MENTS IN THRUST BEARINGS FOR SCREW-PROPELLER SHAFTS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, RICHARD BICKERDIKE, of 3, Gloucester Street, Roose Road, Barrow-in-Furness
Lancashire, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THRUST BEARINGS FOR SCREW-PROPELLER SHAFTS to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the thrust bearings of screw-propeller
shafts, and the object of my improvements is to reduce the excessive end friction
on such shafts.
At present the end friction is distributed by having on the propeller shaft a
number of collars which work in white metal or other bearings; but this arrange-
ment has considerable disadvantages, in that the friction heats the collars and
bearings, and requires a great amount of steam power to overcome it.
In performing my invention I counteract the end thrust and overcome these
disadvantages by making an end bearing for the propeller shaft in the mouth, of
a water chamber or cylinder connected to and worked by a hydraulic pump or
pumps at a pressure which is determined by the calculated end thrust of the shaft;
the end portion of the propeller shaft which enters and nearly fills the water
chamber is preferably of larger diameter than the portion in the bearing, and is
formed with a taper shoulder which is forced by the pressure of water on the end
of the shaft against a valve seating in the neck of the chamber, thus preventing
escape of water, and for the same purpose, if necessary, one or more piston rings
may be fixed on that part of the shaft which is held in the bearing at the mouth
of the water chamber.
The water chamber may be so constructed that if required it could be changed
(whilst at sea) without stopping the steamer.
I have only described my improved thrust bearing as applied to the end of
a screw-propeller shaft, it might however be applied to any other part of the shaft
if more convenient.
RICHARD BICKERDIKE.
H. B. Barlow,
Agent for Applicant,
4, Mansfield Chambers,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.

page_text: I RICHARD BICKERDIKE, of 3 Gloucester Street, Roose Road, Barrow-in-Furness,
Lancashire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THRUST BEARINGS FOR SCREW PROPELLER SHAFTS," and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in the thrust bearings of screw propeller
shafts and the object of my improvements is to reduce the excessive end friction on
such shafts.
At present the end friction is distributed by having on the propeller shaft a
number of collars which work in white metal or other bearings but this arrange-
ment has considerable disadvantages in that the friction not only heats the collars
and bearings but also requires a great amount of steam power to overcome it.
In performing my Invention I counteract the end thrust and overcome these
disadvantages by making an end bearing for the propeller shaft in the mouth of
à water chamber or cylinder connected to and worked by a hydraulic pump or
pumps at a pressure which is determined by the calculated end thrust of the shaft ;
the end portion of the propeller shaft which enters and nearly fills the water
chamber is preferably of larger diameter than the portion in the bearing and is
formed with a taper shoulder which is forced by the pressure of water on the end
of the shaft against a valve seating in the neck of the chamber thus preventing
escape of water and for the same purpose if necessary one or more piston rings
may be fixed on that part of the shaft which is held in the bearing at the mouth
of or in the water chainber.
The water chamber may be so constructed that if required it could be changed
whilst at sea without stopping the steamer.
I have only described my improved thrust bearing as applied to the end of
a screw propeller shaft, it might however, be applied to any other part of the shaft
if more convenient.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, reference being
had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a sectional view showing my improved thrust bearings as applied to
the end of a screw propeller shaft. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing my improved
thrust bearings applied to the central or other part of a screw propeller shaft.
In Fig. 1. a is the casting in which is formed the water chamber a' connected by
the pipe b with the hydraulic pump or pumps by means of which the desired
pressure of water on the chamber a¹ is obtained; the water chamber is closed at
one end by the cover a³ and the other end or neck of the chamber tapers slightly
and is provided with a valve seating c; is the screw propeller shaft which has
its bearing surface in the mouth of the chamber a¹; the end of the shaft d nearly.
fills the chamber a¹ and is formed with a taper shoulder d¹ and provided with
leathers or rings e and a cup leather c¹ to prevent any escape of water from the
chamber a' and for the same purpose the mouth of the chamber is closed by the
stuffing box f through which the shaft d
passes.

page_text: Water is forced through the inlet b into the chamber a¹ at a pressure sufficiently
great to counteract the end thrust of the shaft d and to keep the shoulder d'
constantly bearing against the seating c.
In Fig. 2 the water chamber at is closed at each end by stuffing boxes f and fl
respectively. A portion of the shaft d is enlarged so as to form a shoulder d²
against which the water under pressure in the chamber a¹ can act.
If desired a ring e² (or rings) of leather or other suitable material may be fitted
as shown in a recess in the casting a to assist in preventing any escape of water.
In place of water, oil or other fluid under pressure may be employed.
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
1. Counteracting the end thrust of a screw propeller shaft by means of water
or other fluid under pressure, substantially in the manner herein shown and
described, or in an equivalent manner for the purposes specified.
2. The construction, combination and arrangement of parts forming the
improved thrust bearings for screw propeller shafts, substantially as and for the
purposes herein set forth.