Improvements in and relating to Ball Bearings.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1896-Accepted, 27th June, 1896
Improvements in and relating to Ball Bearings.
I, EUGEN ROTHER of 21, Blumenstrasse, Görlitz, in the Empire of Germany,
Master Builder, 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:-
The filling of ball bearings in which the balls are arranged freely in rows next
to one another, is--as is well-known-attended by considerable practical difficulties,
because the balls are continually changing their position and cannot be kept in one
spot in such a manner as to allow of inspecting the bearing to see whether the
bearing is properly filled or not.
My invention relates to an improved method of assembling the parts of a ball
bearing and to appliances therefor the object being to overcome this difficulty and
to enable bearings of any form to be filled with balls of any size with almost
mathematical accuracy, and further to enable the balls to be arranged exactly in
the manner which may seem to be the most advantageous for the purpose of
reducing the friction.
In the accompanying drawing which shows how my invention is carried into
practical effect :-
Figure 1 is a view in section through a ball bearing in side elevation.
Figure 2 is a view in side section of the lower part of the same bearing, and
Figure 3 is a view showing the apparatus for filling the bearing with the
balls.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
Referring to the drawing a denotes the lower, and the upper half of the
bearing case.
According to my invention the upper part of the bearing case b is placed under
the influence of an electro magnet c or its equivalent such as a permanent magnet.
In order to fill the bearing case, balls are first placed into the lower half a of the
bearing, and on these is laid the axle or shaft d, so that the balls group themselves
in a semi-circle between the shaft and the case. Then the upper half of the
bearing case with its hollow or concave face turned upwards, and is subjected to
the influence of the magnet c, with the result that the balls can be placed in this
part of the bearing case with accuracy and ease.
Instead of a magnet, a tube of suitable diameter and of any suitable material—
such as glass, wood, paper board or metal-may be employed in the well-known
way, and be provided with a wire winding. On passing an electric current
through the said wire winding, magnetism will be produced which when the
bearing case is placed in the tube will exert its influence upon the balls placed
in the bearing case, so as to cause them to crowd tightly up against the walls of
the case.
As an alternative method the upper half 6 of the bearing case may be provided
on its internal surface with an adhesive agent e as shown by Figure 2 which
allows the balls to be placed in a definite position, and holds them in said
position until the bearing has been put together when the said adhesive substance
may be removed by suitable solvents, by the application of heat, or by any other
means.
As a further modification a purely mechanical method may be employed.
Referring to Figure 3 a cylinder x which has approximately the same diameter

page_text: as the axle or shaft is introduced with its obliquely pointed end y into the
opening of the bearing case g. Then first a portion of the balls are introduced
into the bearing through the aperture h in the case g. whereby these balls group
themselves in a circular form around the cylinder. More balls are then inserted
into the bearing in the same way, the cylinder & being gradually raised. The last
rows of balls introduced in this manner, are forced by the inclined surfaces of the
point y of the cylinder gradually towards the wall of the case g and are in this way
accurately centered in their position between the cylinder and the wall of the
When the case g has been filled in this way, the cylinder a is pushed with
its point y over into the opening i of the case whereupon the part k of the bearing
case is also filled with balls in the same manner as before described. Bearing
cases filled in this manner are stored, without removing the cylinder a ready for
use. To mount them the end of the axle or shaft is placed against the end of
the cylinder and the latter is forced out by the former, so that the grouping
of the balls remains unchanged notwithstanding the changing of the internal
parts, and thus bearings mounted in this way are at once ready for use. The
methods illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 are specially suitable for divided bearings;
whilst the arrangement illustrated by Figure 3, is particularly adapted for non-
divided bearings.
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 I
claim is :-
(1.) The method of filling ball bearings with balls, substantially as hereinbefore
set forth.
(2.) The use of magnetic force for the purpose of placing and retaining the balls
in position in the cases of ball bearings until the parts have been completely
assembled, as set forth.
(3.) For assembling the balls in ball bearings the use of a pointed cylinder such
as of approximately the same cross sectional area as the axle or shaft of the
bearing, as set forth.
(4.) In assembling the balls in a ball bearing the use of an adhesive substance in
the manner and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of May 1896.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.1. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.