IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR OPENING AND SCUTCHING COTTON
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I LAYCOCK HARGREAVES of Globe Works, Accrington, in the County of
Lancaster, Foreman Mochanic, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR OPENING AND SCUTCHING COTTON" to be
as follows:-
"
This invention consists of an improved adjustable "grate" and partition so as
to regulate the air current as required, and such grate is according to this invention.
mounted and counterbalanced to move and swing back to its original position after
any obstruction has passed the grate thereby avoiding fracture and breakage of'
the bars common to grates when fixed as heretofore.
I mount the lower bars of the radial grid or grate, upon a frame, the latter
being connected by rod and lever so that the several bars may be turned on their
ends so as to close, or nearly so, the air passages, between the said bars, a partition
separates the lower from the higher radial bars (the latter being the main air
passage way) so as to prevent dirt and dust-blown from the cotton on the higher'
bars falling amongst the cotton on the lower grate as heretofore.
The lower end of the frame or rails which carry the grate bars I mount upon a
rod or on end studs, its upper end rests upon a counterbalanced lever so that the
grate remains in position during the ordinary working, but should any balled
cotton or other obstruction, pass to the grate, the extra pressure will force back the
upper part of the grate and the counterbalanced lever, and soon as the obstruction.
is passed, the said lever will by its counterbalancing weight return the grate to its
original position.

page_text: Fig. 2 18 a plan view of bars or grates,
Fig. 3 is sectional elevation of counterbalanced movable and self adjusting grid
or grate.
Fig. 4 is a plan view.
The bars 1. 2. 3. 4. 5 of the radial grid or grate 6 are provided with round ends
or axes on which they are free to turn upon the frame 7 so as to regulate the air
current the frame being free to slide in the slots 8, 9, by means of the lever 10,
the recesses or spaces 11 gear with the angle of the bars 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. and turn the
latter on their axes closing or partially so the air spaces between the bars as
desirable, the upper bars or grates 12, 12, 12, 12, are screened off by means of the
partition plate 13 so na to prevent falling leaf or light dirt, being drawn by the
current to the cotton on the bars 1. 2. 3. 4. 5-The lower end of the grate see
Fig. 3 is mounted upon a rud 14 or on end studs 15. 15. the upper end of the
grute 6 being supported by the arm 16 of the counterbalanced lever 17, free to
move on the stud or fulcrum 18, so that balled cotton or other hard substance will
cause the grate and balanced lever to yield and breakage is ávoided.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The grate 6 having part of its bars such as 1. 2. 3. 4, 5 mounted and capable
of being adjusted by appliances such as herein described and illustrated and for
the purpose herein set forth.
2. The grate 6 when its end is mounted upon a cross shaft or upon studs in
combination with and held (during ordinary working) in position by means of the
weighted levers as herein described and as illustrated by drawings annexed,

page_text: 3. The construction of apparatus for purpose aforesaid wherein part of the
grate or grid bars are adjustable, the entire grate 6 being self adjusting, as and for
purpose herein described and illustrated.