CERTAIN IMPROVE. MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING, SPINNING, AND DOUBLING, COTTON, WOOL. FLAX, SILK, AND SIMILAR FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
SCHOFIELD WHITWORTII, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanic,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Third day of March, in the eighth year of Her reign and in;
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-five, did, for..
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Thomas
Schofield Whitworth, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Thomas Schofield Whitworth, my exors, admors, and
assigns, and such others as I, the said Thomas Schofield Whitworth, my exors,
admors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should and.
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England and Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVE.
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING, SPINNING, AND DOUBLING, COTTON, WOOL.
FLAX, SILK, AND SIMILAR FIBROUS MATERIALS;" in which said Letters Patent
is contained a proviso that I, the said Thomas Schofield Whitworth, shall
cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear,

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Thomas Schofield Whitworth, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention
of Certain Improvements in Machinery for Preparing, Spinning, and Doubling,
Cotton, Wool, Flax, Silk, and similar Fibrous Material, to consist, firstly, in
certain combinations and arrangements of machinery, by which the prepara-
tion machine called the stretcher, and spinning and doubling machine called
the mule, are rendered what is generally called self-acting, or more indepen-
dent of the skill of the spinner or operative than such machinery is as
ordinarily constructed; secondly, in certain improvement in the preparation
machine called the scutcher; thirdly, in certain improvements in the prepara-
tion machine called the carding engine; and, fourthly, in certain other im-
provements, also applicable to the carding engine, and also the preparation
machine called the drawing frame, and to the slabbing or roving frame; and
the manner in which the same are to be performed and carried into effect will
be seen by reference to the annexed drawings, and the following description
thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
The scale to which the annexed Drawings are made is marked thereon, and
the same letter or Figure of reference used in the description to indicate any
particular part of machinery in any one view or section is also used to indicate
the same in any other view or section throughout, as far as regards that
particular machine or apparatus ; but in describing the different machinery
under the four heads already enumerated, the same letters of reference are
used in the four separate descriptions, and I shall now describe my improve-
ments as applied to the mule or stretcher, which are represented in Sheet 1 of
the annexed Drawings. In these Drawings Fig. 1 represents a side view of
the mule headstock, with the carriage placed part of the way on the stretch or
distance from the delivering rollers. Fig. 2 is a back view of the gearing or
headstock; Fig. 3 a front view, and Fig. 4 another view as seen from the
opposite side to that represented Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a view of the back of the
carriage, and Fig. 6 is a section of Fig. 1. The remaining Figures in Sheet 1
are views and sections of detached parts of the mule or stretcher, which will be
referred to in the following description. The movements required for the due
performance of the work in the spinning machine called the mule, and the
preparation machine called the stretcher, are so similar that it will only be
necessary for me to refer to the former machine in my present description, and
these movements of both machines may be arranged under six heads:-First,
the movement of the spindles; second, of the drawing rollers; third, of the

page_text: carriage; fourth, of the backing off; fifth, of the faller wire, and sixth, of
the yarn or thread produced at each
The first and second movements and
the "winding on" to the. spindle of
stretch or movement of the carriage.
part of the third (or the coming out of the carriage) is effected by the
machinery in all mules, but in ordinary, or what are called hand mules, the
remaining movements are performed by the operative or spinner. But in
mules and similar machinery to which my improvements are applied, the
whole of the movements are dependent on the machinery, which is hence
called "self-acting." I shall now proceed to describe the manner in which'I
perform these various movements in the order in which I have already
enumerated them. Referring to the annexed Drawing, A represents the
driving strap or belt by which the machine is put in motion, and B is the
driving pulley connected with the rim C, over which the band c passes, and
imparts motion to the rim band pulley b, over which the band passes to a
tension pulley C, and then over C¹ on to rim C and imparts rotation to the
spindles, and by the connection of pully C¹ to drum band pully C by clutch
box C³, see Fig. 17. This is the first movement. The second movement, or
that of the drawing rollers a, proceeds from the pinion D, placed on the same
shaft as the rim C; from the pinion D motion is conveyed by the spur wheels
d, d', and thence to the pinion d on the drawing rollers, as best seen at
Figs. 3 and 4. Part of the third movement, or the outward traverse of the
carriage, also proceeds from the pinion D, which, through the spur wheel d,
conveys motion to the spur wheel E and e, as best seen at Fig. 2, and thence
to the pinion F, which carries motion to the spur-wheel f; this spur wheel f
gears into a pinión f¹ which carries motion to the pinion f2, placed on a
shaft x near the floor and parallel to the roller beam. On this shaft x are
placed the pinion f³ gearing into racks f4 secured to the carriage G, and the
speed or proportion between the driving pinion D and the wheelf is calculated
to carry the rack and carriage G the exact amount of the stretch or
greatest distance of the carriage from the front rollers a; and it will be
remarked, that while this outward movement of the carriage is in progress,
the pinion F is connected to the wheel e by a.clutch box, but is free and
disconnected with the shaft on which it is supported, acting only as a
carrier between the driving pully B and the wheel f. Supposing,
therefore, the driving pully B to have made the necessary number
of revolutions to carry the carriage G to the end of the stretch, or its
greatest distance from the drawing roller, the first movement or rotation
of the spindles" along with the second movement or rotation of the
0
:..

