Chapter 2

These difficulties have hitherto prevented the application of ring spinning to the finer grades of yarn. They are overcome in the new spinning frame by an ingenious device by which a revolving motion is given to the ring in the same direction as the motion of the traveler, thereby reducing its friction upon the ring, the speed of the ring being variable, and so controlled as to secure a uniform tension upon the yarn at all stages of the winding.

The construction of the revolving ring is shown in Fig. 2. C is the revolving ring; D, the hollow axis support; H, a section of the ring frame; E, the traveler.

To give the required variable speed to the revolving ring there is placed directly over the drum, Fig. 1, A, for driving the spindle a smaller drum, B, from which bands drive each ring separately. The shaft, which is attached by cross girts to the ring rail, and moves up and down with it, is driven by a pair of conical drums from the main cylinder shaft; and is so arranged with a loose pulley on the large end of the receiving cone as to remain stationary while the wind is on or near the base of the bobbin. When the cone of the bobbin diminishes so as to materially increase the pull on the traveler, the conical drums are started by a belt shipper attached to the lilt motion. By the movement of the belt on these drums a continually accelerated motion is given to the rings, their maximum speed being about one-twentieth the number of revolutions per minute as the spindle has at the same moment. This action is reversed when the lift falls. The tension of the wind upon the bobbin is thus kept uniform, the desired hardness of the wind being secured by the use of a heavier or lighter traveler according to the compactness of cop required.

The model frame shown at the fair did its work admirably well, spinning yarns as high as No. 400, a fineness hitherto unattainable on ring frames. It is claimed that this invention can do whatever can be done with the mule, and without the skilled labor which mule spinning demands.

This invention is exhibited by E. & A. W. Harris, Providence, R.I.

NEW ELECTRIC STOP MOTION.

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 illustrate some of the applications of the electric stop motion in connection with cotton machinery. The merit of this invention lies in simplifying the means by which machinery may be stopped automatically the instant, its work, from accident or otherwise, begins to be improperly done. The use of electricity for this purpose is made possible by the fact that comparatively dry cotton is a nonconductor of electricity. In the process of carding, drawing or spinning, the cotton is made to pass between rollers or other pieces forming parts of an electric circuit. So long as the machine is properly fed and in proper working condition, the stopping apparatus rests; the moment the continuity of the cotton is broken or any irregularity occurs, electric contact results, completing the circuit and causing an electro magnet to act upon a lever or other device, and the machine is stopped. The current is supplied by a small magneto-electric machine driven by a band from the main driving shaft, and is always available while the engine is running.

Fig. 3 shows the general arrangement of the apparatus as applied to a drawing frame. In the process of drawing down the roll of cotton--the sliver--four things may happen making it necessary to stop the machine. A sliver may break on the way from the can to the drawing rollers, or the supply of cotton may become exhausted; the cotton may lap or accumulate on the drawing rollers; the sliver may break between the drawing rollers and the calender rollers; or the front can may overflow. In each and all of these cases the electric circuit is instantly completed; the parts between which the cotton flows either come together, as when breakage occurs, or, if there is lapping, they are separated so as to make contact above. In any case, the current causes the electro-magnet, S, against the side of the machine to move its armature and set the stop motion in play.

Figs. 4 and 5 represent in detail the manner in which electric connection is made in two cases requiring the intervention of the stop motion. In Fig. 4 the upper part of a receiving can is shown. When the can is full the cotton lifts the tube wheel, J, until it makes an electrical connection, and the stop motion is brought into instant action. In Fig. 5, the traction upon the yarn holds the hook borne by the spring, F, away from G, and the electric circuit is interrupted. A breakage of the yarn allows this spring to act; contact is made, and the stop motion operates as before.

This simple and efficient device is exhibited by Howard & Bullough & Riley, of Boston.

NEW POSITIVE MOTION LOOM.

Fig. 6 shows the essential features of a positive motion loom, intended for weaving narrow fabrics, exhibited by Knowles, of Worcester, Mass. The engraving shows so clearly how, by a right and left movement of the rack, the shuttle is thrown by the action of the intermediate cogwheels, that further description is unnecessary.

* * * * *

SPINNING WITHOUT A MULE.

At the recent semi-annual meeting of the New England Cotton Manufacturers' Association, held at the Institute of Technology, Boston, the following paper on the Harris system of revolving ring spinning was read by Col. Webber for the author:

It is well known that one of the most serious difficulties in ring spinning is the variable pull upon the traveler, caused by the difference in diameter of the full and empty bobbins, and this is especially noticeable in spinning weft, or filling, when the diameter of the quill at the tip is not over 3-16 of an inch, while that of the base of the cone, or full bobbin, is from an inch to an inch and one-eighth. This variation in diameter causes the line of draught upon the traveler, which, with the full bobbin, forms nearly a tangent to the interior circle of the ring, to be nearly radial to it with an empty one, and this increased drag upon the traveler not only causes frequent breakage in spinning, but also stretches the yarn, so that it is perceptibly finer when it is spun on the nose of the bobbin than when it is spun on the bottom of the cone.

Endeavors have been made to compensate for this difficulty by making a less draught at that period of the operation; but we believe the principle of curing one error by adding another to be wrong, and aim by our improvement to avoid the cause of the trouble, which we do by giving a revolving motion to the ring itself in the same direction as that of the traveler, at a variable speed, so as to aid its slip, and reduce its friction on the ring. This we accomplish by means of a shaft with whorls on it, located directly over the drum for driving the spindle, from which bands drive each ring separately; and attached by cross-girts to the ring-rail, and moving up and down with it.

This shaft is driven by a pair of conical drums from the main cylinder shaft, and is so arranged with a loose pulley on the large end of the receiving cone as to remain stationary while the wind is on or near the base of the bobbin, or nearly parallel to the path of the traveler.

When the cone of the bobbin begins to diminish to such a point as to materially increase the radial pull on the traveler, these conical drums are put in operation by a belt shipper attached to the lift motion, which moves the belt on to the cones, and gives a continually accelerated motion to the rings, so that when the wind reaches the top of the bobbin the rings will have their maximum speed of about 300 revolutions per minute, or about one-twentieth the number of revolutions of the spindle at this point, if the latter make 6000 revolutions per minute, and this we find in actual practice to produce results which are highly satisfactory.

As the lift falls again, the belt is moved back on the cones, giving a retarding motion to the rings, until it reaches the point at which it began to operate, and is then either moved on to the loose pulley, and the rings remain stationary, or for very fine yarn are kept in motion at a slow speed. We are often asked if this does not affect the twist, but answer that it does not in the least, as the relative speeds of the rolls and spindles remain the same, and the only thing that can be affected is the hardness of the wind upon the bobbin, and this is adjustable by the use of a heavier or lighter traveler, according to the compactness of cop required.

We claim by means of this improvement the ability to use a much smaller quill or bobbin, and consequently holding as much yarn in a less outside diameter, enabling us to use a smaller ring, thus saving power both in the weight of bobbin to be carried and in the distance to be moved by the traveler; and we believe the power to be saved in this manner and by the diminution of the dead pull on the traveler, when the wind is at the tip of the bobbin, to be more than sufficient to give the necessary motion to the revolving rings. We are as yet unable to answer this question of power fully, as we have not yet tested a full size frame, but we propose to do this in season to answer all questions at the next meeting of your association.

The same invention is also applicable to warp spinning, by giving the ring a continuous accelerating and retarding motion, in which the maximum speed is given to the ring at the first start of the frame when the bobbin is empty, sufficient to diminish the strain on the yarn, and gradually reducing the motion at each traverse of the rail, as the bobbin is filled; but we claim the great advantage of our invention to be the capability of spinning any grade of yarn on the ring frame that can be spun on the hand or self-operating mule, and in proof of this we call your attention to the model frame now in operation at the fair of the New England Manufacturers' and Mechanics' Institute, where we are spinning on a quill only 5-32 inches diameter at top, and where we can show you samples of yarn from No. 80 to No. 400 spun on this frame from combed roving from the Conant Thread Company and Willimantic Linen Company, which we believe has never before been accomplished on any ring frame.

We invite you to examine this invention at the fair, and also call your attention to the adjustable roller beam, by means of which the rolls can be adjusted at any desirable angle or pitch, so as to throw the twist more or less directly spinning, and an improvement in the quality of the yarn from the same cause, which will increase the production from the loom, and finally eradicate other objectionable features of the labor question, which so often disturb the peaceful harmony between labor and capital.

Mr, Goulding asked if it had been demonstrated whether more or less power was required for the same numbers than effect of running the machine a little out of true, and the reply was that the advantage of the new method over the old would be more apparent in such a case than with a perfect frame. In regard to speed, the inventor proposed as a maximum rate, when the wind was at the tip of the bobbin, 300 revolutions per minute, but from this point the speed would diminish.

Conant Thread Company and Willimantic Linen Company, which we believe has never before been accomplished on any ring frame.

We invite you to examine this invention at the fair, and also call your attention to the adjustable roller beam, by means of which the rolls can be adjusted at any desirable angle or pitch, so as to throw the twist more or less directly into the bite of the rolls, according to the character of the yarn desired, or the quality of the stock used.

Finally, we claim, by the use of this invention, to be able to spin any fibrous material which can be drawn by draught-rolls, of any required degree of softness of twist, such as can be spun by any mule whatever, and to do this with the attention only of children of from twelve to fourteen years of age.

We also claim an increased production, owing to less breakage of ends, from the yarn not being overstrained in spinning, and an improvement in the quality of the yarn from the same cause, which will increase the production from the loom, and finally eradicate other objectionable features of the labor question, which so often disturb the peaceful harmony between labor and capital.

Mr. Goulding asked if it had been demonstrated whether more or less power was required for the same numbers than by other methods, and Col. Webber replied that no more power was required to move the rings than was saved by friction on the ring and the saving of weight of the bobbins. He thought it required no more power than the old way.

_The method of lubricating the ring_.--The inventor, who was present, stated, in response to a query, that he claimed an advantage for his ring in spinning all numbers from the very coarsest up, both in quality and quantity, and especially the former.

Mr. Garsed inquired of Col Webber what would be the effect of running the machine a little out of true, and the reply was that the advantage of the new method over the old would be more apparent in such a case than with a perfect frame. In regard to speed, the inventor proposed as a maximum rate, when the wind was at the tip of the bobbin, 300 revolutions per minute, but from this point the speed would diminish.

It was suggested by a member that the only advantage of a revolving ring was to relieve the strain on the traveler just to the extent of the ring's revolutions. If the ring were making 300 revolutions per minute, and the traveler 6,000, the strain on the latter would be equal to 5,700 revolutions on a stationary ring. Col. Webber, however, thought that the motion of the ring gave the traveler a lift that prevented its stopping at any particular point, and cited the fact that all numbers up to 400 could be spun with this ring as proof of its superiority over the old method.

* * * * *

NEW GAS BURNER.

Speaking at the last meeting of the Gaslight and Coke Company, Mr. George Livesey said many things with a view to inspire confidence of the future in the minds of timid gas proprietors. Among others he mentioned the advances now being made by invention in regard to improved appliances for developing the illuminating power of coal gas, with especial reference to a new burner just patented by Mr. Grimston. Mr. Livesey passed a very high encomium upon the burner, and this expression of opinion by such an authority is sufficient to arouse deep interest in the apparatus in question. It is therefore with much pleasure that we present our readers with the following early account of Mr. Grimston's burner, for which we are indebted to the inventor and Mr. George Bower, of St. Neots, in whose manufactory the burners are now being made in all sizes. It should be premised, to save disappointment, that the invention is yet so fresh that its ultimate capabilities are unknown. The accompanying illustration, therefore, represents the bare skeleton of one of the first models; and the actual performance of only the very earliest burner, made in great part by Mr. Grimston himself, has been fully tested. Before proceeding to describe the invention, a brief history may be interesting of how it happened that Mr. Grimston, an electric lighting engineer, became a gas burner maker. The story will undoubtedly help to explain the reasons for many of the characteristics of the new burner.

It appears, then, that Mr. Grimston, who was connected with the electrical engineering establishment of Siemens Bros. & Co., Limited, was some months ago shown the construction and working of the Siemens regenerative gas burner, which is now sufficiently well known to render a description unnecessary here. In common with most spectators of this very ingeniously and philosophically designed appliance, Mr. Grimston was struck with its bulk and the superficial clumsiness of the arrangement whereby the air and gas supply are heated in it by the products of combustion. These lamps have, of course, materially improved of late; but when Mr. Grimston first saw them, perhaps 18 months ago, they certainly could not be called neat and compact in design. He at once grasped the idea embodied in these lamps, and set about constructing an arrangement which should be based on a similar principle, but at the same time avoid the inconveniences complained of. It is not too much to say that he has succeeded in both these aims, and the burner which now bears his name strikes the observer at once by the brilliant light which it produces by the simplest and most obvious means. We may now describe, by reference to the accompanying illustrations, how Mr. Grimston produces the regenerative effect which is likewise the central idea of the Siemens burner.

The light is simply that produced by an arrangement of a kind of Argand burner turned upside down. The central gas-pipe, _a_ (Figs. 1 and 3), is connected to a distributing chamber, whence the annular cluster of brass tubes, _a', a_, (Figs. 1 and 2), are prolonged downward, forming the burner. The burner is inclosed in an iron or brass annular casing, b, b, which forms the main framework of the apparatus. The annular space which it affords is the outlet chimney or flue for the products of combustion of the burner beneath, and is crossed by a number of thin brass tubes, c, c, which lead from the outer air into the inner space containing the burner tubes, a', a', already described. The upper openings of the annular body, b, are shown at e, e (Fig. 3), which communicate direct with the chimney proper, e', e'. The burner is lighted by opening the hinged glass cover, d, which fits practically air-tight on the bottom of the body, so that the air needed to support combustion must all pass through the tubes, c, c, the outer ends of which are protected by the casing, k, k.