Improvements in Ball Bearings and in Means for Fitting same up.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July., 1897--Accepted, 14th Aug.,
1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ball Bearings and in Means for Fitting same up.
I, ALEXANDER STEPHANOVICH LAVROFF, Retired General of Russian Artillery, of
Gatschina, St. Petersburg, in the Empire of Russia, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
-
In ball bearings at present employed a horizontal shaft, or (if the shaft is a
long one), each end thereof is usually carried on two series of balls running on
conical or curved surfaces or in grooves. In the case of vertical shafts the whole
of the pressure is generally taken by a single series of balls.
If, therefore, the pressure exerted by the shaft on the bearing exceed a certain
limit, deformation or injury to the balls or the surfaces on which they run ensues.
It has hitherto been difficult in practice to rest the shaft on a larger number of
series of balls because, in consequence of slight unavoidable variations in the
dimensions-of-the parts of the ball bearings, the shaft usually rests only on two
series of balls if in a horizontal, and on one series if the shaft is in a vertical
position.
According to the present invention each series of balls is carried in a separate
ring or race independent of the other rings or races and the pressure is communi-
cated to the entire series of rings or races by means of an elastic body as for
example a layer of indiarubber, metallic springs or any suitable elastic substance.
This arrangement equalizes any irregularities in the construction of the bearing.
The pressure is conveyed almost uniformly to the whole of the series of balls
and the bearing is thus self regulating. The arrangement enables balls to be
used under high speeds equally well.
To clearly explain the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings
in which-
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a railway vehicle axle the upper half of the
section having a different construction to the lower half.
Fig. 2 is a section on line A B Figure 1.
Fig. 3 is a section on line C D Figure 1.
Fig. 4 is detail view shewing the balls and races.
Fig. 5 is a similar view shewing another arrangement.
Figs. 6 and 7 are elevations of devices employed in fitting up the bearing.
Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation shewing the arrangement applied to a vertical
shaft.
Fig. 9 is an elevation of a horizontal shaft shewing a different arrangement of
race, and
Fig. 10 is a section through same.
n, Figs. 1, 2, 3, is the journal provided with a case hardened surface or sur-
rounded by a hardened steel sleeve capable of rotating freely on the journal.
This sleeve b is free on the journal a in order that in the event of a ball bursting,
injury to the whole of the bearing by the resulting heavy friction may be obviated,
as the sleeve will turn freely on the axle a, the subsequent overheating of the
Di Q77

page_text: axle box drawing attention to the accident. care separate steel rings or races
hardened on the inside, in the grooves of which the balls run; d is the indiarubber
plate or other elastic body.
2
The upper half of the sections Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show a form of construction in
which any lateral movement of the axle can be taken up by a solid bearing of
bronze or suitable bearing metal or by a block of cast iron or steel lined with
white metal or some similar alloy. The bearing dis held in a recess e of the
upper part of the axle box and can be pressed as desired against the collar f of
the axle, by means of a spiral spring controlled by a screw g which passes through
the plate covering the recess e. The lower part of the axle box in this form
has no bearing and serves as a receptacle for the lubricant the level of which
touches the lower part of the sleeve b and covers the lower balls of the series.
Consequently the oil is distributed as the balls rotate, thus ensuring a plentiful
lubrication of all the parts. The lower part of the axle box also contains an
underlay or pad of cotton wool or other fibrous material, which lubricates the
collar from below.
The lower halves of the sections Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show a form of construction
wherein the lateral pressure of the axle is communicated to a series of balls i
carried in a separate steel ring 7 mounted loose on the end of the axle k. To
diminish the effect of lateral shock and preserve the entire mechanism from
injury it is advisable to introduce into the axle box an internal buffer, composed
of a disc m, a bolt n and an indiarubber ring o or a spring. The oil in this case
also is placed in the lower part of the axle box and lubricates the whole of the
series of balls as well as the balls i. The passage serves for the admission of
the fresh, and the passager for the removal of the used, lubricant."
~
The balls are arranged in the rings or races c preferably in the manner shown in
Fig. 1 and on a larger scale in Fig. 4. In the event however of the balls having
to be held more firmly the arrangement shewn in Fig. 5 may be employed, adjust-
ing screws or other suitable appliances being provided in the walls of the axle
box for adjusting the races c if desired. The number of rings or races and the
diameter of the balls depends on the amount of the pressure, as well as on various
other conditions under which the axle box has to work.
For filling the balls into the rings, placing the filled rings together, and sliding
the entire system of rings on to the axle or the like, the apparatus shown in
Fig. 6 is employed. This consists of a metal cylinder the end of which 1, takes
the form of a truncated cone the other end 2 fitting by means of a recess in it
over a projecting piece of a wooden or metal base 3. The diameter of this cylinder
is identical with that of the hardened sleeve b (Fig. 1).
Each ring or race to be filled with balls is placed in the position shewn in the
drawing and held there either by hand or by a light hinged clutch surrounding
the cylinder at about the line 4. 4 the balls can then be easily inserted in the
groove of the race. When the filling is completed the race is slid on to the
cylindrical part of the apparatus so that the balls are prevented from falling out.
The system of races when placed on the cylinder may be held in place by a
second small clutch at about the line 5. 5. and held together by a clamp.
In order to now transfer the entire system of races onto the axle the cylinder
carrying the races is placed with its end 2 on the collar of the axle f, or on the
end of the axle a (Fig. 1) and the whole system of races is then slid onto the
axle. By means of the same cylinder (Fig. 6) the races with the balls can be
easily removed from the axle in order that they may be tested, cleaned, or in case
of need, a race or several balls replaced by new ones. The placing of the steel
ring with the balls (Fig. 1) in position on the axle is performed in the same
manner. The cylinder (Fig. 7) on which the ring is placed for filling with balls
has the same diameter as the end k of the axle a (Fig. 1) and fits with its reduced
end 1 accurately into a recess at the end of the axle. In order that the balls
may be prevented from falling out of the ring whilst being slid on the end of
the axle they are held in position by some suitable means such as a light, hinged

page_text: cover or partition which is removed shortly before the ring arrives at its position
on the axle.
The same arrangement as described in the foregoing can be employed in the
case of any horizontal shaft, the layer of india rubber or other elastic body being
necessarily placed on the side from whence the pressure is exerted.
The method of using separate rings filled with balls, along with an elastic under-
lay in the case of heavy vertical shafts is shown in Fig. 8 in which 6 is a cast
iron base plate, 7 the elastic underlay, 8 a series of properly adjusted steel rings
or races containing balls, 9 a footstep with a hardened under surface which may
also be grooved; 10 the vertical shaft.
The number of rings or races is selected according to the pressure exerted by
the shaft. In cases where the construction or setting of a horizontal shaft does
not admit of the employment of whole steel rings or races filled with balls, the
rings or races can be made in halves in which event the halves must fit accurately
so that no slipping in the direction of the shaft can occur. To this end the one
half may be provided with two lateral projections uu (Fig. 9). In fitting the said
half rings or races they must, in correspondence with the direction of rotation of
the shaft be made to assume a somewhat askew position as is shewn on a larger
scale, for the sake of greater clearness in Fig. 10.
An adjustment of this kind is best ensured by means of screws or by means of
very thin strips of metal in the outer portion of the bearing. In this arrangement
the elastic bearings plates or sheets must be applied from above and below and
the exterior cast iron parts of the shaft box be drawn tightly together so that the
half rings cannot become separated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is:―
1. A ball bearing having the balls carried in single independently arranged
rings or races the pressure exerted on which is taken by an elastic body substan-
tially as and for the purpose described.
2. A ball bearing having the balls carried in half rings or races arranged
substantially as described the pressure on said rings or races being taken by an
elastic body.
3. In fitting up ball bearings, having the balls carried in single independently
arranged rings or races an arrangement consisting of a cylinder or like body on
which the race is held while being filled, or after removal and adapted to retain
same substantially as described.
4. The constructions and arrangements of bearing substantially as described
and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
5. The construction and arrangement of bearing substantially as described and
illustrated in Fig. 8.
6. The construction and arrangement of bearing substantially as described and
illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10.
Dated the 12th day of July 1897