Self-acting Mules and Twiners.
Year: 1888

page_text: Self-acting Mules and Twiners.
We, SAMUEL BEECH ERROCK, of Hardy Street, Oldham, in the County of Lancaster,
Overlooker, and EDMOND KENWORTHY, of Barlow Street, Oldham, aforesaid, Mechanic,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is designed as a connection for spinning machines known as self-
acting mules or twiners chiefly to ease the tension of the yarn on the spindle points
when spinning and prevent the formation of snarls in the yarn.
We effect this by causing the counter faller to be raised, during the draw or
outward journey of the carriage to a position above the level of the top of the spindle
point which prevents to some extent the jerking of the arm-and the consequent
weak places formed therein-caused by the movement of the yarn over the point of
the spindle.
The invention may be carried out in several ways but at present we prefer the
following arrangement as applied to a self-acting mule. To both the winding and
counter fallers or to their shafts we attach a half pulley or quadiant and connect
thereto a chain or band which passes downwards to a compound pulley pivoted at
the base of the carriage. This pulley has two diameters one part being say 2" in
diameter and the other 4". The chain connected at one end to the quadrant or half
pulley of the counter faller connects at the other end with the larger part of the
compound pulley and the chain from the quadrant on the winding faller connects with
the smaller part of the pulley. The compound pulley is carried on a stud on a bracket
bolted to the carriage and on the same stud is pivoted a lever which at one end carries
an antifriction bowl or pulley over which the chain or band of the counter faller
passes. At the other end the pivoted lever carries a bowl or runner which comes in
contact with a slip or slide when the carriage has moved say about two feet on its
outward journey. The slide or slip thus raises one end of the pivoted lever and
depresses the other at the same time drawing down the chain of the counter faller
and raising the faller to the required height lifting the yarn to a level slightly above
the spindle point.

page_text: When "backing off," the winding faller slackens the chain connected with it and as this
chain is connected to the smaller part of the compound pulley the chain of the counter
faller attached to the larger part of the compound pulley is slackened considerably more so
as to give the faller freedom to move as required for building up the cop when winding
When the winding is finished the chain to the counter faller arrests the chain of the
winding faller so as to cause the faller to rise more slowly and more coils of yarn
are wound upon the spindle blade
This object may be effected and the motion to the fallers may be accomplished in
other ways such as by depressing the winding faller and thereby allowing the counter
faller to rise or by connecting a rod to the counter faller working against a slide or
slip. The method above described we however at present prefer as being more simple
and compact and not likely to get out of order.
For twiners, in which the carriage is stationary and movement is. given to the
creels, a slight modification or adjustment of the several parts above mentioned will
effect the same result.
By the adoption of this invention which we consider will be inexpensive and simple
we estimate that we shall secure the following advantages viz. :-
Better spinning and more even yarn.
More length of yarn at each draw.
Fewer snarls in the yarn.
More weight on each con.

page_text: Improvements in or Connected with Spinning Apparatus known as
Self-acting Mules and Twiners.
WO, SAMUEL BEECH ERROCK, of Hardy Street, Oldham, in the County of Lancaster,
Overlooker, and EDMOND KENWORTHY, of Barlow Street, Oldham aforesaid, Mechanic,
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:-
This invention is designed as a connection for spinning machines known as self-
acting mules and twiners, chiefly to prevent the formation of snarls and weak places
in the yarn, by easing the tension of the yarn on the spindle points during the process
of spinning.
The spindles in the carriage of a mule are set say from two to three inches below
the level of the rollers, which, when the carriage is against the stops causes the yarn
to be inclined but slightly to the spindle. As the carriage recedes fiom the rollers the
inclination of the yain to the spindle gradually increases, causing the top coil of
yarn on the spindle to fall lower down upon it The yarn or thread which has to pass
over the top of the spindle point at each revolution is by the jerking or vibration
caused, thereby pulled or stretched into thin places which result in snarls or in uneven
places in the yarn
The object of this invention is to prevent such jerking and the consequent snarls
and uneven places by gradually raising the yarn above the spindle point with the
counter faller during the draw or as the carriage travels on its outward journey.
The highest coil of yarn on the spindle blade is thus maintained close up to the top of
the point which allows the twist to travel into the yarn with ease, thereby making the
yarn more even and with fewer snarls.
It will be fully described with reference to the annexed drawings which show
sufficient of the carriage of
mule to clearly show and explain the working of the
invention.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are side elevations in section showing the invention in three
positions.
(a) In figure 1 when the carriage is against the stops and the fallers are
unlocking.
(b) In figure 2 when the carriage has commenced its outward journey and before
the invention has been brought into action
(c) In figure 3 when the carriage has travelled about two and a half feet and the
invention 18, in action.
Fig. 4, is a front elevation of fig. 2.

page_text: Fig. 5, plan of bracket and attachment to the carriage.
Figs. 6, 7, 8, front elevation, side elevation, and plan respectively, of the bracket I
and the arm or catch O.
In all these like letters refer to like parts, A is the woodwork of the carriage, B the
spindle, C the rollers, D the winding faller, E the counter faller, which all are of any
ordinary or well known construction.
On the shaft of the winding faller we secure a bracket F, in the form of a half
pulley or quadrant and connect thereto a chain or band G, which passes down to a
compound pulley H, Journalled in a bracket I fitted to the bottom of the carriage.
On the counter faller shaft we secure a bracket or lever K, which is also connected
with the compound pulley H by a chain or band L.
The compound pulley H is formed with two diameters, one part being from 4 to
5 inches in diameter and the other from 2 to 2 inches in diameter The chains G
and L. from the faller shafts are attached at their lower ends to this compound pulley,
that from the winding faller shaft is attached to the smaller part of the pulley by the
set screw g and that from the counter faller shaft to the larger part of the pulley by
the set screw e. The pulley His carried on a stud or spindle h passing through the
lugs of the bracket I upon or with which it is free to rotate
On the same spindle with the pulley H is also pivoted a shaped or bell crank
lever M, which is free to move on the spindle irrespective of the movement of the
pulley. This lever at one end carries an antifriction bowl or pulley m around which
the chain L from the counter faller passes and at the other end carries a bowl or
runner n, to engage
with a stationary slip or slide N, attached to the floor beneath the
carnage. The slip or slide N is placed in such position that the runner n on the
lever M will come in contact with it when the carriage has moved about two feet on
its outward journey. The slide or slip N thus gradually raises the lower end of the
pivoted lever M and depresses the other, the bowl m on the end of which bears upon
the chain L from the counter faller The pressure of the bowl m on the chain L
tightens the chain and raises the counterfaller to the required height lifting the
yard to a level slightly above the spindle point. An arm or lever O depends below
the bracket I and carries at its lower end a spring buffer and catch P, by which the
lever M is held when in the position shown in fig 2.
During the backing off or winding the movement of the winding faller slackens
the chain G connected with it and relieves the tension on the compound pulley H to
which the chains are attached As the chain G, is connected to the smaller part of
the compound pulley the chain L of the counter faller attached to the larger part of
the compound pulley is slackened considerably more so as to give the faller freedom
to move as required for building up the cop when winding. The radius of the segment
bracket F on the winding faller shaft being greater than that of the diameter of the
pulley H upon which the chain G is wound allows for the winding of the chain upon
it in the reverse direction as shown in fig. 1. When the winding is finished the
chain L from the counter faller holds or arrests the chain of the winding faller and
acts as a brake to cause the winding faller to raise more slowly winding a greater
number of coils of yarn upon the spindle blade.
The raising of the counter faller to ease the yarn by lifting it above the spindle
point may be effected in other ways such as by connecting a rod to the counter
faller working against a slide or slip. The method above described we however
prefer as being simple and compact and not likely to get out of order.
For twiners, in which the carriage is stationary and movement is given to the
creels a slight modification or adjustment of the several parts above mentioned will
effect the same result.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :--
.
1. A self-acting mule or twiner having an attachment to the counterfaller shaft
whereby at a certain point on the outward Journey of the carriage the counter

page_text: faller is raised to a position above the top of the spindle point to ease the tension
on the yarn and prevent formation of snarls substantially as described.
2 In a self-acting mule or twiner the combination with the counter faller of a
chain or band acted upon by a lever at a certain point of the draw to raise the counter
faller above the top of the spindle point substantially as and for the purposes
described.
3. In a self-acting mule or twiner a yarn easing and snarl preventing motion
or connection constructed and arranged substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 1st day of March 1889.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6,-Bank Street, Manchester,
Patent Agents.