Improvements in and relating to the Bearings of Axles, Shafts, and the like.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 12th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 14th Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Bearings of Axles, Shafts, and
the like.
I, WALTER JAMES COOKS, of "Fairview" Ealing Park, Brentford, in the County
of Middlesex, Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My improvement relates to bearings for axles, shafts and the like, having a com-
pound rotary and laterial axial motion, and it consists in the application thereto of
spherical balls or their equivalent and coned or curved surfaces whereby the universal
compound adjustment of the bearing may be effected to take up the wear arising
from both the rotary and lateral movement in one operation.
I attain the object of my invention by forming in the axle or shaft, or in a collar
or sleeve adapted to be fixed thereto, a series of coned or curved channels or grooves,
running parallel with each other and longitudinally with the axis of the said axle or
shaft. These channels or grooves are formed of a length slightly exceeding the
lateral movement of the axle or shaft. The journal or bearing box is formed of two
coned or curved surfaces forming by and between them an internal circumferential
groove or channel. One of these coned or curved surfaces is adapted to be adjusted
laterally with respect to the other so as to contract the sectional area of the groove or
channel formed by and between them, for the purpose of taking up any wear that
may arise. In the channel formed in the journal or bearing box are placed a number
of steel balls or spheres, one for each groove or channel in the axle. These balls or
spheres roll in the groove or channel in the journal or bearing box as the axle
revolves, and in the grooves or channels in the axle as it moves laterally in the said
journal or bearing box.
It will be seen that by adjusting one of the coned or curved surfaces Interally with
respect to the other, the bearing is adjusted simultaneously both for wear arising from
the rotary movement and that arising from the lateral movement. The adjusting
coned or curved pieces may be locked after adjustment by any suitable device, that
adopted for the laterally-adjustable ball bearings used on Velocipedes being a con-
venient one. It will be obvious that any number of these bearings may be used in
combination, according to the particular purpose for which the axle shaft is intended
to be used.
I
I do not limit myself to the application of my invention to axles or shafts adapted
to be used for any particular purpose as the field of its application is a wide one.
will however as a means of indicating its utility name of few of its applications. To
the anti-vibration steering heads or joints of velocipedes in which both an approxi-
mately vertical sliding, and an approximately horizontal rotary motion is required.
To hand and power drills which require a sliding feed of the rotating drill. To the
spindles of dead-weight governors.
DL: 19th Jan of 1000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Bearings of Axles, Shafts, and
the like.
1, WALTER JAMES COOKS, of "Fairview" Ealing Park, Brentford, in the County
of Middlesex, Surveyor, 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:-
My improvements relate to bearings for axles, shafts and the like, having a coun-
pound rotary and laterial axial motion, and it consists in the application thereto of
spherical balls or their equivalent and coned or curved surfaces, whereby the universal
compound adjustment of the bearing may be effected to take up the wear arising from
both the rotary and lateral movement, in one operation.
I attain the object of my invention by forming in the axle or shaft, or in a collar
or sleeve adapted to be fixed thereto, a series of coned or curved channels or grooves
running parallel with each other and longitudinally with the axis of the said axle or
shaft. These channels or grooves are formed of a length slightly exceeding the lateral
movement of the axle or shaft. The journal or bearing box is formed of two coned
or curved surfaces forming by and between them an internal circumferential groove
or channel. One of those conod or curved surfaces is adapted to be adjusted laterally
with respect to the other so as to contract the sectional area of the groove or channel
formed by and between them for the purpose of taking up any wear that may arise.
In the channel formed in the journal or bearing box are placed a number of
sieel balls or spheres, one for each groove or channel in the axle. These balls or
spheres roll in the groove or channel in the journal or bearing box as the axle
revolves, and in the grooves or channels in the axle as it moves laterally in the
said journal or bearing box.
It will be seen that by adjusting one of the coned or curved surfaces laterally
with respect to the other the bearing is adjusted simultaneously both for wear arising
from the rotary movement and that arising from the lateral movement. The adjusting
coned or curved piece may be locked after adjustment by any suitable device, that
adopted for the laterally adjustable ball bearings on velocipedes being a convenient
It will be obvious that any number of those bearings may be used in com-
bination, according to the particular purpose for which the axle or shaft is intended to
be used.
one.
I do not limit myself to the application of my invention to axles or shafts adapted
to be used for any particular purpose as the field of its application is a wide one. I
will however as a means of indicating its utility point out a few machines to
which it could be applied with a useful result. To the anti-vibration steering
heads or joints of velocipedos in which both an approximately vertical sliding and
an approximately horizontal rotary motion is required. To hand and power drills
which require a sliding feed of the rotating drill, and to the spindles of dead-
weight governors.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I herewith append a drawing
illustrating its broad principle without reference to its application to any particular
machine. Figure 1. is a view in longitudinal elevation partly in section of an
axle mounted in ball bearings according to my invention, and adapted to have
both a rotary and a lateral motion in the said bearings, and Figure 2 is a view in
transverse section through one of the bearings and that part of the axle running
in the said bearings. Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like
letters of reference.
In the axle A or in sleeves A. A fixed thereto are cut or formed a series of coned or
curved longitudinal grooves a a etc. forming lateral races for the balls etc. to run
in. These balls are confined by a bearing case consisting of two parts, a fixed
part B and, a loose part B¹ forming a cap adapted to be laterally adjusted with respect
to the fixed part, either by screwing into it as illustrated in the accompanying

page_text: drawing or in any other suitable manner. The interior surfaces of these two parts
of the bearing case are curved or coned to form by and between them a circum-
ferential groove or race 6 for the balls x etc. The cap B¹ provides for the lateral
setting up or adjusting of the bearing, and suitable means are provided for locking
the cap B¹ to the part B after adjustment. The bearing cases are fixed and supported
in any approved manner. It will be understood that the grooves a a are made of
such a length as will admit of the required lateral motion of the axle.
As the same set of balls in each bearing support the axle in both its lateral as well
as its rotary motion, it will be seen that the wear of the bearing in both directions
can be universally set up by the lateral adjustment of the cap B₁.
From the aforegoing description of my invention it will be clear, to those connected
with the manufacture of cycles and other machines or articles to which such an
invention can be applied, how its application may be carried into practical effect. It
is almost needless to add that this bearing is also adapted to axles or shafts having a
rocking or partial rotary motion combined with a lateral motion.
I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself to the precise
details of construction herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawing, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall
within the spirit and scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said In-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1st. A ball bearing for axles, shafts, or their equivalents, having a combined rotary
or partial rotary, and lateral motion, constructed arranged and operating as set
forth.
2nd. In a bearing for axles, shafts, or their equivalents, having a combined rotary
or rocking, and lateral motion, the combination of the longitudinal grooves in the
axle, of the coned or curved surfaces in the bearing case, and the spheres or balls
running in the said grooves and between the said coned or surfaces, as and for the
purpose set forth:
3rd. The combination with a ball bearing having coned or curved surfaces and con-
centric lateral adjustment, of the coned or curved longitudinal recesses formed in the
axle, or in a sleeve adapted to be fixed thereto, as and for the purpose set forth.
4th. In a ball bearing the combination with the coned or curved surfaces of the
bearing case one of which is adjustable with respect to the other-of a sleeve adapted
to be fixed to the axle and having a series of parallel longitudinal grooves of a coned
or curved section cut or formed therein, and of the balls or spheres adapted to run in
the said grooves and in the groove formed by and between the two coned or curved
surfaces of the bearing case, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 12th day of August 1889.