IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR FULLING WOOLLEN AND OTHER FABRICS, AND IN THE METHOD OF DRIVING THE SAME
Year: 1861

page_text: Sealed the 20th December 1861, and dated the 24th June 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Ferrabee at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th.
June 1861.
I, JAMES FERRABEE, of the Phoenix Iron Works, Stroud, in the County of
Gloucester, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR FULLING WOOLLEN AND OTHER FABRICS, AND
IN THE METHOD OF DRIVING THE SAME," to be as follows:-
These improvements relate, first, to the form and construction of the fulling
rolls of fulling machines, and to the method of mounting them and regulating
their pressure.
Second, to the apparatus for conducting or delivering the cloth to and for
stopping the motion of the fulling rolls, and also for regulating the length of
the cloth.
Third, to the method of driving fulling machines. The fulling rolls of
fulling machines, as usually constructed hitherto, are of a cylindrical form,
plain on their circumferences. The bottom roll is keyed fast on a spindle
which runs in fixed bearings, and on each side of the roll are fixed metal rings
or shrouds at right angles to and projecting beyond its circumference. The
upper roll is somewhat narrower than the bottom one, and has no shrouda;
it

page_text: is keyed fast on a spindle, which runs in bearings that are attached to springs
in such a manner as to allow the roll to work up and down, and to run freely
between the shrouds of the bottom one. The cloth to be fulled passes between
these two rolls, where it is subjected to a considerable pressure; but owing to
the form of the rolls, there is a tendency in the cloth to wrinkle while under-
going the fulling process.
(1.) To obviate this tendency to wrinkle, and also to facilitate the process
of fulling, I make the fulling rolls of a peculiar shape, the cross sections of
the circumferences of which may be two or more sided, or concave and convex.
These rolls work one into the other when in operation, but do not fit each
other. In making one of these improved rolls I use an iron body made in
two or more parts, and fitted together. This iron body is turned to receivo
pieces of wood cut to the proper form, or a covering of copper or other metal,
which may be used in forming the circumferences of the rolls. This mode of
making the rolls admits of their being easily taken apart for the purpose of
renewing or correcting the working parts of them. The bottom roll runs in
fixed bearings. The top roll is mounted in two bearings which move in guides,
and are fitted with an adjusting apparatus actuated by a screw or a worm, or
an excentric, whereby these bearings may be raised or lowered, either both
together or separately. Attached to the bearings of the upper roll are levers
furnished with moveable weights, or a "Salter's" balance, for regulating and
indicating the pressure on the cloth during the process of fulling.
(2.) On its way to the fulling rolls in my improved machine, the cloth
passes over a grooved roll or grooved rolls (which may be called "drag rolls")
of somewhat similar form in their cross sections to the fulling rolls. These
drag rolls are placed in front of the fulling rolls in any convenient position.
They are fitted with friction clips and levers, or pressure rolls and levers
mounted in a binged frame held by a catch and fitted with guides, through
which the cloth passes before it reaches the drag rolls. The levers are fur-
nished with weights or springs for regulating the amount of "drag" on the
cloth, and in the event of its becoming knotted or entangled below the guides,
the lever frame will lift and release the catch which holds the driving strap
or coupling, and stops the motion of the fulling rolls. Above the "drag." rolls
is another roll (which I prefer placing horizontally), driven by contact with
the fabric undergoing the process of fulling. The spindle of this roll extends
through to the outside of the frame of the machine, and gives motion to a
turned disk; in contact with this disk a small pulley mounted in a swinging
or sliding carriage. Attached to this carriage is a rod or lever which acts
upon the catch that retains in its place the driving strap or coupling of the

page_text: fulling rolls so long as the roll to which the disk is attached continues in
motion; but should this roll cease to revolve from the slipping of the cloth
between the fulling rolls, then the small pulley will slide across the disk
towards the centre of it, and thereby release the retaining catch above men
tioned, and stop the motion of the fulling rolls, thus preventing any injury
from occurring to the cloth.
(3.) Instead of driving fulling machines with fast and loose strap pulleys,
as is usually done, I use a countershaft, which passes through the machine,
and is inclosed in a pipe. On one end of this shaft is a pinion gearing into.
the connecting wheels on the spindles of the fulling rolls. On the other end
of the countershaft, and running loose thereon, is a strap pulley, or a cog
wheel (as may be most convenient) with a friction coupling formed on it. A
corresponding coupling is fitted to slide on "feathers" let into the counter-
shaft, and is held in contact with, or released from, the coupling on the driving
pulley or cog wheel by means of the retaining catch and apparatus before
described. The countershaft may be placed on the outside of the machine in
some instances."
Instead of the arrangements just described, I sometimes use a countershaft,
on which a small friction wheel is fixed, and running in contact with a larger'
friction wheel fixed on the spindle of the lower fulling roll, the countershaft
being driven by a strap, or in any other way; and this small friction wheel
is held in contact with the larger one, or released therefrom by means of the
apparatus before described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Ferrabee in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th.
December 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
FERRABEE, of Phoenix Iron Works,. Stroud, in the County. of. Gloucester,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen. Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the
fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said James Ferrabee, Her special licence that I, the said James
Ferrabee, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Ferrabee, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any

page_text: 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 MACHINES FOR FULLING WOOLLEN AND OTHER FABRICS, AND IN THE METHOD OF
DRIVING THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
James Ferrabee, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 James Ferrabee, 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 :-
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. I., II., III., are elevations, and
Fig. IV. is a plan showing my improvements in fulling machines, and the
mode of driving them; and Figs. V., VI., and VII. are Drawings on an
enlarged scale showing my improved plan of constructing the fulling rolls.
.
In Figs. I., II., III., and IV., the same letters refer to the same parts.
A is the bottom fulling roll; B, the top roll turned to work into but not
fitting A. Thes rolls are fixed to spindles a¹, a", which turn in bearings b, b',
Fig. 1; C, C, Fig. II. and IV., are vertical guide rolls, turned hollow in the
direction of their length, as shown at C, Fig. II., mounted in adjusting
carriages d, d, immediately in front of and close to the bottom fulling roll A.
The spindles of these rolls c, c, pass through the top of the machine, and are
connected by spur wheels e, e. On the spindle of one of the rolls c, c, a turned
disk fis fixed a bar g extends across the machine, having on it a turned roll h,
running in contact with the disk f, and traversed on the bar g.by a screw i;
on the end of the bar g is fixed a driving pulley k. T, Fig. II., is a guide
roll, with adjusting bearings on each end. D, D, D, D, Fig. II. and IV., are
"knuckle" rolls revolving freely on spindles c, c, screwed to a jointed or
swinging frame 1, 1; one of which spindles, with its rolls, is capable of being
moved nearer to or further from the other by means of screws m, m; n, n¹, n¹¹,
are wood dividing pieces attached to the swinging frame 1, 1, and extended
downwards to receive a board E; o is a glass ferule in the board E, (there is
a similar ferule on the other side of the dividing board n',) through which the
cloth or material to be fulled passes; p, Fig. I. and III., is a catch fast to

