IMPROVEMENTS IN SPINNING MACHINES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SPINNING MACHINES."-A communication from
abroad by Samuel M. Williams, Henry Marvin Williams, and
Daniel A. Douglass, all of the City of Coldwater, County of Branch
and State of Michigan, United States of America.
1
ealed the 13th February 1872, and dated the 14th September 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 14th September 1871.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPINNING MACHINES," to be as follows:
1.
The nature of this Invention relates to a spinning machine more
especially designed for woollen yarns, by means of which, after the wool

page_text: has been properly prepared as for spinning on jacks, it may readily be
spun and wound on suitable bobbins.
The Invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement
of its operative parts, as more fully hercin-after described. A suitable
frame sustains the operating parts, which consist of the main driving
pulley, by which power is communicated to the machine; a cone of
pulleys running with the main driving shaft, to which motion is given
by any suitable power; and a belt from this cone of pulleys carrying
motion to another cone of pulleys running upon a countershaft, to
which is secured the drum operating the spinning spindles. A cross belt
running over a pulley on the driving shaft carries motion to the shaft
upon which are secured the pulleys for operating the twisting tubes or
devices. A horizontal shaft operated by a worm wheel and bevel spur
gearing from the main shaft is mounted in bearings in the framework of
the machine. On this shaft are eccentrics, which are connected to cross
heads, which cross heads are cach connected by a rod to the clamp or
platform, which all operate to raise and lower the bobbins. Each cross
head is provided with a slot, in which its rod is attached in such a
manner as to allow it to slide back and forth, the rod being further
attached to a rack or bar, on the under side of which from the rear end
and back about four inches are cogs, which mesh into a small pinion
which is made fast to a horizontal shaft, to which motion is communicated
by a cross belt from the eccentric shaft. Brackets sustain the platforms,
which contain the bearings of the spinning spindles, which pass through
the clamp before mentioned, on which spindles are the bobbins with the
flyers attached at the upper end by thread and screw, the ends of which
flyers are provided with guide rings. As the spindles pass through the
clamp the set screws are loosened or tightened as occasion may require
to allow the bobbin to revolve more or less easily, depending upon how
closely it is desired to spin or twist the yarn. A train of gear wheels
imparts motion to the shafts carrying the holding rollers, which rollers
are pressed together by set screws. Motion is communicated from one
of the last-mentioned shafts by belt to a drum and thence to the spool
by friction, the spool lying on the drum, which spool is held in place by
slotted bearings.
The device for twisting and drawing consists of a tube with a
suitable bearing and band pulley, to which is attached two arms, each
having two journals (drilled) at the end, through which pass two

page_text: shafts, on which are two twisting and drawing rollers made fast to the
same. At the outer end of each shaft is attached a cog wheel which
stand opposite each other, and gear into a stationary cogged circle
fixed to a suitable standard. Motion is communicated to the tube by
means of a belt to the pulley on the tube from a suitable shaft, which
causing the tube to revolve on its bearings communicates motion to the
cog wheels gearing into the cogged circle above mentioned, by which a
peculiar motion is obtained; the two shafts and the twisting and drawing
rollers thereon revolving on their axes also causing the rollers to revolve
on each other. The rolls being properly prepared, as herein-before
mentioned, are presented from the spool to the rear side of the rear feed
or holding rollers, thence into the interior of the twisting tube, and
through the twisting and drawing rollers where, the machine being in
motion, the roll is twisted by the rollers revolving on their axes and is
drawn out and carried along by the same rollers revolving on cach other.
The arms supporting the said rollers being of spring steel hold the
firmly together, the thread passing through the rollers, the rings
of the flyers, and thence to the bobbins. The motion of the twisting
rollers being faster than the motion of the holding rollers stretches the
roll in its passage between them and through the twisting device, the
peculiar motion of which twists the roll while it draws it. The twist is
completed by the rotation of the spinning spindles. The reciprocating
motion of the platform or clamp allows the guide to wind the thread
evenly on the bobbin.
The object of the cross head before mentioned and its connections
is to wind an egg-shaped bobbin, which is accomplished by the
eccentric having a rectilinear motion of four inches. This motion
is conveyed to the clamp by means of the rods and the cross head,
the cross head being hung in the centre, which gives to the clamp
the same rectilinear motion as the eccentric (four inches), providing
the top end of rod connecting it to the cross head stands at the
farther end of the slot from the axis of the cross bar, which is the case
when the bobbins are empty, the said rod being gradually drawn back
in the slot of the cross head towards its centre as the bobbin fills. As
the yarn is wound on the bobbin the rod is drawn back in the slot, so as
to cause the yarn to wind one less thread at every upward and downward
motion of said bobbin, to give an egg shape to the yarn on the
bobbin.
The machine may also be arranged as follows:-A belt carries motion

page_text: over proper pulleys from the shaft before mentioned as that by which
the spinning or twisting tubes are operated, to a suitable crank shaft,
and another belt carries motion to the front feed roller or drawing roller
shaft, the opposite end of which is provided with a cone of pulleys, from
which motion is carried by a belt to a similar cone of pulleys on the
back feed roller shaft. Belts carry motion from the drum to the
spinning spindles. A suitable pitman connects the crank shaft above
mentioned with a cylinder which has a vertical motion upon a rigid stem
fitting the inside of said cylinder, or a suitable cross head and slides
may be substituted for this device, as herein-before described. To the
lower end of this cylinder is secured the platform upon which rests the
bobbins or spools. This platform is made in two parts, the front one of
which is secured to the other part by means of set screws, which are
loosened or tightened for the purpose before mentioned. The tops of
the spindles are provided with discs or flanges, in the periphery of which
are cut hooks or projections for the purpose herein-after set forth.
Flyers or guides are hooked by one end to the tops of the spindles, while
the opposite end is provided with rings for the guidance of the yarn.
Spinning or twisting tubes, cast in metal preferably and conically. shaped·|
in the interior, are mounted in bearings between the front and back
feed roller shafts and near to the former. The front end of these tubes
are solid, excepting a small stelliform opening, the said tubes being
journaled into suitable bearings, and receiving motion from the drums
or wide pulleys, as before mentioned. Suitable rubber rollers running
in pairs are secured to the feed roller shafts directly in line with the
twisting tubes. The rolls being properly prepared, as before, are
presented as in the first arrangement to the rear the feed rollers,
thence into the conical interior of the twisting tubes where, the
machine being in motion, a partial twist is obtained. The thread
passing through the stelliform opening is then carried between the
front or drawing rollers, then it is engaged with the hooks in the
periphery of the discs or flanges on the spindles, then it is carried
through the rings of the flyers or guides, and thence to the bobbins.
The twist is completed by the rotation of the spinning spindles carrying
the flanges on their tops, with which the thread is engaged.
.

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filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 13th March 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of. Her reign, did, for Herself, Her. heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark,
Her special licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Alexander Melville Clark, my 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 SPINNING MACHINES," a com-
munication to me from abroad by Samuel M. Williams, Henry Marvin
Williams, and Daniel A. Douglass, all of the City of Coldwater, County
of Branch and State of Michigan, United States of America, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark,
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 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 Alexander Melville Clark, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say)
This Invention relates to a spinning machine more especially designed

page_text: for woolen yarns, by means of which, after the wool has been properly
prepared as for spinning on jacks, it may readily be spun and wound on
suitable bobbins.
The Invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement
of its operative parts, as more fully herein-after described in the accom-
panying Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of the device;
Figure 2 is a side view of the same; Figure 3 is a top view; Figure 4
is a top view of the device for twisting and carrying forward the roll and
yarn; Figure 5 is a section of the same. Like letters indicate like parts
in each of these five Figures.
A is a suitable frame, which sustains the operating parts of
the machine; B is the main driving pulley, by which power is com-
municated to the machine; C is a cone of pulleys running with
the main driving shaft D, to which motion is given by any suitable
power. A belt a from this cone of pulleys carries motion to another
cone of pulleys E running upon a countershaft, to which is secured the
drum F for operating the spinning spindles. A cross belt 6 running
over the small pulley G carries motion to the shaft H, upon which are
secured the pulleys I. The cog wheel J, with which gears the worm c
on shaft D, communicates motion through the upright shaft K and
bevelled cog wheels L to the horizontal shaft M, on which are eccentrics
d connected to the cross heads e, which cross heads are connected by
rods to the clamp or platform N, the whole operating to raise and
lower the bobbins O. The clamp N has tubular slides I', working on
Each cross head e is provided
rods Z fixed to the frame of the machine.
with a slot, in which the rod f is attached in such a manner as to allow
it to slide back and forth, the said rod f being further attached to the
rack or bar h, on the under side of which from the rear end and back
about four inches are cogs i, which mesh into a small pinion (not
represented) which is made fast to the shaft J, a. Motion is communi-
cated to this shaft by the cross belt k, which passes around the small
pulley P on the shaft M, thence around the large pulley Q, to the back
side of which is attached a small pinion, shown by dotted lines, said
pinion meshing into a larger wheel, which is fast to the said shaft J, a.
The brackets in sustain the platform t, t, which contain the bearings
of the spinning spindles R, which pass through the clamp N and carry
the bobbins O with the flyers S screwed on their upper ends, which
flyers are provided with eyes or rings n, n. As the spindles pass through

page_text: the clamp N the set screws may be loosened or tightened as occasion
requires to allow the bobbins to revolve more or less casily, depending
upon how closely it is desired to spin or twist the yarn. Motion is,
communicated to the spindles by the belt T from the drum F to the
small pulleys on the spindles. The train of gear wheels U carries
motion from the shaft H to the shafts V, V, to which are attached the
rollers o, which rollers are pressed together by set screws p. Motion is
communicated from pulleys r on lower shaft V by belt q to drum X,
and thence to spool W by friction, the spool lying on the drum, which
spool is held to its place by slotted bearings.
Figures 4 and 5 represent the device for twisting and drawing,
constructed as follows :-Y is a tube with a suitable bearing and
band pulley, to which is attached two arms Z, each having two
journal holes drilled at the end, through which pass two shafts o,
on which are two rollers v made fast to the same. At the outer
end of each shaft is attached a cog wheel w, which wheels stand
nearly opposite each other, and gear into a stationary cogged circle
x fixed to a standard y, shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 5 shows
a longitudinal section of the tube and rollers and the relation they
bear to one another. Motion is communicated to the tube by means
of a belt to pulley Z, which causing the tube to revolve in its
bearings communicates motion to cog wheels w, which mesh into the
cog circle, whereby a peculiar motion is obtained, the tube Y, shafts o,
and rollers v revolving on their common axis, and the rollers revolving
also on each other. The rolls being properly prepared, as herein-before
mentioned, are presented from the spool W to the rear side of the feed
rollers o, as shown by the blue line, thence into the interior of the tube
Y, and through the rollers where, the machine being in motion, the
roll is twisted by the rollers v revolving on their axis, and is drawn out
and carried along by the same rollers revolving on each other. The arms
Z being of spring steel hold the rollers firmly together, the thread
passing through the rollers (a twist having been given it at the front and
rear of the twisting device) is then carried through rings n, n, on the
flyers to the bobbins. The motion of the rollers v being faster than the
motion of the rollers o stretches the roll in its passage between them
and through the twisting device, the peculiar motion of which twists the
roll while it draws it, the twist being completed. by the rotation of the
spindles R carrying the eyes or rings n at the top, through which the
thread is led.

page_text: The reciprocating motion of the platform or clamp N allows the
guide to wind the thread evenly on the bobbins. The object of the
cross head e and its connections is to wind an egg-shaped bobbin,
which is accomplished by the eccentric having a rectilinear motion of
four inches. This motion is conveyed to the clamp N by means of the
rods h and fand the cross heads e, each cross head being hung in the
centre, which gives to the clamp N the same rectilinear motion as the
eccentric (four inches), providing the top end of rod f stands at the end
of the slot farthest from the axis of the cross bar, as in Figure 2, which
is the case when the bobbins are empty. When the machine is set in
motion the shaft J, a, is caused to revolve very slowly by means of the
belt k and dotted gears, in the manner herein-before described. The
small gear wheel on the shaft J, a, working in the rack i on the bar h,
slowly carries it back, and the bar h, being connected to the rod ƒ as
before described, causes the rod to be gradually drawn back in the slot g
of the cross head e to its centre as the bobbin fills, whereby the yarn is
caused to wind one less thread at every upward and downward motion
of said bobbins, so as to give an egg shape to the yarn on the bobbin.
The machine may also be arranged as shown in perspective in
Figure 6, and the twisting device may be modified as shown in Figure 7,
which is an end view of one of the twisting tubes, and Figure 8, which
is a longitudinal section of the same. Figure 9 is an enlarged view of
the top of the spindle, which is also modified. Like letters of reference
indicate like parts in each of these four Figures.
A represents a suitable frame which sustains the operating parts
of the machine; B is a cone of pulleys running with the main
driving shaft C, to which motion is given by a crank or any other
suitable power. A belt a from this conc of pulleys carries motion
to another cone of pulleys E. running upon a countershaft, to which
is secured the drum F. A cross belt b running over the small
pulley G carries motion to the shaft H, upon which are secured the
drums or wide pulleys I.
A belt c carries motion over proper pulleys
from the shaft H to the crank shaft J. A belt d carries motion
from a small pulley (not shown in the Drawing) to the shaft K,
the opposite end of which is provided with a cone of pulleys L, from
which motion is carried by the belt e to a similar cone of pulleys M
on the shaft N. Belts / carry motion from the drum F to the spindles O.
A suitable pitman P connects the crank shaft J with the cylinder Q,

page_text: which has a vertical motion upon a rigid stem fitting the inside of said
cylinder. A suitable cross head and slides may be substituted for the
device just described. To the lower end of this cylinder Q is secured
the platform R, upon which rest the bobbins or spools S. This platform
is made in two parts, the front one of which is secured to the other by
means of set screws k, which are loosened or tightened for the purpose
before mentioned in reference to clamp N, Figure 2. The tops of the
spindles O are provided with discs or flanges T, in the periphery of
which are cut hooks or projections t (see Figure 9), for the purpose
herein-after set forth.
U are flyers or guides, one end of which is
hooked to the top of the spindles while the opposite end is provided
with rings m. V are spinning or twisting tubes, cast in metal preferably,
and conically shaped in the interior, as shown in the detached Figure 8.
The front ends of these tubes are solid, excepting a small stelliform
opening n. The tubes are journaled into suitable bearings W, and
receive motion from the drums or wide pulleys I on the shaft H.
Suitable rubber rollers X, X', running in pairs are secured respectively
to the shafts K, K', N, N', directly in line with the twisting tubes V.
The "rolls" being properly prepared, as herein-before described, are pre-
sented, as in the first arrangement, to the rear side of the feed rollers
✗', thence into the conical interior of the twisting tubes V where, the
machine being in motion, a partial twist is obtained. The thread
passing through the stelliform opening n is then carried between the
drawing rollers X; then it is engaged with the hooks (see Figure 9)
in the periphery of the discs or flanges on the spindles; then it is carried
through the rings m of the guides U, and thence to the bobbins. The
motion of the rollers ✗ being faster than the rollers X' stretches the
roll in its passage between them and through the twisting tubes. The
twist is completed by the rotation of the spindles O carrying the flanges
on their tops, with which the thread is engaged.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to
be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, -
1st. The bobbins O, the clamp N, the rod f, the cross head e, the slot
g, the bar h, the combination of the rack i and pinion, the belt k with the
pulley P and the eccentric wheel d, and with the combination of all the
parts described when constructed, arranged, and operated substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 2ndly. The tube Y, the arms Z with shoulder, the stationary cog
circle x, the cog wheels w, the rollers v, the shafts o, also the combination
of the parts described with pulley Z', the standards y, the bearings and
the belt, and the combination of all the parts mentioned in this section
with each other when constructed, arranged, and operated substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
3rdly. The combination of the spindles R with the platforms t, the
clamp N, the bobbins O, the flyers S, the rings or eyes n, the rod f,
the cross head e, the bar h with its gearing, the tube Y, the arms Z,
the stationary cog circle x, the rollers v, the shafts o, the pulley Z', the
standard y, the chain of cog wheels U, the shafts V with rollers o, the
roller X with spool W, the slotted bearing for the roller X and spool W,
the set screw p; the combination of all the parts described when con-
structed, arranged, and operated substantially as described and shown
for the purposes set forth.
4thly. The spindles O provided with discs or flanges T, the peripheries
of which are provided with hooks or projections 1, in combination with
the flyers or guides U, when constructed, arranged, and operating
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5thly. The combination of the spindles O provided with the discs T
and flyers U, constructed and arranged as described, with the rollers
X, X', the shafts N,N', K, K', the pulleys M, L, the belt e, and the tubes
V, all constructed, arranged, and operated substantially as described and
shown, for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of March,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-twa.
Witness,
WM. CLARK,
• 53, Chancery Lane,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)