A New or Improved Faller Motion for Self-acting Mules.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Sept., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 19th June, 1895-Accepted, 27th July, 1895
SE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Faller Motion for Self-acting Mules.
I, JOSEPH LEES of 338 Ashton Road, Oldham, Mule Overlooker, do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
""
My invention relates to self-acting mules and has for its object to provide means
for locking the counter-faller shaft during the outward run of the carriage and the
unlocking or releasing of said shaft at the instant of "backing-off" in such a
manner that the yarn is relieved of the full weight of the weight lever during
backing-off (only sufficient weight being applied as will keep the faller wire at the
point of the spindles and therefore with the yarn in tension) and which weight is
gradually applied as the carriage makes its inward run,--so preventing "snarls
in the yarn by reason of the faller wire always tending to keep the yarn in tension.
In accordance with my invention I dispense with the usual chains which connect
the winding faller shaft to the weight lever and I substitute therefor curved arms
or levers extending downwards and with their extremities pointing away from the
spindles of the mule. Said arms or levers are of such a length as will allow of
their extremities describing a radius of about three inches, or such a radius as will
enable their extremities to reach beyond the counter faller shaft when turned in
that direction. Said arms or levers are fixed to collars mounted on the winding
faller shaft, which collars being fixed by set screws turn with said shaft.
On a faller stand in each half of the mule and as near the centre of such half
as convenient and at points corresponding to each of the curved arms aforesaid I
affix a slotted bracket and to this bracket I hinge a lever or rod (hereinafter
called the locking lever) extending upwards towards the counter-faller shaft.
Under the action of a spring on each faller stand the free ends of each locking
lever is held in engagement with a ratchet tooth or similar projection on a collar
or sleeve on the counter-faller shaft, which collar and tooth are so adjusted as to
regulate the locking of the counter-faller at the desired point in the outward run
of the mule carriage.
During the outward run of the carriage the free euds of the locking levers are
in engagement with projections aforesaid on the counter-faller shaft and in this
position all the pull of the weight lever on the counter faller shaft is maintained by
said locking levers. The curved lever arms on the winding faller shaft are more
or less directly behind the locking levers aforesaid, but sufficiently far away as to
allow of the movements hereinafter described.
The carriage having almost reached the end of its outward run a finger on the
winding faller shaft presses against a stop or bracket on the headstock frame thus
causing the winding faller to be depressed to the spindle point.
The backing off now being effected the further movement of the winding-faller
shaft causes the curved arms aforesaid to knock or push the locking levers out of
engagement with the projections on the counter faller shaft. This being done, the
counter faller shaft is released and the weight levers fall onto bowls immediately
beneath them thus allowing the counter faller wire to take up the yarn for
winding on.'
"
As soon as the backing-off has been effected and the carriage commences to make
the inward run, the weight is gradually applied to the counter-faller by the weight
levers gradually sliding off the bowls and this without any shock or strain to the
yarn, the gradual application of the weight by reason of the faller wire following
up the yarn serving to prevent "snarls."

page_text: The bringing back of the curved levers and winding faller shaft and the
relocking of the counter faller shaft at the commencement of another outward
stretch is effected by the ordinary well known means; the locking levers being
caused to automatically re-engage with the teeth on the counter faller shaft by the
springs aforesaid.
Dated this 18th day of September 1894.
or improved faller motion for Self-acting mules.
I, JOSEPH LEES, of 338 Ashton Road, Oldham, Mule Overlooker, do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
"
My invention relates to self acting mules and has for its object to provide means
for locking the counter faller shaft during the outward run of the carriage and the
unlocking or releasing of said shaft at the instant or time of "backing-off" in
such a manner that the yarn is relieved of the full weight of the weight lever
during "backing-off" (only sufficient weight being applied as will keep the faller
wire at the point of the spindles and therefore with the yarn in tension) and which
weight is gradually applied as the carriage makes its inward run, so preventing
"snarls
in the yarn by reason of the faller wire always tending to keep the yarn
In accordance with my invention I dispense with the usual chains which connect
the winding faller shaft to the weight levers and I substitute therefor curved arms
or levers attached to collars mounted and adjustably fixed on the winding faller
shaft, and of such a length as will allow of their extremities describing a radius of
about three or four inches or such a radius that will enable their extremities to
reach beyond the counter faller shaft when turned in that direction.
in tension.
