CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1848

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
WEILD of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical Draftsman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by.
Her Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Second day of
November last, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said William Weild, my exors, adññiors, and assigns, Her
especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said
William Weild, my exors, adiñiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Weild, my exors, adiñiors, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within that part of Her Majesty's United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland called England, Her Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SPINNING
COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES;" in which said Letters Patent is con-
tained a proviso requiring me, the said William Weild, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
and to cause the same to be enrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same Letters Patent
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance-with the said proviso, I, the said
William Weild, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention to
consist,―
First, in the adaptation, arrangement, and combination of mechanism, and
apparatus for taking out and bringing in the carriages of mules, or other 5
machines of the like nature, used in spinning cotton and other fibrous
substances.
Secondly, in certain mechanism and apparatus for-winding the chain on to
the winding-on barrel during the going out of the carriage.
Thirdly, in the arrangement and adaptation of machinery for driving the 1
spindles, and for regulating the amount of twist given to the yarn.
Fourthly, in the combination and arrangement of mechanism and apparatus
for effecting the backing-off motion.
Fifthly, in the adaptation and application of mechanism for latching and
unlatching the carriages of self-acting mules when at the extremity of the 1
run out.
Sixthly, in the adaptation and arrangement of the spindle and flyer, and
various mechanical parts connected therewith, for- spinning yarn and winding
it on the bare spindle in the machines commonly called throstles.
Seventhly, in a contrivance for regulating the drag upon the spindles of 2
throstles.
And, lastly, in certain mechanism or apparatus for facilitating the doffing
of the cops or bobbins formed on the spindles of throstles.
And in further compliance with the said proviso, I shall now proceed to
describe the manner in which the said Invention is to be performed and carried 2
into effect; and in order that it may be fully understood, I will refer to the
four Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, in which similar letters and figures
of reference denote the same part in the different views.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
On Sheet 1, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a self-acting mule to g
which my improvements are applied. Figure 2 is a plan view of the same,
with part of the carriage shown at each side of the headstock. In these views
the carriage is supposed to be going out.
On Sheet 2, Figure 3 represents a front elevation of part of the mule and
carriage, in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 4 is a front s
elevation of the mule headstock. Figure 5 is a plan view of parts of the
above-mentioned mule, with the carriage close to the roller beam. Figure 6
is a side elevation of Figure 5. Figure 7 is a section of part of the carriage

page_text: square, with the fulcrum stud and its adjuncts; and Figure 8 is a view of part
of the apparatus for winding up the winding-on chain.
On Sheet 3, Figure 9. is an elevation taken from the back of the mule,
showing parts of the backing-off motion, and the going-in and coming-out clutch
boxes; and Figure 10 is a side elevation of part of the mule headstock.
Figure 11 represents a side elevation of parts of a self-acting mule, with
another improved mode of taking the carriage out, and my improved mode
of latching the carriage; and Figure 12 is a plan view of the same.
On Sheet 4, Figure 13. is an elevation, taken partly in section, of a throstle,
to which my improvements are applied. Figure 14 is a side elevation of the
same. Figure 15 is a plan view of the copping motion for the above-
mentioned throstle. Figure 16 is a sectional elevation, drawn to the real size
of a spindle, and its adjuncts belonging to the said throstle; and Figure 17 is
a plan view of Figure 16.
the mill gearing.
pulley b, so that
In Figures 1, 2, 4, 9, and 10, a represents the main driving shaft of
the mule headstock. On this shaft is keyed the fast pulley b, actuated
by a strap driven by
c is a loose pulley made rather
broader than the fast
when the mule is at work, the
driving strap, which is nearly of the breadth of the loose pulley, never
entirely leaves the circumference of that pulley. d and e are two spur
pinions fixed on the boss of the loose pulley c, the pinion d giving motion. to
the backing-off shaft f, by means of the pinion f¹, keyed on it, and to the
vertical shaft g, through the agency of the spur pinion f³, fixed on the catch
box f, and loose on the shaft f. The pinion f takes into the wheel h',
fixed on the boss of the catch box h, which is now connected to the coming-
out shaft h, owing to the catches h and h being in gear, see Figure 9
and 10, on Sheet 3, and the bevil pinion h³, which is also fast on the boss of
the catch box. he takes into gear with the wheel g', fixed on the vertical
shaft g. Near the lower extremity of the shaft g is keyed the chain wheel g³,
seen best in Figures 4 and 5. The endless chain i is made to take into the
teeth of the wheel g³, and communicates motion to the large chain wheel k,
as seen in Figures 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6. The motion may also be communicated
by means of an intermediate wheel or a series of wheels, or by straps or bands,
if found more convenient. The chain wheel revolves on the boss 1,
projecting from the standard 1, bolted down to the floor of the room, as
shewn in Figure 11; to the standard l' is also fixed the ring l², the peculiar
object of which will be explained hereafter. is a revolving arm for taking
the carriage out and in; this arm is fitted into a V groove in the upper part
of the chain wheel k. To the end of the revolving arm is attached a stud, on

page_text: _which an antifriction roner is placed. m represents the woodwork of the
mule carriage, and m¹ is the carriage square, seen best in Figure 5.- nis a
stud screwed into the carriage square, and serving as fulcrum for the seg-
ment n¹, the radial arm n, and for the friction clutch v and v6, which
regulates the winding on of the yarn, as seen in section, Figure 7. The
segment n¹ is provided with a groove, open downwards, into which the anti-
friction roller enters while the carriage is going out. The radial arm n²
is bolted to the segment n¹, and consequently moves with it. In Figure 5
the carriage is supposed to be close up to the roller beam, and the segment n¹
is in gear with the pinion o fixed on a short shaft revolving in the bush o'
attached to the carriage. At the lower end of the same shaft is another spur
pinion o, taking into the rack 03. This rack is fixed to the side of one of the
carriage rails, and, in combination with the motion given to the segment n¹, and
pinions o and o², serves to regulate the going-out speed of the carriage. The
varying angle of the groove in the segment n¹ from the commencement to the
end of the stretch, the relative diameters of the pinions and o, and the
radius of the segment n¹, are so regulated that the revolving lever 1³ imparts
a uniform advancing motion to the carriage during the running out of the same,
corresponding to the delivery of the front roller, the varying advancing motion
produced by a crank being converted into a uniformly progressive motion. As
soon as the revolving lever is set in motion in the direction of the arrows
(see Figures 2 and 5), the antifriction roller l' enters into the groove
provided in the segment n', thereby causing the carriage to recede from the
roller beam; and as the pinions o and of are moved with the carriage, the
teeth of the latter pinion, by coming in contact with the teeth of the stationary
rack o³, are made to revolve, and cause the pinion o to actuate the seg-
ment n¹. As the revolving lever continues to move round the carriage
moves out; and the pinion o, by continuing its action on the segment n,
brings it into gear with the pinion o. This pinion and the rack pinion o
are fixed to a shaft, also working in a bush attached to the carriage. When
the carriage is about half way out, the antifriction roller *, at the end of the
revolving lever, has arrived near the end of the groove in the segment
and the lever and segment n, are then parallel with each other, and in
a line with the centre of the carriage. As the carriage continues to move out,
the pinion o, by acting on the segment n¹, brings it at the end of the stretch
into the position shewn by red lines in Figure 5, at which time the antifriction
roller has arrived again under the centre of action of the segment n¹. It
has already been explained, that the revolving lever slides in a groove of
the chain wheel k. This lever has two studs fixed to it, as seen in
;

page_text: Figures 5 and 6. On the lower end of these studs are placed two antifriction
bowls, one of which is placed within, and the other beyond the flange of
the ring. This flange is concentric for nearly half the circumference of the
ring, for the purpose of keeping the revolving arm at a uniform distance
from the centre during the going out of the carriage, or until it arrives
within about two inches from the end of the stretch. At this point the anti-
friction bowls have arrived at that part of the ring marked, at which
point the flange of the ring forms an inclined plane, as seen in Figure 5. The
object of this inclined plane is to draw the revolving arm for about one
inch towards the centre 1, and thereby to diminish the speed of the carriage
at the time it arrives at the end of the stretch, for the purpose of reducing the
shock when the carriage stops; and by regulating the length and amount of
inclination, the speed of the carriage near the end of the stretch may be
varied to produce the required amount of after draught, it being well under-
stood that the front roller inust be stopped when the after draught commences.
During the running in of the carriage, the antifriction roller takes into the
groove of the straight piece m2 fixed to the carriage; and the antifriction
bowls are guided by the excentric portion of the ring 1, until the revolving
lever arrives at its original position, as shewn by the black lines in Figure 5.
The radial arm n being fixed to the segment n¹, swivels upon the stud n, as
seen in Figures 5 and 7. The radial arın is provided with a screw n³ and
nut n' in the usual way. To the latter is attached the end of the winding-on
chain n, the other end of which is secured to the winding-on barrel p. The
winding-on chain 22 is guided when near the barrel p by means of the hori-
zontal grooved roller p', supported on a stud fixed in a bracket attached to the
floor of the room. The stud of the roller p¹, and the bracket which supports
it, are each made adjustable according to the slots, shewn in Figure 5, so as to
be able to regulate the relative positions of the roller p¹ and fulcrum stud n.
By varying the position of the roller p', the quantity of chain given off by the
winding-on barrel p may be regulated to the greatest nicety. When the first
stretch of the yarn is being wound on the bare spindle, the nut n is at the
end of the screw 23, near the fulcrum ; and by the time the bottom of the
cop is formed, the nut will have been traversed to the other end of the
screw n³, by means that will be hereafter described. The winding-on barrel p
is fixed on the shaft p², to which are also fixed the spur wheel p³ and disk p*.
The grooved pulley p is loose on the same shaft. Over the shaft p² is situated
another shaft q, seen in Figures 1 and 3. Upon this shaft are fixed the large
groove pulley and small groove pulley 92. The pinion and catch box q³ are
loose on the shaft; and the catch box q* is connected with the shaft by a

page_text: grooved disk in the usual way. The catch boxes are disconnected, as seen in
Figure 3, when the carriage is running out.
Having now enumerated the principal parts for winding the chain on the
barrel P. I will proceed to describe how they operate. During the running
out of the carriage, the twist band r, shown in Figures 1 and 2, causes the
groove pulley q¹ to revolve, and with it the small groove pulley q². An endless
friction band passes over the pulley q, and under the pulley p, thereby giving
motion to the latter. From the face of the pulley ps projects a pin, shown in
Figure 8; and this pin comes in contact with the projecting part of the
disk p, thereby giving motion to the shaft p³, and with it to the winding-on
barrel p, by which means the winding-on chain n is wound up and kept tight
during the going out of the carriage. A ratchet wheel and click may be
employed instead of the pin and disk above mentioned, if found more con-
venient. As soon as the carriage has arrived at the end of the stretch, as
shown by the red lines in Figure 5, the roller m³, attached to the carriage
square, comes in contact with the inclined plane of the bell-crank latch st.
This latch s is now supporting the lever s by means of the stud I; and
when the roller m depresses the inclined plane above mentioned, the
lever assumes a horizontal position, thereby acting on
the escape
lever so by the agency of the parts that will be more fully described here-
after. The cam shaft t, being liberated by the action on the escape lever s¹o,
will perform a fourth of a revolution in the way usual in the mules known as
Sharp and Roberts's mules, and the coming-out catch box * is thereby
thrown out of gear for the purpose of stopping the carriage. At the next
motion of the cam shaft, which is acted upon by the agency of the twist wheel
in the method used in the last-mentioned mules, the driving strap will be brought
on to the loose pulley c, and the conical friction pulley a³ will be brought
into contact with the circumference of the backing-off cone a¹. The pinion ƒ³
fixed on the shaft f gears into the teeth of the internal wheel, forming part of
the backing-off cone a¹; and as the pinion f³ is constantly revolving, by the
motion communicated to it through the pinions d and f¹, it is evident that the
direction in which the driving shaft a was revolving during the running out of
the carriage will be reversed until the backing off is effected. At this moment
the twist band r begins to move in the contrary direction, and reverses the
motion of the shaft q, and groove pulleys 3 and p. The pin fixed to the
pulley is consequently taken out of contact with the projecting part of
the disk p, and moves in the space between the projections until the backing
off is completed, thereby leaving the winding-on barrel p at rest. During the
backing off, the conical friction pulley a, see Figure 2, is kept in contact

page_text: with the circumference of the backing-off wheel a¹ by the action of the
spring t, which is coiled round the cam shaft t. This spring acts against
the back of the cam to, which is loose upon the shaft, but slides on a
key; and in the space between the cams and to the antifriction roller a
of the lever a* enters. In Figure 2 the pulley a³ is not in contact with
the backing-off wheel a¹, because the carriage is supposed to be running out,
but when the cam shaft t has performed half a revolution, the anti-friction
roller a³ is acted upon by the high portion of the cam to, opposite to which is
a recess in the cam to. This recess is provided so as to prevent the anti-
friction roller a from bearing against the cam to when the spring t" is press-
ing the pulley a2 against the backing-off wheel, by the action of the lever a*.
The screw nut is to regulate the action of the spring according to the
amount of friction required. This arrangement is to supersede the use of the
horse-shoe spring, lever link and carrier, formerly employed for effecting the
same object. When the carriage is at the end of the stretch, and during the
time that the backing off is being performed, the spring m³, attached to the
carriage square m³, and seen in Figures 1, 2, and 5, presses upon the under
side of the boss of the disk p*, and prevents the shaft p² from being moved by
the friction of the groove pulley 25, which is then revolving loose upon it.
During the backing off, the sector latch s, seen in Figures 1 and 2, and the
action of which is the same as in the mules known as Sharp and Roberts's
mules, drops i to the notch of the sector s', and allows the lever s², which had
before been supported by the sector latch, to drop also. By this means the
rod sa descends and acts upon the bell-crank latch s, thereby liberating the
stud 2 in the lever s froin the catch of the bell-crank lever s, the lever s³
having been lowered, as before-mentioned, from the position in which it is
drawn by the action of the latch so. The lever s" is fixed on the same stud
as the levers to which is hinged a horizontal rod s³, connected to the bell-
crank lever s. The horizontal arm of this lever is connected to the escape
lever so, by means of the rod s¹. This rod is drawn upwards by the action
of the spring s¹, seen best in Figure 4, and acts upon the escape lever s¹º in
the usual mnnner, thereby throwing in gear the going-in motion, as will be
hereafter described with reference to Figures 9 and 10 of Sheet 3. Simultȧ-
neous with the dropping of the sector latch, as before described, is the throwing
into gear of the winding-on catch box q. This is effected by the elbow lever
96 and rod q, as seen in Figures 1 and 3. The lower extremity of the rod q'
is provided with a slot, into which is inserted a stud riveted into the lever s³.
In Figure 1 this lever is shown in the position it occupies during the going
out of the carriage, and at the end of the stretch it assumes a horizontal

page_text: position without altering the position of the rod q', because the stud is at
liberty to move in the slot in the end of the said rod. As soon, however, as the
sector-latch-s-drops-into-the-notch-provided-in-the-sector-s',-the-lever-s,
which has now been supported by the stud 2, drops for the second time, and
takes with it the rod q', and throws the catch box q' into gear with the catch
.box q³, by means of the elbow lever q°. At the same timé the escape lever
s10 is acted upon as before, and allows the cam shaft to perform another
quarter of a revolution; thereby disengaging the conical-friction pulley a² from
the backing-off wheel a', and throwing the catch box fin gear with the catch
box f3 on the backing-off shaft f, as shewn in Figures 1, 9, and 10. At this
period the various parts of the mule are in the positions requisite for effecting
the running in of the carriage and the winding on of the yarn. The carriage is
taken in by antifriction roller acting in the groove of the piece m², as before
described, and the winding on is performed by the combined action of the
running in of the carriage, and the uncoiling of the chain n from the barrel
p, thereby giving motion to the groove pulley y', through the agency of the
twist band r, and the unwinding of the chain 25. When the carriage has
arrived near the roller beam, the antifriction bowl M5, see Figures 1 and 5,
.comes in contact with the elbow lever so, shown by red lines in Figure 1, and
by the time the carriage is completely in, the lever s³ is brought into its original
position, as shown in the Drawing, thereby depressing the escape lever $10,
and causing the cam shaft to move the driving strap on to the fast pulley b;
at the same time the catch box h is brought into gear, and the catch box f*
is thrown out of gear, as shown in Figures 1, 9, and 10, in which views t¹
represents the lever acted acted upon by the cam shaft and effecting these
changes. The lever t¹ is fixed on a shaft t, at the other end of which is
placed a double lever t³, the under portion of which acts upon the going-out
catch box h*, and the upper portion acts upon the coming-in catch box f. At
the same time the catch box q* is thrown out of gear by the rising of the lever
s, which is brought into its original position, as shown in Figure 1, the
moment the carriage has run in. When the carriage is in, the unlatching
finger u, shown by dotted lines in Figure 1, lifts the latch s out of the notch
in the sector s¹, and liberates the fallers in the usual manner.
