Improvements in Machinery for Reeling Silk from the Cocoon.
Year: 1886

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Reeling Silk from the Cocoon.
I, EDWARD WILLIAM SERRELL junior, civil engineer of New York, United States,
temporarily residing in Chabeuil, Department of the Drôme, France 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 :-
My invention relates to that class of silk reeling machinery in which the size of the
thread being reeled is automatically regulated by means of an extension to which it is
subjected in passing from the water basin to the reel, and is an improvement on devices
formerly invented, by me, as will hereinafter more fully appear.
This invention consists in an improved regulating device by the use of which I am
able to make a more perfect, simple and reliable machine than those constructed before
my present improvement was invented. Other valuable features of my present
invention are that, by its use, I maintain a more suitable tension on the thread at the
time at which it is wound upon the reel, that the action of the control lever is more
easily regulated and more constantly maintained; that when several threads are wound
upon the same reel, the feeding devices connected to any one of them may be thrown
out of action separately while those of the others remain in action, that the different
parts of the silk threads, in passing over the regulating druins are not jammed or
wedged one with another, and that the device as a whole is less delicate or subject to
injury from accidental causes than those heretofore invented and employed. At an
even date herewith, I have applied for letters patent for an improvement in electrically
actuated mechanical devices, and because I prefer to employ this improvement in
connection with my present invention, I have shown the devices of which it consists,
in their relation to those which form the subject of this specification. Moreover in
order to more clearly explain my present invention, I have introduced in the drawings and

page_text: in this specification, many of the usual parts of a silk reeling machine and sundry devices
which, from time to time, I have heretofore used and published, as will hereinafter
more fully appear.
Fig. 1 sheet 1 is a side elevation partly in section, of a silk reeling machine furnished
with the devices which constitute my present invention.
Fig. 2 sheet 2 is a side elevation of the controlling device which constitutes my present
invention, and of the mechanical parts which act in combination therewith.
Fig. 3 sheet 3 is a plan of one of the controlling or regulating levers, the drum and
the parts which act in combination therewith.
Fig. 4 sheet 4 is an end elevation, partly in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 3.
In my
U.S. letters patent 317223, a device for testing the size of silk threads by
means of resistance to a uniform elongation is used. I employ this device in connection
with my present invention, although I somewhat modify its form.
In my U.S. letters patent 334618, a toggle lever, electric stop motion device is
employed in combination with other parts of a silk reeling machine. I make use of this
device in a modified form in connection with my present invention.
In my U.S. letters patent 334619, a combination of a drum, croisure and reel are
made use of, which I also employ in connection with my present invention.
In my U.S. letters patent 334620) a device is employed for reducing tensions in the
running thread. This I also employ in connection with my present invention.
I also employ, in connection with my present invention, a device for compensating
irregular tensions, described in my U.S. letters patent 334621.
I also employ, though in modified form, in connection with my present invention,
some of the devices described in my U.S. letters patent 334617. I also prefer to employ
in connection with my present invention the "lance bout" described in my U.S. appli-
cation filed March 14 1884 serial number 129020 or other suitable mechanical device
to attach a new filament to the running thread.
In connection with my present invention, I prefer to employ mechanical devices for
carrying the cocoons and bringing a new filament within reach of the lance-bout when
it is necessary to add a new filament to the running thread, and this cocoon-holder
may be of the kind described in my U.S. letters patent 320709.
I expressly disclaim all and every of the above devices in themselves as forming part
of my present invention, and confine myself to the improvements hereinafter described
and claimed.
In the drawing Fig. 1, a shaft A is revolved by power and is continually in motion.
Upon this shaft is keyed the friction wheel C, a second friction wheel c is keyed upon
the shaft of the reel R and when allowed to touch the wheel C, is rotated with it,
causing the recl R to revolve in the direction shown by the arrow. The friction
wheel c is lowered into contact with wheel C or raised so as to press against the brake
block D by means of the rod r. A traverse rod E constantly moved backward and.
forward in front of the reel R spreads out the silk upon the reel by means of suitable
guides. A frame B serves to support the various parts in their relative positions. The
whole of this part of the apparatus may be of any usual kind employed in silk reeling
and is not claimed as a part of this invention, but indroduced merely to aid in explaining
my present improvement in the regulating devices. A suitable table F supports the..
water basin H, the cold water pot G and the other usual parts pertaining to the table
of a reeling machine. A filament attaching device L, a cocoon holder or magazine M,
an electric clutch and cam N, and an overhead support O are provided.
These parts do not form parts of my present invention and may be of a kind
previously described and published except that, in so far as the electric clutch devices
shown in outline at N are concerned, I prefer to employ the mechanism described in
my application of even date herewith for a patent for an improvement in electrically
actuated mechanical devices. The improved controlling apparatus which constitutes
my present invention is suspended over the basin H from the support O by means of
the frame P and a feature of my present invention is the manner in which the
regulating drums are caused to revolve. In automatic silk reeling machinery, as
heretofore constructed, the regulating drum is driven by cords or belts, which cause it

page_text: to revolve with a speed which is always in the same proportion to that of the reel R..
This is found in practice to be objectionable, because of the complication of the
machine which it renders necessary, and because as the machine is employed
to reel various sizes of silk it is preferable to permit of slight differences of speed
between the reel R and the regulating druin, so that in passing to the reel,
the silk may be strained in proportion to its size and also that when passing to the
reel, the thread which is wound upon the outside of a thick skein shall be no more
strained than that wound at the beginning of the skein when the reel has effectively
less winding speed. As a thread of silk of large size is composed of a greater number
of filaments than one of a smaller size and as cach cocoon opposes a certain resistance
to the unwinding of its filament, the elongation produced by the regulating apparatus
varies in proportion to the size of the thread.
In my present invention I take advantage of this fact by so combining the regulating
drum with the passing thread and the other parts of the machine that the traction
brought upon the thread by the winding of the reel is employed in itself as the means
of turning the drum. To this end, instead of causing the drums to revolve with a
shaft and at a speed proportionate to that of the reel, I allow them to turn freely in so
far as the other parts of the mechanism are concerned, and they are revolved by the
adherence or friction of the passing threads.
Another feature of my improved regulating apparatus, is the method employed for
mounting the regulating lever so that the weight of the lever itself may be employed
to control its action. In machines heretofore constructed, a horizontal lever is
employed acting in combination with the thread and the regulating drum. This lever
has heretofore been mounted upon vertical pivots and the thrust required for any
given size of silk is obtained and regulated by means of a spring attached to the lever
and to some other suitable support. It has been found in practice that the use of such
a spring is objectionable for many reasons, among others the following: Springs of the
delicacy and sensitiveness required for the work, rapidly deteriorate in use, the tension
of the spring diminishes when the lever has begun to move and this results in want of
promptness in completing the circuit. The presence of the spring tends to increase
vibrations in the lever, and the weakness of the spring causes it to be easily put out of
order. In the regulating device which is the object of my present invention, I am
enabled to overcome these defects by suppressing the spring, and causing the weight of
the lever to be utilized for regulating the thrust and this I accomplish in the following
manner. To support each regulating lever, there is provided a frame (1) indicated in
Fig. 1 and shown more fully in figures 2, 3. and 4. This frame is hinged on an
axis (2) which is attached to a wooden or other insulating base piece (3) by the
lugs (4). At the other end of this frame, a hole is pierced which permits of the
passage of a screwed rod (5). This rod (5) hangs by a hinge joint (6) to the base (3)
and is provided with thumb nuts, so that the height of the end of the lever (1) may be
adjusted at will. It is evident that by depressing more or less. the end of the lever (1),
it may be set at any desired angle to the horizon, and maintained as set, by the use of
the thumb nuts upon the rod (5). The frame (1) is curved as shown in the drawings
and below the hinge (2) is so formed as to afford a support for the gymbal bearings
(7) (7). These gymbal bearings support and guide the pivots (8) (8) of the regulating
lever (9). It is thus evident that this lever (9) instead of oscillating in a horizontal
plane upon vertical pivots, as has been the case in formerly known machines for
reeling, will oscillate in a plane which will be more or less inclined according to the
position of the frame (1) as determined by the thumb nuts upon the rod (5).
The shape of the lever (9) is such that when the pivots are inclined there is a tendency
to rotation which increases with the degree of inclination so that the thrust of the
lever (9) may be very exactly and reliably determined by adjusting the inclination
by means of the thumb nuts upon the rod (5). When the frame (1) and the corre-
sponding parts are inclined as shown in dotted lines, the lever (9) tends to rotate so
as to carry the pulley (10) away from the drums, thus balancing the stress caused by
the elongation of the thread, and by adjusting this thrust as has been explained, the

page_text: size of thread may be regulated in the manner already known in automatic silk reeling
machines, but moro accurately and surely than has heretofore been possible.
The frame (1) carries the support of the drum or drums, the electric contact and
solenoid described in my application of even date herowith for a patent for an improve-
ment in Electrically actuated mechanical devices, and the other parts and devices
usually employed in this part of automatic silk reeling mechanism.
The lever (9) is put into the circuit by means of the curved wire (11) which dips
into a mercury cup 11* carried upon the base (3) of the apparatus. I prefer to employ
the gymbal bearings (7) (7) in order to prevent wedging of the pivots by slight
derangements in the alinement of the parts.
An oil box 8x, of which the outline is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, may be
employed to protect the pivots against rust or accidental injury.
In machines heretofore made and publicly used, a device is employed which con-
stitutes an electrical stop motion principally consisting of a toggle jointed lever
combined with the armaturo of an electro-magnet, and means for adjusting the effort
or stress upon the armature hook, the whole so used in combination with the other parts
of a silk reeling machine that the reel may be put in motion and the threads drawn
taut before the electric connections are put in circuit. I disclaim such a device in
itself as forming part of my present invention, but in my present Improved regulating
device, I employ the above mentioned combinations in modified and improved form.
The rod or wire (13) which raises the rod r and together therewith the friction
wheel c and the reel R (thus stopping the reel) is attached to a crank (14) carried on
the upper end of the shaft (15) which latter is free to turn in bearings (16) (16)
attached to the frame P of the apparatus. An electro-magnet (17) is attached to the
base of the apparatus and its armature 18 hooks to a radial arm (19) attached to
the shaft (15). It is evident that by placing the crank in such a position that the
straining wire (13) passes nearly over the centre of rotation, the effect of a toggle
joint is obtained. A commutator consisting of the insulating cylinder (20), fixed on
the shaft 15 the blades (22) and (23) and the connecting piece (21) replaces the
commutator formerly employed for the purpose of cutting out the circuit when
the reel is stopped and of allowing the reel to be started and the threads strained
before the circuit of the feeding devices is again put into a position to act. A crank
handle (24) is attached to the lower end of the shaft (15). The straining wire (13)
may be slacked and the reel consequently stopped by the use of this device in either
of two ways. If the magnet (17) attracts its armature and releases the radial arm or
armature (18), the shaft turns in the direction shown by the arrow y y fig. 3 and the
wire (13) is slacked by the movement of the crank (14). But if it is desired to slack
the wire (13) and stop the reel without moving the armature of the magnet (17), then
the shaft (15) is turned by means of the crank handle (24) in the direction shown by
the arrow y y and the crank (14) slacks the wire by turning, though in a direction
opposite to that in which it turns when the magnet (17) releases the arm (18). The
object of this special disposition is to make it easy to start and stop the reel without
employing the magnet (17) and this is of importance, as will be hereinafter explained.
Broadly speaking, the lever 25 fulfils, in this automatic silk reeling machine, the
same operation as a weft-fork in a power loom. Whenever the silk thread passing
over a pulley 29 of the said lever, breaks, the lever is tilted by its counterweight 28
from the position shown in full lines in fig. 2, to that shown in dotted lines; the
result of this change of position is to raise the friction wheel c fig. 1 from the driving
wheel C and to stop the reel R. This result is accomplished as follows: As soon as
the lever 25 reaches the dotted position fig. 2 a circuit, is closed and the current
passes through the wire 171 fig. 3, the magnets 17, 17, the wire 17, the binding
post 38, the wires 381, 382, 383, the rod 25 which touches 27, thence through the
control lever 9, the frame 1, the wire 11, the mercury cup 11* the wires 112, 113,
fig. 3 and 2, through the blade 22 of the commutator 20 the connecting piece 21 of
the commutator 20, through the blade 23 of the commutator 20 and then through the
wire 11 to a battery, to which is also connected the wire 17'.

page_text: As soon as the current passes through the hereinbefore mentioned parts, the electro-
magnets 17, 17 are excited and the armature 18, being attracted, liberates the
catch 19, whereby the shaft 15 becoming free, is solicited from the position shown in
full lines to that shown in dotted lines, by the tension of the spring r¹ fig. 1. The
rotation of the reel R then stops, and is restarted after the silk thread has been
restored.
The binding post 38 fulfils a particular purpose, to wit: that of closing or breaking
the circuit at the meeting of the wires 17 and 38¹. When the circuit is closed and
the machine is in operation, the reel is stopped as hereinbefore described, whenever
any one of the two silk threads being wound on the reel, breaks. If, on the contrary,
the circuit is broken, then the reel is not made to stop whenever one of the thread
breaks, but the reel goes on winding the remaining unbroken thread until the operator
notices the absence of one thread.
A novel feature of my improved regulating apparatus is the combination of the
stop levers (25) with the regulating levers (9) in such manner that each thread
regulating device may be prevented from closing its feeding circuit when the thread
breaks without reference to the action of the electric stop motion and its commutator.
In reeling silk, two or more threads are usually wound upon the same reel, and it
is often advantageous to allow the reel to run and to continue to wind the threads
which remain, even although one or more of the threads normally running to it may
be broken. In order to allow of this, it is necessary that each regulating lever (9)
should be prevented from closing its contact when the thread passing over it breaks,
as otherwise it being no longer held back by the strength of the thread, would close
the circuit and cause cocoons to be wasted by being delivered to the lance-bout
although the thread was not being reeled.
I accomplish the cutting out of the circuit of any particular regulating lever (9) on
the breakage of its particular thread in a very simple manner, as follows: The
lever (25) is hinged to the support (26) and is provided at its lower end with a
counter-weight (28) and the regulating lever (9) is furnished with a projecting stud
or arm (27). In passing from the drum to the reel, the thread is led over the
pulley (29) on the end of the lever (25). As long as the thread is unbroken, its
tension keeps the lever (25) in the position shown by the full lines in Fig. 2, but
when the thread breaks, the lever (25) falls into the position shown by the dotted
lines and its lower part strikes the stud or arm (27) and forces the lever to remain in
a position to keep the contact piece (30-31) apart, thus preventing the closing of the
feeding circuit. The contact pieces & their action are described in my application
No. 14983 of 1886. It is to be noted that although the stoppage of the feed may be
thus mechanically performed, the same arrangement of levers serves as parts of an
electric stop motion for stopping the reel, when it is desired to so arrange the machine.
As arranged for feeding, the lever (9) forms part of a circuit, and in order to work
the stop motion on the breakage of its thread, it is only necessary to connect the
lever (25) to the magnet (17) and the latter to the pole of a battery, or other source
of electricity, opposed to that which is in connection with the lever (9). It is evident
that when this is done, the lever (25) will close a circuit and excite the magnet (17)
when its lower part touches the stud or arm (27). In practice I prefer to provide a
binding post 38 fig. 3 in such way that the lever (25) may be connected to or dis-
connected from the magnet at pleasure.
Another feature of my invention has for its object to obviate certain irregularities
of action arising from the fact that when several turns of the thread are made around
a drum or cylinder in the manner employed in automatic reeling machinery as here-
tofore constructed, the thread which is wound in upon the drum has a tendency to
overlap preceding turns and to make it necessary to draw that part of the thread
which is at the same time leaving the drum from underneath other parts of the thread
upon the drum. There are thus caused irregularities of action as above mentioned..
To overcome this I prefer to employ for the improved regulating apparatus, what
I call a double drum. This part of the apparatus is shown at (32) (32) (33) and (34).

page_text: (32) (32) are the two cylinders which replace the drum formerly employed. They
are mounted on bearings which run in the frames (33) and (34). The frame (33) is
attached to and moves with the frame (1). The frame (34) is attached to the
frame (33) by two screws (35) and (36) which cause the projection (37) to bear
against the back of the frame (33). It is evident that by adjusting the screws (35)
and (36), the cylinders may be slightly inclined towards each other, and in this way
the thread may be caused to run around them in nearly parallel lines, but with a small
space between each turn. In this manner, all wedging and interference of one turn
with another is avoided. The operation of the device is as follows: The threads are
passed around the drums in the manner usual in silk reeling machinery of this class.
The reel is put in motion and the thread, by the motion of the reel, puts the drums in
motion. The size of the thread is regulated by setting the pivots (8) of the lever (9)
at the necessary angle to secure the proper thrust and this is accomplished as has been
said by means of the thumb nuts upon the rod (5). The movement of the lever (9)
opens and closes the circuit at (30) (31) in the manner described in my application of
even date herewith for Improvements in Electrically Actuated Mechanical Devices,
and this opening and closing of the circuit results in the movement of the feeding
devices and the maintainance of the normal size of the thread in the manner usual in
the reeling machines of this class. When the thread breaks, the lever (25) forces
the lever (9) back so as to leave the circuit open and stop the feed, and may or may
not be employed to stop the reel at the same time, as has been explained. The
thread in passing the drums is prevented from clogging as has been explained.
said invention,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:
First. In a silk reeling machine, the method of controlling the size of the thread
consisting in the employment of regulating drums (32), (32) set in motion by the
thread itself, substantially as set forth.
Second. The combination of the revolving reel R, the thread in process of winding,
the drum or drums (32), (32) free to revolve with the passing thread, and the
regulating lever (9), substantially as set forth.
Third. In a silk reeling machine, the use of independent drums (32) (32) freely
revolving upon their axes, set in motion by the traction of the passing thread and
capable of stopping when the thread breaks without affecting the motion of the reel,
substantially as set forth.
Fourth. In a silk reeling machine, the utilization of the threads which are in
process of winding, as a means of driving their respective drums, substantially as
set forth.
Fifth. The combination of the frame (1), the hinge (2), the threaded rod (5) and
thumb nuts, with 'the bearings (8) of the lever (9).
Sixth. In a silk reeling machine, the combination of the regulating drum or
drums (32) with a regulating lever (9) supported upon a pivot (8) which may be more
or less inclined, for the purpose and substantially in the manner set forth.
Seventh. The combination of the frame (1) with the drum or drums (32), (32) the
contacts (30), (31), and the lever (9) in such manner as to preserve the relative
position of the parts when the frame (1) is more or less inclined, substantially as
set forth.
Eighth. The combination of the frame (1) with the elevating or regulating
device (5), (6) at its extremity, so as to adjust the angle of the frame and the parts
attached thereto, according to the size of thread which it is desired to reel, substan-
tially as set forth.
Ninth. The combination of the lever (9) the hinged frame (1) and the gimbal
autoposts (7) of the nirats ouhotantially no and for the

page_text: Tenth. The combination of the weighted lever (25) with the stud or arın (27) upon
the lever (9) in such manner that the weight of the lever (25) will prevent the
lever (9) from closing the feeding circuit when the thread has broken, substantially as
and for the purposes described.
Eleventh. The combination of the lever (9) the lever (25), the stud or arm (27),
the magnet (17) and the binding post (33) with an electric circuit in such a manner
as to cause the reel to stop when the lever (25) touches the stud or arm (27).
Twelfth. The combination with the frame (1) and the lever (9) of the double
drum (32) (32) the drum frame (33) and the drum frame (34) substantially as
set forth.
Thirteenth. The combination of the drums (32) (32) the drum frame (33) and the
drum frame (34) with the adjusting screws (35) and (36) and the projection (37) for
adjusting the relative direction of the axes of the drums, substantially as set forth.
Fourteenth. The combination of the straining wire (13), the toggle crank (14) the
shaft (15) and the crank handle (24) in such manner as to allow the reel to be stopped
independently of the action of the magnet (17), substantially as described.