CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING MULES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO LOOMS FOR WEAVING AND TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1864

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Rudolph Bodmer
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 26th July 1864.
1. LOUIS RUDOLPH BODMER. of 2, Thavies Inn, Holborn, in the City of
London. Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING MULES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO LOOMS FOR WEAVING AND TO OTHER PURPOSES," to be
as follows:
This Invention relates, firstly, to that part of the self-acting mule known as
the cam shaft motion, and has for its object to render the action of this
portion of the machine more certain and regular. On a separate shaft
parallel to the main shaft is placed a large spur wheel with boss turning
loosely on the shaft. Attached to the end of the boss or cast on it is a pinion
gearing into a second pinion of the same size, fixed eccentrically to a disc plate
which acts as a friction clutch box, and which runs loose on the boss of the
[Price 8d.]

page_text: first-mentioned wheel, between the wheel and pinion. This second pinion
gears into an internal disc wheel with boss, and this boss is fitted with as
many four-sided studs as there are motions to be effected. These studs
correspond with a rail or rod which can be moved or actuated by the carriage.
On the shaft are likewise keyed the eccentrics or cams, by which the several
changes in the movements are effected through levers. The action of the
above-described parts is as follows:-The first-named large wheel is set in
motion and caused to revolve constantly in the same direction by other wheels
from the main shaft. The pinion fixed or cast to the end of its boss gearing
into the second pinion at one time drives round the internal disc wheel, and
at another time it will carry round the disc of the intermediate pinion, that is
to say, when the rail is withdrawn so as to allow the stud to pass, the internal
wheel will revolve until the next stud comes in contact, whereupon the disc of
the friction clutch will begin to revolve. Instead of the two pinions with
internal wheel, the connection can be established by means of three bevil
wheels similar to the differential motion of the roving frame.
This Invention relates, secondly, to the carriage drawing-in motion, which
ought to begin and end gently and smoothly, and to be rapid between the
beginning and the end. This object is attained by a combination of eccentric
spur wheels, which are disposed as follows:-On the shaft of the drawing-in
movement is placed a spur wheel adjustable on a plate, and capable of
being brought more or less out of centre. This wheel gears into a second
wheel, which is kept in contact and position with the first by means
of connecting levers which connect the centres of the two wheels. This
second wheel likewise gears into a third wheel fixed on a shaft, and is con-
nected with it in a similar manner. There is therefore an eccentric driving
wheel and a concentric wheel on the second shaft driven by the former through
the carrier wheel, which latter is suspended and supported by the levers
connecting the three wheels. From this arrangement of wheels it follows
that when that portion of the driving wheel nearest its axle is in contact it
will represent and act as a smail crank, and when that portion furthest from
the axle is in contact it will represent and act as a large crank. The motion
obtained from this combination is applicable to a variety of purposes, as, for
instance, to the moving of the batten in looms for weaving.
This Invention relates, thirdly, to the cylinder movement, which is effected
from the carriage drawing-out motion through a series of spur wheels, the
last of which, mounted on the cylinder shaft, carries a ratchet wheel pall.
When the carriage goes out the pall will turn round the ratchet wheel, and
with it the cylinder. When the carriage goes in the pall will be out of action,

page_text: and the cylinder remain stationary. The pall can be so arranged that in the
running out of the carriage it will take into the ratchet wheel and carry round
the cylinder, either sooner or later. The thread can therefore be stretched at
pleasure, and the formation of twirls thereby prevented. In addition to this
advantage the cylinder; clutches, levers, and eccentrics are dispensed with.
This Invention relates. fourthly, to the winding-on motion. In place of
the usual single quadrant, a double quadrant, or a large one and a small one
are used, the object being partly to ensure a winding-on in accordance with
the shape of the cop, and partly to render the action of the regulator, which
with the single quadrant is irregular, into a regular one. The large quadrant
is put in action in the usual manner, and its front arm is also provided with a
screw, which, however, does not project beyond the teeth of the quadrant.
The screw raises and lowers a slide with roller, which latter slides in a nearly
vertical slot of a horizontally inclined bar, which again is moveable, and carries
a roller sliding in a slot in the front arm of the small quadrant. The small
quadrant with its internal wheel segment gears into a pinion, on the shaft of
which a drum is secured, which winds on and unwinds the chain. The action
is as follows: When the roller driven by the screw of the large quadrant is
at the bottom it will describe during the winding-in of the carriage an arc
equal to a quarter of a circle, whereby the inclined bar and through it the
small quadrant are slightly moved forward; the higher the roller rises the
more will the inclined bar and small quadrant be moved forward, and the
more chain will be unwound from the drum. The small quadrant returns
after each run to its former position, moves with each run a little more
forward if the action of the large quadrant screw is regular, but the increase
of the forward motion becomes less with each succeeding run.
This Invention consists, lastly, in actuating the whole of the movements
from one single driving pulley on the main shaft. This driving pulley is loose
on the main shaft, and carries on a long bush, firstly, the spur wheel which
actuates the cam shaft motion; secondly, loose upon the bush a friction
pulley or clutch box with spur wheel; and, thirdly, a second friction pulley
with clutch box facing the opposite way. This latter is carried round by the
bush, but moves freely backward and forward when the clutch is to be brought
into and out of contact. This double friction clutch box when brought into
gear on the right actuates the back winding and carriage drawing-in motion,
and when put into gear to the left it actuates and drives the main shaft itself,
the carriage going-out notion, the twist, and cylinder.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
1
by the said Louis Rudolph Bodmer in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 26th January 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LOUIS
RUDOLPH BODMER, of 2, Thavies Inn, Holborn, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Louis Rudolph Bodmer, Her special licence that I. the said Louis
Rudolph Bodmer, my executors, administrators, and assigns. or such others
as I, the said Louis Rudolph Bodmer, 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 night make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING MULES, PARTS OF WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO LOOMS FOR WEAVING AND TO OTHER
PURPOSES," (a communication from abroad by John Hegnauer, of Uster, in
the Republic of Switzerland.) upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Louis Rudolph Bodmer, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their 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 I, the said Louis Rudolph Bodmer, do hereby,
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
Although very considerable improvements have of late been made in the
construction of the self-acting mule, many of its functions are still defective.
The cam shaft motion, for instance, is still uncertain, and the slightest impedi-
ments, such as the wear of certain parts, or the stoppage of the machine,
render its action uncertain. The drawing-in. of the carriage, for which a
variety of means have been resorted to, is still accomplished by the scroll as
the most effectual mode, although this contrivance permits neither of a rapid

page_text: run, nor of a gradual and gentle starting and stoppage, both of which are so
desirable. The winding-on by means of the quadrant is again an imperfect.
motion. at variance, with the shape of the bobbins, and it can only be
accomplished with the assistance of the regulator. The application of the
regulator to the quadrant screw offers. however. considerable difficulties,
inasmuch as the motion of the screw is most irregular.
The said Invention relates, firstly, to improvements in the cam shaft motion
whereby the action of this portion of the machine is rendered certain and
regular.
Secondly, it relates to improvements to the carriage drawing-in motion, by
which improvements the motion is rendered more rapid, but gradual and
gentle at the beginning and at the end.
Thirdly, it relates to improved arrangements for actuating the cylinders or
rollers from the carriage drawing-in motion, when by a separate disengaging
apparatus for these parts becomes unnecessary: The moment for starting the
drawing rollers can by this arrangement be regulated at pleasure, and if
desired it can be delayed till after the carriage has begun to run out.
Fourthly, it relates to improved arrangements for winding-on. A double
quadrant, occupying less space than the usual single quadrant, effects the
unwinding of the chain in a manner corresponding exactly with the shape of
the bobbin, and the motion of the quadrant screw being perfectly uniform the
regulator for this motion is extremely simple.
Lastly, it relates to improved arrangements by means of which all the parts
of the machine for effecting the various motions or movements are actuated
from one single driving pulley on the main shaft.
In order that the said Invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will now proceed to describe the same, reference being
had to the annexed Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon.
In Fig. 1, is the main or driving shaft, supported in the bearings b. and
having at the front end the worm c, and at the other end the twist pulley d
keyed to it; e is the loose pulley; 7, the driving pulley, which latter is keyed
to the bush g. The friction pulley is cast in one piece with the clutch
box . The internal friction pulley turns loose upon the bush g, and it
carries on the end of its boss the pinion m, gearing into spur wheel n. The
wheel n is keyed upon a short shaft n' revolving in bearings of the
and the pinion o is keyed to the same shaft n', and gears into wheel p
on shaft g, which therefore revolves slower but in the same direction as the
shaft a.
Clutch box t, cast in one piece with pinion z, is keyed to shaft q..

page_text: The double clutch box u, loose on shaft q, corresponds to the left with t, &
to the right with clutch box r. which through its boss forms one piece with
pinion r. gearing into wheel s. and is loose on shaft. g. On the shaft a is
placed sliding on two keys the clutch box 2, taking into clutch box 3, which
with its boss is cast in one piece with pinion 31, and which are loose on
shaft a.
The action is as follows:-When the carriage is drawn in the
clutch box will be in gear will be in gear with clutch box s'. and as s, s¹,
are keyed to shaft a. the latter will revolve in the same direction as the
driving pulley, and with it the twist pulley d. As clutch box 2 is likewise
in gear with clutch box 3. the pinion 31 will drive wheel 4, and pinion 5, keyed
to the same shaft with wheel 4, will drive wheel 6 (see Figs. 1 & 2), which is
on the same shaft with bevil wheel 7. The bevil wheel through bevil
wheel 8 drives the back shaft 9, and the latter, through the band passing
round the drawing-out pulley 10, draws out the carriage. The shaft 9 also
carries wheel 11, which through wheel 12 & wheel 13 attached to 12 drives
wheel 14 loose on shaft 19, which through disc or motion plate 15 attached
to it carries the pall 16. A spring 17 passing with one end round the shaft. 19.
and causing through its gripe considerable friction against the same, presses
with its other end against the pall 16, and causes it to take into ratchet
wheel 18 keyed to shaft 19, causing the latter to revolve in the direction of
the arrow. The motions now going forward are the twist, the drawing out of
the carriage, and the cylinder or drawing roller motion. When the carriage is
fully drawn out the cam shaft 21 will perform of a revolution. Lever A
remains unaltered; lever B, with its end in cam D, will turn towards the left,
and with the other end it will disengage clutch box 2 from clutch box 3,
the carriage and the drawing rollers remaining stationary. The position of
lever C remains unaltered by the revolution of the cam E. The twisting
continues, therefore, till the worm C through worm wheel shaft 22 and pro-
jection 23 have occasioned a second quarter of a revolution of shaft 21.
Levers A and B now remain in their former position; lever C, however, is
through cam E actuated in such a manner that the clut box will be
withdrawn from clutch box S', and friction pulley K be brought into contact
with friction pulley 1. The wheel m, through the wheels n, o, p, will now
cause the shaft g to revolve, and with it the clutch box t, double clutch box u,
and through the latter the clutch and wheels r and s. The wheel s, with
shaft a, turns in contrary direction to the pulley. f, and the twist pulley will
give the backing-off, the other motions being all out of gear. Now follows a
third quantity of a revolution. Levers B and C remain stationary; A changes
and causes the double clutch box u to withdraw from x, and to actuate clutch

page_text: box 1, and with it wheel h, which causes the drawing-in of the carriage. After
the fourth quarter of a revolution of shaft 21 the various parts will occupy the
same position as at the beginning and as represented in Figure 1. The
reversing or backing-off is effected, as described, through friction pulleys k, l,"
and clutch boxes u, t. The friction pulley and I are introduced in place of
clutch boxes to avoid the shock from the too sudden change from twist to the
reversing or backing-off. In order to still further guard against the said
shock the clutch boxes u and t might also be replaced by friction pulleys, but
for mules of moderate size consider that clutch boxes will answer the
purpose.
I will now describe the separate motions. The cylinder or drawing roller
motion is clear from the above description. In drawing in the carriage the
disc 15 (see also Figure 3) turns backward; spring 17 remains stationary.
The pin a strikes against the longer end of the spring 17, and the fall 46 is
raised till the longer end of the spring 17 comes in contact with fall 16 is raised
till the longer end of spring 17 comes in contact with screw 13. The higher
the fall 16 is raised the longer will the cylinders or rollers remain at rest. By
altering the position of the pin alpha and B, the rise of the fall 16 can be
modified at pleasure up to a certain extent; this is of importance for pre-
venting the so-called snarls in the thread. Until now this has only in so far
been introduced that the same could not be modified to meet a retarded
beginning of the roller motion, and therefore it could not be adjusted for
various numbers or qualities. The disengaging apparatus is entirely dispensed
with, and the motion is not only a more advantageous one but also more
simple than hitherto.
The change of the motions; cam shaft motion. Upon the bush is keyed
the wheel 22 (in addition to the pulley ), which drives through the inter-
mediate wheel 23 the wheel 24. The wheel 24 is in one piece with the
bush 25, at whose end the pinion 26 is formed. Upon the bush 25 runs
loose the bush and disc 27, to which latter the pinion 28 is secured by means of
a screw stud. The pinion 28 gears into the pinion 26 and likewise into the
internal teeth 29 of wheel 30 with boss 31, and which is keyed to shaft.
Round the circumference of the boss 31 are fixed four square studs 32, 33,
34, and 35, at required distances from each other: each succeeding stud is
placed further towards the right to the extent of its width. The disc 27 may
either be formed into a friction pulley, as shown in Figure 5.
The action is, according to Figures 1 and 4. as follows:-According to
Figure 1, the wheel 24 is constantly rotating, the wheel 30 will remain
stationary, but the ratchet wheel 27 (see also Figure 4), revolves with its

page_text: pinion 28 in the same direction as the pinion 26. At any convenient part of
cam shaft 21 is fixed the cam disc 37, see Figure 5, with lever and spring.
As the bar 36 under 32, withdrawn to the extent of the width of the stud 32,
the spring (see Figure 6) through its lever will press the disc 37, and with it
the wheel 30. to the left. The roller 38 of pall 39, whose fulcrum is at 40,
is, through the scroll 41. depressed. The pall 39 comes into contact with
ratchet wheel 27, and the latter remains at rest. The internal wheel 30
however continues in motion in the direction of the arrow until the stud 33
strikes against the sliding bar 36. A moment before the stud 3 strikes
against the bar 36, the raised part of groove 41, see Figure 4, will have raised
the poll 39 through its pin 38 out of contact. During this time the roller
of the lever, Figure 6, will have passed slightly beyond the point of top cam 37,
and thus holds the pall 39 at a certain distance from 27 until the striking of
the next stud upon the bar 36 interrupts the motion. This movement repeats
itself with all the four studs, except that the stud 35 passes through the notch
of bar 36, whereas 32. 33, and 34, pass to the left of the notch when the
bar 36 is moved to the right. If 27 is a friction pulley, according to Figure 5,
in which the friction is greater than the power required for effecting the
change of movements, then the apparatus can be much simplified, inasmuch
as the ratchet wheel 27. pall 39, with parts belonging to it, and apparatus,
Figure 6, can be dispensed with, the friction pulley only remaining.
Fig. represents another combination of wheels applicable in place of 26,
28. and 29; it is, however, less suitable, and would occupy more space.
The sliding of the bar 56 is effected very simply. When the carriage is
drawn out by a stud on the carriage taking into the projection 42, see Figure 8,
the after twist seizes with cam 23. see Figure 1, the pin 43, and slides the
bar 36 further, and lastly, the reversing or "backing-off slides the bar 36 by
The lever 44 is
means of lever 44 and pin 45 to the end of its stroke.
actuated by the upper end 46 of the bar 47, which holds the roller pulley over
which the reversing chain passes, and is drawn by means of the chain without
any other contrivance under the lever of the winding-on shaft. The upper
end 46 is made adjustable, and is fixed so far back that the projection 46
shall not come into contact with the roller 48 until the fourth turn of the
shaft 21 has been completed, as the faller wire would otherwise be drawn too
low. The arrangements of parts for moving the bar 36 may be modified in a
variety of ways.
The disengaging of the carriage is as follows:-The bolt or rod 48 moves up
and down in the two bearings 49, and enters into the forked end closed by the
roller 52 of the rod 51 of the carriage. The bolt 48 can be raised either by

page_text: the point of the bar 53 entering under the roller 54 of the bolt, but better
and more, certain by the cam 55 on shaft 21, Figure 1, which for this purpose
would be lengthened to reach the parts.
The apparatus for the drawing-in of the carriage consists of three ordinary,
spur wheels of coarse pitch, seen in the elevation in Figure 2, and in plan in
Figure 9.
The shafts or axles of the wheels are connected by means of levers V, W,
in such a
manner that they are kept at the proper distance from each
other, but at the same time able to turn freely on their centres or axles.
II itself is fixed excentrically to the disc y, which latter is keyed on the shaft
of the wheel G, is keyed to the shaft of wheel 7 (Fig. 1), and drives therefore
the back shaft or carriage shaft in a contrary direction. There is beyond the
three wheels just mentioned no further arrangement or apparatus, and the
carriage shaft serves both for the drawing in and the drawing out of the
carriage. This combination of wheels is also applicable to the ordinary
drawing-in apparatus, the scrolls being in that case dispensed with. G is
represented as of not quite half the diameter of 11, in case the usual drawing-
out pulleys of about 7 inches diameter should be retained or replaced by
pulleys only one or two inches larger.
The advantages of this motion are self-evident. In the ordinary scroll the
proportion of the greatest to the slowest speed is about 3 to 1, whereas with
this excentric motion it can be made at pleasure either 3 to 1 or 12 to 1, or
in other proportions. Two objects are attained by these means, namely, a
very gentle and gradual bringing in of the carriage, without occupying more
time for the drawing-in of the carriage, which, instead of in four seconds, will
be accomplished in three, perhaps in two seconds.
This motion is applicable to a variety of purposes. for instance, to looms for
weaving. Supposing the dics y to be keyed to the driving shaft of the loom,
and G, which in this case would be of the same size as H), to the crank shaft,
G will remain at rest about one half of the time during which y revolves.
Whilst G is at rest the shuttle may be passed through the shed, whereby
the time hitherto necessary for the action of the batten will be reduced, in
other words, the number of picks can be considerably increased without
increasing the speed of the shuttle.
The winding-on motion. In front of the frame of headstock, seen in
part in elevation in Figure 8, and in plan in Figure 10, as usual, the
pulley 5 b, driven by a cord from the rope pulley 57. or better from the back
shaft, as practised by some makers. The shaft 56 carries the wheel 58, which
latter gears into the quadrant 59, which, in its front arm, carries the doublo

page_text: thread screw 60. This screw is turned uniformly by the hook 62 every time,
as soon as the hook 63, when the threads are stretched, is lowered deep
enough by the chain 64 to take hold of the lever 65 at the end of the taking-
in, and to move the piece 62 whilst the piece 61 has been lowered. This
combination 62, 63, 64, and 65 forms the whole regulator. The screw 60
raises the slide 66, which carries the roller 67. This roller is guided in a
groove of bar 68, which latter moves to and fro in the brackets 69. The
bar 68 carries on a stud screwed into it the roller 70 (see Figure 10), which
latter moves in a groove of the front arm of the smaller quadrant 71. The
action will be best understood from Diagram, Figure 11. Supposing the
roller to have arrived at the end of the winding-on at f, 67 will have described
the arc .", the point corresponding with 67, however, is b, b', therefore the
point 1 advanced from m to m. The roller 67 now moves from jo to f
and describes the arc P, f', point 62" moves from b to b", and 70 from m
to m, and so forth. Point 67" (the front part of internal wheel segment of
the smaller quadrant) move always from the same point m forward, first
to m', next to m", next to m", the distance from m to m", m to m", m" to m
gradually decreasing correspondingly with the shape of the bobbin. Into the
teeth of the small quadrant, see Figure 8, gear pinion 72, keyed to the shaft
of chain pulley 75. This chain pulley gives chain to the spindle drum in the
manner as above indicated. The proportions of the movement can be changed
by substituting other wheels for the wheels 58 and 72. All the above-
described improvements are applicable to every system of mule construction,
and the cam shaft motion offers the particular advantage for spinning line
numbers. that five, six, or more movements can be effected with the same
certainty as only four.
Having now described the nature of the Invention which has been com
municated to me, and the manner in which it may be carried into effect, 1
wish it to be understood that what I claim as the Invention to be secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the improved arrangements and combinations, and parts constituting
and connected with the cam shaft motion, substantially as described and as
shewn in Drawings, and their equivalents.
Secondly, the improved arrangements and combinations for effecting the
carriage drawing-in motion, substantially as described and shewn in Drawings,
and also the application of the eccentric spur wheel combination described in
connection therewith to looms for weaving and to other purposes.
Thirdly, the improved arrangements, described and shown in Drawings, for
actuating the cylinders or drawing rollers.

page_text: Fourthly, the improved construction and arrangement of the double quad-
rant and parts connected therewith, as described and shown in Drawing, for
actuating and regulating the winding-on.
Lastly, the improvement, arrangement, and combination for actuating the
whole of the various movements from one driving pulley on the main shaft of
the mule, as described & shown in Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lewis Rudolph Bodmer, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
LOUIS RUDOLPH BODMER. (..S.)