Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1888
1, JOSEPH Horwood, of No. 103 Old Park Lane, Southport, in the County of
Lancaster, a Retired Engineer of the Royal Navy, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists in constructing a seperate Sole Plate with suitable guides to
prevent it from moving in the direction of the axis of the shaft but permitting of a
limited movement transversely thereto upon the bed plate of the bracket (or other
fixing) which carries the bearing, and with a shallow circular boss in the centre of its
upper face through the centre of which is a vertical hole, this face of the sole plate
may also be surrounded with a rim and provided with recesses for receiving the waste
oil from the bearing. On the said sole plate is a vertical Stud with a hole through
the centre, and with a recess at the bottom corresponding with the boss on the sole
plate, a bolding down bolt passes through the vertical stud and through the sole
plate and also through a slotted hole in the bed plate of the bracket (or other fixing)
which carries the bearing, to bind the three parts aforesaid together, after their several
positions in relation to each other have been adjusted by the rotation of the vertical
stud about the circular boss of the sole plate and by the sliding of the sole plate along
the bed plate of the bracket (or other fixing) beforementioned.
An external screw thread is cut (or cast) on the vertical stud, generally throughout
its whole length, but in some cases a short length at the bottom end is shaped to fit a
key or spanner.
A Step Carrier, having a vertical hole through its centre provided with a suitable
screw thread, is mounted upon the vertical stud and is raised or lowered by the
rotation of the latter for the adjustment of the height of the bearing, also when
such adjustment has been effected and the vertical stud has been fixed by the holding
down bolt, the axis of the bearing is set to line, and such minute rotatory movements
as may be impressed upon it by horizontal deflections of the shafting are provided for,

page_text: by rotatory movements of the step carrier upon the vertical stud. On the top of each
of the two opposite sides of the step carrier which are parallel with the axis of the
bearing, are two (or in some cases only one) short segmental grooves (or groove) the
circular faces of which radiate about a horizontal line, or axis, at right angles to and
at or above the level of the axis of the bearing, and these said grooves support the
Bottom bearing step (or in some cases a seperate Saddle on which the said bearing
step is seated) by means of short segmental ribs, corresponding in number and
position with the said grooves, which project from the sides of the bottom bearing
step (or from the sides of the saddle) and are so proportioned as to be free to slide or
make rotatory movements within the grooves of the step carrier while restricted from
any direct vertical or lateral movement. When there are two segmental grooves on
each side of the step carrier and two segmental projecting ribs on each side of the
bottom bearing step (or saddle) the gaps between the segmental grooves and between
the segmental ribs, respectively, are made longer than the segmental parts, and the
step carrier is interlocked with the bottom bearing step (or with the saddle) by placing
the segmental parts at one of the ends and the intermediate gaps of the latter,
respectively over the intermediate gaps and the segmental parts at the contrary end of
the step carrier, when the bearing step (or the saddle) may be lowered and its
projecting ribs placed within the grooves. The step carrier is interlocked with the
bottom bearing step (or with the saddle) in a similar manner when the said parts have
only one segmental groove and one segmental projecting rib on each of their respective
sides, and in both cases, the axis of the bearing is set to level, and such minute
rotatory movements as may be impressed upon it by vertical deflections of the shafting
are provided for, by rotatory movements of the bottom bearing step (or of the saddle)
in the grooves of the step carrier. The bottom bearing step (or the saddle) is also
provided with a lug (or with a recess) on each side, and there is a similar (or opposite)
lug on each side of the Top bearing step for connecting the two bearing steps (or
the top bearing step and the saddle) together, the bottom bearing step being fixed
in position, when a saddle is employed, by the connection of the latter with the top
bearing step.
2. In another form of my invention, a shallow circular boss on the upper face of a
seperate sole plate, fits directly into a corresponding recess on the underside or bottom
of a step carrier which has no central hole and screw thread but is provided on the
outer sides with two or more projecting ribs, which correspond in position with, and
are overlapped by, a like number of lugs of suitable form cast on the upper face of
the sole plate. The step carrier is thus free to make limited rotatory movements
about the raised boss of the sole plate while restricted, by the projecting ribs and lugs
aforesaid, from vertical movement thereon. When the bed plate of the bracket (or
other fixing) which carries the bearing is of metal, it is provided with a slotted hole,
and the sole plate has guides to determine its movement on such bed plate, and also a
hole in the centre for a holding down bolt. But when the sole plate of the bearing is
to be bedded on a softer or more friable material, as wood, or stone, the guide plates
are dispensed with and it is prepared to receive one or more holding down bolts at
each end. It is also more convenient in either case, in this form of my invention, to
place the receivers for waste oil on the step carrier. The sole plate and the step
carrier are placed in position together, by entering the circular boss of the former into
the corresponding recess of the latter while the two parts are, relatively to each other,
in such positions that the projecting ribs of the step carrier will pass clear of the lugs
of the sole plate, and rotating the former upon the latter until the projecting ribs of
the one part are overlapped by the lugs of the other, and when the sole plate has been
fixed in position by the holding down bolt (or bolts) the axis of the bearing is set to
line, and such minute rotatory movements as may be impressed upon it by horizontal
deflections of the shafting are provided for, by rotatory movements of the step carrier
upon the sole plate.
The modes of connecting the bottom bearing step (or the seperate saddle) with the
step carrier, and of providing for the adjustment of the bearing to level and for the

page_text: vertical deflections of the shafting, as also of connecting the bottom bearing step (or
saddle) with the top bearing step and of fixing the bottom bearing step in its
intermediate position when a saddle is employed, do not in any case necessarily differ
from the modes of effecting the like objects in the form of my invention hereinbefore
specified.
JOSEPH HOPWOOD of No. 103 Old Park Lane, Southport, in the County of
Lancaster, a retired Engineer of the Royal Navy, 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 :-
I construct a seperate sole plate with suitable guides to prevent it from moving in
the direction of the axis of the shafting but permitting of a movement transversely
thereto upon the bed plate of the bracket or other fixing which carries the bearing
and with a shallow circular boss or facing in the middle of its upper face through the
centre of which is a vertical hole. This face of the sole plate may also be surrounded
with a rim and provided with recesses for receiving the waste oil from the bearing;
Or the sole plate may be dispensed with when a seperate waste oil receiver is used.
On the sole plate is a vertical stud with a hole through the centre and with a recess,
or a projection, at the bottom corresponding with the boss on, or hole through, the
sole plate, a holding down bolt passes through the vertical stud and through the sole
plate and also through a slotted hole in the bed plate of the bracket or other fixing
which carries the bearing to bind the three parts aforesaid together after their several
positions in relation to each other have been adjusted by the rotation of the vertical
stud about the circular boss, or in the hole, of the sole plate and by the sliding of the
sole plate along the bed plate of the bracket or other fixing beforementioned. When
a seperate waste oil receiver is used, however, the vertical stud may be directly fixed
to the bed plate without the intervention of a sole plate; an external screw thread is
formed on the vertical stud generally throughout its whole length but in some cases a
short length at the bottom is shaped to be fitted by a key or spanner. A step carrier
having a vertical hole through the centre provided with a suitable screw thread is
mounted upon, and is raised or lowered for the adjustment of the height of the
bearing by the rotation of, the vertical stud, also after such adjustment and when the
vertical stud has been fixed by the holding down bolt, the bearing is set to line and

page_text: pivotted about a vertical axis by rotatory movements of the step carrier on the vertical
stud. On the top of each of the two opposite inner sides of the step carrier which
are parallel with the axis of the bearing are two, or in some cases only one, short
segmental grooves, or groove, the circular faces of which radiate about a horizontal
axis at right angles to, and at or above the level of the axis of, the bearing and these
said grooves support the bottom bearing step (which may be made in two parts of
different metals) by means of short segments which correspond in number and
position with the aforesaid grooves and project from the sides of the bottom bearing
step and which are so proportioned as to be free to slide or make rotatory movements
within the grooves of the step carrier while restricted from any direct vertical or
horizontal movement; When there are two segmental grooves on each side of the
step carrier and two projecting segments on each side of the bottom bearing step the
gaps between the segmental grooves and between the projecting segments, respectively,
are made longer than the segmental parts and the step carrier is interlocked with the
bottom bearing step by placing the segmental parts at one of the ends and the
intermediate gaps of the latter, respectively over the intermediate gaps and the segmental
parts at the contrary end of the step carrier when the bearing step may be lowered
and its projecting segments placed within the grooves; The step carrier is interlocked
with the bottom bearing step in a similar manner when the said parts have only one
segmental groove and one projecting segment on each of their respective sides and in
both cases the bearing is set to level and pivotted about a horizontal axis by rotatory
movements of the bottom bearing step in the grooves of the step carrier. The bottom
bearing step is also provided with a lug, or with a recess, on each side and there is a
similar, or opposite, lug on each side of the top bearing step to receive the bolts for
connecting the two bearing steps together, and when the bottom bearing step is in
two parts which are not soldered or otherwise made to adhere together the inner part
is held in place by the connection of the outer part with the top bearing step.
