Improvements in Roller Bearings for Snatch Blocks and other Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 6th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1888
Improvements in Roller Bearings for Snatch Blocks and other
Purposes.
I, HENRY ALFRED ROOKE of 17 Goree Piazzas, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Block and Spar Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
The invention relates to improvements in roller bearings for pulley blocks and other
purposes.
The bearings hitherto in use for snatch blocks have generally their rollers pivoted
in two rings one on each side of the rollers the rings being riveted together so that
they cannot be easily detached for renewing or repairing the rollers. In another
forin the rollers have been held between shoulders of the body or frame the two parts
of said frame being riveted together so that it is difficult to separate them without
special tools, and also without injuring the body.
In my invention the rollers are of any convenient size and number. They are
supported at each end in an annular plate or ring, having a number of circular pro-
jections preferably placed at equal distances apart on their faces, so as to allow the
rollers to freely rotate thereon. If desired, the end faces of the rollers could be
provided with shanks supported in holes in the annular plate. The outside faces of
the rings are recessed.
The annular plates are held against the end faces of the rollers by a sleeve having
a collar at each end, the same, or nearly the same diameter as the shoulder, formed by
recessing the outside faces of the rings. This sleeve is made in two parts which can
be screwed together so as to form one piece. When each part of the sleeves is
inserted and screwed together the collars thereon keep the annular rings against the
ends of the rollers, but do not prevent the rings and rollers freely revolving.
The sleeve can be mounted on a spindle inserted in the block of the sheave, or
it, the sleeve, could have a shank at each end, which may be mounted in the said
block.

page_text: The sheave, if made of wood or other soft material, is provided with a metal bush,
its internal diameter being the same or nearly the same as the diameter of the roller
bearing. The outside faces, of the sleeve collars can have a lug or protection which
is inserted in grooves or slots in the inside faces of the block. The sleeve, therefore,
cannot revolve, but the rings and rollers are allowed to freely rotate therein.
All the parts of my invention are preferably interchangeable and any of the parts
can very easily be removed for repair or renewal.
Dated this 5th day of December 1887.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Roller Bearings for Snatch Blocks and other
Purposes.
I, HENRY ALFRED ROOKE of 17, Goree Piazzas, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Block and Spar Maker 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in roller bearings for pulley blocks, and
other like purposes.
In roller bearings hitherto employed for pulley blocks, the rollers have frequently
been pivoted to two parallel concentric rings, which were riveted together in such a
manner that it was difficult to detach them without injury to the parts, when it was
necessary to renew or repair the rollors. In other forms of roller bearings, the rollers
have been held between shoulders or within annular recesses in the body or frame of
the block, the two parts of the said frame being so riveted together as to render it
difficult to separate them without special tools, and also without injury to the sheave
or to the body of the block. Also in most roller bearings hitherto constructed for
pulley blocks, the rollers have run in direct contact with the central block pin, which
was usually of rough unturned metal, and consequently caused the rollers to wear
rapidly.
Now the objects of my improvements are to obviate the above defects by con-
structing a simple and durable roller bearing, which can readily be inserted into or
removed from the block without injury thereto, the parts of which can be easily and

page_text: quickly assembled or dismounted, and the rollers of which shall have a smooth and
true axle to run upon.
I carry out my invention in the following manner, reference being had to the
drawings which form part of this Specification.
In these,
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a block provided with bearings
constructed according to this invention.
Figure 2 an end view of the bearings detached, a portion of the outside flange E¹
being broken away.
A, A, are the cheeks of the wooden block, which is strengthened and hung, by
means of a rope or metal strap A¹. A² is the opening between the cheeks within
which the pulley B revolves on its bearings. The bearing rollers C may be of any
convenient size and number. They are supported at each end by an annular plate or
ring D having on its inner face, a number of equidistant circular pins or studs D¹,
which enter into holes in the ends of the rollers, and allow the free revolution of same.
