IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO THE MACHINERY USED FOR SPINNING HEMP, FLAX, MANILLA, WOOL, AND OTHER LIKE LONG FIBROUS MATERIAL FROM THE HAND, OR WHEN PREVIOUSLY FORMED INTO A 'SLIVER.
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Ronald, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE
TO THE MACHINERY USED FOR SPINNING HEMP, FLAX, MANILLA, WOOL, AND
OTHER LIKE LONG FIBROUS MATERIAL FROM THE HAND, OR WHEN PREVIOUSLY
FORMED INTO A 'SLIVER.'
39
Sealed the 19th April 1864, and dated the 23rd October 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Ronald at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd
October 1863.
I, JAMES RONALD, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE
TO THE MACHINERY USED FOR SPINNING HEMP, FLAX, MANILLA, WOOL, AND OTHER
LIKE LONG FIBROUS MATERIAL PROM THE HAND, OR WHEN PREVIOUSLY FORMED INTO
A SLIVER," to be as follows (that is to say):-
This Invention has for its object certain improvements in the machinery
used for spinning hemp or other like long fibrous material from the hand, or
when previously formed into a sliver, and consists mainly in using a horizontal
"flyer" with an elongated axle which extends beyond the frame on which it
is mounted, and which is perforated at the outer end with a hole, which being.
curved or otherwise turned opens out at one side of the axle, and a number of
holes running through the shaft in alternate oblique directions.

page_text: 66
Spinning machines constructed according to this Invention may consist
of a suitable shaped frame of iron or other suitable material, upon which is
mounted longitudinally a horizontal "flyer" (or "flyer frame"), the shank or
outer axle of which extends beyond the frame sufficiently to admit of a number
of lateral oblique holes being formed therethrough. The outer end of the
flyer frame" axle formed with a hole in the centre of its axis, and which
hole is curved or otherwise turned to one side so as to open out on one side of
the axle shaft, some little distance in rear of the outer end, and a little in rear of
which is drilled or otherwise formed another hole also running backwards in
an oblique but opposite direction to the last, and a little in rear of which is
another hole which extends through the shaft in an opposite oblique direction
to the last. This shaft is further perforated with another oblique hole
extending through the shaft in an opposite direction to the last, and which
hole may pass through the shaft, so that the opening may extend from one
side of the bearing of the axle to the other inside of the frame; or in lieu of
the last-mentioned oblique hole the shaft at its bearings may be enlarged to
admit of a hole being drilled or otherwise formed parallel to the axis of the
shaft. The "flyer" (or "flyer frame") niay be of any suitable description,
but it is preferred to use a "flyer frame" with a take-up bobbin mounted on
a spindle in line with the axis of the "flyer frame," and having a horizontal
reciprocating motion on the length of its axis, imparted thereto by a right and
left handed intersecting screw shaft motion. Any required number of the
oblique holes may be formed through the "flyer" axle.
The object of this arrangement is that if a cord or piece of yarn be attached
to the take-up bobbin and passed over a pulley wheel on one side of the " ⚫ flyer
frame," and carried over a second pulley wheel at or near the "flyer frame,"
and thence through the several oblique holes in the "flyer frame" shaft in a
zig-zag direction, and be led through the curved hole at the outer end of the
axle, upon the machine being set in motion by steam, or other motive power,"
applied through driving bands or in any other convenient manner, the result
will be that the friction on the take-up bobbin will cause this cord or yarn
to be drawn inwards and wound upon the take-up bobbin, so that all the
spinner has to do is to take a "bite" of his hemp on to the end of the cord or
piece of yarn, and the rotation of the "flyer frame" will put into the fibre
the required twist to form the yarn, and the friction on the bobbin spindle
will cause it to be drawn inwards, and be wound around the spindle of the
take-up bobbin as formed, as will be well understood by those acquainted with
the art. If preferred a common "flyer" or "gartered flyer" may be used in
place of the "flyer frame," and which "flyer" or "gartered flyer" may, if

page_text: preferred, have the required reciprocating motion imparted thereto for the
purpose of laying the yarn evenly on the "take-up bobbin," in place of the
"take-up bobbin" having a reciprocating motion on its spindle. In place
of the oblique holes being formed through the "flyer axle " it may be formed
with mortice holes fitted with sliding tongue pieces, in such a manner as to
enable them to be advanced and drawn back within the recesses of the shaft
so as to carry the yarn in a more or less zig-zag direction, whereby the draw
upon the hand can be regulated as the "take-up bobbin" fills. When it is
intended to feed this machine with a "roving" or "sliver" in. place of by
hand the "sliver " is supplied to the machine through a pair of feed rollers
placed immediately in front of the axle of the "flyer," and which feed rollers
may also be fed directly from endless "gills."
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Ronald in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd April 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
RONALD, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said James Ronald, Her special licence that I, the said James
Ronald, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Ronald, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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
APPLICABLE TO THE MACHINERY USED FOR SPINNING HEMP, FLAX, MANILLA, WOOL,
AND OTHER LIKE LONG FIBROUS MATERIAL, FROM THE HAND, OR WHEN PREVIOUSLY
FORMED INTO A SLIVER," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
James Ronald, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Ronald, 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 (that is to say):-
This my said Ihvention has for its object certain improvements in the
machinery used for spinning hemp, or other like long fibrous material, from
the band, or when previously formed into a sliver, and consists mainly in using
a horizontal flyer, with an elongated axle which extends beyond the frame on
which the flyer is mounted, and which is perforated at the outer end with a
hole, which being curved or otherwise turned opens out at one side of the
axle, and a number of holes running through the shaft in alternate oblique
directions.
+66
A spinning machine constructed according to this my said Invention may
consist of a suitable shaped frame of iron, or other suitable material, upon
which is mounted longitudinally a horizontal flyer" (or "flyer frame,") the
shank or outer axle of which extends beyond the frame supporting the flyer
sufficiently to admit of a number of lateral oblique holes being formed there-
through.
The outer end of the "flyer frame" axle being formed with a hole in the
centre of its axis, and which hole is curved or otherwise turned to one
side so as to open out on one side of the axle shaft some little distance in
rear of the outer end, and a little in rear of which is drilled or otherwise
formed another hole, also running backwards in an oblique but opposite
direction to the last, and a little in rear of which is another hole which extends
through the shaft in an opposite oblique direction to the last. This shaft is.
further perforated with another oblique hole, extending through the shaft in an
opposite direction to the last, and which hole may pass through the shaft, so
that the opening may extend from one side of the bearing of the axle to the
other, inside of the frame; or in lieu of the last-mentioned oblique hole, the
shaft at its bearings may be enlarged to admit of a hole being drilled or other-
wise formed parallel to the axis of the shaft. The "flyer" ("or flyer frame")
may be of any suitable description, but it is preferred to use a "flyer-frame'
with a take-up bobbin mounted on a spindle in line with the axis of the "flyer-
frame" and having a horizontal reciprocating motion on the length of its axis
imparted thereto by a right and left banded intersecting screw shaft motion.
Any required number of the re-oblique holes may be formed through the
flyer" axle.
The object of this arrangement is that if a cord or piece of yarn be attached
to the take-up bobbin, and passed over a pulley wheel on one side of the

