Improvements in Preparing and Spinning Machinery.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 21st Feb., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Preparing and Spinning Machinery.
We ARTHUR WILSON METCALFE, Gentleman, and JAMES MACKIE, Machine
Maker, both of Albert Foundry, Belfast in the County Antrim do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to he as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the axles and hangers, and to conductors
for guiding the sliver to the rollers in preparing and spinning machinery.
The improvement in the axle has for its object the provision of a greatly increased
bearing surface for the bush between a pair of pressing rollers, to reduce heating
and wear.
The bush, which occupies the middle part of the axle, is made very much wider
than usual, projecting underneath the two rollers equally on both sides.
On either side of this bush is firmly fixed a bell-shaped piece, overhanging the
bush some distance towards the centre of axle, and provides for putting on the wood
pressing roller to its usual position.
Where iron or leather-covered rollers are used, the same long bearings may be
employed.
The piece forming the bush occupies preferably only a part of the circumference
of the bearing, the other part having a cover applied for retaining a pad for
lubricant if required.
The pressure is applied to the bush by a hanger or "gib," and spring wire,
pressing on the top of it.
An improved form of "gib" for the above axle, and applicable also to ordinary
axles, is formed with a slot to pass on to a hanger bar of same section, capable of
resisting the bending strain edgeways.
From a lower point on the hanger bar a spring-wire and nut, or a long screw
rises parallel to the bar and preferably capable of swinging outwards from it. The
nut or head of this screw engages with the " gib" for applying the pressure, the
shank of the screw passing between two lugs, the head tightening on the top.
When it is desired to remove the gib, the screw is released until it is free to
come out from between the lugs, when the "gib" may then be lifted away from
the axle and hanger bar.
The type of conductor is that known in the flax trade as the "loose or
"automatic" conductor, applied to the drawing rollers of preparing machinery.
This is usually kept in position by leaning against a rod or bar, but almost the
whole of its weight is carried by the front or "toes" of the conductor upon the
drawing roller.
In the improved form the upper and back end of the conductor is produced back
some distance to form a counterbalance, and the conductor hangs over a bar at
about the usual position. The latter acts as a fulcrum so that the counterbalance
tends to lift the " toes and relieve them from wear, allowing them to be cut back
shorter. It also tends to bring the "heels up to the roller and ensure a better
contact.
"
The conductors for the back roller in the above machinery are usually in two
parts, one for each side of the sliver, fixed rigidly to a bar or plate behind the
back roller.
In au improved form the two sides are put upon a rod or bar in the usual manner,
but not fixed, their respective positions being controlled by separate pieces attached

page_text: so as to admit of the conductor sides swinging to or from the roller, to accommodate
themselves to it. They are so balanced as to press gently against the roller.
These conductors may be so arranged that if a thick piece of sliver enters they
will lift or swing into another position and engage with a moving rod connected
with the belt motion, which when touched by the conductor causes the belt to be
thrown on to the loose pulley.
They may also be adapted to make an electric contact if disturbed, and thus ring
an alarm bell or stop the machine.
Improvements in Preparing and Spinning Machinery.
We, ARTHUR WILSON METCALFE Gentleman and JAMES MACKIE, Machine
Maker, both of Albert Foundry, Belfast in the County of Antrim 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in the axles and hangers, and to the
conductors for guiding the sliver to the rollers in preparing and spinning
machinery.
The improvement in the axle has for its object the provision of a greatly
increased bearing surface for the bush between a pair of pressing rollers to reduce
heating and wear.
The bush which occupies the middle part of the axle is made very much wider
than usual projecting underneath the two rollers equally on both sides. On either
side of this bush is firmly fixed a bell-shaped piece overhanging the bush some
distance towards the centre of axle and provides for putting on the wood pressing
roller to its usual position.
Where iron or leather-covered rollers are used the same long bearing may be
employed.
The piece forming the bush occupies preferably only part of the circumference
of the bearing the other part having a cover applied for retaining a pad for lubricant
if required.
The pressure is applied to the bush by a hanger, or "gib" and spring wire
pressing on the top of it.
An improved form of gib for the above axle, and applicable also to ordinary
axles is formed with a slot to pass on to a hanger bar of same section capable of
resisting the bending strain edgeways. From a lower point on the hanger bar and
preferably capable of swinging outwards from it a spring wire and nut, or a long
screw rises parallel to the bar. The nut or head of this screw engages with the
gib for applying the pressure, the shank of the screw passing between two lugs the
head tightening on the top.
When it is desired to remove the gib the screw is released until it is free to come
out from between the lugs when the gib may then be lifted away from the axle
and hanger bar.
The type of conductor is that known in the flax trade as the loose or automatic
conductor applied to the drawing rollers of preparing machinery.
£6
"
This is usually kept in position by leaning against a rod or bar but almost the
whole of its weight is carried by the front or toes of the conductor upon the
drawing roller. In the improved form the upper and back end of the conductor is
produced back some distance to form a counterbalance and the conductor hangs
over a bar at about the usual position. The latter acts as a fulcrum so that the

