Fig. 177.
Fig. 178.
(353) It was shown that to perfect the action of winding at the nose of the cop it is customary to deflect the chain by means of a nose peg. A motion based upon the principle of the deflection of the chain, but in which that object is attained in a different fashion, is shown in Fig. [178] in side elevation, and in Fig. [179] in enlarged detail. This is Dobson and Hardman’s patent, and is made by Messrs. Dobson and Barlow. Two main objects have been aimed at. These are the control of the winding from the faller—so that the relation of the two will be strictly maintained—and the deflection of the chain by a pull from below instead of a push from above. On the faller shaft a tappet is fixed, to which is jointed a lever J with an arm or finger K secured to it. A bracket H is attached to the quadrant arm a few inches from its centre, and its outer edge H1 is formed into a rack with which two catches engage. These are carried by a lever G, which is hung on a pin in the upper part of the bracket H. G has a projecting shoulder at its outer end, to which is fastened one end of the chain E passing over the pulley F, and having its other end attached to the lower end of the link C. The winding chain B is also attached to the link C. The lever G is formed with an arm G1, to which is jointed a double tumbler I, each part of which is free to move as required. A projection is cast on I, which causes it to rest on G when in its normal position. This mechanism acts in the following manner: When a set of cops is begun the lever G is at its lowest position relatively to the quadrant rack H1, and the winding chain B and link C are then almost straight. At the end of each stretch the finger K comes into contact with the lower part of I, which is raised to allow K to pass. When the inward run begins K causes the projection on I to press upon the lever G and raise it if the pressure is maintained a sufficient time. Whether this is so or not is determined solely by the vertical position of J, which, in turn, is regulated from the winding faller. If the latter is not substantially raised from stretch to stretch the position of G in like manner remains unaltered. If this is not the case G is a little lifted, and the chain E is thus drawn forward a little over the pulley F. The result is that a pull is exercised on the link C, which is drawn down so that it and the chain B no longer represent a straight line. This is equivalent to shortening the chain B, and the result is that the necessary acceleration of the winding drum is effected. The chief feature of this motion is the regulation which is obtained from the faller, the position of which fixes the amount of extra pull put on the drum. However slowly the building proceeds the necessary acceleration is made in exact proportion.
Fig. 179.J.N.
(354) In the description of the governing motion, given in paragraph 339, it was shown that the rotation of the screw in the quadrant arm is made during the inward run of the carriage. There are some objections made to this procedure on the ground of the extra tension put on the yarn in the early part of winding, which is of some moment when fine or tender yarns are being spun. In Fig. [180] a side view is given of a motion made by Messrs. Dobson and Barlow, which is designed to obviate the necessity for altering the screw during the inward run, and provide means by which it can be made during the outward run. In lieu of the ordinary grooved pulley on the quadrant axis, a toothed wheel U is used, with which a toothed rack R can engage under circumstances presently to be described. The rack R is carried by a sliding frame S, which is fixed upon a longitudinal rod T, extending backwards in the headstock, and carried by brackets fastened to the floor. The rack is fitted at one end with an inclined foot, and at the other with a spring, which prevents too deep an engagement of the rack and wheel. The rack passes—during its outward stroke—over a frame fastened to the headstock, in which is a screw X on which is threaded the sliding stop W. The pitch of the screw thread is varied to correspond with the thread in the quadrant arm Q, and the screw is rotated by a ratchet wheel, with which a pawl, oscillated by a finger, engages. At the point I a loose tongue is hinged, which at the end of the stroke of the frame engages with the nut W. On the winding faller a sector Y is fixed, in which a stud, formed with two portions of different diameters, is bolted. On the counter faller a sector Z is fastened, carrying a screwed staple, to which is secured one end of a chain, indicated by dotted lines. The chain passes round the bowl R at the upper end of the pendant lever O, guided in brackets at the front of the carriage. The loose end of the chain is formed into a loop, which can be slipped on to either of the surfaces of the bowl in the sector Y. A hinged finger L is carried by a bracket on the rod T, and has a little range of movement in a circular direction.
(355) In beginning a set of cops the stop W is turned back to its proper position, which is determined by the size of the cop about to be spun. The frame S is then pushed forward as much as possible, and the chain is slipped on to the smaller portion of the bowl in Y. This allows the pendant O to fall a little, and its height subsequently is regulated strictly by the position of the fallers. During the outward run the horizontal arm P, which forms part of the pendant O, engages with the vertical projection on the frame S and causes it to move forward. The rack R being raised engages with the wheel U and rotates it, this movement being consequently communicated to the quadrant nut. Thus the latter is put into position for action during the next period of winding and any straining of the yarn is avoided. As the stroke of the rack is continued, the tongue I engages with the nut and causes the rack to drop out of gear with the pinion, and any further movement of the quadrant nut is avoided. It has been shown that the traverse of the latter is gradually diminished as the cop is built, and, in like manner, the inward motion of the stop W causes the engagement of the rack and pinion to be limited. This is a sort of “trip” motion very familiar to students of steam engine practice, and is well applied in this case. The slide S is drawn back into position by the engagement of the lower end of the pendant O with the finger L. A slight contact at first between these becomes a firm one by the backward movement of the finger when pressed upon by the pendant O, but it will be obvious that, if the latter is too high to move the finger L, the rack will remain untraversed until a sufficient depression of O takes place. It only remains to be said that once the nut W has been set at the beginning of winding, all that is required is for the minder to slip the loop of the chain on the right portion of the bowl in Y, and the motion acts automatically until winding is finished.
(356) A somewhat similar attachment has been recently introduced in France, and is the invention of Mons. Dubs. The author is informed by a trustworthy mechanician that the motion acts perfectly throughout winding, and it may, therefore, be well to give a brief description of it. As in the motion of Messrs. Dobson and Barlow, the regulation of the nut takes place during the outward run, and it is unnecessary to again detail the reasons for this course. The chief operating part of the mechanism is the rack finger A—shown in its position when in gear—which is hinged on a vertical rod or plunger K, sustained in a frame or bearing S fastened to the carriage. Referring to Fig. [181], the whole of the apparatus moves with the carriage and is self-contained. Attached to the faller is a connecting rod or link B, which is coupled to a hinged lever O formed at its outer end with a toothed rack or quadrant finely pitched. With this rack, which has two sets of stepped teeth, two detent catches H engage. The lever O is hinged to a plunger L, which has at its lower end a screwed shank fixed to a plate F also secured in the same manner to the plunger K. The inner end of the rack lever A has a hanging piece D which can engage with a catch E on the plate F, but which in the view is shown out of gear. The downward motion of the inner end of A is regulated by the stop screw R, and it is coupled by the chain C to the counter faller. The spring M constantly presses the inner end of A down, tending to raise the rack. When the various parts are adjusted the parts F K and L move together and simultaneously with the lever O.
