IMPROVEMENTS IN BRUSHES, AND IN THE MANNER OF APPLYING THEM TO MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL, COTTON, SILK, OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Clifton, of Bradford, in the County of York,
Ironmonger, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRUSHES, AND IN
THE MANNER OF APPLYING THEM TO MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL, COTTON,
SILK, OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 3rd January 1865, and dated the 5th July 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Clifton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th July 1864.
I, EDWARD CLIFTON, of Bradford, in the County of York, Ironmonger, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRUSHES,
AND IN THE MANNER OF APPLYING THEM TO MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL,
COTTON, SILK, OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the "dabbing" brushes employed in wool-combing
machines for pressing the wool or other fibre into the teeth of the combs, and
the object of it is to reduce the great wear and tear in such brushes produced
by the constant striking on the teeth of the combs at the same place or part
of the brush, and thereby soon wearing out the bristles at those places,

page_text: whilst at other parts of the brush the bristles are not injured, or but
slightly so.
Now my improvements consist in constructing and applying these brushes
so as to cause them to be constantly changing position relatively to the teeth
of the combs on which they strike. I construct the brush (by preference)
circular, and mount it centrally by a pivot or neck capable of rotating in a
brush or box attached to the ordinary arm or part of the machine which
produces the "dabbing" motion or action of the brush on the teeth of the
combs, and I arrange it so that the centre of the pivot is placed to one side
of the several rows of teeth of the combs, which as they revolve or move
forward, cause the brush to rotate or turn on its pivot a short distance at each
stroke, consequently changing the place of contact with the teeth at every
action of the brush, so that every part of the brush is brought into contact
with the teeth in regular order; or I give an oscillatory motion, or a traverse
motion to brushes of ordinary form or construction, or other desirable forms
or constructions, by means of crank or eccentric actuated from any convenient
part of the machine, by gearing or other suitable means so as to obtain or
produce a constant change of position of the brush at every action upon the
combs, and thereby bring every part of the brush or bristles thereof into
use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Clifton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th January 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
CLIFTON, of Bradford, in the County of York, Ironmonger, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Edward Clifton, Her special licence that I, the said Edward Clifton, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward
Clifton, 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

page_text: Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRUSHES, AND IN
THE MANNER OF APPLYING THEM TO MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL, COTTON, SILK,
OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Edward Clifton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 Edward Clifton, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Sheet of Drawings (that is to say):
This Invention relates to the dabbing brushes employed in wool-combing
machines for pressing the wool or other fibre into the teeth of the combs, and
the object of it is to reduce the great wear and tear in such brushes produced
by the constant striking on the teeth of the combs at the same place or part
of the brush, and thereby soon wearing out the bristles at those places,
whilst at other parts of the brush the bristles are not injured, or but
slightly so.
Now my improvements consist in constructing and applying these brushes
so as to cause them to be constantly changing position relatively to the teeth
of the combs on which they strike. I construct the brush (by preference)
circular, and mount it centrally by a pivot or neck capable of rotating in a
brush or box attached to the ordinary arm or part of the machine which
produces the "dabbing" motion or action of the brush on the teeth of the
combs, and I arrange it so that the centre of the pivot is placed to one side of
the several rows of teeth of the combs, which as they revolve or move forward
cause the brush to rotate or turn on its pivot a short distance at each stroke,
consequently changing the place of contact with the teeth at every action of
the brush, so that every part of the brush is brought into contact with the
teeth in regular order; or I give an oscillatory motion or a traverse motion
to brushes of ordinary form or construction, or other desirable forms or
constructions by means of crank or eccentric actuated from any convenient
part of the machine by gearing or other suitable means so as to obtain
or produce a constant change of position of the brush at every action upon
the combs, and thereby bring every part of the brush or bristles thereof
into use.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a dabbing brush, with parts of apparatus in
connection therewith, constructed according to this Invention, shewing the
manner of application and mode of working which I have found best adapted
for carrying this Invention into practical operation; and Fig. 2 is a plan of
the same.
A is the brush, which is circular and mounted centrally on a pivot or
bolt B passing through it and through a bush or boss C attached to the
ordinary slide arm D, to which arm reciprocatory motion is given in the usual
manner. The dotted lines E and F shew the several rows or lines of teeth of
two circular combs of combing machinery known as "Noble's machine," for
which this Invention is especially adapted, and the arrow indicates the
direction of motion thereof. The pivot B is placed within the lines of teeth,
so that as the combs revolve or move forward the brush is also caused to
rotate slowly or move forward intermittently in the same direction, by which
it will readily be seen that the brush is constantly changing its position or
varying the points of contact with the teeth of the combs at each stroke, so
that every part of the brush is brought into action. To render this rotation
of the dabbing brush regular and capable of adjustment as to its speed of
rotation I fix a worm wheel G on the back of the brush, and apply a worm H,
which is fixed on a spindle mounted on a bracket I of the slide arm, and a
ratchet wheel J is fixed on this spindle, having a spring catch K taking into
the teeth thereof. Another catch L is hinged in the end of a rod or arm M,
which is capable of being set and held in a bracket N fixed into the ordinary
pillar P of the machine to which the brackets for the slide arm D are fixed.
When the slide arm moves upwards this catch L will act upon the teeth of the
ratchet wheel and turn the worm, and consequently the brush, and the spring
catch K taking into the teeth of the ratchet will prevent its turning back-
wards. The rod M can be set in the bracket higher or lower to act more or
less upon the teeth of the ratchet, or to move it the space of one, two, or
more teeth at a stroke, as is found most desirable. R is a small additional
brush fixed to the slide arm, which I have found useful in striking the wool
partially into the teeth of the combs before the rotating brush comes into
action. Or instead of a circular rotating brush it will be evident that an
ordinary form of brush or other forms may be caused to oscillate or traverse
or move to and fro laterally by means of a crank or eccentric applied to any
convenient rotary part of the machine, and a rod connecting the same to the

page_text: brush so as to cause the said brush to change place or vary the points of con-
tact thereof with the teeth of the combs at each stroke. Or a brush may be
employed in form of a travelling endless belt, but I prefer the circular form
of brush moved in manner shewn.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and shewn the
manner in which it is and may be performed or carried into practice, I would
have it understood that I claim the giving rotatory, oscillatory, traverse, or
other lateral motion to the dabbing brushes of combing machines, for the
purpose of varying or changing the points of contact of the bristles of the
brushes with the teeth of the combs.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Clifton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of January One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-five.
EDWARD CLIFTON. (L.s.)