Improvements in Mules and Twiners for Spinning and Doubling Cotton and other Fibrous Substances.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Nov., 1886.
Complete Left, 8th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 9th Sept., 1887.
Improvements in Mules and Twiners for Spinning and Doubling
Cotton and other Fibrous Substances.
1 WILLIAM HENRY RHODES of Rainforth Street Dickinson Road Longsight in the
County of Lancaster Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates chiefly to improvements upon a previous invention for which
I obtained Letters Patent in 1884, dated January 5th No. 774, but the invention is
also in part applicable to other ordinary forms of mules or twiners.
The first part of the invention consists of a contrivance for causing the cam shaft to
make a portion of a revolution first in one direction and then in the other as required
to make the necessary changes at each end of the stretch of the carriage.
For this purpose I key upon the outer end of the cam shaft a cam lever or plate, to
the upper end of which a notched slide is hinged.
Against the straight side of this cam lever works a bowl carried by a short link
jointed to one end of a second lever which works on a fulcrum at its other end, and is
placed in a horizontal position or nearly so.
This second lever is provided with a coiled spring one end of which is attached to a
stud at the fulcrum end of the lever, and the other to the knee-jointed link, at the
other end of the same, which carries the bowl as before described. The action of this
spring is to cause the bowl to press against the cam lever, and the spring is of
sufficient strength to cause this lever to turn the cam shaft a portion of a revolution to
the right or to the left, according to whether the bowl is above or below the centre of
the cam shaft.
The position of the bowl (either above or below the centre of the cam shaft) is
regulated by means of the second lever above described which is raised or lowered
when required by the following means:
A low horizontal shaft, parallel to the cam shaft, but supported in bearings upon or
near to the floor, carries at one end a bevil pinion which gears with a large bevil
pinion keyed on the squaring shaft.

page_text: At the other or outer end of this low horizontal shaft is keyed a small spur wheel
which gears into a larger wheel and on the side of the latter is a small pinion
which gears into a wheel about four times larger in order to reduce the speed.
This last named wheel is keyed on a short shaft on which is fixed a small crank and
the pin of this crank is attached by a connecting rod to the second lever above
named, and thus as the squaring shaft revolves it causes the short crank to raise or
lower the said lever so as to bring the bowl either above or below the centre of the
cam shaft, and the spring before mentioned causes the bowl to act on the cam lever
and turn the cam shaft partially round.
In order that this spring may only act at the required instant the slide which is
attached to the top of the cam lever is made with two notches each provided with a
catch and one or the other of these catches is liberated by means of a rod against
which the carriage acts at each end of its traverse, and thus the cam lever can only
turn the cam shaft to or fro just at the proper moment.
The second part of my invention relates to the spur pinion which actuates the
drawing rollers, and which slides to and fro (with the roller beam) upon an upper
horizontal shaft which runs along the top of the headstock.
Instead of sliding this spur pinion along the shaft with a key working in a groove
(as in my former Specification) it is fitted with a boss bored out to fit the shaft, and
this boss is formed with two slots carrying two bowls which run along and bear
against two straight edges formed by planing upon opposite sides of the shaft.
It will be evident that as the boss slides on the shaft, the two bowls bearing against
the straight edges formed on the shaft will cause the boss (and with it the spur pinion)
to revolve with the shaft, and this device will greatly reduce the friction and will not
require so much oiling as is the case with the key running in the
goove as before.
The third part of my invention relates to the "backing off" motion, the object
being to change the speed of the same according to the "count" of yarn required to
be produced.
At the back of the headstock, and between the rim shaft, and the scroll shaft, a band
pulley is mounted and is driven by bands lapping round a double grooved pulley keyed
on the boss of the loose pulley on the rim shaft.
To this pulley is also fixed a spur pinion which works a larger wheel keyed on a
shaft, and at the other end of the latter is keyed a pinion which gears into a carrier
wheel, and the latter gears into the "backing-off" wheel which revolves loose on the
rim shaft.
The carrier wheel is mounted in a curved slot concentric with the "backing off"
wheel and thus by changing the pinion to a larger or smaller diameter the speed of
the "backing-off" wheel can be increased or diminished accordingly.
This part of my invention is also applicable to other forms of mules and twiners.
The fourth part of my invention relates to the apparatus for giving motion to the
rim shaft; the object of the invention being to afford facility for starting the mule at
a reduced speed if required when commencing a fresh set of cops.
Instead of driving the rim shaft direct from the overhead shafting of the mill I
employ a counter-shaft upon which are mounted fast and loose pulleys driven from the
said shafting.
Upon this counter shaft is mounted loosely the pulley for driving the rim shaft.
Upon the boss of this pulley is keyed a spur wheel in gear with a spur pinion keyed
on a short shaft carried by a plate or disc which is keyed fast upon the counter-
shaft.
At the other end of this short shaft is a second pinion gearing with another spur
wheel which is also loose on the shaft and capable of being moved endwise on the
shaft.
Half of a toothed clutch is cast with the plate and the other half with the spur wheel,
and under ordinary circumstances the two halves of this clutch are kept in gear by
means of a spiral spring. The whole motion is then locked together as though it were
a solid piece and when the strap is moved onto the fast pulley, the mule is started at
the ordinary speed.

page_text: The reduced speed is obtained when required by the following means.
On the boss of the last mentioned spur wheel (that is the one with the half clutch)
is keyed a brake wheel or disc, round which passes a brake band, and the boss is also
furnished with a neck which is embraced by a fork at the lower end of a lever.
This lever is attached to a rocking shaft which is also provided with two collars or
bosses to which the two ends of the brake band are attached.
Another lever on the rocking shaft is connected to the "setting-on-rod."
When the latter is moved the shaft is caused to rock and the forked lever slides the
second spur wheel along the countershaft thus disconnecting the clutch, and the
rocking of the shaft at the same time tightens the brake band upon the brake wheel
and thus stops the revolution of the brake wheel and second spur wheel and the only
part of the motion then fast to the countershaft is the disc or plate which revolves
with it carrying round the two spur pinions, thus driving the first spur wheel and the
pulley for driving the rim shaft at a reduced speed.
I may here remark that it will be evident that the same differential motion
obtained by bevilled gearing instead of spur gearing if preferred.
may be
This part of my invention is also applicable to other forms of mules and twiners.
Dated this 6th day of November 1886.
GEORGE, DAVIES,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Mules and Twiners for Spinning and Doubling
Cotton and other Fibrous Substances.
I WILLIAM HENRY RHODES of Rainforth Street Dickinson Road Longsight in the
County of Lancaster Machinist 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 chiefly to improvements upon a previous invention for which
I obtained Letters Patent in 1884, dated January 5th No. 744, but the invention is
also in part applicable to other ordinary forms of mules or twiners.
The nature of my invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed
or carried into practical effect will be readily understood on reference to the sheet of
drawings annexed hereunto, and the following explanation thereof.
Fig. 1. on the drawings is a sectional elevation and Fig. 2. a plan view of the cam-
shaft reversing motion, illustrating the first part of my invention.
The second part of my invention is illustrated by Fig. 2× being an elevation and
section of the part referred to.
Fig. 3. is a side elevation of so much of the "backing off" motion as is necessary
to illustrate the third part of my invention. Fig. 4 is an end view of the same and
Fig. 5 is a sectional view of part of the same.
Fig. 6. is an elevation (partly in section) of the counter shaft and gearing for
driving the rim shaft, and Figs. 7 and 8. are sectional views taken through about the
line A. B in Fig. 6, looking in reverse directions, and illustrate the fourth part of my
invention.
The first part of my invention consists of a contrivance for causing the cam shaft to
make a portion of a revolution first in one direction and then in the other as required
to make the necessary changes at each end of the stretch of the carriage.
For this purpose I key upon the outer end of the cam shaft a, a Fig. 1. a cam lever
or plate b, b to the upper end of which a notched slide c, c is hinged.
Against the straight side of this cam lever b, b works a bowl &, d carried by a short
link e, e jointed to one end of a second lever f, f which works on a fulcrumi g at its
other end and is placed in a horizontal position or nearly so.
This second lever f, f is provided with a coiled spring h, h one end of which is
attached to a stud i at the fulcrum end of the lever and the other to the knee-jointed
link e, e at the other end of the same which carries the bowl d as before described.
The action of this spring h, h is to cause the bowl d, d to press against the cam
lever b, b, and the spring h, h is of sufficient strength to cause this cam lever b, b to
turn the cam shaft a, a a portion of a revolution to the right or to the left according
to whether the bowl a is above or below the centre of the cam shaft a, a.
The position of the bowl d (either above or below the centre of the cam shaft) is
regulated by means of the second lever f, fabove described which may be raised or
lowered when required by means of a crank k, k (see Fig. 1.) or by an incline attached
to the carriage, or by any other convenient means.

page_text: In order that the spring h, h may only act at the required instant, the slide c, c
which is attached to the top of the cam lever b, b is made with two notches / and m
(see Fig. 2) each provided with a catch n, and n¹ and one or the other of these catches
is liberated by means of a rod o, or o' against which the carriage acts at each end of
its traverse, and thus the cam lever b, b can only turn the cam shaft c, c to or fro just
at the proper moment.
The second part of my invention relates to the spur pinion which actuates the
drawing rollers and which slides to and fro (with the roller bean) upon an upper
horizontal shaft which runs along the top of the headstock.
Instead of sliding the spur pinion (marked y on the drawing of my former
Specification) along the shaft (2) with a key working in a groove (as in my former
Specification) it is fitted with a boss y' bored out to fit the shaft, and this boss is
provided with two bowls y" which run along and bear against two straight edges **
formed by planing upon opposite sides of the shaft z.
