IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO THE COMBING OF WOOL AND GOAT HAIR
Year: 1837

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY ROSS,
of Leicester, Worsted Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His late most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date at Westminster, the Sixth day of May, in the seventh year of His reign,
did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Henry Ross, His especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that
I, the said Henry Ross, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Henry Ross, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, and 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 and Wales and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO THE COMBING OF WOOL AND GOAT HAIR;" in
which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Henry Ross,
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 His 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Henry Ross, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, are fully described and as certained 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 an improved combination of machinery for filling combs with
wool or goat hair preparatory to its being combed.
Secondly, to a combination of machinery for combing wool or goat hair;
And, thirdly, to a mode of heating the combs in the machinery for filling
and combing wool or goat hair..
And in order that the same may be clearly and readily understood, I will
proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine for filling combs with wool or
goats' hair combined, according to my improvements; Figure 2 is a right-
hand, and Figure 3 a left-hand side view of the machine; and Figure 4
is a section taken through the machine from front to back. In each of
these Figures the same letters of reference indicate similar parts. a is the
main or driving shaft, which receives motion from a steam engine or
other power by a strap acting on the drum b. To the side framing is
affixed the worm plate c, which, taking into, actuates the series of toothed
wheels d, d, d, which are affixed to the series of spindles or shafts e, e, e,
and causes them to move slowly round; the spindles or shafts e, e, e, turning
in suitable bearings, carried by the wheel f, f, which wheel is affixed to the
main shaft a, as is clearly shewn in the Drawing. On to the outer end of
the spindles or shafts e, e, e, are affixed the bevelled toothed wheels 9, 9: 9,
which take into the wheels h, h, h, affixed on the axes of the rollers i, i, such
rollers having a number of spikes affixed to the circumference thereof and
standing off therefrom at an angle, or as tangents, as is shewn in the Drawing,
the object of such position of the spikes being, that the wool or goats' hair may
be readily drawn off as the rollers come round, by which the wool or goats
hair (as the case may be) is delivered in the combs and not carried round
with the rollers as they revolve. j,j, are friction rollers against which the
wool or goats' hair moves, which keep the same in a proper position, and k, k,
are other rollers which prevent the wool or goats'. hair being driven away as
the same strikes the combs, as will readily be understood on an examination of
the various Figures of the Drawings. 1,1,1, are a series of reels or bobbins on

page_text: •
to which is wound the sliver of wool or hair to be combed; and I would liere
remark that the same may be wound on by various means, but I usually
perform this operation by the aid of a machine, consisting of a cylinder of
about three feet diameter set over with spikes similar to the rollers i, i, which
is supplied with wool by means of an endless cloth, and two feeding rollers
similar to various machines which are in common use, and the cylinder
revolving the spikes thereon become supplied with a layer of wool or goats'
hair, which will be readily drawn off by hand in consequence of the inclined
direction of the spikes, and as drawn off wound on to the bobbins 1, 1, 1; these
bobbins are so arranged that they may be readily taken out or put into the
machine, shewn in the various Figures of the Drawing; their axes, being placed
into bearings m, m, are retained there by the spring catches n, n, but are
allowed to turn as the wool is drawn off; at the same time the bobbins l are
subject to the friction of the pressure of the springs o, o, o, all which is clearly
shewn in the Drawings, and particularly at Figure 5, where some of the parts
are shewn separately, in order more clearly to point out the construction and
mode of arranging the parts. p, p, are two combs, one of which is being
supplied with wool, the other is coming down to succeed the first as the same
proceeds through the machine; and it will be seen that in place of the backs
of these combs being straight, as is the usual construction, the backs of
these combs are curved, which is in order to adapt them to the machine
hereafter described; and I notice this circumstance in order to remark that,
although the machine now under description is adapted to fill such curved
backed combs, it may, with slight alteration, be arranged for filling straight
combs, such as are employed on various other machines now in use for combing
wool, such alteration being merely the employing straight guiding surface
in place of the guiding surface q, q, shewn in the Drawings, such guiding
surface consisting of a curved plate of metal having projecting edges, and
thus producing a grooved surface for guiding and supporting the combs as
they pass through the machine; and the combs are made to move through
the machine by means of the toothed wheels r, r, affixed on to the shafts
or spindles s, s; to the toothed wheels r, r, taking into the racks on the
backs of the combs; as is shewn in the Drawing; and the spindles or
shafts s, s, are driven by means of the toothed wheels t, t, affixed on the shaft v,
such shaft receiving motion from the main shaft a by means of the screw u,
the shaft or spindle w, and the toothed wheel x, which takes into and drives
the toothed wheel y. It will be seen that the first part of the combs are
covered with an iron case, part of which in Figure 1 is broken away in order
to shew the combs; this case, the nature of which is clearly shewn in the
a

