An Improved Ball Castor.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 25th May, 1898-Accepted, 30th July, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Ball Castor.
I, GEORGE BOSWORTH, of 61, Wenman Street, Balsall Heath, Birmingham, Gas
and Steam Fitter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
An improved ball castor made of cast mettal or pressed out of soft steel
sheets. In shape like an hollow sphericle ball, divided in two parts horizontly
in the center with a cup, screw, or plate, on the top for the purpose of fixeing
the same to their various uses, the hollow sphere to contain a number of small
balls and one larger one, made out of any suitable material such as vitrified
stone or glass, celluloid, or anything that is sufficiently hard to withstand the
various weights they may have to carry. The top part of the hollow sphere, to
have cast, or pressed on the inside three or more channels to form races, to be
filled with a number of small balls, which will roll arround in three or more
small circular channels or races, the one side of each channel or race, to be sunk
on the inside of the hollow sphere, about half as deep as the small balls are in
diameter, the other side of each channel or race to be sunk in just as deep as
the small balls are in diameter. It will thus be seen that when the channels or
races are filled with small balls, the large ball will only take a bearing on one
or two of the small balls which project half way out of each of the small circular
channels or races thus keeping the large ball clear of the inside of the hollow
sphere, and as the large ball rolls round by comeing in contact with the floor
it takes its bearing on the one or two balls that project and the others are then
at liberty to roll free of the large ball in the deep side of the channels or races
and come arround in their turn to form a bearing for the large ball. It will thus
be seen that when the bottom half of the follow sphere (which as a portion cut
off to allow the large ball to come in contact with the floor) is adjusted so as
to allow the large ball to just clear itself, the small balls cannot then fall out
of place till they are half worn out. It will be seen that the description given
of my ball bearing castor is different from all others in as much as it is the
only castor that the small balls roll in a number of small circles thus doing away
with friction. All ball bearing castors heretofore made have the dissadvantage
that if the small balls turn at all they only rub themselves against the cavitys
or channels they ar placed in. The lower half of the hollow sphere to have a
portion cut off to allow a portion of the large ball to project through and will
be in the shape of a ring hollowed out to fit the large ball and to keep the said
ball in place, to be screwed to the upper half by a coarse male thread castor
pressed on. The feemale thread to be on the upper half of the hollow spherical
ball or case on the inside (or the threads can be male or feemale on either half
ice versa). The inner thread wether male or feemale to have notches cut
verticaly across the threads so that the outside thread can be forced into the
notch to prevent any chance of it coming loose when properly adjusted (a center

page_text: punch will answer the same purpose) but when the body of the castor is pressed
out of soft steel a toung can be slit in the thread to spring in or out to lodge
against one of the notches to act much like a ratchet wheel and bar and so prevent
the thread from working loose and allowing the balls to fall out of place. The
advantages to be derived from a ball castor like this are that the weight is
centeral and does away with the side strain as in common roller castors. Will
roll easily as there is little friction. Will not be liable to break or stick fast
and tear up the carpets or floors, will last longer and not get out of order, and
are so constructed that should the small balls wear out can be easily replaced
at a trifleing cost thus becomeing as it were new again.
Dated this 11th day of November 1897.
GEORGE BOSWORтп, 61, Wenman Street, Birmingham, Gas and Steam Fitter,
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:—.
An improved ball castor made of cast metal or pressed out of soft steel sheets.
In shape like a hollow spherical ball divided in two parts horizontally in the
centre with a cap screw or plate on the top for the purpose of fixing the same to
their various uses. The hollow sphere to contain a number of small balls and
one larger one, made out of any suitable material such as vitrified stone, glass,
celluloid or anything that is sufficiently hard to withstand the various weights
they have to carry.
The top part of the hollow sphere to have cast or pressed on the inside three
or more channels to form races, to be filled with a number of small balls which
will roll around in the three or more small channels or races. The one side of
each channel or race to be sunk on the inside of the hollow sphere about half as deep
as the small balls are in diameter, the other side of each channel or race to be
sunk in just as deep as the small balls are in diameter.
It will thus be seen that when the channels or races are filled with small
balls the large ball will only take a hearing on the one or two of the small balls
that project half way out of each of the small circular channels or races thus
keeping the large ball clear of the inside of the hollow sphere, and as the large
ball rolls around by coming into contact with the floor it takes its bearing on the
one or two small balls that project, and the others are then at liberty to roll
free of the large ball in the deep side of the said channels or races, and to come
around in their turn to form a bearing for the large ball.
It will thus be seen that when the bottom half of the hollow sphere-which
is a portion cut off to allow the large ball to come into contact with the floor-
is adjusted so as to allow the large ball to just clear itself. The small balls
cannot then fall out of place till they are half worn out.
It will be seen that the description given of my ball castor is different from
all others, inasmuch as it is the only castor made that the small balls roll round
in a number of small circular races or channels, thus doing away with friction.
All ball bearing castors heretofore made have the disadvantage that if the small
balls turn at all they rub themselves against the cavities or channels they are
placed in.

page_text: The lower half of the hollow sphere to have a portion cut off to allow a portion
of the large ball to project through and will be in the shape of a ring hollowed
out to the shape of the large ball and to keep the said ball in place. To be
screwed to the upper half by a coarse male thread cast or pressed on. The
female thread to be on the upper half of the hollow spherical ball or case on the
inside (or the thread can be male or female on either half vice versa) the inner
thread whether male or female to have notches cut vertically across the threads
so that the outside threads can be forced into the notch to prevent any chance
of coming loose when properly adjusted. A centre punch will answer the same
purpose as a notch.
When the body of the castor is pressed out of soft steel a tongue can be slit in
the thread to spring in or out to lodge against one of the notches to act much
like a ratchet wheel and bar, and so prevent the threads from working loose
and allowing the balls to fall out of, place.
will
The advantages to be derived from a ball castor like this are that the weight is
central, and does away with the side strain as in common roller castor;
roll easily as there is little or no friction; will not be liable to break or stick
fast and tear up the carpets or floor; will last longer and not get out of order,
and are so constructed that should the small balls wear out can be replaced
at a trifling cost, thus becoming as it were new again.
For purposes of illustration I will now refer to the annexed drawings, in
which:-
Figure 1 is a vertical section shewing my improved castór.
Figure 2, vertical section through line ay in Figure 3.
Figure 3, plan view of cup or support, the castor ball and securing cap being
removed for purposes of clearness.
Figure 4 vertical section showing modification.
a is the cup or support in which the recesses c for the balls are formed or
caused. 6 is a stud or pin for maintaining the balls in their proper position in
the recesses c. I sometimes find it convenient if desired to dispense with the
pin or stud b, and employ a ball instead of the pin or stud for
the purpose of keeping the balls in position in the recesses C. The
recesses c are so arranged that the castor ball d bears, upon two of the balls e
such as at el. In Figure 2 this arrangement of the recess is shewn and it will
be seen that when the balls e are at the point e² they project about half their
diameter, and when at the point e³ they do not project at all, thus the castor ball
bears upon two of the balls in each series and so the castor ball is free to move
in any required direction of rotation. f is a cap which may be secured to the
cup or support in any convenient manner such as by a screw thread or the like,
but I find it convenient to provide the cap with tongues, which engage in recesses
or indentations formed in the outside of the cup or support, so that the cap
may be readily removed or affixed in position when required, the function of
this cup being to maintain the castor ball in position.
I may, if desired, employ springs 9 (Fig. 4.) of any suitable style, which are
placed in the recesses c, and a cap holder or the like h placed upon same; the
balls e
being carried in such cap holder or the like. By this arrangement the
shock or jar is minimised, as the springs g will act as buffers.
Of course it will be readily understood that the various parts may be con-
structed of any suitable material, and that alteration in the shape of such parts
may be made without departing from my invention.
With regard to the number of the recesses, these may also of course be varied
from three upwards, according to circumstances, and the size of the castor
required.
It is well-known that castors have been constructed in which the castor balls
are antifrictionally mounted in various ways, such as balls running in annular
grooves, and antifriction balls set in indentations in the cup, but I am not aware
that the castor ball has ever been mounted upon a number of balls carried in a

page_text: series of recesses arranged concentrically around the inside of the cup or carried
upon supports, arms or prongs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
11
1. In ball castors of the class herein described the combined construction and
arrangement of the various parts substantially as described.
a
2. In ball castors: a cup or support carrying a series of eccentrically set
recesses or holders for small balls, upon which the castor ball bears, said recesses
being so arranged that the castor ball bears upon two balls in each recess;
securing cap attached to the cup or support carrying the recesses in any convenient
manner such as by tongues formed upon the cap which engage in recesses or
indentations upon the cup or support.
בד
T
7
Or
1000
;