Improvement in Thrust Roller Bearings for Shafts.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Mar., 1893-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Thrust Roller Bearings for Shafts.
I, FREDERICK HENRY HEATH, of 709, North L Street, Tacoma, in the County
of Pierce and State of Washington, United States of America, Architect, 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; reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to
letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification:
-
This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in thrust roller
bearings for shafts, and is especially adapted for the shafts of large vessels, and
has for its object to greatly reduce the friction now incident to the turning of
such a shaft, and also to construct the bearing as to intervene a series of tapered
rolls between the revolving and stationary thrust blocks, while at the same
time these rolls are provided with ball bearings which relieve them of all undue
friction when in operation; and a further object of my invention is to permit
the entire series of rolls to travel in a direction of rotation, thus preventing the
device from cramping, and incidentally the object of my invention is to provide
for the thrust of a shaft in either direction by providing a duplication of my
improved device upon each side of the journal block.
With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction
and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated
by the claims.
In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may
understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will
now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings forming
a part of this specification, in which―
Fig. 1, represents my improvement, half of the same being in elevation, while
the other half is in section;
Fig. 2, a sectional elevation of the roller carriage;
Fig. 3, an enlarged detail view of the preferred form of construction of one
of the rollers, showing its ball bearings;
Fig. 4, a similar view of a modified form of roll;
Fig. 5, a section at the line r, y, of Figure 2, showing the rolls in the inter-
dental space of the carriage;
Fig. 6, represents a portion of a shaft having my present improvement applied
thereto, the bearing being in longitudinal section so as to show the arrangement
of the parts thereof;
Fig. 7, an end view of the carriage, the anti-friction rolls being shown in
position;
Fig. 8, a section at the line r. r, of Figure 6:
Fig. 9. an enlarged section of one of the roll bearings;
Fig. 10, a face view of the divided bearing ring;
Fig. 11, a view similar to Figure 6, showing my improvement as applied in

page_text: Fig. 12, a view similar to Figure 9, but showing a slight variance in the
construction of the ball bearings whereby it will not be necessary to adjust by
gauging the position of the roller in the carriage, and
Fig. 13, a face view of a slightly modified form of roller bearing ring.
In carrying out my invention as embodied in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, A
represents a shaft which may be a propeller-shaft, and this shaft has either
formed thereon the screw threads B, or said threads may be formed upon a
collar which is secured to the shaft, and upon these threads is run the sleeve C,
or said sleeve may be made in two sections and secured together by the bolts D),
in which case, when the sleeve is properly adjusted, these bolts will serve to
tighten its sections upon the shaft, in order that it may have no independent
movement of said shaft.
A thrust ring E is fitted upon a shoulder formed upon the sleeve, and this ring
is preferably of hardened steel in order that its bearing surface may not become
unduly worn when in use. The journal block F has formed at each end thereof
a circular housing G, and upon a shoulder thereof is secured the thrust ring H,
which is similar to the ring E, and between these two rings run the rollers I,
as herein after set forth.
J represents the roller carriage which consists of an outer ring and an inner
ring, which are connected together by ribs K, thus forming interdental spaces
therebetween, and within these spaces are set the rolls I, having their inner ends
journaled in suitable bearings in the inner ring, while their outer ends are
journaled in bushings L, these bushings being threaded within the outer ring
of the carriage J, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2.
The inner bearing of each roller is provided by an extension M, around which
are placed series of balls O, and these series are separated from each other by
the guide rings N, said rings and balls being confined between the shoulder P
and the washer Q; while the outer bearing of each roll is provided by the
shank R formed therein, the outer portion of which is threaded, and this shank
passes through the bushing L which is run within a suitably threaded opening
in the outer ring of the roller carriage. The bushing L has a cup-shaped recess
formed in its inner end, and within this recess are placed the balls S which also
bear against the fillet portion of the shank; and the outer end of the bushing
is also cup-shaped, and has placed therein the balls T, against which is adjusted
the cone hearing by being run upon the threaded end of the shank, and this
cone bearing, when properly adjusted, is secured in said adjustment by the
nut which is jammed thereagainst.
From this it will be seen that the roller carriage is given its proper guidance
by overlapping the thrust ring H, and having interposed there between and
said ring, series of balls W, as clearly shown in Figure 1, and these balls are
confined in place by the ring X secured around the housing G.
From the foregoing description it will be obvious that when the shaft is
revolved, carrying the sleeve C therewith, that the bearing of the thrust ring E
against the rollers will likewise cause said rollers to hear against the thrust
ring H, should pressure be brought to bear upon the shaft in the direction of
the arrow in Figure 1. Now this would cause the rollers to revolve in their
bearings, and at the same time travel around the shaft upon the thrust ring H,
and this travelling of the rollers is permitted by the free revolving of the roller
carriage, the latter being saved from cramping by the balls W, as just described.
This will relieve the shaft of an enormous amount of friction, estimated at
ninety per cent. over the old forms of bearings.
For propeller-shafts and the like, where they are liable to be subjected to end
strain or thrust in either direction, it is preferable that my improved roller and
ball bearing be placed at both ends of the journal block, one of which is here
shown in section, while the other is shown in elevation, and when this is done
the shaft, if carrying a propeller, may revolve in either direction with no undue
friction; and in order that such a shaft may be separated between the roller

page_text: and ball bearings so as to prevent vibration, a journal box Y may be located
midway between said bearings, which will steady the shaft.
The several contact surfaces of my improvement may be lubricated by a
pipe Z leading from a suitable oil cup a to the interior of the roller carriage,
so that oil delivered at this point will first gain access to the balls 0, and
gradually work outward by gravity and centrifugal force until reaching all
of the frictional surfaces in the device.
In the case of large ocean going vessels, a number of these bearings may be
placed along the propeller-shafts, so that should the vessel run aground and
any of the bearings become strained or injured, they may be thrown out of
action, while the remaining bearings will permit the continued revolving of
the shaft, and for war vessels this is of the greatest importance, since the result
of a conflict may be turned one way or the other by the injury to the vessel's
propeller mechanism.
While I prefer the form of roller above described, the form shown in Figure 4
may be utilized for the same purpose, and the construction of this modification
is a hollow roller through which rasses a spindle c, which has a cone bearing d
upon its inner end, against which the balls e bear, said balls being placed within
the concaved recess in the inner end of the roller. The outer end of the roller
also has a concaved recess formed therein for the reception of the balls f, and
these balls are confined by the cone bearing g run upon the threaded end of this
spindle. The inner end of the spindle is enlarged, as indicated at h, and is adapted
to fit within a suitable hole in the inner ring of the roller carriage, while the
outer end of this spindle is threaded within the bushing i, the latter in turn
being threaded within the outer ring of the roller carriage.
It is to be noted that the rollers I are set at an angle within the carriage, so
that their outer surfaces stand at right angles to the shaft, thus adapting them
to receive the strain occasioned by the thrust of the shaft, so as to prevent any
unequal bearing on the rollers by an uneven rotation of the shaft, and in
practice this will be found to be of considerable importance in the proper working
of shafts of large size sustaining considerable end thrust.
A further, and for some purposes simpler and better improvement of my
invention is contained in Figures 6 to 9 inclusive, and in this construction A¹
represents the box or journal proper, through which the shaft B₁ passes, it,
of course, being understood that this box is rigidly secured in the frame of the
boat or machine in which the shaft is mounted, and upon the outer end of the
box is secured the roller bearing ring C₁, the outer surface of which is here
shown as being beveled so as to accommodate the rolls D¹ when set at an angle.
A threaded sleeve E¹ is secured upon the shaft, and is preferably made in two
halves, as clearly shown in Figure 8, in order that it may be placed in sections
about the shaft, and when properly adjusted upon the threads F1, clamped in
place by bolts and nuts G¹. To the inner face of this sleeve, which is flanged
for that purpose, is secured the roller bearing ring H¹, and between this ring
and the ring C¹ are interposed the rolls D¹, being tapered to correspond to the
decrease of speed of the ring in approaching the shaft, as is well understood.
I represents the circular carriage which is composed of two sections, the ends
thereof being interlocked, as indicated at J¹, and held in place by the bolts K¹
so as to make a completed ring and in this carriage are set the bushings L¹
by means of suitable screw threads, and if found desirable jam-nuts or other
means may be utilized for holding the bushings in their proper adjustment.
In each end of each bushing is secured a hardened cup M¹ for the reception
of the balls N¹ and N2, and the base of the shanks 0' of the rolls is so formed
as to produce one bearing for the balls N₁, while the cup provides two hearings
for said balls the outer cup also provides two bearings for the ball N¹, and
the cone bearing P1 provides the third bearing for said balls, said cone bearing
being adjusted in place upon the threads Q¹ of the shank, and held in place

page_text: by the jam-nut Q2 and key R¹; a washer R³ being splined to the threaded portio
of the shank and interposed between the two nuts, as clearly shown in Figure 9
By this arrangement it will be seen that two bearings are provided for eac
roll outside of the bearing rings and entirely within the carriage, which latte
in effect is a simple ring left free to revolve about the shaft, and receiving it
motion from the travel of the rolls, thus bringing little or no strain upon the
shanks of said rolls or the ball bearings thereof. The roller bearing rings C
and H are each made in four sections, as shown in Figure 10, there being twe
inner sections S¹ which are of crescent shape, and the two outer sections Sare
so formed as to receive the inner sections, the division line of each set of sections
being at right angles to the other, so that when these sections are
together by the bolts or screws T₁ they form a complete band or ring, one face
of which serves as a bearing, and in the case of the ring C₁ a beveled bearing, as
clearly stated, while in the ring H¹ the bearing face is at right angles to the
shaft.
secured
One of the important features of my present invention is the fact that the
bearing rings, carriage and sleeve are each made in sections, and may thereafter
be placed around a shaft which has already been set, and when occasion requires
the threads F may be replaced by suitable collars, shrunk, keyed or bolted upon
the shaft to sustain the end thrust imparted to the sleeve; another advantage
of my present improvement is that should any part thereof become disarranged
or broken, this particular part, or the entire device may be removed from the
shaft without displacing the latter.
In Figure 11, which embodies my improvement in a multiple bearing, the
shaft a has secured thereon or formed therewith the collars b', and represents
the housing or box frame provided with the sections e¹, each of which serves
to receive the thrust from the shaft, and against each of these sections is placed
a roller bearing ring f¹, and a corresponding ring glis fitted against each of
the collars b¹, while the rolls h₁ are arranged to travel between the surfaces of
these rings, and are journaled in the carriages ¹, either in the manner before
set forth, or in the manner shown in Figure 12, in which latter no cone bearings
are used, but the balls have two bearings upon the roll and shank, as well as
two bearings in the cup k¹, while the balls have one bearing against the
shank and one against the adjusting nut 1. this avoids changing the position
of the roll in adjustment, as will be readily understood.
The carriage carries the roll which runs between the bearing rings f
and, thereby providing for the thrust in the reversed direction, so that should
the shaft be a propeller shaft and the engines be reversed. the collar 2, in
conjunction with the last described parts, would assist the thrust of the shaft
in the reversed direction, while the collars b¹ and the parts adapted thereto are
for sustaining the thrust when the engines are running directly.
In Figure 13 a bearing ring is shown which is made of two sections, only to
be so divided and matched together as to make a completed ring which will
serve the same purpose as that described in connection with Figure 10; m¹ being
the sections of this ring, and the screws for securing them together.
Other slight modifications might be made in my improvement without departing
from the spirit of my invention, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting
myself to these exact details of construction.
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 5
I claim is:-
1. A thrust bearing, consisting of a circular carriage, rolls journaled therein,
a stationary thrust ring carried by the journal block, and a rotating thrust ring
carried by the shaft, substantially as shown and described.
2. In combination, a shaft, a journal block, a thrust ring carried by said 5
journal block, a thrust ring carried by the shaft, a circular carriage a lapted

page_text: revolve, tapered rolls journaled in said carriage, and series of vanis 101 reducing
he friction due to the revolving of the rolls, as specified.
3. In combination, a shaft, a sleeve adjustably secured thereon, a thrust ring
ecured to said sleeve, a journal block, a stationary thrust ring secured to said
lock, a circular carriage journaled upon the last named ring, said carriage
onsisting of an inner and an outer ring connected by ribs, a series of tapered
olls located within the interdental spaces of said carriage, ball bearings for
he rolls, and means for adjusting said bearings, as specified.
4. In combination with a thrust bearing, a circular carriage consisting of an
nner and an outer ring connected together by ribs, a series of rolls located within
the interdental spaces of said carriage, ball bearings for the rolls, and threaded
plugs for adjusting the rolls, substantially as shown and described.
5. The herein described combination of a journal block, one or two housings
formed with said block, a thrust ring secured to each of the housings, a circular
carriage surrounding said ring, a series of balls interposed between said ring
and carriage so as to permit the latter to freely revolve, tapered rolls journaled
within the carriage, ball bearings for said rolls, said rolls being set at such an
angle as to bring one of their surfaces at right angles to the shaft, and a thrust
ring for bearing against these surfaces carried by the shaft, as specified.
6. In combination with a thrust bearing, a circular carriage consisting of an
inner ring and an outer ring and ribs for connecting said rings, a series of tapered
rolls, each of said rolls having an extension M and a shank R, a series of balls
arranged around the extension, a plug L threaded in the outer ring, a series of
balls interposed between said plug and the shank of the roll, a cone bearing U
carried by the shank, and a series of balls interposed between said bearing and
the outer end of the plug, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7. In combination with a roller carriage for a thrust bearing, consisting of
an outer and an inner ring and ribs connecting said rings, of a series of tapered
rolls, extensions M formed with said rolls and passed within the openings in
the inner ring, a series of balls surrounding said extension, a series of guide
rings interposed between the balls, a washer Q for holding said rings and
balls in place, shanks R extending outward from said rolls, a threaded plug
through which said shank extends, said plug being run within threaded holes
in the outer ring, a series of balls S interposed between the plug and shank, a
cone bearing threaded upon the outer end of the shank, a series of balls T
interposed between said bearing and the outer end of the plug, and a nut for
holding the cone bearing in place, as specified.
8. In combination with a thrust bearing of the character described, a pipe Z
leading from a suitable oil cup to the interior of the bearing, whereby oil is
deposited at this point and permitted to flow outward by gravity and centrifugal
force, as specified.
9. The herein described combination of a journal block, housings formed
at each end thereof, a shaft running through said housings, thrust bearings
arranged to reduce the friction between the shaft and the housings, and a journal
box for steadying the central portion of the shaft, as specified.
10. A thrust bearing consisting of a sleeve or collar carried by the shaft, a
bearing ing fitted against said sleeve so as to revolve therewith, a second bearing
fitted against the journal box, a series of tapered rolls located between the
hearing rings, and a carriage in which said rolls are journaled outside of the
0 bearing rings, as specified.
11. In combination with a shaft adapted to be rotated, and a journal box in
which said shaft revolves, a member carried by the shaft so as to revolve there-
with, a bearing ring secured to said member, a stationary bearing ring fitted
against the box, a series of tapered rolls located between the bearing rings, a
6 circular carriage made in two sections so as to surround the bearing rings, said
carriage having ball bearings therein for the rolls, as specified.
12. The herein described combination of a shaft, a box in which said shaft

page_text: revolves, a member secured upon the shaft so as to revolve therewith, a bearing
ring made in sections so as to be placed around said shaft and secured to said
member, a second bearing ring also made in sections so as to be placed around
the shaft and secured to the box, a carriage made in two sections and adapted
to be bolted together, two series of tapered rolls journaled in said carriage by
ball bearings, said rolls adapted to run between the bearing rings, as specified.
13. In combination with a shaft and box therefor, a member made in two
sections and adapted to be bolted together and threaded upon the shaft, a bearing
ring also made in sections and secured to the said member, a second bearing ring
likewise made in sections and secured to the box, tapered rolls journaled between
said rings, and a carriage in which said rolls are journaled by means of ball
bearings, as and for the purpose set forth.
14. In combination with a thrust bearing of the character described, a bearing
surface fitted to revolve with the shaft, a stationary bearing surface secured to
the box, a series of rolls located between the bearing surface, a circular carriage,
bushings fitted within said carriage, hardened cups secured within the bushings,
balls fitted within the cups and bearing against the shanks of the rolls, and
means for adjusting said bearings, as shown and described.
15. The herein described combination of a shaft, a series of collars secured
thereon or carried thereby, a journal frame consisting of sections for receiving
the thrust of the shaft, bearing surfaces fitted against the rings, other bearing
surfaces fitted against the sections of the journal frame, tapered rolls located
between the bearing surfaces, and carriages in which said rolls are journaled in
series, as and for the purpose set forth.
14
16. A bearing ring made in four sections adapted to be fitted together and
secured by screws or bolts to form a completed ring, as specified.
17. A ring bearing made in two sections adapted to be fitted together and
secured by screws or bolts to form a completed ring, as specified.
Dated this 21st day of March 1898.
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, London, W.,
Agent for Applicant.