IMPROVEMENTS IN PIECING 'DOUBLED' YARNS, OR YARNS CONSISTING OF TWO OR MORE STRANDS OR THREADS,
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Balfe, of Stockport, in the County of Chester,
Mill Manager, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PIECING 'DOUBLED'
YARNS, OR YARNS CONSISTING OF TWO OR MORE STRANDS OR THREADS,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Balfe at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th January 1881.
GEORGE BALFE, of Stockport, in the County of Chester, Mill Manager.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PIECING 'DOUBLED' YARNS, OR YARNS CONSISTING OF
OR MORE STRANDS OR THREADS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH.
TWO
My improvements relate to piecing "doubled "yarns or such yarns as are composed
of two or more strands or threads twisted together, and consists in a method
whereby I am enabled to piece or join such yarns so that the piecing or joining
shall be of little larger diameter than that of the general thickness of the yarn,
such piecing enabling the yarn to be used for manufacturing purposes as though no
piecing had been formed therein.
To accomplish the above object I remove the twist from a portion of each of
the two ends to be united. I then unite the separate strands of the yarn either by
tying, gumming, or twisting, but so arrange such tyings or joinings of the separate
strands or threads that no two are coincident. After the strands have been united
as above, the twist which had been transferred from the parts being united to
another part of the yarn, is now allowed to return to the parts which had previously
been untwisted.
To facilitate the above described method of piecing yarns or threads I make use
of the following machinery or apparatus:-Upon a base I mount two brackets,
each of which carry spindles capable of being driven by friction pullies, such
pullies being provided with handles by which they may be rotated. The spindles
aforesaid have a longitudinal slit formed therein, and are also provided with
clamps which are closed either by thumb-screws or springs.

page_text: Through the sides of the brackets carrying the aforesaid spindles I form slits
communicating with the previously described slits in the spindles. Upon the
before named base I also mount two pillars, furnished at their upper ends with
clamps capable of being closed by springs or thumb-screws. Projecting from the
previously mentioned base I provide as many pegs or skewers as there are strands
or threads in the yarn to be united.. The two ends of the yarn to be pieced are
passed through the slits in the before named brackets and spindles, and secured in
the clamps carried by the previously mentioned pillars, the yarn being then
fastened to the spindles by means of the before described clamps. The friction
pullies are then rotated so as to rotate the yarn in an opposite direction to that of
its twist until the whole of such twist is removed from the portion extending
between the clamps of the spindles and those of the pillars. I then take a strand
from each of the portions of the yarn to be united, separating them near to where
they are held by the clamps of the pillars aforesaid, and which are placed at
sufficient distance from the before named spindles as to give length of yarn
sufficient for piecing. The ends about to be united are passed around one of the
before named pegs or skewers, and are then tied, gummed, or twisted together.
I proceed in a similar manner with another pair of strands, and so on until the
whole have been united. The previously named pegs or skewers form a support
while securing the two portions of the strands together, and also determine the
relative positions of each of the piecings of the strands.
After the whole of the strands have been united I cut the loose ends resulting
from the tying, gumming, or twisting.
The now pieced yarn is released from the clamps of the spindles, and the twist
which had previously been removed therefrom again returns. I hang a weight
upon those parts of the yarn which receive the twist removed from those portions
to be tied, and thereby prevent their "snarling."

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Balfe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th July
1881.
GEORGE BALFE, of Stockport, in the County of Chester, Mill Manager.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PIECING DOUBLED' YARNS, OR YARNS CONSISTING OF
TWO OR MORE STRANDS OR THREADS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH.
My improvement relates to piecing "doubled" yarns or such yarns as are
composed of two or more strands or threads twisted together, and consists in a
method whereby I am enabled to piece or join such yarns, so that the piecing or
joining shall be of little larger diameter than that of the general thickness of the
yarn, such piecing enabling the yarn to be used for manufacturing purposes as
though no piecing had been formed therein. To accomplish the above object
I remove the twist from a portion of each of the two ends to be united; I then
unite the separate strands of the yarn either by tying, gumming, or twisting, but
so arrange such tyings or joinings of the separate strands or threads that no two
are coincident. After the strands have been united as above, the twist which had
been transferred from the parts being united to another part of the yarn, is now
allowed to return to the parts which had previously been untwisted.
To facilitate the above described method of piecing yarns or threads I make use
of the following machinery or apparatus:-Upon a base I mount two brackets, each
of which carries spindles capable of being driven by friction pulleys, such pulleys
being provided with handles by which they may be rotated. The spindles
aforesaid have a longitudinal slit formed thereon, and are also provided with clamps
which are closed either by thumb screws or springs.
Through the sides of the brackets carrying the aforesaid spindles I form slits
communicating with the previously described slits in the spindles. Upon the
before named base I also mount two pillars furnished at their upper ends with
clamps capable of being closed by springs or thumb screws. Projecting from the
previously mentioned base I provide as many pegs or skewers as there are strands
or threads in the yarn to be united. The two ends of the yarn to be pieced are
passed through the slits in the before named brackets and spindles, and secured in
the clamps carried by the previously mentioned pillars, the yarn being then
fastened to the spindles by means of the before mentioned clamps. The friction
pullies are then rotated so as to rotate the yarn in an opposite direction to that of
its twist, until the whole of such twist is removed from the portion extending
between the clamps of the spindles and those of the pillars. I then take a strand
from each of the portions of the yarn to be united, separating them near to where
they are held by the clamps of the pillars aforesaid, and which are placed at
sufficient distance from the before named spindles as to give length of yarn
sufficient for piecing. The ends about to be united are passed around one of the
before named pegs or skewers, and are then tied, gummed, or twisted together.
I proceed in a similar manner with another pair of strands, and so until the whole
have been united. The previously named pegs or skewers form a support while
securing the two portions of the strands together, and also determine the relative
positions of each of the piecings of the strands. After the whole of the strands have
been united, I cut the loose ends resulting upon the tying, gumming, or twisting.
The now pieced yarn is released from the clamps of the spindles, and the twist
which had previously been removed therefrom again returns. I hang a weight
upon those parts of the yarn which receive the twist removed from those portions
to be tied, and thereby prevent their "snarling."

page_text: In order that my Invention may be more thoroughly understood and more
readily carried into practical effect, I will now more fully describe the same by
reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are a series of diagrams illustrating the manner in which
I effect the piecing of two portions 1, 2, of yarn or thread, such yarn being a
compound thread composed of, say, three separate strands or threads twisted
together and known in the trade as doubled yarn. I hold the portion of yarn 1 by
its end 3. I then rotate the other part thereof around its axis in a direction
opposite to that in which it has been twisted for doubling until I have removed the
twist from the portion between 3 and 4. I then hold the yarn or thread at the
point 4. By the turning back of the twist from the portion between 3 and 4 I am
enabled to separate the yarn or thread 1 into its component strands 5, 6, 7, as
illustrated in Fig. 3. I then take the other portion of yarn or thread 2 and treat
it in a manner similar to that previously described in reference to the portion of
yarn or thread 1, so as to remove the twist from the part between 8 and 9 to
enable the yarn or thread to be separated into its component strands 10, 11, 12, as
shewn by Fig. 4. Having separated or opened out the strands of the two ends of
the yarn to be united I then take a strand 5, 10, of each portion 1, 2, and unite
them by tying, twisting, or gumming them to each other at a point 13, as shewn in
Fig. 5. I then take another couple of strands 6, 11, and unite them in like manner
to the previous pair at a point 14. I now treat the remaining or third pair 7, 12,
of strands as the previous ones, joining them at a point 15. In making the joining
which secure the strands of the two portions of yarn 1, 2, together, they must be
made some distance apart and so that no two of them shall coincide. I then cut
off superfluous ends that may arise from the tying, twisting, or gumming together
of the pairs of strands 5, 10, 6, 11, 7, 12. I now liberate the yarn from being held
at the points 4, 8, and allow the twist which had previously been transferred from
the portions 3, 4, 8, 9, as previously described, to again return thereto. The two
portions of yarn 1, 2, will now be united and have little difference to other
portions of the yarn in which no piecing has been made, as the piecings of the
separate strands do not increase the thickness of the yarn to such a degree as to
interfere with its use for manufacturing purposes, for which it may be subsequently
applied.
Having described the principle upon which I effect the piecing of doubled yarns,
and shown how such piecing is to be performed, I will now proceed to describe
machinery or apparatus by which my above described method of piecing doubled
yarns is greatly facilitated.
Fig. 6 of the accompanying Drawing is a front elevation, Fig. 7 an end elevation
at right angles to Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 a plan view of the machinery or apparatus of
which I make use to assist in the piecing of doubled yarns according to my
Invention; and in the Figures 6, 7, and 8 I shall apply similar letter of reference
to corresponding parts.
At 16 is a base plate, to which are attached two pillars 17, 17x, secured to the
base plate by screws 19, 20. As the two ends of the machine are similar in
construction, to simplify the description I will describe one end of the apparatus,
and to corresponding parts at the other end thereof I shall apply the same letters
of reference, but with the addition of an asterisk (*).
The upper part of the pillar 17 is provided with a slot, within which is one end
of a stud 21 secured to the pillar 17 by a nut 22 screwed upon the stud 21; upon
the outer end of the stud 21 is mounted a pulley 23 capable of turning freely
thereon. The pulley 23 is provided with a handle 24, by which it may be rotated
around the periphery of the pulley 23 is formed a groove within which is placed a
band of indiarubber 24 or other suitable material to form a friction surface.
Passing through the lower part of the pillar 17, and capable of being rotated
therein, is a spindle 25 provided at one end with a pulley 26, the circumference of
which is in contact with the friction band of the pully 23, so that on rotating the
pully 23 by means of the handle 24, the spindle 26 will be also rotated. Upon

page_text: the spindle-26 is formed a collar 28, and the boss 29 of the pully 27 constituting.
another collar, the spindle is thereby prevented from moving longitudinally. The
end 26 of the spindle 26 has one half of its diameter removed so as to leave a flat
surface 30. At 31 is a clip, one end of which is bent round the spindle 26 so as
to partially embrace or surround it so as to be retained thereon, and curved at 32
so as to press upon the flattened surface 30 of the spindle 20; and an extended
portion 33 of the clip 31, the use of which I will hereafter describe, constitutes a
handle by which the part 32 can be removed from contact with the flattened
portion 30 of the spindle 26. Through the side of the pillar 17 I form a slit or
nick extending from the outside of the pillar and communicating with the slot or
nick 34 formed within the spindle 26 parallel to its axis and extending from the
circumference thereof to the centre. I also form a slot x x x x through the side of
the pully 27 which communicates with the slot formed in the spindle 26. To the
lower part of the pillar 17 is attached a bracket 35, one end thereof being in
contact with the surface 26A of the pillar 17 and constituting a clip, and an
extended portion 36 has at its end a part 37 bent so as to be at right angles to the
part 36, and extending in an upward direction within this upright part is a slit
constituting a guide. Screwed into the base plate 16 are pins or pegs 38, 39, 40,
placed in a line with the axis of the spindle 26. At 41, 41*, are two pins or pegs,
their upper ends being bent into loops or guides. These pegs 41*, 41*, are omitted
in Fig. 7 to avoid confusion of lines. Having now described the parts constituting
the machinery or apparatus previously referred to, which may be used to facilitate
the piecing of doubled yarns, I will now proceed to describe a method of using the
same. One portion A (shewn in Fig. 8 only) of the yarn that it is desired to unite
is passed through the loop upon the peg 41*, then slipped into the slit 37 of the
guide 37, the end is then pressed between the pillar 17 and clip 35 so as to be
securely held thereby. The pulley 23 is now rotated so as to bring the slot 34 in
the spindle 26 coincident with the slot formed in the pillar 17. The clip 32 upon
the spindle 26 is then lifted by means of the part 33, and the yarn is placed under
the clip 32 so as to be held thereby. The yarn is then passed through the slot
formed in the pillar, and then within the slit formed within the spindle 26. The
other portion of yarn B that is to be united to the portion A is now passed through
the loop formed upon the peg 41, then slipped into the slot 37*, of the guide 37*.
The end is now pressed between the clip 35* and surface of the pillar 17* so as to
be securely held thereby. The pulley 23* is then turned so as to bring the
longitudinal slit in the spindle 26* coincident with the slit formed in the pillar 17*.
The clip 32* upon the spindle 26* is then lifted by the projecting part 33*, and
the yarn is placed underneath the clip so as to be held thereby. The yarn is then
placed in the longitudinal slit 34* formed in the spindle 26*. By rotating the
two pulleys 23, 23*, by means of the handles 24, 24*, rotatory motion will be
communicated to the spindles 24, 24*, the friction bands 25, 25*, around the
periphery of the pulleys 23, 23*, acting upon the pulleys 27, 27*, of the
spindles 26, 26*; and the spindles 26, 26*, being rotated in an opposite direction
to that in which the yarn is twisted, one of the said spindles being rotated in a
direction opposite to that of the other, such rotation of the spindles 26, 26*, being
continued until the whole of the twist is removed from the two portions of
yarn A, B, extending between the clips 32, 32*, of the spindles 26, 26*, and the
clip 35*, 35, attached to the pillars 17*, 17.
I now take one of the strands of which the portion of yarn A is composed, and
sever it close to the guide or support 37. I then take a strand from the portion
of yarn, severing it near the guide or support 37*. I then take the strand, which
I have separated from the portion of yarn A, and the other strand separated from
portion of yarn B, and having passed them round the peg 40, as shewn by the dotted
lines, I secure the ends together either by tying, gumming, or twisting; the peg 40
forms a support for the yarn while it is being joined or pieced. I then take
another pair of strands, one from each of the portions of yarn A, B, and pass them
around the peg 39, and secure the two together as described in reference to the

page_text: pair of strands tied around the peg 40. I now take the remaining pair of strands
of the yarns A, B, and treat them in like manner by tying them around the
peg 38. I now remove the surplus material from the piecings of the strands, and
lift the now united strands from the pegs 38, 39, 40. I now turn the spindles
26, 26*, until the longitudinal slots 34, 34*, thereof coincides with the slits formed
in the pillars 17, 17*. I then pass the yarn out of the guide wires 41, 41*, and
liberate the yarn from the clips 32, 32*, of the spindles 26, 26*, and removed from
the machine. The twist which had previously been removed from the parts
to be united now returns, and by drawing the fingers along the piecing the whole
is smoothed and rendered similar to the other portions of the yarn.
The pegs 38, 39, 40, not only serve for supports while tying the yarn, but
determine the relative positions of the piecings of the strands. Although I have
so far only described piecing a yarn or thread composed of three strands, it will be
readily understood that my Invention is applicable to the piecing of yarns composed
of a greater number of strands. The apparatus shewn by Figures 6, 7, 8, is arranged
for piecing yarns composed of three strands, but if it be desired to piece yarns
composed of a greater number of strands, the pillars will have to be further
separated, and as many pegs or supports for tying, as shewn at 38, 39, 40, added
as will make the number of such pegs equal to the number of strands in the yarn
to be pieced. In some cases in which the yarn to be pieced contains a considerable
amount of "twist," I find it necessary to hang a weight upon the yarn to be pieced
at the parts D, D*, to prevent the yarn snarling" while receiving the twist from
the portion being untwisted.
<<
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I desire it to be understood that what I claim as
secured to me under the above in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. Piecing doubled yarns in the manner as herein before described and
shewn.
Secondly. The machinery or apparatus shewn and described, or any mere
modification thereof, to be used in conjunction with the previously described and
claimed method of piecing doubled yarns or threads.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Balfe, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Nineteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
Signed and scaled by the said George
Balfe in the presence of
W. T. CHEETHAM,
Agent to the Patentee,
18, St. Ann's Street,
Manchester.
GEORGE BALFE. (L.S.)