IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR GINNING OR CLEANING COTTON OR OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Christopher Brakell, of Oldham, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR GINNING OR CLEANING COTTON OR OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
Sealed the 8th September 1864, and dated the 9th March 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Christopher Brakell at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th March 1864.
. I, CHRISTOPHER BRAKELL, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR GINNING OR CLEANING COTTON OR OTHER FIBROUS
MATERIALS," to be as follows:-
I employ a roller of metal or other suitable material, and form in its surface
a number of shallow recesses of a circular, oval, or oblong form, and place
spikes in the recesses in such manner that they do not project beyond the
outer surface of the roller. In contact or nearly so with the aforesaid roller
I employ another roller, having upon its surface a number of projecting
knives which are placed either parallel with the axis of the roller, or in a
diagonal direction. I place a stationary knife or doctor so as to be in contact
or nearly so with the edges of the knives, and with the surface of the recessed
roller. "The knife roller" is enclosed or partly so in a casing, part of which

page_text: is formed as a grid. When revolving motion is given to the two rollers, and
cotton brought in contact with the surface of the recessed roller, the said
cotton is carried to the edge of the stationary knife, which allows the cleaned
cotton to pass, but stops the passage of the seeds, burrs, or other refuse,
which are cleared away from the edge of the stationary knife or doctor by the
revolving "knife roller," and carried to the grids through which they pass.
In another arrangement of gin instead of bringing the cotton in direct
contact with the surface of the recessed roller, I feed the cotton into the
spaces between the knives projecting from the surface of the aforesaid "knife
roller," and when revolving motion is given to the two rollers the "knifo
roller" brings the cotton in contact with part of the surface of the recessed
roller, the cleaned cotton passing at one side of the stationary knife or doctor,
and the seeds, burrs, and refuse being carried away by the edges of the
knives in the revolving "knife roller." It is not absolutely necessary that
there should be spikes in the recesses of the recessed roller for seizing or
laying hold of the cotton, for though in some cases it may be advantageous,
in other cases the edges of the recesses themselves are sufficient. Thus I
have described the "knife roller" as performing the office of a clearer, and
also the offices of both feeding and clearing, and I apply the "knife roller"
to any kind of gin to which it can be adapted, and I also apply the recessed
roller with or without spikes, in combination with vibrating blades or beater
plates, instead of the revolving knife roller. Or instead of the recessed
roller I employ a roller having longitudinal, diagonal, or spiral grooves, in
which are placed a number of spikes which do not project beyond the outer
surface of the roller.
In another arrangement of gin, I fix upon a shaft a number of circular
plates or discs of metal sufficiently near each other to prevent the passage of
seeds, burrs, and refuse. Upon another shaft I fix a boss or cylinder, having
upon it a number of teeth or knives which pass between the spaces of the
circular plates or discs. Revolving motion is given to the circular plates,
and also to the boss containing the teeth or knives, and the cotton to be
cleaned is fed into the spaces between the rows of the teeth or knives, the
edges of which lay hold of the cotton and carry it between the spaces of the
circular plates or discs, leaving the seeds, burrs, and refuse behind, which
afterwards fall through a grid. The circular plates or dises are made to
revolve for the purpose of providing a clear passage for each series of teeth
or knives, and any seeds or refuse which might have been forced into the
spaces are removed by a stationary comb.
In another arrangement of gin I employ a screw placed in a circular

page_text: casing so as to leave a space all round it, and place in the said space a
number of plates forming partitions. The screw projects beyond the circular
casing, and is there encircled by a ring in contact or nearly so with the outer
edges of the threads of the screw, and between the circular casing and the
ring there is a space. When cotton is fed into the spaces between the
partitions and revolving motion is given to the screw, the threads of the screw
carry the cotton through the ring in a cleaned state, and the seeds, burrs, and
refuse which are left behind pass through the space between the circular
casing and ring.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Christopher Brakell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th September 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHRISTOPHER
BRAKELL, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me
the said Christopher Brakell, Her special license that I, the said Christopher
Brakell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Christopher Brakell, 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 MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR GINNING OR
CLEANING COTTON OR OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Christopher Brakell, 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 Christopher Brakell, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the

page_text: following statement thereof, reference being had to the figures and letters on
the accompanying four Sheets of Drawings (that is to say):-
In Sheet 1, Fig. 1 is a transverse section of part of one of my improved
gins, and Fig. 2 a side elevation of part of the same.
a represents a roller of metal or other suitable material, such as leather,
pressed paper, or composition stone, with shallow recesses 6 of a circular form
in its surface, and in one arrangement, in the recesses are made, placed, or
fixed small spikes c, in such a manner that they do not project beyond the
outer surface of the roller. In contact or nearly so with the aforesaid roller
I apply another roller d, having upon its surface a number of projecting
blades or knives e, which are placed in a diagonal direction to the axis of the
roller, as shewn in Fig. 2. I also place a stationary knife or doctor f, in
contact with the edges of the knives of the "knife roller," and with the surface
of the recessed roller a. The "kuife roller" is enclosed or partly so in a casing
9, part of which is formed as a grid h. When revolving motion is given to
the two rollers and cotton is placed in the casing through the feed opening i
it is brought in contact with the surface of the recessed roller, and by it is
carried, pulled, or dragged under the stationary or pressing knife, which stops
the passage of the seeds, burrs, or other refuse, the said seeds, burrs, or other
refuse being cleared away by the revolving "knife roller," and carried to the
grid through which they pass. Instead of having the blades or knives of the
"knife roller" projecting from the surface of the roller and forming separate
divisions, I fix the blades or knives to the end flanges of the roller in such a
manner that there is an open space all round the roller between its surface
and the inside edges of the knives, as shewn at j. These two arrangements
of knife roller permit of the cotton being placed in the gin in its husk or
shell, and thereby effecting a great saving of labour in picking the cotton by
hand, the action of the knives partly breaking up or opening the husk or shell
and loosening the cotton. Any portions of husks or shells which will not
pass through the grid h can be removed or thrown out of the casing 9 by
opening a suitable outlet or door therein. In Fig. 1 the "knife roller" and
the recessed roller are shewn revolving towards each other or in opposite
directions, but with certain modifications they may also revolve in the same
direction. The blades or knives of the "knife roller" may either be placed
parallel with the axis, or at almost any angle diagonally with it, or they may
be wound round the surface of the roller like the thread of a screw.
some cases I fix leather or other suitable substance to the edges or sides of
the blades or knives in the "knife roller" to prevent injury to the seed. I
do not confine the application of my recessed roller and knife roller as
In

