IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING AND COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaac Holden, M.P., of Bradford, in the County of
York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR
PREPARING AND COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 29th May 1866, and dated the 5th December 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaac Holden at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th
December 1865.
I, ISAAC HOLDEN, M.P., of Bradford, in the County of York, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPA-
RATUS FOR PREPARING AND COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," to be
as follows:-
When using feeding gill combs with their teeth pointing in the opposite
direction to those of the working gill combs in manner of that described in
the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me, the said Isaac Holden, and
Angus Holden, bearing date 7th January 1859, No. 52, I employ a double
series of feeding gill bars with the teeth of one set pointing in the opposite
direction to those of the other set. When the series next the working combs
point downwards those of the other set will point upwards, and in these latter
it is sometimes desirable to set the teeth wider apart, and to form them more
slender than those of the other series. I work these double series of gill bars
by square motion lifting frames worked simultaneously in opposite directions
by toothed wheels acting in racks on such frames, or by other suitable means.

page_text: Also when using apparatus of the character of that described in the Specifica-
tion above referred to I apply apparatus to act on the wool or other fibre
under operation by pressing it to another surface, whilst the fibre is being fed
into the first series of teeth of the feeding gill, and then holding such fibre
whilst the rising gill comb penetrates it and moves forward a distance equal
to the breadth of the gill bar. These two surfaces form a nipper, and while
the feeding gill combs move from them the fibro engaged in the teeth is drawn
forward and the nipper is also drawn forward with it more or less against a
spring; the effect of this is to tighten the wool. It is sometimes desirable to
furnish the nipper (or one surface of it) with teeth, in which case a bar passes
between or around the teeth, and this bar is arrested in its descent by stops
just when the points of the teeth enter the fibre, and when the upper jaw of
the nipper descends to a distance nearly equal to the length of the teeth the
bar is then liberated, and is forced down on the fibre by springs or other
The upper jaw of the nipper is moved up and down by cams or
tappets, or cams or tappets aided by weights. When the fibre is filled on by
hand or by filling apparatus the nipper may be arranged to act in two or more
parts working in succession, so as to leave some of the gill bars always free to
receive fibre on their teeth. I apply oil regularly upon the wool in passing
through the feeding gill by placing a circular brush or other apparatus supplied
with oil so as to touch the points of the first series of gills as they pass under it,
and also to touch the teeth of the second series of gills while they are descending
into the wool.
means.
Another part of the improvements has for its object to give intermittent
motion to the rollers which take the fibre from the working series of pre-
paring combs when employing gill apparatus, actuated by square motion in
place of screws, such as that described in the Specification of Letters Patent
granted to me, the said Isaac Holden, bearing date the 28th day of December
1857, No. 3177, in order that these taking rollers may take the fibre at the
same speed (or thereabout) as that of the advancing comb. For this purpose
according to one arrangement a toothed wheel operating these rollers is alter-
nately moved into and out of contact with a rack or other set of teeth by
connecting rods or other suitable gear actuated from the square motion frames
or lifting and lowering apparatus of the gill bars. When using a square
motion to feed the fibre to screw or square motion working gills I set the
successive combs or toothed parts of the gills forward on their bars, so that
each successive comb of the series may strike into the wool nearer more or
less as may be required to each feeding comb after it has fed forward a portion
of fibre equal to its breadth. In drawing off wool or other fibre from the

page_text: teeth of combing apparatus or through the teeth of gills or otherwise the wool
is supported between the drawing-off rollers and the delivery tube or
"tweedler" by an endless belt or sheet of leather, forming a supporting table,
such belt or sheet passing over the lower of the drawing-off rollers in the