Or if desired, the end faces of the rollers could be provided with pins fitting into
holes in the plate D, or the rollers could run in annular recesses in the flanges E, E²,
hereinafter described. The outer face of each ring is recessed or dished as shown, so
that it has always a tendency to arrange itself centrally as regards the axis of the
bearings.
Instead of uniting the plates or rings D by means of rivets, as heretofore, they
are held in position against the ends of rollers C by means of two annular flanges É¹, E³,
which are adjustable as regards their distance apart, and are held stationary within
the block as hereinafter described. One of the collars E' is preferably fixed rigidly
to one end of a sleeve E, and the other collar E is screwed or otherwise made
adjustable upon the opposite end of the sleeve.
Said flanges are preferably of a larger diameter than ring D, and serve also to
prevent friction (due to side play) between the sides of the pulley B and the
cheeks A. The sleeve E and flanges E1, E2, thus form a casing for the rollers Cand
rings D. The inner faces of the flanges E', E, fit the recesses or concavities in
plates D, and when screwed or tightened up, hold said plates centrally against the
ends of the rollers C, but not so tightly as to prevent the rollers and rings from
revolving. The outer surface of the sleeve E is turned up with little additional labour
at the same time that the flange E' is faced, and forms a true axle for the rollers C,
which would in ordinary cases run upon the rough central pin F, as the centering and
turning of the latter would involve a much greater expenditure of time and labour.
The sleeve E can be mounted on the ordinary central sheave pin F, which is passed
through the cheeks A. The pin can be riveted to the strap A³, but I prefer to secure
it in a removable manner, as shown, by means of a split pin 1, or by a nut or other
similar device. Or the pin may simply rest in the straps and check without any
securing device. Or the sleeve could have a shank at each end, which could be
mounted in the cheeks A. The flanges E¹, E³, are each provided on their outer faces
with lugs G, which are engaged by corresponding grooves in the inner faces of the
cheeks A, and prevent the flanges and sleeve from turning. The grooves extend from
the outer edge of the block to a point some distance beyond the centre thereof, or
even to the opposite edge of the block. Other devices for preventing the flanges and
sleeve from turning might be employed, such as a pin or pins passed through the
sides of the block into the flanges, but the latter plan is not so convenient.
The pulley B, if made of wood or other soft material, is lined with a metal bush B',
the inside of which runs on the rollers C, the bush being attached to the pulley by
means of rivets B2, or in other suitable manner.
To repair or renew the rollers, the pin F is first removed. The pulley and bearings
are then slid out of the block, the grooves in the inside of the latter permitting the
free passage of the lugs G. The flange E² is then removed and free access can be
had to the rings D and rollers C, which can be repaired or renewed as desired, none
of the above operations requiring special tools or skill, or involving injury to the
block or other parts.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In roller bearings for pulley blocks, the combination of the rollers C, the
retaining rings D having equidistant roller bearing pins D¹ on their inner faces and
a concave annular recess, on each of their outer faces, and the separable flanges E1, E²,
adjustable in their distance apart, and bearing against the concave faces of the
rings D, whereby the rollers or rings as they become worn may be readily adjusted
or renewed, substantially as described.
2. In combination with the rollers and retaining rings C, D, and the pulley B, the
stationary turned sleeve E supported within the block, the flange E¹ attached to one
end of said sleeve and extended beyond the said rollers and rings for some distance
over the side of the pulley, and the similar flange E² adjustable upon the opposite
end of the sleeve E, whereby a stationary but detachable casing is formed for
retaining the rollers, rings and pulley in position, a smooth axle is provided for
the rollers, and side play in the pulley prevented, substantially as set forth.
3. In a pulley block, the combination with the checks A and central pin F, of a
roller bearing casing E, E, E², supported between the cheeks upon said pin, and
having lugs G engaged by grooves formed in the inner faces of the cheeks, and
extended outwards to the edge thereof, whereby the casing is prevented from turning
within the block, but can readily be detached therefrom without injury to any part,
substantially as described.