IMPROVE MENTS IN CARDING ENGINES AND IN THE METHOD OF AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR GRINDING THE FLATS THEREOF
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Ashworth and Elijah Ashworth, both of Man-
chester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVE
MENTS IN CARDING ENGINES AND IN THE METHOD OF AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR
GRINDING THE FLATS THEREOF.”
Sealed the 13th January 1880, and dated the 17th July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Ashworth and
Elijah Ashworth at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th
July 1879.
GEORGE ASHWORTH and ELIJAH ASHWORTH, both of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARDING ENGINES AND IN THE
METHOD OF AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR GRINDING THE FLATS THEREOF."
Our Invention relates to the carding engines which are provided with travelling
flats, and to the grinding of such flats, and has for its object in the first place to
obtain greater uniformity in the action of the said flats. To this end we grind
the heel of each flat, that is to say, the edge which is nearest to the cylinder when
in action, by a separate operation to the ordinary grinding or by means of an
additional roller, and to obtain greater accuracy we grind the said heel from
the working faces of the flats. This we accomplish by causing the flats
to travel over bends or curves, which are preferably of the same radius as the
flexible bend, the grinding roller being applied on the concave side of the said
bends. These bends, which, for distinction, we will term short bends, we apply to
the carding engine, and also to the machines specially constructed for the grinding
of the flats. To apply the said short bends to the carding engine we pass the
chains of flats over two sets of carrier pullies or wheels at one end of the machine,
and interpose the short bends between the said two sets. As the flats travel over
the said short bends in manner as when passing over the flexible bends the heel of
each flat is exposed to the action of the grinding roller, the ordinary roller grinding
the main surface of the flat in the usual or in a suitable manner. If necessary or
desirable we employ springs, or pressers, or spring, or revolving pressers to ensure
the contact of the working faces of the flats with the said short bends during the
grinding operation. In the second place we apply the flat doffing comb to the upper of
the two sets of carrier pullies, whereby we are enabled to extend the lower set down-
wards, and thereby to increase the number of flats at work. We apply bearings to

page_text: receive either a grinding roller or a brush, as may be required, to act upon the
main cylinder, and we extend the chain of flats towards the doffer cylinder to such
an extent as-will-perinit-of-the-application of the said grinding roller or brush,
which may be made smaller in diameter than is usual. We may extend-the-said-
chain so that it may closely-approach the doffer cylinder, and apply the grinding
roller or brush below the main cylinder, in which case we still further increase the
number of flats at work. By-the-combination of the two parts of our Invention
we obtain greater uniformity of action, and also an extended range of action of
the flats, whereby we expect to increase the practical efficiency of_the_carding
engine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Ashworth and. Elijah Ashworth in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 17th January 1880.
GEORGE ASHWORTH and ELIJAH ASHWORTH, both of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARDING ENGINES AND IN THE
METHOD OF AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR GRINDING THE FLATS THEREOF."
Our Invention relates to the carding engines which are provided with travelling
flats and to the grinding of such flats, and has for its object in the first place to
obtain greater uniformity in the action of the said flats. To this end we grind the
heel of each flat, that is to say, the edge which is nearest to the cylinder when in
action, by a separate operation to the ordinary grinding or by means of an addi-
tional roller, and to obtain greater accuracy we grind the said heel from the working
faces of the flats. This we accomplish by causing the flats to travel over bends or
curves, which are preferably of the same radius as the flexible bend. These bends,
which, for distinction, we will term short bends, we apply to the carding engine,
and also to the machines specially constructed-for the grinding of the flats. To
apply the said short bends to the carding engine we, in one arrangement, pass the
chain of flats over two sets of carrier pullies or wheels at one end of the machine,
and interpose the short bends between the said two sets. In the second place we
apply the flat doffing comb to the upper of the two sets of carrier pullies, whereby
we are enabled to extend the lower set downwards, and thereby to increase the
number of flats at work. We apply bearings to receive either a grinding roller or
a brush, as may be required, to act upon the main cylinder, and we extend the
chain of Bats towards the doffer cylinder to such an extent as will permit of the
application of the said grinding roller or brush, which may be made smaller in
diameter than is usual. We may extend the said chain so that it may closely
approach the doffer cylinder, and apply the grinding roller or brush below the
main cylinder, in which case we still further increase the number of flats at work.
In order that our Invention may be fully understood we have attached hereunto
a Sheet of Drawings made to a scale of about one and a half inches to the foot, and
marked with letters of reference. Referring to the said Drawings, Fig. 1 represents

