Improvements in Carding Engines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 6th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Carding Engines.
I JOHN MUIR HETHERINGTON of the Vulcan Works, Pollard Street, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster. Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this
Invention to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to the Carding Engines employed in the carding of fibrous
materials as is well understood and has for its object to render more perfect the
enclosure of the main carding cylinder at the breast or part of the engine which extends
from the "taker in" cylinder to the chain of flats. In modern engines this part
is enclosed by means of a curved sheet metal breast cover or shield which extends
from the "taker in cover or casing upward toward the point of contact between
the main cylinder and the chains of flats the upper edge of the said shield being
formed with a knife edge-that is to say with a thin edge-in order that it may
extend as close to the said point of contact as is practicably possible. The intention
is that the escape of air and as a consequence of dirt and fibres shall be prevented
but this is not so effectively accomplished as I consider to be desirable owing to
the fact that air can pass through the spaces between the edges of the flats which
are moving out of action and between the last flat in action and the next flat
retiring from action. This passage of air besides carrying out fibres and dirt also
has the effect of depositing such matters upon the edges of the flats and as the
accumulation cannot conveniently be removed the efficient action of the flats is
interfered with. To obviate this defect I apply a curved shield which extends
outward from the aforesaid breast cover partly around the flats which are upon the
carrying wheels the inner and preferably beveled edge of the said shield being
either in close contact with the upper edge of the said breast cover or being separated
by a little space as preferred. I suspend the said shield from the bearing brackets
of the carrier wheel shaft in such a manner as that the shield can be adjusted
toward and from the axis of the said shaft and also by preference toward and from
the said breast cover in directions partly around the said axis. In a construction
which I consider to be suitable the said shield is attached to forked slotted or hooked
arms which take hold of the bearing bosses on the said brackets and fit the said
bosses with freedom for sliding movement thereon as well as for movement around
the bosses. Set-screws provided with lock nuts furnish means for adjusting the shield
with reference to the flats. Other set screws may be provided to offect the adjustment
around the axis of the carrier wheel shaft, such screws abutting against some parts of
the said brackets or against the flexible bonds.
L may arrange for the shield to fit
against the flexible bends at the two ends of the shield so that the flexible bends aid
in the adjustment of the shield. The arms or shield is or are secured after
adjustment by means of bolts or of set-screws.
1000
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Carding Engines.
I JOHN MUIR HETHERINGTON of the Vulcan Works Pollard Street, Ancoats, Man-
chester, in the County of Lancaster, Machine Maker, 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 and accompanying
drawing
·My Invention relates to the Carding Engines employed in the carding of fibrous

page_text: materials as is well understood and has for its object to render more perfect the
enclosure of the main carding cylinder at the breast or part of the engine which
extends from the "taker-in" cylinder to the chain of flats. In modern engines this
part is enclosed by means of a curved sheet metal breast cover or shield which extends
from the "taker-in "
cover or casing upward toward the point of contact between the
main cylinder and the chain of flats the upper edge of the said shield being
formed with a knife edge that is to say with a thin edge in order that it
may extend as close to the said point of contact as is practically possible. The
intention is that the escape of air and as a consequence of dirt and fibres shall be
prevented but this is not so effectually accomplished as I consider to be desirable
owing to the fact that air can pass through the spaces between the edges of the flats
which are moving out of action and between the last flat in action and the next
flat retiring from action. This passage of air besides carrying out fibres and dirt
also has the effect of depositing such matters upon the edges of the flats and as
the accumulation cannot conveniently be removed the efficient action of the flats is
interfered with. To obviate this defect I apply a curved shield which extends outward
from the aforesaid breast cover partly around the flats which are upon the carrying
wheels the inner and preferably bevelled edge of the said shield being either in close
contact with the upper edge of the said breast cover or being separated by a little
space as preferred.
is
The manner in which mount the said shield will be clearly understood when
reference is made to the accompanying drawing which represents a side view of the
part of a Carding Engine to which my Invention more iminediately relates. In the
said drawing a represents a portion of one end of the fixed bend of the engine
the upper part of the breast cover and c is one of the carrier wheels over which
passes the endless chain of flats d. The shafte upon which the two carrier wheels are
fixed is mounted to revolve in bearings in brackets which are adjustably secured to
the fixed bend as is usual. From these brackets I suspend the curved shield G which
I apply in accordance with my invention. The said shield is secured to two arms gl
which are made of a hooked form so that they can take hold of the bosses on the
brackets as clearly shown in the drawing in the case of the arm at one end of the
shield. The sides of the recess in the fork are finished to fit the said boss so that
the arms can be turned upon the two bosses and the shield be thereby moved around
the axis of the shaft. e. In each arm is a set screw hand the end of this screw bears
upon the said boss and thereby sustains the shield at a regulated distance from the
axis of the shaft e. It will be seen that by turning the two set screws in one direction
or the other as may be required the shield can be adjusted with great nicety to just
clear the carding surfaces of the flats. In each arm g' is formed a curved slot
indicated by the dotted lines at and a screw bolt passes through this slot and
through the bracket for otherwise a screw stud or a screw passes through the said
slot. By preference the edge 2 of the shield is beveled to fit upon the breast shield b
so that the inner surface of the shield G forms as it were a continuation of the
beveled upper edge of the shield b. When the parts are adjusted the edge g2 may be
brought up to the upper edge of bas in the drawing the shield G being retained in
its adjusted position by tightening the bolt at each side of the engine. "The arm g¹
might have a slot to engage with the boss on the bracket instead of being forked.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) The curved shield Gapplied substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
(2) The curved shield G attached to arms gl mounted upon the bosses of the
brackets and adapted to be adjusted thereon substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Dated this 5th day of December 1889
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James Square, Manchester. Avents.