Improvements in Anti-friction Bearings.
Year: 1896

page_text: Da'e of Application, 16th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 2nd May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Anti-friction Bearings.
I, BENJAMIN FRANKLYN SPARR, of No. 3 Centre Street, in the City of
Newark, County of Essex and State of New Jersey, United States of America,
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 :-
This invention relates to an improvement in that class of anti-friction bearings
comprising two or more series of concentric confining rings and interposed series
of spherical balls; and the object of the invention is to render such bearing capable
of detachment from the relatively rotating members of the train of mechanism
between which it is designed to be interposed, for the purpose of cleaning and
repair, without disturbing the initial relation of the several members of the bearing,
and to afford access to the balls when desired.
The invention consists partly in the provision of a peripheral groove in one of
the confining members for each series of balls and the application thereto of an
auxiliary split ring to offer a barrier to the relative displacement of said adjacent
members; and partly in the construction of a bearing of alternate confining rings
and annular series of spherical balls projected laterally beyond the same to receive
directly the thrust of rotary flat wearing plates.
The invention will be understood by reference to the annexed drawing, in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section at the center where hatched, of a step
bearing embodying the present improvement, and Fig. 2 is a plan of the same with
the upper parts removed to expose the confining rings and interposed balls.
.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section of one side of the two outer confining rings shown
in Figs. 1 and 2, upon a larger scale.
Fig. 4 is a side view of one of the auxiliary split locking rings.
Fig. 5 is an elevation, partly in section where hatched, of a modified form of the
improvement as applied to a pulley hub, and Fig. 6 a similar view of another
modification.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the vertical shaft is shown provided with
a circular plate or disk r with hub fixed thereon by means of a set screw, and
the similar plate or disk t, which is mounted loosely upon said shaft, provided with
bub t the upper portion of which is broken away.
The three concentric confining rings a, a' and a' are shown formed with channels
in their adjacent faces to receive the interposed series of spherical balls b and b¹;
the inner rings a¹ and a² being formed with peripheral grooves adjacent to the path
of said balls in which are inserted the split rings c (formed preferably of spring
wire) each serving as one side of the confining channel of its respective ring.
Hard steel wearing plates w are interposed between the plates and t and the
laterally projecting portions of the balls b and 6'; these wearing plates may be
provided with annular raised seats for contact with the balls if more clearance is
desired.
It is obvious that the rings a, a¹ and a' in this construction serve merely to retain
the balls bb' in their normal annular relation, the thrust between the plates r and t
upon the shaft being transmitted directly from the wearing plates w to the balls
and independently of said confining rings; and that the entire anti-friction member
thus formed may be detached from the relatively rotating parts of the mechanism
for cleaning or other purposes without disturbing their initial relation. It is also
obvious that, by removing the auxiliary split ring c, which is merely sprung into

page_text: its respective groove in the primary ring a' or a², the balls of the adjacent series
may be withdrawn from the space intermediate to its confining rings.
In Fig. 5, the hub H of the pulley P is shown recessed in each end to receive
the outer ring d of an anti-friction bushing whose inner ring e is mounted upon and
fixed to the shafts by means of a set screw v, such inner ring being of slightly
taper form and provided at the smaller and inner end with a peripheral groove
containing a split locking ring e' similar in construction and operation to the ring c
already described in relation to the preceding figures. In this construction, the
confining members offered by the rings d and e serve also as wearing members in
lieu of the additional parts wo described above.
In cases wherein an anti-friction bushing is required to sustain a heavy lateral
thrust, the construction illustrated in Fig. 6 may be employed. In this device the
outer ring m is provided along the edges with ribs to form an annular channel m¹,
and the inner ring n is constructed of plain cylindrical form with a peripheral
groove intermediate to the edges for the reception of the split ring 2. Series of
spherical balls o are interposed between said rings upon each side of the ring c²
and suitably spaced by means of loose rings u. It will be observed that the split
ring serves to lock the several members of the bushing together, as the balls o
engage both edges of the channel m' and the said ring which operates when in
place as a part of the ring n.
From the above description it will be seen that the function of the auxiliary
split ring is the same whether applied to an anti-friction bushing or to any other
form of bearing of the class described serving in each case to confine the
interposed balls between the concentric rings and permitting the release of the
balls from such primary concentric rings by the detachment of said auxiliary
split ring.
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 :-
1. In an anti-friction bearing constructed of two or more concentric rings
confining interposed series of spherical balls, the combination, with one or more of
said rings formed each with a peripheral groove, of an auxiliary split ring fitted to
said groove and adapted to offer a barrier to the relative displacement of said ring
and contiguous series of balls, as and for the purpose set forth.
2. An anti-friction member composed of two or more concentric rings formed
with channels in their adjacent peripheries, and series of interposed spherical balls
projected laterally from the intervening space or spaces, as and for the purpose
set forth.
Dated this 16th day of March 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.