Improvements in Apparatus for Covering Electrical and other Wires.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 9th May, 1896-Accepted, 13th June, 1396
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Covering Electrical and other
Wires.
I, CHARLES WILLIAM WASHINGTON, of Stanley Street, Sowerby Bridge,
Yorkshire, Engineer and Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention refers to the covering or wrapping of electrical and other wires
with yarn, thread or long lengths of fibres or fibrous materials, and my improve-
ments consist in constructing the apparatus, used, for such purpose, to carry two or
more bobbins of yarn or thread which are so mounted as to be easily removed and
inserted again; to give a rigid or firmer support to the feed barrel and parts; and
to make the guide eyes adjustable so as to suit the direction of the yarns, to
vary the tension thereon, and to determine the relative positions of delivery to
the wire.
"
In carrying out my invention I mount loosely on one end of the feed barrel or
hollow tube through which the wire is traversed, a disc or plate which is adapted
to be rotated somewhat in the same manner as the present "head
or bobbin
frame, such plate carrying or having secured thereto two or more spindles to
receive the bobbins of yarns or threads. The opposite end of the feed barrel is
journalled loosely in a suitable bearing carried by and secured to the free ends of
the bobbin spindles, said bearing having formed on or attached to the face thereof
one, two or more plates or brackets recessed centrally or arranged to allow the
wire to between or through to and from the feed barrel and provided on each face
with suitable openings or slots through which the yarns or threads are guided
direct onto the wire. In conjunction with each such opening.c
.or slot is a traverse
bar or roller and guide eye, the latter being adjustable vertically to alter and vary
the drag or tension on the yarn, and also laterally to determine the point of
delivery of the yarn to the wire. Suitable tension is put on the bobbins to prevent
over-running, by means of flat springs which act upon loose flanges or plates and
press them against the outer ends of the bobbins, the pressure of such springs
being regulated or adjusted by screws or like means.
To the disc or plate carrying the bobbin spindles and in a suitable position
thereon with reference to each bobbin, I attach studs or projections having suitable
guide eyes adjustably secured thereto to guide the yarns from the bobbins to their
respective eyelets on the brackets from whence they are conducted over the
traverse bars or rollers and through the openings or slots corresponding to the
bobbins, direct onto the wire. When the machine is set in motion, the bobbin
frame or "head" is rotated around the feed barrel and causes the yarns or threads
from the bobbins to be laid spirally round the wire as it travels forward through
the bracket, the yarn from one bobbin being delivered and wound onto the wire a
little in advance of the other so that the space left between the coils of one section
of yarn are filled in by the coils of another section or sections of yarn and an even
and level layer or covering laid over the whole length of wire. To wind two or
more yarns around the wire in alternate coils equi distances apart as set forth,
I accelerate the speed at which the wire is traversed through the machine, by
which means the wire can be covered from end to end in much less time than is

page_text: possible with the present apparatus. By employing two or more bobbins in each
apparatus, the yarn capacity thereof is proportionately increased and allows of a
much longer length of wire being covered without break, at one operation.
The bearing is secured to the bobbin spindles by nuts or by suitable catches or
locking bars, which, on being unscrewed or disconnected allow the bearing to be
Swivelled sideways or removed and the empty bobbins taken off and replaced by
full ones, thereby avoiding the necessity heretofore existing of having to cut the
wire before removing the bobbin, or of winding a fresh supply onto the empty
bobbin in the apparatus.
The above construction of the apparatus or "head" also gives greater stability
or rigidity to the parts and ensures more regular work.
The guide eyes carried by the bobbin disc or plate can be adjusted at any angle
to the bobbins and at varying distances therefrom.
may use in conjunction with the apparatus a suitable stop motion for stopping
the machine or section of the machine, on the breakage or failure of yarn or thread,
said motion being actuated by an eyelet or detector wire which, on the yarn
breaking, will fall, and, by contact with an electrical connection, or by engagement
with a wiper shaft or cam will, through suitable mechanism, cause the driving
strap or band to be slackened or transferred onto the loose pulley.
Any suitable number of apparatuses such as before described may be employed
in one machine, two or more being arranged in line one behind the other so that a
second, third or fourth layer of yarn may be wound one over another around the
wire in its traverse from the feeding to the delivery end of the machine; and each
apparatus is also capable of being so adjusted that the yarns or threads from the
second or subsequent bobbins can, if desired, be laid over the top of those coming
from the first or preceding bobbin, thus forming a double or thicker covering with
the same " head or frame.
Deted this 8th day of Ausust 1905
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
· Improvements. in Apparatus for Covering Electrical and other
Wires.
I, CHARLES WILLIAM WASHINGTON, of Stanley Street; Sowerby Bridge,
Yorkshire, Engineer and Machinist, 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 :—
This invention has reference to apparatus or machinery for covering or wrapping
electrical and other wires with yarn, thread or long lengths of fibres or fibrous
materials and my improvements consist in constructing the covering "heads" or
bobbin frames to carry two or more bobbins of yarn or thread instead of only one as
formerly to mount said bobbins so as to be easily removed from and replaced on
the head without severing the wire; to give a rigid or firmer support to the feed
barrel and parts, and to make the guide eyes adjustable so as to suit the direction
of the yarns, to vary the tension thereon, and to determine the. relative. positions of
delivery to the wire.
In order that my said invention may be fully described and ascertained reference
is herein had to the annexed sheets of drawings forming a part of this Specification
in which :-
Fig. 1 is longitudinal elevation of a covering head or bobbin frame for machines
for covering wires, constructed and arranged according to my invention;
Fig. 2 is end elevation thereof;'

page_text: Fig. 3 is longitudinal section taken on line 1-2 of Fig. 4 shewing the parts
which secure the bobbins on the "head" in the positions occupied when released
and opened out to allow of the withdrawal or insertion of the bobbins ;
Fig. 4 is end elevation of same;
Fig. 5 is similar end elevation shewing how the guide plates or brackets are
opened out to give access to the wire in attaching to or twisting the ends of yarn
thereon;
Fig. 6 is end elevation of a head or bobbin frame constructed to carry three
bobbins.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
Referring to the drawings a represents the feed barrel or hollow tube through
which the wine b is traversed in the direction of the arrows in the manner and by
the means common to the class of machine to which my invention applies, the said
feed barrel being passed through a bracket e bolted to the framework (not shewn)
and secured thereto by nut d.
On the rear end of the feed barrel and secured laterally between a flange a¹
formed thereon and a collar a secured by set screw a³, is mounted loosely a disc e
having speed pulleys el formed integral therewith into one or other of which,
according to the speed it is desired to rotate the disc, is inserted the driving band
or strap.
Screwed into the disc e and projecting from the face thereof are two spindles or
studs whereon are placed loosely the bobbins g containing a supply of yarn or
thread for covering the wire b.
The said bobbins are secured on their spindles by means of a double armed
plate i bored centrally to fit loosely on the front end of the feed barrel a so as to
run freely thereon and having radial slots formed at each extremity and on
opposite sides of same which are adapted to take on to the smaller ends of the
bobbin spindles, the said ends being then nipped tightly against shoulders f¹ by
loose bushes forced end wise against the swivelling arm by means of nuts k screwed
on the ends of the spindles f for the purpose of preventing the double armed plate
being thrown out of engagement with the bobbin spindles by the rotary action of
the "head" or frame. The central opening in the double armed plate forms a
bearing for the end of the feed barrel which being thus more rigidily or firmly
supported than heretofore ensures more regular work.
Tension is put on the bobbins g to prevent overrunning when the yarn is
unwinding therefrom, by means of flat or bow springs passed loosely over the
bushes upon which they are prevented from turning round by flats formed on the
sides of the opening through same engaging with corresponding flats j¹ (see Fig. 3)
on the sides of bushes 1.
The springs act upon loose metal plates m and press them against the outer
ends of the bobbins g, the pressure being regulated or adjusted as required by
nuts screwed on to the bushes j.
On the ends of bushes are formed projections j³ (see Fig. 3) which are adapted
to enter the open ends of the radial slots in the arm or plate i which prevent the
bush j from turning round.
When the nutsk are loosened the double armed plate i can be swivelled or
turned round on the harrel a clear of the bobbins g as shewn in Figs. 3 and 4, and
by unscrewing said nuts k off the bobbin spindle and removing the loose bushes j
as illustrated on the upper side of said figures, the bobbins can be withdrawn from
the spindles and others substituted without severing the wire b as it has been
necessary to do heretofore when changing the bobbins, or as an alternative to
severing the wire, of winding a fresh supply of yarn on to the empty bobbin
without removing it from the "head" or frame.
To the swivelling double armed locking plate i are secured by nuts n two studs
or pins n', n', which support the two guide plates or brackets o, one of which is
hinged or pivoted at one side on the stud n and the other on the stud n' the
opposite sides of the said plates or brackets being provided with slots p, p', which

page_text: are adapted to take on to the studs n', n³, respectively on which they are secured
by nuts q.
