AN IMPROVEMENT IN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents, 66,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN CENTRIFUGAL MACHINES." A communication from
abroad by William Henry Tolhurst, of Troy, in the State of New York,
United States of America
Sealed the 16th July 1878, and dated the 19th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Edward Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th January 1878.
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "AN IMPROVEMENT IN CENTRIFUGAL
MACHINES." [A communication from abroad by William Henry Tolhurst, of
Troy, in the State of New York, United States of America.]
In some centrifugal machines as heretofore constructed, the adjustable spindle-
supporting socket is made with a lateral annular flange resting upon an annular
elastic cushion, so that all the weight of the spindle socket with the spindle and
basket is necessarily sustained by the lateral flange and the elastic cushion under
the flange.
Now this Invention relates to means for supporting the upright rotary spindle,
upon which the basket is mounted, so that the weight of the spindle and basket
shall not rest entirely on the annular flange and elastic cushion; and it consists of
a journal socket (in which the basket spindle is stepped and rotated) provided at
its bottom with a pivot-like end, which bears, so as to be capable of a rocking
motion in all directions, upon a base step fitted to the main framing of the
This latter has an annular
apparatus, and which thus supports the spindle socket.
side flange, which supports an elastic cushion, upon which bears a rim cap that is
separate from but surrounds the spindle socket, and is connected with and secured
to the base plate by means of screws, bolts, or equivalent means, by which the
spindle may be readily adjusted in an upright position, and the elastic cushion may

page_text: be compressed to any required degree to control the gyrating motion of the spindle
without sustaining the compressing and crushing action of the great weight of the
spindle socket and spindle with its basket and heavy contents.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
July 1878.
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in tho
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "AN IMPROVEMENT IN CENTRIFUGAL
MACHINES." A communication from abroad by William Henry Tolhurst, of
Troy, in the State of New York, United States of America.
In some centrifugal machines as heretofore constructed the adjustable spindle-
supporting socket is made with a lateral annular flange resting upon an annular
elastic cushion, so that all the weight of the spindle socket with the spindle and
basket is necessarily sustained by the lateral flange and the elastic cushion under
the flange.
-
Now this Invention relates to means for supporting the upright rotary spindle
upon which the basket is mounted, so that the weight of the spindle and basket
shall not rest entirely on the annular flange and elastic cushion; and it consists of
a journal socket (in which the basket spindle is stepped and rotated) provided at
its bottom with a pivot-like end, which bears, so as to be capable of a rocking
motion in all directions, upon a base step fitted to the main framing of the apparatus,
and which thus supports the spindle socket. This spindle socket has an annular
side flange, which supports an elastic cushion, upon which bears a rim cap that is
separate from but surrounds the spindle socket, and is connected with and secured
to the base plate by means of screws, bolts, or equivalent means, by which the
spindle may be readily adjusted in an upright position, and the elastic cushion may
be compressed to any required degree to control the gyrating motion of the spindle
without sustaining the compressing and crushing action of the great weight of the
spindle socket, and spindle with its basket and heavy contents.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 is an elevation of a centrifugal machine,
which embodies this Invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the machine on a
larger scale; and Figures 3, 4, and 5. are plans of the under sides of parts of the
same on a smaller scale than in Fig. 2.
A is the stationary framework with the basket casing B thereon; C is the
spindle with pulley D fast on the spindle; E is the driving pulley; F, the driving
belt; G, idle pulleys; and H, a friction brake, all of which may be of any suitable
construction. I is a journal socket, in which the lower portion of the basket
spindle C rotates on a step j. In the bottom of the spindle socket I is screwed a
cone-shaped end k, the point of which bears on the base step L, and is capable of
rocking thereon in all directions. The spindle socket I has around its lower part

page_text: a lateral flange m, which carries an elastic cushion N of vulcanized india-rubber or
other suitable material. P is a separate cup piece, which surrounds the spindle
Bocket I, and rests upon the cushion N, and is secured to but at a little distance
from the base of the step L by means of bolts r.
As an equivalent for the bolts I sometimes use screws having heads above the
plate P, and threads engaging with nut threads in the base q; and any other
equivalent or suitable known adjustable fastenings can be used in securing the cap
piece P to but apart from the base.
The cushion N is preferably made in the form of a flattened ring conformed to
the parts m and P, as shewn, but the cushion may consist of several segments or
separate pieces arranged at intervals around and between the cap piece P and
flange m, all being properly fitted together.
It will be seen that with the above-described combination and arrangement of
parts, the basket spindle C can be readily adjusted into the proper upright position,
and the cushion N easily compressed to any degree required properly to limit and
control the natural gyratory motion of the basket spindle when unevenly loaded,
and that at the same time the whole weight of the basket and its contents upon
the spindle C is sustained by the cone-shaped end k bearing on the base step L, so
that this latter is not materially shaken by the gyratory motion of the basket and
spindle, nor is the cushion N subject to any compression or crushing action from
the weight of the basket and its contents on the spindle, but is arranged with
the parts P and m in such position, in respect to the part k and step L, as to be
very durable, while effectually limiting and controlling the gyratory movements of
the basket spindle.
In the present Invention it is essential that the weight of the spindle socket,
with the spindle and basket, shall not be supported by the flange of the spindle
socket nor by the elastic cushion, but shall be sustained by the central end part k
of the spindle socket bearing upon the base step L.
Having now set forth the nature of this Invention for "Improvements in
Centrifugal Machines," as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and
having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be
understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim, the com-
bination with the base step L of the spindle socket I supported by its cone-shaped
end k bearing upon the base step, and having the lateral flange m, the cushion N,
arranged over and upon the lateral flange of the spindle socket, and the cap
piece P separate from the spindle socket, and arranged over and upon the cushion,
and adjustably secured to the base of the step, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Edward Newton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Nineteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
H. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)