IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Beecroft, Combing Overlooker, and Frederick
Henry Wright, Manager of Albion Mills, Halifax, in the County of York, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL AND
OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
Sealod the 27th October 1877, and dated the 15th May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Beecroft and Frederick
Henry Wright at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th May
1877.
ROBERT BEECROFT, Combing Overlooker, and FREDERICK HENRY WRIGHT
Manager of Albion Mills, Halifax, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
Our Invention relates to employing in a Noble's or other circular comb a series
of sectional or segment combs working in a circle, which are made to fall at the
nearest point of the circle or feed head of the inner or sinaller circular comb,
pressing the fibres coming from the outside circular comb in the inner circular
comb, keeping the nibs or noils behind the comb, leaving clean fringes to pass
through the drawing-off rollers in the ordinary way. For this purpose we fit on the
inner circular comb a circle, in which are fitted in a circle a series of guide rods
having at the base collars forming stops for the segment combs; on two of these
guide rods work up and down each segment comb.
The combs or pins are fitted in blocks, which are made to form a circle, but cach
block is independent of the other, and has a rising and lowering motion; on the
tops of the blocks are formed lugs, in which are fitted studs, which work over an
incline fitted to the frame of the circle of the inner circular comb; over the incline
is fitted a guide, which is fixed to a bracket bolted to the incline; this guide is
fitted over the incline at the dropping point of the segment combs, preventing the
combs lifting.
The segment combs have a lowering and lifting action, and when they arrive
near the nearest point of the circle or feed head, the segment combs are pressed in
the small circular comb, pressing the fibres, which, after passing the nearest point,

page_text: travel on a level until they have passed through the drawing-off rollers, leaving the
nibs or noils in the small inner circular comb until they are removed in the usual
way. After the fibres have passed through the drawing-off rollers, the segment
combs begin to rise by means of an incline, and travel on until the studs fitted in
the blocks of the segment combs come in contact with the down incline and top
guide, when they gradually drop until they come in contact with a spring which
keeps the segment combs pressed in the small circular comb. The spring is fitted
on a bracket fixed over the inner circular comb.
The fibres are prevented working over the outside circular comb and small inner
circular comb by means of revolving disks made to work inside the pins of the
outside comb, pressing the fibres (but fixed knives may be employed); the disks are
fitted in a bearing bolted to the bracket fitted over the small inner circular comb,
and on this bracket is also fitted a lever having a bent end forming a guard, also
preventing the fibres working over the circles of the combs. By these means we
do away with dabbing brushes. On the side, and fitted near the top of the guide
rods, we fit a revolving brush to clean out the segment combs.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Beecroft and Frederick Henry Wright in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 14th November 1877.
ROBERT BEECROFT, Combing Overlooker, and FREDERICK HENRY WRIGHT,
Manager of Albion Mills, Halifax, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
The said Invention relates to employing in a Noble's or other circular comb a
series of sectional or segment combs working in a circle, which are made to fall at
the nearest point of the circle or feed head of the inner or smaller circular comb,
pressing the fibres coming from the outside circular comb in the inner circular
comb, keeping the nibs or noils behind the comb and leaving clean fringes to pass
through the drawing-off rollers in the ordinary way. For this purpose we fit on
the inner circular comb a circle, in which is fitted in a circle a series of guide rods,
having at the base collars forming stops for the segment combs; each seginent comb
works up and down on two of these guide rods.
The pins of the combs are fitted in blocks, which are made to form a circle, but
each block is independent of the others, and has a rising and lowering motion; on
the tops of the blocks are formed lugs, in which are fitted studs which work over an
incline fitted to the frame of the circle of the inner circular comb; over the incline
is fitted a guide, which is fixed to brackets bolted to the incline; this guide is fitted
over the incline at the dropping point of the segment combs, preventing the combs
lifting.
The segment combs have a lowering and lifting action, and when they arrive near
the nearest point of the circle or feed head, the segment combs are pressed in the
small circular comb, pressing the fibres, which after passing the nearest point, travel
on a level until they have passed through the drawing-off rollers, leaving the nibs
or noils in the small inner circular comb until they are removed in the usual way.
After the fibres have passed through the drawing-off rollers, the segment combs
begin to rise by means of the incline, and travel on until the studs fitted in the
blocks of the segment combs come in contact with the down incline and top guide,

page_text: when they gradually drop until they come in contact with a spring, which keeps the
segment combs pressed down. The spring is fitted on a bracket fixed over the inner
circular comb.
The fibres are prevented from working over the outside circular comb and small
inner circular comb by means of revolving disks made to work inside the pins of
the outside comb, pressing the fibres (but fixed knives may be employed). The disks
are fitted in a bearing bolted to the bracket fitted over the small inner circular
comb, and on this bracket is also fitted a lever having a bent end forming a guard,
also preventing the fibres working over the circles of the combs. By these means
we do away with dabbing brushes. On the side and fitted near the top of the
guide rods we fix a revolving brush to clean out the segment combs.
But in order to enable our improvements to be better understood we will proceed
to more particularly describe the saine by reference to the accompanying Drawing,
in which,
Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of the segmental comb apparatus ;
Figure 2, front elevation; and Figure 3, plan of the same.
Figure 4 represents a side elevation of guides, in which work segment combs
instead of employing guide rods; Figure 5, plan of the same.
Figure 6 represents an elevation of another kind of guide rods and segment comb
blocks; Figure 7, plan of the same.
Similar letters of reference are used in all the Figures to represent similar
parts.
On the inner circular comb A is fitted a circle B, in which are fitted a series of
guide rods C having collars D, forming stops for the segment combs E; these combs
work on the guide rods C.
The pins F of the combs E are fitted in blocks G forming a circle, but each block
is independent of the other, and has a rising and lowering motion; on the tops of
the blocks G are fitted studs H, which work over an incline I, fitted on standards J,
fixed to the flange plate K of the steam chest L; over the incline is fitted a
guide M, fixed on brackets N, bolted to the incline I; this guide is fitted over the
incline at the dropping point O of the segment combs E, keeping the studs H on
the incline and preventing the combs lifting.
The segment combs. have a lowering and lifting action, and when they arrive at
the nearest point of the circles or feed head P, the pins F of the segment combs are
pressed in the pins Q of the small or inner circular comb A, pressing and holding
the fibres and doing away with the "dabbing brush." The segment combs and
fibres, after passing the nearest point or feed head, travel on a level until they have
reached the point R, when the segment combs begin to rise by means of the studs H
coming in contact with the rising part S of the incline I. The fibres pass off through
the drawing-off rollers in the usual way, leaving the nibs or noils in the small inner
circular comb A until they are removed by means heretofore known. The segment
combs rise with the studs H working on the up incline S, and travel on until the
studs come in contact with the down incline I and top guide M, when they gradually
drop until the flange T of the segment combs comes in contact with a spring U,
pressing the segment comb down. The spring is fixed on a bracket V, which is
fitted to the pillar W of the inner circular comb.
The fibres are prevented from working over the outside circular comb Y and
small inner circular comb A by means of the revolving disks Z, which work inside
the pins A¹ of the comb Y, pressing the fibres (but fixed knives may be employed).
The disks Z are fitted on a stud B', which is secured in a boss C¹ formed on a
bearing plate D¹, which is made with a slot hole E', to regulate the position of the
disks. The bearing plate D¹ is fixed in the slide F¹ of the bracket V; on this
bracket is also fitted a bearer G¹ having a knife H forming a guard, and also
preventing the fibres working over the circles of the combs Y and A; on the side
and fitted near the top of the guide rods C we fix a revolving brush to clean out
the segment combs.
Figures 4 and 5 represent guides to be employed instead of the guide rods C. The

page_text: blocks G of the segment combs in this case are made with curved sides I', which
work in curved slides formed in the guides J¹; these guides are fixed to the circle B,
which is made with a recess, in which fits a projecting piece K¹ formed on tho
guide J to prevent the guide moving out of position.
The tops of the guides are made with projecting lugs L¹; to which is screwed a
ring M, securing each guide firmly in position.
The segment combs can be lifted out and replaced with ease, the guides being left
open at the top, and the foot of the guides is made with a flange N' acting as a
stop for the segment comb.
We can also employ, as shewn in Figures 6 and 7, guide rods O¹, fixed at each
side of the segment blocks G, instead of having two guide rods to each segment
comb.
The guide rods are made without stop collars, and the bottom parts Pl of the
segment comb blocks are made longer, striking on the circle B, in which the guide
rods are fitted. The tops of these blocks are also reduced in height.
',
Having thus described our improvements and the best means we are acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, we would have it understood that we do
not confine ourselves to the precise. details shown and described, as they may be
varied without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention, but what we
do claim.is,―
Firstly: The general arrangement, construction, and employment of sectional or
segment combs working in a circle, which are made to fall at the nearest point of
the circles or feed head of the inner or smaller circular comb, substantially as herein-
before described and represented by the Drawing annexed.
Secondly. The method and arrangement for effecting the falling of the segment
comb at the nearest point of the circle, pressing the fibres coming from the outside
circular comb in the inner circular coinb, doing away with " dabbing brushes,"
substantially as herein described and represented in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, we, the said Robert Beecroft and Frederick Henry Wright,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirteenth day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
JOHN HENRY HALLIDAY.
ROBERT BEECROFT.
(LS.)
FREDERICK HENRY WRIGHT. (L.S.)