IMPROVEMENTS IN FRICTION ROLLER BEARINGS
Year: 1875

page_text: Filed 15th August 1877.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS HOADLEY,
of Landport, in the County of Hants, send greeting :
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters Patent
under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of
November, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, and numbered 4124, in
the Thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Thomas Hoadley, her special license that I, the said
Thomas Hoadley, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
with and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter' during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Isles, and the
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FRICTION ROLLER BEARINGS :"
And whereas, in pursuance of and performance of a proviso in the said Letters
Patent contained, I, the said Thomas Hoadley, did cause a Specification, under my
hand and seal, particularly describing the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, to be duly filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office on or about the Twenty-sixth day of May, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-six:
And whereas, since the filing of the said Specification doubts have arisen as to
the novelty of the said Invention as claimed in the second claim of the said Speci-
fication:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Hoadley, by and with the leave of
Her Majesty's Solicitor General, do hereby, for the reason aforesaid, desire to strike
out the present first claim and to alter the present third claim into the second
claim:
And the said Specification when altered and disclaimed will read as follows,
vizt:-
:-
The object of this Invention is to diminish the bearing friction of axles, shafts,
spindles, weigh shafts, and other revolving or oscillating pieces of locomotive or
other machinery, but the Invention may also be applied to flat bearing parts of
TDA71

page_text: but
▲ So as
reciprocating parts of machinery, such as pump rod guides. For this purpose I
form the bearing or plummer block with two or more circular grooves concentric
with the shaft, and in each of these grooves I fit a ring, which I call a bearing ring
or guide ring, so as to turn easily. Each bearing ring is on its inner circumference
formed with rounded notches, each of which forms one of the bearings of a friction
roller; these latter are arranged all round the journal part of the shaft,
not to touch one another. The consequence of this arrangement is that each roller
is free to turn in place, and take the weight or strain that comes upon it, and also
that the whole set of rollers with their bearing or guide rings is free to turn. The
rollers are kept in place end ways by collars on the plummer block or on the shaft.
According to a modified arrangement instead of forming grooves in the plummer
blocks, they may be formed in the shaft itself, in which case then the bearing rings
fitting in the said grooves have the rounded notches in the outer circumference.
And in order that my Invention may be more fully understood, I will now
proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Figure 1 is a side view; Figure 2, a plan of under side; Figure 3, a vertical
longitudinal section; and Figure 4, a vertical transverse section of an axle bearing
for a tramway car or similar vehicle; A is the axle, the turned down journal or end
part of which is only shown here; B is the bearing block of the journal; C, C, are
two rings fitting loosely in corresponding ring grooves formed in the bearing
block B; these rings are formed with a series of round notches or recesses, as shown
at Figure 4, and these notches form the guides of rollers D, against which the
bearing B and the axle A has its bearing. The rollers' D are free to revolve, and
the guide rings C are also free to revolve together with the rollers D; E is a washer
or ring at each end for retaining the rollers in place, this ring is free to turn in
place.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through a tramway car axle bearing. In this
case the guide rings C are made in two halves which fit in corresponding grooves
formed in the axle A itself, instead of in the bearing block B, as in the previous
arrangement; the bearing rings C are in this case notched in their outer circum-
ference.
Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section, and Figure 7 plan of an ordinary
plummer block fitted with the aforesaid guide rings and rollers, similarly to the
arrangement described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. In order to take the end
thrust and friction which is sometimes necessary I provide rings fitted with balls
pinned thereto, so as to revolve freely on such pins and projecting on each side of
.the ring. This arrangement is applicable to tramway cars, axle journals, and to
other journals.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal section, and Figure 9 a plan of a plummer block fitted
in this way. E, E, are the rings which are free to run loose at each end of the
rollers D, and F, F, are other loose rings formed with holes through. In each hole
a ball is fitted revolving on a pin or stud, and taking its bearing against the ring E,
or against the shoulder or collar G fitted or formed on the axle A.
Figure 10 is a plan view of a ring F, with four holes and balls; Figure 11 is a
vertical cross section; Figure 12, a central horizontal section; and Figure 13, a plan of
a roller bearing for a bicycle; all the parts are similar to the bearing described with
reference to Figures 6 and 7, the only substantial difference being that there is an
extra loose ring H between the ring E and the end of the rollers. The bearing is
carried in the forked end of the bar which usually carries the hind wheel or front
wheel.
Figure 14 is a view in perspective of a guide block working in a guide, and fitted
with loose rollers according to this Invention. A is the guide block; B, the lower
half of the guide. The block A. has its upper and lower sides formed with grooves,
so that bars C, formed with round notches like those formed in the rings O in the
previous Figures, can slide freely; the rollers D fit freely in the round notches and
roll on the top and bottom guide surfaces.
Figure 140 is a separate view of one of the guide bars C. This form of guide

page_text: may be applied to guides for pump rods, and to other reciprocating parts requiring
guiding. When this guide is applied to the upper surface of the bearing block of
a tramway car (such as B in the preceding Figures) there are recesses or grooves
formed in the top surface of the bearing block, and the "racks" or notched bars are
free to slide therein; the rollers in the racks have their bearing against some part
of the under side of the carriage frame; this construction may likewise be applied
to other reciprocating guides. Instead of the notches in the edge of the bars the
latter may be made with holes right through for the rollers to work in; in that
case the bars are preferably made to work in grooves, both top and bottom, and
with clearance along top and bottom edge.
The rollers are for smaller bearings preferably made of iron or steel wire. I find
that with these bearings under ordinary circumstances, that is, where the pressure is
not excessive, no lubrication is necessary, and that the friction is very materially
reduced compared with ordinary lubricated bearings.
I am well aware that rollers have repeatedly been applied to bearings in order to
diminish the friction, and such rollers have been arranged in various ways. I do
not therefore claim the application of rollers generally for such purpose, but I do
claim,―
Firstly. The application of guide rings with notches formed in their internal or
external circumference, in which notches rollers are guided and free to revolve, the
said guide rings being themselves free to revolve in grooves in the bearing or in the
shaft or axles respectively, all substantially as described and as shown.
Secondly. The application of sliding notched out or perforated bars or racks with
rollers in the notches or holes, all operating as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Hoadley, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-sixth of day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
30
THOMAS HOADLEY. (L.S.)
To the Commissioners of Patents for Inventions.
I hereby grant my fiat giving leave to the above-named Thomas Hoadley to file
in the Great Seal Patent Office, with the Specification to which the same relates,
the above written Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration.
HARDINGE S. Giffard,
Temple, 15th August, 1877.

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Hoadley, of Landport, in the County
of Hants, for the Invention of “IMPROVEMENTS IN FRICTION ROLLER
BEARINGS,'
"
Sealed the 24th March 1876, and dated the 27th November 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Hoadley at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 27th November 1875.
I, THOMAS HOADLEY, of Landport, in the County of Hants, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FRICTION ROLLER BEARINGS," to be as follows:―
The object of this Invention is to diminish the bearing friction of
axles, shafts, spindles, weigh shafts, and other revolving or oscillating
pieces of locomotive or other machinery, but the Invention may also be
applied to flat bearing parts of reciprocating parts of machinery, such as
pump rod guides. For this purpose I form the bearing or plummer
block with two or more circular grooves concentric with the shaft, and
in each of thesc grooves I fit a ring which I call a bearing ring or guide

page_text: ring so as to turn easily. Each bearing ring is on its inner circumference
formed with rounded notches, each of which forms one of the bearings
of a friction roller; these latter are arranged all round the journal part
of the shaft, but so as not to touch one another. The consequence of
this arrangement is that each roller is free to turn in place and take the
weight or strain that comes upon it, and also that the whole set of
rollers with their bearing or guide rings is free to turn. The rollers are
kept in place endways by collars on the plummer block or on the
hoft
ring so as to turn easily. Each bearing ring is on its inner circumference
formed with rounded notches, each of which forms one of the bearings
of a friction roller; these latter are arranged all round the journal part
of the shaft, but so as not to touch one another. The consequence of
this
arrangement is that each roller is free to turn in place and take the
weight or strain that comes upon it, and also that the whole set of
rollers with their bearing or guide rings is free to turn. The rollers are
kept in place endways by collars on the plummer block or on the
shaft
According to a modified arrangement instead of forming grooves in
the plummer blocks they may be formed in the shaft itself, in which
case then the bearing rings fitting in the said grooves have the rounded
notches in the outer circumference.
According to another modified arrangement I form grooves in the
rollers instead of forming them in the plummer block or in the shaft,
and I then hold the rollers and keep them apart from one another by
means of wires twisted round the inner and outer groove, part of each
alternate roller or by equivalent ring or collar appliance fitting in the
inner or outer part of the roller grooves or both.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Hoadley in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 26th May 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
HOADLEY, of Landport, in the County of Hants, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Hoadley, Her special licence
that I, the said Thomas Hoadley, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Hoadley, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term

page_text: therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FRICTION ROLLER BEARINGS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Thomas Hoadley, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Hoadley, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, that is to
say :-
The object of this Invention is to diminish the bearing friction of
axles, shafts, spindles, weigh shafts, and other revolving or oscillating
pieces of locomotive or other machinery, but the Invention may also be
applied to flat bearing parts of reciprocating parts of machinery, such as
pump rod guides. For this purpose I form the bearing or plummer
block with two or more circular grooves concentric with the shaft, and
in each of these grooves I fit a ring which I call a bearing ring or guide
ring so as to turn easily. Each bearing ring is on its inner circumference
formed with rounded notches, each of which forms one of the bearings
of a friction roller; these latter are arranged all round the journal part
of the shaft, but so as not to touch one another. The consequence of
this arrangement is that each roller is free to turn in place and take
the weight or strain that comes upon it, and also that the whole set of
rollers with their bearing or guide rings is free to turn. The rollers
are kept in place endways by collars on the plummer block or on the
shaft.
According to a modified arrangement instead of forming grooves in
the plummer blocks they may be formed in the shaft itself, in which
case then the bearing rings fitting in the said grooves have the rounded
notches in the outer circumference.

page_text: . And in order that my Invention may be more fully understood I will
now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying
Drawings.
Figure 1 is a side view, Figure 2 a plan of under side, Figure 3 a
vertical longitudinal section, and Figure 4 a vertical transverse section
of an axle bearing for a tramway car or similar vehicle. A is the axle,
the turned down journal or end part of which is only shown here; B is
the bearing block of the journal; C, C, are two rings fitting loosely in
corresponding ring grooves formed in the bearing block B; these rings
are formed with a series of round notches or recesses, as shown at
Figure 4, and these notches form the guides of rollers D, against which
the bearing B and axle A has its bearing; the rollers D are free to
revolve and the guide rings C are also free to revolve together with the
rollers D; E is a washer or ring at each end for retaining the rollers in
place; this ring is free to turn in place.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through a tramway car axle bearing.
In this case the guide ring C are made in two halves which fit in corre-
sponding grooves formed in the axle A itself instead of in the bearing
block B as in the previous arrangement. The bearing rings C are in
this case notched in their outcr circumference.
Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section, and Figure 7 plan of an
ordinary plummer block fitted with the aforesaid guide rings and rollers
similarly to the arrangement described with reference to Figures 1 to 4.
In order to take the end thrust and friction, which is sometimes
necessary, I provide rings fitted with balls pinned thereto, so as to
revolve freely on such pins and projecting on each side of the ring.
This arrangement is applicable to tramway cars, axle journals, and to
other journals.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal section, and Figure 9 a plan of a plummer
block fitted in this way. E, E, are the rings which are free to run loose
at each end of the rollers D; and F, F, are other loose rings formed
with holes through. In each hole a ball is fitted revolving on a pin or
stud, and taking its bearing against the ring E or against the shoulder
or collar G, fitted or formed on the axle A.
Figure 10 is a plan view of a ring F with four holes and balls.
Figure 11 is a vertical cross section, Figure 12 a central horizontal
7

page_text: parts are similar to the bearing described with reference to Figures 6
and 7, the only substantial difference, being that there is an extra loose
ring H between the ring E and the end of the rollers. The bearing is
carried in the forked end of the bar which usually carries the hind wheel
or front wheel.
Figure 14 is a view in perspective of a guide block working in a guide
and fitted with loose rollers according to this Invention. A is the guide
block; B, the lower half of the guide; the block A has its upper and
lower sides formed with grooves, so that bars C formed with round
notches like those formed in the rings C in the previous Figures can
slide freely, the rollers D fit freely in the round notches, and roll on the
top and bottom guide surfaces.
Figure 14 is a separate view of one of the guide bars O. This form
of guide may be applied to guides for pump rods, and to other recipro-
cating parts requiring guiding. When this guide is applied to the
upper surface of the bearing block of a tramway car (such as B in the
preceding Figures), there are recesses or grooves formed in the top
surface of the bearing block, and the "racks" or notched bars are free
to slide therein; the rollers in the racks have their bearing against some
part of the under side of the carriage frame; this construction may
likewise be applied to other reciprocating guides.
Instead of the notches in the edge of the bars, the latter may be made
with holes right through for the rollers to work in; in that case the bars
are preferably made to work in grooves both top and bottom, and with
clearance along top and bottom edge.
The rollers are for smaller bearings preferably made of iron or steel
wire, I find that with these bearings under ordinary circumstances, that
is, wher the pressure is not excessive, no lubrication is necessary, and
that the friction is very materially reduced compared with ordinary
lubricated bearings.
I am well aware that rollers have repeatedly been applied to bearings
in order to diminish the friction, and such rollers have been arranged in
various ways.
I do not therefore claim the application of rollers
generally for such purpose, but I do claim,—
Firstly. The application of guide rings with notches formed in their
internal or external circumference, in which notches, rollers are guided

page_text: and free to revolve, the said guide rings being themselves free to revolve
in grooves in the bearing or in the shaft or axles respectively, all sub-
stantially as described and as shown.
Secondly. In combination with rollers, fitted and operating as set
forth, the means or appliances for taking or relieving the end thrust in
bearings, all substantially as described and as shewn.
Thirdly. The application of sliding notched out or perforated bars or
racks with rollers in the notches or holes, all operating as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Hoadley, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of May, in the year 1
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.