CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY, WHEREBY CLOTH OR WOVEN FABRICS OF VARIOUS KINDS MAY BE EXTENDED OR STRETCHED AND DRIED IN AN EXTENDED STATE
Year: 1837

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HALL, of the Town of Nottingham, in the County of Nottingham, Lace
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS I did, by petition, humbly represent unto Her present most
Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, that after considerable application and
expence I had invented "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY, WHEREBY
CLOTH OR WOVEN FABRICS OF VARIOUS KINDS MAY BE EXTENDED OR STRETCHED AND
DRIED IN AN EXTENDED STATE," and thereupon Her said Majesty, being willing to
give encouragement to all arts and inventions which may be for the public
good, was graciously pleased by Her Royal Letters Patent under the Great
Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at
Westminster, the Fifth day of December last (1887), in the first year of
Her reign, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, to give and grant unto me,
the said John Hall, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her especial
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I or they, by myself
or themselves, or by my or their deputies, servants, or agents, or such others
as I or they should agree with, and no others, during the term of fourteen
years from the date of the said Letters Patent, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend my said Invention within that part of Her said.
Majesty's Dominions called England, Her Dominion of Wales, and Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, in such manner as to me, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, shall seem meet, and as that I or they shall enjoy the whole profit
and advantage arising by reason of the said Invention, during the said term of
fourteen years; and for that end Her said Majesty requires and strictly.

page_text: commands all Her subjects whatsoever, that they shall not, neither directly or
indirectly, make, use, or put in practice my said Invention, or any part thereof,
nor in anywise counterfeit, imitate, or resemble the same, nor make any ad-
ditions thereto or subtraction therefrom, whereby to pretend himself or them-
selves to be the inventor or inventors thereof; and whereas the said Letters
Patent contain a proviso, obliging me, the said John Hall, particularly to
describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing ander hand
my
and seal, and cause the same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent, as in and by the same (reference being thereunto
had) will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Hall, do hereby declare that my said Invention is described and ascer-
tained in manner following, and by the aid of two Sheets of Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
The machinery to which my aforesaid improvements relate is in part what
is called steam drying machinery, which operates with revolving cylinders
which are kept hot by introducing steam within them, for drying calico or
paper by passing the same over or around the moving circumference (or part
of the moving circumference) of such revolving steam cylinders, in order to
dry the calico or paper by contact with (or proximity to) the moving heated
surface of the said cylinders. And other part of the said machinery to
which my aforesaid improvements relate is the stretching machinery belonging
to certain improvements formerly invented by me for dressing and getting
up or finishing large pieces of lace nets, and for which improvements Letters
Patent were granted to me by llis late Majesty King William the Fourth,
bearing date the Twenty-seventh of July, One thousand eight hundred and
thirty-six, by aid of which said stretching machinery, the cloth or woven
fabric which is to be operated upon by my aforesaid present improvements
is extended or stretched to its full intended dimensions, and is retained
evenly in an extended state whilst it is passing over or around the moving
circumference (or part of the moving circumference) of a revolving steam
cylinder as aforesaid, in order that the cloth or woven fabric may become
dried or nearly dried in that said extended state. And other further part of
the sa machinery to which my aforesaid present improvements relate are
revolving rollers belonging to what is called callendering machinery, which
operates with pairs of revolving rollers, whereof one roller is kept hot by
steam (or otherwise) to consolidate and give a smooth surface to cloth which is

page_text: passed between such pairs of callendering rollers; and my aforesaid present
improvements on such machinery consist in the combination of the several
parts one with another, as herein-after described, and in certain new additions
(herein-after described) to the said stretching machinery, by virtue of which
combinations and additions machinery constructed according to my aforesaid
present improvements will be adapted for stretching or extending cloth or
woven fabrics of various kinds, and drying the same in an extended
state. The said cloth or woven fabric may be of those kinds thereof which
are usually extended or stretched and dried in an extended state by the
process which is called tentering or racking on rails, the drying being usually
performed in the open air in tenter grounds or fields, but very often the tenters
or racking rails are set up within buildings which are kept heated artificially,
and called stoves or tentering stoves. Or the said cloth or woven fabric may
be any other kind thereof, which it may be found desirable to extend or
stretch and dry in an extended state, although it may not have been heretofore
customary to do so; or the said cloth or woven fabric may be of the kind
thereof which is commonly called gauzes, muslins, and other slight and trans-
parent tissues.
A complete 'machine constructed according to my improvements is repre-
sented in the two Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, and the writing on
those Drawings will assist the explanation. The fixed framing for the machine
consists of two vertical end standards A, A, erected in parallel vertical planes on
the floor or foundation, and they are united together by a horizontal top bar D
to form a firm frame, within which the two large revolving steam-drying
cylinders E and F are mounted on pivots at each end of each cylinder, those
pivots being received in bearings sustained by the end standards A, A, and
steam is conveyed by a pipe a through one end pivot of each cylinder to
fill the interior capacity of that cylinder, also the water arising from the
condensed steam is conveyed away by a steam pipe through the other end
pivot of each cylinder, the several end pivots being made hollow suitably for
the purpose and surrounded with stuffing to prevent the escape of steam or
water, all which is the same as usual in ordinary steam-drying machinery.
1 and 2 are two strong horizontal rails placed parallel to the axis of the drying
cylinders E, F, and to each other; they rest at each end of each rail upon
horizontal bearing plates 3, 3, which are sustained by the framing A, A, and
the rails 1 and 2 are fitted to slide upon those bearing plates. The rail 1 'is
confined-by-suitable-adjusting-screws-upon-its-bearing-plates 8,-3, so-that-it®
cannot recede from or advance towards the cylinders after it has been once
adjusted by its screws to a suitable distance therefrom, but the rail 2 is left

page_text: at liberty to slide upon its bearing plates 3, 3, with a motion parallel to itself
and to the axis of the drying cylinders. The rails 1 and 2 are hollow within
to contain long setting screws 5 and 6, which act upon saddles or sliders 7, 7,
and 8, 8, to move the same along the rails 1 and 2, each of the saddles 7, 7,
8, 8, respectively being fitted upon prominent borders of the rails 1 and 2 in 5
the manner of dove:ailed sliders. One end of each screw 5, 6, is cut with
what is called a right-hand thread, and the other end of the same screw with
a left-hand thread, those threads being fitted or tapped through prominent
parts which descend from each saddle 7, 7, 8, 8, into the hollow within the
rail (1 or 2) whereon that saddle is fitted. Each screw 5, 6, is sustained upon
pivots at each end of it, which are fitted into suitable bearings in the ends of
the rails 1, 2, and one end pivot of cach screw (protruding out beyond its
bearing) has a cog wheel 9, or a winch handle 10 fixed thereon, for turning the
screw round, and thereby the saddles 7, 7, 8, 8, can be slowly moved along
their rails 1, 2, but in consequence of the two ends of each screw having
right and left handed threads, the two saddles 7 and 7, or 8 and 8, which are
fitted in the same rail 1 or 2, will be mutually advanced towards each
other thereon, or will be made to recede mutually from each other thereon,
according as their screw 5 or 6 is turned one way round by its cog wheel -9
or its handle 10, or the other way round. Upon the upper flat surfaces. of
each of the saddles 7, 7, and 8, 8, is fitted a flat circular foot at the end of a
bridge piece 11, 11, whereof there are two, and upright centre pins pass down
through those flat feet to unite them to the saddles, whereby the two bridges
11, 11, are upheld in vertical planes on their respective saddles, in order that
those bridges may sustain the horizontal centre pins or axles 13, 13, whereon
two large stretching wheels 15, 15, are mounted so as to be situated in vertical
planes, but these planes are oblique one to the other, as shewn in the horizontal
plan, Sheet II., and their obliquity may be altered at pleasure by turning the
screw 6, which by acting on the saddles 8, 8, will move the corresponding ends
of the two bridges 11, 11, nearer together or farther apart; and the centre pins
by which the flat circular feet at the ends of the two bridges 11, 11, are united
to their respective saddles 7, 7, and 8, 8, will permit of the bridge assuming
any such obliquity of direction as may be required, and also the rail 2 is at
liberty by sliding upon its bearing plates 3, 3, to accommodate itself in dis-
tance from the rail 1 suitably to such obliquity, but in all cases whatever
obliquity is given to one bridge 11, and its stretching wheel 15, the other
fellow bridge and wheel will have an equal obliquity in a contrary direction,
owing to the right and left handed threads of the setting screws 5 and 6. The
stretching wheels 15, 15, have small pins around their circumferences to receive

page_text: the selvedges, borders, or lists of the piece of cloth or woven fabric which is
to be submitted to the action of the machine, the said pins being cast in
leads 14, which are fastened to the rim of each wheel 15, so as to form a
continuous circle of pins around the circumference. The piece of cloth or
woven fabric when first brought to the machine is rolled up around a roller R,
which is mounted on pivots at its ends in suitable bearing standards erected on
the framing A, A. The two selvedges, borders, or lists are to be applied upon
the said pins 14, 14, around the circumferences of the two stretching wheels
15, 15, so that those pins will take fair hold of the said selvedges, borders, or
lists, and the same must, if requisite, be guided suitably for that purpose by
the assistance of two persons taking hold of the selvedges, borders, or lists
with their fingers and thumbs. By turning the setting screw 6 one way round
or the other by its handle 10, the distance between the pins 14, 14, of the two
stretching wheels 15, 15, can be regulated to bring those parts of their respective
circumferences where the two selvedges, borders, or lists of the cloth or woven
fabric are first applied on those pins, to conform to the width or distance between
those selvedges, borders, or lists according as that distance may happen to be
when the cloth or woven fabric is brought to the machine. And also by turning
the other setting screw 5 one way round or the other by its cog wheel 9, the
distance between the pins 14, 14, of the two stretching wheels 15, 15, can be
regulated to bring those parts of their respective circumferences which are
diametrically opposite to the aforesaid parts (where the selvedges, borders, or
lists are first applied on the pins 14, 14,) to suit the width to which it is
intended to stretch or extend the cloth or woven fabric, the stretching being
performed by action of the two stretching wheels 15, 15, in consequence of
the selvedges, borders, or lists of the cloth or woven fabric being applied
and stuck fast to the pins 14, 14, of the two wheels when the same are at
their nearest together; and as the said selvedges, borders, or lists progress
onwards with the said pins 14, 14, the same recede mutually and gradually
from each other in consequence of the obliquity of the vertical planes in which
the two stretching wheels 15, 15, are situated, and thereby those pins stretch
out or extend the width of the cloth or woven fabric until the said pins,
together with the selvedges, borders, or lists, are gone half round the circum-
ferences of the two wheels and arrived at the greatest distance apart between
those circumferences, and then the two selvedges, borders, or lists are removed
or stripped off from the said pins, and are at the same instant transferred to.
other corresponding pins disposed in two circles 16, 16, around each end of
the steam-drying cylinder E, so that the cloth or woven fabric becomes
extended between those pins 16, 16, on the heated moving surface of that

page_text: cylinder, in contact (or nearly in contact) with that surface, and the cloth or
woven fabric moves therewith, (but without relaxing or altering in its exten-
sion.) so as to become dried or partly dried in its extended state by the heat
derived from the steam within the cylinder E; and when the cloth or woven
fabric has accompanied or gone round with the cylinder E over an extent of
nearly two-thirds of its circumference, then the two selvedges, borders, or lists
are stripped off from the pins 16, 16, and are at the same moment transferred
again to other corresponding pins, which are disposed in two circles 48, 48,
around each end of the other steam drying cylinder F, so that the cloth or
woven fabric quits the heated surface of the drying cylinder E, and then
applies its other or opposite side in contact (or nearly in contact) with the
heated moving surface of the other drying cylinder F, but it is still retained in
a state of unaltered extension between the pins 48, 48, and in that state the
cloth or woven fabric continues to accompany the heated moving surface of the
cylinder F, and to be further dried thereby until it has gone round with the
cylinder F over an extent of nearly two-thirds of its circumference, and then
the cloth or woven fabric having become dry (or as nearly so as is requisite), and
requiring no longer to be kept in its extended state, the selvedges, borders, or
lists thereof are finally stripped off from the pins 48, 48, and the cloth or
woven fabric quits the heated moving surface of the drying cylinder F, and if
required, the cloth or woven fabric can be then introduced between the pair
of revolving calender rollers O, M, which are mounted on pivots at their ends
in suitable bearings, sustained by the end standards A, A, and turned regularly
round by suitable machinery; and one of the said calender rollers M being
kept hot by steam (or otherwise), the combined effect of the pressure and hent
to which the cloth or woven fabric is subjected in passing through between such
callender rollers O, M, will finally complete the drying of the same, and give
it a smooth and evenly finished surface. And note.-The roller R whereon
the cloth or woven fabric is first rolled up has a round wheel k fixed upon
one end of it, and a brake strap 1, whereof one end is fastened to the frame,
being passed over that wheel, the other end has a sufficient weight m sus-
pended to it to cause the strap 7 to apply to the wheel k with so much friction
as will retard the cloth or woven fabric from drawing off or unrolling too
easily from the roller R, and thereby a suitable tension is given to the cloth
or woven fabric in the direction of its length, when it is first applied to, and
stuck on the pins 14, 14, of the stretching wheels. And note.-Also, two small
rollers 50 of soft wood are applied to run upon the two selvedges, borders, or
lists of the cloth or woven fabric, with their circumferences opposite to the
circles of pins 14, 14, each of the rollers 50 being mounted on a centre pin or

page_text: axle which projects out horizontally from one side of a lever 54, whereof the
centre pin or fulcrum is sustained by an upright stem 55, erected from the
bridge 11, and steadied by an oblique brace therefrom. The outer end of each;
lever 54 is loaded with a weight 52, the tendency whereof is to press the
roller 50 towards the pins 14, 14, in order to force the selvedges, borders, or
lists of the cloth or woven fabric down upon those pins, so that the same will
become very securely pinned thereon. And note.-Also, a number of light
wooden rails or perches 49, 49, are attached to the circumferences of the two
stretching wheels 15, 15, at equal distances apart around the same, so as to
form those two wheels into a kind of revolving reel, of nearly the same dia-
meter as the circles of pins 14, 14; wherefore the said rails 49, 49, will sustain
the weight of the middle part of the cloth or woven fabric, and prevent it from
bagging down whilst it is in the act of being stretched between the said
wheels 15, 15, in consequence of their obliquity, as already explained. And
in order that the said rails 49, 49, may be enabled to lengthen and shorten as
they require to do, in going round with the said oblique wheels 15, 15, each
rail 49 is composed of two rails applied together side by side, and united
by pins which are inserted into long slits in each rail, so as to admit of the
requisite lengthening and shortening of each compound rail for enabling it to
go round with the wheels 15, 15; and also the several ends of the said rails
49, 49, must be connected to the circumferences of the wheels 15, 15, by
joints, which admit of a sufficient freedom of motion in every direction to
allow of the flexure which will be attendant on the going round of the rails
with the wheels. But note.-It is not essential that the said rails 49, 49,
should be connected to the circumference of the wheels 15, 15, in order to go
round therewith as aforesaid, in the manner of a reel; for a suitable number
of such rails may be affixed to suitable supports erected upon the rails 1 and 2,
the several rails 49, 49, which are so supported being lengthened or shortened.
in manner aforesaid, as much as may be requisite to enable them to occupy
the space between the two wheels 15, 15, and they will afford the requisite
support to the cloth or woven fabric to prevent it from bagging down as afore-.
said. But whereas the cloth or woven fabric must be dragged over across
the said fixed rails, if that is thought to be objectionable, the rails may be
affixed to the wheels 15, 15, to go round therewith as aforesaid. The two-
circles of-pins-16, 16, around the steam drying cylinder E are cast in crank
shaped leads, and a series of such leads are fastened by screws around two.
circular rings 17, 17, which are fitted truly upon the circumference of the
cylinder E, and revolve therewith. The points of the pins 16, 16, are
bended so as to project outwards from the cylinder E in a suitable manner

page_text: for receiving the selvedges, borders, or lists of the cloth or woven fabric,
but the said rings are capable of being slided along the cylinder E in order to
place their pins 16, 16, at a suitable distance apart thereon for corresponding
with the pins 14, 14, around the two stretching wheels 15, 15, so that the
selvedges, borders, or lists of the cloth or woven fabric may be transferred
from one set of pins to the other set of pins without alteration of the stretching
or retension, which has been given to the cloth or woven fabric by action of
the stretching wheels. For this purpose each of the rings 17, 17, has a narrow
groove formed in it all around its outer circumference to receive the prominent
edge of a small wheel or roller 18, which revolves freely upon a centre
piece 19, so that the roller 18 acts to retain the ring 17 in place lengthways
on the cylinder E, and other like rollers 64, 64, are applied at suitable points
around the circumference of each ring 17 in order to retain the same more
steadily on the cylinder E, but without impediment to the revolving motion,
the said rollers 64, 64, being mounted on horizontal centre pins projecting
laterally from arms 19, which extend outwards from the aforesaid centre piece
19, and the latter is sustained by a long horizontal setting screw 20 extending
across the framing A, A, and supported at each end in bearings affixed to that
framing, its situation being parallel to the axis of the cylinder E, and beneath
that cylinder. The thread, or one end of the long screw 20, is right-handed,
and then the centre picce 19 is fitted upon it, but the thread on the other end of
the same screw 20 is left-handed, and there another centre piece like 19 is fitted
upon it to answer to the other ring 17 on the other end of the cylinder E; where-
fore (as already explained respecting the long setting screws 5 or 6) by turning
the screw 20, the two rings 17, with their circles of pins 16, 16, will be caused
to advance mutually towards each other along the cylinder E, or to mutually
recede from each other thereon, according as the screw 20 is turned one way
round or the other. And for giving the requisite steadiness to the rings 17, 17,
on their cylinder E, another long setting screw 21 (with centre pieces 19 and
rollers 18 upon it, exactly the same as aforesaid,) is applied across the framing
A, A, above the cylinder E, so that its two rollers 18 may act in the groove
around each ring 17, 17, at suitable points on the circumference of each ring,
and which points are diametrically opposite to the points thereon where the
aforesaid rollers 18 of the screw 20 net in the same grooves. The two screws
20 and 21 require to be turned round with coincident motions, for which pur-
pose a small bevil cog wheel is fixed on the end of each screw, and the teeth
of those wheels are engaged by the teeth of other like bevil wheels at the two
ends of an inclined connecting axis 23, which extends from the uppermost
screw 21 to the lowermost screw 20, also on the end of that screw 20 a spur

page_text: cog wheel 35 is fixed, and its teeth take into those of the cog wheel 9 before
imentioned. On the end of the long setting screw 5 a winch handle 22 is
fixed on the end of the screw 21, and by turning that handle 22, all the three
long setting screws 5, 20, and 21, will be turned round with coincident motion
by means of their connecting bevil cog wheels and inclined axes 23 and spur
rog wheels 35 and 9, so as to move the two circles of pins 16, 16, along the
cylinder E just as much as will in all cases keep those pins in just correspond-
ence with the two circles of pins 14, 14, on the circumferences of the two
stretching wheels 15,15, at the parts of those circumferences respectively which
are nearest towards the cylinder E. And note.-The second drying cylinder F
is provided with two moveable rings 67, 67, to which its two circles of pins
48, 48, are affixed exactly the same as the like parts of the cylinder E; and
there are similar means of moving the two rings 67, 67, endways along the
cylinder by long setting screws with centre pieces and rollers, videlicet :-The
two rollers 18 belonging as aforesaid to the long setting screw 21 have each
two prominent rims around it, whereof one acts in the groove around each of
the rings 17, 17, of the cylinder E, as already explained, but the other pro-
minent rim of each of those same rollers 18 acts in the groove around each of
the rings 67, 67, of the other cylinder F; wherefore the same two rollers 18,18,
and their long setting screw 21, serve to retain the two rings 67, 67, on the
cylinder F as well as to retain the two rings 17, 17, on the cylinder E. Also
another long setting screw 71 is provided above the cylinder F with a centre
piece 79, and rollers 78 mounted on each end of its two arms 79 to retain the
two rings 67, 67, steadily in place on their cylinder F. The said screw 71 is
turned round by means of a bevil wheel on the end of it, deriving motion from
a like bevil wheel at the upper end of an inclined connecting axis 73, which is
turned by another bevil wheel on the lowest end of it, the teeth whereof engage
in those of the bevil wheel before mentioned on the end of the screw 21; hence
by this connection, the handle 22 being turned as before mentioned, gives motion
to the two circles of pins 48, 48, along the cylinder Fat the same time, and in the
same direction, and to the same extent, as it gives motion to the two circles of pins
16, 16, along the cylinder E in manner already stated. Note.-The rings 67, 67,
on the cylinder F not being exactly opposite to the corresponding rings 17, 17,
on the cylinder E, the leads in which the pins 48, 48, are cast are made so much
longer than the corresponding leads in which the pins 16, 16, are cast as will
bring the circles of pins 48, 48, in the cylinder F to correspond with the circles
of pins 16, 16, on the cylinder E. The rollers which are borne at the upper-
most ends of the arms 76 of the two centre pieces 19 on the screw 21 apply to
the grooves of the two rings 67, 67, on the cylinder F, whilst the corresponding

page_text: rollers 64, which are borne at the lowermost ends of the other two arins 19
of the same centre pieces, apply to the grooves in the two rings 17, 17, of
the cylinder E. The several rollers which are carried at the ends of the
arms of the different centre pieces prevent those picces from turning round
with the screws 20, 21, or 71, whereon the said pieces are mounted; and
those rollers also assist in retaining the several rings 17, 17, and 67, 67, in
true position around their respective cylinders E and F. The two circles of
pins 16, 16, around the cylinder E are rather nearer together than the least
distance between the two circles of pins 14, 14, around the two stretching
wheels 15, 15; therefore the two pins 14, 14, will come a little outside of
the pins 16, 16, when the two selvedges, Lorders, or lists of the piece of cloth
or woven fabric are to be transferred from the pins 14, 14, of the two
stretching wheels 15, 15, to the pins 16, 16, of the cylinder E, that transfer
being insured by means of two endless cords 25, one of which is extended
partly around each of the stretching wheels 15, 15, in a groove formed around
the exterior rim thereof, and the said cord being conducted over two
pullies 26, 27, circulates freely in the manner of an endless band or cord.
Each of the pullies 26 is mounted on a centre pin borne by a stem, which
descends from the corresponding saddle 7, 7, and each of the pullies 27 is
mounted on a centre pin at the end of a loaded lever 28, whereof the centre
pin is borne by a stem 29, descending from the corresponding bridge 11. The
weight of the loaded lever 28 always keeps the endless cord 25 tight; that cord
may be made of a broad tape twisted like a rope, and the ends sewed together.
Each pulley 26 conducts its endless cord 25 off from the groove around the
corresponding stretching wheel 15, at the place where the pins 14 of that
wheel come nearest to the corresponding pins 16 of the cylinder E, and along-
side of the same, and there the cord 25, by quitting the said groove, and
applying to the surface of the cylinder E, strips off the selvedge, border, or list
of the piece of cloth or woven fabric from the pins 14, and then sticks the
same on to the pins 16. This operation is performed by the two endless
cords 25 at both selvedges, borders, or lists at the same time, so as to tran-fer
the cloth or woven fabric from the pair of stretching wheels 15, 15, to the
cylinder E without any relaxation of the extension which has been given to
the width of the cloth or woven fabric by the divergence of the stretching
wheels 15, 15, one from the other. And note.--In order that the two
stretching wheels 15, 15, may be caused to turn round with equal motion about
their respective centre pius 13, 13, they are coupled together by means of two
spur pinions 30 on a horizontal square axis 32, extending across from one
pinion 30 to the other, and the teeth of those pinions act in the teeth of rings

page_text: of spur teeth 31, 31, around the two stretching wheels 15, 15, and cause both
those wheels to turn round alike. The two pinions 30 are sustained by their
centre bosses, where the same project laterally from the plane of each pinion in
a suitable manner for performing a short axis to each pinion, and which bosses
are lodged in suitable bearing sockets at the lower ends of upright spindles 33,
which are capable of turning freely in other bearing sockets affixed to the
outsides of the two bridges 11, 11, in order that the obliquity of the direction
of the said bridges may not affect the bearings for the said centre bosses of the
piuions 80. And note.-The teeth of each of the pinions 30 may be made
in the manner of round pins projecting out from the circular rim of the
pinion, in order that they may act properly in the teeth of their respective
rims 3, 31, notwithstanding the obliquity of the planes of the said rims to
the planes of the pinions 30, 30, and also the teeth of the rims 31, 31, may be
made so much oblique to the axes 18, 18, of the wheels 15, 15, as will best suit
the pin shaped teeth of the pinions 30, 30, where the stretching wheels 15, 15,
are set at nearly the average of the various degrees of obliquity which they
are required to bave in different cases. The square coupling axes 82 of the
two pinions 30 is fitted through square centre holes in the centre boses of the
two pinions 30, so as to oblige them both to go round together; but the nxis 32
is wholly sustained by the two pinions 30 without any bearings, and the two
pinions 30 being capable of moving freely along the axis 32, it does not impede
their separation from or approach towards each other by the setting of the
bridges 11, 11. The two ends of the square axis 32 apply to the insides of the
bearing rails of the fixed framing A, A, and it is thereby retained in place
endways. Note.-The two stretching wheels 15, 15, are not turned round,
except by the action of the piece of cloth or woven fabric upon their pins 14, 14;
the wheelwork 30, 81, and coupling axis 32 being only provided for causing
both stretching wheels 15, 15, to turn round with equal motion. The large
steam drying cylinders E and T have spur cog wheels L and v at one end of
each, which wheels by gearing together cause both cylinders to turn round
equally. The cog wheel r belonging to the second cylinder F is actuated by
the teeth of a pinion p on one end of the axis of the calender roller O," which
axis is turned round by a pulley N on the end of it, an endless belt or strap
being applied on the pulley N to communicate the requisite motion from any
other suitable pulley, which is driven by a steam engine, water wheel, or
other first moving power. The two ends of the axis O are mounted in bear-
ings formed in the upper parts of the end standards A, A, which retain that
roller firmly down over the other roller M, which is mounted in like bearings
formed in the same standards suitably for compressing-the-cloth.or-woven

