IMPROVEMENTS IN SPINNING MULES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Brown, Woollen Cord Manufacturer, and Ham
Woodcock, Spinner, both of Huddersfield, in the County of York, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPINNING MULES."
Sealed the 24th April 1877, and dated the 25th October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Brown and Ham
Woodcock at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th October
1876.
JOHN BROWN, Woollen Cord Manufacturer, and HAM WOODCOCK, Spinner, both
of Huddersfield, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPINNING MULES."
Mules for spinning fibres as heretofore constructed are defective by reason of
variation of the relative speed of the "drawing rollers" and the speed or motion of
the "carriage."
The object of this Invention is, by utilizing the motion of the carriage as a first
mover or driver of the rollers, to adjust the relative speed of both rollers and
carriage, so that from whatever cause and to whatever degree the motion of the
carriage is effected and varied a like variation will be transmitted to the rollers
and the latter can be continued in operation during the whole or any part of the
traverse of the carriage.
A means of effecting the above object comprises a chain wheel mounted near the
"head end" of the "headstock;" this wheel is by gear wheels connected with the
pinion or other wheel on the axis of the shaft of the drawing rollers; there is a
second chain wheel mounted near the "tail end" of the headstock, and an endless
driving chain is passed over the two chain wheels. A finger or arm attached to the
carriage operates the chain wheels, gearing, and rollers (referred to) during the
outward run of the carriage. When the carriage has completed its outward traverse,
the finger or aim is unlocked or disengaged from the driving chain and the carriage
then makes the "in" or home traverse, but on nearing the drawing rollers the
finger or arm again engages with the driving chain so as to permit the the rollers to
give the necessary amount of fibre or sliver for the next outward traverse of the
carriage.
The connecting and disconnecting or locking and unlocking the finger or arm with
the driving chain is effected by brackets, projections, or catch pieces connected with
the headstock of the machine.

page_text: The regulating the relative speed of roller and carriage as above described enables
finer superior yarn to be produced; there is less breakage and waste, and so more
yarn produced in a given time.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Brown and Ham Woodcock in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 25th April 1877.
JOHN BROWN, Woollen Cord Manufacturer, and HAM WOODCOCK, Spinner, both
of Huddersfield, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPINNING MULES."
Mules for spinning fibres as heretofore constructed are defective by reason of
variation of the relative speed of the "drawing rolllers" and the speed or motion of
the "
carriage.
The object of this Invention is, by utilizing the motion of the carriage as a first
mover or driver of the rollers, to adjust the relative speed of both rollers and
carriage, so that from whatever cause and to whatever degree the motion of the
carriage is effected and varied a like variation will be transmitted to the rollers,
and the latter can be continued in operation during the whole or any part of the
traverse of the carriage.
A means of effecting the above object comprises a chain wheel mounted near the
"head end" of the "headstock; " this wheel is by gear wheels connected with the
pinion or other wheel on the axis of the shaft of the drawing rollers. There is a
second chain wheel mounted near the "tail end" of the headstock and an endless
driving chain is passed over the two chain wheels. A finger or arm attached to
the carriage operates the chain wheels, gearing, and rollers (referred to) during the
outward run of the carriage. When the carriage has completed its outward traverse
the finger or arm is unlocked or disengaged from the driving chain and the carriage
then makes the "in" or home traverse, but on nearing the drawing rollers the
finger or arm again engages with the driving chain so as to permit the rollers to
give the necessary amount of fibre or sliver to prevent "twitting" or imperfections
in the yarn on starting for the next outward traverse of the carriage.
The connecting and disconnecting or locking and unlocking the finger or arm
with the driving chain is effected by brackets, projections, or catch pieces connected
with the headstock of the machine.
The regulating the relative speed of roller and carriage as above described enables
finer and superior yarn to be produced; there is less breakage and waste, and so
more yarn produced in a given time.
Such being the nature and object of this our said Invention, we will now proceed
to describe the particulars thereof, and in order that the Invention may be fully
understood we have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of part of a spinning mule having our improvements
attached. Fig. 2, plan of gearing. Figs. 3 and 4, parts detached.
At A is shewn a chain wheel mounted near the "head end" of the headstock B.
The wheel A is by gear wheels connected with the pinion or other wheel D¹ on the

page_text: The connecting and disconnecting or locking and unlocking the finger or arm J¹
with the driving chain H is effected by brackets, projections, or catch pieces
connected with the headstock of the machine as follows:-When the carriage is
completing its outward traverse, the runner L ascends the incline and arm M of the
tail end F, so the catch piece J' is lifted clear of or out of gear with the chain H,
being held in such raised position by the catch P, the carriage is now free to run
"in;" on nearing home the catch P will be knocked off by contact with the finger
and incline S, the spiral spring T drawing the catch piece J¹ downwards into gear
with the chain ready for the outward run of the carriage.
In lieu of apparatus for engaging and disengaging the chain H or finger J¹
with the chain H for the purpose of causing the drawing rollers C to give off
sufficient fibre to prevent (on starting the carriage for outward run) "twitting" or
imperfection in the yarn, we employ a pusher W attached to the carriage K which
acts upon and moves inwards the lever W. The pawl or catch W2 connected
therewith operates the ratchet and gear wheels W³, W, W5, W6, W7, so turning
the axle C of the drawing rollers and giving the necessary supply of fibre, the
lever W being returned to its original position by means of the elastic or spring Y.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of this our Invention, we
would have it understood that we lay no claim to any of the parts referred to when
considered separately; what we claim is, the use of apparatus (operated by the
moving carriage) for adjusting the speed of the drawing rollers of mules for spinning,
substantially as herein described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ham Woodcock, for and on behalf of myself
and the said John Brown, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-
first day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-seven.
Witness,
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Patent Agent,
Halifax & Blackburn.
HAM WOODCOCK. (L.S.)