CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE PREPARATION OF COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES FOR SPINNING
Year: 1847

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
PRESTON, of Ardwick, near Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Spindle
Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria did, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-third day of
January, in the tenth year of Her reign, give and grant unto me, my exors,
admors, and assigns, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Francis Preston, my exors, admors, and assigns,
should and lawfully might, during the term of fourteen years therein men-
tioned make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part of Her Majesty's
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her Dominion
of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE PREPARATION OF
COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES FOR SPINNING;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso, that if I, the said Francis Preston, should
not particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, and cause the same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent, that then the said Letters Patent,

page_text: and all liberties and advantages whatsoever thereby granted, should utterly
cease, determine, and become void, as in and by the same, relation being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
⚫ Francis Preston, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement and description, reference
being had to the Drawings on two Sheets hereunto annexed. The several
Figures in Sheet 1 are drawn to the scale thereon shewn, and the Figures in
Sheet 2 to the full size. Where the same letters of reference occur in several
Figures they denote the same parts in each. The nature of my said Invention
consists,―
First, in an improvement in actuating the plunger, for pressing down within
the cans,.or other receptacles provided for the reception thereof, the slivers of
cotton or other fibrous substances delivered from the carding engines, drawing
frames, or other machines used in preparing cotton and other fibrous substances
for spinning.
Secondly, a further improvement, whereby the working of the machine is
stopped when the can is filled with the compressed sliver to the required
height.
Thirdly, in a new contrivance for stopping drawing frames, slubbing frames,
roving frames, or any other machines of the like nature, used in the preparation
of cotton and other fibrous substances, when any of the slivers, shubbings, or
rovings, in supplying or feeding such frames or machines therewith, shall
break, or fail to be supplied.
Fourthly, in placing a pair of calendar rollers in front of the front drawing
roller, which said çalendar rollers are for the purpose of preventing the cotton
For other fibrous substance from lapping round or being caught by the front
drawing roller.
Fifthly, in using cloth made of linen or cotton, or both, for the outside
covering of top rollers, instead of leather, as now generally employed for that
purpose, and which covering being made of a vegetable substance, I consider
less liable to be influenced by the fluctuations in the temperature than a
covering made of an animal substance.
Sixthly, in employing india-rubber or gutta percha, or any suitable prepa-
ration of either or both those substances, to act as a spring or springs, instead
of metallic springs, for acting on the pressers of the flyers used in slubbing or
roving frames, or other machines of the like nature.
And, seventhly, in combining and using a single presser with a flyer having

page_text: both its legs hollow, instead of making one of the legs hollow and the other
solid, as they are now generally made when a single presser only is used.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents an end elevation, shewn partly in section, of the
principal parts of a drawing frame, with my improvement for actuating the
plunger, my improved apparatus for stopping the machine, as before mentioned,
and my two additional rollers, also before mentioned, applied thereto; Figure 2
is a front elevation, and Figure 8 a plan view of the same. Figure 4 is a
front elevation, and Figure 5 is an end view, shewn in section, of another
contrivance for stopping the drawing frame or other machine which is supplied
with slivers, when one of them breaks or terminates; Figure 6 is a front
elevation of a flyer, a bobbin, and part of a spindle, with a spring made of
vulcanized indian-rubber acting on the presser; Figure 7 is a plan view of the
same. Figure 8 is a front elevation of a flyer, a bobbin, and part of a spindle,
with a spring made of vulcanized indian-rubber acting on the two legs of the
flyer; Figure 9 is a plan view of the same. Figure 10 is a front elevation of
a flyer, a bobbin, and part of a spindle, with a vulcanized indian-rubber spring
acting on the presser; Figure 11 is a plan view of the same.
In Figures 1, 2, and 8, a, b, c, and d represent the fluted or drawing rollers
of a drawing frame, over which are their corresponding top rollers; e and fare
a pair of calender rollers, placed as near as convenient to the front drawing
roller d; these rollers are held by their bearings about the fortieth part of an
inch asunder, more or less, according to the thickness of the sliver intended to
pass between them, and prevent the cotton or other material from lapping or
coiling round the front drawing roller d, because they are placed sufficiently
near the said roller d to keep the fibres from dropping down and being caught by
the front roller d; the bottom calender roller e is driven round by wheels, shewn
in dotted lines, from the front roller d, and the top calender roller is also
turned round by a pinion on the bottom calender roller in the ordinary way;
the surfaces of the rollers d and e revolve at the same speed. 9 is a trumpet.
mouth, which guides the slivers to the front calender rollers h; i is the plunger,
with a funnel-shaped hole through it, for allowing the slivers to pass through
the plunger into the can or receptacle x, to which is given a rotatory motion by
any of the ordinary means. The plunger is raised and lowered by the wheel
k, fixed on a stud or shaft, placed at one end of each head or division of the
frame. I is a stud fixed in a slot in one of the arms of the wheel k, and to
this stud is attached a chain, band, cord, or strap t, which passes partly over a
guide pulley m, revolving on a stud fixed in the frame end, or other convenient

