IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN FINISHING TEXTILE FABRICS, COMMONLY CALLED RAISING GIGS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Balmforth, of Albion Mill, Batley, in the
County of York, Millwright and Machine Maker, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN FINISHING TEXTILE FABRICS,
COMMONLY CALLED RAISING GIGS."
Sealed the 11th March 1863, and dated the 15th September 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Balmforth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th September 1862.
I, EDWARD BALMFORTH, of Albion Mill, Batley, in the County of York,
Millwright and Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN FINISHING TEXTILE
FABRICS COMMONLY CALLED RAISING GIGS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the application to "raising gigs" of a cylindrical
brusb, placed in contact with the teasels on the swift, to which rotary motion
is given at a greater surface speed than the surface speed of the said swift
and in the direction of rotation thereof, by which means the flocks and dirt
are constantly removed, and prevented from accumulating on the teasels
during the time the machine is in operation, thus avoiding the frequent
stoppage of the machine for the purpose of cleansing the teasels as hereto-
fore.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Balmforth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th March 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
BALMFORTH, of Albion Mill, Batley, in the County of York, Millwright and
Machine Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Edward Balmforth, Her special licence, that I, the said Edward Balmforth,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward
Balmforth, 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 EMPLOYED IN FINISHING TEXTILE FABRICS, COMMONLY CALLED RAISING
GIGs," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Balmforth,
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 calender months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Balmforth, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
The Invention consists in the application to "raising gigs" of a cylindrical
brush placed in contact with the teasels on the swift to which rotary motion
is given at a greater surface speed than the surface speed of the sail swift
and in the direction of rotation thereof, by which means the flocks and
dirt are constantly removed, and prevented from accumulating on the
teasels during the time the machine is in operation, thus avoiding the
frequent stoppage of the machine for the purpose of cleansing the teasels as
heretofore.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ordinary raising gig with my improve-
ments applied thereto. The part marked with the letter A, is the cylindrical
brush, which is placed in bearings of the frame, and in contact with the
teasels on the surface of the swift B. Motion is given to it by strap from the
pulley C, which is driven by a strap from the pulley D, fixed on the shaft
of the swift. The surface speed of this brush is about double the surface
speed of the swift, and in the same direction, consequently it will be readily
seen that it will be constantly brushing or removing the flocks and dirt from
the swift whilst the machine is in motion; Fig. 2 is a cylindrical brush on a
larger scale constructed in manner as I have found to answer best, the bristles
or tufts forming spiral lines around a wood roller, but other forms of construc-
tion may be employed. And although I prefer to use animal bristles, yet
whaleboneand other animal substances and vegetable fibres or metal wire may
be employed. Also the roller or body of the brush may be of metal or other
substance, and it will also be observed that the relative surface speeds of the
swift and brush may be varied to suit circumstances as required.
Having thus fully described the nature of my said Invention and the manner
in which the same is or may be performed, I would have it distinctly under-
stood that I do not confine myself to any particular construction or method of
application, but what I claim is, the application of a cylindrical brush to
raising gigs in manner and for purposes substantially as herein shewn and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Balmforth, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of March One thousand eight
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
said Edward Balmforth, in the
presence of
WM. TASKER,
Patent Agent,
EDWARD BALMFORTH. (L.S.)
Halifax.