IMPROVEMENTS IN MULES FOR SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Knowles, junior, of Bolton, in the County of
Lancaster, Cotton Spinner, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MULES
FOR SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
Sealed the 13th February 1880, and dated the 14th August 1879
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Knowles at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th August 1879.
GEORGE KNOWLES, junior, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton Spinner.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MULES FOR SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS,"
My Invention relates to a method of maintaining the tension of the band on the
counter or other such shaft. For this purpose I cause the pulley to be capable of
moving bodily; thus I mount the axis thereof in bearings which are capable of
sliding in guides, such bearings having each a screw, which on being turned, shift
the position of the pulley and thereby adjust the strap, and the whole may then be
made fast by lock nuts. The screws above mentioned may be caused to act
simultaneously by connecting them together by gearing.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Knowles in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th February
1880.
GEORGE KNOWLES, junior, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton Spinner.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MULES APPLICABLE TO SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS
MATERIALS."
My Invention relates to a method of maintaining the tension of the strap on the
counter or other such shaft. For this purpose I cause the pulley to be capable of
moving bodily; thus I mount the axis of the said pulley in bearings which are
capable of sliding in guides, such bearings having a screw or screws, which on being
turned, shift the position of the pulley and thereby adjust the strap, and the whole
may then be made fast by lock nuts.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 represents my Invention in end view, and
Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. At 1 is the usual counter shaft, upon which
there are the fast and loose pullies 2, 3, driven by the motive power through the
medium of the strap 4, and at 5 is the usual pulley over which strap 6 passes,
and from thence to the rim shaft or other similar part of the mule. The counter
shaft 1 is supported by the bearings 7, which may be made fast by bolts 9 to
brackets 10 fixed to a beam carried by the building, or otherwise supported by any
convenient fixture. These bearings overlap the brackets 10 so as to be capable of
sliding thereon and of being adjusted in any position vertically by the bolts 9 which
pass through slots 11. Upon the brackets 10 are lugs 12, 12*, which carry
screws 13 capable of being turned in nuts 14 formed on the bearings 7. When it
is desired to tighten the strap 5 the bolts 9 are loosened and the screws 13 turned,
by which means the bearings 7 are moved until the proper tension of the said strap
has been effected, after which the bolts 9 are again tightened. By these means the
strap 6 may always be kept at the proper degree of tension without frequent
laceing or other adjustment of fastenings of any ordinary straps, but as an additional
advantage I am enabled to use what are now called double straps, the joinings of
which are formed by one half overlapping another half, and I am enabled with any
description of strap to join it on the pulleys in a loose condition, afterwards
tightening it by the means above described. In adjusting the position of the
pulley 5 it of course shifts the position of the driving strap 4, but that, as is well
known, always runs sufficiently loose to allow of this motion. The strap guide 15
is made with sufficient depth of space for the strap 4 when in different positions.
As above described, the screws 13 are supposed to be adjusted separately, and
equal motions on each side may be attained by gauging the distances between the
lugs 12* and nuts 14. But instead of adjusting the screws 13 separately they
may be caused to turn simultaneously by connecting them together by means of
gearing.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood that I
claim as secured to me under the above in part recited Letters Patent for the
purposes above set forth, mounting the pulley 5 so that it may be capable of being
moved bodily.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Knowles, junior, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of February, in the year of
Loud One thongend eight hundred and eight