IMPROVEMENTS IN CARDING ENGINES FOR CARDING AND DRAWING FLAX Tow, IN PART APPLICABLE TO CARDING COTTON OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Crosby, of Audenshaw, in the County of
Lancaster, Manufacturer, and John Burns Smith, of Bury, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARDING
ENGINES FOR CARDING AND DRAWING FLAX Tow, IN PART APPLICABLE TO
CARDING COTTON OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 4th August 1863, and dated the 10th February 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Crosby and John
Burns Smith at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 10th February 1863.
We, JAMES CROSBY, of Audenshaw, in the County of Lancaster, Manu-
facturer, and JOHN BURNS SMITH, of Bury, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CARDING ENGINES FOR CARDING AND DRAWING FLAX TOW, IN PART
APPLICABLE TO CARDING COTTON OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," to be as
follows:-
First, in the improved arrangement of parts forming the novel combination
and adaptation to a carding roller and clearer or cleaner, consisting of two
stationary peculiarly formed metallic straight-edges, plain or toothed, with other

page_text: appendages herein-after named. These straight-edges being placed separately
parallel to the carding roller and clearer, and suitably set within touching
contact of the said carding roller and clearer act in conjunction with each
other, one of the two straight-edges, the toothed one, is placed centrally
exactly between and on the upper part of the roller and clearer, the other
is placed on the off or delivering side of the clearer.
The arrangement is for the purpose of confining the fibrous substance in
close contact to and within the surface of the teeth which cover the periphery
of the roller and clearer, and thereby producing the effect by the quicker
velocity of the clearer of combing or heckling the fibrous substance, and of
loosening, releasing, and throwing from the flax fibre the woody vegetable and
earthly impurities during the operation of carding with economy in waste from
the fibrous substance.
Secondly, in the arrangement of parts forming the novel combination and
adaptation to carding rollers and clearers. To each and every straight-edge,
which is fixed within touching contact of the clearer and on the off or delivering
side of operation, and which clearers are placed in a part of the upper arc of
the circle circumscribed by the main cylinder of the carding engine, is attached
a sheet metallic dirt guide extending across the arc of the main cylinder and
from one to the opposite side. These guides are placed consecutively, extending
laterally from one clearer to the other, somewhat segmentally, till to the approach
of the horizontal line of the main cylinder, which line forms the open area of a
chamber to receive by the declivity of the guides, and the falling downwards
by gravity of the refuse, woody, vegetable, and earthy impurities which have
been loosened, released, and thrown from the flax fibre by the combination of
these guides and straight-edges jointly acted upon by the rollers and clearers
respectively for this purpose.
Thirdly, in the arrangement of parts forming the novel combination and
adaptation to carding rollers and clearers, the rollers and clearers which are
placed in the arc beneath the horizontal line of the main carding cylinder. In
lieu of dirt guides there are placed woven wire grids or grating within touching
contact, to prevent the useful fibrous substance flying off the rollers, clearers,
and the main cylinder by their centrifugal force, these grids being of such
formation and so placed as to allow only the woody, vegetable, and earthy
impurities to pass through them with economy in waste during the operation of
carding.
:
Fourthly, the novel combination and adaptation bas also reference to that
part of this our Invention, "in part applicable to carding cotton and other

page_text: fibrous substances."
When desirous to use the toothed straight-edges, they
may be either finely toothed by transverse grooves cut on the edge, or the
straight-edge may be so constructed on its edge and perforated thereon in
the straight line of its edge with small holes, recesses into which are placed
5 and pass sufficiently through the teeth of a metallic toothed comb; this
comb by a continuous movement of mechanism alternately recedes inward
and passes outward through the perforations in the stationary straight-edge,
and presents alternately and repeatedly a plain straight-edge or a toothed
one by the reciprocating movement of the comb. This moveable comb
when applied to cotton can either be employed with the carding roller or the
clearer, also in some instances it can be employed with the flax tow clearer
with advantage.
Fifthly, in a new construction of the bearings a fixing to support the axes
of the roller and clearer more conveniently together, that they may be
inseparable and capable of one and the same adjustment. The fixing, con-
taining the bearings for the roller and clearer, forms a segment on the framing
of the carding engine, and is placed consecutively with each other in a series
of rollers and clearers. The peculiar feature of this new construction of
segmental fixing is that the two straight-edges which are secured to the
segmental fixing partake of the same adjustment of the roller and clearer to
approach the main cylinder, which novel method of joint adjustment is very
desirable.
Sixthly, in the new application of a parabolic screw. A screw with a parabolic
pitch to be used in lieu of the ordinary uniform screw for working the "gills"
of the finishing, the elongating, or drawing head of the tow carding engine,
and also applicable to all drawing or elongating parts where the ordinary
screw gill" is used for flax or tow manufacture.
6
We will now recapitulate the operation effected by the combination of the two
straight-edges in conjunction with the dirt guide or the grid. The transverse
grooves or comb teeth on or in the central straight-edge are for the purpose that
when the fibrous substance is being drawn off and away from the carding roller
by the quicker velocity of the clearer, the fibres, being ductile, are pressed and
drawn tight on the edge of the toothed straight-edge, and while passing they
sink more or less into the grooves or comb teeth. The effective result is
that the woody and other impurities are detached from the fibre by being
drawn through the grooves or comb teeth, and by the alternate receding of
the comb the gathered impurities therein are released and fall, to be carried
and thrown off by the quick velocity of the clearer coming to near contact

page_text: with the other straight-edge and guide, or the grid so placed for the reception
of the refuse impurities.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Crosby and John Burns Smith in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 8th August 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
CROSBY, of Audenshaw, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturer, and
JOHN BURNS SMITH, of Bury, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said James Crosby and John Burns Smith, Her special
licence that we, the said James Crosby and John Burns Smith, our execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said James
Crosby and John Burns Smith, our 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 CARDING ENGINES FOR CARDING AND DRAWING FLAX Tow,
IN PART APPLICABLE TO CARDING COTTON OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that we, the said James Crosby and John Burns
Smith, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
our, or one of our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 John Burns Smith, on behalf of
myself and of the said James Crosby, do hereby declare the nature of our
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the folowing statement

page_text: and description, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and
in which description and Drawings the letters and numbers of reference
are used to indicate the same parts in all the Figures in which they occur;
the scales to which the Figures are drawn are stated on the Drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an end elevation of such parts of a carding engine as are
requisite to shew our improvements; Fig. 2 and 3, detached portions thereof.
Our improvements being a combination and adaptation to machines for
carding flax, tow, cotton, and other fibrous substances. We shall describe our
improvements in reference to carding engines as any mechanic conversant
with such machinery will be able to adopt them to machines of the kind. The
construction, parts, and operations of the carding engine being familiar to
persons conversant with such machinery, we shall not herein describe or refer
to the same further than as may be necessary for the explanation of our
present improvements. We shall now proceed to describe our improvements,
which may be arranged under five divisions.
Figure 1, m, m, represents a portion in section of the main cylinder of a
carding engine; A represents a clearer roller of the same, and B, one of the
working rollers. The colored line in the direction of the arrow's flight
denotes the material fibrous substance under the operation of carding. The
angles of inclination of the teeth on the peripheries of the working roller and
clearer are shewn reversed to each other, as in the usual operation; both the
roller and clearer revolvo in the sanie outer surface direction with the main
cylinder m, m. The clearer A revolves at a much greater surface velocity
than the roller B, and thereby draws away the fibrous substance from the
roller B, to deposit again on the main cylinder m, m, which revolves at a much
greater surface velocity than the clearer A, which is the usual working opera-
tion of a carding engine. In order more effectually to clean the fibrous
substance of the woody, vegetable, and earthy impurities during the operation
of carding, we adapt the combination of two united metallic straight-edges,
shewn at N and ', which are the entire length of the clearer roller A, and
set within touching contact of its periphery surface. The straight-edges N
and n', shewn in section, are placed upon and secured to the fixing D, D,
shown in pink color; the straight-edges are placed concentric to the centre of
the clearer A. The fixing D, D, is mounted loosely on the circular bearings
or boss of the clearer shaft C, but capable of being secured to the segment
plate s, s, s, s, so that when adjusted the clearer and straight-edges partake of

page_text: the same adjustment together; it may be considered that this appendage of
our Invention is applied to the clearer A only, but the effect produced is in
combination with the working roller B, as will be seen by the operation of
carding as herein-after set forth. We will now premise that so far as regards
the application of straight-edges to carding engines, we lay no claim to them as
applied either to working rollers or clearers, as their application is old and not
new; but we claim their peculiar employment as set forth under the separate
heads or divisions herein described. The straight-edge N circumscribes a
portion of the periphery of the clearer A, and is concentric with it, whatever
distance of adjustment it may be in from the place of the near approach of the
roller B to the clearer A, and it must be toothed on the edge * by trans-
versely cut grooves, saw-tooth like. This peculiar concentric form of the
straight-edge N is for the purpose of confining the fibrous substance in closo
contact to and within the surface of the teeth which cover the periphery of
the clearer A, thereby producing the effect by the quicker velocity of the
clearer of cleaning by the operation of carding comparatively combing or
hackling the fibrous substance while being drawn away from and through the
teeth of the straight-edge N, and from and through the teeth of the roller B,
which toothed process of operation loosens and releases from the flax tow or
other like fibre the woody, vegetable, and earthy impurities during the opera-
tion of carding. The straight-edge n¹ also concentrically circumscribes a
portion of the periphery of the clearer A, and is arranged suitably apart from,
but united with, the straight-edge N, to admit by the centrifugal force of the
clearer A, by its velocity, to throw over the edge of the straight-edge n' the
refuse, the loosened woody, vegetable, and earthy impurities previously released
from the fibrous substance, the effect produced by the peculiar concentric
straight-edge N. And in reference to this first part of our said improvements,
we declare that we claim as of our Invention the connecting arrangement,
adaptation, and combination of two concentric united metallic straight-edges
with their attachment to the frame fixing D, D, mounted on the axes of the
clearer A, or on the circular bearing or boss of the same, whereby we are
enabled through the teeth of the straight-edge for the purpose of loosening
and releasing the woody, vegetable, and earthy impurities of fibrous substances
'with economy in waste.
Secondly, in so far as regards the construction of ordinary flax tow carding
engines, the series of working rollers and clearers, some are placed in a part
of the upper arc of the circle circumscribed by the main cylinder m, m, or
above the horizon line of its axis, others below it.

page_text: Having shewn that the clearer A throws by its velocity the fibrous impurities
over the edge of the concentric straight-edge n', Figure 1, G represents a
sheet metallic dirt guide, this guide G is placed the length of the concentric
straight-edge n', and is secured to it and to the segmental plate fixing 8, 8, 8, 8,
shewn in outline. This guide G extends laterally from one clearer to the other
consecutively, but attached to those only which are placed in the upper arc of
the main cylinder m, m; to each clearer so placed, and to its concentric
straight-edge n', is secured a guide G, in appearance somewhat segmentally
with each other till to the approach of the horizontal line of the axis of the
main cylinder, which line forms the opening area beneath the main cylinder
of the carding engine to receive, by the declivity of the guides and the falling
downwards by gravity, the refuse woody, vegetable, and earthy impurities which
have been loosened, released, and thrown from the flax fibre by the combina-
tion of these guides and concentric straight-edges, jointly acted upon by the
employment respectively for this purpose.
And in reference to this second part of our said improvements, we declare
that we claim as of our Invention the connecting and combining of the guide G
with the united concentric straight-edges, the guides employed for allowing
the refuse, the woody, vegetable, and earthy impurities, to fall beneath the
main cylinder of the carding engine, and whereby we are enabled more
effectually to clean the fibrous substance with economy in waste during the
operation of carding tow.
Thirdly, the concentric straight-edges N and n', with their respective clearers
A, have the same use whenever circumscribing the main cylinder m, m, the
effect produced being precisely the same; but in order to obtain the like effect
as the dirt guides G to those clearers and rollers which are placed in the arc
below the horizontal line of the main cylinder of the carding engine with the
employment of the two concentric straight-edges N and n¹, we place woven
wire grids or grating in substitution of the sheet metallic dirt guides G and
which are placed suitably apart from within touching contact of the
peripheries of the clearers A, rollers B, and the main cylinder m, m, to
prevent the useful fibrous substance flying off the clearers, rollers, and the
main cylinder by their centrifugal force, these grids being of such formation
and so placed as to allow only the refuse, the woody, vegetable and earthy
impurities, to pass through them.
And in reference to this third part of our said improvements, we declare that
we claim as of our Invention the employment of woven wire grids or grating in
substitution of the sheet metallic dirt guides G, as herein-before described, in

page_text: the are below the horizon line of the main cylinder of the tow carding
engine.
Fourthly, the combination, adaptation, and arrangement under this head
or division has reference to that part of this our Invention entitled "in part
applicable to carding cotton and other fibrous substances," when desirous
to use the toothed straight-edge to cotton or wool carding engines. The
straight-edge N may be so constructed on its edge, Figure 3, and perforated
thereon in the straight line of its edge with small holes, suitable recesses
into which are placed and pass sufficiently through the teeth of a metallic
toothed comb P, this comb by a continuous movement of mechanism
alternately recedes inwards and passes outwards through the perforations in the
fixed straight-edge N, which movement presents alternately and repeatedly
a plain straight-edge or a toothed one; it will be evident by this reciprocating
movement of the comb that the surcharged substance will be released from it.
This movement is obtained, see Figure 3, by the shaft 5, which is the length
of the straight-edge, and mounted on bearings at both ends, which are attached
to the straight-edge at both ends, and upon the shaft 5 are fixed excentrics or
tappits colored blue, which give sufficient movement to the comb, and upon
the outer end of the shaft 5 is placed a pulley for the purpose of continuous
rotation of the shaft 5, which is obtained from any convenient working roller.
The moveable comb, when applied to cotton, can either be employed with the
clearer or the working roller, or with both jointly, as herein described. When
flax tow contains much vegetable impurities, it can be employed with very
great advantage.
And in reference to this fourth part of our said improvements, we declare
that we claim as of our Invention the application of the moveable comb moving
inwards and outwards through the perforations of the straight-edge in what-
ever manner it may be employed for carding cotton or wool, also of thereby
loosening and releasing while carding comparatively combing or hackling flax
fibrous substances in tow carding engines.
Fifthly, the plate fixing S, S, S, S, shewn only in outline elevation, contains
the bearings for the clearer and working roller, and is in the form of a segment,
a consecutive series of which are placed adjustable partly around and attached
to the frame sides of the carding engine. The peculiar feature of this new
construction of segmental plate fixing is that the united concentric straight-
edges, which are placed and secured to it, partake of the same adjustment with
the working roller and clearer which novel method of joint adjustment is very
desirable.

page_text: And in reference to this fifth part of our said improvements, we declare that
we claim as of our Invention the application and adaptation of the segmental
plate fixing containing the bearings of the clearer and the working roller, and
also of supporting the united concentric straight-edges, and that the required
adjustment of the roller B and clearer A to approach the main cylinder of
the carding engine may be more conveniently accomplished.
Sixthly, this part of our Provisional Specification being old, not new, and
not of sufficient practical importance, we lay no claim.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Burns Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
JOHN BURNS SMITH. (L.S.)