page_text: a side elevation of a carding engine arranged in accordance with our Invention ;
ordinary details not necessary to the illustration of our Invention being omitted:
In the said Figure a is the chain of flats which travels upon the flexible bend b as
is usual, and is partly carried in its return or non working course by the ordinary
carrier pullies c, c.
At the doffer end of the engine the chain is mounted upon two
sets of pullics represented by d and e, and between these two sets are fixed the
aforesaid short bends. The bend on one side of the engine is indicated by dotted
lines at f, and is also represented drawn to a larger scale in Fig. 2. These short
bends are, by preference, made with their working faces curved with the same
radius as the flexible bends in order that the surfaces of the flats, which are pre-
pared to slide upon the flexible bends, may slide equally well upon the said short
bends. In the example the said short bends are fixed to arms g, which project
from the framing on each side of the engine, the said arms also carrying the axle of
the pullies d and the bearings of the ordinary rotatory brush m.
To the said arms
are fixed bearings, in which a grinding roller i can be mounted. When the flats
are to be ground this roller is so adjusted as that it acts upon the heel of each flat.
As the flats slide upon the short bends f in the same manner as when travelling
upon the flexible bends the heel of each flat is exposed to the action of the grinding
roller i. It will be seen that the heel of each flat is presented to the grinding
surface of the roller under the same conditions as it is presented to the periphery of
the carding cylinder, that is to say, the angle of the surface of the working flat as
relative to its direction of traverse is maintained, and also the grinding action of
the roller upon any one flat in the series will be in proportion to the penetrative
action of such flat when at work, that is to say, to the closeness of approach of such
flat to the card surface of the main cylinder. The grinding roller by thus
reducing those cards which may penetrate more than others brings about an
uniformity in the action of the flats. The main surfaces of the flats are ground in the
usual manner by means of a roller k or by means of a roller otherwise suitably
situated and arranged. In order that the flats may bear with sufficient steadiness
upon the bends f we drive the chain by means of the pullies d or by means of both
sets of pullies d'and e. In the latter case the pressure of the flats upon the bends f
can be regulated so as to be greater or less than the pressure upon the flexible
bends. We do not confine ourselves to the manner in which the short bends are
applied to the carding engines. Fig. 3 is illustrative of an alternative arrange-
ment. In this example the bends fare applied above the carding engine, and the
slack of the chain of flats passes below the said bends. As each flat passes below
the said bends it is acted upon by weighted levers j, which press the slide faces on
the flat in contact with the bends, so that each flat is caused to slide upon the
said bends for a short time, during which it is subjected to the action of the
grinding roller. The bends ƒ may be otherwise applied in any suitable position
and manner, and pressers or pressing levers or revolving presses may be employed
to keep the flats in contact with the bends whilst being ground, wherever it is
considered to be advisable to make use of such appliances. As the carding effect
is principally produced by the heel of the flat, this part wears faster than the
average surface of the flat. By means of our Invention the heels of the flats can
be trued and sharpened by means of the roller i without necessarily at all times
using the roller k.
We also apply this part of our Invention to the special machine
used in the grinding of flats as aforesaid. To such machines we apply bends
similar to the bends f, and we employ a grinding roller to grind or regulate the
heels in the same manner as set forth and indicated with reference to Fig. 1. The
second part of our Invention is also illustrated in Fig. 1; the doffing comb is
arranged to act upon the flats as they pass over the upper additional pullies d, and
is indicated at l. We can thus extend the pullies e much lower down or nearer to
the doffer n than has been the case heretofore. In the example we leave only
about sufficient room between the flats and the doffer for the introduction when
required of a small grinding roller o for the grinding of the clothing of the main
cylinder and for a revolving brush for brushing the said clothing as is usual. We

page_text: are thus enabled, to extend the working length of the chain, thereby obtaining a
greater number of flats in simultaneous operation whereby the practical efficiency
of the engine is increased. We may bring the pullies e still nearer to the doffer by
dispensing with the space for the roller -o, in which case we apply the said roller
and the brush at some point below the
draw the "lickerin "
main cylinder is to be ground, especially
in cases wherein the said main cylinder is covered with our patented hardened steel
card.clothing, which will work a long time without. requiring to be ground. We
do not, however, confine ourselves to any of these arrangements for grinding the
clothing of the main cylinder, as any arrangement may be adopted which may be
considered to be most suitable in each case.
or the "doffer "linder, or we may remove or with-
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of our said Invention, and
the manner in which we carry the same into practical effect, we would have it
to be understood in conclusion that we claim,-
First. Grinding the heels of carding engine flats whilst the said flats are sliding
on special bends or curves in the same manner as when sliding upon the ordinary
flexible bends.
Secondly. The application to carding engines and to flat grinding machines of
the bends or curved surfaces f, over which the chain of flats is led, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth and indicated herein before, and in and by the
accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. Pressing the flats successively in contact with the bends ƒ by means of
pressing levers or parts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth and
indicated.
Fourthly. Passing the returning flats over an additional set of pullies d, and
extending the chain of flats towards the doffer, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth and indicated.
And, Lastly. The combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth and indicated.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Ashworth and Elijah Ashworth, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Sixteenth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Signed, sealed, and delivered
in the presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent for the Patentees,
St. Ann's Churchyard,
Manchester._
(L.S.)
GEO. ASHWORTH.
ELIJAH ASHWORTH. (L.S.)