IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBING MACHINES
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN CHARLES WALKER of Shipley Fields Mill, Shipley near Bradford in the
County of York, Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of said
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBING MACHINES" to be as follows :-
My improvements have particular reference to such combing machines as comb
the material by the operation of diverging combs or combs moving in opposite
direction such as the so called "Nobles" and others of a kindred nature.
The object of my invention is to simplify the construction of such combing
machines by arranging the moving or working parts in such a manner that greater
velocity, attended with safety may be attained than hitherto, and consequently
more and better work effected, than by machines of ordinary construction. I impart
the required intermittent feed motion to the creel rollers by means of a hinged
arm applied within and projecting through a suitable box or cover, the side face of
the driving flange of each roller is serrated and the end of the arm comes in
contact with each of such faces as they are carried round with the comb circle and
is moved upwards, causing at the same time the rollers to revolve round the
required distance. The movement may be regulated to any degree.
I dispense with the use of metal or wood in the formation of the stocks of the
dabbing brush used on the machine and I use ebonite or other kindred material or
composition; the object being to obtain a brush of a strong yet much lighter
construction than hitherto, which is very important when the movement of such
brush is required to be so rapid.
I insulate the steam chests used on these machines, so that their heat does not
affect the lubricated surface of those working parts of the machine which are
attached thereto. This I effect by placing between the metal, surface plates or
sheets of non conducting materials. By this means I prevent the working parts
from becoming unduly heated, at the same time prevent loss of heat by radiation
from the steam chest.
I make the guides used for conducting the sliver from the feed rollers to the
mouths of the feed boxes, of sheet metal, stainped to the required shape, instead of
cast metal as heretofore.
I also make the feed boxes of these machines of sheet metal instead of cast metal
as hitherto.
By the above means I am able to obtain a much greater feed space at the mouth
of such sheet metal boxes than when cast metal is used. I also make the hinges

page_text: of such boxes of sheet metal bent to the required form. I also enamel the inside of
these feed boxes, finding that it adheres better to the surface than when applied
to cast metal feed boxes. And in order to prevent the scaling of the enamel at the
edges I slightly flange the edges of the feed boxes but at the same time I do not
allow such flanges to project beyond the thickness of the enamel.
I actuate the dabbing brush by means of a crank or its equivalent fixed below
the level of the plate on which the general gearing of the combing machine is
mounted; motion being transmitted from such crank or its equivalent, working
through a slot in plate and attached by a convenient arrangement to the dabbing
brush slide. I lubricate the cranks and their equivalents which are used for
working the dabbing brushes by enclosing the working parts in a box or tank, so
that at each revolution the working parts come in contact with the oil contained
in the box or tank. By this means the working parts are virtually working in an
oil reservoir.
In my improvements I only employ one pillar which I attach to the lower
gearing plate, and through this pillar the motion for driving the various parts of
the machine are transmitted.

page_text: I, JOHN CHARLES WALKER of Shipley Fields Mill Shipley near Bradford in the
County of York, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of said
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBING MACHINES" and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My improvements have particularly reference to such combing machines as
comb the material by the operation of diverging comb or combs moving in
opposite directions, such as the so called "Nobles" and others of a kindred
nature.
The object of my invention is to simplify the construction of such combing
machines by arranging the moving or working parts in such a manner that greater
velocity attended with safety may be attained than hitherto, and consequently
more and better work effected than by machines of ordinary construction. I impart
the required intermittant feed motion to the creel rollers by means of a hinged
arm applied within and projecting through a suitable box or cover, the side face
of the driving flange of each roller is serrated and the end of the arm comes in
contact with each of such faces as they are carried round with the comb circle and
is moved upwards causing at the same time the rollers to revolve round the
required distance. The movement may be regulated to any degree.
I dispense with the use of metal or wood in the formation of the stocks of the
dabbing brush used on the machine and I use ebonite or other kindred material or
composition; the object being to obtain a brush of a strong yet much lighter
construction than hitherto, which is very important when the movement of such
brush is required to be so rapid.
I insulate the steam chests used on these machines, so that their heat does not
affect the lubricated surface of those working parts of the machine which are
attached thereto. This I effect by placing between the metal, surface plates or
sheets of non conducting materials.
By this means I prevent the working parts from becoming unduly heated, at
the same time prevent loss of heat by radiation from the steam chest.
I make the guides used for conducting the sliver from the feed rollers to the
mouths of the feed boxes, of sheet metal, stamped to the required shape, instead of
cast metal as heretofore.
I also make the feed boxes of these machines of sheet metal instead of cast metal
as hitherto,
By the above means I am able to obtain a much greater feed space at the mouth
of such sheet metal boxes than when cast metal is used. I also make the hinges
of such boxes of sheet metal bent to the required form. I also enamel the inside of
these feed boxes, finding that it adheres better.to the surface than when applied
to cast metal feed boxes. And in order to prevent the scaling of the enamel at the
edges I slightly flange the edges of the feed boxes but at the same time I do not
allow such flanges to project beyond the thickness of the enamel.
I actuate the dabbing brush by means of a crank or its equivalent fixed below
the level of the plate on which the general gearing of the combing machine is

