Improvements in Drawing, Slubbing, Roving and Gill Frames, and like Machines for Preparing and Spinning Fibres.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 28th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1898
PROVIDIUNAL DILUIFICATION.
Improvements in Drawing, Slubbing, Roving and Gill Frames, and
like Machines for Preparing and Spinning Fibres.
We, ARTHUR WILSON METCALFE, of Grove Mill, Flax Spinner, and JAMES
MACKIE, of Albert Foundry, Machine Maker, both of Belfast, Ireland, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
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This invention relates to the following improvements applicable to drawing,
slubbing, roving frames, and gill spinning frames.
These improvements are as follows:-
Firstly, a cover is placed behind the spindles so as to effectually prevent the dirt
and fly which arises from the material as it passes on to the bobbins falling under-
neath the frame and amongst the gearing. This cover is preferably formed of two
parts, and consists of one cover attached to the builder rail and rising or falling
with it whilst it is overlapped at its upper edge by a fixed cover behind or in front
of which it can pass freely without leaving a space for dirt to fly through.
Secondly. The compound levers employed to apply pressure to the drawing
rollers are so arranged that when it is desired to release the weight upon the
springwire the lever carrying the weight may be hitched up by means of a chain,
rod, or other suitable device passing up beside or near the drawbar or springwire,
the said chain or rod has a hook or loop for attaching to some part upon the draw-
bar springwire, or other convenient part of the frame. By another arrangement
all the levers in any one head or section may be simultaneously lifted up to release
the pressures. For this purpose a short shaft is employed passing under the levers
and having a cam or lever opposite each said lever, or being cranked at each end
is made to partially rotate or swing by means of a handle, so as to simultaneously
raise the weights on all the levers of that head or section. The handle by which
this is performed is so arranged as to protrude in some conspicuous manner when-
ever the pressure levers are raised so as to draw attention and obviate starting the
frame when the weights are not acting. These arrangements for lifting the levers
are required especially when the above mentioned covers make the levers otherwise
inaccessible from the front of frame.
Thirdly. The pressure levers are constructed on the compound principle, but
instead of employing pins at all the fulcrums the levers are linked and hooked
together and to the fixed fulcrums so as to have as few as possible loose parts to
become deranged.
Fourthly. A clutch or lever device is provided for enabling the spindles to be
turned by hand whilst the frame is not working, for the purpose of releasing the
rove prior to doffing. This is so performed that upon the frame being started the
clutch will immediately fall into gear and drive the spindles.
Fifthly. An improved device for giving lateral traverse to the drawing rollers
is so arranged that the thrust block upon the roller end is retained and controlled
by trunnions or pins working in a lever which swings upon a pin or stud. This
lever is actuated by an eccentric or tappet so as to give a lateral motion to the

page_text: roller whilst in work. The said eccentric or tappet may be moved by a worm and
worm wheel or other gearing so as to give a slow movement, preferably by a
ratchet wheel upon the worm shaft actuated from time to time by a pall upon a
lever which receives its movement from some working part of the machine. To
impart a slow reciprocating movement to the pall the device may be as follows:---
A wheel mounted upon a lever or slide gears with some wheel of a different number
of teeth, upon each of these wheels pins or projections are mounted in such
manner that when certain teeth in the two wheels come opposite each other
the said pins or projections come in contact with each other and force the
wheels apart as these points pass one another. This causes a movement, of the
lever or slide upon which one of the wheels is mounted, and this latter movement
is communicated to the pall and ratchet wheel actuating the traverse motion of the
rollers.
Sixthly. Improved belt forks for guiding the belt on the cones controlling the
differential gear are made so that the guide for each cone follows as nearly as
possible the contour of the cone by sliding on guides each to suit its own cone,
and shifter moves them both along as required.
Seventhly. A stop motion is applied to the main driving pulleys to stop the
machine automatically when desired. This is performed by a spring or weight
acting upon the belt fork and moving it whenever set in action by the release of a
catch either automatically or otherwise. In order to make the action more certain
and easy, the belt fork, and the main rod or handle. for actuating it are discon-
nected at the same time as the spring or weight is brought into action, so that the
belt fork only with parts necessary to guide it is moved to the loose pulley.
starting the frame again the belt handle or rod is moved over until it engages with
the belt fork by means of a catch. The belt fork can then be actuated by the
handle at will until the automatic motion above described shall break the connec-
tion once more.
