Improvements in Self-acting Mules and Twiners for Spinning and Doubling Fibrous Materials.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 28th May, 1894-Accepted, 30th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self-acting Mules and Twiners for Spinning and
Doubling Fibrous Materials.
I JOHN DODD of the Firm of Platt Brothers and Company, Limited, of
Hartford Works, Oldham in the County of Lancaster, Machinist do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows
:-
My improvements relates to self-acting mules and twiners, for spinning and
doubling fibrous materials and consist in arrangements by means of which I am
enabled to impart motion to the tin-rollers and spindles used in such machines in a
more efficient manner than heretofore.
I mount on the tin-roller-shaft a friction clutch capable of being engaged and
disengaged. To one half of the friction clutch I connect the tin-roller-pulley
which receives motion from the rim-band. This half of the friction clutch runs
loosely on the tin-roller-shaft. The other half of the friction clutch is mounted on
the tin-roller-shaft and engages with a disc secured to the tin-roller-shaft. By
means of the disc this half of the friction clutch is capable of imparting motion to
the tin-roller-shaft and is also free to slide end wise thereon so as to be capable of
being engaged with and disengaged from the other half of the friction clutch.
The mode of operation is as follows
--
When the carriage is making its outward run the two halves of the friction
clutch are engaged and the tin-roller-pulley receiving motion from the rim-band
imparts motion to the tin-roller-shaft, tin rollers and spindles. After the
termination of the outward run of the carriage the backing-off arrangements cause
the mule or twiner to back off and in due course the carriage begins to make its
inward run.
This movement of the carriage enables an incline which is fixed to a
stationary part of the machine to act at the proper time on the lever which controls
the sliding half of the friction clutch, and disengage it from the other half of the
friction clutch, when the tin-roller-pulley will no longer be frictionally coupled to
the tin-roller-shaft. A catch locks or retains the lever which disengages the
sliding half of the friction clutch after the latter has been disengaged and keeps
the friction clutch disengaged until it requires to be re-engaged, when the catch
being removed from the lever the friction clutch is allowed to be engaged again.
After the friction clutch has been disengaged as already explained, the driving belt
is moved partly from the loose rim-pulley on to the fast rim-pulley, when motion
will be communicated to the rim-shaft, rim, rim-band, and tin-roller-pulley, so that
when the cam-shaft makes its change at the termination of the inward run of the
carriage, the rim-shaft, rim, rim-band, and tin-roller-pulley will be in rotation and
ready to impart motion to the tin rollers and spindles immediately the catch which
keeps out of gear the sliding half of the clutch box on the tin-roller-shaft has been
removed. By this means the tin rollers and spindles are started without the
driving belt having first to overcome the inertia of the rim-shaft, rim, rim-band,
tin-roller-pulley and the rim-band-carrier-pulleys.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of August 1893.
HOWARD
CHEETHAM,
Manchester, Agent to the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Self-acting Mules and Twiners for Spinning and.
Doubling Fibrous Materials.
I, JOHN. DODD of the Firm of Platt Brothers and Company, Limited, of
Hartford Works, Oldham, 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:-
My improvements relate to self-acting mules and twiners for spinning and
doubling fibrous materials and consist in arrangements by means of which I am
enabled to impart motion to the tin-rollers and spindles used in such machines in a
more efficient manner than heretofore.
I mount on the tin-roller-shaft a friction clutch capable of being engaged and
disengaged. To one half of the friction cluich I connect the tin-roller-pulley
which receives motion from the rim-band. This half of the friction clutch runs
loosely on the tin-roller-shaft. The other half of the friction clutch is mounted on
the tin-roller-shaft and engages with a disc secured to the tin-roller-shaft. By
means of the disc this half of the friction clutch is capable of imparting motion to
the tin-roller-shaft and is also free to slide end wise thereon so as to be capable of
being engaged with and disengaged from the other half of the friction clutch.
The mode of operation is as follows :-
When the carriage is making its outward run the two halves of the friction
clutch are engaged and the tin-roller-pulley receiving motion from the rim-band
imparts motion to the tin-roller-shaft, tin rollers and spindles. After the
termination of the outward run of the carriage the backing-off arrangements cause
the mule or twiner to back off and in due course the carriage begins to make its
inward run.
This movement of the carriage enables an incline which is fixed to a
stationary part of the machine to act at the proper time on the lever which controls
the sliding half of the friction clutch, and disengage it from the other half of the
friction-clutch, when the tin-roller-pulley will no longer be frictionally coupled to
the tin-roller-shaft. A retaining catch locks or retains the lever which disengages
the sliding half of the friction clutch after the latter has been disengaged and
keeps the friction clutch disengaged until it is required to be re-engaged, when
the retaining catch being disengaged from the lever the friction clutch is free to
be engaged again. After the friction clutch has been disengaged as already
explained, the driving belt is moved sufficiently from the loose rim-pulley on to the
fast rim-pulley when motion will be communicated to the rim-shaft, rim, rim-band,
and tin-roller-pulley so that when the cam-shaft makes its change at the termination
of the inward run of the carriage, the rim-shaft, rim, rim-band and tin-roller-pulley
will be in rotation and ready to impart motion to the tin-rollers and spindles
immediately the retaining catch which keeps out of gear the sliding half of the
clutch box on the tin-roller-shaft has been disengaged. By this means the drawing
rollers, carriage, tin-rollers, and spindles are started without the driving belt having
first to overcome the inertia of the rim-shaft, rim, rim-band, tin-roller-pulley and
the rim-band-carrier-pulleys.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which
Figs. 1 and 3 are side views partly in section, and Fig. 2 a plan partly in section
of so much of a self-acting mule as is necessary for the illustration of my invention
and the manner in which it may be carried into effect. Certain parts are omitted
from Figs. 1, 2 and 3 in order to avoid confusion.
Fig. 4 is a front view partly in section and Fig. 5 a side view partly in section,
drawn upon a somewhat larger scale than Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and showing some of the
parts shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and also some of the parts which are omitted from
Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

page_text: Fig. 6 is a plan serving to illustrate the action of certain parts which are also
shown in other figures of the accompanying drawings.
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are respectively a front view partly in section, a side view and a
plan, drawn upon a larger scale than Figs. 4, 5 and 6, showing certain of the parts
shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.
Fig. 1 illustrates the position which the parts occupy when the outward run of
the carriage of the self-acting mule is completed or nearly completed, and Figs. 2
and 3 illustrate the position which the parts occupy when part of the inward run
of the carriage has been made, as shown by the position of the carriage in relation
to the headstock. The arrow 1 indicates the direction of the inward run of the
carriage. The same letters of reference are applied to corresponding parts in all
the figures of the accompanying drawings.
As will be evident to persons conversant with self-acting mules the self-acting
mule part of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings is similar in the
construction and arrangement of most of its parts to self-acting mules as con-
structed and arranged prior to my invention and therefore, I shall only refer to
those parts so far as may be necessary to enable my invention and the manner in
which it may be carried into effect to be fully understood.
(a) is the square of the carriage (a) of the self-acting mule which as in self-
acting mules of ordinary construction is supported and travels by means of the
wheels (a) upon rails (b).
(c) is the framework of the headstock of the self-acting mule and (d) is the rim-
shaft mounted therein. (e) is the fast pulley and (f) the loose pulley mounted
upon the rim-shaft (d). (g) is the rim-pulley mounted fast upon the block forming
part of the rim-shaft (d). (h) is the cam-shaft which as usual makes a half
revolution from time to time by means of the pinion (1) which receives motion
from the toothed wheel (i) which is formed with an internal friction cone (¹) which
is caused from time to time to engage with the external friction cone (e¹) forming
part of the fast pulley (e) by the said toothed wheel (i) being moved longitudinally
upon the rin-shaft (d). The backing off is effected by means of the toothed
wheel () and the ordinary arrangements employed for the purpose which though
not fully indicated in the accompanying drawings will be well understood by
persons conversant with self-acting mules. The cam-shaft (4) in addition to other
cams not shown in the drawings is provided with a cam (2) which at times acts
upon a bowl (3) mounted upon the cam lever (j) so as to move such lever (j) in the
direction indicated by the arrow (A) and at other times allows the spring (2) to
move the lever (j) in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow (A).