page_text: Drawing, is for receiving the heat of a series of gas flames from the gas pipe,
which constantly act on the incoming comb, and heat the same preparatory.
to its receiving a supply of wool; and the external guard keeps in the heat, as
will readily be understood. A boy stands in front of the machine, and as one
comb proceeds outwards, he places another into the machine, in such manner-
that the outer end rests in the curved guide at the right-hand side of the
machine; hence as the first comb proceeds onwards, the next comb by its own
weight falls down, and is taken hold, of and driven forwards by the toothed
wheel for that purpose, and as above described, to be filled with wool, and
when a comb has become full, it is taken off from the left-hand side of the
machine, and carried to the combing machine hereafter described; the combs
becoming full by the revolution of the wheel f; and constant succession of
bobbins which deliver the wool to the combs.
I would remark in respect to this machine, that I do not claim any of
the parts separately, and it will be evident that. variations may be made in:
order to obtain movements to the wheel and the spiked rollers.
I do not
therefore confine myself to the precise arrangement, provided. the general.
character of my Invention be retained as herein-before described, and hereafter
more particularly claimed as my Invention..
. I will now proceed to. describe, the second part of my Invention, which
consists of a combination, of mechanical parts for completing the operation of,
combining. A number of combs, having been suitably filled with wool, are,
according to the second part of my Invention, applied to a horizontal wheel
which, when filled with combs, is caused to revolve several times, by which the
wool is drawn through other combs, and is also brushed, as will be hereafter a
fully explained.
Figure 6 represents a plan of a machine combined according to the second
part of my Invention. Figure 7 is an elevation of the same, partly in sections,
and Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, shew several of the parts separately, by
which, and the description hereafter given of the nature and action of the parts, g
a workman will readily construct a machine. In each of these Figures the
same letters of reference are employed to indicate similar parts; and I would
remark that the combs here employed are those from the first-described
machine. A is the framing of the machine; B is a vertical shaft turning
in suitable bearings, as is shewn in the Drawings, this shaft B receiving s
rotatory motion by means of the bevelled wheel C, taking into the wheel D,
which is affixed on the shaft E; the shaft E receiving motion by means of the
pinion F, which takes into and is driven by the toothed wheel G, on the axis
or shaft of which are the fast and loose pulleys H, for receiving a strap from

page_text: a steam engine or other first mover. The combs p, p, containing a supply of
wool or goats hair, are applied to the wheel I, I, by means of spring catches
J, J, which are more clearly shewn in the detached views of the parts shewn
full size at Figs. 8, 9, 10, and such is the case with respect to many of the
working and important parts, the combination and relative positions being
readily ascertained by an examination of the plan and elevation of the machine.
K, K, K, are a series of combs through which the wool or goats' hair in the
combs p, p, is successively drawn, and these combs K, K, are so arranged that
they move to and from the centre of the wheel I, I, and the teeth of the combs
K are so set that, as the combs K pass into the centre of the machine,
the points. of the combs K come closer to teeth of the combs p, and
take a greater length of wool, and also have suitable apparatus applied thereto
for heating them with gas as they come on to action. In order to obtain
movement to the combs K, they are affixed to carriages L, each having three
flanched or grooved rollers, which are guided by two rails or bars M, and the
carriages are drawn outwards by means of weights N, and the drawing out-
wards causes the carriages to bring the combs K into a case O, in which they
are heated by gas, as is very clearly shewn in the Drawing, as is also the mode-
I prefer of fixing and adjusting the combs K to their carriages. On to the
shaft B is affixed the toothed wheel 2, which takes into and drives the wheel Q,
which is affixed on the shaft Q, and on the shaft Q is affixed the worm or
screw R, which takes into the wheel S on the axis of the snail T; and it will
be seen that there are some of the teeth of the wheel S removed, the object of
which is that the combs K may remain stationary, notwithstanding the machine
is working. To the snail T is affixed straps, which connects the carriages of
the combs K with the snail T, consequently the combs K will be drawn in
with progressively encreasing speed, and when it will remain stationary till
the worm or screw R is put out of gear by the lever V, when it is desired the
combs K should be drawn back again to become heated during the time that
the combs p, p, are being removed with their combed wool or goat hair
and fresh combs p, p, with wool or goat hair (requiring to be operated on) are
supplied to the machine. Note, the carriages of the combs K being only so
weighted, that the boy (attending the machine) may easily draw back the ear-
riages, having first passed a brush through the combs K, in order to remove any
wool or goats' hair which may be in them. I will suppose that the workman has
just stopped the niachine (by throwing the driving strap on to the loose pulley)
in consequence of the wool or goat hair in the combs p, p, being sufficiently
combed; those combs are to be removed, and fresh ones supplied as quickly as
possible; in the meanwhile the wool or hair is brushed out of the combs K,

page_text: and the combs K are drawn back. The machine being again supplied with
a series of filled combs p, the machine is again started (by the driving strap
being placed on the fast pulley). I would remark, that I have found it
highly desirable to give a brushing action to the wool or hair, in addition to
the combing; for this purpose I apply the rotatory brushes W, which
receive a quick rotatory motion by the endless gut band X on the pulley Y,
the gut band being guided to its work by two guide pulleys, in order to the
band driving the pulley Z affixed on the shaft Z, there being four bevelled
toothed wheels on the shaft Z, which take into four wheels affixed on to the
spindles of the four brushes, as is shewn in the Drawing; by this means the
wool is drawn upwards, and is better prepared for the combs K, more par-
ticularly in the event of the wool having from any cause being pressed or laid
down on the combs p. It will be seen that according to the Drawings there
are three combs K, but it will be evident that more or less may be employed;
by the use of three or more, a more extensive combing is performed by
the machine at each revolution of the wheel of combs p. I have described the
wheel which carries the combs p, p, as being horizontal, which is the most
convenient position, but I do not confine myself thereto; and in respect
to the arrangement of parts, such as the wheels and pulleys for giving motion
to the working parts, these may be varied without departing from my
Invention, a very important feature of which is, the mode in which the
combs K are brought into action by crossing the combs p, p, for it will be
seen that the combs K stand in a direction at or about a right angle to the
combs p, p, and come progressively into action, and from the circumstance of
the combs K traversing across the other combs p, p, the combs K offer a fresh
surface. unclogged with wool, which allows of the combs K combing out the
wool very closely to the heads of the combs p. p.
Although I consider the arrangement here described as the best for carrying
out my Invention, I do not confine myself thereto, provided the character of
my Invention be retained. And I would further remark, that in respect to the
third
part of my Invention, that of heating combs as they come into work, the
arrangement may be varied according to the nature of the machine employed,
but the same will readily be applied to perform the process of heating the
combs preparatory to their being filled, and also to the combs K through which
the wool is drawn.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, I would have it under-
stood that I lay no claim to any of the parts separately of which the combined
machines herein described are composed, they being, separately considered,
well known, and in use for various purposes. But what I do claim is,-

page_text: First, the combining the parts shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 into a
machine for filling combs in the process of combing wool and goats' hair.
Secondly, I claim the mode of combing the combs K with a suitable
revolving apparatus (carrying a series of combs with wool or hair) for the
purpose of combing wool or goat hair.
And, thirdly, I claim the application of gas for heating combs for combing
wool or goat hair, when the same is so applied as to heat the combs as
they move in to be filled, by any suitable means, and also for heating the
combs through which the wool or goat hair is drawn in the act of combing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Ross, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven.
HENRY (L.S.) ROSS.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Sixth day of November, in
the year of our Lord 1837, the aforesaid Henry Ross came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledge 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 Sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven.