IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO BEARINGS FOR SHAFTS, AXLES, AND THE like
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Higginbotton and Edward Hutchinson, both of
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND RELATING TO BEARINGS FOR SHAFTS, AXLES, AND THE like,”
"
Sealed the 30th November 1877, and dated the 4th June 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Higginbottom and
Edward Hutchinson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
4th June 1877.
JAMES HIGGINBOTTOM and EDWARD HUTCHINSON, both of Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster. IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO BEARINGS FOR SHAFTS,
"
AXLES, AND THE LIKE."
"
This Invention relates to bearings specially arranged to be kept continually oiled
without waste of lubricant.
Upon the plain shaft we shrink, cast, weld, or turn a bush or projecting journal.
If shrunk on we prefer to make it of steel or phosphor bronze. This is turned up
true.
The brasses of the bearing on the cast-iron or other bearing if no brasses are used
is or are turned up true to fit the bush and overlap the ends of the same, but not to
sufficiently overlap to bear against the shaft. At each end of the bearing we con-
struct an oil chamber considerably greater in diameter than the bearing itself.
If it be a terminal bearing, one of these chambers can be entirely closed to the
outside except the cleaning hole hereafter described, but as a rule we make them
with the outside flange encircling the shaft, but with plenty of clearance to prevent
it rubbing against the same.
On each side the bearing, preferably separated from the journal by a narrow strip,
we construct a channel or groove in both top and bottom brass, or in the pedestal
and cap, or partially in both brasses and pedestal and cap, which grooves extend
Price 71

page_text: from one end to the other, freely communicating with the chambers at each end.
We also cut a deep longitudinal groove in the bottom brass and in the upper one
too if the brasses are, as we always prefer, turned to fit the pedestal and
reversable. These grooves extend the whole length of the bearing, and freely
communicate with the chambers at each end by holes the size of the grooves or
nearly so.
A screwed hole and plug in the outer wall of each chamber opposite the
groove enables a wire or rod to be poked right through the groove, and any dirt
to be cleaned out.
The manner of working is as follows-The shaft and bearing being erected
ready for working, we pour oil into one of the outside chambers till it is nearly full.
By this means the groove below the journal is entirely full of oil, pressing against
the shaft with a head due to the difference of level between the bottom of the journal
and the level of the oil in the chambers. As the shaft revolves rapidly it draws the
oil up with it, and the centrifugal and other forces at work cause the said oil to be
projected outward through the crack between the brasses. Instead, however, of
being wasted, it falls in the side channels, and is by them conducted into the end
chambers. The serowed plugs in the end chambers can be used when required to
empty the brasses, or to clean out the lower longitudinal groove. When the bottom
brass has worn considerably, the two can be changed about, and to effect this the
more easily, the two brasses are cast exactly aliko with the same longitudinal grooves
and plugged holes.
It will be seen that while we prefer that both the end chambers and side grooves
should be cast entirely in the brasses, and the brasses turned to fit the pedestal, it
is comparatively immaterial whether the side grooves and chambers at each end are
formed in the brasses or in the pedestal and cap; the principle is the same in both,
the object in all cases being,-
1st. To ensure the journal running continuously in oil.
2nd. To prevent that oil from running to waste.

page_text: In these Figure 1 is a front elevation; Figure 2, transverse section of brasses ;
Figure 3, plan.
•
Figure 4, plan of lower brass and pedestal; Figure 5, side view.
Figure 6, plan of shaft.
Figure 7, section through Z, Y, Figure 4.
This Invention relates to bearings specially arranged to be kept continually oiled
without waste of lubricant.
Upon the plain shaft A we shrink, cast, weld, or turn a boss or projecting journal
B. If shrunk on, we prefer to make it of steel or phosphor bronze. This is turned
up true.
The brasses of the bearing or the cast-iron or other bearing if no brasses are used,
is or are turned up truc to fit the boss and overlap the ends of the same, but not to
sufficiently overlap to bear against the shaft. In the Drawing brasses are shown.
At each end of the bearing we construct an oil chamber C, considerably greater in
diameter than the bearing B itself.
If it be a terminal bearing, one of these chambers can be entirely closed to the
outside, except the cleaning hole E hereafter described, but as a rule we make them
with the outside flange Fencircling the shaft, but with plenty of clearance to prevent
it rubbing against the same.
On each side, the bearing preferably separated from the journal by a narrow strip,
wo construct a channel or groove G in both top and bottom brass, or in the pedestal
or cap, or partially in both pedestal and cap, which groove extends from one end to
the other, freely communicating with the chambers Cat each end. We also cut a
deep longitudinal groove H in the bottom brass and in the upper one also if the
brasses are (as we always prefer) turned to fit the pedestal and reversable. These
grooves extend the whole length of the bearing, and freely communicate with the
chambers C at each end by holes the size of the grooves or nearly so.
A screwed hole and plug I in the outer wall J of each chamber opposite the groove
enables a wire or rod to be pushed right through the groove, and any dirt to be
cleaned out.
The manner of working is as follows:-The shaft and bearing being erected ready
for working, we pour oil into one of the outside chambers C till it is nearly full.
By this means the groove H below the journal B is entirely full of oil, pressing
against the shaft with a head due to the difference of level between the bottom of
the journal and the level of the oil in the chambers. As the shaft revolves it draws
the oil up with it, and the centrifugal and other forces at work cause the said oil to
be projected outward through the joint between the brasses. Instead, however, of
being wasted, it falls into the side channels G, G, and is by them conducted into the
end chambers C. The screwed plugs E in the end chambers can be used, when
required, to empty the brasses or to clean out the lower longitudinal groove. When
the bottom brass has worn considerably, the two can be changed about, and to effect
this the more easily, the two brasses are cast exactly alike with the same longitudinal
grooves and plugged holes.
It will be seen that while we prefer that both chambers and grooves should be
cast entirely in the brasses, and the brasses turned to fit the pedestal, it is com-
paratively immaterial whether the grooves and chambers at each end are formed in
the brasses or in the pedestal and cap; the principle is the same in both, the objects
in all cases being,-
First. To ensure the journal running continuously in oil.
Second. To prevent that oil from running to waste

page_text: And, Third. To keep the channels unimpeded and so that they can be easily
cleaned.
Having now described our Invention, and the best mode known to us of carrying
it into effect, we wish it to be understood that we do not claim as our Invention
the bossed shaft taken by itself, nor yet the principle of keeping the boss on
the shaft continuously running in oil; but what we believe to be new, and do
claim as our Invention under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is :-
1st. The combination of the boss B, the side channels H with the groove G,
and the chambers C, or their respective mechanical equivalents for the purpose
described.
2nd. The general arrangement of bearing containing means for keeping the
bearing running in oil, and of being cleaned out while running, substantially as
described.
3rd. The construction in each of the brasses of the groove G and side channels H,
or their mechanical equivalents, and making the said brasses by turning or otherwise
similar and interchangeable for the purposes described.
In witness whereof, wo, the said James Higginbottom and Edward Hutchinson,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-sixth day of November,
in the year of our Lord 1877.
Witness,
JOHN HAYS,
Apprentice to
W. P. Thompson, C.E.,
Patent Offico,
6, Lord Street,
Liverpool.
(L.S.)
JAMES HIGGINBOTTOM.
EDWARD HUTCHINSON. (LS.)