CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR ROVING, SPINNING, AND DOUBLING COTTON, WOOL, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1860

page_text: in the County of Lancaster, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR ROVING, SPINNING, AND
DOUBLING COTTON, WOOL, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."-A com-
munication from abroad by William Henry Rhodes, Machinist, and
Theodor Rüdiger, Engineer, both of Chemnitz, in the Kingdom of
Saxony.
Sealed the 4th December 1860, and dated the 7th June 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Joseph Hughes at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th June 1860.
I, EDWARD JOSEPH HUGHES, of the City of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR ROVING, SPINNING,
AND DOUBLING COTTON, WOOL, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS," being a
communication from abroad by William Henry Rhodes, Machinist, and
Theodor Rüdiger, Engineer, both of Chemnitz, in the Kingdom of Saxony,
to be as follows:-
One part of the Invention consists in an improved arrangement of machinery
for spinning cops without mules. The driving apparatus of the machine is
placed between two frames, either at about the middle of their lengths, or at
the ends, and the rollers for stretching the yarn resemble those employed in
the mule. The spindles are placed vertically on both sides of the machine like
the throstles of a water frame; but instead of throstles I employ tubular flyers,
conical at the bottom and cylindrical at the top, and made of glass, metal,
porcelain, papier maché, or any other suitable material. The said tubular
A

page_text: flyers have none of the usual bearings, but are pressed or supported by the
tension of the driving strings, cords, bands, or. ropes against two friction
rollers, arranged in such manner that one of them serves for two tubular
flyers, which, having no bearings, are perfectly clear, and are capable of
revolving at an immense speed, there being less friction and less resistance in
cutting the air than in any description of throstle flyers. The inner surfaces
of the improved tubular flyers or cones correspond with the upper cone of a
In order to obtain the
finished cop, leaving only a small space between.
required twist the yarn or thread is passed to the outside of the cone through.
a niche or hollow, and from thence through another niche to the inside, from
whence it is carried to the spindle. This arrangement is for strong yarns, but
for those which are fine and weak the spindles are smaller and covered with a
thin brass tube, the outer diameter of which is about the same as a bare mule
spindle; this brass tube is soldered at the top-to a piece of steel which rests on
the point of the spindle, and the bottom of the tube is mounted with a wharve
of wood or metal for giving the required draught, the bottom of the spindle
itself being fastened to a partially hollow socket. If the yarn is to be spun
exceedingly fine it may be advisable to employ electro-magnetical power, or
perhaps better, that of magneto-electricity for reducing or lessening the
draught according to the tension the yarns or threads, will bear. All the
spindles for coarse numbers turn in the aforesaid partially hollow sockets, but
for fine numbers the spindles are fastened to the sockets, and the brass tubes-
before described turn upon them. In either case the said sockets slide
vertically on both sides of the machine in rails or traverses, arranged so that
they can be inclined, and thereby give an inclination to the two rows of
spindles on both sides of the machine, for the purpose of placing the axes of the
spindles out of the axes of the cones or tubular flyers when the cops are
finished and ready for doffing.
During the formation of the cops the spindles on both sides of the machine
descend gently for winding on the yarn regularly from the thick part of the
cop to the bare spindle, but the spindles are made to ascend quickly.to allow
for crossing. For spinning fine numbers, paper tubes of, the length of the cop
may be put on the brass tube, for avoiding what is called crossing the yarn from
the cop nose to the largest diameter of the cop; in this case, the spindles
ascend and descend at the same speed, and the yarn or thread is wound.on
regularly from the thick part to the cop nose, and vice versa.
For the purpose of piecing the yarns the spindles can be lowered beneath
the cones or flyers by turning the sockets a little on one side, which allow
certain projections at the bottom of the sockets to leave the rail which supports

page_text: the row of spindles on one side of the machine; thus the required socket is
allowed to slide down beneath the cone and the broken yarn or thread wound
on the point of the spindle and passed through the cone, after which the
spindle is returned to its original position, and a little snarl made in winding
on the broken thread is held in the niches of the cone, which is held with two
fingers of the left hand; this done, the end of the yarn or thread is taken from
the spindle point, and as much unwound by drawing straight up as is required.
to put the end to the front rollers, and then the cone is gently left to its
original rotary motion, which operations can be performed in a shorter time
than that required for their description.
Another part of this Invention relates to certain improvements in self-acting
mules, and consists in the employment of a backing-off regulator, by which
every time the carriage commences to go in the thread will be backed off to
the very point of the cop nose, which arrangement procures a saving of time,
a prevention of snarls, and a better formation of the cop.
The said improvements also consist in the application of a tightening pulley
for the holding-bar band; this pulley combines the action of a guiding pulley
of the band as well as of a break for preventing the cutting of the yarn when
the motor of the mill runs too fast, or when the holding-bar band is loosened
by changes of the temperature or excess of moisture in the atmosphere. This
arrangement procures a saving of time, as every change in the tension of the
holding-bar band can be performed whilst the carriage is in movement, and
there is also a reduction in the number of cut threads by preventing the:
jumping back of both ends of the carriage, which has hitherto occurred when
the carriage pushes too heavily against the buffers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Joseph Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 6th December 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
JOSEPH HUGHES, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Edward Joseph Hughes, Her special licence that I, the said Edward Joseph

page_text: Hughes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Edward Joseph Hughes, my 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 "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR ROVING, SPINNING, AND DOUBLING
COTTON, WOOL, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS," being a communication to
me from abroad by William Henry Rhodes, Machinist, and Theodor Rüdiger,
Engineer, both of Chemnitz, in the Kingdom of Saxony, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Edward Joseph Hughes, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, 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 I, the said Edward Joseph Hughes, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say) :-
This Invention consists, firstly, in an improved spinning machine for
spinning cops without mules; and, secondly, in certain improvements in self-
acting mules.
In the first part of this Invention for short machines, up to five or six
hundred spindles, the driving apparatus is placed at the end, but for larger
machines, up to one thousand or twelve hundred spindles, it is placed in the
middle between the framework. The roller system for stretching the yarn is
similar to that of the mule, but the spindles do not work inclined on a carriage
like the self-actor system, but vertically on both sides of the machine, similar
to the throstles of a water frame. Instead of throstles tubular flyers are
employed, conical at the bottom and cylindrical at the top; they are composed
The said
of metal, glass, porcelain, papier maché, or other suitable material.
tubular flyers or cones have none of the usual bearings, but are pressed or
supported by the tension of the driving bands or cords against two horizontal
friction rollers, arranged in such manner that one of them serves for two cones
which, having no bearings, are in the front at both sides of the machine, clear
of everything, and are capable of revolving at an immense speed, there being
less friction and less resistance in cutting the air than in any other arrange

page_text: ment.
The rotary motion of the cones is obtained from two tin rollers placed
so that the driving bands may be of great length; but when the distance
from spindle to spindle is more than one inch and a half, then one tin roller
may be employed without shortening the bands. The inner surfaces of the
improved tubular flyers or cones correspond with the upper cone of a finished
cop, leaving only a small space between. At the commencement of a fresh
cop, at the bottom near the bolster, the spindle is passed through the interior
of the cone, and the yarn coming from the front rollers also passes through the
interior, being kept in tension very near the centre of rotation. As the cone
revolves the centrifugal action is not sufficient to cause a sharply curved line
of the yarn from the eyelet or guide to the upper cylindrical rim of the cone.
For giving the required twist the yarn or thread passes through a nick or
hollow at the under rim of the cone in order to get at the outside, and through
another nick to arrive at the inside of the cone, and then be wound on the
spindle. This arrangement is for strong yarns, but for those which are fine
and weak the spindles are smaller and covered with a thin brass tube, the outer
diameter of which is about the same as a bare mule spindle. This brass tube
is soldered at the top to a piece of steel which rests on the point of the spindle,
and the bottom of the tube is mounted with a wharve of wood or metal for
giving the required drag, the bottom of the spindle itself being fastened to a
partially hollow socket. All the spindles for coarse numbers turn in the
aforesaid partially hollowed sockets, but for fine numbers the spindles are
fastened to the sockets, and the brass tubes before described turn upon them.
In either case the said sockets slide vertically on each side of the machine in
a rail or traverse arranged so that it can be inclined, and thereby give an
inclination to the row of spindles for the purpose of placing the axes of the
spindles out of the axes of the cones when the cops are finished and ready for
doffing. The required drag is obtained by a small dead weight suspended to
a string which passes through a nick cut in the upper rim of a brass hoop
tightly fitting the top of the socket, and by shifting the ring a little round the
drag can be regulated with great nicety.
For the purpose of winding the yarn in the shape of cops a cop motion is
employed, which causes the spindles on both sides of the machine to go gently
down for winding on the yarn.from the thick part of the cop up to the bare
spindle, and fast up for crossing; this will be the exact imitation of the cop
formation in a self-actor. For spinning fine numbers paper tubes of the
length of the cop to be produced may be put on the brass tube for the purpose
of avoiding what is called crossing the yarn from the cop nose to the largest
diameter of the cop. In this case the spindles go up and down at the same

page_text: and
speed, the yarn being wound on from the thick part to the cop nose
vice versa. By this arrangement the changing of the speed of the cop in
winding almost on the bare spindle or paper tube, and in winding on the
largest diameter of the cop, will not be too sudden, which will avoid the
frequent breakage of the
yarn.
At the commencement of the cop formation the spindles with their sockets
move up and down about an inch for producing a firm bottom of the cop.
This movement gradually augments until about two and a quarter inches of
yarn is wound on, when the movement is again lessened for the cop nose of the
finished cop.
The centres of these different pendulous motions descend
gradually from the commencement to the completion of the cop formation.
For the purpose of piecing the yarns the spindles can be lowered beneath the
cones by turning the sockets a little on one side, which allow certain projec-
tions at the bottom of the sockets to leave the rail which supports the row of
spindles on that side of the machine; thus the required socket is allowed to
slide down beneath the cone and the broken yarn or thread wound on the
point of the spindle and passed through the cone, after which the spindle is
returned to its original position, and a little snarl made in winding the broken
yarn round the spindle is held in the nicks of the cone, which cone is held by
two fingers of the left hand; this done, the end of the yarn or thread is taken
from the spindle point, and as much unwound, by drawing straight up, as is
required to put the end to the front rollers, and then the cone is left gently to
its original rotary motion, which operations can be performed in a shorter
time than that required for their description.
The second part of this Inventiou relates to certain improvements in self-
acting mules, and consists in the employment of a backing-off regulator, by
which, every time the carriage commences to go in, the yarn or thread will be
backed off to the very point of the cop nose, which arrangement causes a
saving of time, a prevention of snarls, and a better formation of the cop.
And also in the application of a tightening pulley for the holding back band;
this pulley combines the action of a guiding pulley of the band as well as of a
brake for preventing the cutting of the yarn when the motor of the mill runs
too fast, or when the holding-back band is loosened by changes of the tempe-
rature or excess of moisture in the atmosphere. This arrangement causes a
saving of time, as every change in the tension of the holding-back band can be
performed whilst the carriage is in motion; and there is also a reduction in the
number of cut threads by preventing the jumping back of both ends of the
carriage, which has hitherto occurred when the carriage pushes too heavily
against the buffers.

page_text: This Invention will be clearly understood by referring to the figures and
letters on the accompanying sixteen Sheets of Drawings, in which Figs.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 14, 14, 15, 15%, and 15 are
different views and detached parts of the improved spinning machine, and
Figs. 16, 17, 18, and 19 are different views and detached parts of the
improvements connected with self-acting mules.
Of the spinning machine, Fig. 1 is an end elevation outside the headstock ;
Fig. 2a front elevation representing a portion of the machine; Fig 3, a vertical
section at the line C, D, of Fig. 2, the row of spindles on one side being
shewn inclined ready for doffing; Fig. 4, a vertical section through the
middle of the machine at the line E, F, Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan of the
machine at the top, with the exception of the creels, stands, rovings, rollers.
for driving the yarn, and other well known parts; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section
at the line A, B, of Fig. 2. The aforesaid Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are drawn
to half or about half of the full size. Fig. 7 represents a vertical section of the
cop motion at the line G, H, Fig. 9; Fig. 8, a horizontal section following
the broken line K, L, M, N, Fig. 7; Fig. 9, a vertical section at the line
O, P, Fig. 7; Fig. 10, a front view of the under part of the cop motion foot.
plate; Fig. 11, a section of the cone or conical tube flyer in connection with.
a double friction roller; Fig. 12, a section through the axis of one double-
friction roller; Fig. 13, a section of a spindle fastened in its socket, with a
brass tube over it employed for spinning very fine numbers; Fig. 14 is an
elevation of part of the front of one of the headstocks of the machine, shewing-
in section one of the conical tube flyers, the bar which supports the whole.
of one row of spindle sockets or bearings on one side of the machine, and
also the bar or small frame which carries the double friction rollers, the
spindle is shewn through the conical flyer, the socket being nearly in its.
highest position; Fig. 14 is a plan of the bar which supports the sockets
and part of the lever which actuates. it. The aforesaid Figures 7, 8, 9, 10,
11, 12, 13, 14, and 14ª are drawn to about their full dimensions; Fig. 14b.
represents a mode of giving the drag drawn to a small scale; Figs.. 15 and 15ª.
are side and front elevations of the mechanism for varying the drag; and
Fig. 15 is a plan of the same drawn half full size..
The following figures refer to the improvements connected with self-acting.
mules. Fig 16 is a side view, and Fig. 17, a plan of the backing-off regulator ;.
and Figs. 18 and 19 are side and front views of the tightening brake pulley,
all. drawn half size.
In the improved spinning machine the driving pulley. a,.outside the head-
stock of the machine, is fixed to the first tin roller shaft b. The movement.

page_text: is supposed to be transferred to the machine by a countershaft which derives
its rotary motion from the main shaft. The countershaft carries three pulleys,
a fast and a loose one in communication with the main shaft, and the third to
correspond with the pulley, a of the machine. The pulley a has a long boss
bored inside and. turned outside very accurately; it has its bearing in a long. boss
of the frame c through which it traverses; this boss is split about two and a
half inches of its length, and fastened to the shaft 6 by the ring f and set
screw d. The shaft 6 has its second bearing in a long, boss of the inner frame
of the headstock, through which it projects for about six inches for fastening the
tin. roller in the manner generally performed in mules. From the inner frame
e of the headstock to the first intermediate frame g is a distance of about ten-
feet. On each side of the machine are placed eighty spindles between these
two frames; altogether one hundred and sixty spindles in every division or com-
partment; there are five of these compartments in the machine, which therefore
contains eight hundred spindles. The movement of the first tin' roller shaft bis
transferred to the second m by means of two double band pullies h and i, and,
a tightening pulley k. The two tin rollers are the length of the whole machine,,
and have their bearings in the intermediate frames g, g. The bands for driving
the cones or tubular flyers 1, l, are shewn in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3, and.
in the same manner is shewn the double band to drive the second tin roller
shaft m.
The cones 1, 1, quite in front of both sides of the machine, are
suspended, and driven by the bands coming from the tin rollers. A traverse n
connected to the several intermediate frames is cast with bosses o, o, and by
means of set screws.q, Fig. 11, the pivots x, x, are fastened vertically to the
bosses o, and upon the pivots are placed the double friction rollers p, p,
underneath the bosses. The double friction rollers are not bored through, so
that the oil may be preserved, and the pivots are bored in their upper parts,
where they are fixed in their bosses for oiling the friction rollers.
In this way
every cone has two double friction rollers,. and is pressed against them by the
driving string or band, and every double friction' roller serves for two cones,
excepting the two near the headstock frame c, and the intermediate frame g..
The tin rollers make seven hundred revolutions per minute, and are eight
inches in diameter; the wharve of the cones is 18 of an inch, therefore the
number of revolutions of the cones are 1700 6892 without slip of the
bands, say 6800, reckoning the slip about 1-4 per cent: As before mentioned,,
the cones may be made of any suitable material, but if of metal the under
rims should be enamelled. In order to avoid a rattling noise, the friction
rollers are covered with leather on their working circumferences. On the
first tin roller-shaft 6 is fixed the small: pinion. by means of a set screw a¹; the

