Improvements in Circular Combing Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1891.
Complete Specification Left, 24th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Circular Combing Machines.
I, WILLIAM CROWTHER DIXON of the firm of Dixon and Farrar, Wool-
combers, Marshall's Mill, Portland Street, Bradford, in the County of York, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It is a matter of common knowledge to persons intimate with the working of
combing machinery, that frequently serious damage is done to the circles or combs,
by the unsteady, and inaccurate frotation of the circular racks, which carry the
circles or combs and also that from the same cause, the quality of work is often of
a very inferior character.
This unsteadiness and inaccuracy of rotation is chiefly the result of the wear
which takes place (by continual working) either in the steam chest in which the
rack revolves or in the rack or in both rack and steam chest combined, thereby
causing the rack to become badly fitting in its bed, and consequently liable to
unsteadiness, and inaccuracy of rotation.
The object of this invention, is to provide a method or means, of so guiding the
circular rack, in its path, as to ensure a steady and accurate rotation, even when the
rack has become badly fitting; and the manner in which this object is attained will
be better understood from the following brief description.
On the inner or toothed edge of the circular rack, two toothed pinions, (engaging
with, and driven by the teeth of the rack), are placed, one on either side of the
small inner circle; these pinions are mounted on studs free to revolve on same;
the studs are rivetted or otherwise made fast to stud plates, which stud plates are
firmly secured to the under side, of the outer portion of the large steam chest, and
are so adjusted as to cause the pinions to press the rack against its bed in the steam
chest, thereby preventing any lateral motion of the rack, without causing any
undue friction.
Instead of the rigid stud plate described above, I sometimes use a bracket for
carrying stud and pinion, so constructed, that the stud and pinion are held in
position by a spiral spring, thus allowing a certain margin of elasticity to
pinion, to compensate for any little irregularities there may be, in the teeth of
the rack; and still at the same time keep the rack firmly pressed against the steam
chest.
The teeth of before mentioned pinions, are by preference made shorter than the
rack teeth, in order that the bottom of indent in pinion may press on the point of
tooth of rack, and allow point of tooth of pinion to clear bottom of indent in rack,
thereby avoiding unnecessary friction. It is not absolutely necessary that the
pinion teeth should be so made as ordinary teeth will answer the purpose.
I do not bind myself to use only two pinions, as herein before mentioned, because
any desired number of such pinions may be used, distributed as may be found
most convenient.
1 day of December 1891
JOHN DIXON,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Circular Combing Machines.
1, WILLIAM CROWTHER DIXON of the firm of Dixon and Farrar, Marshall's
Mill, Portland Street, Bradford, in the County of York, Woolcomber, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
It is a matter of common knowledge to persons intimate with the working of
combing machinery that frequently serious damage is done to the circles or combs,
by the unsteady and inaccurate rotation of the circular racks and also that from the
same cause, the quality of work is often of a very inferior character.
This unsteadiness and inaccuracy of rotation, are chiefly the result of the wear
which takes place (by continual working) either in the steam chest in which the
rack revolves, or in the rack, or in both rack and steam chest combined, thereby
causing the rack to become badly fitting in its bed and consequently liable to
unsteadiness, and inaccuracy of rotation.
The object of this invention, is to provide a method or means, of so guiding the
circular rack in its path, as to ensure a steady and accurate rotation, even when the
rack has become badly fitting, and the manner in which this object is attained will
be better understood, from the following description of the accompanying
drawings.
Fig. 1, is a plan of large rack shewing position of two guiding pinions at 1, 2,
and if thought desirable two more may be fixed as shewn at 3, 4. In this figure a
portion of rack c is omitted, shewing steam chest d underneath rack.
Fig 2. is a sectional elevation on line A, B in Fig. 1, in which a shews pins in
circle, is the circle, e the rack, d the steam chest, the toothed guiding pinion,
on which pinion revolves, and e is the bracket for carrying stud and
Fig. 3 is a plan of bracket for carrying stud and pinion in which a spiral
spring is arranged to press pinion against steam chest.
stud
pinion.
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the spiral spring bracket shewn in plan in
Fig. 3.
y
On the inner side or toothed edge of the circular rack c, two toothed pinions 1, 2,
Fig. 1 (engaging with and driven by the teeth of the rack c), are placed, one on
either side of the small inner circle, these pinions are mounted on studs Fig. 2,
free to revolve on same, the studs being rivetted or bolted to stud plate e which
stud plates are firmly secured to the under side of outer portion of steam chest, as
shewn at i Fig. 2, and are so adjusted, as to cause the pinions 1, 2, to press the
rack against its bed in the steam chest d, thereby preventing any lateral motion
of the rack without causing any undue friction.
Instead of the rigid stud plate described above, I sometimes use a bracket e¹,
Figs. 3, 4, for carrying stud and pinion, to which a spiral spring, h, is attached ;
this spring is arranged to press the guiding pinions 1, 2 etc. into the rack C, the
bracket e being bolted to steam chest d by two stud bolts j, k, which hold the
bracket close to the steam chest, but at the same time, allow it to slide in or out a
little, according as the spira! spring his expanded or contracted, thereby allowing
a certain amount of elasticity to guiding pinions, to compensate for any little
irregularities there may be in the teeth of the rack c, and at the same time keep the
rack firmly pressed against the steam chest d.
The teeth of the before mentioned pinions are by preference made shorter than
the rack teeth, in order that the bottom of indent in pinion may press on the point
of tooth in rack, and allow point of tooth in pinion to clear bottom of indent in
rack, thereby avoiding unnecessary friction; it is not absolutely necessary that the
teeth of guiding pinions should be made so before described, because ordinary teeth
will answer the purpose though not so efficiently.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is
1. In a circular combing machine, one, two, or more toothed pinions, having
ordinary teeth or with short teeth as before mentioned, working in the circular
rack, in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
2. In a circular combing machine, the combination of toothed pinions, with
studs and brackets, substantially in the manner hereinbefore described.
3. In a circular combing machine, the combination of toothed pinions, with studs
and brackets with spiral springs, attached and arranged substantially in the manner
and for the purpose hereinbefore mentioned.
Dated this 23rd day of February 1892.
JOHN DIXON,
Agent for Applicant.