IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Shaw, of Lees, Manager, Lewis Harrop, of
Oldham, Cotton Spinner, and James Fielding, of Lees, Cotton Spinner,
all in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS
MATERIALS."
Sealed the 28th August 1855, and dated the 26th March 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Shaw, Lewis Harrop,
and James Fielding at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 26th March 1855.
We, JOHN SHAW, of Lees, Manager, LEWIS HARROP, of Oldham, Cotton
Spinner, and JAMES FIELDING, of Lees, Cotton Spinner, all in the County of
Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS
MATERIALS" to be as follows:-
These improvements apply to that class of spinning and doubling machinery
called "self-acting mules," "twining jennies," and other similar machines
wherein self-acting headstocks are employed, and more especially to those
worked by what are well known as Sharp and Roberts' headstocks, and consist

page_text: principally in a novel and improved arrangement of the various working parts of
the same, whereby the headstock is considerably simplified, and a great saving
of gearing effected. The "rim shaft" and all the other working shafts of the
headstock are placed parallel to-the rollers, with the exception of an inclined
shaft, which communicates motion by means of bevil gearing from the "rim
shaft" to the "front roller shaft." The "cam shaft" is driven by means of
an intermediate shaft, which is actuated by spur gearing from the rim
"shaft," and is provided with a pulley covered with leather, which drives the
"cam shaft" by friction of contact with a similar pulley placed thereon. Upon
the end of the intermediate or "leather pulley shaft" is a spur wheel, driving
another shaft (underneath and parallel to the "rim shaft "), upon which is a
spur pinion, which actuates the backing-off motion. Upon this last-named
shaft also a pulley is fixed, which drives (by means of a strap) another pulley
placed on the scroll shaft," and connected thereto by means of a clutch box.
The "faller" is acted upon by a "sector" in the ordinary manner, but the "cop
builder" and "shaper," instead of being bolted to the headstock as usual, are
attached to the carriage, and have a reciprocating motion imparted thereto,
which causes a friction pulley on the "sector" to ascend and descend an
incline, and thereby gives motion to the "sector," which acts upon the "faller."
In the winding-on motion we dispense with the catch box or face plate usually
employed, and place the catch upon a stud attached to the "winding-on'
drum, and the said catch acts upon a ratchet wheel keyed upon the " twist
pulley shaft," so that as soon as the drum moves to wind on, the said catch
causes the "twist pulley" to revolve. All the working shafts of the headstock,
with the exception of the "drawing-out shaft," are placed in the front of the
rollers. By this improved arrangement of headstock the mechanism is greatly
simplified, and a great economy is effected in the cost of the machine, and in
the steam or other power requisite to drive the same.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Shaw, Lewis Harrop, and James Fielding in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 26th September 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
SHAW, of Lees, Manager, LEWIS HARROP, of Oldham, Cotton Spinner, and
JAMES FIELDING, of Lees, Cotton Spinner, all in the County of Lancaster, send
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said John Shaw, Lewis Harrop, and James Fielding, Her special licence
that we, the said John Shaw, Lewis Harrop, and James Fielding, our exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said John
Shaw, Lewis Harrop, and James Fielding, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING COTTON AND OTHER
FIBROUS MATERIALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
John Shaw, Lewis Harrop, and James Fielding, by an instrument in writing
under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Shaw and James Fielding, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
Our improvements are described under seven separate heads, and apply to
that class of spinning and doubling machinery called "self-acting mules,"
"twining jennies," and other similar machines wherein self-acting headstocks
are employed, and more especially to those worked by what are well known
as Sharp and Roberts's headstocks, and consist principally in the following
novel and improved arrangement of the working parts of the same.
Firstly, in placing the rim or first driving shaft, the leather contact pulley
shaft, the backing-off pinion shaft, and the cam shaft in the headstock parallel
with and in front of the roller beam and carriage, the front roller receiving its
motion from the aforesaid rim or first driving shaft by the simple application
of an oblique or line shaft, as in the ordinary hand mule, by which we effect a
great saving in the gearing and shafting, and consequently render the machine
less costly than heretofore.
Secondly, in driving the taking-in scroll shaft by a strap belt passing from
the "backing-off" pinion shaft, by which we effect a saving in the quantity of

page_text: 'scroll band:used, and at the same time greatly reduce the risk of accidents to
the "hands.":
. Thirdly, in arrangements by which the speed of the spindles can be changed
in two places when altering from one counts of yarns to another, namely, by
changing the diameter of the pullies either on the "rim shaft" or the twist
pulley shaft we also employ two twist bands, as in the ordinary hand
mule. :
...
1.
Fourthly, in placing the winding-on drum on the twist pulley shaft in front
of the headstock in connection with a click and ratchet wheel, instead of fixing
the same inside of the square or carriage, as in Sharp and Roberts's' machines,
thereby rendering the construction thereof more simple and less expensive.
Fifthly, in placing the copping builder or shaper inside the carriage and
imparting the requisite motion thereto, instead of bolting it on the headstock
of the machine, as heretofore practised; this part of our said improvements
being designed for the purpose of obviating the objection attending the varia-
tions in the shape of the cops, arising from the vibration or springing motion
of the floor or of the carriage in machines as heretofore constructed and
arranged.
Sixthly, in an arrangement for regulating the winding-on by the use and
employment of two radial arms, one of which is fixed to the carriage and the
other to the front of the headstock, said arms being so arranged as to derive
their movement direct from the forward and backward movement of the
carriage without the intervention of a band, strap, or belt, as heretofore; the
differential movements being effected by the rotations of the cam shaft, as in
self-actors of the ordinary construction.
Seventbly and lastly, in so constructing the square of the carriage as that
the timber thereof is capable of being extended the whole length of the mule
without any
division at the headstock (as in the mules constructed upon Sharp
and Roberts's principle), by which the carriage is rendered both lighter and
firmer than heretofore.
In order to explain our said improvements as completely as possible, we
now proceed to describe the best means we are acquainted with for carrying
the same into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Sheets
of Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the numeral figures and letters of
reference marked thereon respectively, as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

page_text: respectively represent and complete the other half of the Figures exhibited at
Sheet 1. At Sheet 3; Figures 5 and 7 represent the square in the carriage,
drawn to an enlarged scale of six inches to the foot. Figure 5 exhibits the
square as seen from the end of the carriage; the side frame at Sheet 2 being
removed. The position of the spindles, spindle box, and the timber of the
carriage at Figure 5 are denoted by blue lines. At Sheet 4, Figure 6 is a
corresponding top plan view of the square of the carriage; and Figure 7 of
Sheet 3 is a view as seen at right angles to Figure 5, or as it would appear
when looking at the front of the mule. At each of the foregoing Figures of
each of the Sheets of Drawings we employ similar letters of reference to
denote corresponding parts, in so far as such parts appear or can be seen at
each of the Figures of each Sheet of Drawings respectively..
.་
At Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, of. Sheets 1 and 2 respectively, A, A, are the side
frames of the headstock, similar to those generally employed in hand mules,
which are firmly connected together by mountings B, B', B2, B3; C, the rim
shaft, with the fast pulley a, and a narrow pulley a¹ loose thereon, and carrying
on its prolonged boss the wheels a³, a', and pulley a², which is completely
loose on the said boss; b, the backing-off box, worked by the lever 6' and the
cam 3 on the cam shaft E; c is the rim, driving by means of the rim band c¹
the twist pulley c; D, the leather contact pulley shaft, driven from a' by the
wheels a³ and d, and driving, through the agency of the pulley D' and the
iron contact pulley D, the cam shaft E, and through the wheels d¹ and d
driving the backing-off pinion shaft F; G is the scroll shaft, driven by an end-
less belt or strap F³, which passes over the small pulley F¹ on the backing-off
pinion shaft F, and over the large pulley F on the scroll shaft G, and contains
the scroll G', with one-half of a catch box attached to it, the other half of
said catch box being operated upon by the lever G2 and cam G³. .H is the
twist shaft, on the end of which, and opposite to the twist pulley c², is the
chain drum H¹, placed loosely on the shaft H, but connected thereto by
the ratchet wheel H³, keyed on said shaft, and a corresponding click H*, which
come into operation as soon as the winding-on chain e is pulled, that is to say,
as soon as the carriage begins to move towards the rollers. The other end of
the chain e is secured to. a slide which is worked by the screw e¹ and the
governor wheels &², ³, the whole being fixed on the radial arm I, which,
together with the other radial arm I¹, regulate the winding-on of the
the spindle, according to the diameter of the cop. From the twist shaft H
the tin roller shaft .J derives its motion by the twist band passing over the
twist pulley Hs, the pulley J¹ on the shaft J, and the union pulley J², in the
usual manner; K, an oblique or line shaft employed to transmit motion by
yarn. on

page_text: the bevil wheel K' at its upper end, and K at its lower end from the wheel
a on the rim shaft C to the bevil wheel L' on the front roller shaft L, from
which the back rollers are driven in the usual way. The drawing-out shaft M
also receives its motion from the front roller shaft, or from a pinion formed on
the boss of the wheel L' (not shown on Drawing), through the agency of the
wheels L, L, M, M. Both of the shafts L and M are furnished with catch
boxes, worked by forks projecting from the long shaft N, which derives its
movements from the cam N¹; P is the bottom rack fixed to the flooring of
the room in the usual way, and P¹ is the rack on the slide z; O and O' are
the copping and counter-faller shafts, the operations of which, together with
all the parts belonging to the carriage, hereafter fully described, are exhibited
at Sheets 3 and 4, drawn to an enlarged scale to render the same more intel-
ligible; Qis a lever, which, through the intermediate bell crank lever Q¹
(shewn at Figure 2 of Sheet 1), works the different changes on the cam shaft,
the spring Qacting upon the escape plate E' in the usual way. To the lower
extremity of the lever Qis fixed a rod Q', which, being connected with the
lever Q³, effects the disengaging of the "taking-in" motion and the engaging
of the "drawing-out" motion, as well as the spindles and rollers, when the
carriage arrives at its nearest point to the rollers. R is a shaft, carrying on
one end the strap guides R', and on the other end a short arm R³, with a
bowl worked by the excentric R². The "twist motion" consists of a bracket S,
having a shaft St, provided at one end with a worm wheel S¹, driven by a
worm S on the rim shaft C, and on the other the twist or escape plate S³.
T, T, are guide pulleys for the rim and twist bands; and U, U, are guide
pulleys for the scroll bands. At Sheets 3 and 4, Figures 5, 6, 7, V is a square
iron frame, bolted to the front and back timbers V1, V2, of the carriage. W
and W' are the side frames, screwed down on the square, and fixed by the
slide bed X, being bolted to both through an ear. In the bed X is a bearing
which supports the upper part of a shaft Y, the lower part of such said shaft
being also supported by a suitable bearing fixed to the carriage. There is a
pinion Y', fixed upon the upper end of the
P¹ on the slide z, and there is a wheel P
Y, which takes into the fixed rack P, as
thus, as the carriage is moved in and out, the wheel P rolling therein will
effect the moving of the slide to and fro, and thus impart the requisite motion
to the copping builder or shaper through the medium of the shaper box or
plate fand copping rail f', which are connected to the slide in the following
manner-f², ƒ³, are wrought-iron pins fixed in the copping rail f¹; said pins
move freely up and down in appropriate shaped slots 3,, in the slide z, and
shaft Y, which takes into the rack
fixed on the lower end of the shaft
exhibited at Figure 3 of Sheet 2;

page_text: rest upon the edges of the shaper box or plates f, thus affording the means of
adjusting the parts to a nicety. As the slide moves in and out, a finger g,
put loose on the spindle or screw and carrying a click g', catches the adjust-
able inclined plane g³ (see Sheet 4), and thus turns the ratchet wheel g³ and
by it the screw ¹ part of a revolution.
This screw operates upon a brass nut 22 fixed to the shaper box f (as
exhibited at Figure 5 of Sheet 3), which by this contrivance is at every
stretch traversing a small space corresponding with the thickness of the yarn
and diameter of the cop required, and is adjustable by the incline g. h is the
sector shaft, upon which is fixed the sector h', gearing into the sector pinion h³
keyed on the faller shaft O. There is a bracket i (with a boss on one side),
which is set loose on the sector shaft h, and kept in proper position by a
collar; the other end of said bracket is provided with two bosses, as at
Figure 5 of Sheet 3, one of which contains the pin ¹, round which the
bracket has a partial movement to such an extent as the oval boss ³ of
this said bracket embracing the sector shaft h will admit of, and which must
be sufficient to allow the diamond-shaped click to become disengaged from
a corresponding recess formed in the sector h', as exhibited. To the other
boss of the bracket i is secured the bowl, which rolls over the copping rail
f, and thus governs the motion of the faller; but as this is only required to
be done when the yarn is winding on the spindle, it is necessary that the
connection between this bowl and the faller should be disengaged as soon as
the carriage arrives at the nearest point to the rollers; this is effected by the
bell-crank lever k, the short arm of which, bearing against the lower part of
the oval boss, lifts the diamond-shaped click out of its notch as soon
as the long arm k¹ of such said lever is pushed back by a bracket suitably
fixed to the floor for the purpose.
Upon the tin roller shaft J is keyed the ratchet wheel with chain n, con-
nected with the finger n¹ on the faller shaft O, for pulling the faller while the
spindles are "backing off" the usual way. The "backing-off" chain" n
passes over two pullies o and o¹ (shewn at Figure 5 of Sheet 3), that marked o
being fixed to the side of the frame, and that marked o¹ to the end of the
lever P; this lever has its fulcrum upon a stud p¹, and rests on the top of
the oval boss of the bracket j, so that as soon as the diamond-shaped click j³.
falls into its place the pulley o¹ gives way, thus relieving the "backing-off"
chainn, and effectually preventing the faller from being pulled down farther
than is actually necessary. The stud p, passing through the bracket p²,
carries on the other end thereof a crooked finger q, which, when the lever p
descends, strikes upwards on the lever Q, shewn at Figure 2, Sheet 1, placed

page_text: outside the headstock, thus causing the requisite quarter turn of the cam shaft,
which engages the taking-in motion and the disengagement of the holding
out catch r, which is suspended from the finger 9 by the rod s, and in this
manner and by these means the several movements of the machine are
effected in a more simple, efficient, and less costly manner than by the use of
the self-actors as heretofore constructed.
Having now described the nature and object of our said. Invention of
Improvements in Machinery for Spinning and Doubling Cotton and other
Fibrous Materials," together with the best means we are acquainted with for
carrying the same into practical effect, we would remark, in conclusion, that
we claim as our Invention, the novel mechanical combinations and arrange-
ments-of-parts above particularly described, set forth, and' represented by the
several Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, as constituting improvenients
in machinery for spinning and doubling cotton and other fibrous materials,
substantially as set forth and described under the several heads of this our
said Specification of the same. **
.
7.12
"In witness" whereof, we, the said John Shaw & James Fielding,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-fourth day of
September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-five.".
JOHN SHAW.
(L.S.)
1