An Improvement in Self Acting Mules and Twiners.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1389-Accepted, 28th Sept., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Self Acting Mules and Twiners.
We, JOSEPH HUDSON, Mule Overlooker, and JOHN VAUGHAN, Mill Manager, both
of the Hurst Mill Company Limited, Hurst, Ashton under Lyne, in the County of
Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
Our invention consists in improved means for connecting the scroll band of a self
acting mule or twiner to the square of the carriage our object being to economise
banding and save time in making and breaking the connection as required.
At present the scroll bands are usually secured by tying or knotting one end to the .
carriage and the other to the scroll; it is well known that the heavy strain of con-
stantly winding and unwinding the band on the scroll injures the hand and causes it
to break at or near the scroll end when the remaining portion is but slightly worn and
the band when broken must either be spliced to regain the lost strength or be replaced
by a new one.
We are also aware that means have been employed to secure the band adjustably to
the carriage, the band being passed between a bracket and its cap and held by means
of screws or bolts which bear upon the cap. This arrangement however while avoiding
the necessity for splicing the broken band involves considerable waste of time and
labour because when the band breaks the bolts have to be slackened to release the cap
and the broken band to allow the latter to be re-adjusted and when this has been
done the bolts have to be again tightened to secure the rope between the cap and its
bracket.
Now our improvement consists essentially in connecting the scroll band or rope to
the carriage by means of a coned or tapered clip plug fitted into a correspondingly
coned or tapered hole in the square or frame of the carriage so that the scroll band
when pulled tight is plugged and gripped securely in the clip without any screws bolts
or other fastening.
And in order that our invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect we will describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings reference being had to
the figures and letters marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a side view showing a portion of the scroll band or rope connected
according to our invention by a coned clip plug to the square or frame of the mule
carriage and Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views of the said clip plug.
In Figure 1-a designates a portion of the square of the mule carriage, b the scroll
band and c is the clip plug made in this instance as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3
in two parts which fit into a conical hole made in the square a the tape of this hole
corresponding to that of the exterior of the clip plug c.
After one end of the band 6 has been secured to the scroll the other end is passed
through the hole made in the carriage square a to receive the clip plug c and the band is
drawn tight the clip plug c is then put on the band and pushed into the taper hole so
that when strain comes on the band in the direction of the arrow Fig.
the clip
plug c is drawn tightly into the hole and compressed by which means the rope is
firmly gripped and held.
Any convenient length of rope may project beyond the clip plug c and be stored out of
the way in the interior of the carriage square ready to be utilized when necessary and
all that requires to be done when the rope breaks is to withdraw the clip plug c from
its taper hole in the square a when it can be readily removed to allow the band b to be
drawn forward and secured again to the scroll then the clip plug c is again put on the
band and pushed into the taper hole to secure it as before described.

page_text: The chief advantages obtained by the use of a clip plug c according to our invention
are the saving in scroll bands and the ease and rapidity with which the clip is
applied.
We have shown the clip plug e made in two separate parts which is the preferred
construction but it is obvious that it could be formed in three or more parts or in two
or more parts hinged together or it might be made of one piece such as a coned split
sleeve. The interior of the clip plug is preferably grooved or formed with projections
to increase the grip on the band.
our said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that
we claim is:-
-
what
1. Connecting the scroll band to the carriage of a self acting mule or twiner by
means of a coned clip plug fitted into a correspondingly tapered hole in the carriage
frame.
2.-The improved clip plug for connecting the scroll band to the mule carriage said
clip plug having a coned or tapered exterior adapted to fit into a correspondingly coned
or tapered hole in the carriage frame as described and as illustrated by the Drawings
annexed.
Dated this 21st day of Anaust 1829
H. B. BARLOW,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agent for Applicants.