Improvements in Roller and Ball Bearings.
Year: 1891

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 18 of the Patents, &c., Act, 1883), as allowed by
the decision of the Chief Examiner of the 10th day of September 1896.
Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 21st Jan., 1892-Accepted 16th Apr., 1892
Improvements in Roller and Ball Bearings.
We, FREDERICK PURDON and HARRY ERNEST WALTERS, both of 2 Great
George Street Westminster in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineers, and
WILLIAM HUGH WOODCOCK of 25 Auckland Hill, West Norwood in the County
of Surrey Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention consists in improvements in rollers or balls and cylinder bearings
and in certain combinations of balls and cylinders with the object of reducing the
friction which takes place when a shaft or axle rotates in a bearing, or a bearing
rotates around a fixed shaft or axle. It also has reference to a method of taking
the end strain upon a shaft or axle.
We will describe the first portion of our invention as follows.
Hitherto in most cases in which ball bearings and cylinder bearings have been
used the balls or cylinders have produced a certain amount of friction between
their own surfaces or in the case of cylinders, on the journals or bearings of such
cylinders. The final sum of the sliding friction between the separate pairs of
balls or cylinders is thus made less than the sliding friction produced between a
rotating shaft and the stationary bush, but this friction between the pairs of balls
or cylinders is yet considerable. It is the object of eliminating or reducing to a
great extent the sliding friction between the adjacent pairs of balls or between
the cylinders and their bearings, that forms the subject of our improvements.
We surround the shaft or axle with a number of cylinders which are of such a
diameter as to fill the space formed between the shaft and a concentric casing, so
that when the shaft or casing revolves the cylinders roll over the surface of the
shaft or axle and at the same time roll over the interior surface of the outside con-
centric casing. The aforesaid cylinders are kept apart so that two cylinders are
never in contact with one another. This is attained in several different ways.
Firstly; The diameter of the cylinders at each end is reduced for a certain
distance and rollers are placed between these ends in such a way that a roller
separates each pair of cylinders.
To the aforesaid casing is attached a circular boss through which the shaft or
axle projects (neither of which touch the said boss). Upon the external surface
of the said boss rollers roll, and these rollers are prevented from moving outwards
by a loose ring which lies concentric with the shaft or axle and also with the boss
upon which latter the aforesaid rollers roll. It will thus be seen that the cylinders
roll over the surface of the shaft or axle and inside the casing while they are

page_text: prevented from producing sliding friction between themselves by the aforesaid
rollers.
Secondly.; In place of the rollers previously mentioned we may use balls for the
purpose of separating the ends of the cylinders, and in this case we provide a
circular path which is V shaped, on the boss upon which the balls roll, the balls
themselves being kept from moving outwards in a radial direction by being placed
nearer to the centre of the shaft than the cylinders are. In this case a loose
external ring is not required.
Thirdly; Instead of balls rollers may be used which travel upon the boss of the
casing above described concentric with the shaft or axle and of such a diameter
that the centres of the rollers are nearer to the axis of the shaft than the centres
of the cylinders are.
In this case the rollers are prevented from moving outwards by the ends of the
cylinders themselves and further also a loose ring is not required. In all these
cases it is necessary to provide for a slight longitudinal movement of the cylinders
aud it is important that the part of the cylinder which touches upon the stops
formed in the journal and the casing should be moving at the same velocity as the
surface of the cylinders. In order to produce this result we form the end of the
cylinders so that their circle of rolling contact with the journal or axle and
the casing is of the same diameter as that part of the cylinder which rolls upon the
shaft.
We will now describe that portion of our invention which has reference to taking
the end strain upon the shaft or axle, and this consists in forming a groove in the
stationary part of the shaft bearing in such a way as to act as a path for a ball
which rolls in a circle. The pressure or end-thrust of the revolving shaft is taken
upon this single ball which travels in a true circle. Our object in using oue bali
only is to avoid the friction which is produced between adjacent surfaces where a
number of balls are used together.
This plan is applicable to either vertical, horizontal or inclined shafts and the
end of the shaft may or may not be provided with a groove or path for the ball to
roll in. In cases where the load, thrust, or end pressure of the shaft is greater
than could be borne by one ball without danger of crushing the material of which
the ball, shaft or bearing is composed we provide separate paths in the stationary
casing and place a single ball in each path so that the load may be taken upon as
many points as is considered advisable. In the latter case paths or grooves may
or may not be provided upon the end of the shaft to correspond with the groove in
the stationary casing. The casing which bas been hitherto described as stationary
may also in some cases have a relative motion to the shaft itself, or may be stationary
as regards the revolving shaft while itself moving in space.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in Roller and Ball Bearings.
We, FREDERICK PURDON and HARRY ERNEST WALTERS both of 2 Great
George Street, Westminster in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineers, and
WILLIAM HUGH WOODCOCK of 25 Auckland Hill, West Norwood in the County
of Surrey, Civil Engineer, 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 :—
Our invention consists in improvements in roller or ball and cylinder bearings

