IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR SPINNING AND FOR DOUBLING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Lakin, of Ardwick, in the City of Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Machinist, and John Wain, of the said City
of Manchester, Mechanic, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINES FOR SPINNING AND FOR DOUBLING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS
MATERIALS."
Sealed the 9th. June 1863, and dated the 24th. December 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Lakin and John
Wain, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 24th December 1862.
We, ROBERT LAKIN, of Ardwick, in the City of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Machinist, and JOHN WAIN, of the said City of Manchester,
Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINES FOR SPINNING AND FOR DOUBLING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS
MATERIALS," to be as follows:-
The first of our said improvements is applicable to certain machines for
spinning, commonly known as self-acting mules, and to such of the machines
for doubling, commonly known as doublers or twiners, in which the spindles

page_text: recede from and approach to the creel, and consists in improved mechanism
for regulating the winding-on motion in the before-mentioned machines when
constructed with the screw usually attached to the radial arm known as
Richard Roberts's. For this purpose we employ a shaft placed alongside the
headstock of the machine, and having a screw cut upon the end nearest to the
roller beam in mules, and to the creel in doublers or turners, and which passes
through a stationary nut. On the other end is a wheel for turning the screw
of the radial arm. The shaft slides through this wheel, which turns with it,
but is prevented from moving laterally on it. On the shaft is a drum or
thickened portion of a slightly conical or sugar-loaf form, along the surface of
which, from end to end, are several spiral threads or screw-formed projections.
A catch, the position of which is dependent on the elevation or depression of
the fallers is brought, when required, to bear against one of the spiral threads
as the carriage runs in, and thereby compels the drum and with it the shaft
to revolve, whereby motion is given to the screw of the radial arm, by which
the winding-on is regulated, as is well known to persons conversant with such
machines.
It is necessary for the more perfect winding of the yarn on the spindles, that
the quantity of motion capable of being imparted by the catch to the spiral
drum, and from it through the shaft to the screw of the radial arm should
gradually diminish as the formation of the cop bottom progresses. This
is effected partly by the shaft being placed in a slightly oblique or slanting
position declining from the end nearest the radial arm, and partly by a pro-
gressive endways motion being given to it in the direction of the inward run
of the carriage, for as often as the catch is by the depression of the fallers
consequent on the increasing tension of the yarn brought to bear against a
thread of the spiral drum, and causes it and the shaft to rotate, they are by
the action of the stationary nut on the screw of the shaft drawn endways, and
the spiral drum recedes from the radial arni. Thus a smaller portion of the
drum is at successive periods exposed to the action of the catch as the carriage
runs in. And as the drum at the same time descends according to the obliquity
of the shaft a greater depression of the fallers becomes necessary to permit the
catch to bear against any of the spiral threads.
The second of our improvements is also applicable to the said machines,
called mules, and to such doublers or twiners as aforesaid, and consists in an
improved arrangement and combination of mechanism, whereby motion may
be given from a shaft placed below the rim shaft to the scrolls, or equivalents
therefor, which draw in the carriage, and also to the cams or cain shaft, and

page_text: to the backing-off wheel. This shaft has attached to it a wheel, which receives
motion from another wheel attached to the pulley on the rim shaft, usually
termed the loose pulley. The motion of this shaft when in rotation may be
communicated as required by suitable means to the scrolls or equivalents
therefor to the cams or cam shaft, and to the backing-off wheel.
The third of our improvements is applicable to the machines called doublers
or twiners, and consists in improved means of holding the threads during the
operation of winding-on in lieu of the jaws and slide usually employed. This
we effect by causing the rollers or bobbins round which the threads pass in
their progress from the cops to the spindles, and which are free and at liberty
to turn while the threads are being drawn off the cops to be held and prevented
from turning during the winding on. We cause the rollers to be held by
means of a rail, in which are a series or several series of stops or teeth, which,
by motion being given to the rail are brought into contact with the corre-
sponding stops or teeth in the rollers, and hold them, and on the rail being
moved back, leave the rollers at liberty.
The fourth part of our improvements is also applicable to doublers and
twiners, and consists in improved means of keeping the threads in a state of
tension as they are drawn off the cops or bobbins. For this purpose we
employ a series of hooks or guides, the lower ends of which pass through or
into holes formed in a rail or other suitable part of the apparatus which keeps
them in a proper position to guide the threads, but leaves them at liberty to
rise or fall as required. One of these guides is suspended on or applied to
each thread, so as by its gravity to keep the thread in a state of tension.
The fifth part of our improvements, which is also applicable to doublers and
twiners consists in certain means of preventing or stopping the contined
rotation of the cops or bobbins caused by the momentum they acquire during
the drawing of the yarn from off them by the machine, so that the rotation
may cease when the machine ceases to draw off. This we effect by fixing a
support or retarding surface, so that each cop or bobbin, or the skewer on
which it is placed, falls against or comes in contact with the same when the
machine censes to draw the cop or bobbin, and thereupon the friction created
by their contact acts as a break and stops the rotation.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Lakin and John. Wain. in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th June 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ROBERT
LAKIN, of Ardwick, in the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Machinist, and JOHN WAIN, of the said City of Manchester, Mechanic, send
greeting.
WHEREAS. Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of December, One, thousand eight
hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself,
Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said Robert Lakin
and John Wain, our executors, administrators, and assigns, Her especial
license, full power, sole privilege, and; authority, that we, the said Robert
Lakin and John Wain, our executors, administrators; and assigns, or such
others as we, the said Robert Lakin and John Wain, our executors, adminis-
trators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term of years 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES, FOR SPINNING, AND FOR DOUBLING
COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS," upon the, condition; amongst others,
that we, the said Robert Lakin and, John Wain, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals,
or under the hand and seal of one of us, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months. next and imme
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said condition, we, the said
Robert Lakin and John Wain, do hereby declare that the nature of our said
Invention, and the. manner in which the same is to be performed, are par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement and
description, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings on two
Sheets, in which the same letters or numbers of reference are used to indicate
the same or corresponding parts in all the Figures in which they occur, the
scales to which the several Figures are drawn are stated on the Drawings.
The first of our said improvements is applicable to certain machines for
spinning, commonly known as self-acting mules, and to such of the machines

page_text: for doubling, commonly known as doublers or twiners, in which the spindles
recede from and approach to the creel, and consists in improved mechanism
for regulating the winding-on motion in the before-mentioned machines when
constructed with the screw usually attached to the radial, arm, known as
Richard Roberts's. For this purpose we employ a shaft placed alongside the
headstock of the machine, and having a screw cut upon the end nearest to the
roller beam in mules, and to the creel in doublers or twiners, and which passes
through a stationary nut; on the other end is a wheel for turning the screw
of the radial arm. The shaft slides through this wheel, which turns with it but
is prevented from moving laterally on it. On the shaft is a drum or thickened
portion of a slightly conical or sugar-loaf form, along the surface of which from
end to end are several spiral threads or screw-formed projections. A catch,
the position of which is dependent on the elevation or depression of the fallers
is brought, when required, to bear against one of the spiral threads as the
carriage runs in, and thereby compels the drum, and with it the shaft, to
revolve, whereby motion is given to the screw of the radial arm, by which the
winding-on is regulated,. as is well known to persons conversant with such
machines. It is necessary for the more perfect winding of the yarn on the
spindles that the quantity of motion capable of being imparted by the catch to
the spiral drum, and from it through the shaft to the screw of the radial arm,
should gradually diminish as the formation of the cop bottom progresses.
This is effected partly by the shaft being placed in a slightly oblique or
slanting position declining from the end nearest the radial arm, and partly by
a progressive endways motion being given to it in the direction of the inward
run of the carriage, for as often as the catch is by the depression of the
fallers consequent on the increasing tension of the yarn brought to bear against
a thread of the spiral drum, and causes it and the shaft to rotate, they are by
the action of the stationary nut on the screw of the shaft drawi endways, and
the spiral drum recedes from the radial arm. Thús a smaller portion of the
drum is at successive periods exposed to the action of the catch as the carriage
runs in, and as the drum at the same time descends according to the obliquity
of the shaft a greater depression of the fallers becomes necessary to permit
the catch to bear against any of the spiral threads.
The second of our improvements is also applicable to the said machines,
called mules, and to such doublers or twiners as aforesaid, and consists in an
improved arrangement and combination of mechanism whereby motion may be
given from a shaft placed below the rim shaft to the scrolls or equivalents
therefor which draw in the carriage, and also to the cams or cam shaft, and to

