CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING AND SPINNING COTTON, WOOL, FLAX, SILK, AND SIMILAR FIBROUS MATERIAL
Year: 1842

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
HOWARD, of Hyde, Cotton Spinner, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Third day of December, in the sixth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Thomas
Howard, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that
I, the said Thomas Howard, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, and such others
as I, the said Thomas Howard, my exors, adññiors, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the
term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exer-
cise, and vend, within England and Wales and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING
AND SPINNING COTTON, WOOL, FLAX, SILK, AND SIMILAR FIBROUS MATERIAL;" in
which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Thomas
Howard, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be enrolled in Her
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in
and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Thomas Howard, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention of Certain

page_text: Improvements in Machinery for Preparing and Spinning Cotton, Wool, Flax,
Silk, and similar Material, to consist in the alteration, application, and arrange-
ment of certain mechanical parts of the preparation machine known as the
stretcher, and of the spinning machine known as the mule, by which such
machines are rendered self-acting, or independent of the spinner or skilful
operative employed at the ordinary stretcher or at the ordinary mule; and the
manner in which such improvements are to be performed or carried into effect
will be seen by the following description, reference being had to the annexed
Drawings, which are made to an accurate scale, and marked with certain
letters and figures, the same letter or figure of reference denoting the same
part throughout the Drawings.
The movements and general arrangement of the preparation machine
called the stretcher are so similar to those of the spinning machine called the
mule that I have not considered it requisite to shew any Drawing or Figure
of the former machine, and have only represented the mule, along with some
of its details or detached parts, in the Drawings. Before I proceed to describe
my Invention with reference to the annexed Drawing I would remark, that I
am fully aware that several Inventions are in operation for effecting the same
objects, the greater part of which consist in the construction of a new and
complete machine, while one of the main characteristics of my Invention
consists in the alteration, application, and arrangement of certain mechanical
parts to the ordinary stretcher or ordinary mule, by which such machines are
rendered self-acting at a far lighter expence than is required for the construc-
tion of most of the Inventions now in use for the same object.
In the annexed Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a side view; Fig. 2 is an end.
view, with some parts omitted to facilitate the description; Fig. 6 is a side
view in the opposite direction to Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is an end view, similar to
No. 2, with the carriage attached; and Fig. 10 is an end view in the opposite
direction to Fig. 2 and 7. The whole of the Figures enumerated above relate
to the mule head and its connection with the carriage, and the remaining
Figures are detached parts, which will be referred to as the description pro-
ceeds. In these Figs.,, A represents the carriage supporting the spindles and
usual apendages; B, the drawing rollers, both of which are put into motion
and stopped periodically in the same manner and at the same time as in the
ordinary hand mule; that is to say, the carriage proceeds on the stretch or
outward traverse till it arrives at its greatest distance from the drawing rollers,
during which period the rollers continue to revolve and the spinning to pro-
ceed in the ordinary manner, and it is not until the carriage has come to rest
at the end of the traverse or stretch that the self-acting movements come into

page_text: operation. These self-acting movements, which formerly depended on the
skill of the operative or spinner, may be divided under four heads :-
First, the backing off or unwinding the spiral coils of yarn from the spindle
(which are produced by the spinning action).
Second, the putting down and guiding the faller wire for distributing the
yarn on the surface of the cop.
Third, the putting up or taking in of the carriage.
And, fourth, the winding on of the yarn which has been produced or spun
during the preceding stretch or coming out of the carriage.
The manner in which these four movements are performed I shall describe
in the order in which I have enumerated them, it being understood that the
backing off and putting down of the faller must proceed at the same time, so
that the faller may take up the slack yarn as it is unwound or backed off the
spindle, and also that the putting up or taking in of the carriage and the
winding on of the yarn are simultaneous.
Supposing the carriage A to have arrived at the end of a stretch, as seen
in red lines at Fig. 1, the driving strap is traversed to the loose pulley C in
the ordinary manner; and from the rotation of this pulley I take the four
self-acting movements already enumerated, the carriage being at rest, and in
the position as seen at Figure 1. The first movement. or backing off, is per-
formed as follows:-On the boss of the loose pulley C is placed the spur
pinion d, which imparts motion through the spur wheel D, and thence to the
smaller spur wheel D', keyed on a small shaft, which also carries the pulley d
and pinion d (see Figure 2). The band h, h, conveys motion from the
pulley ³ to the loose pulley H, placed on the shaft H', with which it is at
present connected by means of a clutch box, as seen at Figure 2. I is tho
drum band pulley, placed on the same shaft H', which thus receives a small
reverse rotation, and the backing off of the spindles is effected. The reverse
rotation or backing off of the spindles is terminated by disconnecting the clutch
box on the boss of the wheel H, which disconnection depends on the putting
down of the faller, which I shall now proceed to describe. On the face of the
spur wheel D are placed bevil teeth d', geering into a small pinion on the end
of the shaft E. The opposite end of the shaft E carries a worm f, and is
supported on the upper extremity of a cranked lever seen at e, e, Figures 1,
2, 6, and 7, moving on its fulcrum at e; so that, by vibrating this lever, the
worm and worm wheel f¹ are connected or disconnected.
At Figure 1
and 7, e² represents a spring, which, pressing the cranked lever e, e, has a con-
stant tendency to keep it in the position represented at Figure 7, where the
worm and worm wheel f¹ are in gear, and conveying motion to the perpen-

