Improvements in Beetling Machinery.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Beetling Machinery.
I ALEXANDER BASIL WILSON of Holywood in the County of Down Ireland, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This improvement in Beetling Machines, as used for the purpose of finishing Cloth,
consists in a new mode of construction whereby they are rendered more durable and
the work performed by them more rapidly done.
These improvements relate in the first place to the construction of what is known
as Wiper beams in such machines, which hitherto have been made, either with wood
or iron wipers secured to a cylinder of wood, or, with iron wipers secured to a cylinder
of iron, or, with iron wipers cast in one with and forming part of the iron cylinders,
or, of loose sections, each consisting of a disc of iron having one or more wipers cast
on it in the same plane, a number of these discs being separately keyed on an iron or
steel shaft close together so as to produce a similar construction in effect to the iron
Cylinder with Wipers cast on.
And whereas, of the above described types of Wiper beam, those in which the
Wipers are cast in one with the beam, and those in which the Wipers are cast in one
with discs, and keyed separately on a shaft have alone been found capable of dealing
with the heavy Fallers recently used.
And whereas, to produce a Wiper beam cast solid with the Cylinder is a difficult
and expensive operation, and it becomes useless if one of the Wipers be broken off, as
sometimes accidentally happens.
And whereas, in the type where discs are separately keyed on, if a Wiper in the
middle of the bean gives way, one half of the discs must be stripped off to replace
the broken one, involving great time and expense.
And whereas, Wiper beams so constructed are not so stiff, and are more liable to
fracture through the shaft, than those in which the Wipers are east in one with the
Cylinder, because the shaft being necessarily of much smaller diameter, than the
Cylinder has less rigidity.
Now in my invention I form the Wipers cast in separate discs strung on a shaft as
aforesaid, but in place of keying each disc on separately, I slide them on a sunk feather,
running end to end of a shaft, at one end of which I forin a collar, for the discs to
bear against, at the other end provide a nut, cotter or some similar device, and I so
prepare the discs that one will bear evenly on the other, the touching points being
as far out in the diameter of the discs as possible.
A Wiper beam so constructed, each disc bearing on its neighbour, and the whole
strained tightly together between the collar at one end of the shaft, and the nut at
the other, forms a rigid Cylinder comparatively free from deflection, and as strong as
the beam cast in one with the Wipers. While it has at the same time, the advantage
that if one breaks; by loosening the nut, those on either side of it can be easily pulled
off, and the defective replaced by a new one.
In Beetling Machines it is common to make the cloth beams, either of cast-iron,
wrought-iron or steel or of wood, and where the weight of the Fallers has been large
much expense is involved for replacing broken cloth beams.

page_text: Where steel beams have been made use of, they have consisted in a tube having a
centre of cast iron shrunk into each end, or shrunk and rivited, or shrunk and rivited
and secured with set-pins or bolts, and within the cast iron centre on each end a
gudgeon has been fixed projecting each way, and on which the beam revolves.
It has been found that from the constant hammering of the Fallers striking the cloth
beam, that the centres become loose, combined frequently with the gudgeons becoming
slack, and the tube splitting; hitherto it has been the general practice not to carry
the gudgeons in one piece from end to end.
Now, in my invention I make the gudgeon in one piece provided with a projecting
flange or collar near one end, and a screw and nut, or similar device at the other and
I provide two cast iron or steel washers strung on the gudgeon between the nut and
the collar, having recesses on their inner faces, corresponding to the ends of the iron
or steel tube, which forms the body of the cloth beam.
By stringing on the shaft next the collar first a washer, then the tube, next another
washer, and lastly the nut, and screwing the latter hard up so as to stretch that
portion of the gudgeon, that is within the tube, I form a practically solid cloth-beam,
able to resist the blows of the Fallers without shaking loose.
Whereas, it is necessary in Machines of this nature to wrap upon the cloth beams
the materials to be operated on, and to unwrap it afterwards at frequent intervals, and
since the cloth beams being formed of metal are necessarily heavy, it has been found
difficult to wrap the cloth, and to strip it off the beams, owing to their great weight,
and since to fill and strip them rapidly, the attendant requires the use of both hands
to pull the cloth off, or to guide it on. If the beam be driven by power he must
remove his hand from the cloth to stop or start it as hitherto made, and such beams
driven by power have not been arranged to conveniently reverse the direction of the
beam in the event of creases or over-laps getting into the cloth.
Now, in my invention I so construct the connection between the source of power,
which is usually a shaft revolving in the neighbourhood, and the cloth beams to be
stripped or filled, so that with the Attendant sitting in his usual position, stripping
or filling, the direction of the cloth-beams motion revolving so as to fill or to strip or
to stand still, is under his direct control, which I do by fitting an extending pedal
convenient to his feet, so that by pressing on one side of it the beam "by well known
friction gear" can be made to revolve in one direction, pressing on the other
side reverses the direction of rotation, and while not pressing, the beam remaining
stationery.
For the further perfecting of these Machines, I combine any or all of the above
mentioned features of novelty with a cloth beam frame, in which three cloth beams
are mounted, round a common centre, and so arranged that they can be brought in
succession, under the Fallers in such a manner that while one beam is being operated
on by the Fallers, the other two beams can be stripped or filled, thereby enabling the
Fallers to work almost continuously.
Dated this Third day of December 1896.
I ALEXANDER BASIL WILSON of Holywood in the County of Down Ireland, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
These Improvements in Beetling Machinery such as is used for the purpose of

page_text: finishing cloth, consist in a new mode of construction whereby they are rendered more
dureahle and the work performed by them more rapidly done.
These Improvements relate in the first place to the construction of what is known
as the Wiper beams in such machines, which hitherto have been made either with
wood or iron Wipers, secured to a cylinder of wood, or, with iron wipers secured to
a cylinder of iron, or, with iron Wipers cast in one with and forming part of the iron
cylinders, or, of loose sections each consisting of a disc of iron having one or more
Wipers cast on it, in the same plane, and a number of these discs separately keyed on
an iron or steel shaft, so as to produce a similar construction in effect to the iron
cylinder with wipers cast on.
And whereas, of the above described types of Wiper beam, those in which the
Wipers are cast in one with the beain, and those in which the Wipers are cast in one
with the discs, and keyed separately on a shaft, have alone been found capable of
dealing with the heavy Fallers recently used.
And whereas, to produce a Wiper beam cast solid with the cylinder is a difficult
and expensive operation and it become useless if one of the Wipers be broken off, as
sometimes happen.
And whereas, in the type where discs are separately keyed on, if a Wiper in the
middle of the beam gives way, one half of the dise must be stripped off to replace the
broken one, involving great time and expense.
And whereas, Wiper beams so constructed are not so stiff, and are more liable to
fracture through the shaft, than those in which the Wipers are cast in one with the
Cylinder, because the shaft being necessarily of smaller diameter than the Cylinder; has
less rigidity.
Now, in my invention I form separate discs with Wipers cast on, strung on a shaft
as aforesaid, but in place of keying each dise on separately, I slide them on a sunk
feather, running from end to end of the shaft, wich is provided at one end with a
collar for the discs to bear against, and at the other a Nut, Cotter or similar device,
and I so prepare the discs that each one bears evenly on the next, with the touching
points as far out in the diameter of the dises as possible.
A Wiper beam so constructed each disc bearing on its neighbour, and the whole
screwed or forced tightly together, between the collar at one end of the shaft, and
the nut at the other, forms a rigid Cylinder, comparatively free from deflection,
practically as strong as the beam cast in one with the Wipers. While it has at the
same time the advantage that if one breaks, those on either side of it can be easily
pulled off, and the defective one replaced.
In Beetling Machines, it is cominon to make the cloth beams, either of cast-iron,
wrought-iron, steel, or of wood, and where the weight of the Fallers has been large
much expense has been involved in replacing broken cloth beams.
Where steel beams have been made use of, they have consisted of a tube, having a
centre of cast iron shrunk into each end, or shrunk and riveted, or shrunk and riveted,
and secured with set-pins or bolts; and within the cast iron centre at each end, a
gudgeon has been fixed projecting, and on which the beam revolves.
It has been found that from the constant hammering of the Fallers striking the
cloth beam, that the centres become loose, combined frequently with the gudgeons
becoming slack, and the tube splitting. Hitherto it has been the general practice
not to carry the gudgeons in one piece from end to end.
Now, in my invention, I make the gudgeon in one piece provided with a projecting
flange or collar near one end; and a screw and nut or similar device at the other and I
provide two cast iron or steel washers, strung on the gudgeon between the nut and
the collar, having recesses on their inner faces, corresponding to the ends of the iron
or steel tube, which forms the body of the cloth beam.
By stringing on the shaft next the collar first a washer, then the tube, next another
washer, and lastly the nut, and screwing the latter hard up so as to stretch that
portion of the gudgeon, that is within the tube, I form a practically solid cloth beam,
able to resist the blows of the Faller without shaking loose, and to better enable the
beam thus constructed to withstand the constant vibration to which it is subjected,

page_text: I make the collar of gudgeon where it fits in the washer as aforesaid taper, and I
make the washer at the nut end of the gudgeon with a deep recess, within which the
nut is placed, a portion of the bottom of the recess being bored out to fit the outside
of the nut, the remaining and greater part of the recess being left rough. I make
the nut with a V thread, and split it on one side and after it is screwed home as
firmly as possible 1 fill in the rough portion of the recess of the washer with hardwood
wedges driven firmly in, which compress the split nut, and close it tight on the screw
threads of the gudgeon.
Whereas, it is necessary in machines of this nature to wrap upon the cloth beams
the material to be operated on, and to unwrap it afterwards at frequent intervals, and
since the cloth beams being formed of metal are necessarily heavy, it has been found
difficult to wrap the cloth, and to strip it off the beams, owing to their great weight,
and since to fill and strip them rapidly the attendant requires the use of both hands
to pull the cloth off, or to guide it on. If the beam be driven by power, as is usual,
he must remove his hand from the cloth to stop or start it as hitherto made. Such
beams driven by power, have not been arranged to conveniently reverse the direction
of rotation in the event of creases or over-laps getting into the cloth.
Now, in my invention I so construct the connection between the source of power
which is cominonly a shaft revolving in the neighbourhood, and the cloth beam to be
stripped or filled, so that with the Attendant sitting in his usual position, stripping
or filling, the direction of the revolution of the cloth beam, or its stoppage is under
his direct control without use of his hands, this I do by fitting an extended pedal
convenient to his feet, so that by pressing on one side of it the beam, "by well-known
friction gear can be made to revolve in one direction, pressing on the other side
reverses the direction of rotation, and while not pressing the beam remaining
stationery, or by arranging three pedals, one to drive the beams each way, and one to
stop it when pressed on.
The first part of my invention is shown in longitudinal section. In Figure 1.
Sheet 1. in which A are the Wipers. B the sunk feather running from end to end of
the shaft on which the discs are fitted. C is the collar for them to bear against.
D is a nut for holding them together. E are the touching points which bear
together.
The second part of my invention, is shown in Figure 2. Sheet 2. in which F is the
Gudgeon. the projecting flange or collar. H the nut for screwing the washers I
together. J is the recess on the washers. K is the iron or steel tube which forms
the body of the cloth beam. L is the recess in the washers within which the nut is
placed. M is the part bored out to fit the outside of the nut. N are the hardwood
wedges driven in to secure the nut.
The third part of my invention is shown on Sheet 3 Figure 3. in which is the
shaft or source of power, P. the cloth beam to be stripped or filled. Q is the
extended pedal. R is the well-known friction gear. The action of the pedal being
to press the bevelled friction dise S against T or U, or to hold it between the two. If
pressed against T it runs in one direction. If pressed against U in the opposite.
For the further perfecting of these machines I combine any or all of the above
inentioned features of novelty with the well-known cloth beam frame, in which three
cloth beams are mounted round a common centre, and so arranged that they can be
brought in succession under the Fallers, so that while one beam is being operated on,
by the Fallers, the other two beams can be stripped or filled, thereby enabling the
Fallers to work almost continuously.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
First. The construction and arrangements of the Wipers as shown and described
here-in in such a manner that they can be readily replaced if broken or injured.
Second. The construction of the cloth beam as shown and described here-in in

page_text: such a manner that the various parts of it are kept tightly together by the strain
produced by the nut on the gudgeon, and the wedges appertaining there-to.
Third. Constructing the arrangement for filling and stripping the cloth beam, as
shown and described here-in so that its rotation and direction of rotatior can be
controlled by the Attendant with his feet, leaving his hands free.
Fourth. The construction of Beetling Machinery substantially as shown and
described in combination with the well-known arrangement in which three cloth
beams are mounted round a common centre.
Fifth. The construction of Beetling Machinery substantially as shown and described
here-in, having in combination any or all of the arrangements defined in the above
claims.
Dated this 26th day of June 1897.