Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 18th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 18th Jan., 1887.
We GEORGE ASHWORTH and ELIJAH ASHWORTH of the firm of Ashworth Brothers
of the Moss Brook Works, Collyhurst Manchester in the County of Lancaster
Engineers do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
Our Invention relates to the Carding Engines which are provided with travelling
flats. Such flats are connected together so as to form an endless chain which is caused
to travel slowly whereby each flat is brought for a time into working relations with
the main cylinder as is well understood.
In such engines a large portion of the circumference is enclosed only by means of
the chain of flats and as there is necessarily a little space between the edges of any
two contiguous flat bars currents of air set up by the revolutions of the cylinder find
their way outward through the numerous slits or spaces between the flats and such
currents carry with them dust and fluff which render the atmosphere impure.
To remedy this defect we apply a curved cover inside the endless chain so as to
check the flow of air outwardly through the said slits or spaces or the passage of the
dust and fluff into the atmosphere of the rooni. The said cover may be made of any
suitable material but we prefer to use a flexible material which shall be so light in
weight as that it can be permitted to rest upon the backs of the flats and by its close
contact with the flats check the passage of dust and fluff more completely than a cover
which would have to be maintained clear of the flats. For the purposes of our
invention we may use a woven material such for example as jean silesia or glazed
calico or other glazed or calendered material or any suitable woven material or we
might use thin leather or American cloth paper or any other suitable light and flexible
material. The said cover is secured at one end to the shaft which the flats pass over
and under on their way to the main cylinder or the cover may be secured to a cross
bar fixed in position near to the said shaft or to a roller mounted on the said shaft or
mounted near to the said shaft. We prefer to attach the cover to a roller and to

page_text: provide means for revolving such roller so that the cover can be wound upon the roller
when it is desirable to uncover the flats. The cover might be provided with edgings
to extend over the ends of the flats to as great an extent as would be conveniently
possible. The use of a flexible cover is of advantage as compared with a rigid cover
because it enables the attendant to test the action of the cards in the usual manner.
We may employ a sheet metal trough at the end of the cover and below the carrier
shaft where the cards leave the main cylinder to catch any dirt which may fall from
the flats.
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester,
Agents.

page_text: Improvements in or Applicable to Travelling Flat Carding
Engines.
We GEORGE ASHWORTH and ELIJAH ASHWORTH of the firm of Ashworth Brothers
of the Moss Brook Works, Collyhurst, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying drawings :-
:-
Our Invention relates to the Carding Engines which are provided with travelling
flats. Such flats are connected together so as to form an endless chain which is caused
to travel slowly whereby each flat is brought for a time into working relations with
the main cylinder as is well understood. In such engines a large portion of the
circumference is enclosed only by means of the chain of flats and as there is necessarily
a little space between the edges of any two contiguous flat bars currents of air set up
by the revolutions of the cylinder find their way outward through the numerous slits
or spaces between the flats and such currents carry with them dust and fluff which
render the atmosphere impure. To remedy this defect we apply a curved cover inside
the endless chain so as to check the flow of air outwardly through the said slits or
spaces or the passage of the dust and fluff into the atmosphere of the room. The said
cover may be made of any suitable material but we prefer to use a flexible material
which shall be so light in weight as that it can be permitted to rest upon the backs of
the flats and by its close contact with the flats check the passage of dust and fluff more
completely than a cover which would have to be maintained clear of the flats. For
the purposes of our invention we may use a woven material such for example as jean
silesia or glazed calico or other glazed or calendered material or any suitable woven
material or we might use thin leather or American cloth paper or any other suitably
light and flexible material. The said cover may be secured at one end to the shaft
which the flats pass over and under on their way to the main cylinder or the cover
may be secured to a cross bar fixed in position near to the said shaft or to a roller
mounted on the said shaft or mounted near to the said shaft. We prefer to attach the
cover to a roller so that the cover can be coiled upon the roller when it is desirable to
uncover the flats.
The accompanying drawings are illustrative of the arrangements which we have
adopted in the carrying into effect of our Invention. In the said drawings Fig. 1
represents a curtailed Vertical Section through the chain of flats and the upper edge
of the curved bend on one side of the engine. Fig. 2 which is drawn to scale
represents a side elevation of a part of the carding engine and shows one end of the
chain of flats. In Fig. 1 a is one end of a flat and 6 is a part of the curved bend
which in ordinary_carding engines is generally known by the designation of the
"flexible bend." The flat is supposed to be in its working position relative to the
main cylinder. The cover which we apply in accordance with our invention is
indicated by e and is supposed to be made of a woven material which is sufficiently
close in texture to prevent wholly or almost entirely the passage of dust through its

page_text: interstices and at the same time is suitably light and pliant so that it can be coiled
upon a roller. If we desired that the cover should be completely impervious to air we
should use an impervious material such for example as is known as American leather
cloth but an ordinary woven material of the hereinbefore indicated nature or any
suitable woven material may be used. The cover is provided with edgings which are
sewn or secured to the two edges of the cover. One of these edgings is indicated
by c. These edgings are attached to the edges of the main sheet or cover so that they
bend downwards toward the flat as indicated in Fig. 1 and enclose the upper parts of
the flat ends the intention being to check the emission of air through the end spaces
between the back ribs of the flats. The manner in which we attach the cover is
illustrated in Fig. 2. Upon the shaft which is provided with the carrier wheels which
guide the flats into their working positions we mount a roller d. For convenience of
application we form this roller in halves which can be screwed together when placed
in position upon the shaft but we do not confine ourselves to this formation. One end
of the cover is secured to the roller by means of a strip of metal or by suitable means.
By turning the said roller upon the shaft the cover becomes coiled or wound upon the
roller so that access can be had to the flats. Preparatory to this coiling of the cover
we turn up and over or under the edgings c'. The coiling can be more readily effected
when the cover is not provided with these edgings therefore they may be dispensed
with if their provision is not considered to be desirable. We have not found it to be
necessary to provide any gearing whereby the said roller may be rotated but any
suitable arrangement for the purpose may be employed if considered to be desirable.
The use of a flexible cover is of advantage as compared with a rigid cover because the
flexible cover does not prevent the attendant from testing the action of the cards in
the usual manner but if considered to be desirable for any reason a rigid curved cover
might take the place of the flexible cover.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
(1). In a carding engine a curved cover applied over the backs of the flats forming
the part of the endless chain which is in working position with relation to the main
cylinder substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
(2). The flexible cover c applied to a carding engine substantially as and for the
purpose set forth and indicated hereinbefore and in the accompanying drawings.
(3). In a carding engine a cover adapted to coil upon a roller and when uncoiled
to cover the backs of the flats which are in carding operation in order to check the
emission of dust through the spaces between the flats.
DUTTON & FULTON.
1, St. James Square, Manchester,
Agents.