Improvements in Carding Engines in which Revolving Flats are Employed.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Nov., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 7th Sept., 188
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Carding Engines in which Revolving Flats are
Employed.
I THOMAS SCHOFIELD WHITWORTH of 122 Broughton Lane, Lower Broughton,
Manchester in the county of Lancaster Machinist do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to carding-engines in which revolving flats are employed.
The first part of my invention consists in arrangements by which I am enabled to
adjust the flats relatively to the card surface of the main cylinder. In carrying this
part of my invention into effect I form a surface or groove upon or in the bend of the
carding engine concentric with the axis of the main cylinder and upon the said
surface or in the said groove I mount a curved incline. Resting upon the said incline
is one end of each of a number of rods or bars the other ends of which rods or bars
support a flexible bend or band of metal the outer surface of which forms a guide
upon which one end of each of the flats travels. The rods or bars above mentioned
pass through holes or guides formed in the bend of the carding engine or in a bracket.
or brackets secured to the said bend. The ends of the rods or bars aforesaid which
support the flexible bend or band of metal may be enlarged so as to more efficiently
support the flexible bend or band of metal. The above mentioned flexible bend or
band of metal is prevented from moving longitudinally by being secured at one end
or at some other point to the bend of the carding engine and is prevented from moving
laterally by means of the rods or bars before referred to or by means of brackets
secured to the bend of the carding engine or by being placed in a groove formed in
the bend of the carding engine. By traversing the curved incline circumferentially
upon the surface which supports it or in the groove in which it is mounted the curve
of the flexible bend or band of metal above referred to may be adjusted relatively to
the card surface of the main cylinder of the carding engine. In order to traverse the
curved incline circumferentially upon the surface which supports it or in the groove
in which it is mounted I form teeth upon the said curved incline which teeth gear into
or engage with the teeth of a pinion mounted upon a shaft carried by a bracket
mounted upon the bend of the carding engine and capable of being rotated by means
of a worm and wheel or by any other suitable means. In some cases I employ a
spring or springs to keep the flexible bend or band of metal above referred to in
contact with the ends of the rods or bars before mentioned. One end of the said
spring or of each of the said springs is connected to the flexible bend or band of metal

page_text: above mentioned the remaining end or ends of the said spring or springs being
connected to any suitable part of the bend or of the framework of the carding engine.
Although I have above only referred to one side of the carding engine I would have
it understood that the arrangements in which this part of my invention consists are
applied to both sides of the carding-engine.
In some cases I so for those ends of the rods or bars before referred to which are
not in contact with the surface of the curved incline above mentioned that they may
together serve as a surface upon which may travel one end of each of the flats
employed in the carding engine and in such cases 1 dispense with the flexible bend or
band of metal.
A further part of my invention refers to what are known as "rovolving flats" and
consists in arrangements by means of which I am enabled to grind the "wire" of such
"flats""true" and "square" with those portions of the "flats" which are in contact
with the flexible bends or other equivalents therefor which maintain the flats in their
correct position in relation to the card surface of the main cylinder of the carding
engine when carding is taking place. When each flat is travelling and away from
the main cylinder of the carding engine I cause the backs of the ends of the flat to
pass along projecting parts formed on brackets secured to the bends or framework of
the carding engine. Upon each of the brackets above referred to I mount a part
capable of being slidden thereon in suitable brackets and hereinafter called the sliding
bracket. The said sliding bracket is furnished with a projection the ends of which are
formed inclined. The sliding brackets above referred to are provided with other
brackets having bearings for supporting a grinding roller for grinding the flats. As
each of the flats passes over the projecting paris previously mentioned the portions of
the flat which at times are in contact with the flexible bends or other equivalents
therefor will while passing beneath the projections on the sliding brackets before
referred to, raise the said sliding brackets and the grinding roller carried thereby thus
ensuring the wires of the flats being ground to an uniform length. The brackets
which carry the axle of the grinding roller may be adjusted relatively to the card
surface of the flats to be ground. I also provide levers and excentrics or cams for
raising the sliding brackets and moving the grinding roller clear of the flats when it
is not desired to grind the card surface of the said flats.
I have above referred to a grinding roller only as being used for grinding the card
surface of the flats but any other suitable apparatus for sharpening the "wire" may if
desired be employed.
In order to "heel over" the "flats" I form a groove across each end of each "flat"
the bottom of such groove being formed at such an angle to the face of the "flat" as
is requisite to give the desired amount of "heel" to the "flat." I provide the
"flexible bends' or the equivalents therefor which are employed, with ribs or
projections which pass into the grooves above referred to formed in each of the
"flats" the bottoms of which grooves resting upon the tops of the said ribs or
projections which form guides for the "flats as they pass over the main cylinder
of the carding engine and so the desired amount of "heel" is given to the flats.
In some cases in order to "heel over" the flats I connect such flats to the chains
by which they are actuated that the said flats are tilted over as they pass along the
surface of the main cylinder of the carding engine. I accomplish this by placing
the pins or studs by which each of the flats is connected to the chains by means of
which it is actuated above and more or less near to the advancing edge of the flat. I
control the degree of "heeling" by means of screws screwed into the said flats the
heads of which screws arrive in contact with the chain above mentioned.
Dated this Second day of November 1887
W. T. CHEETHAM,
Carlton Chambers,
18, Saint Ann's Street, Manchester,
Agent to the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Carding-engines in which Revolving Flats are
Employed.
I THOMAS SCHOFIELD WHITWORTH of 122 Broughton Lane Lower Broughton
Manchester in the County of Lancaster Machinist do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to carding-engines in which revolving flats are employed.
The first part of my invention consists of combined appliances by which I am
enabled to adjust the flats relatively to the card surface of the main-cylinder. In
carrying this part of my invention into effect I form a surface or groove upon or in
the bend of the carding-engine concentric with the axis of the main cylinder and
upon the said surface or in the said groove I mount a curved incline. Resting upon
the said incline is one end of each of a number of rods or bars the other ends of
which rods or bars support a flexible bend or band of metal the outer surface of which
forms a guide upon which one end of each of the flats travels. The rods or bars
above mentioned pass through holes or guides formed in the bend of the carding-
engine or in a bracket or brackets secured to the said bend.
The ends of the rods or bars aforesaid which support the flexible bend or band of
metal may be enlarged so as to more efficiently support the flexible bend or band of
metal. The above mentioned flexible bend or band of metal is prevented from moving
longitudinally by being secured at one end or at some other point to the bend of the
carding-engine and is prevented from moving laterally by means of the rods or bars
before referred to or by means of brackets secured to the bend of the carding-engine
or by being placed in a groove formed in the bend of the carding-engine. By
traversing the curved incline circumferentially upon the surface which supports it or
in the groove in which it is mounted the curve of the flexible bend or band of metal
above referred to may be adjusted relatively to the card-surface of the main cylinder
of the carding-engine. In order to traverse the curved incline circumferentially upon
the surface which supports it or in the groove in which it is mounted form teeth,
upon the said curved incline which teeth gear into or engage with the teeth of a
pinion mounted upon a shaft carried by a bracket mounted upon the bend of the
carding-engine and capable of being rotated by means of a worm and wheel or by
any other suitable means.
In some cases employ a spring or springs to keep the flexible bend or band of
metal above referred to in contact with the ends of the rods or bars before mentioned.
One end of the said spring or of each of the said springs is connected to the flexible
bend or band of metal above mentioned the remaining end or ends of the said spring
or springs being connected to any suitable part of the bend or of the framework of

page_text: the carding engine. Although I have above only referred to one side of the carding
engine I would have it understood that the arrangements in which this part of my
invention consists are applied to both sides of the carding-engine. In the accompanying
drawings Fig. 1 is a side view partly in section and Fig. 2a section showing so much
of a carding-engine as is necessary to illustrate this part of my invention. Fig. 2 is
a section taken partly upon the line A. B of Fig. 1 and partly upon the line BC
of Fig. 1. In Fig. 2 for the sake of clearness certain parts are not shown in
section.
a is one side-frame of the carding-engine upon which is mounted and secured the
bend b. form in the bend a groove or recess the surface c' of which groove or
recess 6 I form concentric with the axis of the main cylinder d. In the groove or
recess e and upon the surface e 1 mount a curved incline the edge of which curved
incline e in contact with the surface e¹ is formed of a curve to correspond with such
surface e'. Resting upon the edge e¹ of the incline e is one end of each of a number of
rods or bars f. Each of the rods or bars passes through holes formed through ribs b
formed on the bend b. The holes aforesaid serve as guides in which the rods or bars/
are free to slide radially.
The ends of the rods or bars support a flexible bend or hand g of metal and
such rods or bars may have enlarged heads or bearing surfaces as shewn by Figs. 3
and 4. To the end of the band g is jointed one end of a link the other end of
which is jointed to a study secured to the bend 6. To the end g of the flexible
bend or band of metal secure one end of a spring the other end of which is
secured to a stud 96 secured to the bend b. The flexible bend or band g of metal is
prevented from being moved longitudinally by the stud and is prevented from being
moved laterally by means of a groove formed in the flexible bend or band g of metal
into which groove the ends of the rods or bars pass.
One end of each of the flats several of which are shewn in Fig. I rests upon and
while carding travels along the surface 7 of the flexible bend or band g of metal.
By the curved incline e being traversed upon the surface in the direction indicated
by the arrow E the flexible bend or band g of metal will be allowed to approach the
axis of the main cylinder d.
When the curved incline e is traversed upon the surface c' in a direction opposite
to that indicated by the arrow E the flexible bend or band g of metal will be moved
away from the axis of the main cylinder d. By the curved incline e being traversed
circumferentially upon the surface c' the curve of the flexible bend or band g of metal
may be adjusted relatively to the card surface of the main cylinder d of the carding-
engine. Formed upon or secured to the bend is a bracket passing through which
and capable of being rotated therein is a short shaft upon one end of which is
mounted a toothed wheel the teeth of which gear into teeth m formed upon the
curved inclines e. Mounted upon the shaft is a worm wheel gearing into the
teeth of which is a worm o mounted upon an axle o supported by and capable of
being rotated in the bracket j. The axle o' is formed with a square portion by means
of which and a suitable key the worm o may be turned. By the worin o being turned
in a suitable direction the curved incline e may be traversed circumferentially upon
the surface c' in the desired direction. The wormo also serves to keep the curved
incline in the position into which it has been traversed. Although I have above in
reference to Figs. 1 and 2 only referred to one side of the carding-engine 1 would
have it understood that the arrangements in which this part of my invention
consists are applied to both sides of the carding-engine. In some cases SO
form the ends of the rods or bars with heads as shewn in Figs. 3 and 4.
Fig. 3 being a front view and Fig. 4 a plan of a few of the rods or bars that
the parts of the head of one rod or bar overlapping sideways with the
paris of the adjacent rods or bars the outer surfaces of the heads form
a continuous surface upon which one end of each of the flats travels and in such
cases dispense with the flexible bend or band g of metal.
22
A further part of my invention refers to what are known as "revolving flats"
and consists in improved appliances by the use of which 1 am enabled to grind the

page_text: wire of such "flats," "true" and "square" with those portions of the "flats" which
are in contact with the flexible bends or other equivalents therefor which maintain
the flats in their correct position in relation to the card surface of the main cylinder
of the carding-engine when carding is taking place. When each "flat" is travelling
and away from the main cylinder of the carding-engine cause the backs of the
ends of the "fat" to pass along projecting parts formed on brackets secured to the
bends or framework of the carding-engine. Upon each of the brackets above referred
to I mount a part capable of being slidden thereon in suitable brackets and hereinafter
called the sliding bracket. The said sliding bracket is furnished with a projection
the ends of which are formed inclined. The sliding brackets above referred to are
provided with other brackets having bearings for supporting a grinding roller for
grinding the "flats." As each of the flats passes over the projecting parts previously
mentioned the portions of the "flat" which at times are in contact with the flexible
bends or other equivalents therefor will while passing beneath the projections on the
sliding brackets before referred to raise the said sliding brackets and the grinding
roller carried thereby thus ensuring the wires of the flats being ground to an uniform
length. The brackets which carry the axle of the grinding roller may be adjusted
relatively to the card surface of the flats to be ground. I also provide levers and
excentrics or cams for raising the sliding brackets and moving the grinding
roller clear of the flats when it is not desired to grind the card surface of the
said flats.
This part of my invention is also iilustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying
drawings. Secured to the bend is a bracket p upon which is a projecting part
along the surface of which the back of one end of each of the flats travels
when such fat is away from the main cylinder d of the carding-engine. On the
bracket pare formed parts (see Fig. 5) between which works a sliding bracket r.
Formed upon or secured to the bracket is a projecting part. Upon the sliding
bracket is mounted a bracket s. Screwed into the bracket s is a set-screw t one end
of which bears against the projecting part formed on the sliding bracket . By
the set-screw t being screwed or unscrewed the brackets may be adjusted upon the
bracket and after being so adjusted is secured in position by the bolt s¹.
"
"
"2
The brackets supports the axle u' of a grinding roller u which roller u may be an
ordinary emery rolieri or may be a grinding roller of the kind denominated "the
Horsefall's Grinder." At hh are the travelling flats moving in the direction indicated
by the arrow F. As each of the flats / travels over the bracket of the portion h² of
the flat which at times is in contact with the flexible bend or other equivalent
therefor will while passing beneath the projection on the sliding bracket raise the
said sliding bracket and the brackets and the grinding roller carried thereby,
thus ensuring the wires of the flais passing beneath the grinding roller a being
ground to an uniform length. The set-screw and bolts enable the grinding roller u
to be adjusted in position relatively to the card surface of the flats to be ground.
Secured to the bracket p is a stud p² and free to be turned thereon is mounted a
cam provided with a handle p. By the handle pt being turned so as to cause the
cam p³ to act on the projecting part of the sliding bracket the grinding roller u
may be raised clear of the flats h when it is not desired to grind the card surface of
the said flats. Fig. 5 is a view partly in section shewing the bracket p and certain
parts carried thereby seen in the direction indicated by the line A, B.
I have above referred to a grinding roller only as being used for grinding the card
surface of the flats but any other suitable apparatus for sharpening the "wire" may if
desired be employed.
When grinding flats of the form shown at G in Fig. 6 I connect the part q upon
which the flat is supported while being ground to the bracket by means of an
arm the part 2 upon the flat passing beneath the projecting part formed upon
the sliding bracket as previously described.
By employing the surface of the flats which rests upon the flexible bend or
other equivalent therefor while carding, to also adjust the position of the grinding
roller while each flat is being ground, I am enabled to grind the wire upon every

page_text: flat, to an uniform length, so that each flat shall be the same as any other flat in so
far as regards the relative positions of the surface of the wire and the surface h
which bears upon the flexible bend or other equivalent therefor when such flat is
carding.
Although in describing this part of my invention I have referred to certain parts
as though such parts were employed at one side only of the carding-engine to which
this part of my invention is applied I would have it understood that like parts aro
applied to each side of the carding-engine in so far as may be necessary.
In order to heel over "the "Hats I form and employ a groove across each end
of each flat" the bottom of such groove being formed at such an angle to the
"face" of the "flat" as is requisite to give the desired amount of "heel" to the
"Alat."
"
I provide the flexible bends or the equivalents therefor which are employed with
ribs or projections which pass into the grooves above referred to formed in each of the
flats the bottoms of which grooves resting upon the tops of the said ribs or pro-
jections form guides for the flats" as they pass over the main cylinder of the
carding-engine and so the desired amount of heel" is given to the flats.
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show so much of a flat as is requisite to illustrate this portion of
my invention. Fig. 7 is a view from below, Fig. 8 an end view and Fig. 9 a side
view. Across each end of the flat e 1 form a groove w the bottom of such groove w
being formed at such an angle to the face of the flat as is requisite to give the
desired amount of heel" to the flat . I provide each of the flexible bends or other
equivalents therefor which are employed with a rib or projection which passes into
one of the grooves w formed in the flat as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, Fig. 9 being a
side view and Fig. 10 an end view of that which is shewn in Fig. 9. The bottom of
each groove w rests upon the top of the rib or projection a passing into such groove w
and the edge of the flat rests upon the surface of the flexible bend or other
equivalent therefor. By varying the inclination of the bottom of each of the
grooves w in relation to the face of the flat e the desired amount of "heel" may be
given to the flat c.
The
In order to counteract certain defects which arise from the wearing of the
bearings in which the axle of the main cylinder of the carding-engine revolves
I employ the appliances to be next described in reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the
accompanying drawings but to such appliances I make no claim. I place in the
pedestal which supports the axle of the main cylinder a bush 4 within which
and capable of being revolved therein is the axle of the main cylinder d.
said bush is free to be rotated in the pedestal 3. Upon one end of the bush 4
I form a collar 4" and upon the other end of the said bush 4 I secure a toothed
wheel 5 which may be rotated by means of the worm 6 the axle of which is
supported in brackets 7 in which it is capable of being rotated the brackets 7 being
formed upon or secured to the bend . The collar 4" and wheel 5 prevent the bush 4
from being moved longitudinally. When one portion of the bush 4 becomes worn
by the rotation of the axle of the main cylinder d an unworn or less worn portion of
the bush can be presented to the said axle, by the bush 4 being turned by means
of the worm 6, a square portion being formed upon the axle of the worm 6 so that
such worm 6 may be more readily turned.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. For use in a carding-engine in which revolving flats are employed the com-
bination of parts consisting of a curved incline such as e, rods or bars such as and
flexible bend or band of metal, arranged, employed and operating substantially as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described in reference to and indicated in and by
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
2. For use in a carding-engine in which revolving flats are employed the com-
bination of parts consisting of a bracket such as p projecting part such as q, sliding

page_text: bracket such as provided with a projection such as 2, a bracket such as sand
grinding roller such as or equivalent therefor all constructed arranged employed and
operating substantially as herein before described in reference to and indicated in
and by Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The hereinbefore described appliances for heeling the revolving flats employed
in a carding-engine, consisting of inclined grooves such as we formed in each flat and
acting in conjunction with ribs or projections such as x upon the flexible bend or other
equivalent therefor substantially as herein before described in reference to and indicated
in and by Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Second day of August 1888.
THOMAS SCHOFIELD WHITWORTH.