Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Bearings and other parts of Machines having Bearing Surfaces, which Improvements are Chiefly Designed for Diminishing Friction.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 1st Aug., 1890-Accepted, 1st Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Bearings and
other parts of Machines having Bearing Surfaces, which
Improvements are Chiefly Designed for Diminishing Friction.
J, MAURICE LACOMBE, of 33, Rue de Lorraine, Levallois Perret, near Paris, in
the Republic of France, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to the manufacture of bearings, slide-blocks, excentrics,
distributing-valves, and other articles. According to my aforesaid invention I employ
agglomerations of carbon in the manufacture of the said articles, with the object of
obviating the inconveniences arising from the use of these articles when made of
metal as heretofore. I will proceed to describe, by way of example, the manufacture
of a shaft bearing.
This bearing comprises a special shell which is made of one or more parts, upon
which the rotary shaft bears. The said shell may either be held in a box of cast iron
or other metal, or it may be placed directly in a suitable bracket or pedestal.
The improved bearing is constructed of blocks of agglomerated carbon which are
obtained by compression or moulding, by the passage through a die or the like, or by
any other suitable incans.
According to the conditions to be fulfilled the agglomeration may be composed of
one or more kinds of carbon; for example use can be made of any of the four
materials natural or artificial graphite or natural or artificial plumbago, or of coke,
or the like, either alone or mixed in any suitable proportions with each other.
When shells made of these materials and combined so as to constitute bearings are
used, the friction produced. will be very small, whilst the strength obtained is very
great. Moreover griping is entirely obviated, and the parts in contact may
accidentally become heated to a high degree without any of the serious incon-
veniences such as result from friction of metal upon metal under similar
circumstances.
Furthermore, the material of which the improved bearings are composed is
absolutely inoxidable, and as it is very porous it greatly facilitates the lubrication in
case the latter is not altogether dispensed with.
As above stated, my invention is applicable not only to the manufacture of shaft-
bearings, but also to the construction of other stationary or movable articles or
devices.
For instance, the agglomerated carbon, as above set forth can serve for the
manufacture of slide-blocks, valves, excentrics and any articles or devices the sliding
friction of which is to be reduced to a minimum.
The various kinds of carbon above mentioned, and also any other kinds can be
mixed with other materials without departing from the nature of my said invention.
I will proceed to describe an example of the mixing of the materials and of the
manner in which my invention may be carried into practice. I use
60 parts of retort-coke
37
20 fine soot or lamp-black
plumbago.
10
"
">
All these materials are mixed in a state of fine powder and agglomerated with tar
or the like. After the mixing and trituration the paste is introduced into appropriate
moulds and compressed at a very high pressure. The paste can also be moulded by
passing it through a die or the like. The desired form having been obtained the

page_text: After the baking or burning an extremely hard and compact material is obtained.
The parts of the articles which are to form the rubbing surfaces are then subjected
to a kind of polishing operation.
It is understood that according to the degree of purity or the lubricating proper-
ties desired the above stated proportions can be modified at will. I can also employ
some other agglutinant than tar, and may add any substance which may be deemed
suitable, as the characteristic feature of iny invention consists in the manufacture of
bearings and other articles or devices consisting of carbon or any composition
containing carbon made as above described, whilst metallic parts being dispensed
with.
Dated this 16th day of November 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Bearings and
other parts of Machines having Bearing Surfaces, which
Improvements are Chiefly Designed for Diminishing Friction.
I, MAURICE LACOMBE, of 33 Rue de Lorraine, Levallois Perret, near Paris, in the
Republic of France, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of bearings, slide-blocks, excentrics, dis-
tributing valves, and other pieces or parts of machinery such as ordinarily require
lubrication. And my said invention is designed to obviate or overcome the difficulties
heretofore frequently experienced in the use of such pieces or parts of machinery
when made wholly or partially of metal, that is to say, when so made that metal
moves in contact with metal.
For this purpose, I employ, in the manufacture of the said pieces or parts of
machinery, agglomerated carbon or compounds of carbon.
By way of example, I will describe the manufacture of a shaft-bearing in
accordance with my said invention. This bearing is made with a suitable bearing
surface or shell of agglomerated carbon, which is formed in one or more parts and in
or upon which is supported the rotary shaft. The said shell may either be held in a
box or casing of cast iron or other suitable metal, or it may be placed directly in a
suitable bracket or pedestal. It is, however, so arranged that the shaft is not in
contact with any of the metal parts which support or enclose the shell of agglomerated
carbon.
The improved bearing is advantageously constructed of blocks of agglomerated
carbon, which are obtained by compression or moulding, or by the passage of the
material through a die or the like, or by other suitable means.
According to the conditions to be fulfilled, the agglomerate may be composed of
one or more kinds of carbon; for example use can be made of natural or artificial
graphite, or plumbago, or of coke, or the like, either alone or mixed in any suitable
proportions with each other.
When shells or blocks made of these materials and so combined as to form bearings
are used, the friction produced will be very small, whilst the strength obtained is
very great. Moreover, the liability to seizing or gripping of the shaft in the bearing
when undue heating thereof occurs, is entirely obviated, and should the parts in
contact accidentally become heated to a high degree, no serious inconvenience will
arise such as results from the friction between metal and metal under similar circum-
stances. Furthermore, the material of which the improved bearings are composed is
unoxidizable.
Notwithstanding that, in most cases, efficient lubrication is maintained by the
Daterial itself, I sometimes manufacture my material so as to obtain a certain degree
of porosity after baking, and thus allow of the same being constantly saturated with

page_text: any desired liquid or other lubricant which is sufficiently fluid to enter the material
either at the ordinary atmospheric temperature or when the bearing reaches the
temperature of the liquefaction of the lubricant.
As above stated, my invention is applicable not only to the manufacture of shaft-
bearings, but also to the construction of other parts of machinery the rubbing parts
of which may be formed of the material herein described so as to minimize the
effects of friction.
For instance, the agglomerated carbon, as above set forth, can serve for the
manufacture of slide-blocks, valves, excentrics and other devices subject to sliding
friction which it is desired to minimize.
The following is an example of the mixture of materials and the mode of manufac-
ture which I adopt, that is to say :-I use
60 parts by weight of retort coke
20
"
10
"
"
"
lamp-black, and
plumbago.
These materials are mixed in a state of fine powder, and are agglomerated with tar
or other suitable agglutinant. After the mixing and trituration of the said materials,
the paste thus obtained is introduced into appropriate moulds and compressed
preferably at a very high pressure in the said moulds, or is pressed or forced through
appropriate dies. The desired form having been obtained, the material is baked by
heating it in seggars, crucibles, muffle-furnaces or other suitable apparatus (from
which the air is, as far as practicable, excluded) at a temperature sufficiently high to
secure the agglomeration and to obtain an extremely hard and compact material.
The pieces or parts which are to form the rubbing surfaces are then polished or
smoothed in any convenient manner.
I wish it understood that, according to the degree of purity or the lubricating
properties desired, the above stated proportions can be modified at will. It is obvious,
moreover, that I may, without departing from my invention, add to the carbon or
mixtures of carbon other substances, such as mica or soapstone, which may assist the
lubrication, the characteristic feature of my invention being the manufacture of
bearings and other pieces or parts of machinery from carbon or from a carbon
compound agglomerated compressed and baked as above described, in which bearings
or the like there are no metallic parts which rub on or against other metallic parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood that
I claim :-
First. The manufacture of a bearing or other piece or part of machinery with its
entire rubbing surface formed of carbon agglomerated compressed and baked sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described and for the purposes specified.
Second. The combination of two parts of machinery which have a relative move-
ment in contact with each other, one part of which has its rubbing surface formed of
metal and the other having its rubbing surface formed entirely of the material
hereinbefore described.
Third. The combination of two parts of machinery which have a relative move-
ment in contact with each other, each of which parts has its rubbing surface formed
entirely of the material herein before described.
Fourth. The modification of my said invention wherein I combine, with the carbon,
mica or similar material with a view to increase the lubrication, as above specified.
Fifth. The modification of my said invention wherein I combine, with the porous
material made as hereinbefore described, any suitable lubricant, as above specified.
Dated this First day of August 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.