Improvements in Journal Bearings for Machinery.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left. 20th Oct. 1890-Accented 22nd Nov 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Journal Bearings for Machinery..
I, JAMES JOHN WOOD, of No. 126 Cambridge Place, in the City. of Brooklyn,
State of New York, United States of America, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to journal bearings applicable to shafts in machinery
generally, and designed especially for high speed shafts. The object of the invention
is to provide a bearing which will not bind the journal in case of its expansion through
heating, as sometimes occurs by reason of the supply of lubricating oil being deficient
or suspended. Another object of the invention is to provide bearings which will allow
of a slight imperfection of alignment without interfering with the perfect running of
the shaft.
To these ends my improved bearing is constructed with the bearing-frame bored
out somewhat larger than has been heretofore usual, and with a yielding or elastic
bushing interposed between the journal and the bearing-frame. This yielding
bushing consists of a tubular sleeve having internal bearing-faces for upholding (either
directly or through the intermediation of an inner bushing) the journal which turns.
within it, and having external bearing-faces which are seated in the bore in the
bearing-frame. The internal and external faces are arranged in different positions
instead of being in line with, or directly opposite one another, and the portions of the
sleeve intervening between the external and internal faces are made sufficiently thin
to be suitably elastic or yielding, so that any slight change in the size, or in the axial
position of the journal relatively to the unyielding bearing-frame will be compensated
for or taken up by the flexure or slight distortion of these intervening yielding
portions.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the frame of a dynamo electric machine, to the
armature-shaft of which my invention is applied.
Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of said frame and shaft, showing both the
bearings of the shaft constructed according to my invention.
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section of one of the bearings shown in Fig. 2, on a larger.
scale.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the shaft, showing in elevation the bearing seen in
Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 3..
Fig. 6 is a side elevation, partly in longitudinal mid-section, and Fig. 7 is a
transverse section on the line 7-7.showing the preferred form of the yielding
bushing..
Fig. 8 is an end elevation, and Fig. 9 a side elevation, partly in longitudinal mid-
section showing the preferred form of the inner bushing.
The remaining views show modifications.
In the particular machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2, A A are the opposite end frames.
constituting the bearing-frames for the shaft, B B are the cores of the field-magnets
which constitute connecting cross-frames for uniting the frames A A, CC are the
pole-pieces of the dynamo, D is the armature-shaft and E the pulley. The shaft D
is hung in two bearings in the end-frames A. A. One of these bearings is shown in
detail in Figs. 3 to 9 inclusive, while the other bearing is of substantially the same
construction. In each bearing the shaft journal a turns in a bushing F which is
preferably made of gun-metal or any other suitable metal, and which is best shown in
Hetail in Figs. 8 and 9. This bushing F is held in a yielding, bushing G, shown
in detail in Figs. 6 and 7, and the bushing G is supported in the bore 6 in the
:

page_text: bearing-frame A. This frame is preferably widened at the bearing by being cast with
bosses on its opposite sides to form a hub c, as usual.
The inner bushing F presents no especial characteristics and need not essentially
differ from any ordinary bearing bushing heretofore used. Preferably, however, it is
formed with an enlargement or collar'd, Fig. 9, around its middle portion, and on its
inner or bearing surface it has preferably spiral grooves' e e for facilitating the
distribution of oil over the surface of the journal..
The bearing-frame A has its bore 6 turned somewhat larger than heretofore,
sufficiently: to leave room around the. inner bushing F for the yielding bushing or
sleeve:G:
This yielding bushing G embodies the characteristic features of my invention. It
consists of: a tube or sleeve, preferably cylindrical or 'approximately so, and having
external and internal bearing-faces, lettered respectively ƒƒ and g g, as best shown in
Fig. 7, where there are four of each such faces. These respective faces are preferably
raised.somewhat beyond the general exterior and interior contours of the sleeve, so
that they may be readily faced off by boring, turning or milling. The internal and.
external bearing-faces are arranged at different positions, so that they are not opposite
or in line with one another, and between them are the portions h h of the tube which
are out of contact. both exteriorly. and interiorly, and are sufficiently thin to be
slightly yielding or. elastic:
The result of this construction is that in case the journal a should run dry, and the
journal and bushing F should consequently expand; their expansion will simply press
the portions g g of the sleeve G outwardly, while the portions h h of the sleeve will
yield or, flex,, their flexure taking up the expansion, so that the bushing F is not
bound fast, and-so: that consequently the bushing is not made to tightly embrace the
journal and lock it fast, as would be the case if it were seated tightly in an unyielding
bore. of. the bearing-frame:. As the journal and bearing-bushing F subsequently cool
down.and contract; the outward: thrust against the faces g g, due to the expansion of
the. bushing,, is relieved;, and the elasticity of the portions h h of the bushing G
restores. the latter. to its normal shape.
It is essential to the full utilisation of the advantages of my invention that: the
inner bushing F shall be made of a metal having a higher; coefficient of expansión
than that of the journal.a. so: that as the bearing heats and the journal expands the
bushing F shall expand in a greater ratio, and thereby shall cause the journal to run
more, loosely instead. of tightening around the journal, as would otherwise be the
case. In practice the shaft is best made of steel and the bushing of either gun-metal
or phosphor-bronze;, which alloys have a coefficient' of expansion about double that of
steel. With such a bushing fitted solidly in an unyielding bore in the bearing-frame;
as has been practised prior to my invention, if the bearing heats; the expansion of the
bushing is forced by reason of the unyielding nature of the bore in the bearing-frame;
to take place in an inward direction, so that the bore in the bushing. is contracted,
while the journal is at: the same time expanded by the heat; and the two are thereby
caused to weld fast.. The construction introduced by my invention enables the
bushing to expand outwardly, so that by reason of its expansion at a greater ratio:
than the journal there is no possibility of its binding the journal or becoming welded*
to it. The outer or yielding bushing G is preferably made of a metal' having a
comparatively low coefficient of expansion, such; for example; as cast iron;. but this is:
not essential...
The inner bushing: F is held in place within the bushing G by means of³ set-
screws ii,,shown best in Fig. 5;.which are screwed through the outer bushing partly
into the inner one.. The outer: bushing is held in place by a set-screw j, shown best in
Fig. 3, which is screwed through the boss c and enters the bushing G.
The bearing-faces: fand g on the sleeve or bushing G'are extended preferably in
longitudinal direction; as: clearly shown in Fig: 6, so that the yielding portions hh
are in the form of longitudinal strips extending between the bearing-faces:
The inner faces g; 9 are: made quite short, and arranged at the middle of the
bushing Gito.come in contact with the collar de (Fig. 9) on the bushing F, while the

page_text: external faces ff extend from end to end of the bushing G. This enables the
bushing to yield to any slight deflection of the shaft out of true alignment with the
bore b. Thus, if the bores in the two frames A A in Fig. 2 are not exactly in line
this will be compensated for by a slight distortion of the bushings G G. Hence my
invention renders great accuracy of alignment in the boring of the bearings
unnecessary.
The journal is lubricated by an oil-cup H on top of frame A, the oil descending
through a duct k formed in the frame, and entering a narrow space l, Figs. 3 and 5,
which is closed by flanges at the ends of the bushing G. The oil flows thence
down through a hole t in the bushings G F, and enters the spiral grooves e:e which
distribute it over the journal. The oil which escapes at the ends of the journal is
thrown off centrifugally from beads m m and is caught in annular grooves n n whence
it runs down grooves p p into a duct q extending down through the frame, and is
collected in a drip-cup J.
The longitudinal thrust of the shaft may be resisted by collars 'r fastened on it, or
in any other known way.
Fig. 10 is a section similar to Fig. 7, except that it shows three bearing-faces ƒ 9
instead of four. Any suitable number of these faces may be provided.
Instead of constructing the bearing-faces fg as projections on the bushing G, , the
latter may be made a plain tube. This construction is shown in Fig. 11, which is a
section similar to Fig. 5. The bore in the frame A is 'here made with
projections ff and the bushing F has outward projections g¹ g¹. The portions of
the tube G between these projections constitute the yielding portions h'h.
My invention is applicable not only to bearings in solid frames, but to bearings
which are mounted on frames, so as to be removable or adjustable. Fig. 12 shows a
pillow-bearing A' mounted on top of a frame A, and fastened by screws ss. It is
made with a removable bearing-cap A2, and the bushings FG are divided, so that by
removing the bearing-cap and lifting off the upper halves of these bushings the shaft
may be lifted out.
My invention may be variously modified without departing 'from its essential
features. I will describe some examples of such modifications:-
Figs. 13, 14 and 15 show one modified construction. Fig. '13 is a section
similar to Fig. 3, but with the shaft removed; Figs. 14 and 15 are side and end
views of the bushings detached. The inner bushing F is, or 'may 'be, of 'the
same construction as in Figs. 8 and 9. The yielding bushing 'G 'has its
internal bearing-face g extending circumferentially around its middle, while its
external bearing-faces ff are formed as circumferential 'flanges at its opposite
ends, fitting in the bore b. Between the 'middle faces g and the end 'faces ff
is a considerable length of the sleeve which is out of contact with other parts, and
which constitutes the yielding portions hh. The sleeve is slitted longitudinally at'n'n
to make it more elastic. The oil is admitted through a tube-k¹.
The construction shown in Figs. 16 and 17 is exactly the reverse of that just
described. Fig. 16 is a longitudinal section of the two bushings *removed.
Fig. 17 is a side elevation of them, the outer one being partly broken away 'to
show the inner one. The outer bearing-face f of the bushing G is at its middle,
while its inner bearing-faces- are at its ends, where it touches 'flanges g'g'on the
ends of the inner bushing.
Fig: 18 is a longitudinal section showing a construction employing two yielding
bushings, G and G. The inner bushing F and the bushing 'G are of the construction
last described, and a second yielding bushing 'G' having external flanges on its ends
is interposed between the bushing G and the bore.
Fig. 19 (which is a similar section to Fig. 3) shows a very simple form of my
invention. The inner bushing F is omitted and the yielding bushing G is forme.!
with interior bearing-faces '99 at its opposite ends in which the journal a turns, 'the
bushing being recessed between then to form an oil-spacer. The exterior bearing-
face f.is formed as a collar around the middle of the bushing, and the intermediate

page_text: portions constitute the yielding portions. The bushing G should in this
construction be made of gun-metal.
Dated this 5th day of February 1800
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.
:
:
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION. .
Improvements in Journal Bearings for Machinery.
I, JAMES JOHN WOOD, of No. 126 Cambridge Place, Brooklyn in the State of
New York, United States of America, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the
I 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 :-.
2.
This invention. relates to journal bearings applicable to shafts in machinery
generally, and designed especially for high speed shafts. The object of the invention
is to provide a bearing which will not bind the journal in case of its expansion
through heating, as sometimes occurs by reason of the supply of lubricating oil
being deficient or suspended. Another object of the invention is to provide bearings
which will allow of a slight imperfection of alignment without interfering with the
perfect running of the shaft.
To these ends my improved bearing is constructed with the bearing-frame bored
out somewhat larger than has been heretofore usual, and with a yielding or elastic
bushing interposed between the journal and the bearing-frame. This yielding
bushing consists of a tubular sleeve having internal bearing-faces for upholding
(either directly or through the intermediation of an inner bushing) the journal
which turns within it, and having external bearing-faces which are seated in the bore
in the bearing-frame. The internal and external faces are arranged in different
positions instead of being in line with, or directly opposite one another, and the
portions of the sleeve intervening between the external and internal faces are made
sufficiently thin to be suitably elastic or yielding, so that any slight change in the
size, or in the axial position of the journal relatively to the unyielding bearing-frame
will be compensated for or taken up by the flexure or slight distortion of these
intervening yielding portions.
In the drawings which accompanied my Provisional Specification and to which I
will refer in this my Complete Specification,
Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the frame of a dynamo electric machine, to the
armature-shaft of which my invention is applied.
..
Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of said frame and shaft, showing both the
bearings of the shaft constructed according to my invention.
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section of one of the bearings shown in Fig. 2 on a larger
scale.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the shaft, showing in elevation the bearing seen
in Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 3.
Fig..6 is a side elevation, partly in longitudinal mid-section, and Fig. 7 is a transverse
section on the line 7-7 showing the preferred form of the yielding bushing..
Fig. 8. is an end elevation, and Fig. 9 a side elevation, partly in longitudinal mid-
section showing the preferred form of the inner bushing.
The remaining views show modifications.
In the particular machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2, AA are the opposite end frames
- constituting the bearing-frames for the shaft, B B are the cores of the field-magnets
which constitute connecting cross-frames for uniting the frames AA, CC are the
pole-pieces of the dynanio, D is the armature shaft and E the pulley. The shaft D is
hung in two bearings in the end frames A A. One of these bearings is shown in
detail in Figs. 3 to 9 inclusive, while the other bearing is of substantially the same

page_text: construction. In each bearing the shaft journal a turns in a bushing F which is
preferably made of gun-metal or any other suitable metal, and which is best shown in
detail in Figs. 8 and 9. This bushing F is held in a yielding bushing G, shown in
detail in Figs. 6 and 7, and the bushing G is supported in the bore b in the bearing-
frame A. This frame is preferably widened at the bearing by being cast with bosses
on its opposite sides to form a hub c, as usual.
The inner bushing F presents no especial characteristics and need not essentially
differ from any ordinary bearing bushing heretofore used. Preferably, however, it is
formed with an enlargement or collar d, Fig. 9, around its middle portion, and on its
inner or bearing surface it has preferably spiral grooves ee for facilitating the dis-
tribution of oil over the surface of the journal.
The bearing-frame A has its bore turned somewhat larger than heretofore,
sufficiently to leave room around the inner bushing F for the yielding bushing or
sleeve G.
This yielding bushing G embodies the characteristic features of my invention. It
consists of a tubo or sleeve, preferably cylindrical or approximately so, and having
external and internal bearing-faces, lettered respectively ff and 99, as best shown in
Fig. 7, where there are four of each such faces. These respective faces are preferably
raised somewhat beyond the general exterior and interior contours of the sleeve, so
that they may be readily faced off by boring, turning or milling. The internal and
external bearing-faces are arranged at different positions, so that they are not opposite
or in line with one another, and between them are the portions hh of the tube which
are out of contact both exteriorly and interiorly, and are sufficiently thin to be
slightly yielding or elastic.
The result of this construction is that in case the journal a should run dry, and the
journal and bushing F should consequently expand, their expansion will simply press
the portions g g of the sleeve G outwardly, while the portions h h of the sleeve will
yield or flex, their flexure taking up the expansion, so that the bushing F is not
bound fast, and so that consequently the bushing is not made to tightly embrace the
journal and lock it fast, as would be the case if it were seated tightly in an unyielding
bore of the bearing-frame. As the journal and bearing-bushing F subsequently cool
down and contract, the outward thrust against the faces 9 g, due to the expansion of
the bushing, is relieved, and the elasticity of the portions h h of the bushing G
restores the latter to its normal shape.
It is essential to the full utilisation of the advantages of my invention that the
inner bushing F shall be made of a metal having a higher coefficient of expansion
than that of the journal a, so that as the bearing heats and the journal expands the
bushing F shall expand in a greater ratio, and thereby shall cause the journal to run
more loosely instead of tightening around the journal, as would otherwise be the case.
In practice the shaft is best made of steel and the bushing of either gun-metal or
phosphor-bronze, which alloys have a coefficient of expansion about double that of
steel. With such a bushing fitted solidly in an unyielding bore in the bearing-frame,
as has been practised prior to my invention, if the bearing heats, the expansion of the
bushing is forced by reason of the unyielding nature of the bore in the bearing-
frame, to take place in an inward direction, so that the bore in the bushing is
contracted, while the journal is at the same time expanded by the heat, and the two
are thereby caused to weld fast. The construction introduced by my invention
enables the bushing to expand outwardly, so that by reason of its expansion at a
greater ratio than the journal there is no possibility of its binding the journal or
becoming welded to it. The outer or yielding bushing G is preferably made of
a metal having a comparatively low coefficient of expansion, such, for example,.
as cast iron, but this is not essential.
The inner bushing F is held in place within the bushing G by means of set-
screws, shown best in Fig. 5, which are screwed through the outer bushing
partly into the inner one. The outer bushing is held in place by a set-screw j,
shown best in Fig. 3, which is screwed through the boss c and enters the
bushing G..

page_text: .
The bearing-faces ƒ and g on the sleeve or bushing G are extended preferably in
longitudinal direction, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, so that the yielding portions h h are
in the form of longitudinal strips extending between the bearing-faces.
The inner faces 9 g are made quite short, and arranged at the middle of the
bushing G to come in contact with the collar d (Fig. 9) on the bushing F, while the
external faces ff extend from end to end of the bushing G. This enables the bushing
to yield to any slight deflection of the shaft out of true alignment with the bore b.
Thus, if the bores in the two frames A A in Fig. 2 are not exactly in line this will be
compensated for by a slight distortion of the bushings G G. Hence my invention
renders great accuracy of alignment in the boring of the bearings unnecessary.
The journal is lubricated by an oil-cup H on top of frame A, the oil descending
through a duct k formed in the frame, and entering a narrow space 1, Figs. 3 and 5,
which is closed by flanges 11 at the ends of the bushing G. The oil flows thence
down through a hole in the bushings G F, and enters the spiral grooves e e which
distribute it over the journal. The oil which escapes at the end of the journal is
thrown off centrifugally from beads m m and is caught in annular grooves n n whence
it runs down grooves p p into a duct g extending down through the frame, and is
collected in a drip-cup J.
The longitudinal thrust of the shaft may be resisted by collars
in any other known way.
fastened on it, or
Fig. 10 is a section similar to Fig. 7, except that it shows three bearing-faces f g
instead of four. Any suitable number of these faces may be provided.
Instead of constructing the bearing-faces fg as projections on the bushing G, the
latter may be made a plain tube. This construction is shown in Fig. 11, which is a
section similar to Fig. 5. The bore in the frame A is here made with projections f¹ f¹
and the bushing F has outward projections gl g'. The portions of the tube G between
these projections constitute the yielding portions h.h.
My invention is applicable not only to bearings in solid frames, but to bearings
which are mounted on frames, so as to be removalie or adjustable. Fig. 12 shows a
pillow-bearing A' mounted on top of a frame A, and fastened by screws ss. It is
made with a removable bearing-cap A2, and the bushings F G are divided, so that by
removing the bearing-cap and lifting off the upper halves of these bushings the shaft
may be lifted out.
:
My invention may be variously modified without departing from its essential
features. I will describe some examples of such modifications :-
Figs. 13, 14 and 15 show one modified construction. .Fig. 13 is a section similar
to Fig. 3, but with the shaft removed; Figs. 14 and 15 are side and end views of the
bushings detached. The inner bushing F is, or may be, of the same construction as
in Figs. 8 and 9. The yielding bushing G has its internal bearing-face g extending
circumferentially around its middle, while its external bearing-faces ff are formed
as circumferential flanges at its opposite ends, fitting in the bore b. Between the
middle faces g and the end faces ff is a considerable length of the sleeve which is out
of contact with other parts, and which constitutes the yielding portions h h. The
sleeve is slitted longitudinally at n n to make it more elastic. The oil is admitted
through a tube k¹.
The construction shown in Figs. 16 and 17 is exactly the reverse of that just
described. Fig. 16 is a longitudinal section of the two bushings removed. Fig. 17
is a side elevation of them, the outer one being partly broken away to show the
inner one.
The outer bearing-face f of the bushing G is at its middle, while its
inner bearing-faces are at its ends, where it touches flanges g¹ g¹ on the ends of
.the inner bushing.
Fig. 18 is a longitudinal section showing a construction employing two yielding
bushings, G and G₁. The inner bushing F and the bushing G are of the construction
last described, and a second yielding bushing G¹ having external flanges on its ends
is interposed between the bushing G and the bore.
Fig. 19 (which is a similar section to Fig. 3) shows a very simple form of my
invention. The inner bushing F is omitted and the yielding bushing G is formed

page_text: with interior bearing-faces 9 9 at its opposite ends in which the journal a turns, the
bushing being recessed between them to form an oil-space v. The exterior bearing-
face is formed as a collar around the middle of the bushing, and the intermediate
portions constitute the yielding portions. The bushing G should in this con-
struction be made of gun-metal.
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 which I
claim is
1. Constructing journal bearings by interposing between the journal (or an inner
bushing) and the bore in the bearing frame a yielding bushing consisting of a sleeve
having outer and inner bearing-faces in different positions, with yielding or elastic
portions between in substantially the manner described so that an expansive thrust
against the inner bearing-face or faces (due to expansion of the journal or inner
bushing by heating) will be compensated for by the flexure of said intervening
yielding portions.
2. The construction of a journal bearing with an inner bushing of a material (such
as gun-metal) which when heated expands more rapidly than the material (such as
steel) of the journal, and mounting this bushing in such manner that it may expand
outwardly, while it is nevertheless firmly held in the bearing-frame, as by a yielding
bushing of substantially the construction described, whereby in case the journal heats
it is not bound fast in its bushing, but on the contrary the bushing expands away from
it, leaving the journal to turn more freely.
3. The construction of yielding or expansible bushing G shown in Figs. 3 to 9
inclusive, with alternately arranged internal and external bearing-faces extending
longitudinally, and intervening yielding portions, adapted to operate in substantially
the manner described.
4. The construction of a journal bearing with a yielding bushing G having external
and internal bearing-faces arranged in different positions, with intervening yielding-
portions, and either the outside or the inside faces formed at the middle part of the
bushing, so that the bushing may yield to a deflection of its axis out of coincidence
with the axis of the bore in the bearing-frame, whereby the necessity for perfect
accuracy of alignment of the shaft is avoided, in substantially the manner
described.
Dated this 20th day of October 1800
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.