Improvements in Soutching and similar Machines Used in the Preparation of Cotton.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 3rd Apr., 1897
[Communicated from abroad by AUGUSTE KIRSCHNER, of 19 Rue Cambon, Paris,
in the French Republic, Engineer.]
Improvements in Soutching and similar Machines Used in the
Preparation of Cotton.
I, WILLIAM EDWIN HEYS of 70 Market Street Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, Chartered Patent Agent, 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 :-
This invention relates to the feed regulating mechanism of soutching and other
similar machines used in the preparation of cotton fibres, and more especially
to that part of such mechanism which connects the pedals with the cone strap
fork.
I will describe the said invention as communicated to me by my foreign corre-
spondent, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1
represents a sectional front elevation.
These improvements refer in the first place to the direct regulation of the pressure.
For this purpose there is added to each pedal a weight p, shown in side elovation
by Figure 2. This is simply a cylindrical weight which may be of cast lead or
irou, attached to a bracket by a hook cast in the weight. The weights of the two
pedals neurer to the cone box U are nearly double those of the other weights
because they have not suspended to them one of the casings B hereinafter described.
Since the weight of each pedal should be the same, the weight upon each of the
two pedals in question represents one half of the weight of a casing B with its
pulley, plus the weight of the ordinary weight p.
The weight p may be readily calculated in relation to the pressure which each
pedal lever is able to exert upon the feeding cylinder, and to the levers. This
arrangement of the regulation, permits to be given to the suspension the least
possible weight, and considerably reduces the pressure upon the joints, friction
bowls and knite edges. The transmitting apparatus and the suspension are the
more sensitive the more the pressure upon the joints and the pivots is reduced.
The improvements relate in the second place to the method of suspension. There
is hooked upon the end of each pedal, a pair of links or rings V. The two lower
links V of each pair of pedals carry the cross-bar 1. At the centre of each cross-
bar 1, there is a notch having its upper part formed to a knife-edge which carries
the link 2. Each of a second series of cross-bars 3 3 is carried by two of the
contiguous links 22, which engage therewith by means of knife edged notches in
the under edges of 33. Thus, a group of four pedals is connected with each
cross-bar 3. From a knife edged notch in the centre of the upper edge of each
cross-bar 3, there is suspended the link 4, a stem of which is screwed into the cast
iron casing B, in which there is contained a friction bowl P, turning upon
its axis.
Thus far, the described means for suspension, is well known and in use, and these
improvements commence at the link 4, which supports the friction bowl P, upon
the axis of which the resultants of the variations of the pedals of the group come
to an end.

page_text: It results from the system of attachment and pivoting, that the vertical
displacement of the cross-bar 4, that is to say, of the friction bowl P, exactly
represents the sum or the difference of the movements of the ends of the pedals.
A greater thickness of cotton will determine a higher position, whilst a thin part
will produce a lowering of the bowl B:
The described system of suspension is generally repeated for each group of
4 pedals. Nevertheless, in machines including a great number of pedals, that is to
eay when the pedals are very narrow, they may be connected in groups of 8 pedals
each, in order to avoid too great a reduction in the diameter of the friction bowls
enclosed in the casings B.
In the third place, these improvements relate to the transmitting devices or
appliances. The function of these is to transmit to the cone strap the movements
of the suspended system.
A bearer T is bolted to the brackets or supports R R', and carries the casings B'.
Each of these casings contains a friction bowl of the same diameter as those in the
suspended casings B. Taken in the horizontal direction, the distance between the
centres of the suspended friction bowls is the same as the distance between
the centres of the bowls on the bearer T. Each of the suspended friction bowls is
arranged to break pitch with the lower series, so that a vertical tangent from
one of the lower series is in live with a similar tangent from one of the
upper series.
At the end of the bearer T there is fixed a support or bracket S carrying the
small shaft a which can turn in its bearing, and which has keyed upon it the two
pulleys G G. A bracket E is fixed upon the cone box U, and carries a spindle a¹
upon which the pulley or friction roller D can turn.
