IMPROVEMENTS IN ROVING AND SLUBBING FRAMES, AND IN THE MEANS OF TRANSMITTING POWER THERETO AND TO MACHINERY GENERALLY
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Combe, of Belfast, in the Kingdom of Ireland,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROVING AND SLUBBING FRAMES,
AND IN THE MEANS OF TRANSMITTING POWER THERETO AND TO MACHINERY
GENERALLY,"
Sealed the 26th November 1860, and dated the 9th June 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Combe at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th June 1860.
I, JAMES COMBE, of Belfast, in the Kingdom of Ireland, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROVING AND SLUBBING
FRAMES, AND IN THE MEANS OF TRANSMITTING POWER THERETO AND TO MACHINERY
GENERALLY," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to an improved mode of regulating the
"take up" and "traverse" in roving and slubbing frames, wherein my patent
driving pulley, known in the trade as the "expander," is used. The change
in the position of the "expander" requisite for keeping an equal tension on
the driving band, when no compensating pulley is used, I also avail myself
of for effecting the take up of the "rove" uniformly. To obtain the change in
position and the change in the direction of the traverse, two weights are used,
the motion of one of which compresses the "expander," and the other regulates
the times of this compression, and the changes in the direction of the traverse.
These improvements are applicable to the formation of cops as well as bobbins.
The Invention relates, secondly, to an improved mode oftransmitting power
along an axis with a minimum of friction, and for readily connecting or dis-
connecting any wheel, pulley, or thing to be driven with or from its shaft or
axle. This is effected by a peculiar spring friction or clutch box, which,
Din 0.11

page_text: when driving, connects the thing driven with its shaft or axle by the action
of the spring, which is so arranged that its pressure when driving is confined
within the shaft, and, as the whole revolves together, there is no wear from
this pressure. It is well known that round bands drive with great power, and
with less pressure on the bearings in proportion to the power transmitted than
ordinary straps, and that for this reason, and also because they occupy less
space, they would have been much more used but for the want of a ready mode
of putting them into and out of action, which this part of this Invention is
designed to remedy, and for the difficulty of manufacturing them of any
required size and strength, which the third head of this Invention is designed
to remove.
In making round bands, I prefer to use leather prepared in any of the
usual ways, but "gut" or any other suitable substance may also be employed.
In using leather, a hide or part of a hide is first cut into a long strip, of a
breadth corresponding with the strength or size of the band required. This
long strip is made by cutting round and round the piece of leather, and then
stretching it. When this is done, two pins may be fixed at a distance
corresponding with the length of the band required. Round them the strip
or a number of strips are lapped in parallel strands at an equal tension, till
such quantity is put on as will ensure the requisite amount of strength. The
ends of the strip or strips are then joined by tying or lacing one end through
the other or otherwise, and the joining put into the middle of the strands of
the band. One of the pins is now taken out, and the band is twisted and
stretched by the other until it forms a firm rope, in which state it is further
stretched. To join these ends in their place it is only necessary to lap round
and round, through the loops formed by the ends, a piece of a similar strip of
leather till about an equal substance is there, and then fasten the ends.
this manner a soft, pliable, and strong endless band of any size can be formed.
If the band stretches by use, it is only necessary to remove the joining pieces,
and give it a little more twist, and join it again. It will be obvious, that
where more power is wished to be transmitted by this means than one band is
capable of conveying, two or more may be used, acting in conjunction.
In
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Combe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th December 1860.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
James Combe, Her special license that I, the said James Combe, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Combe, 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 ROVING AND
SLUBBING FRAMES, AND IN THE MEANS OF TRANSMITTING POWER THERETO AND TO
MACHINERY GENERALLY," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
James Combe, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Combe, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manuer the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
My Invention of improvements in roving and slubbing frames, and in the
means of transmitting power thereto and to machinery generally, relates:―
Firstly, to an improved mode of regulating the "take-up" and traverse in
roving and slubbing frames, wherein an Invention made by the present
Patentee, and known as the "expander "is used. By means of the present
Invention the change in the position of the expander, which is necessary for
keeping an equal tension on the driving band when no compensating pulley is
used, is effected. The diameter of the expander is also regulated so as to
take up the rove uniformly. In effecting this change in position, and the
change in the direction of the traverse, two weights are used, the motion or
descent of one of which compresses the expander, and the motion of the other
regulates the times of this compression, and also the changes in the direction
of the traverse. The improvements are applicable to the formation of copsas
well as bobbins. The manner in which this part of the present Invention is
carried out will be understood by the following description:-
"
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation, Fig. 2 is a