The cam (2) regulates the extent of the movements of the lever (j). The
lever (5) is mounted upon and secured to the shaft (k) and is connected by the
spring () to the strap-lever (m) which is mounted loosely upon the shaft (k) so as to be
free to turn thereon. When the lever (j) is turned by the cam (2) in the direction
indicated by the arrow (A) the spring (1) tends to cause the strap-guider-lever (m)
to move in the same direction. (2) is a spring which as in self-acting mules of the
ordinary construction tends to move the lever (j) in the direction opposite to that
indicated by the arrow (A) and so tends to keep the bowl (3) mounted on the
lever (1) against the cam (2). The levers (j) (m) are as usual so formed that the
cam-lever (j) serves to limit the motion of the strap-lever (m) in the direction
indicated by the arrow (A) by means of the stop (m²) formed on the strap-
lever (m). During the backing off and also at the beginning of the inward run of
the carriage the stop (m²) is clear of the cam lever (j) as shown in Fig. 1, the
strap-guide-lever (m) being then held in position by the lever (p) and its con-
nections. (n) is a lever mounted upon the shaft (k) and provided at its upper part
with a hook or projection (n²). When the upper part of the lever (n) is turned in
the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow (A) the hook (2) acting on
the strap-lever (m) turns it also in the direction opposite to that indicated by the
arrow (A). The lever (n) is connected to one end of a rod (o) with which is
employed a spring (o') tending to force such rod (o) in the direction indicated by

page_text: the arrow (B). At its other end the rod (o) is connected to a bent lever (p)
mounted so as to be capable of being turned upon a stud (p') mounted in a
bracket (p2) secured to the floor. A bracket (y) secured to the square (a¹) carries
an adjustable shoe (y) capable at times of acting on the bent part of the
lever (p).
Upon the square (a¹) of the carriage (a) is mounted in suitable bearings (³),
(see Fig. 4), the tin-roller-shaft (g) to which are secured the tin-rollers by means
of which motion is communicated to the spindles of the machine. (r) is the friction
clutch which I mount upon the tin-roller-shaft (q). The friction clutch (r) is
formed in two parts (¹) (²). To the part (¹) of the friction clutch (r) I connect
the tin-roller-pulley (³) which receives motion from the rim-band (s) passing
around the rim (g) and tin-roller-pulley (7) and also around carrier pulleys (s') in
the usual manner. The part (r) of the friction clutch (r) turns loosely upon the
tin-roller-shaft (9). The other part (2) of the friction clutch (7) is also mounted
on the tin-roller-shaft (g) and by means of the well-known disc device (r)
mounted fast upon the tin-roller-shaft (q) is made capable of imparting motion to
the tin-roller-shaft (g) and free to slide endwise thereon so as to be capable of
being engaged with and disengaged from the other part (¹) of the friction
clutch (r). The part (¹) of the friction clutch (r) being supported in the tin-
roller-pedestal (6) supported by the square (a¹) serves as a bearing for the
tin-roller-shaft (9) and prevents its motion endwise in one direction. The disc (**)
also serves to prevent the part (r) of the friction clutch (r) from moving endwise
upon the tin-roller-shaft (9) when the part (2) of such friction clutch (r) is
disengaged from the part (1) thereof. The boss of the part (2) of the friction
clutch (r) is formed with a groove ("") to receive dies (27) mounted in the forked
arm of a lever (u). The lever (u) is mounted upon a stud (u') supported in a
bracket (2) mounted on the square (a'). A spiral spring (20) surrounding the
tin-roller-shaft (g) and bearing at one end against the boss of the part (2) of the
friction clutch (r) and at the other end against the " backing off click-wheel" (v)
mounted fast upon the tin-roller-shaft (g) tends to press the part (3) of the friction
clutch (r) into engagement with the part (1) thereof and so tends to turn the
lower end of the lever (u) in the direction indicated by the arrow (D). Upon
the upper end of the lever (u) and adjustable thereon is secured a bracket or
part (3) in which is mounted a stud (u'). Upon the stud (u') and capable of being
oscillated thereon is mounted an arm (u) carrying an antifriction bowl (u). A
coiled spring (u) secured at one end to the stud (u') and at the other end to a
stud (u) secured in the arm (u') tends to turn the said arm (u) in the direction
indicated by the arrow (E) so as to keep it against the stop (u) formed on the
bracket (u), (see Fig. 9). The arm (4) when in the position in which it is
indicated in the accompanying drawings is thus capable of being turned upon the
stud (u') through a certain distance in the direction opposite to that indicated by
the arrow (E) but is incapable of turning thereon in the direction indicated by the
arrow (E) so that if while the said arm (u) is bearing against the stop (u)
pressure be exerted upon the bowl (u) which if not prevented by the stop (u³)
would turn the said arın (**) in the direction indicated by the arrow (E)
the effect of such pressure will be to turn the upper part of the lever (u)
upon the stud (u¹) in the direction indicated by the arrow (D) and move the
part (2) of the friction clutch (r) out of engagement with the part (r) thereof.
The lever (u) is provided with a projecting stud or catch piece (u10). (¹) is a
lever mounted upon a stud (v²) secured in a bracket (*) mounted upon the
square (a). The lever (vl) is provided with a hook or catch part (v'), which when
the lower part of the lever is moved (as will be hereinafter described) in the
direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow (D) will hook upon or become
engaged with the stud or catch piece (u) so as to prevent the lower part of the
lever (u) from being moved in the direction indicated by the arrow (D) until the
lever () is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow (F) by means of a
chain () which is connected at one end to such lever (v) and passing over a

page_text: guide pulley (8) is connected at its other end to the lever (w) which forms a part
of the backing off and locking motion of the mule, the ordinary functions of
which will be well understood by persons conversant with self-acting mules..
(a) is a bracket formed with inclined surfaces (a) (2) and secured in a suitable
position to the framework (c) of the head-stock of the self-acting mule. The
inclined surfaces (1) (2) of the bracket (a) are respectively employed to operate
upon the bowl (5) both in the outward and inward run of the carriage (a) of the
self-acting mule in the manner which will be hereinafter described.
"
The mode of operation is as follows:-
:-
"-
When the carriage (a) is making its outward run the two parts (¹) (²) of the
friction clutch (r) are engaged and the tin-roller-pulley (*) receiving motion
from the rim band (s) imparts motion to the tin-roller-shaft (9), tin-rollers and
spindles. When the carriage (a) has very nearly approached the end of its.
outward run the shoe (y) will act upon the lever (p) so as to move the rod (o) in.
the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow (B) and turn the upper
part of the lever (n) in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow (A).
and so move the driving belt (C) from the fast pulley (e) entirely on to the loose
pulley (f) and allow the remainder of the outward run of the carriage to be
accomplished by the acquired momentum of the parts. When or just before the
carriage (a) has completed its outward run, the cam-shaft (h) will make a
change" in which the cam (2) will be turned and move the cam-lever (j) into
the position shown in Fig. 1. At this time the position of the strap-lever (m) is.
not governed by the position of the cam lever (j) but by the rod (o). When.
no longer governed by the rod (o) the influence of the spring (j') will pull the
strap-guider-lever (m) until the stop (m¹) comes against the lever () when the-
belt (C) will have been moved to the required extent on to the fast pulley (e).
