IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO JOURNAL BOXES OR BEARINGS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare
the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO JOURNAL
BOXES OR BEARINGS" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of journal boxes or bearings, and has
for its object to provide improved boxes or bearings for journals, axles, shafts and
other purposes, which will possess the inherent characteristics of lubricating the
axle or shaft and at the same time decreasing friction and avoiding heating of the
box or bearing, axle or shaft.
This object I accomplish by forming or cutting mica in any desired shape and
securing the same closely together with a suitable clamp. I then place the clamp
and mica in a suitable mould and cast iron or brass or any other suitable metal
around the mica, thus forming a solid and compact mass of mica with a metallic
casing or frame around the mica, excepting at one side. The metallic casing or
frame thus formed, more closely and firmly binds and holds the compact mica than
can otherwise be done, and the shrinkage of the metal binds and compresses the
mica still more closely together. After removing the bearing from the mould I
take off the clamp and put the bearing in any suitable machine, and concave the
mica side to receive the journal, axle or shaft. Thus I make a more firm and
compact bearing than has heretofore been made of mica.
side I leave the mica even with, or slightly above, the metallic casing or frame.
In concaving the mica
I do not limit myself to any particular form of box or bearing as such can be
of any shape desired or necessary nor do I limit myself to shaping or cutting the
sides of the mica which are to be encased in the metallic frame into any particular
shape as such can be of any shape suitable for the box or bearing. The box or
bearing may be of any suitable or known form, and in making the same I proceed
as above stated.

page_text: I have found that a box or bearing of the character set forth will act as a non-
conductor and hence it decreases the liability of the box or bearing becoming
heated. It possesses very efficient lubricating qualities and hence reduces friction,
and it is light but sufficiently substantial for the purposes intended. I sometimes
add plumbago to the mica before placing or securing the same in the mould, this
improves the bearing for light machinery, but I do not confine myself to the
plumbago, as I can add any suitable lubricator with it before casting the shell or
frame around it.

page_text: I HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO JOURNAL BOXES OR
BEARINGS" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to journal boxes or bearings, and has for its object to
provide improved boxes or bearings for journals, axles, shafts and the like, which
will possess the inherent characteristics of lubricating the axle or shaft and at the
same time decreasing friction and avoiding heating of the box or bearing axle or
shaft.
This object I accomplish by forming or cutting mica into any desired shape and
securing the same closely together with a suitable clamp, and then placing the
clamp and mica in a suitable mould and casting iron or brass or any other suitable
metal around the mica, thus forming a solid and compact mass of mica with a
metallic casing or frame around the mica, excepting at one side. The metallic
casing or frame thus formed, more closely and firmly binds and holds the compact
mica than can otherwise be done, and the shrinkage of the metal binds and
compresses the mica still more closely together. After removing the bearing from
the mould I take off the clamp and put the bearing in any suitable machine, and
concave the mica side to receive the journal, axle or shaft. Thus I make a more
firm and compact bearing than has heretofore been made of mica. In concaving
the mica side I leave the mica even with, or slightly above, the metallic casing or
frame. The accompanying Drawing shows a perspective view of a journal bearing,
constructed according to this Invention, as it appears when the clamp is removed
and before the mica side is concaved.
In the said Drawing A indicates the metallic casing and B the mica.
The journal shown is of ordinary shape, but I do not limit myself to any
particular form of box or bearing, as such may be of any desired or necessary
shape. Neither do I limit myself to shaping or cutting the sides of the mica which
are to be encased in the metallic frame, into any particular shape as such can be
of any shape suitable for the box or bearing.
The box or bearing may be of any suitable or known form, and in making the
same I proceed as above stated.
I have found that a box or bearing of the character set forth will act as a non-
conductor and hence it decreases the liability of the box or bearing becoming
heated. It possesses very efficient lubricating qualities and hence reduces friction,
and it is light but sufficiently substantial for the purposes intended.
I sometimes add plumbago to the mica before placing or securing the same in
the mould; this improves the bearing for light machinery, but I do not confine
myself to the plumbago, as I can add any suitable lubricant to it before casting the
shell or frame around it.
I have found that these bearings give more satisfactory results than can be
obtained by casting, moulding, pressing or forcing composition or the like into a
cold metallic frame or casing.
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
First. The method herein described of making journal boxes or bearings by
casting or moulding a metallic shell or casing around a compact mass of mica cut
into any desired shape or form, substantially as described.

page_text: '
Second. A journal box or bearing composed of mica with a suitable metallic
frame or casing cast or moulded around it except on the side for the journal,
substantially as described.
Third. A journal box or bearing composed of mica combined with plumbago or
other suitable substance, and a suitable metallic frame or casing cast or moulded
around it except on the side of the journal substantially as described.
'
Dated this 18th day of September 1884.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.