Patent GB-222469-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to self-acting mules
IPC: D01H3/00
Filed: 1924-09-17
Abstract: 222,469. Soc. Anon. Blin et Blin, (Assignees of Soc. Blin et Blin). Sept. 28, 1923, [Convention date]. Mules.-In a two-speed arrangement for the rim shaft of a mule a low speed friction clutch part 2 and corresponding rim pulley 3 are mounted on the shaft 1, and a high speed friction clutch part 5 and ring pulley 6 are mounted on a sleeve 4. The driving-parts 7, 8 are mounted on a sleeve which can be moved longitudinally to close either clutch and motion is imparted by a chain 12 and sprocket wheel 11 from an electric motor. The backing-off gear 13 rotates loosely on the sleeve 4 and can be moved, to engage and drive the friction clutch part 5 and rim pulley 6. The backing-off shaft 17 is driven from the motor by a chain 19 and carries a gear 20 to drive the gear 13 in the reverse direction. The gear is controlled by a four-armed lever 22, 23, 24, 25 pivoted at 21, the arm 23 carrying a weight 28. At the end of the inward run the clutch members 7, 8 are in the central inoperative position. The cam 33 allows the arm 24 of the control lever to fall and the arm 22 is moved to the left carrying the clutch member 7 into engagement with the low speed clutch member 2. This movement is governed by a tooth 40 carried by the arm 23 moving into engagement with a helical groove in a conical member 37 rotating with and capable of sliding on the shaft 17. The change to the high speed is effected either by a rocking-member 31 lifting the arm 23 through a rod 30, or by the rotation of the cam 33. The consequent movement of the control lever lifts the tooth 40 from the conical member 37 and allows it to be drawn back by the spring 38, carries the clutch member 8 into engagement with the high speed clutch member 5, moves a spring pawl 42 carried by the arm 22 into engagement with a helical groove in a conical member 36 on the shaft.17, and brings an incline 34 on the arm 25 into engagement with a stud 48 on a lever 15 controlling the movement of the backing-off wheel 13, thus locking the lever 15. The raising of the rod 30 carries a stop 44 above a rod 45 which slides under the stop under the action of a spring and locks the control lever in its raised position. At the end of the twist motion the rod 45 is rotated and by means of an arm engaging an incline is withdrawn, thus allowing the control lever to move to the left, this movement being controlled by the pawl 42 following the groove in the rotating member 36. The movement continues until the cam 33 stops the control lever with the clutches 7, 8 in the neutral position. The arm 25 in rising allows a spring to move the lever 15 and carry the wheel 13 and its associated clutch part 14 into engagement with the clutch part 5, to perform the backing-off. The usual stop-rod is linked' to the switch controlling the motor so that movement of the rod to stop the mule opens the switch. , The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 (3) (a) comprises also means to stop the carriage consisting of a rod mounted on the carriage and moved longitudinally to bring a finger into the path of an adjustable lug on the stop-rod. The rod also carries a member which moves a rod 64 to lock the nose of the arm 35 and lock the control-lever. When the rod is operated in the reverse direction the stop-rod is moved by a spring and the motor switch is closed and the arm 25 is released. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.