IMPROVEMENTS IN CARDING ENGINES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, THOMAS BISPHAM KAY of 3 Arcade Chambers S; Mary's Gate Manchester in
the County of Lancaster Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARDING ENGINES" to be as follows:-
:-
My Invention relates to certain modifications of and improvements in the
mechanical details for setting and grinding the top cards or flats of Carding Engines
described in Specon of Letters Patent granted to me the said Thomas Bispham Kay
on the 31st day of January 1870 N° 275 for "Certain Improvements in Carding
Engines to be employed for Carding Cotton and other Fibrous Substances."
According to the Invention therein specified and to that part of it relating to
Carding Engines having revolving or travelling flats,-the flats are shown and
described when in grinding position as being steadied against the grinding surfaces
by toothed wheels rotating on oscillating levers and pressed by springs against the
snuga cast on the flat ends and having the cam surfaces attached thereto actuating
the grinding roller carried upon levers oscillating upon distinct or separate centres
whereby the flats are ground to the necessary bevil. The grinding roller is also
shown and described as rotating in swing sockets adjusted to the flats by screws
carried by the oscillating levers. The surfaces actuating the grinding roller are
also shown and described as formed in the shape of cams.
Now according to my present Invention I attach supplementary levers or spring
platforms to the radial supporting brackets acting independantly of the aforesaid
oscillating levers carrying the toothed wheels and cam surfaces for steadying the
flats during the operation of grinding. I also attach a check arrangement to the
oscillating levers carrying the toothed wheels and cam surfaces whereby the arc of
oscillation may be determined independantly of the flat snugs. I also arrange the
grinding roller to rotate in sliding sockets adjusted by the regulating screws and
carried upon the oscillating levers for supporting the same. I also arrange the
shoulder arms on the radial supporting brackets to oscillate thereupon. I also
dispense with the rotating cam surfaces and substitute rotating discs.
I also apply
the cam surfaces and rotating discs collaterally. By this arrangement I obtain
greater convenience and accuracy in the grinding and setting of the flats.

page_text: I THOMAS BISPHAM KAY of 3 Arcade Chambers, St Mary's Gate Manchester in
the County of Lancaster Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARDING ENGINES," and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:—
My Invention relates to certain modifications of and improvements in the
mechanical details for setting and grinding the top cards or "flats" of "Carding
Engines" described in Specon of Letters Patent granted to me the said Thomas
Bispham Kay on the 31st day of January 1870 N° 275 for "Certain Improvements
in Carding Engines to be employed for Carding Cotton and other Fibrous
Substances."
According to the Invention therein specified and to that part of it relating to
Carding Engines having revolving or travelling flats, the flats are shown and
described when in grinding position as being steadied against the grinding surfaces
by toothed wheels rotating on oscillating levers and pressed by springs against the
snugs cast on the flat ends and having the cam surfaces attached thereto actuating
the grinding roller carried upon levers oscillating upon distinct or separate centres
whereby the flats are ground to the necessary bevil. The grinding roller is also
shown and described as rotating in swing sockets adjusted to the flats by screws
carried by the oscillating levers. The surfaces actuating the grinding roller are
also shown and described as formed in the shape of cams.
Now according to my present Invention I. attach supplementary levers or spring
platforms to the radial supporting brackets acting independently of the aforesaid
oscillating levers carrying the toothed wheels and cam surfaces for steadying the
flats during the operation of grinding. I also attach a check arrangement to the
oscillating levers carrying the toothed wheels and cam surfaces whereby the arc of
oscillation may be determined independently of the flat snugs. I also arrange the
grinding.roller to rotate in sliding sockets adjusted by the regulating screws and
carried upon the oscillating levers for supporting the same. I also dispense with
the rotating cam surfaces and substitute rotating discs. I also apply the cam
surfaces and rotating discs collaterally.
By this arrangement I obtain greater convenience and accuracy in the grinding.
and setting of the flats.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for "Improvements in
Carding Engines" I will now proceed to describe more in detail the manner in
which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect, and

page_text: in order that the same may be clearly understood I have annexed hereto a Sheet of
Drawings illustrative thereof and have marked the same with figures and letters
of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation and have made
the same about one half the real size. As both sides of the Carding Engine are
alike so far as this my present Invention is concerned I shall describe that on one
side only.
Figs. I and II represent partial front and side views of my improved grinding
mechanism.
The rest of the Figs. represent detailed views of my improved mechanism for
steadying the flats during the operation of grinding.
In Figs. I and II, L is the upper part of one of the adjustable radial supporting
brackets carrying the chain of travelling flats, K is the oscillating lever supporting
the grinding roller P, M is the adjustable sliding socket bracket carried thereupon,
H is the oscillating lever carrying the toothed wheel F and cam surfaces G; and S
is the stop upon L against which the arm of the lever H is drawn by the spring I;-
In Figs. IV, V, and VI, H¹ is the supplementary lever with its toothed wheel F,
and H, F is a variation of the same for steadying the flat against the grinding
gauge. In Figs. III, VII, VIII, IX, and X, W is a platform carried by the socket
bracket V and actuated by springs lying therein and affixed against the face of the
supporting bracket L, and which may in some cases be used in lieu of the supple-
mentary lever for steadying the flats against the grinding gauge.
Having thus described my improved arrangement of mechanism, I shall now
proceed to explain the action of the same. It may here be remarked that hitherto
owing to irregularities in the snugs C cast upon the ends of each flat, the arc of
oscillation which the lever carrying the cam surfaces describes and which is
regulated thereby, is not constant, and consequently the grinding of the flats
composing the series is not uniform. Now by my improved mechanism shown
at H, T, S, Figs. I and II, the arc of oscillation in an upward direction is fixed and
determined by the action of the stop S against the end T of the lever H and at
the same time the upward pressure necessary to steady the flat when grinding and
hitherto secured by the action of the said lever H is now supplied by the supple-
mentary lever H' Figs. IV, V and VI, actuated by either spring or weight, or in
some cases by the spring platform W, Figs. VII, VIII and IX.
The centre upon
which the cam surfaces rotate is thus stationary for a short period whilst each flat
is being ground, thereby securing greater uniformity of carding surface throughout
the series of flats. Also the grinding roller P is adjusted with greater ease and
accuracy and supported more firmly by my improved arrangement of adjustable
sliding socket M, Figs. I and II carried upon the oscillating lever K. In cases
where the surface of the flat is "bevilled" from the back thereof and requires the
"heel" only grinding, I use discs in lieu of the cam surfaces, or I affix discs
collaterally with the cam surfaces and use them alternately, but I prefer to use the
cam surfaces alone and both "bevil" and "heel" the flat, i.e. operate upon the whole
surface of wire, at one operation. and from the working surfaces thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
(1) The application of a check arrangement to the oscillating levers carrying
the toothed wheels and cam surfaces to determine the arc of oscillation thereof
independently of the flat snugs.
(2) The combination of supplementary levers, or spring platforms, with the
oscillating levers carrying the toothed wheels and cam surfaces, for steadying the
flats during grinding.
(3) The combination of adjustable sliding sockets with the oscillating levers for
carrying the grinding roller.

page_text: (4) The combination of rotating discs with the toothed wheels for regulating the
grinding of the flats.
(5) The general arrangement of mechanism for setting and grinding the flats
of Travelling Flat Carding Engines or any mere imitation of the above described
arrangements of parts respectively when used substantially in the manner and for
the same purposes as herein before described, set forth, and illustrated.