Improvements in Fluted or Grooved Rollers used in Machinery or Apparatus for Preparing and Spinning Fibrous Materials.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 28th July, 1890-Accepted, 6th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fluted or Grooved Rollers used in Machinery or
Apparatus for Preparing and Spinning Fibrous Materials.
I JOHN DODD of Hartford Works, Oldham in the County of Lancaster Machinist
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
'-
My invention relates to the fluted or grooved rollers used in conjunction with other
rollers covered with leather, parchment or other suitable material and employed in
machinery or apparatus for preparing and spinning fibrous materials and my invention
consists in so forming such fluted or grooved rollers that such rollers will not as
hitherto injure the leather, parchment or other material employed to cover the surfaces
of the rollers used in conjunction with the said fluted or grooved rollers, by forming
grooves or ridges in such leather, parchment or other suitable material.
According to the first part of my invention I form the flutes or grooves on the
circumference of each roller into sections or groups and while causing the flutes or
grooves of each section or group to be of uniform "pitch" throughout such section
or group I also cause the flutes or grooves of each section or group to be of a different
pitch from that of the flutes or grooves of every other section or group. The
roller may be divided into equal or unequal sections or groups.
28
"
دو
According to a further part of my invention 1 form tho flutes or grooves around
the roller into unequal sections or groups, the "pitch" of the flutes or grooves in
each section or group being variable, that is, so arranged that the " pitch" of such
flutes or grooves commences at one pitch at one end of the section or group and
gradually increases and then gradually diminishes towards the other end of the section
or group. The pitch "of the flutes or grooves in each of the sections or groups
will be different and the difference may be made more or less.
"
A further part of my invention relates to rollers in which flutes or grooves of
varying "pitches" are formed and consists in so forming such flutes or grooves that
while such flutes or grooves vary in "pitch" the breadth or thicknoss of the top or
extremity of the teeth between the flutes or grooves shall be uniform. In accomplishing
this part of my invention I form the flutes or grooves of varying width. This
accomplish by causing the tool employed to form the flute or groove to cut or penetrate
more or less deeply so that a wider or narrower part of the tool will be caused to
operate on the roller.
By employing rollers having the flutes or grooves formed as above described I avoid
the cutting or formation of grooves or ridges in or upon the leather, parchment or
other covering upon the rollers used in conjunction with such rollers.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of September 1889.
W. T. CHEETHAM,
Manchester, Agent to the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fluted or Grooved Rollers used in Machinery or
Apparatus for Preparing and Spinning Fibrous Materials.
I JOHN DODD of Hartford Works, Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist,
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
My invention relates to the fluted or grooved rollers used in conjunction with other
rollers covered with leather, parchment, or other suitable material, and employed in

page_text: machinery or apparatus for preparing and spinning fibrous materials, and my invention
consists in so forming such fluted or grooved rollers, that such rollers will not, in the
nanner heretofore found to be the case with ordinary grooved rollers, injure the
leather, parchment, or other material employed to cover the surfaces of the rollers
used in conjunction with the said fluted or grooved rollers, by forming grooves or
ridges in such leather, parchment, or other suitable material.
According to the first part of my invention, I form the flutes or grooves on the
circumference of each roller into sections or groups, and while causing the flutes or
grooves of each section or group to be of uniform pitch" throughout such section
or group, I also cause the flutes or grooves of each section or group to be of a different
pitch from that of the flutes or grooves of every other section or group. The
roller may be divided into equal or unequal sections or groups.
"
According to a further part of my invention, I form the flutes or grooves around
the roller into unequal sections or groups, the "pitch" of the flutes or grooves in each
section or group being variable, that is, so arranged that the "pitch" of such flutes
or grooves cominences, at one pitch," at one end of the section or group, and
gradually increases, and then gradually diminishes towards the other end of the
.section or group.-The "pitch" of the flutes or grooves in each of the sections or
groups will be different, and this difference may be made more or less.
"
A further part of my invention relates to rollers in which flutes or grooves of
varying pitches" are formed, and consists in so forming such flutes or grooves, that
while such flutes or grooves vary in "pitch," the breadth or thickness of the top, or
extremity of the teeth between the flutes or grooves, shall be uniform.In accomplishing
this part of my invention, I form the flutes or grooves of varying width. This I
accomplish by causing the tool employed to form the flute or groove to cut or penetrate
more or less deeply, so that a wider or narrower part of the tool will be caused to
operate on the roller.
By employing rollers having the flutes or grooves formed as above described, I, as
far as practicable, avoid the cutting or formation of grooves or ridges in or upon the
leather, parchment, or other covering upon the rollers used in conjunction with such
rollers.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. and 6. represent sections of fluted rollers drawn to an enlarged
scale of about four times the actual size of the rollers, in order that the relative form
size and proportion of the flutes or grooves and the teeth of the rollers may be more
clearly represented.
The number of flutes shown in the drawing is only about half the usual number.
This is done to further enlarge the flutes or grooves and teeth, which are shown
about eight times their actual size, to enable them the more effectually to illustrate
my invention. The actual sizes of the flutes are very small, (a roller one inch in
diameter in some cases having from fifty-four to sixty-two flutes in its circumference),
and it would be impossible to correctly represent them in a drawing, if drawn to their
actual size.
The fluted or grooved metal rollers used in machinery or apparatus for preparing
and spinning fibrous materials, are well known devices for the drawing or elongation
of those fibrous materials, and are technically known as "drawing" rollers.
Drawing rollers are of two kinds, viz., those in which the flutes or grooves are
formed on the surface of the roller with a uniform pitch, that is to say, in which the
distance between the centre of one flute and the centre of the next flute, or the distance
from the point of one tooth to the point of the next tooth, is equal in every part of
the circumference of the roller.
In the other kind of "drawing" rollers, the flutes are formed on the surface of the
roller with a varying pitch, which is technically known as "excentric" Buting. The
distance between the flutes is either constantly increasing or decreasing, as will be seen.
on referring to Fig. 1. On one side of the roller, the pitch is greater than on the
opposite side of the roller, that is to say, beginning with the least pitch at B (Fig. 1),
the distance between the flutes gradually increases to the part marked A, from which

page_text: pitch decreases in the same manner, and in the same
one half of the circumference of the roller, the pitch
the other half of the circumference of the roller the
"
part, to the part marked B, the
ratio as it increased. Thus, in
is gradually increasing, and in
pitch is gradually decreasing.
The particular mode of action in the operation of "drawing" or elongating fibrous
materials, both in preparing and spinning machinery, is well known, and need not be
explained here, excepting so far as to state that it is necessary, for the perfect action
of the "top rollers," that their surfaces should be cylindrical, smooth, and of uniform
diameter.
The fluted drawing rollers produce corresponding impressions or indentations on
the surface of the leather or parchment covered top rollers, and when the pitch or
distance between the flutes or grooves is uniform (whatever may be the relative
diameters of the top and drawing rollers), the teeth of the bottom roller, in rotating,
continually enter into the same or similar impressions or indentations, thereby
producing what is technically known as a "fluted top roller," which soon necessitates
the continual renewal of the covering of the top rollers, to enable them to do their
work effectually.
A similar effect is also produced with bottom rollers in which the pitch is "variable,"
whether made in the ordinary way, or according to my invention, whenever the top
and bottom rollers are of the same diameter, because the angular velocity of the two
rollers being the same, the teeth of the bottom roller, in rotating, continually enter
the same indentations or impressions on the leather covering of the top rollers, thus
producing fluted top rollers."
It will be obvious that where the flutes in an ordinary drawing roller are of a
uniform pitch, the width of the teeth will also be uniform, so that if the teeth are thin
or sharp in one part of the roller, they will be thin or sharp all round the roller,
and the drawing power of the roller will be the same at every part of its circumference,
an advantage greatly to be desired.
Drawing rollers known as "excentrically" fluted rollers, are formed with all the
flutes of a uniform width, and as the distance or pitch from one flute to another
continually changes from the smallest pitch to the largest pitch, or vice versa, it follows
that the width of the tops of the teeth will be increased or diminished to the same
extent as the pitch of the flutes is increased or diminished.
"
When the top roller is larger than the bottom drawing roller, the impressions
made by one revolution of the bottom roller on the leather or other surface of the
top roller, will operate only on so much of the circumference of the top roller as is
equal to the entire circumference of the bottom roller, leaving a portion of the
top roller" without impressions. When the bottom roller, in its second or subsequent
revolution, has turned sufficiently to complete the first revolution of the top roller,
the pitch of the teeth of the bottom roller, which now begin to make a second
impression upon the top roller, will be different from that of the teeth which made
the first impression upon the top roller at the first revolution, thus, the top roller,
instead of becoming fluted by the teeth of the bottom roller constantly acting on the
same part of the leather or other surface of the top roller, will continually receive
impressions from a different part of the bottom roller, so that after a certain number
of revolutions of the bottom roller, every portion of the surface of the top roller will
have received a passing, transitory, or momentary impression from the teeth of the
bottom roller; the impressions made by one revolution of the bottom roller being, so
to speak, effaced by succeeding revolutions, leaving the surface of the top roller smooth
and workable for a much longer period than would be the case, if the bottom rollers
had flutes of a uniform pitch.
