Improvements in Self-acting Mules.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self-acting Mules.
I, PAUL VICTOR STERBECQ, of Avesnes-sur Helpe Nord, in the Republic of
France, Spinner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved engaging and disengaging mechanism
applicable to selfacting mules which presents the advantage of acting almost
instantaneously; it results therefrom that the spindle is immediately thrown into
its.ordinary speed and that also the backing off is much more rapid.
In selfacting mules as used at present a frictional engaging and disengaging
mechanism is arranged between the backing off wheel' and its shaft, and the mule is
started or stopped by the arrangement of a fixed' and loose pulley.
To avoid the loss of time which results from the displacement of the driving belt
of the fixed pulley over the loose pulley or vice versa I have, for engaging and
disengaging the driving pulley upon the shaft, used the plate which serves for the
engaging and disengaging of the backing off wheel.
My engaging and disengaging mechanism comprises a disc which is keyed upon
the driving shaft and which carries two cones; namely one which as heretofore
is destined to act by friction in the inner conical bed of the backing off wheel,
and the other cone which is destined to act by friction in the conical interior of
a single conical driving pulley on the aforementioned shaft. The said cones are
covered with leather in order to produce great friction in the interior of the
driving pulley and of the toothed backing off wheel.
The aforesaid loose driving pulley may be actuated by means of a driving
belt, in which case its rim is smooth or by means of ropes in which latter case
the rim is provided with appropriate circumferential grooves.
Upon a suitable shaft a cam is fixed, which actuates a lever by the medium
of a friction roller; said lever is pivoted and carries a fork serving to act upon
a ring which rotates loosely around a projection of the nave of the driving
pulley and is held in position between the body of the said pulley and a fixed
washer.
When the cam presents a depression to the friction. roller, the lever aforesaid
is forced back by a spring and turns on its fulcrum whereupon its short arm
pushes the driving pulley into frictional contact with one of the aforesaid cones;
as the pulley is being acted upon by its driving belt, the shaft is rotated in the
direction suitable for the working of the mule. The engaging movement is almost
instantaneous and the spindle takes up its ordinary speed immediately.
When the cam shaft oscillates under the action of the ordinary gear which
commences to work when the mule carriage reaches the end of its outward run
the projecting portion of the cam finds itself in communication with the friction
roller of the lever aforesaid and pushes the lever back thereby withdrawing the
driving pulley from the cone. Thus the disengaging of the mule takes place
instantaneously. At the same time the ordinary disengaging mechanism of the
backing off wheel has displaced said wheel so as to engage the same by friction
with the other cone and thus the driving shaft receives a reverse movement.
The backing off can be effected much more rapidly than heretofore since when
the disengagement of the mule is completely finished as soon as the friction cone
acts, the spindle is stopped much more rapidly.
In order to facilitate the oscillating movement of the cam shaft I counteract the

page_text: tension of the spring by arranging upon the said shaft a second cam having its curve
arranged inversely with regard to the first mentioned eam; this second cam acts upon
a pivoted lever suitably attached to a slide, to the heel of which slide the extremity
of the aforesaid spring is attached.
In a modified constructional form the friction cene is replaced by a double gear
with semicircular teeth; this engaging arrangement is less soft than the frictional
engagement.
Instead of displacing both the driving pulley and the backing off wheel, the disc
with double friction cone may be displaced in longitudinal direction on the collar
which connects the same to the driving shaft between the pulley and the wheel, so
that both of these latter are fixed; for this purpose it would be sufficient to provide
the nave of the disc with a sleeve projecting laterally either toward the driving
pulley, or toward the wheel, while running loosely upon the driving shaft, and upon
which sleeve loosely rotates the said driving pulley (or the wheel). The aforesaid
sleeve would then be acted upon by the engaging lever.
Dated this 23rd day of April 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
•
I, PAUL VICTOR STERBECQ, of Avesnes-sur Helpe (Nord) in the Republic of
France, Spinner, 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 relates to an improved engaging and disengaging mechanism
applicable to selfacting 'mules which presents. the advantage of acting almost
instantaneously; it results therefrom that the spindle is immediately thrown into
its ordinary speed and that also the backing off is much more rapid.
In selfacting mules as used at present a frictional engaging and disengaging
mechanism is arranged between the backing off wheel and its shaft, and the mule is
started or stopped by the arrangement of a fixed and loose pulley.
To avoid the loss of time which results from the displacement of the driving belt
of the fixed pulley over the loose pulley or vice versa I have, for engaging and
disengaging the driving pulley upon the shaft, used the 'plate which serves for the
engaging and disengaging of 'the backing off wheel.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a sectional plan of my improved engaging and disengaging
mechanism.
Figure 2 is a detail view of a cam hereinafter described:
Figure 3 is a side view of the forked end of the lever shown in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a section of a modified form in which the friction cone is replaced by
gearing.
Figure 7 is another modified form of my engaging and disengaging mechanism.
Figures 8 and 9 shows an arrangement for displacing the driving belt and
Figures 10 14 show'an engaging and disengaging device in which the spring
mechanism for producing the friction between the friction wheel and the driving
pulley or backing off wheel is arranged in the body of the said friction wheel.
My engaging and disengaging mechanism as shown in Figure 1 comprises a
wheel A which is keyed upon the driving shaft O and which has two cones; one a
which as heretofore is designed to act by friction in the inner conical surface of the
backing off wheel C, and the other cone b. which is designed to act by friction in
the conical interior of a single driving pulley B on the aforementioned shaft 0.
"

page_text: The said cones a and b are covered with leather in order to produce great friction
in the interior of the driving pulley B and of the toothed backing off wheel C.
The aforesaid loose driving pulley B may be actuated by means of a driving
belt, in which case its rim is smooth as represented in the drawing or by means of
ropes in which latter case the rim is provided with appropriate circumferential
grooves.
Upon a suitable shaft D a cam E is fixed which actuates a lever F through the
medium of a friction roller see Figures 1 and 2; said lever is pivoted at o and is
provided with a fork Figure 3 serving to act upon a ring which rotates loosely
around a projection d on the nave of the driving pulley B and is held in position
between the body of the said pulley and a fixed washer e.
When the cam E presents a depression to the friction roller g, the aforesaid.
lever F is forced back by a spring R and turns on its fulcrum o whereupon its short
arm pushes the driving pulley into frictional contact with the aforesaid cone b of
the wheel A as the pulley is being acted upon by its driving belt, the shaft O is
rotated in the direction suitable for the working of the mule. The engaging
movement is almost instantaneous and the spindle takes up its ordinary speed
immediately.
When the cam shaft D oscillates under the action of the ordinary gear which
commences to work when the mule carriage reaches the end of its outward run
the projecting portion of the cam E engages with the friction roller g of the
lever aforesaid as shown in Figure 1 and pushes the lever back thereby with-
drawing the driving pulley B from the cone A. Thus the disengaging of the mule
takes place instantaneously. At the same time the ordinary disengaging mechanism
of the backing off wheel C has displaced said wheel C so as to engage the same
by friction with the other cone a and thus the driving shaft O receives a reverse
movement. The backing off can be effected much more rapidly than heretofore
since, when the disengagement of the mule is completely finished as soon as the
friction cone a acts, the spindle is stopped much more rapidly.
In order to facilitate the oscillating movement of the cam shaft D 1 counteract
the tension of the spring R by arranging upon the said shaft a second cam G
having its curve arranged inversely with regard to the first mentioned cam E;
this second cam G acts upon a pivoted lever I suitably attached at / to a slide I
to the heel of which slide the extremity of the aforesaid spring R is attached.
Referring to the modified constructional form shown in Figure 4 the friction cone
is replaced by a double gear with semicircular teeth as shown in detail to an
enlarged scale in Figure 5; this engaging arrangement is less smooth in its operation
than the frictional engagement.
Instead of displacing both the driving pulley B and the backing off wheel C, the
wheel A with double friction cone may be displaced in a longitudinal direction on
the collar which connects the same to the driving shaft O between the pulley B
and the wheel C, so that both of these latter are fixed; for this purpose it would
be sufficient, as illustrated in Figure 6, to provide the nave of the disc A with a
sleeve m projecting laterally either toward the driving pulley B, as shown in the
drawing, or toward the wheel C, while running loosely upon the driving shaft O,
and upon which sleeve loosely rotates the said driving pulley B (or the wheel C).
The aforesaid sleeve m would then be acted upon by the engaging lever F. or said
lever may act upon a groove in the circumference of the wheel A.
In Figure 7 I have indicated a modification which permits of applying my
engaging and disengaging device to self acting mules with a loose conical pulley,
whereby the working speed of the mule can be modified.
As will be seen from this figure, the loose pulley B is conical and extends over
the top of the conical part of the wheel A which engages with the backing-off
wheel C; the engagement between the wheel A and the pulley B is effected by
means of a double-engaging clutch j with semi-circular teeth,
Referring to Figures 8 and 9 the lateral displacement of the driving belt J
between the pulley B₁ of the driving shaft, and the pulley B of the return shaft is

page_text: effected at either of the two pulleys, by means of forks k which are displaced under
the action of screws vv. Each of these screws ! carries a chain wheel r¹ and
a chain connects these two wheels, so that the two screws are turned simultaneously
to the same extent. The screw » which is near the driving shaft is actuated by
means of a wheel K'.
Referring to Figures 10 to 14 which as before stated show a device, in which the
mechanism of the return springs which tend to produce a frictional contact between
the loose pulley and the friction wheel, instead of being outside the pulleys, is
arranged in the body of the said friction wheel.
