IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING MULES AND TWINERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Dixon, of Pudsey, in the County of York, Mule
Spinner, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING MULES AND
TWINERS."
Sealed the 23rd August 1878, and dated the 12th March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Dixon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th March 1878.
DAVID DIXON, of Pudsey, in the County of York, Mule Spinner.
MENTS IN SELF-ACTING MULES AND TWINERS."
" IMPROVE-
My improvements refer to that form of self-acting mule or twiner'in which the
machinery for operating the different parts is placed upon a fixed headstock, and
refers to the "backing off," allowing the mule to come to a complete stop, regu-
lating the stoppage at any desired point and at any speed; for this purpose I fit on
the headstock frame a small bracket, in which is fitted a stud, and on which works
a wheel which is driven by the cam wheel of the headstock; on the side of the
wheel is cast or fitted a pinion which actuates a wheel, having a space whereon no
teeth are cast or cut; the space stops the revolving of the wheel until the strap
or belt lever of the twining fast pulley is thrown off; the wheel is actuated by a
pawl when put in gear with the pinion; this pawl is fitted on one end of a lever
which works on a stud fixed in a lug formed on a bracket which is bolted to the
headstock, and in a slot hole of the bracket is fitted a stud on which works the
wheel and pinion which are driven by the headstock cam wheel; on the other side
of the pawl lever is formed a bent lever which acts as a stop when the pawl lever
is pulled up; in the bent lever is hooked or fastened a chain, which passes over a
small friction chain pulley, which is fitted in a bent support fixed on the end of the
bracket of the wheel and pinion. When the strap or belt lever falls back the chain
which is fastened to it is pulled forward, which lifts up the bent end of the pawl
lever and forces down the pawl-end of the lever, putting the pawl in gear with the
wheel worked by the pinion; the pawl brings the wheel in gear with the pinion

page_text: which actuates the wheel and gives motion to a shaft on which is keyed the wheel;
this shaft actuates a finger which is fitted on the end of the shaft, the finger can
be fixed at any angle, according to the length of time the spindles take in stopping.
The finger acts on an arm of a lever having a rocking motion; this lever is inade
with a slot hole in which is secured a stud, on which is fitted a small friction
roller; this roller acts under the backing-off friction lever.
When the strap or belt lever falls off, the friction lover that heretofore falls into
gear at once is held out by the friction roller of the rocking lever, and remains so
until the finger strikes up the arm of the rocking lever, which releases the backing-
off friction lever.
The shaft of the wheel and finger works in a bearing which is fitted to an angular
bracket, and which is fixed to the headstock; on the stud on which works the
lever, having a rocking motion, is fitted a stop lever, which allows of regulating
the working of the rocking lever.
To prevent the cam wheel coming in gear with the pinion after the cam wheel
had performed its round, and arrived at the space left between the teeth of the
wheel, I attach a band to the angular bracket, and pass the band two or three
times over the shaft of the cam wheel and finger; and on the hanging end of tho
band I fix a suitable weight.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said David Dixon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th September
1878.
DAVID DIXON, of Pudsey, in the County of York, Mule Spinner. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SELF-ACTING MULES AND TWINERS."
The said Invention relates to that form of self-acting mule or twiner in which
the machinery for operating the different parts is placed upon a fixed headstock
and refers to the " backing off," enabling the spindles to come to a complete stop,
regulating the stoppage at any desired point and at any speed; for this purpose
I fit on the headstock frame a small bracket, in which is fitted a stud, and on
which works a wheel which is driven by a pinion wheel of the headstock; on the
side of the wheel is cast a pinion which actuates a cam wheel, in which a space is
left between the teeth of the wheel forming the cam; the space stops the revolving
of the wheel until the strap or belt lever of the twining fast pulley is thrown off;
the strap or belt lever, by means of a chain attached to it, actuates a pawl lover
which forces forward a pawl, moving the wheel and bringing the wheel in gear
with the pinion which actuates the cam wheel, and sets in motion a finger fitted
on the end of the shaft on which the cam wheel is fixed, causing the finger to
revolve and come in contact with a catch lever, which lifts up the lever and the
catch from contact with a projecting stop, cast or fixed to the friction arm of the

