IMPROVEMENTS IN THE REDUCTION OF FRICTION IN THE WORKING PARTS OF MACHINERY, APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE TRANSMISSION OF MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson. of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in
the County of Middlesex, and of 166, Buchanan Street, in the City of
Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE REDUCTION OF FRICTION IN THE WORKING PARTS OF MACHINERY,
APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE TRANSMISSION OF MOTIVE POWER."-A communica-
tion from abroad by Ferdinand Schwenk, of Vienna, in the Empire of
Austria, Engineer.
Sealed the 31st July 1860, and dated the 24th February 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 24th February 1860.
1. JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47. Lincoln's Inn Fields. in the County of Mid-
dlesex. and of 166. Buchanan Street. in the City of Glasgow, North Britain,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE REDUCTION OF FRICTION IN THE WORKING PARTS OF MACHINERY,
APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE TRANSMISSION OF MOTIVE POWER," a communication
from abroad by Ferdinand Schwenk, of Vienna, in the Empire of Austria,
Engineer, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a system or mode of converting the sliding friction
of machinery into a rolling friction by the aid of certain peculiar rollers
or cones. whereby a more steady and regular motion in cylindrical or conical
antifriction rollers is obtained.

page_text: In carrying out this part of the Invention it is proposed to employ a suitable
number of antifriction rollers, which are to be inserted between the two
rubbing or moving surfaces or planes. The surfaces of these antifriction
rollers, when of a cylindrical form, are provided with raised helical threads, and
when of a conical shape, with raised spiral threads. The respective planes
between which these rollers are to run are provided with corresponding
helical or spiral grooves. corresponding with the threads above referred to.
and gearing therewith. This engagement of the threads with the grooves
prevents the rollers from moving otherwise than in the desired direction,
suitable arrangements being employed for obviating any sliding motion therein.
This portion of the Invention is applicable in all cases where a surface or
plane is revolving or sliding in contact with another surface or plane, as, for
example, in axle journals and the journals and bearings of machinery generally.
The same principle is proposed to be applied to the gearing of toothed wheels,
whether spur, gearing, or bevel gearing. and effects a continuous gear, and
complete contact of the cogs or teeth.
In carrying out this application in practice the herein-before mentioned
threads and grooves are made alternately round the entire circumference of
the wheels, so that each cog or tooth is composed of a helical or spiral thread
and groove, according as the body is a cylinder or a cone, or frustrum of a conc.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 24th August 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 4. Jous
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47. Lincoln's Inn Fields. in the County of Middlesex, and
of 166. Buchanan Street, in the City of Glasgow. North Britain. Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty. in the twenty-third year of Her
reign. did. for Herself, Her heirs. and successors. give and grant unto me,
the said John Henry Johnson. Her special license that I, the said John
Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns. or such others
as the said John Henry Johnson. my executors, administrators, or
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed. should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United

page_text: Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE REDUCTION OF FRICTION IN THE
WORKING PARTS OF MACHINERY, APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE TRANSMISSION OF MOTIVE
POWER," a communication from abroad by Ferdinand Schwenk, of Vienna, in
the Empire of Austria. Engineer. upon the condition (amongst others) that I.
the said John Henry Johnson, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal. should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed. and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson. do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention. and in what manner the same
is to be performed. to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement. reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say-
The said Invention relates to a peculiar system or mode of converting the
sliding friction of machinery into a rolling friction by the aid of certain
peculiar constructions and arrangements of antifriction rollers. and the surfaces
upon which they rotate, and also to a peculiar system or mode of constructing
the teeth of gearing for the obtainment of a steadier and smoother motion.
In carrying out the first part of this Invention it is proposed to employ a
suitable number of antifriction rollers, which are to be inserted between the two
friction surfaces. These antifriction rollers may have either a cylindrical or a
conical form. and they are provided with raised helical or conical threads,
whilst the two surfaces between which these rollers are to run are provided with
corresponding helical or spiral grooves into which the threads on the rollers
gear. This engagement of the threads with the grooves prevents the rollers
from moving otherwise than in the desired direction, whilst all sliding motion
therein is obviated. This portion of the Invention is applicable in all cases
where revolving or sliding surfaces are in question, as, for example, in axle
journals and the journals and bearings of machinery generally.
Another part of my Invention relates to the gearing of toothed wheels.
whether spur gearing or bevel gearing, whereby a continuous gear or complete
contact of the cogs or teeth is maintained.
In carrying out this part of my Invention in practice the herein-before
mentioned threads or teeth and grooves are made alternately round the
entire circumference of the wheels, so that each cog or tooth forms part of a
helical or spiral thread.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now

page_text: proceed more particularly to describe the same. and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures on the two Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed.
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all
the Figures.
Figure of the Drawings represents a transverse section the application
of the first part of this Invention to a railway wheel turning loose on its axle.
and Figure 2 is a corresponding longitudinal section of the same: A is the
wheel, and B the axle journal, between which and the interior of the nave or
boss of the wheel are interposed four cylindrical antifriction rollers C, C. C. C.
constructed according to this part of my Invention. On the surface of each
roller are formed three screw threads or helicoidal projecting ribs c, c, c, which
gear into corresponding grooves made in the interior of the nave or boss at
u, a, and on the exterior of the axle journal, as shown at b. b.
the rollers is effectually prevented, and they are maintained in
the annular guard plates D, (Figure 2) bolted to each face of the nave or
boss. The projections and grooves serve to keep the rollers in their proper
positions or equidistant from each other during their revolution round the
journal and individual rotation on their own axes produced by the rotation of
the wheels.
The end play of
their places by
Figures 3 and 4 represent respectively a transverse and horizontal section
of the nave or boss of a wheel, or an axle box and a journal wherein the journal, in
place of having the helical grooves made in its surface. which might have a
tendency to weaken it too much, is provided with a separate ring or boss E in
which the necessary grooves are formed. In Figure 3, six antifriction rollers
are shewn, each provided with two screw threads or spiral projections.
Figures and 6 represent respectively a longitudinal vertical section and
corresponding transverse section of the axle box of a common road carriage
or vehicle constructed according to this Invention. A is the axle box; B. the
axle journal; C. C. the peculiar antifriction rollers, of which the projecting helical
ribs or screw threads c. c. take into the corresponding helical grooves a, a, and
b, b, respectively. formed in the interior of the axle box. and on the exterior of
the journal: F and G are screw caps or covers fitted on to each end of the
axle box, for the purpose of excluding dust or grits therefrom, a leather
washer or other suitable packing H. being also applied round the shoulder of
the axle, where it enters the box for maintaining the box perfectly closed at
that part. In these Figures the antifriction rollers are shown as being
provided each with a single helical projection or screw thread.
Figure represents a partial section and elevation of a wheel murning
loosely upon an axle, and having conical antifriction rollers constructed

page_text: according to this Invention interposed between a ring in the interior of
the nave or boss of the wheel and the axle journal. In this arrangement
two series of conical rollers C and C' are shown, each set being contained
in a separate chamber or boss I. 1. formed on each face of the wheel. and
the journal is made to taper slightly in opposite directions from the middle of
its length, so as to coincide with the taper of the two sets of antifriction rollers,
the axes of rotation of which are indicated by the red centre lines d. d. A¹.
A", are. rings inserted into each of the bosses I. P. and these rings and the
surface of the journal, B are spirally grooved to correspond to the spiral
projections formed on the conical rolls, as shewn in the Drawings.
Figures 8 and 9 on Sheet 2 of the Drawings represent respectively a
transverse vertical and horizontal section of a fixed bearing A. for a shaft. B.
provided with the improved antifriction rollers C. C. herein-before described.
Figures 10 and 11 represent respectively a vertical and horizontal section
of a footstep bearing for a vertical shaft constructed according to this Invention.
The surface of the footstep A is grooved spirally, as shewn at a. so as in
correspond to the spiral projecting ribs c. formed on the surfaces of the
conical antifriction rollers C. C. which also take into corresponding spiral
grooves b. formed on the conical journal B of the shaft.
Figure 12 shows the application of the same principle to a suspended shaft.
A is a ring, the surface of which is dished or made in the form of a hollow
cone to suit the taper of the conica! antifriction rollers C. C: on the shaft is
keyed a bevelled dise B resting on the rollers C. and thereby supporting the
shaft. This disc is grooved spirally on its bevelled surface, and these grooves
gear into spiral ribs or projections formed on the surfaces of the conical anti-
friction rollers, which projections also gear into corresponding spiral grooves
made in the surface of the bearing ring A.
Figure 13 shows a front and side elevation of the mode of applying these
antifriction rollers in the case of rectilinear movements, the plane surfaces A
being grooved as shown in the Drawing to correspond to the helical projections
or screw threads on the surfaces of the cylindrical antifriction rollers C. C. a
raised rim or flange a being formed on each side of the plane surface to
maintain or guide the rollers in their proper lateral position.
Figures 14 and 15 represent transverse sections of reciprocating slide
rods A, the former having two grooved surfaces, and the latter. which is of
a triangular section. having three grooved surfaces. In both cases the helical
projections or screw threads. on the rollers C. C. are made to gear into the
corresponding grooves on the working surfaces of the slide rods A. and also
with similar grooves on the guide rods B.

page_text: Figures 16. 17. 18. and 19 represent various applications of this Invention
to gearing employed in the transmission of motive power.
I now come to the second part of the Invention. In Figure 16 a rack and
pinion are shown, the teeth on the pinion being made of a helicoidal form and
gear. with inclined or angularly disposed teeth formed on the rack. the
arrangement and direction of such teeth being the same as the grooves shown
on the rectilinear bar in Figure 13.
Figures 17 and 18 represent respectively a side elevation and plan of a
pair of geared spur wheels with their teeth constructed in the principle above
set forth, and Figure 19 shows the application of the same principle to a pair
of bevel wheels. It is obvious that the grooves may be made in the antifric-
tion rollers herein-before mentioned, and the projections or teeth on the
fixed surfaces, if desired. but I prefer to form the projections on the rollers as
described and illustrated by my Drawings.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe. in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent. is.-
1st, the general construction, arrangement. and combination of antifriction
rollers and bearings of all kinds for the purpose of reducing friction, as herein-
before described and illustrated by the Drawings.
2nd. the application and use of antifriction rollers provided with helical or
spiral projecting ribs or with similarly formed grooves, which gear into corre-
sponding grooves or ribs formed in or upon the working surfaces for the
purpose of reducing friction, as herein-before described and illustrated by
the Drawings.
3rd, the peculiar construction of the teeth of gearing of all kinds. as herein-
before described and illustrated by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal. this Twenty-fourth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)