IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF YARN AND IN THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF INTO TEXTILE FABRICS
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Singleton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
June 1873.
I, THOMAS SINGLETON, of Over Darwen, in the County of Lancaster,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF YARN
AND IN THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF INTO TEXTILE FABRICS," to be as follows:-
The first part of this Invention is an improved guide for the winding.
machine. It consists of a guide somewhat similar to the ones in present
usc, except that instead of an upright slot for the thread to work in, it
works in a horizontal slot at the bottom of the upright slot; a rest is
placed close to the said horizontal slot to prevent the thread bearing
hard upon the edge of it.
The advantage of the above arrangement is that the thread can adapt
itself to the various angles necessitated by the increasing diameter of the
bobbin, without having to form acute angles over the thin edge of the
guide, as in an upright slot.

page_text: The next part of this Invention is an improved expanding comb to be
used in the sizing and warping machines; this improvement is intended
to prevent fluke from getting into the box of the comb, and choking the
expanding parts. It consists of an ordinary expanding comb turned
up on its side and the dents bent upwards, so that the slot is then upon
the side of the box and not upon the top, and is thus less liable to
receive fluke. A slot may be made at each side of the box, and two
rows of dents bent as before described may be used instead of one.
The next part of this Invention is an improved manner of drying the
warp in the sizing machine, and is intended to render the yarn less
brittle than when dried entirely upon cylinders. I have an ordinary
cylinder heated by steam, and the warp after leaving the squeezing
rollers passes on to this cylinder, and is by this means about half dried,
it next passes over carrier rollers, and is carried a number of times up
and down an upright trunk or chamber, at the foot or bottom of which
are placed a number of pipes or chests, also heated by steam; in this
chamber the warp is rendered nearly dry by the heat ascending from the
said chests or pipes; it is next caused to pass into, and several times
up and down another chamber, also having steam chests or pipes at
the bottom; a fan is placed under the last named steam chests or
pipes, and blows a current of air between them, the said air thus
becomes warmed and passes into the chamber where its action upon
warp completes the drying of it; the warp after leaving this chamber
passes to the dividing rods and the weaver's beam in the usual manner.
Outlets are provided at the top of the chamber for the exit of the moist
air, and a stage and doors are provided for enabling the operative to
inspect the work.
"
the
The next part of this Invention is an improved manner of regulating
the feeding of size to the sizing machine, by which the size is kept at
or near a uniform level in the size box, and the new size is more evenly
distributed among that in the box.
The apparatus consists of two parts,
a "feeder" and a "distributor."
The "feeder" consists of a hollow ball or other float, resting or
floating in the size in the box, or in a compartment for the purpose
communicating with the box; this float is connected by a lever to a
small steam tap, which it opens and shuts as it rises and falls with the
level of the size in the box; when the steam tap is opened it admits

page_text: steam into a small cylinder in which is a plug or piston, and which is
connected by a shank or rod with a valve or tap regulating the feed of
size. As the plug or piston is raised it opens the valve or tap, and
allows the size to flow; as the level of size in the box approaches a
certain height the float shuts off the steam, and the plug or piston
descends and closes the feed valve or tap.
The "distributor" is a hollow cylinder perforated with holes or having
a slot almost throughout its length; it is placed across the size box, and
made to revolve by being driven from any convenient part of the
machine's motion. The size flows into this cylinder, and along its
length and at every revolution is emptied into the size box pretty evenly
across the width.
'
Or in another apparatus for the purpose of regulating the feed of size,
and for keeping the size in the box at one uniform level, I have a large
closed cylinder or cistern filled with size and having a tap at the top and
one at the bottom, the orifice of the bottom tap or the orifice of a pipo
coming from the said tap is placed in the size of the sizing machine at
exactly the level the size should remain in the box; if the size falls
below the required level the said orifice becomes uncovered, a quantity
of air rushes into the cylinder, and the same volume of size escapes into
the box of the sizing machine; the moment the level of the size rises so
high in the box as to cover the before-named orifice, the admission of
air is prevented and consequently the flow of size; when it is desired to
fill the cistern with size the tap at the bottom is closed and the one at
the top opened to admit the size; at other times the one at the top is
kept closed; a glass tube is connected to the cistern, so that the level of
size may be seen.
I also use the before-named apparatus on a smaller
scale for maintaining at a uniform level the fluid contained in a
trough, and used for damping the warp in the loom, and named
hereafter.
The remaining parts of this Invention consist of various improvements
in looms, the first of which is an arrangement by which the reed is made
fast at one time and loose at another.
The apparatus consists of an ordinary stop rod with fingers to the
swells in the usual manner, and actuated by the shuttle as it enters, a

