to allow of its doing so, without touching them; but as many horses cannot bear being touched in those places where such a trace might casually pass, it has not been proposed, especially as the method above-mentioned will do equally well, without being liable to this objection. Having now noted whatever appeared likely to be useful, of what occurred to me relative to the improvement of roads, carriages, and the application of the draught of horses, I hope my labour will not be undervalued, because it is given to the public freely and unconditionally. My thoughts were first directed to these subjects many years ago, by a premium proposed by the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, &c. for the best Essay relative to them. It is immaterial to relate what prevented my being a candidate on that occasion; but having acquired the information which in part forms this communication, at that time, I only waited for a proper opportunity to make it public, supposing that it might tend to produce unanimity of opinion on some points which were still disputed, and be of use in other respects I know the inventions relative to wheels, which I have here given the public, might in the hands of some men have produced considerable emolument; but the diffi culty of bringing new establishments to profit, in an unexperinced line of business, deterred me from the attempt; and holding it at the same time a duty to prevent what might be of so much use to others, from being lost, I have preferred this method of doing so. I know there are many malignant people who will carp in various ways at what I have written; but as I have in no part of it been guilty of any plagiarism, and have given it to the public with the best intention, I shall turn from them them without farther notice, to the pleasing contempla tion of the satisfaction which some enlightened and wor thy minds will receive from participating in the fruits of my labours, the use they may make of them themselves, and the more extensive application of them which they may cause for the benefit of mankind. Machine for manufacturing Silk-covered Wire, and Thread covered with Silk. By Mr. THOMAS SADDINGTON, of Monkwell-street, Falcon-square. With a Plate. From the TRANSACTIONS of the SOCIETY for the Encou ragement of ARTS, MANUFACTURES, and COMMERCE. Thirty Guineas were voted to Mr. SADDINGTON for this Invention. HAVING AVING had an opportunity of seeing the process commonly used for covering wire, which is made in long workshops or sheds, I formed the design of a machine for making the article in a small space of room, and having completed it to my satisfaction, I now take the liberty of producing it to the Society, in hopes it will meet their approbation. There are three very material inconveniences attending the common mode of covering wire. First the necessity of having workshops in general from twenty to forty yards long, consequently the purchase or rent of such premises in London must be very considerable to the manufacturer. Secondly: the disadvantage of having the wire cut into pieces of the length of the workshop, for the purpose of covering it. Thirdly the irregularity of the work so made, unless performed by a very steady hand. All the above incon→ veniences are fully obviated in my present invention, as : the the machine may be worked in a small room, and the wire may be covered of an entire length of several thousand yards if required, with a certainty of its being regular throughout the work. Besides these advantages, it requires only one person to work it, whereas in the common mode two are absolutely necessary. The wheels might be increased and arranged in such a manner as to cover several wires at the same time, by which a great deal of work would be expeditiously performed, The wheels being of the shape of conical pullies, ad mit of the work being regulated to any number of revolutions of silk or cotton round the wire,, in the covering as may be necessary. Their diameters are nearly as follow viz. on the brass tube b (see Pl. X.) are five grooves, from about three quarters of an inch to one and a half inch in diameter. On A two grooves twenty-two inches. On E three grooves from three quarters of an inch to two and a quarter. On Fih G and K from one and a half to pine inches. H from five and a quarter to nine inches. g from three quarters to four and a half inches, all consisting of six grooves each. m has four grooves, from one and a half to six inches. I four grooves and two ratchet wheels, all nine inches. The roller D, and two bobbins n and B, three inches. The flyer bcdef and roller D, receiving their motion from A and E, always move in proportion one to another, which causes the work to be of the same regularity. The roller D drawing over the raw wire from the bobbin B through the tube b, where it is covered, and passing round the roller, is taken up on the bobbin n by means of the ratchet wheels 7. The wheels G and K are for regulating the wire winding on the bobbin n. By By placing the bands in the different grooves on the wheels b F and E, the covering of the wire is regulatedto any degree at pleasure, as will be seen by the annexed table of the number of revolutions in one inch of covered wire. The smallest groove I call No. 1, the next size larger 2, and the largest 6. Table for regulating the Number of Revolutions in one Inch of Wire. |