A very flexible metallic strip or ribbou L has one of its euds attached to the
link 2 of the pair of pedals next to the cones, as for example by means of the
little adjustable chain h. This strip passes successively around the friction
bowls P P and ends at a regulating screw d, fixed upon the pulley G. A second
similar flexible metallic strip L', connects the pulley G' to the pulley D, which in
turn is connected with the strap fork by means of the small chain f, the pulley W,
and the small chain 9.
It follows from this arrangement, as will be seen, that the entire suspended
system is connected with the coue strap o of the regulator, by means of the strip
or band L, the pulleys G G₁, the band L', the pulley D, the little chain the
pulley W, the chain, the strap fork lever, and the strap forks F.
The weight of the levers and strap forks maintain the different chains and the
bands LL' in teusion. The tension of these bands is regulated by the counter-
weight K attached by a chain to the pulley D.
The operation of the transmitting mechanism is based upon the approach or
upon the separation, that is to say, upon the variations in distance in a vertical
direction, of the two series of friction bowls P and P
When the suspended system lifts, that is to say when the distance of the bowls P
from the bearer T increases, it takes up a greater length of the metallic baud,
which length is furnished by a corresponding unrolling upon the pulley G.
The consequent movement of the pulley G producos a corresponding inovement
of the pulley G' and the rolling thereon of the band L', and by the consequent
movement of the devices which connect this pulley with the strap_fork lever o,
it determines the ascensional movement of the cone strap. The contrary
movement is produced when the suspended system is lowered, the band L being
held in tension by the weight of the strap fork levers. When the movements
of the different groups of pedals which compose the suspension, neutralise_cach
other, or in other terms, when the vertical displacement of descending bowls
has the same amplitude as that of the ascending bowls, the enveloping length
of the band L remains the same, and the pulley G will not be moved. In
short, the band L transmits to the pulley G and thenco to the cone strap, only the
sum of differences of the movements of the bowls.

page_text: The utilisation of a very flexible band to compensate to sum up and to transmit
the variations of the pedale to the cone strap, constitutes an important feature of
this invention. Thanks to this simple and practical appliance, it is easy to obtain
a fleece of very great regularity, the speed of the cylinder foeding the beater being
always in accord with the density of the cotton which enters into the machine.
There remains to he explained, with regard to the transmitting mechanism,.
that the friction bowls P P should be well enclosed within the casings B Bi
in order to avoid their being fouled by fly. For the passage of the band L.
through the casings B B it is only necessary to make in each one, two narrow
slits XX. But it will be evident that the outer shells B B' can be dispensed with
as their chief function is to protect the bowls P P¹.
Moreover, the diameter of the friction bowls being relatively great, and the
movement of rotation insignificant, there will be very little wear in the bowl.
spindles.
It may be further noted that the speed of the feeding cylinder may be increased.
or diminished by means of the adjusting screw d.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of iny said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In scutching and similar machines, an additional weight precisely calculated,.
attached near the end of each pedal for the purpose of regulating the pressure
directly of the pedal lever upon the feeding cylinder, substantially as described.
2. In a scutching machine, the friction bowls P enclosed or not within the
casings B, in combination with the transmitting motion with which they are
connected by the band L L, substantially-as herein before described.
3. In a scutching machine, a series of friction rollers P' which can rotate upon.
spindles carried by a fixed bearer, and corresponding with a superior similar scries
of suspended friction rollers or bowls, all the bowls being enclosed or not, and all
being engaged by a band L which transmits the final resultant of the motions of
the pedals to the cone strap fork, substantially as hereinbefore described and as.
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
4. In a scutching machine, a band L in combination with regulating devices
therelor such as the chain or the adjusting screwd, substantially as described.
5. In a scutching machiue, a band L in combination with means such as the-
counterweight K, for regulating the tension of the band, and the pressure upon the
joints and pivots of the suspended system and of the transmitting apparatus.
hereinbefore described, substantially as set forth.
6. In scutching and similar machines, means and appliances for controlling the
position on the cones of the strap according to the final resultant of the positions
of the pedals, constructed arranged and operating substantially as herein before-
described aud as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
LL
1
M 1
1005