IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER-BEARINGS FOR AXLES, SHAFTS, AND LIKE
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
THE
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER-BEARINGS FOR AXLES, SHAFTS, AND
LIKE." A communication from abroad by J. E. Maynadier, of Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th January 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER-BEARINGS FOR
AXLES, SHAFTS, AND THE LIKE." [A communication from abroad by J. E.
Maynadier, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to improvements in anti-friction roller bearings for axles,
journals, shafting, and the like.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide an outer journal box, of
cast iron or other suitable material, when intended for the axles of railway vehicles,
or heavy fly wheels, or for shafting; but when intended for light vehicles, that is
to say, when the weight supported by or the strain upon the journal or axle is
comparative light it may be of wood. This outer box has fitted within it a cylin-
drical box of metal, which is of a hard composition, such as bronze, gun metal, or
the like, when the strain or weight is so great as to be likely to injure the metal
of which the outer box is composed. The outer and inner boxes may be made in
one piece for some kinds of axles and journals; but usually they are best made
separate.
*A series of rollers surround the axle or journal, so that the exterior surface of
the axle is kept from coming into contact with the interior surface of the box by
these rollers; the principle being in the case of an axle box for railway vehicles
to have the weight of the vehicle borne by the outer box as usual, the axle lying
in a ring of rollers, each of which rollers revolves on its own axis as it comes into
place to be nipped between the exterior surface of the revolving axle and the
interior surface of the stationary box. In some cases the axle or journal will not
revolve, but the interior surface of the box will revolve around it.
The main features of the said Invention consist in the use of separate rollers
of smaller diameter than the bearing rollers, or those which sustain the weight or

page_text: strain; and in mounting these separate rollers between two rings (an inner and
an outer ring) by which they are held from undue motion towards or away from
the axis of the journal or axle. These separate rollers are prevented from undue
end wise motion by turning down the main or bearing rollers near the middle,
leaving each bearing roller in the form of two rollers and each of the same diameter
connected by a cylinder of less diameter; each separate roller lying between two
of these connecting cylinders. The complete system of rollers consists of a ring
or circle of bearing rollers, and a ring or circle of separator rollers lying between
the connecting necks or cylinders of the bearing rollers, and two rings, an inner
ring best made in one piece of metal, an outer ring made of two pieces of metal,
or two half rings securely connected together after it is in place. The inner
diameter of the inner ring is a trifle greater than the diameter of the axle or
journal, and the outer diameter of the outer ring is a trifle less than the inner
diameter of the box. This compressed ring of rollers is slipped on the axle or
journal and into the box, so that the outer surface of the journal or axle is kept
from contact with the inner surface of-the box by the bearing rollers. The bearing
rollers are kept from contact with one another by the separator rollers. The
separator rollers are kept from contact with the axle by the inner ring and from
contact with the box by the outer ring, and from moving endwise by the larger
portions of the bearing rollers.
•
A shallow groove is best turned in the axle to prevent the inner ring from
coming in contact with the axle, and a like groove in the inner surface of the box
to prevent the outer ring from coming in contact with the box.
These grooves are desirable in order that the two rings may be made
abundantly strong, without making the necks of the bearing rollers too small.
For preventing undue end wise motion of the axles, journals, or the like, a cap
is securely fastened to the outer end of the bearing or journal box of railway
vehicle boxes, and covering the outer end of the axle or journal. A ball of metal,
the diameter of which is a little less than half the diameter of the axle or journal,
is placed within the cap in a groove or bed, of circular shape, of a depth sufficient
when the cap is adjusted to the box to allow the ball to touch the end of the axle
or journal, which it will do (in general) at a point midway between the axis and
circumference of the axle or journal. When the cap is removed this circular
groove or bed which holds the ball appears as a circular cavity, having in its centre
a cone projecting from the bottom of the cavity around which cone the ball travels.
When the journal or axle is revolving its end will bear against the ball and cause
the ball to revolve in its circular groove. The ball in its revolution bearing at one
part of its circumference on the axle and on the opposite side bearing in its groove
or bed in the cap, the cap being securely fastened to the box lateral motion of the
axle is prevented while the friction is reduced to a minimum. The inner face of
the cap is provided with a narrow raised ledge of a circular shape, which when
the cap is adjusted fits closely to the ends of the bearing rollers at a point on said
ends just inside the inner circumference of the box. The bearing rollers being
placed between this ledge and a corresponding ledge on the inner end of the box,
lateral motion of the bearing. rollers is prevented while the friction is reduced to a
minimum.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent nied
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th July 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER BEARINGS FOR
AXLES, SHAFTS, AND THE LIKE." A communication from abroad by J. E.
Maynadier, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in roller bearings for axle-journals,
shafting, and the like.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a bearing adapted for railway carriage axles
representing the axle broken away at the end, to shew a thrust plate inserted
therein, as hereinafter described.
Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan shewing arrangements for lubricating the said bearing, as
hereinafter described. .
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section illustrating a modification of the said Invention
applicable for shafting. A transverse section on the line x', x¹, Figure 4, would be
substantially the same as Figure 2.
The outer journal box A is of cast iron or other suitable metal when intended
for the axles of railway vehicles or heavy fly wheels, or for shafting; but if
intended for light vehicles when the weight supported by or the strain upon the
journal or axle B is comparatively slight, it may be of wood. This outer box has
fitted within it a cylindrical box C formed of hard metal composition, such as
bronze, gun-metal, or the like, when the strain or weight is such as might injure
the metal of which the outer box is composed. The outer and inner boxes A and C
may be made in one piece for some kinds of axles and journals, but usually I prefer
that they should be made separately.
The inner box C of hard metal is marked by rulings on the outer end covered
by the cap D into six sections. In those bearings in which the box C does not
revolve, but encloses a revolving axle or journal, as in the case of railway carriage
wheels and the like, the weight in the said box will be borne chiefly by one of
these sections at a time, and as this section becomes slightly worn by use, the inner
box may be moved within the outer box, so as to bring another section into bearing.
This operation may be repeated until the six sections are each so worn that the
inner box C will require to be replaced by a new one.
The use of anti-friction rollers for axle boxes is well known, and these rollers
have been arranged in several different manners.
The main feature of the said
Invention however consists in the use of separator rollers H of smaller diameter
than the bearing rollers E, or those which sustain the weight or strain, and in
mounting these separator rollers between two rings a, b, (an inner ring a and an
outer ring b) by which they are kept from undue motion towards or away from the
axis of the journal or axle.
These separator rollers are prevented from undue endwise motion by turning
down the main or bearing rollers E near the middle, leaving each bearing roller in
the form of two rollers of the same diameter connected by a cylinder f of smaller
diameter; each separator roller lies between two of these connecting cylinders.
The complete system or series of rollers consists of a ring or circle of bearing
rollers, and a ring or circle of separator rollers lying between the connecting necks
or cylinders of the bearing rollers, and two rings, an inner ring a preferably made
in one piece of metal, and an outer ring 6 made of two pieces of metal, or two half
rings securely connected after the said ring is in place. The inner diameter of the
inner ring is slightly greater than the diameter of the axle or journal B, and the
outer diameter of the outer ring is slightly less than the inner diameter of the box C,

page_text: so that the anti-friction bearing (that is to say, the two series of rollers and the
two rings) can be placed end wise around the axle and into the box, and can be
withdrawn endwise, there being no part projecting either inside or outside of the
ring of separator rollers, to prevent the ready removal or replacing of the bearing.
This bearing differs from anti-friction roller bearings as heretofore constructed, in
that the bearing rollers E are connected by the two rings a and b, but are kept
apart by the short separator rollers H which are also held in place by the said
rings a and b.
A shallow groove g is preferably turned in the axle B to prevent the inner
ring a from coming in contact with the axle, and a like groove h is formed in the
inner surface of the box C, to prevent the outer ring b from coming in contact with
the box. These grooves are desirable in order that the two rings made be made
sufficiently strong without making the necks f of the bearing rollers E too small.
The separator rollers and outer and inner rings are preferably placed, as shewn
in Figure 1, at the middle of the large rolls E, the latter being turned down at this
point, and the connecting necks f formed as shewn, but the larger rollers may be
turned down at their ends, as shewn in Figure 4, and a series of separator rollers
and outer and inner rings b, b', a, a, may be arranged at both ends of the larger
rollers, instead of being arranged in the middle, as in Figure 1.
For preventing undue end wise motion of the axles, journals, and the like, a
cap D is securely fastened to the outer end of the compound bearing or journal
box A, C, as shewn in Figures 1 and 3, and covers the outer end of the axle or
journal B. A ball K of metal, the diameter of which is slightly less than half the
diameter of the axle or journal is placed within the cap in a groove or bed M of
circular shape, and of a depth sufficient when the cap is properly adjusted to the
box to allow the ball to touch the end of the axle or journal, which it will generally
do at a point midway between the axis and circumference of the axle or journal.
It is desirable to make the ball K and its bearing in the cap of very hard metal.
The end of the axle or journal should be of correspondingly hard metal; for this
purpose I insert in the end of the said axle or journal a thrust plate P of hard
inetal, and I prefer to make its outer face convex. This shape of the outer face of
the plate tends to prevent the ball from settling in the centre and ceasing to act.
The cap is preferably cast with a cavity in its inner face, into which a piece of
hard metal R is fitted. This piece R of hard metal has formed in it the circular
groove M in which the ball travels.
When the cap is removed this circular groove or bed which holds the ball
appears as a circular cavity having in its centre a cone m projecting from the
bottom of the cavity. When the journal or axle is revolving its end will bear at
times against the ball and cause the ball to revolve in its circular groove; the ball
in its revolution will bear at one part or side of its circumference on the axle, and
on the opposite side in its groove or bed in the cap; the said cap being securely
fastened to the box, undue lateral motion of the axle is prevented while the friction
is reduced to a minimum. The inner face of the cap is provided with a narrow
raised circular ledge, of which when the cap is adjusted fits closely to the ends of
the bearing rollers at a point on the said ends just inside the inner circumference
of the box; the bearing rollers being placed between this ledge and a corre-
sponding ledge on the inner cap on the inner end of the box, undue lateral
motion of the bearing rollers is prevented while the friction is reduced to a
minimum.
On the inner end of the box a cap D¹ is secured, this cap being composed of two
rings d¹ and d², the ring d¹ being secured to the box and bearing on its inner face
nearest the rollers a ledge d³ which serves to prevent undue lateral motion of the
rolls. The ring d2 of the inner cap is secured to the ring d', and between the two
rings I secure one or more washers c of leather, india rubber, or other like material
to prevent the entrance of dust to the box and rollers.
For convenience in oiling the parts of the mechanism and determining the
quantity of oil supplied in a given time, while the mechanism is in use I may

page_text: attach a three chambered cup C' to the top of the outer box A and directly over
the revolving axle or journal. This receptacle for the oil is cast preferably with
the outer box A, and is fitted with a lid kept closed by the pressure of a spring or
other device. One of the end chambers of this oil cup contains the oil which
supplies the inner ends of the rollers; the middle chamber supplies the connecting
neck of the rollers and the separator rollers, and also the ball and its groove in the
cap; and the other end-chamber supplies the front or outer ends of the rollers.
The oil flows from the chambers in the cup through holes in the bottom of each
chamber, through the outer box A to the outer surface of the inner box C, and thence
by channels S¹, S, S¹¹, on the inner face of the outer box A (the outer surface
of the inner box C acting as a floor to these channels) to points where holes in the
inner box C convey it directly to the rollers. A separate channel is used with
each chamber of the cup. The channel s from the middle cup through which the
oil is conveyed to the ball and its bearings passes from the bottom of the middle
chamber to the outer edge of the box, where the inner face of the cap meets it,
thence through the cap down to the circular groove, in which the ball travels, as
shewn in the Drawings.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. An anti-friction bearing composed of the series of bearing rollers E, the
series of short separator rollers H, the outer ring b, and the inner ring a, the
separator rolls, and also the smaller parts f of the rollers E lying between the said
rings a and b, the outer portions of the said rollers E projecting beyond the outer
ring b and the inner bearing portions of the rollers E projecting beyond the inner
ring a, all substantially as above set forth.
Second. In an axle box or bearing provided with anti-friction rollers E, H, the
combination of the ring b (of a diameter nearly as great as that of the box), and
the groove h in the box to prevent the contact of the ring b with the said box
when in use, as above set forth.
Third. In an axle box or bearing provided with antri-friction rolls E, H, the
combination of the ring a (of a diameter only a little greater than that of the
axle) and the groove g around the said axle to prevent the contact of the ring a
with the axle when in use, as above set forth.
Fourth. In a roller bearing or axle box the ball K for limiting the end play of
the axle (which may or may not be provided with the hard metal convex thrust
plate) and the groove M surrounding the said ball in such a manner as to keep
it in the groove whether pressed or not pressed upon by the axle, as above set
forth.
Fifth. In a roller bearing the combination with the box C of the series of
rollers E, H, held by two pairs of rings a, b, a³, b¹, substantially as described and as
shewn in Figure 4 of the Drawing.
Sixth. A roller bearing consisting of the box, the series of rollers held by the
rings within the said box, and the devices for limiting the end play of the axle or
shaft with or without the provision for lubricating the parts of the said bearing,
all substantially as and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
WM. ROBT. LAKE (L.S.)