An Improved Bearing for Axles of Railway and other Vehicles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 19th Apr., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Bearing for Axles of Railway and other Vehicles.
I, NEWTON ALFRED PRESTON, of 6 Canynge Road, Clifton, in the city and county
of Bristol, farmer, 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 consists in an anti-friction bearing for the axles of railway and
other vehicles.
According to this invention there is substituted for the usual bush provided above
the journal of the axle two rollers carried in bearings in a box and arranged to lie on
the journal parallel therewith.
The box in which the rollers have their bearings is, when applied to railway and
tramway vehicles, fitted in the axle box of the vehicle and varies in shape according
to the conformation of the axle box.
When applied to road vehicles the box is fitted above the axle below the body of the
vehicle.
As the axle rotates the rollers in contact therewith rotate also. Consequently, the
journal rotates in contact with rolling surfaces instead of with the fixed face of a
bush, and thus friction is reduced and undue heating of the journal obviated.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents an end view of my
improved anti-friction bearing as applied to an axle, or to the journal of an axle.
Fig. 2 is a plan as seen from below. Fig. 3 is a transverse section.
In the bed or frame a, which varies in shape according to the conformation of the
axle box to which the anti-friction bearing is applied, are bearings b in which are
supported the spindles c of rollers d. The bed or frame a is recessed at the top to
form a receptacle for the lubricant which is supplied to the spindles of the rollers
through apertures provided therefor.
It will be seen, by reference to Fig. 1, that the journal A of the axle is in contact
with the rollers at two points only and that as the axle rotates the rollers rotate
also.
Consequently, friction is reduced and liability to overheating of the axle obviated.
A metal band e may be secured over the spindles c of the rollers, as seen at Fig. 1,
to prevent the latter from dropping out of the bed when being fitted into the axle
box.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. The use, as an upper bearing for the journals of axles of railway and other
vehicles, of two rollers arranged to lie on the journal parallel therewith and free, to
rotate therewith in bearings provided in a bed or frame fitted in the axle box, or
otherwise above the axle, substantially as herein before described with reference to the
accompanying sheet of drawings.
2. The bed or frame a recessed at the top for containing oil or other liquid lubricant
and provided with apertures or channels for conducting the lubricant to the roller
spindles, substantially as described.
Dated this 18th day of March 1890.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol Bank Buildings, Bristol, Agent.