IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hetherington, of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Machine Maker, Thomas Webb, of Smallwood Manor,
Uttoxeter, in the County of Stafford, Esquire, and James Craig, of
Tutbury, in the County of Stafford, Cotton Spinner, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING
COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
Sealed the 11th June 1862, and dated the 13th December 1861(**
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hetherington,
Thomas Webb, and James Craig at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 13th December 1861.
We, JOHN HETHERINGTON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Machine Maker, THOMAS WEBB, of Smallwood Manor, Uttoxeter, in the
County of Stafford, Esquire, and JAMES CRAIG, of Tutbury, in the County of
Stafford, Cotton Spinner, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING
COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS," to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates, firstly, to the spindles of spinning and doubling
machines which have no top bearings, and consists in forming the top of the
spindle as a screw for the purpose of holding and conducting the thread to the
flyer. As a matter of construction, we form the screw as a separate piece,
and adapt it in the spindle.

page_text: Secondly, in the application of a flexible bush to the copping rail. The
elasticity may be gained by metal or other substances, but a plan we adopt
is to apply to the copping rail a bush or strip of leather pierced with holes,
which, while they are sufficiently small to afford steadiness to the spindle, are
elastic enough to admit of a little play.
Thirdly, we employ a tube fixed to the bolster rail for the purpose of
supporting the spindle, and which is traversed by the copping rail.
Fourthly, our Invention relates to a method of throwing the wheels of spinning
and doubling spindles out of gear. For this purpose we so adapt the wheels
that they may be lifted or depressed the one from the other.
Fifthly, our Invention refers to spinning or doubling machinery in which
the spindles are driven by bands, and consists in so arranging the parts that
the said bands 'may be left in a slackened condition when desired. To
accomplish this either the spindles or the drums may be moveable, so as to be
capable of approaching each other.
SPECIFICATION
in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Hetherington, Thomas Webb, and James Craig in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th June 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
HETHERINGTON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Machine Maker,
THOMAS WEBB, of Smallwood Manor, Uttoxeter, in the County of Stafford,
Esquire, and JAMES CRAIG, of Tutbury, in the County of Stafford, Cotton
Spinner, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of December One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said John
Hetherington, Thomas Webb, and James Craig, Her special license that
we, the said John Hetherington, Thomas Webb, and James Craig, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said John
Hetherington, Thomas Webb, and James Craig, our executors, adminis-
trators, 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

page_text: con-
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OB APPARATUS FOR
SPINNING AND DOUBLING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS," upon the,
dition, amongst others, that we, the said John Hetherington, Thomas Webb,
and, James Craig, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals,
or under the hand and seal of one of 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 I, the said John Hetherington, 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 and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
Our Invention relates, firstly, to the spindles of spinning and doubling
machines which have no top bearings, and consists in forming the top of the
spindle as a screw for the purpose of holding and conducting the thread to
the flyer as a matter of construction. We form the screw as a separate piece
and adapt it to the spindle. This improvement is shewn at Figs. 1 and 2
of the accompanying Drawings, in which the spindle is at a, and the flyer
at b; within the top end of the spindle is formed a screwed recess, to which
is adapted a piece b having a spiral part c at the top, which spiral part serves
as a guide for the thread (shewn by the red line), and owing to its form the
said thread is readily placed therein when the attendant has to piece up. We
have shewn the spiral e, formed upon a separate part, but it may, if desired,
be constructed upon the spindle itself.
Secondly, our Invention consists in the application of a flexible bush to the
copping rail. The elasticity may be gained by metal or other substances,
but the method we prefer is to apply a strip or bush of leather to the copping
rail which, while it is sufficiently small to afford steadiness to the spindle, is
elastic enough to admit of a little play, and so prevent a binding action. This
improvement is shewn as Figs. 3 and 4, in which a is the copping rail, and
b a bush of leather attached thereto, and formed with a hole through which
the spindle c passes.
Thirdly, our Invention consists in the employment of a tube fixed to the
bolster rail for the purpose of supporting the spindle, and which tube is
traversed by the copping rail. This part of our Invention is shewn at Fig. 5,
in which a is the bolster rail carrying a tube b, which is consequently stationary.
Through this tube the spindle c passes, and it is therefore in that manner
supported. The bearing may be throughout the length, but in the Drawing

page_text: do
A
we have shewn the tube as bushed at its upper end d. The copping rail is
at e formed with an aperture, through which the tube b passes.
2
Fourthly, our Invention relates to a method of throwing the wheels of
spinning and doubling spindles out of gear. For this purpose we so adapt
the wheels that they may be lifted or depressed the one from the other, the
former method being preferred. This part of our Invention is shewn at Figs.
6 and 7, in which a is a line shaft for driving the spindles by means of wheels
b, taking into pinions c, upon the spindles d. The spindles c are embraced
by forks e, situate beneath bosses f formed on the spindles, and resting upon
a bar g. These forks turn upon centres at h, and are extended so as to
afford levers i. When it is desired to arrest the motion of any spindle of the
series the attendant places a foot upon the respective lever i, and thus raises
the said spindle, and elevates the pinion c out of gear with the wheel b.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, we desire it to be
understood that we claim as secured to us under the above in part recited
Letters Patent, and as applied to machinery for spinning and doubling,
Firstly, the use of a screw or spiral adapted to or formed upon the end
of the spindle.
Secondly, the application of a flexible bush to the copping rail for supporting
the spindle.
Thirdly, supporting the spindle by a tube fixed to the bolster rail, and tra-
versed by the copping rail.
Fourthly, the arrangement above described for connecting the motion of the
spindles.
1
In witness whereof, I, the said John Hetherington, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
!
JOHN HETHERINGTON. (L.S.)