page_text: pinion has on both sides long bosses; the one at the right is split and screwed
together to the shaft by means of a wrought iron hoop b¹ and set screw a¹.
The boss on the left side of the pinion is fitted through the long boss c¹ of
the frame e. The pinion r drives the wheel 8, which is connected with the
pinion t gearing into the carrier wheel u, which drives the front roller wheel w,
and the second carrier wheel driving the second front roller wheel y on the
other side of the machine. The movement of the middle and back roller is
communicated from the front roller wheels wand y in the way generally
known, and therefore is not shewn in the Drawing. The axis of the wheel s
and the pinion t is formed by a wrought-iron stud fixed into a slot in the
lever d', which has its fulcrum on the axis e¹ of the wheel u. The other end
of the lever d' has a circular slot, which allows the lever to turn a little round
the axis e, and then be fastened by a bolt and nut to the frame c. The
pinion is to be changed for different numbers to be spun, and must be larger
in diameter for coarser numbers; thus the two slots in the lever are for putting
different pinions t into gear with the first carrier wheel u, and' at the same time
to gear the pinion into the wheel s. The first carrier wheel u is fixed to the
long boss of the pinion f, which gears into the intermediate wheel g', to which
is fastened the pinion h¹ gearing into the wheel k¹, which may be called the
"cam shaft wheel," because it has on one side an eccentric curve shaped in
the manner shewn in Figs. 1 and 3. A roller turning on a stud fastened on
the end of the arm m¹ of the double lever n' is guided by this curve, and forced
to go gently up and rapidly down during one revolution of the cam shaft
wheel. The vertical double arm n¹ of the lever, which has its centre of
oscillation on the axis o¹, travels therefore very slowly from right to left, and
rapidly from left to right, Figs. 1. and 3. In Fig. 7 it is the contrary, because
the mechanism called cop motion is there drawn reversed. Two links q' are
jointed to the forked ends p' of the two-armed lever n' the other ends of these
two links are jointed to two pivots of an apparatus, which is called the cop
motion, and which will be hereafter described. in detail. For the present it
will be sufficient to say that by the means just described an inclined cam s';
called a builder, is drawn gently from right to left and quickly from left to
right. A roller t, turning in a joint at the lowest part of a frame u¹, is sup-
ported by the inclined cam s'. The frame u is guided vertically by a block v¹
fitted on the shaft w of the cam wheel k¹ and on the end of the shaft a¹,
which latter, and also the shaft y', traverses the entire length of the machine.
These two shafts and y' are shewn in the Drawings as made of wrought iron,
but in very long machines they can be made of hollow cast iron and' connected
together by flanges or other convenient means. Thus it is evident that the

page_text: frame u¹ will during one revolution of the cam wheel ¹ move quickly up, and
gently down, and also in the same manner the two arms of the frame u¹ with
their square slots a³, a³. The ends of two short levers 62, 62, fixed to the
two long shafts a¹ and y', are connected to brass blocks fitting the slots a, a,
so that the two shafts a¹ and y¹, will be turned quickly one way and slowly
the other during one revolution of the cam wheel k. Long levers c³, c, are
fixed to the shafts a¹ and y' inside the headstock frame e, and to both sides of
every intermediate frame g, g. Each of these levers have at one end a head
like a fork fitted with a sliding square brass block, which receives the two
pivots of a bar d³ of about ten feet in length. These bars d extend from one
intermediate frame to the other; there are therefore five pieces on each side of
the machine, and all of them are vertically guided in slots c² in the headstock
frame e; and also.in every intermediate frame g, g. By this combination the
whole row of bars d on both sides of the machine move up and down at the
same time as the sliding frame u¹ with its roller t' moves up and down. The
two rows of spindle sockets f, f, rest on these bars d³, and move up and down
with the bars d. For counterbalancing the pressure exerted by the weight of four
hundred spindle sockets, spindles and bars d³ on the levers c³, a counterweight
is applied to every lever c², in order that the pressure exerted upon the sliding
frame by the short levers ³ can be reduced as much as required, it being
only necessary for having the roller t always in contact with the inclined
cam s¹. For coarse numbers all the spindles g2 on both sides of the machine
turn in sockets f, partially hollow and turned outside, as seen at section R,
Fig. 14; but in more difficult cases, for finer numbers, they are fastened to
the sockets, as seen in Fig. 13. These sockets slide vertically in a traverse h³,
extending on both sides of the machine from one end to the other. These two
traverses h² are combined by five pieces (there can be more for longer
machines), each about ten feet long, which is the distance from centre to
centre of the intermediate frames. They rest on bearings or bosses in the
intermediate frames, and are connected together in these places, so that the
whole combined traverse h³ on each side of the machine can be inclined by a
worm, toothed sector k³, and a small hand fly wheel 1 placed close to the
inner headstock frame e. In longer machines of one thousand or twelve
hundred spindles, this apparatus is to be fixed on the side of an intermediate
frame, about the middle of the machine. The inclination of the traverse
causes an inclination of the whole two rows of spindles on both sides of the
machine for the purpose of placing the centre lines of the spindles g², g³, out of
the centre lines of the cones 1, when the cops are finished and ready for doffing
(as seen on the left side of the machine, Fig. 3. The inclination shewn is

page_text: sufficient to take the finished cops off the spindles by passing them on the sides
of the cones. As before mentioned, the rotary movement of the cones 1, 1, is
obtained by strings or bands from the two tin rollers on the shafts 6 and m,
when the distance from spindle to spindle is one inch and a half, wbich
arrangement enables the strings or bands to be of the greatest length, and
prevents their entanglement. When the distance from spindle to spindle is
more than one and a half inches, another arrangement can be made with only
one tin roller without shortening the strings or bands, and also without
entangling them. The inner surface of the conical tubes 1, 1, nearly cor-
responds with the upper cone of a finished cop, leaving only a small space
between. At the commencement of a new cop, at the bottom near the bolster
the spindle g² passes through the hollow cylindrical part of the tube l, and the
yarn coming from the front rollers. m² also passes through the cone from the
enamelled wire hook n², as seen in Fig. 3. The yarn is now held in tension
very near the centre of rotation, and the centrifugal action will not produce too
curved a line of the yarn from the wire hook n² fixed above the spindle point,
when it is quite passed through the cone to the upper cylindrical rim of the cone.
For giving the required twist, the yarn passes a nick o formed on the under
rim of the cone in order to arrive at the outside, and then through another
nick for getting inside the cone again, and being wound on the spindle or on
the commenced cop. If the strength of the yarn is not sufficient to draw the
whole spindle after it, then the spindles are fastened in the sockets f, Fig. 13;
but in this case they can be of less diameter, so that a thin conical brass tube e
placed over the spindle may on the outside have the diameter of a bare mule
spindle, or but little more. This brass tube rests with a soldered piece of
steel on the spindle point, and has on its lowest point a wharve of wood or
cast iron for giving the required drag. The piece of steel which rests on the
spindle point is bored for oiling the inside of the brass tube, even while the
machine is at work. In both cases, whether the spindles turn round or
the brass tube round the spindles, the required drag is given by the friction of
a small dead weight hanging on a cord in the usual manner; the cord causes
the friction on the circumference of the wharve. The only difference is, that
the cords of the weights pass triangular nicks rounded on the bottom,
formed in the upper rim of a tight-fitting brass ring f³ on the top of the
sockets. The drag can be regulated very exactly by shifting this ring a little
round the socket. When the distance from spindle to spindle is more than
one and three quarter inches, the resistance of the air is employed for giving
the drag, upon the same principle as that used in clocks. In this case the
required drag can be regulated very exactly by turning the small vanes g³, g³,

page_text: Fig. 14, round their spindles h³, only a very short distance for cutting the
air at another angle, and in this it is subject to more or less resistance from
the air when the spindle turns round. In all the aforesaid cases the drag is
not made variable according to the increase in the diameter of the cop, and it
does very well up to number forty. The drag should be less when the yarn is
wound on the smallest diameter of the cop, and should be more when it is to
be wound on the largest diameter.
Another arrangement for varying the drag is shewn in side elevation at
Fig. 15, in plan at Fig. 15, and in front elevation at Fig. 15b, drawn half size.
In this arrangement the small friction pulleys on the spindles, with their cords
and weights forming the ordinary drag, are removed. It is to be understood
that the winding of the yarn commences on the smallest diameter of the cop
when the double arm n', n', of the swing lever on the shaft o¹, Figs. 1, 3, and
4, has its extreme position to the left at B; and on the contrary, the yarn will
be wound on the largest diameter of the cop when the double arm n³, n¹,
occupies its extreme position to the right at D.
Suppose a new cop is to be commenced, the spindle is passed quite through
its conc, then the lever n¹ has its position at D, and the winding on the bare
spindle begins on its lowest part a little above the bolster of the spindle; the
drag is then regulated for the radius of the bare spindle. By and bye, as the
winding on of the yarn enlarges the bottom part of the cop to a much larger
diameter than that of the bare spindle, the drag must then be augmented,
when the winding on takes places on this larger diameter, and must be
reduced gradually during the winding on from the largest diameter of the cop
to the bare spindle. This augmented drag, which always takes place when
the lever n¹ occupies its position at D, is increasing, and obtains its maximum
when the under cone of the cop is finished, that is to say, when the largest
diameter of the cop is attained. During the time of one oscillation of the
lever n' from its position at D to the position at B, or, which is the same thing,
during the winding on from the large diameter of the cop to the smallest or
bare spindles, the variable or augmented drag is to be reduced to its original
amount; but if the cop formation is proceeding, and the weight of the cop
gradually augmenting, then, of course, the drag must be changed gradually
again, but this change is only very little, and goes on diminishing (whether
the winding on takes place on the largest or smallest diameter of the cop)
until the cop is completed. All this is performed in a very simple manner by
the quadrant a, which is keyed to the shaft o¹, outside the headstock. This
quadrant is brought into connection with the "cop motion," and therefore the
change of the drag is dependent upon the progress of the cop formation. The

page_text: quadrant a is fastened to the shaft o' in such manner that its centre line
occupies the position B¹ when the lever n¹ is in its extreme position at the
traverses gradually to D¹ during
The quadrant a has the radius
left, and the centre line of the quadrant a
the time the lever n² moves from B to D.
be, f, and this radius is formed by a wrought-iron bar A, which is made a
little longer to receive a weight d fastened in different positions by the set
screw e. This weight has always the tendency to press down the pivot f,
which is connected to the bar A6, and is guided by its square head in the cir-
cular groove of the quadrant. The exact position of the other end of the
bar do, that is to say, of the point 66, depends therefore, firstly, upon the posi-
tion of the quadrant a; and secondly, of the higher or lower position of the
pivot fo in the groove of the quadrant a6. This latter position of the pivot fo
depends upon the position of the pivot he, which is fastened by a nut to the
lowest end of a vertical bar C, which is jointed by a bolt go to the horizontal
bar Aº. The point 6 travels almost horizontally in the movement of the
lever D, which has its centre of oscillation in k, and which joints at 6 with
the horizontal bar A. The point 6 is brought into connection with every
eighty spindles by means of a friction band which encircles the small wharves
of the spindles in a zig-zag direction. (A simple provision is made that the
length of the band from the first spindle wharve to the point 6 of the bar A
remains the same, and has invariably the same tension when the spindles have
their highest or their lowest position; of course the point 60 is then supposed
to be stationary). The movement to the right of the point 6 increases the
original given drag.
The pivot rests on the inclined plane 1, and is guided vertically by a
slot in the metal piece me, which is screwed to the under part of the outer
headstock frame. A horizontal movement of this inclined plane to the right
hand will now bring down the pivot f in the groove of the quadrant a®, and it
is necessary to produce this horizontal movement of the inclined plane by the
mechanism which forms the cop. As before described, the shaft a¹ has a pen-
dulous rotary motion by the movement of the "cop motion," and the different
diameters of the cop by the winding on of the yarn are altogether dependent
upon the position of this shaft a¹, therefore the relative positions of the pivot f*
in the groove of the quadrant a' are made to depend upon the position of the
shaft in the following manner :-A lever n is keyed to the end of the
shaft, and is connected to a second lever of equal length of by a bolt pc
and nut, so that the to-and-fro movement of the shaft ¹ is transferred to the
small shaft r, to which is fastened the second lever 06, and which has its
bearing in a long boss so, cast or screwed outside the outer headstock frame c.

page_text: This small shaft 2 is provided with another longer lever 9" of wrought iron,
which moves at its lowest part an inclined plane to horizontally in the guide uº.
This inclined plane to (the inclination of which as well as its relative position
to the lever is variable) works a horizontal lever vs with a click, so that the
to-and-fro motion of the inclined plane to produces an up-and-down motion of
the click, and therefore the small ratchet wheel to fastened to the screw a
will be turned a little every time the lever q travels from right to left. The
screw moves by means of the brass nut y the before-mentioned inclined
plane-.. During the time of the cop formation the lever 9 moves gradually
from the position at M to the position at N ; but whilst this (main) oscilla-
lation from M to N is performed, the lever q makes a great number of
subordinate oscillations of less extent by means of the cop motion. These
oscillations in connection with the form and position of the inclined plane to
procure the means of turning the screw in any convenient manner with
respect to the commenced cop, therefore the inclined plane to will be shifted
accordingly to the right hand, which causes the pivot ho to slide vertically
down the inclined plane 1, and the pivot f also to descend in the quadrant c.
This descent of the pivot f in its quadrant a can be effected to any extent
required, so that at the commencement of the cop formation there is no change
in the position of the pivot fe as it rests in the centre of the shaft o', and the
oscillating movement of the quadrant is without any effect upon the bar A.
After some time the pivot f is lowered gradually, and the oscillating move-
ment of the quadrant a' is imparted to the bar A°; this lowering of the pivot fo
in the quadrant a, continues until the largest diameter of the cop is
formed, and then remains stationary a long time, and towards the completion
of the cop, the pivot fo is brought a little nearer to the centre of the shaft o
It is now clear that the point 6 of the bar A will be stationary at the com-
mencement of the cop formation, that is, the drag is not altered; then the
point b° will deviate more and more from its original position, and cause an
increased drag when a larger diameter of the cop is filled with yarn, until its
largest diameter is attained. The point be will always come back to its
original position when the yarn is wound round the smallest diameter, and it
has its extreme position always to the right when the winding on takes place
on the largest diameter. If the bottom part of the cop is finished, or the
largest diameter commenced, then the pivot forests almost stationary in its
relative position to the quadrant a, and in consequence the point be will have
to make its longest movement to the right from its original position.
During the whole process of producing the cops an apparatus before men-
tioned is employed called a "cop motion," so that all the spindles on both

page_text: sides of the machine go gently down for winding the yarn regularly on froin
the thick part of the cop up to the bare spindle, and fast up for crossing;
this will be the exact imitation of the cop formation in a self-actor.
The cop motion is shewn in Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10. A foot plate o rests on
the floor, and is fastened at the side to the inner headstock frame e. On this
foot plate o slides a box p², formed of two pieces right and left, which are
screwed together by bolts and nuts 73. This box is provided with two studs
for jointing with the two links q', the other. ends of which are connected by
pins and washers to the two forks p₁ of the double-armed levers n¹, n'. In
the box p² slides the double-shaper plate s³, provided underneath with a brass
nut 2, which is worked by a screw u", held by its collar v² to the under part
of the box p², similar to the slide rest of a lathe. By turning this screw the
relative positions of the double-shaper plate s² and the box p² are changed,'
and the double-shaper plate s can by this means be drawn out to the position
shewn by the dotted lines in Fig. 7. On the two inclines of the double-shaper
plates rests the builder s¹ by its two pivots w², w³. The pivot w at the right
hand, Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, is longer than the other, and two square pieces q² are
fitted on its ends. These square pieces work in two vertical slots of the
box p, so that in drawing the double-shaper plate 82 by means of the screw u².
and nut t out of the box p², the right-hand part of the builder §¹²
goes ver-:
tically down as the shaper plate allows it, and the left-hand part of the
builder follows in the same manner the inclined upper cam of the shaper
plate, by which descent the builder takes different inclinations according to
the shape of the cop that is to be produced.
is keyed, and a lever 22 pro-
An inclined plane d³, Figs. 2
To the end of the screw u² a ratchet wheel
vided with a click y is loose on the screw u³.
and 6, is screwed to the side of the foot plate o, which raises the lever 22 with
its click y when the cop motion is drawn from left to right, and allows it to
go down; then the whole apparatus travels from the right to left, Figs. 7
and 8. The ratchet wheel a will therefore be turned one tooth at each time
by the click when the cop motion moves from left to right; the screw u² draws
the shaper plate s very slowly from left to right, and this slow and regular
movement of the shaper plate causes a gradual descent of the builder s; by.
which means the frame u¹, by the combination of levers above mentioned,
causes the two rows of spindles g gradually to descend and leave their cones l,'
through which they are placed at the beginning of a new cop. The result of
this combination is that at the commencement of the "cop formation" the
spindles with their sockets move rapidly up and slowly-down for about one
nch in order to produce a firm bottom of the cop'; this movement gradually