page_text: sectional elevation of these improvements; and Figures 3, 4, and 5 are
detached views of parts of the arrangements. A is the end frame of the
machine; B, the bobbin rail or lifter; C is the front or delivery roller shaft;
D, the rack or left shaft; and E is a bracket connecting the front and back
rails of the machine for the support of the end of the cone carriage.
To effect the change in position and consequent variation in diameter of the
expander a, the latter is carried in a framing b, called the cone carriage, which
is supported and turns on bearings in the end frame A and the bracket E.
To this cone carriage b is fixed a lever o (Fig. 2) with a weight c¹ on one end,
and a quadrant rack on the other end. The teeth of this rack gear into
a pinion attached to a ratchet or index wheel d. This ratchet wheel and
pinion, by the gravity of the weight cl would be caused to revolve but for the
action of two retaining catches or pawls e and el, which are lifted alternately to
set the ratchet wheel at liberty to move a little at each change in the direction
of the traverse, as herein-after described. The liberation of this ratchet
wheel d allows the weight c¹ to descend gradually, which causes the cone
carriage to rise and close the expander a by means of the fixed wedge or
inclined plane f, which is fixed to the bracket E. The improved method of
closing or increasing the diameter of the expander a consists in effecting this
object by means of a pin g (Figure 3) in the middle of its shaft, which presses
upon a key passing through a slot in the shaft into the boss of one side of the
expander a. This pin, being acted upon by the wedge f (Figures 1 and 2)
during the rise of the cone carriage b, causes the expander a to close as it
rises, and thus increase its diameter, and maintains the band of a uniform
tension and as a change in position and diameter is made at each
change in the direction of the traverse, a correct and simple "take up" is
obtained.
To effect the changes in the direction of the traverse, and at the same time
to liberate the ratchet wheel d and allow the cone carriage to rise and thus
close the expander a, a stud h is fixed to the eud frame -A, and the ratchet
wheel and rack pinion d, and also the "tumbler", which is free to move
distinct from these, are carried on this stud h.
The "tumbler" I is acted upon and effects its changes in the following
manner: To the lifter or bobbin rail B, Fig. 2, is fixed a bracket k, with
two studs K and K², which, as the lifter B rises or falls, one or other of the
studs or 2 acts upon the tumbler i, and moves it until the point of the
wedge passes under the corresponding wedge m on the weighted lever m'.
The pressure of the upper wedge m acting on the side of the wedge of the
"tumbler" i, causes it to move instantly forward, and complete the stroke. By

page_text: this motion the traverse is reversed through the connecting rod n, which is
attached to a plate o, that carries the two pinions p and p', that drive the lift
or rack shaft D through the train of wheels q¹, 9. The change is caused by
driving direct by the pinion p, Fig. 5, on the shaft, and through the
intermediate p¹ alternately, which of course cause a reverse in the direction
of the revolutions of the rack shaft D, and a change in the direction of the
The motion of the tumbler i (Figures 2 and 4) also liberate the
ratchet wheel d by means of the cams 2, 3, which act upon two pins e-, e³, on
the back of the retaining catches e, e, allowing one catch to fall just before the
other is lifted, so that only half a tooth is allowed to pass at a time; this
ratchet wheel can be changed to accord with the thickness of the rove or
material being wound.
traverse.
When it is desired to form cops or bobbins with taper ends, in place of the
bracket k and its two studs being fixed to the lifter or bobbin rail B, there is
a bracket r, Fig. 4, with a stud on which the lever oscillates; this lever
has two inclined surfaces 2 and 3, which alternately act on the stud i¹¹ in the
"tumbler". To the upper partofthis lever' is attached a rod, which connects
it to the cone carriage by the lever . As the cone carriage b rises, the
lever is brought forward, so that it acts upon the pin at a place where the
incline surfaces 2 and 3 are nearer each other, thus causing the reversing of
the traverse to be done a little sooner each succeeding lift or descent.
By varying the inclination or movement of the lever 1, a greater or less
taper can be given to the ends of the cop, as may be desired. It will also be
evident that the length of the traverse can be very readily adjusted in the
arrangement for bobbins by merely shifting the studs and in the slots of
the bracket k, as seen in Figures 1 and 2.
The second part of my Invention relates to an improved mode of trans-
mitting power along an axle with a minimum of friction, and for readily
connecting or disconnecting any wheel, pulley, or other contrivance to be
driven with or from its shaft or axle. This is effected by a peculiar spring
friction or clutch box, which when driving connects the part driven with its
shaft or axle by the action of the spring, which is so arranged that its pressure
when driving is confined within the shaft, and as the whole revolves together
there is no wear from the pressure. Figure 6 is a longitudinal section; and
Fig. 7 is an end view of the mode of applying this method of transmitting
motion to a flax spinning frame; S' is the grooved or band pulley, which runs
loosely upon the cylinder or tin roller shaft S; S2 is a friction plate fastened
to the shaft S by a key through its boss and through a slot in the shaft. This
arrangement admits of the plate S being pushed back but not turned round

page_text: on the shaft; S3 is a radial spring of cast iron. In the action of driving, the
spring S³ presses the frictional plate S against the grooved driving pulley S',
and thus connects it with the shaft, and the whole will revolve together. In
order to stop the machine the pin t is pressed against the key of the friction
plate S2 by the handle or stopping lever u, whereby the pressure of the spring
and friction plate is removed from the grooved pulley St, and allows it to
revolve freely on the shaft. It will be obvious that the pulley S¹ may also be
set free by applying the pressure by means of a forked lever, or other conve-
nient and suitable contrivance to the boss of the friction plate or spring. Such
a contrivance may be adopted when, from the arrangement of the parts, the
pint in the middle of the shaft could not be applied. It will also be under-
stood that many modifications of the arrangements and forms of springs may
be used. It is well known that round bands drive with great power and with
less pressure on the bearings in proportion to the power transmitted than
ordinary straps, and that for this reason, and also because they occupy less
space, they would have been much more used but for the want of a ready
mode of putting them into and out ofaction. The part of the Invention above
described is designed to remedy this objection and inconvenience, and may be
used in connection with the third head of the Invention, which has for its
object the removal of another difficulty.
The third head of the Invention consists in providing a good and lasting
band applicable to driving and stropping machines generally, whateveramount
of power they require. This improved band may be used with grooved or
any other kind of pullies. There are several kinds of bands in use for
the purpose, but they are liable to objections, which are well known. By
the means now proposed, bands of any required size or strength can be formed,
and they can be joined without difficulty, and without making the joining so
stiff or so much larger than the body of the band as to interpose with its
working. In carrying out this part of my Invention I prefer to use leather
prepared in any of the usual ways, but "gut" or any other suitable substance
may be used. In using leather a hide or part of a hide is first cut into a long
strip or thong of a breadth corresponding with the strength or size of the band
required. I prefer that there should be as many strips or thongs used as is
convenient, corresponding to the required strength of the band; this long strip
or thong is made by cutting round and round the piece of leather and then
stretching it. When this is done two pins may be fixed at a distance corres-
ponding with the length of the band required (see Figures 9 and 11) round
them, the strip or thong or a number of strips or thongs are lapped in paralle
strands at an equal tension till the necessary quantity is put on.
The ends of

page_text: the strip or strips are then to be joined by tying or lacing one through the
other or otherwise. Fig. 12, shews the mode 1 prefer for joining the dif-
ferent strips or thongs where one strip can be passed through the hole in that
to which it is attached. Where this cannot be done, as in joining the first
and last ends, the mode shewn in Fig. 13 may be used. It is of importance
to have these joinings carefully made, and that they should be as little
exposed to wear as possible. The joining should be put into the middle ofthe
strands of the band. One of the pins is now taken out and the band is twisted
and stretched until it forms a firm rope, as seen in Fig. 10, in which state it
is still further stretched. Tojoin these ends in their places for work it is only
necessary to lap round and round through the loops formed by the ends a
piece of a similar strip of leather till an equal substance is there (see Fig. 8),
and then fasten the ends, In this manner a soft, pliable, and strong endless
band of any size can be formed. If the band stretches by use it is only
necessary to remove the joining pieces and give it a little more twist, and join
it again. It will be obvious that when more power is wished to be trans-
nitted than one band is capable of conveying two or more may be used
acting in conjunction with pullies with any number of grooves.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in
Roving and Slubbing Frames and in the Means of Transmitting Power
thereto, and to Machinery generally," and having explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above
in part recited Letters Patent, I claim,-
First, regulating the "take-up" and reversing the direction of the traverse
in roving and slubbing frames by the means above described.
Secondly, the mode of connecting driving wheels or pullies with their shafts
and disconnecting them therefrom, as above described.
Thirdly, constructing driving bands as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Combe, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty.
JAMES COMBE.
(L.S.)