IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND COMBING WOOL
Year: 1850

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HENRY
ROBERT RAMSBOTHAM, of Bradford, York, Manufacturer, and WILLIAM
BROWN, of the same place, Mechanic, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-third day of
March, One thousand eight hundred and fifty, in the thirteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said Henry Robert Ramsbotham and William Brown, our exors, admors,
and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that we, the said Henry Robert Ramsbotham and William Brown, our
exors, admors, and assigns, and such others as we, the said Henry Robert
Ramsbotham and William Brown, our exors, admors, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from 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. Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, our Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND COMBING
WOOL;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that we, the
said Henry Robert Ramsbotham and William Brown, or one of us, should
cause a particular description of the nature of our said Invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing
under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal. of one of us, to be
inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited
CD 027

page_text: 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, we, the said
Henry Robert Ramsbotham and William Brown, do hereby declare that the
nature of our said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be
performed, are fully described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and
to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:―
Our Invention consists,
First, of improvements in the machinery used for preparing wool; and,
Secondly, our Invention consists of improvements in machinery for combing
wool.
And in order that our Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, we will proceed to describe the means pursued by us.
Eleretofore, in preparing wool by the aid of what are called porcupine
cylinders, or endless sheets or surfaces, it has been usual to remove the wool
from such cylinders by rollers moving at the same surface speed as the porcu-
pine or preparing cylinder or surface, by which means the fibres are simply
moved out of the teeth of the preparing cylinder or surface without any
draught on the fibres, so as to cause them to be drawn out and straightened
amongst each other.
Now, according to the first part of our Invention, we cause the drawing-
off rollers to have a surface speed greater than that of the preparing cylinder
or surface, by which the sliver taken off from the preparing cylinder or surface
will be elongated, and the fibres of wool straightened and drawn out amongst
each other, which we find very beneficial in the process of preparing wool, as
the wool will require less combing. Aud we have found that a draught of
from four to ten, depending on the length of staple of the wool to be that
which is most effective; but we do not confine ourselves thereto, the shorter
wool having the shorter draught, and the longer wool the longer draught. In
carrying out this part of our Invention we, in place of using plain drawing-off
rollers, use for that purpose fluted rollers.
We will now proceed to describe the second part of our Invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shews a plan of a machine for combing wool, having some of our
improvements applied thereto.

page_text: Figure 3 shews a side elevation of the filling head, and Figure 4 a section
of the filling head.
In this arrangement one of the objects of improvement to be obtained is the
so arranging the mechanical parts of a filling head that the mouthpiece in
passing the receiving and carrying comb shall move in a straight or as nearly
a straight line as may be, and parallel with the planes of the teeth, the object
being to avoid any drag of the fibres on the teeth of the comb in the act of the
fibres descending into the comb, it being desirable that the mouth of the
feeding head as it moves from the points of the teeth of the receiving and
carrying comb to the head thereof should retain the same distance from the
teeth, or as nearly the same distance from the teeth as may be, by which, as
the fibres are moved on the teeth towards the head of the comb, they will not
become more strained or tight on the teeth, as they will move along them,
and which straining or tightening of the fibres on the teeth of the receiving
comb has heretofore been caused by the receding of the feeding head before
the wool has descended to its lowest position in the receiving comb. Feeding
heads have heretofore been caused to perform in an orbit terminating in a
sharp curve next the receiving comb, which has caused the lashing on of the
wool to be such that the fibres, having entered amongst the teeth of the
receiving comb, are caused to descend therein, whilst the feeding head is
receding; hence the descent of the fibres towards the head of the comb is
obstructed by the drag consequent on the moving away of the head, and by the
chief part of the descending mass being drawn into and fastened in the front
chambers of the receiving comb, thereby causing the fibres to begreatly broken
in drawing out, which is objectionable, and which is obviated by causing the
feeding head to retain a parallelism with the teeth so long as the fibres fed in
are moving towards the head of the comb; and it is the obtaining such
motion to the feeding head which constitutes the improvement now under
description. The mechanical parts for obtaining this motion to the filling
head may be varied, but I prefer the arrangement shown in the Drawings.
a is the circular receiving or carrying comb, which is similar to those hereto-
fore used, and it has a continuous rotatory motion given to it, by which at all
times at one part it is receiving fresh wool, and at another part it is having
the wool combed out, at another part it is having the wool drawn out
in slivers, and the noil removed, and at another part it is being heated
by a suitable stove or fire box, all which is well understood; and the
details thereof, so far as they are shown, will enable the workman readily
to understand the combination of the present improvements with such
descriptions of machinery, and it will not be necessary to enter into a detailed
description of all the parts shown, as it will be sufficient for the most part to

page_text: confine the description to the arrangements constituting the improvements.
b, b, is the framing of the filling head, the nature of which is clearly shown.
c is the trough of the filling head. The framing 6 of the filling head is
supported at one end by the links b¹ from the frames 62, and at the other end
by the crank arms d; and these parts have motion given to them so as to
control the motion of the filling head, in the following manner:-e is the main
shaft of the machine, which receives motion from a steam engine or other
power by means of a strap or band acting on the pulley e¹; motion is com-
municated from the shafte to the various parts of the apparatus, as shown; a
strap or bandpassing partly round the pulley f, communicates motion to
the drum or pulley.g on the axis g', which is supported on bearings carried by
the framing, as shown. Upon the axis g¹ is formed or affixed the crank g², the
crank pin g of which passes through the end of the arm b³, projecting down-
wards from the cross bar b, to which the lower ends of the side frames 62 are
affixed, so that the parts b², 63, bt, constitute one frame, and by the revolution
of the crank g2 an up-and-down motion is given to those parts. The upper
ends of the parts 6ª are guided during such movement by passing through holes
formed in the cross bar 65, the ends of which turn freely in the uprights be of
the framing, as shown. The crank pin g³ also receives one end of the arm d
affixed to the axis de, upon which is fixed the toothed segments 3, the teeth of
which take into the pinions d'affixed upon the hollow axles of the crank armsd;
the crank armsdturn upon pins do, projecting from uprights carried by the frame
d, which also carries the bearings of the axled. For the revolution of the crank
g2 the arm will be acted upon to cause a partial rotation to the axle, conse-
quently to the segments d³, the pinions d, and cranks d. At the same time the
acting upon the arm d', will cause the frame d to be drawn to and from the
circle of combs, by which combined movements we effect the required lashing-
on movement. h, h, are the feed rollers, which have rotary motion given to
them to feed the wool in in the following manner:-'isa stud projecting from
the sides of the frame b, to receive the hollow axis, upon which are affixed the
pinion and the stem h³. The stem ³ passes through the stud ht, which has
a stem passing through, and so as to turn freely in the socket affixed to the
standard. In the movement of the filling head to lash the fibre ou to the
combs the pin travels in an orbit round the stud ht, by which rotary
motion will be communicated to the pinion h2. The pinion he takes into and
communicates motion to the pinion upon the axis 8, upon which is affixed
the bevilled pinion °, which takes into and drives the bevilled pinion
upon the axis, upon which is affixed the screw, which takes into and
drives the screw wheel 3 affixed 'upon the axis of one of the feed rollers h.
Another improvement in filling heads, shown in these Figures, is the causing

page_text: the mouth-piece and feed rollers thereof to be inclined so as to feed the wool
at one end more deeply into the teeth of the comb a than at the other end;
hence, as the comb a revolves slowly past the filling head, the lower end of the
mouth and feed rollers of the filling head will first feed into the empty teeth,
and the fibres will descend to the lowest part, and as the comb moves
forward the higher end of the mouth, the fibres of wool will be fed in less and
less deep amongst the teeth, by which means the operation of filling will be
performed more uniformly, and with less liability to break the fibres in
drawing out, as those which come lowest into the teeth of the comb a will be
fed in by the lower end of the filling head, and the points of the teeth will
enter amongst the wool more easily as they enter in succession. We generally
incline the mouth of the filling head according to the depth of wool we intend
to fill into a comb, but this may be varied.
The Figures of the Drawings above mentioned and referred to, together with
Figure 5, show another improvement in wool combing machinery, and the
same consists of means of arranging and working what are known as gill
combs. Heretofore, when using gill combs for the purpose of combing wool,
it has been usual for the several gill combs to enter in succession into the wool,
and to comb out the same by passing away from the comb in which the wool
is held or carried. Now, according to our present Invention, the gill combs
are to be carried by a moveable frame in such manner that they may be lashed
into the wool and drawn through the same, and thereby comb out the wool,
the separate motion of the gill combs amongst themselves when working the
wool being in a direction towards the holding or carrying comb, in place of
being in a direction away from the carrying or holding comb which was
formerly the case. By this arrangement the combing out of the wool is by
reason of the movement of the frame carrying the gill combs, whilst the
movement of the combs amongst themselves causes the wool taken off by the
gill combs to be brought back to the holding or carrying comb and again
worked thereon, as will readily be understood by reference to the Drawings,
aided by the following description of the movements of the several parts:-
Upon the axis e is fixed the drum or pulley e, which, by means of a strap or
baid, gives motion to the drum or pulley i upon the axis. The strap or
band used is guided in its movement between the drums and i by means of
the guide rollers 2. The axis is carried by bearings supported from the
main framing, and at its immer end carries a crank arm ", the pin of which
passes through the lower end of the frame j, which is formed in a similar
manner to the parts 62, 63, 64, and is in like manner guided at its upper end by
passing through holes in the cross bar j; the frame, by means of the

page_text: links j supporting the front end of the frame k, by which the gill combs are
carried. The other end of the frame k is supported by the crank arms
which are affixed to the axis ', and the axis ' turns freely in bearings carried
by the frame 2, and it has affixed upon it the pinion 13, which is taken into by
the teeth of the segment 14, which is affixed to the axis, which is also
supported in bearings carried by the frame 12. This frame 12, at its lower
end, turns in bearings 16, as shown. Upon the axis 15 is affixed the arm 17, the
end of which is formed with a hole to receive the pin 4 of the crank ³. Thus,
by the revolution of the crank 23 an up-and-down motion will be given to the
frame j, whilst a to-and-fro movement will be given to the frame 12, and a
partial rotary motion to the segment 14, the pinion 13, and the crank arms l
and it is by these combined movements we effect the required movements to
the frame k. In Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9, we have shown one of the gill combs
separately they are actuated by the screws m upon the shafts m³, which are
geared together on each side by means of the pinion m², and each of the upper
shafts m¹ has a bevilled pinion m³, which receives motion from the bevilled
pinion upon the shaft m³, and such shaft is carried by the frame k, and
receives motion by having fixed thereon a stem m", which passes through the
stud m, and this stud m? has a stem formed on it, by which it is capable
of turning freely in the socket m³, which is made fast, with a capability of
adjustment, in the standard me. By this means, as the frame of gills is caused
to travel in its orbit, the axle m will be caused to move in an orbit around
the stud m, and by the stem m sliding in and being controlled by the stud m³,
such axis m³ will be caused to have a rotary motion. We would remark, other
numbers of gill combs than that shown may be used, and with long wool we
should prefer that the heads of the combs should be curved, and work with
their convex sides towards the convex side of the carrying comb a; and
although we have shown particular combs, the number and sizes of the teeth
may be varied according to the judgment of the user of such machines, and as
is now well understood when combing different qualities of wools and wools
of different lengths. And we would further remark, that although we have
shewn the gill combs as worked by screws, as in ordinary screw gills, we
do not confine ourselves to the working of the combs by screws so long as
a series of combs are caused to act similarly to the combs above explained.
And although we have only shewn the use of one set of gill combs working,
with the carrying comb a, the carrying comb may be of larger diameter,
and arranged to work with more than one set of gill combs.
This part of our Invention consists also of another arrangementoffilling head
which may be used in place of the one above described. Figure 10 shows a

page_text: section of a filling head wherein screw gills are employed at the mouth, in order
that the wool may be straightened out by the movement of the gill combs
before the same is lashed on or filled into the carrying or holding comb a.
This filling head, like the preceding one, moves parallel with the teeth of the
comb a, and without receding therefrom during such parallel motion, so that
the wool will slide down the teeth without having any drag or draught thereon.
The action of this apparatus is as follows:-The framing of the filling head is
supported and controlled in its motion in a similar manner to the first herein-
described, and the similar parts are marked with the same letters of reference
there used. The gills receive motion by the screws on the shafts n, which are
geared together by the pinions 2, and the upper shafts n have bevilled
pinions n², which receive motion from bevilled pinions n³ upon the shaft n
upon which is fixed a stem n³, by which as in the other cases rotary motion
is obtained, the stem n passing through the stud 16, which turns in bearings
carried by the standard n. Upon the shaft n' is also affixed a bevilled pinion
which takes into and gives motion to the bevilled pinion upon the shaft n¹³,
upon which is formed the screw ", which takes into and gives motion to a
screw wheel upon the axis of one of the feed rollers 0,0. The wool tobe.combed
is fed in through the feed rollers o, o, thence it is taken forward by the teeth of
the gills. p is a brush carried by a bar, supported by the sides of the framing.
This brush extends across the filling head to the extent of the gill teeth, and is
for the purpose of pressing the wool up well into the teeth of the gill as they
descend into the wool. In using gill combs in a filling head we prefer that
such gills should be bent to the figures of the passing combs, as shown by
Figures 11 and 12; and we also prefer that the part v should be inclined, so
as to act in lashing on the wool in a similar manner to the inclined mouth-
piece and feed roller before described. We also prefer in some cases, when we
use gill combs in a filling head, that the various teeth in each row of teeth
should be of varying lengths alternately. We would remark that, where
desired, these filling heads may be used in filling in carded or uncarded, or
backwashed or unbackwashed wool, or otherwise, as heretofore has been the
case with other filling heads.
Another part of our Invention consists in a novel arrangement of noil
lifter. The wool, as it is carried round by the circle of combs, is drawn off by
the various rollers, as shown, and which have motion given to them by toothed
wheels, as indicated by the red line, all which is now well understood by
persons employed in this class of manufacture. For this reason he have not
thought it necessary to show the bearings of such rollers and their gear. Our
improved noil lifter is shewn in its place in Figure 1, and also at Figure 13.

page_text: 9, 9, are plates with toothed edges, which enter slightly between the teeth of
the combs a. The plates 9 are arranged one on each side of the combs a, as
shown, and each is supported by a rod q', which rods turn upon pins q² carried
by the plate 3, which has a slot formed in it to receive the truck q on the
plate 95, which is affixed upon the axis q, upon which is affixed the bevilled
pinion q, which is taken into by and receives motion from the bevilled pinion q
upon the axis of one of the drawing-off rollers. By the revolution of the axis q
the plate q³ will be raised and lowered by raising and lowering the plates g.
But as those plates 9 are only required to be in contact with the comb teeth
when they are being lifted in order to raise the noil, they should stand off
therefrom during their descent, in order then to avoid touching the noil. For
this purpose there are levers qº, which turn upon axes q10, and at one end act
upon the rods q¹, and at the other end bear against the cam surface formed
on the plate q, by which, during one half of the revoluution of the axis q, and
during the descent of the plates q, those plates q will be standing off from the
combs a; whilst, during the other half revolution of the axes q, and whilst the
plates are being raised those plates will be resting against and with their
points between the teeth of the passing combs, so as in their rising. to lift the
noil up to the upper part of the teeth of the passing combs, and thus be in a
position to be readily removed by the revolving brush 7, which is similar to that
described in a former Specification granted to the said Henry Robert Rams-
botham, on the Twenty-fifth day of November, One thousand eight hundred and
forty-six. The rods q' are constantly drawn towards each other by means of
the spring 912.
Another of our improvements consists in a mode of arranging a fire box to
be used in heating passing combs. This is shown in Figures 1 and 2, and
separately by the sectional Figures 14 and 15. s is the hopper through which
the feeding takes place, and by which a self-regulating supply is kept up. The
fuel is supported upon the bars s' as it falls through the hopper s, and it will
be seen that two sides s*of that part of the hopper which comes within the fire
box s2 are open in the form of grating, by which combustion will be more
rapidly carried on, and increased heat obtained. The other two sides s*x of
the hoppers which come within the box s² are solid, thus leaving an open space
all round such lower part of the hopper within the box s2, by which the heat may
circulate and be conducted off to heat the passing combs. 3 is a valve in the
flue st, to close the opening to the flue when required. This is accomplished
by means of the lever t, which turns upon the axis t, and has formed upon it
the segment of teeth t2, which takes into the pinion t³ upon the axis t+, upon
which are other pinions t5, which take into racks formed upon the sliding

