IMPROVED MACHINERY TO BE USED IN SPINNING
Year: 1847

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
ECCLES, of Walton-le-Dale, in the Parish of Blackburn, and County of Lan-
caster, and HENRY BRIERLY, formerly of the same place, but now residing at
Chorley, in the said County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Second day of March, One thou-
sand eight hundred and forty-seven, in the eleventh year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
William Eccles and Henry Brierly, our exors, adñiors, and assigns, Her
especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that we, the said
William Eccles and Henry Brierly, our exors, admors, and assigns, and such
others as we, the said William Eccles and Henry Brierly, our exors, admors,
or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term of years therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey,
Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plan-
tations abroad, our Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY TO BE USED IN
SPINNING;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging
us, the said William Eccles and Henry Brierly, particularly to describe and
ascertain the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or

page_text: under the hand and seal of one of us, and to cause the same to be enrolled
in Her said 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, we, the said
William Eccles and Henry Brierly, do hereby declare that the nature of our
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are
fully described and ascertained in and by the following statement and Speci-
fication thereof, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to
the figures and letters marked thereon for the purpose of such reference, that
is to say:-
This Invention has reference to the machine called the "mule," used chiefly
in spinning cotton, and the object is to obtain an improved method of pro-
ducing several movements, which are to be used in rendering the machine
self-acting, or capable of working without the interposition of manual labour.
The following description will explain the different movements referred to:-
First, the movement termed "backing off," or reversing the motion of the
spindles, so as to uncoil the yarn to a certain extent from them, and allow
the descent of that part of the machine called the "faller," previously to wind-
ing the yarn upon the cop. In order to obtain this movement of the spindles,
a band or chain is attached to the carriage, and connected with certain wheels
and pullies, and made to operate upon the pullies which drive the spindles
through the medium of toothed gearing, one part of which is held fast by a
break or friction pulley while the carriage is moved a few inches backwards,
'and thus causes the band or chain above mentioned to turn a drum wheel or
pulley, over which it passes, and, by means of the other part of the toothed
gear referred to, communicate a reverse motion to the spindle, the faller
descending at the same time down an inclined plane fixed for the purpose.
At Figure 1 is a side view of part of the headstock of a mule, shewing the
manner of arranging the parts. In order to produce this effect, let A, A,
represent part of the headstock of a mule; B, B; the pullies used for driving
the spindles through the medium of the band 6; C, one of the twist pullies,
from which the band c proceeds, for driving the drums and spindles in the
usual manner; D, the pullies, round which the drum bands pass inside the
'carriage in the same manner as in the hand mule. Let F represent a band
or chain attached to the front of the carriage E (shewn in section). As the
carriage 'runs out during the operation of spinning, the chain F is wound
upon a pulley or drum H, which is placed upon the same shaft as the pullies

page_text: to the shaft, the
B and C, the pulley or drum H being loose thereon while the aforesaid
pullies are fast; thus allowing the shaft and pullies B, C, to run in, driving
the spindles, while the wheel or drum II is stationary, or moves slowly in
either direction. In order to wind the chain F upon the drum H, another.
band or chain G is used which coils upon the drum in the contrary direction
to the chain F, so that while the carriage runs forward, the chain G winds off
the drum, and the chain F. winds on, the chain G passing from the lower side
of the pulley or drum H, round a carrier pulley at the back of the headstock,
and being attached to the back of the carriage, as shewn at a. An alternate
movement of the drum H is thus produced during the alternate motion of
the carriage backwards and forwards. In order to cause the drum and chain
to effect the operation of backing off, an arrangement of toothed gearing is
employed, shewn at I, K. The Sketch, Figure 2, will shew moro distinctly
the arrangement of these wheels. H represents a section of the drum. I, K,.
the wheels denoted by similar letters in the first Figure. P, a third bevil
wheel, placed also in gear with the wheel K, and made fast
wheel I and the drum I being loose thereon, as aforesaid. Thero is a fric-
tion pulley N attached to the wheel I, by means of the boss or nave of the
latter wheel being extended through the bearing which supports the shaft Q,
and the pulley N being fixed thereupon. After the carriage has run out, and
the yarn has been sufficiently twisted, the break S is, by a certain movement
of the machine, pressed upon the friction pulley N, thus causing the wheels,
which were revolving by the movement of the shaft and pullies B, C, and the
wheel P, to stop, and, through the medium of the latter wheel, the shaft and
spindles are stopped also. The carriage then begins to move inwards, and
the break still remains in contact, holding fast the wheel I. The drum H is
made to turn round for a certain distance by a certain length of the chain F
being unwound from it, and the wheel K is thus turned by contact with the
wheel I, which is now held fast as aforesaid, the wheel K. being carried round
with the drum, and turning upon its own centro at the same tinie. Tho
wheel P, being in gear with the wheel K, is turned also, and accordingly tho
shaft and púllies B, C, and the bands and spindles connected therewith; but
the motion of the latter is in the contrary direction to that in which they
were driven by the action of the machine in spinning, as, while spinning, they
ran in the direction pointed out by the dart at Figure 1, but when moved by
the action of the chain and wheels, they will turn the reverse way, as will
appear from a consideration of the Figure. The action of the wheels will also
communicate double the quantity of motion to the shaft and pullies B, C, to
that received by the drum H, as the wheel K, turning upon its own centre,

page_text: and being carried round with the drum at the same time, will cause the wheel
P to make twice the number of revolutions that are made by the drum.
Thus, one revolution of the drum H will cause two revolutions of the shaft
and pullies B, C. The size of the drum H must be in proportion to the size
of the twist pullies which turn the spindles, and the number of revolutions
which the spindles are required to make in backing off. When the drum
and pullies are so arranged as to produce one turn of the spindle for every
inch receded by the carriage, such proportion will be found adapted for
general working. In order to press. the break S upon the friction pulley N,
a spiral spring a is used, one end of which is connected to the upper end of
the lever Z, and the other end attached to the headstock, as shewn at g.
While the machine is performing the operation of spinning, the spring is pre-
vented from acting upon the break by means of the stop or stud d upon the
rod m, which holds back the lever Z in the position shewn in the Figure, the
rod m being kept in its place by the catch e: When the carriage has run out,
and the operation of spinning the stretch is completed, a small shaft called the
twist shaft, well known as used in the hand mule, is made to disengage the
catch e, and the rod m is then made to pass towards the back of the head-
stock, by means of the weighted lever f changing the driving strap of the
machine from the fast pulley to that in connection with the part used for
drawing up the carriage. The lever Z, which, before the disengagement of
the catch e was held back by the stop d, is now, by the movement of the
rod m, set at liberty, and the spring a immediately collapses and draws the
upper end of the lever Z towards ġ, thereby pressing the break S upon
the friction pulley N, through the medium of the part X and the latch W
operating upon the stud h. When the carriage has receded so far as to
reverse the spindle sufficiently, the latch W is disengaged from the stud h, by
means of the catch p, which is attached to the carriage, operating upon the
piece r, to which is connected' the rods at one end, while the other end of
the rod is attached to the latch W. The catch p is so formed as to pass over
the piece r when the carriage is running out, the bevilled end of the catch
rising over the said piece without producing any effect; but as the carriage
returns, in running in, the catch moves the upper end of the piece r backward,
thus drawing the latch W off the stud h. The break then drops out of con-
tact with the pulley N, and rests upon the set screw t, placed for the purpose.
The breaking off is thus effected, and during the same operation the faller
descends down the incline M placed for the purpose; the counter-faller is
also disengaged by the same movement, so as to keep the yarn tight, and
the machine is then in a situation for commencing the operation of winding

page_text: on. There is an adjusting screw at v, and a moveable nut thereupon which
supports the catch p, so that the screw being turned at each successivo
stretch, by means of a small wheel or in any other convenient mannor, will
cause the catch p to come sooner in contact with the piece r, and thus diminish
the quantity of backing off, which diminution will be required as the cop
fill's upon the spindle. When the carriage has nearly completed the running.
in, a stop or bracket attached to the carriage is made to come in contact.
with the lower end of the lever f, and by pressing forward that end of tho
lever to replace the lever and rod m in the position shewn in the Figure, when
it will be ready for again coming into operation at the succeeding stretch..
The mode of running in the carriage, of letting down the faller by means.
of an inclined plane M, Figure 1, and of liberating the counter-faller at the
same time, are the same as are shewn in the Specification of our Patent
of the Fifth day of August, One thousand eight hundred and forty-five; but
the arrangement of wheels and chains here shewn may either be used in
combination with the parts there described, or separately. Instead of three.
bevil wheels, four spur wheels may also be used; two of which, connected;
to the same axis, will be carried along with the drum II; the other two.
answering in place of the wheels I and P. A wheel, round which a chain.
formed with projecting links is passed, which projections take into tho teeth.
of the wheel, may be used in place of the drum H, and in that case the
chain only passes along about one half of the circumference of the wheel,.
and is in one length, instead of two, as above described.
"
Second, in performing the operation. termed "winding on,' or coiling the.
In
yarn, when spun, upon the spindle in the form denominated a cop.
effecting this object, and more especially in making such an arrangement.
of parts as may easily be applied to the ordinary hand mule, we use the
following method:-In Figure 3, A, A, represents the ground plan of the.
middle part of a mule carriage, shewing the centre pullies H, H, and
the arrangement of the bands for driving the drums by means of the pullies G.
B, C, represents a lever, having a projecting part D. The end B of the lever
is furnished with a stud, which works into a grooved piece of metal attached
to the lower side of the carriage, so that as the carriage moves alternately out-
wards and inwards, the end B of the lever describes the arc B, 6, the end C of,
the lever being the fulcrum thereof, and turning upon a stud fixed to the floor,.
or in any other convenient manner. There is a screw attached to the lever,.
having a nut upon it, to which a chain is connected, which passes between;
guide pullies, as at E, and is coiled upon the drum F while the carriage is:
running out, by means of the small drum and chain f, the latter chain passing:
to the back part of the machine and over a pulley, having a weight attached,.

