IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SPINNING ROPE YARNS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Barbour, Machinist, of Belfast, in the County of
Antrim, Ireland, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
SPINNING ROPE YARNS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Barbour at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th December 1880.
JAMES BARBOUR, Machinist, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Ireland.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SPINNING ROPE YARNS."
These improvements consist of a series of novel arrangements of parts in what
are known as horizontal spinners for rope yarns, wherein each bobbin spindle has
its own separate movements. The novel features of the machine are,―
First. Applying screw gills instead of chain gills as hitherto used in these
machines for the purpose of carrying the sliver to the "interceptor" or drawing
point.
Second. The application of Barbour's Patent friction discs for regulating the speed
of the fallers or screw gills.
Third. The application of a novel form of conductor at the delivery end of th
screw gills to condense the sliver for the "interceptor," or analogous contrivance.
This conductor is made of the usual "trumpet" shape, but with an opening at the
top to facilitate the piecing of the sliver.
Fourth. The arrangement of traverse motion for bobbins, whereby an instantaneous
reverse is obtained by means of clutches and levers. By this arrangement the length
and position of the traverse can be readily and accurately adjusted, even during the
working of the machine.
"
Fifth. A novel centrifugal drag motion by means of which the drag upon the
bobbin necessary for " taking up the yarn
is obtained. This is effected by
frictional pawls or levers which are brought into contact with the internal surface
of a pulley by centrifugal force which increases as the bobbin increases in
speed.
Sixth. The general arrangement of the machine, as combining screw gills and
horizontal spindles, with the different novel arrangements hereinbefore described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Barbour in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th April
1881.
JAMES BARBOUR, Machinist, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Ireland.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SPINNING ROPE YARNS."
These improvements consist of a series of novel arrangements of parts in what
are known as "horizontal spinners" for rope yarns, wherein each "bobbin spindle"
has its own separate movements.
The nature of these improvements will be understood from the following
description, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawing, wherein
the same figures and letters of reference always apply to the same or like
parts:
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the spinning machine designed for a pair of spindles, one
"bobbin spindle" only and its appurtenances being shewn complete; Fig. 2 is a
side elevation, Fig. 3 is a partial end elevation of the same; Fig. 4 is a side view of
the traverse motion for the bobbin of one of the spindles, it being made in reverse
for the bobbin of the other spindle or that which is represented at Figures 1 and 2;
Fig. 5 is a detached view of the sliver conductor; Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are
detached views of the centrifugal drag pulley which regulates the winding of the
yarn upon the bobbin.
In describing this Invention I will take the novel features seriatim. Firstly. The
Invention relates to the application of the screws a for actuating the gills b in place.
of the chains (hitherto used for this class of machines), for the purpose of carrying
the sliver to the interceptor c, or to the drawing point."
For the purpose of regulating the speed of the fallers or screw gills b I employ
what is known as "Barbour's Patent friction discs."
These are shewn at e, e¹, mounted upon the longitudinal driving shaft f, which
receives its motion through bevil gear from a transverse shaft f¹, furnished with
main driving pulleys f². The disc e' is made fast to its shaft f, and the disc e is
mounted loosely on its shaft, and is pressed towards the disc e¹ by means of a
spring e, interposed between a box fixed to the shaft f and the disc e. Between these
discs and gripped tightly by them is a grooved friction pulley es mounted on a short
shaft e, and carried by an adjustable socket bearing, which allows of the friction
pulley being advanced towards or drawn back from the axis of motion of the
discs as desired. This arrangement provides for the friction pulley being driven at
any desired speed to suit the work in hand. The pulley is grooved to receive a
band d for transmitting rotary motion through a train of gear g¹ to the back feed
roller g. On the shaft e¹ is also a pulley h, which by means of a belt hand
pulley h² on one of the screw shafts a serves to drive the gill screws at a regulated
speed.
The sliver as it leaves the gills passes into a novel construction of conductor i,
constituting the second head of my Invention, and serving to condense the sliver
before passing into the interceptor c. This conductori (shewn at Figures 1 and 2)
is made of the usual trumpet shape, but with an opening at the top (see the
detached view, Fig. 5) to facilitate the operation of piecing the sliver.
The Invention relates, thirdly, to an arrangement of traverse motion for the
bobbinsk, whereby an instantaneous reversal of the traverse motion is obtained.
The bobbin kis mounted upon and carried by a socket spindle m backwards and
forwards inside the flyer b. This socket is connected by a forked arm to a rack m',
which is driven by a pinion n on the axle of a bevil wheel n', which receives its
motion alternately from one or other of two bevil wheels m², mounted loosely

page_text: on a driving shaft n³. These pinions are alternately connected with their shaft by
means of a sliding clutch o, which receives an endway motion from a sliding bar o¹,
actuated in a manner to be presently described. 02 is a double incline or wedge
shaped projection at one extremity of the bar o¹, and it is acted upon by a
corresponding double incline or wedge os carried by a swinging arm which is
pendent from a fixed stud ot
This wedge o³ is connected elastically with the pendent arm by means of a coiled
spring which allows it to yield to lateral pressure, and thus permits of its passing
from one side to the other of the wedge o², to act upon the bar o', and give it a
longitudinal motion in opposite directions. This endway motion of the bar o causes
the clutch o, by reason of its connection with the bar, to engage with one or other
of the pinions n², and thereby reverse the direction of rotation of the pinion n, and
consequently the direction of traverse of the rack m¹, and of the bobbin k carried
by the socket spindle m which is in connection with the rack. The pendent arm
carrying the wedge o³ is connected with a reciprocating rod o³, which is supported
in a suitable guide, and is provided with stops, between which two adjustable screw
tappets m³ traverse.
These screw tappets m² are carried by the rack m', and as one or other is by the
travel of the rack caused to strike a stop on the rod o³, that rod will pull forward
or thrust back the wedge shaped projection o³, driving it against one or other side
of the inclines on the end of the bar o¹, thereby shifting the clutch o, and
disengaging one pinion and locking the other to the driving shaft n¹. Thus the
change in the traverse of the bobbin from the right to the left, and vice versa, is
promptly effected.
The moment of this reversal taking place can be readily and accurately adjusted,
even during the working of the machine by adjusting the amount of projection in
the screws m² on the rack m¹.
The Invention relates, fourthly, to a novel centrifugal drag motion by means of
which the drag upon the bobbin necessary for "taking up
the yarn is obtained.
By reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the bobbin k is connected through its
socket spindle m to a pulley m³, which is connected by a band with a pulley r
mounted loosely on the longitudinal driving shaft f of the machine.
Within this pulley r are fitted friction pawls, small levers 71 (see the detached
views, Figures 8 and 9), which as the pulley r rotates under the drag of the yarn
are thrown by centrifugal force into contact with the inner surface of a pulley or
dish f', keyed to the driving shaft f, and thereby caused to gear with more or less
force on the dish or pulley f¹. The speed at which this shaft fis driven is inferior
to that of the pulley r, but the direction of rotation of both is the same. The
pulley therefore acts as a friction surface, and through the pawls retards the
rotation of the pulley r, and consequently that of the bobbin k, in proportion to
the force with which the pulley f¹ is gripped by the pawls. This force it will be
understood increases with the speed of rotation of the pulley r, which speed (arising
from the drag of the yarn) increases as the bobbin becomes filled. By these means
a uniformity of tension on the yarn is obtained from the beginning to the
completion of the winding of the yarn on the bobbin.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in
Machinery for Spinning Rope Yarns," and explained the manner of carrying the
same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited
Letters Patent I claim,-
First. The use of screw gills for the purpose of carrying the sliver to the drawing
point in "horizontal spinners," the speed of such gills being regulated by the means
above described.
Secondly. The open topped sliver conductors, as described, at the delivery end of
the gills.
Thirdly. The instantaneous reversing motion above described for traversing the
bobbins of "horizontal spinners."

page_text: Fourthly. The means above described for obtaining the drag on the bobbin by
the action of centrifugal force.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Barbour, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Twenty-ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.