page_text: valve s3; the levert also, by means of a connecting rod to, and other parts
not necessary to be shown, as being well understood in the means of throwing
off the strap of the driving drum, and thus puts the machine in and out of
motion.
Another part of our Invention consists of a mode of cleansing gill combs
used as working combs of the particles of wool which adhere thereto. We
have shown this part of our Invention in connection with an arrangement of
gill working combs such as described in the said former Specification granted
to the said Henry Robert Ramsbotham, but we do not confine ourselves to such
arrangement. u is a bar carrying the brush surface ¹. The bar u is
guided in slots formed in the sides of the framing, and by means of the
springs 2 is constantly pressed outwards, with the brush teeth in position to
act in the teeth of the gill combs; but that this brush u may be out of the
way to allow of the bars of the gills rising, each end of the bar u is, by means
of a link ut, connected to a lever, which lever turns upon axes 6, and
cach such lever receives the upper end of a lever, which levers at their
lower ends turn upon axes 8, and by means of the nibs they rest against
the parts of the gill bars as they successively come up, and, whilst so
pressing the bar with its brush will be forced back and admit of the bar
rising; but as soon as the gill, which for the time is in front, has risen suffi-
ciently high that the brush by coming forward would enter into the heads of
the gill teeth, the parts of the gill comb will rise away from the nibs, and
the brush will enter between the teeth to cleanse them. We have also
found it useful to employ, in conjunction with the above, a bar with teeth,
or a serrated surface, to enter between the teeth of the gill comb. This
bar is carried by the bar v', carried by the levers v2, which turns upon an
axis vi, and at the other end are borne on by the springs with a tendency
to keep the bar constantly against the rising gill, thereby cleansing the
opposite side of the gill to that cleansed by the brush .
The wool, so
drawn off by the instruments ¹, v, is laid in, with the sliver taken off, through
the drawing-off rollers w or otherwise.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, we would have it understood that we
do not confine ourselves to the details herein described, as the same may
be varied, so long as the peculiar character of any part of our Invention be
retained. But what we claim is,-
First, the causing prepared wool to be removed from the preparing surface
with a draught, as herein explained.

page_text: Secondly, we claim the arranging filling heads, so that in lashing on the
wool to the receiving combs, the mouth travels in a plane parallel to, or
as near as may be parallel to, the teeth of such receiving combs, by which
we avoid draught or drag on the fibres as they slide along the teeth of the
receiving combs.
And we also claim the arranging of the mouth and feed rollers of filling
heads in an angular or inclined position, so as to feed wool more deeply into
the receiving comb by one end of the filling head than the other.
Thirdly, we claim the causing gill combs to work as herein described when
combing wool.
Fourthly, we claim the application of gill combs to filling heads.
Fifthly, we claim the means described for removing noil.
Sixthly, we claim the improvements for heating combs herein described.
And, seventhly, we claim the mode herein described of cleaning gill combs.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Robert Ramsbotham, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty.
H. R. RAMSBOTHAM. (L.S.)
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-third day of September,
in the year of our Lord 1850, the aforesaid Henry Robert Ramsbotham came
before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid,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.
Enrolled the Twenty-third day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty.