IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING AND SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Barlow, of Bolton-le-Moors, in the County
of Lancaster, Machine Maker, William Johnson, of Farnworth, in the
same County, Manager, and William Slater and Peter Knowles, both of
Bolton-le-Moors, aforesaid, Overlookers, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Barlow, William
Johnson, William Slater, and Peter Knowles at the Office of the Com-
missioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 4th May 1854.
We, EDWARD BARLOW, of Bolton-le-Moors, in the County of Lancaster,
Machine Maker, WILLIAM JOHNSON, of Farnworth, in the same County,
Manager, and WILLIAM SLATER and PETER KNOWLES, both of Bolton-le-
Moors aforesaid, Overlookers, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING AND SPINNING COTTON AND
OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS" to be as follows:-
Our improvements consist,-
First, in the application to the machines, called blowers or openers, of
certain machinery, by which cotton or other fibrous materials is maintained in
a uniform fleece during its passage through such machines. This machinery
consists of a perforated plate placed between or near the beater and cage, or
in any other convenient position; this plate is covered with doors or slides,.
which can be opened to admit air when and where required.
Secondly, our improvements consist in an improved bearing for blowers' or

page_text: other machines for preparing cotton. The journal is supported upon an anti-
friction roller, which rests upon another roller revolving in an oil chamber.
The journal is retained laterally in its place by two other anti-friction rollers;
by this arrangement, or any equivalent arrangement of rollers, the journal is
kept constantly oiled, and the friction is greatly reduced.
Thirdly, our improvements are applicable to carding engines, and consist in
carrying off the dust and dirt, which is loosened from the fibrous material
under operation, through a box or cage formed of perforated sheet metal or
wire gauze. This box or cage may be placed in any convenient position, or
several of them may be placed over the main cylinder, to collect the dust at
several places. The air is exhausted from these boxes or cages by a fan or
other suitable means, and the same exhausting apparatus may be made to
remove the dust from under the carding engine. Several carding engines can
be connected by covered troughs, and the dust removed by the same exhaust-
'ing apparatus.
Fourthly, in applying two or more drawing heads to one carding engine,
and in dividing the fleece from the doffer into as many parts as there are
drawing heads; by this means the sliver is reduced in bulk, and consequently
requires less labour before it is reduced to the size of roving requisite for
spinning.
Fifthly, our Invention consists in the application of an elastic substance
between the drawing-up crank of the machines for spinning, called Potter's
self-acting mules, and the drawing-up snail on the winding-on shaft.
Also the application of an elastic substance between the quadrant or radial
arm screw and the winding-on drum or winding-on cone of those self-acting
mules that are worked by a quadrant, or radial arm, or expanding cone, or
expanding snail.
Also in the application of an elastic substance between the mangle wheel
and the carriage of such self-acting mules as are worked by what is commonly
termed a mangle wheel.
Also the application of an elastic substance between the drawing-up scrolls
and the carriage of such mules as are drawn up by bands or chains.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Barlow, William Johnson, William Slater, and Peter
Knowles in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th November 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, EDWARD
BARLOW, of Bolton-le-Moors, in the County of Lancaster, Machine Maker,

page_text: WILLIAM JOHNSON, of Farnworth, in the same County, Manager, and WILLIAM
SLATER and PETER KNOWLES, both of Bolton-le-Moors, aforesaid, Overlookers,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Edward Barlow, William Johnson, William Slater, and Peter Knowles,
Her special licence that we, the said Edward Barlow, William Johnson,
William Slater, and Peter Knowles, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Edward Barlow, William Johnson,
William Slater, and Peter Knowles, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING AND SPINNING COTTON AND
OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said Edward Barlow, William Johnson, William Slater, and Peter Knowles,
by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand
and seal of either of us, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Edward Barlow, William Johnson,
William Slater, and Peter Knowles, do hereby declare the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say:-
The nature of our Invention consists,-
First, in the application to the machines for preparing cotton and other
fibrous materials, called "blowers, scutchers, or openers," of a perforated plate
covered with doors or slides, which plate is placed between the beater and the
exhausting cage, or in other convenient position, to admit air when requisite
for distributing the fibrous material in a uniform fleece.
Secondly, in an improved construction of bearings suitable for the axles of
beaters or of card cylinders, or other axles of machines used in preparing and
spinning cotton and other fibrous materials.
Thirdly in the application to carding engines of boxes- or cages, in which a

page_text: partial vacuum is formed, for the purpose of removing, the dust or other, light
impurities which are separated from the cotton or other fibrous material
during the operation of carding; also, in removing the dust or other light im-
purities which usually. collect under carding engines, by boxing up the under
part of such engines, and exhausting the air from the part so boxed up..
Fourthly, in the application of two or more drawing heads or sets, of
calender rollers to a carding engine, and in dividing the fleece from the
doffer of the said engine into as many parts as there are drawing; heads or sets
of calendar rollers.
Fifthly, in the application to the machinery for. spinning, called "Potter's.
self-acting, mules," of an elastic substance between the drawing-up crank
and the snail on the winding-on shaft, for the purpose of avoiding the shock or
jerk which otherwise would be given to the parts.
Sixthly, in the application to such self-acting mules as are worked by a
quadrant, or radial arm, or expanding cone,, or expanding snail, of an elastic
substance between the winding-on drum or snail and such quadrant, or other
part.
. Seventhly, in the application to such mules as are worked by drawing-up
scrolls, of an elastic substance between the said scroll and the carriage.
?
And, lastly, in the application to such self-acting mules as are worked by a
mangle wheel and rack, of, an elastic, substance between the rack and the
carriage.
Having thus stated the nature of our Invention, we will proceed to describe
the manner of performing the same.
.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
On Sheet 1, Figure 1. is a side elevation of part of a double-beater
blower, to which the first and second of our improvements are applied;
Figure 2 is a plan of the same. a is the axle of the beater; supported by
our improved bearing, shewn half size in Figures 3 and 4, which will be
explained hereafter. -b is the upper cage; b, the lower-cage; and c, the lap-
machine, constructed in the usual manner. Between the beater a and the
cages band is a plate marked.d. This plate is perforated with small holes
across the whole width of the machine, as shewn best in Figure 2; and for a
breadth of about three inches, or more or less, the perforations in the plate d
are capable of being covered by the lids d, five of which are shewn closed in
Figure 2, and one open. All these lids are closed when the machine is
working properly. The plate d², which forms part of the casing between the
plate d and the cages 6 and b,. is glazed in the usual manner, so that the

page_text: attendant may examine how the machine is operating. If the fleece of fibrous
material collected on the cages is not of a uniform depth, the attendant, by
opening or closing the lids d', can remedy the defect; for instance, if too much
fibrous material is accumulating in the centre of the machine, the attendant,
by opening the lids in the centre of the machine, admits more air in that part;
the effect of which is to distribute the fibrous material towards the sides of the
machine, thereby making the fleece of uniform depth throughout. On the
other hand, if the fibrous material accumulates too much at the sides, the outer
lids d¹ are opened, and the air thus admitted tends to drive a portion of the
fibrous material from the sides towards the centre of the machine. We wish
to remark that slides may be used instead of the lids, shewn in the Drawing,
but we prefer lids; and the perforated plate d may in double-beater blowers
either be applied between the second beater and its cages, as shewn, or a
perforated plate may be applied between each beater and its cages, or, the
perforated plate may be applied in any other convenient part of the machine.
Our improved bearing, which is shewn in Figures 3 and 4, consists of an outer
case, e, which is bolted to, the side frame, as shewn in Figure 1; to this case
is bolted the front plate e¹ and lid e³. The journal to be supported is shewn in
section at a, in Figure 3. This journal bears upon the roller, 9, which is sup-
ported by the roller g. Both these rollers have steel centres working in
bearings in the case, e and front plate e¹. The roller g¹ revolves partly in oil or
other lubricating material contained in the vessel e³; the outer compartments
of which vessel catch the lubricating material that drops from the roller g or
from the journal, which is held at each side by the rollers g².. We would have
it understood, that although these improved bearings are shewn for supporting
the axles of beaters, we do not limit their use to that purpose, as such
[bearings, or others constructed on the same principle, are equally applicable to
the main cylinders of carding engines, or to other axles of machines used in
preparing and spinning cotton and other fibrous materials, in which it is
desirable to diminish friction.
On Sheet 2, Figure 5 is an elevation of the principal parts of a carding
engine, shewing the mode of applying the third and fourth of our improve-
ments; Figure 6 is a plan of the same. In these views, h, is the licker-in,
which takes the fibrous material to be carded from the feed rollers i, and
delivers it to the main drum or cylinder j; this cylinder is furnished with top
cards or with workers and clearers, in the usual manner. K is the doffer; from
which the fleece is doffed by the.comb-K', as usual.. Above the licker-in is a
cylindrical box or cage 1, made of wire. gauze or perforated sheet metal; the
axle of this cage is supported in bearings at each side of the machine, and

