CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING AND SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1850

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EVAN
LEIGH, of Miles Platting, near Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Cotton Spinner, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Twenty-sixth day of March, in the thirteenth year of
Her reign, and in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
fifty, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Evan Leigh, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and autho-
rity, that I, the said Evan Leigh, my exors, admors, and assigns, and such
others as I, the said Evan Leigh, my exors, adñors, or assigns, shall at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time to time and at all times during the
term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within England and Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
PREPARING AND SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES;" in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Evan Leigh, shall cause
a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be enrolled 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
Evan Leigh, do hereby declare, that the nature of the said Invention, and the

page_text: manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described and
ascertained in and by the Drawings hereto annexed, and the following explana-
tion thereof (that is to say):-
My Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Preparing and Spinning
Cotton and other Fibrous Substances relate,-
First, to improvements in the carding engine.
Secondly, to an improvement to be applied to the ordinary lap machine.
Thirdly, to certain improvements in slubbing and roving frames.
Fourthly, to an improvement in the method of driving spindles, applicable
generally to machines employed for preparing, spinning, or twisting cotton and
other fibrous substances.
Fifthly, to an Invention whereby I am enabled to dispense with the use of
bobbins in "jack frames," "throstles," and other similar machines.
And, sixthly, to the manufacture of all kinds of spindles employed in
machinery or apparatus for preparing and spinning cotton and other fibrous
substances.
In order more clearly to illustrate my Invention, and to describe in detail
the practical application of my various improvements, I have attached to these
Presents two Sheets of Drawings, and have marked the same with figures
and letters of reference corresponding with those in the following description
thereof :-
The first part of my Invention, or that which relates to the carding engine,
consists, first, of an endless revolving sheet of cards to be applied to the
lower side of the main cylinder, the dents or cards being set in transverse
strips with intermediate spaces; secondly, in a peculiar construction of flexible
or elastic "bend" for setting the said sheet of cards to the main cylinder,
which flexible "bend" and sheet of cards may also be employed on the upper
side of the cylinder if preferred; thirdly, in the employment of a "fancy
roller" for partially stripping the main cylinder, such roller being only
partially clothed with cards.
In Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a side elevation
of my improved carding engine, being shewn partially in section, and drawn
to a scale of about one inch and a half to the foot. a, a, is the main framing
of the carding engine, and 6, 6, are the feeding rollers; c, c, are the lickers-
in. Where breakers and finishers are used, these lickers-in may be dispensed
with, the cotton being fed to the main cylinder direct. d is the main carding
cylinder, and e is the doffing cylinder; ff, is the endless revolving sheet
of cards acting as a series of "flats" against the lower portion of the main
carding cylinder.

page_text: The construction of these revolving cards is shewn in the enlarged view,
Fig. 2. An endless sheet of leather, india rubber, cloth, or other suitable
material, being set with transverse strips of cards having intermediate blank
spaces, pieces of plate metal are placed behind each strip of cards, and being
further strengthened by a plate of metal bent in an angular form, as represented,
the two plates are rivetted to the sheet so as to form a back to the cards,
which thus act as an endless chain of "flats," the sheet of leather or cloth.
forming the hinges of or between them; the rollers 9, 9, around which the
cards pass, are indented to receive the angular backs of the flats. The endless
sheet of cards f, f, may be driven in any convenient manner, and the speed
regulated according to the quality of the cotton under operation. The waste
is stripped from the cards f, f, by means of a comb plate h, for which, if
preferred, a revolving brush may be substituted, or a common "clearer" roller
may be employed to lay the strips on to the main carding cylinder again, in
which case no waste would be made, the motes and dirt only falling from the
cards f, f, under the engine. The dotted circle i shews where the grinding
roller may be fixed for setting the teeth of the cards when required. The
endless sheet of cards f, f, is guided and set to and from the main carding
cylinder by means of the flexible bend k, k, on the under surface of which the
outer edges of the flats slide. This "bend" is formed of an arc of metal
having notches or "saw gates" cut or formed therein, such notches being
gradually deeper towards the extremities of the said are in order to equalize
the flexibility thereof. The bend k is supported and adjusted by means of the
nuts and screws 1; 1; m is the fancy roller (see also plan view, Fig. 3,) which,
instead of being covered with cards as usual, is merely furnished with one
narrow strip of cards passing once round its periphery in a spiral direction
from end to end, or in such other way that its effect when over-running the
main carding cylinder shall be to snatch a strip of cotton, &c. off at intervals
and deposit it upon the roller n, from whence it is returned to the main
cylinder, which is thus prevented from getting clogged or choked. The action
of the engine is as follows:-The cotton or other fibrous substance after
passing between the feeder rollers b, b, and round the "lickers-in
c, c, is
carried down by the revolution of the main carding cylinder d to be acted
upon by the endless sheet of cards f, f, and thence to the doffing cylinder e,
from which it is stripped by the combo in the usual manner.
"
The second part of my Invention, or that which relates to lap machines
for making laps for feeding " finisher carding engines, is also exhibited
in Sheet 1 of the Drawings, Fig. 4 being a plan view of the apparatus,

page_text: drawn to a scale of abont three quarters of an inch to a foot. a, a, repre-
sents an ordinary lap machine. This part of my Invention consists in the
application thereto of a tapering table b, b. Along each edge of this table
is placed a pair of callender rollers c, c, and also guides d, d, and e, e. In
this arrangement of apparatus for feeding lap machines, the cotton or other
fibrous substance being placed, as shewn, in the cans f, f, is drawn by the
callender rollers c, c, through the guides d, d, and passes round the curved
guides e, e, whence the slivers or ends pass side by side in direct lines to the
lap machine a..
The third part of my Invention consists in a certain novel and peculiar
method of driving the spindles and the tubes upon which the rovings or
slubbings are wound, whereby I am enabled to dispense with the cone usually
employed in such machines, and to give an uniform degree of twist to the
said rovings or slubbings. This I accomplish by driving the tubes upon
which the slubbings or rovings are wound at an uniform speed throughout the
set. The spindles are not driven by any positive means, but obtain their
motion from the action of the " presser" arm on the flyer, and the strength of
the end or roving, the tube or bobbin leading and dragging the spindle after
it. The speed of the spindle will vary during the set, being slowest at the
commencement of the set, and quickest when the bobbin or tube is full. The
spindles are all connected together by gearing, as is usual, or by the edge of a
strap, as hereafter described, which, for simplicity, I prefer. It will be found
that they will require to be retarded in their motion, in order to put a
sufficient drag on the bobbins or tubes. I take advantage of this surplus
power by causing them to drive the carrier wheel in the "jack box," which
reverses the order of their motion, and causes the copping rail to lift slower as
the spindles revolve faster and the bobbins fill. Thus it will be seen that the
filling of the bobbin acts in the same manner as a cone. The remainder of
the surplus power given out by the spindles is taken up by a friction pulley on
which a lever presses with a weight to regulate the drag. The bolsters and
steps may be made to revolve, and the former may be carried up the spindle
the length of the bobbin or tube placed upon it. The spindle in this case has
the flyer fixed upon it, and may be made very short, being formed square at
the bottom to fit into a socket in the revolving step, see Fig. 5, which illustrates
this part of my Invention, being drawn half size. a, a, is the step rail, and b, b,
the copping rail; c, c, are the spindles and flyers. The flyers are fixed to the
spindles, the lower extremities of which c*, c*, are formed square, and fit in
sockets formed in the revolving steps d, d; e, e, are the revolving bolsters upon

page_text: which the bobbins or tubes are placed. The bolsters e, e, are furnished with
wharves f, f, and are driven by means of the upper or under edge of straps or
belts 9. g, of gutta percha, woven fabric, or, other suitable flexible material, the
edges of which will run true. In doffing, the spindle is to be lifted entirely
out of its place.
Another method of driving the spindles in roving and slubbing frames is, to
dispense with all the gearing for driving the bobbins and spindles, and to sub-
stitute a strap or band, passing the spindles in a zigzag direction front and
back. This would turn one spindle and bobbin in one direction, and the next
spindle in the opposite way; but it is of no practical consequence which way
the rovings are twisted.
These two methods of driving spindles constitute the fourth part of my
Invention.
The method in which I make use of the surplus power of the spindles to
drive the copping rail is exhibited at Fig. 6, Sheet 1, which is an elevation
of part of a roving frame, drawn to a scale of about three inches to a
foot. The letters of reference from a to g are the same as in Fig. 5,
and the same description answers thereto. h is a vertical revolving shaft,
on which is keyed the drum i, which drives the bolsters e, e, upon which
the bobbins are placed. The lower surface of the drum i forms a flat disc;
k is a pulley revolving loosely upon the shaft h, and carrying within it the
friction pullies 1, 1. This pulley k is driven by means of the belt or band g'.
The friction pullies 7, 1, revolve upon the surface of a disc m, which is attached to
a boss n. This boss n is placed loose upon the shaft h, and is furnished with two
bevil wheels o, o, with one or other of which the bevil wheel p, which actuates
the copping rail, is álternately. thrown in gear. Thus it will be evident that so
long as the straps or belts g and g travel at the same speed, the disc m will
also travel at the same speed with them; but as soon as the increasing speed
of the spindles causes the pulley k to over-run the drum i, the revolution of the
friction pullies 7, l, will cause the disc m to lose speed, and consequently the
copping rail to lift slower as the speed of the spindles increases, and the bobbins
become full.
The fifth part of my Invention, whereby am enabled to dispense with the
use of bobbins in jack frames, throstles, and other similar machines, consists in
substituting in place thereof a paper, gutta percha, or other cheap and simple
tube, which fits on the bare spindle, as shewn in Fig. 3, Sheet 2, which repre-
sents the application of the fourth and fifth parts of my Invention to the "ring.
throstle" (now well known by that name). a, a, is the spindle. rail, and b, b,
the copping rail. c is the spindle, which, for durability and economy, I prefer

page_text: being of cast iron. i is the paper or other light tube upon which the yarn is
built or wound, and which fits upon the bare spindle.
The improved method of driving the spindles of a throstle frame is shewn at
Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 2; Fig. 1 being a plan view, and Fig. 2 an end elevation
(shewn partly in section), of a portion of a throstle frame, drawn to a scale of
three inches to a foot. a is the spindle rail, 6 the copping rail, and c the
spindle; d is the end frame of the machine; and e is a vertical driving shaft,
upon which is keyed a pulley f, which drives the spindles by means of a strap q.
The strap g runs in a sheath behind the spindle rail (see Fig. 3); the spindle c
has a flanchh upon it, resting upon the upper edge of the strap g which
supports it. The strap g is supported by pulleys about a yard apart, or by the
flanch or warve h being placed occasionally as much lower down the spindle as
the breadth of the strap, so as to take its motion from the under edge of-the
strap 9, at the same time supporting it. Those spindles which support
the strap will require steps, which screw into the bottom of the rail a, by which
the spindle c and strap g can be raised or lowered at pleasure. Where very
light spindles are used, such as in the mule, they may all be driven from the
under edge of the strap, or vice versâ, as shewn in the throstle. The yarn
may be built upon the tube i by means of any common tapering motion, so
that the copping rail moves more rapidly one way than the other, in order
to cross the yarn and bind it on the tube. One way of effecting this I have
shewn in Figs. 1 and 2. k is a tumbling shaft, which takes its motion from
the upright or driving shaft e by a worm and wheel 1; it gears alternately with
the internal and external spur wheels m and n on the horizontal shaft o, by
means of the pinion p, thereby reversing the motion at the same time
that it varies the speed; the horizontal shaft o actuates the copping rails
by the worms and wheels q, q. The pinion p on the tumbling shaft k
is thrown in gear alternately by means of the common tapering motion
as applied to roving frames, actuated by the copping rail, or any other suit-
able means.
Another method is, to lift the spindles and allow the "ring rail" to remain
stationary, by which an uniform distance between the front drawing rollers and
"ring" is maintained.
The sixth part of my Invention, relating to the manufacture of all kinds of
spindles employed in machinery or apparatus for preparing and spinning cotton
and other fibrous substances, consists in forming such spindles of cast iron, in
place of steel, which I prefer as being more economical and durable. In cases
(as in throwing silk) where such spindles are required to be of large diameter,
the upper part may be made hollow.

page_text: Having thus described the nature and object of my several improvements,
together with the method of carrying the same into practical effect, I would
remark, in conclusion, that I claim as my Invention,―
First, with regard to the carding engine, the use or application of an endless
travelling sheet of cards or "flats," the dents or cards being set in transverse
strips, with intermediate spaces; the application of travelling "flat" cards
underneath the main carding cylinder; the "flexible band," as shewn and
described, for setting and adjusting the "flats" to the main carding cylinder,
whether applied to the under or upper side of the said cylinder; and the use
or employment of a " fancy" roller for stripping the main cylinder, having
only a portion of its surface clothed with cards.
Secondly, with regard to the lap machine, I claim the tapering table with
guides and callender rollers, whereby the ends or slivers are taken from the
cans and delivered in a right line, side by side, to the lap machine.
Thirdly, in slubbing and roving frames, I claim the revolving bolster and
step; the method of dispensing with the cone usually employed in such
machines, by driving the bobbin at one uniform speed throughout the set, and
causing the bobbin to act as such in filling; and the method of driving the
spindles of slubbing and roving frames by means of a zigzag strap or band, as
above described.
Fourthly, I claim the method of driving spindles in general (when employed
in such manufactures) from the edge of a strap or flat belt, of whatever
material it may consist.
Fifthly, the application of paper or other flexible tubes in place of bobbins in
preparing and spinning machines, such flexible tubes being of greater length
than the lift of the copping rail.
Sixthly, the application of a "tapering" motion to throstles, whereby both
the ends of the cop may be formed alike bevilled or taper, and all the compli-
cated machinery as hitherto employed for forming a cop upon throstles similar
to a mule cop dispensed with.
And, seventhly, the employment of cast iron, in lieu of steel, in the manu-
facture of spindles generally, as being more durable and less costly.
In witness whereof, I, the said Evan Leigh, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Twenty-fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-fifth day of September,
in the year of our Lord 1850, the aforesaid Evan Leigh came before our said
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
T
Enrolled the Twenty-sixth day of September, in the year or our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty.