CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING, SPINNING, AND WEAVING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1849

page_text: TO AL
WHOM TE
PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
ECCLES the elder, WILLIAM ECCLES the younger and HENRY ECCLES, of
Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton Spinners, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the. Third day of December, in the thirteenth year of Her reign, and
in the year of our- Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, did, for
Herself. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said William
Eccles the elder, William Eccles the younger, and Henry Eccles, Her
especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that we, the said
William Eccles the elder, William Eccles the younger, and Henry Eccles,
our exors, admors, and assigns, and such others as we, the said William
Eccles the elder, William Eccles the younger, and Henry Eccles, our exors,
admors, or 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, our Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING, SPINNING, AND WEAVING COTTON
AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a
proviso, that we, the said William Eccles the elder, William Eccles the
younger, and Henry Eccles, shall cause a particular description of the nature
of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
[Price 8d.1

page_text: enrolled in Her Majesty's. High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said in pari recited Letters Patent,
as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, we, the said
William Eccles the elder, William Eccles the younger, and Henry Eccles,
do. hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described and ascertained
in and by the Drawings hereto annexed, and the following explanation thereof,
that is to say:-
These improvements in machinery or apparatus for preparing, spinning, and
weaving cotton and other fibrous substances, relate,--
Firstly, to those machines commonly known as roving, slubbing, or jack
frames; secondly, to that description of machine called the throstle; and,
thirdly, to the power loom for weaving.
The first head embraces several points of novelty, and consists, firstly, in
dispensing with the use of the driving apparatus commonly employed to give
motion to the bobbins, the requisite revolutions thereof being obtained by the
action of a presser or pressers, or other similar contrivance, extending from the
ordinary fly connected with the material under operation; Secondly, in a
certain novel method of applying the warves for driving the spindles, whereby
much of the strain upon them is obviated, and a more ready disengagement is
effected when it is desired to arrest their revolution; this part of our improve-
ments being also applicable to throstle frames; thirdly, in a peculiar mode of
applying rotatory motion to the bobbins of that class of machines called roving,
slubbing, or jack frames; fourthly, in a particular form of support applied to
the legs of flyers; and, fifthly, in substituting certain materials of less specific
gravity than metals for constituting the springs and pressers of flyers, or the
flyers themselves.
The second head consists in arranging the spindles in throstle machines in a
peculiar position, hereafter to be described, the ordinary bobbins being dis-
pensed with, and a cop of the material formed upon the bare spindle.
The third head consists, firstly, in the application of a novel form of cam for
effecting the beating-up motion of looms; secondly, in certain methods of
communicating the picking motion; thirdly, in an arrangement of machinery,
operating by means of rods or needles through which the warp threads are
passed, for the purpose, by the falling of such rods or needles when a thread
or threads break, of stopping the machine, or of giving notice thereof.

page_text: And in order that our Invention may be clearly understood, we have ap-
pended to this our Specification three Sheets of Drawings, which we will now
proceed to describe.
The several points of novelty belonging to the first head of our Invention
are shewn in Sheet 1, in the several Figures of which similar letters of
reference denote the like parts. Figure 1 is an end elevation of a roving
frame, with the first and second parts of our Invention applied thereto;
Figure 2 is a partial front view of the saine; and Figures 3 and 4 are
detached views, upon an enlarged scale, of the spindle and flyer, and some
other parts connected therewith; the spindle is shewn at a, a, running in the
usual bushes of the copping rail b. b, and carrying the flyer c, c, which may be
of any construction in ordinary use, provided it be furnished with a presser or
pressers, or other similar contrivance. It will be perceived that all those parts
commonly employed for giving motion to the bobbin are dispensed with, for
we have discovered that with the aid of what is commonly called a presser or
pressers, or similar contrivance, there is sufficient strength in the material to
effect the required revolution of the bobbir; it is not necessary, however, that
flyers should be used such as are ordinarily termed presser flyers," as the
desired effect may be produced by any arrangement of such instrument, pro-
vided there be a leg of the flyer or an attachment thereof in direct contact
with the material forming upon the bobbin, and around which leg or attach-
ment the said material is slightly twisted in its passage thereto; it will be
necessary, however, to suit the weight of the bobbin and its drag to the descrip-
tion of fly used, or the particular fly to the weight and drag of the bobbin, as
in the case of ordinary throstle spinning. We have sometimes placed washers
of felt. between the bottoms of the bobbins and the copping rail, but as such
material is liable to alteration by the absorption of oil, we prefer allowing
them to run upon the plain metal surface.
"
The second part of our improvements consists in the following apparatus:-
At the lower part of the frame a rail d, d, is affixed, extending throughout its
length; to this rail a series of projecting pins e, e. are attached by means of
screws and nuts, the upper ends of which pins are provided with steps, in
which the spindles a, a, turn; the lower portions of the spindles are formed
square, and are provided with sliding clutches f, f, taking into clutch boxes
9, 9, formed within the wharves h, h; these wharves turn loosely upon the.
pins e, e, have rotatory motion communicated to them, as shewn in the
Drawing, or by any other ordinary method; to the rail d, d, are affixed brackets
i, i, which carry levers i, j, turning upon centres: the inward ends of these
levers are fork-shaped, and embrace the sliding clutches . . By this arrange-

page_text: ment it will be perceived that the spindles are caused to revolve, the strain
being thrown on to the fixed pins e, e. When it is desired to stop a spindle, the
attendant places a foot upon the outward end of the corresponding lever i,
which, turning upon its centre, raises the clutch from the clutch box g (as
shewn in Fig. 4), and thus arrests the motion of the said spindle.
The third point of novelty under this head of our Invention is shewn in
Figures 5 and 6, Sheet 1. Fig. 5 is an elevation of two spindles and their
immediate appendages and Figure 6 is a view of one of them in section. The
spindles a, a, are placed within tubes h, k, which turn at their upper ends in the
copping rail b. b, and carry the bobbins I, I, by the usual pin and slot attach-
ments; the lower ends of the tubes h, k, turn in a fixed rail m, m, which rail
supports the warves n. n. the warves turning loosely upon the said tubes
, upon the tubes are also mounted clutches o, o, taking into clutch boxes
formed in the warves n. n, in a similar manner to those before described in
reference to Fig. 3; these clutches are provided with projecting ribs or feathers
extending into a slot formed lengthwise in the tubes. By this arrangement,
the warves being put in motion by any convenient method. and the clutches
being down, as shewn, at the left-hand spindle of Fig. 5, the tubes h, k, will
be caused to revolve, carrying with them the bobbins 1, 1. performing at the
same time the copping motion by sliding through the warves n, n, and
clutches o, o, the rib or feather in the latter causing the rotatory motion to
continue. Should it be desired to arrest the revolution of the spindle and
bobbin, the attendant places a foot, as before described, upon one of the
levers i, j, when, by means of the connecting rod p, p, the upper as well as
the lower clutch will be lifted from the warves, and this effect the desired
object; the right-hand spindle in Fig. 5 and also Fig. 6 shew the parts in
this position. If thought desirable catches may be placed so as to keep the
outward ends of the levers i, j, down after they have been depressed by the
attendant, so that two or more spindles and bobbins may be kept out of gear
at the same time. It will be obvious, too, that instead of the foot lever, as
described, a connection to be worked by the hand may be readily adapted.
The fourth point under this head of our Invention is shewn at Fig. 3, Sheet 1.
To the under part of the flyer is attached a boss q, having projecting arms r, r,
which are fixed at their outward ends to the legs of the flyer; these arms are
constructed so that the greater width of their substance shall be in a vertical
direction, and are so formed as to approach the shape of the completed bobbin.
The fifth point under this head of our Invention consists in forming the
pressers used in conjunction with flyers of roving or stubbing frames, and also
the flyers themselves, in whole or in part, of whale or other bone, horn, hoof,

page_text: ivory, shell, wood of a combination of two or more of these, or of other
animal or vegetable substance of less specific gravity than metals; by this
substitution the centrifugal effect is considerably reduced, while at the same
time the counteracting influence of atmospheric pressure is increased. In
adapting this part of our improvements, the portions (see the detached view,
Fig. 9, of a flyer.) only may be made of one or more the new materials, and
aflixed to the part t, t, by means of a socket or other convenient method; in
place of this, however, the whole of the presser, and the flyer in whole or in
part, may be made of the said substituted materials. and also, if desired. that
portion which acts as the spring, these remarks being alike applicable to
pressers their appendages of other constructions.
The second head of our Invention is shewn in the several Figures, Sheet 2,
of the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a throstle
frame arranged according to our plan; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a portion
thereof; and Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the same; Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7..
and 8 are detached portions of certain parts of the machinery, in all of which
Figures similar letters and numbers of reference denote the like parts. We
shall first describe the arrangement and construction and subsequently the com-
bined operation of the various parts. In Fig. 6, a, a. represents a detached view
of one of the spindles we employ towards the lower end thereof is affixed a
conical piece of wood or of sheet metal b, which is intended to support the
bottom of the cop. In Fig. 7, c is a view, partly in section, of one of the
flyers, with the warve d attached; these flyers run in bearings in the rail
e, e. c, which is. formed in two parts for the purpose of admitting them, and
is securely held together by means of bolts; the spindles are then passed
through the collars of the flyers, their bottom ends resting upon and running
in steps formed in the rail g. g. g, and are so arranged that the line of direction
of their centres shall be a tangent to the front of the bottom delivering roller;
the rail g, g, g, is attached, as shewn in the Drawing, to the racks h, k, which-
have the copping motion, hereafter to be described, communicated to them.
The rails e, c, and g, g, are connected (so as to move outwards) together by
means of upright bars i. i, one at each end of the machine; the former is
provided with a circular flanch, which moves upon similarly formed pieces
k, k, attached to each end frame of the machine, and is capable of adjustment
thereon by means of set screws; the rail g moves in a groove g* formed in
the upright bars i, i, and rests upon circular flanches 1, 1, cast upon the upper
part of the rack h, upon which it in like manner is adjustable by means of
bolts and nuts; to the framework of the machine are affixed guides h*, h*,
in which pins projecting from the copping racks h, h, work, in order to guide

