IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHAIN CLIPS OR HOLDERS FOR MACHINES USED FOR STRETCHING OR STENTERING AND FINISHING TEXTILE FABRICS."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Smith of Thornliebank, in the County of Renfrew,
North Britain, Engineer to Messieurs Walter Crum and Company, of Thorn-
liebank aforesaid, Calico Printers, for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF CHAIN CLIPS OR HOLDERS FOR MACHINES USED FOR
STRETCHING OR STENTERING AND FINISHING TEXTILE FABRICS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Smith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th March 1882.
JAMES SMITH, of Thornliebank in the County of Renfrew, North Britain,
Engineer to Messieurs Walter Crum and Company of Thornliebank aforesaid, Calico
Printers, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHAIN CLIPS, OR HOLDERS,
FOR MACHINES USED FOR STRETCHING, OR STENTERING, AND FINISHING TEXTILE
FABRICS,"
This Invention which relates to improvements in the construction of chain clips,
or holders, for machines used for stretching, or stentering, and finishing textile
fabrics consists more especially in the arrangement whereby the upper jaw of the
clips, or holders, of the traversing chains of such machines is acted upon by a
spring, or springs, so as to grip and carry the cloth in the act of stretching,
stentering, or finishing and by which also the withdrawal of the said upper jaws is
enabled to be easily effected when removing the cloth from the said clips or
holders. The spring by which the requisite pressure of the upper jaw upon the lower
jaw in each such clip, or holder, is produced is contained partly within a moveable
horizontal tube which is capable of sliding within a fixed horizontal tube in and
forming part of each link to which a clip or holder is attached.-A spiral spring
of the requisite tension is placed within and between these two tubular portions.―

page_text: The outer end of the moveable tube is closed over and the spring is compressed
between it and a screwed plug in the opposite end of the fixed tube. This screwed
plug constitutes an abutment from which the spring acts so as to force outwards
the moveable tube against the upper jaw of the clips, or holders, so that the
moveable jaws of the clips, or holders, being centred on Arms whose axis is below
the axis of the tube the said upper jaws are thereby forced downwards so as to
hold the cloth, or fabric, between them and the lower jaws.-The upper jaws are
each provided with a thumb and finger-piece so that the attendant in charge
of a stretching, stentering, or finishing machine may release the said jaws when
necessary.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th September
1882.
JAMES SMITH, of Thornliebank, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain,
Engineer to Messieurs Walter Crum and Company, of Thornliebank, aforesaid,
Calico Printers, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHAIN CLIPS OR
HOLDERS FOR MACHINES USED FOR STRETCHING, OR STENTERING, AND FINISHING,
TEXTILE FABRICS."
My said Invention which relates to improvements in the construction of chain,
clips or holders for machines used for stretching, or stentering and finishing textile
fabrics consists more especially in the arrangement whereby the upper jaw of the
clips, or holders, of the traversing chains of such machines is acted upon by a
spring or springs so as to grip and seize the cloth in the act of stretching stentering
or finishing and by which also the withdrawal of the said upper jaws is enabled to
be easily effected when removing the cloth from the said clips, or holders.-The
spring by which the requisite pressure of the upper jaw upon the lower jaw in
each such clip, or holder, is produced, is contained partly within a moveable
horizontal tube which is capable of sliding within a fixed horizontal tube in and
forming part of each link to which a clip, or holder, is attached.-A spiral spring
of the requisite tension is placed within and between these two tubular portions.―
The outer end of the moveable tube is closed over and the spring is compressed
between it and a screwed plug in the opposite end of the fixed tube. This screwed
plug constitutes an abutment from which the spring acts so as to force outwards
the moveable tube against the upper jaw of the Clips or holders, so that the
movable jaws of the clips or holders being centred on arms whose axis is below the
axis of the tube the said upper jaws are thereby forced downwards so as to hold
the cloth or fabric between them and the lower jaws. The upper jaws are each
provided with a thumb and finger piece, so that the attendant in charge of a
stretching, stentering, or finishing machine may release the said jaws when
necessary.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect reference being had to
the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and Figures marked thereon that is
to say :-
Figure 1, of the accompanying Sheet of drawings represents an end elevation of
one of the clips or holders constructed according to my said Invention, and
Figure 2, is a transverse sectional elevation through the centre of the clip and on
the line x, y, Figure 3, the said Figure being a plan of two of the clips or holders
in connection. Figure 4, is a side or front elevation of the same.
As shewn more particularly in Figure 2, the spiral spring A, which produces the
necessary elastic force to act upon the upper jaw B, of the clip is contained partly
within a movable horizontal tube a, which is capable of sliding within a fixed
horizontal tube C, in and forming part of the link D, to which the clip or holder is
attached.
The inner tube or plunger a, is formed with a closed end or cap a¹, Figure 2,
and the spiral spring A, being placed within the outer tube or casing C, by forcing
the capped tube a, over the spring, it is compressed between the end a¹, of the
tube a, and the conical plug c, the threaded portion c³, of which is screwed into
the back end of the outer tube or casing C. By this arrangement by simply

page_text: unscrewing the plug from the end of the tube C, the spring A, can be withdrawn
at once from the link whenever necessary.
The arms b, of the upper or moveable jaw B, of the clip or holder are centred
upon the axis or pin b¹, whose axis as shewn in Figures 1, and 2, is below the axis
of the tubes a and C.-The pin 61 is supported upon and works through the lugs e,
formed upon the under side of the fixed or lower jaw E, which is formed in one
with the body of the link through the supporting plate E¹, which as shewn in
Figures 1, and 2, is carried immediately beneath the plunger or case a, containing
the spiral spring. The part E¹, is formed as shewn in Figure 3, with slots E³, to
allow the arms b, of the upper jaw B, to work therethrough.
In Figure, 1, the upper jaw B, is represented, opened to receive or allow to be
withdrawn, the fabric F, the top of the jaw having formed upon it the thumb or
finger piece B', so that the attendant in charge of the stretching, stentering, or
finishing machine may release the jaw when necessary.
In the position as shewn in Figure 1, the spiral spring is compressed to about
its full extent and in Figure 2, the spring is shewn distended, the closed end a³, of
the tube a, in this case pressing the upper jaw E, upon the fabric F, which in this
figure is shewn held between the two jaws B, and E. The jaw B, is formed
with a rounded back portion 63, the contour of which enables the cap a', of the
tube a, to bear upon the arm b, of the jaw without friction.
By constructing the clips with a spiral spring arranged as hereinbefore described
through the body of the link a sufficiently long spring can be used and the spring
can be replaced without removing the link from the chain.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what
I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,
In the construction of chain clips or holders for machines used for stretching or
stentering and finishing textile fabrics, the combination of a spiral or other
equivalent spring with a telescopic or double casing carried through the body of
the link, the parts being so arranged as to act upon the griping jaw of the clip or
holder in the manner substantially as herein before described and shewn in the
accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said James Smith have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Thirteenth day of September in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
JAMES SMITH (L.S.)