IMPROVEMENTS IN STEPS FOR THE SPINDLES OF SPINNING FRAMES
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Tomlinson Bousfield at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th
May 1866. A communication from abroad by Thomas Marsh, residing
at Central Falls, Smithfield, in the County of Providence and State of
Rhode Island, United States of America.
I, GEORGE TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Loughborough Park, Brixton, in the
County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEPS FOR THE SPINDLES OF SPINNING FRAMES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in steps for the spindles of
spinning frames, and is especially designed to furnish a self-lubricating step-for
the spindles of spinning frames, but it is equally well adapted for use in connection
with any upright spindle, as for example, the spindle of a grinding mill.
In the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the im-
proved step, and the oil reservoir surrounding the same; Figure 2 is a section
on the line x, y, of Figure 3; Figure 3 is a plan; Figure 4 is a view of the
step proper.

page_text: A represents a cylindrical plug which is intended to be fitted into a
corresponding hole in the step rail of the spinning frame, or into a suitable
bed block if the spindle belongs to a grinding or other mill; its axis is
bored out to a suitable depth for receiving the step proper, Figure 4, but the
cylindrical space so made is not of the same diameter throughout (Figure 2),
the portion from a to b being made of a larger diameter than that of the space
from 6 to c, which last-named space is of the same diameter as the stem d of
the step proper, Figure 4, which is to enter therein. The inner surface of
the space from a to b for a short distance from the top may be provided
with a screw thread, into which a corresponding thread cut upon a shoulder
e forming the upper part of the step, Figure 4, is to be fitted, or the
male thread may be cut upon the stem d, and the female thread upon the
space between 6 and c, as shewn in the Drawings.
The step, Figure 4; may be made of brass or of any suitable material, and
should be of sufficient length to furnish a good bearing to the spindle. In
addition to the grooved channel f, which has heretofore been used, there are
two apertures or ducts 9 and h, the former leading from the channel f, and
the latter through the side of the step near the bottom, which apertures
connect the space B into which the spindle is stepped with the surround-
ing space a, b, Figure 2, and there is also provided a projecting flanch i,
(the edge of which should be milled for greater convenience in screwing
the step into place), which serves to cover the joint made by the threads of
the screw.
It is evident that when the step is properly adjusted, as shewn in Figures 1
and 2, it will be surrounded by the annular chamber a, b. The advantage
of this chamber is that it furnishes a reservoir for the collection of the oil which
when applied to the step has a tendency to ascend the revolving spindle until
it reaches the groove f, where it collects and passes through the upper
aperture 9 into the chamber from whence it flows back again into the step
through the lower aperture h. Thus the oil is kept constantly circulating
in sufficient quantity around the bearing without flooding it, and will continue
to lubricate the spindle so long as any remains in the chamber. A spindle
provided with this step and annular reservoir will, if of the size shewn in
the Drawings need no attention for at least twelve months, and as the space B
is exactly filled by the spindle, and the chamber is closed at the top by the
overlapping flanch i, it is difficult for any dust or foreign matter floating
in the air to become mixed with the oil. Whenever the step has become
worn from long use it can be removed and another substituted in its
place with the greatest facility, and although I have shewn a separate

page_text: plug A provided with the annular chamber, and which will be convenient
in providing old spinning frames with the improvement, new frames can
be constructed with the reservoir made in the step rail itself without
difficulty.