IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR COMBING, HECKLING, AND PREPARING TO BE SPUN FLAX AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William King Westly, of Leeds, in the County
of York, Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR
COMBING, HECKLING, AND PREPARING TO BE SPUN FLAX AND OTHER FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES,"
Sealed the 27th January 1860, and dated the 10th August 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William King Westly
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th August 1859.
1, WILLIAM KING WESTLY, of Leeds, in the County of York, Machinist,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY
FOR COMBING, HECKLING, AND PREPARING TO BE SPUN FLAX AND OTHER FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
My Invention of improved machinery for combing, heckling, and preparing
to be spun flax and other fibrous substances consists, in the first place, in
effecting the angular motion of the comb-bars, found expedient in heckling
fibrous substances, by causing them to move in right lines from centre to
centre of the pullies that support or carry the sheets, instead of allowing the
comb-bars to pass around the peripheries of those pullies in the manner com-
monly practised. I apply this new movement to the comb-bars throughout
the whole or a portion of their circuit, and transmit the motion from the sheet
plates to the working point or comb-bars, either directly or through the inter-

page_text: vention of arms or otherwise. In order, for example, to move the comb-bars
in such a manner as to cause them to describe in their course an equilateral
or other suitable triangle, three pullies are employed, and an endless belt is
made to travel around them. This belt carries sheet plates, which bear the
comb-bars, these latter being so arranged as to be capable of turning on a
stud or in a bush. The plates, when fixed to the belt, project at right angles
from its face as far as the centres of the sheet-bearing pullies, and at that
point are provided with studs or bushes for the comb-bars or arms. From
this arrangement it follows, that while the belt moves in uninterrupted
rotation round the pullies, the comb-bars travel in right lines from centre to
centre of the pullies, and thus they describe a triangle. The pins are kept in
position by suitable guards.
A modification of the above may be made by moving the comb-bars on
shorter sheet plates, not reaching altogether to the centres of the bearing
pullies, as such contrivance would be equivalent to using bearing pullies of
small diameter for approximating to a rectangular puncture into the fibrous
substance, while the belt would travel upon a larger circumference. This
arrangement possesses certain advantages, but must be considered as a modi-
fication of the new movement above described, and which, for the sake of
distinction, 1 call the "centro-linear movement."
Another improvement relates to a method of filling the holders with the
fibrous material to be operated upon, and of emptying the holders, also of
shifting the flax or other fibrous substance from one holder to another.
These operations, and the opening and closing of the holders, are effected by
means of a falling weight, which is raised, when required, by steam power,
and is released at will by the attendant.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
byt he said William King Westly in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th February 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
KING WESTLY, of Leeds, in the County of York, Machinist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the Twenty-third year of Her reign,
did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William King Westly, Her special license that I, the said William King

page_text: Westly, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William King Westly, 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 Bri-
tain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR COMBING, HECKLING, AND PREPARING TO BE SPUN
FLAX AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William King Westly, 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William King Westly, 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, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
In heckling flax and other fibrous substances it is found expedient to cause
the pins to prick into or enter the material to be operated upon at a right
angle, and to draw the pins through the material at the least depth consistent
with a complete puncture. The improved machinery for combing, heckling,
and preparing to be spun flax and other fibrous substances, which forms the
subject of the present Invention is intended to effect this object, and the
desired result is attained by moving the comb-bars in straight lines from centre
to centre of the pullies which support the chains, bands, or belts to which the
combs are attached, instead of causing the comb-bars to pass or travel around
the circumference or periphery of those pullies as heretofore practised; and I
apply this new movement to the comb-bars throughout the whole of their
circuit, or in combination with other movements to a portion only of their
circuit, as slown in the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side
elevation, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the upper part of a comb sheet working
with the centro-linear movement above-mentioned. A is a flax-holder sus-
pended in its trough A. B' is one of the belts whereby the comb-bars are
actuated. This belt moves in the direction of the arrows towards the flax-
holder A. Of these belts B-there may be any number, in a machine, but of
necessity there must be one at each end of the comb-bars. C, C, are plates
fixed to the belts B, B. One plate C is shewn with its comb-bar Fattached

