Improvements in Devices for Checking and Holding the Carriage in Self-acting Mules.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1899-Accepted, 1st July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Checking and Holding the Carriage in
Self-acting Mules.
We, RICHARD HOWARTH FITTON, Erector of Cotton and Woollen Textile
Machinery, and JAMES MITCHESON, Overseer, both residing at Fall River, in
the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
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:―
Our invention relates to machinery for spinning, and its object is to prevent
the sudden bound and rebound which is liable to occur when the carriage of a
self-acting mule strikes the stops at each end of its run.
As now constructed, the carriage in self-acting mules extends across the entire
width of a mill, and in spinning it travels backward and forward from sixty
to sixty four inches. At various places across the mill there are rigid stops,
so placed that when the carriage has reached the point where it should stop it
strikes there. The effect is to bound back and rebound. This sudden rebound-
ing may cause two defects in the yarn. It may cause the yarn on some of the
spindles to kink or snarl, or it may cause some of them to break.
In either case,
it produces defects in the goods and loss of time and material.
Our invention aims to prevent this rebounding, and to do it as well when the
carriage returns as when it comes forward. We accomplish this by means of
a combined buffer and catch of a construction hereinafter pointed out.
In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1, is a perspective view of a small por-
tion of a self-acting mule and spinning frame, showing our invention. Figure 2
is an elevation of our device. Figure 3 is a plan view of the same. Figure 4
is a detail.
A portion of the mule carriage is shown at A, with one of the wheels B,
resting on the track or rail C, which is supported on blocks 1), all as usual. A
part of the spinning frame is shown at E, and parts of four bobbins at F.
On the carriage A at some convenient point we fasten an arm G carrying a
laterally projecting stud or tappet H, which is adjustable vertically in a slot g
in the arm, and is preferably provided with an anti-friction roller h. Along-
side the rail C, at places determined by the termini of the carriage run, are
located our combined buffers and catches, I I'. These consist preferably of a
yielding spring catch adapted to be struck by the stud, which engages with and
is securely held by the catch at the moment the carriage reaches the end of
its run.
These buffers may act independently, but we prefer to connect them as
hereinafter explained. They may be constructed in any suitable manner to
carry into effect the operations hereinafter described, but we prefer to make them
as follows:-
Each buffer, in our approved form of construction, comprises a casting having
a bedplate i carrying two upright blocks ¹, between which is received a bent
lever fulcrumed at its angle on journals received in bearings in the blocks .

page_text: These levers K K₁ are arranged with one leg k depending between the bearing
blocks. The lever K has its other leg projecting at substantially right angles
with its leg k, while the other lever K¹ has its leg extending upwardly at an
obtuse angle, as shown. A shallow notch 2 is formed in the upper side of each
leg k¹.
Fastened to each depending leg is a laterally projecting arm L having an
eye in its outer end.
A rod M passes through these eyes, and is screw-threaded
for several inches on each side thereof to receive nuts m, by means of which the
relative positions of the levers can be properly adjusted. The rod thus connects
the two levers so that they move simultaneously.
A spring is provided to maintain each lever yieldingly in its normal position.
It may be connected with the moving parts at any convenient point, being pre-
ferably placed under the leg of the lever K, as at N, encircling a stem k³
which is guided in a perforated ear secured to the bedplate in any suitable
manner.
The leg of the lever K has its end curved downwardly as shown. This
curved portion, and the upwardly extending leg of the lever K¹ lie in the
path of the stud H. When the carriage A nears one end of its run, the stud
strikes this curved end of lever K and forces it downward, compressing the
spring N, which thus exerts a retarding effect upon the carriage. As soon as
the stud arrives at the notch, it lodges therein and is firmly held by the
upward pressure of the spring. The carriage is thus brought to rest without
shock or rebound. On the return movement, the stud strikes the leg of the
lever K¹, forcing it downwardly until the stud arrives at the notch and is
caught thereby. This movement of the lever throws the leg outward, and
through the arms L, the rod M and the leg of the other lever, depresses the
lek k of said lever and compresses the spring N. In this way said spring is
utilised to give an upward yielding pressure to both levers, and effect a gentle
stopping of the carriage, without rebound, at each end of its travel. The resist-
ance offered by the buffers can be varied by adjusting the stud down or up in
the arm G, thereby causing a greater or less depression of the lever K.
It will be readily understood that in place of the connected buffers, we may
use two separate ones, constructed like our buffers I, and placed with their
levers projecting toward each other. Each will then act independently of the
other.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. In self-acting mules, means for both checking and holding the carriage at
the end of its run, constructed and operating substantially as and for the pur-
pose hereinbefore described.
2. In self-acting mules, spring buffers and catches serving both to check and
to hold the carriage at each end of its run, constructed and operating substan-
tially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
3. In self-acting mules, spring actuated levers serving both to check and to
hold the carriage at each end of its run, constructed and arranged substantially
as herein before described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
4. In a self-acting mule, the combination and arrangement of a stud fastened
to the carriage, and a buffer comprising a spring actuated lever lying in the
path of the stud and provided with a notch to receive and hold the stud, substan-
tially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described with reference to the accom-
panying drawings.
5. In a self-acting mule, the combination of a stud fastened to the carriage,
two notched levers lying in the path of the stud, a rod connecting the two levers,
and a spring arranged to be brought into play by the movement of either of the

page_text: levers, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and as illus-
trated by the accompanying drawings.
6. In a self-acting mule, a spring buffer comprising a bed plate having bear-
ing blocks, a lever fulcrumed in the said blocks and having a notch in its upper
side, and a spring lying under the lever, substantially as hereinbefore described
and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
7. In a self-acting mule, a spring buffer comprising a bed plate having bear-
ing blocks, a perforated ear on said bedplate, a lever fulcrumed in the bearing
blocks and having a notch in its upper side, a stem on the lever passing through
the perforated ear, and a spring encircling the stem between the ear and the
lever, substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accom-
panying drawings.
8. In a self-acting mule, a stud fastened to the carriage, two buffers comprising
bent levers having notches in the upper side of one leg, a lateral arm attached
to the other leg, a screw threaded rod passing through an eye in said arm, and
adjusting nuts on the rod on both sides of the arm, substantially as hereinbefore
described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of May. A.D. 18991
W. E. HEYS & SON,
Agents for the Applicants
W. E. HEYS & SON,
Agents for the Applicants