Improvements in Roller Bearings."
Year: 1896

page_text: "Improvements in Roller Bearings."
I, WILLIAM HUGH WOODCOCK, of 25 Auckland Hill, West Norwood, in the County
of Surrey, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in roller bearings, having for its
object to enable the bearing to be readily placed round a shaft in cases where it could
not be placed in position by threading it on from the end of the shaft.
With my invention I arrange a series of rollers between the journal and the casing
of the bearing, said rollers being controlled and kept in accurate positions both
longitudinally, diametrically, and with their axes parallel to the axis of the journal,
by means of a floating cage which cage is made in two pieces so arranged that when
in position they cannot separate diametrically, this result being obtained by forming
male dovetails on the end discs or shrouds of one half of the cage which engage
female dovetails on the end discs or shrouds of the other half. The two halves of
the cage are prevented from separating longitudinally as between themselves by the
projecting rubbing surfaces provided upon the outer faces of the end dises or shrouds
of the cage and the inner surfaces of the casing of the bearing.
Dated this 5th day of December 1896
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, Fel: Chart: Inst: P.A;
Agent for the said Applicant.
70 & 71 Palace Chambers, Westminster S.W.
I, WILLIAM HUGH WOODCOCK, of 25 Auckland Hill, West Norwood, in the County
of Surrey, Civil Engineer, 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 reference to improvements in roller bearings, having for its
object to enable the bearing to be readily placed in position round a shaft in
cases where it could not be placed in position by threading it on from the end of
the shaft.
With my invention I arrange a series of rollers between the journal and the casing
of the bearing, said rollers being controlled and kept in accurate positions both
longitudinally, diametrically, and with their axes parallel to the axis of the journal,

page_text: by means of a floating cage which case is made in two pieces so arranged that when
in position they cannot separate dismetrically, this result being obtained by forming
male dovetails on the end discs or shrouds of one half of the cage which engage
female dovetails on the end discs or shrouds of the other half. The two halves of
the cage are prevented from separating longitudionally as between themselves by the
projecting rubbing surfaces provided upon the outer faces of the end dises or shrouds
of the cage and the inner surfaces of the casing of the bearing.
In order that my invention may be better understood and more readily carried into
effect I will now describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, which
show, as an example, the application of my invention to shafting.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section on centre line of the bearing shewn in Figure 2,
illustrating one method of joining the two portions of the cage; Figure 2 being on
the right half a cross section on centre line of Figure 1 and on the left half a cross
section on line A-B Figure 1.
Figures 3 and 4 show a modification of the joint between the two portions of the
cage, Figure 3 being a longitudinal section on centre line of Figure 4 and Figure 4.
on the right half a cross section on centre line of Figure 3 and on the left half a
cross section on line C-D Figure 3.
The same letters refer to the same parts in the several figures.
a is the casing of the bearing comprising two portions (as shewn in
Figures 2 and 4) bolted together, b is the journal of the shaft, and e are the
antifriction rollers, two of said rollers being removed in Figures 2 and 4 for the
purpose of showing the joints in the cage. d is my divided cage consisting of the two
portions f and g, the male dovetails e on the end discs or shrouds of one half of said
cage, f, engaging the female dovetails in the end dises or shrouds of the other half, g.
In Figure 4 the joint is formed by providing a half dovetail on each side of one
half of the cage, g, at the edges of the end discs or shrouds into which fit
corresponding projections on the discs or shrouds of the other half of the cage f, the
joint being of zig-zag shape when the two portions of the cage are fitted together.
As a further means of holding the two portions of the cage together and preventing
them separating diametrically a ring (h h2, Fig. 3), preferably of steel wire is placed
over and around the end discs or shrouds of the two portions of the cage when
joined, said wire ring being tightened by twisting the ends together. j and
the projecting rubbing surfaces respectively on the end discs or shrouds of the cage
and the inner surfaces of the casing which prevent the two portions of the cage from
separating longitudinally. The spokes or bars of the cage are provided with
projecting surfaces m at their ends as bearings for the rollers c.
are
As before mentioned my improved form of cage is applicable to all cases where it
would be impossible to place the bearing in position by threading on slipping it on
from the end of the shaft. With my invention one half of the cage is first placed
around the journal in a diametrical direction, the other half being similarly placed
but a little to one side of the first; the two halves are then slipped along the
journal or axle towards each other until the male dovetails, or projections, on the end
discs or shrouds of one half engage the corresponding femals dovetails, or recesses,
in the end discs or shrouds of the other half, the two halves being thus locked
together against diametrical separation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In roller bearings, the combination of a cylindrical journal or shaft (with or
without a sleeve fitted thereon), rollers running between and on the spokes of a cage
or cradle formed in two pieces the end discs or shrouds of one half of said cage or
cradle having male dovetails, or projections, and the end dises or shrouds of the other
half having female dovetails, or recesses, the spokes or bars of said cage forming
bearings for the said rollers, all substantially as herein set forth, as illustrated in the
accompanying drawing and tor the purpose specified.

page_text: 2. A cage or cradle for roller bearings formed in two pieces, the end discs or shrouds
of one piece having male dovetails, or projections, which engage in corresponding
femals dovetails, or recesses, in the end discs or shrouds of the other piece,
substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing, and
for the purpose specified.
JOHN P O'DONNELL Fel: Chart: Inst. P.A.
Agent for the said Applicant.
70 & 71 Palace Chambers, Westminster, S.W.