CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING AND SPINNING COTTON, WOOL, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1847

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
ELCE, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Machine Maker, and
RICHARD BLEASDALE, of Rochdale, in the same County, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Fourth day of May, in the tenth year of Her reign, and
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said John
Elce and Richard Bleasdale, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege
and authority, that we, the said John Elce and Richard Bleasdale, our exors,
admors, or assigns, and such others as we, the said John Elce and Richard
Bleasdale, our exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years
therein expressed, should and lawfully make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England and Wales and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, our Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING AND SPINNING COTTON,
WOOL, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES;" in which said Letters Patent is con-
tained a proviso that we, the said John Elce and Richard Bleasdale, shall
cause a particular description of the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be enrolled in Her Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the
same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear."

page_text: 1 compiance with the provide, w
Elce and Richard Bleasdale, do hereby declare the nature of our Invention
of Certain Improvements in Machinery for Preparing and Spinning Cotton,
Wool, and other Fibrous Substances, to consist,―
Firstly, in certain mechanical arrangements to be applied to preparing and
spinning machinery, for the purpose of stopping such machinery as soon as
the sliver or roving with which such machinery is supplied shall break or be
removed.
Secondly, in another mechaninal arrangement, by which a more uniform
drag is presented to the bobbin in throstles, and similar machinery where such
drag is required.
And, thirdly, in the application of hollow shafting to certain part of the
spinning machine called the mule, as herein-after described.
And the manner in which our improvements are to be performed and carried
into effect, will be seen by reference to the annexed Drawing and the follow-
ing description. The scale to which the Drawings are made is marked
thereon, and the same letter or figure of reference denotes the same part in
the various Figures where such letter or figure of reference may be found.
Figure 1 represents a side view, Figure 2 an end. view, and Figure 4 a
plan of an ordinary drawing head, to which the first part of our improvements
(or that by which. the. machine is stopped when the sliver breaks or is
removed) is applied. In those Figures A represents the drawing rollers,
and B the cans from which the sliver is supplied. From the spur wheel C,
which is driven from the shaft of the back drawing roller, motion is imparted
to the spur wheel D placed on the end of a shaft d, extending the whole
length of the, machine, as seen at Figure 1 and 4, which shaft d consequently
receives an uniform rotation in the direction of the bent arrow (see Figure 2),
while the wheels C and D remain in gear. On this shaft d is placed a series
of circular conductors marked e, corresponding in number with the number
of slivers or ends to be drawn; and over each of these revolving conductors
a sliver or end is passed, as it proceeds from the can B to the drawing
rollers A, (see Figure 2 and 4). The construction of these circular con-
ductors is seen in section on an enlarged scale at Figures 3 and 5, where it
will be seen that each. is provided by side flanges to keep the sliver on the
interior circumference, and that that circumference consists of a smooth sur
face, part of which is formed by the click f (see Figure 3).
vibrates freely on the stud g, so that when a sliver of cotton or
substance is passing over the upper surface of the circular conductor e (as.
seen at Figure 2), it holds down the end of the click f, which then forms
This click f
other fibrous

page_text: part of the continuous inner circumference of the conductor e; but as soon as
the pressure of the sliver is removed, from breakage or any other cause, the
click fassumes the position shewn in dotted red lines at Figure 3, the oppo-
site end forcing out the bolt h from the continuous circumference, which bolt
comes in contact with a catch E, as seen at Figure 3, and stops the rotation
of the shaft d. The interior construction of the bos of the wheel D is repre-
sented at Figure 5, where it will be observed, that the wheel D is not keyed
to the shaft d, but carries the shaft by means of a small studi m moving in
the slot or guide n. This stud m, when the wheel D is home and in gear
with the wheel C, is in the position shewn on the red at o, and there carries
the shaft d, but when the shaft d is held or stopped, the stud is carried over
the point of the slot n and up the inclined line, till it forces the wheel D out
of gear; and into the position seen at Figure 5, where the wheel D comes in
contact with the the strap guider, and stops the machine, so that as soon as
the bolt h comes in contact with the stop E, and ceases the rotation of the
shaft d, this wheel D is thrown out of gear and the machine at rest. As soon
as the operative observes the wheel D thus forced out of gear, he proceeds
to the back of the machine and replaces the sliver, and forcing the wheel D
into gear by hand, the rotation of the shaft & proceeds until an end or sliver
is again removed from one of the conductors e, when the stopping action
immediately comes into operation as just described. From the foregoing
description of this part of our improvements, it will be obvious that a certain
degree of pressure is required from the sliver on the click f to insure its
correct action, and this is effected either by passing it through a frictioni
guide F, as seen at Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, which imparts a slight degree of
tension to the sliver in its passage over the revolving conductor e, or 'by
placing a pair of revolving rollers I in the same position as the friction
guide F, as seen at Figures 6 and 7, which shall deliver the sliver at the
same speed as the back roller of the drawing rollers takes it up.
Another apparatus for effecting the same stopping motion is represented
at Figure 8-and 9, where e represents the conductors placed in the same
position as already described; but instead of being supported on a revolving
shaft, each conductor is supported on a small carriage, as seen at Figure 8.
And the conductor through which the sliver or end passes in the direction of
the arrow is contracted, so as to present sufficient friction to support the
conductor and carriage in the position there represented; but as soon as ati
end breaks or is removed, the conductor and its carriage falls, and the bolt-h.
coming in contact with a stud on the shaft-d, stops it rotation, and throws
the wheel D out of gear, as already described. From this description of the
first part of our improvements, as applied to the drawing head, it will be

page_text: readily applied to roving and slubbing frames, or other preparation and spin-
ning machinery; and we are aware that machinery of this nature has been
stopped by the breaking or removal of the end by various contrivances for
that purpose; but what we claim as our Invention in this first part of our
improvements is, the application of a continuous or alternating revolving shaft,
provided with conductors, so constructed as to stop such continuous or alter
nating revolving shaft as soon as the end or sliver shall break or be removed.
And, as regards the modification of this first part of our improvements, as
.described and represented at Figures 8 and 9, we claim the same as herein
set forth and described.
The second part of our improvements, or that which consists in the appli-
cation of a more even and uniform drag to the bobbins used in throstles and
similar machinery, is represented at Figures 11 and 12, and consists in the
arrangement of a continuous list or band r; r, passing round the guide
pulleys, placed on the upper side of the copping rail R, and proceeding along
the surface and round the driving pulley T, so as to form two parallel lines
of band or list on the upper surface of the copping rail, as seen in the Plan
at Figure 11; and on these two lines of band or list the bobbins are seated.
A slow rotation is given to the pulley T by the shaft t, on the opposite end of
which is placed the worm wheel V, driven by a worm on the front roller
shaft. The worm wheel V is free on the shaft t, to admit of the traverse of
the copping rail, but imparts rotation to the shaft t, by means of a stud taking
into the slot or opening W, see Figure 12. The band or list r, r, is thus
moved slowly, so that every bobbin. rests upon a varying portion of the band
or list at every part of the traverse, and thereby a more even and uniform
amount of drag is produced. Now, we are aware that similar arrangements
of two parallel lines of list or band have been in use, for the purpose of pro-
ducing a more uniform drag in machinery of this nature, such list or band
being occasionally moved by the operative. But it is not the position of the
band or list which we claim as our Invention, but the rendering of the move-
ment of such band continuous and self-acting, and independent of the care
of the operative. And although we have only described one way of produc-
ing the effect which we have found to answer, we are aware that the move-
ment of such list or band may be effected from other movements of the
machine than those we have represented, which must depend on the nature
and build of the machine; but what we claim as our Invention in this second
part of our improvements is, the rendering the movement of the drag self-
acting or dependent on the movement of the machine, from whatever part it
may be taken.
The third and last part of our improvements consist, in the application of

page_text: hollow shafts for the faller shafts in the mule carriage, as represented at X
in Figure 10, and for the shaft Y, on which the bevils wheels are placed for
driving the drums which carry the spindle bands, as is now in practice. By
this application the shafts are lighter and stiffer, and the action of the gearing
and faller wires more uniform at each end of the mule carriage. We there-
fore claim the application of hollow shaft to mule carriages as described, which,
along with the self-acting movement described in the first part of our improve-
ments, and also the improved drag described in the second part of our
improvements, being, to the best of our knowledge and belief new, and never
before practised in that part of Her Majesty's Dominions called England,
we deliver this as our true and faithful Specification of the same.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Elce and Richard Bleasdale,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Second day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.
JOHN (L.B.) ELCE.
RICHARD (L.B.) BLEASDALE.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Second day of November, in
the year of our Lord 1847, the aforesaid John Elce and Richard Bleasdale
came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged
the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and
specified, in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was
stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
ELCE, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Machine Maker, and
RICHARD BLEASDALE, of Rochdale, in the same County, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Fourth day of May, in the tenth year of Her reign, and
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said John
Elce and Richard Bleasdale, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege
and authority, that we, the said John Elce and Richard Bleasdale, our exors,
admors, or assigns, and such others as we, the said John Elce and Richard
Bleasdale, our exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years
therein expressed, should and lawfully make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England and Wales and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, our Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING AND SPINNING COTTON,
WOOL, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES;" in which said Letters Patent is con-
tained a proviso that we, the said John Elce and Richard Bleasdale, shall
cause a particular description of the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be enrolled in Her Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the
same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, we, John
Elce and Richard Bleasdale, do hereby declare the nature of our Invention
of Certain Improvements in Machinery for Preparing and Spinning Cotton,
Wool, and other Fibrous Substances, to consist,—
Firstly, in certain mechanical arrangements to be applied to preparing and
spinning machinery, for the purpose of stopping such machinery as soon as
the sliver or roving with which such machinery is supplied shall break or be
removed.
Secondly, in another mechaninal arrangement, by which a more uniform
drag is presented to the bobbin in throstles, and similar machinery where such
drag is required.
And, thirdly, in the application of hollow shafting to certain part of the
spinning machine called the mule, as herein-after described.
And the manner in which our improvements are to be performed and carried
into effect, will be seen by reference to the annexed Drawing and the follow-
ing description. The scale to which the Drawings are made is marked
thereon, and the same letter or figure of reference denotes the same part in
the various Figures where such letter or figure of reference may be found.
Figure 1 represents a side view, Figure 2 an end view, and Figure 4 a
plan of an ordinary drawing head, to which the first part of our improvements
(or that by which the machine is stopped when the sliver breaks or is
removed) is applied. In those Figures A represents the drawing. rollers,
and B the cans from which the sliver is supplied. From the spur wheel C,
which is driven from the shaft of the back drawing roller, motion is imparted
to the spur wheel D placed on the end of a shaft d, extending the whole
length of the machine, as seen at Figure 1 and 4, which shaft d consequently
receives an uniform rotation in the direction of the bent arrow (see Figure 2),
while the wheels C and D remain in gear. On this shaft d is placed a series
of circular conductors marked e, corresponding in number with the number
of slivers or ends to be drawn; and over each of these revolving conductors
a sliver or end is passed, as it proceeds from the can B to the drawing
rollers A, (see Figure 2 and 4). The construction of these circular con-
ductors is seen in section on an enlarged scale at Figures 3 and 5, where it
will be seen that each is provided by side flanges to keep the sliver on the
interior circumference, and that that circumference consists of a smooth sur-
face, part of which is formed by the click f (see Figure 3). This click f
vibrates freely on the stud g, so that when a sliver of cotton or other fibrous
substance is passing over the upper surface of the circular conductor e (as
seen at Figure 2), it holds down the end of the click f, which then forms

page_text: part of the continuous inner circumference of the conductor e; but as soon as
the pressure of the sliver is removed, from breakage or any other cause, the
click fassumes the position shewn in dotted red lines at Figure 3, the oppo-
site end forcing out the bolt h from the continuous circumference, which bolt
comes in contact with a catch E, as seen at Figure 8, and stops the rotation
of the shaft d. The interior construction of the bos of the wheel D is repre-
sented at Figure 5, where it will be observed, that the wheel D is not keyed
to the shaft d, but carries the shaft by means of a small stud m moving in
the slot or guide n. This stud m, when the wheel D is home and in gear
with the wheel C, is in the position shewn on the red at o, and there carries
the shaft d, but when the shaft d is held or stopped, the stud is carried over
the point of the slot n and up the inclined line, till it forces the wheel D out
of gear, and into the position seen at Figure 5, where the wheel D comes in
contact with the the strap guider, and stops the machine, so that as soon as
the bolt comes in contact with the stop E, and ceases the rotation of the
shaft d, this wheel D is thrown out of gear and the machine at rest. As soon
as the operative observes the wheel D thus forced out of gear, he proceeds
to the back of the machine and replaces the sliver, and forcing the wheel D
into gear by hand, the rotation of the shaft d proceeds until an end or sliver
is again removed from one of the conductors e, when the stopping action
immediately comes into operation as just described. From the foregoing
description of this part of our improvements, it will be obvious that a certain
degree of pressure is required from the sliver on the click f to insure its
correct action, and this is effected either by passing it through a friction
guide F, as seen at Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, which imparts a slight degree of
tension to the sliver in its passage over the revolving conductor' e, or 'by
placing a pair of revolving rollers I in the same position as the friction
guide F, as seen at Figures 6 and 7, which shall deliver the sliver at the
same speed as the back roller of the drawing rollers takes it up.
Another apparatus for effecting the same stopping motion is represented
at Figure 8 and 9, where e represents the conductors placed in the same
position as already described; but instead of being supported on a revolving
shaft, each conductor is supported on a small carriage, as seen at Figure 8.
And the conductor through which the sliver or end passes in the direction of
5 the arrow is contracted, so as to present sufficient friction to support the
conductor and carriage in the position there represented; but as soon as an
end breaks or is removed, the conductor and its carriage falls, and the bolt h.
coming in contact with a stud on the shaft d, stops it rotation, and throws
the wheel D out of gear, as already described. From this description of the
0 first part of our improvements, as applied to the drawing head, it will be

page_text: readily applied to roving and slubbing frames, or other preparation and spin-
ning machinery; and we are aware that machinery of this nature has been
stopped by the breaking or removal of the end by various contrivances for
that purpose; but what we claim as our Invention in this first part of our
improvements is, the application of a continuous or alternating revolving shaft
provided with conductors, so constructed as to stop such continuous or alter
nating revolving shaft as soon as the end or sliver shall break or be removed.
And, as regards the modification of this first part of our improvements, as
described and represented at Figures 8 and 9, we claim the same as herein
set forth and described.
The second part of our improvements, or that which consists in the appli-
cation of a more even and uniform drag to the bobbins used in throstles and
similar machinery, is represented at Figures 11 and 12, and consists in the
arrangement of a continuous list or band r; r, passing round the guide
pulleys, placed on the upper side of the copping rail R, and proceeding along
the surface and round the driving pnlley T, so as to form two parallel lines
of band or list on the upper surface of the copping rail, as seen in the Plan
at Figure 11; and on these two lines of band or list the bobbins are seated.
A slow rotation is given to the pulley T by the shaft t, on the opposite end of
which is placed the worm wheel V, driven by a worm on the front roller
shaft. The worm wheel V is free on the shaft t, to admit of the traverse of
the copping rail, but imparts rotation to the shaft t, by means of a stud taking
into the slot or opening W, see Figure 12. The band or list r, r, is thus
moved slowly, so that every bobbin. rests upon a varying portion of the band
or list at every part of the traverse, and thereby a more even and uniform
amount of drag is produced. Now, we are aware that similar arrangements
of two parallel lines of list or band have been in use, for the purpose of pro-
ducing a more uniform drag in machinery of this nature, such list or band
being occasionally moved by the operative. But it is not the position of the
band or list which we claim as our Invention, but the rendering of the move-
ment of such band continuous and self-acting, and independent of the care
of the operative. And although we have only described one way of produc-
ing the effect which we have found to answer, we are aware that the move-
ment of such list or band may be effected from other movements of the
machine than those we have represented, which must depend on the nature
and build of the machine; but what we claim as our Invention in this second
part of our improvements is, the rendering the movement of the drag self-
acting or dependent on the movement of the machine, from whatever part it
may be taken.
The third and last part of our improvements consist, in the application of

page_text: hollow shafts for the faller shafts in the mule carriage, as represented at X
in Figure 10, and for the shaft Y, on which the bevils wheels are placed for
driving the drums which carry the spindle bands, as is now in practice. By
this application the shafts are lighter and stiffer, and the action of the gearing
and faller wires more uniform at each end of the mule carriage. We there-
fore claim the application of hollow shaft to mule carriages as described, which,
along with the self-acting movement described in the first part of our improve-
ments, and also the improved drag described in the second part of our
improvements, being, to the best of our knowledge and belief new, and never
before practised in that part of Her Majesty's Dominions called England,
we deliver this as our true and faithful Specification of the same.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Elce and Richard Bleasdale,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Second day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.
hollow shafts for the faller shafts in the mule carriage, as represented at X
in Figure 10, and for the shaft Y, on which the bevils wheels are placed for
driving the drums which carry the spindle bands, as is now in practice. By
this application the shafts are lighter and stiffer, and the action of the gearing
and faller wires more uniform at each end of the mule carriage. We there-
fore claim the application of hollow shaft to mule carriages as described, which,
along with the self-acting movement described in the first part of our improve-
ments, and also the improved drag described in the second part of our
improvements, being, to the best of our knowledge and belief new, and never
before practised in that part of Her Majesty's Dominions called England,
we deliver this as our true and faithful Specification of the same.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Elce and Richard Bleasdale,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Second day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.
JOHN (L.S.) ELCE.
RICHARD (L.B.) BLEASDALE.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Second day of November, in
the year of our Lord 1847, the aforesaid John Elce and Richard Bleasdale
came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged
the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and
specified, in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was
stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.
me year
thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.
JOHN (L.S.) ELCE.
RICHARD (L.B.) BLEASDALE.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Second day of November, in
the
year of our Lord 1847, the aforesaid John Elce and Richard Bleasdale
came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged
the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and
specified, in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was
stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.