page_text: .
elevated at the time when a shuttle enters a box will catch in a frog,
and cause a link connected with the second named lever to actuate
another lever notched at its end, and resting with the said notch upon a
stud; when the last named lever is actuated it is pulled from off the
stud, and a lever to which the stud is attached is set free, this lever
is attached to a hollow stop rod carrying the reed case, so that when the
stud is set free the reed case is free, and the reed is loose; this occurs if
the shuttle fails to enter a box at the proper time; at other times so long
as the notched lever rests upon the stud the reed is quite fast.
The next part of this Invention relates to a loose reed loom, and
consists in dispensing with the ordinary bow spring, organ handle, and
the springs upon the duck bills, all of which are used for exerting
pressure upon the reed at different points of the travel of the slay. I
substitute in place of the above articles a bow spring placed underneath
where the slay travels, and I have a link coming from one of the duck
bills to the end of the said bow spring; this link passes through a hole
in the spring, and is kept in position by a cylindrical collar underneath.
As the centre of this cylindrical collar does not coincide with the centre
of the slay's oscillations, it is evident that pressure of the spring upon
the stop rod is not constant, but varies according to the position of the
slay. I accordingly fix the bow spring and cylindrical collar in such a
position that the pressure of the spring is weakest upon the reed at such
times as the reed is liable to be thrown out by the shuttle being trapped
in the shed. At another time, such as when the shuttle is travelling
across the reed, the pressure of the spring is greatest. By using a cast-
iron tubular stop rod with the wings cast upon it, I am cnabled to work
with one duck bill instead of two or more.
The next part of this Invention is an improved brake. In this brake
the ordinary weight is dispensed with, the power being obtained from
the spring handle of the loom. The end of the brake pressing on the
wheel is formed in any convenient or common manner, but it is made to
swivel on a stock or shank, which slides in a bracket attached to the
loom side; the end of the stock or shank terminates in a small bowl or
pulley, opposite a small lever on the spring handle. When it is desired
to stop the loom the spring handle is thrown off, and the end of the
lever attached to it presses upon the bowl before-named, and forces the
brake forward against the wheel. The end of the small lever is either
formed with a curve, an incline, or a small bowl to work against the one

page_text: before-named, but is so arranged that the operative can raise the said
end of the lever, and so throw the brake out of action while the loom is
yet stopped.
The foregoing arrangement is for a loose reed loom, but for a fast
recd loom or a loom where the reed is both fast and loose, and where at
times it is necessary that the frog should actuate the brake, I connect
the frog to the foregoing brake in the following manner :-I place
a lever on a fixed stud; one end of the lever works on a stud on
the brake stock, and the other end on a stud on the frog, so that when
the frog is struck and moves the lever forward, the lever moves the
brake back upon the wheel. Or I cast the frog with a rack on one side,
and place a toothed wheel or quadrant on a fixed stud, so as to work in
the said rack; on the opposite side of the wheel or quadrant and
working in it, I place another rack sliding in a suitable bracket, so that
as the frog slides towards the front of the loom, the last named rack
slides towards the back of the loom; this rack terminates in a shank
carrying a spring, which presses against a projection on the stock of the
brake, so that when the frog is struck and carried forward the brake is
pressed backward against the wheel. The use of the spring before-
named in a fast reed loom is to render the force of the concussion less
violent, and its use in a loom, which is both a fast and a loose reed, is to
allow the frog to slide after the brake block has come in contact with
the wheel. The frog is furnished with a finger which knocks off the
spring handle in the usual manner.
The next part of this Invention is an improved means of weighting
the cloth beam up to the emery beam. It consists at each end of the
beam of a rope passed several times round the shaft of the emery and
cloth beams, and afterwards passed below the cloth beam where a weight
is hung upon it. As the roll of cloth upon the beam becomes larger the
two rollers are forced farther apart, and the weight is drawn up through
a much larger space than that through which the bottom roller falls.
The power of the weight is therefore multiplied upon the beams, and
being placed near to the front of the loom is more convenient for the
operative. In order to protect the rope from the friction loose bosses
may be placed on the roller shafts, and the rope passed round them
instead of the shafts, and instead of a rope a chain or strap may
be used.

page_text: The next part of this Invention is an improved yarn beam weighting
motion, by means of which I dispense with the weights and obtain the
same result by means of frictional clips. On one end of the yarn beam
I fix a ruffle firmly, one edge of which is formed as a ratchet wheel;
fitting loose upon this ruffle is placed another ruffle carrying a catch
working in the said ratchet wheel. Two or more clips, which are
capable of being tightened and slackened by set screws or bolts are
placed upon the last-named ruffle, and act as a friction thereon, the force
of which it is necessary for the warp to overcome before it can move
forward; one end of the clips comes in contact with a stop, and the same
or opposite end is placed in contact with a spring, which serves to give a
vibratory motion to the yarn beam at the treading of the healds, and so
keep the yarn tight in the loom. The use of the catch before-named is
that the weaver may lift it out of the ratchet wheel, and for any purpose
let off some of the warp from the beam, and wind it on again without
interfering with the clips or having to overcome their friction. The
advantage of using two or more clips instead of one, is that a number of
them allow of a greater nicety of regulation. When the beam is
emptied the top ruffle can be slipped off and put on to another beam
without unloosening or altering the clips. In another arrangement of
the same apparatus I place the ruffles, clips, and other parts before-
named to work upon a stud, a spur wheel is attached to the ratchet
wheel, and a spur wheel on the yarn beam works into it.
"
The next part of this Invention is a cover for the warp in the loom for
the purpose of keeping the said warp moist. It consists of a sheet of
india-rubber, macintosh, or other waterproof material, extending round
the yarn beam from near the lease rods to the same place on the under
side of the warp.
The next part of this Invention is for damping the warp in the loom.
It consists of a trough of water placed across the loom under the warp,
and a pipe fed with steam placed in the said water to promote its
evaporation; the warp passes over the edges of the trough, and a cover
sufficiently raised so as not to touch the warp, is placed upon the trough
to have the effect of confining or throwing down the steam from the
water on to the warp to damp it. More or less steam may be turned
into the pipe to cause more or less evaporation, and where the atmo-
sphere is sufficiently warm for the purpose the steam may be turned off
altogether. The condensed steam formed in the pipe may be allowed to

page_text: run into the trough, and thus supply it with water. Or I place a
trough of water or other fluid across the loom under the warp; a shaft
carrying a wire or rib turns above the fluid, and at every revolution dips
the wire or rib in the fluid, and afterwards touches the warp with it,
each time conveying a small quantity of fluid from the trough to tho
warp. Or I place the shaft below or on one side of the trough, and fix
upon the shaft two eccentrics, the use of which is to lift two shafts or
levers resting thereon working in guides and extending to above the
trough; a wire or rib connects the two extremities of the two shafts, and
at every revolution of the eccentrics, the wire or rib is dipped in the
fluid and afterwards lifted up to touch the warp. The shaft is driven
from any convenient part of the loom's motion, and there is a cono.
pulley or change wheel in the driving of it for obtaining different speeds,
so that more or less moisture may be given to the warp.
The next part of this Invention is for damping and brushing the warp.
in the loom. It consists of a revolving brush so fixed that its fibres
may touch the warp, it receives moisture either by running in a trough
of water or running in contact with a roller or rib revolving in a trough
of water or other fluid, and communicates the moisture it receives to the
warp. The brush and roller or rib is driven from any convenient part of
the loom's motion, and in the said driving there is a change wheel or
cone pulley, by changing which more or less more or less moisture may
be given to the warp. In any of the above-named apparatus for
damping and damping and brushing the warp, I keep the fluid in the
trough at a uniform level by means of a closed cistern, same as used for
feeding the sizing machine with size and named before.
The next part of this Invention is an improved weft grate. It consists
of a frame fixed to the back board in the usual manner, but instead of
fixed wires I have moveable blades of steel fastened at the top with and
swiveling upon a screw or rivet and loose at the bottom, so that if they
be struck with the shuttle or the weft fork they will move backward or
spring to one side without becoming bent as is the case with wires. In
cases where they are moved backward the operative replaces them, but
where moved sideways they will spring back to their original position.
The next part of this Invention is a small washer of wood placed upon
the picking band between the pin or peg and the picker to prevent the
hole in which the peg is placed being so near that part of the band

page_text: which wears with the friction of the picker; this renders the picking
band more durable being less liable to break.
The next part of this Invention is an article which during the process
of weaving prevents the gold thread used for heading calicoes and other
fabrics, from entangling round that head of the reel which is furthest 5
from the shuttle eye. It consists of a small hollow cone, fitting at the
small end upon the shuttle peg, and at the large end upon one end of
the reel holding the gold thread. It thus prevents the gold thread from
getting over that end of the reel, and breaking while weaving.
.
The next part of this Invention consists in dispensing with the rigid 1
wood or metal staples used as guides for the check strap, and substituting
them by flexible staples made of leather or other flexible material, which
will not wear out the check strap like the first-named ones.