Improvements in the Manufacture of Steps and Bearings for Machinery.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 23rd July, 1891-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Steps and Bearings for
Machinery.
I, ROBERT BREWSTER, of Clynedale, Victoria Road, New Barnet, in the
County of Herts, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of my present invention is the manufacture of steps and bearings, of
machinery from a material which, while possessing great hardness, shall be capable
of taking a high polish and otherwise be suitable for bearing surfaces.
The material is composed of feldspar, crystal, china clay, and borax or other
suitable flux, which are mixed in such proportions as to ensure the requisite
hardness when baked.
The material thus composed will be formed into the required shapes and then
fired, after which the bearing surfaces will be turned or ground to the required
form and then polished. The material will be held in metallic or other suitable
supports.
I have found that steps and bearings made as above described can be used for a
considerable time with little or no lubricant without heating and are so hard that
wear is reduced to a minimum.
ca
1
1000
ROBERT BREWSTER.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Steps and Bearings for
Machinery.
I, ROBERT BREWSTER, of Clynedale, Victoria Road, New Barnet, in the
County of Herts, 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 :-
The object of my present invention is the manufacture of steps and bearings of
machinery from a ceramic material, which, while possessing great hardness, is
capable of being readily worked, of taking a high polish, and is otherwise suitable
for bearing surfaces, and by the employment of my improved bearings, the
necessity for oil lubrication is dispensed with, plain water or soap and water being
preferable.
The material I employ is composed of the following materials preferably in about
the proportions stated.
Feldspar
Rock crystal
China clay
Flux (preferably borax)
50 parts.
50 parts.
-
30 parts.
30 parts.
These materials are well ground and combined with water in the usual manner of
working pottery bodies or materials, and they are made by the ordinary processes
into a comparatively dry clay or body or into what is known in the pottery, trade

page_text: The material thus prepared is, when in the state of comparatively dry clay or
body, moulded into the required shapes by means of dies and pressure, or it may
be first thrown and then turned into form; or when in the form of "slip," it is
moulded into the shape required by pouring the same into moulds, as is well
understood in the pottery trade.
Steps and bearings formed of the above materials are dried and fired, after
which the bearing surfaces, if not sufficiently true, will be turned, bored, or ground
to the required form, and then polished if required, or as may be necessary.
Steps or bearings of the character herein described will be held in metallic or
other suitable supports or carriers.
In the accompanying drawings I have represented various applications of my
invention.
Figure 1 is a face view partly in section, and Figure 2 is a cross section, of a
pillow block.
Figure 3 is a face view of a pitman head.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of a step box or bearing for the lower end of a
vertical shaft.
Figure 5 is a vertical section of a step bearing for the end of a spindle.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are respectively a front elevation, a side elevation, and plan,
of an open bearing.
The pillow block represented in Figures and 2 is constructed in the usual
manner, except that the bearing pieces a, in lieu of being the ordinary brasses, are
made of the ceramic material herein described; they are also formed with flanges a¹
to prevent end motion, and with an angular shaped part a² to prevent rotary motion
within the pillow block, as is usual with ordinary brasses.
The pitman head represented in Figure 3 is constructed in the usual manner,
except that the bearing pieces a, in lieu of being the usual brasses, are made of the
ceramic material herein described.
The step box or bearing represented at Figure 4, instead of being fitted with the
usual cylindrical and disc shaped metal bearing pieces, is fitted with such shaped
parts made of the ceramic material herein described.
The spindle step or bearing represented at Figure 5 and the bearing represented
at Figures 6, 7 and 8, consist of blocks c made of the ceramic material herein
described embedded in sockets or recesses formed for them in metal carriers. In
Figure 5 I have also represented other bearing pieces d made of the same material
and serving to support the shaft at a point intermediate of its extremities.
I would remark that the ceramic material herein described is of a hard vitreous
character, which in wear will preserve a smooth and polished surface, the entire
substance thereof being throughout of the same vitreous character, and I would
further remark that, although the proportions of the materials stated to be used
in the manufacture of such ceramic steps and bearings are preferable, the pro-
portions of such materials may be somewhat varied and other equivalent materials
may be employed, so long as steps and bearings manufactured therefrom are
sufficiently hard, smooth, and vitreous throughout their entire substance to receive
and retain a smooth and polished surface. A ceramic material requiring glazing
is of no value in the manufacture of steps and bearings.
I have found that steps and bearings made as above described can be used for
a considerable time with little or no lubricant without heating, and are so hard that
wear is reduced to a minimum.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Bearing pieces of steps and bearings for machinery manufactured of a ceramic
material composed of feldspar, rock crystal, china clay, and a flux.
2. The manufacture of the bearing pieces of steps and bearings for machinery

page_text: of the ceramic material herein described, and then, after firing the same, turning,
boring, grinding, and polishing the same.
3. The manufacture of the bearing pieces of steps and bearings of a ceramic
material consisting of feldspar, rock crystal, china clay, and a flux, such for instance
as borax, in about the proportions stated.
4. Bearing pieces of steps and bearings of machinery manufactured from a
ceramic material, which, when fired, is vitreous throughout and capable of taking
and retaining a high polish, substantially as herein described and for the purpose
stated.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1891.
ROBERT BREWSTER.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.