AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING, SPINNING, AND TWISTING COTTON OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES; APPLICABLE ALSO TO MACHINERY FOR WINDING THREADS OR YARNS OF THE SAME
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Potter, of the City of Manchester, Civil and
Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING, SPINNING, AND TWISTING COTTON
OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES; APPLICABLE ALSO TO MACHINERY FOR WINDING
THREADS OR YARNS OF THE SAME."
Sealed the 8th August 1854, and dated the 15th February 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Potter at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th February
1854.
I, JOHN POTTER, of the City of Manchester, Civil and Consulting Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT CR
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING, SPINNING, AND TWISTING COTTON OR
OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES; APPLICABLE ALSO TO MACHINERY FOR WINDING THREADS
OR YARNS OF THE SAME," to be as follows:-
It consists in a new winding-on motion, to be applied to slubbing frames,
roving frames, throstles, and self-acting mules, and similar machinery, for the
purpose of winding the cotton or yarn on to spools, bobbins, or spindles, as the
case may require, and which is also applicable to winding machines for wind-
ing yarns or threads so as to fill bobbins or form cops.

page_text: This winding-on motion consists in the application and combination of
certain parts; the first of which is a pair of bevil drums, or mechanical
arrangement answering the same purpose, by which the necessary variable
velocity is given to wind the cotton or yarn on to the varying diameters of the
spools, bobbins, or cops. The second is the arrangement of bevil or spur
toothed wheels, known as White's differential motion. The third is a sliding
rack, that carries the guide which guides the strap on the bevil drums, and
which sliding rack is connected to the fourth part of the apparatus, which is a
variable lever to which is attached a weight or spring, by the action of which
it regulates the tension of the cotton or yarn during the process of winding on,
and also the position of the strap on the bevil drums. When the winding on
motion is to be brought into action; motion is communicated to the first of the
bevil drums in the usual manner. This communicates motion by means of
the strap to the second bevil drum, which has at one end a bevil or spur
wheel, which is the first wheel-of- the differential motion. This bevil drum
runs loose on a shaft, which carries on an arm the second or intermediate
wheel of the differential motion. From this shaft motion is communicated.to
the spools, bobbins, or spindles in the usual manner, and on it runs loose the
third wheel of the differential motion, which acts. on the rack by means of a
short shaft & pinions. The rack (as before noticed) is connected with the
variable lever, so that when the cotton or yarn is winding on an increased
diameter, the variable lever is drawn up, and the weight acting at a further
distance from the centre, the necessary increase of strain is given. The strap
guide, being attached to the rack, moyes with it, and regulates the turns of the
spools, bobbins, or spindles, so as in like manner to give the proper quantity of
motion required by the increased diameter. When the reverse takes place,
that is, when the cotton or yarn is winding on a smaller diameter, the motion
previously communicated to the spools, bobbins, or spindles will have a ten-
dency to slacken the cotton or yarn; but the tension given by the variable
lever is in this case too great, the variable lever therefore descends, and by
that means varies the motion of the spools, bobbins, or spindles; and, at the
same time reduces the tension to the proper quantity, and by the same action
the strap is moved on the bevil drums, so as to give the proper turns to the
spools, bobbins, or spindles, which may be required. When it is. required to
wind the cotton or yarn tighter on the spools, bobbins, or spindles, this is
effected by increasing the weight on the variable lever; and. when the winding
on is to be slackened, it is accomplished by reducing the weight. By these
means I am enabled to construct winding-on motions, which possess in them--
selves self-regulating properties (by which the effect and operation-of the-

page_text: machinery is greatly improved), and which in the case of self-acting mules is
entirely independent of the shaper, and likewise of the under faller and its
appendages...
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Potter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
August, 1854.
TO ALL TO. WHOM THESE.. PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
POTTER, of the City of Manchester, Civil and Consulting Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, 'did,. 'for. Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Potter, Her special licence that I, the said John Potter, my.execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Potter,
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 "AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING, SPINNING, AND TWISTING COTTON OR OTHER FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES; APPLICABLE ALSO TO MACHINERY FOR WINDING THREADS OR YARNS
OF THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Potter, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particu-
larly 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 Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Potter, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
(that is to say):-
It consists in a new winding-on motion to be applied to slubbing frames,
roving frames, throstles, and self-acting mules, and similar machinery, for the
purpose of winding the slubbing, roving, or yarn on to spools, bobbins, or
spindles, as the case may require, and which is also applicable to wind-
.

page_text: ing machines for winding yarns or threads so as to fill bobbins or form
cops.
This winding-on motion consists in the application, adaptation, and combi-"
nation of certain parts; the first of which is a pair bevil drums, or mechanical
arrangement answering the same purpose, by which the necessary variable
velocity is given to wind the slubbing, roving, or yarn on to the varying dia-
meters of the spools, bobbins, or cops. The second is the arrangement of bevil
or spur toothed wheels, known as "White's differential motion." The third
is a sliding rack that carries the guide, which guides the strap on the bevil
drums, and which sliding rack is connected to the fourth part of the apparatus,
which is a variable lever, to which is attached a weight or spring, by the
action of which it regulates the tension of the slubbing, roving, or yarn during
the process of winding on, and also the position of the strap on the bevil
drums. When the winding-on motion is to be brought into action, motion is
communicated to the first of the bevil drums in the usual manner.
This com-
municates motion by means of a strap to the second bevil drum, which has at
one end a bevil or spur wheel, which is the first wheel of the differential
motion. This bevil drum runs loose on a shaft, which carries on an arm the
second or intermediate wheel of the differential motion. From this shaft
motion is communicated to the spools, bobbins, or spindles in the usual
manner, and on it runs loose the third wheel of the differential motion,
which acts on the rack by means of a short shaft and pinion. The rack (as
before mentioned) is connected with the variable lever, so that when the slub-
bing, roving, or yarn is winding on an increased diameter, the variable lever
is drawn up, and the weight acting at a further distance from the centre, the
necessary increase of strain is given. The strap guide being attached to the
rack moves with it, and regulates the turns of the spools, bobbins, or spindles,
so as in like manner to give the proper quantity of motion required by the
increased diameter. When the reverse takes place, that is, when the slub-
bing, roving, or yarn is winding on a smaller diameter, the motion previously
communicated to the spools, bobbins, or spindles will have a tendency to
slacken the slubbing, roving, or yarn; but the tension given by the variable
lever is in this case too great, the variable lever therefore descends, and by
that me ns varies the motion of the spools, bobbins, or spindles, and at the
same time reduces the tension to the proper quantity, and by the same action
the strap is moved on the bevil drums, so as to give the proper turns to the
spools, bobbins, or spindles, which may be required. When it is required to
wind the slubbing, roving, or yarn tighter on the spools, bobbins, or spindles
this is effected by increasing the weight on the variable lever; and when the

page_text: winding-on is to be slackened, it is accomplished by reducing the weight. I do
not, however, confine myself to the precise arrangement and combination of parts
as above described, as these may be varied; one part being varied, requiring in
general a corresponding alteration or change, or new or varied combination of the
other parts. In order to make my Invention more clearly understood, I have
hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings, to which, and to the letters and figures
of reference marked thereon, the following description relates.
It being
premised that in all cases where the same letters of reference, or letters and
figures conjoined, are found, they indicate the same parts of the machinery or
apparatus.
Fig. 1 represents my winding-on motion as applied to self-acting mules.
A, A, &c. portions of the frame work, by which the moving parts are sup-
ported. B, B, the first shaft of the winding-on motion. It receives motion
from the squaring shaft (or other shaft which moves as the carriage moves)
by means of the pinion B', and ratchet box B2, so that when the carriage is
drawing out no motion is communicated to the shaft B, B, but when the carriage.
is running in the shaft B, B, turns with a velocity proportioned to the motion
of the carriage. B³, a bevil drum fixed on the shaft B, B. This gives motion
by means of the strap or belt B' to the bevil drum C, which runs loose on the
shaft C, C, &c. C, a bevil wheel attached to the bevil drum C¹, and moving
with it. This bevil wheel is geered to the bevil whcel or wheels C³, C3, which
constitute the intermediate wheels of the differential motion, and turn on arms
or studs fixed on the shaft C, C, &c., and at right angles to it. These bevil
wheels C³, C³, are geered to the bevil wheel C, which runs loose on the shaft
C, C, &c. This bevil wheel C carries on a boss the bevil wheel C, which is
geered into the bevil wheel D', on the short shaft D, D, at the other end of
which is the pinion D, which is geered to the sliding rack E, E. Attached to
this sliding rack E, E, is the strap guide E¹, E', through which the strap or
belt B passes. To one end of the sliding rack E, E, is attached the chain E²,
which folds round an arch or rim F¹ (to one extremity of which it is attached)
on the upper arm of the variable lever F, F, which turns on a fixed centre F2.
The lower arm of this variable lever F, F, has on it a curved rim F³, round
which folds the chain F', one cud of which is attached to the variable lever
F, F. and to the other end is appended the weight F. The shaft C, C, &c.
has on it the ratchet box C, by means of which it gives motion to the pinion C',
which again conveys the motion to the rim pulley or wheel, through the medium
of which motion is communicated to the spindles. From this arrangement it
is obvious that supposing that the bevil wheel C' is allowed to run free, that
then no motion will be communicated to the shaft C, C, &c., and that in pro-

page_text: portion as the bevil wheel C is allowed to turn or otherwise, so will be the
quantity of motion communicated to the shaft C, C, &c. The strain or
pressure on the bevil wheel C will vary according to the diameter of that
part of the cop on which the yarn is being wound. Now, the bevil wheel C'
is held solely by the variable lever F, and weight Fs, consequently, if the strain
on the bevil wheel C is greater than what is balanced by the. weight F³, the
variable lever F will be drawn up; and the leverage or distance of the weight
Fs from the centre will be increased until it equals or balances the strain on
the bevil wheel: C. As shewn in Fig. 1, the variable. lever F is in the posi-
tion to give the necessary strain to wind on the bare spindle; but when it is
drawn up the leverage of the weight will be increased, so as to give the strain
necessary to wind on at the outside of the cop. Also, as shewn in Fig. 1; the
position of the strap B on the bevil drums B³ and C¹, gives the number of
turns necessary to wind on the bare spindle; but when it is at the contrary
ends of the drums, it gives the turns necessary to wind on at the outside of
the cop.
As the position of the strap B' necessarily depends on the position of
the strap guide E, E, and that again on the variable lever F, therefore the
strain given by the variable lever F is made to correspond to the turns given
by the bevil drums B and C, and thus by these means the strain given by
the variable lever F, and the turns communicated by the bevil drums B and
C', are made mutually to regulate each other. The winding-on motion just
described is also applicable to winding machines, by discarding the ratchet
boxes B and C, and connecting the shaft B, B, to rollers, through which the
yarn or thread to be wound passes; and connecting the other shaft C, C, to
the roller, which gives motion to the spindles.
Fig. 2 represents another modification of my winding-on motion, applicable
also to self-acting mules and winding machines, which is in some respects
superior to the one shewn in Fig. 1. G, G, &c., portions of the frame work by
which the moving parts are supported. H,-H, the first shaft. It receives
motion (corresponding to the motion of the carriage) as the carriage runs in
by means of the pinion H' and ratchet box H2. H, a bevil drum fixed on the
shaft H, H, and which gives motion to the bevil drum I by means of the
strap H. This bevil drum I' runs loose on the shaft I, I, &c., and has
.attached to it the bevil wheel 12. This is the first wheel of a differential
.motion, and geers into the bevil wheels I³, I³, which turn on studs fixed on the
shaft I, I, &c., and at right angles to it. These bevil wheels Is, Is, geer into
. the bevil wheel I, which runs loose on the shaft I; I, &c. This bevil wheel
I carries on a boss the bevil wheel I', which geers into another bévil wheel
H, on a shaft H', at the opposite end of which is the bevil wheel" H", which

page_text: geers into another bevil wheel H, fixed on the shaft H, H.. The object of
this arrangement is to subtract constantly a certain number of turns from the
turns given by the joint action of the bevil drums H³ and I', the effect of
which is to increase the variation of the motion, and, consequently, less bevil of
the drums and less traverse of the strap is necessary than what is made use
of. under the arrangement shewn in Fig. 1. I6, a spur wheel on the shaft
I, I, which geers into another spur wheel K', on the boss of the bevil wheel
K². This is the first wheel of another differential motion, and runs loose on the
shaft K, K. K³, K³, two bevil wheels which turn on studs attached to the
shaft K, K, and at right angles to it. They geer into the bevil wheel K² on
one side, and into the bevil wheel K on the other. This bevil wheel K runs
loose on the shaft K, K, and has attached to it the bevil wheel K, which
geers into the bevil wheel L' on the shaft L, L, at the other end. of which is
the pinion L³, which is geered into the sliding rack M, M. Attached to this
sliding rack M, M, is the strap guide M', M',. through which the strap or
belt H passes. To one end of the sliding rack M, M; is attached the chain
M², which folds round a rim or pulley (to which it is attached) on the variable
lever N, N (which turns on a fixed centre N¹). N2, a curved rim on the
variable lever N, N, round which folds the chain N³, one end of which is
attached to the variable lever, and to the other end is suspended the weight
N. (For the purpose of balancing the variable lever another curved arm is
shewn in the Drawing opposite to the one described.) K', a ratchet box on
the shaft K, K, by means of which it gives motion to the pinion K', through the
medium of which the motion to wind on is conveyed at the proper time to the
spindles. In the Figure the positions of the variable lever N, N, and weight N',
are shewn as giving the tension necessary to wind on at the outside of the cop;
but when the lever is turned so as to lower the weight to the extremity, they
give the tension necessary to wind on the bare spindle. Also, as shewn in the
Figure, the position of the strap H' on the bevil drums H³ and I is that cal-
culated to give the turns necessary to wind on at the outside of the cop; but
when it is moved to the other end of the drums it gives the turns necessary to
wind on the bare spindle. The action of this modification of the winding-on
motion will be understood from that shewn in Fig. 1, to which it is similar.
Fig. 3 represents my winding-on motion as applied to throstles, bobbin,
and fly frames, and similar machines. P, P, &c., portions of the frame work
by which the moving parts are supported. Q, Q, a shaft which is geered to a
shaft, which gives motion to the spindles, or forms part of it. Q, a bevil
drum on the shaft Q, Q, which gives motion to the bevil drum R¹ by means
of the strap or belt Q. This bevil drum R¹ runs loose on the shaft R, R,

page_text: and has attached to it the bevil wheel R2, which is the first wheel of a dif-
ferential motion; it geers into the bevil wheels R³, R, which turn on arms
or studs fixed on the shaft R, R, and at right angles to it. They geer on the
other side into the bevil wheel R, which runs loose on the shaft R, R, and
carries on a boss the bevil wheel R, which is geered into the bevil wheel S¹,
on the short shaft S, S, on which is the pinion S2, which geers into the
sliding rack T, T, to which is attached the strap guide T', through which the
strap or belt Q passes. On the shaft S, S, is another pinion S", which geers
into the wheel V₁, on the shaft V, V, on which shaft is the variable lever V2
(shewn in plan, or as looking on it from above). On a curved arm on this
variable lever folds the chain V³, to which is appended the weight V. The
shaft R, R, is geered to the shaft which drives the bobbins or spools (or
forms part of it) in the case of a bobbin and fly frame, or similar machine, or
in case of a throstle it is geered to a tin roller, the use of which is to give
motion to the bobbins by means of wharves and bands, the usual mode of
winding the yarn or thread on to the bobbins by means of friction being in
this case dispensed with. In the case of throstles and bobbin and fly frames,
.it is the difference of the revolutions of the spindles and bobbins or spools
which winds the roving or yarn or thread on to the bobbins or spools, and
this difference of revolutions varies as the bobbins or spools become filled.
This variation is provided for by the action of the bevil drums Q' and R', the
necessary tension on the roving or yarn or thread being at the same time
given by the variable lever V2 and weight V, by the action of which also the
position of the strap Q on the bevil drums is regulated.
Figs. 4 and 5 represent another modification of my Invention. X, X, &c.,
a shaft which is supported in the bearings or filbows X, X', attached to the
framework of the machine, and in which it is at liberty to slide backwards and
forwards, as well as turn on its axis. X, a bevil drum fixed on the shaft X, X,
&c. X³, a strap or belt which gives motion to the bevil drum X, and which
itself receives motion from a drum or pulley which is put in motion at the time
required. This strap X³ passes through the fixed strap guide X, and is kept
I at a proper state of tension by a tightening pulley. X, X, a worm or screw
(shewn as a double threaded one in the Drawing) on the shaft X, X, &c.,
which is geered into the worm wheel X, fixed on a shaft, by which the
motion to wind on is communicated to the spindles in the usual manner.
a swivel by which the shaft X, X, &c. is connected to the chain X³, which
folds on an arch or rim on the variable lever X. X, a curved rim on the
variable lever X, round which folds the chain X", to which is attached the
weight X. It will be seen that the worm X, X, acts both as a rack and
X',

page_text: screw, and that the operation and tendency of the variable lever and weight is
to prevent the shaft X, X, &c. from screwing itself forward, instead of turning.
the worm wheel X*. In Fig 4, the bevil drum X is shewn in the position
to give the necessary turns, and the variable lever X in the position to give
the proper tension to wind on the bare spindle, whilst in Fig. 5 the bevil
drum X2 is shewn in the position to give the necessary turns, and the variable
lever X in the position to give the proper tension to wind on at the outside
of the cop.
The shaft X, X, &c. may be arranged to work vertically or
horizontally, but if vertically it will be necessary that a counterbalance should
be applied. For this purpose a swivel X13, and a chain (a portion of which
is shewn at X) passing over a pulley, and having a counterweight appended
to it, are applied. The operation of the mechanism will be readily understood
from what has been before stated. It is shewn as applicable to a self-acting
mule, but may be readily modified to suit the other machines before men-
tioned. To explain more particularly the mode of constructing the variable
lever, I have given the diagram shewn in Fig. 6. It must be observed, that
if a thread is wound on varying diameters, to wind a given length on one
diameter will require a certain number of turns, to wind the same length on
double the diameter will require one half that number of turns, and to wind
the same length on three times the original diameter will require one third
the number of turns, and so on, the number of turns required varying
inversely as the diameters. Also to produce the same constant tension on a
thread winding on varying diameters, one diameter requiring a given strain,
double the diameter will require double the strain, three times the diameter
three times the strain, and so on; the strain required varying directly as the
diameter. Consequently the turns required to wind on at any diameter will
be inversely as the strain required at the same diameter, the product of the
two being a constant quantity. Let now the turns given by the variable
motion be ascertained at a certain number of points or divisions, then the
proportionate strain (corresponding to the same points or divisions) to be given
by the variable lever will be readily calculated. This being done, and the
range through which the variable lover is to move being fixed upon, let o,
Fig. 6, represent the centre on which the variable lever is to turn, and o a,
o b, o c, &c. &c., lines drawn from the centre o at distances corresponding to
the points or divisions at which the turns have been ascertained; then set
off the lengths o a', o b', o c', o d', &c. &c., in proportion to the corresponding
strain required at the different points or divisions; next, draw the lines a¹ a²,
¹², c¹ c², d¹ d², &c. perpendicular to the lines o a, o b, oc, o d, &c. &c. at
the points a, b, c, d, &c., then will the curved line Z, Z, Z, touching

page_text: these last lines, represent the middle line of the chain as folded on the curved
rim of the variable lever. To the lengths ascertained as above, a certain
quantity must, however, be added on account of friction, and as this varies in
different machines no certain rule can be given for it, and consequently the
variable lever will require to be adapted in this respect to the machine to
which it is applied. Also, in case a spring is made use of instead of a weight,
a further variation in the form of the curved rim will be required, corre-
sponding to the varying tension given by the spring as it is bent or extended.
By means of the improvements above described I am enabled to construct
winding-on motions which possess in themselves self-regulating properties
(by which the effect and operation of the machine is greatly improved), and
which in the case of self-acting mules is independent of the form of the
shaper, and likewise of the under faller, so far as the winding on is concerned.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details and arrangements of my winding-on
motion as here laid down (as these may be varied); but that what I do claim
as new and of my Invention is as follows:-
First, I claim the application and adaptation of the variable lever to the
purpose of winding slubbings, rovings, or yarn or threads on to spools, bobbins,
or spindles, as the case may require, as set forth and described.
Second, I claim the modifications and constructions of the winding-on
motion as shewn in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and set forth and described.
Third, I claim the modification and construction of the winding-on motion
as shewn in Figs. 4 and 5, and set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Potter, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Signed by the within-named John
Potter in the presence of
ROBERT LANGTON,
Wood Engraver, &c.,
17, Cross Street,
JOHN POTTER. (L.S.)
Manchester.