CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MULES FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robertson, of the City of Manchester;
Engineer, and John Muir Hetherington, of the Vulcan Works, in the
City of Manchester, Machine Maker, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN MULES FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robertson and
John Muir Hetherington at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 26th October 1861.
We, WILLIAM ROBERTSON, of the City of Manchester, Engineer, and JOHN
MUIR HETHERINGTON, of the Vulcan Works, in the City of Manchester,
Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MULES FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING," to be as
follows:-
Our improvements consist, first, in effecting the removal of the coils of yarn
on the spindles between the cop point and the top of the spindle by combining
a partial amount of stripping with a partial amount of backing off. We employ
the cam to raise the stripper, as described in the Specification of the Letters
Patent granted to us on the Fourteenth November, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty, No. 2791, and to take off a proportionately greater number
of the coils above named when the set of cops is just commencing to be built
on the spindles, and by the varying motion of the builder this amount is

page_text: gradually reduced until the set of cops is being completed, when the stripper
may either cease to rise altogether, or do so to a limited extent. We impart
the same amount of backing off. throughout the entire set, which may be
sufficient, or nearly so, when the set is nearly completed to remove the coils
without aid from the stripper, and at the other stages to render complete and
accurate the work which the stripper has commenced. The motion in a
backward direction is imparted to the tin roller by a ratchet wheel and
catch connected with the travelling arm, by which the building faller is
worked, which arm moves through the same distance in the same time
throughout the entire set. The arm above referred to is placed loose on a
stud fastened in the carriage framing, and has a bowl on a stud fastened
in it, which bowl bears against the cam by which the building faller is
operated, and from which cam it receives its motion. An arm is attached
by a connecting rod or other means to a lever loose on the tin roller
shaft, which carries the backing-off catch. When the spindles are moving
forward, this catch is withdrawn from connection with its ratchet wheel by
rising upon an inclined plane suitably placed and adjusted; and when the
faller is being moved down and the backing off is to be effected, the catch
drops into the teeth of the ratchet wheel fastened on the tin roller shaft, and
moves it in a backward direction.
Various modifications of this improvement may be employed; both the
backing off and stripping may be varied by moving the tin roller backward,
and connecting the building faller therewith in the usual way; but any such
variation we should regard as a modification of our improvement, by which
the speed of stripping is combined with the accuracy of backing off.
Secondly, in an improved form of builder, by which greater accuracy and
facility in construction and adjustment for building the cop, forming the chase,
and regulating the stripping are obtained. A shaft is suspended vertically in
bearings fastened on the carriage, which permit it to be freely turned round, and
raised and lowered; on this shaft are fastened three cams, one at the bottom
has a plain surface, furnished with a projection which rests upon a lever turning
upon a stud, and receives from it according to the amount of its eccentric pro-
jection, the proportionate amount of motion required for varying the chase.
The lever is so placed as to move the shaft vertically, and it receives a constant
amount of motion from a pendulum, to which it is fastened, the one-sided bulb
of which presses on a vertical plane, curved horizontally, so as to regulate the
chase and fastened on the floor, an arrangement which enables us to keep clear
of any difficulty usually incident to unequal sinking of the floor on a horizontal
plane curved vertically. This arrangement is also applicable to the builders

page_text: of some of the ordinary forms of mules. In the middle of the builder shaft is
fastened a face cam, by which the body of the cop is regulated; a short lever
suspended on a stud shaft suitably placed, has a projecting foot at its opposite
end, which rests either immediately on this face cam or on a plate resting thereon,
so that when it rests on the highest part of the cam, it constitutes an inclined
plane of the height necessary to raise the rack, by which the faller is brought to
the position suitable for placing the yarn on the spindles at the commencement
of the set. This inclined plane is varied as the cam is moved round with the
builder shaft, and places the faller in the positions suited to the various stages
of the cop by means of a ram suspended at the back of the carriage. The
under side of this ram is made so as to be pushed freely up the varying inclined
plane. On the upper side of the head of the ram a stud projecting from the
faller rack rests, and imparts to the rack the motion upwards received by the
ram as it is thrust up the varying plane by the arm worked by the cam,
described under the first improvement as communicating a backward motion
to the spindles, and thus the backing off and working of the fallers (whatever
the range of the latter's motion) are always simultaneous. When the ram has
advanced to its greatest forward position, it is locked there by a catch, and
when the inward run of the carriage is completed this catch is disengaged,
and allows the ram to return to its position and the faller to rise.
On the top of the builder shaft is fixed a deep edge cam, upon which a stud
rests which is fastened in an upright lever attached to a short arm fastened on
the stripper shaft. This lever has a cross slot through which passes an arm
fastened on a shaft which receives motion from a stripper cam, such as that
described in the Specification before referred to. This arm when it is worked
by the cam presses on the end of the cross slot in the above upright lever, and
through it moves the stripper, the amount of motion communicated being
regulated by the edge cam, which permits the upright lever to get nearer to
the centre of the shaft on which the arm is fastened by which it is worked.
The rotary motion necessary to be imparted to this builder shaft is communi-
cated by a worm and wheel and a ratchet wheel, which is moved a tooth or
more as required each stretch in the usual manner.
Thirdly, in a combination of parts, by which the rising of the counter faller
in backing-off mules during the descent of the building faller is regulated, and
by which in stripping mules the position of the stripper at the commencement
of the inward run is determined. In the arm passing underneath the carriage
by which the counter faller is usually weighted, is fastened a stud near its
front end. On this stud is placed a double-ended lever connected by a rod to
a short arm fastened on the building faller. In the opposite end of the double-

page_text: ended lever is fastened a stud, which, when the carriage is at the outward end
of the stretch, rests upon an adjustable inclined plane fastened on the floor.
By this connection the descent of the building faller permits the weighted
lever to descend, and through its connection with it to raise the counter faller
to such a distance as not to injure "the yarn and far enough to keep it tight;
and as the building faller descends less at each succeeding stretch, the counter-
faller is raised proportionately less also. The weighted lever is liberated in
the usual way by the building faller, but the connecting rod which rests upon
the usual supporting finger on the building faller shaft is furnished with a slot
which permits the counter faller to be moved freely when it acts as a stripping
faller without disturbing or being affected by the weight, and also allows the
minder, either in stripping or self-acting mules, to raise the counterfaller at
any part of the stretch when convenience may require it without disturbing
the weight. When the carriage starts on the inward run, the stud on the
double-ended lever leaves the inclined plane on the floor and relieves the
weight, and the counterfaller is at liberty to follow the requirements of the
yarn during the winding on.
Fourthly, in placing the winding-on quadrant on a stud on the carriage
square, and moving it directly from the shaft on which is fastened the pinion,
which geers with the rack by which the carriage is moved, so that the motion
of the quadrant and that of the carriage is positively geered.
.
Fifthly, in liberating the catch by which the cam shaft is detained during
the inward run of the carriage by the descent of the faller rack instead of by
the motion of the carriage as it approaches the roller beam, so that the faller
wire must be free from the yarn before the strap is traversed to give motion
to the spindles in twisting, and enables us to put up freer from snarls than
by the common arrangement.
.
Sixthly, in a break in conjunction with a differential motion, one portion of
which is driven by the motion of the carriage, the intermediate being fastened
on a shaft passing through the quadrant stud made hollow for that purpose,
and by means of bevel pinions communicates motion outwards to the winding-
on screw nut, when the break is allowed to descend by its own weight on the
other portion of the differential motion as the counterfaller is pressed down-
wards by the yarn being too tightly wound on.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Robertson and John Muir Hetherington in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th April 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
ROBERTSON, of the City of Manchester, Engineer, and JOHN MUIR HETHER-
INGTON, of the Vulcan Works, in the City of Manchester, Machine Maker,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters.
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said William Robertson and John Muir Hetherington, Her special license,
that we, the said William Robertson and John Muir Hetherington, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said William
Robertson and John Muir Hetherington, our executors, administrators, 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 MULES FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said William Robertson and
John Muir Hetherington, our executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under our, or their, or one of our or their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
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 we, the said William Robertson and John Muir
Hetherington, 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 improvements consist, firstly, in effecting the removal of the coils of
yarn on the spindles between the point of the cop and the point of the
spindle by combining a partial amount of stripping with a partial amount of
backing off.
Secondly, in an improved form of cop.] builder.
Thirdly, in a combination of parts, by which the rising of the counterfaller

page_text: in backing-off mules and the position of the stripper at the commencement of.
the inward run are determined by the descent of the building faller.
Fourthly, in an arrangement of parts by which the motion of the winding-
on quadrant is positively regulated by the motion of the carriage.
Fifthly, in liberating the catch by which the cam shaft is detained at or
near the termination of the inward run of the carriage by the rise of the
building faller or the descent of the faller rack.
Sixthly, in a break regulated by the counterfaller acting on one portion of
a differential motion, the other portion of which is moved by the carriage or
carriage motion.
The first and second parts of our improvements we shall shew in Drawings
and describe in conjunction, as also the fourth and sixth; the third and fifth
will be shewn and described separately. The same letters and numbers of
reference are used to, indicate the same or corresponding parts in all the
Figures in which they occur. The scales to which the Figures are drawn are
marked on the Drawings.
..
The carriage throughout the following description is marked A; the carriage
square, B; the carriage end, C. We refer to the first and second improve-
ments by the letter a, to the third by the letter b, to the fourth and sixth by
the letter c, and to the fifth by the letter d; each portion having a number of
reference attached. Where parts of the Specification of our Letters Patent
of the Fourteenth of November, One thousand eight hundred and sixty,
Number 2791, are referred to, we shall use the letters and numbers employed
in that Specification to indicate the same or corresponding parts in the present.
On Sheet 1, Figure 1 is an end elevation, and Figure 2, a front elevation,
of our first and second improvements; and Figure 3 is a detailed view of the
copping rail on the floor and the pendulum lever; and Figure 4 is a portion of
the builder.
On the cam shaft or boss fare fastened two cams h', h³, (see the Speci-
fication above referred to), of which h' is the stripper, and h³, the faller cam.
These cams we adopt and modify under our present improvements, as will be
hereafter described. A rod a', slotted to work freely on the cam shaft, and
having at one end a bowl a² resting on the cam h', has a boss at its other end
working freely on a stud a³ in a lever a', which the cam h¹ causes to vibrate.
The lever a' is fastened on the shaft a, on which is also fastened the lever a,
passing freely through the slot in the stripping lever a', suspended freely
on the stud a fastened in the arm a on the stripping faller shaft, by
which connection the vibration received by the lever a is transmitted to

page_text: the stripping faller shaft. To regulate the amount of this vibration, which
is constant at a', so that it shall be capable of adjustment and variation as the
set advances, in the stripping lever a is fastened the stud a, resting on the
stripping regulator a¹¹, fastened on the builder shaft a". The regulator a¹¹ is
sufficiently deep to secure that the stud a will not get off it, and so formed
as when the builder shaft is moved round during the filling up of the set of
cops (ás will be hereafter described) it will permit the slot in the stripping
lever a to approach the centre of the shaft a, and thereby to receive as small
a portion of the vibration received by the lever a from the cam h¹ as may be
desired. The slot in the stripping lever a' in which the stud a is fastened is
at right angles to the lever, and is made of such length that the lever may be
adjusted, so as to hang nearer or farther from the centre of the shaft a³, which
places it in the power of the workman to increase or diminish the amount of
strip at pleasure.
On the bracket as is placed the short worm and ratchet shaft a", the ratchet
being common to all mules, as the means of imparting a small amount of
motion each stretch to the building motion. The worm on the shaft a¹ is con-
nected with its worm wheel a, supported in its position by a projecting fork
from the bracket as, and loose on the builder shaft a". In the worm wheel
are two holes drilled to receive the two studs fixed in the plate a¹6, fastened
on the builder shaft a¹. These studs permit the builder shaft to rise or fall
through the worm wheel a¹, but cause it to move round along with it. The
plate ao, and the builder shaft a on which it is fastened, rest on the horizontal
arm of the pendulum lever a", the bulb of which lies upon and follows the
leading of the copping rail or inclined plane a¹s, see Fig. 3, fastened on the
floor. This plane is formed so as to raise and lower the builder shaft in
the proportions and rate known to produce a conical point on the cop; but we
give it so great an inclination that a small divergence from the proper form or
an oscillation of the carriage will not prejudicially affect the form of the cop
point; and as its generating surface is vertical, the dropping of the carriage
has no power to alter its proportions. The plate a, see Fig. 4, has a curved
offshoot at the part where the cop commences, by which it rests on the hori-
zontal arm of the pendulum lever a", at a part much nearer the centre than
when the cop has been fully formed, and by which it derives a proportionally
5 smaller amount of vibration from it, and makes at the commencement of the
set a short chase, which being produced by the same inclined plane a¹8 in the
same position, possesses precisely the same conical properties as the chase of
the completed cop.
On the middle of the builder shaft a¹ is fastened the face
cam a, which is formed in the manner known to produce a conical bottom

page_text: and parallel body on the cop. A boss a, loose on the builder shaft a", and
having a projecting stud a resting on the cam a¹, and another entering a slot
in the rack a", receives the vertical movements of the building apparatus so
far described, but is prevented from turning round with the builder shaft by
the stud projecting into the faller rack a. A lever a, loose at one end on the
shaft a³, rests at its other end on the upper side of the projecting stud a2s, and
forms an inclined plane, the height of which is varied by the builder boss a²º.
A ram a, sliding freely in a slot at one end and resting on a stud a fastened
in the carriage end C, has its head resting on the inclined plane a. The
faller rack a has a plate a³ fastened on it, from which projects downwards a
finger resting on the head of the ram a, so that when the ram is pushed.
along the incline a, it raises the faller rack a¹, and thereby places the faller
in position for building. When it has advanced to the end of the incline it is
locked by the spring catch a on the stud a27 coming behind the plate as on
the faller rack, and the vertical movements of the builder are by the ram head
and plate a communicated to the faller. The catch a is removed at the
roller beam by the double-ended lever a, the upper end of which comes
behind the catch a%, and the lower half strikes against the incline a, see-
Fig. 4, fastened on the floor, and thereby liberates the ram and allows the
faller to rise. On the stud a2, fixed in the bracket as fastened to the carriage
square B, is placed freely the arm a³, which has a bowl as, which rests upon
and is operated on by the cam h. A stud a³³ in this arm comes in contact
with a projecting knee bracket a³ on the ram a2, and forces it up the incline
a. When the cam he has pushed up the ram until it is locked, it moves
round a little farther, so as to allow the bowl as on the arm a to fall back,
being drawn by the spring a35. The arm a¹ also communicates with the
double-ended lever a loose on the tin roller shaft, by the connecting rod a.
A stud a in the lever a carries the catch a", which takes into the ratchet a2,
fastened on the tin roller shaft, and when the arm a³¹ is acted on by the cam h
this catch turns the tin roller backwards. When the arm a is drawn back,
the catch a is raised by and rests upon the adjustable inclined plane a
fastened on the tin roller bracket a". By this inclined plane the catch can be
regulated so as to give a less amount of backing off than is due to the motion
of the arm a¹, and takes off the portion of coil left on the spindles by the rising
of the stripper. Instead of making the inclined plane a" adjustable, a third
cam on the shaft or boss f may be used, to act at the time and to the
amount required.
It is obvious that the effect produced by the action of the cam h² may be
produced by the adoption of the well-known backing-off cones, to give motion

page_text: to the double-ended lever a, and through this to give motion to the faller
ram a; but this we regard as an obvious modification of our improvement,
which enables us to obtain the speed of stripping with the accuracy of backing
off. A small amount of motion may be communicated to the inclined plane a¹³,
and the amount of backing off as well of stripping varied; but this also we
regard as a modification of our improvement.
Our third improvement consists in a combination of parts by which the
rising of the counterfaller in backing-off mules, or the position of the stripper
at the commencement of the inward run, is determined by the descent of the
building faller, see Sheet 2, Figures 5 and 6. To the back rail of the car-
riage. A is fastened the bracket b', in which the shaft b is fixed as a stud for
the lever b³, which passes underneath the carriage A to the front. In front
the double-ended lever 65 on the stud 64 has at one end the stud be, which,
when the carriage is out, is adjusted to rest on the higher part of the inclined
plane 67, the opposite end of lever 65 being connected by the rod. 68 with the
arm on the faller shaft; by this arrangement, according to the distance to
which the faller shaft is moved round, so will the weight lever 3 be permitted
to fall. Again, when the carriage is coming out, the stud 612 in the rod 613
carries the lever weight b³, being sustained by the cross bar 614 fastened on the
top of it, resting on the finger on the building faller, the bar 61 being kept
in upright position by the curve slot stud 616 fastened in the arm 617 on the
counterfaller shaft. Now, when the building faller has removed the sus-
taining finger 6. from underneath the cross bar 6 on the upright rod b¹³, this
rod rests on the weight lever b³, and is gradually permitted to descend there-
with, as above described, by the descent of the building faller, and in its
descent it raises the counterfaller by means of the curve slot stud 616, which
is connected therewith, and as these points are adjustable, the amount of
descent relative to the position of the building faller is easily determined, so
that the yarn. may not be injured by too much weight, nor slackened by too
slow a descent of the lever weight 63. The limited action of the counter-
faller while under the control of the building faller, and while the carriage is
standing, does not hinder its freedom when the carriage moves inwards, as
the stud 66 passing from the inclined plane b' at once breaks the connection
between the fallers, and leaves the counterfaller under the control of the
weight. By means of the stud 616 in the curve slot in the rod 63, while the
weight of the sickles on the counterfaller keeps it at a proper height under-
neath the yarn, if any occasion requires, the hand can raise the counterfaller
to touch or strip the yarn from the spindles, which it is sometimes convenient
to be able to do. For the adjustable connecting rod 6º a chain may be sub-

page_text: stituted; also a series of curve slots may be made in the rod 6¹³, and the
stud 610 be shifted from one to another, so as to place greater or less weight on
the counterfaller, as may be required, without detached weights.
Our fourth improvement consists in an arrangement of parts by which the
motion of the winding-on quadrant is positively regulated by the motion of
the carriage.
Our sixth improvement consists in a break, regulated by the counterfaller
acting on one portion of a differential motion, the other portion of which is
moved by the carriage or carriage motion, see Figures 7 and 8. On the
carriage shaft c is fastened the wheel c¹, which is geered with the rack c²,
which when the carriage is coming out gives motion thereto, and in returning
to the roller beam derives motion therefrom. On the shaft c is fastened the
pinion c³, which geers with the quadrant c', thereby determining its motion,
and keeping it in conjunction with the motion of the carriage. On the
shaft is fastened the pulley c, connected by the band c to the pulley c', to
which it imparts motion. To the pulley & is fastened the bevel c³, geered to
the intermediate c on the stud co fastened on the shaft c¹¹. Into the inter-
mediate is geered the bevel c¹³, to which is fastened the external V pulley c¹³.