Notwithstanding the excentric fluting, it is found, however, in some cases, that the
top rollers become fluted. In most of these cases, it arises from the fact that the
ratio of variation in the pitch of the flutes of the bottom roller so slight between
one flute & the adjoining flute, that the top roller, (owing to the fact that it
loosely on its shaft and is driven by contact), yields to the tendency of the teeth to
enter into the impressions, first, made on it by the bottom roller, a kind of slipping or
.:
mounted

page_text: creeping action taking place, somewhat as if two unequally pitched wheels were
working together, the top roller thus receives an irregular motion, which, once
established, soon causes it to become fluted.
As previously explained, teeth of the coarsest pitch have less power of drawing
than the finer pitch teeth, & for this reason in some cases it is found necessary (in
order to obtain the best results) to employ fluted rollers of uniform pitch, in which
there is no variation in the drawing power, notwithstanding the objection that the top
roller soon becomes "fluted."
Now the object of my invention is to form the flutes & teeth of drawing rollers
so that whilst maintaining a high drawing power, I am able to prevent the objectionable
fluting of the top roller.
Referring, then, to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a cross section of an ordinary
drawing roller known as an excentrically fluted roller, all the flutes or grooves a are of
the same width & depth. The pitch of the flutes is greatest at A, and least at B.
Beginning with the greatest pitch at A, the pitch is gradually decreased until
attaining the least pitch at B, thus making the flutes of a variable pitch. This
arrangement of roller forms no part of my invention, & it is only intended to illustrate
the disadvantages my invention is intended to overcome. Fig. 2 shows a cross section
of a drawing roller made according to my invention, & divided into 4 equal sections,
or segments, by the radial lines V. W. X. Y; the section enclosed by the radial
lines V, W, having 9 teeth, the section enclosed by the lines W, X having 7 teeth,
the section enclosed by the lines X Y. having 6 teeth, & the section enclosed by the
lines Y. V, having eight teeth. The flutes a in each separate section are of uniform.
pitch, but the pitch of the flutes in each of the sections differs from that of the flutes
in the other sections, consequently, as the width of the flutes a is uniform, the width
of the teeth in each of the four sections must differ from the width of the teeth in the
other sections. Thus, at c are shewn the finest teeth, at d the coarsest teeth, and
at d&c teeth of intermediate width.
.
Fig. 3 shows a cross section of a drawing roller divided into four unequal sections
by the radial lines (R S T U), the section enclosed by the radial lines (RS) having
seven teeth, the section enclosed by the lines (ST) having six teeth, the section
enclosed by the lines (T U) having eight teeth, and the section enclosed by the
lines (UR) having nine teeth.
The flutes in each separate section are of an uniform pitch. The pitch of the flutes
in each of the aforesaid sections differs from that of the flutes in the other sections ;
consequently, as the width of the flutes is uniform, the width of the teeth in each of
the four sections must differ from the width of the teeth in each of the other sections ;
thus, (e) shows the finest teeth, (f) shows the coarsest teeth, (e¹) and (f) intermediate
pitches.
Fig. 4 shows a cross section of a drawing roller divided into five unequal sections
by the radial lines (I, J, K, L, M); each of these sections has six teeth, therefore the
pitch of the flutes in each separate section differs from the pitches of the flutes in
the other sections. In this case, the flutes in each separate section are of a variable
pitch, that is to say, not uniform; thus, in section (1 J), the pitch of the flutes
beginning at the least pitch (g), is gradually increased until it attains the greatest
pitch at (¹); the pitch is then gradually decreased, until it attains the least pitch
at (g¹).
In each of the sections shown in Fig. 4, the pitch of the flutes, and also the
variation in the pitch of the flutes, differ from the pitches of the flutes and the
variation in the pitch of the flutes of the other sections; therefore, as the width of
the flutes is uniform, the width of the teeth in each of the five sections must vary, the
section (KL) showing the finest teeth, and the section (IM) showing the coarsest
teeth.
The description of the variation in the pitch of the section (I J) will suffice, by
substituting the other letters to describe a similar kind of variation in each of the
other sections.
Fig. 5 is a modification of Fig. 4, and shows a cross section of a drawing roller

page_text: divided into four equal sections by the radial lines (E F G H), the section enclosed
by the radial lines (E F) having nine teeth, the section enclosed by the lines (FG)
having seven teeth, the section enclosed by the lines (G H) having six teeth, and the
section enclosed by the lines (H E) having eight teeth.
The flutes in each separate section aro of a variable pitch; thus in the section (EF),
the pitch of the flutes, beginning at the least pitch &, is gradually increased until it
attains the greatest pitch at j; the pitch is then gradually decreased until attaining
the least pitch at (k¹).
In each of the sections shown in Fig. 5, the pitch of the flutes, and also the
variation in the pitch of the flutes, differ from the pitch of the flutes, and the variation
in the pitch of the flutes, of the other section; therefore, as the width of the flutes
is uniform, the width of the top of the teeth in each of the four sections must vary,
the section (E F) showing the finest teeth, and the section (GH) showing the coarsest
teeth.
The description of the variation in the pitch of the section (E F) will suffice by
substituting the other letters to describe a similar kind of variation in each of the
other sections.
Fig. 6 shows a cross section of a drawing roller divided into four unequal sections
by the radial lines (NO P Q), the section enclosed by the radial lines (NO) having
nine flutes, the section enclosed by the lines (O P) having seven flutes, the section
enclosed by the lines (PQ) having six flutes, and the section enclosed by the lines (QN)
having eight flutes.
The flutes in each separate section are of an uniform pitch, but the pitch of the
flutes in each of the aforesaid sections differs from that of the flutes in the other
sections, and consequently the width of the flutes in each separate section differs from
the width of the flutes in each of the other sections.
By this variation in the width of the flutes (m no p), I am enabled to make the
tops of the teeth (1, 1, 1, 1³) in each of the four sections of the same width, that is to
say, the width of the top of each tooth is the same all round the roller. The pitch of
the flutes in each section differs from that of the flutes in the other sections, as in
Fig. 3, but by varying the width and depth of the flutes (m n o p) in proportion to
the variation of the pitch of the flutes before described, I am enabled to form a roller
which has the same characteristics as a fluted roller having an uniform pitch, so far as
its power of "drawing" is concerned, whilst retaining the advantages of the variable
pitch of the flutes.
By employing the hereinbefore described forms of flutes and teeth of drawing
rollers, 1 au enabled to make more advantageous variations in the pitch of the flutes
and teeth than is possible in the ordinary excentrically fluted rollers which are
illustrated by Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing, because, among other reasons in a
roller formed according to my invention, the section of the roller in which such
variation is formed, is small. This reduces the tendency of the teeth to reenter the
impressions first made upon the surface of the top roller by the bottom roller, and
prevents the slipping or creeping action previously referred to.
The division of the drawing rollers into sections having flutes and teeth of different
pitch, causes impressions of such a varying character to be made (whilst retaining the
efficient drawing power of the roller), that the impressions of the teeth of the bottom
roller are prevented from injuriously forming indentations in the circumference of the
top roller.
I would have it understood that it is obvious that the arrangements hereinbefore
shown and described in reference to Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, may in some cases be
varied; for instance, the number of sections into which the roller is divided, may be
varied, without departing from my invention; again, in the case of the rollers divided
into unequal sections, the number of sections may be varied, and the size one section,
compared with the others, may be varied.
Of the modes of accomplishing the object of my invention which are hereinbefore
described, that illustrated by Fig. 6 is one which, in most cases, may be used with

page_text: special advantage. Again, Figs. 2 and 3 will probably be found more generally
advantageous than Figs. 4 and 5.
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 1
claim is :-
1st. A fluted roller to be used in machinery or apparatus for preparing and
spinning fibrous material, the surface of which is divided up into equal or unequal
sections or divisions, having in each division flutes or teeth or ridges either of uniform
or variable pitch or width, with a change of such uniform or variable pitch for each
division, as and for the purposes herein shown and described.
2nd. The manufacture and use of fluted or grooved drawing rollers as illustrated
in Figs. 2. 3. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawing, for the purposes, and substantially
as herein before described.
3rd. The manufacture and use of fluted or grooved drawing rollers, in which flutes
or grooves of varying width are formed, as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the accompanying
drawing, for the purposes and substantially as herein before described.
1000
Dated
28th day of July 1890.
JOHN DODD,
Applicant.
JOHN DODD,
Applicant.