CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SPREAD- ING, DRAWING, ROVING, OR SPINNING, FLAX, HEMP, OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, DRESSED OR UNDRESSED
Year: 1831

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, JAMES
LANG, of Greenock, Scotland, North Britain, Flax Dresser, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-fourth day of September, in the second year of His
reign, did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Lang, His especial licence, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said James Lang, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said James Lang, my exors, adiñors, 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 mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exer-
cise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SPREAD-
ING, DRAWING, ROVING, OR SPINNING, FLAX, HEMP, OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES,
DRESSED OR UNDRESSED;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso
that I, the said James Lang, shall cause a particular description of the nature
of said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be inrolled in His said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully
and at large appear.
my
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Lang, do hereby declare that the nature of my Invention, and the

page_text: manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully set forth and described
in manner following that is to say :-
Whereas certain machines are known and used by flax spinners for spread-
ing or drawing, roving or spinning, flax, to produce yarn suitable for making
sailcloth and other kinds of coarse linen manufactures, which machines are
known among flax spinners and machine makers by the name of gill-spreading
or drawing heads and roving or spinning frames; but such machines have not
hitherto been applied for producing coarse yarn suitable for making cables,
ropes, or cordage.
Now, my improvements consist in the application of certain parts of such
known machines, in combination with other parts that have not been heretofore
used in the said machines, the old and the new parts being so arranged and
proportioned as to produce a series of machines which are capable of drawing
or spreading, roving or spinning, flax, hemp, or other fibrous substances,
dressed or undressed, into coarse yarn, suitable for making cables, ropes, or
cordage. And for the explanation of my said improvements I have hereunto
annexed three Sheets of Drawings, representing the said series of machines
for making coarse yarn.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a side view of a machine corresponding to the ma-
chine known among flax spinners by the name of the first spreading or drawing
head, and Figure 2 is a horizontal plan of the same machine. It consists of
an endless band of leather or spreading table A, on which the flax or hemp
(or other similar fibrous substance that is to be worked in the machine) is
laid, in order to be carried forwards thereby to a pair of feeding or taking-up
rollers E, E, which take it in between them, and pass it on to the gills or
needles a, a. The needles are fixed in an endless chain (i, i,) circulating
round rollers at 7 and m, which draw the same forwards in the direction of
the arrow, Figure 1, and draw out the fibres of the hemp in a broad flat
band, which passes off from the gills through a guiding tray, and is thence
taken up and drawn through between drawing and delivering rollers at the
front of the machine, which deliver it finally in the form of a sliver into the
can in front of the machine, see Figure 1. The gills do not differ in con-
struction from the gills of ordinary spreading and drawing frames used in
flax mills for spreading and drawing flax, viz, the needles are fixed into thin
strips of brass screwed on bars b, b, see Figure 2. Those bars extend across
the breadth of the machine, passing through grooves in the upright links of a
sort of endless chain i, i, see Figures 1, Sheet I., and Figure (7) Sheet III.,
which is a detached view of a part of the endless chain i on a larger scale.
The endless chain i, i, encompasses two gill shafts or rollers at 7 and m, each

