IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN PARTS OF MACHINERY TO BE USED IN PREPARING AND SPINNING COTTON OR OTHER FIBROUS. MATERIALS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Preston, of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Spindle and Flyer Maker, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN PARTS OF MACHINERY
TO BE USED IN PREPARING AND SPINNING COTTON OR OTHER FIBROUS.
MATERIALS."
Sealed the 2d August 1853, and dated the 25th February 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Preston
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 25th February 1853:
I, FRANCIS PRESTON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Spindle and Flyer Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN PARTS OF
MACHINERY TO BE USED IN PREPARING AND SPINNING COTTON OR OTHER
FIBROUS MATERIALS " to be as; follows:
In 'manufacturing flyers of cast-iron it has heretofore been cus-
tomary to make the legs of 'the flyer parallel to each other. The opera-
tions of grinding and closing the legs, cause them to expand; but, as.
the legs of the finished flyer must be parallel to each other, it is
.

page_text: evident that they must be bent back to their original position. This
operation of bending back, or, as it is technically called, "setting," fre-
quently causes the legs to break off near the boss; and, as this breaking
takes place after most of the work has been completed, it is evident
that it entails considerable loss to the manufacturer. My improve-
ment consists in casting the flyer legs closer to each other below than
they are above or near the boss. The operations of grinding and
closing the legs cause them to expand so much that when these opera-
tions are completed the legs are parallel, or nearly parallel, to each
other, consequently little or no setting is required, and the breaking
occasioned by the operation of "setting" is almost entirely prevented.
My next improvement consists in making the "buttons," footsteps,
and bolsters of spindles of malleable cast-iron instead of brass or steel,
oz ondinom, cost iron os has been customary heretofore.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Francis. Preston, in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 25th August 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
. FRANCIS PRESTON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Spindle
and Flyer Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Francis Preston; Her special licence
that I, the said Francis Preston, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Francis Preston; my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN

page_text: THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN PARTS OF MACHINERY TO BE USED IN PRE-
PARING AND SPINNING COTTON OR OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Francis Preston, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters. Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Francis Preston, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement (that is to say):
My Invention consists,-First, in giving a peculiar shape to the
patterns of flyers made of cast-iron or other metals; and, secondly,
in making the "buttons" of spindles of malleable cast-iron. And
in order that my Invention may be fully understood, and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by
me, reference being had to the annexed sheet of drawings, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon.-In manufacturing flyers of
cast-iron or other metals, it has heretofore been customary to make the
legs of the patterns of the flyers parallel to each other. The operations
of grinding, polishing, and closing, which are necessary to render cast
flyers fit for use, cause the legs to expand; but as it is requisite
that the legs of the flyer, when finished, should be parallel to each
other, it is evident that they must be bent back to their original
position after they have been ground, polished, and closed: this operation
of bending back the legs is technically called "setting;" and as many
of the flyers are broken during the setting, the loss resulting therefrom
is considerable, owing to the breaking taking place when most of the
labour has been bestowed on the flyers. Now the first part of my In-
vention consists in casting the lower part of the legs of the flyers closer
together than the upper part; consequently, when the flyers are being
ground, polished, and closed, the expansion resulting from these
operations brings the legs of the flyer parallel, or nearly parallel, to
each other: it is therefore apparent that little or no "setting" is

page_text: required, and the breaking during the operation of setting is almost
entirely prevented. In Figures 1, and 2, I have shewn two views
of the half of a flyer pattern, the dotted lines in Figure 2, representing
the second half of the pattern. On referring to Figure 1, it will be
seen that the lower end of the flyer legs marked a, a, are about half
an inch closer together than the upper parts marked b, b; and as the
legs are, about eight inches long, it is evident that each leg is one-
fourth of an inch out of the perpendicular line. c, is the boss of the
flyer, and d, is the "git," or that part of the pattern which, when the
flyer is moulded in the ordinary sand mould, leaves.a passage for the
metal to the legs and boss constituting the flyer. The part d, is the
same as in flyer patterns of the usual construction; this part of my
improvements in the manufacture of flyers consisting solely in making
the legs of the pattern as much closer together at their lower ends as
they expand during the operations of grinding, polishing, and closing.
If the legs of the flyer are longer or shorter than those shewn in
Figure 1, it is evident that they will h ve to be more or less out of
perpendicular in the pattern, but it is found in practice that if the legs
are set to an angle of one-sixteenth of an inch for every inch in length,
they will, when finished, be parallel, or very nearly parallel, to each.
other. When only one of the legs of the flyer is required hollow
and the other.solid,, as is frequently the case in flyers used in ma-
chinery for preparing cotton, then the solid leg of the pattern must
be parallel, and only the hollow one made out of perpendicular, as
above described. I also propose in some cases to make the pattern of
the hollow legs of flyers slightly curved between the points marked a,
and b, on Figure 1, instead of straight, as shewn in the drawing.
I will now proceed to describe the second part of my Invention, which
consists in making the "buttons of spindles used in machinery for
spinning of malleable cast-iron. Figure 3, represents a spindle of the
ordinary construction. The button which is marked e, is a small collar
or shoulder fixed on the spindle, and placed a little below the bolster or
bearing in which the spindle revolves. These buttons have heretofore
been made of brass, steel, or ordinary cast-iron. Now this part of my
Invention consists in making them of malleable cast-iron, or castings
"

page_text: made of suitable iron, which are afterwards unnealed to render them
malleable.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I wish it to be understood, that making the
patterns of flyers in two halves, as shewn, in Figures 1, and 2, forms no
part of my Invention, as the same has been done before. But what I
claim as new, and desire to secure as my Invention, is,-
First, making the legs of the patterns of flyers closer together at
their lower than at their upper ends, in the manner and for the purpose
herein-before described; and,
Secondly, manufacturing the buttons of spindles of malleable cast-
iron.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Preston, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of August, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
FRANCIS PRESTON. (L.S.)