IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Briggs, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION Of
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Briggs at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th October 1881.
THOMAS BRIGGS, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR SPINNING
AND DOUBLING YARNS OR THREADS."
This Invention is designed principally to be applied to machinery or apparatus
used for spinning and doubling twines or cords made from hemp, jute, or other
similar materials, but with slight modifications it may also be applied to machinery
or apparatus employed for spinning and doubling finer yarns or threads made from
cotton, wool, flax, and other fibrous substances.
The improvements consist in a peculiar construction of automatic centrifugal
drag motion to be applied to the taking up bobbin, whereby the amount of drag
on the bobbin is caused to increase as the diameter of the bobbin increases, and
hence the tension on the yarn or strand is rendered more uniform, and the
occurrence of snarls, knots, or breakages is greatly diminished.
The taking up bobbin is connected by means of a small stud or other suitable
projection with a revolving disc, upon the upper side of which are cast four radial
arms forming a cross.
This is fitted into and revolves within a dish or circular box secured to the
traverse rail of the machine. In the spaces between the radial arms of the cross
are placed, so as to fit loosely, two or more weights, their outer edges being formed
so as to fit the inner circumference of the rim of the dish or box above mentioned.
It will be evident that as the bobbin revolves in winding on the yarn, the
centrifugal force will cause the weights to slide outwards and bear with greater
or less force against the interior of the rim of the dish or box, which will cause a
drag upon the bobbin, which drag will be greater or less according to the speed at

page_text: which the bobbin revolves; and as this speed necessarily increases with the
increasing diameter of the bobbin the drag will increase in a similar ratio, and thus
the tension upon the yarn will be kept uniform (or nearly so) throughout, and the
result will be increased uniformity and less breakages.
It will be evident that this automatic centrifugal drag may also be applied with
equal advantage to the letting off bobbin to give the necessary tension to the yarn,
strand, or cord.
I may here observe that I do not desire to confine myself to four radial arms, as
a greater or less number may be employed if preferred; and also that in some
cases the revolving disc may be dispensed with and a boss merely provided with
radial arms be substituted, in which case the weights will rest on the bottom of
the dish or box and will merely be carried round by the radial arms; or the
friction weight may be fitted in a slot of the arms, and a spring may be applied to
hold the friction weight in position against the rim of the dish. Or in place of
loose weights I attach small levers to the disc, and these weights or levers may be
covered with leather or other material if increased friction be required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Briggs in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th April
1882.
"IMPROVEMENTS
THOMAS BRIGGS, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR SPINNING
AND DOUBLING YARNS OR THREADS."
This Invention is designed principally to be applied to machinery or apparatus
used for spinning and doubling twines or cords made from hemp, jute, or other
similar materials, but it may also be applied to machinery or apparatus employed
for spinning and doubling finer yarns or threads made from cotton, wool, flax, and
other fibrous substances.
The improvements consist principally in a peculiar construction of automatic
centrifugal drag motion to be applied to the taking up bobbin, whereby the
amount of drag on the bobbin is caused to increase as the diameter of the bobbin
increases, and hence the tension on the yarn or strand is rendered more uniform
and the occurrence of snarls, knots, or breakages is greatly diminished.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention, I will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect; and in order that the same may be clearly understood
I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked
the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation thereof.
Fig. 1 in the annexed Drawing is a vertical section, and Fig. 2 a plan view of
my improved apparatus partly in section with the cover removed.
The taking up bobbin, the lower portion of which is shown as represented by
the dotted lines a, a, at Fig. 1, is connected by means of a small stud or other
suitable projection b, b, with a revolving disc c, c, upon the upper side of which
are cast four radial arms d, d, forming a cross (see detached view, Fig. 3).
This is fitted into and revolves within a dish or circular box e, e, secured to the
traverse rail f, f, of the machine and fitted with a cover e*, ex. In the spaces
between the radial arms d, d, of the cross are placed, so as to fit loosely, two or
more weights g, g, their outer edges being formed so as to fit the inner circum-
ference of the rim of the dish or box e, e, above mentioned.
It will be evident that as the bobbin a, a, revolves in winding on the yarn, the
centrifugal force will cause the weights g, g, to slide outwards and bear with
greater or less force against the interior of the rim of the dish or box e, e, which
will cause a drag upon the bobbin a, a, which drag will be greater or less according
to the speed at which the bobbin revolves, and as this speed necessarily increases
with the increasing diameter of the bobbin the drag will increase in a similar
ratio, and thus the tension upon the yarn will be kept uniform (or nearly so)
throughout, and the result will be increased uniformity and less breakages.
In order to ensure a certain amount of drag at starting and before the centri-
fugal force has come into play, the weights g, g, may be provided with springs h, h,
which have a constant tendency to press them outwards against the rim of the
dish or box e, e.
It will be evident that this automatic centrifugal drag may be applied with
equal advantage to the letting off bobbin to give the necessary tension to the yarn,
strand, or cord.
In some cases where the mere action of the centrifugal force of the weight g, g,
is not sufficient (especially when the bobbin is nearly full), I form a recess or slot
in the box e, e, in which I place a small break block i, i, (see Figs. 1 and 2) which

page_text: bears against the edge of the revolving disc c, c,.and to which more or less pressure
can be given by turning the adjusting screw k, k, which bears against the spring m
at the back of the block i, i. 1, 1, is a lock nut for holding the screw k when
adjusted.
Or any other equivalent means may be employed in connection with my
improved centrifugal drag to give a positive extra pressure when the bobbin is
nearly completed.
I may here observe that I do not confine myself to the four radial arms, as a
greater or less number may be employed if preferred; and also that in some cases
the revolving disc may be dispensed with and a boss merely provided with radial
arms be substituted, as shown at Fig. 4, in which case the weights g, g, will rest
on the bottom of the dish or box e, e, and will merely be carried round by the
radial arms; or the friction weight may be fitted in a slot of the radial arms; or
in place of loose weights I sometimes attach small levers n, n, to the disc c, c, as
shown at Fig. 5, and the said weights or levers may be faced with leather or
other suitable material if increased friction be required.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, together with the
manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention,
The construction and adaptation to the bobbins of machinery or apparatus
employed for spinning and doubling yarns or threads of an automatic centrifugal
drag acting by loose weights or levers inside a dish or box, and constructed and
applied substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore more
particularly set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Briggs, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.