page_text: 3
.
2
6
"delivering rollers," will have been performed by the arrangements as already
described. A little before the carriage arrives at the end of the stretch, or
greatest distance from the drawing rollers, the drum band pully b is discon-
nected from the pully 61, which is driven from the rim pully C, so that the
spinning action ceases, and the spindles only continue to revolve by their own
momentum, see Figs. 2 and 17. This is effected by the projection or cam f
placed on the face of the wheel coming in contact with the part f, which dis-
connects the clutch box see Fig. 17, and connects the drum band pully b
with the pully 161, over which the band from the rim C passes to impart
motion (see Figs. 4 and 17); and as the carriage G proceeds further to the
end of the stretch, the motion of the spindles is arrested by a break u (see
Fig. 6), pressing on the drum u, which carries the band which passes over the
spindle warves. The action of this break depends on the position of the lever
u, the lower end of which is provided with a small pully, which runs on a
straight edge placed parallel to the traverse of the carriage; but as soon as the
carriage arrives towards the end of the stretch, it is forced down by the inclined
part u, and passes under the part u, which, by the arrangement of levers and
spiral spring seen at Fig. 6, holds on the break, and effectually arrests the
spindles, the break being liberated and the spindles freed at the end of the
stretch by the escape of the roller on the lower end of the lever i from under
the part u. On the inner face of the spur wheel fis placed the projection f',
seen in dotted lines at Fig. 4, which at the period of rotation of the wheel f,
at which the carriage G is forced to the end of the stretch, comes in contact
with the lever, also seen at Fig. 4, which, being connected by a series of
levers and connecting rods, traverses the straps guider H, and carries the
driving strap A on to the pulley h, in the direction of the small arrow seen at
Figs. 2 and 3. At this period the movement of the spindles, of the drawing
rollers, and the outward movement of the carriage cease. The self-acting
movements, which were formerly dependant on the spinner, now commence,
and be it remarked, that the whole of these subsequent or self-acting move-
ments proceed from the pulley h. This pulley h is placed on a tube or collar
moving free on the shaft which carries the pulley B, from which the former
movements proceed, so that the pulley his entirely independent and freeofthe
pulley B, (and to make this part of my improvements better understood, a
section of the shaft is seen at Fig. 16 on an enlarged scale). The driving
strap H, being on the pulley h, the remainder of the third, or carriage move-
5
3

page_text: ment is effected by the pinion ¹h, as hereafter described.
But this coming-in
motion of the carriage does not take place until the fourth movement or
backing off, and the fifth movement or putting down of the faller are per-
formed. The fourth movement, or backing off, which consists in reversing the
rotation of the spindles for the purpose of unwinding the spiral coils of yarns
or threads which are formed on the spindles during the spinning action, as
seen at i, Fig. 19, 20, and 21, is effected by the connection or bringing
together of the clutch box I. But it will be first necessary to describe the
nature of the backing-off movement. The backing-off movementisa varying
backward rotation of the spindles, for the purpose of unwinding the spiral coils
of yarn which accumulate on the spindle during the spinning process. At the
commencement of a cop, as seen at Fig. 21, there are six or more spiral coils i.
When the cop bottom is complete, there are about 4, as at Fig. 20, and when
the cop is complete there are only two, as seen at Fig. 19, so that the backing
off must diminish in like proportion. From the pinion, through the spur
gearing 2h, 3h, and 'h, running loose on the drum band pulley shaft, motion
is conveyed to the drum band pulley b, by means of the wheel */ becoming
connected with the shaft on which it revolves, through the medium of the
clutch box I, and thus driving the drum band pulley b, which is keyed on to
the shaft, in the reverse direction to that which it has revolved whilst twisting,
and thus backing off or unwinding the coils of yarn from the spindle is effected;
and it will be remarked, that the wheel 2 is fast, and the wheel 'h is loose on
the hollow shaft in which they are supported, the peculiar construction of such
shafts being represented on an enlarged scale at Figs. 17 and 18, where the
letters of reference will sufficiently explain the various parts. At the same
time as the backing off is proceeding, the putting down of the faller also takes
place, for the purpose of carrying down the yarn or thread to the proper
position for winding it on to the cop; this is effected by a small ratchet wheel;
placed loose on the end of the drum band cylinder, as best seen at Figs. 1 and
5, and on an enlarged scale at Fig. 11, where it will be seen an arrangement
of dogs or catches which are placed on a disk keyed on the shaft of the drum
band cylinder; these catches fly out while the spinning proceeds, but carry the
drum band in the direction of the bent arrow when the backing off takes
place. Connected with the ratchet 7, is a small pinion ' (see Fig. 5), which
gears in a rack on the upper edge of the sliding piece O, (see Fig. 1). This
part O moves horizontally, and is supported on two studs on the mule carriage,
as seen in the Drawing, so that the rotation of the pinion / traverses the part
O in the direction of the small arrow, and forces up the perpendicular part M,
which rests by a small studm in the inclined slot, as seen at Fig. 1. On the

page_text: upper end of the part M is a rack, taking into a sector 'M, keyed on the fallor
shaft, which is thus revolved, and the fallor wire depressed as required. But
as the amount of depression is constantly decreasing as the cop encreases in
size, the position of the stud m in the inclined slot in the sliding piece O is
altered to compensate for this decrease by means of a screw movement. At
Figure 1 will be seen a small ratchet n, on the shaft of which is placed a small
worm taking into a worm wheel, which is keyed on to the perpendicular screw,
to which is attached the stud m, being screwed on as a nut. This ratchet n is
moved forward one tooth at each perpendicular movement of the part M, by
means of a small dog or catch, so that each perpendicular traverse of the part
M gathers a tooth in the ratchet n, until the cop bottom is completed, when,
by an arrangement hereafter explained, it gathers three teeth at each traverse
till the cop is completed. Thus, by means of this screw movement, the starting
point of the stud m is brought higher in the inclined slot of the part O, which,
allowing the stud ma less distance to traverse, necessarily decreases the
amount of vibration of the faller. The guiding of the faller wire as the car-
riage proceed in towards the front rollers, (which must vary as the cop
encreases in size), is effected by means of a small pinion p on the shaft of one
of the carriage wheels, as best seen at Figs. 1 and 4. This pinion gears into
the sector p, on the axis of which is the small lever 2p, see Fig. 4, and on an
enlarged scale at Fig. 40. It is to be here observed, that the lever 2p is con-
stantly pressed by the spring p³ against the shaper p', whilst the carriage is
receding from the rollers and forming the stretch, at the same time the lever
22, being connected with sector p', is caused to move in the direction of
the arrow seen on Fig. 40. A soon as the carriage has arrived at its
greatest distance from the drawing rollers, the perpendicular piece M,
with which shaper p* is connected, is raised as already described, and
to such a height as to permit the spring ps to press the lever p² underneath
shaper p, which, upon the backing off being effected, falls, by the weight of
the piece M, upon lever p², which, at the commencement of the carriage
moving towards the rollers, is immediately under the incline of the shaper pt.
On the carriage proceeding towards the rollers, the sector 'p, and consequently
lever p², are moved in the opposite direction to that in which they moved on
the carriage coming out; and it will be seen that according to the shape given
to the shaper p', which on the carriage going in is resting on p², the piece M
will rise or fall in a perpendiculardirection, and so communicate movement to
fallor through sector M¹. On the carriage reaching the drawing rollers, the
lever p² is then moved into a position the farthest from the fulcrum of the
shaper p, and at this period the lever pe comes into contact with the incline p',

page_text: 3
and forces thereby lever p² from underneath shaper p4, and so permits the
piece M to fall, and thus raise the faller wire from contact with the thread.
At the commencement of forming the cop, the faller wire, during the inward
motion of the carriage, is required to move the least, so as to permit the coils
wound on the spindle to overlap each other; and to accomplish this the under
part of the shaper p' is made to assume that position corresponding nearest to
the arch described by the lever p². As the cop encreases in size it begins to
assume the shape exhibited in Fig. 21; the faller wire is required to move more
to form that shape. This movement is caused by the screw elevating the
shaper p, and thus allowing it to slide up the inclined piece p8, which is fixed
on the piece M, and thus causes the shaper pt to depart from the position it
had at the commencement of the cop, and allows the piece M to lower and
raise the faller. When the stud pº, or shaper p4, has reached the top of the
incline p8, the cop bas then attained its full thickness, and afterwards the
shaper p remain in that position during the completion of the cop. The
movement of the screw whilst the cop is attaining its greatest thickness has
been already described; but on this being accomplished, the threads on the
cop are no longer required to overlap each other, but to be wound on the
spindle in parallel layers; therefore the ratchet wheel n is made to be acted
upon by lever p, and so causing the ratchet n to move the space of three
teeth at every perpendicular movement of the piece M. This is done by lever
p10 running up the incline p", and so, by the connecting rod p¹³, act upon the
catch working into ratchet n. It will be seen that the varying motion of the
fallers is caused by the elevation of the stud m, and the decrease of backing off
is effected in the same proportion; for as the backing off is terminated by the
stud 'P coming in contact with the lever Q, the elevation of the stud m moves
the stud P nearer to the lever Q at the starting point, and consequently causes.
the part O to traverse less before it affects the lever Q. The backing off and
downward movement of the faller wire being completed, the clutch box I is
disconnected, and the coming in of the carriage, or remainder of the third
movement, takes place. This is effected by connecting the clutch box K on
the hollow shaft above, see Figures 2 and 18. (The arrangements for
connecting and disconnecting the clutch boxes I and K will be hereafter
explained). As soon as the clutch box K is connected, motion is conveyed to
the tappit or scroll R, at the same time that the pinion F is disconnected from
the wheel e, see Fig. 18, and allowed to run free in the reverse direction to
that in which it carried the carriage out. By this means the carriage G is
brought in and up to the front rollers by the action of the chain P5 passing
over the cylinder on the shaft of the wheel f, see Fig. 6, and as soon as the :
}

