IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SPINNING AND LAYING FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1878

page_text: :
LETTERS PATENT to Henry Walton Whitehead, of Holbeck, in the Parish
of Leeds, in the County of York, a Partner in the Firm of Taylor, Words-
worth, & Co., of the same Place, Machine and Tool Makers, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SPINNING AND LAYING FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 28th December 1878, and dated the 23rd October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Walton Whitehead at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd October 1878.
HENRY WALTON WHITEHEAD, of Holbeck, in the Parish of Leeds, in the County
of York, a Partner in the Firm of Taylor, Wordsworth, & Co., of the same Place,
Machine and Tool Makers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SPINNING AND
LAYING FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
My Invention consists in the application of a vertical or nearly vertical gill,
which may be either actuated by chains, screws, or otherwise, placed above vertical
guides, below which "guides are vertical spindles, having revolving grooved
drawing rollers fixed above the arms of the flyers. The spindles with the grooved
drawing rollers fixed above the arms of the flyers are applicable to either spinning
or laying, and being vertical, I am enabled to have any number of spindles in a
machine, which may all be driven by one main driving belt. The grooved drawing
rollers fixed above the flyer arms are also applicable to horizontal spinning or laying,
or to gills running horizontally.

page_text: following manner:-a is a shaft on which are the driving pullies receiving motion
from a steam engine; on this shaft is a pulley giving motion through a belt to the
pulley b, on which is carried a change pinion which drives a wheel c carried outside
the frame on the shaft, which, inside of the framing, has keyed upon it the bevil or
skew bevil wheels M' giving motion to the bevil or skew bevil wheels M. carried by
the socket or hollow axis of the wheel L. This wheel gives motion through the
pinion K to the socket I, on the bottom of which is keyed the pinion I¹ driving the
pinions 12 and 13 fixed on the rollers N and N¹.
The pulley by which motion is communicated to the gills is carried on the main
driving shaft of the machine; it gives motion through a belt to the pulley & inside,
on which is carried a change pinion for varying the speed of the endless chain of gill
pins. The motion is conveyed by intermediate wheels to a wheel e keyed on the
axis or roller B which the sheet of endless gills C, C, encircle.
The driving mechanism of the traverse motion of the bobbin R is actuated
through a pulley carried on the main driving shaft of the machine which gives
motion through a belt to the pulley f, on which is carried a change pinion driving
the wheel g. On the other end of the shaft is keyed a mangle pinion which drives
the mangle wheel h, and such mangle wheel shaft carries pinions inside of the
framing of the machine which give motion to the racks i, i, fixed to the lifter z.
The pulley by which motion is directly communicated to the spindle H and flyer P
is shewn at k carried on the main driving shaft of the machine, gives motion
through a belt to the pulley fixed on the spindle foot which carried the spindle H
and flyer P, or the spindle H and flyer P may be driven by gearing from the main.
shaft of the machine as is desired.
My improved spindles with the grooved drawing rollers fixed above the arm of
the flyers are applicable, as already mentioned, to laying as well as to spinning.
Figure 5 is an end elevation of a laying machine with my vertical spindle, with
the grooved drawing rollers N and N¹ arranged to rotate on studs carried by and
at the top or outside of the flyer P. S and S¹³ are flyers for carrying the bobbins R¹
(any number of flyers S, S', may be used, as is well understood). These flyers S
and S are made to rotate so as to give what is called the back or top twist to each
separate strand to be laid, which then passes over a "top" T, which ordinarily.
contains three grooves suitable for three strands. After passing over the top T the
three or more strands meet together at the small end of the top T, and naturally lay
or coil themselves round each other, after which the laid twine is drawn down by
the grooved drawing rollers N and N'. The proper amount of twist is put into the
laid twine while being drawn forward and it is then wound on the bobbin R, as
has already been explained in regard to Figure 1. The laid twine may be passed from
the grooved drawing rollers N and N₁ and wound on the floor where large ropes are
required to be made.
Figure 6 is an end elevation of another laying machine with vertical spindle and
with the grooved drawing rollers N and N'. At the top or above the spindle H
and flyer P I fix any number of flyers P¹, having grooved drawing rollers N and N'
carried outside of the flyers P¹. These flyers P₁ are made to rotate so as to give
what is called the back or top twist to each separate strand to be laid, which then
passes round the grooved drawing rollers N and N', indicated in dotted lines. These
grooved drawing rollers N and N¹ being driven by gearing prevent any uneven
feed of the strands, and ensure a positive and even delivery of the strands from the
bobbins R', thereby preventing any uneven delivery of the strands to the top T.
The top T ordinarily contains three grooves suitable for three strands. After passing
over the top T the three or more strands meet together at the small end of the
top T, and naturally lay or coil themselves round each other, forming a cord which
then passes over the roller U. The roller U runs slowly in a trough V filled with
water, size, or other liquid, and damps the twine, after which the twine is carried
through the smoother W. The smoother W being heated by steam puts a gloss on
the twine or rope, which then passes through the top of the spindle H, as in
Figures 1 and 5.

page_text: Where large ropes are required to be laid similar machinery will be found suitable,
the parts being only varied in size to suit various thicknesses required to be spun,
twisted, or laid. The different parts of the machine are so arranged, as shown on
reference to the Drawing, that each spindle H (with its flyer P and the flyers¨P¹
carrying-the-bobbins R¹) may be stopped separately.
The driving mechanism to the various parts of the machine is arranged in the
following manner: On the same shaft as the driving_pullies are carried are fixed
clutches or dises; one disc or clutch is fast to the boss of the pulley, and the other
disc or clutch is keyed_on_the_driving_shaft_itself. The clutches or discs to each.
spindle H and flyers P with the flyers P¹ are operated upon by a lever carried to the
front of the machine, in order to allow the attendant to stop each one separately.
The-pulley-with-the-clutch-or-disc-fixed-on-the-boss-is-made-of-sufficient-breadth
as to drive the pulley on the spindle foot which carries the spindle H and flyer P
above, and at the same time to transmit motion through a belt to the pulley m
carried by the cross shaft fixed above. On this same shaft is carried a bevil wheel,
which gives motion through another bevil and spur wheels to the upright shaft n.
At the bottom of this upright is a change pinion, which drives by speeding-up gear
the pinion K fixed to the socket I, on the bottom of which is keyed the pinion I'
which gives motion to the pinions I and I³ fixed on the runners N and N¹
l
At the top of the upright shaft n is carried a change pinion o, which drives by
speeding gear the wheel fixed on the centre shaft p. At the bottom of this centre
shaft is fixed a wheel which gives motion to other wheels q, q, carried on the sockets,
and at the top of the sockets are wheels driving the pinions fixed on the runners N
and N¹ carried by studs on each of the flyers P¹
At the top of the upright shaft n is also carried another change pinion p, which
drives by speeding gear the wheel s carried on a socket supported on the centre shafts.
At the bottom of this socket is keyed a wheel t, which gives motion to wheels u on
the flyers P.
The traverse motion of the bobbin R is effected through a pulley carried on the
cross shaft, which gives motion through a belt to the pulley v, on which is carried
a change pinion driving the wheel w, on the other end of which is keyed a
mangle pinion which drives the mange wheel x, such mangle wheel shaft carrying
pinions inside of the framing which give motion to the racks fixed to the lifter Z.
These arrangements give a positive delivery while giving the back twist to the
yarns, and a positive draw while the yarns are being laid or twisted together, thus
preventing over-riding, and ensuring a truer laid cord or twine than heretofore.
Figure 7 is a modification of my Invention, with the grooved drawing rollers N
and N¹ carried by studs at the top or outside of the flyer P, the grooved drawing
rollers N and N₁ here receiving motion by wharls and bands; or the same may be
driven by gearing, as shown in Figures 1, 5, and 6, the barids being preferred when
short fibres are required to be drawn or twisted. The flyer P is carried by the
bearings X and X' supported from the box X2, which carries the gearing for driving
the wheels.
This arrangement greatly facilitates the doffing of the bobbins R, especially where
woollen, worsted, flax, or silk fibres are to be spun or twisted, the bobbin R being
carried by the creel pin Y fixed on the lifter Z. It will be seen on reference to the
Drawing that I bush the bobbin R at the bottom and nearly at the top of the barrel
of the bobbin, and in the top I form a conical bush so that the bobbin revolves on
this bush only, the bottom of the bobbin clearing the washer Z¹ carried on the creel
pin Y. By this arrangement I am enabled to run the flyers P at a greater speed
than usual, and at the same time to doff the bobbins much quicker than heretofore.
Where large ropes are required to be laid similar flyers with the grooved drawing
rollers outside will be found suitable, the parts being only varied in size to suit
various thicknesses required to be spun, twisted, or laid, and the ropes may run
direct from the grooved drawing rollers on to a capstan fixed on the floor and driven
in the usual way, which is well understood.
Figure 8 is another modification of my vertical spindle and flyer P, with the

page_text: grooved drawing rollers N and N' carried by studs at the top or outside of the
flyer P (similar to Figures 1, 5, 6), but it will be seen on reference to the Drawing
that the flyer P is carried by bearings X and X', independent of the spindle H.
The spindle H is fixed in the lifter Z, and passes through the socket part of the
flyer P. Near the top of the spindle H is keyed a plate H, on which runs the drag
pulley H³, regulated by a strap and bolt, or by any convenient method, as is well
understood. The bobbin R is supported by the top part of the spindle H; the
lifter Z is traversed up and down in the ordinary manner. The grooved drawing
rollers N and N' receive motion in all respects as in Figure 1 with the vertical
guide F and vertical gills C and C above, as before mentioned, or the same may be
applied to horizontal spinning, or laying, or to gills running horizontally.
The vertical arrangement is superior to the horizontal, because more spindles can be
got in a machine in the same space, and greater facility is given to the attendant to
attend to the spindles. It will be seen on reference to the Drawing that I cause
the ring of the flyer P to run in the bearing X¹, so that the tendency of the flyer P
to spread by its centrifugal motion is overcome, and it may be made to run at a
much greater speed and more steadily than heretofore.
Figure 9 is another modification of my vertical spindle and flyer P with the
grooved drawing rollers N and N¹ similar in all respects to Figure 8 in regard to
the flyer P, but the spindle H instead of being fixed in the lifter Z is caused to
revolve in the socket of the flyer P and run in a step Z fixed in the litter Z.
The drag of the bobbin is at the bottom of the spindle H, and is effected as in
Figure 8.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of improvements in machinery
for spinning and laying fibrous substances, and explained the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I would observe in conclusion that although in order that my
various improvements may be properly understood I have found it desirable to
describe various well-known parts which have been used for similar purposes, yet I
do not mean or intend to claim such parts except when combined and arranged
according to my improvements, nor do I intend to confine myself rigidly to the
precise construction or arrangements of parts, herein shewn and described, as they
may perhaps be varied in some particulars without departing from the nature and
object of my Invention, but that which I consider to be new in the above-described
improvements, and therefore wish to claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. The combination of parts shewn in Figure 1, and herein described, or any
mere modification thereof, consisting of vertical or nearly vertical gills placed above
guides, below which are upright spindles having revolving grooved drawing rollers
carried upon the arms of the flyer.
Secondly. My improved spindles having grooved drawing rollers carried above or
outside of the arms of the flyers, substantially as described and represented in the
Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Thirdly. The combination of parts shewn in Figures 5 and 6 herein described,
wheren such spindles and flyers are used for laying purposes.
Fourthly. The combination of the parts constituting the spindle, as shown in
Figures 7, 8, and 9, herein described, or any nere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Walton Whitehead, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelvth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.