Improvements in or connected with Carding Engine Flats.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 24th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Carding Engine Flats.
I, ALFRED HITCHON, of Globe Works, Accrington in the County of Lancaster,
Machine Salesman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the ordinary C or trough shaped metallic clamps
employed for securing the foundation fabric or cards to the bars of flat carding
engines and comprises
Firstly. An improved cushion or compressible yielding bed or stand for holding
the bar whilst the clamps are being applied.
Secondly. An expanding tool, for forcing the serrated edges of the clamps, into
the foundation fabric, and through its expansion, to ensure the stretching, or even
lay of the foundation, upon the bar, and at the same time, by pressure of said tool,
upon the foundation and clamps as aforesaid, to press and bend in, on the elastic
beds, to the underside of the bar, the other or under edges of the clamps.
The flats or bars are of cast iron and being of considerable length are all
more or less irregular or out of truth and in order to avoid concentration of pressure
upon one part of the bar with consequent risk of breakage. I provide a bed on
which the under edges of the T flat or bar are received the outer edges of the said
bar, being confined between side pieces or blocks. The bed in its width may be in
one piece or in two halves but longitudinally it consists of a series of lengths in
close order not unlike the keys of a piano.
The
The several parts of said bed all rest upon an elastic or yielding foundation such
as counterbalance levers or a spring bed plate the object being as stated to provide
for inequalities in the edges of the bar. The bar being placed between the side
pieces or blocks and its undersides resting on the elastic or yielding bed or stands
the faces of which near the outer edges, are slightly hollow or concave.
foundation fabric or card clothing is then to be laid upon the bar and the two
metallic strips for clamping are placed in position between the insides of the side
pieces or blocks, and the outside edges of the bar. The upper edges of the metallic
strips of which the clamps are composed are serrated and curved as ordinary. The
pressure tool consists either of two hinged legs or levers the feet being slightly
hollow or of such form as to fit the curved upper part of the metallic strips and
when the legs are pressed down they expand a little and the action is to force the
serrated edges of the clamp into the foundation fabric in an outward direction,
thereby effecting the stretching or even laying of the foundation on the bar-
meanwhile the pressure will have forced, the other edges of the clamps, into the
hollows or recesses, in the bed or stand, and so turning, and folding, the lower
edges of the clamps under the bar, and the application of the clamps is completed.
Or instead of the pressure legs, being hinged together, they may be mounted
one on each side of the machine, each leg upon its own axis, and may be caused,
to press upon the upper part of the clamp, and foundation fabric, after the manner
of the hinged legs, through the action of an eccentric, acting on an arm, projecting
from the axis of each of the eccentrics, or by a lever motion.
The arrangement of the presser tool, just described, admits of one clamp, being
first applied, to one side of the bar and then the stretching or even laying of the
foundation fabric thereon, may be effected, by the action of the other leg as described,
or by means of a lath covered with india rubber, felt or flannel applied to the card
teeth, and pulled in the direction across the bar.
In some cases before applying the C or trough shape clamps, I apply a small
shaped metallic beading. to and along each of the raw or cut edges of the

page_text: foundation fabric, and the upper and curved portion of each of the C or trough
shaped clamps, spans and covers the said metallic beading.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1892.
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Penny Bank Chambers, Waterhouse Street, Halifax,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Carding Engine Flats.
ALFRED HITCHON of Globe Works Accrington in the County of Lancaster
Machine Salesman. I 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:―
This invention relates to the ordinary C or trough shaped metallic clamps
employed for securing the foundation fabric or cards to the bars of flat carding
engines and comprises
Firstly. An improved cushion or compressible yielding bed or stand for holding
the bar whilst the clamps are being applied.
Secondly. An expanding tool, for forcing the serrated edges of the clamps, into
the foundation fabric, and through its expansion, to ensure the stretching, or even
lay of the foundation, upon the bar, and at the same time, by pressure of said tool,
upon the foundation and clamps as aforesaid, to press and bend in, on the elastic
beds, to the underside of the bar, the other or under edges of the clamps.
The T flats or bars are of cast iron and being of considerable length are all
more or less irregular or out of truth and in order to avoid concentration or pressure
upon one part of the bar with consequent risk of breakage, I provide a bed on
which the under edges of the T flat or bar are received the outer edges of the said
bar, being confined between side pieces or blocks. The bed in its width may be in
one piece or in two halves but longitudinally it consists of a series of lengths in
close order not unlike the keys of a piano.
The several parts of said bed all rest upon an elastic or yielding foundation
such as counterbalance levers or a spring bed plate the object being as stated
to provide for inequalities in the edges of the bar. The bar being placed between
the side pieces or blocks and its undersides resting on the elastic or yielding
bed or stands the faces of which near the outer edges are slight hollow or
concave. The foundation fabric or card clothing is then to be laid upon the bar
and the two metallic strips for clamping are placed in position between the
insides of the side pieces or blocks, and the outside edges of the bar. The
upper edges of the metallic strips of which the clamps are composed are serrated
and curved as ordinary. The pressure tool, consists either of two hinged legs
or levers, the feet being slightly hollow or of such form as to fit the curved
upper part of the metallic strips, and when the legs are pressed down they
expand a little and the action is to force the serrated edges of the clamp into
the foundation fabric in an outward direction, thereby effecting the stretching
or even laying of the foundation on the bar, meanwhile the pressure will have
forced the other edges of the clamps, into the hollows or recesses in the bed or
stand, and so turning and folding the lower edges of the clamps under the bar and
the application of the clamps is completed.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will now describe the
same more fully with assistance and reference to the three sheets of accom-
panying drawings, which are made about twice full size with the exception of
Figures 12 & 12, Sheet 3, this being about the actual size as illustrated.
Sheets 1 and 2 represent an end section of parts as will be hereafter described
by corresponding figured references in keeping with each other.

