IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING MULES AND BILLIES FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING WOOL OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Kirk, of the Firm of Schofield and Kirk,
of Huddersfield, in the County of York, Iron Founders, Millwrights,
: and Machine Makers, and Walter Murray, of the same Place,
Spinner, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING MULES
AND BILLIES FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING WOOL OR OTHER FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Kirk and
Walter Murray at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 23rd January 1868.
We, GEORGE KIRK, of the Firm of Schofield and Kirk, of Huddersfield,
in the County of York, Iron Founders, Millwrights, and Machine
Makers, and WALTER MURRAY, of the same Place, Spinner, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-
ACTING MULES AND BILLIES FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING WOOL OR OTHER FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the constructing, com-
bining, arranging, and applying mechanism or apparatus for spinning
and doubling yarns of wool or other fibrous substances, so as to be self-

page_text: acting in its operations, and which improvements greatly facilitate the
converting of hand mules and other similar machines now in use into
self-acting machines. To what is termed the loose pulley on the rim
shaft we fix a bevil, which by means of another bevil gives motion to
a shaft on which is fixed two other bevil wheels, one of which gives
motion to a cross shaft on which is fixed a pinion in gear with another
pinion fixed to one part of a friction box which works loose on a shaft in
front of the last-named shaft on which the other part of the friction
box is fixed, and on the same shaft is also fixed a grooved pulley,
around which passes the rim band for giving motion to the spindles.
This friction box is worked by a finger on the twist motion which raises
a catch and liberates a lever on which by means of a spring pulls the
friction box into gear for the purpose of backing off. The other bevil
wheel gives motion to an upright shaft, on which is a friction box in
gear with a shaft, on which are two scrawls or spiral pullies, which by
means of two bands or ropes operates the carriage. This motion is
put into gear by the action of the faller when locking, and it is releived
by the carriage when it goes up by means of a connecting rod, on
which is a fixing which by means of a bell-crank lever pulls the backing-
off friction out of gear at the same time that the taking-up motion
goes into gear. On the same connecting rod is also fixed an incline
which by means of another connecting rod puts the twist motion in
and out of gear. The advantage in connecting the twist motion with
this connecting rod is, that we can put the backing-off motion into gear
at any time while the rim shaft is in motion. The centre pulley on the
rim shaft is fixed thereto and the other pulley has a boss extending
through the pedestal, on the end of which is fixed the small rim wheel for
giving slow speed for drawing out. The rim shaft extends through this
boss, and on which is fixed the larger rim wheel which gives the fast
speed when the driving strap is on the centre pulley. These rim wheels
are constructed and arranged so that they may be changed for various
sizes when required. On the boss above mentioned is fixed a bevil wheel
which gears with another on a diagonal shaft which by a pair of bevil
wheels drives a catch box which gives motion to the front spindles
or rollers. Different draughts are obtained by a change of these gear
wheels. The catch box is operated by means of a bell-crank lever and
connecting rod from the slubbing wheel which is held in gear by a
catch which the slubbing wheel liberates when a proper length is taken
in, and a spring fixed to the bell crank pulls the catch box out of gear

page_text: and liberates the slubbing wheel, which is drawn back to its starting
point and it is put into gear by the carriage. On the end of the boss
on the front spindle is fixed a pinion which gives motion to the drawing-
out scrawl by means of intermediate wheels and the wheel geared to
the pinion on the scrawl shaft is put in and out of gear by means of
a bell-crank lever and connecting rod. The carriage puts this motion:
into gear when it goes up, and it is held in gear by a catch which
the carriage liberates when it comes out. It is pulled out by a spring,
attached to the connecting rod. For the cop motion we fix a box to
the carriage front in which works a slide propelled by a rack and
screw. In this slide are two plates which are propelled by a ratchet
wheel and screw, and we change this catch wheel to suit the thickness
of the yarn for the forming of the cop. For turning the quadrant screw
we fix a slide plate (in which there is a hole) to a mounting on the
carriage, and we also fix a lever on one end of which is a pin and the
other end is connected to the fallers by means of a small chain or band.
On the shaft or stud to which the quadrant is fixed is a bevil which is:
geared to another bevil on the bottom of the quadrant screw, and on the
boss of the first bevil works an endless chain which passes over the.
slide plate and over a pulley on the back part of the headstock. When
the carriage is going up (the lever being actuated by the fallers) the
end on which is the pin passes up through the hole in the slide plate
and through a link of the chain, and gives motion to the quadrant
screw.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said George
Kirk and Walter Murray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th July 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE
KIRK, of the Firm of Schofield and Kirk, of Huddersfield, in the
County of York, Iron Founders, Millwrights, and Machine Makers,
and WALTER MURRAY, of the same Place, Spinner, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent bearing date the Twenty-third day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-

page_text: first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said George Kirk and Walter Murray, Her
special licence that we, the said George Kirk and Walter Murray, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
George Kirk and Walter Murray, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING MULES AND
BILLIES FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING WOOL OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said George Kirk
and Walter Murray, our executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under our, or their, or one of our or their hands and
scals, 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 George Kirk and Walter Murray,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, and accompanying
Sheet of Drawings (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to improvements in constructing, combining,
arranging, and applying mechanism or apparatus for spinning and
doubling yarns of wool or other fibrous substances so as to be self-
acting in its operations, and which improvements greatly facilitate the
converting of hand mules and other similar machines now in use into
self-acting machines. To what is termed the loose pulley on the rim a
shaft we fix a bevil wheel, which by means of another bevil wheel gives
motion to a shaft on which is fixed other two bevil wheels, one of which
gives motion to a cross shaft on which is fixed a pinion or spur wheel
in gear with another pinion or spur fixed to one part of a friction
box which works loose on a shaft in front of the last-named shaft, on
which the other part of the friction box is fixed, and on the same shaft
is also fixed a grooved pulley, around which passes the rim band for
giving motion to the spindles: This friction box is worked by a finger

page_text: on the twist motion which raises a catch and liberates a lever on which
by means of a spring pulls the friction box into gear for the purpose of
backing off. The other bevil wheel gives motion to an upright shaft,
on which is a friction box, in gear with a shaft on which are two scrawls or
spiral pullies, which by means of two bands or ropes operate or draw up
the carriage. This motion is put into gear by the action-of the faller when
locking, and is relieved by the carriage when it goes or is drawn up by
means of a connecting rod, on which is a fixing which by means of a bell
crank lever pulls the backing-off friction out of gear at the same time that
the taking-up motion goes into gear. On the same connecting rod is
also fixed an incline, which by means of another connecting rod puts
the twist motion in and out of gear. The advantage in connecting the
twist motion with this connecting rod is that we can put the backing-off
motion into gear at any time while the rim shaft is in motion. The
centre pulley on the rim shaft is fixed thereto, and the other pulley has a
boss extending through the pedestal, on the end of which boss is fixed the
small rim wheel for giving slow speed for drawing the out. The rim shaft.
extends through this boss, and on which is fixed the larger rim wheel
which gives the fast speed when the drawing strap is on the centre
pulley. These rim wheels are constructed and arranged so that they
may be changed for various sizes when required. On the boss above
mentioned is fixed a bevil wheel which gears with another on a
diagonal shaft, which by a pair of bevil wheels drives a catch box which
gives motion to the front spindle or rollers. Different draughts are
obtained by a change of these gear wheels. The catch box is operated
by means of a bell-crank lever and a connecting rod from the slubbing
wheel which is held in gear by a catch which the slubbing wheel liberates
when a proper length is taken in, and a spring fixed to the bell-crank
pulls the catch box out of gear and liberates the slubbing wheel, which
is drawn back to its starting point, and it is put into gear, by the
carriage. On the end of the boss on the front spindle is fixed a pinion
which gives motion to the drawing-out scrawl by means of intermediate
wheels, and the wheel geared to the pinion on the scrawl shaft is put
in and out of gear by means of a lever and connecting rod. The carriage
puts this motion into gear when it goes up, and it is held in gear by a
catch which the carriage liberates when it comes out. It is pulled out
by a spring attached to the connecting rod. For the cop motion we
fix a box to the carriage front in which works a slide propelled by a rack
and screw. In this slide are two plates on which is a rail propelled by

page_text: a ratchet wheel and screw, and we change this ratchet wheel to suit
the thickness of the yarn for the forming of the cap. For turning the
quadrant screw we fix a slide plate (in which there is a hole) to a
mounting on the carriage, and we also fix a lever, on one end of which is
a pin, and the other end is connected to the fallers by means of a small 5
chain or band. On the shaft or stud on which the quadrant is fixed
is a bevil wheel which is geared to another bevil on the bottom
of the quadrant screw, and on the boss of the first bevil works an endless
chain which passes over the slide plate and over a pulley on the back
part of the headstock. When the carriage is going up (the lever 1
being actuated by the fallers) the end on which is the pin passes up
through the hole in the slide plate and through a link of the chain and
gives motion to the quadrant screw.
In order that this Invention may be more clearly understood, we
herein give reference to an accompanying Sheet of Drawings of a 1
self-acting mule constructed in accordance therewith.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the headstock, and Fig. 2 a plan of
the same.
A is the rim shaft, B is the loose pulley, and C is a bevil wheel fixed 2
thereto which gears with another bevil wheel C₁ fixed on a shaft D.
On this shaft is fixed a bevil wheel D¹ gearing with another bevil
wheel D fixed on a cross shaft D³, on which is a spur wheel D' in
gcar with another spur wheel D³, fixed to one part of a friction
box D, which works loose upon the shaft E. The other part of the 2
friction box D' is fixed to the said shaft, and on which is also fixed
a grooved pulley E¹, around which passes a band D³ for giving
motion to the spindles. On the said shaft D is also a bevil wheel F
which gears with another bevil wheel F fixed on the top of an upright
shaft F, on which is a friction box F and F', and on the bottom end 3
of this shaft is a bevil wheel F5 in gear with another bevil wheel F",
on the end of a horizontal shaft G, on which are the two scrawls or
spiral pullies G' and G2, which by means of bands G and G' operate or
draw up the carriage. This motion or friction box is put into gear
by the action of the ordinary faller when locking or when in a position 3
for winding on the yarn by knocking off the catch H which holds the
part out of gear, and it is releived or raised by a fork H', attached to

page_text: a slide bracket H, which is operated by a lever H³ hinged on a shaft H*,
on which is also a lever Hattached to a connecting rod H, on the end
of which is a bowl or roller H7, which is acted upon by a finger I
affixed on an upright shaft I', at the bottom of which is another finger I',
which the carriage operates when it goes up. On this connecting
rod H is also fixed an incline J, which acts upon a friction roller
attached to the bottom end of a rod J' connected to a lever J', on which
is supported the worm J³, gearing with the wheel J. As the friction
roller moves up the incline the worm is lifted out of gear, and when it
descends the worm is put into gear. The centre pulley K is fixed on
the rim shaft and the pulley L runs loose thereon, and has a boss
extending through the pedestal, on the end of which boss is fixed the
small rim wheel L' for giving slow speed to the spindles, and on the
end of the rim shaft is fixed the large rim wheel I for giving fast or
quick speed to the spindles. On the boss of the pulley L is also fixed
a bevil wheel L³, which gears with another bevil wheel L', fixed on a
diagonal shaft L, which by a pair of bevils L' and L' drives one part
of the catch box M, the other part M' sliding upon the front spindle
or roller shaft N, such part being operated by a fork lever N¹, on which
is a friction roller N' acted upon by a moveable inclined plate N³, the
motion of which being produced in one direction by the carriage when
going up acting on the lever N*, and in the other direction by the
action of the spring No. On the end of the boss of the catch box M
is fixed a pinion O, which by the train of intermediate gear wheels
0, 0%, 0, 0, 0%, and 0%, gives motion to the scrawl P for drawing
out the carriage. The wheel O³ is lifted out of gear with the wheel O®
by means of a spring Q acting on a rod R, which is connected to
a lever R', on which the said wheel O is mounted, and it is put in
gear by a finger R² on the back of the carriage coming into contact
with and pressing upon a roller R³ attached to the bottom of the said
rod, and which is held there by the end of a slide bar R* passing over
a pin R³ in the said rod, and on the return or drawing out the carriage
acts on a finger R fixed on the said slide bar.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention; and shewn
by the accompanying Drawings how the same is to be or may be
performed or carried into practice, we would have it understood that we
do not confine ourselves to the precise details as herein set forth, as
the same may be modified without departing from what we claim as
our Invention, viz., the constructing, combining, arranging, and applying

page_text: mechanism or apparatus for spinning and doubling yarn of wool or
other fibrous substances so as to be self-acting in its operations,
substantially as herein shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Murray, for and on behalf
of myself and the said George Kirk, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-second day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named Walter Murray, in
the presence of
WM. TASKER,
Patent Agent,
WALTER MURRAY. (L.S.)
Halifax & Bradford.