CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRAIDS' AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY USED IN SPINNING FIBROUS-SUBSTANCES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Ashton, of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Machinist, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRAIDS' AND SIMILAR
ARTICLES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY
USED IN SPINNING FIBROUS-SUBSTANCES:"
Sealed the 16th December 1862, and dated the 11th July 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Ashton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th
July 1862.
I, WILLIAM ASHTON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF 'BRAIDS' AND SIMILAR
ARTICLES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY
USED IN SPINNING FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
The Invention relates, first, to the regulation of the tension of the threads in
braiding machines, and consists in the employment and use of apparatus in the
space beneath the threads; such apparatus may consist of a disc or wheel'
revolving horizontally on a vertical shaft in the centre of the machine, the
edge to be furnished with suitably formed teeth, or with bristles, or other
equivalent, to come into contact with the threads; or, if preferred, two or
more such wheels or brushes may be applied, revolving vertically or hori-

page_text: zontally, and driven from a shaft in the centre of the machine, and in connec-
tion with the driving motion in the lower part of the machine. The brushes,
discs, or wheels may be so arranged as to operate upon the whole of the
threads at once, or upon such number of them, and at such places as may be
found desirable. The brushes may also, if required, be employed above or
outside the circle of the threads. The object being to make the position of
the "drawing-off iron" (where all the threads from the spindles converge)
more central, so as to equalize the strain upon the threads passing from the
spindles thereto.
The second part of the Invention relates to those portions of braiding
machines as "roses" or carriers, (being a description of toothed wheel,)
and also to the tubes employed to support the spindles, for which Letters
Patent have been previously granted to me, dated 22 February 1862, No. 470,
and consists in the application of a particular and peculiar material to the
manufacture of such parts not hitherto so employed. The material from
which such parts are to be made consists of certain proportions of paper pulp,
plumbago, steatite or French chalk, or other earthy or metallic substance, and
any gum to bind the said components together, the proportions for which will
vary according to circumstances; but for ordinary purposes the following will
answer; paper pulp, plumbago or lubricating material, and gum.
A third part of the Invention consists in the application and use of the
aforesaid composition in the manufacture of "top rollers" or other rollers,
"saddle hooks," and tubes for steadying spindles in machinery for spinning
cotton and other fibrous materials.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Ashton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th January 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ASHTON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Ashton, Her special license, that I, the said William Ashton, s
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said

page_text: William Ashton, my 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRAIDS' AND-SIMILAR ARTICLES,
PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY USED IN
SPINNING FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the
said William Ashton,. by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the 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 I, the said William Ashton, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
-statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
The Invention relates, first, to the regulation of the tension of the threads
in braiding machines, and consists in the employment and use of apparatus in
the space beneath the threads; such apparatus may consist of a disc or wheel
revolving horizontally on a vertical shaft in the centre of the machine, the
edge to be furnished with suitably formed teeth, or with bristles, or other
equivalent to come into contact with the threads; or, if preferred, two or more
such wheels or brushes may be applied revolving vertically or horizontally,
and driven from a shaft in the centre of the machine, and in connection with
the driving motion in the lower part of the machine. The brushes, discs, or
wheels may be so arranged as to operate upon the whole of the threads at
once, or upon such number of them and at such places as may be found
desirable. The brushes may also, if required, be employed above or outside
the circle of the threads; the object being to make the position of the
"drawing-off iron" (where all the threads from the spindles converge) more
central, so as to equalize the strain upon the threads passing from the spindles
thereto.
:
The second part of the Invention relates to those portions of braiding
machines known as roses or carriers, being a description of toothed wheel, and
also to the tubes employed to support the spindles, for which Letters Patent
have been previously granted to me, dated the Twenty-second day of February,
One thousand eight hundred sixty-two, No. 470, and consists in the applica-
tion of a particular and peculiar material to the manufacture of such parts

