Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1887
Complete Left, 16th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 4th May, 1888
We THOMAS TURNER MERCER and THOMAS WOOLFALL both of the Cherry Tree
Machine Company, Cherry Tree, near Blackburn, Machine Makers, do hereby declare
the nature of our invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to produce a bearing for the above-mentioned
purposes in which the friction is considerably reduced and whereby the axles run
inore smoothly and easily and greater durability is obtained seeing that the wearing
surfaces are capable of renewal at small cost.
In performing our invention say as applied to washing wringing and mangling
machines instead of the axle resting upon a channel or groove formed in the brass or
other step, we support the same in the case of the bottom roller axle upon the
periphery of a ring which is itself supported upon a stud projecting horizontally from
one side of a cylindrical recess formed in a by preference cast iron box fitting into
the side frame of the machine and between this stud and the ring (and completely
surrounding the latter) are introduced a series of rollers which fill up the intervening
spaces and thus constitute a multiple rolling surface-the ring itself being capable of
revolving whilst the intermediate rollers are brought up successively to receive the
weight of the main roller. A slot formed in the upper part of the same box serves
to keep the roller axle in position over the ring and to prevent the same rolling off
sideways in either direction.
In the axle of the upper roller the box containing the bearing is simply reversed.
In some cases we construct a cast iron boss to surround and revolve with the axle
in which case it may either be keyed upon the axle or form one piece with the star
wheel or other gearing employed and to reduce the friction to the desired minimum
we form one or more annular grooves around the periphery of the boss in which a
series of hard metal or other suitable balls are introduced and which bear against a
cylindrical surface or recess formed in the cast iron supporting box.

page_text: A modification of these improvements is also applicable to the driving motion for
wringing and mangling machines for which Letters Patent No. 6447 were applied for
by us on the 3rd day of May 1887 and consists in introducing a series of friction rollers
between the eccentric and the internal pinion described in the Specification of the
said invention, these rollers being kept at a regular distance apart by their axes being
mounted in rings working in a recess formed on each side of the internal pinion and
which rings are themselves compelled to turn together simultaneously by being
rivetted to opposite extremities of cross studs situated between the said rollers. It
will be apparent that this improved bearing is applicable to the axes of other
machinery.
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1094

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Bearings of Washing, Wringing, and
Mangling Machines, also Applicable to the Bearings of other
Machinery.
We THOMAS TURNER MERCER and THOMAS WOOLFALL both of the Cherry Tree
Machine Company, Cherry Tree, near Blackburn, Machine Makers, do hereby declare
the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to produce a bearing for the above mentioned
purposes in which the friction is considerably reduced and whereby the axles run
more smoothly and easily and greater durability is obtained seeing that the wearing
surfaces are capable of renewal at small cost.
On the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a front exterior view Fig. 2 a front
internal view and Fig. 3 a transverse section of an axle box forming one of our
improved bearings for the rollers of wringing and mangling machines.
Instead of the axle a say of the bottom roller being mounted in a channel or groove
formed in the brass or other step we support such axle upon the periphery of a steel
or iron ring b (although other suitable metal might be substituted) which ring is
itself supported upon a stud c projecting horizontally from one side of a cylindrical
recess d formed in the cast iron axle box e which fits into the usual opening in the
side frame of the machine.
Between the stud c and the ring b (and completely surrounding the latter) are
introduced a series of steel or other hard metal rollersff which fill up the intervening
spaces and thus constitute a multiple rolling surface the ring b itself being capable of
revolving whilst the intervening friction rollers are brought up successively to receive
the weight of the roller axle a.
A slot g is formed in the upper part of the box e to keep the roller axle a in position
over the ring b and to prevent the same rolling off sideways in either direction.
This improved axle box is enclosed at one side as seen more clearly in Fig. 3
by a covering plate h secured in position by set screws h¹ or in any other convenient
manner.
In the case of the upper roller the same axle box is used as illustrated in
Figs. 1. 2 and 3 but is simply reversed in position in the side frame of the machine
so as to be above instead of below the axle.
In Figs. 4 and 5 we represent a front view and side sectional view respectively of
a modification of our improved axle box consisting of a cast iron boss i surrounding
the axle j and either keyed upon such axle as illustrated or formed in one piece with
the star wheel or other gearing employed. And to reduce the friction to the desired
minimum we form one or more annular grooves K around the periphery of the boss i
in which a series of steel or other hard metal balls are introduced and which bear
against a cylindrical surface or recess m formed in the axle box o.

page_text: A further modification shewing the application of our improvements to that
description of driving motion for wringing and mangling machines for which Letters
Patent No. 6447 were granted to us on the 3rd day of May 1887 is illustrated by
front sectional view in Fig. 6 and by sectional plan view in Fig. 7.
This arrangement consists in introducing a series of friction rollers p. p.
between
the eccentric and the internal pinion of the driving motion described in the
specification of our former Patent. These rollers p. p. are kept at a regular distance
apart by their extremities or axes being mounted between a pair of rings S. S.
working in recesses formed in each side of the internal pinion and which rings are
themselves compelled to turn together simultaneously by being riveted to opposite
extremities of cross studs t situated between the rollers p. p.
Although only herein before described as applied to the axles of wringing
and mangling machines it will be obvious that our improved bearings are
equaly useful for supporting and reducing the friction in the axes of other classes
of machinery.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what wo
claim is :-
1st. The improved arrangment and construction of axle boxes substantially as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated on the accompanying
drawing.
2nd. In the bearing or axle boxes of wringing and mangling and other similar
machines the employment of a ring in combination with a series of rollers surrounding
a fixed stud or axis all mounted and operating substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described and illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
3rd. The improved axle boxes substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawing.
4th. The improvements in the driving motion of wringing and mangling machines
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 of the
accompanying drawing.
Dated this 1541, d. of Man 1000
JOHN G. WILSON,
Patent Office,
55, Market Street, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicants.