IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING AND HAND MULES EMPLOYED IN SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Dickens, of Salford, in the County of
Lancaster, Machine Maker, and John Hewitt, of the City of Manchester,
in the said County, Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SELF-ACTING AND HAND MULES EMPLOYED IN SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER
FIBROUS MATERIALS."
Sealed the 13th January 1863, and dated the 15th July 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by tho said William Dickens and
John Hewitt at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 15th July 1862.
We, WILLIAM DICKENS, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Machine
Maker, and JOHN HEWITT, of the City of Manchester, in the said County,
Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SELF-ACTING AND HAND MULES EMPLOYED IN SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER
FIBROUS MATERIALS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists, firstly, in an improved mode of working the cam
shaft by means of the to-and-fro movement of the carriage instead of the
ordinary mode of working it by toothed wheels, springs, and drums. We extend

page_text: the cam shaft from back to front of the headstock, and cut in it or place
upon it two spiral grooves or cams cut in opposite directions to each other.
One of these grooves is placed near the cam part of the headstock, and has
over it a boss with a pin fitting in the groove. The other groove is placed near
the quadrant, and has over it two bosses, each having pins fitting in the groove.
If these bosses are simply drawn along, the pins work in the grooves, and the
bosses turn without having any action upon the cam shaft, but if when the
bosses are drawn along they are prevented from turning, then the pins cause
the shaft to revolve by the pins acting against the spiral grooves or cains.
The carriage carries a frame or standard for the purpose of holding the bosses,
and preventing them from turning when motion is to be given to the
cam shaft, and to the carriage is fixed a rod or projection for giving
motion to a sliding bar in connection with two of the bosses, one for giving
the first motion to the cam shaft as the carriage is coming out, and the other
the last motion to the cam shaft when the carriage has nearly gone back.
The second and third motions of the cam shaft are obtained by causing
the carriage as it comes farther forward to act upon a lever, which draws
along the third boss at separate intervals, and turns the shaft at the time
required, and as the spiral grooves are in opposite directions, the forward
and backward movements of the carriage cause the cam shaft to be turned
always in the same direction.
Secondly, in an improved mode of regulating the winding on and main-
taining the proper tension of the yarn. On the drum shaft which
carries the pinion for giving motion to the quadrant we fix a bevil wheel
gearing into a bevil wheel attached to a shaft having fixed to it one part
of a clutch or catch box, the other part of which communicates by bevil and
spur gearing with the screw of the quadrunt. The clutch shaft works in a
small frame suspended to the drum shaft, and to the frame is connected a
lever for putting the clutch in and out of gear. This lever is connected to a
bar which is drawn by a lever on the carriage pressing against it when the
yarn is too tight, which action puts the clutch in gear and turns the screw
of the quadrant so as to slacken the yarn, after which the clutch is put
out of gear by the weight of the lever on the suspended frame.
Thirdly, in certain improvements connected with backing off the yarn.
Instead of one fixed pinion gearing into one toothed wheel we employ
change wheels, by which means we can increase or diminish the speed of the
backing off as may be required.
And, fourthly, in an improved mode of drawing out the carriage for the

page_text: purpose of diminishing its speed and keeping it steady during the second
stretch.
On a stud fixed to the framework we place a toothed scroll, into which is
geared a pinion on a swing shaft so that it may follow the shape of the
scroll, and we give motion to the pinion from the front roller shaft or other
working part of the mule.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Dickens and John Hewitt in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 15th January 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
DICKENS, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Machine Maker, and JOHN
HEWITT, of the City of Manchester, in the said County, Machinist, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Iler Letters
Patent bearing date the Fifteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
William Dickens and John Hewitt, Her special licence that we, the
said William Dickens and John Hewitt, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said William Dickens and John
Hewitt, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SELF-ACTING AND HAND MULES EMPLOYED IN SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER
FIBROUS MATERIALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
William Dickens and John Hewitt, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent..
'
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said William Dickens and John
Hewitt, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in

page_text: what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement (that is to say) :-
:-
This Invention consists, first, in an improved mode of working the cam
shaft by means of the to-and-fro movement of the carriage instead of the.
ordinary method of working it by toothed wheels, springs, and drums.
Secondly, in an improved mode of regulating the winding on and main-
taining the proper tension of the yarn.
Thirdly, in certain improvements connected with backing off the yarn.
And, fourthly, in an improved mode of drawing out the carriage for the
purpose of diminishing its speed and keeping it steady during the second
stretch.
These improvements will be clearly understood by the following description
thereof, reference being had to the figures and letters on the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation, and Figs. 2
and 3 front and back elevations of part of the headstock of a self-acting
mule having some of our improvements attached; Fig. 4, a plan of the cam
shaft; Fig. 5, a longitudinal elevation of part of the frame with parts of our
improvements; Fig. 6, a reverse view, and Fig. 7, a transverse section,
of part of the same; Fig. 8, a detached view of the apparatus for shortening
the backing-off chain; and Fig. 9, a detached view of our improved arrange-
ment for drawing out the carriage.
9,
In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, a represents the framework of the headstock, having
parts removed in order to shew the interior. The cam shaft is shewn
at ; it extends from back to front of the headstock, and has fixed to
it two cylinders c, d, each having a spiral groove in an opposite direction
to the other. One of the grooved cylinders c is placed near the cam part of the
headstock, and has on it a boss e, with a pin fitting in the groove. The
other grooved cylinder d is placed near the quadrant f, and has on it two
⚫ bosses h, each having pins fitting the groove. If these bosses are
simply drawn along, the pins work in the grooves, and the bosses turn
without having any action upon the cam shaft, but if when the bosses are
drawn along they are prevented from turning, then the pins cause the shaft
to revolve by their action against the sides of the spiral grooves. Each
of the bosses has a circular groove, in which is fitted a clutch for the
purpose of moving it to and fro. The clutches i, j, for the two bosses
c, 9, are fixed to the sliding bar k carrying the arms or projections l, m,
against which the faller shafts n, o, come in contact, and move the bar
forward when the carriage has nearly come out, and backward when the

page_text: carriage has nearly gone back. The frame or standard p fixed to the square g
carries a bracket r, Figs. 1 and 2, having two adjustable slides s, t, against
which the screws or projections u, v, on the bosses e, g, come in contact at the
required time and prevent the bosses from turning. The clutch of the third
boss his fixed to the sliding bar x, Figs. 5 and 6, having a projecting piece y
and stud for carrying a catch a', so placed that it can come in contact with
a projection fixed to the exterior of the boss, and prevent the boss from
turning. On a stationary stud c there is an L lever, Figs. 5 and 6, having
one arm d linked to the sliding bar, and the other arm e' linked to the top
part of a cross piece g¹ fixed to the vertical slide h', which works in guides
k, l, attached to the framework. To the cross piece g₁ is fixed an angular
plate m', carrying a bracket n', so placed that a lever o fixed to the quadrant
shaft p shall raise it and the vertical slide h³ when the carriage is going up.
To the cross piece is fixed a stud q', carrying a weight r, for bringing down
the vertical slide h¹ and parts connected with it, unless prevented. Tho
vertical slide has a projecting part s¹ extending nearly to the bottom, and the
lower guide supports a horizontal slide t', having a projecting part u against
which the carriage can come in contact. The slide at the part is formed
so that it can pass under the projection s' by the action of the spring w', and
Tho
hold up the vertical slide h¹ when it has been raised by the lever o¹.
part of the cross piece g' is so formed and placed that it can rest for a
certain time on a sliding bar y' connected to the lever for locking the fallers.
On a stud fixed to the framework there is a catch lever a, having its tail
end under the stud q'. The catch part of the lever holds the carriage during
the backing off the yarn; and the catch is raised by the stud q' when the
vertical slide is lowered. When the carriage is coming out, the faller shaft n
comes in contact with the arm 1, and moves the clutches i and j, and causes
the boss g. to turn until its screw or projection u is held by the bracket r;
so that as the boss is moved further forward it gives the first revolving motion
to the cam shaft for throwing out the front rollers, and the motion for drawing
out the carriage. When the carriage is going or putting up, the lever o¹. on
the quadrant shaft p' raises the vertical slide h¹ to its highest position, in
which it is held by the slide t', being pulled under the projection s¹ by tho
spring w. Just before the carriage arrives out to its fullest extent it comes
in contact with the projecting part u' of the slide t', and by forcing it back.
allows the vertical slide to fall by means of the weight until the projecting
end of the cross piece g¹ rests on the sliding rod y', Fig. 1, connected to the
lever for locking the fallers. This descent of the vertical slide moves the

page_text: sliding bar and boss h by means of the L lever, and as the boss was pre-
viously locked by the catch a¹ it gives the cam shaft the second revolving
motion for putting the backing off into gear when there is no twist wheel.
When the fallers are being locked the sliding rod y' is moved back, and allows
the cross piece g¹ and vertical slide h¹ to fall to their lowest position, and
thereby draw out the boss h still further, and give the third revolving motion
to the cam shaft for the purpose of putting up the carriage. When the
carriage has nearly gone back the faller shaft o comes in contact with the arm
or projection m on the sliding bar k, and causes the clutch i to turn the boss e,
which had been brought forward by the first motion of the cam shaft, until
its screw or projection v comes in contact with the bracket r, so that the boss
may be prevented from turning, but when the boss is drawn still further it
gives the fourth revolving motion to the cam shaft for putting out of gear the
putting-up catch box, and allowing the drawing-out motion and front rollers
to be put into action, the cam shaft moving always the same way because the
two grooves are in opposite directions. The cam shaft is held steady at each
movement by the recessed or space pulley b and spring c³, Figs. 1 and 2,
and the putting up is rendered positive by lifting the putting-up clutch &
by the finger, Fig. 1, on the square or carriage.
When required we
employ an additional sliding bar for releasing the rollers. The bar is shewn
at f, Figs. 4 and 5; it has at the front end an arm or projection g³ for the
faller shaft n to act against and bring the bar forward, and at the other end
a spring to draw the bar back. The bar is provided with an angular slot h³,
so that when the bar is brought forward its back end shall be raised and act
upon the clutch lover p², and disconnect the clutch and stop the motion of
the rollers.
The second part of our Invention consists in an improved mode of regulating
the winding on and maintaining the proper tension of the yarn. On the
drum shaft a³, which carries the pinion for giving motion to the quadrant, we
fix a bevil wheel 63, gearing into a bevil wheel ³, attached to a shaft d',
having fixed to it one part of a clutch or catch box, the other part of which
communicates by bevil and spur gearing with the screw f³ of the quadrant.
The clutch shaft works in a small frame g³ suspended to the drum shaft, and
to the frame is connected a lever h³ for putting the clutch in and out of gear.
This lever is connected to a bar 3, which is drawn by a bracket and lever
Fig. 1, on the carriage. The bracket and lever are mounted with leather
or other similar material, and when the yarn is winding on press against the
bar when the yarn is too tight, which action puts the clutch in gear and turns

page_text: the screw f³ of the quadrant so as to slacken the yarn, and as the counter-
faller rises it raises the lever by the chain n³, and prevents its contact with
the bar until required.
The third part of our. Invention consists in certain improvements connected
with backing off the yarn. Instead of one fixed pinion gearing into one
toothed wheel we employ change wheels, by which means we can, increase or
diminish the speed of the backing off as may be required. In Figs. 1 and 2
is the backing-off wheel; it is driven by the change pinion ps fixed to the
change pinion g', which gears into the pinion fixed to the short putting-up
shaft s. For shortening the backing-off chain we employ an incline t, jointed
to the angular plate m', Fig. 8. The incline rests on the top of a screw. u³,
to which is fixed the worm wheel v³, gearing into the worm w³ on the spindle a³,
carrying at its end the ratchet wheel y³, which is moved one or more teeth by
a catch or ratchet, put in motion by a projection in the front of the carriage
when the slide h' is falling. Each time the carriage comes out the ratchet
wheel is turned one or more teeth so as to turn the screw and raise the incline t
which moves the bottom end of the relieving lever a', Figs. 1 and 2, attached
to the backing-off chain, nearer the carriage, and the top end from the carriage,.
and thereby shortens the backing-off chain.
The fourth part of our Invention consists in an improved mode of drawing
out the carriage for the purpose of diminishing its speed and keeping it steady
during the second stretch. On a stud fixed to the framework we place a
toothed scroll b', into which is geared a pinion on a swing lever d', so that
it may follow the shape of the scroll, and we give motion to the pinion
spur gearing e' connected by bevil gearing f with the shaft which drives the
front rollers, the scroll giving motion by the gearing 9' to the back shaft h';
or we turn the pinion c from any other part of the mule.
by
Having now described the nature and particulars of our said Invention, we
desire it to be understood that we claim in self-acting and hand mules employed
in spinning cotton and other fibrous materials,
First, the mode of working the cam shaft by means of the to-and-fro
movement of the carriago instead of the ordinary mode of working it by
toothed wheels, springs, and drums.
Secondly, the improved mode of regulating the winding on and maintaining
the proper tension of the yarn.
Thirdly, the improvements connected with backing off the yarn.
And, fourthly, the improved mode of drawing out the carriage for the purpose
of diminishing its speed and keeping it steady during the second stretch, as all

page_text: such improvements are herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Dickens and John Hewitt,
have hereunto set our hands and scals, this Fourteenth day of
January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-three.
WILLIAM DICKENS. (L.B.)
JOHN HEWITT.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named William Dickens and John Hewitt,
in the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.
(L.S.)