IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING OR PREPARING AND WINDING SILK FROM THE COCOON, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arsène Auguste Olivier, of Paris, in the Empire of
France, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING
OR PREPARING AND WINDING SILK FROM THE COCOON, AND IN APPARATUS FOR
THE SAME."
Scaled the 18th December 1857, and dated the 27th June 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arsène Auguste Olivier at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th June 1857.
I, ARSÈNE AUGUSTE OLIVIER, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of. the said. Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TREATING OR PREPARING AND WINDING SILK FROM THE COCOON, AND IN:
APPARATUS FOR THE SAME," to be as follows:-
The Invention consists of, firstly, a new process for dressing the cocoons
with water and steam in order to extract the gum which unites the silky
fibres together. This operation is effected. in an apparatus divided into:
compartments and mounted on a revolving drum; in these compartments.
the cocoons are bathed in water, and acted on by steam alternately.
Secondly, of an apparatus for removing the refuse exterior layers which are
useless.

page_text: Thirdly, of an apparatus for purging or carrying away the gum dissolved
in the first operation.
Fourthly, an apparatus for operating on the cocoons, to obtain hold of the
ends of the threads at first, or after they have becomo detached in the
operation of winding.
Fifthly, a renewed purging of these same cocoons.
Sixthly, an apparatus for winding up the cocoon, and for catching hold of
the end of the thread again when it breaks.
The dressing or preparing the cocoons is effected in an apparatus con-
sisting of a drum, on the periphery of which perforated or reticulated chambers
or receptacles are mounted, in which the cocoons are placed. The whole
drum is enclosed within a chamber, the lower part of which is filled with
water, and in the upper steam is admitted. The drum is caused to rotate,
and so agitates the cocoons, and subjects them to the influence of the steam
and hot water.
The several other apparata for purging or cleansing the cocoons, and also
for removing the refuse layers of silk, are constructed on the same principle,
but the drum is not enclosed and steam used, except for heating the water
in the lower basin. The receiving boxes are lined in parts with roughened
surfaces to increase the friction to which the cocoons are subject during the
motion of agitation by the catching of their ends thereon, which subjects them
to a beating or violent contact with oach other, and against the interior sur-
face of the reticulated boxes in which they are placed.
Instead of mounting these reticulated boxes ou drums, they may be disposed
on endless chains, and passed over two drums or wheels, or they may be
mounted in other ways, and alternately immersed and withdrawn from a bath
to produce the agitation and cleansing effect.
This Invention also relates to apparatus for further beating and acting on
the cocoons, and for obtaining hold of the end of the thread whereby the
winding is to be effected. It consists of a series of inclined surfaces, down
which the cocoons are passed with water, theso inclines having roughened
surfaces for catching the ends of the cocoons as they descend, whilst the
lowest incline is furnished with bristles or other pointed surfaces to catch the
thread, and the cocoon falls thence into the basin or receptacle containing
water from which they are taken to be spun or wound.
Another part of this Invention relates to a means of enclosing the apparatus
in which the cocoons are treated to prevent the vapour arising from the pro-
cess escaping into the work-room. This I effect by placing a cover or dome
over the top of the apparatus, around which a dripping of water is established

page_text: which condenses any vapours liable to escape at the sides, while a pipe and
aperture of escape conducts the vapours away from the top.
Another apparatus particularly adapted for the second cleansing of the
cocoons, consists of a little flexible sack of reticulated material supported by a
branch and pedestal by which the sack can be raised or depressed in or out of
the water of the cleansing basin, the inner surface of the sack is roughened, or
some portion of it, to act on the cocoons, and whereby they are cleansed by
agitation, and the ends of the thread adhere thereto.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Arsène Auguste Olivier in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 24th December 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ARSÈNE
AUGUSTE OLIVIER, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Arsène Auguste Olivier, Her special licence that I, the said Arsène.
Auguste Olivier, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Arsène.Auguste Olivier, my executors, administrators, 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 Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TREATING OR PREPARING AND WINDING SILK FROM THE COCOON, AND IN:
APPARATUS FOR THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said.
Arsène Auguste Olivier, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particu-
larly 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Arsène Auguste Olivier, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
bo performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and. by the:
2

page_text: following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thercon (that is to say)
:-
The drawing of raw silk, that is to say, the extraction of silk from the
cocoon, consists of the following manipulations:-
First, cooking, that is, softening the gum of the cocoon in order to allow
the staple of silk to be deglutinated so as to unfold freely for the winding.
Secondly, beating or lashing, that is, removing the refuse exterior layers of
the cocoon in order to obtain a clear staple.
Thirdly, first purging or cleansing, that is, an operation consisting in dis-
connecting the silk and freeing it from the gummy matter, and obtaining a
clear end of the principal staple or thread.
Fourthly, subsequent beatings or lashings, that is, taking up the main
thread or staple again when it is lost during the winding.
Fifthly, second and other purgings or cleansings of the cocoons beaten again;
this is done for the same purpose as the first purging.
Sixthly, throwing the end, that is, uniting one thread or staple to the other.
staples in order to form and maintain the thread of silk.
Seventhly, winding the raw silk.
The seven operations above mentioned have heretofore all been done by
the same woman, which necessitates a long and difficult apprenticeship, and
results in an objectionable waste of and inequalities in the products. The
new process which I desire to protect under the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is intended to simplify these operations, and render them more
regular and moro economical; its bases are, first, division of labour, and,
secondly, the use of mechanical moans instead of the woman's hand in the
most delicate operations of spinning.
By, division of labour and concentration I mean that instead of letting tho
same woman perform in one basin the series of seven manipulations of silk spin-
ning, she has only to perform two operations, throwing the end and winding tho
thread; the other five manipulations, including a part of the purgings, can be
concentrated in a single hand for a whole spinning mill by means of my
machine, whereby they may be effected under the eye of a superintendent.
The arrangements of the mechanical means which I employ may vary
infinitely, but they are all conceived on the same principle. A single one of
my machines could, if required, effect all the operations, that is to say, the
same means are used in all of them to produce the same effects.
The principle on which their construction is based is gravitation; it is under
the action of weight exercised on inclined planes, either fixed or moveable,
that I effect by mechanical means all the operations to which a cocoon must.

page_text: be submitted in order to be cooked, beaten, beaten again, and partly purged,
and that under the eye of a single woman for a whole establishment. In my,
system the cocoon instead of remaining passive is the active agent; instead.
of being beaten it beats itself, and is in some measure a self mover. I use:
gravitation, first, out of water, by making the cocoon slide by its own weight
with or without water on rough inclined planes, either fixed or moveable, so
that it hooks its staple itself; secondly, in water, by taking advantage of the
ascending motion of the cocoon (when immersed, by reason of its buoyancy) in:
order to force it to rub against inclined planes and hooks its end on the rough.
sides arranged for that purpose.
The principal effects resulting from the application of my process are as.
follows:-
Concentration in a single hand of the cooking, beating, second beatings,:
and part of the purging of the cocoons for a whole establishment, whence:
result perfect uniformity and superior appearance and quality of the products;
total suppression of the broom, and consequently production of superior silk ;.
nearly total suppression of the escape of steam at the basin; the moro rapid:
production of good work women; equalization of the strength of the spinners,
that is to say, the weak ones can rival the strong ones; lastly, the superin-.
tendence is rendered easier, and the spinning of raw silk, considered impossible.
in damp countries, is rendered easy in all countries and in all latitudes.
In my process the cocoon is always treated in direct proportion to its
weight, or to the extent to which it is deprived of its silk at the time of the:
operation; each cocoon rubs so much the harder on the rough material as it:
is heavier, and this is of great benefit, because the cocoons already deprived of.
a portion of their silk should be treated more delicately than new ones.
a, copper vat, lined with wood at the exterior in order to prevent loss of,
5 heat; b, copper partition, dividing vat a into two equal parts, having no com-,
munication with each.other; c, light timber-work frames, supporting the vat ;**

page_text: d,d, d, pipe and cocks conducting the cold water; e, e, e, pipe and cocks
conducting the steam; f, f, copper pipe distributers, connected with pipe e,
distributing steam in the two compartments of the vat. These pipes havo
their surfaces which are situate at the bottom of the vat pierced with holes on
cach side and slightly underneath, for a length of from about ten to twelve
inches; 9,9, pipe and cock establishing at will a communication between the
two vats or compartments of vat a; r, level of the water in the vat; h, h,
cocks for emptying the water out of the vat; i, i, gutter and its supports,
for the flowing off of the water from the vat. The vat a instead of two com-
partments may have more, that is to say, as many as there are wheels to work
therein.
For small establishments, in which one wheel only is used, the vat need
only have one compartment, and would consequently be smaller. What-
ever may be the number of compartments, cach compartment can servo
separately for the cooking or softening, beating, second beating, and cleansing.
For large establishments, instead of a single vat for the four operations two
separate ones are employed; one serves for the softening and beating, and the
other for the second beating and cleansing or purging. The vat for beating
receives two or three beating wheels, according to the number of basins of the
establishment, and the other vat receives two or three second beating wheels;
thus there are two separate machines.
'
It is in order to avoid uselessly multiplying the Drawings that I have repre-
sented the two wheels for the first and second beating in the same vat. The
partition 6 of vat a allows the water in each compartment to be heated to a
different degree if the cooking and beating is effected in the one, and the
second beating and purging or cleansing in the other; or also if there are
similar wheels in each compartment, and different kinds of cocoons are to be
operated on. This partition also allows of water being heated in one com-
partment only when the other or others are not necessary. The pipe and cock
9.9, on the contrary, allows of the establishing communication between the
water of the various compartments of the same vat, which is useful when each
of these compartments serve to effect the same operation on similar cocoons,
because all the cocoons are thus prepared under identical conditions of heat.
Cooking or Softening and Beating Wheel.
k, light iron wheel, composed of a centre 1, six arms 2, two flat iron circles
or rings 3, twelve bands of iron 4, and two circles standing on edge 5, the
whole united by means of six cross ties 6, and forming twelve compartments
or coses at the sircumference intended to receive as many receivers 1 contain

page_text: ing the cocoons. In order to facilitate the exit and entry of receivers / in the
compartments of this wheel, one of the circles or rings on edge (the left-hand
one) is formed in three equal parts. Each of these thirds of circles is arti-
culated by means of small hinges 7, and has for a point of connection thumb
lifts with springs 8, which keep them shut. In order to keep receivers / shut in
the cases of wheel & the two upright circles (the one in parts and the other
entire) are furnished with radial grippers or clasping pieces 9, having lugs
suitable for the purpose; j, shaft of wheel ; 1, receivers containing tho
cocoons to be prepared. These baskets or receivers have the form of a segment
of a circle, and close with a lid. The frames or carcases are made of wire,"
tinned or galvanized in order to prevent oxydation, and the sides are formed
or covered with ordinary network, (similar to that used in rearing silk worms,
for fishing, &c.)
Fig. 3 will render the form and construction of the receivers more intel-
ligible. a is the body of the basket; b, the lid; and c, c, are small iron
rods, serving to prevent the network covering the baskets cutting itself. by
rubbing against the circles of the wheel when the baskets are being put into
or removed from the recesses. These receivers are smaller than those serving
for the second beating, on account of its being to prepare a less quantity of
cocoons at the same time. They are moveable, and serve for carrying the cocoons
from the basin to the machine, and vice versa. Each spinner should bave one
bearing her number. Each case of the beating wheels suffices for the service
of about three basins. A wheel having twelve cases would therefore suflico.
for thirty-six basins, two for seventy-two basins, and three for more than one
hundred basins. Wheels can also be used having more or less than twelvo
cases. Although the wheel k can be arranged in a very ordinary manner to
receive a single row of receivers, it can easily be constructed so as to receive
two rows; this arrangement of beating wheel is represented at Figs. 1 and 2.
It will be seen that there are two stages of flat circles, cross ties, &c. In this.
manner a single wheel containing twenty-one cases will suffice for the service
of sixty basins. Great economy of heating is thus realized without taking
into account that the apparatus costs less. Lastly, the wheel & serving for tho
cooking or softening and beating can also serve for the second beating and
cleansing of the cocoons

