IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE BEARINGS AND THEIR LUBRICATION"
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William John Brewer of 23 Rood Lane in the City of
London Civil Engineer for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE
BEARINGS AND THEIR LUBRICATION"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William John Brewer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th June 1882.
WILLIAM JOHN BREWER, of 23 Rood Lane, in the City of London, Civil
Engineer IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE BEARINGS AND THEIR LUBRICATION
My invention relates to certain improvements in axle bearings, whether fixed or
revolving, and in the lubrication thereof, designed to provide an easy and constant
means of lubrication, and a bearing which shall be watertight and dust-tight.
In the bearing are formed two annular recesses near to the ends, and in these
recesses are fixed rings of rubber or other similar material, so as to be sufficiently
compressed on to the journal as to be watertight and dust-tight, but not when
lubricated to offer resistance to rotation. This object I alternatively obtain by
bevelling or recessing the two ends of the bearing, and, by means of a screw collar,
expanding rings of india rubber or suitable material against the journal. I may
employ either of these devices alone, or in conjunction with one another.
To the protected space I lead the lubricant from one or more chambers, formed
in the substance of the bearing block, by means of suitable ducts. I may employ
either grease or plumbago lubricants-In the case of grease or similar lubricant,
I form the ducts of tubes of copper or other good heat conductor, so that in case
of heating the lubricant may flow more readily. Where the bearing is fixed, two
is a suitable number of chambers, placed one above and one below the journal, so
that when the upper chamber is emptied the bearing may be reversed and the
overlow in the lower chamber be utilized. Where the bearing revolves, the number
of chambers may be increased. This employment of several chambers allows the
lubricant to circulate freely and be repeatedly brought into use.
The Chambers are closed by means of a lateral screw or screw-cap, to prevent
any loss of the lubricant placed therein

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William John Brewer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th December 1882.
WILLIAM JOHN BREWER of 23 Rood Lane, in the City of London, Civil
Engineer IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE BEARINGS AND THEIR LUBRICATION
My Invention relates to certain improvements in axle bearings, whether fixed or
revolving, and in the lubrication thereof, designed to provide an easy and constant
means of lubrication, and a bearing which shall be watertight and dust tight.
In the bearing are formed two annular recesses near to the ends, and in these
recesses are fixed rings of rubber or other similar material, so as to be sufficiently
compressed on to the journal as to be watertight and dust tight, but not when
lubricated to offer resistance to rotation. This object I alternativelely obtain by
bevelling or recessing the two ends of the bearing, and by means of a screw collar
expanding rings of india rubber or suitable material against the journal. I may
employ either of these devices alone, or in conjunction with one another
To the protected space I lead the lubricant from one or more chambers, formed
in the substance of the bearing block, by means of suitable ducts. I may employ
either grease or plumbago lubricants. In the case of grease or similar lubricant, I
form the ducts of tubes of copper or other good heat conductor, so that in case of
heating the lubricant may flow more readily. Where the bearing is fixed, two is a
suitable number of chambers, placed one above and one below the journal, so that
when the upper chamber is emptied the bearing may be reversed, and the overflow
in the lower chamber be utilized.
Where the bearing revolves the number of chambers may be increased.
This employment of several chambers allows the lubricant to circulate freely and
be repeatedly brought into use.
The Chambers are closed by means of a lateral screw or screw cap, to prevent
any loss of the lubricant placed therein
And in Order that my Invention may be the better understood I now proceed
to describe the drawings hereunto annexed, reference being had to the letters and
figures marked thereon.
Like letters refer to similar parts in each of the figures
Figure 1 is a transverse section through a wheel boss, shewing a circular recess
or pocket A in the wheel boss, for containing a lubricant. This Chamber
communicates with the bearing G by the passages B, which are conveniently lined
by a tube of good conducting power, such as copper, so that any heat accumulating
at the bearing may be readily communicated to the lubricant. The lubricant is
supplied to the chamber A by means of the aperture C, closed by a screw plug, and
provided conveniently with a bent nozzle D so as to prevent the overflow of the
lubricant when the screw plug is removed
The oil is retained upon the bearing, and dust and water are prevented from
entering, by means of the rings E E of rubber or similar material, which is
sufficiently compressed on to the journal G, as to be watertight and dust tight. I
place metal balls or marbles F in the lubricant chambers to keep the interior clean
and free from caking
Figure 2 shows in transverse and longitudinal section an alternative arrangement
of revolving boss, in which the lubricant chambers are four in number, provided
with ducts B, and filling tubes D, and screw plugs C.
The india rubber water and dust tight packing ring E. in this case is placed in a
bevilled recess at each end. The india rubber ring is pressed into its place, so as to
fit airtight and water tight by the external cheek plates H which do not touch the
shaft and are screwed to the revolving boss
Figure 3 shows in longitudinal and transverse section an alternative arrangement,
in which the oil chamber A extends throughout the whole circumference of the

page_text: boss.
A special arrangement of disc K, fitting tight to the axle, and with clearance
space inside the circular clip L, serves to further protect the bearing G from dust
or water in addition to the india rubber rings E. An automatic lubricator M is
attached to this bearing, in the form of an endless loop of cotton, riding on the
axle, and of sufficient length to dip into the supply of lubricant at the bottom of
the chamber. This loop M is stretched in position either by a fixed or riding
pulley N in the lower part of the loop.
Figure 4 shows a further alternative of closing the bearing G against the inroads
of dust or water by a disc of india rubber or other elastic material O, compressed
between two metal or wooden discs P, by the confined space between the side of
the revolving boss R and the bearing plate Q.
Figure 5 shows an alternative arrangement, in which the channel A' is packed
with cotton waste or similar material, saturated with oil or other lubricant, and
communicating with chambers A containing any suitable lubricant.
A special arrangement of oil duct, S, in the axle G is shown closed by a screwed
plug T through which the chamber A. may be conveniently filled
Figure 6 shows the arrangement I adopt for a reversible lubricating bearing
where the axle revolves in that bearing. Into the axle box V, of any convenient
construction, I fit a circular lubricating bush X, fitting the axle G, and into the
axle box V, and which contains two or more recesses or chambers A for the
lubricant.
When the upper chamber has discharged all its contained oil or lubricant on to
the axle and into the chamber below, the bush X may be turned round by a
suitable hand bar inserted into notches provided for the purpose. The waste oil
collected in the lower chamber will thus be re-utilized. This arrangement is
applicable to any class of bearing, such as plummer blocks &c, a reversible circular
bush being fitted in the step, as in the axle box described
In all instances where the chambers A communicate with the bearing G by
narrow ducts or tubes B, I find it convenient to pack the same tight with cotton
wick, to check the excessively rapid flow of the lubricant on to the axle.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature and object of my
invention, Be it known that what I consider novel and useful and desire to protect
by my Letters Patent is
First. The combination in an axle of Lubricating chambers, having suitable
feeding ducts, with water tight and dust tight journal, formed by rings of india
rubber and protecting disc plates, and subsidiary parts, substantially as and for the
purposes specified
Second. The Construction in an axle of a reversing lubricating bush, with two
or more chambers, and the optional combination therewith of the devices firstly
claimed, substantially as and for the purposes specified
In witness whereof I the said William John Brewer have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Seventh day of December in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two
5 Witness
S. P. WILDING.
23 Rood Lane, Fenchurch Street
London E.C.
Patent Agent
W JO'N BREWER. (L.S.)