page_text: and in certain combinations of balls and cylinders, with the object of reducing. the
friction which takes place when a shaft or axle rotates in a bearing, or a bearing
rotates around a fixed shaft or axle. It also has reference to a method of taking
the end strain upon a shaft or axle.
We will describe the first portion of our invention as follows:-
Hitherto in most cases in which ball bearings and cylinder bearings have been
used the balls or cylinders have produced a certain amount of friction between
their own surfaces or in the case of cylinders, on the journals or bearings of such
cylinders. The final sum of the sliding friction between the separate pairs of balls
or cylinders is yet considerable. It is the object of eliminating or reducing to a
great extent the sliding friction between the adjacent pairs of balls or between the
cylinders and their bearings, that forms the subject of our improvement.
We surround the shaft or axle with a number of cylinders which are of such a
diameter as to fill the space formed between the shaft and a concentric casing, so
that when the shaft or casing revolves the cylinders roll over the surface of the
shaft or axle and at the same time roll over the interior surface of the outside
concentric casing. The aforesaid cylinders are kept apart so that two cylinders aro
never in contact with one another. This is attained in several different ways.
Firstly; The diameter of the cylinders at each end is reduced for a certain
distance and rollers are placed between these ende in such a way that a roller
separates each pair of cylinders.
To the aforesaid casting is attached a circular boss through which the shaft or
axle projects (neither of which touch the said boss). Upon the external surface
of the said boss rollers roll, and these rollers are prevented from moving outwards
by a loose ring which lies concentric with the shaft or axle and also with the
boss upon which latter the aforesaid rollers roll.
It will thus be seen that the cylinders roll over the surface of the shaft or axle
and inside the casing while they are prevented from producing sliding friction
between themselves by the aforesaid rollers.
Secondly; In place of the rollers previously mentioned we may use balls for the
purpose of separating the ends of the cylinders, and in this case we provide a
circular path which is V shaped, on the boss upon which the balls roll, the balls
themselves being kept from moving outwards in a radial direction by being placed
nearer to the centre of the shaft than the cylinders are. In this case a loose
external ring is not required.
Thirdly; Instead of balls rollers may be used which travel upon the boss of the
casing above described concentric with the shaft or axle and of such a diameter
that the centres of the rollers are nearer to the axis of the shaft than the centres
of the cylinders are.
In this case the rollers are prevented from moving outwards by the ends of the
cylinders themselves and further also a loose ring is not required. In all these
cases it is necessary to provide for a slight longitudinal movement of the cylinders
and it is important that the part of the cylinder which touches upon the stops
formed in the journal and the casing should be moving at the same velocity as the
surface of the cylinders. In order to produce this result we form the ends of the
cylinders so that their circle of rolling contact with the journal or axle and
the casing is of the same diameter as that part of the cylinder which rolls upon
the shaft.
We will now describe that portion of our invention which has reference to taking
the end strain upon the shaft or axle, and this consists in forming a groove in the
stationary part of the shaft bearing in such a way as to act as a path for a ball
which rolls in a circle.
The pressure or end-thrust of the revolving shaft is taken upon this single ball
which travels in a true circle. Our object in using one ball only is to avoid the
friction which is produced between adjacent surfaces where a number of balls are
used together.

