IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND SPINNING WOOL. AND OTHER SIMILAR FIBRES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Benson, a Partner in the Firm of Bradley
and Benson, of Leeds, in the County of York, Machine and Tool
Makers, and Peter William Greenwood, of Leeds, aforesaid, Mule
Spinner, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND SPINNING
WOOL. AND OTHER SIMILAR FIBRES."
Sealed the 16th February 1864, and dated the 22nd August 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Benson and
Peter William Greenwood at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 22nd August 1863.
We, WILLIAM BENSON, a Partner in the Firm of Bradley and Benson, of
Leeds, in the County of York, Machine and Tool Makers, and. PETER
WILLIAM GREENWOOD, of Leeds, aforesaid, Mule Spinner, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND SPINNING
WOOL AND OTHER SIMILAR FIBRES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in spinning mules appli-
cable to the spinning of woollen and other similar fibres by means of which
the use of an intermediate machine between the piecing machine and the
spinning mule is entirely dispensed with. In the present process the sliver is

page_text: taken on bobbins from the piecing machine to an intermediate machine called
a "billy," and there twisted and formed into a cop, and after having been
thus prepared it is taken to the spinning mule. This twisting of the sliver is
necessary to enable it to stand the action of being "drawn" in the spinning
mule. By our improvement the "billy" is entirely dispensed with, and the
bobbin with the untwisted sliver is taken at once from the piecing machine
to the spinning mule without any intermediate preparation whatever. The
sliver is simply carried direct from the bobbin over a roller or cylinder, and
thence through the delivery rollers to the spindles as before. To enable the
sliver to stand the draught without breaking down the ends, a reverse axial
movement is imparted to these delivery rollers at any required point, whereby
they are caused to take in a portion of the twisted yarn between the rollers,
and thus hold the yarn at a part where the "twist." gives it the necessary
strength to stand the strain of the "draft."
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Benson and Peter William Greenwood in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 20th February 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
BENSON, a Partner in the Firm of Bradley and Benson, of Leeds, in the
County of York, Machine and Tool Makers, and PETER WILLIAM GREENWOOD,
of Leeds, aforesaid, Mule Spinner, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said, William Benson and, Peter William Greenwood, Her special license
。 that we, the said William Benson and Peter William Greenwood, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we,, the said William
Benson and Peter William Greenwood, our 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

page_text: Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND SPINNING WOOL AND OTHER
SIMILAR FIBRES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
William Benson and Peter William Greenwood, by an instrument in writing
under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, 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. the said William Benson, on behalf of myself
and of the said Peter William Greenwood, do hereby declare the nature
of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention of "Improvements in Preparing and Spinning Wool and other
similar Fibres" relates to certain improvements in spinning mules applicable to
the spinning of woollen and other similar fibres by means of which the use of
an intermediate machine between the piecing machine and the spinning mule
may be dispensed with. In the present process the sliver is taken on bobbins
from the piecing machine to an intermediate machine called a "billy," and is
there twisted and formed into a cop, and after having been thus 'prepared it is
taken to the spinning mule. This twisting of the sliver is necessary to enable
it to stand the action of being drawn in the spinning mule. By our improve-
ment the billy is dispensed with, and the bobbin with the untwisted sliver is
taken at once from the piecing machine to the mulo without any intermediate
preparation whatever. The sliver is simply carried direct from the bobbin
over a roller or cylinder, and thence through the delivery rollers to the spindles
as before. To enable the sliver to stand the draught without breaking down
the ends a reverse axial movement is imparted to these delivery rollers at any
required point, whereby they are caused to take in a portion of the twisted
yarn between the rollers, and thus hold the yarn at a part where the twist
gives it the necessary strength to stand the strain of the draught.
:..
Figure 1 in the accompanying Drawing represents in section so much of-a
mule as is necessary for explaining the nature and object of our Invention.
The framing, which carries the head of an ordinary mule, is seen at A,-A-;
B is the beam or front rail, over which are placed the ordinary delivery
rollers c and d; E is a cylinder driven by a toothed wheel on its axis, and this

page_text: wheel gears into the pinion f. The bobbin containing the sliver of material
to be operated upon rests upon the cylinder E, and is driven by friction of
contact. On the same shaft as the pinion f is the stud wheel g gearing into
and driving the pinion h on the axle of the delivery roller d. On the shaft of
the pinion is mounted the rack wheel k, which works in the rack 7; this
rack is fastened to the end of the bar m. The bar m rests and works within
the forked slide n (provided with a clamping screw.) The bar m also works
through the slotted guides o (fixed to the frames) and passes through the
'catch-holder p (fastened to the bar by a tightening screw,) and also works
through the slotted bracket r (fixed to the frame.) The parts n, 'o, p, and r
are shewn detached at Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5. S is a joint in the bar m; T is
a catch working on the pin u on the slotted guide p; v is an upright bar
fastened to the front of the mule carriage.
In the Drawing the carriage is represented as being drawn out and the
delivery rollers delivering the material between them to be spun in the usual
manner. When the. barv, by the traverse of the carriage over the race
comes in contact with the catch T, it draws the bar in through the guides;
consequently the rack will draw round the rack wheel k, and thereby give a
reverse motion to the delivery rollers c and d. On the bar m is mounted and
secured by means of an adjustable clamping screw the tapered lug w; when
the bar m is being drawn out, and the reverse motion is given to the delivery
rollers d, the tapered lug w enters the slot in the bracket guide r, and raises
the portion of the bar m, which is in advance of the joint s, and permits the
upright bar v to pass beneath the catch T; the reverse motion of the delivery
rollers will then cease. It will be obvious that by regulating or adjusting the
position of the parts wand T to the tapered lug and catch, any amount of
reverse motion to the delivery rollers. can be obtained. On the return of the
carriage the upright bar v is allowed to pass beneath the catch T.
By reference to the Drawing it will be seen that by the
the catch T it will allow of the return of the upright bar v.
draw of the mule takes place the delivery rollers c and d revolve by the
ordinary mule gearing, and will thereby also draw back the bar m to its
proper position by the operation of the rack and wheel at the end.
".
.
arrangement of
When the next
Having now described our Invention of improvements in preparing and
spinning wool and other similar fibres, and having explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, we claim as the Invention secured to us by
Letters Patent, imparting a reverse axial movement.to the delivery rollers of

page_text: mules at any required point so as, to cause them to take up a portion of the
twisted yarn for the purpose herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Benson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of February, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-four.
Signed and sealed by the said William
Benson in the presence of
J. B. WILKINSON,
27, East Parade,
Leeds.
WILLIAM BENSON. (L.s.)