This device is adapted to work with two levers or with one only. The operation
by means of two levers is represented in longitudinal section in Figure 10, Figure 11
is a transverse section of the same on the line 11 11 of Figure 10, and Figure 12 is
an horizontal section on the line 12-12 of Figure 11.
The lever F which actuates the engaging mechanism, is provided with friction
rollers engaging with a ring screwed on the socket d; upon this socket turns
loosely the pulley B, while at the same time permitting the movement of the
lever F, in order to enable the socket d to slide upon the driving shaft O. This
socket d, while sliding upon the shaft O can turn therewith.
The friction wheel A keyed upon the driving shaft O, carries the mechanism
which comprises the levers K for reversing the movement of the friction wheel
acting upon the spring pistons L producing the engaging effect through the medium
of the friction rollers p turning in the heads of the said pistons.
The main driving pulley B turns loosely upon the socket d between abutments
and the same is conical inside and outside.
In the device represented in Figures 10, 11 and 12 the pulley B is connected
with the shaft through the friction wheel A. The pulley B is shown in engagement
with the cone A, which is on its part connected to the shaft by means of a
collar. The vertical pressure exerted by the piston springs L is transmitted by
the rollers p to the levers K; as in the position represented the rollers p are at
the right hand of the lower point of the lever K, a strain toward the left is.
produced upon this lever which strain takes effect at M and causes the approach
of the cone A and of the socket d, which carries the axis M, and consequently
of the pulley B which is maintained between abutments or projections and the said
socket.
A frictional strain is produced at at, but as at this moment the socket d and the
pulley B turn together, this strain does not absorb any frictional work.
If the engaging gear is required to be changed, that is to say, if B is to be
disengaged from A and A to be engaged with C, the lever F is actuated in such a
manner as to draw the rollers toward the right. Then the socket d is also displaced
toward the right; the axes M carried thereby exert a pulling motion upon the
levers K, the lower tooth of each of these levers passes against the corresponding
roller P, this latter is lowered while compressing the corresponding piston spring.
When the lower point of the lever has passed the point of the circumference of
the roller which lies in the prolongation of the axis of this roller, the spring expands
and compels the roller to push the lever K toward the right. Then Baud A recede
and the pulley A engages with C.
The rollers bear against the ring e only at the moment when the engagement is
changed and not during the operation; the rollers p retain either B or C in
engagement with A, according to their position on the right or left hand of the
lower point of the lever K. There is consequently no frictional strain.
The friction rollers I will only bear against the ring c at the moment when the
engaging mechanism is changed and not during the working so that there is no
friction. In this manner I avoid the efforts produced upon the ring in my preceding
device.
Figures 13 and 14 represent a device with only one lever analogous to that
shown in Figure 6.
The friction disc keyed upon the shaft, is replaced by a piece N, consisting of

page_text: two parts which are keyed upon the shaft and carry a mechanism analogous to that.
shown in Figures 10 and 11, a piece N¹, which surrounds the piece N, carries the-
two cones. Tongues s connect the two parts of the sleeve t, namely the right and
left one; these tongues slide in the piece N.
In the device represented in Figure 13, it is the pulley C that engages with the
cone N N'. The piston L pushes the lever K toward the left and consequently
also the connecting rod K¹; the sleeve t is thus displaced toward the left,
C bears against the cone and B is moved away from it. The frictional strain is
exerted at a; but as at this moment the piece t and the pulley C turn together, this.
strain does not give rise to any frictional work.
In order to effect the disengagement, the lever F is displaced in such a manner-
that it is pushed toward the right; K' acts upon K, the roller of which bears
against the point of L, whereby this latter is caused to descend. When the roller-
has passed the top, the spring of the piston reacts and pushes K toward the right.
It results therefrom that C and N¹ move away from one another, whilst B and N¹
are thrown into gear.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven--
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The engaging and disengaging device for self acting mules consisting in
utilizing the friction wheel which actually throws into and out of gear the backing
off wheel, in order to engage or disengage by a second inverse friction cone (or by
a double engaging clutch) the loose pulley, whereby the actual fixed pulley is done
away with and the displacement of the driving belt dispensed with, this single loose-
pulley being very slightly displaced by a disengaging lever at the extremities of the
course of the mule carriage.
2. The means of obtaining the same instantaneous engaging and disengaging.
result for the driving pulley and for the backing off wheel, or inversely, by the
simple displacement of the intermediate double cone wheel, by causing the disen--
gaging lever to act either upon a prolongation of the hub of said wheel or upon its.
circumference as has been explained with reference to Figures 1 to 6.
3. The disengaging mechanism for effecting the disengagement for driving the
loose single pulley, which has a conical shape in order to permit of varying
the speed of the mule, substantially as explained in reference to Figures 7, 8.
and 9.
4. The arrangement and the mechanism of the return springs which tend to.
produce a frictional contact between the loose pulley and the friction wheel, this.
mechanism being arranged in the body of the friction wheel, substantially as
described with reference to Figures 10 to 14.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1896,
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.