page_text: the swinging frame 1, 1, and extending through the, side S of the machine for,
retaining the spring lever q, which is fast on the bar w; P is a pully running
loose on the driving bar G, turned taper on the inside to receive the clutch H,
which slides on feathers let into the driving bar G; I is a spur pinion fast on bar.
G, gearing into spur wheel K fast on spindle a', which carries the fulling roll A;
M, M, are spur, wheels for communicating motion to the top fulling roll B;
N, a pully for driving the cross bar g, by means of a strap ; O, a trough; P,
a moveable lid working freely on the spindle a" of the top fulling roll B; Q, a
weight box; R, the cloth; r, Fig. III., is a brass clip embracing the boss of
sliding clutch H; 8, a forked lever laying hold of the clip r; t is a bracket
carrying lever s; u, a link connecting the lever s with the short lever v, fast
on the bar w; x, x, brackets for carrying bar w; y, lever and weight fast on
bar w;
c¹, Fig. I., is a carriage sliding on the frame S, and carrying the,
bearing b of the spindle a¹¹; d, d', rods screwed to th carriage c³, and connected
to the lever f¹ by the jointed link e¹; g), a weight sliding on the lever f; h,
an adjusting screw and strap for regulating the acting of lever f, and the dis-
tance of the top fulling roll B from the bottom one A. (There is a similar
arrangement on the other side of the machine.) The cloth R is placed in the
machine, as shown in Fig. II., and the pressure on it between the fulling rolls
is regulated by the adjusting screw h¹ and weight g', sliding on the lever f
which is graduated to shew the pressure. Motion being communicated to the
loose pully F, the clutch H must be brought into contact with its inner surface
by pushing the spring handle 9 towards the side of the machine S, and must be
retained there by the catch p fast to the swinging frame 1, 1, which will cause
the driving bar G to revolve, and with it the fulling rolls A, B, by means of the
wheels J, K, M, M; as the rolls A and B, revolve they carry the cloth forwards
into the trough O, where it is retarded by the pressure of the lid P to any
desirable extent by adding weights to the box Q. The rolls C, C, gr de the
cloth to the fulling rolls A, B, and they may be adjusted to the requ' ea dis-
tance apart by means of the adjusting carriages d, d, so as to regulate the
amount of "drag" on the cloth. It is sometimes desirable to relieve the
cloth from all "drag" by driving the rolls C, C, which is effected by. means
of the pullies Nk, and strap zt, the bar g, roll h, and disk f, and spur
wheels 6, e, their speed being regulated by traversing the roll h' across the
horizontal disk fattached to one of the rolls C, C, which will cause the cloth
to be delivered to the fulling rolls without "dragging" or holding it, or other-
wise, as most desirable. The rolls D, D, D, D, in the swinging frame 1, l
receive the cloth between them, and from their form they open it on its way to
the fulling rolls A, B, changing the direction of the crease. It is sometimes

page_text: desirable to make one set of these rolls fast on their spindle, and carry the
spindle through the side of the machine, and drive it by means of a strap,
friction roll, and disk in same manner and for same object as described in
reference to the rolls C, C.
In the event of the cloth catching up in a knot, or becoming entangled as it
reaches the guide board E, with the glass ferules o, o, in it, the swinging
frame will be lifted up, taking with it the catch p, and releasing the spring
handle
9, when the weight y will by means of the levers, joints, and clip v, u, s, r,
act on the sliding clutch H, and relieve it from contact with the inner surface
of the pulley F, thereby instantly stopping the rotation of the fulling rolls A, B,
and preventing injury to the cloth. In some cases the driving pulley F, with
sliding clutch H, may be mounted on the spindle a¹, which carries the fulling
roll A, dispensing with bar G and wheels I, K, and the engaging and disengaging
apparatus may be connected in the same manner as already described. A
tooth wheel may be substituted for the pulley F, admitting of the use of
gearing for driving instead of a strap.
Fig. V. is a sectional elevation of the bottom fulling roll taken through the
middle, showing the pieces of wood with which it is filled. Fig. VI. is a cross
elavation, showing the construction of the rolls in section, where A is the
bottom fulling roll, and B the top fulling roll. Fig. VII. is a section of a
bottom fulling roll, made entirely of metal. The same letters refer to the
same parts in such Figure.
In Fig. VI., A is the bottom fulling roll; B, the top roll; C, C, are cheeks
of cast iron bored to fit the spindle, and turned on the inside to receive the
pieces of wood a, a, a, a, which are made to fit them; d¹, d', screw pins for
holding the two cheeks C, C, together. The wood is turned to the shape
shown in the Drawing, and the two parts of the roll are screwed firmly
together, and keyed on the spindle. In the top fulling roll the pieces of wood
are shown fitted into mortices cast in an iron ring, but they may be fitted
between cheeks, as shown in roll A.
lined with copper e, e, or other metal, instead of with wood.
Fig. VII. shows the iron cheeks C, C,
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "improvements in
machines for fulling woollen and other fabrics, and in the method of driving
them, and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect," I wish
it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact shape of the
circumferences of the fulling rolls shown in these Drawings, as the same may
be varied considerably without departing from the main object, which is to
contract the width crosswise of the opening between the rolls as they approach
each other, the more effectually to secure the advance of the cloth without

page_text: increasing the pressure, and to readily adapt the machine to receive cloths dif-
fering considerably in weight or bulk, as well as to prevent the tendency of the
cloth to wrinkle or crease.
I claim, first, the forming of fulling rolls, the cross sections of the circum-
ferences of which are two or more sided, similar to b, b, and e, e, Fig. VI. and
VII., so that the width of the opening crosswise as they approach each other
shall be considerably contracted.
Secondly, constructing the body of the roll in parts, and filling it with wood,
or covering it with copper or other metal, as described and shown at Fig. V.,
V., VI., VII.
Thirdly, mounting in a swinging frame the adjusting "knuckle
rolls D, D, D, D, one set of which rolls may be driven or not.
or grooved
Fourthly, adjustable, vertical, or inclined rolls running close to the bottom
fulling roll, turned hollow in the direction of their length, to guide the cloth
direct to the fulling rolls without the intervention of a fixed mouthpiece or
guide, which rolls may be driven or not at pleasure.
Fifthly, the combination of parts for regulating the pressure of the top roll
on the cloth, and for engaging, disengaging, and retaining a friction clutch for
driving a fulling machine in connection with a swinging frame acted on by the
cloth undergoing the fulling process.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Ferrabee, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of December, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-one.
JAMES FERRABEE. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
before-named James Ferrabee,
in the presence of
W. W. KEARSBY,
of Stroud, in the County of Gloucester,
A Commissioner to administer Oaths in Chancery in England.

page_text: IN MACHINES FOR FULLING WOOLLEN AND OTHER FABRICS, AND IN THE METHOD
OF DRIVING THE SAME."
Sealed the 20th December 1861, and dated the 24th June 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Ferrabee at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th
June 1861.
I, JAMES FERRABEE, of the Phoenix Iron Works, Stroud, in the County of
Gloucester, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR FULLING WOOLLEN AND OTHER FABRICS, AND
IN THE METHOD OF DRIVING THE SAME," to be as follows:-
These improvements relate, first, to the form and construction of the fulling
rolls of fulling machines, and to the method of mounting them and regulating
their pressure.
Second, to the apparatus for conducting or delivering the cloth to and for
stopping the motion of the fulling rolls, and also for regulating the length of
the cloth.
Third, to the method of driving fulling machines. The fulling rolls of
fulling machines, as usually constructed hitherto, are of a cylindrical form,
plain on their circumferences. The bottom roll is keyed fast on a spindle
which runs in fixed bearings, and on each side of the roll are fixed metal rings
or shrouds at right angles to and projecting beyond its circumference. The
upper roll is somewhat narrower than the bottom one, and has no shrouds; it

