IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPANDING ROLLERS OR APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING FABRICS.”
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hawthorn, John Pemberton Liddell, and Peter
Hawthorn, of the Firm of John Hawthorn and Co., of Newtown, in the
County of Chester, Engineers, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
EXPANDING ROLLERS OR APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING FABRICS.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hawthorn, John
Pemberton Liddell, and Peter Hawthorn at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents on the 15th March 1881.
JOHN HAWTHORN, JOHN PEMBERTON LIDDELL, and PETER HAWTHORN, of the
Firm of John Hawthorn and Co., of Newtown, in the County of Chester,
Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPANDING ROLLERS OR APPARATUS FOR
STRETCHING FABRICS."
Our Invention relates to the rollers or apparatus which are employed in
connection with machinery. for treating or operating upon fabrics, and are intended
to stretch the fabrics so as to increase the width from selvedge to selvedge, or to
restore the full width of the fabric. For this purpose we employ a combination roller
consisting of a number of wheels or rollers, arranged to revolve upon axes which
are inclined from a straight line, the inclination increasing as the axes become
further removed from the centre of the combination. When using an uneven
number of wheels the axis of the central line will co-incide with an imaginary
straight line. The axes of the wheels on each side will incline in opposite directions
from the said line, and the axes of the next outer wheels on each side will incline
still more, and so on with regard to the remainder of the wheels. In a combination
consisting of an even number of wheels all the axes would be inclined. The
peripheries of the wheels approach nearer together on one side of the combina-
tion than on the other. The said peripheries are turned to form grooves, and are
cut with cross grooves so as to form teeth which incline in each direction from the
centre towards the end of the combination, or the wheels are covered with cards or
are otherwise formed or fitted to take hold of the fabric. When the fabric is drawn
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page_text: over the combination roller it becomes stretched. The amount of stretch may be
varied by turning the combination round, or by causing the fabric to have contact
with a greater or lesser portion of the circumference. We do not confine ourselves
to any particular method for obtaining the said inclination of the axes. According
to one method the wheels revolve upon ferules, which are threaded upon a rod or
shaft. Each ferule is bored to suit the said rod, and the inclination of the said bore
from the axis of motion of the wheel which revolves upon the ferule is greater as
the ferule is further removed from the centre of the combination. The ends of the
ferules are turned and prepared to fit together, and the whole are forced into tight
contact by means of screw nuts, or by other suitable means, so that no one of the
ferules can revolve upon the rod. In another arrangement the wheels revolve
upon ferules or bushes which are fixed upon a curved or bent rod or shaft, or which
are screwed upon a curved screwed rod. We prefer to form gearing teeth upon the
wheels, or provide them with connecting studs or projections, so that one wheel
cannot remain at rest whilst the others are revolving.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Hawthorn, John Pemberton Liddell, and Peter Hawthorn in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th September 1881.
JOHN HAWTHORN, JOHN PEMBERTON LIDDELL, and PETER HAWTHORN, of the
Firm of John Hawthorn and Company, of Newtown, in the County of Chester,
Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPANDING ROLLERS OR APPARATUS FOR
STRETCHING FABRICS."
Our Invention relates to the rollers or apparatus which are employed in
connection with machinery for treating or operating upon fabrics, and are intended
to stretch the fabrics so as to increase the width from selvedge to selvedge, or to
restore the full width of the fabric. For this purpose we employ a combination
roller, consisting of a number of wheels, pulleys, or rollers, arranged to revolve
upon axes which are inclined from a straight line, the inclination increasing as the
axes become further removed from the centre of the combination. When using an
uneven number of wheels the axis of the central wheel will co-incide with an
imaginary straight line. The axes of the wheels on each side will incline in
opposite directions from the said line, and the axes of the next outer wheels on. each
side will incline still more, and so on with regard to the remainder of the wheels.
In a combination consisting of an even number of wheels all the axes would be
inclined. The peripheries of the wheels approach nearer together on one side of
the combination than on the other. The said peripheries are turned to form grooves,
and are cut with cross grooves so as to form teeth, which incline in each direction
from the centre towards the end of the combination; or the wheels are covered
with cards or are otherwise formed or fitted to take hold of the fabric. When the
fabric is drawn over the combination it becomes stretched.
And in order that our Invention may be fully understood we have attached
hereunto a Sheet of Drawings made, with the exception of Fig. 3, to a scale of
about three inches to the foot, and marked with letters of reference, to which
Drawings we will refer in this place. Fig. 1, partly in section, represents the
complete roller, Fig. 2 being a cross sectional view of the same. In the said Figs.
a is a rectangular shaft, which is suitably formed at each end to rest in brackets,
supports, or bearings. Upon the said shaft are mounted a number of bushes or
ferules b, b. Each bush is formed with a rectangular opening to suit the shaft, and
is secured to the shaft by means of a pin which permits the bush to swivel to some
extent. Each bush is turned, and upon it is mounted a wheel c, which is bored to
suit the bush, so that it can revolve thereon. In the example there are thirteen
wheels, and the bush upon which the central wheel c' revolves is fixed to the shaft,
so that the wheel can revolve upon an axis which coincides with the axis of revolu❤
tion of the roller journals. The bushes upon which the other wheels revolve are
tilted or inclined, so that the axis of revolution of six wheels on each side of the
central wheel are inclined with respect to the axis of the roller journals, the incli-
nation of the axis of each wheel increasing in proportion as it is more remotely
situated with respect to the central wheel, as represented in Fig. 1. A bar d is
fitted to slide upon the shaft, and upon this bar are formed inclines, which act
upon rounded projections which are formed upon the interiors of the bushes, with
the exception of the central bush, as seen in Fig. 1. Each projection is formed on
the side of the bush which is nearest to the central wheel, so that when the bar is
drawn in the direction of the arrow the bushes become tilted right and left from
the centre, whereby the inclination of the axes of the wheels c is increased. On
the contrary, when the bar is moved in a direction contrary to the indication the
inclination of the axes is reduced. The said bar is acted upon by means of a

page_text: scrow e, upon which is mounted a nut f, which can be turned when the adjustment
of the bushes is desirable. The peripheries of the wheels are turned with bevel
grooves, which incline away from the centre of the system, as is seen in Fig. 1, and
grooves are also cut across the breadth of the wheel, in order that the said
bevel grooves may be formed into teeth, which can take hold of the fabric to be
stretched. The adjacent edges of the wheels are also cut or formed with teeth
which gear together, as seen, also about the full size, in Fig. 3, which represents a
small portion of the two wheels. This formation ensures that when the roller is in
use the whole of the wheels shall revolve in unison. Other means may be adopted
for effecting the same object, as for example, studs or projections on one wheel may
engage with the arms or with a suitable part of another wheel. When the roller is
in use the fabric is drawn over the roller, the shaft a being prevented from revolving.
When the greatest effect is required the fabric is caused to make the first contact with
the roller at the part where the wheels approach each other most closely, and is kept
in contact with about half of the circumference of the roller. As the wheels revolve
they diverge, owing to the inclination of their axis, and the fabric becomes stretched
in the direction of its width, as will be well understood. By turning the central
shaft in its bearings or supports the fabric may be caused to make the first contact
with the wheels after they have diverged to some extent, in which case the fabric
will be stretched to a lesser extent; or movable guiding rollers may be so arranged
as that the fabric can be brought into contact with a greater or lesser portion of
the circumference, according to the extent to which it is desired that it shall be
stretched. The action of the roller can also be regulated by turning the nut f so
as to vary the inclination of the axes of the wheels, as hereinbefore mentioned. In
some cases we may dispense with the bar d, and regulate the action of the roller
entirely in the manner hereinbefore indicated. In order that lubricant can be
supplied to the bearings of the wheels upon the bushes we fix a tube g in each
wheel, the said tube extending from the periphery of the wheel to the bearing, and
we fix a conical tube in the mouth of the said tube, the smaller end of the cone being
inwards. This arrangement prevents the escape of oil from the tube as the wheel
revolves. We do not confine ourselves to the precise details of the example selected
for illustration, as such details may be varied to some extent, as for example, the
bushes or ferules may be bored to fit upon a round shaft or rod, the bores of the
bushes or ferules being inclined with reference to the centres upon which their
peripheries would be turned, such inclination increasing from the centre of the
combination to the ends thereof. The ends of the bushes or ferules may be turned
to fit together, and the whole be forced into tight contact by means of screw nuts
or by other suitable means. The arrangement may also be modified by causing the
wheels to revolve upon ferules or bushes, which may be fixed or screwed upon a
curved rod, shaft, or screw, or be otherwise modified, so long as the wheels or parts
which when combined constitute the roller are caused to revolve on axes which are
inclined with respect to each other, substantially as in the case of the example
illustrated.
Having now described our said Invention, and particularly ascertained the
system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be used or carried
practically into effect, we would have it to be understood that what we consider
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,
First. The combination roller constructed and acting substantially as and for the
purpose set forth and indicated hereinbefore and in and by the accompanying
Drawings.
Secondly. The wheels, sections, or parts of a combination roller arranged to
revolve upon axes which are inclined with respect to a common straight line, the
inclination of the axes of the wheels increasing in proportion as they are more
remote from the centre of the series, substantially as and for the purpose set forth
and indicated.

page_text: And, Lastly. A roller composed of an unequal number of wheels or sections, and
having the axes of the wheels on each side of the central wheel of the series
inclined with respect to the axis of such central wheel, the inclination of the axes
increasing as they recede from the central wheel, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth and indicated.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Hawthorn, John Pemberton Liddell, and
Peter Hawthorn, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirteenth
day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
eighty one.
JOHN HAWTHORN.
(L.B.)
JOHN PEMBERTON LIDDELL. (L.S.)
PETER HAWTHORN.
'
(LS.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the said
John Hawthorn, John Pemberton
Liddell, and Peter Hawthorn, in the
presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
41, John Dalton St.,
Manchester,
(Agent for the Patentees). ·