IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OB APPARATUS FOR SPINNING COTTON, WOOL, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Threlfall, of Bolton, in the County of
Lancaster, Machine Maker, and Robert Walker Pitfield, of the same
Place, Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OB APPARATUS FOR SPINNING COTTON, WOOL, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS
MATERIALS."
Sealed the 29th November 1864, and dated the 2nd June 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Threlfall and
Robert Walker Pitfield at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 2nd June 1864.
We, RICHARD THRELFALL, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, Machine
Maker, and ROBERT WALKER PITFIELD, of the same Place, Machinist, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SPINNING COTTON, WOOL, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS
MATERIALS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to mules for spinning, and consists in taking as a
foundation the hand mule, having its separate countershaft and separate pulley
for working the backing-off and winding-on notions, and a pulley on the mill
shaft for working the putting-up motion, and applying to the said hand mules
various improved arrangements of mechanism for the purpose of making
A

page_text: them economical and efficient self-acting mules for spinning any numbers
of yarn.
In order to convert the hand mule taken as a foundation into an efficient
self-actor, we employ, first, a break working in connection with the backing.
off pulley for the purpose of assisting in stopping the mule, and giving a dead
lock to the copping faller. The break pulley is fixed to the main shaft of the
mule head stock, and the break strap is worked for stopping the mule by a
cam or tappet on the bottom twist shaft coming in contact with a lever con-
nected by a rod or rods with the break strap, and for giving the dead lock to
the faller the break strap is worked by a tappet on the shaft which carries the
faller locking lever, which tappet comes in contact with a lever fixed to the
rod which works the break strap when the spinning operations have ceased
and the faller is being pulled down with the backing-off motion strap, there
being a spring for lifting off the break strap when it is not required to press
on the break pulley, and another lever and spring worked by a lever on the
carriage for shifting the backing-off strap.
Secondly, we place the gearing for the double speed upon the headstocks
instead of upon separate countershafts, and cause the changes from single to
double speed, and vice versa, to be made by levers or cams on the bottom
twist shaft acting on cams or tappets and weighted or balanced levers con-
nected by one or more rods to the strap fork, which arrangements are to be
applied to either horizontal or vertical driving. Or instead of fixing the levers
or cams on the bottom twist shaft we fix them on a separate shaft fitted to
bearings in the headstock, and making only one revolution at a time.
Thirdly, we employ certain improvements connected with the drawing out
of the carriage and driving the rollers, for the purpose of giving steadiness to
the motions, and enabling the changes to take place with ease and safety.
The main shaft is connected by gearing with the long drawing-out shaft,
having upon it the drawing out scrolls, and the lever which shifts the clutch
box in and out of gear is worked by long rods extending through the head-
stock, and worked by a double lever, having its motions regulated by the
action of another lever worked by cams or tappets on the bottom twist shaft.
Fourthly, we employ certain improvements connected with the putting up
of the carriage. When the faller lock is brought in its place for locking the
faller a catch is released, which allows a tappet lever to fall and come in contact
with a tumbler lever when the carriage has come out to the head, and the
final twist put into the yarn, and also released the carriage for putting up,
the backing-off strap being moved back to the loose pulley, and at the same

page_text: time a lever and bowl at the other end of the shaft which carries the tappet
lever comes in contact with an incline at the bottom of an upright lever, and
causes an incline at the top of the lever to. come in contact with a projection
on a rod extending the length of the headstock, and shifts the strap from the
loose to the fast putting-up pulley, the strap being put on the loose pulley.
when the carriage has approached the roller beam and acted on a lever con-
nected to the aforesaid long rod. The tappet lever is now raised and held by
its catch by causing a lever on its shaft to come in contact with a bowl or
projection on the floor. The scrolls for putting up are placed loose on the
long back shaft, and to them are fixed a bevil wheel gearing into a bevil
pinion fixed to the shaft of the putting-up pulleys.
Fifthly, we attach certain improvements to the radial arm which is con-
nected by a chain with the winding-on drum. This arm is jointed at the
bottom of the carriage in the usual manner, but we joint near its upper end
one end of an arm or rod jointed at its other end to a stud fixed in a slot in a
standard fixed to the frame of the headstock, which stud can be shifted in the
slot, and bring the radial arm into such a position as to cause the nose of the
cop to be wound tightly on the spindle.
Sixthly, we employ an additional fast and loose pulley to the main shaft of
the headstock, and connect the shaft by gearing to the twist pulley, for the
purpose of assisting the winding of the yarn on the spindles whilst the carriage
is being put up. The strap is moved on to the fast pulley when the carriage
has come out to the head, and the final twist put in by causing a bowl or pro--
jection on the front of the carriage to come in contact with one end of a lever;
the other end of which acts as a sliding bar and weighted lever connected by
a sliding rod to the strap fork. The return movements for putting the strap
on the loose pulley being caused by the faller shaft coming in contact with a.
projecting leg fixed to the sliding rod.
Seventhly, we employ an improved receding motion for causing the carriage
to recede a short distance towards the roller beam as the final spinning is
being completed; on the bottom twist shaft we fix a cam or tappet, which.
comes in contact with an upright lever jointed to a rod passing through-the-
framing of the headstock, and connected at the other end to a leg which acts
against the faller shaft and moves the carriage the required distance.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Threlfall and Robert Walker Pitfield in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 2nd December 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, RICHARD
THRELFALL, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, Machine Maker, and
ROBERT WALKER PITFIELD, of the same Place, Machinist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said Richard Threlfall and Robert Walker Pitfield, Her special license
that we, the said Richard Threlfall and Robert Walker Pitfield, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Richard Threlfall
and Robert Walker Pitfield, 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 "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SPINNING COTTON, WOOL, FLAX,
AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we,
the said Richard Threlfall and Robert Walker Pitfield, 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 Richard Threlfall and Robert Walker
Pitfield, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to mules for spinning, and consists in taking as a
foundation the hand mule, having its separate countershaft and separate
pulley for working the backing-off and winding-on motions, and a pulley on
the mill shaft for working the putting-up motion, and applying to the said
hand mules various improved arrangements of mechanism for the purpose of
making them economical and efficient self-acting mules for spinning any
numbers of yarn.

page_text: In order to convert the hand mule taken as a foundation into an efficient
self-actor, we employ, first, a break working in connection with the backing-
off pulley, for the purpose of assisting in stopping the mule and giving a dead
lock to the copping faller. The break pulley is fixed to the main shaft of the
mule headstock, and the break strap is worked for stopping the mule by a
cam or tappet on the bottom twist shaft coming in contact with a lever con-
nected by a rod or rods with the break strap, and for giving the dead lock to
the faller. The break strap is worked by a tappet on the shaft which carries
the faller locking lever, which-tappet comes in contact with a lever fixed to
the rod which works the break strap when the spinning operations have
ceased and the faller is being pulled down by the action of the backing-off
motion strap and backing-off chain, there being a spring for lifting off the
break strap when it is not required to press on the break pulley, and another
lever and spring worked by a lever on the carriage for shifting the backing-
off strap.
Secondly, we place the gearing for the double or other increased speed
upon the headstock instead of upon separate countershafts, and cause the
changes from single to double or increased speed, and vice versa, to be made
by levers or cams on the bottom twist shaft acting on cams or tappets and
weighted levers connected by one or more rods to the strap fork, which
arrangements are to be applied to either horizontal or vertical driving. Or
instead of fixing the levers or cams on the bottom twist shaft we fix them on
a separate shaft fitted to bearings in the headstock, and making only one
revolution during the time the carriage is being drawn out and put up.
Thirdly, we employ certain improvements connected with the drawing out
of the carriage and driving the rollers, for the purpose of giving steadiness to
the motions, and enabling the changes to take place with ease and safety.
The main shaft is connected by gearing with the long back drawing-out shaft,
having upon it the drawing-out scrolls, and the lever which shifts the clutch box
in and out of gear is worked by long rods extending through the headstock,
and worked by a double lever, having its motions regulated by the action of
another lever worked by cams or tappets on the bottom twist shaft.
Fourthly, we employ certain improvements connected with the putting up
of the carriage. When the faller lock is brought in its place for locking the
faller a catch is released, which allows a tappet lever to fall and come in.
contact with a tumbler lever and releases the carriage for putting up, the
backing-off strap being moved back to the loose pulley, and at the same a
lever and bowl at the other end. of the shaft which carries the tappet lever

