Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1886.
Complete Left, 25th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 26th Apr., 1887.
I THOMAS SPEIGHT of Bath Shed, Upper Castle Street, Bradford in the County of
York, Commission Wool Comber do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
My invention relates more particularly to the "Noble" type of rotary wool combing
machines but is also applicable to other types of rotary wool combing machines, and
has for its object to effect a more steady and truer rotation of the "circle" and
"racks" (in the case of the "Noble" machine the large circle) relatively to the
drawing-off rollers, particularly after such machines have been in use for a certain
time and have become worn. And my invention also has for its object to prevent the
drawing off rollers from "lapping" or the slivers from such machines from coiling or
becoming wound round the drawing off rollers when the wool is drawn and should pass,
on its way from the combs, to the device for conveying it to a Ball or into
a can.
As an example of the application of invention I will describe my improvements as
applied to a rotary wool combing machine of the "Noble" type. According to my
invention, to a suitable portion of the large rack of the machine I apply means
or devices, such as those hereinafter specified, for adjusting and maintainting
such rack and circle in the necessary position relatively to the drawing off rollers,
so that, in its revolution, the distance between the comb circle and the drawing
off rollers is kept constant, thereby obtaining a true & steady revolution of the
circle, and consequent, better and more valuable products from the wool treated
in the machine. This means of adjustment is more particularly of service when
the circle and its bearing (which in most cases is formed by the steam chest)
becomes worn through use, owing to the slackness which would then exist
between the rack and its seat and the consequent varying distance between, and
relative position of, the circle to the drawing off rollers, which occurs when means of
adjustment are not provided, as in ordinary practice at present. A suitable device for
maintaining the true rotation of the circle and effecting its adjustment may consist of

page_text: plates or roller bearings which are capable of being adjusted up to and away from the
rack as desired. This result may be obtained by the use of screw bolts which may be
screwed through the ordinary steam chest, the plates or rollers being placed between
the inside of the driving rack and the steam chest. A suitable number of such
devices may consist of four, these being positioned equidistant round the circle.
The means which I employ to prevent the slivers, in combing machines of the type
herein defined, from coiling round the drawing off rollers, consists of a guide device of
such a formation and positioned in such a manner in relation to the roller that the
slivers are guided and directed as they pass off or through the rollers, and so that, for
instance in case of their becoming broken they will be prevented from being caught or
drawn by the roller and coiled or wound upon it. By this means breakages of parts
of the machine such as the breaking of the comb teeth, due to the "lapping" of the
slivers upon the rollers, and which frequently takes place under ordinary conditions,
are obviated. A suitable form of guide device may consist of a pawl shaped piece
mounted at one end by or upon suitable pivot or other bearing and is made adjustable
so that its opposite end may be regulated or adjusted as desired in relation to the
roller. The rollers to which the guide or protecting device may be applied may be
any of those of the drawing off rollers that may be deemed desirable; namely one of
the drawing off rollers of the small circles, of the ordinary "Noble" machine is one
to which my invention is particularly applicable.
Dated this Twenty second day of June 1886.
THOMAS SPEIGHT.
By E. R. Royston,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Wool Combing Machines.
I, THOMAS SPEIGHT, of Bath Shed, Upper Castle Street, Bradford, in the County
of York, Commission Wool Comber do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My Invention relates more particularly to the "Noble" type of wool combing
machines, but is also applicable to other types of rotary wool combing machines and
has for its object to effect a more steady and truer rotation of the "circle" and "rack"
(in the case of the "Noble "machine the large circle) relatively to the drawing off
rollers, and particularly after such machines have been in use for a certain time and
have become worn. And my Invention also has for its object to prevent the
drawing off rollers from " lapping," or the slivers from such machines from
coiling, or becoming wound round the drawing off rollers when the wool is drawn
and should pass, on its way from the combs, to the device for conveying it to a Ball, or
into a can.

page_text: As an example of the application of my Invention I will describe my improvements
as applied to a rotary wool combing machine of the "Noble" type. According to my
Invention, to a suitable portion of the steam chest under the large rack of the machine
I apply means, or devices, such as those hereinafter specified for adjusting and
maintaining such rack and circle in the necessary position relatively to the drawing
off rollers, so that, in its revolution, the distance between the comb circle and the
drawing off rollers is kept constant, thereby obtaining a true and steady revolution of
the circle, and consequent, better and more valuable products from the wool treated in
the machine. This means of adjustment is more particularly of service when the circle
and its bearing (which in most cases is formed by the steam chest) becomes worn
through use, owing to the slackness which would then exist between the rack and its
seat, and the consequent varying distance between and relative position of the circle to
the drawing off rollers which occurs where means of adjustment are not provided as
in ordinary practice at present. A suitable device for maintaining the true rotation of
the circle and effecting its adjustment may consist of plates, or roller bearings which
are capable of being adjusted up to and away from the rack as desired. This result
may be obtained by the use of screw bolts which may be screwed through the ordinary
steam chest, the plates, or rollers being placed between the inside of the driving rack
and the steam chest. A suitable number of such devices may consist of four, these
being disposed equidistant round the circle.
The means which I employ to prevent the slivers, in combing machines of the type
herein defined from coiling round the drawing off rollers, consists of a guide device
of such a formation and placed in such a manner in relation to the roller that the
slivers are guided and directed as they pass off, from the rollers, and so that for
instance, in case of their becoming broken, they will be prevented from being caught,
or drawn by the roller and coiled, or wound upon it. By this means, breakages of
parts of the machine, such as the breaking of the comb teeth, due to the "lapping" of
the slivers upon the rollers, and which frequently takes place under ordinary conditions
are obviated. A suitable form of guide device may consist of a pawl shaped piece
mounted at one end by, or upon suitable pivot, or other bearing and is made adjustable
so that its opposite end may be regulated, or adjusted as desired in relation to the
roller. The rollers to which the guide, or protecting device may be applied
may be any of those of the drawing off rollers that may be deemed desirable.
In order that this Invention may be fully understood I have hereunto annexed a
sheet of Drawings illustrative of the same. The various views of the Drawings
(which form a part of this Specification) are marked with figures and letters of
reference which correspond with those used in the following explanation. Similar
letters of reference in the figures represent similar, or like parts.
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate respectively in sectional elevation and plan the improve-
ments according to my Invention as above set forth for keeping in position and adjusting
the large circle.
Figure 3 is a plan and Figure 4 is an elevation showing the means according
to this Invention for preventing the lapping of the slivers round the drawing
off rollers.
With reference to Figures 1 and 2 a designates the large circle of a Noble
combing machine and a is the rack of the same. represents the ordinary steam
chest. It will be seen that the inner surface of the steam chest b. on which the rack a¹
works is provided with a plate e let into the metal of the chest. The set screw, or
bolt & passes through the steam chest and bears against the back of the plate c.
Several, say four plates c are disposed equidistanly round the steam chest and hence by
adjusting the bolts d and so the plates e the large rack and circle a can be set, or
adjusted at will to its required position. And moreover when the rack a becomes slack
through wear, the plates c can be brought up to, or adjusted to the rack and so the
circle a can be made to run true.
Figures 3 and 4 as above stated illustrate my Invention for preventing the slivers
lapping round the drawing off rollers. The example of my Invention here shown
is applied to one of the drawing off rollers of the small circle of a "Noble" combing

page_text: machine. e (See Figure 4) designates the small circle. ƒ and g are the drawing off
rollers. is the pawl shaped guide piece (above mentioned), and is applied to the
roller. This guide is carried by a rod, or spindle i, the head p of which is secured
by a screw pin, or bolt o to the usual top roller bearing 1. The spindle i is rendered
adjustable laterally on the bearing by its being provided with a slot through which
the screw pin o passes. The guide h fits loosely in the spindle i and is secured to it
by the screwed pink and by this means can be adjusted thereon. It will be seen by
the Drawings that the slivers in travelling from the drawing off roller to the
funnel m passes over the guide h which is so placed relatively to the roller that if the
slivers should break it would be prevented from lapping round such roller.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In a combing machine of the type herein described, the combination with
the steam chest thereof of adjustable bearings disposed round such steam chest
and arranged to bear against the large circle substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Second. The application to and use in combination with the drawing off rollers of
combing machines of the type herein described of guides arranged to prevent the
lapping of the slivers round such rollers, substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination with the drawing off rollers of combing machines of the
type herein described of guides (such as h) mounted substantially in the manner
hereinbefore described whereby such guides may be adjusted relatively to the drawing
off rollers.
Fourth. The adjustable bearings constructed and arranged as set forth with reference
to Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings.
Fifth. The guide and mounting spindle i constructed and arranged as set forth
with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the Drawings.
TL of Manab 1887