page_text: counterbalance tends to lift the toes and relieve them from wear, allowing them to
be cut back shorter. It also tends to bring the "heels" up to the roller and ensure
a better contact.
Such being the nature and object of this our said invention the following is a
complete description of same reference being had to the accompanying drawings
in which :-
Fig. 1. represents a sectional elevation of drawing rollers in position, with axle
gib, hanger bar and conductor.
Fig. 2. is a longitudinal section of swivel axle with bearing and wood rollers
mounted upon it.
Fig. 3. is an elevation of another form of gib and hanger bar.
Fig. 4 shews the same form of gib as in Fig. 3 but fitted with bush to apply to
ordinary axles.
Referring to the axle and bearing as shewn in longitudinal section in Fig. 2 and
in cross section in Fig. 1-A A is the central axle upon which the bush or
bearing B is applied, the weight pressing on the hollow place in the centre in any
convenient manner. At each end of the bearing and overhanging it towards the
centre are mounted two bell shaped pieces D D, fastened tightly upon the axle A A.
These may be made suitable to receive the wood pressing rollers E E such as are
commonly used in flax preparing and spinning and the like. In case of iron rollers
being used the bell D and the roller E may be all in one piece if desirable. On
the remaining portion of the circumference of axle A not occupied by bearing B
a pad or other convenient receptacle for lubricant may be inserted as shewn
in Fig. 2.
The improved form of "gib" and hanger bar for applying weight to the axles
of drawing rollers is shewn in sectional elevation in Figs. 1, 3 and 4.
Referring first to the form shewn in Fig. 1-F F is the hanger bar connected
at its lower extremity with a lever or weight giving it a downward pull in the
direction of the line a b. The upper part is made straight and parallel and at a
convenient distance from the top a screwed spring wire H H is hooked or swung
so as to be capable of swinging downwards in the direction of the arrow to the
position shewn dotted at HI or of being detached altogether. The gib G for applying
pressure to the axle A is made with a slotted hole G 1 to permit it to slide upon the
upper part of F, to accomodate itself to any size of roller E. When it is desired
to place the gib G in position the spring wire is lying at H 1. The gib is dropped
upon the hanger bar and the spring wire is swung up into position H H and the
nut and washer J tightened down upon the lugs L L of the gib thus transmitting
the pressure from F upon the axle A whilst all bending strains are relieved from
the spring wire and taken by the hanger bar F and gib G.
Fig. 3 illustrates a similar form of hanger bar and gib with pressure applied
through spring wire H in precisely same manner, but instead of the gib sliding
outside the hanger bar F it is prolonged downwards and passes into a slot F1 in
hanger bar for the same purpose as in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a gib same as in Fig. 3 except that it has a bush inserted for use upon
the ordinary type of axles.
The improved conductor as applied to drawing rollers of preparing and spinning
machinery and the like is shewn in side elevation in Fig. 1 at M N. The lower
part M is made in the usual shape to fit the curve of the rollers E and K, but
instead of its weight resting almost entirely upon the roller K at the toes m it
lies across the bar or fulcrum P with the counterbalance piece N so proportioned
as to cause the toes m to rest very lightly upon the roller K whilst the heels m²
are pressed up against the roller and ensure a better contact thus preventing dirt
or fibre from entering.
Having now particularly described our invention and the means which we adopt
for carrying the same into effect we would have it understood that we do not
confine ourselves to the precise arrangement of parts as shewn and described, as

page_text: the same may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of our
improvements but what we do claim is:-
Firstly. An axle for the pressing rollers of preparing and spinning machinery
and the like in which a much larger width of bearing is obtained by extending the
said bearing underneath the rollers in the manner substantially as illustrated in
Fig. 1. and for the purpose set forth.
Secondly. A hanger bar, moveable gib and spring wire with bending strains
transmitted direct from the hanger bar to the gib whilst the spring wire is only
exposed to direct tension, substantially as illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, and 4 and for the
purpose set forth.
Thirdly. A conductor for the drawing rollers of preparing machinery and the
like in which the front part is more or less balanced by a projection hanging over
a bar, or fulcrum substantially as described in Fig. 1 and for the purpose
set forth.
Dated this 20th day of Fahru 1805
ARTHUR WILSON METCALFE.
JAMES MACKIE.