AN IMPROVED METHOD FOR PREPARING AND SPINNING SILK WASTE, WOOL, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES; AND FOR DISCHARGING GUM FROM SILK, RAW OR MANUFACTURED
Year: 1838

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MICHAEL
WHEELWRIGHT IVISON, Silk Spinner, residing in Hales Street, Edinburgh,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-sixth day of March, in the first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and give unto me, the
said Michael Wheelwright Ivison, Her especial licence, full power, sole
privilege and authority, that I, the said Michael Wheelwright Ivison, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Michael
Wheelwright Ivison, my executors, administrators, 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 "AN IMPROVED METHOD FOR PREPARING AND SPINNING SILK WASTE,
WOOL, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES; AND FOR DISCHARGING GUM FROM
SILK, RAW OR MANUFACTURED;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a
proviso that I, the said Michael Wheelwright Ivison, shall cause a particular
description of the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which 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

page_text: Michael Wheelwright Ivison, do hereby declare the nature of my In-
vention, and 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 figures and letters
marked thereon (that is to say)
My Invention relates,-
First, to a Method of Preparing and Spinning Silk Waste, Wool, Flax,
and other Fibrous Substances; and,
Secondly, to an Improved Method of Discharging Gum from Silk (Raw or
Manufactured).
And in order to give the best description of my Invention I will, in the first
place, describe the same as applicable to the preparing and spinning silk waste
separately; I will then explain the improved method when applied to
preparing wool, flax, and other vegetable fibre in combination with silk waste;
after which I will describe so much of the Invention as relates to spinning,
when applied to wool, flax, cotton, and other fibrous substances and com-
binations of such fibres; and, lastly, I will describe the improved method
of discharging gum from silk. By this arrangement of the subject under
description I hope to keep the Invention clear and so much separated as will
enable me to give proper directions for carrying out my Invention when
applied to the various fibrous substances herein-after mentioned.
I will now proceed to describe my Invention, so far as it relates to preparing
and spinning silk waste; and in doing so I will first shortly state the process
heretofore resorted to for preparing and spining such fibres. Silk waste, as is
well known, differs in quality, and is generally in a ravelled or entangled state,
and in order to lay the fibres longitudinally the ravelled or entangled masses
have been heretofore submitted to a process of sorting, heckling, combing,
cutting, and boiling; and the waste silk, having been beaten or opened out, is
carded, rove, and spun by machines similar to those used in carding and
spinning flax and cotton; all which is well known to those engaged in
preparing and spinning silk waste; and I have called attention to such
processes simply to state that in carrying out my Invention silk waste is to be
obtained in the condition it is delivered from the combing process without
having undergone the processes of cutting and carding; it will then be in a
suitable state of preparatory process to undergo that part of my Invention
which relates to preparing for spinning; but I would remark that, although I
prefer to have the silk waste prepared according to my improved process, yet
at the same time that part of my Invention which relates to spinning waste
silk may be applied to rovings produced from cardings of silk waste which

page_text: have undergone the process of cutting, as well as to silk waste produced
according to my Invention, wherein the cutting and carding processes are not
resorted to, but in place thereof the length of staple is obtained by a mode of
tearing or dragging action, by which means the ends of the fibres are drawn
out one from the other, and are produced with tapering ends in place of
having what may be called square ends, which necessarily results from cutting,
for by such process each fibre will be of like thickness at its ends as at other
parts.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING No. 1.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine, and Figure 2 a
sectional view of the position of the rollers. This machine is for performing
the first part of the improved process of preparation. A, A, is the framing
of the machine. B, B, are fast and loose pulleys on the shaft or axis C, and
by means of a strap or band to the fast pulley motion is communicated from
a steam engine or other suitable power to the various parts of the machine.
On the shaft or axis C, which moves in suitable bearings on each side of the
machine, is affixed a pinion of eighteen teeth, which takes into and drives the
cog wheel D, of seventy-two teeth, the cog wheel D being affixed on the axis
of the lower roller of the front drawing rollers E, E, which are fluted or
grooved, the upper roller E resting on the lower roller, and turning therewith.
On the right-hand end of the axis of the lower grooved roller E is affixed a
cog wheel of twenty-five teeth, which takes into and drives the cog wheel F,
which is an intermediate wheel of twenty-two teeth, and takes into a wheel of
twenty teeth affixed on the axis of the lower one of a pair of smooth
pressing rollers, which are in front of the front drawing rollers E, the
working surfaces of such smooth pressing rollers moving at a like speed
with the working surfaces of the drawing rollers E, and press the product
coming from the drawing rollers together into a flat sheet of fibre, which is
carried forward and wound on to the drum G, which is driven by means of
a pinion H, of eighteen teeth, on the axis of the lower pressing roller, the
pinion H taking into an intermediate wheel of sixty-four teeth, which
drives the wheel I, of one hundred and forty-four teeth, affixed on the axis
of the drum G, and the sheet of fibre is wound on the drum till a sufficient
quantity is wound thereon to produce somewhat similar to what in cotton
spinning would be called a lap, and such lap is to be broken off and removed
from the drum G. J is a roller pressing on the surface of the drum or roller G,
to lay and press the fibre down on to the drum or roller G. On the end of the
axis of the lower roller E, at the right-hand end thereof is affixed, as before
stated, a cog wheel which drives the smooth pressing rollers. This cog wheel also

page_text: drives the back drawing rollers K, which are fluted or grooved.
For it will
be seen that the cog wheel on the roller E takes into an intermediate
cog wheel, that intermediate cog wheel driving the cog wheel L, of
seventy-two teeth, which is affixed on the axis of the lower one of the
two grooved rollers K, the upper roller K resting on the lower roller K,
is driven thereby; and it should be stated that the grooved rollers E and
K have their bearings so arranged that they can conveniently be adjusted
nearer to or further from each other, to vary the length of ratch produced
thereby; and although I have given the precise numbers of teeth of each of
the wheels, I do not confine myself thereto; I have only done so to facilitate
the workman setting up a machine. On the axis of the lower grooved roller
K, at the left-hand end thereof, is affixed a cog wheel of twenty-four teeth,
which takes into and drives an intermediate wheel of twenty-two teeth, and
drives a cog wheel of twenty-four teeth, which is affixed on the axis of one of the
rollers which carries the endless feeding cloth M. I would remark, that each
of the rollers have a concave block of wood, lined with rough woollen fabric
to clear their surfaces of the fibres which might otherwise adhere thereto,
and pressure is communicated to the drawing rollers E, K, by means of the
weighted lever N, which moves on a fulcrum at O, there being a connecting
rod P, by which the pressure of the lever N is communicated to the grooved
rollers in the following manner:-Q is a bar having a hole through at one end,
and a long slit or slot at the other, and through the hole and the slot passes
a rod. From the ends of the rod which passes through the hole ascend hooks
which partly embrace the brasses of the front grooved rollers E, and the hooks
which ascend from the rod which passes through the slot partly embrace the
brasses of the back grooved rollers K. Hence any required degree of pressure
may be obtained to the rollers E and K, depending on the position of the
weight R on the lever. In using this machine the person attending
the same will feed the combed waste silk evenly on the feeding cloth,
and the silk in passing between the drawing rollers K, E, will be drawn
out, and torn into lengths of ratch depending on the length of distance
between the fluted or grooved rollers K and E, as is well understood. The
lap or product produced in this machine being broken off, the roller or
drum G is taken to the next process or machine, wherein is performed what
may be called an alternate pressing or straightening, and a crimping process,
which renders the silk more pliable and soft. This machine is shewn in
Drawing No. 2; and it will be seen that the silk is pressed and straightened
by the first pair of rollers, is crimped by the next pair of rollers, and so on
to any extent. I have found six pairs of rollers to answer well, and that is