page_text: This plan is applicable to either vertical, horizontal or inclined shafts and the
end of the shaft may or may not be provided with a groove or path for the ball to
roll in. In cases where the load, thrust, or end pressure of the shaft is greater
than could be borne by one ball without danger of crushing the material of which
the ball, shaft or bearing is composed we provide separate paths in the stationary
casing and place a single ball in each path so that the load may be taken upon as
many points as is considered advisable. In the latter case paths or grooves
may or may not be provided upon the end of the shaft to correspond with
the grooves in the stationary casing. The casing which has been hitherto
described as stationary may also in some cases have a relative motion to the
shaft itself, or may be stationary as regards the revolving shaft while itself
moving in space.
In order to enable our invention to be better understood we will now describe it
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters refer to
similar parts throughout the different views.
Figure 1 represents a portion of the axle box of a railway vehicle, and is a
longitudinal vertical section of the axle box showing the method of arranging the
cylinders and rollers.
Figure 14 is a half plan of the lower half of the axle box shewn in Figure 1.
Figure 2 represents the same axle box, half front elevation being to the left
hand and half sectional elevation being to the right hand.
Figure 24 is a half plan of the axle box shewn in Figure 2.
Figure 3 is the longitudinal vertical section of the axle box of a railway vehicle
fitted with a different type of cylinders and balls instead of rollers, and an arrange-
ment for resisting the end pressure is also shown.
Figure 3 is a half plan of the axle box shewn in Figure 3.
Figure 4 represents the same axle box as Figure 3, half front elevation being to
the left hand and half sectional elevation being to the right hand.
Figure 5 represents the end view of a fixed plummer block, half being in elevation,
and half in section,
Figure 6 represents a longitudinal section of the same plummer block showing
the arrangement of the shaft, cylinders, and balls: while
Figure 7 shows a longitudinal section of a somewhat similar plummer block fitted
with small balls to take up end pressure.
Figures 8 and 9 represent a shaft and bearing; Fig. 8 being an elevation half in
section, and Figure 9 a longitudinal section.
Referring now to Figure 1, the shaft a is fitted with the sleeve b; preferably made
of steel, or some other hard material. This sleeve is preferably shrunk upon
the shaft or firmly fixed thereto in some other manner. The axle box consists
of a box casting c provided with a front cover d and a back cover e; both these
covers are removable and are fixed in position upon the casting c by means of
screws or bolts. The sleeve b is surrounded by cylinders f which are of a diameter
equal to one half the difference between the external diameter of sleeve b, and
internal diameter of casing c. It will thus be seen that when the shaft a revolves
the cylinders f are caused to rotate upon their own axes in a reverse direction to
that in which the shaft is rotating but themselves travel forward in the same
direction to that in which the shaft rotates.
If these cylinders are prevented from touching each other there is nothing but
rolling friction between their surfaces, the surface of the sleeve b, and the inner
surface of the casting c. If cylinders alone were used they might touch each other
and the opposing surfaces of two adjacent cylinders would produce sliding friction
between themselves. In order to avoid this, their heads are turned down to a smaller
diameter and a roller g is placed between each pair of adjacent cylinders thus
keeping them apart. The diameter of the rollers is so arranged that their
centres fall upon a circle of smaller diameter than that which passes through
the centres of the cylinders: it is thus impossible for them to become displaced

page_text: in an outward direction. In order to avoid a movement of the rollers in an
inward direction towards the centre of the shaft the covers c and d are each provided
with a boss i of such a diameter as to form a circular path upon which the rollers
may roll and maintain them in contact with the ends of the cylinders. The rollers
thus form two series of secondary rollers and their purpose is to entirely prevent
any possibility of sliding friction being produced between the surfaces of the
cylinders. Upon railways where wagons are used which are provided with axles
and axle boxes such as it has been our intention to improve, there is always an
end play of the axle in the axle box and in order to prevent the rounded corners
of the ends of the cylinders becoming wedged upon the rollers and also to prevent
the cylinders themselves from rubbing upon the fixed boss i a projection or rib j
is turned upon the sleeve b and a similar projection k is provided upon the interior
of the axle box c. The cylinder has a groove cut upon it of such a size as to
he perfectly clear of the projections ; and k, and owing to a slight groove at the
base of the projection all end play causes the cylinder to press upon the projection
with a diameter equal to that of the part where it rolls upon the sleeve. It is
obvious that the method of fixing the covers e, d, and their form may be altered to
suit different types of axle boxes.
Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, a is the axle, b is the sleeve which is shrunk
The covers d and e are
or fixed upon the axle, and c is the axle box casting.
formed rather differently from those represented in Figures 1 and 2, but the
principle throughout is the same.
The cylinders f in this case are made cylindrical throughout the distance in
which they roll on the sleeve b and the casting c and their ends are turned down
to the form shown for the same purpose as was referred to in Figures 1 and 2.
In this case however instead of rollers a number of balls 9 are employed and
in order to retain the balls in position the ends h of the cylinders f are formed into
double cones.
The path also upon which the balls roll and which forms a portion
of the covers e and d respectively is also constructed in the form of a vee and the
special diameter of the balls and the shape of the vee grooves are so arranged
that there should be no sliding friction between the cylinders and the balls and
the stationary parts of the axle box. In order to take up the pressure which
would come upon some part of the apparatus owing to the end thrust of the axles,
a special ball m is placed in the cover d and a path is cut in this cover of such a
form that the single ball m will be caused to roll in a circle when the axle itself
while revolving moves in the direction towards this cover.
Figures 5 and represent a similar arrangement of balls and cylinders applied
to a plummer block or bearing. Here the casing is as in the previous figures
lettered c.
The sleeve is fixed upon the shaft a and the cylinders are placed in
the space between the sleeve b and the interior of the casting c and its liner m².
In order however to allow of the bearing being taken up when it is worn the
separate portion m' is provided which can be moved nearer to the centre by
reducing the thickness of the packings n placed between the top and bottom halves
of the casing.
The ends of the cylinders are turned in the form of a vee groove in the same
way as those shown in Figure 3, and a ball is placed between the ends of each
adjacent pair of cylinders in the same way as shown in Figure 8; here the end
thrust is taken upon the rib n' of the cylinders f and a groove o is provided in the
sleeve band in the liner m' to prevent the end motion of the cylinders.
Figure 7 represents a somewhat similar plummer block but in this figure the end
thrust is taken upon small balls p one of which is placed in each of the covers d
and e and travels in a special groove q.
In this case the cylinders f are of the same diameter throughout the length
which rolls on the sleeve b.
It will be clearly understood that there is a free spacer in all these cases between
the shaft a and the covers d and e: although the method of taking the end

page_text: pressure upon the single balls is only represented in Figures 3 and 7 it will be
obvious that the same principle may be applied to all the remaining figures.
Figures 8 and 9 represent an arrangement of the shaft and plummer block
which may be used in cases where either the shaft may rotate within the
plummer block, or the plummer block itself may form part of a mechanism revolving
round the shaft. In the case represented by these figures, no sleeve is used on
the shaft a and a groove o is arranged in the shaft itself.
-
The cylinders fare of a similar type to those shown in other figures, as for example,
in Figure 6, but their ends are arranged for rollers instead of balls. The rollers g
roll as before upon the paths i of the covers d and e, and in order to prevent end
motion are provided with a special groove 8. In this case it will be observed that
the rollers are placed in such a position that the circle passing through the centres
of the cylinders also passes through the axes of the rollers. It is therefore
necessary to supply a special arrangement for preventing the rollers from moving
outwards, away from the shaft. For this purpose two rings t of a T section or
other suitable form are provided and on their inner surface a projection is so
arranged as to enter the groove s upon the rollers. It will thus be seen that the
rings t have a motion of their own. A similar arrangement to that described in
Figure 5 is made to allow for wear being taken up by reducing the thickness of
the packing piece n and moving the part m' nearer to the centre of rotation.
A similar arrangement may be adopted but introducing balls in lieu of the
rollers above described, in which case the section of the ring must be made to
suit balls.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we are aware that the general
principle of separating main cylinders or rollers by subsidiary cylinders or balls has
been done before, and we are also aware that a live ring has been employed for
keeping the subsidiary rollers in position. We do not therefore claim such principle
of separation or per se the application of a live ring for rollers or cylinders but
restrict our invention to the following improvements and combinations to better effect
the reduction of friction by separating the main cylinders and improvements in
taking up the end strain upon the shaft or axle and we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In ball or roller bearings the combination of a stationary box or casing
provided with removable covers upon which are formed a path or paths upon which
antifriction cylinders, balls or rollers move, substantially as herein before described
and shown in the accompanying drawings.
2. In ball or roller bearings the combination with a rotating shaft and stationary
casing of cylinders having grooves or projections in order to take up end pressure,
substantially as herein before illustrated and described.
3. In ball or roller bearings the combination with a rotating shaft and stationary
casing of a part m¹ Figures 5, 6, 7 and 9, so arranged as to allow of wear being
taken up, substantially as herein before illustrated and described.
4. In ball or roller bearings the combination with a rotating shaft and stationary
casing of single balls for taking up the end pressure, the said balls running in
special grooves arranged in the stationary casing, substantially as herein before
illustrated and described.
5. In ball and roller bearings the combination with a rotating shaft and stationary
casing of one or more balls each running in a separate groove for the purpose of
taking up the end pressure, substantially as herein before illustrated and described.
6. In ball and roller bearings the combination of the before mentioned cylinders,
rollers, or balls for bearings or journals in which the shaft rotates within a bearing
which is itself stationary or the bearing forms part of the mechanism which has a
rotary motion round the stationary shaft, substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the annexed drawings.

page_text: 7. In ball or roller bearings the combination of a series of cylinders kept apart
by two series of balls which balls are prevented from moving outwardly by live rings
of sections substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 21st day of Tan 1000
JOHN P. O'DONNELL,
2, Great George Street, Westminster, London, S.W.,
Agent for the said Applicants.