in steps _l_, which are fixed in an immoveable beam or bar _m_. To
protect it from dust and cotton filaments, this beam is furnished with a
wooden cover _n_, in which there are small holes for the passage of the
spindles right over the steps. In _fig._ 332., two of the eight covers
_n_, which compose the whole range _m_, are removed to let the steps be
seen. The cylindrical part of each spindle passes through a brass ring
_o_; and all these 30 rings, whose centres must be vertically over the
steps _l_, are made fast to the copping beam _p_. This beam is so
called, because it is destined not merely to keep the spindles upright
by the rings attached to it, but, at the same time, to raise and lower
along the spindles the bobbins which rest on these rings; for which
purpose the two racks, or toothed bars _m_² _m_², made fast to it, are
designed, as will be presently explained. To effect the revolution of
the spindles, there are attached to the main shaft _c´_ two whorls or
pulleys _e´ f´_, each bearing four grooves of equal diameter. Each of
these pulleys puts one half of the spindles in motion, by means of a
cord, which, after going round the whorls _k_, turns four times about
the pulleys of the shaft _c´_. Two guide pulleys _h´_, each
four-grooved, and two others _i´_, with a single groove, which turn
independently of the others, upon the above shaft, serve to give the
whorl cords the proper direction, as well as to keep them tight. The
spindles revolve 200 times or thereby in the minute; and therefore
impart two turns or twists to every three inches of the roving.
The revolution of the bobbins is independent of that of the spindles,
although it likewise proceeds from the shaft _c´_, and differs from it
in being a continually retarded motion. The simplest method of effecting
this motion, is by means of the wooden or tin plate cone _k´´_, which
revolves equally with the shaft _c´_, and at the same time slides along
it.
[Illustration: 336 337]
The manner in which this operates is shown in section in _fig._ 336.
Here, we perceive the rod _q_², which extends from the base towards the
narrow end of the truncated cone, and _p_² a forked bearer or carrier
made fast to the shaft _c´_ by a screw, which compels the cone by means
of that rod, to obey the movements of _c´_. In the large end of the cone
there is an aperture, through which the bearer can be got at. The
smaller end carries outside a projection _o_², provided with a groove,
which is embraced by the forked end of a rod _q´_, _fig._ 337., that
serves to shove the cone along upon the shaft _c´_. Directly under the
cone, there is an upright round pillar _p´_, upon which the holder _o´_
of the two guide pulleys _l´_ is adjustable. A bar _r_² placed
along-side of the holder, prevents its turning round, but allows it to
slide along _p´_ by friction. The weight of the holder and the pulley is
sufficient to distend the endless band _n´_, which runs from the cone
_k´_, through under the pulley _l´_, and round the small drum _m´_ on
the shaft _s_². A pulley or whorl _t_² with four grooves, is made fast
by means of a tube to this shaft, and slides along it backwards and
forwards, without ever ceasing to follow its revolutions. The shaft
possesses for this purpose a long fork, and the interior of the tube a
corresponding tongue or catch. There is besides upon the tube beneath
the pulley, at _u_², a groove that goes round it, in which the staple or
forked end of an arm like _v_², _fig._ 333., made fast to the copping
beam _p_, catches. By the up and down movement of that beam, the pulley
_t_² takes along with it the arm that embraces the tube, which therefore
rises and falls equally with the bobbins _h´_, and their pulleys or
whorls _q_. This is requisite, since the bobbins are made to revolve by
the pulleys _t_², by means of 2 endless cords or bands.
[Illustration: 338 339]
The most intricate part of the mechanism is the adjustment, by which the
revolution of the bobbins is continually retarded, and their up and
down, or copping motion, along the spindles, is also retarded in like
proportion. The vertical pulley _f´_, (towards the left end of the shaft
_c´_) has at its right side a somewhat larger _disc_ or sheave _g´_,
with a perfectly uniform, but not a very smooth surface. Upon this
sheave, a smaller horizontal pulley _x´_ rubs, whose upper face is
covered with leather to increase the friction. The under end of the
shaft _y_² of the pulley _x´_ turns in a step, which is so connected
with the arm _v´_ of the large bent lever _t´ v´_, that it always stands
horizontally, whatever direction the arms of that lever may assume. The
shaft _y_² is steadied at top by an annular holder or bush, which
embraces the fast arm _x_² with its forked end. Upon its opposite side,
this arm carries a pulley _y_², upon which a cord goes, that is made
fast to the holder of the shaft _y_², and loaded with the weight _z´_.
The weight presses the pulley _x´_ against the surface of _g´_, in such
wise as to effect the degree of friction necessary in order that the
revolution of _g´_ may produce an uninterrupted revolution in _x´_. A
pinion _w´_, whose length must be equal at least to the semi-diameter of
the sheave _g´_, is placed upon the under end of the shaft _y_². It has
22 teeth, and takes into a 62-toothed horizontal wheel _z_². Upon the
upper end of this wheel the conical pinion _a_³ is made fast, which may
be changed for changing the speed, but usually has from 28 to 30 teeth.
By this pinion the conical wheel _b_³ is turned, which has 30 teeth, and
whose shaft is _c_³. This shaft carries upon its opposite end a
six-leaved pinion, _d_³, which takes into the calender wheel _f_³,
formed with cogs like a trundle, upon the long shaft _e_³. In _fig._
338. the wheel _f_³ is exhibited with its pinion _d_³. Here we may
remark that in the circumference of the wheel there is a vacant place,
_g_³, void of teeth. When by the motion of the wheel, the pinion comes
opposite to this opening, it turns round about the last tooth of the
wheel, falls into the inside of the toothed circle marked by the dotted
lines, and thus gives now an inverse movement to the wheel _f_³, while
itself revolves always in the same direction. This reversed motion
continues till the opening _g_³ comes once more opposite to the pinion,
when this turns round about the last tooth of that side, and begins
again to work in the exterior teeth. Thus, by the uniform motion of _d_³
and its dependent parts, the wheel _f_³, with its shaft _e_³, revolves
alternately to the right hand and the left. That this result may ensue,
the shaft _c_³ of the pinion must be able to slide endwise, without
losing its hold of _a_³ and _b_³. This adjustment is effected by placing
the end of the said shaft, nearest _b_³, in a box or holder _i_³, in
which it can turn, and which forms a vertical tube to this box, as a
downward prolongation which is fixed to the tail of the conical pinion
_a_³. _Fig._ 339. shows this construction in section upon an enlarged
scale. The second bearer of the shaft nearest _d_³, must possess
likewise the means of lateral motion. When therefore the pinion _d_³
shifts through the opening of the wheel _f_³ outwards or inwards, its
shaft _c_³, makes a corresponding small angular motion upon the pivot of
_a_³, by means of the tube _i_³; _a_³ and _b_³ remain thereby completely
in geer with one another.
The above-described alternate revolutions of the wheel _f_³ serve to
produce the up and down motions of the bobbins. The shaft _e_³ has for
this purpose two pinions _n_² _n_², which work in the rack teeth _m_²
_m_² of the copping rail _p_, and thus alternately raise and sink it
with the bobbins which rest upon it. The weight of the copping beam and
all its dependent parts, is poised by two counterweights _m_⁴, whose
cords run over the pulleys _o_⁴ _o_⁴ _o_⁴, _fig._ 332., and have their
ends made fast to the frame, so as to make the upwards motion as easy as
the downwards. The two upper pulleys out of the three of each weight,
are fixed to the frame; the under one, round which the cord first runs,
is attached to the copping beam, rising and falling along with it.
[Illustration: 340 341]
As long as the friction disc _x´_ remains at the same height, the pulley
_g´_ derives its motion from the same circle of the said disc, and the
up and down motion of the copping beam is also uniform. But when that
disc ascends so as to describe with its edge a small circle upon the
face of _g´_, its motion must become proportionally more slow. This is
the method, or principle of retarding the copping motions of the
bobbins. It has been shown, however, that the rotation of the bobbins
should be also retarded in a progressive manner. This object is effected
by means of the cone _k´_, which, as the band _n´_ progressively
approaches towards its smaller diameter, drives the pulleys or whorls
_q_ of the bobbins with decreasing speed, though itself moves uniformly
quick with the shaft _c´_. To effect this variation, the cone is shifted
lengthwise along its shaft, while the band running upon it remains
continually in the same vertical plane, and is kept distended by the
weight of the pulley _o´_. The following mechanism serves to shift the
cone, which may be best understood by the aid of the figures 340., 341.,
and 337. A long cast iron bar _m_³, which bears two horizontal
projecting puppets, _o_³ _o_³, is made fast to the front upright face of
the copping beam A. Through the above puppets a cylindrical rod _n_³
passes freely, which is left out in _fig._ 337., that the parts lying
behind it may be better seen. Upon this rod there is a kind of fork,
_p_³ _p_³, to which the alternating rack bars _q_³ are made fast. The
teeth of these racks are at unequal distances from each other, and are
so arranged, that each tooth of the under side corresponds to the space
between two teeth in the upper side. Their number depends upon the
number of coils of roving that may be required to fill a bobbin; and
consists in the usual machines of from 20 to 22. The rod _n_³ may be
shifted in the puppet _o_³, like the fork _p_³ of the rack-rod, upon the
rod _n_³, and along the surface of _m_³, where two wings _u_³ _u_³ are
placed, to keep the fork in a straight direction. Upon the bar _m_³,
there are the pivots or fulcra of two stop catches _w_³ _x_³, of which
the uppermost presses merely by its own weight, but the undermost by
means of a counterweight _y_³, against the rack, and causes them thus to
fall in between the teeth. In _fig._ 341., _v_³ shows the pivot of the
catch or detent _w_³ by itself, the detent itself being omitted, to
render the construction plainer. A pushing rod _l_³, upon which there is
a pin above at _s_³, that passes behind the rack rod, between this and
the bar _m_³, has for its object to remove at pleasure the one or the
other of the two catches; the upper, when the upper end of the rod
pushes against it; the under, by means of the above mentioned pin _s_³.
Both the catches are never raised at once, but either the under or the
upper holds the rack bar fast, by pressing against one of the teeth. The
vertical motion up or down, which the rod _l_³ must take to effect the
lifting of the catches, is given to it from the copping beam _p_; since
upon it a horizontal arm _v_², _fig._ 341., is fixed, that lays hold of
that rod. Upon the pushing rod are two rings, _h_³ and _k_³, each made
fast by a screw. When the copping beam is in the act of going up, the
arm _v_³ at the end of this movement, pushes against the ring _h_³,
raises up the rod _l_³, and thus removes the catch _w_³, _fig._ 337.,
from the teeth of the rod _q_³, before which it lies flat. At the
descent of the copping rail, _v_² meets the ring _k_³, when the motion
in this direction is nearly completed, draws down the rod _l_³ a little,
by means of the same, and thereby effects the removal of the catch _x_³,
_fig._ 337., from the rod _q_³. Every time that one of the catches is
lifted, the rack recovers its freedom to advance a little bit in the
direction of the arrow; so far, namely, till the other catch lays hold
upon the tooth that next meets it. The reason is thus manifest why the
teeth of the upper and under sides of the bar _q_³ are not right
opposite to each other, but in an alternate position.
From the rack-bar, the sliding of the cone _k´_, and the raising of the
shaft _y_², each by minute steps at a time, is produced as follows:--
A large rectangular lever _t_¹, _v_¹, whose centre of motion is at _p_⁴,
has at the upper end of its long arm _t_¹, a long slot through which a
stud _r_³ upon the rack _q_³ goes (_fig._ 340., 341., 337.,) so that the
lever must follow the motions of the rack bar. The end of the short arm
of the lever bears, as already mentioned, the step of the shaft _y_²;
hence the friction disc _x_¹ will be raised in proportion as the rack
bar advances, and will come nearer to the middle point of _g_¹;
consequently, its revolution and the shifting of the bobbins will become
slower. Upon the cylindrical rod _n_³, the piece _s_¹ _s_¹ furnished
with a long slot is made fast, by means of a tube _z_³, (_fig._ 337.)
and a screw. A fork _u u_, which by means of the screw nut _a_⁴ is made
fast in the slot, embraces the arm _t_¹ of the bent lever; and a tube
_r_¹ rivetted to the surface of _s_¹, is destined to take up the draw
rod _q_¹ of the cone _k_¹, _fig._ 337. A weight _f_⁴, whose cord _b_⁴ is
made fast to the cylindrical rod _n_³, endeavours to draw this rod
continually in the direction of the arrow. In consequence of this
arrangement, every time that the pushing bar _l_³ lifts up one of the
catches, the cone _k_¹, the lever _t_¹ _v_¹, and by it the rack bar
_q_³, are set in motion. It is obvious, that the motion of the cone may
be made greater or less, according as the fork _u u_ is fixed further up
or down in the slot of _s_¹.
The number of the teeth upon the bar _q_³ is so ordered, that the
bobbins are quite full when the last tooth has reached the catch and is
released by it. The rack bar, being restrained by nothing, immediately
slides onwards, in consequence of the traction of the weight _f_⁴ and
brings the machine to repose by this very movement, for which purpose
the following construction is employed. A rectangular lever which has
its centre of motion in _g_⁴ is attached to the side face of the beam A,
and has at the end of its horizontal arm a pulley _d_⁴, over which the
cord _b_⁴ of the counterweight _f_⁴ is passed. The end of the
perpendicular arm is forked and embraces the long and thin rod _k_⁴, to
whose opposite end the fork _l_⁴ is made fast. Through this fork the
band which puts the machine in motion passes down to the pulley _a_¹.
With the bent lever another rod _c_⁴ is connected at _h_⁴, which lies
upon the puppet _e_³ with a slot at _e_⁴, and hereby keeps the lever
_g_⁴ in its upright position notwithstanding the weight _f_⁴. In the
moment when, as above stated, the rack bar _q_³ becomes free, the arm
_p_³ of its fork pushes in its rapid advance against the under oblique
side of _e_⁴, raises this rod, and thereby sets the lever _g_⁴ free,
whose upright arm bends down by the traction of the weight, drives the
rod _k_⁴ before it into the ring _i_⁴ fastened to it, and thus by means
of the fork _l_⁴ shifts the band upon the loose pulley _b_¹. But the
machine may be brought to repose or put out of geer at any time merely
by shifting the rod _k_⁴ with the hand.
The operation of the bobbin and fly frame may be fully understood from
the preceding description. A few observations remain to be made upon the
cone _k_¹, the rack-bar _q_³, and the speed of the work.
When we know the diameter of the empty bobbins, and how many turns they
should make in a given time in order to wind-on the sliver delivered by
the fluted rollers and the spindles; when we consider the diameters of
the spindle pullies _q_, and _t_², as also the drum. _m_¹, _fig._ 332.,
we may easily find the diameter which the cone must have for producing
that number of turns. This is the diameter for the greatest periphery of
the base. The diameter of the smaller is obtained in the same way, when
the diameter of the bobbins before the last winding-on, as well as the
number of turns necessary in a given time, are known.
A bobbin and fly frame of the construction just described delivers from
each spindle in a day of twelve hours, from 6 to 8 lbs of roving of the
fineness of 1-1/2 English counts. One person can superintend two frames,
piece the broken slivers, and replace the full bobbins by empty ones.
The loss of cotton wool in this machine consists in the portions carried
off from the torn slivers, and must be returned to the lapping machine.
_The fine bobbin and fly frame_ does not differ essentially from the
preceding machine. The rovings from the coarse bobbin and fly frame are
placed in their bobbins in a frame called the _creel_, behind and above
the roller beam, two bobbins being allowed for one fluted portion of the
rollers. These rovings are united into one, so as to increase the
uniformity of the slivers.
The invention of the beautiful machine above described is due to Messrs.
Cocker and Higgins of Manchester, and as lately improved by Henry
Houldsworth, junr. Esq., it may be considered the most ingeniously
combined apparatus in the whole range of productive industry.
In the fine roving frame the sliver is twisted in the contrary direction
to that of the coarse roving frame. For this reason the position of the
cone is reversed, so as to present in succession to the band or strap,
diameters continually greater, in order that the rotation of the bobbins
may be accelerated in proportion as their size is increased, because
here the flyer and the bobbin turn in the same direction, and the
winding-on is effected by the precession of the bobbin; but if the
winding-on took place by its falling behind, as in the coarse bobbin and
fly frame, that is, if the flyer turned less quickly than the bobbin,
the rotatory speed of the bobbin would be uniformly retarded; in which
case the cone would be disposed as in the coarse frame.
When by any means whatever an uniform length of thread is delivered by
the rollers in a given time, the bobbin must wind it up as it is given
out, and must therefore turn with a speed decreasing with the increase
of its diameter by successive layers of thread. Hence proceeds the
proposition, that the velocity of the bobbin must be in the inverse
ratio of its diameter, as already explained.
With respect to the bobbin and fly frame, the twist is given to the
sliver by means of a spindle or flyer which turns in the same direction
with the bobbin, but quicker or slower than it, which establishes two
predicaments. The first case is where the flyer turns faster than the
bobbin. Here the winding-on goes in advance, as in the coarse roving
frame, or as in throstle spinning, where the yarn is wound on merely in
consequence of the friction of the lower disc or washer of the bobbin
upon the copping rail, and of the drag of the yarn. The second case is
where the flyer revolves more slowly than the bobbin. Here the winding
goes on in arrear, and as the bobbin turns faster, it must receive a
peculiar motion, which is uniformly retarded in the ratio of its
increase of diameter. This is the case with the fine bobbin and fly
frame. When the cone is placed as in _fig._ 332, the winding-on, in
either the coarse or fine frame, results from the difference, whether
greater or less, between the rotatory speed of the flyer and bobbin.
The motion of the bobbin and spindle is simultaneous, and takes place in
the same direction, with a difference varying more or less with the
varying diameters of the bobbins. To render the matter still clearer,
suppose for a moment the spindle to be motionless, then the bobbin must
revolve with such a speed, as to lap-on the roving as fast as the
rollers deliver it. The sliver comes forward uniformly; but the bobbin,
by its increase of diameter, must revolve with a speed progressively
slower. Now, suppose the spindle set a-whirling, it is obvious that the
bobbin must add to the movement requisite for winding-on the sliver,
that of the spindle in the case of winding-on in arrear, or when it
follows the flyers, and subtract its own motion from the twisting motion
of the spindles, in the case of winding-on in advance, that is, when the
bobbin precedes or turns faster than the flyers; for the diameter of the
bobbin being 1-1/2 inch, 10 turns will take up 45 inches. Deducting
these 10 turns from the 30 made by the spindle in the same time, there
will remain for the effective movement of the bobbin only 20 turns; or
when the diameter of the bobbin becomes 3 inches, 5 turns will take up
the 45 inches, if the spindle be at rest; but if it makes 30 turns in
the time, the effective velocity of the bobbin will be 25 turns, = 30 -
5. Hence in the fine bobbin and fly frame, the number of turns of the
spindle, _minus_ the number of turns made by the bobbin in equal times,
is in the inverse ratio of the diameter of the bobbin. We thus perceive,
that in the coarse frame the bobbin should move faster than the spindle,
and that its speed should always diminish; whilst in the fine frame the
bobbin should move slower than the spindle, but its speed should always
increase. It is easy to conceive, therefore, why the cones are placed in
reverse directions in the two machines. Not that this inversion is
indispensably necessary; the cone of the fine roving frame might, in
fact, be placed like that of the coarse roving frame; but as the torsion
of the roving becomes now considerable, and as on that account the
bobbin would need to move still faster, which would consume a greater
quantity of the moving power, it has been deemed more economical to give
its movement an opposite direction.
We mentioned that the twist of the sliver in the fine roving frame was
the reverse of that in the coarse; this is a habit of the spinners, for
which no good reason has been given.
The divisions of the rack-bar, and the successive diameters of the cone,
must be nicely adjusted to each other. The first thing to determine is
how much the rack should advance for every layer or range of roving
applied to the bobbin, in order that the cone may occupy such a place
that the strap which regulates the pulley barrel may be at the proper
diameter, and thus fulfil every condition. The extent of this
progressive movement of the rack depends upon the greater or less taper
of the cone, and the increase which the diameter of the bobbin receives
with every traverse, that is, every layer of roving laid on. But care
should be taken not to taper the cone too rapidly, especially in the
fine roving frame, because in its progress towards the smaller end, the
strap would not slide with certainty and ease. We have already shown
that the number of effective turns of the bobbin is inversely, as the
diameter of the bobbin, or directly, as the successive diameters of the
different points of the cone.
H. Houldsworth, jun. Esq. has introduced a capital improvement into the
bobbin and fly frame, by his differential or equation-box mechanism, and
by his spring fingers, which, by pressing the soft sliver upon the
bobbin, cause at least a double quantity to be wound upon its barrel.
With the description of his patent equation-box, I shall conclude the
description of the bobbin and fly frame.
_Fig._ 342. represents a portion of a fly frame with Mr. Houldsworth’s
invention. _a a a_ are the front drawing rollers, turning upon bearings
in the top of the machine, and worked by a train of toothed wheels, in
the way that drawing rollers are usually actuated.
From the drawing rollers, the filaments of cotton or other material, _b
b_, are brought down to, and passed through the arms of the flyers _c
c_, mounted on the tops of the spindles _d d_, which spindles also carry
the loose bobbins _e e_. In the ordinary mode of constructing such
machines, the spindles are turned by cords or bands passing from a
rotatory drum round their respective pulleys or whirls _f_, and the
loose bobbins _e_, turn with them by the friction of their slight
contact to the spindle, as before said; in the improved machine,
however, the movements of the spindles and the bobbins are independent
and distinct from each other, being actuated from different sources.
The main shaft of the engine _g_, turned by a band and rigger A as
usual, communicates motion by a train of wheels _h_, through the shaft
_i_, to the drawing rollers at the reverse end of the machine, and
causes them to deliver the filaments to be twisted. Upon the main shaft
_g_, is mounted a cylindrical hollow box or drum-pulley, whence one cord
passes to drive the whirls and spindles _f_ and _d_, and another to
drive the bobbins _e_.
[Illustration: 342 343 344]
This cylindrical box pulley is made in two parts, _k_ and _l_, and
slipped upon the axle with a toothed wheel _m_, intervening between
them. The box and wheel are shewn detached in _fig._ 343., and partly in
section at _fig._ 344. That portion of the box with its pulley marked
_l_, is fixed to the shaft _g_; but the other part of the box and its
pulley _k_, and the toothed wheel _m_, slide loosely round upon the
shaft _g_, and when brought in contact and confined by a fixed collar
_n_, as in the machine shewn at _fig._ 342., they constitute two
distinct pullies, one being intended to actuate the spindles, and the
other the bobbins.
In the web of the wheel _m_, a small bevel pinion _o_, is mounted upon
an axle standing at right angles to the shaft _g_, which pinion is
intended to take into the two bevel pinions _p_ and _q_, respectively
fixed upon bosses, embracing the shaft in the interior of the boxes _k_
and _l_. Now it being remembered that the pinion _q_, and its box _l_,
are fixed to the shaft _g_, and turn with it, if the loose wheel _m_ be
independently turned upon the shaft, with a different velocity, its
pinion _o_, taking into _q_, will be made to revolve upon its axle, and
to drive the pinion _p_, and pulley box _k_, in the same direction as
the wheel _m_; and this rotatory movement of the box _k_ and wheel _m_,
may be faster or slower than the shaft _g_, and box _l_, according to
the velocity with which the wheel _m_ is turned.
Having explained the construction of the box pullies _k_ and _l_, which
are the peculiar features of novelty claimed under this patent, their
office and advantage will be seen by describing the general movements of
the machine.
The main shaft _g_, being turned by the band and rigger A, as above
said, the train of wheels _h_, connected with it, drives the shaft _i_,
which at its reverse end has a pinion (not seen in the figure,) that
actuates the whole series of drawing rollers _a_. Upon the shaft _i_
there is a sliding pulley _r_, carrying a band _s_, which passes down to
a tension pulley _t_, and is kept distended by a weight. This band _s_,
in its descent, comes in contact with the surface of the cone _u_, and
causes the cone to revolve by the friction of the band running against
it. The pulley _r_ is progressively slidden along the shaft _i_, by
means of a rack and weight not shewn, but well understood as common in
these kind of machines, and which movement of the pulley is for the
purpose of progressively shifting the band _s_ from the smaller to the
larger diameter of the cone, in order that the speed of its rotation may
gradually diminish as the bobbins fill by the winding-on of the yarns.
At the end of the axle of the cone _u_ a small pinion _v_ is fixed,
which takes into the teeth of the loose wheel _m_, and, as the cone
turns, drives the wheel _m_ round upon the shaft _g_, with a speed
dependent always upon the rapidity of the rotation of the cone. Now the
box pulley _l_, being fixed to the main shaft _g_, turns with one
uniform speed, and by cords passing from it over guides to the whorls
_f_, drives all the spindles and flyers, which twist the yarns with one
continued uniform velocity; but the box pulley _k_, being loose upon
the shaft, and actuated by the bevel pinions within, as described, is
made to revolve by the rotation of the wheel _m_, independent of the
shaft, and with a different speed from the pulley box _l_; cords passing
from this pulley box _k_, over guides to small pullies under the
bobbins, communicate the motion, whatever it may be, of the pulley box
_k_, to the bobbins, and cause them to turn, and to take up or wind the
yarn with a speed derived from this source, independent of, and
different from, the speed of the spindle and flyer which twist the yarn.
It will now be perceived, that these parts being all adjusted to
accommodate the taking up movements to the twisting or spinning of any
particular quality of yarn intended to be produced, any variations
between the velocities of the spinning and taking up, which another
quality of yarn may require, can easily be effected, by merely changing
the pinion _v_, for one with a different number of teeth, which will
cause the wheel _m_, and the pulley box _k_, to drive the bobbins faster
or slower, as would be required in winding-on fine or coarse yarn, the
speed of the twisting or spinning being the same.
The rovings or spongy cords, of greater or less tenuity, made on the
bobbin and fly, or tube roving frame, are either spun immediately into
firm cohesive yarn, or receive a further preparation process in the
stretching frame, which is, in fact, merely a mule-jenny, without the
second draught and second speed, and therefore need not be described at
present, as it will be in its place afterwards.
The _finishing machines_ of a cotton mill, which spin the cohesive yarn,
are of two classes; 1. the water-twist or throstle, in which the
twisting and winding are performed simultaneously upon progressive
portions of the roving; and, 2. the mule, in which the thread is drawn
out and stretched, with little twist, till a certain length of about 5
feet is extended, then the torsion is completed, and the finished thread
is immediately wound upon the spindles into double conical coils called
cops.
[Illustration: 345]
The water-twist frame, so called by its inventor, Sir R. Arkwright,
because it was first driven by water, is now generally superseded by the
throstle frame, in which the mechanical spinning fingers, so to speak,
are essentially the same, but the mode of communicating the motion of
the mill-geering to them is somewhat different. _Fig._ 345. exhibits a
vertical section of the throstle. This machine is double, possessing
upon each side of its frame, a row of spindles with all their subsidiary
parts. The bobbins, filled with rovings from the bobbin and fly, or the
tube frame, are set up in the creel _a a_, in two ranges, _b_, _c_, _d_,
are the three usual pairs of drawing rollers, through which the yarn is
attenuated to the proper degree of fineness, upon the principles already
explained. At its escape from the front rollers, every thread runs
through a guide eyelet _e_ of wire, which gives it the vertical
direction down towards the spindles _f_, _g_. The spindles which perform
at once and uninterruptedly the twisting and winding-on of the thread
delivered by the rollers, are usually made of steel, and tempered at
their lower ends. They stand at _g_ in steps, pass at _v_ through a
brass bush or collet which keeps them upright, and revolve with
remarkable speed upon their axes. The bobbins _h_, destined to take up
the yarn as it is spun, are stuck loosely upon the spindles, and rest
independently of the rotation of the spindles upon the copping beam _l_,
with a leather washer between. Upon the top of the spindles an iron-wire
fork, called a fly or flyer, _i_, _k_, is made fast by a left-hand
screw, and has one of its forks turned round at the end into a little
ring. The branch of the flyer at _f_ is tubular, to allow the thread to
pass through, and to escape by a little hole at its side, in order to
reach the eyelet at the end of that fork. From this eyelet _i_, it
proceeds directly to the bobbin. By the twirling of the spindle, the
twisting of the portion of thread between the front roller _d_, and the
nozzle _f_, is effected. The winding-on takes place in the following
way:--Since the bobbin has no other connection with the spindle than
that of the thread, it would but for it remain entirely motionless,
relatively to the spindle. But the bobbin is pulled after it by the
thread, so that it must follow the rotation of the spindle and fly. When
we consider that the thread is pinched by the front roller _d_, and is
thereby kept fully upon the stretch, we perceive that the rotation of
the bobbin must be the result. Suppose now the tension to be suspended
for an instant, while the rollers _d_, deliver, for example, one inch of
yarn. The inertia or weight of the bobbin, and its friction upon the
copping beam _l_, by means of the leather washer, will, under this
circumstance, cause the bobbin to hang back in a state of rest, till the
said inch of yarn be wound on by the whirling of the fly _i_, and the
former tension be restored. The delivery of the yarn by the drawing
rollers, however, does not take place inch after inch, by starts, but at
a certain continuous rate; whence results a continuous retardation or
loitering, so to speak, of the bobbins behind the spindles, just to such
an amount that the delivered yarn is wound up at the same time during
the rotation.
This process in spinning is essentially the same as what occurs in the
fine bobbin and fly frame, but is here simplified, as the retardation
regulates itself according to the diameter of the bobbin by the drag of
the thread. In the fly frame the employment of this tension is
impossible, because the roving has too little cohesion to bear the
strain; and hence it is necessary to give the bobbins that independent
movement of rotation which so complicates this machine.
The up and down motion of the bobbins along the spindles, which is
required for the equal distribution of the yarn, and must have the same
range as the length of the bobbin barrels, is performed by the following
mechanism. Every copping rail _l_, is made fast to a bar _m_, and this,
which slides in a vertical groove or slot at the end of the frame, is
connected by a rod _n_, with an equal-armed, moveable lever _o_. The rod
_p_ carries a weight _r_, suspended from this lever; another rod _q_,
connects the great lever _o_ with a smaller one _s_, _t_, upon which a
heart-shaped disc or pulley _u_, works from below at _t_. By the
rotation of the disc _u_, the arm _t_, being pressed constantly down
upon it by the reaction, the weight _r_ must alternately rise and fall;
and thus the copping rail _l_ must obviously move with the bobbins _h_
up and down; the bobbins upon one side of the frame rising, as those
upon the other sink. Strictly considered, this copping motion should
become slower as the winding-on proceeds, as in the fly roving frame;
but, on account of the smallness of the finished thread, this
construction, which would render the machine complicated, is without
inconvenience neglected, with the result merely that the coils of the
yarn are successively more sparsely laid on, as the diameter of the
bobbin increases.
The movement of the whole machine proceeds from the shaft of a
horizontal drum, which drives the spindles by means of the endless bands
_x x_. Each spindle is mounted with a small pulley or wharf _w_, at its
lower part, and a particular band, which goes round that wharf or whorl,
and the drum _y_. The bands are not drawn tense, but hang down in a
somewhat slanting direction, being kept distended only by their own
weight. Thus every spindle, when its thread breaks, can readily be stopt
alone, by applying a slight pressure with the hand or knee, the band
meanwhile gliding loosely round the whorl.
The velocities of rotation of the three drawing rollers are, according
to this arrangement, in the proportion of 1 : 1-1/2 : 8; and as their
diameters are the same, namely, one inch, the elongation of the yarn in
spinning is eight-fold. If, for example, the roving was of the number
4-1/2, the yarn would become No. 36. The extension of the thread may be
changed by changing the wheels of the drawing rollers. To perceive the
power of this change, let us put, for example, in the place of the
18-toothed wheel of the back rollers, a wheel with 16 teeth; we shall
find that the elongation will amount, in that case, only to 7-1/2 times,
whence the number of the yarn would come out 32 = 7-1/2 × 4-1/2. The
extension by the throstle is extremely various; it amounts, in some
cases, to only 4 times; at others to 10, 12, or even 15.
The copping motion of the bobbins is produced in consequence of a bevel
pinion working in a small bevel wheel upon an upright shaft; while this
wheel gives a slow motion by means of a worm screw to the wheel of the
heart-shaped pulley _u_, _fig._ 345.
The driving pulley makes about 600 turns in a minute; and as the
diameter of the drum _y_, _fig._ 345., is six times the diameter of the
spindle wharves _w_, it will give 3600 turns to the spindle in that
time. If the pulley be driven faster, for example 700 times in a minute,
it will increase the revolutions of the spindles to 4200. The degree of
twist which will be thereby imparted to the yarn, depends, with like
speed of spindles, upon the rate at which the soft yarn is delivered by
the drawing rollers; for the quicker this delivery, the quicker is the
winding-on, and the less twist goes into a given length of yarn. If, for
example, the front rollers _d_, turn 24 times in a minute, giving out of
course 72 inches of yarn in this time, upon which the 3600 revolutions
of the spindle are expended, there will be 50 twists to every inch of
yarn. By changing the wheel-work of _fig._ 345., or by sticking greater
or smaller wharves upon the spindles, the proportion between their
velocity and that of the drawing rollers, and thence the degree of twist
can be modified at pleasure.
The number of spindles in a throstle frame 12 feet long, is about 60 on
each side. The drawing rollers are coupled together as in the bobbin and
fly frame, so that each row forms one continuous cylinder. There is a
complete roller beam on each side; each of the rollers of the front row
is pressed by its top rollers with a weight of ten or twelve pounds;
but those of the middle and back rows bear weights of only one pound. In
the throstles, there is a guide bar which traverses a small way
horizontally to the left and right, in front of the roller beam, to lead
the thread along different points of the rollers, and thus prevent the
leather of the top ones from being grooved by its constant pressure in
one line.
For the service of 240 spindles, in two double frames, one young woman,
and an assistant piecer are sufficient. They mend the broken ends, and
replace the empty bobbins in the creel with full ones, and the full
bobbins of the throstle by empty ones. The average quantity of yarn
turned off in a week of 69 hours is about 24 hanks per spindle of 30´s
twist. Throstle yarn is of a firm wiry quality, adapted to the warps of
fustians and other strong stuffs, as well as to the manufacture of
stockings and sewing thread.
There are many modifications of the throstle system besides the one
above described; the most celebrated of which are Danforth’s, called the
American throstle, Montgomery’s, and Gore’s. I must refer for an account
of them to my work entitled “The Cotton Manufacture of Great Britain,”
where they are minutely described and illustrated with accurate figures.
_Mule-spinning._--The general principles of the mule have been already
stated. This machine is so named because it is the offspring, so to
speak, of two older machines, the jenny and the water-frame. A mule is
mounted with from 240 to 1000 spindles, and spins of course as many
threads.
[Illustration: 346]
_Fig._ 346. represents the original _jenny_ of Hargreaves, by which one
person was enabled to spin from 16 to 40 threads at once. The soft cords
of rovings wound in double conical cops upon skewers were placed in the
inclined frame at C; the spindles for first twisting and then winding-on
the spun yarn were set upright in steps and bushes at A, being furnished
near their lower ends with whorls, and endless cords, which were driven
by passing round the long-revolving drum of tin plate E. D is the clasp
or clove, having a handle for lifting its upper jaw a little way, in
order to allow a few inches of the soft roving to be introduced. The
compound clove D being now pushed forward upon its friction wheels to A,
was next gradually drawn backward, while the spindles were made to
revolve with proper speed by the right hand of the operative turning the
flywheel B. Whenever one _stretch_ was thereby spun, the clove frame was
slid home towards A; the spindles being simultaneously whirled slowly to
take up the yarn, which was laid on in a conical cop by the due
depression of the faller wire at A with the spinner’s left hand.
[Illustration: 347]
_Fig._ 347. is a diagram of Arkwright’s original _water-frame_ spinning
machine, called afterwards the _water-twist frame_. The rovings mounted
upon bobbins in the creel A A, have their ends led through between the
three sets of twin rollers below B B, thence down through the eyelet
hooks upon the end of the flyers of the spindles C, and finally attached
to their bobbins. The spindles being driven by the band D D upon their
lower part, continuously twist and wind the finished yarn upon the
bobbins; constituting the first unremitting automatic machine for
spinning which the world ever saw.
[Illustration: 348]
Contrast with the above admirable system, the primitive cotton wheel of
India, as represented in the annexed figure 348. By the aid of
mechanical fingers, one Englishman at his mule can turn off daily more
yarn and of far finer quality than 200 of the most diligent spinsters of
Hindostan.
[Illustration: 349]
_Fig._ 349., is a transverse section of the mule, in which its principal
parts are shown.
The machine consists of two main parts; a fixed one corresponding in
some measure to the water-frame or throstle, and a moveable one
corresponding to the jenny. The first contains in a suitable frame the
drawing roller-beam and the chief moving machinery: the second, is
called the carriage, in which the remainder of the moving mechanism and
the spindles are mounted.
The frame of the fixed part consists of two upright sides, and two or
more intermediate parallel bearings, upon which the horizontal roller
beam _a_, the basis of the drawing rollers is supported, _b_, _c_, _d_,
are the three ranges of fluted iron rollers; _e_, _f_, _g_, are the
upper iron rollers covered with leather; _h_, the wooden wiper-rollers
covered with flannel, which being occasionally rubbed with chalk,
imparts some of it to the pressure rollers beneath, so as to prevent the
cotton filaments adhering to them. The rollers are made throughout the
whole length of the mule in portions containing six flutings, which are
coupled together by squared ends fitted into square holes.
The skewers upon which the bobbins containing the rovings from the
bobbin and fly or stretching frame, are set up, are seen at _a_¹, _a_¹,
_a_¹, arranged in three rows in the creel _z_. The soft threads unwound
from these bobbins, in their way to the drawing rollers, pass first
through eyelets in the ends of the wire arms _b_¹, then through the
rings or eyes of the guide bar _w_, and enter between the back pair of
rollers. The number of these bobbins is equal to the number of spindles
in the mule, and twice as great as the number of fluted portions of the
rollers; for two threads are assigned to each portion.
The carriage consists of two cast-iron side pieces, and several
cast-iron intermediate similar pieces, such as _f_², which all together
are made fast to the planks _b_², _c_², _d_². The top is covered in with
the plank _k_². The carriage runs by means of its cast-iron grooved
wheels, upon the cast-iron railway _l_², which is fixed level on the
floor.
The spindles stand upon the carriage in a frame, which consists of two
slant rails _x_², _x_², connected by two slender rods _y_², and which
frame may be set more or less obliquely. The lower rail carries the
brass steps for the points of the spindles _b_³; upon the upper rail
brass slips are fixed pierced with holes through which the tops of the
spindles play. The spindles are as usual made of steel, perfectly
straight, turned truly round, and are all arranged in one plane. To each
of them a small wooden or cast-iron whorl _g_² is made fast. They are
distributed into groups of 24, and the whorls are arranged at such
different heights, that only two of them in each group are upon a level
with each other. A small brass head _h_², which every spindle has
beneath the upper slant rail of the frame _x_², prevents their sitting
down into the step, during their rotation, or sliding off their cop of
yarn.
_c_³ are drums, mounted in the carriage in a plane at right angles to
the plane in which the spindles are placed. At top they have a double
groove for a cord to run in, and the motion which they receive from the
great fly wheel, or rim of the mule (not visible in this view) they
impart to the spindles. Such a drum is assigned to every 24 spindles;
and therefore a mule of 480 spindles contains 20 drums. In the middle of
the carriage is seen the horizontal pulley _k_³, furnished with three
grooves, which stands in a line with the drums _c_³.
The motion is given to the drums _c_³, upon the right hand half of the
carriage by a single endless band or cord which proceeds from the middle
groove of the pulley _k_³. The rotation of the spindles is produced by a
slender cord, of which there are 12 upon each drum _c_³; because every
such cord goes round the drum, and also every two wharves which stand at
the same level upon the spindles. It is obvious that the drums, and
consequently the spindles, must continue to revolve as long as the main
rim of the mule is turned, whether the carriage be at rest or in motion
upon its railway.
If we suppose the carriage to be run in to its standing point, or to be
pushed home to the spot from which it starts in spinning, its back plank
_d_² will strike the post _q_³ upon the fixed frame, and the points of
the spindles will be close in front of the roller beam. The rollers now
begin to turn and to deliver threads, which receive immediately a
portion of their twist from the spindles; the carriage retires from the
roller beam with somewhat greater speed than the surface speed of the
front rollers, whereby the threads receive a certain degree of
stretching, which affects most their thicker and less twisted portions,
and thereby contributes greatly to the levelness of the yarn. When the
carriage has run out to the end of its course, or has completed a
stretch, the fluted rollers suddenly cease to revolve (and sometimes
even beforehand, when a second stretch is to be made), but the spindles
continue to whirl till the fully extended threads have received the
proper seconder after-twist. Then the carriage must be put up, or run
back towards the rollers, and the threads must be wound upon the
spindles.
This is the order of movements which belong to the mule. It has been
shown how the rotation of the spindles is produced.
For winding-on the yarn the carriage has a peculiar apparatus, which we
shall now describe. In front of it, through the whole extent to the
right hand as well as the left, a slender iron rod, _d_⁵, runs
horizontally along, in a line somewhat higher than the middle of the
copping portion of the spindles, and is supported by several props, such
as _e_⁵. Upon each end of the two rods, _d_⁵, there is an arm, _g_⁵; and
betwixt these arms an iron wire, called the copping wire, _f_⁵, is
stretched, parallel with the rod _d_⁵. For the support of this wire,
there are several slender bent arms _h_⁵ extended from the rod _d_⁵ at
several points betwixt the straight arms _g_⁵. The rod _d_⁵ has, besides
a wooden handle at the place opposite to where the spinner stands, by
which it can be readily grasped. This movement is applied at the left
division of the machine, and it is communicated to the right by an
apparatus which resembles a crane’s bill. The two arms, _g_⁵, in the
middle of the machine, project over the rods _d_⁵, and are connected by
hinges with two vertical rods _j_⁵, which hang together downwards in
like manner with two arms _i_⁵, proceeding from a horizontal axis _k_⁵.
By means of that apparatus the yarn is wound upon the spindles in the
following manner. As long as the stretching and twisting go on, the
threads form an obtuse angle with the spindles, and thereby slide
continually over their smooth rounded tips during their revolution,
without the possibility of coiling upon them. When, however, the
spinning process is completed, the spinner seizes the carriage with his
left hand and pushes it back towards the roller beam, while with his
right hand he turns round the handle of the rim or fly wheel, and
consequently the spindles. At the same time, by means of the handle upon
the rod _d_⁵, he moves the copping-wire, _f_⁵, so that it presses down
all the threads at once, and places them in a direction nearly
perpendicular to the spindles; as shown by the dotted line _y_⁵. That
this movement of the copping wire, however, may take place without
injury to the yarn, it is necessary to turn the rim beforehand a little
in the opposite direction, so that the threads may get uncoiled from the
upper part of the spindles, and become slack; an operation called in
technical language, the _backing off_. The range upon which the threads
should be wound, in order to form a conical cop upon the spindle, is hit
by depressing the copping wire to various angles, nicely graduated by an
experienced eye. This faller wire alone is not, however, sufficient for
the purpose of winding-on a seemly cop, as there are always some loose
threads which it cannot reach without breaking others.
Another wire called the _counter-faller_, _l_⁵, must be applied under
the threads. It may be raised to an elevation limited by the angular
piece _p_⁵; and is counterpoised by a very light weight _m_⁵, applied
through the bent lever _n_⁵, which turns upon the fulcrum _o_⁵. This
wire, which applies but a gentle pressure, gives tension to all the
threads, and brings them regularly into the height and range of the
faller _f_⁵. This wire must be raised once more, whenever the carriage
approaches the roller beam. At this instant a new stretch commences; the
rollers begin again to revolve, and the carriage resumes its former
course. These motions are performed by the automatic machinery.
There is a little eccentric pulley mechanism for moving the guide beam
to and fro with the soft yarns, as they enter between the back rollers.
On the right hand end of the back roller shaft, a worm screw is formed
which works into the oblique teeth of a pinion attached to the end of
the guide beam, in which there is a series of holes for the passage of
the threads, two threads being assigned to each fluted roller. In the
flat disc of the pinion, an eccentric pin stands up which takes into the
jointed lever upon the end of the guide beam, and as it revolves, pushes
that beam alternately to the left and the right by a space equal to its
eccentricity. This motion is exceedingly slow, since for each revolution
of the back roller, the pinion advances only by one tooth out of the 33
which are cut in its circumference.
After counting the number of teeth in the different wheels and pinions
of the mule, or measuring their relative diameters, it is easy to
compute the extension and twist of the yarns; and when the last fineness
is given to ascertain their marketable value. Let the ratio of speed
between the three drawing rollers be 1 : 1-3/22 : 7-1/2; and the
diameter of the back and middle roller three quarters of an inch: that
of the front roller one inch; in which case the drawing is thereby
increased 1-1/3 times, and 7-1/2 × 1-1/3 = 10. If the rovings in the
creel bobbins have been No. 4. the yarn, after passing through the
rollers, will be No. 40. By altering the change pinion (not visible in
this view) the fineness may be changed within certain limits, by
altering the relative speed of the rollers. For one revolution of the
great rim or fly wheel of the mule, the front roller makes about
6-tenths of a turn, and delivers therefore 22·6 lines or 12ths of an
inch of yarn, which, in consequence of the tenfold draught through the
rollers, corresponds to 2·26 lines of roving fed in at the back rollers.
The spindles or their whorls make about 66 revolutions for one turn of
the rim. The pulleys or grooved wheels on which the carriage runs,
perform 0·107 part of a turn while the rim makes one revolution, and
move the carriage 24·1 lines upon its rails, the wheels being 6 inches
in diameter.
The 22·6 lines of soft yarn delivered by the front rollers, will be
stretched 1-1/2 lines by the carriage advancing 24·1 lines in the same
time. Let the length of the railway, or of each stretch be 5 feet, the
carriage will complete its course after 30 revolutions of the rim wheel,
and the 5 feet length of yarn (of which 56-1/2 inches issue from the
drawing rollers, and 3-1/2 inches proceed from the stretching) is, by
the simultaneous whirling of the spindles, twisted 1980 times, being at
the rate of 33 twists for every inch. The second twist, which the
threads receive after the carriage has come to repose, is regulated
according to the quality of the cotton wool, and the purpose for which
the yarn is spun. For warp yarn of No. 40 or 50, for example, 6 or 8
turns of the rim wheel, that is, from 396 to 528 whirls of the spindles
for the whole stretch, therefore from 7 to 9 twists per inch will be
sufficient. The finished yarn thus receives from 40 to 42 twists per
inch.
One spinner attends to two mules, which face each other, so that he
needs merely turn round in the spot where he stands, to find himself in
the proper position for the other mule. For this reason the rim wheel
and handle, by which he operates, are not placed in the middle of the
length of the machine, but about two fifths of the spindles are to the
right hand and three fifths to the left; the rim wheel being towards his
right hand. The carriage of the one mule is in the act of going out and
spinning, while that of the other is finishing its twist, and being put
up by the spinner.
The quantity of yarn manufactured by a mule in a given time, depends
directly upon the number of the spindles, and upon the time taken to
complete every stretch of the carriage. Many circumstances have an
indirect influence upon that quantity, and particularly the degree of
skill possessed by the spinner. The better the machine, the steadier and
softer all its parts revolve, the better and more abundant is its
production. When the toothed wheels do not work truly into their
pinions, when the spindles shake in their bushes, or are not accurately
made, many threads break, and the work is much injured and retarded. The
better the staple of the cotton wool, and the more careful has been its
preparation in the carding, drawing, and roving processes, the more easy
and excellent the spinning will become: warmth, dryness, cold, and
moisture have great influence on the ductility, so to speak, of cotton.
A temperature of 65° F., with an atmosphere not too arid, is found most
suitable to the operations of a spinning mill. The finer the yarn, the
slower is the spinning. For numbers from 20 to 36, from 2 to 3 stretches
of warp may be made in a minute, and nearly 3 stretches of weft; for
numbers above 50 up to 100, about 2 stretches; and for numbers from 100
to 150, one stretch in the minute. Still finer yarns are spun more
slowly, which is not wonderful, since in the fine spinning mills of
England, the mules usually contain upwards of 500 spindles each, in
order that one operative may manage a great number of them, and thereby
earn such high wages as shall fully remunerate his assiduity and skill.
In spinning fine numbers, the second speed is given before the carriage
is run out to the end of its railway; during which course of about six
inches, it is made to move very slowly. This is called the second
stretch, and is of use in making the yarn level by drawing down the
thicker parts of it, which take on the twist less readily than the
thinner, and therefore remain softer and more extensible. The stretch
may therefore be divided into three stages. The carriage first moves
steadily out for about 4 feet, while the drawing rollers and spindles
are in full play; now the rollers stop, but the spindles go on whirling
with accelerated speed, and the carriage advances slowly, about 6 inches
more; then it also comes to rest, while the spindles continue to revolve
for a little longer, to give the final degree of twist. The acceleration
of the spindles in the second and third stages, which has no other
object but to save time, is effected by a mechanism called the
_counter_, which shifts the driving band, at the proper time, upon the
loose pulley, and, moreover, a second band, which had, till now, lain
upon its loose pulley, upon a small driving pulley of the rim-shaft. At
length, both bands are shifted upon their loose pulleys, and the mule
comes to a state of quiescence.
The SELF-ACTOR MULE, or the IRON MAN, as it has been called in
Lancashire, is an invention to which the combinations among the
operative spinners obliged the masters to have recourse. It now spins
good yarn up to 40 s with great uniformity and promptitude, and requires
only juvenile hands to conduct it, to piece the broken yarns, to replace
the bobbins of rovings in the creel, and to remove the finished cops
from the spindles.
The self-acting mules were first constructed, I believe, by Messrs.
Eaton, formerly of Manchester, who mounted ten or twelve of them in that
town, four at Wiln, in Derbyshire, and a few in France. From their great
complexity and small productiveness, the whole were soon relinquished,
except those at Wiln. M. de Jong obtained two patents for self-acting
mules, and put twelve of them in operation in a mill at Warrington, of
which he was part proprietor; but with an unsuccessful result. I saw the
_débris_ of one of M. de Jong’s self-actors in the factory of M. Nicolas
Schlumberger, at Guebwiller, in Alsace, where the machine had been
worked for three months, without advantage, under the care of the
inventor, who is a native of that valley.
The first approximation to a successful accomplishment of the objects in
view, was an invention of a self-acting mule, by Mr. Roberts, of
Manchester; one of the principal points of which was the mode of
governing the winding-on of the yarn into the form of a cop; the entire
novelty and great ingenuity of which invention was universally admitted,
and proved the main step to the final accomplishment of what had so long
been a desideratum. For that invention a patent was obtained in 1825,
and several headstocks upon the principle were made, which are still
working successfully.
In 1830, Mr. Roberts obtained a patent for the invention of certain
improvements; and by a combination of both his inventions, he produced a
self-acting mule, which is generally admitted to have exceeded the most
sanguine expectations, and which has been extensively adopted. There
are, probably, at present, upwards of half a million of spindles of
Messrs. Sharp, Roberts, and Co.’s construction, at work in the United
Kingdom, and giving great satisfaction to their possessors. The
advantages of these self-actors are the following:--
The saving of a spinner’s wages to each pair of mules, piecers only
being required, as one overlooker is sufficient to manage six or eight
pairs of mules. The production of a greater quantity of yarn, in the
ratio of from 15 to 20 per cent. The yarn possesses a more uniform
degree of twist, and is not liable to be strained during the spinning,
or in winding-on, to form the cop; consequently fewer threads are broken
in these processes, and the yarn, from having fewer piecings is more
regular.
The cops are made firmer, of better shape, and with undeviating
uniformity; and, from being more regularly and firmly wound, contain
from one third to one half more yarn than cops of equal bulk wound by
hand; they are consequently less liable to injury in packing or in
carriage, and the expense of packages and freight (when charged by
measurement) is considerably reduced.
From the cops being more regularly and firmly wound, combined with their
superior formation, the yarn intended for warps less frequently breaks
in winding or reeling, consequently there is a considerable saving of
waste in those processes.
Secondly, the advantages connected with weaving.
The cops being more regularly and firmly wound, the yarn, when used as
weft, seldom breaks in weaving; and as the cops also contain a greater
quantity of weft, there are fewer bottoms, consequently there is a very
material saving of waste in the process of weaving.
From those combined circumstances, the quality of the cloth is improved,
by being more free from defects caused by the breakage of the warp or
weft, as well as the selvages being more regular.
The looms can also be worked at greater speed; and, from there being
fewer stoppages, a greater quantity of cloth may be produced.
That the advantages thus enumerated, as derivable from the use of
self-acting mules, have not been overrated, but, in many instances, have
been considerably exceeded, I have, by extensive personal inquiry and
observation, had ample opportunity of ascertaining.
Statement of the quantity of yarn produced on Messrs. Sharp, Roberts,
and Co.’s self-acting mules, in twelve working hours, including the
usual stoppages connected with spinning, estimated on the average of
upwards of twenty mills:--
No. of Yarn. No. of Twist. No. of Weft.
16 4-1/2 hanks 4-7/8 hanks per spindle.
24 4-1/4 -- 4-5/8 --
32 4 -- 4-3/8 --
40 3-3/4 -- 4-1/8 --
Of the intermediate numbers the quantities are proportionate.
Results of trials made by Messrs. Sharp, Roberts, and Co., at various
mills, to ascertain the comparative power required to work self-acting
mules, in reference to hand-mules, during the spinning, up to the period
of backing off.