page_text: the number I employ, though I do not confine myself thereto. From the
last pair of rollers the silk is taken by the feed rollers of the drawing head,
which is the same in construction and action as those employed for preparing
flax for spinning; and the product of this machine is to be submitted, doubled,
to a further drawing process, and so on through any number of drawing and
doubling processes which it may be considered desirable to pass the silk waste
before producing rovings therefrom; all which is similar to the same processes
when applied to cotton and flax. The doubled and drawn silk waste so
obtained is next to be made into rovings, in like manner to making rovings of
cotton or flax. I prefer to use the best bobbin fly frame for such purpose,
which is well known, but I do not confine myself thereto..
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS No. 2.
Figure 1 represents an elevation of a machine constructed according to this
part of my Invention. Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of Figure 1. a is
the main or driving shaft or axis, having suitable fixed and loose pulleys b. On
the axis a is affixed a fluted roller c, and motion is communicated to the rollers
d and e by means of the cog wheel f, of thirty teeth, which takes into and
drives the intermediate wheel g, the intermediate wheel taking into and driving
the wheel h, of twenty-eight teeth, on the axis of the lower of the two rollers d,
the wheel / taking into and driving the intermediate wheel i, which drives the
wheelj, of twenty-eight teeth, all which will readily be traced in the Drawing
Figure 1, the rollers d, e, being two pairs of smooth rollers. On the other end
of the axis a is a cog wheel of thirty teeth, which takes into an intermediate
cog wheel of sixty teeth, there being a cog wheel of twenty teeth affixed to the
intermediate wheel, which drives a cog wheel of forty teeth affixed on the
front axis, which draws round the chain of gills or heckles, and on the axis ?
of the gills or heckles is affixed a cog wheel of thirteen teeth, which takes
into and drives the intermediate wheel m, the intermediate wheel m taking
into a cog wheel n, affixed on the grooved or fluted rollers o, as will readily
be traced in the Drawing; but it should be stated that the axis k and the axis
1 are geared together, and work with equal speed, by means of an intermediate
wheel, as is well understood. From the cog wheel n motion is communicated to
the system of rollers p, q, r, s, t, all of them travelling with like surface speeds;
and it is the using of the system of rollers o, p, q, r, s, t, which constitutes
the novelty of this machinery. Waste silk having been prepared through the
machines described in Drawings No. 1 and No. 2, and through suitable drawing
machines, and made into rovings, as above described, the same are to spun by
a throstle or such like spinning machine, which I will now describe, as it con-

page_text: stitutes part of my Invention, as by its peculiar arrangement I am enabled to
spin waste silk, wool, flax, cotton, and other fibrous substances requiring such
process more evenly than by spinning machines of the ordinary construction,
the novelty consisting in driving the bobbins on which the spun fibre is wound
by means of pulleys having an independant action to that by which the
spindle and fly are driven, there being a varying or progressively decreasing
speed of driving communicated to the bobbins as they progressively become
filled; and by this means I am enabled to ensure uniformity of twist through-
out the working, as the bobbins will at all times wind on at the same relative
speed with the surface speed of the front drawing rollers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS No. 3.
Fig. 1 represents an elevation of a throstle spinning machine having part of
my Invention thereto. It will not be necessary to enter into a description of
the various parts which are well known and in common use, but I will
confine my description to the variations made to the machine in order to carry
out my Invention. In doing so I will first describe a bobbin and spindle
suitable for this part of my Invention, a section of which is shewn at Figure 2;
a being the spindle having an ordinary flyer and a pulley b, by which and by a
band the necessary rotary motion is communicated to the spindle. c is a
bobbin which is of the ordinary construction, and is capable of turning freely
on the spindle a. Motion is communicated to this bobbin in the following
manner-d is a tube through which the spindle a is passed, and within
which the spindle a can turn freely. On the tube d is affixed a pulley e, by
which and a band the tube d receives a rotary motion independant of the
spindle a, and the surface speed of the empty bobbin may at starting be the
same as the surface speed of the front drawing rollers, or any degree of drag
may be given, as required, by giving the winding-on a greater speed than the
surface speed of the front drawing rollers, and the speed of the motion to the
bobbin will progressively decrease as the bobbin encreases in diameter, and
thus will be obtained a means of regulating the winding-on of the spun fibres
on the bobbin. f is a collar or circular disc affixed on to the upper end of the
tube d. This disc or collar is to receive the bobbin, there being a washer
of cloth, leather, or other suitable material placed between the collar and
the bobbin, to obtain the degree of friction or holding required; and where it is
desired to make very hard built bobbins there may be a slot cut in four divi-
sions of the upper surface of the disc or collar, and a small pin placed or driven
in the lower ends of the bobbin. It will now be evident that by having two
bands independent of each other, and driven with suitably regulated speeds, in