In another form of this invention in which the bearing is not inherently adjustable
in height, a shallow upright circular boss on the upper face of a seperate sole plate
fits into a corresponding recess in the underside or bottom of a step carrier which has
no central hole and screw thread to retain it in position vertically but is provided on
the outer sides with two or more projecting ribs which correspond in position with
and are overlapped by a like number of lugs of suitable form situated on the upper
face of the sole plate. The step carrier when in working position upon the sole plate
is free to make rotatory movements while restricted from any vertical movement
thereon by, and within the limits of the interlocking of, the projecting ribs and lugs,
and the two parts are placed in such position together by entering the boss of the
sole plate into the corresponding recess of the step carrier while the two parts are
in such relative positions that the projecting ribs of the latter will pass by the ends
of the lugs of the former and next rotating one part upon the other until the
projecting ribs are evenly overlapped by the lugs, and when the sole plate has been
fixed in position by the holding down bolt, the bearing is set to line and pivotted
about a vertical axis by similar rotatory movements of the step carrier on the fixed
sole plate; When the bed plate of the bracket or other fixing which carries the
bearing is of metal it is provided with a slotted hole and the sole plate has guides to
determine its lateral movement on such bed plate and also a hole in the centre for
a holding down bolt by which it is fixed thereto.
The step carrier may, however, be directly connected to and pivotted upon a bed
plate or surface of metal without employing a seperate sole plate by making through
the bottom of such step carrier a round hole of suitable vertical midsection and
inserting therein a seperate circular pivotting boss of corresponding sectional form
provided with a hole for, or having, a bolt in the centre to bind the same to the bed
plate. But when a sole plate is employed and is to be bedded on a soft or friable
inaterial (as wood, or stone) the guides are dispensed with and it is provided with
holes to receive one or more bolts at each end instead of the central bolt. The modes
of connecting and pivotting the bottom bearing step to the step carrier and of
connecting the bottom and top bearing steps to each other as also of holding the inner

page_text: part of the bottom nearing step in place when not made adhesive to the outer part
hereinbefore severally specified may be adopted in any case whether the bearing is or
is not made inherently adjustable in height and irrespective of the manner in which
the step carrier is connected to, or the kind of, the bed plate or supporting surface.
I now proceed more particularly to describe my said invention by a reference to
the several figures on the explanatory sheets of drawings hereunto annexed using the
same letters of reference in the different views of the same parts and the same scale
(as given on sheet 3) throughout all the figures. Figures 1 and 2 (Sheet 1 of my
drawings) are respectively front and end views, Figures 3 and 4 a top view and a
vertical transverse midsection without the bearing steps, and Figures 5 and 6 the
front and bottom views of the bearing steps alone of my vertically adjustable bearing
as provided with a seperate waste oil receiver and fixed on a metal bed plate:
Figures 2 and 4 (Sheet 3) respectively show the transverse vertical midsection and a
top view of a part (broken off) of the bed plate of a wall bracket and illustrate the
manner in which my improved bearing is fixed thereto and the form of vertical stud
employed in conjunction with a seperate sole plate which is provided with recesses
for receiving the waste oil, Figures and 3 of the same sheet are respectively the
side and top views of the lower part (broken off) of a single-hanger which can he
adjusted transversely to the axis of the shaft independently of the bearing and show
the mode of attaching a similar vertical stud to such a hanger.
Referring to Sheet 1, S is the vertical stud screwed externally and having a
hexagonal Hange E at the bottom end which forms the sole plate and beds on three
facing pieces, shown in their lateral positions by dotted lines in Figure 3, it has a hole
in the centre for, with a recess fitting the head of, a holding down bolt and can be
rotated by a spanner applied either to the edges of the flange E or to the square at
the bottom end of the bolt. C is the step carrier with a central hole and internal screw
fitting the stud S and having at the top of its interior opposite sides two short
segmental grooves a, a¹ the curved faces of which radiate about a horizontal axis at
right angles to the axis and touching the top of the bearing as shown dotted at p
(Figure 2) D is the bottom bearing step provided at the bottom edges of the
Hattened parts of each of its two opposite sides with two short projecting segments b,
which are fitted to the grooves of the step carrier (by a process of grinding which does
not form a part of this invention) and are entered therein by inclining the bearing steps
as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1, for which purpose notches or hollows are
made in the step carrier at r,, and passing either of the two segments b¹, b, or b, b
through the gaps c, e (Figures 1 and 3, or Figure 1 Sheet 4) the bottom bearing step
may, however, be as conveniently entered singly provided that the bolts which connect
the two bearing steps are first placed in the holes of the lugs d, d; The bolt hole in
the bed plate (not shown) is slotted transversely to the axis of the shafting for setting
the bearing in position laterally its fixture therein by the bolt being supplemented by
keys fitted between the edge of the flange E of the vertical stud and lugs on the bed
plate, the adjustment of the bearing to height is effected by rotating the stud S within
the step carrier and it is set or pivotted to line with the shafting by rotatory
movements of the step carrier on the vertical stud (which movements being of minute
range do not appreciably vary the height) after the latter has been fixed in position
by the holding down bolt and, finally, the bearing is set and pivotted to level with the
shafting by rotatory movements of the segments and of the bottom bearing step
in the grooves a and a¹ of the step carrier the said segments and grooves being kept
interlocked by the shafting on its being place and while it remains in any two
adjacent bearings: The top bearing step is provided with lugs d¹, d' for connecting it
to the bottom bearing step and acts also as a cap.
Returning to Sheet 3 A, A (Figures 2 and 4) represents a part of the bed plate of
a wall bracket provided with retaining lugs 1, land with a central slotted hole for a
holding down bolt B, B is the seperate sole plate of the bearing resting on three
facing pieces underneath (shown by the dotted lines in Figure 4) and provided with
recesses for waste oil at each end which act against the sides of the bed plate as guides
to prevent any motion of the sole plate in the direction of the axis of the bearing

page_text: while permitting of its adjustment transversely thereto. The vertical stud S is
screwed throughout its exterior and has a projection at the bottom end which fits
into the round hole in the centre of the sole plate and both parts are simultaneously
fixed to the bed plate of the bracket by the central bolt, the sole plate may also
be afterwards keyed between the lugs 1, 7 in the usual manner; A step carrier
and bearing steps similar to or interchangeable with those illustrated on Sheet 1
are used in connection with such a wall bracket and also with a single-hanger such
as is partly shown in Figures 1 and 3 the vertical stud in this latter case being
also similar to or interchangeable with the one shown in connection with the wall
bracket in Figures 2 and 4.
