IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN MACHINERY TO BE USED IN PREPARING, SPINNING, AND PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Lord, of Todmorden, in the County
of York, Machine Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CERTAIN MACHINERY TO BE USED IN PREPARING, SPINNING, AND
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Lord at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 3rd November 1852.
I, EDWARD LORD, of Todmorden, in the County of York, Machine
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN MACHINERY TO BE USED IN PREPARING
SPINNING, AND WEAVING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," to be
as follows:-
First, a cotton mixing machine, consisting of a feed part with feeding
flexible about eleven feet long, having sides or guides two feet or more
in depth, and made in two parts, that part up to the working cylinder
being about four feet long; the other portion of seven feet long is made
loose, so as to take off for the purpose of being charged with cotton in
the following manner:-One guide is laid down upon the floor, and a
number of bales of cotton having been laid side by side near the mixing

page_text: machine, a thin layer is taken from each bale, and laid on the guide,
one upon the other until the depth of cotton is equal to the width of the
machine; then the other guide is laid upon the cotton, and fastened to
the bottom one in such manner as to hold the cotton fast between
them. The guide and cotton between them is turned down, and laid
upon the feeding flexible; and the fastenings being loosed, the cotton is
taken forward by the motion of the flexible upto the working cylinder,
which has a series of long teeth fixed into and revolving with it. This
cylinder tears the cotton into small pieces, and throws it on to a carrying
flexible, which takes it forward under the wire cr perforated tinned
cylinder, which is exhausted, and delivers the cotton on to the floor.
There is a heavy roller placed upon the cotton in front of the long
toothed cylinder, which runs at the same speed as the feeding flexible.
Instead of putting the guide on the floor, and piling the cotton upon it,
as above described, the cotton may be thrown from the bales on to the
feeding flexible. The working cylinder may also be covered with very
strong long toothed card; but in this case it will require, in addition to
its revolving motion, a vertical one, so as to come into contact regularly
with the whole face of the cotton; and the feeding flexible, instead of
having a regular advancing motion, will require to advance a step when
the working cylinder arrives at either the top or bottom of the cotton.
Instead of this machine delivering its cotton upon the floor, it may be
attached to the next subsequent machine, and thus made into a lap at
one operation; two or more of these laps may then be put up behind a
finishing machine.
The second improvement is in the scutching machine, and consists
in arranging the grates between the beater and the wire gauze or
perforated cylinder at right angles with the beater, instead of being
parallel to it, as at present.
The next improvement is in applying a fixed concave plate having
ribs upon it set at an angle of forty-five degrees, or any other angle
that will offer a sufficient resistance to the passage of the motes or
other foreign substances contained in the cotton or other fibrous
material. This concave plate is applied to the periphery of fine comb
cylinders, or to card cylinders in cleaning or carding machines. The

page_text: cylinders. work nearly in contact with the ribs, and prevent the motes
or other foreign matter from going along with the fibrous materials
under operation. The seeds, motes, or other matter being stripped
off the fibrous material, and being prevented going forward by a rib
parallel to the axis of the cylinder, drop through holes in the plate into
the bottom of the machine.
The next improvement is in the lap part of blowing and. other
machines. As the fibrous material issues out from between the
callender rollers it is lapped on to the lap roller, which comes against
the bottom callender roller, and near to the nip of the two, and is
mounted on two levers working on centres below. The lap roller is
driven from the centre, and has a regular varying motion given to it in
accordance with the increasing diameter of the lap, which recedes from
the callender rollers until it is full; it is then taken out, and another
roller is put in, and the levers are then brought back to the callender
rollers to inake a fresh lap. The varying motion of the lap may be
produced by cone drums or any of the well-known mechanism for the
same purpose.
My improvements in drawing frames consist in apparatus for
equalizing the drawing. When any variation takes place in the
thickness of any of the slivers with which the frame is fed it is clear
that if the back roller is made to increase or diminish its speed in
a corresponding degree, the drawing will be delivered at the front
roller of the proper thickness and weight. I accomplish this object by
detaching the back roller from the others; and immediately behind
this roller I place another roller, and gear them together in contact
with the last-mentioned roller. There are a number of short ones, one
to each sliver; these are mounted in small frames which rest upon a
flexible tube with one end closed up, and the other open, but a portion
of it is turned up vertically; if this tube be then filled with wateror any
other fluid, and afloat put into the vertical part, when one of the slivers
breaks or varies in thickness the float in the vertical tubes will rise.or
fall. This motion is then conveyed by suitable means to the belt and
cone motion described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to
me in January, One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine; and the

page_text: back roller being connected to the driven cone will partake of its
motion, and will be in exactaccordance with the variation in the thick-
ness of the slivers.
My improvements in machinery for spinning relate to the ring
traveller throstle, and consist in substituting for the traveller a cylin-
drical weight of glass, porcelaine, or metal dropped into a recess in the
lifter plate, between which and the weight the thread of yarn passes
on to the bobbin, and has its drag regulated by the weight.
The next improvement has also reference to the same machine. It
consists in substituting for the traveller an annular piece of metal or
other substance, which goes into a concave recess in the lifter plate.
The front edge of the lifter plate is cut, and it is sprung open so as to
get in the ring. The cut forms an angle of about forty-five degrees,
either to the right or left hand, depending upon which way the yarn is
twisted, and it also serves to admit the end in piecing up.
My improvement in machinery for weaving consists of a new
arrangement for winding the cloth on to the cloth beam of a loom
There is a rod upon the cloth beam which works in a straight slot
at each side of the loom; to this rod a chain or small watch spring
or other flexible material is fastened by one end, and the other is
passed through an opening in a fixed stud, and goes through its
centre; the ratchet or plain wheel of the setting up motion works
loosely upon this stud, as well as the setting up levers, which carry
a slide to which the other end of the chain or other material
above named is attached; and as the diameter of the cloth beam
increases by the winding ou of the cloth the slide above referred to
recedes from the centre of the lever, and as one end of an excentric
rod is fixed to the slide, and the other to an excentric or vibrating
lever on the tappet shaft or other convenient part of the looms, it
follows that a regular decreasing motion is given to the ratchet wheel,
and from it to the cloth beam, in accordance with the increasing
diameter of the cloth beam. The same mechanism may also be applied
to letting off the yarn from the yarn beam.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Lord in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 3rd May 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
EDWARD LORD, of Todmorden, in the County of York, Machine Maker,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Edward Lord, Her special licence,
that I, the said Edward Lord, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Lord, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS
IN CERTAIN MACHINERY TO BE USED IN PREPARING, SPINNING, AND
WEAVING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Edward Lord, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Lord, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, that is to say:
My Invention cousists, first, in taking cotton or other fibrous sub-
stances direct from the bales, and placing it in horizontal or vertical
layers on the feeding apron of a scutcher or opener, thereby dispensing
with the mixing heaps now generally employed. Secondly, in placing

page_text: the grates or grids between the beater and wire gauze or perforated
cylinder of scutchers, openers, or other machines of the like description,
at right angles to the axis of the beater. Thirdly, in dispensing with
the ordinary lap rollers of blowers and other machines of the like nature,
aud forming the lap in contact with the calender roller. Fourthly, in
imparting to the roller on which the lap is formed motion decreasing
in ratio to the increasing diameter of the lap. Fifthly, in the applica-
tion of a ribbed concave plate to beaters, comb cylinders, or card
cylinders of cleaning or carding machines, for preventing motes or other
foreign matters passing through the machinewith the fibrous substances
under operation. Sixthly, in improved combinations of machinery for
regulating the draught of drawing frames and other machines of the
like nature, and for stopping such machines, when requisite. Seventhly.
in improvements in the spinning machines commonly called “ring
and traveller throstles." And, lastly, in an improved combination of
machinery applicable to looms for weaving, for taking up the cloth,
which improvements are also applicable for letting the yarn off the
warp beam.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood, and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me,
reference being had to the annexed three Sheets of Drawings, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
On Sheet 1, Figure 1, represents a longitudinal section of a machine
for mixing, scutching, and lapping cotton; Figure 2, is a plan view of
the same; Figure 3, is an elevation of the lapping end of the machine;
Figure 4, is another elevation of the feeding apparatus; Figures 5 and
6, are detached views, on an enlarged scale, of part of the machinery
for imparting to the lap the varying velocities required by its increasing
diameter; and Figure 7, is an end view of the lap roller, shewing the
clutches by which it is turned round.
In Figures 1, 2, and 4, a is the feeding apron or flexible; and b, b,
the sides or guides of the same. The flexible is supported by the end
rollers c, and c¹, and by the intermediate rollers c. d, is the working

page_text: cylinder, which, in this instance, is supposed to consist of four rows of
strong teeth fixed in rails attached to the cross arms d, but a greater
or less-number of rows of teeth may be used. 6, is a roller bearing
upon the cotton, and supported in bearings attached to the arms e¹,
which are hinged to the bearings of the shaft of the working cylinderd.
The arms e', are connected together by a cross plate e³, the object of
which is to keep the roller e, parallel to the surface of the flexible a.
, is another roller also supported by the cotton, and revolving in
bearings in the arms f, hinged to the bearings of the roller e. After
the cotton has been operated upon by the working cylinder d, it is
conveyed by the flexible g, to the wire gauze or perforated cylinder
h; thence between the feed rollers i, to the benter k. The action of
this beater delivers the cotton on to the inclined grid 1, the spaces
between which are at right angles to the axis of the beater, and
consequently afford greater facility for the escape of dirt and other
foreign matters mixed with the cotton than when they are parallel to
the axis of the benter. The cotton then passes between the two wire
gauze or perforated cylinders m, and n, and thence to the calender
rollers o, the lap being formed on the roller p, as will be explained
hereafter. The action of this machine is as follows:-The bales
containing the different qualities of cotton intended to be mixed are
placed near the feeding end of the machine; the attendant takes a thin
layer from each bale, and spreads it evenly over the flexible a; these
layers are spread one over the other until the requisite depth is
obtained. The rollers e, and f, which had before been raised to enable
the attendant to spread the cotton over the whole surface of the flexible,
are then brought to bear on the cotton, as seen in Figure 1, and the
machinery is set in motion by driving straps and pulleys in the usual
manner; the cotton is then carried through the machine by the
various parts before enumerated, the different qualities of cotton being
effectually mixed together, as it is evident that each row of teeth of the
working cylinder d, detaches a portion from the mass brought forward
by the flexible, and deposits it after part of the dirt and dust have been
removed in passing over the perforated plate d³, on to the flexible g.
The requisite advancing motion is given to the flexible a, by the
pinion g', shewn by a red circle in Figure 1, fixed to the end of the

page_text: roller, over which the flexible g, passes. This pinion g', gears into a
wheel g³, into the face of which is fixed a crank pin gt, for the con-
necting link g; the other end of this link is jointed to the sliding
box go, fitting loosely on the long arm of the lever g7. The fulcrum of
the lever g', is at g³, as seen best in Figure 4; and the two sets of
clicks, are jointed to the lever y, above and below the fulcrum. By
this means every revolution of the wheel g³, causes the lever g², to
vibrate to and fro on its fulcrum, and thereby give motion to the
ratchet wheel 3, fixed to the end of the shaft of the roller c. The
motion of the roller c, is communicated to the top rollers e, and, by
the train of wheels shewn by red circles in Figure 1, the carrier wheel
c, being fitted loosely on the end of the pedestal of the working
cylinderd. The speed of the rollerc, and consequently of the flexible a,
is made to vary according to the depth of cotton on the flexible by the
following self-acting machinery:-On the shaft of the roller e, is sus-
pended a bar e; this bar is furnished above with a slot fitting on the
shaft, and below it slides in brackets fixed to the main frame; to the
bar e, is attached one end of a chain or cord e³, passing over a pulleye,
fitting on a stud fixed to one of the supports of the guide rails b, and
attached at its other end to the sliding box g. By this means, when
the cotton is laid too deep on the flexible a, the roller e, is raised by it,
and, in so doing, the chain or cord e, allows the box go, to slide down
the lever g; consequently the vibration of the lever g', produces less
effect on the ratchet wheel c³, thereby diminishing the speed of the
flexible a. But if, on the contrary, the cotton is not laid on sufficiently
deep to maintain the roller e, in its proper level, the roller drops, and
by so doing, the chain or cord e³, brings the box 9°, nearer to the
fulcrum g; and the to and fro motion of the lever 7, produces a
greater advancing motion in the roller c, and flexible a, thereby
proportioning the speed of the flexible to the depth of the feed. I
wish to observe that the same object may also be obtained by making
the roller e, act on a system of levers, cones, and driving pulleys some-
what similar to those described in the Specification of Letters Patent
granted to me in January, One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine,
and which will be fully described in referonce to Figure 14, in Sheet 2
I will now proceed to describe that part of my Invention relating

page_text: to the formation of laps without the aid of the lap rollers usually
employed for that purpose. The calender rollers 0, 0, see the left hand
side of Figure 1, compress the cotton as it leaves the machine, and
form it into a web or fleece, which is immediately wound into a lap on
the sheet iron roller p. This roller is closed up at one end with the
handle pl, the other end being also closed with a piece provided with
clutches, as seen in the detached Figure 6, for the purpose of receiving
motion, as will be explained hereafter. The roller p, is supported by
the arms p3, fixed on the cross shaft p³. The weight p¹, suspended
between the projections p³,of the arms pa,is for the purpose of bringing
the arms p², and roller p, into their original position after the full
lap has been removed. The segments po, are fixed to the arms p³, and
they serve to communicate the requisite pressure to the lap p, by the
pinions q, which are fixed on the hollow shaft q'. This shaft revolves
in recesses in the frame sides; on it is also fixed a wheel q², working
in a pinion fixed to the friction pulley g³, shewn in Figures 1, and 3.
Within the hollow shaft q', is the shaft r; supported at one end in a
swivel bearing attached to the framing of the machine, and at the
other end to a swivel bearing attached to the lever r¹. To one of
the arms p³, is fixed an elbow bracket p', furnished with a bearing
in a line with the bearings of the roller p; the bearing in the
bracket p', is for the short shaft s, to which is fixed the friction
disc s¹, which is turned round by the friction pulley s³, at gradually
diminishing velocities, according to the increasing diameter of the
lap. The mode of giving motion to the friction pulley 5³, is as
follows:-On the shaft of the beater , is a pulley k³, shewn by a
dotted circle in Figure 1. This pulley, by means of an open strap
drives the pulley k², fixed on the same shaft as the pulley ³, which .
drives, by a crossed strap, the pulley . This pulley is also shewn
in the end view, Figure 3; and it is fixed on the same shaft as the
pulley 5, from which a twisted strap gives motion to the pulley s³,
fixed on the same shaft as the pulley 82, before mentioned. When
the roller P, is empty, it is brought into contact with the face of the
bottom calender roller o, by the attendant touching the treadle plo,
thereby liberating the friction pulley 93, and allowing the weights p4,
to bring the roller p, against the calender roller o; the friction

page_text: pulley 82, is then acting on the sinallest diameter of the friction
disk s', and imparts to it its greatest velocity; this velocity is com-
municated to the roller p, by the pinion 88, see Figures 5, and 6,
which is cast with the disk s', and gears into the carrier pinion 84,
revolving on a stud fixed on the frame 85, attached to the elbow
bracket p. The carrier s4, gears into and gives motion to the
internal wheel so, the boss of which fits loosely on the shaft s, and
passes through the bearing of one of the arms p"; the end of it is
furnished with clutches corresponding to the clutches made in the
end of the lap roller p, as shewn in Figure 7.
In Figure 1, I have shewn the lap partly formed; the friction
pulleys, is consequently acting on that portion of the surface of the
friction disc s', corresponding in diameter to the diameter of the lap;
and they remain in the same relative positions until the lap is full, or
until the bottom calender roller o, after performing a given number
of revolutions, has produced a certain length of the web or fleece.
When this is effected the pinion r³, on the shaft r, is drawn out of
gear with the wheel o³, on the bottom callender roller o, by the
notches t, and t¹, on the pinions 2, and 3, shewn in Figure 3, coming
in contact with each other. The pinion t³, has ninety teeth, and is
loose on a stud fixed in the lever t, represented by dotted lines in
Figure 1; and the pinion t², fixed on the bottom calender roller o,
has forty-one teeth; consequently, when the roller o, has performed
ninety revolutions, the notches t, and t, come in contact with each
other, thereby depressing the front end of the lever t*, and this
action liberates the lever r, which drops sufficiently to draw the
pinion 3, out of gear with the wheel o¹. By increasing or diminish-
ing the number of teeth in the pinion t³, the roller o, may be inade to
revolve a greater or less number of times before the pinion 73, is
drawn out of gear with the wheel o'. When the full lap has been
removed the attendant places an empty roller between the arms p²,
taking care to cause the clutches at the end of the lap roller to gear
into those at the end of the boss of the internal wheels"; the laprollerp,
is then brought against the end of the web or fleece projecting beyond
the calender roller, as before described, and the machine is started by
elevating the handle, in the usual manner.

page_text: On Sheet 2, Figure 8, is an elevation partly in section, Figure 9, is
a plan view, and Figure 10, is an end view, of another modification
of a mixing machine. Many of the parts in this machine being
similar to those in Sheet 1, are marked with the same letters of
reference. The working cylinder d, is here made to move up and
down in the arc of a circle, and in revolving it acts on the cotton
brought forward by the flexible a, in the same manner as the
working cylinder d, shewn in Figure 1. By making the working
cylinder move up and down, the cotton may be supplied at a greater
depth than when the roller is stationary, as in the machine before
described. The side rails or guides b, are each composed of two
parts, jointed together at 61, 61, for the purpose of feeding the machine
with greater facility, as will be explained hereafter. The working.
cylinder d, is made to rotate by a strap passing over a pulley on the
shaft of the beater k, the centre of which shaft is also the centre from
which is struck the segmental guide plates v, in which the bearings v',
of the working cylinder move up and down. To the bearings v¹, are
fixed segmental racks v³, to which motion is given by the pinions ³, in
the following manner: On the shaft of the beater k, is a pulley k¹, by
which the pulley x, is driven; the small pulley x',on the same shaft as
the pulley x, gives motion to the pulley a³, fixed on the cross shaft x³;
to the other end of this shaft is fixed a bevel pinion 24, which gears
alternately in the pinions y, and y¹, and thereby imparts motion in con-
trary directions to the shafty,on which the pinions y,and y', are fixed.
The worm y³, is also fixed on the shaft y²; this worm gears into the
worm wheel v, shewn by a red line in Figure 8, fixed on the same
shaft v, as the pinions v³. The bevel pinion, is now supposed to be
in gear with the pinion y¹, and it is kept there until the working
cylinder d, has been elevated into the position indicated by a blue circle
in Figure 8, by the catch, taking into a notch in the sliding bar s¹;
but when the roller d, has arrived at its greatest elevation the pinion x+,
is brought into gear with the pinion y, in the following manner:-The
horizontal bar 3, is supported near one end by the shaft v³, and at the
other end by the vibrating leverg', to which are hinged the clicks go,for
giving motion to the ratchet wheel,fixed on the shaft of the roller c.
To the horizontal bar 23, is fixed a stud 23, which is acted upon by the

page_text: inclined plane 8, fixed to one of the sliding bearings v; the lower
inclined plane v', also fixed to the sliding bearing 1, acts on the stud
projecting from the link e, which is jointed above to the bar e'. The
stud projecting from the link 66,slides in a segmental slot in the hori
zontal bar 2; and as the depth of the feed regulates the position of the
stud in the segmental slot, it is evident that when the cotton is thin
the stud descends in the slot; consequently the inclinev,comes sooner
in contact with it, and by moving the horizontal bar 22, in the direction
of the black arrow, reverses the direction of motion of the shaft 5, so
as to bring the working cylinder d, down again when it has reached
the upper level of the cotton. The lever y, is thus brought into the
position shewn in red, in which position it is retained by the weight g¹0,
at the top of the lever. When the incline », acts on the stud 23, it
replaces the bar 22, into its original position, the weight g10,again hold-
ing it there until the next change is required. The lower side of the
horizontal bar 2, is furnished with a slot, in which fits a stud projecting
from the tumbler lever,the horizontal arm of which is furnished with
two set screws, which act upon the catches. These catches, as before
mentioned, take into notches in the sliding bar 21, and in this bar is the
bearing of one end of the cross shaft 3. To the sliding bar z¹, is fixed
a projection provided with a stud, to which two chaius are attached.
Each chain is carried over a guide pulley, and passes through a
hole in the horizontal arm of the tumbler lever; the weights 25,
are attached to the ends of the chains, which are furnished with a
collar; consequently, when the tumbler lever, is moved, one of
the weights is supported by a tumbler lever, and the other weight
is set at liberty to act on the sliding bar z. By this means, when the
right-hand set screw unlatches the right-hand catch, the weight 2,
instantly moves the bar =1, thereby bringing the bevel pinion x, into
gear with the pinion y, and changing the direction of motion of the
shaft y, worm wheel 4, and pinions v³, for the purpose of bringing the
roller d, down again the moment it has reached its greatest elevation.
When this mixing machine is used in combination with a lapping
muchine, the pinion ', see Figure 10, is drawn out of gear with both
the pinions y, and y', by the elbow lever ³, one end of which is con-
nected to a link F³, seen also in Fig 14, and the other end is jointed to

page_text: a trunnion projecting from a collar on the cross shaft 3; by this means
the feed is stopped, while the full lap is being removed. The roller e, is
supported entirely by the cotton, and its shaft slides in the segmental
shaped grooves 62, of the side rails 6. The motion of the roller c, over
which the flexible a, passes, is communicated to the roller e, by the
carrier pinions e, indicated by red circles; these carriers are supported
on studs fixed in the arm e, the lower end of which is jointed to the
shaft of the roller c, and the upper end is connected to the shaft of the
roller e, by another arm e"; consequently the wheels remain in gear,
notwithstanding the variations in the depth of the feed. The mode of
feeding this machine is as follows:-One of the moveable parts of the
side rails or guides marked, is removed from the machine, and placed
horizontally on the floor or on a suitable bench; the cotton to be
mixed and operated upon is taken from the bales, and piled in layers
upon it until the depth of cotton is equal to or rather more than the
width of the feeding flexible a; the other moveable part of the guide
63, is then placed on the cotton, and the two guides 68, with the
cotton between them, are secured altogether by the four bars 64,
and 65, which pass through staples attached to the guides, and are
held together by cotters, as shewn in the Drawing. The attendants
then turn the guides over, and slide the whole into its place over
the flexible a; the bar 65, is then removed, and the whole of the
cotton is pushed over the flexible until it comes in contact with the
portion previously fed on. By making use of an extra pair of moveable
guides the mixing machine may be kept constantly at work, as the
attendants can be piling the cotton from the bales on the spare guides
whilst the others are in their places. When the cotton has been acted
upon by the working cylinder d, the surface of which I prefer to cover
with teeth, as shewn in the Drawing, but which may be constructed in
any other suitable manner, it is thrown on to the flexible g, and then
passes under the wire gauze or perforated cylinder h, which delivers
it to the feeding rollers i; it is then acted upon by the beater k, and
then disposed of as shewn in Figure 1, or it may be thrown on the floor
to be operated upon by the subsequent machine.
The concave plate marked A, placed under the beater, is furnished
with diagonal ribs, as shewn on an enlarged scale in Figures 11, 12,

page_text: and 13, the object of which is to prevent motes and seeds or other
foreign matters from passing forward with the fibrous material under
operation. On referring to the section, Figure 13, it will be seen that
I intend to make the ribs under-cut for the purpose of taking better
hold of the motes or seeds; and holes are made through the concave
plate at A, to allow the motes, seeds, or other foreign matter to drop
through instead of being carried forward with the cotton or other
fibrous substance. The ribs may also be made in short detached
lengths, instead of reaching from one edge of the plate to the other,
as shewn in the Drawing. I wish to observe that similar curved or
concave plates may be advantageously applied to the lickers-in of
carding engines, or in other situations where beaters or card or comb
cylinders are employed to separate the fibres of cotton or other fibrous
substances from seeds, motes, or other extraneous matter.
In Figure 14, I have shewn another mode of regulating the speed
of the feeding flexible of the mixing machines before described accord-
ing to the depth of the feed; this combination of parts is similar in
principle to that described in the Specification of Letters Patent
granted to me in January, One thousand eight hundred and forty-
nine. a, is the flexible; b, the side rails; c, c', and c³, the rollers for
the flexible; d, the working cylinder; and e, and f, the press rollers.
When the depth of the cotton on the flexible increases or diminishes
the upright bar e7, suspended to the shaft of the roller e, is made to
alter the position of the strap B, on the cones C, and D, in the
following manner:-The cone C, has a constant uniform motion
imparted to it by the pulleys E, and F, driven from the beater K,
or in any other convenient manner; the speed of the cone D, which
varies according to the position of the strap B, is communicated to
the roller c, by the worm D, worm wheel D³, pinion D³, and wheel
D. From the upright bar e', a stud projects, taking into a slot in the
double lever El, from the other extremity of which descends a rod E³,
guided in holes in the box containing the cones; the strap guide E³,
passes through brackets in the plate Es, forming part of the rod E, and
a stud projecting from the strap guide takes into a curved slot in the
upright E5; consequently as the rod E2, moves up or down the forks of
the strap guide are kept at their proper distance from the cones, which

page_text: are so shaped that when the strap descends the speed of the cone D, is
decreased, and vice versâ; by this means, when, owing to the feed being
too thin, the roller e drops, the lever E', assumes the position indicated
by a red line, and the strap B, is raised; consequently the worm D', gives
more motion to the roller C, and to the flexible a, thereby bringing the
cotton faster forward to compensate for the decrease in its depth. If
the cotton is fed on too deep the roller e rises, and, by bringing the
lever E', into the position shewn in blue, lowers the strap B, on the
cones, and diminishes the speed of the cone D, so as to proportion
the supply to the depth of the feed. The lever F¹, and link F3, are for
the purpose of drawing the worm D', out of gear with the worm wheel
D3, in the usual manner when the full lap is being removed, and an
empty one put in its place.
On Sheet 3, Figure 15, is a transverse section of part of a drawing
frame, to which my improved machinery for regulating the draught
and for stopping the same is applied. Figure 16, is an elevation of
Figure 1.5; and Figure 17, is a plan of the cone motion forming
part of the said improved machinery; B, is the front drawing roller,
which is driven in the usual manner by the driving pulley B'; C, IS
the intermediate drawing roller, to which motion is communicated from
the front roller B; D, is the back roller, the motion of which is made
to vary according to the thickness of the slivers with which the machine
is fed in the following manner :-H, is a feed roller extending
the whole length of the drawing rollers, and supported in the same
stands as the back roller; under the roller H, is a series of rollers I;
the slivers are made to pass between the rollers H, and I, before they
enter between the drawing rollers, each sliver being furnished with
a roller I; these rollers are supported in bearings I', put together in
two pieces for the convenience of construction; the bearings I¹, bear
upon a flexible tube J, filled with water or other incompressible fluid;
this tube fits in a trough J', into the under side of which is screwed
an elbow pipe J2, jointed to the flexible tube K; this tube is supported
by two rocking arms K, and it is surrounded by small rings to prevent
the tube expanding in diameter; the end of it is connected to the uprigh
arm of the elbow lever L; to the horizontal arm of this elbow lever
is jointed an upright link L', which is made to alter the position of the

page_text: strap on the cones M, and N, in the same manner as the rod E³, in
Figure 14, on Sheet 2. The weight L², on the lever L, is to counter-
balance the strap guides and parts in communication therewith. The
cone M, has a uniform speed given to it from the front drawing roller
B, by the train of wheels shewn in red in Figure 15; and the cone
N, which varies in speed according to the position of the strap M',
communicates its motion to the feed roller H, by the worm N', and the
worm pinion H'; the back roller D, is drawn from the roller H, by
the spur pinions shewn in red in Figure 15. The mode of operation
is as follows:-Supposing the slivers passing between the rollers H,
and I, to be all of the proper thickness or bulk, the strap M', will
remain in the centre of the cones, as shewn in Figure 16, because the
slivers keep the rollers H, and I, at the proper distance asunder; and
the bearings I, by pressing on the flexible tube J, force the requisito
quantity of fluid into the tube K, to hold the elbow lever L, in its
proper position; as soon as the slivers diminish in bulk the fluid in
the tube J, forces the rollers I, nearer to the roller H, and the tube K,
collapses in length, thereby bringing the elbow lever L, into the position
shewn in red, and lowering the strap M', on the cones; by this means
the speed of the cone N, is instantly increased, and the speed of the
roller H, and back roller D), is also increased, whereas the speed of the
front and middle rollers remains the same; consequently the sliver de-
livered is the same as before; the variation took place in the bulk of
the slivers with which the machine is fed. When the slivers entering
between the rollers H, and I, are thicker than usual, the bearings I¹,
displace a portion of the water in the tube J, and force it into the
tube K, which elongates and brings the elbow lever L, into the position
shewn in blue; the speed of the cone N, and rollers H, and D, is
thereby diminished; consequently less cotton is admitted, and the sliver
produced remains uniform. It is evident that when any single sliver
with which the machine is fed varies in thickness or bulk the same
effect will be produced in a less degree, for as the amount of water
or other incompressible fluid in the tubes J, and K, remains at all times
the same, the slightest increase in the bulk of the sliver forces part of
the fluid from the tube J, to the tube K, thereby partially elevating the
strap M, and reducing the speed of the cone N; and a decrease in the

page_text: bulk of any sliver produces the contrary effect. The set screw Js, in the
end of the trough J', is to regulate the quantity of fluid in the tubes.
If, owing to the breaking of some of the slivers, the strap M', should
arrive near the bottom of the cones, the elbow lever L, is made to
move the driving strap from the fast to the loose pulley in the following
manner: The lever L, strikes against the pin O, fixed to the end of a
piece bolted in the double lever O, the other extremity of which is
furnished with a retaining catch fitting on a stud projecting from the
starting lever 0; consequently when the lever L, presses down the pin
O, the retaining catch is drawn off the stud, and the lever O³,is pulled
by the spring O, into the position shewn in red, thereby moving the
driving strap from the fast to the loose pulley, and stopping the
machine.
'
Figure 18, represents a section of a vertical pipe Q, supposed to be
in connection with the horizontal tube J, shewn in Figures 15, and
16. P, is a floater, one end of which is within the pipe Q, and the
other end is connected to a lever similar to the lever E', in Figure 14,
A short flexible tube Q', is attached below to the top of the pipe Q,
and the other end is attached to the floater P. The space between
the ferules by which the flexible tube is fastened to the pipe Q, and
floater P, is covered with metal rings; by this means, when any of the
water in the tube J, is displaced, the floater P, rises or falls in the
tube Q, thereby varying the position of the strap on the cones M, and
N, the rings on the flexible Q', preventing the tube to expand in
diameter.
In Figure 19, I have shewn a section of one of my improvements in
spinning machines, called "ring and traveller throstles." This part of
my Invention consists in substituting for the ordinary traveller an an-
nular weight made of glass, porcelain, metal, or other suitable material,
as shewn at R³, in Figures 19, and 20; this annular weight fits into a
recess in the copping rail R, and the brown line represents the yarn
which is carried between the weight and the recess in the rail. R¹,
represents part of a cop on which the yarn is supposed to be wound,
but it may be wound on n bobbin, if more convenient.
Figures 21, and 22, represent another modification of my improve-

page_text: ments in "ring and traveller throstles." In these views the annular
ring R, fits into a hollowed recess in the copping rail, and the yarn
passes between the ring and the recess, as shewn by the brown line.
In order to get the ring R4, into its place it is necessary to cut an
inclined slot in the front edge of the lifter rail, as seen at R5. By
springing the slot open the ring is got into its place, and it is pre-
vented from getting out by the closing to of the rail. The slot R³, is
made inclined to prevent the yarn slipping out; and if the yarn is to
be twisted in the contrary direction, the slot must be inclined in the
opposite direction.
My improvements in machinery for weaving are represented in
Figures 23, 24, and 25. In these views I have shewn such parts of
a loom as are sufficient to illustrate the mode of applying my improved
taking up and letting off motions. a, is the loom side; b, the crank
shaft; c, the tappet shaft; and d, the taking up roller or cloth beam.
The cloth as it is woven is taken over the breast plate e, and from
thence, after passing over the back of the cross bar f, is wound on
the cloth beam d; the bar f, being kept in contact with the cloth
on the cloth beam by the action of the cloth itself, which is shown by
a blue line in Figure 23. The bar f, see Figure 24, is supported at
each end in bearings, sliding in slots in the loom side; aud to one
of the bearings is attached one end of a cord or chain or other
flexible material y, which, after passing over a guide pulley g', passes
through an opening in the bearing h, and is then made fast to the end
of the excentric lever i; this lever is fitted on an excentric c', keyed on
the tappet shaft c. The end of the excentric lever i, fits in the lower
arm of the elbow lever K, the horizontal arm of which is furnished
with a stud, on which are hinged the set of clicks K'. l, is a ratchet
wheel fitting on a stud fixed to the bearing h; and to the ratchet
wheel is fixed a pinion A, which communicates motion to the cloth
beam d, by the train of wheels shewn by red circles in Figure 23.
h', are the retaining palls fitting on a stud in the bearing h; and m,
is a lever fixed to a cross bar m², which is in connection with the
weft stopper in the ordinary manner. By this means, when the weft
fails, the lever m, assumes the position shewn in red, and lifts the

page_text: retaining catches out of gear with the ratchet wheel Z; the spring K³,
acts on the excentric lever i, and draws the chain g, tight; the boss
of the bearing h, is recessed out, as shewn by dotted lines in Figure
23, in order to allow the chain to work from the centre of the stud.
The cloth beam d, is now supposed to be partly full, as shewn by
the blue circles around it in Figure 23, and the distance between
the centres of the ratchet wheel, and the stud in the end of the
excentric lever i, is exactly equal to the radius of the cloth wound on
the cloth beam. As the cloth increases in diameter, the chain g, is
gradually let off, consequently increasing the distance of the end of the
excentric lever i, from the centre of the ratchet wheell; but as the throw
of the excentric c', remains at all times the same, it is evident that as
the end of the lever i, descends in the slot of the lever /, the speed of
the ratchet wheel is diminished proportionately, thereby causing the
winding on of the cloth to be effected exactly at the same tension in all
parts of the piece.
I will now proceed to explain my improved letting off motion, which
is the same in principle as the taking up motion just described. On
the tappet shaft c, is affixed another excentric c³, which is made to
unwind the yarn on the beam n, by the excentric lever o, in the
following manner:-The end of the lever o, takes into the segmental
slot of the elbow lever p, and to it is attached a chain q, seen best in
Figure 25. The warp beam n, is now supposed to be full, conse-
quently the chain q, which is connected to the upright t, and to the
shank, of the feeling roller r, has let off as much of the chain as is
requisite to make the distance between the fulcrum of the lever p, and
the centre of the stud to which the chain is attached, equal to the
radius of the yarn beam. The clicks pl,are hinged to a stud projecting
from the elbow lever p, and they communicate motion to the ratchet
wheels, a pinion on which gives motion to the shaft s', see Figure 25.
This shaft, by means of a pinion and carrier, drives the wheel s³, from
which the worm s³, and worm wheels, on the warp beam are driven.
The feeling roller r, is kept at all times in contact with the surface of
the warp by the weight r', attached to a chain, passing over the
pulley; the other end of this chain is fastened to the shank r', of the

page_text: feeling roller; at right angles to this shank is a grooved plate 7-5,
into which fits the horizontal arm of the upright t, the object of which
is to let off or take up the chain 9, according to the tightness or slack-
ness of the warp. This is accomplished in the following manner:―The
yarn on leaving the warp beam is taken over the rod u, under the rod
u', and over the rod 2, as shewn by the blue line in Figure 23; the
rod u', is supported in elbow levers u³, keyed on the rod ', the hori-
zontal arms of which are drawn down by springs 4, or weights; to one
end of the rod u, is also keyed a lever us, which comes occasionally in
contact with the studs, projecting from an adjustable plate e², screwed
to the lever v', the lower end of which is in communication with aslot
in the upright t; by this means, when the yarn is too slack, the springs
u, draw down the rod u', thereby causing the lever u³, to act on the
right-hand stud v; this moves the lever v', into the position shewn in
red, and makes the upright t, move toward the loom side, consequently
letting off some of the chain q, and lowering the end of the lever o.
The vibrating motion of this lever is thus made to produce less effect
on the ratchet wheels, and less yarn is unwound from the warp beam,
until the yarn regains its proper tension, and brings the rod u¹, into
its original position. If the yarn is too tight, the lever v', assumes the
position indicated by the blue line, and the chain q,is taken up so as to
increase the amount let off the yarn beam. The lever ', is held in
position by the spring 3, which is furnished with dents taken into
recesses in the back of the lever. Although 1 have shown the above
described positive taking up and letting off motions as applied to the
same loom, they may be used independently of each other.
Having now described the nature of iny Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that
1 do not limit myself to the details herein set forth, so long as the
peculiar character of the Invention be retained; but what I claim is,
Firstly, the machinery herein-before shewn and described for mixing
cotton and other fibrous substances. Secondly, the dispensing with the
mixing of such substances in heaps in the ordinary manner. Thirdly,
the placing of the grates or grids between the beater and the wire
gauze or perforated cylinder of scutchers, openers, or other machines

page_text: of the like description, at right angles to the axis of the beater, as
shown in Figures 1, and 2. Fourthly, the forming of the lap against
the calender rollers, as shewn in Figures 1,2, and 3, and the dispensing
with the ordinary lap rollers. Fifthly, the imparting to the roller on
which the lapis formed, of motion decreasing in ratio to the increasing
diameter of the lap. Sixthly, the ribbed concave plate, as described,
and as shewn in Figures 8, 11, 12, and 18, for retaining motes and
other foreign matters contained in cotton and other fibrous substances.
Seventhly, the regulating of the draught of drawing frames, or other
machines of the like nature, by altering the speed of the back roller
instantaneously, according to the change in the quantity of cotton or
other fibrous substances supplied. Eighthly, the application of water
or other incompressible fluid, as herein-before shewn and described in
reference to Figures 15, 16, and 18, for the regulating of the speed
and the stopping of drawing frames, and other machines of the like
nature. Ninthly, the improvements in ring and traveller throstles,
as shewn and described in Figures 19, 20, 21, and 22. Tenthly,
the improved combination of machinery, and the chain or other flex-
ible material applicable to looms for taking up the cloth, as shewn
in Figures 23, and 24. Eleventhly, the improved combination of
machinery applicable to looms for letting off the warp from the warp
beam, as shewn in Figures 23, and 25. And, lastly, governing the
letting off motion according to the variation in the length of warp
betwixt the yarn beam and cloth beam.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Lord, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of May, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-three.