CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUB- STANCES FOR SPINNING
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ellis Sutton, of Radcliffe, in the County of Lan-
caster, Cotton Spinner, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUB-
STANCES FOR SPINNING."
Sealed the 11th February 1862, and dated the 17th August 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ellis Sutton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th August 1861.
I, ELLIS SUTTON, of Radcliffe, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton Spinner,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
FOR SPINNING," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to that description of machinery used in the pre-
paration of cotton and other fibrous materials, known as the "scutcher" or
opener, and is designed for the purpose of extracting dirt and extraneous
matter from the fibres under operation.
The Invention consists, first, in fixing a plate, perforated or otherwise, and
of suitable material, behind the beaters used in such machines, and in per-
forating the covers of such beaters, the plate being secured near to and behind
the beater cover or covers, and provided with hinges and screw to regulate the
admission of air behind the beaters. Beneath or at the under side of the

page_text: beaters and at certain convenient positions pipes or tubes are arranged in con-
nection with a revolving fan, so as to exhaust the air and with it the dirt from
beneath the beaters, and thereby to separate dirt and extraneous matter from
the cotton preparatory to spinning.
The second part of the Invention consists in affixing to the "carding engine"
a roller or cylinder furnished with a number of blades upon the periphery,
placed in contact with the "licker-in," and driven at a suitable speed in the
opposite direction thereto, for the purpose of separating the dirt from the
cotton as it passes into the "carding engine."
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Ellis Sutton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th February 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ELLIS
SUTTON, of Radcliffe, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton Spinner, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Ellis Sutton, Her special license that I, the said Ellis Sutton, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Ellis
Sutton, 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 make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUB-
STANCES," upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said Ellis Sutton,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly 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 I, the said Ellis Sutton, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):
My Invention relates to that description of machinery used in the pre-
paration of cotton and other fibrous materials, known as the "scutcher" or
opener, and is designed for the purpose of extracting dirt and extraneous
matter from the fibres under operation.
The Invention consists, first, in fixing a plate, perforated or otherwise, and of
suitable material, behind the beaters used in such machines, and in perforating
the covers of such beaters, the plate being secured near to and behind the
beater cover or covers, and provided with binges and screws to regulate the
admission of air behind the beaters. Beneath or at the under side of the
beaters and at certain convenient positions pipes or tubes are arranged in con-
nection with a revolving fan, so as to exhaust the air and with it the dirt from
beneath the beaters, and thereby to separate dirt and extraneous matter from
the cotton preparatory to spinning.
The second part of the Invention consists in affixing to the "carding
engine" a roller or cylinder furnished with a number of blades upon the peri-
phery placed in contact with the "licker-in," and driven at a suitable speed in
the opposite direction thereto, for the purpose of separating the dirt from the
cotton as it passes into the carding engine."
66
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail, I have hereunto annexed two Sheets of Drawings, made upon a scale
of about one and a half inches to a foot, and having letters of reference marked
thereupon.
66
In Sheet 1, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine known as the
opener or scutcher," in which the dirt is extracted from the cotton or other
fibrous material, exhibiting the pipe or tube by which the dirt is drawn away
when disengaged from the cotton by the beaters. Figs. 2 and 3 are detached
views of a portion of the opener shewing the back part of the beater cover.
In Sheet 2 is represented the front portion of a carding engine where the
"licker-in" is situated, shewing the cylinder furnished with blades beneath the
" licker-in."
In Fig. 1, Sheet 1, a, a, is the framing of the machine; b, b, is the per-
forated cover or part enclosing the beaters; and c, the pipe or case leading to
the fan for exhausting the air, in communication with which is the supple-
mentary air pipe d leading to the chamber below the beaters, one air pipe
being fixed on each side of the machine, or, if preferred, the pipe or pipes
fixed in the inside of the machine; e, e, is the perforated plate behind the
beaters, to which the perforated cover is hinged, a view of which taken across

page_text: the machine is shewn separately in Fig. 3. In Fig. 2, the beater cover is shewn
hinged to the side pieces f,f, which are capable of being raised or lowered, so
as to regulate the admission of air through the opening g. By connecting the
chamber beneath the beaters with the exhausting fan by means of intermediate
pipes or tubes, I am enabled to extract the dirt more thoroughly and to remove
it entirely from the chamber, thereby effecting a considerable improvement in
the cleansing of cotton and other fibrous materials.
In Sheet 2, a, a, is the framing of the carding engine; b, the "licker-in;"
and c, the cylinder furnished with a number of peculiarly edged blades, and
placed beneath the "licker-in" and in contact therewith, but rotating in the
contrary direction.
I am aware that a cylinder of a somewhat similar description has been
before employed, but by forming the blades "chisel-shaped," the dirt is
loosened and separated more effectually from the cotton before passing to the
carding cylinder.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the
method of performing the same, I claim,―
First, the novel application, employment, and use of a perforated cover to
the beaters, and of a perforated plate or door behind the beaters for the admis-
sion of air at that particular part instead of at the sides of such casing or
covering.
And, secondly, I claim the combination of parts forming the improved appa-
ratus for preparing cotton and other fibrous substances, as herein-before
described and shewn in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ellis Sutton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
ALLIDAY
ELLIS SUTTON. (L.D.)