CERTAIN" IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BEARINGS, JOURNALS," AND "STEPS," EMBLOVED IN MACHINERY AND DOD CARRIAGE AND OTHER AYLES".
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nathaniel Jones Amies, of Manchester, in the.
County of Lancaster, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN"
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BEARINGS, JOURNALS," AND "STEPS,"
EMBLOVED IN MACHINERY AND DOD CARRIAGE AND OTHER AYLES".
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nathaniel Jones Amies
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th August 1862.
I, NATHANIEL JONES AMIES, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for ".CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BEARINGS, JOURNALS,' AND 'STEPS,*
EMPLOYED IN MACHINERY AND POR CARRIAGE AND OTHER AXLES," to be as
follows:-
My Invention is designed for the purpose of reducing the friction generally
existing between axles or other shafts and the bearings or steps in which they,
revolve, and consists in manufacturing the surfaces of bearings, journals, or
steps which are subject or exposed to such friction, of a composition consisting

page_text: of animal fibre, plumbago, steatite, caoutchouc, or gutta percha, and any
resinous gum, the proportions being almost inmaterial if the animal fibre be
in sufficient excess; the composition being moulded or cut into the required
form.
I am aware that the vegetable fibres have been similarly used, but inasmuch 5
as I find animal fibres, such as silk, wool, hair, or disintegrated skin or pelt
much more durable, and possessing other superior qualities, I employ it in
combination with the aforesaid materials in contradistinction to vegetable
fibres, as not having been hitherto so employed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Nathaniel Jones Amies in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 6th February 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NATHANIEL
JONES AMIES, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Lettors
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her beirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Nathaniel Jones Amies, Her special license, that I, the said Nathaniel
Jones Amies, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Nathaniel Jones Amies, my executors, adininistrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BEARINGS, 'JOURNALS,'
AND STEPS, EMPLOYED IN MACHINERY, AND FOR CARRIAGE AND OTHER AXLES,"
the condition, amongst others, that I, the said Nathaniel Jones
Amies, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said "Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed.in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
upon

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Nathaniel Jones Amies, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement (that is to say) :-
My Invention is designed for the purpose of reducing the friction generally
existing between axles or other shafts and the bearings, journals, or steps in
which they revolve, and consists in manufacturing the surfaces of bearings or
steps which are subject or exposed to such friction, of a composition consisting
of animal fibre, plumbago, steatite, caoutchouc, or gutta percha, and any resinous
gum or animal glue or size, the proportions being almost immaterial if the
animal fibre be in sufficient excess; the composition being moulded or cut
into the regular form.
I am aware that vegetable fibres have been similarly used, but inasmuch
as I find animal fibres, such as silk, wool, hair, or disintegrated skin or pelt
much more durable, and possessing other superior qualities, I employ it in
combination with the aforesaid materials in contradistinction to vegetable fibres,
as not having been hitherto so employed. I would further remark that in
bearings, journals, or other frictional surfaces where water may be employed
to assist in lubrication, I prefer to employ a resin or gum called "rhus
copallinus" (gum copal) or a varnish made therefrom, as the medium to unite
or bind together the other components, as such gum will best resist water in a
heated state. The bearings, bushes, journals, steps, and other frictional surfaces
are to be cast or otherwise produced with cavities, spaces, or excavations for
the reception of the composition or filling, which is placed next to and in
immediate contact with the shaft or wearing surface; or, if required, the
composition may, in some instances, be used solid, without the support or
combination of metal or wood. The composition will be found suitable for
such purposes composed of silk, wool, hair, or other animal fibre, (either in a
fibrous state or reduced to a pulp,) two parts; plumbago, steatite, or similar
lubricating or antifrictional material half a part; and resinous substance, gum,
or varnish half a part; or in such other proportions as circumstances may
require.
Having now described the nature of the said Iuvention, together with
the method of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly
understood that I claim the employment and use of a composition composed
of animal fibres, disintegrated pelt or skin, plumbago, steatite, caoutchouc, or
other similar lubricant combined together with any suitable gum, resin, or
varnish for the manufacture or formation of bearings, journals, steps, or other

page_text: surfaces subject or exposed to friction in contradistinction to the employment
of vegetable fibres which are not of so durable a nature, as herein-before
described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nathaniel Jones Amies, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Fifth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
NATH JONES AMIES. (L.S.)
Witnessed by
JOHN L. DAVIES,
Office for Patents,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.