CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING AND SPINNING COTTON FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1849

page_text: FAIRBAIRN AND HETHERINGTON'S SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, PETER
FAIRBAIRN, of Leeds, in the County of York, Machinist, and JOHN HETHER-
INGTON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing cdate.at
Westminster, the Third day of December, in the thirteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said:
Peter Fairbairn and John Hetherington, Her especial license, full: power, sole:
privilege and authority, that we, the said Peter Fairbairn and John Hether-
ington, our exors, admors, and assigns, and such others as we; the said Peter
Fairbairn and John: Hetherington, our exors, admors, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the
term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,>
and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, an
Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING AND
SPINNING COTTON, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," being partly a com-
munication; in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, obliging us,
the said Peter Fairbairn and John Hetherington, by an instrument in writing
under our hands and seals; or under the hand and seal-of one of us, particularly
to describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in Her:
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.
NOW KNOW. YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said John
Hetherington (on behalf of myself and of the said Peter Fairbairn). do hereby

page_text: declare that the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, is particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following description thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say):
These improvements in machinery for preparing and spinning cotton, flax, and
other fibrous substances, consist in sundry novel constructions, forms, appli-
ances, and modes of arranging some of the working parts of preparing, spinning,
twisting, and doubling machinery, but principally of those machines known by
the names of "slubbing machines," "roving machines," and "jack frames."
The most prominent features of these improvements are, the novel means of
driving the differential motions, and varying the taking-up speed of the bobbins,
in order that the yarns or threads may be wound or laid round the bobbins
with a uniform tension during the whole operation of winding on.
The first of these improvements consists in the peculiar construction and
arrangement of series of toothed wheels mounted upon two parallel shafts, the
wheels ranging in the forms of two reversed cones.
In the accompanying Drawings, Sheet I. represents this feature of improve-
ment set out in several Figures, being parts of a slubbing machine or bobbin
and fly frame, and in which similar letters indicate the same parts of the
machine in all the Figures. Fig. 1 is an elevation of the back of the machine,
such parts of the mechanism only being shewn as are considered necessary for
the explanation of the present improvement. A, A, are the fast and loose
pullies upon the main driving shaft B; to this driving shaft is affixed the
wheel a, and by the rotation of which the wheels b, c, d, and e, connected with
each other, are driven in the usual manner. The wheel e is made fast upon
the ordinary front roller shaft C, and the wheel d upon the long longitudinal
shaft D, D, D, which carries the upper toothed cone or fixed conical series of
toothed wheels E, E, E. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the end of the machine
taken at the left hand of Fig. 1, shewing the wheels already described, and
also other wheels well known as appertaining to the ordinary movements of
slubbing and roving frames. Fig. 3 is a vertical section; taken transversely
through the machine at the dotted line 1, 2, in the first Figure, shewing the
standard F and the bearings of the shafts B, D, G, and Y. The series of
wheels E, E, E, (see Fig. 1,) diminish gradually in diameter toward the right
hand, but are all divided into a similar number of teeth round their respective
peripheries, which teeth, of consequence, diminish in size in the same ratio as
the wheels diminish in diameter. These wheels (say; thirty in number) are all
fastened (by a key or otherwise) in a conical range to the shaft D, and of course

page_text: are made to revolve with that shaft by the rotary motion given to it by the
wheel d fixed at its end. A short longitudinal shaft G, G, having its bearings.
in the transverse standards F and H (see Fig. 1), and turning parallel to the.
shaft D, carries a conical series of toothed wheels I, I, I, increasing in
5 diameter toward the right, and also in arithmetical progression in the number.
of teeth formed round their several peripheries, say, from twenty-four to
sixty-five, but capable of working into the teeth of the corresponding wheels.
E, E, E, upon the parallel shaft D. These wheels I are all separate from.
each other, and turn loosely upon the shaft G, all running round upon their.
shaft as the fast wheels E drive them, except some one wheel of the series
I, I, I, which is locked to the shaft G, by means hereafter described. This,
shaft G is hollow, as shewn partially in the longitudinal section upon an.
enlarged scale at Fig. 4, in, which Figure also will be seen the means.
employed for locking any one of the wheels I firmly to the shaft G. Fig. 5.
represents the same portion of the machine as Fig. 4, but in external elevation,,
which two last-mentioned Figures will illustrate the working parts not seen or.
imperfectly shewn in the elevation at Fig. 1. A transverse section of the roving.
frame, taken at the dotted line 3, 4, in Fig. 1, is given at Fig. 6, and another
transverse section, taken at the dotted line 5, 6, in Fig. 1, is given at Fig. 7, for.
the purpose of explaining the general constructions, arrangements, and opera-.
tions of the new mechanism in connection with the ordinary parts of machines
of this kind.
For the better understanding of the means employed for locking any one
of the wheels I to the hollow shaft G, a transverse section of the shaft is shown
at Fig. 8, corresponding with the longitudinal section at. Fig. 4, and upon this
shaft G one of the loose wheels I is seen mounted. In two opposite parts of
the shaft long slots or longitudinal openings are made at f, f, for the purpose
of allowing two spring teeth g, g, within the tube (see Fig. 4) to slide, in.
These teeth g, g, are attached to spring levers h, h, which press them outward
through the slots. f, f, and cause the teeth to protrude and bear against the
internal periphery of that wheel I to which they may happen to be opposite.
The internal peripheries of these wheels I have each a series of notches i, i, i,
(see Fig. 8) cut in them, (say twenty-one in number,) so that one of the
notches i will always be found to be opposite to one of the slots f, and there-
fore one of the teeth g will by the force of its spring lever be projected into
the notch i of the wheel, I, and thereby lock it fast to the shaft G, on which
before it tnrned loosely.
The differential motions required for winding the yarns equally upon the
bobbins in these kind of machines are governed by. the rotary speed of the

page_text: shaft G or axle of the conical range of wheels 1; it is therefore by changing
the locking attachment of any one of the wheels I with the axle G, and
shifting this locking apparatus from a wheel of lesser diameter to one of
greater diameter and number of teeth, that the wheels E are enabled to drive
the axle or shaft G with a diminished speed, and so, by the pinion k fixed upon
the end of the shaft G, to cause the winding-on motion through the ordinary
train of differential wheels and axles to effect the laying of the yarns round
the bobbins with a uniform pressure during the continual increase or enlarge-
ment of the bobbin.
"
Having described the means of locking any one of the wheels I to its shaft
or axle G, and thereby causing that shaft or axle to revolve with a speed pro-
portioned to the different diameters of the driving wheels E and the driven
wheel I, it will now be necessary to explain the means by which this motion
is gradually and effectively brought to operate upon the winding on of the yarns'
during the progress of the roving or slubbing operation. At the commence-
ment of the roving or slubbing operation, when the bobbins are empty and the
yarns are to be wound upon the smallest diameters of the bobbins, the locking
teeth g, g, are to be slidden along the hollow axle G toward the smaller of the
wheels I, in Fig. 1, according to the thickness of the roving, as will be here-
after explained. The means by which this is done will be presently seen.
The spring levers h, h, that carry the teeth g, g, are mounted in and attached
by joints to a sliding frame or carriage K, which carriage is firmly bolted to a
horizontal rod L, and with the rod moves freely along within the tube G, like as
piston: The outer end of this rod L'is connected by an upright arm M with
á horizontal rack bar N below, which rack bar slides in a socket formed
in the piece P, P, affixed to a bracket Q, bolted to the side of the standard H,
see Fig. 1. This rack bar N and the parts connected with it will be best
seen in the enlarged section at Figures 4 and 5, and in the corresponding
detached Figure taken transversely through the bracket Q, and shéwn at Fig.
9. The upright arm M, which connects the rod L and the rack bar N, slides
upon a horizontal square guide bar R, affixed to the standards H and S, see
Figures 1 and 7, and thereby one end of the rack bar is supported; the other
end of the rack bar is held up by a piece T, which slides upon a horizontal
guide rod U, affixed to the standards F and H, as shewn in Fig. 1. To the
upright arm M a chain O is attached, and passed over pullies, having a weight
at its end, by the power of which weight the rack bar N, and the rod L, with
the frame or piston K, and teeth 9, 9, would be caused to slide along toward
the right, but this is prevented by two upright catch bolts 1 and m, see Figures
4 and 9, which, by springs p, p, are forced up into the teeth of a ratchet V, V;

page_text: formed at the under side of the rack bar N, and thereby stops the rack bar from
sliding. These bolts land m pass vertically through two staples n, n, fixed in
the bracket piece P, and are slidden up through the staples into the ratchet by
the contracting power of the springs p, p. To the bolt a rod q is attached
by a loop and pin, and to the bolt m a rod r, in a similar way, seen best in Figures
6 and 9; these rods q and r are at their lower ends respectively attached to a
double-armed lever s, s, affixed to a vibrating shaft X, as shewn in Figures 1
and 6, which shaft X is connected with the ordinary mangle wheel motion.
It is scarcely necessary to say, that driving power being communicated from
the pinion k of the wheel shaft G through the usual train of wheels and axles,
shewn in Figures 1 and 3, the lower horizontal shaft Y'will be made to revolve,
and from it the ordinary differential wheel or box of wheels t, commonly used
in bobbin and fly frames, will be actuated, by which means the required motions
are given to the bobbins for winding on the yarns. It will also be perceived
that near the right hand end of the shaft Y there is a pinion u fixed, which
drives a train of wheels, seen in Fig. 1, and that this train, by means of the
wheel v, gives motion to the tumbling shaft Z, the pinion x at the end of which
works round within the mangle wheel -w. The ordinary mode of driving the.
mangle wheel w by means of the rotation of the tumbling. shaft Z, and its pinion
x being well understood, it is simply necessary to say that the pinion & at the
end of the tumbling shaft Z (by running first on the inner periphery and then
on the outer periphery of the circular range of teeth or pins in the mangle
wheel w) gives to the shaft Z a slight oscillating movement, which movement
is communicated through the connecting bell crank lever y to the shaft X,
causing that shaft at intervals to vibrate, and with it the small double-armed
lever s, s, fixed to the reverse end of the shaft X. The two arms of this double
levers, s, as before said, are respectively connected by joints to the lower
ends of the upright rods q and r, as shewn in Fig. 6, and the upper ends of the
said rods are by loops and pins respectively attached to the upright spring
bolts and m, as shewn in Fig. 9. As, therefore, the double-armed lever s, s
vibrates, the rods q or r. will be moved up or down alternately, and will thereby
cause the bolts 7 or m to slide up or down in their staples n, n. Supposing,
then, that by a vibratory movement of the shaft X the left hand end of the
double levers has been depressed, as in Fig. 6, the rod q would then be drawn
down, and with it the bolt 1, as seen in Fig. 9; the other, or right hand end of
the lever s, at the same time would have risen and allowed the spring p to
draw up the bolt m, as seen in Fig 4. It will be perceived, that in this
elevated position the upper end of the bolt m operates as a stop against one of
the teeth of the ratchet V, and thereby prevents the rack bar N. being drawn
t

page_text: toward the right hand by the weighted chain O, at which time the spring tooth
within the hollow shaft G will have taken into a notch in the inner part of
the wheel of the series I, shewn in Fig. 4, and have locked that wheel firmly to
its shaft. Now, by the time that the pinion a, at the end of the tumbling
"shaft Z, has passed once round the mangle wheel w, it will have become neces-
sary to alter the taking up speed, by releasing the second wheel I from the
shaft, and bringing into operation the third wheel I of the series, locking it to
the shaft, for the purpose of reducing the taking up motion of the yarns upon
the bobbins. The oscillating movement of the tumbling shaft Z having, there-
fore, by the bell crank y, acting on the vibrating shaft X, thrown the small
double lever s, s, into the reverse position, shewn by dots in Fig. 6, the rod r with
its bolt m will be drawn down, and the end of the bolt m released from the tooth
of the ratchet V, the weighted chain O then drawing the rack bar N onward
until the next tooth of the ratchet V is arrested by the bolt 1, which has been
raised. The rack bar now will by the bolt 1 be again held fast, and, during
the sliding of the bar N, with its appendages M, L, and K, one of the spring
teeth g will have been enabled to pass into a notch i of the next wheel I, and
thereby lock that wheel fast to the tubular shaft G, as in the former case.
Thus it will be perceived that at every vibration of the shaft X an escape-
ment of half a tooth of the ratchet V takes place, and by the sliding of the
rack bar N with the arm M, rod L, and piston K, half a tooth of the ratchet
V, the succeeding wheel of the series I, I, I, becomes locked to the shaft G,
which operation progressively goes on during the process of slubbing or roving
the yarn, and a gradual diminution of the taking up or winding on speed occurs
as the bobbins enlarge in diameter. In order to prevent the tooth g holding
or locking two wheels upon the shaft G at the same time, the notches into
which the teeth g, g, protrude are all made with wedge formed ribs, as
shewn in the section, Fig. 4, by which means, as the tooth passes from one
wheel to the next, it is made to rise out of one notch and pass over the wedge
formed elevation before it can lock itself into the notch of the next wheel.
When the bobbins are full of yarn, and another set of bobbins are about to
be supplied for the like operation of roying or slubbing, the box or piston K
carrying the teeth g, g, with the rod L, the arm M, and the rack bar N must
be slidden back, in order that the teeth g may again take hold of the smaller
wheels of the series I in succession, as before. This is done by turning the
hand wheel z upon the end of the pinion shaft W, shewn in Figures 1 and 4,
which pinion works in the rack on the upper side of the bar N, the ratchet V
sliding freely over the spring bolts and m; the machine is then ready to
commence the slubbing and winding on operation, as before.

page_text: For the more perfect comprehension of this part of our Invention, we would
remark, that supposing the machine was required to wind rovings of such
thickness that a layer of yarn was equal to the twenty-fourth part of the
diameter of the empty bobbin to be wound upon, and that the driving wheel E
on the shaft D was of thirty teeth, then we should make the first wheel I on
the tubular shaft G of twenty-four teeth, and the pinion k, under these cir-
cumstances, must have the same number of teeth; then with every succeeding
layer of roving, we, by the mechanism shewn, shift the spring lever teeth g, g,
successively into wheels of twenty-five, twenty-six, and twenty-seven teeth,
and so on, until the bobbin is completed. If the layer of yarn is equal
to the twenty-sixth part of the diameter of the bobbin we should commence
with wheel I of twenty-six teeth, and pinion k of the same number, and
shift as before in succession to wheels I of twenty-seven, twenty-eight, and
twenty-nine teeth, &c. &c., always taking care that the pinion k on the
hollow shaft G should be changed, so as to equal the number of teeth in the
wheel I on the conical range I, I, I, which we commenced with. For coarse
slubbing or roving, we usually employ a series of wheels I, I, I, forming the
conical range on the shaft G, rising in numbers twenty-four to twenty-seven,
thirty, thirty-three, and so on. Supposing the thickness of the layer of roving
was equal to one-eighth part of the bobbin barrel, we commence with wheel
having twenty-four teeth, and shift to wheels of twenty-seven, thirty, and so on.
If, however, the thickness of the layer of slubbing was found to be equal to one-
ninth part of the barrel of the bobbin, we should commence with a wheel of
twenty-seven teeth, altering the pinion k to one of the same number, and so
shift as before.
Having now explained the first of our improvements, we desire it to be
understood that we do not intend to confine ourselves to the particular forms
of all the novel parts shewn in the several Figures of the Drawing above
described, nor to the precise arrangement or connection with their old or well-
known parts of roving, slubbing, or jack frames; but we claim, as the novel
features of this part of our improvements :-
Firstly, the employment of a conical range of tooth gear of different
diameters for driving the common differential motion of a roving, slubbing, or
jack frame.
Secondly, the contrivance by which the wheels I are severally locked to the
shaft or axle G, which drives the ordinary differential motion and the peculiar
formation of the teeth g and notches i, by which two of the wheels I cannot
possibly be locked to the shaft G at the same time.

page_text: And; thirdly, the construction and employment of an escapement actuated, by
a connection with the mangle wheel or reversing motion of the copping rail,
and operating upon the locking apparatus, for the purpose of changing the
speed of the differential wheels at the moment when the layer of roving or
slubbing in winding on has reached the top or bottom of the bobbin.
Another method of driving the differential apparatus of a bobbin and fly frame
by progressively changing, speeds is shewn in the accompanying Drawings at
Sheet II, in which Fig. 1 'represents in elevation a back view of some of
the general features of an ordinary bobbin and fly frame,, with the improved
parts adapted thereto; Fig. 2 being a transverse section, of the same, taken in
the dotted line 1, 2, of the first Figure; and Fig., 3. is a similar sectional
elevation, taken in the dotted line 3,-4; at the right hand end of Fig. 1. The
ordinary differential box of wheels in this Figure being removed, the shaft and
pinion only with their appendages are shewn, by which the differential wheels are
driven. The fast and loose pullies for driving the machine are upon the hori-
zontal shaft A, which shaft carries the differential motion as usual, shewn at B.
On the left hand, end of-the shaft A a pinion C is fixed, which, through an
intermediate wheel D, drives the wheel E, fixed to the horizontal shaft F; this
shaft F gives motion to the front drawing rollers, as shewn by dots in Fig. 3,
and it also has affixed to it the long, cylinder, or drum¡G, over which the
strap H passes to the cone I below; this cone as usual gives motion through
a pinion K at the end of its shaft to the differential motion B, as will be seen
in Fig. 1. The sliding laterally of the strap II upon the drum G and cone I,
for varying the speed of the differential motion, is effected much in the
ordinary way by the longitudinal movement of the horizontal bar L, which
bar conducts the sliding strap guide M and the pulley N. The shaft of the
cone I turns at each end in bearings in the frame J, J,-which-frame is enabled
to move vertically in, the slider frames P, P, made fast to the standards (as
seen in Fig. 2), for the purpose of enabling the cone with its frame to rise in
accordance with the position of the strap H, so that the strap may always be
kept at the same tension. In order that the pinion K at the end of the cone
shaft may be always in gear with the bevel wheel Q on the upright shaft,
which drives the differential motion, the bevel wheel Q is made to slide
vertically upon its shaft in correspondence with the rising of the cone frame J.
The cone with its frame, as we have said, is enabled to rise vertically in the
slide frame P, P, which vertical movement is effected by the draft of the
strap Has it moves along the cone and drum; but in order to produce a
perfectly parallel movement of the cone frame J, J, in the slide frame P, P,