page_text: not hitherto so employed. The material from which such parts are to be
made consists of certain proportions of paper pulp, plumbago, steatite or
French chalk, or other earthy or metallic substance, and any gum to bind the
said components together, the proportions for which will vary according to
circumstances; but for ordinary purposes the following will answer :-One
half paper pulp, one quarter plumbago or lubricating material, and one
quarter gum.
A third part of the Invention consists in the application and use of the
aforesaid composition in the manufacture of "top rollers" or other rollers,
"saddlo hooks," and tubes for steadying spindles in machinery for spinning
cotton and other fibrous materials.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail, I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings; Figs. 1, 2, 7, and 8
being made upon a scale of about two inches to the foot, and Figs. 3, 4, 5,
and 6 being made full size; similar letters of reference being .marked upon
corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a braiding machine, exhibiting one descrip-
tion of wheel for regulating the tension of the threads in the manufacture of
"braids;" Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, shewing tho position of the
"drawing-off iron," which is more central than usual; Fig. 3 exhibits a
variation of the wheel shewn in Fig. 1, in which the fingers or teeth are made
adjustable by means of nuts and screws, so that they may be set to any angle ;
Fig. 4 shews a toothed disc rotating horizontally, which may be arranged to act
upon any number of threads simultaneously; Fig. 5 shews an arrangement of
scroll-like or helically formed blades for acting upon the threads in a vertical
position, which causes the separation or dispersion of the thread; Fig. 6 illus-
trates another method of tightening and separating the threads instead of the
"scroll," wherein the fingers 1 depress the threads, and 2 force them aside;
this is to be employed above or below the threads, and Figs. 7 and 8 are
respectively a plan and elevation of another modification, wherein the threads
are acted upon by the sliding fingers, which are actuated by the cam and
gearing.
In Fig. 1, a, a, is the framing of the machine used for making "braid;"
b, b, the spindles, from which the threads 6' pass to the "drawing-off iron," at
which point they are formed into "braid," which is thence delivered by the
delivery rollers c, c; all of which is well known and general in " "braiding"
machinery. As the threads pass from the spindles to the "drawing-off iron,"
they are touched or acted upon by the fingers on the disc or plate d, (or by
any equivalent of spirals, scrolls, or helical blades, or also by brushes,) so as

page_text: to be tightened by the contact as is desirable, especially at the point where
they are intertwisted to form braid. This apparatus for effecting and regu-
lating the tension of the threads is driven direct by spur gearing e, e, from
tho main vertical driving shaft f, which is situated about the centre of the
machine, so that the point at which the braid is "drawn off" is brought more
central than usual in braiding machines, which improves the manufacture of
braid by making the distance from the spindles to the "drawing-off iron"
nearly equal. In Figs. 7 and 8, 9. 9, are the sliding fingers or rods acting
upon the threads, and driven by the cam h, which receives motion from the
shaft i through the bevel gearing, which shaft also drives the calendaring
rollers. These fingers or rods 9, 9, may also be made to revolve instead of
slide, if required.
I would remark that I am aware that plain discs or cams rotating vertically
and above the threads have been previously employed for effecting the tension,
but necessarily at a greater distance from the centre of the machine, and
requiring the "drawing-off iron" to project further from the centre, causing
unequal tension. I therefore disclaim the use of such vertical revolving discs
above the threads, excepting as combined with the fingers as shewn in Fig. 6.
I would also remark that the apparatus used for the tension of the threads
may be driven from any convenient part of the machine, and also that I do not
confine myself to the number of discs, wheels, or other apparatus for effecting
the tension nor to the position thereof.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the
method of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly
understood that I claim,-
First, effecting and regulating the tension of the threads in braiding
machines by means of toothed wheels rotating horizontally above or beneath
the threads, or by means of brushes, helically or spirally formed blades or
coils, or screw rotating, either above or below the threads, or by means of
discs furnished with fingers, or by means of reciprocating rods acting above or
below the threads.
Secondly, I claim the novel method of driving such apparatus, whereby tho
"drawing-off iron" (being the place to which the threads converge) is made
more central, and the strain upon the threads is thereby equalized.
Thirdly, the employment and use of the composition consisting (in the
aforesaid proportions or thereabouts) of paper pulp, plumbago, or other lubri-
cant, and gum for the "roses," spindle tubes, and other frictional surfaces in
braiding machines.
And, lastly, I claim the application and use of the said materials in the

page_text: manufacture of "top rollers," "saddle books," tubes, bushes, and other
frictional surfaces in machinery for spinning cotton and other fibrous materials,
as herein-before described, set forth, and fully illustrated in the Drawings
attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Ashton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witnessed by
JOHN L. DAVIES,
Office for Patents, Manchester.
WILLIAM ASHTON. (L.S.).