page_text: Figure 1, Sheet 1, must be understood as an end view of a rising and falling
slide head of what may be termed a pressing machine showing part of a connection
rod end 2, actuated from a crank or cam shaft to give the necessary up and down
movement, which movement is within the control of being arrested and retained
at either top or bottom of the slide head stroke. The two hinged legs as will
be hereafter termed an expanding pressure tool, being connected or hinged to
same slide head, they working together as one and for the same like purpose,
viz. to press by their feet 3 which have a slightly hollow curve or recess to suit
the two clamps 4 illustrated on Sheet 1 just coming in contact, say in the down-
ward stroke. It will be seen that by the pressure tool aforesaid being brought
to bear on upper curve or bend of the clamps 4, that this edge of the clamp on
which the serrated edge or teeth are formed must be the first to sink by the
descending action of such pressure tool, thereby driving such toothed edge into
the foundation fabric 5, giving such a bending action to the clamps that take
forward the selvage edge of the foundation within the clamps, which action is
further maintained by the pressure tool feet moving in an outward direction from
each other, thereby being expanded and having the effect of stretching the
foundation fabric betwixt clamp and clamp; also compressing together what parts
of the selvage edge that may have got within the toothed points of the serrated
edge, and inner side of the clamps. As shown on Sheet 1 the foundation fabric 5
is somewhat narrower that the width of the flat and is therefore placed within
the narrower upper recess of the two side pieces 18, the yielding or cushion
bed 9 on which the flat 8 is made sinking a little through the action of the
pressure tool when the feet of same bear on the clamp and get into position,
viz. the full width of the flat clamp included, so that they are at liberty to
complete the driving home of the clamps to their lowest position and stretching
the cloth to the full width of the flat that can be suitably placed within the
bed and side pieces 18-as illustrated-with a uniform tension. The teeth being
compressed to such an inward curved shape by the special expanding action
gives a more firm grip to the selvage of the foundation fabric. While the
pressure tool is being retained in its downward position the lower ends of the
clamps which are of sufficient length to be turned under the back or under portion
of the flat 8 as thus laid. This is done by giving pressure to close up the two
outer side pieces by bolts 12 or other like devices that press inward parts 11 against
the resisting action of the expanding pressure tool when the latter is withdrawn
and the operation is complete.
The whole of the bed containing flat 8, cushion bed 9, side pieces 18, and the
cushion spring 13 rest on its bottom fixing or bed plate, which is preferably slided
from under the pressure head to be recharged. All the bolts which are on a level
line with bolt 16 have their nip to the side pieces 18, and those on a line with
bolts 12 nip up the outside pieces 17, only, as they bear separately.
Sheet 3, Figure 9, illustrates end section or what is termed flexible bed to
carry flats.
9 is a portion of side elevation of same, and is cut in parts after the manner
of piano keys.-B. B. B. B. B.
.
Figure 8 is an end section of a finished clothed flat with the speciality of the
teeth of the clamps 4 turned inwardly by the use of the expanding pressure tool.
Figure 8 is a portion of side elevation of 8.
Fig. 10 is an end section of a partly bent clamp prior to the use of the expanding
pressure tool on same.
11 is an end section of same after the bent parts are completed.
11 is a portion of a fully bent clamp showing the serrated teeth, of which the
latter may be of variety of pitch and length of tooth to suit different kinds of
thicknesses of cloth.
Fig. 12 illustrates a pair of expanding pressure tool legs, with their hinged
parts crossed over each other so as to give an extra amount of side expanding, and
may be used with or without the outer side pieces for coming in contact with

page_text: the inclined parts of the side pieces 18, as they have an outward pressing action
within themselves when their feet come in contact with the clamps; when such
legs are both mounted on one central hinge they partially accomplish this
purpose.
Fig. 12 is an end elevation portion of the legs of Figure 12; under the legs of
the latter is an end section of full size flat within a part of the side pieces 18, as
illustrated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is -
Firstly. A pressure tool having an expanding action with hollow shaped feet to
suit the upper bends of metal clamps for the purpose of pressing the tooth serrated
edges of same into the foundation fabric of card-clothing (such as made use of
when clothing carding engine flats) the expanding action of such pressure tool
being to stretch or lay evenly the cloth on the flats being mounted with metallic
clamps as described and illustrated.
Secondly. A cushion flexible bed placed betwixt side pieces, such side pieces
holding the two clamps in position so that by the action of pressure tool to clamps
the latter is driven downward into the wider space within the side pieces of such
cushion bed as described and illustrated and for same like purposes.
Dated this 23rd day of January One thousand eight hundred, and ninety-
three
ALFRED HITCHON,
Applicant.