page_text: thereto, and another plate C is shewn without the comb-bar, but simply with
the stud on which the comb-bar F is intended to be mounted. Each plate C
is at each end bent at a right-angle to the face of the belt B, and is prolonged
beyond the centre of the pulley D', over which the belt passes. The plate C
is provided with a stud E, which extends laterally in a line with the centre of
the pulleys D', D, and supports the comb-bar F. It will now be understood that
as the belt B moves forward, as indicated by the arrows, the comb-bar F passes
in a right line from the centre of the pulley to the centre of the pulley D
and from thence, while the belt goes round the pulley Ds, the comb-bar passes
downwards parallel to the fibrous matter and pricking into it to any desired
depth at a right angle. The comb-bar F is furnished at one or both ends
with a cross piece G, to which it is firmly fixed, and which is drilled to receive
the stud E. The comb-bar might consequently revolve on the stud E, if it
were not prevented from so doing by the cross piece G being made to slide
against the guard bars H, H, H. The arms of the cross piece G and G',
though forming but one piece are in different planes, and the guard bars
H, H, H, are disposed accordingly, so that in describing a rectangle the cross
piece and comb-bar, on two opposite portions of their course, slide against one
plane of the cross, and for the other two portions on the other plane, the
guard bars being placed in corresponding planes. These guard bars H are
not liable to the friction which of necessity arises with common slides or
grooves, as these latter may be considered as active agents in producing the
path of the comb-bar; whereas the guard bars H of my machine are merely
guards to prevent the comb-bar from quitting its path, the course or movement
of the comb-bar being governed by the other mechanism, and requiring no aid
from grooves or slides as heretofore.
It may be observed, that the comb-bars are shewn in the Drawing as being
provided with heckles on two opposite sides of the bar. This arrangement is
not required in all the varieties of machines on the new principle, and the
mode of adapting and using them will be seen in Fig. 3, which is an end
view of a heckling machine shewing the new movement combined with an
ordinary rotatory pulley. In Fig. 3, I is a shaft on to which are keyed two
or more pullies J, that drive the belts which carry the comb-bars F. The
comb-bár belt marked B in the figure, passes over two pullies such as shewn
at D, D, in the former figures, and it runs between two plates or at the extre-
mities of two short shafts like cantilevers, supported by the main framing.
The plates C, crosses G, and comb-bars F of Figures 1 and 2 are arranged
and provided as already described in those figures. K, Fig. 3 is a plain pulley
on the shaft I, to serve instead of a guard bar to keep the comb-bars F in

page_text: position while they travel half round it. In this arrangement the comb-
bars F turn only half round on their studs in their circuit, so that when they
arrive at the top they are carried forward, and the teeth are made to puncture
the flax at right angles. The comb-bars are furnished with combs or teeth
on two opposite sides,and first one set of teeth and then the other operate on
the flax, as will be well understood upon tracing the motions on the Drawing.
The necessity of having two sets of teeth or combs may be avoided by causing
the bars to turn quite round, but the double combs simplify the action.
Fig. 4 is an end view of a heckling machine where the centro-linear move-
ment is applied to the comb-bars throughout the whole of their course, causing
them to describe a rectangular parallelogram. A is the flax-holder; F, F,
are the comb-bars, provided with the cross pieces G, G, as in the former
Figures; H, H, H, H, are the guard bars. An endless belt B, shewn by dots
in Fig. 4, and provided with plates C, runs round four small pullies 1, 2, 3, 4,
supported between two plates, or at the ends of short shafts, and carries with
it the comb-bars. Motion is communicated to the comb-bar belt B by
causing the plates thereon to catch against the plates L' on the belt L, which
is driven by the pulley M, and kept tight by the pulley N. The comb-bar
belt B may also be driven by toothed pullies applied at any part, either inside
or outside the belt.
If
The above are two varieties of the centro-linear movement, but the Invention
is susceptible of being applied in a variety of different manners, and therefore
it would be impossible to point out all the arrangements for, or modes of
application that might be adopted. The centro-linear movement may be used
with sheets made of belts, bands, or chains of any suitable material, and in
any position, vertical, horizontal, or inclined to any angle, and used either
singly or doubly, and facing each other as in the usual way. The tow may
be removed from the combs by brushes or any other well known means.
the comb-bars, instead of being moved exactly opposite to the centre of the
bearing pullies, were somewhat removed from it nearer to the belt, and yet
within the periphery of the pulley, it would in a degree be still an advantage
over the old plan, but I consider that such an arrangement would be an
infringement of my Invention. Fig. 5 is a bird's eye view of an improved
mode of, and apparatus for filling, transferring, and emptying the clamps or
holders in which the fibrous matter is held while being heckled. The
apparatus may be worked either by hand or steam power. Fig. 6 is an
enlarged end view of a holder. In Fig. 5 A and A2 are two holders; A2 is
supposed to be filled with flax, and therefore is locked; A represents the
lower half of a holder, into which the flax is to be shifted from A², and is

page_text: therefore unlocked instead of the usual bolt and nut for screwing together the
two sides of the holder. One side of the improved holder carries a pinion O,
a part of the circumference of which is provided with teeth, and another part
is formed into a spiral wedge. The other side, or cheek of the holder carries
a hook P, which, by the partial turning of the pinion O, presses the two
cheeks together, and effectually secures the fibrous matter. Q. Q, are two
bars, each furnished with two racks on two sides at right angles to each other;
one rack gears into the pinion O attached to the holder, while the other
rack on the under side of the same bar gears into a pinion R fixed on the
shaft. S. The moving of the shaft S on its axis in either direction will there-
fore force the two racks backwards and forwards at the same time, and by
that means will actuate the pinions O, so that one and the same stroke or
vibration of the shaft S will simultaneously unlock the holder A³, and lock
the holder A and the transfer or shifting of the strick will be effected. To
effect this movement by hand, an upright bar is adapted to the shaft S, and
is pushed and pulled backwards and forwards as maybe required. If steam
power be employed for this purpose; the object is effected through the inter-
vention of two weights raised by the engine, and allowed to fall when needed.
T,T,are two pullies or sectors of pullies, to which the weights are suspended;
these pullies are loose on the shaft S, and are capable of turning it in opposite
directions by means of clicks or detents, which catch into ratchet wheels fixed
on the shaft S. The pullies T, T, are connected by ropes or chains to the
lifting pullies U, U, on the driving shaft V, which runs constantly, and when
a weight has fallen it is immediately drawn up again, and suspended ready
for action.
Fig. 7 is a detached side view of a lifting pulley seen from the inside, and
drawn upon an enlarged scale; Fig. 8 is an edge view of the same. The
lifting pullies are loose on the shaft V, but each pulley carries a detent W,
worked by a spring X, which also actuates the stopper Y. The detent
catches into the ratchet wheel Z, fixed to the driving shaft, and then revolves
with it, thereby raising the weight till it strikes against the stud a fixed to the
framing. This releases the pulley and weight, which would fall if it were not
stopped by the hook b catching on the stud c, which projects from the outside
of the lifting pulley; the weight is thus suspended until it is wanted. The
hook b is fixed to the shaft d, and so are the levers and knobs e, e, Fig. 5;
therefore, when the operative wishes to lock or unlock a holder, he has merely
press down one of the knobs e, which releases the particular weight that
may be required either for the left hand or the right. When the weight falls
the lifting pulley moves with it backwards till the stopper Y strikes against
to

page_text: the stud a, and that releases the detent W, which again catches into the
ratchet wheel Z, and the weight is again raised up, and again suspended as
before.
Instead of the racks, as above described, wheels or connecting rods con
nected with a countershaft may be employed, and the weights also may be
raised and let fall by a variety of contrivances. Fig. 9 is a modification of the
arrangement above described. A and A³ are the locked and unlocked
holders. Instead of pinions O, the holders carry levers f, f, with a spiral or
other wedge at one end to fasten the hook P. The other ends of the levers
drop into recesses g, g, in the faces of the two discs h, h, that turn on upright
spindles, and are connected together by gearing or otherwise.. The alternate
pushing and pulling of the handle i by hand or steam will effect the simul-
taneous locking and unlocking of the holders, as in the former instance.
Having now described my Invention of "Improved Machinery for Combing,
Heckling, and Preparing to be Spun Flax and other Fibrous Substances,"
and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would
observe, that although I have shewn and described the arrangements of parts
which I prefer, I do not mean or intend to confine myself exclusively thereto,
as they may be considerably varied without departing from the nature and
object of my Invention. In conclusion, I claim as new and of my Invention,
causing the comb-bars to move in right lines from centre to centre of the
supporting pullies as above set forth. I also claim the simultaneous locking
and unlocking of the clamps or flax-holders, as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William King Westly, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Seventh day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
WILLIAM KING WESTLY. (L.B.)
Witness,
JANE SOWRAY,
N. 4, Coventry Place,
Leed.