Improvements in Bearings for Pulleys, Wheels, or Rollers used for Sashes, Sliding Doors, and Blooks for Lifting Tackle.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 13th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 18th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bearings for Pulleys, Wheels, or Rollers used for
Sashes, Sliding Doors, and Blooks for Lifting Tackle.
We, HAROLD HOLCROFT, Ironfounder, and ALFRED HILL MOULD, Manager
of Iron Foundry, both of Ettingshall Foundry, Wolverhampton in the County of
Stafford, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to apply to the bearings of wheels or rollers
used for sashes, sliding doors and blooks for lifting tackle, the principle of a rolling
instead of a rubbing friction.
The above object is carried out, according to this invention, by inserting a
number of metal balls or small rollers between the axle and bearings in the case of
a pulley, wheel, or roller, which is fixed on or formed with the axle, or between the
pulley, wheel, or roller, and the axle, in the case of a fixed axle on which such
pulley, wheel, or roller turns.
In the case of an axle on which the pulley, wheel, or roller, is fixed, or with
which it is formed, a number of metal balls or small rollers are inserted within a
circular cavity or opening formed in each inner face of the frame to receive the
corresponding end of the axle and such balls or small rollers. A. groove, within
which the balls or small rollers roll, is formed either around each end of the axle
or in the circular wall or inner periphery of each cavity or opening, and the balls or
small rollers being partially within such groove are kept in place as they roll,
or the balls or small rollers may be kept in place sideways simply between the ends
of the cavities, and the sides of the pulley, wheel, or roller, the ends of the small
rollers being in such case preferably somewhat rounded to reduce sideway friction.
The cheeks of the frame may be formed separately from one another and be fixed
together when the balls or small rollers and pulley, wheel, or roller, are in position.
The cheeks may be formed separately from the front and be fixed on opposite
sides of lugs formed with the front. The portions of the cheeks which form the
outer walls of the cavities therein, may be solid right across and thus completely
close in the outer ends of the axle, or holes may be formed through such portions,
if desired, to lighten the castings.
In the case of a pulley, wheel, or roller, which turns on a fixed axle, the balls or
small rollers are inserted between the pulley, wheel, or roller, and the axle on
which it turns. When small rollers are employed they may be of the length of the
bearing, and be kept in place by the cheeks of the frame which carries the axle,
being preferably somewhat rounded at their ends to reduce friction against the
cheeks; but when balls are employed such are inserted within grooves formed
around the interior of the bearing. Two or more rows of balls may be employed,
if desired, a groove being formed for each row in the bearing, or the balls of each
row being divided from those of the next by a flange or web formed around the
interior of the bearing, in which latter case the balls of the outer rows, or the balls
of both rows if only two are used, are prevented from moving outwards by the
inner faces of the cheeks of the frame which carries the axle.
Dated this 15th day of Jul 1901
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: 17
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bearings for Pulleys, Wheels, or Rollers used for
Sashes, Sliding Doors, and Blocks for Lifting Tackle.
We, HAROLD HOLCROFT, Jronfounder, and ALFRED HILL MOULD, Manager
of Iron Foundry, both of Ettingshall Foundry, Wolverhampton in the County of
Stafford 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 has for its object to apply to the bearings of pulleys, wheels, or
rollers, used for sashes, sliding doors, and blocks for lifting tackle, the principle of
a rolling instead of a rubbing friction.
"
The above object is carried out, according to this invention, by inserting a
number of metal balls or small rollers between the axle and bearings in the case of
a pulley, wheel, or roller, which is fixed on or formed with the axle, or between
the pulley, wheel, or roller, and the axle, in the case of a fixed axle on which such
pulley, wheel, or roller turns.
'
In the case of an axle on which the pulley, wheel, or roller, is fixed, or with
which it is formed, a number of metal balls or small rollers are inserted within &
circular cavity or opening formed in each inner face of the frame in which the
pulley, wheel, or roller, is mounted, to receive the corresponding end of the axle
and also such balls or small rollers. A groove, within which the balls or small
rollers roll, is formed either around each end of the axle or in the circular wall or
inner periphery of each cavity or opening, and the balls or small rollers being
partially within such groove are kept in place as they roll; or the balls or small
rollers may be kept in place sideways simply between the ends of the cavities and
sides or other surfaces of the pulley, wheel, or roller, the ends of the small rollers
being in such case preferably somewhat rounded to reduce sideway friction. The
cheeks of the frame may be formed separately from one another and from the
front of the frame; and may be fixed, in the ordinary manner, on opposite sides of
lngs formed with the front, when the balls or small rollers and pulley, wheel, or.
roller, are in position. The portions of the cheeks which form the outer walls of
the cavities therein may be solid right across and thus completely close in the outer
ends of the axle; or holes may be formed through such portions, if desired, to
lighten the castings.
In the case of a pulley, wheel, or roller, which turns on a fixed axle, balls or
small rollers are inserted between the pulley, wheel, or roller, and the axle on
which it turns. When small rollers are employed they may be of the length of
the bearing, and be kept in place by the checks of the frame which carries the
axle, being preferably somewhat rounded at their ends to reduce friction against
the cheeks; but when balls are employed such may be inserted within a groove
formed around the interior of the bearing. Two or more rows of balls may be
employed, if desired, a groove or robate being formed in the bearing for each row;
and in such case the balls of one row may be divided from those of the next by a
plain circular flange or web formed around the interior of the bearing, the balls
of the outer rowe, or the balls of both rows if only two are used, being prevented
from moving outwards by the inner faces of the cheeks of the frame which carries
the axle.
T
We will now proceed to describe, with reference to the drawings herewith,
practical applications of the invention to various purposes for which it is
applicable.
Figures 1 to 9, inclusive, shew the invention applied, according to different
modifications, to sash nullevas

page_text: Figures 10, 11 and 12 shew its application to wheels or rollers for sliding
doors; and
Figure 13-shews its application to a pulley block.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate, respectively, in front elevation, side elevation, and
sectional view taken on line of Figure 2, un axle pulley for use with sashes
(that is to say, a sash pulley in which the pulley wheel D is formed with or fixed
to the axle C, so as to turn therewith) fitted with anti-friction balls according to
one modification of this invention. A circular cavity A is formed in the inner face
of cach cheek B, and each cavity is of such a diameter as to admit of the insertion
of a ring of anti-friction balls a between the journal at each end of the axle C and
the circular wall or bearing surface of each cavity. Each end or bearing of the
axle is formed with a groove c thercaround within which the balls a roll as the axle
revolves, and the balls are thus kept in position sideways in. relation to the axlc.
Apart from the provision for receiving the balls, there is nothing special in the
construction of the cheeks B. They are simply fixed together with the front E of
the frame in the ordinary manner, so as to enclose the pulley wheel D between
them, with the ends of the axle C, and the balla a, in position within the
cavities A.
Figure 4 is a corresponding view to Figure 3, and shews a modification differing
very slightly therefrom. In this modification the balls a run on plain cylindrical
portions c of the axle and are kept in place sideways between the ends of the
cavities A and shoulders k formed on the axle.
Figure 5 is a corresponding view to Figure 3, and illustrates a modification of an
axlo pulley in which a groove c' is formed in the circular wall or bearing surface of
each cavity A, instead of being formed in the journals of the axle C. In order to
avoid unnecessary width of the frame, the inner sides of the grooves c are made
to project from the inner faces of the cheeks B into the hollow sides of the pulley
whool D. In other respects this modification corresponds with that shewn by
Figures 1, 2 and 3.
Figure 6'is also a view corresponding to Figure 3, and illustrates a modification
shewing the application of this invention to an axle pulley in which parallel anti-
friction rollers a are used in lieu of the balls. In this modification the circular
walls of the cavities A project also within the hollow sides of the pulley wheel D, so
as to give a broad bearing surface for the rollers without increasing the width of
the frame. The rollers are kept in position endways between the web d which
connects the rim of the pulley with the axle C thereof, and the ends of the
cavities A; and the rollers are preferably somewhat cambered or rounded at their
ends to reduce sideway friction.
It will readily be seen that the rollers a might be carried in grooves formed in
the circular bearing surface of the cavities, similarly as the balls are carried in the
modification shewn by Figure 5, or in grooves formed in the journals of the axle,
similarly as the balls are shewn to be carried by Figure 3, and be thereby retained
in position sideways in relation to the frame or axle, as the case might be ; and
also that when balls are used, as in the modification illustrated by Figures 1 to 3
inclusive, the balls may be kept in position sideways between the web d of the
pulley wheel D and the ends of the cavities, as the rollers are shown to be by
Figure 6, in which case the frame might be considerably narrowed compared with
its width shewn by Figures, 3, 4 and 5.
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate, respectively, in side elevation, and sectional view
taken on line of Figure 7, à modification shewing the application of the
invention to a frame pulley for use with sashes, that is to a sash pulley in which
the pulley wheel turns upon a fixed axle. A ring of anti-friction halls a is inserted
between the bearing surface of the pulley wheel D.and the axle C. The balls bear
within a groove e formed in the pulley wheel, whereby they are maintained in
position sideways in relation to the wheel. In this modification the frame may, of
course, be cast in one piece as is usual in the case of frame pulleys.

page_text: Figure 9 is a corresponding view to Figure 8,.and illustrates a modification of a
frame pulley in which two rings of balls a are inserted between the bearing surface
of the pulley wheel and the axle. In this case the rings of balls are shewn to be
divided by means of a flange or web f formed within the pulley wheel. Any
number of rings of balls may, of course, be employed, each ring being divided from
the one next adjacent to it by means of a flange or webf; or the rings of balls may
be carried in grooves formed similarly to the groove shewn by Figure 8; and a single
ring of balls, such as shewn by Figure 8, may if desired be kept in position in
relation to the pulley wheel by means of a pair of flanges or webs such as the
flange or web f.
Anti-friction rollers may be employed in lieu of balls, for the purpose of
reducing the friction in frame pulleys, the application being in such case sub-
stantially the same as hereinafter described in relation to other articles having
wheels or pulleys running on fixed axles.
Figure 1 illustrates, to a reduced scale, the application of the invention to a
roller running on a bottom rail H for supporting a sliding door; and Figure 12
illustrates, also to a reduced scale, a roller running upon a top rail J for supporting
a sliding door suspended therefrom. In each case G is the boxing or frame
which is fixed direct to the door, and within which the roller D is mounted upon
a fixed axle C. A ring of anti-friction rollers a is in each case interposed
between the interior bearing surface of the roller and the surface of the axle C.
Figure 10 is a vertical section taken through the pulley D, rollers a, and
axle C, of Figure 11.
Figure 13 illustrates a pulley block, with three sheaves or pulleys D, to which
the invention is applied. The pulleys or sheaves are shewn in section. Anti-
friction rollers a are interposed between the interior bearing surfaces of the
pulleys D and the surface of the fixed axle or pin C around which the pulleys turn.
The anti-friction rollers extend in each case for the whole distance between the
inner faces of the two plates between which the corresponding pulley is placed,
but are of course an easy fit end ways between the plates.
In the case of the rollers for sliding doors, and the pulley blook, anti-friction
rollers only are shewn; but it will be obvious that anti-friction balls may be used,
if desired, in lieu of rollers, such as in the case of the suah pulleys illustrated by
Figures 7 and 8; and in the case of the rollers for sliding doors the same
may be formed with or fixed to their axles, and anti-friction balls or rollers
used for the bearings similaily as in the case of the sash pulleys shewn by
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inveu-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :
1. The improvements herein described in bearings for pulleys, wheels, or rollers,
used for sashes, sliding doors, and blocks for lifting tackle, which consist in the
application to such bearings of anti-friction balls or rollers substantially in the
manner described and shewn.
2. An axle pulley for a sush, or like appliance for use as a door roller, having a
circular cavity or opening in the inner face of each cheek of the frame, in
combination with a ring of anti-friction balls or rollers within each cavity or
opening interposed between the circular wall or bearing surface thereof and the
corresponding journal of the axle, substantially in the manner described and
shewn.
-
3. A frame pulley for a sash, or like appliance for use as a door roller, and also
a pulley block, fitted with a ring or rings of anti-friction balls, or a ring of anti-
friction rollers, inserted between the surface of the bearing through the pulley,
wheel, or roller, (or through each pulley or wheel) and the surface of the axle or
pin around which it turns, substantially in the manner described,

page_text: 4. The several modifications, described with reference to the drawings herewith,
according to which anti-friction balls or rollers are applied to the bearings of
pulleys, wheels, or rollers, used for sashes, sliding doors, and blocks for
lifting tackle.
Dated this 19th dox of & nr 1000
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.