Anti-friction or Roller Journal Box.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Aug., 1859-Accepted, 14th Sept., 1889
CUM LEIE DI MOLTIVATION.
Anti-friction or Roller Journal Box.
I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, (which has been commu-
nicated to me from abroad by Charles Wesley Brewer, Clergyman, of Denver,
Colorado, United States of America), and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
-
This invention relates to an improved form and construction of anti-friction journal
boxes of that type in which the main shaft is supported by and rotates upon rollers,
themselves capable of rotation in a proper cage or case; and its objects are to produce a
bearing of such type in which friction shall be reduced to a minimum, danger of dis-
arrangement, displacement and loss of paralellisin of the rollers shall be avoided and
they be reliably maintained in their proper positions relatively to each other and to the
main shaft; a journal box adapted for use either as an intermediate or as a terminal bear-
ing for a shaft in which provision is made for an end or longitudinal thrust or move-
ment of the main shaft so that it may be particularly well fitted for use with the axles of
railway and other cars and vehicles, of comparatively simple and economical construc-
tion in view of the utility thereof and results attained thereby, reliable, durable and
efficient in operation; to which ends it consists in the features, constructions and
combinations more particularly hereinafter described and claimed.
In the drawings is illustrated an embodiment of the invention, wherein
Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of my improved journal box taken on the
line of figure 2.
Figure 2 is an end view of the same with the end cap of the case removed, and
with an upper part broken away to show a bearing roller in section on the line y-y
of Figure 1.
In these figures the reference numeral 1 indicates the exterior case or shell of the
bearing or journal box finished on its interior as a true cylinder. Secured to the
ends thereof by bolts or other suitable fastening devices are the heads 2. 3.,
the former of which, where the box is used as a terminal bearing, being of a peculiar
combination hereinafter described. The cap 3 is formed with a central aperture
When it
permitting the passage therethrough and into the box of the main shaft 6.
is desired to thoroughly protect the bearings within the case and prevent the access
thereto of grit, dirt etc., the cap 3 may be secured around its central aperture and a
suitable packing or packing gland be secured therein fitting snugly around the shaft,
the cap being herein shown as having a shouldered recess in which is seated the
packing ring or gland 4 retained in position by the ring plates 5 secured thereover to
the cap..
Within the box the shaft 6 is surrounded and supported by a series or plural
number of tubular rollers 7 of such diameter that they contact with or impinge at
diametrically opposite points against the shaft 6 and the interior surface of the
casing. Six of such tubular rollers at some little distance apart are herein shown as
surrounding the shaft but the number and size thereof and their distance apart may
be varied, and so many may be used or those that are used may be of such diameter
that they approach quite closely to each other or even touch, the essential thing irrespec-
tive of size and number being that they shall take both upon the shaft and the interior
surface of the shell or cage.
These tubular rollers are secured and maintained in their proper relative positions
by bolts or rods 9 passing therethrough and attached at both ends to the travelling
rings 8. 8. These bolts are reduced at the ends for a distance sufficient to pass through
the travelling rings so that the latter may take against a shoulder at the inner end
of such reduced portion, though such shoulder for the seating of the rings may be

page_text: formed by a collar or other suitable stopping device secured upon an unreduced end
of a bolt. The ends of the bolts being passed through suitable apertures in the
travelling rings, the rings are clamped in position by nuts secured upon the ends of
the bolts, or by riviting, or any other known means, though the use of the nuts as
shown is preferable as giving greater facility for the ready assemblage or detachment
of the parts.
The tubular rollers 7 are closed at their ends by heads 11 screw seated therein, the
bolts passing through central apertures therein. These heads may be provided with
a couple of holes each or slots by which a wrench or screw driver may be applied,
but as such is a common and well known expedient it is not herein illustrated.
At a short distance proportionately from the ends of the bolts 9, collars 10 are
formed with or secured to the bolts forming at each end of each bolt in connection
with the heads 11 thereof, chambers or cages in which is placed a plural number of
rollers 12 surrounding in each cage a bolt 9 and impinging thereupon and upon the
inner periphery of the tubular roller. In Figure 2 six of such rollers 12 are shown
around the bolt, but it is evident that the number and size thereof may be varied
so long as enough thereof are used and of such size as to give a tubular roller 7 a
rolling bearing on its bolt 9.
The main rollers 7, the bolts 9, the lesser rollers 12 and the travelling rings 8 being
secured together as shown and described, forms a cage or roller bearing which is
placed within the casing 1 and secured therein by suitable end caps, the result being
that a box is formed for a shaft 6 in which every bearing is a roller bearing and in
which all the strain or stress put thereon by the shaft is transferred to the shell or case
and any support used therefor entirely by rolling contacts which ensues a minimum
of friction and a loss of power.
As there may be necessity for some longitudinal movement of the shaft and its
immediate bearings or such movement may occur undesignedly, provision should be
made to guard against any unnecessary wear thereby and to replace the parts apt
necessarily to be the most worn. Wear from such cause would of course occur mainly at
the ends, hence the ends of the casing within the caps are slightly concaved, say with
a concavity that is or approaches a quadrant of a circle of suitable diameter as shown
at 14, the ends of the rollers 7 being correspondingly convexed or rounded, the space
between the travelling rings 8. 8. being somewhat greater than the length of the
interposed rollers. This avoids the danger of angular corners grinding into the casing
or any part thereof. As, however, there will necessarily be some wear at the concaved
bearing points, it is preferable to form those in hardened or chilled rings 13 of iron or
steel or other suitable wearing metal that such bearing points may be easily renewed,
the rings being held in end grooves in the casing by the caps or heads.
Where the box is to be used as an intermediate bearing, that is one through which
a shaft
passes, both the heads or caps would be apertured as is head 3 for such passage
of the shaft, and the casing 1 may be made in two or more sections properly secured
together by lugs or ears and bolts in the ordinary and well known manner. The exterior
of the case may be of such form and such contour in section as is best adapted for the
peculiar position a particular box is to be used in and may be secured in its proper
position by lugs, brackets or clips or by being placed in an exterior supporting case
all as now practiced with many forms of bearing.
Where the box is to be used as the terminal bearing of a shaft, as for instance with a
railway car axle, provision should be made for end or longitudinal thrust or movement,
for which the peculiar cap 2 is well adapted. Such cap has a central exteriorly closed
hub or projection 15 forming a recess 16 within the cap. The exterior form of such
hub or projection is immaterial the material thing being the recess or chamber 16
within which is placed any suitable spring herein typified by the block rubber
spring 17 upon whose inner face takes the base of a cage or chamber for containing
a ball bearing. Such cage is formed of the base 18 from which projects inwardly the
wall 19 forming the cage or chamber for the reception of the ball 20 against which
takes the end of the shaft 6. Such chamber is of greater diameter than the ball, as shown,
that the latter may roll around therein and be a true ball bearing, for if the cage or

page_text: chamber were only large enough to receive the ball and were centrally located, the
ball would simply turn therein on one axis as a pin and not relieve the friction to any
appreciable extent. The walls of chamber 16 are carried inward to form a stop 22,
or other suitable stop may be properly placed, to limit the end movement of the axle.
This connection gives play and opportunity for an end wise movement of the shaft
equal to the distance of its end from the stops 22, while the end of the shaft is always
maintained in contact with the ball bearing 20.
It should have been noted that when the box is to be used as an intermediate bear-
ing means may be used for preventing any longitudinal movement of the shaft in the
box and such incans might be a collar or collars on the shaft or a ring collar on the
head of the box taking in a groove around the shaft.
All and any of the various component parts may be made of such materials as
are best adapted for the functions and offices of such parts in the structure.
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 I claim is:
1st A journal box consisting of a shell or casing a plural number of main rollers
located therein, an equal number of bolts, one for and passing through each main
roller, travelling rings secured to the ends of the bolts and holding the main rollers in
a cage-like structure and two series of a plural number of small rollers within each
main roller, one series at each end thereof and surrounding the belt therein, substantially
as set forth.
2nd A journal box consisting of a shell or casing a plural number of main rollers
therein, a cap at one end of the casing apertured for the passage of a shaft and a closed
cap at the other end thereof having an interior central recess or chamber, a spring seated
therein, a cage or chamber located upon the spring and a ball bearing in and of less
diameter than the cage or chamber, substantially as set forth.
3rd A journal box consisting of a shell 1, tubular rollers 7 having rounded ends
engaging with correspondingly concaved seats in the shell, travelling rings 8-8, bolts
passing through rollers, and secured to the rings, smaller rollers within the rollers 7
and a cap or caps apertured for the passage of a shaft, substantially as set forth.
4th A journal box consisting of a shell 1, tubular rollers 7, travelling rings 8. 8,
bolts 9 having shoulders or collars 10 and passing through the rollers and secured to
the rings, smaller rollers 12 within the tubular rollers, a cap 3 apertured for the
passage of a shaft 6, a closed cap 2 having chamber 16 on its interior, a spring seated in
such chamber, a cage or chamber composed of a base 18 and wall 19 seated on the spring
and a ball bearing 20 in and of less diameter than its cage or chamber, substantially
as set forth.
Dated this 6th day of August 1889.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.