Improvements in Self-aligning Bearings for Shafts, Spindles and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Sept., 1897-Accepted, 23rd Oct., 1897,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self-aligning Bearings for Shafts, Spindles and
the like.
I GEORGE FREDERICK THOMPSON, of 29 Newstead Road Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
My invention relates to certain improvements in self-aligning or "swivel"
bearings used for supporting or steadying revolving shafts, spindles and the like,
and the leading feature of my said invention is that the "step" or part of the
bearing in which the shaft or spindle rests is supported at two points in its length
-preferably about midway between the centre and ends of the said step-instead
of being supported at or near the centre of its length, which to the best of my
knowledge and belief is the case in all swivel bearings as now made.
The objects of my said invention are first, to afford a better support to the said
steps when made, as is frequently the case, of a length equal to four times their
diameter; and secondly to support the said steps in such manner as will enable
them to withstand a considerable end thrust without impairing in any degree
their self-adjusting properties and so enable the employment of swivel bearings
adjacent to bevel wheels or other gearing which exerts an end thrust upon the
shafting and bearings supporting same, in which situation swivel bearings of
ordinary construction are both unsuitable and inadequate.
My said improvement consists in forming collars upon the said steps at points
about one quarter of their length from each end. These collars are curved upon
their outer faces and form practically two equal "zones" or sections of a sphero
These collars rest in bevelled or curved seatings formed in the body of the bearing
and provision is made for allowing the steps to swivel a few degrees in every
direction about the axial line.
The steps are made in two parts each part having certain projections and recesses
on and in their edges where they join, designed to fit into one another and lock
them together in such manner as to prevent either longitudinal or transverse
movement of one part of the bearing in relation to the other.
In applying my improved form of bearing to an upright shaft or spindle I
make my steps in two or three parts and the base or body of the bearing has only
the lower bevelled seating formed within it for supporting the steps, the upper
seating being formed by a bush or gland fitting into the said base and upon the
upper zone or collar of the said steps.
A pedestal or bearing made according to my improved plan has, when screwed
up, all the stability and rigidity of a non-swivelling bearing and the steps can be
closed from time to time to take up the wear without in any way impairing the
property of self-alignment.
this 21st day of December 1896.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Self-aligning Bearings for Shafts, Spindles and
the like.
I GEORGE FREDERICK THOMPSON of 29 Newstead Road, Liverpool in the
County of Lancaster, 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:-
My invention relates to certain improvements in self-aligning or "swivel"
bearings used for supporting or steadying revolving shafts spindles and the like
and the leading feature of my said invention is that the "step" or part of the
bearing in which the shaft or spindle rests is supported at two points in its length
preferably about midway between the centre and the ends of said step instead
of being supported at or near the centre of its length, which to the best of my
knowledge and belief is the case in all swivel bearings as now made.
The objects of my said invention are first to afford a better support to the said
steps when made, as is frequently the case, of a length equal to four times their
diameter; and secondly to support the said steps, in such manner as will enable
them to withstand considerable end-thrust without impairing their self-aligning
properties and so enable the employment of swivel bearings adjacent to bevel
wheels or other gearing which exerts an end-thrust upon the shafting and
bearings supporting same.
./.
My said improvement consists in forming collars upon the said steps at points
about one quarter of their length from each end: these collars are curved upon
their outer faces and form practically two equal zones or sections' of a sphere.
These collars rest in bevelled or curved seatings formed in the body part of the
bearing and provision is made for allowing the steps to swivel a few degrees i
every direction about the axial line.
Fig. 1 upon the sheet of drawings hereunto appended is a longitudinal section
of a bearing made according to my said invention and Fig. 2 is a transverse section
of the steps in which A. A. are the curved collars fitting into the seatings B. B.
which may be either curved or straight.
The steps are made in two parts the one half having projections C. formed
thereon fitting into recesses D. in the other half and the portions of the collars on
the recessed half are continued beyond the centre or joint line to form "joggles"
to prevent lateral movement of the other half. By this method of jointing, the
two parts of the steps are locked together and both longitudinal and transverse
movement of one part upon the other is prevented:
Fig. 3 shews my said improved bearing as applied to an upright shaft or spindle.
In this case the steps are made in two, three or more parts and rest upon, the
lower seating E. formed within the body part F, the upper seating being formed
by the gland G, or the said gland may be arranged to form the lower seating.
This formation and construction is for the purpose of enabling the withdrawal
of the steps, and when the same are "closed" as they wear, to insure their always 4
finding the true axial centre.
Fig. 4 represents my said improved 'self-aligning steps as applied to a roller
bearing. The rollers H. H. and rings J. J. may be of any suitable construction.
By the application of my improved method of supporting the steps or box in this
class of bearing long rollers may be employed without the liability of the pressure 4
upon them being greater at one end than at the other end as is usually the case
when the steps or boxes are rigid.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In self-aligning or swivel Bearings or Pedestals for supporting revolving
shafts or spindles, the formation of curved collars upon the steps at points approxi-
mately one fourth the length of such steps from the end's thereof, such collars
constituting or being equivalent to sections or zones of a sphere and fitting into
or resting upon corresponding seatings having straight or curved surfaces formed
within the body or outer part of such bearings or pedestals, substantially as
herein shewn and described.
2. In self-aligning or swivel bearings the method of jointing the steps together
whereby both longitudinal and lateral movement of one part upon the other is
prevented, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
3. In self-aligning or swivel Bearings in which the steps have curved or zone-
shaped collars thereon, the method of forming the upper or lower seating for same
separate from and adjustable in regard to the other seating substantially as
herein shewn and described and for the purpose stated.
4. In self-aligning or swivel bearings or pedestals in which the steps have
curved or zone-shaped collars thereon, the combination therewith of a number of
anti-friction rollers held within cages or rings of any suitable form and construc-
tion, substantially as herein shewn and described.
Dated this 21st day of September 1897.
GEORGE FREDERICK THOMPSON.