page_text: carriage arrives at the drawing rollers, the clutch box K is disconnected, and
the driving strap A traversed on to the pully B to recommence the succeeding
stretch. The sixth, or winding-on movement, or that by which the stretch of
yarn formed by the outward traverse of the carriage is wound on to the spindle
in the form of a cop, proceeds at the same time as the coming in of the
carriage; and this is effected by connecting the catch box S at the same time
as the clutch box K.
But before I describe the way in which I effect this winding-on movement
(which is the most important of any) it will be necessary to describe the nature
and construction of a cop. A cop is an amount of yarn wound in a peculiar
manneron to the spindle as it is produced at each stretch or coming out of the
carriage. The first winding on to the bare spindle is nearly at a uniform and
equal speed, but the speed of the spindle is converted into a variable speed as
the formation of the cop proceeds, and the guiding of the faller wire is
so arranged as to produce the form represented at Fig. 20, which is called
the cop bottom. After this amount of yarn is wound on, or the cop bottom is
complete, the yarn is wound progressively from the greatest circumference to
the smaller, or apex, at a varying speed, to compensate for the varying circum-
ference of the encreasing cop. This variation of the speed of winding alters at
every stretch till the cop bottom is complete, and then the variation of speed
for each winding on is uniform and alike, inasmuch as every successive layer
of yarn is of the same proportion till the completion of the cop, as represented
at Fig. 19. The driving strap A being on the pully h, and the clutch
boxes K and S being in connection with the shafts on which they are placed,
the carriage is brought in, and up to the front roller, by the reverse rotation
of the wheelf, the pinion F being at this time free on its shaft, and
the rotation of the scroll R winds on the chain P5 at the varying speed due to
its form. The chain P5 imparts motion to an apparatus T, which is seen
separately on an enlarged scale, in front view and section, at Figs. 7, 8, and 9,
and consists of a series of screws of different pitches radiating from a centre,
each of which is provided with a nut or moving part, marked t, which is drawn
in or forced from the centre by the revolution of the screw on which it is
placed, each nut moving in a radiating slot or groove, as seen at Figs. 7 and 8.
At one extremity of each screw is placed a small bevil pinion, which pinions
may either gear into each other, so that any rotation of one bevil would affect
the whole, and force out or draws in the studs t as may be required, in which
case the screws would be required to be alternately right and left handed; or
motion may be given to one bevil or centre wheel on the shaft, into which the
bevils attached to each screw may be made to work, so that motion being

page_text: conveyed to the centre wheel shall give motion to each of the screws, in which
case the screws, would be all of one hand. Supposing, therefore, the studs t to
be placed in the position furthest from the centre of the shaft, as seen at Fig.
7, and rotation to be imparted to the part T by means of the chain connected
with the cam R, motion will be imparted with a velocity due to the form of
the cam R, and a varying speed to the chain W on the studs t, due to the
scroll form they present, which speed is calculated to wind on to the bare
spindle. But as the circumference of the cop increases by the successive
layers of yarn, so by drawing in the studs t the scroll form on to which
the chain is wound is decreased also, and that in a varying or scroll
form, so as to compensate for the varying and decreasing speed of the
spindle, as required. This constant variation of the position of the studs
or nuts t is effected by means of a ratchet wheel T¹, running loose
on the shaft on which the wheel is fixed. The wheel T¹ is in connection
with wheel T, and so to T3; and these two latter wheels are placed on studs,
which studs are attached to the disc of the apparatus T. On motion being
given to T, as already described, the wheel T is carried round on its axis
through its connection with wheel T. This rotatory motion of wheel T¹ is
continued until the lever 'T+ comes into contact with lever T5, which is attached
to the framing. This contact of the levers T4 and T5 is made to commence
before the complete rotary movement of T is accomplished, and in conse-
quence the catch T fixed on lever T* is made to gather a tooth on wheel T¹.
On the reverse motion being given to T, as already described, the wheel T¹,
along with the lever T4, partakes of its reverse motion until the lever T4c
4 comes
on to the opposite side of lever T, when the wheel T¹, by means of the ratchet T
is prevented from revolving further round its axis, while the apparatus T
proceeds revolving, and so motion is given to wheels T2 and T³, and by means
of a small bevil T7, attached to T3 and working into a bevil T8 fixed on one of
the screws T", motion is given to all the screws, and so to the studs t; the small
bevil Ts attached to the screw To, which is connected with wheel T7, is held
suspended in gear by the small spring T10 of the lever T". When the bottom of
the cop
is formed the scroll has then become of that shape which is required
to wind on the yarn for the remainder of the cop, and at this period one of the
studs t comes in contact with the lever T" and cause the lever to slip from
under the small bevil T8 attached to screw To, in consequence of which
the spring T10 comes into action and forces the bevil wheel Ts out of gear
with T, and therefore, whilst the motion of wheel T7, as before described,con-
tinues, no effect is produced. The varying speed thus produced in the chain W
(which is "the winding-on movement") is imparted to the spindles by the

page_text: 3ს
chain W passing over a studded pulley 126, best seen at Fig. 6, on which it is
held in a state of tension by the weight W. Connected with this pulley 126 is
a pinion 3 gearing into a pinion on the shaft of the drum band pulley b; which
is periodically connected with such pulley, when the winding on is required,
through the medium of the clutch box S, which is attached to the shaft on
which the drum band pulley is fixed. As soon as the winding on is effected
the carriage commences its outward movement, and the whole of the appa-
ratus T is carried back to its original position by its connexion to the shaft on
which wheel T revolves, and which wheel, when the wheels F and e become
connected by clutch box e¹, as shewn in Fig. 18, is made to revolve in the
opposite direction it has whilst the apparatus T is winding on, and thus
allows the weight W to act by its gravity and unwind the chain W from the
studs t, t.
From the foregoing description of the six movements of the machine it will
beseenthat the period at which such movements come into operation depends,
first, on the traversing of the driving strap A from the pulley B to the pulley h;
and, secondly, in the connection and disconnection of certain clutch boxes, as
already described. I shall therefore proceed to describe the mode by which
these traverses and connections are effected.
The traversing of the driving strap A from the pulley B to the pulley h
proceeds from the projection if on the inner face of the wheelf, as already
described and the pinion / being now in motion, is conveyed through the
spur wheel to a pinion gearing into a spur wheel on a shaft carrying the
disk X, see Fig. 1. This disk X and a similar disky, placed on the shaft of
the wheel f, make one rotation for each coming in ofthe carriage, Atthe period
of revolution of the wheel f,when the projection upon it already mentioned acts
upon the lever, and so move the strap guide H from pully B to the pully h
a projection in the disky comes into contact with a catch y¹, which is thereby
elevated, and permits the lever y², see Fig. 10, which is fixed to S¹, to be acted
1
upon by spring w through the medium of levers O2 and O', and so dis-
engage the clutch boxes connected with the wheel F. The lever 0° (see
Fig. 3) has at one end a fork which clasps the clutch box 03; this clutch box
is connected by means of a cotter to the drawing roller a, which roller has a
stet cut into it to allow the clutch box 03 to slide at the same time that the
8.
spring Wacts upon the lever O as just described; the clutch box Os is by
the same spring disengaged, and so the motion of the drawing rollers is
stopped. When the reverse movement of the wheel ƒ has been performed by
f

page_text: the arrangement already described, an incline upon disky comes in contact
with lever 3 which is attached to lever ³, working loose on shaft y³, and
acting upon rod q2, pulls it in the reverse direction to that shewn by the arrow
in Figure 1, so far as to allow the catch 2' to fall, and thus retain the rod q³,
and at the same time, through lever q4, which clasps the sliding part of clutch
box I, puts it into a position ready for going into gear when the backing-off
motion is put into operation. The disk X is provided with a series of cams or
inclined planes, the form an arrangement of which is shewn on an enlarged
scale at Fig. 12, 13, 14, and 15. These cams act on a series of levers which
are connected, (by means of rods passing through the hollow shafts seen at
Fig. 17 and 18, with the various clutch boxes already described. And I will
now proceed to shew the manner in which the cams upon disk X act upon the
various levers in connection with it. The mode by which motion is imparted
to disk X has been already described. It is to be observed, that the carriage,
having arrived at its greatest extremity from the roller,and the spindles having
ceased from twisting, the incline upon disk X marked y¹ comes into operation
and forces levery keyed on the shaft y³, see Fig. 10, and gives motion to forked
lever y, which is likewise keyed on to shaft y³, which clasps the rod y sliding
on the perforated shaft y6 as seen in Fig. 17. This rod y5 is attached by a
cotter to clutch box I through the shaft; y has a slit cut into it to allow the
cotter to slide; as soon therefore as the disk X resolves, and so moves the
lever by incline y', the clutch box I becomes connected with wheel *, and
so the backing off is effected as described. Whilst the backing off is taking
place the disk X has revolved and brought opening y' opposite to lever y², and
1
so allows lever y² to vibrate by means of spring, and so disengage the clutch
box I and connect the clutch box S preparatory to winding on. During the
same period of revolution of the disk X the indentation S has become opposite
to levers 8', which work loose on the shaft y³, as seen in Fig. 10, and allowing
the latter lever to vibrate by the action of spring W¹, as seen in Fig. 3.
The lever s¹, clasps the rod W2 sliding on the hollow shaft S2. This rod W² is
attached to clutch box K by means of a cotter through the shaft s², which has
a slot in it to allow the cotter to slide, and thus clutch K is put in connection
with cam R, and thus causes the carriage to approach the roller beam. On
the carriage having arrived at the roller beam, the further revolution of the
disk X has brought the incline Ŏ into contact with the lever S¹, and dis-
engages the clutch box e¹ by means of rod W2, see Fig. 18; at the same time
the lever (1, being connected to the lever O² by a rod, forces the clutch box O³
into gear, and by that means motion is communicated to the rollers. During

page_text: the latter part of the revolution of disk X the incline e has come into contact
with lever y², and so disengages the clutch box S by the connection, as already
shown, at the same time the stud upon disk X, in connection with the lever a,
causes the strap guide H to move from the pulley to pulley B. The clutch
box I, from which the backing off and putting down of the faller proceeds, is
governed by the vibration of the lever Q, which raises lever ¹ and permits the
rod to slide in the direction of the arrow. The lever q is attached to lever q³,
which is connected to lever q4, which, being acted upon by spring q, discou-
nects clutch box I, and as soon as that is effected the further rotation of the
disk X gives liberty to lever V to vibrate, and allows the spring V₁ to act
upon lever V2, putting clutch box S into geer, which winds on, and whilst this
motion is proceeding the rotation of disk X allows lever W to vibrate also,
and permitting the spring W' to act, as seen in Fig. 3, upon lever W, and
puts clutch box K into gear by means of the rod W2, through the hollow
shaft S2, and thus bring in the carriage at a varying speed, dependant on the
form of the cam R, which makes one complete revolution to wind on the chain
from the axis of the wheelf, through which the motion is imparted, while the
further resolution of the disk X, by a projection al on disk X, acting upou
lever a, connected to the sliding bar H, by the crank lever a³, traverses the
driving strap back to the pulley B, which terminates the inward traverse of
the carriage with the other self-acting movements preparatory to commence-
ment of the succeeding stretch.
'
In addition to the six movements above described it is necessary to
break or arrest the inward movement of the carriage when the spinning
terminates, which I effect by a similar arrangement to the break on the
movement of the spindles, as already described. This is effected by the
break V18 (see Fig. 6), which is connected by a spiral spring to the lever V1+
as seen in the Drawing. This lever, like the lever u³, is provided with a
friction pulley at its lower extremity, which runs on an horizontal plane ;
but when it arrives at the end of a stretch the inclined surface V15
depresses it and forces it to the under surface of this plane, where it
remains (holding the break V13 on the carriage wheel) until it arrives at the
point V1, where it presses up the small falling piece V1, and on the return or
outward movement of the carriage it passes again to the upper surface of the
plane on the other side of V, and frees the break on the carriage wheel. A
small spring near the part V16 keeps the small falling piece closed when not
depressed by the roller on the lever V14. The squaring or keeping the carriage
parallel to the delivering rollers is effected by pinions placed on shaft x
(see Fig. 2), which gear iuto any number of racks connected with carriage so

