CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MACHINERY USED FOR THE OPERATIONS OF DRAWING, ROVING, AND SPINNING OF SHEEP AND LAMBS' WooL
Year: 1826

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
BAYLIFFE, of Kendall, in the County of Westmoreland, Worsted Spinner,
(being one of the people called Quakers), send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Fourteenth day of July, One thousand eight hundred and
twenty-six, in the seventh year of His reign, did, for Himself, His heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Edward Bayliffe, His especial
licence, that I, the said Edward Bayliffe, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Edward Bayliffe, my exors, adiñiors, 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, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MACHINERY USED FOR
THE OPERATIONS OF DRAWING, ROVING, AND SPINNING OF SHEEP AND LAMBS'
WooL;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me,
the said Edward Bayliffe, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to 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 recited Letters

page_text: 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
Edward Bayliffe, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained in and by the Drawings hereunto annexed, and the following
description thereof (that is to say):-
My improvements consist in certain alterations in and additions to those
parts of the machinery used for the operations of drawing, roving, and spin-
ning of sheep and lambs' wool, which are termed the rollers, being those pairs
of revolving rollers between which the fibres of the wool are introduced, in
order to draw out and extend those fibres so as to straighten each fibre to its
full length, and also to arrange and combine a suitable mass of such straightened
fibres into a proper sliver or roving of uniform size in preparation for twisting
those fibres together to form worsted.or. thread. The natural elasticity of the
fibres of wool opposes itself to the action of extending and drawing out masses
of such fibres into a uniform sliver or roving; and the chief object of my
improvements is to overcome or to diminish the elastic property of the fibres
of animal wool whilst they are undergoing the operations of drawing,
roving, and spinning, by means of certain new arrangements in the parts of
the machinery by which those operations are to be performed. And for the
full explanation of the manner of constructing those parts of the machinery
which require such new arrangements to enable them to operate according to
my improvements, I have hereunto annexed a Drawing, wherein Figure 1
represents those parts of a spinning frame for spinning long wool into worsted,
which are to be new arranged in order to obviate the effects of the elasticity of
the fibres of the wool during the drawing out and extending of those fibres
preparatory to delivering them to the spindles to be twisted together to form
worsted thread. A is a circular wheel, twelve inches in diameter, the
circular edge of which is turned true and with a polished surface, one
inch broad. B is the drawing roller, which is pressed upon the circum-
ference of the wheel A, by means of a spring or weight, with so much force
as will occasion the fibres of wool to be firmly held when they are introduced
between the circumferences of the wheel A and the drawing roller B.
C and D are two light rollers usually termed carrying rollers, which rest by
their weight upon the edge of the wheel A, so as to confine the fibres of
wool lightly down upon that edge. The carrying rollers, as well as the drawing
roller B, are at liberty to turn round, but their pivots are retained from moving
nearer to or further from each other. E and F are the back rollers, the lower

page_text: one E being one inch diameter, and the upper one 'F two inches diameter, and
the upper roller F is pressed down upon the lower one by means of weights or
springs so as to hold fast the fibres of wool which are introduced between them.
The wheel A is turned by means of suitable wheelwork, so that its circumference
will move forwards in the direction from the back rollers E and F towards the
drawing roller B, and it will communicate a' corresponding motion to the
drawing roller B, and to the carrying rollers C and D with which it is in con-
tact. The lower back roller F is turned round by suitable wheelwork in the
same direction as the wheel A, but at such a rate as that its circumference.will
move much slower that the circumference of the wheel A,-suppose one twelfth
part as fast, or other suitable proportion; and the top back roller E will be
turned with a corresponding motion by its contact with the botton roller F.
The roving of wool, which is to be drawn out and extended by this apparatus,
is introduced between the back rollers E and F, and is applied upon the circular
moving surface of the wheel A, and is slightly pressed against that moving
surface by the two carrying rollers C and D, and firmly pressed and held
against the said moving surface by the drawing roller B, so as that the fibres
of wool must be drawn forwards with the same rapidity as that with which the
circular edge of the wheel A. moves; but at the same time the back rollers E
and F hold fast and retain the roving from advancing forwards, except with a
slow motion of only one twelfth of the rapidity of the motion with which the
fibres are drawn away between the drawing roller E and 'the rim of the
wheel A; consequently, the roving must be drawn out or extended to twelve
times its original length, whereby all its fibres will be drawn along, one by the
side of the other, so as to straighten them and render them parallel to each
other; and the natural clasticity of the fibres which opposes itself to such
straightening and extension is overcome by the rubbing motion of the circular
surface of the wheel A, which moves with greater rapidity than the fibres of
the wool which is applied against it, and which is pressed with a suitable force
by the combined action arising from the tension of the fibres over the curved
surface, and from the pressure of the carrying rollers C and D holding the
fibres against the surface. The said friction of the circular moving surface
tends to prevent any recoiling action of the fibres during the extension, as the
carrying rollers C and D derive their motion from the wheel A; by resting
upon the interposed roving they will move" with a velocity corresponding to
those parts of the roving upon which they apply.
In Figure 3 the same parts herein-before described are represented in per-
spective, and the same letters of reference are used to designate the same
parts; excepting that D, in Figure one, is a carrying roller, and the one placed

page_text: in a similar situation in the Figure now under consideration is what I term
the regulating roller, and is marked M. A, A, are two wheels, such as is
marked A, in Figure one; B, B, are two drawing rollers; C is a carrying
roller; and E, F, are two back rollers.
Figure 4 is a complete end elevation of a spinning frame, to shew how my
new improvements are applied to it, those improvements being drawn in red
lines to distinguish them from the other parts which are in common use; and
in order to regulate the effect of the friction of the circular moving of the
surface of the wheel A upon the fibres of the wool, which is applied in contact
with it, I apply the regulating roller M (as seen in Figures three and four),
which is placed very near to the surface of the wheel A, but does not touch
the same, and the wool is conveyed under this roller so as to allow of its rising
off from contact with the circular moving surface at the part thereof nearest
to the back rollers E, F, in consequence of the wool inclining downwards
from these rollers, and thereby occasion the wool to be in contact with a
greater or less portion of the circular surface of the wheel A, so as to receive
a greater or less effect from the friction of the same, and which is effected by
moving the said regulating roller backwards or forwards, as hercin-after men-
tioned. This roller is turned round in a contrary direction to the wheel A by
means of a wheel fixed on one end of it, so as to be worked by another wheel
fixed upon the axis R of the wheels A, A. The pivots of the regulating roller M
are supported in bearings affixed to two circular racks N, N, which are fitted
loose upon the axis R, so as to be moveable about that axis as a centre of
motion. The said racks N, N, are formed with teeth, in the manner of a
portion of a cog wheel, and those teeth are engaged by the teeth of two
pinions O, O, as represented in Figure 4, and by means of a small winch or
handle 0, which is fixed upon the end of the axis of the pinions O, O, they
can be turned round in order to move the circular racks N, N, round about
the axis R, whereby the bearings for the pivots of the regulating roller M
will be moved around the circular surface of the wheel A, but without altering
its distance therefrom; and, by the different position thus given to the regu-
lating roller M, more or less of the roving or fibres of wool will rise up from
contact with the circular moving surface of the wheel A; or, in other words,
or greater or less portion of the length of the roving between the back
rollers E, F, and the drawing roller B will be applied in contact with the
circular moving surface of the wheel A, so as to receive the effect of the
friction therefrom. The spaces or intervals between the teeth of the circular
racks N, N, receive the pivots of the carrying rollers, and retain them in their
respective places; but those places may be altered at pleasure by shifting the

page_text: pivots from one space to another, as may be required. Note, if the position
of the regulating roller M is such as to occasion too much tension and friction
upon the roving over the circular moving surface, so as to endanger the
breaking of the roving towards the back rollers, or occasion any difficulty in
drawing out the fibres, then the handle o of the pinions O, O, must be turned
in that direction, which will move the circular racks N, so as to bring the
regulating roller M and the carrying roller nearer towards the drawing
roller B, and then the roving will bear upon a less portion of the circular
moving surface, so as to diminish the tension and friction; but on the contrary,
if the fibres draw too easily one by the side of the other, so as to bring forward
the roving with an unsteady motion, then the handle o must be turned in a con-
trary direction, so as to place the regulating roller M and the carrying roller C
farther from the drawing roller B, in order to subject the wool to the action of a
greater portion of the circular moving surface of the wheel A. And I do apply the
same new arrangements of rollers and circular moving surfaces of the wheels A to
drawing frames and to roving frames, for drawing and for roving long wool,
as well as to spinning frames, the construction of the parts being the same as
herein-before described, except the relative diameters and speeds of the rollers,
which must be adapted to the different operation which they are required to
effect upon the wool. And further, for some particular kinds of wool, which
have a great degree of elastic force, from being curled in the fibres, I do apply
heat to the wool during the operation of drawing the slivers of such wool, so as
to impair and diminish that elastic force, at the same time that it is overcome
and counteracted by the effect of applying the said fibres upon a circular
moving surface, according to the arrangement herein-before described. And
in order so to apply heat I do make the wheels A, A, in the manner of hollow
vessels or cylinders, and do introduce steam to fill the interior capacity thereof,
so as to heat the aforesaid circular moving surface, over which the fibres of
wool are extended and applied. The manner of carrying this into effect is
represented in Figure 2, where A represents a cylindrical vessel or hollow
wheel of metal, which is fixed upon an axis, and formed truly circular and
smooth upon the outside edge or circumference, so as to perform the effect of
the wheel A, before described. The axis G, G, of the said hollow wheel A. is
perforated through the centre at both ends, but the axis is not continued
through the cylinder or wheel. b, is one of the necks or centres of motion
upon which the hollow wheel revolves. c, c, are conical sockets, which are
inserted into the perforature at the extremities of the hollow axis G, and are
accurately fitted therein by grinding, like the turning plug of a cock, and are