page_text: dicular shaft F, and thence by mitre bevils to the tappit shaft G. At the
extremity of the shaft G, as seen at Figures 1 and 7, is a small tappet or
finger piece x, which in its rotation vibrates the bent lever g² on its fulcrum g
to the position there represented, where it is held by means of the catch L at
one extremity, while the other supports the spur wheel gs in gear with the
pinion d', Figure 1 and 2. Attached] to the shaft or small barrel on which
the wheel g³ is placed is the band l, l, which passes over the guide pulleys m, m,
in the direction seen at Figure 1 and 6, the opposite end of which is connected
with the extremity of the lever N, the position of which is best seen at
Figures 1, 2, and 6. This lever moves in an horizontal plane on the fulcrum
at n, so that the rotation of the wheel and barrel 9%, taking up the band I, 1,
vibrates the lever N in the direction indicated by the small arrow at Figures 1
and 5. The exact form of this part is separately shewn at Figure 5, the
extremity n¹ governing the putting down of the faller, while the inclined pro-
jection n² vibrates the lever o³, and terminates the backing off by disconnecting
the clutch box on the boss of the wheel H from the shaft H. This lever 0¹
is held by the catch T when the clutch box is connected, and periodically
relieved by the tappet V acting on the stud Vs (see Figures 1 and 4). The
way in which the motion of the extremity of the lever at n' puts down the
faller will be best seen at Figure 13, where it comes in contact with a sliding
piece t, pressing on the knee joint of the upright part i, i, and forcing it into
a straight position, depresses the faller by the elevation of its upper extremity,
which is connected to the small rack p, geering into a segment on the faller
shaft. As soon as the lever N has vibrated a sufficient distance to put down
the faller, and disconnect the wheel H from the shaft H¹, to stop the backing
off, it at the same time comes in contact with the catch L, see Figure 1, and
liberating the end of the lever g³, supported on the fulcrum 93, the tension of
the band, l, takes the wheel 9 out of gear from the pinion d', while the
weight M, suspended to a band, also connected with the lever N, unwinds the
band 1, 7, and replaces the lever N in the position ready to commence the
faller motion in the succeeding stretch (as seen at Figure 1 and 6). The
gradual rise of the faller wire for distributing the yarn on the surface of the
cop during the winding-on is governed by the well-known shaper, inclined
plane or surface, as represented separate at Figures 17 and 18, on which the
lower extremity of the rod i, i, is supported by a friction roller; and the final
elevation of the faller wire on the arrival of the carriage at the front roller is
effected by bending the knee joint of the part i, i, by means of a stationary
stop, with which the sliding part t comes in contact at the required period.
As the spinning proceeds, the gradual lowering of the shaper or inclined

page_text: plane will allow the knee joint of the part i, i, to assume a straighter position
at the period when the faller is to be put down, and consequently the lever N
will make part of a vibration before it comes into operation, if not gradually
varied in the position from which it commences its vibration. This variation
is effected by placing one of the carrier pullies m on a small sliding carriage,
tempered by the set screw m* (see Figure 1), by tightening which the end of
the lever N (marked n') is or may be moved forward, and placed in a position
to act on the faller immediately the lever N begius to vibrate, and the faller wire
is thus brought into action exactly (in accordance with the backing-off move-
ment), at any period during the formation of the cop as at the commencement.
The third movement, or the going in of the carriage, commences immediately
the backing off and the putting down of the faller is completed, and is effected
by the periodical rotation of the pulley P. This pulley is placed loose on the
same shaft as the wheel D, (see Figure 1, 7, 10), with which it is connected
or disconnected by means of a clutch box, as best seen at Figures 7
and 10, and separately at Figures 8 and 9, where the lever P¹ will be seen
holding the clutch box at one extremity, and held by the catch Pat the
other. In the position scen at Figure 9 the pulley P is disconnected, and
free on the shaft, but as soon as the catch P is struck off by the finger or
small incline piece p* which revolves on the worm wheel shaft F, the lever P¹
is forced back by a spring, and the clutch box closing connects the pulley P
with the shaft. From this pulley P motion is conveyed by a band P³ to the
smaller pulley R which is on the same shaft with a pulley R' (see Fig. 10)
to which a band is attached, with the opposite end connected with the car-
riage A, so that the rotation of this shaft in an opposite direction to the coming-
out movement, periodically brings the carriage in as soon as the carriage is
in or arrived up at the front roller a projection or stop from the carriage
strikes against the lever Q, connected by a rod to the lever Q', see Fig. 1 and 6.
The upper end of this lever Q' acts on the lever P', which it vibrates under the
catch P2 (see Fig. 9), where it is held, and the clutch box of the pulley P
disconnected until the succeeding going in of the carriage. The 4th and last
movement or winding-on motion commences at the same time as the going in
of the carriage, and depends on the connection or disconnection of the clutch
box on the boss of the pulley R, seen at Figure 10 and 6, and separate at
Figure 14 and 15. This connection is disconnection of the clutch box depends
on the position of the lever 1, the shape and position of which is seen at
Figure 14 and 15. This clutch box is connected with the shaft by the action
of the tappit on the tappit shaft elevating the catch at the proper time,.
see Figure 1 and 6, and relieving the horizontal rod which is forced in the

page_text: direction of the arrow, seen at Figures 1 and 6, by the pressure of a spring
(see Figures 14 and 15) connecting the clutch box on the boss of the wheel R.
From the pulley R motion is conveyed to the pulley R* placed on the same
shaft as the drum band pulley R, through which the winding-on movement is
conveyed to the spindles; as soon as the carriage is taken in, the clutch box
on the pulley R is disconnected by a projection from the carriage, see. (sec
Fig. 7), pressing against the lever 78, which, disconnecting the clutch box,
terminates the winding on. The ordinary movements of the mule now coming
into action, the spinning commences, and the carriage proceeds on the succeed-
ing stretch in the ordinary manner. The varying speed required for winding
the yarn on to the varying diameters of the cop, from the bare spindle to its
complete formation, has been accomplished in other Inventions for effecting
the same object, by a variety of complicated and engenious contrivances; but
in this machine such variation of speed is entirely dependant on the slipping of
the endless band R³ on the pullies R and R2, and the tension of this band is
regulated by the pressing pulley R 4 suspended on the lever R 5, the pressure
of this pulley being governed by the spring S with which the opposite end of
the lever R³ is connected, and it is by the adjusting the action of this spring
that the tension of the winding-on is regulated. The action of a slipping band
or strap for the purpose of effecting the winding-on motion needs no particular
description, as it was practised by Mauric de Tongh, and described in the
Specification of a Patent granted to him, and bearing date at Westminster,
the Twenty-ninth day of March, One thousand eight hundred and twenty-five.
My improvement in the application of such band consists in the facility for the
adjustment thereof through the medium of the spring S, by which the friction
or force of the winding-on is regulated or governed. The remaining Figure 11
is a plan of the mendoza or taking-out pulley; and Figure 12 is plan of the
part which puts the drawing rollers in and out of gear. Figure 16 is the
projection from the carriage for putting the mendoza pulley out of gear,
at the same time that it connects the worm with the worm wheel f¹ by
forcing the catch Z (see Figures 6 and 1.
Figure 19 represents a side elevation of another modification of my Inven-
tion, by which I dispense with the gearing represented at D and D', and some
other parts, by which the machine is much simplified, and the movement for
taking in the carriage rendered inore accurate. In this Figure it will be
observed that the pinion d' is driven by the cross band W, which conveys
motion from the pulley W to the pulley W placed on the same shaft as the
pinion &, the parts connected with the wheel 9 remaining as before. The
shaft E, which carries the worm f, is also driven direct from the boss of the

