CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS POR SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hewitt, of Salford, in the County of Lan-
caster, Machine Maker, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS POR SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER
FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 30th May 1854, and dated the 30th November 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hewitt
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 30th November 1853.
I, JOHN HEWITT, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Machine
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SPINNING COTTON AND
OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES" to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to that class of spinning machinery called
"self-acting mules." My improvements consist, first, in regulating the
diameter of the "cop." Secondly, in a combination of wheels for
changing the speed when "backing off." Thirdly, in making the
pulley on the rim shaft, that drives the spindles when the "mule" is
putting the twist in, give a reverse motion to the spindles when

page_text: "backing off." Fourthly, in giving motion to the nut of the "quadrant."
Fifthly, in giving motion to the " quadrant." Sixthly, in regulating
the chase of the cop and working the fallers.
I regulate the diameter of the cop by means of a small disc, having a
be
series of holes concentric with its centre, or a piece of india-rubber may
fixed upon its face, the spindle of which disc acts upon the copping rail;
a second disc, having a point moveable from the circumference to the
centre, is brought into contact with it when the mule is at full stretch by
the spindle carriage raising a small lever and forcing the discs together;
another lever, acting upon the lever fixed to the spindle of the first
described disc, is moved upwards, thus raising or falling the copping rail
to the diameter of cop required.
Secondly, the combination of wheels for regulating or changing the
speed when "backing off," consists of three pullies on the "rim shaft,"
one loose, one fixed, which puts up, puts twist in, and reversing the
spindles for "backing off," the third, a conical friction pulley, which
is thrown into gear by a small eccentric and lever for running the
spindle carriage in when "winding on." By means of a grooved arc
in the cheek of the headstock of the mule I can alter the speed of
the backing off" by employing different sized pinions.
"
My other improvements will be better understood by reference to the
accompanying Sketch, in which Figures 1 and 2 are side and end views
of the "quadrant." a, is the quadrant; b, the screw attached to it.
As the operation of "winding on " proceeds, and the cops increase in
diameter, the tension of the yarn presses the counter faller upon the rail c
throws the bevil wheel d, (by means of the clutch and lever e,) into gear
with the wheel d', fixed upon the end of the screw, and causes the nut
to traverse nearer to the arc of the quadrant. i, a counterbalance weight
to throw the bevil wheel d, out of gear when the carriage is run in;
motion is given to the quadrant by the bevil wheel j, keyed on a shaft
driven by the fixed pulley on the "rim shaft," and by the pinion 1, to
the arc of the quadrant. Figure 3 is a view of part of the mulc
carriage. a, a, the frame; b, the fallers working on a shaft c, having a
-toothed wheel d, fixed upon it. The disc e, is made to revolve, carrying
with it the chain f, fixed to the eccentric boss of the disc, which, passing

page_text: over the pulley h, gives motion to the pulley i, moving the rack j, and
pushing up the arm and rack k, working into the toothed wheel d, and
depresses the "faller." By means of the lever 1, and roller m, working
in a slot on the top of the copping rail n, I am enabled to regulate the
"chase" of the "cop" as required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Hewitt in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 30th May 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN HEWITT, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Machine Maker,
send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me; the said John Hewitt, Her especial
license that I, the said John. Hewitt, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Hewitt, my executors, admi-
nistrators, 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS POR SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Hewitt, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-
vention, 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 I, the said John Hewitt, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is

page_text: to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :-
My Invention relates to the class of spinning machinery called "self-
acting mules." My improvements consist, first, in regulating the
diameter of the "cop." Secondly, in a combination of wheels for
changing the speed when "backing off." Thirdly, in making the
pulley on the rim shaft that drives the spindles when the "mule" is
putting the twist in, give a reverse motion to the spindles when
"backing off." Fourthly, in giving motion to the "nut" of the
"quadrant." Fifthly, in giving motion to the "quadrant." Sixthly, in
regulating the chase of the cop and working the "fallers."
I regulate the diameter of the cop by means of a small disc,
having a series of holes concentric with its centre, or a piece of india-
rubber or other suitable material may be fixed upon its face, the
spindle of which disc acts upon the "copping rail;" a second disc
bearing a point moveable from the circumference towards the centre,
is brought into contact with it, when the mule is at full stretch, by
the spindle carriage, raising a small lever and forcing the discs toge-
ther; another lever acting upon the lever fixed to the spindle of the
first described disc is moved upwards, thus raising or falling the
copping rail to the diameter of cop required.
"
Secondly, the combination of wheels for regulating or changing the
speed when "backing off," consists of three pullies on the "rim shaft,"
one loose, one which "puts up," and one which puts twist in and
reverses the spindles for "backing off." But in order that my several
improvements may be more particularly understood and described in
detail, I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings upon a scale of
about an inch to a foot, and having the same letters referring to similar
parts of the machinery in the several Figures. Fig. 1, represents a
longitudinal elevation of a mule frame, with part of the framing removed
in order the better to show my improvements connected with the
quadrant" and "mule carriage;" Fig. 2, exhibits a plan or top view
of the same; Figs. 3 and 4, show front and end views, each illustrating
the particular feature of my improvements connected therewith; Figs. 5
and 6, illustrating the arrangement of the change motion when not
66

page_text: .
using the cam shaft or bands for putting the carriage up and drawing
out.
With respect to my first improvement "the regulation of the
diameter of the cop," I employ a small disc a, having a series of holes
concentric with its centre, or having a piece of india-rubber or other
suitable material fixed upon its face, so that when brought into contact
with a second disc b, their respective surfaces may not slide over each
other; the disc a is brought into gear by the elevation of the bent
lever c, which is acted upon by the inclined plane d, (fixed to spindle
carriage) every time the carriage is at full stretch; the disc a, having
been brought into contact with the disc b, a second incline e passes
under the pin f, on the disc b, imparting a partial revolution to both
dises and the screw g; the screw 9 passes through and acts upon a
small block h, on which rests the inclined end of the copping rail; now,
it will be evident that upon each revolution of the screw, the block h
is, of necessity, advanced or caused to recede, as the case may be, and
the copping rail i proportionately raised or depressed, thus regulating
the diameter of the "cop."
My second improvement for changing the speed when backing off".
is in the combination of the two wheels j and k, or in the substituting
other wheels in lieu of them of different diameters gearing into each
other, thereby increasing or diminishing the speed when "backing off.";
Thirdly, in giving a reverse motion to the spindles when backing
off. On the rim shaft are three pulleys, the first 1, a loose pulley
running on the boss of the second pulley m, which "
when brought in gear with the third or "cone
in and reverses the spindles for "backing off."
puts up," and
pulley "n, puts twist
The second pulley is
brought in gear with the "backing off cone wheel" by a small lever o,
(which is furnished with a shifting weight o, for quickening the action,)
communicating with the cam shaft and backing off cam p.
The conc
pulley and backing off wheel being cast in one piece ensure a great
saving in space.
Fourthly, as regards the giving motion to the "nut of the quadrant,"
I employ two "pitched chained wheels" 9
on the centre shaft; on the shaft of the
and r, driven by the drums,
wheel r, is a bevil pinion t,

page_text: gearing into another bevil pinion ut, fixed upon the screw which carries
the nut t*, of the "quadrant;" the bevil wheel w is put in gear by
means of the lever r, being acted upon by the "counter faller-" in
consequence of the pressure of the thread or yarn upon it; it will now
be evident that upon each stretch of the carriage the bevil x will be put
in gear, and the screw of the "quadrant" consequently set in motion' at
each revolution, bringing the nut of the quadrant nearer its arc; y, is
a counterbalance weight which takes the bevil pinion t out of gear.
Fifthly, in giving motion to the "quadrant," I take niy motion from
the rim shaft, on which is a bevil pinion a', working in a bevil wheel b',
and communicating motion to the pinion c', on the shaft of which there
is a catch box d; from the pinion c; the motion is transferred to the
large wheel e¹, and on the same shaft the eccentric wheel f¹, which is
coupled to the pinion g', working in a slot h', and lends motion to the
universal joint from this joint motion is carried through the bevil
wheel k', and pinion 7, to the centre shaft, and from that by means of
the bevil wheel m³, and-pinion n', along the shaft or to the pair of bevil
pinions p', and 9', and from them to the pinion'r', which works the
"quadrant;" the catch box d', is thrown in and out of gear by the lever
and bowls, running in the cam t, on the cam shaft.
Sixthly, my improvement in regulating the chase of the cop and work-
ing the "fallers," consists in the employment of a disc on the spindle
carriage u', perforated with holes to receive a regulating pin, and carrying
a snail v¹, connected by means of a chain running over a small pulley
with the pulley and wheel'n; this wheel acts upon the rack a¹, and as
the carriage recedes, the lever y¹ is depressed by a pin on the framing
or any other suitable means, and the rack a¹ released; the connecting
rod y', and arm z', are now thrust forward, and the rack of the arm z¹,
gearing into the toothed wheel, depresses the faller; the regulation
of the chase is attained by means of the small roller a², working in a
slot on the top of the "copping rail" and in connection with the rod y',
working in a slot at the end of the rack '; it will be seen, on reference
to the Drawing, that as the copping rail falls, the rod y'; and arm ¹,
necessarily become lengthened, and the toothed wheel z² consequently
less acted upon, thus regulating the "chase of the cop."

page_text: Having now particularly described my several improvements, I wish
it to be distinctly understood that I claim generally such improvements
in self-acting mules, as are herein-before distinctly set forth and
described, and exhibited in the Drawings annexed.
First, the gradual dropping of the "copping rail" for the regula
tion of the diameter of the cop by means of a nut or block worked
on a screw by discs being placed in and out of
gear.
Secondly, I claim the substituting of pinions of different diameter on
the same bosses, so as to obtain different velocities from the "rim
shaft" when "backing off" the yarn.
Thirdly, I claim the combined application of the third pulley on the
rim shaft for the purpose of putting "twist" in the yarn and reversing
the rim for "backing off."
Fourthly, I claim the employment of pitch linked wheels with
other gearing, as herein particularly set forth and described, for giving
motion to the "nut" of the quadrant.
Fifthly, I claim the particular arrangement of the several parts (as
well as the eccentric and pinion herein particularly described and
shown in the Drawing, for the working of the "quadrant."
Sixthly, I claim the adaptation and arrangement of the several parts
on the spindle carriage and the small roller acting on the copping rail,
as herein particularly described, for the regulating the chase of the
cop and the working of the fallers.
Lastly, I do not limit or confine myself to the employment or use
of bevil wheels only in the throwing in or out of gear the several parts
described, as it may be found expedient to employ catch-boxes or other
mechanical equivalents.
In witness whereof, I, the said John, Hewitt, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
JOHN HEWITT. (L.B.)