NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVE- MENTS IN MECHANISM FOR SPINNING
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Birkenhead, of the State of Massachusetts, of the
United States of America, for the Invention of "NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MECHANISM FOR SPINNING."
Sealed the 13th September 1878, and dated the 29th July 1878.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said John Birkenhead at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th July 1878.
JOHN BIRKENHEAD, of the State of Massachusetts, of the United States of
America. "NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR SPINNING."
"
Figure 1 is a side elevation and Figure 2 a vertical section of a "live spindle
and its adjuncts embracing my Invention, a bobbin being also exhibited as applied
to the spindle.
Figure 3 is a top view of the oil trough or receiver.
Figure 4 is a side view of the "live spindle" and the combined сар, and whorl,
and stud, to be herein-after explained.
Figure 5 is a side view and Figure 6 a vertical section of the combined step and
elastic bolster.
Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken through the spindle, bolster, and guard, to
be herein-after described.
My Invention relates to or consists in,―
First. A combined spindle step and an elastic bolster, substantially and for use
as described.
Second. An elastic bolster, substantially as described, in combination with the
spindle step and the oil receiver thereof."

page_text: Third. The combination of a tubular standard or guard with the oil receiver, the
step, and the elastic bolster, all being substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The spindle having a bearing in the upper part of the elastic bolster,
and provided with a whorl-supporting cap, arranged to encompass such bolster and
extend down within the oil receiver, as set forth.
Fifth. The combination of the spindle, whorl-supporting cap, elastic bolster, step
guard, and oil receiver, all being arranged and applied substantially as shown and
described.
In my improved spinning mechanism the spindle A extends up through and is
fixed to a tapering or conical cap B, to which the whorl C is applied or makes part
of it, as represented, the cap being extended below such whorl, as shown at a, and
such extension being furnished with a short stud 6 to project from it externally.
The said extension is to enter the mouth of the oil receiver or trough D, whose top
is crowned or flanged inward, as shown at c, and provided with a notch d for the
stud 6 to pass through. This stud, while the spindle is in place and revolving,
projects underneath the flange c, and with it serves to keep the spindle from rising
in its bolster and step.
This bolster, shown at E, is a tube projecting up from the step F, and is slotted,
scored, or grooved helically above the step, as shown at e, e, or otherwise made, in
order to render the bolster elastic or capable of springing a little laterally. The
spindle has its upper bearing within the upper part of the bolster, as shown at f
while its foot rests in the step, which is secured firmly in the tenon g of the oil
receiver. Extending upward from the bottom of the oil receiver and encompassing
the elastic bolster, is the tubular guard or standard G, there being between it and
the bolster a narrow intervening concentric space h, which extends upward from
the step. Within this space the bolster can move laterally, but by the guard will
be prevented from being moved too far. This guard, while allowing a sufficient
spring to the bolster is to prevent the bolster from being bent laterally to its injury.
This guard extends up within the cap B. Through the lower part of the guard,
and also through the bolster, there are passages, as shown at i, i, for the oil to pass
from the trough into the step.
The helical slits or grooves of the bolster, besides answering to render it elastic,
serve to cause the oil during revolution of the spindle to pass up into the spindle
bearing of the bolster.
The cap B by surrounding the spindle, bolster, and guard serves not only to
intercept any oil that may be thrown off laterally by the spindle, but to convey
such oil back into the oil receiver.
It has been found in practice that with a rigid bolster the spindle does not
operate so well, and is more liable to wear the bearing of the bolster than is the
case with a bolster that is elastic or can spring laterally a little; consequently I
have so constructed the bolster which, as shown, is directly fixed to or combined
with the step. Thus the step and bolster bearing have what may be termed an
elastic connection, to operate as described, the rigid guard surrounding this connec-
tion answering to limit the lateral movements of the bolster while the spindle may
be revolving, or any force may be applied to the spindle to cause it to bend the
'bolster laterally.
What I claim as of my Invention is as follows:-
1. The combined step and elastic bolster, substantially as and for use as
described.
2. The elastic bolster, substantially as described, in combination with the step
and the oil receiver.
3. The combination of the tubular standard or ġuard with the oil receiver, the
step, and the elastic bolster, all being arranged substantially as set forth.
4. The spindle, having a bearing in the upper part of an elastic bolster, às set
forth, and provided with the whorl-supporting cap, arranged to encompass such
bolster and extend down within the oil receiver, as set forth.

page_text: 5. The combination of the spindle A, whorl-supporting cap B, elastic bolster E,
step F, guard G, and oil receiver D, all being arranged and applied substantially as
shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Birkenhead, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twelvth day of July, A.D. 1878.