An Apparatus for Testing the Strength of Cotton, Wool, and other Fibres in the Raw or Unmanufactured State.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th May, 1892-Accepted, 18th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus for Testing the Strength of Cotton, Wool, and other
Fibres in the Raw or Unmanufactured State.
We, EUGENE APPENZELLER, of the Societe Anonyme Filature et Filteries
Reunies, Alost, Belgium, Cotton Spinner, and EMILE FILLEUL, of Hatten, Alsace,
Germany, Cotton Spinner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
Our apparatus consists of two separate parts to be used in conjunction with one
another, the first part is a gauge which serves to enable a person to obtain a small
bunch or bundle of the cotton or other fibre of a determined sectional area; the
second part is a balance or equivalent for testing or gauging the breaking strain of
such small bunch of fibre whereby a planter or spinner can test or compare the
strength of samples of cotton or other fibre in the raw state.
The gauge we employ is preferably a sheet of metal near the edge of which we
cut a small nick or notch to receive a given quantity of fibre; or we drill a hole of
any desired size say one-thirty-second of an inch or one millimetre in diameter and
cut a fine slit from the edge of the plate to join the hole, thereby making a passage
through which fibres of cotton &c., a few at a time, can be passed into the gauge
hole, until the latter is full.
The bunch of fibre can now be drawn out of the nick in the plate in the form of
a flat wick or if from a hole the fibres are straightened or laid parallel by hand
after which the small flattened bunch is ready to be laid between the gripping jaws
of a balance or other apparatus for testing its strength.
A convenient form of balance for our purpose consists of a pair of small vices
each provided with special corrugated jaws which are preferably opened by a spring
when the vice screw is turned. The ends of the flat bunch of fibres are then laid
in the jaws of the vices and after the screws have been turned to securely close
the jaws upon the bunch of fibres, a weighted platform which is suspended from the
second vice is allowed to bear direct upon the bunch of fibres under test, weights
being gradually added to the platform until the bunch breaks, when the breaking
strain can be readily ascertained from the weights. We prefer to support or
connect the vices by swivel links or hooks so as to allow them to turn freely.
It is to be noted that if the bunch of fibres has broken straight and clean across,
the test has been a good and satisfactory one, but if the fibres have a jagged or
rough break the test has been unsatisfactory and should be repeated.
It is obvious that any convenient kind of apparatus with gripping jaws could be
employed in place of a weighted platform for indicating the breaking strain of the
bunch of fibre, for instance, the gripping jaws could be mounted horizontally, one
supported and free to turn in a bearing and the other connected by a swivel hook
to the short arm of an elbow lever, the other arm of which is graduated and carries
a single sliding weight, by which the strain required to break a bunch of fibres
gripped between the jaws of the vices can be readily ascertained; or we may
employ a spring balance and ratchet or other appliance for putting pressure on the
bunch of fibres in the vices, a sliding collar or pointer indicating on the graduated
scale the pressure exerted to break the fibres.
Dated this 18th day of Aumist 1891
H. B. BARLOW,
Agent for Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus for Testing the Strength of Cotton, Wool, and other
Fibres in the Raw or Unmanufactured State.
We, EUGENE APPENZELLER, of the Societe Anonyme Filature et Filteries
Reunies, Alost, Belgium, Cotton Spinner, and EMILE FILLEUL, of Hatten, Alsace,
Germany, Cotton Spinner, 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 :-
Our apparatus consists of two separate parts to be used in conjunction with one
another, the first part is a gauge which serves to enable a person to obtain a small
bunch or bundle of the cotton or other fibre of a determined sectional area; the
second part is a balance or equivalent for testing or gauging the breaking strain of
such small bunch of fibre whereby a planter or spinner can test or compare the
strength of samples of cotton or other fibre in the raw state.
The gauge we employ is preferably a sheet of metal near the edge of which we
cut a small nick or notch to receive a given quantity of fibre or we drill a hole of
any desired size say one-thirty-second of an inch or one millimetre in diameter and
cut a fine slit from the edge of the plate to join the hole, thereby making a passage
through which fibres of cotton &c., a few at a time, can be passed into the gauge
hole, until the latter is full.
The bunch of fibre can now be drawn out of the nick in the plate in the form of
a flat wick or if from a hole the fibres are straightened or laid parallel by hand
after which the small flattened bunch is ready to be laid between the gripping jaws
of a balance or other apparatus for testing its strength.
And in order that our invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect we will describe the accompanying two sheets of drawings reference being
had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 a detail view on an enlarged scale of the
gauge which we employ to obtain a bunch of fibres of a given sectional area.
Fig. 3 is a plan. Fig. 4 an end view. Fig. 5 a sectional elevation and Fig. 6 a
transverse section of one form of spring balance or apparatus with gripping jaws
for indicating the breaking strain of a bunch of fibres.
In Figure 1 we show a gauge consisting of a metal plate a formed preferably
with a foot and secured by screws b to a table c. In the plate a we form, as shown
best in the enlarged view Fig. 2, a notch or slot a¹ or a hole a², with a slit from the
edge to join it to receive a given quantity of fibre.
In Figures 3 to 6 we illustrate a suitable form of balance or apparatus for
testing the breaking strain of a bunch of fibres obtained by filling the gauge hole
or slot.
In these views,-d d¹ designate the pair of small vices each provided with
special corrugated gripping jaws which are preferably arranged to be opened by a
spring whenever the vice screw is turned to release them. The ends of the flat
bunch of fibres g are then laid in the jaws of the vices d d' and the screws f are
turned to securely close the jaws upon the bunch of fibres. The shank of the vice d
is connected by a rod h to one end of a coiled spring i the other end of which is
firmly secured to the end plate of a casing ; within which it is placed, the said
casing being fixed upon a frame or bed plate k. On the top of the casing ; is fixed
the dial or graduated scale the pointer m of which is actuated by means of a
pinion n gearing into a sliding rack o which is moved by a finger p whenever the
spring i is extended by the application of strain or pull upon the rod h. The shank
of the other vice d' is connected by a cord, wire or equivalent q to a grooved
pulley r fixed upon a short shaft s supported in bearings on the frame k. On this
shaft s is secured a worm wheel t which is turned by means of a worm u fixed upon
a shaft vfurnished with a handle r¹.

page_text: After the ends of the flat bunch of fibres g have been secured in the vices d d'
the handle is turned and by means of the worm u and worm wheel turns the
shafts and pulley r and so by means of the cord y draws out the rod h and finger p
and extends the spring i until the resistance of the latter becomes so great that the
bunch of fibres breaks. When the fibres break the rod is drawn back by the
contraction of the spring and the finger p remains in the position which it
occupied at the moment of breakage, consequently a glance at the position of the
pointer m on the dial will instantly show the actual breaking strain.
It is to be noted that if the bunch of fibres has broken straight and clean across,
the test has been a good and satisfactory one, but if the fibres have a jagged or
rough break the test has been unsatisfactory and should be repeated.
The pointer m and finger p can then be re-set by drawing back the sliding rack o
the end of which projects through the casing j.
In order to prevent sudden shock and consequent injury to the spring i when the
breakage of the fibres takes place, we prefer to employ a pneumatic check
cylinder to the piston of which is secured upon the rod h; but this might be
otherwise arranged, or instead of a pneumatic cylinder and piston an elastic cushion
might be employed to prevent shock and consequent injury to the spring.
On the rod or elsewhere we fix a study which works in a slot k¹ and so acts as
a stop to limit the spring i being extended too far.
It is obvious that any convenient kind of apparatus with gripping jaws could be
employed in place of that shown and described for effecting the breakage of the
bunch of fibres and for indicating the breaking strain.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
The use and application of a gauge by which a bunch of fibres of a given
sectional area can be obtained, in combination with a balance or apparatus by
which said bunch of fibres can be broken and its breaking strain indicated
substantially as herein set forth.
ليود
M 1005
II. B. BARLOW,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agent for Applicants.