page_text: a vertical rack R, R, is affixed to each end of the moveable frame J, J,
which racks take into pinions S, S, at the ends of a coupling shaft T, mounted
in bearings at the lower end of the slide frame.
We have said that the horizontal bar L moves the strap H along the cone
and drum. This sliding movement of the bar L is produced in the ordinary
way by the draft of a weighted chain or cord U, attached to one end of the
bar L, and passed over a pulley, as shewn in Fig. 1; but in order to make this
movement of the bar and strap progress at intervals corresponding, with the
reversing of the copping motion, an escapement is adapted to effect this object,
as shewn in Fig. 1. This escapement is connected with the copping rail (as
will be shewn), and consists of a vibrating lever a, a, working upon a stud set
in one of the standards of the machine at 6 (see Fig. 1). Upon this stud
there is a loose pinion and bevel wheel c, (seen best in the detached
horizontal view at Fig. 4,) which bevel wheel takes into a corresponding
pinion d, at the end of a shaft e, e, having a right and left handed serow
or reverse spiral for producing a lengthening and shortening motion of the
copping rail by the position of the pin k in the shaft e, which determines the
amount of ascent and descent of the copping rail, as will be further explained.
The copping rail seen at n in the section Fig. 5 has an arm m extending
from its under side, which carries a grooved piece p, that the pink of the
screw shaft e, e, is inserted into, consequently, the extent or are of vibration of
the lever a regulates the ascent and descent of the copping. rail, and thereby
determines the length of the winding on of the yarns upon the bobbins; for
though the copping rail is raised and depressed as usual by the rotary action
derived from the shaft q, and in rising and falling moves the lever. a, a, by
means of the stud or pink, as described, yet the position of the stud or pin k
determines the periods at which the shaft q shall be slidden for the purpose of
changing the motion, by bringing alternately one of the wheels r or s into gear
with the pinion W, on the shaft of the wheel Q, connected with the differential
wheels, which produce the reversing motion in the way usually practised.
Now, in order to vary the position of the stud or pin k progressively during
the winding of the yarn on the bobbin, the following contrivance is adopted :--
The right hand end of the vibrating lever a, a, has a segmental double grove at
f, f, (see Fig. 1, and the detached Fig. 6,) in which groove there works a stud or
pin g, fixed in a rocking lever h, h, h; h, formed as a T reversed. This rocking
lever is mounted upon a pin or stud set in the lower rail of the machine at i.
As the copping rail rises and falls and the lever a, a, vibrates, the stud g_set
in the rocking lever h, h, will be acted upon by the curved double groove f, f,
of the lever a, a, and at cach limit of the vibration of that lever the stud g

