Improvements in Roller Bearings.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd. Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 21st July, 1891-Accepted, 19th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roller Bearings.
I, CHARLES PASCAL JOSEPH GRAVIER of 41 Boulevard Notre Dame,
Marseilles, France, Captain Marine Artillery do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to roller bearings whereby a rolling is substituted
for a rubbing friction in the rotation of shafts, wheels, and other mechanical
organs.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
Specification, wherein
Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the invention.
Figure 2 is a diagram serving to illustrate the effect obtained by the form of
friction rollers employed.
Figure 3 represents two half cross sections of a roller bearing for a shaft on
lines 1, 2, and 3, 4, Figure 4, respectively.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal central section of the same.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the axle box of an ordinary wheel containing
the anti-friction bearing.
Figure 6 is a similar section of the footstep bearing for a vertical shaft.
The principle of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 in which a shaft
having a radius R rotates about its axis O. This shaft is supported upon a
number of friction rollers a having a radius and concentric with each of these
rollers are rollers A having a radius 7. Let R¹ be the radius of a cylinder
circumscribing the rollers A. When the shaft turns about its axis it will roll
upon the rollers a and cause them to turn, together with the rollers A, in the
opposite direction, as shewn by the arrows.
It will be evident that if the propor-
tion between the radii R, R¹, is-
R
*
=
R¹
the rollers A will roll upon the surface of the cylinder having the radius R¹ and
there will be no rubbing friction; conversely, if the shaft be fixed and the
circumscribing cylinder rotate about its axis, the same effect will be produced.
Similarly, friction at the ends of the parts of mechanism having rotary motion
may be prevented by the interposition of balls or conical rollers. The radii of
the rollers a are only governed by the strains which these rollers have to support.
If p be the radius of the shaft calculated according to the formulæ for the strength
of materials and be the radius of the rollers a, the value of r is a certain
function of p. The rollers a have to resist shearing or cross strains and shocks
and the number of rollers in contact with the journal is always at least three ;
these data will be always sufficient for calculating the minimum value of the
radius of rollers a. As above mentioned, the number of rollers a in contact
with the iournal is at least equal to three and as the journal will generally

page_text: adjoining rollers and n the number of rollers situated in a right section,
the following equations—
we have
E
and the result will be diminished by a slight quantity so as to make & of sufficient
value. In this manner we have a value for which may be represented by the
equation;
(C)
R1
In practice, a certain amount of play must be allowed to enable the parts to be
fitted together, and for this purpose either two or all four radii are varied, but so
as that the second equation R=R₁r shall be always true. The roller bearings
constructed on the above principles would be varied in arrangement to suit the
various applications of which they are susceptible.
Figures 3 and 4 shew the arrangement for a shaft journal, Figure 3 representing
two transverse half sections in the planes of the large and small rollers respec-
tively, whilst Figure 4 is a longitudinal section in the plane of the shaft axis and
in that of the axis of one of the rollers. Figure 5 is an axial section of an axle
box for common road wheels or for railway axles. Figure 6 represents an axial
section of a footstep bearing for a vertical shaft. In all these figures, the number
of rollers adopted is nine, but this number is not absolute and is moreover a
function of the data for each type of bearing to be constructed.
In Figures 3 and 4, the roller bearing consists of a sleeve A', a set of rollers A a,
a lantern frame C and the box D. The sleeve fits without play on the shaft but
need not be fixed thereto. Its external circumference is grooved circularly so as
to present alternate cylinders of two different diameters; those of the largest
diameter are in contact with the smaller rollers and their radius is that which has
been previously referred to as the radius of the journal. The intervening grooves
are merely provided in order to give a free passage to the rollers A and the
surfaces connecting the two cylinders are of truncated conical form. Each of
the sets of rollers consists of a certain number of rollers a alternating with
rollers A. and so situated that the latter correspond exactly to the grooves of the
sleeve A. The surfaces connecting the rollers of large and small diameters are
also of truncated conical form rounded at the junction with the circumference of

page_text: the rollers a in order to avoid lines of rupture. In the ends of each of the set of
rollers is a cylindrical hole to receive the pivot pins F fixed in the lantern frame C
whereby to maintain the proper distance between the sets of rollers which fit
with a little play between the ends of the lantern and upon the pivots. The
lantern C consists of two parallel end plates carrying the pivots and connected
together by tie-rods near their circumference passing between the rollers A, the
parts being so connected as to be easily dismounted. The pivots fixed in each
plate are equal in number to the sets of rollers, those in the two plates being
exactly opposite each other so as to be in the same axial line which is also the
axis of the set of rollers and each plate has a central aperture to give free
passage for the shaft. The box D of the roller bearing contains the whole and
is internally in the form of a right cylinder on the cylindrical surface of which
roll the rollers A. The ends are removable and have a central aperture to give
free passage for the shaft, the external form of the box depending on the purpose
to which the bearing may be put. Between the ends of the box and the bearing
surfaces fixed to the shaft, and between the inner ends of the box and the end
plates of the lantern frame, and between the end plates of the lantern frame and
the ends of the sleeve, there may be provided sets of conical friction rollers or
In the case of roller bearings of very
balls for preventing end play and friction.
large dimensions, the pivots of the sets of roller bearings may themselves be
provided with roller bearings.
The foregoing description applies equally to Figures 5 and 6 which do not need
special description.
1000
LV.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roller Bearings.
I, CHARLES PASCAL JOSEPH GRAVIER of 41, Boulevard Notre Dame,
Marseilles, France, Captain Marine Artillery, 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 roller bearings whereby a rolling is substituted for a
rubbing friction in the rotation of shafts, wheels, and other mechanical organs.
My invention is illustrated in the drawings left with my Provisional Specifi-
cation and also in the accompanying drawing forming together therewith part of
this Specification and I will proceed to describe it with reference thereto.
Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the invention.
Figure 2 is a diagram serving to illustrate the effect obtained by the form of
friction rollers employed.
Figure 3 represents two half cross-sections of a roller bearing for a shaft on
lines 1-2 and 3-4 Figure 4 respectively.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal central section of the same.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the axle box of an ordinary wheel con-
taining the anti-friction bearing.
Figure 6 is a similar section of the footstep bearing for a vertical shaft.
Figure 7 is a similar section of a modified footstep bearing.
The principle of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 in which a shaft
having a radius R rotates about its axis O. This shaft is supported upon a number
of friction rollers a having a radius and concentric with each of these rollers are
rollers A having a radius r. Let R¹ be the radius of a cylinder circumscribing
the rollers A. When the shaft turns about its axis it will roll upon the rollers a
?"

page_text: and cause them to turn, together with the rollers A in the opposite direction, as
shewn by the arrows. It will be evident that if the proportion between the
radii R, R¹, is-
R R¹
=
r
the rollers A will roll upon the surface of the cylinder having the radius R¹ and
there will be no rubbing friction; conversely if the shaft be fixed and the circum-
scribing cylinder rotate about its axis the same effect will be produced. Similarly,
friction at the ends of the parts of mechanism having rotary motion may be pre-
vented by the interposition of balls or conical rollers. The radii of the rollers a
are only governed by the strains which these rollers have to support. If p be the
radius of the shaft calculated according to the formulæ for the strength of materials
and be the radius of the rollers a, the value of r is a certain function of p. The
rollers a have to resist shearing or cross strains and shocks and the number of
rollers in contact with the journal is always at least three; these data will be
always sufficient for calculating the minimum value of the radius r of rollers a.
As above mentioned, the number of rollers a in contact with the journal is at least
equal to three and as the journal will generally only bear upon the rollers by one
half of the cylindrical surface bounded by a plane passing through the axis of the
journal and perpendicular to the direction of the load, the whole number of rollers
should be at least six. On the other hand, the radius of the circle passing through
the centres of the friction rollers should be such that the rollers A will not come
into contact with each other.
Referring to Figure 2 let 2 (+) be the distance between the centres of two
adjoining rollers and n the number of rollers situated in a right section, we have the
following equations――

page_text: In practice, a certain amount of play must be allowed to enable the parts to be
fitted together and for this purpose either two or all four radii are varied but so as
that the second equation R=R¹r shall be always true. The roller bearings
constructed on the above principles would be varied in arrangement to suit the :
various applications of which they are susceptible.
Figures 3 and 4 shew the arrangement for a shaft journal, Figure 3 representing
two transverse half sections in the planes of the large and small rollers respectively,
whilst Figure 4 is a longitudinal section in the plane of the shaft axis and in that
of the axis of one of the rollers. Figure 5 is an axial section of an axle box for
common road wheels or for railway axles. Figure 6 represents an axial section of
a footstep bearing for a vertical shaft. In all the figures the number of rollers
adopted is nine but this number is not absolute and is moreover a function of the
data for each type of bearing to be constructed.
.
In Figures 3 and 4, the roller bearing consists of a sleeve A¹ a set of
rollers A a, a lantern frame C, and the box D. The sleeve fits without play on the
shaft but need not be fixed thereto. Its external circumference is grooved
circularly so as to present alternate cylinders of two different diameters; those of
the largest diameter are in contact with the smaller rollers and their radius is that
which has been previously referred to as the radius of the journal. The inter-
vening grooves are merely provided in order to give a free passage to the rollers A.
and the surfaces connecting the two cylinders are of truncated conical form.. Each
of the sets of rollers consists of a certain number of rollers a alternating with
rollers A and so situated that the latter correspond exactly to the grooves of the
sleeve A'. The surfaces connecting the rollers of large and small diameters are
also of truncated conical form rounded at the junction with the circumference of the
rollers a in order to avoid lines of rupture. In the ends of each of the set of
rollers is a cylindrical hole to receive the pivot pins F fixed in the lantern frame C
whereby to maintain the proper distance between the sets of rollers which fit with
a little play between the ends of the lantern and upon the pivots. The lantern C
consists of two parallel end plates carrying the pivots and connected. together by
tie rods near their circumference passing between the rollers A the parts being, so,
connected as to be easily dismounted. The pivots fixed in cach plate are equal. in
number to the sets of rollers, those in the two plates being exactly opposite each
other so as to be in the same axial line which is also the axis of the set of rollers
and each plate has a central aperture to give. free passage for the shaft. The
box D of the roller bearing contains the whole and is internally in the form of a
sight cylinder on the cylindrical surface of which roll. the rollers A. The ends are
removable and have a central aperture to give free passage for the shaft, the
external form of the box depending on the purpose to which the bearing may be
put. Between the ends of the box and the bearing surfaces fixed to the shaft
and between the inner ends of the box and the end plates of the lantern frame
and between the end plates of the lantern frame and the ends of the sleeve, in.
short between all the surfaces which would otherwise rub against. one another,
there may be provided sets of conical friction rollers or balls for preventing end
play and friction. In the case of roller bearings of very large dimensions the
pivots of the sets of roller bearings. may themselves be provided with roller
bearings.
The foregoing description applies equally to Figures 5 and 6, which do not need
special description.
In certain cases it may be necessary to make the box or casing of the roller
bearing in two parts bolted together and in such case the joints would be oblique
to the axes of the larger rollers and adjacent to the plane through the axis per-
pendicularly to the direction of the strain to be supported by the bearing. The
two parts should be carefully fitted and strongly connected together in order to
avoid any jumping of the rollers when passing the joints. The play between the
parts should be reduced to a minimum, but without a certain amount of play it
would be impossible to fit the parts together, but. whilst. allowing sufficient, play

page_text: =
for this purpose the relation R R is always maintained, this being the
essential condition of the rolling of two surfaces upon one another without sliding.
To facilitate putting together of the parts under these conditions, the box or casing
of the roller bearing may be slightly heated so as by expansion to increase its
internal diameter sufficiently to permit the parts to be introduced.
Instead of the rollers having end journals turning in holes in the rings of the
lantern frame, it is sometimes preferable to bore an axial hole through the rollers
and make them turn upon the rods of the lantern frame as centres.
Figure 7 illustrates a footstep bearing in which the friction rollers are of conical
form without in any way departing from the invention.
A is the shaft whose lower end is furnished with a sleeve B of conical form with
circumferential grooves. The rollers are also circumferentially grooved to corre-
spond with the sleeve the surfaces in and between the grooves having different
degrees of conicity, whilst the bearing D is also conical but plain, the whole of the
cones to which the fixed bearing, the rotating sleeve, and the intermediate rollers
correspond in configuration having a common vertex O which is an essential con-
dition to the rolling without sliding motion of the rollers. In order, then, to
determine the configuration of the rollers it is only necessary to draw O E bisecting
the angle made by the lines O C, O C corresponding to the sides of the two cones;
this line OE will be the axis of the rollers. Through the point E a line E F is
drawn perpendicular to OE and intersecting the axis of the cones at F. The
distances of the point of intersection of this perpendicular with OE from the
points of intersection with the sides of the fixed and rotating cones represent
the radii whilst the distance of the point of intersection with the main axis
from the points of intersection with the sides of the cone represent the radii R R'.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A roller bearing wherein each of the sets of rollers is constituted by a
cylinder of two diameters A a acting in the manner described with reference to
Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings to prevent rubbing friction of the rotating parts
of machinery.
2. The roller bearing consisting in the combination of rollers of two
diameters A a with the sleeve A' and the box D as described with reference to
Figures 3 and 4 for the purpose specified.
3. The wheel axle box with roller bearing, as shewn and described with reference
to Figure 5.
4. The vertical footstep with roller bearing, as described with reference to
Figure 6.
5. Constructing the box or casing of the herein described roller bearing, of two
parts as described.
6. Heating the box or casing in putting together the parts of the herein
described roller bearing to enable the play between the parts to be reduced as
described.
7. Mounting the rollers of the roller bearing upon the tie-rods of the lantern
frame as described.
8. The herein described footstep bearing baving grooved conical rollers of two
degrees of conicity, rolling between rotating and fixed conical surfaces, as described
with reference to Figure 7.
Dated the lot dow of Inv 1XUI
Dated this lot do ot
C. P. J. GRAVIER.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.