US284905A - Island - Google Patents

Description

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I KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 284,905. Patented Sept. 11, 1883.

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KNITTING- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Ratent No. 284,905, dated September 11, 1883.

I Application filed June 29, 1882. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI E. SALISBURY, of the city and county of Providence, and State Rhode Island, have invented certain Improvements in KnittingMachines, of which the following is specification.

My invention relates to that class of knitting machines known as straight -bar knittingmachines. It is mainly my object in a machine of this class to provide for the employment of a number of knitting or loop threads at the same time upon a straight bar, each following the other in close succession, constituting numerous points or sections simultaneously and continuously in operation, thereby greatly increasing the capacity of the machine for producing fabric. This result I attain by operating the straight line of needles in groups, the individual members of each group being reciprocated consecutively and in unison, and the corresponding members of the several groups performing the same movements at the same time, and by combining with the needles and the mechanism by which they are thus operated yarn-supplying devicesone for each group-whi ch travel continuously together in the same direction, and are timed in their movements so as to pass at a uniform rate of speed from group to group, and to deliver their looping or knitting yarn to the descending needles in each group successively; As

.the yarn-supplying devices move continuously in one direction only, it is of course essential that the needles should be arranged in at least two lines. I prefer to arrange them in two parallel lines close together, and the track in which the yarn-supplying devices travel makes the circuit of these two lines, passing first along one line, and thence along the other line back to the starting-point and so on. The most efficient means for actuating the needle as above described I have found to consist of a revolving shaft provided with a series of cams spirally set upon the same, so as to make two or more turns around the shaft, the length of that part of the shaft on which the spiral is fixed corresponding to the length of the line of needles, the spiral making as many turns around the shaft as it is desired to have groups of needles. An important advantage which attaches to an actuating mechanism of this description is that it permits each needle to be carried from its highest to its lowest point, if desired, before the succeed ing needle has engaged the yarn, each needle in turn taking the yarn for its loop directly from the bobbin before the yarn has been engaged with the next following needle, and thus avoiding all the strain upon the yarn consequent upon the engagement of the same by several needles at the same timea result which cannot be attained in straight-bar machinesof the usual type, in which ordinary cams composed of inclined planes are used to actuate the needles. In connection with the instrumentalities above referred to,which are designed to produce ordinary knitted fabric, I combine,whenever it is desired to produce a heavier, stronger fabric,means for introducing warp into the fabric during the knitting operation. These means, consisting, essentially, of laterally-reciprocatory warp-guides and mechanism for shifting the same, have, in connection with the knitting-needles, a peculiar mode of operation, to be hereinafter described, which results in the introduction or incorporation into the knit fabric of the warpthreads in a novelway, and in the production of an essentially novel knitted fabric. The several features my of invention can,- however, best be explained and understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a knittingmachine embracing my improvements, omitting some of the smaller parts, difficult of representation in the general view. Fig. 2 is a 'front end elevation of the same, or end to which the power is applied. Fig. 3 is arear end elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a top View of the same. Fig. 5 is a transverse central section. Fig. 6 is atransverse section of the camshaft, showing alug or cam on the shaft, which acts on the jack of a needle to throw the needle down. jack is expanded into aparallelogram or camframe within which the shaft and cam revolve, the cam depressing and lifting the frame at each revolution and with it the needle. This figure also shows a circular washer or partition upon the shaft to support and steady the cam-frame. Fig. 7 shows the cam-shaft provided with cam-frames and washers over In this case the lower part of the 95 that portion of its length taken up by one circuit of the spiral around the shaft, also the relative positions resulting from a revolution nal section of front end of the machine, showing the spur-gear which drives the chain or segmental gear, also a portion of the train of gearing to drive the spur. Fig. is atrans verse section of part of upper portion of machine, showing needle-bars, shifting bars, a block of the segmental gear and a portion of bracket on the same, and truck, all in section. It also shows needles and part of jacks, knitting or loop threads, warp-threads, and the guides for each. 'Fig'. 11 is a top view of a portion of the segmental-gear resting in lower half of its track, the upper half being removed, also the spur-gear which drives it and a part of the braekets,in section. Fig. 12 is'a vertical section through one segment or block of the chain or segmental gear and the adjacent end of the next block, showing one method of linking the blocks together. Fig. 13 is a top view of warp-tubes, the plates or blocks in which they are held, and shifting bars and cams operating same to give the lateral movements 'plate sections, and the latter fastened to shifting-bars. By this means a given numberthat is, a sectionof warp-tubes and warps-are shifted laterally, and succeeding sections are successively shifted in the same way, thereby placing given warp-threads alternately on one side and the other of given needles. The fig- -ure also shows the commencement of the fabrie much enlarged. Fig. 17 shows the fabric enlarged,looking on the back side. Fig. 18 is the front side of same. In Figs. 17 and 18 the prominent threads only are indicated, and each view must be taken to supply the parts wanting in the other. Fig. 19 is the same as Fig. 17, except that the warp-threads are kept tense and straight, while the loop thread is loose. Fig. 20 is the same fabric as Fig. 19, but showing the other or front side. Fig. 21