usual manner, then over a roller near the "tweedler," and under another roller
placed some distance below the drawing-off rollers. Under the part of this
table supporting the fibre being drawn I apply a board or other support made
elastic by its resting on springs, and over this part of the moving table
and along the edge of the fibre I apply a rubber to which a combined move-
ment is given adapted to raise such edge and turn the fibres thereof inwards
aided by the twist given by the "tweedler," in order to such fibres being
thereby better protected and caused to mix or combine more intimately with
the other fibres. In order to give steadiness of rotary motion to circular
combs when irregular retarding pressure is put upon them I adapt an adjust-
able pulley with teeth to take into the teeth on the circle under the point
where the pressure is applied. I also put a drag ring under the rim of the
comb so as to support its weight or nearly so. This ring may contain steam
and be also the means of heating the comb. For the same purpose I drive
the circle by means of a double stud wheel driven by a screw in such manner
that the same casting bolted to the frame of the machine which bears the
stud is also the bearing for at least one end of the screw shaft, and is so
arranged that the oil put on to the stud and wheels may run to the point
where the surface of the screw revolves.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Isaac Holden in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th June
1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ISAAC
HOLDEN, M.P., of Bradford, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Isaac Holden, Her special licence that I, the said Isaac Holden,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Isaac
Holden, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree

page_text: with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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 MEANS OR APPARATUS
FOR PREPARING AND COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," upon the 5
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Isaac Holden, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months 1
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Isaac Holden, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention relates, first, to various improvements in that class of
machine called "preparers," used in preparing wool and other fibres for the
combing and spinning processes.
1
Secondly, my Invention relates to means or apparatus used in drawing off
wool or other fibrous substance from apparatus employed in combing such 2
fibre or in drawing it through the teeth of gills or otherwise.
Thirdly, my Invention relates to improvements in means or apparatus
employed in combing wool and other fibrous substance.
But that my improvements may be better understood I will, by the aid of
the accompanying Drawings, proceed more fully to describe means by which 2
carry the same into effect.
I
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a section, and Fig. 2 an end view with the upper part
removed, and Figure 2* is an end view of the upper part of apparatus con-
structed according to the first part of the Invention; Figures 3, 4, and 5 3
show some of the parts separately. In each of these views the same letters

page_text: opposite direction to those of the other series; and when the teeth of the series
next the working gill combs point downwards those of the other series will
point upwards, and in these other series it is sometimes desirable to set the
teeth wider apart, and to form them more slender than in those of the series
next the working combs.
a, a, represents the framing of the part of the apparatus for supporting and
actuating these feed gill combs; 6 (in Figure 1) represents the position of
one of the gill-working combs; c, c, c, represent one series of feeding gill
bars with their teeth c¹, c', c, pointing in the opposite direction to the teeth of
the working gill combs b; d, d, d, represent the other series of feeding gill
bars with their teeth d₁, d', d', pointing in the opposite direction to those of
the gill bars c, c. I work these double series of gill bars by square motion
lifting frames worked simultaneously in opposite directions by tooth wheels
acting in racks on such frames or by other suitable means; e, e, are square
motion lifting frames (one of which is shown separately at Figure 3) for
effecting the lifting and lowering motions to the gill feed bars c, c; f, f, are
square motion lifting frames (one of which is shown separately at Figure 4)
for effecting the lifting and lowering motions of the gill feed bars d, d; g, g, are
square motion frames (one of which is shown separately at Figure 5) for
effecting the horizontal motions of both series of gill feed bars c, c, and d, d.
The gill feed bars c, c, are actuated for their horizontal motion by the parts g¹
of the frames 9, 9, whilst the gill feed bars d, d, are actuated for their hori-
zontal motion by the parts g³ of the frames g. The frames e are guided in
their movements by the slotted portions ³ thereof embracing the projections
a³, a³, from the framing a. The frames ƒ and g are guided in their move-
ments partly by the slotted openings ƒ and g therein embracing guide
pieces and 9 on the respective axes h and i, and partly by the frames f
embracing and sliding against the opposite edges of the steam plate a³ whilst
one end of each of the frames g sliding on that plate a³. These movements
are obtained in the following manner :-Upon the shaft or axis h are fixed
the cams or tappets f¹, f, against the surfaces of which act the trucks or
bowls ƒ³, ƒ³, which are capable of turning on studs or pins fixed in the
frames ff, by which in the revolution of the shaft or axis h the lifting
frames f,f, will be raised and lowered. Upon one edge of each of these
frames is applied a rack f³, the teeth of which take into the teeth of the
pinions f*, which turn on fixed studs f affixed in the framing a, and the teeth
of these pinions f* take into the teeth of racks e applied each to one edge of
each of the lifting frames e, by which the lifting frames e will at all times be
caused to move in an opposite direction to that in which the frames may for

page_text: the time be moving. Upon the shaft or axis are applied the cams or
tappet's g³, each of which act between a pair of trucks or bowls g', g, which
turn upon pins or studs fixed in the frames g, by which a horizontal motion
is given to those frames 9, 9, in the revolution of the shaft or axis i to move
the gill bars c and d horizontally. The shafts or axes h and i are supported
with capability of revolving in bearings carried by the main framing a, and
they have affixed on them respectively the pinions h¹ and , the teeth of which
are taken into by the teeth of the intermediate wheel h, by which they are
caused to travel together at the same speed in the direction of the arrows;
the teeth of one of these tooth wheels is also taken into by the teeth of another
wheel driven by the driving parts of the working combs.
When using preparing apparatus of the character of that described in the
Specification of Patent above referred to, I apply apparatus to act on the wool
or other fibrous substance under operation by pressing it to another surface
whilst the fibrous substance is being fed into the first series of feeding gill
teeth, and thus holding such fibre whilst the rising gill comb penetrates such
fibre, and whilst that gill comb after its rising moves forward a distance
equal to the breadth of a gill bar; j is a bar forming one of these nipping
surfaces, and k is another bar formning the other of these nipping surfaces.
The bar is stationarily supported on the brackets j¹, j, from the main
framing a, a. The bar ke is divided into two parts, both of which are alike in
construction and mode of operation, except that they move up or down alter-
nately, so that a description of one of them will be a description of either of
them. Each bar ke is affixed to the lower end of a pair of bars or rods ¹, k³,
which rise up through and are guided in their up-and-down motions by the
guides a, a, applied to the framing a, a. Each pair of bars k¹, k³, are con-
nected together by cross pieces and ³; each of the cross bars k³ is formed
with lugs to receive a pin k for carrying the pulley or roller ³ which bears
against the under surface of a cam or tappet ke, whilst each of the bars is
formed with an eye to receive one end of a chain ', which passes over guide
pulleys k, k, and at its other end is connected to a weight ko, by which each
of the bars & will be borne upwards with its pulley or roller against the
surface of a cam or tappet . The two cams or tappets k, ke, are affixed on
an axis or shaft ", which is supported in bearings carried by the main
framing a, a, and has affixed upon one end of it the bevilled pinion ¹³, the
teeth of which are taken into by the teeth of the bevilled pinion 4" affixed on
the shaft or axis ", which is supported so as to turn freely in brackets k¹
affixed to the main framing a, a, and at its lower end this shaft has
applied to it the bevilled pinion, the teeth of which take into the teeth

page_text: of the bevilled pinion " affixed on the shaft or axis h, by which simultaneous
motion will be given to the shaft or axis with the motion to the shaft. or
axis h, and all in the direction of the arrows.
Upon the upper end.
(see Figure 6), which;
It is sometimes desirable to furnish the nipper or one surface thereof, as
shown, with teeth 18, and in such cases I also employ a bar 2 placed between
เ
or (by being broader and having holes through it for the free passage of the
teeth) it may surround those teeth. This bar to each jaw or nipper k is
attached to a pair of arms l', 1', which pass through holes formed for them in.
the bars k and, which thereby serve as guides for them, and they have
applied around each of them a spiral spring 1, which by pressing at one end
against the under side of the bar and on the upper side of an adjustable
collar applied on each of the rods 1', will give a tendency to those rods. Z
with the bars & affixed to them to be forced downwards.
of each of these rods l' is affixed an adjustable catch
in tlre upward motion of their bar k is caught on to a projection 1, forming a
catch on a spring 1ª affixed one behind each of the rods on the cross bar. a³,.
by which in the descent of either bar & its bar Z will remain stationary until
the points have fully penetrated the fibre to the depth of their length, when.
projections 7, 17, carried by the bar k³, will by acting on the inclined surfaces.
18, 18, of the springs to force those springs backwards with their projections
from under the ends of the catches Z+; the bar is thereby liberated and is
forced down on to the fibre by the action of the springs, or it may be by other
means. When the fibre is filled into these feed gill combs by hand or by filling
apparatus it will be found convenient for these nipping surfaces to be divided
as described into two or even more parts working in succession so as to leave.
some of the gill bars always free to receive fibre on their teeth.
By the arrangement of nipping surfaces k and above described a certain
amount of elasticity is admitted to the upper nipper k through the elasticity
of the rods k, k. Figure 7 shows a modification of these parts by which a
greater amount of elasticity is admitted to the parts of the nippers. In this
case the bar j forming the lower jaw of the nipper, in place of being rigidly.
fixed to the framing is affixed to arms, which turn upon studs, affixed
to the main framing a. The bar jis acted upon with a tendency to bear it
outwards by means of springs j', ';,, are stops to the bar j; 1º, are
horns or projections at each end of the bar j, standing upwards from that bar,.
and receiving within them the ends of the bar k to act as guides for that bar
in its up-and-down motion and control the two bars j and k to move to and,
fro together. In order to admit of this to-and-fro motion to the bark to the
extent desired the lower guide holes to the bars in the cross bar a are slotted.

page_text: I apply oil regularly upon the wool as it passes through the feeding gills by
means of a circular brush m which is applied to an axis m' supported in
bearings carried by the main framing. This brush is placed in position to
operate when the bristles thereof are supplied with oil to oil the points of the
first series of teeth d, and simultaneously also the second series of teeth cas
they descend into the fibre under operation. This brush m is supplied with oil
from the reservoir m², the section of which is of a somewhat volute form; thus
starting from the edge m³ downwards, it continues round to the edge m* with
an opening between those parts. In Figure 2 the reservoir m³ is removed,
better to show the internal brushes. This trough m³ contains a series of
brushes m carried by arms m, fixed to the axis m7; when these arms
revolve with the axis m the brushes thereof m³ take up the oil from the
trough m³, and as they pass round the oil is scraped therefrom by the edge m³,
and the oil therefrom thence falls from the lip m* on to the circular brush m.
Motion is given to these parts in the following manner-Upon the axis k¹¹ is
fixed a pulley or drum m³ to receive a band or strap mo, which also passes
partly round a pulley or drum m10 affixed on the axis m³, to give rotary motion
to that axis and the arms or feeders m³ applied thereon. Upon this shaft or
axis m' is also applied a drum or pulley, which by a strap or band m¹s acts
upon a drum or pulley m¹s affixed on the shaft m¹ to give rotary motion to
that shaft and to the brush m affixed thereon.
Another part of these improvements has for its object to give intermittent
motion to the rollers which take the fibre from the working series of preparing
combs when employing gill apparatus actuated by square motion in place of
screws such as that described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to
me, the said Isaac Holden, bearing date the 28th day of December 1857,
No. 3177, in order that these taking rollers may revolve and take the fibre
from the working combs at each time of such combs making their advance
movement.
An arrangement of parts which I have found to answer well in carrying
out this head of the. Invention is shown by sectional view in Figure 8, and
plan view at Figure 9; Figures 10, 11, and 12 show some of the parts
separately. In these Figures a, a, indicates. the main framing; o, o, are the
working combs; and p, p, are the rollers which take the fibre from those of
the working combs which for the time are acting on the wool or other fibre
under operation, and it is to these rollers p, p, that intermittent motion is
desired to be given according to this part of the Invention. Upon the axis q
are affixed cams or tappets q', each of which acts by its opposite surfaces
upon a pair of trucks or bowls q³, g³, which are capable of revolving on studs

page_text: carried by the frames r for effecting the horizontal motions to the gill bars or
working combs o, o. Upon the axis s are affixed cams or tappets s', s', which
are embraced on the opposite sides of each of them by a pair of trucks or
bowls s, s, which revolve on studs carried by the lifting and lowering frames t,
which are used for lifting and lowering the bars o, o, from one tier to the
other. One of each of these frames r and t is shown separately by Figures
10 and 11. In the lower end of one of the two side frames t is applied a
stud u, which passes into a slotted opening formed in one end of a lever
arm u affixed to the spindle u³, which is supported so as to be capable of
turning in bearings formed in the main framing, and has applied to it another
arm us, which by pin joint is connected to the lower end of a connecting
rod u', the upper end of which is by pin joint connected to a sliding plate u³,
which is capable of sliding vertically between guides a¹ on the main framing a
at one side of the apparatus. The upper part of the sliding plate u³ is formed
into a bearing to receive one end of the shaft or spindle u", with capability of
that shaft or spindle revolving freely therein, whilst the other end of that
shaft or spindle is formed with a neck larger in the middle than the two ends
of that neck to admit of the shaft or axis u moving to a-slight-extent at-nn
angle during its rotation in the bearing a. Near to the plate us on the shaft
or axis us is affixed a pinion u', the teeth of which are alternately brought
into and out of gear with the teeth of the rack r¹ affixed to the horizontal
frame r, in order that when the teeth of the pinion u are in gear with the
teeth of the rack r³, and horizontal motion is given to the frame r, rotary or
partial rotary motion may be given to the shaft or axis u.
or axis u is also affixed the pinion u', the teeth of which take
of the pinion u affixed upon the axis of one of the pair of
take the fibre from the working series of preparing combs.
end of the lower of the rollers p, and upon which is affixed the pinion u³, is
also affixed a pinion u, which by means of the intermediate wheel u" gives
motion to the pinion v¹ affixed on the shaft or axis of one of the calender or
delivery rollers v, by which the fibre which has been operated upon is drawn
through the tube w. When the fibre is fed to gill comb preparers by other
feeding combs, and the bars of the combs used as the feeding means in such
preparing apparatus are operated for their rising and falling and onward
motion by square motions as herein referred to in place of by screws, though
the working gill combs of such preparing apparatus may be actuated by
screws or by square motions, I arrange the motions of the bars of gill combs
forming the series of working combs so that each of such series of working
combs, or some of them, may in succession act progressively upon the fibre
Upon the shaft
into the teeth
rollers
P which
Upon the other

page_text: brought forward by each feed gill comb feeding into such working combs.
To effect this successive combs or tooth parts of the series of working gills are
set forward on their bars following those which first act upon the quantity of
fibre each feed comb brings forward, so that successive combs of the serios
for the time acting as working combs may strike progressively into the fibre
as held by each feed comb. The succeeding working combs of a series so
working may strike more or less into the portion of the fibre equal to the
breadth of a feeding comb as the fibre is fed forward by the feeding combs.
The combs o, o, Figures 8 and 9, are thus arranged:-Figures 13 and 18*
show by plan and sectional views the series of combs o, o, in position as they
follow each other, but represented as though they were all at the same time
in the same plane; Figures 14 and 15 show by a plan view and an end view
each of these combs separately. The comb marked No. 1 is that which is
arranged first to act upon that portion of fibre last brought forward by a
feed comb; No. 2 is the next to act on that projecting fibre, and so on up to
No. 9, which is supposed to complete the series of working combs acting on
each quantity of fibre brought forward by each comb acting as a feed comb to
such working combs, but the number may be varied, as may the distance of
their progressive working. According to the arrangement shown the combs
Nos. 1, 2, and 3 strike into the fibre at the same point, but each of the
succeeding combs Nos. 4 to 9 strikes nearer than its preceding one by, say,
(in the case shown of six of such successive combs) of the length or extent
of each feed. The bars Nos. 1 and 3 are narrower than the other bars, to admit
of the next comb of the series No. 9 and No. 4 respectively passing them.
The part o¹ of the combs 4 to 9 is that which is so progressively set forward
of the parts of of the faller bar; the parts o³ are the faller ends.
I will now describe the second part of my Invention. In drawing off wool
or other fibre from the teeth of combing apparatus, or in drawing it through.
the teeth of gills, or otherwise, the fibre according to this part of the improve-
ments is supported between the drawing-off rollers and the delivery tube or
"tweedler" by an endless belt or sheet of leather forming a supporting table,
and such belt or sheet passes over the lower of the drawing-off rollers, then
over a roller near the "tweedler," and under another roller adjustable as to
the tension thereon placed some distance below the drawing-off rollers and
"tweedler." I apply a board or other support under the part of this table,
thus supporting the fibre being drawn off, and such board is made elastic by
its resting on springs. Over this part of the moving table or sheet, and along
the edge of the fibre being drawn I apply a rubber, to which a combined
movement is given adapted to raise such edge and turn the fibres thereof

page_text: inwards. The effect of this motion of this rubber aided by the twist given by
the "tweedler" tends better to protect such fibres, and cause them to mix or
combine more intimately with the other fibres.
Figure 16 shows by a plan view, and Figure 17 by a sectional view, parts
of a drawing-off apparatus according to this part of the Invention. The
curved line A represents a portion of the comb circle or circle of working
combs of a combing machine; B and B are the drawing-off rollers for
drawing off wool or other fibre from the teeth of the working combs A ; C is
the revolving tube or "tweedler" for delivering the wool or other fibres to the
delivery rollers D, D, as it is drawn off by the rollers B and B¹; E is an
endless supporting belt or sheet of leather which passes over the lower
drawing-off roller B, thence over the roller E¹, and down under the roller E
back to the roller B, by which this belt forms a table or support to the fibre.
Between the rollers B, B³, and the "tweedler "C, F is a table of wood or
other material placed under and so as to form a support to the endless belt
or sheet of leather E passing over it; this table is formed elastic by being
affixed to one end of each of the plate springs F, the other end of each of
which is connected to the main framing of these drawing-off parts of the
apparatus; G is the rubber, which may be formed of wood or other suitable.
material, and is by means of the spring G¹ connected to the lower end of an
arm G³, the upper end of which turns upon a pin or stud projecting from and
adjustable in the plate G³ affixed on one end of the axis G, which is sup-
ported with capability of freely revolving in the stationary bearing G, and
has affixed upon its other end the pulley G, which with the pulley G' is driven
by a band passing over the pulley Gs. The pulley G7 is affixed on the axis
Go for driving the "tweedler." The arm G³ is formed with a slot 10, which:
receives a slide 11 carried by a fixed stud 12, fixed with capability of adjust-
ment in a portion of the main framing, by which a vibrating or rubbing
motion is imparted to this rubber G for the purpose stated. Figure 18 shows
an end view of this rubber and parts immediately connected with it separately.
If desired such like rubbing means may be applied to act on either or both:
edges of the sliver.
I will now describe improvements under the third head of Invention.
Figure 19 shows a side or edge view, and Figure 20 a section, of parts of a
circle of combs for combing wool or other fibre, with improvements applied
thereto according to this head of Invention, and the object of this part of the
improvements is to obtain steadiness of rotary motion to circular combs when
irregular retarding pressure is put upon them, as, for instance, when using
keeping plates; for this purpose I apply a pulley H upon an axis II', which.

