IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTING THE TOP CARDS OR FLATS OF CERTAIN CARDING ENGINES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Hamilton, of Bolton-le-Moors, in the County
of Lancaster, Foreman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTING
THE TOP CARDS OR FLATS OF CERTAIN CARDING ENGINES."
Sealed the 28th December 1855, and dated the 14th July 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Hamilton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th
July 1855.
I, FRANCIS HAMILTON, of Bolton-le-Moors, in the County of Lancaster,
Foreman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ADJUSTING THE TOP CARDS OR FLATS OF CERTAIN CARDING ENGINES" to
be as follows:-
My improvements are applicable to the machines for carding known as
Leigh's patent carding engines. In these machines the top cards or flats are
connected to form an endless chain. My improvements consist in applying a
regulating screw to each end of each top card or flat, which screw takes into
a block on the guide rail, by means whereof, and of tightening screws or nuts,
the distance of each top card or flat from the main drum or other cylinder can
be regulated, and set with great facility and correctness.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Francis Hamilton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th January 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
HAMILTON, of Bolton-le-Moors, in the County of Lancaster, Foreman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Francis. Hamilton, Her special license that I, the said Francis Hamilton,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Francis
Hamilton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
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 ADJUSTING THE
TOP CARDS OR FLATS OF CERTAIN CARDING ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Francis Hamilton, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, 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 next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Francis Hamilton, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in, what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
Specification thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing
(that is to say)
The nature of my Invention consists in an improved mode of adjusting or
regulating the distance between the top cards or flats and the main drum
or cylinder, this improvement being chiefly applicable to the carding engines
known as Evan Leigh's patent carding engines. I have in the said Drawing
shewn how my Invention may be constructed, similar parts in the different
view's being marked with corresponding letters of reference.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, in outline, of one of the carding engines to which
my improvements are applied; Fig. 2 is a section of part of the same;
Fig. 3 is a side view; Fig. 4, an end view; and Fig. 5, a plan of one end of
a top card with my improvements applied thereto.

page_text: In Figs. 1 and 2, a is the main cylinder; and b, the side segments or rails
which guide the endless chain of top cards or flats c, c.
It has hitherto been customary to allow the end of the top card or flat to
bear upon the guide rails b; now, my Invention consists in introducing
between the end of the top card or flat and the guide rail, the block marked
d in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6. The lower part of this block is bevelled, as shewn
in section in Fig. 6, in the same manner as the end of the top card or
flat has hitherto been made. This bevel is for causing the card top of the
top card or flat to assume the proper angle with respect to the main cylinder.
The distance between the card top of the top card or flat and the wire of
the main cylinder is adjusted by the set screw e, which passes through the
end of the top card or flat, and is tapped into the boss of the block d.
When it is requisite to adjust the top card or flat, the set screw f, which forms
also the joint of the links of the chain, is slackened, and when the adjust-
ment has been effected, it is again tightened against the block d. It is
evident that by turning the set screw e in one direction or the other, the top
card or flat is made to approach or recede from circumference of the main
cylinder, thereby affording the desired facility in adjusting.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and the most convenient
manner with which I am acquainted for performing the same, I wish it to be
understood that I do not limit myself thereto, as the details may be varied
without departing from the character of my Invention; and that what I claim
is, the block d and regulating set screw e, or any equivalent agents, for
adjusting the distance between the top cards or flats and the main cylinders of
such carding engines to which these improvements are applicable.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Hamilton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
30 Witness,
H. B. BARLOW,
Manchester.
F. HAMILTON. (L.S.)