page_text: described to the construction of gin shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, but I apply the
one or the other separately or combined to any form of gin to which they can
be adapted, as for instance in Figs. 3 and 4, Sheet 2, I shew how the " knife
roller" may be applied to a flat disc or plate, whether the same is worked
horizontally as shewn, or vertically like the face plate of an ordinary turning
lathe, and also whether the said disc or plate is recessed like my recessed
roller already described, or covered with leather in the same manner as the
Macarthy gin, or with the leather placed edgeways up, and wound round
the spindle like a coil or roll of strapping or belting. k represents my knife
roller; 7, the stationary knife or doctor, and m the flat disc or plate; n the
leather placed edgeways. I also apply my "knife roller" as shewn in Figs.
5 and 6, Sheet 3, in which o represents a roller (either recessed or simply
covered with leather), with a stationary or pressing knife p in connection
with it in the usual way. My knife roller in this application consists of a
number of circular plates or washers q fixed diagonally round the spindle or
roller r, so that when revolving motion is given to the said spindle or roller,
the edges and sides of the circular plates, washers, or knives, have a lateral
motion in the direction of the axis backwards and forwards, thereby loosening
or detaching the seeds and other refuse, which can then fall through the open
spaces between the said plates, washers, or knives, while the cleaned cotton
passes between the surface of the roller o and the edge of the stationary
knife or doctor p.
In Figs. 7, 8, and 9, Sheet 4, I represent another mode of applying my
revolving "knife roller." 8, 5, are two flat circular discs or plates fixed on a
spindle t, the faces of which are opposite each other, and which may either
be formed with recesses as already described, or covered with leather as shewn
at u. Between these two discs or plates I apply my "knife roller," consisting
of a number of arms v, projecting from a spindle w, on the sides of which
arms are formed knives or blades a, the said arms being enclosed in a casing y,
or partly so. Revolving motion is given to the circular discs or plates,
and also to the "knife roller," and when cotton is placed through the feed
opening z in the spaces a¹ between the arms forming the blades or knives,
it is brought in contact with the surfaces of the circular discs or plates, and is
by them dragged past the edges of the knives, the seeds and other refuse being
carried round to the grid 6, through which they pass, such portions of refuse
as are too large to pass through the grid being easily removed by an outlet
or door in the casing y. It is not absolutely necessary that the recesses
should be circular, as shewn in Fig. 2, Sheet 1, as they may be square, oval,
or other shape, nor is it necessary that there should be spikes in the recesses

page_text: of the recessed roller for seizing or laying hold of the cotton, for though in
some cases it may be advantageous, in other cases the edges of the recesses
themselves are sufficient. I also apply the recessed roller in combination
with vibrating knives or beater plates as in other gins, instead of my revolving
"knife roller." Or instead of the recessed roller I employ a roller having
longitudinal, diagonal, or spiral grooves, in which are placed a number of
spikes which do not project beyond the outer surface of the roller.
In another arrangement of gin I fix upon a shaft a number of circular
plates or discs of metal, sufficiently near each other to prevent the passage of
seeds, burrs and refuse. Upon another shaft I fix a boss or cylinder, having
upon it a number of teeth or knives which pass between the spaces of the
circular plates or discs. Revolving motion is given to the circular plates, and
also to the boss containing the teeth or knives, and the cotton to be cleaned
is fed into the spaces between the rows of the teeth or knives, the edges of
which lay hold of the cotton and carry it between the spaces of the circular
plates or discs, leaving the seeds, burrs, and refuse behind, which afterwards
fall through a grid. The circular plates or discs are made to revolve for the
purpose of providing a clear passage for each series of teeth or knives, and
any seeds or refuse which might have been forced into the spaces are removed
by a stationary comb. Instead of the teeth or knives passing between the
spaces of the circular plates or discs I also make use of circular plates
recessed on their sides like my recessed roller already described.
In another arrangement of gin I employ a screw placed in a circular casing
so as to have a space all round it, and place in the said space a number of
plates forming partitions. The screw projects beyond the circular casing, and
is there encircled by a ring in contact or nearly so with the outer edges of
the threads of the screw, and between the circular casing and the ring there
is a space. When cotton is fed into the spaces between the partitions, and
revolving motion is given to the screw, the threads of the screw carry the
cotton through the ring in a cleaned state, and the seeds, burrs, and refuse
which are left behind pass through the space between the circular casing and
ring.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be under-
stood that I claim in machinery or apparatus for ginning or cleaning cotton
or other fibrous materials,-
First, the recessed rollers either with or without spikes.
Secondly, the various forms and arrangements of revolving knife rollers.
Thirdly, the system of causing a number of teeth, or knives, or plates on

page_text: one roller to pass between the spaces of a number of circular plates or discs
on another roller.
And, fourthly, the application of a screw placed in a circular casing so as to
leave a space all round it, a number of partitions being placed in the space,
as such improvements are herein described or illustrated in the accompanying
four Sheets of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Christopher Brakell, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Signed, sealed, and delivered, by the
within-named Christopher Brakell,
in the presence of
G. SEPTIMUS HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.
C. BRAKELL. (L.S.)