Improvements in Carding-engines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 12th Jan., 1895
Improvements in Carding-engines.
I, GEORGES EMILE FAUQUET, of 95 Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris, in the
Republic of France, Engineer, 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 invention relates to carding-engines having revolving flats.
Such engines, of which a great variety exist, may all, irrespective of their
construction, be divided into two great categories:
(1) Those in which the adjustment of the flats is effected at a single point or by
a single operation. The adjustment of the flats takes place in all these carding
engines in a simple and rapid manner; it enables the flats to be moved with great
precision concentrically to the axis of the engine supposed to be unchangeable, but
it presents a serious inconvenience, namely that, if by the wear of the bearings,
the traction of the belt or from any other cause the axis of the large cylinder is
displaced, the adjustment necessarily becomes defective, and several manufacturers
have consequently devised special arraugements for enabling the position of this
axis to be varied, an operation which is always very delicate; moreover all the
flats, those working first as well as those working last, are adjusted to the same
distance from the large cylinder without enabling a greater distance to be given
to the first, a mode of adjustment which is valued by a number of practical men.
(2) In the second category are included the carding engines in which adjustment
is effected at several points. The distance of the flats may be varied at will for all
the points of the work and they may always be adjusted relatively to the
circumference of the large cylinder, whatever may be the displacements caused by
the wear at the axis of the latter.
On the other hand the adjusting operation which is effected on each side of the
carding engine at 5, 7 or more points takes much time and is very troublesome and
in order to be well done requires such care as is not always exercised by workmen
charged with this work.
The carding-engine which I have devised and which forms the subject of my
said invention, combines the advantages and obviates the inconveniences of the
before-mentioned two categories, that is to say, the adjustment of the flats is
effected at a single point on each side of the card in a mathematically accurate
manner and to a known extent indicated by the simple reading of a graduated
circle; besides this precise and instantaneous adjustment a special device is employed
for varying the approach of the flats at such or such a point of their work, and causing
them to follow at will the displacements of the cylinder due to that of its axis, so
that when once this special adjustment has been effected the simple operation at a
single point enables all the flats to be adjusted to the same extent relatively to the
new position occupied by the cylinder in consequence of the wear.
lu the accompanying drawing I have shown by way of example how my said
invention may be carried into practice.
Figure 1 represents the side view of the improved apparatus.
Figure 2 is a section through the axis of one of the arms.
Figure 3 represents an arm in detail.
Figure 4 is a diagram showing the mode of adjustment.
Figures 5 and 6 are sections of the arm and of the sleeve.

page_text: The endless chain of the flats is supported during the work of the latter by a
flexible bar B of equal thickness throughout its length.
This bar is subjected to tension by means of springs N which are attached to its
two extremities and apply it strongly upon arms E composed of a rod terminating
in a fork. The form and number of these supports may be varied; I will suppose
there are five, thus giving ten points of support to the flexible bar; the latter is
held in guides C which are fixed to the frame and prevent any lateral movement of
the bar.
The arms E are all similar; they can move in guides G connected to the frame
which allows them to make only a radial displacement; these arms are composed
of two parts connected with each other by a nut F; they are articulated at their
lower part by means of a pin to links H connected at O to the same circumference
of a disc 1, which can turn through a certain angle upon a sleeve forming part of
the frame. The relative length of the arms E and of the links H may be varied
according as the manufacturer desired to obtain more or less sensitiveness in the
adjustment. The disc I has a sector of a larger diameter provided with teeth
which gear with the endless screw J serving for the general adjustment of all
the flats.
In order to effect the partial adjustment of such or such a portion of the flexible bar
I make use of the octagonal nut F connected above and below with two screws of
different pitches, but screw-threaded in the same direction, so that by a whole turn
of the nut the arm E is lengthened or shortened to an extent equal to the difference
between the two pitches of the screw-threads. If for example one screw has a
pitch of 2 millimetres and the other a pitch of 3 millimetres a whole turn of the
but will change the length by millimetre and a turn corresponding to one side
only of the octagonal nut will cause a change in length of 16 millimetre, thus
enabling a partial adjustment to take place with great precision. A portion of the
arms Eis octagonal in section; upon this part can slide with little friction a
sleeve K hollowed interiorly to the same form; for turning the nut F which is
also octagonal I move the sleeve K upwards and, the nut having been adjusted,
I move the sleeve K back to the circular shoulder of the lower portion of the
arm E. Thus the sleeve renders the nut F immovable so that the two parts of
the arm E will form a rigid whole of invariable length. I have here set forth
a simple and practical means for adjusting separately the length of each of the
supports of the flexible bar, but it will be understood that I may also use other
means for accomplishing the same object.
For obtaining by a single operation the simultaneous adjustment of all the
supports of the flexible bar it is sufficient to turn the disc I by means of the endless
screw J through a certain angle; the links H take a position equally inclined with
regard to the radius, which has the effect of moving all the arms E as little as may
be desired towards the axis of the carding engine and consequently also the flexible
bar which is pressed upon these supports by the weight of the flats and the traction
of the two springs N N. This is the usual mode of adjustment, of which
Figure 4 is a diagram. When once this adjustment is effected I ensure the position
by tightening the nut M of a screw fixed to the frame and which extends through
a concentric slot L formed in the disc I which is thus rendered immovable.
also render the endless screw J immovable by means of a bar or a fork which is
turned down upon the head of this screw.
I may
It is of course very easy in case of need to ensure by any desired means the
fixity of each of the supports or arms E separately.
This system of carding engine thus combines all the advantages which may be
desired:
(1) By the partial adjustment of the arms the fitter may bring all the points of
the flexible bar to the same distance from the cylinder; and he may, if desired by
the spinner, move the first working flats away a little.
(2) The workman who effects the adjustment may after each sharpening
operation cause all the flats to approach the cylinder to an equal extent as small

page_text: as desired by turning the endless screw which operates the said disc; this
operation is extremely simple and the effect is produced with mathematical
precision.
(3) If by reason of the wear of the axis the cylinder should cease to work
concentrically to the flats the partial adjustment of the arms of the supports would
bring such or such portions of the flexible bar to the desired position; when
once this partial adjustment is terminated I attend again to the general adjustment
as above set forth.
There is no fear of any wear or of any play at the articulations which are
immovable, because the weight of the flats and the tension of the springs always
tend to keep all the parts of the supports applied one against the other and to
maintain the play at what is strictly necessary for the mounting.
My improved apparatus, which is specially designed for the treatment of cotton,
may also be employed for carding any other textile materials.
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:
First. In carding-engines the combination of a flexible guide-bar, bearing upon
arms which can be adjusted all together to the same extent, with a device for
partially adjusting each of these supports.
Second. In carding engines a device for effecting the general adjustment of
revolving flats, comprising a disc connected to articulated arms, a portion of which
may be displaced in the direction of a radius of the cylinder of the engine while
the other portion is inclined when the disc turns, which produces an equal and
simultaneous change in the length of all the arms of the supports, substantially as
herein set forth.
Third. In carding-engines a device for effecting the partial adjustment of
revolving flats, comprising two screws with a nut, the turning of which produces
at will a change in the length of the arm of each support separately, substantially
as herein set forth.
. .
1004
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.