IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING MULES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joshua Willby, of Leeds, in the County of York,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING MULES."
Scaled the 9th October 1874, and dated the 10th April 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joshua Willby at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 10th April 1874.
I, JOSHUA WILLBY, of Leeds, in the County of York, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-
ACTING MULES," to be as follows:—
The object of my improvements is to produce a simple arrangement
of machinery whereby the changes of speed that are required for
winding the thread may be obtained, these changes being produced in
much less time and with less risk of breakages than by means heretofore
employed.
The ordinary style is to change what is known as the winding barrel
and not another on in its place containing a different number of

page_text: teeth. This involves taking to pieces other parts of the machine, and
occupies a great deal of time. In order to obviate this I provide one or
moro sets of spur wheels, each set producing when in motion different
speeds of the winding spindle. The spur wheel which is at present
provided on the winding barrel shaft is retained, but on the same shaft
I provide one or more spur wheels varying in number or pitch of teeth;
these are made to gear into pinions mounted on the shaft employed for
driving the winding spindle.
Each set of wheels vary in their proportionate size or pitch producing
the required changes in the speed of the winding spindle. These wheels
may be thrown in and out of gear at pleasure by suitable catches or
their equivalents, and with very little loss of time, without disturbing
other parts of the machinery.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joshua Willby in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th October 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Joshua
WILLBY, of Leeds, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Joshua Willby, Her special
licence that I, the said Joshua Willby, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joshua Willby,
my 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING MULES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Joshua Willby, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and

page_text: 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 I, the said Joshua Willby, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, that is to
say:―
The object of my improvements is to produce a simple arrangement
of machinery whereby the changes of speed that are required for
winding the thread may be obtained, these changes being produced.in
much less time and with less risk of breakages than by means heretofore
employed.
The ordinary style is to change what is known as the winding barrel
wheel and put another on in its place containing a different number of
teeth. This involves taking to picces other parts of the machine, and
occupies a great deal of time. In order to obviate this I provide one or
more sets of spur wheels, cach set producing when in motion different
speeds of the winding spindle. The spur wheel which is at present
provided on the winding barrel shaft is retained, but on the same shaft
I provide one or more spur wheels varying in number or pitch of teeth;
these are made to gear into pinions mounted on the shaft employed for
driving the winding spindle.
The sets of wheels vary in their proportionate size or pitch producing
the required changes in the speed of the winding spindle. These wheels
may be thrown in and out of gear at pleasure by suitable catches or
their equivalents, and with very little loss of time without disturbing
other parts of the machinery.
These improvements are applicable to all self-acting mules.
my Invention may be
And in order that the details of construction of
more fully understood I will now proceed to describe the same with
reference to the Sheet of Drawings hereto annexed, in which Fig. 1 is an
end elevation; Fig. 2, a side elevation; and Fig. 3, a plan looking at
the top.

page_text: b
These wheels b
a is the winding barrel, on which I in addition to the one wheel 6 pro-
vide on the other end of the barrel the change wheel c.
and c are respectively geared into the pinions & and e.
The sets of wheels vary in their proportionate size and pitch, producing
the required changes in the speed of the cylinder shaft f, from which
the winding spindles are driven, consequently varying the speeds of the
latter. These changes are required on account of the material being
sometimes wound on the bobbins placed on the winding spindles, and at
other times on the winding spindles themselves; this is called "
winding.
'cop"
The pinions d and e are fitted loose on the cylinder shaft f, and may
be thrown in and out of gear with the cylinder shaft fat pleasure by
catches or pawls g, which are attached to the flanges on the pinions d
and e.
The ratchet wheels i and j are fixed on the cylinder shaft f, so
that when the pawl g is thrown in gear, as shewn at k, Fig. 1, it is
caused to revolve with the pinion, giving thereby the required motion to
the cylinder shaft f, thence to the winding spindles. The pawl g when
thrown into gear with the ratchet wheel i or j is kept in position by
means of the spring 1.
When the speed of the winding spindle is required to be changed
the spring and pawl g can be readily taken off and employed for
throwing into gear the other wheel and pinion, in a similar manner as
that herein-before described. It will be readily understood that this
change can be made without disturbing any other parts of the machine,
and that any other equivalent means may be employed for throwing in
and out of gear the change pinions; also that any required number of
change wheels may be employed for the purpose of varying the speed of
winding spindles.
Other parts of the Drawing not explained are of ordinary con-
struction.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the
manner in which the same is or may be performed, I would remark in
conclusion that I do not limit myself to the exact details and con-
figuration of the parts I have herein explained and shewn, as the same
may be varied or modified without in any way departing from the nature
of my Invention; but what I do claim and desire to secure by Letters

page_text: Patent is, the arrangement and application of change wheels, whereby
the changes of speed that are required for winding the thread may be
obtained, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joshua Willby, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
JOSHUA WILLBY (L.S.)