page_text: them in a parallel motion; the circular pieces h, k, and I, 1, have for their centre
of construction that of the bottom delivering roller n; if, therefore, the rails
e and are moved outward thereon, the alteration of the angle will cause the
spindles to throw a greater weight upon the flyers through which they pass,
at the same time, owing to the nature of the circles upon which they move,
they will have preserved their former lines of direction as tangents to the
bottom delivering roller. The effect of thus preserving the tangential direction
of the spindles will be, that as the thread passes thereto it will describe a
constant figure. By reference to Fig. 7, and sectional plan view, Fig. 8, it
will be perceived that a brass bush is placed within the collar of the fly, on
one side of which bush there is a vertical groove c*, through which the thread
is passed from the rollers.and from thence to the fly.
We will now proceed to describe a method by which the cops may be formed
upon the spindles; but we would firstly observe, that it will be evident this
may be done in other ways than that we now show, for the sake of illustration.
Upon the axle of the front roller is mounted a worm n, taking into a worm wheel
o, mounted upon a shaft, which carries at its other end a bevil pinion p, taking
into the teeth of another q, upon the axle of which latter is a pinion r, driving a
pinion s, which is in gear with another pinion 8*; the pinions s and s* are
mounted upon a fork-shaped piece t, which vibrates upon the axis of the pinion r
so as to bring the pinions s and 8* alternately into gear with the toothed wheel
u; this is effected in the following manner:-The upper part of the fork-shaped
piece t,, is provided with a projecting part v, which is alternately held by
the palls w, w; upon the axle of the pinion r, and turned loosely thereon, is
mounted a lever x, x, the lower end of which is acted upon alternately by
pins y, y*, projecting from the face of the tooth wheel u; the upper end of the
lever is furnished with an inclined plane on either side, so that the lever,
being caused to vibrate on its centre by the pins y.*, by means of the inclined
planes, raises the palls w, w, from the projecting piece ; two spiral springs z, z,
are placed in a recess formed within the fork-shaped piece t, t, which springs
are compressed first on one side and then on the other. In the detached view,
Fig. 4, the toothed wheel u, by revolving in the direction of the arrow, has,
through the intervention of the pin 3*, forced the lever x, x, to turn upon its
centre, so as to lift the pall e, by means of the inclined plane xx, from the
projecting piece ; the spring z will now be at liberty to expand, and, by its
abutment against the lever, will cause the fork piece t, t, to turn upon its
centre, and bring the pinion 8 into gear with the wheel u, in place of the
pinions, by which change the wheel u will be caused to revolve in the opposite
direction; the pall now falling, so as to retain the parts in this situation

page_text: the next vibration of the lever x, through the intervention of the pin y, will.
by means of the other inclined plane, lift the pall e, so as to allow the spring z
to force the pinion s' again into gear with the wheel u; by these means it will
bé perceived that rotatory motion in contrary directions is alternately imparted
to the wheel u. Upon the axle of the wheel u is affixed an excentric toothed
pinion 1, taking into another excentric pinion 2, which turns upon an axis
attached to the framing of the machine; upon which axis is also mounted a
pinion 3, which communicates motion, through the intervention of a toothed
wheel 4, to a shaft 5; upon this shaft is mounted a pinion 6, which operates
upon the rack h for raising and lowering the copping rail; the wheel 4 is
mounted loosely upon the shaft 5. but causes it to revolve, excepting at
intervals, by means of a ratchet wheel 7, which is fast on the shaft and spring
palls 7,7, which are attached by centre pins to the wheel 4: tappets 8, 8, are
affixed to the framework of the machine, which, by contact at certain times
with the spring palls 7, 7*, liberate them from the teeth of the ratchet
wheel 7, and allow the shaft 5 to turn independently of the wheel 4, and
consequently effect a falling of the copping rack and rail. The operation of
the machine is as follows:-In commencing to make a cop the copping rail
will be at the top, the spindles being in the position shewn in the detached
enlarged view, Fig. 5; motion being communicated to the machine by the ordinary
method, the several wheels will revolve in the directions shewn by the arrows
in Fig. 1; the thread is then wound upon the cones of the spindle, commencing
at the point A, the copping rail falling by its own gravity, but being held
back by the ratchet wheel 7 and palls 7, 7x the rate of its falling being
gradually increased as the greater radius of the excentric pinion comes into
gear with the lesser radius of the excentric pinion 2; the spindle having
dropped until the thread is wound on the cone to the point B, one of the
tappets 8, 8, will raise a pall from the ratchet wheel 7, allowing it to turn
round the space of half a tooth, and thus allow the wheel 4 to revolve loosely
upon the shaft 5, and permit the copping rail to fall a short distance; by this
time the lever z will have been brought into the position shewn in Fig. 4,
when, by the means before described, the fork piece t, 1, will turn upon its
centre pin, and bring the pinion &* into gear with the wheel u, thus reversing
the motion and causing the copping rail and. spindles to rise, which being
accomplished, the other pall 7* will free the ratchet wheel 7 another half
tooth, and allow the copping rail to fall through another space, and the changes
in the wheels cause the spindles again to fall. The copping motion may be
communicated from one side of the machine to the other by means of shafts

page_text: & toothed wheels, or other suitable arrangement.
With reference to this
machine we would remark, that, if it be desired. the flys may be placed in the
machine in an inverted position. It will be observed that by this mode of
producing a cop, namely, with the spindles passing through the flys, we are
enabled to make one of any length without increasing the length of the fly
beyond the taper of the said cop.
The several improvements constituting the third and last head of our
Invention are shewn in the several Figures of Sheet 3 of the accompanying
Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a loom with our improve-
ments applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof; Fig. 3, a trans-
verse vertical section; and Fig. 4, a partial plan view. shewing more par-
ticularly certain of the novel parts. To the hinder part of the batten
are jointed two links or rods a. a, which have a slot formed therein.
through which the main shafi b, b, of the machine passes; upon each of
the links or rods a, a, is mounted upon a projecting stud an antifriction
roller c, which roller moves within a grooved cam d, which is affixed
to the main shafi b, b. By inspecting the Drawing it will be perceived
that the cam d has two prominences formed thereon opposite to each
other, so that at each revolution of the main shaft the batten will be
beaten up twice. With reference to this part of our improvements we would
remark that we prefer casting the cams d in chills, in order to render
them more durable. The picking motion is effected in the following manner:-
A short shaft e, e, is mounted in bracket bearings attached to the framework of
one end of the machine; upon this shaft are affixed projecting arms f. f, each
carrying at its outward end a bowl or roller g; upon one end of the main shaft
b is mounted a cam h, which by the revolution of the said shaft acts alternately
upon the bowls or rollers mounted upon the projecting arms f. f. It will be
perceived by inspection of the Drawing (of the detached view,. Fig. 4, particu
larly,) that the bowls or rollers are conically formed, the larger diameters being
at their inward ends; the effect, therefore, as the cam revolves, will be to
force outwards alternately the projecting arms 1, 1, the short shaft e, e, vibrating
in its bearings attached to the framework of the machines. To the vibrating
shaft e is attached a lever i, i, to which is connected, by means of a pin moving
in a slot, a rod i, j; this rod is supported in guides h, k, k, and connected at
It
each end through the intervention of upright pins 1, 1, to the pickers m, m.
will now be perceived that as the main shaft revolves and the vibration of the
short shaft e, e, as before described, takes place, the rod i, j, will be caused to
move backward and forward for each revolution of the main shaft, and by so

page_text: doing effect two picks of the shuttle. A modification of this part of our
Invention is shewn is the two detached Figs. 5 and 6. In this instance
the bowls or rollers upon which the cam h act are mounted upon a
lever 'n, n, which vibrates upon a centre pin o; at the lower end of the lever n
a toothed rack p is formed, taking into à pinion mounted upon the short
shaft e, to which, as in the former instance, the lever i, i, is connected. The
apparatus for stopping the loom in the case of warp threads breaking is as
follows:-A series of wires or needles z, z. z. are placed across the width of the
loom, through eyes formed in which the warp threads are passed;, these needles
or wires are kept in their proper position by means of guides
9. q, and are
prevented from falling too far when a thread breaks by means of small pro-
jections r, r: at the back part of the machine is placed a flat bar s. s, s, each
end of which is provided with an axis revolving in bearings attached to the
framework; upon the axis of this bar is mounted loosely a pulley f, driven by
means of a strap passing from another pulley u, attached to the main shaft b, b;
to the pulley is affixed one part of a clutch box », the other part vx, being
fast upon the axis of the bars, s: in contact with the loose pulley there is a
lever . e, which is provided at that end with a slot through which the axis
of the bar s, s. passes: the lever, ac, turns upon a centre at r, and its other.
end is connected to the ordinary lever for shifting the main driving strap on to
the fast or loose pulley: the operation is as follows:-Upon one or more of
the warp threads breaking, the respective needles through which they are
passed will fall perpendicularly and intercept the motion of the revolving
bär s, ; the check thus given will throw the clutch out of gear with the
clutch vx, the loose pulley t sliding upon the axis of the bars. s, and by
pushing forward the lever w, w, cause it to turn upon its centre at x. and thus,
through the connection with the ordinary liand lever, shift the main driving
Strap on to the loose pulley, and thereby stop the machine: This part of our
Invention is intended to be applied chiefly fo certain of the warp threads which
are of the most importance in weaving certain descriptions of goods, and which
are, comparatively to the whole, few in number. so as easily to afford space for
the introduction of the needles or wires, for instance, in forming strips or
other similar goods; if applied to all the warp threads, two or more sets of the
apparatus may be employed, acting in a similar manner. Instead of the
lever i being used to throw off the driving strap, it may be so connected as by
finging a bell to give notice of a thread or threads liaving broken.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention, and
the manner of carrying the same into effect, we will proceed to point out that

page_text: Patent.
Firstly, we claim imparting the necessary rotatory motion to bobbins of that
class of machines commonly called roving, slubbing, or jack frames. by causing
such bobbins to be drawn round by the ordinary action of the flyer, whether
such flyer be provided with a presser or pressers of the usual construction or
with any other attachment which shall conduct the material under operation
to the bobbin, and remain in contact therewith, the peculiar character of our
Invention consisting in availing ourselves, for the purpose of traction, of the
strength of the material under operation, when the points of tension are
brought sufficiently near to each other, and of the contact of the presser or
pressers or other analogous attachment of the flyer.
Secondly, we claim the method of driving the spindles by means of warves
mounted upon independant axes, the spindles being provided with sliding
clutches taking into clutch boxes formed upon the said warves, whether such
spindles be applied to that class of machines called roving, slubbing, or jack
frames, or to those denominated throstles.
Thirdly, we claim the use of the grooved sliding tube and clutch. described
with reference to Figs. 5 and 6, Sheet 1.
Fourthly, we claim the form of support as applied to the legs of the flyers.
Fifthly, we claim, as substitutes for metal, with reference to pressers and
presser springs of flyers or the flyers themselves, the use of whale or other
bone, horn, hoof, ivory, shell, wood. or other animal or vegetable substances of
less specific gravity than metals, or a combination of any of these substances.
Under the second head of our Invention, we claim, firstly, passing the
spindles through the collar of the flyers.
.
Secondly, placing the spindles in the machine so that their line of direction
shall be a tangent to the bottom front delivering roller.
Thirdly, we claim so mounting the spindles in the machine that the angle
of their direction may be altered so as to throw more or less weight upon the
revolving flyers.
Under the third head of our Invention, we claim, firstly, the use of the cam
for giving the beating-up motion, such cam being so formed as to produce the
necessary operation twice for one revolution of the shaft upon which it is
mounted.
Secondly, we claim the general arrangement of the picking motion, and
particularly for effecting this, the use of one cam for picking at both sides of
the loom.

page_text: And, lastly, the application to looms, of rods or falling needles, as described,
for the purposes above set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Eccles the elder. William Eccles
the younger, and Henry Eccles, have hereunto set our hands and scals.
the First day of June, One thousand eight hundred and fifty.
1
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named William Eccles the elder and
William Eccles the younger. in the
presence of
W. (L.S.) ECCLES.
W. (L.S.) ECCLES, JUN*.
H. (L.s.) ECCLES,
JAS. AINSWORTH, Att, Blackburn.
JOHN HARGREAVES KAY.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the First day of June. in the year
of our Lord 1850, the aforesaid William Eccles the elder and William Eccles
the younger came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and
acknowledged the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein
contained and specified, in form above written.
AND ALSO BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the First day of June, in the
year of our Lord 1850. the aforesaid Henry Eccles came before our said Lady
the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid, and
all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the
Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Third day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and fift