An Improved Self-acting Band or Rope Tightening Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 21st Dec., 1894-Accepted, 9th Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Self-acting Band or Rope Tightening Apparatus.
I, JOHN ELLISON of 8 Bank Field Street, Deane Road, Bolton in the County
of Lancaster, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows:-
"
"
This invention relates to an improved self-acting band or rope tightening
apparatus and is designed to act automatically according to the variations in the
length or tension of a band or rope, and is applicable to all kinds of machinery
driven by bands or ropes, and consists of a novel method of maintaining the same
at one uniform tension. In applying my invention to the rim band or bands of a
male employed for spinning cotton and other fibrous substances it is so constructed
that when the mule is stopped the rim-band pulley and its adjuncts will give or
yield according to the tightening of the band, and in case the latter becomes slack
it will be tightened automatically. This I accomplish by providing a stud or ladder
to work on a slide actuated by a screwed spindle attached to or mounted on same.
On one end of the screwed spindle is fixed a ratchet wheel actuated by a pawl
or catch mounted on a lever. The slide has several projections provided with holes
or slots. The back end of the sliding arrangement is fitted with a fixing with
projections having holes or slots to receive rods on which are mounted spiral springs
so arranged that the latter press or force the band pulley in one direction, and in
case the pressure on the band or rope overcomes the power of the springs the
latter will yield and allow the pulley to move in the opposite direction, and when
the band or rope becomes slack the springs move the band pulley and fixing to
tighten the band or rope. By the movements of the band or rope pulley, screwed
spindle, fixing, and ratchet wheel the "pawl" or catch slides in a slot in the fixing,
and when the "pawl" or catch assumes a certain position it operates the ratchet
wheel one or more cogs at a time and thus traverses the slide and pulley and
tightens the band or rope. Weights operating a lever or levers may be employed
in lieu of springs.
Dated the 20th March 1894.
EDMUND CHADWICK, F.I.C.P.A.,
Agent.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Self-acting Band or Rope Tightening Apparatus.
JOHN ELLISON of 8 Bank Field Street, Deane Road, Bolton, in the County
of Lancaster, Inventor, 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 and accompanying drawings:
--
This invention relates to an improved self-acting band or rope tightening
apparatus and is designed to act automatically according to the variations in the
length or tension of a band or rope, and is applicable to all kinds of machinery
driven by bands or ropes, and consists of a novel method of maintaining the same
at one uniform tension. In applying my invention to the rim band or bands of a

page_text: mule employed for spinning cotton and other fibrous substances, it is so constructed
that when the mule is stopped the rim band pulley and its adjuncts will give or
yield according to the tension of the band, and in case the latter becomes slack it
will be tightened automatically.
To render my invention fully understood will now proceed to describe the
same more particularly, reference being bad to the annexed sheet of drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a plan.
Fig. 3 is an end view.
Fig. 4 is a view of a bracket with inclined slot to vibrate the pawl which
operates the screw.
As already said my invention is applicable to any mechanism in which a band or
rope requires to be kept at a constant tension. For the purpose of illustration
however I have in the accompanying drawings shown the apparatus applied in
connection with the rim band tension pulley of a mule. The pulley a is mounted
on a stud on the block nut h. The band or rope is marked b. The brackets 1
and 2 are fixtures and are secured in any suitable manner to the frame of the mule.
The end crosshead c is movable and carries with it all of the other parts of the
apparatus. The crosshead c has secured to it the outer side rods d d and also the
inner rods e e the free ends or tails of these four rods sliding through the fixed
brackets 1 and 2. Upon the outer side rods d d I place helical springs ff which
are in compression and tend to force the crosshead c with its rods and parts away
from the abutment bracket 1 and in the direction of the arrows Fig. 1.
A screwed spindle g passes through a side projection from the crosshead c and is
confined by a collar or other means so that it can rotate freely in the crosshead c
but is carried to and fro with the crosshead.
The screwed extension of the spindle y passes loosely through the fixed bracket 2
like the rods e e and engages with the block nut through which the rods e e also
pass loosely. It will be seen from this description that all of the parts of the
apparatus with the exception of the fixed brackets 1 and 2 are subject to the
outwardly pushing action of the helical springs off the restraining force against
which the springs exert themselves, being the pull of the band b. Consequently
when the tension of the band diminishes, the springs will carry the pulley a and
parts, forward in the direction of the arrows and thus take up the slack and
preserve the tension of the band. If this give and take of the band were uniform,
nothing more would be required to preserve its uniform tension. But such is not
the case. Temperature, the degree of humidity in the room, fatigue through wear
and other causes all tend to make the yield of the band vary. And as the
springs flose in strength the further they re-ile and thus diminish tension, it is
evident some means must be adapted to alvance the pulley as the hand stretches
and so maintain an uniform and normal degree of tension. It is for this purpose
that I provide the screw g, and it will readily be seen that by turning this screw
I can advance the block nut and pulley along the rods ee and so restore the normal
tension, if the band has grown slacker. I might depend upon the attendant's
observation and judgment and allow him to turn the screw g by a han lle placed on
the squared end of the screw so as to advance the pulley when he sees that the
band has slackened.
But I prefer to render the action automatic and this I effect by the following
means. Upon the inner end of the fixed bracket 2 I form a flange 2ª with an
angular slot which appears most clearly in Fig. 4. I also mount upon the neck of
the screw spindle g a rocking lever i formed with a finger i¹ which projects through
the inclined slot in the back 2 of the fixed bracket 2. The rocking lever i carries
a ratchet pawl which engages with a ratchet wheel all as clearly appearing
in Fig. 3. The result of the foregoing disposition of pirts is that when the band
slackens, as for example during the " backing off of the mule, the pulley and
other parts move forward to take up the slack. In doing so the finger 1' moves
down through the inclined slot allowing the rucking lever also to fall over

page_text: and with it the pawl ; in the direction of the arrow Fig. 3. If the band is so
slack as to require taking up, then the parts will be pushed so far forward by the
springs that the ratchet pawl will act on the ratchet wheel and turn the screw to
the extent of say one tooth. If the band is not so slack as to require tightening
then the springs will have less effect and the toe of the ratchet pawl will only slip
down on the back of the ratchet tooth without coming against the face of the next
tooth, so that the screw 9 will not be turned and the relative position of the
pulley a will remain unaltered. By thus securing that the rim band will be subject
constant and automatic adjustment of tension so as to suit requirements
I ensure better work in the mule or other apparatus to which my tension appliance
may be attached.
to
The arrangement can easily be applied to existing machines.
It will be obvious that the uses to which my invention can be put are various,
and it will be equally obvious that considerable modification might be made in the
parts and in their arrangement without departing from the spirit of my invention.
For instance weights might be used instead of the springs and the particular
disposition and mode of fixing the invention would depend to some extent upon the
use for which it was intended.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1. As means for taking up the slack of driving bands or ropes, mounting the
carrier tension or other pulley in such a manner that it is held with spring or
elastic pressure against the pull of the band, in combination with means such as a
screw for advancing the pulley from time to time either automatically or by hand
so as to take up any slack that may arise in the rope or band, substantially as
hereinbefore described and as shown in the drawings.
2. As means for taking up the slack of rim bands in mules, supporting the carrier
pulley a on a block nut carried in a movable frame pressed by springs or other
elastic means against the pull of the band, the said movable frame being furnished
with means such as the lever operated by an inclined slot, ratchet pawl j and
ratchet wheel k for automatically turning the screw which advances the nut and
pulley, substantially as described and illustrated.
3. In a tension appliance of the indicated nature, the rocking lever i operated
by an inclined slot or other similar means and combined with the ratchet pawlj and
ratchet wheel & for the purpose and substantially as described and shown.
4. The general arrangement, construction and combination of parts comprising
the improved self acting band or rope tightening apparatus substantially as
described and as illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this 20th day of December 1894.
EDMUND CHADWICK, F.I.C.P.A.,
Agent.