IMPROVEMENTS IN RING-SPINNING FRAMES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark of 53 Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
RING-SPINNING FRAMES. A communication from abroad by Jean Baptiste
Rolland, of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st April 1882.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of 53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, "IMPROVEMENTS IN RING SPINNING FRAMES.' [A communication
from abroad by Jean Baptiste Rolland, of Paris, France.]
The improvements forming the subject of the present application relate to novel
arrangements of the spindles and the travellers with the object-
1st Of facilitating the joining of broken threads, avoiding twisting, and rendering
the working and lubrication of the spindles more perfect.
2nd. Of regulating the tension of the thread between the traveller and the feed
rollers.
The arrangements whereby these results may be attained will be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Figures 1. 2. 3. 4 and 5 show
several varieties of spindles embodying the same principle and Figures 6. 8. 9. 10
and 11 illustrate the different modifications of the improved travellers.
The foot or pivot a of all the spindles A is in the form of a truncated coue, its
larger part being downwards and terminated by a rounded or hemispherical end.
In Figures 1 and 2 the wharve 6 has a downwardly extending cap or rim c which
surrounds the oil cup or reservoir d, its object being to enable the spindle to bo
stopped by means of a brake, or by the fingers, in order to piece up the thread
when broken. The wharve b has also a short extension e projecting down into the
oil reservoir and provided with an external rim or flange at its lower edge which
is intended to conduct the oil into the reservoir and prevent it passing out beneath
the cap c, the oil cup or reservoir being provided at the upper edge with an
internal rim or flange d' which prevents the oil, which is against the interior sides
[Price 6d.]

page_text: of the reservoir, being thrown out. The oil reservoir f in which the lower part
of the spindle is received has an overflow hole g which prevents the oil rising
beyond a certain point. The sleeve or collar h has a capillary slit h¹ by means of
which the oil contained in the reservoir ascends. i is a cup above the wharve b
for assisting the thread round at the commencement of the formation of the
bobbin.
The modifications shown in Figures 3 and 4 are essentially the same, with this
difference that instead of a downwardly extending rim or cap c surrounding the
oil reservoir, the wharve has merely a flat disc or flange c¹ by means of which the
rotation of the wharve can be stopped either by a brake or by the hand, and the
oil reservoir itself has no internal rim or flange.
In the modification shown in Figure 5, the wharve has also a disc c² to enable
it to be stopped by hand or by a brake, but the disc is in this case at the top of
the wharve instead of at the bottom, and the arrangement of the wharve with
regard to the reservoir and the form of the latter, are also modified, but the
lubrication takes place in the same manner.
The cup is secured upon the spindle by a set screw and has a disc k at bottom
and is driven by frictional contact with the disc c² on the wharve. The friction
disc has a downward tubular extension or neck 7 which is closely surrounded by
the internal flange or collar m of the wharve as shown. n is a washer between
the discs and c², upon whose diameter depends the amount of friction. In this
modification the oil reservoir d has inwardly inclined sides and the lower conical
rim of the wharve dips into it, the wharve being hollowed as shown. o is the oil
reservoir for the footstep screwed onto the tube p which encloses the spindle and
secured by a set screw. q is a hole in tube p by which the waste oil is
thrown out.
To piece up the broken thread, the spindle is stopped with the hand or a brake
by pressing upon the cap c or flange or disc c¹ or c²; the thread is seized by the
other hand and a turn taken round a pin fixed in the ring rail and then passed
through the traveller and the thread guide and the broken end tied to the broken
end coming from the feed rollers, the thread is then disengaged from the pin and
the spindle allowed to turn again. To avoid the twisting of the thread, the weight
of the piece c, c¹, or c² is such that when the machine is stopped the spindle turns
long enough to prevent the traveller stopping after the spindle.
I will now describe the improvements made in the traveller, that is to say, the
.piece that moves along the edge of the ring and through which the thread passes
before reaching the bobbin. The object that it is proposed to attain by adopting
the system of traveller hereafter described, and of which I have shown several
specimens in the annexed drawings, is, to regulate the tension of the thread
between the traveller and the feed rollers by combining the action of the centrifugal
force with the friction of the traveller on the ring and the friction of the thread in
the traveller.
Figure 6 represents a sectional elevation of the system of traveller of this
Invention and the ring on which it is mounted. The traveller A A¹ has a pro-
longation B which has a tendency, owing to the centrifugal force, to move in the
direction of the arrow f; on the other hand there is the friction of this traveller
on the ring C. The thread passed through the traveller in the manner shown in
Figure 8 tends to draw the traveller A A¹ in the direction of the arrow g, and the
centrifugal force of the traveller A. A¹ tends to push it in the direction of the
arrow ; the thread which passes under the prolongation B and takes a turn round
it, tends, taking its fulcrum on the feed rollers, to draw the traveller A A¹ in the
direction i. It is the combination of these four forces which determines the satis-
factory action of the traveller by engendering a useful or prejudicial friction upon
the ring.