page_text: combination with a bobbin and spindle arranged as above described in
spinning machines, spinnings of greater uniformity may be obtained; for by
having a determinable relative speed given to the bobbin its relation
of winding on may be at all times kept the same in respect to the
front drawing rollers. It will now be desirable to remark, that a
spinning machine thus constructed will be in spinning what the present
fly flame is in making rovings, for the Invention is in fact giving to a
spinning machine the like property of regulating the winding on of the
spun yarn in respect to the front drawing rollers as the roving frame
now has. Figure 1 shews part of an elevation of a spinning machine suffi-
cient to explain the nature of my Invention so far as it relates to spinning;
and Figure 3 shews a plan of the driving drums and the mode of banding
the same in order to obtain the varying motion to the pulleys on the
bobbins, and it will be seen that the bands to the pulleys of the spindles are
also driven by drums. 9 is the main shaft receiving motion by an endless
strap worked by a steam engine or other power. From the main shaft
is obtained the requisite motion to the drawing rollers, as is shewn in
the Drawing, and is well understood. On the main shaft are affixed two
bevelled toothed wheels h, h, which take into and drive two bevelled toothed
wheels i, i, affixed on the upright axes or shafts j,j, and thus is rotatory
motion communicated to the shafts or axes j, j, on which are affixed the drums
k, k, which, by means of endless bands, give motion to the spindles a, by
means of the pulleys on the spindles a. On the axes of the shafts j, j, are
placed the drums 1, 1, but these drums are not affixed to the axes j, they being
capable of revolving thereon, and are thus capable of having a regulated and
decreasing speed applied thereto. The mode I prefer for obtaining suitable
motion to the drums 7, 1, in order that they, by endless bands, may give the
requisite motion to the bobbins m, is a cog wheel affixed on the left-hand axle
or shaft j, which takes into and drives the intermediate wheel n, the interme-
diate wheel n taking into and driving the cog wheel o on the upright axis or
shaft o, on which is affixed a conical drum p, there being a second .conical
drum q affixed on a suitable axis or shaft, as is clearly shewn at Figure 4,
which is a left-hand end section of so much of the machine as will better shew
the parts therein represented, and their action will be more readily understood.
On the axis or shaft of the conical drum q is affixed the pulley r, which, by the
aid of the band ¹, drives the two drums 1, 2, there being suitable grooves or
pulleys formed thereon, as is shewn in the
the direction of such motion of the drums
same direction; and I prefer that
should cause the pulleys of the
the pulleys of the spindles a. It
bobbins to revolve in the same direction as
will be seen that the conical drum q is driven round by an endless strap from

page_text: the conical drum p; hence the speed of the drum q, and consequently of the
drums, will depend on the position that the endless strap is on the drums
p, q, which in the progress of working of the machine is continually being
altered, which, with the requisite motion to the copping rails, is communicated
in the following manner :-s is a shaft or axis from end to end of the machine,
on one end of which is affixed a mangle wheel t, and on each end of the shaft
s are attached two chains, which wind round the ends of the shaft s in opposite
directions, such chains working the copping rails up and down with the
requisite speed, as will be hereafter explained; the chains v, v, passing over
pulleys (moving on axes affixed to the end framings of the machine), then
pass under the pulleys v², which have their axes affixed to the copping rail;
the chains are then made fast to the end framings of the machine at ; hence
this copping rail will rise and fall as the axis or shaft s is caused to turn first
in one direction and then in the other. The other two chains affixed to the
shaft or axis s, and which are wound thereon at the time the chains v are
unwound, communicate motion to the other copping rail in a similar manner
to that above described; and motion is communicated to the shaft s in the
following manner:-u is a circular disc affixed on the main shaft, which
on the
in its revolution gives motion to the circular disc v, affixed
upright shaft or axis w, and the speed of such motion to the axis or
shaft w will depend on the distance the disc v is from the centre of the
disc u, and as the axis or shaft is capable of being moved during the
working of the machine the speed of the copping rails will be suitably
varied to ensure the correct wding on of the spun silk on to the bobbins;
and it should be stated, that the upper brass or bearing in which the axis
or shaft w turns is capable of sliding in suitable guides carried by the framing,
which is shewn in the Drawing at Fig. 1, and the weight w'is attached by a
cord to the bearing, and the cord passing around a pulley, as shewn in the
Drawing, at all times draws the disc v to bear against the disc u, thus ensures
sufficient friction to drive the shaft or axis w, and the parts receiving motion
therefrom. The lower end of the shaft or axis w is supported by the end of a
bent or lever a, which has its fulcrum at a¹, and on the lower end of the axis or
shaft w is affixed a toothed pinion of such a length as to ensure its being always
in with the
gear
wheel
cog
which it drives; all which is shewn in the Drawing.
The lever receives motion by means of the arms, the arm and the lever
being connected together by a short connecting rod or link, their being suitable
means of adjusting the position of this link, by having slots formed in the
lever x. The arm is affixed to the axis or shaft A, which moves in suitable
bearings, carried by the framing of the machine, and the shaft or axis A
receives motion by means of an arm B affixed thereto, which will be better under-
Y,

page_text: stood on examining Figure 4, where these parts are shewn separately. At the
the point B of the slotted arm B is affixed a projecting and cranked stud or
axis, which has a friction wheel which rests on the snail cam C. This
snail is affixed to the cog wheel D, they moving on a fixed axis, carried
by the end framing of the machine. E is an intermediate wheel turning
on a fixed axis (capable of adjustment), carried by a projection from the
end framing of the machine. The intermediate wheel E gears into and drives
the wheel D, the intermediate wheel E being driven by the change wheel
F, this wheel being changed when it is desired to vary the degree of fineness
of the spinning, as is well understood. The change wheel F is affixed to what
I call the escapement wheel G, and consequently moves therewith, the axis of
the wheels G and F being carried by the same projection which carries the
axis of the intermediate wheel, such parts of the framing not being shewn in
the Drawing, they being omitted in order that the working parts may be seen
more clearly. H is an arm affixed to the axis H', and I is a handle affixed to
the same axis by which the arm H may be raised by the workman when required;
and it will be seen that there are two holes in the change wheel, the object of
which is, that by inserting a key the wheel may be turned round, in order to
set it correctly, or rather to set the snail cam correctly, there being a pulley on
the snail, and a weighted cord I, by which there is at all times a tendency in the
snail to turn round, and to reduce the distance of the arms B and H from the
centre of the axis of the snail, the snail at starting supporting the arms by its
largest radius, the arm H being supported by a projecting stud affixed to the
arm B passing through a slot in the arm H, and to the arm II is connected by
a pin joint to the rod J, such rod having two projecting forked arms, in the forks
of which works the strap of the two conical drums p, q; hence, according as
the arms be raised or lowered by the snail, so will be the changing position of
the strap of the conical drums p and q, and consequently the speed of the bob-
bins. K is a projection affixed at the end of one of the copping rails, which
projection at its end has two holes, through which move two short rods L, M,
the rod L being attached to the lever catch N, and the rod M being attached
to the lever catch P; and there is a sliding stop with a set screw on each of the
rods L, M, to regulate the extent of movement of the projection K (which
moves up and down with the copping rail), in order that the lever catches at
the end of the movement up or down of the copping rail may permit the
escapement wheel to move round half a tooth each time of the copping rail
finishing its movements upwards and cach time of finishing its movements
downwards, which is occasioned by the lever catches being successively
removed out of the way of the teeth of the escapement wheel, so that when

page_text: the next layer of yarn is to commence winding, or an increased diameter, the
various parts of the machine may be adjusted thereto.
From the foregoing description, aided by the Drawings, the mode of varying
the speed the pulleys which give motion to the bobbins will readily be under-
stood, and it only remains to shew how the copping rails progressively vary in
their movement, in order to the working of the machine being fully under-
stood. The cog wheel y has a pinion affixed thereto, and they move on an
axis affixed to a cross framing at the lower part of the machine. The pinion
of the wheel y takes into and drives the cog wheel Q, which moves on a
vertical axis, the wheel Q having a bevelled pinion affixed thereto, which
takes into and drives the bevelled toothed wheel R, affixed on the shaft or axles,
as is shewn in the Drawing, the axle S having a pinion at its outer end, which
takes into and drives the mangle wheel on the shaft, and thus is a varying
motion communicated to the copping rails according as required.
Having thus explained my Invention, so far as it relates to preparing and
spinning silk waste, I will proceed to explain how far the same is applicable to
the preparing of wool, flax, and other vegetable fibre in combination with silk
waste; but I would first remark, that that part of the Invention which relates
to spinning, as herein described, is equally applicable to spinning from rovings
of wool, flax, cotton, and other fibrous substances requiring such process, and
mixtures of such fibres; and in order to apply the preparing machines above
described in Drawings Nos 1 and 2 to the preparing of wool in combination
with silk waste, the wool being well combed and washed, and the oil and
grease thoroughly removed, in place of cutting the wool, when to be mixed with
silk waste, as heretofore, into short portions of one to two inches, I do not
cut the wool, but obtain combed slivers of wool, and bring them to the
machine described in Drawing No. 2, and mix therewith sliver of silk waste
produced in the machine described in Drawing No. 1, having set the draw-
ing rollers of the machine of Drawing N° 1 at such a distance apart that the
ratch produced will be of an equal length with that of the uncut wool; and the
machine of Drawing No. 2 produces a sliver of the combined fibre of silk waste
and wool, which sliver is to be submitted to similar processes to those described
in respect to silk waste, and rovings are to be produced and subsequently spun
by the machine above described. In combining flax or other suitable fibrous
substance with waste silk, heckled flax or other suitable fibre, which is to be
first bleached, is to be brought to the machine of Drawing No. 1, and spread
on the feeding cloth, and the machine will produce a sliver to the same ratch
which is produced to silk waste passed through the same machines, and slivers
of silk waste and flax or other suitable fibre is to be passed through the

page_text: obtained, and so on in like manner to what has been described of silk waste.
I will now describe the Invention so far as it relates to discharging gum
from silk (raw or manufactured).
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING No. 4,
Which represents the section of an apparatus arranged according to this part
of my Invention, a, a, being the external vessel in which the fire or other
heating medium is to be. I prefer that it should be a fire capable of
regulation similar to what are called Arnott's stoves; and I have shewn the
apparatus so arranged; 6 being the fire-place, and c the ash pit, there being
a door, not shewn in the Drawing, to feed the fire with fuel. The ash pit is
supplied with air in the following manner:-d is an open vessel containing
mercury. e is a tube, closed at top, which should contain a small quantity of
atmospheric air, the other part of the pipe being filled with mercury; hence, when
the air becomes heated, it would force down the mercury into the vessel d, and
decrease the opening for the passage of air through the pipe f, and hence may
the temperature of the apparatus be kept at any degree required. 9, 9, is a
cylindrical or other suitable vessel, with a concave bottom; h, h, being a cover,
with an air cock i. Within the vessel g are placed a number of shallow
vessels or trays, or other suitable receivers, closely perforated with their
bottoms with small holes. In these trays is placed the silk requiring the gum
to be discharged, whether the same is in the raw or manufactured state.
When it is to operate on silk waste I prefer that the operation of discharging
the gum should be in the state it comes from the process of combing, and
before it goes through the preparation herein described; but the discharging
may be performed at any time. The trays being full of silk, and placed one
over the other, I set the pump j to work, which, drawing water by the pipe k,
from a well or other place, will force it into the vessel g, by the pipe k, k, the
cocks 1,, being open, all the other cocks (excepting the air cock i) being at
the time shut. And when the vessel g is sufficiently full of water to cover the
whole of the silk, the cock is then to be closed, and the cocks m, n, opened,
and the pump continued in action. The consequence will be that the water
will be forced continually through and through; and when it is found to run
off in a very discolored state, the water may be run off at the cock o, and a
fresh supply of clean water pumped into the vessel g, and again to be pa ped
through and through, and continued changing the water is to take place in
this manner till the water runs off perfectly clear, when the operation is to be
stopped. In pursuing the above operation, I prefer the temperature to be
kept to eighty to ninety degrees of Fahrenheit, but the operation may be

page_text: quickened by the employment of soap with higher temperature; but I prefer
that the temperatures should be from eighty or ninety degrees, with water only,
as the silk will thereby be better in appearance than when alkaline matters
are employed. When the water is last run off, the whole of the cocks are to
be closed, and the cock p opened, which is on a pipe leading to an air pump,
by which the air and vapours may be withdrawn, and thus quickly dry the
silk.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention of an Improved Method
of Preparing and Spinning Waste Silk, Wool, Flax, and other Fibrous Sub-
stances, and for Discharging Gum from Silk, I would remark, that I lay no
claim to any of the parts separately of which the same is composed; and there
may be variations made in some of the parts without departing from the prin-
ciple of my Invention.
But what I claim as my Invention is,―
First, the mode of preparing silk waste, separately, or combined with wool,
flax, and other fibrous substances, by submitting such materials to the action
of the machines described in Drawing Nos. 1 and 2, as above described.
Secondly, I claim the improved method of spinning silk, wool, flax, cotton,
and other fibrous substances, or combinations thereof, as herein described.
And,
Lastly, I claim the mode herein described for discharging gum from silk.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Wheelwright Ivison, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of September, One
thousand eight hundred and thistu nicht