Improvements in Bearings for Shafts.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 9th June, 1890-Accepted, 12th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bearings for Shafts.
I CHARLES GOLAY of 31 Boulevard Henri IV. Paris, in the Republic of France,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in bearings for horizontal and vertical
shafts.
Hitherto the thrust of screw propeller and like shafts has been exerted against
solid metal surfaces, now according to my invention such thrust is exerted against
liquid cushions.
This liquid bearing is obtained by means of a space provided behind the swell or
enlarged part of the shaft; the space communicates with a source of liquid under
pressure and is rendered as air tight as possible.
The bearing being placed on the shaft and the face placed in position the space is
put in communication by means of suitable pipes or tubes with the source of liquid
under pressure, either directly with a pump or with a reservoir, so that liquid may be
constantly supplied to compensate for the inevitable loss by leakage; the liquid should
have a pressure always greater than the greatest pressure necessary to resist the thrust
of the shaft. When the quantity of liquid forced in is too great the shaft is displaced
and uncovers an opening through which the liquid escapes whereby the proper
position of the shaft is assured.
By causing the liquid space to communicate with a monometer it will be easy by a
simple calculation to ascertain the exact thrust exerted by the screw.
Considering the enormous thrust of a screw propeller shaft on its bearings and its
great speed of rotation it will be obvious that by my arrangement great economy of
power is effected by doing away with friction and at the same time greater security is
obtained.
Dated the 24th day of August 1889
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bearings for Shafts.
I, CHARLES GOLAY of 6 rue Renault Paris, in the Republic of France, 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 for improvements in bearings for shafts has for its object to provide
a new thrust block in which the thrust of the shaft is counterbalanced by liquid
pressure instead of being received in the usual manner on the solid metallic surfaces
of the block, thus effecting a great saving of power by reducing the friction of the
shaft together with greater security. The liquid under pressure is admitted to a space
formed behind a collar on the shaft which is suitably packed at the collar and behind
the space.to prevent leakage. Means are also provided for the escape of liquid when
the pressure becomes too high.
In the accompanying two sheets of illustrative drawings.
Fig. 1. is a central longitudinal section of a thrust block constructed according to
this invention and
Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line K K Fig. 1 of the same.
The shaft A is formed with a collar B and surrounding it is the main body C of the
thrust block which is constructed in halves held together by rings M fitting on their

page_text: tapered ends and drawn together by bolts E. Between the collar B and the body C
is a space G into which the liquid under pressure is admitted through the pipe H and
on either side of this space G are two spaces for the reception of packing D to prevent
leakage of the liquid along the shaft. The packing D consists of two outer rings
between which is a third ring forced up against collar B or shaft A by springs F, the
rings being constructed in segments. Exhaust ducts I and J serve to collect any
leakage and lead it back to the pump or other compressing apparatus. One of the
ducts I is normally just covered by the back end of the collar B but if the total
pressure of the liquid on the collar be greater than the end thrust of the shaft, the
shaft is moved slightly in the direction of the pressure and uncovers the orifice of the
duct and so relieves the pressure. The surface O of the block is fitted against any
suitable rigid part.
By putting a manometer in communication with the space G, the exact thrust
exerted by the shaft can be calculated.
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. A thrust block for shafts in which the end thrust of the shaft is counterbalanced
by liquid pressure admitted to the block constructed substantially as described with
reference to the drawings.
2. A thrust block for shafts in which the end thrust of the shaft is counterbalanced
by means of liquid pressure admittted to the block and in which any excess of liquid
pressure is released by slight end motion of the shaft substantially as described.
3. A thrust block for shafts constructed substantially as described with reference to
the drawings.
Dated this 9th day of June 1890.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, Agents.