IMPROVEMENTS IN ARRANGEMENTS FOR EFFECTING THE GRIN DINGOF THE TRAVELLING FLATS OF CARDING ENGINES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Clegg and Thomas Lucas, both of Miles
Platting, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARRANGEMENTS FOR EFFECTING THE GRIN DINGOF THE
TRAVELLING FLATS OF CARDING ENGINES."
Sealed the 14th August 1874, and dated the 19th February 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Clegg and
Thomas Lucas at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 19th February 1874.
We, THOMAS CLEGG and THOMAS LUCAS, both of Miles Platting,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARRANGEMENTS FOR EFFECTING
THE GRINDING OF THE TRAVELLING FLATS OF CARDING ENGINES," to be as
follows:-
Our Invention is applicable to such carding engines as are provided
with travelling flats, as is the case, for example, when a number of flats
are linked together so as to form an endless chain. In a carding engine
to which we have particularly adapted our said Invention surfaces
formed at each end of cach flat, and which merely for distinction we
will style the front surfaces, slide upon aflexible bend or curved guide

page_text: rail when the cards are at work, and during the time when the card
covered surfaces of the flats are turned away from the main cylinder
surfaces formed on the other sides of the flats, and which we will style
back surfaces, slide upon upper bends. Previously to our said Invention
each flat has been ground whilst its said back surfaces have been sliding
in contact with the said upper bend, and as a consequence, if the thick-
ness of the flat ends, that is to say, the distance between the said front
and back surfaces has varied the true working relation between the cards
on the flats and on the main cylinder has not been maintained with
regularity throughout the chain of flats. To obtain such regularity is
the object of our said Invention, and to this end we cause each flat to
move towards the grinding roller until the said front surfaces of the
flat bear against guides or against sliding blocks or carriages, as the case
may be.
In an arrangement which we have devised as each flat is to be
ground it comes into contact with springs, which press the said flat out-
wards until each of the said front surfaces bears against a sliding block
which acts to regulate the distance of the card surface of each flat from
the grinding roller. The said flat and the two sliding blocks slide or
travel together during the grinding of the said flat and until the afore-
said springs permit the said flat to withdraw from contact with the
grinding roller, when the said blocks are released and are drawn back by
means of springs so as to be ready to engage with the next flat which is
to be ground. The said blocks are made of such form as will compen-
sate for the angularity of the said front surfaces as relative to the card
surface of each flat.

page_text: of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Thomas Clegg and Thomas Lucas,
Her special licence, that we, the said Thomas Clegg and Thomas
Lucas, our exccutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we,
the said Thomas Clegg and Thomas Lucas, our executors, admini-
strators, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARRANGE-
MENTS FOR EFFECTING THE GRINDING OF THE TRAVELLING FLATS OF CARDING
ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Thomas
Clegg and Thomas Lucas, our executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under our or one of our hands and seals, should parti-
cularly 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 Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Clegg, for myself and on
behalf of the said Thomas Lucas, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (and accompanying Drawings), that is to say:-
Our Invention is applicable to such carding engines as are provided
with travelling flats, as in the case, for example, when a number of flats
are linked together so as to form an endless chain. In a carding engine
to which we have particularly adapted our said Invention surfaces
formed at each end of each flat, and which merely for distinction we
will style the front surfaces, slide upon a flexible bend or curved guide
rail when the cards are at work, and during the time when the card
covered surfaces of the flats are turned away from the main cylinder
surfaces formed on the other sides of the flats, and which we will style
back surfaces, slide upon upper bends. Previously to our said Invention
each flat has been ground, whilst its said back surfaces have been sliding
in contact with the said upper bend, and as a consequence, if the thick-.
ness of the flat ends, that is to say, the distance between the said front
and back surfaces has varied the true working relation between the
•

page_text: cards on the flats and on the main cylinder has not been maintained
with regularity throughout the chain of flats. To obtain such regularity
is the object of our said Invention, and to this end we cause each flat to
move towards the grinding roller until the said front surfaces of the
flat bear against guides or against sliding blocks or carriages, as the case
may be.
In an arrangement which we have devised as each flat is to be ground
it comes into contact with springs, which press the said flat outwards
until each of the said front surfaces bears against a sliding block which
acts to regulate the distance of the card surface of each flat from the
grinding roller. The said flat and the two sliding blocks slide or travel
together during the grinding of the said flat and until the aforesaid
springs permit the said flat to withdraw from contact with the grinding
roller, when the said blocks are released and are drawn back by means
of springs so as to be ready to engage with the next flat which is to be
ground.
And in order that our Invention may be fully understood we will now
refer to the Sheet of Drawings which we have caused to accompany this
Specification. In the said Drawings Fig. 1, drawn about one quarter of
the full size, represents a side view of a portion of a carding engine,
Fig. 2 represents a section at right angles taken on the line A in Fig. 1,
and Fig. 3 is an inner or back view of Fig. 1 with the travelling flats
represented in section. In the said Figures a is a portion of the main
cylinder; b, b, are portions of the chain of travelling flats; c is the
lower guide rail or "flexible bend;" & is the upper guide rail or upper
bend; and e is the grinding roller. The ends of each flat are formed
with surfaces herein-before styled front surfaces, which slide on the rail
c when carding, the said surfaces being slightly inclined with respect to
the face of the cards as indicated in Fig. 6, in order that when carding
the back edge of the flat may approach the main cylinder more closely a
than the front or leading edge for reasons well understood by the
practical operator. On the back of each flat, and at each end thereof
surfaces are formed to slide on the upper bends, one of which is seen
at d, the last named surfaces being parallel with the faces of the cards
on the said flats. The said flats are connected together by the links f,S, ‹
so as to form an endless travelling chain. The description of the
Drawings so far refers to parts of ordinary construction. When the
said flats are sliding on the rail d they pass below the grinding roller e

page_text: which is of an ordinary or suitable description. Below the said grinding
roller we apply a spring g, on which is fixed an incline h. The said
spring is fixed by one end to the adjustable support i, the other end
resting on the support j, which can be turned out of the way so as to
5 lower the spring and the incline h if our apparatus is not required to be
in action. As each flat nears the said grinding roller a projection p on
the back of the flat slides up the face of the incline h, whereby the said
flat is raised until the front surface which is formed to slide on the
flexible bend bears against a block k, which is fitted to slide in the
fixing 1, as represented on a larger scale in Fig. 4, wherein the end of a
flat is indicated in section at b. The said front surface is maintained in
contact with the block k for a time by the action of the spring g. If
preferred a lever or bar pressed upwards by means of a weight, or of a
spring, or of springs, or any other suitable arrangement may be sub-
stituted for the spring 9 so long as the end of the flat is maintained
firmly in contact with the block k, whilst the cards on the said flat are
being ground. The said block is formed with a face, which is inclined
at the same angle as the "front surface" of the end of the flat, and
reversed with reference to the said surface, so that when the said surface
bears against the said block the card surface is brought into a position
parallel with the plane in which the said block slides. The block k is
formed with a protection 2, against which the flat bears, so that as the
flat moves onwards in the direction indicated by the arrow the said block
moving with the flat slides in the fixing 1, and during this sliding the
flat passes below the grinding roller, whereby the grinding of the card-
ing surface of the said flat is effected. It must be understood that there
is the same arrangement of spring incline and sliding block at the other
side of the carding engine to act upon the other end of the flat. As
the said flat moves onwards it passes off the incline / on to a block m,
which is fitted to slide a short distance on the spring 9, and the said
block then moves with the said flat a short distance. The said block.
then remains stationary, and the flat continuing its movement the
rounded projection which rests on the said block drops off the corner of
the block and pushes the block back again to be ready to receive the
next flat. The said sliding block m is used to obtain a quicker fall of
the flat or withdrawal from the grinding roller, but if not considered to
be necessary the said sliding block may be dispensed with. On the said
flat dropping off the block m as aforesaid the sliding block is released
and is then drawn back by the weighted lever n, which is mounted on a

page_text: stud, and is connected with the said block by means of the chain o.
The block k is then ready to receive the next flat. The parts of the
carding engine not represented in the Drawings may be of any usual
and suitable form and construction.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of our said
Invention, we would in conclusion have it to be understood that we
desire to claim,-
-
First. The sliding block k, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth and indicated herein-before and in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The sliding block k in combination with the incline h and 1
the spring g, or an arrangement substituted for the said spring as herein
aforesaid, substantially as and for the purpose set forth and indicated
herein-before and in the accompanying Drawings.
And, lastly. The arrangement substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth and as illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Clegg, for myself and
on behalf of the said Thomas Lucas, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
Signed and sealed by the said
Thomas Clegg, in the presence
of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentees,
3, Princess Street,
Manchester.
THOMAS CLEGG. (L.S.)