IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING YARN AND THREAD
Year: 1854

page_text: wan
LITIS,
Koch-
dale, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING YARN AND
THREAD."
Sealed the 26th September 1854, and dated the 12th April 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Briggs at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
April 1854.
I, EDWARD BRIGGS, of the Castleton Mills, near Rochdale, in the County of
Lancaster, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING YARN AND
THREAD" to be as follows:-
My Invention is particularly applicable to finishing dyed spun silk yarn, by
subjecting the same to the operations of moisture, heat, and friction; but it is
also applicable, either wholly or in part, to finishing yarns made of other fibrous
substances. The yarn is first moistened by passing over a roller, the lower
portion of which is immersed in water or other fluid; then the yarn is made to
pass through a flame of gas, the combustion of which is improved by causing
the gas to pass through openings placed at an angle, so that the flame may be
composed of two jets united, and the smoke is carried away by a tube placed

page_text: above the burners, in which tube a partial vacuum is formed; the yarn then
passes over a roller giving friction. After this, the yarn may be again
moistened, as above described, and then passed round heated cylinders, in order
to create friction, the action of which on the yarn improves the finish; the yarn
then passes over another roller for producing friction, and thence, if requisite,
over or around an instrument, composed of two, three, or more strands of
fibrous or other material, the object of which is to impart a gloss or lustre to
the yarn. The yarn is then wound on a bobbin by the friction of a heated
roller.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Briggs in the Great Seal Patent Office on. the
12th October 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
BRIGGS, of the Castleton Mills, near Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster,
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Edward Briggs, Her special license that . I, the said Edward
Briggs, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Edward. Briggs, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING YARN AND THREAD," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Briggs, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 Edward Briggs, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING...
Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved machinery and apparatus con-
structed for finishing dyed spun silk yarn; Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
a is a bobbin, containing the yarn or thread to be operated upon; 6 is an eye,
through which the yarn or thread passes before it passes over the roller c.
This roller has a lateral motion imparted to it to prevent the grooving of its
circumference, and it revolves in a trough containing water or other fluid, by
which the yarn or thread is moistened previous to being gassed. The yarn or
thread after leaving the moistening roller passes over the roller d, then through
the flame of gas and under the roller e, round which it is carried, and then
again through the flame of gas and under the roller d. The rollers d and e
have several grooves in them, as shewn in the plan view, consequently the yarn
or thread can be passed as many times through the flame of gas as is required,
according to the number of grooves in the rollers. fis the gas-burner, the
orifices in which are drilled diagonally or angularly, in order that the jets of gas
may cross each other; by this means a clear blue flame is obtained, through
which the yarn or thread passes; and as it is very important in gassing dyed
yarns or threads of delicate colors that no smoke or impurities from the gas
should adhere to the yarn or thread, I place over each burner a short pipe g,
projecting from the main pipe h, in which a partial vacuum is formed by a fan
or other means. The flame of gas is thus drawn upwards and the combustion
thereof improved, while the smoke or impurity, if any exists, is immediately
carried off. The yarn or thread on leaving the roller e is taken over the
roller i, which is made to revolve at a greater velocity than the yarn or thread,
in order to give friction; a transverse motion is also imparted to this roller to
prevent its circunference being grooved. The yarn or thread is then carried
over the guide roller and wound on to the bobbin k, which is pressed by
weights or springs on to the friction roller. The wheels and pulleys required*
for driving the various rollers are not shewn in the Drawing, as they must be
made to suit the particular yarn or thread under operation, and any competent
workman can apply them without further instruction. ...The instrument
marked m is common to other gassing frames; it is split, to allow the yarn
or thread to pass. The object of this instrument is to move the burner to
one side, if the progress of the yarn or thread is arrested by a lump or other

page_text: P,
from
inequality that will not pass through the instrument; the bobbin is also
lifted off the friction roller at the same time. This moving of the burner, to
one side and lifting the bobbin off the friction roller are effected in the same
manner as in gassing frames of the usual construction. The bobbins formed
on the machine above described are then taken to the machine, shewn in
elevation at Figure 3, and in plan at Figure 4. The yarn or thread from the
bobbin k is taken through the eye t, then over the moistening roller o, to which
a traversing or lateral motion is given, and then over the guide pulley
whence it is taken partly round each of the fixed cylinders 2, which are furnished
with grooves of different sizes to suit the yarn or thread under operation, and
which are heated by steam or other means. The object of these cylinders is to
evaporate the moisture and give lustre to the yarn or thread, which then passes
over a guide roller r, and thence through the rubber s, consisting of two or
more strands of fibrous or other material twisted together, between which the
yarn or thread is drawn by the friction of the weighted bobbin u on the
roller w, which is heated by steam or other means. The rubber s is held at one
end by the bracket s' and at the other end by the bracket s²; both these
.brackets are supported by the upright s³. The bracket s¹ is provided with a
nut, through which passes the screw st; the object of this is to enable the
attendant to tighten or slacken the strands of the rubber, according to the
friction required.
The two heated cylinders may be placed nearer to or further from each
other, so as to create more or less friction on the yarn or thread, and a greater
number may be used if requisite. It may be found sufficient to carry the yarn
or thread completely round a single cylinder. In some cases also the heated
cylinders may be dispensed with, and the rubber s used in their stead, or the
reverse, according to the nature of the yarn or thread or the amount of
friction required. The friction of the bobbin u on the roller w must be
sufficiently great to draw the yarn or thread off the bobbin k, and through
the various parts of the machine. The object of thus drawing the moistened
yarn or thread round the heated fixed cylinders and through the rubber s, or
either of them, is to create the requisite tension and friction, and thereby to
impart roundness and a lustrous appearance to the yarn or thread.
Having thus described the nature and particulars of my Invention, I wish
it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the details herein set forth,
as they may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of my
Invention; but I claim as of my Invention,-
First, the arrangement, adaptation, and application of machinery and appa-

page_text: ratus for finishing dyed yarn and thread of spun silk, by subjecting the same
to the action or operations of moisture, gassing, heat, and friction.
Secondly, the apparatus for finishing and giving a gloss or lustre to yarn or
thread, by passing the same round heated and grooved cylinders and between
twisted strands of fibrous or other material, in manner herein-before described,
in reference to Figure 3 in the Drawing, and which is applicable to yarn and
thread, as well of silk as of other fibrous substances.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Briggs, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Eleventh day of October, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-four.
EDWARD BRIGGS. (L.S.)