Means and Apparatus for Reducing Friction in Motive-power Engines and other Machinery.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 19th May, 1892-Accepted, 25th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Means and Apparatus for Reducing Friction in Motive-power
Engines and other Machinery.
We, WILLIAM SLATER of 2 Vermont Street, Millwright, and THOMAS
SLATER of Daly Street, Deane Road, Pattern Maker, both of Bolton in the
County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to means and apparatus for reducing friction in motive-
power engines and other machinery, and is designed to minimise undue friction in
bearings or journals for crank and other shafts, spindles, eccentrics, slide-blocks,
slide valves, and other sliding surfaces, and consists in providing the same in any
suitable manner with a convenient number of steel or other suitable metallic rollers
with centres in bearings. The latter are mounted in sliding or other fixings
provided with vertical or other means of adjustment. The rollers can be concaved,
convexed, or grooved on their wearing surfaces to reduce friction to the least
possible degree, by which lubrication will be facilitated and power increased.
Dated the 19th August 1891.
EDMUND CHADWICK,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Means and Apparatus for Reducing Friction in Motive-power
Engines and other Machinery.
We, WILLIAM SLATER of 2 Vermont Street, Millwright, and THOMAS
SLATER of Daly Street, Deane Road, Pattern Maker, both of Bolton in the
County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to means and apparatus for reducing friction in motive-
power engines and other machinery, and is designed to minimise undue friction in
bearings or journals for crank and other shafts, spindles, eccentrics, slide-blocks,
slide valves, and other sliding surfaces, and consists in providing the same in any
suitable manner with a convenient number of steel or other suitable metallic
rollers with centres in bearings. The latter are mounted in sliding or other
fixings provided with vertical or other means of adjustment. The rollers can be
concaved, convexed, or grooved on their wearing surfaces to reduce friction to the
least possible degree, by which lubrication will be facilitated and power increased.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an eccentric with our improvements applied, and
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of same.
The body A. of the eccentric is constructed in the usual manner and is provided
with the annular recess B in which the metallic rollers C operate. The rollers C
are attached to the centres D mounted in the bearings E on the end of the forked
fixings G. The latter fit in slots in the eccentric ring H, and are secured in
position therein by the set screws I, by which the fixings G may be adjusted
according to the wear of the rollers C.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a piston rod crosshead fitted with our improvements,
and
Fig. 4 is an end elevation of same.
Each end of the crosshead J is provided with a slot on each side in which is

page_text: disposed the forked fixing G provided with the bearings E. In the latter are
placed the centres D of the metallic rollers C. The rollers C operate or rotate on
the slide bar K according to the movement of the piston rod L. The rollers C
are provided with the ring M which rotates in the oil recess N in the slide bar K,
by which the lubrication of the rollers C will be facilitated. The forked 5
fixings G are secured to the crosshead J by the set screws I, by which they may
be adjusted according to the wear of the rollers C to maintain the piston rod L in
a central working position.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal elevation of a shaft mounted on rollers according to our
invention, and
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of same.
The fixing is provided with slots on each side in which are mounted the
forked fixings G with the bearings E carrying the centres D and metallic
rollers C. On the latter is mounted the shaft P, and as wear takes place the
central or true position may be maintained by adjusting the forked fixings G by
means of the adjusting screws 1. The fixing O is provided on its upper end with
the chamber to receive lubricant. The rollers Care disposed so that they dip
into the lubricant, and as rotation takes place the rollers convey it to the
shaft P.
Fig. 7 is a sectional longitudinal elevation of the slide valve of a steam engine 2
with our improvements applied for reducing friction, and
Fig. 8 is a transverse section through line S. T in Fig. 7.
The valve box cover a is provided with the taper slots or recesses & in which are
mounted the sliding plates c. The latter are fitted with the stuffing-boxes d
through which the bolts e pass to the slide valve f. The bottom end of each bolt e 2
is screwed into the valve f, and their upper ends are secured by the
nuts to the sliding fixing h. The valve-box cover a is provided with
the slots to allow the bolts e to travel according to the movements of the
valve To the valve-box cover a is cast or secured the box or chamber
with the facings k against which the sliding fixing operates in its to 3
and fro movements with the slide valve f. The sliding fixing his held in position
by the slides secured to the upper end of the box or chamber; by means of bolts
or set screws. The sliding fixing his held against the under side of the slides/
by the pressure imparted to the rollers C by the screws I. The sliding fixing his
provided with slots in which are mounted the forked fixings G with the bearings E
to receive the centres D carrying the metallic rollers C. The latter rotate on the
facings m according to the movements of the valve f. As the rollers C wear they
may be adjusted by means of the screws I in the forked fixings G, thus relieving
the valve of undue strain and minimising friction to the least possible degree
with efficiency so as to be steam tight. The valve f and the sliding fixing hare
also connected by means of the spindle n, nuts o, and arm p, the latter being
To ensure of
connected to the valve spindle V by means of the cap g and bolts r.
the sliding plates c making a tight joint in the slots or recesses b we employ the
springs t, held in position by the set screws v.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In combination with eccentrics and rings employed in motive-power engines
and other machinery the use of the rollers C and the means for carrying the same
and adjustment in case of wear for the purpose specified, substantially as described
with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings.
2. In combination with slide-blocks employed in motive-power engines and other
machinery the use of the rollers C, bearings E, centres D, forked fixings G, and
the setting screws I for the purpose specified, substantially as described with
reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the annexed drawings..
3. In combination with revolving shafts the use of the rollers C, bearings E,

page_text: centres D, forked fixings G, and the setting screws I, for the purpose specified,
substantially as described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6 of the annexed
drawings.
4. In combination with slide valves of motive-power engines the use of the
rollers C together with the means of connection and adjustinent in case of wear
for the purpose specified, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8
of the annexed drawings.
5. The several arrangements, constructions, and combinations of parts consti-
tuting our improvements in means and apparatus for reducing friction in motive-
power engines and other machinery, substantially as described and as illustrated in
the annexed drawings.
1000
EDMUND CHADWICK,
Agent.