Improvements in Thrust Bearings for Shafts and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left 14th May, 1900-Accented. 30th June, 1900
Date of Application, 14th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left 14th May 1900-Accepted. 30th June. 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Thrust Bearings for Shafts and the like.
I, ERNST GUSTAV HOFFMANN, of Hamlet House, Chelmsford, in the County of
Essex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
My invention relates to improvements in thrust bearings for shafts and the
like, the object being to provide a bearing which is capable of adjusting itself
automatically to inequalities of movement in the running of the shaft, a further
object being to provide a self-contained bearing which may be made in various
sizes as a separate article for application to the shafts, spindles and the like
of various kinds of machinery.
According to my invention I employ a ball bearing the cone member of
which is so formed and seated or carried that it is capable of a rocking move-
ment to adjust itself to the movement of the shaft. In one form of this the
thrust is taken first by a cup part of a ball bearing through which a reduced
part of the shaft passes, such cup part having its track portion preferably so
shaped as to provide two bearing surfaces for the balls which latter transmit
the thrust to a cone ring loosely surrounding a reduced end of the shaft, such
ring having a conical surface on which the balls bear preferably at a single
point. The under side of this ring is formed as a segment of a circle and seats
on a correspondingly curved base which may form a part of a casing enclosing
or holding the ring and cup. In practice in place of the curved surfaces which
are expensive to produce, these surfaces may be conical, and that of the ring
may correspond with the surface used as the ball track so that it may be
reversed, when worn. In this case the ring in section will be an outwardly
tapering truncated cone loose both as regards the shaft and the casing so that
an unequal thrust in one direction on one side will cause it to move in the oppo-
site direction on its curved (or conical) surface in the other so that the thrust
of the shaft on the balls will be equalized. To prevent the balls falling out
of the casing when the shaft is removed the ring in question may be provided
on its track side with, a raised part or flange (or on both sides if it is reversible)
so as to form a ledge sufficient to keep the balls in the casing.
Doted this 14th day of August 1899.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, Chartered Patent Agent,
For the Applicant.
Improvements in inrust Dear
I, ERNST GUSTAV HOFFMANN, of Hamlet House, Chelmsford, in the County of
Essex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
Price Sl

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to an improvement in thrust bearings for shafts and the
like, the object being to provide a bearing which is capable of adjusting itself
automatically to inequalities of movement in the running of the shaft, a further
object being to provide a self contained bearing which may be made in various
sizes as a separate article of commerce for application to the shafts, spindles and
the like of various kinds of machinery.
According to my invention I employ a ball bearing the cone member of
which is so formed and seated or carried that it is capable of a rocking move-
ment to adjust itself to the movement of the shaft. The thrust is taken first
by a cup part of a ball bearing which also forms a cover for the casing and
through which a part of the shaft passes such cup part having its track portion
preferably so shaped as to provide two bearing surfaces for the balls which latter
transmit the thrust to a cone ring loosely surrounding a reduced end of the
shaft, such ring having a conical surface on which the balls bear preferably
at a single point. The under side of this ring is formed as a segment of a
circle and seats on a correspondingly curved base which may form a part of a
casing enclosing or holding the ring and cup. In practice in place of the
curved surfaces which are expensive to produce these surfaces may be conical,
and that of the ring may correspond with the surface used as the ball track so
that it may be reversed when worn. In this case the ring in section will be
an outwardly tapering truncated cone loose both as regards the shaft and the
casing so that an unequal thrust in one direction on one side will cause it to
move in the opposite direction on its curved (or conical) surface in the other
so that the thrust of the shaft on the balls will be equalized. The ring is pro-
vided with ledges to prevent the escape of the balls.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which—
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of one form of bearing constructed according
to same the shaft or spindle being shewn in elevation and
Fig. 2 is a plan of the bearing with the shaft or spindle removed.
The shaft or spindle a is provided with a reduced end a the shoulder a² so
formed resting on the upper side of the cup member through an opening in
which the reduced part 7 passes and in which it closely fits or the shaft may
be straight and be provided with a fixed collar to act as the shoulder a².
The under side of the cup member portion is so shaped that the balls c bear
on two points a .
"
The shaft also loosely passes through the cone member the section of which
is that of a truncated cone and on the upper side of which the balls c bear at
a single point, said cone being seated on a corresponding cone surface e of
a casing f which may be provided with an opening f¹ in its base into or through
which the shaft may loosely enter or pass. The cone surfaces of the cone mem-
ber may be formed on a segment of a circle of large diameter or be true cones
(both forms being hereinafter deemed to be included in the term cone")
either form enabling such cone member to adjust itself by a lateral rocking or
sliding movement on the seat e, a space g being provided between the outer end
of the cone and the wall of the casing f for this purpose. The lateral move-
ment produces through the pressure on the balls a corresponding movement
on the loose cup member so that the whole bearing is tilted according to the
angle or position the shaft assumes and hence said shaft is provided with a
bearing which takes equally the thrust upon it.
To prevent the balls from falling out of the casing when the shaft is removed
the cone member d is provided on its track side with a ledge. or flange d'in
case the balls used are of such a diameter that without it they might escape
and as the cone member has both faces alike in order that it may be reversed
on its seat when the balls have worn it on one side such ledge is formed on

page_text: both faces, the seat of the casing being provided with a recess f² to loosely
receive the one on the under side.
The cup member b forms a cap or cover to the casing or housing and is held
in place by an open ring of spring wire which seats in a groove in the casing,
the part
b
having a shoulder 2 passing under such ring and which prevents it
being removed when the ring is in place. To remove the ring the top edge of
the casing is slotted as at j so that a tool may be inserted to enable it to be
levered out.
It will be seen that all the parts of the bearing proper are capable of a free
movement and that the casing or housing makes the whole bearing a perfectly
self contained one and as such ready to be handled and useful from a commer-
cial point of view as the user has nothing to do with it except put it in the
place where it has got its work to do without taking any parts away or having
to provide other incidental devices on the machine wherever the housing may
be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a ball thrust bearing and in combination, a reversible cone member
having two oppositely-arranged cone faces each provided with a ledge for
retaining the balls, a shaft on which the cone fits loosely and on which it is
free to rock, and a casing having a seat for such member shaped to correspond
to the face of same and on which it can take its rocking movement, substan-
tially as described.
2. In a ball thrust bearing and in combination, a casing having an opening
in its base, a shaft having a reduced portion adapted to pass loosely into same,
a cover for the casing forming the cup member of a cup and cone ball bearing,
on the upper side of which the larger portion of the shaft rests, a cone mem-
ber in the casing, and an open spring ring inserted in a groove in the casing
above the cover for retaining the parts in place, substantially as described.
3. In a ball thrust bearing, and in combination, a casing, a cover for the
same forming the cup member of a cup and cone ball bearing, means for retain-
ing such cup in place, and a reversible cone member having two oppositely
arranged cone faces each provided with a ledge for retaining the balls, said
casing having a seat for such member shaped to correspond to either face of
the same and on which it is capable of movement, substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of May 1900
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent,
For the Applicant.