Improvements in Cop Skewers.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 31st Dec., 1891-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cop Skewers.
I MARTIN WALSH of Lumford Mill Bakewell in the County of Derby
Manager do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My said invention relates to the skewers which are used to impale and hold cops
as is well understood.
The ordinary cop skewers labour under this disadvantage that in placing them
into the cops they are apt to stab and disarrange the layers of the cop, while in
the process of unwinding, the layers of yarn are apt to fray and become loose and
the whole cop to rise upon the skewer and sometimes pull entirely off thereby
causing great waste and loss of time.
This arises from the fact that the ordinary skewer being rigid and tapering from
the foot to the point exercises no holding grip in itself upon the cop and as the cop
becomes weakened by the process of unwinding the holding contact becomes still
less, with the result that the cop is pulled up and off the skewer and waste and loss
result.
Now according to my invention I make the cop skewer elastic and expansible
and compressible throughout its length so that at all parts and at all times, during
the process of unwinding the skewer exercises a gentle and equable pressure
outwards, thus effectually gripping and holding the cop until the whole of the
yarn has been unwound, thus entirely preventing the waste and loss which at present
result.
A further advantage is that in entering the skewer into the cop, the elastic
shoulders of the skewer act as a guide, and keep the point of the skewer exactly in
the centre, thus preventing the point from sticking into or stabbing the interior of
the cop.
My improved cop skewer may be made in a variety of ways so long as the main
principle of my invention is adhered to viz. the production of an elastically
collapsible skewer.
Under a useful form I make the skewer of two or more pieces or arms of elastic
steel or other metal of a semi-circular or other suitable section, such for example as
the well known section of the paragon umbrella rib, braized or otherwise secured
together at the top and bottom and standing apart parallel or nearly parallel
throughout the length of the skewer.
These pieces or arms have an elastic spring outwards and can be compressed
towards the centre of the skewer, so that when the skewer is thrust into the cop it
collapses inward exercising a gentle and equable pressure upon all parts of the
interior of the cop and effecting the advantages hereinbefore referred to.
I do not however limit myself to the form or mode of construction so long as the
elastic principle is otherwise obtained.
A further advantage derived from the improved form of skewer is that the foot
being also elastic when it is stuck into the socket in the bank or board it accom-
modates itself to the varying sizes of the hole and thus always maintains the
skewer in an erect position thus further assisting the production of good work.
Cops packed with my improved skewers are prevented from being damaged by
pressure when packed in quantities.
When my improved elastic skewers are used the ordinary cop tubes may be
dispensed with.
Dated this 28th day of March 1891
DUTTON & FULTON,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
'Improvements in Cop Skewers.
I MARTIN WALSH of 'Lumford Mill, Bakewell, in the County of Derby,
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying drawings:-
-
My said invention relates to the skewers which are used to impale and hold cops
as is well understood. The ordinary cop skewers labour under this disadvantage
that in thrusting them into the cops they are apt to "stab" and disarrange the
layers of the cop whilst in the process of unwinding, the layers of yarn are apt to
fray and become loose and the whole cop to rise upon the skewer and sometimes
pass entirely off thereby causing great waste and loss of time. This arises from
the fact that the ordinary skewer being rigid and tapering from the foot to the
point exercises no holding grip upon the cop and as the cop becomes weakened by
the process of unwinding the holding contact becomes still less with the result that
the cop is pulled up the skewer and waste and loss result.
Now according to my invention I make the cop skewer clastic and expandable
and compressible throughout or nearly throughout its length so that at all parts
and at all times during the process of winding the skewer exercises a gentle and
equable pressure outwards thus effectually gripping and holding the cop until the
whole of the yarn has been unwound thereby preventing the waste which at present
results. A further advantage is that in entering the skewer into the cop the
elastic shoulders of the skewer act as a guide and keep the point of the skewer
exactly in the centre thus preventing the point from sticking into or stabbing the
interior of the cop.
My improved cop skewer may be made in a variety of ways so long as the main
principle of my invention is adhered to viz. the production of an elastically
collapsable skewer. Under a useful form I make the skewer of two or more
pieces or lengths of elastic steel or other metal or alloy of channel section-that
is to say of a semi circular or other similar section-such for example as the well
known section of the "paragon
" umbrella rib. These pieces are brazed or
fastened together by their ends.
The accompanying drawings represent a skewer so formed. Fig. 1 representing
the skewer and Fig. 2 drawn to an enlarged scale showing the section of the metal
used.
The two pieces are united at a a by inserting a short length of wire in the
grooved ends of the pieces and brazing all together. The pieces are curved so
that the distance between them increases from each end to the middle.
The pieces
may be made of steel hardened and tempered so as to have an elastic or spring
tendency to separate when pressed together. I may however use brass or a suitable
bronze or alloy in place of steel.
It will be seen that the two parts of the skewer have an elastic spring outwards
and can be compressed towards the centre of the skewer so that when the skewer is
thrust into the cop it collapses inwards exercising a gentle and equal pressure upon
all parts of the interior of the cop and effecting the advantages hereinbefore
referred to.
A further advantage derivable from the form of skewer is that the foot being
also elastic when it is stuck into the socket in the bank or board it accomodates
itself to the varying sizes of the holes and always maintains the skewer in an erect
position thus further assuring good work. Cops provided with my improved
skewers are prevented from being damaged by pressure when packed in quantities.
When my improved elastic skewers are used the ordinary 'cop tubes may be
dispensed with.
An advantage not yet mentioned arises from the great lightness of my improved

page_text: skewers which I am able to make for some purposes less than a quarter of an ounce
in weight.
The skewer illustrated is double ended-that is to say-either end may be thrust
into the cop but I do not confine myself in this respect.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1) The cop skewer formed of two lengths or pieces of steel or metal brazed or
united by their two ends and curved or shaped so that the skewer will be "elastic"
as set forth and indicated.
2) A cop skewer composed of two lengths of thin channel steel curved or bent
out of a straight line and brazed together at the two ends with the channelled faces
opposite to one another as set forth.
3) A cop skewer composed of two lengths of thin channel steel metal or alloy
shaped and united together substantially as set forth and indicated.
Dated this 30th day of December 1891.
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James' Square, Manchester, Agents.