page_text: eight bands of iron into eight compartments or cases, receiving a like number
of receivers containing the cocoons to be prepared. n, shaft of wheel m;
o, receivers like those marked 7, serving for the beating, but of greater length
and height (their breadth being limited by that of the wheel is the same as that
of the beating receivers. Fig. 4 shows the construction of these receivers.
a is the body of the basket; b, the lid; c, a moveable partition sliding in a
slide (formed by two wire rods placed on each side at the bottom of the basket),
and serving to increase or diminish the capacity of the basket; d, a small tooth
which enters into the mesh of the network of the lid when it is lowered to shut
the receiver, and serving to fix partition c; e, e, are two small tin plates, in-
tended to protect the network from the friction of the spring catches p, herein-
after described. f.f, are two screws, having eyes placed below the basket,
which by being adjusted to others 7 mounted on one of the circles of the wheel
serve to fix the receivers o on the said wheel, and to form a hinge, which
allows of their rocking when desired; p, spring catches, placed at the top of
iron bands 4; 9, sixteen small screws, having eyes (two for each case) fixed on.
one of the upright circles (the right-hand one) of wheel m, and intended to
form with those f,f, of the baskets, the hinge allowing the receivers o to rock,
in order to pour out the cocoons they contain when they are prepared. The
size of the receivers o is calculated to contain easily a basinful of cocoons to
be beaten again. The moveable partition c besides allows of the increasing
or diminishing at will the size of these baskets to the quantity comprised in
a basinful. Each receiver of wheel m suffices for the service of from four to
five basins. Instead of a single row of receivers the wheel m might have
several, but the lower receivers should for greater facility be moveable, and
enter into drawers analogous to those of the beating wheel instead of being
fixed and rocking. The wheel in and its receivers o, although disposed more
especially for the second beatings, can serve perfectly well for the cooking and
beating. In that case each basket could, by incans of the moveable partition c,
contain two basinfuls at the same time.
Transmission of Movement and Disconnecting. (It is similar for the two
wheels.)
s, pulley and strap, transmitting the motion from the motor of the spinning
mill to the two wheels of the apparatus, by means of a horizontal shaft t and
two vertical shafts t', '. Each of these two vertical shafts t', t', is furnished
with cast-iron bevil pinions u at its two extremities, having a like number
of teeth, which gear with other similar pinions fixed to the exterior extrc-
mity of each of the shafts j and n of wheels k and m. This arrangement

page_text: allows of the disconnecting of one wheel without stopping the other. The
wheels and m can also be put in motion by hand, by means of a crank
instead of the gearing. v, mechanism for disconnecting and stopping the
movement of the wheels and to raise them out of the water before or after the
operation of beating or second beating. This mechanism is the same for both
wheels; it acts on one wheel only in the apparatus berein-before described,
because this apparatus consists of two wheels, effecting operations differing in
duration, and because it is required to disconnect one before the other; but in
apparatus having similar wheels or performing identical operations, the same
apparatus for disconnecting may serve for two or three wheels, which will
then be raised or lowered in the vat at the same time. This mechanism in
the form of a lever is composed of a large flat iron bar v, placed on edge, the
extremities of which have each a long slot opening, which are intended to
receive the ends of the shaft of the wheel. The arms of this bar or lever rest:
on two studs a, fixed on the vat by means of two vertical supports a³, which
form the fulcrum of the The bar vis prolonged by a jointed handlo
y, which can be folded up in order to occupy less space. Lastly, z, 2, aro
two vertical iron sli.les, serving with the slot openings in the arms of the
bar to guide the course of the shaft of the wheel. One of these slides is notched
across, and held in this position by plates,, the other is fixed on a strong
flat iron cross tie, placed above the partition 6, the direction of which it follows.
It will be understood that by pressing on lever y the wheel is raised out of
the water and stops, because the pinion u fixed to one extremity of its shaft,
and by means of which it received motion, is raised at the same time and is
no longer in gear. In order to keep the wheel thus raised out of the water
I use a small spring, fixed on the vat at the centre of the bar, which it holds
until it is pressed, and the wheel is again allowed to descend.
lever.
Action of the Apparatus above described (for Cooking or Softening and Bealing).
Each receiver or basket bas fixed on its lid a number inscribed on a small
tin plate corresponding with the number of each spinner of the establishment.
It suffices then for each spinner to take her basinful of cocoons and deposit
them in the basket bearing a number corresponding to hers; this basket is:
afterwards carried to the machine. The woman charged with the working of
the apparatus operates in the following manner :-After having filled the com-
partment of vat a containing the beating wheel with cold water up to the
level indicated by the line 7, by means of pipe d she opens steam cock c, which-
warms this water by being introduced into the vat through the little holes in
pipe f. While the water is being heated she deposits the receivers con

page_text: taining the cocoons to be prepared in the cases of wheel k, then raised out of
the water as described, and when the water has reached the boiling point she
puts wheel in motion. For this purpose she has merely to press on the
spring of the disconnecting lever, when the wheel descends, and its pinion u is
at once in gear. Owing to the rotary motion of the wheel the cocoons are
continually shifting places, so that each in its turn, and many times, rubs
against the rough sides (network.or other substance) of the basket containing
them; this, with the continual friction against each other to which they aro
submitted, reduces them to a condition very suitable for taking the ends. This
same rotary motion causes the cocoons to pass alternately. into two different
media, the boiling water in the vat, in which they are completely immersed,
and the open air, which produces a perfect cooking or softening, as required.
The two operations of cooking and beating are thus effected simultaneously,
and when one is terminated the other should be also. For this purpose it
suffices so to regulate the motion of the wheel that the cocoons may make just
the number of evolutions necessary for a good beating during the time taken
by the boiling water to penetrate and cook or soften them suitably. The
ordinary speed of the wheel is from seven to eight revolutions per minute. It
is easy to understand that the beating will be more or less prompt and
complete according as the wheel turns quicker or slower. The cooking can
also be retarded by giving less steam to the water in the vàt. In this manner
the cooking and beating can always be proportioned to the kind or state of the
cocoons to be prepared. After two or three minutes for fresh cocoons, and five
or six minutes at most for dry cocoons (according to their kind), the operation
is terminated, and the woman, by pressing on lever y of disconnecting gear v,
raises the wheel out of the water. There only remains to remove the receivers
from the wheel, and return them to the spinners to whom they belong. The
cocoons thus prepared have their bad or refuse exterior layers removed and
collected together, so that each basinful on coming out of the baskets forms
like a bunch of cocoons. The spinner having thrown them into the hot water s
of her basin, in order to get all the ends, has only to pass her finger, or better
still a small rod (made of wood, reed, glass, or tin), below this bunch, and by
raising her rod she raises all the ends of the cocoons which remain in the
water, where they are developed. The spinner then finishes the purging or
cleansing.
Action of the Apparatus above described (for the Second Beating and Purging).

page_text: receivers, and reciprocally the receivers of the beating wheels can be per-
manently fixed and rocking instead of being moveable, and one being
necessary for each spinner. The wheel m, represented at Figs. 1 and 2, being
arranged with fixed receivers, it is necessary for the transport of the cocoons
from the basin to the apparatus, to use baskets or tin trays bearing the number
of each spinner for the receivers, in which baskets they are placed when their
ends are lost in the winding, When these baskets are full, they are carried to
the woman directing wheel m, and she pours the contents into each receiver,
care being taken so to place the moveable partition c that the cocoons to be
beaten again may have sufficient motion in the receiver. There is a small
box, divided into compartments, in which the woman places the trays or
baskets in a certain order, which being in relation with the cases of the wheel,
will prevent confusion in returning to each spinner the cocoons belonging to
her. If required, the cases of the wheel can be numbered like the compart-
ments of the box. When the receivers of wheel m are filled, and the water
in the vat having previously been raised to boiling heat, the woman actuates
the said wheel, and the cocoons are treated as in the cooking and beating
wheel, except that for the second beating the operation must be less prolonged,
one or two minutes at most being suflicient. The temperature is not kept up
to boiling heat throughout the operation as it is for the cooking and beating,
and the woman, by slightly closing steam-cock e, gradually diminishes the heat.
In order to remove the cocoons (tho wheel having been raised out of the
water), the woman has only to cant cach receiver after having loosened the
spring catch P which holds it, and receive its contents in the corresponding
basket. The cocoons thus beaten again should be treated very delicately in the
because not only are all the ends of the cocoons taken, but also the greater
part of them do not require purging, the ends being sufficiently clear. The
spinner, therefore, has only to gather the collected ends of the cocoons beaten
again delicately with her rod, and join them to those of the new cocoons, in
order to make a suitable mixture. She should above all avoid purging
en masse, that is to say, too great a number of cocoons at a time, and
drawing too hard on the ends of the cocoons beaten again in finishing their
purging.
Wavin Dauma of inchines Loving Movable Indined Planes combined recond

page_text: of using a wheel or cylindrical drum, I use a prismatic drum; each receiver,
instead of forming a section of a circle at the circumference, forms one side of
the prismatic drum. This arrangement has the advantage of employing
receivers in the form of a rectangular parallelipiped, which is of less expensive
construction than those in the form of a segment of a circle. The rest of this
apparatus does not differ from the former; the action is the same, and the
results obtained identical.
The apparatus represented at Fig. 7 is a modification of the apparatus last
herein-before described. Instead of a prismatic drum I use two, connected
together by an endless chain, divided into a certain number of jointed cases,
the dimensions of which chain correspond with those of the sides of the drums
to which the said chain is adapted. Each case of the endless chain receivers a
receiver of the same form as those of the apparatus represented at Figs. 5
and 6. The one drum being put in motion, imparts motion to the endless
chain, and consequently to the other drum. The particular advantages pre-
sented by this combination are the following:-First, the diameter of the
drums of this apparatus being smaller than that of the two apparata herein-
before described, it follows that the cocoons placed on the endless chain will
approach nearer to the water line, that is to say, to the ordinary conditions
of beating in basins; secondly, for a like number of receivers; this apparatus
occupies less space than the former ones, which economises the heating of the
water.
Fig. 8 represents a mixed arrangement of the receivers, which allows of the
effecting in the same machine, first, simultaneous cooking and beating (in the
receivers placed on the perimeters of the wheels, drums, &c., that is to say,
forming inclined planes); and, secondly, the cooking alone or simply the
heating of the cocoons (in the receivers placed on the radii, that is to say, they
have very little notion).
- Another arrangement of the apparatus is shown at Fig. 9, the receivers of
which, instead of being of a rectangular parallelipidic form like those of the
apparata represented at Figs. 5, 6, and 7, or in the form of a segment of a
circle like those of the apparatus represented at Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, have tho
form of a complete circle or hollow cylinder.
Figs. 9, 10, and 11, show various forms of apparatus in which this
cylindrical form is employed.
In the apparatus represented at Fig. 9, I use a vat of the same form as
that of the apparatus represented at Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. A horizontal
shaft revolving on its axis (like the preceding wheels) receives at each
extremity of its arms or radii a small receiver, constructed of similar materials'

page_text: to those previously described, but having the form of a hollow cylinder. Each
receiver contains either only one basinful of cocoons, or is divided into com-
partments, and consequently receives several basinfuls. It will be understood
that when the shaft is turned the cocoons have the same motion in each small
cylinder as in the other receivers, and that the cooking and taking the ends
will be effected as completely as before. In order to increase the effect of the
beating, each cylindrical receiver may be placed at the extremity of the arms
of the shaft, on an axis or pivot, on which it may revolve on its own axis in
the water, and will thus give a double rotatory motion in the contrary direction
to the cocoons.
The apparatus represented at Fig. 10 is merely a modification of the
apparatus represented at Fig. 9. The rotating shaft instead of being placed
horizontally is placed vertically, with its arms parallel to the level of the
water, and just at the height of its level in the vat, which is here cylindrical
instead of semicylindrical, as before; thus the cocoon receivers are always
half out and half in the water. These receivers, like those of the apparatus
represented at Fig. 9, may be fixed or moveable on axes at the extremity of
the arms of the shaft. The cylindrical receivers can also be placed on this
same shaft in such manner that instead of having horizontal axes they may.
have vertical axes. In this case the cylinder may be shorter and of greater
diameter, they will then have the form of a hollow disc. Instead of hollow,
liscs containing the cocoons, solid discs can be employed, furnished at the
upper or lower part with rough material; the cocoons will then be left at
liberty in the basin or vat, and by means of a vertical motion, imparted to the
shaft simultaneously with its circular motion, a double movement of friction
and immersion will be given to the cocoons analogous to that of the spinner's
broom in the ordinary process. The discs, instead of being placed above the
cocoons, can also be placed in the water in the basin, so as to act below the
cocoons, which would render the action of the rough material more gentle on
the cocoons. Lastly, instead of solid discs, solid cylinders can be employed
analogous to those shown in Fig. 9, or of smaller diameter, having their rough.
material placed on the exterior, and be moveable on their own axes, in order:
to exert gentle friction on the cocoons. These latter being free in the water
in the vat, it suffices to impart a vertical and circular motion alternately to.
the shaft in order to effect the cooking and taking the ends.
The apparatus represented at Fig. 11 differs from that shown at Fig. 10
only in the vat being rectangular instead of circular, and the receivers, instead
of being fixed on a shaft which communicates a. motion common to all,
receive motion individually and independently of each other. by. incans of the:

page_text: contact of a strap with a small roller with which the axis of each cylindrical
receiver is furnished. These rollers are placed in the same plane outside the
vat, which allows of their being all put in motion simultaneously by tho
friction of the strap. Like the other receivers, these may or may not be
divided into compartments, and fixed or moveable on their own axes. This
arrangement is the most economical in the heating of the water in the vat.
The apparatus represented in clevation at Fig. 12, and in plan at Fig. 12 bis,
is a simplified modification of the threo last preceding ones. Instead of using
a certain number of cylindrical receivers, one only need be employed of
sufficient capacity, which is divided into interior compartments to allow the
cooking and beating to bo performed separately for each spinner. When
desired to cook en masse, the same cylinder may be used without compart-
ments. Instead of an entire cylinder it may be a complete circle (like that
formed by the whole of the receivers at the perimeter of wheel mɩ of the
apparatus first herein described, but without interior divisions, or with two or
or three only. For that purpose it suffices to introduce a second interior
cylinder, and the cocoons are prepared between the two cylinders. It will be
understood that all these annular chambers, large or small, and whatever be
the material employed, are open in order to let the water act freely on the
cocoons, and they are formed of or furnished with rough material suitable for
catching taking the ends.

page_text: shafts, in or on which they are placed) or individually (by means of gearing
straps, &c., which govern them directly), or by hand. Lastly, similar
receivers or different forms of receivers may be used in the same apparatus.
They are constructed of a frame made of wood, metal, wire tinned or gal-
vanized to prevent oxydation, or sheets of metal pierced with holes. In all
cases their sides should bo open, or sufficiently pierced to let the water act
freely on the cocoons. These same sides should be formed, lined, or furnished'
with one of the rough materials indicated herein-after, or with any other
material suitable for effecting the catching of the ends. Lastly, they can
serve for the second beating and purging as well as for the cooking and
beating.
Figs. 25 and 26 represent modifications in the arrangement of the re-
ceivers. With the arrangement shown at Fig. 26 the cocoons will be more
agitated, and the operations more promptly effected than with that shown at
Machines having Fixed Inclined Planes for the Second Beating and Purging;.
the Majority of them will also serve for the Cooking & Beating.
An apparatus for this purpose is represented in elevation at Fig. 14 and in
plan at Fig. 14 bis. M, wooden box divided into two parts serving two
basins; N, wooden or metal inclined planes placed interior of box M.; tho
upper surface of these planes is covered with rough material suitable for
hooking the ends of the cocoons, such as hair, heather, dog's grass (in the
form of brushes), network, canvass, cloth, grating, &c.; 0, upper part of box
M, arranged in the shape of a funnel. The work woman pours the cocoons
having no apparent thread into this funnel. P, lower part of box M, through
which the cocoons pass out; Q, hot-water cock. The water is heated in a
private reservoir to the temperature of about one hundred and forty degrees
Fahrenheit. R, vessel distributing the hot water into the two compartments
of box M. On leaving the vessel R the water runs down the various inclined
planes and carries the cocoons with it into the basin V. In order to prevent
this water from increasing the depth of water in the basins, it is made to flow
off into receiver S by the upper part of the last inclined plane, which is
pierced with holes or is open; S, receiver common to the two compartments
of box M, intended to collect the water in circulation on to the inclined
planes, and to empty it into the vessel T; T, U, vessel furnished at its lower
part with a pipe to permit the flow of water from box M into the emptying
conduit; V, spinning basins.

page_text: .
Action of the Apparatus.
This apparatus is intended to effect the second beating and purging in the
basin. If the system of the division of labour is employed, it serves for two
purgers, and in the ordinary system for two spinners. In this latter case it
in some measure obviates the second beating because it allows of the taking
of the ends again when they are let go. The inclined planes N bave rough
materials at their surfaco sufficiently uneven to hook the threads of the
cocoons gently when passing to hold them without tearing the tissue. This
inconvenience, however, can be remedied, as it suffices to vary the inclination
of planes N to produce a greater or less friction, while the cocoons also act
with more or less friction against these planos according to their weight.
Each time a cocoon lets go, the woman has only to tako it and introduce it
into this apparatus. The cocoon thus introduced is carried by the water of
pipe Q, which serves as a vehicle for the cocoon (this water is sufficiently
heated not to change the condition of the gum of the cocoon), as it
descends inclined planes N, and in its passage hooks or catches its lost end, it
falls back into the basin through the lower aperture P of the apparatus. The
spinner has only to tako tho thread hanging between each cocoon and the
last inclined plane, and use it when required. If this thread is not sufficiently
purged the first time, she puts the cocoon into the apparatus again to finish
the purging, or when the end is nearly clear she finishes the purging by hand.
This apparatus can also serve for beating and purging cocoons only cooked in
the basin or my apparatus, or only for purging cooked and beaten cocoons.
The apparatus shown at Fig. 15 is a mere modification of the one last
herein-before described; it is moveable, and serves for several workwomen.
Instead of several inclined planes placed over each other, this apparatus is
composed of one only, A, resting by means of two rods or uprights E, fixed
on a foot B and on an axis C, which allows of its having the required
inclination. Instead of furnishing the whole surface of the said plane with
rough material, I furnish the lower part D only therewith. An inclined
plane, made of hard wood slightly rasped at its lower part, suffices for suitably
hooking the ends and effecting a mechanical purging as perfect as that dono
by hand. The action is the same as in the apparatus last herein-before
described.
In order to avoid the cost of reservoir, pipes, cocks, heating, &c., for sup-
plying the inclined planes of the apparatus shown at Figs. 14, 14 bis, and 15,
with hot water, I can use a small lift and force pump,, archimedean screw, or
any other analogous system by means of which the necessary hot water will be

page_text: taken from the basin itself, and returned to it.after having circulated with the
cocoons on the inclined planes. A still more preferable means consists in
using a ladle of suitable size for taking up the cocoons to be beaten a second
time. With this ladle sufficient water is taken up with the cocoons. to work
the apparatus-properly, and the whole is poured into the upper funnel. I can.
thus use a continuous jet coming from any reservoir, or an intermittent jet,
by one of the preceding means for furnishing my fixed inclined planes with
the hot water serving as a vehicle for the cocoons. The taking of the ends
can also be effected without water, but not so. well.
The apparatus represented at Fig. 16 is another. modification of that shown
at Figs. 14 and 14 bis. The inclines in this apparatus, instead of forming
a series of broken lines, is continuous and forms a screw; the lower part only
of this screw surface is rough. The action is the same as in the apparatus
shown at Figs. 14, 14 bis, and 15.
Fig. 17 is another modification of the apparatus represented at Figs.
14 and 14 bis. The rough material intended to hook the ends is differently
arranged; instead of rubbing against a roughened plane surface, the cocoons
after having slid on the inclined planes b, c, d, which are not rough, fall
between little cylindrical brushes e, e, e, made of hair, dog's grass, heather.
&c., and hook their ends thereon, after which they fall again into the basin
through the lower aperture.f. 'In order to diminish the shock of the cocoons
between these brushes, they. may. bo moveable on their axes or suspended so
as to separate under the shock. The action is the same as in the apparatus
shown at Figs. 14 and 14 bis.
The apparatus represented at Fig. 18 serves to concentrate the second
beating and purging in a single hand for all the basins of a spinning mill, and
is merely the apparatus last herein-before described in a circular form.
A are two continuous inclines, having the form of two hollow truncated.
cones, made of metal, .wood, &c.; and not rough. These inclines or cones
serve to regulato the fall of the cocoons on the cone B; B, another continuous,
incline of a conical shape, the lower part 6 of which is covered with any." rough
material whatever (network, brush, cloth, &c.) intended to. hook the ends of
the cocoons when they pass. this point; C, circular bench, serving 'to support.
the cups or receivers of any kind c, c, c, intended to receive the cocoons falling
from the inclines. These cups, baskets, boxes, or other receivers, receiving
the cocoons, may be fixed or moveable on these circular parts, so that.when
required they can serve.for carrying the cocoons from the apparatus to the
basin, which avoids the pouring of the said cocoons. into other receivers; D,
circular pan or basin. of. the apparatus, the water..in: it is heated by means.

page_text: motion to the apparatus; K, wooden legs supporting the apparatus.
Action of the Apparatus.
The cocoons of each spinner being in baskets or on trays, are readily
deposited in the water of basin D, which is heated to a suitable temperature;
the work woman charged with the working of the apparatus takes them out of
the basin by means of a ladle, or otherwise, and pours them (with the water
taken in the ladle at the same time as the cocoons) on the upper conical
incline A, thence the cocoon descends on conical inclines A, A', and B, which
act exactly as in the apparatus represented at Figs. 14 and 14 bis. Instead
of pouring the cocoons by hand with a ladle into the upper cones, there may
be a reservoir above these cones in which the cocoons are poured, whence
they will fall of themselves on to the inclines. Their descent may be
facilitated and regulated by imparting motion of any kind to this upper
reservoir, either a circular or to-and-fro motion, and by any other mechanical
means, or the apparatus may be immoveable, and in that case the pulley H
and strap I are dispensed with. If moveable the pulley and strap serve to
impart circular motion to it, or if desired it may be intermittent, or a more or
less prolonged alternating circular motion. This motion given to the appa-
ratus serves to increase or diminish the effect of the second beating, according
to the condition of the cocoons to be operated on. The conical inclines
A, A, and B, and circular tray C, being alone keyed on shaft E, are put in
motion at the same time while the basin D remains immoveable. It may be
necessary to state that this apparatus, although intended more especially for
the second beatings, can also serve for the cooking and beating of new
cocoons, and is also applicable for a great part of the purging. If desired
the subdivision and return of the cocoons to each spinner can easily be
effected with this machine, by forming divisions in the inclines A, A, and B;
these divisions make so many separate compartments corresponding to the
cups of the circular part C, in which the cocoons beaten again fall. The
conical inclines B furnished with rough material may be reversed; that is to
say, have its greatest diameter at the top; in this case the cone being hollow,
the lower rough part is at the interior and at the bottom of the cone, instead
of being at the exterior, and the cocoons gravitate in this conical incline as in
a funnel.
Instead of having a series of receivers or cups for receiving the

page_text: cocoons below the cone B, there may be one ouly, or a basin of any form.
The apparatus last herein-before described can also be simplified. When the
locality of the spinning mill allows of it, instead of a circular apparatus
occupying but little space, a continuous inclined plane may be used, taking as
a model the combination of inclined planes shown at Figs. 14 and 14 bis, or
simply the single plane of the apparatus represented at Fig. 15; it suffices
to extend the breadth of this plane or planes sufficiently, in order that the
cocoons may not be encumbered in the basin intended to receive them,
and that the operation may be promptly effected. There will then be an
apparatus which is nothing but the development in a straight line of the
circular or conical inclines just described (Fig. 18). A to-and-fro motion
may be imparted to the last rough inclined plane, in order to facilitate the
taking of the ends.
Fig. 19 is an elevation and Fig. 19 bis a plan, of another apparatus
intended to effect the cooking and beating, and also the second beating of the
cocoons in the basin. A is a small wire hanger, fitted to rise or lower at will
by means of a slide B; C is a bag or sack in the shape of a truncated cone,
or otherwise, made of network or other rough and flexible material, intended
to receive the cocoons when the thread ends are lost. This net is partly
immersed in the water of the basin, and if it is desired to keep the cocoons
out of water while they await their winding (to prevent them builing), a ring
or string D is used for contracting the lower part of the net in the form of a
cone, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 19 bis. When it is desired to
effect the beating or second beating, the string or ring is removed and the net
resumes its ordinary form, the cocoons which were suspended fall again into
the water and float therein; it suffices then to agitate the net slightly in all
directions (from top to bottom and from right to left) to make the cocoons
hook their ends to its sides.
Figs. 20 and 21 represent another modification of the apparatus last herein-.
before described, The conical sack is replaced by bands, sheets, or parallel
vertical strips made of network (or other analogous material), between which
the cooking, beating, or second beating, &c., of the cocoons is performed
in the same manner as in the last foregoing apparatus. The ring or string D
can also be used to avoid the boiling of the cocoons, as before. Instead of
vertical strips made of network or other flexible material, I can use inflexible
roughened planes made of wood, metal, &c., in the same apparatus. Instead
of two planes (flexible or not) I can use a greater number or one only;
lastly, I can place these strips parallel, oblique, horizontal, vertical, circular,
across, or in any other manner.

page_text: The arrangement represented at Fig. 22 follows naturally from the two last
foregoing ones, but it has the advantage of enabling the concentration in a
single hand of the beating or second beating for the whole spinning mill.
Instead of a small ordinary spinning basin it suffices to use a large basin or
vat, either rectangular or circular, along which the small bangers forming
springs are placed, by means of which the network strips, conical sacks, or
parallel rough inclined planes are put in motion, and act on the epidermis of
the cocoons. These various spring hangers (or any other supports) may be
connected together by a rod, serving to actuate several or all of them at once.
The woman has then merely to press gently on this rod to make the rough
surfaces act on the cocoons. This movement can also be given mechanically.
These conical sacks, sheets, or rough planes can be advantageously replaced
by the baskets or receivers before described, in which are effected the cooking
and beating in my special apparatus. These baskets are hung at the
extremity of the hangers, and the cocoons being shut therein hook their ends
to the sides of the said receivers, owing to the motion imparted to them. The
apparatus represented at Fig. 22, which serves as well for the cooking and
beating as for the second beating and purging, is put in motion by hand or by
mechanical means. The motion may be double, that is to say, take' place so
as to make the rough surface act on the cocoons from bottom to top, in order
to immerse them in the water in the basin, and from right to left or
circularly, in order to hook the ends better. These motions may be alternate
or simultaneous.
Gravitation or the difference of specific gravity are also the two principal
agents of the taking and retaking the thread ends in the apparatus represented
at Figs. 19, 19 bis, 20, 21, and 22, operating by parallel motion or otherwise.
For this reason they should have been described among the series of machines
having moveable inclined planes for the cooking and beating; but as they
appear to me to be especially advantageous for the 'second beating and
purging (owing to the very delicate action observed in this method of taking
the thread ends), I have deemed it proper to class them with the second
beating and purging machines.
ARRANGEMENTS, IMPROVEMENTS, AND ACCESSARY OR SUPPLEMENTARY MEANS
TO THE NEW METHOD.
Various Modes of Cooking, Treating, or Preparing Cocoons.
The preparation of cocoons in my apparatus above described, instead of being
effected with boiling water and the open air, as in ordinary, can take place
by submitting the cocoons to the simultaneous or separate action of boiling

page_text: water, steam, vacuum, atmospheric pressure, &c. In the three latter cases it
is suitable to shut the upper part of my apparatus by means of sufficiently
strong lids. The cocoons may also be prepared by keeping them entirely
submerged in the water, and by adding chemical substances to the water,
such as chrysalis, water, &c., which has a useful action in the winding of
the sill
used, arranged in the form of small sacks, for example, the corners of which
are fixed by means of little hooks to the perimeter of the, drums, wheels, or
arms intended to put them in motion. The sides of these sacks should be
sufficiently stretched to form inclined planes, that is to say, to allow the
cocoons to move about easily in the interior.
Rough Materials.
Among the rough materials which I use in my receivers containing the
cocoons, or on my fixed inclined planes, I will chiefly notify the following
with which the said receivers or inclined planes may be formed, furnished, or
lined Heather, hair, dog's grass, straw, cane (these materials may be
arranged in the form of brushes or otherwise), roughened wood, cloth, canvass,
velvet, or any other stuff goods, ordinary network of one or several threads,
of single or double knot, of small or large meshes, made of cord, string, cane,
or other rough material with rough parts (hair, heather, dog's grass, &c.) intro-
duced into the knots, &c.), knitting, lace work, tress, or any other tissue, sievo
cloth, either metallic or not, cane, osier wire, cord, brass, &c., arranged as
gratings, lattice or trellis work, wire cloth of all sizes, leather or hide with the
hair on, brushes of any form, material, and size, sheets of metal, roughened by
means of the punch, or by bas reliefs made by stamping or otherwise, india-
rubber and gutta percha in the sheet, tissue, thread, or network, &c., and.

page_text: Means of Increasing the Effect of the Beating.
The effect of the beating can be increased, that is to say, the ends can be
more quickly caught by making the cases or drawers containing the receivers
at the perimeter of the wheels or arms somewhat larger than the said
receivers, so that these latter may have motion in their respective cases.
During the evolutions of the wheels or drums, when the receivers fall in
their cases by their own weight, a little shock results, which facilitates the
change of position of the cocoons, and consequently effects a quicker taking
of the ends. For the same purpose the said baskets or receivers may be
jointed or placed on pivots and axes at the perimeter of the drums, wheels, or
arms, instead of being fixed in their cases.
Other Means of Increasing the Effect of the Beating, and Collecting the Ends
of the Cocoons in the Receivers.
In some cocoons the taking of the ends is very difficult, and requires tho
use of very rough materials; in that case choice can be made among those
indicated above, or other which may be deemed most suitable; but in general
it suffices to introduce into the basket or receivers a small cylindrical brush,
made of dog's grass, heather, or hair, mounted on wire, in the form indicated
at Fig. 26 (similar to those referred to in the description of the apparatus
represented at Fig. 17. It will be understood that such a brush or several
such, when required, being placed at the centre of the basket and the cocoons
revolving around, a certain catching of the ends will be quickly effected,
however hard the cocoons may be. If it is desired to have all the ends
collected together when the cocoons leave the baskets after the treatment. it
suffices to use either one of the small cylindrical brushes just described, or
simply one or several strings or rods, arranged in the direction of the width,
that is to say, in the contrary direction to that of the course of the cocoons,
in such manner that these latter in turning round them will hook their ends
thercon. Rods placed vertically and at certain distances to form a kind of
little rack, having two, three, or four teeth, may also be employed for the
same purpose. It is very easy to collect all the cuds on opening the basket,
as they will all be attached to the same point. These means are applicable
to the receivers for the second beating, as well as to those used for the first
beating.

page_text: Instantaneous Indicator, Bell, and Mechanical Disconnecter.
In order to operate with greater precision and facilitate the work of the
woman charged with the action of my apparatus, when they are moved by
the motor of the spinning mill, I adapt thereto an indicator of one of the
forms in general use; this indicator is regulated to produce its effect at the
precise moment that the operation is at end. At this moment, and by means
of a small latch or a spring, the indicator rings a bell, which warns the woman,
and rocks a lever of any kind, furnished with a sufficient weight to raise the
wheel or arms out of the boiling water in the vat; in this manner the appa-
ratus is stopped, and the cocoons can wait, without danger of being too-much
cooked or beaten, until the woman withdraws them from the apparatus ; I
thus effect the cooking and beating with perfect regularity by mechanical
means. The indicator is regulated to act at the end of one, two, three, four,
five, or six minutes at most, according as the cocoons are being beaten a
first or second time, and the nature and condition of the cocoons. The samo
indicator can also serve for shutting or opening the stop-cocks of the
apparatus.
Means of Weakening the Effect of the Steam on the Cocoons in the Water in the
Vat of the Apparatus.
When the action of the steam in the water in the vat of the apparatus is
too strong, it can be reduced or weakened at will by covering the distributing.
pipe conducting the steam with a wire cloth of fine mesh, or with a metal
plate of the same width as the bottom of the vat, and pierced with little holes
on each side of the distributer which it covers. For the same purpose a
pipe from which there is no escape can be used, the steam will then heat by
radiation only.
Means of Economising the Heating of the Water in the Vat.
As it is economical to heat only the quantity of water actually necessary
for the operation, this can be done by filling the space between tho axis
As it is economical to heat only the quantity of water actually necessary
35 for the operation, this can be done by filling the space between tho axis
and the circles sustaining the receivers in my whools, drums, or arme, by

page_text: character only operated upon. For this purpose a good sorting is indispen-
sable; but this operation is very long and minute. The following is, however,
a very simple means of performing this sorting as economically and practically
as possible:-A small board is used, which the woman holds in one hand,
slightly inclined above or at the side of her basin, while with the other hand
she pours the-cocoons in a dry state which are to be sorted. By giving &
slight inclination to the board, the cocoons are put in motion and roll down in
direct relation to their weight, that is, according as more or less silk has been
removed from them; thus, new cocoons fall first on account of their round
form and greater weight, while partially used cocoons are flattened and adhere
to the board. It is easy for the woman to collect the former in a second
beating receiver, and collect the others and put them in another receiver.
There will thus be a sufficient division of the two principal conditions of the
cocoon (new and old), which allows of nearly homogeneous cocoons being
operated on. There only remains to treat each kind with rough material and
planes of different inclination suitable to each kind, which is easy with the
various means indicated in this present Specification. In second beating
apparatus, having the form of fixed inclined planes (see Figs. 14, 15, 16, 17,
and 18), the inclined planes replace the hand board, and the sorting is done
thereby.
Means of Forcing the Cocoons to Rub against the Fixed Inclined Planes.
In order to force the cocoons to rub against the rough part of the fixed
inclined planes (see Figs. 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18), it suffices to place a flexible
material above the rough part, which prevents the cocoon from jumping or
passing this point. This flexible material, which also may be rough (network,
cloth, india-rubber, leather, sheets of metal, &c.), in one or several sheets or
fringes, which are fixed like a curtain in front and above the rough parts of
the inclined planes, so as to form a slight obstacle to the passage of the
cocoon, which is too weak to stop it, but sufficient to prevent it jumping, and
forces it to rub against the rough part of the inclined plane. All the thread
ends will thus be caught in a sure and certain manner.
Condenser of the Steam in the Apparatus, or of that in the Basins.
The apparatus represented at Fig. 27 is intended to prevent the escape of
the steam arising from my apparatus into the workshop. For this purpose I
place a small zinc funnel A, above the said machines sustained at the four
angles by any supports a, a, a, a, and at the top of which is a pipe B, serving
to conduct the steam to the outside. The funnel A is furnished at its lower-

page_text: edge with a gutter C pierced with a great number of holes. A cock D
conducts cold water into the funnel, this water goes into the gutter and falls
like rain through the holes in the gutter into a second gutter E, placed exactly
below the first around the circumference of the apparatus. The water flows
from this latter gutter by any suitable pipe. It will be understood that this
continual shower forms a circlo round the apparatus, and entirely prevents the
steam from escaping out of this circle, which it cannot attempt to traverso
without being immediately condensed by the cold water. It is thus forced to
escape to the outside through the pipe B. This result can also be obtained
without the aid of cold water, and with funnel A only in which pipe B has
sufficient draught. Cold water is only necessary in the bad season when
much steam escapes. This method of condensing or of conducting is also
applicable to the spinning basin, and thereby avoiding considerable wasto
arising from the silk adhering to the angles, where the greater part of the
steam of the basins is ordinarily condensed.
Uniform Heating of the Basins.
With my process, which allows of the cooking,, beating, and second beating
operations being effected out of the basins, if the division of labour I have
indicated in the present Specification is adopted, and if the purging is finished
separately by special work women, their remains absolutely nothing for the
spinners but throwing the end for 'supplying the winding. Now, this opera-
tion being the same for all the spinners, and constantly requiring the same
temperature of water in the basins, it is easy and useful to apply a uniform
heat to the basins in silk spinning mills employing my system. In order to
obtain it, it suffices to make all the basins in a row communicate together by
means of any pipes or conduits, (or better, by having one basin only occupying
the whole length of the row,) and to heat the water contained by them by a
steam pipe having a single cock placed at the middle or at one end of the
row of basins. Uniform heating has two principal advantages, first, it is
impossible for the spinners to waste the steam, (which often has the incon-
venience of boiling or piercing the cocoons, and secondly, it enables the
obtaining.of products of uniform appearance and quality, owing to the iden-
tical cooking of all the silks of an establishment. The same result can easily
be obtained without making any onerous changes in the spinning materials or
plant actually in use. For this purpose it suffices to raise the end of the feed
pipe between each branch conducting the steam from the principal pipe to
cach basin. In this manner instead of each spinner regulating the heat of
her basin according to her whim, the superintendent regulates the. tempera-.

page_text: If required it suffices to make the steam pass, before it enters the distributing
pipes, into a spherical or cylindrical receiver of sufficient size and strength
placed on the little pipe just referred to. Above this receiver is placed a
little escape valve (similar to the safety valve of the generators) loaded with
a sufficient weight to allow the steam to escape when it is at too great a
pressure, but heavy enough to prevent it escaping when it has not the desired
pressure. A pipe of any kind placed above this valve will provide means to
utilize the escaping steam when it is desired.
Having described the nature of my Invention in detail, and in what manner
the same may be performed, I will point out the chief features and charac-
teristics of my Invention, which are the following:-
First, gravitation applied by the aid of my machines, either fixed or move-
able, to preparing cocoons (cooking, beating, second beating.and purging), in
spinning raw silk.
Secondly, division of labour, rendered possible by my system, that is to say,
concentration in a single hand and for a whole establishment, by means of niy
machines, of one part of the operation, the several operations by the jold pro-
cesses being all performed by each work woman.
Thirdly, the model machine as described and represented in the Drawings,
by means of which I can perform the four most delicate operations (namely,
cooking, beating, second beating, and partial purging) in spinning by mecha-
nical means.
Fourthly, all the fixed, and moveable machines described in' my Specification,
and shown in the Drawings, as also all analogous forms imaginable, which
may vary infinitely without departing from the principles on which my Patent
is based.
Fifthly, all the means described, without reference to Drawings in this Speci-
fication under the general head of ". Arrangements, improvements, and
accessary or supplementary means to the new method," a great part of which
is applicable to various modes of spinning at present in use, viz:-various
modes of cooking or preparing cocoons; operating en masse'; using receivers.
without frames; means of augmenting the effect of the beating, and collect-
ing the ends of the cocoons in the receivers; moveable numbers; instanta-
neous mechanical indicator, bell, and disconnecter; means of subduing the
effect of the steam on the cocoons in the vat of the apparatus; means of
economising the heating of the water in the vat; means of economising the
heating of the water in the basins; means of preventing boiling and useless
purgings;, mechanical sorting of the cocoons; means of forcing the cocoons

page_text: to rub against the fixed inclined planes; condenser of the steam of the appa-
ratus or of that produced by the basins; uniform heating of the basins, and
means of effecting it with the spinning appliances actually in use; various
modes of heating the apparatus and the basins; temperature of the water in
the apparatus and in the basins, and economical means of obtaining it in
spinning mills without changing the ordinary pressure of the steam.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arsène Auguste Olivier, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
ARSENE OLIVIER. (L.S.)