Improvements in or relating to Anti-Friction or Roller Bearings
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 1st Dec., 1899-Accepted, 17th Mar., 1900
"Improvements in or relating to Anti-Friction or Roller Bearings".
1, WILLIAM HAMILTON WRIGHT, Manufacturer of Bridgeburgh Ontario in the
Dominion of Canada, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of roller bearings for
rotating shafts and the like, also to an improved construction of thrust bearing,
specially applicable to lathe or like spindles.
The first part of the invention may be explained by describing it as applied to a
counter shaft.
The bearing comprises an outer casing which may be of any convenient shape
externally to enable it to be fixed to its bracket or standard, or it may form part of
the same. Internally it is cylindrical centrally and at each end, the ends being of
the larger diameter and the portion between the centre and each end forming part
of a cone and constituting the outer bearing surface or wall of the roller race.
Each half of the bearing from the centre outwards is symmetrical and the description
of one will apply to both.
The inner wall of the roller race is formed by an annular recess, occupying the
greater portion of the surface of a tapering nut, screwed on to one half of a threaded
sleeve secured by frictional contact, or other suitable means, to the portion of the
shaft within the casing.
The rollers are formed with a slight taper, and take a bearing on the walls of the
race throughout their whole length, the tapering nut and coned portion of the casing
being shaped to correspond with the degree of taper of the rollers and to hold them
so that their axes are preferably at an angle of about 10° to the axis of the
shaft.
The rollers are free both to rotate on their own axes and to travel in the race and
are preferably provided with means to retain them in position within the recess of the
tapering nut when removed from contact with the outer wall of the race.
For this purpose pins may be provided on each end of the rollers to engage
retaining flanges in the manner described in the specification of a previous patent
granted to me No. 11826 of 1895. Or a cage may be provided comprising two rings
rotatably fixed in the bearing and connected by arms one of which is placed between
each two adjacent rollers, above their line of contact.
The tapering nut is adjustable on the sleeve to take up wear of the bearing surfaces,
and is locked in position by a feathered washer and screw nut.
The end of the casing is closed by a felt, leather or other yielding washer held in
position by a metal washer and by a ring or cap screwed into the end of the
osing

page_text: The above construction is equally applicable to a loose pulley, the hub or boss of the
pulley forming the casing.
In cases where it is desirable that there should be a slight longitudinal movement
possible between the shaft and its bearing or loose pulley, the sleeve may be.secured
to the shaft by a pin and groove, allowing side play between the sleeve and the shaft
but not rotation of the sleeve on the shaft.
In constructing a thrust bearing for a lathe spindle or the like according to this
invention, one half of the bearing may be formed and arranged in the manner above
described, in the other half the portion of the inside of the casing and the tapering
nut, forming the walls of the roller race, are shaped so that the rollers are held with
their axes at an angle preferably of about 50° to the axis of the spindle.
Dated the 17th dev of March 1800
"Improvements in or relating to Anti-Friction or Roker Bearings
I, WILLIAM HAMILTON WRIGHT, Manufacturer, of Bridgeburgh, Ontario, in the
Dominion of Canada, 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 the construction of roller bearings for
rotating shafts, loose pulleys, and the like, also to an improved construction of thrust
bearing, specially applicable to lathe or like spindles.
In carrying out the invention two full series of tapered rollers are employed: the
rollers are free to rotate on their own axes, have a free way in the bearing races, that
is can travel without obstruction therein, and each roller has a continuous line contact
with the bearing surfaces or walls of the race.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a longitudinal median section of a bearing for a counter-shaft or loose
pulley constructed according to this invention.
Figure 2 is a similar view of a thrust bearing for a lathe spindle.
Figure 3 shows a modified construction of bearing applied to a tram-car axle-box
and
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are detail views showing an alternative form of retaining device
for the rollers.
Like letters indicate like parts in the drawings.
Referring first to Figure 1, A is a casing which may be of any convenient shape
externally to enable the bearing to be fixed to its bracket or standard, or it may forin
part of the same; or it may constitute the hub of a loose pulley as shown in dotted
Îines in the figure.
Internally it is cylindrical in shape, and a portion of each half is formed with a
taper surface A¹ increasing in diameter from within outwards. These surfaces may
be formed solid with, or on linings secured within, the casing.
On the portion of the shaft B within the casing is a sleeve ( secured thereto in any
suitable manner, say by frictional contact by a key, or by a set screw, and preferably
in such a manner that the sleeve can be removed from the shaft without disturbance
of the parts of the bearing.
It is sometimes desirable, say when the bearing carries a loose pulley, that the
pulley should be capable of a slight side play, on the shaft, in which case the sleeve C
may be secured by a set screw held in a slot equal to the diameter of the screw head

page_text: in cross section, to prevent movement of the sleeve round the shaft but of length
sufficient to allow of side movement of the sleeve. An arrangement permitting both
such longitudinal movement and the removal of the sleeve from the shaft without
disturbance of the parts of the bearing is shown in Figure 1, the sleeve C being
continued beyond the bearing at each end and secured by set screws C¹ each held in
a slot C2
Preferably both halves of the bearing from the centre outwards are symmetrical
with each other as shown in Figure 1, and the description of one will apply to both.
Screwed on to the sleeve C is a cone or taper collar D having an annular recess Di
occupying the greater portion of its surface, the bottom surface of the recess forming
the inner wall of a race for a series of rollers E, the outer wall being formed by one of
the taper surfaces A¹ of the casing before described.
The rollers E are formed with a slight taper and take a continuous bearing on the
walls of the race throughout their whole length, the recess of the cone D and the
taper surface A¹ of the casing being shaped to correspond with the degree of taper of
the rollers and to hold them so that their central axes are at an angle, preferably of
about 10° to the axis of the shaft.
The degree of taper of the rollers must be such that if the tapered surface of each
roller of the series was continued to form a perfect cone, their apices would meet at a
common central point when the rollers are in position in the bearing.
The rollers are in full series, that is to say the race is filled with rollers, space only
being left between them sufficient to prevent binding or frictional contact when in
motion.
The rollers are free both to rotate on their own axes and to travel in the race.
It is evident that the cone D can be adjusted on the sleeve C, to take up wear and
give the normal dimensions to the roller race. When set in position it is locked by
means of a screw nut F, a metal washer F¹ (prevented from rotating preferably by
means of a feather F, engaging in a slot C3 cut in the sleeve C), being interposed
between the taper nut and its lock nut.
To retain the lubricant within the bearing and prevent the entry of dirt, etc., the
end of the casing is closed by a leather or other yielding washer G, held in position
by a metal washer G¹, which butts against a shoulder in the casing and an end cap G²
screwed into the casing.
%
To hold the rollers E in position in the recess of the cone D, when the bearing is
being put together or taken apart, each end of the rollers may be provided with a
central pin E which pins engage the flanges E2 of rings E3 secured on each end of
the cone D. These flanges however are not in contact with the roller pins when the
bearing is in normal working position.
An alternative form of retaining device for the rollers is shown in Figures 4, 5
and 6. Two rings H H have a bearing, and are capable of rotation, on the cylindrical
ends of the cone D. The outer edges of these rings are connected by arms H2, one
arm being placed between each two adjacent rollers of the series, above the point of
contact of the rollers. The arms H2 are formed, as shown in Figure 5 in cross section,
with curved sides corresponding with the curve of the rollers.
A lock nut H³ may be provided forming a recess with the shoulder D2 within which
the ring H revolves, in order to hold the cage in position.
As the rollers travel in the race they carry the cage with them by means of the
arms H2. The rings H H themselves have no contact with the rollers, which in this
construction are not provided with end pins, and the whole weight of the cage is
borne by the bearing surfaces of the rings on the nut D.
Although the construction described above is the preferable one the rings H H¹
might be formed solid with the cones D and the ends of the arms H2 movably carried
in annular grooves in the rings.
A thrust bearing suitable for the spindle of a lathe is shown in Figure 2. In this
construction one half of the bearing is formed and arranged in the manner above
described with reference to Figure 1 so as to receive the axial load; in the other half,
the surface A¹ of the casing and the recess D¹ of the cone D, forming the walls of the

page_text: roller race, are shaped so that the rollers are held with their central axes at an angle
preferably of about 50° to the axis of the spindle B and thus receive the end thrust.
Desirably the spindle is provided with a collar B¹, secured with a set screw B², as a
further security against the shifting of the sleeve C when the strain of the end thrust
is put on the bearing.
Although both cones D are in most cases preferably screwed on to the sleeve C
which is threaded for the purpose as shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is evident that one
or both of them may be secured thereon by other well-known means; or one cone
may, if desired, be formed solid with the sleeve.
In Figure 3 is shown a modified construction of bearing as applied to a train or like
car axle-box, in which the cones are secured direct on to the axle by a key, the sleeve
being dispensed with. To render longitudinal shifting of the cones D impossible the
end of the axle is threaded and adjustment and lock nuts B3 B4 screwed thereon; a
cottar B5 may also be provided.
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. In a roller bearing the combination with a sleeve such as C carrying two cones
such as D each cone forming the inner wall of a roller race and a casing having two
taper surfaces such as A¹ each surface forming the outer wall of the same of two full
series of taper rollers each series having a free way in its race and the rollers being in
continuous line contact with the walls of the race substantially as described.
2. In-a-roller bearing-a-sleeve-sueh-as-G-which-earries the roller-cones-D-whereby
the-bearing-is rendered-self-contained-and-cun-be-removed from the shafting without
disturbance-of-its-parts.
3. In-a-roller-bearing-the-combination with the shaft of a-sleeve such as C-which
earries-the-various parts of the bearing-and-is-capable of slight longitudinal move-
ment-along-the-shaft.
2. 4. In a roller bearing a cage such as H H1 H2 substantially as and for the
purpose described or as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 and 6 of the accompanying
drawings.
3. A roller bearing comprising a sleeve C adjustable cones D with bearing sur-
faces D locknuts F, feathered washers F, a casing with taper surfaces A¹, end caps G²,
washers G G¹, two full series of rollers E and retaining devices E' E2 E3 or H H1 H2,
substantially as described.
6. In-a-roller-bearing-the-combination-with-one-series-of-rollers adapted to
receive-the-axial load of another-series-of-rollers-adapted-to-receive-the-end-thrust.
4. The complete roller bearing substantially as described or and illustrated in
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
5. & The complete thrust bearing substantially as described or and illustrated in
Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
6. The complete car journal box substantially as described or and illustrated in
Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of November 1899.
BOULT & WADE
Agents for the Applicant.