IMPROVEMENTS IN SHAFT OR AXLE BEARINGS
Year: 1886

page_text: I, JOHN GIBBONS of No 343 Broadway in the Village of West-Troy, County of
Albany, State of New-York, and United States of North America, machinist, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHAFT OR
AXLE BEARINGS" 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 improvements in that class of shaft or axle bearings in
which rollers or balls are employed to reduce the amount of friction; the object
and purpose of my invention being to make such appliances more durable, and to
increase their friction reducing capacities.
Accompanying this specification to form a part of it there are two plates of
drawings containing five figures illustrating my invention with the same designation
of parts by letter reference used in all of them. Of these illustrations Figure 1,
is a side elevation of my improved roller and ball bearing with the box or cylinder
which encloses it shown in section.
Figure 2, is a cross-section taken on the line x, x, of figure 1. Figure 3, is a
longitudinal section of one of the rollers, shown as separated from the other parts.
Figure 4, is a side elevation of a modification of my invention and shown with
a part of the rollers broken out centrally to illustrate the position of an interiorly
placed sleeve which is used on the axle or shaft, and between it and the connectedly
operating rollers and balls; the axle-box or exterior cylinder and the interiorly
placed sleeve being illustrated in section. Figure 5, is a section taken on the
line z, z, of figure 4.
The several parts of the mechanism thus illustrated are designated by letter
reference, and the function of the parts is described as follows. The letters R,
indicate friction rollers of which there is a series arranged around the axle or shaft
bearing inside of the axle-box, or exterior cylinder; or between the latter, and the
inside sleeve S, when the said sleeve is used on the axle or shaft.
Each of these rollers is rounded out near its ends so as to produce therein a
recess in revolution as indicated at r, and the letters B, designate friction balls of
which there is a series at each end of the rollers. These balls preferably are made
to have the same diameter as the rollers, and they are arranged in the bearing with
one of them between, and within the recesses of each two of the rollers, at each end
of the latter.

page_text: .
The letters D, indicate the axle-or shaft box, and A, the axle or shaft. The
letter C, designates a collar made on the axle or shaft, and E, a threaded cap. The
letters S, designate a sleeve that may be used if desired, and when it is employed
this sleeve is arranged on the axle or shaft so as to be between it and the friction
rollers and balls.
When the sleeve S, is used its function and purpose is to divide up and sustain
with the rollers and balls the end thrust of the axle when this bearing is applied to
running vehicles. But inasmuch as the function of the combined rollers and balls
as I construct and arrange them is the same whether the sleeve S, is employed or
not hence I do not limit my invention of them as a combination to their further
combination with the sleeve S.
The function of the balls when used in connection with the rollers having the
recesses r, is to prevent the wearing of the rollers by their grinding contact with
each other and this result would be accomplished whether the balls were of the
same diameter as the rollers or smaller. When the balls are of the same diameter
as the rollers they sustain in part the pressure and friction upon the bearing.
As thus made the bearing shown is adapted for shafting of various kinds where
it is desired to reduce the measure of friction. It is also adapted for use in vehicle
axles, to tram-way wheels, and to bicycle bearings.
my said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. In an axle or shaft bearing the combination of the rollers R, made with
the recesses r, in revolution in each of their ends, said rollers being arranged upon
and around the exterior of the shaft or axle; the balls B, located in said recesses
etween seid roller and an axle-box or cylinder arranged outside of said rollers and
balls, and in contact thereat, with the rollers; substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Second. In an axle or shaft bearing the combination of the rollers R, made with
the recesses r, in revolution in each of their ends; the balls B, arranged in said
recesses between the rollers with the latter exteriorly in contact with an enclosing
axle-box or cylinder; and the sleeve S, arranged on the axle or shaft between the
latter, and said rollers and balls, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 12th day of March 1880.
JOHN GIBBONS.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.