AN IMPROVED. DRAG ARRANGEMENT FOR SPINNING AND TWISTING MACHINES
Year: 1884

page_text: I ALEXANDER YOUNGSON 3 Chesnut Row Belmont Burgh of Aberdeen in the
County of Aberdeen Scotland Flax Mill Overseer do hereby declare the nature of
my invention," AN IMPROVED. DRAG ARRANGEMENT FOR SPINNING AND TWISTING
MACHINES" to be as follows:-
I describe my Invention as a Tempering Arrangement, entitled "An improved
drag arrangement for Spinning and twisting machines," for the spinning of Flax
Jute Tow or other textile fibre a substitute for the Drag-ball & weight. It consists
of two or more folds of leather. firmly fixed into a rail placed at the back of the
bobbin builder, and placed at any convenient point between the spindles. . The
folds of leather thus put together forming a spring of from two to three inches in
length according to the spindle pitch of the frame, on which it is applied.
The accompanying drawings will illustrate the application. of "The improved
drag arrangement for spinning and twisting machines." Figure I represents a plan
of Bobbin-builder three different pitches. Figure. II section of Bobbin-builder
three inch pitch, Figure III elevation of leather which for ordinary purposes may
be made of old belts, cut or stamped so as to turn the flesh side of the leather
towards the bobbin. Letter A represents the bottom of bobbin which is plain on
the edge, and without a groove. B represents the leather as fixed in the rail, in
fixing the leathers in the rail,. the hunch part of the leathers. (which is always
double the depth of the narrow part) may project half an inch through the, rail
towards the bobbin when first constructed but should the tension require to be
increased it may be projected farther but not to come in contact with the Flyer-
line represented by the letter, C. "The improved drag arrangement for spinning
and twisting machines" may be applied on spinning or twisting Frames at present
working on the drag-ball. principle, by means of a temporary Rail cast in short
lengths and fixed on present Bobbin builder.
Dated at Aberdeen this Twenty-eighth day of June 1884”

page_text: I, ALEXANDER YOUNGSON of Number Three Chestnut Row, Belmont, in the
Burgh and County of Aberdeen, Scotland, Flax-Mill Overseer do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE DRAG-ARRANGEMENT IN
SPINNING AND TWISTING MACHINERY and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement: ·
The invention applies to machinery for spinning and twisting flax, jute, tow, or
other textile fibre-providing a substitute for the drag-ball and weights. The
Drawings lodged on application and with Provisional Specification are complete and
are described as follows:-figure (1) represents elevation of bobbin-builder, three
different pitches; figure (2), a section of the bobbin-builder, three-inch pitch; and
figure (3) elevation of leather spring. The arrangement consists of two or more
folds of leather firmly fixed into a rail placed at the back of the bobbin-builder
opposite, and about an equal distance, or at any other convenient point, between
the spindles the folds of leather so fixed forming a spring (B) of from two to
three inches in length, according to the spindle pitch of the frame on which it is
applied. The leather is left of any convenient breadth at the fixed end for the
sake of strength, and made narrow towards the free end in order to clear the flyer
(whose circumference is represented by the letter C), and to procure flexibility.
The spring is bent sidewards in the direction in which the bobbin revolves, so that
the flesh side of the leather may be applied to the lower flange of the bobbin (A),
which is made plain, without a groove, and finished smooth. Thus applied, the
spring acts as a drag upon the motion of the bobbin, and adjusts itself to the
varying velocity of the latter, in an equivalent but more effectual manner than is,
according to the present practice, accomplished by the shifting of the cord of the
drag-ball. The tension may also be varied by projecting the spring less or
further out of the rail, care being taken to avoid the flyer with the hunch part,
and, for spindles of different pitch, less or more thickness or folds of leather may
be employed, or the distance between the rail and the bobbin decreased or increased.
Further, when the spring becomes worn, the more surface is presented to the
bobbin flange, and any weakening is compensated. The spring however is very
durable the surface applied to the bobbin becoming so hard and smooth by use
that there is very little injury or waste by friction. In these respects, the
arrangement tends to a saving of material, and, being self-adjusting, obviates
personal attention, besides simplifying and rendering more convenient and accessible
the various parts of the spinning frame. The improved drag may also be applied
to machinery for twisting flax jute, tow, or other textile fibre,-as, although the
spindle revolves the opposite way the leathers may be fixed at the other side of
the bobbin; and it may also be applied to spinning or twisting frames at present
working on the drag-ball principle, by means of a temporary rail cast in short
lengths and fixed on present builders. For ordinary purposes the spring may be

page_text: formed of leather from old machine belts or of cast away leather from. preparing.
rollers, after being rolled or hammered.
Having now described particularly and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
The improved construction and application of the drag arrangement in machinery
for spinning and twisting flax, jute, tow, or other textile fibre whereby :-
1. The revolution of the bobbin is regulated and steadied by a leather spring
combining strength, flexibility, and durability.
2. The drag is self-adjusting and perfectly regular in action.
3. The tension may be varied on any one bobbin or for different spindle pitches,
by varying the length or thickness of the spring or the distance between the rail
in which same is fixed and the bobbin.
4. Different tensions are procured without any appreciable change of material,
and the tear and wear and dead weight attaching to the drag ball arrangement
obviated or reduced to a minimum.
5. There is a saving of material and labour and a simplification of the
arrangement of the spinning or twisting frame; and
6. The improved drag may be applied to twisting as well as spinning machinery
and to existing frames, at a very small cost,-and the arrangement may be chiefly.
maintained, as the most worthless bit of leather may be utilized.
Dated Aberdeen this 21st day of March 1905