IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING AND BALANCING MILLSTONES ON THEIR SPINDLES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Comerford, of Rathdrum, in the County of
Wicklow, Ireland, for an Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING
AND BALANCING MILLSTONES ON THEIR SPINDLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Comerford at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th January 1880.
JAMES COMERFORD, of Rathdrum, in the County of Wicklow, Ireland. "IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING AND BALANCING MILL STONES ON THEIR SPINDLES."
My Invention relates to an apparatus for mounting and balancing or adjusting
the running mill stone upon its spindle.
This apparatus or "balance" consists of a ring receiving within it and connected
to the universal joint, ryne, or other form of bearing on the cock head of the
spindle, the said ring being sufficiently smaller than the space within the eye to
admit of the stone being shifted in any direction radial to the spindle, and to
enable this to be done the said ring is provided with three or more radial set
screws that screw through tapped holes in the ring and bear firmly with their
points against the sides of the eye of the stone or against the lining hereafter
referred to, and when screwed tightly against the same retain the ring, and
consequently the bearing on the spindle, in whatever position it may be set with
regard to the centre of gravity of the stone.
The stone is supported on the ring by an inwardly projecting flange or radial
lugs formed on or carried by a lining or a set of legs fixed in the eye of the stone,
and rising through it to the top or back of the stone, it being preferred to place
the ring at the upper part of the eye near the back of the stone, so that the
bearing of the latter on the spindle may be at or above the centre of gravity
of the stone. The said flange or lugs rest on top of the ring or on an external
flange formed upon it, and when lugs are used the ring may have radial notches
or recesses to receive the lugs, in order that the stone may be set in motion
when in course of adjustment without disturbing or straining the set screws.
When flanges are used a stop would be provided for the same purpose. The lining,
or legs, or other means carrying the flange or lugs that rest on the ring, and by
which the weight of the stone is supported, should be fixed at the lower part of the
eye near the face of the stone by an outwardly projecting flange or lugs received
n the burrs.
.

page_text: By means of the radial set screws the ring can be readily adjusted radially
within the eye until the axis of the spindle coincides with the centre of gravity of
the stone, and a perfect balance is obtained. Should the centre of gravity not
coincide sufficiently nearly with the geometrical axis of the stone, the lighter side
of the stone may first be weighted by weights applied in the usual way, or pre-
ferably fixed in the skirt of the stone until the centre of gravity coincides with the
geometrical axis, with which the axis of the spindle can then be made to coincide
also by means of the adjusting screws. When a perfect balance has been thus
obtained the ring may be permanently fixed in the eye or lining of the eye by
means of cement or any other packing, or by wedge shaped keys driven tightly
in round the ring, the set screws being then removed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by.
the said James Comerford in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th July
1880.
JAMES COMERFORD, of Rathdrum, in the County of Wicklow, Ireland. "IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING AND BALANCING MILLSTONES ON THEIR SPINDLES."
My Invention relates to an improved apparatus for balancing or adjusting the.
running millstone upon its spindle.
This improved balance consists of a ring fixed in the eye of the stone by three
or more radial set screws, and connected to the universal joint or other bearing on
the cock-head of the spindle, the said ring being sufficiently smaller than the eye
to admit of the stone being shifted by means of the set screws in any direction
radial to the spindle with which the ring remains concentric. The stone is
supported on the ring by an inwardly projecting flange or lugs on a lining or a set
of legs fixed in the eye, and rising through it more or less towards the back of the
stone, it being generally preferred that the ring should be high up in the eye, so
that the bearing on the spindle may be at or above the centre of gravity of the
stone, although it is not limited to this position. The ring is notched to receive the
said lugs, or lugs on the flange to relieve the set screws of lateral strain in driving
the stone. By means of the radial set screws the millstone can be moved or
adjusted with regard to the ring and spindle until the point of support on the
cock-head of the spindle is brought to coincide with a vertical line passing through
the centre of gravity of the stone. The stone will then stand in equilibrium. A
perfect standing balance is thus obtained, and as no weights have been used a
running balance will generally be found to follow, provided the stone be evenly
built, but if the stone runs unevenly weights must be used. They can be applied
in many ways:-(1.) Equal weights placed in each of the 4 quarters of the stone
high up at the back near the skirt, those weights being adjustable up and down
by screws as now used until a perfect running balance is obtained. (2.) The stone
having been adjusted on its spindle by means of the set screws until a perfect running
balance is obtained, if there be not then a standing balance, weight may be added

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a central vértical section of a pair of millstones provided with the
apparatus of my Invention; Figure 2 is a plan of the runner lying face uppermost,
the universal joint being shown in its place in the ring; Figures 3 and 4 are
similar to Figures 1 and 2 except that the form of driver is different; Figure 5 is
a similar section, the universal joint being high up in the eye above the centre of
gravity of the stone; Figures 6 and 7 are details of the radial set screws.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the Figures, A is the
runner; B is the bedstone, and C is the spindle on which the runner is poised.
D, E, are the two parts of the universal joint or the beam and mace, as the case
may be.
a is a cast iron lining cemented in the eye of the runner and fixed so
as to be incapable of rising or turning therein by two or more lugs a¹ received
and leaded in the burrs.
In Figures 1 and 3 this lining does not extend completely through the eye,
which is enlarged at the lower part to receive it, and the lining is cast with an
inwardly projecting flange b. In Figure 5 the lining extends completely through
to the back of the stone, and the eye is of the same diameter throughout; c is one
of two lugs cast on the underside of flange b at opposite points; d is an adjustable
ring received within the lining a and upon which the flange b rests; this ring is
cast with bearings d' that rest on the pivots or lugs e of the universal joint or
other form of bearing used. The parts should fit together with sufficient accuracy
to prevent any lateral movement of the ring d on the spindle. The ring d is also
provided with notches f in its upper edge to receive the lugs c. The ring d is
rather smaller than the lining a so as to leave a space between the two of about
one quarter of an inch, more or less, to permit of the desired adjustinent, and the
notch is considerably wider than the lug c for the same purpose; g are screw
bolts, preferably four in number, screwing through tapped holes in the ring d
against the lining a. One of these bolts is shown on a larger scale in Figure 6,
which represents a cross section of part of the ring and lining. By loosening one
or more of these set screws and tightening up the opposite ones the runner A may
be adjusted more or less concentrically with the ring d.
When a perfect running and standing balance have been obtained the notches f
are packed with keys, one of iron in front of the lug and one of wood behind it
to lock the ring d in the lining a and ensure their turning together, and relieve
the set screws of lateral strain in driving the stone; these keys can be easily
removed should any readjustment be necessary. It will be obvious that a set of
legs might be substituted for the lining a, and that in Figures 1 and 3 the lining a
might even be dispensed with altogether. In this case the set screws would bear
against the stone itself, and the flange b would be held by lugs leaded or cemented
in the burrs. There should also be an external flange on the ring d at or near its
lower edge upon which the burrs or a flange fixed in the burrs would rest.

page_text: In Figure 5 the flange b instead of being cast on the lining a, as shown, may be
screwed to the ring d so as to be concentric with the spindle C, in which case
there should be three or more inwardly projecting lugs cast on the lining a which
would fit into notches in the ring d. It is preferred that the set screws g should
screw through the ring d as above described, but they might be fixed in the lining a
with their heads countersunk in the back thereof, as shown in Figure 7, or
embedded in the cement, and pass freely through holes d in the ring d, and be
provided with nuts gl bearing against the inside of the ring. The bolt holes d¹
should be elongated horizontally, as shown in Figure 7a, to permit of the desired
adjustment.
Having described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing the
same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The apparatus, arranged and applied substantially as shown and described,
for enabling a millstone to be adjusted on its spindle.
2nd. The combination with a millstone and the bearing by which it is poised
on its spindle of a ring connected to such bearing and provided with radial set
screws, arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and
described.
3rd. The combination of the ring with radial set screws, and the lining with
flange and lugs resting on and engaging with notches in the ring, the whole
arranged and applied substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Comerford, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and nights