page_text: of which has 4 teeth o, o, on its circumference, see Figure 7, Sheet III. The
links of the endless chain i, i, are jointed together at the ends nearest the
circumferences of the toothed rollers l, m, and a hollow or cavity is cut out
under the end of every intermediate link, (see n, Figure 7, Sheet III.,) into
which cavities the teeth o, o, of the rollers come successively when the same
are turned round, and so draw the endless chain i, i, with the needles, which
it carries forwards from the feeding rollers E, E, towards the drawing and
delivering rollers at the front of the machine. The bars b, b, that carry the
needles are guided in the usual manner, by their ends being received in
grooves y, formed in fixed frames Y, one of which is screwed fast on each of
the standard side frames of the machine. The upper grooves y are nearly
horizontal, and support the bars b, b, and keep the needles on the upper part
of the endless chain i, i, with their points projecting outwards therefrom so as
to catch into the flax, hemp, or other fibrous substance as it comes from the
feeding rollers, and penetrate into its fibres and draw it out. But when the
needles have been successively carried forwards by the motion given to the
endless chain i, i, as far as the front toothed roller m, the bars b, b, quit
the upper horizontal part of the groove y, and drop down the curved end of
that groove, Figure 1, so as to withdraw the points of the needles succes-
sively from the band of hemp or flax, and allow it to be drawn forwards
between the drawing rollers. While the needles a are passing back beneath
the rollers and m, with the lower side of the endless chain i, i, the bars b
are retained by the lower horizontal grooves of the fixed frames Y, which are
not seen in the Drawing Fig. 1, being hid by the frame of the machine, so
that the points of the needles do not project out beyond the endless chain i, i,
and are protected from injury; and when the bars b, b, in being carried back
by the lower side of the endless chain i, i, reach successively the back end of
the lower horizontal grooves of the frames Y, they are carried up in the
curved ends of that groove, see Figure 1, round the roller l, and are thereby
compelled to reassume such a position that the points of the needles will by
degrees catch into and penetrate through the fibres of the flax or hemp, or
other similar fibrous substances that is worked through the machine. There
are three pairs of rollers at the front of the machines which take up the band
of hemp as fast as it is supplied to them by the gills or needles; they are put in
motion by a train of wheelwork in a similar way to ordinary laying and draw-
ing frames for laying and drawing flax, viz, M is the driving pulley turned
round by a strap from a steam engine, water wheel, or other sufficient first
moving machine. The pulley M is fixed on the axis of the lower boss roller;
the pressing roller is of much larger diameter than the lower one, and is

page_text: loaded with weights (2) hung on the ends of long levers (3), to press the
roller down with considerable force on the surface of the lower boss roller.
On the axis of the driving pulley is a pinion p, which turns an intermediate
pinion mounted on a fixed stud, which turns a pinion r on the axis of the
lower roller of the first pair of delivering rollers. The pinion r turns another
intermediate pinion s mounted on a fixed stud, and that turns a pinion u on
the axis of the lower roller of the front pair of delivering rollers. The requi-
site motions of the gills and of the endless band of leather or laying table A
are produced by a train of wheelwork, driven also from the main shaft of the
driving pulley M. The pinion p turns a spur wheel H, on the axis of which
is a pinion (v) taking into a cog wheel W, fixed on the axis of the front gill
shaft or roller m. The cog wheel W turns an intermediate wheel V, mounted
on a fixed stud supported in a bracket U, and that wheel communicates
motion through another intermediate wheel S (mounted on a fixed stud sup-
ported in a bracket T) to the wheel Q, mounted also on a fixed stud supported
in a bracket R. The lower feeding roller E is turned by the wheel Q, which
takes into a spur wheel G on the axis of the lower feeding roller E. The
upper feeding roller E is not turned round by the wheelwork. The endless
band of leather or laying table A encompasses two small rollers B, B, see
Figs. 1 and 2. The front one of those rollers is turned round with a slow
motion to draw the band A forwards from a pinion o on the axis of the lower
feeding roller E, which pinion turns an intermediate pinion J mounted on a
fixed stud, and that pinion turns a pinion N on the axis of the front one of
the two rollers B, see Figure 2. The band A can be tightened or slackened
by adjusting screws D, which bear against the ends of sliding blocks C, in
which the pivots of the back roller B are received. K is a bell which is
caused to ring by communication with the above-mentioned train at the proper
times for removing the cans (K) when they are filled. The different kinds
of hemp, flax, or other similar fibrous substances that are used for manufac-
turing coarse yarn suitable for making cables, ropes, and cordage, vary con-
siderably in the length of the fibre; and if the feeding rollers E, E, were fixed
to the standard frame of the machine at an invariable distance from the end
of the gills, the ends of the fibres would not be always caught properly by the
gills, but would sometimes fall short of them, and sometimes overlap them
too much, and occasion too heavy a draft on the gills. or needles. To
adapt the spreading and drawing frame Sheet I. for drawing hemps of diffe-
rent length of fibre, I mount the feeding rollers E in sliding brackets or
frames F, which can be slided backwards and forwards in oblique grooves f, f,
at the back ends of side frames fixed on the main frame of the machine, see

page_text: Figure 1, and can be fixed fast to any part thereof by screw bolts; and by
sliding the rollers backwards and forwards, their height, relatively to the gills,
is regulated in some degree, as well as their distance therefrom, in order that
they may feed the hemp or flax properly on the points of the needle; and I
occasionally use two pairs of feeding rollers in the same drawing frame, as.
shewn in Figure 3, which is a detached view of the back end of one of my
first spreading or drawing frames; that is, when the hemp or other stuff' that
is worked in the machine is of a very short fibre, I use only one pair of
feeding rollers E, as in Figure 1, placing the same as far forward as the
brackets F can be slided in the oblique grooves ff. When the hemp or
other stuff is of a moderately long fibre, I slide the brackets F and feeding.
roller E back in their grooves f, until the said rollers are at a proper distance
from the ends of the gills. And when the hemp is of unusually long fibre,
I move the pair of feeder rollers E, E, entirely from the groove f, f, and slide
them back with the frame (X) that supports the laying table A, and place
them in the grooves 9 (see Figures 1 and 3), and I then place an interme-
diate pair of feeder rollers L, L, in front of the rollers E, E, as shewn in
Figure 3. The lower roller L has a spur wheel on its axis, which then
receives motion from the wheel Q, Figure 1, and communicates that motion
through an intermediate wheel 4, Figure 3, to the wheel G, in order to turn
the lower feeding roller E and the pinions O, J, and N, before mentioned,
which cause the upper surface of the band of leather A or laying table to.
move forwards. The studs on which the intermediate toothed wheels V and S
and Qare mounted are adapted to be slided up or down in grooves in
the brackets V & S and R, and to be fixed at any height therein by screw.
bolts. Note, the brackets that carry the intermediate pair of feeding
rollers L have vertical grooves in them, see Figure 3, so that they can be
slided up and down on the side frames as well as backwards and forwards, in
order to regulate the height at which they feed the flax, hemp, or other
fibrous substance on to the gills. Also the pivots of the back gill shaft or
roller are received in sockets that can be set backwards or forwards by
adjusting screws to tighten or slacken the gills in the usual manner. By the
above-described arrangement of the back ends of the frame of the machine
being adapted to allow the pair of feeding rollers E to be slided backwards
or forwards nearer to or farther from the end of the gills, or to receive two
pairs of feeding rollers L, L, and E, E, as in Figure 3, the same machine.
is made available for working hemp or flax, or other similar fibrous substances,:
of any length of fibre, and the wheels V, S, and Q, can be always kept in
gear with the wheel G, Figure 1, whether the feeding rollers are slided from

page_text: a
it or towards it, or with the wheel 4 (when a second pair of feeding rollers L
is used) by sliding those wheels V, S, and Q more or less up or down in the
grooves of their respective brackets, according to the distance of the feeding
rollers E or L from the end of the gills. The operation of the machine in
spreading and drawing the flax, hemp, or other fibrous substance worked in
it, will now be easily understood. A quantity of the hemp, flax, or other
material is laid at intervals by the attendant in handfuls, and spread out upon
the endless band or laying table A. When the hemp comes up to the feeding
rollers it is guided in between them by a broad shallow tray or guide, see
Figure 2. The feeding rollers give out the hemp as fast as they take it up
on to the gills or needles which penetrate through it, and moving rather
faster than the surface of the feeding rollers, split and draw out and straighten
the fibres of the hemp, carrying it on in a broad thin band or layer, see
Figure 2. When the needles drop down out of the hemp at the front end of
the machine, it passes through a guide trough or flat tray, which guides it in
between the drawing rollers, through which it is drawn under a considerable
pressure. The band of hemp or other fibrous substance is passed from the
drawing rollers through pair of delivering rollers, which deliver it through
a tube or funnel, see Figure 2, and that forms it into a loose sliver, which is
taken through a second pair of rollers, and finally delivered by them into the
cans K in front of the machine. The numbers of the teeth of the wheels that
compose the train herein-before described, marked upon the Drawing, are such
as to cause the surface of the drawing rollers to move about forty times as fast
as the surfaces of the feeding rollers at the back of the machine, and also to
give suitable speed to the gills and laying table when the driving pulley
makes about one hundred turns per minute, and I have found those speeds
answer for spreading or drawing hemp of ordinary length of fibre, intended
to be afterwards manufactured into rope yarn of about one hundred and sixty
pounds to the spindle, but the draw of the drawing rollers may be varied
from about forty to sixty times. When a different quality of hemp is used,
or when flax or other similar fibrous substances suitable for making coarse
yarn are used, the speeds of the several parts and the draw of the drawing
rollers will be varied at the discretion of the manufacturer, by putting in
pinion p of a different size, and varying the proportion of the remainder of
the train of wheels thereto, according to the length of the fibre and the
quality of the material used, and the intended grist and weight of the sliver
that is to be produced by the machine. The upper feeding roller E, and the
upper delivering rollers, as well as the pressing roller Z, are loaded by weights
hung on the ends of levers, to cause them to press on the surface of the rollers

page_text: that are under them. The upper feeding roller must be weighted sufficiently
to cause a grip on the hemp or other material and hold it back, so as to
prevent the gills and drawing rollers running away with it without its getting
properly laid and split by the gills or needles, and the pressing roller Z
must be weighted so as to lay hold of the band of hemp with sufficient firm-
ness to cause it to be drawn forwards, in spite of the grip of the feeding
rollers, in a smooth and even band; but no specific amount of weight can
be fixed for the said upper rollers, because the load on each must be varied
according to the length of fibre and quantity of the fibrous material supplied
to the feeding rollers, and to the quantity, weight, and hardness it is intended
to give to the slivers turned out by the delivering rollers. When an inter-
mediate pair of feeding rollers is used, as in Figure 3, the upper roller of that
pair is loaded, so as to give the proper grip to the hemp or other material,
and a very slight load is laid on the upper roller of the back pair of feeding
rollers. The slivers of hemp formed by the machine above described are taken
thence to another machine, which corresponds to the second drawing head or
frame used by flax spinners.
This machine is shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, Sheet II., and it differs
very little in construction from the first spreading or drawing frame, Sheet I.,
except, first, that it is of smaller dimensions, viz, shorter between the feeding
rollers and the drawing rollers, and is altogether lighter and less powerful in
its operation, because the material supplied to it is not so coarse and stubborn
as the rough hemp supplied to the first drawing frame, and it is adapted to
draw the slivers supplied to it from the first drawing frame into finer and more
compressed slivers; and, secondly, it is double, that is, it is adapted to draw
out two slivers in the breadth of the machine, see Figure 1, and has for that
purpose a double set of feeding rollers and drawing rollers.
The second drawing frame, Sheet II., is provided, like the first drawing
frame, with oblique grooves in the back ends of the side frames, see Figure 2,
to allow the feeding rollers to be slided nearer to or farther from the end of
the gills, in order to suit the length of fibre of the hemp or other material
worked in it. The second drawing frame is also supplied with gills or needles
(a, a), mounted in an endless chain i, i, but the needles are finer than in the
first drawing frame, and with drawing and delivering rollers. The gills and
drawing rollers are put in motion by a train of wheelwork from the driving
pulley M, similar to that already described in the machine Sheet I. There
are three feeding rollers to each set, see Figure 1, mounted on sliding
brackets, as in the machine Sheet I. The front and back feeding rollers only
are turned round by wheelwork, the middle one being only a carrying roller,

