The present invention relates to a new and improved method of lubricating a spinning or twisting spindle, and furthermore, pertains to a spindle lubricated in accordance with the inventive method.
In its more particular aspects there is disclosed a method for lubricating a bearing of a spinning or twisting spindle which comprises a spindle shaft, a fixedly mounted housing and a reservoir containing a liquid lubricant. The bearing is secured to and enclosed by the housing. The spindle shaft is rotatably retained by the bearing, and the lubricant is moved in a closed cycle or circulation path or system from the reservoir to the bearing, which is arranged above the reservoir, and back again to the reservoir.
With heretofore known methods of lubricating spindles, the lubricant is upwardly raised from a reservoir, and thereafter, during the course of the downward flow of the lubricant, such lubricant is conducted over the parts which are to be lubricated for the purpose of lubricating the same. Various operating methods are known for elevating or upwardly raising the lubricant.
Thus, in accordance with German Pat. No. 155,356 the lubricant rises along the spindle, emerges at an end of a bearing mounted at the top of the spindle, and again passes back into a housing of a neck bearing. According to the teachings of British Pat. No. 698,141 oil is propelled by centrifugal force against an internal wall of a cylinder. Consequently, the oil is upwardly splashed, and thus, passes through an upper bearing and a lower bearing.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,780,049, during rotation of a tube oil is upwardly transported into an annular or ring-shaped space. Thus, a lower bearing is lubricated. With increasing speed of rotation, the oil can be upwardly transported up to the region of an upper bearing.
In German Pat. No. 455,211 there is disclosed an apparatus having an upwardly widening or enlarging spindle shaft, wherein during the rotation of such spindle shaft oil is moved upwardly along the shaft. The return movement of the oil occurs along an internal wall of a bore.
In German Pat. Nos. 486,106, 538,624 and 654,948 there are disclosed apparatuses in which oil is upwardly transported by means of a spiral groove or helical groove.
The state-of-the-art constructions are associated with the disadvantage that, during the greatest loading of the spindle drive, in other words during the highest rotational speed thereof, or stated in another way, during the normal winding operation of the spindle, the loading of the spindle drive which is caused by the infeed of the lubricant is also at its greatest. The coincidence of these maximum loadings is disadvantageous for the drive, since there is required an increased expenditure in energy.