Improvements in Self-acting Mules.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 16th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 24th Sept.. 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self-acting Mules.
We, ROBERT ECKERSLEY of No. 92 Longford Street, Mule Overlooker,
Warrington, in the County of Lancaster, and SAMUEL RIGBY ARMITAGE, of
Groombridge House Altrincham, in the County of Chester, Manufacturer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has for its object the prevention of the injurious oscillation which
takes place in the carriages of mules used for spinning fibrous material, on the
completion of their outward travel, and which is due partially to rebound from the
fixed stops and partially to torsion in the driving shaft and other causes: the effect
of such oscillations being to produce "snarls," "breaks" and other imperfections in
the yarn.
A bracket with sole plate firmly secured to the floor on which the mule is fixed,
has hinged to it a short lever projecting approximately vertically from it. At its
upper end this lever is formed with an inclined plane and tooth-preferably of steel.
The bracket is placed with its length at right angles to the length of the mule
and the centre line of the hinge pin of the lever is parallel with the mule, and its
position is such that the said tooth of the lever corresponds with that of a catch
arm attached to the frame of the mule carriage and hereinafter to be described,
when the carriage is in its extreme outward position. The before-mentioned lever
has a slot formed in it parallel with its length and which may be in such a position
that its prolongation would not pass through the centre of the hinge-pin but a
short distance to one side thereof. The fork of a rod, hereinafter called the spring
rod, embraces the lever, and a pin passes through the fork and slot in the lever,
being free to traverse the slot longitudinally. The pin may be provided with a
sliding block working in the slot or with an antifriction roller. The other end of
the spring rod which is preferably in an inclined position to the slot in the lever
passes through a hole in a boss or projection of the sole plate bracket, and a
powerful spiral spring is threaded on the spring rod abutting at one end against
the said boss, and at the other against the back of the fork or preferably against an
adjustable nut or collar on the spring rod. The end of the spring rod projecting
beyond the boss is provided with an adjustable collar or nut, between which and
the face of the boss a suitable buffer is placed.
In one form of our invention we apply an additional stop or abutment for the
motion of the slot lever by forming a second boss or projection upon the sole plate
bracket behind the lever and inserting an adjustable stud therein formed with a
head against which the lever rests and by means of which its position of rest can
be adjusted with nicety.
Upon the outside of the mule carriage in a position exactly corresponding with
the before-described slot lever a bracket is securely fixed, and hinged to this we
mount a powerful hook or catch free to swing in a vertical plane, its outer end
beyond the tooth or hook being tapered or curved in the form of a latch. This
catch arm is prevented from dropping below a certain desired level by reason of
resting upon an abutment which may conveniently be in the form of an adjustable
stud.
The said desired level is that which will allow the inclined planes of the
catch arm, and of the top of the slot lever, to run upon one another so as to lift the
former when by the travel of the mule carriage they come into contact.
The position of the latter is so adjusted that the point or tooth of the catch arm
just falls into gear with the point of the slot lever exactly at the completion of the
outward travel of the mule carriage.

page_text: Upon the "faller" shaft of the mule carriage we rigidly attach a lever or arm
which may conveniently be in the form known as a syckle or involute, and which
operates a chain hanging therefrom over the side of the mule carriage and whose
other end is secured to the before-mentioned catch arm. The length of the chain
and of the chain lever or syckle, are such that there shall be "slack" in the chain
when these parts are in their lowest position, but that the lift of the chain shall be
sufficient to take up this slack and in addition to lift the catch arm and its hook
fully clear of the top of the slot lever in order to release the mule carriage for its
return travel.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
During the outward travel of the mule carriage the "faller" shaft is in a
position giving a slack chain and allowing the catch arm to rest on its abutment.
As the travel approaches completion the arm is lifted by the inclined plane on the
slot lever, and it falls into gear just as the mule carriage is brought to rest by the
usual fixed stops. The spring on the spring rod being so strong as to hold the slot
lever practically rigid it is impossible for the carriage to rebound or oscillate.
The tendency to oscillate disappears almost instantaneously; and the catch arm is
now lifted out of gear by means of the ordinary partial revolution of the "faller "
shaft which raises the catch arm through the medium of the chain syckle or lever
and the chain. The inward travel of the carriage is then performed in the ordinary
way, and when at rest in the inward position the partial revolution of the
"faller
shaft in the opposite direction allows the catch arm to descend into the position
preparatory for a second outward travel.
It may sometimes happen from various causes that the action of the "faller"
shaft may fail itself or it may fail to operate the catch arm to release the carriage
for its return, and in this case serious damage would ensue if the connection
between the catch arm and the sole plate bracket were a rigid connection.
