Improvements in Roller Bearings.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roller Bearings.
I, CHARLES DICKINSON MENEELY, of No. 30, Elk Street, in the City of
Albany, County of Albany and State of New York, United States of America,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for an "IMPROVE
MENTS IN ROLLER 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 roller bearings, and my invention has
for its object to reduce the weight of the bearings, and to render them more
efficient for the purposes for which they are used, by dividing up and increasing
the measure of their bearing surface relatively to the weight they have to sustain.
My invention consists (as will be more fully detailed hereinafter in connection
with its illustration) in the combination with a bearing-box and axle of a series of
tube-form rollers, which in length are shorter than the bearing proper; with said
rollers arranged between the bearing-box and axle, to be in axial alignment with
the latter, aid placed so as to break joints at their ends and to lap past one
another thereat and two rods made to pass through each of the rollers that are
in axial alignment with each other upon the interior and diametrically opposite
sides of said rollers; and with one of said rods of each of the rollers in axial
alignment also arranged to pass through one of the two rollers that break joints
thereat where adjacent, so as to interlock a series of tube-form rollers around the
axle, and between the latter and the bearing-box.
:
My invention also consists of certain details of construction which will be more
fully set forth in the claims.
Accompanying this Specification to form a part of it there are four plates of
drawings containing four 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 central longitudinal section taken through the
bearing-box and sleeve, with the axle, the tube-form rollers, and the rods shown in
side elevation. Figure 2 is a cross section taken through the bearing-box, the
axle, alternating tube-form rollers and the rods by which the rollers are interlocked
around the axle, with the rollers back of those thus illustrated in section shown
in end elevation. Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken through the axle,
bearing-box, the end rollers at the top, and bottom of the bearing-box, with one of
the tube-form rollers where on top of the axle, and where below the latter, shown
in side elevation. Figure 4 shows a modification in which the bearing-box is
shown in central and longitudinal section, the axle and rollers being shown in side
elevation, with the centrally placed rollers of the bearing made longer than the
end rollers.
The several parts of the apparatus thus illustrated are designated by letter
reference and the function of the parts is described as follows: The letter B
designates the bearing-box, and A. the axle, E¹ the outer end of the bearing-box,
and E2 its inner end, the latter being made with a groove ', to allow for the
movement therein of a dust guard d, encircling the axle. The outer end of the
cap of the bearing-box is made with a recess e², to receive the end of the axle.
The letters R designate tube-form rollers which are arranged in axial alignment
with the axle, between the latter and the bearing-box, and also in alignment with
each other. The letters R³ designate other tube-form rollers that are arranged
between the bearing-box and axle so as to be in axial alignment with the latter,
but these rollers R are so placed relatively to the rollers R', that the ends of the
former will break joints or lap past the ends of the latter. These rollers R²
and R. are made shorter in length than the bearing proper, and are preferably

page_text: made to each have the same length, but:1f. desired they may be made of different
lengths as shown at Figure 4.
The letters designate rods or spindles of which there are two for each of
the rollers in alignment with each other.. These rods or spindles are arranged to
pass through the rollers R; from end to end of the bearing, and are so placed
within the interior of said.rollers as stor belupon the inner and diametrically
opposite sides of the rollers in alignment with each other, and each of them to
intermediately pass through the rollers R2, where the ends of two. of the latter.
rollers lap past the ends of the rollers R', so that two of said rods or spindles pass
through such of the rollers as are in alignment upon the inner and diametrically.
opposite sides thereof, and each of said two rods also passes through one of the
two rollers R2, where lapping past the ends of the rollers R', to thus alternatingly
interlock or interweave the tube-form rollers around the axle and between the
latter and the bearing-box.
The letter S designates a sleeve that is arranged on the inner face of the bearing-
box, and the letter J designates a shoulder formed on the axle to make the latter
where constituting the bearing proper smaller in diameter, and which shoulder
serves to regulate and keep in position the end rollers of the bearing, and to prevent
their lateral movement on the axle. The letter D designates a ring that is formed
on and secured to the other end of the axle to keep the outer ends of the rollers
in position. The letters M designate rings that are secured to the axle so as to
pass between the ends of the rollers R and R2, to prevent lateral movement of the
rollers on the axle. The letters F designate Hanges produced on the outer ends of
the rods or spindles I to keep the rods in place.
With the rollers thus made in a tube-form and arranged between the axle and
bearing-box, said rollers being alternatingly interwoven by means of the rods to
encircle the axle between the latter and the bearing-box, when the axle turns the
rollers also turn, as well as the rods or spindles; with the latter acting to keep
the rollers in alignment with the axle; with the rollers in position relatively to
the axle so that the weight upon the latter is sustained by more bearing points
than if the rollers extended from end to end of the bearing in one continuous point
of contact.
While I have shown the length of the bearing, part of the axle as divided into
three parts consisting of the rollers R' and the rollers R2, with one of the latter
and two of the former in length constituting the length of the bearing; if desired
the number of the tube-form rollers may be increased provided they are arranged
to break joints or lap past each other at their ends, with such of the rollers as are
in alignment having two rods or spindles which pass through the rollers on the inner
and diametrically opposite sides thereof, and each of which rods also passes through
each of the two rollers whose ends break joints therewith, to this interlace or
interweave a series of rollers so placed around the axle between it and the
bearing-box.
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 1
claim is :-
First. The combination with a bearing-box and axle, of a series of tube-form
rollers that in length are shorter than the bearing-box, with said rollers arranged to
be in axial alignment with the axle, and to break joints, or lap past each other at
their inner ends, with rods arranged to pass through said rollers, to alternatingly
interweave or interlock said rollers around the axle, between the latter and the
bearing-bar, substantially in the manner as and for the purposes set forth.
Second. The combination with a bearing-box and axle of tube-form rollers, that
in length are shorter than the bearing-box; with said rollers arranged to be in
axial alignment with the axle; and to break joints at their inner ends, with two rods
passing through each of the rollers that are in alignment with each other, and
alternatingly through each two of the rollers where breaking joints at the ends of

page_text: the rollers in alignment with each other in connected series around the axle, between
the latter and the bearing-box, substantially in the manner as and for the purposes
set forth.
Third. The combination with the axle A, made with the shoulder J, and the end
ring D of the bearing-box B, made with the sleeve S; the tube-form rollers R'
and R2, arranged between said bearing-box and axle so as to be in axial alignment
with the latter, but to break joints and lap past each other at their ends; and the
rods I, arranged to pass through said rollers from end to end of the bearing,
substantially in the manner as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. The combination with the axle A, made with the shoulder J, the end
ring D, and rings M; of the bearing-box B, made with the sleeve S; the tube-form
rollers R' and R², arranged between the bearing-box and axle, so as to be in axial
alignment with the latter, but placed so as to break joints or lap past each other at
their ends, and the rods made with the end flanges F. and arranged to pass
through said rollers from end to end of the bearing, substantially in the manner as
and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 1st day of August 1900
CHARLES DICKINSON MENEELY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.