is a section showing the ends of the warps in the machine and the manner in which the loops are formed around them. Fig. 22 is a partial top view of the machine, showing especially an arrangement of shifting-bars in pairs, one of each pair being actuated by the cam, and so connected with its fellow by a pivoted lever ortion, showing the warp-tube plates with the tubes mounted on same, the inclinations of the warp-threads in dotted lines due to the lateral shifting of the different setsof warp-tube plates attached to the several shifting-bars. There is also seen the swivel-coupling used between the bars of each pair, by means of which a cam- I actuated bar operates its fellow in the opposite direction. Fig. 24 represents an enlarged view of the swivel coupling. Fig. 25 is a transverse section of the shifting-bars, showing how they are laid in and confined in their bed.

T T are the standards or front and rear ends, respectively, formingv the frame-work, and to which the other parts constituting the machine are attached. v

A is the shaft, which receives and transmits the power by gears, as shown in the drawings, in any convenient manner, to gear E on one endv of cam-shaft S, and revolves the same. Gear E meshes with gear E upon the other camshaft, S, which is driven by it in the opposite direction from, but at the same rate of speed as shaft S. From gear E, by a system of intermediate gears, (shown at 1 2' 3 4 in Fig. 9,) the power is transmitted to the pinion-gear I, which actuates the segmental gearS running in the track or railway R. It is not necessary to use the particular system of intermediate gearing shown in Fig. 9. Any known means of communicating power to gear P, whether from sh aft S or elsewhere, is suflicient, provided the motions of segmental gear S and cam-shafts S and S are properly timed, as hereinafter explained. At the other end of one of the cam-shafts (in the drawings it is shown on shaft S) is a gear, 5, which, by an intermediate gear, 6, (see Fig.- 3,) communicates with gear 6, and the latter meshes with and drives at anequal rate of speed and in an opposite direction gear 0. These two gearse and e are connected with and actuate the cam-wheels C and O, which govern the motion of the shifting-bars B, B", and B by means of cams b", bl, and I) cut into said cam-wheels, of which there are two sets, as hereinafter explained. The particular system of gears here shown for communicating power to G and O is not a necessity of the machine; but any known system of communicating the power from either cam-shaft or any other source is sufficient, so long as it results in revolving the cam-wheels C and O in proper time with the motions of the cam-shafts S and S, as will be more fully explained.

On the cam-shafts S and S are arranged the shaft.

cams 0, Figs. 5 and 6. These cams, which may be struck out from .sheet metal, are splined upon the shafts, so that the point of the second cam is a little behind the point of the first, and following this order throughout the shaft, with the points of all thecams at equal distances apart. The line connecting thepoints of the cams so placed describes a spiral around the shaft. (Represented by the heavy waveline min Fig. 7.) In these drawings the proportions and timing of mechanism are based on the cams being one-eighth of an inch from center to center of the cams,'and the pitch of the spiral such as to complete a circuit of the shaft in twenty-four cams, extending a distance of three inches measured axially on the The pitch or inclination of the spiral is variable at will, but a variation therein necessitates a variation in speed of pinion-gear P and segmental gear S and also a change in the warp-shifting device, if used, as hereinafter more fully described. The cams c are set upon and secured in their respective positions to the cam-shafts by a spline or otherwise. cupied by washers w, fastened to the shafts in a similar manner. Between the washers, and embracing the cams, are parallelograms or cam-frames F, which have an arm, f, extending upward and connected with the jacks j of the needles. The cams, revolving with the shaft lift, and depress these frames, moving between and guided by the washers, thus producing the reciproeations of the needlejacks and needles. The cam-frames are slightly thinner than the cams, thus allowing them an easy play up and down, guided laterally by the washers w and endwise by the side of the cam-frame box B, in connection with the lower part of the needle-bed N. Inside each camframe is a toe, t, on which the point of the cam strikes at that portion of its revolution shown in Figs. 5-and 6, and,1 continuing its revolution, carries the cam-frame down, as shown in dotted lines in Fig.6, till the cam leaves the toe I, and travels freely till it strikes the top of the frame, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, thencecarrying it up to its first position before it leaves the top, preparatory to striking toe t in its downward course. The frame-arms f, at their upper ends, are connected with the needle-j acks j, which latter are connected with the needles n in any convenient way, producing from the movements of cam and frame a reciprocating movement of the needle. By making the cam strike the toe if, instead of the bottom of frame F, the descent of the needle is begun earlier in the revolution of the cam, and is muchaccelerated over the rate of ascent. If it is desired to make the needle rise at the same rate as it descends, an additional toe can be put on the other side of the frame, or the one indicated can be taken off. One effect of the toe t is to cause the needles to descend rapidly, then to dwell at the bottom during the passage of the cam-point through the lowplained.

The spaces between. said cams are 00- er arc of its circle, so that there may be several needles down at a time and others slowly rising and not yet above the top of the needlebed, which is of importance in the use of the warp-shifting apparatus,'hereinafter to be ex- I do not mean to confine myself to this particular system of intermediate mechanism between the cam and the needles. Any known form of frame or any convenient known means of using the motion of the cams to reciprocate the needles may be used. It is ob- 'vious that the continual revolution of the shaft will cause a continual rising and falling of all the needles in regular order from one end to the other of the shaft, and that each needle will bein the same position as to height as the twenty-fourth needle beyond it in either direction, each circuit of the spiral around the shaft measuring a group of needles on the nee dle-bed, and the corresponding needles in each group passing through the same changes at v the same time. It will also be observed that a single revolution of the cam-shaft takes each needle on the needle-bar through a complete up-and-down movement.

Having described the mechanism for actuating the needles, I now proceed to explain the segmental gear which carries the bobbins and yarn-guides along the front of one needlebar and back on the other to the beginning of the first bar circling around the ends. This segmental gear consists of a gear broken into segments, which are so placed, connected, or attached to each other in a railway or fixed track, to which they are confined by their shape or otherwise, that the segments will follow the circuit of this track, while at a point or points the. teeth of adjacent segments are brought together in such relations that they mesh appropriately with a spur gear or pinion. This segmental gear may be an internal or external one. The segmental gear S? shown in the drawings is an internal one, and to each of its segments is attached abracket, A,

which holds a bobbin, 0, and is provided with l a yarn-guide, for each circuit of the spiral round the cam-shaft. These yarn-guides 3 y are, when the segmental gear is pursuing a straight course along the lines of the needles, just three inches apart in the machine. represented by the drawings. The movement of the guides must be so timed that they shall move along the lines of needles, keeping the same relative positions to the active needles as they rise to take the threadin other words, to move three inches lineally while the camshaft is making one revolution. If the cams 0 c are splined to shafts S and S in a spiral which makes a circuit of the shaft in more or less than three inches lineal distance on the shaft, the speed of pinion-gear P and segmentgear S must be changed to keep the guides y y, whose distance apart must also be varied in same degree as variation in pitch of spiral, always in the same relation to the active needles. 4

, thus guiding the segments in the course of the track. It is open on the out-side and closed on the inside, except at the point where the seen in Figs. 9 and 11.

pinion P meshes with the segmental gear, as The segments of this segmental gear may be shaped as shown in Fig. 11, and pivotally linked together by links I, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12; but the form and style of connection of segments is immaterial, provided it be such as will enable the segments to turn on each other sufficiently to follow the course of the track and bring the segments together, so that their teeth match to make a perfect section of an internal gear as they pass the pinion-gear P. The segmental gear can be made with no links. The segments being held in their course by the track, they will have a motion in the same direction, as shown. The gear can also be driven from the outside by placing the teeth properly cut on the outside and changing position of driving-pinion appropriately. The needle-bars and needles and details connected with the same are or may be substantially as in old machines.

The description thus far is of a knitting-machine to knit simply without introducing warpthreads into the fabric.

'An important part of my invention is the mechanism by which warp-threads are introduced into the fabric, which I can apply to the machine, as above described.

In connection with the description of the fabric which follows, reference may be had more particularly to Figs. 17 to 21, inclusive. The warp 1 is presented to the machine perpendicularly to the line of the needles, passing above the top of the needle-bed and below the loop-thread guides into the fabric, the needles playing between the warpthreads, and at their lowest point dropping belowthe warpthreads. The warp passes through guides, one to each needle, and, by means of a rack or laterally-shifting motion, is carried alternately from one side to the other of the needles, so that a needle which descends on one side of a thread rises 011 the other'side of that thread. The warp is thus shifted by shifting the warpguides either singly or in gangs, while the needles with respect to which the shift is made are down below the guides and warp-threads 2. The loop threads, as they are carried along by the thread-guides, being taken by the needles from above the warp, are drawn by the needles in loops down between the warp- The threads. A shift of the warp-threads while,

these needles are below the warp brings the needles at their next rise upon the other side of the warp-threads respectively, still holding onto the series of loops just formed. The needles at their next descent draw new loops through the old ones, which are cast off, and a reverse shift follows. The effect of this disposition of the warp and filling threads may perhaps be more readily conceived by supposing a number of parallel warp-threads crossed by a single loop or filling-thread laid loosely on top of the warp and the loose filling-thread being drawn down in loops between the warpthreads. We shall then have accomplished what the needles do in their descent between the warp-threads with the filling thread. If we next swing the bottoms of these loops laterally in respect to the direction of the warp, so that each loop bight occupies the space just previously occupied by the bight of the adj acent loop, and suppose, further, these loops now to be swung slightly forward, we then have the relative position which the warp and loop occupy in respect of each other after the shift of the warp above referred to. Now, if a second loop-thread be laid across the warp forward and alongside of the first, and loops from this second thread be drawn through the previous loops, we have the loops and warp in the same relations that they are in when the needles of the machine have taken their second thread and drawn it in loops through the first or old set of loops, as indicated plainly in Fig. 21, where 1 represents the warpthreads, 2 the loop-threads, and n the needles.

A repetition of these movements makes the fabric. in this way, whether all the loops or only a part of them are thus bound around the warp,

It is evident that a fabric can be made the locking of some of the loops to the warps 1 being necessary to incorporate the two classes of threads into fabric.

7 I will first describe the shifting mechanism by which the loops are tied tothe warp.

For the purpose of making the shifts of warpthreads, I attach the warp tubes or guides IL, either singly or in groups, tomovable plates in, having sufficient spaces between the plates, so that one plate or aseries of plates standing in the same relation and requiring to be moved in the same direction in the same time may be shifted without disturbing the others. These plates are fastened upon shifting-bars lying parallel to the needle-bar, and each shiftingbar is put in connection with a cam or camgroove, which reciprocates the bar and produces the shifts required. The warp-guides, as has been said, extend so as to be between the needles when the latter are up, and consequently a shift can only occur at certain intervals, while the needles adjacent to the tubes to be shifted are below such tubes. It results from the arrangement of the cams and camframes connected with the needles, as shown in the drawings, that several successive needles will be found below the warp-tubes at the same time, as already indicated, and this number is increased by the dwell which occurs after a cam-frame has been thrown down by the beak of the cam and before it begins to rise. I also arrange the warp-tubes with respect to the throw of the needle so that the needle has somedistance to travel and return after it is below the bottom of the warp-tube. Consequently there is no difficulty, if desired, in making a single shift embrace a number of warptubes. I will assume that the spiral makes several circuits of the cam-shaft. Now, when the shaft commences a revolut-ion the needles will begin to descend at points along the line equidistant from each other, and where each circuit of the spiral may be supposed to begin, a loop-thread being present at each of such points to be taken by the needles and traveling along the line of the descending needles. After a number of the needles in each group of needles actuated by a single circuit of the spiral have descended, and before the needles first actuated in each group -'have risen in their return high enough to interfere with the shift of the warp-tubes, such shift may be made simultaneously for those needles in each group which are thus prepared for the shift, the shift being accomplished by moving one. shifting-bar having attached to it at the proper intervals the plates and tubes appropriate to that shift. As the revolution of the cam-shaft continues a succeeding set of tubes can be similarly shifted by the movement of a second bar, and so on until all the tubes have been shifted in the same direction and a complete revolution of the cam-shaft accomplished. Now,

