IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING FIBROUS MATERIALS TO BE SPUN, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO THE WARPING OF YARNS OR THREADS, AND OTHER PARTS TO THE WASHING OF YARNS AND TEXTILE FABRICS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Conlong, of Blackburn, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING FIBROUS
MATERIALS TO BE SPUN, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO THE WARPING
OF YARNS OR THREADS, AND OTHER PARTS TO THE WASHING OF YARNS AND
TEXTILE FABRICS."
Sealed the 5th April 1867, and dated the 9th October 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Conlong at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th October 1866.
I, JAMES CONLONG, of Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING
FIBROUS MATERIALS TO BE SPUN, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO THE WARPING
OF YARNS OR THREADS, AND OTHER PARTS TO THE WASHING OF YARNS AND TEXTILE
FABRICS," to be as follows:-
The first part of my Invention consists in improved machines or apparatus
for drawing cotton, silk, flax, wool, and other fibrous materials. For this
purpose I employ a range of four or more rollers working longitudinally
in semicircular shells bored slightlylarger than the 'rollers; the said shells are set
alternately under and over the rollers, so as to leave spaces for the material
to pass from one shell to another. The journals of the rollers work in bearings
at the ends of theshells and are weighted as required, and revolving motion
is given to the rollers by toothed gearing and pulleys in the usua manner.
P1

page_text: For cotton the rollers are of iron and fluted, but for flax, silk, wool, and other
long fibres I use the ordinary porcupine rollers.
I employ a similar arrangement of rollers and shells for rippling or cleaning
flax or cotton from seeds and softening fibrous materials, but clothe the rollers
with wood,leather,india-rubber, or other soft substance, and the rollers may
be made of a larger diameter than those used for drawing, and for weighting
the rollers I use springs instead of weights.
In carrying out this part of my Invention I form the rollers and shells loose
and fit them into a frame having vertical grooves in which the rollers and
shells work freely. At each end of the shell I joint one end of a connecting
rod jointed at the other end to an eccentric fixed to a shaft working under the
framework. The eccentrics are set at different centres for giving the shells
opposite movements, thereby producing a rubbing action on the material in
its passage, and opening and cleaning it from the husk, seeds, and dirt, the
rollers being turned by gearing and pulleys as in the arrangement for
drawing.
I also employ a similar arrangement of rollers and moveable shells for
washing yarns and textile fabrics, the rollers being clothed with india-rubber
and made larger in diameter than those used for rippling.
The second part of this Invention relates to the stop motions of drawing
frames and warping mills, and consists in employing double-acting spoons or
balanced levers for the slivers or yarns to pass over, instead of the single-
acting spoons at present employed. I form each spoon with two arms, one
extending in the direction of the rollers or the fed part,and the other extending
in the direction of the cans or feeding part. By this arrangement the sliver
is caused to pass under the first part of the spoon and over the second or
other part, thereby forminga double-acting spoon having two pointsofresistance,
in contradistinction to a single-acting spoon or lever as at present in use.
The motion or mechanism for actuating the stopping of the frame may be
made in the usual way, and the spoons are made of metal or other material as
at present.
In applying the aforesaid double-acting spoons to warping machines I
make the spoons of sheet steel,stamped out and pressed into the form required,
that is, with the back or fed part formed for holding the end down, and the
front to hold the thread up, and by this means the yarn or end is acted
on in two points instead of one. I place the aforesaid spoons in two rows in
an ordinary expanding and contracting wraith working horizontally, and
having springs on both ends of the dents forming the wraith; the dents near
each end have holes punched in them, and two light steel wires are passed

page_text: through the holes for forming bearings for the said spoons, which spoons rest
on the wires and expand and contract with the dents.
The stop mechanism consists of an oscillating lever extending across
the frame below the spoons and working on centres. This lever is actuated
by another lever having spring joints, which joints on the fall of a spoon
catching the oscillating lever yield and lift the ordinary catch, which actuates.
the knocking-off spring.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Conlong in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th April 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
CONLONG, of Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Conlong, Her special license that I, the said James Conlong,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Conlong, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRE.
PARING FIBROUS MATERIALS TO BE SPUN, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO THE
WARPING OF YARNS OR THREADS, AND OTHER PARTS TO THE WASHING OF YARNS AND
TEXTILE FABRICS," upon the conditions (amongst others) that I, the said James
Conlong, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Conlong, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed; to be particularly described, and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the figures on the accompanying

