Improvements in Roller Bearings.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1891
Improvements in Roller Bearings.
I, CHARLES DICKINSON MENEELY, of West Troy, County of Albany, State
of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in roller bearings and has for its objects
to provide a roller thrust and step bearing, which shall be light and reduce the
friction to a minimum.
I attain these objects by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a cross section through the shaft showing a plan of the roller bearing.
in contact with a collar keyed to the shaft.
Fig. 2 is a pair of truncated cones showing the manner of determining the sizes
of the rollers.
Fig. 3 is a pin or spindle, and
Fig. 4 shows the shaft and bevelled collar and a section through the bearing box
showing the rollers in contact with said collar.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
To the shaft A the collar B is secured or formed upon as part of the shaft.
Said collar B is provided with two lateral bevelled surfaces C, extending from the
shaft outwardly and approaching each other, as shown in Fig. 4. The bearing
box X is provided at each lateral end with a bevelled disk Z corresponding in
pitch to the bevelled surface C of the collar. but flaring outwardly from the shaft
in an opposite direction to that of the bevelled surface of the collar adjacent
thereto, as shown in Fig. 4.
Between the bevelled disk Z of the bearing box and the bevelled surface C of
the collar and in contact with each, I place a number of conically shaped tubular
rollers arranged to take up the speed of the various portions of the bevelled
surface C of the collar B.
,
The bevelled disk Z may be apart, separate from the bearing box if desired, but
must be stationary and form a bearing surface for the rollers.
I construct these rollers by dividing a tubular roller in the shape of a truncated
cone, having its pitch conforming to that of the surface C of the collar B and the
disk Z, transversely into three parts, forming three conically shaped rollers D, E
and F, see Fig. 2, each of said rollers being shorter than the distance from the
outer edge of the collar to the shaft. I arrange these rollers in the following
manner, the largest rollers D are placed between the surface C of the collar and
the stationary bevelled disk Z near the outer edge of the collar, the smaller rollers E
are placed between the bevelled surface C and the bevelled disk Z nearer the shaft
than the rollers D and overlapping or breaking joints between the rollers D, and
the rollers F are placed still nearer the shaft between the bevelled surface C and
the bevelled disk Z and overlapping or breaking joints between the rollers E, as
shown in Fig. 1.
I place through the rollers spindles or pins G, in such a manner that each
spindle shall pass through one of the largest rollers D and through the overlapping
roller next adjacent to it of the series E, and from thence through the roller F next
adiacent to and overlapping said roller E.

page_text: As thus arranged, a roller of the series D has two spindles passing through it,
each one of which passes through separate but adjacent rollers of the series E and
through the same roller of the series F.
At the end of each spindle is formed a cap or head H, which is in contact with
the surface of the roller F nearest the shaft, and which is for the purpose of
keeping the spindles in place. As thus arranged, the spindles alternately interlock
or interweave the conical shaped tubular rollers around the collar and between the
collar and the stationary bevelled disk. They also by this arrangement, prevent
the rollers from being forced outwardly and away from the shaft.
With the rollers thus constructed formed in the shape of truncated cones and
arranged between and in contact with the bevelled surfaces of the collar and the
bearing disk, said rollers being alternately interwoven by means of the spindles or
pins to encircle the shaft, when the bevelled collar turns each of the rollers in
contact therewith revolve, as do also the spindles which serve to keep the rollers in
position and in alignment, and the friction generated is reduced to a minimum.
The tendency of the thrust of the shaft and collar is to force everything between
the bevelled surface of the collar and the stationary bevelled disk outwardly away
from the shaft. This result is prevented by the construction and position of my
rollers and the arrangement of the spindles, and very little, if any, friction is
generated because of the constant movement of the rollers and spindles, and a
total absence of sliding contact.
It is understood that I place my roller bearing on each side of the collar. Cin
contact with each of the bevelled surfaces and with each of the bevelled disks
of the bearing box.
My invention is particularly well adapted for use in connection with the crank
or propelling shaft of a steamship.
The horizontal thrust of the shaft to which the propelling shaft of a ship is
attached, is enormous and the friction generated at the bearings is so great as to
necessitate a continuous stream of water or oil being applied thereto and a great
deal of power is lost in consequence.
By means of my roller bearing, the friction would be reduced to a minimum.
Water or oil would not be necessary, except in limited quantities if at all, and the
power necessary to operate the shaft would be greatly reduced.
It is apparent that my invention may be used as a step bearing with the same
advantage which I claim for it as a thrust bearing, and I therefore do not limit
myself in any way to the application of my invention for thrust bearing.
I do not limit myself to the number of series of rollers, for although I have
shown but three, D, E, and F, the number may be increased, provided they are
arranged to break joints or lap past each other at their ends, and arranged with
rods or spindles, substantially as described.
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
1st. In a roller bearing, the, combination of a series of conically shaped tubular
rollers, a bevelled collar secured to the shaft, a stationary bevelled bearing disk,
said rollers placed between the bevelled surfaces of said collar and said disk, each
of said rollers being shorter than the distance from the outer edge of the collar to
the shaft, with rods passing through said rollers alternately, substantially as
described and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. In a roller bearing, the combination of a series of conically shaped tubular
rollers placed between and in contact with a bevelled collar secured to the shaft
and a stationary bevelled bearing disk, each of said rollers being shorter than the
distance from the shaft to the outer edge of said collar, said rollers arranged to
break joints or lap past each other at their inner ends, with rods arranged to

page_text: pass through said rollers and alternately interlock or interweave said rollers
around the shaft and between the collar and the bearing box, substantially as
described and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 10th day of November 1891.
CHARLES DICKINSON MENEELY.
By Herbert & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.