicated through the shaft W to the small pinion a and train of wheels
In order to effect the
y and communicating with the carriage wheel 2.

page_text: operation of taking up the said manufactured goods or cloth after it has
become sufficiently dry, the small wheel c on the shaft E is thrown out of
gear with the wheel II; the boxes or rollers Z, upon which the goods or cloth
is to be taken up and wound, are placed upon their pivots resting on the
inclined planes of the triangular supports a, and in the slots formed at the
outer ends of the radial arms d, and having their surfaces in contact with the
surface of the large cylinder or drum Y, the end of the cloth is then brought
up from the staves, delivered over the large cylinder or drum Y, and wrapped
round the rollers or boxes Z; the handle or winch A is then turned in the
direction of the red arrows marked on the Drawings, by which and by means
of the train of wheels B, C, R, S, U, W and X, already described, the
cylinder or drum Y is also moved in the direction of the red arrows, and the
rollers or boxes Z, by their pressure against the surface of the said cylinder
or drum Y, are turned in the direction of their red arrows, and the cloth is
thereby wound upon the circumference of the said boxes or rollers Z, and may
be removed from the machine when a sufficient quantity has been taken up
upon them. It should be observed, with reference to the revolving rollers i
and j, and fixed staves and m, that when the said small spur wheel G is
thrown out of gear with the spur wheel the motion applied to the handle or
winch A is not communicated to the said revolving rollers i and j, and fixed
staves and m, which are therefore caused to ascend and descend only by the
taking up of the cloth and by their weight resting at the bottom of the
ascending loop, that tension is given to the cloth which is requisite in the
operation of taking up.
Having now described fully the mode of carrying my said Improvements
into effect, I do hereby declare that I consider my claim of Invention to
extend to the application of those parts of the machinery or apparatus herein-
before described to be used in the operation of drying cotton, linen, and other
similar manufactured goods which are described as operating by means of
revolving and swivel pullies, cords, ropes, or chains passing round the same,
and attached to swivel joints fixed at the ends of the ascending and descending
revolving rollers or fixed staves, such ascending and descending revolving
rollers and fixed staves being connected together at their ends and suspended
by the said cords, ropes, or chains; and by means of wheels or similar apparatus
the said ascending and descending revolving rollers and fixed staves are made
to carry down and descend with the said manufactured goods or cloth to the
full extent, or, in fact, to determine the length of cach loop or fold of the said
manufactured goods or cloth when it is in the act of being hung or suspended,
and to ascend with and keep the same in sufficient and proper tension when

page_text: the said manufactured goods or cloth is in the act of being taken up. At the
same time I must observe that I do not confine my said improvements to the
exact construction and proportion of the different parts herein-before described,
nor yet to the materials of which they are made, all which may be varied and
nodified according to the nature and dimensions of the stove or drying house,
in which they are or may be used, or according to the discretion of the person
or persons employed in constructing the same.
Thus my Invention or improvements being to the best of my knowledge and
belief new and never before used within that part of His said Majesty's
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Ilis said
Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, I do hereby declare
said
this to be my Specification of the same, and I do verily believe this my
Specification doth comply in all respects, fully and without reserve or disguise,
with the proviso in the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent contained;
therefore I do hereby claim to maintain exclusive right and privilege of my
said Inventions or improvements.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Ridgway Bridson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-four.
THO RIDGWAY
(L.E.)
DSON.
Signed, sealed, and delivered (being
first duly stamped) by the within-
named Thomas Ridgway Bridson. in
Inrolled the Ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and thirty-four.