page_text: mounted; motion being transmitted from such crank or its equivalent, working
through a slot in plate and attached by a convenient arrangement to the dabbing
brush slide. I lubricate the cranks and their equivalents which are used for
working the dabbing brushes by enclosing the working parts in a box or tank, so
that at each revolution the working parts come in contact with the oil contained
in the box or tank.
By this means the working parts are virtually working in an oil reservoir.
In my improvements I only employ one pillar which I attach to the lower
gearing plate, and through this pillar the motion for driving the various parts of
the machine are transmitted.
And in order that my Invention may be more completely understood reference
is given to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and marks thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig 1 is a front elevation. Fig 2 a plan looking at the top shewing the general
arrangement of part of my improvements Fig 3 is a longitudinal section. Fig 4
a transverse section shewing lubricating box as applied to machine arranged as
shewn at Figs 1 and 2. Fig 5 is a front elevation with front plate off. Fig 6 is
a part longitudinal section shewing my lubricating box applied to the working
parts of an ordinary dabbing brush motion. Fig 7 a side elevation of an ordinary.
dabbing brush motion at a reduced scale. Figs 8. 9. and 10 are respectively front
elevation, side elevation, and plan shewing feed or creel rollers employed on circular
combing machines, having my improvements attached.
I impart the intermittent feed motion to the creel rollers a shewn at Figs 8. 9.
and 10, by means of a hinged arm b applied within and projecting through an
angular slot in a suitable box or cover c. The side face of the driving flange d of
each roller a is serrated as shewn at f and the end e of the arm b comes in contact
with each of such faces d as they are carried round with the comb circle, and is
moved upwards causing the rollers a to revolve the required distance. This
movement may be regulated to any required degree.
I dispense with the use of metal or wood in the formation of the stocks of the
dabbing brush used on the machine, and I use ebonite or other kindred material
or composition; the object being to obtain a brush of a strong yet much lighter
construction than hitherto, which is very important when the movement of such
dabbing brush is required to be so rapid.
I insulate the steam chests so that their heat does not affect the lubricated
surfaces of those working parts of the machine which are attached thereto.
This I effect by placing between the steam chest and the working parts attached
thereto, plates of non conducting material, such as wood, asbestos, or vulcanite.
By this means I prevent the working parts from becoming unduly heated at the
same time prevent loss of heat by radiation from the steam chest.
I make the guides used for conducting the sliver from the feed rollers to the
mouths of the feed boxes of sheet metal, stamped to the required shape instead of
cast metal as heretofore.
I also make the feed boxes of these machines of sheet metal instead of cast
metal as usually employed.
By the above means I am able to obtain a much greater feed space at the mouth
of such sheet metal boxes than when cast metal is used.
I also make the hinges of these boxes of sheet metal.
When required the inside of these feed boxes are enameled, and in order to
prevent the scaling of the enamel at the edges, such edges may be slightly flanged,
but only to the thickness of the enamel.
Figs 1 and 2 shew my arrangement for actuating the dabbing brush with my
improved arrangement of lubricating box or tank applied.
In the arrangement shewn I employ only one pillar g secured to the lower
plate n, and in order to give more steadiness to the machine I attach it to the

page_text: upper plate n¹ as shewn. h is the shaft and i the driving pullies through which
motion is transmitted by means of the vertical shaft h' and ordinary gearing to the
various moving parts of the machine. I actuate the dabbing brushes ; by means
of the crank k or its equivalent eccentric to which a rotary motion is imparted by
frictional or other gearing, from the driving shaft / through vertical shaft ¹.
The crank k or its equivalent eccentric is shewn mounted in suitable bearings
in the oil tank or box m, such oil tank or box m being attached underneath the
plate n.
Motion is transmitted from the crank or its equivalent eccentric, to the slides o
fitted so as to slide freely in the brackets o¹ carrying the dabbing brushes j, through
connecting rod p, lever q, shaft r, levers s, such levers s being attached to the
bottom of the slides o as shewn.
I lubricate the crank k or its equivalent eccentric which I use for working
dabbing brushes by enclosing such working parts in the box or tank m, such tank
or box m being partially filled with oil, so that at each revolution the working
parts dip or come in contact with the oil lubricating themselves thereby.
By this arrangement the working parts are continually and virtually moving in
an oil reservoir.
At Figs 5. 6. and 7 I have shewn an ordinary dabbing brush motion. It will
be readily understood by all practicable persons, that my lubricating box or tank
may be applied generally to the parts employed for giving motion to the dabbing
brushes.
The lubricating box is shewn at t and is attached to the face of the ordinary
headstock u behind the dabbing brush slide v. The crank w or its equivalent
eccentric and parts connected therewith, as they move round dip into the oil in
which the lower part of the box t is supplied, whereby such moving parts are
continually lubricated.
Other parts of the machine not described are of ordinary construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
The arrangement of arm b and serrated driving flange d in combination with the
rotary movement of the comb circle for imparting the required rotary motion to
the creel rollers a substantially as herein set forth.
The employment of ebonite or other kindred material or composition, substan-
tially as and for purposes herein set forth.
The employment of layer or layers of non conducting material between the steam
chest and working parts of the combing machine which are attached thereto,
substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
The employment of sheet metal feed boxes, and sliver guides substantially as and
for purposes herein set forth.
The application of an oil tank or box for lubricating the working parts of
dabbing brushes, substantially as shewn at Figs 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. and 7.
The arrangement of pillar g applied substantially as herein set forth.