each succeeding layer of the sliver, its diameter increases, and, consequently, its speed decreases; and the guide or arm ƒ, always traversing at the same speed, the coils of the sliver, which, in the first layer, are wound upon the bobbin, side by side, are, in each succeeding layer, wound on further and further apart, and make a smaller and smaller portion of a whole revolution, straight round the bobbin, at each extremity of the traverse.

It must also be observed, that the traverse of the arm or guide f, is made about an inch shorter, at each end, than the distance between the bobbin-heads; and as the diameter of bobbin increases, by the continuous winding-on of the sliver, the first or under layers will expand, by the pressure of the upper layers. By these arrangements, the bobbin may be filled to twice the size of the bobbin-heads, and the mass of sliver, which is above the bobbin-heads, will have conical ends, without the use of any other shortening motion whatever; and the coils will not slip off at the ends.

The distance from the unvarying point, where the sliver is delivered from the carding-engine to the varying points on the bobbin, where it is wound up, gradually increases, as the point of winding-up is further from the middle of the bobbin, and nearer its ends. The sliver, therefore, having to extend through this increasing distance, would manifestly be stretched more and more as the operation proceeded, unless it were allowed to be inconveniently slack, when the distance was short. The expanding guider, d1, d', is therefore applied to remedy this slackness or stretching. One of its ends is fixed on a pivot y, (see fig. 3,) just under the point at which the sliver is delivered; the other end is fixed upon a pivot, at the guiding end of the guide or armf; and at about its middle is a rule-joint, on which a pin e, is fixed. The expanding guider d1, d1, thus reaches across the varying distance, and by means of its pivots and joint, when that distance is short, it is considerably bent, and as that distance increases, it is gradually straightened.

By means of the pin e, the sliver is made to follow the direction of this expanding guider, and when the distance is short, the otherwise inconvenient slackness of the sliver

is taken away by its bent form, and as the distance increases, its straightening prevents any stretching of the sliver.

Fig. 4, represents a front, and fig. 5, a side view of the improvements, as applied to a drawing-machine.—a, a, being the framing of the apparatus; b, the sliver of cotton, proceeding through the trumpet or cone c, to the front or delivering-rollers d, d; from thence the sliver proceeds, exactly as above described, along the jointed guider d1, d1, and around its central projecting pin e. It will be seen, in this apparatus, that the expanding guider is placed vertically, instead of horizontally, as in the one previously described.

The reciprocating twisting motion may be applied in many ways, but it is shewn in the drawings as communicated by the crank or excentric p, fixed on the end of the shaft, working the twisting cord or band q, q, backwards and forwards. This band, its ends being attached to two convenient parts of the framing, passes round the twisting tube w, and gives to it a similar motion. r, r, are pullies, to guide the band q, to and from the tube, one of them being fixed on the bow-spring s, which gives elasticity to the band. t, t, is a small inclined plane, for the purpose of throwing off from the sliver any oil that may escape from the twisting tube in working.

It is necessary to have the aperture in the upper part of the twisting tube, oblong, so that the sliver will not slip round within it.

An important feature in this new combination of machinery is, that it is applicable to the drawing-frame now in use, without any alteration or derangement of its parts, except such as shewn above.

From the expanding guider d', d', the sliver proceeds through the tube w, fixed in the guide or arm f, and under the pressing-roller g, whence it is wound upon the bobbin h, revolving upon the drum i, i, as in the carding-engine; the only important difference between the apparatus, as applied to a carding-engine and the other machines, being the addition, in the latter, of the tube w, through which the sliver is passed, to give it sufficient tenacity to be unwound from the bobbin in the subsequent process, without injury.

Motion is given to this new combination of machinery, in the drawing-frame, as follows:

A small pulley m, being fixed upon the shaft l, which is a part of the drawing-frame now in use, a strap is passed round it, and a larger pulley n, on the axis of the drum i, i. The traverse and winding-up of the sliver are effected, as above described, in the carding-engine.

The doffing of a full bobbin, from this improved apparatus, is effected by merely releasing the catch ≈, from the side of the frame-work, and removing the full bobbin, while the end of the sliver may be immediately passed round the empty bobbin, which has been placed in the machine, without otherwise disturbing the machinery, or stopping the operation of any of the working parts.

But, as the mode of doffing is an important part of the invention, when applied to drawing and roving-frames, in consequence of their running at a very great speed, a more particular description may be necessary :—

The dotted lines, in fig. 5, shew the position of some parts of the machinery, during this process. When the bobbin is full, as at h, the catch ≈, being raised, allows the front part 1, of the frame, to be turned upon its centre, at 2, until its tail-piece 3, coming in contact with the underside of the stationary frame-work, stops it. At the same time, the full bobbin, following the frame h, rolls along the surface of the drum i, and continues to wind on the sliver, until it is broken off. The empty bobbin 5, is now dropped into its place, where it is supported by a short projecting piece of the stationary frame-work, from which the full bobbin becomes free, in consequence of its increased diameter. As the full bobbin continues to wind on, till the sliver is broken off, no particular hurry is necessary, and the attendant may deliberately turn the broken end round the empty bobbin, which then begins to wind on. The full bobbin is now to be removed, and the frame h, raised to its former place, where it is again held by the catch ≈, until the succeeding doffing.-Inrolled in the Rolls Chapel Office, February, 1840.]

Specification drawn by Messrs. Newton and Son.

TO GODFREY ANTHONY ERMEN, of Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, cotton spinner, for certain improvements in machinery or apparatus for spinning, doubling, or twisting cotton, flax, wool, silk, or other fibrous materials; parts of which improvements are applicable to machinery in general.—[Sealed 2nd December, 1839.]

THESE improvements have reference to that kind of machinery, wherein the operations of spinning, doubling, and twisting, are performed by a spindle and flyer.

The invention consists, Firstly.-In the application of the conjoined action of centripetal and centrifugal forces to the motion of the revolving spindle, subjecting such spindle, or spindle and tube fixed thereon, or spindle and bobbin fixed thereon, upon which the thread is to be spun, doubled, or twisted, to their united influence, by not confining it, laterally, either by a fixed bearing, or an elastic bearing, or any bearing whatsoever, that may cause the revolving spindle to rebound, and thereby impart a vibratory motion.

Secondly. In the application of an independent, expansive, swivel bolster and moveable cup, placed between the bottom and the top of the spindle, which apparatus shall yield to any lateral pressure of the revolving spindle, tube, or bobbin, and shall prevent the spindle from rebounding, and, at the same time, cause the required retardation or drag upon the spindle, which drag is necessary for the taking-up of the thread, whilst it is spun, doubled, or twisted.

Thirdly. In spinning what are commonly called " pincops" upon a tube, or on the bare spindle. The advantage thus obtained is, that a flyer can be employed, with arms much shorter than those in ordinary use, which will, consequently, allow it to run at a much higher velocity. This is effected by simply reversing the manner of spinning or forming the cop, that is, by forming it with its shorter cone or taper, at the upper end of the spindle, when the length of the flyer will only be required to be the same as the longest cone or taper of the cop.

Fourthly. In the novel and peculiar arrangement of the mechanism or apparatus, for the purpose of lowering the bolster or drag-rail, as the thread or yarn increases in dithe bobbin.

ameter upon

Fifthly. In the application of a morticed swivel lever to spinning, doubling, or twisting machinery, for the purpose of more easily changing the "change-wheels," for regulating the draft and twist; and,

Lastly. In converting the ordinary cone-drum (which is usually driven by a strap) into a geared cone, by forming rings of teeth upon its surface. In these teeth, a single driving pinion, capable of being slidden from end to end of the toothed cone, is made to gear; and thus, by the lateral movement of this pinion, any required speed may be obtained.

Also, in the general arrangement of apparatus, in immediate connection with the cone-drum, for the purpose of regulating the various motions of the spindles or bobbins, in roving, slubbing, or preparing machinery.

In Plate X., figs. 1, 2, and 3, exhibit the first part of the improvements, shewing the spindle and flyer, with the independent expansive swivel-bolster and loose bearing, in its relative situation.-Fig. 1, is an elevation of the spindle and flyer complete, with the top-rail, bolster-rail, and steprail, in section; fig. 2, is a plan of the ball and socket, forming the bolster; and fig. 3, a third portion of the ball detached.

The spindle a, a, with its bobbin b, b, and flyer c, c, is supported in the step d, below, which is fixed in the bottom lifting or copping-rail e, e, and passes independently through the top-rail ƒ*, f*, and also through the bolster or drag-rail f, f.

This elastic bolster or bearing is of a novel and peculiar construction, and consists of a loose socket or cap g, g, resting on its rail, but capable of lateral motion; in this socket is placed the small turned ball h, h, composed of three pieces, through the centre of which the spindle is passed; the whole is enclosed by an adjustable looseweighted top or cover i, i.