page_text: that the movement is kept correct aud parallel in any part of the traver e.
This squaring of the carriage may also be effected by endless chains attached
to the carriage, and passing over pullies placed on the shaft a, and also over
carrier pullies placed at the end of the stretch or greatest distance the carriage
moves from the front rollers.
Having now described such part of my improvements as appertain to the
spinning machine called the mule, and preparation machine called the
stretcher, together with the manner the same may be performed and carried
into effect, I do not claim any separate or well-known part of such machinery;
but I do claim the combination and arrangement of such parts, one feature of
which is, that the space between the mule headstock and the carriage remains
open and free from the impediments of levers on other machinery, no connexion
rod or other part being required above the rim or lines on which the carriage
wheel revolves, the whole of the reversing movements of such machine being
also dependent on mechanical arrangements contained within the headstick, as
described.
Second, the method of squaring the carriage by means of pinions and racks,
or endless chains, as described.
Third, the method of regulating the backing off and building the cop, as
described.
Fourth, the method of winding on by means of a scroll formed by stud
moved on a series of screws of different speeds or pitch, as described.
Fifth, the method of bringing in the carriage by one rotation of the cam R
in connection with a chain or belt, as described.
Sixth, the method of changing the movements of the machine, a described.
Seventh, the method of breaking or arresting the motion of carriage, as
described.
Eighth, the application of a hollow shaft on which the cam R is fixed
through which the communication to the clutch boxes for arresting and
governing the motion of the carriage is made without the intervention of
levers.
On Sheet 2, Fig. 22 represents a longitudinal sectional elevation, and
Fig. 28 a transverse sectional elevation of a preparation machine for cleaning
cotton, wool, and similar fibrous material, called the stutcher; and I shall now
proceed to describe its action, as applied to cotton, referring to Fig. 22. A is
an ordinary lap of cotton, which is uniformly delivered through feeding rollers a
to the beater B, which revolves in the direction of the arrow. From this
beater the cotton proceeds forward between the revolving wire cylinder Cand
the upper surface of the feed cloth D, which delivers it in a partially opened

page_text: state to the second set of feed rollers d. From the feed rollers d the cotton is
received into the drum or cylinder C', provided with the revolving shaft einits
centre, which shaft carries the wheels or disks E. To the disks E are attached
2
1
a series of arm or radu e, proceeding across the whole width of the hollow
drum (, as seen at Fig. 25, and to each arm è are attached a series of flat
elastic springs e, as seen in the Drawings. From the axis of the wire drum
or cylinder C motion is conveyed by a series of spur wheels (tinted red in the
Drawing) to the revolving shafts F, which are also provided with the curved
elastic spring marked f. The spring f, the form of which is seen at Fig. 29,
extend also form one side of the drum or cylinder C to the other, and revolve
respectively in the intermediate spaces between each of the springs e², as best
seen at Fig. 23, so that the revolution of the springs e² being in the contrary
direction, as shewn by arrows, to the springs f, the cotton or fibrous material is
further beaten and opened as it passes forward in the direction of the bent
arrow on the disk E. The springs f, as they revolve on their shafts F, come
in contact with a stationary piece 'f, which presses them back, and causes them
to vibrate on their liberation. The same sort of vibration is also imparted to
the springs 2 by their striking the cotton or other material as it is delivered
and it is this vibratory action by which the peculiar opening and cleaning
action of the machine is produced. The cotton is now carried forward by the
action of the springs e², and delivered into the trough or tunnel G, the bottom
of which is formed as a grid, which extends round the back of the large drum
or cylinder, to allow the escape of any dirt, seed, or other extraneous matter
from which the cotton is freed, and gis a break or division to prevent the cotton
proceeding a second time to the action of the springs f, and to direct it on its
course in the trough G,as described. From the trough G the cotton is received
on the card cylinder H, from which it is taken by the ordinary comb and carried
through a trumpet mouth to the rollers h, which deposits it in a finished state
in the can I. The whole of this machine, from the beater B to the card H, is
cased or covered in, as seen at Figure 22 & 23, and the letters of reference
will explain the position of each part in the adjoining Figure. The machine
is put in motion by means of a strap on the driving pulley on the shaft e, see
Figure 23, and thence by a cross strap, see Figure 22, to the shaft of the
wire drum cylinder, from which the other motions are conveyed by straps and
gearing, as may be readily traced in the Drawing. But all such arrangements
may be modified and varied without departing from the essential character of
this part of my Invention, which consists not so much in the construction or

page_text: arrangement of the ordinary parts of the machine as in the application
and adaptation of an elastic and vibrating spring or springs for the beating
and cleaning cotton, wool, or similar elastic material; and this application
and adaptation of a vibrating elastic spring or springs to this purpose is what
Invention.
I claim as my
My third set of improvements are such as relate to the carding and draw-
ing wool and similar fibrous material, consist in the construction and arrange-
ment of the machine represented at Figure 24, which represents a longitudinal
sectional elevation, the rotation or movement of each part being indicated by
arrows, and the gearing being omitted for the purpose of rendering my
description better understood (for in this machine, as well as the scutcher last
described, the gearing or arrangement for driving and producing the various
speeds in the various parts may be effected in various ways, as is well known
to mechanics and persons conversant with machinery).
Figure 24: A represents the card roller called the licker-in, which delivers
the wool from the feed rollers to the card cylinder B; b, b, are the ordinary
top rollers, and a the doffer cylinder, from which the carded wool is taken by
the doffer comb a¹. The carded wool as it falls from the doffer comb a¹ is
received on the projection C, which attached to the endless belt C¹ by a joint,
which allows them to be forced down when required, but they have a constant
tendency to retain their horizontal position by the counter-weigh d³, and the
form of this part will be best seen at Figure 34. Upon motion being conveyed
to pulley C2 (the endless belt being held a state of tension by a carrier pulley
Cs), it is made to traverse in the direction parallel to the axis of doffer a, as
seen by the small arrows. The surface of the callender roller C4, seen in
Fig. 34, is made to revolve at the speed of the belt C', and assist the belt in
carrying the sliver round the pulley C2, which is also aided by the trumpet
tubes C1 and C₁ as it is delivered by the comb a¹ into the projections C.
When the belt C¹ has taken one end of the sliver round to the points*, shewnin
a red tint in Fig. 34, the length from the callender roller C+ to the point is
cut off, as will be explained. It will be observed, that the pulley C2 is keyed on
a perpendicular shaft, which at its lower extremity has the disc C7 also keyed
upon it. Upon the disc C' is a projection or incline Cs acting upon the bell
crank lever C; on the upper arm of the bell crank lever rests a stud placed
on the disk d, which has a constant tendency to revolve in the direction of
bent arrow by the pressure of the spring ¹d on the stud, as seen in the Draw-
ing. As soon as one stud has escaped from the bell crank lever d it is replaced
in its former position by a small spring, and receives the succeeding stud, which
again arrests the revolutions of the part d, until the succeeding revolution

page_text: of the pulley C again bring the sınall incline C³ under the bell crank, and
repeats the operation. And it will be remarked, that this intermitting motion
corresponds periodically with the production or placing of each length of
roving from the callendar roller C4 to the point °. On the same shaft which
carries the disk 1 is placed a spur pinion which conveys motion through a
carrier pinion to the spur wheel d; this wheel gears into a pinion on the shaft
of a cutting apparatus provided with four cutters d³, one of which cuts off and
separates an equal portion of the sliver of wool as it is deposited or placed in
the space between C+ and *. In addition to the cutters d³, the plan of which
are seen at Fig. 34, there is a small lever d4, which is also vibrated at the time
of cutting by a stud on the face of the wheel d², which brings the parts d³ down
on the sliver at the period of cutting, for the purpose of holding the slivers
and making the cutting more perfect, but which immediately remove to allow
the succeeding sliver to proceed. The projection C on which the portion of
the sliver which is cut off rests, now falls by the operation of the catch do,
which is vibrated also by a stud on the wheel d and deposits the portion of
sliver on the carrier cloth immediately beneath, which carries it forward to the
feed rollers d', see Fig. 24, when it is delivered to the cylinder L. Thus
the portion of wool is presented to the second carding cylinder L with its fibre
laid parallel to the axis of such cylinder, and by the division of the sliver, as
already explained, the feeding to the cylinder L is more uniform, and the
roving equalized in the subsequent process. b, b, are the ordinary card rollers,
and M, M, two doffer cylinders one above the other. These doffer cylinders
are provided with belts or rings of card placed at equal distances, with a space
between each belt or ring m, as seen in plan at Fig. 25, and these belts are
so placed that the card belts on the upper cylinder fall perpendicularly over
the space on the under cylinder, by which means the whole of the wool is
cleaned from the cylinder Las by a single doffing cylinder entirely covered
with cards. From the doffers M, M, the wool is taken off in a series of
ribbons or slivers between the small fluted roller N, which is revolved at the
required speed, and a smooth cylinder or roller n, which rests on the roller N
and against the card teeth on the doffer. The slivers of wool are then
carried forward and separately through the twisting tubes o, which are
of a peculiar construction. In the tubes o, the sliver is both drawn and
twisted, after which it passes separately through the guide p, and is wound
on to a spool or bobbin Q, driven by a surface motion from the cylinder
Ron which it rests, and the arrangement of the slivers from each doffer
cylinder M are alike. The rotation of the twisting tubes o is conveyed
through bevil wheels from the axis of the card cylinder L to the shaft s

page_text: 1
press on
1 1
which is provided with two cone drumss' and s²; these drums, by means ofstraps,
convey motion to the cone drums and s on the parallel shaft below. The cone
drum 84 conveys motion to the endless strap T¹ by the pulleys, over which it
passes, and the cone drum s³ conveys motion to the endless strap T2 by means
of a pulley s5 over it, which it passes.
These endless straps and T
the revolving tubes 0,0¹,and are kept in a state of tension by the carrier pulleys
T, T, as seen separate at Fig. 26, which represents a front view of the
twisting tubes, and the course of the straps by which they are driven. The
construction of the revolving tubes o, o¹, is represented on an enlarged scale
at Figs. 27 and 28, the former being a longitudinal section and the latter
a transverse section. In these Figs. u, u, represent a pair of rollers,
between which the sliver or ribbon of wool is passed, whence it proceeds
through the hollow tube u¹. In these Figs. u¹ represent a hollow tube,
upon which the pulley o is keyed, and which is formed with projecting
parts in such a manner as to hold the axis of the two rollers u, u, on
opposite sides of its centre; a slot is likewise cut in this tube, so as to
allow the two rollers u, u, to come into contact with each other exactly in the
centre of the tube u. To the rollers u, u, are attached the wheels V and V,
as seen in Figure 28, and to the pulley o¹ is attached the wheel V with the
teeth cut askew to allow it to gear with the two wheels or rollers u, u.
This pulley o' and wheel N run loose upon the hollow tube u. Supposing
therefore motion to be imparted from cone drum s³ to the endless strap T2 and
thence to pulley o, the rollers u, u, along with the tube u, would be caused to
revolve, and supposing the sliver to be held suspended between the stripper N
and the roller u, u, it will be obvious that it would receive twist in proportion
to the revolution made by the tube u'. Again, it will be seen, that if motion
is imparted to the pulley o' and so to the wheel V by means of the cone drum
4, through the strap T', that the wheel V will act upon the wheel V, V₁
and cause the roller u, u, to revolve upon their axis, and thus elongate the
sliver passing between them from the strippers n. It will be seen, therefore,
that by means of motion communicated to pulleys o and o' respectively, that
the sliver between the stripper n and rollers u, u, may be both elongated and
twisted at the same time, and by means of the cone drums s3 and 84, that a
variable speed may be attained so as to vary the twist or draft, as may be
required.
1
1
1
In this part of my improvements, I claim, first, the mode of equalizing
the feeding of the wool or other material by cutting it in lengths, taking

page_text: from one doffer in a transverse direction, delivering it to the action of
the second carding cylinder, parallel to its axis, as described.
Second, the application of the twisting tube and appendages for elongating
the sliver from a carding engine, at the same time that it is receiving twist, as
described.
Third, I also claim the application of this tube with its appendages to
other preparation and twisting machinery.
I shall now proceed to describe fourth, or last set of improvements, or such
as relate to the compressing of roving or sliver; these consist in a certain
construction and arrangement of spindle and presser, by which the roving or
yarn is wound on to the spindle compressed, and in a series of conical layers.
similar to layers of a cop, as already described.
Figure 30 is a side view of a roving frame, and Figure 31 a section of the
same, to which my improvements are applied.
In these Figures, A is the spindle, which is driven from a warve below and
supported or carried or sliding frame, having a constant tendency to ascend
by the action of the counter-weight 'A. The lower part of the spindle A is
formed in the shape of a cone, on which is placed a bobbin of corresponding
form. The upper part of this spindle runs in a perpendicular tube, the lower
extremity of which is also formed as a cone to correspond with the surface of
the part a; this tube is furnished with the warve ¹a, from which it receives
rotation in the ordinary manner). And the roving or sliver as it proceeds
from the drawing rolier a², passes as it proceeds into the top, and is again led
out by a small hole, and carried one or more turns round the outside, as seen
at Fig. 30, when it is again taken within the tube till it arrives at the
conical part, in the side of which is another small hole, through which it is
3 3
3
conducted to the flyer, a, a. From the point of the flyer a, the roving again
returns through a slot parallel to one side of the cone, and is distributed
3
4
regularly by a travers of the flyer a produced by the vibrating lever a.
By this arrangement the twisting action, as well as the distribution of the
sliver or roving, proceed from the tube, while the taking up or winding on
proceeds from the spindle; but during the whole process the pressure arising
from the weight A is in action on the conical surface of the roving or sliver as
it is deposited, and a hard or condensed bobbin, of a conical or cop construction,
is produced, the bobbins being necessarily forced down and the weight 'A
elevated as the roving or sliver accumulates at each conical layer of which it
is constructed.
I have not considered it necessary to describe any particular mode of winding

page_text: on or taking up the sliver or yaru, such being no part of my Invention; but
what I do claim as my Invention, as respects this part of my improvements, is
the mode of condensing or forming a hard bobbin, of a conical or cop
construction, by means of the hollow cone, while the twisting action proceeds,
as described.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, together with the
manner in which the same is to be performed and carried into effect, I
deliver this as my true and faithful Specification of the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Schofield Whitworth, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Second day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-five.
THOMAS SCHOFIELD (L.S.) WHITWORTH.
Taken and acknowledged by the within
named Thomas Schofield Whit-
worth, at Salford, in the County of
Lancaster, as his act and deed, and
by him desired to be enrolled, this
Second day of September, One
thousand eight hundred and forty-