IMPROVEMENTS IN SHAFT BEARINGS
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 28th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1889
JOSEPH HOPWOOD of No. 103 Old Park Lane, Southport, in the County of
Lancaster, a retired engineer of the Royal Navy do hereby declare the nature of
my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN SHAFT BEARINGS to be as follows:-
This invention consists of certain modifications in my former invention for
Improvements in Shaft Bearings No. 17361 dated the 17th of December 1887 for
which I posess an acceptance of provisional specification dated the 7th of January
1888, and its object is to enlarge the utility of my said former invention by enabling
it to act better in conjunction with neck or collar bearings, as when required to
retain shafting in position both longitudinally and axially.
According to my present invention I employ a step carrier which may be either
adjustable or fixed in height and pivotted about a vertical axis and also connected to
the bed plate of the bracket, or other fixing, which carries the bearing, severally
according to the methods set forth in the specification of my said former invention.
But for the purpose of acting more effectually in conjunction with neck or collar
bearings my present improved bearing is pivotted about a horizontal axis which is
by preference located below, but may be located above, the axis of the shaft as
follows; By the use of a step carrier which, instead of the short segmental grooves
specified in my said former invention, has two standards or uprights, one on each side
of the shaft, with a cap above spanning the opening between them and recesses for
Tee headed or other suitable bolts in the uprights for securing the cap thereto and
holding the bearing steps down; or, in some cases, instead of two standards I
employ two upright lugs each of which is provided with a hole, at right angles to its
face, for a short screwed bolt, or to receive the opposite ends of one longer bolt.
The inner sides or faces of the two standards, or of the two upright lugs, are paralell
to the axis of the bearing and adjoining each of the said inner faces there is formed
in the body of the step carrier a semicylindrical recess, or one such recess extending
across the step carrier from one standard, or upright lug, to the other.

page_text: In some cases the step carrier is further provided with two upright projections
standing centrally under the shaft. one on each side of and at a suitable distance from
the axis of the semi-cylindrical recesses, or recess, the opposite faces of which
projections are cylindrical segments radiating from the said axis. On the bottom
bearing step, instead of the short segmental projecting ribs specified in my said
former invention, there is a transverse midrib of partly rectangular outline, or, at the
middle of each side of such step, a pendent lug provided with a bolt hole, the vertical
edges of the midrib, or faces of the lugs, being flat and fitting between the two
standards, or the two upright lugs, of the step carrier while the bottom edge of the
midrib (which may be hollowed out in parts) or ends of the pendent lugs, are semi-
circular and fit in the semi-cylindrical recess, or recesses, in the body of the step
carrier ;
When the step carrier is provided with an upright projection on each side
of the axis of the semi-cylindrical recess, or recesses, the bottom bearing step is
provided underneath with a downward projection on each side of the midrib, or
pendent lugs, the outer faces of which projections aro cylindrical segments and fit
against the corresponding inner faces of the upright projections of the step carrier.
Any suitable means may be adopted for binding the two bearing steps together so as
to oblige both parts to react unitedly against the collars of the shaft, and when a
cap is employed a portion of the top bearing step has a cylindrical curvature which
radiates from the axis of the semicircular edge of the transverse midrib of the bottom
bearing step and abuts against a cylindrical recess of like radius formed on the
underside of the cap. But when a cap is not employed, as when the step carrier is
provided with upright lugs, the bottom bearing step is connected to the step carrier
by bolts, or a bolt, which pass, or passes, through the holes in the said upright lugs
and into, or through, the holes, or a hole in the pondent lugs, or in the midrib, of the
bottom bearing step, the axes of which said holes are severally in line or identical
with the axes of the semicylindrical recesses of the step carrier and of the semi-
circular lower edge of the midrib, or ends of the pendent lugs, of the bottom bearing
stop, and the two bearing steps are connected together vertically by lugs and bolts at
the sides as is' customary when a cap is not employed. Bearing steps formed and
respectively placed below and above the shaft as hereinbefore specified for use in
conjunction with a cap may have those positions inverted by making corresponding
changes of form in parts of the step carrier and the cap, and one, or botli, of the
bearing steps may be made in two parts of different metals when a cap is, or is not,
employed.