Between the said plates or brackets there is a space or opening left
for the passage of the wire b to or from the feed barrel and centrally of said
plates and directly opposite the wire bare formed longitudinal slots r to guide
the yarns or threads direct on to the wire, the edge of each slot being rounded
or provided with a short bar to afford a larger frictional surface for the
yarns.
At the side of each slot and journalled in bearings projecting from the
plates n³, n², are small rollers or traverse bars s and in conjunction with which and
secured to the studs n', n², by nuts t are guide eyes t' which are passed through
longitudinal slots 2 formed in said studs in order they may be adjusted vertically
to alter or vary the drag or tension on the yarn and also laterally to determine the
points of delivery of the yarns to the wire.
To the disc e are secured studs or brackets u in which are secured by screws u¹
guide eyes v adjustable vertically or radially to vary the distance or angle of each
said guide eye with respect to the bobbins g so as to alter or vary the drag or
tension on the yarns.
The yarns from each bobbin are first passed through their respective guide
eyes then through the eyelets or guide eyes t¹ over their respective traverse bars
or rollers s and from thence are inserted through the slots r as indicated by broken
lines the plates or brackets o or one of them being opened out as illustrated in
Fig. 5 in order that the attendant may twist each end of yarn around the wire b
in starting to cover it, said plate or plates being afterward closed and secured by
the nuts q
When the machine is set in motion each covering head or bobbin frame thereon
is rotated rapidly around the feed barrel a and causes the yarns or threads from
the bobbins to be laid spirally or helically round the wire b as it travels forward
between the hinged plates or brackets o, the yarn from one bobbin being delivered
and wound on to the wire a little in advance of the other so that the space left
between the coils of one section of yarn are filled in by the coils of the other
section of yarn and an even and level layer or covering laid over the whole length
of wire.
To wind two or more yarns around the wire in alternate coils equi distances
apart as set forth, I accelerate the speed at which the wire is traversed through
the machine by which means the wire is covered from end to end in much less time
than is possible with the present covering "heads" or machines.
The construction of covering heads or bobbin frames to carry two or more
bobbins increases the yarn capacity two or more fold and in addition to allowing
of a much longer length of wire being covered without break, at one operation, the
production of the machine is considerably increased.
In Fig. 6 shew one method of arranging the bobbin frame or covering head
to carry three bobbins, the parts being in all respects similar to those described
with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 but in triplicate instead of duplicate order.
Although it may not be necessary to employ inore than three bobbins in one
covering head, for large heads or bobbin frames in which it may be desired to
employ four bobbins, the parts would be arranged on the same lines as in the case
of two or three bobbins, the hinged plates or brackets o being arranged on four
sides or box fashion, or there may be only two plates o as in Figs. 1 to, each
plate, however, having two slots with their respective traverse bars or rollers,
and the adjustable guide eyes secured in slots in each stud n¹, n³.
Any suitable number of covering heads or frames such as hereinbefore described
may be employed in one machine, two or more being arranged in line one behind
the other as in the case of the present covering heads so that a second third or
fourth layer of yarns may be wound one over another around the wire in its
traverse from the feeding to the delivery end of the machine; and each covering
head or bobbin frame may be adjusted to lay the yarn from one bobbin or bobbins
to each covering head over the top of the yarn from the other bobbin or bobbins

page_text: in said covering head thus forming a double or thicker covering with the same-
head or frame.
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 :-
Firstly. In machines or apparatus for covering electrical and other wires with
yarns, threads or other fibres or fibious materials or substances, a covering head or
frame constructed and arranged to carry two or more bobbins of yarns or threads
which can be removed from or placed in the bead or frame without severing or
disturbing the wire substantially as herein shewn and described.
Secondly. In a covering head or bobbin frame constructed to hold two or more
bobbins the means substantially as shewn and described for securing and releasing
said bobbins and allowing them to be removed and fresh ones substituted without
severing the wire substantially as berein shewn and described.
Thirdly. In a covering head or bobbin frame for covering electrical and other
wires the double armed swivelling plate adapted to engage with the bobbin spindles.
and forming a bearing in which is journalled and supported the end of the feed
barrel substantially as shewn and described.
Fourthly. In a covering head or bobbin frame hinged guide plates or brackets
provided with longitudinal slots and traverse bars, and adjustable guide eyes for
determining the point of delivery of the yarns to the wire substantially as herein
shewn and described.
Fifthly. The general arrangement, construction and combination of parts.
comprising the herein described covering head, a bobbin frame for covering
electrical and other wires substantially as herein shewn and set forth.
Dated this 8th day of May 1896.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Patent Agents.