page_text: comes in contact with an incline on the bottom of an upright lever, and
causes an incline at the top of the lever to come in contact with a projection
on a rod extending the length of the headstock, and shifts the strap from the
loose to the fast putting-up pulley, the strap being put on the loose pulley
when the carriage has approached the roller-beam and acted on a lever con-
nected to the aforesaid long rod. The tappet lever is now raised and held by
its catch, by causing a lever on its shaft to come in-contact with a bowl or
projection on the floor. The scrolls for putting up are placed loose on the
long back drawing-out shaft, and to them is fixed a bevil wheel gearing into
a bevil pinion fixed to the shaft of the putting-up pulleys.
Fifthly, we attach an improvement to the radial arm which is connected by
a chain with the winding-on drum. This arm is jointed at the bottom of the
carriage in the usual manner, but we joint near its upper end one end of an
arm or rod, jointed at its other end to a stud fixed in a slot in a standard fixed
to the frame of the headstock, which stud can be shifted in the slot, and bring
the radial arın into such a position as to cause the nose of the cop to be wound
tightly on the spindle.
Sixthly, we employ an additional fast and. loose pulley on the main shaft of
the headstock, for the purpose of assisting the winding of the yarn on the
spindles whilst the carriage is being put up, similar to those described in the
Specification of an Invention for which Provisional Protection was granted to
Richard Threlfall, one of the parties to the present Patent, dated the First
day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty,
No. 1349. We connect the shaft by gearing to the twist pulley, and cause
the strap to be moved to and fro by the following improved arrangements:-
The said strap is moved on to the fast-pulley after the final twist and backing
off is completed, by causing a bowl or projection on the front of the earriage
to come in contact with one end of a lever, the other end of which acts on a
sliding bar and weighted lever connected by a sliding rod to the strap fork.
the return movements for putting the strap on the loose pulley being caused
by the faller shaft coming in contact with a projecting leg fixed to the
sliding rod.
Seventhly, we employ a receding motion for causing the carriage to recede
a short distance towards the roller beam as the final spinning is being com-
pleted. On the bottom twist shaft we fix a cam or tappet, which comes in
contact with an upright lever jointed to a rod passing through the framing of
the headstock, and connected at the other end to a leg which acts against the
faller shaft, and moves the carriage the required distance.

page_text: This Invention will be clearly understood by the following more particular
description thereof, reference being had to the figures and letters on the
accompanying five Sheets of Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of one
side of the headstock and carriage of our improved self-acting mule. Fig. 2,
a plan of part of the same. Fig. 3, an elevation of the framework and some
of the parts of the other side of the headstock. Fig. 4, a front elevation of the
headstock, and Fig. 5, a longitudinal section of the headstock shewing some of
the internal parts.
a, represents the main frame of the headstock; b, the main driving shaft
of the machine; c, d, e, the driving and loose pulleys; f, g, h, i, the gear-
ing for giving increased speed to the spindles; j, k, the pulleys for the
backing off motion; l, m, the pulleys for assisting in winding the yarn on the
spindles; n, the twist pulleys; o, the bevil gear for turning them; p, the long
back drawing out shaft; q, the drawing out scrolls; r, the carriage; s, the
rollers; t, the spindles; and u, the tin roller for driving them. Many of the
parts before-mentioned are similar to those in ordinary use, and therefore
need no particular description, and all those parts of the complete mule which
are not enumerated and described in the Specification are made in any
well known manner.
Our improved break for assisting in stopping the mule and giving a dead
lock to the copping faller is shewn in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The break pulley is
marked a¹, it is fixed to the main shaft 6 of the mule headstock, and the break
strap bis jointed at one end to a stationary bracket, and at the other end to
the arm c', Figs. 1 and 2 of an L lever, the other arm d¹ of which is jointed
to the rod e', connected at its other end to the lever f, a projection from which
can be acted upon by the cam or tappet g¹ on the bottom twist shaft h', so
that the cam in its revolution shall push back the lever and tighten the break
strap on the break pulley and stop the mule previous to the backing off, the
bottom twist shaft being worked by gearing and worm wheel by the worm k',
on the main shaft. To the lever f' is also jointed the rod l, which passes
through a hole in the front of the frame and is connected to the arm or lever
m', having at the bottom an incline n', which is pushed by the tappet o¹ on
the shaft p', which carries the faller locking lever q', , so as to tighten the break
strap when the spinning operations have ceased and the faller is being pulled
down by the backing-off motion chain, there being a weight or spring r, for
lifting off the break strap when it is not required to press on the break.pulley.
The gearing for the double or increased speed of the spindle is shewn in Figs.
1 and 2, it is all placed on the horizontal headstock instead of employing a

page_text: separate countershaft, and the changes from the single to the increased speed
are effected in the following manner :-The pulleye is loose on the main shaft,
and is connected by a long boss or socket with the toothed wheel f, gearing
into the toothed wheel 9 on the shaft working in bearings s¹ fixed to the
headstock, which shaft also carries the toothed wheel h gearing into the
toothed wheel i fixed to the main shaft b, so that when the strap t¹ is on the
pulley e, revolving motion is given to the main shaft corresponding with the
diameters of the toothed wheels. The strap fork for shifting the driving strap
on to one or other of the pulleys c, d, e, is fixed to the rod u', formed at its
front end as a rectangular bar, which works in a guide, and has in it three
notches v¹, w, ¹. The rod u¹ is linked to the weighted lever y¹ working in
connection with a heavier weighted lever ', having a stud a' on which is
jointed a vertical bar 62 working in a guide in the frame and carrying a bracket
which is in contact with the cam fixed to the bottom twist shaft h', a
lengthened portion of the stud being used for pressing down the lever y', when
required. Above the rectangular bar there is an L lever having a weighted
horizontal arm d², mounted with a plate of such form and size that it can
enter the notches in the bar and maintain the strap in its right position on one
or other of the pulleys c, d, e, and the vertical arm f³ of the L lever is jointed
to the rod g³, having at its front end an incline working in a slot in the front
of the headstock, and the arm f2 is also jointed to the bar h³, having its back
end linked to a lever k, and to the rod 9 is fixed a catch / which can be
caught by a projection m³ on the carriage. At the back of the vertical arm
there is a projection n³, Fig. 2, which is acted upon by a cam o', on the bottom
twist shaft h', so that when required the cam in its revolution shall raise the
weighted horizontal arm d³, and plate e³, connected to it. When the carriage
is coming out the rod u', and strap fork p', Figs 1 and 2, are in their most
backward positions for keeping the strap t¹ on the fast pulley c, and the plate
e is in the notch v', the said pulley causing the carriage to be drawn out at
its roving or quick speed and turning the rollers and spindles, but when the
rollers have to be stopped and the spindles driven at their increased speed and
the drawing out of the carriage retarded, the strap has to be shifted to the pulley
e connected with the gearing, which operation is performed as follows:-The
projection m³, on the carriage pulls by means of the catch ³, the rod and bar
g³, h³, and arm f³, and raises the arm d³, and shifts the plate &, out of the notch
v', thereby enabling the weighted end of the lever y', to fall and bring forward
the rod u', until the plate falls into the notch x, and the strap t', is on the
pulley e, the incline at the front of the rod g at the same time raising the

page_text: catch 1, so as to clear the projection m², and thereby prevent no more motion
being given to the L lever than is required. When the mule has to be stopped
previous to the backing off, the strap t' has to be shifted to the loose pulley d.
The handle end of the weighted lever y¹ is now in its highest position in con-
tact with the stud as on the weighted lever 21, which lever had been previously
raised to its highest position by the cam c, but is now released from the cam
and only held by the stud a², which is prevented from falling by the plate e*
being in the notch. At the exact time that the stopping should take place,
the cam o, Fig. 2, presses the projection n³, and raises the horizontal arm d³,
Figs. 1 and 2, and moves the plate e out of the notch a¹, and allows the
heavier lever to press down the lever y', and move back the rod u' until
the plate bas entered the middle notch w¹, and the strap t' is on the
loose pulley d, and the mule stopped, and when after the operations of backing
off and winding on the carriage has been put up, the projection p upon it has
pressed the tail end of the lever k, and brought forward its top end, and with
it the bar h², so as again to act upon the L lever, and release the plate e² from
the middle notch, and allow the lever z¹ to press the lever y' further down
and move back the rod u¹ until the plate e' has entered the notch v', and thus
placed the strap t' on the fast pulley c, for repeating the operations of drawing
out the carriage and turning the rollers and spindles.
Our improvements connected with the drawing out of the carriage and
driving the rollers and spindles are shewn in Figs. 1 and 4. At the back end
of the main shaft is fixed the spur wheel q, for giving motion by the gearing
to the shaft s², having a bevil wheel t* gearing into a bevil wheel u² fixed to
the roller shaft s, there being a clutch box for placing the bevil wheel out
of gear when the rollers have to be stopped, and on the shaft are fixed the
two spur wheels w³, a, the wheel w communicating by the gearing y² with
the wheel loose on the shaft a³, and the wheel a communicating by the
gearing with another wheel loose on the shaft a³, and between the two
wheels 2, 3, there is a clutch box d. At the inner end of the shaft a³ there
is a bevil pinion gearing into the bevil wheel f, fixed to the long back
drawing out shaft p, having upon it the drawing out scrolls q. The clutch
box d³, between the two wheels 22, c³, is worked by a clutch lever g³, con-
nected to the long sliding rod h³, which extends through the headstock and is
jointed at its front end to the weighted double lever, shewn clearly in Fig. 5,
fixed to the shaft k³, which lever has its motions regulated by another weighted
double lever, the weighted end of which is raised by a cam m³ on the bottom
twist shaft h', and so maintained until it is required to fall by causing the

page_text: 1.
bottom end of the two legs n³, o³, jointed to the lever to rest upon the shaft
Below the sliding rod there is a long lever p³, having at the back end
a weight g³, and near the front end two notches, 3, the notch s being wider
than the other. To the said long lever is fixed a projection t³, against which
the projection u³ on the carriage comes in contact and depresses that side of
the lever, when the carriage has to be changed from the roving or quick to
the stretching or slow speed, and at the same time the rollers are stopped by
the motion of the rod v³, connected at one end to the clutch lever w³, and at
the other end to the double lever . In the lower end of the double lever 2³
there is a stud a which can enter the notches r, s, and at the back of the
lever there is a spring y³, Fig. 5, the positions of the parts shewn in the
Figures corresponding with the coming out of the carriage before the change
of speed has to be made, the stud being in the front notch 3, in the long
lever p³, and the weighted arm of the lever held up by the leg n³ resting on
the shaft, the bottom of the other leg o³ being a short distance above the
shaft, the weighted arm of the lever at the same time being capable of
falling a certain distance when the leg n³ is removed from the shaft ³, in
consequence of the bowl at the other end of the lever being free of the cam
m. When the first change has to be made, the projection us on the carriage
presses against the projection t, and depresses the notched end of the lever
p³, so as to remove the front notch 3 from the stud ³, and allow the weight
a' and spring y³ to force back the bottom of the lever 1, and also the rod h³,
and shift the clutch lever g', and gear the clutch box d with the wheel of
the slow gearing, the clutch box for the rollers being also shifted at the
same time by the rod jointed to the upper part of the lever and to the
clutch lever w³, and when the two projections us, t³, are clear of each other,
the weight g³ raises the notched end of the long lever p³, and places the back
edge of the wider notch in contact with the stud a³, until the spinning
operations have ceased, and then the projection 6 on the carriage comes in
contact with the tail of the leg n³, and removes the leg from the shaft k³, the
effect of which is to allow the weighted lever to act upon the arm c¹, and
bring forward the bottom of the lever and rod h³, until the stud a is against
the front edge of the notch s³, and the clutch box d³ shifted out of gear with
both of the wheels 22, c. As the bottom twist shaft h' revolves it places the
cam m³ entirely free of the bowl on the lever 13, and when the carriage is
nearly put up, a projection d', Fig. 5, upon it comes in contact with the arm
e of a double lever working on a fixed stud, the other arm of which raises
that end of the long lever p³, and depresses the notched end, removing the

page_text: notch from the stud a, and at the same time the faller shaft 9', Fig. 1,
presses against the upright finger ', fixed to the rod i, jointed to the leg o³,
so that when the carriage is put up, the leg is removed from the shaft k³, and
allows the weighted lever to press down the arm c', and bring forward the
bottom of the lever 3 and rod h³, and shift the clutch box din gear with the
wheel of the roving or quick speed, the stud as entering the front notch 1³,
when the notched end of the long lever rises by the effect of the weight q³,
when the pressure is removed from the weighted end.
Our improvements connected with the putting up of the carriage are shewn
in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4. To the shaft k, in front of the carriage, is fixed
an L-lever, having a vertical arm l, and a horizontal arm m'. To the vertical
arm is fixed a stud n, with which a entch lever o*, jointed on a stationary
stud comes in contact so as to hold the L-lever and shaft when the faller is
not locked. The catch lever is connected by a rod p with the lever q', fixed
to the shaft p', which carries the faller locking lever q', and the lever q* has at
the back a bowl partly encircled by the chain connected to the sector on the
copping faller shaft and the backing-off scroll, and at the front end of the
lever there is another bowl s'. When the carriage is coming out to the
head the front end of the lever q* raises the curved arm tt, Fig. 1, of an
L-lever, the other arm of which is attached by a strong spring * to the
lever w', connected to one end of the rod a, jointed at its other end to the
lever y', having at the top the strap fork for the backing-off pulleys, and to
the rod is fixed a projection a', which can be held in a notch in the arm b³ of
a double lever, the other arm being so placed that it can be acted upon by
a tappet d³ on the bottom twist shaft h'. When the carriage has come out to
the head and the final twist put into the yarn, the stude on the carriage is
in the notch of the tumbler lever f³, and the lever q has raised the curved
arm t' of the L-lever to its highest position, and stretched the springs v
and g' so that when the tappet d' on the bottom twist shaft has raised the
notch from the projection as on the rod a', the spring or weight pulls the
lever w, and moves the rod x and lever y', and places the strap. on the fast
pulley for backing off. When the backing-off is completed the catch
lever o is released from the stud n' on the vertical arm 1, and allows the
shaft p¹ to turn and bring down the tappet o¹, the lever and bowl q* and s',
and also the faller locking lever q¹, and at the same time allow the shaft k' to
turn and bring down the horizontal arm m³. The curved arm t* is now
brought down by the spring 95 or by a weight, and acting on the front of the
lever q', assists in turning the shaft p² with force so as to cause. the bowl s' to

page_text: strike the incline h³ on the lever, a projection k³ on which comes in
contact with and gives reverse movement to the lever w', the rod at, the
lever y', and the strap fork 2*, and places the strap on the loose pulley of the
backing-off motion. At the same time that the carriage is released from the
tumbler lever f by the falling of the horizontal arm m', a bowl on the lever
mo, Fig. 8, fixed to the other end of the shaft k*, comes in contact with an
incline n³ on the bottom of the lever o³, and causes a projection at the top of
the lever to come in contact with the projection p on the rod q³, which extends
the length of the headstock, and carries at its back end the strap fork, the
effect of which is to shift the strap from the loose pulleys to the fast putting-
up pulley t, fixed to a short shaft us, there being at the front of the rod q³ an
incline for enabling the projections to clear each other when sufficient motion
has been given to the rod to shift the strap, and at the front of the rod there
is a handle and holder w, which holder, when placed as shewn by the dotted
lines enables the operative to prevent the putting up when ends of yarn have
to be pieced or any other required operation to be performed. On a stud
fixed to the framework there is a lever having three arms, the arm being
jointed to the rod q³, the arm y extending below and the arm 25 carrying a
weight and stud a, which stud enters a recess 6° in the lever co, fixed to the
shaft of the clutch lever g³ so as to hold the clutch lever steady and maintain
the clutch box d³ out of gear of both the wheels 2 and when the carriage
is being put up. When the carriage has approached the roller beam the
lower arm y has been pushed back by a projection d on the carriage, and
the arm moved forwards so as to shift the rod q* and strap fork, and place
the strap on the loose pulley s³, and the arm is raised up to remove the
stud from the notch in the lever for the purpose of liberating the clutch
lever g' and enabling the clutch box d³ to be geared with the wheel c³, and at
the same time the shaft, Figs. 1 and 8, is turned back in order to raise the
horizontal arm m, and allow the vertical arm 1 to be held by the catch
lever o, by the back of the lever m³ coming in contact with a bowl or pro-
jection on the floor. The scrolls fo, Figs. 2 and 3, for putting up are
placed loose on the long back shaft p, and to them is fixed a bevil wheel go
gearing into a bevil pinion he, fixed to the shaft w, to which the putting-up
pulley t is fixed, which pulley is driven by a strap from a pulley fixed on the
horizontal mill shaft.
Our improvements attached to the radial arm which is connected by a
chain with the winding-on drum, is shewn in Fig. 8, and consist in jointing
near the upper end of the radial arm k one end of an arm or rod le, jointed

page_text: at its other end to a stud mo, fixed in a slot in the standard no, fixed to the
ramo of the headstock, which stud can be shifted in the slot so as to enable
he arm or rod to bring the radial arm into such a position as to cause the
ose of the cop to be wound tightly on the spindle.
Our improvements connected with the pulleys for assisting in winding the
yarn on the spindles are shewn in Figs. 1 and 8. On the main shaft are
placed the fast and loose pulleys l, m, connected by the strap 06 with a pulley
on the countershaft p°, working above the headstock. The main shaft b is.
connected by the gearing o with the twist pulleys n, and the strap 0° is shifted
from the loose to the fast winding-on pulley at the same time that the putting-
up strap is shifted to the fast putting-up pulley, the bowl on the lever m³ and
the lever o assisting in performing both operations. At the outside of the
lever o there is a curve or incline which can come in contact with a projection
on the sliding bar qº, connected to the bottom of the weighted lever r³, the top
of which is jointed to the rod so, carrying at the other end the strap fork to,
so that when the bowl moves the lever o, the curve or incline at the top.
presses against the projection and moves the sliding bar lever and rod, and
shifts the strap 0° to the fast pulley 1, the incline at the front of the sliding
bar q preventing too much movement from being given to the bar and strap
fork, the return movement for putting the strap on the loose pulley being.
caused by the faller shaft coming in contact with the projecting leg u fixed to
the rod so.
The receding motion for causing, when required, the carriage to recede a
short distance towards the roller beam as the final spinning is being com-
pleted, is shewn in Fig. 3. On the bottom twist shaft h¹ we fix a cam or
tappet ve, which comes in contact with the upright lever w, working on a
stationary stud, and jointed at the bottom to the rod 6, the front end of which
passes through a hole in the front of the frame, and the rod is fixed to the
projecting leg y, so placed that it can come in contact with the faller shaft.
The cam or tappet is made of any desired radius according to the length of
the receding required, and in its revolution it pushes back the upright lever
and rod and causes the leg to pull back the carriage the receding distance
required. When the ends of the yarn from the spools or bobbins are passed
between the rollers and attached to their respective spindles, and it is desired
to set the mule to work, the operative, when necessary, depresses the notched
end of the long lever p³ and raises the weighted arm of the double lever 13,
and then allows the notched end of the long lever p³ to rise for the purpose of
placing the stud in the front notch r³, and putting the clutch box d³ in

page_text: gear with the wheel of the roving or quick speed; after which he depresses
the handle end of the weighted lever y¹, thereby moving back the strap rod
and placing the strap t¹ on the fast pulley c, the bracket of the other
weighted lever z¹ resting on the cam c on the bottom twist shaft . The
mule is now at work bringing out the carriage and turning the rollers and
spindles, the bottom twist shaft and cams upon it revolving at the same time.
The cam c² in its revolution raises the weighted lever ' to its highest posi-
tion, and the cam m³ raises the weighted arm of the lever 1. When the
rollers have to be stopped and the speed of the spindles increased, and
the speed of the carriage reduced, the projection m² on the carriage brings
forward the catch 12, and the rod 9', and the plate on the L lever is
raised from the notch v', so as to release the weighted lever y' and allow its
weighted end to fall and bring forward the strap rod u¹.until the plate enters
the back notch x¹, and the strap t¹ is on the pulley e connected with the
gearing; the stud a³ coming in contact with the weighted lever 21, and at the
same instant the projection u³ presses down the notched end of the long lever,
so that the weight a' and spring y³ shall move back the lower arm of the
lever is and rod h³ connected to it, and shift the clutch box d³ in gear with the
wheel z for giving the stretching or slow speed to the carriage, the upper
arm of the lever at the same time bringing forward the rod v³ and shifting the
clutch-box v' out of gear and stopping the rollers. When the carriage has
come out to the head and the final twist been put in the yarn, the stud es on
the carriage has depressed the tumbler lever f' and entered the notch, and
the lever q' on the shaft p' has raised the curved arm t' of the L lever and
brought forward its other arm, and if the carriage has to be receded when
extra twist is to be given to the yarn, the receding motion takes back the
carriage until the stud es is in contact with the back of the notch in the
tumbler lever. At the time the spinning is completed the cam o, Fig. 2, on
the bottom twist shaft acts on the arm f of the L lever and removes the
plate e from the notch a¹, thereby enabling the heavier lever z¹ to bring down
the handle arm of the lever y¹, and move back the strap rod u¹ until the
plate e¹ enters the middle notch w' and the strap t' is on the loose pulley d,
the cam g' at the same time acting on the lever f¹ for moving the rod e¹ and
arms c, d, of the L lever, and tightening the break strap on the break pulley,
and the projection 6* removes the leg n³ from the shaft k³ for enabling the
weighted lever l³ to press the arm c* of the lever i³ and force back the rod h³ to
bring the clutch box d³ out of gear midway between the two wheels =³ and c³.
The catch lever o' is now raised from the stud n' on the vertical arm land

page_text: released the two shafts p¹ and k', the front of the lever q* descending, and
with it the curved arm t* of the L lever communicating with the backing off
strap, and at the same instant the cam or tappet ds on the bottom twist
shaft releases the projection as on the rod a' from the notch in the arm b³,
thereby enabling the spring v to move the lever w', rod x', and lever y', and
place the backing-off-motion strap on the fast pulley k. The backing-off is
completed in a moment, and in that moment the two shafts p¹ and k* are
turning still farther, so that at the completion of the backing-off the tappet o
shall press against the incline n¹ on the lever m¹ connected to the rod l' and
tighten the break strap 6' on the break pulley a¹ and the bowl s' act on the
incline on the lever is for shifting the backing-off strap from the fast to the
loose pulley, and the bowl on the lever m", Fig. 3, acts on the incline n³ at
the bottom of the lever o for placing the putting-up strap on to the fast
pulley of the putting-up motion, and also the strap 0° on the fast pulley 7 for
assisting the radial arm in winding the yarn on the spindles. As the putting-
up strap is moving to the fast putting-up pulley the stud on the arm 2 enters
the recess 6 in the lever and prevents the clutch lever g³ and clutch box d³
from shifting during the putting up; and when the yarn has been wound. on
the spindles and the carriage approached the roller beam the following opera
tions take place simultaneously:-The projection de presses the arm y³ and
gives reverse motion to the rod q' and shifts the putting up strap on to the
loose pulley s; the faller shaft g* presses against the projection u and shifts
the assistant winding-on strap o to the loose pulley m; the projection d* on
the carriage acts on the arm e* of the double lever and depresses the notched
end of the long lever p³; the faller shaft presses against the upright finger h*
and pulls the leg o³ from the shaft ³ for enabling the weighted lever 13 to bring
forward the lower end of the lever is and shift the clutch box d³ in with
gear
the wheel c³ of the roving or quick speed of the carriage, the clutch box v
being put in gear for driving the rollers at the same time; the bowl e" on tlie
floor raises the lever m on the shaft k and enables the stud n' on the vertical
arin' to be caught by the catch lever o, the shaft which carries the faller-
locking lever being turned back by the unlocking of the faller; the projec-
tion på on the carriage presses the tail of the lever and removes the plate e
from the notch and allows the weighted lever z¹ to act upon the other weighted
lever y and shift the driving strap t¹ from the loose pulley d to the fast
pulley c, and thus the mule is again at work drawing out the carriage atid
turning the rollers and spindles. The frame a of the headstock, the main
shaft b, the driving and loose pulleys c, d, e, the lacking-off pulleys j, k, the

page_text: winding-on pulleys l, m, the gearing f, g, h, i, for the double or increased speed,
the bottom twist shaft h' and several of its cams, the worm and gearing for
working the said bottom twist shaft, the gearing o and twist pulleys n, the
weighted levers y, z, the double-weighted levers 3, 15, the strap rod u' with
three notches, the L lever and plate for releasing the said strap rod, the
sliding bars h³, v³, the long lever p³, the gearing for the different speeds of
the carriage, the long back drawing-out shaft and scrolls, the putting-up scrolls,
the radial arm and parts connected with it, the strap rod and levers for shifting
the backing-off strap, the bars and levers for shifting the assistant winding-on
strap, the rod and lever for shifting the putting-up strap, and also the receding
motion, have all been in use in a description of hand-mule manufactured by
Richard Threlfall, one of the parties to the present Patent, but they have
never been applied to a mule in which all the movements are self-acting, and
our improvements connected to or combined with them enable the hand-mule,
taken as a foundation, to be converted into a self-actor capable of spinning the
finest numbers of yarn, either for warp or weft, equally or even more efficiently
than the hand mule.
Having now described the nature and particulars of our said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, we desire it to be under-
stood that we claim as our Invention, and which to the best of our knowledge
and belief has not been hitherto used within the realm :-
First, the break and parts connected to it worked by a cam on the bottom
twist shaft for acting in conjunction with the loose pulley d on the main shaft
for instantly stopping the mule previous to the backing-off, and also the parts
for working the break after the backing-off and giving a dead lock to the
copping faller.
Secondly, the two shafts p¹, k, at the front of the carriage, and the tappets,
levers, and bowls connected to them, and also the catch lever o' worked by a
chain connected to the sector on the faller shaft and to the scroll of the
backing-off motion.
Thirdly, the L lever having a curved arm t* and vertical arm u', and the
springs or weights connected to them for shifting the backing-off strap to the
fast pulley k, and also the lever i for shifting the strap to the loose pulley by
the descent of the lever and bowl q', st.
Fourthly, the lever and bowl m³, upright lever o, and parts connected with
them for shifting the putting-up strap and assistant winding-on strap on to
their respective fast pulleys, and also the handle and holder for preventing
the putting-up when required.

page_text: Fifthly, the additional arm or rod l jointed at one end to the radial arm for
enabling the nose of the cop to be wound tightly on the spindle.
And, sixthly, the combination and application of the parts named in the
foregoing claims with the weighted levers, the double levers, the bottom-twist
shaft, and all those parts before described as common to the hand-mule
hitherto manufactured by Richard Threlfall, one of the parties to the present
Patent; as all such improvements are herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying Five Sheets of Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Richard Threlfall and Robert Walker
Pitfield, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this First day of
December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-four.
(L.B.)
RICHARD THRELFALL.
ROBERT WALKER PITFIELD. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named Richard Threlfall
and Robert Walker Pitfield, in
the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.