IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEP AND BOLSTER BEARINGS FOR THE SPINDLES OF SPINNING AND TWISTING MACHINES
Year: 1885

page_text: We, GUSTAVUS ELZAPHAN TAFT and HENRY FRANCIS WOODMANCY, both of
Whitinsville, in the County of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, one of the
United States of America, Mechanical Engineers, do hereby declare the nature
of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEP AND BOLSTER
BEARINGS FOR THE SPINDLES OF SPINNING AND TWISTING MACHINES, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
Our invention relates to improvements in the construction of step and bolster
bearings for the spindles of spinning and twisting machines, which are run at a
bigh speed.
The objects of the invention are to simplify the construction and increase the
durability of the spindles and bearing; to permit the spindles to be run at the
highest practical speed with the least possible friction and without gyration; to
prevent the jarring of the spindles and the consequent noise produced by spinning
machinery run at high speed, and to facilitate the thorough lubrication of the
spindles.
In spinning and twisting machines the spindle forms the support of the yarn,
which, after the sliver is drawn and twisted, is wound either directly on the
spindle, on a cop tube, or on a bobbin placed on the spindle. This additional load
has a tendency to change the center of gravity or the center of the whole mass, so
that, no matter how accurately the revolving spindle is constructed and balanced,
the spindle when loaded and running at high speed will vibrate as it cannot rotate
The further the
upon its center of gravity or the true vertical axis of the mass.
everchanging load of the yarn wound on the spindle is from the axis of the spindle,
the greater is the disturbing influence, when a bobbin is used the disturbing
influence of the yarn load is much greater than when the yarn is wound on the
spindle. Although with the spindles as at present constructed this tendency to
gyration is not as great as it was with the more imperfectly constructed spindles of
the past, the high speed at which spindles are now run produces a tremor that
is transmitted to the whole machine and to the building, causing friction and
requiring much more power than is required when the spindles rotate on the true
axis or the center of gravity.

page_text: .
Improvements have been made in the spindle bolsters to permit the rotating
spindles to find the center of gravity, by surrounding the bolster-tube with a fibrous
or yielding fabric,-but in such construction the chance of asymmetry in the
revolving spindle was but slight and decreased with time, as the fabric, interposed
between the bolster and the bolster-case, was soon affected by wear and by the oil
used for lubrication.
.
The bolster-tube became loose and the pull of the band on the whirl of the
rotating spindle prevented all chance of asymmetry in the revolving spindle.
In our present invention no fibrous or other packing is used, the bolster tube
and the spindle have a fixed bearing on a line with the pull of the driving-band at 1
the center of the whirl and yet allow the bolster-tube and the revolving spindle to
adjust themselves to the center of gravity of the whole mass as the yarn is wound
on the bobbin or spindle, and also prevents the jarring vibration incident to all
spindles revolving at high speed, by supporting the spindle bearing on an elastic
cushion by which the transmission of the vibration of the spindle is prevented.
1
Figure 1 is a sectional view of one form of our improved spindles and bearings,
showing the spindle provided with a bobbin, the spindle bolster firmly held
against lateral motion at its upper end, the lower end having a limited lateral
play.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of a bolster-case and bolster showing the bolster 2
supported on an elastic block interposed between the lower end of the bolster and
the bolster-case.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of a modified form of a bolster and bolster-case.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of a spindle with its bolster and bolster-case showing
the bolster supported on an elastic ring surrounding the oil cup and the bolster 2
held at its upper end against lateral motion and against the pull of the driving-
band by bearing at that point against the outside of the bolster-case.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the bolster shown in figure 4.
Figure 6 is a sectional view of the bolster-case shown in figure 4 and
°
Figure 7 is a sectional view of a bolster-tube supported within a bolster-case on 3
an elastic material and held against rotation by a pin loosely fitting in a slot at the
lower end of the bolster.
In the drawings A represents the rotating spindle made in the usual form of
the modern high speed spinning machine spindles.
B is the whirl forming part of a sleeve extending over the bolster and bolster- 3
:case. C is the bobbin held by frictional contact with the spindle placed at its
upper end, and an enlargement of the spindle at its lower end. D is the bolster-
case provided with a flange by which it is supported on the bolster-rail and a screw-
thread on which a nut is placed to secure the bolster-case on the bolster-rail by
screwing the nut against the bottom of the bolster-rail. The interior of the 4
bolster-case is provided with an enlargement d communicating by oil-ducts or
passages with the oil-cup b¹ and forming an oil reservoir, so that a large quantity
of oil may be placed into the bolster-case which will lubricate the spindle for a long
time.
E is the bolster-tube forming the bearing or bolster for the revolving spindle 4
near its upper end, and a bearing for the step of the spindle near its lower end.
The bolster-tube E is placed within the bolster-case D closely fitting the portion
of the bolster-case on a line with the center of the whirl, so as to firmly support
the spindle against all lateral motion at this point; thus securing a firm bearing
and resisting the pull of the driving-band. The portion of the bolster-tube below 5
this point is of less diameter than the inside diameter of the bolster-tube, thereby
allowing a limited lateral motion to the step portion of the bolster-tube and an
adjustment of the spindle to the true center of gravity.
Such adjustment in a properly constructed spinning-machine spindle requires but-
little lateral motion of the step and therefore only a small or narrow space is 5
left between the lower portion of the bolster-tube and the walls of the bolster-
case.

page_text: .
In figures 1, 4, 5, and 7, the bolster-tube is shown as made of one piece of metal,
and in figures 2 and 3 the bolster-tube is bushed with a tube, either construction
can be used in the spindles of our improved construction. e is an elastic cushion,
preferably made of cork, but which may be made of any other elastic material;
the weight of the bolster, the spindle and its load rests on this cork or other elastic
material and the vibrations caused by revolving the spindle at high speed are taken
up by the elastic support.
In the spindle shown in figures 1 and 2, the cork is placed on the projection d*,
whilst in figure 3 it is shown as placed in the bottom of the bolster-case and under
the bolster-tube.
In figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, the elastic support e forms an annular ring and is
placed around the oil cup d', and the bolster-tube E is, as shown in these figures,
extended above the bolster-case D,-it is provided with the sleeve e¹ and the cap e
which forms the cover for the oil-cup and the support for the bolster-tube.
The sleeve e¹ fits closely on the outer surface of the upwardly extending tube d³
of the bolster-case, so as to hold the bolster against lateral motion near the center
of the whirl, whilst the step is free to adjust itself and with it the spindle to the
center of gravity. The cap e² bearing firmly on the cork, or other elastic ring e,
holds the bolster-tube against rotation with the spindle, but the lower end of any
of the forms of bolster-tubes, shown in the drawings, may be held against rotation
by inserting the pin f, shown in figures 3 and 7, in the bolster-case and slotting
the lower end of the bolster so as to make a loose fit, allowing ample play for
lateral adjustment without permitting the rotation of the bolster with the spindle.
The interior of the bolster is connected with the bolster-case by the oil ducts or
holes ea, es, so that a free circulation of oil results from the rotation of the spindle
and a continuous and perfect lubrication of all the bearing parts of the spindle
takes place.
The bearing of the bolster-tube on the bolster-case, whether inside or outside, is
formed so that, whilst all lateral play is avoided, the vertical axis of the spindle
can adjust itself freely and therefore the close bearing of the two parts is limited
to a space at the center of the whirl, so that the spindle must rotate at considerable
speed before the force is sufficient to change the axial line of the spindle to the
center of gravity.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
First A bolster and step bearing for a spinning machine spindle, consisting of a
combined bolster and step tube supported against lateral motion by a cylindrical
bearing against the bolster-case on a line with the center of the whirl or the pull
of the driving-band; the bottom of the bolster-tube being free to adjust itself
laterally in all directions to allow the spindle to revolve around the center of
gravity, as described.
Second: A bolster-tube held against lateral motion, on a line with the pull of
the driving-band at its upper end, by a straight cylindrical bearing fitting the
bolster-case, the lower end of the bolster-tube being of less diameter than the
interior of the bolster-case, as described.
Third: A bolster-tube supported within a bolster-case and resting on an elastic
support made of cork or other elastic and sound deadening material, as described.
Fourth: The combination with a bolster-case, of a bolster held against lateral
motion at its upper end and supported on a cushion of cork or similar material, as
described.
Fifth The combination with the bolster-case D and the elastic ring e, of the
bolster-tube E, provided with the sleeve e¹ and cap e³, constructed to support the
spindle and permit of its axial adjustment, as described.
Sixth The combination with the bolster-case D provided with the enlarge-
ment d, of the bolster-tube E provided with the oil-ducts e³, e, constructed to fit

page_text: the cylindrical surface of the bolster-case at its upper part near the center of the
whirl and allow lateral motion to its lower part, as described.
Seventh The combination with the bolster-case D, of the bolster-tube E fitting
the bolster case at its upper end, free to adjust itself at its lower end, and resting
on the elastic bearing. e formed of cork, or other elastic or sound-deadening
material, as described.
:
Eighth The combination with a bolster-case, of a bolster-tube supported at its
upper end against lateral motion and free to adjust itself laterally at its lower end,
and the pin farranged to hold the bolster-case against rotation as described.
Doted this 14th day of January 1885
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicants.