CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRODUCING KNITTED FABRICS
Year: 1841

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
THORBURN, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Eighth day of September, One thousand eight hundred and
forty-one, and in the fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said James Thornburn, Her especial
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said James
Thorburn, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and such others as I,
the said James Thorburn, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no other, from time to time and at all times during
the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
excrcise, and vend, within England and Wales and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
PRODUCING KNITTED FABRICS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a
proviso that I, the said James Thorburn, shall cause a particular description
of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part
recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had,
will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, J, the said
James Thorburn, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described
and ascertained in and by the Drawings hereto annexed, and the following
explanation thereof (that is to say):
:-
My Improvements in Machinery for Producing Knitted Fabrics constitute
an entire machine, applicable to the manufacture of all kinds of hosiery, and
capable of being worked by steam power, for the communication of which an
apparatus is attached. Various views of the machine, and of its separate
parts, are contained in two Sheets of Drawings which accompany my present
Specification, of which the scale is two thirds of its full size. The separate
parts are designated by particular letters or figures, which in the different
views are similarly applied.
In Sheet 1, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine; Fig. 2, a plan;
Fig. 8, a side elevation; and Fig. 4, a sectional side elevation. Figs. 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, are detached views of various parts. To the
frame stand A are attached the slide frames B and C. The frame C carries
the slide carriage D, formed of two parts connected together by the screws D¹,
and having set screws D" for adjusting the slide. The thread carriers E, E', E',
slide in the frame B, and immediately under it, attached to the stand A, is the
bar F, having grooves for the needles G, which project in front of the machine.
A series of slip plates or detents, marked H, is suspended in the frame B, one
detent being interposed between each needle. In form the needles are similar
to those of the stocking frame, but instead of being fixed in a stationary socket
(as in that machine), they have cach an independent motion, and are made to
slide in the grooved bar F, in the manner hereafter described. After the
process of "casting on," which is performed in the usual way, the wire is
immediately introduced, and the weight applied for stretching the work. The
series of detents is then raised by means of an apparatus provided for the
purpose, and the cast-on course is run back by the finger to the bar F, the
detents being immediately afterwards allowed to fall in front. From this
point the operation proceeds by the action of the machine itself. The car-
riage D, sliding along the frame C, drives the thread carrier E, by which the
thread is drawn across the needles in front of the detents. By the action of
the carriage D the needles are immediately afterwards moved back succes-
sively, and the thread being caught in the beard is drawn against the detents,
and formed into a scries of loops. The beard, after passing over the thread, is
carried against the frame B, and the point being thereby depressed into the
groove of the needle, the beard passes under the course previously formed,

page_text: lying behind the detents in front of the bar F. When the needles have been
drawn back sufficiently far to form the new loop, the detents are successively
raised by the action of the sliding carriage D, and the needles being imme-
diately afterwards drawn back still farther than before, the course lying in
front of the bar F is discharged over them, and over the new course which
they hold. After this has been done the detents and needles are successively
restored to their places by the action of the carriage D, each detent being
made to fall before the return of the adjoining needle, in order that it may
arrest the loop held by the latter. By this means, as the needles return, the
new course, which now forms part of the fabric, is detained in the position
before occupied by the preceding. After the carriage D has passed to the end
of the course it returns, bringing back the thread carrier E, and performing
the operation above described in the reverse direction. The provision made
for moving the needles is the following:-The shank of each needle is bent
and jointed loosely to a pendant lever working on a fixed axis in the interior
of the machine. K, K, are the pendant levers, with the needles attached at
the points L, L, Fig. 4. M, M, are thin plates, forming divisions between
the levers, and carrying their common axis N. The plates M, M, are let into
the frame C, and passing across the interior of the machine, are inserted into
the division frame O, fixed to the stand A. behind the slide frame B, and
immediately over the grooved bar F. The division plates are held firmly in
their places by the stays P, connected to the frames C and B. The levers
work loosely on their axis; and when in the perpendicular position, as shown
in Fig. III., the needles attached to them are protruded in front of the
machine to the full extent. When the lever is brought into the inclined
position shewn in Fig. V, the needle is drawn back; the motion of the lever
on its axis thus gives a sliding motion to the needles backwards and forwards
in the grooved bar F. The motion of the lever is produced by a plate Q, with
inclined slides let into a bearing R in the carriage D. As the latter moves
along the frame C in either direction, the lending incline in the plate Q bears
against the heads or upper parts of the levers successively, causing them to
assume an inclined position, and draw back the needles to which they are
attached. When the head of the lever is in conjunction with the top of the
incline on the plate Q, the needle is drawn back sufficiently far to form the
new loop in the manner before described. Recesses, marked S, Fig. 8, are
formed in the top of the incline to allow the lever and needle to relax the
tension of the thread and disengage it from the detent, while the latter is
drawn up. After the detent has been raised the needle is carried further back
than before to discharge the old course (lying in front of the bar F) over the

page_text: new by a second plate T, Figs. 8 and 10, with inclined sides let into a
recess V in the centre part of the plate Q, and brought to act in the same
manner on the levers K, K, by the travelling carriage D. The most favorable
angle of inclination for the sides of the plates 38°. When the operation of
forming the new course and discharging the old has been completed, the
needles are replaced in their original position by the action of an opposite
inclined plate W, attached to the carriage D, acting on the heads of the levers
in the contrary direction. To afford the opportunity of regulating the motion
of the needles, according to the size of the loop required, the inclined plates
Q, T, are made to slide in their bearings R, V, in following manner :-The
bar 1 having an inclined part 2, is held in a vertical position by the bearings
at 3, 4, in the slide carriage D; the inclined part 2 passes through a series
of corresponding holes in the bearing R, and inclined plates Q, T. To the
hole 5 in the plate T, Fig. 10, it is accurately fitted, while it is allowed a
certain degree of play endways in the plate Q and bearing R. Hence if a
vertical motion up or down be given to the bar 1, the inclined part 2 will force
the plate T forwards or backwards as the case may be, causing it to slide on
the
groove V in the plate Q. The inclined part 2, when stationary, also serves
to hold the plate T in a fixed position. In like manner the plate Q is made
to slide in the bearing R by the bars 6, 7, working in bearings at 8, 9, in the
slide carriage D, and having inclined parts (similar to that of the bar 1) which
pass through prepared holes in the bearing R and plate Q. To the holes in
plate Q, marked 10, 11, Fig. 8, the inclined parts of the bars 6, 7, are
accurately fitted, and by the vertical motion of the latter the plate Q is adjusted
in the bearing R. The corresponding holes in the bearing R allow of play
endwise in the direction of the required motion, but are accurately fitted at
the sides to the inclined parts of the bars 6, 7, which serve to hold the plate Q
firmly in any required position as well as to adjust it. To facilitate the inser-
tion of the bars 1, 6, 7, in putting the machine together, a recess 12, Fig. 4,
is formed in the carriage D, over which a stay piece 13 is afterwards screwed
to afford the bars the necessary bearing or abutment. Motion is given to
the bars in a manner similar to that in which it is communicated by them to
the plates Q, T. The horizontal rod 14 has its bearings in the fixing 15 on
the carriage D, and in the socket 16, supported by the part 17 of the carriage.
The rod 14 has an inclined part 18, fitting a hole in the bar 1 in such a
way that if horizontal motion be given to the rod 14, it will produce
vertical motion in the bar 1. The rod 14 is moved horizontally by means
of the nut 19 acting on the screw 20. The socket 16 has arms 21 with
inclined parts 22, fitting holes in the bars 6, 7, which are thereby moved

page_text: vertically when the socket 16 is moved horizontally; a nut 23, acting on a
screw 24 in the socket, gives motion to the latter. The set screws 25 in the
upper part of the carriage D, acting on the arms 21, serve to adjust the action
of the inclined parts 22 on the bars 6 and 7, so that both sides of the plate Q
may be moved equally. It is necessary to possess the means of moving the
plate T either with or without the plate Q, and special provision is accordingly
made for this purpose.
A spring 26, attached to the carriage D, catches the
nut 23 by small indentations on its periphery. A weaker spring 27, attached
to the nut 19, catches the nut 23 in the same manner. When the nut 19 is
turned the spring 27 slips over the nut 23, which is held fast by the stronger
spring 26, and thus a separate motion is given to the plate T. On the other
hand, the nut 23, when forced to move by a slight effort (sufficient to overcome
the spring 26), carries with it the nut 19 by the action of the spring 27. In
this case the two nuts act together, and the pitch of the thread being the same
in both, they move the rod 14 and socket 16 equally, thereby causing the plate
Q and T to advance or recede together. The springs 26, 27, also serve to
prevent any motion of the muts from jarring or accident. The apparatus above
described for working the bars 1, 6, 7, is rendered somewhat more complicated
in consequence of being placed in the horizontal instead of the vertical position.
This has been done in order to attain greater compactness of arrangement,
with a view more particularly to the opportunity thereby afforded of working
two machines together (one being placed immediately over the other) under
the eye of a single workman. The carriage D, as it slides along the frame C,
besides working the needles, raises and lowers the detents H successively.
Each detent plays in a separate groove in the slide frame B, and has three
projections 28, 29, 30, Fig. 11, which protrude behind the frame. Two plates
31, 32, with raised inclines 33, 34, are screwed to a bearing 35 attached to
the carriage D. The inclines 33, 34, form a groove 36, as shewn, Figs. 12,
into which the projections 28 on the detents are inserted as the carriage D
slides along the frame C, the detents being thereby alternately raised and
depressed. The groove 36 begins to act by raising the detent at the instant
the recess S in the plate Q, Fig. 8, allows the thread forming the new loop to
relax, and continues to keep the detent suspended till, by the action of the
plate T, the old course has been discharged. The detent is then carried
down just before the incline plate W begins to act on the adjoining needle, in
order that the new course may be arrested as the needle returns. The raised
incline 33 is prolonged beyond the groove 36, Figs. 12, to ensure the detents
being brought into proper position before the action of the groove commences.
The lower projection 30 on the detent serves to support it when down on the
division frame O, Fig. 4. By the third projection 29 all the detents may be

page_text: raised together by the action of a bar 37 connected to levers 38, worked by a
pedal below the machine. A provision of this kind is necessary to afford
the opportunity of passing the cast-on course behind the detents, and also to
remove the work from that position, and bring it forward by hand to the
head of the needles whenever occasion may require. When the foot ceases
to act on the pedal, the bar 37 and detents fall by their own weight into their
original position, the bar being prevented falling below the position shewn
in Fig. 4, by springs 89, Fig. 2, in order that it may not interfere with the
motion of the detents produced by the travelling carriage D. The carriage D,
while working the needles and detents, gives motion to the thread carrier
along the side frame B. The thread carrier is formed of three parts, as shewn,
Figs. 15, namely, the slide a, working in the frame B, the stand 6 projecting
from the slide a, and holding the carrier C. In working with one thread, as
represented in Fig. I., a single carrier E only is required. The thread is
passed through small holes at 40, 41, in the carrier to give it the proper
direction, and between the divisions 42 to produce the requisite tension. To
move the thread carrier the carriage D is provided with two propellers 43, 44,
which act alternately and in opposite directions. Two propellers are neces-
sary in order that the thread carrier which supplies the material may always
be in advance of those parts of the carriage D which produce the fabric by
giving motion to the needles and detents. Each propeller is suspended by a T
head in a groove on the bearing 45 attached to the carriage D. To determine
the width of the fabrics, stops, 46, are placed to arrest the thread carrier when it
has proceeded sufficiently far. These stops slide in grooves cut in the frame B,
and their position is adjusted by the right and left-handed screw 47, held in
supports on the frame B. Each stop carries inclined pieces 48, corresponding
with inclined pieces 49 on the propellers, by the joint action of which the
propeller is raised from the thread carrier the instant the latter is held by the
stop. The stops and their inclined pieces are shewn detached, Figs. 14. The
propeller, after it has passed the inclined piece on the stop, is made to fall
down by the spring 50. The inclined pieces 48 are attached loosely to the
stops in such a manner as to allow of their being raised from the horizontal
position. This provision is necessary on the return of the carriage D, when
the inclined piece on the propeller passes under and slightly raises the inclined
piece on the stop, by which it would be otherwise impeded. The same pro-
vision is also convenient for another purpose. The inclines marked 51 on the
stops 46, shewn in a raised position in Fig. 1, are required in forming the heel
of a stocking, but are not used in working with one thread. By placing them
in the raised position, and securing them by a small pin, the necessity for
removing them from the stop is avoided, the propeller at every return being

page_text: thereby allowed to pass under them, and come into contact with tho throad
carrier on the other side of the stop. When the propeller is raised by the
inclined 48, as before described, the incline 49 on the propeller passes through
a recess cut in the raised incline 51, as shewn in Fig. 14, and marked 52; the
propeller thus passes on unimpeded. The carriage D at every return must
pass beyond the working needles, in order that each propeller may be brought
alternately into action. The carriers E', E", and stops 53, shewn in Fig. 1,
are projected from the propellers by means of similar inclines 54 and 55.
These carriers and stops are required in forming the heel, and when not used
for that purpose are allowed to remain in the position shewn in Fig. 1, to save
the trouble of removing them from the machine. In narrowing the work two
stitches are placed on a single needle, and the stops are adjusted to the dimi-
nished width of the fabric. The needles from which the stitches have been
taken are drawn back by hand out of the grooved bar F by means of the
levers K, and are allowed to fall down into a perpendicular position behind the
stand A. This is necessary to prevent the vacant needle from catching the
thread held by the carrier; the displaced needles are replaced in the grooved
bar without the slightest difficulty. In forming the foot and heel of a stocking
the work is divided in the ordinary way, the intervening needles between the
divisions being drawn back out of the bar F, as just described. The threo
carriers are all brought into action, and the stops are adjusted so as to confine
the centre carrier to the foot, and the side carriers each to one part of the
heel. To afford the opportunity of adjusting the centre and side stops inde-
pendently, the screw 47 is formed of three parts, as shewn in Figs. 5. The
end parts 56 are hollow, and fit on the shaft of the centro part 47. When
forming one screw the parts 56 are fastened to the part 47 by screw pins 58
passing through nuts 59 on the part 47 into collars 60 on the parts 56. The
nuts 59 are locked by nuts 61 on the part 47. The set screws 62 act as
steadying screws when the screw pins 58 are withdrawn; each part of the screw
may be adjusted independently. When the three carriers are used the inclined
picces 51 on the stops 46 must be let down into the same position as those
marked 48, while the inclined pieces 55, on the stops 53, must be raised into
the position of those marked 51. The slide of each carrier is made of con-
siderable length, in order that when the three carriers are used the projecting
stands against which the propellers act may be prevented from coming within
a certain distance of each other. By this means each carrier, as it comes up
to the centre stops 46, inoves the carrier on the opposite side a little way
forward, placing it in a position to be acted on by the propeller after passing
the inclined pieces 48 and 51.

page_text: In Sheet II. is given a back elevation of the machine, with the apparatus
for working it attached. In this view the stand A is placed on a frame Z,
which also serves to support the bearing 63 of the mangle wheel 64. The
parts 65 of the bearing 68 are shewn in section. These parts in the machine
are produced to form bearings for the axis 66 of the mangle wheel 64, and
the axis 67 of the driving pinion 68, both of which are also shown in section,
Sheet II. The axis of the pinion 68 may be driven in the ordinary way by
steam or other power; the mangle wheel gives reciprocating motion to the
carriage D by the endless band 69. An apparatus fixed on the carriage
serves to connect or disconnect it with the band instantaneously. The box 70,
through which the band 69 passes, contains two catches 71 (shown in dotted
lines), working loosely on pivots 72 by the action of the arms 78, and hand
levers 74, Figs. 3 and 4, Sheet 1. When depressed, the catches allow the
driving collar 75, on the band 69, to enter the box 70 by yielding to its
progress inwards, but prevent it from passing through, and thus communicate
the motion of the band to the carriage D. When the catches are raised, the
collar 75 passes through the box without obstruction, and the carriage D
remains stationary. The bar 76, shewn in Sheet II., is intended to bear
against the pendant levers to which the needles are attached, for the purpose
of keeping them steady when the work requires it, as in casting-on, nar-
rowing, &c. The arms 77 of the bar 76 work on pivots 78 by the action of
bands 79, Fig. 1, Sheet 1, passing over the pullies 80, and connected to a
pedal below the machine.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Thorburn, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-two.
Inrolled the Eighth day of March, in the year above written.