IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING MULES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Parker, of Blackburn, in the County of
Lancaster, Taper, and George Harrison, of Burnley, in the said County,
Overlooker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING MULES."
Sealed the 4th October 1860, and dated the 9th April 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Parker and
George Harrison at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 9th April 1860.
We, THOMAS PARKER, of Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, Taper,
and GEORGE HARRISON, of Burnley, in the said County, Overlooker, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING
MULES," to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates especially to Sharp and Roberts' mules, and consists
in giving a positive motion to a self-acting minder by means of a toothed
wheel and pinion, for working the screw on the quadrant, which regulates the
winding. The pinion is attached to a shaft on which is a bevil wheel gearing
into another bevil wheel on a shaft, on which a catch box slides, the latter
being driven by a toothed wheel or pinion, worked by a stationary rack as the

page_text: carriage moves to and fro. The catch box is worked by a chain from the
faller, which chain is connected to a lever for shifting the sliding part of
the box, so that the motion of the faller regulates its movement.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Parker and George Harrison in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 8th October 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
PARKER, of Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, Taper, and GEORGE
HARRISON, of Burnley, in the said County, Overlooker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Thomas Parker and George Harrison, Her special licence that we, the
said Thomas Parker and George Harrison, our executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Thomas Parker: and
George Harrison, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SELF-ACTING MULES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we,
the said Thomas Parker and George Harrison, our executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 Thomas Parker and George Harrison,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement (that is to say) :-
Our Invention relates especially to Sharp and Roberts's mules, and consists

page_text: in an improved mode of giving a positive motion to a self-acting minder, and
thereby ensure the perfect winding on of the spindles. The screw of the
quadrant is connected by gearing with a shaft, on which is a bevil wheel
gearing into another bevil wheel at the end of a short shaft, on which is a
toothed wheel or pinion, and also a catch box, one part of which is fast to the
shaft, and the other slides upon it in the usual manner. The short shaft
works in suitable bearings.fixed to the carriage of the mule, and the fast part
of the catch box is caused to turn as the carriage moves. to and fro.by gearing
the toothed wheel or pinion into a stationary rack. The sliding part of the
catch box is worked by a lever operated upon by a chain attached to levers
on the faller shafts.
•
These improvements will be clearly understood by referring to the figures
and letters on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2
are end and back elevations, and Figure 3 a plan, of our improved self-acting
minder.
:
a represents part of the framing of a mule headstock; b, the carriage;
c, the quadrant; and , the screw which regulates the winding, which screw
is geared by the bevil wheels e to a shaft f, having a groove or keyway g
extending from end to end. On this shaft there is a bevil wheel h, gearing
into another bevil wheel i, on the short shaft k, working in bearings in the
small frame l, which is fixed to the carriage b. On the shaft k is the catch or
clutch box m, and also the fixed toothed wheel n.. As the carriage moves to
and fro, the shaft k is turned, and also the clutch box, by gearing the toothed
wheel n into the stationary rack o. The sliding part of the clutch box is
worked by connecting a chain p from the levers q and r on the faller shafts to
a lever s, fixed to the shaft t, having at the other end a lever u, fitting the
sliding part of the clutch box, so that the motion of the levers q and r opens
and closes the clutch box. When the box is open there is no motion given to
the shaft f, bevil wheels i, h, and e, or screw d, but only when the box is
closed, the action of the faller levers regulating the movement, and thereby
obtain a positive winding-on motion without any gearing with the drum shaft.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, we desire it to be distinctly understood
that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details herein set forth, as
such may be varied or modified without departing from the principle thereof;
but we claim as our Invention, and which to the best of our knowledge and
belief has not been hitherto used within the realm, the improved mode of
giving a positive motion to a self-acting minder, and thereby ensure the perfect

page_text: winding-on of the spindles, as such improvements are herein described, and
illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Harrison, for and on behalf of
myself and the said Thomas Parker, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and sixty.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named George Harrison
in the presence of
GEORGE HARRISON. (L.S.)
E. J. HUGHES, Patent Agent,
Manchester.