Improvements in Thrust Blocks for Screw Propellers, Centrifugal Pumps, and other Machinery.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 26th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 13th Jan., 1894
NOVIDIONAL DI PITICATION.
Improvements in Thrust Blocks for Screw Propellers, Centrifugal
Pumps, and other Machinery.
I JAMES ADAMSON of 32 London Road (Melrose House) North End Portsmouth,
Hants a Marine Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In internal thrust blocks of steam ships and thrust blocks of centrifugal pumps
or other machinery to fit an arrangement of lignum vitae rings or segments in lieu
of brass, white metal or other material used in bearings for taking the thrust of
engines and machinery. The lubricant being water and the sections of lignum
vitæ being easily removable, renewable and adjustable. The whole being enclosed
in a casing of suitable, shape and material to permit of the ready circulation of
water.
The object of this invention is to provide an efficient means of taking the inboard
thrust of the engines of steam ships, the thrust of centrifugal pumps and other
machinery; the thrust shaft collars working against lignum vitæ rings or
segments, fitted in lieu of brass white metal or other material, the whole being
enclosed in a suitable casing through which water can or is made to circulate.
Dated this 20th day of February 1893.
JAMES ADAMSON.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Thrust Blocks for Screw Propellers, Centrifugal
Pumps, and other Machinery.
I JAMES ADAMSON of Melrose House, 32 London Road, North End, Portsmouth,
Marine 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 :-
In internal thrust blocks of steam ships and thrust blocks of centrifugal pumps
or other machinery, to fit an arrangement of rings or segments of lignum vitæ,
iron-wood, or other approved woods, in lieu of brass, white metal, or other material
at present used in bearings for taking the thrust of screw propellers, pumps and
other machinery, the lubricant being water, and the sections being easily
removeable, renewable, and adjustable, and the whole being enclosed in a casing
of suitable material and shape to permit of the ready circulation of water.
The object of the invention is to provide a more efficient means of taking the
inboard thrust in engines or machinery of steam ships, the thrust of pumps and
other machinery, the thrust shaft collars (A) working against rings or segments (B)
of lignum vitæ, or other approved wood, fitted as a rubbing medium in thrust
bearings in lieu of the white metal or other material at present fitted for this
purpose, and round which water, as a lubricant, is made to continually circulate.
In ordinary thrusts the approved wood substance may be turned a semi-circular
shape and made to slide into grooves (C) of a dovetailed or other approved form in
the faces of the thrust collars (D) or bearings, the wood segments being prevented
from turning by means of distance pieces (E) of suitable material fitted between
the cap (F) and lower part of thrust block (G): the approved wood segments will
project a similar distance and present a similar amount of rubbing surface as the

page_text: white metal or other material they are intended to supersede, and the groove into
which the white metal or other material fits can be easily converted so as to take
the approved wood segments which would only fit into the collars a similar depth
as the material superseded: the segments would be grooved radially. (H) at
intervals across their faces, and a groove (I) provided round the edge of each
thrust ring or collar, so as to permit of a ready flow of water round the whole of
the rubbing surfaces which take the thrust, also a groove (J) would be cut through
the bottom of each thrust ring or collar, or other means adopted, to permit the
water to flow readily from collar to collar; the cap of the thrust block has an
inlet (K) at one end, and an outlet pipe (L) is provided at each end of the lower
part of the bearing: the thrust block is made watertight by suitable means,
including, if necessary, a stuffing box (M) at each end for packing the thrust
shaft (R), and thus rendering the whole block a watertight compartment (N).
In horse-shoe thrusts the approved wood substance to take the place of white
metal, or other material at present in use, can be fitted similarly to the wood
segments in the ordinary thrusts as before herein described, the segments (B)
sliding round from either end and secured by means of triangular or other approved
stop plates (O) which are fitted into recesses (P) deeper than the dovetailed
grooves holding the segments, and these stops are secured by screws (Q) or other
approved means: the whole horse-shoe thrust bearing to be surrounded by a
suitable casing with, if necessary, a stuffing box at each end for packing the thrust
shaft, so as to form a watertight compartment in and through which the thrust-
shaft (R) will work.
In all cases where the wood segments are applied, ample provision must be made
for the continuous circulation of water (which is the only lubricant required) by
enclosing the whole of the thrust bearing in a watertight casing (or compartment)
or other approved method, so as to ensure a continuous flow of water round the
seginents, and through the compartment so formed.
Drawings accompany this Specification illustrating, (a) the use of wood for
taking thrust in (for example) the ordinary circular and horse-shoe thrusts, (b) the
method of attaching moveable or sliding segments to the faces of thrust collars or
rings, (c), a watertight casing enclosing an inboard thrust-bearing, and the arrange-
ment for an ample circulation of water, also, (d) the use of, water only, as a
lubricant in these enclosed thrust 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 use of wood as a rubbing medium in the inboard thrust blocks of steam
ships, and enclosed thrusts of pumps or other machinery.
2. The circular, dovetail shaped groove as a means of attaching moveable, or
sliding, rubbing mediums in all thrust bearings.
3. The watertight casing for enclosing, the inboard thrust bearings of steam
ships, the thrust bearings of pumps or of other machinery and the arrangement
(within and about the casing and bearing) to ensure the circulation of water over
and about the friction surfaces.
4. The utilisation of water as a sole lubricant for, the inboard thrust bearings in
steam ships, enclosed thrust bearings of pumps and other machinery, by means of
the wood segments, watertight casing, and arrangement for water circulation before
herein described, and exemplified in the drawings accompanying this Specification,
and, by these means, to obtain a smoother working, easily repairable, more
economical, and more efficient thrust.
Dated this Twenty-third day of September 1893.
JAMES ADAMSON.