page_text: g
by means of which the chain attached to the lever and drum F is kept tight.
When the formation of the cop is commencing, the nut to which the winding-
on chain is connected is at the end B of the lever, and as the carriage runs
inwards after the first stretch a length of chain is uncoiled from the drum F
nearly equal to the distance moved through by the carriage, and is made to
operate upon the spindles by means of the catch or clutch box shewn upon the
same shaft as the drum F. There is a pair of spur wheels at k, the upper of
which is upon the twist pulley shaft, and the lower one upon the shaft of the
winding-on drum; and after the operation of backing off has been performed,
the part of the catch box is geared into the part i, which is attached to the
winding-on drum (the drum being loose upon the shaft). The part 7 slides
upon a key in the shaft of the drum F, and when geared, the chain being
uncoiled from the drum by the running in of the carriage, causes the drum
to turn both the wheels k, and through them the twist pullies G, from which
proceed the bands g for turning the drums and spindles. The size of the
drum F, and of the winding-on wheels and twist pullies, must be so arranged
as to communicate to the spindles the proper number of revolutions for taking
up the yarn when commencing the cop, making allowance for the gain in the
number of revolutions which is caused by the drum bands 9 proceeding in the
direction shewn by the dart, while the carriage is receding the contrary way.
The screw attached to the lever B, C, proceeds from the end B to near the
fulcrum, and upon this screw is a moveable nut K, to which the winding-on
chain is connected as aforesaid. As the cop increases in diameter the screw is
turned, so as to bring the nut near to the fulcrum of the lever, so that a less
arc is then described by it during the running in of the carriage than when at
the end B. The revolutions of the spindles are thus reduced in accordance
with the increased diameter of the cop, and this alteration continues progres-
sively until the cop has attained the full diameter, after which the nut remains
stationary, or nearly so, until the cop is finished. In the projecting part D of
the lever is a groove, in which is a stud, which may be placed nearer
to or farther from the lever. The use of this stud is to cause a greater varia-
tion in the action of the winding-on drum than could be produced by the
lever alone, as when the carriage has receded to a certain distance in winding
on, this stud comes into contact with the winding-on chain, and thus draws off
more chain from the drum F than would otherwise have been effected, and
thereby causes the spindles to make more revolutions when the carriage is near
the termination of the running in. An inspection of the Figure will illustrate
this; as, suppose the nut to be upon the screw at x, then the arc described by
the point of attachment of the winding-on chain during the running in of the
carriage will be denoted by x, y, producing scarcely any movement of the
"

page_text: drum F until the carriage has receded some distance, but that movement
gradually increasing, and more so when the stud Z comes in contact with the
chain and draws it into the position denoted by x, a, e, the speed of the spindles
thus gradually increasing as the carriage runs in, according to the conical
shape of the cop, the difference of speed will be greater or less as the stud Z
is placed further or nearer in the grooved projection of the lever. The length
of the lever and its projection, the quantity of the arc described by it, and
the mode of placing the different parts, and their dimensions, will vary with
circumstances, as the distance described by the carriage in its alternate move-
ments, and the size of cop required, and must be arranged accordingly. The
proportions shewn in the Figure, in which the parts are one-tenth the full size
of the machine, may be used, or they may be considerably varied at pleasure.
At the end of the screw, next the fulcrum of the lever, is placed a small bevil
wheel, which gears into a larger bevil wheel c, the latter wheel having its
centre upon the same stud as the lever, so that by turning the wheel c the
screw may readily be made to traverse the nut upon it. The wheel c may be
operated upon in a similar manner to those described in the Specification
of our Patent of the Fifth day of August, One thousand eight hundred and
forty-five, before referred to, or in any other manner which may seem most
convenient.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Brierly, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.