Improvements in or relating to Bearings for Marine Propeller Shafts
Year: 1899

page_text: rinted as amended in accordance with the decision of the Comptroller General
dated the 5th day of October 1901.
Date of Application, 17th Mar 1800
*Complete Specification Left, 1st Dec., 1899-Accepted, 17th Mar., 1900
*Complete Specification Left, 1st Dec., 1899-Accepted, 17th Mar., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
"Improvements in or relating to Bearings for Marine Propeller
Shafts".
I, WILLIAM HAMILTON WRIGHT, of Bridgeburg, Ontario, in the Dominion of
Canada, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of roller bearings
applicable first to the thrust bearing of a marine propeller shaft and secondly
to the stern post bearing for the same.
In carrying out the first part of the invention the bearing is enclosed in a casing
secured in a suitable manner to the thrust block casting. Internally the casing
is cylindrical in shape and is screw-threaded at each end, leaving a central
unthreaded portion.
Secured on to the propeller shaft so as to be central within the casing, is a
disc, provided with an annular recess ou either side, occupying the greater
portion of its surface, each recess forming the inner wall of a roller race.
The outer walls of these races are formed by similar recesses in the inner faces
of two peripherally threaded discs, screwed one into each end of the casing, the
discs being provided with central holes so as to be quite clear of the propeller
shaft. Or these discs may be formed without recesses.
The rollers are tapered, and have a bearing on the race walls throughout their
whole length, the recesses in or surfaces of the discs being so shaped as to corre-
spond with the degree of taper in the rollers and to hold the axis of each roller
at right angles to the axis of the shaft.
It is evident that the threaded discs screwed within the casing can be adjusted
to take up wear and give the proper dimensions to the roller races: they are
locked in position by nuts or rings screwed within the casing, a washer feathered
to prevent its rotation being interposed between the disc and its locking ring.
A suitable washer or washers may be provided outside each locking ring to
retain lubricant within and exclude dirt from the bearing, these being held in
position by end caps.
Suitable means are provided for supplying the bearing with lubricant.
In carrying out the second portion of the invention, the end bearing is provided
with a cylindrical casing, accurately but adjustably fitted in the stern post of the
vessel, and divided internally into two parts by a division plate, the one or outer
portion forming the bearing proper, the other or inner portion constituting a
packing chamber, being filled with suitable packing, secured in place by a cap
screwed into the end of the casing.

page_text: Fixed on to the shaft within the outer portion of the casing is a sleeve formed
with an annular recess, comprising the greater part of its surface, and forming
the inner wall of a roller race.
;
The outer wall of the race is formed by the inner surface of the casing, which
is suitably tapered for the purpose:
The rollers are long, formed with a.slight taper and having a bearing through-
out their entire length with the wall of the race, the recess on the sleeve and the
tapered portion of the casing being shaped to correspond with the degree of
taper of the rollers, and at the same time hold them in such a position that their
central axes are at a slight angle, say one or two degrees, to the axis of the
shaft.
The outer end of the casing may be provided with a washer and retaining cap
to keep out mud, etc.,
The inner end of the casing is provided with an external screw-thread, and an
adjusting nut, which faces against a fixed portion of the vessel's fabric, per-
mitting the position of the casing within the stern post, and therefore of the outer
wall of the roller race, to be shifted to take up wear or properly adjust the bear-
ing surfaces to the rollers. The adjusting nut may be locked by a second nut and
a feathered washer.
In each form of bearing the rollers are free both to revolve on their own axes
and to travel in the race.. Preferably they are provided with a central pin or
projection at each end, and these engage with retaining rings or flanges which
hold the rollers in position within the recess of the central disc or of the sleeve
respectively when the bearing is being put together or taken apart.
WILLIAM HAMILTON WRIGHT,
Boult & Wade
Agents for the Applicant.
WILLIAM HAMILTON WRIGHT,
Boult & Wade
Agents for the Applicant.
ww
"Improvements in or relating to Bearings for Marine Propeller
Shafts".
I, WILLIAM HAMILTON WRIGHT of Bridgeburg, Ontario, in the Dominion of
Canada, Manufacturer, 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 invention relates to improvements in the construction of roller bearings
applicable first to the thrust bearing of a marine propeller shaft and secondly
to the stern post bearing for the same.
In carrying out the first part of the invention the bearing is enclosed in a
casing secured in a suitable manner to the thrust block casting. Internally the
casing is cylindrical in shape and is screw-threaded at each end, leaving a central
unthreaded portion.
Secured on to the propeller shaft so as to be central within the casing, is a
disc or collar provided with an annular recess on either side, occupying the
greater portion of its surface, each recess forming the inner wall or bearing face
of a roller race.
The outer bearing faces of these races are formed by similar recesses in the
inner faces of two peripherally threaded discs, screwed one into each end of the
casing, the discs being provided with central holes so as to be quite clear of the
propeller shaft, or these discs may be formed without recesses.
The rollers are tapered, and have a bearing on the race walls throughout their

page_text: whole length, the recesses in, or surface of, the discs being so shaped as to
correspond with the degree of taper in the rollers and to hold the axis of each
roller at or approximately at right angles to the axis of the shaft.
It is evident that the threaded discs screwed within the casing can be adjusted
to take up wear and give the proper dimensions to the roller races; they are.
locked in position by rings screwed within the casing, a washer feathered to
prevent its rotation being interposed between each disc and its locking ring.
A suitable washer or washers may be provided outside each locking ring to
retain lubricant within and exclude dirt from the bearing, these being held in
position by end caps. ·
Suitable means are provided for supplying the bearing with lubricants.
In carrying out the second portion of the invention, the stern tube bearing
is provided with a cylindrical casing, accurately but adjustably fitted in the
fabric oi the vessel, and divided internally into two parts by a division plate, the
one or outer portion forming the bearing proper, the other or inner portion con-
stituting a packing chamber, being filled with suitable packing secured in place
by a cap screwed into the end of the casing.
Fixed on to the shaft within the outer portion of the casing is a sleeve formed
with an annular recess, comprising the greater part of its surface, and forming
the inner wall or bearing face of a roller race.
The outer wall of the race is formed by the inner surface of the casing, which
is suitably tapered for the purpose.
The rollers are long, formed with a slight taper and have a bearing throughout
their entire length with the walls of the race, the recess on the sleeve and the
tapered portion of the casing being shaped to correspond with the degree of taper
of the rollers, and at the same time hold them in such a position that their
central axes are at a slight angle, say one or two degrees, to the axis of the
shaft.
The outer end of the casing may be provided with washer and retaining cap
to keep out mud, etc.
The inner end of the casing is provided with an external screw-thread, and an
adjusting nut, which faces against a fixed portion of the vessel's fabric, per-
mitting the position of the casing within the stern post, and therefore of the
outer wall of the roller race, to be shifted to take up wear or properly adjust
the bearing surfaces to the rollers. The adjusting nut may be locked by a
second nut and a feathered washer.
In each form of bearing the rollers are free both to revolve on their own axes
and to travel in the race. Preferably they are provided with a central pin or
projection at each end, and these engage with retaining rings or flanges which
hold the rollers in position within the recess of the central disc or of the sleeve
respectively when the bearing is being put together or taken apart.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a side view, mainly in central longitudinal section but partly in
elevation, of a thrust bearing constructed according to this invention.
Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 1 showing an alternative position of the
rollers relative to the axis of the shaft.
Figure 4 is a central longitudinal section with the shaft and rollers in eleva-
tion, of a stern tube bearing constructed according to this invention.
Like letters indicate like parts in the figures.
Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the shaft A is enclosed in a casing B.
Externally the casing may be of any suitable shape to enable it to be firmly
secured to the thrust block casting say by bolts passing through a heavy base
plate B. Conveniently it is strengthened on each side by luge B2 to carry
stay rods B³, and a hinged door B may be provided giving access to the central
portion of the bearing. A lubricator B³ may also be provided. Internally it is
cylindrical in shape and provided with a threaded portion B6 at each end.

page_text: The central portion of the shaft within the casing is enlarged and screw
threaded as shown at A¹ to receive a dise C which may be further secured by a
key A. Each face of the disc has an annular recess C C³, the bottoms of which
slope at an angle, relative to the axis of the shaft, corresponding to the degree
of taper of the rollers D), which enter the recesses and with the bottoms of which
they are in continuous line contact, the central axis of the rollers being at right
angles to the axis of the shaft.
The bottom of each of the recesses C1 C2 of the disc C thus form the inner
bearing surface or wall of a roller race, the outer walls are formed by inclined
surfaces E E³ on the inner faces respectively of two peripherally threaded discs
or rings E E', screwed into the portions B6 of the casing B. The surfaces E³ E³
are shaped to correspond with the degree of taper of the rollers D, and as is
evident they can be adjusted within the casing B to take the requisite position
to form true bearing surfaces for the series of rollers. They are locked in position
by the peripherally threaded locking rings FF, washers G G¹, provided with
feathers G engaging in slots G³ in the casing to prevent their rotation, being
interposed between the discs and their locking rings.
The discs EE, washers G G¹ and rings FF have central holes making them
quite free of the shaft A, and to retain lubricant within the bearing and to
exclude dirt packing H of suitable character is provided at each end, held in
place by caps I I¹ screwed into the ends of the casing.
Each end of the rollers D is provided with a central pin or projection D¹ D³
which engages with retaining flanges D3 D4 removably secured on the shaft A
and the periphery of the dise C respectively so that the rollers are held within
the recesses when the discs EE are not in position: these flanges how-
ever have no working contact with the roller pins when all parts of the bearing
are in position their object being merely to facilitate the putting together and
taking apart of the bearing.
Referring to Figure 3 the bearing is similar in construction to that above
described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 with the exception of the bearing
surfaces, and consequently of the angles formed by the axes and surfaces of the
rollers with the axis of the shaft. The inner faces of the discs E E' are formed
with a plane surface at right angles with the axis of the shaft; the bottoms of
the recesses C¹ C2 of the disc C being shaped with an equivalent steeper incline,
so that the axes of the rollers are removed several degrees from a right angle
relative to the shaft axis.
With this construction if the shaft should sink owing to undue wear of its
other bearings the consequent lowering of the disc C and the rollers held in its
recesses relative to the discs E E¹ would not disturb the adjustment of the
bearing.
Referring to Figure 4 K is a cylindrical casing fitting movably but accurately
in the stern post or other portion of the vessel's fabric through which the
shaft A passes to enter the water.
The casing K is divided into two portions or chambers K' K2 by a division
plate K³, secured by countersunk screws or other convenient means within the
same. K is a packing chamber filled with any suitable packing held in place
by the cap K screwed into the inner end of the casing. The outer portion or
chamber K contains the bearing proper, conprising a series of slightly tapered
rollers L held within a race so that their central axes are at an angle of about one
or two degrees to the axis of the shaft A.
The inner wall of the race is formed by the bottom surface of an annular
recess formed in a sleeve M, and shaped to correspond with the degree of
taper of the rollers L with which it is in continuous line contact.
The sleeve M
The rollers L are provided, as in the thrust bearing previously described, with
pins or projections L L engaging the flanges of rings L3 L secured, preferably
by frictional contact, on each end of the sleeve M, the rollers being thus retained
is keyed or otherwise secured on to the shaft A.

page_text: in connection with the sleeve M when the casing is removed. The wall of the
portion K of the casing is given a tapered surface K³, to form the outer wall
of the roller race, the taper corresponding with the degree of taper of the
rollers L.
The end of the portion K' is closed by a cap K6 within which a leather or like
packing K8 is held by a washer K', so as to exclude mud or sand from the
bearing surfaces.
The inner end of the casing K is screw-threaded externally, and provided with
an adjusting nut K9 the face of which bears against the stern post or other
fixed portion of the vessel's fabric. By screwing the nut K the casing K
will be drawn back longitudinally thus providing for the adjustment of the
tapered portion K³ forming the outer bearing surface of the roller race, relative
to the rollers L.
A feathered washer K and nut K" provide for the locking of the adjusting
nut K⁹ when set in position. Means may also be provided for securing the
adjusting nut or the casing to the vessel's fabric when set in position, to prevent
the possibility of the casing being accidentally driven inwards or revolved.
In both forms of bearing herein before described the rollers are in full series,
that is to say the race is filled with rollers, space only, being left between the
rollers to prevent frictional contact or binding when in motion, as shown with
reference to the thrust bearing in dotted lines in Figure 2; the degree of taper
of each roller is such that when in position in the bearing their planes radiate
from a common central point, that is to say, if their tapered surfaces were
continued to form true cones, the apices of all the cones would meet at a common
central point. They also have a free way in the race, and are in continuous line
contact with the bearing surfaces or walls of the race. The device for retaining
them in contact with one wall of the race when the other wall is removed is not
in contact with the rollers when the bearing is complete, so that the retaining
device is a frictionless one.
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. In a thrust bearing for a propeller shaft the combination with a disc secured
on the shaft and having an annular race bearing surface on each face and two
adjustable discs secured in the casing one face of each adjustable disc forming
one of the outer bearing surfaces of the said races of two series of tapered
rollers substantially as described.
2. A thrust-bearing-having-two-series-of-rollers-to-take-the-thrust-one-in-ench
direction.
3. In-a-thrast-bearing-the--combination-with-two-series-of-rollers-of-a-dise-or
collar-rotating between-them-with-the-shaft.
4. In-a thrust bearing-the-combination-with-two-outer-adjustable races such as
E-E-and-two-series-of-rollers-sach-as-D-of-a-dise-or-collar-such-as-C-secured-upon
the shaft and-rotating therewith between the two-series-of-rollers.
2. 5. A thrust bearing for a propeller shaft comprising a casing B a central
disc C secured on the shaft two adjustable discs E El secured in the casing
washers G G locking rings F F end caps II packing H two full series of
tapered rollers 1) and retaining flanges D3 D substantially as described.
3. 4. The complete thrust bearing substantially as described or illustrated
in Figures 1 and 2 or in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In a stern tube bearing for a propeller shaft the combination with a
series of tapered rollers, of a sleeve secured on the shaft and forming one bearing
surface for the rollers and an adjustable casing forming the other bearing surface
substantially as described.
5. §. In a stern tube bearing for a propeller shaft the combination with
tapered rollers of a casing comprising a bearing chamber and a packing chamber

page_text: and adjustable longitudinally relative to the rollers substantially as and for the
purpose described.
6.0. A stern tube bearing for a propeller shaft comprising a sleeve secured
on the shaft a full series of tapered rollers L retaining flanges L³ L' and a
casing having a tapered bearing surface K5 a packing portion K³ adjusting and
lock-nuts K K and end caps K* K6 substantially as described.
7. 10. The complete stern tube bearing substantially as described or
illustrated in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 30th day of November, 1899
BOULT & WADE
Agents for the Applicant.