Year: 1888

page_text: I, HENRY LOFTUS MONRO GOODRIDGE of 80 Pattison Road Plumstead, Kent,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This apparatus is an improvement on the Ball Castors now in use inasmuch as in
this Ball Castor whilst the Ball is in action, the whole of the rollers upon which it
works are in action also, whereas in the Ball Castors now in use whilst the Ball is in
action no more than at most three or four of the rollers are at work whilst the
remainder if anything arrest the free movemen' of the ball.
This improvement is obtained as follows:
Within a circular frame, a plate is fitted fixed to which by pivot or swivel bearings
are three oblong frames triangularly situated, to these frames are fitted rollers with a
broad flat surface upon which the ball works the result of the duplex action of the
rollers working in frames which themselves work by pivot action is to produce the
maximum of freedom of action with the minimum of friction.
יזג
21
CM 1080

page_text: I HENRY LOFTUS MONRO GOODRIDGE of 80 Pattison Road, Plumstead, Kent,
Engineer, 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 apparatus is an improvement upon the ball castors now in use in Firstly :-
In this ball castor whilst the ball is in action all the rollers upon which it works
are in action also. In the Ball Castors now in uso whilst the Ball is in action
no more than three or four rollers are at work the rest if anything arrest the free
movements of the Ball. Secondly:-It can be made at a considerably smaller cost.
The improvements are obtained as follows:-
:-
Within a circular frame a plate is fitted; fixed to which by pivot or swivel bearings
are three oblong supports triangularly situated in these supports rollers with a broad
flat or hollow surface works, and upon them tho Ball itself works, the result of this
duplex action of the rollers working in supports which themselves work by pivot action
is to produce the maximum of freedom of action with a minimum of friction.
From the lower border of the frame in which the rollers work, three, or more horns
or prongs project, which being curved inwards at their end serve to hold the ball in
its place and by means of their elasticity enables the ball being taken out and put in
again when required.
The nature of my invention will be better understood by reference to the drawings
accompanying this specification. Similar letters of reference refer to corresponding
parts in the several figures in the drawings.
Figure one, is the castor in clovation.
Figure two is a sectional view in elevation of the Castor, showing the body of
Castor carrying the three swivel rollers, with the ball in position.
Figure 3. is a view in plan showing the three swivel rollers triangularly situated.
Figure 4 is front view of swivel roller and swivel roller bearer, showing pivot fixed
to plate.
Figure 5 is end view showing swivel roller bearer, roller and axle of roller.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the swivel roller bearers on pivots fixed to plato
or body of Castor, with the rollers on their bearers.
Figure 7. is plan of Castor reversed, showing the curved prongs and ball.
In figure 1. it will be observed that the Castor frame a is made with a socket a¹
which is constructed at its base of sufficient strength and thickness to allow the swivel
rollers to be attached to it as shown in figures 4. 5. or the rollers can be attached
with a plate g as in figures 2. 3. 6. It will be noticed that instead of the usual cup
for the ball which requires to be screwed or tinned to the body of the Castor; my
Castor has three or more prongs or horns c which are made in one piece with the
body of the Castor which prongs c being made to curve inwards and having an
elasticity or spring of their own allow the ball b to be forced in its place as in this and

page_text: in figure 2. It is obvious that the prongs c allow of an easy means of clearing any
dust or other matter that does more or less get into all castors therefore this arrange-
ment is decidedly an advantage over the ordinary cup. This castor can be made, without
the prongs e arrangement, but I give a preference to the prongs, as being much
simpler. The castor can be made with a plate, neck, or screw instead of the socket a¹
so as to adapt it to the different kinds of wood or iron furniture, or for machinery.
In the sectional view figure 2 the swivel roller bearers e rollers d and ball b. are
shown in their proper position as when in action. The swivel roller bearers e it will
be noticed in this figure and in figures 3. 6. are in a triangular position and turn on
pivot (see figures 3. 4).
In plan Figure 3 and in Figure 6 can best be seen the swivel rollers in position as
when in body of castor, it will be observed that the rollers d turn on axle h in
swivel roller bearers e which turn on pivot f thus enabling the rollers d and swivel
roller bearers e to present a full front to the ball. The rollers d are made with a hollow
or concave surface which are best seen in figures 4. 3. 6. but they can be made in
either a sphere or with a flat straight surface, but I give preference to the hollow
surface roller d. Also with the swivel roller bearer e, for all ordinary shaped ball
castors the form as in figures 2. 4. 5. 3. 6 will be a convenient and general shape for
manufacture, but its shapo may be adapted to the requirements of the design and shape
of the body of castor.
The working of the Castors is as follows Upon lateral pressure being applied to the
piece of furniture to which the castor is attached to move it in any desired direction
the resistance of the floor (or other body on which the castor rests) on the base of
the ball at i causes the rollers d with the bearers e to turn on pivot f. to the required
angle and immediately accommodate themselves to the convexity of the ball, the front
surface of each roller now being presented to the ball b. the pressure causes the ball
to revolve, the three rollers all turning with the ball, thus decreasing the friction to a
minimum whilst giving the ball the greatest possible freedom of action.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
:.
Firstly A Castor constructed, combined and arranged to operate substantially as
hereinbefore described, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
Secondly-The construction of a Castor wherein a ball revolves on oblong flat, or
hollow surface rollers upon swivel bearings triangularly fixed.
Dated this Eighth day of December, One thousand eight hundred and eighty