Improvements in Revolving Flat Carding Engines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 4th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 8th Nov., 1890.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Revolving Flat Carding Engines.
We, BENJAMIN ALFRED DOBSON, Machine Maker, of the firm of Dobson and
Barlow, of Kay Street Works, Bolton in the County of Lancaster, and WILLIAM
ISHERWOOD BROMILEY, Foreman, of the same place, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in grinding the wire clothing of those flats
of carding engines which are known as revolving or travelling flats and has for its object
to grind the flats efficiently when relatively in the same position as that which they occupy
when performing their work upon the cylinder, i.e. wire, downwards, and thereby to
avoid the irregularity or inexactness due to the deflection of the flats which sometimes
results when the flats are ground with the wire upwards.
We are aware that this has been previously done but not in the same manner as
that in which we now perform it.
In carrying out our improvements we alter the section of the flat in such a way.
that while retaining the necessary strength to resist deflection it can be arranged to
pivot or turn over on the stud by which it is attached to the chain connecting and
driving the flats and this without touching the adjoining flats. By means of a catch
or equivalent and lugs on the flats each flat can be automatically reversed on its pivot
and when turned over it is carried forward upon a straight slide or in a groove.
We may then pass the reversed flat over a grinding apparatus designed for the
purpose of grinding flats from what is termed "the working surface" .e. that part
upon which it is supported when carding; or by means of springs or weighted levers
we may press the flat upwards against the present grinding surface reversed in position
and grind in the ordinary manner with the flat reversed. The grinding roller there-
fore works between those flats working on the cylinder and those above returning
from work and it is these flats returning from work that we turn over and grind after
they have been stripped and if necessary brushed.
We may say that according to our invention the centre of gravity of each reversed
flat is such, that it will, when liberated return to its normal position with the wire
upwards, without the help of the catch and lugs or other means which are however
provided in order to prevent any accident.
For the purpose of passing the grinding roller from one side of the carding engine
to the other between the flats without any risk of damage to either roller or flats we
provide a carriage which consists preferably of two parts; one part provided with a
bowl to run on the top of the cross shaft connecting the tightening bowls for the flat
chain and the other part, which forms a cradle to carry one end of the grinding roller,
is connected by a slide to the upper part and runs with flanged bowls upon a shaft
which we place across the card from one tightening fixing to the other and which also
acts as a stay. We may also explain that this carriage is removable, only requiring
to be lifted off the shafts.
In order to utilize the apparatus for the grinding from the working surface of the
flats at present in use we should require to travel the flats in the reverse direction to
that now customary so that the cleaned flats would enter to work on the cylinder at
the doffer instead of at the licker-in end; but this method of travelling the flats is
generally considered objectionable, and in order to grind from the working surface
with the flat in the reversed position while travelling in the ordinary direction we have
devised means by which this can be done.
The upper surface of the flat grinding bracket upon which the flats move is attached
to a movable slide in which there is a horizontal slot in this slot is closely fitted an
.

page_text: eccentric, from which there is a projecting finger or bracket and this on each side of
the card.
The action is such that as the flats travel forward after having been reversed in
position the screwed stud upon which the flat chain works and which is prolonged
beyond the head which is formed into a nut for screwing up the stud, comes into
contact with the finger or bracket attached to the eccentric: This finger or bracket
should be so shaped as to turn the eccentric and raise or lower the slide during the
passage of a flat over the grinding roller in such a manner that the surface of the wire
of the flat immediately over the centre line of the grinding roller is always maintained
at the same distance from the surface of the grinding roller, in other words-that this
movement of the eccentric and the slide will counteract the inclination given to the flat
and generally known as heel or bevel.
1000
H. B. BARLOW,
Agent.
:
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Revolving Flat Carding Engines.
We, BENJAMIN ALFRED DOBSON, Machine Maker, of the firm of Dobson and
Barlow, of Kay Street Works, Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, and WILLIAM
ISHERWOOD BROMILEY, Foreman, of the same place, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to improvements in grinding the wire clothing of those flats
of carding engines which are known as revolving or travelling flats and has for its
object to grind the flats efficiently when relatively in the same position as that which
they occupy when performing their work upon the cylinder, i.e. wire downwards,
and thereby to avoid the irregularity or inexactness due to the deflection of the
flats which sometimes results when the flats are ground with the wire upwards.
We are aware that this has previously been done but not in the same manner as
that in which we now perform it.
And in order that our invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect we will describe the accompanying two sheets of drawings reference being had
to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of part of the chain of travelling flats of a carding
engine and illustrating the application of our improvements in means for grinding the
same.
Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1.
Figs. 3, 5, 7 and 8 are side elevations of alternative arrangements for regulating
the position of the slide upon which the reversed flats are supported whilst being
ground.
Figs. 4 and 6 are end views of Figs. 3 and 5 respectively.
Figs. 7 and 7 are two detail views of part of Fig. 7.
Figs. 9 and 10 are views of two arrangements for pressing the flats upwards whilst
being ground.
Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14 are detail views on an enlarged scale illustrating the section
of the flat and the manner of mounting the same according to our invention.
Fig. 15 is a view showing the application of the carriage for supporting the grinding
roller and
Fig. 16 is a view of the carriage on a larger scale.
These drawings shew one side only of the carding engine, a similar arrangement
will of course be applied to each side of the machine.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
In carrying out our improvements we alter the section of the flat a in such a way
as shown best in Figs. 13 and 14 that while retaining the necessary strength to resist
deflection it can be arranged to pivot or turn over on the stnd 6 by which it is attached

page_text: to the chain c connecting the flats a together and by means of which they are driven
in the ordinary manner, each flat being able to turn over on its studs 6 as described
without touching either of the flats adjoining it. Secured to the engine bend is a flat
grinding bracket d in slideways in which is fitted a slide e the upper surface is made
straight to receive each flat a after it has been automatically reversed by means of a
catch for equivalent coming against lugs on the flats as shown in Fig. i
As the reversed flats are carried along the straight portion of the slide e on their
working surface we pass them over a grinding apparatus designed for the purpose of
grinding flats from the working surface" i.e. that part upon which the flat is sup-
ported on the flexible bend when carding; or by means of springs and pivoted
levers, Fig. 9, or weights ' and levers h, Fig. 10, we may press each flat a upwards,
see Fig. 10, against the present grinding surfaces which is reversed in position and
grind in the ordinary manner with the flat reversed. The grinding roller i therefore
works between these flats a supported on the flexible bend or equivalent j and working.
on the cylinder and those above returning from work, and it is these flats returning
from work that we turn over as shown in Fig. 1 and grind after they have been stripped
and if necessary brushed.
We desire to point out that according to our invention the centre of gravity of each
reversed flat is such, that it will when liberated return to its normal position with the
wire upwards, without the help of the catch fl and lugs or other means which are
however provided in order to prevent any accident.
For the purpose of passing the grinding roller i from one side of the carding engine
to the other between the chain of Hats without any risk of damage to either roller or
flats, we provide a carriage, Figs. 15 and 16, which consists preferably of two parts k k¹
connected together by a slide; the part & is provided with a bowl to run on the top
of the cross shaft m connecting the tightening bowls (not shown) for the flat chain
and the other part k which forms a cradle to carry one end of the grinding roller i
and runs with flanged bowls n upon a shaft o which we place across the card from
one tightening fixing to the other and which also acts as a stay. It will be readily
understood that this carriage is removable, only requiring to be lifted off the shafts m
and o.
募
In order to utilize the apparatus for the grinding from the working surface of the
flats at present in use we should require to travel the flats in the reverse direction to
that now customary so that the cleaned flats would enter to work on the cylinder at
the doffer instead of at the licker-in end; but this method of travelling flats is generally
considered objectionable, and in order to grind from the working surface with the flat
in the reversed position while travelling in the ordinary direction we have devised
means by which this can be done.
Referring first to Figs. 3 and in the movable slide e (on each side of the card) is
a slot in which is closely fitted an eccentric p from which there is a projecting finger
or bracket pl.
The action is such that as the flats travel forward after having been reversed in
position, the screwed studs upon which the flat chain c works and which is prolonged
beyond the head by which the stud may be screwed up, comes into contact with the
finger or bracket pl attached to the eccentric p. This finger or bracket p¹ should be
so shaped as to turn the eccentric p and raise or lower the slide e during the passage
of a reversed flat over the grinding roller i in such a manner that the surface of the
wire of the flat immediately over the centre line of the grinding roller is always main-
tained at the same distance from the surface of the grinding roller, in other words-
this movement of the eccentric p and slide e will counteract the inclination given to the
flat and generally known as heel or bevel.
In Figs. 1 and 2 the end of the eccentric finger p¹ is shown resting upon the lower
ats working upon the flexible bend or equivalent j. In Fig. 7 the eccentric P is
lispensed with and the finger p' made in two pieces adjustably connected, see also the
letail views Figs. 7° and 7b, so that the length of the finger can be varied if required.
Instead. of the eccentric p the finger plis pivoted at p" and an extension arm p¹ll is
mployed to raise and lower the slide e.

page_text: 11
In Figs. 5 and 6 a similar arrangement is also shown the finger p¹ is pivoted at pl
to the bracket d and the arm pl actuates the slide e.
In Fig. 8 the flats slide upon a rocking frame 7 pivoted at r, this frame replaces
the slide e and is lifted and lowered at one end by an eccentric or the arm p.
Either of the arrangements herein shown and described might be employed to raise
and lower the grinding roller i whilst the reversed flats were passing over a fixed
guide in place of the slide e.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The arrangement use and application of a grinding roller placed between the
upper and lower flats of a chain of travelling flats for the purpose of grinding said
flats when reversed.
2. Mounting each flat in such manner that it can be reversed by turning it over on-
the studs or pivots by which it is connected to the chains by which it is driven
and, when so reversed, can be ground.
3. The method of constructing and mounting each flat in the travelling chains,
whereby they can be reversed on their studs for grinding purposes and when liberated
after such reversal will return automatically to their normal or working positions
substantially as herein set forth.
4. The arrangement use and application of an eccentric, or its equivalent substan-
tially as herein shown and described, actuated by the traverse of the flats to operate a
slide or the bearings of a grinding roller inside a chain of flats for the purpose of
compensating for the heel or bevel in a flat being ground in a reversed position.
5. The construction use and application of a carriage substantially as set forth for
supporting the grinding roller inside the chain of travelling flats, and enabling said
roller to be traversed from one side of the card to the other as required.
6. The several constructions combinations and arrangements of parts embodying
our improvements in travelling flat carding engines substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and as illustrated by the drawings annexed.
Dated this 3rd day of October 1800.
H. B. BARLOW,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agent for Applicants.