IM- PROVEMENTS IN SPINNING AND DRAWING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS QIIDOMA MAGO AND TV MACHINERY FOR THAT PHIR DARK
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Pettitt, of Kingsland, in the County or
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, and James Forsyth, of Caldbeck, in
the County of Cumberland, Spinner, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN SPINNING AND DRAWING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS
QIIDOMA MAGO AND TV MACHINERY FOR THAT PHIR DARK"
Sealed the 24th December 1852, and dated the 7th October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Pettitt and
James Forsyth at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 7th October 1852.
We, EDWIN PETTITT and JAMES
FORSYTH, do hereby declare the
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SPINNING AND
nature of the said Invention for
DRAWING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN MACHINERY FOR
THAT PURPOSE," to be as follows:-
In the ordinary mode of drawing cotton and other fibrous substances
it is usual to operate by means of two or more pairs of rollers revolving
at different velocities, and for this purpose it is necessary that the cotton
should be in an untwisted or slightly twisted state.
Our Invention con-
sists in a new mode or modes of drawing and elongating twisted yarns

page_text: without permanently depriving them of their twist, which yarns are so
tightly twisted that they cannot be elongated in the above mentioned
manner. This we effect by placing between two pairs of drawing
rollers a revolving instrument through which the yarn passes, and which
instrument (which may be termed a grip flyer) is so constructed as to
grip the yarn, and provisionally untwist it, so as to admit of its elonga-
tion by the drawing rollers, while at the same time the grip upon the
yarn is not such as to prevent its passage through the machine. This
grip is produced by one or more rollers mounted on the grip flyer, or
by a revolving tube of suitable construction, with or without the appli-
cation of springs or elastic substances to regulate the grip. The nature
of the grip is in all cases such as to admit of the passage of the
through the machine, while at the same time it prevents the yarn from
twisting round upon its axis, except to the extent of the motion imparted
to the grip flyer for that purpose. In a similar manner we also employ
these grip flyers, arranged in a series of two or more alternately with-
drawing rollers. We also employ in some cases grip flyers with rollers,
which are caused to revolve by friction discs or otherwise, so as to act as
drawing rollers, as well as to produce the untwisting effect above
mentioned.
yarn
Our improvements in machinery relate to the construction and appli-
cation of the grip flyers and the other machinery hercin-before
mentioned.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edwin Pettitt and James Forsyth in the Great
Seal Patent Office, on the 7th April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we,
EDWIN PETTITT, of Kingsland, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, and JAMES FORSYTH, of Caldbeck, in the County of Cumber-
land, Spinner, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the six-

page_text: teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Edwin Pettitt and James Forsyth, Her
special licence that we, the said Edwin Pettitt and James Forsyth,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the
said Edwin Pettitt and James Forsyth, 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,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPINNING AND
DRAWING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN MACHINERY FOR
THAT PURPOSE," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
Edwin Pettitt and James Forsyth, by an instrument in writing under
our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of our 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 we, the said Edwin Pettitt and James
Forsyth, 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 thereof, reference
being had to the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings, and to the
figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:
In the ordinary method of drawing cotton and other fibrous sub-
stances it is usual to operate by means of two or more pairs of rollers
revolving at different velocities, and for this purpose it is necessary that
the fibrous substance should be in an untwisted or only slightly twisted
state.
Now our Invention consists, firstly, in a new mode or modes of
drawing and elongating twisted yarns, without permanently depriving
them of their twist, when such yarns are so tightly twisted that they
cannot be clongated by drawing rollers in the ordinary manner, and
we also impart additional twist to such yarns when required. Secondly,
our Invention consists in improvements in machinery adapted for
the above-mentioned purposes.

page_text: In putting our Invention into operation, we place between two pairs
of drawing rollers a revolving instrument through which the yarn
passes, and which instrument (which we term a "grip flyer") is so
constructed as to grip the yarn and provisionally untwist it, so as to
admit of its elongation by the drawing rollers, while at the same time
the grip upon the yarn is not such as to prevent its passage through the
machine when required; we also impart additional twist to the yarn by
combining a bobbin and fly or other twisting apparatus with such
drawing or elongating machinery as aforesaid.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, of the accompanying Drawings, is a side view;
and Figure 2, is a plan of one form or construction of grip flyer.
Figure 3, is an end view of the same. a, b, is a tube of steel or other
suitable material, carrying a pulley c, and a rectangular plate h, on
which are fixed the arms or supports ff, which support the small roller
d. g, g, are other arms hinged or jointed to the plate h, and supporting
the roller e. k, is a band of vulcanised caoutchouc which embraces the
supports ff, g,g, and presses the roller e, against the roller J. The
band k, is kept in its place by dropping into small notches formed in
the supports. This grip flyer is mounted on bearings at a, and b, so as
to be capable of revolving on its axis, and it is driven by a band passing
round the pulley c. This grip flyer is placed between two pairs of
drawing rollers, like those shown in section at A, A, and B, B, in
Figure 4. The surface of the rollers B, B, moves at a greater velocity
than that of the rollers A, A, so that they have a tendency to elongate
and draw out a yarn E, which is passed through them from A, to B.
If, however, a tightly twisted yarn be introduced, these rollers (without
the aid of the grip flyer) would not draw out such a yarn, but would
either break it or slip upon it without drawing it out. Now, by our
Invention, such a tightly twisted yarn is passed through the rollers
A, A, then through a grip flyer, and afterwards through the rollers
B, B. The rollers being set in motion, and the grip flyer being also
caused to revolve upon its axis in the contrary direction to the twist of
the yarn, the result is, that the yarn E, is untwisted between the rollers
A, A, and the grip flyer. As, however, the yarn is held and cannot
twist in the rollers A, A, and B, B, it must leave the machine with the

page_text: same aggregate amount of twist with which it entered, and therefore
the twist which is taken out of the yarn between the rollers A, A, and
the grip flyer is restored to the yarn between the grip flyer and the
rollers B, B. The yarn is thus in a twisted state between the grip
flyer and the rollers B, B, and in an untwisted or only slightly twisted
state between the rollers A, A, and the grip flyer, and therefore the
yarn will be drawn out or elongated in passing from the rollers A, A, to
the grip flyer. When the yarn leaves the rollers B, B, it may be simply
reeled up upon a reel or bobbin, or it may be conducted on to a bobbin
and fly mounted on the same machine, so that the operations of drawing
and twisting or spinning may be performed simultaneously.
The machine may be arranged so that the course of the yarn in
passing through it may be either in a horizontal, vertical, or inclined
direction. The roller d, of the grip flyer may be driven by means of
friction dises in the following manner. One end of the spindle of the
roller is prolonged through the support f; and carries a disc of metal or
other suitable material, which runs in contact with another disc
mounted on a tubular spindle through which the yarn passes, so that
the second disc is in a position transverse to the yarn. The tubular
spindle of this second disc is mounted in bearings, and carries a pulley,
which is driven by a band. The revolution of this disc imparts motion
to the first disc and the roller d, which carries round the roller e, which
is pressed against it, and thus these rollers act as drawing rollers as well
as in the manner above described. The axis of the roller d, is brought
into the centre of the grip flyer, in order that the discs may roll and not
drag upon each other. It is not necessary in all cases that the second
disc should revolve, for the rollers of the grip flyer will receive motion
from the first disc running round upon the second disc when the latter
is stationary.
The speeds of the various parts are to be so proportioned that as fast
as the yarn is supplied by the rollers A, A, the grip flyer may untwist it
either entirely or to a sufficient extent to enable it to be drawn and
elongated by the rollers B, B, or by the rollers d, e, of the grip flyer,
when they are driven in the manner above mentioned.
Or the relative speeds may be such that the
yarn may be not only

page_text: deprived of the whole of the twist which it originally possessed, but it
may be slightly twisted (provisionally) in the opposite direction, provided
that such twist be not so great as to prevent the elongation of the yarn.
In all cases the yarn is provisionally untwisted by the grip flyers, and
drawn or elongated while in the untwisted or slightly twisted state, and
again recovers its twist on passing the grip flyer. The yarn contains
the same aggregate amount of twist after passing through the grip
flyer as it contained before entering the rollers A, A; but as its length
is increased and its thickness reduced by the action of the machine,
the yarn is rendered softer and capable of receiving additional twist,
which may be effected by leading it on to a bobbin and fly, or other
twisting or spinning apparatus. For some purposes for which soft
yarns are required, this additional twisting is unnecessary. The yarn
may be repeatedly passed through the same or similar machines until
sufficiently elongated.
The construction of the grip flyer may be varied while still preserving
the same mode of action, by which a twisted yarn may be drawn or
elongated by provisionally untwisting it. Thus, in Figure 4, is shown
a grip flyer, which consists of a tube a, b, revolving in bearings at a,
and b, and carrying a pulley c, by which it is driven. The yarn E,
passes through the rollers A, A, and through an eye at each end of the
tube a, b, and then through the rollers B, B. The yarn, however, does
not pass straight through the tube a, b, but is carried through a hole in
the tube at 1, and along a spiral groove n, on the outside of the tube,
and it then enters the tube again at another hole at m, and afterwards
passes through the eye to the drawing rollers B, B; a sufficient grip or
hold upon the yarn is thus obtained to prevent the twist from passing
from the twisted yarn on one side of the grip flyer to the untwisted
portion on the other side of the grip flyer.
Or, in lieu of employing a tube with a spiral groove like that shewn
in Figure 4, a tube without such spiral groove, and constructed like the
ordinary "dyers tube," may be employed as a grip flyer, by placing it
between two pairs of drawing rollers, whose surfaces move at different
velocities, and supplying it with yarn in the manner herein-before
described. By applying it in this manner, its action is the reverse of

page_text: that of the "dyers tube," as ordinarily applied, inasmuch as it is
employed to provisionally untwist a twisted yarn, whereas the ordinary
dyers tube" is employed to provisionally twist a sliver or roving.
**
Figure 5, shows another form of grip flyer, consisting of a tube
turning in bearings at a, and b, and carrying a pulley c, by which it is
driven. P, is a cap of vulcanized caoutchouc or other suitable material,
in the centre of which is a small slit through which the yarn E, passes.
An end view and a section of the cap p, are shewn in Figure 6, and on
a larger scale in Figure 7.
The grip or hold upon the yarn is here obtained by means of the
elasticity of the caoutchouc pressing together the sides of the slit in the
cap p. The slit is lined with two little smooth plates of metal, r,
between which the yarn passes.
In other respects the machine is similar to those already described,
and it acts in a similar manner. The yarn E, passes through the
rollers A, A, then through the grip flyer, and afterwards through the
rollers B, B, whose surfaces move with greater velocity than those of
A, A. Or, in lieu of the cap p, the yarn may be gripped by two picces
of metal or other suitable substance pressed together by steel springs or
other suitable means.
Whatever construction of grip flyer may be employed, the nature of
the grip or hold upon the yarn must always be such as to prevent the
twist from passing from the twisted yarn on one side of the grip flyer
to the untwisted portion on the other side of the grip flyer, while at the
same time the grip is not such as to prevent the yarn from passing
through the machine.
In lieu of employing the second pair of drawing rollers B, B, to
produce the drawing or elongation of the yarn, such effect may be
produced by conveying the yarn on to a reel or a bobbin, with or
without a flyer, such reel or bobbin being driven at such a velocity as
that the yarn may be wound up on the reel or bobbin quicker than it is
given out by the first pair of rollers A, A. We, however, consider it
preferable in all cases to employ the drawing rollers B, B.
Two or more grip flyers may be arranged in a series alternately with
drawing rollers, whose surfaces move with progressively increasing

page_text: .
velocity. The yarn is thus elongated on its passage from cach pair of
drawing rollers to the succeeding pair, and it may afterwards be twisted
by a bobbin and fly, or otherwise, if required.
In Sheet II, we have shewn a machine thus arranged, having a series
of three grip flyers, and several of such series arranged side by side for
drawing and spinning several yarns at once.
This machine is arranged
in a vertical position, but it may be placed in a horizontal or inclineil
position if preferred. The vertical position has the advantage of
occupying but a small space, and it delivers the yarn in a direct manner
to the bobbin and fly. Figure 8, is a front view of the machine, and
Figure 9, is a side view, partly in section. As the several series of
grip-flyers and drawing rollers are similar it will be sufficient to describe
one series. A, A, B, B, C, C, and D, D, are the drawing rollers, the
velocities of whose surfaces progressively increase from A, to D.
W, X, Y, are the grip flyers, which are here represented as constructed
in the manner shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, Sheet I. F, is a bobbin
or reel containing the yarn which is to be drawn and spun. G, is a fly
and spindle, and I, is a bobbin for twisting the yarn as it leaves the
last drawing rollers D, D. One roller of the pair of drawing rollers
A, A, is driven by wheelwork or otherwise, and the other roller is pressed
against it by a lever I, and weight J, as shown in the Drawing, or by
any other suitable means.
The other drawing rollers are driven and pressed together by similar
means, which, however, are omitted in the Drawing in order to avoid
confusion. The whole of the apparatus is mounted on a frame Z.
The yarn is drawn off from the bobbin F, by the first pair of draw-
ing rollers A, A, and is provisionally untwisted by the grip flyer W,
and drawn or elongated between A, and W. It recovers its twist
on passing W, and enters the second pair of drawing rollers B, B,
which revolve at a greater velocity than the first pair, and thus cause
the elongation of the yarn as it passes from A, to W. The yarn on
passing B, B, is again provisionally untwisted by the grip-flyer X, and
elongated between B, and X, by the drawing action of the rollers C, C,
which revolve at a greater velocity than B, B. The yarn on passing X,
again recovers its twist, and enters the rollers C, C, on passing which it

page_text: is, again provisionally untwisted by the grip flyer Y, and elongated
between C, and Y, by the drawing action of the rollers D, D, which
revolve at a greater velocity than C, C. The yarn on passing the grip-
flyer Y, again recovers its twist, but owing to its elongation in length
and dimunition in substance it is in a softer state than when it entered.
the machine. The yarn now passes through the last pair of drawing
rollers D, D, and is twisted by means of the bobbin and fly H, G, and
wound up upon the bobbin H. When the bobbin is filled with
yarn
it.
may be placed in the position of the bobbin F, and the yarn again
passed through the machine to spin it out still longer and finer if
required.
In the Drawing we have shown a machine having four series of grip
flyers, and adapted for operating upon four yarns; but a much greater
number of these grip flyers or series of grip flyers may be arranged
together in one machine. We have shown three grip flyers in each
series, but, as already mentioned, a greater or less number may be em-
ployed. Other constructions of grip flyers may also be substituted for
those shown in the Drawing.
In adapting our Invention to fibrous substances of different natures,
care should be taken to make the distance between the rollers and the
grip flyer which receives the yarn from them greater than the length
of the staple or fibre of the fibrous substance to be operated upon,
otherwise the fibres, or some of them, may be broken instead of being
merely drawn out from amongst each other. When it is required to
operate upon silk or other substances having fibres of great length,
such substances are to be previously cut into pieces of less length than
the distance between the rollers and the grip flyer which receives the
yarn from them; such short pieces may then be worked up into yarn
by the ordinary processes heretofore in use, and such yarns may then
be drawn and spun as herein-before described.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that
we do not claim generally as our Invention the spinning and drawing
of cotton or other fibrous substances by means of bobbins and flies and
drawing rollers. But what we claim is,-

page_text: Firstly, the mode or modes herein-before described of drawing or
elongating yarns (which are so tightly twisted that they cannot be drawn
or elongated by drawing rollers in the ordinary manner) by provisionally
or temporarily untwisting the same, and drawing or elongating such
yarns while in the untwisted or slightly twisted state, in such manner
that the yarns, after elongation, and before leaving the machine, recover
the twist of which they had been only provisionally or temporarily
deprived. And we also claim the combining of such mode or modes
of elongating or drawing yarns, with the additional twisting of the same
by means of bobbins and flies, or other twisting apparatus, as herein-
before described.
Secondly, the construction of machinery by the combination of two
or more pairs of drawing rollers whose surfaces move at different
velocities, with a grip flyer or grip flyers placed between or alternately
with such drawing rollers, and constructed as shown in Figures 1, 2,
and 3, with the elastic band k, for pressing the rollers d, and e, against
or towards one another, or constructed without the rollers d, and e, as
shewn in Figures 4, 5, and 6, or otherwise constructed without rollers,
in manner and for the purposes herein-before described.
And we also claim the combination of such combined machinery
with a bobbin and fly, or other twisting apparatus, in manner and for
the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Pettitt, on behalf of myself
and the said James Forsyth, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
EDWIN PETTITT. (L.S.)
Witness,
CHARLES COWPER,
20, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, London.