An Improved Manufacture of Spherical Rollers or Balls.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 26th May, 1893-Accepted, 1st July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by GEORGE FREDERICK SIMONDS, of Fitchburg,
Massachusetts, United States of America, Engineer.]
An Improved Manufacture of Spherical Rollers or Balls.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to produce perfectly spherical rollers or balls
having their surfaces uniformly and smoothly ground whereby the said balls are
better adapted for use in antifriction devices. The said invention comprises an
improved method and apparatus for carrying out such manufacture.
The so called anti-friction balls commonly employed in ball bearings are not
uniformly true and perfect spheres for the reason that it is practically impossible
to properly grind them by ordinary methods. Imperfectly and unevenly ground
balls are extremely liable to wear irregularly and will, therefore, cause more or
less injury to the bearing surfaces between which they are used, as their rolling
action will not be smooth and uniform. Some of the obvious advantages of a
perfectly true and spherical antifriction roller or ball are its ability to economize
power, obviate wear, avoid necessity of lubrication, prevent the bearings from
becoming heated and lessen or prevent noise.
The chief feature of my improved process or method consists in so arranging
that cach ball as it is being ground is rotated between the grinding surfaces about
an axis which is inclined to the plane of movement of the ball.
In carrying my invention into effect I provide for simultaneously grinding a
series or group of balls between annular grinding surfaces in such manner that at
the same time the series of balls forming the annulus revolves round the centre of
the said annulus each ball will revolve on an axis passing through its own centre
and inclined to the plane of the annulus. This compound rotation of the several
balls exposes their entire surfaces to a uniform grinding and polishing action
whereby they are speedily converted into perfectly spherical forms at slight
expense.
In a modification of my invention I provide means whereby during the process
of grinding, the balls shall at intervals suddenly change their poles so that they
will necessarily present fresh surfaces to the action of the grinding mechanism.
According to one method of carrying my invention into practice I subject the
balls which are to be made perfectly spherical to a process of grinding and polishing
with oil and emery between diagonally opposed grinding surfaces which are pre-
ferably concave. I prefer that one of the said grinding surfaces be maintained
stationary whilst the other is rotated at a suitable speed.
I provide for example a lower fixed disc which is furnished with an annular
ledge which is preferably concave on one side and the said concavity extended into
the contiguous upper surface of the disc so as to form an annular concave grinding
surface to receive the balls. I also provide an upper rotary grinding disc having a
depending annular ledge which is preferably concave on one side in a similar
manner to the ledge on the lower fixed disc.
I prefer to form moreover annular grooves in each concave annular grinding
surface for the purpose of containing the oil and emery used in grinding and
polishing. By providing these recesses or receptacles for the grinding or polishing
medium the surfaces are protected from undue or irregular wear and preserved in

page_text: proper operative form and condition. The balls are placed in close contact with
each other between the diagonally opposed grinding surfaces and oil and emery
being supplied thereto the upper grinding disc is rotated. The balls are thereby
caused to rotate on axes which are neither perpendicular nor parallel to the plane
of the lower disc and thus every part of each ball is subjected to a uniform action
in the grinding process.
In the modification of my invention I form at suitable intervals in the annular
concave surface of the lower grinding disc a series of elongated depressed and
widened recesses or pockets into which the balls will successively drop and roll
about in such a manner that when they are crowded by the following balls into the
next succeeding portion of the diagonally opposed annular concave grinding
surfaces, their poles will have been changed. The amount of such change is an
indeterminate quantity.
By my improved manufacture I can bring balls at small expense and in a short
time to the form of perfect and true spheres having the same diameter in all
directions, whereby the value of the balls is greatly enhanced for all the purposes
to which they are applicable.
Dated this 27th day of August 1892
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Manufacture of Spherical Rollers or Balls.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to produce perfectly spherical rollers or balls
having their surfaces uniformly and smoothly ground whereby the said balls are
better adapted for use in anti-friction devices. The said invention comprises an
improved method of and apparatus for carrying out such manufacture.
The so called anti-friction balls commonly employed in ball bearings are not
uniformily true and perfect spheres for the reason that it is practically impossible to
properly grind them by ordinary methods. Imperfectly and unevenly ground balls
are extremely liable to wear irregularly and will, therefore, cause more or less
injury to the bearing surfaces between which they are used, as their rolling action
will not be smooth and uniform. Some of the obvious advantages of a perfectly
true and spherical anti-friction roller or ball are its ability to economize power,
obviate wear, avoid necessity of lubrication, prevent the bearings from becoming
heated and lessen or prevent noise.
The chief feature of my improved process or method consists in so arranging that
each ball as it is being ground is rotated between the grinding surfaces about an
axis which is inclined to the plane of movement of the ball.
In carrying my invention into effect I provide for simultaneously grinding a
series or group of balls between annular grinding surfaces which are diagonally
opposed, so that at the same time the series of balls forming the annulus revolves
round the centre of the said annulus, each ball will revolve on an axis passing
through its own centre and inclined to the plane of the annulus. This compound
rotation of the several balls exposes their entire surfaces to a uniform grinding and
polishing action whereby they are speedily converted into perfectly spherical forms
at slight expense.
In a modification of my invention I provide means whereby during the process
of grinding, the balls shall at intervals suddenly change their poles.

page_text: In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will now proceed to
describe the same by the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a grinding machine employed in converting
ordinary metallic balls into perfectly spherical anti-friction rollers.
Figure 2 is a partial plan of the same with a portion of the upper or rotary
grinding disc broken away and showing its shaft in section.
Figure 3 is a sectional detail view of a portion of the ball-grinding machine.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of ball grinding machine.
Figure 5 is a plan of the lower grinding disc.
Like letters of reference denote similar parts in all the drawings.
1 designates a bed on which is firmly supported a lower stationary grinding disc
or ring 2 the upper surface of which is formed with an annular ledge 3 that is
preferably concaved on one side, the said concavity being extended into the
contiguous upper surface of the disc or ring so as to form an annular concave
grinding surface 4 to receive the balls. Above the lower disc or ring 2 is an upper
grinding disc 5 keyed to a vertical shaft 6 that may be rotated by power applied in
any convenient manner. The under side of the rotary grinding disc 5 is provided
with a depending annular ledge 7, which like the ledge 3 is also preferably concaved
on one side in such manner that the said concavity will extend into the contiguous
lower surface of the disc body to form an annular concave grinding surface 8,
diagonally opposed to the corresponding grinding surface in the lower disc. These
annular diagonally opposed grinding surfaces 4 and 8 may present unbroken con-
cavities as shown in Figure 3, but, as shown in Figure 1, I prefer to form in each
annular concave grinding surface, 4 and 8, an annular recess 9 and 10, respectively,
for the purpose of holding the oil and emery used in the grinding and polishing
process. By providing these recesses or receptacles for the oil and emery the
grinding surfaces are protected from undue or irregular wear and preserved in
proper operative form and condition.
For the purpose of grinding and polishing metallic balls to produce perfect
spheres that will be capable of giving the best anti-friction results the balls 12 are
placed in close contact with each other between the diagonally opposed grinding
surfaces 4 and 8 and the said grinding surfaces being supplied, if desired, with oil
and emery, the movable disc is rotated.
It will be seen that the balls 12, as rotated between the discs 2 and 5, would
naturally turn on their axes X X, Figure 1 if there were no opposing forces to
prevent, but by the peculiar construction of the working parts of the discs the
grinding surfaces 4 and 8 act on the balls in a way that tends to cause them to turn,
were there no opposing forces, on their axes Y Y, and as the said grinding surfaces
are formed partly in the sides of the ledges 3 and 7 and partly in the contiguous
horizontal portions of the discs the balls will be caused to rotate on axcs
between X X and Y Y, say the line Z Z and thus every part of each ball is
subjected to a uniform action in the grinding process.
In Figure 2 the general movement of all the balls around a common centre is
indicated by a large arrow while the diagonal rotation of each ball is indicated by
small arrows.
This compound rotation of the several balls between the diagonally
opposed grinding surfaces 4 and 8, around a common centre and in planes diagonal
to their general circular direction of movement, exposes the entire surface of each
and every ball to a uniform grinding and polished action, so that they will be
brought at small expense and in a short time to the form of perfect spheres.
In a modification of my invention as shown in Figures 4 and 5 I ensure that the
axis of rotation of each ball shall be positively and suddenly changed at intervals
during the time of translation of the same round the annular grinding surface.
For this purpose I form at suitable intervals in the annular concave grinding
surface 4 of the lower grinding disc 2 as a series of elongated, depressed and
widened recesses or pockets 11. The balls 12 will successively drop into these
pockets and wobble or roll about in such a manner that the direction of rotation
of each ball on its axis will be positively changed before it is crowded by the

page_text: following balls into the next succeeding portion of the diagonally opposed annular
concaved grinding surfaces.
Although other suitable materials may be used to form the grinding surfaces I
prefer to use cast iron which is cheap and effective.
By my improved method and apparatus I can bring balls at small expense and
in a short time to the form of perfect spheres, that is to say spheres having the
same diameter in all directions, whereby the value of the balls is greatly enhanced
for all the purposes to which they are applicable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The process of grinding anti-friction balls by subjecting a continuous ring or
series of such balls to the action of two annular diagonally opposed grinding
surfaces, the lower one of the said surfaces being made with or without pockets,
substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
2. In a process of grinding anti-friction balls, causing each and every said ball to
rotate between grinding surfaces about an axis which is inclined to the plane of the
movement of the balls along said surfaces, substantially as described, for the purpose
specified.
3. In a process of grinding an anti-friction ball, causing the said ball to suddenly
change its poles at intervals during its movement along the grinding surface, for
the purpose specified.
4. A machine for grinding anti-friction balls, provided with two annular
diagonally opposed grinding surfaces, the lower surface being with or without
pockets, substantially as, and for the purpose specified.
5. A machine for grinding anti-friction balls constructed substantially as
described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or to Figures 4 and 5 of the
drawings
Dated this 26th day of May 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.