page_text: position, then under a pulley n, revolving on a centre fixed to the end of the
sliding rack bar o, and then over the pulley p, fixed on the top shaft g, to which
it is secured. Upon the shaft q are fixed as many pulleys r as are intended
to be worked with one rack, and to each of the pulleys r is attached one end
of a small chain %, the other end of which is made fast to the bent rod attached
to, the plunger i, consequently every revolution of the wheel k imparts a
reciprocating motion to the top shaft q and raises and lowers the plungers i.
The rack bar o slides freely in grooves made in the pieces s, and the weight of
the rack bar o and of the pulley n is suspended in and supported by the
chaiu t. When the resistance offered by the slivers which have been pressed
into the cans x overcomes the weight of the plungers, the chains t and s
become slack, and the rack bar o and pulley n descend by their own gravity,
thereby tightening the chains t and z. The click or pall u works on the centre
y, projecting from the roller beam, and catches into the teeth of the rack as it'
descends and prevents it from rising. The rack o continues to descend
gradually as the slivers in the cans a accumulate until the cans are sufficiently
full; the frame is then stopped by the following mechanism:-When the
plungers have arrived at the highest altitude required, one of them comes in
contact with the near end of the lever 20, and elevates it, until the further end
' of the same lever has pushed the lever 22, fixed on the same shaft as the
stopping levers 8, backwards, sufficiently to liberate the catch, which supports
'the tumbler lever 14, as will be described hereafter. In this instance I have
shewn the frame as adapted to two cans, one of which is supposed to be
removed in Figure 2 for the better display of the other parts of the machinery.
The rack and chain, by means of which the plungers i are made to rise and
fall at various levels, are placed on one end of each head or division of the
frame, which may be constructed with any convenient number of cans x. In
the preceeding description I have described my improvement in actuating the
plunger and the stopping apparatus connected therewith with reference only
to a drawing frame; but these parts of my Invention are equally applicable to
carding engines, and other machines in which the slivers of cotton or other
fibrous substances are required to be compressed in such cans, as aforesaid,
with such modifications and adaptations only as will be obvious to any practical
mechanic conversant with such machines.
I now proceed to describe my improved contrivance for stopping the working
of the drawing frames, roving frames, or slubbing frames, or other machines of
Jike nature, when any of the slivers breaks or fails, and which I shall, as before,
describe with reference to the drawing frame, the modifications necessary to
adapt it to the other machines lastly referred to, being such as will be obvious

page_text: to any competent mechanic. And I will here observe, that in describing my
said contrivance as applied to the drawing frame, the same is to be considered as
applied to each head or division into which the drawing frame is usually divided.
1 and 2 represent a pair of rollers placed a convenient distance behind the back
drawing roller, and working in the same direction and their surfaces at the
same speed as the roller a, a; 3 represents small top rollers, placed upon
the rollers 1 and 2, one of which is provided for each of the slivers. Upon the
upper surface of each of the top rollers 3 rests a light lever 4, whose fulcrum
is at 5; the extremity of the lever 4 terminates in a hinge, to which is
suspended a rod or wire 6. As soon as one of the slivers ceases to enter the
frame, the top roller 8, which had been held up by the thickness or bulk of
the sliver, falls down, until it touches the rollers 1 and 2; the lever 4 assumes
the position shewn in dotted lines, and the wire or rod 6 enters between the
points of the feeling levers 7 and stopping levers 8, which are fixed on shafts
reaching from one end of the frame or division to the other. There is a wheel
9 at one end of the frame or division, to which is attached a double cam 9",
and each revolution of the wheel 9 causes the lever 10, which rests on the
cam 9*, to rise and fall twice; the lever 10 is fixed on the same shaft as the
feeling levers 7, and thereby communicates to them a continual backward and
forward motion from and towards the stopping levers 8, which they approach
as nearly as possible without moving them. On the same shaft as the
stopping levers 8 is fixed a bent lever 12, which acts upon an elbow lever 18.
As soon as one of the rods or wires 6 enters between the points of the
corresponding feeling lever 7 and stopping lever 8, the wire 6 is acted upon
by the feeling lever, and pushes against the opposite stopping lever and moves
it, until the bent lever 12 has pulled the catch at the end of the lever 18 from
under the tumbler lever 14, which in dropping moves the stop rod 15 in the
direction of the arrow (see Figure 2), thereby throwing the driving strap from
the fast to the loose pulley, and by that means stopping that division of the
drawing frame. The stands for the rollers, and the geering for communicating
motion from one part of the machine to the other, and other known parts of
the machine, are well understood by parties conversant with machinery used
in preparing cotton or other fibrous substances, and do not require particular
explanation.
Another contrivance for effecting the same purpose of stopping the frame
or division on the breaking or failure of a sliver is shewn in Figures 4 and 5.
17 represents a roller, over which and through the openings in the bar 21,
as shewn in the Figure, the slivers are conducted before they enter the
drawing rollers. This roller is placed in the same position as the roller 1','

page_text: in Figures 1, 2, and 3. 18 represents small pins or studs fastened into the
roller 17; 19 and 19 are small levers, which are held in a slanting direction
by the resistance of the slivers feeding the frame. As soon as any one of
the slivers breaks or ceases to pass over the roller 17, the lever, which had
before been held in a slanting position by that sliver, assumes a vertical!
position, as seen at 19 in Figure 4; the corresponding pin 18 then comes,
as the roller 17 revolves, against such lever, and stops the roller 17, and
thereby, through the intervention of a slide box, as shewn in the Drawing,
or any other usual means, disengages a click and tumbler lever, which
throws the strap for driving the frame from the fast to the loose pulley, and
stops the machine in the ordinary way. The surface of the roller 17 must
move at the same speed as the back drawing roller, and the levers 19 and 19*
'hinge on studs fixed in the bar 21, which extends the whole length of the head
or division of the drawing frame.
I now proceed to describe such parts of my Invention as relate to the
flyers and the pressers usually connected therewith. In Figures 6 and 7, A is
the flyer, both the legs of which are hollow tubes, and I adopt this construction
because I consider the hollow leg to be stronger and less liable to expand with
the centrifugal force acting upon it, than the solid leg at present used, and
because, when both the legs are of the same dimensions, the resistance of the
air, when they are revolving, will be the same or nearly so, and therefore the
flyer will work more steadily than those commonly used. B represents two
slips or eyes fixed to the presser leg of the flyer; C is a small rod, which
passes through the eyes or slips B; to the lower end of the rod C is attached
the presser D, and to the upper end is fixed a small arm or lever E. F repre-
sents a stud, fastened in the flyer, and a piece of vulcanized indian-rubber G
'connects the small arm or lever E with the stud F. The piece of vulcanized
indian-rubber G may be in the shape of a loop, as shewn, and the strength of
it must be such, that when the bobbin is empty the presser will be brought
close to the bobbin, and as the bobbin increases in diameter the vulcanized
indian-rubber expands, and still, by its elasticity, keeps the presser close to
the roving on the bobbin. In order to make the flyer work true, the leg
which has not the presser attached to it should be made of the same weight
as the other leg with the presser. In Figures 8 and 9, G' is the centre or boss
of the flyer; and H are the two legs, which are attached by hinges to the
centre piece. The legs II are drawn towards each other by a spring H³,
made of vulcanized indian-rubber; the spring passes over two hooks or
catches I, which are fixed to the legs H, and as the bobbin increases in
diameter the spring allows the legs H to expand accordingly, until thej

page_text: assume the positions marked in dotted lines; the roving in this form of flyer
passes through a hole in the lower extremity of the leg H. In Figures 10
and 11, K represents the flyer, L the presser, and M the spring, with the
pin N fixed to the presser, and with the pin O fixed to the leg of the flyer.
By this arrangement, as the presser L is made to recede from the spindle by
the increasing diameter of the bobbin, the distance between the pins N and O
increases, and the vulcanized indian-rubber spring M exerts its. elasticity in
keeping the presser close to the surface of the roving on the bobbin. I have
described the springs as made of vulcanized indian-rubber; being a.well-known
preparation of indian-rubber, which I employ and prefer as being, the best
adapted to the purpose of my Invention, from its elasticity and little liability
to be affected variations of temperature, by moisture, or by the oil. which
such springs are liable to contract in the situation where they are generally
employed; but I do not confine myself to the use of vulcanized indian-
rubber, as other preparations thereof, or the indian-rubber in its ordinary
state, or the substance called gutta percha, prepared or otherwise, or both
those substances in combination, may be also applied and used, as circum-
stances may require, for the purpose of such springs as aforesaid. I consider
that a great advantage is derived from the application of indian-rubber, or
gutta percha, or such preparations or combinations thereof as aforesaid, for
the purpose of the springs I have described, in the economy in making such
springs, and in the economy and facility of substituting new ones when
required, and also the facility of changing the springs in adaptation to different
degrees of pressure which may be required.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as of my Invention,―
First, the arrangement and combination of mechanism, such as I have shewn
and described, for compressing by such a plunger as I have shewn; or by
a plunger of any other suitable form, the sliver of cotton or other fibrous
material within the can or other receptacle into which such sliver is delivered
from the drawing frame, carding engine, or other machine with which the can
is used, and which arrangement and combination are capable of various
modifications without departing from the. principle of this part of my
Invention.
Secondly, the contrivance of stopping the working of the carding. engine,
drawing frame, or other machine in connection with which a plunger is used,
when the can or other receptacle in which the plunger works is filled to the
required height with the sliver of cotton or other fibrous substance, in such
manner that the plunger, or any suitable part of the mechanism connected

page_text: therewith, shall, in consequence of the can being so filled, be caused to act
on a lever or other mechanical agent connected with the ordinary stopping
apparatus of the machine, either by the means I have before described or any
other suitable means, and so to stop the machine.
Thirdly, the contrivance for stopping the working of drawing frames or other
machines of like nature when any of the slivers of the cotton or other fibrous
substance fails, by breakage or otherwise, to be supplied to the machine, such
contrivance consisting either in a roller or bowl, as shewn in Figures 1, 2, and
3 of the Drawings, or a lever, as shewn in Figures 4 and 5, or other suitable
agent, supported or retained in its place by the sliver of cotton or other fibrous
substance, and which, when the sliver fails or is withdrawn, falls or changes
its position to the extent of the thickness or bulk of the sliver, and in so doing,
by the intervention of suitable mechanism (which may be either such as I have
described or of any other convenient form and arrangement), brings into action
the ordinary stopping apparatus of the machine, and thereby stops the machine.
Fourthly, the application and use, in drawing frames and other machines of
the like nature, of a pair of calender rollers, placed in front of the front
drawing roller, as herein-before described, for the purpose of preventing the
cotton or other fibrous substance from lapping round or being caught by suc
drawing roller.
Fifthly, the application and use of linen or cotton, or a combination of both,
for the covering of the top rollers in drawing frames and other machines of the
like nature, instead of leather, as generally employed for that
purpose.
Sixthly, the application and use of indian-rubber, or gutta percha, or any
suitable preparation of either or both those substances, in substitution for a
metallic spring or metallic springs, for acting on the pressers of the flyers
herein-before mentioned, and the application and use of which accordingly I
claim as my Invention, in whatever manner, form, or position the same may be
applied, not confining myself to the particular modes which I have described
and shewn in the Drawings for illustrating this part of my Invention, or to any
other particular mode of such application.
And, seventhly, the combination and use of a single presser with and upon
one of the legs of a flyer which has both its legs hollow, for the purposes I
have described.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-
second day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
L
FRANCIS (L.s.) PRESTON.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-second day of July, in
the year of our Lord 1847, the aforesaid Francis Preston came before our said
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
5 written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twenty-third day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.