IMPROVEMENTS IN JOURNAL BEARINGS AND AXLE BOXES, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR CARRIAGES OR VEHICLES RUNNING UPON RAIL AND TRAM WAYS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Southampton Buildings, London, Patent Agents, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN JOURNAL BEARINGS AND AXLE BOXES,
CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR CARRIAGES OR VEHICLES RUNNING UPON RAIL AND
TRAM WAYS."—A communication from abroad by George Franklin.
Lynch, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 2nd July 1870.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Southampton Buildings, London, Patent Agents, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN JOURNAL Bearings and
AXLE BOXES, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR CARRIAGES OR VEHICLES. RUNNING UPON RAIL
AND TRAM WAYS," a communication, to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to journal bearings and their boxes for railway
and other carriage axles and for other axles and shafting.

page_text: The said Invention is designed to provide such journals with bearings
which will be almost entirely free from friction and heat and will
therefore be far superior with regard to durability, economy, smooth and
easy working, and facility of starting and stopping to the journal
bearings ordinarily employed for railway and other purposes. They
also to a great extent diminish the destruction or wear and tear of the
permanent way and rolling stock.
The working surfaces of these improved bearings are rolling surfaces,
and my Invention consists, first, in the peculiar arrangement of devices
for supporting and keeping in place a series of rollers which are
interposed between the journal and the bearings. When such a bearing
is used on railway or tramway carriages, and for other purposes where
the journal is exposed to sudden shocks and lateral strains it becomes
necessary to provide the bearing with means for counteracting the effect
of the same.
And my Invention consists, secondly, in the arrangement within the
box at the end of the bearing of a ball or sphere or a rolling circular
block to receive the lateral pressure of the axle or shaft. Although
very little lubricating material will be required with my improved
bearing I prefer to use a little in some cases.
And my Invention consists, thirdly, in the devices employed for pre-
venting the escape and loss of lubricating matter from a bearing.
It consists, fourthly, in the arrangement of india-rubber springs or
cushions in combination with the bearing between the same and its
support, or between two parts of the bearing, to lessen the injurious
effects of the shocks arising from lateral vibration and to facilitate the
passage of railway carriages around curved portions of the line.
The said Invention also consists in the peculiar construction and
combination together of a box which encloses the friction, rollers and
an outer case or frame for supporting the said box.
According to one method of constructing my improved bearing the
antifriction rollers are plain cylindrical pieces of hard metal (preferably
steel), between which are interposed smaller rollers, also of steel or
hardened metal. The small rollers are formed with reduced necks
which fit between the surface of projecting collars (formed on each end
of the box) and the inner periphery of two rings (one of which is placed
at each end of the bearing). The large rollers are fitted between shoulders

page_text: sidė lies against the end of the axle; the other side of the said block
has a small central semicircular recess or cavity, into which projects
the end of a sorew, is fitted in screw threads formed in the end of the
box or case which contains the rollers, the said box in this modifi-
cation having its end cast in one piece with the sides instead of having
two removable end pieces, as above described. The aforesaid screw is
formed with a head whereby it may be sorewed in or out to adjust the
block, and is provided with a lock nut to hold it when properly
adjusted. The case or box wherein the frame of rollers is enolosed may
be entirely of steel or of cast iron chilled on its working surfaces, or
may be of cast iron bushed or lined with steel on its working surfaces.
The said case or box is provided with a hole for the introduction of
lubricating matter, which hole is closed by a screw plug or other
suitable stopper. To prevent the loss of the oil or other lubricant I
employ the following devices:-On the outside of the inner end of the
bearing box I place a metal plate, between which and the face of the
box I interpose a packing of leather, india-rubber, or other suitable
material; the journal passes through this plate but does not fit closely
therein. In the centre of the said plate and surrounding the journal is
a shallow recess or cavity, in which I place a packing ring or washer
also of leather, india-rubber, or other elastic compressible substance,
which fits closely around the periphery of the journal; over this ring
I then place a thin metal plate or cover. The inner plate has a circular
projection which fits within the inner packing. The two metal covers
are both held on by screw studs which project from the face of the box,
the said studs having nuts outside the outer metal plate; by turning
these puts in the proper direction the plates are tightened or forced
down upon the leather, india-rubber, or other packing, thereby forming
a joint which will effectually prevent the escape of the lubricating matter
from the bearing without adding to the friction. I prefer that the
aforesaid bearing box when used for railway carriages and for similar
vehicles should be fitted between vertical guides or pedestals similar to
the ordinary axle-box guides of a railway carriage, but it is free to move
laterally as well as vertically therein; between the box and the sides
of these guides or pedestals I interpose the india-rubber cushions for
reducing the effect of the lateral vibration, and which I call the shock
springs. These springs are small cushions or blocks of prepared india-
rubber, which are enclosed in loose flanged metal plates; the said plates
have screws which pass through the rubber cushions into lugs or ears

page_text: projecting from the sides of the box; the flanges of the loose plates fit
over these lugs. When the box is placed in the guides these loose plates
with the rubber cushions enclosed lie between the lugs and the guide
plates or pedestals, and by their action greatly diminish the shocks arising
from the lateral vibrations of the axle or carriage, and also greatly
facilitate the passage around a curve. If desired I may use an india-
rubber cushion inside the box at the end of the axle instead of or in
combination with these outside shock springs. The aforesaid bearing
box is preferably constructed with its sides and top flat, its under side
being semicircular, but instead of being so formed the bearing box may
be of a truncated, ovoidal, or elliptical form. The supporting springs
used with my improved axle-boxes may be either the ordinary metal
plate springs or india-rubber springs. When india-rubber supporting
springs are used they are placed on the top of the box and held in place
by small studs on the said box, and on the top of the guide or outer box,
or may be otherwise conveniently arranged to support the weight of the
carriage. Instead of having the bearing box fitted between guide plates
as above described, I sometimes secure the same upon or in another box
or case, which is attached to the carriage or vehicle, and between these
two boxes I interpose the india-rubber cushions or shock springs. Whent
the axles are constructed of iron I provide the journals with a sleeve or
tube of hardened steel to form the bearing surface.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 31st December 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Southampton
Buildings, London, Patent Agents, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,

page_text: my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN JOURNAL BEARINGS AND AXLE BOXES, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR
CARRIAGES OR VEHICLES RUNNING UPON RAIL AND TRAM WAYS," a communication
to me from abroad by George Franklin Lynch, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said William Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
My Invention relates to journal bearings and their boxes chiefly
designed for carriages and other vehicles running upon rail and
tram ways.
The said Invention is designed to provide such journals with bearings.
which will be almost entirely free from friction and heat, and, will
therefore be far superior with regard to durability, economy, smooth and
easy working, and facility of starting and stopping to journal bearings
ordinarily employed for railway and other purposes. They also to a great
extent diminish the destruction or wear and tear of the permanent way
and rolling stock.
The working surfaces of these improved bearings are rolling surfaces,
and my Invention consists, first, in the peculiar arrangement of devices
for supporting and keeping in place a series of rollers which are inter-
posed between the journal and the bearing. When such a bearing is
used on railway or tramway carriages, and for other purposes where the
journal is exposed to sudden shocks and lateral strains, it becomes

page_text: are formed with reduced necks 6', which fit between the surfaces of
projecting collars d formed on the end pieces of the box A and the inner
periphery of two rings e, e*, (one of which is placed at each end of the
bearing, as clearly shown in Figure 1). The large rollers a are fitted
between shoulders or collars 6º formed on the small rollers b, and are
kept in place endwise thereby. The rings e, e*, are fitted loosely in the
bearing box A, which has an enlarged recess A' at each end to receive
the ring. When the axle B is in motion the rollers a may turn either
with these rings or independantly thereof. The extremity B¹ of the
journal B projects beyond the ring e* and end plate A, and its pro-
jecting portion is formed with an annular groove B³. Over the end of
the box A is placed a semicircular piece or cup A³, whose inner surface
forms a groove corresponding with the annular groove B' in the axle,
the two together forming a circular channel, in which I place the steel
or hard metal ball or sphere f herein-before mentioned. This ball rolls
freely around in the said channel, receiving the endwise strain or pressure
in either direction, and keeping the axle securely in place.
The box or case which encloses the rollers in this arrangement of my
Invention is made in separate portions. The body A is a tube of steel
or hardened iron. The end pieces A³, A*, and also the cup or semi-
circular piece A³ enclosing the ball f, are also of steel or iron hardened
on their working surfaces; these parts are secured to the tube by bolts
or screw rods g; this box or case is enclosed in an outer box or frame,
and may be provided with india-rubber springs to diminish the injurious
effects of lateral vibration, as herein-after more fully described in 2
connection with Figures 9, 11, and 14. For vertical shafts and axles,
and in other cases, I sometimes use conical or taper journals, and make
the aforesaid bearing and intermediate rollers taper to correspond with
the taper or inclination of the said journal.
According to the modification of this Invention illustrated in Figures 9,
10, 11, 12, 13, and 14, I dispense with the small intermediate rollers b,
and keep the antifriction rollers a in the proper position around the
bearing by inserting their ends in holes drilled or bored in the rings e³, et.
The said rings in this case are made larger than in the first described
arrangement to give them the required strength when bored to receive a
the ends of the rollers. The holes in the ring e³ are cut through the
outer periphery, as shewn in Figure 13, and in the ring e' through the
inner periphery, as shown in Figure 12, so that the rollers project beyond.

page_text: the surfaces of the rings, and the said rings are therefore clear of both
the axle and the box, and will turn freely around the axle with the
rollers without any friction between the rings and the axle or box, and
there is no friction between the rollers and the rings except a very slight
amount occasioned by the weight of the said rings upon the rollers.
Instead of the ball working in the annular groove above described to
receive the endwise pressure of the shaft I sometimes use a circular plate
or block h, Figure 10, a portion of which block projects and fits loosely
within the ring e³, its inner face lying against the end of the axle. In
the outer face of the said block there is a small central semicircular
recess or cavity, into which projects the end of a screw i fitted in screw
threads formed in the end of the box or case A, the said box in this
modification having its end cast in one piece with the sides instead of
having two removeable end pieces as above described. The screw i is
formed with a head i¹, whereby it may be sorewed in or out to adjust the
block, and is provided with a lock nut j to make it fast when properly
adjusted. The case or box A, wherein the frame of rollers is enclosed,
may be entirely of steel or of cast iron chilled on its working surfaces,
or may be of cast iron bushed or lined with steel on its working
surfaces. The said case or box is provided with a hole k for the intro-
duction of lubricating matter, which hole is closed by a screw plug k¹ or
other suitable stopper.
To prevent the loss of the oil or other lubricant I employ the following
devices: On the outside of the inner end of the bearing box A I place
a metal plate 1, between which and the face of the box I interpose a
packing m of leather, india-rubber, or other suitable material. The
journal B passes through the plate but does not fit closely therein.
In the centre of the said plate and surrounding the journal is a shallow
recess or cavity in which I place a packing ring or washer n also of
leather, india-rubber, or other elastic compressible substance, which fits
closely around the periphery of the journal B; over this ring n I then
place a thin metal plate or cover o. The inner plate has a circular
projection, which fits within the inner packing m. The two metal
covers and o are both held on screw studs p which project from the.
face of the box, the said studs having nuts p¹ outside the outer metal
plate o, by turning these nuts in the proper direction the plates are
tightened or pressed down upon the leather, india-rubber, or other

page_text: packing, thereby forming a joint which will effectually prevent the escape
of the lubricating matter from the bearing without adding to the friction.
The line X, X, shows the position of the side of the wheel. Although
I have shown this packing only upon the last described modification of
my Invention, it is obvious that it may be adapted with equal facility
and advantage to the box shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3. I prefer that
the aforesaid bearing box when used for railway carriages and similar
vehicles should be fitted in vertical guides or pedestals 2 similar to the
ordinary axle-box guides of a railway carriage, but it is free to move
laterally as well as vertically therein. Between the box and the sides of
these guides or pedestals I interpose the india-rubber cushions for
reducing the effect of the lateral vibration, and which I call the shock
springs. These springs are clearly shown in Figures 9, 11, 14. These
springs are small cushions or blocks of prepared india-rubber enclosed
in loose flanged metal plates ¹, the said plates have screws 7² which
pass through the rubber cushions into lugs or ears 2, projecting from
the sides of the box A, the flanges of the loose plates fit over these
lugs. When the box A is placed in the guides q these loose plates with
the rubber cushions enclosed lie between the lugs and the guide plates
or pedestals as clearly shown in Figure 11, and by their action.greatly
diminish the shocks arising from the lateral vibrations of the axle or
carriage, and also greatly facilitate the passing of the carriage round a
curve. If desired I may use an india-rubber cushion inside the box at
the end of the axle instead of or in combination with the said outsido
shock springs. The aforesaid bearing box is preferably constructed with
its sides and top flat, its under side being semicircular, (see Figure 9,)
but instead of being so formed the bearing box may be of a truncated,
avoidal, or elliptical form. The supporting springs used with my
improved axle-boxes may be either the ordinary metal plate springs or
india-rubber springs: When india-rubber supporting springs are used
they may be advantageously arranged as shown in the Drawing, that is
to say, the spring & is placed on the top of the box A, and held in place
by small studs t formed on the said box, and on the top of the guide q
or an outer fixed box which I sometimes use instead of the said guide.
The said springs however may be otherwise conveniently arranged to
support the weight of the carriage. When the outer box or case is used
instead of the guide or pedestal it is attached to the carriage or vehicle,
and between the two boxes I interpose the india-rubber cushions or

page_text: shock springs. When the axles are constructed of iron I provide the
journals with a sleeve or tube B³ of hardened steel to form the bearing
surface.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I wish it to be clearly understood that
I do not claim the use or application of rollers alone in connection with
axle bearings or boxes, as I am fully aware that roller bearing boxes
for shafts and axles have already been constructed, although such boxes
have been found more or less inefficient and unsatisfactory because they
were not constructed in such a manner as to run for any length of time
without injury to the rolling surfaces, or to endure the various strains
and shocks lateral and otherwise, to which they were exposed.
My Invention is therefore restricted to the various devices and
appliances, whereby I overcome these difficulties, and which I have
described and shewn substantially as I prefer to carry them into practice,
but the details of which may be varied within such limits as will not
impair the action or effect of such devices or appliances with regard to
their purpose in connection with my said Invention, and I claim,—
First. Combining with a bearing for a journal a series of rollers and
rings, not positively fastened together or to the bearing, but controlled
and kept in a proper working position, and free to move either together
or independant of each other, and with or independant of the journal.
Second. In combination with the aforesaid rollers and rings the ball
or sphere fitted to run in a channel formed partly in the axle and partly
in the bearing, for the purpose set forth.
Third. In combination with the said rollers and rings the rolling
circular block and set screw at the end of the bearing for the purpose
set forth.
Fourth. The metal plates with the interposed packing of india-rubber
or other suitable substance at the end of the bearing for preventing
the escape of the lubricating matter substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The shock springs in combination with the axle-box or bearing
arranged substantially as specified for the purpose set forth.
Sixth. Providing the journal (when the same is formed of iron) with
a steel sleeve or covering, substantially as set forth.

page_text: Seventh. The combination of my improved bearing box with a
pedestal or outer box with shock springs interposed between the said
bearing box and pedestal or between the two boxes, substantially as set
forth for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy..
Witness,
E. C. JACKSON.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)