page_text: เ
fabric in its passage between the two rollers O, M. The roller M may be
kept hot by means of steam introduced into it through the hollow of one
of its end pivots from a suitable branch of the steam pipe a, and the con-
densed water may be drained away through the opposite end pivot in the same
manner as the large cylinders E and F; or otherwise, in lieu of steam a
hot iron heater may be introduced into the interior of the roller M. The
course by which the cloth or woven fabric passes through the machinery is as
follows:-It is first wound or rolled up around the roller R, as before mentioned,
being then unstretched or shrunk up in width, and being also in a wet or damp
state. The roller R with the cloth or woven fabric around it being mounted in
its place, and the brake strap applied over its wheel k, and suitably weighted,
the cloth or woven fabric is carried from off the roller R over the upper portions
of the circumferences of the two stretching wheels 15, 15, which are adjusted
by turning their long setting screw 6 by its handle 10, so that the distance
between their pins 14, 14, where they come nearest together, will suit the
width of the cloth or woven fabric in its unextended state, in order that its two
selvedges, borders, or lists may be stuck upon the pins 14, 14, by aid of the two
small rollers 50, and with such guidanco or assistance by hands as may be
requisite. The rails 49, 49, sustain the middle part of the cloth or woven
fabric, whether they be attached to the two stretching wheels 15, 15, so as to
go round with them, or whether such rails be fixed by supports from the rails
1, 2, as already explained. The cloth or woven fabric becomes stretched or
extended in width in its progress with the two stretching wheels 15, 15, in
consequence of their obliquity or divergence one from the other, and by turn-
ing the handle 22 that obliquity or divergence can be increased or diminished
at pleasure, until the distance between the pins 14, 14, where they get to their
greatest distance asunder, is made to suit the width to which it is desired to
extend or stretch the cloth or woven fabric, and the same of the circles of pins
16, 16, around the drying cylinder E, as well as the circles of pins 48, 48,
around the drying cylinder F; they will be all moved with one common action
by the same turning of the handle 22, so as to place them at the like distance
apart on their respective cylinders. The aforesaid adjustments being made by
means of the handles 10 and 22 at the commencement of the operation, the
machinery will be then ready to proceod without further alteration of its
handles 10 or 22. Note. The endless cords 25, 25, lie buried within their
grooves around the edges of the stretching wheels 15, 15, so as to be out of
the way of the cloth or woven fabric when the selvedges, borders, or lists
thereof were stuck on the pins 14, 14, and also whilst the cloth or woven
fabric is passing over the upper parts of the c'rcumferences of the stretching

page_text: wheels 15, 15. The cords 25, 25, continue so out of the way until they get
round to where the pins 14, 14, come close to the pins 16, 16, on the cylinder
E, and there the said cords quit their respective grooves, and in so doing they
cause the transfer of the cloth or woven fabric from the two stretching wheels
15, 15, to the cylinder E, to be effected, that is to say, the two cords 25, 25,
strip off the two selvedges, borders, or lists of the cloth or woven fabric from
the two circles of pins 14, 14, of the stretching wheels, and stick the same two
selvedges, borders, or lists upon the two circles of pins 16, 16, of the cylinder E.
And note. To ensure that the said selvedges, borders, or lists shall be securely
stuck upon the pins 16, 16, two small rollers 80 of soft wood are applied to
run upon the selvedges, borders, or lists opposite to the circles of pins 16, 16';
each of the rollers 80 being mounted on a centre pin or axle, which projects
out laterally from the upper end of a lever 81, which is fitted upon the
long setting screw 20, by way of its fulcrum, and the opposite or tail end of
that lever has a weight 82 appended to it to cause the roller 80 to apply with
sufficient force to the selvedge, border, or list, to stick the same on the pins 16,
hence the office of the two rollers 80 is similar to that of the two rollers 50.
The two levers 81 being fitted upon the two ends of the screw 20, they par-
take of the adjusting motions of the rings 17, 17, so that the roller 80 will
always continue exactly opposite to the circle of pins 16, 16; and after the
cloth or woven fabric is transferred in manner aforesaid from the two stretch-
ing wheels to the cylinder E, it becomes firmly extended upon the heating
moving surface thereof, in contact (or nearly in contact) with that surface, so
as to move forwards therewith, and in so doing the cloth or woven fabric
becomes dried or partly dried in its extended state by heat derived from the
steam within the cylinder, and when by accompanying the cylinder E in its
revolving motion the cloth or woven fabric gets round. to the other or
second cylinder F, its two selvedges, borders, or lists are then transferred
from the two circles of pins 16, 16, to the two circles of pins 48, 48,
around the cylinder F; that is to say, the two selvedges, borders, or lists are
stripped off from the pins 16, 16, and immediately stuck on to the pins 48, 48,
that transfer being performed by aid of two rollers 90 of soft wood, which are
applied to run beneath the two selvedges, borders, or lists opposite to the pins
16 and 48, as shewn in the side elevation, Sheet I.; each of those rollers being
mounted on a centre pin or axle projecting out laterally from a lever 91, which
is fitted upon the long setting screw 71 by way of its fulcrum, and tho lever
renches-down-with-a-curvo-nearly half-round-the-cylinder F to sustain tho
roller 90-at-its-lower ond; and from the middle of the curved part of the lever
91, an arm projects out, and has a weight 92 suspended upon it to act on the

page_text: The cloth or woven
lever, so as to urge the roller 90 with force towards the pins 48, and enable
it to effect the intended transfer of the selvedges, borders, or lists from the
pins 16 to the pins 48. And note.-The two levers 91 being fitted on the two
ends of the screw 71, they partake of all the endway motions which are
given by that screw to the rings 67, 67, along the cylinder F, so as to continuo
in all cases to hold the rollers 90 opposite to the pins 48, and to give
the said levers 91 more lateral steadiness; each one may have a stem
or axle projecting laterally from the lower end of it, to form the centre
pin for a small roller, whereof the edge may run in the groove around the
corresponding ring 67, and thereby each of the rollers 90 will be certain to
continue opposite to its corresponding circle of pins 48.
fabric being transferred in manner aforesaid from the cylinder E to the
cylinder F will have its contrary side or surface brought into contact with
the heated surface of the cylinder F to that side or surface which was
previously in contact with the heated surface of the cylinder E, and by
that means both sides or surfaces of the cloth or woven fabric will
be subjected in turn to the action of drying, being in each case in
an extended state. The speed with which the cylinders E, F, are turned
round must be such that the cloth or woven fabric will have had time
to become dried (or very nearly dried) by the time that it has gone round
with them, in manner already explained, and when the cloth or woven
fabric (in so going round with the second cylinder F) is brought near to the
calender rollers O, M, it passes between those rollers, and is stripped off
from the cylinder F by their action of drawing away the cloth or woven fabric
as fast as the cylinder F can yield it up, at the same time that by their com- s
pressing action and the heat of one of the rollers M they consolidate and give
a smooth surface, and also perfect the drying of the cloth or woven fabric, in
case the drying action of the cylinders E, F, had not quite completely dried
the same. And note.-The said compressing action of the rollers O, M,
retains the cloth or woven fabric in its extended state as much as is requisite
to be done during that final completion of the drying, because, the drying
having been previously nearly (if not quite) completed, the cloth or woven
fabric has but little tendency to shrink up from the state of extension which
had been given to it upon the cylinders E and F, or it will only shrink up a
little therefrom. And as fast as the cloth or woven fabric is delivered out s
from between the pair of calender rollers O, M, the intended operation of the
machine upon it being concluded, it may be received in its dried state into a
box in folds, or it may be gathered up around a roller similar to R, but turned
round by a handle or by machinery, as may be found most convenient.

