Improvements in or relating to Propeller Shafts for Steam Ships.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Propeller Shafts for Steam Ships.
I, JAMES CORP, of No. 1, Gower Place, London, W.C., in the County of Middlesex,
Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows: —
This invention has for its object improvements in the part of propeller shafts
that comes in contact with the thrust block, and for the purpose of reducing
friction. I insert a ring or rings of balls between a shoulder on the shaft and
the thrust block. The balls are carried in collars made of steel or other suitable
metal and formed in one or two or more pieces for the purpose of easy removal
from the shaft or for replacing when worn without disconnecting or removing
the shaft. The collars are made in such manner that they can be adjusted from
the thrust block by means of screws wedges or other device. So that the shaft
can always be kept in its proper position lateraly.
Dated this 27th day of September 1898.
improvements in or relating to Propeller Shafts for Steam Ships.
I, JAMES CORP, of No. 1, Gower Place, London, W.C., in the County of Middlesex,
Surveyor, 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:
―
It has for its object improvements in that part of the propeller shaft, which
pertains to the thrust block of the same.
For the purpose of reducing friction I insert a ring or rings of balls between
the propeller shaft collars and those parts of the thrust block which are technically
termed "horse shoes" & which will, in the undermentioned description, be called
thrust-pieces."
The balls run in grooved rings made in two or more pieces for the purpose of
quick & easy replacement when worn. In order to accomplish this I recess both
sides of the shaft collars to receive the segmental grooved rings; or the collars
may have hoops shrunk upon them of greater breadth than that of the collars
themselves, which would answer the same purpose as recessing the sides of the
collars.
The moveable thrust pieces are made in two halves which are bolted securely
together, and are adjustable in their relation to the rings of balls upon the collars
in the same manner as the "horse shoes" now are to the collars, namely by two
long screws, one on each side of the propeller shaft and running parallel therewith.
[Price 8d.

page_text: The two halves of the thrust pieces, when bolted together, ride upon these long
screws, and have a nut against the sides of them to regulate their pressure against
the ring of balls on the collars. These thrust pieces may be recessed in the same
manner as the collars, so as to receive similar segmental grooved rings; although
it may be preferable to cut grooves for the balls in the thrust pieces themselves,
and thus dispense with the segmental grooved rings so far as concerns the thrust
pieces.
For the purpose of inserting the balls the top part of the thrust pieces is
recessed, and a cap, the lug on the under part of which is made to fit the recess,
is fastened on the top of the thrust pieces-thus preventing the balls from escaping.
By slotting vertically the fixed thrust block holes which receive the ends of the
adjusting screws, these screws can be lowered to correspond with the lowering of
the propeller shaft as it wears the bearings in which it revolves.
I will now describe the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of part of a thrust block.
Fig. 2, is a plan of the same.
Fig. 3, shows the connected halves of the moveable thrust piece.
Fig. 4, is an end view of the fixed thrust block.
Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several figures.
a is part of a fixed thrust block, the propeller shaft, ca shaft collar, d the
thrust pieces, e the segmental grooved rings, f the long adjusting screws, seg-
mental rings let into the thrust pieces, & only partly shown by dotted lines, k aro
the bolts which connect the two halves of the thrust pieces, m is the moveable
lugged cap for inserting & retaining the balls, n shows the oval holes for lowering
the adjusting screws to correspond with the lowering of the propeller shaft as
it wears the bearings in which it revolves.
Having thus described & ascertained the nature of my invention & the manner
of performing the same I declare that what I claim is:-
1st The recessing of the sides of the collars of the propeller shaft, (or of shrink-
ing a hoop on the face thereof) for the purpose of inserting segmental grooved
rings for the balls to roll therein.
2nd Making these grooved rings in two or more pieces.
3rd Making the moveable thrust pieces in two halves, & grooving them for
the balls, or recessing them to receivo segmental grooved rings.
4th Recessing the top part of the moveable thrust pieces for the purpose of
inserting the balls, & of covering this recess with a lugged cap to prevent their
escape.
5th Making the fixed thrust block holes which carry the two adjusting screws,
oval, or slotted vertically, so as to be able to lower these screws to correspond with
the lowering of the shaft as it wears the bearings in which it revolves.
6th A thrust block for propeller shafts having incorporated therein the various
improvements substantially as described with reference to the accompanying
drawings, & operating as specified.
Dated this 26th day of January 1899