Over this pulley is placed the V break c¹, which when it is placed on its
pulley the shaft c¹ moves at one half the velocity of the wheel and
pulley and c. To the shaft c" is fastened the bevel c¹³, geered with the
small bevel c¹ on the quadrant screw c", by which connection the motion
imparted to the shaft c¹ by the break c¹ is communicated to the screw, and
causes the nut c¹8 to move from the centre when the carriage is going in, or
to the centre when it is coming out. The break is brought into position by
the descent of the building faller by the adjustable arm c¹ thereon, to which
the one end of the chain c20 is fastened, which being passed round the
pulley on the break c¹, and is attached to the arm on the counter-
faller. Being brought nearly into contact by the descent of the building
faller, as shewn by dotted lines, the oscillation of the counterfaller on the
tightening of the yarn permits the break c¹ to fall on the pulley c¹³, and
moves the nut c¹s on the quadrant screw from the centre.
As the cop is
filled up, the building faller does not descend so far, and it requires a greater
oscillation of the counterfaller to place the break on the pulley c¹³, and
when the bottom has been completed the break cannot be placed on the pulley
unless the yarn is very much too tightly wound on. Instead of the connecting
band c, a band fastened at each end of the stretch may be passed round the
pulley c', which will be turned round therein by the motion of the carriage;
the motion in both cases being derived from the carriage, the result is the

page_text: same. The differential motion may be placed on the shaft c, and connected
to the screw shaft by a band, chain, or drum connecting it therewith.
Our fifth improvement consists in liberating the catch by which the cam
shaft is detained at the termination of the inward run of the carriage by the
rise of the building faller, or the descent of the faller rack.
On Sheet 2, Figure 9. On the faller shaft is fastened the arm d, having a
projection on one side thereof, which takes into a concentric slot in the plate d',
loose on the faller shaft. Into the plate d¹ is fastened the stud d², on which is
placed the rod d, the lower end of which passes through an eye in the bracket d*,
being prevented from passing too far through by the collar d³ fastened thereon.
The point of the rod passes so far through the eye in the bracket d' as to act
as a stopper for the tooth of the ratchet f (see Specification above referred
to), by which the cam shaft is prevented from making the change which
twists and delivers the yarn, and draws out the carriage until relieved by the
faller shaft arm & on the descent of the faller rack; by this we are enabled to
lift the faller and leave the yarn more free from snarls, and require much less
difference in the time of raising the faller at the roller beam at different parts
of the set. We also secure that if any accident should prevent the carriage
reaching the stoppers, yet when the faller rises, the change is made with
perfect accuracy. We also avoid the irregularities at the roller beam change
arising from the difference of speed of the driving power at different times,
which operates prejudicially on the yarn. The operative is also enabled to
stop the mule by preventing the rise of the faller without needing to traverse
the driving strap. The point of attachment to the faller shaft or rack may be
varied, but we hold any such difference as a modification which retains the
cam shaft until the faller rack has descended so far as to clear the spindles
from the faller wire.
Having now indicated the nature of our improvements, and the manner
in which the same are to be performed, we declare that we claim as of our
Invention,-
First, the clearing of the spindles of the coils of yarn between the cop
point and spindle point by the combination of partial stripping with partial
backing off, as described.
Secondly, the inclined plane or copping rail a¹, having its leading surface
vertical; the pendulum lever a", which follows the leading of the copping
rail a¹, as described; also, the combination of parts by which the chase is
lengthened, the bottom and body of the cop is formed, and the motion of the
faller wire is governed, as described.
Thirdly, the improved machinery described under letter b, by which the

page_text: rising of the counter faller is determined by the descent of the building faller:
The curve slots in the upright rod 63; by which the operative can raise the
counterfaller or stripper when the carriage is coming out, as described.
Fourthly, the improved machinery shewn, by which the winding-on quadrant
is connected with the motion of the carriage, or any modification of the
same.
Fifthly, the improved machinery shewn and described, by which the roller
beam change of the cam shaft is prevented until the faller has risen above
the points of the spindles.
Sixthly, the improved machinery described and shewn under letter c, whereby
the position of the nut on the winding-on quadrant is governed by the counter
faller, and any modification of the same.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Robertson and John Muir
Hetherington, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-
second day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-two.