Improvements in Ball-bearings.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 4th May, 1894-Accepted, 9th June, 1894
0
Improvements in Ball-bearings.
I, HENRY LA CASSE, of 507, N. Avenue, Rochester, New York, United
States of America, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in ball-bearings, and has for its object the
production of a ball-bearing of simple and practical construction, which shall be
highly efficient and durable.
It is well known that the friction of revolving shafts, axles, and the like, has
been greatly reduced by the use of ball-bearings. It is equally well-known,
however, that bearings of this kind or class, as hitherto constructed, in which the
balls revolve in grooves in the bearing sections, must be kept lubricated, and that,
in such bearings, the balls soon become flattened, and the bearing surfaces of the
bearing sections considerably worn, especially if any dirt or grit is permitted to
This undue wear of
enter the grooves in which the anti-friction balls revolve.
the said anti-friction balls and bearing surfaces is due to the fact that the bearing
portions of the ball-surfaces nearest at any one time to the axis about which the
series of balls revolves, bear against a surface of the bearing section of less
circumference than the surface thereof with which the bearing portions of the
ball-surfaces.most remote from the said axis are in contact, whilst the inner and
outer bearing portions or contact circles of each ball are of equal diameter, and
consequently there is a considerable amount of sliding or rubbing of the balls
against the bearing sections, especially when the difference in circumference of
the inner and outer bearing surfaces of the bearing sections is large.
My improved ball-bearing is so constructed and arranged that the balls roll
freely between the bearing sections without any sliding movement or rubbing of
the balls against the said sections, and consequently the wear of the parts is
reduced to a minimum, their life greatly lengthened, and the bearing rendered
highly efficient and practicable.
To accomplish this result, I make one or both of the bearing sections with
relatively fixed bearing surfaces of different diameter, for engaging with inner and
outer bearing portions of the surface of each ball upon opposite sides of a
perpendicular to the axis about which the ball rotates individually, and I so
arrange and proportion the said surfaces of the bearing section relatively to each
other that a straight line drawn from the central point about which the series of
balls revolves and intersecting the point of contact of the ball with the bearing
surface of larger diameter, will also intersect the point of contact of the ball
with the bearing surface of smaller diameter, and the bearing portion or contact
circle of either ball nearest the axis about which the series of balls revolves, will
be of less diameter than the bearing portion or contact circle of the said ball
most remote from the said axis. The circumferences of the two bearing portions
or contact circles of each ball, therefore, bear the same proportion to each other
as the circumferences of the two bearing surfaces or contact circles of each
bearing section.
I find it advantageous to make both bearing sections with the peculiarly
arranged bearing surfaces above mentioned, in which case the four points of
contact of each ball with the four bearing surfaces are so situated that they would
all be on the surface of a cone having its apex at the aforesaid central point about
which the series of balls revolves, and having its axis coincident with the axis

page_text: about which the said ball rotates individually. The balls, therefore, roll between
the bearing sections after the manner of the well-known conical rollers, with the
exception that there are four points of contact between each spherical roller or
ball and the surfaces of the, bearing sections, instead of two lines of contact as
with the conical rollers. Consequently there will be no sliding or rubbing of the
balls against the bearing sections and the friction will be reduced to such an
extent as to obviate the necessity for lubrication. Moreover each ball will in
time slightly change its position so as to bring other portions of its surface into
contact with the bearing sections, thus avoiding undue wear of any portion of the
ball..
These
A convenient and advantageous form of my improved ball-bearing comprises
two bearing sections each having a circular groove in which the balls roll.
grooves are angular in transverse section, the inclined surfaces of each groove
being arranged and proportioned in the manner above mentioned. The said
bearing sections are preferably arranged a short distance apart so as to prevent
any accumulation of dust, grit or the like between them. I prefer also to make
one of the bearing sectious adjustable relatively to the other bearing section.
It is not absolutely necessary to make the entire sides of the grooves of the
required inclination. The portions of the said sides which come in contact with
the balls may be so constructed, and the remaining portions thereof, be curved or
inclined at any other desired angle.
Dated the 25th day of Auơnst 1892
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ball-bearings.
I, HENRY LA CASSE, of 507, N. Avenue, Rochester, New York, United States
of America, Inventor, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in ball-bearings, and has for its object
the production of a ball-bearing of simple and practical construction, which shall be
highly efficient and durable, and in which the friction and wear shall be much less
than in the ball-bearings hitherto constructed.
It is well known that the friction of revolving shafts, axles, and the like, has
been greatly reduced by the use of ball-bearings. It is also well-known, however,
that bearings of this kind or class as hitherto constructed, in which the balls revolve
in grooves in the bearing-sections, require to be kept lubricated, and that, in such
bearings, the balls and the bearing surfaces of the bearing sections wear very
rapidly, especially if any dirt or grit is permitted to enter the grooves in which the
anti-friction balls revolve. This rapid wear of the balls and bearing surfaces is due
to the fact that the bearing parts of the ball-surfaces nearest at any one time to the
axis about which the series of balls revolves, bear against a surface of the bearing
section of less circumference than the surface thereof with which the bearing parts
of the ball-surfaces most remote from the said axis are in contact, whilst the inner
and outer bearing parts or contact circles of each ball are of equal diameter, and
consequently there is a considerable amount of sliding or rubbing of the balls against
the bearing sections, especially when the difference in circumference of the inner and
outer bearing surfaces of the bearing sections is large.
My improved ball-bearing is so constructed and arranged that the balls roll
freely between the bearing sections without any sliding movement or rubbing of the
balls against the said sections, and consequently the wear of the parts is reduced to

page_text: a minimum, their life greatly lengthened, and the bearing rendered highly efficient
and durable.
To accomplish this result, I make one of the bearing sections, or each of the
bearing sections with relatively fixed bearing surfaces of different diameter for
engaging with the inner and outer bearing parts or contact circles of the balls upon
opposite sides of a perpendicular to the axis about which the ball rotates individually,
and I so arrange and proportion the said surfaces of the bearing section relatively to
each other that a straight line drawn from the central point about which the series
of balls revolves and intersecting the point of contact of the ball with the bearing
surface of larger diameter, will also intersect the point of contact of the ball with
the bearing surface of smaller diameter. The bearing part or contact circle of
either ball nearest the axis about which the series of balls revolves, will there-
fore be of less diameter than the bearing part or contact circle of the said ball most
remote from the said axis, the circumferences of the two bearing parts or contact
circles of each ball, bearing the same proportion to each other as the circumferences
of the two bearing surfaces or contact circles of each bearing section.
I find it advantageous to make both bearing sections with the peculiarly arranged
bearing surfaces above mentioned, in which case the four points of contact of each
ball with the four bearing surfaces are so situated that they all lie in the surface of
an imaginary cone having its apex at the aforesaid central point about which the
series of balls revolves, and having its axis coincident with the axis about which
the said ball rotates individually. The balls, therefore, roll between the bearing
sections after the manner of the well-known conical rollers, with the exception that
there are four points of contact between each spherical roller or ball and the
surfaces of the bearing sections, instead of two lines of contact as is the case with
conical rollers. Consequently there will be no sliding or rubbing of the balls
against the bearing sections, and the friction will be reduced to such an extent
as to obviate the necessity for lubrication. Moreover each ball will in time
slightly change its position so as to bring other portions of its surface into
contact with the bearing sections, thus avoiding undue wear of any part of
the ball.
A convenient and advantageous form of my improved ball-bearing comprises
two bearing sectious each having an annular groove in which the balls roll,
and which is angular in transverse section, the inclined surfaces of each groove
being arranged and proportioned in the manner above mentioned. The said bearing
sections are preferably arranged a short distance apart so as to prevent any
accumulation of dust, grit or the like between them. I prefer also to make one of
the bearing sections adjustable relatively to the other bearing section.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical central section, showing a horizontal
shaft provided with one form of my improved ball-bearing,
Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 1, the balls and other
parts being shown in elevation.
Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in vertical central section, showing a vertical
shaft provided with a slightly modified form of my improved ball-bearing, and
Figures 4 and 5 are diagrams representing methods of determining the transverse
angles of the opposite circular bearing surfaces of the bearing grooves within which
the anti-friction balls revolve.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
A is a shaft or axle; B, C are the bearing sections which are arranged with
their adjacent faces b, c more or less separated from each other. D, D are the
anti-friction balls interposed between the bearing sections B, C, and adapted to roll
in annular grooves B', C' formed in the adjacent faces b, c thereof.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, the bearing section B is designed
to be held stationary upon a supporting bracket or frame B2 of any suitable
construction, and is formed with a central opening B³ of greater diameter than the
part of the shaft A within the said opening. The bearing section C is formed with

page_text: a screw-threaded opening C² and is fitted upon a screw-threaded part a of the shaft A
so that the said section C may be adjusted towards and away from the section B in
order to operatively clamp the balls D in position.
The grooves B, C are angular in transverse section, being formed with inner
and outer bearing surfaces 61, c¹, 62, c², which bear against the adjacent parts or
contact points 1, 1, 2, 2 of the surfaces of the balls D, respectively. These bearing
surfaces b, c, 62, c² are so constructed and arranged that inclined straight lines 5, 5,
Figure 1, drawn respectively from the central point around which the series of
balls revolves to or through the points of contact of the surfaces 62, c² and the
parts 2, 2 of the surface of one of the balls D, pass respectively through the
points of contact of the surfaces b, c and the parts 1, 1 of the surface of
the said ball.
Although the bearing surfaces b', c', b², c² of the bearing sections B, C can at any
one time only be in contact with very small parts or points of the surfaces of the
balls D, as seen in Figure 1, yet it will be readily understood, that, as the balls D
revolve without sliding movement around their axes which are coincident with the
plane of the section line a, x, the bearing surfaces b, c in their movement
come in contact with a circular part or contact circle at 1, 1 of the inner face of
each of the balls, the diameter of which part or circle is represented by the line 3
in Figure 1, and that the surfaces 62, 2 in their movement come in contact with a
circular part or contact circle at 2 of the outer face of each of the balls D, the
diameter of which part or circle is represented by the line 4 in Figure 1, which, it
will be noted, is considerably longer than the line 3.
The circular parts of the surfaces ¹, c' of the groove B', C¹ which bear against
the parts 1, 1 of the surfaces of the balls D, are, morcover, of considerably less
diameter than the circular parts of the surfaces 62, c² of the said grooves which
bear against the parts 2, 2 of the surfaces of the balls D; and, when these
surfaces b¹, c², 62, c are constructed as above described and as shown in the
drawing, the circumferences of the said circular parts of the surfaces b, c
and 62, c² hear the same proportion to each other as the circumferences of the
parts 1, 1, 2, 2 of the surfaces of the balls D in contact therewith. Consequently
it requires just as many revolutions of the bearing parts 1, 1 of the surfaces of
the balls D to travel once around the surfaces b¹, e in contact with the same,
as it requires of the bearing parts 2, 2, of the surfaces of the balls D to travel
once around the surfaces 62, in contact therewith. The balls D, therefore, traverse
the grooves B, C¹ freely without any sliding movement, in the same manner as a
cone having its outer end of a diameter equal to the line 4, and its inner end of
a diameter equal to the line 3, would traverse the said grooves.
As above described, the lines 5, 5, Figure 1, drawn from the points of contact of
the outer surfaces 62, c² of the bearing section grooves B¹, C' to the corresponding
points of contact of the bearing surfaces b, c converge at the point of intersection
of the line x, x with the axis of the shaft A. It is obvious, however, that my
invention may be modified by so constructing and arranging these surfaces
that lines so drawn will converge at a point in the said axis on one or the
other side of the said point of intersection, and that, in such case, the balls would
revolve with much less friction and wear upon the parts than if the said lines were
disposed in parallel planes as is the case in ball-bearings as heretofore usually
constructed.
From the foregoing description, it will be readily understood that a shaft will
revolve in a ball-bearing of my improved construction with the least possible
friction, and that the anti-friction balls will revolve freely within the grooves for
receiving the same, without liability to sliding of the said balls and undue wear
upon the parts.
I have discovered, by the practical use of my improved bearing, that the anti-
friction balls revolve so freely between their bearing surfaces, even when the shaft
or other rotating body supported or journalled by the balls is revolved at a high
speed and required to withstand great stress, that it is not necessary to

page_text: lubricate the bearing in order to prevent wear. This efficient action is greatly
aided by separating the adjacent faces b and c of the bearing sections B, C, as
shown, since all dust, grit and the like escapes from the grooves B', C¹ and from
between the said faces without unduly wearing or grinding the surfaces of the balls
or of the said grooves.
It is evident that my improved bearing may be of various constructions, and in
Figure 1 it is shown as applied to a horizontal shaft. In Figure 3, however, I
have shown the bearing sections B, C as arranged horizontally and applied to a
vertical shaft, and as having their inner faces b, c formed with a series of grooves
B¹, B4, B5, C¹, C3 and C4, having their bearing surfaces 61, 62, 63, b₁, b³, b³, c², c², c³,
c, c, e constructed and arranged as above described with reference to the bearing
faces b', 62 c', c² of the bearing sections B, C shown in Figure 1.
The bearing surfaces of each of the grooves B', B₁, B, C₁, C3, C4, are so
arranged that an inclined straight line, as the line 6, drawn from the point of contact
of the outer bearing surface of any one of these grooves, to the centre around which
the series of balls revolves, will intersect the point of contact of the inner bearing
surface of the said groove. It will be readily understood, therefore, that the
transverse angles formed by the bearing surfaces of the several grooves with relation
to the axes about which the balls rotate individually, vary considerably.
In Figure 4 I have shown a diagram illustrating one method of ascertaining
the proper transverse angles of the bearing surfaces of the bearing sections shown'
in Figures 1 and 2. In this figure, lines e, e¹ are drawn so as to intersect each
other at right angles, and a circle e² is circumscribed around the point of intersec-
tion of the said lines. The diameter of this circle is equal to the distance between
the centres of any two diametrically opposite balls D shown in Figures 1 and 2.
is a circle of the same diameter as one of the said balls, which circle is circum-
scribed around the point of intersection of the circle e with the upper end of the
line e. A line e is then drawn from the point of intersection of the circle e³ with
the right-hand end of the line e', tangential to the inner side of the circle e³. A
line e is also drawn from the point of intersection of the circle with the opposite
end of the line e', tangential to the outer side of the circle e³. The parts e, e' of
the lines e, e represent, in conjunction with the line e, the respective transverse
angles of the surfaces b, c and 62, c² of each of the grooves B, C, with relation to
the axes about which the balls rotate individually.
I have also shown in Figure 4 a circle e of the same diameter as the balls D
shown in Figure 3, and lines e, e¹0 drawn in the same manner as the lines e*, e³ from
the points of intersection ell, e12 of the circle e2 with the line e, tangential to the
points e, e of the circle e respectively. The portions es, e¹ of the lines, elo
represent, in conjunction with the line e', the transverse angles that must be formed,
with the axes about which the balls rotate individually, by the.respective bearing
surfaces of a groove of the same diameter as the ring and adapted to receive
anti-friction balls of the same diameter as those shown in Figure 3.
I have also shown in this figure, a large circle el representing a bearing ball of
larger diameter, and, by means of the outer portions e¹8, e19 of lines e20, 21 drawn
from the points el, ez and tangential to the points e22, 23 of the circle e". I have
shown the desired transverse angles of the sides of a groove of the same diameter
as the grooves B', C' when designed for receiving anti-friction balls of the same
diameter as the circle el7.
It will be readily understood that, when the angles are determined in the manner
indicated in Figure 4, the opposite bearing surfaces of each of the bearing grooves
are necessarily at a right angle to each other. It is frequently advisable, however,
to vary the position of the contact circles of the bearing surfaces in the grooves for
receiving the anti-friction balls, and to determine the position of the said contact
circles before ascertaining the angles which the said bearing surfaces should make
with the axes about which the balls rotate individually. In this case, when the
ball-bearing is properly constructed, these surfaces may be at an angle to each other
greater or less than a right angle. For example, in a thrust-bearing, it is preferable

page_text: that the points of contact of each ball should be at as great a distance as
practicable from the axis about which the said ball rotates, in which case the
bearing surfaces of each groove will be at an obtuse angle to each other.
Accordingly in Figure 5 I have shown a diagram in which the point f represents
the centre around which the series of anti-friction balls is to be revolved, and f¹ a
circle of the same diameter as one of these balls. The converging lines f³, f³,
extend to the point and intersect the circle fat points ƒ³ƒ³, ƒ_ƒ* and ƒƒ.
In order to determine the desired angles of the bearing surfaces for engaging
with the balls at the said points of intersection, I construct lines fƒ³, ƒ³ —ƒ³, ƒ¹º — ƒ 10
which are respectively tangential to the points f³-f, ƒ—ƒ³, ƒ¹ƒ?.” It will thus be
readily understood that, providing the diameter of the anti-friction balls and the
diameter of the circle in which the centres of the said, balls are to revolve, are
known, the transverse angles of the bearing surfaces of the grooves for the said
balls may be readily ascertained, and the amount of projection of the balls within
the said grooves may be regulated at will by defining the points of contact of the
sides of the grooves with the adjacent bearing parts of the surface of the balls.
It is evident that, instead of forming the entire sides of the grooves for receiving
the anti-friction balls, of the required transverse angle, the portions of the said sides
adapted to come in contact with the balls may be so constructed and arranged, and
the remaining portions of the said grooves be curved or inclined or shaped in any
other desired manner.
The operation of my invention will be readily perceived from the foregoing
description and upon reference to the drawing, and it will be particularly noted that
the same is simple in construction and arrangement, and that the balls of my
improved bearing revolve freely in the grooves or between the bearing faces thereof,
without any sliding movement, and consequently without the wear and heating
incidental to such sliding movement.
It is evident, however, that the construction and arrangement of the parts of my
improved bearing may, if desired, be somewhat modified without departing from the
nature of my invention.
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 :-
First. A ball-bearing which is so constructed that a straight line extending from
the centre (or approximately from the centre) about which the series of balls
revolves and through the point of contact of either ball with the bearing surface of
larger diameter in the groove of either bearing section, will also pass through the
point of contact of the said ball with the bearing surface of smaller diameter in the
said groove.
Second. A ball-bearing which is constructed with grooved sections having balls
interposed between them, and wherein the points at which each ball is in contact
with the bearing surfaces in the grooves of the said sections, lie in the face of an
imaginary cone whose vertex or apex is (approximately) at the centre of rotation
of the bearing, the said points of contact being arranged symmetrically with relation
to the axis of the cone, and all of the points of contact on one side of the said axis
being in one of the said sections and all of the points of contact on the opposite
side of the said axis being in the other section, substantially as herein before
.described.
Third. The combination, with a shaft, of grooved sections one of which is fast
on the said shaft and the other of which is held stationary, and one of which is
adjustable toward and away from the other, balls interposed between the said
sections and located in the grooves thereof, the points at which each ball is in
contact with the bearing surfaces in the grooves of the said sections lying in the
face of an imaginary cone whose vertex or apex is (approximately) at the centre of
the shaft, the said points of contact being arranged symmetrically with relation to
the axis of the cone, and all of the points of contact on one side of the said axis

page_text: being in the section fast on the shaft and all of the points of contact on the opposite
side of the said axis being in the stationary section, substantially as described.
Fourth. The improved ball-bearing constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1 and 2, or to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawing, for the
purposes specified.
HENRY LA CASSE.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
HENRY LA CASSE.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.