IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FITTING AND WORKING SPINDLES IN MILLSTONES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Spencer Hooker, of East Grinstead, in the
County of Sussex, Miller, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR FITTING AND WORKING SPINDLES IN MILLSTONES."
13
Sealed the 1st August 1864, and dated the 15th June 1864.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Spencer Hooker at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Decla-
ration, on the 15th June 1864, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent
Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
SPENCER HOOKER, of East Grinstead, in the County of Sussex, Miller, send
greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR FITTING AND WORKING SPINDLES IN MILLSTONES," and have
petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn
declaration that I am the true and first Inventor of the said Invention as
herein described.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Spencer Hooker, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal,
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following statement,
reference being made to the Drawings annexed:-
My Invention consists of an improved system of fitting the spindles of mill-
stones as shewn in horizontal section in Figure 6, and by a side view partly in
section in Figure 7, by means of the wedge pieces made as shewn in
Figures 1 and 2.
The piece "a" I prefer to be made of brass of the taper form shewn in
Figures 1 and 2, gradually tapering in thickness to a point about one inch
below the shoulder of the piece "6." The piece "6" and also the rod "k"
are made of iron, and to insure a proper mutual support between "a" and the
upper part of "k"I make the upper part of the rod "k" (which is round
below) flat at the part on which "a" presses, so that the lower part of "a"
and the upper part of "k" at "c" present flat surfaces, which fit closely
together and mutually support one another.
In Figures 6 and 7 are shown the millstone box and spindle fitted in it,
corresponding letters indicating corresponding parts.
The dotted line in Figure 6 represents the diameter of the spindle; "a" in
Figures 6 and 7 represents the brass fitting; "b," the wedge piece; and "k"
the tightening rod, having a flat face at "c," against which the lower part
of "a" presses. The lower part of "k" is round, and "n," "n," are nuts
which screw on a thread cut on the lower part of "k." "f," "f," "f," are the
packing holes; "g," the cleaning hole; and "h," the millstone box. "i" is a
section of the cap, and two wings or "running hackle." "t," "t," are fixed
stays keeping the collar "L" in the position shewn in the Drawing. The spindle
being fixed in the box "A" by means of the fittings and wedge pieces above
described, it is obvious that by screwing the nuts "n," "n," the inclines on
"a" and "6" are made to act upon one another, and any required tightness
can be given to the spindle with great ease and convenience; by unscrewing
n," "n," the spindle can be as readily loosened. This mode of fixing the
spindle secures great steadiness of motion, and ensures the fitting of the
spindle with very great nicety.
"
"
I would have it understood that I do not claim the exclusive use of the rods,
nuts, and screws, and collar, or of wedge pieces and brass fittings, save and
except where the tightening rods are made with flat surfaces so as to ensure a
proper fit between them and the lower part of the brass fittings, as above
described.
I also employ packing holes of an improved form, being semicircular, as
shewn at "f," "f," in Figures 6 and 7, for the purpose of depositing the
cotton and grease for the prevention of the heating of the spindle. In order

page_text: to facilitate the operation of greasing or cleaning the spindle, I employ the
hole shewn at "g" in Figure 6. The hole is made open from end to end of
the millstone box, and can be used when required whilst the spindle is in
motion by means of a feather or other appliance. I also employ a new form
of screw hole for the adjusting of the screws used in fastening the stationary
hackled," Figures 4 and 7, to the millstone box, as shewn at "e," "e," in
Figure 4; these allow the screw heads to be sunk so as to present a perfectly
level surface, as shewn at Figure 5, "e," "e," and allow of perfect freedom
of action and working of the cap or running hackle which covers the stationary
hackle, as shewn in Figure 7, "i."
In witness whereof, I, the said George Spencer Hooker, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
GEORGE SPENCER HOOKER. (L.S.)