page_text: augments and obtains its maximum length of two inches and a quarter, after
which it is again lessened to an inch and five-eighths for the cop nose of the
finished cop. The centres of these different pendulous motions descend
gradually from the commencement to the completion of the formation.
.
cop
cop.
When spinning, very fine numbers paper tubes of the length of the cop to
be produced are put on the brass tube ; Fig. 13, for avoiding what is called
"crossing the yarn "from the: cop.nose to the largest diameter of the In:
this case the spindles move up and down at the same. speed (the curved:
groove of the cam wheel is then differently shaped so as..to produce the
ascent and descent of the roller at the same speed,. that is, during half .a
revolution of the cam wheel k¹). The yarn is regularly wound on from the:
thick part to the cop nose, and from the cop.nose back, and so on. The
changing of the speed of the cop in winding on almost on the bare spindle or:
paper tube, and in winding on the largest diameter of the cop, will be by this:
arrangement not too sudden; thus avoiding .too much breakage of the yarn...
For the purpose of piecing, the spindles can be let down underneath the
cones by turning the sockets a little to onetside; the projections. 2, 2, on the
under part of the sockets leave. 'the bar d, which supports .the whole row. of.
spindles on one side of the machine, and-the socket is allowed to slide down
underneath the cone . The broken yarn wound on to the spindle point is
passed through the cone when, the spindle is put. its original position; a
little snarl or loop. inade previously in winding the broken yarn round the
spindle is held in the nicks of the cone, during which time the cone is held
with two fingers of the left hand, then the end of the yarn is taken from the
spindle point, and as much yarn unwound. by drawing straight up as is required
to put the end to the front rollers, and then the cone is gently left to its original
rotary motion. The piecing is performed in a very short time, especially if
the operative has been practised in.this novel. mode of piecing..
ADVANTAGES OF THE NEW MACHINE.
First, a considerable saving of time; for let us suppose a self-actor makes
three draws: per minute (which will be. about the average), it requires for
every draw about fifteen seconds to bring the carriage out, and five seconds to
take it in again; therefore, of every sixty seconds 3 x 15-45 seconds will be
employed for spinning, and. 3x5=15:seconds for winding. on. In the im-
proved machine before described, where the spinning and winding on takes
place simultaneously, there will be a saving of time of fifteen.seconds out of
every sixty, or twenty-five per cent.; that is to say, when a self-actor works
twelve hours,, the same amount of work will be done by this improved spinning

page_text: machine in nine hours; or when both machines work during the same time,
the new machine produces one-third more work. In stating these figures I do
not reckon the increased speed of the cones, comparing only the same number
of revolutions of the improved cones and the spindles of a self-actor.
Secondly, a saving of nearly half the space required for a self-actor.
Thirdly, considerably less wear of spindles and bolsters, because the spindles
of the improved machine are standing vertically, and have not to sustain a
strain of the driving strings or bands sideways.
Fourthly, less wear and tear of strings or bands, because the tin rollers and
band pullies always turn one way.
Fifthly, a saving of time in piecing, because it can be performed at any
moment; but in a self-actor, when the operative cannot reach the front roller,
he has to wait until the carriage comes in again, the result of which incon-
⚫venience is loss of time and increase of waste.
Sixthly, reduction in the breakage of the yarn, because the distance from the
icop to the front rollers is much less than in the self-actor.
Seventhly, the impossibility of snarls or cutting the yarn, therefore, the
yarn' or thread will be quite, equal throughout. The best mules under any
circumstances are very liable both to cut and snarl the yarn.
Eighthly, less wear of the driving strings or bands of the cones in this
improved machine than those of the spindle wharves of a mule, because they
are longer, and if necessary, they can be still further lengthened.
The second part of this Invention relates to certain improvements in self-
acting mules, and consists in the employment of a backing-off regulator, shewn
in Figs. 16 and 17, and the application of a tightening break pulley, for the
holding-back band, shewn in Figs. 18 and 19.
In every system of self-actor an exact backing-off regulator is required, that
is to say, a mechanism by which the yarn is taken from the spindle point to
the very point of the cop nose, just before the carriage commences to go in for
commencing the winding-on, always from the highest point of the unfinished
cop.. The length of the yarn to be backed off is of course variable; it is longer
in the commencement of the cop formation, and becomes gradually shorter as
the cop approaches its completion. This length is dependent upon the length
of the chain a', which should be kept in tension by the pulley t, and depends
also upon the distance m, n. The distance m, n, diminishes gradually from
the commencement of the cop formation to its completion caused by the
gradual descent of the copping rail. Suppose the chain a' is always extended
by the tension pulley t, then there is required a gradually less and less rotation
of the spiral to elevate the lever to the height m, n, at which instant.a

page_text: large friction pulley on the headstock is thrown out of gear for stopping the
backing-off. At the same time a large spiral for drawing the carriage in is
thrown into gear, the carriage begins to go in as well as the winding on com-
mences from the highest point of the cop in formation by crossing the yarn,
which gives the cop the necessary consistence for not breaking when taken off
the spindles. The tension pulley t", however, does not always extend the chain
during the period of the cop forniation, because the pulley t moves to the left
hand in the direction of the arrow, which movement is caused by the descent
of the copping rail, and by the inclined plane, q, upon which the roller M
slides. The consequence of all this is, that the backing off in an even and
exact manner at the commencement of the cop formation, diminishes with the
progress of the operation, but not sufficiently, therefore towards the end of the
cop formation the backing-off is too much, and in consequence, the cop nose
will not have the required compactness, because the crossing of the yarn com-
mences chiefly towards the end of the cop formation underneath the cop nose.
This fault is always carefully avoided by the spinner occupied with the hand
mule or half self-actor, and to avoid this inconvenience of the self-actor, a
"backing-off regulator" is employed, so that the yarn will be backed off always
to the very end of the cop in formation. The roller A, turning on a pivot
fixed to the lever B, is always travelling on the copping rail a', which moves
down gradually during the whole course of the cop formation. The centre pin
C is by this descent of the copping rail forced to turn a little to the left, because
it is acted upon by the lever B, and the levers E and F. On the inner side
of this centre pin C is fixed another lever F', equal in length to the lever E,
which is connected by a small bar d (the length of which can be altered as
required) to a lever 1, which turns upon a centre pin j, so that during the
descent of the copping rail for forming the cop a curved wire c' fixed to the
lever, moves slowly in the direction of the arrow. The length and relative
position of this movement can be regulated by the length of the small bar d
and by lengthening or shortening the lever F. The curved wire c* acting like
a spring presses against the projection h of a disc g, which turns upon the shaft
G of the tin roller. The disc g' has another projection ', which is in contact with
the pivot of a click fixed on the disc H. On the small spiral K is wound the
chain a, in the manner clearly shewn in the Drawing; this small spiral K
and the disc H are formed in one piece, and both are loose on the shaft G
The spiral K can turn with the shaft G only when the click is in contact with
the ratchet wheel L, keyed on the shaft G, and when the ratchet wheel turns
in the direction of the arrow, shewn in the Drawing. The contact of the click
with its ratchet wheel takes place when the shaft G turns to the left, that is to
C3P

