IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING AND SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Tatham, of Rochdale, in the County of
Lancaster, Machine Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING AND SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER
FIBROUS MATERIALS."
Sealed the 23rd March 1866, and dated the 27th September 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Tatham at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th
September 1865.
I, WILLIAM TATHAM, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, Machine
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING AND SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER
FIBROUS MATERIALS," to be as follows:--
This Invention has reference to machinery for preparing and spinning
cotton and other fibrous materials, wherein rollers are used for restraining and
elongating or drawing cotton or other fibrous materials, and commonly known
as carding engines, mules, and throstles, or other machines for similar
purposes.
My improvements consist, firstly, in certain modifications of and additions
to the arrangements of the self-weighting top and others of the rollers for
which Letters Patent were granted unto me, dated the 24th day of November,
1862, No. 8155. Several of my improved modifications and additions appear
on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.

page_text: In the accompanying Drawings the lines and arrow indicate the course of
the fibrous material.
In Figure 1, a, b, c, and d represent certain arrangements of rollers of my
aforesaid former Patent, a, b, being the front rollers, and c, d, the back ones.
The front roller 6 in this arrangement is self-weighting, and the roller d either
wholly or partially so. To this arrangement I apply the roller e, placed below
the roller d. I also modify this arrangement by applying another or third
self-weighting top roller f, resting upon one or both of the rollers g and h.
In Fig. 2, a, b, c, d, represent another of the arrangements of my aforesaid
former patented rollers, a, b, being the front rollers, and c, d, the back ones..
The front top roller b in this arrangement being self-weighting, and the
roller d wholly or partially so. To this arrangement I apply another top self-
9. In
weighting roller f, which I cause to rest upon both of the rollers c and
this arrangement I make the top rollers b, d, and f, all self-weighting. I
modify this arrangement by causing the top roller f to rest upon the roller g
only, the rollers g and f being placed in any suitable position for the purpose.
In either of these arrangements, if preferred, the rollers d and ƒ may be only
partially self-weighting.
.
Another of my improvements in rollers is shewn in Fig. 3, in which c and d
represent a pair of rollers situated behind the front pair, c being the bottom
roller and d the top one, which is made either wholly or partially self-weighting.
In any suitable position round the roller d, and above the top of the bottom
roller c, I apply a roller k, working in contact with the said roller d, and
assisting the bottom roller c to support, guide, or drive it; the fibrous material
being made to pass over the said roller k or not, as preferred.
In Fig. 4, a, b, c, d, g, represent one of my former patented arrangements
of rollers; a, b, being the front rollers, and c, d, g, the back rollers.
Another of my present improvements consists in the application of an
additional roller k placed in any suitable position round and in contact with
the top front roller b, to guide or sustain it in its working position without the
assistance of cap bars, as shewn in elevation and plan, Figs. 4 and 5, whereby
I am enabled to dispense with the cap bars, or similar guides commonly used
for that purpose.
I do not confine myself in the application of this improvement to the exact
arrangement of rollers shewn in Fig. 4, as my said improvement may be used
in other arrangements of rollers, where the top rollers may be either wholly
or only partially self-weighting.
Another of my improvements consists in the construction and arrangement
of certain rollers, so that each top roller may restrain and elongate or draw

page_text: one thread only, as shewn in Fig. 5, by the rollers 6 and d; or I modify this
arrangement, so that the number of threads under each top roller of one line
may be more or less than the number of threads under each top roller of any
other line, as shewn in Fig. 5, by the rollers 6' and d'; but although in this
arrangement and modification the top rollers are shewn without cap bars or
other guides to guide them, yet, if preferred, cap bars, or other equivalents,
may be used as usual for that purpose.
Another of my improvements consists in constructing the top rollers of the
aforesaid machines, and for the aforesaid purposes, of lead, or of lead and
other suitable metal or materials for the purpose of making them heavier than
iron ones of the same size.
Another of my improvements consists in the application of certain arrange-
ments of mechanism or apparatus for raising and supporting the top rollers
away from the bottom ones in the aforesaid machinery, for which purpose I
employ one or more small cams or inclines placed under the said top rollers,
which on being turned or slided raise the top rollers from off the bottom
ones.
Another part of my Invention consists in forming the buffers or stops for
the mule carriages, and the slips or rails on which, the carriage wheels run
of one piece, or in connecting them together if of separate pieces.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Tatham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th March 1866.
1
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
TATHAM, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, Machine Maker, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Tatham, Her special license that I, the said William
Tatham, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Tatham, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might

page_text: make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-.
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING AND SPINNING COTTON.
AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said William Tatham, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and;
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that J, the said William Tatham, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the figures on the accompanying.
Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon (that is
to say):-
This Invention has reference to machinery for preparing and spinning.
cotton and other fibrous materials, wherein rollers are used for restraining and
elongating or drawing cotton and other fibrous materials, and commonly
known as carding engines, slubbing frames, roving frames, mules, throstles,
or other machines for similar purposes.
First, my improvements consist in certain modifications of and additions to
the arrangements of the self-weighting and others of the rollers for which
Letters Patent were granted unto me, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of
November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
two, Number 3155; and, secondly, in forming the buffers or stops for the
mule carriages, and the slips or rails on which the carriage wheels run of one
piece, or in connecting them together if formed of separate pieces, by which
means the stops are better able to resist the impetus of the carriage than
when they are fixed to the floor in the usual manner.
The rollers in the several Figures are drawn about half size, and the dotted
lines and arrows indicate the course of the fibrous material.
In the transverse section, Fig. 1, a, b, c, and d represent one arrangement of
drawing rollers described in the Specification of the Patent before referred to,
a, b, being the front rollers, and c, d, the back ones; the roller (b in this
arrangement being enlarged in diameter, and may, if desired, be self-weight-
ing, as may also the roller d; and in that Specification I remarked that I did
not confine myself to the large roller b in this arrangement of rollers only, as
the said roller may be used in other arrangements of drawing rollers. To the

