Improvements in Self-aligning Shaft-bearings.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 10th Feb., 1900
Improvements in Self-aligning Shaft-bearings.
We, JOSEPH TEMPERLEY and JOHN RIDLEY TEMPERLEY, both of The Temperley
Transporter Company, of 72, Bishopsgate Street Within, in the City of London,
Engineers, 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 an improved self-aligning shaft-bearing or plummer
block of simple and efficient form or construction and of the kind or class in
which a bush is mounted in the pedestal by means of external convex surfaces,
forming parts of the surface of a sphere, and is supported between corresponding
concave surfaces or seats, arranged in convenient situations both in the pedestal
and in the cap or keep retaining the bush therein.
By our said invention we provide improved means for fitting the said cap
to the pedestal by arranging interengaging surfaces, forming parts of cylinders,
upon the two parts; and we provide, upon the exterior of the bush, flattened
surfaces whereby the mounting of the shaft, when the pedestals are supported in
certain positions, is facilitated.
Our said invention moreover comprises other improved combinations or arrange-
ments of parts hereinafter more particularly set forth.
In the accompanying drawing we have shown a shaft-bearing embodying the
principles of our invention.
Figure 1 shows the improved shaft-bearing in vertical central section.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same with the cap removed.
Figure 3 shows a section taken on the line A-B, Figure 1.
As shown in the drawing, a is the pedestal and the cap or keep. The said
pedestal and cap enclose a substantially rectangular channel adapted to receive
the shaft-bush which is provided with convex surfaces at d, d. The bush c is
supported by the said convex surfaces resting in corresponding concave surfaces
or seats, e and f, formed in the pedestal a and cap 6 respectively. The con-
struction above described permits the adjustment of the bush c through a small
angle, in any direction, to bring the said bush into alignment with the shaft
to be supported.
Bushes for various sizes of shafts. between certain limits, can be made inter-
changeable with respect to the pedestals, that is to say, they can be of the same
external size and form. The said bush is preferably made of anti-friction metal
cast in a steel or other permanent mould provided with a core or mandrel of the
same size as the shaft to be mounted in the bush. We sometimes find it con-
venient to employ a metal core to form the hole into which a tube can be screwed
for supporting a vessel containing the lubricant; the said core has a screw thread
at the end so that it can be screwed out of the casting leaving a threaded hole
to receive the said tube.
We can, however, make the bush of brass, cast-iron or other metal and tool it
to the required shape.
The cap b is provided with a lip or flange h having its inner side, forming part

page_text: i
of a cylindrical surface concentric with the concave surface f, at a convenient
distance therefrom. The outer edges of the pedestal also form part of a cylinder
concentric to its concave surface or seat e and of suitable diameter to receive the
cap b
The concave surfaces e and fare preferably recessed out or cut away, as shown
at j, to reduce the area of the surfaces on the bush and on the pedestal and cap
which are in contact in order to give the said bush greater ease of self-adjustment.
In erecting lengths of shafting, the pedestals are first secured in the desired
situations and the solid bushes are then passed over the shaft. Each bush is
brought more or less nearly to a correct position upon, the shaft, corresponding
to the relative positions of the pedestals, and the bushes together with the shaft
and other attachments, if any, are lifed into place within the pedestals. The bush
is provided with flat sides g which, in the mounting of a shaft (especially in the
case where the pedestals are arranged with their bases in an approximately ver-
tical position, for example, upon a wall or post) rest upon the flat sides of the
rectangular channel through the pedestal. This is found to be a very convenient
arrangement since, in the case above mentioned, the shaft can be supported,
temporarily, by the pedestal alone without attaching the cap or employing other
aid as would be necessary if the bush consisted of two or more longitudinal pieces.
Moreover, in the event of the cap 6 being insecurely held in position, so that in
the operation of the shaft the convex surfaces of the bush are allowed to ride out
of their seats in the pedestal and cap, the said flat sides will prevent the rotation
of and consequent damage to the bush.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. An improved self-aligning shaft-bearing comprising a pedestal and a cap
or keep each having a concave surface or seat and wherein is supported an inter-
changeable shaft-bush, provided with corresponding convex, surfaces and with
flattened portions upon opposite sides, thereof, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. In a self-aligning shaft-bearing, the method of fitting the cap or keep, to
the pedestal consisting in arranging upon a lip or flange of the cap an inner
surface, forming part of a cylinder, adapted to fit upon the outer surface of the
pedestal, also forming part of a cylinder, substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. A shaft-bush having a threaded hole cast in it to receive a tube for supporting
the vessel containing the lubricant, substantially as described.
4. A self-aligning shaft-bearing or plummer block constructed and arranged
substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying
drawing.
Dated this 27th day of Navamo 1000
JOSEPH TEMPERLEY,
JOHN RIDLEY TEMPERLEY.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants: