Improvements in Castors.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 28th Sept., 1895
Improvements in Castors.
1, CHARLES HENRY GAFFNEY, of 20 Prospect Square, Gloucester, in the
County of Essex, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Inventor
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 improvements in ball bearings for castors, particularly
designed for use on furniture castors, although it may be equally useful as an
anti-friction device for other purposes if so desired.
The invention is carried out as follows, reference being had to the accompanying
drawings, where
Fig. 1 represents a central longitudinal section of the invention showing the
castor ball in elevation.
Fig. 2 represents a cross section on the line 2-2 shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 represents an outside view of one of the rotary ball holding pockets.
Fig. 4 represents an interior view of one of said pockets.
Fig. 5 represents a top plan view of the upper ball holding cup, and
Fig. 6 represents a cross section on the line 6-6 shown in Fig. 5.
Similar letters refer to similar parts wherever they occur on the different parts of
the drawings.
The invention is applicable for furniture, desks, pianos or for other objects
where an antifriction roller bearing is required and it is carried out as follows:
In the drawings A represents the castor spindle, made of metal, smooth or screw
threaded for the purpose of attaching or securing it to the furniture as may be
desired.
In one piece with said spindle or secured to it in any suitable manner is made a
circular or nearly semi-spherical socket B within which is contained the castor
ball C as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
D is an annular ring or collar inserted within the lower portion of the socket B,
which serves to retain the castor ball C within the said socket after it has been
placed therein as fully shown in Fig. 1.
Within the upper part of the socket B is a cylindrical recess E terminating in
its upper end as a downwardly projecting convexo-spherical ball bearing support F
the lower end of which is preferably slightly flattened as shown in Fig. 1, and
below said support is located a ball holding cup G which has a central perforation g
through which extends the upper curved surface of the ball C as shown in Figs. 1,
5 and 6.
Within the cup G are located a series of anti-friction balls HH, the central
ones of which serve as an antifriction ball bearing support in a vertical direction
for the castor ball C.
Within the lower portion of the socket B are located a scries of ball containing
pockets I each one having a pin i jourualed in a peforation in the wall of said
socket B as fully shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
Each pocket I contains a series of antifriction balls K serving as antifriction
side bearings for the castor ball C as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
Between the outside of each pocket I and interior of the socket B are located
anti-friction balls L, L which are contained in annular grooves it, on the rear or
outside of said pockets I, as fully shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

page_text: By this arrangement I produce a most perfect anti-friction ball bearing device
for castor balls having both vertical and lateral anti-friction ball supporting
devices.
The upper balls H, during the rotation of the castor ball Care caused to
automatically change their relative positions within the cup G so that one or more
of the central ones therein always serve as anti-friction ball bearings for the castor
ball against a vertical pressure.
The antifriction balls K during the rotation of the castor ball are caused likewise
to automatically change their relative positions within the rotary pockets I, so that
one or more of the central balls in the latter always serve as anti-friction ball-
bearings for the castor ball principally against a lateral pressure, but on account
of the inclination of said pockets also to a certain extent against a vertical
pressure.
During the rotation of the castor ball, the pockets I on account of their being
antifrictionally supported on the balls L will automatically adjust themselves
relative to the rotary motion of the castor ball.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what
claim is :-
The herein described ball bearing castor consisting of a socket B having a vertical
bearing surface F and a series of balls contained in a perforated cup arranged
above the castor ball C and having a series of antifrictionally journaled
pockets I pivoted to the socket B and containing a series of anti-friction balls K
adapted to bear against the castor ball substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Dated this 27th day of August 1895.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18 Buckingham Street, London, W.C., Agents to
Applicant.