On a faller stand in each half of the mule and as near the centre of such half
as convenient and at points corresponding to each of the curved arms aforesaid I
affix a slotted bracket and to this bracket 1 hinge a lever or finger (hereinafter
called the locking lever) extending upwards towards the counter faller shaft.
Under the action of a flat or similar spring the free end of each locking lever is
held in engagement with a ratchet tooth or similar projection on a collar or sleeve:
on the counter-faller shaft. The relation between this said locking lever and the
collar and tooth is for the purpose of locking the counter faller shaft and is
adjustable so as to regulate the locking at any desired point in the inward run of
the mule carriage. During the outward run of the carriage the locking levers are
in engagement with the ratchet teeth and in this position all the pull of the weight
levers on the counter faller shaft is sustained by said locking levers. The curved
lever arms on the winding faller shaft are set directly behind the said locking levers
and are each fitted with a runner or bowl.
The carriage having reached the end of its outward run and with the parts in
the relation before described and the "backing off" being then effected, the 4
movement of the winding faller shaft causes the curved arms aforesaid to knock
or push the locking levers out of engagement with the ratchet teeth on the counter
faller shaft and thus releasing such shaft, allowing the weighted lever to fall onto
its bowl, and relieving the counter faller wire of the full weight. As soon as the
"backing off" has been effected and the carriage commences to make the inward 5
run, the weight is gradually. applied to the counter-faller by the weight levers
gradually sliding off the bowls, and this without any shock or strain to the yarn,

page_text: the gradual application of the weight by reason of the faller wire following up
the yarn tending to prevent "snarls."
To effect the putting on and taking off of the pull of the weight lever more
gradually and to further ensure of no jerk or undue strain being given to the yarn,
I provide the counter-faller chain with a tension spring, which is hooked into the
links of the chain and when the full weight is on aud the chain is taut becomes
distended. When now the weight comes to be lowered or in case the lever is set
to slide on to the usual bowl the spring gradually reduces the weight by contraction
and takes up the slack chain whilst in putting on the weight and as the lever slides
off its bowl the reverse effect takes place, the spring by gradually distending
gradually applying the full weight. The bringing back of the curved lever arms
and winding faller shaft and the relocking of the counter faller shaft at the
commencement of another stretch is effected by the ordinary well known means;
the locking levers being caused to automatically re-engage with the ratchet teeth
on the counter faller shaft by the flat spring aforesaid.
And in order that my said invention shall be more readily understood and carried
into practical effect, I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings illustrating a
section of the counter and winding faller shafts of a mule, and with my improve-
ments applied thereto, and will now proceed to describe the same with the
assistance of the various figures and letters of reference marked thereon.
(A) is the counter faller shaft and (B) the winding faller shaft. (C) is the
collar fixed on the counter faller shaft with ratchet tooth or claw (D) and secured
by set screws (E). (F) is the collar on the winding faller shaft secured by
screws (F) and with curved arm (G) carrying the bowl or runner (H). (I) is
the locking lever sustained against the ratchet tooth (D) by the spring (J) and
mounted on a stud or centre (J') in the adjustable and slotted bracket (K) bolted
to the faller stand. (M) is the counter faller chain and (L) the usual weight lever
for weighting the counter faller and (N) is the usual bowl. (O) is the aforesaid
spiral spring hooked into the links of the chain (M) as illustrated.
The parts are shewn in the position they occupy when the mule carriage is just
at the end of its outward run and "backing off" is about to take place, the
bowl (H) being so set as to press against the locking lever (I) immediately the
winding faller wire descends to take up the slack yarn, and the weight lever (L)
being sustained upon its bowl (N) and the spring (O) almost fully contracted,-
only sufficient tension being left in it as is desirable to put upon the yarn during
backing off. By regulating the height of the bowl (N) the degree of tension for
this purpose may be varied.
Having thus 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. In self-acting mules the use and employment of a collar (C) with claw or
ratchet tooth (D) and mounted on the counter-faller shaft; collar (F) with curved
arm (G) carrying bowl (H) and mounted on the winding faller shaft; locking
lever (I), slotted bracket (K) and spring (J), in combination with the chain (M)
and tension spring (O), mounted and operating as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
2. In self-acting mules the several parts hereinbefore described separately or
combined as and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 19th dow of June 1805
JOSEPH LEES,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.