IMPROVEMENTS IN BEARINGS OR AXLE BOXES FOR SHAFTING AND AXLES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL of N° 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BEARINGS OR AXLE BOXES FOR
SHAFTING AND AXLES" 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 an improved construction of bearings for shafting and
axles whereby the shaft is automatically lubricated, and waste of oil is prevented,
provision being made for indicating the amount of oil in the bearing without
opening the same, while at the same time the oil and bearing surfaces are effectually
protected..
For this purpose the bearing or axle box is constructed as I will proceed to
describe with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Fig. 1 shews a side view of the bearing or axle box, partly in section. Fig. 2 a
plan with the cover and shaft removed. Fig. 3 a cross section, shewing the
arrangement for lubricating and the oil level indicator. Figs. 4 and 5 shew two
views of the spring wire collar opened out. Fig. 6 shews a front view of the same
when closed up, and Fig. 7 shews a section of the same.
Within the outer casing A is supported on trunnions B B the bearing C for the
shaft D, the casing and bearing being enclosed at top by one and the same cover E,
between' which and the casing a layer of suitable packing material F is placed, so
that the cover can be fixed oil tight on to the casing by the screws G. The casing 'A
forms the oil reservoir for the bearing C and has a well A¹ in which any dirt may
deposit, and which contains a float indicator J having a rod J passing up through
a hole in the cover, so as to indicate the level of oil in the reservoir; from the
bottom of the latter project upwards into apertures in the bearing C two wick
holders H H containing wicks II of suitable capillary material for conveying the
oil up to the bearing. At each end of the bearing C a collar D¹ is fixed on the
shaft and beyond these there are fitted thereon spring wire collars K K, that
[Price 4d1

page_text: serve to arrest any oil that may creep along the shaft and prevent it from escaping
through the ends of the casing A, by throwing it against the sides of the casing
whence it drops down into the reservoir again. These spring collars are formed of
helical wire springs that may be of circular cross section, but are by preference of
flattened form as shewn at Figs. 4 to 7 so as to afford a greater surface for contact
with the shaft; they are bent into circular shape with the one end fitting into the
other, so as to fit tightly round the shaft and revolve therewith. The large surface
presented by these wire collars enables them effectually. to catch any oil creeping
along the shaft and to throw it by centrifugal force against the sides; the cover E
is provided with lips E' projecting down on each side of the collars K into the.
casing so that the oil thrown off by the collars will be. caught by them, and thus
be prevented from leaking out through the joint between the cover and casing.
It will be seen that the above described spring wire collars are much more
advantageous than collars of felt or leather, inasmuch as they can be readily and
cheaply made of a piece of of helically coiled wire and be caused to fit the shaft
tightly so as to revolve with the same and intercept the oil, while at the same
time they are very durable and can be readily removed and replaced.
The bearing C, being mounted on trunnions, can readily adjust itself to the
position of the shaft.
Having now particularly described and ascertained 'the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
:
1. The use in combination with bearings or axle boxes for shafts or axles, of
collars formed of helically wound wire, that are made to fit tightly upon the shaft
so as to intercept any oil creeping along the latter and throw it off by centrifugal
action substantially as herein described.
2. Constructing the spring wire collars referred to in the preceding claim of a
flattened shape substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 4 to 7 of
the drawings, whereby they are brought into greater contact with the shaft.
3. In a bearing or axle box having spring wire collars embracing the shaft such
as are referred to in the preceding claim, constructing the cover with lips such as E¹.
for catching the oil thrown off by the collar substantially as herein described.
4. In combination with, the casing or reservoir. A and bearing C, the <wick
holders H formed in the reservoir and containing capillary wicks for conveying the
oil to the bearing substantially as herein described.
5. In combination with the casing A and bearing C mounted on trunnions
therein, the cover E formed so as to enclose both the casing and the bearing,
substantially as herein described..
6. In combination with the casing A, bearing C and cover E, the float J with
rod J passing through a hole in the cover so as to indicate the level of the oil in
the reservoir.

page_text: FIG.4.
FIG. 5.
K