page_text: rollers a, b, c, d, Fig. 1, I now add the roller e, placed in any convenient
position below the level of the roller c, with the roller d working upon it and
the roller c. The front rollers a and b are the only rollers in this arrange-
ment which, on account of their superior speed, produce a drawing action
on the fibrous material; the rollers c, d, and e acting simply as restraining
rollers.
.
"
In the transverse section, Fig. 2, I shew a modification of the aforesaid
rollers, which consists in the application of another or third top roller behind
the roller d, and working on one or both of the two rollers 9 and h. "In this
9.
arrangement the rollers e, g, and h may be arranged in any suitable positions,
and the rollers d and e may be worked at a greater velocity than the rollers
f and g, and used as drawing rollers, in addition to the front drawing
rollers a, b.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section of another modification of the aforesaid rollers,
in which the roller d is decreased in size, and the roller f caused to work in
contact with the two rollers c and e; and in this arrangement the only drawing
action is produced by the rollers a and b, the others being simply restraining
rollers.
:
In the transverse section, Fig. 4, I shew another modification of the
aforesaid rollers, wherein the rollers a, b, c, and d are shewn, with a pair of
restraining rollers f and e, behind the rollers d and c. The said rollers fande
are made of any required size, and. placed either as shewn by the full or
dotted lines, or in any other convenient position. Or instead of using two
rollers only behind the rollers d'and c, any other convenient number and size
may be employed.
A modification of the last-named arrangement of rollers is shewn in the
transverse section, Fig. 5, wherein I arrange the top roller d to work in
contact with two rollers c and e, there being behind the rollers d.and either
two rollers fand g, or a greater number of any convenient size, and placed in
any suitable position.
"
I would here remark that I arrange the positions of the rollers, in the
arrangements before described, so that the fibrous material in its passage is
caused to pass between each succeeding pair of rollers in a line at right
angles, or thereabouts, with a straight line drawn through their centres.
+
Fig. 6 is a transverse section of another arrangement of my improved
rollers, in which a, b, represent a pair of front drawing rollers. In any con-
venient position above the level of the front bottom roller a I place a roller k,
in contact with the top roller b, for the purpose of assisting in supporting and
turning the said. roller b. I. modify this arrangement by placing the roller k

page_text: on the opposite side of the roller b, as shewn by the dotted circles b¹, k³, and
the rollers a, b, and k¹ may constitute three back rollers if desired.'
In the transverse section, Fig. 7, and plan, Fig. 8, I shew the application
of the roller k, Fig. 6, to a system of front and back rollers. In Fig. 7 the
front rollers are marked b, a, and the back rollers d, c, g, and the roller k is
placed in any suitable position in contact with the top front roller b, in order
to guide or sustain it in its working position without the assistance of cap
bars..
Another of my improvements consists in the arrangement and construction
of certain rollers, so that each top roller may restrain and elongate or draw
one thread only, as shewn in the plan, Fig. 8, by the rollers 6 and d. Or I
modify this arrangement so that, the number of threads under each top
roller of one line may be more or less than the number of threads under each
top roller of any other line, as shewn by the rollers 6 and d¹; but although in
this arrangement and modification the top rollers are shewn without cap bars
or other guides to guide them, yet, if preferred, cap bars or other equivalents
may be used as usual for that purpose.
I would here remark that I do not confine myself to the exact arrangement
of rollers, as herein shewn, as the arrangements may be modified in various
ways, for example, the front and back top rollers may each work upon one
bottom roller only instead of upon two, as shewn in Figs. 7 and 8, in which
case the top rollers will be sustained in their positions by means of cap bars,
stand guides, or other equivalents; and, if desired, any additional and con-
venient number of other rollers may be added, and arranged between the front
and back rollers a, c, and b, d, Figs. 7 and 8, and any of the rollers employed
may be of any other suitable size than those shewn in the Drawings; and in
order to make the top rollers heavier than iron ones of the same size, I
construct the said top rollers of lead, or of lead and other suitable metal or
materials.
The second part of my improvements relates to the buffers or stops for the
mule carriages, and the slips or rails on which the carriage wheels run. In
Fig. 9, a represents an end view of the carriage, and 6 a pair of the carriage
wheels; and instead of fixing each stop or buffer to the floor, I make it and
the slip or rail on which the carriage wheels run of one piece, as shewn
at c, d, or if they are of separate pieces I bolt them firmly together.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood
that I claim,-
First, the modifications of and additions to the arrangements of rollers for

page_text: which Letters Patent were granted to me, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day
of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
two, Number 3155; and,
Secondly, the formation of each buffer or stop, and the slip or rail on which
the mule carriage wheels run, of one piece, or bolting them firmly together
if of separate pieces, as all such improvements are herein described and
illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Tatham, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named William Tatham,
in the presence of,
E. J. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
WILLIAM TATHAM. (L.S.)
Manchester.