Improvements in Bearings and in Apparatus for Manufacturing the same.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 27th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 22nd Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bearings and in Apparatus for Manufacturing the
same.
I, CHARLES ALBERT PIAT of 15 Rue des Halles, Paris, France, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in bearings which are automatically
lubricated.
A bearing according to this invention consists of a step formed in two parts each
made in a special manner and having special forms and arranged in such a manner
as to be capable of being directly employed, and adapted to receive an automatic
capillary lubricating device.
The lower body of the bearing or pedestal carrying the base plate is arranged in
such a manner that the moulding thereof may be effected without the use of a core
with draught in an accurate and smooth manner. It is provided with a lateral
orifice for feeding oil situated at the height of the maximum or normal level, and
with a discharge orifice closed by a screw. On the inner side of the bottom of said
lower body are cast two projections, between which a light spring is situated upon
which rests the capilliary lubricating device. The lubricating device consists of a
wick formed by a thin corrugated metal strip or of one or more pieces of reed or
cane offering a sufficient resistance to utilize the reaction of the spring. In the
case of spherical steps, the lower body is further provided on its bottom with two
projections arranged one on each side of the spring. The upper surface of these
projections is formed to fit the spherical surface of the lower step without it being
necessary to "fit" the said parts, as according to this invention they can be made
smooth and well fitting by simply moulding and casting.
The journal or bearing portion of the shaft rotates within the upper and lower
steps, each of which is formed of two parts; an outer part of cast iron or steel, and
an inner part of white metal or antifriction metal known under the name of
English metal." The step instead of being spherical, may have a straight bearing
surface laterally or at the bottom.
The cover of the bearing is adapted to be pressed down upon the upper step in
the ordinary manner; internally it follows the contour of the upper part of said
step. The tightening bolts of the bearings are formed with shoulders cut in the
body, with extensions on each side of said shoulders. The outer cast iron or steel
part of the lower step which serves as a support therefor is provided with ribs for
strengthening and centering the same, and with a recess which terminates at its
lower end in a channel extending into the oil and receives the capilliary lubricating
device or devices and terminates at its upper end in a channel and is formed with a
recess.
The outer part of the upper step is constructed and arranged in a substantially
similar manner to the outer part of the lower step. Each of these outer parts is
provided externally at one of its edges with a register or mark corresponding to
another register or mark formed on the other outer part. A thin lining of white
metal is cast upon the lower support, a recess and a snug or projection corre-
sponding respectively to the channel and recess in the outer part, lubricating
grooves and semi-circular flanges, being formed by means of a mould formed
entirely of metallic parts, within which is arranged the outer part of the step
itself, upon which the said lining is very accurately cast.
6
A thin lining of white metal is cast in the same manner upon the outer part of
the upper step, which need not however be composite,' but may consist simply of
a solid shell of cast iron or steel.

page_text: In order to effect the casting of the white metal lining on the outer parts as
mentioned the balf of a metallic cylinder, representing the journal which passes
through the step of the bearing and rests thereon is centred upon a base plate to
which it is fixed by the nut bolts the half cylinder being guided by means of a
longitudinal projection. On the external portion of said half cylinder are provided
projecting ribs which branch off for the purpose of forming lubricating grooves in
the white metal lining. In its centre and perpendicular to its diametrical face,
this half cylinder is traversed by a bar baving in cross-section the form of the
channel intended for the lubricating device and which can be removed after
.moulding.
The length of the half cylinder is regulated by that of the lining including its
flanges and it is continued beyond on each side by a semi-cylindrical extension
having the same axis and the same diametrical face, but a larger radius than the
half cylinder, and equal to the external radius of the flange of the lining.
Upon each semi-cylindrical extension there is fitted a movable half collar
capable of sliding longitudinally and of being fixed by means of a thumb nut.
Between the said two half collars there is inserted and firmly held the outer part
of the step through which also passes the bar for the purpose of forming the
channel. In a mould thus constructed there is a space between the half cylinder,
its extensions, the movable collars, the inverted outer part of the step and the
above mentioned bar, antifriction metal being poured into said space which has the
desired form and dimensions.
To enable this pouring in to be effected the outer parts of the steps are provided
on one of their sides near the diametrical edge with two notches, one for pouring
in, and the other for the issuing jet of the metal.
To line the outer part of the upper step, the operation is the same, no bar being
used, because neither the support nor its lining are to be furnished with the channel
to contain the capillary lubricator.
During the casting, the outer parts of the steps which serve as the tops of the
flask, are held in position by the tightening action of a hinged press. Moreover
the mould is slightly inclined in order to effect the pouring in through the hole, so
that the holes occupy the upper part of the angle formed by the face of the outer
part of the step and that of the base plate of the mould.
Dated this 27th day of May 1892.
C. A. FIAT,.
By L. W., per F. B. .
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bearings and in Apparatus for Manufacturing the
same.
I, CHARLES ALBERT PIAT, of 15 Rue des Halles, Paris, France, Engineer,
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 relates to improvements in bearings of the kind that are auto-
matically lubricated and in apparatus for manufacturing such bearings.
A bearing of the kind referred to according to this invention comprises a pedestal
of special construction and a step formed in two parts each of which is made in a
special manner and of such a form that it is capable of being directly employed
without previous tooling or fitting, the lower of the two parts being adapted to
receive an automatic capillary lubricating device."
In the accompanying illustrative drawings,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a bearing constructed according to my
invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same with the cover and other parts removed.

page_text: Fig. 3 is a partial side elevation of the bearing.
Fig. 4 is a partial cross section of the pedestal with the steps removed.
Fig. 5 shows partly in side elevation, and partly in section, a mould used according
to my invention for casting the linings of the steps.
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are respectively a cross section, a plan, and an end elevation of
the mould.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, A is the lower portion of the body of the
bearing or pedestal (hereinafter called the pedestal) on which directly rests the
bottom step, and which is of such a form that the moulding thereof can be effected
in an accurate and smooth manner without the use of a core the pattern employed
having a suitable draught. This pedestal is provided with a lateral feeding
orifice a for oil situated at or near the maximum or normal level of the lubricant,
and with a discharge orifice a' closed by a screw. On the bottom of the pedestal
are cast two projections between which is situated a light bent spring c upon
which rests the capillary lubricating device. This lubricating device consists of a
wick d formed of a thin corrugated metal strip or of one or more pieces of reed or
cane offering sufficient resistance to utilize the reaction of the spring. When using
steps such as shown in the drawings, formed with a spherical surface to bear against
the pedestal the latter is further provided on its bottom with two projections e
arranged one on each side of the spring c. The upper surface of these projections
is made concave and so as to fit the spherical surface of the lower step without
its being necessary to specially "fit" or tool the said parts, as in consequence of
their construction they can be made smooth and well fitting by moulding and
casting alone.
C Care the lower & upper steps between which the journal or bearing portion B
of a shaft is to rotate. Each of these steps is formed of an inner and an outer part.
The outer parts fand f¹ are made of cast iron or steel, and the inner parts g and y¹
of white or anti-friction metal known under the name of "English metal." The
bearing surface W of the steps instead of being spherical all round may be flat at
the sides or at the bottom.
D is the cover of the bearing adapted to be pressed down upon the upper step in
the ordinary manner; internally it follows the contour of the top surface of the
upper step C. The tightening bolts of the bearings are each formed with a
shoulder D and with screw threaded ends D2 D3 on which are fitted tightening
nuts as shown. The outer cast iron or steel part of the lower step which has to
support the whole of the weight, is provided with ribs n for strengthening and
centering purposes, and with a socket h which contains the capillary lubricating
device or devices and terminates below the level of the lubricant in the bottom of
the pedestal as shown. The part f is also formed at the upper part with a
recess at i.
The outer part fl of the upper step C' is constructed and arranged in a sub-
stantially similar manner to the part but is without a socket such as h or recess
such as i.
Each of the outer parts of the steps c c¹ is provided externally at one of
its edges with a projection r arranged to register with a corresponding recessed
part on the base plate of the mould as hereinafter described. The thin lining g
of white metal is cast upon the part fand is formed with a slot h¹ (Fig. 1), and a
snug or projection 2 corresponding respectively to the socket h and the recess i in
the said outer part f; lubricating grooves on its inner surface; and with semi-
circular flanges g². The lining g is cast upon the said part by means of a mould
composed entirely of metallic parts within which the outer part f of the step
itself is previously placed so that the lining when cast will accurately fit such
outer part f
The thin lining g' of white metal is cast in the same manner upon the outer part
of the upper step C'. Instead, however, of forming the upper step in the manner
described, it may be cast in one piece of iron or steel without a lining.
In order to effect the casting of the white metal lining g on the outer part for
I employ the moulding apparatus shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive.
or fl

page_text: This apparatus comprises a semi-cylindrical core E that corresponds in diameter
with the diameter of the shaft with which the bearing is to be used. This core is
placed with its flat side on a base plate M upon which it is fixed by bolts V, the
core being formed with a projection S adapted to enter a corresponding recess in
the base plate for the purpose of centering it.
On the external portion of the core E are projections p¹ p² adapted to form
lubricating grooves within the white metal lining g cast thereon. In its centre and
perpendicular to its flat face, this core is traversed by a bar j, which has in cross
section the form of the socket h and slot intended for the lubricating device d and
which can be removed after moulding.
The length of the core E is regulated by that of the required lining including its
semi-circular flanges g². The said core is provided at each end with semi-cylindrical
extensions G and G₁ having the same axis and the same diametrical face as the
core but having a radius larger than the core and equal to the external radius of
the semi-circular flange 2 of the required lining 9..
Upon the semi-cylindrical extensions G and G¹ there are fitted movable half
collars or semi-cylindrical parts H and H' respectively capable of sliding longi-
tudinally and of being fixed by means of thumb nuts L and L' working on the
bolts V. Between the two half collars or parts H and H' there is inserted and
firmly held the outer part of the step in which the lining is to be cast and through
which also passes the aforesaid bar j. In a mould thus constructed there is a space
enclosed by the core E its extensions G and G the movable collars or parts H
and H, the inverted outer part of the step, and the above mentioned bar j, and
into this space antifriction metal is poured, to produce the required lining 9, the
form and dimensions of which will correspond with that of the said space. To
enable this pouring in to be effected, each of the outer parts fand fl of the steps is
provided near one of its sides, and near its flat edge with two notches K and K¹,
one for the metal to enter by, and the other to allow of its escape.
To line the outer part f' of the upper step C', the method adopted is the same as
that just described except that no bar is used, because neither the part 1 nor its
lining g' is to be furnished with a socket or slot to contain a capillary lubricator.
During the casting operation the outer parts fand of the steps which each
serve in turn during the casting operation as the top of the mould are held in
position by means of a hinged press (not shewn) but such as is commonly used in
foundries, and in order to facilitate the pouring in of metal through the hole K, the
mould is slightly inclined so that the holes K and K' are situated in the upper of
the two angles formed by the face of the outer part of the step and that ay of the
base plate M.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a bearing adapted to be automatically lubricated by means of a capillary
wick formed of material such as a thin corrugated metal strip, or of reed or cane
arranged to dip into lubricant, a pedestal A capable or being cast without a core
and provided with feeding and discharge orifices a and a' respectively for oil; with
projections and for the reception of a spring c, and with projections e to serve
as a support for the lower step C of the bearing substantially as described and
shown.
2. In a bearing of the kind referred to in the preceding claim, the compound
lower step C consisting of
(a) an interchangeable outer part f of iron or steel cast to the required shape
and dimension so as to fit its supports without tooling and provided with
strengthening and centering ribs n, a socket for the reception of the
lubricating device, and a recess i for the reception of a snug 2 on the lining
of the said part for preventing transverse circular movement of such lining;
and

page_text: (b) a thin lining g of white or antifriction metal, cast within the said outer
part and of the required dimensions to fit the journal of a shaft, the said
lining being formed with a slot h' corresponding to the socket in the outer
part and with or without branching grooves for lubricant, the said
compound step being used in conjunction with an upper step C¹ made in one
piece or in two concentric pieces fl g₁ substantially as described and shewn.
3. The improved self lubricating bearing comprising the pedestal A fitted with
the compound lower step C and upper step C¹, the capilliary lubricating device d
located in the socket and slot of the lower step and the spring c arranged to
act against the said device, the whole constructed and arranged substantially as
described and shown, so that the parts are interchangeable and can be fitted
together without tooling as set forth.
4. For the manufacture of bearings of the kind herein referred to, a metallic
mould comprising a semi-cylindrical core E fitted and attached to a base-plate M
and formed with extensions G and G¹ the semi-cylindrical collars or parts. H
and H and the part for f arranged to be held in place laterally and vertically
around the core, the said parts ff being each formed at one side with notches K
and K and at the opposite side with a projection adapted to register with a corre-
sponding recess on the base plate M, substantially as described and shown and
whether or not the said core be provided with the bar and the ribs pl for the
purposes specified.
Dated this 27th day of February 1892
C. A. PIAT,
By L. W., per W. C.