page_text: the circumference of the cage is set nearly in contact with the card teeth of
the main drum and of the licker-in. A slow rotary motion is given to the
cage in any convenient manner. The cage is in communication by means
of the spouts with the channel P, in which a partial vacuum is formed by a
fan or other exhausting apparatus, in the same manner as in the cages of
blowers. The channel may be made to pass under a row of carding
engines, so that the same exhausting apparatus may be used for them all.
When the carding engine to which our improved cage is applied is at work,
the dust and other impurities loosened from the fibrous material under opera-
tion are drawn into the cage 1, and thence into the channel 1, thereby
removing them from the fibrous material, which is thus more effectually
cleansed than heretofore. It may sometimes be requisite to place the cage
near the doffer or in any other convenient position; two or more cages may
be used, if found requisite, the number of cages depending on the quality of
the fibrous material to be carded. The casing marked m reaches from the
feed rollers i to the doffer. We propose in some cases to form a partial
vacuum in the space between this casing and the main drum and licker-in,
by forming a connection between this space and the channel ; the effect of
this would be to remove a great portion of the dirt and other light impurities
from under the main drum and licker-in, and the heavier dirt is allowed to
drop through the trap-door m', which is opened occasionally by the attendant.
On referring to Figure 6, it will be seen that the carding engine is fur-
nished with two drawing heads, each of which consists of two drawing rollers
n, and four calendar rollers n'. We prefer drawing heads of this construction,
although any other ordinary drawing head may be employed; or sets of
calendar rollers without drawing rollers may be used. The fleece which is
struck from the doffer is divided into two equal parts, one part being con-
ducted to each drawing head; the two slivers thus formed are collected in the
cans 0. The object of thus dividing the fleece and forming two slivers from
one carding engine is to reduce the bulk of the slivers produced, thereby
diminishing the number of operations requisite for reducing the sliver to a
roving suitable for spinning; in some cases, three or even more drawing
heads may be applied to the same carding engine. The slivers thus obtained
may either be passed through a drawing frame, or they may be taken direct to
the slubbing or roving frame; this depends upon the quantity of doubling
required and upon the quality of the yarn to be produced.
'
Figure 7 represents part of one of "Potter's self-acting mules," to which
our improvements are applied. is the drawing-up crank; s, the snail on the
winding-on' shaft s'. The chain t connects the crank r to the snails, and the

page_text: carriage of the mule is drawn in by this chain. t is a thick washer of
vulcanized india-rubber, or any other suitable elastic material, contained in a
box to prevent it expanding. When the chain is tightened, for drawing the
carriage in, the washer of elastic material yields, thereby preventing the shock
or jerk that would otherwise be given to the parts.
The mode of applying our sixth and seventh improvements is similar to that
described in reference to Figure 7, and will be clearly understood without
Drawings.
Figure 8 represents part of a self-acting mule in which the carriage is
worked by a mangle wheel and rack. In this instance we place a buffer of
any suitable elastic material between the end of the rack and the carriage, to
prevent the shock that would otherwise be imparted to the carriage when the
mangle wheel reverses the direction of motion.
Having thus described the nature and particulars of our Invention, we
declare that we claim,―
First, the perforated plate d and lids d¹ for regulating the admission of
air to blowers, scutchers, or openers, in the manner and for the purpose
described in reference to Figures 1 and 2.
Secondly, the improved construction of bearings, as shewn and described in
reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.
.
Thirdly, the application to carding engines of perforated boxes or cages
and the casing m, shewn in Figures 5 and 6, in which a partial vacuum is
formed for removing the dust or other light impurities that are loosened from
the fibrous material during the operation of carding.
Fourthly, the application to carding engines of two or more drawing
heads or sets of calender rollers, as shewn and described in reference to
Figures 5 and 6.
And, lastly, the implements applicable to self-acting mules, as shewn in
Figures 7 and 8, and as described, for avoiding or diminishing the shocks
usually occasioned by the working parts referred to.
In witness whereof, we, the said Edward Barlow, William Johnson, and
Peter Knowles, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Second
day of November, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
EDWARD BARLOW.
(L.S.)
WM JOHNSON.
(L.S.)
PETER KNOWLES.
(L.S.)