IMPROVEMENTS IN BEARINGS FOR SHAFTS, AXLES, PIVOTS, AND SLIDING SURFACES FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIMINISHING FRICTION
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Bryan Donkin, of Bermondsey, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BEARINGS
FOR SHAFTS, AXLES, PIVOTS, AND SLIDING SURFACES FOR THE PURPOSE OF
DIMINISHING FRICTION."-A communication from abroad by Louis
Dominique Girard, of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bryan Donkin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
October 1862.
I, BRYAN DONKIN, of Bermondsey, in the County of Surrey, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BEARINGS FOR SHAFTS, AXLES, PIVOTS, AND SLIDING SURFACES FOR THE PURPOSE
OF DIMINISHING FRICTION," (communicated to me from abroad by Louis
Dominique Girard, of Paris, France,) to be as follows :-
This Invention consists in providing a liquid bearing for shafts, axles,
pivots, and sliding surfaces by a continuous circulation of liquid forced
between a metal box, and the shaft, axle, pivot, or sliding surface so as to
prevent contact of metal with metal. I take a box or case shaped to corre-
spond with the shape of the revolving or sliding surface to be used with it,
and form therein a central cavity followed by several concentric quadrangular
or other cells according to the surface. I make an orifice in the central cavity
to allow of the inlet of water or other liquid under pressure, supposing the

page_text: shaft or other sliding surface to rest in the box or case, and water to be forced
into it under sufficient pressure; the water after filling the central cavity
circulates through the cells one after the other and slightly raises the shaft
or other surface, passes out in thin films between it and the sides and ends of
the box or case.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Bryan Donkin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
April 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BRYAN
DONKIN, of Bermondsey, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of October, 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 heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Bryan Donkin, Her special licence that I, the said Bryan Donkin,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Bryan Donkin, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BEARINGS FOR SHAFTS, AXLES, PIVOTS, AND SLIDING SURFACES FOR THE
PURPOSE OF DIMINISHING FRICTION," (communicated to me from abroad by
Louis Dominique Girard, of Paris, France,) upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Bryan Donkin, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Bryan Donkin, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being bad to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say:--

page_text: This Invention consists in providing a water or liquid bearing for shafts,
axles, pivots, and sliding surfaces by a continuous circulation of liquid forced
between a metal box and the shaft, axle, pivot, or sliding surface, so as to
prevent contact of surface with surface, whatever be the material constituting
such surfaces. I take a box or case shaped to correspond with the shape of
the revolving or sliding surface to be used with it and form therein a central
cavity, followed by several concentric quadrangular or other cells according
to the surface. I make an orifice in the central cavity to allow of the
inlet of water or other liquid under pressure.
In order that this Invention may be fully understood, I proceed to explain
the construction and action of the bearing as applied to the shaft of a screw
propeller, and also to the shaft of a heavy fly-wheel of a rolling mill.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings shews in longitudinal section one
of the water bearings applied as the under bearing for the shaft of a screw
propeller; Figure 2 is a section through the line x x of Figure 1; Figure 3
is a plan of the bearing; Figure 4 is an inside view, on an enlarged scale,
of one half of the bearing; and Figure 5 is a plan, also on an enlarged scale,
of rather more than one-half of the bearing.
A is a metal case of the form shewn in the sectional view, Figure 2; it
is formed on the interior with a central cavity a, into which water is admitted
under pressure through a pipe 6 connected with a force pump; c, c, are
quadrangular cells extending upwards from the central cavity to the sides and
ends of the case; d, d, are walls or partitions between the cells; these walls
or partitions may be made of lignum vitæ, so as to resemble the present
system of supporting screw-propeller shafts, and thus allow of a certain portion
of the weight, if necessary, being borne by the bearing; e, e, are passages
formed in the partitions at both ends of the case; these passages are not
carried in the same line, but are made to break joint, as shown in the plan,
Figure 5. They are also gradually reduced in width from the central cavity
outwards. B is the upper bearing lined with blocks of lignum vitæ or other
hard wood, and constructed in the usual manner. The upper and lower
bearings are surrounded by hoops or straps C, C, secured together by bolts
and nuts D, D; E is the screw-propeller shaft, and F the screw.
The weight
of the shaft and screw being ascertained, water under a pressure sufficient to
overcome the whole or part of that weight is forced through the inlet pipe
into the central cavity, from which it circulates through the cells one after the
other, slightly raising the shaft and interposing a film of water between it and
the interior of the case, and finally escaping in thin sheets from the ends

page_text: and sides of the case. In adjusting the upper bearing allowance must be
made for the raising of the shaft in the lower bearing, as above explained.
Figure 6 is a cross section of a rolling mill fly-wheel shaft and of a water
bearing for the same.
Figure 7 is a plan of the bearing, and Figure 8 is an elevation on a smaller
scale than Figures 6 and 7, shewing two of the bearings, one in section
applied on each side of the fly-wheel. A is the case; a, the central cavity;
b, the pipe for the admission of water; c, c, the cells; d, d, the walls between
the cells; the passages through the walls of the cells are not shewn; B is the
fly-wheel shaft; C, the fly-wheel; and e, c, bolts and nuts for securing the
case A to the foundation D. The upper bearing is dispensed with, the weight
of the shaft and parts connected with it being sufficient to keep it in its place.
According to the shape of the surface to which the bearing is to be applied
so must its shape be altered, for instance, if the surface be flat so must the
interior of the case with the central and cellular compartments be flat also.
The walls of the cells may be made of lignum vitæ or other hard wood let
into the case, so that in the event of the pressure of water failing the shaft
might revolve upon the wood.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my "Improve-
ments in Bearings for Shafts, Axles, Pivots, and Sliding Surfaces for the
Purpose of Diminishing Friction," constructing such bearings of a box or
case containing central and cellular compartments, into and through which
water or other liquid is forced to circulate so as to interpose between the case
and the shaft, axle, pivot, or sliding surface a film or sheet of liquid, sub-
stantially in manner and for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whercof, I, the said Bryan Donkin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.