IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE WEIGHT OR PRESSURE TO TOP ROLLERS USED IN SPINNING OR PREPARING FIBROUS MATERIALS TO BE SPUN
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Allison, of the City of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Pattern Maker, and John Livingston, of the same
Place, Mechanic, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE WEIGHT OR PRESSURE TO TOP ROLLERS USED
IN SPINNING OR PREPARING FIBROUS MATERIALS TO BE SPUN."
Sealed the 1st April 1858, and dated the 29th October 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said. David Allison and John
Livingston at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 29th October 1857.
We, DAVID ALLISON, of the City of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Pattern Maker, and JOHN LIVINGSTON, of the same Place,
Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE WEIGHT OR PRESSURE TO
TOP ROLLERS USED IN SPINNING OR PREPARING FIBROUS MATERIALS TO BE SPUN,"
to be as follows:-
Instead of placing weights at the bottom of each hook or wire, as at present
adopted, we employ one weight only, or a weight acting on a lever, either
made giving its effect upon all the hooks at the same time by passing a band,
chain, cord, or other flexible material over the ends of the hooks, having one
end connected to the weight or lever and the other firmly attached to any

page_text: convenient part of the main framing, thereby obtaining the power of adjusting
the pressure upon the top rollers with economy and efficiency. Where
springs are used for obtaining pressure upon the top rollers, we employ cams,
eccentrics, or pullies, placed on levers working on fulcrums attached to the
frame. In each lever there is a pin acting upon a bar, the ends of which
press upon a plate on the tops of the springs connected with one or more top
rollers when the cam or eccentric is in contact with the beam or other
resisting medium, thereby obtaining the desired pressure upon the said top
rollers.
By simply moving the lever and shifting the cam or eccentric the springs
are released, and the pressure taken off the top rollers without interfering with
the adjusting screws and nuts, by which means the pressure can be put
on and taken off without the loss of time incurred in the present mode
of adjustment.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Allison and John Livingston in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 27th April 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, DAVID
ALLISON, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Pattern
Maker, and JOHN LIVINGSTON, of the same Place, Mechanic, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of October; in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said David Allison and John Livingston, Her special licence that we, the
said David Allison and John Livingston, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said David Allison and John Livingston,
our 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 Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR REGULATING THE WEIGHT OR PRESSURE TO TOP ROLLERS USED IN SPINNING
OR PREPARING FIBROUS MATERIALS TO BE SPUN," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said David Allison and John Livingston, by an instrument
in. writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of

page_text: us, 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 we, the said David Allison and John Livingston,
do hereby declare the nature of our 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) :-
Instead of placing weights at the bottom of each hook or wire used for
connecting the weight or pressure with each top roller, as at present adopted,
we employ one weight only or a weight acting on a lever, for the purpose of
giving pressure to one or more top rollers, either mode giving its effect
upon all the hooks or wires, and consequently the rollers, at the same time, by
passing an endless band, chain, cord, or other flexible material over the hooks
or wires or over pulleys connected to them; and also under and over points of
resistance, with or without pulleys placed on each side of the hooks or wires,
and causing the weight or lever and weight to act upon the middle or other
convenient part of the band. The entire pressure is taken off the rollers at
once by lifting the weight or lever on to a catch. When springs of any
material are used for obtaining pressure upon the top rollers, we employ cams,
eccentrics, or pulleys, forming part of or connected to levers having their
fulcrums working in bars the ends of which are upon plates placed on the
tops of the springs, the said levers pressing down the springs and hooks
or wires when the cams or eccentrics at the top are in contact with the beam
or other resisting part of the framework, thereby obtaining the desired pressure
upon the rollers.
By simply moving the levers and shifting the cams or eccentrics the
springs are released and the pressure taken off the top rollers without inter-
fering with the adjusting screws and nuts, by which means the pressure can
be put on and taken off without the loss of time incurred in the present mode
of adjustment.
These improvements will be clearly understood by reference to the accom-
panying two Sheets of Drawings, with the letters of reference thereon, in
which Fig. 1 represents a front view of the top rollers, weighted by means of
a weight and lever acting on an endless band passing over pullies connected
to the weighting hooks, and under and over resisting pullies; and Fig. 2
represents our improved arrangement of levers and cams for instantaneously
pressing and releasing the weighting or pressure springs.
In Fig. 1 the top rollers are shewn at a and the weighting hooks at b,

page_text: having suspended to them the small frames c in which are the pins d for
supporting the pullies e, thus forming a continuous connection with the
weighting hooks. At the middle or other convenient part of the framework
of the machine we fix a hanger or support f carrying the pin or fulcrum g, on
which works the lever h, furnished with a weight i adjustable to any desired
position, and also a frame j in which is the pin k for supporting the pulley 1.
The endless band is shewn at m passing over the pulleys é attached to
the weighting hooks, and under the pulley attached to the lever, being
guided by the resisting pulleys n, so that when the weight is on the lever the
effect is transmitted to the hooks and top rollers, giving to all at one and the
same time the weighting required. The catch for holding the lever so as to
take off the pressure is shewn at o. Instead of employing an endless band
we may attach one end of an open band to a weight, or to a lever and weight;
and the other to any convenient part of the main framing, and also instead of
a weight for obtaining pressure, a powerful spring may be adjusted to any
desired position of the lever so as to obtain the same effect, or a weight or
a spring may be employed separately without the lever. We also apply the
aforesaid arrangements for weighting rollers not only to hooks or wires but
also to bands, tapes, or other methods employed for connecting the weight or
pressure with the rollers.
In Fig. 2, representing our improved arrangement for pressing and releasing
the weighting or pressure springs, p are the hooks and q the springs, above
which are the plates r with the ends of the bars s resting upon them, the said
bars having seatings or bearings in the middle for supporting the pins or
fulcrumst of the levers u, at the tops of which are the cams v placed in
contact with the beam w, so that when the lever is placed in a vertical
position, as seen at x, the bars, plates, and springs are depressed, thereby
giving pressure to the rollers; but when the lever is at an angle, as seen at
the bars and plates are raised and the springs released, thereby taking the
pressure off the rollers. We apply this improved system of pressing and
releasing the rollers not only to the ordinary springs, but also to the power
derived from atmospheric pressure, in conjunction with a partial vacuum
or other modes of employing the elasticity of air.
y,
Although in the Drawings only a small number of rollers with their
corresponding hooks in connection with our improvements are shewn, it is
evident any suitable number may be employed.
Having thus fully described the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, we desire it to be distinctly understood
that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details herein set forth, as such

page_text: may be varied or modified without departing from the principle thereof; but
we claim as our Invention, and which to the best of our knowledge and belief
has not been hitherto used within the realm,-
First, the employment of a weight or spring either separately or in con-
junction with a lever acting upon an open or endless band, chain, or cord
passing over hooks, wires, bands, tapes, or other material connected with the
top rollers, with or without the intervention of pullies, and also under
and over points of resistance, also with or without pullies, in order to dispense
with a number of weights.
And, secondly, the employment of levers with cams, eccentrics, or pullies,
acting against a resisting beam or other medium, so that the levers may press
down bars and plates placed upon the tops of the weighting or pressure
springs, whether of the ordinary kind or of atmospheric pressure obtained by
partial vacuum, so that the pressure may be given or taken off the rollers
without loss of time and inconvenience.
In witness whereof, we, the said David Allison and John Livingston,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-fourth day of
April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-eight.
DAVID ALLISON.
(L.S.)
JOHN LIVINGSTON. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named David Allison and John Livingston
in the presence of
DAVID ALLISON.
(L.S.)
JOHN LIVINGSTON. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named David Allison and John Livingston
in the presence of
E. J. HUGHES, Patent Agent,
Manchester.