IMPROVEMENTS IN SPINDLES AND THEIR BEARINGS FOR SPINNING MACHINERY
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
"
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
'IMPROVEMENTS IN SPINDLES AND THEIR BEARINGS FOR SPINNING MACHINERY."
A communication from abroad by Francis James Rabboth; of Providence;
Rhode Island. United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd October 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lako, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPINDLES AND THEIR
BEARINGS FOR SPINNING MACHINERY." A communication from abroad by Francis:
James Rabbeth, of Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America.
These improvements relate to spindles for spinning machinery, and are specially
valuable in that class of "live" spindles for spinning and twisting, which have their
entire bearing within a supporting tube; they are also of value in that class of
spindles which have separate upper and lower or step bearings.
The improvements herein-after described are intended, to practically obviate the
evil effects due to such vibration as is common to "live" spindles, and valuable
results are attained in that connection as well as economic results in connection
with the first cost of that class of spindles which have bearings in supporting
tubes.
The main feature of this Invention consists in the combination with a "live"
spindle of vertical bearings which are capable of yielding in all directions
laterally.
Another feature of the said Invention consists in the combination with a "live"
spindle and a supporting tube of a vertical bearing which is capable of yielding
laterally in all directions, and a step which supports the weight of the spindle and
also admits of a lateral movement of the step bearing in all directions.

page_text: The term "vertical bearing," as herein employed, relates to such portion of the
spindle bearing as is practically parallel with the axis of the spindle in contra-
distinction to the bearing which supports the weight of the spindle and is usually
at the foot thereof.
The features of the said Invention, already briefly referred to, necessarily involve
either the use of a tube which contains the entire bearing for the spindle, or a
bolster and a step, both of which contain a bearing and both of which permit the
spindle to have a lateral movement in all directions.
"
The said Invention is however applicable in part to spindles which have steps as
ordinarily constructed, and which are incapable at the foot of any lateral movement,
and another feature of the said Invention consists in the combination with a "live'
spindle adapted to be mounted in a step of a bolster bearing which is cushioned in
all directions laterally; and a bolster containing a bearing which is cushioned on all
sides constitutes another feature of said Invention.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 represents a spindle with a whirl sleeve and bobbin mounted in a
supporting tube, and attached to a spindle rail; Figure 2 represents the same
spindle detached; Figure 3 represents the parts shown in Figure 1 in central
vertical section.
Figure 4 represents the supporting tube detached and in vertical central section.
Figure 5 represents the vertical bearing detached.
Figure 6 represents the vertical bearing and a tubular cushion of felt or other
suitable elastic material.
Figure 7 represents in central vertical section a bolster bearing, its cushion, and a
special base for supporting the weight of the spindle.
Figure 8 represents in top and side view a metallic cushion composed of flat wire
coiled upon a square arbor, and which when released therefrom may be made to
assume five or more sides, the angles of which occupy spiral lines as shown.
Figure 9 represents a spindle without a sleeve but provided with a whirl, which
is recessed on its lower side for covering the upper end of the supporting tube and
locating the line of strain of the band adjacent to the top of said tube.
Figuro 10 represents
laterally in all directions.
spindle provided with bearings which are cushioned
Figure 11 represents in central vertical section (with the foot of the spindle
therein) a step which is rigidly attached to a stop rail and contains a cushioned
vertical bearing.
The spindle A mounted in a supporting tube a is commonly provided with a
sleeve band whirl c, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3. Instead of being provided
with a journal which is fitted to a step, which not only supports the weight of the
spindle but also confines it as against any lateral movement as heretofore, this
spindle at its lower end d may be squared off, but it is preferably slightly rounded,
so that when it rests upon a flat plain surface bearing as at e, Figure 4, at the
bottom of the tube a it will be supported, but free to move laterally more or less
on said bearing. This is a novel feature of construction and is an important one in
carrying into effect this portion of the said Invention. The part of the spindle
which is enclosed by the supporting tube is preferably straight, although if it be
tapered it will not materially affect its operation.
The tubular vertical bearing f is composed of sheet or cast metal of any kind
which will afford good journal contact with the steel spindle, and it is generally
perforated or slotted at more or less frequent intervals on all sides, and it should be
fitted to receive the spindle like bolster tubes heretofore used. When the bottom of
the supporting tube is fitted as at e, Figure 4, for a contact bearing with the foot of
the spindle, the vertical bearing fis open at its lower end.
When it is desirable that the foot of the spindle be elevated above the bottom of
the supporting tube, the bearing f is mounted upon a base tube 7 (as in Figures 3
and 7) which rests upon the bottom of the supporting tube a. The bearing for the
foot of the spindle in this case is provided for, either by means of a plate / inserted

page_text: in the bottom of the bearing f, or in the top of the base tube g. When the base
tube is employed an ample oil space or reservoir is afforded below the spindle.
The flexible yielding or cushioning medium i is located between the vertical
bearing fand the supporting tube a and is shown in two forms. In Figure 6 it is
a cylindrical length of felt which encloses the bearing f and with it is placed snugly
within the supporting tube. The felt may be cut from a sheet in strips of suitable
width jointed vertically on one side and secured by winding threads, or it may be
cut in longer narrower strips and applied in one thickness spirally, as indicated in
the Drawing. prefer however to employ a tubular woven or closely braided
woollen fabric, more or less fulled or felted. When the base tube g is employed
the felt cushion is made long enough to receive said tube as well as the bearing f
In Figure 8 the cushion i¹ is shown as if composed of metal in the form of flat wiro
which has been tightly coiled upon a square arbor, so that when released therefrom
it will partially uncoil, and be a five or more sided tubular structure which will
embrace the vertical bearing f and also fit the interior of the supporting tube. Tho
outer angles of the cushion occupy spiral lines and will lie in contact with the
supporting tube, while the outside surface of the vertical bearing f will be in
contact with the inside of the cushion at each coil between the angles.
It is immaterial, so far as relates to the cushioning function, whether metal or a
sufficiently elastic non-metallic substance be employed, but the latter, if it be felt,
cork, or other absorbent, contributes to proper lubrication even though a body of
oil be kept only at the bottom of the supporting tube. With a sleeved spindle
an oil duct as at k may be employed as heretofore, or the well-known oil tube
may be applied, as in the so-called American "Rabbeth” spindle.
A flanged cap a' is fitted into the top of the tube a and is provided with a central
aperture much larger than the spindle, so as not to interfere with the movement
thereof, which is rendered possible by the cushioned bearing. This cap controls the
undue upward movement of oil. With the cushioned yielding bearing the spindle
is not confined in its movement in any precise vertical line, and it is therefore
self-adjustable in that if it be loaded with an imperfectly balanced bobbin, it
can readily assume such a position as will enable it to revolve without undue
vibration.
The vertical bearing not being positively fixed with relation to the stationary.
supporting tube, and the foot of the spindle not being confined laterally, it follows
that both the top and the foot of the spindle while revolving can describe circles
greater in diameter than that of the spindle, and therefore an unequally balanced
bobbin will with its load be revolved on an axis which (as nearly as is possible) will
correspond with its balance centre instead of its geometrical axis, this latter being
the case when the spindle is fixed laterally at its foot and confined at its vertical
bearings to revolutions on its true axis as heretofore.
The interposition of the yielding medium between the vertical bearing of the
spindle and the supporting tube contributes greatly to the durability of the contact
surfaces, and there being no necessity for a nicely fitted step for the spindle (as has
heretofore been deemed essential), practical economy is attainable in the construction
of the spindle and its step or foot bearing.
The spindle, Figure 9, has no sleeve, but the whirl being recessed covers and
shields the top of the supporting tube, and the draught on the band will be a little
below or closely adjacent to the top of the supporting tube. The sleeved whirl is
however preferable.
In Figures 10 and 11 the yielding cushion is shown applied to a bolster and a
step, each of these parts being mounted on its respective rail. To this spindle my
improvements are applied by cushioning the bolster and the step, so that, as herein-
before described, the entire vertical bearing of the spindle will admit of a lateral
movement in all directions. The holster is a tubular structure, externally con-
structed as heretofore, and properly fitted for mounting in the bolster rail. The
vertical tubular bearing f¹ is constructed like the aforesaid bearing fand properly
fitted to the spindle. The cushion is as before described, and interposed in like

page_text: manner between the bearing and the bolster.
The lower vertical bearing of thi
spindle is afforded by the tubular portion of the step m at m², and it may be
cushioned by interposing the felt 22 or other elastic medium between the step block
and the rail in which it is mounted. When the step and the upper or bolster
bearing are thus cushioned, it will be seen that the said spindle will be capable
of making approximately the same movements as the spindle previously
described.
-
The stop, Figure 11, instead of being cushioned between it and the rail, contains a
vertical tubular bearing m², which is cushioned like the upper bearing above
described, and the foot of the spindle is rounded or squared and rests upon a plain
surface within the step, so that it is capable at its foot of the same movement as in
the supporting tube a previously described. If the lower bearing be in no manner
oushioned, the bolster, its bearing, and cushion, constructed as above described, are
of practical value, and they constitute a portion of these improvements.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
L
First. The combination with a spindle of vertical bearings which are capable
of yielding laterally in all directions, as above described, and for the purpose
specified..
Second. The combination with a spindle and a supporting tube, of a vertical
bearing within the supporting tube, capable of yielding laterally in all directions,
and a step within the tube which supports the spindle and permits its foot to move
laterally in all directions, as above described and for the purpose specified.
Third. The combination with a spindle adapted to be mounted on a step rail, 1
and a bolster rail of a bolster bearing which is cushioned in all directions laterally,
as above described and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. A bolster for a spindle, which consists of a tubular structure fitted to be
mounted in a bolster rail, and an interior tubular bolster bearing, which is cushioned
on all sides laterally, as above described and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, "I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and soventy-eight.
WM BORT T.ATZE