page_text: will pass from the larger to the lesser radius, and vice versâ of the curved
grooves ff, and at such time allow the lever h to tumble over to the right or
left, which will be assisted by the pendant weights attached to the lever below.
These weights are alternately lifted over the dead centre by the rocking
movement of a T formed lever u, hanging behind on the stud i (see Fig. 6).
This lever carries a socket j, and through this socket a rod t slides, having two
stops x, x, upon it, which rod is by a joint at the other end connected to an
arm descending from the under side of the lever a, a. It will hence be seen,
that as the lever a vibrates, by bringing one of the stops a against the side of
the lever u, the rod t will raise one end of the foot of the lever u, and give to
one of the weights pendant on the lever h the necessary tilt, which will throw
the lever h into the opposite position. It will also be perceived that a stud v
connects the rocking lever h with the longitudinal rod w, which rod is by a
swivel jointed to the shaft q, and therefore it will be seen that the tumbling of
the lever h will cause the wheels r or s alternately to be brought into gear
with the pinion, and thereby produce the change or reversing motion of the
copping rail. The extent or are through which the vibrating lever a, a, moves
being always the same, if the connecting pin k remained always in the same
situation on the screw shaft e, there would be no lengthening or shortening
motion produced; but by sliding the socket with its pink (shewn at
Fig. 4) upon the screw shaft, the lengthening and shortening motions are
effected. This is done by the following means:-Upon a standard fixed
to the back rail of the machine, shewn at Fig. 1, an upright stocket q* is
mounted, through which a vertical spindle passes. At the lower end of this
vertical spindle there is affixed a small lever or finger p*, the end of which
finger takes into the groove, before described, of the rocking lever h, and at the
upper end of the vertical spindle a tooth or catch y is affixed, which takes into
the teeth of a double ratchet wheel z. Referring back to the statement that
the bar L which slides the strap II (see Fig. 1) is slidden forward by the draft
of a weighted chain U, it will be seen, that a rack affixed to the back of the
bar L acts upon a toothed wheel connected with a train of wheels, and that
thereby the ratchet wheel would be driven round were it not for the tooth or
catch Y, which locks against one of its teeth. Now, as the rocking lever his
moved to and fro, as described, the small lever or finger p* will be turned to
and fro in lateral directions at intervals by the rocking lever, and with it the
tooth or catch y will be moved sideways, so as to allow one of the teeth of the
ratchet wheel to escape at every moment of the stop y. By these means,
another wheel of the train, connected with the ratchet wheel, will be made
to act slowly upon the pinion c on the stud 6 (see Fig. 4), and to turn the

page_text: Bevel pinion d and shaft e, e, thereby causing the socket with its stud k to
travel slowly along the double screw shaft e, so as to shorten or lengthen the
distance between the centre of the lever a and its connection with the copping
rail. Thus it will be seen that the rising and falling action of the copping rail
will be restrained and limited by the situation of the pin k in the lever a, for
at every vibration of the lever a, whether the pin k has passed through a large
or small arc, the reversing motion will be instantly changed, and the length of
the winding on of the yarns upon the bobbin determined accordingly.
Having now described, in reference to roving and slubbing machines, the
manner in which we preserve the uniform tension of the driving strap that
actuates the cone, by means of a sliding carriage or cone frame, governed by
racks, coupling shaft, and pinions, we desire it to be understood that we claim
in this part of our improvements the rising and falling in a vertical direction
of the cone carriage, whether effected by the means above shewn, or by chains,
bands, jointed levers, or any mechanical mode of effecting the same object; and
also as respects the lengthening and shortening motions, we claim the adaptation
and employment of the double threaded screw shaft and its appendages to a
slubbing or roving machine, and also the tube frames, by which we are enabled
to build rovings or slubbings upon bobbins of the form shewn in the detached
Figures 7.
In Sheet III. our improvements in flyers are shewn in several views. The
object of this part of our Invention is to overcome the centrifugal force of
the presser, or the disposition which it has to fly off from the bobbin when
rapidly rotating. This tendency has been attempted to be compensated in
two different ways; first, by the use of a spring for keeping the presser in
contact with the filling bobbin; and, secondly, by means of a weight attached
to the arm of the presser, and which receives on the rotation of the flyer a
centrifugal force, acting in opposition to that of the presser. Now, our
improvement consists in combining these two actions, whereby we are enabled
to get a more perfect action than hitherto.
Fig. 1 represents in elevation (partly in section), and Fig. 2 in plan view, a
flyer with one arrangement of our presser compensation apparatus applied
thereto. a is the presser, secured to or forming part with the stem b, as usual.
The upper end of this stem 6 passes through a spring box c, containing a
coiled d, and secured to a leg of the flyer. One end of this spring is secured
to the bottom of the box, and the other end projects into a hole formed for
that purpose in the socket of a bent lever e, which lever is affixed to the stem
6 by a nut, as shewn, and carries at its outer end a weight f.
securing the spring is shewn on an enlarged scale at Fig 1*.
This mode of
On referring to

page_text: the plan view it will be understood that when the presser is in the position it
will assume on the commencement of the filling of the bobbin, the weighted
lever will be in a position to communicate to the presser (while the flyer is
rotating) the greatest amount of counteracting force that it will receive during
the filling of the bobbin; and it will also be understood that this amount of
counteracting force will gradually decrease as the diameter of the bobbin increases,
from the fact that the presser will be caused to recede from the spindle or centre
of motion, while the weighted end of the lever (being rigidly connected to the
presser) will be drawn nearer to the centre of motion. As, therefore, the counter-
acting centrifugal force of the weighted lever is reduced at the time that the
tendency for the presser to, fly away, from its work is increased, the spring dis
brought gradually into action, the winding up of the spring being consequent upon
the inward movement of the lever, and thus the required amount of resistance to
the accumulating centrifugal power of the presser is maintained throughout the
whole operation of filling the bobbin. The adjustment of the spring in the box
may be effected in various ways. When the spring is applied as shewn at Fig. 1*,
we pierce the bottom of the box with a ring of holes (see Fig. 2*), which admits
of the end of the spring being inserted in either hole, and thus allows of its being
contracted or expanded to a certain degree. For convenience of adjustment,
we prefer, however, either of the plans shewn at Figures 3* and 4*. In Fig.
3, instead of the lower end of the spring entering a fixed bottom, it enters a
similar hole in a plug 1, which forms the bottom of the box, and is capable of
being forced upwards by means of a nut 2-working upon a thread cut upon a con-
tinuation of the plug projecting from the box. In Fig. 4* the lower end of the
spring is stationary; as before, but its upper end is inserted into a moveable piece
3, which is bored with a conical hole, for the purpose of fitting upon the conically
turned end of the stem b, which carries the compensating weighted lever e.
When the piece 3 is turned round, so as to give the proper compression to
the spring, the nut 4 on the stem is screwed down, and the lever e is made to
bind upon the piece 3, and retain it in its required position. Fig. 3 represents
in plan view a modification of the above described mode of compensating for
the centrifugal force of the presser. The vertical stem 6 of the presser a is
bent over at its upper end to a right angle, and again taking a vertical direc-
tion is made to carry a rod h, which is jointed to the weighted lever c. In this
instance the lever e vibrates upon a stud projecting downwards from the head
of the flyer, and also carrying the spring box c, which rocks upon the stud.
i is a rod passed through a slot cut in the end of the stem 6; it is threaded at
one end to receive an adjusting nut, and at the other carries a plunger, which
works in the spring box, and is intended to regulate the pressure of the spring,

page_text: by narrowing or enlarging the space for its expansion, as will be more clearly
understood on inspecting the enlarged section of the box at Fig. 5*. It is
only necessary, therefore, when the pressure of the spring is required to be
altered to turn the nut on the rod i either to the right or left hand. At
Figures 4 and 5 a modification of this part of our Invention is shewn in eleva-
tion and plan view, as applied to a flyer, the object being to balance the weight
of the presser and compensating weighted lever. This is effected by applying
to the other leg of the flyer, and at the opposite side thereof,' parts similar in
construction (as regards weight and bulk) to the acting parts a ande, described
in the first arrangement: These parts are shewn at a and e*, and their
movement is made to be consequent on and similar to that of the presser and
its compensating lever, by means of the connecting rod g, which is jointed at
one end to the lever e and at the other to the part a*. The centrifugal com-
pensation apparatus is the same as that represented at Figures 1 and 2.
Another mode of compensating for the weight of the presser and weighted
lever is shewn in elevation at Fig. 6, and in plan at Fig. 7. To the stem 6 of
the presser a the weighted levere is bolted; and on the socket of this lever a
segment rack is made, which gears into a similar segment rack; formed on the
boss of the balancing piece a*;. which is a counterpart, as in the above'
described arrangement, of the presser and weighted lever.' That leg of the
flyer which carries the stem forms also the support for the balancing piece, and
as the position of the presser a is changed, by reason of the increasing diameter
of the bobbin,' the 'balancing piece will receive a corresponding change of
position through the action of the segment cams.
Fig. 8 shews a slight alteration in the arrangement of the parts, the action'
being, however; identical with that last described: In this instance the stem of
the presser carries the balancing piece.
Having now described our improvements in compensating for or neutralizing
the centrifugal tendency and the weight of the presser, we wish it to be under-
stood that under this part of the Invention we claim; ----
First, the combined action of a spring (of whatever construction) and a
weighted lever, for the purpose of keeping the presser to its work.
Secondly, the several arrangements for effecting this object, as shewn in
Sheet III. of the Drawings.
And, thirdly, the mode of effecting the balance of the presser and its
weighted lever, as shewn and described.
Another part of our Invention; referring to spinning, consists in giving a
bearing to the spindle at a point near its upper end, the object being to drive'
the spindle with an increased speed without materially increasing the amount

page_text: of its oscillation. This we effect in the manner shewn at Fig. 9, which is an
elevation of the spindle, mounted according to our improvement. A is the
spindle; B, the step rail; and C, the bolster rail, forming a support for a vertical
tube D. Through this tube the spindle A of the ordinary construction passes.
The tube D is bored out of a uniform diameter to the point 1, suitable for
receiving the part 2 of the spindle, and beyond the point 1 it is bored of a less
diameter, suited to receive the lesser diameter of the upper end of the spindle.
By this means the spindle receives a bearing at its upper end (in addition to
the usual bearing at the middle of its length) without the use of a top rail,
and thus it will admit of being driven at a great speed without that inconve-
nience being experienced which is consequent upon employing a top rail
bearing. We claim the mode of effecting this improvement as above
described.
.
Another part of our Invention refers to an improvement in the drawing or
roving frame, and consists in an arrangement for stopping the action of the
machine when a roving is broken. Fig. 10 shews in front view so much of
a drawing frame as is necessary to describe the improvement, and Fig. 11 is a
side view of the same. The machine is driven through the interposition of a
clutch box A, B, the part A of which is keyed on the axle of the lower drawing
rollers C, and the other part B is loose on the same axle, which axle is in con-
nection with the motive. power machinery. When a roving is broken the
guide E falls, and the lower arm of the crank lever on which is mounted.
fall into a notch on a horizontal sliding bar F, attached to one end of which is
a lever G. This lever carries a bowl or stud, which works in a cam groove
cut in the periphery of the part B of the clutch box. Now, as the bar F
receives its sliding motion through the medium of the lever G, which is rocked
on its bearing by the rotating clutch box, giving the bowl of the lever a lateral
action, it will be understood that when the bar F is locked by the descent of
the crank lever, the lever G will remain motionless, and thereby stop the rota-
tion of the part B of the clutch box. The part A, which is kept in contact
with the part B by means of a coiled spring, will now be compelled to recede,
that is, to slide on the feather of its shaft, and in its rotation escape past the
part B of the clutch box, thereby throwing off the belt from the driving drum,
and leaving the machinery perfectly quiescent until it is again put into action
by the attendant. We claim under this part of our Invention the arrangement
for stopping the action of drawing or roving machinery as described.
The last feature of our improvements consists in a mode of raising the flyers
off the spindles in a roving and slubbing frame by means of jointed frames.
In the accompanying Drawings at Sheet IV., Fig. 1 represents in horizontal

page_text: view the tops of two ranges of flyers a, a, a. The beam of the machine is
shewn at b, b. Fig. 2 is a side view or elevation of this part of the machine.
Two brackets c, c, are shewn in these Figures, which are made to slide up and
down on the face of the beam, for the purpose of lifting the flyers, which may
be raised to any elevation desired. Each row of the flyers we propose to
attach to a longitudinal rod d, d, which is mounted in jointed arms e, e, and f.f,
and the flyers are mounted in bearings 9, 9, 9. In order to doff the bobbins,
we first place the flyers all straight, and slide up the brackets by means of
racks and pinions, excentrics, cranks, or any other suitable means connected to
the beam. We then turn over the jointed arms f.f, which will raise all the
flyers connected to them and the front rod d; and after having removed the
front row of bobbins, we then turn over the second row of flyers, with their
rod d and jointed arms e, e, into the position of the dotted lines shewn in Fig. 2.
As roving and slubbing machines may vary somewhat in construction and in
the mode of attaching the flyers, we do not intend to confine ourselves pre-
cisely to the means shewn in the Drawing; but claim, under this head of our
improvements, raising the flyers mounted in frames up from the bobbins by
machinery of any convenient kind, for the purpose of removing the bobbins,
and also, if necessary, turning the flyers over upon joints, in the way shewn in
the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Hetherington, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of June, in the year of our Lord One