Improvements in the Carding-engines in which "Flats" are Employed.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 14th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Carding-engines in which "Flats" are
Employed.
We THOMAS SCHOFIELD WHITWORTH of 122 Broughton Lane, Lower Broughton,
Manchester in the County of Lancaster, Machinist and WALTER LORD of, Canal
Street Works, Todmorden in the County of York, Machine Maker do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to the carding-engines in which "flats" are employed and
our invention consists in arrangements by which we are enabled to adjust the "flats"
in relation to the "card surface" of the main cylinder of the carding-engine more
readily and accurately than heretofore.
.
a
According to our invention we form upon the "bend" of the carding-engine
surface concentric with the main cylinder-Upon this surface we mount a ring or
sector or segment of a ring or plate capable of being turned or slidden upon such
surface by means of a lever or screw or by any other suitable means-Mounted upon
the ring or sector or segment of a ring or plate before referred to are several arms or
levers capable of being turned upon studs secured to the said ring or sector or
segment of a ring or plate or we provide the said arms or levers with studs which pass
into the said ring or sector or segment of a ring or plate. In each of the arms or
levers aforesaid we form a slot into which passes a pin secured to the bend of the
carding-engine-The arms or levers above mentioned support a band or strip of
metal which serves as a flexible bend" and upon one of its surfaces supports one
end of each "flat" when such "flat" is at work-The said band or strip of metal
we prevent from moving longitudinally by means of a stud projecting from the said
band or strip of metal and passing into a slot formed in the "bend" of the cardiug-
engine or by means of a stud projecting from the "bend" of the carding-engine and
passing into a slot formed in the said band or strip of metal-The ring or sector or
segment of a ring or plate above mentioned, the arms or levers and the band or strip
of metal before mentioned we prevent from being moved in a lateral direction by a
suitable flange formed upon the "bend" and a suitable plate or cover secured to the
"bend "By the ring or sector or segment of a ring or plate before mentioned being
moved in one direction circumferentially upon the surface upon which it is supported
the arms or levers will be turned so as to move the band or strip of netal away from
the axis of the main cylinder.
By the ring or sector or segment of a ring or plate being moved in a direction
opposite to that previously mentioned the band or strip of metal will be made free to
be moved by means of springs or by other suitable means or by the "flats" supported
by such band or strip of metal, nearer to the axis of the main cylinder.
Although we have above mentioned but one side of the carding-engine as being
provided with the arrangements in which our invention consists both sides of the
carding-engine are provided with such arrangements.
Dated this Thirteenth day of November 1888.
Manchester, Agent to the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Carding-engines in which "Flats" are
Employed.
We THOMAS SCHOFIELD WHITWORTH of 122 Broughton Lane, Lower Broughton,
Manchester in the County of Lancaster Machinist and WALTER LORD of Canal
P1

page_text: Street Works, Todmorden in the County of York Machine Maker, 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 :-
29
Our invention relates to the carding-engines in which "flats" are employed and
our invention consists in arrangements by which we are enabled to adjust the "flats"
in relation to the "card surface" of the main cylinder of the carding-engine more
readily and accurately than heretofore.
According to our invention we form upon the "bend" of the carding-engine a
surface concentric with the main cylinder Upon this surface we mount a ring or
sector or segment of a ring or plate capable of being turned or slidden upon such
surface by means of a lever or screw or by any other suitable means-Mounted upon
the ring or sector or segment of a ring or plate before referred to are several arms or
levers capable of being turned upon studs secured to the said ring or sector or
segment of a ring or plate or we provide the said arms or levers with studs which
pass into the said ring or sector or segment of a ring or plate-In each of the arms
or levers aforesaid we form a slot into which passes a pin secured to the bend of the
carding-engine. The arms or levers above mentioned support a band or strip of
metal which serves as a "flexible hend" and upon one of its surfaces supports one
end of each "flat" when such "flat" is at work-The said band or strip of meta!
we prevent from moving longitudinally by means of a stud projecting from the said
band or strip of metal and passing into a slot formed in the "bend" of the carding-
engine or by means of a stud projecting from the "bead" of the carding-engine
and passing into a slot formed in the said band or strip of metal. The ring or sector
or segment of a ring or plate above mentioned, the arms or levers and the band or
strip of metal before mentioned we prevent from being moved in a lateral direction
by a suitable flange formed upon the "bend" and a suitable plate or cover secured
to the "bend." By the ring or sector or segment of a ring or plate before mentioned
being moved in one direction circumferentially upon the surface upon which it is
supported the arms or levers will be turned so as to move the band or strip away
from the axis of the main cylinder. By the ring or sector or segment of a ring or
plate being moved in a direction opposite to that previously mentioned the band or
strip of metal will be made free to be moved by means of springs or by other suitable
means or by the "flats" supported by such band or strip of metal nearer to the axis
of the main cylinder.
Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings show so much of a carding-
engine as is requisite to illustrate one method of carrying our invention into effect.
Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the parts as they would appear if seen from the
interior of a carding-engine by a person looking in the direction indicated by the
arrow B of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a section taken on the plane indicated by the line A A
of Fig. 1. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are views showing certain parts detached. The same
letters of reference are applied to corresponding parts in Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4. and 5.
Mounted upon the side-frame a and secured thereto by means of brackets &¹ is the
bend We form upon the bend ba circular flange c upon which we form a surface d
concentric with the main cylinder f. Upon the surface d we mount a plate g. The
plate gis capable of being turned or slidden upon the surface by means of the
screw and nuts j. The screw his secured to the plate g and passes through a
part secured to the bend Mounted upon the plate y are several arms or levers k.
Each of the arms or levers is capable of being turned upon a stud / secured to the
ring g
In each of the arms or levers & we form a slot m into which passes one of
a number of pins or studs n secured to projecting parts formed on the bend 6-
Formed upon each of the arms or levers k is a stud which passes into a groove o
formed in the band or strip o of metal which as it serves as what is ordinarily
denominated a "flexible bend" we shall hereinafter for convenience call the flexible
bend og is a plate secured to the bend 6 by the pins or studs n. The "flats" P
when at work are supported by and travel along the surface 02-Secured to the bend
are springs which are each connected to the flexible bend o by means of links q'.
The tension of the springs q tends to draw the flexible bend o towards the axis e. e.
1

page_text: of the main cynnder f.
when the arms or levers k. are in the position in which they are indicated in Figs. 1
and 2 the surface o of the flexible bend o will be throughout its length at such
distance from the axis e. e. of the main cylinder f as is required when "
placed upon the main cylinder f and flats p.
We so form the arms or levers and flexible bend o that
33
new wire is
In order to prevent the flexible bend o from being moved longitudinally we provide the
flexible bend o with a stud of which is shown in the detached views Figs. 4 and 5,
Fig. 4 being a view taken in a direction similar to that in which Fig. 2 is taken and
Fig. 5 a vertical section of that which is shewn in Fig. 4. The stud o* projects into a
slot formed in the bend b.
y
"
When the wire" upon the main cylinder and upon the "flats" has become
shorter by "grinding or wear and it becomes necessary or desirable to bring the
surface o nearer to the axis e. e. of the main cylinder f the nuts j. j. are turned so
that the plate will be moved upon the surface d of the flange c in the direction
indicated by the arrow C. The movement of the plate g will cause the arms or
levers to be turned upon the pins or studs n in the directions indicated by the
arrows D and the turning and consequent sliding of the arms or levers k upon the
pins or studs will by means of the studs upon the arms or levers k cause
the flexible bend o to be brought nearer to the axis e. e. of the main cylinder fas
shown in Fig. 3. As the surface d is concentric with the main cylinder and the
studs 1, pins or studs n and studs are all arranged in circles concentric with the
main cylinder the turning of the arms or levers in the directions indicated by
the arrows D will cause the surface o² of the flexible bend o to form a curve the
centre of which will be in the axis e. e. of the main cylinder f. By the plate g being
moved in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow c the arms or levers k
may be turned in directions opposite to those indicated by the arrows D until the arms
or levers and flexible bend o are in the positions in which they are indicated in
Figs. 1 and 2.
In some instances we dispense with the springs and employ the weight of the
flats p. travelling along the surface o² to keep the plate ġ in contact with the
surface d.
Figs. 6. 7. 8. 9 and 10 show another method of carrying our invention into effect.
Fig. 6 is an elevation showing the parts as they would appear if seen from the
interior of a carding-engine by a person looking from the interior of a carding-
engine in the direction indicated by the arrow E of Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a vertical
section of that which is shewn in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a front view showing a part
detached and Fig. 9 is a vertical section of that which is shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10
shows detached a portion of that which is shown in Fig. 6.
According to this arrangement of our invention the flexible bend o is caused to be
moved to form a curve having a less or greater radius by the arms or levers
previously mentioned acting thereon without employing springs 7 or the weight of
the "flats" p travelling along the said flexible bend o..
To such of the parts shown in Figs. 6. 7. 8. 9 and 10 as correspond in construction
and operation to parts previously described in reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 we
shall affix the same letters of reference as are applied to the corresponding parts
shown in Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4 and 5.
Mounted
Upon the bend 6 we form a cross-bar 6 upon which we form a boss s.
upon and capable of being turned upon the boss s is a collar t. On the collar & are
formed arms t¹ upon which is formed or secured the plate or sector g to which are
secured the studs upon which the arms or levers k are mounted. We form through
the boss s an opening F through which passes the portion u of the pedestal u¹ which
supports the axle of the main cylinder f. To the plate or sector y is jointed one end
of a screw which passes through a hole in a projecting part formed upon or
secured to the bend b. The-screw is provided with nuts by means of which the
plate or sector g may be turned upon the boss s or held in position after being so
turned. When the plate or sector is turned upon the boss in the direction
indicated by the arrow C the arms or levers k will be turned upon the pins or studs n

page_text: and draw the flexible bend o nearer to the axis e. e. of the main cylinder thereby
causing the surface o of the flexible bend o to form a curve having a less radius as
shown in Fig. 10. When the arms or levers have been turned into the position
in which they are shown in Fig. 10, if the plate or sector he turned upon the boss s
in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow the flexible bend o will he
moved away from the axis e. e. of the main cylinder f until the arms or levers
arrive again in the position in which they are shown in Figs. 6 and 7.
Although we have above described the flexible bend o as being provided with a
groove o into which pass the studs upon the arms or levers k, the flexible bend o
may be formed with a series of grooves in place of the continuous groove or the
arms or levers k may be connected to the flexible bend o in any other suitable
manner.
In some cases we propose to form the flexible bend o in two or more portions each
portion being prevented from moving longitudinally by a stud and slot as described
in reference to and indicated by Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Although we have above mentioned but one side of the carding-engine as being
provided with the arrangements in which our invention consists both sides of the
carding-engine are provided with such arrangements.
Although the accompanying drawings show our invention as applied to carding-
engines in which "revolving flats" are employed our invention may also be applied
to carding-engines in which stationary "flats" are employed. The mode in which
our invention is applied to carding-engines in which stationary "flats" are employed
is similar to that in which our invention is applied to carding-engines in which
" revolving "flats are employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
may
1. The hereinbefore described arrangements by means of which the "flats" be
adjusted in relation to the "card surface" of the main cylinder of the carding-
engine each of which arrangements consists in a ring or sector or segment of a ring
or plate such as g and arms or levers such as k acting in conjunction with a band or
strip or bands or strips such as o of metal arranged, employed and operating
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described in reference to and
indicated in and by Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4 and of the accompanying drawings.
2. The hereinbefore described arrangements by means of which the "flats" may
be adjusted in relation to the "card surface" of the main cylinder of the carding-
engine each of which arrangement consists in a boss s, ring or sector or segment of
a ring or plate such as g and arms or levers such as acting in conjunction with a
band or strip or bands or strips such as o of metal, arranged, employed, and operating
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described in reference to and
indicated in and by Figs. 6. 7. 8. 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
3. For use in adjusting the "flats" of a carding-engine in relation to the "card
surface" of the main cylinder of such carding-engine, rings or sectors or segments
of rings or plates such as g provided with studs such as 7 and employed, arranged
and operating for the purpose of adjusting the "flexible bends " or the equivalents
therefor nearer to or further from the axis of the main cylinder of such carding-
engine and substantially in the manner herein before described in reference to and
indicated in and by Figs. 1. 2. 3. 6. 7 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
ted this imirteenth day of nagu
W. T. CHEETHAM,
Manchester, Agent to the Applicants.