page_text: is supported with capability of freely revolving in bearings H* carried by the main
or stationary parts of the framing. The periphery of the pulley H or a part
thereof comes under the projecting tooth rim of the revolving circle of teeth
I, and these pulleys are applied at the part or parts where the irregular
strain is effected. I place one of these pulleys under each keeping plate.
Part of the breadth of the periphery of this pulley H is formed with teeth
which pass between the teeth I¹ on the olge of the circle I. J is a drag ring
(shown separately by Figures 21 and 22) placed under the rim of the circle
of working combs of a combing machine to act as a drag to such rim, and sup-
port or nearly support the weight thereof. This ring is formed hollow in order
that it may if desired contain steam, and also be the means of communicating
heat to the comb. Figure 22 shows another section of the drag ring applied.
Figure 23 shows by a plain and Figure 24 by a sectional view, a method
of giving motion to a circle of comb teeth. K shows part of a circle of comb
teeth with teeth K' in the under rim thereof, as is well understood, and the
teeth of which are taken into by the teeth of the stud wheel or pinion L,
which is supported so as to be capable of freely revolving on the fixed stud
M, which is supported by a stationary part M' of the main framing. This
stud wheel or pinion L is formed with a deep boss L', upon which is affixed
the screw wheel L³, thereby forming a double stud wheel. The teeth of this
wheel L' are taken into by the teeth of the worm wheel L' affixed on the
axis L, which is provided with a collar L³ to work against one face of the
stationary supporting bracket M³, and is driven by suitable gear, as is well
understood, from the main driving shaft. N is an adjusting screw with lock
nuts o, o, supported in the stationary lug M³, so that the end of the screw
N may bear against the end of the shaft L'. The bracket carrying the stud
M and lug M³ is of a dish form Mo, and is inclined to pass under and partly
round the worm wheel L³, so that the oil from the wheels L, L, and L³ may
be collected and be again used for lubricating those parts. Thus it will be
seen that the circle is driven by means of a double stud wheel driven by a
screw in such manner that the same casting bolted to the frame of the
machine which bears the stud is also the bearing for at least one end of the
screw shaft, and is so arranged that the oil put on to the stud and wheels
carried thereby runs to the part where the screw or worm wheel revolves.
Having thus described my improvements and means which I adopt in
carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details herein shown and described, as the same
may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention;
but what I do claim is,-

page_text: First, the mode of arranging gill preparers for preparing wool and other
fibrous substances by the application thereto of two sets or series of feed gill
combs, acting in mauner substantially as explained.
Also, I claim the application of nipping apparatus in connection with feed
gill combs applied to gill preparers used in preparing wool and other fibrous
substances, operating in manner substantially as explained.
Also, I claim the application of oiling apparatus for the purpose of simul-
taneously oiling the teeth of two series of gill combs used in preparing wool
and other fibrous substances.
Also, I claim the giving an intermittent motion to the rollers which take
the fibrous substances from the working series of square motion preparing
combs used in preparing wool and other fibrous substances.
Also, I claim when using square motion working combs for preparing wool
and other fibrous substances the so applying successive combs or parts thereof
carrying the teeth of such working combs on their bars that the tooth portion
thereof of successive comb bars of the series may strike progressively closer
into the wool or other fibrous substance under operation whilst it is held by a
feed comb in manner substantially as explained.
Secondly, I claim the application of an endless apron E in apparatus for
combing wool and other fibrous substances, arranged in manner substantially
as described.
Also, I claim the application of an elastic supporting table to the apron of
drawing-off apparatus used in combing wool or other fibrous substance, and
the application of a rubber or rubbers operating in manner substantially as
explained.
Thirdly, I claim the application of adjustable pulleys H, acting in manner
substantially as described.
Also, I claim the application of a drag ring J to the circle of combs sub-
stantially as described.
Also, I claim the method of driving a comb circle by a double stud wheel
and driving screw with support common to both, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Isaac Holden, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 4th day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-six.
ISAAC HOLDING
ISAAC HOLDING. (..)