IMPROVEMENTS IN BALL CASTORS
Year: 1885

page_text: I JOHN BERNARD OLIVE of the firm of Hickman and Clive of William Street
North Birmingham in the County of Warwick Manufacturers do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BALL CASTORS" to be as
follows:-
My invention consists of the improvements in ball castors hereinafter described
whereby their manufacture is simplified and their action improved.
My improvements are applicable both to socket castors and plate castors.
I will describe my improvements in connection with a socket castor. I form
the socket of the castor by the process of casting the said socket having a slightly
conical figure. The socket is divided into two compartments by a diaphragm at
right angles to its axis situated a little below its middle. The upper compartment
constitutes the socket proper in which the leg of the table or other article fits and
the lower compartment constitutes the chamber in which the ball is situated and
works. The diaphragm has a central opening. In the lower compartment or ball
chamber a washer or perforated disk of sheet steel is placed and the ball being
introduced into the said chamber its open end or mouth is turned or cupped
inwards and the said mouth of the ball chamber so contracted that the ball is
prevented from falling out of the chamber. This contracting or cupping inwards
of the mouth of the ball chamber may be effected in a lathe or otherwise.
The steel washer placed in the ball chamber has its central perforation inclined
the wider part being downwards. The ball bears and works against the said
inclined perforation and the bearing and rubbing surface is thus made very small.
In making plate castors according to my invention the upper part of the socket
proper is dispensed with and a plate or flange of the ordinary kind substituted.

page_text: I JOHN BERNARD CLIVE of the firm of Hickman and Clive of William Street
North, Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Manufacturers, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention consists of the improvements in ball castors hereinafter described
whereby their manufacture is simplified and their action improved.
My improvements are applicable both to socket castors and plate castors.
I will describe my improvements in connection with a socket castor. I form the
socket of the castor by the process of casting the said socket having a slightly
.conical figure. The socket is divided into two compartiments by a diaphragm at
right angles to its axis situated a little below its middle. The upper compartment
constitutes the socket proper in which the leg of the table or other article fits and
the lower compartment constitutes the chamber in which the ball is situated and
works. In the lower compartment or ball chamber a washer or perforated disc of
sheet steel is placed and the ball being introduced into the said chamber the open
end or mouth of the chamber is turned or cupped inwards and the said mouth of
the ball chamber so contracted that the ball is prevented from falling out of the
chamber. This contracting or cupping inwards of the mouth of the ball chamber
may be effected in a lathe or otherwise.
The steel washer placed in the ball chamber has its central perforation inclined,
the wider part being downwards. The ball bears and works against the Baid
inclined perforation and the bearing and rubbing surface is thus made very small.
In making plate castors according to my invention the upper part of the socket
or socket proper is dispensed with and a plate or flange of the ordinary kind
substituted.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation; Figure 2 in vertical section and Figure 3
in plan a socket ball castor made according to my invention; Figure 4 represents a
section of the socket or body of the castor without the ball and washer; Figure 5
represents the ball detached and Figure 6 represents the washer detached.
a is the slightly conical socket made by casting divided by the diaphragm b into
two compartments marked respectively c and d. In the upper compartment c the
leg of the table or article is fitted and in the lower compartment d the ball e
works; is the steel washer or perforated disc placed in the lower or ball
chamber d. It is preferred to make the central perforation in the steel washer
rounded or inclined at its lower edge.
In securing the ball e in the ball chamber d the steel washer f is first introduced
into the said chamber and afterwards the ball e. The open end or mouth d of the
said chamber d is then turned or cupped inwards in a lathe or press. The mouth
of the said chamber is by this means so contracted that the ball e is held securely
therein, while having freedom of motion in the said chamber as illustrated in the
section Figure 2. The ball e thus held in the chamber d bears and works against
the lower edge of the perforation in the washer f and the bearing and rubbing
surface is thus made very small.
5

page_text: Figure 7 represents in elevation and Figure in section a plate castor made
according to my invention; h is the chamber in which the ball e is situated and
works the said ball being held in the said chamber by the contracting of the
mouth has herein before described; i is the plate of the castor cast or made in
one piece with the ball chamber d and f is the steel ring or washer against the
edge of the perforation in which the ball e bears and works. In the plate i
countersunk holes are made for receiving the heads of the screws used for attaching
the castor to the leg of the table or other article; Figure 9 represents in elevation
and Figure 10 in section a plate castor in which a central wood screw k is employed
for fixing the castor in addition to screws passed through the plate i. The parts
of the plate castor Figures 9.and 10 are marked with the same letters of reference
as corresponding parts of the plate castor Figures 7 and 8.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that I claim as my
invention :-
First In a socket ball castor, the combination of the horizontally divided socket
or chambered body a, c, d with the perforated disc or washer f for the ball to work
against substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing.
Secondly In a plate ball castor the combination in the ball chamber, of the
perforated disc or washer f for the ball to work against substantially as herein
before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
Thirdly-Holding the ball in the ball chamber of socket and plate ball castors
by cupping or contracting inwards the mouth or open end of the said ball chamber
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing.
Dated this Twenty seventh dowent Now 1000