page_text: neaustock which allows the backing-on friction to fall into gear, causing the spindles
to back off. The finger revolves until it is stopped by the space in the cam wheel,
and remains at rest until the strap lever falls back again; the finger can be fixed
at any angle, according to the length of time the spindles take in stopping. The
strap lever, falling back, pulls forward a chain or band, which is fitted to the strap
lever and attached to the end of the pawl lever actuating the pawl; the chain or
band passes over a friction pulley which is fitted on a stud fixed in a bracket which
is secured to the headstock frame; or the finger may act on an arm of a lever
having a rocking motion, in which is cast a slot hole, and in which is fitted a stud
having a friction roller; this roller acts under the backing-off friction lever; when
the strap or belt lever falls off, the friction lever, which heretofore falls into gear,
at once is held out by the friction roller of the rocking lever, and remains so until
the finger strikes up the arm of the rocking lever, which releases the backing-off
friction lever; the rocking lever is fitted with a stop lever to regulate the
working.
Instead of driving the cam wheel by a pinion wheel of the headstock I may
employ a worm fitted on a shaft; the worm is cast at one end with a small pulley
over which passes a band, or a pulley with a small belt; the band or belt is worked
from a pulley fitted on a shaft over the headstock; the worm actuates a worm
wheel, having also a space or cam between the teeth; in front of the worm wheel
and on the worm wheel shaft is fitted a finger which strikes up a stop lever and
releases the friction arm.
When the cut-away part of the teeth of the worm wheel comes in contact with
the worm the worm wheel remains at rest until the strap lever falls back again,
which by falling back pulls a band or chain attached to the strap lover; and also
attached to the end of a pawl lever, the pawl lever actuates a pawl fitted on the
top arm of the pawl lever which works a ratchet wheel, fitted on the worm wheel
shaft and at the back of the worm wheel; the ratchet wheel turns the worm wheel
until the teeth come in gear with the worm and actuate the finger.
But in order to enable my improvements to be better understood I will proceed
to more particularly describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing,
in which,
Figure 1 represents a side view of my improvements and side view of part of
the headstock.
Figure 2, back view of the apparatus.
Figure 3 represents a side view of an apparatus worked by band or belt.
Similar letters of reference are used in all the Figures to represent similar
parts.
A bracket A is fitted to the headstock frame B; in the bracket works a stud B³,
on which is fitted a wheel C, which is driven by a pinion wheel D of the head-
stock; on the side of the wheel C is cast a pinion E, which actuates a cam wheel F,
in which is left a space or cam G, the space stops the revolving of the wheel F
until the strap or belt lever H of the twining fast pulley is thrown off; the strap
or belt lever falling back actuates a chain or band I attached to the strap lever,
pulling forward the chain or band and lifting up a pawl lever J, which pushes
forward a pawl K, which moves the wheel F forward, bringing the wheel in gear
with the pinion E, actuating it, and causing a finger L fitted on the end of the cam
wheel shaft M to revolve and come in contact with a catch lever N, which lifts up
the lever and the catch O, fitted or cast on the lever N, and removes the catch
from contact with the stop P which is cast or fitted on the friction arm Q, allowing
the backing-off friction to fall into gear, causing the spindles to back off. The
finger L revolves until it is stopped by the space or cam G coming in contact with
the pinion E, and remains at rest until the strap lever H falls back again; the
catch lever N works on a stud R fitted to the headstock frame, and the shaft M
of the cam wheel works in a bearer S fitted on a bracket T fixed to the headstock
frame; a band U is passed two or three times round the cam wheel shaft, to which
is attached a weight V, which prevents the cam wheel giving more than one turn

page_text: .
until stopped; the chain or band I passes over a friction pulley W, which works on
a stud fitted in a boss Y, cast or fixed on a bracket Z.
For driving with a band or belt instead of a pinion wheel of the headstock. I fit
on the headstock frame a bracket A¹, in which is fitted a stud B', on which is
fitted a worm wheel C', having teeth cut or cast out forming the cam D¹; the worm
wheel is actuated by a worm E¹, fitted on a stud F, which is fitted in a boss G³,
cast on the bracket A¹; on the end of the worm is cast a small pulley H' which is
worked by a band I, and which is actuated by another pulley fitted on a driving
shaft; on the worm wheel stud B' and in front of the worm wheel C¹ is fitted a
finger L which actuates a catch lever N, herein-before described; at the back of
the worm wheel and on the worm wheel stud is fitted a ratchet wheel J', which is
actuated by a pawl K fitted on a pawl lever J; the pawl lever and pawl are
actuated by a band or chain I, which is attached to the pawl lever and to the strap
lever H which actuates the worm wheel, bringing the worm wheel in gear with the
worm when required.
"
Having thus described my improvements, and the best means I am acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
⚫.confine myself to the precise details shewn and described, as they may be varied
without departing. from the peculiar character of the Invention; but what I do
claim is, the general arrangement, construction, and employment of. improved
apparatus, allowing the spindles of self-acting -mules or twiners to come to a
complete stop, and regulating the stoppage at any desired point and at any speed,
substantially as herein-before described and represented by the Drawing, annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Dixon, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
WALTER JAS. TURNER, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
Bradford.
DAVID DIXON. (LS.)