IMPROVEMENTS IN SPINNING MACHINERY
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Mayor, a resident of the City of
Providence, State of Rhode Island, and the United States
of America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPINNING
MACHINERY."-Partly a communication from George Chatterton, of
the City of Providence, State of Rhode Island, and United States
of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Mayor at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th November 1874.
I, THOMAS MAYOR, a resident of the City of Providence, State of
Rhode Island, and the United States of America, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPINNING MACHINERY,"
partly a communication, to be as follows:-

page_text: carries the thread and gives to the same the required drag and twist,
and also winds the same on the bobbin.
The first part of this Invention consists in so constructing a spinning
frame that the ring shall be a stationary fixture secured to the frame of
the machine and will not have the usual reciprocating motion imparted
to the ring, and instead of this will impart reciprocating motion to the
spindle or to the bobbin to lay the different threads closely one to the
other, or when a cop is to be spun to give the required alternately
reciprocating motion to the spindle necessary to produce a cop and bind
the thread as is now done. By this arrangement all the objections
heretofore existing in the ring frame are overcome. These objections
consisted primarily in the greatly varying conditions caused by the
reciprocating motion of the ring and traveler, for when the ring is on
the upper end of a five inch bobbin the apex of the bow formed by the
centrifugal motion of the thread being at the guide eye is only from :
three to four inches above the ring, whilst when the ring is at the lower
end of the bobbin the length of this bow is from eight to nine inches
from the ring to the apex, so that in the latter condition three times the
length of thread has to resist the force of air through which it must
pass at a high speed, thus causing a great variation in the amount of a
the drag and consequently in the twist of the thread, for if a traveler is
of the right weight to produce the desired quality of yarn when the
ring is at the bottom the same traveler will be too light to produce the
same quality at all points above the lowest point of the bobbin, whilst
if of the proper weight when spinning on the top of the bobbin it will
be too heavy at all points below the top owing to the additional length
of yarn exposed to the drag of the air.
According to my Invention the ring being a stationary fixture and all
the conditions remaining the same through the winding of the whole
bobbin any desired quality of yarn can be produced of uniform weight a
and twist throughout.
Another part of my said Invention consists in arranging different
kinds of spindles so that they can be used with a stationary ring and
answer all the purposes required in spinning, not only with different
qualities of yarn but with yarn or thread made of different fibres, for by :
the said Invention ring spinning is as applicable to wool, silk, flax, or
mixtures of these and other fibres as to cotton, and is well adapted for

page_text: twisting any kind of yarn as to spinning. For this purpose reciprocating
motion is given to the spindle by a whirl which imparting rotative
motion to the said spindle by means of a spline and groove allows the
spindle to reciprocate; in other cases the spindle is rotated by a whirl,
and reciprocation is imparted to a live tube carrying the bobbin and
revolving with the spindles, in others the spindle is stationary, and rotative
as well as reciprocating motion is directly imparted to a tube carrying
the bobbin.
The third part of my Invention consists in so arranging spindles for
all kinds of spinning machines that the spindle will run absolutely true
and steady, that all parts will be lubricated thoroughly, and that bobbins
will firmly rest on the same and yet be readily removed or doffed; for
these purposes the spindles are supported in elevated bolsters reaching
above the base of the bobbin, and are provided with oiling tubes and
reservoirs by which oil is conveyed from the oil reservoir by means of
wicks to the spindle at a point above the highest point of bearing, and
the same is thus constantly supplied with oil as the speed and friction
of the spindle require without waste, and the spindles are surrounded
by skirts forming frictional surfaces on which the bobbin rests and by
which the same is rotated and retained in a true central position.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Mayor in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th May 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
MAYOR, a resident of the Oity of Providence, State of Rhode Island,
and the United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Mayor, Her special licence that
I, the said Thomas Mayor, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Thomas Mayor, my executors, administrators,
or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time-
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,

page_text: 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 SPINNING
MACHINERY," partly a communication to me by George Chatterton, of
the City of Providence, State of Rhode Island, and United States of 5
America, and partly my own Invention, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Thomas Mayor, 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 1
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 Thomas Mayor, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same 1
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings forming a part of this Specification :-
This Invention relates to that class of spinning machinery known as
ring spinning frames, in which a traveler passing freely around a ring 2
carries the thread and gives to the same the required drag and twist and
also winds the same on the bobbin.
The first part of this Invention consists in so constructing a spinning
frame that the ring shall be a stationary fixture secured to the frame of
the machine, and will not have the usual reciprocating motion imparted 2
to the ring, and instead of this will impart reciprocating motion to the
spindle or to the bobbin to lay the different threads closely one to the
other, or when a cop is to be spun to give the required alternately
reciprocating motion to the spindle necessary to produce a cop and bind
the thread, as is now done. By this arrangement all the objections 8
heretofore existing in the ring frame are overcome. These objections
consisted primarily in the greatly varying conditions caused by the
reciprocating motion of the ring and traveler, for when the ring is on
the upper end of a five inch bobbin, the apex of the bow formed by the
centrifugal motion of the thread being at the guide eye is only from 3
three to four inches above the ring, whilst when the ring is at the lower
end of the bobbin the length of this bow is from eight to nine inches

page_text: from the ring to the apex, so that in the latter condition three times the
length of thread has to resist the force of the air, through which it
must pass at a high speed, thus causing a great variation in the amount
of the drag, and consequently in the twist of the thread, for if a traveler
is of the right weight to produce the desired quality of yarn when
the ring is at the bottom, the same traveler will be too light to produce
the same quality at all points above the lowest point of the bobbin,
whilst if of the proper weight when spinning on the top of the bobbin
it will be too heavy at all points below the top owing to the additional
length of yarn exposed to the drag of the air.
According to my Invention the ring being a stationary fixture and all
the conditions remaining the same through the winding of the whole
bobbin, any desired quality of yarn can be produced of uniform weight
and twist throughout.
Another part of my said Invention consists in arranging different
kinds of spindles so that they can be used with a stationary ring and
answer all the purposes required in spinning, not only with different
qualities of yarn, but with yarn or thread made of different fibres; for
by the said Invention ring spinning is as applicable to wool, silk, flax,
or mixtures of these and other fibres, as to cotton, and is as well adapted
for twisting any kind of yarn as for spinning. For this purpose recipro-
cating motion is given to the spindle by a whirl, which imparting
rotative motion to the said spindle by means of a spline and groove,
allows the spindle to reciprocate; in some cases the spindle is rotated.
by a whirl, and reciprocation is imparted to a live tube carrying the
bobbin and revolving with the spindle; in others the spindle is stationary
and rotative as well as reciprocating motion is directly imparted to a tube
carrying the bobbin.
The third part of my Invention consists in so arranging spindles for
all kinds of spinning machines that the spindle will run absolutely true
and steady, that all parts will be lubricated thoroughly, and that bobbins
will firmly rest on the same and yet be readily removed or doffed. For
these purposes the spindles are supported in elevated bolsters reaching
above the base of the bobbin, and are provided with oiling tubes and
reservoirs, and the oil is conveyed from the oil reservoirs by means of
wicks to the spindles at a point above the highest point of bearing, and
the same are thus constantly supplied with oil as the speed and friction

page_text: of the spindles require, without waste, and the spindles are surrounded
by skirts forming frictional surfaces on which the bobbins rest, and
by which the same are rotated and retained in a true central
position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front view of my improved spinning frame consisting of
nine spindles capable of running from eight to twelve thousand turns
per minute. The broken lines A, B, and C, D, divide the frame into
three parts, the first part on the left showing the spindle and bobbin
nearly at the lowest point of vertical reciprocation, or as spinning on the
top end of the bobbin; the central three spindles are shown at the
highest point of the reciprocation, or spinning on the lowest part of the
bobbin; the three spindles on the right-hand-side are shown as spinning
on the centre of the bobbin. The ring and ring rail being stationary
reciprocating motion is imparted to the bolster rail d, and by this to
the bobbin and spindle.
Figure 2 is an enlarged section of the spindle used in this part of my
Invention consisting of the spindle a properly supported by the elevated
bolster 6 within and above the base of the bobbin R. By thus sup-
porting the spindle within the bobbin a very light spindle can be run
at a higher speed than is possible when the spindle is supported below
the bobbin.
2
c is an oiling tube, more fully shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, Figure 4
being a section, Figure 5 an elevation, and Figure 6 a top view of the
same. This tube c resting in the oil cup surrounds the bolster 6 and
extends above the same. A light wick made of any suitable fibrous
material surrounds the bottom of the tube and extends on the inside to
the upper end of the same, where it is supported in a channel or
groove, the ends touching the spindle. Oil is carried up the wick by
capilliary attraction and supplied to the spindle as required. The oil a
being protected from the air and dust no oxidation or gumming takes
place, while the oil is used very economically, only as much being
supplied as is required to keep the spindle bearing thoroughly lubri
cated; one oiling will therefore be sufficient for many weeks. Rotative
motion is imparted to the spindle and bobbin by the whirl I, which is g
supported in the bolster P surrounding the lower end of the spindle, and
thus protects the same from dust and waste. The lower part of the
8

page_text: spindle a has two grooves, into which two splines secured to the whirl
fit so that while rotative motion is imparted to the spindle the same may
freely slide in the whirl and reciprocate vertically with the bolster b and
bolster rail d. The grooves in the spindle may be square, as shown, or
they may be triangular or concave in section, or only a flat surface may
be made on the spindle, the opening in the whirl being made to
correspond with such section, so that rotative motion may be imparted
to the spindle, while the same is also free to reciprocate with the bolster
rail.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the spindle without the bobbin, and
Figure 7 shows a side elevation and top view of the whirl.
Figure 8 is an elevation of a spinning frame, which is also used for
twisting several threads together, and shows the application of my
Invention in a different manner. The stationary ring W is here secured
to a hinged ring, which is secured to a ring rail by means of a bolt and
nut, the bolt passing through a hole in the hinged part, and also in the
rail V somewhat larger in diameter than the bolt. By these means the
said ring can be accurately adjusted to be truly concentric with the spindle
and then firmly secured to the ring rail V. The object of hinging the ring,
as shown, is to allow the operative to more readily find the broken end on
the bobbin by lifting the ring. In this adaptation of the reciprocating
spindle and bobbin to the stationary ring reciprocating motion is
imparted to the step rail o, and by the same to the spindle and bobbin,
and the whirl rail and the bolster rail are stationary. The three spindles
on the left of the dotted line A, B, are shown at the lowest point of
reciprocation spinning on the top of the bobbin; the central three
spindles are shown at the highest point of reciprocation spinning on the
bottom of the bobbin, and the right-hand three spindles spinning on the
centre of the bobbin. In place however of making the bolster rail d
stationary in a spinning frame for spinning high numbers at high speed
I place the bolster, shown in Figure 2, on the bolster rail d, and thus
support the spindle above the base of the bobbin, and I then connect
the bolster rail d with the step rail o by rods, and when they are so con-
nected the reciprocation imparted to the step rail o is also imparted to the
bolster rail d, the spindle a, the bobbin R, and the elevated bolster 6.
In this arrangement the spindle and bobbin are at all points of the
reciprocation firmly supported, and can be run at high speed, making
fine and uniform yarn.

page_text: •
Figure 9 is a cross section of a spinning frame with my improved
stationary hinged ring.
Figure 10 is a section of the spindle used in this frame for spinning
and twisting in the same. a is the spindle supported by the bolster b;
c is a shorter oil tube than that shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, but constructed
and operating on the same principle. The whirl is supported on the oil
oup 1, and revolves in the bolster former by the same. The whirl also
drives the spindle by a spline and groove or equivalent device, while the
spindle is free to reciprocate vertically. The spindle rests in a step on
the step rail o, and is secured by a hook or button, as shown, so as to
reciprocate with the step rail. The arrangement of the hinged ring is
fully shown, and also the bolt and nut by which the same is secured to
the ring rail V.
Figure 11 is a section of a spindle arranged as above described. The
bolster rail d is here connected with the step rail o, and reciprocates
with the same, so that the spindle, bobbin, bolster, bolster rail, step
and step rail all reciprocate together, the ring rail and whirl rail being.
stationary. The ring is shown supported by a separate ring piece
similar to the hinged piece shown in Figure 9, and is secured to the
fixed ring rail V by a bolt passing through both, so that the ring may
be readily adjusted to the spindle, and firmly secured to the rail.
Figure 12 shows my improved arrangement by which a cop may be
spun on a ring frame, or a bobbin may be placed on the quill tube b.
The stationary ring W is shown secured to the ring rail V. The oil
cup E secured to the bolster rail & forms a bolster for the tube 6, which
resting on a shoulder in the oil cup and secured at the bottom by the
collar is firmly supported in the bolster, but is free to revolve. The
collar fhas two splines, which engage in the grooves or concave or flat
surfaces on the spindle a. The whirl is secured to the spindle, and the
spindle is supported by the step o. When rotative motion is imparted
to the spindle the same motion is also imparted to the tube or quill b,
while vertical reciprocating motion is imparted to the bolster rail d, and
by the same to the quill b. The arrangement of the step o is such that
being secured in the step rail by a set screw as usual it is made of
sufficient diameter to allow the whirl to pass through the hole in the
step rail, so that by removing or loosening the set screw the step whirl
and spindle may be removed and replaced, thus allowing free access for
cleaning and repairs.

page_text: Figure 13 is an elevation showing the same arrangement as used when
spinning a cop on a ring frame with a stationary ring and reciprocating
tube, on which, when the proper reciprocating motion is imparted to it
by the usual arrangement of heart motion a cop may be spun.
5 Figure 14 is a sectional view of my improved spindle for ring spinning
frames, in which the usual reciprocating ring rail is used. This part of
my Invention consists in a long bolster extending from the whirl to near.
the centre of the bobbin, or at least above the base of the same; it
further consists in the application of the oil tube c supplied with a wick
O for oiling the bearing of the spindle above the bolster by supplying or
raising the oil from the oil cup to the bearing by capillary attraction;
it further consists in the arrangement of the step, which, forming a
large oil chamber covered by a close fitting cap, is of such a size as to
allow the spindle and whirl to pass through the hole in the step rail.
The bobbin in this spindle is firmly supported by frictional contact with
the blade of the spindle.
Figure 15 is a top view of the oiling arrangement showing the wicks;
Figure 16 is an elevation of the same partly in elevation and partly in.
section.
Figure 17 is an elevation of the bolster 6, and oil cup e, partly in
elevation and partly in section.
:
Figure 18 is a section of a spindle nearly similar to the spindle shown
in Figure 17, it only differs from the latter in having the skirt M
placed on the spindle to support the bobbin by frictional contact with
the skirt M, at or near the base of the bobbin, while a light spindle
blade guides and sustains the upper end of the bobbin; by this arrange-
ment a very light spindle can be used, all the weight being at or
below the base of the bobbin; the same can be run at a very high speed
perfectly steady and with less power than other spindles. The great.
advantages of having a stationary ring in a spinning frame and so
having all conditions uniform and being able to accurately ascertain the
most advantageous weight of the traveler, the speed and length of yarn.
between the rolls, and the ring and the amount of air draught best.
adapted to any given number at a given speed, and then maintain all
these conditions uniformly, have induced manufacturers to change the
cup throstle frame into a frame having the advantages of my improved
ring frame.

page_text: Figure 20 shows my arrangement of the stationary ring W, and ring
rail or support V, with the ordinary dead spindle and reciprocating live
whirl and bobbin ; the usual cup is shown in dotted lines above the ring,
and this part of my improvements consists in removing the cup, cutting
away the upper part of the spindle, and substituting the stationary ring
W with the traveler; the bobbins can then be doffed with ease, no cups
having to be removed; the draught of the traveler is positive and
produces a smooth yarn having. none of the objectionable "fuzziness"
produced by the friction on the cup; the operative can overlook the whole
frame, and threads are no longer liable to interfere and break.
Figure 21 is an elevation showing the improved ring throstle in
elevation; if new frames are constructed in this manner they can be
built at a great saving in the first cost, and will produce better yarn
than the cup frame; they can also be run at a higher speed than other
frames. The spindle shown in the Drawings is firmly secured to the step
rail 0; the whirl and tube 6 carrying the bobbin rest on and reciprocate
with the rail d, thus laying the thread evenly over the bobbin; the whole
arrangement is simple, cheap, and efficient. If this frame is to be used
to spin a cop, I use a thinner spindle and a light tube 6 secured to the
whirl; on this I place a cop tube or quill on which the cop is to be spun;
the ring W and ring rail V are connected with proper gear wheels, and
at the commencement of the cop placed near the bottom of the tube,
rising gradually until the base of the cop is formed, after which the
same rise gradually the thickness of two threads to each reciprocation
of the rail, whirl, and cop tube, the length of the reciprocation of the
rail d, being only sufficient to build up the cone of the cop and properly
lay the binding thread. By this arrangement not only can a cop be
readily formed by a bobbin of much greater length than has heretofore
been possible on a dead spindle, but it can be filled gradually from the
bottom upward, and having all the threads laid conical can be unwound
in a spooling machine with much greater facility and with fewer recipro-
cations than heretofore, and the band will bear more uniformly on the
bobbin. As the particular mechanism necessary to raise and lower the
ring rail is no part of my Invention but has been used heretofore, I do
not think it necessary to describe the same.
In Figures 22, 23, a is a tube having the step & resting in a bearing
e on the top of a spindle tube h, and a bearing on the tube at or near
the whirl b. The oil cup c communicates with the interior of the tube,

page_text: and wicks extend from the oil to the bearing, raising the oil to the
latter by capillary attraction. One wick hangs down and acting as a
syphon drops oil on the lower bearing. The wick surrounds the step as
shewn in Figure 24.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, and shown how the
same may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practise, I
wish it understood that I claim,-
First. In a ring spinning frame the stationary ring W in combination
with a reciprocating bobbin or cop tube, as herein set forth and for the
purpose specified.
Second. The combination with the reciprocating live spindle a of the
chambered bobbin "R," supported by frictional contact with the upper
part of the spindle, the lower part surrounding the bolster and oiling tube,
but not in contact therewith, as above set forth and for the purpose
specified.
Third. The combination with a reciprocating live spindle of a recip-
rocating bolster tube b, extending within and supporting the spindle
above the base of the bobbin, as above set forth and for the purpose
specified.
Fourth. The combination in a ring spinning frame of the stationary
ring S, with the reciprocating bolster rail d, when the bolster supporting
he spindle above the base of the bobbin and the spindle supporting the
bobbin are attached to the bolster rail and reciprocate with the same, as
above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. In a ring spinning frame having a stationary ring the combina-
tion with the reciprocating live spindle a, supported by the bolster b, of
the stationary live whirl I for driving the spindle while allowing the
spindle to reciprocate, as herein set forth.
Sixth. In combination with the stationary ring W the stationary live
spindle a, and the reciprocating live spindle tube 6, as shown in Figures
12 and 13 of the Drawings.
Seventh. The oiling tube c supporting the wicks, and with one end of
the said tube supported in the oil cup, and the other end reaching above
the oil and above the bolster, and supplying oil to the bearing of the
spindle by capillary attraction, as herein set forth and for the purpose
specified.

page_text: Eighth. The combination with an elevated bolster of the skirt M
screwed to the spindle a for supporting the bobbin at or near its base by
frictional contact, as herein set forth and for the purpose specified.
Ninth. The combination with the dead spindle and reciprocating
whirl of the stationary ring W, as shown in Figures 20 and 21 of the 5
Drawing, and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Mayor, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
THOMAS MAYOR. (L.S.)
10
Witness,
WILLIAM BATES.