996 



COTTON-SPINNING 



As there are many parts which are common to all mules, most of which have been 

 previously described in the notice of the hand mule, wo shall therefore only notice 

 the more prominent portions of the self-acting part of the mule. Among such parts 

 nre, the framing of the headstock A ; the carriage B ; the rovings c ; the supports D, 

 of the roller beam E ; the fluted rollers a ; the top rollers a 1 ; the spindles b ; the 

 carriage wheels b 1 ; the slips, or rails, b 2 , on which they move ; the faller wire b* ; 

 the counter-faller wire b 4 . The following are the parts chiefly connected with the 

 self-acting portion of the mule : The fast pulley F, the loose pulley F', the bevels F 2 

 and F*, which give motion to the fluted rollers ; the back, or drawing-out shaft o ; 

 wheels o 1 and o 5 , by which, through the shaft G S and wheels o 4 and o 5 , motion is 

 communicated to the pinion a 8 on the shaft o 8 , and thence to the quadrant o 7 . The 

 scroll shaft 11, the scrolls H 1 and H 2 , the catch-box H 8 , for giving motion through the 

 Ixjvel wheels H S and H 4 to the scroll shaft. Drawing-in cord H S . Screw in radial 

 arm i, nut on same i 1 , winding-on chain i 2 , winding-on band I s , drawing-out cord i 4 . 

 Pinion i 5 on front roller shaft, to give motion through the wheels i", i 7 , and i 8 , 

 to drawing-out shaft o. Pinion a, and wheels J 1 , J 2 , and J s for giving motion to 

 shaft J 4 ; pinion J s , giving motion to backing-off wheel o 6 . On the change shaft K is 

 keyed a pinion which gears with the wheel J 6 , and receives motion therefrom. 



One half of the catch-box K 1 is fast to one end of a long hollow shaft on which 

 nre two cams, one of which is used to put the front drawing roller catch-box M into 

 and out of contact, the other is used for the purpose of traversing the driving strap 

 on or off the fast-pulley F as required. The other half of the catch-box K 1 is placed 

 on the ehaft K, a key fast on which passes through the boss of the catch-box, and 

 onuses it to be carried round by the shaft as it rotates. Though carried round with 

 the shafr, it is at liberty to move lengthwise, so as to allow it to be put into and 

 out of contact with the other half when required. The spiral spring K 2 is also 

 placed on the shaft K, and continually bears against the end of the catch-box next 

 to it, and endeavours to put it in contact with the other, which it does when per- 

 mitted and the changes are required. The change lever K 3 moves on a stud which 

 passes through its boss a 2 : near which end of this lever are the adjustable pieces a. 

 When the machine is put in motion, supposing the carriage to be coming out, the 

 driving strap is for the most part on the fast pulley F when motion is given through 

 the bevel wheels F 2 and F 3 to the drawing rollers a, which will then draw the rovings 

 c off the bobbins, and deliver the slivers so drawn at the front of the rollers, and 

 the same being fast to the spindles ; as the carriage is drawn out the slivers are taken 

 out nlso, and as the spindles at this time are turned round at a quick rate (say 

 0,000 revolutions per minute), they give twist to the slivers, and convert them 

 i .to yarn or twisted threads. Motion is communicated to the spindles from the rim 

 pulley F', through the rim band F S , which passes from the rim pulley to a grooved 

 pulley on the tin roller shaft, round which it passes and thence round the grooved 

 pulley F* back to the rim pulley, thus forming an endless band. It will be seen that 

 the rim band pulley and the other pulleys, over or round which the rim band passes, 

 are formed with double grooves, and the band being passed round each, it forms a 

 double band, which is found of great advantage, as it will work with a slacker band 

 than if only one groove was used ; there is consequently, less strain on the band, and it 

 i* lu^er, A string or cord passes round the tin roller to a wharve on each spindle, 



