IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SPINNING, TWISTING, OR DOUBLING WOOLLEN AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Whiteley, of Lockwood, near Huddersfield, in
the County of York, Machine Maker, and Alfred Sykes, of Netherthong,
near Huddersfield aforesaid, Yarn Spinner, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SPINNING, TWISTING, OR DOUBLING
WOOLLEN AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
ealed the 20th April 1877, and dated the 18th January 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Whiteley and Alfred
Sykes at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th January
1877
WILLIAM WHITELEY, of Lockwood, near Huddersfield, in the County of York,
Machine Maker, and ALFRED SYKES, of Netherthong, near Huddersfield aforesaid,
Yarn Spinner. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SPINNING,
TWISTING, OR DOUBLING WOOLLEN AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
This Invention relates to what are known as ring and traveller frames, and our
improvements consist in the employment of apparatus which enables us to dispense
with the use of bobbins or spools, and to wind the yarn upon the spindle or upon a
tube thereon in the form of a cop.
Our apparatus consists of a thin disc of metal which is placed upon the spindle
and fits sufficiently tight to rotate therewith, but which can be lifted upwards either
by winding on of the thread underneath it or by contact with the ring and traveller.
The disc is of rather larger diameter than the ring, and as the distance between the
two decreases or as the ring approaches the nose of the cop the drag on the yarn
which would otherwise be increased is counteracted by the revolving disc, that is,
as the disc revolves it assists in carrying the yarn and traveller round along with
it by reason of the frictional contact between the yarn and periphery or edge of
the disc which increases as the disc and ring traveller approach each other.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Whiteley and Alfred Sykes in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 18th July 1877.
WILLIAM WHITELEY, of Lockwood, near Huddersfield, in the County of York,
Machine Maker, and ALFRED SYKES, of Netherthong, near Huddersfield aforesaid,
Yarn Spinner.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SPINNING,
TWISTING, OR DOUBLING WOOLLEN AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
This Invention relates to what are known as ring and traveller frames, and our
improvements consist in the employment of apparatus which enables us to dispense
with the use of bobbins or spools and to wind the yarn upon the spindle or upon a
tube thereon in the form of a cop.
Our apparatus consists of a thin disc of metal or other substance which is placed
upon the spindle and fits sufficiently tight to rotate therewith, but which can be
lifted upwards either by the winding on of the thread underneath it or by contact
with the ring and traveller. The disc is of rather larger diameter than the ring,
and as the distance between the two decreases or as the ring approaches the nose
of the cop the drag on the yarn which would otherwise be increased is counteracted
by the revolving disc, that is, as the disc revolves it assists in carrying the yarn
and traveller round along with it by reason of the frictional contact between the
yarn and periphery or edge of the disc which increases as the disc and ring traveller
approach each other.
In order that our Invention may be more fully understood, we herein give
reference to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof.
A is the spindle; B, the lifter rail; and C, the ring carrying the traveller a; D
is a disc of metal or other substance which fits sufficiently tight upon the spindle to
rotate therewith but capable of sliding freely thereon. This disc may either have a
small funnel or conical recess d, as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, or it may be 'dished or
convex on the under side, as shewn in Fig. 3. In the former case the disc is moved
upwards on the spindle by contact with the ring and traveller, and in the latter it
is moved by the winding on of the thread underneath it, which acts as a wedge to
force it upwards. We prefer to use spindles flattened on three sides, the flat parts
commencing about the bottom of the cop and increasing towards the top, so that
the sectional area is less at the top than bottom, which facilitates doffing. When
using spindles so shaped, the ferrule or tube of the disc is similarly shaped, which
insures the rotation thereof with the spindles. Fig. 4 is cross section of spindle
thus shaped. Instead however of using flattened spindles we may use round
tapered spindles, and fix inside the tube or ferrule of disc small springs c which
press on the spindle and increase the friction or hold the disc more firmly thereon,
as shewn in Figs. 5 and 6.
It is well known that there is less drag or tension upon the yarn the larger the
diameter of the cop or bobbin upon which it is being wound, and vice versa, con-
sequently it has hitherto been found impossible to wind yarn upon a bare spindle
of small diameter in consequence of the great amount of drag or tension upon the
yarn. The operation of our disc is to relieve the drag in proportion as it increases
in consequence of the yarn approaching the narrow part or nose of the cop. A
comparison of Figs. 1 and 2 will render this easily understood. In Fig. 1 the yarn
is winding on the wide part of the cop where the drag is least and the angle formed
by the thread is very obtuse, so that there is very little friction between the disc
and the thread. In Fig. 2 the thread is being wound upon the narrow part of the
cop where the tension or drag is greatest, the angle of the thread is also increased
in consequence of the ring and traveller having approached the disc. The friction
between the disc and thread is also increased, and this friction removes the tension
or drag upon the thread by assisting the latter in driving the traveller round the
ring until at the point where the disc and traveller are in contact, the tension is
entirely removed from the thread and the traveller is driven by the revolving disc,

page_text: Fig. 7 shews a manner of applying our Invention when it is desired to wind the
yarn upon bobbins or spools for weft or similar purposes. The disc is then placed
upon the spindle above the bobbin or spool and the operation thereof is the same
as previously described, the disc reducing the drag most when the yarn is being
wound upon the narrow part of the bobbin or spool. The disc is in this case
attached more firmly to the spindle than when employed on a bare spindle as it
does not require to move thereon except when taken off for doffing.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and shewn the manner in
which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practice, we would
have it understood that what we consider to be new and therefore claim as our
Invention, is the construction and use of the disc D constructed so as to rotate with
and slide upon the spindle in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein
shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Whiteley, for and on behalf of myself
and the said Alfred Sykes, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Four-
teenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-seven.
Witness,
A. B. CROSSLEY,
Mr. Tasker's,
Patent Office,
Halifax.
WILLIAM WHITELEY. (L.S.)