IMPROVE. MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING CORDAGE, WEBBING, AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING CORDAGE, WEBBING, AND OTHER
LIKE ARTICLES." -A communication from abroad by Jesse Fewkes, of
Newton, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Sealed the 22nd November 1867, and dated the 3rd July 1867.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 3rd July 1867, pursuant to the 9th Section of
the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings,Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING CORDAGE, WEBBING, AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES,"
and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made
solemn Declaration that it has been communicated to me from abroad by
Jesse Fewkes, of Newton, Massachusetts, United States of America,
Price &

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal,
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings forming a part
of this Specification :-
The said Invention relates particularly to certain improvements in
machinery described in the Specification of an Invention of "Improvements
in Cordage, Webbing, and similar Articles, and in Machinery for Manufac-
turing the same," for which Letters Patent of the Kingdom of Great Britain
were granted to George Tomlinson Bousfield,as a communication from James
Amiraux Bazin, bearing date the Eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, No. 1818.
The first part of the said Invention has for its object improvements in the
method of threading and regulating the tension of the strands, which I will
now proceed to describe. With the means ordinarily employed the operations
of threading and regulating the tension of the strands of a machine for
braiding, weaving, and like purposes consume considerable time and are
inconvenient to perform, while from the occurrence of knots the increased
tension occasioned thereby causes the said strands to be frequently broken,
thus necessitating the stoppage of the machine to rothread them. To
obviate this delay and inconvenience, and to reduce the additional strain on
the strands above referred to, a hook of peculiar form is employed, around
which is loosely fitted a hollow cup or sleeve; the latter is pressed up
against its head by a spring whose tension is regulated by a screw nut or
other suitable device, the strand being conducted from the spool, reel, or
bobbin over the edge of the cup, down under the hook, and thence up over
the opposite edge to the required point. By this construction when the
strand becomes knotted the edge of the cup against which the said strand is
drawn is tipped or rocked down to afford room for its entrance between the
cup and hook, after which the knot is drawn up between the opposite side
of the said hook and the edge of the cup, which then yields or rocks downward
as above described. Where a number of these tension regulators are em-
ployed the several strands are drawn through them uninterruptedly with an
equal and uniform strain (or nearly so), thereby insuring the perfect formation
of the work.
Figure 1 is a perspective view representing my improved devices for
threading and regulating the tension of the strands; Figure 2 is a longitudinal
vertical section through the centre of the same; Figure 3 is a vertical section

page_text: on the line X, X, of Figure 2; Figures 4 and 5 represent detached portions
of the said devices.
A is the table or platform of a machine for braiding, weaving, sewing, or
other like purposes, from the upper side of which rises a vertical shaft or"
spindle B, whereon revolves a spool C containing the yarn, thread, or cord a
used in the formation of the fabric, the top of the spindle B being provided
with a screw nut b to keep the said spool in place on the same. Within the
table or platform A is fitted a circular plate D, from which rises a vertical
pin E whose lower end is provided with a screw thread c which fits a
corresponding screw thread cut in the centre of the plate D. The upper end
of the vertical pin terminates in a hook F of a peculiar form, to be described
hereafter. Upon the screw thread ca nut d turns, upon which, and surround-
ing the pin E, rests an inverted conical spring e whose upper side bears
against a circular plate G, which fits loosely around the pin E. His a hollow
cup or sleeve which surrounds this pin and rests upon the circular plate G.
The top of the cup H comes above the head of the hook, and is rounded or
tapered off, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, to relieve the friction of the strands a
thereon, while the base of the said cup is enlarged to allow of its being
depressed or forced down by the fingers against the resistance of the spring
to thread the hook F. A check nut prevents the nut & being turned down
on the screw thread by the vibration or jarring of the machinery and the
consequent loosening of the tension of the strand. The top or head of the
hook F is rounded off from y to the point h, situated at a sufficient distance
above the upper side of the hole or eye k to insure the strand being pinched
between the cup and the inclined surface l, m, of the head of the hook, and
thereby produce the amount of friction necessary for obtaining the required
tension. The portion n, o, p, of the head of the hook is cut away in order
to facilitate the operation of threading the said hook, the cup being first
depressed to allow the strand to be inserted through the opening p,q, Figure 5.
The lower portion of the hook is flared outward to the points n, p, (see
Figure 4) to prevent the strand from becoming accidentally disengaged
therefrom. Care should be taken to form the curvature of the inside of the
cup H, and the opening between its top and that of the head of the hook F,
so that ample room will be afforded for the entrance of a knot, which on
entering will then be so pinched that its progress will be retarded. The
edge 26 of the cup at which the said knot entered will dip or be pressed
slightly downward against the resistance of the spring e, thus affording space
for the knot to pass down between the inclined surface l, m, of the head of
the hook, and thence through its hole or eye k up between the opposite

page_text: inclined surface l, m, of the head of the hook and that of the edge 27 of the
cup; at this point the progress of the knot will be again retarded and an
increased tension produced sufficiently to cause this edge 27 of the cup to
dip or recede from the inclined surface l, m, of the head of the hook F and
allow the knot to escape. By the construction above explained it will be
seen that the increased tension on a strand arising from its becoming
knotted will be relieved at two points 26 and 27 in the progress of the said
strand through the tension regulator, and the breakage of the strands aud
consequent necessity of rethreading them, common to the ordinary means
for regulating the tension, is thereby avoided. The cup H when pressed up
by the spring e does not come in contact with the inclined surface l, m, of
the head of the hook F owing to the interposition of the strand, and when
by constant friction a groove or channel is formed in the lower portion of
the inclined surface l, m, the strand although it may be sunk in the said
groove still prevents the contact of the cup with the remaining portion of
the inclined surface above the groove. Should the edge of the cup be worn
away at any point from the same cause it is simply necessary to give it a
partial revolution around the pin E, when another portion of its edge will be
brought under the strand. Instead of employing a hollow cup in connection
with the above-described circular vertical pin E the said pin and the sides
of the hook F may be flattened, and correspondingly formed pieces fitted
thereto. These pieces are secured together by a pin passing through a slot
in the flattened pin, and the upper ends of these pieces, over which the strand
is drawn, are smooth and rounded off, and are pressed up against the strand
by a spring or by other suitable means.
The object of the second part of my Invention is to provide a means
whereby a spool, reel, or bobbin of a sewing, weaving, or braiding machine
may be placed and retained upon its spindle in a horizontal position, and
removed therefrom in a more convenient and expeditious manner than by
the methods ordinarily employed for this purpose, and the said Invention
consists in pivoting to the spindle a latch which may be adjusted in a line
with the said spindle so as to form a continuation of the same, and allow the
spool or bobbin to be slipped thereon and then adjusted into its. normal
position at right angles or nearly so to the spindle, thus securely confining
the spool or bobbin in place of the latter.
Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a spool secured upon its spindle
according to my improved method; Figure 7 is a central vertical section of
the same; Figure 8 is a similar section representing the device for latching
the spool thrown into the position for allowing the same to be removed.

page_text: A' is a stand to which is secured at a spool frame B', which is open at one
side from b¹ to c¹, and has projecting from the standing portion d¹ at its
opposite side a horizontal shaft or spindle C' upon which revolves a spool D'
with the yarn or thread wound thereon. To the outer end of the spindle C¹ is
loosely pivoted at e' a latch E' (of the form shown), which falls by reason of
the gravity of its outer end into the position shown in Figures 6 and 7, and
thus keeps the spool in place upon the spindle against the resistance of a
spiral spring which surrounds it. By means of this spring (when operated
by a screw nut not shown) the spool is prevented from revolving too freely,
and the tension and delivery of the strands are thereby regulated as required.
When it is desired to remove an empty spool or bobbin from its shaft or
spindle in order to place thereon one having a new supply of thread or
yarn it is simply necessary to press the spool or bobbin back against the
spring to allow the latch to be turned up in line with the spindle C¹, as
seen in Figure 8; the spool or bobbin is then free to be removed from the
said spindle. Instead of applying the latch E¹ to a horizontal spindle, as
herein shown and described, it may be used in connection with a vertical
spindle.
I will now proceed to describe the third portion of my Invention, which
has for its object to support the spool, reel, or bobbin in a vertical position
upon its spindle, and to provide a means for readily removing the said reel
or bobbin therefrom, and the said Invention consists in pivoting within the
frame one end of the spindle, which may be swung to one side to receive the
spool, reel, or bobbin when it is locked in place in a vertical position, by
fitting over a projection or pin rising from the opposite side of the frame,
or by means of some other equivalent device.
Figure 9 is a side elevation of a spool frame and spool with the spindle
swung to one side in a position to admit of the removal of the spool there.
from; Figure 10 is a central vertical section through the same, the spindle
being in an upright position, and the spool locked in place thereon.
A2 is a spool frame, to the inside of whose upper end at a² is loosely pivoted
a spindle 62, which is thus free to be swung to either side by hand into the
position seen in Figure 9 to allow of the spool B' being readily slipped upon
the spindle or removed. From the inside of the lower portion of the frame
rises a pin or projection ², over which fits the hollow portion of the lower end
of the spool when the spindle is swung back into a vertical position as seen in
Figure 10. The resistance of a spiral spring & surrounding the spindle
erves to keep the spool in place upon the projection c³. When it is desired
o remove the spool from its frame it is simply necessary to press the said

page_text: spool upward against the spring until its lower end clears the pin or pro-
jection c², when it may be swung to one side and removed from the spindle b*.
Instead of the spool fitted over a pin c² projecting from the frame A², a pin
projecting from the spool may fit into an opening in the frame.
The fourth portion of my Invention relates to an adjustable guide through
which the cord or rope passes to the take-up reel. The said guide is made in
two pieces pivoted together, their outer ends forming jaws which are held
together by a spring. An opening is formed between these jaws, through
which the cord or rope passes, and their outer ends are so formed that the
cord may be readily sprung in between them to the opening which it is to
occupy, and released by separating the jaws.
Figure 11 is a plan of my improved guide; Figure 12 is a side elevation of
the same; Figure 13 is a section on the line x, x, Figure 12.
A³ is the guide, which is secured to the upper end of a standard B* rising
from the lower part of the machine. This guide is composed of two pieces
18 and 19, jointed together at a³, their outer ends forming jaws 6s, wherein is
formed a passage or opening c³ through which the cord or rope d³ passes after
being formed over the pulleys e³, f³, to the take-up reel. The diameter of the
opening should be made to correspond with that of the finished cord or rope
so that in passing through it all the inequalities and roughness of the rope
will be smoothed down, and it will also be prevented from "cockling." The
portions of the jaws 6' in which the opening c³ is formed are made removable,
and are held in place by screws g³, so that when a different sized rope is to be
made it is merely necessary to remove them and substitute others having an
opening of the size required. The jaws 6' are kept together by a spiral
A screw i
spring, one end of which fits into a recess in the piece 18.
which passes through the piece 19 fits into and bears against its opposite end,
and by means of this screw the degree of pressure is regulated as required.
The outer ends of the jaws 63 are rounded, as shown in Figures 11 and 13, so
that the cord or rope may be readily sprung into the opening; and when it
is desired to release it the jaws 6s may be readily separated by pressing on the
head of the screw i³; considerable saving of time is thus effected. It will
be seen that the jaws 63 will yield to allow of the passage of a cord or rope of
a little larger diameter than that of the opening c³, the pressure of the jaws
upon the rope being regulated as before described by the screw 3. The
above-described guide is of simple construction, has few parts, and is not liable
to get out of order.
The last part of my Invention relates to an adjustable reel or expansion
pulley, around which the finished cord is wound previous to its passing to the

page_text: take-up reel. This part of the said Invention consists in an adjustable reel or
pulley whose diameter may be increased or diminished so as to take up the
finished cord or rope at the exact speed required, thus avoiding the necessity
of removing the pulley and replacing it by another of different diameter each
time that a cord of a different size is to be manufactured.
Figure 14 is a plan of my improved expansion pulley; Figure 15 is a side
elevation of the said pulley; Figure 16 is a central vertical section of the
same.
A' is the base of the pulley which revolves on a spindle B' rising from
a bracket C which is attached to the frame of the machine. The base of the
pulley is connected by means of a pin a' with a toothed wheel D', which
revolves freely on the spindle B',and receives its motion from a worm on the
driving shaft of the machine. To the base A' are pivoted at 20 a series of
bent rods,as shown in Figures 15 and 16, which form the exterior surface
of the pulley whereon the cord is wound. The upper ends of these rods pass
through holes in a circular plate or disk E, which is supported on a screw G
whose lower end is provided with an enlargement 21 which revolves freely ina
coupling c provided with a female screw, whereby it is attached to the upper
end of the spindle B*. As the screw G is revolved by taking hold of its head d*
the plate E will be raised or lowered according to the direction in which
the screw is turned, and it will be seen that as the plate is raised the inclined
rods b* will be moved on their pivots away from the centre of the reel, thus
increasing its diameter as required, while on the plate E' being lowered the
rods will be brought nearer the centre, and the diameter of the reel pro-
portionately decreased. The plate E' is furnished with three series of holes,
as shown in Figure 14, so that if the diameter of the reel caunot be made
sufficiently large by lowering the plate to its full extent the coupling ct may
be unscrewed and the plate lifted up, so as to allow the ends of the rods b' to
be inserted in the second or third series of holes, as the case may require; and
when the coupling c is unscrewed the whole pulley may be lifted from the
spindle B, and another of a different size put in its place, the motion of the
gear being communicated to it by the pin a', as before described. The
diameter of the above described pulley may thus be adjusted with a great
degree of nicety by means of the screw G', so that the cord or rope when
wound around it will be drawn off at the exact speed required. By this
means the point where the rope is being formed is kept at the desired height,
and is prevented from running up or down, as is the case where the pulley
draws it too fast or too slow. Different sizes of cord are thus manufactured
with more or less speed,

page_text: I do not wish to confine myself to the exact construction and use of the
several devices above described forming the various portions of my Invention
in connection with machines for making cordage only, as it is evident that
they may be applied to various other descriptions of machinery without
departing from the spirit of my Invention, for instance, to weaving, braiding,
sewing, and other machines; I therefore intend to use them either together or
separately wherever they may be found to be applicable.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be conveniently and
advantageously carried into practice, I claim,-
First, the hook F in combination with the hollow cup H, operated sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Second, the latch E' or equivalent device pivoted to the spindle C¹ of a
spool or bobbin, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Third, locking the spool B' in place by means of the spindle 62 pivoted to
its frame A2 in combination with the pin c³,or equivalent device, substantially
as set forth.
Fourth, the within described guide, consisting of the pieces 18 and 19
pivoted at a³, and operating substantially as and for the purpose described
. Fifth, the rods 6 pivoted at 20 in combination with the base A' or its
equivalent plate E' and screw G*, operating substantially as described for the
purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto se
my hand and seal, this Second day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, (L.S.)