IMPROVEMENTS IN INDICATORS OR YARN COUNTERS FOR MULES, AND ACTUATED BY THE CAM SHAFT OF MULES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Fletcher, of Ashton-under-Lyne, in the
County of Lancaster, Brassfounder, and Samuel Fletcher, of New
Road, Failsworth, in the same County, Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN INDICATORS OR YARN COUNTERS FOR MULES, AND
ACTUATED BY THE CAM SHAFT OF MULES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Fletcher and
Samuel Fletcher at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 1st August 1872.
We, JOHN FLETCHER, of Ashton-under-Lyne, in the County of
Lancaster, Brassfounder, and SAMUEL FLETCHER, of New Road, Fails-
worth, in the same County, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN INDICATORS OR YARN COUNTERS FOR
MULES, AND ACTUATED BY THE CAM SHAFT OF MULES," to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to the counters which are employed in connexion
with mules, and which are fitted or applied to the cam shafts of said
mules.

page_text: In such apparatus as ordinarily constructed the indices indicate the
collective number of yards which have been wound on one or more
spindles, but there is no adjustable finger to show on a separate dial only
the number of yards wound in the cop in process of being formed. To
remedy this defect we add an additional index or finger to the counter
and we mount the said index on the same arbor as the ordinary unit
index in such a manner as that the said additional index or finger may
be readily moved back to zero without moving back the other index or
indices.
The method of connecting the said additional index with
the said arbor may be varied, as for example the motion may be imparted
to the said index through a clutch box, or the said index and arbor may
be caused to move together by frictional contact when registering the
number of yards being wound, the said frictional contact permitting the
aforesaid backward movement to take place when required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said John Fletcher and Samuel Fletcher in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 1st February 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
FLETCHER, of Ashton-under-Lyne, in the County of Lancaster, Brass-
founder, and SAMUEL FLETCHER, of New Road, Failsworth, in the same
County, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said John Fletcher and Samuel Fletcher,
Her special license that we, the said John Fletcher and Samuel
Fletcher, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as we, the said John Fletcher and Samuel Fletcher, our 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

page_text: Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
INDICATORS OR YARN COUNTERS FOR MULES, AND ACTUATED BY THE CAM SHAFT OF
MULES," upon the condition, amongst others, that we, the said John
Fletcher and Samuel Fletcher, by an instrument in writing under our
hands and 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
4
INDICATORS OR YARN COUNTERS FOR MULES, AND ACTUATED BY THE CAM SHAFT OF
MULES," upon the condition, amongst others, that we, the said John
Fletcher and Samuel Fletcher, by an instrument in writing under our
hands and 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 we, the said John Fletcher and Samuel Fletcher,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement and accompanying Drawings,
that is to say :-
Our Invention relates to the counters which are employed in con-
nexion with mules, and which are fitted or applied to the cam shafts of
mules.
In such apparatus as ordinarily constructed the indices indicate the
collective number of yards or hanks which have been wound on one or
more spindles, but there is no adjustable finger to show on a separate
dial only the number of yards or hanks wound in the cop in process of
being formed. To remedy this defect we add an additional index or
finger to the counter, and we mount the said index on the same arbor
as the ordinary unit index in such a manner as that the said additional
index or finger may be readily moved back to zero without moving back
the other index or indices.
In order that our said Invention may be fully understood we have
attached hereunto a Sheet of Drawings, made about the full size and
marked with letters of reference, corresponding letters indicating the
same parts in the various Figures.
Referring in this place to the said Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a front
view, and Fig. 2 a side view partly in section of an indicator suitable for
the purpose herein-before mentioned.
In the said Figs. a is the outer case, enclosing the gearing which forms
no part of our Invention, and may be constructed and arranged in any

page_text: 1
ordinary or suitable manner. It has not been considered to be necessary
to represent the dial as being marked with any numerals to represent
quantities, as such marking may be varied as required. Upon the
central spindle or arbor 6 is fixed the unit index c, and upon the same
arbor is mounted an additional unit index d. The index c is or may be
within the glass front e of the case and the index d without the said
front. The outer end of the arbor b is formed with a screw thread, on
which work a tightening nut f and a lock nut g. The index d is loosely
mounted on the said arbor, so that when the nuts ƒ and g are screwed
back, the said index may be freely turned on the said arbor, and be set
in any required position. The said nuts being now screwed up tight the
boss of the index d is tightly pressed against the index c, so that the
two indices revolve together.
In the example illustrated the indicator is provided with lugs h, h, bỷ
means of which it may be suspended from or mounted on the cam
shaft of a mule.
Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are views corresponding to Fig. 2, but illustrating
modifications in the arrangements in connection with the said indices.
In Fig. 3 the index c and the index d are each provided with a "boss,"
and the two bosses are formed with smooth surfaces which are pressed
together by the spiral spring i. The two indices are thus held together
by frictional contact with sufficient force to ensure unison in their indi-
cations at the same time that the index d may be moved by the hand
without moving the index c, and may therefore be set at any time when
required.
In Figs. 4 and 5, which represent the same arrangement, Fig. 4 being
in section, the bosses of the two indices are formed with teeth to act as
a clutch, and are pressed together by means of the spiral spring 9. The
boss of the index d is provided with a milled collar k. When the
index d is drawn forward on the arbor 6 by means of the said collar the
said index may be set in any required position, and on the said collar
being released the teeth on the two bosses will re-engage, and the two
indices will move in unison.
Having now fully described and indicated the nature of our said
Invention, and methods of carrying the same into practical effect, wo

page_text: would remark in conclusion that we claim, the addition to such
indicators, as herein-before mentioned, of an additional index or unit
index capable of being set without moving the other index or indices,
substantially as herein-before set forth and indicated.
:
.
In witness whereof, we, the said. John Fletcher and Samuel
Fletcher, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-
fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-three.
JOHN FLETCHER.
(L.S.)
SAMUEL FLETCHER. (L.S.)