page_text: loose pulley, either by bevels or worm and wheel, by which the speed is
reduced without the intervention of the wheel D.
3
1
geers
The third and most important variation is the application of a jack or
vibrating spur wheel, as seen at Figure 20, which into the spur pinion Z,
placed on the same shaft as the pulley R. This jack is brought into operation
by the action of the tappis r as before (for taking in the carriage) and the
wheels Ź and Ź are held in gear by a catch on the lower extremity of
the lever Z, which is struck off by the carriage itself when arrived at the
front roller, and held free by the action of a spring or its own weight.
The band for bringing in the carriage is wound on a small barrel attached to
the jack or wheel Z; but when it is required to run in the carriage by hand,
motion is imparted to the barrel through the pulley Z, which is driven from
the mendoza or coming-out scroll, or that the taking-in band is wound on the
barrel, instead of being allowed to fall on the floor. Thus the four self-acting
movements which I have enumerated are periodically performed at each suc-
ceeding stretch; and I would here remark, that these successive movements are
all dependent and regulated by the revolution of the worm f, and the parts to
which it conveys motion, as will be seen by the following recapitulation. As
soon as the carriage arrives at the end of a stretch and the spinning ceases, the
driving strap is traversed to the loose pulley c in the ordinary manner, and the
worm wheel is driven as already described. The tappit shaft G revolves
and immediately liberates the faller wire movement, and puts the backing-off
in action. As soon as this is effected the revolution of the worm wheel shaft
liberates the taking-in pulley P, and the winding-on is brought into action at
the same time by the tappit or finger piece r¹ on the tappit shaft G. This
shaft also strikes off the ordinary catch for holding the carriage stationary by
the finger piece ³, so that the revolution of the worm wheel brings into action
the whole of the four self-acting movements in regular succession, which are
respectively terminated by the position of the carriage as it is taken in. For
the greater convenience of the operatives, the worm wheel f¹ is placed loose on
the shaft, to which it is connected by means of a small stud or pin on which it
rests by its own weight, so that it may be lifted off at any time, the consequence
of which is the stopping of the mule immediately the carriage arrives at the
end of a stretch. I would further remark, that the backing-off movement
which has been described differs from any that have heretofore been in use for
the same purpose, inasmuch as it is uniformly alike from the beginning to the
end of the process of building the cop; I have therefore not thought it neces-
sary to enter on any description of the nature and construction of a cop;

page_text: firstly, because it is well known to spinners and persons conversant with the
subject; and, secondly, because I have not found it necessary to use any com-
plex or compensating movements, either to vary the form of the cop, or to vary
the amount of yarn to be backed off or unwound; and the simplicity of
construction obtained by dispensing with such complex movements (which in
practice I do not find called for) I consider one of the chief characteristics and
recommendations of my Invention.
Having now fully described the nature of my Invention, together with the
manner in which the same is to be performed and carried into effect, I do not
claim as my Invention any of the parts appertaining to the ordinary mule,
nor the adaptation of any such parts as were formerly the subject of Maurice
de Tongh's Patent, already referred to; but I do claim as my Invention the
arrrangement of machinery by which the four self-acting movement in the
mule or stretcher are taken from the rotation of the ordinary loose pulley of
such machines, which consist,-
Firstly, in the uniform backing-off or reverse revolution of the spindles, not
only by the mechanical arrangements already described, but also by any varia-
tion or modification of such arrangement by which such uniform or equal
backing-off may be effected or performed.
Secondly, in the simultaneous movement of the faller wire at the exact
period when the backing-off takes place, which may also be performed by
various modifications of machinery, as well as such as I have described.
Thirdly, in the taking-in of the carriage by means of a jack or spur wheel
suspended on a vibrating lever, as described at Fig. 10 & 20.
Fourthly, in the application and adaptation of a spring pressure to a slipping
band for effecting the winding-on movement, either by the arrangement already
described, or any modification of the same.
And, lastly, I claim, as a valuable and new application in machinery for
effecting the four self-acting movements (which in hand spinning are per-
formed by the operative), the Invention and use of a worm and worm wheel
between the ordinary loose pulley and any other mechanism or machinery
which may be used for effecting all or any of the four movements herein-before
described, by means of which worm and worm wheel the various parts of the
machinery or gearing for performing the before-named processes or self-acting
movements are or may be put into action at the time or times which may be
requisite or desirable.
And whereas it is possible that the same object or objects may be effected
by the application or intervention of a worm and worm wheel between some
pulley applied to avoid the use of the ordinary loose pulley, and any other

page_text: mechanism or machinery, or by the intervention of a worm of more than one
thread, or of a worm wheel of greater or less size or number of teeth; now
I do hereby declare, that I do not intend to confine my claim to the use of
the ordinary loose pulley only, or to the use of a worm of only one thread, or
of a worm wheel which shall make only one entire revolution during the time
that the self-acting apparatus which it regulates is being brought into, or kept
in, or thrown out of action or operation, as is in fact done by the machine
described in the Drawings; but I do distinctly claim the application of a worm
of whatever number of threads, and a worm wheel of whatever dimensions or
number of teeth, applied between the ordinary loose pulley, or other pulley
in lieu thereof, and any other machinery or mechanism with a view to effect
part or all of the movements or processes described and delineated in the
annexed Drawings, and as set forth in these Presents; all which being, to the
best of my knowledge and belief, new, and never before used in that part of
Her Majesty's Dominions called England, I deliver this as my true and faithful
Specification of the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Howard, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the First day of June, in the year of our Lord One