Improvements in Self Acting Mules.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 6th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 3rd Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Self Acting Mules.
WILLIAM NICHOLS of 10 Coppice Street in Oldham in the County of
Lancaster Machine Fitter do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention consists in the rim shaft having on it either a friction or clutch
box to draw out the carriage, with levers and connections for gearing and detaching
the said friction or clutch box at the outward and inward run of the carriage thus
obviating the removal of the strap from fast to loose pulleys the strap always.
remaining on one pulley.
Dated this Sixth day of November 1891
WILLIAM NICHOLS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self Acting Mules.
I WILLIAM NICHOLS of 10 Coppice Street Oldham in the County of
Lancaster Machine Fitter, 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 consists in the rim shaft having on it either a friction or
"clutch-
box' to draw out the carriage with levers and connections for gearing the same
for the outward run and detaching the said " " friction or "clutch box for the
inward run of the carriage thus obviating the removal of the strap from fast to
loose pulleys, the strap always remaining on one pulley.
My invention will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying
drawings and from the following description thereof.
Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of so much of a mule headstock as is
necessary to illustrate my invention.
Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are detached views of parts hereinafter more particularly
described.
a is the rim shaft, b is a friction cone loose thereon, gearing when required into
the coned pulley e, for drawing out the carriage d; e is the ordinary backing off
wheel actuating the cone disc e¹ fast on the rim shaft a, and is the pinion also
fast on the rim shaft a for actuating the drawing out mechanism in the usual way;
g is the ordinary "holding out catch rod" of the mule.
The friction cone is made with a face plate 6' provided with pins or projections b²
sliding in holes or recesses f³, in a corresponding plate fixed or formed on the
pinion (see Figs. 1 and 2) so that when the said cone b is driven by the pulley e
it actuates the pinion f and the rim shaft a.
The cone b is put into gear with the pulley c by the forked lever h (see Figs. 1
and 3) supported by the bracket i fixed to the frame of the headstock. This
lever is moved by the finger or pink on the lever the other end of which is
connected to the rod m which is held in position by the spring n attached to the
fixed bracket n' and thus the drawing out of the carriage d is effected.
As soon however as the said carriage nears the end of its stretch a projection d
from a bracket thereon comes against a projection m* on the end of the rod m
which is supported by the lever o pivotted to the fixed bracket o'.
The carriage d as it proceeds to finish its stroke carries the rod m with it (over-
coming the action of the spring n) and thus through the levers 7 and h withdraws
Price A71

page_text: the friction cone 6 from gear with the pulley c and stops the drawing out motion,
the rod m is locked in this position by a small catch lever p (see Fig. 1, and
detached plan view Fig.4) which falls behind the boss m¹ on the rod m.
The drawing out friction or clutch box is thus relieved before the carriage & has
completed its outward run thereby taking the momentum off the spindles and
relieving the backing-off friction of much of its work.
As soon as the drawing out motion is to be put into action again, this catch
lever is raised by an incline or projection g¹ on the holding out catch rod y
which at this moment moves as usual in the direction shewn by the arrow on Fig. 1
and causes the said projection g' to come in contact with a bowl p* on the cranked
end of the catch lever and so lift the other end of the said lever p free of the
boss m and allow the spring n to draw back the rod m and through the levers /
and to put the friction cone & into gear again.
P
It will be evident from the drawings that by the use of a single pulley instead
of two or three as before the said pulley may be a wide one (say more than seven
inches wide) and the spinner can use his old main driving belts as "counter" belts;
the rim shaft also can be made shorter and the driving drum on the countershaft
above much narrower. Camel hair belting can also be used as, the strap fork being
dispensed with, there will be no liability to wear at the edge of the belt.
The changes are effected instantaneously and without the wear and tear occasioned
in the old motion by the strap in moving from one pulley to another and bringing
directly opposite motions in contention with one another:
I would remark in conclusion that although I have found the mechanism above
described to work satisfactorily on a "Platts" mule, for ordinary counts of yarn I
do not confine myself: to the use of such mechanism as a practical mechanic con-
versant with the working of mules could readily apply other mechanism for throwing
the friction clutch. above named into or out of gear, according to the different
designs of mules employed and the "counts" to be spun. Other clutches might
also be employed besides the cone above described and illustrated by the annexed
drawings..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my 'said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is :-
The combination with the rim shaft of a self acting mule of a friction or clutch
box for effecting, the drawing;out of the carriage, and means for disconnecting the
same during the inward run of the carriage substantially as hereinbèfore described
and illustrated by the drawings annexed.
Dated this 4th of A 1900
GEO. DAVIES & SON;
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.