An Improved Bearing for Shafts, Axles, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 25th Jan.. 1897-Accepted, 6th Mar., 1897
[Communicated from abroad by MANUEL DEL ESPINO, 2 Leonards Road,
Hastings, Calcutta, Foreman Engineer.]
An Improved Bearing for Shafts, Axles, and the like.
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the
County of Lancaster, and Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
The present invention relates to an improved bearing for revolving shafts, axles,
and the like, applicable to vehicles locomotives and shafting stationary or otherwise.
My invention as applied to the axles of vehicles consists essentially of three rollers
or sheaves of suitable diameters arranged within a frame and casing, the whole
attached to the body of the vehicle by spiral springs or the like. I prefer to
surround the axle itself by a hard steel ring, which protects it from wear and can
be renewed when requisite. Above the axle I place a roller also preferably
provided with a steel ring, and usually of about twice the diameter of the two other
rollers, placed one on each side of the axle. All three rollers are in contact with
the steel ring or sleeve on the axle at one side, and with the frame of the bearing
on the other, so that the friction of the revolving axle is distributed between them.
The top roller bears most of the weight upon the axle, the side rollers serving
chiefly as guides. The rollers are fitted with steel or iron case hardened arbors
revolving in steel bushes fitted to the side plates of the axle box.
In adapting the bearing to special kinds of vehicles, or to overhead shafting or
other similar purposes, the sheaves or rollers may be altered in relative position to
correspond with the support required.
Dated this 1st dor of Annil 1806
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322. High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.
An Improved Bearing for Shafts, Axles, and the like.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the
County of Lancaster, and Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Civil Engineer, 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 present invention relates to an improved bearing for revolving shafts, axles,

page_text: and the like, applicable to vehicles locomotives motor cars and shafting stationary
or otherwise. My invention as applied to the axles of vehicles consists essentially
of three rollers or sheaves of suitable diameters arranged within a frame and
casing, the whole attached to the body of the vehicle by spiral springs or the like.
I prefer to surround the axle itself by a hard steel ring, which protects it from
wear and can be renewed when requisite. Above the axle I place a roller also
preferably provided with a steel ring, and usually of about twice the diameter of
the two other rollers, placed one on each side of the axle. All three rollers are in
contact with the steel ring or sleeve on the axle at one side and with the frame of
the bearing on the other, so that the friction of the revolving axle is distributed
between them. The top roller bears most of the weight upon the axle, the side
rollers serving chiefly as guides. The rollers are fitted with steel or iron case
hardened arbors revolving in steel bushes fitted to the side plates of the axle box.
In adapting the bearing to special kinds of vehicles, or to overhead shafting or
other similar purposes, the sheaves or rollers may be altered in relative position to
correspond with the support required.
In order more clearly to set forth my invention and the best method of carrying
the same into effect I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying
drawing in which I have shewn its application to a tramcar axle bearing by way of
illustration.
In this drawing
Figure 1 shews an inside elevation of the axle box fitted with my invention.
Figure 2 shews an outside elevation of the same displaying the arrangement
for lubricating the bearings of the rollers in tramcar, motor car or railway car
axles.
Figure 3 shews a plan view of the invention.
A represents the car axle, B B the side rollers, and C the top roller, D the
frame of the axle box E E spiral springs connecting it to F the frame of the
tramcar.
The case hardened arbors 6 b and c respectively of the rollers B B and C revolve
in steel brushes e e e secured to the side frames Ď of the axle box and are supplied
with lubricant from the reservoir h by the tubes iii.
By the employment of my improved bearing the friction is very greatly reduced
as compared with the bearings of ordinary constructions, whilst the arrangement of
parts remains comparatively simple and free from liability to get out of repair or
break down. In applying the bearings to fixed shafting or the like, the position of
the main shaft or axle relatively to the rollers is usually reversed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The improved roller bearing for shafts axles and the like substantially
as described.
2. In bearings for tramcars, motor cars and the like the combination of the top
roller C and side roller B B revolving in contact with the car axle A on case
hardened arbors in steel brushes bbc supported by the frame D, with the oil
reservoir and tubes iii, substantially as and for the purpose described and
shewn.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1897.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham.