Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 22nd Mar., 1887.
I, ELISHA MACURDY FULTON of 109 East 21st Street in the City County and State
of New York United States of America Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be perforined, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention more particularly relates to cordage spinning machines or jennies in
which a chain feed is used to comb and convey the sliver to the spinning mechanism.
The Invention consists in a combination with a spinning or twisting and spinning
mechanism, of a series of chains arranged one in front of the other instead of a single
chain as heretofore, for passing the sliver to the spinning mechanism or its flyer,
said chains, which are armed with pins to comb, draw, and take hold of the sliver,
being made to travel at different velocities and so that the one nearest to the spinning
mechanism travels at a higher rate of speed than the chain which precedes it, whereby a
heavier sliver may be worked and a more perfect control of the draft on it be obtained,
also whereby the spinning mechanism may be run at a high rate of speed, and a
uniform cord be produced. In such combination of parts, it is preferred to provide
the chain which runs at the highest velocity and is nearest to the spinning mechanism,
and, if desired, need only move slightly slower than the flyer, with pins taking hold
on the sliver made to incline in reverse directions during the first and closing portions
of their upper course of travel, whereby a better hold is obtained on the sliver as it is
drawn from the preceding chain moving at a slower velocity, and an easy or free
delivery of the sliver to the spinning devices is secured.
The Invention also consists of various parts and details, and combinations of the
same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this speci-
fication, in which figure 1 is a plan view of a double cordage spinning machine, with
the upper mechanism on one side removed. Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of
the same, on line x-x of figure 1. Figure 3 is a vertical cross section of the same,
partly broken away. Figure 4 is a sectional side elevation of the gearing for the two
chains. Figure 5 is a side elevation of the second chain and its guide ways.
Figure 6 is a plan view of part of the same. Figure 7 is a vertical cross-section of the

page_text: same on line of figure 6; and figure 8 is a side elevation of one of the guide arms
for the chain shafts. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the
figures.
Heretofore, in cordage.spinning machines, one chain was arranged to deliver a sliver
from the reel to the condenser but it has been found that the cord produced was of
varying thickness and full of knots, as the pull of the twisting mechanism forced the
uneven strands of the sliver from the chain into the condenser with the result above
stated. I obviate this difficulty, by placing, between the first chain and the condenser,
one or more chains which run successively at a greater speed than the first chain, but the
chain next to the condenser runs at a lower rate of speed than the spinning mechanism;
the strain on the condenser is thus gradually reduced, and an even and uniform strand
is obtained which is twisted into an uniform cord.
In the drawings, I represent a double spinning machine with two chains, but three
or more chains may be employed, being placed one in front of the other, as above
stated.
On the frame A, of suitable size and shape, is mounted the first endless chain B of
the usual construction which passes over pulleys attached to the shafts CC of which
the former is connected by a train of gear wheels D with the shaft E which imparts
motion to the endless chain F travelling over pulleys secured to the said shaft E and the
shaft E. At the outer end of the chain is placed a yielding condenser G of any approved
construction. Next to the condenser G is mounted the twisting mechanism H
operated from the main driving shaft which, being of the usual construction, needs no
further description.
The chain is provided with the shafts I which are united by the links I and each
of which shafts has a row of radial pins I². The shafts I travel and have their
bearings in the guides K secured to the main frame A and which guides extend from
the pulleys on the shaft E to the pulleys on the shaft E' near the upper edge of the
same. To the outer end of each shaft I is fastened a guide arm J provided with two
pins J and J respectively, of which the pin J' travels in the guide way L formed by
the guides L L secured to the main frame A, and the pin J2 projects over the upper
edge of the guide L' being guided thereto by the short guide J³. The guides L' L' are
slightly curved near their middle at L³, as shewn at figure 5, so that when the chain F
travels in the direction of the arrow a the pins I, before reaching the bend L³, slide or
incline toward the condenser G, but this position of the pins I is reversed as soon as
the guide arm J passes into the curve L³, whereby the pin J' causes the shaft I to
turn so that the pin I assumes a position which is the reverse of that held by
them before. A loose reel M is hung in suitable bearings above the chain Bat
its rear end. The delivery rollers N are mounted on the front part of the machine
and are rotated by belts and pulleys driven from the shaft C₁ of the chain B.
The train of gear wheels D consists of the gear wheel D' attached to the shaft C
and meshing into the intermediate gear wheel D² mounted on a stud secured in the
frame A and meshing into the pinion D' secured to the shaft E which is con-
nected by pulleys D and belt Do with the shaft O carrying the gear wheel O¹
which meshes into the pinion 03 fastened on the shaft P. On the shaft P is
placed loosely a pulley connected by a cord or belt Q¹ with a pulley Q' secured
to the shaft Q3 mounted in the main frame A and rotated in any suitable manner
from the main driving shaft R, as for instance, by means of a belt Q encom-
passing pulleys Q and Q° secured upon the shafts Q³ and R respectively, which
shaft also operates the spinning mechanism H. A grooved pulley S is secured
to the pulley Q and against it presses one end of a spring T coiled on the shaft P
and having one end resting on the pinion 02. The grooved pulley S is operated
by the shifting fork U pivoted to a bracket on the main frame A and provided
with an
arm U which carries an adjustable friction plate U held in close
proximity to the outer face of the friction wheel V secured to the shaft P besido
the pulley Q. The shifting fork U is also provided with a lever U³ connected by a
line U with an arm W attached to the rocking shaft W₁ on which is fastened an
upright arm G¹ carrying on its upper end a condenser G.

page_text: The pulley Q is held in frictional contact with the disc V by the force of the
spring S, whereby the shaft P is rotated from the main driving shaft R.
The operation is as follows;-The main driving shaft R imparts a rotary motion to
the twisting mechanism H which runs at a very high rate of speed, while the chain F
which also receives its motion from the main shaft R travels at about half the speed of
the twisting mechanism H more or less, and the chain B which receives its motion from
the chain F by means of the train of gear wheels D, travels at about one-fourth of the
speed of the chain F more or less. The sliver after leaving the rollers N passes into
the chain B and a strong pull is exerted against the sliver from the twisting
mechanism H whereby the several fibres of the sliver are straightened out and placed
parallel with each other, by the pins of the chain B slanting towards the second
chain F. The sliver is easily transmitted to the second chain F, and is prevented
from rising by the loose reel M. The sliver as soon as it enters the chain F
is compelled to travel faster as the speed of the chain F is increased and
the pins I of the said chain not only serve to straighten out the fibre, but assist in
pulling the fibre forward and thus relieve the condenser G and the twisting
mechanism H of considerable strain, and the sliver passes into the condenser with all
its fibres arranged parallel with each other, so that the cord produced by the spinning
mechanism is of uniform thickness throughout.
As the chain F travels very fast, it is desirable, in order to deliver the sliver easily
into the condenser G, to change the position of the pins 12 before nearing the con-
denser G. This is accomplished as soon as the pin J¹ of the guide arm of each
shaft I enters the bend L in the guide way I whereby the shaft I is turned and the
pins I assume a reverse position from that they had before, so that when very near
the condenser they leave the sliver easily. In case too much fibre should pass into
the condenser G, the latter would swing toward the spinning mechanism H so that
the shaft W¹ would be oscillated which would cause the fork shifter U to act on the
pulleys S and Q and slide the same on the shaft P in the direction of the arrow b'
whereby the friction wheel V is disengaged from the said pulley Q and the latter
rotates on the shaft P. At the same time that the fork lifter U moves in the direction
of the arrow as above described, the friction plate U is brought into contact with the
friction disc V and thus brakes on the same whereby the speed of the shaft P is
decreased. This reducing of the speed of the shaft P also reduces the speed of the
shaft E and both the chains F and B travel slower until the obstruction in the condenser
is removed by the increased pull of the twisting mechanisin H. The pull on the
sliver increases when the chain F slackens its speed, as the latter does not then assist
in drawing the sliver towards the twisting mechanism H. As soon as the obstruction
in the condenser is removed, the spring T presses against the pulley S and forces the
latter and its pulley Q to its former position, so that the pulley Q is again thrown in
frictional contact with the disc F, and the shaft P is again rotated at its usual speed.
The condenser G also assumes its original position by the shifting of the forked
shifter U in the inverse direction of the arrow b¹.
By means of the chains B and F, moving at different velocities and arranged in
relation with each other and the spinning devices as described, I am enabled to work a
much heavier sliver than is practicable with a single chain. Thus, the slower moving
chain B acts as a carrier and holds back on the sliver, while the faster moving chain F
reduces the sliver to the proper size for the spinning mechanism. By working a
heavier sliver, the machines usually employed to prepare the sliver before its
introduction to the spinning machine may be largely economized, that is they may
be made to do much more work. The drawing is mainly done by the fast chain I,
and the sliver enters the spinning mechanism at a higher velocity than usual heretofore.
Abruptly quickened draft in passing to the spinning mechanism is avoided, and very
few thin places are inade in the cord, bunches striking the regulator acting quicker,
and after stoppage or retardation by a striking bunch the fast moving chain F
rapidly supplies more hemp or material, consequently, thin places in the cord are
reduced or avoided.