page_text: held in their places by the pressure of springs or of screws.--d, is' a steam pipe,
which is connected with one of the sockets'c, in order to bring steam into the
interior of the hollow wheel from a 'suitable boiler. e, e, are stopcocks
to regulate the passage of the steam, or to stop it off. f is a drain pipe joined
to the other socket c, at the opposite end of the axis of the hollow wheel, in
order to carry away the water which results from the condensation of the
steam; and for that purpose a small branch of the pipef is continued through
the hollow of the axis into the interior of the hollow wheel, and the extremity
is turned down to reach nearly to the lowest part of that interior, so that it may
drain away all the water as fast as it collects from the condensation of the
steam; for that water will be forced away through the drain pipe by the
pressure of the steam with which the said hollow wheel is filled, and by
which the circular moving surface of that wheel will be heated to the tempera-
ture of, about two hundred degrees, more or less, and a sufficient heat will
thereby be communicated to the fibres of wool, which are applied upon or
extended over the said surface in the manner herein-before described, to
diminish the elasticity thereof so much as will facilitate the operation of
drawing the slivers thereof, and prevent the recoiling of the fibres.-Note, the
said hollow wheel or cylinder A, Figure 2, may be made of two flat circular
plates and a circular rim, put together to form an hollow wheel by means of
screw bolts and nuts, or by soldering, or other suitable means known to makers
of machines. The sliver of wool, after passing through the back rollers E, F,
Figure 2, of the drawing frame, passess underneath the roller H, which is
termed the porcupine, which also performs the part of a regulating roller, and
is similar in all respects to what is usually employed in drawing wool. The
sliver is then applied in contact with the circular heated surface of the hollow
wheel A, and is pressed thereupon by the tension of its own fibres, and the
pressure of the carrying rollers C and D, and of the drawing roller B, whereby
the said fibres become so much heated as to lose their elasticity in great part,
and, if the temperature is kept up sufficiently high, the wool will partly lose
its curled appearance, and have no tendency to resume its elasticity. The
sliver, after being delivered from between the drawing roller B and the hollow
wheel A, is still kept in close contact with the circumference of the said hollow
wheel another roller I, and then, leaving the said circumference, it rises on
the contrary side of the roller I, and passes over the delivering roller L, and is
received in cans as usual. The same slivers of wool are afterwards passed
through two other drawing machines constructed in the same manner, and
each successive operation produces an increase of effect, until the elasticity of

page_text: the fibres is as much impaired as is necessary to enable the roving and spinning
operations to be performed in an effectual manner. The wool is then passed
through the drawing frame in common use, where it is. again drawn, and then
twisted and gathered upon large bobbins.
.
And as to the form, dimensions, and proportions of the machinery to be con-
structed according to my improvements, the same may be greatly varied at the
discretion of the maker, according to the form and dimensions of the machinery
to which my improvements are to be applied, and according to the purpose for
which such machinery is intended to be used, whether for drawing, roving, or
spinning. But the essential nature of my improvements, which must not be in
any case departed from, is in the application, herein-before described, of a cir-
cular moving surface, upon or over the convexity of which the fibres of long wool
are to be extended during the operation of drawing out the sliver or roving of
such wool in passing through between the back and front pair of rollers for
drawing, roving, or spinning frames; the said circular moving surface having
the front or drawing roller applied thereto, and moving with the same velocity
as the surface of that front or drawing roller, so as that the said circular
moving surface shall move quicker than the fibres of wool which are extended
or stretched out over the convexity thereof, in order that by the friction or
rubbing of the said moving circular surface against the said fibres they shall be
prevented from recoiling by their own elasticity after they have been extended
and straightened out by the extension or drawing between the back and front
or drawing rollers; and in the application, herein-before described, of a regu-
lating roller, whereby the extent of the contact of the fibres of wool upon such
convex surface can be increased or diminished at pleasure, according to the
nature of the wool and of the operation it is required to perform upon it,
whether drawing, roving, or spinning.
And lastly, in the application of heat to the said moving circular surface
over the convexity of which the fibres of wool are stretched out during the
operation of drawing, by means of steam introduced into the interior of the
said circular moving surface in the manner herein-before described, in order to
impair or deminish the natural elasticity of such fibres of wool, in cases when
it may be necessary.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Bayliffe, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven.
EDWARD (L.S.) BAYLIFFE.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Eleventh day of January, in
the year of our Lord 1827, the aforesaid Edward Bayliffe came before our
said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.