IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR RAISING THE PILE OF WOOLLEN AND OTHER CLOTHS
Year: 1839

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
WEBB, of Huddersfield, in the County of York, Manufacturer, 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 First day of August, in the third year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Joseph
Webb, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said Joseph Webb, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Joseph Webb, my exors, adñiors, 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, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR RAISING THE PILE OF
WOOLLEN AND OTHER CLOTHS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a
proviso that I, the said Joseph Webb, 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 said 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Joseph Webb, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and

page_text: the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon; that is to say:-
My Invention relates, first, to that part of the process of raising the pile on
woollen cloths which consists in producing an equal damping of the cloths in
order to their being evenly and equally raised. And,
Secondly, my Invention relates to improvements in gig mills or machinery
for raising the pile on woollen and other cloths.
And in order to give the best information in my power, I will proceed to
describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
In raising the pile on woollen cloth it is of the greatest importance that the
cloths should be evenly and equally damped; otherwise the act of raising,
whether by teasels or wire cards, will cause the surfaces most damped to raise
the more readily than those parts of the surfaces less damped, and thus
produce an inequality in raising to the general surfaces of cloths which are
operated upon.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine for damping woollen
cloths about to be operated on by the raising process. Figure 2 is an end
view of the machine. A, A, is the framing of the machine, the nature of
which is clearly shewn in the Drawing; B is a bed or platform on which the
cloth is spread, and by which it is supported in its progress through the
machine; C, C, are three pipes, each perforated with a series of small holes,
so as to produce a series of small jets of water, and one or more of these pipes
may be used according to the degree of damping it is desired to give to any
particular oloths passing through the machine; D is a roller over which the
cloth first passes; E is a roller by which the cloth is drawn through the
machine. This roller is covered with felt or woollen cloth, and the axis of
the roller E receives motion by a strap or band or other convenient means
from a steam engine or other power; and on the axes of the roller E is, affixed
the cog wheel F, which takes into and drives the cog wheel G, on the axes of
which is affixed the two cranks H, to which are attached the connecting rods
I, the other ends of the connecting rods being connected to the sliding bars J,
one on each side of the machine. Hence, when the machine is in motion,
the bars J, which are guided in staples, will move to and fro, and by such
means fold the cloth as it comes through the machine, the throw of the cranks
being regulated according to the size of fold which it is wished to obtain

page_text: The two bars J carry two rollers K, K, which turn easily in their bearings;
and the cloth, passing between the rollers K, will be moved to and fro, and
thereby folded as it descends from the roller E, as will readily be understood
on examining the Drawing. L is a roller which rests on the cloth which is
passing over the roller E, and distributes and regulates the moisture. This roller
L is hollow, and has a jet of water thrown into it at one end. It is pierced
with a number of holes, and is covered with felt or woollen cloth that is kept
moist by the means aforesaid, and the axis of this roller moves freely in the
slots for that purpose.
I will now proceed to describe the second part of my Invention.
Figure 3 represents a right-hand end view of a gig mill or machine for
raising the pile on woollen and other cloths, constructed according to my
Invention; Figure 4 is a left-hand end view thereof; Figure 5 is a front
view; and Figure 6 is a plan of some of the parts which relates to the
cross-dressing or raising. In each of these Figures the same letter indi-
cates similar parts. a, a, is the framing of the machine, the nature of
which is clearly shewn in the Drawing; b is the front raising cylinder,
and c is the back raising cylinder, the axes of which respectively turn in
suitable bearings carried by the side framings of the machine. These
cylinders b and c are arranged for raising by teasles, as is well understood;
but it is evident that cylinders may be used which work with wire cards,
as is also well understood, and forms no part of my Invention; nor does
the placing of two gig cylinders one behind the other form any part of my
Invention, unless combined with suitable gearing or apparatus to cause such
cylinders, when placed one behind the other, to revolve in such manner
as both to raise the cloth (passing through the machine) in the same direction
at the same time, and also being capable of raising the cloth (passing through
the machine) in opposite directions at the same time. And I would remark,
that I am aware that double machines or gig mills for raising the pile on
woollen cloth have before been used with the cylinders working both at the
same time, but one above the other, by which much inconvenience is expe-
rienced, owing to the great height of the machine; and I would also remark,
that I am aware that a machine, and perhaps machines, have been made
having two cylinders one behind the other, but so arranged that only one
cylinder acted at one time, thus only performing the work of a single gig mill,
tho' taking the room of a double machine. d is the main or driving shaft,
which turns in suitable bearings at the right-hand end of the machine at e, c
This shaft receives motion by a strap or band or other means from a steam
engine or other power, as is well understood by machine makers. f. f, are two