page_text: In cordage spinning machines as now ordinarily constructed, and using only a
single chain, the yarn is drawn through the spinning mechanism at, say about 80 feet
per minute, while the chain delivers to the spinning mechanism at about 10 feet per
minnte, more or less. This heavy draft it has only been considered practicable to change
by reducing the speed of the spinning mechanism which of course diminishes 'the
productive capacity of the machine. Such heavy draft necessarily produces an uneven
yarn, a long thin place almost invariably following a swell. This is obviated by my
Invention, the second or fast chain which may be run at any desired speed gives perfect
control of the draft and may reduce it almost to nothing, inasmuch as its speed may,
if desired, be nearly equal to that of the spinning mechanism, which it could not be to
make cord or twine were it not for the slower moving preceding chain nor could as
heavy a sliver to produce a mere cord or twine be worked in the machine, or the same
uniformity in size of the cord be obtained. The pins on the chain F, being made to
incline first in one direction and then in the opposite direction during the upper course
of said chain's travel, constitute an important element in this combination with the
spinning mechanism of the chain moving at different velocities as described, thus they
have a firm hold on the sliver in drawing it from the slower moving chain, and
subsequently assume a position which, while holding on the sliver, facilitates its
delivery to the condenser and spinning mechanism.
The means herein described for giving a differential speed to the sliver in its way
to the twisting or spinning mechanism, must not be confounded with cylinders
armed with pins and moving at a differential velocity, as heretofore used, inasmuch as
said cylinders have a carding action on the fibre, and the fibre is liable to hug them,
while the pins of the chains exert a combing effect while the fibres are straight. Nor
must my Invention be confounded with machines for merely spreading or drawing
hemp or other fibrous material, in which independent chains of heckling pins arranged
one in front of the other and, in some cases, the rear chain moving faster than the
preceding chain have been used, as such chains have no twisting or spinning mechanism
combined with them, and such machines are neither intended nor adapted to spin cord
or twine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is ;
1. The combination, in a cordage spinning machine of a twisting and spinning
mechanism, independently differentially moving combing and drawing chains
arranged one before the other in advance of the twisting and spinning mechanism,
the rear one of said chains travelling at a higher rate of speed than the chain
which precedes it, devices for carrying said chains and gearing for imparting such
differential speeds and endless travel to them, substantially as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
2. The combination, in a cordage spinning machine of a twisting and spinning
mechanism, a chain of pins travelling at a higher velocity in rear of said first named
chain but in front of the twisting and spinning mechanism and provided with pins,
guiding devices adapted automatically to incline said last named pins in reverse
directions during their upper course of travel, devices for carrying said chains, and
gearing for imparting differential speeds and endless travel to them essentially as and
for the purposes specified.
3. A cordage spinning machine, containing the following elements arranged and
operated in combination in the manner herein described namely a twisting and
spinning mechanism and differentially moving, combing, and drawing, chains which
comb, draw, and deliver, the sliver to the twisting and spinning mechanism, as set
forth.
4. The combination, in a cordage spinning machine, of a twisting and spinning
mechanism, a yielding condenser or regulator placed in front of said mechanism, two
or more chains of pins arranged, one in rear of the other, in front of the condenser,
the rear one of said chains travelling at a higher rate of speed than the chain which
precedes it, but at a less velocity than the twisting and spinning mechanism, devices

page_text: for carrying said chains and gearing for imparting differential speeds and endless
travel to them, substantially as shewn and described.
5. The chain F, consisting of the shafts I the links I' and the pins I' arranged on the
top of said shafts I, in combination with the guide arms J attached to the said shafts I
and having pins J' and J, the guides K, and the guides L' and L* forming the guide
way L and having the bend L' intermediately of their lengths, substantially as shewn
and described.
6. The chain F having the shafts provided with the arms J having the pins or
arms J and J projecting therefrom, in combination with the guides L' and L²
forming the guide way Land having the bend L³ about centrally of their length,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7. The combination with the condenser G, of the chain F having shafts provided
with pins, the guide arms J attached to the shafts thereof and provided with the
pins J and J, and the guide arms L' forming the guide way L and having the
bend L³, about centrally of its length, substantially as shewn and described.
8. The shaft P, the chain F, means for connecting the chain F with the shaft P,
the spring T coiled on the said shaft P, and the friction disc V secured to the said
shaft P, in combination with the pulleys Q and S placed loosely on the said shaft P,
the shifting fork U, the condenser, means whereby the condenser is connected with
said fork, the main driving shaft R, and means for rotating the pulley Q from said
shaft R, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this and d... of Wah
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