IMPROVEMENTS IN WHAT ARE COMMONLY CALLED CLEARERS FOR MACHINES USED IN WINDING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS YARNS OR THREADS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Knowles, junior, of Bolton, in the County of Lan-
caster, Cotton Spinner, and Jaines Edward Hamer, of the same Place, Mechanic,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHAT ARE COMMONLY CALLED CLEARERS
FOR MACHINES USED IN WINDING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS YARNS OR
THREADS."
Sealed the 6th October 1877, and dated the 10th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Knowles and James
Edward Hamer at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th
April 1877.
GEORGE KNOWLES, junior, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton Spinner,
and JAMES EDWARD HAMER, of the same Place, Mechanic. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHAT
ARE COMMONLY CALLED CLEARERS FOR MACHINES USED IN WINDING COTTON AND
OTHER FIBROUS YARNS OR THREADS."
Our Invention consists in arrangements whereby we are enabled readily to
provide for adjustments suitable to different "counts" of yarns or threads, and to
prevent the liability of damage to the same. For these purposes we form the
clearer so that the slit through which the yarn or thread passes is conical from top
to bottom, and therefore by elevating the said clearer or lowering it, the slit is
presented with a narrower or broader gauge, and by means of suitable adjustments,
these alterations in position may be registered by a scale or index answering to
particular "counts."
The clearer, so formed and arranged, we propose to consist of two separate parts
turned or otherwise rounded, and screwed or attached in any other suitable manner
to a rail capable of being adjusted as above described, and by these means there-
fore not only is the required gauge for certain counts obtained, but the yarn or
thread is not liable to damage by sharp edges.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Knowles and James Edward Hamer in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 10th October 1877.
GEORGE KNOWLES, junior, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton Spinner,
and JAMES EDWARD HAMER, of the same place, Mechanic. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHAT
ARE COMMONLY CALLED CLEARERS FOR MACHINES USED IN WINDING COTTON AND
OTHER FIBROUS YARNS OR THREADS."
Our Invention consists in arrangements whereby we are enabled readily to
provide for adjustments suitable to different "counts" of yarns or threads, and to
prevent the liability of damage to the same. For these purposes we form the
clearer so that the slit through which the yarn or thread passes is conical from top
to bottom, and therefore by clevating or lowering the said clearer bodily, the slit is
presented with a narrower or broader gauge, and by means of suitable adjustments
these alterations in position may be registered by a scale or index answering to
particular "counts."
And in order to prevent damage to the yarn by sharp edges, we form the clearer
of two parts turned with a taper, and attach them to a rail capable of being adjusted
as above described.
In order that our Invention may be more fully understood, we will proceed to
describe the accompanying Drawing illustrative thereof.
Figs. 1 and 2 show in elevation and plan the clearer itself, and which substan-
tially constitutes our Invention.
At a is a bar, which may be adjusted upward or downward by suitable means,
such as will hereafter be shown, and at b, c, are two studs fixed to and projecting
upward from the said bar. These studs are not truly cylindrical, but are cach
turned with a slight taper, so that a wedge-formed space is left between them as
shewn in the Drawing, and it answers to the usual slit, but differs therefrom in not
being parallel.
Suppose the parts to be in such a position that the thread to be cleared is passing
between the two parts b, c, at the point 1, that will be suitable for a certain "count,"
but supposing the bar a to be moved upward or downward, bringing the point 1 to
the point 2 or 3, then an arrangement will have been made suitable for finer or
coarser counts, as the thread will run through one or the other of the said parts
2, 3, of the slit.
Having thus pointed out the general feature of our Invention, we will proceed
to describe a practical arrangement by which it may be carried into effect.
Fig. 3 represents in front view a portion of a winding frame with our Invention
adapted, it being broken off in the middle and at each end; and Fig. 4 is a cross
section.
The bar which carries the clearers does not in this case (although it might) extend
in one piece along the width of the machine, but is made in sections of any desired
numbers as at a, a, a². Both ends of each bar rest upon a collar d formed on a
set screw e, and upon this collar the said bar is tightened by a nut f, the said set
screw being capable of adjustment in a fixed bracket g. From each end of the bars
there projects a finger pointing to a graduated fixed plate n, such graduations
corresponding to the proper positions of the clearers for different counts of yarn.
At i is one of the usual brushes through which the yarn passes, and from thence
over rollers k, l, but the Drawing shews an intermediate roller m working in a
water trough now sometimes employed, but it is not connected with our Invention.
On commencing operations the set screws e at each end of a bar are moved upward
or downward until the wedge-formed space of each clearer is in the right position
for the count of yarn to be wound, and this may be ascertained by means of the
fingers and scale n, and the nuts f being then tightened, the machine is put to
work, the yarn being cleared by the rounded peripheries of the parts b, c. The

page_text: combined use of the rollers k, l, causes the yarn to pass always at the same level, at
whatever depth it may issue from the brush i.
The spaces between the clearers are bridged over, as at o, for the purpose of
preventing the yarn being wound from between the said clearers.
Instead of turning the parts b, c, taper, they might be cylindrical, but heeled over
at their bases to obtain the wedge-formed slit, or one might be taper and the other
cylindrical.
By forming the clearers of circular section as above described, the yarn, by
passing the tangent of circles is less liable to injury, but the parts b, c, night be
made of flat plates of metal with suitable sides for affording the wedge-formed slit,
or the said slit might be formed in one piece of metal.
It will be evident that instead of moving the bars a as above described, the
operation may be reversed by keeping the said bars stationary and moving the yarn
to the required level, the clearers being placed independently of the traverse.
And it will also be evident that the clearers may be provided with angular slits,
tumblers, or other arrangements ordinarily employed to prevent the yarn from
being lifted out of the clearers.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood that we
claim as secured to us under the above in part recited Letters Patent and for the
purposes above set forth,―
Firstly. The use of clearers provided with wedge-formed spaces, and capable of
being adjusted upward or downward bodily or inversely, so adjusting the level of
the yarn or thread.
Secondly. The use of fingers or pointers, and a scale for indicating the proper
position of the clearers of the yarn or thread.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Edward Hamer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JAMES EDWARD HAMER. (IS.)