New Britain herald., 1923-12-19
BALL BEARINGS AS . AID ID ECONOMY
Fafnir Man Claims Savings Up to 50 Per Cent on Investment

Ball bearings in machinery mean
 a total saving of 15 per cent of the
 power and from 30 to 50 per cent of the original investment. according to
 a statement made by Harry Reynolds of the Fafnir Bearing co. at the
 monthly meeting of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers last evening. The lecture was given at
 the Y. NJ. C. A. and was illustrated
 with lantern slides.
 Mir. Reynolds spoke in part as | follows:---
 Much has been said to those re- 1 sponsible for plant maintenance in ] the last few years regarding the use of anti-friction bearings in machine
 and power transmission units. Both ball and roller bearing
 manufacturers have carefully studied the possibilities of their product and numerous devices incorporating ball or roller bearings have been devel- oped in an effort to apply success fully to transmission equipment their output.
 That this talk and the following discussion may be kept within the writer's own experience only the product of The Fsfnir Bearing Co. will be treated at this time. However economies which are possible with Fafnir Bearings are also possible with competitive Ball Bearings pro- vided their material and workman ship possesses equal quality and suit ableness of design.
 That ball bearings under the ma- Jority Of conditions roll more freely than any other type of journal is so well Ronwn that no need of friction comparisons is necessary here.
 Average power tests show suy- ing Of fifteen per cent of total power which at present central station costs represents an investment return of from 80 10 50 per cent, Perhaps the most noticeable evidence of the ad- vantagcs of ball bearings is their low starting friction, line shafting and machinery so equipped picking up speed with the motor or other prime mover. So great difference is here shown that additional machinery or a smaller motor is quite often possi- ble where ball bearings are substitut- ed for even the best type of Babbitted ring oiling boxes.
 Another advantage always present with ball bearing transmission equip ment lies in the use of grease packed housings. This results in d clean job and one that requires attention only one or twice year. Tho periods should be determined by a monthly inspection covering the first year sNice, as lubricant used and shaft speed are factors which determine i tho lime to rrgrease.
 "'fhe most satisfactory applications Of ball bearings are first directly 70 the machines. Here generally both ] ends of the shaft arc accessible and ! il is possible 10 mount standard ball bearings with the close fits and the l features which arc practically stand . ard. These include the necessary locknuts, shoulders grease space and thrust takeup.
 "The next point where the advan- tagos Of bali bearings are very ap- parent is their application to clutch hubs and loose pullcys. There has never been designed a piece of trans mission equipment more conducive Co worn bnshings due Of course 10 tho lack of lubricant. Ball bearings applied to these units in place of ihe bushings will entirely elim- mate this trouble which causes loose pulieys 10 rattle and by allowing the clutch hub 10 sag. seriously interfcrcs with clutch efficiency. r
 Another feature Of ball bearing superiority lies in their ability to take their load from any direction. Yer tical belts which pun against the housing caps arc taken care of. Mo- tors and fans bal bearing equipped can be hung in the most convenient position, even upside down without any change in running efficiency. Thrust loads arc carried as well as 'adiaL Every condition which makes Tor frictionless service is taken care ,f"