IMPROVEMENTS IN SLUBBING, SPINNING, TWISTING, AND DOUBLING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1844

page_text: SMITH, of Queen's Square, Westminster, Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-fourth day of February, in the seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Smith, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and autho-
rity, that I, the said James Smith, my exors, adñmors, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said James Smith, my exors, admors, 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 England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SLUBBING, SPINNING, TWISTING,
AND DOUBLING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES; " in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said James Sinith, sball cause a
particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Smith, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon. that is to say:-

page_text: My Invention consists of improvements in self-acting mules, and relates,
first, to arranging the twist-driving pulleys and the twist pulley on the mangle-
wheel shaft, and also placing the friction or differential box, when it is used
for obtaining the winding-on motion, on the same shaft, by which means such
parts are brought within less space than heretofore, and fewer fixtures are
required.
Secondly, my Invention relates to applying the guide pulleys of the twist
band in such manner that they may move to and fro with the mule carriage
in place of their remaining stationary, thereby relieving the wheel house from
the presence of the band and of the pulley and its fixture.
Thirdly, my Invention relates to an improvement in the construction of the
mangle wheel employed for moving the mule carriage, whereby a greater
length of dead run may be obtained in order to allow of greater time for
backing off or for stripping, and at the same time affording the means for the
mule carriage to start more gradually in its inward motion, and whereby I am
enabled to perform the operation of backing off with great certainty, whilst at
the same time the other operations of the mule may be quickened.
Fourthly, when the varying movement of the faller is regulated by the
copping apparatus, the Invention relates to making a direct communication
from the faller to the backing off, whereby the faller becomes the leader to
the backing off, thus causing the movement of the backing off to be at all
times in perfect unison with the faller. And,
Fifthly, my Invention relates to certain modes of obtaining the requisite
varying motion for winding on by means of friction bands and pulleys.
And in order that the Invention may be most fully understood, and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me.
The construction of self-acting mules, and their modes of working, when
for slubbing, spinning, twisting, and doubling cotton and other fibrous sub-
stances, being well known, it will not be necessary to enter into a general
description thereof, the improvements in machinery herein described being
applicable to each of these processes, subject to the well-known variations
ordinarily resorted to for such purposes; and I shall in this my Specification,
for the most part, confine myself to the description of the nature of the
various improvements and the manner in which they work when giving the
requisite motions to self-acting mules.
c
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

page_text: remark, that the same figures of reference are used to the same parts wher-
ever they occur. (1) 1), show parts of the framing which carries the
mangle-wheel shaft and other parts, as will be clearly seen on examining the
Drawings; (2) is the mangle-wheel shaft turning in suitable bearings
(3), (3). The mangle wheel (4), the nature of the improvement in which is
hereafter described, is made fast to the shaft (2), and on this shaft (2) is a
pulley (5) which turns freely on the shaft (2). This pulley receives the
driving belt when the twisting is to be stopped. (6) is the twist-driving
pulley, and (7) is the large twist pulley. These two pulleys are affixed
together, and both revolve freely on the mangle-wheel shaft (2). On the
shaft (2) is placed the differential or friction box (8), which is capable of
revolving freely on the shaft (2). This friction or differential box is similar
to those heretofore used in my patent self-acting mules, and is well known.
(9) is a cog
wheel affixed on one end of the mangle-wheel shaft (2), working
into a cog wheel (10), which turns on an axis (11) affixed to the framing,
and upon the boss of the cog wheel 10 (11) is fixed a cog wheel (12), gearing
into another cog wheel (13), which is affixed to the driving socket (14) of the
friction box (8). The mangle wheel (4) is driven from the driving shaft
(15), on which is affixed the driving pulley (16), and there is on the same
shaft a loose pulley (17). On this shaft (15) there hangs loosely the oscil-
lating frame (18). This frame (18) carries the mangle-wheel pinion shaft
(19), which shaft (19) turns freely in a socket bearing in the frame (18). On
one end of the driving shaft (15) there is a pinion (20) affixed, which gears
into the intermediate cog wheel (21), which has a pinion affixed to it, and
they turn on a fixed axis, such axis being capable of adjustment in a slit con-
centric to the axis of the mangle-wheel pinion shaft (19), to allow of different
pinions being used on the end of the driving shaft (15) to adjust the move-
ments of the mule carriage as may be required. (22) is the mangle-wheel
pinion affixed to its shaft (19). This pinion (22) works in the mangle wheel,
by which the in and out motions are communicated to the mule carriage, as
heretofore, by means of the cog wheel (23) (which is affixed to the mangle
wheel, and turns therewith), such wheel (23) taking into the toothed rack
(24), which is attached to the mule carriage. The mangle wheel (4) is
similar, for the most part, to those heretofore used in my patent self-acting
mules; but such mangle wheel has formerly been so constructed that the rest
caused by the dead run has required that the whole mule should be driven
more slowly than could be desired, in order to obtain sufficient time at the
dead run to strip with safety and certainty; but I have discovered, that by
encreasing the length of the dead run, that the mangle wheel (4) may rotate

page_text: faster, and thus safely move the other parts of the mule quicker, the requisite
time for backing off or for stripping with ease and safety being obtained by
the greater length of dead run which I now apply to the mangle wheel. In
constructing the dead run of a mangle wheel for a self-acting mule it has
been usual, with the different makers of such description of self-acting mules,
to make the dead run on a radius which does not exceed or extend beyond
the circumference of the mangle wheel; but it will be seen that the dead run
a of the mangle wheel shown in the Drawing is on a radius extending beyond
the circumference of the mangle wheel, and in fact the dead run shown is
about double the length of that formerly used, thus giving, in respect to the
other movements of the mule, double the time, whilst the mule carriage is
stopped, for backing off or for stripping, in each revolution of the mangle
wheel, to what has formerly been obtained. At the same time I do not
confine myself to the precise length of dead run shown in the Drawing, so
long as the deal run extends beyond the circumference of the mangle wheel,
audis thus rendered suitable for allowing the backing off to be performed, and
when working by stripping to allow of that operation being more advan-
tageously done. And i would remark, in respect to this part of my Invention,
that I am aware that a maker of such description of self-acting mules has, in
one machine,caused the circumference of the mangle wheel to be extended or
swelled out just before it comes to the dead run, in order to ease the motion
of the mule carriage in going in; but in such case the dead run, as in other
cases, was on a radius within the ordinary circumference of the mangle wheel,
by which the stopping of the mule carriage remained the same as before, and
unsuited for allowing the backing-off motion taking place during the stopping
of the mule carriage; and I mention this circumstance in order to state that
I do not claim the extending the run of the mangle wheel out of the general
circumference unless the radius of the dead run is extended beyond the
ordinary circumference of the mangle wheel, so as to obtain a greater length
of dead run for the stopping of the mule carriage whilst the operation of
backing off, or that of the stripping, is being performed. In order to obtain
a motion for stripping and for putting down the faller, and for effecting the
backing off in conjunction with the faller, I place a sliding bar (25) on the
gide of the framework where the end of the oscillating frame projects. This
bar is fitted to slide in slots in brackets attached to the framing. From the
middle of this bar projects a forked piece (20), which embraces the end of the
oscillating frame whereby the said bar is moved backwards and forwards
the swing traverse of the oscillating frame. A projection (27) at the side
and lower part of this bar is fitted to lay hold of a projecting piece (28),

page_text: which is adjustable on a sliding bar (29), which bar is attached to the mule
carriage, and is moveable lengthwise in slots. Near the end of this sliding bar
(29), towards the front of the mule carriage, there is a pulley (30) upon a
stud affixed in the bar, on which pulley (30) rests the lower surface of a
lever (31), moving on a fulcrum or axis at one end, and having its lower
surface so curved that the right-line movement of the pulley (30) under it
(which is, as above stated, carried by the sliding bar (29),) causes it to rise in
a regulated manner, as will readily be traced in the Drawings. On the upper
part of this lever (31) rests a vertical sliding piece (32), which presses against
the lower end of the bar or link (33) which is connected to the faller (34)
by an opposite lever (35), so that the pushing up of the sliding piece (32)
depresses the faller to its work. The depression of the faller having to vary
with the advance of the cop, as is well understood, this is accomplished by
throwing the end of the connecting link (33) from the vertical sliding piece
(32), by which it was raised, on to a saddle piece (36), which rests upon the
surface of the shaper (37), the progressive vertical movements of which shaper
cause the necessary variations in the depressions of the faller. This shifting
of the end of the link (33) is caused by the obliquity of the surface of the
sliding piece on which it rests, so that whilst it is being raised, it has a
tendency to slide from the vertical piece on to the saddle (36), but is prevented
from doing so by the vertical face of the saddle (36) until it has been raised
sufficiently high to permit its being forced into a seat prepared for it on the
top of the saddle piece; and it will be seen, that whilst it rests there, the
movement of the faller will be regulated by the form of the surface of the
shaper, which can easily be adjusted to produce the form of cop desired,
The horizontal movement of the shaper is obtained in the same manner as
heretofore in my patent self-acting mule, and is well known in the trade.
When the traverse of the mule carriage, ongoing in, is about to be completed,
an adjustable screw (37) affixed to the sliding piece (38) comes against a
bracket 38x in front of the beam; stops the sliding piece (38), whereby the
link (33) is driven from its seat in the saddle, and the faller is thereby per-
mitted to rise to its position of rest. When the backing off of the yarn from
the spindles is to be conjoined with the movement of the faller, I affix a
quadrant wheel (39) to the axis of the faller, which gears into an intermediate
cog wheel (40), and this gears into a pinion (41) which is affixed to a socket
moving freely on a cross shaft (42), bearing the carrying pulleys of the twist band
(43), and of the drum bands, the quadrant wheel having a slot through it for the
passage of the axis of the under faller. On this socket is also affixed a faced
ratchet or clutch wheel (44), which takes into a similar faced ratchet or clutch

page_text: wheel (45), which is affixed to a socket (46) which slides on the cross shaft
(42), it sliding on a feather, but turning with that shaft, on the other end of
which socket there is a similar clutch or faced ratchet wheel (47), which gears
into another clutch or faced ratchet wheel (48) fast on the small twist pulley,
whereby motion is communicated from the great twist pulley (7) to the drums
and spindles by their usual bands. The moveable clutch (46) is commanded
by a lever (50), which moves on a fulcrum (51) affixed to the connecting
frame of the mule carriage ends. The one end of the lever, rising vertically,
embraces the double clutch by a fork (52); the other end of the lever, pro-
ceeding horizontally, terminates at the side of the sliding bar (29), and a stud
50x upon the lever 50 there works against inclined surfaces upon that bar,
so that its movement is commanded by the horizontal movements of that bar.
When the sliding bar (29) is moved towards putting down the faller, as
above described, the clutch (46) is removed out of gear with the twist-band
pulley, and thrown into gear with the clutch connecting it with the movement
of the faller, so that the spindles are moved backwards to give an amount of
uncoiling to the threads on the spindles corresponding to the position and
movement of the faller. So soon as that process has been completed, and
before the sliding bar (29) has finished its movement, the inclined surfaces
upon that bar are so formed as to force the clutch from gear with the backing
off into gear with the clutch of the twist pulley. By this means the backing
off is effected without backing the large twist pulley (7) and the bands and
pulleys immediately connected therewith. It should be stated, that previous to
the commencing of the backing off, the lower end of the vertical sliding piece
(32), which operates on the connecting link (33), comes in contact with an
inclined plane (54), fixed on the floor (but adjustable), which moves up the
adjustable piece just so far as to bring the faller wire near to the points of the
spindles before the backing off or stripping commences. When it is desirable
to relieve the coils from the spindles by the well-known process of stripping,
the end of the faller which performs the stripping is so adjusted in the usual
manner as to be thrown loose at the proper time by the movement of the
sliding bar (29) and the fallers.
The winding on of the yarn is performed in the following manner by the
application of the friction box (8), as heretofore, and as is shewn in the
Drawings, in order that the workman may understand that the friction box
may, when used, be placed on the mangle-wheel shaft; or the winding ou
may be effected by either of the following methods, which are more simple :-
The first method consist in affixing a loose pulley (53*) on the same axis
with the large twist pulley (7) in the headstock, on the socket of which is

page_text: affixed a ratchet wheel (56), the teeth of which lay hold of the ratchets affixed to
the side of the twist pulley when the friction band pulley is to become the driver.
Round this pulley (53*), in grooves or otherwise, I pass one or more turns of
a strap or band, the one end of which strap or band is carried forward, and
passed over a pulley the axis of which is affixed to the mule carriage; the
other end of the strap or band is carried back, and passes over a pulley carried
by the rack, and both ends of the strap or band are made fast to the head-
stock. When the mule carriage starts to move inwards it is evident that the
movement of the band or bands will have a tendency to cause the pulley (53.*)
to rotate on its axis in a direction for causing the spindles to wind on by the
connection already described, and this must be so adjusted in its diameter as
to cause the spindles to rotate sufficiently to wind the thread upon the smallest
diameter; and as the cop encreases in diameter the excess of movement for
winding on will be disposed of by the slipping of the band or strap or straps,
the degree of friction whereof may be adjusted to any desired degree by
tightening or slacking of the band or bands. In the second mode of winding
on I place a similar pulley (53*) and other apparatus, as above described, and
as is shewn in the Drawing, in the framework between the mule carriage
ends, in such a position as to act on the small twist pulley of the mule carriage
by a cog wheel and pinion, and then the ends of the bands or straps are to be
fixed to the floor or framework at points beyond the limits of traverse of the
mule carriage, as is clearly shewn in the Drawings. The third mode of
winding on consists simply by placing a pulley (53*) and other apparatus as
in the preceding, and as shewn in the Drawing. I then pass a band or bands
with one or more turns, around the said pulley, and carry the ends of the said
band or bands respectively over carrying pullies affixed on the floor or on the
framework beyond the extent of the traverse of the mule carriage, and
returning the ends of the band or bands I affix them to the mule carriage
frame; and it will be seen by the Drawing that this mode of applying a band
or bands will have the effect of causing double the number of rotations of the
friction pulley at each traverse of the mule carriage to that last described.
And I would mention, in respect to this part of my Invention, that my object
is, that a fixed band shall, by the movements of the mule carriage, give
motion to a pulley for winding on, and that the movements of that pulley
shall be made to accommodate its motion to the varying winding-on surfaces
of the cop by the slipping of the band on that pulley. In order to relieve the
wheel house from the presence of the twist baud I cause it and its guide
pulleys to move to and fro with the mule carriage, and for this purpose I affix
the axis of the inward carrying pulleys to the mule carriage frame, and the
axis of the outward carrying pulley I fix to any bar projecting from the mule

page_text: carriage sufficiently far to admit of the traverse of the mule carriage. In
most cases I can use the rack (24) for this purpose, thereby saving the
necessity for another bar. Motion is communicated to the rollers from the
cog wheel (23) affixed on the mangle wheel in the usual manner. The cam
shaft for regulating various movements of the mule is driven from the loose
pulley of the driving shaft of the mangle wheel gear by a screw or worm
attached to the nave of the loose pulley, and the constant movement of the
loose pulley is accomplished by having the loose pulley broader than the fast
pulley, so that when the belt is thrown on the fast pulley it is still permitted
to have sufficient hold of the loose pulley to accomplish the certain driving of
the cam shaft, the screw giving motion to a wheel on a cross shaft which
communicates motion through an intermediate wheel to a cog wheel affixed
on the cam shaft, and the cams work the sliding bars at the back of the head-
stock, as are shewn in the Drawings.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the best means I
am acquainted with for performing the same, I would wish it to be understood,
that I do not confine myself to the precise details so long as the peculiar
character of either part of my improvements be retained, and I make no
claim to any of the mechanical parts separately. But what I claim is,―
First, the placing or arranging the twist-driving pulleys and the twist
pulley on the mangle-wheel shaft, and also the friction or differential box when
it is used for winding on, as herein described.
Secondly, I claim the applying the twist band guide pulleys in such
manner that they may be moved to and fro with the mule carriage, as above
described.
Thirdly, I claim the mode of forming the mangle wheel of a self-acting
mule, whereby, the dead run being extended, it is made capable of allowing
the operation of backing off to be performed, and also of allowing more time
for stripping, as herein described.
Fourthly, I claim the communication of motion from the faller to the
backing off, whereby the faller becomes the leader to the backing off, thus
causing the movement of the backing off to be in unison with the faller.
And,
Fifthly, I claim the modes herein described for winding on by means of
fast friction bands or straps and pulleys.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Smith, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-four.
JAMES
(L.S.) SMITH.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-fourth day of August,
in the year of our Lord 1844, the aforesaid James Smith, Esqre, came before
our said Lady the Queen in her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid. was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twenty-fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-four.