IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FINISHING THREAD AND YARN
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hugh Crawford and James Crawford, both of
Barr Mill, Beith, in the County of Ayr, North Britain, Manu-
facturers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
FINISHING THREAD AND YARN."
Sealed the 1st November 1872, and dated the 14th August 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hugh Crawford and
James Crawford at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 14th August 1872.
We, HUGH CRAWFORD and JAMES CRAWFORD, both of Barr Mill,
5 Beith, in the County of Ayr, North Britain, Manufacturers, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR FINISHING THREAD AND YARN," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This said Invention has reference to certain improvements in the
construction of that description of thread finishing machines, technically
0 known as the "pinning" or hooking" machine and "iron man,"

page_text: "
more particularly used for stretching and glossing or polishing sewing
linen thread in hanks by twisting and "screwing," "coiling," or
'curling" them in vertical rows upon and between corresponding
upper revolving and lower non-revolving hooks, or it may be pins or
pulleys; also applicable for producing the same finish when desired
to other thread and yarn in hanks, whereby such machines are made
to finish the thread treated in and by them in a better and quicker
manner than has been done or found possible with these machines
as heretoforc constructed.
And the nature and novelty of this said Invention and improvements
consist substantially in the application and use of spiral or other
equivalent springs between the reciprocating main bar carrying the
set or row of the lower holding or non-revolving hooks or pins, and
the strong rail of the main framing carrying the upper set or row of
revolving hooks or pins, or it might be any other strong fixed rail or
brackets secured to the main framing of the machine, above or below
the said traversing rail, arranged so that these springs are compressed
or drawn out in a gradually increasing manner, after the first "kink "
of the "
screw," ("coil," or "curl,") has begun, or it might be from
the beginning of the first twisting of the hank also, so as to give the
increasing and maximum strain towards and at the time the full twist
or curl is upon the whole row of hanks. Or by one arrangement the
spiral springs, when these are used, may be made in one picce or in
short lengths, and slipped over long guide bars, cither secured near
cach side or across the machine in the upper and lower fixed longitu- :
dinal rails, the lower hook rail traversing freely by slotted holes over
or on these guide bars, carrying the springs on them of a proper length
and strength to give the desired strain to the hanks as the rail riscs,
and releases this pressure as it falls, which reciprocating action is
continued otherwise as usual, and the banks turned on the hooks at
intervals until the thread is properly finished.
Although spiral springs have been mentioned, as these give the
long and gradually increasing force desired without the use of levers or
other complication, but it will be obvious that long, single, or double
blade springs, such as used for mangles, or shorter acting springs 3
with levers fulcrummed on fixed studs in the main framing, and
having the ends of the levers attached or connected to the moving
rail carrying the lower row of hooks might also be employed to
.

page_text: produce and give an approximately equal effect and finish to the thread.
thus treated.
It will also be obvious that this new or improved gradually increasing
or decreasing pressure may be given to the reciprocating bar or beam
and hooks carried by it as it rises and falls respectively by one or more
india-rubber or other equivalent springs, cither attached direct or by
levers to the bar, substantially as before referred to; or the bar may be
made to lift different weights at intervals in its rising, and release them
in its descent, either connected direct or through a differentially ful-
crummed or lengthening lever or levers; and although these improve-
ments have been described as applied to the said well-known complete
thread finishing machines, with a row or set of several pairs of twisting
hooks, it is to be understood that they may also be applied to a machine
for the like purpose with a single pair of these twisting hooks or pins.
› SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Hugh Crawford and James Crawford in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 14th February 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HUGÓ
CRAWFORD and JAMES CRAWFORD, both of Barr Mill, Beith, in the
1 County of Ayr, North Britain, Manufacturers, send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give.
and grant unto us, the said Hugh Crawford and James Crawford, Her
special licence, that we, the said Hugh Crawford and James Crawford,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as wo, the
said Hugh Crawford and James Crawford, our 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,
•
.

page_text: and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
FINISHING THREAD AND YARN," upon the condition (amongst others) that
we, the said Hugh Crawford and James Crawford, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, 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 Scal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
·NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Hugh Crawford and James Craw-
ford, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement in writing, reference
being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters
and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
66
Our said Invention has reference to certain improvements in the con-
struction of that description of thread_finishing machines technically
known as the "pinning" or hooking" machine, and "iron man,"
more particularly used for stretching and glossing or polishing sewing
linen thread in hanks, by twisting and "screwing," "coiling" or
'curling" then in stretched vertical rows upon and between corre-
sponding upper revolving and lower non-revolving hooks (or it may
be pins or pulleys as equivalents for these,) also applicable for producing
or giving the same finish when desired to other thread and yarn in
hanks, whereby such machines fitted with our said improvements are
made to finish the thread treated in and by them in a better and quicker
manner than has been done or found possible with these machines as
heretofore constructed.
And in order that the nature, novelty, and mode of performing our
said Invention may be properly understood, we shall now proceed to
describe the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings which we have
hereunto appended, for the purpose of showing the best modes and
means we are at present aware of for putting our said Invention into