11
711 1

page_text: Improvements in Shaft Bearings.
JOSEPH HOPWOOD of No. 103 Old Park Lane, Southport, in the County of
Lancaster, a retired Engineer of the Royal Navy do hereby declare the 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:—
This invention consists of certain modifications in my former patent No. 17361
dated the 17th of December 1887 and its object is to enlarge the utility of parts of
my aforesaid former patent by enabling such parts to act in conjunction with neck
or collar bearings as when required to retain shafting in position both longitudinally
and axially. According to my present invention I employ a step carrier which
(with certain exceptions hereinafter specified) may be adjustable or fixed in height
and pivotted about a vertical axis and also connected to the bed plate of the bracket,.
or other fixing, which carries the bearing according to the methods severally set forth
in the specification of my aforesaid former patent. But for the purpose of acting
more effectually in conjunction with neck or collar bearings my present improved
bearing is pivotted about a horizontal axis which is by preference located below but
may be located above the axis of the shaft by the use of a step carrier which, instead
of the segmental grooves specified in my aforesaid former patent, has two uprights,.
one on each side of the shaft, with a cap above spanning the opening between them
and holes or recesses for Tee headed or other suitable bolts through or in the uprights
for securing the cap thereto and holding the bearing steps in position. In some cases
however I dispense with the cap and instead of two such uprights I employ two
upright lugs each of which is provided with a central hole at right angles to its face
for a short screwed bolt or to receive the opposite ends of one longer bolt, but in this
latter form of step carrier the horizontal pivot fis necessarily below the axis of the
shaft. The inner sides or faces of the two uprights or of the two upright lugs are
paralell to the normal axis of the bearing and adjoining the lower end of each of the
semicylindrical
said inner faces there is formed in the body of the step carrier a
recess or one such recess which extends across the step carrier from one upright or
upright lug to the other. In some cases there are also two upright projections or
specially formed parts of a raised rim on the base plate or bottom of the step carrier
standing centrally under the bearing steps on each side of and at a suitable distance
from the axis of the semicylindrical recesses or recess the inner faces of which
projections or parts are cylindrical segments radiating from the said axis.
On the bottom bearing step, instead of the short segments specified in my afore-
said former patent, there is a transverse midrib of partly rectangular outline, or at the
middle of each side of such step a pendent lug provided with a central bolt hole, the
vertical edges of the midrib or outer vertical faces of the pendent lugs being flat and
fitting between the two uprights or the two upright lugs of the step carrier while the
bottom edge of the midrib or ends of the pendent lugs are wholly or in parts shaped
to fit in the semicylindrical recess or recesses in the body of the step carrier, when

page_text: -
the stop carrier has an upright projection or specially formed part of a raised rim o
each side of the semicylindrical recesses or recess, the bottom bearing step is provide
underneath with a downward projection on each side of the midrib or pendent lug
the outer faces of which projections are cylindrical segments corresponding with an
fitting against the inner faces of the upright projections or parts of the raised rim
of the step carrier. Any suitable means may be adopted for binding the two bearing
steps together laterally so as to oblige both parts to react unitedly against the collar
of the shaft. When the step carrier is fitted with a cap a portion of the outside in
the middle of the top bearing step has a short cylindrical curvature which radiates
from the axis of the rounded edge of the transverse midrib of the bottom bearing
step and abuts against a short cylindrical recess of the same radius formed in the
underside of the cap. But when the step carrier has upright lugs and is not fitted
with a cap it is connected to the bottom bearing step by bolts or a bolt which pass or
passes through the holes in the said upright lugs and through or into a hole in each
of the pendent lugs of the bottom bearing step the axes of which said holes are
severally identical with the common axis of the semicylindrical recesses of the step
carrier and the curved edges of the pendent lugs of the bottom bearing step, and the
two bearing steps are connected together vertically by lugs and bolts on their opposite
sides. Bearing steps formed and placed respectively below and above the shaft as
hereinbefore specified for use in a step carrier fitted with a cap may have those said
positions inverted by making corresponding changes of form in parts of the step
carrier and cap. In any case also one or both of the bearing steps may be made in
two parts of different metals.
I now proceed more particularly to describe this invention by a reference to the
several figures on the explanatory sheets of drawings hereunto annexed using the
same letters of reference in the different views of the same parts and the same scale
(as given on Sheet 1) throughout all the figures of each sheet.
The several figures on Sheet 1 illustrate that form of this invention in which the
step carrier is fitted with a cap and in which the bearing may be pivotted about a
horizontal axis either below or above the axis of the shaft Figure 1 being an end
view with the bearing steps shown at transverse vertical midsection and Figure 2 a
longitudinal vertical midsection respectively of the bearing complete. Figure 3 is a
top view of the sole plate and step carrier without the cap and bearing steps and
Figure 4 a top view of the sole plate alone. Figure 5 is a top view. Figure 6 a
bottom view and Figure 7 a side view of the two bearing steps placed together but
apart from the step carrier, E, Figures 1 and 4, is the sole plate having a raised
boss e, e in the centre and two lugs g, gat each end of its upper side which respectively
fit within the recess underneath the bottom, and overlap the two projecting ribs h, h
at the bottom of each end, of the step carrier C and having also projections 0, 0
underneath, which fit against the sides of a slotted hole provided for a central holding
down bolt in the bed plate of the bracket or other fixing which carries the bearing,
or the sole plate may be formed to receive more than one holding down bolt, as
severally specified in my aforesaid former patent. The enabling modifications
introduced by and in this invention begin at the step carrier C the base of which is
in this case circular. a, a are the two uprights and a¹ the cap which is connected
thereto both laterally and vertically by projections at the top of the uprights which
abut against, and fit between the facing strips under, the ends of the cap as shown
in figure 3 and also by dotted lines in figures 1 and 2. f, Figure 3, is a semi-
cylindrical recess extending across the upper surface of the base plate of the step
carrier from one upright to the other and round the edges of the parts of the base
plate lying on each side of the uprights is a raised rim having the inner faces of the
parts p, p, figures 2 and 3, at the middle of each rim formed as cylindrical segments
radiating from the axis of the recess f. D is the bottom bearing step the sides of
which are flattened and flush with the vertical edges of the transverse midrib b and
fit between the inner faces of the uprights a, a as shewn in figure 1, the bottom edge
of the midrib b is semicylindrical fitting the recess f as shown in figure 2 and the
outer faces of the downward projections 61, 61 on each side of the midrib bare

page_text: cylindrical segments radiating from the same axis as and fitting between the parts p, p
of the step carrier. The top bearing step D' has four short lugs n, n, n, n,
figures 5, 6 and 7, one at each corner, which embrace the flattened sides and abut
against the flanges of the bottom bearing step to bind the two parts together laterally
and oblige them to react unitedly against the collars of the shaft and the central
parts m, m on the top, figure 5 and 7, have their upper surfaces curved to radiate
from the same axis as the curved edge of the midrib 6 of the bottom bearing step and
abut against a short cylindrical recess of the same radius formed in the underside of
the cap as shewn by the dotted lines in figures and 2. A bearing step formed
like D may placed above and a bearing step in the forin of D' below the shaft by
making the underside of the cap with a recess similar to f and with downward
projections or parts similar to the parts p, p and forming between the uprights a, a
on the upper surface of the base plate of the step carrier a recess corresponding to
and fitting the curved surfaces of the parts m, m of the bearing step D'. Such
modifications place the horizontal pivotting axis above the axis of the shaft and may
be conveniently effected without further detailed illustration. In either case however
such a form of step carrier is not suitable and is not intended for mounting upon a
vertical screwed stud or to be used without a seperato solo plate.
The several figures on Sheets 2 and 3 represent those forms of this invention in
which the top bearing step also answers the purposes of a cap and in which the
horizontal pivotting axis is necessarily below the axis of the shaft. Referring to
Sheet 2 on which the step carrier is shown as pivotted upon a seperate sole plate
Figure 1 is a side view and Figure 2 a transverse vertical midsection respectively
complete. Figure 3 is a top view of the bearing without the top bearing step and
Figure 5 a similar view with both bearing steps removed. Figure 4 is a view of the
underside of the top bearing step alone and Figures 6 and 7 respectively show the
faces of the sole plate and step carrier which are paralell to and stand in front of
the midsections of those parts shown in figure 2. E is the sole plate in every essential
particular similar to the sole plate illustrated on Sheet 1 and also susceptible of like
modifications. In this case however, instead of uprights fitted with a
the step
cap,
carrier C has two short upright lugs a, a, figures I and 7, which have each a central
hole to receive the opposite ends of the pivotting bolt c. f,f, Figure 5, are short
semicylindrical recesses in the body of the step carrier radiating from the axis of
the pivotting bolt or holes and adjoining the inner faces of the lugs a, a. D, Figures 1
and 3, is the bottom bearing step flattened at the sides which are flush with the outer
vertical faces of the two pendent lugs b, b, these latter have holes in them to receive
the pivotting bolt c, and fit between the inner faces of the two upright lugs a, a the
ends of the lugs b, b are flattened, to lessen their tendency to lift by pressure
transmitted from the collars of the shaft, as shown by the dotted line in figure 1, or
more clearly in figure 1 of Sheet 3, and their circular parts radiate from the common
axis of the two pivotting holes and fit in the recesses f, f. The bottom bearing stop
and the step carrier are connected together by the pivotting bolt c which latter also
reacts conjointly with the abutting cylindrical surfaces of the lugs b, b and the
recesses against longitudinal and vertical pressures transmitted from the shaft.
The two bearing steps are connected together laterally by the four short lugs n, n, n, n
and vertically by bolts passing through the lugs d, d and d', d' as shown.
Referring to Sheet 3 the bearing steps are in every detail the same as the bearing
steps illustrated on Sheet 2 but the lower part of the step carrier is so formed as to
admit of its being directly connected to and pivotted upon a bed plate or surface of
metal in the manner specified in my aforesaid former patent. Figure 1 is a
longitudinal vertical midsection without the top bearing step Figure 2 is an end view
of the bearing complete Figure 3 is a top view of the step carrier with its pivotting
boss, apart from the bearing steps, and Figure shows that face of figure 8 which
fronts and is paralell to the midsection in figure 1. Figures 4 and 6 are respectively
bottom and side views of the pivotting boss alone.
Step carriers connected to the bottom bearing step by means of a pivotting bolt as
illustrated on Sheets 2 and 3 and specified herein may but are not intended to be so

page_text: modified as to be made suitable for mounting upon a vertical screwed stud in the
manner specified in my aforesaid former patent, their bases may however be enlarged
and provided with upright curved projections or parts to interact with corresponding
downward projections underneath and forming parts of a bottom bearing step
provided with pendent lugs at its sides, substantially in the manner illustrated on
Sheet 1 herein. When any of the bearing steps used in this invention are made in
two parts of different metals such parts are made to adhere together by soldering or
other like ordinary means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed: I declare that what I
claim is
1. Pivotting shaft bearings about a horizontal axis below or above the axis of the
shaft by means of a step carrier fitted with a cap, having recesses and parts, of
interior cylindrical curvature, which embrace corresponding projecting parts of
exterior cylindrical curvature on the two bearing steps substantially as illustrated on
Sheet 1 of the annexed drawings and specified herein.
2. Pivotting shaft bearings about a horizontal axis below the axis of the shaft by
means of a step carrier having recesses and lugs, and with or without other parts,
of interior cylindrical curvature, which embrace and are connected by a bolt or bolts
with corresponding lugs, with or without other parts, of exterior cylindrical curvature,
on the bottom bearing step as illustrated on Sheets 2 and 3 of the annexed drawings
and specified herein.
Dated this 26th dow of Jon1000