IMPROVEMENTS IN BEARINGS FOR SHAFTS AND PIVOTS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gustav Adolph Heinrich Vollrath, Engineer, in the City
of Altona, Germany, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BEARINGS FOR
SHAFTS AND PIVOTS."
Sealed the 25th January 1878, and dated the 30th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gustav Adloph Heinrich
Vollrath at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th July 1877.
GUSTAV ADOLPH Heinrich VollraTH, Engineer, in the City of Altona, Germany.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BEARINGS FOR SHAFTS AND PIVOTS."
This Invention relates to improvements in bearings for shafts and pivots fitted
mainly to hanging brackets, the object being to facilitate the placing of shafts, the
removal of them for any cause, and the replacing of them without interfering with
the position of the bracket in or by which they are arranged or suspended.
The Invention also facilitates the adjustment of shafts where the brackets get out
of line from settlement of buildings.
For the purpose of my Invention I fork the lower part of a hanging bracket, and
I form a shoulder at the upper part of the socket piece, into which a screw is fitted.
The aperture in the bracket is sufficiently large to receive a (brass) collar loosely,
said collar fitting the shaft either in one piece or in two pieces, as desired. The
collar has two semicircular apertures in its lower side for the reception of spheres, or
they may be semispherical buttons upon the brass to press upon the inner faces of
the forks of the bracket when the collar is in place, the screw being then turned to
hold the collar firmly in position.
The fork opening of the bracket is closed by a strap, which can be removed when
the shaft has to be taken down for any cause, the screw at the same time being
loosened, and the collar slipped along the shaft to clear the bracket; this enables
the shaft to pass through between the fork, and be thereby disengaged.
I purpose grooving the upper part of the collar, and to fit one or more needle

page_text: lubricators to the projecting ends, but other means of lubricating may be used if
desired.
My Invention is applicable to all shafts and pivots which are suspended, and in
some cases to those which are otherwise fitted.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Gustav Adolph Heinrich Vollrath in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 29th January 1878.
GUSTAV ADOLPH HEINRICH VOLLRATH, Engineer, in the City of Altona, Germany.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BEARINGS FOR SHAFTS AND PIVOTS."
The object of this Invention is to supply a simple and advantageous bearing for
shafts, pivots, and other transmitters of motion.
The Invention will be sufficiently illustrated by a description of it as applied to a
vertical hanger for ordinary line shafting.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a side view of such a hanger com-
prising my improvement; and Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same on the line
,, in Figure 1.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 show the general arrangement of my improved bearings for
line shafting.
A is the hanger, which has formed in its lower part an opening S for the recep-
tion of the box or brass B; the opening is preferably made circular in form, as
shown in Figure 1. The hanger may also have a slot R formed in it for the insertion
of the shaft, as herein-after specified, but this is not necessary in any case where the
shaft or pivot may be inserted endwise, as in hangers for the end of shafting. The
slot R is formed in the lower part of the hanger to allow the entrance of the shaft
or pivot into the opening S, but the said slot may be formed in any other relation
with the said opening. Thus, for horizontal bracket bearings, the said slot may be
made either on the upper side or on the lower side, or midway between the said
sides.
The box B has formed on its under side two convex projections c, c, preferably
separated by a distance of about sixty degrees of its circumference, and when inserted
in the opening S it is held in place by a set screw C, which engages preferably in a
countersunk recess formed in the outer surface of said box.
To strengthen the slotted part of the hanger, and prevent its spreading by the
wedge-like action of the projections c on the inclined sides of the opening S, I fit
and attach to the hanger a clamping cover D, which is held attached to the hanger
by screws. G.
The slot R and clamping cover D are only necessary for hanging the shaft in its
bearings, which is accomplished as follows:-The boxes B having been slipped on
the shaft, the shaft is passed through the slot R, and the clamping covers D are
attached to the hangers. The boxes B are then slid along the shaft, and brought
into their proper positions in the openings S, and fastened in place by the set
screws C.
It will be seen that the general features of my Invention may be carried out as

page_text: well with boxes made in halves, and screwed together with bracket supports for
bearings, and with upright supports for the boxes, which may have the slot Ⓡ formed
in the upper part.
Instead of the above-described set screw C I also apply a key or other convenient
device for fastening the box B in the support.
The projections c, c, may also be applied to the inner surface of the support A
instead of to the box B, or I use screws which are fastened in the support for
carrying the box.
The clamping cover can be dispensed with in some cases; the support A has
then to be constructed strong enough to resist the pressure of the shafting and
box.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,—
Firstly. The combination with a support A, having formed therein an opening S
of the box B, having two projections c, c, and secured in said opening by a set screw,
substantially as set forth.
Secondly. The combination with a support having an opening S for the reception
of a box B, provided with projections c, c, and a slot R, which allows the entrance
sidewise of the shaft or pivot of the clamping cap D, fitted and attached to the said
hanger, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Thirdly. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting my
improvements in bearings for shafts and pivots, substantially as herein-before
described and shown in the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gustav Adolph Heinrich Vollrath, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of January, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.