Improvements in Compositions for Self Lubricating Bearings.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JOHN FRANKLIN NEWELL, Machinist, of
Gardiner, in the County of Kennebec, State of Maine, United States of
America.]
Improvements in Compositions for Self Lubricating Bearings.
1, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of London, Chartered Patent Agent, 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 has for its object to provide a new and improved composition of
matter for producing self-lubricating bearings from plumbago or graphite, a
fibrous substance, a suitable oil, and an oxide, carbonate of basic carbonate of lead,
or other equivalent substance which will unite with the oil to bind or cement
together the particles of plumbago or graphite and the fibres, whereby a material
for bearings is produced which is anti-frictional, self-lubricating, hard, compact
and durable, and is susceptible of resisting mechanical violence, while it is not
liable to soften or disintegrate when subjected to the action of moisture or heat.
The invention consists essentially in a composition for bearings and the like,
composed of plumbago or graphite, a fibrous substance, a suitable oil, and white
lead, or any equivalent thereof, which will unite with the oil to bind or cement
together the particles of plumbago or graphite and the fibres.
The invention also consists in other features which will be hereinafter described
and claimed.
In carrying my invention into effect I take comminuted plumbago or graphite,
9 parts; a fibrous substance, 3 parts; an oxide, carbonate or basic carbonate of
lead, or equivalent substance, 3 parts; and an oil, such as linseed oil, in sufficient
quantity to bring the oxide, carbonate or basic carbonate into a more or less liquid
condition.
The fibrous substance is preferably a vegetable fibre, such as jute, or linen pulp,
but it may be a mineral fibre, such as asbestos, or any other fibre sufficiently tough
for the purpose.
In the preparation of the composition, the substances mentioned are beaten or
agitated in water so that the individual particles of solid substance become coated
with oil which they take up from the watery emulsion without becoming so
compacted together as to prevent the uniform penetration of the oil.
The mass prepared in this way is then moulded under sufficient pressure to the
desired shape or form, which expresses the water from the oil coated solid particles
and causes the latter to be brought together into a condensed, hard, homogeneous
mass and in the best condition for the uniform formation of the cementing material
throughout the mass when the latter is heated. After the composition has been
pressed and shaped it is dried under the action of heat, which causes the oil
and white lead, or equivalent substance, to unite and bind or cement together the
particles of plumbago or graphite and the fibrous substance, the result being a
homogeneous mass which is hard, solid and compact throughout.
The composition is specially useful to produce bearings for journals, spindles,
shafts and the like, which bearings are self-lubricating and anti-frictional.
The proportions of the ingredients may be largely varied without altering the
character of my invention and therefore I do not wish to be understood as confining
myself to any particular proportions. For many bearings the proportions above
specifically mentioned are suitable, but for some purposes the proportion of
plumbago or graphite may be increased or diminished and likewise the proportions
DQ77

page_text: of the other substances may be increased or diminished according to the conditions
required.
Instead of using white lead alone, I may use white lead and red lead mixed
together, for example white lead 1 part; red lead, 2 parts; with 9 parts of
plumbago and 3 parts of fibrous substance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A composition for bearings consisting of plumbago or graphite, a fibrous
substance, an oil, and white lead or white and red lead or equivalent substance to
unite with the oil and bind or cement together the particles of plumbago or graphite
and the fibrous substance, substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of March 1893
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.