Improvements in Roller-bearings.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 9th Jan., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roller-bearings.
I, BENJAMIN SMITH LAWSON, of No. 12 Maple Avenue, in the Village of
Redbank, County of Monmouth, and State of New Jersey, United States of America,
Mechanic, 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 relates to improvements in roller-bearings, and has for its object
the production. of a device which reduces to a minimum. the friction and binding
incidental to the revolution of an axle or shaft in a bearing, and, to this end it
consists, essentially, the construction and arrangement of the component parts of
the bearing, all as hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims. In
describing this invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming
a part of this specification, in which like letters indicate corresponding parts in all
the views.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section, partly in elevation, of a bearing
embodying this invention.
Figures 2 and 3 are transverse vertical sections, taken, respectively, on lines. 2-2
and 3-3, Figure 1; aud
Figure. 4 is an isometric view of the detached frame or support for the
antifriction rollers, arranged at the end of the axle or shaft.
,
As is well known, various forms of roller-bearings have been devised, in some of
which the rollers encircling an axle or shaft are grooved for receiving a rib pro-
jecting from the inner face of an enclosing casing, and are so arranged and
proportioned that their extremities roll in contact with the axle or shaft and out
of contact with the inner face of the casing. In bearings of this construction, the
rollers tend to incline towards the axis of the axle or shaft and cause more or less
friction and binding of the parts; and, consequently, dividers are necessitated for
holding the rollers apart. Said dividers are soon materially worn, retard the action'
of the rollers, generate more or less friction, and are a source of constant annoyance
and expense. These bearings, although somewhat similar to this invention, are
radically different therefrom, as in the present invention the rollers surrounding the
axle or shaft are so constructed and arranged that, although free to automatically
adjust themselves, they roll in contact with each other without inclining towards
the axis of the axle or shaft and necessitating the use of dividers. In order to
effect this operation of the rollers: of this improved bearing the central portions of
..the rollers are provided with peripheral engaging. faces of rounding cross section
which engage a projecting face of rounding cross section on the axle or shaft, and
the extremities of the rollers engage a concave face (the inner face of the outer
casing of the bearing) which holds the rollers in alignment with the axis of the axle
or shaft when arranged above said axle or shaft at the time when said rollers are
subjected to the greatest strain.
A is a suitable axle or shaft, B the outer casing of this improved bearing,
and. C C antifriction rollers interposed between the axle or shaft and the inner face
of the outer casing. The axle or shaft A is provided with a peripheral bearing
face A which preferably projects therefrom, aud is usually formed convex in cross
section. In the preferable construction of this bearing, the face A¹, instead of
being formed directly upon the axle or shaft consists of the outer face of a sleeve

page_text: or support A detachably secured to the axle or shaft by a pin or shoulder a
projecting from said axle or shaft into a groove a¹ opening from the inner edge of
said sleeve. A cap A' is mounted on the end of the axle or shaft A and holds the
sleeve A in its operative position.
'
The outer casing B is formed with an inner circular bearing face b preferably
of flat cross section. One of the ends of said casing is provided with an aperture 6
for permitting the entrance of the axle or shaft A, and supports a suitable washer a
for preventing the entrance of dust through said aperture. The opposite end of
the casing B is provided with a removable cap & which supports a suitable bearing
piece D, presently described. The rollers C' loosely contact with each other and
are formed at their central portions with contracted peripheral bearing faces c
which are preferably concave in cross section and roll in contact with the face A
of the axle or shaft A. The opposite extremities of the rollers C roll in contact
with the inner face b of the casing B and out of contact, with the axle or shaft A.
The described construction and arrangement of the axle or shaft A, the casing B,
and the rollers C, reduces to a minimum the friction and binding incidental to the
revolution of said shaft, as the rollers C are free to automatically adjust themselves
in conformity with any movement of the axle or shaft, and are not at all liable to
bind or to become unduly worn.
The bearing piece D, previously mentioned, is formed at one side with an
engaging face d which is convex in cross section and is provided with an annular
shoulder D of concave cross section. Antifriction rollers E are interposed
between the face d and the adjacent face A of the cap A³, which is preferably
formed convex in cross section and is essentially the outer face of the axle or
shaft. The rollers E preferably taper inwardly and their opposite ends are
formed with projecting trunnions e e. The ends of the rollers E adjacent to the
inner face 6 of the casing B are formed with peripheral engaging faces e² which
are usually of convex cross section and engage the shoulder D' for limiting the
endwise movement of said rollers.
A suitable frame or support F is arranged adjacent to the face d and is
provided with apertures for receiving the rollers E and bearings f¹f for the
trunnions e e. The bearings f' preferably consist of sockets of slightly greater
diameter than the roller trunnions e arranged therein, and the bearings f consist
of open slots for receiving the opposite trunnions e. The rollers E are therefore
free to automatically adjust themselves in conformity with the movement of the
axle or shaft A permitted by the automatic adjustment of the rollers C. The
side of the frame or support F adjacent to the cap 62 is preferably provided with
an outwardly extending spindle f journaled in an aperture di in the bearing
piece D, and provided at its outer end with suitable fastening means as a
pin F which secures together said frame and bearing piece and is arranged in a
socket d² formed in the outer face of said bearing piece. By securing the frame
or support F to the bearing piece D as described, the rollers E, although free to
automatically adjust themselves are prevented from undue detachment or loss
when shipping, handling, removing or assembling the parts of this improved
bearing. This invention will now be readily understood upon reference to the
foregoing description and the accompanying drawing.
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 a roller-bearing, the combination, with an axle or shaft A provided with
a peripheral engaging face A', of an outer casing B, and independently adjust-
able rollers C interposed between the peripheral engaging face of the axle or
shaft and the outer casing, and constructed, arranged, and operating, substantially
as and for the purpose.described.
2. In a roller-bearing, the combination, with an axle or shaft A, and a sleeve
detachably secured to the axle or shaft, of an outer casing B, and independently

page_text: adjustable rollers C interposed between the detachable sleeve and the outer
casing, and constructed, arranged, and operating, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
3. In a roller-bearing, the combination, with an axle or shaft A, of an outer
casing B, a bearing piece D, a frame or support F, and independently adjustable
rollers E constructed, arranged, and operating, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Dated this 20th day of June 1896
BENJAMIN SMITH LAWSON.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.