CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO THE SPINNING MACHINES KNOWN AS SELF-ACTING MULES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of No. 11, Wellington Street,
Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO THE SPINNING MACHINES KNOWN AS
SELF-ACTING MULES." A communication from abroad by Emile Hanhart, of
Mulhouse (Haute Alsace).
Sealed the 2nd February 1877, and dated the 14th August 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th August 1876.
"
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO THE
SPINNING MACHINES KNOWN AS SELF-ACTING MULES." A communication from
abroad by Emile Hanhart, of Mulhouse (Haute Alsace).
This Invention relates to an improved "controller" or regulator of the number of
yards of yarn wound upon bobbins, spools, or cops, and to improvements in the
stop catches of self-acting mules.
The principal object of the yard "controller" or regulating apparatus, the subject
of this Invention, is to obtain bobbins, spools, or cops made with more regularity
than those hitherto obtained.
It will enable the spinner to regulate the spinning-at will, according to the
number of yards of thread or yarn which he desires to place upon each bobbin or
oop of a same number of yarn.
The desired quantity of yards of thread or yarn will in the weighing indicate to
the spinner the number of the yarn. Hitherto this result has only been imperfectly
obtained by means of a roel, upon which a fixed number of yards of thread or yarn
were wound, and which was hung upon a steelyard which indicated the number of
the yarn; but this operation always causes a considerable waste, which is a dead
loss to the spinner.
This "controller" or regulator will also be of great utility to the weaving, as by
giving to the weaver a certain number of spools or cops all having the same number
of yards of yarn or thread the number of yards of woven fabric that will be
obtained may be calculated beforehand, and consequently the number of spools or
•
.

page_text: cops necessary for weaving a piece of cloth of a fixed length may also be determined
beforehand.
Hitherto there has been no uniformity in the winding of the bobbins, because
those lifted" or removed at one time contain more or fower yards of thread than
those removed at another, although of a same number of yarn; this difference
depended solely upon the will of the operative spinner. The "controller "
or regu-
lator of this Invention does better, inasmuch that it establishes uniformity of the
bobbins or spools of every "lift" or removal of a same number of yarn, both as
regards their dimensions and the quantity of yards of thread fixed beforehand.
A consequence of the uniform dimensions of all the bobbins of a same number of
yarn is that the packing is more exactly and advantageously done.
This "
controller" or regulator receives its movement from a plate itself set in
motion by the approaching and receding or come and go of the carriage; a spindle
fixed to this plate nctuates an inclined lever, which is connected to a square lever
movable upon a pin fixed to the frame. The lower part of the square lever rests
upon the forward part of a horizontal lever, which is moveable at its back part upon
a pin fixed to a square, itself fixed to the frame. A moveable spring is connected
at the top to the square lever, and at the bottom to the front part of the horizontal
lever.
The square lover and the horizontal lever are pressed towards each other by a
spring, which keeps firmly in its proper position the lower part of the first with the
front part of the second until the inclined lever receives the pressure of the spindle
at the end of the complete forination of the bobbins or spools; then the square lever
disengages itself from the horizontal lever, which is uplifted by a spring.
A horizontal rod rests upon the horizontal lever, and is fixed by its right-hand
part to the back part of a horizontal lover; this horizontal lover receives its upward
movement at its hind part from a horizontal rod, which places it in safe arrest at its
fore part with the lower part of a vertical lever.
During the safe stoppage of the vertical lever with the last-named horizontal
lever, the movements of the square lever, of the horizontal rod, of a vertical square
lever, a horizontal lever, and a vertical friction roller are uninterrupted, and the
carriage is suddenly placed in the position of stoppage suitable for the lifting or
removal of the bobbins or spools.
The regulating or setting of the controller or regulator is effected by means
of two slots made for this purpose in the square lever, upon which the inclined lever
is fixed at a distance casily calculated according to the length of thread which it is
desired to put on the bobbins or cops of each taking off. One of the slots is for the
bobbins, "bobines," the other for the cops, " connettes."
Improvements in the Stop Catch or Locking Lever of the Carriage of Self-acting
Mules. It often happens in self-actors that the stop catch of the carriage disengages
itself inopportunely, so that the carriage begins its re-entering or return movement too
soon, and if it re-enters breaks all the threads, and it is purposed to obviate this by
means of the improved stop-catch, which I will now describe.