page_text: and they are turned round from the wheel Q, which takes into a spur wheel (G)
mounted on a fixed stud in the bracket F, see Figure 2. On the same stud is
a pinion (O), which turns a pinion 5 on the axis of the back feeding roller, and
also another pinion 6 on the axis of the front feeding roller, see Figure 2.
The slivers made in the machine Sheet I., are brought in cans to the back of
the machine Sheet II., see Figure 1, and are put in under the back feeding
rollers; thence they pass over the middle carrier rollers under the front feeding
rollers, and thence on to the gills or needles which carry them forward, draw-
ing them out slightly until they are caught and drawn through the drawing
rollers, whence they pass through the two pairs of delivering rollers, and are
delivered into the cans in front of the machine. The numbers of the teeth of
the wheels, marked on the Drawing, Figure 2, Sheet II., are adapted to give
proper speed to cause the circumferences of the drawing rollers to move about
sixteen times as fast as the circumferences of the feeding rollers; but the
draw may be varied from that to thirty or forty-five times, according to the
length of the fibres of the slivers supplied to the said machine; also
the weights with which the pressing roller and the delivering rollers are
loaded will be varied at the discretion of the manufacturer, according to his
material and the work he wishes to turn out; the two slivers, Figure 1, may
be delivered separately into cans, as shewn by Figure 1, or they may be united
by a guide tray and guided through a single tube, as shewn in Figure 3,
so as to form only one sliver. The slivers made in the second drawing frame,
Sheet 2, are next worked through a third drawing frame, of which I have not
given any Drawing, because it differs from the machine Sheet 2 only in being
again smaller and less powerful in its action, and adapted to draw out the
slivers supplied to it into still finer and harder slivers. In other respects
the third drawing frame is similar in its construction and arrangement to the
machine Sheet Second. The train of wheelwork of the third drawing frame
is adapted to give a draw on the fibres of the slivers of about thirty times
between the feeding rollers and the drawing rollers, but the draw may be
varied in any of the three machines, as herein-before stated, by changing the
drawing pinions and the train.
The Drawing Sheet 3 exhibits the fourth and last machine of the series
herein-before mentioned, and which corresponds to the roving or spinning
frame known and used by flax spinners. This machine, like the one described
with reference to Sheet 2, is double, and is provided at the upper part with
two sets of feeding rollers, as shewn by the plan Figure 3, mounted in sliding
brackets that can be slided backwards and forwards in oblique grooves at the
back end of the frame, in order to adjust the position of the said feeding rollers

page_text: relatively to the gills, according to the length of the fibre of the material
worked in the machine. It is likewise provided with gills a, a, and with
drawing rollers, as shewn in Figures 2 and 3. The several working parts of
the machine are put in motion as follows:-1, 1, is the main shaft, turned
round by the driving pulley M.. A pulley 2 is fitted on the shaft 1, 1, which
drives, by a strap 3, a pulley 4 fitted on the horizontal shaft 5. A pinion 6 is
also fitted on the shaft 5, and turns a spur wheel 7 on another horizontal
shaft 8; and on the same shaft 8 is a pinion 9, which takes into the teeth of
a mangle wheel 10, mounted on a third horizontal shaft 11. Nearly under
the centre of the machine, on the same shaft with the mangle wheel 10, are
two rollers or pulleys 12, 12, to which are attached the lower end of two flat
chains 13, 13, the upper end of which pass round two other pullies 14, 14,
fixed on a horizontal shaft 15, near the front of the machine, and are fastened
to the bobbin rail 16, see Figure 2, on which the bobbins rest. Hence, when
the main shaft 1, 1, is turned round, a slower motion is communicated from it
to the pinion 9, which turns the mangle wheel round a turn in one direction by
taking into the inside of the ring of teeth on its face; and then, when the
pinioning comes to the opening space at 17, where there are no teeth on the
face of the mangle wheel, it is turned out, and turns the mangle wheel back a
turn in the opposite direction by taking into the outside of the ring of teeth,
whereby the bobbin rail is alternately lifted up slowly while the bobbin is filling
with roving or yarn, and is then brought down again in the usual manner of
flax roving or spinning frames. The spindles and flyers are turned round by
bands 18, which communicate a quick motion to the pulleys 19, on the lower
ends of the spindles from pulleys 20, that are fixed on the horizontal shaft 5.
The drawing rollers are turned by means of a strap 21, which communicates
motion from a pulley 22, on the horizontal shaft 5, to a pulley A mounted on
a stud fixed to the main frame, see Figure 2. On the axis of the pulley A a
pinion 23 is fixed, which turns a spur wheel E on the axis of the lower draw-
ing rollers. The needles or gills and feeding rollers are put in motion from
the pinion D, on the axis of the drawing rollers, by a train of wheel-
work B, W, V, S, Q, G, R, 5 and 6, see Fig. 1, which is so far similar to the
corresponding train already described for a similar purpose in the machine
Sheet 2, as to require no further explanation than that afforded by the
Drawing. The slivers made by the 3d drawing frame are brought to the
roving frame Sheet 3 in cans, and supplied to the feeding rollers A, A, A,
which take it up in the manner described for the other machines, and pass it
on the gills or needles. These are still finer than in the preceding machines,
and again draw out the fibres of the slivers slightly, and deliver them in'

