IMPROVEMENTS IN THE REDUCTION OF FRICTION
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander Dalgety at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th July
1854.
I, ALEXANDER DALGETY, of Florence Road, Deptford, in the County of Kent,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE REDUCTION OF FRICTION" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the reduction of the frictional wear and tear
attendant on all working surfaces, whether such surfaces be sliding or
revolving, and consists of a peculiar arrangement of antifriction rollers, which
are interposed between the rubbing or working surfaces. As applied to sliding
surfaces, the antifriction rollers are fitted with a small toothed pinion which
gears into corresponding racks on the sliding part or parts, by which means
the rollers are always kept in their proper positions, as the interlocking or
gearing of the pinion teeth with the teeth of the racks will effectually prevent
the displacement of the rollers, which would otherwise occur if the sliding parts
were working vertically.
This arrangement is obviously applicable to rotatory engines with sliding
diaphragms or pistons, to the tables of planing machines, slotting and shaping
machines, and a variety of other purposes, which will readily suggest themselves
to the practical man, as applied to revolving surfaces or bearings of all kinds,

page_text: whether such bearings be the journals of shafting or machinery in general, or
axles of railway and other carriages.
In applying the principle to railway carriage axle boxes, it is proposed to
employ three or more antifriction rollers working against the circumference
of the axle journal. These rollers are carried by and work in two supporting
rings, one at each end of the rollers, and these rings are connected by means
of studs, of a length corresponding to the length of the rollers. The rollers
are so arranged, that although they may all bear, upon or against the axle
journal, yet they are all kept out of contact with each other, by which means
a great amount of friction is avoided; as, when each or any of the rollers are
in contact, there necessarily arises a certain amount of friction, on account
of the great rubbing which occurs, as both rollers will be revolving in the same
direction.
In place of retaining the rollers separate from each other by a couple of
solid rings, as herein-before described, it is obvious that links or chains might
be employed;. or in place of this, in some cases, a pinion may be fitted to each
roller, as herein-before described, such pinions gearing into circular racks,
which will always keep the rollers in their respective places, out of contact
with each other. These rollers are fitted inside the axle box or other bearing,
and are constantly revolving, not; only round their own axes, but also slowly
round the centre of the journal itself; those above the journal bearing
against the under side of the upper part of the axle box, which in this
arrangement would be circular in place of square.
The same arrangement is proposed to be employed in ordinary plummer
blocks and fixed bearings of all kinds, and hinges of large or heavy doors
or gates, when great strain is exerted upon the pin.