Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 20th July, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 18th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 18th May. 1889
1, BEN SYKES, of Ley Moor, Golcar, near Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Mechanic, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to the mechanism for operating the sliding clutches
in self acting mules, which clutches are employed to control the action of the "side
wheels." At present the mechanism employed for controlling the action of the side
wheels is very uncertain, causing oscillation and vibration of the parts, resulting in
frequent breakages of the wheels and clutches. The object of my invention is to make
the mechanism more certain and effective in its action.
In carrying out my invention I employ, in combination with the ordinary lever. an
additional lever formed with a sneck or incline projecting from the underside thereof.
The extremity of the said lever is curved and made with a recess for purposes here-
inafter explained. The ordinary sliding lever or bar, for operating the clutches, is
placed in a position under the above named lever, and carries a catch or finger,
which projects upward, so that when the sliding clutches are in gear, the said catch
is held by the sneck on the upper lever, whilst a bowl on the end of the ordinary
sliding bar enters into the recess formed near the end of the upper or additional
lever, therefore as a cam revolves it comes into contact with the curved end of the
additional lever, thereby raising such lever and consequently lifting it and the sneck
clear of the bowl and catch on the lower lever, so that as the cam comes into contact
with the bowl on the sliding bar such bar is slided end wise and removes the sliding
clutch out of gear, and when the cam releases the sliding bar such bar is forced back
again by means of the spiral spring and firmly held in that position by the sneck on
the additional lever.
By the means above described, oscillation and vibration of the sliding clutches
when placed into gear is now prevented, as the said clutch is readily held in its
place until removed as described, whereby damage and breakage of the parts
complained of will now be prevented.
A
11
1
T11000

page_text: I, BEN SYKES, of Ley Moor, Golcar, near Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Mechanic, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
-
This invention has reference to the mechanism for operating the sliding clutches
in self acting mules, which clutches are employed for controlling the action of the
side wheels. At present, the mechanism employed for controlling the action of the
"side wheels." is very uncertain, causing oscillation and vibration of the parts,
resulting in frequent breakages of the wheels and clutches. The object of my
invention is to make the mechanism more certain and effective in its action.
In order that my invention may be more fully understood I herein make reference
to the accompanying sheet of drawings and to the letters of reference marked
thereon.
Fig. 1 is part sectional elevation of a portion of the "headstock" of a self acting
mule, shewing the ordinary mechanism for operating the sliding clutches which
control the action of the "side wheels," having my improvements applied thereto,
and shewn in the positions they assume when the clutches are in gear.
Fig. 2 is a similar elevation shewing my improvements in the positions they assume
when the sliding clutch is removed out of gear.
Fig. 3 is an end view of the side wheels and parts connected therewith.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of my improvements.
A is the framing of the headstock which supports the scroll shaft B carrying the
ordinary scroll (not shown) for drawing out the mule carriages. Mounted on the
scroll shaft B are the "side wheels C and D provided with opposing clutches a
and 6 respectively, the first named wheel C riding loosely on the said shaft, whilst the
second nained wheel, by means of keys or forks and discs corresponding, is capable
of sliding end wise on the shaft B and of rotating therewith... E is the sliding bar
made with a stud c at one end thereof, upon which is mounted short forked arm d
which enters a groove or neck e formed in the boss f cast to the side wheel D, and
F is the cam for forcing the bar E endwise in the direction of the arrow. Rotary'
motion is communicated to the wheel C through the medium of a train of gearing
from the main driving shaft of the machine, and in order that such rotary motion
may be communicated to the scroll shaft B for the purpose of drawing out the mule
carriages, the sliding clutch b, on the wheel D is placed in gear with the opposing
clutch a, (as shewn in Fig. 1.) whereby the wheel D and consequently the shaft B
are rotated and the mule carriages drawn out. When the said carriages arrive at
the extent of their outward movement, the cam F is caused to partially rotate, so that
it acts against the friction bowl g carried by the bracket h bolted, to the bar E, and
therefore forces the said bar E in the direction of the arrow and by means of the
forked arm D moves the wheel D end wise on its shaft, consequently the sliding
clutch is removed out of gear with the opposing clutch a and the rotation of the
shaft B is stopped thereby.

page_text: The parts remain in the positions shown in Fig. 2 until the carriages arrive
"home," when the cam F is again partially rotated so as to release the sliding
bar E, which is immediately drawn back into its original position and the clutches
placed in gear, by means of the strong spiral spring i, which is secured at one end
to a stud on the sliding bar and at the opposite end to the stationary frame of the
"headstock."
The parts previously described and the manner in which they are operated, are all
old and well known and form no part of my invention, which relates to means for
preventing any lateral or endwise movement of the sliding parts during the time the
clutches are in gear, the object thereof being to prevent breakage of the teeth of the
clutches or other correlative parts and for ensuring a smoother and more certain and
effective working of the mechanism above described.
My invention consists in the employment of a lever G which I preferably hinge to
a bracket H bolted to the frame A, such said lever having a sneck k formed on its
underside corresponding to a projection or catch 7 projecting upwards from the
bracket h on the sliding bar E; a recess m is also formed on the underside of the
lever G for receiving the bowl g whilst the extremity of the said lever is curved
somewhat as shewn.
When the cam revolves and releases the sliding bar E and such bar has been
drawn into its original position by the strong spiral spring i, the lever G descends,
and the curved end thereof rests upon the upper surface of the cam F, while the
projection or catch on the bracket h enters the sneck k in the lever G, thereby
holding the parts firmly in position, as shewn in Fig. 1. It will be understood that
so long as the cam F remains stationary, the finger or catch will be held in the
sneck, and consequently, the sliding bar E and wheel C will be prevented from
moving or vibrating end wise or laterally, and therefore moving the teeth of the
sliding clutch in and out of the teeth of the opposing clutch a and causing breakage
of such teeth, as is the case at present, but when the can commences to rotate for
the purpose of sliding the bar E endwise to remove the clutches out of gear, it
bears against the curved end of the lever G and raises such lever and the sneck k
thereor, clear of the catch 1, before the said cam comes against the bowl g, or
commences to slide the bar E end wise, and holds the said lever in the position
shewn in Fig. 2 until the mule carriages arrive "home," when the cam is partially
rotated and the parts moved into the positions shewn in Fig. 1 in the manner
previously explained; the function of the spring i only being to draw the sliding
bar into its original position after being forced outwards by the cam F, such
spring may be made much weaker than those at present in use.
By the means above described, oscillation and vibration of the sliding clutches of
mules when placed into gear are now prevented, and the damage to and breakage of
the parts avoided.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is —
In self acting mules the employment of the hinged arm G made with projections
and recesses used in combination with the sliding bar E and cam F all arranged and
operated in manner substantially as described.