A SERIES OF IMPROVEMENTS LE MACHINERY FOR RADHING THE WOOL OR PILE ON WOOLLEN OR OTHER CLOTHS, BY MEANS OF AN IMPROVED APPLICATION OF THE TEAKLE OR OTHER POINTS, AND PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO BRUSHING, SHOOTHING, AND DRESSING SUCH CLOTHS
Year: 1825

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS' SHALL COME, we, EDWARD
SHEPPARD, of Uley, in the County of Gloucester, Cothier, and ALFRED FLINT,
of the same place, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
in and by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date at Westminster, the Twenty-ninth day of March now last past, did give
and grant unto us, the said Edward Sheppard and Alfred Flint, His special
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that we, the said Edward
Sheppard and Alfred Flint, our exors, admors, and assigns, and such others
as we, the said Edward Sheppard and Alfred Flint, our exors, admors, or
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term of years therein unexpired, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and tho
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, our Invention of "A SERIES OF IMPROVEMENTS
LE MACHINERY FOR RADHING THE WOOL OR PILE ON WOOLLEN OR OTHER CLOTHS,
BY MEANS OF AN IMPROVED APPLICATION OF THE TEAKLE OR OTHER POINTS, AND
PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO BRUSHING, SHOOTHING, AND
DRESSING SUCH CLOTHS;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a
proviso obliging us, 'the said Edward Sheppard and Alfred Flint, by an
instrument in writing under our hands and seals, particularly to describe and
ascertain the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: is to be performed, and to cause the same to be enrolled in His Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within two calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the said recited
Letters Patent, reference being thereunto had, will more fully appear.
NOW KNOW YE, AND THESE PRESENTS WITNESS, that in com-
pliance with the said proviso, we, the said Edward Sheppard and Alfred
Flint, do hereby ascertain and declare the nature of our said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, are particularly described in the
words following.
Our Invention consists,-
First, in an improved application of the teazle, by which the whole of its
points are brought into useful action, which we effect in the following manner,
that is to say-Instead of using the teazles on cylinders of large diameter,
according to the present method, we apply the teazles on a cylinder or series
of cylinders, the circumference of which is made to approximate to the curvature
or figure of the teazle, by which means the whole of the points of the teazle
are brought into use, which cannot be the case when applied on a large
.cylinder, the periphery of which differs so widely from that of the teazle in
its longitudinal curvature.
Our improvements further consist in economizing the use of the teazle by
an improved mode of setting or fixing them in the handles or frames previously
to applying them on the cylinder or cylinders, which we effect in the following
manner, that is to say:-Instead of sliding the stem of the teazle into a
slit or mortice formed between two strips of wood or metal, as in the present
mode, which forces the teazle into close contact, to the great injury and
destruction of the same, so much that only, two of its sides can be used,
we take a strip of wood or plate of metal perforated at such distances as
may correspond with the size of the teazle, and allow them space just to
clear each other, through which holes the stem of the teazle is inserted. We
also take another plate of metal or strip of wood of similar dimensions, to
support and stay the points of the teazles. These plates are fastened together
with the teazle between them, so that when any two sides of the teazle are
worn out, weakened or disabled, and are thereby unfit for further use, the
pate that supports the point or upper end of the teazle is to be released, and
the teazle turned by the finger and thumb of the person employed for the
purpose, and thereby the worn out parts of the teazle are turned out of
contact with the cloth, and fresh parts or points brought in, so that the
whole of its points are used.

page_text: We also produce a similar effect by another mode, that is to say, we take
a plate of metal or strip of wood or other suitable material, in which we
insert a convenient number of spindles, which are either screwed or rivetted
thereon. The stems of the teazles are cut off close to the bodies or lower
ends thereof, the teazles are then sheathed on the spindles through the
centre of the teazles in the space occupied by the alburnum or pith of the
teazle, by which means they are much strengthened and supported. These
spindles are at such distances to allow the teazles to clear each other;
there is also another plate of metal or strip of wood or other suitable material,
which is made moveable for the purpose of changing or releasing the teazles,
and is so perforated at given distances as to receive the upper end of each
teazle spindle, and to support and keep it in its proper position. The move-
able plate or strip being released, the teazles may be turned or changed by
the finger and thumb, as in the foregoing description.
We also use another method to produce similar effects, which is by a taking
a spindle, somewhat longer than the teazle, near the ends of which are placed
two concave dishes or flanches, one to receive the but or lower end of the
teazle, which is placed at a little distance from its end, so as to form a pivot or
bearing, the other is placed at a similar distance from its top or upper end, and
is indented with the thread of a screw, for the purpose of confining the teazle
between the two, dishes or flanches; the spindle with the teazle sheathed on it,
as before described, and confined between the two flanches, is then inserted
between two perforated plates or cheeks that form a frame or handle for the
purpose of being employed on the cylinder. One of these plates or cheeks
is put together in two halves, with a convenient number of restraining screws,
so that when the lower part or pivot of the spindle is inserted in the hole
or perforation, the restraining screws are used to compress the two half
plates together, for the purpose of fastening or giving a certain degree of
friction to the pivots. The plate that supports the top or upper end of the
teazle spindle, is also perforated, to receive the upper pivot of the spindle, by
which means they form bearings for the teazle spindles; by regulating the
friction on these bearings, the teazle with its spindle will be made to revolve
by the action of the cloth, so that the whole of its sides may be regularly
presented during the process, or it may be made stationary by increasing
the friction or restraining power, so as to be changed or turned by hand, as
in the former described methods. To make the teazle and spindle revolve by
the action of the cloth, it is necessary to give the teazle a small degree of
obliquity. We also give the teazle a small degree of obliquity, whether fixed
or moveable on its pivots, in order to effect a traversing motion on the cloth,

page_text: so that the points may not strike again in the same direction. This we effect
by placing the teazles round the cylinder following a spiral line, or a line that
forms an inclined plane coiled about the cylinder; if only one cylinder bo
used, each handle or division in the cylinder must have their teazles in
alternate directions, one inclining to the right, and the other to the left, to
keep the cloth plain, and prevent it from casting to one side or the other; if
more than one cylinder be in action at a time, the teazles on one cylinder
must follow a spiral line to the right-hand, and the next to the left, and so
for the rest. By either of these described modes of setting the teazles and
using them on small cylinders, a great saving in the costly article of teazles
is effected.
Our improvements consist further in the construction of the machine, and
in the application of its parts, so as to produce a great saving of time in the
raising and dressing processes. This we effect by employing double or treble
the number of cylinders that are necessary to be in action at one time, for as
there is a great loss of time in stopping the machino according to the present
modes in use, in order to change or supply it with fresh teazles, we prevent
such by the following method:-When the teazles are disabled and unfit for
further use in the cylinder or cylinders in action, our machine is so constructed
as to revolve such out and throw others into action clothed with fresh teazles
in their place, so that the cylinder or cylinders containing the disabled teazles
are at liberty to be removed or exchanged while the machine is in full work.
This is effected by the following construction:-We place the cylinder or
cylinders on two circular rings, or on a segment or segments of circles, or such
may be inserted in a radiating arm or arms staked on a moveable shaft.
These rings or segments are joined together by bolts or bars sufficiently wide
to receive cylinders necessary for dressing the broadest cloth. If a radiating
arm or arms be used they must be staked on a moveable shaft to admit of a
similar arrangement; in the circumference of these rings, segment or segments,
are a convenient number of holes or projections which are bushed with brass
or hardened steel, or any other suitable material for the purpose of receiving
the pivot or pivots, bearing or bearings, of the cylinder or cylinders. On one side
of these rings, segment or segments, are also circular projections turned true
for the purpose of forming bearings for carrying the whole of the working
cylinders. These projections are placed in a circular recess. In the standard
or frame of radiating arms are used the shaft on which they are staked, moved
on bearings for the same purpose. On the outside part of these circular rings
or segments are placed a convenient number of teeth or cogs in which two
small pinions work. These pinions are placed upon a spindle on which there

