IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Seed, of Preston, in the County of
Lancaster, Cotton Spinner, for the Invention of “IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING COTTON AND OTHER
FIBROUS SUBSTANCES.”
Sealed the 14th November 1871, and dated the 3rd June 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Seed at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd June 1871.
I, WILLIAM SEED, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton
Spinner, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING COTTON.
AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
-
This Invention relates to self-acting and hand mules for spinning
and doubling cotton or other fibrous substances, and consists in the
application to self-acting mules of a break or breaks to the ordinary

page_text: driving or other shaft, which is mounted on the carriage for the purpose
of stopping the spindles in less time in such mules as require the
spindles to be stopped before the carriage completes its. draw or stretch,
and to diminish the wear on the bands driving such shaft. The break is
brought into action by the motion of the carriage sliding a loose or
jointed lever (connected with a strap or other brake) over the surface.
of a bracket fixed to the floor or other convenient part of the framing at
a suitable distance from the completion of the draw or stretch for
stopping the spindles. In the case of the mule having two sides one
or more breaks are applied according to the number of spindles.
<<
I also propose to apply to self-acting mules a self-regulating additional
winding-on" motion to compensate for the difference in the diameter
of the spindle from the beginning to the finish of the cop formed on
such spindle, thereby making a more uniformly firm cop. In per-
forming the same I apply a variable or fixed incline, which is moved
backwards and forwards by the movement of the carriage at each draw
or stretch. Against this variable or fixed incline bears a lever or slide
bar carried by the fixed framing with a bowl attached, which presses
against the "winding-on" chain near the "winding-on" block attached
to the fixed framing, causing the same to give more revolutions to the
spindles at the last quarter of the chase of the cop. The variation in
the incline is effected by the elevation of a straight or curved lever by
means of a travelling nut and screw, to which latter the requisite motion
is given by a ratchet wheel moved by the to-and-fro motion of the
carriage. The same may be performed by a bent lever carried by the
fixed framing being pulled by the carriage against the "winding-on"
chain at the end of the chase of the cop, the bent lever being in con-
nection with a rod or chain, the other end of which is moved by a screw
projecting from the coupling of the carriage. This said screw is adjusted
by a ratchet wheel receiving motion from the backward and forward
motion of the carriage, and this adjustment of the screw causes the bent
lever to describe a greater or less radius in proportion to the length of
the screw projecting from the carriage coupling.
When the "winding-on" block is mounted on the coupling of the
carriage in lieu of upon the fixed frame, as previously described, then
the lever or slide bar. must also be attached to the coupling near to the
winding-on "block, and the incline when made variable by means of
"

page_text: the nut and screw will be fixed to the floor or convenient part of the
framing. When the said incline is not made variable it will be caused
to slide to and fro on the floor by a self-acting regulating screw attached
to the coupling of the carriage.
I further propose, with reference to the front top rollers of either
self-acting or hand mules, to dispense with the usual central weight
hook and to employ a single plain roller of uniform diameter extending
between the pivots or bearings. On to these two pivots I hook the two
arms of a forked weight hook, the weight being hung in the middle.
By this arrangement I obviate the great objection of the liability of the
thread or sliver to accidentally enter the central groove or recessed
portion carrying the ordinary weight hook. Moreover, as there is a
larger surface provided for the thread or sliver to traverse over the said
roller is less liable to be cut or worn.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
•
filed by the said William Seed in the Great Seal Patent Offico
on the 2nd December 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
SEED, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, Ootton Spinner, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Seed, Her special license that
I, tho said William Seed, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said William Seed, my executors, adminis-
trators, or 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 MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUB-
STANCES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William

page_text: Seed, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 i
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Seed, 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 Drawing
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :—
My said Invention relates to self-acting and hand mules for spinning
and doubling cotton or other fibrous substances, and consists in the
application to such self-acting mules as require the spindles to be stopped
before the carriage completes its draw or stretch of a break or breaks:
to the ordinary drum or other shaft mounted on the carriage for the
purpose of stopping the spindles in less time and to diminish the wear
on the bands driving such shaft. The break is brought into action by
the motion of the carriage sliding a loose or jointed lever (connected
with a strap or other brake) over the surface of a bracket fixed to the
floor or to any convenient part of the framing at a suitable distance
from the completion of the draw or stretch for stopping the spindles,
In the case of a mule having two sides one or more breaks are applied
according to the number of spindles.
G
I also propose to apply to self-acting mules a self-regulating additional
winding-on" motion by acting upon or against the winding-on chain
so as to deflect the same at a point in as close proximity as practicable
to the "winding-on block," whether such block be carried by the fixed
framing or by the carriage of the mule, the object being to accomplish
in a more steady and smooth manner the compensation for the difference
in the diameter of the spindle from the beginning to the finish of the
cop formed on such spindle, thereby making a more uniformly firm cop.
According to one mode of effecting this I apply a variable or per-
manent incline (by preference a variable incline) which is moved
backwards and forwards by the movement of the carriage at each draw
or stretch. Against or upon this variable or permanent incline bears
a lever or slide bar carried by the fixed framing with a bowl attached

page_text: "
which presses against the "winding-on" chain at a point near to the
"winding-on" block attached to the fixed framing, thereby causing the
same to give more revolutions to the spindles at the last quarter of .
the chase of the cop. The variation in the said variable incline is
effected by means of a travelling nut and screw, to which latter the
requisite motion is given by a ratchet wheel moved by the to-and-fro
motion of the carriage, whilst the nut acts upon the under surface of the
said incline, and thereby elevates it gradually as the formation of the
cop upon the diminishing diameter of the spindle proceeds.
According to another mode of carrying out this part of my In-
vention I emply a bent lever carried by the fixed framing and pulled
by the carriage against the "winding-on chain" when the small part
of the cop is being wound upon the spindle. This bent lever is in
connection either directly or through the intervention of a travelling
nut and screw with a rod or chain, the other end of which is moved
either by a fixed or by an adjustable projection on the coupling of the
carriage, the said projection when adjustable being moved at each stretch
by a screw spindle and ratchet motion, which adjustment by the screw
spindle causes the bent lever to describe a gradually increasing are as the
travelling nut or adjustable projection moves along the screw spindle.
When the "winding-on" block is mounted on the coupling of the
carriage in lieu of upon the fixed frame, as previously described, then
the lever or slide bar must also be attached to the coupling near to the
* winding-on” block, and the incline, whether made variable by means
of the nut and screw or made permanent and sliding on a bed, will be
fixed to the floor or convenient part of the fixed framing. The screw
and ratchet motion in both cases being actuated by an incline fixed
to the carriage coupling.
I further propose, with reference to the front top rollers of cither
self-acting or hand mulos to dispense with the usual central weight
hook, and to employ a single plain roller of uniform diameter between
the pivots or bearings.
According to one mode of carrying out this part of my Invention I
hook the two arms of a forked weight hook on to the pivots of the
roller, the weight being hung in the middle below. By this arrange-
ment I obviate the great objection of the liability. of the thread or
sliver to accidentally enter the central groove or recessed portion carrying

page_text: the ordinary or central weight hook. Moreover, as there is a larger
surface provided for the thread or sliver to traverse over the said roller
is less liable to be cut or worn.
purpose
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
corresponding Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents in side elevation so much of the
mechanism of an ordinary self-acting mule carriage as is requisite to
illustrate that part of my Invention which has reference to the appli-
cation of a break or breaks to the drum or other shaft mounted in
the carriage of that class of mule wherein the spindles require to be
stopped before the carriage completes its draw or outward stretch, the
object being to stop the spindles more quickly than has heretofore been:
found practicable. Figure 2 is a corresponding front elevation of the
same parts, and Figure 3 is a side elevation and plan of the bracket
which is fixed to the floor and which causes the break or breaks to be
brought into action at the proper time.
In Figures 1 and 2 A represents a break pulley keyed on to the
ordinary drum or supplementary shaft B of the mule carriage and
having passed round it the break strap C. One end of this strap is fixed
to a bracket a secured to the back D of the mule carriage, whilst the
other end of the said strap is jointed to a rod E by a pin b, the said
rod being screwed and made adjustable in length by means of the
slotted adjusting nut F. This rod and nut are connected by a pin
or stud c with the lever arm G, which hangs suspended from the
bracket a on the back of the mule carriage by the fulcrum pin d. H is
a stationary bracket fixed in a convenient situation upon the floor, so as
to allow the lower end of the lever arm G to come in contact therewith
and be moved on its fulcrum d when the mule carriage is running out,
thereby tightening the break strap C round the break pulley A and
arresting the motion of the driving shaft B and spindles just before the
carriage has run out to the full extent of its stretch. As the carriage
returns or is run in again in order to "wind-on," the lever G is per-
mitted to ride over the bracket H without affecting the break strap by
reason of the slot in the adjustable nut F, the break strap being held

page_text: out of action or contact with the pulley A by means of the helical
spring I at all times, excepting when the lever G strikes against the
bracket H during the advance or outward stretch of the carriage.
In order to facilitate the accurate adjustment of the bracket II so as
to regulate the period at which the lever G should first come in contact
with it the screw which secures it to the floor is passed through a slot e
in the base of the said bracket.
Figure 4 represents a side elevation and Figure 5 a corresponding
front elevation of so much of a self-acting mule as will illustrate the
application thereto of my improved self-regulating additional "winding-
on "motion for compensating for the difference in the diameter of the
spindle from the beginning to the finish of the cop formed on such
spindle.
Figures 6 and 7 are enlarged details of parts of this apparatus. This
modification is applicable only where the "winding-on" block A is
attached to the main framing B or stationary part of the machine. C is
a bent lover which turns freely on a stud or pin a in a bracket D which
is firmly attached to the framing B. This lever carries two antifriction
bowls b and c, the bowl b is elevated and caused to press against the
ordinary "winding-on” chain E, at a point as near as practicable to the
winding-on block A. by the action on the bowl c of the variable incline
F, as heroin-after more fully explained, the incline F is hinged at d to a
longitudinal sliding bed G, which is carried in the stationary guide or
support H fixed to the floor, and is connected to one end of a rod I, the
other end of which rod carries a projection e which is acted upon by a
corresponding projection fattached to the carriage coupling. The
length of the rod I is such as to allow the projection f to come. in
contact with the projection e on the rod at the time that the yarn is
being wound on the small part or quarter of the chase of the cop. K is
a fixed guide or bearing for the end of the rod I to slide in. L is a
screw spindle carried in the bed G and working into the travelling
nut M upon which rests the incline F, as shewn clearly in the enlarged
detail Figure 6. This screw spindle is rotated intermittently as herein-
after explained by means of a lever g working loose on the end of the
screw spindle and carrying a pall which engages into the teeth of a
ratchet wheel i fast on the end of the screw spindle to be rotated (seo
Figure 6). To the stationary. guide or support H there is fixed an
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page_text: incline N (shown in detail at Figure 7), and this incline acts upon the
tail of the lever g, and causes it to turn the ratchet wheel i one or more
teeth according to the fineness of the yarn, and with it the screw
spindle L, each time the rod I is moved longitudinally by the action of
the projection f on the carriage striking the projection e on the end of
the rod. By this means the nut M is caused gradually to advance and
increase the angle of the incline F as the cop is formed on the
diminishing diameter of the spindle. The longitudinal movement which
is imparted to the rod I at each inward movement of the carriage
causes the incline F to be drawn under the bowl c, thereby lifting the
bowl 6 against the winding-on chain E, and by deflecting the same
more and more at each inward movement of the carriage owing to
the gradual increase of the incline causes the "winding on" block to
give more revolutions to the spindles at the finish of the cop. The
rod I with its sliding bed G and incline F is moved back again so as to 1
bring the lowest part of the incline under the bowl c in readiness for the
next inward movement of the carriage, either by a spring or by a pin or
tappet P on the rod I, which is struck by the projection f, or by a special
projection for that purpose on the carriage coupling.
Figure 8 represents the substitution of a permanent incline F for a 2
variable one, which permanent incline is advanced or caused to travel
step by step by means of the screw spindle L worked by a ratchet and
pall motion similar to that described in reference to Figures 4 and 5,
the incline by the action of the screw spindle being brought further
under the antifriction bowl c of the lever C as the cop is formed on 2
the diminishing portion of the spindle at each inward movement of
the carriage by the action of the rod I, as described with reference to
Figures 4 and 5.
Figure 9 shews the application of a bent lever C carrying the anti-
friction bowl b and having its lower limb connected by a link O direct 3
to the travelling nut M, which is moved forward by the screw spindle L
and ratchet and pall arrangement, as before described, the gradual
advance of the nut M causing the bowl 6 to rise and produce the same
result as the permanent but travelling incline in Figure 8.
Figure 10 shews the application of the adjusting screw spindle L3
to the carriage coupling in lieu of to the sliding bed G, the said screw
spindle being rotated by a ratchet and pall motion which is actuated by

page_text: the to-and-fro motion of the carriage bringing the lever of the pall in
contact with an incline placed on any convenient part of the fixed
framing. As the screw spindle revolves it moves forward the slide Q
attached to the carriage coupling, and this slide carries the projection f,
which acts upon the projection e and moves the rod I. When using
this arrangement the incline F may be fixed to the sliding bed G, as
shown in Figure 10, or if the link O (Figure 9) be employed it may be
connected to the sliding bed itself or to the rod I in lieu of to the
travelling nut M.
Figure 11 shows the substitution of a long bent lever I centred at a
in lieu of the sliding rod and fixed or variable incline before described.
In this arrangement the adjustable slide Q on the carriage coupling
carries a bowl c which is gradually moved further up the incline F
formed on the inner end of the lever I by the rotation of the screw
spindle L worked by a ratchet and pall, as described in reference to
Figure 10. The opposite end of the long lever I carries the bowl b
which bears or presses against the winding-on chain Eat a point in as
close proximity as practicable to the winding-on block A, as previously
described.
In Figure 12 I have represented the winding-on block A mounted
upon the coupling of the carriage in lieu of upon the fixed framing.
In this case the bent lever O which is centred at a carries an antifriction
bowl cat the elbow, and another antifriction bowl b at its extremity, the
latter when the lever is elevated being caused to press against the
"winding-on" chain E at a point as near as practicable to the winding-
on block A. The elevation of this lever at each inward motion of the
carriage is effected by the variable incline F which is fixed to a con-
venient part of the floor, and has its inclination varied by the action
of the travelling nut M worked by the screw spindle L and ratchet and
pall motion, the said pall being worked by an incline N fixed to the
carriage coupling.
Or in lieu of the variable incline a permanent incline F (Figure 13)
may be employed, such incline being gradually advanced by the rotation
of the screw spindle L, as previously explained. It is obvious that
in lieu of using bent levers O, as shewn in Figures 4 and 12, for carrying
the antifriction bowls b and c, the said bowls might be carried on
vertical slides.

page_text: C
Figure 14 represents a front and side elevation of one of my improved
front top rollers of a self-acting or hand mule with my improved weight
hook applied thereto. A is the roller of uniform diameter from end
to end, and a, a, are the two pivots or journals on to which latter are
hooked the two limbs B, B, of my forked or double weight hook, the t
weight being hung underneath the middle of the roller A on the
hook C.
Figure 15 represents a slightly modified arrangement, the plain roller
being mounted loosely upon a stud or pin a fixed into a bent arm or
single bent weight hook B, which is provided with a central hook C 1
below for carrying the weight, the weight hook being thus situate at
one side or end of the roller whilst the weight is so placed as to exert
an uniform pressure from end to end of the roller, as in Figure 14.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be 1
used or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The application and use to and in self-acting mules of the
description before mentioned of a break or breaks to the ordinary driving 2
or supplementary shaft mounted on the carriage, substantially as and
for the purposes herein-before described.
"
Second. The application and use to and in self-acting mules of a
self-acting regulating additional "winding-on" motion wherein the
winding-on" chain is deflected at a point as near as practicable to the 2
winding-on block, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before
described and illustrated by my Drawings.
Third. The imparting a differential motion to the deflecting roller or
surface which bears against the winding-on chain by means of a screw
spindle in combination with a moveable or permanent incline, or with 3
a bent lever, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-
before described and illustrated by my Drawings.
Fourth. The mode of dispensing with the central weight hook and
with the central groove or recessed portion of the front top rollers of
self-acting and hand mules by combining a plain roller of uniform a
diameter from end to end with a bent or forked weight hook situate at

page_text: one or both ends of the roller, and having the weight so placed as to
exert a uniform pressure from end to end of the roller, substantially as
and for the purpose herein-before described and illustrated by Figures 14
and 15 of my Drawings.
•
In witness whereof, I, the said William Seed, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, the Twenty-ninth day of
November One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
WILLIAM SEED. (L.S.)