Patent GB-126647-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Self-acting Mules.
Inventor: LAURENCY NICOLAS
IPC: D01H3/00
Filed: 1919-05-09
Abstract: 126,647. Laurency, N. May 31, 1916, [Convention date]. Mules.-In an arrangement for driving the rim shaft in which friction clutches are adapted to operate friction wheels to actuate and vary the speed of the mule and to throw the backing-off wheel into and out of gear, a slidable clutch device is mounted on the rim shaft which is driven from a countershaft journalled in the headstock. The rim shaft 1 carries a friction wheel 39, and a low speed rim pulley 3. A. double friction wheel 40 and a, high speed rim pulley 5 are carried by a sleeve 6. A clutch device 41, which engages either the wheel 39 or the wheel 40, or which can be moved into a neutral position, slides on the shaft 1 and is continuously driven by a gear 42 on the countershaft 8 which may be directly driven by an electric motor. The backing-off wheel 7 can be moved to engage the friction wheel 40 and is driven from the countershaft by a chain 31, shaft 33 and gear 34. The clutch 41 is moved by a lever 16 with a counterweight 20 adapted to hold the clutch in engagement with the friction wheel 39 to bring the low speed into operation. At the requisite moment the cam 18 operates the lever 16 through the arm 26 and moves the clutch 41 into engagement with the wheel 40 and brings the high speed into operation. The lever 16 is locked in this position by a lever 35 and catch 19, 38. The duration of the high speed is determined by the rotating stop 36 which raises the lever 35 and releases the catch. The counterweight 20 then returns the clutch towards the wheel 39 but is prevented from returning it the whole distance by the cam 18, the clutch remaining in the neutral position. The backing-off is then effected, the lever 29 moving the wheel 7 into engagement with the friction wheel 40. At the end of the inward run the cam 18 rotates and allows the clutch 41 to slide into engagement with the wheel 39. The lever 16 mav be operated from the carriage by a shaft 25 and link 23. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 (3) (a) describes also a number of two or more speed arrangements, in which the movernent of a driving-strap is dispensed with and friction clutches are provided which can be engaged alternately with one or more members to drive the rim shaft at the desired speeds. In a two-speed arrangement, the pulley A, Fig. 3 (Cancelled), can be moved to engage a clutch B and impart a low speed through the small rim pulley mounted directly on the shaft, or a clutch C, and impart a high speed through the large rim pulley mounted on a sleeve. In a threespeed arrangement, two pulleys D, F, Fig. 4 (Cancelled), are provided. The pulley D can be moved to engage a friction plate E and impart the lowest speed, and the pulley F can be moved to engage either the plate E or a plate G to impart the intermediate and the highest speeds respectively. The pulleys may be driven by cords or may be replaced by gears driven from a countershaft. A further arrangement operated similarly to the one. first described comprises a sliding clutch piece and friction gears mounted on the countershaft and driving the rim shaft through gearing. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.