IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SPINNING WOOL
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SPINNING
WOOL."-A communication from abroad by John Gilbert Avery, of
the City and State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 9th February 1872, and dated the 30th August 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,.
on the 30th August 1871.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
SPINNING WOOL," a communication, to be as follows:-
In machines for spinning wool continuously where the roving is
twisted and stretched, or drawn as fast as it is delivered from the feed
rolls, the roving is liable to be broken, or is not condensed so uniformly
as is desirable, and it is necessary to twist the roving slightly before it is

page_text: .
drawn or extended in length. This gives strength to the weaker por-
tions and prevents the tearing apart of the same while the larger or
heavier portions are being drawn, thereby producing more even yarn
than it is possible to do if the roving is extended in length before or at
the time it begins to be twisted. For this purpose it is necessary to
have the new or untwisted portion of roving measured off and delivered
in such length that it will hang loosely until sufficiently twisted to
begin the drawing or lengthwise extension. This extension is to be
continued with gradual increase while the roving is receiving additional
twist per inch, until sufficiently drawn and twisted for the purpose
intended. To effect this measuring off and delivering and avoid the
above-mentioned difficulties, and also to spin more rapidly than by the
ordinary jack (which spins intermittingly) is the object of my Inven-
tion, and the following is a description of a machine whereby I carry
the same into practice.
T
The said machine has a suitable framework and a drum, by the
revolutions of which the roving is fed from a spool resting on the said
drum. A flanged wheel, whose periphery revolves at about the same
speed as that of the said drum, is carried on a shaft parallel with the
drum shaft. Between the flanges of this wheel extend lengthwise, or in
the direction of its axis, a series of rods, which give motion to semi-
cylindrical depressions in the arms of a skeleton wheel resting on the
aforesaid rods. As the flanged wheel rises and falls it is guided and held
by an arm or bar hinged to a suitable support. A series of arms attached
to the wheel, and hinged at one extremity to admit of easy motion,
at the other extremity carry rods, which extend lengthwise over the
flanged wheel and pass under the skeleton wheel. By means of a cam
the projecting ends of the said rods are engaged, and the rods are
successively lifted as the flanged wheel revolves, and immediately
afterward dropped.
A brace or arm supports a twisting tube, which either has an opening
in the pulley communicating with a slit for convenience in threading, or
the said tube may be made with a light removable tube, which can be
taken from the twisting tube, threaded, and replaced without stopping
the machinery. A wire is made into a hook and has a spring, which is
attached to the twisting tube. A large roll rests on two smaller rolls,
which are moved with such a speed that the roving passing between
them is drawn forward as required.

page_text: I use a flier consisting of a tube large enough to admit the bobbin
freely without contact. The upper end of the flier is a plug, which has a
depression or notch communicating on one side with the slit in the tubo
of the flier. The said plug or end piece has a conical depression on its
lower part leading to a rectangular hole, shaped to correspond with the
flattened end of the bobbin spindle. The said conical depression guides
the end of the spindle quickly to its place in the rectangular hole.
The said spindle is supported by a sliding framework. Another
frame slides in this framework carrying a spool, which moves freely over
the spindle, and does not partake of its motion, except when teeth on
the spool are allowed to come in contact with teeth on the larger part of
the spindle. Small projections from the spool enter similar depressions.
in the lower part of the bobbin, insuring the motion of the spool and
bobbin together.
A cross piece hinged to a bar on a frame carries a projection, to which
is attached a cam turning on a pivot not concentric with the curved
portion of the cam. When the frame is raised the cam is rolled by its
friction on the framework, thereby pulling forward the frame, which by
a spring and strap exerts pressure on the spool. When the said frame is
lowered the cam rolls outward and releases the spring.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 29th February 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake; & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake; Her special licence

page_text: that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, 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, 5
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
" IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SPINNING WOOL," a communication to me
from abroad by John Gilbert Avery, of the City and State of New York,.
United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that 1
I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, 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 William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained 2
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings forming a part of this Specification.
In machines for spinning wool continuously where the roving is
twisted and stretched, or drawn as fast as it is delivered from the fecd
rolls, the roving is liable to be broken, or is not condensed so uniformly 5
as is desirable, and it is necessary to twist the roving slightly before it is
drawn or extended in length. This gives strength to the weaker
portions and prevents the tearing apart of the same while the larger or
heavier portions are being drawn, thereby producing more even yarn
than it is possible to do if the roving is extended in length before or at a
the time it begins to be twisted. For this purpose it is necessary to
have the new or untwisted portion of roving measured off and delivered
in such length that it will hang loosely until sufficiently twisted to.
begin the drawing or lengthwise extension. This extension is to be
continued with gradual increase while the roving is receiving additional :
twist per inch, until sufficiently drawn and twisted for the purpose
intended. To effect this measuring off and delivering and avoid
the above-mentioned difficulties, and also to spin more rapidly than by

page_text: Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10; 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and
21, illustrate details of the said machine herein-after described.
As
A is the framework of the machine; C is a drum, by the revolution of
which the roving is fed or delivered from the spool D resting on the
drum C. G is the flange or end of a wheel whoso periphery revolves at
about the same speed as that of the drum C. Between the flanges of
this wheel extend lengthwise or in the direction of its axis a series of
rods, whose ends are shown at b. These rods 6 engage with and give
motion to semi-cylindrical depressions c in the arms of a skeleton wheel
H, which wheel rests by these arms on the rods 6 of the wheel G.
the wheel H rises and falls in its motion it is guided and held by the
arm or bar 3, which is hinged to the support 2. A series of arms d is
attached to the wheel G, which arms are hinged at one extremity so as
to admit of easy motion and at the other extremity they carry rods e
which extend lengthwise over the wheel G and pass under the wheel H.
By the cam L the projecting ends of the rods e are engaged and the
rods e are successively lifted as the wheel G revolves into the position
shown by the uppermost rod e in Figure 1. Immediately afterward this
rode is dropped, as seen in Figure 2.
·
.
M is a brace or arm supporting a twisting tube N, that has an
opening k in the pulley f, which opening communicates with a slit j
for convenience in threading, as shown in Figure 4, or the tube N may
be made as shown in Figures 14, 15, and 16. In the last-named
Figures N' is a light removeable tube which can be taken from the
tube N, threaded, and replaced without stopping the machinery. A
wire is made into a hook and a spring 10, which is slipped into the
notch and attached to the tube N, as shewn in Figures 4 and 15:
P is a roll resting on two other rolls O, O, which are moved with
such a speed that the roving, passing between O, O, and P is drawn
forward as required.

page_text: 2
R is a flier, shown separately in' Figures 6 and 17.. This flier consists
of a tube large enough to admit the bobbin freely without contact. The
end of the flier is a plug, which has a depression or notch p, Figure 18,
communicating on one side with the slit in the tube of the flier. The
end piece has a conical depression on its lower part leading to a
rectangular hole m, Figures 6, 9, and 17, which hole m is shaped to
correspond with the flattened end n of the spindle S, shewn full size in
Figures 7 and 21. The said conical depression guides the end n of the
spindle S quickly to its place in the opening m. The spindle S is
supported by a sliding framework T, shewn in its highest position in
Figure 1.
W is another frame sliding in T, carrying a spool X, which moves
freely over the spindle S, and does not partake of its motion except when
the teeth 8 on the spool X are allowed to come in contact with the teeth
.9 on the larger part of the spindle S. Figure 2 shews the teeth 8 and
.9 thus, in contact. Small projections px, Figure 12, from the spool X
enter similar depressions in the lower part of the bobbin Y, insuring
the motion of the spool X and the bobbin Y together.
Z is a cross piece hinged at 6 to a bar 5, which fastens it to the frame
W. A projection A¹ is attached to Z, to which projection is attached a
cam C¹ turning on a pivot not concentric with the curved portion of the
cam. When the frame W is raised, the cam C¹ is rolled by its friction
on the framework into the position shown in Figure 1, thereby pulling
forward the frame or cross piece Z, which by the spring B¹ and the strap
D¹ or their equivalent exerts pressure on the spool X. When the said
frame W is lowered the cam rolls outward, as in Figure 2, releasing the
spring B¹.
"The weight of the frame W, the spools X, and the bobbins Y is
balanced by the suitable attachment of the weight F and frame W to
the shaft and pulleys E¹.
G¹ is a wire or follower used in doffing.
The operation of this improved machine is as follows:-By the
revolution of the drum C the roving is delivered to the wheels G and H,
and by these latter wheels the roving is griped at certain intervals by
the action of the rods 6 and the arms c. By this means new portions of
roving are successively delivered into the draft space to be twisted by
the tube N and drawn by the rolls O and P. As the cam L lifts the
- rods e, as in Figure 1, the roving must pass over the rod e and under
the arms c, so that the new supply of roving delivered is longer than the

page_text: -direct distance from one rod to the next one. The rod e drops just as
the forward arm c rises, so that the new supply of roving hangs loose
till enough twist has entered this new portion before the drawing or
lengthwise extension begins in it to give the weaker portions strength
and prevent their breaking while the entire portion of new roving is
being drawn to the required fineness. As the roving is delivered from
the griping wheels G and H it is passed through the twisting tube N and
around the wire h in such a way that it is grasped with sufficient firm-
ness to insure its revolving with the tube N, to which motion is given
by a bolt from the pulley Q over the pulley f. The point of the wire h
is brought as close as possible to the point of contact of the drawing
rolls O with the roll P, and the twist imparted to the roving by the
revolution of the tube N is retained up to the point where the drawing
rolls are tangential to each other, in order that the strength of the roving
may admit of its boing drawn without breaking. From the drawing
rolls the roving passes down by the depression p in the end piece and
the slit in the tube of the flier through the flier, to and around the
wire 8, and thence to the bobbin Y. When the frame T is in its highest
position so that the spindle S enters the hole m, and when the frame W
is raised, bringing the bobbin Y within the flier R and releasing the
teeth 8 of the spool X from the teeth 9 of the spindle, motion is given to
the spindle by a belt from the pulley U to the pulley V; the spindle
turns the flier, and the yarn is spun and wound on the bobbin. The
yarn is regularly laid on in conical layers by mechanism not shewn
in the Drawings...
The tension of the yarn on the bobbin is regulated by the following
means:-In winding the yarn the frame W is raised and lowered
alternately. When the said frame W is raised to cause the yarn to be
wound on the larger part of the cone the greater circumference of the
O cone exerts less force on the yarn; but the rise of the frame W and the
action of the cam C¹ pulls forward the frame Z, and by the spring B' and
the strap D', or their equivalent, pressure is exerted on the spool X, thus
giving sufficient increase of tension to compensate for the difference in
the size of the cone: When the frame W'is again lowered to wind on the
5 smaller part of the cone the cam C' is rolled back, as shewn in Figure 2;.
the spring B¹ is released, and by this alternate action the tension is made
perfectly equal or uniform. If the roving breaks between the drum C
and the wheels G and H on being passed between one support 2 and the

page_text: next one it will quickly catch under the wheel H. If it breaks between
G and the drawing rolls the removeable tube N¹ is taken out of the
main tube N and the roving is passed into the slit ; and around the
wire h under the spring 10. The tube N is then replaced. If the yarn
is broken below the drawing rolls the end is taken from the bobbin,
passed around the wires of the flier between 8 and s¹, thence through
the slit r, and spliced with the roving next to the drawing rolls. The
cross piece in front in which the flier R turns is slotted. to correspond
with the slit r in the flier, so that the yarn may be passed into the flier
without the removal of the latter. The slit in the framework is shewn
at, Figure 3. When the bobbins are full the frame T is lowered to
separate the end n of the spindles from the end piece of the flier, as
shewn in Figure 2. The frame W is then lowered, so that the teeth 8
and 9 are brought together. The bobbins are then turned backward by
a little motion of the spindles till a quantity of yarn is unwound from
the bobbins. The frame T is then lowered enough to bring the upper
end of the spindles S below the lower end of the flior, so that the wire or
follower G' may be brought up from the position shewn in Figure 1,-
over the end of the spindles, then downward and backward to the
position shewn in Figure 2; and this wire G³ draws with it the loose
portion of yarn. The frame T is then raised to the position shewn in
Figure 2, and by a few turns of the spindles the yarn is run downward
over the bobbin and on the spool X. The frame T is then relowered
and tipped forward, as seen in Figure 11. The bobbins are now slipped
off, breaking the yarn but leaving the end attached to the spool X.
When the empty bobbins are put on the frame W is tipped back to its
erect position, the frame T is raised to its highest position so that the
spindles may engage and turn the flier, the frame W is raised to bring
the bobbins within the flier, and spinning recommences. As this takes
place the yarn runs quickly back from the spool X to the bobbin. The
sides of the upper flange of the spool ✗ are removed, as shown at z, Figure
13, so that the yarn may be easily cut off from the spool when desired.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The wheels G and H for intermittingly measuring off and
holding a portion of the roving while the said wheels are revolving
continuously as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: Second. Delivering the roving to hang loosely while the twist is
entering the same by the use of mechanism to increase the length of the
roving between the griping points of the revolving wheels G and H.
Third. The twisting tube N with a removeable portion N' constructed
substantially as set forth for the purpose herein described.
Fourth. The combination of the twisting tube N with the con-
tinuously revolving drawing rolls O and P and the slotted flier R,
constructed and operating substantially as described.
Fifth. Alternately increasing and diminishing the tension on the yarn
by means of the cam O' or its equivalent, substantially as herein
described.
19
Sixth. The combination of the spindle S with the wire G' and the
spool X, substantially as set forth for the purpose described.
Seventh. The tipping forward of the frame holding the spindles in
order to facilitate "doffing" as herein set forth.
Eighth. The combination of the flier R with the spindle S and the
wire G', substantially as herein set forth.
Ninth. The combination of the spool X with the bobbin Y sliding
freely on the spindle, and not partaking of the motion of the latter, as
hercin set forth.
-
In witness whercof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
set my hand and scal, this Twenty-eighth day of
February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-two.