Dearing Spindles or Axles and similar Parts of Machinery.
Year: 1886

page_text: Dearing
Spindles or Axles and similar Parts of Machinery.
I, NATHANIEL RIX, of London Colney in the County of Hertford, Farmer do
hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:
My invention relates to improved means for automatically and continuously
lubricating spindles or axles or similar rotating parts of machinery, and consists
in providing a bearing constructed as hereinafter described with a recess or
chamber (one or more) for containing the lubricating material, in combination
with a rotating ring, collar or lifter (one or more) arranged upon the axle, spindle,
or shaft in such a manner as to enter and rotate within the chamber and lift
and distribute the oil or lubricant upon and along the said axle, spindle, or shaft.
In carrying the said invention into practice, I provide a bearing which may be
of any desired shape or configuration, and at each end of the same I provide a
recess or chamber for containing a supply of oil. Upon the spindle, shaft, or axle
which is to rotate within the bearing I provide collars or rings which are so located
as to dip into the oil chambers, that is to say, one collar in each oil chamber and
to rotate therein with the spindle, the latter lying partially within the recess which
is continued completely around the bearing, viz, in the upper, as well as in the
lower portion thereof, so that the ring or collar can rotate freely. I prefer to make
the collar or ring bevelled or inclined on its inner face so that the oil, as it is raised
from the lower portion of the recess or chamber, will be directed towards and along
the portion of the spindle lying within the bearing, that is to say, the portion
which requires to be lubricated; and one of these collars or rings being at each
end of the bearing the oil will thus be directed along the spindle from both of said
ends simultaneously, so that an effectual lubrication of the spindle will be con-
tinuously effected whilst the same is rotating. The rings or collars may be fixed
tightly upon the spindle or may be somewhat loose, and if desirable, may be notched
or indented upon the edge.
Although I prefer that the lubrication should be effected from each end of the
bearing as above described, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself
to this method as I may in some cases so construct the bearing as to have only one

page_text: recess, and the spindle only one collar; and in some cases instead of a collar or
ring I may provide upon the spindle a projecting part of some other form capable
of lifting the oil from the recess or chamber and distributing the same.
By means of my invention a most simple and inexpensive means of automatic
and continuous lubrication is provided which is not liable to get out of order and
which will always be effective when the spindle requiring lubrication is rotating;
and the lubricant being directed along that portion of the spindle lying within the
bearing, as above described, will not be liable to exude at the ends as is often the
case with ordinary bearings.
It will be obvious that my invention is applicable to spindles, axles or shafts
of various kinds.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Lubricating Bearings for
Spindles or Axles and similar Parts of Machinery.
I, NATHANIEL Rix, of London Colney, in the County of Herts, Farmer, 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:-
My invention relates to the automatic and continuous lubrication of journal-
bearings and comprises various improvements hereinafter set forth.
The journals of spindles, shafts or axles have, in some instances, been provided
with devices for raising oil (during the rotation of the shaft or axle) from a chamber
or reservoir in, or connected with, the bearing, and distributing the oil over the
surface of the journal. But such devices, as heretofore constructed, are objection-
able by reason of their complication or of the escape of the oil from one or both
ends of the bearing.
My invention is designed to obviate or remove these objections, and to provide
very simple, cheap and efficient means whereby the oil or lubricant will be dis-
tributed over the entire surface of the journal, whilst its escape at the ends of the
bearing will be prevented.
For this purpose, I employ, at each end of the bearing, a chamber or reservoir
for the lubricating material and a ring, collar or other device which rotates with
the journal for the purpose of lifting the oil or lubricant from the said chamber or
reservoir and distributing it upon the said journal. These rings, collars or other
lifters are so arranged as to distribute the oil directly upon the said journal,
without its passing through holes, channels or pipes specially provided for con-
ducting it thereto. Moreover the oil distributed upon the shaft flows or drops
back into the chambers or reservoirs without passing through any holes, passages
or pipes specially provided for conducting it thereto.
I provide means whereby the surplus oil will be wiped off the shaft as it rotates,
and will be caused to drop back into the said chambers or reservoirs, and thus
prevented from passing out at the ends of the bearing.
According to a modification of my invention, I provide for the lubrication
of a bearing by means of a single lifter and chamber or reservoir, as hereinafter
described.
In the accompanying drawings, I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan, and
Figure 2 a sectional elevation of a shaft and bearing with my improvements
applied thereto.
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line x, a, Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation showing a modification of my invention.
Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line x, x1, Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a horizontal section on the line a³, x², Figure 4.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the drawings.