It will be evident that as the boss slides on the shaft, the two bowls bearing against
the straight edges formed on the shaft will cause the boss y¹ (and with it the spur
pinion) to revolve with the shaft (3) and this device will greatly reduce the friction
and will not require so much oiling as is the case with the key running in the groove
as before.
"
The third part of my invention, see Figs. 3. 4 and 5, relates to the backing-off"
motion, the object being to change the speed of the same according to the "count" of
yarn required to be produced.
At the back of the headstock, and between the rim shaft p, p and the scroll shaft q, q
a band pulley r, r is mounted and driven by bands lapping round a double grooved
pulleys, s keyed on the boss of the loose pulley t, t on the rim shaft p, p.
V₁
υ
To this pulley r, r is also fixed a spur pinion u, u which works a larger wheel
keyed on a shaft w, w and at the other end of the latter is keyed a pinion x, x which
gears into a carrier wheel y y and the latter gears into the "backing-off" wheel z, z
which revolves loose on the rim shaft p, p. The carrier wheel y, y is mounted in a
curved slot concentric with the "backing-off" wheel z, and thus by changing the
pinion a, a to a larger or smaller diameter the speed of the "backing-off" wheel z, z
can be increased or diminished accordingly.
This part of my invention is also applicable to other forms of mules and twiners.
The fourth part of my invention (see Figs. 6. 7 and 8) relates to the apparatus for
giving motion to the rim shaft, the object of the invention being to afford facility for
starting the mule at a reduced speed if required when commencing a fresh set
of cops.
Instead of driving the rim shaft p, p direct from the overhead shafting of the
mill I employ a countershaft 1. 1. upon which are mounted fast and loose pulleys 2. 2.
driven from the said shafting.
Upon this countershaft 1. 1. is mounted loosely the pulley 3. 3. for driving the rim
shaft.
Upon the boss of this pulley is keyed or fixed a spur wheel 4. 4, in gear with a spur
pinion 5. 5. keyed on a short shaft 6, 6, carried by a plate or disc 7. 7. which is keyed
fast upon the countershaft 1. 1.
At the other end of this short shaft 6. 6 is a second pinion 8. 8, gearing with
another spur wheel 9. 9. which is also loose on the shaft 1. 1 and capable of being
moved end wise on the shaft.
Half of a toothed clutch 10. 10 is cast with the plate 7. 7. and the other half 11. 11.
with the spur wheel 9. 9. and under ordinary circumstances the two halves of this
clutch are kept in gear by means of a spiral spring 12. 12. (or friction cones may be
substituted for the clutch).
The whole motion is then locked together as though it were a solid piece and when
the strap is moved onto the fast pulley, the mule is started at the ordinary speed.
The reduced speed is obtained when required by the following means.
On the boss of the last mentioned spur wheel 9. 9. (that is the one with the half
clutch) is keyed a brake wheel or disc 13. 13. round which passes a brake band 14. 14

page_text: and the boss is also furnished with a neck which is embraced by a fork 15. 15, at the
lower end of a lever 16, 16.
This lever 16. 16, is attached to a rocking shaft 17. 17. which is also provided with
two collars or bosses 18. 18, to which the two ends of the brake band 14. 14 are
attached. When the lever 16. 16, is moved the shaft 17. 17, is caused to rock and the
forked lever 15; 15, slides the second spur wheel 9. 9. along the countershaft 1. 1.
thus disconnecting the clutch, and the rocking of the shaft 17. 17. at the same time
tightens the brake band 14. 14. upon the brake wheel 13. 13. and thus stops the
revolution of the brake wheel 13. 13, and the second spur wheel 9. 9. and the only
part of the motion then fast to the countershaft 1. 1. is the disc or plate 7. 7. which
revolves with it carrying round the two spur pinions 5 and 8. thus driving the first
spur wheel 4. 4. and the pulley 3. 3. for driving the rim shaft at a reduced speed.
I may here remark that it will be evident that the same differential motion may be
obtained by bevilled gearing instead of spur gearing if preferred.
This part of my invention is also applicable to other forms of mules and twiners.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :—
In self acting mules and twiners.
First. The arrangement of apparatus substantially as shown and described with
reference to Figs. 1. and 2 of the annexed drawings for causing the cam shaft to
make a portion of a revolution first in one direction and then in the other as
required.
Secondly. The use of bowls running upon flat surfaces on its shaft to guide and
drive the sliding spur pinion which actuates the drawing rollers in place of employing
a key running in a groove, whereby the friction is reduced.
Thirdly. I claim the use of a train of gearing with a change pinion substantially as
shown and described with reference to Figs. 3. 4. and 5. for the purpose of readily
changing the speed of the "backing-off" motion according to the "count" of yarn
required to be produced and
Fourthly. I claim the use of a countershaft and differential gear substantially as
shown and described with reference to Figs. 6. 7. and 8. of the annexed drawings for
the purpose of enabling the mule to be started at a reduced speed if required when
commencing a fresh set of cops.
2
1000
GEORGE DAVIES,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.