Im- PROVEMENTS IN MULES FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Lakin, of the Firm of Messieurs Curtis,
Parr, and Madeley, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Machine Maker, William Henry Rhodes, John Wain, and William
Greasley, of the same Place, Foremen, for the Invention of “Im-
PROVEMENTS IN MULES FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING."
Sealed the 26th August 1870, and dated the 16th March 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Lakin, William
Henry Rhodes, John Wain, and William Greasley at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 16th March
1870.
and
We, ROBERT LAKIN, of the Firm of Messieurs Curtis, Parr,
Madeley, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Machine Maker,
WILLIAM HENRY RHODES, JOHN WAIN, and WILLIAM GREASLEY, of the
same Place, Foremen, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MULES FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING," to be as
follows:-
In ordinary mules the rim shaft receives motion by a strap on the fast

page_text: of the carriage, one of the backing-off friction cones, and the rim pulley,
all of which usually rotate together until the outward rim of the carriage
is completed.
Now the first of our improvements consists in an arrangement of
machinery whereby the rotation of the rim pulley and friction cone can
be discontinued during any portion of the outward run of the carriage
without stopping the rotation of the other parts. This enables us to
prepare for backing off, or to back off and put the fallers down during
the outward run of the carriage. To effect this instead of fastening the
rim pulley and the friction cone to the rim shaft, we fasten them on a
long boss through which the rim shaft passes. To the conc or the boss
is attached one half of a clutch box, the other half of which we place on
the boss of the fast pulley, or it may be placed on the rim shaft. This
half is caused to rotate with the pulley by means of keys attached to
its boss, but it is free to move endways thereon, and so long as it is in
gear with the other half motion is communicated from the fast pulley to
the rim pulley and the friction cone. When it is required to stop the
spindles the balf of the clutch box on the boss of the fast pulley is
drawn out of gear with the other half by suitable levers acted upon by
the carriage as it runs out. So soon as the carriage has run in far
enough to liberate the lever which draws the clutch out of gear it is
acted upon by a spring, which then puts the clutch in gear ready for the
succeeding stretch.
Our second improvement in self-acting mules consists in the appli-
cation of a break pulley and the arrangement of machinery for acting
thercon to aid the backing-off friction cones in stopping the spindles,
and by which we are enabled to reduce the strain on the tin roller bands.
The break pulley is loose on the tin roller shaft; on its side is a ratchet
wheel. On one side of the break pulley is a collar, and on the other is
a disc, both of which are attached to the shaft, and thereby prevent the
pulley from moving sideways. On the side of the disc we mount several
palls or catches, which take into the teeth of the ratchet wheel while
spinning and during the winding on. On a stud mounted in the carriage
square we place a lever to act on the break pulley. This lever we cause
to be put into and out of contact with the break pulley through the
levers employed for putting the backing-off cones into and out of contact,
and thereby cause them to act simultaneously. When the lever is
applied to the break pulley it stops its rotation, and as the motion of

page_text: the tin roller is reversed when the backing off takes takes place the
catches slip over the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and allow the lever to
remain in contact with the pulley until the backing off is completed.
Our third improvement is chiefly applicable to woollen mules in
which after a certain quantity of slubbing is delivered the further
delivery is required to cease; this quantity varies considerably, and
Το
therefore requires an arrrangement that can easily be varied.
accomplish this we cast on the side of the slubbing wheel a spiral
groove, in which at intervals are a number of holes. These holes are
for the purpose of placing stops to regulate the length of slubbing.
One of these stops regulates the position the slubbing wheel is to be
drawn back to, and the other regulates the time it is to be thrown out
of gear. The slubbing wheel rotates on a stud mounted on an oscillating
lever. On the same stud is a lever which extends across and beyond the
spiral groove. In this lever is a slot in which is a slide block long
enough to project into the spiral groove on the slubbing wheel. At the
commencement of each stretch and during the delivery of the slubbing
the slubbing wheel rotates, and as it does so the projection on the block
is acted upon by the spiral groove, which causes the block to slide in the
The rotation of the slubbing wheel causes one of the stops. to
come in contact with the projection of the sliding block, which then
carries forward the lever far enough to cause it to lift a latch which
holds the clutch box in gear sufficiently high to allow a spring to pull
the clutch box and slubbing wheel out of gear with the pinion on
the coupling shaft; this stops the delivery of the slubbing, and the
slubbing wheel being at liberty is by means of a cord and weight caused
to rotate in the reverse direction back to the position it started from.
The slubbing wheel and catch box lever are connected by a pin and
diagonal slot to prevent one from being put in or out of gear without
the other.
slot.
Our fourth improvement in mules refers to a motion for driving the
spindles at different speeds during the outward run of the carriage, and
is chiefly required when spinning wool. On a shaft we place two loose
pulleys, between which is a disc fast to the shaft, on which disc are two
bosses, through each of which a short shaft passes to support a pinion on
each side of the disc.. A wheel is attached to the inside of each of the
loose pulleys into which the pinions gear. On the outside boss of one of
the pulleys is a grooved pulley, which communicates motion through
A 2

page_text: :
the drum band to the spindles. One half of the clutch box is placed on
the shaft which carries the pulleys, and is connected there with by means
of feather keys, on which it is free to slide. The other half is attached
to one of the fixings which supports the shaft. To give the slow speed
the halves of the clutch box are put in gear; this prevents the shaft and
the disc thereon from rotating, and motion is at such time given to the
pulley and grooved pulley by means of the rotation of the other pulley,
the wheel attached to which gives motion to the pinions with which it
gears, and the pinions at the other end of the short shafts give motion
to the wheel attached to the pulley and grooved pulley, and causes them
to revolve at a slower speed than the other in proportion to the different
numbers of teeth in the wheels and pinions employed. When a quick
speed is required the halves of the clutch box are taken out of gear and
the driving strap is traversed on to the pulley having the groove pulley
on its boss, at which time the shaft, disc, and pulleys all rotate together.
The variation in speed can be obtained by making the shaft stationary.
This would dispense with the use of the clutch box, but is objectionable,
as it would cause considerable wear on the gearing.
Our fifth improvement in self-acting mules refers to the motion for
regulating the winding of the yarn on to the spindles, and consists in an
improved mode of varying the time when motion can be communicated
'to the screw in the radial arm. To effect this, on a bracket inside the
carriage we mount a flanged pulley with a pinion on its boss. On the
same bracket we mount a spur wheel which gears with the pinion. To
one side of the spur wheel we fix a grooved pulley, and to the other a
disc or plate. In this disc is a space, the length of which can be varied
by a movable plate. To the nut on the radial arm screw we attach one
end of a cord, the other end is attached to the flanged pulley. As the
carriage runs out the cord is wound on to the grooved pulley by means
of a weight attached to one end of a cord, the other end of which is
attached to the grooved pulley fixed to the spur wheel. As the carriage
runs in the cord is drawn off the flanged pulley, and motion is given by
the pinion to the spur wheel and disc. As the nut is raised it takes the
cord up with it; this varies the position to which the disc and the space
in it are turned, and as the break which acts on the break pulley to give 3
motion to the screw and nut can only act when the space is under it the
time at which it can act is thereby varied.
In the self-acting mules patented by Richard Roberts on the Twenty-

page_text: ninth March 1825, No. 5138, the cam shaft effects the changes. This shaft
is driven by friction, which being liable to slip is objectionable. The
object of our sixth improvement is to enable us to alter mules made on
this plan so as to do away with the driving of the cam shaft by friction,
and arranging that it shall only have two changes to make, as described
in the Patent granted to John Wain on the 10th Nov. 1854, No. 2393,
namely, the one required at the completion of the outward run and that
required at the completion of the inward run. To effect this we employ
a change shaft, which is put into and out of action by somewhat similar
means to that described in the Patent of John Wain above referred to.
Instead of putting cams on the change shaft to effect the changes we
put on only one, and employ it to act on a lever, which by means of a
connecting rod acts on a lever on the cam shaft, and causes it to
oscillate when required to make the changes. By the employment of
this oscillating movement we are enabled to make the action of the
cam shaft positive, and to use the present cams. The cam for putting
the drawing rollers in and out of contact remains fixed to the cam shaft.
The cams for traversing the strap fork and for putting the backing-off
friction cones into and out of contact are attached to a frame, which
frame as well as the cams are loose on but supported by the cam shaft.
This frame and the tappets attached to it when twisting at the head are
restrained from moving with the cam shaft when it is caused to oscillate
to make the first change by means of the ordinary twist motion, but
when twisting at the head is not required the frame and tappets are free
to move with the cam shaft. The tappet used for putting the catch box
in and out of gear which acts on the scrolls is also attached to a frame
loose on the cam shaft. They are restrained from moving with the cam
shaft by means of a lever or catch fixed on a rod which we use in con-
nection with the backing off. The backing-off cones are put in and out
of contact by somewhat similar means to those patented by Matthew
Curtis and John Wain on the Eleventh Sept. 1855, No. 2057, varying
the mode of connection and adapting them to suit Roberts' mules above

page_text: Our eighth improvement consists in making the stud and pulley
which carry the scroll band casy of adjustment, so that the tightness
of the band can be varied to suit the speed or length of carriage, and
thereby to regulate its inward run. To accomplish this we mount the
stud and pulley on an upright lever mounted on a stud in a fixing
attached to the floor or foot of the framing. We vary the position of
the lever and with it the pulley by a screw or other suitable means.
In some mules the pulley is mounted on a nut which is moved by a
screw; when so mounted we apply an upright shaft, to the lower part of
which we affix a bevel wheel which gears with one fixed to the screw.
On the upper part of the upright shaft we fix a pulley or handle to turn
the shaft and the screw and pulley.
Our ninth improvement relates to a mode of acting on the pulley used
for tightening the rim band; for this purpose to the fixing in which the
block slides which carries the pulley we attach or cast a rack. On the
stud which supports the pulley we place a pinion with a pulley or
handles attached. A catch or pall is arranged to take into the teeth of
the pinion to hold it in its place.
Our tenth improvement consists in an arrangement of machinery
whereby we are enabled to draw the friction concs sooner out of contact.
For this purpose we place loose on the shaft in the carriage square
called the sector shaft a trigger, catch, or lever, and fast on the same
shaft we place a short lever in which is a stud. This stud prevents .the
trigger catch from moving in one direction, but leaves it free to move in
the other. As the carriage completes its outward run the trigger catch
comes in contact with and depresses one arm of the bell-cranked lever used
for putting the backing-off cones in contact. When the backing off is
completed the sector shaft is partially turned round, and with it the lever
and stud which act on the trigger catch, and remove it from bearing on
the bell-cranked lever, which allows a spring to draw the cones out of
contact. Instead of placing the trigger catch on the sector shaft it may
be supported from the carriage square or a fixing attached thereto. The
lever and stud on the sector shaft will act on being adapted to suit the
position of the trigger catch.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Lakin, William Henry Rhodes, John Wain,
and William Greasley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th
September 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ROBERT
LAKIN, of the Firm of Messieurs Curtis, Parr, and Madeley, of Man-
chester, in the County of Lancaster, Machine Maker, WILLIAM HENRY
RHODES, JOHN WAIN, and WILLIAM GREASLEY, of the same Place,
Foremen, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said Robert Lakin, William Henry Rhodes, John
Wain, and William Greasley, Her special licence that we, the said Robert
Lakin, William Henry Rhodes, John Wain, and William Greasley, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
Robert Lakin, William Henry Rhodes, John Wain, and William Greasley,
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
MULES FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said Robert Lakin, William Henry Rhodes, John Wain,
and William Greasley, our executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 Robert Lakin, William Henry
Rhodes, John Wain, and William Greasley, 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 (that is to say) :-
In ordinary mules the rim shaft receives motion by a strap on the fast.

page_text: pulley, which it communicates to the delivering rollers, the drawing out
of the carriage, one of the backing off friction cones, and the rim pulley,
all of which usually rotate together until the outward run of the
carriage is completed.
Now the first of our improvements consists in an arrangement of
machinery whereby the rotation of the rim pulley and friction cone can
be discontinued during any portion of the outward run of the carriage
without stopping the rotation of the other parts. This enables us to
prepare for backing off or to back off and put the fallers down during
the outward run of the carriage. To effect this instead of fastening the
rim pulley and the friction cone to the rim shaft, we fasten them on a
long boss through which the rim shaft passes. To the cone or the boss
is attached one half of a clutch box, the other half of which we place
on the boss of the fast pulley, or it may be placed on the rim shaft.
This half is cause to rotate with the pulley by means of keys attached
to its boss, but it is free to move endways thereon, and so long as it is in
geer with the other half motion is communicated from the fast pulley
to the rim pulley and the friction cone. When it is required to stop the
spindles the half of the clutch box on the boss of the fast pulley is
drawn out of geer with the other half by suitable levers acted upon by
the carriage as it runs out. So soon as the carriage has run in far
enough to liberate the lever which draws the clutch out of gear it is
acted upon by a spring, which then puts the clutch in geer ready for the
succeeding stretch.
On Sheet 1 of the annexed Drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view partly
in section of the first part of our Invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view
partly in section of a modification of the same; and Fig. 3 is an
elevation of parts of a mule illustrating the mode of applying the same.
In Fig. 1 the rim pulley A and friction conc B are fast on the long
boss C through which the rim shaft A' passes. One half of the clutch
'box B' is 'cast with or attached to the friction cone B; the other half is
free to slide on feather keys fast on the boss of the fast pulley D which
cause the sliding half of the clutch box to rotate with it. Fig. 2
represents the rim pulley A and friction cone B fast on the long boss C
which rotates on the bush C₁ through which the rim shaft A¹³ passes.
One half of the clutch box B' is cast with or attached to the boss C, the
other half is placed on and attached to the rim shaft A¹. It will be
seen that in Fig. 1 the driving half of the clutch box B¹ receives

page_text: taken out of contact and the friction cones be simultaneously put in
contact by a set of levers which can be acted upon by the lever B³; or
if preferred two sets of levers may be employed, the one to take the
halves of the clutch box out of gear, and the other to put the friction cones
into contact, by which means the cones can be put later into contact.
Our second improvement in self-acting mules consists in the appli-
cation of a break pulley and the arrangement of machinery for acting
thereon to aid the backing off friction cones in stopping the spindles,
and by which we are enabled to reduce the strain on the tin roller bands.
The break pulley is loose on the tin roller shaft; on its side is a ratchet
wheel. On one side of the break pulley is a collar, and on the other is
a disc, both of which are attached to the shaft, and thereby prevent the
pulley from moving sideways. On the side of the disc we mount several
palls or catches, which take into the teeth of the ratchet wheel while
spinning and during the winding on. On a stud mounted in the
carriage square we place a lever to act on the break pulley. This lever
we cause to be put into and out of contact with the break pulley through
the levers employed for putting the backing off cones into and out of
contact, and thereby cause them to act simultaneously. When the
lever is applied to the break pulley it stops its rotation, and as the
motion of the tin roller is reversed when the backing off takes place
the catches slip over the teeth of the ratchet wheel and allow the lever
to remain in contact with the pulley until the backing off is completed.
On Sheet 2, Fig. 4 is an elevation of so much of the head stock
and carriage square of a self-acting mule as is requisite to illustrate our
second improvement, in which the frame of the head stock is marked A³,
the rim shaft A', the friction cone B, the external friction cone B2, the
rim pulley A, and the forked lever B³, which fits into a groove in the boss
of the friction cone B. This lever is connected by the adjusting screw B*
with the top of the lever B' mounted on the stud B. The rod D
connects the lower end of the lever B' with the lever E placed on a stud
in a slot of the fixing E'. The break F is mounted on a stud placed in a
slot of the fixing F" attached to the carriage square; the adjusting
screw F is used to prevent the break from falling too far back. The
straight part of the break F has a long boss or tube through which the
bolt F passes. Around the boss and bolt is placed the expanding coiled
spring F. This spring bears against the head of the bolt F¹ and one
side of the break F. Its power of action can be regulated by lock nuts

page_text: on the bolt -F, for as the bolt head is drawn nearer to the break the
spring is compressed, and the stronger is its power of action. The mode
of operation is as follows:-When the lever E is, as herein-after
explained, made to press against the bolt F the inside of the head
against which the spring rests presses against the spring F³, and as it is
compressed it acts against the break F and forces it against the break
pulley G³, after which if the lever E continues to press the bolt it moves
on and the spring mercly becomes further compressed. Keyed on the
tin roller shaft G is a disc, on which are the palls G. The ratchet
wheel G is cast on or attached to the side of the break pulley G³, which
is loose on the tin roller shaft. When the backing off cones are put into
contact by the usual means the lever B is moved in the direction of the
arrow and takes with it the rod D, which causes the lever E to press
against the head of the bolt F, which acts on the spring and break
lever F as previously explained, and through them the rotation of the
break pulley G³ and ratchet wheel G³ is stopped, and the palls G₁ which
take into the teeth of the ratchet wheel aid in stopping the motion of
the tin roller and spindles. While the backing off takes place the
motion of the tin roller is reversed and the palls G¹ slip over the teeth
of the ratchet wheel G. When the backing off is finished the lever B
is moved in the opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow to take
the friction cones out of contact, at the same time it also acts in the
reverse direction through the rod D on the lever E, which takes the
pressure off the break lever F, which then falls out of contact with the
break pulley G³.
Our third improvement is chiefly applicable to woollen mules in which
after a certain quantity of slubbing is delivered the further delivery is
required to cease; this quantity varies considerably, and therefore
requires an arrangement that can easily be varied. To accomplish this
we cast on the side of the slubbing wheel a spiral groove, in which at
intervals are a number of holes. These holes are for the purpose of
placing stops to regulate the length of slubbing. One of these stops
regulates the position the slubbing wheel is to be drawn back to, and the
other regulates the time it is to be thrown out of geer. The slubbing
wheel rotates on a stud mounted on an oscillating lever. On the same
stud is a lever, which extends across and beyond the spiral groove. In
this lever is a slot, in which is a slide block long enough to project into
the spiral groove on the slubbing wheel. At the commencement of each

page_text: slubbing wheel as it rotates, the slide block N¹ is acted upon by the
spiral groove and causes the block to slide in the slot of the lever N;
this proceeds until the other stop marked 2 comes in contact with the
sliding block N', when the stop acting on the block raises it and the
lever N far enough to cause it to lift the latch I sufficiently high to
allow the spring I³ to pull the clutch box and slubbing wheel out of geer
with the pinion. This stops the delivery of the slubbing, and the slubbing
wheel, being at liberty is by means of the cord and weight drawn back
to the position it started from ready to commence another stretch.
Our fourth improvement in mules refers to a motion for driving the
spindles at different speeds during the outward run of the carriage, and
is chiefly required when spinning wool. This part of our Invention is
illustrated by Fig. 7, which is a sectional elevation of the apparatus,
the supports for which may be placed on the floor or any convenient part
of the headstock. On the shaft O are placed two loose pulleys O¹and O²,
which are driven from a pulley on the rim shaft. Between the pulleys O¹
and O is the disc P fast to the shaft O; on this disc are two bosses,
through each of which a short shaft P¹ passes to support the pinions P*
and P³ on each side of the disc. To the boss of the pulley O' is attached
the pinion O, and to the boss of the pulley O2 is fixed the pinion O*; the
pinions P and P³ geer into the pinions O³ and O'. On the outside boss
of the pulley O₁ is fixed the rim pulley A, which communicates motion
through the drum band to the spindles. One half of the clutch box 0°
is placed on the shaft O, and is connected therewith by means of feather
keys, on which it is free to slide. The other half is attached to one of
the fixings which support the shaft. To give the slow speed to the
spindles the strap is put on the pulley O², and the halves of the clutch
box are put in gear; this prevents the shaft O and the disc P from
rotating, and motion is at such time given to the pulley O¹ and rim
pulley A by means of the rotation of the other pulley O2, the pinion O*
attached to which gives motion to the pinions Ps with which it geers,
and the pinions P at the other end of the short shafts P¹ give notion to
the pinion O³ attached to the pulley O' and rim pulley A, and causes
them to revolve at a slower speed than the other, in proportion to the
different numbers of teeth in the pinions employed. When a quick speed
is required the halves of the clutch box O are taken out of geer, and the
driving strap is traversed on to the pulley O' having the pulley A on its
boss, at which time the shaft, disc, and pulleys all rotate together. The

page_text: variation in speed can be obtained by making the shaft stationary. This
would dispense with the use of the clutch box, but it is objectionable, as
it would cause considerable wear on the gearing.
Our fifth improvement in self-acting mules refers to the motion for
regulating the winding of the yarn on to the spindles, and consists in an
improved mode of varying the time when motion can be communicated
to the screw in the radial arm. To effect this, on a bracket inside the
carriage we mount a flanged pulley with a pinion on its boss. On the
same bracket we mount a spur wheel, which gears with the pinion. To
one side of the spur wheel we fix a grooved pulley, and to the other a
disc. In this disc is a space, the length of which can be varied by a
moveable plate. To the nut on the radial arm screw we attach one end
of a cord; the other end is attached to the flanged pulley. As the
carriage runs out the cord is wound on to the flanged pulley by means
of a weight attached to one end of a cord, the other end of which is
attached to the pulley fixed to the spur wheel. As the carriage runs in
the cord is drawn off the flanged pulley and motion is given by the
pinion to the spur wheel and disc. As the nut is raised it takes the
cord up with it; this varies the position to which the dise and the space
in it are turned, and as the break which acts on the break pulley to give
motion to the screw and nut can only act when the space is under
it the time at which it can act is thereby varied.
This part of our Invention is illustrated by Fig. 8 on Sheet 3, which
is an elevation of so much of a self-acting mule as is requisite to illustrato
our fifth improvement, before describing which we may state that in
self-acting mules it is usual to employ some motion to regulate the
winding of the yarn on the spindles. For this purpose a break lever by
the action of the yarn on the faller is either allowed to act on a break
pulley or on a cord or strap.
Our improvement consists in the application of the following
apparatus, by which the time of the action of the break lever can be
varied. On the bracket Jo is mounted the flanged pulley J with the
pinion J¹ on its boss. This pinion gcers with the spur wheel J², to one
side of which we fix the grooved pulley J³, and to the other the disc J*.
This disc is lower at one portion of its circumference than the other for
the following reasons:- - Supposing the break lever is by the action of
the yarn permitted to descend the break K cannot act on the break
pulley K' until the high part of the disc has passed from under the

page_text: bowl K, after which the bowl not being supported by the high part of
the disc descends into the lower space and allows the break lever to act
on the break pulley K', at which time the nut K is raised and with it
the cord K' attached to it. This cord passes under the grooved pulley K²,
and after sufficient length has been coiled round the pulley J to allow
the carriage to run in and the nut K to be elevated to its highest point
it is fastened to the pulley J.. The cord J³ is at one end attached to the
pulley J³, and to the other is attached the weight J8. This cord and
weight are employed to give motion to the wheel J2, and through the
pinion J to turn the pulley J round during the outward run of the
carriage to wind the cord K' on to it. The cord J is wound on the
pulley Js during the inward run. The space or lower part of the disc J*
can be varied by moving the plate J'.
In the self-acting mules patented by Richard Roberts on the Twenty-
ninth March One thousand eight hundred and twenty-five, Number 5138,
the cam shaft effects the changes. This shaft is driven by friction, which
being liable is slip is objectionable. The object of our sixth improve-
ment is to enable us to alter mules made on this plan so as to do
away with the driving of the cam shaft by friction, and arranging that it
shall only have two changes to make, as described in the Patent granted
to John Wain on the Tenth day of November One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-four, Number 2393, namely, the one required at the completion
of the outward run and that required at the completion of the inward
run. To effect this we employ a change shaft, which is put into and out
of action by somewhat similar means to that described in the Patent of
John Wain above referred to. Instead of putting cams on the change
shaft to effect the changes we put on only one and employ it to act on
a lever, which by means of a connecting rod acts on a lever on the cam
shaft and causes it to oscillate when required to make the changes.
By the employment of this oscillating movement we are enabled to
make the action of the cam shaft positive, and to use the present cams.
The cam for putting the drawing rollers in and out of contact remains
fixed to the cam shaft. The cams for traversing the strap fork and for
putting the backing off friction cones into and out of contact aro
attached to a frame, which frame as well as the cams are loose on but
supported by the cam shaft. This frame and the cams attached to it
when twisting at the licad are restrained from moving with the cam shaft
when it is caused to oscillate to make the first change by means of the
ordinary twist motion, but when twisting at the head is not required the

page_text: frame and cams are free to move with the cam shaft. The tappet used
for putting the catch box in and out of geer which acts on the scroll
is also attached to a frame loose on the cam shaft. They are restrained
from moving with the cam shaft by means of a lever or catch fixed on
a rod which we use in connection with the backing off. The backing
off cones are put in and out of contact by somewhat similar means to
those patented by Matthew Curtis and John Wain on the Eleventh day
of September One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, Number 2057,
varying the mode of connection and adapting them to suit Roberts'
mules above referred to.
Fig. 9 represents a side elevation, and Fig. 10 an end view of part
of a self-acting mule to which our sixth improvement is applied. A² is
the frame of the headstock; A, the rim pulley; A', the rim shaft;
R, the cam shaft; and R', the twist shaft; these parts and the others
not particularly referred to hereafter are made in the manner described
in the Patent of Richard Roberts above referred to. The change shaft T
is driven by the pinion U¹ on the taking-in shaft U; this pinion geers
into the wheel T', which is provided with half a clutch box, and it is put
into and out of action in the manner described in the Patent of John
Wain above referred to. To the change shaft T is fixed the cam T³,
which when put in motion at the end of the outward run acts on the
lever T, and by means of the connecting rod T on the lever R² fixed to
the cam shaft, and causes it and the cams and catches attached to it to
oscillate when required to make the changes. The cam for putting the
drawing rollers in and out of contact, also the cam for taking the back or
drawing-out shaft out of geer, remain fixed the cam shaft, to which
are also attached the catches R' and R³. The cam R' for traversing the
strap fork and the cam R³ for putting the backing-off friction cones into
and out of contact are attached to the frame R', also shown in Fig. 13.
The tappet Rs which acts on an elbow lever for moving the taking-in
catch box on the scroll shaft V in and out of geer is attached to the
frame R, see Fig. 12. The frames R' and R and the cams attached
to them are loose on but supported by the cam shaft. When the change
shaft T is moved to make the first change the frames R' and R6 are
prevented from moving with the cam shaft, the frame R' when twisting
at the head by the stud R" projecting from a boss on the ordinary twist
finger acting on the twist plate. When liberated by the rotation of the
twist plate the frame and cams move by the force of gravity on the cam
shaft until their progress is arrested by the catch R³, the cams on the

page_text: frame when moving effecting the requisite changes. When twisting at
the head is not required this frame and cams are free and move with the
cam shaft. The frame R is restrained from moving with the cam shaft
by means of the lever V₁ hinged to the framing; this lever is connected
to the rod V, which is acted upon by the lever V³ hinged to the carriage,
the inclined end of which acts on the bowl V* in the manner described
in the Patent granted to Matthew Curtis and John Wain above referred
to. When the bowl V* is depressed the rod V2 is moved in the direction
of the arrow, thus bringing the projection on the lever V₁ over the
projection on the vertical rod Vs, the upper end of which is connected to
the frame R, thereby holding the said frame until the faller is locked
and the backing off completed. When the vertical rod V³ is released
by the moving back of the lever V₁ the spring Ve moves the frame R
and with it the cam R³ to put the taking-in catch box in geer. At the
completion of the inward run the change shaft is again put in motion, at
which time the cam T acts on the lever T, and through the connecting
rod T and the lever R' causes the cam shaft and cams attached to it to
oscillate back to the position they started from, and the catches R' and
Rs bring the frames R and R back to their original positions.
Our seventh improvement relates to the tin rollers of mules, and
consists in putting rivets, pins, or bolts through the tin and couplings
besides soldering them in the usual way, whereby they are more firmly
secured together. One mode of performing this is shewn in Fig. 13,
on Sheet 4, which represents an end of a tin roller in which the rivets Z
are shewn passing through the tin and the coupling.
In
Our eighth improvement consists in making the stud and pulley
which carry the scroll band casy of adjustment, so that the tightness of
the band can be varied to suit the speed or length of carriage, and
thereby to regulate its inward run. To accomplish this we mount the
stud and pulley on an upright lever mounted on a stud in a fixing
attached to the floor or foot of the framing. We vary the position of
the lever and with it the pulley by a screw or other suitable means.
some mules the pulley is mounted on a nut, which is moved by a screw;
when so mounted we apply an upright shaft, to the lower part of which
we affix a bevel wheel which geers with one fixed to the screw. On the
upper part of the upright shaft we fix a pulley or handle to turn the
shaft and the screw and pulley. This part of our Invention is shewn in
Fig. 14, in which the pulley which carries the scroll band is marked L.
B

page_text: This pulley rotates on and is supported by a stud fixed to the upright
lever L' mounted on the stud L in the fixing Is. The screw L³ passes
through the fixing L' cast with or attached to the frame of the head-
stock A, which fixing forms a bearing for the screw.
On the screw
there is a collar which is drawn against the fixing L by the tension of
the band L. The screw is turned by the handle L. On a stud in the
upper part of the lever L' is mounted the connecting piece L', which is
tapped, and into which the screw L' passes. It will be evident that the
scroll band L³ can be tightened or slackened at pleasure by means of the
screw L³.
Our ninth improvement relates to a mode of acting on the pulley used
for tightening the rim band; for this purpose to the fixing in which the
block slides which carries the pulley we attach or cast a rack. On the
stud which supports the pulley we place a pinion with a pulley or
handles attached. A catch or pall is arranged to take into the teeth
of the pinion to hold it in its place. This apparatus is shewn in Fig. 15,
in which M is a fixing attached to the frame of the headstock A², to
which is attached or cast the rack M. On a block which slides in the
slot of the fixing M is formed the stud M³ which supports the pulley M³
(around which the rim band M* passes) and the pinion M³. This pinion
geers into the rack M¹, and to it is attached the pulley with handles or
spokes M. The catch or pall M' is mounted on a stud in the block
sliding in the fixing M; it is formed at the end so as to take into one
of the teeth of the pinion M³. It will be evident that in accordance
with the way in which the pinion M³ is turned by the handles so will
the rim band M' be tightened or slackened.
Our tenth improvement consists in an arrangement of machinery
whereby we are enabled to draw the friction cones sooner out of contact.
For this purpose we place loose on the shaft in the carriage square
called the sector shaft a trigger catch or lever, and fast on the same
shaft we place a short lever in which is a stud. This stud prevents the
trigger catch from moving in one direction, but leaves it free to move
in the other. As the carriage completes its outward run the trigger
catch comes in contact with and depresses one arm of the bell-cranked
lever used for putting the backing-off cones in contact. When the
backing off is completed the sector shaft is partially turned and with
it the lever and stud, which act on the trigger catch and remove it from
bearing on the bell-cranked lever, which allows a spring to draw the

page_text: cones out of contact. Instead of placing the trigger catch on the sector
shaft it may be supported from the carriage square or a fixing attached
thereto. The lever and stud on the sector shaft will act on being adapted
to suit the position of the trigger catch. This improvement is shewn in
Fig. 16, which is an elevation of so much of a mule as is requisite
to illustrate it. Before proceeding to describe it we may state that
this part of our Invention consists in the substitution of the lever
or trigger catch W and its connecting parts for the forked plate c
described in the Specification of the Patent granted to Matthew Curtis
and John Wain on the Eleventh day of September One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-five, and numbered 2057, and in dispensing
with the bowl m on the lever n, also described in the before-named
Specification, and in place thereof forming the outer end of the bell-
cranked lever W₁ flat. The mode in which the friction cones are put
in and out of contact being fully described in the before-named Specifica-
tion, and being with slight modifications the same that we use, it is
not requisite to describe the same. The trigger, lever, or catch W
is mounted loose on a stud on the carriage square. When by the out-
ward run of the carriage it comes against the bell-cranked lever W₁ to
depress that lever it is held and prevented from moving in the direction
of the arrow by the projection W2 bearing against the plate W³ on the
front of the carriage. W is the sector shaft, on which is fast the lever W³,
a stud in which near its upper end passes into a slot in the connecting
link W. The other end of this link is connected with the lever W by
means of a stud which passes through it and a slot in the upper part
of the lever; this slot is for the purpose of adjustment. The lower end
of the lever W must be so placed that when the carriage has completed
its outward run it will have depressed the upper end of the bell-cranked
lever W¹ and have passed nearly over the flat part, say within one-
quarter or one-half of an inch, or as nearly over as from the run out of
the carriage is found safe. The object of causing it to pass so nearly over
the flat part is that when the backing off is completed and the sector
shaft W* begins to move that the end of the lever W shall be drawn off
the flat part of the lever W¹ as early as possible so as to liberate the lever
and allow the friction cones to be drawn out of contact by the spring W',
which they will be sooner than by the old arrangement of the forked
plate c' and bowl m above referred to, for so soon as the sector com-
mences to rise the rounded end W7 as it passes over the bowl Ws allows
it to move in the direction of the arrow. When motion is given to the

page_text: sector shaft W, and through it the lever W* and connecting link W⚫ the
upper end of the lever W is drawn forward and the lower part pushed
backwards off the flat part of the lever W¹, which will be accomplished
before the sector W' has passed over the bowl W. Instead of the lever W
a trigger, catch, or lever may be placed loose on the sector shaft so
arranged as to come in contact with and depress the lever W' as the
carriage runs out, and can be taken off it by means of a short lever fast
on the sector shaft, in which lever is a stud so placed as to act on thè
trigger catch as soon as the sector shaft is moved.
In witness whereof, we, the Robert Lakin, William Henry Rhodes,
John Wain, and William Greasley have hereto set our hands
and seals, this Fourteenth day of September One thousand eight
hundred and seventy.
ROBERT LAKIN.
W. H. RHODES..
I JOHN WAIN.
(L.S.)
(L.S.) .
(L.S.)
WILLIAM GREASLEY. (L.S.)
.