To explain the action of the traveller, I will designate these forces by the
letters f g h i already applied to the arrows indicating the direction of their
respective efforts. Let us suppose h equal to g; if in this case i is very small,

page_text: f will cause A to press on the ring C and will augment its friction; if on the
contrary i is too strong, it disengages A¹ from C which diminishes the friction of
the traveller and thus suppresses one of the causes of the tension of the thread;
if h does not equal g the same result takes place-although in less precise
proportions.
The tension of the loosely hanging thread is regulated by the fact that the
prolongation B of the traveller forms a guide for the thread around which it takes
a turn, such a turn having been indicated by Slater in his English Patent of
1878, No. 4359, now expired, and Vimont in a French Patent of 1868, No. 81,450,
but it was done under different circumstances, the traveller for one thing not
acting in the way that I have just described, but in an analogous manner to that
that has been practised for 30 years at least with the ordinary' traveller, see
Figure 7.
By means of this traveller I can :-
1st Make the tension g as strong as I wish.
2nd Make the tension i as feeble as may be necessary.
3rd Avoid the transfer of the sudden augmentation of the tension i into sudden
augmentation of friction of the traveller A A' on the ring C.
The first of these results is obtained by the weight of A A¹ B that the centrifugal
force causes to rub on the ring and thus cause a greater tension upon the thread;
the second by the form of the finger or eye B and the manner of passing the
thread through it; the third by the relation between the weights of B and A. A¹
and the position of their centres of gravity in relation to each other.
.
It is evident that the traveller and the ring could be made in different forms.
Tthe same result would be arrived at that is described in this specification by
giving to an ordinary traveller such an arrangement that its weight A¹ were
calculated in such a manner with regard to its weight A as to cause the action of
the centrifugal force to be felt and arranged so that the part which surmounts the
ring should permit, the thread to roll upon it without the coils touching.
Such arrangements would evidently encroach upon the field of this Patent. I
have represented a few examples in Figures 9. 10. and 11. A second traveller
drawn by the first could equally be used without changing anything in the
principle of the Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th September 1882.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of 53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RING SPINNING FRAMES." A communication
from abroad by Jean Baptiste Rolland of Paris, France.
The improvements, forming the subject of the present Invention, relate to novel
arrangements of the spindles and the travellers with the object:-1st Of facilitating
the joining of broken threads, avoiding twisting, and rendering the working and
lubrication of the spindles more perfect. 2nd Of regulating the tension of the
thread between the traveller and the feed rollers.
The arrangements whereby these results may be attained will be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings wherein, Figures 1. 2. 3. 4. and 5 show
several varieties of spindles embodying the same principle, and Figures 6. 8. 9. 10.
11. and 12 illustrate the different modifications of the improved travellers.
The foot or pivot a of all the spindles A is in the form of a truncated cone, its
larger part being downwards and terminated by a rounded or hemispherical end.
In Figures 1 and 2 the wharve 6 has a downwardly extending cap or rim c which
surrounds the oil cup or reservoir d; its object being to enable the spindle to be
stopped by means of a brake or by the fingers in order to piece up the thread when
broken. The wharve b has also a short extension e projecting down into the oil
reservoir and provided with an external rim or flange at its lower edge which is
intended to conduct the oil into the reservoir and prevent it passing out beneath
the cap c, the oil cup or reservoir being provided at the upper edge with an internal
rim or flange d¹ which prevents the oil, which is against the interior sides of the
reservoir, being thrown out. The oil reservoir f, in which the lower part of the
spindle is received, has an overflow hole g which prevents the oil rising beyond a
certain point. The sleeve or collar has a capillary slit by means of which the
oil contained in the reservoir ascends. is a cup above the wharve b for assisting
the thread round at the commencement of the formation of the bobbin.
The modifications shown in Figures 3 and 4 are essentially the same, with this
difference that instead of a downwardly extending rin or cap c surrounding the
oil reservoir, the wharve has merely a flat disc or flange c¹ by means of which the
rotation of the wharve can be stopped either by a brake or by the hand, and the
oil reservoir itself has no internal rim or flange.
In the modification shown in Figure 5, the wharve has also a disc c² to enable it
to be stopped by hand or by a brake, but the disc is, in this case, at the top of the
wharve instead of at the bottom, and the arrangement of the wharve with regard
to the reservoir and the form of the latter, are also modified, but the lubrication
takes place in the same manner.
The cup i is secured upon the spindle by a set
screw and has a disc at bottom, and is driven by frictional contact with the
disc ² on the wharve. The friction disc has a downward tubular extension or
neck which is closely surrounded by the internal flange or collar m of the wharve
as shown.
n is a washer between the discs and c upon whose diameter depends
the amount of friction. In this modification, the oil reservoir dhas, inwardly
inclined sides, and the lower conical rim of the wharve dips into it, the wharve
being hollowed as shown. o is the oil reservoir for the footstep screwed onto the
tube p which encloses the spindle, and secured by a set screw. q is a hole in tube p
by which the waste oil is thrown out.
To piece up the broken thread the spindle is stopped with the hand or a brake

page_text: by pressing upon the cap c or flange or disc c' or c²; the thread is seized by the
other hand and a turn taken round a pin fixed in the ring rail and then passed
through the traveller and the thread guide and the broken end tied to the broken
end coming from the feed rollers; the thread is then disengaged from the pin and
the spindle allowed to turn again. To avoid the twisting of the thread, the
weight of the piece c, c', or c² is such that when the machine is stopped, the
spindle turns long enough to prevent the traveller stopping after the spindle.
I will now describe the improvements made in the traveller, that is to say, the
piece that moves along the edge of the ring and through which the thread passes
before reaching the bobbin. The object that it is proposed to attain by adopting
the system of traveller hereafter described, and of which I have shown several
specimens in the annexed drawings, is, to regulate the tension of the thread
between the traveller and the feed rollers by combining the action of the
centrifugal force with the friction of the traveller on the ring and the friction of
the thread in the traveller.
Figure 6 represents a sectional elevation of the system of traveller of this
Invention, and the ring on which it is mounted. The traveller A A' has a
prolongation B which has a tendency, owing to the centrifugal force, to move in
the direction of the arrow f; on the other hand there is the friction of this
traveller on the ring C. The thread passed through the traveller in the manner
shown in Figure 8, tends to draw the traveller A A' in the direction of the arrow g
and the centrifugal force of the traveller A A' tends to push it in the direction of
the arrow h; the thread which passes, under the prolongation B and takes a turn
round it, tends, taking its fulcrum on the feed rollers, to draw the traveller A A'
in the direction i. It is the combination of these four forces which determines the
satisfactory action of the traveller by engendering a useful or prejudicial friction
upon the ring.
To explain the action of the traveller, I will designate these forces by the
letters ghi already applied to the arrows indicating the direction of their
respective efforts. Let us suppose h equal to g; if in this case i is very small,
fwill cause A to press on the ring C and will augment its friction; if on the
contrary is too strong, it disengages A¹ from C which diminishes the friction of
the traveller, and thus suppresses one of the causes of the tension of the thread;
if h does not equal the same result takes place although in less precise
proportions. The tension i of the loosely hanging thread is regulated by the fact
that the prolongation B of the traveller forms a guide for the thread around which
it takes a turn, such a turn having been indicated by Slater in his English Patent
of 1878, No. 4359, now expired, and Vimont in a French Patent of 1868,
No. 81,450, but it was done under different circumstances, the traveller for one
thing not acting in the way that I have just described, but in an analogous manner
to that that has been practised for 30 years at least with the ordinary traveller,
see Figure 7.
By means of this traveller I can :-(1) Make the tension y as strong as I wish.
(2) Make the tension i as feeble as may be necessary. (3) Avoid the transfer of
the sudden augmentation of the tension i into sudden augmentation of friction of
the traveller A A' on the ring C. The first of these results is obtained by the
weight of A A' B that the centrifugal force causes to rub on the ring and thus
causes a greater tension upon the thread; the second by the form of the finger or
eye B and the manner of passing the thread through it; the third by the relation
between the weights of B and A A' and the position of their centres of gravity
in relation to each other.
It is evident that the traveller and the ring could be made in different forms.
Thus the same result would be arrived at that is described in this specification by
giving to an ordinary traveller such an arrangement that its weight A' is calculated
in such a manner with regard to its weight A as to cause the action of the
centrifugal force to be felt, and arranged so that the part which surmounts the
ring should permit the thread to roll upon it without the coils touching.

page_text: Such arrangements would evidently encroach upon the field of this Patent.
I have represented a few examples in Figures 9. 10. 11 and 12. A second
traveller drawn by the first' could equally be used without changing anything in
the principle of the Invention.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is.
1st. The arrangement given to the wharve to facilitate the joining of the broken
thread, and to avoid its twisting.
2nd. The means described and shown for preventing the oil being thrown out of
the reservoir.
3rd. The construction of the foot of the spindle in the form of a truncated
cone with its larger part downwards and terminated by a rounded or hemispherical
end.
4th. In combination with these arrangements, a movable cup or organ for
drawing the thread giving the movement to the traveller at the commencement of
the formation of the bobbin.
5th. The means employed to prevent the oil at the lower part of the spindle
from rising too high.
6th. The system of traveller for ring spinning frames described in the present
specification, and of which I have shown several specimens in the annexed drawing,
this system having the following characteristics:-A traveller in a single piece or
acting as if it were so, having a prolongation extending or not to the bobbin,
furnished with a guide which embraces the thread a second time between the
traveller and the feed rollers, and with a centrifugal counterweight A' which
causes the friction of the traveller A to vary on the ring C according to the
tension of the loosely hanging thread, or the tension g of the thread wound on
the bobbin.
In Witness whereof I the said Alexander Melville Clark have hereunto set
my hand and seal this twenty eighth day of September AD 1882