page_text: Several long pieces of cloth or woven fabric may be sewed or attached together
end to end, in case they are of like quality and width, so as to form one very
long piece, which may be subjected to the continuous action of the machine;
but if any derangement occurs, the motion of the machine can be stopped by
disconnecting it from its first moving machinery by any of the modes com-
monly used for that purpose, the requisite connection or disconnection being
effected by a lever handle which extends within reach of the attendants to the
machine, so that its motion can be stopped in an instant or recommenced
again. If the machinery is first beginning its operation, a piece of waste
cloth or woven fabric, of sufficient length to reach through the machine, may
be introduced properly into it, leaving the hinder end thereof out of the
machine, and to that end the foremost end of the long piece which is about to
be subjected to the action of the machine may be attached, and it will be
thereby led into the machine when the same is put into motion. And note.-
The several rings 17, 17, and 67, 67, on the two drying cylinders E, F, must
be caused to go round therewith, so as to accompany their respective cylinders
in their revolving motions. For this purpose straight grooves may be exca-
vated in the surfaces of the cylinders in directions parallel to the axis thereof,
and pins or studs may be fixed to the rings to enter into those grooves, so as
to compel the rings to go round with their cylinders, but without impeding the
endway motions of the rings along the cylinders, or for the same purpose a
long thin flexible blade of metal 99, 99, (see the end elevation, Sheet I.,) may
be wrapped around each end of each cylinder beyond the ring which is fitted
on that end, and one extremity of that blade 99 being united by a joint pin
to the surface of the cylinder E or F, whilst the other extremity of the same
blade is united by another joint pin to the ring 17 or 67, the said blade 99 will
compel. the ring to go round with the cylinder, but without impeding the end-
way motion of the said ring along the cylinder. And in cases where it may be
thought desirable to subject the cloth or woven fabric to an action of brushing
whilst it is in progress of being stretched or extended by operation of the two
stretching wheels 15, 15, a set of four (or more) long brushes 41, 41, may be
applied to a long horizontal revolving axis 42, which is supported on pivots at
its ends in bearings affixed to the two end standards A, A, and the axis 42
with its brushes 41, 41, may be turned round by an endless strap 48, encom-.
passing a small pulley.on the end of the axis 42, as well as a larger-pulley V:
on the end of the axis of the calender roller O at the side of the main driving
pulley N; the said brushes 41, 41, being by that means turned round so as to
move-in-a contrary direction to the progression of the cloth or woven fabric,
will strike thereon one after another in due succession with a brushing action..

page_text: And note. It is not necessary to have two steam-drying cylinders E and F,
except in cases where the drying of the cloth or woven fabric will be more
readily performed by subjecting, first, one of its sides or surfaces to the
action of the heated surface of a drying cylinder, and then its opposite side or
surface, as already explained; but in cases where the cloth or woven fabric
does not require to be dried first on one side and then on the other side, the
second steam-drying cylinder F may be omitted, the other or first cylinder E
being in such case made large enough in diameter to effect by itself the
requisite drying of the cloth or woven fabric. The pair of calender rollers
O, M, will then be placed over the cylinder E, so as to draw away the cloth
or woven fabric therefrom. And note.-It will be advisable to have the
steam-drying cylinders E (or cylinders E, F, as the case may be) of larger dia-
meter, if the cloth or woven fabric on which the machine is usually intended to
operate is thicker and heavier, so as to require more drying than if the cloth
or woven fabric on which the machine is usually intended to operate is thinner
and of a slighter tissue, so as to require less drying, because, as before explained,
the speed wherewith the machine is turned must be regulated so that the cloth
or woven fabric will become effectually dried in passing through it, and there-
fore it would require to be turned very slowly for drying thick cloth or woven
fabric, unless the diameter of the steam-drying cylinder or cylinders is adequate
to suit in some degree the substance of the cloth or woven fabric. And note.-
The cloth or woven fabric will be somewhat extended in the direction of its
length by the retardation which is opposed to the motion of the roller R by
its brake strap and weight m, which weight must be regulated to suit tho
strength of the cloth or woven fabric, so that it will be fairly extended in
length at the time when its selvedges, borders, or lists are first stuck on the
pins 14, 14, of the two stretching wheels 15, 15, as already explained. And
whereas the cloth or woven fabric has to pull and turn the two stretching
wheels 15, 15, round about their centre pins 13, 13, they will occasion a
further retardation beyond that which is cccasioned by the weight m; and the
two causes of retardation conjointly will determine the degree of longitudinal
extension which the cloth or woven fabric will undergo at the moment when
it is transferred from the pins 14, 14, of the two stretching wheels to the two
circles of pins 16, 16, on the cylinder E, and whatever extension has been
then given in length will be kept up during the drying as well as the extension
which has been given in breadth. In cases where the cloth or woven fabric
is of a slight texture the retardation which will be occasioned by pulling round
the two stretching wheels may of itself be nearly as much as is requisite for
extending the cloth or woven fabric properly in length, and in such case the
เ