page_text: Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a sectional end elevation and a front
elevation of an ordinary construction of motive-power thread finishing
and glossing machine having a row of six twisting and holding hooks,
H, I, and H', I', on each side respectively, and all complete and constructed
generally in a usual manner, letters A to Q, as herein-before referred
to, except that it is fitted with one modification of our said Invention,
or construction and arrangement of our new or improved springs,
showing one adaptation and application thereof.
"
The general arrangement of the machine is of an ordinary construc-
tion, and consists of the two main side frames or standards A firmly
secured to and supporting the longitudinal frame or entablature 'A'
by screw bolts and flanges at their upper ends, and at their lower
ends firmly "tied" or screwed to cach other by the longitudinal "tie
or stay frame A, the whole forming a rigid self-contained or sup-
porting portable frame carrying all the working and other parts of the
machine, and capable of being bolted down by broad flanges or feet
formed on the side standards A to any suitable foundation of wood
or masonry. The first motion shaft B, which revolves in bearings.
formed in two brackets B' bolted to the front of the entablature A',
is actuated by an open and cross belt C", C³, from an adjacent prime
moving shaft passed round the triplet set of one fast and two loose
pulleys B' and B", B², furnished with the usual sliding forked bar C',.
actuated by the starting, stopping, and reversing wiper spindle and hand
lever C, C, at the will of the attendant. A pinion D on the end of the
shaft B gears into the spur wheel E fast on the end of the shaft F, and
this wheel E gears into a corresponding wheel E' fast on the shaft F¹,
which two longitudinal shafts F and F revolving in bearings formed in
brackets projecting up from the entablature A³, transmit motion by a
pair of mitre wheels G and G' to each spindle of the two sets or rows of
hooks II and H¹ so that they revolve or are turned in either direction in
the bush bearings fitted in front of the entablature A' by the motion of
the hand lever C to one side or the other of the vertical line or stopping
position respectively. These two rows of hooks I and I' are fixed by the
square stems and screw nuts to strong heavy longitudinal plates or bars
J and J', so as to rise and fall vertically with these, guided by their
round ends J" working within the long slots A" formed in the side
frames A. A great part of the weight of cach of these bars and their

page_text: hooks J, I, and J', I', are counterbalanced by the chains and weights
L, L', attached to the pulleys M, M³, on the outer end of the long
shafts O, O', with the two chain wheels and chains N and N' fixed on
them near the inside of the frames A, so that the lower ends of these
chains are attached to the ends of the bars J, J', all respectively, and
held in their normal lower position by the hand levers P, P, and a
pin Pu passed through the holes in their respective segments P for that
purpose, and for putting on and taking off the hanks, so that the hanks
of thread K are all first hooked on the upper and lower hooks H, H',
and I, I', as shown on the left side of Figure 1, when the pin would be
removed from the holding segment and the preponderant or unbalanced
weight of the hooks or bars I, J, and I', J', would be let down to tighten
the hank between the hooks, when the starting handle C is then shifted
to one side or the other to set on the hooks H, H', so as to twist the
hanks of thread in one direction or the other, as shown in Figure 2. 1
When the banks are thus twisted sufficiently tight the attendant by the
hand levers Q, Q', of the bars J, J', gives these and their hook I, I', a
tilt, which begins the "kinks or spiral twists or curls simultaneously
on the whole of the twisted hanks K, as seen at the end section, Figure 3,
of one pair of the hooks H, I, detached, with the curls completely formed,
and the bar and hooks J, I, at their highest position, where the main
part of the gloss is given by the reversing of the handle O and spindles H,
which uncoils and coils both the curls and twists in either direction for
a sufficient time until the thread is sufficiently polished or glossed and
finished, all so far in a usual manner; but effected by our new improve-
ments (or arrangements of springs S,.S¹, S*,) that is, by the increasing
pressure of the springs upon the bars J and hank K, from near the
commencement of their twisting action, and of course decreasing on their
downward and untwisting action.
""
The nature and novelty of our said Invention and improvements
consist all as follows, particularly as applied and shown in Figures 1, 2,
and 3, substantially in the fitting or application and use of spiral (or it
might be other equivalent) springs S, between the reciprocating main
bars J, J', carrying the sets or rows of lower non-revolving hooks I, I,
(or it might be pins sometimes used for these hooks,) and the strong;
rail of the main framing carrying the upper set or row of revolving
hooks H, H', or twisting pins, or it might be any fixed rails, brackets,

page_text: or other equivalent secured to the main framing of the machine or
Above the said traversing bars J, J', (or it
will be herein-after described) arranged so
stationary fixture near it.
might be below them, as
»
that these springs S are compressed or drawn out in a gradually
increasing manner, as the rails J, J', risc (after the first "kink" of
the "screw,"
coil," or "curl," has begun, or it might be from near the
beginning of the first twisting of the hanks K, as seen in Figure 2) to
give the increasing and maximum strain towards and at the time the
twist or curl is upon the whole row of hanks as seen at Figure 3. That
is, in this arrangement, where spiral springs S are used they may be
made in short lengths, or it might be in one piece and slipped over the
two vertical guide rods T of each sliding bar J, J', preferably secured
to the lower brackets T of the rail A' some little distance from cach
side frame A as shown in Figure 2; but it might be at any other position
along the said bars J, J', across the machine between the frames A with
the upper ends held in the fixed longitudinal rail A' at T'. The lower
hook bars J, J', traverse freely by slotted holes at T over or on the
guide rods T, and carry the springs S between them and the said fixed
frame A' of a proper length and strength to give the desired strain to
the hanks K throughout the traverse of the bars J, J', as they risc and
release the pressure gradually as they fall, which reciprocating action is
given by the reversing motion, belts, and pulleys C, C¹, C", C³, B", B³,
and continued in the usual manner as described, and the hanks turned
at intervals on the hooks when the twist is off them in the lower normal
position of the rails J, J', until the thread is properly glossed and
finished, when the hanks are all removed and a new set put on the
hooks and treated in like manner in succession, as described in reference
to the first set. Although the springs S have been so far described and
shown as carried on guide rods T, and compressed above and between
the traversing rails, J, J', and the upper frame A', it will be obvious
that drawing springs S' might also be used as indicated in blue lines
Figure 2, attached at top to the under side J* of the traversing hook
rails J, J', and secured at the lower end to hooks or other equivalent
fixtures in the lower sole plate or foundation floor at A*.
Referring to Figures 4 and 5 which are a transverse section and a
front view respectively of a thread finishing machine similar to that
shown in Figures 1 and 2, except that it is shown as fitted with another
modification or arrangement of our said improvements in which shorter,

page_text: more powerful acting drawing springs S' with levers U are employed
fulcrummed on spindles or studs U' fixed in the main framing or other
strong fixture near it; having the free ends U" of the levers attached by
connecting links V or other equivalent to the reciprocating rails J, J¹,
carrying the lower row of hooks I, I', and which it will be evident
would produce and give an approximately equal tension and frictional
effect and finish to the hanks of thread while being twisted and coiled
as is effected by the direct action of the long springs before described in
reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3. And although the springs S" have
only been shown as drawing springs acting from the under side of the
levers they might be made to act on or at the top side of the levers, and
might also be made compressing springs cither placed above or below
the levers, so as to act between them and some fixed bar or other strong
fixed rest or part of the machine according to the nature or construction
of the levers and the position of their fulcrum. And further, although
spiral springs only have been described and shown as they give the long
and gradually increasing force desired more simply than most others
with few parts or complicated fittings, yet still it is to be understood
that long, single, or double blade springs, such as used for mangles, may
be used instead of the spiral springs shown. It will be understood that
this new or improved gradually increasing or decreasing pressure may
be given to the reciprocating bars or beams J, J', and hooks I, I', carried
by it as it rises and falls respectively, by one or more india-rubber,
composite, or other equivalent springs, either attached direct, or by
levers to the bars, substantially as before described. Although these
improved arrangements and applications of springs have only been
described and shown as applied to the said well-known complete thread
finishing machines (A to Q) with rows or sets of several pairs of twisting
and stationary hooks (H, H', and I, I',) it will be understood that they
may also be applied to a machine for the like purpose, with only one
or more pairs of these hooks or pins.
Having thus particularly described the nature of our said Invention
and the manner in which the same is or may be performed, we have to
state that what we consider novel and original and therefore claim
as the Invention secured to us by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, the application and use of springs to give a gradually.
increasing and diminishing pressure or strain to the lower bars and their
hooks as they reciprocate up and down respectively, which gives a

page_text: corresponding stretch and tension to the hanks of thread or yarn while
being twisted and curled on thread "pinning" or finishing machines,
all substantially in the new or improved manner and for the purposes
herein described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Hugh Crawford and James
Crawford, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirteenth
day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-three.
HUGH CRAWFORD. (L.S.)
JAMES
CRAWFORD. (L.S.)