page_text: is a handle, by turning of which the whole of the cylinders are made to
revolve, so that such cylinders as have the teazles disabled and unfit for
further use may be thrown out of contact, and others with fresh tenzles thrown
in, thereby preventing the loss of time in changing the teazles, as in the
machines now in use. The same effect may be produced by a lever or levers
instead of teeth or cogs. We place on the end of the cylinder or cylinders a
toothed pinion or friction wheel which works into a toothed wheel or friction
wheel placed on the main shaft for the purpose of giving a revolving motion,
or the rotatory motion may be given by other means. The axis of the main
shaft being placed at a certain degree of excentricity to the circular rings in
which the cylinders are placed, any cylinder or cylinders may continue in a
state of rest for the purpose of being replenished with fresh teazles, while the
other cylinder or cylinders are in full work. In the intersection formed or the
space unoccupied between any two of the revolving cylinders in the circular
rings, we also place a convenient number of pressure or breasting rollers or
bars for the purpose of regulating the resistance of the cloth against the
revolving cylinders, so that any degree of pressure may be given to the cloth
that, may be required. If pressure rollers are used they are permitted to
revolve round their centres by the action of the cloth, but in the case of using
bars that are prevented from revolving, we insert on the surface of the bar a
convenient number of angular ridges placed obliquely thereon for the purpose
of keeping the cloth plain against the revolving cylinders. We produce
also a similar effect by another method, that is, in the teazle cylinder there is
a space unoccupied formed by the intersection of the two teazle handles or
frames; in this space we insert a bar or plate of metal or other suitable
material indented or otherwise supplied with a convenient number of angular
ridges placed obliquely on its surface for the purpose of keeping the cloth
plain, and also to act as a shield and guard to the points of the teazles,
these bars or plates being allowed to rise and fall from or towards the centre,
or to be made stationary, or by any common adjustment by which the teazles
may be sheltered or exposed as necessary, so as to increase or diminish their
action against the cloth. These ridges must be placed inclining to the right
and left from the centre of the bar; or if one bar has the ridges inclining to
the right the other must have them inclining to the left, and so for the rest;
these bars or rollers may be adjusted by any of the common modes now
in use.
Our improvements consist, further, in the application of a brushing cylinder,
which is made to revolve in the interior of the circle formed by the series of
cylinders. This is placed upon the main shaft from which it receives its

page_text: motion, and is for the purpose of brushing and cleaning the teazles on the
working cylinders from the flocks and other foreign matter.
We also claim in our said Invention the methods before described of setting
and affixing the teazles as applicable to cylinders of any diameter, but we
prefer the use of small cylinders, as above described, not only on account of
their effecting the greatest saving in the teazles by causing the whole of its
points on the working part of its surface to bear equally against the cloth, but
also from being a small curve, and the cloth acting as it were as a tangent to
that curve, the points of the teazle act at a less angle and have more power to
penetrate the surface of the cloth than when placed upon cylinders of larger
curvature, which make a greater angle by approximating moro to a straight
line, and thereby naturally give an unequal bearing to the teazle, as only
touching on its most prominent points, and also offer a greater resistance to
the moving power. The points of the teazle acting also on the periphery of a
small cylinder, remain a shorter time in action than when applied on larger
cylinders, and thereby more easily recover their natural position, whereas when
used on larger cylinders the hook is kept too long in a bent state, so as to
destroy its power and elasticity, and producing also a greater resistanco by
friction to the moving power, by the cloth rubbing against the dead body of
the teazle. We claim, consistently with the construction above described,
the use of spare cylinders, whether large or small, or either so that some may
be in motion and others at rest, for the purpose of effecting the necessary
change of the teazle.
We claim also part of our improved construction in machinery as applicable
to the process of brushing, laying, smoothing, and dressing the pile on woollen
cloths; to effect which on a machine similarly constructed to that above
described, we use cylinders covered with hair, or other suitable points and
substances or cylinders of metal or other suitable materials, which may be
heated or otherwise, for the purpose of disabling and laying the animal fibre so
that cylinders of various qualities, either covered with a coarse material, as
cominon hair or bristles, which are requisite for a certain part of the process of
cleansing and brushing, or with a finer material, as goat's hair, necessary for a
more finishing part, or cylinders covered with metallic or other points, for
the purpose of dividing, equalizing, laying, and smoothing the wool or pile,
or metallic cylinders to be heated by steam, or otherwise, for the purpose of
disabling and weakening the animal fibre may be brought into action either
in conjunction or seperately, as the nature of the process requires, so that
any of the cylinders for their respective purposes may be revolved in or out of
contact, as necessary. By these arrangements it may be said to constitute

page_text: a machine applicable for the different purposes for which various machines:
are now used in the finishing process; but as the using various cylinders
covered with hair of different qualities is both complicated and expensive, and
the finer qualities of hair being apt to get foul and unfit for use, we claim as
our Invention the construction of an improved cylindrical brush, that will
answer the same purposes as the variety of brushes before named, that is a
cylinder composed of a convenient number of individual brushes, constructed"
in the following manner: We take a convenient number of strips of wood or
bars of metal or other suitable material of a sufficient length and size, in which
hair or other points are inserted either by perforation or being confined
between two slips or plates, by a convenient number of restraining screws or
by other means; these strips or bars are then placed in a circular ring or plate
at each of their respective ends, which are fastened on a spindle for the purpose
of giving a rotatory motion. At each end of these strips or bars is placed a small
pivot or bearing, which fixes them in the plate or rings, but allows of their moving
when required. At one end of these strips or bars is placed a pinion or
segment of a circle, furnished with teeth in which a toothed wheel works,"
for the purpose of giving the requisite degree of movement. This wheel is at
liberty to move loose on the face of one of the plates, on a round part formed
on the shaft or otherwise, or the same may be moved by a series of levers.
The wheel is moved by another small pinion, on which is attached an index
and handle, and thereby any degree of obliquity or other position is given to
the points with the greatest nicety, that is to say, by making the hair or points
form an obtruse angle with the radial line, either in a direction with its motion
or against it, a hard or soft brush is formed, or a medium effect produced
by the hair or points forming a line with the radius. This brushing cylinder
may be made of any diameter, and one or any number of such may be emi-
ployed at a time, and as cylinders of this description answering the purposes
of many would admit of a simple arrangement, they might be made to revolve
on fixed and immoveable bearings, so that the machine might be the more
simple, and composed of a less number of parts. The cloth is drawn forward
in contact against the revolving cylinders, both in this and the former de-
scribed method, similarly to what is done in machines now in use, and conse-
quently such 'part is not claimed by us, neither do we claim the invention or
application of cylindrical brushes as at present used, but we claim the Inven-
tion of cylindrical brushes made as 'above described, in whatever way they
may be applyed or used.
Our improvements consist further in the application of heat for dressing and
other purposes, as hereafter mentioned, that is in order to give a durable
and permanent lustre to the pile or wool, when generated and laid. And

page_text: to enable it to retain its proper position we find it necessary to weaken and
disable the animal fibre, for which purpose we adopt the following methods, that
is to say: We take a hollow tube or skeleton cylinder, the surface of which
is perforated with a convenient number of apertures or instertices; the cloth
with the wool or pile thus generated, and laid in its proper position, is lapped
or coiled round the said cylinder. The cylinder is made close at both ends,
with the exception of an aperture to receive a shaft or spindle for the purpose
of being inserted in a raising or brushing machine; we leave a small orifice
in one of its ends, to receive a pipe or stopcock, or one of its bearings is left
hollow, for the purpose of opening a communication to the inside of the
cylinder, which is turned a little conical, like a spigot, to be inserted in the
fausset part of a stopcock, which communicates with a reservoir of steam or
hot water. The cylinder is placed on its bearings in the raising or brushing
machine, when the cloth, with its wool thus generated and laid, is wrapped
or coiled around it. The cylinder and cloth is then placed in communication
with the steam or hot water reservoir, where the operation is to take place,
whether on the machine or elsewhere. The spigot of the cylinder is then
inserted in the fauset or pipe that communicates with the reservoir of steam
or hot water, in order to be fully saturated with the same. The cock that
communicates with the reservoir of steam or hot water and with the cylinder
round which the cloth is lapped being opened, the steam or hot water rushes
into the inside of the hollow perforated cylinder, which fills the same and causes
the steam or hot water to pervade and penetrate the whole of the cloth which
may be continued any length of time that may be found necessary; but to
prevent an unnecessary escape of heat in the steam or other fluid, and also to
give a more complete and instantaneous saturation, we likewise adopt the
following method (that is to say):-We use a cylindrical or other figured
vessel of a sufficient capacity to receive the shell cylinder and the cloth on
it as above described. This cylinder of capacity has one of its ends closed
with the exception of two or more communication pipes; on the end is placed
a moveable bonnet or valve made steam and air tight for the purpose of
being removed when the shell cylinder and its cloth is to be admitted or
withdrawn. One of the pipes on the other end of the cylinder of capacity
communicates with an air pump or an exhausted receiver, the other with
a steam or hot water reservoir, or where steam engines are used, the same
may be communicated to the air pump or the condenser. The apparatus
thus arranged, the shell cylinder with its cloth is then introduced, the bearing
or spigoted end of the perforated cylinder is inserted in a steam or hot
water pipe that projects in the internal part of the cylinder of capacity, for
the purpose of opening a direct communication between them, or which may

page_text: be effected by any other means; the other end is closed with a moveable
bonnet or valve, and is kept tight with a convenient number of screws or by
other means. The cloth thus placed to be saturated with the heated fluid is
proceeded with as follows:-The cock that communicates with the air pump
or the exhausted receiver is opened, and a communication is then made
between the cylinder of capacity and the receiver; by the action of the air
pump a vacuum is then formed, so that the whole of the air which is in the
cloth is extracted; the communication is then closed between the air pump
and the cylinder of capacity, and the cloth being supposed to be placed in a
vacuum the communication is opened between the steam or hot water boiler
and the cylinder of capacity, and the steam or hot water rushes in and
instantly penetrates the whole of the cloth, in which state the cloth remains
as long as is found needful. There is a pipe placed in the vessel of capacity
for the purpose of taking off the hot water, whether condensed from steam or
otherwise, so as to prevent any degree of immersion. Our improvement
further consists in the application of heat in drying the teazles after being
used for the purpose of raising the wool on cloth, by which means they become
wet, and 'till dried are unfit for further use, and which by the present mode is
done by being simply exposed to the external air in open sheds, which is both
uncertain and tedious, or by stoves heated for the purpose at an irregular
temperature, and generally at an inconvenient distance from the raising
machines. We therefore effect a saving both in labour and fuel, and add
greatly to the convenience of the process by the following improvements (that
is to say): Near to the machine used for raising the wool on the cloths
we place a vessel of sufficient capacity which communicates with a steam
boiler, for the purpose of being filled or supplied with steam, which is placed
either vertical or horizontal or in any other position, but we prefer the
vertical position. Near the top and bottom of this vessel are placed two
moveable circular rings or plates, supplied with arms or otherwise; these
circular plates or rings are so arranged as to be at liberty to move as if
round a common centre of motion, that is, their exterior periphery being
at equal distances from the heated surface; they are placed apart at a
sufficient distance to receive the whole length of the handles or frames, and
are of sufficient diameter to receive in their circumference any given number
of millfulls, as termed by the workmen, so as to present a cylinder formed of
teazle handles or frames, or they may be arranged to receive any sort of tenzle
handles, such as those now in use. These handles thus arranged on the rings
are easily revolved, so as to be supplied or removed, and all uniformly receive.
the same degree of heat radiating from the vessel supplied with steam; and to

page_text: prevent an unnecessary escape of heat, the whole may be enveloped in a wood
or other casing, supplied with a moveable door for the purpose of removing or
replacing the handles when wanted, or to be left open when desirable for the
purpose of heating the room or mill in the cold season. Any number of these
may be used, and of any size and capacity, and may communicate with one
pipe or boiler. It will be necessary that a small pipe or cock should bo
placed at the bottom for the purpose of carrying off the condensed water. By
the means above described the whole of the teazles will be uniformly dried.
which cannot be the case by the modes at present used, as some are over and
some under dried, and their uniform and equal action on the cloth prevented
when they are reused. In some cases we direct a current of common air to
strike against the heated surface, and thereby place the teazles in exposure to
a current of rarified air, which gives a similar effect to drying out of doors.
In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals, the
Twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord Ono thousand
eight hundred and twenty-five.
EDWD (Ls.) SHEPPARD.
ALFRED (L.s.) FLINT.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-fourth day of May, in
the year of our Lord 1825, the aforesaid Edward Sheppard and Alfred Flint
came before our said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twenty-fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord One 2
thousand eight hundred and twenty-five.
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