IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BEARINGS FOR JOURNALS, AXLES, SHAFTS, OR SIMILAR PARTS OF MACHINERY
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the firm of Haseltine, Lake
& Co, Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BEARINGS FOR JOURNALS, AXLES,
SHAFTS, OR SIMILAR PARTS OF MACHINERY" communicated to him from
abroad by Robert Washington Traylor of Richmond, Virginia United States
of America, Manufacturer
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th October 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & C° Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
"
BEARINGS FOR JOURNALS, AXLES, SHAFTS OR SIMILAR PARTS OF MACHINERY
[A communication to him from abroad by Robert Washington Traylor of
Richmond, Virginia United States of America, Manufacturer]
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of bearings for
journals, axles, shafts and spindles, and has for its object to construct a bearing of
such character that the material of which it is composed will, in a measure, be self-
lubricating while it acts as a non-conductor of heat, is free from grit, and provides
a smooth bearing surface, while the process of manufacture produces a better and
more substantial structure than bearings of like character made as heretofore. To
this end my invention consists in the method of constructing a bearing by forming
sheets of mica into the required configuration and arranging such sheets side by
side, subjecting them to powerful pressure, and while compacted and under pressure
thrusting the mass into a box or receptacle which constitutes the casing of the
bearing.
In carrying the said invention into practice I provide a metallic or other suitable
rigid receptacle or box closed at its bottom, sides, and ends and into this receptacle
I arrange the bearing, first proceeding to construct the same in the following
manner.

page_text: I take a series of sheets of mica and bring each to the configuration required to
produce a semi-circular or similar shaped bearing surface, then dampen with water
and place all side by side, after which I subject the series of sheets to powerful
pressure, preferably through the instrumentality of a hydraulic press.
compacts the sheets and while so compacted and under pressure, I thrust or force
the mass into the receptacle or box before alluded to, which receptacle or box
constitutes a casing for the bearing as will be obvious.
This
The bearing may be composed entirely of sheets of mica, or made up of sheets of
mica and interposed separating plates preferably of soft metal, the object of which
arrangement is to avoid rapid wearing of the mica, the metal, however, gradually
wearing down so that the mica bearing is at all times in uniform contact with the
journal or shaft.
I have found that by dampening the sheets of mica with water I can more
effectually compress them together, while by the edges of the sheets being exposed
to coustitute the bearing surface the bearing is rendered exceedingly durable.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Patent Office on the 9th April
1894.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, 'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
BEARINGS FOR JOURNALS, AXI.ES, SHAFTS, OR SIMILAR PARTS OF MACHINERY
A communication to me from abroad by Robert Washington Traylor, of Richmond,
Virginia, United States of America, Manufacturer.
This invention relates to the manufacture of bearings for journals, axles, shafts,
and spindles and has for its object to construct a bearing of such character that the
material of which it is composed will in a measure be self-lubricating while it acts
as a non-conductor of heat, is free from grit and provides a smooth bearing surface,
while the process of manufacture produces a better and more substantial structure
than bearings of like character made as heretofore. To this end my invention
consists in constructing a bearing by forming sheets of mica into the required
configuration and arranging such sheets side by side, subjecting them to powerful
pressure, and while compacted and under pressure thrus:ing the mass into a box or
receptacle which constitutes the casing of the bearing
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bearing for journals or shafts constructed
according to this invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same
Figure 3 is a plan or top view.
Figure 4 is a detached perspective view of several of the mic sheets compressed
together and one of the metal separating plates represented in Figure 3.
According to the said invention I provide a metallic or other suitable rigid
receptacle or box closed at its bottom 1, sides 2 and ends 3, and into this receptacle
I arrange the bearing, first proceeding to construct the same in the following
manner.
I take a series of sheets of mica and bring each to the configuration required to
pr. duce a semi-circular or similar shaped bearing surface 4, I then damp them
with water and place all side by side, after which I subject the series of sheets to
powerful pressure, preferably through the instrumentality of a bydraulic press. Tuis
compacts the sheets, and while so compacted and under pressure, I thrust or force
the mass into the receptacle or box before alluded to, which receptacle or box
constitutes a casing for the bearing as will be obvious.
In Figures 1 and 2 the bearing is composed entirely of sheets of mica, while in
Figure 3 the bearing is made up of sheets of mica 5, and interposed separating
plates 6, Figure 4, preferably of soft metal, the object of which arrangement is to
avoid rapid wearing of the mica, the metal, however, gradually wearing down so
that the mica bearing is at all times in uniform contact with the journal or shaft.
I have found that by dainping the sheets of mica with water, I can more
effectually compress then together, while by the edges of the sheets being exposed
to constitute the bearing surface the bearing is rendered exceedingly durable
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I Claim :—
First. The method herein described of making bearings of the character described,
which method consists in forming a series of separate sheets of mica into the form
required, placing the sheets side by side, and subjecting the whole to powerful

page_text: pressure whereby a solid compact body of mica suitable for a bearing or journal is
produced, substantially as described.
Second. The method herein described of making bearings of the character
described, which method consists in forming a series of separate sheets of mica into
the form required, placing the sheets side by side, subjecting the whole to powerful
pressure, and while under pressure thrusting the mass into a box or receptacle
which constitutes a casing or housing for the bearing, substantially as described
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Ninth day of April in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.
WM PORT LAKE (19)