Improvements in Journal Bearings.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1892-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Journal Bearings.
I, ALFRED ETHELBERT SMITH, of Bronxville, in the County of Westchester,
and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
perforined, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
The object of my invention is to make a journal-bearing which can be applied
particularly to railroad-journals, where the bearings are placed upon the top or
upper side of the journals and where the entire weight of a car with its load rests,
and where it is most difficult to overcome its friction, except at a great expense of
power and material for bearings, which are constantly being destroyed or worn out
by friction. My object, then, is to save that destruction and expense by making
my bearings in such a way and placing them in such a position that friction will be
reduced and power decreased and expense correspondingly saved, and in order to
do that I take an angular shaped box, usually a right angled box closed at one end
entirely, with a circular opening at the other end for the purpose of admitting the
journal end, and then I place in two or more corners of the box removable bearings,
either round rollers or angular shaped bearings, the latter with their angular sides
resting against the inside angular sides of, the box and their internal sides bearing
against a revolving journal which rests against the bearings at distances below, or
above or below, the usual vertical points of bearing, thereby overcoming the dead
pressure that exists when the bearings are placed above or on top or below and
under the journal, as shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5. I can place in the angles of
the box either angular or cylindrical bearings and arrange them so that no bolts or
rivets may be required to keep them in place, and when they are adjusted the
bearings can be placed upon the journals, and the journals can then be made to
revolve upon them with greatly reduced friction.
This improvement is applicable to shafting as well as car-journals by simply
inverting the bearings.
Figure shows a side elevation of a journal box embodying my invention.
Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of the same on the line a a of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of the box on line
Figs. 4 and 5 are modifications of the same.
Letter A shows angular box.
Letter B shows anti-frictional rollers.
Letter C shows journal.
D shows sand chamber.
E shows angular bearings.
a shows end bearings of rollers or sockets.
of Fig. 2.
shows the entrance for the roller into its socket in the casing A.
shows ends of rollers in sockets.
a² shows lugs on box, and
a shows space in box.
In Figs. 2 and 3 I show the journal box provided with cylindrical rollers or
bearings B, arranged in the upper right angled corners of the box and on opposite
sides of the vertical axis of the journal, and these roller bearings are held in place
by contact with the journal and by fitting in the sockets a in the box. In Figs. 4
and 5, however, I show the bearings E, which are right angled in cross section
except on the inner sides opposite to the journal, said inner sides of the bearings E
being concaved or curved to fit snugly to the journal, and thus afford bearings
therefor. These right angled bearings extend longitudinally of the box on
opposite sides of the vertical axis of the journal, and said bearings fit snugly

page_text: in the right angled corners of the box and are held in place by said angular
sides of the box and by the journal, with which the bearings are always in
contact.
Fig. 5 shows a modified form of journal wherein an additional pair of friction
rollers B are provided within the casing, and which form a bearing for the shaft
when used for supporting shafts of machinery, etc.
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 :-
1. In a journal bearing, the box or frame A, having its corners right angular in
cross section, and the bearings arranged and confined within the right angled
corners of the box or frame, combined with a journal which bears against the
contact surfaces of the bearings, said bearings being confined to positions on
opposite sides of the vertical axis of the journal, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
2. In a journal bearing, the box or frame A, having the corners thereof made
right angular in cross section and provided in its ends with sockets, combined with
a journal, and the movable bearings extending longitudinally within said box or
frame and supported in the right angled corners thereof and the sockets therein,
said bearings being in contact with the journal and arranged in the right angled
corners of the box or frame on opposite sides of the vertical axis of the journal, as
and for the purpose described.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1892.
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.