page_text: say, when the chain a* is wound on the spiral K, and when the backing-off is
going on, this contact is effected by a friction or click spring. By the same
click spring the click is disengaged from its ratchet wheel when the shaft G
turns to the right, during which time the yarn is wound on.
Thus it is evident, that during the formation of the cop, the curved wire c
gradually pushes the click to the left, by which slow movement of the click the
disc H and the spiral K turn also to the left, that is to say, the chain a' will
be gradually wound on, and by its winding on will be a little shortened during
the cop formation. This shortening of the chain a' can be adjusted by the
means above described, so that the backing-off is always effected to the highest
part of the cop in formation. After this, the crossing of the yarn commences
from the highest point of the cop to the thickest part of it, by which means the
cop receives the required consistency.
ADVANTAGES OF THIS BACKING-OFF REGULATOR.
First, saving of time caused by the reduction of the backing-off, which
occurs by every putting up of the carriage.
Secondly, formation of a cap of a perfectly regular compactness from the
bottom up to the cop nose.
Thirdly, prevention of snarls and knots, which cause sooner or later the
breakage of the yarn.
If by change of the weather the holding back band of a self-actor becomes
too slack, or it is necessary to tighten it because the motor of the cotton mill
runs at a higher speed than it ought, then the self-actor as it is constructed at
present must be stopped for tightening the holding-back band by turning a
ratchet wheel fastened to the carriage.
By applying an improved tightening break pulley, shewn in Figs. 18 and 19,
the tension of the holding-back band can be produced during the working of
the machine by turning a small screw, with the handle a fixed to the bottom
part of the headstock. The roller b is fixed in a frame i in such manner that
it does not turn round its axis, and therefore includes in its action not only the
function of a tightening pulley, but at the same time that of a break. By this
combined action of the roller b the breakage of the yarn chiefly at both ends
of the carriage is avoided when the carriage moves in, and the holding back
band is too loose, or the machine travels too fast, because in these two cases the
carriage pushes too heavily against the buffers, the consequence of which is, that
both ends of the carriage rebound too much. By turning the small handle a,
he operative is able to give to the holding-back band the required tightness.
The advantages of this tightening break pulley consists in a saving of time,.
B 2

page_text: because the holding-back band can be tightened without stopping the self-
actor, and a less, breakage of the yarn, because the tightening pulley serves at
the same time as a break.
The backing-off regulator and the tightening break pulley can be adapted
at very little cost to every mule or self-actor, as they are at present constructed
by machine makers. In certain cases, when it is impossible to employ the
frame c, Figs. 18 and 19, for instance, when the shaft of the pulley goes
through the two headstock frames, then the said tightening break pulley may
be bored eccentrically, and fastened in its right position by a lever or toothed
sector, and screw or worm.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention as
communicated to me from abroad, I desire it to be distinctly understood that I
claim as new within the realm,-
Firstly, the application to machinery for preparing, spinning, and doubling
fibrous materials, of improved cones or tubular flyers, conical at the bottom
and cylindrical at the top, and made of glass, metal, porcelain, papier maché,
or other suitable material, their being nicks at the lower rim of each cone,
through which is passed the yarn or material to be twisted.
Secondly, the application of friction rollers to the cones or tubular flyers, so
as to avoid bearings, and the manner in which the cones of this or similar
machines are suspended in their positions, and driven at their required speed
by cords, strings, or bands, which pass round the tin rollers and round the
wharves of the tubular flyers or cones.
Thirdly, the positions of the two tin rollers in this or similar machines, one
being higher than the other, by which means the cords, strings, or bands which
drive the cones can be much longer than in self-actors, which enables them to
work better and have less wear.
Fourthly, the employment of a double band, which drives the second tin
roller by the revolutions of the first.
Fifthly, the application of the long boss of the driving pulley fitted through
another long boss of the frame for avoiding a sideways pressure of the strap on
the pulley.
Sixthly, the improved form of the shaper plate of the cop motion, and its
connection with the bar d'.
Seventhly, the bar d, which supports the whole row of spindle sockets or
each side of the machine, and the movement of which produces the shape o
the cop; and also the arrangement which gives the operative the capability of
letting any of the spindles below the cone for the purpose of piecing the yar
when it is required.

page_text: Eighthly, the mode of inclining the whole row of spindles on either side of
the machine when the cops are finished, and ready for doffing, and also the
general arrangement and combination of the machine.
Ninthly, the quadrant a in combination with the cop motion for varying
the drag as applied to the spindles when spinning fine numbers, the yarn
being wound on from the largest diameter of the cop to the bare spindle, and
vice versa.
Tenthly, the adaptation of all the aforesaid mechanical movements, appli-
cations, and arrangements to machines for preparing, twisting, spinning, or
doubling fibrous materials.
Eleventhly, the converting of self-acting mules to the improved system by
the applications and arrangements before described.
Twelfthly, the application to self-acting mules of an improved backing-off
regulator and a tightening break pulley, as all such improvements are
herein described and illustrated in the accompanying sixteen Sheets of
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Joseph Hughes, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of December, in the year
of our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named Edward Joseph Hughes, in the
presence of
GEO. SEP. HUGHES,
17, Cross Street,
Manchester.
E. J. HUGHES. (L.S.)