IMPROVEMENTS IN BEARINGS FOR SPINDLES. AND SHAFTS FOR THE BETTER LUBRICATION OF THE SAME
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent; for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BEARINGS FOR SPINDLES. AND SHAFTS FOR THE BETTER
LUBRICATION OF THE SAME."-A communication from abroad by
Charles Franklin Wilson and Jesse Edward Folk, both of Brooklyn,
in the County of Kings, and State of New York, United States of
America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 30th September 1872.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BEARINGS FOR SPINDLES AND SHAFTS
FOR THE BETTER LUBRICATION OF THE SAME," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a new and useful improvement in bearings
or boxes for upright spindles in spinning frames, in cotton and woolen
manufactories, and for other upright journals for the better lubrication of

page_text: .
the same, and it consists in a cylindrical cup and a spiral wire box
therein, arranged and operating as herein-after more fully described, and
in a step for the foot of the spindle or shaft. The cup which holds the
spiral or spindle bearing rests on a shoulder of the spindle, and the
receiving chamber for the oil is placed above the spiral and covered by i
a suitable cap, a chamber being also formed in the bottom of the cup
beneath the spiral. On the inside surface of the cup ribs are formed
by corrugating the side of the cup, these ribs serving to keep the spiral
box in a central position, and at same time forming vertical spaces or
channels in the sides of the box. The oil or other lubricating material
is placed in the receiving chamber at top, and naturally runs down into
the vacant space or chamber beneath the spiral. The box and cup
forming the bearing are stationary, being attached to the rail of the
spinning frame.
The spindle revolves at a high rate of speed within the spiral box, and :
the oil by centrifugal force is driven upward within the spiral to the
upper chamber, where it is thrown to the outer boundaries of that
chamber, from whence it runs down through the vertical spaces or
channels outside of the spiral and returns to the lower chamber. The
step for the foot of the spindle is formed of a cup closed at the lower
ond with a block fitted into it, recessed to receive the foot of the spindle
or shaft. In this block are formed one or more vertical holes, whoso
lower ends are upon a level with or below the bottom of the recess
in which the spindle foot works, and are connected with the said lower
end of said rccess by one or more horizontal holes through the lower
part of said block. The cup rises above the block, and its upper edge
is drawn in to the spindle to form a chamber for the oil, a small hole
being formed in the side of the cup at the upper part to pour in the
oil which flows down through the holes in the block to the spindle
foot, whence it is raised by the revolution of the spindle to again flow
through said holes. A constant circulation is thus kept up when the
spindle is revolving, the upper portion of the spindle journal being as
effectually lubricated as the lower portion.
The result is a great saving of oil as well as time in oiling, as the oil
will last for days without removal, while the spindle is all the time most
perfectly lubricated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 29th March 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special licence
that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville Clark,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term.therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland;
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BEARINGS FOR SPINDLES AND SHAFTS," a communication to me from
abroad by Charles Franklin Wilson and Jesse Edward Folk, both of
Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, and State of New York, United
States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawing, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say) :-
This Invention relates to a new and useful improvement in bearings
or boxes for upright spindles in spinning frames, in cotton and woollen

page_text: manufactories, and for other upright journals, and consists in a cylindrical
cup and a spiral wire box therein, arranged and operating as herein-
after more fully described, and in a step for the foot of the spindle or
shaft.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 represents a vertical section 5
of the bearing on the line x, x, of Figure 2; Figure 2 is a horizontal
section of Figure 1 on the line y, y; Figure 3 is a horizontal section of
the step taken through the line 2, 2, Figure 1. Similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
cap
E:
A is the spindle; B is the cup which holds the coils or spindle 1
bearing C resting on a shoulder of the spindle; D is the receiving
chamber for the oil above the spiral. This chamber is covered by the
F is a chamber in the bottom of the cup beneath the spiral;
9 (see Figure 2), represents ribs on the inside surface of the cup, formed
by corrugating the side of the cup.
a central position,. and cause spaces
lubricating material is placed in the cup D by removing the cap, and
naturally runs down into the bottom chamber F. The box and 'cup
forming the bearing are stationary, being attached to the rail of the
spinning frame,
These ribs keep the spiral box in 1
around the box. The oil or other
2
The spindle revolves at a high rate of speed within the spiral box, and
the oil, by centrifugal force, is driven upward within the spiral to the
upper chamber, where it is thrown to the outer boundaries of that
chamber, from whence it runs down through the spaces h outside of
the spiral, and returns to the lower chamber. F' is the step cup which 2
is closed at the lower end, and has a block G fitted into it and recessed
to receive the foot of the spindlo or shaft A. In the block G are formed
one or more vertical holes g³, the lower end of which is upon a level
with or below the lower end of the recess in which the spindle foot
works, and are connected with the said lower end of said recess by one
or more horizontal holes g³ through the lower part of said block G.
The cup F' rises above the block G, and its upper edge is drawn in to
said spindle to form a chamber for the oil. In the side of the upper
part of the cup F¹ is formed a small hole ƒ³ through which the oil is
poured in and flows down through the holes 91, 9³, to the spindle foot,
whence it is raised by the revolution of the spindle to again flow
through the holes g', g³. A. constant circulation is thus kept up when

page_text: the spindle is revolving, the upper portion of the spindle journal being
as effectually lubricated as the lower portion.
The result is a great saving of oil as well as time in oiling, as the oil
will last for days without removal, while the spindle is all the time most
perfectly lubricated,
I am aware that footstep bearings have been made heretofore provided
with an oil chamber and oil passages in which this constant circulation
of the oil is obtained, but the improved footstep bearing of this
Invention differs from those in the arrangement of the oil reservoir
and oil passages by which the following important advantages are
obtained,-
First. By the arrangement of the small passages g¹, g³, the block G is
left firm and solid to better resist the lateral pressure or vibration of the
spindle foot.
Secondly. The arrangement of the cup or oil reservoir Fabove the
passages g², g³, causes the downward pressure of the oil through the
vertical passages g', g', to assist the revolving spindle foot in carrying
the oil up through the bearing or recess, producing a more rapid
circulation than when the oil reservoir is below or surrounding said
spindle as in those heretofore made,
Third. The arrangement of the oil reservoir above the bearing renders
it unnecessary that the oil should be so frequently replenished as when
the oil reservoir is below or surrounding the bearing, since the oil may
be entirely used up before any fresh oil is poured in.
Fourth. The construction of the tube or case F which is cut out of
and drawn up from sheet metal, and drawn in at top after insertion
of the bearing block G enables the bearings to be manufactured at
much less expense, while being fully as durable. This is an important
feature.
I am aware that footstep bearings have also been provided with an
oil chamber or cover placed above the spindle foot bearing, but in this
case no oil passages were provided for maintaining a circulation of oil
round the spindle foot, Moreover the oil chamber or cover was turned
out of solid metal,
Having described the nature of the Invention, and in what manner

page_text: Invention to be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
1st. A coiled bearing O combined as described with a cup B ribbed
at g, to retain it in position.
2ndly. A spindle journal A combined with a spiral bearing in a close 5
stationary box B, having oil space D at the top, and F at the bottom,
with vertical channels on the sides, so that, as the oil is forced up
from F through the coil and scattered centrifugally upon D it will
trickle back through h, and thus keep up a continual circulation until
consumed.
3rdly. A step formed of the cup F¹ and recessed block G provided
with the holes: ƒ¹, g', g³, and arranged to operate in connection with
the foot of a spindle or shaft, all substantially as herein shown and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have 1
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of March,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three
Witness,.
JAS..O. DEWEY,
53, Chancery Lane.
London.
.A. M. CLARK. (L.S:)