IMPROVEMENTS IN CARDING SILK, COTTON, AND OTHER FIBRES
Year: 1844

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
BROWN, of Selkirk, in the County of Selkirk, Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at Westmin-
ster, the Twenty-fourth day of February, in the seventh year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry
Brown, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said Henry Brown, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Henry Brown, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the
term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARDING SILK, COTTON, AND OTHER
FIBRES;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said
Henry Brown, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled
in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited 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
Henry Brown, do hereby declare the nature of my improvements, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and

page_text: ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention relates to a mode of producing a continuous roll or roving of
various carded fibrous materials, and to part of the machinery and apparatus
by which the same is to be performed, all which I will fully describe. It is
to be understood that my improvements in carding silk, cotton, flax, fur, and
hair, are applicable only when these fibrous materials are to be rolled or coiled
into a roll or roving having the fibres laid transversely to the length of the
roving so produced. Part of my improvements are also applicable to woollen
carding engines in connection with former improvements secured by Letters
Patent, sealed the Twentieth day of October, in the year One thousand eight
hundred and forty-two, which new improvements I now claim to be used in
connection as aforesaid, or otherwise. The machinery for carding these
fibrous materials being in general use and of various forms, it is not necessary
to give any particular description thereof, and I only represent and describe
part of an ordinary carding engine in connection with my improvements for
the purpose of showing more fully and clearly the manner in which these are
applied, and their position in relation to the carding engine.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures I., II., III., and IV. are different views, showing the construction and
general arrangement of my improvements in connection with the main cylinder
and framing of a carding engine. Figure 1 is a plan or bird's-eye view, with
part of the carding engine frame and main cylinder removed; Figure II. is a
side view; Figures III., IV., are two different end views; Figure V. is an end
view of the frame for the endless card, with the fluted roller removed and the
frames, sides, and card in section; Figure VI. is a separate view of the gearing
for working the comb bar. The same figure or mark refers to the same part
of the apparatus on all the views; the arrows point out the direction of
motion when the machine is at work. The detached Figures or Drawings
show the manner of preparing the endless card and the construction of the
rollers on which it works.
No. 1 part of the frame of carding engine. 2, the finishing main cylinder.
3, the fancy. 4, the fast and loose pulleys for the driving strap. 5, a pulley
for giving motion to the shaft 6 by means of a strap and the pulley 7. 8, the
bearings for shaft 6, working in 9, brackets for fixing the bearing. 8 to 10, an
endless sheet strap or web of wire card. 11, cloth put on the spars 12 below
the card. 12, wooden spars, to which the cloth and card are secured for

page_text: keeping them distended across and supporting them in the frame. 13 cast-
iron side frames for the endless card working in, and which I refer to as the
card frame. 14, stretcher bolts for connecting these side frames together at
the proper width; the openings or panels in the side frames are filled with
thin wooden boards. 15, a fluted roller for giving motion to the card; it has
also plain ends for the reduced ends of the spars resting on. 16, a skeleton
roller for the card, working over at the other end of the card frame. 17,
bearings for the rollers revolving in. 18, screws for setting the roller
bearings to give the card a proper degree of tension to work steadily and
easily. 19, arms bolted to the card frame. 20, screws for regulating the
height of the endless card in relation to the main cylinder. 21, brackets for
fixing these screws into. The brackets are bolted to the carding engine
frame, and afford the means of setting the card frame to its proper position
sideways, and the slots in the arms 19 admit of the adjustment of the card
frame endways. 22, screws for regulating the height of the card frame at
the end, which is supported on the floor. 23, bottom plates, into which these
screws are fixed. 24, a hinge or joint near the top of the side frames for
permitting the frame to be raised at either end or at the middle separately,
and as a security against the occasional vibration of the floor affecting in any
way the distance between the surfaces of the main cylinder and the endless
card. 25, bevil wheel and pinion for giving motion to the fluted roller 15,
and consequently to the endless card 10. 26, a grinding roller covered with
emery for equalizing and sharpening the card. 27, bearings for the. grinder
revolving in; they have also screws and nuts for regulating the height of the
grinder on the card. 28, standards for fixing the screwed bearings into.
29, pulley for driving the grinder. 30, guide pulleys for the band to grinder.
31, comb bar for doffing the fibrous materials from the endless card and coiling
them into a roller roving. 32, upright shafts for conveying motion to the
comb. 33, pulleys for the band driving the upright shafts. 34, bearings for
the necks of the upright shafts. 35, brackets for fixing the bearings and
socket steps into. 36, sole plate for fixing these brackets on. 37, fly wheels
on the top of upright shafts, having crank studs which give motion to the
means of the connecting plate or bar 38. 39, guides fixed on
the upper side of the comb bar with screws, so that can be set parallel
with the comb, or sloping a little upwards next the delivering end of the
comb, for the purpose of giving the comb a rising and falling motion as it
revolves or oscillates on the guides. 40, bars for the guides 39 sliding on.
41, screws for regulating the height of the bars 40, and consequently the
height of the comb in relation to the surface of the card. 42, leather straps
comb bar

page_text: for taking away the soft roving from the card and condensing it by pressure
and friction. 43, rollers for giving the revolving motion to the leather straps.
44, frames, with bearings for the rollers working on; they have also boards
on them for giving the leather straps a flat surface where the roving passes
between them. 45, fly wheel, with crank stud, for giving the traverse or
rubbing motion to the roller frames by means of the lever and connecting
rods 46. 47, bracket for fixing the stud of lever. 48, wheels for giving the
revolving motion to the rollers; the wheels on the roller shafts are fixed on
turned bushes which revolve in bearing 49, and the roller shafts have square
ends which slide through the bushes, but revolve along with them. 50,
outer frames for supporting and fixing all the roller gearing. 51, stretcher
bolts for connecting the frames 50%; four of these also do for the roller
frames sliding on, which frames have bushes in them for that purpose. 52, a
stay for fixing to the frame 50 and top of bracket 9. 53, sole plate for
setting and fixing bracket 9, plates 23, and frames 49; these are all bolted to
the sole and have proper slots for adjusting them. The fluted roller for giving
motion to the card may have a flute or tooth for each of the wooden spars
which take into it, but I prefer making it as shewn with one flute or tooth
for every two of the wooden spars which take into it; the plain ends prevent
the spars going too deep into the roller. The roller at the other end of the
card frame may be made in the same manner, but I prefer having it with the
plain ends only, and which I therefore term a skeleton roller. The triangular
wooden spars for the card are three fourths of an inch broad, and seven
eighths of an inch deep, and they are slightly curved longitudinally on the
face or surface to which the cloth and card are secured, so that when the
card is stretched and secured at the edges, it will also be flat and close at
the middle; their ends are thinned off or reduced from the back angle to
nearly one third of an inch. The side frames, as shewn by the Drawings,
have ledges cast on them for supporting the card by the ends of the spars;
these are dressed straight and smooth; and there are also thin iron plates
screwed on the top of the frames, which form grooves for the ends of the
spars to works in, so that the card can neither get higher nor lower in the
upper part of the frames, and it is not necessary to have anything more than
the ledge below or the under part of the frames. The card is made similar
to ordinary sheet cards, the ends neatly and strongly joined together; and for
putting between the card and the wooden spars I use three pieces of cloth
cemented together, such as is used for card cloth, and join the ends of it by a
stepped joint, as shewn by the detached Figure of the Drawings. The cloth
being all neatly secured with tacks or otherwise to as many of the wooden

page_text: spars as will, when laid edge to edge, make up the length of the card, I then
put the card over the cloth, and keeping both slightly stretched, secure the
card along the back edge with a tack into each of the spars; I then stretch
the card by the front edge in the usual manner, and secure it with two rows
of tacks, as shewn by the Drawings. The surface of the card when in motion
is equalised and the points of the wires sharpened by a roller, covered with
emery, also in motion, and placed at an angle with the direction of the card;
the degree of angle is not of importance, as the speed at which the roller
revolves may be varied according to the angle, so as to grind the card in the
proper direction, but I prefer the angle of forty-five degrees, as shewn on the
Drawing. The crank studs which give motion to the comb bar revolve in
circles, and consequently every point of the comb will describe a circle of the
same diameter while it is supported by the guides which regulate the distanco
between it and the surface of the card; these guides can be adjusted,
as already described, so as to give the comb a rising and falling motion
while it revolves or oscillates, that rising and falling motion being essential
to the proper formation of the roving with some kinds of fibrous materials and
not necessary with others, it can be varied in degree as found requisite.
It may be observed that the comb can be set and fixed in the desired
position endways and sideways by means of the slots and screw bolts at the
middle. The leather straps for condensing the roving should be made equal
in thickness, neatly and securely joined at the ends; the roller bearings have
screws for adjusting them to make the straps work correctly, and the stretcher
bolts on which the upper frame slides can be altered in height so as to roll the
roving to the requisite degree of firmness. It will now be understood that the
carding engine being put in motion, and supplied with the fibrous materials in
the usual manner, and my improvements constructed and applied, as already
detailed, the main cylinder will deposit the fibrous material on the surface of
the endless card which is opposed to it, and which card being also in motion
is constantly presenting a clean surface to be filled by the action of the cylinder.
It is also evident that the action of the comb will coil or roll over the fibrous
deposits until they are delivered over the front edge of the card in the form of
a continuous roll or roving, which is then passed between the leather straps
and delivered by them in a fit state to be collected for the next process of
slubbing or spinning, as the case may be, and as there are various modes in
use, and well known, for collecting rovings to be slubbed or spun, it is not
necessary to describe them here.
I have also to state that for some purposes it is desirable to make a
roving with fibrous materials of two or more different kinds, qualities,

page_text: or colors, which is also accomplished by means of my improvements, as
already detailed. This object is attained by introducing the different
descriptions of materials into the carding engine, so as to make the cylinder
deposit them on the endless card in their respective places, as it is evident
that the fibres deposited on the back edge of the card will be in the middle
of the finished roving, and those on the front edge of the card will be on the
outside of the roving, and the proportions of the different kinds may be varied
in any degree as found requisite.
It will be apparent to those acquainted with carding engines, that my
improvements may be applied to deliver at either side of the carding engine,
and that the length and breadth of the endless card will also be in proportion
to the width of the carding engine and the quantity of fibrous materials to be
deposited on the card. The following relative speeds have been found to
answer for several descriptions of work, and all these may be varied to produce
the effect desired:-Surface of the finishing cylinder of carding engine revolving
at one thousand feet per minute; surface of the endless card moving at one
hundred thirty feet; surface of the grinding roller at two hundred feet;
comb bar making six hundred strokes, each two inches diameter; condensing
straps revolving at one hundred and eighty feet, and making two hundred and
fifty vibrations or lateral strokes, each two inches long, all in the like space
of one minute.
Having thus shewn and described the general construction, application, and
action of my improvements, I would have it understood, that I do not confine
myself to the precise details given, as they may be considerably varied and
still retain the peculiar or leading features of my Invention. But what I
claim is,-
First, the mode of preparing an endless card, as described, applicable to
engines for carding silk, cotton, flax, fur, or hair.
Secondly, the mode of preparing the frame and rollers for the card to work
upon, as described.
Thirdly, the mode of equalizing and sharpening the card by a roller placed
at an angle with the card, as described.
Fourthly, the mode of applying the card in a transverse and angular
direction to receive the fibrous materials from the finishing cylinder of the
carding engine.
Fifthly, the application of the comb bar, revolving on a horizontal and
angular direction, for removing the fibrous deposits from the card and forming
them into a roving. And I also claim the application of the rising and falling
motion given to the comb, as described.

page_text: Sixthly, the mode of forming a roving of two or more colors, kinds, or
qualities of fibrous materials, one rolled within another, as described.
Seventhly, the application of the revolving and vibrating belts or straps
in connexion with my other improvements for condensing and finishing the
roving.
And lastly, I claim, as applicable to woollen carding engines, the mode of
constructing the spars for the endless card and the rollers for it working on;
also the application of the rising and falling motion of the comb and the
formation of a roving, as described in the sixth claim; these improvements
being applicable to woollen carding engines along with those formerly secured
by Letters Patent already referred to.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Brown, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Nineteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-four.
This is the Specification referred to in the affidavit of William Henry
Ritchie, sworn before me, this 23rd day of August, 1844.
W. HORNE.
William Henry Ritchie, of the Patent Office, Lincoln's lun, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, maketh oath and saith, that he hath been informed,
and believes that the name or signature "Thos Mitchell," with the addition of
"J.P.," set, subscribed, or written upon, or indorsed in the margin of the
Specification marked A, hereunto annexed, and dated the Thirteenth day of
August now instant, and purporting to be executed by Henry Brown, of
Selkirk, in the County of Selkirk, within that part of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland called Scotland, Manufacturer, whereby it is
stated that the said Specification was acknowledged by the said Henry
Brown, before the said Thomas Mitchell, on the Nineteenth day of August
instant, is of the proper handwriting of the said Thomas Mitchell; and that the
said Thomas Mitchell, at the time of setting and subscribing his name on the

page_text: said Specification in manner above stated, was a Justice of the Peace, acting
in and for the said Town and County of Selkirk aforesaid.