Having now described the taking out of the carriage, the backing off, the
going in of the carriage, and the winding on, I will proceed the describe the
method of regulating the tension of the yarn during the winding on. In
Figures 5, 6, and 7, is a friction disk revolving on a prolongation of the
stud n, fixed into the carriage square m³, as before mentioned. The friction
disk v forms also a pulley for the band v', which passes round the pulley, one

page_text: headstock, and the other end to the
The object of this spring is to keep
is a weighted lever, having a ful-
This lever is so shaped that it passes
end being attached to the front of the
spring fixed to the back stretcher v³.
the band at an almost uniform tension.
crum secured to the carriage square.
on each side of the upper portion of the disk v, into which a groove is turned
for receiving the two projections attached to the lever. The lever v' is con-
nected with and operated upon by the counter faller shaft in the usual manner,
as seen in Figures 3 and 6, consequently when the tension of the yarn becomes
too great the lever is lowered, and the friction disk v comes in contact with
the lower disk 2, to which it imparts a rotary motion. To the lower portion
of the disk is fixed a spur pinion v', gearing into the pinion v³, revolving
on the same stud as the bevil pinion v, which gears into the pinion n³, fixed
on the screw 2 of the radial arm n²; consequently any motion given to the
friction disk v will be communicated to the screw n³ and nut n', thereby
regulating the number of revolutions of the spindles according to the amount
of chain given off by the barrel p. By the same means the screw nut n is
traversed along the screw, according to the increasing size of the cop.
I will now proceed to describe how the spindles are driven, the various parts
for effecting which operation are seen best in the Figures 1, 2, 4, and 10. a³ is
a bevil wheel fixed on the boss of the fast pulley b, gearing into the bevil pinion
w, fixed on the upright shaft w, to the lower end of which is fixed a bevil
wheel w gearing into the pinion a', fixed on the shaft x. On the outer end of
this shaft is fixed a spur wheel a², gearing into the wheel 3, fixed on the shaft
The wheels and a are change wheels, so as to be able to vary the
speed of the twist pulley, according to the number of twists required in an
inch of yarn. To the shaft 2 is fixed the twist pulley, which gives motion
to the twist band r during the going out of the carriage and the twisting of
the yarn. The twist band passes round the pulley q' and gives motion to
the carriage drum shaft y by the groove pulley y', from which the twist band
is taken round the guide pulley y³, and thence passes to the under side of the
twist pulley. The guide pulley y revolves in a forked bearing hinged to
the carriage square, and answers at the same time the purpose of a tightening
pulley, the forked bearing being acted upon by a regulating screw, as seen by
dotted lines in Figure 1.
Having now described the method of applying my improvements in mules
to the mules in ordinary use, I wish it to be understood, that those parts
which are shewn in the Drawings hereunto annexed, without being particularly
referred to, and other parts which are not shewn at all, are similar to those

page_text: taking the carriage of a mule out, the putting up of the carriage being effected
by the same means as those before described with reference to Figures 1,
2, 5 and 6, of Sheets 1 and 2. In these Figures, 11 and 12, the carriage is
taken out by the antifriction roller l', attached to the revolving arm P,
taking into the groove of a plate fixed to the under side of the carriage.
When the carriage is in at the roller beam, the roller is in that part of the
groove marked A, and as the revolving arm & moves in the direction of the
arrow, the roller 1 passes along the groove B, and takes the carriage with
it. When the carriage has arrived within about two and a half inches from
the end of the stretch, the roller has arrived at the point C, at which
time the delivering rollers are stopped by the usual means. At the point C
the afterdraught commences, and as the groove forms a straight line after the
point C, it is evident that the speed of the carriage will be gradually diminished
until the end of the stretch. D is a switch acted upon by the spring E; and
as the antifriction roller passes from the point C to the point A, it moves
the switch D to one side, so as to allow the roller to pass, and when the carriage
is at the end of its stretch, and the roller again under the point A, the spring
E will have moved the switch D into the position shown in the Drawing.
When the revolving arm a starts to take the carriage in, the anti-friction
roller enters into that part of the grooved plate marked m³, and the
carriage is put up in the way already described with reference to the various
Figures on Sheets 1 and 2. When the carriage is taken out by the arrange-
ment just described with reference to Figures 11 and 12, the ring l², with
the inclined plane 1, may be dispensed with, and the revolving arm must
then be fixed to the chain wheel k, instead of moving in a V groove, as in the
mule previously described. It is also necessary to observe, that the winding-
on motion would have to be constructed according to any of the methods in
ordinary use. In Figures 11 and 12 is also shown the arrangement for
latching the extreme end or ends of the carriage when out. F is a lever fixed
to the faller shaft. G a link attached to it, and provided with a slot below.
H is a lever hinged to the carriage end, into which a stud is rivetted, taking
into the slot in the link G. I is a bracket fixed to the frame end, with a
square stud rivetted into it, on to which a notch in the lever H latches.
When the carriage is nearly out the lever H rides over the square stud in the
bracket I, during which time the stud in the lever H plays in the slot in the

page_text: link G, leaving the faller shaft at rest. As soon as the carriage arrives at the
end of the stretch, the notch in the lever H drops on the square stud before
mentioned, and holds the carriage fast until the backing off commences, at
which time the depression of the faller elevates the link G, and liberates the
lever H from the square stud on the bracket I, thereby unlatching the
carriage, as shown by the red lines in Figure 11. It will be evident that
this method of latching and unlatching the carriage is applicable to my
improved self-acting mules, and to other self-acting mules. The red lines
in Figure 11 indicate the positions of the latch when the carriage is completely
out, and the red dotted lines show the position of the parts when the faller
shaft is depressed, and the carriage is unlatched, ready to commence running in.
My improvements in throstles are shown with reference to Sheet 4, and
relate principally to the method of forming a cop on the bare spindle, to
governing the drag on the spindles by the tension of the yarn, and to the
method of dofling.
In Figures 13 and 14, 1 is the driving shaft, and 2 the spindle drum fixed
upon it in the usual manner. 3, 3, are the front drawing rollers, to which
motion is communicated by a train of wheel, as shewn by the red lines in
Figure 13. 4, 4, are the spindles, seen also in Figures 16 and 17; and 5, 5,
are the fixed rails into which holes are drilled for the bushes 6. In these
bushes the tubes 7 revolve. The upper portion of the tubes 7 is provided
with a conical recess of the same shape as the bottom of the cop; this recess
is to prevent the bottom of the cop being injured in the process of doffing.
To the lower portion of the tubes 7 the wharves 8 are fixed, and the upper
portion forms a flange serving as a support for the lower end of the legs of
the flyers 9. To the copping rails 10 are fixed the metal plates 11, having
holes in them rather more in diameter than the outside of the flyers 9. 12 is
the thread guide embracing the plate 11, having a hole in it, through which
one of the legs of the flyer passes, and a projecting hook for guiding the
thread. The lower portions of the spindles are supported in footsteps, fixed
in the rails 13; these rails are stationary as long as the cop is being made,
and they are lowered for the purpose of doffing, as will be explained hereafter.
The brackets 14 are fixed on the rails 13, and serve to support the check
rails 15, which prevent the spindles from rising out of the footsteps by coming
in contact with the flanges 16, fixed near the lower end of the spindles. The
motion is given to the copping rails 10 from the upright shaft 16+, see
Figures 18 and 14, in the following manner-To the shaft of one of the
currier wheels is fixed a worm 17 gearing into a worm wheel 18, fixed to
the
end of the shaft 16+. To the lower end of this shaft is fixed a
upper

page_text: worm 19, gearing into the worm wheel 20, fixed on the shaft 21 of the cam
22. This cam works in the direction of the arrow shewn in Figure 13, and acts
against an antifriction roller.23, revolving on a stud fixed to the frame 24. This
frame serves to connect the two racks 25 and 26, by means of the screws 27 and
27+, and the projections from the racks shown in the Drawings answer the pur-
pose of nuts and guides. The copping motion-is-supported by the brackets 28
fixed to the framing of the machine. On the screws 27 and 27+ are fixed the
bevil pinions 29, gearing into similar pinions, revolving loosely on the studs 30,
but fixed to the ratchet wheels 31 and 31+. From the studs 30 are suspended the
levers 32 and 32+, to which are hinged the clicks 33 and 33*. As the cam 22
revolves, it moves the frame 24, and other parts connected therewith, in the
direction of the straight arrow; consequently the lever 32+ will be brought
against the stud 34+, fixed to a bracket attached to the frame side. This stud
causes the lever 32+ to assume a slanting position, and the click 33 to move
the rachet wheel 31+ for one or more teeth, as may be found requisite, according
to the count of the yarn under operation. By thus moving the ratchet wheel 31+
at every revolution of the shaft 21 the screw 27 is moved through a portion
of a revolution, thereby increasing the distance beween the racks 25 and 26.
When the direction in which the frame 24 moves is reversed, the lever 32
comes in like manner against the stud 34 for the like, purpose. The racks 25
and 26 gear into the pinions 85 fixed on the shafts 36; on the same shafts
are also fixed the pinions 37, see Figure 14, gearing into the vertical racks 38, to
the upper extremity of which the copping rails 10 are fixed. The up and down
motion of the copping rails is always equal to the length of the upper cone of
the cop marked a, b, on Figure 16, and is produced by the cam 22; but the
copping rails have also a gradually ascending motion, equal to the distance
from 6 to c, imparted to them by means of the levers 32 and 32+, ratchet
wheels 31 and 31+, screws 27 and 27+, and racks 25, 26, and 38. By the
combined action of the two motions before described the cop is formed.
Having now described the various parts necessary for spinning and winding
the yarn on to the spindles, I will proceed to explain how the drag necessary
for winding on is regulated. The thread, on leaving the drawing rollers 3,
passes over the tension wire 42, through the hooks 39, and from thence to the
thread guides 12, as shewn in Figure 13. 40 is a shaft extending the whole
length of the frame, and working in bearings. Attached to the stands of the
roller beams 41 are double levers fixed on the said shafts, the longer end sup-
porting the tension wire 42, and the shorter end has attached to it a link 43,
reaching to the bell crank lever 44. These levers are also fixed upon shafts 45,
moving in bearings attached to the end frames. 46 is a wooden rail, ex-

page_text: tending nearly the whole length of the frame, to which is secured a strip of
vulcanized india rubber 47, or other elastic material, coming in contact with
the spindles 4, best seen in Figures 16 and 17. To the rails 46 are attached
pins 48, passing through bearings fixed to the framing, and the ends of these
pins bear against the short ends of the bell-crank levers 44. 49 represents
the weights, which are hung to the levers 44, and are so regulated that they
press the vulcanized strip of indian rubber 47 with the proper degree of force
against the spindles 4, when the yarn is being wound on the large diameter
of the cop, at which time the levers 41 are elevated into the position shown at
the right-hand side of Figure 18. As the copping rail ascends to form the
cone of the cop from 6 to a, see Figure 16, the yarn becomes tighter
between the delivering rollers and the hooks 12, consequently the yarn
depresses the tension wire 42, and brings it into or near the position shewn on
the left-hand side of Figure 13, thereby raising the link 43, lever 44, and
weight 49, so as to diminish the pressure of the vulcanized india rubber on the
spindles to the degree required by the varying diameter of the cop. The
mechanism for doffing consists of the following parts:-50 is a pinion at each
side of the machine, fixed on the shafts 50+, working in bearings attached to
the framing. These pinions gear into the wheels 51, fixed upon the shafts 52,
extending the whole length of the frame. On these shafts are also fixed the
pinions 53, which gear into the vertical racks 54; and the upper ends of these
racks are fixed to the footstep rails 13, already described. When the cops are
formed and ready to be doffed, a handle is put on the
shaft 50+, and the attendant, by turning the handle, lowers the rail 13, by
means of the racks 54 and pinions 53 and the wheel 51 and pinion 50 before
mentioned, into the position shewn on the right-hand side of Figure 13.
When the rail 13 is lowered, the check rails 15, which prevent the spindles
from rising out of the footsteps, also draw the spindles nearly out of the cops,
which are caught hold of by the recess in the upper part of the tubes 7, before
explained. The cops are then at liberty to be removed by the attendant. After
the doffing is effected, the rails and spindles are raised again into their original
positions, as shewn on the left-hand side of Figure 13. The screws 27 and 27+
are turned round by actuating the ratchet wheels 31 and 31+, so as to bring
the racks 25 and 26 close up to the studs 30, at which time the copping
motion is in a position ready to commence a fresh cop, and the various
operations may be repeated as before.
square end of the
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as of my Invention
the several improvements herein-after enumerated,, the first five of which

page_text: relate to the spinning machine called the mule, and other machines of the
like nature; and the remainder to the spinning machine commonly called the
throstle::
---
First, the application and adaptation of a revolving arm or lever, which, in
combination-with-other-suitable-mechanism and apparatus, takes out and also
brings in the carriage of the mule, or other machine of like nature, and which
part of my Invention, as practised by me, is herein-before described with
reference more particularly to Figures 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6, and also (under
another modification),with reference to Figures 11 and 12. And I include in
this claim the ring marked in the Drawings, and its adjuncts, when
required to be employed for diminishing the speed of the carriage when
approaching the termination of its outward rim,. as herein-before described.
Secondly, the mechanism and apparatus for winding up the chain n on
the barrel p as the carriage is taken out, as herein-before described in
reference to Figures 1, 3, 5, and 8, in the Drawings; and also for regulating
'by means of the adjustable roller p₁ the quantity of the chain given off by
the barrel as the carriage is brought in, as also described in reference to
Figures 5 and 6.
"
Thirdly, the arrangement and adaptation of mechanism or apparatus for
driving the spindles, and regulating the amount of twist to be given to
the cotton or other fibrous substance, being spun by means of the wheels
marked in the Drawings a³, 201, w, and a¹, the change wheels 2 and 3
and the twist pulley, as herein-before.described.
Fourthly, the arrangement and application of the spring t, with its
tightening screw nut t, the loose cam t, and the internal wheel, forming
part of the backing-off cone a' (best seen in Figure 9), in combination with
the pieces to, a, a, and a³, heretofore in use, so as to reverse the motion
of the shaft a, and thereby produce the backing-off motion, as herein-before
described.
Fifthly, the adaptation and application of mechanism for latching and
unlatching the carriage in such mules only as are of the class termed self-
acting, when at the extremity of its run out, in such manner that the un
latching is connected with and consequent on the depression of the faller at
the commencement of the backing off, and which is herein-before described
with reference to Figures 11 and 12.
Sixthly, the adaptation and arrangement of the spindle and flyer, and the
various parts connected therewith, as shewn in Figures 16 and 17, for spin-
ning yarn, and winding it on the bare spindles in the spinning machines
commonly called throstles.
1

page_text: Seventhly, the contrivance for regulating the drag upon the spindles on
which the yarn is wound as last mentioned in throstles by means of the
tension or pull of the yarn as it increases with the decreasing diameter of the
upper tapering part of the cop acting upon the spindle through the inter-
vention of suitable mechanism, and which, as practised by me, I have herein-
before described with reference to Figures 13, 14, 16, and 17. And,
Eighthly, the mechanism or apparatus herein-before described with refe-
rence to Figures 13, 14, and 16, for facilitating the operation of doffing the
cops or bobbins formed on the spindles in throstles.
And I declare that I do not confine myself to the particular details and
modes which I have herein-before shewn and described of effecting my said
Invention and improvements; but I claim, as within my Invention, and my
right to the exclusive use thereof, any modification thereof, or of each or any
of the several parts thereof, producing the same effects, without departing from
the general character or principle thereof respectively.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Weild, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.