upon the completion of such revolution of the.

' shaft the several loop-threads will have arrived at the head of the next group of needles, and the warp having been already shifted, as described, preparatory to the reception of these threads, they will be taken into the fabric on the appropriate side of the warp-threads and locked with the old loops already formed, and

as these loop-threads pass along the line of the second groups, respectively, the reverse shifts occur simultaneously in the same order-that is to say, the plates that were first shifted are the first to return to their former positions.

In order to furnish a warp-guide for the space left between the plates to enable a shift to occur, an outside guide on each plate is raised above the level of the guides on the plate and made to overhang this space when opened, and when closed each-raised guide overhangs an outside guide on the adjacent plate. 1 y

In Figs. 5, 10, 13, and 141 have shown three shifting-bars in front of each needle-bar-that is to say, three shifting-bars on each side of the machine.

In Fig. 22 I have shown a system of six shifting-bars on each side, the bars being arranged in pairs, one of each pair being directly-actuated by a cam or otherwise, and this bar in turn actuating its associate bar in the reverse direction by means of a swivel or lever connection. The principal or directly actuated bars are lettered, respectively, B 13 13 and the associate bars are marked 1) b b. The swivel-connection is indicated at o. I will now assume, as heretofore, that the line of needles is divided into groups, each measured by the length on the cam-shaft occupied by a circuit of the spiral, there being as many groups as there are circuits of the spiral. I will next suppose each group divided into three equal sub-groups. I have shown in Fig.. 23 Shifting plates to act with reference to each of such sub-groups. In a machine of the dimensions in all its parts like that represented in the drawings, as many needles as there are in one entire sub-group of needles in each chief group will always be below the warptubes on the shifting plates, and it will occur that each entire sub-group (and as a matter of fact some more) will in turn be below the warpguides; hence the three shifts can be made in each group while the cam-shaft is making one revolution. Although the warp is passed between the needles in a right line, and then is deflected from the ends of the warp-guides in the same vertical plane to nearly or quite a perpendicular, it is found in practice that, in consequence of the shifts and the binding of the loops, the warp, after fabric has begun to form, is always, after a shift, inclined laterally from this perpendicular. I have therefore thought it. best to insure a regularity in the fabric, to arrange the shifts so that a given loop-thread, as it passes along the line of nee dles, shall'always find the warp inclined in the same direction throughout the line, and that the succeedingloop-thread shall in like manner find the opposite inclination of warp. These inclinations of the warp are shown by the heavy dotted lines in Fig. 23. This is accomplished by the mechanism and arrangement of plates indicated in Fig. 22. A plate being attached to a given principal bar, the plate for the corresponding sub-group in the next principal group of needles is attached to the associate bar, so that the shift of this latter plate will be in the contrary direction from the first-mentioned plate, the same order of attachment being observed throughout the line of needles, thus taking the plates for the first sub-group in each principal group, one is attached to a principal bar, the next to its associate bar, the next tothe same principal bar, and the next to the same associate bar, and so on; and the same rule applies to all the other sub-groups, one principal bar and its associate being appropriated to take care of all the subgroups of the same order in each principal group. That this arrangement of the shifts will present the same inclination of warp to any given loop-thread as it passes from one end to the other of the needle-bed, and the opposite inclination to a preceding or succeeding thread, becomes apparent by supposing the machine to begin to knit, having the warp in the first group inclined to the left, in the next inclined to the right, in the next to the left, and so on. Now, the warp in the second group, after the loop-thread has passed, will be shifted from right to left in three successive shifts, and be ready for the loop-thread that has just passed the first group, in which the warp was inclined to the left.