As already indicated the shoe (y') bearing upon the lever (p) will keep the
strap (C) entirely on the loose pulley (f) during the time the cam-shaft. (h)
makes the said change and while the "backing off" is being effected, and until
the carriage (a) has made a certain part of its inward run. The "winding on
of the yarn is effected in the ordinary manner by means of the usual quadrant,
winding chain and other mechanism employed therewith. When the carriage (a).
has made a certain portion of its inward run and while the shoe (y') still holds
the lever (p) in the position in which it is indicated in Fig. 1, and so keeps the
driving strap (C) entirely off the fast pulley (e), the bowl (us) will be brought
against the incline (a) and by the further inward movement of the carriage (a).
the upper part of the lever (u) will be moved in the direction indicated by the
arrow (D) so that the part (2) of the friction clutch (r) will be disengaged from
the part () thereof. When the lower part of the lever (u) is moved in the
direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow (D) to disengage the part (2)
of the friction clutch (r) from the part (1) thereof the hook or catch part (v*)
upon the lever (¹) will become engaged with the stud or catch part (10) upon
the lever (u) so as to keep the part (%) of the friction clutch (r) disengaged
from the part (1) thereof. After the part (2) of the friction clutch (r) has been.
disengaged from the part (r') thereof as already explained the further movemen
of the carriage withdraws the shoe (y) gradually from the lever (p) which allows
the spring () to move the lever (m) in the direction indicated by the arrow (A)
until the stop (m²) on such lever (m) arrives against the lever (1). This movement
of the strap lever (m) will move the belt (C) to the required extent on to the
fast pulley (e) when motion will be communicated to the rim-shaft (d), rim (g),.
rim-band (s), and tin-roller-pulley (3) so that when the cam-shaft (7) makes its
change at the termination of the inward run of the carriage (a) the rim-shaft (d),.
rim (g), rim-band (s) and tin-roller-pulley (3) will be in rotation and ready to
impart motion to the tin-rollers and spindles immediately the hook or catch
part () is disengaged from the stud or catch-piece (1). Just before the
termination of the inward run of the carriage (a) the "unlocking of the faller "
will cause the lever (w) to be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow (G),

page_text: and by means of the chain (v) turn the lever (v¹) in the direction indicated
by the arrow (F) when the hook or catch-part (¹) will be disengaged from the
stud or catch-piece (u10), when the spring (2) will be free to force the part (2) of
the friction clutch (r) into engagement with the part (1) thereof so as to cause
motion to be imparted by the friction-clutch (r) to the tin-roller-shaft (g). Before
the termination of the outward run of the carriage (a) the bowl (u³) will arrive
against the incline (¹) and the arm (u') will be turned on the stud (u') in the
direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow (E) so that the action of the
incline () upon the bowl (u') does not cause any movement of the lever (u).
When the bowl (u) arrives at the incline (2) the spring (46) will again bring
the arm (¹) to its normal position against the stop (u). By means of the
arrangements above described the tin-rollers and spindles are started without
the driving belt (C) having first to overcome the inertia of the rim-shaft (d),
rim (g), rim-band (s), tin-roller-pulley (³) and the rim-band-carrier-pulleys (¹).
My invention thus enables the change from the inward run of the carriage (a)
to the outward run thereof to be made more quickly, with less waste of power
and with less wear and tear of the driving belt than in self-acting mules in
which the "vis-inertice" of the parts has to be overcome whilst the driving belt
is being traversed from the loose pulley to the fast pulley of the rim-shaft.
I do not confine myself to the arrangements shown and described as the same
may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention and its application
to self-acting twiners will be apparent to persons conversant with such machines
from the foregoing description of its application to self-acting mules.
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. In self-acting mules and twiners causing the rim-shaft-driving-belt to be
moved, during the inward run of the carriage sufficiently from the loose pulley
on to the fast pulley for the purpose of enabling the rim-shaft, rim, rim-band,
rim-band-carrier-pulleys, and tin-roller-pulley to attain their full speed during the
inward run of the carriage.
2. The combination and arrangement of parts forming my improved driving
arrangements for the purposes and substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in and by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twenty-sixth day of May 1894.
HOWARD
CHEETHAM,
Manchester, Agent to the Applicant.