US233474A - Spindle and the method of lubricating the same - Google Patents

Description

C. H. CHAPMAN Spindle and the Method of Lubricating the Same. No. 233,474. Patented Oct. 19, |880.

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CHARLES H. CHAPMAN, OF SHIRLEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF CF HIS RIGHT TO LEVI WALLACE, OF AYER, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPINDLE AND THE METHOD OF LUBRICATING THE SAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,474, dated October 19, 1880.

Application filed January 30, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES H. CHAPMAN, of Shirley, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Spindles and in the Method of Lubricating the Same, of' which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide certain improvements in spindles, whereby sliding such spindles longitudinally on their standards, as in the operation of dofng the bobbins, will, by a pump-like or vacuum action, cause an upward flow of oil from a reservoir to lubricate the bearing-surfaces of the spindle and the fixed standard on which it rotates.

My invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention, Figure l represents a longitudinal vertical section of a live-spindle and its support embodying my improvements; Fig. 2, a similar view, showing the spindle raised; and Fig. 3, a section on line x x of Fig. 1.

The same letters of reference are used to indicale like parts in all the gures.

In carrying out my invention I provide a tixed standard, a, rising from a cylindrical base, b, which is suitably attached to the rail c of a spinning-machine, and is chambered out around the standard a to form an oil-reservoir, d. The standard a has a longitudinal groove or channel, o, extending from its lower to its upper end, and is provided with an oilcup, B, at its upper end.

f represents the live-spindle, which is socketed in the oil-cup B of the standard, and its lower end extends below the whirl t' and projects into the oil-reservoir d, nearly to the bottom thereof, when in its normal position, as seen in Fig. l, the said oil-reservoir being rather deeper and the live-spindle rather longer than usual. The spindle is provided with a step, f', having an oval orrounded end fitting into a socket in the endof the standard a, said socket being composed of a ring or tube, P, preferably to steady the step j" laterally. The lower end of the step or pivot j" rests on a hardened-steel plate or bearing, It, the ring l? and bearing B being heldin a socket in the standard a, the upper part of said socket forming the oil-cup B.

By this construction of spindle-bearing the spindle is caused to run with but little friction as compared with the usual V-shaped step and bearing.

The ring P may be omitted, and the oil-cup B may extend entirely down tothe bearing R.

The oilcup always contains'oil enough to lubricate the step f', as will presently appear.

The cylindrical base b is provided with a screw-cap, y, which covers the top of' the oil-reservoir, and is constructed so as to form an outside bearin g, h, which surrounds and fits snugly against the lower portion of the spindle f below the whirl, and assists in steadying the spindle and preventing it from vibrating when rotating rapidly, said outside bearing being preferably an externally-threaded brass sleeve screwed into the cap g.

The spindle fis movable longitudinally on the standard a, and its upward movement is limited by a stop, j, formed on or near its lower end, which stop abuts against the cap g when the spindle is raised, as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be seen that when the spindleis raised the upper endof its socket, which receives the standard a, will be raised above the upper end of said standard, thereby forming a space, k, which is practically a vacuum, and can only be lled by way ot the groove or channel e, the socket of the spindle having no opening excepting at its lower end. It follows, therefore, that an upward flow of oil through the groove e will be induced by atmospheric pressure or pump-like action, so that the space k will be instantly lilled with oil, and when the spindle is allowed to descend all the oil, excepting that in the oil-cup B, will be pressed downwardly through the groove, e, and the interstice between the bearingsurfaces of the standard and spindle, thereby effectually lubricatin g said bearing-surfaces, the oil not consumed in lubricating returning to the reservoir.

In practice the described upward movement of the spindle is effected by the act of dofting the bobbin or raising the bobbin from the spindle for any cause, the bobbin sticking so closely to the spindle that both will move together when the bobbin is lifted until the movement of the spindle isarrested by its stop jabutting against the cap g, as described. The constant lubrication of the bearing-surfaces is therefore insured, the lubrication being practically automatic.

Y Oil is supplied to the reservoir through oritces l l in the cap y, Said ortices being surrounded by a tiange, h', which permits a quantity of oil to accumulate above the cap and pass from thence into the reservoir. These orices also supply air to the reservoir to take the place of the oil raised by atmospheric pressure. The whirl i is provided with a doWnWardly-projecting iiange, m, which pro tects the cap g t'rom dust when the spindle is in its normal position, Fig. 1.

I do not. limit myself to the formation ot' a vacuum at the top ot' the standard a by rais ing the spindle.I as the same result may be ploduced by depressing the standard without moving thc spindle, and to this end several standards may be moved simultaneously by suitable mechanism operated by an attendant whenever it is desirable to lubrirate the spindles.

I am aware that it has been proposed to construct a spindle with a grooved standard and a tube or shell surrounding and inclosing such standard, the two forming a dead-spindle to receive a live-spindle, and providing a bearing for such live-spindle ill the upper end of the standard, to which oil is supplied by at'ountain containing a column of oil acting upon the known principle ot'hydrostaticpressure.

I am also aware that a dead-spindle has been iliade with a circumterential spiral groove and an internal passage communicating with an oil-reservoir, and that to oil the live-spindle bearing at the top of the dead-spindle the rotation of the live-spindle is depended upon to force the oil up the spiral groove, whence it returns to the oil-reservoir through the internal passage in the dead-spindle, maintaining, as it were, a constant circulation but I am not aware that before my invention a grooved deadspindle or standard and a surrounding livespindle of ordinary construction were so arranged as to admit of lubrication by atmospheric pressure after the manner of a pump or vacuum.

1. The combination, substantially as set forth, ot' an oil-reservoir, a cap therefor, a standard rising from within said reservoir, a bearing on said standard for the spindle, a spindle supported in said bearing and movable longitudinally with relation to said standard to form a vacuum above the standard, causing an upward i'low of oil from the reservoir, and a stop, j, on said spindle, acting in conjunction with the cap to limit the movement of the spindle, as speciled.

2. That improvement in the art of oiling spindles ofthe class having an oil-reservoir, a grooved standard, and alive-spindle supported upon such standard which consists in raising the oil from the reservoir to the bearing-surfaces of the spindle by atmospheric pressure superinduced by a longitudinal sliding motion of the live-spindle on the standard con sequent upon doring the bobbin, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 21st day of January,

CHARLES H. CHAPMAN. Witnesses:

LEVI WALLACE, E. H. HAYWARD.

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