IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND IN MEANS FOR INSERTING THE RODS OR SKEWERS WITHIN LAPS OF COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Hough Clayton, of Hyde, in the County of Chester,
Manager, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND IN
MEANS FOR INSERTING THE RODS OR SKEWERS WITHIN LAPS OF COTTON AND
OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
ealed the 8th March 1878, and dated the 17th October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Hough Clayton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th October 1877.
HENRY HOUGH CLAYTON, of Hyde, in the County of Chester, Manager. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND IN MEANS FOR INSERTING THE RODS OR
SKEWERS WITHIN LAPS OF COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
My Invention relates principally to the laps of cotton formed in machinery for
opening, beating, and cleaning the cotton preparatory to the carding operations; but
inay also be employed in the treatment of other fibrous materials.
The cotton lap is formed by the lap machines by winding a bat or layer of
cotton upon a shaft or roller, and when so formed, the said shaft or roller is with-
drawn and a rod or skewer is inserted in its place. When the said shaft or roller
is withdrawn, the cotton, by reason of its elasticity, expands, so as entirely to
occupy the space vacated by the said shaft or roller. Preparatory to the treatment
of the cotton by the carding engine, a rod or skewer has to be inserted as near as
may be in the centre of the coiled lap.
Previously to my Invention the operator has thrust the point of this rod through
the lap, the result being, that in many or in most cases, the rod has not exactly
occupied the position vacated by the said shaft or roller, and the layers of cotton
have been pierced, whereby a portion of the end of the lap has been rendered unfit
to pass through the carding engine, and sometimes a portion of the cotton has been
thrust out by the end of the said rod. To remedy these defects is the object of my
said Invention. To this end I bore out the said shaft or roller to receive the said
rod or skewer, or I employ a tubular shaft having a bore suitable to receive the rod
or skewer, and I form a head upon one end of the rod or skewer. Previously to

page_text: the withdrawal of the shaft or roller, the rod or skewer is inserted within the said
shaft or roller. When the shaft or roller is withdrawn the rod or skewer is left
within the lap, the said head preventing the rod or skewer from being withdrawn
along with the shaft or roller, and the cotton closes inwards upon the said rod
or skewer, which is thus left exactly in the required position within the lap.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Hough Clayton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
April 1878.
.J.
HENRY HOUGH CLAYTON, of Hyde, in the County of Chester, Manager. "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND IN MEANS FOR INSERTING THE RODS OR
SKEWERS WITHIN LAPS OF COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
My Invention relates principally to the laps of cotton formed in machinery for
opening, beating, and cleaning the cotton preparatory to the carding operations, but
may also be employed in the treatment of other fibrous materials..
The cotton lap is formed by the lap machines by winding a bat or layer of
cotton upon a shaft or roller, and when so formed, the said shaft or roller is with-
drawn, and a rod or skewer is inserted in its place. When the said shaft or roller
is withdrawn, the cotton, by reason of its elasticity, expands, so as entirely to
occupy the space vacated by the said shaft or roller. Preparatory to the treatment
of the cotton by the carding engine a rod or skewer has to be inserted as nearly as
may be in the centre of the coiled lap.
Previously to my Invention the operator has thrust the point of this rod through
the lap, the result being, that in many or in most cases, the rod has not exactly
occupied the position vacated by the said shaft or roller, and the layers of cotton
have been pierced, whereby a portion of the end of the lap has been rendered unfit
to pass through the carding engine, and sometimes a portion of the cotton has been
thrust out by the end of the said rod. To remedy these defects is the object of my
said Invention. To this end I bore out the said shaft or roller to receive the said
rod or skewer, or I employ a tubular shaft having a bore suitable to receive the rod
or skewer, and I form a head upon one end of the rod or skewer. Previously to
the withdrawal of the shaft or roller the rod or skewer is inserted within the said
shaft or roller. When the shaft or roller is withdrawn the rod or skewer is left
within the lap, the said head preventing the rod or skewer from being withdrawn
along with the shaft or roller, and the cotton closes inwards upon the said rod
or skewer, which is thus left exactly in the required position within the lap.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I have appended
hereunto a Sheet of Drawings marked with letters of reference.
Referring in this place to the said Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal
section of one of my improved shafts reduced in size. The said shaft is hollow and
encloses a skewer or rod «, which is represented detached by Fig. 2. The said
skewer is formed or provided with a head b, which is by preference larger in

page_text: diameter than the gudgeon c of the shaft. The lap of cotton is formed upon the
said shaft as is usual. The skewer a is inserted within the hollow space in the said
shaft, either previously to, or after the formation of the lap. The shaft is withdrawn
from the lap in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, which represents a
section of a portion of a lap with the shaft partly withdrawn. When the said
shaft is being withdrawn, the head b, by bearing against the lap, prevents the
skewer from being withdrawn with the shaft. When the shaft is completely with-
drawn the skewer is left within the lap in the required central position.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which I carry the same into practical effect, I would have it to be
understood, in conclusion, that claim the shaft and skewer suitable to be employed
substantially in manner as and for the purpose herein-before set forth and
indicated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Hough Clayton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
HENRY HOUGH CLAYTON. (L.S.)