ers, and Spinning and Doubling Frames.
Year: 1885

page_text: Twiners, and Spinning and Doubling Frames.
I, JOHN HARRISON RATCLIFFE of Charlesworth near Glossop in the County of
Derby, Cotton Mill Manager do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TRANSMITTING POWER BY MEANS OF BANDS AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR; APPLICABLE TO THE SPINDLES OF MULES, TWINERS, AND SPINNING AND
DOUBLING FRAMES to be as follows:-
"
My invention relates principally to the means of transmitting power from a
steam engine or other motor by grooved pulleys and endless ropes or bands for the
purpose of driving machinery in mills or manufactories; but the invention is also
applicable for transmitting rotary motion from one shaft to another or from a drum
to a number of spindles, and for other similar purposes.
In transmitting power by means of rope gearing it has hitherto been usual to
employ drums with several circumferential V-shaped grooves side by side, and to
use a separate endless rope or band in each groove, and there has been considerable
difficulty experienced in so splicing all the endless ropes or bands that the tension
upon all should be equal, a great loss of power and an unequal strain resulting from
some of the ropes or bands being tighter than others.
My invention is designed to obviate this difficulty.
I employ the drums with circumferential grooves as heretofore, but instead of
using a number of endless ropes or bands (one to each groove) I have only one
continuous rope or band, and I lead it over the two grooved pulleys in a spiral
form, the tight or driving side of the rope passing in a direct line from the first
groove of one pulley to the first groove of the opposite pulley, and the slack or
return side of the rope or band running in a slightly diagonal direction from the
back of the first groove of one pulley to the second groove of the other pulley and
so on to the last groove at the other end of the drum. The end of the rope or band
from the last groove passes partially round or over a guide pulley (or pulleys) in a
diagonal direction back to the first groove and is spliced to the reverse end so as
to form a single endless coil of rope or band passing round each groove of each
CD 027

page_text: pulley instead of several distinct endless ropes or bands each passing round one
groove only of both pulleys.
By this means I have only one splice or joint to make in the rope or band
instead of several, all the coils of the rope or band are at the same tension, the
strain is equally divided, and consequently the driving is much more regular than
heretofore, and there is little or no power lost in transmission.
The guide pulley or pulleys may be made adjustable in order to increase or
decrease the tension on the rope or band as may be required.
It will be evident that this invention is capable of application in a variety
of circumstances wherein motive power is to be transmitted by means of ropes
or bands.
Dated this twenty first day of March 1885

page_text: improvements in Transmitting Power by means of Bands, and
in Apparatus therefor, Applicable to the Spindles of Mules,
Twiners, and Spinning and Doubling Frames.
I JOHN HARRISON RATCLIFFE of Charlesworth near Glossop in the County of
Derby Cotton Mill Manager do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN TRANSMITTING POWER BY MEANS OF BANDS, AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR APPLICABLE TO THE SPINDLES OF MULES, TWINERS, AND SPINNING AND
DOUBLING FRAMES 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 principally to the means of transmitting power from a tin
drum or roller by means of endless bands for the purpose of driving the spindles
of mules, twiners and spinning and doubling frames in mills or manufactories.
With respect to the bands which have hitherto been used for driving spindles
in spinning mules, twiners, spinning and doubling frames, it is well known that
there has been a great difficulty experienced in getting equal tension on each band,
this is very essential as different tensions on the bands give more or less twist,
consequently thicker or thinner cops or bobbins, various strengths in the yarn or
thread, worse spinning (especially in the mule on account of the backing off and
winding) also irregular friction on the bearings is caused, necessitating repairs.
There has also been considerable loss and expense caused by the influences of the
atmosphere on the bands for instance, a damp Monday morning tightens the bands
causing them to break, & the number of knots consequent upon tying each band
separately has caused much fluff about the tin roller and spindles often getting
into the spindle steps and wiping out the oil and there has also been very
considerable waste of time and banding owing to the same causes.
My invention is designed to obviate these difficulties and the means whereby
I propose to effect this object will be readily understood on reference to the sheet
of drawings hereto annexed and the following explanation thereof.
Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating the application of my invention for transmitting
power by means of a single endless band from a tin or other roller to a number of
spindles, and Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are diagrams illustrating different methods of leading
or winding on the endless band.
I have only one continuous band a, a and I lead it over the tin roller or drum b, b
and the wharves of the spindles c. c. in a spiral form, the tight or driving side a. a
of the band passing in a direct line from one end of the drum b. b to the
wharve c. c. of the first spindle, and the slack or return side a³, a¹ of the band
running in a slightly diagonal direction from the back of the first wharve to the
second coil on the drum b. b and so on to the last wharve at the other end or side
of the drum b, b. The part all, all of the band from the last wharve passes partially
round or over a guide pulley d, d, then round another movable guide pulley e e
back round the pulley d d and in a diagonal direction back to the first end of the
drum and round a guide pulley ff and is spliced to the reverse end so as to form
a single endless coil of band passing round each wharve, instead of several distinct
endless bands, each passing round one wharve only as usually employed.

page_text: By this means I have only one splice or joint to make in the band instead of
several all the coils of the band are at the same tension, the strain is equally
divided throughout, and consequently the driving is much more regular than
heretofore, there is less wear and tear, and there is little or no power lost in
transmissiou.
It is evident that the band may be wound onto the tin roller and wharves from
right to left as shown at Figs. 2 and 3 instead of from left to right as shown at
Figs. 1 and 4.
The diagonal guide pulley e, e is made adjustable in a slot in order to increase or
decrease the tension on the band or to take up the "slack" thereof, if any, and is
acted upon by a weighted cord, chain or band k, k so as to keep it at one uniform
tension, the said tension being increased or diminished when required by applying
more or less weight to the cord or band k, l.
In the diagram Fig. 1 the cord or band is laid or coiled in the usual manner for
spinning or doubling twist with a straight band, and Fig. 2 the same for spinning
or doubling twist with a crossed band. Figs. 3 and 4, show the same for spinning
weft.
I consider that the plans shown at Figs. 1 and 3 are preferable in a spinning
mule because when the revolution of the tin roller is reversed for "backing off"
there is less sideway movement of the band than in the others; the slack being
taken up and tension regulated by a third pulley as shown at Fig. 1.
When driving from a tin roller, the band as it returns from one end of a mule
(or tin roller) to the other, should be brought through suitable eyes or guides (not
shown on the drawing) to prevent it from coming into contact with other portions
of the band, through which it passes.
It will be evident that this invention is also capable of application in a variety
of circumstances wherein motive power is to be transmitted by means of endless
coiled ropes or bands, and if it is desired to reverse the revolution of the pulleys
the winding on of the ropes or bands will have to be altered accordingly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. The combination of a single endless band coiled spirally round the tin
drum and all the wharves and led in a direct line from the first end of the tin
roller or drum to the first wharve, on the tight or driving side, and from thence
diagonally to the second coil on the drum and so on as far as the last wharve with
the guide and tightening pulleys over which it then passes (as hercinbefore
described) back to the first end of the tin roller or drum the two ends being then
spliced together.
Secondly. Mounting the bearings of such guide pulley or pulleys and tightening
pulley in or on slides and combining therewith weighted bands cords or chains, so
as automatically to keep the endless rope or band at a uniform tension and to
afford ready means for increasing or diminishing such tension as required.
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