I have shown a warp-beam with the warp thereon at W, and the warp-threads passing upward from the warp-beam'and through the warp-tubes h, and I find this a convenient arrangement for delivering the warp into the ber, or, as has already been indicated, to shift them singly, and these shifts may be accomplished by various devices other than those shown, the examples given, however, being deemed sufliciently illustrative of this part of my invention.

In the description of another part of my invention I have shown how the needles are carried down by cams arranged spirally upon a revolving shaft and again raised by the same cams, respectively; but, as I have stated, rapidity of motionis more necessary in the desent of the needle than in its rise; hence good results may be had by using the shaft and cams for depressing the needles and substituting other means for lifting them more leisurely. In such case the cam-frames may be dispensed with.

It may be further suggested that in the combination of needle-bars and segmental gear to keep up the procession of loop threads and maintain numerous knitting-sections in continuous operation, I have illustrated one of the most difficult arrangements, inasmuch as it requires the segmental gear to make a sharp turn completely around the ends of the bars. If more bars were combined, forming a triangle or other figure of more sides, leaving a narrow space between contiguous ends of the needle-bars at the corners, an easier turn would be afforded the segmental gear.

In the arrangement of the straight bars which I have employed for the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have left a narrow space at the ends, in which I have placed no needles, the yarns passing from one bar to the next without being converted into loops, and being again taken up bythe needlesas the said yarns severally reach the nextbar or line of needles. This leaves a straight line down or lengthwise of the fabric, making a convenient line, on which to cut the two sheets of fabric apart.

WVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a continuous straight line of needles and a needle-bed therefor, of a revolving shaft and cams mounted thereon for imparting longitudinal movement to said needles, arranged spirally and in two or more turns around said shaft, whereby said needles may be operated in groups, the individual members of each group being reciprocated consecutively and in the same order, and the corresponding members of the several groups being moved simultaneously and in unison, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination, with a continuous straight line of needles and a needle-bed therefor, of a revolving shaft, cams mounted thereon, arranged spirally and in two or more turns around said shaft, to operate said needles in groups, as described, and means, substantially as described, for supplying loop threads to the several groups of needles, the combination being and acting substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

3. The combination, with a needle-bed, a reciprocatory cam-frame, and needle connected therewith, of a revolving cam which rotates continuously within' said frame, and is arranged and operates to move the frame alternately in opposite directions, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

4. The combination, with a reciprocatory needle-actuating cam-frame provided with a toe or projection, of a revolving cam arranged and operating to engage said toe and to effect a consequent acceleration of the motion of the frame at the time and in the manner substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the revolving camshaft, the cams fixed to and spirally set upon the same, the washers carried by said shaft,

'the cam-frame box, the camframes, and the needle-jacks, these parts being arranged for joint operation substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

6. The combination, with the lines of needles, needle beds therefor; and a revolving shaft for each line, provided with cams spirally set, as described, to actuate the needles in groups, of a segment-gear, S, mounted and adapted to move in a track formed for it in or on the frame of the machine,loop-thread guides mounted on and carried by said gear continuously in one direction, and segment-gear-actuating mechanism timed in its movement with respect to the reciprocation of the needles, so as to deliver yarn to each group as the needles thereof descend to take it, substantially as hereinbefore set forth. I

7. The combination of the following elements, viz: the needles and needle-bed therefor, needle-actuating mechanism, substantially as described, whereby said needles are actuated in groups, the individual members of each group being reciprocated consecutively and in the same order, and the corresponding members of the several groups being moved simul- .taneously and in unison, means, substantially thread, of the warp-guides arranged in the intervals between the needles and extendingto the rear of the line of needles, so as to carry the warprthreads between and beyond the needles, and sloped at the delivery end, substan tially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. A knitted fabric consisting of warpthreads which extend lengthwise of the fabric, and knitting -threads whose loops are drawn and locked into stitches around the warp-threads, substantially as hereinbefore I set forth,

LEVI E. SALISBURY.

In presence of W. A. GREEN, STEPHEN WV. NIoKERsoN.

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