page_text: bevelled-toothed wheels, one affixed on each of the axes of the gig cylinders;
ġ is a bevelled-toothed wheel affixed on the driving shaft d, the wheel g
taking into and driving the wheel f affixed on the axis of the front gig
cylinder, and by this means rotatory motion is communicated to the front gig
cylinder; h and i are two bevelled-toothed wheels on the driving shaft d, and
which are turned thereby, and are capable of sliding along that axis, in order
that either the wheel h or i may take into and drive the wheel'f affixed on the
axis of the back gig cylinder. By this means the back gig cylinder may be
caused to turn in such manner as to raise the cloths passing through the
machines in the same direction as they have been raised by the front gig
cylinder, or reverse the direction of the raising, as will readily be understood
examining the Drawing, aided by the description herein given. The
on
wheels h, i, are connected together either by bolts or by a tube embracing the
main or driving shaft; and there is a feather or projection on the main or
driving shaft, as is well understood by machinists, in order to cause the wheels
h and i to move round with the driving shaft, yet allow of the wheels
sliding along that shaft. j is a forked lever moving on a fulcrum at j. This
forked lever embraces the grooved nave or boss of the wheel i, and k is a
screw by which the lever j can be moved towards the back or front of the
machine, and thus put the wheels h and i into and out of gear with the wheel
f of the back gig cylinder. 1, 1, are two sloping boards with a gutter at their
lower ends. By this means any water falling on the boards will be carried
clear of the machine. A, A, is the line of the floor on which the machine
stands, and it is important that the machine should be only a convenient
height for a workman to see the cloth as it is going into the machine, 'and
be within reach when passing through the machine, and at the same time
it is desirable that the cloth should pass downwards and pass under the
machine; and in order to accomplish these objects I have so arranged the
machine that the scray or surface m, m, on which the cloth moves, passes
below the floor on which the machine is placed, and on which the workman
stands when attending his work. By this arrangement and mode of applying
the scray, or such like surface, I obtain great facilities in carrying on the
operation of raising the pile of woollen and other cloths.
And I would remark that this part of my Invention is equally applicable in
double or single machines, and whether both gig cylinders revolve at the saine
'time or not. The pink line indicates the course of the cloth under operation.
n, n, are two rollers, over and under which the cloth first passes before coming
to the front gig cylinder, and these rollers can be varied in their position by
'the necks or axes which carry the frames n' being placed more vertical or hori-

page_text: zontal, and set in any position, by means of set screws, which are turned by
the handles n', and the cloths in passing over the front gig cylinder will be
caused to bear on more or less of the surface of that cylinder, according
as these rollers n are raised or lowered by means of the cog wheels o on the
axis o', such cog wheels taking into and working in segment or curved racks o*,
which carry the axes of the frame of the rollers n; and o³ is a plate on one end
of the axis o', which has a click or catch o³, by which the axis o' can be held
in any desired position, and such is consequently the case in respect to the
rollers n, n. The axis o being turned round by means of the cranked
handle o, as will readily be understood by examining the Drawing, from the
front gig cylinder the cloths pass partly around the rollers p and q, which
receive motion by means of a cog wheel affixed on the left-hand end of the
axis of the front gig cylinders, which takes into and drives the intermediate
cog wheel p', which drives the cog wheel p³, which is on the axis of the roller p,
and the rollers p and q are geared together by means of cog wheels in their
axis, as is clearly shewn in the Drawing. The cloth from the front gig
cylinder passes over certain apparatus for cross-raising of the pile, as hereafter
explained, and then under the roller r, which is capable of being raised or
lowered by similar apparatus to that described in respect of the rollers n, as above
described; and the cloth from the back gig cylinder is conveyed off by means
of similar rollers p and q to those before described, and the rollers p and q of
the back gig cylinder receive motion by means of a shaft or axis s,, which is
actuated by means of a bevelled toothed wheel affixed on the axis of the
roller p to the front gig cylinder, such bevelled toothed wheel taking into and
driving a similar bevelled toothed wheel on the axis s, and in like manner by
two bevelled toothed wheels, one on the axis 8, and the other on the axis of the
wheel p of the back gig cylinder, all which is clearly shewn by the Drawing at
the right-hand side of the machine.
I will now describe the apparatus for cross-raising, which may or may not be
used, according as the workman judges it desirable; and I would remark that I
am aware that it is not new to cross-raise cloths in a gig mill, and this part of my
Invention only relates to the application of suitable means of adjusting the pres-
sure of such cross-raising in order to allow for the extra thickness of the selvages
in respect to other parts of the cloth. The machine is arranged for two widths
of narrow cloths to be passing through the machine at one time, side by side,
and there are therefore four endless bands or straps of wire cards, one for each
selvage; but if broad cloth were being operated on, only two endless bands or
straps of wire cards would be necessary, or the four may be employed, and
in such case only the outer ones would be adjusted to act suitably on the

page_text: selvage. t, t, is a frame of four parralel bars which carry four frames, each
frame having two rollers v moving on axes, one to each frame, passing through
the bars t, and become the driving axes of their rollers, and the points on
which the frames are raised and lowered, as is shewn in the Drawing, the
other axes being carried by their respective frames v¹; and on the rollers v
move endless bands of wire cards, and in consequence of the frames v¹ being
capable of movement up or down on their driving axes, the other ends of these
frames can be raised or lowered, or be kept level, according as desired. u is.
a shaft or axis receiving rotatory motion from the axis s by means of a bevelled
toothed wheel u affixed thercon, which takes into and drives a bevelled cog
wheel x, which turns on a suitable axis carried by the right-hand end framing,
and to the wheel x is fixed a cog wheel y which takes into and drives a cog
wheel on the axis u, and on the axis u are two bevelled toothed wheels which
take into and drive similar bevelled toothed wheels affixed on the axis of some
of the rollers v, as is clearly shewn in the Drawing at Fig. 6. The endless
bands or straps of wire cards (which should be of cards with india rubber back
affixed on leather or other suitable endless straps or bands) move on guides,
beds, or platforms on the surface of the frames v¹, which can be raised or
lowered as follows:- are eccentrics under the frames v¹, which are capable
of being turned round on their axes, and their axes have each a screw wheel
which receive motion by means of axes or shafts v proceeding to the outer ends
of the frames t, and the axes have each a screw 5, which takes into and
drives its respective wheel ; by this arrangement it will be evident that sup-
posing the narrow breadths of cloth are passing through the machine, that the
ends ve of each of the frames v¹ can be raised out of the true horizontal line,
and thus cause the endless bands of wire cards to act only at and approaching
to the selvages, and as the frames v¹ can be raised more or less at the pleasure
of the workman the endless bands of wire card may be made to act upon a
small portion near the selvages, or to operate upon the whole breadth of the
cloth; but in case of broad cloth passing through the machine, the two inner
bands of wire cloth would work horizontally, and only the outer ends of the
other two bands be elevated to take the selvages, and in case of using only two
endless bands they must be of a length sufficient to respectively operate on one
balf of the width of the cloth.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I would remark that I make no claim to any of
the parts, separately nor combined, other than is herein particularly claimed
as of my Invention. But what I claim is,-
First, the mode of more equally damping cloths by machinery, to facilitate

page_text: and equalize the process of raising the pile on woollen and other cloths, as
above described.
Secondly, I claim the mode of combining two gig cylinders, one behind the
other, when so arranged as to work at the same time, as above described.
Thirdly, I claim the mode of applying the scray or surface on which the
cloths under operation move, by causing it to be below the level of the floor, as
above described.
Fourthly, I claim the application of suitable apparatus for cross-raising
between two gig cylinders.
And I also claim the application of suitable apparatus to regulate the posi-
tion of such cross-raising apparatus, in order to accommodate the same to
raising the selvages, as above described, however such apparatus for cross-
raising may be employed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Webb, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of January, One thousand eight
hundred and forty
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-fifth day of January,
in the year of our Lord 1846, the aforesaid Joseph Webb 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.
Inrolled the First day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and forty.