Improvements in Carding Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 17th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1891.
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Carding Engines.
I JOHN FREDERICK BRADBURY of Parel, Bombay, India, Mill Manager, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My said invention relates to improvements in the construction of and in means
for accurately adjusting the distance apart of working parts in a carding engine.
The first part of my said invention has for its object means for supporting and
adjusting the flats in that class of carding engines wherein a series of travelling flats
work in conjunction with a cylinder and wherein it is of importance to be able to
accurately adjust the distance of the points of the card teeth on the flats from the
points of the card teeth on the cylinder.
For supporting the flats I provide flexible or elastic bends of what I term the
ring type and I preferably form them by first making a ring of suitable section
which when divided furnishes two semi-circular bends. One of each of such bends
hereinafter referred to as accessory bends is placed at each end of the cylinder and
they form the immediate supports for the ends of the flats.
The said accessory bends are supported underneath on discs, rollers or bowls
carried in slides which permit them to approach towards or recede from the axis of
the cylinder. The said slides are contained in or form parts of suitable brackets
secured to and adjustable on the side frames hereinafter referred to as the fixed
bends of the carding engine. To the said brackets are fixed the grinding steps and
the guide pullies for the revolving flats.
Between the discs or bowls and the fixed bends I insert a curved wedge the
lower face of which is concentric with the cylinder and arranged so that it may be
caused to travel round the corresponding upper curved face of the fixed bend which
may be provided with concentric ribs or guides for receiving the curved wedge and
the brackets.
The upper face of the curved wedge is so formed that when it is slid longitudinally
in one direction all the bowls or discs resting thereon will be pushed away from the
axis of the cylinder while when slid in the other direction the bowls or discs will be able
to approach nearer to the axis of the cylinder. The accessory bends being supported
by the discs or bowls will partake of this radial movement and thus by varying the
position of the curved wedge the distance of the flats from the surface of the
cylinder can be adjusted. The diameters of the bowls or discs are so proportioned
that their points of contact with the accessory bends are concentric with the
cylinder.
Means for sliding the curved wedge are provided preferably consisting of a screw
secured to the thick end of the wedge and working in a fixed nut rotated by a
worm and wheel and provided with a scale and index for showing the amount of
traverse of the curved wedge, such scale being graduated to show the amount of the
radial adjustment of the travelling flats. Or I may operate the curved wedge by
means of a pinion gearing into a rack in or on the curved wedge and the index may
then be governed by the rotation of such pinion.
The accessory bends are held in position by suitable links or brackets to prevent
them from being displaced by the motion of the flats and to aid them in retaining
their concentricity when the card clothing is worn.
For accurately adjusting the axis of the cylinder horizontally so as to ensure its
proper position with reference to the path of the flats I provide adjusting screws
working in nuts and bearing against the steps which carry the axle of the cylinder
and also provided with dials and indexes to show the degree of adjustment..

page_text: This part of my said invention is not confined to carding engines with travelling
flats and is further applicable for laterally adjusting the axes of the doffer or taker-
in of carding engines generally.
Although I have only referred to discs, rollers or bowls for supporting the
accessory bends I do not limit myself to such. Other suitably shaped distance
pieces between the curved wedge and the accessory bend may be used.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1891.
EDWARD TURNER WHITELOW,
70, Deansgate, Manchester, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Carding Engines.
I JOHN FREDERICK BRADBURY of Parel, Bombay, India, Mill Manager, 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:-
My said invention relates to improved means for supporting and adjusting the
flats in that class of carding engines wherein a series of travelling flats work in
conjunction with a cylinder, and wherein it is of great importance to be able to
accurately adjust the distance of the points of the card teeth on the flats from the
points of the card teeth on the cylinder.
In order that my said invention may be more clearly understood I will at once
proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, in
which
Fig. 1 represents so much of one side of a carding engine as is necessary to
explain the construction and application of the means I employ in carrying out my
said invention.
Fig. 2 is a cross section through x y of Fig. 1.
For supporting the flats a a I provide a flexible or elastic bend b, of what I
term the ring type; preferably obtained by first making a ring of suitable cross
section, which after having been accurately turned and bored is divided, and
furnishes two semi-circular bends. One of each of such bends, hereinafter
referred to as accessory beuds, is placed near each end of the cylinder where
they form the immediate supports for the ends of the flats.
The accessory bends are supported underneath on discs, rollers, or bowls cc,
carried in slides or recesses in brackets dd, in such a manner that they may
rotate therein, and may approach towards or recede from the axis of the
cylinder in a radial direction. The brackets d d are secured to, and are adjustable
by means of slots or similar means on, the side frames e e of the carding engine
(hereinafter referred to as fixed bends). To the said brackets may also be
fixed the grinding steps and guide pullies for the revolving flats.
Between the discs or bowls c c, and the fixed bend, I insert a curved wedge f,
the lower face of which is concentric with the cylinder, and is so arranged that
it may be caused to travel round the corresponding upper curved face of the
fixed bend, which is provided with concentric ribs or guides g g for receiving the
curved wedge fand the brackets d d.
•
The upper face of the curved wedge is so formed, that when it is slid
lengthways in one direction, all the bowls or discs resting thereon will be
pushed away from the axis of the cylinder, while when the wedge is slid in the
opposite direction, the bowls or discs will be able to approach nearer to the axis
of the cylinder. In order that the whole of the bowls may be raised or
lowered an equal distance from the cylinder it is desirable that the upper surface
of the curved wedge should form part of a helix.
The accessory bend b, being supported by the discs or bowls c c, will partake of
their radial movement and by varying the position of the curved wedge of the

page_text: distance of the flats a a from the centre of the cylinder may be regulated at will.
The diameters of the bowls increase from the thick end of the wedge towards the
thin end, and are so proportioned that the points of contact of the peripheries of
the bowls with the accessory bend are concentric with the cylinder.
Means are provided for readily sliding the wedge, as for example a link / hinged
to the end of the wedge and formed as a screw at its lower end h¹, where it passes
through a nut formed in the boss of the worm wheel h². Into the worm wheel h²
gears a worm 3 by the rotation of which the wedge can be slid backwards or
forwards as may be desired.
For indicating the traverse of the wedge f, I provide a pinion f2 which takes into
a rack f' formed in the under surface of the wedge f. On the axle of the pinion f
is a finger or pointer which indicates on the dial f the displacement of the
wedge. The dial may be graduated to indicate the actual amount of the radial
adjustment of the flats.
The accessory bend b is held in position and prevented from being displaced by a
bracket b¹ at one end, and by a spring 62 provided with an adjusting screw and nut 6³
at the other end.
I find that when the points of support of the accessory bend are about eight
inches apart, an accessory bend of square section one inch thick and made of cast
iron possesses the necessary elasticity to permit the bend to accommodate itself to the
varying positions of the points of support, while being sufficiently rigid to carry the
weight of the flats between the points of support without departing to an injurious
extent from a circular arc concentric with the cylinder.
The number and distance apart of the discs and the material of which the
accessory berd consists may however be varied to some extent, and the arrangement
and proportions above referred to are merely given as an example.
I am aware that flexible bends and curved wedges revolving about the centre of
the cylinder have already been used, and I make no claim to these elements of
themselves.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a carding engine the combination of a curved wedge, a series of detached
circular supporting pieces, and an elastic bend resting thereon, substantially as and
for the purpose herein before described, and shown.
2. In a carding engine the combination of a curved wedge concentric on its under
surface with the cylinder, with discs or bowls resting on the upper surface thereof,
and having their diameters so graduated that their points of contact with a flexible
bend resting thereon are concentric with the cylinder, and an elastic or flexible bend
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth and shown.
Dated this Sixteenth day of October 1891.
EDWARD TURNER
70, Deansgate, Manchester, Agent for the Applicant.