IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF YARNS USED FOR WEAVING TEXTILE FABRICS,
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Smith and John Ramage, both of the Town
and County of Stirling, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF YARNS USED FOR WEAVING TEXTILE FABRICS,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Smith and John
Ramage at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 7th December 1866.
We, ROBERT SMITH and JOHN RAMAGE, both of the Town and County of
Stirling, North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF YARNS USED FOR WEAVING TEXTILE
FABRICS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR," to be as
follows, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its essential object the production or manufacture of
a special kind of yarn to be especially and particularly employed for the
weaving of that class of cloths known as "winceys" or "linseys." For the
manufacture of this yarn a special and peculiar arrangement of mechanism is
used to produce the appearances and peculiaritics herein-before set forth.

page_text: The result of using this peculiar yarn is the production at intervals of pro-
jecting spots on the cloth, it being understood that it is only intended to claim
the use of this yarn for the production of the spots in that class of cloths in
which the warps are of cotton and the weft composed of the particular yarn
herein-before referred to, constituting a cloth of the "wincey" or "linsey"
class, but differing from the ordinary goods of this class in having the projecting
spots woven into it, the ordinary cloths being of plain texture.
The mechanism by which the spots projecting on the yarn are produced
consists of a framework with a set of spindles or bars for carrying the pirns or
bobbins on which the "ground yarn" is carried; the ground yarn (in the case
of a single yarn to which the following description refers, it being understood
that several yarns may and are to be so treated) is then led off to a tubular
stud carried in the framework of the mechanism; the yarn passes through the
tubular stud, and is thence conducted between rollers to the bobbins or reels
on to which it is wound. On the tubular stud a second pirn is carried and
caused to revolve, the yarn on it being that by which the projecting spots are
produced on this "ground yarn." When the mechanism is set in motion
both pirns revolve, and the end of the spotting yarn is tied or fastened to
the ground yarn. From what has been said it is evident that the pirn
carrying the spotting yarn revolves round the "ground yarn," so that as
the mechanism is in motion the spotting yarn becomes twisted round the
ground yarn."
66
The parts of the mechanism for winding up the yarn after the projecting
spots are produced on it is so arranged by means of a pall and catch wheel
that during the backward stroke of the pall the ground yarn is not wound up,
and during the time of its not being wound up the spotting yarn winds round
it several times, thus producing the projecting spots. As soon as the pall has
returned to the end of its back stroke to commence another forward stroke
the spotted portion is carried forward and wound upon the reels or bobbins;
during the time therefore that the spotted portion is drawn förward an equi-
valent unspotted part of the "ground yarn" is drawn forward; 'on this length
the spotting yarn winds spirally, and therefore produces a helical twist of the
spotting yarn.
It is to be understood that the pall for actuating the parts of
the mechanism for taking up the yarn as the projecting spots are produced is
actuated in an ordinary manner for driving palls by means of a 'connecting 'rod
driven off a crank centre.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed.
by the said Robert Sunith and John Ramage in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th June 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, ROBERT.
5 SMITH and JOHN RAMAGE, both of the Town and County of Stirling, North
Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Robert Smith and John Ramage, Her special license that we, the said.
Robert Smith and John Ramage, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said Robert Smith and John Ramage, our
executors, administrators, or 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF YARNS USED FOR WEAVING TEXTILE FABRICS, AND IN THE MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOB," upon the condition (amongst others) that
we, the said Robert Smith and John. Ramage, by an instrument in writing.
under our hands and seals, 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 mouths next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent..
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Robert Smith and John Ramage, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters, and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
Our said Invention has for its essential object the production or manufacture
of a special kind of yarn to be specially and particularly employed for the
weaving of that.class of cloth known in commerce, as "winceys" or " linseys."
For the manufacture of this yarn a special and peculiar arrangement of
mechanism is used to produce the appearances and peculiarities herein-after
set forth. The result of using this peculiar yarn is the production at intervals

page_text: of projecting spots on the cloth, it being understood that it is only intended
to claim the use of this yarn for the production of the spots on that class of
cloth in which the warps are of cotton and the weft composed of the peculiar
yarn herein-before referred to constituting a species of cloth of the "wincey"
or "linsey" class, but differing from the wincey goods of this class in having
the projecting spots woven into it, the ordinary cloth being of plain texture.
The mechanism by which the spots projecting on the yarn are produced"
consists of a framework with a set of spindles or bars for carrying the 'pirns
or bobbins on which the ground yarn is carried, the ground yarn (in the
case of a single yarn to which the following discription refers, it being
understood that several yarns may and are to be treated) is then led off to a
tubular stud carried in part of the framework of the mechanism; the yarn
passes through the tubular stud, and is thus conducted between rollers to the
bobbins or reels on to which it is wound. On the tubular stud a second pirn
is carried and caused to revolve, the yarn on it being that by which the
projecting spots are produced on the "ground yarn." When the mechanism is
set in motion both pirns revolve, and the end of the spotting yarn is tied or
fastened to the ground yarn. From what has been said it is evident that
the pirns carrying the spotting yarn revolve around the "ground yarn," so
that as the mechanism is in motion the spotting yarn becomes twisted round
the "ground yarn."
The part of the mechanism for winding up the yarn after the projecting
spots are produced on it is so arranged by means of a pall and catch or star
wheel that during the back stroke of the pall the ground yarn is not wound
up, the spotting yarn being wound round it several times during that period,
thus producing the projecting spots. As soon as the pall has returned to the
end of its back stroke to commence another forward stroke, the spotted
portion is carried forward and wound upon the reels or bobbins; during the
time therefore that the spotted portion is drawn forward an equivalent
unspotted part of the "ground yarn" is drawn forward, on this length the
spotting yarn winds spirally and therefore produces a helical twist of the
spotting yarn. It is to be understood that the pall for actuating the part of
the mechanism for taking up the yarn as the projecting spots are produced is
actuated in an ordinary manner for driving palls by means of a connecting
rod driven off a crank centre.
And in order that our said Invention may be properly understood we now
proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under
which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference
being had for the sake of more complete elucidation to the several Figures

page_text: upon the three explanatory Sheets of Drawing which we have hereunto
appended, that is to say :-
!
Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a plan of our improved mechanism for producing.
the peculiar kind of yarns herein-before referred to, the central part being cut.
away to allow both end portions being shown in their proper positions.
1
Figure 2, Sheet 2, is a transverse sectional elevation on the line a, a,
Figure 1, Figure 3 being another transverse sectional elevation on the line b, b;;
Figure 1.
The framing marked A in the several Figures is of an open rectangular
construction, and in it are fitted bearings for the prime motion shaft B, on.
which are situated the system of fast and loose driving pulleys C, which are
driven by the belt C¹ of a suitable pulley on the main driving shaft running:
through the building; the shaft B carries also the two driving pullies D...
Figure 1 and 3, over which belts pass for actuating the long drums E, from,
which the several pirns Q' carrying the spotting yarn, which may be of any.
colour required, but shown coloured blue and pink in Figures 1 and 2, are;
driven. The drums. E are carried in suitable bearings in the framework of
the machine, fixed to the bracket piece F, to which the beams F¹ are fixed.
for carrying the reels supporting the guides f, for the series of belts g, more
particularly seen at Figure 2. Along either side of the frame, at a height
above the ground convenient for the attendant, the starting rods G are
situated, to which the starting handles G₁ are attached for the attendant to
take hold of in sliding the rods G in a right or left hand direction for the
purpose either of starting or stopping the mechanism; the rods G are carried
in brackets fixed into the framing at convenient distances along its length,
and at the end from which the motion is first obtained, which in the present
instance is the right-hand end, a stud c is fixed, to which the crank d on the
horizontal shaft H are coupled, so that as the rods G are moved in either a
right or left hand direction the transverse rod H is rotated through an angle
corresponding to the extent of horizontal movement of these rods H, and
with it the belt guide I so that the belt may be shifted on to either the fast
or dead pulleys as may be required, and the mechanism put in motion or
stopped at will. It may be here explained that the machine being double,
that is, of similar construction along both sides, the description, preceeding
and succeeding, equally applies to both sides of the machine.
Referring now to Figure 2, Sheet 2, the pinion J at the inuer end of the
shaft B gears into a corresponding spur wheel J', which in turn gears.
into a pinion Js, on the axis of which is carried a smaller pinion J³,
which next actuates the spur wheel J., and on the same stud is carried,

page_text: revolving with the wheel J the bevil pinion Jo,. more particularly seen at
Figure 3, which in turn actuates the bevil wheel J, and with it the hori-
zontal transverse shaft K; on either side of the wheel J' is carried the star
wheel L, shown in enlarged detail at Figure 4, Sheet 1; as the star wheel
revolves the catch M is alternately pressed out from and drawn into the teeth-
or recesses in the péripheries of the star wheel; when the catches M are in
the recesses or teeth the lever N draws the conical clutch piece N¹ into the
conical cup or box N2 attached to the pinion O, shown by dotted lines in
Figure 3, the tension of the springs 0¹ always pulling the clutch piece N¹ in
the direction of the boxes N', so that when the catch M is at the bottom of a
recess between any two teeth in the star wheel the tension of the springs O¹ is
sufficient to produce pressure enough to rotate the pinion O and actuate the
gearing connected therewith, as herein-after described. On the central part of
the top of the framing is situated the table carrying the pirns Q, from which
the main or centre thread or plain or body yarn is. unwound as the twisting
and spotting is produced; the yarn from these pirus is carried up over the
rails R and downwards thence through the tube in the centre of the horizontal
pirns Q, passing between the drawing rollers W, W, on the way, as shown at
Figure 2, Sheet 2; on passing through the pirns Q¹ the yarn is spotted and
twisted over with the coloured yarn carried on the horizontal pirns, and in the
spotted and twisted condition is conducted through the rollers R¹ and S to the
winding-on bobbins T.
The twisting and spotting is produced in the following manner :-Tho
tbread or yarn on which the spot and twist are to be produced does not
revolve, its motion being one of periodic translation forward only, and as the
horizontal pirns revolve they twist the yarn, producing the projecting spot,
and twist around the centre thread or body yarn, the spoting yarn being pre-
vented from unwinding too quickly off the pirns Q¹ by means of the retardation
produced by the pressure of the little brushes U.
Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevation of a brush and its framing. The
brushes U are fixed or carried on the end of a metallic rod e carried in a
frame e which is moveable on a central joint e, so that when required the
brushes may be lifted out of contact with the horizontal pirns Q¹ by turning
them round. in an upward direction upon the joints ; a short upright stud
projects from the end of the rod e on which the brush is carried, so that
weights e³ may be placed thereon for adjusting the pressure or retardation
on the spotted yarn as it unwinds from the pirns Q¹; the rod e carrying
the brush U is adjustable in the tubular socket or body through which it
passes, so that the brush may be brought to bear on any part of the -pirns

page_text: required. To produce the spots it is necessary that no forward translation or
upwinding of the yarn on the bobbins T takes place during the time the spot
is being formed, and to produce the helical or spiral twist thereon it is neces-
sary that the yarn be carried forward, thus it is obvious that whilst the spot
is being produced the gearing for actuating the bobbins by which they are
caused to revolve for the purpose of winding on the yarn must stand still; this
alternate stopping and movement is effected by the star wheel L, clutch N¹,
and clutch boxes N' respectively herein-before referred to. Referring again
to Figure 2, the toothed wheel J¹ drives on either side a toothed pinion V, which
again gears into and actuates another toothed pinion V' on the short shaft V²,
this short shaft V2 carries the clutch N₁ actuated in the manner herein-
before described, so that whilst the clutch is in its box N the pinion O is kept
in rotation, and drives the toothed wheel O, which again drives the train of
pinions O, shown at Figure 3, ultimately causing the slow rotation of the
shaft carrying the frictional winding rollers 0 by means of the wheel 0%, so
that whilst the clutch is in gear with the box N2, the winding on of the yarn
and the spiral twisting upon it of the spotting yarn is effected. The bobbins T'
are carried in suspension brackets 0%, so that as the yarn winds on them their
centres are removed to a greater distance from the rollers, the pressure pro-
duced by the weight of the bobbin bearing on the surface of the rollers O*
being sufficient to produce enough friction-to cause the rotation of the bobbins
and the winding on of the yarn. Whilst the star wheel throws the clutches,N!
out of gear with the clutch boxes N³ the pinions become stationary, con-
sequently no upwinding of the yarn takes place, and it is during this period
that the spot is produced by the successive windings of the spotting yarn upon
one place of the main or central thread or body yarn. From what has now
been set forth with the aid of the accompanying Drawings, it will be evident
that a succession of stoppages and onward translations and upwinding of the
yarns is produced, so that the spotting and twisting is rendered a continuous
operation. In addition to driving the upwinding gearing for actuating the
bobbins T; the wheel O also actuates the drawing rollers W by means of the
pinions-W, by which the body yarn is drawn off the pirns Q prior to passing
through the tube of the pirns Q. The shaft of the rollers O is carried in
bearings 'fixed to the sliding carriages, both of which are. coupled together by
the shaft Y as well as by the angle irons X, and in order to perfectly fill the
bobbins T with the yarn it is necessary that it be evenly wound thereupon,
the shaft and frame carrying the rollers 0 and the bobbins T is therefore
wound slowly backwards and forwards through a. distance corresponding to
the length between the cheeks or heads of a single bobbin, this slow back-

page_text: ward and forward movement is effected by means of the cam Y on the short
shaft Y, Figure 1, shown enlarged at Figure 8, carried in bearings as there
shown. The cams Y on either side of the machine are set in motion by the
tangent screw Y on the shafts carrying the pinions Os; this tangent screw Y
causes the slow rotation of a worm wheel situated below it, which cannot
be seen in Figure 1, but is shown in enlarged detail at Figure 8. The
çam Y is fixed on the same shaft as the tangent wheel, so that as it revolves
between the two antifriction rollers. Y3 and Y carried upon the bar Ys it
causes a slow reciprocating movement of that bar, and with it the frame and
carriages supporting the series of winding rollers and bobbins O* and T respec-
tively. When required the upper rollers of the pair marked W and R¹
respectively may be removed from bearing on the yarn, in which case they
are placed in recesses made to receive their journals in the bracket carrying each
pair, some of the upper rollers are shown in this position in Figures 1 and 2.
The horizontal pirns Q', shown enlarged at Figure 6, which carry the spotting
yarn are rotated by the belt h passing over the small pulley i, which carries
the stop that enters into a hole in the base of the pirn for the purpose of
rotating it. The central tube or tubular spindle k, together with the outer
head through which the main or centre or body thread or yarn passes are
made in one piece, and for the purpose of doffing a pirn this tube k is with-
drawn, after which the pirn may be drawn off the outer tube. When it is
required to withdraw or stop any one pirn without stopping the others this
may be effected by releasing the retaining catch n from off the inner end of
the tube k, in which case the pirn being carried in the little frames o, Figure 1,
their inner ends together with the pullies i drop or fall down sufficiently to
slacken the belts g, the frames o swivelling upon the pivots or bearings. After
a
pirn Qis doffed, whilst the central tube. or spindle k is withdrawn, and the
pirn frame o is in the inclined position, another pirn may be placed thereon,
after which the frame o is elevated and retained in its place by the catch. n,
and the twisting and spotting continued as previously.
In place of producing a yarn having an alternate spiral twist and spot the
twist may be continuous, that is, without spots intervening in the following
manner: The star wheel L is thrown out of gear, and the lever N being
acted upon by the spring O' keeps the clutch N¹ and clutch box N in con
tinuous contact, so that a constant upwinding movement is given to the rollers
and bobbins 0 and T respectively. By introducing two star wheels L, and
two clutches and clutch boxes with a double set of levers and springs for
actuating them, what we prefer to call a "diamond" or back lapped twist
may be produced, as shown at Figure 3, Sheet 3, in the following manner:

page_text: Two pinions O are introduced, as shown in dotted lines at Figure 3, both
gearing into the toothed wheel O2, and which are capable from their own
proper directions of motion, as indicated by the arrows, to drive the wheel 0;
and consequently the upwinding mechanism in two different directions, so that
after the yarn has been partly wound or drawn through the central tubular
spindle it is partly wound back again, and the spotting yarn is also wound again
over that part which it had previously passed, thus producing a diamond or
back lapped twist or spotting on the main or central thread..
In case it is desired to produce the spots and a spiral or diamond twist at
irregular intervals, this may be effected by making the recesses in the.star
wheels L at irregular distances apart, so that the upwinding of the yarn, is
produced at irregular intervals:
By means of the mechanism herein-before described and illustrated, on
Sheets 1 and 2 of the annexed Drawings, together with the additional gearing
shown at Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 3, a yarn may be produced having a long
spot instead of the short one, berein-before referred to respecting the yarn first
described.
:"
Figure 1, Sheet 3, is an end elevation of the framing of the machine
showing the additional mechanism for producing. the elongated spots. The
shafts on which the tangent screws Y2 are fixed are extended beyond the
bearings, as shown at Figure 2, Sheet 3, and on their exterior ends the bevil
wheels B' are fixed, the bevil wheels carrying the palls c being arranged that
the shaft may revolve independently of them, whilst the ratchet wheels Care
fixed to the shaft. On the outer end of the main driving shaft B a pinion is
geared, which drives another stud pinion & carrying a tangent screw e which
in revolving actuates the worm wheelf on the transverse shaft g, carrying at
its extremities the two bevil pinions h, which gearing into the bevil wheels B¹
cause them to rotate very slowly.. Thus it will be evident that the slow
motion of the bevil wheels is continuous, and that during the upwinding of
the yarn at the time when the spiral twist is produced their slow motion has
no effect upon the shafts carrying the tangent screws Y", since the clutch N³,
Figure 4, being in gear the upwinding gearing is actuated at the ordinary
speed, but when the clutch is out of gear, and the spot itself being produced,
a slow upwinding is effected through the revolutions of the bevil wheels B',
the palls in which, as shown at Figure 1, Sheet 3, catching into the teeth of
the ratchet wheels D, and thus causing a slow upwinding during the time a
spot is being produced, or, in other words, distributing the closely twisted
portion of the spotting yarn over a greater length of the central thread or
body varn

page_text: In place of using a horizontal revolving pirn for producing the spot and
twist upon the main or central thread, the use of the horizontally revolving
pirn may be dispensed with, and in its place a disc may be employed, fixed on
to a revolving spindle, which may if desired be shorter than the hollow.
spindle upon which the horizontal pirns herein-before referred to are carried;
the revolving spindle for carrying the disc has a hole through its centre to
allow the main or central thread to pass through, and the pirn carrying the
spotting or overtwisting thread is held upon a pin or stud situated in the disc,
so that as the disc revolves the spotting or overtwisting thread unwinds from
the pirn carried on the disc and twists around the central or main thread.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, we would
observe in conclusion that what we consider novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,-
First, the general arrangement and combination of machinery or apparatus
for producing yarns of the classes herein-before described, or any mere
modification thereof:
Second, the use and application of the hollow spindle, tube, or stud on
which the pirn carrying the spotting thread is rotated, and through which the
main or central thread passes, as herein-before described, or any mere
modification thereof.
Third, the peculiar class of cloth of the fancy "wincey" or "linsey"
texture produced by means of the wefts being entirely or partly of the class
of yarns herein-before described, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Smith, on behalf of the said
John Ramage and of myself, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Fourth day of June, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
ROBERT SMITH. (L.S.)