IMPROVEMENTS IN. CARRIER COMBS TO BE USED IN COMBING WOOL, COTTON, SILK, FLAX, OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Davies, of Bradford, in the County
of York, Machine Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN.
CARRIER COMBS TO BE USED IN COMBING WOOL, COTTON, SILK, FLAX, OR
OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Davies at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 1st October 1853.
I. EDWARD DAVIES, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIER COMBS TO BE USED IN COMBING WOOL.
COTTON, SILK, FLAX, OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the use and application to wool-combing
machines of a carrier comb of new and peculiar construction, for the
purpose of taking the wool from the "nip" or "fallers bars" of straight-
combs, and conducting it to and placing it in a circular form upon
circular combs. And this is effected according to this Invention by,
constructing the carrier combs articulated, or of several pieces jointed.
together, instead of being made solid or of one curved piece of metal as.

page_text: hitherto practised; said articulated parts being acted upon by a tappet,
lever, spring, or cam, for imparting thereto the desired curvature.
Thus it will be seen that by this Invention the necessity for making
the frame containing the wool curved, to suit the curve of the solid
carrier comb, is entirely dispensed with, as by this Invention the
carrier comb is in a straight line when in the act of taking the wool
from the straight frame, after which its figure or shape is altered as
above stated, so as to place the wool in a curved line in another
machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 1st April 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
EDWARD DAVIES, of Bradford, in the County of York, Machine Maker,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing dato the First day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Edward Davies, Her special
licence that I, the said Edward Davies, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Davies, my
executors, administrators, 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 "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN CARRIER COMBS TO BE USED IN COMBING WOOL, COTTON, SILK,
FLAX, OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Edward Davies, by an instrument'in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly 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 Seal Patent

page_text: Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Davies, 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 thereof (that is to say):
My Invention relates to such machines used in combing wool,
cotton, silk, flax, or other fibrous substances, wherein a carrier comb
is employed for the purpose of taking the wool or other fibrous sub-
stance from the "nip" or "faller bars," and donning or placing the
same on to a circular revolving comb; and consists of a peculiar con-
struction of carrier comb, whereby I am enabled to take the wool or
other fibrous substance in a straight form from the "nip" or "faller
bars," and deposit it in a circular or curved form on to the circular
comb. And I would here remark that I am aware of various mecha-
nical arrangements having been resorted to in order to effect the same
object, such as giving a permanent curve to the carrier comb bar
either in a vertical or horizontal direction, curving the "nip" and
"faller bars," &c.; but in all cases a rigid carrier comb has been
employed, whether curved or straight. Now my improvement con-
sists in employing a flexible or articulated comb, and in so actuating
the same that it shall form a straight line whilst taking the wool or
other fibrous substance from the "nip," and assume a curved form
whilst donning or placing the same on to the circular comb, by which
means I am enabled to employ a straight."nip" and "faller bars," and
to work the wool or other fibrous substance the whole width of the
nip," or nearly so. The method of constructing and actuating such
flexible or articulated carrier comb so as to produce the desired effect
may, of course, be varied; but that which I have found to answer well
in practice will be readily understood upon referring to the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and the following explanation thereof.
The Drawing is made to a geometrical scale of about two inches to a
foot; and similar letters of reference are marked upon corresponding
parts of the mechanism in the several Figures, in so far as such part
appear or can be seen at each of the said Figures respectively.

page_text: Figure 1, is a side elevation of my improved carrier comb and its
apparatus, when in its straight position or form, in the act of taking a
portion of wool or other fibrous substance from the "nip." Figure 2,
is a front elevation of the same in the aforesaid position; and Figure 3,
is a plan or top view of the sanie, also in 'the same position and form.
Figures 4, 5, and 6, are similar views of the "carrier comb" and its
apparatus in the reverse position, the comb being curved and in the act
of donning or laying the wool or other fibrous substance on to the cir-
cular comb. a, a, represents the "nip" (in section); b, b, part of tlie
circular comb; and c, c, the carrier comb. The "carrying" motion
is imparted to the comb in the ordinary manner; that is to say; by
means of the crank pin d, d, the lever e, e, the tail pin f, f, and the
studs g, g; but instead of the tail pin ff, being affixed to the comb
bar as usual, it is attached to the curved carrier h, h. The comb c. c,
is made in. several detached portions; and connected by screws to the
articulated or flexible comb bar i, i.. To the centre of this articulated
comb bar i, i, a rod k, k, is jointed, and is furnished with a pulley 1,
acting against a cam m, m, keyed or otherwise fixed upon the crank
pin d, d.
n, n, is a spiral spring, for the purpose of keeping the said
pulley always in contact with the cam. The outer pieces of the comb
bar i, i, are furnished with screws and springs o, o, which assist in
drawing the comb into a straight position when the centre part is
raised.
1
The action of my improved carrier comb is as follows:-When the
comb is taking the wool. or other fibrous substance from the "nip,"
(see Figures 1, 2, and 3,) the highest part of the cam m is acting against
the friction pulley 1; consequently the centre part of the comb is raised,
and the springs o, o, acting upon the ends of the flexible bar i, i, draw
it and the comb c, c, into a straight position; but as the carrier comb
approaches to the curved or circular comb b, b, the cam' m presents its
lowest surface to the pulley 7, the centre part of the articulated bar i, i,
and comb c, c, is thus brought down, the springs o, o, give way, and the
comb assumes the requisite curved form, and so on alternately.
Having now described and set forth the nature and object of my said
improvements in carrier combs to be used in combing wool, cotton, silk,

page_text: flax, and other fibrous substances, together with the manner of carrying
the same into practical effect, I would remark, in conclusion, that I do
not claim, as of my Invention, the use of a curved carrier comb; but I
hereby declare my Invention to consist in, and I claim the use or
employment of, a flexible or articulated carrier comb, so actuated as to
assume alternately a straight and curved form, in the manner and for
the purposes above particularly set forth and described in this my
Specification.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Davies, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
THOMAS ROBERTSHAW,
N. 10, Brch Lane,
Bradford, York".
EDWARD DAVIES. (L.S.)