In
Eightly. The combined bevel and spur intermediate wheels transmitting motion
from the longitudinal spindle and bobbin shafts to the spindles and bobbin carriers
respectively, instead of being mounted upon vertical studs passing up through
them have an axis projecting vertically downwards which runs in a foot step
capable of holding lubricant. A hole may be bored from above for oiling through
the top of the wheel.
The axis may be cast as part of the wheel or made of a separate piece secured
thereto.
ARTHUR W. METCALFE.
JAMES MACKIE.
Improvements in Drawing, Slubbing, Roving and Gill Frames, and
like Machines for Preparing and Spinning Fibres.
We, ARTHUR WILSON METCALFE, of the Grove Mill, Belfast, in the County of
Antrim, Ireland, Flax Spinner, and JAMES MACKIE, of Albert Foundry, Belfast,
aforesaid, Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascér-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in drawing, slubbing, roving and
gill frames, chiefly applicable for the preparation of flax and similar fibres for

page_text: Fig. 2. Front elevation of same showing slots in cover for levers to pass through.
Fig. 3. Elevation detail of clutch for operating the spindle shaft.
Fig. 4. Sectional plan of same.
Fig. 5. Sectional plan of modification.
Fig. 6. End elevation of device for giving a slow lateral traverse to the driving
roller.
Fig. 7. Plan of same.
Fig. 8. End elevation of cone fork guide showing the strap at opposite end to
Fig. 1.
Fig. 9. Elevation of cone fork guide from back of frame.
Fig. 10. Sectional plan of Fig. 9 showing bottom cone and guides.
Fig. 11. Plan of Fig. 9 showing top cone and guides.
Fig. 12. End elevation, showing the lower fork lifted up and moved to small end.
Fig. 13. Section of improved combined bevel and spur spindle and bobbin gear
wheel.
Fig. 13. Diagrammatic drawing of combined bevel and spur wheels.
Fig. 14. End elevation of stop motion in normal position.
Fig. 15. Front view of same.
-
Fig. 16. Front view of same showing belt fork actuated by the automatic motion.
The dotted lines show the catch when actuated by the main setting on rod or handle.
Behind the spindles A we place a cover comprised of the two parts BB¹, to pre-
vent the dirt and fly falling beneath the frame and amongst the gearing. The
part B of the cover is affixed to the builder rail, and rises and falls with it, while
the part B is affixed to the beam C, and overlaps the edge of the other part. The
movable part B1 of the cover moves freely to and fro past the edge of the stationary
part (either behind or before) without leaving any space for dirt or fly to pass
through.
The compound weight levers by which pressure is applied to the drawing rollers
are arranged so that the lever I carrying the weight may be raised to relieve the
weight upon the spring wire E by means of a chain, rod, handle or other device.
In Fig. 1a chain F is connected to each weight lever I by which the levers can
be raised individually as desired. The spring wire E is provided with a hook or
catch e upon which the chain can be hung when drawn up to maintain the weight
lever D in its raised position.
All the weight levers D) in any one head or section may be simultaneously lifted
to relieve the pressure upon the corresponding spring wire E by means of a cam,
eccentric or crank H on a rod or shaft G, carried under the levers. By rotating
the shaft G the crank H is brought into contact with the lever D and lifts it.
The shaft G is rotated by a lever g and handle h, protruding through the cover B,
or otherwise conveniently placed in a conspicuous position, so that when it is
drawn out and the weight levers raised to relieve the pressure it will attract atten-
tion to prevent the starting of the frame, when the weights are not acting.
Instead of applying a chain to the weight lever ]) to raise it, it may be formed
with a handled projecting through a slot 6 on the cover B by which it may be
raised when required to relieve the pressure. The slot b is formed with a notch b¹
at its upper end to retain the lever D when raised. (This modification is, shown
in Figs. 2. and 24).
The compound weight or pressure levers D D¹ (Figs. 1 and 2) are provided with
hooked ends d¹ d¹ and are connected together by a link D, thus avoiding the
employment of pins, the levers being hooked together and to the fixed fulcrum du
and having as few loose parts as possible likely to become deranged.
On the end of the spindle shaft K we attach a clutch L with handwheel K¹ by
which the spindles may be turned by hand while the frame is not running for
the purpose of releasing the rove prior to doffing. The spur wheel L¹ by which

page_text: the shaft K is rotated, is placed upon the boss k upon which it is free to rotate, or
it may rotate loosely upon the shaft itself. To the shaft is keyed the clutch or
clutch box L provided with a hand wheel K¹. The face of the wheel L' is formed
with a number of notches or indentations to receive the end of a spring bolt 1,
inserted in the boss of the clutch L, by which the motion of the spur wheel Li
is transmitted through the clutch L to the spindle shaft K (Figs. 3 and 4). By
drawing back the spring bolt it is disconnected from the gearing and the spindle
shaft may be rotated by the hand wheel K¹.
In a modified arrangement (Fig. 5) the face of the spur wheel L' is formed with
clutch teeth, and the clutch L corresponds therewith. These are held in gear when
the frame is running by the spiral spring on the end of the shaft K. By drawing
back the hand wheel K¹ and clutch L, the teeth are disengaged and the shaft K
and spindles may be turned by hand as desired.
To give a very slow lateral traverse to the drawing rollers M, we connect to the
thrust block m by trunnions or pins m¹ thereon, a pivoted forked lever N, which
is caused to oscillate slowly on its pivot. Or instead of the trunnions m¹ working
in a slide in the end of the lever N, the thrust block may be made with grooves
and pins or pivots project from the forked lever and engage therewith. The
lever N is pivoted on a stud n bolted to a fixed bracket O and is moved to and fro
by. the eccentric or crank n¹. The eccentric n¹ receives motion from a worm n
and gearing worm wheel keyed to the eccentric shaft. A slow rotary movement
is imparted to the worm n by the ratchet wheel P and pawl 2, the pawl lever p¹
being oscillated by means of a cam or other suitable device actuated from any
rotating or reciprocating part of the machine. To impart a very slow reciprocat-
ing movement to the pawl p we employ an operating mechanism constructed with
a spur wheel R rotating on a fixed stud r and gearing with a second' wheel R¹,
mounted on a pivoted bracket S connected to the pawl lever p¹ by a connecting
rod s.
The wheel R has preferably one or two teeth more or less than the wheel R¹,
and on the side of each wheel is a projection pin or equivalent 111, so placed that
when they come opposite to each other, the wheels are pushed apart, the pivoted
bracket S moved about its centre, and an impulse given to the pawl lever p¹ and
pawl p to move the ratchet wheel one tooth. Assuming that the wheels R and R¹
have 29 and 30 teeth respectively, the projections 1 and 1 come into contact once
in about 30 revolutions of the wheels, the movement imparted to the pawl and
ratchet wheel P will be very slow. The pivoted lever $ is returned to normal
position and the wheels R and R' maintained in gear by the spring s.
The belt forks T and T for guiding the belt on to the cones U and U₁ for con-
trolling the differential gear, are constructed so that the guide for each cone follows
as nearly as possible the contour of the cone by sliding on guides t and t. The
belt fork T for guiding the belt onto the upper cone U slides upon the guide rods t
the lower one being parallel to the axis of the cone, and the upper one at the
leading on side of the belt, being fixed in a curve or spiral to the axis of the cone,
so as to bring the fork T nearer to the axis as it approaches the small end of the
cone thus keeping it always approximately at an even distance from the periphery.
The belt fork T¹ for guiding the belt on to the lower cone U¹ is mounted upon the
two rods which are placed about parallel to the front or leading on side of
the cone U. To the rack or traverse bar T" by which the strap forks are shifted
we affix an upright bar " which engages with both the strap forks, but fits loosely
into them so as to carry or traverse the strap forks, but at the same time permit
of their independent movement to conform to the contour of the cones.
We construct a stop motion to be applied to the main driving pulleys to auto-
matically shift the belt fork Z¹ when desired to stop the machine. We provide a
pivoted lever V₁ pivoted to the lower end of a depending arm or bracket V
affixed to a beam and to the pivoted lever V₁ is attached a spring V (or a weight)
.which actuates it or forces it forward (see Fig. 16) against the connecting piece
.or bracket W. To the connecting piece W are attached two rods or bars woll
(sliding in a fixed bracket) which carry the strap fork Z¹ and it is connected to the

page_text: setting on rod or handle Z by a catch or lever w pivoted thereto which is provided
with a notch w¹ engaging with the end of the connecting piece W. By raising
the lever or catch to the setting on rod Z and strap fork are disconnected and
the latter may be operated without moving the former. The pivoted lever Vi
is held in normal position against the pressure of the spring V, and inoperative by
the rocking arm a notch in the top of the pivoted lever V¹ resting against it
and the depending finger of the catch w rests upon or over it. When the rocking
arm is moved into the position shown in dotted lines Fig. 14 the strap fork Z¹³ is
disconnected from the handle Z and at the same time the lever Vis released so
that the strap fork may be moved towards the loose pulley by the action of the
lever V and spring V. When the machine is thus stopped the setting on rod Z
remains stationary. In starting or setting on the frame again the setting on
handle or rod is moved over until it engages again with the belt fork by means of
the catch .. The belt fork can then be actuated by the handle at will, until the
automatic motion shall again lift the catch out of contact. The pivoted arm X
of this stop motion is released or actuated by any ordinary means employed for
conveying motion when the yarn or thread fails or breaks such as a rotating wiper,
reciprocating bar or lever, or other similar device.
The combined bevel and spur intermediate wheels Y for transmitting motion
from the longitudinal spindle shaft K or from the bobbin shaft to the spindles
and bobbins respectively, we construct with a fixed stud or axle y to run in a
footstep V capable of holding a lubricant. An oil hole y¹ may be bored in the
top of the wheel Y to admit oil. The axle y may be cast in one with the wheel
as shown Fig. 13 or may be attached thereto in the form of a stud or bolt.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is-
1. A preparing frame for flax and other fibres constructed with a cover placed
behind the spindles formed in two parts, one part stationary and affixed to the
beam, and the other part affixed to the builder rail and moving up and down with
it, substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. In a frame for preparing flax and other fibres, the combination with the com-
pound weight, lever D of a chain handle lever or equivalent, whereby the lever
can be raised to relieve the pressure upon the spring wire, substantially as described.
3. In a preparing frame for flax and other fibres the combination with the com-
pound weight lever of a shaft or rod running beneath a few sets of the levers.
and carrying a cam eccentric or crank opposite each lever, whereby a number of
the levers may be raised simultaneously to relieve the pressure, substantially as
described and shown.
4. In a preparing frame for flax and other fibres compound weight or pressure
levers, constructed with hooked' ends and connected together by a link, substan-
tially as described and shown.
5. In a preparing frame for flax and other fibres the combination with the spindle
shaft K of a clutch or clutch box through which the shaft is driven, and by the
withdrawal of which the shaft and spindles may be turned by hand, substantially
as described and shown with reference to Figs. 34 and 5.
6. The method of producing a very slow traverse movement in the drawing
rollers of frames for preparing flax and other fibres by means of two wheels of
unequal size with projections upon the peripheries by which a reciprocating move-
ment is transmitted at intervals substantially as described and shown.
7. A slowly operating traverse motion for the drawing rollers of preparing
frames, having the several parts constructed and arranged in combination substan-
tially as described and shown with reference to Figs. 6 and 7.
8. In a preparing frame for flax and other fibres, a belt fork for guiding the
strap on to the cones, constructed with rods upon which the forks slide, and a

page_text: loose connection between them and the traverse rack, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
9. In a preparing frame for flax and other fibres a belt fork for guiding the belt
on to the cones, constructed so that the guide for each cone follows as nearly as
possible the contour of the cone, substantially as described and shown with refer-
ence to Figs. 8 to 12 of the drawings.
10. A stop motion for preparing frames for flax and other fibres constructed and
arranged substantially as described and shown with reference to Figs. 14 to 16.
11. A combined spur and bevel intermediate wheel for driving the spindles or
bobbins of preparing frames for flax and other fibres constructed with an axle
attached thereto fitting into a footstep bearing capable of holding a lubricant sub-
stantially as described and shown with reference to Fig. 13.
1
1907
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.