To meet this possibility the hinged slot lever with forked spring rod and spring
as herein before described are provided, and their action is as follows:-
In case the catch arm be not lifted out of gear with the point of the slot lever,
the commencing return travel of the carriage and catch arm causes the spring on
the spring rod to be compressed. In the meantime the radial movement of the slot
lever varies the angle between the slot and the spring rod, and when the normal
angle is exceeded to a sufficient extent to allow the pressure of the spring to over-
come the coefficient of friction, the pin of the fork slides along the slot towards the
line of the lever hinge pin, and thus the leverage by which the power of the spring
resists the motion of the slot lever, catch arm, and mule carriage is rapidly
reduced, and the said power may disappear entirely provided the slot, and allowed
travel of the pin, be sufficient to bring the spring rod and centre of the hinge pin
in one line.
The hole through which the other end of the spring rod works is sufficiently
large to allow of this vertical movement. The continued motion of the carriage
causing further radial motion of the slot link, the latter at length attains an angle
at which the hook of the catch arm can no longer bold and the slot link is released,
the mule carriage being therefore free to continue its travel without any further
hindrance from this apparatus. The slot lever inmediately springs back to its
former position in contact with the stop or stops hereinbefore described, the spring
rod fork and pin at the same time ascending to their former position of greatest
leverage. The before-mentioned buffer upon the outer end of the spring rod acts
to soften the blow due to the arresting of the said rapid springing back of these
parts.
It will be observed that the diminution of leverage before described acts to com-
pensate for the increased power of the spring when compressed, and so relieve the
parts of our apparatus, the mule carriage and its mechanism from undue strain.
We desire it to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to any particular
number or position of our complete invention which we may apply in the length of

page_text: a mule, but we consider that in a double mule two of the apparatus in the length
of each side is the most efficient arrangement.
Dated this 16th day of December 1801
EDGAR CONISTON MILLS,
Agent to the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self-acting Mules.
We ROBERT ECKERSLEY of No. 92, Longford Street, Mule Overlooker,
Warrington in the County of Lancaster and SAMUEL RIGBY ARMITAGE OF
Groombridge House, Altrincham, in the County of Chester, Manufacturer, 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:-
Our invention has for its object the prevention of the injurious oscillation which
take place in the carriages of mules used for spinning fibrous material, on the
completion of their outward travel, and which is due partially to rebound from the
fixed stops and partially to torsion in the driving shaft and other causes the effect
of such oscillations being to produce "snarls," "breaks" and other imperfections in
the yarn.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 Sheet 1 is a cross section through the mule carriage showing our apparatus
in side elevation.
Fig. 2. Sheet 1. is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus, the mule carriage
and its attachment not being shewn.
Fig. 3. Sheet 1. is a front view of the mule carriage shewing our apparatus in
end elevation.
Fig. 4. Sheet 2. is a similar view to Fig. 1. but shews a form of our apparatus
combined with the ordinary mule buffer or stop.
Fig. 5 Sheet 2. is a similar view to Fig. 3. of this combined form.
Similar letters of reference denote the same parts in all views.
A bracket A with sole plate a, is firmly secured by screws or otherwise to the
floor of the mule room. The lever B is hinged to the bracket by means of the
pin C and its upper end is formed with an inclined plane and tooth b. which is
preferably formed of or armed with steel. A slot is cut through this lever
parallel with its length and in such position preferably that its prolongation passes
a point to one side of the hinge pin C as shewn. The fork D of a spring rod E
embraces the lever B and a pin F passes through the fork ends and the slot b'.
This pin may be provided with a sliding block or antifriction roller working within
the slot but is in any case free to traverse the slot longitudinally. The other end
of the spring rod E passes through a hole in the boss or projection a' of the sole
plate bracket A and a powerful compression spiral spring G is threaded on the rod
abutting at one end against the boss a' and at the other against the back of the
fork D or preferably against an adjustable nut or collar e on the spring rod E.
The lower end of the spring rod projects beyond the boss a' and is provided with
an adjustable collar or nut el between which and the face of the boss a suitable
buffer e is placed. When in the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1. the
angle formed by the centre lines of the rod E and of the slot 6' is an acute angle
and is sufficiently so to ensure the immediate return of the pin F to the top of the
slot under the action of the spring G which it will be understood exercises great
expanding pressure when at rest in this position.
An additional stop or abutment for the motion of the lever B and its attached
parts is provided by the adjustable stud H having a head h and adjusting nuts .
This stud is carried by a second boss or projection a' upon the sole plate A, and

page_text: by its means the exact position of the lever B when at rest can be adjusted with
nicety.
The sole plate bracket A is placed with its length at right angles to the length
of the mule, thus the centre-line of the hinge pin C is parallel with the mule and
its position is such that the face of the tooth b corresponds with that of a catch arm
attached to the frame of the mule carriage and hereinafter to be described, when
the said carriage is in its extreme outward position.
Upon the outside of the mule carriage I in a position corresponding exactly with
the lever B a bracket Kis rigidly fixed and hinged to this by a stud! we mount a
powerful catch arm L free to swing in a vertical plane, its outer end beyond the
tooth or hook being tapered or curved as illustrated. This catch arm is prevented
from dropping below a certain desired level by resting upon an abutment which
may conveniently be in the form of the adjustable stud M. The slots k and are
provided to allow of easy adjustment of the position of the catch arm L relatively
to the mule carriage and of the abutment stud M. The said adjustment is correctly
obtained when the hook just falls into gear with the tooth exactly at the com-
pletion of the outward travel of the mule carriage.
The catch arm L may be conveniently made in two parts as illustrated, the
part of cast iron and the part of steel."
Upon the "faller" shaft N of the mule carriage we rigidly attach a lever or
arm which may be conveniently in the form illustrated and known as a syckle or
involute. To this is attached the chain P whose other end is secured to the catch
arm L. The length of the chain is such that it shall be "slack" when the arm L
rests upon the stud M and the syckle is in its lowest position. The lift of the
syckle is sufficient to take up this slack and in addition to lift the catch arm and its
hook fully clear of the top of the tooth b. of the lever B. This position is shewn
by dotted lines in Fig. 4.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
During the outward travel of the mule carriage the faller " shaft N is in a
position giving a slack chain P and allowing the catch arm L to rest on its
abutment M.
As the travel approaches completion the arm L is lifted by the inclined plane on
the top of the lever B and it falls into gear just as the mule carriage is brought
to rest by the usual fixed stops. The spring G on the spring rod E being so streng
as to hold the lever B almost rigid it is impossible for the carriage to rebound or
oscillate. The tendency to oscillate disappears almost instantaneously and the
catch arm is now lifted out of gear by means of the ordinary partial revolution of
the faller "shaft N which raises the catch arm through the medium of the chain
syckle or lever and the chain as shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The inward
66
travel of the carriage is then performed in the ordinary way, and when at rest
in the inward position the partial revolution of the "faller" shaft in the opposite
direction allows the catch arm to descend into the position preparatory for a
second outward travel.
It may sometimes happen from various causes that the action of the "faller "
shaft may fail itself or may fail to operate the catch arm to release the
carriage for its return, and in this case serious damage would ensue if the
connection between the catch arm and the sole plate bracket were a rigid
connection.
In case of such failure the action is as follows:-
If the catch arm L be not lifted out of gear with the point of the lever B
the commencing return travel of the carriage and catch arm causes the spring G
on the spring rod E to be compressed. In the meantime the radial movement of
the lever B varies the angle between the slot b and the spring rod E and when
the normal angle is exceeded to a sufficient extent to allow the pressure of the
spring to overcome the friction the pin F of the fork D slides along the slot
towards the line of the lever hinge pin C and thus the leverage by which the
power of the spring resists the motion of the slot lever, catch arm, and mule

page_text: carriage is rapidly reduced and the said power may disappear entirely provided
the slot and allowed travel of the pin, be sufficient to bring the spring rod E and
centre of the hinge pin C in one line. The position of the parts of the apparatus
when this action occurs is clearly illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.
The hole in a through which the other end of the spring rod E works is
sufficiently large to allow of this vertical movement. The continued motion of the
carriage causing further radial motion of the lever B, the latter at length attains an
angle at which the hook of the catch arm L can no longer hold and the lever B is
released, the mule carriage being therefore free to continue its travel without any
further hindrance from this apparatus. The lever B immediately springs back to
its former position in contact with the stop or stops a and H hereinbefore described.
The spring rod fork D and pin at the same time ascending to their former
position of greatest leverage. The before mentioned buffer upon the outer end
of the spring rod acts to soften the blow due to the arresting of the said rapid
springing back of these parts.
It will be observed that the diminution of leverage before described acts to com-
pensate for the increased power of the spring when compressed and so relieve the
parts of our apparatus, the mule carriage and its mechanism from undue strain.
In some cases we combine our apparatus with the usual brackets used to carry a
stop or "buffer" and in Figs. 4 & 5. Sheet 2 this is illustrated. The centre line
of the lever B and spring rod E is in this case placed to one side of the main web
of bracket A which has the extension A' formed with it to carry the usual buffer
bracket Q. The pad R on the mule carriage is shewn in contact with the buffer
and at the same moment the catch arm L falls into gear with the tooth b. The
object of this combination is to reduce the number of obstructions on the mule
room floor.
We desire it to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to any particular
number or position of our complete invention which we may apply in the length of
a mule but we consider that in a double mule two of the apparatus in the length of
each side is the most efficient arrangement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. As applied to self-acting mules the arrangement of catches or hooks L
attached to the carriage and levers B attached to the floor of the room or other
stationary object and kept normally upright by means of springs G and spring-
rods E such catches or hooks L on the completion of the "outward "travel of
the carriage being allowed to fall into gear with the levers B and before the
commencement of the "inward travel of the carriage by means of chains P
connecting them with the "faller " shaft raised out of gear with the said levers B
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
2. The method of arranging the slot in the lever B and pin F in the end of
the spring rod E whereby in case of failure of the catch or hook L to be raised
out of gear with the lever B the resistance to the return of the carriage is reduced
by the reduction of leverage and final freeing of the catch or hook L substantially
as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 19th day of August. 1892
EDGAR CONISTON MILLS,
Agent to the Applicants.