page_text: a is the shaft and b is the bearing therefor. c, c are the oil chambers or
reservoirs,, which extend completely around the shaft, one at each end of the
bearing, and which, in the apparatus shown in the drawing, form part of the said
bearing. These chambers or reservoirs may, if desired, be formed in the plummer-
block, or they may be made separately and affixed to either the bearing or the
plummer-block; but they must be so constructed and connected with the bearing
that the oil from the journal will flow into them and will not escape at the ends
of the bearing.
d, d are the rings, collars or lifters, which are fitted or secured upon the shaft a
so that they will rotate therewith. e is an oil cup, which is formed on the top
of the bearing b, and into which oil is to be poured, when required, so as to keep
the chambers or reservoirs ċ supplied therewith, the said chambers or reservoirs
being filled with oil when the shaft is placed in the hearing.
When the shaft is rotated, oil is raised from the chambers c by the lifters d and
distributed upon the journal.
'
It will be seen that, in my improved apparatus, the oil flows directly from the
lifters upon the shaft, and, as above stated, is not conducted through holes,
channels or pipes in the bearing, which are liable to become choked and thus
prevent or impede the flow of oil to the journal.
To provide for removing the surplus oil from the shaft and thus effectually
preventing its escape at the ends of the bearing, I thicken the outer lips of the
cap or cover of the bearing so as to form shoulders or wipers b¹, which scrape or
wipe the oil off the shaft, as.the latter rotates, and cause it to drop back into the
chambers c
I sometimes use a loose wiper b³, Figures 4, 5 and 6, which is fitted in a
dovetail groove 63 in the cap or cover of the bearing, so that, notwithstanding the
working down of the shaft by reason of the wear thereof and of the bearing, the
said wipers will always rest upon the shaft in position to wipe the surplus oil
therefrom. The wipers b' are inclined or bevelled at their edges as shown so that
any oil which may be raised, by centrifugal force or otherwise, to the upper part
thereof will flow down into the oil chambers and not escape at the ends of the
bearing.
By using two rings, collars or lifters and oil chambers or reservoirs, one at each
end of the bearing as above described, I provide for directing the oil along the
journal from both ends thereof simultaneously. An effectual and continuous
lubrication of the journal, while rotating, is thus ensured. Moreover the oil will
continuously flow from the ends towards the centre of the bearing and thence
back into the chambers c; the oil will, therefore, be kept substantially at the
sume level in both chambers. The said chambers, being placed at the ends of the
bearing, can be easily cleaned out when necessary, without raising the shaft or
taking the machine to pieces.
The edges of the rings or collars d are, in some instances, notched or indented to
facilitate the lifting of the oil thereby. I sometimes employ rings or collars made
with hinges so that they can be applied to crank or other shafts, upon which rings
or collars formed in one piece cannot conveniently be placed.
The rings or collars above described may be replaced by any other devices which
will act in a similar manner to raise the oil and distribute the same directly upon
the journal.
My improvements are applicable either to bush-bearings or to those which are
made in two parts.
Although I prefer that the lubrication should be effected from both ends of the
bearing as above described, yet I wish it understood that, in applying my invention
to a bearing at either end of a shaft, I sometimes provide the said bearing with a
single chamber or reservoir at the inner end of the bearing, and fit or secure upon
the shaft a collar or lifter which rotates in this chamber. And I make the outer
end of the bearing solid or close the same by means of a screw-cap or otherwise,
to prevent the escape of the oil therefrom.

page_text: By my invention, I provide for the automatic and continuous lubrication of a
bearing by simple and inexpensive means, which are not liable to get out of order
and do not require constant attention. Moreover I prevent waste of oil and the
entrance of dust into the bearing.
It is obvious that my invention is applicable to bearings for spindles, shafts,
axles or other rotating parts of machinery irrespective, of their dimensions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood
that I do not claim generally or irrespectively of my improvements as above
described the use of rings or collars fitted upon a shaft-journal for the purpose
of raising oil from a chamber or reservoir and distributing it upon the said journal,
but I claim;
First. In combination with a journal-bearing, the employment of two oil
chambers or reservoirs, one at each end of the bearing (with or without the
shoulders; projections or wipers for the purpose above specified), and two lifters.
upon the journal arranged substantially as set forth to rotate in the said chambers
or reservoirs and to distribute the oil directly upon the said journal.
Second. The modification of my invention wherein I provide for the lubrication
of a bearing by means of a single lifter and oil chamber or reservoir, substantially
as set forth.
Third. The modification of my invention substantially as described with
reference to Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings for the purpose specified.
Dated thin 99-1 1 T
1000