Improvements in Thrust or End Pressure Bearings.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 8th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 27th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Thrust or End Pressure Bearings.
I, WILLIAM SAMUEL SARGEANT, Electrical Launch Builder, of Strand on the
Green, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates more especially to what are known as thrust blocks for the
propeller shafts of launches and other vessels, actuated by electrical motors.
In such thrust blocks, as ordinarily applied to steam launches to take the end
thrust of the propeller shaft, it is usual to form or fix collars upon the shaft, which
collars work against the sides of ordinary plummer blocks or bearings, as where
steam power is used it is not usually practicable to take the thrust against the end of
the shaft itself.
Where however, electrical motors are used and the shaft is not formed with cranks
upon it, the thrust block can be advantageously applied to the end of the shaft.
To the forward bearing of the propeller shaft itself or of the electrical motor
which is connected with and drives the propeller shaft, I firmly fix or form, a bracket
or standard having a central cylindrical hole in a line with the shaft, and into this
hole I fit a cylindrical bar, preferably of steel the projecting ends of which are
screwed and fitted with nuts so that the exact position of the bar can be accurately
adjusted and the bar then firmly fixed. The bar has preferably a projecting pin or
key working in a longitudinal slot or groove in the hole so as to prevent the
possibility of its turning round, and the back projecting end of the bar is formed
into a conical point, preferably hardened, which is in exact line with the centre of
the shaft.
The end of the shaft has a corresponding conical recess formed in it, which fits
against and presses upon the conical point, and the latter then receives the end
thrust of the shaft with very little friction. I prefer to make in the end of the shaft
a slightly conical hole bored centrally for a sufficient distance into which hole is
fitted tightly a hardened steel plug the outer end of which has formed in it the
conical recess against which the conical point bears. At the bottom of the conical
hole or recess a cylindrical hole of small diameter is bored for a sufficient distance
so that the extreme end of the conical point is not worn, and the plug may have an
external flange or other equivalent device for facilitating its removal when required.
Proper provision is also made for oiling.
c
9
My invention is applicable to electric motors or other cases in which it is
required to resist the end thrust of a revolving shaft, and by its use: very
little friction or wear is caused, and it is cheap, easily made and adjusted and
durable.
DL: 71 1
"
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Thrust or End Pressure Bearings.
55
I, WILLIAM SAMUEL SARGEANT, Electrical Launch Builder, of Strand on the
Green, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
5 and the manner in which the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement and accompanying drawing, that is
to say :-
My invention relates more especially to what are known as thrust blocks for the
propeller shafts of launches and other vessels, actuated by electrical motors.

page_text: In such thrust blocks, as ordinarily applied to steam launches to take the end
thrust of the propeller shaft, it is usual to form or fix collars upon the shaft, which
collars work against the side of ordinary plummer blocks or bearings, as where
steam power is used it is not usually practicable to take the thrust against the end
of the shaft itself. Where however electrical motors are used and the shaft is not
therefore formed with cranks upon it, the thrust block can be advantageously applied
to the end of the shaft.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention.
To the bearing b (Figure 1) of the shaft a of the electrical motor which is
connected to and drives the propeller shaft, I firmly fix or form a bracket or
standard e having a central cylindrical hole in a line with the shaft, and into this
hole I fit a cylindrical bar d, preferably of steel, the projecting ends of which are
screwed and fitted with nuts so that the exact position of the bar d in the bracket c
can be accurately adjusted and the bar then firmly fixed. The bar d has preferably
a projecting pin or key (not shewn in the figure) working in a longitudinal slot or
groove in the hole so as to prevent the possibility of its turning round, and the back
projecting end of the bar is formed into a conical point f, preferably hardened,
which is in exact line with the centre of the shaft a.
The end of the shaft a has a corresponding conical recess formed in it, which fits
against and presses upon the conical point, and the latter then receives the end
thrust of the shaft with very little friction. I prefer to make upon the end of the
shaft a a slightly conical hole g bored centrally for a sufficient distance, into which
hole is fitted tightly a hardened steel plug h the outer end of which has formed in
it the conical recess against which the conical point bears.
At the bottom of the conical hole or recess a cylindrical hole i of small diameter
is bored for a sufficient distance so that the extreme end of the conical point f is not
worn, and the plug h may have an external flange or other equivalent device
for facilitating its removal when required. Proper provision is also made for
oiling.
Figure 2 shews a slightly modified form of my improved bearing. a is the shaft
revolving in the bearing b and having a conical hole g, into which the hardened
central plug h is driven.
The outer end of the plug h is flattened, and its thrust is taken by the flat end of
the screw d, preferably with the intervention of a sufficient number of flat or slightly
convex hardened steel disks k, which are kept in position by the hollow guide 1,
preferably of gunmetal fitted in the cap m which is screwed upon the bearing b, and
in which the screw d is fitted and fixed by the lock nut n.
The plug h and discs k are kept lubricated by a suitable lubricator, which supplies
oil to the space in which they work.
My invention is applicable to electric motors or other cases in which it is required
to resist the end thrust of a revolving shaft, and by its use very little friction or wear
is caused, and it is cheap, easily made and adjusted, and durable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of the shaft a, bracket c, adjustable bar d and nuts e, e, and
hardened conical point f, or discs k, substantially as described and illustrated.
2. The combination with the shaft a, of the separate hard plug h, substantially as
described and shewn in the figures.
Dated this 8th day of April 1891.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.