page_text: roller R. will not require any brake strap 1, or a like strap may be applied on
the end of the roller R itself without any wheel k, and with a small weight m
to give but a small retardation to the roller R. The cloth or woven fabric may.
be rolled up around the roller R, before the saine is applied in its place in
5 the machine, and in some cases it may be convenient to get the rolling-up
performed at the conclusion of the operation, of whatever machinery the cloth
or woven fabric may have been subjected to in the regular progress of its.
manufacture, immediately preceding to that stage when it requires to be
extended or stretched and dried in an extended state, but in case the rolling
up cannot be conveniently performed by such preceding operations, then the
cloth or woven fabric must be rolled up around the roller R by manual labor
in preparation for the operation of the machine which has been described.
Having now described my said improvements, I, the said John Hall, do
hereby declare that the new Invention whereof the exclusive use is granted to.
me by the said Letters Patent of the Fifth of December last, consists partly
in the new parts herein-before described, vidélicet, the sliding rails marked;
49, 49, in the Drawings, which may either be affixed to the circumferences of
the two stretching wheels by means of suitable joints which will allow those.
rails to go round, with the said wheels, notwithstanding the obliquity of the
vertical planes in which the said wheels are situated, or else similar sliding.
rails may be fixed in the space between the two stretching wheels, such rails
being in either case for the purpose of sustaining the weight of the cloth or
woven fabric in the middle part of its breadth, so as to prevent it from bagging
down during the act of stretching or extending it in width. Also the small
rollers 50, by which the selvedges, borders, or lists of the cloth or woven
fabric are securely stuck upon the pins of the two stretching wheels; and the.
corresponding small rollers 80, by which the said selvedges, borders, or lists.
are securely stuck upon the pins 16, 16, around the revolving steam-drying
cylinder; and also the small rollers 90, by which the said selvedges, borders,
or lists are securely stuck on the pins 48, 48, around the other or second
revolving steam-drying cylinder. Likewise the second revolving steam-drying
cylinder marked F, with its circles of pins 48, 48, around each end of it, for.
holding the selvedges, borders, or lists of the cloth or woven fabric in order
to keep the same in a state of extension whilst it is dried on the second or.
contrary side or surface of the cloth or woven fabric, to that side or surface:
thereof which has been previously dried in an extended state by the action of
the first revolving steam-drying cylinder E. Also the pair of calender rollers',
0,-M, whereof one is kept hot by means of steam (or otherwise), for the;

page_text: purpose of finally drying and compressing and giving a smooth finished surface
to the cloth or woven fabric. And my said Invention also consists in the new
combination herein-before described of the aforesaid new parts with other parts
which are not new in themselves, some of those said parts being commonly
used in steam-drying machinery for drying calico and paper, videlicet, the
revolving steam-drying cylinders E, F, with their steam pipes and drain pipes,
and other of those said parts being improvements formerly invented by me for
the purpose of dressing and getting up or finishing large pieces of lace net, and
for which Letters Patent were granted to me by His late Majesty King
William the Fourth, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of July, One
thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, videlicet, the two stretching wheels
15, 15, set in suitably oblique vertical planes, with circles of pins 14, 14, around
their circumferences. Also the two circles of pins 16, 16, around the steam
drying cylinder E to stick into the two selvedges, and also the endless cords
25, 25, for assisting in transferring the two selvedges from the said pins 14, 14,
to the other said pins 16, 16. Wherefore I do not make claim by virtue of
the said Letters Patent of the Fifth December, One thousand eight hundred
and thirty-seven, to those stretching wheels 15, 15, with their pins 14, 14, nor
to the pins 16, 16, and endless cords 25, 25, as constituting by themselves part
of my present Invention; but only when the same are combined, in manner
herein-before described, with the new parts herein-before mentioned, so that
the new combination will be adapted to the purpose of extending or
stretching cloth or woven fabrics, and drying the same in an extended state.
The essential character of the said new combination being that the piece of
cloth or woven fabrics is firmly applied and fastened on the pins of the two
stretching wheels, so as to be extended out to its proper width by their oblique
action, and is then transferred to the circles of pins around the revolving steam-
drying cylinder, so as to be kept evenly extended in contact (or nearly in
contact) with the moving heated surface of that cylinder, in order that it may
be dried in an extended state, or in cases when it is desirable to dry the
cloth or woven fabric first partly on one side or surface, and afterwards more
completely on the opposite side or surface; then after the cloth or woven fabric
has been partly dried at one side or surface in an extended state on one steam-
drying cylinder as aforesaid, it is transferred to a second steam-drying cylinder,
and dried at the other side in a like extended state, and finally after being
dried (or very nearly dried) as aforesaid, the cloth or woven fabric is perfectly
dried, and compressed, or consolidated, and rendered smooth on its surface by
passing between the calender rollers, whereof one is kept hot. And note.-

page_text: I do not make claim to the application of a pair of calender rollers for me
compressing the cloth or woven fabric as part of my present improveme
unless one of those rollers is kept hot by steam (or otherwise) so as to ope
on the cloth or woven fabric with both heat and compressure conjointly.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Hall, have hereunto set my
and seal, this Second day of June, One thousand eight hundred
thirty-eight