Improvements in or connected with Self-acting Mules.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1893-Accepted, 24th June, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Self-acting Mules.
We, WILLIAM BRYDEN, of Jowett's Terrace, Scribbling Overlooker, and
HARRY STANSFIELD, of Sugden's Buildings, Spinning Overlooker, both of High
Street, Morley, near Leeds, in the County of York, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Self-acting mules are usually provided with a stationary frame situated in the
centre of the machine, and on this frame is placed a hand lever which is in
connection with the belt motion; consequently in order to stop or start the machine,
it is necessary for the operator to leave that part of the machine where he is
employed, and to go to the hand lever on the centre frame. It will therefore be
readily understood, that owing to the great length of these machines, the loss of
time in operating the belt motion is very considerable, whilst at the same time
should anything occur to prevent the perfect working of the machine, considerable
damage may be caused before such machine can be brought to a standstill.
The object of our invention is to construct apparatus in connection with the
belt motion, whereby self acting, mules may be thrown in and out of gear by the
operator when employed at any position along the machine, without having to go
to the hand lever situated on the stationary part of such machine.
In order that our invention may be fully understood, we will proceed to describe
same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters refer
to like parts in all the figures.
'
Fig. 1 is a part side elevation. Fig. 2 is a part front elevation. Fig. 3. is a
part plan, and Fig. 4 is a part sectional elevation, shewing apparatus constructed.
according to our invention, and Fig. 5 shews a modification of samne.
According to our invention we mount a suitable bearing B onto the faller rods A
and A' of the travelling carriage, which bearing B is firmly fixed to such 'fuller
rods A and Aand moves forward or backward therewith. Through the centre B¹
of this beaging B, a shaft or rod C is: passed, which is preferably rectangular in
section, such shaft or rod C being mounted at its extremities in suitable
bearings D D, situated on the frame D of the machine. The bearing B slides
on the shaft or rod C, as the faller rods A A' move forward or backward by the
action of the moving carriage.
In front of the moving carriage and in any convenient position, we mount a
sliding rod E, which runs the full length of the machine, such rod E being
attached to a double ended lever F, which connected to the arm G by means of
the connecting rod H. The arm G and the centre or circular part B¹ of the
bearing B form one and the same piece, in such a manner that on the arm G being
moved, the centre B₁ transfers the motion to the rectangular shaft or rod C. By
moving the sliding rod E, motion is transmitted to the rectangular shaft or rod C
by means of the lever F, connecting rod H, arm G, and bearing centre B³, and the
said rectangular shaft C transfers such motion to the belt fork J by means of the
crank K, double ended lever L, and fork lever M.
By the employment of a handle N in conjunction with the rectangular shaft or
rod C, the machine may be stopped or started at the centre part of the frame.
Although we have shewn at Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, our improvements applied only
to one class of self acting mules, such improvements are equally applicable for
operating the belt motion in any other class of self acting mules, by slightly
varying the details to suit such machine; as for example, the motion may be
transferred from the rectangular shaft or rod C to the belt fork by means of the
cam P, double ended lever R and rod S, as shewn at Fig. 5, and the handle N may

page_text: also be employed on the end of the rectangular rod or shaft C for operating the
cam P direct.
It will be readily understood that, by the employment of apparatus constructed
according to our invention, the operator can stop or start the driving mechanism
from any position along the machine by moving the sliding rod E, consequently,
should anything occur to prevent the perfect working, the machine can be
immediately stopped, thus removing the danger of breaking the machine, and the
risk of injury to the operator.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In self acting mules, a shaft or rod of any section (other than circular)
mounted in bearings on the fixed frame of the machine, in combination with a
sliding bearing carried on the moving carriage and sliding on the said shaft or rod,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. The sliding rod E running the full length of the carriage, and mounted in
bearings thereon, in combination with the shaft or rod C, together with any suitable
mechanism for transferring the movement of the rod E to the shaft or rod C,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The combination of the bearing B, shaft or rod C, sliding rod E, lever F,
arm G, and connecting rod H, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. The combination of the faller rods A A', bearing B B', shaft or rod C,
frame D, sliding rod E, lever F, arm G, connecting rod H, belt fork J, crank K,
lever L, and fork lever M, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5. The particular arrangement of the various parts shewn at Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4,
of the accompanying drawings, as set forth, together with any mere modification
or modifications thereof.
6. The particular arrangement of the various parts shewn at Fig. 5 of the
accompanying drawings as set forth, together with any mere modification or
modifications thereof.
1
1000
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicants.