Improvements in or connected with Bearings of Shafts.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec.. 1895
Complete Specification Left. 11th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Bearings of Shafts.
I, EDWARD GRiffiths, of “Ivanhoe," Woodhey, Rock Ferry, in the County
of Chester, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to the bearings by which the shafts of engines and
machinery are supported, and has more particularly for its object to provide
improvements in connection with such bearings, or improved bearings by which
the adjustment of the shafts or shaftings (or the bearings themselves) when they
become worn, to their correct position, or the tightening up of the bearings to
compensate for or take up such wear, is effected.
The invention, for convenience, will be described chiefly in connection with the
stern bearings for supporting the screw propeller shafts of ships, that is, the
aftermost bearings supporting such shafts, but at the same time it is to be
understood that the improvements, or some of them, hereafter described in the
application of the invention in such bearings, can be applied to or used in
connection with different bearings of various shaftings of different engines and
machinery.
According to this invention, in its application to the particular bearing of screw
propeller shafts, I provide the bearing on the lower half, that is, beneath the lower
half of the shaft, longitudinally arranged adjustable blocks or strips inclined on
their under side and fitting in and adapted to be moved along channels or ways
parallel to each other, the floors or bottoms of which are longitudinally inclined
in the same direction as the underside of the adjustable blocks or strips. The
upper surface of these blocks or strips are curved in a transverse direction, the
curvature of which is equivalent to that of the shaft, i.e. the radius of such shaft.
It is preferred, in some cases, to construct these strips in several short lengths so
that when adjusting the shaft after it has become worn and dropped from the
upper side of the bearing, new parts of the larger size can be forced into the
bearing channels or ways at the larger end and the smaller and worn parts pressed
out at the opposite end.
In one construction the adjusting inclined blocks or strips are carried in a
casting which surrounds the shafting, the upper part of which on the inside forns
the top of the bearing, this casting being fitted in the stern frame, bracket, or
other part of the stern of the vessel which carries the bearing.
According to one arrangement, the adjustment of the shafting is effected from
outside the vessel, and in this case in making the adjustment the propeller shaft
is lifted up until it bears on the upper surface of the bearing, and then fresh
portions of the larger size of the adjusting blocks or strips are placed against the
ends of those in the bearing, and are pressed in by any suitable means into the
channels or ways, thereby at the same time moving those already in such ways or
channels, the effect being that their inner surfaces are brought up through the
inclined bottoms of the ways to the under surface of the shaft, the innermost
blocks or strips being simultaneously pressed out of the bearing, when the blocks
are fully adjusted to the required position, they are held in place by a plate or collar
screwed or otherwise fastened to the outer end of the bearing, this being done, the
means used for supporting the shaft can be removed.

page_text: The adjustment or renovation of the shaft can very quickly be performed in a
dry dock or when the screw is not submerged, and without removing the screw or
screws or any part of the bearing at the same time, and obviates all necessity of
re-fitting up or boring the bearing, thus rendering the adjustment of such shafts
and bearings very inexpensive.
In applying the invention to single screw ships, or cases where the shell of the
ship reaches the stern bearing, in same cases I dispense with the ordinary stern
tube and provide at the inner end of the bearing a hollow neck round the shaft
with a stuffing box on the end thereof into which hollow casing the pressed out
and used up blocks or strips will fall and from which they can be removed through
a hand hole.
According to another part of this invention, the introduction into the bearing of
the new adjusting blocks or strips and the adjustment of such blocks or strips is
effected from within the vessel. In this case, the casing round the shaft last
described may be employed, and the blocks or strips inserted through this casing
and forced up into position through screws or other means extending through such
casing. When this construction is employed, the adjustment may be effected
when the ship is afloat, and while the engines are working, or, if preferred, when at
rest.
It is to be understood that the invention may be modified or carried out in
different ways without departing from the main characteristics herein specified,
and therefore it is not restricted to the special constructions or arrangements
herein above more particularly specified.
Dated this 11th day of December 1895.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.
COMI LELE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Bearings of Shafts.
1, EDWARD GRIFFITHS, of "Ivanhoe," Woodhey, Rock Ferry, in the County
of Chester, 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 the bearings by which the shafts of engines and
machinery are supported, and has more particularly for its object to provide
improvements in connection with such bearings, or improved bearings by which
the adjustment of the shafts or shafting (or the bearings themselves). when they
become worn, to their correct position, or the tightening up of the bearings to
compensate for or take up such wear, is effected.
My invention, for convenience, will be described chiefly in connection with the
stern bearings for supporting the screw propeller shafts of ships, that is, the
aftermost bearings supporting such shafts, but at the same time it is to be
I understood that the improvements, or some of them, hereafter described in the
application of the invention to such bearings, can be applied to or used in
connection with different bearings of various shaftings of different engines and
machinery.
According to this invention, in its application to the particular bearings of screw
propeller shafts, I provide the bearing on the lower half, that is, beneath the
lower half of the shaft, longitudinally arranged adjustable blocks or strips inclined
on their under side and fitting in and adapted to be moved along channels or ways
parallel to each other, the floors or bottoms of which are longitudinally inclined in
the same direction as the underside of the adjustable blocks or strips. The upper
surface of these blocks or strips is curved in a transverse direction, the curvature

page_text: of which is equivalent to that of the shaft, i.e. the radius of such shaft. It is
preferred, in some cases, to construct these strips in several short lengths so that
when adjusting the shaft after it has become worn and dropped from the upper
side of the bearing, new parts of the larger size can be forced into the bearing
channels or ways at the larger end, and the smaller and worn parts pressed out at
the opposite end.
In one construction the adjusting inclined blocks or strips are carried in a
casting which surrounds the shafting, the upper part of which on the inside forms
the top of the bearing, this casting being fitted in the stern frame, bracket, or
other part of the stern of the vessel which carries the bearing.
According to one arrangement, the adjustment of the shafting is effected from
outside the vessel, and in this case in making the adjustment, the propeller shaft is
lifted up until it bears on the upper surface of the bearing, and then fresh portions
of the larger size of the adjusting blocks or strips are placed against the ends of
those in the bearing, and are pressed in by any suitable means into the channels
or ways, thereby at the same time moving those already in such ways or channels,
the effect being that their inner surfaces are brought up through the inclined
bottoms of the ways to the under surface of the shaft, the innermost blocks or
strips being simultaneously pressed out of the bearing. When the blocks are
fully adjusted to the required position, they are held in place by a plate or collar
screwed or otherwise fastened to the outer end of the bearing; this being done,
the means used for supporting the shaft can be removed.
The adjustment of the shaft can very quickly be performed in a dry dock or
when the screw is not submerged, and without removing the screw or screws, or
any part of the bearing, and, at the same time, obviates all necessity of re-fitting up
or boring the bearing, thus rendering the adjustment of such shafts and bearings
very inexpensive.
In applying the invention to single screw ships, or cases where the shell of the
ship reaches the stern bearing, in some cases I dispense with the, ordinary stern
tube and provide at the inner end of the bearing a hollow neck round the shaft
with a stuffing box on the end thereof into which hollow casing the pressed out
and used up blocks or strips will fall, and from which they can be removed through
a hand hole.
The drawings hereto annexed illustrate a ships screw shaft bearing according to
this invention. In it, Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation; Figure 2 is an end
view looking towards the vessel; and Figure 3 is a view of the guard plate.
Referring to the drawings, a represents the propeller shaft, b the boss of the
propeller, e the stern frame, and d the stern tube; all of which are substantially
of ordinary or common form. The stern tube bush is generally designated e, and
is secured to and in the stern tube in the usual way. On the upper side, this
bush consists substantially of two annular semi-cylinders connected together by
ribs, as shewn and through the spaces between these semi-cylinders, water has
access to the bearing; while below i.e. on the lower half of the bush it is provided
with longitudinal parallel channels, in which the bearing blocks are placed and
work. In the drawing shewn, three sets of such channels and blocks are used,
these sets being divided or separated by longitudinal division webs h, which are
preferably constructed, as shewn, so as to leave a space between their upper edges
and the underside of the shaft. The floors of the channels in which the blocks f
slide, have an easy inclination longitudinally, and they are moreover, parallel
throughout their entire length, from the outer end to the inner end of the bush,
and the blocks are made with corresponding inclinations on their bottoms.
the outer end of the bearing, the guard plate i is provided, which prevents the
blocks from slipping backwards, after they have been fitted in position; and this
guard plate is suitably held in position by the bush studs j.
At
In action, when the bearing blocks have become worn down by the shafts
rotation, and the shaft is out of truth, and the bearing requires re-adjustment, all that
it is necessary to do, is, in the first place, to remove the guard plate i, and lift the

page_text: t
shaft a up, and then the blocks are pressed inwards by suitable means for a
distance, say, equal to the length of one of such blocks, so that the bearing
surfaces are adjusted vertically towards the shaft surface by the upward inclination
of floors of these grooves to the required degree. After this, the new blocks f
are placed in position in the spaces at the back end which will then exist, or, the
new blocks may be applied to the ends of the existing blocks, and be used as a
means through which the blocks are driven forward. This completes the operation
of re-adjustment; and having re-placed the guard plate in position, the gear
supporting the shaft a is slacked off, and the relining or adjusting of the screw
shaft is accomplished.
In some cases, say in the case of the application of the invention to twin screw
bearings, a guard similar to i may be placed in the front end of the bearings, as
well as at the back end.
In the forcing in of the blocks f, the remaining portion of the innermost of said
blocks will be pressed out into the stern tube, from which they may be removed
through suitable hand holes.
By the operation above described it will be seen, that when the screw or the
shaft is out of the water, or not submerged, the operation and adjustment is simple,
and effected without any refitting or boring of the bearing, or any laborious
actions; and the operation is quickly and simply done, involving comparatively
little expense.
It is to be stated that the invention is not restricted to the number of sets of
grooves of blocks, or the relative sizes thereof, shewn in the drawings, as these
may differ materially in the different sizes of shafts or shaft bearings to which
the invention may be applied; and the invention may be modified to suit special
cases without departing from the essential characteristics thereof.
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 :
1. In a bearing for shafts of machinery, a bush or tube surrounding such shaft,
having a plurality of longitudinal grooves or channels therein extending from one
end to the other, and parallel to each other, and the floors of which are inclined
in relation to the axes of the shaft, and having within them a plurality of bearing
blocks, adapted to be adjusted along same, on which the shaft bears; substantially
as in the manner, and for the purposes set forth.
2. In a bearing for the shafts of machinery, a bush or tube surrounding such
shaft, having a longitudinal groove or channel (or plurality of same) therein,
extending from one end to the other, and having an inclined floor or bottom, and
containing a plurality of bearing blocks along its length, adapted to be adjusted
longitudinally along same: substantially as in the manner and for the purposes set
forth.
3. A ships stern shaft bearing comprising a stern tube fitted in a stern frame,
and a bush fitting in said stern tube, and having longitudinal parallel channels or
grooves with inclined bottoms or floors on the underside or lower half of the bush,
and containing in each a plurality of supporting er bearing blocks; substantially
as herein set forth with reference to and shewn in the drawings.
4. The shaft bearing comprising the parts arranged, constructed and adapted
to operate, particularly as shewn in and set forth with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 10th day of September 1896.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.