IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS FOR SPINNING
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Muir Hetheringtou, of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Machine Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
FOR SPINNING."
Sealed the 5th July 1867, and dated the 9th January 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Muir Hetherington
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 9th January 1867.
I, JOHN MUIR HETHERINGTON, of Manchester, in the County of Lan-
caster, Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS
MATERIALS FOR SPINNING," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates, firstly, to that construction of opener for which
Letters Patent were granted to Frederick William Crighton and William
Crighion, dated April 3rd, 1861, No. 819; according to the arrangement
described in the Specification of the said Patent the fibrous material was fed
by hand into a trumpet-shaped orifice; by my Invention I feed the material
on to an endless apron or creeper by which it is delivered to the machine, and
in order to prevent irregular quantities being drawn in by the draft I apply an
instrument acting as a regulator to check the passage of the said material.
[Price 8d.]

page_text: I propose at present for this purpose to adapt a flap capable of turning upon
a hinge, and which yields to the pressure of the material.
My next improvementis in the carding engine, and refers to that arrange-
ment thereof in which self-stripping flats are employed turning upon hinges
for the purpose of enabling them to be stripped. Hitherto these hinges or
centres of motion have been moveable for the purpose of adjusting the
positions of the flats. According to my Invention I fix the said hinges or
centres of motion permanently to the framework, and I render the flats
adjustable by mounting them on slides which can be regulated in position by
screws.
Another improvement in the carding engine consists in stripping the back
flats more frequently than those in the front. To effect this I place a greater
number of triggers for causing the flats to be turned at the back part of the
machine than at the front in conjunction with a segment ratchet which moves
forward a certain distance and then returns.
Another part of my Invention relates to slubbing, roving, or other such
machines, and consists, firstly, in a method of counterbalancing the top rail;
for this purpose I apply a longitudinal weighted lever turning upon an
adjustable centre; this lever is connected to another, on which is a projecting
part extending to the rail to be balanced. The adjustable centre, above men-
tioned, enables the apparatus to be adapted between two spindles. Also
in such machines I adapt a covering to the lifting shaft, which covering also
extends to the bottom shafts. Also I cover the said casing at bottom to
prevent the flyings" from reaching the floor.
**
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Muir Hetherington in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th July 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
MUIR HETHERINGTON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Machine
Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the twenty-ninth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Muir Hetherington, Her special license that I, the said John Muir
Hetherington, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,

page_text: the said John Muir Hetherington, 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 MACHINERY FOR PREPARING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
FOR SPINNING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Muir
Hetherington, 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 Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said John Muir Hetherington, 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 and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
My first improvement is in the carding engine, and refers to that arrange-
ment in which self-stripping flats are employed turning upon hinges for the
purpose of enabling them to be stripped. Hitherto these hinges or centres of
motion have been moveable for the purpose of adjusting the position of the
flats according to my Invention. I fix the said hinges or centres of motion
permanently to the framework, and I render the flats adjustable by mounting
them on slides which can be regulated in position by screws.
Another improvement in the carding engine relates to stripping the back
flats more frequently than those in the front. To effect this I place a greater
number of triggers for causing the flats to be turned at the back part of the
machine than at the front in conjunction with a segment ratchet which moves
forward a certain distance and then returns.
Another part of my Invention relates to slubbing, roving, or other such
machines, and consists, firstly, in a method of counterbalancing the top rail;
for this purpose I apply a longitudinal weighted lever turning upon an
adjustable centre; this lever is connected to another, in which is a projecting
part extending to the rail to be balanced. The adjustable centre, above men-
mentioned, enables the apparatus to be adapted between two spindles. Also
in such machines I adapt a covering to the lifting shaft, which covering al o
extends to the bottom shafts. Also I cover the said casing at bottom to
prevent the flyings from reaching the floor.
The first part of my Invention is shewn detached at Figs. 1 and 2, and also
in other Figs. of the carding engine hereafter to be referred to.

page_text: At a is a box provided with guides, within which is placed a sliding piece b,
to which the flange c of the flat d is attached; within the box a is a screw e
turning in a fixed nut fand provided with collars g, between which is situate
a fork projecting from the sliding piece b; at i is a screw extending from
the fixed nut and passing through a slot & formed in the said sliding piece b,
a nut being adapted to its outward end; at me is the hinge or centre of motion
upon which the flat turns when it is to be cleaned in the usual manner, the
said centre of motion being carried by the box a. The carrier for the flats
thus constructed is shewn adapted in the partial views of a carding engine,
Figs. 3 and 4; in Fig. 3, the hinges or centres m are seen applied to slots in
the circular framing n confined in their position by plates o; one only of these
plates is shewn in the Drawing, but they are of course repeated so as to cover
the whole of the centres of motion in use. When the flats are to be cleaned
and are turned by the method hereafter to be described, or by other known
means, their centres of motion revolve in the fixed framework n, and they will
therefore always occupy the same position with regard to the cylinder. It is
however well known that a setting of the said flats is required, and this has
hitherto been accomplished by mounting the said centres in adjustable
bearings.
According to my Invention when this setting is required the centres of
motion are not interfered with, but in place thereof the nut is loosened, and
then the sliding piece together with the flat d is capable of being lowered
or raised by turning the screw e; after which the nut is again tightened.
It will of course be understood that the setting apparatus is adapted to each
side of the carding engine.
My next improvement in carding engines is shewn at Figs. 3 and 4
above referred to, and also at Fig. 5. In describing this
part of my Invention
I shall for the sake of shewing its application have to refer to and describe
certain known parts and operations, but shall subsequently point out that
which I consider to be new. At p is a segment provided with ratchet teeth
, *, and mounted so as to be capable of moving concentric with the cylinder
by means of slots 2, within which are guide pins s carried by fixed brackets t;
at n is a driver for the teeth q jointed to a levere which turns upon a fixed
centre w, which lever is also fast with another lever a furnished with a pro-
jecting part y. According to the position shewn in the Drawing the driver u
is elevated above the teeth q. and rests upon a fixed pin = ; the segment p is
constantly drawn in the direction of the arrow by a weight 1, but is prevented
at times from being so moved by a click 2 which takes into the teeth 2*, and
therefore registers the position of the said segment; at 3 are levers mounted

page_text: loosely upon the axis of the carding cylinder, and carrying at their upper
ends a pully 4 driven by a pulley 5 upon the cylinder shaft; the axis of
the pulley 4 is provided with a pinion 6 which is in gear with a wheel 7
carried by a lever 3, and on the axis of this wheel is a pinion 9 taking into
another pinion S carried by an arm 10 which is mounted so as to be capable
of turning upon the centre of motion of the wheel 7; upon the axis of the
pinion S is another pinion 11 in gear with the teeth of a mangle rack-12, the
two grooves 13, 14, being the guides for the axis of the driving pinion wheu
it changes from the one side to the other; the segment carries a series o
inclines 15, shewn particularly at Fig. 5, and which are the triggers for causing
the flats to be turned. By inspecting the above-mentioned Figure it will be
seen that these triggers are arranged closer together at the back or feed end of
the machine than they are at the front or doffing end. Upon one side of
one of the levers 3 is mounted a sliding bolt 16, which at certain periods
is shot upward so as to act upon arms 17 attached to the centres m of the
flats, by which means projecting pins 18 on the said arms are brought
coincident with inclined grooves 19, 20, attached to the lever 3. The operation
is as follows:-Motion being communicated to the wheel 11 by the pullies
and gearing above described, the said wheel will be caused to revolve
along the teeth 12 of the mangle rack, and will draw with it the levers 3
with which the bolt 16 travels; this bolt being thus caused to move
concentric to the segment p will be brought successively into contact with
the inclined ends of the triggers 15, and at such times will be caused to rise
and turn the levers 17, and consequently centres m upward, which movement
will bring the projecting ends 18 of the said levers 17 into a position to be
taken by the groove 19, after which a further movement will bring the other
groove 20 to bear upon them, and thus certain of the flats will be turned over
to be cleared by brushes or other usual apparatus not shewn in the Drawing.
The continued motion of the lever 3 will bring a set screw 21 carried by the
said lever into contact with the projection y connected to the lever ; by these
means the driver u will be carried forward until the inclined end thereof shall
have passed the pin, after which it will fali on to one of the teeth q; and a
further motion of the lever 3 will cause the said driver to draw forward the
segment p through the space of one tooth, simultaneously with which the
click 2 will slip over a tooth 7* and hold the segment in its new position,
after which the axis of the mangle pinion 11 will return along the groove 14,
and the lever 3 will be moved back; the motion thus described of the
segment p will have brought the triggers 15 into another position, and when
the lever 3 is again caused to travel forward other flats corresponding to the

page_text: said new positions of the triggers will be turned, as above described. Repe-
titions of the above-mentioned movements will successively move forward the
segment until the whole of the teeth thereon have been used, and then
the acting part of the detaining click 2 will drop into a groove 22 instead of
against a tooth, and the segment p being no longer detained will be drawn
back by the weight 1 until a spring incline 23 is brought into contact with
the end of the click 2, which will then pass upward from the groove 22 and
arrest the motion of the segment by arriving in contact with one of the teeth q*,
and thus the said segment is caused to move to and fro. The bolt 16 is
jointed so as to be capable of turning in one direction, and it is thus enabled
to move over the triggers on its return motion. It has been seen that the
turning over of a certain flat will only take place when a trigger 15 is present
to act upon the bolt 16; it is therefore obvious that by regulating the motion
of the segment p and the proximity of the triggers 15 that any particular flat
may be turned at any desired intervals; and according to my Invention
I place the said triggers nearer to each other at the back part of the machine
than at the front, and the corresponding flats, therefore, will be more
frequently cleared. The flats are restored to their working positions by a
rack and pinion, as well understood, and there are the usual stops for
registering such positions.
My first improvement in slubbing, roving, or other such frames is shewn at
Figs. 6 and 7, in which a represents a portion of the usual framing provided
in this instance with bearings b, within which is an axis e carrying two
arms d, d*; the former of these projects between the spindles, and carries at
its end a rounded part, which bears against the top rail e, the other lever d*
is provided with a weight f, serving as a counterbalance for the said top rail e.
According to the construction shewn the two levers d, d, are supposed to be
formed in one piece together with the axis c, but they may be made in separate
portions if desired. The arrangement above described is repeated at intervals
in the frame, as is usual when the ordinary method of balancing is adopted.
The bearings are carried by brackets g, which are adjustable upon the frame-
work, and a position of the lever & between two spindles may thus be effected.
My next improvement in roving frames is shewn at Figs. S, 9, and 10, in
which represents the lifting shaft, and i the bottom shafts. To the usual
midfeather is fixed a bracket l, which at its upper end carries a cover m for
the lifting shaft, and upon this is placed side covers n, which are confined by
lugs o formed upon the bracket l. At p is the bottom cover bent round, and
sprung between the two side covers n. The brackets are bent, as seen in
Fig. 10, in order to enable them to pass between the spindles.

page_text: Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner of carrying the same into effect, I desire it to be understood that
I claim as secured to me under the above in part recited Letters Patent,--
Firstly, the use of the fixed hinges or centres of motion for the flats, and
rendering the said flats adjustable thereon.
Secondly, as applied to carding engines constructed as described in reference
to Fig. 3, 4, 5, I claim placing the triggers illustrated at 15 closer together
at the back part than at the front of the machine in conjunction with the
segment. ratchet
P.
In roving, slubbing, or other such frames I claim,―
Firstly, the use of the lever or levers d, d*, for balancing the top rail, one
portion of such lever or levers extending between the spindles, substantially
as described.
Secondly, the use of the covering extending from the lifting shaft to the
bottom shafts and also the bottom covering.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Muir Herington, hath hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
JOHN M. HETHERINGTON. (L.S.)

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Muir Hetherington, of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Machine Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS.
FOR SPINNING."
Sealed the 5th July 1867, and dated the 9th January 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Muir Hetherington
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 9th January 1867.
I, JOHN MUIR HETHERINGTON, of Manchester, in the County of Lan-
caster, Machine Maker; do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS
MATERIALS FOR SPINNING," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates, firstly, to that construction of opener for which
Letters Patent were granted to Frederick William Crighton and William
Crighton, dated April 3rd, 1861, No. 819; according to the arrangement
described in the Specification of the said Patent the fibrous material was fed
by hand into a trumpet-shaped orifice; by my Invention I feed the material
on to an endless apron or creeper by which it is delivered to the machine, and
in order to prevent irregular quantities being drawn in by the draft I apply an
instrument acting as a regulator to check the passage of the said material.

page_text: I propose at present for this purpose to adapt a flap capable of turning upon
hinge, and which yields to the pressure of the material.
My next improvement is in the carding engine, and refers to that arrange-
ment thereof in which self-stripping flats are employed turning upon hinges
for the purpose of enabling them to be stripped. Hitherto these hinges or
centres of motion have been moveable for the purpose of adjusting the
positions of the flats. According to my Invention I fix the said hinges or
centres of motion permanently 'to the framework, and I render the flats
adjustable by mounting them on slides which can be regulated in position by
screws.
Another improvement in the carding engine consists in stripping the back
flats more frequently than those in the front. To effect this I place a greater
number of triggers for causing the flats to be turned at the back part of the
machine than at the front in conjunction with a segment ratchet which moves
forward a certain distance and then returns.
. Another part of my Invention relates to slubbing, roving, or other such
machines, and consists, firstly, in a method of counterbalancing the top rail;
for this purpose I apply a longitudinal weighted lever turning upon an
adjustable centre; this lever is connected to another, on which is a projecting
part extending to the rail to be balanced. The adjustable centre, above men-
tioned, enables the apparatus to be adapted between two spindles. Also
in such machines I adapt a covering to the lifting shaft, which covering also
extends to the bottom shafts. Also I cover the said casing at bottom to
prevent the flyings " from reaching the floor.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Muir Hetherington in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th July 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
MUIR HETHERINGTON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Machine
Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the twenty-ninth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Muir Hetherington, Her special license that I, the said John Muir
Hetherington, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1,

page_text: the said John Muir Hetherington, 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 MACHINERY FOR PREPARING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
FOR SPINNING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Muir
Hetherington, 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 Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Muir Hetherington, 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 and accompanying Drawings (that is to say)
:--
My first improvement is in the carding engine, and refers to that arrange-
ment in which self-stripping flats are employed turning upon hinges for the
purpose of enabling them to be stripped. Hitherto these hinges or centres of
motion have been inoveable for the purpose of adjusting the position of the
flats according to my Invention. I fix the said hinges or centres of motion
permanently to the framework, and I render the flats adjustable by mounting
them on slides which can be regulated in position by screws.
Another improvement in the carding engine relates to stripping the back
flats more frequently than those in the front. To effect this I place a greater
number of triggers for causing the flats to be turned at the back part of the
machine than at the front in conjunction with a segment ratchet which moves
forward a certain distance and then returns.
Another part of my Invention relates to slubbing, roving, or other such
machines, and consists, firstly, in a method of counterbalancing the top rail;
for this purpose I apply a longitudinal weighted lever turning upon an
adjustable centre; this lever is connected to another, in which is a projecting
part extending to the rail to be balanced. The adjustable centre, above men-
mentioned, enables the apparatus to be adapted between two spindles. Also
in such machines I adapt a covering to the lifting shaft, which covering also
extends to the bottom shafts. Also I cover the said casing at bottom to
prevent the flyings from reaching the floor.
The first part of my Invention is shewn detached at Figs. 1 and 2, and also
-in other Figs. of the carding engine hereafter to be referred to.

page_text: At a is a-box provided with guides, within which is placed a sliding piece b,
to which the flange c of the flat d is attached; within the box a is a screw e
turning in a fixed nut f and provided with collars g, between which is situate
a fork projecting from the sliding piece b; at i is a screw extending from
the fixed nut and passing through a slot k formed in the said sliding piece b,
a nut being adapted to its outward end; at m is the hinge or centre of motion
upon which the flat turns when it is to be cleaned in the usual manner, the
said centre of motion being carried by the box a. The carrier for the flats
thus constructed is shewn adapted in the partial views of a carding engine,
Figs. 3 and 4 in Fig. 3, the hinges or centres m are seen applied to slots in
the circular framing n confined in their position by plates o; one only of these
plates is shewn in the Drawing, but they are of course repeated so as to cover
the whole of the centres of motion in' use. When the flats are to be cleaned
and are turned by the method hereafter to be described, or by other known
means, their centres of motion revolve in the fixed framework n, and they will
therefore always occupy the same position with regard to the cylinder. It is
however well known that a setting of the said flats is required, and this has
hitherto been accomplished by mounting the said centres in adjustable
bearings.
b
According to my Invention when this setting is required the centres of
motion are not interfered with, but in place thereof the nut is loosened, and
then the sliding piece together with the flat d is capable of being lowered
or raised by turning the screw e; after which the nut is again tightened.
It will of course be understood that the setting apparatus is adapted to each
side of the carding engine.
My next improvement in carding engines is shewn at Figs. 3 and 4
above referred to, and also at Fig. 5. In describing this part of my Invention
I shall for the sake of shewing its application have to refer to and describe
certain known parts and operations, but shall subsequently point out that
which I consider to be new. At p is a segment provided with ratchet teeth
9, 9, and mounted so as to be capable of moving concentric with the cylinder
by means of slots r, within which are guide pins s carried by fixed brackets t;
at n is a driver for the teeth q jointed to a lever which turns upon a fixed
centre w, which lever is also fast with another lever a furnished with a pro-
jecting party. According to the position shewn in the Drawing the driver u
is elevated above the teeth q, and rests upon a fixed pin z; the segment p is
constantly drawn in the direction of the arrow by a weight 1, but is prevented
at times from being so moved by a click 2 which takes into the teeth q*, and
therefore registers the position of the said segment; at 3 are levers mounted
9

page_text: loosely upon the axis of the carding cylinder, and carrying at their upper
ends a pully 4 driven by a pulley 5 upon the cylinder shaft; the axis of
the pulley is provided with a pinion 6 which is in gear with a wheel 7
carried by a lever 3, and on the axis of this wheel is a pinion 9 taking into
another pinion 8 carried by an arm 10 which is mounted so as to be capable
of turning upon the centre of motion of the wheel 7; upon the axis of the
pinion 8 is another pinion 11 in gear with the teeth of a mangle rack 12, the
two grooves 13, 14, being the guides for the axis of the driving pinion when
it changes from the one side to the other; the segment p carries a series of
inclines 15, shewn particularly at Fig. 5, and which are the triggers for causing
the flats to be turned. By inspecting the above-mentioned Figure it will be
seen that these triggers are arranged closer together at the back or feed end of
the machine than they are at the front or doffing end. Upon one side of
one of the levers 3 is mounted a sliding bolt 16, which at certain periods
is shot upward so as to act upon arms 17 attached to the centres m of the
flats, by which means projecting pins 18 on the said arns are brought
coincident with inclined grooves 19, 20, attached to the lever 3. The operation
is as follows:-Motion being communicated to the wheel 11 by the pullies
and gearing above described, the said wheel will be caused to revolve
along the teeth 12 of the mangle rack, and will draw with it the levers 3
with which the bolt 16 travels; this bolt being thus caused to move
concentric to the segment p will be brought successively into contact with
the inclined ends of the triggers 15, and at such times will be caused to rise
and turn the levers 17, and consequently centres m upward, which movement
will bring the projecting ends 18 of the said levers 17 into a position to be
taken by the groove 19, after which a further movement will bring the other
groove 20 to bear upon them, and thus certain of the flats will be turned over
to be cleared by brushes or other usual apparatus not shewn in the Drawing.
The continued motion of the lever 3 will bring a set screw 21 carried by the
said lever into contact with the projection y connected to the lever v; by these
means the driver u will be carried forward until the inclined end thereof shall
have passed the pin z, after which it will fall on to one of the teeth q ; and a
further motion of the lever 3 will cause the said driver to draw forward the
segment p through the space of one tooth, simultaneously with which the
click 2 will slip over a tooth q* and hold the segment in its new position,
fter which the axis of the mangle pinion 11 will return along the groove 14,
nd the lever 3 will be moved back; the motion thus described of the
egment p will have brought the triggers 15 into another position, and when
he lever 3 is again caused to travel forward other flats corresponding to the

page_text: 3
said new positions of the triggers will be turned, as above described. Repe-
titions of the above-mentioned movements will successively move forward the
segment p until the whole of the teeth q thereon have been used, and then
the acting part of the detaining click 2 will drop into a groove 22 instead of
against a tooth, and the segment p being no longer detained will be drawn
back by the weight 1 until a spring incline 23 is brought into contact with
the end of the click 2, which will then pass upward from the groove 22 and
arrest the motion of the segment by arriving in contact with one of the teeth
and thus the said segment is caused to move to and fro. The bolt 16 is
jointed so as to be capable of turning in one direction, and it is thus enabled
to move over the triggers on its return motion. It has been seen that the
turning over of a certain flat will only take place when a trigger 15 is present
to act upon the bolt 16; it is therefore obvious that by regulating the motion
of the segment p and the proximity of the triggers 15 that any particular flat
may be turned at any desired intervals; and according to my Invention
.I place the said triggers nearer to each other at the back part of the machine
than at the front, and the corresponding flats, therefore, will be more
frequently cleared. The flats are restored to their working positions by a
rack and pinion, as well understood, and there are the usual stops for
registering such positions.
My first improvement in slubbing, roving, or other such frames is shewn at
Figs. 6 and 7, in which a represents a portion of the usual framing provided
in this instance with bearings b, within which is an axis c carrying two
arms d, d; the former of these projects between the spindles, and carries at
its end a rounded part, which bears against the top rail e, the other lever d*
is provided with a weight, serving as a counterbalance for the said top rail c.
According to the construction shewn the two levers d, d*, are supposed to be
formed in one piece together with the axis c, but they may be made in separate
portions if desired. The arrangement above described is repeated at intervals
in the frame, as is usual when the ordinary method of balancing is adopted.
The bearings are carried by brackets g, which are adjustable upon the frame-
work, and a position of the lever d between two spindles may thus be effected.
: My next improvement in roving frames is shewn at Figs. 8, 9, and 10, in
which / represents the lifting shaft, and i the bottom shafts. To the usual
midfeather is fixed a bracket (, which at its upper end carries a cover m for
the lifting shaft, and upon this is placed side covers n, which are confined by
lugs o formed upon the bracket 7. At p is the bottom cover bent round, and
sprung between the two side covers n. The brackets are bent, as seen in
Fig. 10, in order to enable them to pass between the spindles.

page_text: Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, an 1
the manner of carrying the same into effect, I desire it to be understood that
I claim as secured to me under the above in part recited Letters Patent,-
Firstly, the use of the fixed hinges or centres of motion for the flats, and
rendering the said flats adjustable thereon.
Secondly, as applied to carding engines constructed as described in reference
to Fig. 3, 4, 5, I claim placing the triggers illustrated at 15 closer together
at the back part than at the front of the machine in conjunction with the
segment ratchet
P.
In roving, slubbing, or other such frames I claim,-
Firstly, the use of the lever or levers d, d", for balancing the top rail, one
portion of such lever or levers extending between the spindles, substantially
as described.
Secondly, the use of the covering extending from the lifting shaft to the
bottom shafts and also the bottom covering.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Muir Herington, hath hereunto.
set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
JOHN M. HETHERINGTON. (L.S.)