IMPROVEMENTS IN JOURNAL BOXES AND BEARINGS.
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN JOURNAL BOXES AND BEARINGS.—
A communication from abroad by Burr C. Baker, of Toledo, Ohio,
United States of America:
Sealed the 1st August 1871, and dated the 6th June 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 6th June 1871.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co:,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN JOURNAL BOXES AND
BEARINGS," a communication, to be as follows :—
This Invention relates to improvements in that class of journal boxes
wherein the shaft rotates with a series of friction rollers interposed
between it and the walls of a cylindrical journal box, and it consists
mainly in the peculiar construction and arrangement within a cylindrical

page_text: box of two series of antifriction rollers with a metallic band interposed
between the outer and inner series in such a manner that the shaft will
bear upon the inner series of rollers, which in turn bear upon the outer
series of rollers and the interposed ring, the pressure being finally distri-
buted by the outer rollers upon the walls of the box. The rollers and
rings being constantly in motion in an opposite direction to the shaft
the latter is subjected only to a rolling friction, the wear in all parts
is reduced to a minimum and is uniform throughout.
The inner rollers are cylinders with a journal turned down in the
middle portion of their length with one end as a sleeve removable so
that the ring may be slipped down over the journal part of a series of
these rollers arranged about the shaft. The other rollers are similar
in shape to the first, but solid, and are disposed around the band and
between the internal series of rollers so that the journals of the ex-
ternal rollers will bear against the exterior of the ring while their ends
will bear against the ends of the first rollers and outwardly against the
walls of the box. The ends of the rollers may be flanged and the ends
of the box counter-bored to prevent any lateral movement of the
rollers therein: To prevent lateral motion I place a small ball between
the end of the shaft and the end of the box and form a small concave
channel in the end of the shaft and a suitable recess in the end of
the box to retain the ball in place and allow it to rotate freely. At
the bottom of the recess a gasket or disc of rubber may be interposed,
and between the said gasket and the ball an iron disc.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th December 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-fourth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence that

page_text: I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, 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
time 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
JOURNAL BOXES AND BEARINGS," a communication to me from abroad by
Burr C. Baker, of Toledo, Ohio, United States of America, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, 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 William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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
Drawing, forming a part of this Specification.
This Invention relates to improvements in that class of journal boxes
wherein the shaft rotates with a series of antifriction rollers interposed
between it and the walls of a cylindrical journal box, and it consists
mainly in the peculiar construction and arrangement within a cylindrical
box of two series of antifriction rollers with a metallic band interposed
between the outer and inner series in such a manner that the shaft will
bear upon the inner series of rollers, which in turn bear upon the outer
series of rollers and the interposed ring, the pressure being finally
distributed by the outer rollers upon the walls of the box. The rollers
and rings being constantly in motion in an opposite direction to the
shaft the latter is subjected only to a rolling friction, the wear in all
parts is reduced to a minimum and is uniform throughout.

page_text: section of the same. Like letters indicate the same parts in each
Figure.
A represents a shaft or axle, and B a cylindrical journal box. The
antifriction rollers O, as shown in Figure 3, are cylinders with a journal
turned down in the middle portion of their length with one end as a
sleeve removable so that the ring D may be slipped down over the
journal part of a series of these rollers arranged about the shaft, the
collars or sleeves being replaced to complete the rollers, as shown in
the same Figure. Rollers E, similar in shape to the first but solid, are
disposed around the band and between the internal series of rollers, so
that the journals of the external rollers will bear against the exterior of
the ring, while their ends will bear against the ends of the rollers C and
outwardly against the walls of the box. The ends of the rollers may be
flanged and the ends of the box counter bored to prevent any lateral
movement of the rollers therein, or any equivalent means may be used
for that purpose.
It will be obvious that the loaded shaft bears upon any two or more of
the rollers C which may be under it, and these in turn distribute the
load to the lower half of the cylindrical box through the ring and
rollers E. The ring and both series of rollers travel around the box in
an opposite direction to the shaft, which imparts such motion to the
inner series of rollers, consequently all parts being in motion none but
a rolling friction is developed, and the wear in all parts must be uniform.
No lubricant is required as there is no sliding friction to overcome.
To prevent lateral motion I place a small ball F between the end of
the shaft and the end of the box, and form a small concave channel a in
the end of the shaft and a suitable recess 6 in the end of the box to
retain the ball in place and allow it to rotate freely. At the bottom of
the recess a gasket or disc of rubber may be interposed, and between the
said gasket and the ball an iron disc. By this means all collars or other
devices productive of friction are avoided, and a simple, cheap, rolling
friction substituted therefor to prevent a too great lateral motion.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I claim,―
First. A cylindrical antifriction journal box, having two or more
series of rollers concentrically disposed to travel therein around the
shaft or axle, substantially as described..

page_text: Second. The arrangement of the rollers C and E and the rings D with
relation to the shaft A and cylindrical journal box B, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
Third. The ball F in combination with the shaft A, box B, and two or
more series of rollers, substantially as described, and for the purposes
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.
Witness,
W. J. LOWE.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)