In Platt's self-actors (old style) when the carriage had come out the hook fell by
its own weight behind the tappet fixed to the carriage, which was thus held. On
tho re-entering, a pin fixed on the disengaging or disconnecting rod of the "scrolls"
moved in a slot and raised the stop catch. This improvement consists in closing the
said alot by a piece fixed by a pin, so that the pin of the disconnecting rod no longer
has any play, and in giving, on the contrary, play to the catch, which instead of
being immoveably adjusted is moveable on a cast-iron box.
When the carriage is forward and has uplifted the stop catch, a spring presses it
firmly in its downward motion, but on the return of the carriage, when the catch
should rise, the spring offers no resistance, because it is fixed upon the actual piece
which disconnects or releases the catch, and that this latter cannot travel beyond
certain fixed points.
Self-acting "Purr Curtis."-In the self-actors of this system when the carriage is
forward, the stop-catch having been uplifted falls by its own weight against a stop

page_text: or tappet fixed to the carriage, which it keeps thus, and when the carriage should
re-enter, a piece lifts the catch, which then no longer acts. To obviate this defect
by means of this Invention a piece is fixed to the catch by a screw, and a spring of
tempered steel wire is passed around this piece, pressing by one end upon a pin
fixed to the catch, and by the other end under the piece which is to uplift the
catch.
When the carriage reaches the end of its journey a tappet causes the catch to rise,
the arms of the spring spread apart, and when the catch should fall they press it
firmly upon the tappet. When the catch should rise the spring has no action,
because its working is dependent upon that of the catch and its lifting piece.
These springs may be applied in various forms and ways, but in order that this
application may be of value the spring must at the same time hold to the catch and
to the piece which is to lift the catch; then any desired force may be given to it,
and the machine have no greater resistance to overcome to lift the catch.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
February 1877.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO THE
SPINNING MACHINES KNOWN AS SELF-ACTING MULES." A communication from
abroad by Emile Hanhart, of Mulhouse (Haute Alsace).
This Invention relates to an improved controller or regulator of the number of
yards of yarn wound upon bobbins, spools, or cops, and to improvements in the
stop catches of self-acting mules.
The principal object of the yard controller or regulating apparatus, the subject of
this Invention, is to obtain bobbins, spools, or cops made with more regularity than
those hitherto obtained.
It will enable the spinner to regulate the spinning at will, according to the
number of yards of thread or yarn which he desires to place upon each bobbin or
cop of a same number of yarn.
The desired quantity of yards of thread or yarn will in the scale indicate to the
spinner the number of the yarn. Hitherto this result has only been imperfectly
obtained by means of a reel, upon which a fixed number of yards of thread or yarn
were wound, and which was hung upon a steelyard which indicated the number of
the yarn; but this operation always causes a considerable waste, which is a dead
loss to the spinner.
This controller or regulator will also be of great utility to the weaving, as by
giving to the weaver a certain number of spools or cops all having the same
number of yards of yarn or thread, the number of yards of woven fabric that will
be obtained may be calculated beforehand, and consequently the number of spools or
cops necessary for weaving a piece of cloth of a fixed length may also be determined
beforehand.
Hitherto there has been no uniformity in the winding off of the bobbins, because
those "taken up" at one time contain more or fewer yards of thread than those of
another "take up," although of a same number of yarn; this difference depended
solely upon the will of the operative spinner. The "controller or regulator of this
Invention does better, inasmuch that it establishes uniformity of the bobbins or
spools of every "take up" or removal of a same number of yarn, both as regards
their dimensions and the quantity of yards of thread fixed beforehand.
A consequence of the uniform dimensions of all the cops of a same number of
yarn is that the packing is more exactly and advantageously done.
:

page_text: On the accompanying Sheet of Drawing Figure 1 is an elevation of the left side of a
machine embodying this improved controller or regulator; Fig. 2 is another eleva-
tion of the left side of same; Fig. 3 is a back elevation; and Fig. 4 is a plan of
Fig. 1.
This controller or regulator receives its movement from the plate K, which is
itself set in motion by the approaching a receding or come and go of the carriage; it
has the spindle A fixed to the plate K. The spindle A actuates the inclined lever B,
which is connected to the square lever C moveable upon a pin fixed to the frame L.
The lower part of the square lever C rests upon the forward part of the horizontal
lever D, which is moveable at its back part upon a pin fixed to the square E, which 1
is fixed to the frame L. The moveable spring F is connected at the top to the
square lever C, and at the bottom to the front part of the horizontal lever D.
The square lever C and the horizontal lever D are pressed towards each other by
the spring I, which keeps firmly in proper position the lower part of the first with
the front part of the second until the inclined lever B receives the pressure of the
spindle A at the end of the complete formation of the cops or spools; then the
square lever C disengages itself from the horizontal lever D, which is consequently
uplifted by the spring F.
A horizontal rod Ğ rests upon the horizontal lever T, and is fixed by its right-
hand part to the back part of the horizontal lever M; the horizontal lever M receives
its upward movement at its hind part from the horizontal rod G, which places it in
safe arrest at its fore part with the lower part of the vertical lever Q.
During the safe stoppage of the vertical lever Q with the horizontal lever M the
movements of the square lever N, the horizontal rod R, the vertical square lever S,
Figs. 2 and 3, the horizontal lever T, and the vertical friction roller U are inter-
rupted, and the carriage is suddenly placed in the position of stoppage suitable for
the lifting or removal of the spools or cops.
The regulating or setting of the controller or regulator is effected by means of
two slots made for this purpose in the square lever C, upon which the inclined
lever B is fixed at a distance easily calculated according to the length of thread
which it is desired to put on the bobbins or cops of each "take up.” One of the
slots is for the bobbins, "bobines," the other for the cops, "canettes."
Improvements in the Stop Cutch or Locking Lever of the Carriage of Self-acting
Mules. It often happens in self-actors that the stop catch of the carriage disengages
itself inopportunely during the point movements, so that the carriage begins its re-
entering or return movement too soon, and if it re-enters breaks all the thrends; if it
does not re-enter, the winding-up or take-off catch comes into gear, and there is a
tendency to wind up; further, the point pieces work in a contrary direction, which
may result either in the breaking of the chain of the sector or an irregularity in the
driving of the point and [taking-up gear; it is then requisite either to refasten all
the threads or to regulate the machine afresh, which occasions a costly stoppage. It
is to obviate these inconveniences that this improved stop catch is applicable to all
kinds of self-acting mules having a stop catch.

page_text: should rise, the spring offers no resistance, because it is fixed upon the actual piece
which disconnects or releases the catch, and that this latter cannot travel beyond
the points A and B. This improvement consists therefore in the pieces A, B, H, D.
Figures 6 and 6*, Self-acting" Parr-Curtis."-In the "self-actors" of this system
when the carriage is forward, the stop catch having been uplifted falls by its own
weight against the stop F or tappets fixed to the carriage, which it keeps thus, and
when the carriage should re-enter, the piece G lifts the catch, which then no longer
acts. To obviate this defect, by means of this Invention a piece B is fixed to the
catch by a screw D, a spring A of tempered steel wire passed around the piece B
pressing by one end upon a pin C fixed to the catch, and by the other end under the
piece G, which is to uplift the catch.
When the carriage reaches the end of its journey the tappet F causes the catch to
rise, the arms of the spring A spread apart, and when the catch should fall they
press it firmly upon the tappet F; and when the catch should rise, the spring has
no action, because its working is dependant upon that of the catch and the piece G.
This improvement consists therefore in the pieces A, B, C, D.
These springs may be applied in various forms and ways, but in order that this
application may be of value the spring must at the same time hold to the catch and
to the piece which is to lift the catch, then any desired force may be given to it,
and the machine have no greater resistance to overcome to lift the catch.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention com-
inunicated to me as aforesaid, and in what manner the same is or may be performed,
I desire it to be understood that in view of the diversity of self-acting mules tho
accompanying Drawings and description thereof are simply illustrative of this
Invention, and that what I claim as constituting the fundamental principle of this
Invention is, guiding the working of the controller or regulator by means of tho
plates, and of disengaging or throwing out of gear by the friction of the " scrolls,"
whatever may be the combination and the construction of these controllers.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
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