AN ADJUSTABLE SHAFT-BEARING OR JOURNAL-Box
Year: 1885

page_text: HENRY PATTMAN TRUEMAN of 3 St Georges Terrace, Hockley, Birmingham in
the County of Warwick, Engineer and Machinist do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for AN ADJUSTABLE SHAFT-BEARING OR JOURNAL-Box to be as
follows:-'
My invention consists of a Journal-box or Shaft bearing, which is not only
adjustable to suit varying diameters of shafts or spindles, but it is also mounted
on sliding or movable supports, by means of which such shafts may be readily
adjusted and kept in line.
My invention is applicable to every purpose where rotating shafts are employed.
My new adjustable journal box consists of a frame or casing (preferably of metal)
suitably disposed to hold in position three or more blocks of wood, which tend to
meet in a common centre, and are free to slide to and from such centre, being
retained in position by suitable clamping arrangements. Plumbago or oleaginous
matter may be used as a lubricant, the mode of applying the same varying
according to the position in which the journal is fixed. The journal box may be
rigidly affixed to a support in the usual manner, but according to my present
invention I prefer mounting it on adjustable ways, essentially consisting of four
principal parts as follows.
"
First. The "foot" or base, which is rigidly attached to a fixed support.
Second. The "leg" which springs from the foot at or about a right angle thereto
Third. The "arm" which slides upon the leg. Fourth the " wrist which slides
upon the arm, and carries the journal box proper. There are two minor parts for
retaining the leg, arm, or wrist in any desired position, consisting of clamping
bolts, set screws, keys, lock nuts, or other well known mechanical means.
The foot may in some cases be dispensed with, the leg in that case springing
directly from a rigid surface, such as a machine frame. Where this is not the case
the foot consists of a suitably formed surface, (such as a flat plate, an angle plate,
or a curved plate) and is provided with holes for bults, or means for clamping
to a rigid surface. The leg springs from this foot, and is either formed in one
peice with the same, or is rigidly attached to it by screwing or bolting. In some
cases the leg is attached to the foot so as to revolve on its axis, and in such case a

page_text: clamping contrivance is used to hold it in position. The arm consists of a straight
bar, provided with an eye the centre line of which is at right angles to the
longitudinal axis of the bar. This eye is formed to slide upon the leg and is
retained in any desired position by means of a clamp.
The wrist is provided with two eyes both of which are adapted to slide upon the
arm. These eyes are at right angles to each other and each is provided with means
for clamping to the arm. The bearing proper is either formed in one peice with
the wrist or it may be attached thereto by any of the well known means used by
machinists.
In some cases the leg and the arm is formed with a screw thread upon their
surfaces. In this case the arm and wrist sliding thereon are retained in position
by lock nuts engaging with the screw thread.
In other cases I form an internal thread in the eyes of arm and wrist, also and
cause the said arm and wrist to slide along, by revolving the leg and the arm,
which are in themselves incapable of longitudinal movement.
It will now be apparent, that when the arm is connected to the leg, and the
wrist to the arm in the manner described, the position of the journal box proper
can be varied to suit the requirements of the case, by simply sliding or moving the
arm along the leg and the wrist along the arm.
The arm can also be revolved around the leg, and the wrist around the arm.
Thus it will be seen that the foot may be fixed to a rigid surface not nescessiarily
in line with the shaft to be supported; the aforesaid mechanism, allowing of
subsequent adjustment and retention in the desired positions.

page_text: HENRY PATTMAN TRUEMAN of 3 St Georges Terrace Hockley Birmingham in
the county of Warwick Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for "AN ADJUSTABLE SHAFT-BEARING OR JOURNAL BOX and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
The nature of my invention consists of a Journal box or shaft bearing, which is
not only adjustable to suit varying diameters of shafts or spindles but it is or may
be also mounted on sliding or movable supports by means of which such shafts may
be readily adjusted and kept in line (Such bearings are also sometimes provided
with special means of lubrication. My object is to provide a cheaper and more
convenient bearing than those hitherto employed, and one which can be readily
adjusted. to suit shafts of varying diameters, and also capable of adjustment,
vertically, horizontally, and at varying angles, without refitting or constructing
for special positions.
Some of the many advantages obtained by the use of my invention may be
enumerated. First. The large range of adjustment provided by my invention
enables stock to be kept in reserve by manufacturers and others, which can be
readily adapted for emergencies, and when required a considerable saving is effected
in the skilled labor usually required for fixing the same.
Second. The material which comes in contact with the shaft being of a softer
nature than the shaft itself does not bite, cut or groove the journal running
therein. Third. The shaft can always be kept steady by moving the adjustable
blocks towards the centre of the shaft and when these are quite worn away they
can be renewed at a nominal cost and without any protracted stoppage of the
machinery. Fourth. In positions where grit and dust prohibit the use of oleaginous
or soapy lubricants powdered or solid plumbago can be employed. The wooden
blocks polish the journal instead of cutting it.
Fifth. The lubricating arrangements are practically automatic, and effect a great
saving, both in materials and in power, usually lost in useless friction.
Sixth. The yielding nature of my adjustable blocks enable shafts which are only
approximately circular to be used therein and is therefore specially adapted to
un-tooled or what is known as cold rolled shafting.
My invention is applicable to most purposes, where rotating shafts are employed,
notably for carrying line shafting counter shafts-spindles and the like in manu-
factories. Also for conveying power for temporary purposes, and in all cases where
frequent adjustments have to be made.
In many machines, such as threshing and other agricultural machinery, my
invention could be most advantageously employed.
My new adjustable journal box consists of a frame or casing (preferably of metal)
suitably disposed to hold in position, three or more blocks of wood which tend to

page_text: meet in a common centre and are free to slide to and from such centre, being
retained in position by suitable arrangements.
"
or base
This journal box may be rigidly affixed to a support in the usual manner, but
according to my present invention I prefer mounting it on adjustable ways,
essentially consisting of four principal parts as follows. First the "foot"
which is rigidly attached to a fixed support. Second. The "leg" which springs
from the "foot "
at or about a right angle thereto. Third. The " arm which
slides upon the "leg." Fourth the wrist" which slides upon the arm and carries
the journal box proper.
There are two minor parts for retaining the arm to the leg and the wrist to the
arm in any desired position consisting of clamping bolts set screws, keys, lock nuts,
or other well known mechanical means.
That my invention may be fully understood and carried into operation I will
describe it in connection with the accompanying two sheets of drawings, making
reference to the several figures thereon in order to shew in the first place the
primary arrangement of my adjustable shaft bearing or journal-box, and in the
second place I will describe and shew the several modifications of the same.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the drawings.
Fig. 1 shews the primary arrangement of my adjustable shaft-bearing, being a
front view of the various parts in combination for use as a bracket fixed to a
vertical post or wall. Fig. 2. is a side view of the same. Some parts referred to
in these figures may be also more clearly seen in Figs. 6. 7 & 8.-b. c. d are three
blocks of wood (preferably placed endways of the grain toward the shaft 8) resting
upon the frame or casing e, at an angle of 120° with each other i.e. on the sides of
an equilateral triangle inscribed within the diameter of the shaft & to be supported.
The blocks b. d. are held down by bolts b¹ d passing through them and secured
in the frame e. and set screws h. h. are used to advance the blocks b. d. towards
the shaft a-g. g. are plates of metal interposed between the screws h. h. and the
blocks b. d. These plates serve to prevent the local pressure of the screws h. h.
injuring the blocks, they are bent at right angles at i. i. and serve the same
purpose where the nuts b* d' (or boltheads as the case may be) are concerned.
Instead of bent plates separate washer plates may be used. The holes provided
in plates under the nuts b' d' and in the blocks b. d. for the passage of the
bolts bare slotted to allow of adjustment toward the shaft a by means of the
aforesaid screws h. h. The frame e is provided with a base e¹ conforming to
the upper part of the wrist w¹ which is preferably formed at an angle of 45° with
the bore of the wrist.
The frame e is attached to the upper part w³ of the wrist w, by bolts or other
well known mechanical contrivances. By reversing the position of the axis of
frame e. upon the inclined upper portion of the wrist at wl the relative positions
of the frame e. and the bore of the wrist w. is altered by 90° (see fig. 2).
I prefer this arrangement to the two eyes at right angles to each other described
in my provisional specification.
The bore bore or eye w² of the wrist w is adapted to slide along the arm a and
is held firmly in any desired position on the said arm by the same means which
are used to connect and hold the arm a in position on the leg l. which means I will
now immediately describe.
Fig. 3. is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 4. is a sectional plan, of end of the arm a
which is adapted to slide upon the leg l.
At right angles to the eye or bore a¹ a hole j is drilled which intersects the bore
to the extent approximately one fourth diameter of the hole j. Into this hole a
bolt is fitted baving a portion of its material, Fig. 5 removed on one side equal
to the intersection of the hole j. with the eye.
The bolt j' shewn in the drawing is provided with a nut at one end. The
arm being now passed unto the leg with the bolt in the position shewn on
drawing, the arm will be securely clamped by tightening up the nut j³ on the
bolt 1. The leg springs from the foot f. substantially as shown in Figa, 1, 2 and

page_text: the foot is provided with slotted holes f'f' which allow of its attachment to a
rigid surface by bolts or screws in the usual manner.
When the foot f. is secured to a vertical surface the leg . affords means for
horizontal adjustment and the vertical adjustment is obtained by sliding the wrist w
up or down the arm a.
When the foot is affixed to a horizontal surface such as a floor (see Figs. 9
and 10) then is the vertical and a the horizontal adjustment.
If the foot is affixed to a beam overhead or cieling as in figs. 11 12 then / is
the vertical and a is the horizontal adjustment.
The position of the journal box proper is adapted to each case by revolving it
around the arm a. Angles are readily obtained by revolving the wrist on the arm
and the arm on the leg. The modifications which I will now describe, relate to
various methods of moving and holding the several parts herein-before described
as foot, leg, arm, wrist, and also of the journal box proper.
Fig. 6 is half elevation and half section.
Fig. 7 an end view and Fig. 8 a plan shewing to a larger scale the journal-box
proper in its frame e. supplied with a foot e¹ which frame adjusts horizontally by
means of slotted holes e e² in the usual way.
In this drawing is shewn my lubricator consisting of oil chamber t, which com-
prises a cup t¹ on one or both sides of the bearing, and a communicating passage t
into which the lower end of the block c dips and stands in the lubricant. In this
block may be drilled capillary holes, or larger holes or grooves which may or may
not be provided with wicks or syphons of fibrous material.
to
Fig. 9 is a front view and Fig. 10 a side view exhibiting a construction according
my invention formed of wrought-iron tube.
The special object being to obtain lightness and strength in the first place and
a ready mode of construction from common steam or gas fittings in the second
place.
"
The foot f. is a common gas "flange" The leg a "long-screw." The arm a
if formed of a "
tee" with "long-screw" connected thereto the wrist w is another
"tee" in which is screwed or otherwise connected the base e¹ of the journal box
proper. The arm and wrist are retained in position by "lock nuts" and a'
engaging on the "long screws and jamming the tees forming the arm and wrist.
The terms here used are well known to users of Gas and Steam fittings. Fig. 11
is a front view and fig. 12 a side view of my invention constructed with screw
threads on the leg and arm and the arm and wrist are respectively traversed along
by turning the leg and arm round on their axes by means of eyes a³ at their
ends, or by other convenient means. Retaining bolts as j being used to fix them
in any desired position.
The ends of leg and arm revolve in the foot and arm box respectively end way
movement is prevented by a groove turned in the neck which corresponds with
the parts of the bolt j entering the said groove.
The bolt in this case is formed taper instead of having a portion removed as
in Figs. 4 and 5. Lock nuts may also be used to lock up the arm and wrist as in
Figs. 9 and 10.
Fig. 13 is a side view and Fig. 14 a front view of a similar modification to
Figs. 11 and 12. but with a foot formed with an extension or bracket peice f
extending to end of leg l. the object being to secure resistance to exceptionally
heavy strains. Figs. 15 and 16 are side view and front view respectively of similar
modifications to Figs. 11 and 12 but with rectangular bars for leg 1. and arm a,
the parts, sliding thereon being conformed thereto.
The ends of these bars are made circular in cross section and revolve in the foot
and arm box as described in connexion with Figs. 11 and 12.
Fig. 17 shews the arin a moved up the leg 7 by the screw k. engaging with teeth
formed on the leg. The screw k has a square end or its equivalent by means of
which it may be rotated.

page_text: The locking bolt is used to retain the parts in position. The leg and arm
is shewn circular in section so that the arm and wrist can revolve as in Figs. 1. 2.
9. 10. 11. 12.
If the rectangular bars shewn in Figs. 15 and 16 be used teeth may be formed
on their edges to engage with a screw as in Fig. 17. The ends of the said
rectangular bars revolve as in 11. 12. 15. 16. Fig. 18 is a side view and Fig. 19
a front view of a modification in which the leg . . is bi-furcated and attached to
the foot by a bolt f³ as shewn. The arm a slides up on the leg, and the wrist w
(which in this case is made in halves secured together) around the arm as before
described. This modification is preferred for heavy work and where great strength
and stability is required.
Fig. 20 shews in side view, and Fig. 21 in front view a modification in which
the leg is bi-furcated and revolves in the foot as shewn. The object in this case
is to occupy the smallest amount of space. Here also the wrist w is in halves.
In Fig. 22 the metallic case shewn at a in figs. 1. 2. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11 12. 13. 14.
15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 23. 27. 28. is dispensed with, wood being used alone,
adjustment is made by the means previously described in Figs. 1. 2 6. 7. 8. & or
in place of the screws h. h. wedges may be employed to advance the blocks b. d.
The ends of b. d. may be left square as shewn. In some cases a box m may be
fitted to the space between b. d. This box is provided with a slit m¹ through
which a charge of oil, plumbago, or plumbago and grease or any other lubricant is
applied to the shaft below. The dark portions indicated at n. n. will be filled up
and materially aid lubrication.
Fig. 23 shews a four part bearing in which the blocks, are advanced by screws.
In this fig. the lubricating arrangement is not shewn, but it may be made as in
figs. 6. 7. 8.
It is obvious that any number of blocks may be used but I prefer three.
Figs. 24 to 26 exhibit the essential or primary parts of the adjustable ways
which I have herein described as used in combination with my adjustable
journal box.
Fig. 24 shews the foot f. and leg Z. in side and front elevation. Fig. 26 shews
the wrist w in elevation, in two different modifications. This wrist carries the
journal-box proper. Fig. 27 shews a plan view and Fig. 28. a side elevation of
a foot-step hearing, for a vertical shaft with metallic case and wooden bearing
blocks constructed according to my invention. The ends of the wooden blocks,
that abut against the shaft are bored out each to the shape of a sixth part of a
sphere and the end of shaft turned to fit. Fig. 29. shews one of the blocks b in
side view and Fig. 30 in end view.
I do not confine myself to the use of the materials herein described for the
construction of my adjustable bearings The blocks required for which may be
made of any non-metallic substance more or less absorbent and varying in
hardness. Artificial blocks of non-metallic elements may be used.
I do not limit myself to the exact shape, configuration, proportion, or arrange-
ment of parts described in this specification, or shewn on the accompanying
drawings, but I hold myself at liberty to vary them somewhat if required, while
not departing essentially from my said invention. I may also combine any of the
modifications described with the primary arrangement, or with each other as may
be found expedient. I am aware that various adjustable shaft bearings and
supports, have been from time to time introduced, but none of them have the
great range of movement and consequent adaptability which is afforded by my
invention. Non-metallic substances have also been proposed and notably in the
case of screw steamer shaft bearings wood has been used with good results, but no
case has come to my notice, where non metallic blocks are arranged in a suitable
frame so as to become of practical utility in every day work, as provided for in my
present invention,

page_text: 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 construction of adjustable bearings having three or more non-metallic
blocks, adjustable towards a common centre, in combination with the adjustable
ways described in Figs. 1 2. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 27.
and 28 of the drawings hereto annexed or any combination of the several parts
herein described.
Second. I claim as a new and improved article of manufacture. The adjustable
journal box, or plummer block, consisting of three or more non-metallic blocks
tending toward a common centre, in combination with the metallic frame and its
oil cavity, and the adjusting screws as and for the purpose described in Figs. 6. 7.
8. 23. 27 and 28 of the annexed drawings.
Third. I claim the adjustable journal box entirely composed of non-metallic
elements, when such elements are in three or more parts, so as to meet in a common
centre as shewn in Fig. 22.