page_text: is keyed fast on a spindle, which runs in bearings that are attached to springs
in such a manner as to allow the roll to work up and down, and to run freely
between the shrouds of the bottom one. The cloth to be fulled passes between
these two rolls, where it is subjected to a considerable pressure; but owing to
the form of the rolls, there is a tendency in the cloth to wrinkle while under-
going the fulling process.
(1.) To obviate this tendency to wrinkle, and also to facilitate the process
of fulling, I make the fulling rolls of a peculiar shape, the cross sections of
the circumferences of which may be two or more sided, or concave and convex.
These rolls work one into the other when in operation, but do not fit each
other. In making one of these improved rolls I use an iron body made in
two or more parts, and fitted together. This iron body is turned to receive
pieces of wood cut to the proper form, or a covering of copper or other metal,
which may be used in forming the circumferences of the rolls. This mode of
making the rolls admits of their being easily taken apart for the purpose of
renewing or correcting the working parts of them. The bottom roll runs in
fixed bearings. The top roll is mounted in two bearings which move in guides,
and are fitted with an adjusting apparatus actuated by a screw or a worni, or
an excentric, whereby these bearings may be raised or lowered, either both
together or separately. Attached to the bearings of the upper roll are levers
furnished with moveable weights, or a "Salter's" balance, for regulating and
indicating the pressure on the cloth during the process of fulling.
(2.) On its way to the fulling rolls in my improved machine, the cloth
passes over a grooved roll or grooved rolls (which may be called "drag rolls")
of somewhat similar form in their cross sections to the fulling rolls. These
drag rolls are placed in front of the fulling rolls in any convenient position..
They are fitted with friction clips and levers, or pressure rolls and levers
mounted in a hinged frame held by a catch and fitted with guides, through
which the cloth passes before it reaches the drag rolls. The levers are fur-
nished with weights or springs for regulating the amount of "drag" on the
cloth, and in the event of its becoming knotted or entangled below the guides,
the lever frame will lift and release the catch which holds the driving strap
or coupling, and stops the motion of the fulling rolls. Above the "drag." rolls
is another roll (which I prefer placing horizontally), driven by contact with
the fabric undergoing the process of fulling. The spindle of this roll extends
through to the outside of the frame of the machine, and gives motion to a
turned disk; in contact with' this disk is a small pulley mounted in a swinging
or sliding carriage. Attached to this carriage is a rod or lever which acts
upon the catch that retains in its place the driving strap or coupling of the

page_text: fulling rolls so long as the roll to which the disk is attached continues in
motion; but should this roll cease to revolve from the slipping of the cloth
between the fulling rolls, then the small pulley will slide across the disk
towards the centre of it, and thereby release the retaining catch above men
tioned, and stop the motion of the fulling rolls, thus preventing any injury
from occurring to the cloth.
(3.) Instead of driving fulling machines with fast and loose strap pulleys,
as is usually done, I use a countershaft, which passes through the machine,
and is inclosed in a pipe. On one end of this shaft is a pinion gearing into
the connecting wheels on the spindles of the fulling rolls. On the other end
of the countershaft, and running loose thereon, is a strap pulley, or a cog
wheel (as may be most convenient) with a friction coupling formed on it. A
corresponding coupling is fitted to slide on "feathers" let into the counter-
shaft, and is held in contact with, or released from, the coupling on the driving
pulley or cog wheel by means of the retaining catch and apparatus before
described. The countershaft may be placed on the outside of the machine in
some, instances.
Instead of the arrangements just described, I sometimes use a countershaft,
on which a small friction wheel is fixed, and running in contact with a larger
friction wheel fixed on the spindle of the lower fulling roll, the countershaft
being driven by a strap, or in any other way; and this small friction wheel
is held in contact with the larger one, or released therefroni by means of the
apparatus before described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Ferrabee in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
December 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
FERRABEE, .of Phoenix Iron Works,, Stroud, in the County, of Gloucester,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Vietoria, by Her. Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said James Ferrabee, Her special licence that I, the said. James
Ferrabec, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Ferrabec, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any

page_text: 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 MACHINES FOR FULLING WOOLLEN AND OTHER FABRICS, AND IN THE METHOD OF
DRIVING THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
James Ferrabee, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 James Ferrabee, 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 :-
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. I., II., III., are elevations, and
Fig. IV. is a plan showing my improvements in fulling machines, and the
mode of driving them; and Figs. V., VI., and VII. are Drawings on an
larged scale showing my improved plan of constructing the fulling rolls.
In Figs. I., II., III., and IV., the same letters refer to the same parts.
A is the bottom fulling roll; B, the top roll turned to work into but not
fitting A. Thes rolls are fixed to spindles a¹, a", which turn in bearings b, b',
Fig. 1; C, C, Fig. II. and IV.; are vertical guide rolls, turned hollow in the
direction of their length, as shown at C, Fig. II., mounted in adjusting
carriages d, d, immediately in front of and close to the bottom fulling roll A.
The spindles of these rolls c, c, pass through the top of the machine, and are
connected by spur wheels e, e. On the spindle of one of the rolls c, c, a turned
disk fis fixed a bar g extends across the machine, having on it a turned roll h,
running in contact with the disk f, and traversed on the bar g by a screw i;
on the end of the bar g is fixed a driving pulley k. T, Fig. II., is a guide
roll, with adjusting bearings on each end. D, D, D, D, Fig. II. and IV., are
"knuckle" rolls revolving freely on spindles c, c, screwed to a jointed or
rolls, is capable of being
swinging frame 1, 1; one of which spindles, with its
moved nearer to or further from the other by means of screws m, m; n, n¹, n",
are wood dividing pieces attached to the swinging frame 1, 1, and extended
downwards to receive a board E; o is a glass ferule in the board E, (there is
a similar ferule on the other side of the dividing board n',) through which the
cloth or material to be fulled passes; p, Fig. I. and III., is a catch fast to

page_text: the swinging frame 1, 1, and extending through the side S of the machine for
retaining the spring lever q, which is fast on the bar w; P is a pully running
loose on the driving bar G, turned taper on the inside to receive the clutch H,
which slides on feathers let into the driving bar G; I is a spur pinion fast on bar.
G,'gearing into spur wheel K fast on spindle a',.which carries the fulling.roll A;
M, M, are spur wheels for communicating motion to the top fulling roll B;.
N, a pully for driving the cross bar 9, by means of a strap z; O, a trough; P;
a moveable lid working freely on the spindle a" of the top fulling roll B; :Q,.a
weight box; R, the cloth; r, Fig. III., is a brass clip embracing the boss of
sliding clutch H; s, a forked lever laying hold of the clip r; t is a bracket
carrying lever 8; u, a link connecting the levers with the short lever v, fast.
on the bar w; x, x, brackets for carrying bar w; y, lever and weight fast on
bar w; c, Fig. I., is a carriage sliding on the frame S, and carrying the.
bearing b of the spindle a"; d, d, rods screwed to th carriage c², and connected.
to the lever by the jointed link e'; g), a weight sliding on the lever f¹; h¹,
an adjusting screw and strap for regulating the acting of lever f, and the dis-
tance of the top fulling roll B from the bottom one A. (There is a similar
arrangement on the other side of the machine.) The cloth R is placed in the
machine, as shown in Fig. II., and the pressure on it between the ulling rolls
is regulated by the adjusting screw h¹ and weight g¹, sliding on the lever f¹,
which is graduated to shew the pressure. Motion being communicated to the
loose pully F, the clutch H must be brought into contact with its inner surface,
by pushing the spring handle g towards the side of the machine S, and must be
retained there by the catch p fast to the swinging frame 1, l; which will cause,
the driving bar G to revolve, and with it the fulling rolls A, B,.by means of the
wheels I, K, M, M; as the rolls A and B, revolve they carry the cloth forwards
into the trough O, where it is retarded by the pressure of the lid P. to any
desirable extent by adding weights to the box Q. The rolls C, C, guide the
cloth to the fulling rolls A, B, and they may be adjusted to the required dis-
tance apart by means of the adjusting carriages d', d', so as to regulate the
amount of "drag" on the cloth. It is sometimes desirable to relieve the
cloth from all "drag" by driving. the rolls C, C, which is effected by means
of the pullies Nk, and strap at, the bar. g, roll h, and disk f, and spur
wheels e, e, their speed being regulated by traversing the roll. h across the
horizontal disk attached to one of the rolls C, C, which will cause the cloth
to be delivered to the fulling rolls without "dragging" or holding it, or other-
wise, as most desirable. The rolls D, D, D, D, in the swinging frame 1, l,
receive the cloth between them, and from their form they open it on its way to
the fulling rolls A, B, changing the direction of the crease. It is sometimes

page_text: desirable to make one set of these rolls fast on their spindle, and carry the
spindle through the side of the machine, and drive it by means of a strap,
friction roll, and disk in same manner and for same object as described in
reference to the rolls C, C.
'
In the event of the cloth catching up in a knot, or becoming entangled as it
reaches the guide board E, with the glass ferules o, o, in it, the swinging
frame will be lifted up, taking with it the catch p, and releasing the spring
handle 9, when the weight y will by means of the levers, joints, and clip v, u, s, r,
act on the sliding clutch H, and relieve it from contact with the inner surface
of the pulley F, thereby instantly stopping the rotation of the fulling rolls A, B,
and preventing injury to the cloth. In some cases the driving pulley F, with
sliding clutch H, may be mounted on the spindle a', which carries the fulling.
roll A, dispensing with bar G and wheels I, K, and the engaging and disengaging
apparatus may be connected in the same manner as already described. A
tooth wheel may be substituted for the pulley F, admitting of the use of
gearing for driving instead of a strap.
Fig. V. is a sectional elevation of the bottom fulling roll taken through the
middle, showing the pieces of wood with which it is filled. Fig. VI. is a cross
elavation, showing the construction of the rolls in section, where A is the
bottom fulling roll, and B the top fulling roll. Fig. VII. is a section of a
bottom fulling roll, made entirely of metal. The same letters refer to the
same parts in such Figure.
In Fig. VI., A is the bottom fulling roll; B, the top roll; C, C, are cheeks
of cast iron bored to fit the spindle, and turned on the inside to receive the
pieces of wood a, a, a, a, which are made to fit them; d', d', screw pins for
holding the two cheeks C, C, together. The wood is turned to the shape
shown in the Drawing, and the two parts of the roll are screwed firmly
together, and keyed on the spindle. In the top fulling roll the pieces of wood
are shown fitted into mortices cast in an iron ring, but they may be fitted
between cheeks, as shown in roll A. Fig. VII. shows the iron cheeks C, C,
lined with copper e, e, or other metal, instead of with wood.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "improvements in
machines for fulling woollen and other fabrics, and in the method of driving
them, and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect," I wish
it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact shape of the
circumferences of the fulling rolls shown in these Drawings, as the same may
be varied considerably without departing from the main object, which is to
contract the width crosswise of the opening between the rolls as they approach
each other, the more effectually to secure the advance of the cloth without

page_text: increasing the pressure, and to readily adapt the machine to receive cloths dif-
fering considerably in weight or bulk, as well as to prevent the tendency of the
cloth to wrinkle or crease.
I claim, first, the forming of fulling rolls, the cross sections of the circum-
ferences of which are two or more sided, similar to b, b, and e, e, Fig. VI. and
VII., so that the width of the opening crosswise as they approach each other
shall be considerably contracted.
Secondly, constructing the body of the roll in parts, and filling it with wood,
or covering it with copper or other metal, as described and shown at Fig. V.,
V., VI., VII.
Thirdly, mounting in a swinging frame the adjusting "knuckle" or grooved
rolls D, D, D, D, one set of which rolls may be driven or not.
Fourthly, adjustable, vertical, or inclined rolls running close to the bottom
fulling roll, turned hollow in the direction of their length, to guide the cloth
direct to the fulling rolls without the intervention of a fixed mouthpiece or
guide, which rolls may be driven or not at pleasure.
Fifthly, the combination of parts for regulating the pressure of the top roll
on the cloth, and for engaging, disengaging, and retaining a friction clutch for
driving a fulling machine in connection with a swinging frame acted on by the
cloth undergoing the fulling process.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Ferrabee, havo hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of December, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-one.
JAMES FERRABEE. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
before-named James Ferrabee,
in the presence of
W. W. KEARSEY,
of Stroud, in the County of Gloucester,
A Commissioner to administer Oaths in Chancery in England.