page_text: between the drawing rollers D, D. The numbers of the teeth of the wheels
marked on the Drawing are adapted to draw the slivers out about 24 times
between the feeding rollers and the drawing rollers, but the draw of the draw-
ing rollers may be varied at the discretion of the manufacturer to suit the
length of fibre of bis material, as may also the weight wherewith the pressing
roller Z is loaded, keeping in view the objects herein-before mentioned on those
points in reference to the first and second drawing frames. The slivers that
are delivered out from between the drawing rollers of the machine Sheet 3
pass through bell-mouthed tubes F, sec Figures 1 and 2, which compress them
gradually by the conical shape of their upper parts into rovings or yarn of the
size of the bore of the lower cylindrical parts of those tubes, see Figures 1
and 2. The tubes or funnels F are supported by a cross rail 24, fixed to the
frame, and their lower ends are received in sockets II, supported by another
cross rail 25, fixed to the main frame, see Figure 2. The upper trumpet or
bell mouthed ends of tubes F are made in 2 pieces, as shown in Figure 4, one
of which is fixed to the cross rail 24, and the other to the end of a spring 26,
the middle part of which is screwed against the cross rail 24. The part of the
tube that is fixed to the end of the spring 26 overlaps a little the other half,
and is pressed towards it by the spring 26. The object of this is to cause a
slight pressure against the rovings as they enter the trumpet mouths of the
tubes, in order to confine the fibres as they begin to receive the twist, but yet
to allow the trumpet mouths, to glide a little in order to prevent the fibres of
the slivers from being injured by being too suddenly compressed. Note, a small
flange is formed at the lower end of the moveable part of the funnel F, which
rests on a corresponding small flange formed on the end of the fixed part of
the funnel F, in order to steady the motion of the moveable part, and keep
it properly in its place. The lower ends of the cylindrical tubes H are filled
with layers or small disks of felt or hat cloth, through which a slit or opening
is cut to allow the yarn to be drawn through the felt. The effect of thus
drawing the yarn through felt is to smooth and compress the fibres with a
certain pressure, but yet without injuring their texture or tearing them, and it
corresponds to the practice, in spinning rope yarn by hand, of the spinner
holding the yarns in his hand with a piece of fret or cloth, and with a good
firm grip of the hand.
The parts of the bobbins and spindles hitherto described do not differ mate-
rially from the bobbins and spindles of flax-roving machines used in flax mills,
except in being altogether much stronger and heavier, especially the spindles
and flyers, which are turned round with more power than the flyers of ordinary
flax-roving frame spindles, in order that they may be capable of twisting the

page_text: coarse and strong material that they are to operate upon. But from that cir-
cumstance it is necessary that the bobbins should have a considerable drag upon
them, to produce such a resistance to their being turned round as will cause the
yarn to be taken up and lapped upon the bobbins properly; but yet that drag
must at the same time be capable of adjustment, in order to suit the different
grists of yarn that may be required to be spun in the roving frame, Sheet 3.
This I effect in the following manner :-On the bobbin rail 16 I fix two brass
cups or sockets 28, shewn in section in Figure 5, through the central openings
of which the spindles of the bobbins pass, and can turn round freely therein.
Over each of these cups 28 is placed an inverted iron cup 29, which rests on
the bobbin rail 16, and is prevented from quitting the spindle by its inner rim
being received between the two circular rims of the cup or socket 28, sce
Figure 5. A disc or flange of wood is screwed on the top of each of the
cups 29, and a tongue or catch projects up from each of these wood flanges
and enters a hole in the wood rim of the bobbin (as shewn at 30, 30,
Figure 5). Hence the bobbins cannot turn round without turning also the cast-
iron cups 29; and to apply a sufficient and easily adjustable friction upon
those cups, to cause a proper degree of drag upon the bobbins for the coarse
spinning that the machine is intended to perform, I apply two springs A, A,
Figure 5 and Figure 6, the ends of which have a piece of leather fixed to them,
and bear against the circumference of the iron cups or drags 29. The
springs A, A, are kept apart at the middle by a cross bar 31, screwed to then!,
see Figures 5 and 6; and by means of the tightening bolts and nuts 32, Fig. 6,
the ends of the springs can be drawn closer together or opened further apart,
so as to cause them to bear against the circumferences of the cups more or
less hard. The springs A are broad and strong, and bear against a considerable
surface of the cups 29, as seen by Figures 2 and 5, so that a little tightening or
screwing up of the nuts 32 produces a considerable increase of friction and
drag upon the bobbins. By this mode of applying friction to restrain the
bobbins I am enabled to vary the drag upon them readily, from a pressure
of 1lb. to more than 40lbs. in weight; and whatever degree of friction is put
upon them by the springs A, A, remains equable and uniform so long as the
said springs are retained at that degree of compression. No specific amount
of pressure can be fixed as suitable for one of the roving frames Shcet 3, as
the drag that is suitable depends upon the grist of the yarn delivered to the
flyers from the drawing rollers, and the hardness of twist that it is intended to
give, and also upon the weight and friction of the bobbins themselves. But
the means of adjustment being simple, a few trials will enable the manufac
turer to judge of the amount of drag suitable for his particular purpose. The

page_text: twist that it is desired to give to the yarns in the roving frame above described
can be regulated by changing the pinion 23, so as to increase or diminish the
ratio between the speed of the flyers and the speed of the drawing or delivering
rollers, and by changing the pinion D on the axis of the lower drawing rollers
and the other wheels of the train that receive motion therefrom, as herein-
before described, and communicate it to the feeding rollers, the ratio between
the speed of the drawing rollers and the speed of the feeding rollers, and con-
sequently the grist of the slivers, can be regulated at the discretion of the
manufacturer. The roving frame, Sheet 3, may be driven single, as shewn, or
double, to suit the arrangement of the millwork, or such frames may be placed
side by side, and driven in pairs.
"The dimensions of the several parts of the series of machines which I have
described may be found by measuring them according to the scales of the Draw-
ings, but these dimensions may be somewhat varied, provided the machines be
made of sufficiently stout proportions to act properly on the coarse and heavy
materials they are intended to work to produce yarn suitable for making a
cables, ropes, or cordage.
In describing the said series of machines adapted to spread, draw, rove, or
spin flax, hemp, or other similar fibrous substances, dressed or undressed,
I have described many parts of machinery that are well known, as I have
herein-before stated, and it remains for me to point out wherein my improve-
ments consist.
And I do hereby declare that my improvements consist,-
1st, in the arrangement of the feeding rollers which I have described,
whereby the same are moveable, so that I can adjust their position relatively
to the gills or needles.
2dly, in the small apparatus F, H, which I have described for receiving the
slivers from the drawing rollers of the roving frame, and which contains layers
of felt or hat cloth, through which the yarns are drawn by the flyers of the
bobbin spindles.
And, 3rdly, in the method which I have described of applying friction
to restrain the action of the bobbins, and for regulating the amount of such
friction readily, in order to produce such a resistance of the bobbins to being
turned round as will cause the yarn to be taken up and wound properly on the
bobbins.
And I claim the said improvements when the same are applied in conjunc-
tion with the other known parts which I have described, the said known parts
being so proportioned and arranged as to act properly with my improvements,
and to form, when combined with them, a series of machines for the purpose

page_text: of producing from flax, hemp, or other similar fibrous substances, dressed or
undressed, coarse yarn suitable for making cables, ropes, or cordage.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Lang, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twentieth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.