CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR Axe TranG COTTON AND ATUED FIRROUS SURSTANCES PROVISIONAL PREPARING, SPINNING, AND TWISTING OTHER FIBRO
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Burns Smith, of the City of Manchester, Mill
Manager, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
Axe TranG COTTON AND ATUED FIRROUS SURSTANCES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Burns Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th
August 1856.
I, JOHN BURNS SMITH, of the City of Manchester, Mill Manager, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR PREPARING, SPINNING, AND TWISTING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of certain improvements in the machinery for pre-
paring cotton, commonly known as the blower, scutcher, or lap machine.
These improvements consist in more effectually cleaning the cotton or other
fibrous substance from dust, seeds, and other impurities, by the admission of
air through a wire grid or other opening at or near the axis of the beater, so
as to keep the fibrous substances moving or circulating in the outer periphery
of the beater and in contact with the dirt bars, and thence through the body
of the machine to the dust cage..
My improvements in machinery for spinning and twisting are applicable to
the machines known as throstle frames and doubling frames, and consist of a
mode of driving the spindles of these machines, by having on each spindle two

page_text: wharves, driven by the drum or tin roller. By this means the breadth of
these machines is considerably diminished, and the spindles are driven at a
more uniform velocity.
My improvements in mules and other machines of the like nature for spin-
ning and twisting, consist of the application of two wharves to each spindle; in
such machines a secondary drum or tin roller of smaller dimensions is required
as a band carrier drum.
Another of my improvements in mules and other machines of the like nature
consists in retaining the yarn in a line with the axis of the spindle during the
twisting operation, by making three or more recesses cut in a line with the
axis of the spindle and commencing at or about half an inch from the point
of the spindlo and ending at its top.
My improvements also consist in the application of a plain parallel rail or
stay in contact with the spindles (of throstles and other machines to which the
same is applied), and attached to and near the bottom spindle rail, for the pur-
Jose of giving steadiness to the spindle and of considerably saving the wear of
the spindle foot and step.
My Invention also consists in an improved mode of constructing back bars,
or the supports of top rollers; I make the back bar with an entire bottom
plate, and dispense with the mid-feather connection hitherto employed.
My Invention also consists in the application of a strap tension or tightening
pulley, the stud of which radiates round a part of the fast and loose pullies of
the throstle or doubling frame, thereby enabling the strap to be tightened at
pleasure, by causing the strap to embrace more of the surface of the fast
pulley.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Burns Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th February 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN BURNS
SMITH, of the City of Manchester, Mill Manager, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
aid, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Burns Smith, Her special license that I, the said John Burns Smith,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said

page_text: John Burn's Smith, 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING, SPINNING, AND TWISTING COTTON AND
OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said John Burns Smith, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 tho
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Burns Smith, 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
statement (that is to say):-
The nature of my Invention consists, first, in admitting air near the axis of
the beater of blowers, scutchers, or other machines of the like nature, to assist
in cleaning the cotton or other fibrous substances more effectually from dust,
seeds, and other impurities.
Secondly, in the application of two wharves to each spindle of machines used
in spinning and twisting, for economizing space and for obtaining a uniform
velocity in the spindles.
Thirdly, in the application of a rail or stay near the footsteps of spindles
used in throstles and other machines, for preparing, spinning, and twisting, to
impart steadiness to the spindles and prevent the wearing of the footsteps.
Fourthly, in the application of a tension or tightening pulley to the driving
strap of throstles and other machines of the like nature, for tightening the said
strap and increasing the hold thereof on the pulley to be driven.
Fifthly, in making recesses at the summit of the spindles of mules and other
machines of the like nature, for retaining the yarn in a line with the axis of
the spindle during the twisting operation, thereby lessening the vibration of
the
yarn.
And, lastly, in an improved mode of constructing the back bars of top rollers
for machines used in preparing, spinning, and twisting.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me, reference being
.

page_text: had to the accompanying Drawing, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon.
Figure 1 represents my improvement in those machines commonly known as
the blowing, scutching, or lap machine. This improvement consists of assisting
the cleaning operation of cotton from seeds, dust, and other earthy impurities,
by the admission of air through a wire grid or grating a, a, placed at or near
the axis of the beater, part of which is shewn at a³; the effect of the air thus
admitted is to keep the cotton moving or circulating in the outer periphery of
the beater, and thereby in closer contact with the dirt bars or grid a', by which
the cotton will be more effectually opened and the seeds or other impurities
will more readily pass through the dirt bars or grid into an air-tight chamber
beneath; the dust from the cotton will be more easily and freely passed
onwards to the dust cage and fan. I prefer to make a groove the entire length
of the blade of the beater, as shown at a², to increase the action thereof on the
fibrous substances.
Figure 2 represents in section the mode of applying my improvements in the
machines for spinning and twisting known as throstles-and-doubling-frames;
these improvements consist in applying to each spindle two wharves driven by
one band. Only such parts as are necessary to illustrate my improvements are
shewn on the Drawing. b, b, are the spindles, mounted in bearings in the
usual manner. is the bolster rail, close beneath which is secured the
wharve ; fixed on the spindle, and at or near the foot of the spindle is secured
another wharve ; these wharves being in close proximity to the bearings of
the spindle, cause it to revolve much steadier than heretofore. 6' is the driving
drum or tin roller, round which is the spindle band b, which is also laced
round the spindles, shewing the manner how one band drives two wharves on
one spindle, and by making the same band pass to the other side of the
machine it there also drives two wharves on one spindle.
In order to secure a steady velocity in the spindles 6, 6, I apply a straight
rail the entire length of the machine; this rail comes only into touching
contact with all the spindles at or close to the foot of the spindle; by the use
of this rail the spindle footstep is very much preserved.
When the rail b is not employed, I form part of the bottom wharve with a
hollow cylinder, as shewn at Figure 3, under which cylindrical part is the foot-
step of the spindle; this cylindrical cover is for the purpose of preventing dirt
or other impurities getting into the footstep of the spindle. I also apply to
these machines a tension or strap tightening pulley 610, capable of adjustment
in the radial slot 13, to confine the strap, more or less, round the fast and loose

page_text: pulleys of the machine. In the framing of the machine is the stud 6" secured
in a radial slot 6, which is concentric to the fast and loose pulleys 612; con-
sequently the moving of the stud 6" causes the strap, shewn by a dotted line,
to be tightened and to embrace, more or less, the periphery of the pulleys,
thereby retaining more effectually the velocity imparted by the driving power.
My improvements in mules for spinning and twisting consists also in the
application of two wharves to each spindle, for the purpose of retaining the
velocity imparted to the spindles as heretofore described in reference to
the throstle. In this instance, two tin rollers for driving the spindles (one of
smaller dimensions than the other) are used, one of them serving only as a
band carrier drum, to which I lay no claim, except when combined with my
improvements. c' and c², represent the two tin rollers of the mule, round which
is the spindle band claced round the wharves c' and cof the spindle c*.
In order more fully to carry out my application of two wharves to the same
spindle of the mule spinning machine, I construct that part of the machine
known as the carriage in the manner shewn in Figure 4; such parts only of
the carriage are shown as are requisito to carry out these improvements. The
part marked d is an iron frame, several of which are placed at intervals in the
length of the carriage; to these frames are attached and secured the front and
back timbers and d³ of the carriage. The iron frames d are connected
together by two flat bars of iron g' and 93; through these bars are attached the
adjusting stay rods f₁ for the bolster framing, and f2 for the spindle foot rail
or framing; secured to the bar d' are mounted hinges h, which support a loose
door casing h¹; this door casing is to afford access to the tin rollers, in order
that they may be taken out at the back part of the carriage without dis-
arranging the stay rods f¹.
Figure 5 is a plan of the summit of the mule spindle, shewing a mode of
centralizing the twisting operation of the yarn, by having three or more grooves
or recesses cut in the spindle in the direction of its axis; these grooves or
recesses commence at or about half an inch from the point of the spindle, and
end at its inward centre; by this means the yarn, while spinning, will, at the
point or summit of the spindle, fall into one of the recesses and there be kept
concentric during the spinning or twisting operation, thereby lessening the
vibration, and causing the yarn to be much smoother on its surface and free
from loose fibres. One or two grooves will have the same effect as three or
more, but I consider three the most advantageous.
Figure 6 represents an elevation of a back bar for a spinning machine. When
the top roller bearings, called back or cap bars, are cast together for the thre
top rollers, so as not to admit of varying the distances between the rollers, I

page_text: construct them, not as heretofore with a central upright mid-feather connection
from roller to roller, but without the central mid-feather, in lieu of which I
place an entire plate bottom, marked i, and dispense with the mid-feather;
the space of which will go to extend lengthwise the working surface of the top
rollers, and will enable the yarn to be traversed to a greater extent underneath
the top rollers.
Having thus particularly described the nature of my Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit
myself to the details herein set forth, as the same may be varied without
departing from the peculiar character of my Invention; but what I do
claim is,―
Firstly, the admission of air through a grid or grating at or near the axis
of the beaters of blowing machines and other machines of the like nature...
Secondly, the application and adaptation of two wharves to one spindle of
machines for spinning and twisting, and the peculiar construction of mule
carriage combined with the same.
Thirdly, the adaptation of a strap tension pulley to throstles and other
machines of the like nature.
Fourthly, the application of a groove or grooves at the summit of mule
spindles, for lessening the vibration of the yarn during the operation of
twisting, as described.
Fifthly, the improved construction of cap or back bars, described and shewn
in Figure 6.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Burns Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
JOHN BURNS.SMITH.
(L.8.)