page_text: "flyer frame" and carried over a second pulley wheel at or near the end of
the "flyer frame," and thence through the several oblique holes in the "flyer-
frame" shaft in a zig-zag direction, and be led through the curved hole to the
outer end of the axle, upon the machine being set in motion by steam or
other motive power, applied through driving bands or.in any other convenient
manner, the result will be that the friction on the take-up bobbin will cause
this cord or yarn to be drawn inwards and wound upon the take-up bobbin,
so that all the spinner has to do is to take a bight of his hemp on to the end
of the cord or piece of yarn, and the rotation of the "flyer frame" will put
into the fibre the requisite twist to form the yarn, and the friction on the
bobbin will cause it to be drawn inwards and be wound around the spindle of
the take-up bobbin as formed, as will be well understood by those acquainted
with the art.
If preferred a common "flyer" or "gartered flyer" may be used in place of
the "flyer-frame," and which flyer or "gartered flyer" may, if preferred, havé
the required reciprocating motion imparted thereto for the purpose of laying the
yarn evenly on the take-up bobbin, in place of the take-up bobbin having a
reciprocating motion on its spindle. In place of the oblique holes being formed
through the "flyer axle" it may be formed with mortice holes fitted with
sliding tongue pieces in such a manner as to enable them to be advanced or
drawn back within the recesses of the shaft, so as to carry the yarn in a more
or less zig-zag direction, whereby the draw upon the hand can be regulated as
the take-up bobbin fills.
When it is intended to feed this machine with a "roving" or sliver in place
of by hand, the "sliver" is supplied to the machine through a pair of feed
rollers, placed immediately in front of the axle of the flyer, and which feed
rollers may also be fed directly from endless "gills."
In some cases I have found it of advantage to drive the take-up bobbin a
little faster than the flyer in place of retarding the same by friction as now
commonly practised.
That this my said Invention may be the more readily seen and understood,
I have hereto annexed Drawings in illustration of one modification of a
spinning machine constructed with my improvements applied thereto. Like
letters, and figures marked on the Drawings are used to denote similar
parts.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of one of my improved spinning machines, and
Figure 2 is a back elevation of the same.
A, the, sationary framework of the machine; B, the main driving shaft
which has keyed thereon-C and C, fast and loose driving pulleys; D, driving

page_text: pulley which gives motion to the flyer frame; E, the flyer frame, through
F driving strap which work over G, a driving pulley keyed on the hollow
axle of the flyer frame (E); H, a driving pulley keyed into the main driving
shaft (B), which through I a driving strap working over K a driving pulley on
La hollow axle, on the end of which is carried M a friction disc which gives
motion to N the take-up bobbin. The hollow axle (L) has a longitudinal reci-
procating motion imparted thereto by means of P a clutch, through the base of
which works Q, a revolving shaft, having cut therein a right-handed and a
left-handed screw, which by means of a swivelling stud piece imparts the
required reciprocating motion. R, a driving pulley on the end of the shaft
(Q), over which travels S a driving strap, working over T a small driving
pulley on the axle of U a driving pulley, which receives motion through V a
driving strap working over a small pulley on the main driving shaft; W, the
improved elongated flyer axle through which the fibre during the act of spinning
is carried through suitable holes or their mechanical equivalents, in the
direction or nearly the direction indicated by the dotted lines; X, the yarn
which is taken on the bobbin (N) as formed; Y, antefriction wheels on the
flyer frame over which the yarn travels; Z, the spindle which supports the
take-up bobbin, and which is withdrawn by hand when the bobbin is required
to be removed from the flyer frame.
I having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, and how I believe it may be best carried into effect, I wish it to
be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details or relative
proportions or dimensions as herein-before described and set forth, as it will be
readily seen that they may be considerably varied without departing from the
Invention, but what I claim as new, and my Invention is elongating the outer
axle of the flyer or flyer frame and perforating it, substantially in the manner
and for the purposes herein-before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Ronald, have hereunto set my
hand and affixed my seal, this Twenty-second day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER,
Of 44, Castle Street,
Liverpool.
JAMES (L.S.) RONALD.