page_text: four Sheets of Drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon (that
is to say):
. The first part of my Invention consists in improved machinery or apparatus
for drawing cotton, silk, flax, wool, and other fibrous materials. For this
purpose I employ a range of four or more rollers working longitudinally in
semicircular shells bored slightly larger than the rollers; the said 'shells arc
set alternately under and over the rollers, so as to leave spaces for the material
to pass from one shell to another. The journals of the rollers work in bearings
at the ends of the shells and are weighted as required, and revolving motion
is given to the rollers by toothed gearing and pulleys in the usual manner.
For cotton the rollers are of iron and fluted, but for flax, silk, wool, and other
long fibres I use the ordinary porcupine rollers.
I employ a similar arrangement of rollers and shells for rippling or cleaning
flax or cotton from seeds and softening fibrous materials, but clothe the
rollers with wood, leather,india-rubber, or other softsubstance, and the rollers
may be made of a larger diameter than those used for drawing, and for
weighting the rollers I use springs instead of weights.
In carrying out this part of my Invention I form the rollers and shells loose
and fit them into a frame having vertical grooves in which the rollers and
shells work freely. At each end of the shell I joint one end of a connecting
rod jointed at the other end to an eccentric fixed to a shaft working under the
framework. The eccentrics are set at different centres for giving the shells
opposite movements, thereby producing a rubbing action on the material in its
passage, and opening and cleaning it from the husk, seeds, and dirt, the
rollers being turned by gearing and pulleys as in the arrangement for
drawing.
I also employ a similar arrangement of rollers and moveable shells for
washing yarns and textile fabrics, the rollers being clothed with india-rubber
and made larger in diameter than those used for rippling.
The second part of this Invention relates to the stop motions of drawing
frames and warping mills, and consists in employing double-acting spoons or
balanced levers for the slivers or yarns to pass over, instead of the single-acting
spoonsat presentemployed. I form each spoon with two arms, oneextending
in the direction of the rollers or the fed part, and the other extending in the
direction of the cans or feeding part. By thisarrangement the sliveris caused
to pass under the first part of the spoon and over the second or other part,
thereby forming a double-acting spoon having two points of resistance, in
contradistinction to a single-acting spoon or lever as at present in use. The
motion or mechanism for actuating the stopping of the frame may be made

page_text: in the usual way, and the spoons are made of metal or other material as at
present.
. In applying the aforesaid double-acting spoons to warping machines Imake
the spoons of sheet steel, stamped out and pressed into the form required, that
is, with the back or fed part formed for holding the end down and the front
to hold the thread up, and by this means the yarn or end is acted on in two
points instead of one. I place the aforesaid spoons in two rows in an ordinary
expanding and contracting wraith working horizontally, and having springs on
both ends of the dents forming the wraith; the dents near each end have holes
punched in them, and two light steel wires are passed through the holes for
forming bearings for the said spoons, which spoons rest on the wires and
expand and contract with the dents.
The stop mechanism consists of an oscillating lever extending across the
frame below the spoons and working on centres. This lever is actuated by
another lever having spring joints, which joints on the fall of a spoon catching
the oscillating lever yield and lift the ordinary catch, which actuates the
knocking-off spring.
:
The first part of iny Invention relating to the preparing of fibrous materials
to be spun by means of drawing such fibrous materials consists in employing
a series of continuous rollers' and-shells in preference to the present mode of
drawing with double rows of rollers, whereby a closer nip is obtained with a
larger roller than can be attained in the present method of drawing short
fibrous substances, and enabling a more level or even sliver to be obtained than
otherwise, and in employing the continuous series of rollers and shells in
conjunction with the ordinary porcupine rollers for the drawing of long fibres,
andin improved equilibrium spoons, tumblers, or balanced levers for actuating
the stopping of the frame on the breakage of an end or sliver, or on the sliver
coming to an end.
. In constructing the continuous rollers and shells for drawing cotton the
rollers marked a¹, a², a³, a, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, are fitted into the stand b, which
is fastened to the beam c by a bolt or screw from underneath, as in ordinary
drawing frame stands; the journal of each roller is supported by a separate
slide block fastened to the stand by a bolt d through a groove, as in ordinary
frames, and is capable of adjusting the rollers to the material to be drawn.
The shells el, e², e³, e4, are fastened at each end to the stand by bolts f, and
made to slide with the stand and placed alternately under and over the rollers,
as seen in full-sized section, Fig. 3. I clothe the rollers with a layer of
flannel and afterwards a layer of leather, as are 'used in common top rollers
for drawing cotton. The shells, eee, are cast and bored out to a true

page_text: circle, the edges are then slightly rounded off and the back shell e'is continued
to about an inch from the roller in a curved form to facilitate the feeding of
the material to the rollers. In so far as relates to the arrangement for
knocking off the frame by the drop links g, Fig. 1, of the equilibrium spoons
or balanced levers h, i, arresting the revolving motion of the vanes or cams j
by coming in contact with such vanes or cams, the equilibrium spoons may
be applied to any other of the well known and common arrangements for
actuating the knocking off the frame on the said vanes or cams being arrested.
The spoons or balanced levers have hitherto been made with only one arm or
lever, the end or sliver resting in a mouth or guide, as shewn in the section,
Fig. 6, the said levers being balanced by raising or depressing the ends of
such levers; this arrangement has been found insufficient to prevent knocking
off, even with the ends on the spoons or guides, the vibration of the frame in
working tending to disturb the equilibrium of such balanced levers and cause
the frame to knock off when not required. To obviate this defect I make
the spoon or balanced lever with two points of resistance in preference to one,
as seen at h, i, Figs. 1 and 2; the end or sliver / is caused to pass under the
guide trough or mouth-piece on the arm h, Figs. 1 and 5, and over or on the
top of the guide trough or mouth of the arm i, Figs. 1 and 6; the tumbler is
held in the stand or guide bracket 2 by a pin, and free to swivel or swing on
such pin. It will be seen that the frame cannot knock off or stop, through
the droplinkg coming in contact with the revolving vanes, unless the material
has left the spoon, as is the case in the single-acting tumbler or balanced
levers. The mode of balancing the double-acting spoon, tumbler, or balanced
lever is the same as is adopted for single-acting tumblers or balanced levers,
that is, by resting the front or feed side i nearest the rollers on the bar or
rail m, and raising or depressing the rail till the spoons are nearly balanced.
On the end or sliver leaving the spoon the drop link g comes in contact with
the revolving vane, and arresting the revolving motion causes the frame to
knock off or stop, but should a slack end or kink come from the cans the spoon
does not drop sufficiently far to come in contact with the vane, but only
sufficient to tighten the end or take up the slack, by this means taking out
the slack ends without stopping the frame.
In Sheet 1, Fig. 4 is a full-sized section of the arrangement of rollers and
shells I employ for drawing wool, silk, flax,and other long fibres. In carrying
out this arrangement I feed the material to the shell in the same manner as
shown in Fig. 3, and place at the front of the porcupine rollers n two delivery
rollers o, the bottom one of iron or brass fluted, and the top one of wood, as
is commonly used for long fibres, and weight the top roller to the bottom one,

page_text: both the rollers fitting in stands in the ordinary way. The porcupine rollers
I form of iron in the body », and a ferrule of brass p, with pins q fixed into
the same, the surface diameter of the teeth or pins being equal to the
diameter of the arc of the shells, the teeth being set as shewn at q, Fig. 4.
The drawing-off or delivery rollers o draw the material through the teeth of
the toothed porcupine rollers, the front or delivery porcupine roller working
quicker than the back roller, according to the draft required. The frame is
actuated and motion conveyed to the same in the usual way of giving motion
to frames for drawing such material. The front shell et, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is
made of a less are than the other shells, and a plain iron top roller r is made
to rest on the front bottom roller,to which it is weighted down, or the top roller
may be fluted or corrugated, and the back of the shells are fluted, strengthened
by a rib s running on the back of the shell. The weighting arrangements
are shewn in Figs. 1 and 2. t represent iron rods or links for supporting the
weights u. The first feeding roller al is weighted down to the shell e¹ by the
hook v resting on the block of brass which rests on the neck of the roller;
the second roller a² is weighted up to the shell ea by taking the hook through
the slide and connecting it to the plate lever w, which rests on the fulcrum
bolted to the stand and is connected to the weight rod by the nuts x; the
third roller a³ is weighted down to the shell e³ by the hook, rod, and weight;
the fourth roller at is weighted up by means of a hook bolt. The shelle' of
the delivery roller is partly cut away as shewn in Fig. 3..
y
It will be seen in Fig. 1 that in weighting the front roller at an increase
of weight by leverage is given to the hook for weighting the front to the
shell; this increase is counterbalanced by the weight of the top roller ron the
roller at. On the material leaving the front rollers it is carried to the calender
rollers and into the can by the usual course. In Fig. 2 is shewn the mode
of gearing such drawing frames, and the mode of working the knocking-off
notion of the frame on the breakage or removal of an end or sliver; the
knocking off motionhere shewnis the motiongenerally knownastherevolving
vanes or cams, and is commonly used for the purpose of actuating the
knocking off or stopping of the frame on the breakage or removal of an end
or sliver.
I now describe my improvements in machinery or apparatus for rippling,
cleaning, and softeningflax,hemp,chinagrass, and other analogoussubstances,
and removing the seed,husks,and refuse from such substances. In this partof
my Invention I employ a series of rollers and shells, as seen in Sheet 2, Fig. 7,
mounted in a frame a, having vertical grooves formed in the inner side of
the frame. On each end of each shell is fitted a block.d fitting into the said...

page_text: screws,
grooves b sufficiently slack to admit of some sliding or working in the grooves;
the ends of the rollers are extended through the grooves on each side of the
frame, and on each end of the rollers e is fitted a loose boss, Fig. 8, having
an eye or link on the bottom part, to which is attached a connecting rod /
to eccentrics i on the shafts k, the said shafts receiving motion through the
pinion from the driving wheel m, which receives its motion fromthedriving
belt; or motion may be given, as shewn in the Drawing, by a treaddle n.
The rollers e are weighted down or up, as the case may be, by the springs
shewn at o, fitted into a tube p, and the pressure being regulated by the set
which are prevented from shifting by the block nuts r. On each side
of the frame a is fitted a bar or rail s, Fig. 9, to which are jointed palls t
working loosely on studs in the said bar s, and having plate springs u pressing
on the back of the palls; on the end of the said rollers e are fitted ratchet
wheels v, the pall t fitting into the same. Some of the rollers and shells are
shewn full size in Fig. 10. The body e of each roller is made of iron, and a
tube v of vulcanized india-rubber shrunk on it, having a corrugated surface
and fitted into the shell c. The eccèntrics i, Figs. 7 and S, are set alternately
at the top and bottom centres, and when motion is conveyed to the driving
shafts by the treddle », or from the driving power by means of belt or gearing
the shells and rollers are raised and depressed alternately by the eccentrics,
and at each motion of the same the palls or catches in the ratchet wheels v
cause the rollers to move a tooth at each stroke of the eccentrics, thereby
giving a circular motion to the said rollers. To the back or feed part of the
machine is fitted a feed board w, and at the front of the frame a delivery
board x, and the material is fed to the first shell and carried on to the second
and following shells alternately under and over the said rollers, and delivered
at the front of the frame, as shewn in the Drawing. It will be seen that the
material in passing through the shells is submitted to the constant rubbing of
the corrugated surfaces of the rollers, thereby breaking and freeing the
material from the stalks, and refuse, or husks which fall under the machine.
In applying this machine for washing fibrous substances I clothe the rollers
with wood, the shells I line with brass or enamel to prevent incrustation, and
increase the number of rollers and shells in the said frame making the frame
longer, the same mode of driving and mode of feeding and delivering being
adopted as in the machinery before described for rippling, breaking, and
softening flax and other analogous substances.
The next part of my Invention consists in the application of my improved
double-acting or equilibrium spoons to the warping of yarns or threads forthe
purpose of more efficiently effecting the stoppage of the frame on the breaking

page_text: or removal of the yarn or thread, and for more effectually preventing a slack
end or yarn from passing on to the beam.
In Sheet 3, Fig. 11 is a tranverse section of a warping mill, drawn about
one-quarter size, with my improvements attached; Fig. 12 is a full-size plan
of part of the same; Fig. 13, a full-size section for shewing more particularly
the knocking-off arrangement; Figs. 14 and 15,detached views of one of the
parts; and Fig. 16, Sheet 4, is a front view, full size, of the frame with-part-
in section, shewing the application of the double-acting or equilibrium spoons
or balanced levers to expanding combs, and the arrangement for working the
vibrators or stop bars.
In carrying out this part of my Invention I form the spoons or balanced
levers of sheet steel, brass, or other metal, and stamp the same in the form
shewn at a, b, Fig. 13. Each spoon is formed of two plates of steel or brass
fastened together by rivets, as seen at c, Fig. 13, the bottom part of the spoon
being cranked, as seen at d, Fig. 16, to admit of forming a groove e, Fig. 16,
large enough for the dent f, Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 16, to fit in easy but firm.
I form the expanding comb to rest in the frame horizontally,extending across
the frame and resting in brackets 9, Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 16, bolted to the
frame side. The comb is formed with two springs h in each case i¹, i², in pre-.
ference to four, and the shaft k for actuating the expanding and contracting
is placed underneath such springs; the dents/fare produced through the springs
and extended from the front case i¹ to the back case 2, and are held to the
springs by the wires 1. The dents f.are made deeper than ordinary, and two
holes are punched through each dent, through which holes the wires m are
passed and afterwards fastened to. each end of the comb case. The screwed.
shafts for actuating the expanding and contracting are continued through the
case and bevil wheels n are fixed on the end of the shafts, to which wheels
are other bevil wheels o fixed to the cross shaft p, which is continued through.
the frame end, and has a handle or milled pulley q on the end of the same, by.
which means the comb is expanded or contracted. The equilibrium spoons
or balanced levers are formed with a cut in them, as seen at r, Fig. 13, and
made to fit firmly but easily on the dents, the top of the cut or groove resting
on the wire, and the said wire m forms a fulcrum for the spoons or levers to
work on, the cuts or grooves enabling the attendant at any time to take them.
out to clean or alter the number of ends required. Between each row of spoons
is placed an angle bars forming a buttress for the spoons to rest against when
in an erect position, or when the yarn is tight and working right, but when on
the end slackening the spoon assumes the position shewn at a', Fig. 13.. The
block guides t, t, Fig. 13, extend longitudinally the length of the comb case.

page_text: and are made fast to the comb brackets g by screws in the end, the front row
of spoons butting against the block guide t¹ screwed to the side of comb
case. Fig. 14 shews the section of the double-acting spoon or equilibrium
levers through the line c, c, Fig. 13, and Fig. 15 the section through the
line d, d.
In Fig. 16 is shewn the mode of producing the reciprocating motion of the
rocking shaft. The said shaft marked a² is supported by the brackets b', one
shewn with part in section having one side screwed to each comb case. From
the rocking shaft a² is carried arms u,extending to underneath the spoons; on
the top of the arms are pinned light steel plates d', extending from end to end
of the comb case; these arms may. be made singly in one row for each comb,
or two branches on one arm, as seen at u, Fig. 13. To the end of the arm u
I fasten a stud e', to which is fitted a prong connection f¹ fitted loosely on the
stud g. Theinnersides ofthe bottom of the prongs are formed with two inclined
planes ' on each side, and corresponding inclined planes are formed on the
link working on the stud g', the pin placed through it having a little play.
The opposite end of the link k¹ I attach to a drop bolt l', extending through
a guide bracket m¹; the drop bolt is half cut away, a part of its length and
the spring n¹ is caused to impinge against it; the spring is bolted to the frame
of the machine and guided in the bracket o¹, and on the plate p¹ is formed a
projection q' acting against the spring and actuating the knocking off of the
belt by means of the strap fork attached to the plate p'.
connect one end of a light link 2, Fig. 11, connected at
To the joint A¹ I
the other end to
the arm s, Fig. 11, which arm receives its motion from the undulating drum t¹
on the driving shaft u¹. On the motion of the rocking shaft being retarded by
the dropping of a spoon, the oscillating motion of the arms from the undu-
lating surface of the drum t¹ being positive, the spring joint k¹ is forced open
and the bolt shortened, which relieves the spring n', Fig. 16, previously held
by the drop bolt, and allow the frame to knock off or stop, but as long as the
rocking shaft is free to rock, the spring joint ¹ is sufficiently strong to give
uniform vibrating motion to the stop bar or bars.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood
that I claim,
First, the employment of a continuous series of rollers and shells for drawing
cotton, silk, flax, wool, and other fibrous materials, and similar rollers and
shells for rippling, breaking, and cleaning cotton and flax, and for washing
yarns and textile fabrics, and also the modes of using or working such rollers
and shells.

page_text: Secondly, the use in drawing frames and warping mills of double-acting
or equilibrium spoons or balanced levers, having two points of resistance in
opposite directions on each sliver or end of yarn, in contradistinction to the
single-acting spoons or levers at present in use.
And, thirdly, the application of the double-acting or equilibrium spoons or
balanced levers of the warping mill to expanding and contracting combs, and
the mode of fitting such spoons or tumblers.to the combs, as all such improve-
ments are herein described and illustrated in the accompanying four Sheets of
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Conlong, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.