IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Brook, the younger, and Joseph Sykes, both of
Huddersfield, in the County of York, Manufacturers, and Job Stake, of the
same Place, Combing Overlooker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 6th September 1878, and dated the 1st July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Brook, Joseph Sykes,
and Job Stake at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st July
1878.
GEORGE BROOK, the younger, and JOSEPH SYKES, both of Huddersfield, in the
County of York, Manufacturers, and Job Stake, of the same Place, Combing
Overlooker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COMBING WOOL
AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
This Invention relates to that class of machinery known as "Noble's comb,"
which, as hitherto constructed, consists of two small circular combs working within
a larger circular comb; but our improvements consist in the employment of three
small circular combs working within the large circular comb, and also in a novel
arrangement of the driving mechanism whereby the efficacy of the machine is
greatly increased and the construction simplified.
The three small circular combs are placed at equal distances apart within the large
circle, and are each provided with drawing-off rollers and belts, and by preference
with the apparatus for pressing the wool or fibres into the comb teeth, for which
Letters Patent were granted to the said George Brook, the younger, and Job Stake,
dated the 20th October, in the year of our Lord 1877, No. 3889.
Our improvements in the driving mechanism which are applicable to combs with
either two or more small circles are as follows:-Underneath the comb near to the

page_text: ground we place the main driving shaft, which carries the fast and loose pullies
and a bevil wheel, which gears with another bevil wheel fixed to a vertical stud or
short shaft placed about the centre of the machine. On the stud is also mounted
a tooth wheel, which by means of intermediates imparts motion to the ordinary
train of gearing employed for driving the various parts of the machine. By this
arrangement we dispense with two pairs of bevil wheels at the top of the two
upright shafts within the pillars, and also the upper cross shaft which has hitherto
been the main driving shaft. We retain about one-third of the pillars in length,
and on the upright shafts we place hand wheels by means of which the attendant
can turn the comb when required; but when the comb is driven by "power" there
is no torsional strain on the upright shafts, and consequently all vibration and loss
of power from this source is avoided.
The "silver" or balling rollers are driven from one of the drawing-off rollers of
the large circle by bevil wheels, one of which is mounted on the top of the drawing-
off roller and the other on the lower of the silver rollers.
The advantage derived from our improvements are numerous.
The greater
part of the machinery hitherto fixed on the upper side of the comb circles is dis-
pensed with or placed underneath, whilst we are enabled to reduce the remaining
parts in size, besides bringing the strap guide and the hand wheels much inore
under the control of the attendant. Those parts of the machine which require 1
frequent inspection are more open to view, the circles are readily changed, and
when the machine is placed in an upper room it may be driven from the shafting
room below it so that special shafting is not necessary.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Brook, Joseph Sykes, and Job Stake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 1st January 1879.
.
GEORGE BROOK, the younger, and JOSEPH SYKES, both of Huddersfield, in tho
County of York, Manufacturers, and Jon STAKE, of the same Place, Combing
Overlooker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COMBING WOOL
AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
This Invention relates to that class of machinery known as "Noble's comb,"
which has hitherto consisted of two small circular combs working within a larger
circular comb; but our improvements consist in the use of three small circular
combs working within the large circular comb, and also in a novel arrangement of
the driving mechanism, whereby the efficacy of the machine is greatly increased
and its construction simplified.
The three small circular combs are placed within the large circle at equal
distances from the centre and from each other, each circle having the usual drawing-
off rollers and belts. For dabbing or pressing the fibres into the teeth of the combs
we prefer to use the apparatus for which Letters Patent were granted to the said
George Brook, the younger, and Job Stake, dated the 20th October, A.D. 1877,
No. 3889.
Our improvements in the driving mechanism, which are applicable to combs
with either two or more sınall circles, are as follows:-Underneath the comb near
to the ground we place the main driving shaft, which carries the fast and loose
pullies and a bevil wheel, which gears with another bevil wheel fixed to a vertical
stud or short shaft placed about the centre of the machine. On the stud is also
mounted a toothed wheel, which by means of intermediates imparts motion to the
ordinary train of gearing employed for driving the various parts of the machine.
We may also employ two pairs of bevil wheels and the ordinary train of gearing,
the wholo being fixed to the under side of the machine. By this arrangement we
dispense with the two pairs of bevil wheels at the top of the two upright shafts
within the pillars, and also the upper cross shaft which has hitherto been the main
driving shaft. We retain about one-third of the pillars in length, and on the up-
right shafts we place hand wheels by means of which the attendant can turn the
comb when required; but when the comb is driven by "power" there is no torsional
strain on the upright shafts, and consequently all vibration and loss of power from
this source is avoided.
The "sliver" or balling rollers are driven from one of the drawing-off rollers of
the large circle by bevil wheels, one of which is mounted on the top of the drawing-
off roller and the other on the lower of the sliver rollers.
The advantages derived from our improvements are numerous. The greator part
of the machinery hitherto fixed on the upper side of the comb circles is dispensed
with or placed underneath, whilst we are enabled to reduce the remaining parts
in size besides bringing the strap guide and the hand wheels much more under
the control of the attendant. Those parts of the machine which require frequent
inspection are more open to view, the circles are readily changed, and when the
machine is placed in an upper room it may be driven from the shafting in the room
below it, so that special shafting is not necessary.
In order that our Invention may be more fully understood, we have hereto
annexed two Sheets of Drawings marked with figures and letters of reference,
the same letters applying to the same parts in the various Figures.
Fig. 1 is a plan view, and Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation.
а
Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively elevation and plan, shewing a modification in the
arrangement of the driving apparatus.
A is the ordinary large circular comb; B are three smaller circular combs, in the
interior of each of which is an upright pillar C, through which passes the shaft u
provided at the top with a hand wheel b and at bottom with a pinion or toothed
་

page_text: wheel c; D, D1, D2, are three series of drawing-off rollers and leathers, the slivers
from which are connected at d and pass from thence to the balling tube E; F is
our improved apparatus for pressing the fibres into the comb teeth, which, as above
stated, constitutes the subject of a former Patent granted to George Brook, the
younger, and Job Stake, and which is particularly adapted to this form of comb;
fis the driving shaft for this portion of the machine.
The machine is driven from the shaft G, upon which are mounted the fast and
loose pullies G', G². This shaft also carries a bevil wheel H, which gears with a
similar bevil wheel J mounted on the end of the vertical stud K, which stud carries
the toothed wheel L, which by means of intermediates imparts rotation to the
various parts of the machine.
The machine may be stopped or set in motion from any of the points m, m, n, n,
which are the ends of the two horizontal rods M, N, working at right angles to
each other. The rod M slides in bearings O, and the pin o passes through a slot
in the lever N which has the shaft P for its fulcrum, on the bottom end of which
is a slotted lever p, not seen in the Drawing, which as the shaft P turns causes the
strap guide rod to slide in its bearings R.” It will thus be seen that the machine
may be controlled from any point by the attendant; S are the balling rollers, the
lower one of which is driven by bevils a from one of the pairs of drawing-off
rollers.
In Figs. 3 and 4 we have illustrated plan of driving the machine from the upper
side of comb when employing three small circles. In this case we employ a central
pillar T, having, bevil wheels therein, one of which drives a vertical shaft K which
serves the purpose of the vertical stud K, shewn in Fig. 1, rotary motion being
derived from the pulleys U, mounted on the shaft W, which carries the other bevil
wheel.
In conclusion, we would have it understood, that we do not confine ourselves
to the precise details of construction or arrangement herein shewn and described,
as the same may be varied in many particulars; but the points of novelty to which
we lay claim are,—
Firstly. The general construction and arrangement of parts, herein shewn and
described, by which we are enabled to use an increased number of small circular
combs.
Secondly. The arrangement of mechanism for driving such machines from the
under side of the comb, substantially as herein shewn and described.
Thirdly. The method of driving the "sliver" or balling rollers, as herein shewn
and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Sykes, for and on behalf of myself
and the said George Brook, the younger, and Job Stake, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.