On Sheet 2 Figures 1 and 2 respectively represent a front view and a transverse
vertical midsection without the top bearing step Figure 3 is a top view of the sole
plate and step carrier without both the bearing steps and Figure 4 is a top view
of the sole plate alone of my improved bearing when not made inherently adjustable
in height. The bearing steps in this case being similar to or interchangeable with
those illustrated on Sheet I have not been more fully introduced into the figures
under present notice; The sole plate E has on its upper face an upright circular
bosse which fits into the corresponding recess shown at the bottom of the step carrier
and lugs, at the ends which overlap the corresponding projecting ribs h, at the
bottom of the two opposite sides of the step carrier which is turned aside out of its
normal position to allow the projecting ribs to pass down by the ends of the lugs
while being entered in place over the boss e. The projection o, o on the bottom of
the sole plate fits against the sides of a slotted hole in the bed plate which also
receives the holding down bolt (not shown) or against the sides of recesses at the
ends of a less slotted bolt hole, as shown in outline by Figure 4 of Sheet 4; The
bearing is set and pivotted to line with the shafting by rotatory movements of the
step carrier about the boss e and the step carrier is held down upon the sole plate by
the projecting ribs and lugs which together with the segmental grooves and the
segments of the step carrier and the bottom bearing step, respectively, are kept in the
interlocked position by the shafting on its being placed and while it remains in any
two adjacent bearings and the sole plate is fixed upon the bed plate by a single central
bolt supplemented by keys at the ends of the sole plate in the usual manner. Figures 5
and 6 are respectively top and side views of the form of sole plate employed when
more than one holding down bolt is required.
On Sheet 4 Figures 1 and 2 respectively represent a longitudinal vertical midsection
and an end view of the step carrier with pivotting boss and Figure 3 is a bottom view
of the pivotting boss alone of my improved shaft bearing as directly connected to and
pivotted upon a bed plate or surface of metal without a sole plate. In this case the
circular hole through the bottom of the step carrier and the pivotting boss e have the
vertical midsectional form shown in Figure 1, the pivotting boss has a projection o, o
underneath which fits against the sides of a plain slot hole or against the sides of
recesses at the ends of a shorter slot hole, as outlined by Figure 4, and a hole through
the centre for a bolt by which it is fixed to the bed plate, the step carrier rests on four
facing pieces and pivots about the fixed boss. The bearing steps being similar to and
interchangeable with those illustrated on Sheet 1 are not shown in these figures.
The remaining figures on Sheet 4 are illustrations of my improved shaft bearing as
provided with only one segmental groove and one projecting segment on each side of
the step carrier and of the bottom hearing step respectively and when the latter is in
two parts which are not made to adhere to each other; Figure 5 is a longitudinal
vertical midsection without the top bearing step, Figure 6 is a transverse vertical
midsection of the bearing complete excepting the bolts, Figure 7 is a top view of
the step carrier with pivotting boss alone and Figure 8 is a bottom view of the
two bearing steps alone without their connecting bolts; In this case the outer part
of the bottom bearing step is shortened to fit between the collars n, n of the inner
part D and the ends are rounded underneath at the parts s, s to permit of its
inclination while being connected to the step carrier which is effected before the
inner part is fixed in place, the holes in the lugs d, d are opened through to the

page_text: front for the admission of the bolts which cannot be entered end on owing to
the projecting segments bb being situated directly underneath: The top bearing
step is shown as when made of cast iron and forming the cap (as in all the before-
mentioned cases) but in general when the bottom bearing step is made in two parts,
whether seperate or adhesive to each other, a light top bearing step or shell cap of
brass will suffice; Both bearing steps may in any case be fitted either with seperate
or adhesive liners of other metals and a step carrier with single segmental grooves
at the sides may be mounted on a screwed vertical stud or connected with a seperate
sole plate such as hereinbefore respectively described.
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
1. Pivotting shaft bearings about a horizontal axis by rotatory movements of a
bottom bearing step upon or within a step carrier through interlocking segments
and segmental grooves substantially as specified.
.
2. Pivotting about a vertical axis and also varying the height of shaft bearings by
rotatory movements of a step carrier upon a vertical screwed stud which stud can
be rotated at will within the step carrier and fixed to the bed plate of the bracket
or other fixing which carries the bearing substantially as specified.
3. Pivotting shaft bearings about a vertical axis by rotatory movements of a step
carrier about an upright circular boss which forms part of a seperate sole plate or
is directly fixed upon the bed plate of the bracket or other fixing which carries the
bearing substantially as specified.