page_text: the backing-off wheel. This shaft has attached to it a wheel, which receives
motion from another wheel attached to the pulley on the rim shaft, usually
termed the loose pulley. The motion of this shaft when in rotation may be
communicated as required by suitable. means to the scrolls or equivalents
therefor, to the cams or cam shaft, and to the backing-off wheel.
The third of our improvements is applicable to the machines called doublers
or twiners, and consists in improved means of holding the threads during the
operation of winding on, in lieu of the jaws and slide usually employed. This
we effect by causing the rollers or bobbins round which the threads pass in
their progress from the cops to the spindles, and which are free and at liberty to
turn while the threads are being drawn off the cops to be held and prevented
from turning during the winding-on. We cause the rollers to be held by
means of a rail in which are a series or several series of stops or teeth, which
by motion being given to the rail or brought into contact with corresponding
stops or teeth in the rollers and hold them, and on the rail being moved back
leave the rollers at liberty.
The fourth part of our improvements is also applicable to doublers and
twiners, and consists in improved means of keeping the threads in a state of
tension as they are drawn off the cops or bobbins. For this purpose wo
employ a series of hooks or guides, the lower ends of which pass through or
into holes formed in a rail or other suitable part of the apparatus, which keeps
them in a proper position to guide the threads, but leaves them at liberty to
rise or fall as required. One of these guides is suspended on or applied to
each thread so as by its gravity to keep the thread in a state of tension.
The fifth part of our improvements, which is also applicable to doublers and
twiners, consists in certain means of preventing or stopping the continued
rotation of the cops or bobbins caused by the momentum they acquire during
the drawing of the yarn from off them by the machine, so that the rotation
may cease when the machine ceases to draw off; this we effect by fixing a
support or retarding surface, so that each cop or bobbin, or the skewer on
which it is placed, falls against or comes in contact with the same when the
machine ceases to draw the cop or bobbin, and thereupon the friction created
by their contact acts as a break and stops the rotation.
Having thus stated the nature of our Invention, we will proceed more fully
to describe the manner of performing the same.
In the annexed Drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of so much of a mule or
twiner as is requisite for the explanation of the first part of our Invention,
and in which the carriage is supposed to be going in, and when the regulator

page_text: is being brought into action; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the wheels, by which
motion is communicated from the regulator shaft to the screw in the radia
arm.
The following parts are well known and in general use, and therefore
do not require to be particularly described, namely, the quadrant or radial
arm A with its screw A¹ and wheels A for turning the screw. Also the
winding on chain A³ attached at one end to the barrel A', and at the other to
the nut A³ on the screw of the radial arm A, and also the faller B and counter-
faller C, to the fingers of which are attached the two ends of the chain C¹,
which passes under a pulley near the end of the lever C, which lever turns
on an axis fixed on the carriage square.
In carrying out the first part of the Invention the following parts are com-
bined with the parts above mentioned, namely, the shaft D, on which is fixed
a drum of a slightly conical or sugar-loaf form, on which are the spiral
threads D¹; it has also at one end the screw D, and near the other end it
bas on it the skew wheel D³, which is connected with the shaft D by means
of a feather, key, and groove, arranged to allow the shaft to move endways in
either direction without the wheel, but so as to compel the shaft and wheel
when the shaft rotates to do so together. The shaft is supported by suitable
bearings, one near each end and one near the middle. The catch D³ is sup-
ported on a stud in the lever C2; the lower part of this catch D comes in
contact with one of the spiral threads D', the catch being slightly rounded
so as readily to engage therewith. The spiral threads D¹ are formed at a
more obtuse angle at the commencement, better to allow the catch D³ to enter
and engage
with them, and as the spiral threads proceed they are formed more
acute, as shewn in the Drawing. When commencing winding-on the bare
spindle the screw A¹ is turned to bring the nut A³ down to near the bottom of
the screw, and the shaft D is so arranged that it will be turned by the same
motion, so as to bring the bowl D on the end of the screw nearly up to the
fixing D', and being so turned the spiral threads D¹ will be moved in the
direction of the radial arm, so that by being in this position the catch D³ can
operate on the threads for the greatest length of time. When the winding of
the threads on to the spindles proceeds at a proper rate for taking up the yarn
at an even tension the counterfaller remains in such a position as by means of
the chains C, acting on the lever C, that the catch D³ is so far elevated as
not to come in contact with any of the spiral threads D'; when the winding-
on of the yarn becomes too tight the tension of the yarn (as is well known)
acts on and depresses the counterfaller, which will allow the chain and lever
to descend together with the catch D, which if sufficiently depressed will

page_text: during the run in of the carriage come in contact with one of the spiral
threads D¹, and as the carriage proceeds inwards the catch D³ acting on the
thread with which it has come in contact will turn it, also the shaft D and
the skew wheel D³, which through the skew wheel D* and wheels A² will
turn the screw A', and raise the nut A5, by which means the winding-on (as
is well known) will be diminished. When the shaft D is turned the screw D³
(which passes through a stationary nut in the bearing D'), will be drawn
endways in the direction of the inward run of the carriage, and with it the
spiral threads D³, and thus a smaller portion of the spiral threads will at
successive periods be exposed to the action of the catch D³ as the carriage
runs in; as the spiral threads D' at the time they are drawn inwards by the
screw D², also descend according to the obliquity of the shaft D, a greater
depression of the lever C³ becomes necessary to permit the catch D' to bear
against any of the spiral threads D', and consequently less variation will be
thereby effected.
Figure 3 shews an end elevation of such parts of a self-acting mule or
twiner, as is necessary to explain the second of our improvements; and Fig. 4
shews a side elevation of the same. E is the rim shaft, on which are fixed the
fast pulley E', rim pulley E, also the cone pulley E³, and on which are the
loose or self-acting pulley F, and the backing-off wheel F¹, on one side of
which is the usual internal cone F, formed to correspond with the cone of the
pulley E. The shaft G is the shaft called" the change shaft" in the Spe-
cification of a Patent granted to John Wain, bearing date the Tenth of
November One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, and numbered 2393.
On this shaft is mounted the hollow cam shaft G₁; these shafts G, G', are
only partially shewn, but sufficiently so to shew how motion is given to the
shaft G; the mode in which motion is thence communicated to the cam shaft
is well known; H is the scroll shaft, on which are fastened the scrolls Il' and
wheel H. The foregoing being well known, and in extensive use, we have
no need to describe their action, or to state how the backing-off cones E³ and
F, and the halves of the friction box I* and I are taken out of or put into
contact with each other, they being merely introduced to shew how by this
part of our Invention we communicate motion to them. To the loose pulley F,
or on the boss of it is cast or fixed the bevil wheel I, which gears with the
'wheel I fast on the upper end of the shaft 12, on which shaft is also fast
the bevil wheel I³. The upper part I of the friction box slides on feather
keys fixed to the shaft I2, which cause them to rotate together, and loose on
the shaft 1 is the lower part 15 of the friction box, which has the wheel I'

page_text: cast with or fixed to it. On the shaft J is fast the wheel J', which gears with'
and receives motion from the wheel I'; also on the same shaft is fast the spur
pinion J³, which gears with and gives motion to the spur wheel Js fixed on the
shaft G. From the foregoing it will be seen that the shaft I receives motion
from the loose pulley F, by means of the wheels I and I', and that the
shaft I causes motion to be given to the backing-off wheel F' and to the
shaft G, and thence to the cam shaft G', by means of the wheels 13, J¹, J²,
and Js, and to the scroll shaft H, by means of the two parts of the friction
box I and I, and wheels I and H. The shaft. I rotates at the foot in a
step fitted in the framing K, and at the upper part it is supported by a bearing.
also attached to the framing. The shaft J is also supported by a bearing
attached to the framing.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of so much of a creel of a mule twiner or
doubler as is requisite to illustrate the third part of our Invention; Figs. 6
and 7 represent detached portions thereof. The creel shewn is a stationary.
one, applied to a twiner where the carriage advances and recedes; this
improvement is, however, equally applicable to those machines where the.
carriages are stationary, and where the creels advance and recede. L is a portion.
of a Sampson which supports the creels a, water trough 6, and thread or list
boards c. It will be seen that the common jaw and slide used for. holding the.
threads while being wound on after they have been doubled and twisted is.
taken away, and in place thereof we employ a conical bobbin D, shewn full
size at Fig. 7. To the bottom of the bobbin d we attach the wheel e. The
bobbin and the wheel are placed on a stood fixed in the rail 9. Figure 6.
represents part of a rack h, full size, the teeth in which correspond in size.
with those of the wheel e, so that when the rack his lifted the teeth in it.
engage with some of those in the wheel e, and by so doing prevent the
bobbin from turning. The rack h is supported by the rod i, which rests on
the lever fast on the shaft n. The creel, as is well known, extends the whole.
length of the machine, as also must be the case with the rail g, the.rack: h,.
and the shaft n. There is to be a bobbin for every spindle in the carriage,
and there is also to be as many rods i and levers. j on the shaft nas.will be,
sufficient to support and when required to lift the rack h. The action. of: the
twiner is well known, and as it forms no part of this improvement need-not.
be described except to state that the threads which are being doubled and.
twisted are drawn off the cops in the creel, pass over the list. boards and under
the hooks in the water trough. The threads which are being twisted or
doubled into one, be they two or more, are to be passed round one of the

page_text: bobbins, and thence over the front board to the spindles. At the time when
the carriage is running out and drawing off and doubling the threads, the
bobbins & are to be at liberty to rotate freely, and permit the threads to ba
drawn forward as the spindles require, but when the carriage has run out its
full length, and sufficient twist has been given to the threads the bobbins
require to be held firmly, so as to prevent any more thread being drawn off
during the process of winding on than has been twisted during the outward
run; this holding of the bobbins is effected by causing the shaft n partially to
rotate, and by so doing to cause the levers j to Le elevated, and with them the
rods i and rack h, so far as to cause some of the teeth in it to engage with
some of those in each of the wheels e, by which means the rotation of the
bobbins d will be stopped, and the friction of the threads which arises from
their passing round the bobbins will be sufficient to prevent their being drawn
forward. The shaft n and levers j can receive motion from the machine by
any suitable arrangement of mechanism somewhat similar to that employed
for acting on the jaw and slide, and which must be adapted to suit the
particular arrangement of machine to which our improvements may be
applied.
Figures 5, 8, and 9, represent part of a rail with hooks m applied,
according to the fourth part of our Invention. In twiners as usually con-
structed, the hooks m are fast either in the trough or rail to which they are
attached, and are, therefore, unyielding. Our improvement consists in
attaching to each hook a piece of glass, earthenware, or other suitable
material of sufficient weight to produce the amount of tension on the yarn
necessary to keep it tight during the time the yarn is being doubled, and
leaving each hook at liberty to rise or fall as the tightness increases or
diminishes; by this arrangement if any extraordinary strain comes on any
of the threads, the hook on which the same takes place being at liberty to
rise, it presents a yielding point, and thereby causes the yarn to be less liable
to breakage from the extra strain on it. To keep these hooks in a proper
position we cause their lower parts to pass into holes formed in the water
trough, where water is used, or into a rail, where water is not employed.
Figure 5 also shews the fifth part of our Invention, which consists in
placing a support or retarding surface, against which each cop or bobbin
may fall when the yarn ceases to be drawn off. The skewers or spindles on
which the cops are placed are each at the foot supported by the bottom rails
of the crcel a, and at the top by the upper rails, in which a recess is formed
large enough to allow the cops to be drawn forward off the retarding surfaces s

page_text: by the tension of the thread when the yarn is being drawn off, but as the
tension ceases so soon as the yarn ceases to be drawn off, the cops will by
their own gravity fall against and come in contact with the retarding surfaces,
and the friction which will then arise between them by such contact will
overcome the momentum and stop the rotation of the cops.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, we would have it understood that we make no claim
to any of the mechanical parts separately; but we claim the combined
arrangements of mechanism herein described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Robert Lakin and John Wain, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-second day of June,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the above-
named Robert Lakin and John Wain in
the presence of,
CHARLES ASTON,
Attorney, Manchester.
ROBERT LAKIN. (LS.)
JOHN WAIN. (L.S.)